Mereja

Author: James Kendrick

  • 5 Must-have Apps for Palm Phones

    Spending time with the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus have given me a renewed appreciation of webOS, and the way the phones multitask so well. This makes it a breeze to run multiple apps at the same time, and there are quite a few good ones available in the App Catalog. The list that follows is my take on the five apps that Palm phone owners should consider. They are not all free, but I find most apps in the App Catalog are reasonably priced.

    1. PhotoDialer. Smartphones should be first and foremost good phones — that should be the primary function, right? PhotoDialer is an app that leverages the good phone capability of the Palm phones by providing a screen with the owner’s most-called contacts presented in a nice grid. The contacts are represented by photos that make it easier to spot quickly. Each contact’s photo has an icon to indicate if tapping that photo will dial the contact’s mobile phone, office number or home number. You can have multiple instances of a contact with different numbers if desired. $1.99.

    2. Pandora. Pandora is one of those audio services that you can’t live without once you find it. The unique technology that can serve a playlist of music similar to the music you like is very good. The Pandora app in the App Catalog presents a good interface for playing the music, and with the excellent multitasking on webOS it can play in the background while you do other things. Free.

    3. Twee. It seems everyone is playing on Twitter and a good phone client makes the experience the best. Twee is a webOS client that has all of the features you want presented in a pleasant interface. Twee comes in two versions. Twee Free is nearly full-featured but lacks support for lists and a few other functions of the paid version. $2.99.

    4. Klondike Solitaire. The Windows OS got most of us playing Solitaire, and a good mobile version can help pass the time away when there is nothing else to do. Klondike Solitaire is a complete implementation of the game we all know, and plays very nicely with touch on the Palm phones. $1.99.

    5. gDial Pro. Google Voice is a wonderful service that only comes into its own when used on a phone with a good client app. The gDial Pro is definitely a good client, one of the best on any smartphone platform. The program integrates all of the functionality of Google Voice into the phone’s operation to make it a seamless experience. The program is amazing given all the features incorporated under the hood. Free.

  • Palm Mobile Hotspot Revisited

    I’ve been testing the upgraded Verizon Pre Plus and Pixi Plus for about a week now, and feel that Palm did a good job with them, even if they were evolutionary refreshes, not revolutionary ones. The new feature I was especially anxious to test was the Mobile Hotspot capability, which allows up to five devices to use a phone’s 3G connection over Wi-Fi. Mobile Hotspot turns the phones into a MiFi in function, and the Verizon monthly fee for the service is $40 as opposed to $60 for the MiFi. The initial testing I conducted of the Mobile Hotspot connection speed was disappointing, but I was able to test the feature on my recent trip to San Francisco and am happy to report it worked well.

    I consistently saw good bandwidth in San Francisco using the Mobile Hotspot with my MacBook over Wi-Fi. I had connections with download speeds over 2 Mbps, and good upload speeds as well. This is more in line with the speeds I see with the MiFi, and is the way the technology should work. While I am happy to report that the Mobile Hotspot works as advertised, it is not clear why my initial testing compared so unfavorably with the MiFi speeds.

    My analysis of the poor initial results and the good speeds observed on my trip pointed out two factors that differed in the two testing regimes. The initial testing I conducted was using an evaluation ThinkPad x200 to connect to the Palm phones using the Mobile Hotspot, at various locations in Houston. That testing showed consistently poor connection speeds when compared to the MiFi results in the same locations. While location is always a big factor in 3G connection speeds, since the MiFi always produced much faster speeds at the same locations, the conclusion I reached was the Mobile Hotspot as implemented on the Palm phones was not performing well.

    Seeing markedly faster results in San Francisco, I wondered if the Verizon network was much faster there than in Houston. But, even if that is the case, it still wouldn’t explain why the MiFi works properly in both cities. That led me to think about the equipment being used for the testing in both cities, which varied. In SF I was using the MacBook with the Palm phones since that’s the computer that I carried on the trip. So this morning I repeated my testing in Houston using the MacBook instead of the ThinkPad, and much to my surprise I got consistently fast connection speeds just like in San Francisco.

    That left me with the conclusion that the Mobile Hotspot connection was not working well with the ThinkPad x200, and further testing has confirmed it. The x200 is running Microsoft Windows 7, and all of the WLAN settings are standard. There is no reason I can fathom why the ThinkPad is choking the Mobile Hotspot connections, but that is exactly what is occurring. I would love to hear from experts in Wi-Fi connections how this could possibly happen? All of my other Wi-Fi connections work properly on the x200, it’s just the Mobile Hotspot connections throttle down to a crawl. The x200 sees the Mobile Hotspot as a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, it doesn’t even realize 3G is in the picture so that shouldn’t be a factor. Leave a comment if you have an idea what is happening and how I can fix it.

