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It’s desktop computing at the palm of your hands.Microsoft has just unveiled the i-mate PDA-N, its latest Pocket PC that is loaded with features that are usually associated with bigger devices. The new handheld has a trendy design that is amplified by its metal gray coat. Its compact architecture also belies the multitude of functions that it is capable of. At the centerpiece of the model is a clear 64k full color QVGA touch screen that has a 240×320-pixel resolution.The device runs on Windows Mobile 5 and is powered by a Samsung 300Mhz chip. Memory capacity is not limited to its 128MB ROM since its SDIO/MMC card slot allows convenient expansion.The i-mate PDA-N’s GPS capability makes it a great tool for spotting and for being spotted. However, it has no loaded mapping program. It does have an impressive software package though. The inclusion of important Microsoft Office components in the device such as Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile makes it a virtual and versatile mobile workstation. The unit’s Internet Explorer and MSN Messenger provide a great complement to the Wi-Fi connectivity that it has. Read the press release here: via mobilemag.com

ACCESS today announced some details about the next version of thier NetFront Browser at the 3GSM Conference. NetFront v3.4 is moving from a browser technology to a “Versatile Service Platform,” where multiple applications can seamlessly combine online and offline content. This new version adds support for AJAX technologies, and plug-ins that will enable office documents and video content to be displayed within the browser. Moving beyond Internet full browsing toward rich content rendering, NetFront Browser v3.4 is designed to support AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript + XML) which is the core technology powering many Web 2.0 applications, the latest SMIL2.1 specification (W3C SMIL Mobile Profile and W3C SMIL extended Mobile Profile) which was released in December 2005 and SVG Tiny 1.2. NetFront Browser v3.4 can be flexibly configured to support Adobe PDF files, office documents, Flash content and Video via Plug-ins. Extensions to the browser APIs simplify the creation of various applications, which take advantage of NetFront Browser’s advanced rendering capabilities for rich Internet content, such as browser application, messaging clients, RSS news reader and other Dynamic Menu applications. Other new version highlights include support for visual bookmarks, a stunning graphical experience to manage favorite Webpages and “PagePilot,” a pan and zoom navigation tool for a Desktop-like presentation of Web pages on mobile devices with limited screen size. The new active home page framework makes it possible to access browser functionality from a webpage. “NetFront Browser v3.4’s unique technologies provides mobile device manufacturers and operators with a powerful market advantage that is simply unmatched by anyone,” said Toru Arakawa, president and CEO of ACCESS. “We are extremely pleased to be able to bring this advanced mobile browser solution to the millions of mobile Internet end-users throughout the world.” NetFront Browser v3.4 will be available at the end of March 2006. via palminfocenter.com

Nokia is making quite a splash in Barcelona already, unveiling all sorts of new devices at the 3GSM World Congress.Among the highlights so far are three new phones, one of which can work with the Finnish company’s first UMA network solution. That would be the 6136, which is manufactured specifically to be able to go from GSM to WLAN without hassles or loss in signal or functionality. The flipster is designed to take full advantage of the company’s first UMA network solution. The result is a start-to-finish UMA experience.”We strongly believe that the technological developments announced here today will provide the basis for a future of faster, easier and more cost-effective mobile telephony services,” said Nokia Chairman and CEO Jorma Ollila.The other two phones unveiled were the 6131, a GSM camera phones that folds up and offers a 1.3 megapixel camera, and the 6070 candy bar, another mid-range GSM phone that is a lower-range camera offering in a traditional form at a lower price.Ollila, speaking in his keynote address, also announced sales targets for 2006 (including a prediction of 40 million 3G/WCDMA devices and another of 150 million devices with an integrated FM radio), more details on a multivendor platform collaboration with Vodafone, and a partnership with Sony Ericsson to pursue compatibility with DVB-H devices.

Samsung is using 3GSM Congress in order to present as much models targeted for European market in the nearest 6 months as possible during one event. It’s not a secret to anyone that a lot of models that are announced sometimes do not reach the market; they get cancelled due to certain reasons. This year will not be an exception. Big variety of models will be compensated by the fact that part of them will never be released. But in order to bring in justice we’d like to point out that this year Samsung will try being maximally practical by demonstrating those models that will be released in the nearest future in the first place, these models will be interesting for the consumers.The company decided to concentrate on two directions: first is the so called “thin” line-up, with a lot of attention dedicated to 3G. Second focus is innovation, we will see products that support WiBro, T-DMB, HSDPA and other standards. Read more here:

Keeping healthy with a touch of the finger. That’s the mantra put forward by Panasonic with the introduction of a new wireless touch-screen device.The Toughbook Wireless Display has a 10.4″ LCD but boasts no local software, relying instead of wireless connections to clinical and management applications on a nearby LAN. It is designed to be portable and, essentially, be a rolling server, perfect for use in a hospital or other kind of health-care facility.The Toughbook, who comes with a highly advanced touch-screen functionality and a highly recommended fingerprint scanner option, has been designed to resist common hazards like dropping and is fully sealed to military specifications. It works with Windows Server, Citrix Metaframe, or other Web servers via an 802.11 LAN. It can be configured for multiple-user functionality as well as for peer-to-peer manipulation.”Panasonic is committed to working with our premier partners–and listening to our customers–to develop innovative and cost-effective mobile computing solutions that help drive improvements in both clinical care and the business performance of healthcare enterprises,” said Rance Poehler, president of Panasonic Computer Solutions Company.The device has a total weight of only 2.6 pounds and runs on a battery that can last up to 10 hours. Price tag is expected to be US$1,750. via mobilemag.com

