As spotted on Modaco is the scoop that Project Gotham Racing is coming to Windows Mobile (although Smartphone only), from Glu Mobile. …

According to an email I received today from Aspyr, Call of Duty 2 will feature multiplayer support, to be added shortly after the game’s release….

O2’s version of the HTC Artemis (Xda Orbit) has just launched in the UK, with ALK CoPilot included in the box. With GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth all packed into that sleek black shell, it’s a pretty sweet device, though the 200MHz processor may be enough to make you look elsewhere.

“Taking this all together, I had just about given up hope that there would ever be any more Axims. Then I spied something in IDC’s most recent report on the world handheld market: The company [Dell] has finished phasing out some of the older models from its portfolio and is concentrating on developing the Axim X51 platform with faster processors and more memory. I couldn’t get anyone outside of IDC to confirm this, but it still was enough to renew my faith. It’s mighty lite on specifics, but at least there’s some solid evidence that we can expect new Pocket PCs from Dell at some point in the future.”

Like many, I assumed that Dell would eventually close out the X51 series and exit the PDA space. Ed Hardy of Brighthand has some intriguing thoughts on why Dell hasn’t released a new device yet and why they may be about to in the coming months.

No this isn’t spam.

Microsoft is holding a promotion offering a free DVD copy of Windows Vista Business and/or Microsoft Office Professional 2007. What do you have to do to get them? Register at www.powertogether.com and just sit through 3 webcasts or virtual labs for each product! The offer expires Feb 28, 2007, and among other things is open to legal residents of the United States only. I’m not eligible unfortunately. Supplies are limited, so get’em while they’re hot.

For more information, you can read more about this offer in these JKOnTheRun blog entries here and here.

“The PXA3xx family of processors delivers improved performance and extended battery life, enabling advanced video and audio capabilities. Wireless Intel SpeedStep® with MusicMax technology provides intelligent power management, enabling varying power states so users can listen up to 30 hours of MP3s on their handsets without sacrificing battery life. Intel VideoMax technology in the PXA3xx family of application processors supports high-performance video capabilities, and will continue delivering improved resolution with future versions of the PXA3xx family of processors.”

Marvell, who on November 8 completed the acquisition of Intel’s cellular and application processor line (which includes the XScale processors widely used in Windows Mobile devices), have just unveiled their latest generation of mobile processors. The three new processors can be summarised as follows:

?PXA320 (Monahans-P)- 1.2GHz scalable down to 806MHz, general applications processor;
?PXA310 (Monahans-LV) - multimedia processor, supposedly capable of 30fps H.264 playback in VGA resolutions; and
?PXA300 (Monahans-L) - the budget line

Both -L and -LV variants can scale down to 624MHz. All three are available in sample form or are already shipping in volume - Marvell expects production to be in full swing by the first quarter of 2007, and the first devices sporting these processors should appear about the same time. Marvell’s making a lot of promises here - faster processing, lower power consumption, and more transparent frequency scaling. Whichever of these advancements these processors happen to fulfill, this is a big leap forward, the first in over three years in terms of processing speed and power. Faster web-browsing, faster video (hopefully getting rid of the need to transcode video) - I sense lots of fun times ahead!

“After much hype and waiting, the Cingular 8525 is finally here! I have spent hours reading all of the speculation, added or removed features, and possible release dates. I had tested the 8525’s little brother, the 8125 (HTC Wizard) and fell in love with the concept of a “converged device”. I especially liked the idea of having to carry just one device that would satisfy all of my needs. The 8125 had everything I needed, but was definitely lacking in processor speed and camera capabilities. However, it did start the ball rolling for Cingular, and with it’s success, paved the way for the 8525. The Cingular 8525 is kin to the HTC code named “Hermes”, and then the later released HTC branded name “TyTN”. So will the Cingular 8525 live up to all the hype? Read on to find out more!”

This review on Mobility Site focuses on the device hardware. While the pictures are a bit dark, the review is extensive and you may want to check it out if you’re considering picking up an 8525.

Astraware is offering gift certificates this year, billed as the “ideal way to buy games for your friends and relations without having to know device IDs, and also allows you to give Astraware games to people who don’t have a credit card.”…

Seems to be a day of offers today with Handmark announcing a three-for-two offer to celebrate their site redesign. Simply still three titles in your cart and enter the code newsite at the checkout to get the lowest priced item free….

