Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"Verizon Wireless, provider of the nation's largest and most reliable 3G network, today announced the launch of VZ Navigator® 5.0, the newest version of its award-winning map, navigation and local search service, which helps users find their way around town. Powered by TeleCommunication Systems, Verizon Wireless' VZ Navigator is a GPS-enabled service that transforms a wireless smartphone or handset into an all-in-one powerful navigation and communication device, enabling customers to find useful information and discover new places and destinations."

$9.99 a month (or $2.99 a day) will give you access to, well, something Google is giving away for free. But those who don't have an android phone to switch into for navigation may appreciate big V's offering. It runs on Win Mo (hence this post) and also on blackberry. The attractive part may be the traffic updates that are provided by the network in response to what actual users are experiencing. So heavy commuters who are perpetually late (But have enough time to power up a GPS for a route they know by heart) may be interested.

"As you are probably already aware, GPSed versions for iPhone and Blackberry are remarkable by many useful and nice features which we usually describe in our blog. We are glad to bring you some new features recently added to GPSed version for Windows Mobile phones (Pocket PC and Smartphones)."

If you're looking for something a bit more powerful than other GPS packages, GPSed looks like it would fit the bill. The new version integrates some nice features into the package, so if interested, now is a great time to check it out.

Product Category: GPS-assisted software

Manufacturer: JMD Software

Where to Buy: From the developer -- download available here; or from the Windows Marketplace

Price: $3.99USD

System Requirements: Marathon requires a Windows Mobile 5.0+ Professional device with a GPS receiver and a screen resolution of at least 240x240 pixels.

Specifications: Requires approximately 400K of storage memory. Cannot be installed to Storage Card.

Pros:

• Very easy to install, configure and use;
• Main user interface is very intuitive, but there are lots of settings for individual customization.

Cons:

• Not possible to pause timings if you stop for a drink or chat;
• Some of the terminology used is confusing (eg. Sprint vs Track) A Help file or glossary would be useful.

Summary: Training up for that next marathon or triathalon? Or maybe just looking for something to provide an extra nudge for your personal 'Biggest Loser' exercise program? Marathon, a GPS-enabled software package from JMD Software may be just the right coach. It provides a simple, easy way to track your progress whether you're walking, running, biking or even rallying by car! Read more...

"Waze Inc. has officially launched Waze, a free turn-by-turn GPS application, for Windows Mobile. Waze is a social network for motorists to not only provide driving directions but also offer information collected from the users to identify traffic congestion, road hazards and other conditions that affect travel."

If your WinMo phone has a GPS chip and you are looking for a free turn-by-turn program, this could be just the ticket. Just be aware that it supports a very limited number of phones.

Product Category: PDA phone

Manufacturer: HTC

Where to Buy: Expansys [Affiliate]

Price: $524.99 USD

System Requirements: Comes with Windows Mobile 6.1 and HTC's TouchFlo 3D interface. Sorry, no word from HTC on 6.5 or 7 upgrade at this time.

Specifications: Qualcom MSM7200A running at 528MHz; 512Mb ROM, 288 Mb RAM; 3.2 inch TFT LCD screen in 480x800 resolution; Quad band GPRS/Edge + dual band (Europe/Asia only) HSPDA/WCDMA; 117.5g (4.1 oz) with battery; 108mm (4.3 in) x 53mm (2.1in) x 14mm (0.6in). Full specifications from HTC are available here.

Pros:

• Huge, bright screen with vibrant colours;
• Sleek, professional look; good feel in the hand and very pocketable;
• TouchFlo 3D interface is very smooth, responsive and finger-friendly -- little need to use the stylus for most functions;
• GPS Receiver is Phenomenal!

Cons:

• Soft reset button is located inside the unit so you have to take the back cover off if things get 'stuck';
• Really wish HTC would add a Tasks tab to TouchFlo.

Summary: Right from the top let me say I LOVE the Touch Diamond 2. It has a very classy look; the size and weight are very comfortable in the hand' and the WVGA screen is clear, vibrant and huge! HTC's TouchFlo interface is quicker and smoother in this version, with new features and greater depth into the Windows Mobile GUI. As a whole, everything about this phone just works exactly as you'd expect it to. Easy, Expected and Reliable is exactly what I'm looking for in a personal digital assistant and the Touch Diamond 2 has it all. I really hated to have to return this at the end of the review period. Read more...

"New software for the Samsung Omnia that will give customers an additional option for navigation is now available. The open GPS feature allows customers to purchase or use free applications by adding them to the device. Customers can still use VZ Navigator with turn by turn directions that talk to you while driving and takes you to millions of locations throughout the U. S. and just recently parts of Europe."

