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All posts tagged "software"


Friday, October 2, 2009

Microsoft Axes Musiwave

Posted by Chris Gohlke in "Digital Home Software" @ 05:00 AM

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/0..._from_carriers/

"Nearly two years after spending $46m to acquire the Musiwave mobile tunes service, Microsoft has informed wireless carriers they can no longer use the service once their contracts expire, according to a source familiar with the matter. This source, who requested anonymity because he feared reprisals from his employer, says Microsoft notified operators by letter on Wednesday, September 9. The Paris-based Musiwave underpins the music, video, and ringtone services operated by wireless carriers across the globe, driving more than 50 million downloads a year for the likes of T-Mobile, Vodafone, and Orange. It serves carriers in the UK, Europe, Africa, New Zealand, and Australia - though not the US."

I guess I should not be surprised, but I didn't realize that Microsoft controlled a big chunk of the download service for the major carriers. Like the article suggests, I'm betting their rebranding the service and possibly linking it in with the Zune marketplace in some way, but it still appears that the carriers are going to be left out in the cold. Any ideas what is going on here?


Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Latest Update on Windows Marketplace for Mobile

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Pocket PC Developer" @ 12:00 AM

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/wi...-to-launch.aspx

"With less than a week until the launch of Windows phones and Windows Marketplace for Mobile, I wanted to take a minute to thank the global developer and ISV community for rallying around Marketplace and offer a quick update on what we've been up to. First and foremost, the response to Windows Marketplace has been impressive in terms of the number of creative developers we're working with and the depth of engineering- and process-oriented feedback we've received and incorporated. Our commitment to transparency has generated a surprising level of collaboration that impacts Marketplace development on a daily basis. I know that getting in on the ground floor of an ambitious effort like Marketplace isn't easy. I sincerely appreciate your patience, feedback and desire to help us create a world class experience for both developers and end users."

If you're a developer who's working on an application for the forthcoming Marketplace, you'll want to check out this blog post. Worth noting is that the Windows Mobile 6/6.1 version of the Marketplace is slated for November. That's a good thing, because having the Marketplace start essentially from zero customers (people who own 6.5 devices) is more than a little short-sighted.


Wednesday, September 30, 2009

NuevaSync Adds Task Sync Support!

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Pocket PC News" @ 11:30 AM

http://nuevasync.blogspot.com/2009/...h-toodledo.html

"To sync tasks you need a compatible device (iPhones don't have tasks support yet but Windows Mobile, Nokia and Palm Pre phones do). Register for a Toodledo account (free or pro). Enable and configure tasks on our web site---enter your Toodledo username and password."

A few months ago I wrote about NuevaSync's Push GMail Solution which beat out Google's official support for GMail through Exchange ActiveSync by quite a few months. Now that Google has caught up, NuevaSync has again decided to up the ante by adding Tasks support! The catch is - the tasks sync isn't with Google Tasks (Since it's pretty bare bones and doesn't have a published API), it's with a task managing service named Toodledo!

I hadn't used Toodledo before so I signed up this morning and tried it out - and I'm pretty impressed. I can now manage my tasks from the cloud (even from within GMail thanks to the Labs "Add a gadget" feature), and have them synced on my device. Oh yea - Toodledo also has a native Android client! So if you're a Google user or cloud patron that just wants to keep his or her to-do list in check, take a look at Nueva's latest premium offering!


Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Windows Mobile 7 Will Be Social-Network Friendly, and Probably Later than Ever

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Pocket PC Talk" @ 03:42 PM

Photo courtesy of Engadget

Oh Windows Mobile 7...what a rough time you've had, and you're not even here yet. We first heard about you years ago under the code-name "Photon", and early peeks looked promising. Years went by, and you never managed to make an appearance. Things have changed in the market - that iPhone thing turned out to be a pretty big deal after all - and Windows Mobile isn't exactly on sure footing at the moment. Windows Mobile 6.5 looks like an improvement, but we're really waiting for you Windows Mobile 7 - you're the version that's supposed to really change things up. Looks like the Big Boss Man is telling people that you haven't exactly been handled properly, and they've brought on some new talent to ensure you're properly fed and cared for. The question is, if your creators are just now hiring people to create some of your core features - in this case social networking - when exactly will you make your debut? It feels like we've been waiting forever for you Windows Mobile 7...


