Smartphone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

We like to bash hardware and software developers when they mess things up. It is good to give praise when deserved as well. Last night I ordered Wordlogic's keyboard for my Fujitsu Tablet PC. I purchased the basic version that costs $49.95. When I got to the download button all I got was a page full of script errors. No big deal, it happens, I sent them an email.



This morning I get this email from them:
"Hi Jerry, thank you for purchasing the WordLogic Predictive Keyboard. We will look into, why the download failed. To make up for the inconvenience, I provide you with a link to the full phrase version of the WordLogic Desktop keyboard."

They gave me the full phrase prediction version that sells for $99.95. What a nice thing to do and something they really didn't have to do either. I know their application doesn't run on Smartphones but it does work on Pocket PCs (where I have used it for years) and Tablet PC's. I wanted to acknowledge their over the top customer service. If you have any of these other device types let me encourage you to look at their applications. Not only are they very good, they are obviously good people.

"All three methods of retrieving your Email ride on top of your standard mobile technologies such as GPRS, EGPRS and 3G etcetera. Now, compared to AUTD, Direct Push might appear to be more complicated, but how it works is really quite trivial if you have a good idea of how the Internet works. Even if you don�t, do try to follow-through my explanation as knowing how Direct Push communicates with Exchange will allow you to trouble-shoot so much more effectively."

Speaking of Direct Push my previous post about it referenced this article which I think deserves separate attention. It is a nice and easy to understand explanation of how Direct Push works. The question at the end of the read is, is it really push? You decide and let us know what you think.

"I've decided, humble as I am, to try and create the greatest series of screencasts in the entire universe on the subject of Windows Mobile development. I'll probably fail, but that's no big deal. It's just a goal. In this first screencast, I walk you through the creation of a very simple Windows Mobile application, while pointing out some things you Need To Know along the way. Future screencasts in this series will be deeper technical dives, but you gotta start somewhere, eh? I hope you like it. My name, by the way, is Rory Blyth, and I'm an MSDN Events Presenter. You can learn more about my job here, and you can get to my blog here."



Have you seen a computer before? Do you know the difference between a variable and an orange? If you answered yes to the two questions, then according to humble Rory, you are smart enough to watch the training videos put together by him on Channel 9. :lol: Even though Pocket PC is used as the target for application development in these videos, the topics apply to Smartphones.

We've spent some time over the last couple of days in 2005, talking about the best and worst Windows Mobile Smartphone device, feature, and manufacturer. All this talking about the past got me wondering about the future. Could 2006 finally be the break-out year for the Smartphone? I think the Smartphone did pretty good in 2005 - thanks to the HTC Typhoon, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. So, what are you looking forward to in 2006? Maybe a Smartphone with GPS built-in, or how about a Smartphone with a large flash based memory to compete with the Nano (I'm not sure that a phone even competes with the Nano, but whatever!), or maybe you just want a flip-style Smartphone that works. Share your thoughts and dreams for 2006 with us!

"It doesn't matter if 2008's coolest phone runs on FORTRAN or has a dozen monkeys with abacuses inside it. People will buy it, the way they bought the Moto RAZR, because it's cool. And therefore operators will clamour to sell it, irrespective of their internal goals to reduce the number of OS's they support."

Dean Bubley has posted his take on the Smartphone OS wars and for the most part, it's just what I've been saying. Most people don't know what OS is in their phone, and they don't care. Of course, we're the exception to that. Anyway, give his analysis a read and share your thoughts with us. :)

"Microsoft Corp. today previewed two new Internet-based software services � Windows Live� and Microsoft� Office Live � designed to deliver rich and seamless experiences to individuals and small businesses. The new offerings combine the power of software plus services and are compelling enhancements to the Microsoft Windows� and Microsoft Office products. In particular, Windows Live helps bring together all the elements of an individual�s digital world while Office Live helps small companies do business online."

Boring old marketing talk. Blah, Blah Blah. Let's get to the real questions; What is Live? And, why are we talking about it here? First, Live is a collection of services offered via the internet and designed to bring together all of your interests in one location. Basically, a modern day portal that offers highly modifiable content, all done using AJAX. If you've played with Start.com, then you are familiar with the basis of Windows Live. And Second, why do we care? Windows Live is not just for your browser. It is also designed to sync seamlessly and in real-time with your Windows Mobile 5 device. Keeping the contacts in your Windows Live account and the new Live Messenger nicely integrated and always up to date. Changing the contact information on a buddy in Messenger and it will automatically be updated on your device. By the way, all this was demonstrated using a new Cingular Smartphone that might just look like this. ;)

