(MP3 - 37.5 MB- 71min)

Download audio file (tpn_mobiletechnology_20060517_005.mp3)

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Host, Len Egan, is finally back after a months’ time. Show #5 begins with a discussion regarding Palm’s ROM update for the Treo 700W, as well as the announced launch of the 700P on the Sprint Network. Then Len discusses Craig Pringle’s blog posts detailing the enhancements that are built into Windows Vista that will make inking a better experience for all of us. Len also discusses some leaked information about a new Sony mobile device-VGN-UX180P. This device is an ultraportable much like the origami devices. However, the Sony U has a sliding keyboard. That is what may set this device apart from the first generation Origami devices. Sighted is jkOnTheRun for having some leaked pictues of the Sony device. Finally, there is an analysis of the many reviews that came out last week panning the UMPC devices, particularly the Samsung Q1.

Most reviewers cited the following flaws with Origami:

1. No integrated keyboard.

2. Short battery life.

3. Windows XP doesn’t render correctly on 800 X 480 resolution.

4. Lack of mouse emulation.

5. Price point is too high.
Treo 700W updater (Palm website)

Sprite Back-up for 700W (free)

Treo 700P (Palm Website)

New Inking Functions in Vista (Craig Pringle)

New Sony U Device (jkOnTheRun)

UMPC Reviews

PC Magazine

CIO Today

The Washington Post

The Seattle Times

The New York Times

Business Week Online

The Wall Street Journal

Music: Ambient Technology

(Music can be found at www.magnatunes.com)

However, I am producing #5 now and will post it in the next couple of days.  Topics, you ask?  Origami gets panned, the 700P coming to Sprint, What is new for Tablet users in Vista, A new Sony U?  Those topics and more, coming your way, so stay tuned!

Download the podcast by right-clicking on this link.

Or play it by clicking here:

Download audio file (tpn_mobiletechnology_20060412_004.mp3)

Len is back with show number 4 after a two week hiatus.

Len begins the show discussing a free beta from MSNBC.com that will allow users of certain mobile phone devices (Treo 700W, Audiovox XV6700, etc.) to view mobile MSNBC content on their device. Watch video, The Today show, listen to audio news right on your mobile device.

Next, Len mentions the interesting and informative video review by James Kendrick (of jkOnTheRun fame) illustrating the TabletKiosk eo. James had the device for three days and put it through some paces. Fortunately for us, James shared his findings with his readers.

Next we learn about the manual for the TabletKiosk eo available in PDF format. It is entitled “Laptop Extension”.

Len also gives us some additional information regarding the Treo 700P launch which will be released sometime between May 15 and May 28.

We learn that the US Census Bureau has made the largest purchase of Windows Mobile Devices to help with the 2010 census. The deal between the Florida based Harris Corporation and HTC is rumoured to be a 5-year deal for around $600 million.

Len also discusses Samsung’s YMP1 mobile media player and the fact that it is available for pre-order. What is you take on Mobile Video players. You like or no like?

Palm and Verizon Wireless announce (at last) the their AKU2 ROM update will be available in late April. This will finally allow true “push” email to be available for the Treo 700W. This should be a big help to corporate IT administrators.

Len also announces the public beta for Textmaker 2006 from Softmaker. Textmaker took the pocket pc community by storm three years ago and now they have a bigger and better version in the wings. If you are a heavy spreadsheet user, check this out!

We couldn’t even think of doing a show without some mention of the “Origami” or UMPC devices. Samsung has released some information regarding accessories that will be available for their upcoming Q1 device. They will include:

• A keyboard
• Car Mount
• Optical Drive
• Case options
• An 8 Cell battery pack

Great to see accessories ready to go as we near the UMPC invasion soon to take place.

Last, but not least, Len discusses the new ultraportable devices announced (or at least leaked to Engadget) by Fujitsu. The P70S will have an 8.9 inch touchscreen with XP Tablet Edition and weigh in at only 2.18 lbs! What a nifty tablet. The T70S will eliminate the touchscreen but add a external optical drive and a dedicated graphics chip. Fujitsu sure seems to keep on the cutting edge!

