Stylish Blog

5 Possible Reasons For A Windows Mobile System Slowdown

2009-08-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

If you've been using a Windows Mobile device for a little while now, you may have noticed that your device has begun to slow down. It may only slow down between phone resets or it may be a permanent slowdown in overall system performance regardless of resets. Here are 5 reasons for the slowdowns.

5 Possible Reasons For A Windows Mobile System Slowdown

1. You've taken up all of the space on your phones internal memory. Just like on a computer using all of your systems internal hard drive memory will leave your device running awful slow. I suggest installing applications directly onto your memory card and not on your phones hard drive to speed things up.

2. You simply have too many applications open at one time. On the Windows Mobile start button I would suggest checking out the task manager and making sure apps your not using are closed. Ultimately make sure to exit your apps when you're done with them. Remember phones are still lacking in terms of RAM which can lead to slow systems.

3. You have too many hardware options running at one time. These days devices come with GPS receivers, Bluetooth, FM Tuners, Waffle Irons, okay maybe not the last one, but you get the point. Hardware options like apps should be closed when not in use, this will help easy processor tension and thus speed up your system.

4. Viruses may be the culprit. Scan your device for viruses using a program such as Kaspersky. Remember, if its Microsoft made it's going to get viruses and Windows Mobile is no different. If you began realizing your slowdown after surfing the web from your device or downloading an unrecognized file this may be your slowdown mechanism. Remove the files after using a virus scan option and your device should speed up quickly.

5. Your memory card may be corrupt or nearing full capacity. If you tend to run applications off of your memory cards they need to be routinely examined. For this task I suggest Pocket Mechanic Professional, a program that can defrag your cards, find errors such as bad sectors and in the most simplest of terms, make your memory cards work as if they were brand new.

Those are just 5 reasons for system slowdowns that I have recognized on a rather regular basis. Simple close all of your hardware and software offerings when not in use, and have a third party application scan your memory cards for errors once every one to two weeks and you should realize faster phone speeds in no time at all.

This is What Firefox 4.0 Could Look Like

2009-08-03T22:10:00.000-07:00

Mozilla is toying with Firefox 4.0 concepts.

Last week we got a sneak peek at some possible interface changes that we could see in Firefox 3.7, which showed definite influence from Google's Chrome browser.

Today designer Stephen Horlander showed of some more interface concepts that we might see when Firefox 4.0 rolls around.

"These are not final," Horlander declared once again on the webpage. "They are only for brainstorming [and] exploration."

Symbian Plus – Experience the iPhone on Your Symbian Phone

2009-07-23T19:57:00.001-07:00

The iPhone has created waves from the first day of its launch, proving to be very popular because of the great interface and design. The iPhone is controlled entirely by touch, and additionally uses only the human digits for operation – which means there is no need for a stylus.

While Nokia has also recently launched its new touchscreen mobile phone, the iPhone still has an indefinable charm that attracts mobile phone users. However, most Symbian enthusiasts swear by the operating system, and would not be willingly parted from it.

Therefore the Symbian Plus interface is a merge of best of both worlds – the underlying operating system is Symbian through and through, but the interface that lies on top of it is of the iPhone’s much admired design.

Symbian Plus is just an interface

Essentially, the Symbian Plus software is a theme that sits atop the existing Symbian interface. It doesn’t convert the phone into an iPhone, nor does it add any extra functionality that is particular to the iPhone. The typical menu of the S60 3rd edition is converted to resemble the navigation pane of the Apple iPhone. The application will not alter any of the core settings of the phone; again, it is only the aesthetics that get an entirely superficial makeover.

Installation

Symbian Plus needs to be installed and the mobile phone has to be rebooted for the change to take effect. Once the phone has been restarted, the change is immediately visible. The menu buttons resemble the block pattern so particular to the iPhone, and there is a handy navigational bar at the bottom of the screen as well.

The navigation bar is similar to the navigational toolbar popular with Windows Vista users. The bar contains a number of shortcut icons to various applications. The icons are magnified whenever they are selected with a slight animation, bringing them into greater focus for that short time. Depending on user preferences, the applications can be configured to personal tastes.

Customization is key

The menu is completely customizable, where various shortcut icons to various applications and settings can be arranged according to preference. There is also the option of having a background image to the actual menu, although this aspect takes away from the attractive simplicity inherent in the design. However, that is an entirely personal decision. It is possible to choose from a number of display models, where the icons take on a universal theme.

The software application is available in two languages: English and Chinese. However, it is unclear how to switch from one to the other.

The application appears to be freeware, and comes as an unsigned Symbian software. It is available for download from many dedicated Symbian sites.

Samsung Memoir Review: Display, Interface, PIM, Software and Connectivity

2009-07-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

The Samsung Memoir is no doubt an attractive looking Smartphone but does it really work like the way it looks? This article takes a look at its display, user interface, connectivity options and preinstalled software.

Display

The Samsung Memoir has a large 3.1 inch touchscreen display that exhibits 262k colors at a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels. The screen is not only good looking but bright enough to be seen in direct sunlight. It still can't compete with some of the popular models like the iPhone but there is no flickering and images/videos can be watched with utmost clarity. However, it disappoints occasionally by not responding properly to the finger touch. With the physical keyboard missing, the virtual QWERTY keyboard is not that responsive to touch and you might not feel very comfortable while typing.

Interface

The devices interface based on Samsung’s much hyped TouchWiz user interface and includes other third-party software.

The interface is decent and quite good looking with widgets represented by colorful icons that can be scrolled up and down with the touch of a finger. However, the sidebar is placed on the left-hand side of the screen and that sometimes becomes uncomfortable to use. This is followed by an easily accessible menu at the bottom of the screen.

I faced some minor problems here also because the screen failed to respond to finger touches as expected. The widgets are overcrowded and things became worse because occasionally the touchscreen failed to respond properly and I ended up selecting the wrong icons while opening an application on many occassions.. This issue however can be avoided by putting the least number of widgets on the screen. This is a common problem with all phones having touchscreen UI's and I guess we just has to live with it until a more powerful interface is developed.

PIM and other Software

The Memoir also has an impressive phonebook that supports caller groups and can store 1000 contacts at the same time.

It is highly customizable with a lot of options when it comes to saving a contact. The phonebook for example is supported by features that include picture ID and ring ID and the user can save multiple numbers per contract. The phone organizer also comes loaded with personal productivity tools like alarm, calendar, calculated, To Do, stopwatch, converter, timer and much more. Finally it comes preloaded with a few interesting games and supports Java. It also has pre-installed messaging clients like AIM, ICQ, Windows live and Yahoo. While you will also find very useful software from Nuance that enables you to handle voice dialing on the phone.

Connectivity

The Samsung Memoir is a quad-band GSM device with dual-band UMTS support. It supports 3G over the global networks and other connection abilities include EDGE and class 10 GPRS technology. It also features Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support and a USB port to go with it. While also offering inbuilt GPS that supports A-GPS navigation but it is a shame that it does not include a Wi-Fi. Other connectivity options include a Proprietary and TV-out port along with PC synchronization. It also has a full HTML browser and you can also download Opera Mini to enjoy complete Internet browsing. 3G connected easily for me on the device with no real issues and the GPS hardware connected in less than 30 seconds which is always a plus on mobile based GPS configurations. Overall I had no real issues with the devices connectivity although WiFi is sorely missed.

Conclusion

The Samsung Memoir can boast of a beautiful and large touchscreen that displays crystal clear images and videos but fails to impress more deeply when it comes to responsiveness to finger touch. The user interface is also quite good looking but it also has the same problem that occasionally leads to irritating and uncomfortable browsing of phone applications. The phonebook is definitely quite impressive and the phone has some great productivity tools along with a few interesting games. Finally it includes almost all the available connectivity options minus WiFi. Overall, the phone has loads of useful software and connectivity options but would have done a lot better with an improved and responsive user interface.

Oregon Scientific’s Eco Clima Control Weather Station

2009-07-07T19:16:00.001-07:00

Weather stations are one of those gadgets that are always handy to have around. You don’t have to watch the news to let you know the forecast for the day, instead you can just glance at this gadget. With this though it even keeps you posted on the temperature and humidity indoors at various places throughout your home. Which could come in handy in the winter to help you make sure that the whole house is staying plenty warm.

For within the home it gives the temperature and humidity for up to 4 different rooms. It also has an LED backlight and a mold alert alarm. In addition to that it’ll give the temperature and humidity of up to three different remote locations as well. So you could have it let you know the temperature of places like your job or your children’s school. The best part of this weather station is that it’s actually solar powered, so it won’t require any electricity to run. You can purchase it for $119.

Windows OS Comparisons - XP vs Vista vs 7

2009-07-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

We offer you a one-stop solution for deciding which OS will work best for your current setup, be it Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. In looking at these three, we also offer a quick retrospective on the history of the Windows brand name in the past decade.

Introduction
You’ve reached this page wondering what the best Windows OS is for you, and don’t worry, I won’t let you down. By the time you’ve reached the end of this page, you will know which Windows OS to buy and use.

Windows XP
Ah, XP. Here is a titan of the industry – it’s been in continuous use now by the public for over 8 years now. Currently, you’ll find Windows XP habiting several different styles of netbooks, which is where this system has found its best niche.

XP is still a desktop juggernaut by diehard PC enthusiasts who insist that XP is better than anything that has come out currently. Now, this isn’t really debatable when it comes to Vista, but it is rather debatable when it comes to Windows 7.

XP will be perfect for you if you’re looking for an OS that’s very fast and no-frills. There are no cool window transitions effects, no amazing Superbar, no HD interface, etc. Also, XP is great for those that want total compatibility. Because of the public’s ill-will towards Vista, everything has been compatible with XP ever since it came out.

