Filed in categories: News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Windows Phone

Which is faster, your smartphone or a Windows Phone? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 24, 2012 at 7:57 pm.

In 1992 Nintendo won a lawsuit against Atari and was able to lock-out third-party software vendors from providing games for its gaming systems unless they purchased a key (license). Since then the Holy Grail of gaming, smartphone and now computer system companies was to bring to market systems where they had control of every third-party device and program for that systems. By control, I mean, they get paid an upfront licensing fee, a per-unit sold payment or both.

The market has shifted to the point where all of the available gaming consoles operate that way. Today, if you buy an Xbox 360, Sony PS3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, etc. you’re only going to be able to purchase software and hardware from licensed developers.

Compelling customers to purchase all products and services related to the base product from the original manufacturer is not unique to the computing industry. Through various means everyone from razor manufacturers to auto makers utilize the practice to varying degrees. As companies have discovered they can lock out competition for those add-on sales through technology and the courts it has grown more and more prevalent.

At times the consumer may benefit, at least initially, from this practice. Many manufacturers will price the base item lower than they normally would. Of course, they expect to make more money once the purchaser begins making additional purchases.

In addition, there are some that will argue that the original manufacturer is also the best possible entity for checking add-on products for stability and compatibility. That’s potentially true if that’s really being done. Unfortunately, there’s more than enough evidence to indicate that there really isn’t a lot of stability testing going on before items are released.

So, let’s talk about the downsides; Recently, Sony’s ineptitude at standard network security highlighted a huge issue. If the only place you can purchase software or receive necessary services goes down for any reason the device you have may become little more than a paper weight. What happens to iOS customers if Apple’s App Store or iTunes is brought down for any extended period?

Many of Sony’s PlayStation Network customers recently went without online play for weeks after Sony was unable or unwilling to secure its network. Many of Sony’s customers were angry about the outage and Sony’s lack of care with their personal information; some even brought a class-action lawsuit.

Well, if you can’t hire quality systems security professionals the next best thing is to hire good lawyers. Sony has decided to change their PlayStation Network License to disallow any further class action lawsuits. That type of clause isn’t all that unusual, many companies would rather have all complaints brought against them be heard by arbitrators. Let’s just say that companies don’t lose very often when the Judge owes his income to that company. But, when a company changes their terms and demands all existing customers either accept the new terms or stop using the service it becomes what we lawyer types call a contract of adhesion. That’s a contract where one side has all the bargaining power and the only choice the other side has is to agree or leave.

If you’re purchasing a piece of software and you don’t like the license terms you generally have the right to return the software. While you may be unhappy you really haven’t been hurt financially. But, can that be said for someone who has invested hundreds of dollars in a PlayStation system? If you don’t agree to Sony’s new rules you’re now unable to participate in the service that very well may have been the reason you purchased the system and because the system is closed there’s no other place to procure those types of services.

Okay, so that doesn’t bother you. There are too many class action lawsuits and the network outage wasn’t Sony’s fault anyway…how should they have known there were hackers out there? Let’s walk down the path of closed systems a bit further. As I wrote earlier the primary reason for these types of systems is to increase profits to the company. One of the ways a company makes money is by extending the sales life of products.

During the 1990s Microsoft was found to have acted in an anti-competitive way towards several of its competitors most notably a web browser company called Netscape. Microsoft allegedly engaged in unfair technical hurdles, bundling and sales tactics to slow and block Netscape (and others) from selling their products meant to run on Windows. With a closed system it becomes much easier. If a company comes up with the next big thing to run on your system you either delay approval of the technology until your competing product is improved or don’t approve it at all. They can also force companies to remove features from their product to make them less desirable (Apple recently forced all eBook apps to remove the built-in links to their book stores).

Finally, the tin-hat crowd out there claims an even bigger risk. Corporations can use their control over the system to censor apps and content they find objectionable or promote content they believe to be in their best interest. Few would complain if the capability is used to block child pornography, but what if it is utilized to promote a political agenda that’s favorable to the corporation? Or censor something they find to be unfavorable (Apple recently removed an App that highlighted serious problems with one of their manufacturing partners, Foxconn Technology Group).

The market leader in smartphone OS is currently Google’s Android which is an open system. Google does provide its own market, but competitive stores are also available, including one by Amazon. It’s also relatively easy to install apps from other sources (side loading). Unfortunately, Google really doesn’t have a competitive answer to MacOS or Windows. Chrome OS is available, but the early versions leave much to be desired. Google will have to find a way to provide a platform that works well throughout the computing spectrum or find itself forced out of the operating system market.

I like choice. I like being able to buy my software from a wide variety of vendors. I like that a couple of people working in their garage can still come up with a revolutionary piece of software and be able to distribute it without the current market leader having the right of review and refusal. I believe things are headed in the wrong direction for the consumer and I hope others begin to see the problems we’re facing and make smart choices going forward.

Filed in categories: Android related, Articles, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Android, Desktop, ecosystem, iOS, Mobile, operating system, Windows

Technology Ecosystems – Good for Profits, Bad for Consumers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2011 at 11:00 am.

My husband is a great guy with only one tiny flaw – he can’t remember more than three things on a list.  So if I ask him to go to the store and pick up eggs, milk, cheese, and bread, I’ll only get 3 of them or I’ll get a call asking what he was supposed to get.  I’ve been looking for a good shopping app that will allow me to send him a list on his iPhone that he can check items off – not as easy to find as I hoped.  The Grocery Gadget app for iPhone/ iPod touch and iPad is exactly what I was looking for.  (There are also mobile versions for Blackberry, Android, Nokia, and Windows phones.)  I have the app on my iPad so that I can set up a list for  the grocery store, a list for Sam’s Club (my own custom list), office supplies, etc.  I can specify how many of each, brand, even include a picture of the exact item I want.  I can specify stores for the items, enter notes, and enter prices and taxes so I’ll have an idea of how much my shopping junket will cost.  Best of all, I can set up a free group account that we both can join so that I can push my grocery list to all devices in the group.  I can log on at the Grocery Gadget website so I can add/delete shopping categories and create lists.  The lists are permanent, so I can set up a master list of the things I commonly buy, then I can quickly indicate just what I need for this shopping trip.  As the items are added to the cart, check it off the list so you’ll see only the things still needed.  This checked status is quickly pushed to all devices in the group, so Butch and I can split up in the store and each shop half the list without duplicating efforts.  The universal app is available in a free version, a $0.99 basic version, and a $3.99 fully-leaded version (shown in screen capture).

Filed in categories: Android related, Blackberry related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: iOS app, shopping list

Grocery Gadget is More than a Grocery List originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 4, 2011 at 11:00 am.

It seems that all the cool applications these days are for mobile platforms. One of the items in the Google I/O keynote was the announcement of the availability of Angry Birds in Chrome. BlueStacks wants to enable Android Apps to run on Windows machines. Unlike other environments, Android Apps can run side by side with Windows programs. BlueStacks plans is to enable running Androids Apps also in ChromeOS, and to run Windows programs on Android. This can help to reduce the amount of platforms you develop for. On the other hand, sometimes it’s nice to have a special version with special challenges, like the special level in Angry Birds for Chrome.

BlueStacks is in alpha stage, so you can sign-up to get updates or become an alpha tester in the BlueStacks Facebook page.

Filed in categories: Android related, News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged:

BlueStacks plan to enable running Android Apps on Windows machines originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 1, 2011 at 8:00 pm.

Android Central‘s got a scoop on Dell’s roadmap for tablets in 2011, and they’re using Android and Windows 7. Three devices are shown, starting with a 10″ Android tablet based on nVidia’s Tegra T25 and sporting Honeycomb with Dell’s Stage 1.5 user interface. Windows 7 is the OS of choice on the other two devices: A 10″ built on Intel’s Oak Trail at 1.5GHz with 128GB of SSD storage and a 13″ convertible tablet using Intel’s Huron River family to provide the horsepower – up to an i7 SVU. The Android tablet is called the Streak Pro and is scheduled to ship first, in June, with the convertible 13″ ( Latitude XT-3 ) following in July and the 10″ Windows 7 tablet ( Latitude ST ) dropping in October. I’m curious about Dell’s Stage interface over Honeycomb,Honeycomb’s pretty awesome as is. Click the link to read more at Android Central.

