Wednesday, October 29, 2003
"LADIES AMD GENTLEMAN, I GIVE YOU palmOne !"
PalmOne has released an EMAIL this evening as well as revamped the front page on their website to show that Palm and Handspring are truely one, or should I say palmOne.
It is definitely interesting to see the TREO 600 at top dead center on the PalmOne webpage
Further down on the page you find links to Palm support pages and HandSpring support pages. To see more of this technologically historic merger, go to the PalmOne site (I must admit I have trouble with the small "p" as you see in my post) or go to the complete News Release that outlines the complete new "palmOne".
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace and Wireless World
Friday, October 24, 2003
TMOBILE MAKES FIRST MOVE IN THE SOON TO COME WIRELESS RETENTION WAR?
Before we all start getting carried away, I believe we need more info on
this. The way I am reading the article I am about to post, reads to me like
TMOBILE is bringing out a Promo Plan that yes, the weekends will start
on Thursday nite, key words, FOR THIS PLAN. I am seeing the world in Forums
and newsgroup discussions getting ready to start laying on their couches calling Mom in Alaska or getting on their Wireless Data device, all day long on Fridays. I dont know about you, but I'm not reading that. Should make for some fun discussions this weekend though!!
FROM: WIRELESS WEEK
What will be music to some callers' ears, T-Mobile USA Inc. is declaring
that the weekend officially starts on Thursday night by expanding its
unlimited weekend calling plan.
The carrier is now offering subscribers an unlimited weekend calling plan
that kicks off on just after midnight on Friday, virtually turning the
weekend into a three-day event, T-Mobile spokesman Bryan Zidar says.
Typically, unlimited weekend calling plans run from 12 a.m. Saturday to
11:59 p.m. Sunday.
The promotional plan, which retails for $39.99 a month and includes 600
whenever minutes, is available to new subscribers as well as existing
customers who call to make the switch. Because it is a promotional plan,
existing customers will not be automatically migrated, Zidar says.
The move to expand unlimited calling hours is most likely designed to entice
customers to stay with the carrier. With the local number portability
deadline less than a month away, carriers are gearing up for a battle to
retain subscribers.
Yesterday, T-Mobile became the first wireless carrier to announce it has
signed portability operating pacts with all five of is major rivals: AT&T
Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Nextel Communications, Sprint PCS and Verizon
Wireless. The agreements work out the details of how the carriers plan to
let customers switch service providers while taking their numbers with them.
Before we all start getting carried away, I believe we need more info on
this. The way I am reading the article I am about to post, reads to me like
TMOBILE is bringing out a Promo Plan that yes, the weekends will start
on Thursday nite, key words, FOR THIS PLAN. I am seeing the world in Forums
and newsgroup discussions getting ready to start laying on their couches calling Mom in Alaska or getting on their Wireless Data device, all day long on Fridays. I dont know about you, but I'm not reading that. Should make for some fun discussions this weekend though!!
FROM: WIRELESS WEEK
What will be music to some callers' ears, T-Mobile USA Inc. is declaring
that the weekend officially starts on Thursday night by expanding its
unlimited weekend calling plan.
The carrier is now offering subscribers an unlimited weekend calling plan
that kicks off on just after midnight on Friday, virtually turning the
weekend into a three-day event, T-Mobile spokesman Bryan Zidar says.
Typically, unlimited weekend calling plans run from 12 a.m. Saturday to
11:59 p.m. Sunday.
The promotional plan, which retails for $39.99 a month and includes 600
whenever minutes, is available to new subscribers as well as existing
customers who call to make the switch. Because it is a promotional plan,
existing customers will not be automatically migrated, Zidar says.
The move to expand unlimited calling hours is most likely designed to entice
customers to stay with the carrier. With the local number portability
deadline less than a month away, carriers are gearing up for a battle to
retain subscribers.
Yesterday, T-Mobile became the first wireless carrier to announce it has
signed portability operating pacts with all five of is major rivals: AT&T
Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Nextel Communications, Sprint PCS and Verizon
Wireless. The agreements work out the details of how the carriers plan to
let customers switch service providers while taking their numbers with them.
HP Overtakes Palm in European PDA Market Battle
Hewlett Packard has taken the top spot in the western European PDA market from Palm, according to IDC research.
The sector -- including voice-only mobiles, traditional stand-alone PDAs and converged smartphones -- is booming, with more than 1.3 million units shipped during the third quarter of this year.
IDC's research found that Nokia retained its number one position in the mobile-device market, with 44 percent market share. But in the stand-alone PDA market, HP overtook Palm in western Europe.
Andrew Brown, mobile devices programme manager for IDC, said in a statement: "The uplift in demand for handhelds is partly attributable to the influx and availability of Windows Mobile Pocket PC 2003 devices, but also suggests a pick-up in terms of business demand."
Symbian was found to remain the market-leading operating system, with a 53 percent share. But the rebranded Windows Mobile OS, which includes Microsoft Smartphone, Pocket PC, and Pocket PC Phone Edition, saw a sales increase of 73 percent compared with the same period last year -- albeit from a very low base.
Meanwhile, the number of devices shipped using the Palm OS dropped by 3 percent year on year.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Hewlett Packard has taken the top spot in the western European PDA market from Palm, according to IDC research.
The sector -- including voice-only mobiles, traditional stand-alone PDAs and converged smartphones -- is booming, with more than 1.3 million units shipped during the third quarter of this year.
IDC's research found that Nokia retained its number one position in the mobile-device market, with 44 percent market share. But in the stand-alone PDA market, HP overtook Palm in western Europe.
Andrew Brown, mobile devices programme manager for IDC, said in a statement: "The uplift in demand for handhelds is partly attributable to the influx and availability of Windows Mobile Pocket PC 2003 devices, but also suggests a pick-up in terms of business demand."
Symbian was found to remain the market-leading operating system, with a 53 percent share. But the rebranded Windows Mobile OS, which includes Microsoft Smartphone, Pocket PC, and Pocket PC Phone Edition, saw a sales increase of 73 percent compared with the same period last year -- albeit from a very low base.
Meanwhile, the number of devices shipped using the Palm OS dropped by 3 percent year on year.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
MOBILE WORKERS ARE LOVING Wi-Fi , AND DRINKING LOTS OF COFFEE!
For all the time Stan Weisenheimer spends on his cell phone and laptop computer, the medical sales representative hardly considers himself wired to his work.
Still, Weisenheimer spends plenty of time away from his home office, zipping about meeting clients or processing documents on his Sony laptop. So about a year ago, he pulled the plug on his old way of doing business and set up a wireless Internet account with T-Mobile.
Now Weisenheimer finds himself in a familiar workspace -- perched at a tiny table inside a Starbucks coffee shop, scrolling Web sites for a prospective buyers or e-mailing necessary info. Another day at the wireless office.
"It's nice to be able to get out of the house and work in another environment," says Weisenheimer, 42, scooting a tall cup of double decaf away from his laptop screen. "`You get tired of looking at the same office all the time."
For Web surfers looking for a new outlook on online, Wi-Fi looks like the wavelength of the future.
Wi-Fi, shorthand for wireless fidelity, allows computer users to connect to the Internet, send e-mail, or download files at high speeds without hooking up to phone jacks or cable lines. The standard Wi-Fi setup uses a 2.4-gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency that transmits a broadband connection in about a 150-foot radius, creating a wireless localized network called a "hot spot."
And it's these hot spots that are only getting hotter.
For the past year, Starbucks has brewed up hundreds of T-Mobile HotSpots, creating the nation's largest carrier-owned Wi-Fi service. Meanwhile, more colleges, hotels and bookstores are offering Wi-Fi to students and customers lugging laptops or handheld PCs.
"Roughly, the usage is doubling every year," says Dennis Eaton of the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit organization formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of Wi-Fi products. "You're also seeing it in some of the more unlikely places, like trains, RV campgrounds, marinas and truck stops. There's a whole new economic model here."
That model has shifted significantly from the business sector to the consumer market. The Consumer Electronics Association, citing Gartner Inc. data, estimates frequent wireless local area network (WLAN) users in North America will grow from 4.2 million in 2003 to more than 31 million in 2007. The CEA says even McDonald's plans to test hot spots in New York City, Chicago and California by the end of this year.
Of course, it helps that setting up Wi-Fi is as easy as ordering a Happy Meal. For the home, Eaton says, all it takes is a Wi-Fi router, or access point, that you can purchase at most consumer electronic stores for as little as $100. (Briggs set up his home wireless network for around $70.) Most new notebooks already have Wi-Fi built in. For older models, you can slip in a Wi-Fi card for as little as $50.
About the only significant Wi-Fi cost is accessing it away from home.
