Mobile Visionary: Blog

iPhone 2.0.1 Firmware is Buggy

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:11:02 GMT

Upgrading my unlocked and jailbroken first generation iPhone from the 1.1.4 to 2.0.1 firmware wasn't simple but I managed to get it done thanks to all the videos and blog post tutorials out there. But unfortunately I am not so happy with the upgrade. The firmware feels like it's still in a beta state.

Applications take a lot longer to launch, tapping on the keyboard lags sometimes, and Safari seems to crash a lot more often. It is certainly obvious that the 1.1.4 firmware is faster and a lot more stable. I am not saying that I keep facing those issues on a daily basis (although it's true for some) but the difference between both firmwares is hard to not notice immediately.

Apple should have waited another month or so to fix all the bugs that most iPhone 3G owners are now experiencing before rushing it out prematurely to stores. I am certainly not the only iPhone user running 2.0.1 who is experiencing these issues. A quick search on Google will prove there are thousands more with similar and possibly more problems with the 2.0 firmware in general.

Living on the Slow Side of Time

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:25:35 GMT

Things have been going either pretty slow or extremely slow lately. I haven't even blogged for a while, mainly for the fact that my mind has decided to idle and started declining any creativity requests.

What could possibly be the reason? I mean, I have a lot on the go at work (don't even get me started), my father is back in town (yay me), and my iPhone is back from repairs as well as I just received a new phone from my dad (Nokia N95 8GB). But still, my mind seems to take all that for granted and somehow just wants a timeout!

I even bought a new book to get my mind started again but I couldn't get past the first chapter. Plus I have gained weight lately (obviously eating out of boredom). It's like things are getting worse and I am failing at taking back control of my life.

All I have to say is that I am hoping this is a short phase that I am going through and I will be taking some serious actions to turn this curse around and get my feet and mind back on track.

I Guess New Isn't Always Better

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:02:13 GMT

I am feeling much better now that I am back to my Nokia E61. Yes, I only used the N95 for just a day and I already miss the good old QWERTY keyboard so dearly that I had to switch back. I guess I am the type of mobile user who just can't live without a keyboard on his mobile device.

There was numerous things I noticed to be different, and annoying, on the N95. I noticed that you can't display your messages or email on the active standby screen. On my E61, I can easily set a default mailbox to be displayed under the active standby applications. I could choose either one of my email mailboxes or my SMS inbox. On the other hand, the N95 doesn't have this feature.

Another thing I noticed was the bahviour of the end call button (the red button). When you press the button while using one of the built in applications that comes with the phone, it doesn't necessarily mean you shutdown the application. A quick press-and-hold on the menu key will clearly show that the application is still running in the background. The only way to close those applications is through the application's menu (Options -> Exit).

Another thing that was mind boggling is the device's screensaver (or powersaver). It will only be displayed in landscape mode. There isn't a way to change it to portrait. Now why on earth would people have to rotate the device to clearly read the time or any notices on the screensaver? I just thought it was so retarted for a screensaver to behave in this way.

One more thing I hated about the N95 is how cheap the device felt in my hand. The buttons felt somewhat loose and the sliding screen wasn't as strong as I thought it would be. There is no doubt that the device will easily slide open accidentally just by trying to slip it into your pocket. Plus, Nokia decided to place the headphone jack on the left side of their "multimedia computer" instead of on top making it difficult to get a good grip of the device when using the headphones.

I can certainly go on and on about other things I didn't like, but the main point here is the fact that the device failed to meet my expectations (considering the price tag) and managed, in a way or another, to make me further appreciate my E61.

So as it turns out, I am more of an E-Series than an N-Series guy.

My Nokia N95 8GB Has Arrived

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:36:15 GMT

That's right, and I am using my new Nokia N95 8GB right now to type out this blog post. The phone's build quality isn't as good as I thought or imagined. What I did notice is the phone's speedy performance compared to the E61. Nevertheless, it certainly serves it's main and only purpose as a multimedia phone.

Honestly, using the phone's numpad to blog or type a message or a web address is frustrating, painfull and extremely time consuming. It definitly makes me miss using my E61's QWERTY keyboard. I don't think I will be using this phone for a long time since I do a lot of typing. That being said, the phone did impress me with its kick ass camera as well as the loud and clear stereo speakers.

Windows Live Calendar isn't available

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:12:15 GMT

I always seem to get a problem whenever I try to go to my Live Calendar from my Windows Live account. The screenshot above is the latest problem I got when I tried to see my calendar this morning.

The bigger problem here is not that it's not working, but mainly the fact that this has been happening for a long time now. I have always experienced problems logging onto my Windows Live Calendar ever since I created my Windows Live account. And someone please tell me why the Windows Live Calendar Beta is taking forever to get released? For God's sake, it's been over a year now.

I hope I am not the only one here with these technical problems. But either way, it's getting really annoying.

Reconsidering Samsung OMNIA i900

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:16:37 GMT

For some reason whenever I look at a video review or a photo of the Samsung OMNIA i900 I feel like the need to grab hold of the device and trying it out. I've had a Windows Mobile 6 Professional device before (HTC Advantage X7501) and I thought it had great features and excellent software library, but the device's form factor threw me off and I had to get rid of it.

