10:26 AM by Alexander Turcic in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

I hope these rumors are true, simply because I'm tired of reading them. According to a screenshot posted on HowardForums, the Palm Treo 700w is expected to launch on January 5th, 2006 through B2B and possibly online stores. Retail launch is expected to be on January 10th. Rumored pricing:

• with a 1yr contract - $549.99
• with a 2yrs contract - $499.99
• without a contract - $619.99

06:42 AM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Many rumors have been recently circulating about either Google and/or Microsoft trying to acquire the Opera web browser. This is especially interesting in the mobile computing arena because it can greatly influence what becomes the standard web browser software on future pdas and smartphones. It's starting to look a lot like it will be the Linux-based NetFront web browser from Access on PalmOS, and Opera Mini on Windows Mobile.

According to a new report from CoolTechZone, "Here comes a surprise. In a recent conversation with one of our insiders at Microsoft, the source revealed that Microsoft Corp., the world’s largest software maker, has acquired Opera Software, makers of the Opera browser. The insider reported that both Microsoft and Google were trying to bid on Opera, but in the end, the software maker took the lead."

This one is certain to be all over the tech news soon if confirmed.

03:04 PM by Alexander Turcic in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

I just received the Christmas Edition of Palm Addict Weekly and enjoyed it immensely. For people like me who are busy during the holidays, it's a convenient way to catch up with the most interesting Palm news of the week.

For more details, and how to sign up to the PalmAddict newsletter, click here.

10:30 AM by pruss in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

I have just released version 1.60 of my FontSmoother, a utility for hi-res OS 5 devices (except T|C, which is currently unsupported--works for one user and doesn't for another). The major new feature is that you can now use FontSmoother itself to choose which smooth fonts are used for which applications. Thus, FontSmoother is now a full font substitution utility, and no longer requires FontHackV/FontSubst/Fonts4OS5 (though these utilities should remain compatible with it, and may allow additional flexibility of font choice).

http://palmgear.com/index.cfm?xyz=90288
http://zlthemes.com/Programs.php

Of course, it's a free upgrade for existing users.

Despite the fact that it includes per-app font substitution and is the only utility that handles smooth fonts, it's still $9.95 (8 day trial). I am likely to raise prices in January.

06:31 AM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

You can get a free holiday game called "Snowed In 4 - Avalanche" for your Pocket PC at Clickgamer using this link.

Another game called Quartz X-mas, which one user calls "A nice mix of bejewelled and tetris," is also free, and can be found at this link.

Actually, Quartz X-mas also seems to be available for Win32, Pocket PC, Symbian S60, Symbian UIQ and Smartphone.

(via Smartphone and PC Magazine blog )

07:25 PM by Brian in E-Book General | News

Xerox has announced that effective December 31, 2005, Gyricon LCC, a spinoff of Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), will terminate operations. From the Gyricon LLC website:

Effective Dec. 31, 2005, Xerox Corporation will terminate the operations of its wholly owned subsidiary, Gyricon LLC and will refocus its efforts in electronic paper technology through licensing of the underlying intellectual property.

Xerox will maintain ownership of all electronic paper intellectual property developed by Gyricon or Xerox and is currently working on related projects in re-imagable paper.

Gyricon produced and marketed a line of SyncroSign message boards utilizing their SmartPaper technology. According to this article, Gyricon officials had previous predicted that the company could reach annual revenues of $100 Million while employing 500.

This news comes just as new products like the iRex Iliad, which utilizes the competing E-Ink technology, are about to come to market.

Source

Related: SyncroSign's Messenger gets wireless e-paper, iRex next-gen e-book reader based on e Ink

04:23 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

If you are looking for a fairly thorough article about the factors to consider when picking a Windows Mobile device, you are in luck. Look no further than this article at Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine.

"The goal of this article is to help you select the Windows Mobile device that best meets your needs. By carefully analyzing the potential uses for a Pocket PC or Smartphone, you should be able to look at each device's features and functionalities and see how they can benefit you."

The article helps you to consider your needs and then match them up with various specs.

01:29 PM by Bob Russell in Miscellaneous | Lounge

At MobileRead we know that the digital future is all about mobile computing. Surely mobile computing is actually the center of the technological universe.

Well, the Center for the Digital Future at the USC Annenberg School has just put out its 2005 perspectives on the digital future, called the 2005 Digital Future Report. However, their focus is on the people using the internet and on the wide range of uses of the internet, such as online shopping, politics, email, etc. The 19 page summary report of their annual study is available free in pdf format, and can be downloaded here. It's a very interesting peek into some aspects of the web about which everyone has an opinion.

I'm sure in a very few years, they will most certainly have a much increased focus on mobile computing when a large percentage of online end user activity is generated from mobile devices. I'd say hold on to your hats because the future of mobile internet is coming fast!