~Tech Angel~

Motorola Q announced for Verizon

Earlier today, the Treo 700p was announced on Verizon's network and now we've learned that Verizon will be offering the Motorola Q for sale online on May 31.  You can purchase the "world's slimmest smartphone" for $199 (that's after a $100 rebate).  The Q is only .45 inches thin, has a full QWERTY keyboard, 1.3 megapixel camera, and will run on Verizon's high-speed wireless broadband network.  It will run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform.

I would love to see what average consumers think of these once they're out in the wild.  I need something with a full sized keyboard to replace my Treo 650.

Technorati Tags: Moto Q, Motorola, Motorola Q, Verizon

Neuros MPEG4 Recorder 2

Source: MobileTechReview

If Santa brings me a PSP for Christmas, I might consider purchasing this device (depending on how much of a hassle it is to get movies to the PSP via conventional methods).  The Neuros MPEG4 Recorder 2 is a recorder that creates the appropriate video file straight from the content.  It's basically a VCR without the tape since it records to your memory card.  You can connect it to your cable box, DVR, VCR, DVD, camcorder, etc. and it will record to your memory card which can then immediately work with your PSP or any other device that is compatible with a memory stick or CF card (like my Dell Axim x50).

It can record in VGA, QVGA, and WQVGA.  You can purchase it for $149.99.

Technorati Tags: MPEG4, Neuros MPEG4 Recorder 2, PSP, pdas

Dopod P100 - GPS-enabled PDA

DoPod has released their first GPS-enabled device in Taiwan, the Dopod P100.  Running under Windows Mobile 5.0, it features WiFi, GPS capabilities, and can download maps of up to 90 Asian cities. It features a 300MHz processor, 32MB RAM, 64MB Flash ROM, 2.8" QVGA screen, SDIO/MMC slot, mini-USB, and Bluetooth.  China and other Southeast Asian countries will see the device in December.  The company also plans to release more than 10 smartphones and PDA phones next year.

Source: PocketPC Thoughts and Digitimes

Technorati Tags: DoPod, Dopod P100, GPS, pdas, GPS, smartphones, Windows Mobile 5.0

Ice Creme for iPods and PSPs

Is your iPod scuffed up or has some minor damage?  Has your shiny black PSP lost its luster?  An Ice Creme solution may be what you need to make your devices look new again.  Ice Creme is a solution that removes surface abrasion and scratches from acrylic and bright metal surfaces.  You can use Ice Creme on devices like the iPod, iBook, PDAs, and cell phones. 

The regular formula is for plastic products and lightly damaged bright metal. The "M" version adds a special metal refinishing pad which can restore severe bright metal surface damage - like the iPod's bright metal back panel.  Not for use on iPod mini, painted or anodized surfaces. Both versions include Optex application and polishing cloths.

You can purchase the Ice Creme solution for $20.95 and it includes 2 1 oz. bottles of polishing compounds and 2 application/polishing cloths.  The Ice Creme "M" is available for  $25.95 and includes the same items as the regular solution but with the addition of a bright metal finishing pad. 

via| Radtech.us

Tags: iPod, iBook, pdas, cell phones, mobile phones, Ice Creme, gadgets

Royal EZVue 5

In the market for a budget PDA?  You may want to take a look at the Royal EZVue 5 that retails for $34.95.  It features a slide-down QWERTY thumbboard, touch screen, and side mounted scrolling buttons.  3MB of internal memory won't allow for large files but should be sufficient for calendar appointments, to-do lists, etc..  The device also has a software suite that's included that allows for you to sync the Royal EZVue 5 with your computer via the included USB cable.

 

via| Engadget

~This definitely won't be labelled a Treo killer, but it looks like a viable option for those who need something just to keep track of tasks and appointments.  It's not a bad deal at all.~
 

Tags: pdas, Royal EZVue 5, QWERTY, organization, gadgets

The next Treo?

There's a discussion going on over at TreoCentral about the next Treo.  A forum member is claiming that he has inside information on the next Treo and it's supposedly running Palm Cobalt 6.1 and will have the same form factor as the Treo 650.  He also reports a Bluetooth 1.2 stack, better compatibility with Bluetooth devices, built-in Wifi (not sure if it will be in the final product, though), 64MB of internal memory, and EVDO capability.  He's also stating that the soft reset button has been added to the left side and the headphone jack is on top. 