In the easiest terms, XP is your low-maintenance, high-payoff system. It’s got an excellent track record for not having glitches and issues, as it is now in its third service pack.

Windows Vista
Vista has had problems ever since it was launched back in 2006. While the graphics interface was rather nice and a long overdue update, the system has had problems in other areas, specifically processing and RAM guzzling.

While the GUI works rather well and was implemented with hopes for a “new file system” and new means of organization, these two features never panned out – rather, people focused more on the fact that their systems on XP ran almost 2 times faster than on Vista due to its RAM requirements.

Vista is a mammoth piece of software, and like most things, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Vista became notorious for its crashes and glitches.
Would I recommend Vista to anyone? Well, I would recommend you purchase a laptop quickly so that you’re able to qualify for the free Windows 7 upgrade that Microsoft is promising for those purchasers of Vista. However, I wouldn’t recommend you buy Vista without this option for the free upgrade because of…

Windows 7
We may well have another glorious age of Microsoft dominated sales coming up. The signs are all out there – Apple is on the defensive, with a load of new ad campaigns aimed at debunking Windows 7. The Tech blogs are all getting excited about this new Windows release. And to top it off, Microsoft itself is remaining rather quiet about the whole thing – letting customers try out an extended beta and releasing this new OS only 3 years after the release of Vista – a genuinely uncharacteristic move.

Windows 7 is a glorious breath of fresh air for the entire Windows franchise. The newly designed “Super-bar” is the best thing to ever happen to Windows since the advent of Windows Explorer. The new bar allows for you to quickly and easily dock your programs and to have a permanent launching interface right from the bottom of your screen.

But I’ve talked about Windows 7 on this website ad nauseum, and as such, I’ll spare you more and more talking about how great it is and why you should switch.

Let me boil it down to you in a nutshell. Windows 7 combines the sleek look of Vista with the speed of XP and throws in several game-changing innovations. For those who have a PC, you need look no further for your next choice of Windows OS. To make your choice even simpler, Microsoft is offering the system at $50 introductory price – however, it only comes out in October, so until then, you need to put up with Vista.

How to Download torrents from your Symbian Phone Using SymTorrent

2009-06-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

Here's another function your cellphone can support to help itself in the process of slowly replacing your computer - downloading torrents. Very few people know this is possible, yet there are a number of torrent clients available for cellphones, among them the most popular one is SymTorrent.

Introduction To SymTorrent

SymTorrent supports downloading more than one torrents at once, while also seeding them and resuming the downloads after you exit the application. The program is free and ca be download ed from here.

There are two versions available currently, the one with tracker is an experimental option, but during my testing it appears to work fine. In fact both versions work flawlessly on almost all N series phones. I can personally vouch for the units I tested, specifically on the Nokia N78, N95 and N81 models.

Step By Step Download Guide For SymTorrent

1. Download SymTorrent from the link I provided at the start of this article.

2. Place a .torrent file on your phone. I'd recommend that you transfer it to a known location on the phone via your usb cable since torrents sent via bluetooth automatically open up in text editors. You can also find a .torrent file by browsing to a torrent website via your phones internet browsing application and then saving the file to the location of your choosing.

3. Now open up SymTorrent and select 'Add torrent' from the menu.

4. Browse to the location of the .torrent file on your phone and select it.

That's pretty much it for starting the download process. The application will immediately begin giving you a live status of the upload and download speed for the file and the amount of data downloaded.

One limitation of the application is that it doesn't allow you to set a limit for the upload and download speeds, but if you're planning to use this application regularly then I think it hardly matters.

SymTorrent Tips - Getting Started

1. Make sure you have a legal tracker because there are a lot of illegal ones out there.

2. Using a domestic wifi connection or having an unlimited 3G, GPRS or EDGE plan is highly recommended before using this application because if you're planning to use this application regularly, then odds are that you're going to download hundreds of megabytes which would cost an enormous amount of money without some type of unlimited data plan.

3. Always check if you have enough space on your memory card before you start downloading. A memory card with a capacity of 4GB or more is recommended.

Windows Mobile vs. Blackberry

2009-06-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

The Windows Mobile Operating System offers a host of features not found on Blackberry OS based devices. While Blackberry attempts to further their reach in the market, when it boils down to Blackberry vs Windows Mobile, Microsoft is the winner in my book.

Blackberry OS Vs. Windows Mobile

The business market for cell phones and mobile operating systems is severly fragmented, but two competitors stand out above the others. Blackberry with their very capable Email applications and Windows Mobile by Microsoft thanks to the operating systems ability to handles a huge amount of tasks with ease.

In this article I'll examine the shortfalls of both Operating systems and ultimately leave it up to you my reader to determine which OS you think offers the type of usability you're searching for. First I'll go through some of the major hardware and software offerings found on today's mobile devices while directly comparing the competence of each Operating Systems ability to handle them.

1. TouchScreen functionality: Windows Mobile wins here for the simple reason that Blackberry has yet to offer a touchscreen based device, although the soon to be released Blackberry Bold will remedy this issue. However, Windows Mobile not only supports touchscreen, but can also take advantage of programs such asHTC TouchFlo 3D technology which allows for increased touchscreen usability along the lines of the iPhone.The Windows Mobile Touchscreen ability on Pocket PC's also makes navigation via fingers and stylus use much easier, with the Blackberry you have to scroll through each function in order to reach your desire locationwhich means until you become very comfortable with your Blackberry you may be slightly slowed down, althoughmany users like the scroll function since it means easy one handed navigation, so i'll call this a draw in terms of usability with Windows coming out ahead in terms of Touchscreen functionality.

2. Internet Speeds: Blackberry offers maximum speeds up to Edge capabilities which can't even come close to touching the UMTS/HSDPA offerings of many Windows Mobile devices. The Blackberry Bold will also remedy this shortfall.Yes I am aware that Windows Mobile doesn't create 3G speeds it simply supports the hardware, but that's still an important factor and Windows Mobile does so with ease.

3. Microsoft Office applications offer more functionality with Windows Mobile. This shouldn't come as asurprise given that Windows Mobile is a Microsoft application, however it does help make quick edits easier. With Blackberry you can view Excel, Word and PowerPoint documents, but editing is sorely missed. Also Blackberry viewing of documents isn't as well laid out as the Windows Mobile capabilities.

4. Internet browsing on the Blackberry is annoying, webpages are all laid out in simple HTML and their isno way to zoom in on pages, with Windows Mobile 6.1 webpages can be opened in seperate tabs via Mobile Internet Explorer and the zoom function can be utilized, users can also use the Opera 9.5 Mini browser with Windows Mobile which offers faster page render times and better use. The Blackberry Browser is simplyhard to navigate and offers horrible page layouts.

5. Email: At one point Blackberry had a one up on email, the ability to view threaded messages, however WindowsMobile 6.1 has slowly began to catch up in this respect. I actually found the threading on the Blackberry OS to be more well thought out, so this is a one up for Blackberry.

6. Scheduling: Windows Mobile 6.1 supports Exchange Server 2007 which means you can respond to appointments, set up your out of office, and basically treat your Outlook like the desktop version, unfortunately access to this function is not support on the Blackberry email servers.

7. Applications: Another huge consideration is the number of 3rd party applications that can be downloaded. In this respect Windows Mobile clearly dominates; popular software site Mobihand lists well over 10,000 apps for Windows Mobile, with less than 4000 applications for Blackberry Units, thus showing the reach WindowsMobile has with developers. A Quick search of "Windows Mobile Freeware" brough back over 6 million Google hits vs. "Blackberry Freeware" on Google which revealed 290,000 responses.

8. Fees: Email is free to access, outside of data charges when using Windows Mobile, while a BES server connect fee is charged for use with the Blackberry Client. Not to mention if Blackberry servers experience an issue network administrators are at the mercy of Research In Motion to fix the server, in fact technical glitches in the past have led to Blackberry users around the world losing access to their email while the problems were being solved. Whereas Microsoft Exchange sends email information directly to the users device meaning more control for administrators.

9. BES: Finally, BES servers which control Blackberry Email are considered to be among the best in the industry for security, meaning better controlled access to your email files, although Windows Mobile offers device storage wiping if you lose your device or its stolen, so this is a hard pitch to decide on. I'd personally call the email functions that Blackberry use to stand on a draw.

These are some of the big differences between the devices, as you can see when it comes down to Windows Mobile vs Blackberry, Microsoft dominates the Blackberry OS on almost every front. While Blackberry does offer excellent email capabilities and a generally reliable server backbone, Research In Motion still has a long way to go in terms of creating better all around devices. The iPhone has recently shown that business users expect their devices to work around their needs and Blackberry stilll lags behind Windows Mobile in delivering a full suite of applications both for work and pleasure that work together in unison to offer a full user experience.

No writer's block for 150 bloggers

2009-06-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

Participants at one of the workshops held during the PJ Challenge ’09: Bloggers K’arnival.

PETALING JAYA: Some 150 aspiring and seasoned bloggers put their views on the worldwide web recently at a one of a kind event aimed at improving communication within the community and globally.

The PJ Challenge '09: Bloggers K'arnival, held in conjunction with the city's third anniversary, saw many residents from the Klang Valley learning the basics of blogging including how to set up a blog and post entries.

There were three workshops at the inaugural event which catered for children and adults with special needs, children from the ages of eight to 18 and adults who wanted to start their own blog.

A separate workshop was also held for experienced bloggers where they were told about security tips and ways to enhance their blogs.

These workshops were led by popular Malaysian bloggers including Kenny Sia, Amanda Choe, Ellie Chee, Niki Cheong and Josh Lim.

