HTC Touch Pro smartphone

Windows Mobile phones lag behind Nokia and Research in Motion’s BlackBerry in terms of market share, but Microsoft’s platform is catching up fast.

Gartner calculates that sales of Windows-based smartphones were 20 per cent higher in the second quarter of 2008 than a year ago. One reason is the efforts of handset makers to combine more attractive, easier to use designs with the business functions of Windows Mobile.

Handset maker HTC’s latest business phone – the Touch Pro – shows just what can be done when those elements come together. The Touch Pro combines TouchFlo 3D, the touch interface first shown on the Touch Diamond handset with a slide-out physical keyboard.

TouchFlo is not quite as intuitive as the iPhone’s touch interface, but it works well enough for managing the phone’s basic functions, such as making calls, light web browsing or looking up calendar entries or contacts. Features such as the cute weather page and clock, carried over from the Touch Diamond, make the touch interface fun to use.

The phone has plenty of business features, too, such as support for high speed, HSDPA web browsing, GPS, Wi-Fi, out of the box support for Exchange e-mail synchronisation and the improved security features of Windows Mobile 6.1.

On the downside, the Touch Pro doesn’t feel all that responsive. Touch commands could be quicker. It also takes a few seconds before the phone registers that the keyboard is extended and it allows you to type.

The fact that HTC includes a stylus with the phone serves as a reminder that the Windows menu system is alive and well under the TouchFlo skin: all but the most casual users will use the stylus quite a lot.

The screen is high resolution, but relatively small (2.8 inches), so navigating those menus can be challenging. The Touch Pro is much more pocket friendly than many earlier Windows Mobile phones, but after a few hours use, a larger device might actually feel more comfortable.

Sometimes a larger, lower-resolution screen is easier to use, for example in poor light. Nor is battery life on the Touch Pro – two days at best – good enough to persuade this writer to give up his BlackBerry.

The HTC Touch Pro is one of the best Windows Mobile smartphones yet. But in trying to upgrade a consumer handset to business class, HTC has produced a good smartphone rather than a true wireless PDA for the road warrior. Heavy e-mail users who do not need to run Windows Mobile applications could also look at Nokia’s E71 or the new, 3G, BlackBerry Bold.

By: Stephen Pritchar, via: FT.com

Google Android (G1) - Everything you need to know

Apple has been waiting too long for a contender to its title as world’s smartest smartphone, and now it has one in the shape of the , formerly known as the .

T-Mobile and Google officially launched the G1 this week in New York, and despite clearly sticking with the touchscreen interface, it’s every bit as revolutionary as the iPhone was this time a year ago. It’s not just exciting for the fact it marks the search giant’s entry into the mobile arena. No, read of for a full break down of all the most exciting features you’ll witness when the G1 launches in the UK in November, and the impact it’ll have on the future of mobiles…

First Google phone
The G1 is made by HTC, but all the headlines are down to the fact it’s the first phone to run Google’s brand new operating system, Android. Google has a reputation for rock solid code and usability, so expect this to run fast, and smoothly.

Not only that, but because Google owns so many useful splinter services, such as a little video site called Youtube, its perfectly integrated them for use on the G1. There’s GMail on the go, which even includes Google Talk to chat to your buddies in real time.

Open source operating system
Android is open source, which means the code is free and available for anyone to adapt. The upshot: developers across the world can harness the G1’s power, bountiful screen space (3.2 inches) and GPS to make every type of program imaginable, from fitness trackers to Twitter clients. Think the iPhone’s App Store, but free and with many more options.

The software development kit is already out, giving programmers a whole two months to fine tune applications before release, so expect a feast of freebies come launch.

The perfect mobile broadband
Super fast surfing is a given, with 3G, Wi-Fi and blisteringly fast HSDPA all accounted for, but the G1’s web browsing really makes it stand out. The phone’s magnifying glass function zooms in instantly, making regular web pages easily digestible on a mobile screen.

Combine that with what promise to be some exceptionally great value packages on T-Mobile, and you’re faced with a contender for best smartphone out there

Innovative keypad
It may be bulkier than the iPhone, but that’s only because it’s stealthily concealing a svelte slide-out full qwerty keyboard. Touchscreen interfaces make for intuitive web browsing, but can be nightmarish to write messages on for anyone with large hands or chubby fingers. The G1 gives you the best of both worlds, as well as a trackball for scrolling if you’re used to a BlackBerry.

