Mark mentioned the HP iPAQ 214 Enterprise Handheld briefly last week and I must admit that I wondered if a ‘classic’ PDA design really had any place in todays market when you can have a mobile device, that will take a SIM card, that can do the job just as well. However, judging by your emails and comments, there are still plenty of you out there that are looking for a decent PDA with a large screen and where Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity is enough.
On that basis then the iPAQ 214 seems to be a good device, has a large clear display and plenty of CPU power. We’ve got our ‘Enterprise Man’, John, reviewing the device at the moment so here is our unbox video:
HP iPAQ 214 Specification:
HP iPAQ 200 Series Enterprise Handheld is a powerful, large screen PDA with Wi-Fi, that is well-suited to run a broad range of business applications.
Designed with business in mind, there is much to appreciate about the sophisticated design of the iPAQ 214.
The iPAQ 214 has a large 4-inch TFT touch screen display for improved visibility in a variety of environments. Further expansion comes from the SDIO slot and USB connections making this device the ideal solution for communication and mobile office.
Integrated IEEE 802.11 b/g wireless networking allows Internet and email access at the office or other Wi-Fi hot spots in airports, cafes and hotels. Whilst with Bluetooth, you can connect your iPAQ 214 to peripherals like headsets and keyboards.
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, iPAQ, HP]
According to a number of stories circulating on the web and through the Windows Mobile forums and blog sites, Nokia and Microsoft are currently ‘in talks’ and are believed to be discussing the possibility of Nokia using the WM platform on their mobiles.
Microsoft’s mobile communications business international marketing director John Starkweather confirmed talks were taking place with Nokia but would not confirm when any announcement would be made.
“They obviously have significant investments in Symbian but there are a lot of places where we have significant synergies and we would love to see the day where those synergies would extend completely with Windows Mobile,”
Interestingly, Windows Mobile currently only has just over 6% of the smartphone operating system market compared to more than 70% for Symbian. However, it is gaining acceptance among smartphone manufacturers such as HTC and Samsung that have released Windows Mobile based handsets.
If Nokia do decide to take Windows Mobile it should mean that WM is made available to many, many more people which could lead to more money in the develoment pot which would hopefully lead to better WM software and more developers out there!
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, Nokia, Microsoft]
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 is the new digital SLR camera from Panasonic. We first saw the L10 at the Panasonic press event in London last September and we’ve finally managed to get our hands on a review model.
The DMC-L10 comes equipped with a LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-50mm / F3.8-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. lens designed specifically for a digital SLR camera to be sold as a kit, the DMC-L10K.
The DMC-L10 features an advanced 2.5-inch free angle LCD for full time live view that offers 270 degree rotation and a versatile shooting style. A 10.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor provides the beautiful images with delicate gradation and wide dynamic range. The superb image processor, Venus Engine III, boasts a high quality image rendering and high speed response.
John is working on the review at the moment but for now here’s the unbox video:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 specification:
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): Lumix, Digital Cameras, Tracy & Matt, DMC-L10, DSLR, Panasonic]
You heard it here first, the HTC Shift appears in the Orange catalogue.
You may recall that we mentioned that Orange were planning to start selling the HTC Shift in our post back in August of last year (Orange to Shift the HTC Shift). Today we received a tip from a reader saying that the HTC Shift now appears in the Orange Feb price list.
The other thing that I have been told it that Orange are offering the device as a package complete with SIM, Contract and full support. However, I’m not sure how well Orange will cope supporting my Notebook PC!
EDIT: According to one of my sources close to Orange, the Shift will hit Orange at about the £900 mark but you will have to sign up for their support contract as well as a data tariff. I’m waiting for details!
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, Orange, HTC, HTC Shift, Microsoft Communicator]
We are often asked about SMS software for Windows Mobile and most of the time it would seem that the one thing that WM users are looking for is a threaded SMS messaging system. It was interesting then when VITO Technology dropped me a line to say that they had just released their SMS-Chat software.
