05:04 PM by Colin Dunstan in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

• Windows Mobile 5.0 is here: OK, so where's the "BlackBerry killer? [bbhub.com] This kind of question was to be expected from a Blackberry site
• Web IS introduces Pocket Informant 2005 to support Windows Mobile 5 [geekzone.co.nz] I am sure WebIS is not the only one who will support WM 05 once it becomes available
• Gates Releases Details on New Mobile OS [hardware.slashdot.org] See what the folks over at Slashdot have to say
• Windows Mobile 5.0 - what is new? [msmobiles.com] *detailed* list of all changes
• Windows Mobile 5.0 official press release [palmaddict.typepad.com] never trust what others say.. here is a link to the source
• Microsoft MEDC 2005 Podcasts [pocketpcthoughts.com] You can subscribe to the podcasts live via RSS
• Microsoft hits redial in cell phone battle [news.zdnet.com] What does mainstream media say?

Click here to read more updated quick bits on WM 5.0!

04:13 PM by Bob Russell in Miscellaneous | Lounge

There's a lot going on with our friends at Palm Addict towers these days. Not only have they recently replaced and renovated their forums, but there are a couple more non-pda sites that will be arriving for our reading pleasure...

* Travel Addict, and
* Fashion & Style Addict

Anyone that knows me would tell you that I'm certainly much more of a Palm Addict than a fashion addict, but when the new sites appear I'm sure I'll stop by and visit them nonetheless!

You can read all about it here, straight from Sammy's keyboard.

03:34 PM by Alexander Turcic in Archive | Mobile Sites

Since today Google's Local Search for finding local restaurants, stores and other businesses in the UK can be accessed via Web-enabled cell phones and other mobile devices.

Of course you can also still access the US version of Google Local for mobile device.

[via PDA247]

03:23 PM by Alexander Turcic in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

We've already reported earlier today that Dell is going to offer an upgrade for Axim X50 customers to Windows Mobile 5.0 (probably not free). HP will follow the same steps and offer the upgrade for selected HP iPAQ handhelds (HP iPAQ hx2100, hx2400, hx2700 and hx4700). Unless they forgot to mention it, hx3700 owners are out of luck.

[via PalmAddicts]

02:03 PM by Alexander Turcic in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Our friends over at PalmAddicts spent some sleepless nights last weekend on setting up a completely new community forum with new features and better navigation. The old forum is still up but posts will be soon fully merged with the new one. Make sure to visit the latest PalmAddict addition because it's worth it! A new contest will be held soon for those who register and starting posting in the forum now.

We should have brought up the news earlier (I knew about it since yesterday), and I really am sorry if I've offended anyone for the delay. I consider Sam and his entire PA team among our closest friends, and I hate seeing anyone upset because of me neglecting my duties.

01:17 PM by Alexander Turcic in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over. Microsoft has finally announced Windows Mobile 5.0. You heard that right, we are not talking about Windows Mobile 2005 or even Windows Magneto anymore. Somehow I've always felt that 5.0 sounds more professional. Anyways, among the new features are:

• Enhanced network support: Support for higher-bandwidth 3G networks, Wi-Fi for the Smartphone platform and improvements to existing Bluetooth support enable more flexibility to integrate mobile phone services across a variety of networks
• Persistent memory storage (retains information even when the device's battery is depleted)
• Upgraded Microsoft Office software
• Enhanced security
• Push-to-talk and video calling support
• Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
• USB 2.0 support (allowing to connect to external hard-drives)

The Unwired has screenshots of Microsoft's WM 5.0 presentation online.

The second news of the day is that according to various sources Dell has announced at MEDC that the Axim X50v is going to have a free upgrade to WM 5.0 sometime around Q3 2005.

Thanks to Engadget and PalmAddicts for bringing the news to me.

10:52 AM by Alexander Turcic in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

In Handheld E-Mail, BusinessWeek correspondent Cliff Edwards compares various pocket-size PCs and argues that the PalmOne Treo 650 is the best device for managing his e-mails:

When I looked for the best device to balance my increasingly mobile lifestyle against my obsessive-compulsive need to manage my e-mail, the Treo 650 ranked at the top for its out-of-the-box simplicity. Still, there was much to like about a slew of other products. I tried the BlackBerry 7100g, T-Mobile's Sidekick II, the Audiovox 6600, and OQO's model 01 pocket-size PC, as well as mobile data cards for e-mail surfing on laptops.

06:43 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Announcements

Shaun McGill of PDA247.com caught up with Bob Russell a while back and conducted an interview with one of the main guys behind MobileRead. Make sure you don't miss it if you are interested in knowing what motivates a guy to be part of the "PDA scene" and to actively run a site like MobileRead.

Thanks to Shaun for making this interview real. I regularly visit his wonderful PDA news resources Palm247 and WindowsMobile247, and recommend you to do the same. Also don't forget to check out their newly renovated forum!