Apple Introduces A Couple of New iPods

OK, this is somewhat old news, but I thought I’d post it for those who have been neglecting to do their part for the American economy by buying a new Apple iPod. Apple introduced two new models last week, one of which is a “celebrity” version of the 4th-generation iPod called the U2 Special Edition and the other a totally new model called iPod Photo which marks the first time that an iPod has had a color screen.

The iPod Photo is designed to let users carry all of their music AND their photo library in their pocket. It can hold up to 25,000 digital photos along with the user’s music library, displaying them on a high-resolution color screen. You can scroll through your photo library using the patent pending Click Wheel that is featured on the iPod mini and 4th Generation iPods as well.

Users can combine their photos and music to create iPod-based slideshows. The iPod Photo also has TV-out for showing the slideshows on big screen TVs or projectors. There are 40GB (10,000 songs) and 60GB (15,000 songs) versions, and the new extended battery life will let users play music up to 15 hours or show 5 hours of slideshows.

The new iPod Photo models started shipping last week at suggested retail prices of US$499 for the 40GB model and US$599 for the 60GB version. It includes a dock with audio and video out, earbud headphones, iTunes 4.7 for Mac and Windows, USB and FireWire cables, an AC adapter, and a black carrying case.

The U2 Special Edition iPod runs US$349 for a 20GB model and stands out in several ways. It has a jet black front cover with a red Click Wheel, and the back has autographs of the band members etched on it. You get a special U2 poster and $50 off of the digital boxed set “The Complete U2″ at the iTunes Store.

Ten Years of PDAntic.com!

Today marks a very special occasion - PDAntic.com has been online for 10 years!

If you’re a longtime reader, you probably recall that my first PDA experiences started in August of 1993 with an Apple Newton MessagePad. Since then, I’ve owned a huge number of PDAs (this list doesn’t include the PDAs that I’ve borrowed for reviews, nor does it include phones with PDA features):

Newton MessagePad, Newton MessagePad 110, Newton MessagePad 120, Newton MessagePad 130, Newton MessagePad 2000, Motorola Envoy, Pilot 1000, Casio Cassiopeia A-11+ Handheld Computer, Casio Cassiopeia E-10 Palm-Size PC, Phillips Nino 312, Palm III, Palm IIIc, Palm Vx, Palm VII, Palm i705, Casio E-100, Compaq iPaq h3650, HP Jornada 548, Toshiba e740, ViewSonic V35, T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone, HTC Tanager Smartphone, Palm Tungsten T3, HP iPAQ 4150

Before I started PDAntic.com, I had run a BBS (Bulletin Board System for those of you who don’t remember back that far - a dialup, local version of a website!) called MAGIC since 1986. When the Newton appeared, it occurred to me that a new revolution was on the way and that I should focus on these new small devices. About the same time, I was starting to link MAGIC into an Internet-like global system called FidoNet and loved how I was able to have people from around the world visit my BBS.

In mid-1994 I attended the Apple World Wide Developer Conference in San Jose, CA. At the conference, people were demonstrating something I was vaguely familiar with - the Internet. Perhaps the most interesting thing demonstrated was the first real web browser for the Mac. As soon as I was able, I bought a copy of Adam Engst’s “Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh” and started getting into the nuances of HTML, Gopher, ftp and Internet eMail. I was hooked! One of my consultant buddies offered to do some web hosting for me since he was also fascinated with the concept of the ‘net, and the rest is history.

In case you’re wondering where the name for this site came from, it’s from the word “pedantic”, meaning (among other things) “one who makes a show of knowledge”. Take out an “e” and you have pdantic. My wife was accusing me one day of being pedantic about something when I corrected her, and everything clicked…

In 1998, I started up “PDAntic’s Palm-Size PC World” as a subset of PDAntic.com, then started PCPocket.com when the Pocket PC name started hitting the market in 2000. I ran both sites for a while, with PDAntic.com being a “Palm” site and PCPocket.com aimed at Pocket PCs. It got old having to update two sites, so I melded the two back into good old PDAntic.com. Sometime during the mix (mid-2001?) I started using a blogging tool to make my posts, which also made it easier to keep up with the number of new press releases that have been hitting me for the last couple of years.

So here we are in 2004. PDAs have dropped in price, increased in speed and functionality, and beautiful color displays are the norm rather than the exception. It looks like convergence of PIM functionality into SmartPhones such as the Windows Mobile Smartphones or palmOne Treo is continuing to cut into the market for traditional PDAs, so we may not see non-voice devices in another ten years.