The Samsung OMNIA, on the other hand, comes in a smaller factor, a kick ass 5MP digital camera with auto-focus, built in GPS and Wi-Fi, heptic feedback, a large batter capacity and a lot more great features. It's a device that is hard to forget about, even if you own an iPhone. And since it'll be running Windows Mobile you know for a fact that you will be able to use push email, your Windows Live account for instant messaging and blogging, and a lot more.

Anyways, I am still thinking if I should consider getting this device to try it out.

Once you go QWERTY you never go back

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:44:03 GMT

Whenever I get the opportunity to buy a new cellphone, I always look for that QWERTY keyboard. I just don't think I can do the many things I do daily on my cellphone without it. I blog, write notes, surf the web and schedule appointments all on my cellphone. And without a QWERTY keyboard it will certainly take me longer to perform any of these tasks. Not to mention the frustration that comes from not hitting the right button a certain number of times to get that special or numeric character on a numpad.

One of the reasons why I am still attached to my Nokia E61 is for the fact that I can type fast on it. The keyboard buttons feel great and anyone can quickly get used to it. Believe it or not, I bought numerous phones and kept switching back and forth between devices but I always end up going back to my Nokia E61. I have had this device for years now and I still see no reason to completely replace it. If anything, I might replace it with its latest successor, the Nokia E71. Hmmm, now that I mentioned it, that wouldn't be a bad idea.

Nokia N95 - Best camera phone?

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:19:45 GMT

I have researched the web high and low to find the best camera phone and one phone in particular keeps showing up. The Nokia N95.

Nokia Ovi and flickr has thousands, if not more, of photos take by Nokia N95 owners all around the globe and all of them prove the fact that it is the best and most popular camera phone in the market so far. The photos are vibrant and full of colour. Even videos taken by the phone look so professional and crystal clear.

So there you have it. If you are looking for the best camera and video phone out there, then look no further than the Nokia N95. It certainly won't disappoint you. You might even end up ditching your digital camera.

So, what is the perfect cellphone?

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:25:30 GMT

Everyone thinks differently when it comes to choosing a cellphone. Some look for multimedia features and some look for internet and email features. And there are those whom just want to send and receive phone calls. I am definitely not one of them

For me, the perfect cellphone would have a lot of high end features as well as a large touchscreen. It must have the following: GPS, WiFi, bluetooth, QWERTY keyboard, multi-language support, at least 3.2" high-res touchscreen, LED light indicator, at least 5MP camera with auto-focus, fast processor, large built-in storage, desktop-like browser, a large battery and an upgradable firmware. In other words, a mean pocketable machine.

Oh, I forgot to mention one more thing: It has to cost less than $700.

SonyEricsson's XPERIA phone comes close to what I am looking for, but it will run the slow and ugly Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. The iPhone lacks a physical keyboard, a descent camera, and a good battery life. The Nokia N95 8GB is a great device but it doesn't have a QWERTY keyboard or a touchscreen.

So as you can see, the perfect phone I am looking for doesn't exist yet. But there are numerous alternatives that I am forced to accept to live with.

I will soon receive my iPhone 16GB in the mail which I sent to AppleCare for repairs two weeks ago, and my dad will bring a Nokia N95 8GB, that I asked him to buy for me, when he arrives to Canada a week from today. Which means I will be comparing all devices, including my current Nokia E61, and figure out which one I will favour the most.

So stay tuned.

Where is everything stored on Windows Live?

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:59:44 GMT

I have been thinking about this for a while and something isn't making sense to me at all. Windows Live seems to have a strange way handling content storage.

If you have a Windows Live Hotmail account, you can purchase the Hotmail Plus service which gives you 10GB of mail and attachment storage. So, all your mail and any documents, images, and files in general are stored under the Windows Live Hotmail umbrella.

When you create a Windows Live Spaces account, you can blog and upload images to your Space. Anything you create or upload is stored under the Windows Live Spaces umbrella.

If you heard of Windows Live SkyDrive, you'd know that you can use this free service to upload and store pretty much anything you want on your SkyDrive. Up to 5GB of documents, images, MP3 files, videos, ZIP files, and any type of file can be stored on your SkyDrive account.

Were you one of the few lucky ones to get an invitation to create your new Windows Live Mesh account? Well this means that's an additional 5GB of any type of content that you can share and synchronize between PCs, MACs, and Windows Mobile devices. The content is stored under the Windows Live Mesh umbrella.

Each of the services I mentioned above seems to have its own storage which cannot be shared between any of them.

I also have to say that I keep wondering what the purpose of Windows Live SkyDrive is now after Windows Live Mesh came out. You can store whatever file you want on your Mesh just like you would do on SkyDrive. So what's the difference? Those two services seem to be conflicting a bit with one another when it comes to storage.

The main question here, is why have a different storage size or location for every Windows Live service? A better way to handle the storage for these services should be simple and straight forward.

Here is my solution: Windows Live SkyDrive should be the main storage location for all Windows Live services. Each Windows Live user gets a certain amount of storage on his SkyDrive which can be expanded by purchasing extra storage. A user's SkyDrive will then dedicate a portion of its storage to every Windows Live service the user subscribes to. So, for your Hotmail account, SkyDrive will dedicate and create a portion of its storage to store your email and attachments. The same applies to Windows Live Spaces where a portion of SkyDrive's storage will be used to store your posts and uploaded images. Live Mesh should not act as a storage centre, but instead it should just be a service that syncs data between devices that is stored either on a client computer or on the user's SkyDrive.

