In October I posted a news item about the new Samsung Epix where I said that if you are lusting for a new device and you are an AT&T user then check out the new slim touchscreen Samsung Epix with a full QWERTY keyboard! 

There is a NEW version of the Iris Browser and it is pretty good.  I have been using it on my Palm 750 and find the experience to be pretty stable.  It still needs more work but I think you will enjoy it.

The HTC Touch line is one of the hottest in the Windows Mobile world, and it’s great to see the carriers coming out with their versions of the HTC Touch Pro, now including the AT&T Fuze. Again, this device has the popular TouchFlo 3D interface and a slideout keyboard. This week we’ll also mention the HTC HD and Pharos phone/GPS devices.

1: Form Factor



"Form factor" refers to the size, shape, and style of a mobile device, as well as the physical features it includes. Although Windows Mobile smartphones have similar capabilities, they come in a variety of form factors, and the characteristics of them may make it easier or harder to access the features needed by a particular user.

 Reported in the Nov 2001 issue, Hal Goldstein and Rich Hall head to New York City to attend PC expo (they had actually attended in June). Hal writes about the Cassiopeia BE-300 being a Palm-Killer, but Rich catches a glimpse of a potential, future iPhone-killer at the show, but can't know what the significance might have been for WM and Palm yet... If we only had a time machine, eh?

My T-Mobile G1 that runs Android arrived at my house several weeks ago, missing something that has shipped with every single Windows Mobile device I have ever owned, a CDROM. The missing CD may not seem significant in this day of the Internet where you can easily download and install ActiveSync from a web site than use a CD, but the significance of its exclusion to me is for what it represents.

Sandisk has announced a new Clip with an 8 GB capacity. This tiny MP3 player has been immensely popular for good reason, but one of the limiting factors has been that it only came in 1, 2, and 4 GB capacities and no expansion card.

The new version should quell the objections, for 8GB is certainly a respectable capacity. I still wish it had a expansion card though like its big brother the Fuze.

At one point, Asus marketed what was arguably the most powerful Pocket PC in the smallest form factor around—the A730. Since then, however, Asus has placed little focus on the U.S. market. That changes with the P527, the first Asus Windows Mobile touch screen phone to grace our shores. It features a quad band GSM phone with GPRS and EDGE data capability. Although 3G data is missing, it does included integrated GPS capability and an FM radio.

Undeniable style

Over the past few years I have noticed that companies are providing better support to mobile employees. More and more employees are working flexible hours and spending the time in some place other than the office. I expect this trend to continue into the foreseeable future.

Windows Mobile smartphones have a variety of ways that you can make phone calls. Here are the three primary ways:

Continuing with my quest for an on-screen mobile device viewer because manufacturers are too cheap to include cradles anymore, I offer Mobiola Remote Control for your consideration.

I am beginning to learn that the basic features for this type of application must include remote control of device from PC using mouse and keyboard. Other requisites include screen capture, video capture, save to clipboard, save to file and zoom. Mobiola offers a full screen zoom, which is nice for presentations.

Here comes the fourth review in a series that lamentes manufacturers not supplying cradles anymore. However, I’m finding that with the new remote viewing applications, maybe we don’t need cradles after all.

If you ever wished you could control your Windows Mobile device from your desktop using your mouse and full-size keyboard, mDesktop makes it possible.