All I can say is that it has been an extremely fun and FAST ten years, and that I hope to keep bringing you news on mobile devices and gadgets well into the next decade. Thanks for coming along for the ride!

Press Release: Two Peaks Software Introduces TravelTalk

Two Peaks has just released some new software for your Pocket PC, so here?s some information and great specials! Our newest product is TravelTalk, a fast and easy to use Pocket PC application that translates common travel phrases from English to Spanish, German, French and Italian.

TravelTalk comes preloaded with hundreds of useful phrases such as “Where is the nearest bank”, “I am lost”, “How much do I owe you?” etc. Each phrase includes the correct translation and pronunciation guide, thus making it very easy to a read aloud when needed. Whether you are a world traveler, student of a foreign language, or simply wish to use the occasional greeting in any of these languages, TravelTalk puts the words right at your fingertips!

You can find out more about TravelTalk, and download a free 5 day trial from our website at: www.twopeaks.com/site/products/TravelTalk

As an introductory offer, you can get $5 off the price of TravelTalk and buy it for just $9.95. That is lower than any other phrasebook product available, and includes all four languages for the same low price.

We’ve also just released a FREE utility for wireless Pocket PC users. If you frequently use Google to search for information, news, images, online prices etc, you will find our GoogHelper tool very handy! It puts all of Google’s search tools one stylus tap away! Download GoogHelper from our website at: http://www.twopeaks.com/site/products/GoogHelper

Some of you have been concerned about the lack of upgrades from Two Peaks Software for the last few months. Rest assured, we’re working hard to bring all our applications up to date, and the newest versions of FlexWallet, BillRate and TripTracker are all scheduled for release before the end of this year. All these upgrades include new features, enhancements and bug fixes. Thank you for your patience and support.

Ilium Software Releases NewsBreak RSS Reader

For those of you with wireless Pocket PC devices (AND those of you who don’t have wireless PPCs), Ilium Software has announced the release of their reader for RSS feeds - NewsBreak! Here are some of the features of this high-powered app:

Alerts - NewsBreak will alert you when headlines match your keywords. You don?t have to scan hundreds of headlines to find the articles you’re interested in. When you want more detail, NewsBreak shows you the complete story using familiar Pocket IE technology.

Automatic Updates - Use NewsBreak with a wireless connection, or with ActiveSync passthrough at your desk. When you have a wireless service or a Wi-Fi hotspot, use it for mobile updates. When you don’t, get your updates and info at your desk, and read them anywhere.

Unlimited News Sources - Don?t be limited by a newsreader. You can find, add, and view any available news feed based on RSS, the hottest new Internet technology. NewsBreak fully supports all types of RSS feeds.

Does your corporation or business have an internal news channel? Use NewsBreak to keep yourself?–?or your users?–?up-to-date!

Increased Productivity - NewsBreak keeps track of what you’ve read, and shows you what’s new.

Efficient Communication - NewsBreak updates your headlines only when the info has changed, saving on your battery life and your wireless bill.

Complete wireless and ActiveSync passthrough support - Use NewsBreak with your WiFi, Bluetooth, or Pocket PC Phone Edition connection, and when connected to your PC.

Complete landscape and high-resolution support for Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition.

As with many of the Ilium Software products, you can download a fully functioning 30-day evaluation copy of the software or purchase it for only $14.95.

I’m also pleased to announce that PDAntic.com is one of the additional PDA channels you can download from Ilium’s website. We will be posting a full review of NewsBreak very soon!

Press Release: Sprint Annouces Audiovox PPC-6601 Pocket PC Phone

Heavy-duty data device features Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 software and will eventually be offered in both camera and non-camera versions

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - October 25, 2004 -? Sprint (NYSE:FON) is truly enabling mobile professionals to have an office in their pocket with the Sprint PCS VisionSM Smart Device PPC-6601, the much-anticipated, full-color Sprint PCS Phone featuring Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 software and embedded Bluetooth? Wireless Technology.? Marketed by Audiovox, the PPC-6601 will be available early next month exclusively through Sprint business channels for a suggested retail price of $629.99.? Later this year, Sprint plans to offer another version of the device, the Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device PPC-6600, which will include an embedded VGA-quality camera with flash and video capability.? This second version of the device will be offered nationwide in all Sprint sales channels, including Sprint Stores and online at www.sprintpcs.com .

