If you are familiar with the many Windows Mobile twitter applications like PocketTwit, ceTwit, TinyTwitter, Twoble, etc. - it usually requires additional downloads like .NET CF 3.5, Java, etc. to work and it takes a while for the application to get started and sometimes they crash or your Twit post gets lost in the ether of the internet never to return. The folks at Trinketsoftware have a new one for you called Twikini 1.0, which was just released out of beta and after a few quick changes from comments made to the developer via Twitter in a day it quickly jumped up to version 1.1. It has been my Twitter client on my various Windows Mobile devices for a few months now. I used to use PocketTwit, but it was way to bloated and would occasionally crash, but it is also a twitter client with a lot of features, that has pretty large memory and processing requirements to run smoothly.

 

Twikini is only a 110K download and takes up a mere 240K of space on your device and it runs pretty quick since it is using C+.Twikini offers a powerful and efficient way to use Twitter on your phone, but still is very simple and easy to use. It allows you to quickly update your favorite twitter feeds in the background, and leverages the camera, GPS, media, touch screen, keyboard, graphics and storage capabilities of your device. Also the same code runs on both touch and not-touch screen phones and is very easy to use on both platforms.

Main Features

• FAST! Unlike other Twitter apps for Windows® Mobile, Twikini is written entirely in native C++ code for maximum performance and the fastest load time possible.
• Simple, uncluttered, and customizable user interface. Choose from a variety of themes for the best reading experience. (Screenshot 1, Screenshot 2, Screenshot 3)
• Post tweets using a full screen editor. Optionally, set your location (either manually or using GPS) along with your status updates. (Screenshot)
• Twitpic integration to post photos with your status updates. Select existing photos or click new ones from your device's camera.
• Read status updates just like browsing a web page. Quickly reply, retweet, favorite, or email other people's tweets. (Screenshot 1, Screenshot 2)
• Windows Media Player integration. Automatically tweet the song and artist you're listening to.
• Single download that is compatible with all Windows® Mobile devices - both touch and non-touch.
• And lots more...

Using Twikini:

 

The controls are very simple - up and down on the directional pad (d-pad) allows you to scroll between your twitter follows with a highlight of the tweet post you are on. To retweet someone's Tweet all you have to do is move your d-pad to the right, to respond to a tweet click on the left d-pad it’s pretty simple really. In your response you have options to add a Picture; Shorten URL with a choice from several services like Bit.ly, Digg, and TinyURL;Add GPS Coordinates and Add GPS Location to your message.

Under Options ->Tools - You also have some other options as well such as Tweeting your Song Info of music playing over Windows Media Player,(which may bother some if its quite frequent, but people want to know what you are doing right?)

 

You also can go to the selected User, which will bring up their twitter information – followers and who they are following as well as their twitter bio information such as webpage and location. Here you also have the option to Follow/Stop Follow this person, send them a tweet, DM (direct message), view a larger picture or view their current given location on a Google map.

You can also view their updates via the left soft key.

I really like the built-in Twitpic integration, which never is displayed correctly in Internet Explorer Mobile and would only show up in something when redirected or rendered like when using Skweezer or another browser like Skyfire or Opera. It would be nice in future versions would support some other future picture formats that others use like Ping.FM that I see regularly pop-up in Tweets, but TwitPic is pretty much becoming the standard. An option I would more like to see would be automatic Skweezer redirection for quicker render of links in tweets and shortened URLs as an option to the user.

Some of the cool things is that Twikini does is support multiple accounts and allows you to switch between them, there is no timeline merge and personally I kind of like that so you can keep things separate. It would be nice to have them running at the same time, but with some sort of notification bubble, sound or toast of a DM (Direct Message) and allow it to tell me which account it was sent to.

Another thing is that when the Twitter timeline refreshes it now keeps your current position in the timeline. However when you tweet, RT aka retweet or respond it still automatically places you back at the top of the Twitter stack and you have to scroll down to where you left off and if you are not quick enough you may be caught in another refresh.

Another feature request I would like to see would be the ability to have search of topics aka # as something added to the timeline as well as separate like how it handles multiple accounts. Another would be the automatic filling in of those you have messaged in the past as soon as you type the @ sign it will give you suggestions like a spell checker, which may be another added feature, but most of the time people are shortening their tweets with abbreviations and text-speak.

Configuring Twikini

Under Options->Tools you can customize how you use Twikini. Under Timeline display you can adjust the Font Size-small, medium, large; Theme for general appearance; and how you display the name either Full Name or Twitter Screen name. I am using the HTC Black Theme you have several of those (7) to choose from as well so the interface is slightly customizable to your liking – Windows Default, HTC Black, Summer,Seattle, Cheesecake, Cool Winter, and Lounge.

Under Automatic Refresh you can change the refresh interval from disabled so you can manually choose when it refreshes, or have it automatically refresh in intervals every 2, 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes or every hour. Here you can also choose a notification sound of new Tweets and not to auto refresh when you are roaming.

Under Data Download you can choose to download images as well as how many tweets. The default is 20 with other choices of 50, 100, and 200 –which is the slowest and had problems rendering the screen when refreshing. Best sweet spot was 50 with no lag and 100 was good when you check it fairly infrequently.

The last option allows you to clear Twikini’s Cache folder, which it stores for 3 days to increase performance and decrease data download.

You can also check for updates of the application by going to Menu->Twikini->Check for Updates and it will go to a webpage and compare your version with the latest version available and if its older a link to update. It would be nice if had ApptoDate support so you would be automatically notified when updates became available. However, the application is very stable so far, but the developer pushes out updates with new features fairly frequently and following @twikini on Twitter is the best way to know of updates. :)

Summary

Overall, Twikini has won the spot on my device as my preferred Twitter application due to its quick response and overall stability, plus it doesn’t kill the battery on my phone if I leave it on all day. You can get your copy of Twikini for any Windows Mobile device from here with 14 day trial and for with a starting price of $4.95 it won’t break the bank.