VITO Technology releases much expected SMS-Chat on its brand-new web site http://iwindowsmobile.com that brings threaded SMS to your Windows Mobile device.
SMS-Chat is designed to give you total control over text messaging. Finger friendly interface and sparkling looks with animated menus result in extremely convenient and appealing user experience. Manage your mobile texting with a flick of a finger!
A huge SMS fan? Then you are sure to know that SMS-Chat is something the whole Windows Mobile community was longing for. Even if you send short messages just once in a while to congratulate your friends, you’ll soon find out SMS-Chat is a perfect solution for you.SMS-Chat is a Windows Mobile SMS messenger that organizes your SMS correspondence into threaded SMS conversations. Isn’t it great to have a separate chat for every contact with whom you exchange short text messages, just like in your IM client? You can easily follow a conversation scrolling thru a chat with a finger: all messages are grouped by date. Chats with the most recent message always appear at the top.Moreover, SMS-Chat presents a number of useful features like multiple SMS messaging, resending, forwarding and deleting messages (you can also delete the whole chat). Imagine how easy it is going to be to congratulate all your friends at once next time holidays come around. You send a single message to all of them and watch replies in separate chats.The contact search is simplified with a filter that helps you find a contact in seconds by typing its name or number.
You can also enjoy scrolling contact list with a finger.
SMS-Chat is available for $14.95 at http://iwindowsmobile.com. SMS-Chat supports English, German, French, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, and Hebrew.
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, VITO Technology, SMS-Chat, Tracy & Matt]
Last week I mentioned that MWg had just launched the Atom Life and this it was now for sale over at eXpansys. I’ve just managed to get my hands on an Atom Life for review and I’m working on the review at the moment. As you should be able to see from the unboxing video below, the Atom is an attractive looking WM phone with a pretty decent specification and is a device that I’m looking forward to putting through its paces.
MWg Atom Life Specification
EDIT: The review is now online.
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, MWg, MWg Atom Life]
Obviously, we have been coving the popular HTC Touch Dual for a while now and I know that many of you out there have been eagerly awaiting the UK launch of the T-Mobile version, the MDA Touch Plus.
The good news is that the Touch Plus has finally arrived here in the UK and you can head over to the T-Mobile shop and place your order!
From the press release:
T-Mobile announces the hotly anticipated MDA Touch Plus in the UK. Featuring a new slender design with a large touch screen and sliding keyboard, the MDA Touch Plus is packed with the latest technologies to enable users to send emails, surf the Internet, listen to their favourite tunes and catch up with the latest TV programmes on the move.
Combining an innovative TouchFlo screen with a handy slide-out keyboard, the device is stylishly designed to provide one of the best user experiences on the market. Navigation through emails, web pages, music and images has never been easier.
Coupled with T-Mobile’s latest web’n’walk service and super-fast HSDPA mobile broadband technology, the MDA Touch Plus is set to provide a complete and personalised mobile surfing experience, as users will be able to explore any site on the Internet as they would on their PC. Not only this, but people will be able to watch a range of TV channels on the handset, from Sky Sports to MTV. Perfect for people who need to stay in touch with their colleagues, friends and family, the MDA Touch Plus also offers fast and simple access to emails on the move.
There is also no need to carry around an MP3 player or digital camera, as the handset has these built-in. The 2 mega-pixel camera is ideal for people who want to zoom in and take photos or shoot films wherever they are, as well as editing images, creating slideshows and viewing favourite images at the touch of a finger. The front facing VGA camera is perfect for making video calls and the handset also comes with stereo Bluetooth functionality to give users a greater choice of how they listen to their music on the move. The MDA Touch Plus is also fully compatible with the CoPilot Live satellite navigation system – an ideal extra for busy people on the road.
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, HTC Touch Dual, T-Mobile, MDA Touch Plus]
Microsoft has offered to buy the search engine company Yahoo for $44.6bn (£22.4bn) in cash and shares.