Next-gen GPS

The G1’s GPS will guide you wherever you need to go - it’s satnav for your feet. That in itself isn’t new, and nor is integration with Google Maps on the G1’s lush 3.2-inch screen, even if it is nifty. But for those who can’t read a map from a no entry sign, the G1 takes orientation to another level, with Google Street View and a compass showing you exactly where you are. If you’re still lost with this thing, you probably need to go to the opticians.

via: Info Gadget

Nokia Maemo Internet Tablet Gen.5 to Include HSPA and TI's Omap Processor

Nokia has been detailing further information on next generation of the Maemo OS that currently powers its touchscreen Internet Tablet range. The fifth generation of the Linux-based platform will include WWAN HSPA cellular connectivity as well as support for Texas Instruments’ OMAP 3 processor; the latter could lead to lower-power requirements along with improved graphics and faster cores.

The company has also suggested a high-definition camera with improved photo sharing, which could possibly be through Nokia’s Ovi content sharing service. Nokia has also donated its OMAP3-specific HSPA code to the Linux Foundation, and has been awarded Gold Sponsor status. They have also pledged to support Trolltech’s Qt and GTK - which Nokia acquired - and avoid fragmentation.

No word as to whether Nokia will offer the updated Maemo OS to owners of existing Internet Tablet devices, nor when we can first expect to see new products based on the platform. The company’s N810 WiMAX Edition is still waiting in the wings, unable to release until Sprint and ClearWire launch the US WiMAX network it will use for its high-speed connectivity.

Via

Registry Editor for Pocket PC

The Registry Editor allow you to edit your Pocket PC registry where all its configuration and tweeks are stored. It allows you to do the following tasks: Explore the registry to find the operating system and applications configuration, modify system and applications tweeks not available from the standard options screens, export all or parts of the registry to .reg files, backup and restore the complete registry and perform search on the registry data.

Author: Philippe Majerus

Website: www.phm.lu

Installer Size : 470KB

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TCPMP, 3GP, MPEG, DivX Player for Windows Mobile

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The Real Difference between the Apple iPhone and iPhone 3G

Finally, Apple has introduced a smartphone. The Apple iPhone 3G not only comes with high-speed mobile network access, but it is also possible to download new applications to the device. The capability to enhance the product by installing additional software makes the iPhone a worthy contender in the smartphone market. Advanced features, like A-GPS, Wi-Fi, 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth, and above all, the fantastic touch screen should make the iPhone a popular device for those who are looking for a high-end smartphone.

The Apple iPhone - launched one year ago – looks practically the same as the iPhone 3G. The differences between the first and second iPhone models can be found inside the unit.

Mobile network:

As the name implies, the iPhone can access high-speed 3G mobile networks built on the UMTS/WCDMA technology. The difference between the 2G GSM network and the 3G network is that even an entry-level 3G network provides data transmission rate of up 360 Kbps. If HSDPA technology is available - the iPhone 3G has HSDPA - the maximum data rate is 3.6Mbps.

Audio:

Audio quality during phone calls has considerably improved. Also the loudspeaker has better sound. The iPhone 3G comes with a standard 3.5mm stereo plug so you can use any headphones for listening to music. There's a built-in microphone for phone calls in the headset that's included with the product.

Battery life:

When the 3G mobile network connection is used for Internet access, the battery life is shorter than when Wi-Fi is used. This is peculiar behavior on a smartphone, and may indicate that updates will be on the way. Typically, the most energy-hungry method for Internet access on a smartphone is Wi-Fi, then 3G, and the least power hungry is GSM (GPRS or EDGE).

Software and Services:

With the built-in GPS receiver, maps are available for navigation. Photographers can post their pictures on shared maps on the Internet because GPS can save the exact location where the images were captured.

MobileMe (formerly .Mac) is a significant new service that will help iPhone owners to keep their data safe and in sync with their computers. You sign up to the service and make the initial sync on each Windows PC, Mac, iPod Touch, and iPhone you want to be in sync with other devices. Every time you create a new calendar entry on your PC, or snap a new picture on the iPhone, the information is automatically stored on your account on MobileMe server. Then, it is pushed to each device you have registered for MobileMe service. The same applies to email, notes, and other files. Annual subscription for individual account costs USD 99.

For free sync/backup service that works with iPhone, we recommend Zyb that can sync calendar, contacts and notes.

Corporate email users who have an Microsoft Exchange system at work, can read and send email on the iPhone using the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync feature.

App Store for application downloads

Apple wants to control all software downloaded into iPhones for security and business reasons. The company has designed App Store, a dedicated online store that offers free and for-sale applications for the iPhone. You don't have to connect the iPhone to a PC for syncing with iTunes, because App Store can be accessed over the air.

The iPhone can't, however, run Java applications that are popular on other smartphones and mobile phones.

