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All posts tagged "mobile"


Friday, June 10, 2011

In New Survey Developers Pick Android Over iPhone

Posted by Karey Westfall in "Android News" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile...prefer-android/

"A new survey from Vision Mobile and Bluevia finds that Android is the most popular mobile platform amongst developers, with 67 percent of mobile developers indicating they're developing for Android in 2011-that's an 8 percent improvement over 2010."

We have a winner, folks! A new survey just released from Vision Mobile and Bluevia found that Android is the most popular platform for developers! But not far behind is development for iPhone. Does this mean that Android is slated to be the market leader in years to come?


Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Opera Mobile 10 Beta 3 Released

Posted by Eriq Cook in "Windows Phone Software" @ 04:30 PM

http://www.opera.com/mobile/

"Today Opera Mobile 10 moves one step closer towards final with the release of Opera Mobile 10 Beta 3 for both Symbian/S60 and Windows Mobile. Beta 3 includes a few new features, and a lot of bug fixing and stabilization. Read more on www.opera.com/mobile. Or download it now at www.opera.com/mobile/download from a PC or "m.opera.com" from a mobile phone."

New features in Beta 3 includes keypad support for non-touch Windows Mobile devices and experimental Flash Lite 3.1 support, along with numerous bug fixes and improved speed and stability.

I've been using Beta 3 for a couple of days now on my Touch Pro 2, and while flash support is still a bit buggy (as anticipated but disabled by default), beta 3 has worked very well overall and is a noticeable improvement over previous versions.

Have you had chance to try Beta 3 yet? If so, what do you think?


Monday, August 24, 2009

YouTube Mobile App Adds Five New Languages

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 11:32 PM

http://m.youtube.com/app

"We're happy to announce that the YouTube Mobile Application for Windows Mobile and Symbian S60 devices is now available in five new languages. We now support users with localized content in Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Swedish, and Czech. This brings the total number of languages the app supports to 12."

YouTube has made its mobile app a little more accessible to users worldwide by adding localized content in five new languages. Hit m.youtube.com/app for the updated version.


Sunday, July 26, 2009

Google Maps 3.2 Adds Layers, Improves Search

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 10:35 AM

http://m.google.com/maps

"Just as the world itself can be viewed through many lenses, the latest version of Google Maps for mobile allows you to view many layers of information on your map at the same time. Layers make it easier and more useful to find and interact with geographic content, like public transit, traffic (with incidents!), local search results, Latitude friend locations, Wikipedia and more. You can also see your own My Maps content as a layer on Google Maps for mobile. And finally, multiple layers can be combined at the same time to give you a content-rich view of what's around you."

Layers and improved search are nifty additions to Google Maps for mobile. The updated version is available for Windows Mobile, so what are you waiting for? Go get it!


Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Office Mobile 2010 Preview Looks Sweet for Microsoft Shops

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Pocket PC News" @ 01:00 PM

http://www.microsoft.com/video/en/u...4c-e7df9d36c853

Don't think Microsoft has forgotten about the Windows Mobile sector amidst all the Office 2010 excitement. The video posted here showcases some of the nice features that heavily-Microsoft-using shops will enjoy. Things like sharepoint integration through the browser, communicator integration, and even plain old document editing. Couple the editing interface with somethine like Live Mesh to keep it all in sync, and it looks like a pretty mean interface for mobile productivity.


Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Windows Marketplace Registration Opens

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Developer" @ 09:50 PM

http://developer.windowsmobile.com/

"In the latest update to http://developer.windowsmobile.com, developers can now Register to participate in Windows Marketplace for Mobile. This marks another milestone in providing Windows Mobile Developers a clear path to develop, test, certify and distribute their Windows Mobile applications via the Windows® Marketplace for Mobile. Throughout the registration process, links to key documentation for distributing apps through Windows Marketplace for Mobile are provided."

Developers, if you haven't registered to participate in the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, now's as good a time as any to do so. You'll have to pony up an annual subscription fee of $99, but doing so will net you assistance with the development, certification, and distribution of your app. Check out the FAQ, if you have any queries. It's worth noting that participation is optional. You may consider the cost or the policies of the Marketplace to be too restrictive, in which case, you're still welcome to develop your app and distribute it through third-party storefronts as you're probably already doing so in this pre-Marketplace era.


Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Google Adds Latitude to Google Maps for Mobile

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 02:05 AM

http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/20...-time-with.html

"Way back in November 2007, we location-enabled all of our Google Maps for mobile clients to bring location awareness to the masses and improve the local search experience. Using My Location, millions of you have been able to easily find yourselves on a map at the touch of a button. But what about finding other people? Lots of you have been requesting to see where your friends are on a map, too. Well now you can with Google Latitude. Latitude is a new feature of Google Maps for mobile, as well as an iGoogle gadget, that allows you to share your location with your friends and to see their approximate locations, if they choose to share them with you. You can use your Google account to sign in and easily invite friends to Latitude from your existing list of contacts or by entering their email addresses. Google Talk is integrated with Latitude, so you and your friends can update your status messages and profile photos on the go and see what everyone is up to. You can also call, SMS, IM, or email each other within the app."

Unlike previous Google Maps for mobile innovations, Google is making the new Latitude feature available to Windows Mobile users from day one. To start spying on connecting with your friends, fire up your mobile browser and grab the app from google.com/latitude. It's 100% opt-in, and you can choose just how much or how little information you want to share, and with whom.


Wednesday, January 28, 2009

How Microsoft Intends to Regain Lost Ground In Mobile Territory

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Talk" @ 08:55 PM

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-264314.html

"Microsoft has made some stumbles in the mobile world, but a strategy shift made more than a year ago will soon pay dividends, the company's top Windows Mobile executive said in an interview with CNET News. Andy Lees, the executive brought over from the server unit a year ago, said that Microsoft's efforts to make sure that its mobile software could run on a wide range of phones resulted in an operating system that failed to take advantage of advances in hardware. "We aimed to go for a lower common denominator," Lees said. Microsoft was also limited by the origins of Windows Mobile, which was developed to power handheld computers that neither connected to a network nor handled voice. "We started out when we were in PDAs (personal digital assistants) and then a phone got strapped to the back of the PDA," Lees said. The company also failed to recognize that phones--even those that were used for business--were still as much personal as they were professional."

The first four paragraphs of the CNET/ZDNet article accurately highlight some of Windows Mobile's flaws, and why the once-venerable smartphone operating system, at times, appears feeble next to relative newcomers, iPhone OS, Android, and webOS. But it's not all doom and gloom for Microsoft. According to Andy Lees, we'll see some breakthroughs over the next 18 months, with the first set expected as soon as mid-February as Microsoft takes the stage at MWC. Lees hinted at an increased reliance on the cloud, the need to improve the core of Windows Mobile in order to keep up with the competition, and a closer relationship with OEMs (which we can only hope translates to more frequent and more consistent updates for all consumers).

Is this the right approach? Sound off in this thread.


Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Samsung SGH-i780, Verizon Wireless XV6900 Receive Windows Mobile 6.1 Upgrades

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 07:10 PM

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/new...ade-thread.html

Both the Samsung SGH-i780 (European version) and Verizon Wireless' XV6900 (HTC Touch) have finally been blessed with Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrades. Visit our Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade thread for links to these upgrades, as well as many more.


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Feel In Touch: The Samsung Omnia Reviewed

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Pocket PC Hardware" @ 09:00 AM

http://omnia.samsungmobile.com/

Product Category: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Smartphone
Manufacturer: Samsung
Where to Buy: Expansys [Affiliate]
Price: $689 USD (16 GB), $634 USD (8 GB)
Specifications: 5 MP Camera, 3.2 TFT WQVGA Touch screen (240 x 400), Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11g, Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, HSDPA 7.2 Mbits, TV-out, FM Radio, Integrated GPS, microSDHC, 1440mA battery

Pros:

  • Fun to use & responsive;
  • Sleek design;
  • Innovative value-added features (e.g. flashlight, haptic feedback).

Cons:

  • Widget Bar: full of promise, low on usability;
  • No multitouch ability;
  • Price and availability.

Summary: I've posted news on the Samsung Omnia over the last few months and found it to be interesting enough to purchase. What I found when I opened the box got me excited to be using Windows Mobile again, something I doubted could ever happen. Read on for my experience re-discovering the OS through Samsung's vision of usability. Read more...


