PalmAddicts

Weekend Soccer Tournament

We left at 5:00am for a soccer tournament 3.5 hours away.  Our first game was at 9:20. En route I realized that we would not need our 11th room in the hotel for the night.  I was able to fire up my email client on my Treo 700p and find the hotel manager's email address.  I sent a message cancelling one of the rooms.  Later I wanted to double check the schedule.  Once again I was able to use the Treo and opened a pdf of the schedule that had been sent to me a couple of days earlier.  There was a change in the schedule and I needed to alert a friend that was coming to watch. No problem - sent a text and got a reply right away. Keeping track of the expenses for the tournament was as easy as opening Docs to Go and creating an Excel sheet.  The weekend went very smooth - thanks to the Treo.  How did we do you ask? Well there is always next year.

TX - still better than an iPhone at streaming radio!

After the initial panic of the 'is the TX dead' that you get if you don't use it for about a month, Old Faithful sprang to life a couple of days ago to go into retirement as an internet radio.

The TX combined with Kinoma Media Player (which still hasn't been surpassed) makes an excellent internet radio that can be simply hooked up to any hifi with a standard line in to headphone jack

I can't help but think that there are TX's suffering in silence in the back of cupboards all over the place - give them a new lease of life!

iPhone SDK and the App Store

As a tech-head, geek or whatever the word of the day is, I can't help think that Apple are playing a dangerous game with the App Store.

I've had amazing fun with the iPhone - it is an incredible bit of kit by any standards. The media handling is pretty close to perfect and the introduction of the BBC iPlayer and NBC video player for streaming media has just added to its 'close to perfection' status.

However, it's fair to say that, to some, many even, it doesn't matter what the piece of kit is, how good it is - there will be something that they want it to do differently. And that's where the SDK should come in.

In little over a month, we should be able to download (directly please Apple!) apps to our iPhones to make them the utterly perfect gadget. It should be incredibly tweakable. So, for instance, if I want to switch the phone off but leave the wifi on, I should be able to do it. If I want to make a Skype call, there should be a button.

And maybe we will be able to. That is now in Apple's hands.

However, I have this feeling that the level of content control that Apple will exert will stop developers straying into areas that Apple deems inappropriate. I have no problem with Apple making sure that all apps are excellent but, over and above that, I would like to decide what I download, thanks.

Apple faces a balancing act. Too little control and the iPhone could become flaky and plagued by bugs. Too much and more and more people will take the jailbreak route.

I regularly talk to people about the iPhone and its development. The vast majority of them ask me the same question - why haven't I jailbroken my iPhone? If I'm being honest, I don't know. Intuitively, I want to but I also want to believe that Apple will do the right thing and give us choice and excellence - like they always have.

We'll find out soon enough but, until then, we can engage in our second most favourite hobby... Apple speculation!

Pope Benedict goes digital

There are many ways to send the message of salvation, either it's for those who haven't know of Jesus yet or for those who have already following Him. Time have changed many things, and that includes how the men in faith spread the words about Jesus to the whole world. At first, letter and mail are the basic way to do that.

But as technology of mankind has evolve, even the Pope himself is picking up mobile phone as a new way for him to reach younger audience.

It is during World Youth Day (WYD) celebration on July 15th this year, Pope Benedict plans to text daily messages of inspiration and hope during the six-day at Sydney event. Australian telecoms firm Telstra will provide voice, data, mobile, broadband and broadcast services for the event, as well as erect digital prayer walls at event sites. Telstra said they're planning to connect around 8,000 volunteers, 2,000 clergy, 3,000 media and an anticipated 225,000 pilgrims to more than 700 locations around Sydney.

"We wanted to make WYD08 a unique experience by using new ways to connect with today's tech-savvy youth," Bishop Anthony Fisher said in a statement on Wednesday. The Chatolic Church has estimated around 225,000 young Catholics expected to attend the WYD '08 Sydney event.

