TamsPPC - the PocketPC Blog

HP’s 214 has been awaited longingly by many - its specs made it an excellent VGA handheld(signaling HP’s return to the very market it abandoned after the failure of its hx4700). But can it stack up? Before we get to physical properties, size, screen quality and the likes, let’s first take a look at the accessory bundle…

The ipaq’s box is styled in the same, “common” branding that we first saw on the rx4240 - the box emphases the 4″ touchscreen:

Opening the box reveals an overview chart showing what part of the device does what(useful for novices):

Flipping away the specs unveils a layer of CD’s(HP stopped to include the original CD’s into samples because my lovely colleagues at other agencies kept stealing them for the Outlook license) - I would personally have preferred to see the device immediately, with the CD’s one level below:

Removing manuals,… finally let’s you access the device - the battery is below. As for accessories, HP included a strange non-USB wallwart, a leather sleeve and a data cable:

I myself am perplexed as to why HP omitted its useful(for charging a bunch of other devices when traveling) USB wall wart from the packet and replaced it with a proprietary one - the 214 can be charged via its MiniUSB port. That aside, the accessory bundle is like on all other ipaq’s we saw recently…stay tuned for a size comparison soon!

A “good source”(sic) close to the folks at MsMobiles.com has informed them that HTC will release a ROM update with improved graphics drivers for its HTC TyTN II device in the near future.

As of now, no information is available on when this update will hit the road; the source is further quoted stating that this update will not be made available for branded versions of the device.

Updates for other devices are not due toi be released soon - however: HTC is not not (!) preparing in near future updates for any other phones that might have these graphic issues.…whatever that may mean!

P.S. If you have any more information - please contact me immediately! TamsPPC is hosted in a country with intact press freedom for tech journalists - I consider it my honor duty to protect source’s identity(zero leaks in the last 5 years)!!

A Palm insider has given us access to information that definitely and finally confirms the existance of two Palm devices currently codenamed Zeppelin and Skywriter.

The document that we are looking at covers a developer program that allows Palm’s favorite developers to make their applications ready for the two new devices AND maybe even comarket them with Palm. All applications must be submitted by May the 30th - this could point at a launch of the device(s) in Q3 2008.

Last but not least, a mock-up of the devices has been included:

Unconfirmed sighting reports from another Palm insider have confirmed the existence of a “Centrolike” WM device - it could be very well possible that Skywriter is this box. Alternatively, it could also be a WM6.1 version of the Treo 500 - no further information on the devices is currently available…

The full text is here:

Greetings,
Palm is pleased to invite you to participate in the launch of Zeppelin and Skywriter.

As a launch developer, you can participate in additional marketing and sales program opportunities with Palm for your eligible application.

Your application is eligible for these programs if:
- Your application is ready at the time of device launch
- Your application has successfully passed Designed for Palm Products (DFPP) compatibility testing. Learn more about DFPP at http://pdn.palm.com/dfpp.

Please let your relationship manager know if you plan on participating and when you have submitted your application for compatibility testing so we can expedite your application through the process.

Carrier Sales Training Materials
Information about your application will be included in the materials prepared for carrier sales training about the device. This opportunity lets the carriers and the carrier sales teams know which applications Palm has approved for use on Zeppelin devices.

How to participate:
Fill out the attached PowerPoint template. Drop in a screen shot in the screen area of the device. Return the template to your relationship manager.
Submission due date: Friday May 30th

Retail Demonstrations – NEW!
Through Palm’s association with MarketSource, your application can be demonstrated by MarketSource personnel to carrier retail outlets and large retailers throughout the United States. Simply provide MarketSource with your application and they’ll do the rest. It is like having 40+ evangelists demonstrating your application to carrier sales teams.

How to Participate:
Please let your relationship manager know if you plan on participating and please confirm when you have submitted your application for compatibility testing so we can expedite your application through the process.

We will contact you about your application, when it can be scheduled for demonstration, retail/sales initiatives, and how to provide your application.

We look forward to working with you on getting your application part of our Zeppelin and Skywriter launches. Please feel free to contact me any questions you might have.

Recently, Samsung began to unveil a few CDMA/GSM hybrid phones than can operate on both GSM(european) anjd CMDA(classic US) networks. The ACE was the first box to start the dualradio mania; the i770 is now said to bring this nice feature to touchscreened devices.

As of now there is little more information available about the box - visit Engadget Mobile for a drawing of the box’s back!

Use the discount code FUNNYMOZ to get 20% off the list price of Mozaki in the TamsShop!

