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Living with just a PDA (part 3) looks like being a good read over at the P247 website. "I mentioned in part 2 of a wonderful application that allows ctrl and alt keys to work on the keyboard. This little application has proven a real winner. I gather it only works on windows mobile 5 devices, so if you have a K-Jam give it a go. You won't be disappointed."
“No more unprotected data, no more tiresome password entering.” When the folks at Tavasoft said it, they really meant it. They have succeeded in” making security fun and usable!” (And if you don’t believe me, check out all the awards PicturePassword has won!)
PicturePassword works just as they describe…
Unlock instantly - Just tap the secret point at the picture of your choice.
Or press a couple of hardware buttons - it's really fast.
Lock securely - PicturePassword allows to enter picture or button code only once. If wrong code is entered then complicated system password will be required, eliminating code guessing.
Make security fun and useable - PicturePassword lets you customize your PDA with any picture you like.
In addition, useful info is shown on a lock screen:
+ Big digital clock, date and day of the week
+ Owner info
+ Battery level
PicturePassword comes with a few skins… but you can also go HERE to download a free skin from the public gallery, or better yet, create your own using the Online PicturePassword Skin Convertor HERE.
I of course used the PicturePassword Skin Convertor to get a photo of my Rat Terrier Buddy as a skin. I just followed the upload instructions and then they emailed the file to me. I downloaded it and was quickly ready to go… How easy is that! And, if you’ve got a really neat photo, you can even request that it is added to the public gallery!
There’s an online manual for installation and setup, or you can pretty easily click through the options… for example: choose your photo, choose from 1 to 3 “taps,” and choose the style of your tap – finger, nail or stylus.
On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, I give PicturePassword a 5-star rating --- maybe even 6-stars!
- Cindy Aten, Associate Writer (Where it’s snowing quite nicely in Dorr, MI)
Okay, so first I should admit that in 7 years of owning a Palm, I’ve only ever had one screen protector before…and that didn’t last for long! It was a static kind and I just never had much success with it. I know, I know… screen protectors are IMPORTANT, but I just didn’t have the heart to try one after that experience a while back. I’ve just tried to be very careful not to scratch or mar my screen(s). So, I was delighted to find that I am once again extremely happy with a product from Proprorta!
Here are the great features you get when you buy an Advanced Screen Protector --- and what I think about mine:
+ Manufactured from a new ultra high-clarity plastic --- I’m impressed with the clarity! It’s clear but not too shiny with a slight matte consistency --- very easy to see through!
+ Comes with application kit, instructions and screen cleaning cloth --- great instructions and easy to apply!
+ Washable – so it can be washed and replaced --- and I definitely put that to the extreme test! I had applied the screen protector to my 1st Zire 72, and had to remove it a couple of days later when I sent that back to the seller. Now I have it on my 2nd Zire 72 – and I’ve got to tell you, it looks great even though it spent a week sitting on a post-it note at work! I figure if it survived that and looks good…it’ll be around for a good long time!
+ Prevents screen scratching and other damage --- yeah, I know (see above), now I don’t have to be quite so careful! :-)
+ Reduces glare from sunlight or bright lighting --- absolutely true! I think it’s the slight matte consistency that does it!
On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, I’ll give Proporta’s Advanced Screen Saver a 5-star rating --- it deserves it!
Porporta sells Advanced Screen Protectors for MANY different PDAs, and even for iPods -- you can find them HERE.
- Cindy Aten, Associate Writer (Where it’s snowing quite nicely in Dorr, MI)
Acer is releasing in the US their C200 series we mentioned a while ago, so here are some more specs and a picture of this oddly hinged Tablet PC. First off, the portable runs off a Pentium M 760 at 2.0 GHz, sports 1GB of Ram, a 100GB HD, a 12.1-inch XGA screen, and a DVD+/-RW drive, along with the fingerprint reader we mentioned before. They’re quoting the battery life at 5 hours, and are offering WiFi, Gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth for connectivity. That’s the C204TMi model, which retails for $1900, they are also offering the lower end C203ETCi that drops the processor to a Celeron M 370 at 1.5GHz, halves the RAM, goes 80GB for the HD, and loses the DVD burning for a combo drive. The GeForce Go 6200 graphics of its older brother are also gone, with integrated Intel acceleration in their place. You can nab that one for $1400, and why not? We know you’re just going to get this to complete you collection of expensive, oddly hinged items that never really took off. Though we’re kind of liking this form factor, in looks at least.
engadget
You all know I'm a sucker for cool gadgets and Tablet PCs are no exception! I've always loved the design of Tablet PCs! I wish I had this Acer Tablet PC instead of the Acer laptop that I have!
- Jennifer Chappell, Associate Writer, (NC, US)
Chinese blogging sites have unearthed details surrounding the Motorola A732, a slider phone whose keypad may look ordinary, but is touch and heat sensitive, allowing you to essentially scribble directly on the screen. Current incarnations seem to recognize both Chinese and English characters, though a North American version probably won’t do Chinese.
