Windows Mobile Louisville

This article was written by Mighty Mike, creator of the MightyROM’s.  He posted it over at PPC Geeks earlier today.  To all those naysayers who think Windows phones are fading away, I’ll borrow from a great Monty Python quote:

With the Mobile World Congress event making its way around the corner, we can all be for certain that it is inevitable for Windows Phone 7 to make its long-awaited debut. That being said, there have been rumours floating about on what Windows Phone 7 might actually be? For months, almost a year, we have seen images being leaked all over the interwebs and although we can all admit we were quite excited, the chances of it looking so or even being real for that matter were highly unlikely. Wait no more! PPCGeeks has some truly amazing information on what the Windows Phone 7 platform will deliver to our beloved handheld devices. All information detailed within may not be entirely official, although it is definitely the closest information we have heard on actually being real. Without wasting anymore time, lets jump into the nitty gritty.

• At the Mobile World Congress event on February 15th, 2010, Windows Phone 7 will be unveilved, although at this time plans are only to unveil the user interface of the new platform.  Specific indepth functionality of the device will most likely not be shown.
• The User Interface is based upon codename “METRO”.   It will be very similar to the Zune HD User Interface with a complete revamp of the “Start” screen.   The UI is “Very Clean”, “Soulful” and “Alive”.
• Unfortunately there will be no Flash support at the get go as there was not enough time to implement these features.
• Windows Phone 7 will only support application installation through service based delivery. (i.e Marketplace). Application installation via storage card will not be possible.
• No Multi-Task support. Applications will “Pause” when in the background, however will support notifications via push notifications.
• Marketplace will now support “try before you buy” as well as an API
• No NETCF backwards compatibility. This means the original rumor of no backward compatibility for applications holds to be true. That being said, there are high hopes of porting the NetCF to the newer platform easily.
• Microsoft is confident that devices will be ready by September 2010
• Full Zune Integration
• Windows Mobile Device Center will no longer be used.  Zune software to take over syncing via PC.
• OEM Interfaces will not be allowed to run on the device.  Say goodbye to Sense UI / SPB Mobile Shell / Point UI / Infinity, etc, etc (Editors note: for those of us who heard Gordon Bennett speak at one of our meetings last fall, we already knew that!)
• Full XBOX Gaming Integration (Gamer tag, achievements, friends, avatars, merchandising, etc)
• Full support for social networking

There is a plethora of details to go through, although listed above are the biggest impact points of Windows Phone 7.This is a lot of information to consume in one shot and there could very well be the possibility of it being once again another rumor, although one thing stands true. This is the most detailed promising information we’ve seen to date in a while. We will continue to update you as we find out more information.

Resco has been hard at work tweaking and improving their popular app Explorer.

Changes they’ve made in the 2010 version have been influenced mainly by their last big project, Resco Photo Manager. They’ve enriched Explorer with a bunch of ways to upload images to places like Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Picasa & Photobucket.   They’ve also added a thumbnail view mode, so you can easily find the exact image you’re looking for (the thumbnail loading is faster if you install both Explorer and Photo Manager).  There is also an enhanced list of supported image formats.

List of Main New Features in Explorer 2010:

• Image Upload to Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Picasa & Photobucket
  The program is now able to upload image files to the most popular social networks (Facebook, Picasa, Twitter) including the biggest web image databases – Flickr.com & Photobucket. The upload is quick and easy.
• Thumbnails View Mode
  The new view mode displays preview of images.   Saves time while searching for images files in large or numerous folders.
• Interaction with Resco Photo Manager
  The new Explorer can utilize tools and strengths of Resco Photo Manager.  If you have both of these programs installed on device, you will sense that the thumbnail loading is faster as well as the fact that it supports all the photo manager image types.
• Customizable Today Plug-in
  Today plug-in got a new shape and becomes totally customizable.  Determine components of the plug-in yourself! Add or remove phone tools, applications or documents.  The eventual size of the plug-in, therefore, depends only on your choices. The plug-in includes a Task Manager.

Get it here

There is an interesting article over at Channelweb about Windows Mobile and Silverlight.  Here is an excerpt:

Several sources told Channelweb.com this week that they expect Microsoft to make Silverlight 4 the platform for building native applications in Windows Mobile 7 and future generations of Windows Phones.

Such a move wouldn’t be unexpected: Windows Mobile 6.5 is based on the Windows CE 5.2 kernel, which is the same version that powered Windows Mobile 5 when Microsoft launched it in 2004. Microsoft was expected to launch Silverlight For Mobile last year, but that has yet to come to pass. Partners have long clamored for Microsoft to support Silverlight in Windows Mobile because they believe the flexibility this would give them translates into easier application development.

“We need to have .Net available to developers in order to compete more effectively, and Silverlight is the key to taking back the application platform for mobile,” said one source, who requested anonymity.

 Read the entire article here.

This is a very broad generalization and no real survey has been taken, but from my own observations, it amazes me how little new smartphone users know about their device!   Allow me to explain:

It seems that no matter where you turn, if someone has a smartphone in their hands, chances are it is a Blackberry or an iPhone.  That’s a bitter pill to swallow, being a long-time Windows Mobile user, but it’s the truth.  Anymore, I am hard-pressed to find someone carrying a Windows phone, and when I do, it’s cause for celebration!  But I digress - back to my unofficial survey!