June 6th next Saturday will be the launch day of the Palm Pre and to some it may seem a very odd day to launch a new product, but both Sprint and Palm already expect long lines of people wanting to buy the phone with many camping out for one, me I will be on vacation, but may check the local Sprint store there. Palm and Sprint have already said they anticipate they won’t have enough Palm Pre’s to meet the anticipated high demand, that is a good and bad thing. Good in that there is a demand, bad in that some people won’t purchase it, even at a later date or may even wait for another rumored carrier to pick it up. Still all the capabilities of the device aren’t fully known, but some reviews have surfaced like the one at BGR. Palm and Sprint have been working hard to market this product and have some interesting websites and widgets at their This is Now Website.

What we know so far:

“The Palm Pre takes full advantage of Sprint’s Everything Data plans,” said Avi Greengart, research director for Consumer Devices at Current Analysis. “The Pre has been expressly designed for multitasking among multiple web pages and applications. It also builds on Palm’s heritage in PDAs by managing your digital information – whether that’s on a corporate server or on the web.”  Still no mention about tethering the Pre to a laptop.

Palm Synergy

• Linked contacts – With Synergy, you have a single view that links your contacts from a variety of sources, so accessing them is easier than ever. For example, if you have the same contact listed in your Outlook, Google and Facebook accounts, Synergy recognizes that they’re the same person and links the information, presenting it to you as one listing.

• Layered calendars – Your calendars can be seen on their own or layered together in a single view, combining work, family, friends, sports teams, or other interests. You can toggle to look at one calendar at a time, or see them all at a glance.

• Combined messaging – Synergy lets you see all your conversations with the same person in a chat-style view, even if it started in IM and you want to reply with text messaging. You can also see who’s active in a buddy list right from contacts or e-mail, and start a new conversation with just one touch.

This week at The Wall Street Journal's D: All Things Digital conference, Palm, Inc. introduced attendees to the latest features of the Palm webOS platform, including Palm media sync, the integration of Twitter in universal search, and a beta version of its App Catalog. Jon Rubinstein, Palm executive chairman, and Roger McNamee, Palm director and co-founder of Elevation Partners, debuted the new webOS features and mentioned some more information like:

• ActiveSync – remote wipe and address lookup – (I am assuming access to the GAL and some server search too?)
• GSM – in a few months so will it be on the rumored AT&T, who wants the Pre pretty badly as well as Verizon, but Bell Mobility in Canada is getting it too.
• OTA Updates – push updates like Android every other phone should do this too (hint,hint)
• 12 Apps at Launch – Pandora, Fandango, Citysearch, Linked In,(more on this below)

Palm Media Sync

Palm media sync is a feature of webOS that synchronizes seamlessly with iTunes, giving you a simple and easy way to transfer DRM-free music, photos and videos to your Palm Pre. Simply connect Pre to your PC or Mac via the USB cable, select "media sync" on the phone, and iTunes will launch on your computer desktop. You can then choose which DRM-free media files to transfer.

"We designed Palm media sync to be an easy and elegant way for you to take the content you own and put it on Pre, and it's just one of the ways we think you'll be amazed by webOS," said Rubinstein. "We've had an overwhelming response since we introduced Pre at CES, and with availability just days away, we can't wait to let everyone see firsthand what the excitement is all about."

Pre also acts as a mass storage drive, letting you side-load your media content. Once connected to a computer using the USB cable, Pre will appear as a drive on the computer desktop. You can drag and drop music, photos or video files onto your Pre, or drag files from your Pre to the computer. And, just like a digital camera, Pre works directly with your computer's default desktop photo software to seamlessly import photos captured with Pre's built-in 3-megapixel camera.

In addition to listening to music transferred from your desktop, you can use the on-device Amazon MP3 store to purchase individual songs or full albums over-the-air. You can search by artist, song and genre, and preview and purchase music files. You can then download purchased tracks when you're connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Twitter in Universal Search

Palm also announced that Twitter search is integrated into webOS universal search.⁽³⁾ Universal search is about finding what you want quickly, whether it's an on-device contact to call, a place you're trying to get to, or a Wikipedia article for encyclopedic information. Just start typing and Pre will figure out if you're looking for a contact, an application, or even let you search the web via Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia and now Twitter. Universal search uses Twitter's search service to sort through real-time current events and news, so universal search now covers every aspect of search on the web: general info, location, encyclopedia, and news.

Twitter's ability to show what's going on right now is a perfect fit for what universal search and Pre are all about. You don't have to be a Twitter user to benefit from Twitter in universal search. It's available for all users, even if they don't have an account, so anyone can keep on top of real-time news and the latest trends.

App Catalog

Rubinstein and McNamee also gave conference attendees an advance look at the beta version of the App Catalog, which will be available on Pre at launch. The beta version will feature applications from developers such as AP News, Citysearch, Fandango, Pandora and uLocate.

"We've received excellent feedback from participants in the Mojo SDK early access program and look forward to the SDK's public release. Developers are very enthusiastic about the platform's ease of use and industry-standard development model," said Rubinstein. "We're excited to launch Pre with the beta version of the catalog, which will give a taste of how the overall webOS ecosystem will work."

The App Catalog was demonstrated at the conference using Fandango's webOS application, which takes advantage of Palm Synergy(TM), a key feature of webOS. It also uses Pre's location-based services to find theaters near you, and lets you watch trailers, buy tickets, add showtimes to your calendar and get directions to the theatre.⁽¹⁾ Also included in the beta App Catalog will be Pandora, which makes use of the platform's multitasking capabilities, running elegantly in the background while you're using other applications. It highlights a unique aspect of the notification bar that lets you know what song is currently playing, and control pause and play without having to go back into the application.

The Palm Pre phone will be available from Sprint on June 6 for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and $100 mail-in rebate. More information is available at www.sprint.com/palmpre and www.palm.com. Also be sure to tune into the official Palm Blog and Twitter feed.