Much like cellular providers, public Wi-Fi providers typically charge for airtime usage. At Starbucks, users can log into one of several T-Mobile HotSpot plans, ranging from a one-year subscription ($30 per month for unlimited access) to by-the-minute service ($6 minimum for up to an hour, with 10 cents a minute thereafter).
Stan Weisenheimer says he's not as concerned about Wi-Fi safety as he is about Wi-Fi prices. He predicts rates will drop in the next two or three years. And if Wi-Fi ever does join air conditioning as a cool standard in public places, so much the better.
Till then, Weisenheimer says he'll gladly pay a little extra for his wireless day job.
"I'll still do it because of the convenience," he says, "and to get out of the house."
For INFO On How Wi-Fi Access Works at StarBucks CLICK HERE
To Try Out A FREE One Day PASS at a Starbucks HotSpot Click on The TMOBILE FreePass !!
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
For all the time Stan Weisenheimer spends on his cell phone and laptop computer, the medical sales representative hardly considers himself wired to his work.
Still, Weisenheimer spends plenty of time away from his home office, zipping about meeting clients or processing documents on his Sony laptop. So about a year ago, he pulled the plug on his old way of doing business and set up a wireless Internet account with T-Mobile.
Now Weisenheimer finds himself in a familiar workspace -- perched at a tiny table inside a Starbucks coffee shop, scrolling Web sites for a prospective buyers or e-mailing necessary info. Another day at the wireless office.
"It's nice to be able to get out of the house and work in another environment," says Weisenheimer, 42, scooting a tall cup of double decaf away from his laptop screen. "`You get tired of looking at the same office all the time."
For Web surfers looking for a new outlook on online, Wi-Fi looks like the wavelength of the future.
Wi-Fi, shorthand for wireless fidelity, allows computer users to connect to the Internet, send e-mail, or download files at high speeds without hooking up to phone jacks or cable lines. The standard Wi-Fi setup uses a 2.4-gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency that transmits a broadband connection in about a 150-foot radius, creating a wireless localized network called a "hot spot."
And it's these hot spots that are only getting hotter.
For the past year, Starbucks has brewed up hundreds of T-Mobile HotSpots, creating the nation's largest carrier-owned Wi-Fi service. Meanwhile, more colleges, hotels and bookstores are offering Wi-Fi to students and customers lugging laptops or handheld PCs.
"Roughly, the usage is doubling every year," says Dennis Eaton of the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit organization formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of Wi-Fi products. "You're also seeing it in some of the more unlikely places, like trains, RV campgrounds, marinas and truck stops. There's a whole new economic model here."
That model has shifted significantly from the business sector to the consumer market. The Consumer Electronics Association, citing Gartner Inc. data, estimates frequent wireless local area network (WLAN) users in North America will grow from 4.2 million in 2003 to more than 31 million in 2007. The CEA says even McDonald's plans to test hot spots in New York City, Chicago and California by the end of this year.
Of course, it helps that setting up Wi-Fi is as easy as ordering a Happy Meal. For the home, Eaton says, all it takes is a Wi-Fi router, or access point, that you can purchase at most consumer electronic stores for as little as $100. (Briggs set up his home wireless network for around $70.) Most new notebooks already have Wi-Fi built in. For older models, you can slip in a Wi-Fi card for as little as $50.
About the only significant Wi-Fi cost is accessing it away from home.
Much like cellular providers, public Wi-Fi providers typically charge for airtime usage. At Starbucks, users can log into one of several T-Mobile HotSpot plans, ranging from a one-year subscription ($30 per month for unlimited access) to by-the-minute service ($6 minimum for up to an hour, with 10 cents a minute thereafter).
Stan Weisenheimer says he's not as concerned about Wi-Fi safety as he is about Wi-Fi prices. He predicts rates will drop in the next two or three years. And if Wi-Fi ever does join air conditioning as a cool standard in public places, so much the better.
Till then, Weisenheimer says he'll gladly pay a little extra for his wireless day job.
"I'll still do it because of the convenience," he says, "and to get out of the house."
For INFO On How Wi-Fi Access Works at StarBucks CLICK HERE
To Try Out A FREE One Day PASS at a Starbucks HotSpot Click on The TMOBILE FreePass !!
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
SanDisk Releases SD Wi-Fi Card and It's In Stores, Getting Your Wallet? SIT BACK DOWN!
SanDisk has released and gotten its long awaited SD "Connect" Wi-Fi card into the stores of such mass retailers as BestBuy.com, CompUSA and other computer retail outlets. Bundled with these cards is also Bitstreams new Wireless WEB Browser, ThunderHawk for Pocket PC. So what that does this have to do for all you PALM users you ask?
Well basically , nothing. But the good news is it means we are getting close. I took a little trip over to the SanDisk website and got us a little more info. This card, while called the SD Connect Wi-Fi card, requires a special slot, SDIO slot to be exact. The Wi-Fi SD (Secure Digital) card is the smallest Wi-Fi card in the market. The card will allow SDIO enabled devices to connect to HotSpots (802.11b Access Points) worldwide for fast wireless Internet connectivity. The card supports Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2003 devices that have an SDIO enabled slot. But , unfortunately, that leaves the PALM users out in the cold, for now. The WEB site says Fall of 2003 for OS 5 support. (I don't know about you, but here in Wash DC, It's Fall!) But that leaves a couple of questions in the air. Will it be this exact card and we just need to download drivers or will it mean a new piece of hardware? Will anyone with a OS4 Device with a Slot end up "dreaming" about it ? Anyway, I thought you might like to see it, and know IT IS CLOSE!! For the SanDisk SD Connect Wi-Fi page CLICK HERE Should you have a Pocket PC device, there is a link to get the 30 Day Demo for BitStreams ThunderHawk Browser RIGHT HERE as well.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
FREE 64 MB Memory card (after rebate) w/Palm Tungsten E handheld! Just $199. PLUS FREE SHIPPING!
SanDisk has released and gotten its long awaited SD "Connect" Wi-Fi card into the stores of such mass retailers as BestBuy.com, CompUSA and other computer retail outlets. Bundled with these cards is also Bitstreams new Wireless WEB Browser, ThunderHawk for Pocket PC. So what that does this have to do for all you PALM users you ask?
Well basically , nothing. But the good news is it means we are getting close. I took a little trip over to the SanDisk website and got us a little more info. This card, while called the SD Connect Wi-Fi card, requires a special slot, SDIO slot to be exact. The Wi-Fi SD (Secure Digital) card is the smallest Wi-Fi card in the market. The card will allow SDIO enabled devices to connect to HotSpots (802.11b Access Points) worldwide for fast wireless Internet connectivity. The card supports Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2003 devices that have an SDIO enabled slot. But , unfortunately, that leaves the PALM users out in the cold, for now. The WEB site says Fall of 2003 for OS 5 support. (I don't know about you, but here in Wash DC, It's Fall!) But that leaves a couple of questions in the air. Will it be this exact card and we just need to download drivers or will it mean a new piece of hardware? Will anyone with a OS4 Device with a Slot end up "dreaming" about it ? Anyway, I thought you might like to see it, and know IT IS CLOSE!! For the SanDisk SD Connect Wi-Fi page CLICK HERE Should you have a Pocket PC device, there is a link to get the 30 Day Demo for BitStreams ThunderHawk Browser RIGHT HERE as well.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
FREE 64 MB Memory card (after rebate) w/Palm Tungsten E handheld! Just $199. PLUS FREE SHIPPING!
PROPORTA RELEASES 2 NEW LEATHER CASE'S FOR THE PALM TUNGSTON E
Chloe Temple, Product Sales Manager for Proporta, announced today, "I am pleased to announce yet another of Proporta's latest releases, the leather case for the new Palm Tungsten E. As always, we at Proporta strive to keep up with the fast pace changes within the PDA market and the recently introduced Tungsten E is no exception."
"Crafted in soft leather, the Proporta case is custom made to fit your Tungsten E handheld. The case has space for credit, business and memory cards and features a secure attachment system to hold your Tungsten E in place," she added.
We have the case in two designs to cater for all tastes:
The Book Style
The Proporta leather case is custom designed to perfectly fit your Tungsten-E. We've included space for bank cards, business cards and memory cards along with a secure attachment system to hold your Palm in place.
The Flip Style
Crafted in soft leather the Proporta leather case is custom designed to fit your PDA. The case has space for credit, business and memory cards and features a secure attachment system to hold your PDA in place. The flip opening makes this case ideal for both left and right handed PDA users.
To See More Of These Cases, Or Any Other Accessory For your PDA Check Out PROPORTA
Chloe Temple, Product Sales Manager for Proporta, announced today, "I am pleased to announce yet another of Proporta's latest releases, the leather case for the new Palm Tungsten E. As always, we at Proporta strive to keep up with the fast pace changes within the PDA market and the recently introduced Tungsten E is no exception."