    Related research from GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):

    Metered Mobile Data Is Coming and Here’s How

  • Tablet Thoughts: Why iPad Will Succeed

    My trip to San Francisco that just ended was a short one, and a very successful one. It is always good to see the great team of GigaOM get together, easily the brightest bunch in the tech world (myself excluded). Now that I have time to reflect on this trip, I have come to realize that a tablet would have made the trip much easier. In the world of mobile tech, easier translates into more fun, and I believe that tablets like the iPad have a big role to play in our lives going forward. They are more fun to use than other computers.

    I have a long history of using tablets, so I don’t need to be convinced about the utility they provide in a mobile setting. I was able to make a decent living for years as a consultant with a tablet in my hands for note-taking and other tasks. The iPad challenges that history, however, as it is a pure slate with no keyboard other than an onscreen keyboard. This becomes the biggest factor to consider when trying to decide if a tablet like the iPad can meet the user’s needs. My reflections of this recent trip convince me the keyboard would not have been a that big a factor.

    This trip to SF I decided to leave the tablet at home and brought the MacBook. I have traveled with the MacBook many times so I knew it would meet my needs on this short trip. It certainly worked OK, but I must admit I was constantly wishing I had the tablet with me. I have traveled with a tablet many times in the past, and reflecting back on this trip I realize the tablet would have made things easier. A tablet would have been more fun, too, and it is important to not overlook that fact.

    I can remember a at least dozen times over the course of this short business trip that I wished I had the tablet with me. I wanted to jump online and check some things, as I had a few minutes free and wanted a bigger screen than that on my phone. I could do those things on a notebook, but I repeatedly found myself considering if a quick session was worth the effort. Without the tablet I had to find a place to sit down, pull out the notebook, turn on the 3G modem, do my quick online work and then put it all back in the bag. Many times I felt it was not worth the effort and blew it off. A tablet would have changed all that, as I could have simply pulled it out of the bag, jumped online, and then put it back when done.

    I didn’t even pull out the notebook at the airport on the return trip as it was too crowded at the gate, and there was not enough free room to even balance the notebook on my lap. I saw the same “notebook balancing” act in the airport performed by several travelers. I saw one guy drop his notebook off his lap as he struggled to use it. It hit me that a tablet would have been the perfect tool for this situation, and it drove home how many times over the course of this trip a tablet would have made a positive difference.

    I should point out that I didn’t have to do a lot of writing during the trip, which would have been a factor had I only brought a slate without a keyboard. That’s certainly something to consider, but many times the lack of a keyboard is not that big an issue. That’s when a slate like the iPad will make a big impression on those not familiar with using a tablet. An onscreen keyboard is sufficient for a lot of things, whether we like them or not.

    I had an amusing situation during the trip which points out the power of Apple with mainstream consumers. I was eating a sandwich in the hotel restaurant, reading an e-book on my Kindle. My waiter seemed to be watching me the entire time, and he finally approached me with a question. He asked me if the Kindle was “the iPad, and do you like it.” This was impressive since the iPad is not even available yet, but this non-techie guy was already looking for them. I explained that it was a Kindle, and he kindly informed me that the iPad could also read e-books but do “so much more.” Yes, Apple is going to sell a lot of iPads.

    Image courtesy Apple

    Related research: Web Tablet Survey: Apple’s iPad Hits Right Notes (sub req’d)

  • WinMo Wrap: New Version Unveiled

    The week marches on and today being Saturday means it is time to recap the recent happenings in the world of Windows Mobile. Microsoft presented another interim release of Windows Mobile this week. Version 6.5.3 is not the big version 7 that enthusiasts have been waiting for, but it adds OS support for multitouch for the first time. WinMo 6.5.3 made an appearance in the new Aspen announced by Sony Ericsson.

    China Mobile made a very strange claim that its Android phones will run Windows Mobile apps. The company claims its Open Mobile 2.0 will run Windows Mobile apps, but didn’t give any details on how that works or what apps fall under this claim. Open Mobile supposedly runs the “Windows Mobile API”, but it is not clear if this claim is legitimate or how it might work.

    WinMoSquare is coming for those who can’t wait any longer for a native FourSquare app for the platform. It is being developed by Touchality using FourSquare’s public APIs. You must send an email to get your WinMo 6.1 or 6.5 phone (touchscreen mandatory) included in the beta program for WinMoSquare.

