2009 Year of the Smartphone

I’ve been using a converged smart phone since 2003 and I must say it is a great way to work and play. I do buy a few feature phones each year but end up selling them after a few weeks, I just don’t get satisfied with feature phones anymore. I feel that this year we will see more people adapt smart phones. I think the iPhone has successfully made this notion palatable to the masses. So thanks Apple.

My mobile OS of choice is Windows Mobile. At the moment I have 2 versions of Windows Mobile. I have a Treo Pro running Windows Mobile Professional and a HTC S730 running Windows Mobile Standard.

Microsoft has been delaying Windows Mobile 7 because they are concentrating on their desktop OS. Windows Mobile 6.1 is due for a refresh. I think the UI needs a drastic overhaul to improve usability. It is really powerful but it really needs to be easier to use.

I am watching the development of Nokia Series 60, Google’s Android platform, Apple’s iPhone, and the latest entry Palm’s Web OS.

Before I hopped over to WM I was using Nokia Series 60. It wasn’t very mature or powerful at the time. I guess at the time it was more of a pseudo smart phone OS rather than a full blown OS such as it’s competition. I do think their devices look gorgeous the OS needs a bit more work.

Apple’s OS is really user friendly but the hardware is really turning me off. I am a hardware QWERTY keyboard person and the SIP on the iPhone just isn’t efficient enough for me. Simple things have been disregarded and marked us un-important even as it’s users clamor for it daily. I guess it’s an elitist OS that says use it or frak off.

Android and Web OS are the most interesting and exciting for me. Android has a lot of potential and with the Google overlords behind it I am sure it will reach that potential in a year or two. Web OS looks really slick… palm’s last stand seems to be a valiant one. I do hope that there are a few more Android OS and Web OS devices announced and shipped this year and that they reach our shores too!

I am waiting for the palm Pre in GSM, the next iPhone, the next Android device.

It is really an exciting time to be a mobility enthusiast. So what devices are you looking out for this year?

Elopocalypse or Balmergeddon

So which is it? Nokia (NOK) and Microsoft (MSFT) announced a partnership today. Both lumbering companies have been in some trouble with their smartphone divisions. Both have been loosing market share to Apple, Android and Blackberry in recent years. WindowsMobile (previously PocketPC and currently WindowsPhone) once the dominant mobile OS, yes folks before the iPhone came into power Microsoft slowly but surely killed of it’s main competitor palm OS, which was acquired by hp last year and is now barely a sliver of a shadow of it’s former former former self. Just this week hp/palm unveiled 2 new smartphones the palm Pre 3 and Veer, as well as their entry into the tablet space with the TouchPad. hp being one of the top computer manufacturers at the moment has the resources to use and spread webOS like a creamy peanut butter across all markets they are in. By being one of MSFT’s biggest customers now suddenly not using Windows7 (still MSFT’s tablet OS of choice) and churning out comp...

Darth Kegaw to Treo 750: It is Useless to Resist

I have never been one to keep my devices *as is* when it comes to the OS/Firmware… This 2nd Treo 750 will be no different. So I dusted off my old Cheetah files [trivia: the Treo 750 is codenamed HTC Cheetah] and decided to HARD SPL [this allows for non-carrier branded ROMs to be loaded] and flashed it to a Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM. Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen… and the ROM loaded without any issues. I did notice that Microsoft Voice Command 1.6 was not included in this ROM not really a problem since I own the software as well. I’m currently syncing my PIM data and will be installing my apps over the next few days.

Coron Labor Day Weekend Getaway

The weather wasn’t as cooperative as we would’ve liked but I think we made the most of it :D [waiting for our flight to Busuanga] We went to the saltwater hot spring, island hoping, and had a whole lot of fun at Loralee’s luau. [The water is FIIIIINE!!!] [dinner at Bistro Coron] [Happy Birthday Loralee :D] Coron is one heck of a lovely place… just remember to bring mosquito repellent. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bnycastro/tags/coron_0509

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