People frequenting MSN Games will probably know Mozaki - a simple puzzler that is insanely amusing. Now, AstraWare has ported the game to touchscreened WIndows Mobile devices - can it stack up here?

Mozaki can be played in two modes - it supports both timed and untimed modes:

However, the game principle remains the same. Bricks appear randomly at the right side of the screen; they must then be moved onto the screen to create lines from the border to the center:

Tiles can be rotated on-screen by tapping them:

If a line of matching colors is established, it disappears:

Ganging up tiles leads to cubes which are worth more points when being removed:

The tile at the bottom right provides with special tiles that are colorless(match all colors) or remove tiles around them:

Replayability is achieved due to the level system. After a few lanes are cleared, the colors at the borders are swapped(adjacent tiles also swap colors); eventually, new colors appear.

AstraWare included a little on-screen-help system - it proved to be extremely useful for me:

This review looked at version 1.02 of the game on a hp ipaq rx4240. The program needs about 2MB of memory and can be run from an external memory card.

In the end, Mozaki is an excellent and amusing puzzler - unlike the smartphone version recently reviewed at TamsWMS’s, this one really is fun to play. Puzzle fans should definitely get it for the hammer price of 9.95$ at the TamsShop(and don’t forget the discount)!

I recently reviewed the Windows Mobile picture viewer EyePhoto by Vito. Now, the developer released an update to version 1.1. The color of the interface changed slightly to black, and the program now comes with support for a couple more languages, like Japanese, Russian and Spanish.

The new features are a slideshow mode, and the ability to delete a picture, view it’s properties and send it right out of the fullscreen mode! Before sending, it’s possible to resize the image to save upload time and traffic.

People who already own EyePhoto should update to version 1.1, if you have no idea about which program I’m talking have a look on my review or visit the Tamoggemon software store!

Celio’s Foleo “clone” called REDFLY has been covered on TamsPPC multiple times before - anyways, the box can now be preordered from the manufacturer’s web site in the following quantity’s:

Celio themselves describe the promotion as following:

Celio Corp is pleased to offer the REDFLY Mobile Companion directly to enterprise customers for evaluation and mobile solution providers for demonstration. By submitting a pre-order to this site, you agree to be contacted by Celio to qualify the sales opportunity (quantity, smartphone device, line of business software, and timetable for implementation, etc.). This site requires a credit card. Orders will be authorized, but not charged until the product ships. Initial shipments are planned for May, 2008.

In case anyone of you feels adventurous, please let us all know how you fared!

TamsPPC was among the first news sites world-wide to report about Aceeca’s upcoming MEZ1500 and MEZ2000 RDA handhelds - in case anyone of you is new to the term, Meazura’s RDA handhelds are rugged PDA’s that can be submerged in water, dropped, kicked around,… .

Almost a year has passed since the initial announcement - and Aceeca (finally) starts to ship evaluation units. In case you want one, click this URL to benefit from the excellent offers shown below:

P.S. We hope to be able to secure a MEZ1500 in order to provide you all with a detailed review!

Use the discount code FUNNYHEX to get 20% off Hexic in the TamsShop!

AstraWare recently ported a few puzzlers from MSN Games to the Windows Mobile platform. Hexic is the second application(coming after Mozaki) that is unleashed onto Windows Mobile devices - can this Bejeweled clone stack up?

Like its sister product Mozaki, Hexic can be played in timed and untimed modes at varying difficulties:

Astraware also gave the program a ‘puzzle’ mode - here, you are assigned specific jobs that must be solved by clearing the board:

The goal behind Hexic is rotating tiles to form three adjacent ones which then disappear. For example, look at the marked tiles below:

Similar to Mozaki, the game includes a detailed tutorial and in-game help system.

This review looked at version 1.02 of Hexic on a hp ipaq rx4240 running its stock Windows Mobile 5 ROM. The program needs about 3 to 4MB of RAM and can be stored on an external memory card.

In the end, Hexic is little more than Bejeweled for people with a good spatial sense. People who like Bejeweled will probably like Hexic, as will people who have played it on MSN Games. Get the trial here and see if you can cope with the controls: the full version can be purchased for 9.95$ in the TamsShop.

The folks at HTC’s recently dominated the TamsPPC front page - now that the rumored press event is just 5 days ahead(6th of May), the leaks become bigger and bigger. Here’s the latest bit of news off the rumor mill:

TaipeiTimes claims that HTC financial executive Cheng Hui-Ming recently stated the following at an investor’s conference(abbreviated):

……
Sales in the current quarter could reach NT$34 billion (US$1.12 billion), with 70 percent coming from high-priced third-generation (3G) handsets, aided by a new product launch on May 6 in London.

