Weekly Windows Mobile Roundup on September 27th 2008

Widgets For Windows Mobile Anyone?

I still remembered my first experience with widgets about 2 years ago and found them to be rather useful. I had a countdown to the next Prison Break episode as well as another to when Lost premiered. I even had those that informed me when I had new mail. While it was all on the desktop, I thought that having it on a mobile device would be just pretty useful.

Fast forward to 2 years alter and we now have T-Mobile Europe working hand in hand with Opera to make this possible. At the moment, it seems to be only for their web ‘n’ walk phones but who knows how deep they will expand it. Oh and it’s only for Windows Mobile devices for the time being. Seems like a really good idea. Now, when will we see this on other carriers?

Windows Mobile 7 Push Back

Well you would have heard about it by now and it’s definitely a sad piece of news. One thing I don’t understand is that WM7 is not something that was just recently announced. In fact, give or take a couple of weeks, this time marks the one year anniversary since we last heard about it. So it seems that it takes 2 years to come up with a new WM OS? I love Windows Mobile. I think it’s a great platform. But if Microsoft is going to survive in this new era, it needs to be a lot more flexible in terms of coming up with updates. If Google and its Open Handset Alliance can come up with a new OS in just about a year, I don’t see why one company can’t improve on something in a much shorter time frame.

SBSH SafeWallet Pro Released

While the software is not that for the Windows Mobile platform, we here at My Today Screen love to support our Windows Mobile developers and help them where we can. In this case, SBSH, one of my favorite Windows Mobile developers, has just released SafeWallet on 2 different platforms. The pro version is catered for BlackBerry users while the non-pro version is available for users who just want the standalone Windows PC version.

Coming from SBSH, you can be sure that this is one great application and I am sure BlackBerry users who give this a go will soon realize why SBSH is such a respected developer in the Windows Mobile world. The pro version will set you back $24.95 while the other for $14.95. At prices like that and being able to protect your data with 256 bit AES encryption, it might not such a bad deal after all.

Sprite Backup 6.5 Released

Another popular application that was recently is that of Sprite Backup to version 6.5. It includes some new features such as:

• Brand New User Interface - Brings you closer to key functions and improves workflows.
• Improved Sprite Explorer - Browse your Backup file and extract data – export Contacts as vCards to restore to any device or save them in Outlook or to another mobile phone operating system.
• Powerful Backup PC Manager – Control your backup operations/options from your PC.
• Redeveloped Upgrade Mode - We now guarantee to move your Contacts, Tasks and Appointments, SMS and Email, My Documents and Internet Favourites across to a new Windows Mobile device.
• New 1-step Backup - Trigger a manual backup instantly with this feature!
• Performance Improvements - General speed, stability and performance fixes and revisions.

Interested? Head over here to check it out. Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us when you do.

Velocity Mobile Launches The 83

First introduced back in Q1 this year (the company that is), they’ve actually launched a recently announced model, the 83. I thought that the 103 or the 111 would actually see the light of day first but the 83 does look like a device as well, albeit the lack of 3G.

Nothing special about this device save for the dual microSD slot of which one will be used for storage and another for maps makes me wonder why it could not be combined. That’s not to say that it’s a bad idea, just that it’s different from what other manufacturers.

Not too sure as to the price but one thing’s for sure: this device will be sold unlocked. Other than that, it has pretty much the same features such as quad-band EDGE, GPS, WiFi and a 2.8″ screen. Will you be getting one?

Windows Mobile 6.1 Earns Common Criteria Certification

You must be wondering just as I am what the Common Criteria Certification is right? Here’s what Wikipedia has to say:

Common Criteria is based upon a framework in which computer system users can specify their security requirements, vendors can then implement and/or make claims about the security attributes of their products, and testing laboratories can evaluate the products to determine if they actually meet the claims. In other words, Common Criteria provides assurance that the process of specification, implementation and evaluation of a computer security product has been conducted in a rigorous and standard manner.

Congratulations to the Windows Mobile team for getting this certification. Now can you please get WM7 out earlier than initially reported? We’d be eternally grateful

Redfly Now $199

First launched at a price of $499, it soon dropped to $399 because netbooks that were priced similarly made many potential customer reconsider their purchases. Even at that price, I doubt many people bit because Celio (makers of Redfly) are now letting it go for $199. But before you think the price will get any lower, this is just a temporary sale.

That’s right. You have until October 31st to make that decision. At a price of $199, it’s a lot cheaper than what netbooks are going for but will you bite this time around? Let us know in the comments below if you will or will not.

All The News We Saw Fit To Print

• SPB Online: Your News And Entertainment Portal And Much More
• Does Proporta Have A Deal For You!
• Don Your Thinking Cap And Get Ready For Brain My Day From Pocket More Games
• Skyfire Mobile Browser…Now Available To All (almost)!
• Goodbye Deepfish

Products We’ve Considered

• The Arcade: A Monthly Roundup of Free Games (September 2008)
• Coming To A Large Screen Near You
• Software Packed Into The HP iPAQ 910

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