Sony Xperia X1 Unboxing Video

As we announced the first production Sony Xperia X1 has started landing to user hands. Today I spotted at our Italian friends at MyLostBlog the first unboxing video. The X1 is the first Windows Mobile powered Sony device.

Quick Specs: 52.6×110.5×17mm, 158g, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional AKU 1.2.0, 32bit Qualcomm MSM7201A, 528MHz CPU, 384MiB RAM, 512MiB ROM, 3" 480×800 color transflective TFT display, 3.5mm audio jack, GSM850/GSM900/GSM1800/GSM1900/UMTS900/UMTS1700/UMTS1900/UMTS2100, CSD, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, microSD/microSDHC/TransFlash/SDIO, mini-USB port, Bluetooth, WLAN, GPS, A-GPS, FM radio, Slide-out QWERTY-type keyboard, 3.1MP camera, AF, flash, secondary camera, 1500mAh removable battery.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Unveiled

Nokia unveiled its first full touchscreen, the 5800 XpressMusic.  The unit has capacitive with haptic feedback screen. The device is powered by Symbian S60 OS with full finger interface. (Full datasheet HERE!)

Nokia arms this phone with its well touted  Comes with Music,  which give the user 1 year of music unlimited download from  Nokia Music store. Tracks come in WMA with DRM protected.

At the same time, Nokia introduced Symbian S60 5th Edition, supposedly to add the some latest features such wide screen support, finger-touch, G-sensor/accelerometer, etc.. 

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is expected in North  American in first part of 2009.

[Source Nokia Via Saunderslog]

iPaq to Make a Comeback to Consumer Market

The latest releases of Windows Mobile devices from HP were somewhat unnoticeable with delay and so-so features aiming essentially to corporate users. But HP is determined to make a comeback with the iPaq branch to comsumer market The Wall Street Journal reports.

The details are still sketchy for now, but for sure the new iPaq’s will run Windows Mobile Pro with QWERTY frontal keypad and according to the WSJ, they will be available by year end. 

Microsoft to Release “Windows Cloud”

With the proliferation of the Netbook class of device, vendors have to rely on the old Windows/XP OS for familiarity of the user interface.  Microsoft might seize the opportunity to develop a modern but slim down version of Windows. At the same time, this move could position Microsoft to answer to Google, if they should move further with their Google Chrome, which has the potential to deliver Web apps that can run online or offline in addition to its normal duty of Web browsing.

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO who spoke to an auditorium of IT managers at a Microsoft-sponsored conference in London confirmed a OS codenamed “Windows Cloud”, which is  an OS in its own right and it is not part of the Windows 7, is in the work.

Ballmer points out that Microsoft doesn’t envision its software products moving entirely off desktop PCs and onto the Internet. But Microsoft is working on a service that would let people do "light editing" of Office documents at places such as a public Internet kiosk, Ballmer said.

[Source ComputerWorld]

Blackberry Storm Bootleg Demo

In a promo event organized by Vodafone. The video promo of all features that the Storm can do.
Later when it comes to Verizon State side things might change a bit. But the features look darn good!

In case you wonder: The song is Black and Gold - Sam Sparro

[Via Crackberry]

Zune Software to be Integrated to Windows Mobile

The rumors were on again and off again about some integration between Windows Mobile and Zune but nobody was sure about which scenario that Microsoft will take: Either add phone function to Zune hardware (a la iPhone) or add Zune software to Windows Mobile OS.

Today Steve Ballmer suggests that Microsoft plans the latter approach. "Now, we built the Zune hardware with the Zune software–and what you’ll see more and more over time is that the Zune software will also be ported to and be more important not just with the hardware but on the PC, on Windows Mobile devices, etc.," Ballmer said.  Furthermore,  a Microsoft representative states: "We’ve always said that software and services is a key focal point for Zune and it does make sense to extend the Zune experience to other devices," the representative said. "In terms of specific timing we have nothing to announce at the moment."

all this might explain the delay needed for the upcoming Windows Mobile 7, which might be the point where the merge of WM and Zune software begins.

Mailplane - the feature-riche email client that brings the best of Gmail to your Mac

For Mac users, and Gmail fans. Mailplane is one of several email clients available to interact with Gmail. The only difference is Gmail gives the close look and feels with Gmail Web app side. Mailplane supports most popular features like conversations, search, and labels.

The most appealing feature is the support for multiple gmail accounts.

• Video Demo
• Features

Available HERE!

Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine: Best Software Awards 2008 Winners Announced

The Winners in Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine’s Eighth Annual Best Software Awards for Windows Mobile software have been announced at www.Smartphonemag.com/Awards.

Eighty members of the Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine Board of Experts judged 936 Windows Mobile products in 194 Pocket PC and Smartphone categories. Winners are also listed in the Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine 2009 Resource Guide first seen late November.

From the Publisher of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine, Hal Goldstein
"The annual Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine Best Software Awards helps users select software that best suits their Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone needs by honoring companies that produce outstanding software. The awards process is a huge 6-month undertaking involving the experts of the Windows Mobile community starting with over 15,000 Pocket PC and Smartphone products."