Mobile MSNBC

jkOnTheRun video review of the TabletKiosk eo

TabletKiosk eo Manual

Samsung YM-P1 PMP

Treo 700W AKU2 ROM update-Push Email

Textmaker 2006 for Pocket PC

Samsung Q1 Accessories

Fujitsu UltraPortable PC’s

Music: Ambient Technology

(Music can be found at www.magnatunes.com)

Download the show here.

Len returns after his glorious time in St. Thomas. On show number 3, he discusses briefly the book Now you know the Treo 770W. He also discusses the Nokia 9300 Communicator.

Later in the show, there is a discussion of the FCC approval for Samsung’s UMPC or “Origami” device-the Q1. Along the same line, there is a discussion relating to the announced pricing for the TabletKiosk “Origami” device. At $900, for the specs. outlined, is this too expensive given what similiarly spec’ed notebooks are currently costing?

Len mentioned the ROM update for the iMate JAMin device. The update provides AKU2 for Direct Push Email.

Finally, Len cries out “The Q is coming, the Q is coming”! The Motorola Q finally has a release date posted on the Motorola web site. Len outlines the specifications as a reminder for potential purchasers.

Show Links

Cingular’s Nokia 9300 Communicator

TabletKiosk EO UMPC

Samsung Q1 gets FCC Approval (Engadget Link)

Motorola Q

iMate JAMin ROM update (Jason Langridge’s site)

 Back to reality.  I will post a show on the regularly scheduled time at week’s end. 

Thanks for allowing me this little indulgence!

>
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

UMPC Community
Microsoft UMPC Site

Intel Spills the Beans on UMPC

Pictures of UMPC Devices

Microsoft Launches UMPC

Questions and Answers Regarding UMPC

Samsung’s UMPC Device

LaLa

Microsoft Purchases Onfolio

Music: Ambient Technology

(Music can be found at www.magnatunes.com)

http://www.samsung.com/common/microsite/DigitAll/GlobalExhibition_CeBIT2006/teaser.html

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Mobile Technology Show with host Len Egan. In episode #1, we hear about Len’s background in Mobile Technology and what he plans for future shows.

Len discusses all the hullabaloo surrounding The Origami Project, apparently a campaign by Microsoft to introduce Ultra portable Mobile Devices that will allow the user to carry them with him or her at all times. Len looks at the various takes from various bloggers as well as the transcript from Bill Gates’ announcement of these “lifestyle computers” a year ago.

Next Len takes a look at the big Apple press conference from March 1 and how disappointing it was for most Apple enthusiasts. The discussion surrounds the three Apple announcements: The new Mac Mini, iPOD HiFi, and the iPOD leather case.

The discussion moves to the Axia 308 Pocket PC Phone, billed as the “Worlds Smallest Pocket PC Phone” running Windows Mobile 5. The phone sports quadband GSM/GPRS with EDGE, 802.11b Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 1.2, Windows Mobile 5, 1.3MP camera with flash, a full keypad, and a 2.2″ 262K-color QVGA touchscreen.

Lastly, Len talks about the recent release of Skype 2.0 for Pocket PC. He has downloaded the application and taken it for a spin on his Treo 700W. How does it sound? Find out during the show.

Links related to the show:

The Origami Project

Todd Bishop’s Microsoft Blog (Origami Project)

The New Mac Mini

iPOD HiFi

iPOD Leather Case

Axia 308 Specification Sheet

SKYPE 2.0 for Pocket PC

Music: “Ambient Technolgy”-Pheonix

(Music available at Magnatune.com)

So… check out Keren’s Mobile Media Show on TPN today!

BTW - we’re looking for a new host for The Mobiles Show who wants to focus on mobile devices. Let me know if you’re interested.