Filed in categories: Android related, News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Android, Dell Streak, Tablet

Dell’s Tablet Roadmap Released originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2011 at 8:00 am.

The HTC Arrive is the second landscape QWERTY slider to run Windows Phone 7 (the first was the LG Quantum), but HTC’s first try at this combination of form-factor and OS. It’s also the first CDMA Windows Phone 7 device, so this phone has a lot of “firsts” going for it.

Quick Specs:

• OS: Microsoft Windows Phone 7 (with “NoDo” update)
• Screen: 3.6″ 480×800 capacitive touchscreen
• Processor: 1GHz Snapdragon QSD8650
• Memory: 512 MB ROM, 576 MB RAM, 16 GB eMMC
• Camera: 5MP + 720p Video
• Dimensions: 4.6 x 2.3 x 0.6 inches (118 x 59 x 15.5 mm)
• Weight: 6.5 oz (184 g)
• Battery: 1500mAh Li-Ion

As far as unboxings go, there’s really nothing special about the Arrive. As you can see in the unboxing video below, it’s rather plain packaging and no surprising accessories. The one upside to getting smartphones from Sprint is, as far as I know, they all come with hefty, printed user manuals in the box; everyone else tends to give you a dozen-page startup guide and direct you to their website for a downloadable owner’s manual. If you’re a manual reader like I am, you appreciate the hardcopy.

Hardware

One thing you immediately notice about the Arrive is that it’s heavy. I’m used to a heavy phone — my daily driver is an HTC EVO 4G with an extended (3500mAh) battery, which weighs just under 7 oz. The Arrive, with a standard battery, is 6.5 oz. And it’s not a svelte 6.5 oz., either…this phone is quite thick (0.6 inches), pretty typical of landscape QWERTY sliders. Finally, the USB plug placement (lower left corner) means you can’t easily hold the phone in your left hand while it’s charging.

Thankfully, that pretty much wraps up the negatives on the Arrive’s hardware.  I found most other physical features to be fine, if not outstanding.

First, the screen. At an oh-so-typical 800×480 resolution, there’s no delight there, but at just 3.6″ on the diagonal, it provides around 260 pixels per linear inch. That’s not quite what Apple’s Retina Display pulls off, but it’s pretty close to what the human eye can typically discern (300 dpi). Ultimately, though, it’s how it looks, and the Arrive’s display looks great. It has good contrast, excellent color, text is very crisp, and using it is thoroughly enjoyable.  Off-axis viewing could be better, but I’ve seen much worse.

Being a QWERTY slider, we have to worry about two additional features: the hinge/slider mechanism and the keyboard. The 5-row keyboard feels terrific. Keys give good tactile feedback without being too stiff. Spacing is good and backlighting is quite even across all the keys. Thankfully, HTC was thoughtful enough to provide two tiny LEDs (just to the left of the A key) to indicate when the Shift and Function keys are active. One niggle is that the backspace key seems too high on the right side, as I instinctively tap where the return key is (which seems like it should be lower). But, I’m sure I’d get used to it. Personally, I’m not crazy about landscape sliders, as it seems like my thumbs have to travel too far to hit the keys in the middle. But, as they go, this is a good one.

The slider and hinge mechanism feels sold. I say “hinge” because, unlike most landscape sliders, this one also has about a tilt of around 27 or 28 degrees above horizontal. As you can see in the hardwar video below, it flips up at the end of its travel. To be honest, I’m conflicted about this tilt-sliding thing. While I want to like it, I find myself constantly making small adjustments while holding it. When I’m looking at the screen, I want it to be perpendicular to my eyes. But when I glance at the keyboard, I want that to be perpendicular, too. And, since they can’t both be at the same time, I’m tilting it back and forth quickly. One benefit of the tilt-slider configuration is that, when you have it open and sitting on a desk or table, the screen is easily visible. So, there’s that…which is nice. But, one complaint: when I slide open the keyboard, I’d assume the phone would become unlocked and ready to go. Nope…you still have to slide up (or, if holding it by the keyboard, slide to the left) the lock screen to be able to use the phone. Not easy to do one-handed.

Sound quality is excellent. The speakers on the Arrive are terrific: loud and clear. With stereo front-facing speakers, watching videos is a pretty decent experience even without headphones. The volume control rocker on the Arrive’s left side is huge and rather easy to hit; so easy, in fact, that I often hit the volume bar picking up the phone. If the screen is on — even locked — at the time, the volume changes. One complaint: even at the lowest volume setting, it’s still pretty loud (not good for some Fruit Ninja after the spouse has fallen asleep).

The camera is decent…probably about average for today’s smartphones. It’s a 5MP still shooter that can also do 720p video, which is fairly typical spec-wise. Here are some sample photos: my daughter eating ice cream in a typically lit shop at night, and an outdoor scene in early evening. While the camera has a lot of features — several scene modes and post-processing effects — perhaps the feature I’m most glad to see is the Macro capability. I was able to focus up to about 2 inches away from the phone, making it much easier to capture small details and text.  Even though I’m focusing on hardware in this section, I have to say that there are some annoying bits regarding the camera app’s user interface. For one, it breaks the Windows Phone 7 design standard, eschewing the typical … symbol for menu and uses an icon of a gear in a circle. A small thing, for sure, but surprising on a phone that makes so many sacrifices purely for aesthetic design. A second niggle is that you have to go into the camera settings to change the flash mode (on / off / auto). As I do this a lot when taking pictures, it’s annoying to have to do multiple taps when other phone cameras’ UI allows this simple change with just one.  But, hey, at least the Arrive has a dedicated shutter button.

Battery life is terrific. During the two weeks I’ve had the phone, I’ve charged it every other day and only once got a low-battery warning before the end of the second day. Granted, I’ve not been torturing it, but it’s good to see a smartphone that isn’t begging for juice by 5pm. Given the processor and memory in this device, it speaks to Microsoft’s engineering that they’re able to get the OS to sip power the way it does; seems that there are some advantages to a unitasking operating system. The 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor performs very well, as you can see in the second video above.

One missing feature that was a bit disappointing was the lack of Sprint’s 4G on the Arrive. Without a WiMax radio on board, this phone is limited to 3G (EVDO), which, in my experience, provides 1-3 mbps download speeds. Without 4G, Sprint has a hard time selling video chat, which may explain why the Arrive doesn’t have a front-facing camera.

Overall, the Arrive’s hardware is very good. Sure, it’s a little thick, and heavier than I expected, but it’s attractive (the brushed steel back looks especially sharp) and performs very well.

Software

Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past year or so, you already know that Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft’s replacement for its Windows Mobile handheld/phone operating system. I’m not going to go into the features and pros & cons of the Windows Phone OS, as there are already lots of articles that do that. I’m going to talk about some of the customization HTC and Sprint have done as well as highlight some particularly noteworthy highlights and disappointments. Also, as this phone comes with Microsoft’s latest “NoDo” update, it includes copy/cut-and-paste, which I discuss below as well as improvements to Messaging, Wi-Fi control, Outlook/Email, Facebook syncing, and a few bugfixes. So, with the Arrive, you don’t have to worry whether it’ll get the update, as it will have it out-of-the-box.

First, an apology. Because Microsoft has not included screenshot capability, nor even allowed third-party devs to make it, I had to resort to getting screenshots the old-fashioned way: with a camera. So, they’re not the best — don’t judge screen quality by these, as it’s much better in person — but you should get the idea as to the general look and feel.

