“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.

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]

“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!

“I have an admission to make: I have never really cared for the Palm OS interface. I can’t defend the position, other than to say that it is entirely a personal preference. So when I was asked to review the first Palm device to utilize MS Window’s Mobile 5 ?Phone Edition? operating system, I was a lot more enthusiastic: this is something I can sink my teeth into!”

When Palm released the Treo 700w running Windows Mobile 5 for Verizon, one of the primary complaints was its meager 32 meg of RAM. Dave Matson of Mobility Site takes a look at the Sprint version, the 700wx, which doubled the RAM. Hampered by lack of EVDO coverage in his home area, he still found a lot to like about the phone.

“Ed Colligan, CEO of Palm, gave a talk this morning. Afterward I asked him if we’ll see next year the secret project that Jeff Hawkins has been working on. “Yes,” he said, and moved immediately to another question. Very little information has been released publicly about the Hawkins project. I know a number of very bright people at Palm moved to work on it, more than a year ago. Hawkins himself has dropped cryptic hints about something that would start a new category of devices, alongside handhelds and smartphones. I know some developers have been shown pre-release versions of the product, and the reactions were mixed. But nobody’s discussing what the device actually is.”

Hawkins mentioned this well over a year ago, and some speculated that it was the Palm LifeDrive, which turned out to be a major disappointment as a product line. So, whatever this mysterious third product line is, the first being the original Palm line of PDAs and the second being the Treo line of converged devices. Any guesses as to what this third generation of product will be? The only thing we know is it will be a mobile device of some sort.

“I don’t know the actual introduction date for the first Windows CE devices. But, I always considered their launch at Fall Comdex 1996 to be their public introduction. The original devices were pretty spartan by even my 1996 standards. So, I waited until early 1997 to buy my first Windows CE device: An HP 320LX Handheld PC. It was a step up from HP’x 300LX. The 320LX had 4MB RAM (compared to the 300LX’s 2MB), a backlit screen, and a CompactFlash slot as well as a PC Card slot. Unlike other Handheld PC, it also had a 640×240 grayscale (greenscale) screen. It was a great device and as you can see from the photos here, it still works! HP engineers really built stuff to last back then (I have a few choice words about the iPAQ line HP inherited from their Compaq merger in some other blog entry). I just stuck in a fresh pair of AA batteries and the HP 320LX fired up. Even the backlight still works fine.”

Todd Ogasawara’s article is a great blast from the past - it’s amazing that Windows Mobile (Windows CE) is 10 years old now. I have vivid memories of reading reviews of the first generation handheld PCs in a magazine called boot (now Maximum PC, and still the only computer magazine worth reading), and selecting the Philips Velo 1 as the device for me (it received the only “A” rating of the round-up if memory serves). I ordered it from the USA, and by the time it came with all taxes, shipping, and dollar conversions, it cost me about $1500 Canadian ($1350 USD). It was worth it though, I loved the device - until the hinge broke…again and again. Speaking of blasts from the Windows CE past, look how time flies. I also find it darkly amusing that no Windows Mobile device can do what I need yet with appointment reminders, even after all these years. I’m still hunting for a Velo 1 on eBay to reclaim some of the original glory…

“Trying to find my perfect smartphone has been causing me the same frustration as trying to find my perfect gear bag. The quest just never ends because I’ve come to realize that there isn’t any one perfect phone (or gear bag) out there for me. The whole trick is to find one that comes as close as possible. This review is for the Hewlett Packard iPAQ hw6945 Mobile Messenger; a Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC phone. The question is, will it become my new “perfect” smartphone?”

Yesterday, I posted on Jack Cook’s review of the iPAQ 6925, which has the same hardware as the 6945. Julie, though, came up with a completely different conclusion. Take a look and see which review you think applies more. (I’ve got to add: the iPAQ is quite a bit bigger than Palm’s Treos. )

“E-TEN, who historically hasn’t surprised us with a truly compelling device, has created a new brand within itself: glofish. The first device from glofish carries quite a claim - to be the “World’s thinnest Pocket PC Phone, GPS and WiFi all-in-one.” With that claim, they’ve got our attention. Is this the device that many have been waiting for, or was usability sacrificed for the sake of thinness? We’ll take a thorough look at the E-TEN glofish X500 to see whether it should *keep* our attention. Read on to see what we found!”