Every so often Verizon tries to not appear so evil. Omnia owners on Big V, take advantage of this glimpse of civility!

"You don't know where you parked your car anymore? Have you ever wondered how far your are away from home and in what direction it is? GpsSpot from Cradle Software uses the build in or attached GPS device to show in what direction and how far a previously saved spot is."

A few months back I was looking for a GPS gadget that did exactly what this software does - guide you back to a specific GPS location that you've tagged. This is exactly what I needed, and at an asking price of 2.90 Euros, it's cheap enough that even if you only use it a few times a year, it would be worth it. Unfortunately it's for Windows Mobile Professional devices only, not Windows Mobile Standard devices.

Product Category: 3.5G GPS PDA Phone

Manufacturer: Pharos USA

Where to Buy: Expansys [affiliate]

Price: $479.99 USD

System Requirements: Runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

Specifications: Qualcom 400Mhz processor, 256mb Flash ROM, 128mb SDRAM, 2.5 inch QVGA display, QWERTY keyboard, Triband (850/1900/2100) UTMS/HSDPA/HSUPA, Quad Band (850/90/1800/1900) GSM/GPRS/EDGE. GPS (with AGPS compatibility), 802.11b/g, BT2.0+EDR, USB 2.0, Cameras - 0.3mp (front), 2.0mp (rear)+fixed focus, battery is 1410 mAh Li-Ion with is rechargeable/replaceable. Dimensions: 116mm (4.57in) x 62mm (2.44in) x 15mm (0.60in). Weight is 145g (5.11 oz) with battery. Full specifications are available here.

Pros:

• Trackball has a good, responsive feel to it, but software is still not fully integrated into its existence;

• GPS is very responsive and works well with the Smart Navigator software;

• Standard 2.5mm headphone jack, which also doubles as TVOut;

• Good all around package for traveling business people.

Cons:

• Lock/power button doesn't always turn on the screen;

• Small stylus;
• WiFi has difficulty with secured networks;

• 2 megapixel, fixed-focus camera is not up to current expectations.

Summary:

Following along from our review of the 117 last month, we now present Pharos' latest addition to the Traveler series -- the 127. Similar to the 117, but designed for those who prefer the front-facing embedded keyboard format, the Traveler 127 is a full 3.5G capable travelling companion for the mobile business executive. It's not an easy market to make your mark in, as it's crowded and competitive. How does the 127 fare against the HPs, HTCs and Blackberries? Let's take a look...

Read more...

"Most dual-SIM devices top out at EDGE, but the DX900 takes it to the next level with triband HSDPA on top of quadband EDGE; you've also got a 2.8-inch VGA display, WiFi, 3 megapixel AF camera, and GPS, so if you're a two-line kind of individual, look for this one now around Europe and Asia. Next, the X960 ups the ante with HSUPA and 7.2Mbps maximum on the downlink, a revised 3D user interface, and a 3.2 megapixel cam -- it too should be populating Europe and Asia as we speak."

If you remember my last post on Acer's 8-model blitz, neither of these models are likely to be seen in the US until next year. While these aren't exactly earth-shaking entries in the Windows Mobile sweepstakes, both are solid devices that should fit someone's budget and needs. I do wonder though if any US carrier would be willing to tolerate a dual-SIM device like the DX900. We'll (hopefully) have live pictures of the DX900 for you sometime this week - stay tuned.

"Why is Live Search for mobile so Loco 4 Local? Because we're crazy about getting you what you need to know now, no matter where you are. Whether you're craving crab cakes or mulling a matinee, Live Search for mobile makes finding practically anything in the area fast and easy."

I really like it when companies can have a sense of humour about what they're doing, so this was right up my alley: the Windows LIve Search for Mobile team has created this Loco4Local site that has some hilarious videos that spoof some of the cheesy used car ads you might see on late night local TV. Great stuff!

"Overall, the Touch HD is one of the best device in its class (if not the best) and sets a benchmark for future devices. The high-resolution screen, increased sensitivity touch screen, fluid Touch Flo 3D and various software enhancements make the user experience extremely enjoyable. Being a media centric device, the touch HD is an absolute pleasure to use for browsing the web, watching videos on youtube, movie from your personal collection, browsing photos or just listening to music (thanks to the 3.5mm jack)."

What is so hard with adding tri-band HSDPA to this otherwise drool-worthy device? And what are the chances of the Touch HD getting WM6.5? Apart from that, there's a lot to like - 5MP camera, 3.8" WVGA screen, GPS, 528MHz Processor, 3.5mm headset socket, and a fairly large battery. I don't like the fact that the changing the MicroSD card (and soft-resetting!) requires taking off the battery cover. As for the rest - this is a fairly solid contender.