It's all about keeping it simple for the end user.

From 6GB To 300MB? You're Joking, Right?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:02:56 GMT

I called up Fido today to ask about their limited time data plan promotion. The data plan option costs $30 for 6GB of data. Personally, I thought that's as good as it gets when it comes out from either Fido or Rogers. So after talking to a Fido representative, it turns out that this offer is only available on selected fido handsets and requires a whopping 3 year monthly plan. So they expect me to use one specific handset for 3 years. Well, that's when I was about to hang up.

The funny thing, is when I told him that I just wanted a data plan option for my Nokia E61 phone so that I can browse the web, check email, chat, and use google maps without worrying about how much it will cost me. He then suggested a $30 data option that I can add to my existing plan which will give me 300MB. So I called to ask about a 6GB data plan and it turned out that I didn't meet the requirements, and then he suggested the next best thing which was, sadly, 300MB for exactly the same price.

I don't know what to say folks. It seems that the cellphone products are way ahead in technology that the wireless carrier it's running on. You can get GPS, desktop like browsing, great multimedia features, bigger storage capacity, big bright clear screens, and built in QWERTY keyboards on a single cellular device and it will still not cost you a fortune. But try to get a decent monthly data plan to make use of all those great features and you'll find yourself spending and arm and a leg on a monthly or yearly basis.

Our wireless carriers are still way behind and will take years for them to catch up. But then again why would they care. It's not like they're not making millions in profit by ripping off customers, including yours truly.

Is It Time For a Time Out?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:07:29 GMT

Just recently I started to feel that I need some sort of a time out from everything related to the internet, communication and electronics. I won't be surprised to know that there is scientific word or term that described such a symptom. I mean, somedays I can't imagine myself living a day without being connected somehow to the WWW. Shouldn't that be a sign that I am somewhat attached, in a high degree, to the internet and/or mobile devices?

Recently I have been having this crazy idea in my head about totaly disconnecting myself from the web and any wireless device that can connect me to the web. Currently, I have a smartphone that I cant use to either blog, chat on msn, send and receive emails, as well as read recent news through RSS feeds or directly on a website through a web browser. And I have to admit that I do use all these features constantly and, mostly, on a daily basis. So by giving up why smartphone at home, this would tremendously help disconnect me from the web.

Another device I constantly use is my laptop. Although I do hate the fact that I have to be sitting in a particular way to use it, as oppose to a smartphone, I still tend to spend a lot of time surfung the web on my laptop when I am at home. Therefore taking my laptop away and out of my reach will also greatly help in reducing my online presence.

But will I actually do it? I doubt it. But it certainly makes me wonder. How would my life be without using computers and surfing the web as often and as frequent as today?

Rogers Wireless is Darth Vader?

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:55:24 GMT

Someone posted this comic on Canadaka.net and I thought it's certainly worth sharing and spreading around the web. It clearly and truly shows what Rogers Wireless's intentions are with launching the iPhone 3G in Canada and how upset the Canadians are with the posted iPhone 3G voice and data plans.

I just hope the average Canadian consumer is wise enough to know that he or she is making a difference and helping change Canada's telecommunication industry by not falling into the traps of Darth Vader..oops..I mean Rogers by signing a 3 year contract and buying an iPhone. And I also hope spreading the word all around the web and by word of mouth will help reduce and minimize the number of Canadian iPhone 3G customers because that will certainly cause a big impact on Rogers and hopefully make them change their prices.

Rogers Wireless Sucks - RuinediPhone.com

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:25:11 GMT

While the world is getting cheaper voice and data plans, Canada's only GSM network, Rogers, is still offering ridiculous and expensive wireless data plans. And even though the iPhone 3G is coming to Rogers on July 11 as well, Rogers still wont be offering an unlimited data plan (which means Fido wont as well).

Canadians know that they are being ripped off by the major wireless carrier for years (including yours truely) yet nothing is being done to put an end to it.

When will we ever see significant changes in data plan prices? And what needs to be done to see it happening?

UPDATE #1:
Visit www.ruinediphone.com and sign a petition to say NO to Rogers ridiculous data plans.

UPDATE #2:
RuinediPhone.com is down as I type this update. It has moved to http://inflexion.iisnet-networks.com/~iphone/index.php.
Please click the link and sign the petition.

UPDATE #3:
Looks like RuinediPhone.com is back online again. Please visit the site and make your voice heard if you haven't signed the petition yet.

Smartphone Over-Pricing Madness

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:41:29 GMT

Planning on getting a phone just for making and receiving phone calls? Then you're looking at a price range of $50 to $150. But if you are looking for a smartphone or a phone slash PDA then you're looking at a price range of $500 to $1000. Of course I am only talking about unlocked phones without a contract.

It's kind of hard for me to pay more than $600 for something as small and fragile as a cell phone. And the prices don't seem to be going down as fast as they should be. I mean, almost every month you hear about a new smartphone being released or announced by some major manufacturer with all the high end features you can think of yet the previous last year models still don't seem to be affected at all price wise.

As cell phone manufacturers are trying their best to keep up with today's latest mobile technology and consumer demands, they still don't play it fair when it comes to pricing. In order for a fair and steady competition to happen we need those smartphones to be fairly priced and more affordable (and I am specially looking at you HTC).

