Presidential Smackdown

The premier issue of iPhone Life reports Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was "frequently photographed early in the campaign with his trusty Blackberry". But, in recent days, he has been spotted with a new iPhone 3G.

No confirmation, but somehow, I see Republican presidential candidate John McCain as a Blackberry user. Can you picture John McCain with a iPhone?

Barack Obama is tech saavy, no doubt about it. He has mobilized tech geeks to blog for him, and his webpage is cutting edge. John McCain is more old school. Someone needs to get the new Blackberry Bold into his hands.

Verizon XV6800

I am thinking about buying the XV6800. I checked on CraigsList, and this phone can be mine for $220. If I bought this phone, I might consider picking up the Celio Redfly as well. Wouldn't it be awesome to surf the internet and use Windows Mobile Office on a higher resolution screen! I was a little bummed that the XV6800 is not a compatible device with Qik yet (see http://www.qik.com/).

These are hard economic times, and this purchase might be seen as frivolous. I feel like someone with a hot girlfriend, but somehow I can't help eyeing the girl the other guys have overlooked. The Blackberry Curve has been good to me, and this is how I repay all the sweet email goodness it has given me?

Treo 800W

The Treo 800W is on CrazyPhoneGuy's radar. Palm was a leader in the PDA space, but many of its recent Smartphone offerings were buggy. Yet Palm commanded a loyal following, and Palm seems intent, in recent months, on turning itself around.

Over the summer, Treo 800W came out on the Sprint network, and it seems to be selling well. It is a utilitarian looking device. Podcasters and bloggers (see WMExperts' review) rave about it.

I haven't had enough one-on-one time with the device, but when I do I'll write a more detailed review. It is suppose to come to Verizon Wireless (CrazyPhoneGuy's carrier), so I may check it out.

WMExperts Podcast

I listen to WMExperts' podcast faithfully. Two guys, one living in Florida, and another living in New York City talk weekly about Windows Mobile. I don't even currently use a Windows Mobile Phone, but its great fun listening to these two guys. They clearly have their biases, I mean, the podcast is call WMExperts (they are really into Treos, especially the 800W), but I still enjoy listening to them report the news and their opinions about the Windows Mobile world. Load it up using your favorite podcatcher. http://www.wmexperts.com/.

Jacksonfish.com

CrazyPhoneGuy admires well made cutting edge mobile devices. He also admires good companies.

Jacksonfish.com is a special small business. It has an amazing website. The firm has a simple mission statement - to create beautiful consumer software for the web. The unique character of this small company can be discovered through navigating Jacksonfish.com's website.

In an age of brashness where profits and short term gains rule the day, there is something refreshing about the existence of a company like this. It actually renews my hope about the U.S. amidst all the financial turmoil of recent day.

The webpage is something special. It depicts an ordinary street you might find in a small town. It is teeming with activity during the day, but at night, stores shut down, lights are dimmed (literally). It is really clever. Visit http://www.jacksonfish.com/.

Celio Redfly - $199 until October 31st

The Celio Redfly is available for Windows Mobile users for $199 until October 31st. Why the temporary reduction in price from $500? Celio believes once users get the Redfly in hand that word will get out about this new technology.

I have to admit I am intrigued by the idea of a pocket PC phone delivering a desktop user experience.

The following Windows Mobile phones are fully compatible with the Celio Redfly: SCH-i760, Blackjack, Treo phones, Moto Q, Sprint Mogul, XV6800, AT&T Tilt, etc. (see full list here: www. http://www.celiocorp.com/smartphone/)

iPhone Quality Browsing?

More HTC Touch HD picture goodness for all you gadget-philes.

This picture of a internet browser on the new HTC Touch HD looks almost as good as the iPhone's Safari browser.

Introducing another iPhone Challenger: The HTC Touch HD

The iPhone is in a class of its own. It is the most seamlessly converged mobile device currently on the market. The Blackberry, Symbian, and Windows Mobile platforms all have their strengths and weaknesses, but it is the iPhone that is able to provide users a true, mp3, personal video player, telephone, pictures, and browsing experience that sets the standard for developers and manufacturers. That is until now. Ask a gearhead who has succumb to the lure of the iPhone what he wishes it has, and of course, you'll hear, removable battery, greater resolution, better camera, ability to customize (a la Windows Mobile).