"Crafted in soft leather, the Proporta case is custom made to fit your Tungsten E handheld. The case has space for credit, business and memory cards and features a secure attachment system to hold your Tungsten E in place," she added.
We have the case in two designs to cater for all tastes:
The Book Style
The Proporta leather case is custom designed to perfectly fit your Tungsten-E. We've included space for bank cards, business cards and memory cards along with a secure attachment system to hold your Palm in place.
The Flip Style
Crafted in soft leather the Proporta leather case is custom designed to fit your PDA. The case has space for credit, business and memory cards and features a secure attachment system to hold your PDA in place. The flip opening makes this case ideal for both left and right handed PDA users.
To See More Of These Cases, Or Any Other Accessory For your PDA Check Out PROPORTA
Sunday, October 19, 2003
PALM LAUNCHES "PALM PAYS BACK!!" NEW REWARDS PROGRAM !!
Palm has just announced the beginning of a new REWARDS/ REFERRAL Program, called PALM PAYS BACK!
Registered Palm customers earn referral points for inviting their friendes to simply sign up for the program or gain even larger REWARD POINTS for reffering customers to Palm that actually buy and register their Palm. To register or to get more information about PALM REWARDS Program, go to PALM PAYS BACK Palm Rewards gives you $100 in REWARD BUCKS just for signing up!!
Refer, Purchase, Earn
Here's how you do it...
You can earn Palm Bucks for sending your friends referral emails and getting them to enroll in the program!
Each time a friend buys a qualifying Palm™ handheld and validates it here with the Palm Pays Back program, you'll earn valuable Palm Bucks.
To Sign Up or Get More Information on the PALM PAY$ BACK PROGRAM CLICK HERE
Ron pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Palm has just announced the beginning of a new REWARDS/ REFERRAL Program, called PALM PAYS BACK!
Registered Palm customers earn referral points for inviting their friendes to simply sign up for the program or gain even larger REWARD POINTS for reffering customers to Palm that actually buy and register their Palm. To register or to get more information about PALM REWARDS Program, go to PALM PAYS BACK Palm Rewards gives you $100 in REWARD BUCKS just for signing up!!
Refer, Purchase, Earn
Here's how you do it...
You can earn Palm Bucks for sending your friends referral emails and getting them to enroll in the program!
Each time a friend buys a qualifying Palm™ handheld and validates it here with the Palm Pays Back program, you'll earn valuable Palm Bucks.
To Sign Up or Get More Information on the PALM PAY$ BACK PROGRAM CLICK HERE
Ron pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIRST GIVEAWAY WINNER !!
JoAnn R. of Pt. Jeff Station, New York has become the winner of a PALM Tungston T Aluminum Case from our great friends at PROPORTA for her PALM Tungston T.
JoAnn just sent me an EMAIL confirming her EMAIL notification of the WIN and I quote:
Wow, you're kidding! I look forward to receiving it, and will keep
visiting your site. Thanks very much!
NEW CONTEST THIS WEEKEND! STARTS FRIDAY. DON"T FORGET TO TRY AGAIN!!!!
I WILL POST NEW DETAILS FRIDAY AFTERNOON !!!
New Intellisync®: Phone Edition Software Enables Users To Synchronize Contact Data Between Their Mobile Phones And PCs
SAN JOSE, CA (10/13/03) - Pumatech, Inc. (NASDAQ: PUMA), a leading provider of synchronization software and services, today announced it is extending its market-leading Intellisync® synchronization solution to the mobile phone market with the introduction of Intellisync: Phone Edition. The new, phone-based product supports popular mobile phone platforms and provides users with a quick and easy way to ensure that contact information stored in their phones is up-to-date and in sync. The initial release of Intellisync: Phone Edition software delivers two-way synchronization of contact data between Microsoft Outlook and specific mobile phones manufactured by Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and LG.
By synchronizing directly with personal information management (PIM) software such as Microsoft Outlook, Intellisync: Phone Edition alleviates the difficulty of entering multiple contacts into a small phone interface. Intellisync: Phone Edition's synchronization capabilities allow users to employ Microsoft Outlook as their primary source of contact data, ensuring that important contact information is preserved should their phone be lost, stolen or damaged.
http://www.pumatech.com/press_releases/101303.html
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
SAVE $$$ on Palm open box handhelds. New Special Offers Everyday.Only $39.95 for Palm 64MB Expansion Card Plus with $20 Mail-In Rebate!
Sunday, October 05, 2003
PROPORTA STATES THEIR "CASE"-- CASES FOR NEW PALMS WILL STAY IN LINE WITH CURRENT MODELS
Chloe of PROPORTA has asked us to let all of the readers know that PROPORTA will be introducing new cases and accessories for the new PALM LINE as promptly as possible. The cases etc. are to be patterned after the current PALM accessory line, just with modifications for that "Custom" fit they are so renowned for. In keeping with their cutting edge marketing strategies, any customer who preorders an aluminum or leather case for the new PALM's will receive a generic neoprene case to protect their new investment until the new cases arrive and are ready to ship. If you ask me, thats a heck of a deal!! Kind of a "twofer"! So stay tuned for details. Remeber that we have discount codes available to use on PROPORTA's web site to save you money now.
(PROPORTA is offering readers of PalmPlace discount codes as a Thank You!!! For a limited time, when you order from PROPORTA, use the following code PALMPLAH10 - 10% discount off all hardware products or PALMPLAS20 - 20% discount off all software products !!
Chloe of PROPORTA has asked us to let all of the readers know that PROPORTA will be introducing new cases and accessories for the new PALM LINE as promptly as possible. The cases etc. are to be patterned after the current PALM accessory line, just with modifications for that "Custom" fit they are so renowned for. In keeping with their cutting edge marketing strategies, any customer who preorders an aluminum or leather case for the new PALM's will receive a generic neoprene case to protect their new investment until the new cases arrive and are ready to ship. If you ask me, thats a heck of a deal!! Kind of a "twofer"! So stay tuned for details. Remeber that we have discount codes available to use on PROPORTA's web site to save you money now.
(PROPORTA is offering readers of PalmPlace discount codes as a Thank You!!! For a limited time, when you order from PROPORTA, use the following code PALMPLAH10 - 10% discount off all hardware products or PALMPLAS20 - 20% discount off all software products !!
Special Offers from Handspring.com!
PHONES and PDA"S GET CAMERAS, AND THEY"RE GETTING USED!!
Thanks to our evergrowing technology, the features and similarities between today's wireless phones and PDA's are becoming so entertwined that it's getting to be a chore to decide which is which. So close are these devices that some Phones are more PDA's then Phones and vice versa. In fact, it seems that the consumer nowdays has to decide whether they need a phone with PDA features as an extra, or, a PDA that can make phone calls as well.
The Treo 600 offers the capabilities of a 21st century mobile, as well as those of a PDA and a digital camera.
So, in any given story/article these days, it's really very easy just to change the word Phone for PDA or PDA for Phone, and have a completely interesting and ACCURATE story. So on that note, read on:
People Are Finding Reasons to Take Photos with Their Cell Phones
Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
Thursday, October 02, 2003
Don't like being photographed?
Well, traditional cameras soon may be the least of your worries. Now, cell phones and PDA'si have eyes, too, and they're everywhere.
Take the Sprite Liquid Mix concert in Cleveland last month. Dozens of camera phones floated above the standing crowd to snap shots of the stage, even though traditional cameras were prohibited.
Or take the Dallas Morning News. A day after space shuttle Columbia crashed, the newspaper published photos taken with cell phones.
Or take the teen-ager in Clifton, N.J., who led police to a man who tried to kidnap him in August. Police arrested the suspect the next day based on a photo of the man and his license plate, the Associated Press reported.
"The demand for camera phones is definitely growing," said Laura Merritt of Verizon, the nation's largest wireless carrier.
Companies such as Sprint and T-Mobile are rolling out camera phones left and right to make the most out of this craze. And unlike services to surf the Web or play games on mobile phones, camera phones are catching on. People are finding reasons to take pictures, whether it's for work or for pleasure.
The result, some say, could be a society where cameras become almost as ubiquitous as cell phones are now. That's already happened in Japan where the cellular camera phones have been around for a few years.
According to researchers at San Francisco's Zelos Group, about one-third of all wireless subscribers will have a camera phone, by 2008. That's a marked change from many Americans' current habits.
Americans don't do much more than yak on their phones, even though the total number of minutes we spend on them has doubled over the past two years, analysts say.
The only nonvoice service that's really hooked people so far is text messaging. Twenty-two percent of cell-phone subscribers said they use the feature, according to a recent survey by the market research firm TNS Telecoms.
So what makes camera phones so popular?