Either way the Palm Pre will be a changer in the Mobile handset space and from what we saw at CES 2009 the Pre has a lot of potential and Palm and its investors are betting that it will live up to the hype.

Many of the cool contests here like the 31 Days of the Dragon,Boston Pocket PC’s HP Magic Giveaway Contest, and Pantech Giveaway have been done with the help from the great folks over at Buzz Corps. Buzz Corps is now evolving into its new identity:  Ivy Worldwide. 

“The rapid growth of social media has given us the opportunity to overgrow our boundaries, and along with that evolve the concept and name of our company.  While our company name and offerings are changing, we will still carry out the same philosophy which is that we work with the community to create programs that deliver mutual benefits for your sites and our clients. With the new name we’ll also need a new logo and this is where we would like to ask for your help. 

We know there are a lot of talented people on sites like yours who might be looking for some extra cash or a way to show their creative skills. If possible, would you mind sharing the word with your readers about our logo design contest?  Hopefully one of your readers might win the grand prize of $2500 cash or other prizes like an HP Mini, HP Printer or Wacom Tablet. “

I made up the above quick logo in less than 10 minutes as you can see I am by no means a professional graphic artist. If you are or have aspirations to be one here is a chance to to show your stuff and get noticed and put some cash and prizes in your pocket as well.

For full contest details visit: www.ivyworldwide.com

The Windows team has introduced the Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 for multi-touch enabled computers. The application is not available for public download but will be available to OEMs who will have the option to pre-install these applications on PCs designed for Windows Touch. After general availability of Windows 7, it may even be released for public download. However, if you want to get your hands on the touch capabilities of Windows 7 now without waiting to download this pack, you can take advantage of multi-touch capabilities in in-built applications such as Paint, IE8 and Windows Media Center.

If you were at CntrStg at CES 2009 you got a chance to interact with many of the applications below as well as some that aren’t listed, those too may be included in some OEM products.

 

PhotoHunt by MegaTouch Gametime was a popular party game where you have a certain amount of time to choose what is different between two pictures the quicker you find things the more time you have and if you choose the wrong items the less time you have.

Air Hockey by Bendables was was an application demoed at PDC 2008 is also available for download here and there is now a Windows 7 version. :)

The Microsoft Touch Pack is a set of 6 multi-touch enabled apps that will be available with Windows 7; it is comprised of 3 games and 3 MS Surface applications. Here is an overview of each of them:

Microsoft Surface Globe uses the Virtual Earth 3D engine to display a 3D view of the world. Using multi-touch, you can navigate to different regions, get local information, and “pin” your favorite locations. You can even “fly” around 3D models of buildings in some cities.

Microsoft Surface Collage allows you to take your favorite digital photos and arrange and resize them using only your fingertips. Once you have your photos in an arrangement you like, it’s simple to save your collage and make it your desktop background.

Microsoft Surface Lagoon is a screensaver that recreates the natural environment of water and schooling fish. You can run your fingers through the “water” and hold your finger down and watch the fish gather around.

Microsoft Blackboard is a game in which you create a nifty machine on a virtual blackboard. You can then use gestures to rotate and resize gears, fans, see-saws and more to move balloons and balls toward the light bulbs - and victory. If you were a fan of TIM you will love this!

Microsoft Rebound, developed by Fuel Games (lets you use your fingers to propel a ball like air hockey.

Microsoft Garden Pond allows you to guide your origami creations to peaceful areas on the pond or direct them with gestures to complete goals that have been set for you. Gently move the origami by making ripples in the water.

Below is an overview of the native Windows 7 applications that take advantage of multi-touch capabilities:

Paint: The latest version of Paint has new brushes that are designed for multi-touch, you can click on the Brushes gallery, pick any one and try finger painting.

Internet Explorer 8: IE 8 features multi-touch panning; you can place your finger anywhere on a page and drag up or down to scroll the page. You can also go back and forward between pages with your finger using Flicks.

Task Bar: You can also use touch to navigate along the taskbar. The new Jump Lists on the taskbar are touch optimized, instead of right-clicking on one of the icons on the taskbar, you can drag up on it with your finger to open the menu.

Windows Media Center: Windows Media center also allows you to navigate using touch capabilities.

Moreover, programs which are “touch unaware” also have some level of touch control. For example, if someone tries touch scrolling over a window that is touch unaware, Windows can detect the presence of various types of scrollbars and scroll them.

 

If you want more information on the Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 Rob Bushway has a video over at GottaBeMobile worth checking out as well.

For more touch based applications worth checking out if you have a touch enabled system check out these applications:

Time100 Adobe Air

Solero Music Viewer

Internet TV Viewer aka YouTube

HP expanded their award-winning HP Mini family with three new models, offering their customers sleek, lightweight companion PCs that come in a variety of configurations and designs - all small enough to easily slip into most purses, backpacks, briefcases or coat pockets.

• The new HP Mini 110 XP Edition and the HP Mini 110 Mobile Internet (Mi) Edition were designed for Internet-centric consumers to stay connected to what’s important to them, while at home or on-the-go. The Mini 110 provides consumers with a choice of Pink Chic, Black Swirl or White Swirl HP Imprint finishes.
• The HP Mini 1101 is ideal as a companion PC for small and medium-size businesses and frequent business travelers. The Mini 1101 offers business users a sophisticated Black Swirl design.

The new Mini models start at 2.33 pounds and measuring just over 1-inch thick coming in between $279.99 to $329.99. With a 10.1-inch diagonal standard or optional high-definition LED widescreen display at 1,024 x 576 resolution. Intel’s , a keyboard that is 92 percent the size of a standard notebook PC keyboard, and a built-in webcam and microphone, powered by a 1.6GHz N270 Atom processor and can be configured with and SSD up to 32GB or platter notebook drive maxing out at 250GB. The new HP Minis are designed for consumers and business professionals who surf the web, check email, listen to music and need access to friends, family, co-workers or information while on the go.

