BostonPocketPC

Thanks to everyone who attended my two sessions this past weekend at Code Camp 9 in Waltham, MA. As always, it was great meeting new folks and connecting with friends.

I have now posted the presentations for download -

• Leveraging the .NET Compact Framework 3.5 Developer Tools
• Windows Communication Foundation ("WCF") for Windows Mobile 

My travels and busy schedule have delayed me in publicly congratulating our very own Johan van Mierlo, who received the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional ("MVP") award for Mobile devices on April 1st. Johan has been involved in user groups and forums both here in New England and in Europe (but now he and his family are back with us in the States) for a number of years, and has recently been posting news and reviews here and responding to questions in the Microsoft Windows Mobile forums.

Congratulations, Johan!

This is a reminder - There will be no user group meeting this month (April 16th, 2008). We will be meeting on Wednesday, May 21st. Stay tuned for a post this evening regarding that meeting...

Review: Jabra  BT8040

In the last of couple of years I have been trying many Bluetooth headsets. But my main problems with them are that they are clunky and uncomfortable.  During the 2008 CES Jabra Launched their new BT8040 which is small and has an in ear comfortable fit using, according to the size of your ear, flexible loops/rings.

Many in ear headsets never worked for me since I have smaller ears and always had to use the extra provided around the ear loop. Even though I had a good fit they were still very uncomfortable.

Last week during the CTIA I met with the people from Jabra and had the opportunity to take a closer look at the BT 8040 headset and try it on my impossible ears.  Instantly I had a very comfortable feeling of this very light weight headset. They were kind enough to provide me a sample for use with a longer period.

I have been wearing and using this headset for a week now and I clearly have to say that it is very comfortable small and light without losing the quality of sound and the ease of use.  The small round button is easy to find and feel to answer a call or to start the voice command for starting a call. Two smaller buttons on the top and bottom have different tones indicating the volume. The lower tone is volume down and higher tone is volume up. Even thought the microphone is further away my callers didn’t notice any of this and the noise reduction did eliminate many background noises on the streets of Las Vegas.

The Jabra BT8040 also is great for listing to your music on your phone via A2DP and has great quality. The transfer from listening to music to an incoming call is great and is no hassle at all. After the call is finished it continues with the music where it left off.

In the short time I have been using this great headset. I can’t compare the ease of use, comfort, quality and design to any other headset out there.

The box includes:

• Jabra BT8040 with internal rechargeable battery
• 6 Jabra ear gel (2 small, 2 medium, 2 large)
• Illustrated user
• Quick start Guide
• AC power supply
• USB charging cable

The Jabra BT8040 retails for $ 99.99 but many lower prices can be found online

The specifications are:

Microphone
Sensitivity –44 dB ± 3 dB (1kHz, 0db=1V/Pa)
Omni-directional 4 mm Omni-directional microphone

Speaker
Type 11 mm electro-dynamic receiver
Sensitivity 110 dB ± 3dB rel. to 1 mW at 1.0 KHz
Impedance 16 Ω ± 2.4 Ω at 1.0 KHz 0.2 V

Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
Noise reduction on transmitted and received audio, Noise dependent volume control, Automatic volume adjustment on received audio, Acoustic shock protection

Operating temperature
-20° C to 60° C

Storage temperature
-20° C to 45° C

Waterproof
No

AC power supply
5VDC, 0.25A output, 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz input

Charging plug
Micro USB B – 7.4 x 2,7 mm

BT8040 materials
Polycarbonate (PC), Polycarbonate/Acryl Butadien Styren (PC/ABS), TPE, Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)

Pairing code or PIN
0000 ( 4 Zeros )

Features
Auto pairing, Answer/end call, Voice dial*, Last-number redial*, Reject call*, Call hold/ call wait*, Mute, Multipoint, Play music, Quiet mode (turns light off after 1 minute)

Bluetooth compliance
Qualified for Bluetooth Specification version 2.0 + EDR (enhanced data rate)

Supported Bluetooth profiles
Headset and Hands-free Profiles for phone conversations and Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) for streaming music

Compatibility
Jabra BT8040 is compatible with other Bluetooth devices with Bluetooth 1.1 (or higher) specifications and supports the Bluetooth headset, hands-free audio and / or advanced audio distribution profiles

Security
128 bit encryption

Operating range
Up to 33 feet 

Paired devices
Up to 8 devices - connected to 2 at the same time (multi point)

Talk time
Up to 6 hours

Standby time
Up to 200 hours

Charging time
Approximately 2 hours

Weight
Less than 10 g (approximately 1/3 oz)

Dimensions
L1.54 x W.71 x D.47 inches

 

What do you get when you cross a Windows Mobile proffesional Phone (Touch Screen) and  a Blackberry.

