boingboing has posted a mock-up image of the new Palm device. Obviously it is...]]> Palm

boingboing has posted a mock-up image of the new Palm device. Obviously it is not real, but maybe something like this can atract enough attention to boost early sales.

If the new phone does turn out to have a vertical slide format I think this could work very well- a much better form factor than the horizontal Windows Mobile sliders we are used to.

Justine Pratt from Creative Algorithms has supplied her thoughts on the mobile industry in...]]>

Justine Pratt from Creative Algorithms has supplied her thoughts on the mobile industry in 2008.

1/ What was your favourite smartphone of 2008 and why?

Since I'm slowly parting with my non-converged PDA and feature phone combo for a new iPhone, I'd have to say the iPhone is my favorite smartphone this year.  I'm thoroughly enjoying my new toy.

2/ What was your favourite mobile software title of the year?

I am still deciding on what software to add to my new iPhone, so I don't have a favorite title yet.  I do like The Weather Channel app for weather info, I'm enjoying Trism and Enigmo for games, Fring is good for IM'ing via Skype, and Preschool Adventure has been a useful entertainment for my 22 mo old.

3/ What device are you currently using and why?

I have an iPhone now, but I haven't transitioned from my T5 yet--I have about 9 years of data that I need to sort through and decide what to transfer and how.  I haven't yet found a to-do app I like, or a password keeper, so I am still using my PDA in interim. 

I chose an iPhone because that is the product line we plan to 'port our apps to, plus I had an iPod Touch and really liked the interface, ease of use, etc.  It's a very well thought out device and fun to use!  My husband Cory's Treo went into perpetual reset mode (hardware issue) so it was time for a new phone.  Our contract was up with AT&T, and we're on a family plan, so it made sense to pick up the two new iPhones all at once.

4/ Was 2008 a good year for the mobile industry in your opinion?

Mobile seems to be the only industry that isn't dying in this current financial mess, so, yes I'd say it was a good year as a whole.  (However, it was a terrible year for Palm OS software sales--I blogged about it here:  http://creativealgorithms.com/blog/?q=content/perception-reality-why-palm-os-software-sales-have-plummeted-2008 ) Many more operating systems came out, which made it a bit difficult for developers like ourselves, but it is good for the mobile economy--pushing innovation and improvements with the added competition.  I think 2009 will be even better.

5/ What are you hoping for from the mobile world in 2009, and what development are you most looking forward to?

I'm excited about releasing our new iPhone apps in 2009, but also looking forward to what other new products and improvements are in the works.  I'm interested in seeing what Palm has up its sleeve, but sorry that it's too late for us personally.  I'm bummed that the Treo didn't hang on a bit longer (see above answer) so we would have perhaps had a choice.  The success of the AppStore will fuel similar options on the other platforms, so it will also be interesting to see how that all falls into place and who the winners and losers will be.

PDA-247 is having a January Sale of mammoth proportions. Each day throughout January we will be offering a huge discount on a new title, or a selection of titles, and each...]]> Palm

PDA-247 is having a January Sale of mammoth proportions. Each day throughout January we will be offering a huge discount on a new title, or a selection of titles, and each discount will run for 3 days.

Today we have 50% off ALL software titles from Tamoggemon Software. These titles include TimeDrift, FileFind and Daily Quote. There are 6 in total and all you have to do is use the link below and use discount code 'Jan6' at checkout to obtain your discount off any of the titles listed.

Full list of Tamoggemon Software products.

Product Name: Advent 4212
Price: £199
Supplied by: PC World
Reviewer: Shaun McGill

The Advent 4212 is one of a long line of Netbooks...]]> MoreMobile

Product Name: Advent 4212
Price: £199
Supplied by: PC World
Reviewer: Shaun McGill

The Advent 4212 is one of a long line of Netbooks (sorry Psion!) which PC World is selling in the UK. PC World is still at this time using the generic term of Netbook to describe these items even though Psion is making claims against this, and so I will have to as well. If anyone can think of a better way to describe a Netbook, please add it to the comments link below…

The main reason I am looking at the Advent 4212 is because it was previously on sale for only £199 (price is currently £229, but it is worth haggling) and includes a full version of Windows XP. For a market which is rich in newcomers, the inclusion of Windows makes much more sense than following the Linux route in my opinion. Of course Linux is much more efficient, cheaper and still very easy to use, but you can’t get away from the fact that most people on this earth do not care what a computer is running; they just know what they know and want a familiar interface to use out of the box.

In the box

Anyway, the Advent comes in a professional looking box with a charger and internet cable included and that’s about it. There are no extras in the box, but I guess this leaves room to sell one of the slip cases, which are very highly priced, and other extras the user may require.

