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Monthly Archives: July 2009
VReadEM Email To Speech for BlackBerry
VReadEM Email To Speech has been released for BlackBerry and is on offer at $0.99 until the end of today. This is a subscription based application- “VReadEM is an email-to-speech service for BlackBerry that allows you to listen to the unopened messages in your BlackBerry mailboxes. It can run in the background and read new messages as they arrive, for hands and eyes-free usage anywhere your device can connect to the internet. VReadEM has an intuitive user interface which lets you quickly and easily browse and play your messages.
VReadEM performs the text-to-speech (TTS) conversion on the server side, and requires a good network connection in order to provide reliable service. VReadem does not rely on voice calls to deliver the audio and does not use your plan’s voice minutes.
Currently, English is the only supported language. Messages written in other languages will not be read correctly.
After installation, VReadEM runs in demo mode and reads a demo message instead of your emails. This demo message is converted to speech on the VReadEM text-to-speech server and lets you evaluate your network conditions and the actual audio quality of VReadEM on your handset before you subscribe to the service.
An activation code will be provided to you when you subscribe to the service; this code must be entered into VReadEM to unlock its capability to read email messages. To enter the activation code, press the menu button and select the Activation Code option. VReadEM will continue to work in demo mode if your activation code fails to authenticate, or if your subscription expires.
Please download the trial version before buying a subscription. If the trial version does not work on your handset, the full version of VReadEM will not work either. Please make sure that any email and network related issues are resolved before subscribing. Depending on you carrier and other circumstances we may or may not be able to assist you with troubleshooting any such issues.
VReadEM generates a significant amount of network traffic. We recommend that you use VReadEM with an unlimited data plan. You are responsible for any data charges incurred while using VReadEM. Please note that additional data charges may apply when roaming on carriers other than your primary carrier (e.g. when traveling abroad), even if you have an unlimited data plan.”
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2TrackMe for Palm OS updated and discounted
2TrackMe for Palm OS has been updated and also received a discount to $5 until the end of the month- “2TrackMe is the most matured GPs solution for your Palm/Treo/Centro (Classics on Pré?). It shows OpenStreetMap maps either offline or online, wikipedia entries nearby and geocaches around you. It can calculate routes from A to B and give you eventually a weather forecast for your current location. You can make geo-tagged picture with your build-in camera.”
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iPhone apps I paid for but don’t use
TUAW has published an article, iPhone apps I paid for but don’t use, which looks at some of the apps no longer used after purchasing. This is a problem with the current pricing because I also have many apps I no longer used which were purchased on impulse. It is of course daft to moan about cheap pricing, but I have the ability to moan about anything…
“When the App Store was launched, I went a bit nutty and downloaded lots of apps. Eventually I limited myself to apps I thought I’d love. Some were free, some weren’t. Recently iTunes told me that I had 13 updates available, and I noticed that I’ve paid for many apps that I don’t use.
It’s easy to list your favorite apps. As a contrast, here’s a list of the apps that I paid for but don’t use (as well as why).”
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Nokia Surge: Hands-on video
Nokia Experts has published a hands-on video with the Nokia Surge and I still like it… a lot.
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Championship 2009/ 10 Fixtures & Results + Online Updates
Championship 2009/ 10 Fixtures & Results + Online Updates for Windows Mobile has a very long name, but likely a very small target market. If you happen to support a team in the English football Championship league, this will be good for you, but it would be nice to see it cover all UK leagues.
“Championship 2009-10 Fixtures and Results provides you the best way to follow the Championship 2009-10 season. It provides the complete match schedules and scores of matches at the Championship. Schedule of matches can be tracked by Match dates and Teams. Results of each and every match can be updated online. Match results are reflected by the accurate points table with separate home and away table. Statistical and Comparative analysis of results can also be made with respect to teams. A complete utility for the most passionate fans of the most beautiful game.”