Brandon at pocketnow.com has just reviewed E-TEN’s glofiish X500. Overall, it’s a pretty sweet device: GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM radio, camera, fast, and lightweight, although it lacks support for 3G and doesn’t have a QWERTY keyboard (if you’re that sort of person). Do give his review a read, as it covers a lot of details. If you’re interested in a Pocket PC Thoughts review, check back here within a fortnight.

” I have been an iPAQ fanatic for years and have had a never ending love affair with them. I’ve been fortunate to have had the unique opportunity to own several and use virtually all of the iPAQ line…There have been two devices that have been my favorites, the iPAQ 4700 which I still use almost everyday and an iPAQ 6515 that I had the privilege to have own loan for about 8 months. It was a sad day when I had to send it back; it was like losing my best friend. But the memories of such a positive experience have remained so when I was given the opportunity again to use the latest Cingular version of the iPAQ 6925, I jumped at the opportunity and I have NOT been disappointed. In fact, I have been so thrilled for the past five days that the device just does not leave my hand?well, I may put it down for a moment but I pick it right back up.”

That’s about a strong a tribute a reviewer can give. Fellow MVP Jack Cook has penned an extensive review, and was particularly excited about the processor speed, excellent GPS reception, QWERTY keyboard, phone, and so on. If you’ve been eyeing this device, be sure to take a look at this review.

“If you have read the first few articles of my Direct Push Guide, you would probably have noticed that Direct Push is very much tied into Microsoft Exchange. In fact, Microsoft Exchange itself forms a critical part of the Direct Push architecture ? from the earlier AUTD implementation as well as the current iteration available to a Windows Mobile 5.0 device with MSFP…Now that Microsoft have finally announced that Exchange 2007 is being slated for release at the end of November 2006, it is a good time as any for us to perform a detailed appraisal of the Direct Push-related components in this new version of Microsoft Exchange.”

This is an interesting article — it doesn’t outline the future of Pocket PC, but it does outline the future of Direct Push support on the server end. As to if, and how, these features will be supported on the Pocket PC… well, I can’t say a word. Darn NDAs. So draw your own conclusions.

Recently I discovered a very annoying feature in Windows Mobile AKU 3, and I figured everyone here who has multiple devices or is used to using their devices in a certain unconverged way may be interested. In previous builds of Windows Mobile, the Microsoft Bluetooth Stack featured the Bluetooth Dialup Networking Profile. In AKU 3, this is gone, replaced with a new Internet Connection sharing program, and frustrations galore.

After contacting him, Werner “Menneisyys” Routsalainen wrote up an article describing the situation in complete detail. Basically, if you’re using a computer that can establish a Bluetooth Personal Area Network (PAN) connection and you don’t mind pressing buttons on your phone everytime you want to establish a connection, then you’ll be fine.

If you’re using a conventional Pocket PC or device that uses Bluetooth Dialup Networking for an internet connection (or you just don’t want to have to touch your device when establishing a connection through it), you’ll be annoyed with this situation. Read Menneisyys’ write up, and join me in asking nicely: Please Microsoft - put Bluetooth DUN back in! Keep the current nice features, just add DUN back in for those of us who know it works best for them!

“…The HTC Wizard (the original manufacturer’s code name for not only the 8125 but the T-Mobile MDA, i-mate K-JAM and many others) has in fact been a success world-wide. And HTC, maker of the 8525 and several variants sold under other brand names tweaked the 8125 in just the right ways to make the 8525 a worthy successor. For those of you who are interested in import GSM phones, we’ve also gotten our hands on the HTC TyTN from reputable importer Dynamism.com and will include information on that version as well in our review. That said, the 8525 and TyTN are nearly identical and HTC Hermes variants (the code name for the 8525 and its brethren) do not vary in keyboard and casing design as much as the WIZA100 and WIZA200 HTC Wizard variants did.”

