Pocket PC Central News Center

Samsung OMNIA Okayed by FCC

RSSFeed — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:13:00 +0000

The Samsung OMNIA Windows Mobile Pro device has received FCC approval, which means it can now be released in the U.S. The version approved is compatible with 850/1900MHz frequencies used by AT&T Mobility, which has long been thought to be the first carrier which would offer the OMNIA in the U.S.

Read more about the Samsung OMNIA Windows Mobile Smartphone…

HP iPAQ Oak, Silver Smartphone Chatter Resumes

RSSFeed — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:10:00 +0000

We first told you about the iPAQ Oak and iPAQ Silver in January. Now, for the first time since information regarding these handhelds was leaked, we’re beginning to hear more about these upcoming Windows Mobile smartphones from HP.

A recent story in the Wall Street Journal states that HP plans to release the Oak later this year in Europe with a broader release to follow. Engadget is also reporting that the iPAQ Silver is beginning to show up here and there around the globe.

The two devices are close siblings, with similar designs and features – but, while the Silver (right) is a non-touchscreen device with a SureType style keypad-keyboard combo, the Oak (left) is a full featured Pro Smartphone with a touchscreen interface and a slide-to-hide QWERTY keyboard and an on-face keypad.

We’ll post more information as it becomes available.

Microsoft to Bring Zune Player to Windows Mobile

MNichols — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:34:00 +0000

Some on the Web are billing a recent quote from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer concerning porting Zune software to future Windows Mobile devices as a grand revelation – but it’s been known since early January that Microsoft was planning (at the very least) to bring a Zune-type media player to Windows Mobile 7, the next version of the company’s mobile platform.

As you can see from this screenshot, Windows Mobile 7’s media player has a Zune icon, presumably to connect to the Zune store to purchase and download tracks. The screenshot was part of a package of captures released on a Microsoft-related blog in January.

It is unclear how much Zune will shape future version of Windows Mobile; its entire interface could be changed to reflect Zune, or a Zune-inspired player could simply replace the current Windows Media Player Mobile. I would welcome each of these changes.

Given the evolution of the Zune software (the Zune players’ UI and the Windows Zune application) over the past year, adding it to Windows Mobile it would certainly prove a great improvement over the miserable Windows Media Player Mobile, which remains largely unchanged for years and is about as limited as mobile media software can be.

I don’t expect a Zune-phone, but there will be a greater marriage of Zune and Windows Mobile in the future. Exciting stuff.

What ‘Windows Cloud’ Could Mean for Windows Mobile

RSSFeed — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:48:00 +0000

Microsoft is expected to announce its new Cloud-based OS later this month. This ‘Windows Cloud’ OS (or whatever it comes to be called) could mean big things for Windows Mobile, depending on how it evolves.

The mobile market is moving quickly toward Cloud-based syncing, as seen by Apple’s MobileMe and Android’s Google-dependant wireless syncing. We hope to see Microsoft move similarly, but without the hitches and lurches of MobileMe or the Google service dependency (at least at first) of Android.

Microsoft could build a new Cloud-based ActiveSync whose connections are entirely wireless, with syncing between Live services, Windows, Outlook and Windows Mobile devices, all without USB cables. The potential of this type of technology is incredible, and will affect data syncing, software distribution, online storage, mobile control, web-based applications and more.

We’ll keep you updated on the evolution of Windows Cloud over the coming months. An official announcement is expected later this month.

Not BlackJack III, Not Mirage… It’s the Samsung Epix

RSSFeed — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:26:00 +0000

After weeks of playing the gadget name game, we now have hard information on the upcoming AT&T Mobility version of the Samsung i780. The Windows Mobile 6.1 handheld will be sold as the Samsung Epix, and while it’s not going to be sold as the BlackJack III, as once thought, it is certainly a device in the same vein. The Epix is expected to be released on October 23, 2008.

AT&T’s Mirage Actually the Samsung SGH-i788?