Of those countless people I run into who are using either a BB or an iPhone, I have begun asking them questions to see how much they use their device as a personal digital assistant (remember that word? PDA?).  For the most part, the only PIM function the majority are using is Contacts.  Using Calendar? Nah.  How about Tasks? What?!   And as far as backing up data, 4 out of 5 people I asked had no clue how to back up their info, so in the event they lost their device, they are screwed! 

To so many of these new users, this is still just a phone that has a lot of fun stuff on it.  For the majority, this is their first forray into a truly smart device, and so much of the power the smartphone remains untapped.  Yes, the apps have opened up all sorts of possibilities, particularly for iPhone users - there’s an app for just about anything - but there is still an overriding sense of ignorance to some of the core functions!  At my place of work alone, I have found over a dozen people (with iPhone, BB and Pre) who have not entered thing one into their calendar!  When their phone rings in the middle of a meeting, I tell them that can be avoided by entering their appointments & meetings into their device, they say it never occurred to them!  Helllooo!

The other night I was at a meeting outside of work, and the guy who was running the meeting had an iPhone and was presenting on a Mac.  All the while, I took notes on my Touch Pro2 using Evernote, and at the end, he came over to me and said, “Wow, were you taking notes on that thing?!”  as if it was some new amazing technique!  Obviously he has never done such a thing on his iToy!

I challenge you to do your own unofficial survey.  I think you too, will find that amongst new users of smartphones, the majority have no clue.  Yes, I know I am a geek and ahead of the curve, but my survey has reminded me how devices have now reached the masses, which means the overall IQ of the mobile population has taken a steep dive! 

 Chime in here!

VASCO Data Security has released DIGIPASS for Windows Mobile.  The new product will enable Windows Mobile users to have have access to m-banking, e-banking and e-commerce with DIGIPASS two-factor authentication.

The application is designed for corporate networks to allow secure remote access to business applications for employees. DIGIPASS for Mobile can be installed through as single download, or for corporate deployments a USB connection can launch the authentication application directly onto the mobile phone.

“Mobile phone users are increasingly embracing mobile services. As a result the mobile platform is becoming more and more attractive to hackers. Traditional Internet fraud schemes are moving towards the mobile environment. With DIGIPASS for Mobile companies offering their services online or mobile site service providers can enhance security of their online service channels through the authentication of their users and by digitally signing transactions. With DIGIPASS for Mobile becoming available to Windows Mobile users, we are convinced that the corporation will increasingly embrace the use of authentication,” says Jan Valcke, President and COO at VASCO Data Security. 

A demo of DIGIPASS for Mobile is available on: http://dp4mobile.demo.VASCO.com

For some bizarre reason and without consistency, many people are noticing their Text Messages arriving with a 2016 date (including me - see image).  A unofficial fix has been created by someone over at PPC Geeks.  No word yet from manufacturers…

Get the CAB file here or read the thread and thank the developers here.

Confirming that there IS a meeting tonight!  It will be casual in nature - no set presentations or agenda.  Just an opportunity to mingle and chat about devices and tech!

If you can’t make it, we’ll see you in January!

Bing mobile (and the Bing website) both got a makeover.  There are some nice touches to the mobile app, though I’m noticing it run slowly on my Touch Pro2…

It is much more finger-friendly.  I like the features they’ve added to the maps (see image).

Download it from your device (using PIE, not Opera) by going to m.bing.com

After long period of testing the beta versions, Resco is now officially releasing the new Resco Photo Manager 7.00.

Resco Photo Manager is a favorite image viewing program with features far beyond standards of the classic built-in viewer. Users gain functions of complete image management in a modern looking and easy to handle application. Intuitive way of work, outrageous effects and many slideshow and edit features move other image viewing programs to the second line.

Since the last version, the application received lots of graphical and functional changes. The old fashioned appearance has been replaced by modern looking graphics and the overall concept has been modified to make work with the program even more intuitive and effective. Support for the most favorite social networks was added.

Main changes are:

• WM 6.5 registration fixed
• Touch friendly user interface
• User interface is in new graphic
• Add GPS position to any  image and make a diary of your trip
• Locate geo-tagged image on map (using Google Maps)
• Different skins available
• Letter & date navigation bar
• Folder content preview
• Rotation , navigation and zoom gestures
• Double tap image to quickly view detail in original size
• GUI animations
• Support of G-sensor
• Convert image to JPG, PNG and BMP
• Text notes can be saved into EXIF
• Upload to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Picasa supported
• Upload image with comment and GPS location

You can download a 7-day trial version here.

Ian Husk learned today that PPC Techs has the WriteSHIELD in stock for the Touch Pro2 - they just haven’t placed it on their website yet! 

If you want to get one for your device before they get the product posted to their site, just call them at 888-301-2595, or if you prefer, you can order the Touch Pro screen protector of your liking (Anti-Glare or Crystal Clear), and add in the notes that you really need the Touch Pro2 version.

 Or you can just wait for them to update their site!  I would hope that wouldn’t take too long! :)