The now-familiar main menu screen, all full of its square and rectangular “tiles”, includes two non-standard tiles: the HTC Hub and the Sprint Hub. The HTC Hub offers some Sense widgets like one would see on HTC’s Android phones as well as links to download some HTC-provided apps, such as a Notes program. Microsoft’s tight reins on OEM customization of the WP7 experience is evident in the rather thin value-add that HTC can offer here.
Similarly, the Sprint hub offers screens with Sprint News (including a My Account portal), Suggested Apps, and Phone Tips and Tricks. Again, there’s nothing revolutionary, but it’s nice to have these carrier-provided things corralled into one area on the phone.

Personally, and speaking totally from my own preferences, there are some things I really like about Windows Phone 7 and some things that greatly irritate me. First, the good: - In the camera app, switching between video and still is very convenient. - The UI is very fast & responsive, which makes a HUGE difference. - Office, Skydrive, Sharepoint, and Xbox integration are all impressive features included in the cost of the phone; if you’re deeply entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem, these things can be important. - The Hubs concept works really well. Organizing information and functions into these conceptually sensible cores really does seem to help usability. This photo is one screen from the People hub, showing some Facebook updates.

Now, the not-so-good:

• No way to see picture details in the photo viewer; I found no way to view a photo’s EXIF info on the phone.
• No persistent clipboard; when you copy or cut some text, a little clipboard icon appears above the keyboard. When you paste the text by tapping that icon, it disappears, meaning you can’t paste it multiple times without also copying it each time. As people pointed out in the comments, you can swipe sideways to bring back the paste icon if you want to paste the clipboard again.
• Rotation frustration; Many things don’t work in either landscape or in portrait orientation, and there doesn’t seem to be any sensible pattern as to what will work in which orientation. For example, screens that only work in landscape include viewing photos (so if the photo you took has a portrait format (tall, not wide), it’s all shrunken down with lots of black on either side…and rotating the phone does nothing…aaagghh!); And, of course, some screens only work in portrait (even if the keyboard is open), such as the main menus and Marketplace app details screens (this is particularly amazing: Main menu is only portrait; tapping the Marketplace hub brings you to another screen that’s only portrait; but, if you tap the Search button, that screen does work in landscape to show you the results of the search; but, tapping on any app takes you to the app details page, which is, again, portrait only. It’s really quite baffling.)
• No Flash in the browser; and here I always thought Microsoft was the anti-Apple.
• Animation gets old quickly; I handed the phone to my wife and, after 30 seconds, she says in an annoyed voice, “do you like these menus flipping around all the time?” No…can’t say I do.
• Miss a menu button in a consistent place; since you have to rely on the … icon to make an appearance in order to get into settings within an app, it’s sometimes hard to anticipate where it might be, meaning the user has to hunt for it or “keep an eye out”.
• Have to touch the top area of the screen to show battery level and wireless signal strength; these are hidden from view by default.
• Terrible calendar; many of these issues are annoying, but this one is a definite show-stopper for me. The calendar is absolutely dreadful. As you can see in the screen shot, the entirety of the space where you can actually view and scroll through your appointments (the red box) is only about a third of the entire screen. I can see just 3 hours at a time. Plus, there’s no week view…you can choose among agenda view, day view (shown), and month view (where the text is illegibly small). If I had to use this calendar every day, I’d use the Arrive’s voice search to quickly look up instructions for hari-kiri.

I don’t like being this negative about an entire mobile operating system — I really do believe that consumers are best served by having lots of choices — but Windows Mobile 7 has two big strikes against it in my view. First, it seems like it’s not done. There are so many missing features, oversights, and inconsistencies that you can tell it’s very much a work in progress. Hopefully, that will improve over time. The second issue, however, is possibly more troubling. Microsoft seems to have gone off the scale in sacrificing function for form. For me, the usability limitations of WP7 far exceed the aesthetic enjoyment. But, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Summary

It’s odd, really…the reaction I have to this Arrive is exactly the opposite that I had to the Palm Pre when it first came out. On the Pre, I felt like the OS was genius and the hardware was rubbish. The Arrive is, well, just the reverse: the hardware is generally delightful, but the OS greatly hampers the overall experience (for me). Overall, if you already like Windows Phone 7, you might like this phone very much.  If not, and you’re looking for a CDMA phone to try it out on, they might as well have called the Arrive the ‘Obi Wan,’ because it’s your only hope.

Filed in categories: Reviews, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Windows Phone 7

HTC Arrive Windows Phone 7 Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 29, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

If you’ve been to the Amazon.com home page lately, you’ll know that they have announced a Kindle reader app for Windows Phone 7.  Just like the apps for other platforms, you’ll be able to read any of the 775,000 available Kindle books on your Windows phone.  You’ll be able to purchase books without leaving the app, and Whispersync will sync your place across all your devices.  You can customize your reading experience with three different background colors and five different font sizes.  The Kindle reader app is free in the  Windows Phone 7 Marketplace.

Filed in categories: eBook Readers and Gear, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Kindle app, Windows Phone 7

Kindle Reader App for Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 6, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Moshi has just announced the availablilty of a new Voice Control clock. This is the Moshi Voice Control Reflection clock. It features a cool reflective display with 6 nightlight colors to choose from and adjustable LCD brightness. In addition to using your voice to set the time, dual alarms and snooze, this new clock will allow you to ask for indoor and outdoor temperatures and record up to an 8 minute memo. I have reviewed a couple different Moshi Voice Control clocks in the last year or two and am still using one of them on my night stand. I love being able to set the alarm and time just by saying “Hello Moshi” and giving “her” a command. I also can’t help but smile when I say “thank you” after setting an alarm and she responds with “you’re welcome”. Little things make me happy The Moshi Reflection Clock is available exclusively at Brookstone.com for $59.95 MSRP.

Filed in categories: News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Clock, Spotlight Gadgets

Moshi Voice Control Reflection Clock available at Brookstone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 28, 2010 at 11:47 am.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG. All opinions are 100% mine.

Windows 7 Phone (formerly WIndows Mobile) devices haven’t been on my radar for over a year or two. It seemed like Microsoft was allowing their mobile operating system to go down the same path the Palm – into obscurity. But now they are offering an updated OS and a variety of handsets that could put them back on the map. One such device is the LG Optimus 7 from LG Electronics. More info on this phone after the jump.

The LG Optimus 7 has a nice list of hardware and software features:

• 3.8 inch WVGA LCD display with 800×480 pixels
• 16GB of internal memory
• 1500mAh removable battery
• 5MP camera with special panoramic mode and 720p video capture
• 3 physical buttons on the front

The buttons on the front really capture my interest. Don’t get me wrong, I love touch screens, but I’m still holding on to the past with buttons. That’s one reason why I picked the Droid X over the HTC Incredible.

I’m also interested in the special camera features like the panoramic mode that allows you to stitch together a full 360-degree landscape scene. There’s also a feature called Intelligent Shot, which is supposed to automatically adjust settings based on your environment.

I’ve yet to get my hands on a Windows 7 Phone device, so I can’t comment on the OS. It does look very different than good old Windows Mobile 6.5 though with it’s Zune style interface.

Filed in categories: News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Windows Phone 7

Will the LG Optimus 7 be your next smartphone? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 1, 2010 at 11:00 am.

If you have a Windows Mobile 6.5 device and wish the interface looked a bit more like an iOS device, Jeffrey Embregts has answered your prayers. He’s created an iPad theme that is freely available through Modaco and XDA Developers. Go grab it, you know you want to!

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: iPad, Windows Mobile

Make your Window Mobile 6.5 phone look like an iPad originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 3, 2010 at 10:03 pm.

The iCarpus is a handy stand that can be used with almost any smartphone sized device like the iPhone 4, Droid X, etc.  It stores flat and then easily accommodates a device with or without a case. It has non-slip edges that provide protection to the device and the surface it sits on. It’s available now for $12.99 from Amazon.