Here's the latest Smartphone announced by Samsung - the SCH-M600. It features a 2.2 inch 240x320 pixel 262K colour screen, an Intel xScale PXA272 520MHz processor, a 3GB MicroDrive, 64MB ROM 64MB SDRAM, Bluetooth 1.1, USB 1.1, IrDA, CDMA, a 2 MegaPixel Camera, and it weights 162g. On top of all that, it runs Windows Mobile 2003 SE. It's a great looking phone and the features sound solid. But, where is Windows Mobile 5? Samsung was a premier partner at the launch, but they have failed to deliver a device running Windows Mobile 5. I wish I knew what is Samsung thinking. :roll:

"I'm fed up with people complaining that Symbian has a monopoly in the Smartphone market. Many (if not most) of those who complain are Microsoft fangirls who refer to the monopoly as being unfair and abused while the minority who don't have a Windows powered brain compare the monopoly with Microsoft's monopoly on the desktop. While I hold the opinion that Symbian is by far the best platform for any Smartphone, I also believe that Symbian got to where it is in the market by being first, by being innovative and by being bold with the backing of willing companies. I also hold this opinion; Symbian does not have a monopoly in the Smartphone market and here I'll present some of the evidence behind my claim..."

While I don't agree 100% with all of TankerX's arguments, I do agree with him that Symbian doesn't have a monopoly. Symbian is just enjoying a rather healthy lead - and I don't know if it's due to being more innovative than others. What do you think?

"Cell phones that do everything but make toast (although appropriate attachments are probably available from third-party accessory vendors). Gigapixel digital cameras. Laptops so tiny that "My dog ate my homework" is once again a valid excuse. And, of course, the most incredible toilets in the history of humankind. Some of these devices eventually plod over to U.S. shores months or even years after they've become obsolete in Japan. But many never arrive here at all. Why is it that Japanese manufacturers (and, increasingly, those in Korea and China as well) have such a death grip on consumer-electronics cool? And why are Americans deprived of the choicest fruits of this technological bounty? The answers to these questions offer an intriguing look at how culture shapes technology -- and vice versa."

This is a fascinating article - if you're ever wondered why Asian markets routinely get the cool technology first, this article answers that question. It's a mix of cultural, economic, and infrastructure issues - and after reading this article, I'm left with the distinct impression that this is an issue that won't be changing in the next 50 years.

Mike posted about this news earlier, but I wanted to weigh in with my own opinion on the subject. Here's a quote from the Yahoo article:

"The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) Monday is releasing a three-year road map for Bluetooth short-range wireless technology that includes a tripling of bandwidth and the ability to multicast signals to seven other users. Even as the road map is released, Bluetooth backers are defending the technology against future alternatives such as Ultrawideband (UWB), and point out that the use of Bluetooth is growing."

Tripling the bandwidth and multicasting? Cool. But why don't I read anything in here about changing the way Bluetooth is implemented?
"And speaking of infrared, he noted that there are "millions of infrared devices" in the market that are not used. "Having the technology doesn't mean it is appreciated," he said."

I was at a Handango developers conference in 2003 and the Symbian representative was bragging about how there would be 10 million Series 60-based phones in the market by the end of 2003. At my prompting, one of the developers asked "How many of those 10 million devices have third party software installed?". The Symbian rep replied with a blank stare. Is a "smartphone" really a "smartphone" if the user uses it in exactly the same manner as their regular phone?

I see Bluetooth the same way - especially in Europe, phones that come with Bluetooth are very common, as are laptops. But if the person isn't using it, can you really consider that a success of the technology? I was helping someone out lately with a laptop problem, and it was a Compaq unit from Germany that had Bluetooth built in - but the owner didn't realize that he even had Bluetooth. Why not? He tried to get it to work once but found the process so confusing he assumed he didn't have it because it simply wouldn't work.

Still, as much as Bluetooth frustrates me, when it does work, man it's cool! I connected up my C500 Smartphone to my Fujitsu P5010D laptop (using a Bluetooth USB dongle) and was able to check email using GPRS. A solution like that is perfect for when I don't have WiFi access. Now that's a technology success story! :mrgreen:

"Billboard, publishers of Billboard magazine have teamed up with research firm Consect on a �Hot Ringtones� chart, a top-20 list of the most-popular polyphonic ringtones. The first chart will appear in the November 6 issue of Billboard Magazine. Billboard says the data is compiled from the major ringtone distribution channels, including both service providers and ringtone distributors/sellers."