"A VelocityMobile 111 phone with all those benefits"

Some previous i-mate employee started up their own company and at CTIA they where giving private showing of their new phones. The Microsoft booth had also one on display.

A touch screen, qwerty keyboard, trackball with mouse pointer on screen and internal GPS on board. This is going to be very interesting.

Just take a look at the specifications

This phone is being set for launch in Q3 but their 103 phone should be coming already in Q2....which can be any day now.

Let's see who has this one first for review.

 

 

HTC announced today at CTIA that the popular HTC Touch Dual™ will debut in the United States this quarter. The HTC Touch Dual™ combines an intuitive touch screen with integrated TouchFLO™ technology and slide-out keypad and Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional software, making it easier for customers to communicate on the go.

“HTC has witnessed incredible support and demand for the Touch product portfolio, and we are pleased to provide our customers with the opportunity to experience additional iterations of the Touch product family,” said Jason Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America. “The Touch Dual will be among the first devices in the United States to run Windows Mobile 6.1 and will be followed by a range of 6.1 updates for several other HTC products.”

Software Upgrades Available on HTC Devices
In partnership with Microsoft and key mobile operator partners, HTC will continue to extend the functionality of many current HTC devices both in the United States and abroad by providing Windows Mobile 6.1 updates. Windows Mobile 6.1, an update to Windows Mobile 6, provides new timesaving features, easier phone navigation and management, stronger security safeguards, and support for Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008. Some of HTC’s most popular smartphones including the Touch by HTC and Mogul by HTC from Sprint, AT&T Tilt, Alltel Wireless’ HTC Touch and PPC6800, and the HTC TyTN II, will be among the first of many devices available for a Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade.

  Supporting existing customers and enhancing their experiences continues to be a focus for HTC; Sprint and HTC recently provided an update for the popular Mogul by HTC, making it the industry’s first EV-DO Rev. A-capable handset while also enabling additional GPS functionality.

“Windows Mobile enhances people’s lives by providing them with an experience that keeps them close to what’s important to them — anywhere, anytime,” said John O’Rourke, general manager of the Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft. “HTC has a history of providing a great selection of popular Windows Mobile phones, and we are pleased to bring the latest in software to a range of its products around the world.”

HTC Touch Dual Availability and Features
  Best Buy will be the first to offer the HTC Touch Dual, which will be available through select Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile retail outlets, online at BestBuy.com and htc.com.

“At Best Buy we are committed to providing customers with a wide selection of high quality handsets,” said David Ryan, director of merchandising, Best Buy Mobile. “We look forward to adding the innovative HTC Touch Dual to our current lineup of unlocked phones.”

  Taking user control to a whole new level, the HTC Touch Dual combines an intuitive touch screen and keypad within a stunning design. The versatile device offers an interactive cube interface for quick and easy navigation to e-mails, text messages, calendar appointments and contacts. Features include the following:

• TouchFLO™, a touch-screen technology that allows finger-touch scrolling, panning and photo zooming
• Slide-out 20-key keyboard for quick dialing, text messages and e-mail
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• Microsoft Office Mobile for working on documents and getting your Outlook e-mail
• Live HTC Home™ featuring time and weather display, quick launcher, and one-touch ring-tone settings
• 2 megapixel camera for shooting photos/videos and a second camera for video calls
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900Mhz) and HSDPA (850/1900Mhz) connectivity

More information is available here:

Download product sheet

Download product flyer one

Download product flyer two

At CTIA Wireless 2008, Microsoft announced the the immediate availability of System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 and plans for a Microsoft Mobile Services Plan (MMSP) to be available from mobile operators worldwide. Together with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1, the software and services provide the best solution for midsize and large businesses to manage and help protect Windows Mobile phones.

“With Microsoft’s mobile solutions, businesses now have the power, control and flexibility over how they deliver information to their employees on the go,” said John O’Rourke, general manager, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft. “Together with our partners, we’re helping enterprises extend their reach like never before.”