Think about the HTC Touch Diamond for instance. The device has features already available in a lot of other phones available in the market today and it's priced at a whopping $700! To me, that's ridiculous considering you will be squinting at a 2.8" screen. I mean, I would totally have no problem with that price if it had a large 3.5" screen.

Anyway, I am hoping the crazy smartphone over pricing madness would eventually come to an end or else I would have to go back on carrying multiple devices.

I Passed My MCTS Exam!

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:59:40 GMT

My MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) 70-541 exam in Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Application Development was scheduled today, June 21^st 2008, at 9:00 AM. It turned out to be a lot more difficult that I thought. A lot of the questions was based on site and list definitions. The exam also had plenty of questions on the WSS API as well. One or two questions were on solution deployment and several on webparts. But in the end I managed to pass the exam and currently I am waiting for my MCP access code for the MCP site. So in general, it was certainly an excellent way to start off my weekend.

FYI, my only study material was Inside Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 book from Microsoft Press.

Good luck to anyone out there who's planning on taking the exam.

Nokia E71 is Officially Announced

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:14:06 GMT

I have always been fond of Nokia's E series phone lineup so I was excited when I read that Nokia officially announced the new E71. It's certainly a pretty device with pretty much all the high end features a business user could ask for.

What surprised me is the phone's new size. Apparently it's a bit smaller and a lot thinner than the E61 but still manages to pack more features. The E71 has built in GPS/A-GPS, 3.2 MP camera with flash, front VGA video camera, and runs the latest S60 Symbian OS. As well as the usual QWERTY keyboard, WiFi, and Bluetooth.

I was disappointed to see the same screen size though. Honestly, I was hoping for a total makeover for the phone's form factor. I am not saying that I didn't like the E61's design (I wouldn't be using it right now to blog if it was true) but I was hoping for Nokia to come up with a slide out QWERTY keyboard phone with a large screen that covers most of the phone's size. And I thought this would be the E71. I am positive that I am not the only one who is waiting for a Nokia phone with a screen larger than N95's screen.

Nevertheless, the E71 is an attractive, slim, and feature packed phone with lots to offer and it certainly proves the E61's success in the mobile market.

It's Tough to be Broke

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:39:11 GMT

Even though I've got a good amount of money in my savings account, I still consider myself broke for another three to four months. Which means I won't be able to buy any cool gadgets for a long time. Which also means I will be feeling misreable for a long time.

So what made me broke? Honestly, I have no clue. But as it turns out I have spent almost $1,000 using my Amex card. Whatever those expenses were, I have to pay it back ASAP. Which means I will be putting at least $250 (if not more) towards my Amex card every month.

Please don't get me wrong. I don't usually go on a spending spree using my credit cards. I rarely get into these situations and when I do I always take it seriously and try to pay whatever I owe as soon as I can.

Anyway, on the bright side this isn't the largest balance I had on my credit card.

Samsung i900 is Officially Announced

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:06:40 GMT

A few moments ago I decided to check out GSMArena.com and I noticed they posted official news and pictures of the much anticipated Samsung i900 "Omnia".

Apparently, the screen size isn't 3.5" as all previous posts have mentioned. Instead, the screen size actually is 3.2". And that black square-shapped flat surface located at the bottom of the device is actually the previously seen optical mouse which seemed to dissappoint most people.

Another interesting piece of information that I didn't know about is the device's built in accelerometer. Which means the screen will automatically rotate if flipped to its side.

It also sounds like there will be two versions of this phone. One with 8 Gb of storage and another with 16 Gb. And it also supports miniSD cards which allows for further more storage if needed.

It would be great if a third version of this wonderful phone existed with a built in slide-out QWERTY keyboard to attract more business users and people who can't live without a physical keyboard such as myself.

Nevertheless, I can't wait to watch a video review of the phone sometime soon.

WWDC is Tomorrow. Do I Care?

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:03:56 GMT

Nope. I don't care. Not even one bit. So why the hell am I blogging about it? Well, cause I have nothing else to talk about.

His Steveness is suppose to be announcing a new 3G iPhone during his keynote tomorrow. Whether he actually does it or not isn't changing the fact that it's coming from Apple. In other words, owning such a device will confine the owner with all of Apple's crappy restrictions and limitations. Even more, and I say this out of experience, you will totally feel owned by Apple.

On the other hand, I have to admit that I am excited to see what's new in iPhone 2.0 and if Apple listened to all its iPhone customers' suggestions and feedback on improvements and requests for additional features and functionality.

You never know, people might actually be able to copy and paste on the new iPhone. But I wouldn't get my hopes up.

HTC Touch Pro Officially Announced

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:55:20 GMT

This is wonderful news for all those HTC Diamond fans who were disappointed for the phone's lack of a QWERTY keyboard. Well, that's where the HTC Touch Pro comes in to fill that gap. The HTC Touch Pro looks exactly like the HTC Diamond and shares the same TouchFLO 3D interface and sleek design. But there are several differences under the hood.

The HTC Touch Pro comes with a slide out QWERTY keyboard, a faster processor, and (the part I love the most) a larger battery. The screen size and memory remain the same on both devices.

I still hate the fact that the HTC Diamond comes with a 950 mAh battery. I think the HTC Touch Pro gives consumers a lot more bang for their buck just for the fact that it has a longer battery life and the advantage of a slide out QWERTY keyboard. And besides, the Touch Pro's design and software all comes from the Diamond so people would have the best of both worlds.

