Morning Paper

Skyfire making the big Windows Mobile go-round

In today's age of instant Internet access, it's getting increasingly hard to differentiate between good PR and good products. Case in point: Skyfire.

Now, I know you've never heard of Skyfire but most people hadn't either until it's lit up every Windows Mobile tech site with the announcement that the private beta is up and running with promises of a public beta and then a real product one day soon. How soon? Well, that's why I'm writing this post.

What's got the Windows Mobile community all excited is the promise of what Skyfire is supposed to do: the "real" web on a Windows Mobile phone.

The Skyfire website looks really snazzy, any site that uses my Motorola Q9h to hype it's product can't be all bad. It starts off with the web on a PC then transitions to the same thing on a Windows Mobile device. Nice.

Clicking on the link to sign up for the free beta asks that you surrender your name, e-mail and wireless phone number. At that point, they will let you know when the private beta will start, followed by the public beta, followed by the actual product.

Currently, the whole beta process is only open to Windows Mobile Standard devices (i.e. smartphones) with the promise of a Windows Mobile Professional version coming soon (despite the pictures used on the site).

I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but there have been other products that made a tremendous splash lately only to be complete under performers (yes, I'm talking to you Zumobi) of the final product not living up to the initial hype.

Some folks have seen a private demonstration via Skype that they are saying will live up to the hype but for the rest of us mere mortals (and Doubting Thomas'), we'll have to wait to see.

Could Skyfire be the world's greatest browser to hit Windows Mobile ever in the history of mobile web browsers? Sure it could, but wasn't that supposed to have been Opera Mini? We now have a new player on the block who's promising the stars.

I may be alone in this (certainly not the first time) but I feel we are all going to be inundated with these type of announcements with increasing regularity. It will soon be hard to separate the hype from the facts.

Could the folks behind Skyfire kept it under wraps until it was ready for prime time? Yes. Would they still have the "iPhone killer" for web browsing on Windows Mobile (arguably it's Achilles heel)? Yes. Is it "sexy" anymore to come from nowhere to trump the competition? No. Not in this age of hype and F.U.D. (fear, uncertainty, doubt) though why you would want to do that against Apple at this point is a little irrational to me.

No one is NOT going to get an iPhone because of the promise of Skyfire. No one is NOT going to get a Windows Mobile device because of the promise of Skyfire.

I've signed up for the private beta and will let you know if and when this goes live and what I find. I'm all for hoping Skyfire is all the Monday morning buzz is making it out to be. But increasingly, a part of me really wishes people would let their product do the talking and leave the PR and spin (along with their egos) checked at the door.

Original BlackJack gets upgrade: Better way (way, way, way, way) late than never?

In a move that is even surprising to me, according to the::unwired, Samsung is finally getting around to releasing that upgrade for the BlackJack from Windows Mobile 5 to Windows Mobile 6.

Samsung is excited to work with AT&T and Microsoft to bring loyal fans of the BlackJack an opportunity to refresh their experience with the Windows Mobile 6 upgrade," said Samsung Chief Marketing Officer, Bill Ogle. "The upgrade will enhance mobile productivity with key feature enhancements such as Video Share calling and Microsoft Office Mobile."

"AT&T customers continue to love the BlackJack and the availability of Windows Mobile 6 capabilities presents them with a winning combination that brings the BlackJack to new heights in terms of functionality," said Michael Woodward, AT&T vice president, Business Voice/Data and Mobility Products. "It's a great enhancement to AT&T's industry leading Windows Mobile device portfolio."

I certainly didn't think they would do it but here's to Samsung for following through and not worrying about cannibalizing sales of the BlackJack II. The original BlackJack was and is still a great device that people have helped make a good seller for AT&T (then Cingular).

Funny how it's Samsung doing this as a direct download from their site as opposed to coming from AT&T who are the exclusive US carriers of the device.