Saturday, September 19, 2009

About Microsoft's Marketplace Kill Switch

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Pocket PC Software" @ 07:00 AM

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...tm_campaign=rss

"We have a bit of troubling news from Windows world today as a developer in attendance at Microsoft's Tech.Ed New Zealand has relayed some interesting tidbits. Regarding the "Windows Marketplace for Mobile" - Microsoft's version of the Apple App Store - Microsoft has confirmed the existence of a ‘kill switch' for apps. In the event an approved app is later removed from the Marketplace, the app will also automatically be removed from users' handsets. We're not sure what this means for paid apps, though we doubt refunds will be issued automatically as well"

Boy Genius report is skeptical that refunds would be given if MS decided to drop the app kill hammer, however other reports such as this quote given to Ars Technica seem to contradict this strongly:

"In the rare event an application from Marketplace exhibits harmful behavior or has unforeseen effects, Marketplace has the capability to remotely uninstall these applications. While we hope to avoid this scenario, we will make refunds available in such cases."

So yes, there is a kill switch, but no - users who buy something that gets killed won't be out money. Come on guys - give Microsoft some credit to do the right thing. They aren't Apple after all!


Windows Phone Designer Themes: Free to Download on October 6

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 01:00 AM

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/wi...ner-themes.aspx

"Fashion Week is in full swing in New York City this week, and today, we're excited to announce five designer themes created just for Windows phones. The themes, which include custom palettes and wallpapers, were designed by some of today's hottest designers: Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang, Isaac Mizrahi, Rock & Republic and Ron Arad."

There's no denying that Microsoft does a great job at connecting with big names to produce exclusive content for its products. Just take a look at the Xbox and Zune. Come October 6, Windows Mobile will get in on the action with some exclusive themes from a handful of top designers. And best of all, they'll be free to download from the Windows Marketplace for Mobile.


Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Windows Phone 7 Chasis Specs

Posted by Nurhisham Hussein in "Pocket PC News" @ 01:00 AM

http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=7528

"Said McCarthy 'In the future, we are looking to deepen our development work with a handful of key OEMs at the hardware design phase, with much more carefully defined hardware specifications to match software requirements, which in turn will deliver even more powerful mobile experiences for our customers. This has led to this chassis' concept that is familiar to the work Microsoft does with hardware partners in the PC industry to create high quality products.'"

It's no secret that Microsoft is playing catch-up in the smartphone market - nor that hardware-software integration has always been a problem for Windows Mobile from way back in the day. Microsoft's approach has heretofore been hardware agnostic which meant that not only have some manufacturers issued models that were under-powered for the OS, but that even those devices with sufficient horses didn't always have the response time one would expect from examining the raw specs. Partly that was because hardware advances didn't keep up with the OS (especially with the transition to WM5), as well as the OS not being optimised for specific hardware. With Windows Phone 7 (I'm still trying to get to grips with the change in terminology - again), MS is hoping to change all that by specifying some pretty steep minimum hardware requirements (including multi-touch), which also hopefully means that the OS code will be optimised to that hardware. Too little too late? Possibly - it'll be another year before we see any WP7 devices, and none of MS' competitors are going to stand pat in the meant time.

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  • Source: Engadget


Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Win a Copy of SyncMate 2.0 Expert Edition for Mac OS X

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Events" @ 11:30 PM

http://www.sync-mac.com/

One giveaway down, another to go! Thanks to Eltima Software, we have two copies of SyncMate 2.0 Expert Edition (each valued at $39.95 USD) for you to snag. The sync application is compatible with Mac OS X, and offers a plethora of sync options between Windows Mobile (and other smartphones), Google accounts, and Mac OS-based applications such as iCal, iPhoto, iTunes, Mail, Address Book, Safari, Firefox, and Entourage.

So, what do you have to do to win? Read on and get commenting. Good luck!

  • Leave a comment in this thread, stating the editions that SyncMate is offered in. And here's a hint: there are two editions, and we've already named one of them in this post. Still stuck? Perhaps the SyncMate web page will help you.
  • Only one comment per person. Any more and your entry will be deemed invalid. Note that if you're registering and leaving a comment for the first time, your post probably won't appear right away as it needs to be approved by our friendly moderators.
  • The giveaway is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of where you are in the world.
  • Entries will be accepted until 11:59 PM GMT on September 18, 2009.
  • A total of two winners will be selected randomly and notified via e-mail, so please ensure that a valid e-mail address is linked to your Thoughts Media account. Each winner will receive a single copy of SyncMate 2.0 Expert Edition.


VsNotepad 2.7 For Windows Mobile

Posted by Ed Hansberry in "Pocket PC Software" @ 05:00 AM

http://www.vetasoft.com/index.php?i...x=5&language=en

"The software for Windows Mobile helps you organize your note taking with a complete modern interface. You can create multitudes of workbooks and maximizes the capabilities of your device. The new version includes graphics features and advanced visualization to complement the earlier versions."

VsNotepad is a rich note taking app for your Windows Mobile device and 2.7 has some improvements over previous versions, including enhanced speed and reduced storage requirements for notes. It should work on a WinMo 5 or 6.x device, but there is a trial version so you can verify that. It is $19.95. If you already own VsNotepad 2.x, this is a free upgrade for you.