No more information on Reuters (via PCW Business Center) that was reporting the news, whether the Pope will keep on using text message for good or not. Maybe after the Pope has tried using 4 Palm smartphones, he'll get "addicted" to it too, just like us? ;-p

Okay, I think I ought go to church now for a sin confession for mocking the Pope like that, and especially for that picture above... ;-D

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

eReader discount for the weekend

Here is your eReader discount for the weekend so make the jump if you can enjoy! "Punch in this week's Promo Code ERM556 to receive a 15% discount off any eBook that you purchase at eReader.com. Offer good through May 12, 2008 on all eBooks. This discount cannot be used with any other special offers." eReader after the jump.

Apple's surprises for you in iPhone 2.0

They aren't actually surprises anymore, since you've been knowing them before the official release later on June. But nevertheles, it's time for another round of iPhone rumors and gossips. Here they are:

• "Push" preferences, according to iPhone Atlas there's a preference panel in the latest build of iPhone OS 2.0: 5a274d that allows users to control settings for applications with push capabilities. The primary intent of this function: allow users to conserve battery life by turning push capabilities off for applications like Mail, which supports push for Exchange and Yahoo! Mail servers. The new “Fetch New Data” preference in iPhone OS 2.0, 5a274d presumably controls push capabilities for both Exchange and Yahoo! Mail accounts, as well as future Apple or third-party applications that support push.
• Chinese & Japanese handwriting recognition, Gizmodo was reporting that a blog on the Wretch.cc network (kinda like a Chinese blogspot) has screens from the Chinese version of iPhone's 2.0 firmware, detailing the new handwriting recognition. For the Chinese version, you've got the choice of either handwriting or using Pinyin, which is like spelling out the word you want and choosing the correct character. Would Apple add all this Chinese and Japanese support if the iPhone wasn't coming to China and Japan officially? Good question, anyone got the answer??
• Free AT&T's WiFi Hotspots ~kinda, some iPhone users have been reporting that they had sucessfully using free AT&T's WiFi Hotspots in several Starbucks cafes. But soon they also saying that the free service has dissappeared, gone. But iPhone Atlas once again has spotted what could be AT&T's plan to officially offer that same WiFi hotspots.
• Revamped build & name into "iStick", Steve Jobs finally gave up the same look & name to be used for iPhone 2.0; so he took Alexei Mikhailov's design instead. His punch-line when he's going to introduce it at WWDC: "Stick it into your pocket, stick it into everywhere you want to; it'll fit just like its name: iStick! Surprise!! Surprise!!! I'll give one right away for anyone that can guess where I stick it right now at? Anyone?" ~Hint: I haven't plan to stop teasing & tricking you guys~ ;-p

Hey, tomorrow is Monday. I thought you guys will need a good laugh for another long week ahead... Sorry, my bad then.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Recap on HTC Touch Diamond

I'm sure you didn't miss the launch of HTC's "most important device this year", either you're deliberately avoided the news or not; the Touch Diamond has taken the mobile world by storm. Judging from the look of the device, may or may not cause a serious compulsion for tech geeks to purchase it. But the HTC's pride on this one is at what inside it, which they hoped will be able to arouse your desire to hold it.

Mmm... I didn't mean to refering you as tech geeks, sorry ;-p  Maybe a fashionita tech enthusiasts will do? By the way, here are the real "diamonds" inside it:

• Three bands GSM, up to 7.2Mbps data transfer (HSDPA)
• Qualcomm MSM7201A, 528MHz processor
• 192MB DDR SDRAM additional memory
• 4GB internal storage memory
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro
• 2.8-inch VGA display, with orientation sensor / accelerometer
• 3.2M pixels camera, with auto focus
• GPS
• WiFi 11b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR
• FM radio with RDS
• mini-USB port
• 900mAh battery
• 11.5mm thin body

But there are some let-downs that strangely enough aren't available for such 'important' mobile phone: extended memory card slot, and low features such as the small juice of the battery and 3-band of GSM network only. The latest rumor is the Touch Diamond has went through the FCC, so it looks like HTC is on schedule to release it around June to pitch it face-to-face with iPhone 2.0!