Microsoft saw positive response to early trial programs for Mobile Device Manager. Companies across the financial, manufacturing and professional services industries also requested that mobile operators deliver a core set of software and services to help businesses meet their management needs.

A study conducted by Microsoft with large and midsize organizations showed businesses would like to move beyond their current mobile solutions to offer more sophisticated services. Mobile Device Manager meets their needs by offering the following benefits:

•Features to manage phones with the same ease and flexibility as Windows-based PCs, addressing IT priorities for saving resources and protecting information

•Capability to help protect sensitive business files and e-mails, contacts and other information through file and storage card encryption on the phone should it be lost or stolen

•Ability to access more of the information mobile workers need for staying on top of their jobs via a mobile virtual private network, which provides security-enhanced access to company data and application updates over the air

Mobile Services Plan Enriches End-to-End Experience

Today leading operators AT&T, O2, Orange, TaTa Teleservices Ltd. and Verizon Wireless announced they are in discussions with Microsoft to deliver the Microsoft Mobile Services Plan. MMSP is a set of core software and services that provides a uniform experience across Windows Mobile 6.1 phones, whether working with one or more operators, saving time and resources so companies can focus on other areas of mobility. Beginning later in 2008, operators plan to offer a subscription plan that will bring businesses the following:

•A corporate-grade network and data plan to support enterprise applications and services to help people get work done with the responsiveness they expect from the network and the efficient use of battery power they want on their phones

•A package from mobile operators, including access rights to Mobile Device Manager as well as the advanced mobile management features of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Microsoft Services Premier Support and Software Assurance for Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Office Mobile running on Windows Mobile 6.1-based phones.

Fast-Growing Network of Partners Open for Business

Responding to the opportunity created by Mobile Device Manager and complementing the MMSP, a large network of global partners are ready to integrate and deploy into existing systems as well as create custom solutions for businesses. Among the first companies that worked with Microsoft to support early trial programs are AT&T Inc., EDS, Enterprise Mobile, HP, O2, Orange, SAT Corp. and Verizon Wireless.

“Given AT&T’s leadership in the Windows Mobile space, AT&T is excited that Mobile Device Manager is now a reality for our enterprise customers,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Marketing and Operations for AT&T’s wireless unit. “Every day, mobile devices become more ubiquitous throughout the enterprise, and the need to securely manage those devices, data and applications is critical for IT organizations. Through our early adopter trials, our customers are responding positively to AT&T’s deployment and optimization plans for Mobile Device Manager and are eager to adopt the first end-to-end wireless-focused enterprise solution that can maximize their investments in Microsoft technology.”

A wave of Windows Mobile 6.1 phones and operator networks supporting Mobile Device Manager is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2008 from Alltel Wireless, ASUS, AT&T, HP, HTC Corp., i-mate, Intermec Inc., Motorola, O2, Orange, Palm Inc., Pantech, Samsung, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, Sprint, TaTa Teleservices Ltd., TELUS, Toshiba and Verizon Wireless.

Management Solutions for Every Business Need

Mobile Device Manager builds on the core set of security and management features provided by Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1 and complements the comprehensive deployment, updating and asset management capabilities of Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007. Mobile Device Manager is available through Microsoft Volume Licensing. Client access licenses will be available through existing volume licensing channels in areas where mobile operators do not yet offer the plan. More information is available at http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/mobile/default.mspx.

Well if you haven't heard already Windows 6.1 is now here.

Now it’s even easier to stay connected and manage your busy life—from just about anywhere. Windows Mobile 6.1 is full of enhancements, made with your needs in mind:

• Instant messaging-like texting
• Improved Internet browsing
• Simpler e-mail and Bluetooth setup
• New Home screen interface
• New Getting Started Center
• Security enhancements
• Easier Wi-Fi connection
• More personal choice

Check out the cool video here.

Here is the official press release at CTIA Wireless 2008 as well a listing of what devices will be getting the update:

Windows Mobile is improving smartphones to better meet people’s rapidly expanding work and personal needs, Microsoft Corp. today announced. At CTIA Wireless 2008, the company unveiled the newest version of Internet Explorer Mobile, which adds desktop-grade Web browsing to Windows Mobile phones. In addition, Microsoft announced Windows Mobile 6.1, an update for its Windows Mobile software that includes new time-saving features, easier phone navigation and management, and increased security safeguards.