Tags: software, notes

Monday, September 7, 2009

Project From Your Windows Phone With MobiShow

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Pocket PC Accessories" @ 04:00 PM

http://www.awindinc.com/mobishow/index.html

"MobiShow allows your Smartphone to show any content to big screens (projectors, TVs, etc.) through Wi-Fi connection. For purposes of business presentation or personal entertainment, MobiShow is your best ShowMate"

For those of us on the go that may need to present just from a Windows Phone, MobiShow from AWind looks particularly interesting. If you're sick of toting a laptop just to run a powerpoint, check it out and tell us if you'll be placing an order.


Saturday, September 5, 2009

Documents To Go Premium Edition Reviewed by WMExperts

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Pocket PC Articles" @ 12:00 PM

http://www.wmexperts.com/documents-...-edition-review

"Documents To Go has been one of the leading applications for viewing and editing Microsoft Office documents for many years. With each release of Windows Mobile however, native Office support has been improved to include new features. Where does that leave Documents To Go and its $29.95 price tag?"

Not so impressed with Office Mobile from Microsoft? Looking for something better? Documents To Go might be your answer. I've never tested this myself, as Office Mobile has always fallen into that "good enough until I get back to my office" category. For a mobile Word tool to be good enough for me to use for all the work I do, it would need to support both reading and adding of comments, which would be quite a challenge on a small screen - though there are clever ways of doing it. Documents To Go gets a positive rating in this review, and those of you out there with Windows Mobile Standard devices may want to pay special attention given that Office Mobile on non-touchscreen devices is a little hobbled.


Friday, September 4, 2009

Motorola Working On WM7 Device?

Posted by Nurhisham Hussein in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 01:00 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/04/...on-the-way-wit/

"Thing is, well-trained eyes at UX Evangelist have found a Moto software engineer's job experience on LinkedIn with app development and migration to Windows Mobile 7 beta -- yes, beta -- listed front and center. The project's mentioned for a device codenamed "Caesar," which would slot in nicely with Moto's trend of assigning ancient rulers' names to smartphones ahead of release."

This year has seen a slow but increasing migration by Windows Mobile OEMs and ODMs towards alternative OSs like Android, to the point where you have to wonder about the future of Windows Mobile. Granted, since the iPhone's release two years ago there was always the possibility that WM would be relegated to a niche - but that threat has never been so clear as it has been in the last six months or so. On that basis, it's encouraging to see a major device manufacturer still trying to progress with WM. Even if working on a beta of an OS not slated to be released in another year isn't exactly concrete proof of commitment, the fact that WM7 has some interest and backing this early means we'll at least see some devices in a reasonable timeframe. Whether that's enough to ensure future iterations would depend on how good the OS actually turns out. I'm hoping WM7 will do for Windows Mobile what Windows 7 is doing for the Windows franchise generally, which is to show that just occasionally Microsoft can actually do things right - changing branding every couple of years notwithstanding.


Monday, August 24, 2009

YouTube Mobile App Adds Five New Languages

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 11:32 PM

http://m.youtube.com/app

"We're happy to announce that the YouTube Mobile Application for Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 devices is now available in five new languages. We now support users with localized content in Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Swedish, and Czech. This brings the total number of languages the app supports to 12."

YouTube has made its mobile app a little more accessible to users worldwide by adding localized content in five new languages. Hit m.youtube.com/app for the updated version.

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  • Source: Google Mobile Blog


Thursday, August 13, 2009

Tether Easier With WMWifiRouter

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Pocket PC Software" @ 08:00 AM

Product Category: Utility Software
Manufacturer: Morose Media
Where to Buy: Company Website
Price: $29.99
System Requirements: Windows Mobile 5 AKU 3.3 or newer or Windows Mobile 6, Both a WiFi and a cellular data connection, an installed and working version of Internet Sharing, 15 MB of free device memory

Pros:

  • Easy to use;
  • Exceptional setup wizard;
  • Multiple connection options.

Cons:

  • A bit pricey;
  • Would love it to actively try to restore dropped data connection.

Summary: Tethering your handheld to your computer has come a long way from the days of strange connection strings, special cables, and slower than turtle speeds. WMWifiRouter provides a 1-click method for getting connected, but is it worth the price? Read on to find out! Read more...


CoPilot Live v8 Launched

Posted by Nurhisham Hussein in "Pocket PC Software" @ 05:00 AM

http://alk.com/press/releases/pr_081109.asp

"CoPilot® LiveTM v8 takes full advantage of today's GPS-enabled touchscreen phones to deliver the same level of performance as a standalone navigation system. With intuitive and fluid menus, advanced guidance features and an array of useful Live information services, it makes finding the way easier on every journey, whether in-car or on-foot."