I have to wonder how important it is to know this type of information, but in a culture obsessed with what everyone else is listening to/watching/thinking, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by this. :roll:

"...what amazed me most is the flexibility and mobility of such a solution when I tried it when I was walking through Munich. I put the GPS receiver on the shoulder strap of my bag and had the navigation software running on my Smartphone. From time to time I took out the phone and checked my position and yes - the phone was always up to date. This kind of navigation is much easier with a Smartphone, especially if it is a clam-shell, than with a Pocket PC because you simply close the phone and it is protected while the navigation software continues to work"

Arne Hess from PPCW.net takes a walk with his MPx220 and Bluetooth GPS receiver. I'm not sold on Smartphone navigation myself. However, I don't do much traveling, and I have lived in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) all my life. So I'm usually pretty good with finding places. What do you guys think, is Smartphone Navigation a key growth area? Does it really live up to the hype?

Over the last couple days we have been asking you to answer some polls about your desire for WiFi on your Smartphones. I would like to thank everyone that took the time to answer. A mutual friend of Mobile Gadget News and Smartphone Thoughts, who has been a crusader for WiFi access from your smartphone, has sent the results of our polls along with the MGN poll to C-Guys.com makers of many WLAN products. Thanks to your input, they are going to try and escalate the Smartphone driver development. This is a great achievement. Please keep in mind, that C-Guys have made no commitment to deliver this, but at least they understand our needs and desires a little better. (I've linked to the MGN post, if you want to read a copy of the emails.)

Everyone give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. :clap: And remember, you never know who is watching. Take the time to share your thoughts, as you could help shape the future. :way to go:

:really mad: I'm ready to throw my E200 out the nearest window. Here's the scenario: I took Thursday and Friday off for a little "work on the house and yard with my wife" vacation, so my email accounts have gotten very full. I was at a family gathering tonight, and with some downtime I checked my Pocket PC Thoughts email accounts - 72 new messages. Email triage time! One-handed email triage with a Smartphone is an awesome thing. When it works that is, and this is what my rant is about. :evil:

I opened up my email account on Pocket Inbox, Smartphone 2003 version, and did a SEND/RECIEVE. It took a while, but eventually all the messages were downloaded onto the phone. I went through all 72 of them, deleting spam, responding to a few, and deleting the messages I didn't need to act on. I then did another SEND/RECEIVE to process the changes. No new messages showed up, so I was done. The first problem is that I shouldn't have to do a SEND/RECEIVE to process the changes. When an email client makes a connection to an IMAP server, it stays connected as long as the TCP/IP connection is available. When you open Outlook and switch to an IMAP email account, is connects up to the server and downloads the messages - and it stays connected. If you move/mark a message for deletion, it's moved/marked for deletion immediately because it's connected. It doesn't disconnect until you shut down the software. That's the way email clients are supposed to work with IMAP.

So why am I so angry? Because when I sat down at my computer tonight and opened Outlook, all of the messages I had processed where downloaded from the server, fresh and marked as unread. That's right, it's like my email triage never happened! I wasted my time and have to re-do everything. I've seen this before with the Pocket PC email client, and the only way to avoid it happening there is to connect to the email account, do the email traige, do a send/recieve, then press the connect icon to disconnect. That usually works, but why should I have to resort to such voodoo to process my email? The problem that makes this scenario worse is that there is no CONNECT function on the Smartphone Inbox client - just a SEND/RECIEVE. It's like the Microsoft software developers don't know there's a difference between POP and IMAP.

The Smartphone client works perfectly my Exchange account, but for me it's highly problematic with IMAP accounts. Frankly, at the moment I'm livid that once again Microsoft has released software that works great with their software, but is completely dysfunctional with what the rest of the world is using. If you can't make an email client that can process email via IMAP, what's the point of saying it can do email? There's some serious room for improvement here, because right now the Smartphone Inbox application is at the rock bottom of functionality if it can't do something this simple.

Steve Mattox of the Exchange team writes about the basics of how the Exchange ActiveSync Up-to-date feature works.

"The Up-to-date (UTD) feature notifies the device if there is a new item in the Exchange mailbox and the device will automatically initiate a synchronization with you mailbox. This feature gives the user an always on and always current feeling. The other benefits of this feature are better device resource utilization, a more consistent user experience when compared to device expectancies and this operation is done in the background without the device turning itself on."

This is a really good introduction that should help you determine if you can take advantage of this feature.

"Welcome to aangel, a new mobile service that turns what you say into a reminder or business card and sends it to your mobile or email. You can use it to store someone's contact details, remind yourself about a meeting, or remember to buy that last minute gift, simply by leaving a voice message."

This is cool. Simply dial 808 from a registered phone and talk your way to a new contact or reminder. You can check out Geekzone's review of this service here. I wish we had something like that in North America. :( I would pay a small monthly fee for something like this instead of having to carry a fold away keyboard with me.