Windows Mobile

Firefox mobile is expected to reach alpha form in a matter of weeks thanks to a private beta, but that has not stopped screenshots leaking onto the Internet.  Thanks to our friends at the::unwired, we had a chance to see Firefox’s mobile browser in action for Windows Mobile and from the looks of things we are impressed.  According to the::unwired, 

These screenshots are giving a good impression how the final version of Fennec might look/most likely look like but even more important, the developers managed to run the Acid3 Test with a score of 88/100 - which is impressive for a mobile browser!

Via the::unwired

There are many alternatives to the conventional methods of taking your music on the go.  Of course you have the typical music stores from your respective carriers or you can even sync your music library.  Today Didiom launched their public beta of their new music streaming and download service for both BlackBerry and Windows Mobile users.  The service is twofold: first, you can remotely access your entire iTunes library and stream any of your music (excluding DRM-protected tracks purchased via the iTunes Music Store) and second, you can browse over 1.5 million DRM-free MP3 songs to purchase.

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Today some additional photos of the mysterious Motorola Q11 have surfaced on a Brazilian website.  According to the source, the Motorola Q11 will only support EDGE data speeds, but it will offer WiFi for faster surfing speeds.  Based on these details it looks like the Q11 will not be the upgrade to the Q9 we had all hoped for, but instead will be an alternative version for specific markets where EDGE-only networks dominate.  On the plus side of things, the Q11 does offer a superior camera over the Q9 thanks to a 3 megapixel camera with flash.

Motorola Q11 Specifications (unconfirmed):

• WiFi 802.11 b/g
• GSM quadband
• GPRS/EDGE (no 3G)
• miniSD slot (up to 2GB supported
• miniUSB connector
• 2.5 mm headphone jack
• 3 megapixel camera

More details to follow, but in the meantime enjoy the Q11 photo gallery below, now updated with the latest spy shots.

Windows Mobile 7 might be a couple years away from an official release, but that is not stopping Internet Explorer Mobile 6 from showing its face.  Our friends over at the::unwired have had a chance to test the updated browser running ontop of Windows Mobile 6.1 and from the looks of things, we are in for a treat.  For starters, Internet Explorer Mobile 6 allows two different viewing environments to choose from: Mobile and Desktop.  When browsing, the Mobile mode identifies as “[Device Name] (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 8.12; MSIEMobile 6.0)”, the Desktop mode identifies it as “Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1)”:

Despite the positives, there are still a few areas that are still lacking in the updated browser.  Most notably, tabbed browsing is not evident which means we will still be using a single window.  Secondly, the old style scroll bars are still visible in the desktop browsing mode, serving more as a counterproductive measure rather than the innovation we were expecting.  All in all, the updated browser does deliver a similar experience to a desktop pc and it is a step in the right direction for Windows Mobile.  For the moment however, it seems that both Opera and Skyfire are still better alternatives, but we are hoping this will change once Internet Explorer Mobile 6 reaches a final build.

mobile version (left) / desktop version (right)

Source

If you haven’t been part of the private beta for the best Windows Mobile browser to date, it is time to take a look at Skyfire.  The private beta days are now over and Mountain View, Calfornia start-up Skyfire has taken their application into Open Beta.  If you are using a Windows Mobile or Symbian powered device you are just a quick download away from the next generation of mobile browsing.  While we would not go so far as to say it tops the iPhone’s Safari-based browser, we would say that it raises the bar and offers solid competition.

In addition to going public, Skyfire has upgraded from version 0.6 to version 0.8, a move that brings significant performance improvements and a more fleshed-out start screen design. Streaming video quality has also been improved with better audio/video syncing and fewer hiccups than before.  You can now also download images and PDF content, send stories via SMS, and type text directly into Skyfire, instead of typing into a separate entry field like in previous versions.