But wait, there’s more. The shopping helper feature lets you take a picture of a product you find in a store, note the price and which shop you found it at, and files away that information for later reference when you find a similar product elsewhere. Not exactly revolutionary, but the shopping helper is definitely helpful, especially during these Christmas shopping months.
Other than these two innovative features, you’ll find plenty of other goodies that’ll whet your whistle. How about a 3MP digital camera and a 65,000 colour display? Also expect built-in MP3 playback and 64-chord polyphonic ringtones, a T-flash expansion slot, and Bluetooth connectivity. A digital assistant provides the usual calendar, voice recording, and voice commands. The sleek Motorola A732 slider phone is available in silver and black.
MobileMag
This sure sounds like a great phone! I like the idea of the heat sensitive keypad and the shopping helper feature! And Bluetooth too!
- Jennifer Chappell, Associate Writer, (NC, US)
Hi everyone.
I was fortunate to receive a preview of Broken Sword from Astraware. Two words: download it.
The game is available today, and it’s well worth your time. And you’ll spend time: hours and hours.
Jan is doing an excellent job of detailing the game in her daily posts so I won’t walk that path, but I wanted to offer a few of my own thoughts.
First, this is not an action game, despite the rather explosive way in which it begins. This is an interactive story which presents you with a rather large puzzle. In terms of Palm games this is far more “my” type of game. I enjoy anti-social action games on PCs (I played all the way through Doom III, for example) but on Palms the action genre has always been less interesting to me. Partly that’s because in a shooter you have to repeatedly mash buttons to fire whatever weapons you’re holding and I always worry about damaging my expensive Palm device.
For me, the pace and style of Broken Sword is ideally suited to the Palm platform.
Second, the graphics in this game are excellent (really excellent), the gameplay is logical and the story flows well. I was immediately engaged in the story and the interface is easy to suss out.
Third, much of the gameplay is taken up with dialogue — you interact with other characters and gather information from them. However, this is all dialogue that you read; none of it is in audio form. At first I was disappointed by this, as I wanted to hear what each character sounded like. Also, it’s easier to listen than to read. However, I soon forgot about this as I got into the story.
Also, the added benefit here is this is an excellent nighttime game if you do not sleep alone. Playing it won’t bother anyone.
The dialogue, by the way, is printed on screen to keep the game’s size down. Spoken dialogue would have resulted in a huge game file and, likely, slowed the performance of the PDA.
Lastly, this feels like a game with legs. That is, I am sure I will be playing it weeks from now.
Broken Sword, The Shadow of the Templars, is available here.
- Peter Wolchak, Associate Writer (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
It's that time of year when my fellow gadget maniacs start shopping for Christmas presents for loved ones (and for themselves!) I've put together our top ten list of the Most Wanted Gadgets for 2005, and have also included links so you can get these gadgets early before the shopping craze begins. Without further introduction and in no particular order (we want them all) meet our Top Ten Holiday Gadgets for 2005:
1) iPod Nano Audio Player
The iPod Nano is Apple's latest portable music player, and is considered by some to also be their greatest! The Nano has the thickness of five credit cards and a color screen, and features either 2 or 4 gigabytes of storage (so you can always have your favorite music and photos with you.) It's also the sexiest and slimmest player on the block right now.
2)Silverlit X-UFO Remote Control Flying Toy
The remote controlled flying machine for the 21st century, the X-UFO uses powerful electric motors and an innovative gyroscope so you can fly your own remote control UFO. The X-UFO can be flown up to 100m indoors, and has one red and three blue flashing LED's to add an "otherworldly" effect. More than a remote control plane, the X-UFO has to be seen to be believed!
3)Jabra BT800 Bluetooth Cell Phone Headset
Cords and cables are last century - Bluetooth is the way to connect to your cell phone wirelessly. The Jabra BT800 Bluetooth headset delivers crystal-clear audio and a noise cancelling microphone to provide excellent handsfree communication without wires. The BT800 also has multiple ring options, an LED display (which shows the name of the caller for incoming calls) and a vibrate function. Range is very good, and the BT800 can be worn on either ear.
4)Microsoft Xbox 360
The newest gaming console on the block is the Xbox 360 from Microsoft, which has three 3.2GHz CPU cores and a 20GB hard drive. What does this mean to the average person who doesn't drool over tech specs? The Xbox 360 will deliver the richest and most realistic graphics in a gaming console (in 2005, anyway) and will open the door to high-definition entertainment.
5)Motorola Black RAZR V3
Originally handed out to celebrities at the Oscars, the black Motorola RAZR V3 is the hottest cell phone on the market. The RAZR V3 is quad-band which means excellent reception almost anywhere, and has Bluetooth for connectivity to wireless earpieces and car kits.
6)PSP Handheld System
The PSP handheld entertainment system is so technologically advanced, it feels like something sent back in a time machine. The crystal-clear LCD screen is breathtaking and can be used to watch movies, play games, listen to music, and even browse the Internet. The addition of a built-in web browser also means that movies and podcasts can be downloaded directly to the PSP without a personal computer. (Just make sure you have a big memory card to store your downloaded files and videos.)
