TamsPPC - the PocketPC Blog

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!

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!

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…

The folks at PDAdb.net have undug a picture and a preliminary datasheet of Mitac’s upcoming device named LoveBird:

Anyways, we are looking at a WM 6.1 smartphone powered by Samsung’s 400MhZ SC2xxx processor(used on the rx4240). Like most other Mitac devices, a GPS system is integrated.

Other than that, the device’s specs are rather unimpressive: a 2MP camera; QVGA, MicroSD. Nothing more to see here…

SPB Software House, the makers of the famous Spb Pocket Plus, recently released a free screenshot tool, Spb Screenshot. It saves the pictures as BMP or PNG, and it is triggered automatically after a time delay or if a hardware button is pressed.

Personally I prefer this one, because it just works! It can be found at the SPB Club or on freewareppc.com

The heavily-delayed ipaq 910 has just cleared the FCC; theoretically allowing HP to release the box in the United States. HP appears to have changed the device’s looks significantly(see images below); and has also changed the specs as listed below:

Unfortunately, the processor speed was reduced to 420 MhZ(I think it’s 416, rather) from the originally-planned 500-sth - making the 910 significantly slower than HP’s classic tablet PDA’s(with 614MhZ CPU’s).

As always, the FCC web site has juicy pictures of planars, the device - and; last but not least, the manual…

A HTC insider apparently shared the picture below with the press:

The amusing thing about the picture is that some of the devices are not released as of now. The top row is made up of two TyTN IIs, a Touch and a Touch Dual. Engadget claims that the second from left device at the bottom is a P3470…leaving us with three new devices(bottom row, #1, #3, #4).