“Sprint is pleased to launch a product that extends our collection of Smart Devices and underscores our commitment to being a leader in solutions for the mobile workforce,” said Harry Campbell, president - Emerging and Mid Markets, Sprint Business Solutions.? “The PPC-6601 and PPC-6600 combine empowering software, compelling wireless voice and data capabilities, and an easy-to-handle form factor to create a device powerful enough to truly unleash business professionals from their desk without sacrificing productivity.”

Powered by the Intel? XScale(tm) 400 MHz processor, the PPC-6601 offers 128 MB of memory and has the most capacity of any other Sprint wireless device, allowing users to view, create and edit documents; send and receive email or text messages; browse the Web; and listen to news, music and other audio clips faster and easier than ever before.? Slimmer and more compact than other Sprint Windows Mobile-enabled Pocket PC devices of the past, the PPC-6601 offers both Portrait and Landscape viewing modes and multiple data-input methods, including a slide-to-hide Qwerty keyboard for easy management of documents and email.? The removable lithium ion battery provides up to 3.6 hours of continuous digital talk time or up to six days of continuous digital standby time.

“The PPC-6601 really is the next generation mobile device,” said Philip Christopher, president and CEO of Audiovox Communications Corp.? “Built with business applications in mind, the Qwerty keyboard and removable battery are just two of the many features, which when paired with Sprint’s advanced wireless service, enable professionals to virtually carry office capabilities in their pocket.”

Operating on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network, the PPC-6601 replicates the familiar look and feel of a Windows-based PC with a full suite of standard Windows Mobile-based applications, including Microsoft Pocket Excel, Outlook, Word, Windows Media Player, Microsoft ActiveSync and MSN Messenger.? With embedded Bluetooth? Wireless Technology, the PPC-6601 automatically synchronizes with other Bluetooth-enabled devices and has a built-in SD I/O slot, which accepts SD (Secure Digital), MMC (MultiMedia Card) and SMMC (Secure MultiMedia Card) memory cards for viewing pictures and sharing large data files between other devices with SD I/O.?

“The new Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device PPC-6601 combines the power and flexibility of the Windows Mobile software platform, the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network, and the quality of Audiovox to deliver to business customers a powerful mobile device experience,” said Suzan DelBene, corporate vice president of marketing for the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft.? “This device demonstrates that the marriage of innovative hardware, flexible software and a dependable network can enable business customers to be more productive and have seamless access to their most essential information.”

Business and personal wireless email for the new device is provided by Sprint PCS Business ConnectionSM.? Interfacing seamlessly with Microsoft? Exchange and Lotus Domino data, Sprint PCS Business Connection extends wireless access to the messaging and calendar applications today’s wireless workforce demands - securely and conveniently.? The PPC-6601 also supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync? for over-the-air synchronization of email and calendar information with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.

Packaged applications include Handmark Express and AudibleListener?.? Users will enjoy a 30-day free trial of automatic and on-demand delivery of news, weather, sports, movies, maps and more with Handmark; and Sprint customers can receive $50 cash back with a 12-month subscription to audio books, audio magazines, newspapers, radio programs and more with audible.com? at www.audible.com/sprint/ppc6600 .? Additional content is accessible at the Sprint PCS Software Store via on-device links and online at http://sprint.handango.com.?

Press Release: Sprint to be First US Wireless Carrier to Offer palmOne Treo 650

Sprint PCS VisionSM Smart Device Treo(tm) 650 by palmOne offers refined design, strengthened multimedia capabilities and more customer-centric features

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - October 25, 2004 - With one compact and simple-to-use device, mobile professionals have greater capabilities to be more productive and organized while on the go.? Sprint (NYSE: FON) announced plans today to offer the Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device Treo(tm) 650 by palmOne, a full-featured mobile device combining a wireless phone, email, Web access, Palm OS? organizer, built-in MP3 player and digital camera with video capabilities.? The Treo 650 by palmOne will be available next month at Sprint Stores, Sprint business channels and online at www.sprintpcs.com for a suggested retail price of $599.99.? Sprint business customers will also have the option to purchase a non-camera version of the device later this year.