If I had to make a choice between either the HTC Diamond or the HTC Touch Pro, I would certainly choose the Touch Pro in a blink of an eye and without any hesitation.

MCTS Exam this Month

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:35:16 GMT

Recently I registered for a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) exam which will be on June 22nd 2008. The exam will be based on the Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Development technology. It's something I have been meaning to do for a while but never got the chance.

I have been working with SharePoint for a while now building applications and project sites from the ground up. The WSS 3.0 API has always been a pleasure working with. And after gaining a lot of experience in this field, and especially in troubleshooting ever since the first beta came out, I decided to put my skills to the test and hopefully get rewarded for it.

So anyways, I just thought I would share this information with you before I head to bed and I will keep you posted with further updates on this matter.

Wish me luck!

Impatient Cellphone Shopper

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:43:05 GMT

I know for a fact that several exciting new cellphones will be released during this month but my impatience for getting a new cellphone is getting worse as the days go by. At the same time I still haven't decided which handset I am most likely to buy.

The HTC Diamond has been up for sale on several online stores for almost a week now but I am not too much fond of the small screen and week battery. The iPhone 2.0 should be released during this month but, out of experience, I don't want to feel owned by Apple due to all the iPhone restrictions. And the Samsung i900 will also be released this month but it won't have a VGA screen nor a special home screen like the Diamond.

I understand that I can never get the perfect cellphone with all the usefull high end features that I always dream of but I still hate to accept whatever came close even if it lacked a GPS, or a built in QWERTY keyboard, or Windows Live integration, or a large 3.5" VGA touch screen.

I guess I will have to just wait and hope for the best.

Everything is Getting Touched

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:48:46 GMT

The world, as it seems, is moving towards touch based devices. Most cellphones these days have touch screens and recently Microsoft has shown that Windows 7 will support multi-touch. And where do I stand between this evolution? Well, unfortunately I am still years behind. My current phone is a Nokia E61, which doesn't have a touch screen, and I don't own a tablet but instead I have a laptop running Windows XP (not even Vista capable).

So is it time for an upgrade? Hell ya!

Samsung i900 - New Images

Wed, 28 May 2008 21:59:19 GMT

New images for the Samsung i900 emerged on IntoMobile.com today morning. I have yet to see a more slick and stylish Windows Mobile device than the i900. Still no word on any release date but more than likely this beauty will be in stores by the end of June.

Click on the pictures below for a larger size.

HTC Touch Diamond Available in Stores

Wed, 28 May 2008 21:47:32 GMT

According to IntoMobile.com, the HTC Touch Diamond is now available in select online stores waiting for the fans to order. I still think it's a pretty slick phone with a lot of high end features but I am not convinced that it's worth at least $780. I mean, it doesn't have a large screen (2.8") and a very small battery capacity (900 mAh) that is suppose to power up all the built in features. You'll be lucky to get two full days out of it. Nevertheless, it's certainly a phone worth looking into and now you can get your hands on it.

Here is what IntoMobile.com says:

If you have the $780 to $900 admission fee handy, you too can play to your heart's content in the land of Diamond that HTC built. The HTC Touch Diamond is a bit pricey, but for a high-end smartphone packed with features like a VGA touchscreen display, HSPA (both HSDPA and HSUPA), Opera browser, 3 megapixel camera, and eye-catching UI - powered by Windows Mobile 6.1, the price-point isn't all that unheard-of.

Grab your own HTC Touch Diamond at one of the following online retailers:

Get Your Windows Mobile Training Now!

Sun, 25 May 2008 18:56:36 GMT

Ever wanted to know the ins and outs of your Windows Mobile device? Well this is your chance to dig deep into the new Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system by visiting the Windows Mobile Training site. Learn all the new improvements and features that will certainly increase your productivity and generally make your life easier.

Get your Windows Mobile Specialist Certification by successfully completing the courses on the site. I got mine, why shouldn't you?

Honestly, I thought I knew a good share of information when it came to Windows Mobile. But when I discovered the Windows Mobile Training site and started completing the courses I discovered a wide range of helpful features that I wasn't aware of.

Get trained, get certified, get to know Windows Mobile today.

Cell Phones and Long Names

Sun, 25 May 2008 05:51:30 GMT

Why do cell phone manufacturers insist on giving their products long names and sometimes a combination of letters and numbers? For instance, SonyEricsson is calling its latest high end phone SonyEricsson XPERIA X1. HTC is calling its latest touch phone HTC Touch Diamond. And Samsung is calling its latest Windows Mobile phone Samsung SGH-i900.

Those manufacturers should start being more creative and start giving their products a short and more friendly name. I say be more like Apple and Garmin. Apple called its only cell phone the iPhone and Garmin is calling its upcoming cell phone Nuvifone. Personally, HTC should have called its latest phone the HTC Diamond. Why bother and add the word "Touch" to a phone that doesn't even look like the HTC Touch?

Another thing I should mention and it's about HTC's new TouchFLO interface for the HTC Diamond. They decided to call the new UI TouchFLO 3D. Is that for the lack of better words? Or does HTC lack creativity when it comes to names? Honestly, a 10 year old could have come up with a better name than TouchFLO 3D.