RSSFeed — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:18:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, we told you that the Samsung Omnia may be coming to AT&T Mobility as the AT&T Mirage. New information posted at PhoneArena, however, suggests that Mirage may be the code name for the Samsung SGH-i788, the so-called BlackJack III. The post goes on to say that the new Samsung may be sold as the i907. At this point, we’re going with this new information, as it seems more credible, but all information regarding this device should be treated as rumor until we get some hard information.

Samsung’s Omnia is likely still on its way to AT&T, so we’ll keep you posted as new information arises.

Celio Lowers Price of REDFLY to $199

RSSFeed — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:28:37 +0000

The REDFLY Mobile Companion from Celio is now available for $199. This lower price tag is expected to last through October 31, 2008, and reflects a desire to get more of these devices into the hands of users.

The REDFLY Mobile Companion is a laptop-style device which mirrors a Windows Mobile handset allowing users to send e-mail, edit documents, etc., in a more familiar way.

Visit GetREDFLY.com for more information.

Casio Working on Mobile HD Displays

RSSFeed — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:14:32 +0000

Think HD video is a no-go in the mobile world? Think again. Casio has developed a new mobile LCD screen with extremely small pixels, the result being a resolution of 960×540 on a 2-inch display.

By densely packing smaller pixels within a square inch, the ability to see each pixel diminishes and results in a smoother, more print-like view. Casio’s LCD has 546 dots per inch (DPI), which is significantly higher than today’s QVGA and VGA mobile displays.

via Electronista

Palm Treo Pro Now Shipping

RSSFeed — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:04:00 +0000

Palm has begun shipping its new Treo Pro Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Smartphone. The Treo Pro is sold unlocked and can be used with any U.S. GSM/GPRS wireless service including AT&T Mobile and T-Mobile.

You can order the Treo Pro from the Palm Online Store.

Documents To Go Now Available for Windows Mobile Touchscreen Devices

RSSFeed — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:38:49 +0000

If you own a touchscreen Windows Mobile device and find the Word, Excel and PowerPoint Mobile applications on your Windows Mobile device lacking, we have good news. Documents To Go, one of the most popular MS Office document applications for mobile devices, is now available for Windows Mobile 5 for Pocket PC Phone and Windows Mobile 6 Professional touchscreen handhelds.

This latest version of Documents To Go supports Office 2007 file formats and includes the ability to view, edit and create Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, PDF viewing, ZIP file management and more.

SanDisk 16GB microSDHC Card About to Ship?

RSSFeed — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:21:00 +0000

We’ve been expecting a 16GB microSD card for months, and it looks like they’re about to burst onto the scene. MemorySuppliers.com has recently added the SanDisk 16GB microSDHC flash memory card to its web store (part #SDSDQR-16384), and although the product is not in stock, this development means that we may see 16GB cards in days or weeks. The MSRP on this card is expected to be somewhere between $60 and $80.

In recent years, microSD cards have become the standard removable storage medium for Windows Mobile devices, and microSDHC cards (those above 2GB in capacity) are now widely supported in Windows Mobile Smartphones.

For more information on SDHC cards and Windows Mobile handhelds, take a look at our list of SDHC-Ready Windows Mobile Devices.

4th Gen iPod Nano Review @ Pocket PC Central

RSSFeed — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:56:00 +0000

Much of this year’s iPod news was a snore: a curvier iPod touch, a new one-capacity iPod Classic, the umpteenth iPod shuffle color jumble. Yawn. But the fourth and final updated iPod, the new 4th Generation (4G) iPod nano, caught our eye. It’s small. It’s light. It’s sexy. And, with the 4G iPod nano, Apple has righted itself after a design misstep.

Read the Pocket PC Central 4th Generation iPod nano Review.

Microsoft Phone Data Manager Beta Hits the Web

RSSFeed — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:19:02 +0000

Microsoft has released a beta of Phone Data Manager, a utility designed to backup select data on your Windows Mobile phone (or other SyncML/OBEX standard compliant handset) so you can restore it with ease. The beta works both with Windows Live Contacts and a Windows PC to backup contacts, music, video and photos.