MobileTechReview puts out yet another excellent review on the Cingular 8525; unlike a lot of other reviews, this one compares it to the HTC TyTN. I do have to say, the button arrangement on the front TyTN looks a lot better. That and the front-facing cam aside, they’re nearly identical, and in the opinion of Lisa Gade, both are winners when it comes to processor, wireless speed (the latter, of course, is subject to HSDPA coverage where you live), and shockingly, the camera. If you’ve been interested in the 8525, be sure to check this review out.

“Having survived explaining why the X button doesn’t close apps, I’ve been emboldened to take on the completely radioactive subject of why WiFi ActiveSync was removed from ActiveSync 4. I’m sure that I won’t come out of this one unscathed. The people affected by this are really angry. And, though I didn’t have anything to do with the decision, I’m guessing that you’re going to take your frustrations out on me anyway. But, hey, someone needs to explain why these things happen. That someone might as well be me.”

Mike Calligaro goes on to give a history lesson of how ActiveSync got the ability to do WiFi, but I am not sure it is accurate. He makes it sound as if WiFi was an extension of Ethernet and Ethernet came about shortly after USB, which was the successor to serial. The problem with that chronology is even ActiveSync’s predecessor, Windows CE Services, allowed network connections. I used to plug my modem into a Philips Nino 320 and dial into our network at the office. The Nino would find my logged in PC just fine and synchronize over a blazing 19,200 modem connection. It also worked when AS 3.0 came out. It seems network connections were there from at least the days of Windows CE Services 2.x. I don’t think WinCE Services knew the difference between a modem and Ethernet card from a client perspective, it just happily allowed TCP/IP connections from the outside.

Anyway, it gets back to security. ActiveSync doesn’t encrypt data with the desktop like it does with Exchange Server, so someone could steal your data as it was being transmitted, and you simply cannot be trusted to make a decision on that. You can turn off your firewall in Windows. You can choose not to install antivirus software and antispyware software. You can turn off Automatic Updates. You can disable the antiphishing filter in your browser. You can run around your house nekkid with scissors, but the one thing you absolutely, positively cannot do is sync with your PC in your kitchen from the bedroom because someone might be in your basement lurking stealing your data, or if you are in a small office, you can’t sync with your PC in your office from the conference room because one of the five people you work with might be listening in on that transmission, and heaven forbid you are at Starbucks and initiate an encrypted VPN connection to your home PC and sync through that secure connection.

Wait. Two things you can’t do. You can’t be allowed to close applications in less than 7 taps. I’m sorry, but to date, I still haven’t heard a valid reason to totally rip out this feature in ActiveSync. I can understand it being missing from ActiveSync 4.0, as for the most part, that was a rewrite and some things didn’t make it in, like device backup. However, that was over a year ago. You can’t even wirelessly sync with your Windows Vista machine unless it is via bluetooth from 30 feet away. It simply isn’t a priority. I guess if wireless syncing is important to you, you need to stick with ActiveSync 3.8 (which, by the way, has been removed from Microsoft’s site) and a WM2003SE device, or install Exchange Server.

“I have a confession to make. I was not enthusiastic about Conduit’s latest release of Pocket Player. To be honest, I had used previous versions of Pocket Player and they never seemed to work well for me. So, it was with little enthusiasm that I approached the new Pocket Player release. I expected more of the same; a program that would be deleted from my Pocket PC faster than a drive through a one stoplight town. Then, a funny thing happened. The more I used it, the more indispensable I found it. This is not the same Pocket Player I had tried and rejected before. This latest version, offers significant updates from Pocket Player 2.7, including new features, options, bug fixes, and most importantly, a considerably faster user interface. Additionally, unlike previous versions, Pocket Player 3 is now a true all-in-one media player. It can easily handle audio, video, podcasts, web radio, and playlists. It even offers a today screen plugin. Far from being rejected from my Pocket PC, Pocket Player has quickly become one of my most important programs.”

Doug at Just Another Mobile Monday recently gave Pocket Player 3.0 a spin and liked what he saw. In my opinion, it is above and beyond Windows Media Player Mobile, so if you’re a media junkie, you owe it to yourself to give the review a read to learn more about the new features, and to get yourself a trial version for a taste test.