Microsoft Mediaroom - TV 2.0

Mon, 19 May 2008 20:14:15 GMT

Now this is something worth blogging about! Microsoft Mediaroom is, in many people's opinion, TV 2.0. Imagine a world where TV is part of the Internet. That will certainly be something exciting and more entertaining that just sitting on your couch watching. The possibilities are endless since it will also support a wide range of applications which you can run while watching your favourite shows.

Here is what to expect from Microsoft Mediaroom:

Microsoft^® Mediaroom™ enables a new, personalized television experience. Consumers can easily find and discover TV, video, movies, and digital media at the touch of a remote control. Live programming and video-on-demand in standard-definition and high-definition formats, digital video recording, MultiView picture-in-picture, music, and photos are presented together with an intuitive on-screen interface. With Microsoft Mediaroom, consumers get the best in TV plus all their media in one place.

Samsung SGH-i900 - Some Concerns

Mon, 19 May 2008 06:18:41 GMT

Nothing is perfect. I have yet bought or used a phone that I couldn't live without. And therefore the upcoming Samsung SGH-i900 won't be any different. But so far, the phone's design and specification is appealing to me a lot more than any phone currently available in the market. So hopefully my concerns below won't see the light of day.

My first concern is the battery capacity. In my opinion, a phone like this with all the high end features and large 3.5" display should come with a replaceable battery holding at anything between 1200 and 1500 mAh of power.

My second concern is the large touchscreen. Some touchscreen phones these days aren't as responsive as they should be. On some phones, users have to press a bit harder for the touch to register since there seems to be a space between the touch surface and the actual LCD beneath it. This is somewhat annoying to me and I hope it won't be much of a concern for this particular phone.

I don't care much about the weight of the phone. No matter how much heavy a phone can get, I am sure it will never be substantial.

Another concern is text input. I know that Windows Mobile comes with a built in virtual keyboard but it's tiny, looks ugly, and you need a stylus to use it. I am thinking since this phone comes with a pretty large screen, Samsung should have included a special QWERTY keyboard that is user and finger friendly. It's already unfortunate that there isn't a physical slide-out QWERTY keyboard built into the phone.

Finally, my last concern is the phone's home screen. No one wants to see the default dull and boring Windows Mobile home screen. A special home screen plugin would be necessary for such a slick and shiny phone in order to seperate it from other Windows Mobile phones.

I really do have high expectations for this phone and I hope Samsung won't put me down. Samsung is known for its high quality products therefore I hope this product isn't an exception.

Musicovery - Interactive Web Radio

Sun, 18 May 2008 19:28:29 GMT

This is a site I stumbled upon on my web surfing adventure last night. It's called Musicovery and it's all about online music. What's cool about this is that you can set the type of music you want to listen to according to several factors like your mood, type of dance, and your emotional status.

I have been using it for two days now and so far I haven't seen anything that disappoints me. The only drawback is the media rich site where the user interaction might be affected due to a slow system. But as long as your computer is fairly new then this shouldn't be a concern.

There is no need to register or signup. It's a free service and I hope it remains this way. So go ahead and check it out.

Samsung SGH-i900 - It's Worth The Wait

Sat, 17 May 2008 06:31:08 GMT

Today I came across this post on IntoMobile.com saying that Samsung is working on a new phone, Samsung SGH-i900. It could be the phone that I am destined to own. The phone has all those high-end features that I want plus a gorgeous large 3.5" screen (an asset in my opinion).

I will certainly keep an eye on all news related to this phone. Here are the anticipated specifications so far (taken straight from this post on IntoMobile.com):

The Samsung SGH-i900 brings together the best of both worlds, and it does it in style. With a full-body, 3.5-inch (240×400) touchscreen and Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, the Samsung i900 gives Windows Mobile fans a chance to one-up iPhone owners. And, with a feature-set that includes HSDPA, WiFi, FM radio, 5 megapixel camera, TV-out, 16GB of onboard storage, microSDHC card slot, and Bluetooth 2.2 with A2DP - all packed into a 112×56×13mm package, the Samsung i900 easily outpaces the current iPhone's meager offerings. And, there's some sort of fingerprint-scanner/touch-sensitive navigation pad at the bottom of the display.

Deselect Features to Uninstall? Huh?

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:47:40 GMT

Shouldn't it be "Select features you would like to remove" instead?

I have installed hundreds of programs through-out my entire life and whenever I try to uninstall a program I usually select what I want to remove and not the other way around.

The uninstall process should always be consistent so that we don't end up confusing the end user. I believe displaying a message like the one shown on the left from Gizmo Director is somewhat confusing and is definitely a bad UI.

Just Installed Windows XP Service Pack 3

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:27:42 GMT

So I installed SP3 on two different machines and so far so good. Although I did notice one tiny problem after installation. Windows Live Messenger seemed to give me an error when it first launches. It says something about a problem with the Windows Live Messenger package. But of course a simple uninstall and reinstall of Windows Live Messenger did solve this issue.

Other than that, everything seems to run smoothly. Of course SP3 didn't add any new functionality or features. It's simply a package containing all updates released after SP2.

Anyway, the only change you will see is a new service pack number under the System Properties window.

Out-of-Office Messages

Fri, 09 May 2008 19:54:00 GMT

I came across the following "out-of-the-office" messages on this site, on my free time at work of course, and I decided to share it with you:

I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position. Be prepared for my mood.
You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn’t have received anything at all.
I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you send me until I return from vacation on August 31st. Please be patient and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.
Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $10.99 for the first ten words and $5.99 for each additional word in your message.
The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and is unable to deliver this message. Please restart your computer and try sending again.
Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queueing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.
I’ve run away to join a different circus.