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Palm Pre and iPhone 3G reduced in price
The Palm Pre has been reduced in price to only $99 at Best Buy with a 2 year contract. The reason for the change is unclear, but the low price of the iPhone 3G may have something to do with it. On the subject of the 3G, AT&T has also reduced the price of refurbished iPhone 3G models to $49 (8GB) and $99 (16GB). Boy Genius makes a good point about this price cut- “So people, the bottom line is if you have $1,680+ to spend on your cell phone service over the next two years (or $960+ on a family plan) but that extra $30 on the handset price was scaring you away…” And he managed to do it without swearing- that’s one Twitter feed I won’t be going back to…
UPDATE: It appears the price drop on the Pre was an error. doh!
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BlackBerry Curve 8520 headed to Vodaphone
The BlackBerry Curve 8520 is headed to Vodafone very soon and should make the BB experience available to many more people than ever before. It is already on the way to T-Mobile USA and the price will surely undercut the current BlackBerry range by quite a margin.
There is no 3G and the screen is low resolution, but for people who need to work on the go it should prove to be a great partner for getting lots done. Expect a huge battery life and a very good keyboard.
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Touch KO floors the app store / next iPod Touch to have a camera?
The long awaited Touch KO from Chillingo Lts has been released on the App Store and doesn’t seem to fulfill its potential. Early reviews suggest that the opponents are not challenging enough, but I guess this could be fixed with an update or two.
On a seperate note, iPhone Alley has spotted some upcoming iPod Touch cases which hint that a camera will be included. iPod Nano cases with camera holes have also been spotted.
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New Time Magazine BlackBerry App Released
A new BlackBerry App has been released by Time Magazine and it’s looking very good indeed- “Access TIME’s depth of content around-the-clock — download the FREE BlackBerry® app today!
Get the latest news, read opinion and analysis from TIME influential bloggers, while also having the ability to browse through award-winning photography and TIME’s hugely popular Lists. You can also customize the content to easily view headlines from your favorite sections.
You’ll get updates automatically pushed out to your BlackBerry® smartphone, so you can read it on the subway or on a flight. It’s the fast and easy way to have TIME with you to read and peruse, no matter where you are. Best of all, it’s FREE!”
An iPhone version is coming soon, and if you do not use a BlackBerry or iPhone the mobile site at mobile.time.com is one of the best in the business.
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iTunes: you ain’t coming in
Palm has complained to the USB Implementers Forum over the use of Vendor ID numbers by Apple. I presume it is trying to finally sort the iTunes fiasco that is going on at the moment which will cause the Pre to be able to sync and then not and so it will go on. Linux users are also getting sniffy about recent changes and the continuing lack of support for iTunes.
Now, I don’t like to stand up for Apple if I can help it, but part of me thinks that Palm needs to make its own solution rather than hanging on the coat tails of iTunes. The problem is that the solution would no doubt look poor compared to the might of iTunes. Also, why would Apple want to support Linux? It is hardly an area where the users will want to spend any money and the gap between Apple and the Linux community is as big as you can get in the tech world.
For Palm to be attempting to use iTunes shows a complete lack of imagination and only goes to heighten the iTunes brand. It makes Palm look a little bit cheap, but there is underlying logic in having your smartphone sync with the most popular music and video setup on the planet.
TetherBerry down by 50%! Today only
TetherBerry is a seriously awesome application and in my opinion the very best available for the BlackBerry platform. Today only you can purchase it for $24.97 which is 50% off the standard price of $49.95. Check out the features below-
- Internet Anywhere: You can use TetherBerry anywhere you can make phone calls.
- Easy Setup: Download our software to your BlackBerry and another for your laptop… Then surf the web and email just like you would with any Internet connection.
- Fast Speeds: Download speeds that are impressive. Our users download at speeds up to 1,800 kbps.
- No Tethering Fees: TetherBerry uses your phone’s data plan and we do not charge tethering fees. (refer to our Terms of Service) (Note that significant charges may apply for data usage if not on an unlimited data plan. Please check with your carrier.)
UPDATE: The 50% discount is now over, but you can use discount code ‘tether1′ to take 20% off any purchase of TetherBerry.