“Less than a year ago, Cingular’s 8125 (in stores November 16th) impressed us with its processing power, slide-out keyboard, and built-in Wi-Fi. But we preferred the Sprint and Verizon versions of this HTC-made device because they supported faster cellular data services. The Cingular 8525 Pocket PC answers the call for more speed by being the first smart phone in North America to support HSDPA, Cingular’s mobile broadband network, and the first 3G-enabled PDA in the U.S. to have international 3G capabilities. Add in a couple of other welcome refinements and you have one of the most versatile Windows Mobile devices money can buy.”

Laptop Magazine has a brief, but informative 8525 review. Among the more interesting points: HSDPA performance is very good, and even decent over a Bluetooth connection to a laptop, although its coverage is still fairly small in the US. Battery life is good, and the camera is apparently very good. I’m still waiting to see a more detailed review, but I have to admit I’m tempted by this device.

“There is not really competition between the A2DP quality of the two Bluetooth stacks. If you happen to have a WM5-upgraded Dell Axim x50(v) or x51(v), don’t hesitate: install the Widcomm BT stack on it if you want the best available sound quality. You’ll be presented definitely better sound quality, on the expense of slightly (but not much!) decreased battery life. And, of course, you get a lot of additional Widcomm goodies like Bluetooth PAN and the like. Similarly, if you need to choose between, say, a Widcomm BT stack-based device and a MS-based one (and there’s no known Widcomm hack for the latter), go for the earlier, if, otherwise, the two devices are the same.”

A2DP is a topic near to my heart, as it is something I’m truly happy to have in my devices now (And something I was really annoyed not to have 10 months ago). Strangely, I find that Microsoft’s A2DP Profile in AKU 3 devices to be fairly bug free and not as processor intensive as the AKU 2 version that Menneissys has looked at. Any A2DP users out there that want to weigh in - Widcomm or Microsoft BT stack for advanced audio?

“Back in February of this year, i-mate released the PDA-N. The PDA-N represented HTC’s first foray into GPS enabled PDA devices. The device, also released as the Dopod P100, had a decent enough feature set, but with only WiFi / Bluetooth connectivity and no cellular connection it didn’t find it’s way into the hearts of many at MoDaCo. Internally, the device was codenamed the HTC Galaxy. Although HTC weren’t playing the GPS-phone game, others were. Eten shipped the G500 (now superceded by the X500), Mio shipped the A701, HP offered the iPaq 6515 (now superceded by the 6915) and Fujitsu are joining the party now too with the T830. Well, look out… because HTC are back with their new GPS enabled device, the P3300… and it’s a phone too Codenamed the HTC Artemis (or HTC Love, depending on who you ask), the new kid on the block is looking to depose the aforementioned devices with some rather innovative features of it’s own!”

If you’re interested in picking up a GPS enabled Pocket PC Phone, and the HTC P3300 has been on your radar, check out Paul’s review over at MoDaCo - it’ll be worth your time!

Windows Vista is edging closer to RTM, which means those of us who adopt the new OS will soon be using the Windows Mobile Device Center to sync our mobile devices with our computers. Jason Langridge has posted a short tour with plenty of screenshots, so if you’re interested in seeing what’s on offer, head over there and give it a read.

“Over the past several years, many developers have released DVD ripping applications which allowed users to copy a DVD to their hard disk for playback directly on their PC, iPod or Windows Mobile device… The problem facing DVD Catalyst has been the same however for all of the applications: complexity… With this in mind and a goal of ease-of-use in mind, the makers of DVD Catalyst have released DVD Catalyst GT. In a nutshell, it is the quickest and easiest DVD conversion software application I have had the opportunity to use to date.”

Let me tell you, the ability view DVD-quality video on my Pocket PC is a huge boone to my own entertainment needs when travelling. I personally follow a complex series of steps to encode my own DVDs, but with many third solutions available today, the complexity and learning curve can be reduced significantly. Now, if Clinton Fitch is saying that DVD Catalyst GT is the quickest and easiest of that bunch, then it may be worth a look. Check ot the review and give us your thoughts!