It could be the convenience. (How many times have you said "Oh, I wish I had a camera?")
It could be the novelty. (What says "cool" like having a camera phone?)
But most likely, it's the ability to zip pictures to other camera phones, e-mail them, or upload them to personal Web pages.
Sprint Vice President Chip Novick said its subscribers shared 10.5 million pictures in the second quarter. And researchers from the Zelos Group say revenue generated from transmitting photos from phones will grow to more than $440 million in 2008, up from about $10.3 million this year. The companies make money on the camera phones by charging for the service and sometimes by the number of photos you save on their Internet servers. Uploading pictures to the Internet has become so popular that it's even got a name: moblogging.
The word "blog" itself is short for "Web log," which is a personal Web site full of information posted by cell phone users, arranged in chronological order. Blogs can be photo albums, diaries, poetry, work information or just about anything. For instance, numerous blogs dedicated to the Aug. 14 blackout are floating around the Internet, most with camera-phone photos of packed New York streets.
Verizon's camera phone taps the blogging phenomenon by letting users send photos with voice recordings, Merritt said. The wireless carrier also offers customers an online photo gallery, much like No. 4 wireless provider Sprint does.
Blogging aside, some people are content to just take photos at concerts.
Mixx Nelson, of Canton, Ohio, put his Sprint phone to use at last month's Sprite Liquid Mix concert at the Tower City Amphitheater in Cleveland."I wasn't really thinking about it at first, but then I saw the long list of stuff we couldn't have, including cameras," he said, shouting over the music. "I thought (the security) dude was going to take my phone away for a second. But he didn't. I've been taking pictures ever since." Clear Channel Entertainment, which sponsored the Liquid Mix show, doesn't allow cameras in most of the concerts it promotes. The San Antonio-based company didn't return numerous calls seeking comment about its camera-phone policy.
Christi S. Bechtold of Litchfield, Ohio, said wireless companies are missing the boat by targeting users like Nelson. The real market and money, she said, lies with small business owners who will use camera phones to work.
Bechtold, who runs the custom-cabinet supply company CS Bechtold Designs, said she uses her phone to convey exactly what she's facing at a job site. Sometimes words just won't do when a house's plumbing juts off at weird angles and the cabinet installer needs to know exact dimensions.
In those situations, Bechtold said she had to call the installer out to a job site, or take a picture of the problem with a regular digital camera and drive home to e-mail it.
But with a camera phone, she said, "I can e-mail a picture and call you right back."
Now, Bechtold said she's trying to talk her installers into buying camera phones. That way she can avoid driving to a job site when an installer discovers a problem that she needs to see.
Such a situation arose last month.
"I spent five hours yesterday driving out to Sandusky and back to meet with a client for something that could've been handled in five minutes," she said.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
NEW Handhelds, Big Price Drops & a FREE Shipping Offer! All at the PalmOne Store
PHONES and PDA"S GET CAMERAS, AND THEY"RE GETTING USED!!
Thanks to our evergrowing technology, the features and similarities between today's wireless phones and PDA's are becoming so entertwined that it's getting to be a chore to decide which is which. So close are these devices that some Phones are more PDA's then Phones and vice versa. In fact, it seems that the consumer nowdays has to decide whether they need a phone with PDA features as an extra, or, a PDA that can make phone calls as well.
The Treo 600 offers the capabilities of a 21st century mobile, as well as those of a PDA and a digital camera.
So, in any given story/article these days, it's really very easy just to change the word Phone for PDA or PDA for Phone, and have a completely interesting and ACCURATE story. So on that note, read on:
People Are Finding Reasons to Take Photos with Their Cell Phones
Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
Thursday, October 02, 2003
Don't like being photographed?
Well, traditional cameras soon may be the least of your worries. Now, cell phones and PDA'si have eyes, too, and they're everywhere.
Take the Sprite Liquid Mix concert in Cleveland last month. Dozens of camera phones floated above the standing crowd to snap shots of the stage, even though traditional cameras were prohibited.
Or take the Dallas Morning News. A day after space shuttle Columbia crashed, the newspaper published photos taken with cell phones.
Or take the teen-ager in Clifton, N.J., who led police to a man who tried to kidnap him in August. Police arrested the suspect the next day based on a photo of the man and his license plate, the Associated Press reported.
"The demand for camera phones is definitely growing," said Laura Merritt of Verizon, the nation's largest wireless carrier.
Companies such as Sprint and T-Mobile are rolling out camera phones left and right to make the most out of this craze. And unlike services to surf the Web or play games on mobile phones, camera phones are catching on. People are finding reasons to take pictures, whether it's for work or for pleasure.
The result, some say, could be a society where cameras become almost as ubiquitous as cell phones are now. That's already happened in Japan where the cellular camera phones have been around for a few years.
According to researchers at San Francisco's Zelos Group, about one-third of all wireless subscribers will have a camera phone, by 2008. That's a marked change from many Americans' current habits.
Americans don't do much more than yak on their phones, even though the total number of minutes we spend on them has doubled over the past two years, analysts say.
The only nonvoice service that's really hooked people so far is text messaging. Twenty-two percent of cell-phone subscribers said they use the feature, according to a recent survey by the market research firm TNS Telecoms.
So what makes camera phones so popular?
It could be the convenience. (How many times have you said "Oh, I wish I had a camera?")
It could be the novelty. (What says "cool" like having a camera phone?)
But most likely, it's the ability to zip pictures to other camera phones, e-mail them, or upload them to personal Web pages.
Sprint Vice President Chip Novick said its subscribers shared 10.5 million pictures in the second quarter. And researchers from the Zelos Group say revenue generated from transmitting photos from phones will grow to more than $440 million in 2008, up from about $10.3 million this year. The companies make money on the camera phones by charging for the service and sometimes by the number of photos you save on their Internet servers. Uploading pictures to the Internet has become so popular that it's even got a name: moblogging.
The word "blog" itself is short for "Web log," which is a personal Web site full of information posted by cell phone users, arranged in chronological order. Blogs can be photo albums, diaries, poetry, work information or just about anything. For instance, numerous blogs dedicated to the Aug. 14 blackout are floating around the Internet, most with camera-phone photos of packed New York streets.
Verizon's camera phone taps the blogging phenomenon by letting users send photos with voice recordings, Merritt said. The wireless carrier also offers customers an online photo gallery, much like No. 4 wireless provider Sprint does.
Blogging aside, some people are content to just take photos at concerts.
Mixx Nelson, of Canton, Ohio, put his Sprint phone to use at last month's Sprite Liquid Mix concert at the Tower City Amphitheater in Cleveland."I wasn't really thinking about it at first, but then I saw the long list of stuff we couldn't have, including cameras," he said, shouting over the music. "I thought (the security) dude was going to take my phone away for a second. But he didn't. I've been taking pictures ever since." Clear Channel Entertainment, which sponsored the Liquid Mix show, doesn't allow cameras in most of the concerts it promotes. The San Antonio-based company didn't return numerous calls seeking comment about its camera-phone policy.
Christi S. Bechtold of Litchfield, Ohio, said wireless companies are missing the boat by targeting users like Nelson. The real market and money, she said, lies with small business owners who will use camera phones to work.
Bechtold, who runs the custom-cabinet supply company CS Bechtold Designs, said she uses her phone to convey exactly what she's facing at a job site. Sometimes words just won't do when a house's plumbing juts off at weird angles and the cabinet installer needs to know exact dimensions.
In those situations, Bechtold said she had to call the installer out to a job site, or take a picture of the problem with a regular digital camera and drive home to e-mail it.
But with a camera phone, she said, "I can e-mail a picture and call you right back."
Now, Bechtold said she's trying to talk her installers into buying camera phones. That way she can avoid driving to a job site when an installer discovers a problem that she needs to see.
Such a situation arose last month.
"I spent five hours yesterday driving out to Sandusky and back to meet with a client for something that could've been handled in five minutes," she said.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
NEW Handhelds, Big Price Drops & a FREE Shipping Offer! All at the PalmOne Store
PALM FIGHTS BACK !!
or
WHY BUY A PALM INSTEAD OF A PPC ? (My Title)
In case you have been shacking up with a hibernating bear or your the last Japanese soldier, still fighting WWII on a small island in the Pacific, PALM has just released 3 new handheld PDA's. I know that as a consumer and sometime writer, there just hasn't been enough press surrounding the release of PALM's 3 new handhelds, and I feel your pain. Your thirst for knowledge. While Sammy and the rest of the PALM ADDICT's staff struggled and scoured through web site after web site, computer magazines, EMAIL'd newsletters etc to provide you with SOMETHING to enlighten you about the new PALM models, it was tough folks. (OK, my career in stand up isn't quite working out yet)
Anyway, I just ahppened to come across this article that I found a little bit different then the hordes of PALM reviews out there. PC Magazines writers took a fresh approach by comparing the new PALMS to the comparable PALM Clones and some of the Pocket PC or Windows Mobile 2003 units that are out there. They also took a good luck at what you were getting in the new PALMs that the werent in the predecessors, excpecially some of the bundled applications. It's a good read. Enjoy it.
