What's what? You want to completely immerse yourself in the Touch HD2, learning everything you can about it? Paul over at MoDaCo went off the deep end - in a good, geeky way - and shot a whopping 43 minute video about the Touch HD2. Pop some popcorn, grab a drink, and settle in for a massive deep dive into the Touch HD2.

"We have waited long for this device, but finally it's here. There were a lot of rumors about the HD2, also known as HTC Leo. Some people believed it would be a (killer) Android device and others told us that it would be the first HTC device with the 1 Gigahertz Snapdragon processor and a capacitive screen. The last party was right. The HTC HD2 has been released to the public with a Snapdragon processor, a large 4,3″ capacitive touchscreen, lots of ROM and RAM and all this in a 11 mm tick housing. Currently there is no other phone with these impressive specifications and comparing it to an iPhone 3GS only reveals that HTC has done a very good job and beats the iPhone in every single way!"

This article is a great walk-through of the HTC HD2. I learned several new things about the HD2 after reading it - the most interesting of which is that HTC has created a Wi-Fi Router application. It takes your 3G connection and shares it out via Wi-Fi, which is quicker than setting up the built-in Internet Sharing application. I'm curious how badly it beats up the battery life though - when I'm using Internet Sharing over Bluetooth, I can practically watch the battery on my Samsung Blackjack II drain. The HD2 is a very exciting device - and if it really does arrive in North America by early 2010, it just might become my next device.

While the grapevine has supplied this tidbit for quite some time now, it's nice to see official confirmation. If you've been living on a desert island for the last couple of months, the HD2 is HTC's latest uber-phone sporting a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 4.3" capacitive display, WM6.5, an ultra-slim profile, HTC's latest UI overlay (HTC Sense), and just about everything else under the sun. The big deal about this confirmation is that the models currently shipping in Europe and Asia don't support US 3G bands, which meant the US market would have been left out otherwise. No clues yet on which carrier will take this up, but the HD2 should be available by Spring 2010.

BeetzStream has released a touch version of their SmartRss reader. They have a video at their site to walk you through how the app works.

It does require a touch screen, so WinMo standard device are out for this version. It works with WinMo 6.0, 6.1 and 6.5. It will even work with 5.0 if the .NET CF 3.5 framework is installed. I believe it is still in beta. There is a download link at the site, but you cannot purchase it and there is no price indicated. Their previous version was $14.99, so expect to pay in that range once it is officially released.

"Sure, you've seen this guy in action in earlier videos... but it's still nice to get a look at this monster up close. We're still blown away by the fact that this is a Windows Mobile 6.5 device -- the skinning job that HTC has done here is nothing short of a miracle."

HTC's Sense-equipped HD2 is one gorgeous Windows Mobile 6.5 device, and Engadget has the eye candy to back it up. Scoot over there and check it out. Anyone planning on picking one up?

Product Category: GPS-assisted software

Manufacturer: JMD Software

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

Price: $3.99USD

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

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

Pros:

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

Cons:

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

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

Introduction

I found out about this application via an article on the FuzeMobility site. My wife and I have taken up walking to help with strengthening her back after surgery, weight loss, and general overall health. (It's also a really good time for us to talk about 'stuff' going on and reconnect after our long work days.) Around this neck of the woods, there are numerous parks and lakes available for hikes, but it was difficult to get distances so we could figure out how far and how fast were walking. We needed some way to measure our progress.

Voila! Along came Marathon, which turned out to be a perfect solution for us.

Acquisition and Installation

Marathon is currently available on the developer's website (see link above) or from the Windows Marketplace, but the Marketplace doesn't have a WM6.0 client just yet. The version I tested was the latest one available, but there may be another ready by the time this review is published. The software comes as a .CAB file which you download directly to the device, then double tap it from the File Explorer to execute the install.

I tried installing to Storage Card, but I couldn't get it to work. It says it installs correctly, but when you try to run the program, there was a 'missing component' error and the program exits. So, you'll need to install it to Device Memory.

Setup and Configuration

Once installed, I ran the program and it had no problem finding the embedded GPS receiver in my AT&T Fuze/HTC Touch Pro, but you need to ensure that the setting in Settings/System/External GPS/Access is set to 'Manage GPS automatically' -- in other words, let WM figure out where the GPS is located and how to connect the application to it. There aren't any specific instructions within the application for connecting to an external GPS unit, but the FAQ on the website describes essentially the same procedure -- configuring Windows Mobile to point to the GPS unit via the appropriate COM port and speed, then setting the Access to allow Windows Mobile to attach applications to the GPS.

Figure 1: The main screen of Marathon, after it has acquired a GPS lock and you're on your way. The 'map' in the bottom part of the screen shows relative distance and direction, and scales out as you move further, in order to keep the entire track on the screen. As you can see, I haven't got very far and I seem to be stumbling around a lot :-) Actually, I'm sitting still the whole time. What you are seeing is variation in GPS position caused by trying to get a stable position lock while inside a building. But at least it gives you an idea of what the interface looks like as you move around.