Guess the guys at AT&T decided to take a pass on a direct deployment (while obviously giving good PR speak) and keep pushing the BlackJack II as the only upgrade for current BlackJack owners.

I would doubt rank and file AT&T reps probably know about this so will keep pushing the BlackJack II as the only BlackJack to have Windows Mobile 6, especially if it doesn't even appear on the AT&T website.

No need to confuse the helpless masses so we can keep selling those phones.

For all BlackJack owners, the update is said to go live at 5 PM EST from the Samsung website (again, NOT from AT&T). Here's the pre-release FAQ.

Software Review: Rockin' with Pocket Player 3!

With Windows Mobile, Microsoft tries to give you everything you need including a useable Media Player for MP3s and even video playback. It's a simple, utilitarian application that does the job for many. And then there are applications like Pocket Player 3 that show you what you've been missing.

I've always been the type of "if it aint broke, don't fix it" since, for the most part, Windows Media Player Mobile (or whatever they are calling it these days) works. I've always enjoyed the seamless integration with the desktop version to move media and play list to and from my phone with ease. One of the reasons I still don't have a Zune (or iPod) is because of Windows Mobile Media Player.

Now, Windows Media Player has been kicked to the curb in favor of this really great media application.

Pocket Player 3 by Conduits Technologies does what Media Player should: offer a bevy of options for all your media on your device in an attractive and well designed package. And it's compatible with the Standard and Professional flavors of Windows Mobile.

You get a whole heaping of functionality for this little program including:

Full music and video support: MP3, WMA, WMV, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, and WAV!

Protected WMA support, u-Law, A-Law, AU, and ADPCM WAV (used in Voicemail attachments) playback

Media Browser menu system, with touch scrolling and gesture support!

Media Library, with ratings support, auto-imports 1000+ tracks with ease!

10-band Equalizer and Preamp, with presets!

Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP): browse and play content from your desktop!

Web guide for Internet radio, MP3 blogs and podcast streaming, with pause, auto-resume and seek functionality!

Voicemail playback (WAV attachments), integrates to your Inbox!

Visualizations and downloadable Album Art support

Plus full A2DP Bluetooth control

With all of the great features listed above, what I especially liked was the DSP controls that let you tailor the sound to your liking AND tell Pocket Player how to react while using your phone's functions (i.e. incoming calls, that sort of thing) . 

I struggle with Pocket Player not because it is a bad application, as there is so much to do with it. This is a full featured media application that can handle just about anything you can think to throw at it. Podcast? Check. Streaming Internet? Check. Audiobooks? Check. Transferred video? Check. Skinnable? Check. Preset EQ? Check. Customizable EQ? Check.

Luckily, the basic set up will get you started (like it did me) so that you can then dig into all the various menu options that any true audiophile would love at your convenience. The learning curve at start is pretty small but can go as high as you like after you get more familiar with the program.

A very extensive manual and user forum is also available online if you're not as much of an audiophile as you like to think (guilty).

An important note though, be sure to get the plugins that are freely available after your download OTA as they will greatly enhance the things you can do with Pocket Player 3, especially the all important Bluetooth usage.

Pocket Player 3 works very well. I use it via Bluetooth headsets at the gym, around the house and even in the car. It will give you a full featured media player that will greatly enhance the Windows Mobile device you already have at a price that is very easy on the pocket.

With all of the ways to customize the user listening experience found in Pocket Player 3, this should be application you use if you are serious about media on your WinMo device.

Toshiba pulls back the curtain on new Windows Mobile phones

Toshiba, according to PocketPCItalia, has officially released three new Windows Mobile phones that have been teased for awhile, well, at least one of them anyway.

But what caught my eye was this piece of loveliness called the Toshiba Portege G710. Now, the specs are nothing to write home about. In fact the only reason I'm bringing this to you is because of the sheer deliciousness of the design. This is one very elegant, classy looking device.