HTC Diamond TouchFLO 3D Preview

Fri, 09 May 2008 19:09:58 GMT

This is one of the most interesting UI for Windows Mobile that I came across lately. I found this YouTube video that goes over the entire new UI for the recently announced HTC Diamond.

Personally, I love the UI and the new device as well. It looks like I will be adding a new item to my wishlist this year.

I would recommend not paying a lot of attention to the guy demonstraiting the new UI. As a matter of fact, you might as well mute your speakers for the entire video as this guy does a horrible job presenting. HTC could've at least hired someone who is able to get closer to the croud and build a more exciting environment around this beautiful device.

Anyways, enjoy the video.

Ciao!

Live.com Reloaded!

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:06:48 GMT

Check out the new Live.com site! Simple and clean. Exactly how I like it. That Live.com team sure doesn't leave any detail out.

I love the color scheme. Fits well with Vista users as well as all Windows Live members.

This will definitely be my homepage for quite a while. There is probably a lot of different changes under the hood so I will make sure to check it out.

If you're a long time Googler like myself, then you certainly won't regret test driving this beauty. You never know, you might actually make the switch.

Ciao for now!

Goodbye iPhone

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:30:40 GMT

Yup, it's time to let go the blonde. It has been one heck of an experience, but not everything has good endings. The iPhone is pretty, smooth, revolutionary, and is a key product for Apple. But I just couldn't get over the fact that it is restricted and imprisoned by dozens of rules and formats forced by Apple. As I said in my previous blog, sometimes I don't feel like I own an iPhone, instead I feel like Apple owns me.

I found myself buying a lot from iTunes just to avoid all the pain and hassle of converting my videos and music collections so that it could sync with iTunes (which I believe is a major concern and Apple should be sued for it). Plus, I couldn't log on MSN since there isn't a client application out there yet (instead I had to use the battery draining meebo web application and others alike. I couldn't send emails from my Windows Live Mail account using iPhone's native Mail client (I managed to only receive them). And I couldn't sync my contacts or calendar with my Windows Live Mail contacts and calendar, respectively.

And guess what? I can do all that (and more) with my Nokia E61 (except syncing calendar events).

The only thing I will miss the most is the web browsing experience. Nothing on the market so far comes close to the iPhone's web browser. On the other hand, I know that Microsoft is working on a new Pocket Internet Explorer that should be generations better than the current one shipped with every Windows Mobile device. Also Opera has a new browser (Opera Mobile 9 in the works) which can be considered a potential competitor to the iPhone's Safari browser.

Nevertheless, this is a unique device with a tremendous amount of potential (iPhone 2.0 is soon to be released with new features) but comes short when it comes to features and usability for power users. (at least in my opinion).

New Technologies from Microsoft Research

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:49:22 GMT

Those folks at Microsoft Research sure made me feel generations behind in technology. Looks like they have been hard at work trying to come up with cool new innovative ideas. I personally like the part where they show a new Live Search.

The video below was taken from www.istartedsomething.com.

It's Time To Breakup With The Blonde

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:22:50 GMT

And by saying "blonde", I mean my iPhone. I had fun playing around and using the phone but it's time to get a "real" smartphone. A device that I can store and backup files to. A device that I can drag-and-drop files to without worrying about file formats and compatibility. A device that I can wirelessly send files to another device through bluetooth. A device that lets me set my own ringtone. A device that lets me copy and paste. A device that sets me free for God's sake!

I am sick and tired of all the bull shit restrictions that Apple included in the iPhone. Sometimes I don't even feel that I own this phone, instead Apple owns me. I can't transfer any kind of video file to my phone because it has to follow specific rules and formats supported by iTunes. So I have to go through all the trouble of decoding and converting either music or video files so that I can sync it to my iPhone through iTunes. And most of the time it doesn't work. It's Apple's way of forcing everyone to buy music and video off iTunes. Don't you think they should get sued for doing that?

It's time to free myself from all the restrictions and limitations that was forced into my digital mobile life ever since I owned an iPhone. It's time to let it go.

Screw Apple, and screw its iPhone!

I am switching to Windows Mobile. Now that's a mobile operating system that certainly makes you the boss of your phone! It's just a matter of choosing the right device with the right features.

UFC 83 Montreal

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:56:13 GMT

It might be a couple of days late to blog about this but I am doing it anyways.

The Bell Centre in Montreal was filled with more than 21,000 UFC fans and their cheers filled the air and rocked the stadium. Those people were so pumped up, including yours truely, and we all couldn't wait to see GSP fight Serra. But we knew they would save the best for last.

After 8 great fights between popular fighters, it was time for the main event that everyone came for. First, GSP showed up and that's when everyone stood up cheering the Canadian fighter. And when Serra came out the crowd didn't show much appreciation.

The fight started and GSP seemed to be on top of Serra all the time. As a matter of fact, he completely dominated the fight giving Serra zero chances to fight back. The fight ended with a knockout from GSP.

The joy and satisfaction from GSP's victory felt overwhelming and I am pretty sure anyone in the streets of Montreal could hear the crowd within the Bell Centre. I almost lost my voice from all the yelling and cheering. In the end, the experience was unbelievable and totally worth the wait. It certainly beats watching it on TV.

