Touch Screen Gadget

Latest Palm version of Windows Mobile rumor

Posted by admin | Category: Trend Watch & News, Windows Mobile

The second half of 2008 has long been considered a very uncertain period of transition for Palm. The embattled handheld maker will presumably be attempting to tread water on the residual sales of the popular Centro smartphone alongside a handful of new Windows Mobile-powered devices, all while presumably prepping the Nova OS for release sometime in 2009. What exactly Palm’s upcoming Windows Mobile device lineup looks like remains the most pressing question facing the Palm faithful as we kick off the beginning of the summer months with just a small handful of rumors to contend with.

As usual, all of the information presented here combines a great deal of speculation based largely on Palm’s past releases plus a handful of leaked images, specification and online chatter. Of course, we’ve had a few leaked images, roadmaps, and specs over the past year to go on as well. All of the content of this article is essentially speculation and conjecture based on Palm’s traditional device history and should in no way be interpreted as an actual Palm release schedule.

For references purposes, this site has a handy repository of nearly every Palm device ever released with their internal codenames.

Codename: Zeppelin / Possible Product Name: Treo 800w (CDMA) / ETA: July 22

Notes: This fabled device (AKA the "Mercedes Treo" mentioned by Ed Colligan in late ‘06) has been making the rumor rounds for well over a year now and is approaching legendary status. While official specs have been very slow to emerge, the general consensus is that the device will be powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, have a 320×320 recessed touchscreen, a ~400mhz CPU and 128mb of RAM with 256mb of ROM. It should also achieve a series of notable milestones, such as Palm’s first EVDO REV-A handset, Palm’s only GPS-enabled device, and Palm’s first smartphone with integrated wi-fi capabilities. Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and a 2.0megapixel camera round out the hardware specs.

Codename: Otto / Possible Product Name: Treo 500 (GSM) / ETA: Out Now (outside USA)

Notes: Introduced in September 2007, the Treo 500 remains a Europe-only device due to its tri-band GSM radio. The Treo 500 is Palm’s first "outsourced" smartphone with Asus being Palm’s ODM.

Codename: Drucker / Possible Product Name: Treo 800w (GSM) / ETA: July 22/ Q3 ‘08

Notes: Much like how the Centro debuted in domestic CDMA flavor prior to its global launch in GSM guise, a mildly updated GSM version of the 800w that, depending on the source, is schedule to launch simultaneously alongside the CDMA version or possibly later in Q3.

Right now our best bits of information regarding this device are the slides from the leaked Vodafone presentation back in January. This device’s rumored specs are identical to its CDMA brethren, aside from a flush-mounted touchscreen (another first for Palm).

Codename: Wanda / Possible Product Name: Treo 500 Successor (GSM) / ETA: September 2008 (Europe only?)

The "Wanda" is expected to be a minor refresh of the ho-hum Treo 500 that appeared late last year. The main additions to the Wanda’s spec list are integrated GPS functionality as well as much faster 3G HSDPA support.

Codename: Skywriter / Possible Product Name: "Centro-like device running WM 6.1" / ETA: Q3-Q4 ‘08?

Notes: This is a new term previously unpublished prior to Tam Hanna’s announcement last week. Several possibilities exist as to the exact identity of this this mysterious device. The codename "Skywriter" evokes the image of a lightweight, stylish device (ala Centro) designed around text messaging and e-mail. This product’s codename is also strangely reminiscent of the old i705’s "Skywalker" codename.

Finally, a much less likely scenario could have Palm releasing a new higher-end budget device combining the current’s Centro formfactor and touchscreen with the more robust Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional OS. One advantage of introducing a low-end device under the Centro moniker would be the gain support for 3G GSM networks or EVDO Rev-A, Bluetooth 2.0, Google Maps’ location and/or GPS capabilities and A2DP wireless headphone support, none of which is possible under the aging Garnet OS. However, Palm would be forced to likely offer such a device at higher price than the Garnet-based Centro due to Microsoft’s Windows Mobile licensing costs…unless, of course, Palm and Microsoft have been able to renegotiate their licensing pricing in order to push more WM Pro-based devices to the lower end of the smartphone market.

If Palm could hit the ground running this summer and fall with two 320×320 WM 6.1 smartphones, they would enjoy near-exclusivity in this particular segment (WM 6.1 320×320 touchscreen w/ full QWERTY keyboard) of the market, though a cheaper touchscreen WM Centro could potentially steal sales from the flagship Treo 800w, risking further dilution of the Treo line’s cachet.

[palminfocenter]

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HTC P3470 combine GPS and Windows Mobile

Posted by admin | Category: GPS Navigation & Guidance System, Windows Mobile

HTC Corp P3470 the world’s leading provider of Microsoft Windows Mobile smart devices comes with GPS

At just 108mm tall, the HTC P3470 offers unbeatable value as one of the most compact devices in HTC’s portfolio, featuring a broad range of functionality that today’s consumers desire.
The HTC P3470 enables an easy to use and simple interface for accessing web pages, documents, messages, contact lists and more.
The HTC P3470 features Copilot software, the best sat-nav solution for phones.
The intuitive interface, clear instructions and easy call handling make it the ideal software navigation solution for the P3470.
The touch interface and large 2.8 inch screen ensure the AGPS-enabled sat-nav is easy to use.
“Phones with satellite navigation capabilities are witnessing increasing demand in the Middle East, even as mobile penetration rates continue to rise steadily,” said Kevin Chen, General Manager, HTC Middle East and Africa and CIS. “The HTC P3470 integrates GPS-location into an innovative and high-powered phone that brings location-based experiences to customers looking for power and affordability. We are very pleased to announce this addition to the product portfolio, continuing our commitment to provide an option for every user”.

