Samsung on target

Crikey - our pals at Samsung have increased their focus on touchscreen devices dramatically. They've increased touch devices from 5% to 20 % of their sales (a big coup for Windows Mobile methinks)

Samsung also think they are going to beat their forecast of 200 million units for 2009 - which is pretty impressive

The new Omnias running Windows Mobile 6.5 are, of course, pretty nice devices

Good luck to our friend NF in his new endeavours

More Omni musings

I do like the Omnia 2 but I really am going to have to hack the registry or maybe flatten the firmware completely. There are quite a few things that the chaps at Samsung have done with the overlay that I don't like and even with SPB on board the device just does some odd things (and yes, I've disabled TouchWiz)

Note my Modaco post detailing how to get the Windows Mobile settings back. I'll shortly get onto using SKtools to effect some more changes and will update them here

As far as screen, camera and build is concerned I'm pretty happy (DO keep the screen protector on though as my chum has scratched his badly) but I have to say that these OEM mods need testing more before they go out.

Mobile signal boosted in office !

I wrote a while ago on Femtocells. We've had a Vodafone femto in the office for a while now and I have to say that after a few hiccups in the early days it is performing well. We're getting 3G pretty consistently in the cellars here (we're in the cellar oif an 18th Century tavern !) .

I happen to know that the people at Crimson Tide are offering a free Femto with all December connrctions - which is nice - so if you have a problem with getting a good mobile connection inside your office or home you can contact them here

I need a new name for Femtocells - it doesn't quite resonate with me but I'm generally impressed with the job that our one is doing.

Opera 10 Beta

I'm using the newly released beta of Opera on the Omnia 2. Frankly , Opera has been my de facto browser of choice on mobile dvices for quite some time and this new version does not disappoint

I haven't used all of the features yet (I wonder if I can get it to sync with my online favourites through X-Marks?) but speed dialling websites and the new panel seem like good ideas

more of a review in due course.....

O2 Base stations

Apparently the people at O2 are incresing or upgrading their base stations to meet Ofcom's 3G targets. Allegedly there will be another 1,500 bases stations to boost their 84% coverage

New Facebook App for WM 6.5

As a number of you know I am a fan of Facebook (there's a joke in there somewhere). From keeping up with my Motorbike-riding friend in the US to asking my daughter to bring the M&Ms (Halloween colours) from the playroom I find it very useful

You can download FB 1.1 for WM 6.5 from the Windows Mobile Marketplace - which is also available on your Wimdows Mobile device.

Another Overlay Problem - HTC TouchFlo

Those of you who use HTC devices with Touchflo may have noticed that there is no facility to "Snooze" reminders from the pop up screen. It is actually a specific Windows Mobile setting that has been changed by HTC. To change it:-

go start - settings (in Windows Mobile settings)
click sounds & notifications
click the notifications tab at the bottom
in the drop down menu select "reminders"
now check the box "display message on screen"
click ok in the top right

And you'll now get the ability to Snooze your reminders again
Cheers!

Nokia N series to run Linux by 2012

So, no more Symbian for the Finnish giant then. I must say I am confused with the Linux strategy. Red Hat, Ubuntu, Suse along with their various versions scare me, especially as my boy created a PC using Ubuntu and the whole thing was a bit shaky to say the least.

I'll stick with Windows Mobile thanks

Windows Mobile Marketplace - now on all Windows 6.x devices

My friends at Micrsoft have really big ambitions for Windows Mobile Marketplace and the client version is now available on Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 devices

You can get MArkeplace here for your 6.0/6.1 device or, of course, the nice people at Crimson Tide could sell you a rather nice 6.5 Windows Phone. ;-) from their rather nice webstore.

Tech Tuesday

I've had my head down for a few hours with the Omnia 2 and found a few things to change in respect of the settings. The Samsung overlay inhibited me a little so I've made a few registry changes. Kudos to modaco for the assistance here. I have resized fonts, brought back the Windows Mobile settings and re-enabled SMS threading ;-). Note that a registry editor is required (I use SKTools) and these changes are NOT for civilians as you can literally kill your phone (that includes you Mr. Sales Director!)

Crimson Tech staffers can see me for a description/tutorial !

Mobile Backup

Of course Microsoft's Myphone is an essential tool these days but I was alerted the other day to SPB Mobile Backup. I am a big fan of the SPB Mobile Shell (much better than certain other overlays I could name) and SPB generally get a big thumbs up from me with their software

SPB Backup does full or partial backup and restores and allows you to select files by type . It has a scheduler and compression agent and lets you back up to desktop or storage card

Well worth 25 Bucks I think

SPB can be found here

Motorola MC9500

For customers who need to be at the "very rugged" end of mobile soolutions we can introduce the chunky Motorola MC9500.

Running Windows Mobile 6.1 the Motorola has a 3G Radio and 2d (with a 3D option) barcode scanner. It also has an accelorometer which during testing actually caused the device to "scream" if it were to be dropped. Regrettably this is removed from the production release.

The 9500 goes for "a couple of grand" so not for the faithearted although it IS available on subscription with your own bespoke application from those nice people at Crimson Tide.

HTC Snap

In a very Autumn Fruit way the HTC Snap fits into the small screen Qwerty bracket

I'm a touchscreen man myself but the Snap looks a good unit. The keyboard , I understand is excellent. Runs about £275 but should be free on a contract.

Frankly , we prefer the Treo Pro - a bit more expensive but definitely woth it for the touchscreen and all of those nice Palm styling things.

TouchFlo .....on an Omnia 2 ?!

A rather clever chappy from , I suggest, Eastern Europe has "TouchFlod" (for that is a new word) a Samsung Omnia 2. As you may know I drive an Omnia 2 at the moment but am not overly happy with the Samsung TouchWiz overlay. I'm an SPB man but the TouchFlo is rather nice........have a look here.

Nokia charger warning

Please see here for the Nokia charger return programme in respect of faulty chargers that MAY give an electric shock

Compare AMOLED screen to LCD

Thought you might be interested - AMOLED is used on the new Samsung Omnia 2

More Omnia news

My spies tell me a new firmware update may be on the cards so watch this space

Techies might find www.sktools.com interesting in the meantime...I use it to twek my device (not recommended for civilians !)

http://s-k-tools.com/index.html?sktools/m_feat.html

After a while......

I promise to keep the Blog up to date now - it is one of my 2009 Goals !

Starting with the new email campaign for the Samsung Omnia range at www.mobileprofessional.com - something here for everyone, full screen Omnia (with a dual processor) and AMOLED screens

I'm using the Omnia 2 - would quite like a firmware upgrade to fix a few issues with the overlay but, as many of you know I use the SPB shell even on top of WinMo 6.5

More this week - promise