Weekly Windows Mobile Roundup On August 9th 2008

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Mobile Browser Wars Heat Up

Torch Mobile heats up the Windows Mobile Browser space by releasing their final preview of their new web browser.  The Iris Browser is based on the WebKit rendering engine…the same one used by the Apple for Safari and also Nokia.

Torch Mobile is happy to announce our final preview, version 1.0.13, is now available for Windows Mobile.  We’ve made big leaps in stability, performance and features over the past six months and it’s now time to finish stabilization and release something that we’re comfortable to call stable. This release features primarily stability fixes and improvements on memory usage, network stability, and rendering quality, including fixes for Asian language sites.  It also includes two major new features: page overview, and single-column (MDR) mode.  Give it a try, let us know what you think, and stay tuned for our upcoming beta release!

Some of the features of Iris Browser include:

• Advanced mobile key navigation
• HTTP cache optimized for low disk usage
• SSL and authenticated proxy support
• Styled Form Controls
• Netscape plug-in API
• JavaScript/ECMAScript 1.5
• SVG, XPath and XSLT support
• History Auto-Complete
• Efficient storage of bookmarks and cookies
• Bookmark editor, carrier specified list
• Favorite icons and history
• XHTML1.x mobile profile support
• Customizable about pages

Iris Browser has some tough competition between Opera Mobile, NetFront and Skyfire, but it has the potential to be a great mobile web broswer based on WebKit.  I cannot wait to see all of our options mature to finished products.

SPB Mobile Shell Updated

SPB Mobile Shell was recently updated to version 2.1.1.  This is a welcome update that adds “better support for new device models”.  This should help it run even better on the newer Windows Mobile 6.1 devices.  According to SPB, the list of updates are:

• Improved design for black colored themes

• Opera 9.5 support (OEM version only)
• Fixes for password prompt related bugs
• Fixes for device lock related bugs
• Better support for 320×320 devices
• Other minor bug fixes

SPB is already a great product that adds features that will make your Windows Mobile device much more touch-friendly.  If you want to try out a free trial or buy yourself a copy of SPB Mobile Shell 2.1.1, head over to the Software Store and check it out!

Skype’s Latest Works on Windows Mobile 6.1

If you have been waiting to use Skype on your new Windows Mobile 6.1 device, the wait is over.  Skype released a new version of their Windows Mobile client that is now compatible with version WinMo 6.1.  The update seems to only be for the WinMo Professional (PocketPC) devices.  So what are you waiting for, head on over to the Skype for Windows Mobile site and download version 2.2.0.45. (via MoDaCo).

Pandora Working on a Windows Mobile Solution

According to Tom Conrad, CTO of Pandora, the iPhone is not the only smartphone that they plan to support.  Many Pandora fans were frustrated when they saw the Pandora iPhone app while there is still no Windows Mobile solution for streaming their favorite Pandora stations.  According to Tom’s post on wmpoweruser:

We hear you on the Windows Mobile front. Our goal is to bring Pandora to as many phones as possible — in fact we support almost 50 different phones right now. We love Windows Mobile every bit as much as that “other phone.” As you know the Windows Mobile world is much richer than the iPhone — tens of different handsets with different keyboards, screens, input types (some touch, some not), etc. That means it’s not nearly as simple as creating a single application that will satisfy a large audience. That said, we’re hard at work on it and hope to have some news on the windows front later this year.

Tom
CTO @ Pandora

Pandora would be a great addition to any Windows Mobile phone.  I use it on my Tablet PC and would love to be able to use it anywhere.

All The News We Saw Fit To Print

• Astraware and Pop Cap Present…..”Insaniquarium Deluxe” for your pocket.
• I’ve Been Dropboxed
• Zune MarketPlace on Nokia Phones?
• Astraware’s Hot Summer Sale

Products We Have Considered

• Taking Notes The Way You Wanted
• So Many eReaders, So Little RAM!
• Is That a Book in Your Pocket or Are You Just Happy to See Me?

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