Imagine, a phone with a similar form factor, but with even higher resolution. I am talking WVGA or 800 x 480 pixel resolution. Windows Mobile and Treo Users have had to make due with 320 x 240 for the longest time. Early previews of the HTC Touch HD's display report it as absolutely gorgeous. It will trump iPhone's 480 x 320 resolution. Comparisons are inevitable, because the HTC Touch HD looks so much like the iPhone.

Its other features will have loyal Windows Mobile users drooling: a 5 megapixel camera (no flash), stylus, microSD slot, 3.5-mm headphone jack, and a 1350mAH battery. We're talking a serious smartphone here, and not a neat multimedia phone with a touch keyboard (sorry iPhone).

No news on who will get this first in the US. Perhaps, by the end of the year. The iPhone 3G is a truly amazing device, but this new offering from HTC provides an alternative. Competition is good.

Verizon Fall lineup?

I was at a Verizon store over the weekend. Verizon must have many new phones in its fall line-up because there were few smartphones on display. Verizon stores have pulled the Samsung SCH i760, and the XV6800 from its store. I was told that the last batch of SCH i760s were faulty, and Verizon decided to pull it. Sprint in recent weeks introduced the HTC Touch Diamond, and the new Palm Treo 800W has been available for a while.

I feel Verizon puts all of its time and energy into making it the most reliable cellphone network in the nation at the expense of new and exciting phones in its line-up. When I questioned a sales person about the fall line up, he started talking up the new Blackberry Touch-screen device. While I'm excited about the new Touch Blackberry, it would have been nice if Verizon could get the Bold too. I'm just tired of seeing all the newest phones released first in Europe, and Asia, and then AT&T. It makes me almost want to move over to a GSM network.

There's excitement building about the Blackberry Storm, and rumors of the Treo 800W coming to Verizon, and I'm sure its just a matter of time before the HTC Diamond comes to Verizon (since its gone Sprint already).

For now, Verizon users have to make due with the HTC Touch, and Blackberry devices. Better to wait until October and November if you're thinking about updating at this point.

Zune 3.0 Software Update

I think I was one of the first this morning to download the new Zune 3.0 software. I haven't had a chance to play around with it yet, but it looks great. I even have games now on my Zune 80.

Congrats Zune Team!

Zune 3.0

I am a Zune fan, and thrilled to pieces about the new Zune 3.0. On September 16th, Zune users will be able to download for free a software update that will allow wireless download of music via WiFi! The new software will also allow users to tag songs from FM radio for download from the Zune Marketplace. Audiobooks have also come to Zune.

Zune is really trying to be THE device for the serious music enthusiast. Your Zune will track your favorite music, and when you log into the Zune marketplace will make music recommendations to you. It might also introduce you to people that have the same musical taste as you. Microsoft feels music is a social experience and meant to be shared, and it wants to foster this via the Zune Social. It, the Zune Social, is in its infancy of course. It kind of reminds me of some wild sociology experiment. Someday I'll organize a huge Zune Meetup in New York City. It will be huge. It will be wild. It will be YouTube worthy.

So Long Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine

I started reading "Smartphone and Pocket PC magazine" in April and am sad to report that November's issue will be the final issue.

For eleven years, "Smartphone and Pocket PC magazine" provided entertaining and valuable information to Windows Mobile and Pocket PC users.

Publisher Hal Goldstein wrote, in a letter to subscribers, that his decision to suspend "Smartphone and Pocket PC magazine" was a business one, and he believes Windows Mobile has a strong future.

I received the premier issue of "iPhone Life" over the weekend. It is a nice looking magazine, and is filled with beautiful pictures and useful articles about how to maximize the iPhone experience.

I wish "iPhone Life" a successful run, but also hope that "Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine" will find a way to resurrect itself.

Zune Social or Squirting (Part II)

I found a tool on Zunethoughts.com that allow Zune owners to create a custom Zune Card which can be sent wirelessly to other Zune owners. I live in New York City where we learn to survive by respecting the space of others. I like the idea of sharing music (isn't music inherently social?). I'm not sure how I would feel if the above image popped up on my Zune screen. I'm open to the Social or *sigh* "squirting" (the unfortunate Microsoft term for sharing wirelessly), but can't tell how other New Yorkers might react to unsolicted "squirts".