“Sprint realizes that the mobile workforce needs to be able to perform a broad range of tasks in order to remain competitive and is committed to providing the necessary combination of cutting-edge devices, network capabilities and data services to make that possible,” said Harry Campbell, president - Emerging and Mid Markets, Sprint Business Solutions.? “The Treo 650 by palmOne is an incredibly powerful smart device that will make a valuable addition to Sprint’s broad portfolio of wireless offerings, unmatched by any of our competitors.”

Building on the success of previous models, the Treo 650 by palmOne is a truly life-simplifying mobile device for business users, enabling them to keep informed and in touch with access to business and personal email and text messaging, Web browsing, calendar, contacts and tasks.? Operating on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network, the Treo 650 by palmOne has 23 MB of user-available memory and is powered by the Palm OS 5.4 and an Intel? PXA270 312 MHz processor.? Built-in Bluetooth? Wireless Technology provides the ability to wirelessly synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled desktop or laptop computers and easily connect with Bluetooth headsets and car kits (sold separately).

Capturing, viewing and sharing pictures and video is simple with an embedded VGA-quality 2X digital zoom camera with video capture and playback capabilities.? A built-in SD I/O slot, which accepts SD (Secure Digital), MMC (MultiMedia Card), SMMC (Secure MultiMedia Card) memory cards (sold separately), can be used for viewing pictures and sharing large data files? between other devices with SD I/O and using the built-in MP3 player for playing music directly from the phone.

The Treo 650 by palmOne’s candy-bar design has been refined with an improved backlit QWERTY keyboard with larger, flatter keys; strategic button placement for easier one-handed access; and a sharper, high-resolution color display for improved visibility in sunlight.? Other user-friendly features include increased battery life (up to five hours of continuous digital talk time and over two weeks of digital standby time), a removable battery, built-in speakerphone and a non-volatile memory system that preserves data for a limited amount of time if the battery is removed or the device is drained of power.

“Consumers and corporations alike are realizing the benefits of the Treo.? It extends their reach, increases productivity and connects them more closely to their friends, family, customers and partners,” said Ken Wirt, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for palmOne.? “Together with Sprint, we’re giving our customers another great member of the Treo smartphone family that delivers all they need to stay connected and in touch.”

Business and personal wireless email for the new device is provided by Sprint PCS Business ConnectionSM.? Interfacing seamlessly with Microsoft? Exchange and Lotus Domino data, Sprint PCS Business Connection extends wireless access to the messaging and calendar applications today’s wireless workforce demands - securely and conveniently.? The Treo 650 also supports Microsoft Exchange Server ActiveSync? for over-the-air synchronization of email and calendar information with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.

For content, the Treo 650 by palmOne has access to Sprint PCS Vision downloadable Games, Ringers, Screensavers and other Palm OS entertainment and productivity applications billed on the Sprint PCS Bill.? It is also the first U.S.-based implementation of Handango InHand for Palm OS.? An intelligent, device-resident download client for smartphones and wireless handhelds, Handango InHand for Palm OS features a wide variety of mobile applications and content including games, productivity applications, ringtones and more.? Utilizing Handango InHand’s rock-solid security and download safeguard technology, mobile customers can easily find, try, buy and download mobile content quickly and securely.? Additional content for the Treo 650 by palmOne provided by Handango is accessible online at the Sprint PCS Software Store at http://sprint.handango.com.

Packaged offers include Handmark Express and AudibleListener?.? Users will enjoy a 30-day free trial of automatic and on-demand delivery of news, weather, sports, movies, maps and more with Handmark; and Sprint customers can receive $50 cash back with a 12-month subscription to audio books, audio magazines, newspapers, radio programs and more with audible.com? at www.audible.com/sprint/treo650 .?

Pocket PC magazine Announces the Winners of its Best Software Awards 2004

San Francisco, CA ? October 26, 2004 The winners of the Fourth Annual Pocket PC magazine Best Software Awards have been announced at www.pocketpcmag.com/awards and at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment conference. Over 80 of the Pocket PC magazine Board of Experts judged 581 Windows Mobile products in 100 Pocket PC, Smartphone, and Developer categories to determine finalists and winners.

Pocket PC magazine publisher, Hal Goldstein, said that “The annual Pocket PC magazine Best Software Awards helps users select software that best suits their Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone needs by honoring companies that produce outstanding software. The awards process is a huge 6-month undertaking involving the experts of the Windows Mobile community and beginning with several thousand Pocket PC and Smartphone products.”