Figure 2: This is the main menu of Marathon which provides access to the various user customizations available. About provides information on the developer and version of the application. The Settings, View, and File menus are described in detail below.

Figure 3: The Settings menu provides lots of options to customize the way Marathon works.

Figure 4: A recent addition to Marathon is the ability to provide audio announcements of various parameters as you progress. Currently, the only voice available is 'Anna' (female) and US-english is the only language. The sliders change the interval between announcements (1 to 10 minutes). There are two options not visible in this screenshot -- to exclude announcing seconds and increase the number of decimals (accuracy) of the measurements.

Figure 5: The calibration screen allows you to adjust the measurement of distance to match actual on-the-ground distances, such as a curvy track through a forest. The slider provides adjustments between 90% and 125%. You can set this globally for the entire application or for a specific track.

]]> Don Tolson Pocket PC Software http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/showthread.php?t=95815 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:00 GMT http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/95781/the-samsung-omnia-2-in-detail.html http://ai.rs/2009/10/samsung-omnia-2/

"We have already published a lot of screenshots of Samsung's I8000 Omnia II. Now we have a final build of the software and it looks like Samsung has tried to cover Microsoft flaws as much as possible with it's TouchWiz interface. The device itself is very fast, and build quality is excellent. After a quick check of the specs we present you a vdeo [sic] tour and a ton of new screenshots..."

According to the ar.is blog, the Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional-based Omnia 2 will feature a 3.7 inch AMOLED WVGA resolution (480x800) resistive touchscreen, a Samsung 800MHz CPU, an unknown dedicated graphics accelerator, 256MB RAM and either 2/8/16GB worth of storage - though I'm pretty dubious on the first one. 2 GB of storage is a departure from the norm for the Omnia - though perhaps it's a move to get the phone to a lower price point. The Omnia 2 also features a 5 megapixel camera with an LED flash, a G-Sensor, a microUSB port, a DivX software player, TV-Out capabilities, a 3.5mm stereo audio jack, the Opera Mobile browser, and strangely enough also features NTSC (720x480, 30fps) video recording. I'm presuming there's some sort of adaptor you'd have to use for video input - this is a rather curious feature to have on a smartphone. I'm all for cool technology, but I'm hard pressed to think of this being useful to more than a handful of "Why? Because I Can!" types. Lots of screen shots to be found in their gallery.

It seems it is time to update your WinMo device again for daylight savings time. In the US, the time change is this weekend and Europe made the switch last weekend. To make sure your device has all of the right time zone changes for around the world, you'll want to apply this patch. Yes, even those of you with shiny new WinMo 6.5 devices need to apply it. The patch applies to WinMo 5.0 and higher devices.

And no, don't bother checking Windows Update on the device. That would make too much sense.

If you are reading this on your device, this link should download the necessary CAB file.

Italian site Solopalmari have scored what looks like the very first unboxing video of the when-is-it-going-to-be-in-stock HTC HD2 (original link here, Google-translated version here). What's shown isn't the final packaging, which is a relief - I saw the video first before reading the article, and thought HTC were nuts to have the accessories look like they've just been thrown in the box. Thankfully that's not the case, though I wonder if you can really call this an unboxing video when the "box" isn't what you're going to get at retail. Oh well, enjoy the view.

"Finally, the teaser's over. The latest delivery to Engadget's UK penthouse is the Jabra STONE Bluetooth headset due out in the US on 8th November, and we took no time to extract the pebble from the transparent cylinder. In front of us are the two parts of the STONE: an earpiece of a breakthrough form factor that instantly makes you pity its rivals, and behind it is the accompanying portable charging base which serves as an external battery."

The STONE certainly looks impressive from an aesthetic standpoint, however I'd be more inclined to care about how it works functionally. Engadget has a full gallery of photos and their thoughts, for those of you looking to grab a new headset in the near future!

The good news is that the Xperia X2 is now legally usable within the territory of the United States. The bad news is that you won't be able to get 3G speeds on any of the available networks through the FCC-passed model. Having said that, if and when Sony-Ericsson comes up with a model using US 3G bands it should get through the FCC fairly quickly (have they ever turned anyone down?). Given SE's financial troubles and relative lack of penetration into the US market, I wouldn't lay odds on that ever happening.

"HTC Corporation, a global smartphone designer, today unveiled a global advertising campaign that is based on HTC's new Quietly Brilliant brand positioning. As HTC's first global advertising campaign, the YOU campaign is being rolled out across 20 countries in the coming weeks and features the tagline, 'You don't need to get a phone. You need a phone that gets you.' This represents HTC's commitment to focus on people, their needs and how they work and live to ensure that HTC devices suit them."

With a plethora of new and upcoming devices up its sleeve, HTC has gone mainstream in the marketing department. It's just unveiled its YOU ad campaign that's set to be rolled out in twenty countries. The primary take-home point is that HTC's devices are all about the people (you). Yeah, it all sounds like marketing fluff. Admittedly, I wasn't entirely sold on the idea at first (and at this stage, you probably aren't either), but after watching the TV ads, I'm actually digging the way this campaign is headed. Check them out after the break, then drop your thoughts in this thread.