Once again, this is just what this member is claiming...basically treat it as a rumor.  It would be nice if the unit did have everything listed.  I'm most excited about Palm Cobalt (thought it was dead?) and the soft reset button!  Yes, I'm more excited about the soft reset button than the possibility of built-in Wifi.  Do you know how much of a pain it is to get the cover off of the Treo just to get to the button?  It really is a dumb design.  Especially since I end up doing almost once a week.  Built-in wireless on the Treo doesn't really excite me simply because if I had it, I would most likely use it at home and if I'm home, I'd much rather surf the net on a 17-inch LCD.  But it would be nice for accessing the network to transfer mp3s and other media files.

Read the full thread.

Tags: Treo, Treo 650, pdas, Palm, rumors, Cobalt 6.1, Cobalt, Palm Cobalt, gadgets

PALM has new name, ticker, logo, and headquarters

The new Palm Logo........

Official Press Release:

PALM: Mobile-computing Leader Adopts New Name, Ticker, Logo and Headquarters; New Nasdaq Symbol: PALM

    SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2005--- Today marks the date palmOne, Inc. becomes Palm, Inc. The company today begins trading under the symbol PALM, formerly traded under the Nasdaq ticker symbol PLMO. Accompanying the name change is the release of a new company logo, which will begin appearing on products this fall.

    Today's news follows an announcement on May 24 that the company had acquired unencumbered rights to the Palm(R) brand by buying out the share of the brand formerly controlled by PalmSource, Inc. (http://www.palmone.com/us/company/pr/news_feed_story.epl?reqid=712951).

Read more.

Tags: palm, pdas, palmone, news, technology

Juni's GoldenCut PPC Skin

Need a new skin for your Pocket PC?  Download Goldencut, the latest from Juni.

Tags: Juni, Pocket PC, PPC, pdas

Beta Player is now officially TCPMP

My favorite PDA music and movie player has officially changed its name from Beta Player to TCPMP (The Core Pocket Media Player).  TCPMP is an open-source media player for Palm and Windows Mobile devices.

I have used this program pretty much since I first purchased my Axim.  I've never had encountered a problem and it beats the Windows Media player included with the Axim by a MILE.  I also prefer it to the RealPlayer that is included with my Treo 650.  If you would like to try it out, you can download the Palm version and the Windows Mobile.

Tags: Beta player, movies, music, pdas, Pocket PC, software, TCPMP, The Core Pocket Media Player, Realplayer, Windows Media, entertainment, Dell Axim, Axim, Treo, Treo 650

Qool Labs Pocket PC Phone

Last month, Qool Labs announced the Qool QDA-700.  This makes the fourth Palm licensee who is releasing a Pocket PC...hmmmm. This month, PalmDubai.net was able to take a peek at a new Qool Labs Pocket PC Phone.  Specs include: tri-band GSM/GPRS, QVGA screen, Windows Mobile 2003 SE Edition, 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, mini-SD, Java support, and of course, no WiFi.  PalmDubai speaks very highly of the device, so I suggest you go check it out.

Tags: Qool, Pocket PC, Pocket PC Phone, Palm, pdas, Bluetooth, mini-SD, mobile, GSM, gadgets, technology, Qool Labs, Windows Mobile

Finally reading GTD...

After recently reading many, many GTD-related posts and sites, I finally decided to purchase the book and get started.  Here's a brief description of GTD from the creator's website:

GTD is the popular shorthand for “Getting Things Done”, the groundbreaking work-life management system and book by David Allen that transforms personal overwhelm and overload into an integrated system of stress-free productivity.

Even though I own two PDAs (a Dell Axim and a Treo 650), I still find myself disorganized at times and not completing everything on my task lists.  Many times, I'll have an item on my Task list that has been sitting there for days waiting to get done and it's something that will take a couple of minutes to do and I'll keep changing the due date, just so it won't turn up red or "overdue", instead of just DOING IT.  For example, what's on my list today that's overdue?  "Backup Axim".  Something that will take me just a couple of seconds to start, but I always procrastinate and it's not done on schedule.  That's just something minor....cleaning out my den has been on my To-Do list for about four months now!!  So...as a result of my "issues" with completing my tasks and productivity, I moseyed on over to Fictionwise.com and purchased.....