Ewan catches up with Kevin, along with Trent Ward (creative Director) and Shane Neville (Producer) to talk about the game, RPG, the conversion from paper to code, and why Rifts could be 2005’s killer title…

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The Mobiles Show #007 - 11th May 2005 (24min):
MP3 - 8.6MB

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The Mobiles Show #006 - 2nd May 2005 (46min):
MP3 - 16.3MB

00:00 Sponsors Message: Learndog.com
00:25 Introduction from Ewan and Rafe
01:08 What’s been happening since 3GSM.
04:05 The Nseries Phones from Nokia
23:00 What of the N-Gage, the other Nseries phone?
24:02 PalmSource, PalmOne and the Treo.
35:10 Microsft Windows, Magneto and their Mobile strategy, including the cancelling of the MPX220 from Motorola
43:45 What’s Coming Up In The Next Few Shows - looking at each of the main players and how they’re used on a day to day basis.

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The Mobiles Show #005 - 30th March 2005 (01hr 00min 01sec):
MP3 - 20.7MB

00:00 The Mobiles Show #5 Introduction

00:25 Ewan and Rafe:

Ewan never got to join the Mafia - overview of the mobile gaming space.

06:12 Illka Raiskenen, the Head of Entertainment Products, Nokia Multimedia.

Discussing the Nokia N-Gage and other media areas (including the Windows Media Codec announcement.

18:35 Ewan and Rafe:

Ewan’s thoughts on the N-Gage, speculation on the new N-Gage model (possibly announced at E3?).

26:00 Gameloft (www.gameloft.com):

Their strategy, why they like the N-Gage, anmd where their mobile games are going this year.

32:50 Bitrabbit (www.bitrabbit.net):

Michael El Baki is one of the small, one-man authors, who made their way to Cannes to try and get some publicity for their programming. So here he is, discussing Yukkiko.

37:55 Bitside GMBH (www.bit-side.com:

Winners of the Best Mobile Game by Nokia’s Series 60 platform. We asked them about the winning tittle, Marble Revolution.

40:10 Elite Systems (www.elitesystemslimited.co.uk:

Steve Wilcox’ and his company sell their applications through the T-Mobiles and Vodafone Live! portals. A mix of traditional games and ports of classics such as Paperboy.

45:20 Ewan and Rafe:

The two other mobile platforms, the Tapwave Zodiac and the Windows powered Gizmondo.

48:00 Cameron Spillman of Gizmondo (www.gizmondo.com:

What does this new handheld console offer and can a really small player actually make a difference in this market?

57:35 Show Wrap up.

More software in the next show, looking away from the games, and towards the serious application software such as navigation and synchronising.

There’s a lot riding on this DevCon for PalmSource. They’ve shown vision in taking on board China Mobilesoft’s Linux operation as a way into the lucrative Far East markets, as well as the mid range feature phones. There’s also the major change in switching the Palm OS to a Linux kernel. And given that PalmSource are in the same situation as Symbian (ie they need mobile phone companies to build phones with their Oeprating System) they need to put on a good show to prove that they’re still a viable player to both the new markets and their existing partners.

Throw in the huge eco-system Palm OS has (arguably the largest of any of the Smartphone platforms) and you’re going to have a packed out conference of speakers, exhibitors and delegates. The DevCon is pivotal to PalmSource, and pivotal to the smartphone market as well.

In this show i interview David Rivas, who is Sun’s VP for Mobile Java Development, and I caught up with him to discuss all things Java and how it affects the mobile platforms.

It’s the first of our long interviews, and I hope you all enjoy it. The promsied look at mobile gaming will be up next week.

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The Mobiles Show #004 - 21st March 2005 (20min 36sec): MP3 - 7.15MB

00:00 Intro

00:25 Ewan introduces David

01:10 What is J2ME and JTWI (Java Technology for the Wireless Industry) anf whats the advantage of writing for it?

03:20 java.com, developers tools, content developers and microbrowsers or Java rendering agents

07:10 Java games and their development

08:40 The API

09:55 Java success stories

10:50 Where is Java going?