“Instant messaging as a consumer desktop technology has reached the point of being ubiquitous. But what about all those BlackBerry and Treo users you see at the airport, or on the subway, or in line at your local Starbucks every morning? Are they using IM while sipping latte? The most recent issue of ‘The Messaging Technology Report,’ which is published monthly by The Radicati Group, reports that business users are taking notice of mobile IM technology.”

So begins a rather generic article on how mobile IM is poised to grow, etc. Instead of just rehashing the general points in the article, let me say that Pocket PCs have quite a distance to go when it comes to mobile IM. MSN Messenger for the Pocket PC is pretty weak. By far, the worst aspect is that the device stays on and active while MSNM is connected, and the client itself tells you to disconnect when not actively using it! If mobile IM is to be effective, one must be able to stay online all the time to receive instant messages without draining the battery so quickly. Other devices — like the Sidekick — have had this for years. Microsoft, when are you going to release an updated, fully functional MSN client for Pocket PCs?

Both Geekzone and The Gadgeteer have reviewed the Palm Treo 750v, available through Vodafone in Europe and parts of the Asia-Pacific. For some countries, this is the first Windows Mobile-based Treo to be made available, so you no longer need to live in the US to sample some of that Palm/Microsoft love. This looks like a neat little device, and if you already have one and are looking for cases, check out Geekzone’s review of the Vaja and Proporta cases here.

We’ve been talking about the Herald, HTC’s Wizard successor, as of late. While it’s just an incremental upgrade (and notably lacks 3G), it is slimmer and has a few nice touches. PDAclub.pl had the opportunity to get their hands on the unit and give it a thorough run-through. Alas, it’s only in Polish, but the pictures are very high-res and worth looking over if you’re interested in the unit.

If you’re looking for yet more eye candy, they’ve also reviewed the HTC Trinity, the Magician successor with no keyboard.

“Tom Tom is one of those names that have been around the GPS business for quite a while. They’ve had some excellent products and they’ve even produced a dud or two. Tom Tom Navigator 6 is the latest in their software lineup for PDAs. Although it’s not commercially available in the United States yet, I had the opportunity to evaluate its functionality and the current U.S. maps that come with it. Tom Tom 5 has been one of my primary navigation tools for the past year or so and I was anxious to see what improvements had been made.”

Without question, Tom Tom is one of the biggest names in the GPS navigational market with regards to both standalone devices and value-add software solutions. Whether you’re a current Tom Tom user possibly looking for an upgrade or if you’re in the market for a new solution, be sure to hop on over and check out the review.

“Safety Cameras, or as they used to be known, Speed Cameras, have become a fact of life in modern motoring, and like them or not they are here to stay. Even the most diligent of us runs the risk of a moment’s inattention finding us a few mph over the limit. As it is legal to provide motorists with the wherewithal to locate cameras, presumably because this will achieve the result of slowing the traffic in high risk areas, a number of products have become available for that purpose, ranging from paper maps, to stand alone GPS location devices like the Road Angel, to software based solutions.”

You may recall a post a few weeks back regarding this application. 4WinMobile take it for a spin and gives it a positive verdict. Now keep in mind that the testing was done in the UK. It would be interesting to get a similar review from someone in the US. Check it out.

“As a System Engineering Manager for a Cisco Systems partner in the Voice over IP Telephony industry, there is a constant need for visual diagrams of information. This information often includes infrastructure such as routers, switches and IP phones but can also be logic flows for IVR (Interactive Voice Response) systems and how calls are treated coming into a customer’s call center. Until now such diagrams while ‘on the go’ required my laptop and Microsoft Visio. Now, thanks to Matter and Motions, all I need is my Windows Mobile device.”

He’s right. While most all other Microsoft Office applications have been brought (or is in progress of being brought) to the mobile, a Visio-like equivalent has been relatively overlooked. If you’re looking for a mobile diagram/flowchart-type of tool, check out Clinton Fitch’s review of First Diagramming and give us your thoughts!