If you're a Touch Pro2 user with Vodafone UK and are eager to upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5, your moment has arrived. The update is free and yours to grab at the Vodafone UK site.

"Microsoft must embrace the mobile space if it wants to get its act together. The company has a bunch of semi-independent units that don't seem to talk to each other very much: Windows, Windows Mobile, Xbox, Zune, and whatever has grown out of their acquisition of the Danger/Sidekick team. As Apple has shown, you create compelling experiences by acting as one company, not as five. Unfortunately, it looks like Microsoft still isn't talking to Microsoft."

Sascha Segan at PCMag delivers a stinging critique of what's wrong with Microsoft's mobile strategy. It's not that we haven't heard all of this before, but the lost data disaster at Sidekick, rumours of trouble at Project Pink, and the relative modesty of the updates brought in by WM6.5, kinds of brings it home. A year's a long time in the mobile space, and with WM7 slated to be released only in late 2010 (RTM is supposedly in about six months time), MS is going to lose even more ground in the mobile sweepstakes. Android has really come on strong in the past six months with a bevy of sexy devices hitting the shelves and the backing of some major names, and no bets that Steve Jobs has something more up his sleeve for the coming year. Will WM7 be enough to turn the tide? Sound off in the comments.

The audio is Greek to me - literally, it's two Greek guys talking - but mute the audio and enjoy the video. Finally, someone with a camera that can focus and decent lighting to boot! The Touch HD2 looks like an amazing device, and the updated version of HTC Sense (a.k.a. TouchFlo 3D) is ridiculously responsive and gorgeous on this device. The only weird thing I noticed was that they had a hard time doing the reverse-pinch to zoom out on the browser. I wonder why that wasn't working very well?

"Most of you probably know by now that Windows Mobile 6.5 is not the be all end all Microsoft mobile operating system. However, what you might not know is that Microsoft has already up its sleeves another revision of Windows Mobile 6 - unofficially dubbed by the enthusiast community as 6.5.1 - that's faster, sleeker, more touch-friendly and in my opinion, a much better upgrade than 6.5."

Windows Mobile 6.5.1 screenshots courtesy Patrick/OSNN.net

It seems that when it rains leaks, it pours leaks - and above we have what is rumoured to be Windows Mobile 6.5.1 - or, really, it's 6.5.next. No one knows the version number, but it's clearly an evolutionary step from Windows Mobile 6.5. And now that I finally have my hands on a Windows Mobile 6.5 device - thanks to AT&T and HTC - I can see first-hand how badly this is needed. When I powered up the device the first thing I did was change the time zone - and was dismayed to see the same tiny user interface I've seen for over a decade. Over a decade you might be saying? I kid you not, the size of the drop-down menu and other UI elements are the same as they were on the Phillips Velo 1 twelve years ago in 1997. That's beyond ridiculous, but Microsoft seems to have been caught unaware by this whole "finger" thing and now they're playing catch-up in a big way.

"We've seen the 6.5.1 leaks from WMExperts today that combined TouchFLO 3D and 6.5.1 together into a tidy package along with the leaks of the Windows Mobile 7 mockups earlier. Now, our very own tipster has delivered some exciting additional screenshots to pocketnow.com, giving us a peak of the Call screen, Calendar, Contact, Email, Text Messaging, and Settings!"

pocketnow.com has gotten their hot little hands on some screen shots that show a very different sort of Windows Mobile. So is this Windows Mobile 7? Hard to say - all I do know is that I'm liking what I'm seeing.

At least they have a sense of humour...now if only they could fix the security problems, the fact that they're using SIM-based filtering of applications, and no version yet for the million and millions of Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1 phones.

"What we have in our hands today, however, is the GIGA-BYTE GSmart S1200, that looks promising and different. It´s more compact, sports a larger display and increased amount of RAM and ROM as compared to the MS820. Moreover, the device runs Windows Mobile 6.5 and allows access to all extra features of Windows Mobile 6.5 - Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Microsoft MyPhone etc. It also comes with several Flash-based personalization packs that look quite well indeed."

If you're in the market for a mid-level, slim and extremely thin (11.4mm!) design, then you might want to have a look at the S1200. The S1200 sports a 524MHz Qualcomm processor, 288MB RAM, 3.1in WVGA screen, 3MP camera (no flash), dualband 3G on Asia/Europe freqs, FM radio and GPS. On the other hand, if you have any pretensions towards being a power user, then better to give this a pass - phonearena liked the looks, but reported the S1200 to be laggy, with a shallow (and CPU hungry) implementation of a UI overlay. If you're still interested, click on the link for the review.

"Can you name them all? Don't worry, it's a lot to keep track of. Clockwise we have the HTC Tilt 2 (AT&T), Toshiba TG01 (not announced for US), HTC Imagio (Verizon), HTC Pure (AT&T), Samsung Intrepid (Sprint) and LG GM750 (not announced for US)."

Engadget has put together a quick video showing us the new Windows Mobile 6.5 phones coming from US carriers. Lots of pics in their gallery.