They touched on topics such as humorous blogging and how blogging relates to journalism.

The participants also had a chance to take part in a Live Blogging Competition. The finalists were tested on their general knowledge and up for grabs were Acer and Sony notebooks.

The community service project held at Jaya 33 was organised by the Association of Backpackers Malaysia (ABM) with Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Kaspersky Lab (M) Sdn Bhd as well as other sponsors such as Acer and Sony.

It was launched by MBPJ deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib who said the event was timely in delivering multiple skills within the community and improving communication for all ages. He said PJ was moving in the direction of a knowledge-based city which was dynamic, healthy and sustainable.

ABM president and the challenge's organising chairman Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou said blogging would be the new media for people to voice their views independently.

"The high ICT literacy rate among PJ folk will meet the city's vision to create a better and livable city," he said.

Other fun activities at the event included a colouring competition for children, face painting, photography contest, Ice Breaker games and a treasure hunt. Seven women from the Cancer Society of Selangor and Federal Territories also thrilled the crowd with their line dancing skills.

Many cheered as the champions of MBPJ's Love The Environment programme, SJK Sri Kelana, stole the show with a special dance performance.

Apple Sells Over One Million iPhone 3GS Models

2009-06-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

iPhone 3.0 Software Downloads Reach Six Million

CUPERTINO, California—June 22, 2009—Apple® today announced that it has sold over one million iPhone™ 3GS models through Sunday, June 21, the third day after its launch. In addition, six million customers have downloaded the new iPhone 3.0 software in the first five days since its release.

“Customers are voting and the iPhone is winning,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “With over 50,000 applications available from Apple’s revolutionary App Store, iPhone momentum is stronger than ever.”

The new iPhone 3GS is the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including improved speed and performance—up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G—with longer battery life, a high-quality 3 megapixel autofocus camera, easy to use video recording and hands free voice control. iPhone 3GS includes the new iPhone OS 3.0, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 100 new features such as Cut, Copy and Paste, MMS*, Spotlight™ Search, landscape keyboard and more. iPhone 3GS customers get access to more than 50,000 applications from Apple’s revolutionary App Store, the largest application store in the world where customers have already downloaded over one billion apps. iPhone 3GS offers twice the capacity for the same price with a 16GB model for just $199 and a new 32GB model for just $299.** And iPhone 3G is available at the breakthrough price of just $99 for the 8GB model—a huge milestone for the high end smartphone market.

*MMS messaging is available only on iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS; fees may apply. MMS may not be available in all areas. MMS support from AT&T will be available in late summer.

**Qualified customers only. Requires a new two year AT&T rate plan, sold separately.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

GPS shoe to track Alzheimer's patients

2009-06-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A new shoe outfitted with a GPS chip aims to offer peace of mind to Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.It's common for people with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia to wander from their homes.It's common for people with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia to wander from their homes.The embedded GPS tracking system will allow the wearer of the shoe to be located instantly online and for their whereabouts to be monitored in real time.The shoe may offer hope to the growing number of people with Alzheimer's disease. More than 26 million people worldwide live with Alzheimer's, and the figure is set to exceed 106 million by 2050, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health."This could not only save lives but potentially save governments billions in search and rescue operations," Andrew Carle, a professor at George Mason University who was an adviser for the project, told CNN.Patients of Alzheimer's, the leading cause of dementia, can easily become confused or disoriented, and it's common for them to wander from their home and not be able to find their way back.The shoe is the latest in a wave of assisted-living devices, from home sensor systems to pill boxes that remind people to take their medication, targeted at keeping Alzheimer's patients safe.Kathi Cordsen, an iReporter from Fullerton, Calif., whose aunt has Alzheimer's, welcomed the development of the shoes."It's really sad how this illness creeps up on a person out of the blue," she said. "I think these shoes could help quite a few families to be able to keep [their loved ones home] instead of putting them in a home."What do you think about GPS-outfitted shoes? Tell us in the SoundOff belowCarle, an expert in aging and assistive technologies, said businesses are honing in on ways technology can improve the quality of life for older adults. The market for microchip-based technology alone is worth an estimated $5 billion, he said.While tracking devices may help those with dementia live independently, they have also raised ethical concerns about informed consent and personal privacy, according to Gayle Willis of the Alzheimer's Society in the UK."As long as people with dementia are involved in the decision-making progress, assisted living technologies can play an important role to help people live well with dementia," she told CNN.But, Willis noted, they cannot be a substitute for good quality care and more research needs to be done to see what products work best for people.The shoe is a collaboration between GTX Corp., a firm that specializes in miniaturized GPS tracking devices, and footwear company Aetrex.Details are still being worked out, but GTX Chief Executive Patrick Bertagna expects the shoe to retail for around $200 to $300.For a monthly fee of about $20, caregivers will also have the option to subscribe to a GTX service that automatically alerts them when the wearer of the shoe leaves a designated boundary.Sixty percent of Alzheimer's patients will get lost at least once, said Carle. Because they often will not seek help or respond to assistance, nearly half of them risk death if not found within 24 hours, he said.Electronic wristbands and ankle bracelets have been used to track sufferers of dementia before, but those devices tend to be bulky and uncomfortable. The shoes, on the other hand, are designed to be unobtrusive.Testing of a prototype is expected to be completed by the end of the year and the shoe will likely be rolled out in 2010

Cooking robot "Okonomiyaki Robot"

2009-06-16T19:53:00.000-07:00

Cooking robot "Okonomiyaki Robot" pours the ingredients for okonomiyaki (Japanese flour cake) over a heated cooking pan during its demonstration at the International Food Machinery and Technology Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan. The Okonomiyaki Robot, developed by Osaka-based robot system integrator Toyo Riki Co., can demonstrate the whole process of okonomiyaki cooking as stirring the ingredients in a bowl, pouring them on the heated cooking pan, turning the okonomiyaki over with spatulas and serves it on a plate and asking you what types of sauces and other condiments to go with it by using both arms. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

My Top Ten Free iPod Touch Apps

2009-06-15T18:32:00.000-07:00

Who doesn’t like free stuff? A few articles ago, I wrote about my top 10 iPod Touch apps. Some were free and some were not. This time around I’m going to share my top 10 Free iPod Touch apps.

The List

Here's some of my favorite free applications currently available for the iPod Touch. I hope you find them interesting and useful, but there's one thing we can't argue about -- the price!

Note: In my previous article My Top Ten IPod Touch Apps I covered my favorite iPod Touch apps, and even though some were free I'm not going to repeat apps listed on the last list. Let’s just assume those are my cream of the crop.

In no particular order, here we go:

EasyWriter

This app has become one of my most used apps. Are you annoyed that you cannot type emails in landscape mode? EasyWriter allows you to do this, and sends what you type straight to an email.

It is only free for a limited time, so get your copy fast!

IM+ All-in-One Mobile Messenger

There are a bunch of instant messaging programs for the Touch. This is my favorite. It works across many platforms (including MobileMe), and my favorite feature is that it allows you to appear invisible to your buddies. This means you can logon and see who is online, but they can’t see you.

Sportacular

Sportacular allows you to check the latest sports scores from your favorites teams in almost every league.

eBay Mobile

If you use eBay, you want this app. It not only allows you to search and bid on auctions, but it gves you a summary of your eBay activity on the main screen. You can quickly see if you are winning your auctions or if you need to bid again.

Bank of America’s Mobile Banking

This app seems to get a lot of slack, but I like it. It allows me to check my accounts without having to go to the BoA website.

FStream

FStream is a great app for streaming Internet radio through your Touch.

Movies & i. TV

These two are related so I figured I’d group them together. Movies is my app of choice for checking movie times at local theaters. i. TV also checks movies, but I use it for U.S. local TV listings. It does a lot more than that, too!

ZIPcodes

Need to find a certain zipcode for that letter you are mailing? This is the app for you!

Flashlight.

There a several flashlight apps in the store. Why pay for one when you can get one for free? This one will light in colors, too! Believe it or not, I have found a use for these light apps, and they fill a need when a flashlight is not handy.

So there you go. My Top 10 Free Apps. Get them while they're still free! You never know when a developer will change the price.

The 4-Port USB Hub with Solar Charger

2009-06-12T19:58:00.001-07:00

This is one of those gadgets that would be great to just toss into your laptop bag. It’d make traveling easier and when your cellphone is dead, due to you forgetting to charge it, you’d have a backup method to charge it up again. Whereas owning a solar charger is usually on the expensive side of things, this keeps things affordable. Which is fantastic when you consider it’s both a solar charger and a USB hub.

They offer a few connectors to go with the solar panel, such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola phone and Samsung. Then of course your USB gadgets can be charged as well, so if you already have a USB charger for your phone and none of the connectors work, you could do things that way instead. The port section of the device has a total of 4 ports. Making it ideal for when you’re traveling and just need a couple of extra ports on your laptop. The panel can charge even under weak light, but they don’t say how long you need to charge it and how much battery life that will get you on your phone. You can purchase it for $21.99 on USB Fever.