Well, even though you're probably didn't plan to buy this one special 'diamond'. Perhaps the video demo below will change your mind, because it sure does tempt my faith on Palm. ;-D

Sources are from GSMArena, PhoneArena & Engadget Mobile.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

THIS WEEKEND ONLY I AM GOING TO OFFER THE ASUS Eee PC 701 IN A RANDOM THROWAWAY

Now remember my PalmAddict friends that my ASUS Eee PC 701 throwaway ends at midnight US PT tonight and it's only open for the weekend which means my PA friends you have to be fast to get in on this. The deets are here, send me your thoughts and enjoy.

Don't sell your iPhone before you read this

No, no, no... I'm not trying to 'lure' you again ;-p. I guess this is what I get, if I keep on tricking on you guys..., but seriously, this one is real & serious!

I know plenty of you are anxiously waiting for the new iPhone 2.0, and probably you’re thinking to sell your current iPhone before it becomes obsolete after June. Usually before selling our mobile phones, we used to erase all of the data inside. And for some iPhone owners, they often make use the ‘Restore’ option in iTunes to cut short the deleting process. What most of them don’t know is, that the aforementioned ‘Restore’ operation does not delete any personal data such as emails, contacts, etc. from the iPhone!

Here’s the exact report that came from Jonathan “NerveGas” Zdziarski, iPhone hacker and author of the “iPhone Open Application Development” and an iPhone Forensics Manual for Law Enforcement: “This means that when you do a restore through iTunes, it is only the equivalent of performing a ‘Quick Format’ on your iPhone. All of the personal information that was sitting on the device prior to the restore is still accessible in the unallocated blocks of the iPhone’s NAND memory.”

According to iPhone Atlas who found this, the best method to wipe clean the personal data and informations from your iPhone; is by manually delete one by one all of them. How’s that sounds, do you still wish to sell your iPhone 1.0 prior buying the 2.0? Oh, I’m sure such trivial road block won’t stop you; right? ;-)

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Live and breathe in the world of cloud computing

It’s a tricky question alright; what is “cloud computing”? Or perhaps some of you my dear readers, have already grasp the knowledge of what cloud computing is. But for most others, doesn’t care whether you’re a soccer mom, technology enthusiast, or even a web software developer; the meaning of cloud computing can vary like the very shape of cloud itself. So here I am, trying to draw the vague clouds to you what cloud computing is to me.

Don’t worry, I’m not gonna go down to the winding and long road of explanation. But instead I’m gonna point out to you the ‘clouds in the sky’, that I think will help to start shaping up your image on what is cloud computing to you? First, if you’re planning to ‘google’ it up right away; you might want to reconsider using the Wikipedia as reference. Since it’ll probably confuse and twist your mind, even before you finish reading it; the warning signs at the top of the web page are your cue for that. ;-)

Let’s start, the easiest one is to quote on what Maggie Fox (Founder & CEO of Social Media Group) has said during a Q&A with Dan Farber (Outside the Line): “If you still need software, that’s not cloud computing. If you need hardware, that’s not cloud computing either.” By that, I partially agree with her. Because using Web 2.0 services offered in the net, we’ve eliminated many usages of software that are installed in our computers. But the web browsers we use are software, and the computers we use are hardware; so software & hardware are essentially part of cloud computing itself.

The use of installed software is shrinking rapidly, especially since the number of web services that are offering on-line business tools (such as: spreadsheets, docs, photo editor, data storage, etc.) are growing & improving each day. Just like what Steve Ballmer (Microsoft’s CEO) has passionately explained in Mix Essential event, “victory!” he screamed as he raised his arms on believing that Microsoft’s Office will not fade away because of cloud computing. ;-p ~he really beginning to look like that PC character in Get a Mac ads~

It’s not just serious mean-looking business tools that are available in the clouds, but the social networking is also the start and now main part of the cloud computing. In fact, people are accessing more to their Facebook account than to Google’s Docs. Google saw this new social net habit, and with great ambitions they aim to create a new term of ‘social cloud’ with their OpenSocial program.

