Category: Smartphone

While syncing my Zune with a bunch of video podcasts, I began thinking about the fact that my iPod is usually what travels with me because of all the eco-system infrastructure I have to support it: FM transceiver dock for the car, battery powered docking speaker, belt cases, etc. The Zune 2 firmware transformed my 1st generation Zune into a very nice dedicated video podcast device with its 30GB hard disk and large bright screen. Comparing the 1st generation Zune to my iPod touch, I’d say the Zune’s screen is about 80% the size of the touch. That surprised me when I first noticed it.

But, does the mobile device eco-system matter to most other people? I was amazed how many people were dumping their Windows Mobile smartphone or Palm-OS based Treo’s the day the iPhone was released. I couldn’t figure out how to function without Office Mobile, OneNote Mobile, eWallet, NewsBreak, HanDBase, and a bunch of other WiMo applications. I was even more surprised when one of my neighbors switched over to a Blackberry Pearl after having using Windows Mobile Pocket PCs and Phone Editions for many years. He was really impressed by the Blackberry’s overall speed of function after having used a T-Mobile MDA Pocket PC Phone Edition for a couple of years (lots of hour glasses on that device).

I don’t think I fit the profile for a Blackberry user (I’m fine answering email when it is convenient). And, having had my iPod touch for a while, I know there is no way I could use the iPhone’s keyboard to do much information entry with any kind of speed. But, if Microsoft is going to abandon end-users like me to placate the carriers, I wonder if I could leave behind the relative comfort of the Windows Mobile application ecosystem for one of the Google Android phones. The Windows Mobile email, browser, and media player technology have aged especially badly over the last few releases. Heck, Media Player even lost the ability to build playlists on the device. It is like watching the slow Palm OS “we know better than our customers” train wreck all over again.

This could all change again shortly after the iPhone SDK emerges. I’m sure iPhone applications will start showing up shortly after it gets into the hands of the very talented developers out there. There is, of course, that keyboard issue. But, I can’t believe that thrre isn’t an iPhone prototype lying around a lab in Cupertino with a QWERTY thumb keyboard. iPhone Pro, perhaps?

When HanDBase was only available for the Palm OS, I remember wondering if it would ever be available for Windows CE devices. I remember how excited i was to get an early Windows CE version of it to write the first review of it for Microsoft.com. Here’s a republished version of it that is still available on Pocket PC Magazine’s web site. I just recently was notified that HanDBase 4.0 was released. It is good to know that the product has not only survived over the years but continues to be developed. I don’t use it as much as I used to since the arrival of mobile friendly web data services like Gubb.net and Zoho Creator. However, I might upgrade it just to see what the new version looks like.

This Windows Mobile Calendar problem happens all the time to me ever since Microsoft removed the two-way conflict resolution option. Here’s the scenario.

1. Create an appointment on a WiMo smartphone

2. Sync it to Outlook 2003 (or 2007)

3. After syncing, edit the appointment and change it to a different day (i.e., reschedule it)

4. Resync it with Outlook

In my case, the rescheduled appointment is removed and replaced with the original appointment from Outlook. Really annoying.

Of all the problems a Windows Mobile smartphone might have, battery problems rank somewhere in the top three if not number one. Why? If your battery dies at an inopportune time, it doesn’t matter how good the rest of the phone is, you have a paper weight. Having a spare always helps, of course, but the battery itself may not be the problem.

Even though we know that rechargeable batteries have a finite life, I have been surprised to see just how long some of my Windows CE/Windows Mobile device batteries have lasted. While all my Compaq Aero and iPAQs have broken before their batteries pooped out, my HP Jornada devices which date back to 1996 all still work (well, perhaps, except for the HP420, the first color Palm-size PC). The HP Jornada 720 and 820 Handheld PCs still work fine and their respective batteries still retain a charge for many hours of use. Those HP Jornada engineers were just amazing folks.

A while back my T-Mobile Dash battery problem turned out not to be hardware based at all. The problem was that Google Gmail’s IMAP4 server is so slow that it cause the battery to drain 4% everytime Windows Mobile Messaging checks for email. Turning off auto email checking for Gmail restored my battery life.

Lately, I’ve been having battery problems with my HTC Advantage 7500 Pocket PC Phone Edition. This is surprising to me since the battery has been rock solid until the past two weeks or so. Long term WiFi use along with simultaneous Bluetooth keyboard use didn’t seem to phase it in the good ol’ days. So, what changed? I don’t think the battery itself is a problem. Why? I’ve noticed other odd issues with the 7500 during this same time period. It sometimes locks up (won’t turn on) and requires a stylus press of the soft reset buttons. The battery itself is fine during these episodes. I also noticed that both still photos and video recordings have odd artifacts in them during this period. The battery itself seems to love a charge over a short period when NOT in use: WiFi turned off, Bluetooth turned off, GSM/EDGE turned off (I use a T-Mobile Dash as my voice phone).

So, what is going on? I honestly don’t know. But, I’m thinking about either performing a hard reset or upgrading the 7500 to Windows Mobile 6 this weekend to see if that clears up some of the problems I’m seeing.

I wish we had better end-user diagnostic tools to help us dig into these problems with a bit more precision.