Palm Fights Back
By Bruce and Marge Brown
October 1, 2003
Palm, the market-leading PDA company, will have a new name (palmOne as of mid-November) and a new lineup of handhelds to combat the raft of Microsoft Windows Mobile PDAs that have surfaced.
The line now consists of seven models, including three that the company has just announced: the entry-level Zire 21 ($100 street), with a more powerful CPU and more memory than the previous Zire; the Tungsten E ($200 street), a business-oriented handheld at an affordable price; and the Tungsten T3 ($400 street), a beefed-up version of the outgoing T2 featuring a class-leading display, more powerful productivity and multimedia software, and improved Bluetooth configuration and management software.
Those two Tungsten entries also come with software improvements. The basic PIM applications have increased capability, including more fields and views. And the significant applications are now preloaded in ROM, so you don't have to load them from an auxiliary CD.
For Microsoft Outlook and Office compatibility, the new DataViz Documents to Go 6 Professional Edition has native file support for Word and Excel. This lets you view files directly from e-mail or file transfers without conversion. Multimedia is handled by RealOne Mobile Player, Kinoma Video, and Palm Photos (all conveniently preloaded). A new addition is J2ME compatibility via IBM's WebSphere Micro Environment, which opens a world of J2ME programs for Tungsten users.
The Palm Zire 21 takes over the entry-level slot in the Palm lineup, and it's an even greater value than the original Zire. Now boosted to 8MB of RAM (from 2MB) and running a 126-MHz CPU, the Zire 21 features the latest Palm OS version and PIM applications. That's good, since with its monochrome 160-by-160 display and lack of a memory expansion slot, the Zire 21 is really suited only for those basic applications.
The Zire 21's main competition is the Sony Clié SJ20 ($130 list, before $30 rebate). The SJ20 is also a monochrome unit, but it has 16MB of RAM, a 320-by-320 display, and a Memory Stick removable media slot, giving you more PDA for the money.
That said, if the Zire 21 really winds up selling for closer to $80, as its predecessor did, it's well worth the price. This model isn't good for multimedia handling, and power users will want more capacity and expansion. But we found it adequate for students, teens, or anyone who wants a low-cost PDA for handling to-do lists, contacts, and calendar items.
CONTINUE ARTICLE & Tungston E & T3 Reviews
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
NEW Palm Tungsten™ Handhelds and a cool new Zire 21 Handheld! FREE Shipping!
or
WHY BUY A PALM INSTEAD OF A PPC ? (My Title)
In case you have been shacking up with a hibernating bear or your the last Japanese soldier, still fighting WWII on a small island in the Pacific, PALM has just released 3 new handheld PDA's. I know that as a consumer and sometime writer, there just hasn't been enough press surrounding the release of PALM's 3 new handhelds, and I feel your pain. Your thirst for knowledge. While Sammy and the rest of the PALM ADDICT's staff struggled and scoured through web site after web site, computer magazines, EMAIL'd newsletters etc to provide you with SOMETHING to enlighten you about the new PALM models, it was tough folks. (OK, my career in stand up isn't quite working out yet)
Anyway, I just ahppened to come across this article that I found a little bit different then the hordes of PALM reviews out there. PC Magazines writers took a fresh approach by comparing the new PALMS to the comparable PALM Clones and some of the Pocket PC or Windows Mobile 2003 units that are out there. They also took a good luck at what you were getting in the new PALMs that the werent in the predecessors, excpecially some of the bundled applications. It's a good read. Enjoy it.
Palm Fights Back
By Bruce and Marge Brown
October 1, 2003
Palm, the market-leading PDA company, will have a new name (palmOne as of mid-November) and a new lineup of handhelds to combat the raft of Microsoft Windows Mobile PDAs that have surfaced.
The line now consists of seven models, including three that the company has just announced: the entry-level Zire 21 ($100 street), with a more powerful CPU and more memory than the previous Zire; the Tungsten E ($200 street), a business-oriented handheld at an affordable price; and the Tungsten T3 ($400 street), a beefed-up version of the outgoing T2 featuring a class-leading display, more powerful productivity and multimedia software, and improved Bluetooth configuration and management software.
Those two Tungsten entries also come with software improvements. The basic PIM applications have increased capability, including more fields and views. And the significant applications are now preloaded in ROM, so you don't have to load them from an auxiliary CD.
For Microsoft Outlook and Office compatibility, the new DataViz Documents to Go 6 Professional Edition has native file support for Word and Excel. This lets you view files directly from e-mail or file transfers without conversion. Multimedia is handled by RealOne Mobile Player, Kinoma Video, and Palm Photos (all conveniently preloaded). A new addition is J2ME compatibility via IBM's WebSphere Micro Environment, which opens a world of J2ME programs for Tungsten users.
The Palm Zire 21 takes over the entry-level slot in the Palm lineup, and it's an even greater value than the original Zire. Now boosted to 8MB of RAM (from 2MB) and running a 126-MHz CPU, the Zire 21 features the latest Palm OS version and PIM applications. That's good, since with its monochrome 160-by-160 display and lack of a memory expansion slot, the Zire 21 is really suited only for those basic applications.
The Zire 21's main competition is the Sony Clié SJ20 ($130 list, before $30 rebate). The SJ20 is also a monochrome unit, but it has 16MB of RAM, a 320-by-320 display, and a Memory Stick removable media slot, giving you more PDA for the money.
That said, if the Zire 21 really winds up selling for closer to $80, as its predecessor did, it's well worth the price. This model isn't good for multimedia handling, and power users will want more capacity and expansion. But we found it adequate for students, teens, or anyone who wants a low-cost PDA for handling to-do lists, contacts, and calendar items.
CONTINUE ARTICLE & Tungston E & T3 Reviews
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
NEW Palm Tungsten™ Handhelds and a cool new Zire 21 Handheld! FREE Shipping!
OK SING AFTER ME: " TAKE MY PALM TO THE BALL GAME !!"
So, you got tickets to the ball game. But, the Dusseldorf proposal is due, and an EMAIL from President Bush confirming you as the head of the United States PALM Advisory Board is due to arrive any minute. What do you do? WHAT DO YOU DO !!? Well if you are going to the game at Raley Field, you just go. Because now you have a baseball field that is wired for WiFi. So sit back, watch the game, do your proposal and wait for your email. And if you want, between innings, check the stats of your favorite players and get the current scores of the other games. And all because you and your PALM are WIRED in!!
The story is just the beginning of a trend that you are going to see more and more of. The buildings, the bars & restaurants, health clubs (REMEBER, THAT'S MY IDEA!!) all are going to have to realize ONE THING, the guy (or gal) with the WIRED ACCESS POINT is gonna win. And the reason is simple. You are standing in front of 2 Pubs. One has a sign that says PUBLIC HOT SPOT. The other says FREE PRETZELS. Which one is todays health conscious wired professional going into? It is soon going to be part of the every day conversation when choosing lunch. "Well Fred's Has a killer Lunch Special and their access speed just blows away the McDonalds up the street. And Sam says" Hmph, Well Fred's it is, I'm buying!!" End of story!! Sorry McDonalds, maybe one more access point will bring our guys back in. Ok, back to the ball park,
Read on:
The Wireless Ball Park
By Gerry Blackwell
Raley Field, home of the Pacific Coast League champion Sacramento River Cats, is billing itself these days as the first wireless ball park in America.
The ballpark offers wireless services of a type that has been piloted at other sports venues -- and the club offer free hotspot service to the odd fan who brought along a Wi-Fi-enabled PDA in the last few months of the 2003 season. It will offer more innovative services for fans in 2004.
The real story at Raley Field, though, is how the River Cats organization, a Triple A affiliate of the Oakland A's, and its partners have implemented intriguing wireless solutions to solve back office business problems for the club.
The project began when local technology development firm, Corporate Information Exchange (CIE), pitched the River Cats on the idea of building the wireless ball park as a showcase for the technology and an innovative public relations gambit.
Right from the start it was about more than just wirelessly delivering player stats to fans -- although that is included in the plans.
"We showed them two things when we first approached them," says CIE partner and CEO Ali Mackani. "We showed them the business side and the entertainment side."
The River Cats bought it initially for the entertainment side, says club CEO and president Alan Ledford.
"We're in the baseball business, but more so, we're in the entertainment business," Ledford says. "It's critical for us to remain innovative, to offer new products and services to keep the excitement level up. It could be a new message board, a new food product -- or it might be wireless access to the Internet."