Wapipedia - Mobile Wikipedia

Looking for another way to view Wikipedia on your PDA or your cell phone?  Check out Wapipedia.

Tags: Wapipedia, Wikipedia, pdas, mobile phones, cell phones, encyclopedia

Review of the E-TEN M500

MobileTechReview has published a review of the E-TEN M500.  Comparable in size to the Treo 650 and the i-mate Jam, this PPC Phone gets a very favorable review with just a few knocks for the lack of integrated Wifi, poor reception in weak areas, and the need to carry a USB cable in order to use the charger while on the road.

"For the price and size, this unit packs a lot               of features! It out-classes its main competitor, the i-mate JAM               in many respects: it has more memory, slightly faster benchmarks,               a brighter display and a somewhat better camera with an LED flash.               It comes with voice command software that works with Bluetooth               headsets too, has  more stable and full-featured Bluetooth software               (though we couldn't get DUN working), and an excellent stylus." via| MobileTechReview

Specs: 2.8" Transflective TFT color LCD (240x320 resolution), Bluetooth, Quad-band GSM, 1440mAh battery, 400 MHz processor, 64MB RAM, 128MB Flash ROM, Windows Mobile 2003 SE (reportedly will be upgraded to Windows Mobile 5.0 later this year), SD slot, and 1.3 megapixel camera.

Check out the full detailed review.

Tags: E-TEN M500, Pocket PC Phone, pdas, Bluetooth, GSM, mobile, technology, Windows Mobile 2003 SE, Windows Mobile 5.0, gadgets, Pocket PC, PPC

Skin Tight for Treo 650

This post is actually for my husband...he's looking for a case that will protect his Treo 650, but he doesn't want any additional bulk.  The makers of the iGuy for iPods, SpeckProducts, have created a case for the Treo 650.  The Skin Tight looks like it might meet all of my husband's needs.  It has a swivel clip, doesn't add bulk or weight like hard cases, protects the screen with a crystal clear hard plastic, and the rubber texture means it can sit on your dashboard without falling off!  I'm in the market for a case as well, so I may be ordering this for $34.95.

Check out more pics.

Tags: Treo, Treo 650, Treo accessories, cases, Speck, SpeckProducts, husband, gadgets

New Palm licensee is LG Electronics

Remember last week when Palm announced that they signed a new licensee and indicated it was one of the top 5 handset providers?  Well, the licensee has been announced and it's…..LG Electronics.  The company will use the Palm OS in its newest smartphones.

Via| Reuters

Tags: Palm, LG Electronics, LG, OS, smartphones, pdas, technology, mobile, gadgets

New version of HTC Magician

the::unwired is reporting that HTC will be releasing a new version of the HTC Magician (a "Magician Refresh"), known as the Qtek S110.  The Qtek S110 will have double the RAM (128MB instead of 64MB), and an anthracite colored case instead of the normal silver.

Other specs include: tri-band GSM, 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and  416MHz processor. (sorry, no wifi)

via| the::unwired

Tags: HTC, HTC Magician, Qtek, Qtek S110, GSM, Bluetooth, pdas, pocket pcs, technology, mobile, gadgets

Nevada legalizes wireless gambling

Well, it looks like Nevada finally passed the law that would allow wireless handheld gaming.   Now players can play blackjack, the slots, video poker, etc., from public areas within the casino.  These public areas include restaurants, bars, convention rooms, and swimming pools.  Unfortunately, if you want to gamble from the comfort of your hotel room bed, this law does not allow for such gambling pleasure. Hotel rooms are off-limits due to concerns that minor may get ahold of the handheld devices. 

Via|NYTimes

Tags: Nevada, Las Vegas, gambling, casinos, blackjack, slot machines, video poker, wireless, mobile, pdas, technology, entertainment

NYTimes does the Treo 650

There's an interesting article about the Treo 650 at NYTimes.com: The awkward smartphone grows up.

"The Treo really shines, though, in the little touches that bear the pawprints of obsessive-compulsive designers. For example, it offers to add a newly dialed number to the address book, so you'll have it for next time. You can look up a number in a thousand-name address book just by typing the person's initials--and then dial with one key press. And the Treo's physical Ringer Off switch is so brilliant and useful, it ought to become an FCC requirement.

