The Windows Phone Guy

A common question I get from costumers is how can they manage more than one contact at once, for instance to import them to their SIM card or delete several contacts.

The answer is a free app called PPCContactsMgr v1.6 which is free and can be downloaded here.

So it seems that my suspicions where indeed correct, and that Exchange 2010 will sync your device’s SMS’s, so you can always have a backup of your text messages even if you loose your device.

Also users will be able to send and view SMS’s right from OWA, and also view e-mail messages in the the conversation mode.

SMS sync will only work with Windows Mobile 6.5 and Exchange 2010.

If you are a developer or just have a wish to try out the new Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM’s, just go ahead and download the new DEV Kit from Microsoft’s website.

This new toolkit adds new documentation on some new features of this new OS iteration, sample code, which is always useful, and the emulator images so you can test you applications.

Go ahead and get it here.´

Source: Pedro Lamas @Pocketpt.net

I was trying out the new Visual Studio 2010 Beta with support for the new .NET FX 4 Beta, and have just found out that Microsoft has not included the support for Smart Device Development such as Windows Mobile and Windows CE.

Although this might come as a surprise to some, if you think about it, this seems like the logical step towards being on the same level as the competitors Apple and Google that provide free IDE’s for developers to write code for their mobile platforms.

This could very well also be the correct time to introduce some new tools and controls that developers have been anxious to have in order to make their applications look more cool.

I guess we will have to wait and see…

Microsoft has just announced Windows Mobile 6.5 availability and which devices will be the first ones to receive the upgrade.

According to Microsoft the first Windows Mobile 6.5 devices will be available on the second half of 2009.

The first official upgrades will go to the following devices:

• HTC Touch Diamond 2
• HTC Touch Pro 2
• LG HQ
• LG Eigen
• Four non disclosed new Acer devices

Also the all devices that do not meet the minimum hardware requirements: devices running a 400 Mhz processor and 128MB of RAM, will not eligible for the upgrade. Off course that ultimately the maker will have the last word on this subject.

Portuguese mobile operator TMN has recently released an exclusive new Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional device at a new low cost of 179 eur.

Though the TMN Bluebelt (commercial name) has a low cost the specs are quite top notch:

More info at the TMN website and from ZTE Mobile.

You can also check out the full review here.

I have just released my review of the great Samsung GT-C6625 over at PocketPT.net.

In case you don’t understand Portuguese, try the Google translated version.

Here are the pros and cons:

The best:

• Great quality and big screen
• Fast processor (393Mhz)
• Generous RAM and ROM 128/256 (80MB user)
• Radio and GPS
• Build quality and design
• Bundled software

Cons:

• No Wifi
• Samsung proprietary plugs

So you thought Opera Mobile was the fastest internet browser around?

It seems that UCWEB6 is a new alternative for fast internet browsing.

Although it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Opera, the differentiator factor is the speed, where Opera is fast UCWEB6 can perform even faster.

I tried it for myself and took two HTC Touch Diamonds and ran a few test races :)

Final winner is UCWBE6 for speed, Opera for best rendering and website compatibility.

UCWEB6 is free, while Opera Mobile costs 19,00eur, though you have the free beta version 9.5

Hi everyone, just wanted to share that I just passed the Exam 070-500 and earned the  TS: MS Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing certification today!

This was the first Microsoft exam I had ever taken, and taking in account I was running late and that I had no time whatsoever to prepare for the exam, I am quite glad about my 794 score!

Nuno

VZOchat is a free video call and conferencing service that works on the PC, and now also has a Windows Mobile client!

I’ve been testing it on my Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 and it works well despite a small delay. When someone calls you, it almost like a normal phone call, since it uses the same Ring tone that you have defined for normal phone calls.

In case you wish to test it yourself, you can install the desktop version by downloading it here, and the mobile version is here.

Be aware that only windows Mobile 5 and above devices are supported and they must have a 400Mhz processor or above.

Ricardo Chaves from pocketpt.net wrote an article about nueDynamicClock which is a software that allows the user to control the CPU Clock.

But unlike many CPU Clock management software, this application doesn’t allow over clocking, instead it helps the user define an inferior clock speed than the normal one so that the battery doesn't get drained out so fast.