It helped that the River Cats didn't have to pony up any actual money. Just hours of their engineering and IT staff's time.
Mackani, who masterminded the project, got Intel
So, you got tickets to the ball game. But, the Dusseldorf proposal is due, and an EMAIL from President Bush confirming you as the head of the United States PALM Advisory Board is due to arrive any minute. What do you do? WHAT DO YOU DO !!? Well if you are going to the game at Raley Field, you just go. Because now you have a baseball field that is wired for WiFi. So sit back, watch the game, do your proposal and wait for your email. And if you want, between innings, check the stats of your favorite players and get the current scores of the other games. And all because you and your PALM are WIRED in!!
The story is just the beginning of a trend that you are going to see more and more of. The buildings, the bars & restaurants, health clubs (REMEBER, THAT'S MY IDEA!!) all are going to have to realize ONE THING, the guy (or gal) with the WIRED ACCESS POINT is gonna win. And the reason is simple. You are standing in front of 2 Pubs. One has a sign that says PUBLIC HOT SPOT. The other says FREE PRETZELS. Which one is todays health conscious wired professional going into? It is soon going to be part of the every day conversation when choosing lunch. "Well Fred's Has a killer Lunch Special and their access speed just blows away the McDonalds up the street. And Sam says" Hmph, Well Fred's it is, I'm buying!!" End of story!! Sorry McDonalds, maybe one more access point will bring our guys back in. Ok, back to the ball park,
Read on:
The Wireless Ball Park
By Gerry Blackwell
Raley Field, home of the Pacific Coast League champion Sacramento River Cats, is billing itself these days as the first wireless ball park in America.
The ballpark offers wireless services of a type that has been piloted at other sports venues -- and the club offer free hotspot service to the odd fan who brought along a Wi-Fi-enabled PDA in the last few months of the 2003 season. It will offer more innovative services for fans in 2004.
The real story at Raley Field, though, is how the River Cats organization, a Triple A affiliate of the Oakland A's, and its partners have implemented intriguing wireless solutions to solve back office business problems for the club.
The project began when local technology development firm, Corporate Information Exchange (CIE), pitched the River Cats on the idea of building the wireless ball park as a showcase for the technology and an innovative public relations gambit.
Right from the start it was about more than just wirelessly delivering player stats to fans -- although that is included in the plans.
"We showed them two things when we first approached them," says CIE partner and CEO Ali Mackani. "We showed them the business side and the entertainment side."
The River Cats bought it initially for the entertainment side, says club CEO and president Alan Ledford.
"We're in the baseball business, but more so, we're in the entertainment business," Ledford says. "It's critical for us to remain innovative, to offer new products and services to keep the excitement level up. It could be a new message board, a new food product -- or it might be wireless access to the Internet."
It helped that the River Cats didn't have to pony up any actual money. Just hours of their engineering and IT staff's time.
Mackani, who masterminded the project, got Intel
intrigued enough that it contributed the Ciscowireless infrastructure CIE used -- six access points, switches, hubs and servers, an estimated $20,000 investment.
"Their goal was to understand the business benefit of using the technology in this way," Mackani says. "And they're very satisfied with the data we've gathered so far. They're convinced there is a business benefit, and they're already using the data in their marketing collateral."
Besides sinking countless hours into strategizing and application development, CIE also built the network, which currently covers about 75 percent of Raley Field, and will cover 100 percent by the start of next season, Mackani says.P
PAGE 2 of STORY at Wi-Fi Planet
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Saturday, October 04, 2003
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GPS Users Still Lost in the Woods
Thanks to Paul and Stephen for posting the Garmin 3600 article, just yesterday I was looking for a good lead in for this article and gentlemen, this was it.
OK, as we all know, between watching GPS guided Smart Bombs on CNN and hearing about the lost being found by Search and Rescue volunteers using new state of the art GPS gear, you have to admit this technology is here, and it's here to stay. At prices nearing $100 (60 pounds UK) = or -, todays average Joe or Jane, can hold a device in his hand that can give him his longitude or latitude to within 1 meter ( distances vary with what and where you read it, but for the sake of this commentary, 3 feet gets the message across, don't ya think?) But as the article points out, without proper training and the understanding of the limitations of your equipment, and the satellites feeding that equipment with the signals it requires, it could just be another 1 lbs of metal and batteries to add to your collection of "Stuff". (Where's George Carlin when you need him) In fact, I don't know the Longitude and Latitude of my house, so if that was all the info I had to get home, we talking "problem".So whether your PDA has a integral
or add on GPS or you have a stand alone GPS device, this article is for you. And if you don't have any type of GPS device NOW, then this article is for you as well. GPS Technlogy is here to stay and will be in your life in one form or another sometime soon. There is uses for GPS that have not even been thought of yet. So,enjoy the article below and remeber: Think About It!
Users Still Lost in the Woods By James Bernard Frost
The theory behind global positioning system devices is compelling: Since the devices can tell their position in longitude and latitude to within 20 feet, users can never be lost. In reality, though, GPS users are finding themselves ... lost.
Search and rescue volunteers base this conclusion on anecdotal evidence. But it seems GPS technology is making many hikers and backpackers feel overconfident in their backwoods skills.
"I've heard stories of people being lost in the woods with thousand-dollar GPS devices," says volunteer Shawn Gillogly. The biggest problem with GPS "is that it assumes you know how to use it. Nothing can replace proper orienteering skills and training."
Sales of GPS devices have grown exponentially in recent months. Popular gadgets such as Garmin's eTrex were the craze in camping supply stores this summer, and navigational systems that use GPS are showing up in many high-end car models.
Still, even as the technology becomes more popular, consumers remain unaware of its limitations. Although the service is theoretically available almost worldwide, it may not work near high cliff walls or dense trees. It also demands some understanding of orientation.
A smart backpacker will always carry "a detailed topographical map and a compass, and not the battery-operated kind," Gillogly said.
The backcountry isn't the only place where GPS users are finding themselves lost. Buildings, underpasses and tunnels also confuse or stop GPS devices.
"I knew (the system) was off when it showed us driving into the Pacific Ocean," said Dan Faust, who used a navigation system in a Ford Taurus rental car.
Some GPS enthusiasts have discussed replacing physical addresses with GPS coordinates, especially in cities like Tokyo, which doesn't have a regular numbering system for buildings and homes. But don't expect GPS to solve city navigation problems in the near future.
The satellites themselves are aging and they have limits. The lack of frequency diversity in the current GPS satellites contributes to interference in urban settings, just to add to blockage from buildings.
As reported by Scientific American, the U.S. Air Force is considering a new global positioning system, which would resolve these problems. But the earliest the military could launch next-generation GPS satellites would be 2010.
Ownership is another issue that complicates GPS effectiveness. The U.S. government owns the GPS satellites, and it can do with them what it pleases. President Bill Clinton decreed an end to the degradation of the accuracy of civil GPS frequencies in 2000, but it is not a stretch to think that national security issues could bring back civilian restrictions.
Europe and China are working on a rival system called Galileo, but that project is still in development and faces political pitfalls.
Thanks to Wired Magazine
Ron Pendleton, Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Friday, October 03, 2003
"Mobile Internet Growing in Popularity in United Kingdom" says the BBC
Thanks to an incredible effort from a 27yr old Irish businessman named Sammual J. Mcloughlin, the Mobile Internet is growing by leaps and bounds within the United Kingdom.......
OK, so the article doesn't really doesn't start off that way, but it does sound reasonable doesnt it? Anyway, I came across this in the BBC news website and thought I would share with you all.
Mobile net growing in popularity
People in the UK are downloading more web pages on their mobiles than ever, figures show.
On average, 28.5 million pages are viewed a day through Wap (Wireless Application Protocol), says the Mobile Data Association (MDA).
It is encouraging news for the industry since Wap has been slow to take-off.
Better sounding polyphonic ringtones, news, gossip and finding out where the nearest pub or cinema is are all fuelling the growth.
Wap it up
While people are downloading three times more web pages than last year, the figures also show the number of text messages sent has stayed the same for the seventh month in a row.
Newer phones with colour screens and user-friendly icons are encouraging people to make more use of them for information.
But many do not even realise they are using Wap when they ask for information to sent to them said MDA's Kate Marriott.
"Polyphonic ringtones have been very important, they are not anywhere near 50% of activity yet but there are significant numbers in there"
Kate Marriott, MDA
"And why should they? People are downloading ringtones and using it to see where nearest pub is," she told BBC News Online.
"There are so many compelling Wap applications out there now and more sites available."
Mobile operators are also realising there is no need to confuse people by using jargon like "Wap", but just tell them about what information they can get from their mobile.
Ms Marriott said film and gig sites, celebrity gossip, news and sport were largely responsible for the climb in figures.