  • Android This Week: Nexus One Gets Touch; 720p from Samsung

    Google surprised Nexus One owners this week by releasing an update for the Android-based phone. The Nexus One has only been on the market for a month, but the update added a fair bit of functionality — notably multitouch — the lack of which has grated enthusiasts. It also addresses the 3G connectivity problems that some owners had been reporting.

    This week also saw Motorola release the Devour in the U.S. The Devour is the newest addition to the Droid family on the Verizon network, and the first with the MOTOBLUR technology, which aggregates the phone owner’s social networks into one screen. The Devour has a sliding QWERTY keyboard, and is smaller than the original Droid.

    Samsung unveiled a new Android phone as well, one that brings 720p video recording to the mix. And since the handset needs high-speed connectivity to send those HD videos, 802.11n, too. Dubbed the M100s, the new phone packs a large 3.7-inch AMOLED screen into a svelte form and is due appear in Korea early this year.

  • Yes Virginia, There IS an iTablet

    Speculation ran rampant before the iPad launch as to whether Apple would name the slate the iTablet or the iPad. We know the answer now, of course, but that doesn’t meant there isn’t an iTablet, too. A company in the UK, x2, has apparently decided to ignore the pleas from its lawyers and is producing a decent-looking Windows 7 slate tablet called the iTablet.

    The iTablet comes in two sizes, 10.2 and 12.1 inches, so they seem to have everyone covered. Inside the iTablet finds standard netbook fare, including a 1.6 GHz Atom processor. Some will be happy to hear the iTablet has a web cam — yes, it does — and a full complement of USB ports.

    The company hasn’t announced pricing yet, but it’s a safe bet they will be competitive with that other “i” tablet or what’s the point?

  • This Week in Mobile Tech Manor #74: San Fran

    This week has been an unusual one in Mobile Tech Manor, my home office, due to a quick trip to San Francisco. These trips take up a fair bit of time for the planning, and doing any prep work that must be done for the meetings that are the purpose of the trip. I am writing this in my hotel room in San Francisco, after spending a few hours with the GigaOM team. Come in for a visit and we’ll talk about the past week in MTM.

    This week saw me doing another flip-flop on my working browser, something I do from time to time. I have switched to using Safari full-time on the MacBook, which is my main desktop system. I love Firefox, don’t get me wrong, but I spend so much time in the browser that I need it to be as fast as possible. I tested the latest version of Safari and found it to be faster than Firefox, so I have switched back to Safari for now.

    I still use Firefox on Windows, because I don’t find Safari to work as well as either Firefox or Chrome on that OS. I find Firefox to be the best on Windows, so that’s what I use. I am able to keep Firefox and Safari bookmarks in sync using Xmarks on both the Mac and Windows. It sure makes it easier to switch back and forth as needed with no penalty as far as bookmarks are concerned.

    Palm at hand

    The good folks at Verizon sent me a Pre Plus and a Pixi Plus to evaluate. Both of these phones are available from Verizon, in fact Big Red has the exclusive on them both.

    Overall I like both phones, although they can be a tad sluggish at times. This happens mostly when there is a lot going on. I must confess that even though the screen is smaller on the Pixi Plus, I am finding it to be the phone I prefer using. The Pre Plus is nice enough, but having the keyboard always available on the Pixi Plus is convenient. Sliding the Pre up to expose the keyboard has never felt totally natural, and the Pre Plus is the same.

    The keyboards on both phones are roughly the same size and easy to use. The keyboard on the Pre Plus does have a mild curvature to it that the Pixi Plus lacks. In other words the rows of keys are in a slight “smile” shape, while the Pixi Plus rows of keys are straight across. I have to admit I don’t feel any difference typing on either one, so for me the difference is rather moot.

    I have been testing the Palm Mobile Hotspot that is available on both the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus. A special Mobile Hotspot plan is required for $40 monthly, that is on top of the $30 monthly smartphone data plan required with these phones. Some folks may find that price to be reasonable as the Mobile Hotspot allows up to five devices to be tethered to the phone over Wi-Fi for sharing the 3G connection.

    It’s a nice arrangement but I have run into an issue while testing the Mobile Hotspot in Houston. The bandwidth has been consistently slow using the Hotspot function on both phones, especially when compared to speeds obtained with the MiFi which uses the same 3G network as the phones. I’m not sure what is causing my consistently bad results in Houston, I have tested it here in San Francisco and have seen good bandwidth on both phones. It seems to be a Houston thing, although the MiFi doesn’t reflect the bad connection speeds that I see on the phones.