Montreal - Night Before UFC Fight

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:15:22 GMT

A while back, my generous boss decided to take us all to the first UFC fight in Canada held at Bell Centre in Montreal. While the tickets and the hotel booking was paid by my boss (a million thanks) I have to obviously cover my personal expenses. The one hour flight from London (Ontario) to Montreal (Quebec) was comfortable and trouble-free.

After we landed and checked in the hotel, we left and took a cab downtown Montreal where all the action takes place. I honestly haven't seen that many people in several streets walking and making a lot of noise in Canada. There were hundreds of bars and clubs, restaurants and cafes, limos and cabs concentrated in several streets. And the traffic seemed to get worse as time passes by. And believe me, time does fly by so very quickly in downtown Montreal on a Friday night .

So anyways, after we had our share of fun, entertainment, meals and drinks we headed back to the hotel at around 1:30 AM.

So far so good.

Note: This post was originally typed on April 18, 2008.

Microsoft Office Live vs Google Docs

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:15:11 GMT

I am not sure if Microsoft Office Live is trying to compete with Google Docs, but what I know for sure is that I wasn't totally impressed. Don't get me wrong, having such a service is always appreciated especially when it ties in with Office 2007 in terms of syncing documents. Plus it's free of charge. But Office Live still has a long way to go in order for me to see a competition against Google Docs.

On the other hand, Google Docs immediately impressed me right off the bat with their simple, user friendly and responsive interface. They have most, if not all, the tools I ever want to use when it comes to creating documents, spreadsheets and presentations. And it's all available on the web free of charge. That's when I started searching for Microsoft's answer to Google Docs and found about Office Live.

You might think I am leaning more towards Google Docs, but those who know me know that I stand by Microsoft's products and services. And as soon as I knew about Office Live I immediately added it to my favorites and I am confident that I will be using it often. Better yet, I even started sending feedback filled with suggestions and feature requests that in my opinion will further improve and promote the service.

But the thing that bugs me is the way the Live Services team tends to widen the gap between some of their Live services. I mean, we're all familiar with the commonly seen Windows Live bar with the quick shortcuts to Home, Hotmail, Spaces and OneCare. But what about SkyDrive, QnA, and Office Live? And even though they were still in beta, shouldn't they allow more people to use those new services in order to get more feedback by giving users quick shortcuts to the services?

After I visited the Office Live site, I didn't know if it's part of the Windows Live services or is it a standalone online service. If it's a standalone service, then why put a "Live" label on it? And if it's part of the Windows Live services, then why does it not have the Windows Live bar at the top, and why doesn't it follow the same look and feel of the other Windows Live services? I don't know why, but Microsoft got me used to leaving me confused with any new service it launches in beta.

You know something, sometimes I wish I was part of the Live team in order to share and work with them on some of my ideas which I am confident will help improve the commonly used and new Windows Live services. But all I can do in the meantime is wish.

My iPhone Addiction

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:57:28 GMT

I can't seem to put my iPhone down! Is it really a bad thing to be addicted and so much connected to your phone? I mean, it's not like I make a lot of phone calls (anyone who knows me knows that I am not much of a chatter box). I don't know, there is certainly something different about this phone than all the others I previously owned. I can't believe I am about to say this, but I think I am beginning to be quite attached to my iPhone.

Don't get me wrong, it won't totally replace my Nokia E61 yet, but it certainly does certain things a lot better and faster. And in a more elegant way, as most Apple products do (if not all).

But I can admit and say it out loud that this phone is special to me. The way it looks and feels. The way it automatically rotates without a press of a button. The way all instances are connected and communicates seamlessly with one another. It's certainly a beautiful revolution wrapped in an elegant and classy package for everyone to admire.

I got to be honest with you. Before I got my iPhone, I was constantly annoyed by all the fuss and popularity a single phone, the iPhone, had. I started telling myself not to be carried away by the media frenzy. And it did work, for a very short period of time. Until I started to wonder if the iPhone really deserved all that. And it was clear to me that there was only one way to find out. I had to get my hands on it and see for myself.

As soon as I received the package and took the phone out of the black box, it immediately blew me away. It's unlike any cellphone I used. Everything about it was completely different than anything I have experienced. And that's when I realized how unique and special this device is and will always be.

The bottom line is: I don't care if I got addicted or attached to my iPhone. I am proud of owning such a revolutionary device. The experience alone is worth the long wait and every cent put into it.

Ladies and gentlemen, this post was typed on my iPhone.

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Windows Mobile 6.1

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:10:03 GMT

You should have heard by now that Microsoft officially announced the new updated version Windows Mobile 6.1, only for smartphones. Which means that all touch screen devices will still be running Windows Mobile 6 Professional.

I think there is a reason why touch screen devices still run the older version. I think Microsoft is planning on releasing a totally revamped Windows Mobile for touch based devices. Maybe something that can actually compete with the iPhone. Everyone knows that technology is moving towards touch based applications and gradually moving away from hardwares such as the mouse and keyboard when it comes to using everyday applications specially on mobile devices. So it would make sense if Microsoft is working on something powerfull in their labs.

As for the time being, Windows Mobile 6.1 looks great and comes with many new useful features. Windows Mobile is defintely going in the right direction, as it seems, and I will be looking forward for more news from the dev team.

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