If the software is shrinking, then so does the hardware. The use of nowadays extreme computer’s parts like quad-core processor or terabyte-sized hard drive, is no longer necessary. They, who have realized the less need for using such powerful computers / laptops, are looking for more subtle devices that meet their actual needs. Thus, creating a new wave of trend in mobile computing devices. For a good example are Asus Eee PC & HP Mini-Note, which both are tagged with appealing price that represent the hardware they bear inside them.

Or take a look of what Apple has jammed into its MacBook Air (MBA), the minimalist design outside matches the controversy sparked by the minimalist hardware inside. Some have argued on these ‘minimum’ performances that the MBA can deliver, but the real usage of MBA can be put to maximum for cloud computing: max portability. A very good point has been mentioned about this by John Butler from Minneapolis-USA, that his email has been posted by Sammy here at PA.

For me, to define what is cloud computing; we need to look back at the roots that have branched a long way to up there. Cloud computing is Web 2.0, and Web 2.0 is the web a.k.a. the net itself; so cloud computing for me is the internet!

There’s no need for mambo-jambo definitions of cloud computing, all I know is I’m just like what Matt Mullenweg (Cofounder of Wordpress & Automatic) has described as: “a care-less bear up in the cloud”; who doesn’t burdened by the hassle of technical knowledge of web services that I use in the net.

Maybe you’ll choose to define cloud computing in more modest and closer to reality, like what Brian Solis (Future Work, PR 2.0, bub.blicio.us) has said: “Me, on an airplane with a notebook, 32,000 feet; working in the cloud.” Even one of web evangelist editor, Rafe Needleman (Webware Editor) said so: “Yeah, that’s cloud computing!” ~I can’t believe he agreed, he must’ve been tricked…~ ;-D

But I can say this for all of us, that we’ve been living and using Web 2.0 services in every day of our lives. So we’ve become a part of cloud computing, even without realizing its meaning or why it’s called like that. We’ve become that ‘younger generations’, that Kevin Marks (Developer Advocate, Google) has said on how future younger generations will never see the cloud but it’ll look like “air” for them.

Speaking of “air”, don’t forget to enter the MackBook Air giveaway that Sammy is offering here at PA. He’s also throwing away an Asus Eee PC 701, and all you’ve got to do is follow the guidelines here. It's as easy as breathing air!!

For further reference, watch Dan Farber’s “Defining cloud computing” video below. And see if your first answer about cloud computing is the same as Dave McClure (PayPal) was thinking: “It’s a city in the sky?”, don’t laugh cuz the joke might be on you. Also read on Aaron Ricadela’s article (BusinessWeek) to know how IBM, Yahoo and Google are implementing cloud computing in their own ways. Happy cloud computing then!

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

One Number to Rule Them All

Again I do not remember where I exactly read the article, but it was definitely on an Indonesian news website. Anyway, the article talked about one cellphone number that is accepted for all cellular telecommunication operator companies. Here in Indonesia lately there has been a "tariff war" among the telecom companies. Whenever a telecom company offers cheaper tariff or gives more bonuses, it usually attracts a lot of people to switch their cellular services. The problem is that they will have to use a new cellphone number and cannot use their old one. Other people are reluctant to do so because of this reason, hence they often decide not to switch despite better offers out there or despite bad service they currently have. Well, the article talked about the concept of maintaining one cellphone number that does not dependent on which telecom company is providing the service. I think if this concept is accepted, it will be very nice. People will then have not to worry about informing their colleagues and families whenever they switch their cellular services because they will still use their current cellphone numbers. A good concept. I hope it will be a reality in the future.

Podcast mania

Watch out podcasters! Here come the web-based services, that can replace your line of work! Introducing Odiogo, a free web service that is capable to translate all of your registered weblogs from text into speech. To use this text-to-speech service, all you’ve got to do is sign-up for an account at Odiogo web page; and you’ll be guided with its wizard to set up its service at your weblog.