The software also works with any device with Qualcomm MSM7201A or MSM7501A processors, meaning you can use it with the HTC PRO, Touch HD and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1.

If you wish to try this software you can do it for free by downloading it here.

Remember the Stark Trek Medical Tricorder?

Well it seems that this piece of science fiction as become reality thanks to Windows Mobile!

A research team at the University of Washington in St. Louis, as developed an ultra-sound imaging system that is connected to a Windows Mobile device via USB and allows the viewing and capture of ultra-sound images. 

According to the Crunch Gear, this project was made possible by Microsoft which made a 100k grant, and the application of this technology will be the third world where its to expensive to have normal ultrasound machines:

“It’s meant to be used in developing countries, where stationary machines are too expensive, but cell phone coverage is expanding. Local doctors could take an ultrasound or what have you, beam it to a central location where a specialist can diagnose, and then hear back an hour later — all from the field. And you know that the military would like to get their hands on a few as well”

It would also be great to have a consumer version that would check your health on a weekly basis and communicate the results to your doctor or insurance company. What do you think?

Mobile Shell has reached version 3.0, and the level of refinement of this user interface is now huge.

I have tried for the past days and some of the features I appreciate the most are the carousel, and the lifestyle home which is a very interesting scenario that you can scroll to access information.

More information at SPB Software House.

You can see a video here.

Cortado is offering a Fax and printing service for Windows Mobile devices.

With Cortado Print and Fax you can:

You can also receive faxes, but unfortunately this service is only available, at the moment, in Canada and in the United States.

This service has a cost of 8.98, and you can test it for free.

To learn more about this service, click here.

I’d like to thank my colleague Rui Silva for the weekend reading he pointed out in his blog, where I just found out about the availability of the new Exchange Server 14 or better yet Exchanger Server 2010 Beta download.

Before you run like crazy to download the file, take a quick look at the what’s new in Exchange Server 2010 list here.

And here is a new feature which I am almost sure will be supported for Windows Mobile:

Text messaging (SMS) integration

Have a nice weekend!

Brandon Miniman from PocketNow.com has just posted a video on Youtube where he shows the unboxing of the Touch Diamond 2.

Some of his early comments on the machine include:

1. Screen sensitivity improvements over the first version of the Diamond
2. Poor build quality
3. Stylus is not magnetic
4. The device’s back is no longer diamond shaped
5. It records in true vga video

You can read more here.

This is still a very simple application but it might prove useful for some: CallHistory export will allow you to export to a tab-delimited text file your call log.

As the author describes, this could be useful for statistics purposes, call analysis, etc.

He also refers which is is the key where you can change the maximum call log length:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/ControlPanel/Phone/CallHistoryMax (DWORD)

If you want to download the free utility, or change some ideas with the author, visit accosto.com

SIP/H.323 Video Softphone is a VOIP application from RSDevs that  allows you to make video and sound calls over the internet using for example a Wifi connection or other network connections.

It’s compatible with H.323 and SIP protocols and can be used with Asterisk, Cisco, Alcatel, 3CX devices and applications.

Here are some of the features:

Protocols

• SIP
• H.323

Codecs

• G.711-uLaw-64k
• G.711-ALaw-64k
• GSM-AMR
• H.261

Protocol features

• SIP registration
• H.323 gatekeeper
• Video sending/receiving for SIP and H.323 in QCIF format

You can download a trial here with a 5 minute maximum call duration or purchase the full version for $39,99 from Handango.

Deepweb Internetsolutions have released an application that allows users to follow the Formula 1 championship right from your Windows Phone.

With it you can get updated information about the cars, the drivers and teams, get the season calendar, get to know the circuits and check out the overall teams and drivers standings.

And the best of all, its free :)

Download F1 Season 2009 here.

Here is this weeks top ten of free software:

1. ShoZu
2. File Explorer Extension
3. WKTask
4. Batti 2.4
5. Microsoft MyPhone
6. Finger Keyboard and Finger Suite
7. Call Firewall
8. Windows Sideshow
9. Logmein
10. Group SMS

Shozu has entered straight to number one!