7)i-Dog
iDog was originally created by Sega, and was all the rage in Japan. Making his way to America via Hasbro, iDog is an electronic companion for your iPod, MP3 player, or anything that has a headphone jack. Plug iDog into your iPod and watch the mesmerizing patterns his "eyes" create based on the types of music you listen to. He also moves his ears and bops his head to the beat! Seems incredibly dorky until you see him in action, then the "coos" and exclamations of "how cute!" fill the room.
8)Robosapien V2
Robosapien V2 brings the fluid movement and biomechanical agility of Robosapien to a whole new level. Gaining a whopping 10” in height (making him almost 28 inches tall!) Robosapien V2 now has full range of motion and the ability to pick up, drop and throw objects with his finely tuned precision hands. Advanced agility allows him to bend over and twist from side to side, so he can now sit, bend, lie down and stand up. He can even stand from a prone position all by himself! Robosapien V2 will interact with his surroundings, and can even talk! Fully equipped with infra-red radar vision, Robosapien’s V2 moving eyes with blue LED lights can detect obstacles, track movements and take objects handed to him.
9)Noise Cancelling Headphones
Most people don't realize how important a good set of headphones are until they actually use a good set of headphones. Noise-cancelling circuits in these headphones sense outside racket using tiny built-in microphones and send a canceling signal, blocking noise from the outside world. This means that on a subway or airplane all you hear is music, not the rumbling of engines.
10)Samsung SCX105L Sports Camcorder
Catch all the action with this sports camcorder from Samsung! The Samsung SCX105L is a digital MPEG4 camcorder with 10x zoom and extra sport lens that can be attached to your head or arm, allowing the extreme sports fanatic to capture all the action of their black slope ski run (or first time on the slopes for the amateur.) A rugged and durable rubberized body means this camera can handle extreme conditions, and the Instant Power On option means you'll never miss an important moment.
GadgetMadness
- Jennifer Chappell, Associate Writer, (NC, US)
OK so we end one forum contest and now it's onto another. It's a simple prize you can win either a PDA of your choice or an iPod of your choice. All you need to do is be a registered member of the forum and be posting because we choose a post by random. So go ahead to the forum and enjoy posting.
[Forum contest runs until 16th January]
Now this one takes the cake people!!!
Need Help Flipping That Cellphone?
Only in Japan would you find people lazy enough to not flip open their cellphones. Takara Toys has solved this problem with a new cellphone opener. Basically, you throw this horrible piece of oversized plastic onto your phone, push a button and voila!…open phone. Comes in 4 sexy colors for you to waste your money on. How much money will you be wasting by buying one? $8 to be exact. Now stop being a lard *** and get off that couch and move those fingers!
gizmodo
- Jennifer Chappell, Associate Writer, (NC, US)
Panasonic is not well known for its mobile phones outside Japan, but instead for its home appliance products. For years, they have been releasing mediocre handsets that never made it big in the market. The turning point was in 2002, when they released the GD88. It was the first GSM device equipped with a 132x176 pixel 65k color LCD display, a camera, 16 voice polyphonic ringtones, and all in a reasonably sized Japanese-influenced flip phone design. From then on, Panasonic seemed to have sunk a little, with the X series only popular at CeBIT, but not in the actual market. Their first Symbian flip phone, the X700, lost completely to the Nokia 6260, and the X800 was a flop due to a number of software and multimedia inadequacies. Earlier this year at 3GSM, Panasonic ambitiously announced a whooping nine new models, covering all the way from the bottom end to the top segment. Panasonic is determined to regain market share in the midst of the multimedia chase.
The phone we are looking at today, the VS7, is their flagship for this year.
According to Panasonic, VS stands for "Visual Slim," so obviously slimness is one of the major selling points of this device. The weight is a reasonable 113g (3.98oz). Measuring 102mm x 51mm x 18.8mm (4.01" x 2" x 0.74"), the VS7 is neither the smallest nor the thinnest handset around, but to include a 2 megapixel camera, a 2.5” QVGA screen, and a sub display, Panasonic has done a great job in making it very pocketable.
The main body is composed of brushed metallic colored plastic that is quite scratch resistant. The front of the handset is where you can install the customizable faceplate, and depending on the plate you are using, the scratchability of this surface varies...
Conclusion
Generally, I am quite pleased with the VS7. Being priced at the exact same level as the Sony Ericsson K750i, it will definitely cause some competition. The customizable faceplates, breath-taking screen, and the handset’s slimness will capture a lot of attention.
