Windows Mobile Louisville

There used to an advert in the UK saying “How do you eat yours?” (it was for Cadbury’s Cream eggs).

So, how do you use yours? (that is, your Windows phone)?

In this article, I will explain how I use my Windows Phone.  I will be making this a two-part article, as I don’t want to overload one article with too much information!   In the first part, I will be looking at who am I and a basic overview of how I use my device (e.g. headset, screen protector, eGrips).  

Specifically Part I will be covering the hardware I use, plus the following: 

• Email
• Camera
• Spb Time
• Evernote

In Part II, I will cover:

• Live Mesh
• Spb Mobile Shell, 3.0 2.0
• RRS Hub
• Spb Wallet
• Pocket Bible
• Audio books
• Spb Radio
• WikiPock (Pocket Wikipeda)

Read on after the break! (more…)

I should have known!  As soon as I posted the news about Microsoft’s release of a Netflix Mobile Manager, I installed it, tested it out, and was quite impressed.  It just seemed to work so well, so - familiar…

And then we received the following press release, and it all made sense!

Spb Software Develops Windows Mobile Netflix Application in Cooperation with Microsoft and Netflix

Spb Software worked closely with Microsoft and Netflix to develop the first official Netflix application for Windows phones. The Mobile Manager for Netflix is an on-device application that seamlessly interfaces with the Netflix web service, allows searching the entire Netflix library, viewing the movie details, managing the DVD queue, and adding movies to Instant Queue directly from Windows phones. The unique exclusive feature of Mobile Manager for Netflix is the ability to play trailers of movies, directly on the handset screen.

The Mobile Manager for Netflix was developed in cooperation between Microsoft, Netflix, and Spb Software. The application interface is built on the Spb Mobile Shell UI engine (also used in such popular applications as Spb Wallet, Spb Online, Spb Weather, Spb Traveler), and allows optimizing the efficiency of the user interface and speed of service navigation. With this fast and finger-friendly UI, the Mobile Manager application streamlines the Netflix mobile user experience, allowing subscribers to preview movie trailers on the go, add selected items to the DVD queue, or the Instant Queue - to instantly watch movies on TV screens using Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

“Windows phones help people access the information they care about most, bringing together the Web, the PC and the phone - all in one device,” said Steve Hegenderfer, group product manager at Microsoft, Corp. “We are very excited to work with Spb Software to bring the popular Netflix service to our customers, giving them easy access to their account and favorite movies while on the go.”

To get more information, or download the Mobile Manager for Netflix, please visit

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/totalaccess/software/software/netflix.mspx

I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve been getting mighty sick of seeing entertainment-related applications galore for the iPhone, often without a Windows Mobile version.  Pyxis Mobile apparently agrees, so they’ve developed an application called Smart Flicks that allows you to manage your Netflix queue and browse the entire Netflix library from your Windows Mobile phone:

• Browse the entire Netflix library from your Windows Mobile device
• Add to, remove from, and change position in your regular and Instant Queues
• See the availability of DVDs in real time
• See available formats for each title (DVD, Blu-ray, Instant)
• Movie Synopsis: When looking at recommendations and search results, click to view full synopsis.
• Improved “Recommendations” Support with more targeted recommendations and “Star Ratings”
• Access movie and entertainment news and information, and soon, movie times, GPS directions to theaters and more.
• Send-to-a-Friend: Send SmartFlicks to a friend via quick-click interface
• Instant Feedback: Send the App Lab team your comments and suggestions from within the application

Looking at the main Pyxis Mobile web site, they’ve obviously got a lot of experience in wireless financial services applications.  It’s good to see them branching out and applying some of that expertise into a consumer-grade application.  We need more developers to do the same for Windows Mobile!

You can download the beta of Smart Flicks at Pyxis Mobile.   The app is free.

Source: PocketNow

It wasnt’ that long ago (only back in December) when I reviewed the first version of VITO ZoomBoard, but VITO Technologies has been busy tweaking and adding some features to Version 2:

• Two new zoom modes (full zoom, lens zoom and float zoom)  
• SmartZoom option (zoom the pressed letters either immediately or with a delay)
• Gestures support 
• Landscape mode has become more user-friendly

I really enjoy using the original version, so I’m excited to check out the new features!  Sounds like some excellent improvements.

It wasn’t too long ago that Motricity snatched up PocketGear, and now they’re being sold off as part of a restructuring plan that includes laying off 250 people and moving Motricity from Durham, NC to Bellevue, WA.

At this point, no one knows for certain who will buy up PocketGear.  Hopefully it will be someone who understands the need it serves to the mobile device community…

Wild Gears is a brand-new, off-the-track R/C car racing game for Windows Mobile Classic, Professional, and Pocket PC devices, created by PDAmill:

“Test your dexterity and driving skills in this energetic game with Four different Cups, Four unique R/C Cars, and 15 beautiful tracks to race on!

This simple, yet entertaining game combines traditional arcade racing games with unique mini R/C car-like controls and zany cartoon graphics resulting in an exciting, easy-to-play racing experience.

Wild Gears features beautiful cartoon graphics, intuitive controls, a rockin’ soundtrack, and most of all, fun!”

Wild Gears is $14.95.  You can try it or buy it here.

There has been quite a buzz about Spb Mobile Shell 2.0, so I was delighted to receive my advance review copy so I could begin playing with the app and prepare a review.  This review has a couple of ”firsts”:  it is the first review posted on our new site, AND it is our first combined written and video review! So, without further delay, I will post the video portion here at the beginning, then follow up with an extensive written review. Both are intended to compliment one another, so, enjoy!

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Spb Software House pulled a fast one, and announced the release of Spb Mobile Shell 2.0 a day early!

Version 2.0 is a significant upgrade to the original version of Mobile Shell.  It’s an application that completely overhauls the Windows Mobile user interface, making it more direct, logical and slick.

We’re wrapping up the final details of our review - we were waiting until tomorrow to post, since that was supposed to be the release date!  More shortly!

VITO TECHNOLOGY CELEBRATES ITS 7th BIRTHDAY!
$7 for all titles as a birthday present for everybody!

19th February, 2008 - VITO Technology celebrates its 7 years of success in the mobile market with a HUGE DISCOUNT on all software titles. During 7 days all VITO products at http://iwindowsmobile.com and http://vitotechnology.com are available for as much as $7*.

After 7 successful years in the market VITO Technology has so far released over 40 programs for Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Smartphone, and Symbian phones. The range of programs stretches from GPS navigation to multimedia, including communication and utilities.

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