HP Mini 110

• 1.6 GHz Intel® Atom™ Processor N270
• Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3
• 10.1” Diagonal LED Anti-glare Widescreen Display (1,024 x 576)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (shared) with up to 128MB total available graphics memory
• 1,024MB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm)
• 160GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA)
• HP Webcam
• 802.11b/g WLAN
• 5-in-1 Digital Media card reader
• Stereo speakers
• 3xUSB, 1xVGA, 1xRJ-45
• 6-Cell Lithium-Ion battery
• 10.3″x 6.77″ x 1.04 – 1.09″
• 2.89 pounds
• Syncables cable included (this is a cable with integrated software to sync data between your HP Mini and another PC)
• The HP Mini 110 XP is expected to be available in Pink Chic and White Swirl in the United States on July 8 via www.hpdirect.com/go/mini, pricing to be determined.
• The HP Mini 110 XP Edition and the Mini 110 with Mi is expected to be available in Black Swirl in the United States on June 10 via www.hpdirect.com/go/mini with a starting price of $329.99 and 279.99 respectively.

HP Mini 110 models include the Syncables™ Desktop solution, which provides effortless, automatic synchronization of music, pictures, videos and other files between an HP Mini and a primary notebook or desktop PC. Making the HP Mini a true accessory and companion PC.

HP Mini 1101

• 1.6 GHz Intel® Atom™ Processor N270
• Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3
• 10.1” Diagonal LED Anti-glare Widescreen Display (1,024 x 576)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (shared) with up to 128MB total available graphics memory
• 1024MB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm), supports 2GB with Windows Vista
• 160GB / 250GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA) or 32 GB SSD
• HP Webcam
• 802.11b/g WLAN, optional un2400 EVDO/HSPA module
• 5-in-1 Digital Media card reader
• Stereo speakers
• 3xUSB, 1xVGA, 1xRJ-45
• 3-Cell Lithium-Ion battery, 6-cell optional (after June 15th)
• 10.3″x 6.77″ x 1.04 – 1.09″
• Starting at 2.33 pounds with SSD option
• The HP Mini 1101 in high gloss black starts at $329 and is expected to be available June 1.

SBSH has released GoNews Touch, a touch-friendly news reader for Windows Mobile Professional. While you might think RSS when you read the phrase “news reader”, GoNews Touch takes things a bit further…

May 25th, 2009 - SBSH Mobile Software is excited to announce GoNews Touch release! GoNews Touch is a news reader application that brings the latest news directly to your smart-phone, aggregating only headlines of your interest based on your personal configuration. GoNews Touch is the first touch-designed news reader application, allowing you to browse through all headlines using only finger navigation!

GoNews Touch Highlights
Powerful News Reader - Supports RSS, Full Text articles using template-parsing, article images and more!
Offline Aggregation - Grab news of your interest and read it even when you're offline
Touch Designed - Designed specifically for use with Touch devices leaving your stylus far behind

If seeing is believing, then check out the YouTube video from SBSH demonstrating GoNews Touch features -

GoNews Touch is available from SBSH for $14.95, and a 14-day trial version is available from the SBSH GoNews Touch product page.

So, you’re wondering what’s new in Windows Mobile 6.5. Maybe you haven’t had a chance to see some of the new features in action. And what about those new applications and services?

If you had the opportunity to get all of the latest Windows Mobile news and announcements in person, then you’re one of the fortunate ones. If not, there is still a way to get an overview of Windows Mobile 6.5 thanks to TechEd Online.

Friend, fellow MVP and co-worker Chris DeHerrera has teamed up with another old friend in Dale Coffing (longtime Pocket PC users may remember Dale from his Pocket PC Passion website) to talk about the new capabilities of Windows Mobile 6.5 in this 12-minute video. Be sure to check it out!

The next meeting of the Boston/New England Windows Mobile User and Developer Groups will take place on Wednesday, May 20th starting at 6:30 PM at the Microsoft offices in Waltham, MA (201 Jones Road, 6th Floor).

This month’s meeting should be both fun and informative…

• TechEd 2009 WrapUp
  TechEd is always a worthwhile event for Windows IT Professionals and Developers. Windows Mobile was far from left out of this year’s event in Los Angeles. We will discuss the announcements and sessions presented at TechEd.
• What’s Coming For Exchange 2010 and Windows Mobile Users
  The next release of Microsoft Exchange Server (Exchange 2010) is currently in beta. This newest release will bring a lot to the table for Windows Mobile users. In this session, we will discuss the announced features and how they can benefit you or your organization.
• Let’s Make A Dream Phone!
  If you could design your perfect Windows Mobile phone, what would you create? Hardware? Form factor? Input method? Software? In this group participation-oriented session, we will all collaborate on the design of an ideal Windows Mobile device. In the process, we will (hopefully) learn more about how different people use (and perceive other’s use) the current Windows Mobile devices and how they might be improved.

As always, we will have lots of good stuff for giveaway at the end of the meeting!

With all of the recent news about Windows Mobile 6.5 in and of itself, there is even more news when it comes to Windows Mobile in conjunction with Exchange 2010. If you haven’t heard the news yet, Exchange 2010 has a LOT to potentially offer for Windows Mobile users, including -

• Conversation View for email;
• Ignore/Move for email conversations;
• Voice mail preview;
• Get free/busy;
• …and more!

But why should I tell you about this – Adam Glick with the Unified Communication Team at Microsoft has a 12 minute video describing all of the enhancements on TechNet. Check it out for yourself!

Today launches the last contest in the Pantech Matrix Pro Giveaway over at GearLive from now until May 15th. 

Here’s how to enter to win:

1. If you don’t have one already, sign up for a Gear Live account
2. If you don’t have one already, sign up for a Twitter account
3. Add the Gear Live Twitter account to your follow list
4. On Twitter, post a tweet about our contest and link to this page. In the tweet, include the phrase “@gearlive” so we can easily find it.
5. Once that is done, leave a comment here in this post with a direct link back to your Tweet. Be sure you are signed in to your Gear Live account before you leave the comment.