However, most of the VS7’s flaws are deal breakers. For example, sound quality over the earpiece is below average, there is no memory expansion, and the keypad is excessively small. There is no reason why Panasonic could not place a memory slot in the VS7, thickness is not an excuse because the technology is already there, as seen from their latest P902i announcement in Japan. The P902i manages to include an extra camera for video-conferencing, a W-CDMA chip and antenna, miniSD slot, and Felica electronic money antenna into the same thickness. Perhaps Panasonic was rushing the firmware for release, or production costs were such a huge constraint for them to ignore the market norm. In fact, the marketing division was pressured so much that they (the Taiwan branch) had to come out and promise similar handsets with external memory slots and 3G support in Spring 2006. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Read entire review at MobileBurn
- Jennifer Chappell, Associate Writer, (NC, US)
The MOTORAZR Magenta will be available beginning Friday, November 25 through T-Mobile. Like its predecessors, it features the famous RAZR slim shape, premium metallic finish and advanced technology such as photo messaging* and Bluetooth® wireless technology. Read on...
[Duration: 7 minutes, 54 seconds]
[File Size: 1.81 MB]
Today's Podcast I talk about:
- The launch of Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars from Astraware
- My thoughts on the T-Mobile Sidekick II
- My thoughts on the i-mate K-JAM
How to listen:
[MP3]Download Palm Addict in the usual mp3 format or just listen through streaming normal.
[RSS] You can subscribe to the Palm Addict 5 Minute RSS feed here and have the Podcast delivered to you in your RSS aggregator.
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Palm Addict 5 Minute Podcast directly in iTunes.
The Official Palm Addict Podcast edited by Tyler
[MP3] Download Palm Addict in the usual mp3 format or just listen through streaming normal.
[RSS] You can subscribe to the Official Palm Addict Podcast RSS feed here and have the Podcast delivered to you in your RSS aggregator.
Today's Palm Addict Podcast is sponsored by:
Sponsored by Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars from Astraware and Revolution Software (available at Astraware.com)
[From Rimez] Rimez has just posted that "I found a version of firefox which runs off of USB. It's called Portable Firefox. Being bored during my last days of work (not much to do -- really) I decided to copy the program to my SD card on my T|E2 (using Softicks Cardexport). Surprisingly enough it worked.
I thought this could be useful for those of you in IT (such as myself) who need to run applications on a users desktop without installing it. And since it ran this file I am willing to bet it will run anything else that doesn't require registry setting in Windows. Anyway... that was my geek tip for the day. Have fun."
CONGRATULATIONS to Leox who was the lucky winner of the main PalmAddict contest and for his prize he has chosen a video iPod, and the winner of the Forum contest was Vickersster who wins the Fall basket of Palm Addict goodies. I will be sending the prizes out to you next week so keep an eye out for them. Once again Congratulations and hope you enjoy you prizes well done!!! I will be posting details of our next forum contest either today or tomorrow.
- Lindsey Dyson, Deputy Editor, (UK)
Greetings from Paris! If you recall, yesterday we left George Stobbart at the ruins of a Parisian café after a mysterious evil clown managed to blow up the place, killing a patron and making off with the victim’s briefcase.
After George dusts himself off, I direct him into the café. He sees and inspects the dead man’s body and then interviews a rattled waitress. She asks if George is a doctor. I choose to have him say that, yes; he is a doctor, claiming that he studied under the great “Doogie Houser.” He gives her a bottle of brandy hoping to more easily elicit information from her. She tells of a clown who entered the café just before the bomb blast. The not-so-jolly fellow grabbed the briefcase from the old man and ran out just before the explosion. Realizing she has told him as much as she knows, George leaves her to go back to the town square.
While looking for clues, our tourist-turned-gumshoe is soon detained at gunpoint by a policeman named Moue. As George is being questioned, Officer Moue is joined by Inspector Rosso. They detain him until they are finally convinced that George is innocent. The inspector gives him his card, and sends him on his way.
George spends some time searching the square, and discovers a newspaper under the tree, which has some handwritten notations on it. He folds and keeps it for future reference. It is hard for George to miss the lovely photographer who is making her way around the square. Does she know something that will bring George closer to the answers that he seeks?
- Jan, Deputy Editor US, (Alpine, UT, USA)
Mobility Today are showing some images of the Motorola Q. "We know you can always take time out to see more "Q" shots. We feel these are pretty compelling since this is the first "non-stylus" Windows Mobile 5 device..Take a look at the memory which looks promising. Motorola invented the mobile phone so you know we know voice! Leveraging Motorola’s expertise in RF technology, the new Q delivers the best phone experience you can get on a QWERTY. Featuring a high-quality speakerphone, voice-activated dialing and Bluetooth functionality, the Q enables hands-free multitasking for today’s busy work environment." [Mobility Today]
I have just updated the Special Offer list in the right hand column for all PA readers to take advantage of. If you have a special offer to add then use this thread on the forum and if it's a great offer I will bring front page.
