As months past, I started to notice a decline in the release of new Windows Mobile games and applications. Looking into this immediately indicated that many Windows Mobile developers had started to expand into the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch arena. I would not have thought twice about this market switch if it was not for the fact that these games and applications were being made available on the iTunes store for 99 cents. Typically a similar game or application on the Windows Mobile would be anywhere from $9.95 – $19.95 with some being much higher. Initially, I took this as a introductory trend and within 4 – 6 months I felt I would start to see a large number of iPhone and iPod Touch applications appear in the $10.00 price range or higher.

By Christmas of 2008, the number of applications available in the $10.00 or higher price range on iTunes was still a very small number compared to the applications available for only 99 cents. By this time, a number of reports were released indicating how some new developers had sold over 1 million copies of their application at 99 cents in less than 1 year. This level of distribution was unheard of in the Windows Mobile category to date. Shortly thereafter, A long time reviewer and blogger on Technobrains of Windows Mobile games informs me that he has acquired an iPod Touch. This was great news for Technobrains. Now, Eric would be able to review some iPod Touch games as well.

Unfortunately, the excitement for me disappeared by March. Eric had started to review iPod Touch games and had little time or interest in reviewing Windows Mobile games by this time. Eric was hooked on his iPod Touch. Eric eventually went from doing full reviews to doing what he now calls “QUICK LOOK”. This is a great format and allows readers to quickly guage if a game is worth the download time and expense.

The “QUICK LOOK” created by Eric are excellent for those that do not have the inclination or time to scour the thousands of games available for download on iTunes. Eric has devoted his time into selecting the games which may have the mass appeal and rate them in his “QUICK LOOK”. Many games are “Recommended” but some are also “Not Recommended”.

After spending almost 12 months reading Eric’s “QUICK LOOK”, I had come to the conclusion that the low priced games and applications on iTunes is the wave of the future and Windows Mobile applications that are $9.95 and higher will eventually disappear and be part of history. This has convinced me that to maintain the readership and have Technobrains grow down the road, I would have to increase the coverage of iPhone and iPod Touch news and reviews. This lead me to my purchase of an iPod Touch.

After a week of owning and trying my new iPod Touch, I have come to the realization that this product does have many great things going for it. There are a number of down sides which I will not discuss here but overall, the iPod Touch is definately miles ahead of Windows Mobile devices. The selection of good games and applications that are available for 99 cents is a huge benefit for those looking for a new mobile device.

If you are a Windows Mobile device user and still do not feel that purchasing an Apple mobile device is a good investment, you have to at least try one at your local Apple store. You will find that the product does have a good number of features that out performs any Windows Mobile device. I would highly suggest you avoid going to a non Apple store. The sales clerks at these other stores are not as savvy with the iPod Touch as the staff at the Apple stores. It is nolonger a battle between Windows and Apple anymore. Anyone looking for a simple device that takes care of most of the mobile devices housekeeping chores for you, do not have to look beyond an Apple iPod Touch. Once you overcome some of the very minor inconveniences experienced by other Windows Mobile users moving to the iPod Touch, you will be glad you made the switch like I have.

I recently acquired a third generation iPod Touch and the more I try to get comfortable with iTunes, the more I dislike iTunes. I have problems transfering or syncing my music collection easily to the ipod Touch due to DRM issues or others issues which the iTune application does not clearly indicate. Transfering files over to the iPod as a generic file is not possible through iTunes. There is no way to see the iPod Touch as a physical drive letter or folder to transfer files to. Everything must be imported into iTunes for syncing and all the non Apple acceptable files cannot be imported for syncing.

For these reasons, I spent some time scouring the Internet for an alernative. I finally came across a great application called MediaMonkey. This applications allows you to sync files to the iPod Touch and any external multimedia player with very little effort. Any media file can be accessed via the internal drives or an external drive connected to the PC. The files can be accessed without importing into MediaMonkey therefore minimizing the storage requirements and making the access to the temporary files that much easier.

I was able to take over 100 music files from my CD/DVD disks and sync them to my iPod Touch in a matter of minutes. These music files where not syncable via iTunes since the applications complained about the music files for various reasons.

Since this application is designed for Windows, it is very user friendly for those still on Windows. The application is well suitable for people like me that own numerous multimedia players. I have a number of Windows Mobile PDA’s, stand alone media players, and the Apple iPod Touch. Now with MediaMonkey, I can sync files to each and every media player through one common application without a complicated setup.

You can go to MediaMonkey and download their FREE application. MediaMonkey does have a Gold version that has a substantial number of added features for only $19.95 USD. For most users, the FREE version should be sufficient. If you own an Apple iPod Touch and are still using a Windows based PC, this is a good Free syncing application that is worth the download.