The offer, contained in a letter to Yahoo’s board, is 62% above Yahoo’s closing share price on Thursday.
Yahoo cut its revenue forecasts earlier this week and said it would have to spend an additional $300m this year trying to revive the company.
It has been struggling in recent years to compete with Google, which has also been a competitor to Microsoft.
According to its letter to Yahoo, Microsoft attempted to enter talks about a deal a year ago, but was rebuffed because Yahoo was confident about the “potential upside” presented by the reorganisation and operational activities that were being put in place at the time.
So what are your thoughts on this? Will a Microsoft/Yahoo partnership be a good or bad thing for the average internet user or do you think that such a move will only make Microsoft into a bigger monster?
Posted by: Simon
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, Microsoft, Yahoo]
Ok, perhaps this isn’t something that I would normally post about but I thought that the new JCB Toughphone was worth a mention and here’s why.
If you look after the mobile phone account for a business, as I do, I’m sure there will be a few people in the organisation that for some reason just cant look after their phones and seem to break them every other week. Or have you been asked by someone to “get Bob a phone that’s robust cos he’s working on a building site so it needs to last”.
If the above rings any bells with you then perhaps the new JCB Toughphone is the answer.
The specification may seem a little basic, especially when compared to some of the phones we review on t&m but the JCB Toughphone is an incredibly rugged mobile phone which has been designed to work in the most challenging of environments. The Toughphone has been awarded the IP53 rating that makes it one to reckon with – being shock, dust, water and drop resistant as well as operational from -20 degrees C to +60 degrees C. In addition , the no quibble 3-year warranty, scratch resistant screen and high powered speakers combine to make this the most durable phone ever created.
The JCB TOUGHPHONE is built for anyone who requires equipment they can depend on, ideal for construction workers, lorry drivers, farmers and foremen. Equally, the JCB TOUGHPHONE is perfect for anyone with an active lifestyle who requires a mobile phone that can take a few knocks.
So next time I’m asked to provide someone with a ‘builders phone’ we may well be taking a look at the JCB Toughphone!
The JCB Toughphone is available now from eXpansys.
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, expansys, JCB, ToughPhone, Tracy & Matt]
I hope by now you will have seen our Eee PC review and unbox video. If you are a regular to our site you’ll probably know that I love my Eee PC and use it every day. It’s ideal for me to use on the train journey to work especially now we have free WiFi on the train!
I got my first Eee PC back in November and was very impressed with it. Tracy also liked the Eee PC to the point that we were both wanting to use it at home. So I decided to buy another one so that we could have one each and so that I could install Windows XP on one and leave Linux on the other for the sake of the review.
Initially things went swimmingly with the second Eee PC but after just two weeks I started to encounter problems, the system began to freeze and there were problems booting, a few times I saw the dreaded inaccessible boot device error message.
I decided the best idea would be to format the drive and then to reinstall Linux from the supplied recovery CD. However, the solid state drive took a few attempts to format properly and then finally the drive stopped working completely. Obviously a fault with the solid state disk.
Time to call Asus.
My first argument with Asus was that, despite the Eee PC being just two weeks old, they would not simply replace it but insisted upon collecting it and bridging it in for repair. Unfortunately they would not budge on this so I agreed to send it back for repair, thinking it was a simple job and guessing it would not take long.
I was wrong! We’re now at the end of January and I’ve still Asus have not returned my Eee PC. I’ve been calling them every day for the past week only to be told that it’s ‘Currently in for repair’. Surely replacing the SSD is pretty simple and certainly should not take almost 6 weeks?!
Luckily my other Eee PC works perfectly well and I’m still very happy with it. I’m not trying to put anyone off buying and Eee PC, they are an excellent piece of kit, but I’m wondering if any of you out there have had a similar experience with Asus? Have you had a better or worse experience with regards to a warranty claim or with your Eee PC?
Leave us your comments below!
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Windows Mobile blog, UMPC, Asus Eee PC, Laptop, Tracy & Matt]
Connect
Connect with us on the following social media platforms.