In use

The keyboard is thankfully large enough to cope with the largest of fingers and with enough travel to allow for quick typing over long periods of time. The symbols and punctuation are all placed as they should be and at no point did I have any learning curve to climb finding where the keys were that I required.
The screen is on the edge of being too small, but at 8.9” is fine for viewing complex web pages if the full screen option is used. It is clear indoors, but not the best in bright sunlight which is a shame for such a portable unit. To clarify, the screen and keyboard combination are well matched and create a practical solution for anyone wanting to undertake web surfing and word processing on the move. Considering the size of the unit, the various components are slotted in with care and every part of the housing is used to good effect.

I was surprised at how quick the system was considering the relatively low amounts of RAM and processor speed. It could be argued that all Windows machines are quick when you first power them on and that they tend to slow up over time- I do expect this to be a problem over time, but with standard use you should not feel that you are using a budget laptop every day.

The lack of a disc bay will be problematic to some, and this is a shame considering the 80GB of included memory. It would be nice to install extra software the traditional way through CD, but a separate hard drive or CD drive will be needed to do so. This should not be seen as a drawback though because the Advent keeps it size primarily through the lack of a drive bay. One point to remember is that a separate CD drive is only £15 from some stores and a DVDRW drive can be had for only £40 so the compromise is worth having in this instance.

Connectivity is adequate with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on board and I had no issues at all connecting to my home network for internet connection, and the same is true with my BlackBerry Bold for surfing when no Wi-Fi is available. Both of these activities do affect battery life which is not the best anyway, and is possibly the Achilles heel of the Advent.

Even though the battery was brand new, surfing the web with Wi-Fi enabled would drain the battery within an hour which was very disappointing indeed. Things have improved a little bit, but this is still a problem area for the 4212. I would guess that most people who want a device like this will be happy to have it plugged in to a hotel room socket or even at home, but for people who want to work on trains and in other remote places it could be an issue.

Specification

Intel Atom N270Processor - Energy efficient (1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512MB cache)
Windows(R) XP Home
Memory & storage - 1GB Memory & 80GB HDD Portable
8.9" Widescreen Display & 1.2KG
Extras - Bluetooth connectivity & webcam
Stylish Black & Silver Design
Wireless Enabled
Built in speakers
178 mm Depth

Conclusion

The Advent 4212 is an all rounder that accomplishes everything it needs to with ease. It is quick, stable and capable of 95% of what a standard laptop could do on the road. For £200 it is a genuine bargain and is built sturdily enough to takes the knocks of mobile life. If the battery was stronger I would struggle to find any faults with it, but alas this one area drags down the entire experience somewhat. You can purchase extended batteries from £50 and there is even an external battery available for £80 which is rated at a huge 13200mAh.
On a value for money basis alone the Advent 4212 scores very highly and I would go as far as to say this is the best Netbook I have used to date. With some carefully purchased accessories it could easily replace a much more expensive laptop for a total outlay of under £300.

Build Quality- 8
Ease of use- 8
Battery- 6
Screen clarity- 8
Value for money- 9
Total score- 88%

expansys is selling the i-mate Ultimate for only £199.99 at the moment....]]> WindowsMobile

expansys is selling the i-mate Ultimate for only £199.99 at the moment. Stocks are very limited so be quick!

Special offer price for eXpansys email subscribers - normally £334.99, now only £199.99 saving you £135. Other eXpansys special offers like vouchers cannot be used with this offer. Available while stocks last.

Packed with a unique range of mobile functionality, the Ultimate 9502 is one with the lot. Why wait? you can send and receive emails, documents, and data fast. And you can access the Internet at broadband mobile speeds. Featuring a high quality large and vibrant 2.8” VGA touch screen, you're also fully connected with Wi-Fi, HSDPA and built-in GPS.

Video Out means you can connect to a digital projector, or TV and view your photos, emails, presentations and important documents on the BIG screen. And the slide out QWERTY keyboard means you can make light work of texting and emailing.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is being treated for a "hormone imbalance" but is staying on as the firm's CEO....]]>

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is being treated for a "hormone imbalance" but is staying on as the firm's CEO.

In a statement, Jobs said he had been suffering from ill health for a number of months.

"I have been losing weight throughout 2008...doctors think they have found the cause: a hormone imbalance that has been robbing me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy," said Jobs.

Apple's board said they were giving Jobs "complete and unwavering support." From BBC. Thanks to Jon.

Exclusive: New Palm phone to have slide-down...]]> Palm

Exclusive: New Palm phone to have slide-down keyboard, large touchscreen has been posted at ChrunchGear- "We have information from a trusted source that the latest Palm smartphone running the Nova operating system will be launched Thursday. The new phone will have a full QWERTY keyboard that will slide down under a portrait-oriented touchscreen. We’ll have a mock-up shortly.

The new operating system is described as “amazing” and there will be a full software bazaar on launch. It will have media playback functions along with standard Palm calendar, email, and contact functionality..."

12:36 on 5/1/2009 by Shaun ]]> News Comments 247 News http://www.clieuk.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=25112