Source: TechChee

What To Do If Your iPhone Screen Becomes Unresponsive

2009-06-11T18:58:00.001-07:00

The iPhone isn't perfect and at times the touch screen can have its issues. If it happens, here's some help to get you back on your feet.
Touch Screen Help
I just recently came off a fun little experience involving my first generation iPhone where the touch screen became unresponsive on the top and bottom rows. The cause is unknown but I talked to a wide variety of Apple and AT&T representatives to get some guidance with the issue.
Let me first and foremost stress the importance of getting the two year AppleCare Plan when you purchase your iPhone. Even if you already have yours it does not hurt to pick it up. You also want to make sure that at the very first hint of possible problems to notify Apple.
Here I'll describe a few procedures to take to try and fix the problem as well as what to do if you need to ship off the phone for repair.
One of the first things that Apple had me do was to restart my phone. This is easily done as you hold down the square button at the bottom of the phone (below the screen) as well as the bottom on the very top right of the phone at the same time. This is the same as pressing the menu and middle button on your iPod. It does a simple restart of the iPhone and that alone may due the trick. If that does not work then you have to go a little deeper with the restart and do a restore of the phone. Fear not, you are able to backup your iPhone in this process so when it is restored you have the backed up file still on your computer with all of your information.
This is done by plugging your iPhone into your computer and starting up iTunes. Click on your iPhone device and click the Restore button. Again, it WILL ask you if you want to back up your phone so you will not be completely lost when this is done. The process can take a little bit so be patient. Once the phone restores check and see if the problem persists. If it does then you have to do one of two things. You are able to call Apple for a customer service representative. There you will talk to a individual, give some information and they can send you a box in which you can ship your iPhone to their repair center. The whole process is free and in my case took only a few days to send away and return back to me.
You also have the option of going to your local Apple store and having them take a look at it. They may be able to swap out the phone on the spot if there is a problem or even fix it. If they can't they will at least send it to the repair center for it to be looked at.
Now if you have not purchased the AppleCare two year plan then you are still covered in the 1 year warranty that pretty much all Apple products have. The only thing you need to make sure of is that there are no cracks in the casing as this voids your warranty (I discovered this the hard way). Make sure not to jailbreak the iPhone as this may also cause a void in the warranty.
Apple still hasn't pin pointed the precise reason for the strips to become unresponsive on the iPhone, but they will do as much as they can to take care of you and get your iPhone back up and running.

How Do I Sign Unsigned Symbian Applications. A Simple Step By Step Guide

2009-06-10T20:50:00.000-07:00

The biggest pain to many Symbian users occurs when they download a top notch application, and upon attempting to install the Symbian app the program says the application is unsigned and requires the user to sign it. In this guide i'll offer a simple step by step guide to signing Symbian Apps.

Sign Unsigned Symbian Apps

Having Trouble signing unsigned Symbian Applications? You're not alone, i've received a ton of requests from readers of my personal blog site over the last year or so, all with the same question, "What am I suppose to do when I need to sign a Symbian App" after scouring the internet I have seen many answers to the question, when really it shouldn't be that difficult, with a simple online account to SymbianUnsigned.Com and the GenialSiS program users can easily sign their apps and begin taking advantage of their offerings in a few quick steps.

Below i've explained the simple process for signing Symbian Applications, its one I use on a continuing basis and its yet to fail me.

First Step:

You'll need to have a non-standard email address. This means no Hotmail or Gmail account, but instead a work account, or an email you own on a private domain. If you don't have this option visit 2ip.com and choose an email on any domain, this is a quick work around but it should help you out.

Second Step: You'll need to visit this link: GenialSiS. Next launch the GenialSiS.exe file for a quick install.

Third Step: After installing the GenialSIS file you'll be asked for your devices IMEI number, you can first find this on the back of your phone underneath the battery cover, or you can simply type *#06# on your phones keypad. After you type in your IMEI the program will ask you to click to generate, go ahead and click the generate option. You'll then want to name your profile, feel free to type whatever you want in this section then click OK

Fourth Step: Visit the site www.Symbiansigned.com and register for a free account. The SymbianSigned website is going to ask your for your email address at this point, make sure you use your work account or the ip2 account you just registered. After finishing the signup progress go to your GenialSiS setup and make sure its running on your desktop. On GenialSiS go to the second available tab and you'd see "Symbian Signed Certificate" at this section use the account details from the Symbiansigned.com website that you such registered with. Next click the upload certificate option.

Next you'll need to enter the Captcha letters in the verification field, you'll then choose where to download the complete file, choose your download section and click OK. Choose Save and the file will go to the section you just chose.

Fifth Step: Next to the tab you just chose you'll sign a "Sign SIS/SISX" tab, click on that tab and choose the files you want to sign. Next choose the profile you created earlier and gave its own name, finally click sign.

Your Apps should now be signed, you can find them in the unsigh apps folder that you just placed the original files.

Its a pretty simple process, just make sure you follow the steps in their entirety, if you don't you'll have to go through the whole process again.

How To Speed Up Your Symbian Based GPS Signal Acquistion Times

2009-06-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

If you're using a Nokia cell phone with GPS capabilities you may have noticed at certain times that its rather hard to receive a GPS signal, while at other times you can receive a signal in a matter of seconds. In this article i'll explain how to receive faster GPS coordinates with little effort.

Introduction

There are several easy steps users can take to speed up their Symbian based devices GPS coordinate signals. From new software to properly setting your GPS for optimal performance continue reading below and follow the simple how-to-guide steps i've laid out and you'll be on your way to better overall GPS performance.

1. Firmware Is Your Friend

If you were to take the first version of the Nokia N95 and try to connect to your Nokia Maps program you'd probably quickly realize that the seconds it should take to connect quickly turns into sometimes minutes. However if you took a newly firmware updated Nokia N95 the coordinate tracking times would drop to a mere few seconds. The reason for this is simple, new firmware upgrades oftentimes offer fixes for items such as GPS and Assisted GPS settings, which means your device becomes more capable at using the services the manufacturer promised to deliver in the first place. Think of the first generation of a new handset as a beta version, while the new firmware is the full release. I know its a little backwards but my Nokia N95 proved that very point.

2. Hold Still For Ultimate Location Fixes

2. While GPS capabilities have improved over time, the use of GPS receivers in cell phones are far from perfect, in the case of movement its better to stand still when trying to receive a GPS fix, of course once you're coordinates are locked into place you can walk around, go for a jog, heck you can even drive down the highway with pinpoint accuracy in most cases. Remember that you aren't simply locking in one satellite, but rather in some cases up to 20 seperate signals, if you move around like crazy its going to be harder for those signals to triangulate your exact location.

3. Check Your Settings

For the best GPS fixes via your phone provider make sure you have your GPS software synced to your phone provider. You can accomplish this by going to Settings followed by General then Positioning and finally Positioning server. In that section you'll find an access point which should be set for your cellular providers 3G data network, for instance AT&T.

4. Covering Your GPS Antenna Is Not Helping Your Cause

This step may take some research on your part, I can tell you that on the Nokia N95 series the GPS receiver is located by the keypad, so I wouldn't suggest gripping that area when trying to find GPS satellites. I also wouldn't recommend using a phone case that wraps around your phone, although this shouldn't have too much effect. You may need to find out from your phones manufacturer exactly where the GPS on your device is located, but once you find it don't block it when acquiring a signal.

5. Limit "Other" Functions While Looking For A GPS Signal

While not as proven as other steps its important to remember that built-in GPS receivers work best when a low power output is surrounding them, if you have your bluetooth off, your phones antenna off, and other high output power sources turned off there's a good chance you'll receive a faster signal. Again this isn't as proven but i've noticed at least some difference in acquisition times.

6. Find A Clear View Of The Sky

GPS satellites are in the sky, and for that reason just like a Dish Network satellite you'll need a clear view of the sky in order to find a GPS signal, if you're around tall building, or even tall trees or an awning there's a good chance you won't receive a signal, or that the signal can take minutes to find. Avoid areas that block your view of the sky and you should have no problem pulling up GPS towers.

Conclusion

I personally have used the steps above on my Nokia N95, however they will also work on Sony Ericsson phones, other Nokia phones and GPS based devices in general. The Symbian OS offers great Assisted GPS capabilities along with excellent support for built-in GPS receivers, however with the amount of technology pumped into most cellular devices these days every little bit helps. Follow these steps and I'm pretty sure you'll see increased productivity out of your GPS based Symbian cellular device.

HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 Compared

2009-06-03T19:26:00.001-07:00

The HTC Touch Diamond and Pro are about to be superseded - but how good are their replacements -the HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 - and are they worthy of the name?

Wow Factor

The latest addition to the HTC Touch series of phones has been announced – with slick new handsets the HTC Touch Diamond 2 and the HTC Touch Pro 2 will soon be available, and they certainly have the “wow” factor.

There’s more than just superficial enhancements to each of these phones – they’re faster, more versatile and both look amazing. I’m not naming names, but one particularly trendy touch screen handset is going to be looking over its shoulder once the HTC Touch Diamond 2 and the HTC Touch Pro 2 start shipping.

HTC Touch Diamond 2

The original HTC Touch Diamond is my current phone, and also my favourite one ever – I can email, watch movies in crisp 480x800 WVGA quality, listen to music, store and transfer data, use it as a modem and take photos and videos with it. How do you improve on that?

The HTC Touch Diamond 2 does improve on this, however. Two of the original Diamond’s drawbacks – the 2.8 inch display and the fixed internal 4GB secondary storage are dropped in favour of a shiny big 3.2 inch WVGA display and replaces the dial with a zoom bar for, well, zooming.

HTC are very proud of the new display, a please widescreen which resolves webpages, videos and photos beautifully.

Meanwhile the storage issue is resolved with 288MB RAM and a MicroSD storage card slot. There’s still two cameras – one for photos and video, one for video calls – as well as support for a range of video and audio formats. With a 528MHz processor, the HTC Touch Diamond 2 comes with Windows Mobile 6.1 preinstalled, although expect ROMs for Windows Mobile 6.5 to be available by the end of 2009.

HTC Touch PRO2

I had been planning on my next phone being the HTC Touch PRO – simply because of its rather smashing slide-out keyboard. Having seen the HTC Touch PRO2 following its announcement this week, I’m left with no choice but to opt for the newer version on its release.

