Windows Mobile Louisville

“PdaNet is a very handy application for Windows Mobile phones. It allows your laptop (or desktop) to go online wirelessly by connecting it to your Windows Mobile phone through the Sync cable, Bluetooth or even WiFi. PdaNet goes through the unlimited data plan on your phone and does not require any extra service. Supports almost all Windows Mobile phones including but not limited to the Treo series, Motorola Q series, Samsung i730/5800/Ace/Blackjack II or any HTC brand (6700/6800/Mogul/Touch/8525/Tilt). “ 

If you are running an earlier version of PdaNet, you should consider upgrading to their latest version - 2.0.  There is a $19 upgrade charge if you upgrade to 2.0 from any previous versions, but it’s well worth it (if you purchased PdaNet 1.8 after 4/1/2008 you can use the existing license code on version 2.0).

Version 2.0 has some significant improvement for WM 6.0 phones. In particular, it adds the Proxy Mode feature that allows the phone’s radio/modem to be shared by the phone and the computer at the same time. This improves the stability of the PdaNet connection and also allow the phone to be used for voice calls without having to drop the PdaNet connection. Version 2.0 starts to support some phones that can not run version 1.8 before, such as AT&T Tilt, Blackjack II and some other newer Windows Mobile phones.

If your phone runs Windows Mobile 5.0 and you have already purchased the old version, you can stay with 1.80 without paying for upgrade.

The cost for first-time buyers is $34, and $19 to upgrade (if you purchased PdaNet prior to 4/1/08). Go here to get it.  There is a trial version.

If you are in town and available, stop on by Peak 10 Data Center for our monthly meeting!  We’ve got quite a bit in store for tonight:

Our agenda for July 22nd includes:

• Resco File Explorer 2008 - we’ll do a demo of all the cool & handy things you can do with Resco’s File Explorer, including the FTP and Registry Editor functions.  The latest version brings a finger-friendly interface, which is very cool.
• TekSoft’s FingerTouch Pro keyboard - one of the several on-screen keyboard options available out there.  We’ll demo this version and compare it to other options to see how they stack up!  We’ll have two copies of this to give away!
• We’ll also have a demo of some pretty cool “non-mobile device software” - WM Recorder and WM Capture by Applian.  While these applications are desktop apps, they are still something that can be used in conjuction with  a mobile device.  We’ll show you how at the meeting!
• And of course, there’s always open discussion and Q&A - a great opportunity to learn and share! 

The meetings are open to the public, are FREE and suitable for any skill level!  Whether you are an absolute novice or an experienced device user, there will be something worthwhile at these meetings!

Go to the Meetings page for details & directions. See you there!

FRESH UPDATE 7-21-08: Both the Sprint Touch and Mogul ROMs are now posted for real!

For those of you who might have been too cautious to download and install the “unofficial” ROM updates for the Sprint Touch or Mogul we mentioned a few weeks ago, HTC now has the official ROMs on their site. 

Key enhancements for the Touch:

1. Upgrades the operating system from Windows Mobile® 6.0 Professional  to Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
2. EV-DO Rev. A functionality for faster download and upload speeds when utilizing data services wherever EV-DO Rev. A coverage is available.
3. Advanced GPS functionality including the Sprint Navigation application.
4. Adds the Opera browser.
5. Adds a full Qwerty on-screen key Qwerty keyboard

Download the Sprint Touch ROM here.

Key enhancements for the Mogul:

1. Upgrades the operating system from Windows Mobile® 6.0 Professional  to Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
2. Adds Sprint TV
3. Includes all enhancements incorporated in previous software upgrades including: 
   • EV-DO Rev. A functionality for faster download and upload speeds when utilizing data services wherever EV-DO Rev. A coverage is available
   • Advanced GPS functionality including the Sprint Navigation application
   • Adds a Task Manager to the Today screen for easier access and management of running programs 

Download the Sprint Mogul ROM here.

Interesting, the Touch gets the Opera browser but the Mogul does not…  curious as to why they did that. 

The Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade is now available for the Samsung i760.  WM 6.1 include enhancements such as an improved version of Internet Explorer, threaded SMS messages, and support for YouTube videos.

Hmmm - I guess Samsung added that nifty YouTube feature - it wasn’t included in the Sprint Mogul/Touch ROM upgrades..!

The ROM update is available here.
 

Applian Technologies and All Alex Inc announce the release of WM Capture, a unique, high-performance video recorder program for Windows that records any video playing on a PC with near-perfect quality.  WM Capture creates unprotected video files from any region of the screen in real time, as the video is playing. Using a high-speed, high-quality MPEG-2 codec, WM Capture can record and compress video fast, resulting in a superior picture quality. Audio playing from the PC’s speakers is incorporated into the video as well. Windows Media format video files can also be created by the software.
 
In addition to offering superior quality, WM Capture has a convenient “get window” feature that automatically marks a recording region just by moving a mouse over it.  Most web page embedded video players can be located in this way. Recording regions can also be set manually to crop or extend the recording area.
 
Alex Urich, the developer, also develops medical imaging software.  Mr. Urich explains, “WM Capture is the first program of its kind to offer all this recording capability for less than $100.  WM Capture brings to the consumer a type of technology that was only available for professional applications. Now everyone can capture any moving image on screen and watch it with perfect clarity.”
 
