Weekly Windows Mobile Roundup on September 20th 2008

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Guide To Buying A Smartphone

There are a lot of smartphones to choose from these days.  Since the iPhone launched, more and more people are becoming aware that phones can do more than just make phone calls and send text messages.  How is the average user supposed to choose between the different phones?  You can start with the phone operating system, the actual phone, the carrier, phone price range…the list goes on.  Luckily Antione over at Mobile Ministry Magazine is trying to help the community out by posting the “MMM Smartphone Guide” to educate potential buyers.  So far, the guide covers types of phones, carriers/plans, and total cost of ownership.  It is a great read that would be helpful to anyone that may be heading out to grab a new phone.

A New iPhone/Omnia Killer Coming

What a great time to be a Windows Mobile fan!  Asus is launching their new smartphone aimed at the iPhone and Samsung Omnia.  The Asus Galaxy7 will sport a 800×480 screen resolution and a 5MP camera.  I am hoping that those two stats become standard on most of the upcoming Windows Mobile phones.  More details:

GSM Connectivity : GPRS/EDGE/3G/HSDPA/HAUPA
GSM Frequency : 850/900/1800/1900
WCDMA Frequency: 900/1900/2100 (Sorry US readers)
Screen: 3.5 “WVGA 800X480 / 65K Color TFT
System: Microsoft WM 6.1 Professional
UI: Glide 1.5
Camera: 5MP (2592×1944px) from autofocus
Video: MPEG4, H.264 encoding & decoding - resolution unknown
Communications: Bluetooth 2.0, Wifi, USB, aGPS
Audio: AAC, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, EVRC, QCELP, AAC + + EAAC, MP3, MIDI, PCM, WAV
Working time:
Standby : 200 hours
Talk time: 4 hours
Memory: 4GB flash
Expansion: microSD
Dimensions: 115×59×13.8mm
Tracking ball
Accelerometer
Construction: stainless steel

Of course, this one does not have the US 3G frequencies in it (yet, hopefully), but it does look like it will be a contender overseas and for those that can live without 3G in the US.  One of the features that gets me excited about this phone is that it appears to use a trackball for navigation.  I have been using SkyFire quite a bit and I always turn on the virtual mouse feature there.  I think it would work out great for those of us that don’t want to deal with a stylus, but also want a way around constantly trying to touch some of the smaller features of the Windows Mobile operating system.  Of courses, the large screen, 4 GB flash memory + microSD slot don’t hurt either.

[via wmpoweruser]

Enhance The Default Windows Mobile File Explorer

The default File Explorer program that comes with Windows Mobile Professional is pretty basic and lacks a lot of features that you would expect a file explorer to have in 2008.  There are some good paid programs out there that will enhance File Explorer and there are replacement programs that make you never want to touch the default program again.  Now there is a great free tool that adds some much needed features to the default file explorer called File Explorer Extension (v2.03).  It is a freeware program written by Hou Ming that made its way to the xda-developers website.  Check out the list of features below:

• Resizable header for easy sorting by file name, date of last modification or size
• Tree view of folders; you can now jump easily from a location to any other on your device in one step
• Show extension option for those who ask themselves the same question I do: “What type of file is this?
• Icon view that enables the display of files as icons similar to your desktop computer
• Real time image preview; now you don’t have to open several files in order to send the one you desire
• Open with Program allows you easily select an application to open the specific file you select (useful in case you don’t have the correct file associations or when you want Album app to open your images instead of Windows default picture viewer.
• File property context menu for easy renaming and attribute changing
• Open all executables with Parameters in case you need a special parameter when launching an application
• Sending shortcut to Programs for instant shortcut creation of executables placed directly in Programs folder in Start Menu.

[via WMExperts]

All The News We Saw Fit To Print

• What Windows Mobile Should Be Like

• For Your Viewing Pleasure: The HTC Touch HD

• Two More From HTC

• Introducing the New Touch HD From HTC

• Need A New Laptop or Bluetooth Headset?

Products We’ve Considered

• Taking A Closer Look At The HP iPAQ’s 910 Hardware

• Review: Ultimate Ears LoudEnough Earphones

• The HP iPAQ 910 Business Manager

• The Unsung Bluetooth Headset: BlueAnt’s Z9i

• Freeware Square (September 2008): A Monthly Roundup Of Free Software For Windows Mobile

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