…..

“This is the most important product for HTC this year,” Cheng said. “With this phone, we’re confident of landing orders from most major operators.”

But Cheng also warned of possible delays in shipments, as HTC has yet to obtain certification for the new handset model.

For me, this looks like a pretty clear sign: the Diamond is coming on the 6th(seeing that it is the successor of the wildly popular Touch)…

HTC’s Advantage x7510 has been discussed at TamsPPC’s before - its “touch” keyboard wasn’t received too well by some of you!

Anyways, the fine folks at Tracy-and-Matt’s have managed to get their claws on a boxed Advantage x7510, and bring along an unboxing video(with a lovely typo - the video says that it is about the x7501). The 10min video provides an overview of the accessory bundle and the mechanic behavior…people wanting pictures of the box in action unfortunately won’t get happy here.

PocketPCThoughts claims that a Chinese web site called Mobile01 got access to a preproduction version of the device and reported that it has automatic screen rotation and USB 2.0 - unfortunately, the folks at Mobile01’s don’t have any reference to the box on their front page.

In the end, the Achilles heel of the HTC x7510(the touch keyboard) still hasn’t had a longer stand-off with a reviewer’s hands. Until this has happened, I recommend all of you to hold back(as a bad keyboard can be really frustrating)…

Recently, a leak at HTC spat out a few photos of new devices - and when a company has one leak, more will follow. Here’s the latest HTC gossip fresh off the rumor mills:

Device names leaked
First of all, here are the supposed “product names” for the upcoming devices:

HTC Diamond = HTC Touch Diamond
HTC Raphael = HTC Touch Pro
HTC Titanium = HTC Touch Dual Pro

Full specs up
The folks at PDADB.net have proven their skill at gathering data yet again - and proudly present preliminary datasheets of the Diamond and Raphael. Amusingly, the battery capacity of the devices has been lowered to just 900mAH - with all negative consequences :-(.

Revenue expected to rise 20%
Last but not least, the usually-reliable DigiTimes has posted the following revenue expectations:

High Tech Computer (HTC) expects its revenues to grow over 20% on year, to reach NT$34 billion (US$1.12 billion) in the second quarter of this year, according to company CFO Hui-ming Cheng.

However, second-quarter revenues are to grow only 4% sequentially from the previous quarter due to a delay in the launch of new products, Cheng noted.

In other news, HTC plans to deal out a dividend of NT$37 for 2007, including NT$34 in cash and NT$3 in shares, the company said after a board meeting last week.

In addition, the company also plans to distribute a total of NT$1.21 billion in cash plus NT$10.32 million shares to its employees as bonuses for last year. The distribution of bonus shares will dilute its capital by 1.37%, the company said.

As always - if you know anything, please let us know immediately!

AllTel(a rather small US carrier) has managed to beat both Sprint and Verizon when deploying EVDO Rev.A to HTC’s ever-popular touch is concerned.

According to the Boy Genius Report, ROM version 3.04.671.2 allows Alltel-branded Touch’s to work at EVDO Rev.A speeds. Additionally, the patch fixes a few bluetooth quirks and adds video messaging support…

In case anyone of you has an Alltel-branded HTC Touch, please let us know if it all worked out well!

P.S. No information is currently available on updates for Sprint and Verizon!

A Dubai-based web site called kaz911 repair service has posted a few unboxing photos of their i-mate Ultimate 9502 - here are two especially interesting ones:

The reviewer is not particularly happy with the device - he is dissatisfied with the “cheap” keys, crappy speaker(sic) and smallish screen. In the end, he nevertheless states that the device is “a great device” - and asks readers if they want to purchase it as he apparently wants to return to his Nokia E90 ;).

An anonymous tipster has sent Engadget information about upcoming devices from HTC - here’s what we know as of now:

HTC Diamond

The HTC Diamond is said to be the next HTC Touch, offering “enhanced TouchFLO technology”. Other than that, little is currently known about that critter.

HTC Raphael

The HTC Raphael seems to be HTC’s answer to the SE XPERIA X1 we handled at the CeBit. Anyways, the Sprint datasheet claims that the device will have a 2.5(or 2.8)” VGA screen(with TouchFLO) - a definite step up from QVGA. HTC included EVDO Rev. A, Bluetooth 2.0 and WiFi. The Raphael is intended to drop in Q4 2008 and will replace the HTC Mogul…