Thursday, December 11, 2008

Microsoft Updates Windows Live Services for Mobile

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Sites & Resources" @ 09:30 AM

http://mobile.live.com/

"Great news! We are now live with our new and updated Windows Live services for mobile. Go to http://mobile.live.com from your mobile phone's web browser and check it out. There are a lot of new features and services that weren't even available for our beta users. We're really excited about these new mobile experiences! The new and updated mobile web services include Windows Live Home, Photos, Profile, People, and Spaces. These complement our existing mobile services, like Hotmail and Messenger. (An update to Hotmail for mobile web is on its way in the coming months - check this blog for more mobile news as it becomes available). With this release, we are extending even more of Windows Live to mobile devices, but with a mobile twist. To get started, all you need is a phone with a browser and a data plan. Using these services doesn't require a download - all you do is go to the new Windows Live website at http://mobile.live.com."

Microsoft's quest to roll out its new and improved Windows Live applications and services has extended to mobile devices. Windows Live Home, Photos, Profile, People, and Spaces have all been updated. Visit the Windows Live Team Blog for a detailed look, or check it out for yourself.


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Google Maps 2.3 Brings Street View to Windows Mobile

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 12:00 PM

http://google.com/gmm

"We're excited to announce the availability of Google Maps for mobile version 2.3 with Street View on Nokia S60 and Windows Mobile. Street View was previously released on Google Maps for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone. Street View lets you access street level imagery to help orient yourself when looking for places, businesses, or getting directions. Say you're going to meet with friends at an unfamiliar restaurant. Now you can search for it in Google Maps for mobile, click on "Street View", and see what the place and surrounding area look like. Similarly, say you need to get to a shop in a part of town you don't know. Find it using your phone, get directions to it, and see how to get there with full-screen panorama images of every step along the way."

Google Maps 2.3 has arrived, but this release is more than just a bunch of bug fixes. It includes walking directions, transit alerts, POI reviews, and Street View support, so you can take the sights of the United States, Australia, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and Spain with you wherever you go. It's a free download from google.com/gmm.


Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Microsoft Updates Windows Mobile 6.1 Emulator Images; Includes Internet Explorer Mobile 6

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Developer" @ 10:30 AM

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&displaylang=en

"Windows Mobile 6.1.4 includes the new Internet Explorer Mobile 6, a full-featured browser for Windows Mobile devices that brings the same high-quality browsing experience to the user as desktop browsers. Internet Explorer Mobile 6 supports desktop-quality rendering and has the best compliance support of all versions of Internet Explorer on a Windows Mobile device to date. Several new features and improved support allows users to complete tasks quickly and easily."

Microsoft has updated its Windows Mobile emulator images to 6.1.4. This release includes the new Internet Explorer Mobile 6 - which isn't exactly a stellar upgrade to this infamous browser, but a welcome one nonetheless. For a list of new features, check the Windows Mobile Team Blog.

These images will appeal most to developers. For the end-users reading this, you know the drill: if you want Internet Explorer Mobile 6 on your device, you'll have to wait and hope that your respective OEM or carrier feels ever-so-generous and blesses you with an update.


Thursday, October 30, 2008

Microsoft Launches New-Look Windows Mobile Developer Portal

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Sites & Resources" @ 05:02 AM

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmob...rs/default.mspx

Microsoft has just launched a new developer portal for Windows Mobile to help advertise upcoming events, showcase applications, and introduce you to a number of team members and MVPs. And, of course, there's no shortage of guides showing you how to turn that idea in your head into a working Windows Mobile application.


Monday, October 20, 2008

Opera Mobile 9.5 Beta 2 Adds Widgets

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 08:25 AM

http://www.opera.com/products/mobile/download/

"Opera Mobile 9.5 now introduces Opera Widgets to the mobile Internet experience, enabling one-click Web content access. This release marks the second Opera Mobile 9.5 beta for Windows Mobile and the first-ever beta for UIQ-based phones. A developer version of S60 Widget manager is also available within the Opera Widgets SDK... Several Opera Widgets are now pre-installed in the Opera Mobile 9.5 beta builds. Additionally, Opera offers downloadable widgets at widgets.opera.com. Opera always encourages more user-generated widgets and therefore recently updated its Opera Widget Software Development Kit (SDK). This SDK will enable developers to quickly and easily create widgets using standards-based Web technology. The Opera Widgets SDK now includes two new features: Opera Dragonfly debugging tool, Widget manager for on-device testing."

