Category Archives: Pocket PC

Microsoft Pocket PC

MWg Atom Life – Inexpensive Powerhouse

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MWg Atom Life I’ve just recently been picking up news of a recently released Windows Mobile device running WM6, with a 624MHz processor and 1GB of ROM.  For a decent price: $400(US)!  Check out the review at Cellubration of the MWg Atom Life Windows Mobile 6 Phone.

Here are a rundown of the specs.

  • Windows Mobile 6
  • TriBand GSM/EDGE
  • DualBand UMTS/HSDPA
  • 64MB RAM
  • 1GB ROM
  • 624MHz Intel XScale
  • FM Radio
  • WiFi b/g
  • Bluetooth 1.2 (with A2DP)
  • 2.7″ QVGA
  • 2MP Camera on rear
  • Second, forward facing VGA camera
  • MiniSD Slot – supports miniSDHC cards

Granted, there are a few things missing – the 850MHz band for US AT&T, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR would be nice, 128MB RAM would also be appreciated, and at least for me, 1700MHz support for the upcoming T-Mobile USA 3G launch sometime in the next decade.

Even so, the $400 price tag, 1GB of ROM storage, FM radio and the minimal software load (Mostly just WM6 Pro), clean lines, and light weight is kinda killer.  Of course, I’ve been spending the last two years with an HTC Wizard, so I’m looking at the fast processor and drooling.

Anyway, check out the detailed review over at Cellubration.

Via: Cellubration – MWg Atom Life

New Poll at PPC Thoughts

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Pocket PC Thoughts Ed Hansbury over at Pocket PC Thoughts has a good poll on what input method people are using on their smartphone.  Head on over to “What Is Your Primary Input Method On Your Pocket PC” and get your vote in.

Personally, I use the slide-out keyboard on my T-Mobile MDA, but you may prefer otherwise.  Head over and cast your vote.

Via: Pocket PC Thoughts – What Is Your Primary Input Method On Your Pocket PC

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SBSH PhoneWeaver

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Now, I know I’m late on getting this news out, so don’t work me over too much!  SBSH has released PhoneWeaver – a PPC application that offers a number of needed features that should be part of the base operating system.

A Phone Profile manager that allows you to manage the phone status based on time, date, AC/DC, sync status and so on.  A Today Screen Plugin that gives quick visuals to the status of Bluetooth, WiFi, Mail, time, etc…

Below is the official SBSH news release:


We are excited to introduce to you the all new SBSH PhoneWeaver!
PhoneWeaver is a brand new addition to our Pocket PC applications catalog, designed especially for users using Phone Edition Windows Mobile devices.
PhoneWeaver is a phone management application designed to help control your phone state parameters in the most intuitive way. Using profiles you can add logical links between your phone state and your agenda, time of day and much more.

PhoneWeaver Highlights
Profile Manager – Creating your own profiles has never been easier! Easily create profiles that define your phone behavior based on different variables and states of your phone. Activate profiles based on time or date, charging state, synchronization status, agenda schedule and much more!
Today Screen Plugin – PhoneWeaver comes with a clean and straightforward Today plugin that helps you view the current active profile and manually switch profiles. Additionally, it includes switches allowing to activate or disable your phone radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and push mail. The Today plugin also comes with complete one-hand navigation.
LightWeight Application – PhoneWeaver fulfils an essential function that Windows Mobile phones are missing. As such, PhoneWeaver memory footprint is extremely small, allowing to use PhoneWeaver without effecting your device performance and yet enjoy powerful profiling capabilities.
Windows Mobile 6 Compatibility – PhoneWeaver is compatible with Pocket PC 2003, Windows Mobile 5 and new Windows Mobile 6 operating systems. Complete multi-language support including: English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish. VGA devices and all available screen orientations are supported!
We invite you to read more about the new PhoneWeaver version at our forums at the following URL:
http://www.sbsh.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=17059

- Click here to read more and download the new PhoneWeaver

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Microsoft Voice Command 1.6 Reviewed at The Two Inch View

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Microsoft Voice Command 1.6 Windows Mobile Jason Dunn reviews Microsoft’s latest version of Voice Command.  The new version really seems to have been updated with enhanced Bluetooth features more than anything else.

While I’ve used Voice Command in previous incarnations, I’m not sure if this upgrade is for me.  While the added Bluetooth support takes care of many complaints in that area, I was hoping for more enhancements of what you can use voice for in the program.