“People want a single phone that’s flexible enough to meet their needs throughout their day, whether it’s connecting to work or your everyday life,” said Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “The innovations we’ve added to our Windows Mobile software ultimately make it easier to manage your world.”

“Microsoft is taking the necessary steps to broaden its consumer appeal while also addressing the complex mobile needs of the enterprise,” said Ben Bajarin, analyst with Creative Strategies. “Internet Explorer Mobile and Windows Mobile 6.1 demonstrate Microsoft’s ability to harness its technologies to bring tangible innovations and benefits to customers and partners.”

Updated Internet Explorer Mobile Brings the Quality of Desktop Web Browsing to Phones

The new version of Internet Explorer Mobile adds the ability to easily view full-screen Web pages and multimedia on the Web with a smartphone. By taking advantage of Internet Explorer 6 technologies and supporting established and upcoming industry standards such as H.264, Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight, the updated Internet Explorer Mobile gives people a rich mobile Internet experience. The update will be available to mobile phone partners in the third quarter of 2008, with the first Windows Mobile phones using the new version expected to be available by the end of 2008.

Windows Mobile Update Drives Simpler Experience

Windows Mobile 6.1 features several key updates based on customer feedback, including the capability to make the most critical information readily available at a glance, quicker phone setup, and enhanced features adapted for the small screen. In addition, if coupled with System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 or Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Windows Mobile 6.1 provides the best experience for IT professionals to manage mobile phones for businesses.

Windows Mobile 6.1 will help people get more from their phones by bringing updates to what they care about most. With Windows Mobile 6.1 users will be able to accomplish the following:

•Stay up to date and share from a single location. Glance at and respond to notifications such as missed calls, upcoming appointments and new messages from the home screen as well as play music and share photos.

•Get up and running in minutes. From setting up e-mail, a Bluetooth headset or Wi-Fi, the new Getting Started Center makes the phone experience intuitive and simple.

•Save time with features adapted for the small screen. Easily flag, delete or move groups of messages and keep track of conversations through threaded text messaging. Zoom in on text or pictures, or view an entire Web page at once.

•Help keep business information protected. Support for System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 helps administrators manage phones similarly to a Windows-based PC or access company data that may be behind a firewall; and support for Exchange Server 2007 SP1 advanced mobile policies helps businesses manage and administer security for phones while enabling people to find, share, and use information no matter where they are.

More information is available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/apr08/04-01EnterpriseMobilePR.mspx.

Industry Embraces Windows Mobile 6.1

Partners from around the globe are committed to updating or expanding their portfolios to Windows Mobile 6.1 beginning in the second quarter of 2008, demonstrating the strong industry demand for software that delivers one phone for all aspects of a person’s life.

“AT&T customers select Windows Mobile phones because they’re a fit for their lives — whether that’s traveling the globe, managing the family’s schedule or staying in touch with colleagues,” said Mike Woodward, vice president, Business Data Service for AT&T Mobility. “We intend to update our most popular Windows Mobile phones to offer these new capabilities that help our customers get the most from their mobile experience where they live and work.”

Other partners include Alltel Wireless, AT&T, ASUS, HP, HTC Corp., i-mate, Intermec Inc., Motorola, O2, Orange, Palm Inc., Pantech, Samsung, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, Sprint, T-Mobile USA Inc., T-Mobile International Inc., T-Mobile Germany, TELUS, Toshiba, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone. The following new phones and updates were announced today:

Mobile operators:

•Alltel Wireless: HTC PPC6800, HTC Touch

•AT&T: Samsung BlackJack II, MOTO Q 9h global, Pantech duo, AT&T Tilt by HTC

•Sprint: A new Palm Treo and updates for the Mogul by HTC, Touch by HTC, MOTO Q 9c, Samsung ACE

•T-Mobile International: T-Mobile MDA Ameo 16 GB, T-Mobile MDA compact IV

Device-makers:

•ASUS: New phones including the P320, ZX1, P560, M536 and updates for the P527, P750, M930

•HTC: A new Touch Dual for the U.S. and updates for the AT&T Tilt, Touch by HTC, Mogul by HTC from Sprint, TyTN II

•i-mate: 8502, 9502, 8150, 6150

•Intermec: CN3

•Motorola: MOTO Q 9c, MOTO Q 9h global, MC70, MC9000

•Pantech: Pantech duo

•Samsung: BlackJack II

•Toshiba: Portégé G810,Portégé G910

More information about Windows Mobile 6.1 is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/default.mspx;

Information on System Center Mobile Device Manager, available today, can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/mobile/default.mspx.