Nokia delays 770 pre-orders into January is something that caught my eye over at Engadget today. "We’re really trying not to be insensitive here, all spouting off about our Nokia 770 exploits on the podcast without giving recognition to those of you pining over neglected pre-orders of the device. Though we’re saddened you can’t yet effectively get your entire gadget fix vicariously through our snarky observations, we realize that there are some legitimate complaints to be levied at Nokia who has had to push back US shipments for their internet tablet — originally rumored for early November, then opened up for pre-order November 14th, supposedly shipping by the 17th — all the way to January 31st. "
"Sony BMG's woes in the US over its much-criticised anti-piracy CD software have deepened. It is facing two separate lawsuits in Texas and California. The Texan lawsuit accuses Sony of installing spyware and is seeking damages of up to $100,000 in damages for each violation. In California, digital rights group, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), is suing Sony for allegedly collecting personal data." [BBC]
For our Spanish readers there is an excellent Spanish written PDA site entitled PDA Expertos. Lot's of great PDA news and probably the best Spanish related PDA website on the net according to many of our readers who write me about the site. [PDA Expertos]
Custom Treo 650 ROM - step-by-step guide is very interesting over at the MobileRead today. "I am a complete unskilled newbie but after days of reading information I was able to make a perfect ROM for my Sprint Treo 650. I gained 4 megs of RAM since I placed in ROM 4 megs of my 3rd party programs that would usually be in RAM. More importantly I got rid of the junk applications that wasted space and occasionally caused me problems, like versamail."
Here is something for the child in all of us, you can now download Childrens Stories thanks to StoryNory to be played on your Palm device or iPod an yes all for free. What a great idea.
Yesterday I was talking about how I have been given two new PDA devices that I have never used before in order to talk about on Palm Addict, the first is a SideKick II provided kindly by the nice people at T-Mobile and the second is an unusual device called the i-mate KJam running Windows Mobile. Both devices have included thumb-pads allowing you to input. What is interesting is that I still fine the Tungsten C to be the easiest to input, it's also the fastest in my opinion too. I will be talking about my thoughts as the days go by. However I will be posting some snapshots of size comparison a little later today and both the k-jam and the sidekick have built in camera's so I will be exploring those function too. It is all very exciting playing around with new PDA's and I count myself fortunate to be able to be provided with them to play with.
Buttoneer looks very useful. "Dress up your Palm with a ‘Buttoneer™ calculator, as easy to use as it is attractive. Colorful 3-D buttons visually toggle like real! Algebraic Operating System executes in order of precedence (Yx before x before +), with parentheses for further control. Trig (SIN, COS, TAN) and logarithmic (LN, LOG10) functions. Nice touches include a Backspace Key, option of Scientific or Engineering Notation, and a title bar which shows what’s in memory. Enhanced K key with over 50 stored constants and conversions (5 are user-customizable). Turn heads with a ‘Buttoneer™."
TUBE 2 Atlanta (Palm OS) V1.01 and TUBE 2 Baltimore (Palm OS) V1.01 are new software updates on Palmgear today.
If you live in the UK, then GB Major Road Atlas for Tube 2 (Palm OS) may well come in handy. "Detail colour map of Great Britain's major road network, fully scrollable. Find 30,000+ GB towns and villages." $12 which is not a bad price.
[From Alison] Astraware and Revolution Software are excited to announce the release of Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars for Palm OS(R) handhelds. The game has been developed by Revolution Software, the original creators of the Broken Sword series, and is published by Astraware.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars is an epic adventure which takes you around the globe in a desperate race to unlock the ancient mysteries of the Knights Templar.
Originally created for PC and PlayStation, and now available for PalmOS(R) handhelds, Broken Sword is the story of George Stobbart, an American tourist on vacation in Europe, who becomes embroiled in a terrifying conspiracy when he witnesses the theft of an ancient manuscript and the assassination of its owner.
The manuscript, created in the 14th century by the order of the Knights Templar, points to where their legendary power has been hidden for over six hundred years. Befriending a photojournalist, Nico Collard, the two find themselves on a global trail that ultimately reveals a deadly secret that will change their lives forever.
Just as in many modern mystery books, you will become immersed in the unfolding story as you guide George through the game, looking for clues, talking to witnesses, and following the trail as it takes him from Paris to Ireland, Syria and beyond.
Avid PDA users are already excited about the release. Jan Galbraith from Palm Addict told us: "I have been playing Broken Sword and it has knocked my socks off! Having never before played an adventure game, I was delighted to find that it is like "experiencing" a good mystery story. This game, with its interesting characters, exotic locales, and stunning graphics, has grabbed me, and I can't wait to find out what happens, but I don't want it to end!"
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars is released on November 23rd for specified high resolution Palm OS(R) 5.0 handhelds* priced $29.95. The Windows Mobile(R) for Pocket PC version will follow in February 2006.
More information and download: http://www.astraware.com
Omni Technology Solutions Inc. (Omni) announced the immediate availability of its Omni Mobility Suite for GroupWise today through its global reseller channel. The Omni Mobility Suite has three components: Omni Mobile, a full GroupWise client for "Smart" devices; Omni Syncaphone, a GroupWise "light" client for Java mobile phones; and Omni Messenger, a GroupWise Messenger client for Palm and Pocket PC PDAs and PDA Smartphones.