It's been three months since the first beta of Opera Mobile 9.5 surfaced. Now you get to play with a new one. Beta 2 adds widgets, along with the usual bug fixes and tweaks but, unfortunately, still no Smartphone (Standard) support.

If you're a developer, take a look at the updated Widget SDK and the "X Widget Challenge" for a chance to snag a portion of the $10,000 up for grabs.

Tags: mobile, opera, 9.5, beta 2

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Firefox Mobile WM Screenshots Appear

Posted by Janak Parekh in "Pocket PC Software" @ 05:00 AM

http://blog.mozilla.com/blassey/200...update-3-fonts/

It was recently announced that Firefox Mobile ("Fennec") was going to be a reality, and it appears that development is now steadily progressing. :) Brad Lassey has a bunch of screenshots up at his blog, including some basic pages as well as Acid3 run to demonstrate he has the full browser running!

Exciting stuff, especially as Firefox Mobile is likely to support kinetic, touch-based scrolling as per this concept video. As far as I can tell, these are just development snapshots, and no public binaries are actually available for download... yet.


Friday, September 26, 2008

Photoshop.com Mobile Goes Live

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC News" @ 04:40 AM

http://https://www.photoshop.com/in....html?wf=mobile

"Adobe® Photoshop.com Mobile is the easiest way to upload, view, and share your photos online from your phone. All you need is a supported Windows Mobile phone and your Photoshop.com account ID. Photoshop.com Mobile beta will be available as a free download in September."

The beta of Photoshop.com Mobile - announced a few weeks ago - is now live, but only for US customers. Only a small handful of Windows Mobile devices are currently supported, but that list is set to grow, and you may still get lucky with your unsupported device, anyway. Anyone plan on using this service?


Saturday, September 13, 2008

Google Introduces Its Mobile Search for Windows Mobile

Posted by Ed Hansberry in "Pocket PC Wireless and GPS" @ 06:00 AM

http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/20...ch-with-my.html

"Previously, when you went to google.com from your phone’s browser and performed a local search, the results were tailored to the last location you entered. Now, using the Gears Geolocation API, Search with My Location approximates your actual location using the same Cell ID technology used by Google maps for mobile. So if you want to find sushi nearby, just type "sushi" and Google will return local business listings around you. If you want to know the forecast, type "weather". If you want to search somewhere else, specify a location in the query like "pizza Kansas City."

  • On your mobile device, go to www.google.com/m
  • Click the Location link
  • Tell it to install Gears. A Windows CE CAB will be downloaded that you need to install.
  • Soft reset your device when the install is done.
  • Launch PIE and allow Google Gears access to your browser

It isn't perfect. It thinks I am 13 miles northwest of my present location, which is odd. The tower locator system that the Google Maps tool uses can always get me to within half a mile of my real location, and usually under 1,000 yards. It also isn't on the iGoogle page yet on your device, so you either have to pick the iGoogle personalized page to search from, or the generic Google Mobile page, but not both.

Right now it is limited to the US and UK, and there are a list of unsupported devices, so check the blog post before installing.


Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Live Mesh for Windows Mobile Surfaces at Tech.Ed Australia

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 02:10 AM

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20...-client-teased/

Your eyes aren't deceiving you. Indeed, that's e.aspx">Live Mesh for Windows Mobile running on a Palm Treo Pro. And there's word coming out of Tech.Ed Australia (where the aforementioned was demoed) that it will soon be available for public consumption. Any Live Mesh users here looking forward to this?


Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Photoshop.com Going Mobile in September

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 05:50 AM

http://www.adobe.com/products/pscom/mobile/

"Adobe® Photoshop.com Mobile is the easiest way to upload, view, and share your photos online from your phone. All you need is a supported Windows Mobile phone and your Photoshop.com account ID. Photoshop.com Mobile beta will be available as a free download in September."

Adobe claims that Photoshop.com Mobile will only support the MOTO Q, Blackjack, and Treo 700/750 series, although we're willing to bet most other Windows Mobile devices will handle it just fine as long as Flash is installed. At any rate, we'll let you know the moment it's available.


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