Screen capture for personal use – which is 100% legal – has to-date been limited by CPU speed and inferior capturing technology. Using WM Capture, the company claims the difference between a screen captured video and the original is negligible.
 
WM Capture is just $39.95, and will work on all modern Windows PCs.  To learn more, visit here.

Applian Technologies and All Alex Inc announces the release of WM Recorder 12.1, the first streaming video recorder that can make exact digital copies of internet video and audio in all the popular formats, including Flash™, Windows Media™, Real Media™, MPEG™ and Quicktime™ streams.  WM Recorder 12.1 records all these streams automatically as they are played, and the included WM Converter lets customers convert videos to AVI, iPod/iPhone, WMV and other popular formats.
 
According to the program’s developer, Alex Urich, WM Recorder 12.1 is the easiest, most powerful way to record streaming video.   “We are really excited about WM Recorder 12.1.  Not only does WM Recorder support all the popular formats and protocols, it can do it extremely fast. Plus, it also converts.” 
 
In addition to recording capability, WM Recorder 12.1 comes with WM Converter built-in. Customers can convert to and from all the popular formats including Flash, WMV, MP3, MP4 and more.   WM Converter comes as a free 15 day trial with the purchase of WM Recorder; the full version of WM Converter is available with the purchase of the WM Recorder Bonus Bundle.
 
WM Recorder will work on all Windows PCs.  To learn more visit here.  

Ilium Software has released eWallet 6.1, the latest version of eWallet for Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Windows PCs, UMPCs and U3 Smart Drives. The new features include:

• Personalize your card fields to work best for you: assign a type to any field in a card. Set multiple hidden fields, phone numbers, live email or web links, choose which fields to use with AutoPass - any type of data you want!
• Get quick access to your most-used cards: create card shortcuts and build a Favorites folder for the info you want to open fast.
• Design the background you want for every card: choose a gradient or solid color, add one of our free background images or create your own!
• Search smarter: the Find feature now gives you a list of all possible cards that match what you’re looking for.
• Save time and make custom templates fast: creating and editing your card templates is now easier than ever.
• Work faster on a non-touchscreen device: Windows Mobile Standard (Smartphone) users can now enjoy easier card editing on their devices.

Free Upgrades

If you already own eWallet 6.0, your upgrade to version 6.1 is free on the same platform(s) for which you made your original purchase. You can download a trial of eWallet 6.1, install it right over eWallet 6.0, and the new version will automatically be unlocked. You will not lose any data.

Highly customizable Shell to improve standard WM interface

Yesterday, VITO Technology released Winterface - a major breakthrough in the world of Windows Mobile interface. Winterface is the Next Generation Shell for Windows Mobile comprising the options of a launcher, a task manager, and a multitude of Today plug-ins. Winterface gives the user unprecedented freedom to easily lay out interface exactly the way they like it.

As a shell, Winterface removes the necessity to turn to the default Windows Mobile interface: Today screen and Start menu. Winterface opens instantly whenever users draw a simple gesture on the screen.  It allows users to have as many screens as they need and put on them icons for applications, settings and contacts. The screens are flipped through with sliding finger gestures. The icons for such applications as phone, sms, email, battery, clock, calendar, memory, etc. - all show relevant information and thus replace a number of Today plug-ins.

As a launcher, Winterface features one tap launch of any installed applications and settings. A tap on a contact icon opens a menu with contact details from where you can call, send text message, email, browse URL, etc.

As a task manager, Winterface lets you easily switch between running applications. A fixed icon on the first screen lets users see running programs, switch between them or close them.

It is very convenient to organize icons on screens by a certain topic. Users can set up a screen with favorite contacts, a screen with most used applications, a screen with icons-indicators (battery, memory, calendar, clock, etc.), and so on, as far as their fantasy goes! Icons are easily moved on the screen and between screens by drag’n’drop gestures.

Winterface is available for $19.95 at www.iWindowsMobile.com/vito-mobile-shell.html. There is also a free 14-day fully functional trial available as a cab or exe installer.

Macrospecs, Inc. has launched FriendMobilizer, a mobile phone application that gives users full access to their Facebook account. Viewing friends’ info, writing on walls, looking at photo albums, and changing his/her status is a small example of the wide list of the features available to users at their fingertips. Not only does FriendMobilizer run on the majority of Smartphones and Pocket PCs, but the program is completely free and can be downloaded from http://www.FaceOfMobile.com.

Currently FriendMobilizer works on the Windows Mobile operating system, however the generic software platform that was developed for FriendMobilizer will allow porting this application to other operating systems easily. The company is currently working on expanding FriendMobilizer to other social networks, as well.

The BETA of Viigo’s Project Tango for Windows Mobile devices kicked off on July 7th.

Initial support is in for News & RSS, Audio & Podcasts, Weather, Sports, Entertainment, Stocks and Finance with support coming soon for Flight Scheduling  & Status, Local Interest (Hotel & Restaurant reviews, Local Events etc.) and more. Starting today, in partnership with Microsoft, there will be special content in the build, covering breaking news and conference details from the Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston.

To see a quick preview of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference edition of Viigo’s exciting new platform, or to get a copy of the BETA, you can go here from your computer, or you can visit here from your mobile browser.