Filed in categories: Android related, Blackberry related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Reviews, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Stand, Symbian OS Related

Universal Smartphone Device Stand – iCarpus originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 12, 2010 at 9:00 am.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Nielsen Research. All opinions are 100% mine.

You’ve no doubt heard of Nielsen Research before with regards to their television ratings system. But that’s not all they do. They also gather information for all sorts of products and services. If you would like to help shape the future of smart phones, you can become part of their Mobile Panel. The Mobile Panel is designed to help the mobile industry understand how consumers use their mobile devices, services and content. The panel produces usage information that the industry uses to build, plan and manage their mobile offerings to consumers. They gather this information through an application that runs silently and transparently in the background of your Android or Windows Mobile phone. The application allows them to measure how you use the phone, including your usage of websites, applications, calling, messaging and other phone utilities.

Don’t worry, they won’t listen to or record your calls and they will not release your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. Basically they will collect info on the type, name and use of applications and games, the address and content of the websites you visit, the date and duration of the websites you visit, the date, time and duration of phone calls, but not details on the phone numbers you call or receive calls from, the date, time and short codes or phone numbers that you send text/picture messages to or receive text/picture messages from, the battery and network performance of your phone, including signal quality readings and information on failed calls, the file names, types and files sizes on your phone, but not the contents of the files and periodic measurement of your location through GPS (if this functionality is available on your device).

I’m a not a paranoid person, but I’m not sure I want people recording that type of info about me. I guess it’s no different than taking part in a voting survey or TV watching habits survey though. I guess it’s just the fact that it’s an app running in the background keeping track of me.

If you’d like to participate, are over the age of 18 and don’t mind a 2-3MB data transfer from your phone every month, then you should sign up. As an incentive, you’ll receive a Windows $50 gift certificate after one year.

Filed in categories: Android related, News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Smartphone

Nielsen Research Needs You! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 30, 2010 at 10:36 am.

F-Secure offers Anti-Theft for Mobile to protect your contacts and personal files should your Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, or Android phone be lost or stolen.  You can send an SMS message to lock your phone and keep it locked until you enter the correct password.  You can use the locate feature to receive a message, sent to a designated phone number, with a link to the current location of your phone.  If it looks like your phone won’t be returned to you, send a code to wipe out all your data from the phone.  Finally, if someone replaces the SIM card in your phone, it can automatically lock down and send you the new phone number.  The F-Secure Anti-Theft for Mobile software is a free download.

Filed in categories: Android related, News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Anti-theft software for mobile phones, Symbian OS Related

Free Anti-Theft Software for Your Mobile Phone from F-Secure originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 2, 2010 at 8:45 am.

CyberSynchs is a program that installs on your phone and backs up your personal data to their secure website.  The program is currently available for Windows, Java, Blackberry, Symbian and will debut later this month for Android.  All your contacts, text messages, voice mail, email, ringtones, photos and calendar information will be copied to your secure, password-protected account on the CyberSynchs servers.  You’ll be able to access your data from anywhere in the world, even without your phone.  You can easily transfer your data to a new phone, and you’ll even be able to erase data from your phone should it be lost or stolen.  You can even manage multiple phones from one account.  CyberSynchs costs $2.99 a month.

Filed in categories: News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Backup, Cell phone application

Backup, Transfer, and Protect Your Personal Phone Data with CyberSynchs originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 1, 2010 at 4:59 am.

This is the last entry in my week with the LG eXpo smartphone series. It’s time to take a quick look at the camera and Pico projector and then see if this phone has ended up as my new BFF or turned out to only be a five night stand.

The Camera

The 5 megapixel camera built into the LG eXpo is a better than average camera because it passes my one main criteria for a good mobile phone camera. It can do macro shots. I don’t use a cell phone camera as my main photo snapping device. I use it to take pictures when all I have with me is my phone. 99.9% of the time I use phone cameras to take pictures of magazine ads and articles when I’m in a bookstore. It saves me from having to carry around a pad and paper when I see something interesting but don’t want to buy the magazine. As a result, I want a camera that doesn’t take blurry close up images. The eXpo camera passes that test.

The camera lens is located on the back side of the phone (no surprise there) and next to it is an LED flash, which is a nice addition. I do wish there was a protective cover over the lens as it’s really easy to smear the glass with fingerprints and other goop.

Pressing the shutter / camera app launch button on the side will bring up the app in ready to shoot mode. Even when no other apps are running, it can take a few seconds to load the app. Tapping the gear on the top left menu strip will bring up the user settings screen.

A touch dial on the side allows you to scroll through various settings such as resolution, scene modes, white balance, etc.

When you’re ready to take a picture, you just press the shutter button halfway down to auto focus on your subject. Press it all the way to snap the image. Here are a few sample images to give you an idea of the image quality that this camera is capable of. Click the thumbnails to see the full sized unedited images.

The images are decent. Again, I wouldn’t use this as my main camera, but it’s definitely good at macros and with the LED flash, it can take images in lower light.

The image viewer has a nifty scroll interface where you can flick your finger left to right to see the images snapped on a specific date and flick up and down to change to another date.

The Pico Projector

If you want to be the guy with the coolest phone, the eXpo qualifies when you snap on the optional DLP Pico Projector.

The Pico projector is a small add-on accessory for the eXpo, that’s priced at $179.

There’s a protective cover that slides closed over the lens of the projector that doubles as the power switch.

It does not require any special adapters or cables. Just remove the battery door from the back of the phone…

And snap on the Pico in its place.

Yes, it does make your phone look pretty odd, but since it’s easily removable, that really shouldn’t be an issue.

The projector has a max resolution of 480 x 320 pixels and is capable of displaying a 12 – 66 inch diagonal image.

I had some technical problems getting some of my videos to play on the eXpo. It wasn’t an issue with Pico, but with the software. I wanted to play some AVI files, so I had to install some 3rd party players and couldn’t get either one to work right. I kept getting errors or freezes. I ended up just using some old WMV videos.

When they say that the Pico can project a 12 to 66 inch diagonal image, I would have to say sure it can – if you don’t mind crummy image quality. It can’t even project a clear image using the stock media player at 12 inches. The best it could do was 6-8 inches before the picture was too fuzzy. There’s a focus slider switch on the side of the projector, but it wasn’t much help.

I tried a Powerpoint presentation file using the Mobile Office app and it wasn’t any better. That’s disappointing since that’s what I could imagine using the projector for more than anything else.

Viewing static images with the stock picture viewer worked the best. Even so, the clearest picture could only be displayed at a maximum of 12-14 inches diagonal before it became fuzzy. Bottom line is that the Pico projector is a $179 gimmick. Sure it’s ‘cool’, but it’s really not worth it in my opinion.

Summing it all up

There are several things to like about the LG eXpo. It has a really nice display, a nice slider keyboard, a nice camera and good call clarity/volume. But the main thing that keeps me from really liking this phone is actually the Windows Mobile user interface. It’s just not finger friendly enough in my opinion. If you don’t mind using a stylus, it’s great. But for fingers, not so much. It looks like I’ll be sticking with the iPhone a little longer. FYI, I ordered a Google Nexus One Android phone a few hours ago. If any phone can make me throw the iPhone in a drawer, it will probably be that one.

Filed in categories: Reviews, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Smartphone, Windows Mobile

A Week With the LG eXpo Smartphone and Pico Projector Days 5-7 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 8, 2010 at 10:03 am.

My first five days with the LG eXpo Smartphone has been a mixture of good and bad experiences. Good because I like the phone’s hardware and bad because I’ve had issues with that hardware. Life with gadgets is never perfect is it?

In this installment, I’d like to talk about the user interface, using the touch screen, D-Pad and keyboard. I will also talk about how it performs as a phone.

User Interface

This is the part where I have to tell you that I’m spoiled by the iPhone’s interface and it’s tough not to make comparisons when I’m reviewing other devices. Am I biased? I’ll admit that yes, I probably am. For those of you that have ever used an iPhone and know how well thought out the interface is, how finger friendly it is and how smooth it is to scroll and tap items on the screen, you understand where I’m coming from.