Knowing exactly what you need in a GPS device is very important before making the leap to buying one. There are car navigation versions, mobile versions, marine plus GPS add-ons for PDA and computers. All can be used or adapted for use in the car but none are suited specifically for use in the car like a true car navigation GPS.

TIPS When Buying:

• Buy one that has voice navigation. This will help you to avoid prolonged viewing of the GPS screen while driving.
• Buy one with an external antenna to ensure the clearest reception. Most comes with a magnetic or suction cup mount to avoid damage to the car or for mounting outside the car. A clear reception means better accuracy and a faster response to changes. Antenna should be waterproof and design for cold weather if mounted outside.
• Good clear screen.
• Hands free voice operation. Touch screens are cool but encourages you to use the GPS while driving which increases the chance of an accident.
• Point A to pont B auto route mapping with alternate suggestions. It is always a pain to have a route mapped out to suddenly find out you have to deal with construction or an accident that brings traffic to a crawl. The ability to have an alternate route selected for you is crucial.
• A good database of important locations and points of interest if you frequently travel on business.
• Operates on both battery and AC Adapter for emergency use outsde of the car.
• Comes with a simple mounting system that is secure and does not require damage to the automobile.
• Ability to update the software via a computer with minimal work and at a reasonable cost for new maps.

TIPS When Using.

• Do not enter your exact home address or mark it as HOME to prevent burglars from figuring out where you  live if your car is ever stolen.
• Clear out the memory often if the GPS automatically records your routes. This is important again if you routinely travel to the same location. It only reduces the available memory but also gives burglars added information on where you live and when you will not be at home.
• Place the unit where you have a good view of the screen without losing vision of the road.
• Record routes of unfamiliar or rural destinations to allow for easy navigation back home later.
• Determine the distance traveled to schedule breaks and gas fill ups for long trips.
• Avoid adjusting the GPS when driving, stopped at a stop sign or red light to avoid unnecessary accidents.

Will this technology really take off?

TwitterPeek

Just like the iPod and iPhone has really taken off for Apple, the TwitterPeek could also be a real winner if this device evokes a true emotional attactment to the individual user. I am not sure at this stage if I would invest in a TwitterPeek since the Twitter service alone could be a short term fad that will be gone in a few years to be replaced by another online service.

One thing is that the product is currently only available via www.amazon.com which could be a good thing or a limiting factor for initial sales penetration. This certainly is one device that is worth following for the next 1 – 2 years to see where it leads.

Check out TwitterPeek

In the late 1990′s, Palm Inc., released the Palm Pilot which started the PDA recolution. Basically the Personal Digital Assistant was born which allowed you to do more than just track phone numbers and play simple games. Hundreds of productivity applications turned into thousands of applications that ranged from being FREE to costing over $20.00 USD. Certainly, the Palm Pilot was not the first handheld device o the market but was the first to truly introduce the masses to a handheld productivity device.

Microsoft also around this time released through their hardware vendors like HP a number of devices which ran a compact version of Windows in a handheld device. These devices were more like a mini laptop. A clamshell design with a screen on one side and a chiclet keyboard on the other. These devices ran Windows CE which looked like Windows but was a far cry from being compatible to the full blown Windows desktop. Microsoft eventually released units that looked more like the Palm with more hardware and  an operating system with more potential.

It’s has been over a decade now since these humble beginnings and the PDA category seems to be quickly disappearing. It is not that the need for handheld productivity devices are nolonger popular, it’s actually the opposite but the actual user base is leaning towards minimizing what they carry. This means instead of having a cell phone and separate PDA or laptop, many users are relying on devices like the various Smartphones from Palm, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Googlephone, Symbian, iPhone. Being connected to the office, cliwnts ans family on the go is very important in this age of online explosion. Social networking sites are also making Smartphones more important.

In the coming months, a range of new devices will certainly appear in the marketplace that will make the decision when purchasing a new Smartphone that much more deficult. I will update you as the latest developments present themselves.

Windows Mobile Devices Grow Up

Windows Mobile devices like all Smartphones on the marketplace suffer from a really small screen. When you are playing simple video games or checking the odd text email, it is OK but for most productivity activities, a real screen like on a laptop is best suited. There has been the ability to enhance a Windows Mobile device with a cool accessory called the REDFLY from Celio Corp. The device consists of a larger screen and keyboard that accepts the signal from a Windows Mobile devices wirelessly and allow you a full screen view of your work and the website.

When the REDFLY was released in  early last year, the retail price was $499.00 USD. The price was certainly beyond the reach of the average since the unit is not a true laptop. There is no internal processor, no internal memory, hard drive and no CD/DVD player. At $499.00, the price is close to a low end laptop. In many cases, the price of the REDFLY is more expensive than the actual Windows Mobile device that can be connected to this unit.