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Giba-Byte GSmart announced new UI

Posted by admin | Category: Smartphone, Windows Mobile

Giga-Byte has announced a newly developed UI software for its GSmart Windows Mobile smartphones which is called "Smart Touch". This new interface that is intuitive, informative and flexible, offers users a more user friendly interface.
GSmart has established a sound position in the market when its famous world’s first (and still the only one) DVB-T Windows Mobile smartphone (the GSmart t600) were introduced to the public, and after since, GSmart has been harvesting the market productively and actively, it has introduced several new models, and each with unique features.

The home screen is set up similar to the iPhone, with a home screen full of shortcut icons. The bottom of the screen holds four shortcuts. A list can be displayed by swiping your finger. The list has your 16 most used applications.

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HTC HSDPA Diamond checked!!

Posted by admin | Category: Mobile Phone, Smartphone, Trend Watch & News, Windows Mobile

Next Tuesday HTC is holding a London press conference where attendees can ‘witness the next wave of HTC innovation’.

HTC is already down in the books as being a member of the Open Handset Alliance scheme with Google, and will be releasing an Android handset later this year apparently, however it’s looking likely next Tuesday will usher in the Diamond model, a 2.8″ touchscreen HSDPA mobile, the first of the HTC clan to run on Windows Mobile 6.1.

How do we know all of this? Thanks to HTC’s Financial Executive Cheng Hui-ming, who spoke to the Taipei Times and actually named the handset as being “the most important product for HTC this year”. Whether that’s a slip of the tongue, or HTC won’t be releasing their Android offering this year after all, remains to be seen.

Also confirmed are some of the internal specs, including WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, 4GB of internal memory plus an impressive (for a smartphone) 3.2-megapixel camera. As you can see from the blurry pixellated image above that was leaked to Engadget, gone are the curves of the Touch mobile, in place is a seriously impressive screen, and omitted QWERTY keyboard.

(Engadget)

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LG-KS20 a Fashion Pocket PC

Posted by admin | Category: Mobile Phone, Smartphone, Windows Mobile

Following the success of its Chocolate and Prada series, now the Korean phone maker is offering another smart phone, called the LG KS-20.

LG KS20 is an iPhone-like phone that is operated on a big 2.8-inch Touchscreen. Runs on Windows Mobile 6 Professional, the tri-band GSM LG KS20 offers more office functionalities that LG Prada phone (a phone that looks very alike to LG KS20). The KS20 phone has built-in email client that allows users to access both corporate and personal email accounts.

Besides that, this LG phone also has nice multimedia features such as MP3 player (Windows Media Plaer), video recorder, and 2.0-MP digital camera with AutoFocus and Flash). Its built-in 128MB memory might sounds too low to carry a lot of music and pictures, however, you could always expand its memory storage by getting microSD cards.

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Verizon VX6900 on sale

Posted by admin | Category: Mobile Phone, Smartphone, Windows Mobile

Verizon Wireless said its XV6900 touch-screen smart phone is available online today for $349.99 after a $50 rebate and with a two-year service agreement.

The XV6900 runs the Windows Mobile 6 Professional operating system, providing access to Office Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile and other applications.

It operates over Verizon’s EV-DO 1xRTT wireless network and is equipped with Bluetooth 2.0 for hands-free headset support, Verizon Wireless said.

The device, which was shown at CTIA Wireless 2008, joins a growing number of devices that would compete with Apple’s iPhone for its touch-screen capabilities and general size and shape.

The Verizon Wireless XV6900 smart phone, with its touch-screen capabilities, is viewed as a rival device to the iPhone. (Photo courtesy of Verizon Wireless)

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CTIA Wireless 2008: All point to iPhone

Posted by admin | Category: Mobile Phone, Smartphone, Trend Watch & News, Windows Mobile

The specter of the iPhone hung over the 2007 spring CTIA Wireless show, casting a dark shadow of uncertainty over the whole event. Fast forward a year to this year’s conference. How things do and, to some extent, do not remain the same.

As expected, the iPhone’s been a huge hit, turning Apple not just into a huge smartphone player, but a significant force in the mobile phone industry period, all from scratch. And while, like last year, Apple did not have a booth, the iPhone’s impact on the wireless world reverberated throughout the show floor.

Unlike 2007, where trepidation over the iPhone’s impact seemed to rule the day, 2008 saw a significant shift in attitude regarding the iPhone. This year, we gathered from our time at the show that the iPhone is now seen by a significant portion of the cell phone industry as representing not just a threat but an opportunity.

Building awareness of capablities and making progress in improving the ease-of-use, access and integration to mobile content were some of the key themes running throughout CTIA this spring. That is, while there are plenty of data services available, most of them aren’t - save messaging - used as much as they could be, that easily, speedily (even with 3G networks), and - most frustrating of all to all stakeholders - on consumers’ radar.

For a lot folks in the industry, while they’ve been aware of these problems for years, the release of the iPhone is what got them out of their malaise and into taking more aggressive action.

So we had a number of vendors, even direct Apple competitors, speaking to us about how the iPhone’s drawn a lot of positive attention to the industry. It has also shown consumers some of things you can do with a cell phone and smartphone that they may not have been aware of before.

On the platform side, at CTIA, you had Microsoft come out with Windows Mobile 6.1, which features mostly usability enhancements, and, over the past year, Nokia adding touch screen support to S60. The first Nokia device with a touch screen, the Tube, started to make the rounds in throughout the Internet rumor mill shortly after CTIA ended.

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