    Some folks like to know what mobile gear I bring on trips like the one I am on now, and I am sharing that with you now. This trip is only a two day trip, my favorite kind as I can travel as light as I want with no ramifications.

    To that end here’s my SF mobile kit that I am using:

    • MacBook (13-inch)
    • 2nd MacBook battery
    • MiFi
    • iPhone 3G
    • Palm Pre
    • Kindle 2

    This kit is nice and light yet fully functional. I meant to bring the new Magic Mouse along for the ride, but I ran out and forgot to throw it in the bag. I am finding I don’t really miss it that much as the MacBook trackpad is more than adequate.

    I also threw the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus in the gear bag, but that was only to show some of the GigaOM folks who wanted to check them out. I didn’t even bring the chargers for them.

    e-Books of the week

    This week I continued the epic journey into the world of the Wit’ch series by James Clemens I started last week. I am already in Book 4, Wit’ch Gate, as I can’t put them down. There is more action in these books than many fantasy books, and the story is told in great style. I am sad there is only one more book to go.

    Wrap-up

    It’s after midnight and I am running out of steam so I’d better bring this to a close. I have an early morning too, so I’ve got to get some sleep. I hope you enjoyed this week’s column and that you’ll come back next week.

  • MyTether for webOS Now Works on Verizon

    The folks at Verizon may not be happy to hear that the homebrew apps for webOS are still alive and well. The MyTether app has been updated and it now supports the Pre Plus, which as you know is on the Verizon network. MyTether allows the Pre Plus to serve as a 3G modem that can be shared with other devices over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB.

    It will set you back a one-time fee of $14.95, which sounds expensive for a homebrew app but it is much cheaper than the monthly Verizon service through the Palm Mobile Hotspot software. I am still having trouble with connection speeds using Mobile Hotspot, so I wonder if MyTether would help in that regard? I also wonder if it will work with the Pixi Plus?

    Be aware that Verizon may get in your face about tethering, so consider yourself warned if they figure out you’re tethering without the appropriate data plan.

    Related research from GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):

    Metered Mobile Data Is Coming and Here’s How

  • Multitouch Comes to Windows Mobile

    The news that the new Sony Ericsson Aspen would have an updated version of Windows Mobile, the only thing we knew for sure about version 6.5.3 was that we’ve never seen it before. Microsoft has produced this interim version of WinMo in preparation for the next big thing, Windows Mobile 7. We’re now getting word about exactly what WinMo 6.5.3 brings to the table, err, small screen, and it’s a pretty substantial upgrade over previous versions.

    The most significant addition in this new version is OS support for capacitive screens, which translates into native multitouch support. Microsoft may be late to the party, given that HTC already produced such a phone on its own (HD2), but it opens the doors for some cool phones from multiple companies.

    Other things that Windows Mobile 6.5.3 adds are:

    • Touch control enabled throughout the system
    • Magnifier to make touch easier in legacy apps
    • Simpler out-of-box experience
    • Drag and drop icons on Start screen to desired location
    • Better browser performance
    • Better memory management
    • Zoom and rotation now faster
    • Faster page load time

    As is usually the case with phone updates, it is not clear which handsets will get this new update. It is also clear that this is a stop-gap version until Microsoft can get Windows Mobile 7 out the door. That’s the version we really want to see, hopefully we will at the MWC in a bit.

    Related research:  Could Games Redeem Windows Mobile and Palm’s webOS?

  • Fujitsu T900 — Multitouch on a Tablet

    I am a big fan of convertible notebooks, especially those that add multitouch to the mix. Fujitsu has long been a maker of fine Tablet PCs, and the T900 looks to be another fine entry in its product line. The T900 has a 13.3-inch screen and can be configured with several Intel processors, up to the Core i7 running at a respectable 2.66 GHz.

    The T900 is not the lightest tablet on the block at 2-kilograms, but Fujitsu is known for making durable computers that stand up to the test of travel. There is an integrated 3G option, and various security options including CompuTrace location in the event the notebook walks off and leaves the owner.

    Fujitsu’s latest Tablet PC  can be ordered with up to 8 GB of memory, and there is a 128 GB SSD option available when configuring. The T900 starts at $1,899 which is not cheap by any means. This pricing is not for the lowest configuration so perhaps one can be configured cheaper. Note that this price does not include the dual digitizer, which is a $100 option. Fujitsu sure can make things confusing, but it does look like a nice convertible notebook anyway.