While Phone Data Manager isn’t exactly an all-in-one backup solution, it does offer some unique benefits. Contacts are stored in the Cloud on Windows Live, while media files are stored in a folder on your Windows XP or Vista PC. Aside from backing up contacts, Phone Data Manager is also a contacts sync solution to mirror contacts between Windows Mobile and Windows Live Contacts.

This type of synchronization is the future of mobile and we hope to see more of it. Unfortunately, this first beta only supports backup/sync via Bluetooth or USB cable, and Windows Mobile devices must use USB, at least for now.

Windows Mobile 7 Coming Mid-to-Late 2009?

RSSFeed — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:58:07 +0000

If true, this is a disappointing development in the world of Windows Mobile. According to a blog at CNet, Microsoft is quietly telling some of its partners not to expect the final version of Windows Mobile 7 until the second half of 2009.

This schedule isn’t exactly a delay, as Microsoft has never provided a firm date for delivery of WinMo7, but many analysts expected the new OS to ship in early 2009.

Windows Mobile 7 is expected to be a major update to Microsoft’s mobile OS, with gesture recognition, more touch-friendly interaction, and sweeping improvements to the the UI. These changes are very much needed in light of increasing competition from RIM, Apple and Google’s Android.

T-Mobile G1 Android Smartphone Available Oct. 22

RSSFeed — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:00:00 +0000

The first Android-powered smartphone is now a reality. The long-awaited T-Mobile G1 was made official this morning, giving us our up close look at an Android handset.

The T-Mobile G1 is built by HTC (it’s the HTC Dream) and features a HVGA touchscreen display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (without A2DP stereo support), UMTS/HSDPA wireless broadband, a 3MP camera, GPS and microSD expansion.

Read all about the T-Mobile G1 Android Smartphone here…

Palm Treo Pro Coming to AT&T?

RSSFeed — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:14:00 +0000

BGR is reporting that Palm plans to offer its Treo Pro Windows Mobile handset through an American wireless carrier. Since, BGR suggests, Palm has no relationship with T-Mobile, that leaves AT&T Mobility.

This is unconfirmed information, so take it for what it’s worth. But such a move would certainly prove beneficial for Palm, who currently plans to offer the Palm Treo Pro as a direct-sell, unlocked handset.

Firefox Mobile Pushed Back to 2010?

RSSFeed — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:55:02 +0000

Recent Internet reports regarding the future of Firefox Mobile (seen here and here) assert that Mozilla will be holding off on the launch of Firefox Mobile until sometime in 2010. This seemed a bit odd to us, so we went digging.

Although these reports state that 2010 will be the release year for the mobile version of the Firefox web browser, the reference material the reports cite simply suggest that the goal of the organization is to have a mobile version of Firefox by 2010.

It seems strange that users would have to wait a year and a half to two years for this software long planned. We hope it’s not anywhere near that long.

AT&T to Launch HTC Touch Pro as ‘Fuze’

RSSFeed — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:27:00 +0000

We’ve been hearing for a few weeks that AT&T Mobility is planning to release its own re-branded version of the HTC Touch Pro. Based on various online information, We now believe this handheld will be marketed as the AT&T Fuze.

It’s not yet clear how much the device will differ from the baseline Touch Pro model (if at all), but according to BGR, the AT&T Fuze will launch on or around October 23, 2008.

Verizon Motorola Q9c Gets Windows Mobile 6.1 Update

RSSFeed — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:23:36 +0000

It’s about time. If you own a Motorola Q9c, head over to the Motorola web site and download the Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard updater.

This update also adds treaded SMS and various updates and fixes.

Samsung Omnia Coming to AT&T As ‘Mirage’

RSSFeed — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:54:22 +0000

The Samsung Omnia is one of the most anticipated Windows Mobile handhelds of 2008, and now we’re getting new information about the device’s first official U.S. availability. According to Engadget, the Omnia SGH-i907 will debut on AT&T Mobility next month as the AT&T Mirage.

It’s unclear how many changes will be made to the U.S. version of the Omnia, but as more information becomes available, we’ll let you know.