05:39 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

When Skype came to Pocket PC, allowing wifi-enabled PPCs to make phone calls for free over the internet, there was much hope for a PalmOS version. But then news broke that they really weren't working on it, because of difficulties in bringing it to the PalmOS platform.

Now Tam's Palm has the scoop that PalmOS is getting a VOIP solution of it's own -- MobiVoIP.

Here's how MobiVoip describes it: "VOIP, or Voice Over IP (pronounced 'voyp'), is a new technology that lets you make phone calls over the Internet. mobiVoip™ is MantraGroup's™ propertiary technology which brings VoIP to mobile phones.

When you make a VoIP phone call, you use a normal touch-tone telephone and dial the normal phone number just as you would any other time. The people on the other end can't tell that whether you are calling from a traditional telephone or a VoIP phone. The main difference is that the phone call travels over the Internet rather than through the local phone company's wires. mobiVoip™ takes it to next step allowing you to use your PDA and make VoIP calls."

Via Palm Addicts

03:36 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

A new major version of Creative Algorithm's Trip Boss 2 software is now available. And even better, this new version is a free upgrade for existing registered users. If you are looking for travel software on your PalmOS device, this is a great one to choose. If you already use it, then now's the time to help yourself to the new and improved version. For free!

The official press release:
http://www.creativealgorithms.com/Tr...ssRelease.html

The explanation of all the changes:
http://www.creativealgorithms.com/tr...newfor2_0.html

The main product page:
http://www.creativealgorithms.com/products.html

02:22 PM by Bob Russell in Miscellaneous | Lounge

I have a Verizon phone with SMS messaging, just like millions of other people. Mine happens to be a Treo 650, but hey, it's a phone just like all the others when it comes to text messaging. (Well, except for the fancy alarms and cool keyboard and great screen, of course!)

But when I have something to say that's longer than just "Meet me at Starbucks at 4pm", I run out of space. We seem to all just accept that, don't we?

My question is why we are under that rediculous limit with current technology, and where does that limit originally come from? Come on. You can't tell me that it's expensive or bandwidth consuming for cell carriers to expand the text messaging limits from around 160 chars or so, to something like 1,000 chars. We're talking simple text messages, not multimedia. One picture message probably takes way more than that much bandwidth. And what a huge difference in usability if we can type reasonably sized messages without having to make rediculous abbreviations and cutting it short after a single thought.

Is there some sunk investment in a technology that is hard to update? Is it a standard that's hard to reinvent? Or are the cell carriers just trying to keep us from having a nice easy way to stay in touch without adopting expensive email solutions. I mean, come one, they're making a mint even on existing SMS messaging fees... you'd think they would want to expand the service, not leave it relatively crippled.

I'd love to hear from someone that understands why we are living with this rediculous limit. Obviously, there's an international SMS text message containment law I don't know about, that evolved out of some global phone text messaging treaty intended to stop dangerous "text message pollution" in the environment!

06:57 AM by Bob Russell in E-Book Software | Reading and Management

Seems that Microsoft is interested in Origami as an e-book platform. Paul Hoover wrote the following comment on Mar 3..."I work on the Microsoft team responsible for Origami as a product designer. Do you have any feedback on the device shown from an e-book perspective?"

TeleRead has the comment which was also referred to from here.

How about it... anyone here have any ideas for him on what would make an Origami device a good or bad e-book reader?

BTW, if I followed my Google links properly, it seems that Paul is also a writer, so his interest in the subject is probably quite genuine and deep, not "just" another work project.

Related Stories:
Microsoft lets Origami secret slip
Microsoft's "Origami Project" is...

11:10 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Portable Audio/Video

The times they are a changin'. The way we watch the TV shows of the future is not going to be like it has been in the past. We won't all be watching live tv to see our favorite shows. In fact, we won't even have to videotape them or Tivo them. One way or another they are going to end up on our computers and handhelds and media centers.

Walt Disney/ABC sees the future, and they've decided to start work on becoming the "network of the future." They are going to be launching "My ABC," which "will provide consumers with the opportunity to download shows free of charge." It will be supported by ads, just like live TV is. And I suppose people will often skip the ads just like they do now, but we all seem to know about the funniest commercials so somebody's watching them!

Via DharmaSecrets

And if you are interested in old TV shows, don't forget that AOL has some treats coming for us soon with many top notch online TV series. Rumor has it that you won't have to be an AOL customer to watch, but we won't really know that until rollout.

11:03 PM by cervezas in Miscellaneous | Lounge

ACCESS, the parent company of PalmSource, initiated the acquisition of another US software company this week, shedding some interesting new light on their business strategy. IP Infusion develops network switching and routing software that ACCESS says they plan to incorporate into a product called NetFront Home Gateway Server. It's all a little vague at the moment (ACCESS doesn't seem to have a flair for marketing announcements, sorry to say) but they're calling it a "ubiquitous connectivity platform" that appears to be designed to give you broadband access from a wireless mobile device to anything that is connected to your home wireless network. Streaming media, games, music, documents on your home PC, or even remote control interfaces to home appliances might all be accessible from your cellphone or other wireless device. VOIP is part of the picture, too.

As ambitious as taking on Microsoft and Symbian with their new ACCESS Linux Platform might be, it seems that it's only one part of a larger vision for integrating mobile and home technology.

More info and analysis here.

11:00 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

One thing you can depend on at Palm Addicts is a constant flow of Palm-related news and stories. Quite impressive to be able to browse and see all kinds of great information. I took a look a few minutes ago, and just for you Palm fans, here's some of the great stories that were on their front page. Believe it or not, it's just some highlights!

* CTU ringtone
Pretty neat if you have a Treo and are a fan of 24.

* DualCor CPC
A pda and full computer all in one tiny form factor.

* Trip Boss 2 on it's way
A quality program from the folks at Creative Algorithms.

* Weight loss resources go online
Still feeling the effects of the holidays?

* Text entry on my T/X
We all get tired of text entry now and then. Sometimes a thumbboard is just what you need.

* Palm Movie List 2.00
Movie information at your fingertips.

* New Features at PalmInfocenter
Ryan has a wonderful site over there. Well worth a visit.

* Guitar PDA Software
Right there with you when you really need to know how to play that special chord.

* Guitar Tune
Okay, so you know the chord. But is your guitar in tune?

* Novii Remote Deluxe
Just don't lose your Palm device under the sofa cushion!

* English Talking Phrase Books Bundle 5.9
It really is a small world, isn't it! Get some help communicating on trips with this app.

* Review of Proporta's Retractable Headphones(Black)
I've got one similar to this. Very compact and handy.

* Pocket Tunes
My favorite app for listening to mp3s.

04:32 PM by Laurens in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

The Opera browser needs no introduction. It may very well be the best Pocket PC web browser currently available, even if it's still beta.

The second beta release adds tabs, for browsing multiple pages at a time more easily.

Opera is available for Windows Mobile 2003 and 5.0. The beta expires June 1st.

Download and Product info