Many thanks to Chris from Clickgamer for letting me know that Sky Force Reloaded is currently enjoying a 50% discount, meaning you can pick up this cracking top-down shooter for a shade under $5. Further details, as usual, on the game’s product page….

“Nikkei Trendy’s December issue includes its annual countdown of products that made it big in Japan. The editors of this comprehensive tech/trend-tracking magazine made their picks from various genres of consumer products–electronics, books, food, Web sites, McDonalds seasonal menu items–that went on sale between October 2005 and September 2006.”

Weighing in at number five, the Sharp W-Zero3 is a sleek-looking converged device which runs Windows Mobile 5, offers a VGA touchscreen, built-in 1.3 megapixel camera, slider-keyboard, USB-host capabilities and takes mini-SD cards. Might be what you’re looking for…if you’re willing to move to Japan to use it. Looks like it only works on the Japanese PHS network right now. Check out the specs here.

Looking for some case inspirations for this holiday shopping season? Here’s a few articles and links that focus on Vaja and Roadwired cases to get you started.

• Clinton Fitch has a Vaja pouch and RoadWired organizer review up on his site;
• Judie reviews a Vaja i-volution Treo 700 case (pictured above) on Gear Diary;
• Finally, Vaja wrote in to let us know they are now selling an i-volution case for the Treo 750. You’ll have to navigate through their Flash site to see the product; it’s under the Smartphone category. (I’ve got to say, their Flash is actually quite impressive. ) [Affiliate link]

“Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd., the worldwide leader in securing the Internet, today announced the availability of SecureClient? Mobile, a new mobile security solution that gives Windows Mobile device users secure, uninterrupted remote access to enterprise e-mail and critical business applications. A lightweight, purpose-built client for Windows Mobile powered devices, SecureClient Mobile maintains continuous and transparent VPN connectivity with Check Point VPN-1® and Connectra? gateways when roaming across networks, and eliminates the need for end-users to re-authenticate.”

I can’t believe we missed this announcement two weeks ago. The roaming capability of the new client looks particularly good; any Check Point readers here who have tried it and know if it seamlessly roams between WiFi and cellular networks? That alone brings the Pocket PC into a new market of usability. The price is $40/device for a perpetual license.

“If you love audio and video content, you’ve probably heard of Nero. The software that was originally known for being the best way to burn CDs has evolved into an application to manage multi-media on your PC. The latest incarnation, Nero 7 Ultra Edition Enhanced… includes a trial of Nero Mobile, an application for the Windows Mobile platform that brings the power of Nero’s multimedia management to handhelds. With so many multimedia applications available for the Windows Mobile space, does Nero have what it takes to takes to bring new life to the mobile audio and video landscape?”

There are numerous 3rd party applications available when it comes to media playback, but Nero is no ordinary company. While it’s encouraging to see a heavyweight like Nero invest into Windows Mobile, the real question is whether they can deliver a truly compelling solution that adds value to their popular suite of PC applications. Check out the review to see what Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine think!

“The good news? ETEN has humbly submitted its thin, sexy X500 glofiish Pocket PC for the FCC’s approval as the “OX500.” The better news? According to the test report, GSM is in the box on both the 850 and 1900MHz bands.”

E-TEN’s slim quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE device with GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth has been approved by the FCC as the OX500, though that doesn’t necessarily mean that a US carrier will be picking it up anytime soon. But keep your eyes open.

Product Category: Clothing for the Techie-Minded
Manufacturer: SCOTTEVEST
Where to Buy: 4.0 Tactical, Ultimate Hoodie
Price: $229.99 USD (Tactical), $69.99 USD (Hoodie)
System Requirements: Body ranging in size from Small to XXXLarge

Pros:

Cons:

Summary:
A few months back I wrote a piece about spending a summer with SCOTTEVEST gear, doing outdoor-type activities in the harsh summer heat. Now that the weather has turned colder, and my work schedule has shot back up to five days a week of travel, SCOTTEVEST’s winter lines get a workout. A lot of hype always surrounds these products, but are the extra features enough to justify the extra price?

Read On And Find Out! [more]