  • Palm Mobile Hotspot Speed Tests — Not so Good

    Palm captured the imagination of many when they announced the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus on Verizon early this year. The ability to turn the phones into the equivalent of the MiFi excited quite a few who were considering such capability for their mobile arsenal. The Palm Mobile Hotspot software taps into the Verizon’s EVDO 3G network and then uses the phone’s Wi-Fi to form a personal hotspot for up to five devices. It is wireless tethering the way it should be — easy and affordable. Verizon charges $40 a month for the Mobile Hotspot service, while the data plan for the MiFi is $60. Everything sounds like the Mobile Hotspot is the perfect solution for the road warrior looking to use the Palm phone for a dual purpose. That’s if the Mobile Hotspot service lives up to its expectations, and that might not be the case.

    I have tested the Mobile Hotspot service using the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus. I restricted my testing to date in areas that show full 3G signal strength, to give the Mobile Hotspot a best-case scenario for the testing. My testing has been simple in nature — I conducted multiple bandwidth tests using each phone as the Mobile Hotspot, and recorded the results. I also tested the Verizon MiFi in the same locations, a fair comparison since it uses the same network as the Palm solution.

    My findings are disappointing to say the least. I found that both the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus performed virtually identically in the testing, which was expected given the similarity of the phones. The problem is I could never get anything above abysmal bandwidth with either phone. The MiFi performed as usual, with decent bandwidth in the same locations without fail. I can only reach the conclusion that the Mobile Hotspot implementation is not a very good one, and not one I would be willing to depend on for mobile connectivity — certainly not for $40 per month.

    To save space below I have included two rounds of testing from each device. Each test for the three was done in the same location, and back to back. I ran a speed test on the Pixi Plus, then the MiFi, and finally on the Pre Plus. After a slew of tests, I believe this is an accurate representation of what I could expect with either phone in regards to bandwidth. While location is important for 3G bandwidth due to local signal strength, the testing accurately reflects the comparison of bandwidth provided by the MiFi vs the two phones. The testing was done with only one device connected to the Mobile Hotspot — a ThinkPad notebook.

  • Picture Tour of Palm Pre Plus, Pixi Plus

    I admit it was exciting attending Palm’s press event at CES in January. CEO Jon Rubinstein unveiled Palm’s roadmap for the year, consisting mainly of refreshed versions of the Pre and Pixi smartphones. The Pre Plus looks like the older Pre, with everything the same, save for a few minor differences. The Pre Plus loses the button below the screen that looks like a trackball but isn’t, and the “Orange” key on the keyboard is now a stately white. Oh, one other minor change — the Pre Plus now ships with the back that is compatible with the Touchstone charger (the Pixi Plus does not). The Pre Plus also sports twice the memory — 16 GB — as the original.

    The Pixi Plus is like its predecessor, not surprising as the original Pixi has only been in the wild for a short time. The biggest difference in the Pixi Plus is the addition of Wi-Fi to the mix, a big improvement over the original Pixi that lacked it. The playing field between the two Palm phones was leveled a great deal with that addition, even though the Pixi Plus only has 8 GB of memory. The Pixi Plus is extremely light for such a capable phone. I believe it is the lightest smartphone I have used to date.

    At the press event Palm proudly pointed out that both phones have the Palm Mobile Hotspot, a tethering app that turns the phone into a MiFi-like 3G hotspot. Unfortunately, neither of the phones supplied to me by Verizon have the Mobile Hotspot software installed. I’ll have to find out what’s up with that. The feature is listed on the Verizon site at $40 per month, so they certainly intend to provide it. It’s a major feature and cost savings, as the same data plan for the MiFi is $60 per month.

    So far, the Pre Plus feels faster than my original Pre, but that’s pretty much expected. The Pre Plus is fresh out of the box and has almost no third party software installed yet. I did go to install the Twitter app I use on my Pre, Tweed, but there is no longer a free version. I’ll have to try a few out to see which free app I like best.

    The inclusion of Wi-Fi and the convenience of having the QWERTY keyboard always at hand makes the cheaper Pixi Plus a very compelling phone. I will have to see if the smaller screen and lower resolution is a sacrifice over the next few days, but if not, the Pixi Plus might be the one I’d choose over the more expensive Pre Plus. The Pixi Plus is just so darn light in the hand and it feels good to use. It’s nice avoiding that awkward (at least for me) sliding motion to expose the Pre Plus’s keyboard. To this day that is still not comfortable for me to do on my Pre.

    I’ll be testing both phones thoroughly over the next few days. Until then, enjoy this photo tour comparing the two phones.

