Pocket PC Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"There are files from all kinds of sources that we want to store and manage. Files are created by our digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops. Increasingly, computer users are using different folders, drives, and even different computers (such as a laptop and a desktop) to store, manage, retrieve and view files. Yet managing hundreds or thousands of files is still largely a manual operation. In some cases it is necessary to regularly get copies of files from another location to add to primary location; in other cases there is a need to keep two storage locations exactly in sync. Some users manage files manually, dragging and dropping from one place to another and keeping track of whether the locations are synchronized in their heads. Other users may use two or more applications to provide this functionality. Now there is an easier way. SyncToy, a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows, is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories. Most common operations can be performed with just a few clicks of the mouse, and additional customization is available without additional complexity. SyncToy can manage multiple sets of folders at the same time; it can combine files from two folders in one case, and mimic renames and deletes in another case. Unlike other applications, SyncToy actually keeps track of renames to files and will make sure those changes get carried over to the synchronized folder."

I installed this yesterday and I really like it. It has finally let me set up backups the way they should be done and should be much speedier. I've actually set it up to do three separate synchs of my user data (which totals 82 GB). The first synch goes to a second hard drive installed in my PC. I set a Windows task to automatically perform this synch ever time I boot up. A second synch occurs weekly to network storage. Finally I set up an on-demand synch with a USB drive to let me quickly update my off-site backups. Now that they are all set up, synching the changes will be MUCH quicker than the full backups I was previously doing. Plus, having a fully automated synch will protect me from my own laziness!

"Apple has come under scrutiny on its iPhone 3G for false advertising, and now the Advertising Standards Authority, a UK ad group, has come forth to declare a specific television ad for the touch-based smartphone to be misleading to consumers."

Above is the ad in question, and while I'm not normally a fan of the Eurocratic system of slapping fines on every company they can find, it's pretty easy to see their point here: Apple makes some very bold claims about having the best browsing experience on a mobile device, but that browsing experience comes to a screeching halt as soon as you hit any Web site that uses Flash - and many of them do. These commercials fail to mention that. They also fail to highlight that nothing happens that quickly on a 3G network, but that might be splitting hairs. Java is also mentioned, but I can count the number of times I see the Sun JVM fire up on my PC on one hand - and it's almost always when I'm uploading photos on Smugmug. Is Java on a phone really needed for Web browsing? I don't think it is. Read more...

"Adobe® Photoshop.com Mobile is the easiest way to upload, view, and share your photos online from your phone. All you need is a supported Windows Mobile phone and your Photoshop.com account ID. Photoshop.com Mobile beta will be available as a free download in September."

Adobe claims that Photoshop.com Mobile will only support the MOTO Q, Blackjack, and Treo 700/750 series, although we're willing to bet most other Windows Mobile devices will handle it just fine as long as Flash is installed. At any rate, we'll let you know the moment it's available.

"Imagine if web sites could provide you with customized information based on your current location, even if you don't have GPS. Today we're launching the Gears Geolocation API for mobile and desktop browsers, while two third-party developers are launching the first location-enabled web apps using this API on Windows Mobile. One of the most popular travel sites in the Europe, lastminute.com, has now location-enabled their new mobile restaurant finder to help you find restaurants near you without requiring you to type in where you are. If you're in the UK, just go to fonefood at m.lastminute.com, click the "Find your location" link on the home page, select the type of restaurant you want, and lastminute.com will automatically work out which neighbourhood and city you are in and find matching restaurants."

Google Gears continues to evolve, and now with the ability to integrate location based information to Gears based apps, a step closer to taking all the information your handheld can handle and merging it together for useful purposes has been taken. I wonder if the next multimillionaire will be someone who monitors police band radio, enters up-to-the-minute speed trap information into a database, and beams it to my handheld as I drive! Of course they'd remember where they got the idea when they're sitting at the top ;)

"I have sad news. After 11 years, we will be publishing a final 2008 issue of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine and then suspend publication! We are working hard to make it the best Windows Mobile issue ever, a keeper, a reference guide... It is with great regret I make this announcement. We are a very small, self-funded magazine publishing company. We did not make this decision lightly, especially after 11 years of issues. It has become harder and harder to grow our circulation over the past three years since Windows Mobile changed from being PDAs to being phones. Pocket PC manufacturers like HP used to work with us to offer their customers a free issue of our magazine in their packaging. The phone companies have not shown similar interest in working with us. The other business challenge has been the lack of advertising sponsorship from Microsoft, phone companies, and OEMs, despite our coverage of their products. In order for us to sell subscriptions at current low consumer magazine-type prices, we must have a stronger and growing circulation, and we much attract the large advertisers who benefit the most from our existence. Of course, the irony is that almost 20 million Windows Mobile units were sold this past Microsoft fiscal year. We think there is a great opportunity to continue the magazine in this high growth smartphone market for a more sophisticated publishing company or a funded entrepreneur."