One of the best things about the older HTC Windows Mobile devices was the slideout keyboard, and the slightly narrow version available in the HTC Touch PRO is set to be replaced in the new handset with a nice new bulkier keyboard that you can really get your thumbs around – complete with a charmingly tilted screen as the upper portion of the phone pivots to improve your view.

Like the devices predecessor, the hardware is similar to the HTC Touch Diamond2 – but not identical. Say hello to a nice new 3.6 inch display for the Pro which puts the device neatly in line with the HTC Touch HD. HTC’s faith in the Windows Mobile platform and their own TouchFLO 3D is evident with both of these devices with each carrying an enhanced version of the interface.

Summary

These are exciting times for smartphone users, and HTC are really stepping up to the plate with another set of excellent phones.

While the Windows Mobile range might be diverse and slightly crowded, picking and HTC device is worthwhile and rewarding, and I can only see two such superb devices as the HTC Touch Diamond 2 and the HTC Touch Pro 2 becoming very popular very quickly.

How To Take Screenshots On Your Windows Mobile: Several Useful Applications

2009-06-03T00:37:00.000-07:00

Learn how to take screenshots on your Windows Mobile device with this simple step-by-step guide.

How To Take Screenshots in your Windows Mobile

This tutorial will show you how to take screenshots or screensnaps of your Windows Mobile phone.

There are times when you need to take shots of your Windows Mobile screen for one reason or another, you may want to share the shots with some friends or just want to log the events visually. You may also need a screenshot application when you are writing a review for an application like I am.

There are many applications which allow you to take screenshots on your Windows Mobile phone.

Some of the best ones are:

Screen Capture - Ilium Software - http://www.iliumsoft.com/site/fp/screen_capture.php

Capture Screen Utility - Fann Software - http://www.fannsoftware.com/PpcSoftMain.html

vSnap Utility - http://freewareppc.com/graphics/vsnap.shtml

All the three applications mentioned above are freeware application. Just download them from the links mentioned above, upload the CAB installation file to your Windows Mobile phone and click on it to open it to initiate the installation. All of them have almost the same functionality, but I prefer Screen Capture by Ilium software more than the others.

Just install Screen Capture and launch the application from the menu. Leave the application open and browse to whatever you wanted to take a screenshot of. When you want to take the screenshot, click the screenshot key. You can even specify the key you want to take screenshots with in the Options menu. It also lets you specify a timer duration which is the delay after which the actual screenshot will be taken. The user interface is also minimal and simple to understand.

The captured screenshots will then be saved in the My Documents folder on the devices memory. You will also hear a shutter sound when the screenshot is captured. After you are done with taking the screenshots you need, just simply exit the application.

The other two applications - vSnap and Capture Screen have almost the same functionality with slight changes. Both of them also let you specify the directory to store the screenshot in and Capture Screen also has the option to exit the application when the screenshot has been captured and saved.

Nokia Hidden code with a description

2009-05-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

Code Description of Nokia codes :
These Nokia codes will work on most Nokia Mobile Phones

(1) #3370# Deactivate Enhanced Full Rate Codec (EFR) OR *3370#
(2) *3370# Activate Enhanced Full Rate Codec (EFR) - Your phone uses the best sound quality but talk time is reduced my approx. 5%
(3) *#4720# Activate Half Rate Codec - Your phone uses a lower quality sound but you should gain approx 30% more Talk Time.
(4) *#4720# Deactivate Half Rate Codec.
(5) *#0000# Displays your phones software version, 1st Line : Software Version, 2nd Line : Software Release Date, 3rd Line : Compression Type.
(6) *#9999# Phones software version if *#0000# does not work.
(7) *#06# For checking the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI Number). (
(8) #pw+1234567890+1# Provider Lock Status. (use the “*” button to obtain the “p,w”
and “+” symbols).
(9) #pw+1234567890+2# Network Lock Status. (use the “*” button to obtain the “p,w”
and “+” symbols).
(10) #pw+1234567890+3# Country Lock Status. (use the “*” button to obtain the “p,w”
and “+” symbols).
(11) #pw+1234567890+4# SIM Card Lock Status. (use the “*” button to obtain the “p,w”
and “+” symbols).
(12) *#147# (vodafone) this lets you know who called you last.
(13) *#1471# Last call (Only vodofone).
(14) *#21# Allows you to check the number that “All Calls” are diverted to
(15) *#2640# Displays security code in use.
(16) *#30# Lets you see the private number.
(17) *#43# Allows you to check the “Call Waiting” status of your phone.
(18) *#61# Allows you to check the number that “On No Reply” calls are diverted to.
(19) *#62# Allows you to check the number that “Divert If Unreachable (no service)” calls are diverted to.
(20) *#67# Allows you to check the number that “On Busy Calls” are diverted to.
(21) *#67705646# Removes operator logo on 3310 & 3330.
(22) *#73# Reset phone timers and game scores.
(23) *#746025625# Displays the SIM Clock status, if your phone supports this power saving feature “SIM Clock Stop Allowed”, it means you will get the best standby time possible.
(24) *#7760# Manufactures code.
(25) *#7780# Restore factory settings.
(26) *#8110# Software version for the nokia 8110.
(27) *#92702689# Displays - 1.Serial Number, 2.Date Made, 3.Purchase Date, 4.Date of last repair (0000 for no repairs), 5.Transfer User Data. To exit this mode you need to switch your phone off then on again.
(28) *#94870345123456789# Deactivate the PWM-Mem.
(29) **21*number# Turn on “All Calls” diverting to the phone number entered.
(30) **61*number# Turn on “No Reply” diverting to the phone number entered.
(31) **67*number# Turn on “On Busy” diverting to the phone number entered.
(32) 12345 This is the default security code.

How To Uninstall Applications On Windows Mobile Devices

2009-05-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

The uninstall processes on Windows Mobile Devices are easy to follow and pretty quick, however depending on your situation/setup you may need to choose one of the following options: ActiveSync, Windows Mobile Device Center, or Directly From The Device. In this article I'll outline all three.
1. Uninstall Apps Using ActiveSync
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For Windows XP and below users will want to use the ActiveSync program. You can download ActiveSync 4.5 here.
Once downloaded and installed on your desktop ActiveSync uninstalls are one of the easiest ways to remove unwanted programs, simply follow the directions below:
1. Connect your device to ActiveSync
2. Click on the "Tools" option
3. Click Add/Remove Programs
At this point you'll see a screen that lists all of your devices programs, each program will have a checkbox to the left of the programs name and all of your programs will have a checkmark located next to their names.
4. Take out the checkmark in each program box you'd like to uninstall.
5. Click "OK"
It's really that simple, your device will take a moment to uninstall the unwanted Windows Mobile Apps you chose and then you're done.
Uninstall Apps Using Windows Mobile Device Center
If you're a Windows Vista desktop user there's no reason to download ActiveSync, partly because it won't work, but more importantly because Windows Vista comes standard with the Windows Mobile Device Center, a device to desktop sync application that functions in much the same way as ActiveSync 4.5.
Uninstalling Apps with Windows Mobile Device Center is a simple process if you follow the quick steps below:
1. Connect your device via USB to your desktop to launch the application.
2. Click on the "Programs And Services" option
3. Click the "More" option
You will now see a program box similar to the one found with ActiveSync 4.5.
4. Each program will have a box with a checkmark, find the programs you'd like to uninstall and uncheck that box.
5. Click "OK"
The unchecked programs will now uninstall from your device, its really that simple.
Uninstall Programs Directly From Your Windows Mobile Device
You don't have to use a computer to delete programs from your device, if you're on the go uninstalling apps directly from your system once again involves only a few quick steps.
1. Go to your "Start" button
2. Go to "Settings"
3. You'll see a "System" tab, click on that tab.
4. Then go to "Remove Programs"
5. Choose the Application you want to remove and highlight it.
6. Click "Remove"
Your device will now remove the highlighted application.
Personally I usually use my computer for deleting apps just in case anything goes wrong during the uninstall process, however i've rarely heard of people running into Windows Mobile uninstall issues when doing so from their devices.
Conclusion
The 3 uninstall options listed above are the easiest ways to uninstall apps from your Windows Mobile based Pocket PC and Smartphone devices.
If these steps don't work your best bet may be to use the "Clear Storage" option on your Windows Mobile device and start your device with the standard fresh install, but hopefully it doesn't come to that.

Using Opera Mini as a Web Browser for your Smartphone

2009-05-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

Opera Mini as a browser for a Windows Mobile Device:

For those of us who have to, or want to carry a smartphone everywhere, internet connection on that cellular device is imperative to our lives. Whether it is to Google some weird Cisco command or if you're using it to find out the weather, we find ourselves addicted to our smartphones, pocket pc's, and other Windows Mobile devices. Luckily, in my opinion, I have found an application that makes life on the “smartphone internet” much easier. I decided to install the Opera Mini version 4.1.11355 browser for my Samsung Blackjack II that supports Windows Mobile 6.0 and found that I once again love browsing the internet on my phone.

For those of us who already find that a certain product with the blue “E” causes all sorts of problems on our PC’s, I figured that I would give this Opera mini browser a shot. What I found was a terrific interface with easy to use features.

The Installation:

On your smartphone, you open up the current Internet application that you use and you go to http://www.operamini.com. Once you do this, the site will automatically detect which phone you are using and direct you which version of the software to use. Once you download the browser, it will automatically install and will tell you when it is complete. As the Opera Mini is a Java based application it will install to your Java applications folder. It's not only simple, but as you can see below, its a better alternative that offers superior Internet Mobile Browsing.