  • BlackBerry Buzz: VZ Navigator Updated; Opera Mini Coming

    It’s Tuesday and that can only mean it’s time for our weekly feature, the BlackBerry Buzz. Verizon has long pushed the Navigator service, no doubt thanks to the $9.99 monthly fee. Navigator offers turn-by-turn navigation powered by Telecommunication Systems, formerly Networks in Motion. The new version 5 of the Navigator service adds the welcome ability to have routes streamed in progress, so no more waiting for the entire route to download prior to heading out. It also integrates with Facebook if desired and has an improved interface, according to Verizon. Navigator version 5 is initially only available on the BlackBerryCurve 8530 smartphone, Storm, Storm 2, LG enVTouch, HTC Touch Pro2 and Samsung Omnia.

    Opera Mini is coming to the App World this quarter. Opera Mini is the version of the mobile browser that is designed for optimal use on non-touch screen phones. The inclusion of Opera in the App World demonstrates the benefits of Rsearch In Motion and its openness for allowing competing technology into the store.

    RIM has pushed an update to the Windows version of the BlackBerry Media Sync app. The new app sports a better interface and improved photo synchronization. There is no Mac update yet, but PC users can either update through Media Sync or by visiting the Media Sync site.

  • Logitech TouchMouse App Controls Your PC or Mac With the iPhone

    Some of the best utilities are the ones that do simple things, but do them very well. That is the case with the Logitech TouchMouse for the iPhone. This free app connects with a Windows PC or Mac over Wi-Fi, and turns the iPhone into a big multitouch trackpad complete with three mouse buttons. The TouchMouse user is able to completely control the PC or Mac using the iPhone. There is even a touch keyboard for text entry if needed. I don’t even need to tell you how cool it is to scroll around on a Windows PC using multitouch on the iPhone instead of a trackpad.

    Why is TouchMouse useful? A number of scenarios come to mind — controlling a media center from the sofa is one, or how about giving a presentation and using the iPhone to control the slides? I tested the latter on both my Mac and a PC and this worked flawlessly. I was able to get as far from the notebook as desired, since Wi-Fi requires no line of sight, and advanced the slides at will.

    Logitech TouchMouse is free and in addition to the iPhone app — available in the App Store — a server application must be downloaded for the computer. There are Windows and Mac versions of the server software at the TouchMouse web site.

  • Sony Ericsson Aspen Launched — First Phone with Windows Mobile 6.5.3

    It is just a few weeks until the big Mobile World Congress, the big smartphone show in Spain, but Sony Ericsson wasn’t happy to wait to launch its latest Windows phone. The brand new Aspen is the first phone running the newly released version of Windows Mobile, 6.5.3. The Aspen looks more like a phone from Nokia, and it has features that might appeal to the business user and consumer alike.

    Aspen specs:

    • Size: 117 x 60 x 12.45 mm
    • Weight: 130 grams
    • Memory card support: SanDisk microSD™, up to 16 GB
    • Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.5.3
    • Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 10 hours
    • Standby time: GSM/GPRS: Up to 450 hours
    • Talk time UMTS: Up to 8 hours
    • Standby time: UMTS: Up to 600 hours
    • Music listening  time: Up to 12 hours

    Networks:

    • UMTS HSPA 900/2100
    • GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
    • UMTS HSPA 850/900/2100
    • GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900

    The Aspen will be available in the second quarter of this year, but there is no word on pricing as yet. The big story is the inclusion of the newest version of Windows Mobile, v.6.5.3. This version of WinMo has new interface features that make it work easier with touch. A welcome change is the ability to place program icons wherever desired on the Home screen. There is also a new magnifier that makes it easier to touch controls on legacy programs.

    It’s easier to show with pictures, so here are some screenshots of Windows Mobile 6.5.3 that have not been seen before.

  • Nexus One Headed to Verizon, AT&T, Sprint?

    The Google Nexus One is easily the best Android phone on the market today — at least I have been impressed with the brief play time I’ve had. I know Kevin is still enjoying his Nexus One, based on conversations with him about it. While Google’s business model for the Nexus One is unique, in that they sell the phone themselves to be used on the T-Mobile network, it starts to make more sense if new information that is surfacing holds true.

    FCC filings show a Nexus One model that is equipped with the radios needed to work on the AT&T network in the U.S. This would also work in Europe. The original Nexus One will only work on the T-Mobile 3G network, so this new model would enable Google to have handsets that work on both carrier’s networks.

    Having a phone that can work on both the T-Mobile and AT&T networks would open up a bigger market for the Google phone, but that might not be enough for Google. Evidence is mounting that the Google phone may soon be appearing on the Sprint CDMA network.