The Treo is not entirely compromise-free; some might consider a 2-inch-wide keyboard, for example, to be the very definition of a compromise. But it's safe to say that the Treo 650 comes closer to its original "no compromises" goal than anything yet designed." source: NYTimes

Tags: Treo, Treo 650, technology, smartphones, pdas, Palm

PalmSource Linux Phone due next year

PalmSource has announced that they are delaying all development of products that aren't directly related to its latest efforts of Linux based versions of its software for mobile phones (what a mouthful!).  Next summer, consumers can expect to see a version of the software on low-end or feature phones.  A high-end version is scheduled to be released by the second half of 2006.

Read more.

Tags: PalmSource, Palm, pdas, Linux, phones, cell phones, mobile phones, technology, gadgets, software

MobiPocket reader 4.9 released

One of my favorite ebook readers, MobiPocket, has released an upgrade. MobiPocket Reader v4.9 includes the following updates:

• Support of VGA screens and full compatibility with Windows Mobile 2003 SE
• More complete support of JavaScript and support for ASP and RW databases
  
• Auto-scrolling stops where you are instead of jumping to the next page
• Setup program for PalmOS devices is simpler (no need to specify resolution or colors)
• Rendering of frames in content is faster
• Various bug fixes

You can also download a beta version of v5.0 that has a number of changes and new features:

• Native Pocket PC look and feel
• Library management
• Book Display options
• New toolbar icon customization
• Enhanced annotations
• Hardware button mapping

Tags: MobiPocket, ebooks, pocket pc, pdas, technology, Windows Mobile

Wireless handheld categories confusing...

I read an interesting article today. It seems that every quarter there are conflicting reports on the increased growth or decreased growth in the wireless handheld market.  I often read articles that claim that PDAs are on the verge of extinction and two minutes later I'll read another article where it's stated the market is steadily increasing each quarter.  What should we believe and why is there a contradiction?  The confusion comes from the categories that analysts and the media put PDAs in. 

 

"For example, Gartner says Research In Motion is the leading provider of wireless PDAs with 20.8 percent of the market, followed by PalmOne with 18 percent and Hewlett-Packard with 17.6 percent. But a footnote points out that Gartner classifies the popular PalmOne Treo 650 as a smartphone rather than a wireless PDA." source: Network Computing

 

The Treo is clearly a PDA, in my opinion, just one that happens to make phone calls and utilize data services as well.  Why does it even matter?  Well, including the highly successful Treo in the wireless PDA category would significantly alter the results of Gartner's report.  What are your thoughts? Should devices like the Palm Treo 650 be considered a PDA or a smartphone?  Or should Gartner just revise their categories and realize that convergence is causing a very blurry line and devices like the Treo 650 can fit in two categories?

Tags: pdas, wireless handhelds, Treo, smartphones, PalmOne, Hewlett-Packard, Treo 650, wireless, technology, Gartner, RIM, gadgets

ZAGAT TO GO for mobile devices

Handmark and Zagat have partnered to offer a wireless version of Zagat's popular consumer survey-based restaurant, leisure, and travel guides.  ZAGAT TO GO was originally introduced in 2000 and offered users access to different guides in over 70 markets.  Some of the features include:

~addition of America's Top Golf Courses guide
~regular, automated updates of guides
~new advanced features
~ability to save favorite searches
~add reservations and appointments directly to PDA calendar

"Among the many Windows Mobile and Palm OS devices that support ZAGAT TO GO are the Dell Axim; HP/Compaq iPAQ; palmOne Treo series, Zire, and LifeDrive devices; Sony Clie; and Garmin iQue, among others.  ZAGAT TO GO, priced at $24.95 USD, can be downloaded via the Handango and PalmGear eCommerce sites as well as through Zagat (http://software.zagat.com) and Handmark (http://www.handmark.com)."

Tags: Zagat, pocket pc, palm OS, pdas, mobile, wireless, golf, Windows Mobile, travel, restaurant, Axim, iPAQ, Treo, Zire, LifeDrive, Sony Clie, Garmin iQue, software

Treo owners and LIVE 8

If you're a Treo owner and interested in LIVE 8, you may want to check out the following from Technorati:

            Live 8: Experience history in the making – right from your Treo™ smartphone.        

               

On July 2, 2005 musicians and fans across the world will come together to help draw attention to the problems of world poverty. You too can be part of this historic event, even if you can't hop a plane to London, Rome, Tokyo, or one of the other seven concert venues. That's because every aspect of this event will be attended, followed, and ... blogged.