Product Category: 3.5G GPS PDA Phone

Manufacturer: Pharos USA

Where to Buy: Expansys [affiliate]

Price: $479.99 USD

System Requirements: Runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

Specifications: Qualcom MSM7201-90 processor running @ 400Mhz, 128M of RAM, 256M of ROM, 2.8in VGA TFT screen w/LED lighting, Quad band GSM/GPRS, triband UMTS/HSDPA up to 7.2Mb/s, 2.0 megapixel rear camera + 0.3 megapixel front camera for video calls, 802.11b/g, GPS, USB 2.0, BT2.0+EDR, microSD slot w/SDHC compatibility, stereo audio and TV out via 2.5mm jack. 1410mAh Li-Ion replaceable battery. Weight is 136g (4.8oz) with battery. Dimensions: 113m (4.4in) x 58mm (2.3in) x 15mm (0.6in) Full specifications are available here.

Pros:

• Beautiful, crisp, clear VGA screen;

• Great battery life;

• Standard 2.5mm headphone jack, which also doubles as TVOut.

Cons:

• Stylus is too small to be usable;

• Trackball needs to be more precise/consistent in action;

• SD card access is difficult and cover could break with use;

• 2 megapixel, fixed focus camera is not up to current expectations.

Summary:

The Traveler series is a new lineup of GPS-enabled 3.5G smartphones from Pharos, makers of the Ostia navigation software. Pharos has very kindly provided us with units to review the entire new lineup, so you'll be seeing the rest of the family over the next few months. Based on the numbering, you might think of the Traveler 117 as the entry unit to the series, but it includes an impressive array of features and a very sleek, professional design. What surprised me the most was the VGA screen and the substitution of a trackball for the 5-way navigation D-Pad!

Read more...

"Mio made it known late last year that the company was cooking up a mobile handset and it appears as though the Taiwanese GPS company's entrance into the mobile game will indeed be a sexy one."

Mio are better known for their DigiWalker series of GPS-equipped handhelds and this is, AFAIK, their first foray into making a phone. It's really not bad for a first effort, with the ubiquitous Qualcomm MSM7201A 528MHz processor, quadband GSM, tri-band HSPA, GPS (of course!), and 3MP camera. The device has a 3.5" QWVGA screen, which is passably large enough for GPS usage, and a slot that accepts micro-SDHC cards for all your maps. No word yet on pricing or availability.

"Designed for business-savvy professionals who appreciate a screen as big as their ambitions, the P835 is equipped with a large 3.5" touchscreen that runs at WVGA resolution-offering five times the number of pixels of most phones and delivering the best document, photo, movie and website viewing experience possible. Apart from being able to display more of a webpage onscreen, the P835 boasts features that greatly enrich users' online experience, including blazing fast HSUPA 7.2Mbps download speeds, a responsive trackball that makes scrolling effortless and Opera Mobile, a user-friendly and full-featured Web browser."

Apart from the big screen and Asus' updated Glide interface, the P835 boasts a 528MHz Qualcomm processor, 288MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, Micro-SD slot, AGPS, and 5MP AF camera. The P835 also offers the capability to act as a WiFi AP for up to ten devices, which is a real nice capability to have. I'm a bit dubious about the trackball - the placement might make it a little awkward to use with one hand - and the battery is a little small for a premium device. Everything else makes this a pretty fine top-of-the-range contender for ASUS. Read the rest of the press release for more details. Read more...

"The first of Acer's upcoming smartphones, tipped for launch at their MWC announcement next week, has leaked, and it's certainly an interesting looking device. The Acer DX650 is a dual-sided Windows Mobile smartphone, with a traditional 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen on one side, and a full numeric keypad and 1.27-inch 128 x 96 monochrome OLED display on the reverse."

That's a fascinating design, though I really wonder how usable this is - the best of both worlds, or the worse of each? At least you can't accuse Acer of not trying to innovate. Other specs include GPS, micro-SD slot and a camera, though from the looks of it, this will be a low-resolution one for video-calling only. Acer will also be introducing another smartphone next week, in a more traditional design. The X960 features a 533MHz Samsung processor, 128MB RAM, 256 MB ROM, GPS and a slot for a Micro-SD card. The phone will also offer a 2.8" VGA screen, along with HSPA and a 3.2MP camera.