The most important improvements that we have noticed are improved zooming controls, a snappier application launch and faster page loading.  A final bonus in the latest version of Skyfire is that you can set the application as your default browser, making the transition to ultimately avoid Internet Explorer Mobile very easy.

Download the Open Beta for Windows Mobile or Symbian at www.skyfire.com

If the envy of not having TouchFLO 3D on your Windows Mobile device has got you bummed, our friends at xda-developers have delivered the same experience found on the Touch Pro and Touch Diamond without spending any extra coin.  While the software should work with any Windows Mobile device, at this time only the Kaiser (HTC TyTN II), Touch Dual and Touch have been tested.  For the skeptics out there, xda-developers have posted a YouTube video demonstrating the .cab file in action for irrefutable evidence.

In order to get the full TouchFLO 3D experience you will need to install the main cab (TouchFLO 2D), a YouTube cab and you need Opera and Google Maps installed.  While the resolution does not quite match the crystal-clear graphics on TouchFLO 3D, it is plenty close and the performance is solid

Source: Xda-Developers

Google has now officially entered the world of location-based search on the Windows Mobile platform.  According to Google’s announcement earlier today, the company has used its Gears Geolocation API to make searching for business and locales in your area easier on Windows Mobile devices.  With an approximate location thanks to A-GPS, My Location is able to use this data to provide accurate search results in close proximity to your current location.

As of now, Search with My Location is only available on Windows Mobile devices using Internet Explorer Mobile in the US and the UK.  Google says that it will offer wider support as it continues to enter agreements with vendors.  To use the service now, simply surf to google.com from your mobile phone and click the My Locations link to get started.

Source: Google Blog

With much to be desired in the web browsing department on Windows Mobile devices, Microsoft has shed some light on the advancements being made to its mobile browser.  At CTIA event Wednesday night, Microsoft broke down some of the key components to the updated browser, but failed to deliver a release date other than confirming that “it’s still this year”.

At the core of the new Internet Explorer for Windows Mobile is the full IE 6 rendering engine.  Despite many web developers preferring IE7, IE6 is truly the standard of web applications and online banking so it makes sense to use this engine (despite how much extra css work is required).  The main advantage with using the full IE6 rendering engine is that full flash support is now possible in the browser.  IE6 mobile will also have the ability to quick shift between the mobile version and full version of the page without adjusting the url and this can be a big help when you are in less than stellar reception areas.

The big question with Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Mobile is whether users find a reason to use it now that Opera and Skyfire have already delivered similar products.  With a recent boost in funding for Skyfire ($10 million), the company already delivers what we consider the best Windows Mobile browser, yes even in beta.

CTIA Fall 2008

Despite Asus killing our hopes of owning the Lamborghini phone, today they announced the P552w touchscreen smartphone.  A 2.8 inch screen showcases Asus’ new Glide user interface which runs ontop of Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional.  In an effort to battle giant HTC, Asus has taken much of the styling and UI directly from its competitor, the HTC Touch.  Besides the smooth looking UI is a catalog of unique software that gives users an entirely new smartphone experience.

It is clear that manufacturers are beginning to realize that the UI ontop of Windows Mobile is where they will sell phones.  Two of the best examples of the unique software on the P552w are EZiPhoto and EziMusic. The first, EziPhoto, allows users to flip through their photos with their finger tips similar to using the iPhone or iPod Touch.  EziMusic works exactly the same way and looks to be heavily influenced by Apple’s cover flow UI.

As far as the specs, the Asus P552w comes with support for 3.5Mbps HSDPA data on GSM 2100MHz UMTS networks.  To power the stylish touchscreen, the P552w matches the BlackBerry Bold with a 624MHz processor and 256MB of flash memory on-board for plenty of storage.  Bluetooth, WiFi, 2.0 megapixel camera, 1100mAh battery, and a microSDHC slot round out the rest of the features.

No information on a price tag or a release date have been given at this time, but you can expect a device with these features to be equally as expensive as the HTC Touch Diamond.