       

With your Treo smartphone you can read along from a special Treo smartphone – optimized mobile version of the Technorati Live8 blog site. So you won't have to wonder what Madonna is wearing on stage, or how Bono's voice sounds across a crowded amphitheater.

       

To follow the Technorati Live 8 blog on your Treo smartphone, just visit the following URL from your smartphones browser and enjoy!

       

            http://live8.technorati.com/treo        

Tags: LIVE 8, Live8, concert, Treo 600, Treo 650, Treo, smartphones, Technorati, palmOne, mobile, technology

PalmSource announces new licensee

  Although PalmSource won’t release a name, they have announced that they have signed a new Tier 1 licensee.  This new licensee apparently is one of the top five global handset providers.    Let’s see….Nokia, Motorola, LG, Sony Ericcson, and who’s the other one?

 Tags: PalmSource, Palm, Nokia, Motorola, LG, Sony Ericcson, pdas, mobile, technology

Samsung SCH-i730 now listed on Verizon

If you were anxiously waiting for the Samsung SCH-i730 to be released by Verizon on July 7th, you can stop waiting.  The Treo 650 competitor is now listed on Verizon's site for all customers to purchase for $599.99 with a 2-year contract and $699.99 with a 1 year contract.

Description from Verizon's site: 

The Samsung SCH-i730 is a Pocket PC Phone featuring Windows Mobile^TM 2003 Pocket PC Phone 2nd Edition software.  It's equipped with 1x/EVDO digital download capabilities, has Bluetooth^® wireless technology and Wi-Fi capabilities. The i730 also has a built-in sliding QWERTY keyboard, dual speakers, SD I/O slot and speakerphone. It's built for people who mean business.

Tags: Samsung, Samsung SCH i730, cell phones, mobile phones, Verizon, Pocket PC phone, PPC, Pocket PC, EVDO, Windows Mobile, Bluetooth, pdas, smartphones, technology, mobile

palmOne announces 3rd retail store at Boston Airport

palmOne has opened a new retail store at Boston Logan International Airport.  The new store is located in Terminal B and is one of 10 retail stores across the nation's airports and the third at Boston Logan. 

"Airport stores have proven to be a successful sales strategy. palmOne opened its first airport store more than a year ago, and today has stores in some of the nation's busiest airports, including Atlanta, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington National. Airport locations are instrumental in reaching palmOne's mobile professional market. At Boston Logan, approximately 50 percent of the more than 26 million travelers who pass through the airport each year are business travelers."

Tags: palmOne, palm, pdas, airports, Boston, shopping

2005 Winners of Handango Champion Awards

Handango has announced the winners of its 2005 Handango Champion Awards....and the Pocket PC winners are:

Best Application for Work - Pocket Informant 2005 by WebIS, Inc.

Best Application for Play - Fish Tycoon by LDW Software, LLC

Best Application for Life - Spb Pocket Plus by Spb Software House

Best New Application - CodeWallet Pro 2005 by Developer One, Inc.

Best Industry Application - MobiLearn Talking Phrasebook by MobiLearn, Inc.

~Full List of Winners~

Tags: pocket pc, pdas, software, technology, Pocket Informant, Fish Tycoon, Spb Pocket Plus, Handango, CodeWallet Pro, MobiLearn Talking Phrasebook

Final Impressions of the Treo 650 & why I'm keeping it.

I bought a Treo 650 (that great Earthlink deal) a couple of weeks ago and was using it under a trial period to see if it could replace my Dell Axim x50.  Well, after almost three weeks of using the Treo daily, I've decided that it can't replace my Axim.  I just love the Windows Mobile OS too much.  I've only been away from Palm for less than a year, but I'll probably never go back as a full-time user.  However, despite my issues with the OS, I have decided to keep the Treo.  I've made the very odd decision to carry both devices.  Why?  Now that I've experienced instant email, always on instant messaging, the Treo keyboard, integrated camera, constant access to the Internet, and hardly ever picking up the stylus, I fear I can't give it up. 