After eleven amazing years, the folks at Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine are suspending publication due to a lack of interest and sponsorship from a number of parties. For many years, I've had the pleasure of working with Hal Goldstein and his committed team in the Best Software Awards, and have appreciated their enormous level of dedication and enthusiasm shown toward the Windows Mobile platform and community. It's sad news, and on behalf of the team at Thoughts Media, I wish Hal and his team the very best in their endeavours. Of course, the door is still open; if you'd love to see Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine continue on and have sponsorship ideas, you might want to contact Hal.

"Kinoma Play ($29.99) is the new media player we've been hinting at in our series of media player reviews this past week. It's essentially a super-charged media player that aims to make media you find on the internet as easy to find, play, and interact with as the media stored locally on your memory card. Those of you familiar with Kinoma Player EX on the Palm OS are going to be pleased to hear that all the functionality of the PalmOS's player is here and then some."

I've seen a lot of software come and go on the Windows Mobile platform, but watching this video and reading about Kinoma leaves me with the impression that this is one of the most impressive media players I've ever seen. The functionality, and the blending of local and online content, is extremely impressive. From an audio playback standpoint, it's a shame so many device makers use miniUSB or 2.5mm headphone jacks - I hate having to use adaptors. Check out Kinoma's Web site for a trial download.

One thing that Kinoma doesn't seem to have a good grasp on though is getting the software onto the devices. Kinoma Play isn't available in any of our software stores at MobiHand or Handango, and when I downloaded the software directly from their Web site it was only a CAB file - normally I wouldn't mind a CAB file, but when I tried to install it I received an error on my Blackjack II: "Installation was unsuccessful. The program or setting cannot be installed because it does not have sufficient system permissions." I've installed two other programs via CAB files today, so I'm not sure why Kinoma Play won't install. Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did!

For the next 11 hours or so, ListPro by Ilium Software is 51% off. Most of you know what ListPro is, but may not have taken the leap yet to buy it. For those of you that don't, think of it as sitting somewhere between your Outlook Tasks and a rich flat-file database. A ListPro list can be nothing more than a simple checklist of items or can be as elaborate as having dates, columns that automatically perform calculations based on data in other columns and even trigger alarms if desired.



If you've tried it but never taken the plunge, now is the time at only $9.95. If you have never tried it, you can download a trial version at Ilium Software's site, but don't spend too much time playing with it. At midnight EST (I think), it reverts back to its normal price

ListPro runs on Windows XP, Vista, Windows Mobile Pro/Classic (Pocket PC), and Windows Mobile Standard (Smartphone) and will sync list files via ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center between your PC and mobile device, assuming you have purchased the correct clients.

"SpaceTime 3.0 by SpaceTime Mathematics is a revolution in mathematics software with 2D, 3D, and time graphing with MobileCAS® for algebra and calculus. With features only available in Mathematica and MATLAB, SpaceTime is the most powerful cross-platform mathematics software ever developed for computers and mobile devices."

We're back with more copies of SpaceTime 3.0 to give away! Just like the contest that was held in May, we have one all-platforms license and two platform-specific licenses up for grabs. And, as always, the rules are simple. We've adopted a back-to-school theme for this contest, so to be in the running, simply make a post in this thread telling us how you'd use SpaceTime in an educational setting (or a commercial setting, if you're not a student or academic), and also the answer to "cos (0 degrees)", because we know you love number crunching. ;)

You have until 11:59am (GMT) on Monday, September 1, 2008 to get your entries in. Winners will be announced the following week. Good luck!

"Conduits Technologies, Inc. announced today the release of Pocket Player 3.7 for Windows Mobile. Pocket Player aims to satisfy consumers who demand more from a dynamic media player on a mobile device. Pocket Player 3.7 includes new library features, improved Bluetooth compatibility and Universal Plug-and-Play support, as well as many other performance enhancements and bug fixes. Pocket Player 3.7 is fully compatible with all Windows Mobile 6.1, Windows Mobile 6, Windows Mobile 5.0, Pocket PC 2003, and Smartphone 2003 devices."

Pocket Player 3.7 introduces some significant changes including library enhancements, support for embedded lyrics, extended Bluetooth support, and a new UPnP plug-in. Conduits has a great upgrade policy: if you purchased Pocket Player 2.x or 3.x from September 2005, then 3.7 is free; otherwise, it's $9.95 if you purchased it before September 2005, or $19.95 if you're a new customer (affiliate software store for the Windows Mobile Standard version, affiliate software store for the Windows Mobile Classic/Professional version).

"The concept of VsNotepad 2 is to note, change pages and view your notes like a true notepad. VsNotepad 2 allows you to organize your notes with a modern, simple, complete interface. In this new version, you are now able to create books. Each book can be personalized with icons, name and the paper color. This is the best way to organize your notes. VsNotepad 2 includes various indispensable functions. Select the sizes, colors, geometrical shapes (line, circle and rectangle) and much more ! You can also write a text with a virtual keyboard."

Virtual Spaghetti Software has officially released VsNotepad 2 with support for WM 5 and 6. The concept is an interesting one of organizing your thoughts into "books". You can find a full list of new features here. If after watching the above demo, you want to take it for a spin, download a demo from our affiliate store and until the end of August, you can get $10 off the full purchase price of $39.95.