"The Omni Mobility Suite is the first, cross-platform wireless suite that provides 'native,' real-time GroupWise client connectivity for GroupWise and GroupWise Messenger," explains Aldo Zanoni, CEO for Omni. "Our customers are excited about having a direct wireless link to their GroupWise systems. A major contributor to our success has been AppForge Crossfire(TM), the development platform used for Omni Mobile. Omni Mobile will leverage AppForge's recent announcements and deliver future support for new and exciting mobile platforms (Nokia(R) 9300/9500, BlackBerry(R) devices, Palm 670 and others)."
"Our customers can now access GroupWise on virtually every mobile device in the industry," said Jon Gerdes, Managing Director for Blueloop (www.blueloop.net), a UK-based consulting service firm and Omni reseller. "The Omni Mobility Suite provides a superior solution to Windows Mobile 5.0 for Exchange because Microsoft's solution is limited to Pocket PC and Windows Mobile devices. Our clients want GroupWise connectivity on the mobile device of their choice, rather than being restricted to one particular OS platform. Deploying a multi-OS platform mobile solution allows customers to see an immediate increase in productivity without having to go out and buy new mobile devices. The ability to deliver GroupWise to existing Java phones and to collaborate in real-time with Omni Messenger has allowed our customers to see immediate efficiency and productivity gains -- without having to change their infrastructure or upgrade their software."
Omni's Mobility Suite for GroupWise provides real-time mobile access from anywhere in the connected world without having to update to the latest version of GroupWise or install middle-tier database or gateway servers that are common in many solutions today. Version 1.0 supports Palm Treo 650, 600, LifeDrive and Tungsten; Sony Ericsson P910, P900, P800; and Pocket PC and Windows Mobile PDAs and PDA Phones. Version 1.1 will support Nokia Series 60 and Series 90 devices. Omni Syncaphone supports virtually all Java cell phones. Omni Messenger supports Palm and Pocket PC PDAs and PDA Smartphones.
For more information about the Omni Mobility Suite, go to: http://www.omni-ts.com/mobility.html/ or visit www.omni-ts.com.
[From Shelly Middleton] I just wanted to say THANK YOU to the associate writers who have been pleading for a LifeDrive ROM upgrade. I have owned the Palm IIIc, the Sony Clie 710c, the Palm Tungsten C, and now the LifeDrive. I always considered the Palm brand PDAs to be very stable… until I bought a LifeDrive. I am holding on to the LifeDrive with the hopes that a ROM upgrade will come soon. Once it becomes stable, IMHO the LifeDrive will be one of the best PDAs around.
I had the opportunity recently to test a new case from Boxwave for the PalmOne LifeDrive. I'd like to say a special Thank You to Abe and Cho of Boxwave for giving me the opportunity to review the Active Case!
I am very impressed with this Boxwave product! The Active Case is a hard, plastic case that is crystal clear, so your device is not only protected, but it can also be seen clearly! I've never owned a clear case before and I had no idea how pretty one could be. I can see every part of my LifeDrive! The case is smooth as glass and my LifeDrive looks like it's encased in a beautiful piece of ice! There is a flip up screen protector so you can flip this up whenever you need to use your stylus. You can easily view your Calendar and Contacts through the protective cover.
There is a detachable belt clip on the Active Case and it seems solid. The belt clip is a glazed crystal plastic and nicely matches the case. There are openings for all the buttons, power connection, reset hole, headphones jack, power switch, memory card slot, and stylus. There is even a nice memory card holder on the back! It's below the belt clip screw and above the Boxwave logo. It's a cutout slot that you can easily slip your memory card into! That was a very nice surprise for me and I didn't notice it at first!
The Active case easily comes apart so you can put your device inside. You just take the two halves apart and then snap them back together over your device. The case is perfectly shaped for your device so it has a nice, sleek, contoured shape and it doesn't add much weight to the device. I think the case is beautiful and it really shows off my LifeDrive!
Since the case was so easy to take apart and put together, I was a little worried about how easily it might come apart if I dropped my LifeDrive. I did a few tests and very nervously dropped my LifeDrive from about two feet to the floor. The case stayed together. I dropped it from some higher positions and my anxiety grew, but the case was sturdy and didn't come apart. Of course I didn't hold it above my head or anything. Hey, I'm not crazy! Even if the case were 2 inches thick and wouldn't come apart, I wouldn't drop my LifeDrive from any higher than my waist because I don't think a case can keep a device with a hard drive in it from getting knocked out of whack. But anyway, I feel like my LifeDrive is very well protected with the Active Case! This case is really going to keep my device from scratches!
This Active Case is my favorite case of any LifeDrive case I've had! I like the black, leather case that came with my LifeDrive but the buttons are mashed so easily when carrying it in my purse. I also like the hard case that I bought from Palm but there aren't any slots to store my memory cards and the cover is hard to get open. The protective cover on the Active Case is so easy to open! It just snaps open and I flip it up. It doesn't hinge and flip all the way over the top like some clear cases but this doesn't bother me because the cover stays where it's supposed to when open. The only way it would flip closed is if you were lying flat on your back and holding the device downward in front of your face.