The application:

When you first open the browser you will be prompted to accept the http connection that your device is trying to use. Your best option is to accept the session option, you will not be prompted with it again during your browsing session.

Once you open the browser you will receive a small “shortcut menu” where you are prompted with a Google toolbar and a blank address bar. There is also a number of bookmarks that appear when you first boot up, such web sites as MySpace, Facebook and the New York Times await you when you open the browser.

Once you find your way to a website, you will find a crystal clear interface that displays web pages the way they are supposed to be displayed. For my example I went to http://espn.go.com. I found that everything made it to the page just like on the PC, there is also a “Zoom” button as part of the application that makes web browsing much easier.

The only downside, at least for me was the “free games” option. At the time of this writing, the Blackjack II was not on the list of phones that could use the free games. There are a number of games there and a number of phones that are accepted. You will definitely want to check that out when you install the browser.

Summary:

All in all, I love the Opera Mini browser for Windows Mobile devices, specifically for my Blackjack II, yet I will mention that the Opera Mini Browser is also available for many other devices both on the Smartphone and Pocket PC side of devices. I find it much more user friendly and just a better overall browsing experience. Web pages load faster, the options on the front page are actual pages that you, as a smartphone user will want to check out and browse with for hours to come.

Windows Mobile 6.1 Takes On iPhone 3G And Wins. Easily.

2009-05-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

While the iPhone 3G may be garnering the most press, Windows Mobile 6.1 goes beyond a flashy campaign and offers true overall functionality. Functions that fully supports a wide range of commercial and business applications for users of every background. The iPhone is a great device, there really is little debating that fact, although the iPhone 3G has recently lost some support due to issues with calls dropping randomly. Of course Windows Mobile devices have not always been perfect either. That's why today i'm going to discuss the main differences between the iPhone 3G Operating System and the newly minted Windows Mobile 6.1 OS.

Given the name of the new iPhone the first important aspect to look as is the speed. Under Apple leadership the unit can download up to 3.6Mbps via HSDPA data speeds. In this respect Windows Mobile 6.1 wins, offering up to 7.2Mbps depending on the device in question and its own limitations. Sure Microsoft depends on the technology of the manufacturers, but it also means the company has created an OS that is easily expandable to a bevy of handsets.

The Windows Mobile 6.1 interface also allows itself to 3G Video calling, its the reason devices such as the HTC TyTN II have provided an additional VGA camera on the front of such devices. The iPhone on the other hand lacks the secondary camera and the faster download speeds necessary for fulfilling such a task.

Then there's the issue of Unlocked versus Locked devices. Sure you can hack your iPhone, but many Windows Mobile devices come factory unlocked, meaning more worldwide usability. Not to mention a variety of carriers worldwide carry the Windows Mobile 6.1 offering, only select carriers with the "priviledge" of carrying the iPhone 3G are available.

On the other hand the iPhone 3G allows for multi-touch which comes standard on the device. This is one option on the iPhone I really like, it makes zooming in and out on pictures and files easy, and it offers more touch functionality to the unit, something that is sorely missing on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional devices.

Email is a big consideration on most devices these days, especially for business purposes, in this case both units offer Microsoft Exchange support, however Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional offers Server 2007 support, full out of office support directly from your device, and syncing capabilities that really can't be reviled by the iPhone. Windows Mobile 6.1 devices then fully support editing office documents while also keeping their original format. Sure the iPhone can download your documents easily, but they can't match the prowess Microsoft offers for document viewing and editing.

Next there's the issue of 3rd Party Applications. iPhone offers the Apple Apps Store, a great addition that offers programs from $.99 and up. Sure its a great addition and all of the programs are approved by Apple before they go live, helping ensure spyware isn't part of the equation. However, Windows Mobile offers literally thousands of third party freeware applications, along with the largest catalogue of non-freeware software from companies such as Handango and MobiHand online. If you are looking to diversify your application portfolio Windows Mobile is really the only way to go. But that doesn't mean the iPhone is out of the picture, Apple has always managed to attract some of the worlds most talented programs, and while Microsoft charges upwards of $500 for their software developers kit, Apple offers there's for free and they offer great helpful hints and support to software developers. Plus developers receive a 70% revenue share compared to the 40%-50% offered by Windows Mobile. In all fairness however the Windows Mobile platform allows developers to reach out to a large pool of users.

I also like the tilt sensor on the iPhone, sure their are a few devices that offer the same function for WM devices, but the iPhone technology is leaps and bounds above the competition, offering quick transitions between regular and landscape modes, and taking full advantage of video games.

In terms of GPS, the iPhone does offer Assisted GPS which uses cell tower information to pinpoint your location, its very accurate, but not always great for areas with bad cell phone coverage. Windows Mobile devices however in many cases offer not only AGPS but also built-in Sirf III processors which means GPS use wherever you may be. Plus at the time of this article their is no navigation software available for the iPhone, with WM 6.1 you can use TomTom, Pharos, CoPilot and a host of other navigation options for all of your GPS needs including Topo Graphs, City Maps, and anything else your heart desires.

Finally, I do like the iPhone Safari internet browser, it trumps the standard Windows Mobile Internet Browser, however Windows Mobile now has the option of Opera Mini 9.5 which helps level the playing field.

I do really like the iPhone and iPhone 3G browser, but the slower download speeds hinder the performance of the iPhone browser.These are just a few of the major differences between the iPhone and Windows Mobile 6.1 devices.

Personally I believe the iPhone series is moving in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go before Apple can claim the best Operating system on the market.

As it currently stands Windows Mobile 6.1 offers more functionality for a wider audience, and in a fragments society that type of breadth is just as important as a sleek design with a cool interface.

iPhone Secrets – Top Ten Keyboard Shortcuts

2009-05-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

If you type on your iPhone as much as I do, you’ll appreciate my top ten list of iPhone keyboard shortcuts.

iPhone Top Ten Keyboard Tips and Tricks

10. When typing on your iPhone’s keypad, if you make a mistake, and your iPhone offers up the correct word underneath your misspelling, click the SPACE bar to accept the suggestion. (To ignore the suggestion, just keep typing.)

9. If you want to add a word to the iPhone’s custom dictionary, type it. You should consider adding your name, your friends’ names, your company name, street name, and similar words.

8. If you realize you’ve made a typing error a few sentences back, tap your finger where the mistake was made to position the cursor there. You can then correct the error, and use the same technique to return to your previous position in the text.

7. Double-tab the SPACE bar to add a period followed by a space.

6. Double-tap a picture, map, or web page to zoom in on it.

5. In Safari, after scrolling to the bottom of the page, tap the top of the screen to immediately return to the top of the page.

4. Visit http://tv.yahoo.com/listings, click the + button, and click Add to Home Screen. You now have one-click access to your local TV listing. Okay, so I’m a TV junkie.

3. Bookmark http://www.google.com/gwt/n. The next time you want to visit a web page and you want to see it FAST, click the bookmark and type in the URL. Select No Images and the web page will load at lightning speed. [See Image 1] For best results, add it to your Home Screen.

2. If you’ve ever flicked so hard that the web page you’re navigating scrolls way past where you want to be, you can stop scrolling by tapping the page during the scroll.

1. Jailbreak your iPhone with ZiPhone GUI v3.0. Once you’ve installed the software, let iTunes restore it (it’ll insist), and then, try out the new applications available to you. More on that later.

SyncMate - Synchronizing Your Mac with Windows Mobile

2009-05-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

SyncMate from Eltima Software is a long-awaited synchronizer for Mac and Pocket PC/Smartphones, to help keep all documents, text messages, contacts, calendar entries and events and other such records well organized

SyncMate - The Tool

A global software development firm - Eltima Software is a specialty software firm for mobile and flash software technology that syncs with windows and Mac. With that being said they have just launched into the market a new program called SyncMate in two different versions – Free version and Expert. It is a fact that people were experiencing problems when switching to Mac and were not sure how to sync the Windows Mobile device to the Mac. To fulfill this long-felt need, SyncMate has come as a boon to offer complete synchronization of the Windows Mobile device with the Mac.

SyncMate helps synchronization of Windows Mobile Notes, Files and Folders, contacts and favorties and calender listings with Address Book, iCal and Stickies on your Macintosh PC's. There is nothing complicated about SyncMate installation. As a matter of fact, there is provision for Mac to be connected to the device with Wi-Fi connectivity or any USB medium so that Syncmate is installed without any fuss.

Key features of SyncMate

SyncMate comes with a host of options that allow users greater opportunities for synchronizing all of their documents like contact details, SMSes, events and such other records.

The key features of SyncMate Free version includes Google Calendar supported Contacts Synchronization, Google Contacts supported iCal Synchronization, Plug-in for Device Info, Plug-in for SMS Reader, Plug-in for Action Log and Internet Sharing facility.

Apart from the key functions of the Free Version, the Expert version additionally includes Firefox supported Bookmarks Synchronization, iPhoto, iTunes, Folders, Time and Entourage-supported Notes Synchronization. There are also additional plug-in facilities for SMS Manager, Applications List, Mail, To Do and Call History.

Note: Upgrading the SyncMate free version to the Expert Edition is really easy. Spend around $40 and get the upgraded version.

Operating SyncMate

With SyncMate installed in the system, synchronizing the Mac PC to the Windows Mobile device may no longer be cumbersome and time-consuming. After completing the installation of SyncMate on the Mac PC, the next step is to connect the mobile device to the PC. After establishing the connection you get the desired connection filed in the USB which helps in the creation of profile for setting up the device conveniently.