Take a BlackBerry 8830, some backseat action with the Samsung BlackJack, nine months later you have a potential patent violation lawsuit an amazing looking device.

If that trackball works as well as it does on the BlackBerry and the keys work as well as they do on the BlackJack II, the reported $440 price tag holds true, and neither RIM nor Samsung unleash the hordes of lawyers (maybe they struck a deal?), Toshiba has a real winner on their hands come March.

No, not in the specs department, my Q9 has better specs than this device. But it sure looks purdy.

via Engadget Mobile

HP iPAQ 210 finally arrives

HP has finally gotten around to resolving their supply issues and released the HP iPAQ 210 stand alone PDA. I got the chance to sample the 210 and chat with the product designer at CES and the device is really nice.

Here's the deets for all of you interested.

• Processor: Marvell PXA310, 624 MHz
• ROM: 256MB
• RAM: 128MB for running applications
• Display: 4-inch VGA TFT with touch screen, portrait oriented
• Wireless LAN: IEEE 802.11b/g with WEP through WPA2-Enterprise (EAP-TLS and PEAP) and WiFi Multimedia¹
• Bluetooth: v2.0 with EDR¹
• Connectors: 24-pin connector and Mini USB
• Battery: 2200 mAh
• Expansion: SDIO (high-capacity), CF
• Headphone jack: 3.5mm 4-pin
• Speaker: 2
• Microphone: 1
• Input: touch, stylus
• Buttons: 5-way navigation with press to activate, 4 programmable, voice recorder, power, reset
• LED: 2
• Operating System: Windows Mobile® 6 Classic Edition

Whether HP will sell a lot of these (doubtful, since it is a stand alone PDA)  or a few, the device itself looks gorgeous. The screen is big (3.5) and will allow all of the normal Windows Mobile functionality.

Still, the only problem is no cellular capabilities to decrease the number of devices you'll have to carry. HP seems to think there is still a market for the stand-alone PDA and I don't doubt it, plenty of people still want the ginormous screen, but how big a market remains to be seen. Our phone do way too much now, enough for most people. Even most "dumb" phones have a rudimentary calendar function.

I was promised one for a review but the FedEx guy hasn't knocked on my door yet so I guess I'm still on their list. I'll let you know (if) when I get to take this device for a spin.

Still on topic: Long time readers may remember my extreme (bordering on obsessive) infatuation with the HP iPAQ 910/912/914 phone. Well, I got to see one (the HP guy didn't want me drooling all over it so he held onto it) at CES and I must say, it did/still looks really nice. Nice enough to give up my Q9? Maybe, I'd have to take it for a spin.

And I'd really like to take it for a spin.

eReader.com cuts prices: Miffed at Steve?

Maybe FictionWise, the new owners of eReader.com got wind of Steve Jobs' complete dismissal of reading in general and decided to show him what for.

Speaking to the New York Times, Steve said:

"...the fact is that people don't read anymore. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don't read anymore."

To which FictionWise/eReader promptly decided to have a 20% off sale on all books price $10 and over.

FictionWise, in an open letter to jkOnTheRun, promised to leave eReader.com alone and let it do what it's been doing all of these years. But I'm liking FictionWise's idea of leaving things alone by offering a 20% sale. Combined with the 10% off every week by signing up for the eReader newsletter, AND making eReader Pro free on Windows Mobile devices (or half off for Palm users) that's a great way to let eReader do what it's been doing all of these years.

(BTW; needless to say, Steve's comments aren't going over too well with ebook readers or readers in general.)

A true sign of the times: Save Windows XP petition circulating

1. It gets really hard to write in the defense of an operating system I don't even have, but here goes anyway.

InfoWorld is spearheading an on-line petition drive to convince Microsoft to save XP from the OEM chopping block after the June 30th deadline passes.

