Smartphone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"In the latest update to http://developer.windowsmobile.com, developers can now Register to participate in Windows Marketplace for Mobile. This marks another milestone in providing Windows Mobile Developers a clear path to develop, test, certify and distribute their Windows Mobile applications via the Windows® Marketplace for Mobile. Throughout the registration process, links to key documentation for distributing apps through Windows Marketplace for Mobile are provided."

Developers, if you haven't registered to participate in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, now's as good a time as any to do so. You'll have to pony up an annual subscription fee of $99, but doing so will net you assistance with the development, certification, and distribution of your app. Check out the FAQ, if you have any queries. It's worth noting that participation is optional. You may consider the cost or the policies of the Marketplace to be too restrictive, in which case, you're still welcome to develop your app and distribute it through third-party storefronts as you're probably already doing so in this pre-Marketplace era.

"The EU will require Microsoft to package third party browser software with Windows. Furthermore, it will require Microsoft to provide further support efforts to make third party browsers' interface with Windows components like Windows Explorer as efficient as Internet Explorer's. The ruling is set to apply to both desktop Windows OS's and to Windows Mobile for cell phones."

Ah, the EU bureaucrats. With the world economy in tatters, they're still running after Microsoft, salivating for more money. Don't they have better things to do? Or maybe fleecing a big American company is part of their plan for the economic recovery of Europe - I wouldn't put it past them. We all know that Microsoft had some heavy-handed, monopolistic tactics back in the '90s - it's a matter of public record. But in the technology world, that's an eternity ago - politics, and even the law, can't keep up with the ferocious pace of technology and they look like idiots when they try. Read more...

"Microsoft has made some stumbles in the mobile world, but a strategy shift made more than a year ago will soon pay dividends, the company's top Windows Mobile executive said in an interview with CNET News. Andy Lees, the executive brought over from the server unit a year ago, said that Microsoft's efforts to make sure that its mobile software could run on a wide range of phones resulted in an operating system that failed to take advantage of advances in hardware. "We aimed to go for a lower common denominator," Lees said. Microsoft was also limited by the origins of Windows Mobile, which was developed to power handheld computers that neither connected to a network nor handled voice. "We started out when we were in PDAs (personal digital assistants) and then a phone got strapped to the back of the PDA," Lees said. The company also failed to recognize that phones--even those that were used for business--were still as much personal as they were professional."

The first four paragraphs of the CNET/ZDNet article accurately highlight some of Windows Mobile's flaws, and why the once-venerable smartphone operating system, at times, appears feeble next to relative newcomers, iPhone OS, Android, and webOS. But it's not all doom and gloom for Microsoft. According to Andy Lees, we'll see some breakthroughs over the next 18 months, with the first set expected as soon as mid-February as Microsoft takes the stage at MWC. Lees hinted at an increased reliance on the cloud, the need to improve the core of Windows Mobile in order to keep up with the competition, and a closer relationship with OEMs (which we can only hope translates to more frequent and more consistent updates for all consumers).

Is this the right approach? Sound off in this thread.

"Great news! We are now live with our new and updated Windows Live services for mobile. Go to http://mobile.live.com from your mobile phone's web browser and check it out. There are a lot of new features and services that weren't even available for our beta users. We're really excited about these new mobile experiences! The new and updated mobile web services include Windows Live Home, Photos, Profile, People, and Spaces. These complement our existing mobile services, like Hotmail and Messenger. (An update to Hotmail for mobile web is on its way in the coming months - check this blog for more mobile news as it becomes available). With this release, we are extending even more of Windows Live to mobile devices, but with a mobile twist. To get started, all you need is a phone with a browser and a data plan. Using these services doesn't require a download - all you do is go to the new Windows Live website at http://mobile.live.com."

Microsoft's quest to roll out its new and improved Windows Live applications and services has extended to mobile devices. Windows Live Home, Photos, Profile, People, and Spaces have all been updated. Visit the Windows Live Team Blog for a detailed look, or check it out for yourself.