    A customer’s interaction with Sprint leads us to believe we may see a Nexus One on that network, too. A Sprint customer asked if the carrier would be carrying the Nexus One, and got this reply:

    “Thank you for contacting Sprint regarding the nexus one. Unfortunately, this handset model is not on offer as of now.

    Once it is launched, you will see promotional campaigns related to the launch date, cost and the features of the handset on our Web site and other promotional media.”

    While this is by no means conclusive, it sure looks like the Nexus One may be coming to Sprint. I guess we’ll have to keep an eye on the FCC for evidence that a Sprint version is indeed forthcoming. A Verizon model already shows as “coming soon” on the Nexus One product page, and this all fits together;  the Sprint and Verizon networks both use the same CDMA technology. That would have Google selling a phone that can work on all major U.S. carriers.

  • First Impressions of HP iPAQ Glisten Smartphone

    HP iPAQ evokes strong feelings of nostalgia in me. I think I’ve played with every iPAQ ever made, and remember fondly the move from PDA to smartphone. When HP offered to send over the Glisten for me to have a look, I admit to having feelings of yesteryear passing before my eyes. So how does HP’s latest offering in the smartphone space stack up? I’ll leave that assessment up to you, and give my thoughts on the Glisten to help you do that.

    The HP Glisten is available in the U.S. on the AT&T network. It has all of the pieces you expect a good smartphone to have:

    • Size: 112.8 x 62.8 x 13.4 mm, 132 grams (4.44 x 2.47 x 0.53 inches, 4.65 ounces)
    • Radios: North America — 850/1900 MHz, GSM/GPRS/EDGE; 850/1900 UMTS/HSDPA; Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), Bluetooth 2.0
    • Display: 2.5-inch AMOLED resistive touch screen
    • QWERTY keyboard, 5-way D-pad
    • Audio features: 3.5 mm headphone, speakerphone, dual microphones (bottom and back) with noise cancellation
    • Camera: 3.1 megapixel, 5X digital zoom, fixed focus
    • Battery: 1590 mAh, Li-Polymer
    • Memory: 256 MB SDRAM / 512 MB Flash
    • Storage: Micro SD slot (no memory card included)
    • GPS: Assisted GPS (software not included)
    • OS: Windows Mobile 6.5
    • Applications: Microsoft Office Mobile, Outlook Mobile, IE Mobile 6, Windows Media Player Mobile, MS Internet Sharing, MSN Money, MSN Weather, Facebook, and more

    I have been using the Glisten for a little while and my impressions are mixed, I must admit. The hardware is typical iPAQ — first-rate. The phone is very well constructed and although a bit wide it fits comfortably in the hand. The hardware buttons below the screen are big and easy to hit, and the D-pad is easy to use.

    The single best feature of the Glisten is the QWERTY keyboard. It may be the best thumb keyboard I have ever used, as the keys are decently sized with a nice curvature for fast typing. Everybody I have handed the Glisten to has immediately remarked how much they like this keyboard. HP has produced a winner with it.

    The Glisten comes packed with Windows Mobile 6.5, and the user experience is a mixed bag. I love the attractive today screen, and it has been properly optimized to work with touch. The Home screen is another beast altogether, as try as I have I can’t get used to the honeycomb display of programs. That is further complicated by the fact that there is little user control over this display, and newly installed programs go to the very bottom of the screen. That requires constant scrolling to get to the app just installed, which is backward. You can move some icons to the top of the screen, but that’s the sum total of the control over the display.

    Windows Mobile 6.5 is still very stylus-centric, and that’s the biggest problem I have using the Glisten. The screen is fairly small for a touch screen, and things can be so small on the display that the stylus is the only sure way to hit them. HP has included a stylus with the Glisten that stores neatly in the phone for this reason.

    The lack of a good touch interface is constantly an issue. WM6.5 uses two soft buttons on the bottom of the screen that are context-sensitive based on the active program. That’s normally a good thing, but the Glisten lacks hardware buttons that correspond to these soft buttons. The user is thus constantly faced with needing to hit a soft button, and they are so small the only sure way to hit them is with the stylus. That involves stopping, removing the stylus from its silo, tapping the screen — well, you get the picture.

    This leads me to the impression I get when using the Glisten. The smaller screen, even though touch-enabled, coupled with the large keyboard, makes it seem a natural that the user should be able to interact with the phone without needing touch. That’s not the case as I’ve demonstrated, and it feels unnatural to keep shifting between touching controls and using the buttons. It’s like the phone can’t decide what it wants to be: a touch phone or not.