Here’s an example of an appropriate Twitter entry:
“@gearlive I just entered to win the Pantech Matrix Pro and $100 AT&T gift card! http://bit.ly/O04Rl/” (Click here to tweet this now)

BONUS ENTRIES: Want more chances to win? Share the link to our contests on the following sites, and leave us a comment linking to those as well:

• Facebook: Shared Link
• Del.icio.us bookmark
• FriendFeed: Use Post a Link
• Your blog: Have a site? Link to our contest on it!

For more details on their contest head to win a Pantech Matrix Pro at GearLive.

Be sure to check back daily on the details of the 25 other chances Also don’t forget to enter the Pantech Matrix Pro Tweetstakes as well, which started May 4th with there with a chance to win one of many Pantech Matrix Pro smartphones to be given away as well as a chance to win the grand prize of $25,000!!!

Today launches the twenty-fourth contest in the Pantech Matrix Pro Giveaway over at Experience Mobility from now until May 12th. 

Here are the details of Jack’s contest:

How do you win?

1. You need to register here on Experience Mobility.
2. Read the Experience Mobility Review on the AT&T Pantech Matrix Pro (found here:  REVIEW: AT&T Pantech Matrix Pro )
3. In the review’s comments area, quote a sentence of the review and tell me what intrigued you about it.
4. Join Twitter, sign in and Tweet the text inside these brackets:
   [ I just read the AT&T Pantech Matrix Pro Review at ExperienceMobility! http://bit.ly/pwOs9 ]
5. Come back and in the comment section of this post, give a direct link to your tweet.

For more details on Jack’s contest over at Experience Mobility head here.

Be sure to check back tomorrow on the details on the last contest of 25 other chances to win a Pantech Matrix Pro.

Thanks for all of you that entered our Power to Be You Pantech Matrix Pro Give Away.Well we got several entries in no surprise there, but there can be only one winner chosen at random (thanks to random.org) and the winner of the Panteh Matrix Pro and $100 AT&T Gift Card is Ryan Welch and here is his winning entry:

The Pantech Matrix Pro is so much better than my phone.  Mine is not a
smart phone.  No camera, no slide out keyboard, no features at all
other than pretty much just talk and text.
I really need a new phone, and this one would be great!

 

We also have an honorable mention as well, Jennifer Exclusa who will be getting a Pantech Prize Pack, that includes a Pantech branded mouse, USB hub, and pen in a nice box.

Here is her entry:

Yes, this is the phone I really use. 

The Pantech Matrix Pro is much more like me.  At least it's more who I am trying to be.  Who am I?  Mostly, I'm Mommy.  Of course I can be Mommy without the Matrix in my diaper bag.  But have you ever noticed how much stuff moms carry around with them?  It's ridiculous.  With the Matrix, I could finally be one of those moms who doesn't scramble around for stuff while talking on a laughably outdated phone. I could have my camera, phone, laptop, planner, and texter all in one hand at the same time.  That would be incredible, amazing.   You may wonder what someone with a phone like mine is doing on a site like this.  Well, I was daydreaming (Googling) the Matrix because it really is the perfect phone for who I'd like to be.

Congratulations to our winners!

If you would like have a Pantech Matrix Pro of your own remember they are having a Pantech Matrix Pro Tweetstakes as well, which started May 4th with there with a chance to win one of many Pantech Matrix Pro smartphones to be given away as well as a chance to win the grand prize of $25,000!!!

Purchase a Pantech Matrix Pro phone and get a free Jabra BT4051 Bluetooth headset by clicking on this link. (Note:  To qualify for the free BT headset, customers must add one of the following features: Unlimited messaging, $30 PDA personal, or $50 PDA personal plans)

Today launches the twenty-second contest in the Pantech Matrix Pro Giveaway over at MobileJaw from now until May 11th. 

Here are the details of Mike’s contest in which you have two ways to enter:

• Share you picture here on MobileJaw
  1. Login at MobileJaw (If you don’t have an account, you can register here for free).
  2. Reply to this post with a link to a picture of you and your mother hosted on Flickr, ImageShack, or some other free image hosting service.

OR

• Tweet your picture on Twitter
  1. Login into Twitter (If you don’t have an account, you can register for a free account at Twitter.com).
  2. Follow @MobileJaw
  3. Tweet the following message along with a TwitPic of your Mom - “Happy Mother’s Day Mom and thanks for the chance to win a Matrix Pro @MobileJaw”

More details on their contest can be found at Mobile Jaw.

Be sure to check back daily on the details of the 25 other chances to win a Pantech Matrix Pro. Also don’t forget to enter the Pantech Matrix Pro Tweetstakes as well, which started May 4th with there with a chance to win one of many Pantech Matrix Pro smartphones to be given away as well as a chance to win the grand prize of $25,000!!!

New from Windows Mobile: a Facebook application for your phone! Download the new Facebook application for Windows Mobile and:

• Send messages to any of the people in your Friends list.

• Take pictures and videos on your phone, then upload them right to Facebook.

• Send messages or call people in your Friends list.

• Manage your profile and post anytime, anywhere.

Keep up with the latest news and posts with Facebook on your phone. Now your status updates can be up-to-the moment accounts of what you’re doing. Photos and videos are about as close to live-action as you can get. Show your friends what you’re up to, while you’re out and about.
Connecting and sharing on Facebook just got a lot livelier!

I have been using it for a while now and have found that its best to only run it when you have a full charge or you will quickly run out of power depending on how active your friends are.

You can download it directly to your device here.

Today launches the twenty-second contest in the Pantech Matrix Pro Giveaway over at Absolute Windows from now until May 10th. 