Pocket PC magazine?s New Products Editor, Diane Dumas, and the Board of Expert judges selected the 2004 award nominees. Approximately 20% of the software in the Pocket PC magazine Encyclopedia of Software and Accessories were nominated. Only products and versions released by July 31, 2004 were eligible for the voting. Christian Forsberg of www.businessanyplace.net and Bob Katayama of www.han-d-solutions.com headed a team of experts to determine nominations for Developer Software.

Over 80 experts in Pocket PC and Smartphone software from around the world helped select the nominations and then voted for winners. These experts run prominent Web Sites, serve as Microsoft MVPs, and write for Pocket PC magazine and other organizations. These are all volunteers and none are employed by Pocket PC magazine.

Special 14 page report

A 2 MB PDF special downloadable report ($5.95) contains screen shots and descriptions of all the Best Software Award Pocket PC and Smartphone winners, as well as the product names and URLs of the finalists. In addition, it includes a special section of judges? answers to the question, ?Of all the products that your tested for this year?s Best Software Awards, which was your favorite and why??

Anyone In Need Of A PDA Consultant?

After a career that recently included a 10 year stint with IBM as a project manager, my position has been eliminated and unless I find some new employment with Big Blue in the next two weeks I?m probably out of work. I?ve had a sole proprietership for some time that I?ve used for my software development efforts in the past and to cover my website business. I?m now thinking that it may be a good idea to do PDA and Wireless consulting full time.

If your company could use assistance in designing or deploying a PDA-based environment for sales support, field operations, or a a specialized applicaiton, please contact me for further details.

Problems with the iPAQ 6315?

OK, here?s a scoop from my local T-Mobile dealer. I was expressing some interest in their iPAQ 6315 Pocket PC Phone while choosing a new phone for my wife. He strongly suggested that if I was interested in a Pocket PC Phone device of some sort, that I should look at the Treo. Why? He explained that 30 - 50% of the devices had been returned to their store for a number of reasons. First, the devices don?t seem to have the ability to pick up a reasonable signal, even in many locations with a very strong T-Mobile signal! Next, battery life isn?t that good. Third, the box is bigger than the previous Pocket PC Phone that T-Mobile carried (built by HTC). Fourth, and most troubling, is that many of the people returning the devices complained about almost constant resets of the device while trying to maintain a GPRS connection.

This is pretty sad, considering this is a device that I believe T-Mobile and HP both had fairly big hopes for. We can only hope that HP is able to work the bugs out of this device before word gets out about the issues it is having.

Notes From The Road

I just got back from one of my technologically-enhanced vacations. I?m in my late 40?s, so I love to get a lot of time off. And when I?m not working I still enjoy using technology to help me have fun. I may be getting a lot more time off in the future…more explanation is forthcoming…

Anyway, on this trip I decided to take along just three devices. For computing, I had my Apple PowerBook G4 12?, which is a powerful tool in a very lightweight case. For connectivity, I had my Bluetooth-enabled Nokia 3650 with T-Mobile service (more on that later…). And for entertainment I had my 20GB iPod loaded with a ton of tunes.

On the flight down I made sure that I had shut off WiFi and Bluetooth on the PowerBook, as well as setting the Energy Saver configuration to ?Use Reduced Power?. That was great as I was able to write for nearly three hours (the length of the flight) and still had over an hour of battery power available when we got ready to land. That happened on the way back to Denver today as well, so I know I can count on the PowerBook to give me a good 4 hours and 30 minutes on a single charge.

I had hoped that our hotel would have free WiFi service, but no such luck. At least I had the option of buying regular 10MBPS wired Ethernet for $5 a day, so that kept me entertained and connected for most of the trip. I still think it?s ididotic that hotels haven?t embraced WiFi a bit more. Most facilities have wiring in place already; all they need to do is throw an inexpensive WiFi access point on the end of a handful of cables and they?re ready to roll.

The iPod was really only entertainment for the flights to and from Denver, and it performed admirably. If I had one thing I would add as a built-in feature to an iPod, it would be a set of noise-cancelling headphones. Hearing the jet engine roar and the noise of the rush of air past the skin of the airplane tends to turn into a background noise that can?t exactly be ignored.

I also had one other tool with me; my Abacus MSN Direct Smart Watch. This is my third of these devices - the first one died right out of the box and was returned to Abacus, the second one kept shutting down progressively more often, but the third one seems to be doing quite well. It did have some problems going between a radio station in Tampa and one in Orlando, so whenever it got confused it reset iteelf. I finally gave up, turned the radio off and just used it as a regular digital watch while I was in Florida.