Wap chat sites are one of the most popular services too, but she predicted that would change as more services go online.
"As users gets more educated, they move from chat to information," she said.
The popularity of downloading polyphonic ringtones has significantly added to the increase.
Wap music
An estimated £70 million worth of ringtones are expected to be sold in 2003, up from £40m in 2002 according to the MDA.
"That has been very important, it is not anywhere near 50% of activity yet but there are significant numbers in there," said Ms Marriott.
"I think with the new handsets and their capabilities, and with the tones being such good quality, people are downloading them rather than buying singles."
Record labels using ringtones to promote new singles and albums is also fuelling this trend.
Most up-to-date mobile phones use both Wap and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) to get data from the web.
But GPRS refers to the way data is downloaded, while Wap is the browser technology that allows users to view downloaded information.
The MDA predicts that people will look at eight billion Wap pages by end of the year, and that will continue to grow with advances in applications and handsets.
Special offers everyday at the Palm Store. Plus FREE Shipping on new handhelds and accessories!
Thanks to an incredible effort from a 27yr old Irish businessman named Sammual J. Mcloughlin, the Mobile Internet is growing by leaps and bounds within the United Kingdom.......
OK, so the article doesn't really doesn't start off that way, but it does sound reasonable doesnt it? Anyway, I came across this in the BBC news website and thought I would share with you all.
Mobile net growing in popularity
People in the UK are downloading more web pages on their mobiles than ever, figures show.
On average, 28.5 million pages are viewed a day through Wap (Wireless Application Protocol), says the Mobile Data Association (MDA).
It is encouraging news for the industry since Wap has been slow to take-off.
Better sounding polyphonic ringtones, news, gossip and finding out where the nearest pub or cinema is are all fuelling the growth.
Wap it up
While people are downloading three times more web pages than last year, the figures also show the number of text messages sent has stayed the same for the seventh month in a row.
Newer phones with colour screens and user-friendly icons are encouraging people to make more use of them for information.
But many do not even realise they are using Wap when they ask for information to sent to them said MDA's Kate Marriott.
"Polyphonic ringtones have been very important, they are not anywhere near 50% of activity yet but there are significant numbers in there"
Kate Marriott, MDA
"And why should they? People are downloading ringtones and using it to see where nearest pub is," she told BBC News Online.
"There are so many compelling Wap applications out there now and more sites available."
Mobile operators are also realising there is no need to confuse people by using jargon like "Wap", but just tell them about what information they can get from their mobile.
Ms Marriott said film and gig sites, celebrity gossip, news and sport were largely responsible for the climb in figures.
Wap chat sites are one of the most popular services too, but she predicted that would change as more services go online.
"As users gets more educated, they move from chat to information," she said.
The popularity of downloading polyphonic ringtones has significantly added to the increase.
Wap music
An estimated £70 million worth of ringtones are expected to be sold in 2003, up from £40m in 2002 according to the MDA.
"That has been very important, it is not anywhere near 50% of activity yet but there are significant numbers in there," said Ms Marriott.
"I think with the new handsets and their capabilities, and with the tones being such good quality, people are downloading them rather than buying singles."
Record labels using ringtones to promote new singles and albums is also fuelling this trend.
Most up-to-date mobile phones use both Wap and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) to get data from the web.
But GPRS refers to the way data is downloaded, while Wap is the browser technology that allows users to view downloaded information.
The MDA predicts that people will look at eight billion Wap pages by end of the year, and that will continue to grow with advances in applications and handsets.
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NEW LCD SCREEN TECHNOLOGY COULD CHANGE PDA SCREEN'S AS WE KNOW THEM
Probably when you ask someone to name the items of importance in the selection of a PDA, Screen Quality will almost always be in the top 3. Screen quality encompasses the following items: clarity and resolution, ABILITY TO BE SEEN EQUALLY INDOORS AND OUTDOORS (I felt it needed to be capitalized) and the ability to be seen from the right and left without looking dead on at the display. Those items are pretty much the main items of concern when evaluating your PDA's screen. Well , if this announcement from SHARP, who by the way is one of the worlds largest makers of LCD display panels/screens, could really set the industry on it's ear. More from The Register:
Sharp brings Aquos LCD TV tech to PDA displays
By Tony SmithSharp has developed an LCD panel for PDAs and cellphones that it claims provides a "clear, bright display visible from virtually any angle and under any ambient lighting condition".
The panels are based on technology devised for the company's Aquos LCD TV screen and have been designed with streamed video content in mind. They also incorporate transflective display technology, which combines back-lit transmissive and reflective LCD techniques.
The result is a screen that can be viewed at up to 160 degrees in both the vertical and horizontal planes. The response time comes in a 25ms, and the screen provides a 300:1 contrast ratio.
Sharp said it will initially offer four Mobile ASV screens - as it calls them - with 1.5, 2.4, 4.0 and 6.5in screen sizes and 560 x 240, 240 x 320, 480 x 640 and 400 x 234 resolutions. They are aimed at digicam, mobile phone, PDA and in-car navigation systems, respectively. The last three displays offer RGB colour depths.
All four displays will sample in December, and go into volume production during the Spring of 2004.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
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NEW LCD SCREEN TECHNOLOGY COULD CHANGE PDA SCREEN'S AS WE KNOW THEM
Probably when you ask someone to name the items of importance in the selection of a PDA, Screen Quality will almost always be in the top 3. Screen quality encompasses the following items: clarity and resolution, ABILITY TO BE SEEN EQUALLY INDOORS AND OUTDOORS (I felt it needed to be capitalized) and the ability to be seen from the right and left without looking dead on at the display. Those items are pretty much the main items of concern when evaluating your PDA's screen. Well , if this announcement from SHARP, who by the way is one of the worlds largest makers of LCD display panels/screens, could really set the industry on it's ear. More from The Register:
Sharp brings Aquos LCD TV tech to PDA displays
By Tony SmithSharp has developed an LCD panel for PDAs and cellphones that it claims provides a "clear, bright display visible from virtually any angle and under any ambient lighting condition".
The panels are based on technology devised for the company's Aquos LCD TV screen and have been designed with streamed video content in mind. They also incorporate transflective display technology, which combines back-lit transmissive and reflective LCD techniques.
The result is a screen that can be viewed at up to 160 degrees in both the vertical and horizontal planes. The response time comes in a 25ms, and the screen provides a 300:1 contrast ratio.
Sharp said it will initially offer four Mobile ASV screens - as it calls them - with 1.5, 2.4, 4.0 and 6.5in screen sizes and 560 x 240, 240 x 320, 480 x 640 and 400 x 234 resolutions. They are aimed at digicam, mobile phone, PDA and in-car navigation systems, respectively. The last three displays offer RGB colour depths.
All four displays will sample in December, and go into volume production during the Spring of 2004.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
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NEW BLUETOOTH ELECTRIC TOY CAR, A MUST HAVE 4 ME!!
I originally had this titled NEW BLUETOOTH ELECTRIC CAR and then I realized that readers may be flocking to their local dealerships trying to get "That New Bluetooth" controlled auto, then they could just lay in the back seat and drive to work by by using their Bluetooth Enabled PALM or Bluetooth Enabled Mobile phone. So I realized better stick the word toy in the title.
Well in short, surprisingly enough, SONY has announced the introduction of a PALM sized toy electric car (The Car 100) controlled by the SONY-Ericsson Mobile phone. Now, my knowledge of was that Bluetooth was Bluetooth and one of the selling points was that one Bluetooth device was interactive with other Bluetooth devices. So, we will have to wait and see. But here's my point, and I guess I better have a point, is this the beginning of a new breed of toys and gadgets that are in the wings for the Bluetooth enabled PALM or PDA? We already have multiple software programs allowing us to use our PDA's as $400 remote controls. So I guess our imaginations are the limit. I wonder if I can make that $2000 SONY robot dog bring me a beer and the mail, all controlled by my PALM? HEYYY SONY!!!!!!
Note: this was announced the first week of September. So for those saying to yourself "That Is Old News" I can but reply "Not To Me" cause I just saw it LOL
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
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NEW BLUETOOTH ELECTRIC TOY CAR, A MUST HAVE 4 ME!!
I originally had this titled NEW BLUETOOTH ELECTRIC CAR and then I realized that readers may be flocking to their local dealerships trying to get "That New Bluetooth" controlled auto, then they could just lay in the back seat and drive to work by by using their Bluetooth Enabled PALM or Bluetooth Enabled Mobile phone. So I realized better stick the word toy in the title.
