HTC Max 4G - My Dream device…

A new device was announced by HTC and it passed right under our noses… the HTC Max 4G, the first WiMax phone. Recently announced by HTC and it is expected to be released in late November… only … it will be in … Russia! under the Yota carrier.

This dream device sports 4G connectivity to a WiMax service that will provide blazingly fast data connection. It will also include the usual connections for all those aging GSM/GPRS/EDGE carriers out there… The screen is a beautiful WVGA 480 x 800 pixels, 3.8 inches diagonal that we all love from the HTC Touch HD, TouchFLO 3D, accelerometers for auto rotate, proximity for screen auto-turn off (which can heavily extend power management), 288Mb RAM, 256Mb ROM and a whopping 8Gb user available internal storage memory plus the corresponding extension slot for microSDHC.

[Read more]

Motorola Spills the Beans on Windows Mobile 6.5

It’s no secret that Microsoft is working on Windows Mobile 7 now. It’s also been put out there by 3rd parties that Microsoft is “behind” on WM7. Last I checked, Microsoft (not one of their vendors) has never given the world a date for WM7 anyhow, so who cares.

Either way, Moto CEO, Sanjay Jha, let the cat out of the bag that there is possibly something between 6.1 and 7.0 on the way. Windows Mobile 6.5 Anyone?

“Windows Mobile 6 has not delivered the experience that I think Apple has been able to deliver, but as you look at the plan that Windows Mobile 7 and even 6.5, I think there are significant new added features which will help the platform.”

The story states that a Motorola handset sporting “Windows Mobile 6.5″ will be released in the second half of 2009. More as we get it on this. We know nothing about this OS, so it’ll be interesting to see what develops.

Of course, this is rumor and you shouldn’t get too excited, but we shall see.

Source : pcmag via Coolsmartphone via Mobius

Christmas coming to Verizon

It looks like Verizon is about to get ready for Christmas with several new devices for you to give your best friend (and maybe one for yourself).  The folks at Phone Arena got some great news that next month you will see the Samsung OMNIA SCH-i910, the HTC Touch Pro and the Samsung Saga SCH-i770.  Each of these devices have great looks and neat features; certainly it will be a tough choice on which one to get … ah, go ahead, get all three!

Email & Text Messaging on the IPAQ 910c

Windows Mobile 6.1 brings a substantial facelift and some significant enhancements to the IPAQ 910c:

• Easier email setup and improved performance
• Follow-up tags (doesn’t seem to work on the IPAQ 910c)
• Enhanced Security that alerts you if you navigate to a URL or file link that is not on the device
• Threaded text messaging
• Blacklist (doesn’t seem to work)

HP has also added a few nice messaging-related features to the IPAQ 910c:

• HP Voice Reply: allows you to email audio messages
• HP Print Smart: allows you to print email messages to a Bluetooth or network printer

[Read more]

SPB Mobile Shell Panel in Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

I’m a long time user of the SPB tools. I like the way they build their user interface and the SPB Mobile Shell product is the first thing I install on each of my devices.

Recently I posted in my blog about Toshiba embedding SPB Mobile shell as the main shell UI.

Today I found that the SPB Mobile Shell will be one of the panels included in Sony Ericsson’s XPeria X1.

As part of the strategic partnership between Sony Ericsson and Spb Software, Spb has put forth a top-notch, Spb Mobile Shell-based solution that compliments the X1 in both style and speed. Taking advantage of the smartphone’s unique panel technology, impressive hardware and dynamic wide VGA touchscreen, this custom version of Spb Mobile Shell is optimized for the new Xperia, and comes with all X1 devices as a free download.

I usually post about freewares I can recommend on, because as someone who also develop them I believe it is a good thing for the Windows Mobile community. But I have to admit that when it comes to SPB tools - I am willing to pay for the pleasure.

Read the full press release in here and here.

Control your SAAB with Windows Mobile

From PocketNow by way of  WMPoweruser.com

Due to a partnership between SAAB and Sony Ericsson, you’ll be able to control many aspects of the Saab 9-X Air using software on the Sony Ericsson Xperia X-1 via Bluetooth.
Some of the features controlled would be:
- Ambient lightning
- Front and rear seat settings
- Lock the car
- Open the rear compartment
- Switch on and off the lights (blinkers, main lights…)

This would come in handy in a pinch if I lost my keys (which is like, every single day of my entire life). That being said, if I could afford the new Saab 9-X BioHybird, that means I could also afford to have an army of personal assistants re-cut keys for me at my every whim and beckon call, each time they are missing, so this service really would only be another way to show-off.  But seriously folks… I am probably way to pragmatic to require said functionality, but as a concept, one must admit this is pretty cool and could be a starting point for all kinds of mobile/auto integration. While this may seem overkill to the average person, I bet this would go over big in Japan (if it hasn’t been in practice there for  5 years already).

What I want to know is will there be a garage-door opener module?  :)

HTC Cruise gets a WM 6.1 ROM Upgrade

All you lucky owners of the HTC Touch Cruise can have a BIG smile on your faces now.  You are now in that select group of folks that can upgrade your device to Windows Mobile 6.1.  This FREE upgrade in available now but just a quick reminder for those that have never completed the process before.  Applying the upgrade will wipe all data and software that you installed so if you have anything that you need to save, back it up.  Also, just before you perform the upgrade, sync your device just too make sure that anything that is new on your device transfers to your PC.  After you establish a new partnership, all that data will sync back to the upgraded device.

You can get your ROM upgrade here at HTC

RELEASE: Spb Online

Spb Software, the world’s leading maker of Windows Mobile software releases Spb Online to end-users. Spb Online is a set of attractive online services that share a practical user interface and make superior quality mobile entertainment available on handsets at a single fixed-price fee (no subscription). The services offered include Mobile TV, Online Radio, News, Weather, Online Games, and On-device Catalog — all subject to automatic updates and powered by Spb’s exclusive interface engine and patent-pending TV technology.

Spb Online is robust and easy to use even for novice smartphone users. All of Spb Online services support adaptive skins, smart scrolling, 3D transition effects, and one hand navigation.

[Read more]

25 Windows Mobile 6.1 Devices Expected This Year!

Microsoft sent word today that they are happy that they expect to see 25 Devices running Windows Mobile 6.1 by Holiday 2008. The 6.1 updates for exsisting phones rolled out pretty slow, but when they started coming, it was like a flood. Not mentioned in the list below are the 2 Windows Mobile 6.1 Devices I have in hand right now, The E-Ten Glofiish V900 and the Glofiish X610.

Recent related announcements include the following:

• AT&T announced that upgrades are available now for the BlackJack II, MOTO Q Global and AT&T Tilt smartphones, with new Windows Mobile 6.1-based phones launching later this year.
• Intermec Technologies Corp. today announced that its CN3 mobile computer is the first rugged handheld to operate on Windows Mobile 6.1 and will begin shipping later this month.
• The HTC Touch Diamond with TouchFLO 3D, HTC’s captivating 3-D touch interface, surpassed 1 million in global phone sales in its first three months and is expected to debut in the U.S. soon. HTC is also shipping the HTC Touch Pro and HTC S740.
• Sony Ericsson has released a beta SDK for Windows Mobile 6.1 for building and testing XPERIA Panels and applications. The SDK, integrated with Microsoft Visual Studio, offers developers a familiar environment and sets a new direction for a rich, immersive user experience with a focus on hardware-accelerated visual effects and interactivity. The XPERIA X1 will be available soon.
• Velocity Mobile announced the Velocity 103, a touchscreen device that features the easy-to-use Odyssey interface and Velocity Over the Air updates. Along with the Velocity 111 and Velocity 83, the Velocity 103 will be available later this year.

Palm Treo 800w Review

I’ve got a little confession to make: I’m one of the unwashed masses who has never handled a Treo device before. I was tempted last year by the Treo 700wx when I was looking for a suitable upgrade path for my Motorola V3m, but decided in favor of the Samsung SCH-i760, the only Pocket PC phone with Windows Mobile 6 available from Verizon at the time. In any case, permit this neo-Treo user to share his thoughts on the new Treo 800wx Pocket PC phone via Sprint.

Read on for more information on this new Windows Mobile offering from Palm.

[Read more]

Blackberry Connect Users Beware of Windows Mobile 6.1

1st off, as a disclaimer, I have not had the opportunity to even charge my Tilt, let alone flash it. I am working on a review of a couple E-Ten phones right now. That said, I don’t have any knowledge on what is broke and what is not.

Next, the warning comes from a reader email. It’s something you should think about. There might be a work around, but I don’t know yet. I am going to check around.

I just upgraded my phone yesterday and after spending 3 hours with AT&T and another hour with RIM and 15 minutes with HTC I found out 2 things First, RIM told me that tey had not come out with a BB connect for 6.1 and that I would have to go back to 6.0. The bad news was that I called HTC and they told me that once I upgrade to 6.1 there is no going back but they are expecting the upgrade from BB shortly. I hope that this shortly is not the same as the shortly we had to wait for 6.1.

Anyone experiencing anything similar?

Bloat vs. Clean ROM installs REDUX.

I’ve been asked a number of questions about the things missing in the “Clean” ROM install, and I figured I have a few minutes right now, so I will write up a quick post.

For those of you new to the discussion, I made a post talking documenting some of the differences between the clean and bloat rom installs of the latest Tilt firmware upgrade, you can read it HERE.

First, the most frequent question I have been asked or problem that was reported was people having problems actually interrupting the ATT software install, so I figured I would first detail this, step by step.

1. Flash the ROM (just follow the instructions on the DL page, it’s easy)
2. Align the screen
3. Go through the tutorial on copy/paste or skip it.
4. Create a password or skip it.
5. This is where it’s tricky… the INSTANT the home screen shows up, you MUST SOFT RESET THE DEVICE before the countdown starts. If the countdown has started, you’re too late, it must happen BEFORE the countdown. This is different then previous ROMS.

If you miss the chance, just soft reset before the countdown finishes, the device will come back up and start all over. you get another chance to get it right.

For those of you that don’t know what a “soft reset” is, that’s when you take the stylus and jam it in the little hole next to the USB connector on the bottom end of the device.. I’ll leave you on your own to make jokes about cramming styluses into holes, you know who you are… Pervs.

Anyway, another question, which I think is a pretty good one is… Do I lose things like threaded SMS and the voice commander software? The short answer is, No, you don’t lose those features. Basically, you will get everything that is listed on the HTC site for the ROM update, those are integrated into the ROM and are already installed into the ROM upgrade. Think of it this way, when doing the install, the default ROM install is like a clean install of XP, you’re getting the default apps that come with it (in XP’s case, things like notepad, paint, etc.), the ‘bloat’ install is like what you would get when you buy your computer from Dell or HP.. a bunch of crap that, although some might be useful, most basically just add confusion and bloat. Before I get called out, Yes, I know that that this isn’t an exact parallel, the Voice program and HTC home screen are not part of the default (from Microsoft) WinMo install (I really hope that didn’t add more confusion to the mix).

I haven’t had a lot of time to play and search, but I’m trying to find where the actual programs that the installer calls are located on the ROM, anyone have a clue on that?

Hope you find this useful, I know I didn’t address all your questions, but I thought maybe I could at least get this out there. This post is long enough as is. As you can tell, I’m not one that’s typically short winded.

As always, please let me know what you think and don’t hesitate to post replies. And again, thanks for reading!

Kip

Divergence & Death

I love writing for MobilitySite, and I especially like reading what others’ have to say.  But day after day I read the same thing in every blog.  It goes like this, “The new XYZ phone from ABC has this and that feature.”  It’s grown old.  And boring.  I’m thinking of kicking my excitement level up by taking up Bocce Ball or Bowling.  All the devices are the same.  They are no better than what we had four years ago.  They’re just getting bloated with compromised add-ons. 

Windows Mobile is Dead.  Read on to find out why your next device will not have a Windows Mobile OS.

[Read more]

AT&T and HTC Release WM 6.1 for the AT&T Tilt

The tipster was right on with the 26th being the date, I kind had a hunch since I had a little insight from HTC as well. :)

Anyhow, I was in training for work today when it hit and the emails started coming in that it was online now, so I made a post to discuss it on Tiltsite. Make sure to use the forums to discuss upgrading as well if you have tips or any problems.

Kris has promised to bring us more info as well, once he gets his flashed and all. Kip has posted a piece on the differences between the Bloat on the ROMs too.

So here it is, download it from HTC here.

Download: AT&T Tilt Windows Mobile 6.1 Software (ROM Version 3.57.502.2 WWE)
Date Updated: 08/05/2008
File Size: Approximately 88 M

Why Update:
This ROM update is intended for the AT&T Tilt only and users should not load or attempt to load this version on any other device as it may cause serious issues/damage.

[Read more]

It’s Official - AT&T and HTC Release WM 6.1 for the AT&T Tilt

The tipster was right on with the 26th being the date, I kind had a hunch since I had a little insight from HTC as well. :)

Anyhow, I was in training for work today when it hit and the emails started coming in that it was online now, so I made a post to discuss it on Tiltsite. Make sure to use the forums to discuss upgrading as well if you have tips or any problems.

Kris has promised to bring us more info as well, once he gets his flashed and all. Kip has posted a piece on the differences between the Bloat on the ROMs too.

So here it is, download it from HTC here.

Download: AT&T Tilt Windows Mobile 6.1 Software (ROM Version 3.57.502.2 WWE)
Date Updated: 08/05/2008
File Size: Approximately 88 M

Why Update:
This ROM update is intended for the AT&T Tilt only and users should not load or attempt to load this version on any other device as it may cause serious issues/damage.

[Read more]