Here are the details of John’s contest:

• What do you have to do to win this?
• Just send an email at matrixpro@absolutevista.com.
• In your email, I want you to thank Pantech & AT&T for the giveaway
• All entrants will be entered into a text file, and randomized by random.org to select the winner on May 10.
• Each entry gets one entry. However, the more elaborate and flowery your praise/thanks to AT&T & Pantech, the more entries you get, up to a maximum of five.

More details on their contest can be found at AbsoluteWindows.

Be sure to enter our contest here which ends tonight, May 6th and to check back daily on the details of the 25 other chances to win a Pantech Matrix Pro.

Previously, a Microsoft Tag had to be a square filled with geometric colored or black/white triangles. These tags could then be read by a mobile application that provided an “easy link” to additional content on a webpage.

The folks at Microsoft research have now added the dot method and add a background image to a Microsoft Tag, like the one shown in the picture Viva Piñata below where the confetti is actually an array of dots that is part of the Microsoft tag. 

You can incorporate the symbols into the overall look by manipulating the Tag in a graphic design application. Breathtaking machine readable codes can be created that provide design flexibility while preserving machine readability. By following the straightforward Custom Tag Creation Guidelines you'll be on your way to creating the most advanced and eye pleasing codes that exist.

Can you see the Microsoft Tag in the jellybean image above?

If you really like these tags and want to see if you can make some cool ones of your own be sure to read up on the Custom Tag Creation Guidelines and enter you design in the The Tag Slaps Design Contest, which challenges you to create an original custom design Tag and a mobile experience creative concept for it.

The Tag Slaps Design Contest challenges you to create an original customized Tag and creative concept for an accompanying mobile experience. Your entry should include a working customized Tag that leads to a mobile web site, as well as a creative concept for a mobile site. The mobile site experience concept should engage your customer and encourage them to take an action such as signing up for a service, getting more information about your product, downloading a special offer or an application, and more.

Semi-finalists are chosen by a panel of Tag enthusiasts comprised of business leaders, online and offline marketers, and designers. The winner is voted on by you-the Tag community!

What is a Tag Slaps, you ask? In the graffiti world, a "slaps" is defined as a sticker with a writer or tagger's tag on it. A slaps can be spread more quickly than other forms of graffiti, making it a favorite in many places such as newspaper dispensers, stop signs, phone booths, and more.

With Microsoft Tag, you can now customize the look of a Tag so that it embodies your brand, a message or theme, or a really cool visual! It's your personal slaps.

Today launches the twenty-first contest in the Pantech Matrix Pro Giveaway over at MobilitySite from now until May 9th. 

Here are the details of their contest:

• Between now (May 5, 2009) and May 9, 2009 11:59 EST, sign up with twitter and follow @Mobilitysite
• Then send the following tweet:
  RT Win an AT&T Pantech Matrix Pro and a $100 gift card @Mobilitysite Full details at (http://bit.ly/VHJrJ)
• Come back here and leave a comment in this post with your twitter name.
• On May 10, 2009, we will pick a random winner using random.org. The winner will be contacted by email.
• The winner will be announced on Mobilitysite and Twitter (@Mobilitysite)

More details on their contest can be found at MobilitySite.

Be sure to enter our contest here which ends on May 6th and to check back daily on the details of the 25 other chances to win a Pantech Matrix Pro.

Well its finally here Windows 7 RC for the masses, if you want the latest Windows 7 Release Candidate build, you can now sign up for your beta kit.You will be required to register in order to download the RC. This is where you will also be provided with a Product Key to activate your copy.

 

Here's what you need to know:

This is pre-release software, so please read the following to get an idea of the risks and key things you need to know before you try the RC.

• You don't need to rush to get the RC. The RC will be available at least through July 2009 and we're not limiting the number of product keys, so you have plenty of time.

• Watch the calendar. The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You’ll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use. (Learn more about installing Windows.)

• Protect your PC and data. Be sure to back up your data and please don't test the RC on your primary home or business PC.

• Tech details/updates: Before installing the RC, please read the Release Notes and Things to Know for important information about the release.

• Keep up with the news. You can keep up with general technical information and news by following the team blog. And, you can get non-technical news, tips, and offers by subscribing to the monthly Exploring Windows newsletter.

• Keep your PC updated: Be sure to turn on automatic updates in Windows Update in case we publish updates for the RC.

• Installation: You can install the Windows 7 RC on a PC running Windows Vista without backing up the PC—but we encourage you to make a backup for safe keeping. If you’re running Windows XP or the Windows 7 Beta, you’ll need to backup your data, then do a clean installation of the RC, then reinstall your applications and restore your data. If you need to do a backup, please see How to back up your PC for more details and a suggestion for how to backup a PC running Windows 7 Beta or Windows Vista.

• To install and use the RC, you'll need to know how to:

  • Troubleshoot problems. You're pretty much flying solo, so you'll need to handle your own tech support, and rely on other RC testers for their know-how

  • Burn an ISO file to make an installation DVD

  • Install Windows

  • Backup and restore your PC

  • Set up a network

  • Create and use a system recovery disk

• To learn more about the Windows 7 RC, see Frequently asked questions.

Today launches the twentieth contest in the Pantech Matrix Pro Giveaway over at Gear Diary from now until May 8th. 

Here are the details of their contest:

To enter, you need to do the following BEFORE MIDNIGHT CST on May 08…

*Join Twitter

*Sign in

*Follow user GearDiarySite

*Tweet the text inside these brackets:
[I'm entered to win a Pantech Matrix Pro from @GearDiarySite! http://tinyurl.com/d6hq6p]

*Leave a comment to this post with a direct link to your tweet.

This giveaway is only available to entrants in the United States; writers for Gear Diary are ineligible for Gear Diary’s portion of the contest.

More details on their contest can be found at Gear Diary.

Be sure to enter our contest here which ends on May 6th and to check back daily on the details of the 25 other chances to win a Pantech Matrix Pro.