We met with the folks of Celio while they were in town last month and they finally made it official that they have formed a partnership with Enterprise Mobile, (yes Don works there) where Enterprise Mobile will provide sales, marketing, deployment and customer support for enterprise customers using the REDFLY. (We will have a detailed review of it up at the end of the month.)

The REDFLY Mobile Companion is a ground-breaking new device that extends the smartphone platform to an 8” high resolution display, full function keyboard, and touchpad mouse. Measuring just 1x6x9 inches and weighing only two pounds, the REDFLY offers over eight hours of battery life with instant-on access and the ability to charge smartphones via USB.

The REDFLY and a smartphone create a single mobile platform for easy access to email, attachments, web and business applications.  For the enterprise market, REDFLY ushers in a new market of Mobile Companion products that offer valuable new user functionality, without adding additional management, backup, and security to the existing smartphone solution.

Effective immediately, Enterprise Mobile will provide support for Celio’s aggressive launch of REDFLY into the enterprise marketplace. Under the agreement, Enterprise Mobile will provide sales, marketing, deployment, and customer support for enterprise customers of REDFLY.

The REDFLY Mobile Companion is compatible with selected Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC and Smartphone editions and Windows Mobile 6 Professional and Standard Editions.  A list of tested smartphones is available at www.celiocorp.com/smartphone.  The REDFLY Software will be available for other operating systems in the future.  The REDFLY Mobile Companion from Celio Corp. will be available in late April 2008 for $499 MSRP.

“Enterprise Mobile’s expertise with the Windows Mobile platform and their vast integration experience is a great value to Celio, particularly into the enterprise market,” said Kirt Bailey, president and CEO of Celio Corp. “We feel we are perfectly aligned with Enterprise Mobile as the company supports our creation of an entirely new level of mobile computing solution. Enterprise Mobile is an ideal partner for us.”

“REDFLY provides enterprises with an innovative mobile computing solution that goes beyond traditional smartphone capabilities,” said Mort Rosenthal, Enterprise Mobile chairman and CEO. “A primary driver for the adoption of mobility in the enterprise is access to line of business applications that enable employees to perform business functions on mobile devices just as they would in an office environment. Enterprise Mobile looks forward to providing support for REDFLY as Celio launches this important new Windows Mobile-based product for the enterprise mobility market.”

I received a few emails on the application we demoed at the last meeting allowing you to access YouTube and other online videos and wanted to share it with those that weren't able to attend. The application is from Andover, MA based VeVeo called vTap. It is currently in beta, but for a beta it works pretty well. It recently received Microsoft's Designed for
Windows Mobile”Certification and is now available on Microsoft's Mobile2Market Catalog.

To install all you have to do is go to www.vtap.com and it automatically find your phone and tell you what version to download.

 

You just type in what you are looking for it brings up a list. As you move down the list it will display a brief description. Clicking on the info button will bring even more details about the video.Then you select to download. When it is ready to play(the entire file isn't needed) the play button will turn yellow and you can start viewing it.

 

  

The video format will play in full screen. If you click on you directional button, you can pause the video and gain more information on it.

 

     

You can even learn something and use it to search Wikipedia.

It does a pretty good job of searching its archive of videos, which is basically a direct interface to their website.

For more information on the mobile version head here and they do support other phones.

They even have a UMPC version (as seen above) here.

Their blurb:

There are hundreds of millions of videos available on the Web today, and millions more are added every week. But try searching, browsing or viewing them on your TV, your mobile, or even your brand new iPhone™. It’s frustrating, if not impossible, simply because most Web video services are desktop based and not designed for the mobile or TV user. And those that do focus on the mobile or TV limit the Web video universe to only a small sliver of what exists.
That’s why we at Veveo™ created vTap—the quick and easy Web video solution that lets you search, browse and pinpoint the exact Web video you’re looking for—from sources all over the Internet—and play it on any supported device! With vTap's unique character-based incremental search—where results are returned with every character entered—you can perform searches using just a few characters instead of whole keywords. It’s so easy, you’ll think it’s reading your mind.

Check it is pretty cool, who knows how long it will last and how long it will be free, but it is definitely worth checking out.