With that said, I have been giving Windows Mobile 6.5 a fair try and have been using the eXpo as my primary phone for the past week.

By default the Today screen appears as it does in the image above on the Left. It’s basically a list of items that you can scroll and tap on to gain more info. The image on the Right is LG’s Today screen, which gives you basically the same info, just arranged in a different way. Instead of a vertical scrolling is, there’s a horizontal list along the bottom edge. There are also 3 different screens. The one you see there, favorite contacts and favorite media.

Pressing the Start menu at the top Left will give you a scrolling list of icons. If you tap the LG Menus icon in the LG Today view, you’ll be presented with rows of icons that can be scrolled horizontally.

I like the screens of icons, but here’s where I find myself missing the scrolling smoothness of the iPhone. The LG eXpo has a resistive display unlike the capacitive display that the iPhone has. This is great because you can tap it with your finger, a stylus, a gloved hand, etc. But, the smoothness isn’t there. If I put my finger in the middle of the display and flick my finger up and down to scroll through icons, often nothing will happen and I’ll have to try again. Or, my finger will activate an icon instead of scrolling the screen and will launch a program. It’s even worse with the LG Menus because the icons are much closer together. For that fact, I rarely use those menus.

Windows Mobile is powerful and relatively easy to use, but as it is implemented, it’s not very finger friendly. You’ll notice that the OK button in the upper right corner of many screens is very tiny. I have to use the tip of my fingernail to tap these elements. Windows Mobile has come a long way, but I really hope version 7 turns the corner and allows everyone to finally get rid of old fashioned stylus input.

Fingerprint Sensor / D-Pad

If you have problems scrolling the screen using your finger, you have another way to scroll. It’s the integrated touch D-Pad, fingerprint sensor that is located directly below the AT&T logo below the display.

The D-pad can be used to scroll lists up and down as well as left to right. To use it this way requires no training, you just swipe your finger across the surface of the button. You can also press the button in to select items. It works pretty well, but I often have to swipe more than once to get the results I expect.

In addition to scrolling, this button is a fingerprint reader that you can use to secure your phone from unauthorized access.

To use your fingerprint as a locking mechanism for the eXpo, you first have to register one or more fingerprints. To do this, you just swipe the figure you choose four times to teach that print to the phone. Then when you press the power button along the top edge of the phone, it will ask you to swipe your finger to unlock it. I had no issues registering my finger prints or using this unlock feature. I actually think it’s pretty cool.

Using QWERTY Keyboard and Touch Screen for Input

Entering text on LG eXpo can be done through the slide out keyboard or the touch screen.

The soft keyboard is pretty cramped as you can see from the screenshot above. It works best for me when I use my thumbnails to tap the keys. I’m not sure how well it would work for someone with large thumbs and no nails though. I suppose they would be better off using the slide out keyboard.

Here’s the LG keyboard compared to the iPhone’s keyboard. Unlike the iPhone, the keyboard on the LG will not rotate if you hold the phone in landscape mode.

The slide out QWERTY keyboard is comfortably roomy, with large flat backlit keys. The layout (click image to see full size version) is good and I had no issues typing quick text messages with it. The size of the keys is also very thumb friendly.

Making and Receiving Calls with the LG eXpo

I’ve found that it’s easier to make calls with the eXpo than it is with my iPhone. This is true for me because there are physical buttons that you can press to initiate, answer and end calls.

The call Send and End buttons are located along the bottom front edge of the phone. If you double click the Left Send button, it will automatically redial your last dialed number.

If you press the Send button once, it will popup the keypad screen that you can use to tap out a number.

You can also dial by favorites if you use LG’s Today screen.

Incoming calls can easily be answered or rejected by pressing the soft keys on the screen or the Send and End keys on the phone.

Call volume and clarity are really good with the LG. Most of the time I have to turn the volume down when I’m in a call, which seems to be a rarity for most phones I’ve reviewed.

I mentioned at the beginning of this installement that I had some issues with the hardware this week. The eXpo started spontaneously rebooting for no apparent reason. A couple of other people (Judie of Geardiary.com, Lisa of MobileTechReview.com and Clinton of ClintonFinch.com) reviewing the same phone had similar problems. Judie narrowed the issue down to a problem with 3G coverage. The eXpo apparently isn’t happy when it’s in an area with little or no 3G service. The bad part is that there is no option in the phone to turn off 3G and just go with 2G. There’s a way to do it if you have the super secret test mode code though…

I also had a problem with charging the phone using the included USB cable and my iMac. One morning I tried to use the phone after it had been plugged in all night and it died and wouldn’t come back to life. I plugged it back into the USB cable and the LG logo popped up, but it wouldn’t power on. I even took out the battery several times to no avail. Judie suggested that I plug it into the wall because she had similiar experiences with Nokia phones and charging them via USB. Sure enough, plugging it into the wall charger and waiting for 30 minutes resurrected it again. Weird, I’d never had such an issue with phones before.

So far I have mixed feelings about the eXpo. I think I’d like it a lot better if the Windows Mobile user interface was more finger friendly. As is, it can become frustrating for me.

In the last part of this series, I’ll be covering:

• 5MP Camera
• Optional Pico Projector

Filed in categories: Reviews, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Smartphone, Windows Mobile

A Week With the LG eXpo Smartphone and Pico Projector Days 1-5 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 24, 2010 at 11:36 am.

Several of my favorite Windows Mobile sites are talking about OpnMarket this morning. It’s a new application market for Windows mobile devices that only offers completely free apps that can be downloaded and installed directly from your phone. The only steps required to use it are to sign up for a free account and install the OpnMarket browser application on your device. I’ve been playing with it for the last 30 minutes or so and I give it a thumbs up. It helped me find a screen capture application that I’ve been needing. Go check it out.

[Via Windows Phone Thoughts and Pocketnow]

Filed in categories: News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Software, Windows Mobile

Totally Free App Market for Windows Mobile originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 22, 2010 at 11:07 am.

It’s been nearly a year since I’ve carried a Windows Mobile device as my everyday phone. Back then it was the Pantech Matrix Pro. Today it’s the LG eXpo for AT&T. Like the Pantech, the eXpo has a slide out qwerty keyboard. But the eXpo has some other surprises as well. I’m going to use it exclusively for a week and at the end of that time, I’ll decide if this phone has what it takes to dethrone my current fave (the iPhone 3GS).

Let’s call this Day 0, and we’ll start with a quick introduction / overview of the hardware.

Hardware Specifications

Processor: 1 GHz Qualcomm QSD8650
OS: Window Mobile 6.5
Wireless Technology: GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, 3G UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100 MHz)
Bluetooth 2.1
Display: 3.2 inches, Resolution 480 x 800, 16 Million colors
Memory: Internal memory storage 512 MB, expandable memory storage supports up to 16GB microSD Card
Camera: 5.0 MP
Battery: 1500mAh Lithium Ion (Talk time up to 3 hours, Standby time up to 10 days)
Dimensions: 4.50 x 2.16 x .63 inches
Weight: 4.46 ounces

What’s in the Box

LG eXpo Smartphone
Battery
USB data / charge cable
Hands-free headset
Stylus
Proprietary hands-free stereo headphone with mic (with 3.5mm adapter)
Power Adapter
Quickstart Guide
Pico Projector (is an optional $179 purchase and is not included with the phone)

The LG eXpo is being marketed as a business phone and normally that might bring about visions of a boring design that works well, but probably lacks pizazz. In my opinion, the eXpo doesn’t look boring at all. It has just the right about of shiny chrome accents to go along with its Black and Pewter colored case. As far as I can tell, the entire case is made of plastic. Don’t let that turn you off though as it feels solid and doesn’t complain when I perform my patented Gadgeteer creak test. Basically this test consists of me squeezing the phone in one hand while feeling for case flexes and listening for creaks. A quick shake yielded no rattles.