13:00 Relationship with Palm

14:05 Feature phones vs Volume phones

15:25 Java and making money in and with applications

17:50 Identity applications

18:25 The Java message from Sun

19:10 Close

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The Mobiles Show #003 - 14th March 2005 (46min 00sec): MP3 - 15.8MB

00:00 The Mobiles Show #3 Intro to part 2 from 3GSM

00:50 Ewan and Rafe:

Symbian handsets announced at 3GSM. They quickly cover Nokia, Panasonic, Sendo, Samsung, Lenovo, Motorola and Sony Ericsson handsets.

05:05 Bill Werner, the VP for 3G Products at Motorola.

Information on the Motorola A1010. What happens to battery life when you include WiFi. How will the Symbian OS go in America. Motorola’s position on 3G.

17:10 Ewan and Rafe:

Nokia 6680 and 6681 with Push-to-Talk and the Series 60 user experience.
Ewan spots a double decker train and gets distracted.
Samsung and Panasonic handsets with Series 60.
Sendo’s new handset, the X2.

28:20 Ron Schaeffer, Product Management Director for Sendo

The Sendo X2 Music Phone. Features include; Press to Play (dedicated music keys), Sendo Now, 1.3 MegaPixel camera, miniSD card, mini-USB, etc.

35:34 Ewan and Rafe:

Delay of the Sendo X and will this happen with the X2? The price of the Sendo X2.
Other Smartphones at 3GSM.

40:40 Show Wrap up.

The next show will be about software and specifically covering Mobile Gaming.
Thoughts on 3GSM in general.
After being at 3GSM, what do the boys think will be big in mobiles in the next year?

One of the unsung advantages of MiniDisc, is that (apart from some of the low end players) they all have recording facilities built in. And it’s of broadcast quality. Not just for ‘casting, but its used by mainstream media as well. I’ve picked up two high quality mics from Ebay, one tie-pin clip mic, and a second which is housed on a jack plug. Both of them give crystal clear quality sound.

Sony’s updated to the MiniDisc range (Hi-MD support) has one headline feature, that of 1 gigabyte discs (so up to 45 hours playback or recording on one disc), but it’s a second feature that’s of most use to ‘cast Authors. Sonic Stage has (since the NetMD machines) been able to download tracks to a MiniDisc over USB - cutting out the ‘record real time’ that you previously had to do. You could import your MP3’s, or rip CD’s nativly to the Sony ATRAC format and dump them onto your discs. With the Hi-MD machines, you can now upload tracks you have recorded on the MiniDisc. Sony have a second tool that sits along side Sonic Stage 2.3 that converts these uptrackedloaded tracks into a full fat wave file. And while an hour long wave file is huge, the quality is amazing.

Where ‘casting looses the quality is scrunch a talk show down to a 48kbps MP3 file, so keeping the quality as high as possible at the top of the audio chain is very important. I also have the advantage that each interview is stored on a single disc (80p per disc), so everything is archived “Off-PC” as well.

Skype Recording

Just google for “recording a Skype call” and you’ll see that the one tool that’s really allowed cheap ‘casting to take off is also the one tool holding a lot of people back. Recording an interview over Skype is non-trivial. Sure you’d think it’d be easy, but unless you’ve got a Mac, you’re going to have to jump through all sorts of hoops to get a balanced recording, with both conversation sides at the same volume.

Well, forget recording the call on the PC, you’ve got a MiniDisc with a Line In socket. So all I do is re-route my speaker output cable from the big speakers into the MiniDisc. I then slap on a pair of headphones to monitor the recording (and hear both sides of the conversation) and hit record.

You do need to max the PC Microphone volume here, and have the wave output down at around 15%-20% to get the levels balanced, but that takes only a few minutes, and most people are happy to recite the alphabet to you as you set the levels.

Now just see the above to get the wave file on your PC.

In Show #2, we look at the Operating Systems, the annoucnements made around 3GSM, and where Rafe and Ewan think this will take the Mobile Market in 2005. Joining Rafe and Ewan are the Chairman of Symbian, the CEO of UIQ, the VP of PalmSource, and the head of Forum Nokia. Big guests for what’s hopefully going to be a well recieved show.

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In the next Podcast, we’ll take a look at some of the Smartphone handsets announced at 3GSM.