The Awards Process
Nominations Manager, Werner Ruotsalainen, and the Board of Expert judges spent two months selecting 936 award nominees, about 20% of the software in the Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine Encyclopedia of Software and Accessories.

The Board of Experts
The Board of Experts voted for the finalists and winners are from all over the world. They run prominent Web Sites, serve as Microsoft MVPs, and write for Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine and other organizations. These experts all are volunteers and none are employed by Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine.

Winners & Finalists listed in last issue of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine — available in new Knowledge Bundle
The Knowledge Bundle contains 2009 Resource Guide (last issue) with Awards Winners & Finalists, GPS, How-tos and Accessories sections, 100-page How-to Guide, Back-Issues of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine and a 15% discount on all Windows Mobile software.

Nintendo Adds DSi

This morning, at San Francisco at Nintendo’s press event, Nintendo confirms the upcoming DSi,game device, which has been unveiled in Japan recently.

Touting the DSi as the third platform (Wii, DS and DSi) to avoid cannibalizing the still strong sell of the DS.

However, look at the form factor, I can’t help to think the DSi is a newer DS. The DSi will be 12 percent thinner, it replaces the GBA slot for the built-in NVRAM and SD card slot for external storage.

The unit is Wi-Fi capable and will inherit a faster version of Opera browser to facilitate purchase future transactions with the new  "DSi Shop". Along with a larger 3.25 inches screen, which will be excellent for photo viewing. User can sync to the Wii Photo Channel. Other features include VGA camera and music player…

The unit will be launched in November for Japan only. It costs about $180. US users should expect well in-to-2009 calendar year.

[Source Official DSi website Via Joystick]

Learn About The Current Financial Crisis

We can’t not ignore the current sensitive financial that hunts the world economy. Cali Lewis, the Queen of Tech dedicates her show to Nick Colas, a well respected figure on Wall Street.  Nick talks to us about the crisis on Wall Street. Is it a crisis? What is the bailout all about? He explains everything in a very simple way and from a Wall Street perspective.

[Source Cali Ustream]

Complete Your iPhone Exchange/ActiveSync Solution with TaskData

As you know, the new iPhone 2.0 software upgrade has given ActiveSync synchronization capabilities with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange server environments for e-mail, calendars, and contacts. But Apple just left out another important PIM application, Task management.
Now with TaskData you can finally complete your Outlook experience on your iPhone by working with your Tasks! That’s right, easily add/edit/delete tasks that will synchronize wirelessly over-the-air to your corporate network and Microsoft Outlook!
No additional software is required. No additional monthly or yearly fees! You should be up and running within minutes of downloading the application and configuring your Microsoft Exchange (OWA) settings from the iPhone/TaskData settings applet.

Available in Apple App store HERE!

Wordpress 2.7 Dashboard Sneak peek

The Blog engine Wordpress developer team is working feverishly on the new version 2.7.  Features are being added, small layout changes are gradually being implemented, and the application is morphing before your very eyes nightly.

Though 2.7 is still a work in progress, they’ve put together a set of wireframes to illustrate how  it will all turn out, so you can take a look under the hood of the design process. The biggest visual change is the vertical tabs to relief the space constraint.

Watch Hulu, Listen to Pandora from abroad

Some rich content web sites are territorial based such Hulu, Pandora. Meaning you can only have access to these services from US soils. For world traveler, this serverely limitation to follow TV shows or listen to their favorite music stations while been away from home.   

Tinkernut.com explains how you can easily bypass this limitation with a small utility called HotSpot Shield that we mentioned several time HERE!

But we thought visual tutorial may be good for better understanding.

Comparison Sprint WiMax V.S. Verizon EV-DO

A team from Laptop magazine went to Baltimore, the fist city chosen by Sprint to debuts its first commercial 4G WiMax network.  The tests were conducted using the Sprint XOHM ExpressCard adapter and the Kyocera EV-DO card on Verizon Wireless’ network.

The results are shown below. XOHM seems to deliver from 50 to 300% faster in speed.

Beside the coverage of XOHM is still in its infancy compared to Verizon EV-DO. For people who can have both networks presence. The choice is clear when you have a closer look of the pricing:

• XOHM costs $10 for a day pass, or $25 per month for Home Internet service and a $30 monthly On-the-go service no contract. There’s also the option of a $50 “Pick 2 for Life” monthly service plan. clocking in at 3.05 Mbps downstream and 2.4 Mbps upstream.
• EV-DO on Verizon Wireless, by comparison, costs a sky high $39.99 for just 50MB of data usage or $59.99 for 5GB of data. Additionally, you need to have a 2-year contract. 1.43 Mbps downstream and 0.54 Mbps upstream

Read the full test HERE!

Microsoft: No Plan to Offer Free Windows Mobile License Fee

Reuters reports that Microsoft has no intention to give away Windows Mobile license fee faced to new free offerings from Google and Nokia for their Android and Symbian OS respectively.

Until now, phone makers have to pay between $5 to $15 per unit to Microsoft to have Windows Mobile running.

I am confident that in the current situation Microsoft could leave the status quo and we might see the strategy changes when we get closer to the release of the  next version Windows Mobile 7, Where they might figure out a better ecosystem to generate revenue rather than banking of OS license fees.  [Source Reuter]