Early news round-up: 24th July 2009
The CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, has apologised for the 1984 fiasco which occured last week when copies of the book were remotely deleted from Kindles. The statement is very well worded and goes some way to reducing the anger out there- “This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle. Our “solution” to the problem was stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles. It is wholly self-inflicted, and we deserve the criticism we’ve received. We will use the scar tissue from this painful mistake to help make better decisions going forward, ones that match our mission. With deep apology to our customers.” More at The iPhone Blog.
Vodafone has declared an interest in selling the iPhone in more countries. CFO Andy Holford said “It’s a good product and we would love to have it in the portfolio in more countries.” CEO Vittorio Colao said “I can tell you for sure we have had and still have some negative iPhone effect. It’s clear the iPhone is working very well in the UK; it’s particularly clear that not having it has hindered us.”
The Garmin-Asus nüvifone is going on sale this month in Asia. Yes, it really is! After far too long waiting, it looks as though it will finally appear. It was almost revolutionary when it was first announced, not so much now.
webOS 1.1.0 has been released and restores the ability to sync with iTunes. Next up will be an update from Apple which disables the sync and so it will go on. At some point someone needs to stop and realise that a service which will only work for half the time is pointless. Who will back down first?
The Food Network has released a new BlackBerry application which brings the experience to almost every BB device on the market. Looks great.
The SIM-free Samsung i8910 HD is starting to become available and Steve Litchfield has managed to get hold of one. As he says, a TV-out cable is included which is a good start. Check out the rest of the article.
coolsmartphone has reviewed the Toshiba TG01 and it’s looking sort of OK, in a not so OK kind of way, if you know what I mean. The first review I read slammed it so this is at least an improvement.
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QOTD: MMS?
How often do you use MMS and is it a feature that you intend to use in the future? I have used it once and the experience was not very exciting, and rather expensive…
PortableApps: your PC anywhere
The other day Taccy recommended Q10 as a Windows alternative to WriteRoom for Mac and I have to say that it is a truly great simplistic word processor which makes focussing on the task at hand much easier. At the Q10 page I spotted PortableApps and was surprised that I had not seen it before.
PortableApps is an application which allows you to carry your favourite Windows apps with you and to use the on any PC you choose, without the need for a full installation each time. The apps will save the output, docs etc., onto a memory stick and as such it becomes a mini-computer all of its own.
You can use it on a USB memory stick, piortable hard drive and in theory on any smartphone. I haven’t tested it, but Windows Mobile, Symbian and BlackBerry should be fine with it. The iPhone will obviously present some complications unless it is jailbroken, and even then some extra software will be needed. Test this ast your own risk…
A large number of applications are available from the PortableApps site such as FireFox Portable Edition, Thunderbird, NVU, Mac-on-Stick (Mac OS Classic 7) and even a selection of free games are available for download. From what I could see there is more than enough available to cater for the majority of needs and if you have access to a few PCs, this is worthy solution.
You don’t even need to use the PortableApps platform because there are many applications which are packaged in portable format already- see this link.
This may not be a solution you use everyday, but for emergencies and occasional use it is a top class effort. It’s all free as well.
More details are at http://portableapps.com.
New and notable iPhone apps
Quickoffice has opened up quite a gap over Docs to Go in the iPhone mobile office wars. The latest version adds support for sending, receiving and editing email attachments without the need for Microsoft Exchange, plus a host of other interface and functionality enhancements. Of course, it also has support for spreadsheet creation and editing, which DTG does not. It’s on sale right now for $12.99 and is getting some great reviews. I’ve tried it, and I like it.
Llamagraphics has improved its Life Balance app by dramatically speeding up data entry. If you want a more holistic way of managing your goals, projects and tasks than provided by regular to do apps, LB is definitely worth a look. It works well as a standalone app, but also syncs via wifi with the desktop version. $19.99 from the App Store.
For those of you who want to keep track of your bank accounts and spending, iBank for iPhone ($4.99) is a slick looking app which syncs with the desktop program of the same name (Mac only) and offers the ability to enter transactions on the fly.
Personally, I prefer using Mint.com (U.S. only) because the site automatically pulls in all your transactions, whether they be from credit cards, bank accounts, or investments. The iPhone app is view only, but that’s all you need for a quick overview and to see whether your monthly budget is on track. FREE. Trevor.
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