Along with UI and CoPilot OnDemand improvements, CoPilot Live v8 has some new features, including internet search, weather, geo-tagged photo navigation, in-tunnel guidance, voice recognition, and a whole bunch of other goodies that make the upgrade price of $24.99 more than worthwhile. If you're new to CoPilot, the software costs $34.99 for the North American version (the European version is also available right now). Hit the link for the full press release.


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Microsoft to Build Office Software for Nokia Phones?

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Pocket PC News" @ 08:12 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/t...2soft.html?_r=3

"Microsoft and Nokia, long adversaries in mobile phone technology, have agreed to a partnership to equip many Nokia cellphones with the Microsoft Office software, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement."

Just like licensing ActiveSync technology to Apple for the iPhone, it's not surprising to see the Office group at Microsoft reaching out to extend their technology to other platforms. Unfortunately this erodes an advantage that Windows Mobile has, but given how stagnant Windows Mobile has been over the past few years, you can't blame other groups at Microsoft for wanting to work with other platforms. Oh, and speaking of the iPhone, it looks like Microsoft might be reaching out there too. And in the meantime, Microsoft had to build their own Facebook app while Facebook built one for the iPhone. That tells you a lot about how the industry perceives Windows Mobile, even though Windows Mobile as a platform is still moving 16+ million units a year. Perception matters.


MediaShow Express Video Conversion

Posted by Chris Gohlke in "Digital Home Software" @ 03:00 AM

http://www.cyberlink.com/products/m...view_en_US.html

"Express video conversion software MediaShow Espresso is the hassle-free solution for converting all your favorite videos for playback on iPhone, PSP, Xbox, YouTube and more. Simply choose the preferred media player or medium, and let MediaShow Espresso do the rest."

Might need to give this a try. HandBrake provides similar functionality for free, but I've never been particularly happy with the interface. If this will let me convert from ISO's and is simple to set up, it might be a go.


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Win 1 of 5 Copies of Handy Weather 4.0

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Events" @ 10:42 PM

http://www.penreader.com/windows-mo...dy_Weather.html

Giveaway time! Thanks to Paragon Software, we have five copies of the new Handy Weather 4.0 (each valued at $17.95 USD per month) for you to snag. The weather application is compatible with Windows Mobile 5.0 and later, and offers a plethora of features such as detailed 7-day weather forecasts, satellite weather maps, a touch-friendly user interface, GPS/SMS/e-mail integration, and support for over 40,000 cities worldwide.

So, what do you have to do to win? Read on and get commenting. Good luck!

  • Leave a comment in this thread, stating today's weather wherever you are in the world. You can be as basic or as detailed as you wish.
  • Only one comment per person. Any more and your entry will be deemed invalid. Note that if you're registering and leaving a comment for the first time, your post probably won't appear right away as it needs to be approved by our friendly moderators.
  • The giveaway is open to anyone and everyone, regardless of where you are in the world.
  • Entries will be accepted until 11:59 PM GMT on August 16, 2009.
  • A total of five winners will be selected randomly and notified via e-mail, so please ensure that a valid e-mail address is linked to your Thoughts Media account. Each winner will receive a single copy of Handy Weather 4.0.


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Microsoft Upgrades Office Communicator Mobile

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Pocket PC Software" @ 09:00 AM

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/wi...tor-mobile.aspx

"The 2007 R2 version of Microsoft® Office Communicator Mobile is an enterprise application for mobile devices that helps you quickly find and communicate with your colleagues. The application is designed to make communication easier and more accessible and includes real-time presence information, single number reach support and rich instant messaging (IM) capability all with a familiar look and feel similar to the desktop version of Microsoft Office Communicator."

Those working in a Microsoft-centric shop may find that the newest version of Communicator Mobile to be a great asset. Those looking to truly take a vacation, however, may find it to be the most evil piece of software ever devised! Just kidding...


Sunday, August 2, 2009

Eltima Software Releases SyncMate 2.0

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 10:00 PM

http://www.sync-mac.com/

"Eltima Software, global software Development Company, has released SyncMate version 2.0, software for multiple sync, which simplifies the process of all data synchronization between Mac and Windows Mobile devices, other Mac computers, Nokia S40 phones and online accounts. SyncMate is offered at two versions, Free and Expert, and provides all users with even more synchronization possibilities than before. SyncMate Free Edition enables you to sync Address Book and iCal entries in your Mac with their analogues in supported devices and back up these data to Online Storage Account. Google Contacts and Google Calendar synchronization is also available."

Eltima Software's Mac-based, all-in-one sync solution, SyncMate, has hit v2.0. It's available in two versions, Free and Expert; both support Windows Mobile, although the Expert Edition adds a plethora of sync options and integration with iPhoto, iTunes, Safari, Firefox, Mail, folders, time, and more. Visit the Eltima Software web page to try or buy. The Expert Edition costs anywhere between $39.95 to $59.95, depending on the license type.


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