 

I've thought about just taking back the Treo 650 and waiting for a similar Windows Mobile device with a keyboard (the closest smartphone I can think of is the Samsung i730).  But there really isn't anything out there that has the same form that I absolutely love about the Treo 650.  The i730 is about the same size, but that's only with the keyboard hidden.  Some other positives besides the form:

New Accessories announced by palmOne

Responding to the increase in demand for accessories, palmOne has announced two GPS navigation solutions for its Treo 650 and Lifedrive, along with new designer cases, and other customized accessories. 

 

A GPS Car Kit, featuring an integrated GPS receiver that mounts to a windshield and can hold a Tungsten E2 or T5 will be sold in August for $249.99.  A $100 rebate will be available for a limited time to U.S. customers who purhcase a Tungsten E2 with the GPS car kit.

 

Also announced:

A redesigned palmOne GPS Navigator soon will be available for use with the LifeDrive(TM) mobile manager, Treo(TM) 650 smartphone, and Tungsten E2 and Tungsten T5 handhelds. The GPS Navigator's compact Bluetooth(R) enabled receiver is suited for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as for use in vehicles. This product also uses TomTom Navigator 5 software plus Tele Atlas map data to provide real-time location information, turn-by-turn directions, maps in 2-D and 3-D, and millions of points of interest. The palmOne GPS Navigator is scheduled to be available in July for $249.99.

Other new accessories from palmOne include an aluminum hard case ($39.99) designed to fit a Tungsten E2 handheld with a palmOne Wi-Fi Card ($99.99) in use. The case also provides secure storage for the Wi-Fi Card when not in use. For the new LifeDrive mobile manager, an aluminum hard case ($49.99), a protective leather case ($39.99) and a travel charger ($29.99) now are available.

Tags: palmOne, Treo, Tungsten, Lifedrive, Tungsten E2, Tungsten T5, GPS, TomTom Navigator, GPS navigator, palm accessories, pdas, pda, Treo 650

Motorola Razr with Windows Mobile?

PocketPCThoughts has posted a mock-up image of a rumored Motorola Razr running Windows Mobile, aka "Franklin".   Notice the square screen?

Specs:

~Quadband GSM w/EDGE
~128 MB of flash ROM; 64 MB of RAM
~miniSD slot
~1130 mAH battery
~Bluetooth
~1.3MP camera

~There was a link to a PowerPoint presentation about this device and other phones that was linked to Microsoft's website.  Microsoft has since taken that down.~

Tags: Motorola, Razr, Motorola Razr, Franklin, Windows Mobile, Microsoft, mobile, pdas, pocket pc phone, pocket pc, EDGE, Bluetooth

PDA Alternative - Moleskines and Hipster PDAs

A number of people are selling their PDAs worth hundreds of dollars and opting for a "moleskine" notebook or a Hipster PDA.  What is a Moleskine notebook?  According to the Moleskine website, it is

"a simple black rectangle, bound by an elastic band and with a built in book mark. They also feature a pocket inside the back cover for notes, clippings etc."

Moleskines are very popular with the growing number of GTD (Getting Things Done) blogs and sites on the Internet, with users even posting "hacks" for the high-quality notebook.

Another alternative to expensive traditional PDAs is.....

Dale Coffing reviews the Samsung i730

Earlier this month, Dale Coffing posted a detailed sneak preview review of the HTC Universal.  Well, he's done it again...this time with a review of the Samsung i730.

Samsung’s new SCH-i730 is a major improvement over their previous i700. The most visible change is the slide-down QWERTY thumb keyboard, for e-mail and other text entry duties. Less visible, but perhaps more important is the enhanced wireless power built into the device. The i730 has a built-in EVDO/1xRTT capable mobile phone as well as integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability.

picture - mobilePASSION

Read why Dale feels that the i730 is an "amazing product".

Tags: Samsung i730, Samsung, cell phone, smartphones, technology, pdas, pocket pc, mobile, gadgets

Tungsten XX

A number of websites today have been posting images of a "rumored" Palm upgrade to the Tungsten T5.  It supposedly has a 312 MHz processor, Bluetooth, Palm OS v5.4.9, WiFi!!, and a SD slot.  Here are a couple of pics:

via| BargainPDA

Tags: Palm, palmOne, pdas, mobile, Tungsten, Tungsten T5, Bluetooth, Wifi, technology, gadgets

Verizon introduces Samsung SCH-i730

Verizon Wireless launched the Samsung SCH-i730 for large account customers (the rest of us have to wait until July 7th).  This Windows Mobile smartphone is a competitor to the Palm Treo 650.  Both have built-in keyboards, Bluetooth, and a SD slot.  One big plus for the Samsung is that it has Wifi while the Treo does not.  The Treo has a built-in camera while the i730 offered by Verizon does not. Verizon's i730 also supports Verizon's EV-DO network. 
Full set of specs.

