King of the QWERTYs

Capacitive touch screen devices are all the rage today with the iPhone 3GS, Palm Pre, HTC Hero and BlackBerry Storm. However, there are still many people who want a non-touch screen forward facing QWERTY device that is heavily focused on messaging. While I tend to bounce around quite a bit between different devices, the forward facing QWERTY form factor is one of my absolute favorite. To help you figure out which of these devices might fit your needs we are going to present a three part feature (with a summary post too) looking at the best QWERTY devices running the BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Symbian operating systems available from US wireless carriers. The three selected devices are the RIM BlackBerry Tour, T-Mobile Dash 3G, and Nokia E71x.
Gallery :

Touch screen smartphones are all the rage today with the iPhone, Palm Pre, and Google Android devices. However, there are still millions of people who enjoy a messaging experience on forward facing QWERTY smartphones. We will be taking an in-depth comparative look at the top three smartphones running Symbian, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry operating systems.


Bottom view of the BB Tour, T-Mobile Dash 3G, and Nokia E71x (top to bottom).


Left side of the BB Tour, T-Mobile Dash 3G, and Nokia E71x (top to bottom).


Right side and top of the BB Tour, T-Mobile Dash 3G, and Nokia E71x (top to bottom).


Back view of the BB Tour, T-Mobile Dash 3G, and Nokia E71x (top to bottom).


Here you can get a glimpse of how each of the three keyboards compare to each other.


The BB Tour, Dash 3G and E71x forward facing QWERTY keyboards.

Run, don’t walk, and pick up a REDFLY Mobile Companion for $199.95

I wrote up my first thoughts of the Celio Corp REDFLY Mobile Companion back in March, then I bought my own in May and then the price dropped from US$499 to US$399.95 in August. Well, now you can pick this device up for only US$199.95 and IMHO that is a steal for anyone with a Windows Mobile device looking to be productive on the go. I understand this is a “seeding” price that is only good until 31 October and I guess the intent must be to get the device out there and have people talk it up.
Celio keeps working on and releasing device drivers so development is continuing with the REDFLY and I sure hope this major price drop is not any indication of trouble in the near future. I like using my REDFLY on my commute and on business trips and want to see driver support continue for years, along with expanded drivers for S60 and maybe even the Android OS.
I think this is a perfect enterprise device since you can send employees out on the road with it and their phone to give presentations and work on Office documents without worrying about security issues or even damage to the device.
I keep reading this price and am just amazed it dropped down this far. I was happy to pay what I paid for mine and really hope this lower price takes price out of the equation for potential buyers as I want to see continued development of drivers and support for this excellent product. I think at just under US$200 the purchase is a “no brainer” for any Windows Mobile enthusiast or enterprise user.

(I refers to matthew miller)

Windows Mobile 7 phones coming in Q1 2009?

Windows Mobile 7 may be closer than many think.

According to a report from at least one major handset maker, Microsoft is planning to make available the final bits of its next mobile operating-system release in time for them to start selling Windows Mobile 7 phones in the first quarter of 2009. If true, that would seem to imply that Microsoft will release the final Windows Mobile 7 by the end of 2008, in order to give phone makers time to test and preload.

As is the case with Windows 7, Windows Mobile 7 is a forbidden topic. Microsoft won’t talk about planned features, beta dates or how/when/if Windows Mobile phones will become more head-to-head competitors with the iPhone.

(I am wondering whether Microsoft might finally share some Windows Mobile 7 info at its Worldwide Partner Conference in early July, given that Andy Lees, the newly appointed Senior VP of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications business is on the keynote line-up. If Microsoft really is going to deliver the final Windows Mobile 7 bits later this year, one would think it needs to be evangelizing about it now.)

There have been a few leaks about what Microsoft is planning for Windows Mobile 7 and Windows Mobile 8. Not too surprisingly, multi-touch and gesture-recognition support are on the docket. The user interface for Windows Mobile phones is slated to get an overhaul, making it more consumer friendly. And, at some point, consumer-focused services beyond Windows Live — things like music and photo-management, will find their way onto Windows Mobile devices via Microsoft’s Project Pink and Danger acquisition.

Until now, the only target date for Windows Mobile 7 I had seen leak was “some time in 2009.” But the Phone Report earlier this week quoted an official with HTC saying the company planned to deliver a Windows Mobile 7 phone in Q1 2009, and an Android-based HTC phone in Q4 2008, by the way.

From recent executive remarks, it sounds like Microsoft is trying to get Windows and Windows Mobile to be more in sync. Might this mean with Windows Mobile 8 — which Microsoft has told certain folks will be built from scratch — Microsoft might make Windows Mobile a “real” version of Windows, with the same core as Windows client?

HP should be shipping the iPAQ 900 series Mobile Messenger soon

There is definitely not a lack of choice in new mobile phones this year with the Apple iPhone 3G, HTC Touch Diamond, Samsung OMNIA, Nokia E71, BlackBerry Bold, and more being announced/leaked and shown all over the internet. It was last September when HP announced new Windows Mobile devices and thanks to a post at jkOnTheRun I found out that HP’s new HP iPAQ 900 Series Business Messenger announcement made yesterday.

The iPAQ 910 is shown on the HP site as coming soon and is expected to start shipping at the end of June for an undisclosed price. Specifications include a Marvell PXA270 processor running at 416MHz with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, 128MB RAM, 256MB ROM, 2.46 inch 320×240 touch screen, 3 megapixel camera, 802.11 b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, tri-band UMTS/HSDPA, quad-band GSM, integrated GPS receiver, integrated QWERTY keyboard, and huge 1940 mAh battery. It also looks like it has a Pearl-like center trackball for navigation.

I used to only buy HP Pocket PC devices and the specs on this one may actually bring me back to HP again as it looks to have everything I could ask for in a single device. It may sell as an unlocked device too since there were no carrier announcements and HP has done that in the past with their devices.

I am very interested in testing this out to see if HP is back in the game again and I have high hopes for the device. My only concern is the processor, but I am willing to give it a chance and see how it performs. It is going to be very tough to figure out what device to get with all of these great units hitting the street this summer and fall.


Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle.

Samsung announces the OMNIA Windows Mobile device with 5 megapixel camera

It is great to see so many new and innovative Windows Mobile devices being announced and launched from the likes of HTC, Sony Ericsson, and now Samsung. Samsung announced the Samsung OMNIA (SGH-i900) on Monday and my buddy, Arne Hess, already had a chance to put his hands on an early protype and provides some more photos, including photos with the HTC Touch Diamond and Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1.

The Samsung OMNIA is a Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional (touch screen) device with a xx MHz processor, 8GB or 16GB flash drive plus an additional microSD expansion slot, 3.2 inch WXVGA (240×400) display, 5 megapixel camera (top of the line for Windows Mobile), FM radio with RDS, integrated GPS receiver, quad-band GSM and HSDPA support, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, TV out capability, and a 1440 mAh battery. The device has haptic feedback on the display so you feel a vibration when the display is touched.

The photos of it look impressive and it has a real iPhone-like look to the UI, but with the power of Windows Mobile behind it. Samsung calls its new interface, TouchWiz, that allows you to customize and personalize their “widgets” on your device. It is interesting to read that it has out-of-the box multicode support for DivX, Xvid, and other video formats so multimedia fans may love this device with the large high resolution display.

It will be available in Southeast Asia starting next week and in Europe in July. There was no announcement of a U.S. release so this may be one to look for from a U.S. importer. Again, like the HTC Touch Diamond I think it is great to see manufacturers pushing the limits and taking Windows Mobile to the next level.

Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle.