Well I think I’ve finally found the best solution for synchronizing Outlook with Google Contacts and Google Calendar.  It’s CompanionLink, which has Outlook synchronization tools for a number of environments and scenarios.

No, this isn’t a paid post. I found CompanionLink for Google Android in my searches for a reliable sync tool for Outlook & Gmail, which was maid imperative with my purchase of the T-Mobile G1.

In previous attempts, I’ve used Thunderbird with various contact and calendar sync tools, but they just didn’t cut it.  They also were a manual process for the most part.

CompanionLink is a great tool that just sits and runs in your Windows tray and keeps your contacts, calendar, and tasks synchronized in the background.  Great stuff.

Redefining Information Security for S60 Phones!

December 15th, 2008 - SBSH Mobile Software announced today the release of the all new SBSH SafeWallet Pro for S60!. Following the recent release of SafeWallet Pro for BlackBerry devices, we are excited to bring today SafeWallet Pro also to our valued S60 users! SafeWallet Pro is a secure storage application designed to help you manage all your private information in one place!

SafeWallet Pro includes a mobile version for your S60 device and a PC companion that will ensure your sensitive information is with you all the time. Use SafeWallet Pro to store any sensitive information such as: credit cards info, online passwords, bank account info, registration codes, ATM PINs, contact information and much more!

SafeWallet uses 256-bit AES encryption, the same standard adopted by the U.S. government, along with security practices based on intelligence forces experience, to ensure the safety of your sensitive information!

SBSH SafeWallet Pro Highlights

Security First - Backed with 256-bit AES encryption engine that meets US government standards. Protect your information with encrypted wallets, Auto-Close preventing SafeWallet from running at the background and more!

Desktop Companion - SafeWallet Pro ships with a PC companion to bring a complete solution for both your S60 device and Windows PC! SafeWallet for PC and S60 automatically synchronize your wallets making sure your latest sensitive information is always with you!

Advanced Utilities - Card searching; Use Favorites folder to access your most used cards; Simple and user friendly interface that allows you to easily manage your wallets, folders and cards; Passwords copy to clipboard and more!

Cards & Templates - Use pre-defined templates to create cards based on your personal needs; Add, edit or remove fields from existing cards; Assign icons to cards and folders from over 250 professionally designed icons.

SafeWallet Pro for S60 offers a myriad of exciting features and innovations! Click here to read the full development note posted at our company forums

Pricing and Availability

SafeWallet Pro for S60 costs $24.95

SafeWallet Pro for S60 can be purchased using the SBSH Online Store at the following URL: http://www.sbsh.net/products/symbian_s60/safewallet_pro/add_to_cart

Downloads and Support

SBSH SafeWallet Pro 12 day trial version can be downloaded at the following URL: http://www.sbsh.net/products/symbian_s60/safewallet_pro/download

For any additional questions/suggestions we invite you to post at our forums: Click here to enter SBSH forums

Or Click here to contact our support team

About SBSH Mobile Software

SBSH Mobile Software is a rapidly growing software firm specializing in the mobile market, developing software solutions for Windows Mobile Professional, Classic and Standard devices, Symbian Series 60 devices and BlackBerry RIM devices. SBSH Mobile Software offers a variety of best-selling applications for the fast growing mobile market enhancing end-users experience and providing added-value for mobile devices.

SBSH Mobile Software LTD is a privately held company based in Tel Aviv, Israel. SBSH Mobile Software was founded in February 2002.

http://www.sbsh.net

PhoneScoop has the scoop (a hands-on overview) on the new Nokia N97 announced today at Nokia World 08 in Barcelona.

Sporting a large 3.5” 360×640 display, the N97 is Nokia’s latest high-end phone, and their first full touch-screen device.  The N97 is mostly a 3G world-phone, missing only the 1700MHz band used by T-Mobile USA.  It does have quad-band GSM/EDGE and tri-band WCDMA/HSDPA so it will work with AT&T here in the U.S.

As usual with Nokia’s high-end N-series devices, it has the usual complement of Nokia goodness, and a 5MP camera with Carl Zeiss lenses.  Nokia “gets” the storage part too, with 32GB on-board memory and a microSD slot for future expansion options.

Check out PhoneScoop’s quick “hands on” overview (below) from Nokia World in Barcelona, and take a look at the full product sheet from Nokia here.

Via: PhoneScoop | Nokia World: N97 Hands On

Pocketables is running a poll on the minimum screen resolution for mobile internet devices.  While most people would probably prefer more resolution than less, the reality is a compromise of cost vs. size vs. weight.

Luckily as we progress into the future these all change and the ratio improves as technology improves and volume of scale reduces production costs.  Still, today we have an exceptionally large number of QVGA (240×320) devices on the market, and are only now seeing higher resolution devices being released.  The iPhone is probably the most well known higher resolution device with a resolution of 320×480, basically half-VGA (HVGA), with the T-Mobile G1 sharing this resolution.

The fun stuff is just starting to hit the market though, with 480×640 and 480×800 resolutions in the high-end devices.

All of this begs the question that Pocketables is asking: What is the minimum resolution for the mobile Internet?  Follow the link below to participate in the poll!

Via: Pocketables | Poll: Minimum screen resolution for mobile internet

I received my T-Mobile G1 last week, just in time for a the October Social Media Breakfast – Twin Cities event on Friday.

It’s been the best smartphone I’ve yet had the chance to work with. While I’ve not had an iPhone (and probably won’t) I can tell you that in my experience, Android surpasses S60, Windows Mobile, and Palm.

I’m going to work up a great post about the device, covering the highs and lows of Android and the G1 hardware it runs on. It’s a winner for me, but I won’t deny that there are issues that need to be addressed by Google, and opportunities for independent developers.

According to Fierce Mobile Content, MySpace is launching a version of MySpace Mobile optimized for the Google Android platform. Below is the news release from MySpace.

MYSPACE MOBILE ANNOUNCES ANDROID APPLICATION

MySpace, the world’s premier social network and leading mobile social network, today announced a free, new MySpace Mobile experience customized for Android and available via the Android Market. More than two million daily unique users visit MySpace’s mobile website, and according to ABI Research 70 percent of people who use social networks on mobile have visited MySpace.

"MySpace users will love the new Android integration with cool features like instant photo uploading and access to the latest shows from their favorite bands," said John Faith, vice president and general manager of Mobile for MySpace. "We want to ensure that all users have access to their global MySpace network while they’re on-the-go, and we believe Android is a natural fit for an optimized MySpace Mobile experience."

The MySpace Android application lends itself to a personal, unique MySpace experience and allows for a deep integration with the device including:

* Instant photo uploading from an Android device to a MySpace profile
* Check out tour schedules on band profiles
* View and comment on photos, profiles, and bulletins
* Search and add new friends
* Send and read messages
* Update and view mood and status

The MySpace Android application is integrated exclusively with Shazam, the world’s leading mobile music discovery provider. The integration allows MySpace users to identify music by holding the phone towards an unknown song and connect to the artist’s MySpace page. From there you can see band information, check out photos of the band or artists and even check Upcoming Shows schedules.

"We are excited about this collaboration," said Andrew Fisher, CEO of Shazam. "It allows users to discover music at the point of inspiration and benefit from MySpace’s’ unique and rich content."

MySpace has a deep commitment to provide our mobile users with the social tools to discover, share, connect, and communicate on-the-go. MySpace’s mobile lineup includes the MySpace mobile website, http://m.myspace.com, and several integrated applications for specific devices. MySpace has developed applications for Android, Sidekick, iPhone, and is currently developing an application for Blackberry.

###

About MySpace

MySpace, a unit of Fox Interactive Media Inc., is the premier lifestyle portal for connecting with friends, discovering popular culture, and making a positive impact on the world. MySpace has created a connected global community by integrating web profiles, blogs, instant messaging, e-mail, music streaming, music videos, photo galleries, classified listings, events, groups, college communities, and member forums. MySpace’s international network includes more than 30 localized community sites in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Latin America, Mexico, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, India, Japan, and New Zealand. Fox Interactive Media is a division of News Corp. (NYSE:NWS - News, NWS.A - News; ASX:NWS - News, NWSLV - News).

Via: Fierce Mobile Content - MySpace Mobile launches on Android

Looks like Christmas is in October for me this year. I’ll be looking for the new T-Mobile G1 to show up around the 10th of November according to the order information. Yeah, I couldn’t help joining over 1.5 million other new Android fans and preordered the phone last night.

I’ve been waiting for some time for the right phone to come along, and this may be it. For sure, it’s a whole new ballgame instead of Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Nokia S60, iPhone, or Palm.

Let’s see… Google Maps integration, GPS, Push Gmail, Google & YouTube integration, 3G on T-Mobile (so I don’t have to change carriers), the Android Market, and integration with Amazon MP3 store. Too cool.