Verizon also announced new plans that will combine voice minutes, unlimited data access, and  unlimited night and weekends (voice) for PDAs, smartphones, and Blackberries.  These new plans will be available on June 27. 

For more information on the new plans, read the full press release.

Tags: Windows Mobile, Samsung, Samsung SCH-i730, Verizon, mobile, wireless, smartphone, technology, pdas, Treo, Treo 650, gadgets, Bluetooth, EV-DO

6 GB LifeDrive in the Works?

Engadget is reporting that a 6GB Microdrive will be used in new generation palmOne devices.  Apparently Hitachi let it slip in a press release about the microdrive that palmOne would be utilizing the drive.

via| Engadget

~Maybe I'm spoiled, but 6GB doesn't seem like that much more than 4GB.  I'd be really impressed if it were 8GB or 10GB......Guess they can't get too big or else the price gets out of control.  But, in my opinion, the LifeDrive is too expensive now with just the 4GB drive.~

Tags: PalmOne, Palm, LifeDrive, microdrives, hard drive, Hitachi, pdas, mobile, technology, storage

PalmOne update for Tungsten T5

PalmOne has released another update...this time for the Tungsten T5.  Version 1.1 includes the following fixes:

• Resolves problems caused when synchronizing large databases and files
• Fixes problems in the Calendar relating to Birthdays or recurring notes
• Fixes an issue with the Find feature and Calculator application
• Provides non-volatile file system improvements

Tungsten T5 update page.

Tags: PalmOne, Palm, Tungsten, Tungsten T5, pdas, mobile, technology, gadgets

Review of Skype for Pocket PC

Digital-Lifestyles.Info has written a review of Skype for Pocket PCs, giving it 3 stars out of five.

"The good news is that Skype for Pocket PC is a free download, so it's definitely worth checking it out to see how it works on your device.

The company are aggressively developing the product, and with luck many of the issues we encountered may be resolved in the near future.

For now, we can only give it a mixed review. We love the technology and we - naturally - love the idea of free VoiP calls on a smartphone, but until calls become more reliable - and usable - we'll be sticking to conventional networks for important calls."

Check out the full review.

Tags: Skype, pocket pc, mobile, wireless, telephony, technology, gadgets, communication, VoiP, pdas

Exotic Leather PDA cases from nSignia

Yesterday I received an email from nSignia with info on their latest offering of PDA cases.  This new line of exotic leather cases is available for select HP, Dell, and PalmOne PDAs. They come in such exotic looks as Stingray, Eagle ray, Tilapia, Ostrich, Kangaroo, and Crocodile. 

"The Storage Module allows the user to configure their PDA case to their requirements.  With the module removed the case is slimmed down without all the extra storage for things like business cards and memory cards.  Insert the module and you have 3 business card/credit card slots and 2 SD memory card slots.  These storage compartments are positioned so that they face away from the PDA screen so that only the soft suede backing of the module faces the fragile PDA screen."

Press Release.

~I really like the way these cases look.  Unfortunately, I'm in the market for a case for my Treo 650 and these aren't offered for that device.  I could buy a nSignia case for my Dell Axim, but I already own a lovely tan Sena case.~

Technorati Tags : nSignia, pda accessories, pdas, cases, PalmOne, HP, Dell, pocket pcs

NetFront v. 3.2 for Pocket PC on sale

Another Pocket PC browser has been updated and released this week.  NetFront v3.2 is now available for sale and/or trial download.  Some of the new features of the updated NetFront include:

• Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition is supported
• Flash is supported
• Java is supported
• Rapid-Render - speeds up displaying the Web site by displaying Web contents gradually while downloading the remaining contents
• Outlook Web Access is supported
• Client authentication is supported

You can download a trial version of the NetFront browser at Handango.

Technorati Tags : pdas, pocket pc, PPC, browser, Internet, NetFront, online, Web, Java, Flash, OWA, Outlook, software, technology

Dell releasing Windows Mobile 5.0 in October

For a limited time, if you b