On June 30, 2008, Microsoft plans to stop selling XP retail, either shrink-wrapped or on OEM PCs. But here at InfoWorld, we don't think an operating system that has lots of miles left in it should be headed for the scrap heap. That's why we're launching a program to save Windows XP.

The idea is simple: we're hosting a petition to convince Microsoft to keep selling Windows XP indefinitely rather than force users to upgrade to Vista.

Ouch.

I don't know about the ultimate viability of this effort. Microsoft would be crazy to continue to let XP float around in the PC space while they have a new OS they really, really (really) want you to use. And Microsoft isn't savvy enough to look for and promote a silver lining that XP users like it so much, they don't want to upgrade. Especially since Apple is having a field day bashing Vista in the their ad campaign.

As you may remember, yours truly is still wonderfully XP (Tablet edition, Media Center and XP Pro at the job) but I honestly don't have a problem going with Vista when I upgrade my personal systems (IT at the day job said "no way"). Most of the folks who have it now (as opposed to then) report all bugs gone and are pretty happy.

In the meantime, Microsoft can't let something fly unless all the PC makers jumped on board as well.

No here comes the but. Vista problems are directly traceable to two issues at launch. One is kinda Microsoft's fault, the other, in my opinion, really had nothing to do with Microsoft (okay, maybe they had something to do with that too but I digress).

1. Vista is a hardware hog. To get all the pretty gadgets, widgets and gizmos going, you need to be pumping some serious RAM and graphics capabilities. Most Average Joe PC buyers weren't aware of it.
2. PC makers played dumb when the need for these upgraded specs were not included on all the new systems they were building. Drivers weren't ready or didn't work, and the included hardware didn't support what Average Joe PC buyer thought he was getting with his new fancy-shmancy Vista machine. Average Joe blamed OEMs, OEMs blamed Microsoft and Microsoft couldn't really blame OEMs, so they had to eat this one. The rest is history.

So, save XP? I'd almost vote for that. The thing that is saving XP is that it still works very well on so many systems. Even if Microsoft were to slash Vista prices (which I think they need to do anyway to lure users like myself), Vista still wouldn't necessarily run very well unless you just happen to have upgraded to a decent machine very recently. That would leave many current PC users out in the lurch.

Now, eventually all of these people are going to need a new PC anyway and there will be Vista, waiting patiently for assimilation. In the meantime, there's going to be a whole lot of ballyhoo made about this which Microsoft will probably ignore.

Whether you like Vista or not, it is certainly here to stay.

REDFLY won't fly away

You all know I was just waiting for Papa Ed over at Brighthand.com to chime in on the REDFLY that he got the chance to demo at CES. I figured since he was so enamored with the Foleo, he'd be sure to go for this thing.

Dear reader, my wait has paid off. Well, sort of at least.

Like a lot of other people smoking pixie dust trying to give the device the benefit of the doubt, Ed Hardy breaks from tradition and stings the REDFLY on its lack of multi-media capabilities. Rightly letting the cat out of the bag that this thing doesn't do multi-media well.

No, duh people. (Unfortunately, Ed hedges his bets for when there is a review unit, I'm forecasting a thumbs up from Ed).

In a move even more bone headed than the Palm Foleo, the creators of the REDFLY Mobile Companion, have made a simple dumb terminal. All the thing does it display what's on the screen of your Windows Mobile device to the screen of the REDFLY. It doesn't do anything else and for this, they want you to shell out $500.

I went on record last week saying this thing needs to follow the path of the Foleo and die a quick death. Not because I have anything against the folks that make the REDFLY (seem like decent enough folk), but it's because it still (just like the Foleo) is a dumb and over priced concept.

Remember when the battle cry was to carry less stuff? Why are we returning now to companies wanting us to carry more stuff? Now, all of a sudden, your phone needs a "companion". You aren't already happy enough to have shed devices that they now want you to get more of them?

We here at Morning Paper were about to start blogging live from the floor of CES with nothing but a Windows Mobile and Palm OS phone, virtually impossible a year ago.