Microsoft has just launched a new developer portal for Windows Mobile to help advertise upcoming events, showcase applications, and introduce you to a number of team members and MVPs. And, of course, there's no shortage of guides showing you how to turn that idea in your head into a working Windows Mobile application.

Your eyes aren't deceiving you. Indeed, that's e.aspx">Live Mesh for Windows Mobile running on a Palm Treo Pro. And there's word coming out of Tech.Ed Australia (where the aforementioned was demoed) that it will soon be available for public consumption. Any Live Mesh users here looking forward to this?

"Wait no more! The latest bits for Windows Live Client for your Windows Mobile are available for download. To get yours now, point your mobile browser to http://wl.windowsmobile.com If you have Windows Live already installed on your device, you will need to uninstall it first. To do that, go to Settings->Remove Programs, select Windows Live entry from the list (if any) and click Remove. If you don’t find Windows Live on the list, then you are good to go."

There's a new version of Windows Live for Windows Mobile available, but don't expect to see anything other than bug fixes. Like the previous Windows Live release, Messenger isn't included; so, if your device already includes Windows Live with Messenger, get ready to wave goodbye to Messenger if you install this version over the top. If that's not something you want to do, you'll need to wait for your carrier/manufacturer to update Windows Live in an upcoming ROM update, which, of course, could take weeks/months/years to deliver. Uh-huh, that's a topic we just can't rant enough about.

"Windows® SideShow™ for Windows Mobile® is an application for Windows Mobile 5 and Windows Mobile 6 Pocket PCs and Smartphones that allows you to use your Windows Mobile device as a Bluetooth SideShow-compatible device. This enables you to use your phone as an extra window into your PC. You can both access your computer’s information from your Pocket PC or Smartphone, and control the computer through a gadget interface. While the phone is out of range, or when your computer is off, you can continue to view content sent to the phone previously. This makes it easy to send information to the phone that you'll need later on."



Last year, I trekked over to Beijing with fellow MVPs and other technical community leaders to meet with the Microsoft Research and Windows Vista teams. There, we discussed the direction that Windows Vista was going to take over the next few years. Microsoft obviously wanted to make the user experience better, but they wanted (needed?) ideas. While a great deal of the week-long meeting focused on the product itself, we did spend some time discussing how it could better communicate with the rest of Microsoft's products, and most importantly, take advantage of them. For the most part, it was all about Windows Mobile, and I was brimming with ideas. Can you see where this is heading?

Yes, we discussed Windows SideShow, which at the time was one of Windows Vista's most impressive features, yet sadly, one of the most underused, too. Not everyone has a digital picture frame or a laptop with an in-lid display. But a lot of us have phones, and if you're reading this, it's probably a Windows Mobile phone. I often wondered why Microsoft didn't endow its own mobile product with SideShow support right off the bat. Some third parties cooked up their own solutions, but adoption was far from widespread, and I was sincerely hoping that Microsoft would realize their oversight and rectify the situation by releasing an official solution to bring SideShow to Windows Mobile.

So, here we are, a year later and Microsoft has heeded advice and finally released a developer preview. It's at v0.01, so don't expect it to be rock solid, but it'll still give you a taste of things to come. Our pal, Arne, has given it a test run and likes what he sees. Maybe you will too. Download it, install it, and let us know what you think.

"Today at Microsoft Corp.’s online advertising leadership forum, advance08, Brian McAndrews, senior vice president of the Advertiser & Publisher Solutions Group, announced the availability of display advertising across two popular Windows Live for mobile services, the launch of new markets for Windows Live for mobile services, and upcoming advertising plans for its Live Search Mobile offering. This marks the first year that mobile advertising has played a leading role at the industry event that brings together some of the most influential thought leaders of the global advertising community. Announced today, advertisers can now extend their campaigns to social media through Windows Live for mobile in France, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. by creating banner ads that will be visible across Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Hotmail. This builds upon Microsoft’s initial launch of mobile advertising for MSN Mobile in, France, , Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. where mobile ads are available alongside premium MSN Mobile content. Advertising on Windows Live for mobile is already available in Spain, and later this month will be available in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, further extending its availability for advertisers. All ads placed on these two popular services will adhere to Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) guidelines."