I love the Active Case and I think that my LifeDrive will be staying in it until I have to put it on my cradle! I would highly recommend the Boxwave Active Case! I have a lot of different cases for my PDAs, but so far, this one is my favorite!
If you're in need of a sturdy case that is crystal clear, check out the Boxwave Active Case! You can see it here.
- Jennifer Chappell, Associate Writer, (NC, US)
I bought a LifeDrive a few weeks after it came out, and while it seemed like such a great device, I could not get past the bugs. I had to return if after 4 days because of the random resets, lag, among other things. I REALLY tried to love it, but I was spending more of my life working on the device, and waiting through resets, than using it to organize my life. I see it wasn't only the unit I had, I've read LifeDrive owners on PalmAddict and elswehere now BEGGING for a ROM upgrade. The LifeDrive has been out for over 6 months, and still no fixes on Palm's behalf.
I give Palm props for the AMAZING job they've done with the TX, I love mine. It makes me feel bad for all the dedicated LifeDrive owners out there who are now contemplating ditching the LifeDrive for the TX. The LifeDrive is a revolutionary device, and deserves YOUR ATTENTION PALM!!! Make a fix! Do it soon!
While you're riding high with the all the great reviews of the TX, don't forget about the LifeDrive, and it's customers that bought it. The LifeDrive, if fixed could be the best handheld/mobile manager out there, and deserves to be. Step up to the plate, you've hit a homerun with the TX. Put what you put into making the TX the success it is into the LifeDrive!!! Sorry for the rant, but all LifeDrive owners deserve a fix after holding onto them this long. Maybe Palm will listen:)
-Jimmie Geddes, Associate Writer
If your a runner like me, although I run at the Gym rather than outside, then MyRunningLog could be up your street. "MyRunningLog is designed for the sport enthusiast that demands a quick and efficient, yet simple, method to keep track of running (or other aerobic) workouts."
SuperWaba is free and they say it is updated and that there is bug fix. "SuperWaba is a Virtual Machine that can be run in Palm OS, Symbian, Pocket PC, Windows CE, AppletViewer and Windows 98 (and beyond). Because of the way SuperWaba was written, you can use Java to develop for it. You can write and debug the programs in your favorite Java IDE. When finish testing, just upload it to your handheld device."
"Korean company GIGA Telecom has plans to release a T-DMB car navigation device with BWS and TPEG services available called The Tube. What do all these acronyms mean? Basically, BWS is “Broadcast Website Service” which allows you to view the web on the go, while TPEG stands for “Transport Protocol Expert Group” and is designed to push updates such as weather to the device. The new device you can carry around, or more ideally, hook up to your car and use it as a navigation system. The Tube is powered by a 400MHz S3C2440 processor, it has a 4.3” TFT LCD and is powered by Windows CE 4.2."
[SAMMY] Looks quite cool this and Gizmodo has more of the juicy details.
Clix is a new game, it looks OK, I think it follows the Bubblet theme. "Classic click game with some improvements. The object is simple: remove as many pieces from the board as you can. Classic click game with some improvements. The object is simple: remove as many pieces from the board as you can. Tap on two or more identical pieces to remove them. Collect bonus points to use special capacities (rotation, removing)."
Remember you get a weekly chance to win $250 over at Palmgear at the moment. Enter the promo code GIFTCARD for your chance to win.
Here is this week's special ereader offer and I will repeat tis on the front page on a regular basis. "Punch in this week's Promo Code RUNNER to receive a 10% discount off each book that you purchase. Offer good through November 29th, 2005 on all books priced more than $3.00. Cannot be used in conjunction with other special offers."
One of my favorite game developers is Jason Goldman who we ave mentioned on the site a number of times. Do ceck out his excellent range of games. My favorite is Dartz.
Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) and Telecom New Zealand today announced the availability of the Palm(R) Treo(TM) 650 smartphone on Telecom New Zealand's CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) network, offering users mobile email, internet and messaging capabilities.(1)
Kevin Kenrick, general manager, Telecom Mobile, said, "Telecom New Zealand is excited to offer its customers this truly converged device and mobile email at a compelling price. We're also pleased to be one of the first carriers outside the United States to be able to offer its customers the Treo 650 smartphone on a CDMA network.
"Many executives and business people travel extensively or spend a lot of their working day out on the road. The Treo 650 smartphone provides them with the convenience of a mobile office in a single handheld unit. Our network covers 97 percent of where New Zealanders live, work and play, so users can stay better connected and maximize their time with access to their phone, email, organizer and the web."
Paul Blinkhorn, vice president for Palm Asia Pacific, said, "The smartphone market holds a significant opportunity for future growth for Palm, whose technology is at the forefront of innovation in mobile computing.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with leading network providers such as Telecom New Zealand. Smartphone technology is changing the way people go about their working lives, making them more connected and productive than ever before."