Things are converging, like it or not. We will soon have very capable devices that are no larger than the phones we have. It is already amazing what can be done with the one device we all carry with us already.

I'm going to leave the REDFLY alone now. The thing is said to debut in March and the market will have ample opportunity to vote with their dollars.

It's still a dumb idea, though. I'm just sayin'.

Fictionwise buys eReader.com

Quick post that came in from left field for those who read ebooks on their Palm or Windows Mobile devices (or computers for that matter): Fictionwise has purchased eReader.com lock, stock and barrel from Motricity.

From the PRWeb site

"eReader.com is one of the crown jewels of the eBook world," commented Steve Pendergrast, co-founder of Fictionwise, Inc. "With this acquisition, Fictionwise breaks into the very top ranks of the eBook retail market. Synergies between our business units will open the door to some very interesting developments for our customers in the coming months."

"Over the years, eReader.com nurtured and grew a loyal following of customers while pioneering methods to help raise the general adoption and consumption of eBooks, " said Chris Chuang, Vice President of Strategic Development for Motricity. "eReader.com is a strong strategic fit with Fictionwise, not only in terms of the additional customer footprint it brings, but also in that Fictionwise is acquiring some of the leading technologies and infrastructure in the eBooks market."

This is certainly unexpected news. eReader has been the venerable stalwart of the ebook business for years and I would have thought it would have been eReader expanding and gobbling up Fictionwise instead of vice versa.

The best part is they are going to keep the eReader.com site up as an independent site but I will hope they can keep the prices the same. The good thing about having so much competition in the ebook space was going from one site to the other to see who had the book you wanted at the price you wanted. I'm hoping that will stay the same.

Ebooks are still at the cusp of taking off especially with the Amazon Kindle on the scene. I guess now is the time for those who have been doing it the longest to start consolidating to be in a better position to handle the Amazon juggernaut.

via Windows Mobile 24/7

Is Microsoft going to start charging for Mobile Live Messenger?

That's the headline that greeted me when I finally got to checking all of my RSS feeds. Happily, the story continues to be clarified and it looks like the answer is yes and no.

According to LiveSide, a pretty good source for anything Windows Live related, they were initially taken aback by this as well. When I read the news, this was the first site I went to for updated and accurate information since Bill Gates stopped taking my phone calls.

Anyway, here's what LiveSide.com was able to glean back from Redmond:

Matt Champagne, Director of Windows Live Mobile Services said:

"This week we rolled out a direct-to-consumer billing service for the Windows Live client on Nokia S60 in the UK and Sweden. Although we are considering doing the same at a future time for Windows Mobile, this has not been implemented – however, something happened and many of you saw a trial message on Windows Mobile devices. Windows Mobile customers shouldn’t have received any notifications of a 30-day trial and we are working as quickly as possible to correct this.

As you may know, we offer Messenger services through mobile operators on lots of handsets, not just Windows Mobile. Traditionally, customers have been billed by their mobile operators for many of these services, either directly or through their data package."

So, this may not be boding well for Nokia users in the UK. I can't imagine it will go over well anywhere especially considering Live Messenger is free on your desktop.

This is something I really hope Microsoft will rethink if they are looking to continue to see market penetration of their Live services. Why would anyone want to pay for Live Messenger on their phone when they are already paying for the feature through a data plan? It would be like paying twice for text messages, once to your carrier and again to someone else. Not gonna happen.

I must admit to promptly turning the feature off once I got my Q9 set the way I wanted. If I'm going to chat, I'm dern well going to do it from a full size keyboard, not carry on a chat session from the QWERTY keyboard of my phone. I'll call you if I've got my phone in my hands. Sheesh. That would be too much typing for me.

We'll wait to see how this continues to roll out. I'm just feeling Nokia users getting a little hot under the collar and then promptly switching to another IM provider. And then what profit is in that for Microsoft?