Today launches the nineteenth contest in the Pantech Matrix Pro Giveaway and it’s here at Boston Pocket PC from now until May 6th.

Here are the rules for our contest:

The contest begins on May 3^rd, 2009.  To enter you will need to send in a picture of your current phone and give us a short description how the Pantech Matrix Pro will enable you with "The Power to be You". It can be as simple as your phone doesn't have 2 keyboards or maybe it doesn't have any keyboards and you need one to dial numbers, send a text, email or Tweet about your current location with its built in GPS and take a picture to show what you had for breakfast. Whatever it is please tell us in 25-150 words and enclose a picture of your current phone and email your entry to pantechpro@bostonpocketpc.com by 11:59PM EST on May 6th.

You must reside in the United States in order to win and receive the Pantech Matrix Pro phone plus a $100 gift card for accessories or service with AT&T Wireless.

You must meet all the requirements mentioned above in order to be eligible for the random drawing.

The winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email, so please use a valid email address when entering. The winner will have 24 hours to respond and will then be announced here on Boston Pocket PC on May 7th, 2009.

Good Luck!!!

Windows XP Mode is an optional feature of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions, that helps small businesses upgrade to Windows 7 by providing a virtual Windows XP environment capable of running many legacy Windows XP-compatible business and productivity applications. With this you can now run your old XP applications on Windows 7 just like other applications and now have access to the USB in a virtual environment. Windows XP Mode (XPM) is a new addition to Wndows 7 RC. At the core of XPM are Virtual PC 7 (VPC) and the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) protocol. While VPC’s has a pretty clear purpose, RDP’s are well not so clear. XPM makes heavy use of several RDP features such as Remote Applications Integrated Locally (RAIL), compositing, and multi-monitor support. Windows XP Mode can be installed on the three following Windows 7 SKUs: Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate.

Microsoft recommends that customers use Windows XP Mode on a PC with 2GB of memory and 15 GB of additional disk space for Windows XP Mode. In addition, Windows Virtual PC requires a PC with Intel-VT or AMD-V enabled in the CPU, as it takes advantage of the latest advancements in hardware virtualization.

What you will Need:

• Windows 7 RC and hardware-assisted virtualization (Intel-VT or AMD-V)
• An optional update Windows6.1-KB958559-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB958559-x86.msu
• The VHD package – containing a preinstalled, shrink copy of Windows XP with SP3

What You Will Need to Do:

1. You will need to turn on the settings in your BIOS for hardware-assisted virtualization, which is a simple setting for both Intel VT and AMD-V equipped processors, which is a simple flip from disabled to enabled. If you don’t have this hardware in your computer you will not be able to use XPM.

2. Next you will need to Install KB update package: Windows6.1-KB958559-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64.msu. (I was able to find it on the internet with a simple search-links are above in the What You Will Need section , but should be available as an update after May 5th) Its as simple as accepting the EULA

Simply choose to install the update.

The update will install.

You are now done installing the update and will need to Restart your Computer.

3. Now you need to setup a virtual machine and download the VHD package(VirtualWindowsXP.msi) for your OS version (64bit or 32bit) and install it. 

Next you will now start your Virtual PC for the first time.

 

4. To run Virtual Windows XP, follow Start > All Programs > Windows Virtual PC > Virtual Windows XP

If you don’t have the proper hardware it won’t run and will give you the error shown in the picture above. If you do have the proper hardware make sure it is turned on in the BIOS as mentioned in Step 1.

5. When the virtual machine starts for the first time, the Virtual Windows XP EULA appears. Accept it and click Next to continue.

 

6. On the next screen, Create a password for the User account. This is a required account with administrator privileges that the wizard creates automatically. It is the default account used to run Windows XP mode.

During the setup process you will be prompted how you want to handle window updates for XPM. Choose automatic update settings for Virtual Windows XP and proceed next. 

7. After completion of first time start wizard, Windows XP Mode is ready to use.

 

Facts about Windows XP Mode:

Windows XP Mode is specifically designed to help small-business users to run their Windows XP applications on their Windows 7 desktop.

• Windows XP Mode is available for Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise customers.
• Windows XP Mode combines Windows Virtual PC and a pre-installed virtual Windows XP environment to allow users run many older applications.
• Windows Virtual PC will enable users to launch virtual applications seamlessly from the Windows 7 Start menu.
• Windows Virtual PC includes support for USB devices and is based on a new core that includes multi-threading support.

Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) is designed for IT Professionals.

• MED-V enables Virtual PC deployment in larger organizations.
• MED-V provides centralized management, policy-based provisioning and virtual image delivery to reduce the cost of Virtual PC deployment.
• MED-V v1 builds on Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 to help enterprises with their upgrade to Windows Vista when applications are not yet compatible.
• MED-V v2 will add support for Windows 7 (both 32 bit and 64bit) and Windows Virtual PC.
• MED-V v2 beta will be available within 90 days of Windows 7 GA.

How MED-V adds management to Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC?

To provide a managed, scalable solution for running virtual Windows XP applications, MED-V addresses many of the IT challenges around deployment and management including:

Deployment – deliver virtual Windows images and customize per user and device settings

• Automate first-time virtual PC setup based on an IT customized script – including assignment of a unique computer name, joining to AD domain
  (for instance: assign the virtual PC a name that is derived from the physical device name or the username to simplify identification and management)
• Adjust virtual PC memory allocation based on available RAM on host, so that the virtual PC does not take significant resources from the user

Provisioning – define which applications and websites are available to different users

• Assign virtual PC images according to users and groups
• Define which Windows XP applications will be available to the user through the start menu
• Define which websites (e.g. internal sites that requires a previous version of Internet Explorer) are redirected automatically to Windows XP

Control – assign and expire usage permissions and Virtual PC settings

• Control the network settings of the Virtual PC (e.g. whether it connects through NAT or DHCP, whether its DNS is synchronized with host)
• Authenticate user before granting access to the Virtual PC
• Set expiration date, after which the Virtual PC is not accessible to the end user

Maintenance and Support - update images, monitor users and remotely troubleshoot

• Update images using TrimTransfer network image delivery – update a master Virtual PC image, and MED-V will automatically distribute and apply the changes to all endpoints
• Centralized database aggregates events from all users, and provides troubleshooting information on malfunctioning virtual PCs
• Administrator diagnostics mode allows faster resolution of Virtual PC issues

Run on multiple platforms – MED-V will work on both Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

Which customers should use Windows XP Mode standalone?