The front of the phone has a large touch screen display that is bright, crisp and vivid. The screen is resistive and not capacitive like the iPhone. That is both good and bad. It’s good because you can interact with the phone while wearing gloves and even with a stylus (yes, I guess some people are still using styli even in this age of finger friendly devices). Resistive touch screens can bad because the screen requires pressure to select items and that can mean a less than smooth experience using a finger to scroll and tap. I’m a little worried about this aspect of the phone since I’ve been using an iPhone for about 7 months now. We’ll have to see…

Above the display on the front of the device is the speaker. A small LED to the Left of the speaker provides status for charging and notifications for alarms and missed calls.

Below the display are your normal Send and End buttons as well as a Back button. The strange looking object in the center is a biometric fingerprint reader and D-pad sensor. Don’t worry, I’ll be covering that in greater detail later.

You’ll notice what looks like a protective film over the bottom section. At least that was what I thought it was until I tried to remove it. So far I’ve not had any luck trying to get my fingernail under an edge. I didn’t want to scratch the the phone, so I’ve given up for the time being. I think it’s just the way it’s styled.

The Left side of the phone has a large volume up and down button. It might look like there are individual buttons, but it’s just one long rocker. The ends stick up slightly, making the button easy to find with your thumb while you’re on a phone call.

You’ll also notice a small eyelet in the top corner. That’s for the included stylus. That’s right, the stylus isn’t housed in the phone itself. Weird huh?

The opposite side has the camera application launcher button, a smaller application launcher button and the microSD slot/cover.

The eXpo is slight chunky by today’s standards, but you can’t really complain too much since it does have a full qwerty keyboard.

The display slides to the Right to reveal the backlit keyboard. The slider mechanism feels very strong and has a nice ‘assist’ feature to it that helps it slide open and closed quickly with a nice ‘curchunk’. The size of the keys is generous, but they are very flat. They do have good tactile feedback though and I have had no problems typing quick emails.

Along the top edge of the phone is the power / lock and the combination microUSB charging / earphone jack connector with a cover. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a big fan of those little swivel covers for ports. I’d rather them just be bare.

The other end has the microphone.

The back of the phone has a really easy to remove battery cover, which is a great feature because this cover has to be removed in order to  attach the optional Pico projector. I’ll cover all the details of the projector later in this series.

Also on the back of the phone is the 5mp camera lens (I wish it had a protective cover) and to the Left of the lens is an LED flash.

All in all, I like the hardware of the LG eXpo. Even though the phone is a bit chunky, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable in my hand. I like that the button layout seems to have been well thought out. The location of the volume button and camera launcher / shutter button work out well and I didn’t have any problems using either one. Sometimes using a phone as a camera is hindered by the location of the shutter button, but not with this phone.

These are just my first impressions of the hardware, so it will be interesting to see if anything changes my mind after I spend time using the phone day to day.

In the next part of this series, I’ll be covering:

• Making and receiving calls
• Interaction with the touch screen
• Interaction with the touch D-Pad
• Using the slide out keyboard

Filed in categories: Reviews, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Smartphone, Windows Mobile

A Week With the LG eXpo Smartphone and Pico Projector originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 15, 2010 at 10:10 am.

HeroCraft is getting in the holiday spirit by giving away two free games for Windows Mobile and Symbian smartphone owners. The games are Twice and Snow Lines. All you have to do is fill out a form to get the games. Expires on 12/12 so hurry up.

The Christmas present from HeroCraft – 2 fun games for free!

Don’t miss great opportunity to present to yourself, your friends and family mobile games to forthcoming holidays! Only the 10th and 11th December – you can get our games – Twice! and Snow Lines for free! The only thing you should do is to fill simple form with your email address on the game page and get the free activation key.

If you don’t know what game you want – don’t hesitate, just get both of them! Let us present the Christmas games for you:

Snow Lines is arguably the best Lines game yet. You will be able to play against the clock or to set up dizzying records; achieve high scores; or try to overcome dozens of original levels. Several game modes give the opportunity to get as much amusement as possible out of Snow Lines, and flexible rules help you to find something new in this game every single time you play. Just load it up and you’ll be inveigled into a vortex of smiles, excitement and riddles which get ever more complicated the more you play.

The smart logic game Twice combines the main principles of a classic game: an attractive appearance, popular and simple rules and a variety of game modes. Its rules are well known: you have to flip the face-down tiles in the puzzle one by one and remember the pattern on the other side. When you flip two identical tiles, you score points. To complete the level you have to find all of the pairs. Twice has three game modes so you can pick the game that suits your tastes – race against time, limited number of attempts or no limits at all. Just choose one of them and you will not be able to stop playing! The magical graphics and traditional Oriental music add a mysterious charm to this game.

Attention! Promotion is actual only for 10th and 11th of December and also only for Windows Mobile and Symbian platforms! Get hurry, don’t miss our Christmas present!

Filed in categories: News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Symbian OS Related

Free Windows Mobile and Symbian Games from HeroCraft originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 10, 2009 at 5:14 pm.

I found this video on YouTube of HTC presenting an overview of the Sense interface. This is a really good explanation of the value this adds to Android, and Windows Mobile.

Filed in categories: Android related, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Android, HTC, Windows Mobile

Video – HTC Sense originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 25, 2009 at 2:36 pm.

Today HP announced a new smartphone – the iPAQ Glisten, which will be available through AT&T. The iPAQ Glisten is a 3G world phone, running Windows Mobile 6.5 and features the improved Internet Explorer Mobile 6. It has a comfortable, full-QWERTY keyboard and touch-enabled AMOLED screen. The HP iPAQ Glisten will be available in the coming weeks for $179 after a $50 mail-in rebate. Full press release after the jump.

AT&T AND HP INTRODUCE HP iPAQ GLISTEN,

3G WORLD PHONE FOR MOBILE PROFESSIONALS

DALLAS, November 24, 2009 – AT&T* and HP (NYSE: HPQ) today announced the upcoming availability of the new HP iPAQ Glisten, a  feature-rich 3G world phone that meets the increasing demands of modern mobile professionals.  AT&T’s first smartphone with an AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) screen, the HP iPAQ Glisten is loaded with features tailored with the business power user in mind.

Featuring the Microsoft Windows® Mobile 6.5 operating system, the iPAQ Glisten offers a touch-friendly user interface and improved browser with Flash support.  Connections to your favorite people, content and applications are a fingertip away on the redesigned Start Menu, and Internet Explorer Mobile** supports the rich experiences that many Web pages offer for desktop computers.

Users can easily move between work and leisure with advanced mobile e-mail capabilities, built-in Wi-Fi and GPS functionality as well as rich multimedia features and applications.  AT&T supports Windows Marketplace for Mobile for access to a variety of applications.

The iPAQ Glisten features a full QWERTY keyboard and five-way directional pad for fast, easy and accurate messaging including SMS/MMS and e-mail. The touch-enabled AMOLED screen, among the best displays on the market, allows users to easily navigate through menus, windows, and links with the touch of a finger.

“iPAQ Glisten adds to our innovative Windows Phone portfolio,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.  “It meets the demands of our business customers while boasting a beautiful AMOLED touch screen and a full package of multimedia features.”

“The iPAQ Glisten packs a powerful punch with its multiple input methods, variety of  connectivity options, and a familiar, consistent email experience that allows mobile professionals to connect with the people and information that matter most to them,” said Susan Macke, vice president, Marketing, Handheld Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Our strategy for success in growing the iPAQ business and customer base is working with industry leaders, like AT&T and Microsoft, and leveraging our collective strengths in the business and prosumer markets.”

Manage and take control of demanding professional lifestyle

Power users stay more connected with Outlook calendaring, Microsoft Word and Excel as well as the ability to view Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe PDF documents. The HP iPAQ Glisten gives users the ability to manage a single contact list and synchronize them wirelessly or with a PC using a supported e-mail account. It also comes with an integrated inbox that summarizes recent emails, calls, and texts.