"Garmin-Asus, a co-branded alliance between Garmin® Ltd., and ASUSTeK Computer Inc., today announced the Garmin-Asus nüvifone M20, an all-in-one phone, mobile webbrowserand premium navigation system with a Windows Mobile operating system. The Garmin-Asus nüvifone M20 will be on display at GSMA Mobile World Congress inBarcelona, Spain, February 16-19, 2009, at the Garmin-Asus exhibit (Hall 7, #7C37). As the first Garmin-Asus nüvifone powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional withenterprise email, the sleek and colorful nüvifone M20 is designed for on-the-go professionals who want a fashionable and functional smartphone to manage their busywork and personal lives. This powerful device combines a dual-band 3.5G/tri-band GSMphone with Wi-Fi connectivity, desktop-like internet browser, push email, documentviewing, multi-media capability, Bluetooth® and Garmin sat nav."

Garmin-Asus has released an interesting device here! Strong GPS navigation features combined with a VGA screen and 4GB or 8GB of storage makes for a potentially compelling travel companion-type device - depending on the price of course. Pricing and availability won't become a reality until the first half of 2009.

The rest of the press release continues below, along with two high-res images. Read more...

Product Category: PDA Phone w/keyboard

Manufacturer: HTC

Where to Buy: Expansys [Affiliate]

Price: $649.99 USD

System Requirements: Windows Mobile 6.1, with HTC's TouchFlo 3D interface

Specifications: Qualcomm MSM7201A CPU at 528 MHz, Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. 512 MB of storage ROM and 288 MB of system RAM. It is 102mm tall, 51mm wide, and 18.05mm thick and weighs 165 grams with its 1340 mAh battery. It has a 2.8 inch VGA screen, GPS, Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11 b/g, and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Quad-band GSM phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), 3G capable for HSPD/WCDMA for up to 2 mbps upstream and 7.2 mbps downstream. The main camera is a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash, with a secondary front-facing VGA camera for video calling (may not be available on NA models). It also has a microSDHC card slot.

Pros:

• Screen is amazing -- clear, bright, beautiful;
• HTC's TouchFlo 3D interface very well thought out and executed;
• Good package of accessories and added software.

Cons:

• Battery life isn't stellar -- not bad for a VGA though;
• Version reviewed is from Europe, so it wouldn't work on North American 3G networks (be careful what you buy!);
• Front screen is a magnet for fingerprints and streaks, but easily cleaned.

Summary: Truth in reviewing -- I lusted after this phone when I first starting hearing about it as the successor to the Kaiser/Tilt. Then, when I starting seeing some of the technical reviews and comments in XDA-Developer forums, my desire just got worse. I practically fell off my chair when Jason said he had one 'hanging around the office' and would I like to review it? "Uh, sure", I said nonchalantly, but I couldn't wait for it to arrive and to put it through its paces as my primary work phone/PDA for a week. So, did it live up to my expectations? Find out after the break.... Read more...

"GPS Tuner v5.4 and Map Calibrator v2.5 have been released. The new version of Award Winning off-road navigation software is now able to downlad Google Terrain (Topo) Maps and Open Street Maps from internet and use them without any calibration process. The new Map Calibrator also supports these new types of online maps. Suunto’s X9i off-road GPS watch data format (.sdf) is also supported, so you are able to see your X9i track in GPS Tuner or in Map Calibrator or upload your saved waypoints/routes to Suunto X9i internal memory. New map rotation mode (in 90 degrees steps) and built-in camera support are also implemented in GPS Tuner v5.4."




Online maps and camera support? The venerable GPS Tuner just keeps getting better. Hit the product web page to download. For registered users who purchased less than a year ago, this one's a free upgrade.

"My brother, the cinematographer, is a MAC kinda guy. So, naturally he packs an iPhone of which he is very proud. While visiting me last week he was showing off the virtues of his iPhone with a bit of a smug air and a tinge of superiority. He quickly established that the iPhone makes phone calls, surfs the Web, does email and SMS, takes pictures (but has no flash), and it does it all on a really cool, high-resolution, finger-friendly touch screen..."



Over at Mobility Site, Tim Hillebrand has brought us one of the most amusing articles I have read this week. I was hoping to post this earlier in the week, but with our server woes I decided to push this back to Friday to give you guys and gals a good chuckle before the weekend. Tim goes through the list of all of Apple's good qualities that was packed into their little device that could and than in classic 1980's buddy comedy fashion the article takes a turn for the comical going through everything you would think this fancy high end device should/would include in its repertoire list but doesn't. It just goes to show us that Apple's handset has as many growing pains to conquer as Microsoft's cellular device offerings and also that Tim's brother is a good sport for letting him write this article about him. ;)