Still, if you have your hands full all the time, or have adapted to the way voice command works, this would be a very useful upgrade in its own right.

Via: The Two Inch View – Microsoft Voice Command 1.6 Reviewed

NetFront 3.4 Technical Preview Announced

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ACCESS NetFront Browser for Pocket PC Today, ACCESS Co., LTD has announced the Technical Preview of their award winning NetFront browser for Pocket PC.  In the new version, improved performance is accomplished by enhanced rendering speed due to optimization of the communication processing and a review of the model structure.  A new “Visual Bookmarks” feature allows you to view a (previously saved) thumbnail of the page before loading it.  In addition, an innovative “Page Pilot” view that allows you to see the entire page layout and select which portion you want to zoom into (view).

Better hurry though, the preview expires on January 31st, 2007!  Additional things to know about the preview version is the requirement for Windows Mobile 5, tabs are restricted to 2, there is no Flash support at present, and support for Java (via JV-Lite2) is missing.

I’ll be testing the new version and give an overview over the coming weekend for those that are interested but have not “ponyed up” for a 3rd party PPC browser.

TOKYO, Japan, – January 19, 2006 – ACCESS CO., LTD. (TSE:4813) today announced the availability of a technical preview version of its NetFront Browser v3.4 for Pocket PC, an Internet browser for Pocket PC devices.  By making this technical preview available, ACCESS expects to obtain extensive feedback from users prior to releasing the final commercial version of the browser, which is scheduled for release in the first half of this year.  Both the Japanese and English language versions of the technical preview version of NetFront Browser v3.4 for Pocket PC will be available for download from ACCESS’ website free of charge.

The NetFront Browser v3.4 is designed to provide high performance in resource-constrained environments such as those with limited memory or CPU capabilities and is an ideal Internet browser for mobile terminals and other consumer electronics.  The NetFront Browser v3.4 enables full Internet browsing on more than 1,000 commercial devices including PDAs and smartphones. There are currently 300 million NetFront Browser deployments worldwide.

The technical preview version of NetFront Browser v.3.4 for Pocket PC delivers significant functionality to both corporate and individual users including increased operating speed thanks to optimized communications processing and a redesigned module structure.  The technical preview version also includes a new, improved Page Pilotâ„¢ feature, which allows users to quickly zoom in on any area of a Web page.  Also featured is Visual Bookmark an advanced technology that allows users to easily select a bookmark through a thumbnail image.

ACCESS will incorporate valuable customer feedback received from the availability of the technical preview version into the final commercial release of NetFront Browser v3.4 for Pocket PC. 

The technical preview version NetFront Browser 3.4 for Pocket PC can be downloaded at:
Japanese version: http://nfppc.access.co.jp/about_34.html
English version: http://www.access-company.com/products/netfrontmobile/browser/34_wm_tp.html

About ACCESS CO., LTD.
ACCESS CO., LTD., is a global company providing leading technology, software products and platforms for web browsing, mobile phones, wireless handhelds and other networked devices. ACCESS’ product portfolio, including its NetFrontâ„¢ browser, Palm OS® and the ACCESS Linux Platformâ„¢ provide customers with solutions that enable faster time-to-market, flexibility and customizability. The Company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operates 29 subsidiaries and affiliates within Asia, Europe and the United States. ACCESS is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Index under the number 4813. For more information about ACCESS, please visit http://www.access-company.com/

ACCESS and NetFront are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACCESS CO., LTD. in Japan and other countries.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Press Release: ACCESS Releases Technical Preview Version of NetFrontâ„¢ Browser v3.4 for Pocket PC

HTC Wizard Call Dropping Issue Fixed!

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T-Mobile MDA Windows Mobile Pocket PC PhoneI’ve had the worst problem with my T-Mobile MDA dropping calls about 4 minutes into a call. While the exact time of the drop varied (sometimes up to 10 minutes into a call) it was consistent to the point that everyone I talked to knew about when it would happen.

I’ve been searching all over the ‘net trying to find the cause of the issue and a fix/workaround for it. I finally found it! Not only are MDA’s having the problem, but many HTC Wizard class devices like the Cingular 8125.

The problem seems to appear after upgrading to the latest firmware from the provider – in my case the v2.26 ROM from T-Mobile (though I did see it as well with the 2.24 ROM for QTek on my device). The issue is that HTC had implemented a “feature” in the latest ROM that would help a data connection re-establish itself when it was unsure if the GPRS/EDGE connection was there. It would simply reboot the radio portion of the phone – whether a voice (GSM) session was in process or not!