    Overall I find the Glisten to be a very good phone. Audio quality is very good and the speakerphone is quite loud. The noise cancellation makes voice input for programs that support it work nicely. The Glisten does what a phone should do very well, and that is make phone calls.

  • Zune Phone at MWC?

    The Mobile World Congress (MWC) kicks off two weeks from today, and for sure there will be no shortage of new phones announced at the big show. A Spanish blog is claiming that Microsoft will be showing the mythical Zune phone at the MWC. A Zune phone has been rumored for as long as I can remember, and Microsoft has previously said “no way” to producing one. But the Spanish blog is claiming that a Zune phone announcement is “100 percent confirmed.”

    A Zune phone makes perfect sense for Microsoft to compete with the iPhone. The new Zune players have a user interface that is top-notch and far better than anything that has appeared on the company’s Windows Mobile side. Microsoft is of course keeping mum about what they may be announcing at the MWC, although it’s widely expected that the next big version of Windows Mobile — version 7 — should make an appearance. A Zune phone would sure shake things up in the smartphone world and this geek would love to see one show up at MWC.

    The rumored Zune phone is said to be using the Nvidia Tegra chipset, which handles advanced graphics on mobile devices. How advanced? Just take a look at the video we shot of the Tegra at the CES. We saw firsthand that the Tegra chipset can handle very intense graphics without missing a beat.

    It is an interesting dilemma should Microsoft produce a Zune phone. Its entire Windows Mobile business model is predicated on providing the platform for business partners to exploit to advantage. Should the company decide to produce its own Zune phone, the business model may get shaken. That same observation could be made about the Google Nexus One phone.

    (via Gizmodo)

  • New Wacom Tablet Goes Wireless

    The Wacom tablet has long been the gold standard for external graphics tablets for graphic artists and others. The tablets can be used for a variety of purposes that need precise control over the screen that only a pen can provide. The company’s Intuos4 line of tablets has received a new addition that may appeal to mobile professionals needing to make use of a wireless peripheral.

    The new Intuos4 wireless tablet is the same as the medium wired version that has been available for a while. This model has a small (8×5 inch) active area that provides a Wacom pressure sensitive active digitizer for use with the pen. There is also a wireless mouse accessory that can be used with the tablet for standard mouse control.

    The new wireless model connects to either Windows PCs or Macs via Bluetooth, and uses a rechargeable battery that is charged via USB. The tablet can be used while charging, a nice touch. The ability to work wirelessly could be a boon to mobile workers wishing to cut the cord for simpler work sessions. I know my brother the draftsman has long wished for a wireless graphics tablet to make use with a notebook. I’ll have to ask him if he thinks this is worth the $399 price tag.

  • e-Book Echo: What Does the iPad Mean to e-Books?

    Our platform focus continues this fine Sunday with the e-Book Echo, our take on the week in the digital publishing world. The biggest news in the e-book world this week was unquestionably the launch of the Apple iPad and the iBooks application. The iPad will do many things, but Apple is touting the iBooks reader and the newly launched iBookstore for purchasing e-books. Apple’s marketing clout will no doubt make an impact on the e-book market, but what do we know about this new reader and store?

    Apple made it clear that the content for the iPad will be based on the open-source ePUB format. This sounds good on the surface, but Adobe contacted us to let us know that Apple’s proprietary DRM will not permit iBook content to be used on anything but the iPad. The DRM will not be supported by other readers. This makes for a restriction that Apple has imposed on its own content that perhaps they’d better think about.

    It was demonstrated that iPhone apps will work on the larger iPad, so that means that all current third party e-book reader apps will work. It remains to be seen how well they will work on the larger screen of the iPad, but we’ve already heard from some companies who are busy creating iPad versions of existing iPhone readers. It will be interesting to see if Apple permits these new iPad readers in the App Store, as they have a history of not approving apps that compete with core functionality of the devices. While iPhone versions were previously approved, now that Apple has iBooks, these third party readers compete with Apple. This could get predictably sticky if Apple decides to keep these readers from the App Store. If they don’t, the iPad may end up being the reader that supports the widest range of commercial e-book content (Kobo, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, etc…).

    Those familiar with the e-book world know that it is a veritable hornet’s nest getting agreements with publishers for content. Separate agreements often have to be forged with each country to allow sales in that locale. Apple has already discovered this dicey situation, as it has become clear that the iBookstore will only be open to U.S. customers initially. The iPads sold outside of the U.S. will not even have the iBooks reader on the device. Surely Apple is working on deals to allow book sales outside the U.S., but it is not clear how long that process may take.