Microsoft has just announced an expansion in the availability of display advertising across its mobile services. You can already see an example of it at http://mobile.live.com/ (screenshot above). I know there's a vocal crowd out there who are strongly against ads in any way, shape, or form, and will go out of their way to block them, but the fact is they are both a direct and indirect source of revenue for many businesses, so denying them that is analogous to stealing. I'm all for mobile advertising - if a business wants to create awareness of their mobile applications and services, they should have a right to do so. My only hope is that given the small displays that mobile devices are endowed with, these ads don't end up being too "in-your-face".

Product Category: Games
Manufacturer: Astraware
Where to Buy: MobiHand [Affiliate]
Price: $9.95
System Requirements: Windows Mobile Classic/Professional (Pocket PC) or Standard (Smartphone) device

Pros:

• Addictive;
• Multiple game modes;
• Looks and feels just like the MSN Games and Xbox 360 versions.

Cons:

• Lacks online leaderboards.

Summary:
Alexey Pajitnov knows how to turn any shape into an addictive puzzle game. Tetris, which needs no introduction, is a testament to that. So too is Hexic, which MSN Games and Xbox 360 gamers should be familiar with. For years, I searched high and low for a Windows Mobile version, but to no avail. Now, that search is over. Thanks to the combined efforts of Astraware and Carbonated Games, Hexic is available for all flavours of Windows Mobile, and it does not disappoint.

Read on for the full review! Read more...

CTIA was where it all happened - the unveiling of Windows Mobile 6.1, the parade of devices running said OS, and the showing off of other bits and pieces that you'd expect to see at a mobile and wireless trade show. Robbie Bach, and a few others, were at CTIA to do the unveiling, so if you're interested in reading or watching the keynote, click here. It's a little over 26 minutes long, or however long it takes you to read a lengthy article, if videos just aren't your thing.

"Running short of time to reshape your body? No problem. Fat Flush On the Go – adapted from the bestselling The Fat Flush Plan by hottest diet contender – Ann Louise Gittleman is now on your mobiles. Experience accelerated weight loss and weight control while managing hormones and bringing out your most radiant looks! It uncovers and corrects the five hidden factors that sabotage weight loss and vitality: liver health, food sensitivities and resulting waterlogged tissues, fear of eating fat, excess insulin/excess inflammation and stress. Fat Flush On the Go addresses these problems with a targeted diet and exercises."



There really isn't much to say about this program other than it makes me laugh to think about it. If you happen to be searching for a nice application to help you get fit and healthy, you might want to try Fat Flush on The Go. You can purchase this application from our affiliate store for a mere $9.95

CTIA was Microsoft's playground for the unveiling of Windows Mobile 6.1, and Microsoft's hardware partners certainly weren't afraid to make a showing. Phone Scoop, in their ever-so-thorough ways, have covered CTIA from top to bottom, and there's plenty of Windows Mobile content for your perusal. Obviously, there's coverage of 6.1 and plenty of eye-candy to drool over if you're a Standard (Smartphone) user. Yes, Professional (Pocket PC) users - you have a reason to be jealous. Moving on, there's more eye-candy and a video of the HTC Touch Dual that's set to invade Best Buy stores this quarter. There's Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 in all its glory, and it too is running Windows Mobile 6.1 (a little known fact back when the X1 was first introduced due to NDAs and the like). And then there's a lengthy article on Velocity Mobile, a new entrant into the Windows Mobile market. More on that after the break. Read more...

Whether you're a Windows Mobile newbie or guru, there's always some tips and tricks worth picking up to help you the most out of your device. That's where Microsoft's "Windows Mobile: Tips and Tricks" section comes in. The company recently added a plethora of new articles to it - some written by our own Jason Dunn, fellow Microsoft MVP, Todd Ogasawara, and Tyson Greer. And in case you missed it, they include the Connected Apps and Sites article we linked to yesterday. Happy reading!