Here are some of the advantages that the REDFLY has going for itself.

- 800 X 480 screen size instead of the (240 X 320 /240 X 240 / 320 X 320 / 480 X 480 / 480 X 640) smaller screen sizes

- Internal battery on the REDFLY last about 5 hours on the C7 model and 8 hours on the C8N model.

- You can connect wireleslly to the REDFLY using the built in Blueooth of the REDFLY and your Windows Mobile device.

- You can also connect via the USB port on the REDFLY which will also recharge your Windows Mobile device at the same time.

Now at the $499.00 price tag, what the REDFLY offers is still very pricey. Now that the cost has come done, the REDFLY is more reasonable for the average user.

The C7 model has a 7 inch screen size and has a retail pricing of $199.00 after a $30 rebate.

The C8N model has an 8 inch screen size with a video input port and has a retail pricing of $299.00

At these prices, the REDFLY is truly a great addition if you require a very light and functional add-that allows you to be productive on to go with your Windows Mobile Smartphone.

You can go to REDFLY for more information.

PDA Sceen Shot - Image: Wapedia

PDA Screen Shot

Seems like the trend will be in 2009 – 2010 for more pda/phone manufacturers to add more capabilities that take advantage of mobile based Internet access like Wapedia.

The Dell Wasabi is a unique photo printer which uses the ZINK photo paper technology. The printer uses special paper that has the ink crystals built directly into the paper. The printer only prints photos in one size but the cost of each print is reasonable considering you have no added ink costs. Printer costs $99.00 USD currently with an instant $50 savings. 24 sheets of paper cost $12 or 48 for $20.00 USD.

Dell Wasabi Printer - Image: Dell

Microsoft Tag

Technobrains Tag

The possibilities are endless on how the 2D Microsoft Tag can enhance the exchange of information. You can go to  Microsoft for more details. You can go HERE to download the software to read the Microsoft Tag above.

We keep hearing about PDA this and PDA that. What are these devices and how do we know when a topic is related to a PDA device that you own? This is not as difficult as you might think. PDA stands for “Personal Digital Assistant”. As the name implies, any electronic device that assists you can fall into this category:

- Electronic dictionary.

- Voice/memo recorder.

- Netbook or laptop.

- GPS Device.

- Ebook readers.

- Handheld device with a touch screen.

- Smartphone

PDA Tuesdays will try to keep you informed on the above sub categories plus others while trying to minimize confusion. How we will help to minimize the confusion is to use more specific terms when dealing with a sub category:

- We will specify the operating system supported like: Windows Mobile, Symbian, Palm, Android, Linux, Java

-  We will specify the compatibility when a connection to a PC or another accessory is mentioned.

The term PDA is very broad and generic but is certainly becoming more specific to a handheld device that runs an operating system and is expandable with more memory. Down the road, terms like Smartphone or other newer terms may over shadow PDA. For now, PDA Tuesdays will cover anything we feel is of interest in the handheld electronic device category to keep PDA Tuesdays interesting each week..

Amazon Kindle 2

Amazon Kindle 2 Book Reader - Image: Amazon

The Amazon Kindle 2 book reader was announced yesterday and many sites including www.technobrains.com have blogged about this new device. It is my personal opinion that the Kindle 2 is a real stepping stone for avid book readers. Many blogs online are negative about the Kindle 2. Here are some comments I have read:

- Too expensive @ $359.00.

- Screen is only black and white.

- Limited file format support.

- Books can only be purchased from Amazon.

- Too big to carry around.

Too expensive: The price of the Kindle 2 is $359.00 including shipping to anywhere in the United States. I feel this is very reasonable since I am putting this product into the right perspective. The Kindle 2 is a specialized book reader. Not a general purpose PDA or multimedia reader. Hard covered books range in price from about $30 – $60 each with some being more expensive. Amazon has available over 230,000 books at a price of $10.oo or less for the Kindle 2. If you read only 1 book a month, the cost of the Kindle 2 after 12 months will seem very little.

Screen is only black and white: Traditional books use black text on a white background therefore color on an electronic book reading device does not require color. The screen is very clear and allows for good reading outdoors. Most PDA screens are hard to read outdoors in bright sunlight.

Display: 6″ diagonal E-Ink® electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi (pixels per inch), 16-level gray scale.

Limited file format support: The Kindle 2 is not a general purpose ebook reader therefore multi file support is not a huge benefit. Books are downloaded wirelessly from Amazon thus all the reader needs to know is the title of the book to download. Newspapers, magazines and information from www.wikipedia.org are also supported. What the format of the actual files are underneath are not critical for the elderly and non techie Kindle 2 users.

Content Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), TXT, Audible (formats 4, Audible Enhanced (AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion. The file format is not as limited as many people think.