Tip: If you are contemplating the bits, bytes and prices of data plans, make full use of the iPhone's Wi-fi capability. If you have access to a Wi-Fi hotspot at home, in the office, at the campus or at the mall, you can use Wi-Fi for all your Internet and email access instead of 3G or 2G mobile network. This way, you can minimize data usage via mobile network and you can subscribe to a smaller data plan.

Apple iPhone 3G Key Features and Specifications:

• 3.5-inch touch-screen. Display resolution is 480x320 pixels. The display can viewed in landscape and horizontal position.
• Multi-touch technology allows control gestures like zoom in/out using two fingers simultaneously.
• Quad-band GSM world phone for networks operating in 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz frequency bands. EDGE data connectivity.
• As a dual mode phone, it can connect to 3G UMTS/WCDMA networks operating in 850, 1900, 2100 MHz frequencies, where available. High-speed data download (HSDPA) via 3G network provides maximum rate of 3.6Mbps (HSDPA may not be available even if 3G UMTS is available).
• WLAN for connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi hotspots.
• A-GPS (Assisted GPS). A GPS receiver that can pick up satellite signals faster if something happens to be blocking clear view to the sky.
• 2-megapixel digital camera. No video recording. Pictures are marked with geographic position obtained from GPS (an activity also known as geotagging).
• Music player can play songs saved in MP3, AAC, Protected AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, Audible, and WAV formats.
• Video playback of H.264 (640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second), MPEG-4 (640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second) movie formats.
• Stereo headphones with microphone. iPhone has 3.5mm stereo plug.
• Text messaging (SMS) and email. No built-in picture messaging (MMS) feature.
• Browser software for viewing Web (HTML) pages.
• Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR feature for high-speed data transfer between compatible Bluetooth devices.
• USB 2.0 interface for hooking up the phone to a Mac or Windows PC via cable. iTunes 7.7 or higher required for data sync.
• 8 GB or 16GB of internal storage space. No removable memory card.
• OS X, a Unix-based operating system software is powering the iPhone.
• The 8GB model is available in black only, but the 16GB model comes in black or white.
• Battery life: talk time up to 10 hours on GSM network and 5 hours on 3G network. Standby time up to 12 days. When used as an iPod MP3 player, audio playback up to 24 hours and video playback up to 7 hours.
• Dimensions (height, width, depth): 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 inches / 115 x 62 12 mm. Weight 4.7 oz./133 g

In addition to the smartphone unit, the package includes stereo headset with microphone and a button for answering calls or muting audio, dock connector to USB Cable, USB Power Adapter, user guide, screen polishing cloth, and SIM eject tool.

Acer Aspire One Mini Laptop - Between PDA and Notebook

The world has taken yet another step towards truly mobile computing. One of the major PC manufacturers, Acer, has designed a mini-laptop, which is about the size of a mass-market book. Yet, it has a qwerty keyboard and 8.9-inch screen. The Acer Aspire One also comes with Wi-Fi, 3G, hard disk or flash memory for storage, and Linux or Windows operating system.

A mini-laptop is a perfect companion for anyone who regularly has to carry a computer. Maybe it is to a friend's house, to a hotel, to the college, or just the short distance from study to kitchen. The point is that the device is so small that you don't hesitate to take it with you. Ultra-portable PCs may lack a CD drive, huge storage space, or processing power to edit videos, because these features have been sacrificed for ultimate portability.

Our own experience with a mini-laptop is that a few missing features is worth the sacrifice for anyone who wants to have a laptop at hand practically anywhere they go. Typically, new individual usage patterns start to emerge with a tablet or ultra-portable PC. Someone may use a mini-notebook for instant messaging, reading news, posting blog entries, someone else for video chatting and viewing YouTube clips, or listening to music.

Acer Aspire One key features and specifications:

• 8.9-inch color screen in 1024 x 600-pixel resolution. It is a backlit CrystalBrite LED display.
• Qwerty keyboard.
• WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g Internet connectivity from hotspots.
• 3G or Wimax for high-speed mobile connectivity. It is good to keep in mind that Wimax is a future wireless technology, and not yet widely available.
• Linpus Linux Lite orMicrosoft Windows XP Home operating system software.
• Memory card slot that can read and write SD, MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, and xD cards.
• 8GB of flash memory or 80GB hard drive for storage space.
• Webcam, Acer CrystalEye, capable of live video streaming and video conferences.
• VGA, Ethernet, and USB ports.
• 512MB or 1GB of RAM memory.
• Intel Atom processor.
• Available in four colors: dark blue, white, golden brown and pink.
• Dimensions of the unit: width 24 cm, height 17 cm.

Source: InfoGadget