"The Windows Mobile 6.1 Emulator Images package adds emulator images to Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008 that let you test applications for Windows Mobile 6.1. For general information about writing software for Windows Mobile, please see the Windows Mobile Developer Center. The emulator images can also be used as standalone without Visual Studio. They can be accessed through the Start Menu shortcuts."



The Windows Mobile 6.1 localized emulator images are currently available in US English only, which doesn't quite match Microsoft's usual definition of "localized", although you can probably expect that to change over the coming weeks. The Standard (Smartphone) and Professional (Pocket PC) images weigh in at 184.9MB and 272.2MB respectively, and include some new resolutions: 320 x 320, 400 x 240, and 440 x 240 for Standard, and 240 x 400 and 480 x 800 for Professional. Note that the images work standalone, so if you're eager to poke around Windows Mobile 6.1 to see what's new and improved while waiting for your carrier/manufacturer to release an update, this is your ticket. Developers, if you want full integration with Visual Studio, be sure to grab the Windows Mobile 6 SDK prior to installing the images.

"LAS VEGAS — April 1, 2008 — Helping to propel large-scale mobile phone deployments by businesses, Microsoft Corp. today announced at CTIA Wireless 2008 the immediate availability of System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 and plans for a Microsoft Mobile Services Plan (MMSP) to be available from mobile operators worldwide. Together with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1, the software and services provide the best solution for midsize and large businesses to manage and help protect Windows Mobile phones."

Microsoft didn't just stop at Windows Mobile 6.1 today. The company also announced the immediate availability of System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, which together with Windows Mobile 6.1, offers a comprehensive device management solution for organizations using Active Directory/Group Policy. The full copy of the press release can be found after the break. Read more...

Some of Windows Mobile 6.1's biggest enhancements include threaded SMS support and an improved UI, but there's a lot more in it that makes this a significant leap from Windows Mobile 5.0 and Windows Mobile 6. Jump the break for a look at what's new. Read more...

Okay, the jokes are over. This is indeed the real deal. ;)

Windows Mobile 6.1 is here, and there's plenty to digest. Jump the break for the full press release, and watch future posts for a complete breakdown of the new features. Read more...

"As CTIA kicks off today in Las Vegas, Microsoft revealed the new version of their mobile operating system, Windows Mobile Photon. This new version of Windows Mobile is lighy-years more advanced than previous versions of Windows Mobile. Equipped with a full standards compliant web browser as well as front facing cameras on all devices for video conferencing!"


[Windows Mobile Photon shown on an HTC S730!]

Well not only does Microsoft release the much anticipated Windows Mobile 6.1 today, they have also revealed the next version of Windows Mobile, dubbed Windows Mobile Photon! My only guess is that Windows Mobile 7 was a confusing codename since they are already creating a Windows 7 operating system for the desktop. I for one dig the Photon name a lot more! As you read above, the new device will sport a complete standards compliant web browser. On the Windows Mobile Standard devices, you will be able to zoom in and out on web pages using the volume up and down keys. Very smooth in the video presentation that was shown. Also it was noted that all devices will include one front facing camera for video conferencing! Now that is what I call neat!

Watch the video of the announcement here!

Later this afternoon, Nokia will announce a May release date for its first Windows Mobile handset, the N97w. It resembles the N96 in many ways - similar form factor, 128MB RAM, 256MB ROM, 16GB of storage space, a microSD slot, A-GPS, an FM radio, DVB-H, and TV-out - but it does pack some newer and extended features such as quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1 support, and a 7.1-megapixel camera featuring Carl Zeiss optics and a dual-LED flash. It also has a 2.8" 262K-colour, QVGA touch screen, fit for displaying Windows Mobile 6 Professional in all its glory. There's no denying it - the N97w has a list of specs that would make any HTC device weak at the knees. A price has yet to be announced, although expect to receive details later this afternoon. Now, who wants one?