I might create my own "Zune Card" and try it out. Why not? Now, all I need to do is to find other Zune owners.

September 14th?

We thought August, then September 2nd. I'm not holding my breath, but there are whispers of a September 14th launch of the HTC Diamond smartphone by Sprint.

Bonjour HTC P3600?

I was having brunch in Manhattan and happily drinking my coffee and dunking my donuts when I heard two tourists, seated at the next table, speaking French. Both took out their smartphones, and my interest was piqued immediately. One placed his smartphone on the table. I could not help myself "Qu'est-ce que c'est" I queried, and got a raised eyebrow. He queried back "parlez vous Francais?" Memories of college French came rushing back... I answered, tentatively "oui?" I pointed at his phone and repeated "Que'est -ce que c'est?" He responded in rapid fire French. "Blah, blah, blah HTC blah blah blah Windows Mobile". He handed me the phone.

I thought it was a slide-out, but it was all touch-screen like the iPhone. It felt nice. It reminded me of the Tilt without the qwerty keyboard.

I handed the phone back. College French did prove to be useful after all.

Sarah Palin = Blackberry User

I had to share this photo from our friends at Crackberry.com. Alaskan governor, and now Republican vice president nominee uses a Blackberry, and from the looks of it the AT&T 8300.

Streaming live video to your Smartphone

Imagine, using your phone as a camcorder to film LIVE streaming video which you can upload to a webpage for your friends to see. Imagine being able to store hours of video footage on an internet server without having to worry about running out of storage space on your phone (its a cloud computing thing).

The implications for this technology are huge. I can imagine abuses, but I prefer to concentrate on the positive things you can do with Qik. Imagine, me hitting the pavement with my new Windows Mobile phone and interviewing strangers about Sarah Palin's hotness.. oh... I am veering into "abusive" possibilities.. Okay, footage of a friend's new baby for a family website. Better.

According to my research, the Nokia N-95 is the best phone for Qik because of its 5 megapixel camera, high quality Carl Zeiss lens and video capability. The new Windows Mobile phones (Touch Pro, HTC Diamond) with increased RAM, cpu processor speed, storage space, and video resolution make them an ideal partner for Qik technology.

I am stoked. Totally.

http://www.qik.com

New Smartphones coming in Q4

I am a Blackberry user, but I am sorely tempted to get one of these phones when they come out later this year. On the left is the Sony Ericsson Xperia-1, with the the HTC Touch Pro on the right. Both come with Windows Mobile 6.1, and a considerably higher resolution display than what is current selling in stores. Pictures, text, applications will look sharper, and both phones have a custom UI on top of the underlying Windows Mobile OS.

If I can figure out how get push-email on either of the two device, I might defect from RIM and choose a Windows Mobile smartphone to replace my Blackberry Curve.

Windows Mobile iTouch?

I have to give major props to the person who made this theme. I think WinMo phones should be WinMo, and iPhones should be iPhones, but still, this is cool. PPCGeeks has some hardcore users. Hooya!

Awesome free video player for Windows Mobile users

Vtap.com is a free downloadable program for Windows Mobile users. "Search, browse, and view web videos from favorite web sites YouTube, Dailymotion, Metacafe, MySpace and thousands more."

Point your browser to http://www.vtap.com/ to download the launcher.

Perfect cellphone for kids?

Are phones part of this year's school supplies? If so, you can't go wrong with the new Blitz from Verizon Wireless for the younger set. This low cost device is fully featured for the technocratic elementary scholar in your household.

The Blitz measures 3.5 x 2.6 x 0.7 inches and weighs 5.1 ozs. It features a full qwerty keyboard, and is a perfect messenging device. It also comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera, and video player. It supports micro-sd memory expansion for songs, and pictures, and comes equipped with a 2.5mm headphone jack.

The Blitz is reasonably priced at $69.99 with a two year contract from Verizon Wireless. Your high school set will probably clamor you for a LG Voyager, or a Chocolate, but younger kids should be delighted by this new entry from Verizon Wireless.