Windows XP Mode standalone is suitable for small and medium business users, who are able to set their XP applications themselves and may or may not have IT Professional staff. Each PC has its own virtual Windows XP environment that is controlled and managed by the end user. Windows XP Mode standalone is not designed for large, centrally managed deployments that have widely deployed business applications that require Windows XP.

So in summary MED-V builds on top of Windows Virtual PC and adds important management capabilities.

Today launches the eighteenth contest in the Pantech Matrix Pro Giveaway over at techie diva from now until May 5th. 

Here are the details of their contest:

1. Join our Facebook Group.

2. Update your Facebook status with: Win a Pantech Matrix Pro at www.techiediva.com (or something like that)

3. Send an email to matrixpro@techiediva.com with your name, and a link to your facebook profile. This will count as your entry, so make sure you do that.

That’s it! We are making this very easy for everyone to enter and have an opportunity to win this awesome phone!

More details on their contest can be found at techie diva

Be sure to head back here for details on our contest which begins tomorrowon May 3rd at 12AM EST and to check back daily on the details of the 25 other chances to win a Pantech Matrix Pro.

This is a step-by-step for installing Windows 7 via a USB Flash drive for a few people that wrote in and Twittered. For my Netbook and mini laptop that don’t have optical drives I made a bootable USB drive with the 32-bit version of Wndows 7 RC by following the instructions over at TechNet and made it a bit easier for those that had difficulty doing it themselves or weren’t clear on the steps.

What you will Need:

• USB Flash Drive (Minimum 4GB- I use an 8GB/16GB and have the installs of my most used programs ready to go in a separate install directory for me its-Windows Live Essentials, MS Office, Snagit, Camtasia Studio, Mozilla, Adobe Air, Tweetdeck, SlingPlayer,SOTI, Zune, Visual Studio,Paint.NET, etc.
• Windows 7 or Vista installation files in either .ISO file or DVD format

What You Will Need to Do:

1. First plug-in your USB flash drive and move/backup all the contents from USB drive to another drive on your computer, storage card, etc. This way you can copy it all back later if there is room on your USB flash drive.

2. Next open Command Prompt with elevated admin rights.

DiskPart commands

3. To setup the USB drive type the DISKPART command in the command prompt window.

Next type the LIST DISK command and make sure note which Disk number (ie: Disk 1) is your USB flash drive you will need this in the next step.

4. Next type all the below commands one by one. I am using “Disk 1”.If you have Disk 2 as your USB flash drive then use Disk 2.Refer the above step to confirm your USB flash drive, mine is 16GB so I can see it is Disk 1.

Next type and execute each command below one by one:

SELECT DISK 1

CLEAN

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

SELECT PARTITION 1

ACTIVE

FORMAT FS=NTFS

The format process may take a while depending on the size of your thumb drive. Once DiskPart has successfully formatted the volume enter the next command:

ASSIGN

EXIT

Now keep the command prompt window open because we will need it for the next steps.

5. Next insert your Windows7/Vista DVD into your optical drive and check the drive letter of your DVD drive in Computer. I will be using  “D” as my Optical DVD drive and and the USB drive letter is “E”.

6. Next type the following command now:

D:CD BOOT and hit enter.Where “D” is your Optical drive letter.

7. Next in order to update the USB drive so it will work with BOOTMGR. You will need to enter the following at the command line:

BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 E:

Where “E” is your target USB drive letter. If yours is different make the appropriate drive letter changes.

8. Next you are going to copy the contents of your Windows 7/Vista DVD to the USB flash drive.

9. Now your USB drive is ready to boot and install Windows 7/Vista. In order to boot from the USB drive may have to enter your BIOS to set it to boot from the USB flash drive, set drive priority, and/or on start up, you may have to choose what device to boot from. This all depends on what BIOS you are running.

Today launches the seventeenth contest in the Pantech Matrix Pro Giveaway over at Geekzone from now until May 4th. 

Here are the details of Maurico’s contest:

It is very easy to be in to win one AT&T Pantech Matrix Pro and US$100 gift voucher - almost like 1, 2, 3: first you need to understand this competition is open to U.S. residents only (for obvious reasons). Second you need to register here on Geekzone. And third you have to answer the following question: "What are the talk and stand by times you can get out of this smartphone?"
Enter the answer in our entry form and submit your entry.
You can find the answer in the AT&T Pantech Matrix Pro website.
These are the rules you must know:

Entry is open to all registered Geekzone users residents in the U.S.

We have one AT&T Pantech Matrix Pro smartphone to giveaway. The winner will also receive a US$100 AT&T gift voucher.

Users must fill the entry form to enter the answer to the skill question and any comments, and submit the information. Geekzone will receive your answer via e-mail.

Incomplete answers will not be included in the draw.

Only one entry per user is allowed. All multiple entries will be removed from the pool. We record the IP address of all submissions.

No purchase is necessary.

Entries close 4th May 2009 23:59 (ET).

A random draw will be conducted 5th May 2009 (ET) and one entry will be selected.

The Winner will be notified via e-mail. An e-mail to confirm the contact details will be requested.

The contact e-mail must be sent back in 48 hours otherwise another entry will be selected.

If the e-mail address is invalid (e-mail bounces) then another draw will be conducted.

For more details on their head contest be sure to head to Geekzone.

As always be sure to head back here for details on our contest which begins on May 3rd and to check back daily on the details of the 25 other chances to win a Pantech Matrix Pro.