I also took along my Canon Optura 300 MiniDV Recorder so that I could capture a lot of the trip in digital format. When I get home, I?ll be transferring the video over to my iMac G5 for editing. And last but not least, my wife had her Canon SureShot S230 digital camera along for the ride.

We also used a lot of other technology on this trip. For example, we took the ?Around the World on a Segway? tour at Epcot Center so that we could have fun riding these self-balancing human transporters around World Showcase and other parts of Epcot before they opened. Note to anyone who has wanted to try one out; this is an amazing way to get some good training and then spend an hour cruising around. Another note - if you have a Sam’s Club membership, you can buy a Segway p series for about $2,488. That’s the least expensive Segway available now. I’d love to see them sell the more powerful i series for $3,000 - I’d buy one in a heartbeat!

It?s funny when I think about what I?d like to see for future “trip tech”. Something like the OQO would be much lighter and smaller to carry, have the full power of a laptop, have call of the various forms of connectivity I want, and could even serve as a pretty decent MPG player. It has Bluetooth so I could still use my cellphone to do untethered surfing. Now if the OQO only had an attachment for snapping pictures or video, it would be perfect.

Then again, something like the new palmOne Treo 650 wouldn?t be as powerful as the OQO but would require one less device (no phone, since it IS a phone) to pack. In my opinion, nobody has created the perfect mobile device. At least things are beginning to get closer to the ideal lightweight device that can connect to the world, capture video and still imagery, and act as a multimedia player.

MoDaCo Winter Event - Birmingham, England - Nov. 6th

Paul O’Brien, the webmaster over at MoDaCo.com sent the following email today about this fun upcoming event for fans of all things mobile! If you’re in the UK or can make it to Birmingham, England on November 6th, you owe it to yourself to join in on the fun:

Exciting news… the MoDaCo Winter event is happening on the 6th November!

The event will be on November 6th 2004 12pm - 6pm, at 52 Degree’s North in Birmingham (it’s a bar)
REGISTRATION - This is IMPORTANT !

Firstly: Please email meet@modaco.com with “MWE2004″ in the subject line, and with the following details in the body:

? ? ? ?Your full, real, name:

? ? ? ?You MoDaCo member name:

? ? ? ?Your date of birth, and age:

? ? ? ?If you are MoDaCo Plus or not:

? ? ? ?Your mobile telephone number:

To explain; your DoB is needed so we can give a differnt coloured wrist band to those under 18, as the event is in a bar and we are not allowed to let them serve minors

MoDaCo Plus is obviously to allow these members priority at registration, don’t worry though, this place is MASSIVE!

Your mobile number will be used only on the day of the meet. We will be texting updates to people on this day only regarding the meet. We will not use them again or distribute them to any people other than MoDaCo (who you are registering with , and Orange, who are sending them. Again, they will only be used ON THE DAY.

Our theme for this event is BIG. We want to make this the biggest and best event we’ve ever had, and need YOUR help to do this. There will be NO limit to availablity! Unlike the last meet we will be using a location capable of holding over 200 people, we want to fill it!

For full details on what will be happening on the day, visit this http://Smartphone.MoDaCo.com/event

Hopefully see you there!

Great Price on PDAmill’s 3D Games

Just got this note from PDAmill! Looks like it’s time to order Flux Challenge for my iPAQ!

In celebration of having Anthelion nominated as a Finalist for the Pocket PC Awards, we’re giving it away for FREE! Right now, if you purchase our new 3D title, Flux Challenge, you will receive a copy of Anthelion for FREE!

Be sure to take advantage of this incredible offer to own both of PDAmill’s highly acclaimed 3D titles for the price of one! All you have to do is visit our web site (www.pdamill.com), put both of the titles to your shopping cart and use the promotion code ‘PDAMILL3D’.

Or even easier, just click on this link:

http://www.handango.com/minibrand/basket.jsp?siteId=411&addItem=130169,90951&code=PDAMILL3D

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OQO model 01 ultra personal computer Now Available For Purchase

October 16, 2004 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comment 

OQO has announced that the OQO model 01 ultra personal computer (uPC) is now available for sale! This is the device that could, in my opinion, eventually kill PDAs. Right now the price is pretty reasonable for a Windows XP computer - $1,899 for a version with XP Home Edition and $1,999 for the XP Pro version. That includes a docking cable to turn the device into a desktop PC, as well as a number of other goodies. I’ll have to see if I can get OQO to send PDAntic.com a model 01 for review purposes! Believe it or not, the picture below is actual size!