The Treo 650 smartphone combines a full-featured mobile phone with a wide range of productivity applications, including email, organizer and web access.(1) Users also can view, edit and create Word and Excel compatible documents or access PowerPoint presentations on the go. In addition, Bluetooth(R) wireless technology allows the Treo 650 to connect wirelessly to other compatible Bluetooth devices, such as printers and headsets. Multimedia capabilities include a built-in MP3 player(2) and a digital camera that can capture still images and video that can be viewed on the vibrant colour screen.
Alltel (NYSE: AT), owner and operator of the nation's largest wireless network, and Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM), a leader in mobile computing, today announced the Palm(R) Treo(TM) 650 smartphone will be available through Alltel retail stores starting tomorrow. The handset will cost $399.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year service agreement.
"The Palm Treo 650 smartphone, with its unique form and functionality, offers Alltel customers an enhanced experience to manage their daily activities and stay connected to the office or home," said Wade McGill, vice president of wireless product management at Alltel.
"We are happy to deliver the Treo smartphone to a new set of customers on the Alltel network," said Tim Roper, vice president U.S. carrier sales at Palm, Inc. "In a world where everyone is mobile and everything is digital, people value mobile access to the information they care about most and the Treo smartphone delivers."
The Treo 650 combines a compact, full-featured mobile phone with a Palm OS(R) organizer, messaging, Web access, digital camera and direct corporate email access to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 enabled by a company's IT administrator.
Building on the award-winning Treo 600 design, the new Treo 650 smartphone makes it easier than ever for mobile professionals to stay connected. The Treo 650 offers integrated Bluetooth(R) technology, a higher-resolution screen, multimedia capabilities, a removable battery, non-volatile memory and an improved backlit keyboard.
With Axcess Mobile Link, Alltel customers can use the Treo 650 to connect to the Internet at speeds up to 144 Kbps. Axcess Mobile Link is available for $59.99 for unlimited nationwide service.
The Gadgeteer reviewed the TX a day or so ago and now, they review the Zire 22. "Palm's newest entry level PDA is the Z22. Coming in below the sweet spot of $100, this PDA gives you all of the basic PIM (Personal Information Management) features that we've come to expect in a personal digital assistant, while leaving the power user features for the more expensive models. Unlike Windows Mobile device manufacturers, Palm has always given consumers the choice of price over features. We've yet to see a $100 Pocket PC. Of course, the Z22 isn't for everyone. It's a device for those of you that would like to dip your toe in the pool of personal organization without having to spend the equivalent of a car or house payment to do it."
10% off Javoedge proucts in the holiday season, well up to December 5th, 2005. Use HOLIDAY1121 at checkout. I will be adding this to the special offer section in the right hand column a little later on today. [Javoedge]
The Treo Tool Kit from Palm looks mighty cool " This holiday season, give yourself a gift—the perfect present for that special someone plus a $50 savings for yourself.
The Treo 650 smartphone is the ultimate communications tool. With a phone, email, web, messaging, your calendar, and more, all in one, it helps you keep on top of your work and home lives. And now, you can do even more with our holiday-exclusive Treo TripKit. This luxurious leather travel roll-up houses all the essentials for when you're on the go—Bluetooth® headset, vehicle power charger, extra battery, pen stylus, and international travel charger. It even comes with an elegant leather case to keep your smartphone protected in style.
All the items in this limited edition set have been specially-selected and stylishly packaged, making this gift-giving decision easier than you've ever imagined. And with the additional $50 savings, you may even want to buy a second set for yourself.
To take advantage of this offer just:
* Purchase a Treo TripKit and Treo 650 smartphone in the same order by January 3, 2006 by clicking Buy Now below—your $50 discount will be automatically deducted in the shopping cart
* Enjoy your new Treo smartphone and Treo TripKit when they arrive
Already have a Treo smartphone? Purchase a Treo TripKit on its own for only $199 ($299 value)."
More details on the Treo Tool Kit
You may have come to discover that PIM (Personal Information Manager) data is unopenable to any application other than Palm Desktop, at least on the face of it. Other Palm users have voiced similar observations or complaints. Personal information (archives included) gets stored in a format that is hard to decipher and export facilities are insufficiently flexible. HTML conversions are a possibility for memos and addresses, but what if a few years down the line we wanted to 'make sense' of that schedule data of yours? What about data migration, thus mobility? Read more about this on Roy's website.
I have been given a T-Mobile sidekick to review and a i-mate KJAM Pocket PC to review for the site too both of them are keypad input type devices. if I like them I can keep them for free so I am quite happy with that.
Yep, one of the benefits of running Palm Addict I guess. Obviously I would never consider giving up my Tungsten C, it's my daily PDA and there is too much information on it plus it' a way of life but I am going to give these guys a full evaluation and see if they meet my usually high standards. More soon.
Rimez mentioned pdaConverter on the forum and it is freeware. "pdaConverter simplifies the creation of documents for PalmOS based handhelds and works only under MS Windows. The daily synchronisation of webpages/channels can be done, too."
Our Palm Addict Frappr map is really filling up nicely, if you have not added your own location then get over there and add your location, it really is fun to see where