Books can only be purchased from Amazon: Amazon is a huge online book seller that has been around for years therefore can be trusted to provide reasonable price points, a great selection of book titles and proper online security. No need to search numerous other online sites for titles. Very easy to search, select and download a book quickly. Apple does this also with music files on the iPods and programs for the iPhone and iTouch devices. You go to the Apple store for all your media files used on Apple mobile products.

Too big to carry around: Hard covered books are carried by thousands of people everyday on the bus, train, subway and read at coffee shops and bars. The Kindle 2 is lighter, smaller and thinner over hard covered books but is held like a hard covered book and turning pages are intuitive like a regular book. We live in a backpack generation therefore the Kindle 2 fits nicely into a backpack.

Size (in inches): 8″ x 5.3″ x 0.36″.

Weight: 10.2 ounces.

Battery Life: Read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to two weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.

Connectivity: EVDO modem with fallback to 1xRTT; utilizes Amazon Whispernet to provide U.S wireless coverage via Sprint’s 3G high-speed data network (check wireless coverage). See Wireless Terms and Conditions.

USB Port: USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) for connection to the Kindle power adapter or optionally to connect to a PC or Macintosh computer.

Audio: 3.5mm stereo audio jack, rear-mounted stereo speakers.

Included Accessories: Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable, rechargeable battery. Book cover sold separately.

Documentation: Quick Start Guide (included in box) [PDF]; Kindle 2 User’s Guide (pre-installed on device) [PDF].

Warranty and Service: 1 year limited warranty and service included. Optional 2 year Extended Warranty sold separately.

Types of GPS Units

There are a number of GPS types to be aware of. The two main categories are stand alone units and a Bluetooth or wired GPS unit designed to be used in conjunction with a PDA, phone or computer. Either way, a GPS unit is more than just a device to get you from point A to point B.

These are some of the uses for GPS systems.

1 - Points of interest location maps. A good GPS unit or a GPS program can inform you of any “points of interest” within the area you currently are located or another area you wish to be at. Then determine the best route to take to get there. http://www.gps-poi-us.com/

2 -- Allows you to pinpoint the location of someone important when they have a GPS unit that you can connect to via an SMS message or via another service. http://www.startrackgps.net/

3 -- You can play location based GPS games. http://www.gpsgames.org/

4 -- Using a GPS to track the location of stars above your current location. GPS for Astronomy

GEOCACHING

Geocaching is a free activity that is great for the lungs, heart and the rest of your body. It’s a way of getting yourself outdoors to search for hidden treasure. When Geocache was first started, a little token of appreciation for finding the hidden box was your reward. You were to either leave the token item for the next person to find it or you take the item and replace it with another of equal or greater value. Nowdays Geocaching is just about  having fun which is great activity for all ages. All you need is a stand alone GPS unit or a portable unit like a PDA or phone with a built in or external GPS unit. The basic idea is you are given waypoints which are the longitude and latitude of where a Geocache or treasure is hidden. Your task is to find the cache/treasure and record that you found it in the log book contained in the cache/treasure container.

This is a huge activity that involves thousands of hidden locations all over the world. You can go to www.geocaching.com and probably find a Geocache in your area. You will certainly discover fun areas around your home or town that you never paid much attention to all these years. Many enthusiasts even travel all over the world to Geocache. It’s one good way to discover the area you have never been to. Next time you are given the opportunity to purchase a GPS unit at a great price, consider Geocaching as one of the potential uses for the GPS.

Garmin GPS Units

Garmin has been one of the original pioneers of GPS technology. Garmin continues to design and manufacture innovative GPS units. You have not envisioned the potential benefits of GPS until you visit the Garmin website. Garmin manufactures a wide range of products with a built in GPS unit lke:

- A GPS for dogs.

- GPS to indicate traffic congestion.

- GPS with two way radios built in.

- GPS with range finders for golfers

- GPS units for extreme sports enthusiasts to track location and activity of your daily exercises.

Plus many other categories.

Toshiba TG01 Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro PDA

The Toshiba Windows Mobile PDA has a built in GOS unit that allows you to install all sorts of software that will take advantage of the GPS technology. The skies the limit to what you can do with any PDA based GPS system. The functionality is only limited by the application software installed. Yesterday I posted the TG01 as one of the interesting PDA devices in my weekly PDA Tuesdays posting. By allowing the GPS unit to interact with a given software program, you can always update the software program with up to date information like “points of interest” and new streets. you can even find games that utilize a GPS unit. One such game is called GPS MISSION which is a multi player game. Watch video below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkPbp9ITCRI

Hope you enjoyed a small glimps of what a GPS is all about. I will be posting this feature weekly and hope to bring you some more interesting tidbits of information from the GPS world.