(Image removed for compatibility with new site…)
Here’s some info from their website:

The OQO model 01 ultra personal computer (uPC) is a fully-functional Windows XP computer. The OQO has a 1GHz processor, a 20GB hard drive, 256MB of RAM, a color transflective display, and integrated wireless, as well as Fire Wire and USB ports. It is powerful enough to run your most complex applications.

Just 4.9 inches long, 3.4 inches wide, .9 inches thin, and weighing only 14 ounces, the model 01 can fit in a pocket or purse and go with you anywhere. For easy typing and cursor control it has a complete thumb keyboard with TrackStik and mouse buttons as well as digital pen and thumbwheel. It is the much anticipated device for people who previously had to choose between the bulk and awkwardness of a laptop and the limited capability of a PDA.

The OQO model 01 is also the most versatile computer to date. With the OQO docking cable, it can easily connect to projectors and Ethernet. Placed in the desktop stand it is a desktop computer, allowing you to connect easily to a variety of peripherals, including full-size keyboards, printers, scanners, and high-resolution monitors. It shifts easily from one mode to the other with no data synchronization required.

With an OQO model 01 you can move throughout your day and enjoy constant access to all your information and Windows XP programs. You can use the same computer for high-powered applications at work, sending email at home, listening to music on a train, or watching a movie on an airplane. It is the only computer you need.

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PDAntic.com Review of palmOne Tungsten T5

October 15, 2004 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comment 

I’ve just finished a review of the new palmOne Tungsten T5, thanks to a buddy who shall remain unnamed (he doesn’t want to make palmOne mad!) who was kind enough to let me borrow his review device for a few hours. It’s a nice unit, but a bit on the expensive side for a PDA that doesn’t have WiFi.

You can read the full review here:

http://www.pdantic.com/reviews/t5review.htm

Enjoy! If you end up buying one of these sleek handhelds, be sure to use the link on the bottom of the review page to help support PDAntic.com.

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Socket Delivers Go-Anywhere Portable Power Source for Users ?on the Go?

October 12, 2004 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Comment 

Light-Weight, Mobility Friendly Power Source Eliminates Need for Multiple Chargers for Electronic Devices While Extending Battery Run Times

Newark, CA? 10/12/2004 ? Socket Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCKT), the Mobile Connection? Company, today announced the Mobile Power Pack, a small and light-weight mobile charging source for users of portable electronic devices such as Pocket PCs, PalmOne devices, cell phones, Smartphones, BlackBerry?s, digital cameras, and MP3 players, as well as Socket products such as the Cordless GPS receiver, Cordless Modem, Cordless Serial Adapter, and Cordless Hand Scanner. By eliminating the need for multiple battery packs and extending battery life, the product gives mobile users the freedom to use their electronic devices anywhere, whether on a plane or camping.

?The Mobile Power Pack provides users with a powerful productivity solution that is Mobility Friendly?,? said Vanessa Lindsay, Product Marketing Manager at Socket. ?Similar to a universal remote control for TVs, the product eliminates the need for multiple charging sources, one for each electronic device a user carries, and it?s extremely light and easy to carry. In addition, its extended battery life gives mobile users the freedom to go anywhere for long periods of time without having to worry about finding a power outlet. This allows mobile workers to be even more productive when ?on the go?.?

Socket?s Mobile Power Pack is a rechargeable Lithium ion battery pack with a capacity of 7,200 mAh and can extend the run time of an average Pocket PC up to 16 hours ? even while operating with accessories and full backlight. The Power Pack is both small ? dimensions are 4?x 3?x 1? ? and light ? it weighs only 11 ounces. It will charge or operate any compatible device that uses an input voltage of +5 volts DC.

The Power Pack has the ability to charge most products that draw power from a USB port. It powers devices by simply plugging in a compatible connector to the Mobile Power Pack. Included with the product are a black soft leather case, a travel pouch, DC output cord, and AC adapter with four input plugs for use in the U.S., Europe, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Pricing and Availability
Socket?s Mobile Power Pack will be available during the first week of November 2004 through Socket?s website (www.socketcom.com) and through Socket?s worldwide distribution channels for an MSRP of U.S. $149 and expected street price of U.S. $119 ? $129.

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