Once the connection has been satisfactorily established, the user can select the synchronization options – from Created Folders, To Dos List, iCal, iTune, Bookmarks and contact entries and pluggins like Calls History, Application Lists with device info. There is also the provision of customized process of synchronization. Users can easily transfer selected data from PC to mobile and mobile to PC.

Conclusion

Following are the platform with which SyncMate (SyncMate 1.4) Technology is compatible:

Mac OS X
Windows Mobile Standard 6
Windows Mobile Pocket PC 5
Windows Mobile Smartphone 5 and higher version.
Windows Mobile 6 and Windows Mobile Professional 6
Windows Mobile Classic 6

In a nutshell, with the installation of SyncMate, one will be able to manage device applications effectively. Like managing messages in your device, checking the status of your device regularly, reading and receiving device updates and synchronizing file exchanges, time and events with the special incorporated feature of operation log. The company invites the user to download SyncMate Free edition from: http://www.sync-mac.com/download/syncmate.dmg

Also visit Eltima Software Website

Yahoo Gives iPhone Voice Search

2009-05-22T19:53:00.000-07:00

Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) has updated its iPhone application and given it voice search capabilities to keep up with Google (NSDQ: GOOG)'s iPhone app.
Yahoo's voice-controlled oneSearch is already available on other mobile platforms like BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Symbian, but this is the first from Yahoo on Apple's platform. The Yahoo Mobile app brings e-mail, social networks, news, sports, instant messaging, and other Web-based features to the iPhone in one place.

In this Over The Air Weblog, Eric Zeman tests out MagicJack, which promises you'll never need to pay for another phone call. To good to be true?

Anywhere there is a search bar in the app, users can click on the oneSearch button to activate voice controls. Users speak their voice query, it is sent to Yahoo's server, and then an answer is provided with links. Users can also use their voice to add topics of interest. The voice control technology is powered by Vlingo.
Yahoo is playing catch-up with rival Google, which released a voice-powered search app for the iPhone last year. Google's app also has an advantage over Yahoo's because it enables the user to activate the voice search by bringing the phone to the ear. This was made possible because Google utilized application programming interfaces that are generally not allowed by Apple.
Yahoo's program can be downloaded from the App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch for free.
As Yahoo reorganizes under CEO Carol Bartz, it is unclear how big a role the mobile division will play in the company. Mobile search will continue to play a large role, and the company recently signed a pact to provide search for most of AT&T (NYSE: T)'s phones except for the iPhone, which has Google as the default search. The company may also try to woo developers with its Blueprint platform which enables content creators to write apps once and have them run on multiple platforms.
With mobile devices taking on increasingly important tasks for enterprises, some companies may be facing trouble without a mobile device management plan. InformationWeek analyzed this issue in an independent report, and it can be downloaded here (registration required).

Fix Windows Mobile Synchronisation Error 86000107

2009-05-21T20:23:00.000-07:00

A Windows Mobile 6.1 device, multiple Windows XP PCs or laptops and Outlook 2007 all synched via Activesync 4.5 can end up giving error 86000107 - this article explains how to resolve the fault

What Is Activesync Error 86000107?

Windows Mobile 6.1 and Outlook 2007 don’t seem to get along quite as well as they should using Windows XP and Activesync 4.5 – and error 86000107 is one of the most common faults.

This fault seems to be related to synchronising contacts, calendar entries and appointments, tasks and emails, and often occurs when the user has sunchronised their Windows Mobile device with two PCs. It can however be resolved with some careful resetting and reapplying of the various synch items – and if you’re particularly lucky your OEM (original equipment manufacturer) might even have a fix, so consider contacting them to confirm this.

If that’s not the case however, a manual fix can be found below.

How To Fix Synchronisation Error 86000107

Although resolved with AKU 1.2 (adaption upgrade kit, a software kit sent to developers and providers of Windows Mobile hardware) the issue persists on devices released throughout 2008 with Windows Mobile 6.1 preinstalled.

When the synchronisation fails either by USB or Bluetooth, Activesync displays a warning message, and a red exclamation mark appears on the Activesync icon in the Windows XP system tray. THe following error is displayed:

"ActiveSync encountered a problem on the desktop. Support code: 86000107”

To resolve manually, in Activesync go into Tools > Options and uncheck all items selected for synchronisation. This should only need to be performed on the Windows XP PC that is experiencing the above error.

The next step is to restart both the Windows Mobile device and the Windows XP PC. When the PC reboots, you’ve logged back into Windows and your mobile handset is connected, go back to Tools > Options and add each previously synced item in turn – checking the box, clicking OK and awaiting for synchronisation to complete.

By carrying out this procedure the single (or perhaps several) items causing the error can be narrowed down and removed or amended.

The fault occurs because of changes required to anything over 100 synced items. Following the above steps should enable you to overcome the issue, although do bear in mind that that the same steps might need to be made on your second synchronised PC in order to overcome the error completely.

Synchronizing Windows Mobile with Linux

2009-05-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

This how to guide outlines the steps needed to synchronize a Windows Mobile device with a Linux desktop or laptop installation.

Introduction

With more and more corporate networks employing Linux solutions from their servers down to their workstations and desktops, it makes sense to be able to synchronise data stored on your Windows Mobile device with a Linux desktop.

Whichever version of Linux you’re running, it is worth remembering that it is a very different operating system to Windows and as such installing ActiveSync isn’t the way to effectively achieve timely and robust synchronisation.

Instead, specific software designed and built for the Linux platform is required that enables your Windows Mobile handset to sync correctly with your personal information manager - for instance Evolution.

Software

In order to synchronise your Windows Mobile device with any desktop operating system, you need to have a suitable piece of software installed on your desktop or laptop. For Linux (in particular Ubuntu) there are two applications that allow the synchronisation of your contacts and address books, calendar appointments, tasks, file browsing and even the installation of software to your Windows Mobile device – pretty much filling in for the absence of ActiveSync on the Linux platform.

Both items of software can be easily downloaded and installed free of charge. The first is MultiSync (download here) which manages the synchronisation and provides an interface for you to decide what to sync and what not to sync.

The second piece of software is SynCE. This provides the actual means of communication between the Windows Mobile device and the Linux powered PC or laptop. In tandem, the two pieces of software allow you to manage and sync data with the Linux software Evolution – this is the Linux platforms answer to Microsoft Outlook.

Synching

You can sync your Windows Mobile device either by USB or by Bluetooth using MultiSync and SynCE, and the synchronising experience is almost identical to that on Windows. Simply open MultiSync, configure the folders to be synchronised under the Options menu and click on the Sync button.

It is important to ensure however that your folder names are consistent across devices – for instance if you have an email folder on your Windows Mobile device called “Brighthub” a folder with the same name must exist in Evolution.

Other than that, using MultiSync is pretty much the same as using ActiveSync; some might say that it’s actually better as MultiSync does provide a smoother, more appropriate user interface.

There should certainly be nothing holding you back from setting up a sync partnership between your Windows Mobile handset and your Linux computer.

Glowing phone transmits your mood

2009-05-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

DO YOU find it tough getting across precisely how you are feeling in the confines of a 160-character text message? Your emoticons just not cutting it? Then Nokia of Finland may be coming to your rescue. Last week, the company filed a patent on a new breed of cellphone capable of "light messaging".

The idea is that when you send a text, the phone's software lets you choose a colour that represents your mood - red for raging angry, perhaps, blue for sad, or yellow for mellow. That colour is then encoded with your message and is used to illuminate an LED array on top of the recipient's similarly equipped light-messaging phone.

The inventor of the system, Nokia's Teppo Jokinen, hopes it will "enrich and improve user experiences", according to US patent application 2009/0117850.

Glowing band aid to zap skin cancer

2009-05-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

THE humble sticking plaster is getting a high-tech upgrade. As well as simply patching up small cuts and grazes, plasters embedded with light-emitting diodes could be used to treat skin cancer in combination with light-sensitive drugs.

Polymertronics, based in Banbury, UK, is developing the plasters, which are impregnated with a ser ies of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The light plasters are designed for use in photodynamic therapy, in which light-sensitive drugs are applied to the skin as a cream. When you shine red light on the area it activates the drugs, which destroy the tumour as they soak though the skin.

At the moment, expensive lamps and lasers supply the red light for photodynamic therapy, and so the treatment can only be performed in hospitals. The light plasters could allow people with skin cancer to treat themselves at home, says Stephen Clemmet, CEO of Polymertronics. "We're looking at developing a faster, cheaper, easier way to treat skin cancer."

OLEDs emit light when a voltage is applied to them. The company has developed a way to print square clusters of battery-powered red OLEDs, each 4 millimetres square, onto a strip of flexible plastic. The pattern of OLEDs exactly matches the shape of the patient's tumour. The plaster is then placed over the tumour, allowing the red light to be targeted directly at the cancerous tissue.

The company has shown that its OLEDs are able to destroy a range of cancer cells in the laboratory, and will soon begin human trials of the light-emitting plasters. It presented the devices at a meeting on polymer electronics in London on 21 April, and hopes to launch them commercially within two years.

Another UK company, Lumicure, a spin-off from the University of St Andrews, is working on a similar OLED-plaster, also for treating skin cancer.

New Handphone concept

2009-04-28T20:25:00.001-07:00

This is really a funny looking new concept of a mobile phone, now all your important calls are just a hand away from you……. & you don’t need to search for your mobile when ever it rungs,
when a call receives you just hold the hand towards your mouth,it has a mic on your little finger and ear piece on your thumb.
it helps you in the noisy places because the speaker and mic are too close to you.
Now there will be a new fashion of wearing a handphone just link wearing a wrist watch

Why do most computer users do things wrong?