HP has just unveiled its latest Pocket PC phone from the iPAQ series – the iPAQ hw6900 at the 2006 3GSM World Congress, which has already started in Barcelona, Spain. The hw6900 is the successor of the hw6500 series and features similar 240×240 pixels 65k color touch display and full QWERTY keyboard. The hw6940 runs the latest version 5.0 of Windows Mobile Operating System for Pocket PC Phones and improves CPU power to 416 MHz, through Intel PXA270 Processor. HP iPAQ hw6940 main specifications are: Quad-band GSM phone; GPRS/EDGE support Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 OS for Pocket PC Phones 3.0-inch 65k color touch display 1.3-megapixel camera with flash and mirror for self-portrait Full QWERTY keyboard Infrared, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi 802.11b support miniSD expandable memory HP iPAQ hw6900 Complete Specification list via phonearena.com

Nokia and Sony Ericsson partner to make their DVB-H digital mobile TV technology work together. The fronts between Korean favored DMB and DVB-H are forming further. Sony Ericsson and Nokia today at the 3GSM announced to co-operate to achieve interoperability in DVB-H enabled devices and secure multi-vendor mobile TV services and pilots from 2006 onwards. Sony Ericsson and Nokia favor DVB-H as the technology for terrestrial digital broadcast mobile TV. As basis the Open Air Interface implementation guidelines are used (details). More details in this press-release. via i4u.com

Fujitsu-Siemens officially unveiled the long-awaited Pocket LOOX T800 series today at the 3GSM World Congress. A set of product images can be found above and below, courtesy of Microsoft and Fujitsu-Siemens. Both the T810 and T830 have an Intel PXA270 416 MHz processor, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, GSM (900/1800/1900MHz) and UMTS (2100MHz) support, integrated GPS (SiRF GCS3F), 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, a 2-megapixel auto-focus camera (T830 only; video telephony uses VGA – 640 x 480), a QWERTY keyboard (with a 5-way D-pad, 3-way jog dial, and 2 application buttons), a 2.4″ 240 x 240 65K-colour square-screen TFT-LCD, a 1500mAh Li-Ion battery, an SDIO/SD/MMC slot, USB 1.1 (host and slave), Windows Mobile 5.0, and the MSFP. The official T800 series web page can be found here. A brochure can be downloaded from here (PDF). via pocketpcthoughts.com

“ASUSTeK Computer Inc (ASUS) today previewed one of the most compact 3G smartphones in the world to date–the P305, at the 3GSM World Congress . As a Windows Mobile 5.0 powered 3G smartphone, the P305 offers powerful multimedia and productivity features that allow users to be more productive and truly experience a mobile lifestyle. “The P305 has superior processing power that can be leveraged for 3G services and multimedia enjoyment. It is the first 3G phone that is both compact and offers mobile office capability as in PDAs, making it a terrific all-around business companion.”, said Jonney Shih, CEO of ASUSTek Computer Inc. Video Telephony brings people closer Essentially representing the ultimate 3G technology, video calls have become the signature requirement of any 3G mobile phone, but this is often met with poor processing power that limits streaming capabilities and handicaps the primary purpose. ASUS has overcome such hurtle, by possessing video telephony technology that is both ready and available now. The high-speed CPU in the P305 smartphone offers superior processing speed that outperforms any 3G mobile phones in the market with 384Kbps downlink/uplink transfer rate. This translates into fluid and smooth video call on the P305, letting users fully enjoy talking and seeing each other. Higher productivity and better entertainment Running on Windows Mobile 5.0 with Direct Push Technology, the P305 will provides instant updating of Microsoft Office Outlook Email, Calendar, Contacts and Tasks when synchronizing with Exchange Server 2003 to ensure users are always up to date while on the move. The P305 also provides an outstanding multimedia experience with Internet Explorer and an integrated multimedia suite (including Windows Media Player 10 Mobile) for users to enjoy music and video in a variety of audio formats, including MP3, AMR, AAC, WAV and WMA, as well as streaming MPEG-4 video. Wireless support and expandability With built-in compatibility for Bluetooth 1.2 and IrDA, the P305 to be used as a diminutive mobile storage device for any files types and multimedia content. The mini-SD expansion card slot also allows for additional memory for storing a wide range of content including music, games, photos and video.With 3G capabilities along with the power and functionality of Windows Mobile 5.0 in a small and sleek form factor, the P305 offers endless hours of fun while serving as mobile business companion.

xWeather For PalmOS 5.x : Tabbed interface for easy one hand navigation. Profile manager to create, delete or rename profiles and track weather in multiple locations. Nexrad radar and Satellite images, user configurable custom map urls. Display weather alerts, watches and warnings. Map images are viewed with a user friendly interface which allows panning images with the stylus Automatically remembers location of panned image per profile.Version 0.0.48b (released 2.11.06) Profile Creation by City and State Disconnect Menu Item Automatic Disconnect After Refresh (User configurable) Connection Indicator with Signal Strength Fast Profile Switching (User configurable) Copy/Paste Pulldown Menu in Advanced Profile Settings Some GUI Enhancements to Profile Manager Fixed a bug that could cause resets Download it at moxsi.com