Well in short, surprisingly enough, SONY has announced the introduction of a PALM sized toy electric car (The Car 100) controlled by the SONY-Ericsson Mobile phone. Now, my knowledge of was that Bluetooth was Bluetooth and one of the selling points was that one Bluetooth device was interactive with other Bluetooth devices. So, we will have to wait and see. But here's my point, and I guess I better have a point, is this the beginning of a new breed of toys and gadgets that are in the wings for the Bluetooth enabled PALM or PDA? We already have multiple software programs allowing us to use our PDA's as $400 remote controls. So I guess our imaginations are the limit. I wonder if I can make that $2000 SONY robot dog bring me a beer and the mail, all controlled by my PALM? HEYYY SONY!!!!!!
Note: this was announced the first week of September. So for those saying to yourself "That Is Old News" I can but reply "Not To Me" cause I just saw it LOL
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Purchase ACT! for Palm OS today! Now supports OS5! Click here.
NEW Palm Tungsten™ Handhelds and a cool new Zire 21 Handheld! FREE Shipping!
INFOSYNCHWORLD'S LARRY GARFIELD REVIEWS THE ZIRE 21
Last but not least we have Mr. Garfields review of the entry level ZIRE 21. Read more:
Availability
The Palm ZIRE 21 is available now for a suggested price of $99 USD.
Summary
Introduction
The original Palm Zire brought the Palm OS to a new low price. Larry Garfield looks at the Zire 21, which brings ARM processors down to double-digits.
What's positive:
Price, battery life, price
What's negative:
No backlight, poor connectivity
Conclusion
For most users, the Zire 21 has the same advantages as the original Zire: Price, battery life, and price. We liked the original Zire for it, and we like the Zire 21 for it just the same. We still feel that a backlight should be included, but the increased RAM for programs should appeal to many users. The ARM processor seems a bit out of place at first without any multimedia functions to use it, but it should come in handy should the user ever get into database applications that require lots of cycles to sort and process data but don't have fancy multimedia output. In all, a modest but worthwhile upgrade to the entry-end of the handheld spectrum.
Design: 7/10
Connectivity: 5/10
Specifications: 7/10
Software: 6/10
Value: 8/10
TOTAL iSW Score: 6.6/10
For FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
NEW Palm handhelds as low as $99! FREE Shipping!
INFOSYNCHWORLD'S LARRY GARFIELD REVIEWS THE ZIRE 21
Last but not least we have Mr. Garfields review of the entry level ZIRE 21. Read more:
Availability
The Palm ZIRE 21 is available now for a suggested price of $99 USD.
Summary
Introduction
The original Palm Zire brought the Palm OS to a new low price. Larry Garfield looks at the Zire 21, which brings ARM processors down to double-digits.
What's positive:
Price, battery life, price
What's negative:
No backlight, poor connectivity
Conclusion
For most users, the Zire 21 has the same advantages as the original Zire: Price, battery life, and price. We liked the original Zire for it, and we like the Zire 21 for it just the same. We still feel that a backlight should be included, but the increased RAM for programs should appeal to many users. The ARM processor seems a bit out of place at first without any multimedia functions to use it, but it should come in handy should the user ever get into database applications that require lots of cycles to sort and process data but don't have fancy multimedia output. In all, a modest but worthwhile upgrade to the entry-end of the handheld spectrum.
Design: 7/10
Connectivity: 5/10
Specifications: 7/10
Software: 6/10
Value: 8/10
TOTAL iSW Score: 6.6/10
For FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
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INFOSYNCHWORLD'S LARRY GARFIELD REVIEWS THE TUNGSTON E
Well you cannot say that Palm Addict was negligent in our coverage of the new PALM Handheld line's release. But we strive to bring you everyone's opinion, whether positive or negative, to help you select the PALM that is right for you! Here is the second of Infosynch's reviews, this is on the Tungston E. Read more:
Availability
The Palm Tungsten E is available now for a suggested price of $199 USD.
Summary
Introduction
Larry Garfield looks at Palm's new business entry-level model, packing many features not yet seen at this price point.
What's positive:
Solid software package, price
What's negative:
No serial port, odd NavPad design
Conclusion
We disagree with some of Palm's design decisions, such as the new square 5-way Navigator and the lack of a Universal Connector serial port. Other than those, however, the Tungsten E is a very good package for the price. Palm's first-class screen, ample RAM and processing power, a solid multimedia suite and full MS Office attachment support out of the box are a good combination, and for under $200 is quite an impressive package for first time users and casual users alike.
Design: 7/10
Connectivity: 6/10
Specifications: 7/10
Software: 8/10
Value: 8/10
TOTAL iSW Score: 7.2/10
For FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Save up to $120* on Palm Tungsten W handheld! Plus, FREE Shipping! (*Requires service activation)
Well you cannot say that Palm Addict was negligent in our coverage of the new PALM Handheld line's release. But we strive to bring you everyone's opinion, whether positive or negative, to help you select the PALM that is right for you! Here is the second of Infosynch's reviews, this is on the Tungston E. Read more:
Availability
The Palm Tungsten E is available now for a suggested price of $199 USD.
Summary
Introduction
Larry Garfield looks at Palm's new business entry-level model, packing many features not yet seen at this price point.
What's positive:
Solid software package, price
What's negative:
No serial port, odd NavPad design
Conclusion
We disagree with some of Palm's design decisions, such as the new square 5-way Navigator and the lack of a Universal Connector serial port. Other than those, however, the Tungsten E is a very good package for the price. Palm's first-class screen, ample RAM and processing power, a solid multimedia suite and full MS Office attachment support out of the box are a good combination, and for under $200 is quite an impressive package for first time users and casual users alike.
Design: 7/10
Connectivity: 6/10
Specifications: 7/10
Software: 8/10
Value: 8/10
TOTAL iSW Score: 7.2/10
For FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Save up to $120* on Palm Tungsten W handheld! Plus, FREE Shipping! (*Requires service activation)
INFOSYNCHWORLD'S LARRY GARFIELD REVIEWS THE TUNGSTON T3
Everywhere you look this week , the net has an ample supply of "PALM Releases 3 New Handhelds!! news articles. And at Palm Addict we strive to bring you the most accurate and objective. Larry Garfield's reviews have always, to me, been exactly that as well, accurate and objective. read more:
Availability
The Palm Tungsten T3 is available now for a suggested price of $399 USD.
Summary
Introduction
Palm's latest high-end handheld extends the now-familiar Tungsten T line even farther. Larry Garfield looks at Palm's first virtual Graffiti handheld.
What's positive:
Virtual handwriting area, strong specs, strong software package, Bluetooth
What's negative:
Poor button layout, unimpressive battery life, Bluetooth under-utilized
Conclusion
The Tungsten T3 delivers many of the features for which users have been asking for years. With the most feature-filled virtual handwriting system we've seen to date on a Palm OS handheld, a beefy processor and RAM, a solid software collection with full desktop round-tripping, and Bluetooth connectivity the T3 meets or beats any other handheld in its price range. There are some downsides. The new button layout is more cumbersome, the battery life is unimpressive, and Bluetooth is still under-utilized. Despite these shortcomings, however, the T3's otherwise solid hardware and software combination are a noble successor to the Tungsten T line.
Design: 7/10
Connectivity: 8/10
Specifications: 8/10
Software: 9/10
Value: 8/10
TOTAL iSW Score: 8/10
For FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Buy DIRECT from the Palm Store for the best deals on Palm handhelds, accessories & software! FREE Shipping!
Everywhere you look this week , the net has an ample supply of "PALM Releases 3 New Handhelds!! news articles. And at Palm Addict we strive to bring you the most accurate and objective. Larry Garfield's reviews have always, to me, been exactly that as well, accurate and objective. read more:
Availability
The Palm Tungsten T3 is available now for a suggested price of $399 USD.
Summary
Introduction
Palm's latest high-end handheld extends the now-familiar Tungsten T line even farther. Larry Garfield looks at Palm's first virtual Graffiti handheld.
What's positive:
Virtual handwriting area, strong specs, strong software package, Bluetooth
What's negative:
Poor button layout, unimpressive battery life, Bluetooth under-utilized
Conclusion
The Tungsten T3 delivers many of the features for which users have been asking for years. With the most feature-filled virtual handwriting system we've seen to date on a Palm OS handheld, a beefy processor and RAM, a solid software collection with full desktop round-tripping, and Bluetooth connectivity the T3 meets or beats any other handheld in its price range. There are some downsides. The new button layout is more cumbersome, the battery life is unimpressive, and Bluetooth is still under-utilized. Despite these shortcomings, however, the T3's otherwise solid hardware and software combination are a noble successor to the Tungsten T line.
Design: 7/10
Connectivity: 8/10
Specifications: 8/10
Software: 9/10
Value: 8/10
TOTAL iSW Score: 8/10
For FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace
Buy DIRECT from the Palm Store for the best deals on Palm handhelds, accessories & software! FREE Shipping!