2009-04-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

While some presentations at the recent Computer Human Interaction conference in Boston showed off futuristic ideas such as transparent touchscreens (with video), others were about more mundane problems. One that caught my eye (pdf) concerns itself with the fact that most of us computer users simply don't know how to best use everyday software - going about things the wrong way is the norm.This raises the question that Suresh Bhavnani and his colleagues at the University of Michigan attempt to tackle: "why do many users persist in using inefficient and ineffective methods to perform common computer tasks?"I think we all know what he's talking about. Few of us truly understand all the features of the packages we use, from word processing to email. We use a collection of trusted - if not pretty - strategies and work-arounds we know will do the job - using spaces or tabs to line up text, for example. But our cheats are all too easily trumped by someone who can achieve the same result in half the mouse clicks or keyboard presses.
Bhavnani and colleagues say that people stick to doing things the hard way because they like strategies that are applicable to multiple packages and situations. Another reason is that help documents usually focus on giving lists of commands for simple tasks or the steps needed for very complex but specific ones.Computer education in schools and universities falls into the same trap, they say. Past research by the Michigan team showed that architects with years of formal training and professional experience with design packages still "did not use effective and efficient methods in real-world tasks".Bhavnani and co. have worked out new training methods designed to teach people how to be efficient. It's mostly a matter of attitude. For example, they give advice on how to deal with problems encountered when trying to do something, instead of just presenting the ideal few steps for a particular situation. Still, I think they're missing something. All this talk of reprogramming users neglects the point that we should be concentrating likewise on the software. Some rethinking of how packages work would go a long way towards helping us users be more efficient.

2009-04-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

World’s first flying car prepares for take-off
Is it a car? Is it a plane? Actually it’s both. The first flying automobile, equally at home in the sky or on the road, is scheduled to take to the air next month.
If it survives its first test flight, the Terrafugia Transition, which can transform itself from a two-seater road car to a plane in 15 seconds, is expected to land in showrooms in about 18 months’ time.
Its manufacturer says it is easy to keep and run since it uses normal unleaded fuel and will fit into a garage.
Carl Dietrich, who runs the Massachusetts-based Terrafugia, said: “This is the first really integrated design where the wings fold up automatically and all the parts are in one vehicle.” The Transition, developed by former Nasa engineers, is powered by the same 100bhp engine on the ground and in the air.
Terrafugia claims it will be able to fly up to 500 miles on a single tank of petrol at a cruising speed of 115mph. Up to now, however, it has been tested only on roads at up to 90mph.
Dietrich said he had already received 40 orders, despite an expected retail price of $200,000 (£132,000).
“For an airplane that’s very reasonable, but for a car that’s very much at the high end,” he conceded.
There are still one or two drawbacks. Getting insurance may be a little tricky and finding somewhere to take off may not be straightforward: the only place in the US in which it is legal to take off from a road is Alaska.
Dietrich is optimistic. He said: “In the long term we have the potential to make air travel practical for individuals at a price that would meet or beat driving, with huge time savingsSource:

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article5489287.ece

! april virus is not an April fool..

2009-04-01T22:33:00.001-07:00

You should be aware of a new computer virus called Conficker C. An international group of computer security experts have come together to try and stop this program, but have not had any luck so far.

The virus, which has already infected millions of computers running Microsoft Windows, is apparently set to launch on April 1st, but it is not clear yet what it will do. Previous versions of the virus took control of user PCs to sell bad software programs.

What happens with a virus like this is:

It burrows deep into the code of a computer and blocks security updates which could remove it.
When activated, it can take control of a large number of PCs around the world. This forms what is called a Botnet, in which PCs are controlled remotely to spread the virus or launch spam e-mail or even attack and shut down websites.

Microsoft has posted a $250,000 reward for the capture of the virus author, but the best security experts in the world have so far failed to catch the person or persons.

Experts warn this virus could do significant damage when it is launched on April 1st.

If you own a PC, you should:

Find out if you received an automatic software update from Microsoft in March. If you have, you are probably fine. If not, your machine may be infected.

If you are concerned your PC may be infected, visit Windows Live to get a PC scan and a security update if needed.

King Of IPhone!!!!!!, Lots of diamond and gold....

2009-03-30T19:52:00.001-07:00

I found this picture in Internet......Iphone!Hahahaha....Too expensive.

The Apple iPhone 3G Kings Button’s main operating button is integrated with high quality 6.6 carat diamonds, this impression itself of the phone is very attractive. This exquisite phone is made of solid 18-carat yellow gold, white gold and rose gold. It e flaunts a white gold line encrusted with a total of 138 brilliant cut diamonds of the best quality.

The new Apple iPhone 3G ‘Kings Button’ is the most luxurious phone to date. The phone is definitely for those who dare to defy the current credit crunch.

The Apple iPhone 3G ‘Kings Button’ for 1,636,000 ($2,517,345) (approx. Rs 12 crore).

2009-03-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

Nokia N97 Phone

Over two years ago we thought we knew what Nokia had in mind for their secret N97 phone. And we thought we had pictures too. Boy, were we wrong but then again nobody else had any facts about the future N-series handset. How were we to know that Nokia will launch its N97 only on December 2nd 2008? Here's what we wrote back then:

Well now, what do we have here? This device is rumored to be N97 and only time will tell if its Nokia's latest offering or a result of someone's Photoshop skills! According to the rumor mill, the handset is equipped with a 3 inch display and will in all probability have a 5 Megapixel camera with 20x digital zoom! The N97 promises both fun and functionality and will also include a miniSD card and 20GB of internal memory! We shall keep you updated on this one!

In the mean time Nokia surprised everyone with the touchscreen slider N97. It’s like an iPhone or a Storm. But dare I say... better? Nokia saw what people want nowadays and adapted. After trying out their first touchscreen on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, the Nokia brainiacs where ready for the next big thing. The Nokia N97 will certainly be the flagship smartphone of Nokia for quite a while. Here are some of its features, which will make you choose it:

a 3.5 inch widescreen 16:9 touchscreen

haptic feedback

full QWERTY slideout keyboard

5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss Tessar lens and dual LED flash

up to 32 GB of storage

up to 16GB additional memory via microSD

Symbian S60 5th Edition

up to 37 hours of music / up to 4.5 hours of video

A-GPS and GPS

HSDPA, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, stereo Bluetooth connectivity

a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Phone will cost 550 Euros before taxes and subsidies and it will be launched in the first half of 2009. What do you think? Like what you’ve seen so far? Don’t forget to check the video below too!

Stylish

2009-03-27T19:50:00.001-07:00

The cloud-computing field may be in its infancy, but there is a fight breaking out at the preschool.

A group of Web services providers, reportedly including IBM, is set to unveil a "manifesto" next week that lays out a number of principles for open cloud computing. Two of the biggest names in the field, though, say they aren't signing on.

Microsoft posted blog message to that effect on Wednesday night, while Amazon.com on Friday said it, too, is not among the companies signing the document.

"Like other ideas on standards and practices, we'll review this one," Amazon said in a statement. "Ideas on openness and standards have been talked about for years in Web services. And we do believe standards will continue to evolve in the cloud-computing space. But what we've heard from customers thus far, customers who are really committed to using the cloud, is that the best way to illustrate openness and customer flexibility is by what you actually provide and deliver for them."

Amazon noted that over the past three years, it has made its Web services available on different operating systems and programming languages.

Microsoft, for its part, said there were some things it agreed with in the manifesto, but others that were either too vague or did not reflect its interests. The company also objected to the fact that it was shown the document just last weekend, not allowed to make changes, and given just 48 hours to decide whether to sign.

"We were admittedly disappointed by the lack of openness in the development of the (Open) Cloud Manifesto," Microsoft's Steven Martin wrote in the blog post. "What we heard was that there was no desire to discuss, much less implement, enhancements to the document, despite the fact that we have learned through direct experience. Very recently, we were privately shown a copy of the document, warned that it was a secret, and told that it must be signed 'as is,' without modifications or additional input."

Martin wrote that "it appears to us that one company, or just a few companies, would prefer to control the evolution of cloud computing, as opposed to reaching a consensus across key stakeholders (including cloud users) through an 'open' process."

Although the document has yet to be released, one of its proponents, Enomaly's Reuven Cohen, has said it will be will be released on Monday. In a blog post, Cohen suggests that there will be at least a dozen signatories of the document, including "several of the largest technology companies."

"The manifesto does not speak to application code or licensing but instead to the fundamental principles that the Internet was founded upon--an open platform available to all," Cohen said. "It is a call to action for the worldwide cloud community to get involved and embrace the principles of the open cloud."

Cohen also posted a follow-up blog thanking Microsoft for the attention generated by the rejection of the manifesto.

"In one move, Microsoft has provided more visibility to our cloud interoperability effort than all our previous efforts combined," Cohen wrote.

As for the manifesto itself, we'll have to wait until Monday to see it, but Cohen's blog and this site give some idea where they are headed.

Stylish Blog

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Step By Step Download Guide For SymTorrent GA_googleFillSlot("BH_Mobile_SymbianPlatform_ATF_Body_LargeRectangle_336x280");

1. Download SymTorrent from the link I provided at the start of this article.

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No writer's block for 150 bloggers

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5. Limit "Other" Functions While Looking For A GPS Signal

6. Find A Clear View Of The Sky

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Synchronizing Windows Mobile with Linux

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Glowing phone transmits your mood

Glowing band aid to zap skin cancer

New Handphone concept

Why do most computer users do things wrong?

! april virus is not an April fool..

King Of IPhone!!!!!!, Lots of diamond and gold....

Nokia N97 Phone

Stylish

Step By Step Download Guide For SymTorrent