In addition, users can take advantage of the built-in speakerphone and enjoy the freedom of hands-free control with Voice Commander, voice recognition software which reads text messages, emails and appointment details and lets users begin messages and dial contacts using simple voice prompts.

Bridge work and social life

Web browsing and streaming video on the HP iPAQ Glisten are fast and enjoyable with the improved Internet Explorer Mobile 6. Users can turn on the built-in Wi-Fi quickly with a dedicated on/off button and enjoy high-speed Internet access – featuring automatic access to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots included at no additional charge with select smartphone data plans.

Users can also connect with friends and colleagues on their favorite social networking sites, including a preloaded Facebook application. Mobile professionals can capture pictures and videos with the 3.1 megapixel camera and view them in brilliant color and clarity or edit them with HP Photosmart Mobile and easily share them via email or on the Web using Snapfish.

Pricing and availability

The HP iPAQ Glisten will be available in the coming weeks for $229.99 (receive a $50 AT&T Promotion Card with two-year agreement, smartphone data plan). The smartphone will be available through AT&T business services, HP corporate sales, small and medium business and consumer Websites at AT&T.com and HP.com as well as through third-party e-commerce sites.

More information on HP iPAQ Glisten is available at www.att.com/hpipaqglisten and www.hp.com/go/glisten.   For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**Advance Mobile Email Capabilities: Standard GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA infrastructure, Wi-Fi network access, other Bluetooth-enabled devices, separately purchased equipment, and a service contract with a wireless service provider may be required for applicable wireless communication. Wireless Internet access requires separately purchased Internet service contract. Check with service provider for availability and coverage in your area. Not all web content available. Normal GSM Data Calls (CSD) are not basic GSM data services. These services may not be available via all service providers, and may require separate subscription. Establishment and continuation of a wireless connection depends on network availability, provider support and signal strength.  Coverage is subject to transmission limitations and terrain, system, capacity and other limitations.  Wireless transmission speeds may vary due to location, environment, network capabilities and other conditions. Not all features and service options are available in all areas.

Filed in categories: News, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Spotlight Gadgets, Windows Mobile

AT&T and HP Introduce iPAQ Glisten World Phone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 24, 2009 at 1:26 pm.

Who has a mobile device and a little time to kill throughout their day? My guess is just about all of us, especially when it comes to having a bit of fun.

Over the past few days I was able to spend some time playing games. Sounds tough right? Well, I was able to play with astraware boardgames for the Blackberry. It is also available for just about every other mobile operating system as well. Before I get into the nitty gritty of game play, let me just say this app is fantastic!


The package includes chess, backgammon, ludo, checkers, reversi, nine mens morris, and of course tic tac toe. There are some really cool things that I liked a lot when it came to game play. The graphics were very crisp and the game pieces moved very smoothly. There is a bit of movement difference depending on which device you are using. I used my Blackberry Storm and my Curve, one being touch and the other not. On the touch screen you just highlight and slide(very smooth) on the non-touch screen you have to highlight the desired piece then you see a highlighted area that you can move that piece into. Regardless game play was fun and very easy to figure out.

Each game did have sound in the background. However the sound was very basic and slightly annoying. At least you have the option to mute the sound. Which is what I did after about 30 seconds of playing. Besides, I didn’t want to be heard when I was in my staff meetings.

I would say that chess is my favorite game to play, but that is mainly due to the fact that I just learned how to play it (yeah i know I am a late bloomer)! I also like it because it has an instructional mode, so you can learn as you go. Tic Tac Toe would have to be my least favorite, and that’s mainly because it was very basic and besides, it is tic tac toe and there is only so much you can do with it.

Each game is fully customizable, from being able to make your own rules (yes you saw that correctly) to the difficulty level of game play. The fact that you get 7 games for only $9.99 I would definitely buy this one on my own. If you are going to spend the money make sure you do like these types of games. If these aren’t the type games you like just head over to www.astraware.com and take your pick from their huge selection of other games they have to offer.

Definitely check out this package. Not only do the games make you feel like a kid again but they are fun to play and at the same time they make you use your brain!

All I can say now is CHECKMATE and KING ME!

Filed in categories: Blackberry related, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Blackberry, Games, Palm, Palm OS related, Windows Mobile

Astraware Boardgames Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 31, 2009 at 7:47 pm.

A who did what? Huh? Ok, so Tegra itself is not a gadget, and many of you have probably never heard of it. We talked about it a little bit in The Gadgeteer’s ZuneHD Rumor Mill Roundup  a while back. What Tegra is, is a platform, an entire system on a chip, geared for mobility. There are two Tegra variations at this point:

Tegra 600 Series
Tegra 600 Series products are true computers-on-a-chip in a package smaller than a US dime. With advanced multimedia functionality and low-power design, the Tegra 600 Series will power the next-generation of visual computing on Microsoft Windows CE-based mobile internet devices (MIDs).

Key features:

• Up to 1080p HD video playback
• Ultra-low-power GeForce GPU for intuitive and smooth 3D user interfaces
• Integrated media processor for over 100 hours audio and 10 hours HD video playback
• Image processor with advanced DSC and HD camcorder processing
• Connectivity to support Web 2.0 and social media applications
• Display support for up to 1080p HDMI, WSXGA+ LCD, SXGA CRT, and NTSC/PAL TV-Out

Tegra APX Series
Tegra APX applications processors bring the power of visual computing to the palm of your hand, powering next-generation Microsoft Windows Mobile, Windows CE, and Android-based smartphones, portable navigation devices (PNDs), and portable media players (PMPs).

Key features:

• 720p HD video capture and playback
• The lowest power for demanding applications like 720p HD video
• 3D user interface that enhances browsing and content navigation
• Premium HD video playback with NVIDIA® PureVideo® technology
• Ability to access visually intensive online applications like mapping and gaming

So is it clicking? The 600 series will most likely power the new “Smartbook” category that is emerging, something larger than your smartphone, yet smaller than your netbook, with the functionality of a fairly well equipped laptop. The APX Series will power the next generation of smartphones and other PMP devices.

What’s it all mean? We’re here, at least very close to here. Everything is portable and integrated into one device with REAL functionality and performance that won’t frustrate you. Movies, music, games, Internet, it’s all in there. True convergence.

I can’t wait to see what pop’s out of the factories over the next year. Is this the platform for the elusive Zune Phone? Will Tegra power my next car stereo with mobile Internet, GPS, and media capabilities? Who knows, but keep your eyes peeled, things are about to get very, very gadgety.

Learn more about Tegra here.

Filed in categories: Handheld PCs / Ultra Portables, Miscellaneous, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Linux Based PDA related, nvidia, tegra

NVIDIA Unleashes Tegra at E3 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 2, 2009 at 7:59 am.

Beginning with the release of the first generation iPhone, every phone manufacturer and wireless carrier have thrown themselves into tailspins trying to catch up and be the first out of the gate with a true iPhone killer. No entity has taken this quest more seriously than Microsoft, trying to reinvigorate their ailing Windows Mobile OS. This past week, the internet has been on fire with rumors and supposed leaked artwork and product renderings of a possible dragon slayer. We try to sort it all out for you here.

I’m going to attempt to lay out all of these different pieces of the puzzle, collected from the far recesses of the Internet rumor mill, together in a way that may collectively make sense. Be warned however, that quite a bit of this is speculation, some of it from supposed credible “inside” sources, and some of it is my effort to put it all in a perspective that might be a logical approach for Microsoft to take at this point.

Project Pink

Briefly, Project Pink is Microsoft’s not so secretive codename for their initiative to bring convergence to Zune services and Windows Mobile. Roz Ho heads this Area 51 in Redmond. While Steve Ballmer, and previously Bill Gates have both said they have no intention of bringing  Microsoft branded mobile phones to market, rumblings of a contingent inside Microsoft pushing for that persist.