The fix is to simply add a registry key that disables this new “feature”. Now that I know what the fix is, I needed to share it with anyone who passes by my blog. If you have this problem and use a HTC Wizard class device listed below, please check out the fix and the link to where I found it.

list

Here is the fix to the problem, and this page at XDA Developers clued me in.

Due to network conditions, signal coverage and some other factors, there is a small chance the data connection can become detached from the network, but the device is not aware of the detachment. This is normal in real world scenarios. Since data packages can be sent without any error being returned, the device may incorrectly think the connection is still valid. To correct this, HTC introduced a mechanism to watch for such conditions. After the device sends out data without receiving any network acknowledgment for a certain period of time, the device will try to detach from the network and re-establish the data connection. Usually this will silently re-establish the data connection without the user noticing it. Due to radio platform limitations, this task cannot be performed during a voice call. When both of these conditions are met (data being sent out for a period of time with no network acknowledgment, and an active voice call), the device will reset the radio to address the problem.

HTC has provided the following registry key setting to disable the auto-correction mechanism:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEDriversBuiltInRIL]

“GPRSStallWorkaround”=dword:0

I truly hope that this helps you with your HTC Wizard class device – I know I’m much happier now that I’ve found the fix for the problem.

** Re-posted from RickMahn.com with permission by Rick M.**

HTC P4350 Reviewed by CoolSmartPhone

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The HTC Herald class of device has been reviewed by CoolSmartPhone in the HTC P4350.  This device is the latest in the evolution from the original HTC Wizard class from 18 months ago.

The old: sliding QWERTY keyboard, GPRS/EDGE, WiFi, 200MHz processor, QVGA screen, 128MB ROM, 64MB RAM.

The new: keyboard slides out from the opposite side, microSD, Bluetooth 2.0, 2 megapixel camera.

All around a good device, and CoolSmartPhone publishes another top-notch review (thanks Gears!).

Via: CoolSmartPhone – HTC P4350 Review

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Engadget digs up HTC Omni specifications

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Darren Murph over at Engadget Mobile has uncovered detailed specifications on the new HTC Omni Windows Mobile device.  It seems that it will boast an 800×480 4″ display, GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, rotating clamshell screen, 400MHz processor and QWERTY keyboard.  Good stuff.

Via: Engadget Mobile – HTC Omni specifications unearthed

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PhatPad 4 Released

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PhatWare has released version 4 of the award winning PhatPad note taking application. With every successive release, new features and functionality has been added, v4.0 is no different.

New Feature Highlights

  • Allows to load background images
  • Allows toolbar customization
  • Supports handwriting recognition (PenOffice and/or CalliGrapher software is required, sold separately); Tablet PC recognizer can be also used
  • Supports vertical and horizontal auto scrolling
  • Allows to mix digital text, handwriting and drawing on the same page
  • Supports document templates
  • Supports printing (Desktop/Tablet PC)
  • Supports document password protection with 265-bit encryption
  • Includes 7 UI themes (Desktop/Tablet PC)
  • Includes new bring to front/send to back commands
  • Includes spell checker for Desktop PC
  • Allows changing page order in the PhatPad document
  • Allows notes animation with new Animation feature
  • Includes multiple customizable toolbars
  • Includes new File and Page managers for Pocket PC
  • Includes new Pocket PC Today screen add-on
  • Supports Windows Mobile 5.0 more…
  • Supports Windows Vista (x86 and x64)

I’ve used PhatPad on many occasions, but with my own move to Internet based services, I’ve found less need for local applications on my Pocket PCs.  For the simple note taking that I need, Pocket Word suffices quite nicely.

Product homepage: PhatPad – take handwritten notes anywhere.

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HTC’s Athena (X7500)

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HTC Athena HTC X7500 Pocket PC Phone Though there is some confusion on the exact specifications on the Athena class devices, it sure looks like a winner from a pure usability perspective.

The device sports a larger screen like larger PDA devices rather than the 2″ size that grace most PPC phones these days.  With a wide assortment of wireless connectivity options, and a detachable QWERTY keyboard, this may be a great alternative to the UMPC solutions currently available, especially if this device has VGA as it is rumored to.

Via: Engadget Mobile – HTC’s Athena (X7500): a WinMo PPC, not UMPC

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