I’ll post on the device as I get it and share what I learn about it. Happy to have an exciting 3G smartphone on T-Mobile for a change. I’ve made my darn T-Mobile MDA last nearly 3 years!

Cross-posted from rickmahn.com

Photo credit: T-Mobile

Looks like T-Mobile is launching T-Mobile devPartner Community. A chance for the carrier to provide third party application developers to more easily market their wares to the operator.

With technical support, a virtual lab, application trials, and more, it appears to offer the independent developer a great opportunity to tap the Tmo user base. T-Mobile itself suggests that it’s customers download a substantial amount of mobile applications in spite of T-Mobile having the lowest data ARPU of the major US carriers.

Obviously, T-Mobile is following other carriers in trying to leverage some of the success of the hugely popular Apple iPhone AppStore. We’ll be interested to see if this strategy works out.

Via FierceMobileContent: T-Mobile USA to launch mobile apps developer program

Stepping up to the plate in it’s community support role, T-Mobile on Friday announced its plans for supporting the areas targeted by Hurricane Gustav. In the press release, they shared the following:

• Portable generators and the fuel to run them to power mobile cell sites.
• Microwave equipment for back links in case of T1 outages to their cells and HotSpot locations.
• Several Cells-On-Wheels to roll in and augment coverage as needed.
• Monitor and work to maintain coverage and capacity on evacuation routes.

Overall a great example of corporate responsibility to their customers and communities they serve. You can read more about their efforts in preparing in their Friday press release.

Since I “upgraded” from my HTC Wizard device to a Nokia feature phone (XpressMusic 5310 on T-Mobile) a question has been bubbling in my mind. Do high-end devices like iPhone, BlackBerry, S60, Palm, and Windows Mobile really bring more functionality and solve the issues we believe they will?

So far my experience is mixed, but positive overall. Some things are super-easy, some more difficult. The niftiest thing for me with this device is something I’ve always downplayed about my previous smartphones: aesthetics. It’s been literally years since I had a phone that could be considered “sexy”, so that’s one of the fun things.

Many functions are quite easy and really well implemented. Of course, my new one is a music-oriented phone, so that’s one feature that’s well done. Sure it can’t store 80GB of tunes, but the 4GB miniSD holds more albums synced off Rhapsody than I can listen to in a week – more music than I had normally listed to in the past. The FM radio is also a nice feature that’s well implemented.

Things that aren’t as easy as a smartphone: email & web. Obvious really, but I’m surprised at how much I really can do on it. Aside from the T-9 text recognition, email really is darn hard to do – especially on devices where the carrier (T-Mobile in this case) has screwed around with the capabilities. I can’t even add my Google-hosted domain’s email account because of what they’ve done. The way this particular device handles email (and I’m sure most feature phones are similar) is to have them all sent as SMS messages that can be charged for.

This sucks because I’m paying for their “all you can eat” Internet package, an additional $30 a month – why can’t I configure simple POP email? Stupid when you consider that the standard Nokia 5310 software stack provides easy configuration for POP. Guess which firmware I’ve loaded – it’s not T-Mobile’s any longer.

Still, I can get email on the phone – even could with the T-Mobile firmware, I just used the browser. Yes, the browser is limited at best, but there’s this great Java based browser called Opera – yeah I thought you knew about that. ‘Nuff said.

So, I’m sitting here with a phone that cost me $50, I can install software to do specific things, I get email (pulled, not pushed – but that’s OK by me), IM, tunes, ‘net browsing, text & picture messaging, 2MP camera, video recording, miniSD slot, EDGE (ok, wish it were 3G), QVGA screen on a 3.5” device (great picture), more than twice the battery life than my old HTC Wizard, and extremely pocketable. I can’t find anything wrong.

I’ll readily admit that it lacks a certain coolness of many of the higher-end devices like WinMo, Blackberry, S60 and so on. The iPhone is in a class by itself on the cool meter so I won’t even go there.

I’m content though, until there really is a viable, useable, cool, fun 3G touch-based smartphone on T-Mobile. I know I’ll have to keep waiting, but at least I didn’t drop $700 on the HTC Touch Diamond, just to have a cool phone. Now I can spend the remaining $650 on something like an Acer Aspire One netbook, and a Flip Mineo. Maybe I should think of dropping my T-Mobile Internet package and picking up a Verizon EVDO data package… I’ll have to think about that.

Photo credit: nobihaya