I’ve tried it with myself, and I have to say that I’m very impressed by how fast Odiogo to turn all of my blogs into podcasts. Just about 3-7 minutes, I can already listen to my very own podcast. But I suppose you’ll get longer time, depending on how many blogs you have. Odiogo will place an integrated player at each of your blogs, where you can listen directly from the web browser. There’ll be an option of putting an Odiogo icon at your weblog, so your readers will be able to subscribe to your podcasts. If you have weblogs at Blogger, Wordpress, TypePad, BlogEngine, Terapad, etc.; Odiogo has provided full support and easy integration.

It’s a very good option for bloggers, since you can reach not only readers but also those who love to tune in to podcasts. Odiogo’s free service is not without merit of its own, but one particular annoying when I listen to Odiogo with the integrated player is that there’s no volume controller. So you’ll need to turn down the OS volume, if you don’t want to hear it too loud. Besides that, the integrated player offers you shortcuts to download the podcast as MP3 file, subscribe it to iTunes or Juice, etc.

But for you who don’t own a weblog or just wish to listen to podcasts from your favorite RSS feeds, then you may use Dixero to do so. Dixero will also convert any RSS feeds text into podcasts, you can put Dixero’s RSS feed like you do it with another RSS feeds in your mobile phone’s aggregator app. Too bad Dixero doesn’t provide a support to embed it to another sites, otherwise it would be cool to have it at your own weblog or Facebook account. Unlike Odiogo, with Dixero you can choose three different types of voices available.

Both of the web service above: Odiogo & Dixero, have almost the same digital voice quality; the speech produced is computerized. So for you who prefer voice with “human-touch”, you might find it more boring compared to the real podcast. Although there are still some mistakes in the pronunciations, overall I’m quite impressed on how the digital speech able to deliver an understandable podcast even one that I thought hard to be translated.

Now there’s no holding back for you dear Palm Addict readers, to keep up with so many blogs that are posted at PA. You can take them in your mobile phones, and tune in while on the go.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

CodeDoc® 1.72

CodeDoc® 1.72This seems a very handy program for advise on health etc."The real advantage to CodeDoc is its unique ability to: 1) help a rescue worker collect pertinent data quickly, 2) summarize and filter data when needed on the scene and 3) reduce transfer time of that data to another person for ongoing care of the patient. CodeDoc is a Palm OS handheld personal digital assistant (PDA) software solution that:Reduces documentation time . Eliminates handwritten notes. Automatically time-stamps all orders and .assessments on a patient . Couples patient care assessment time to medication administration Provides a documented list of patient medications with real-time total dose ready for printout any time .Promotes critical documentation items on each screen to help assure key data is documented for decision support."

The Complete Golf Guide 1.0

The Complete Golf Guide 1.0This seems a great fun program."Now, you can learn all the elements of golf, consult the rules while playing, and locate a course to play on anywhere in the world in The Complete Golf Guide. You can resolve all questions about the rules right on the course; you will never have to guess about a rule again. While it may not be strictly speaking "the sport of Kings" golf is certainly the unofficial sport of the business world, and many universities now offer courses in "business golf". The Complete Golf Guide provides all the information you need to get started playing the game, including club selection. Its course directory provides the name, address, length, par, rating and slope of over 20,000 golf courses worldwide, making it easy to locate a course while traveling. So, if you ever find yourself in Samoa with time on your hands, don't worry; a quick peek at the guide reveals there are two golf courses on which to play: the Faleata and the Royal Samoan CC."

EXUCS 1.08

exUCS 1.08This seems a great program for writing and up todate."OFFERED with the U_Scrypt product (free with the identical registration key) or separately, here, (charge with a separate registration key) is the exUCS.prc writing/recognition export utility which can replace Graffiti and insert the new writing system UNIVERSAL COMPUTER SCRIPT into non-U_Scrypt text applications and forms. (Designed for handhelds with a static or dynamic Graffiti area.) THE exUCS application is stand alone but has no permanent user interface. Downloading the trial companion program, U_Scrypt for full instructions and symbol graphics is required."