Windows Mobile 7 and Zune Services

Steve Ballmer has made no secret that the future of the Zune may be as a package of services or a platform running alongside or on top of Windows Mobile. What could this mean? It means that if you’re sporting a Windows Phone in the future, you could take your Zune profile and services with you. Much like the iPhone, take your apps, your movies, and your music with you on your hip. So, it’s not a far stretch to see that Microsoft is actively attempting to converge the Zune Services and Platform with/onto Windows Mobile. Both platforms run on the Windows CE engine, so it’s a short stretch.

The Rumor Mill Event Timeline

March 19th, 2009

Steve Ballmer states in an interview with Business Week editor Stephen Alder,“We’re going to keep going with Zune. It’s two things: Service and a device. The Zune service, that’s going to fan out its footprint. Hardware will continue to improve.”

This is further confirmation of winter 2008 stirrings that lack luster Zune hardware sales may spawn Zune Services as its own entity.

April 10th, 2009

Engadget posts a gallery of pictures that are supposed leaked marketing materials from Microsoft. This really gets the ball rolling. If these pictures are indeed from an upcoming marketing campaign, it tells us the hardware spec for the Zune has significantly changed and is evolving into a pure touch screen device.

April 11th, 2009

The discovery of ZuneHD.net  further fuels the fire. People love a picture, and a simple background with a Zune logo do the trick on this one.

April 12th, 2009

Zunited reports that the ZuneHD.net website is not owned by Microsoft, but by a Mr. Altman of California.

April 13th, 2009

The artist who hosted the images in which Engadget reported on, removes them from his site. Is this the discovery of a hoax or intervention by the black helicoptors from Redmond?

April 14th, 2009

Mat Rosoff, whose blog I read regularly, publishes a post  that points to several sources and events making a ZuneHD device very plausible.

April 15th, 2009

wmpoweruser.com publishes supposed pictures/renderings of the new ZuneHD device.

Neowin.net publishes supposed “confirmed” hardware specs for the device. I’ll regurgitate just a few of them here:

• 3.6 inches OLED touchscreen
• Nvidia Tegra chipset
• HDMI out, Wi-Fi, USB
• HD radio
• Flash and HDD storage, 4GB to 120GB

What could it all mean?

Here’s where it get’s a little dicey. It’s on again, off again, but there’s a buzz for sure. The rest of this is my own speculation, blathering, and wishlist.

You have to go back a bit, and look at an initiave by Nvidia beginning, at least as far as I am aware, in 2007. Last year, Nvidia let loose the scoop on their Tegra hardware platform. This is an ultra low voltage mobile chipset geared to bring true 3d multimedia and gaming performance to mobile devices. Mobile phones, UMPC’s, MID’s, netbooks, handheld gaming consoles, and so on would greatly benefit from a chipset like this. It’s really quite amazing what theyr’e doing with Tegra. I’ve been watching this for some time because of its possibilities with mobile gaming and multimedia on par, at least to some degree,  with a desktop PC experience.

So if you mash all this up, throw it in a blender, and try to spread it out on a cookie sheet to make it somewhat digestable, what you could wind up with is the holy grail of mobility if Microsoft does this right. You could conceivebly integrate your Zune Services (music, video, and apps) which has a subscription feature, and your Windows Phone platform. Throw in some Tegra powered 1080p video with HDMI out, and you’ve got a portable multimedia powerhouse that you can plug into your HDTVwhen you get home.

Now, what if Microsoft decides to throw in a little Xbox Live integration? Perhaps Tegra would be powerful enough to run ported Xbox games you already own. On top of that think about the possiblity of all three services being pooled into one device. Then lump on the new Windows MyPhone services, Windows Live services with their integration into Spaces, Twitter, Facebook, etc., a cloud version of Office Mobile. Slap on a sliding QWERTY keyboard, and suddenly you’ve got a netbook in your front pocket that will play your Xbox games, get your email and phone calls, and let you watch movies and listen to all the music you can download. True convergance, that’s what the potential with all of this is. One identity in the coming cloud, and one device to run all of your services. And trust me, Steve Ballmer wants it to all be Microsoft driven.

Now that may sound like some evil plan to takeover the world, but every manufacturer is doing that, Apple with gaming on the iPhone, the new DSi (which I’m currently reviewing) and their newfound connectivity, the possible new PSP 2 (Can anyone say PSP phone?) All that has to happen is for carriers to shove radios in these new devices and you’ve got bona-fide competitors to the iPhone, and consumers need that.

Those are the posibilities, what I think will happen is that Microsoft will release a new ZuneHD hardware personal media player, and then release the platform to phone manufacturers. I don’t think they want to compete with hardware makers in the hyperactive phone manufacturing world. I think, that just like their desktop OS, and their Office suite, they want every manufacturer to license it, and every consumer to buy it.

Will the new ZuneHD posess all of the speculated hardware specs? I don’t know, I think only a few do at this point. Will Windows Mobile 7 have Zune services integrated in to it? Only a few know. But what I do know is that convergance is something that has been talked about for several decades now, and I think we may be just about on the new edge of it with some of this. And it’s an exciting time to be watching it all unfold. Just keep your fingers crossed that it’s not locked in to one carrier.

I know there is plenty more our readers can add to this and I hope the conversation gets started.

Footnote

Before we get the Apple vs. Microsoft argument going full flame here, note that I’m for both, I’m for competition and innovation. Without the original Palm’s there would be no Windows mobile, without Windows Mobile and Palm, there would be no iPhone, without the iPhone there would be no Pre. Without the Pre and iPhone, there woud be no talk of  a possible ZuneHD Phone. These innovations drive the other to evolve, and that’s what we’re all looking for. Right?

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Windows Mobile, Zune, ZuneHD

The Gadgeteer’s ZuneHD Rumor Mill Roundup originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 16, 2009 at 1:15 pm.

While all of us who are locked in to WinMo by our employers choose WinMo Devices over the next iPhone, the G2, or the upcoming Pre, wait for the messianic arrival of WinMo 6.5 while hanging out in limbo, news and new software can be a little slow coming. Here’s something you may have missed.

If you’re still using the Sync Center software that shipped with Vista or has been around forever previously as ActiveSync, and if you’re running Vista or the Windows 7 Beta, try the Live Mobile Device Center that replaces it. Unfortunately it won’t work on XP, and for some reason there wasn’t a real campaign when this software was launched, but you can download it for free on the Windows Mobile site. It’s a much nicer interface than the tired old ActiveSync or Sync Center, and makes several functions much more intuitive.

When you connect your device, this is the main interface screen you will see. Notice the green check mark indicating that my Treo has connected and synchronized. I do find that Device Center tends to lose partnerships and connections a lot less often than ActiveSync. From this main screen, you can see the four areas available to you.

From the Programs and Services area you have three options. The Add/Remove programs function is extremely useful, and lets you take care of this process more directly than was previously available. The next two options take you to the Windows Mobile site to give you tips and a few freebies.

The next section is where you pull pictures from your device over to your desktop or vise versa, configure pictures and video settings, and sync other media with your device.

The next area is simply an explorer for your device, nothing new functionally here, just a prettier way to get there.

This last area lets you configure how you connect, sync, and manage your device or devices.

To sum things up, this isn’t a game changer, just an enhancer. I do find it works much better for the rest of the guys at the office who are a little less tech savvy than all of the readers here. It’s more intuitive, so that gives me a bit of a break everytime someone can’t get their phone to sync.

OK, so I know what you’re thinking, that’s not much of a review. No it’s not, it’s just a little tidbit to pass along on a light Saturday morning before the rest of the world wakes up. Besides, it goes good with the coffee doesn’t it? Enjoy and Happy WinMobiling.

Filed in categories: Windows Mobile related

Tagged: Windows Mobile

Windows Mobile Device Center originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 11, 2009 at 6:57 am.