mail2web.com Blog

Sony Ericsson Kurara

Birge Basik — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:01:11 +0000

The Sony Ericsson Kurara is on the stage again. Leaked pictures of this new smartphone have been spotted at Phones.db. There are also speculations of an ability to record and playback HD videos. It will have a 3.5’’ AMOLED touch-screen, 8.1 MP camera and 720p video recording.

It is possible to run on Symbian S60. Price is not clear but Kurara will be on the market in the first half of 2010, maybe with a different name.

mail2web.com in the ‘Palm’ of your hand!

Jeremy Adams — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:57:45 +0000

While I’m sure Palm Inc. has grown tired of such puns, they work all too well when describing the capabilities of their ever expanding repertoire of devices and software. With the release of the latest Palm webOS, support for Activesync push email for Exchange based email accounts is now as integrated as this article’s title pun is to the Palm brand.

Touted on their Palm Pre and Palm Pixi devices, webOS boasts a simplified mailbox configuration tool and an environment that allows you to run multiple applications simultaneously. You can easily switch between your Exchange calendar, contacts, email and even Facebook without worrying you might loose changes while you do.

Also, we’ve launched a new Palm section within our Mobile Email services page! And, in case it hasn’t been stressed enough, with the simple configuration tool on your new Palm device the setup is as simple as described here.

EOps i24R3 Portable Sound System

Birge Basik — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:36:09 +0000

No it’s not a dartboard or shower head It’s a portable, wireless, waterproof, single-speaker surround sound system.

It’s a project by Hong Kong designer Michael Young. It has no inputs, instead you have to use wireless USB (2.4 GHz) or Bluetooth (A2DP) connection. EOps i24R3 Portable contains four 2.6-inch flat speakers and two 4.5-inch passive radiator speakers, plus a 2×10 W Class D amplifier. It also recognizes softwares like iTunes and devices like the iPhone automatically. Finally, it’s powered by an internal lithium polymer battery. Unfortunately its cost and availability not yet announced.

Microsoft Exchange & the Great Smartphone Boom

Kevin Richard — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:49:46 +0000

The IBM Simon first shown in 1992 was the world’s first smartphone. It had all the basics like smartphones have today including a calendar, contacts, clock, and notepad and most important to every person on the go, email. But the smartphone actually didn’t reach large public sales till the 1996 release of the Nokia Communicator line of phones. Seen as a take-with-you-anywhere device within the enterprise segment, this communications tool did not become popular until the larger expansion of Microsoft Exchange and Activesync products.

IBM Simon in Charging Station

Microsoft Exchange, first released with the Windows 95 operating system was Microsoft’s first module in charge of handling email. This would later become an important tool for companies to manage emails and other collaborative tools within their company network and would grow in popularity as an industry standard overtaking the former industry leader Lotus Notes in 1997.

Microsoft Exchange would later introduce a mobile option called Activesync which was released in 1996. Used in its line of pocket PC’s and mobile devices it was the beginning of mobile email that we see today. Primarily distributed on Pocket PC’s and other mobile devices using the Window’s Mobile OS it would be sold by manufacturers such as HP, HTC and Dell.

It wasn’t until 2004 that Microsoft’s Exchange Activesync system would be open for use on other platforms and become an increasingly popular mobile communications tool. Seeking to make it easier for users to connect their mobile devices to corporate email servers, Palm One bought licensing to the Activesync protocol where it would first debut on its Treo smartphone. To not be outdone, Symbian LTD would also become a license holder in 2005, allowing major manufacturers such as Sony Ericson, Samsung and Siemens use of the Exchange Activesync platform. This may have been the turning point for Microsoft as a major player in the smartphone segment.

By 2005 Microsoft had Activesync and Exchange in use on over 100 million mobile computing devices but was then facing larger competition in the smartphone market. Recent entrant Research in Motion (RIM) and their Blackberry where offering customers push email and messaging and was quickly beginning to be known for their smartphones made for business. In reaction to this Microsoft began offering what they called Direct Push service (based in Activesync) looking to compete as a lower cost alternative.

According to RBC Capital Markets, while smartphones were still widely considered a niche in the cell phone market, during the period from 2007-2009 was when this phone really began to see mass market appeal. Said to have occurred as a result of larger demand for mobile email and wider enterprise adoption, RBC estimated that while in 2007 there were 19 million enterprise smartphone users, it is expected to grow to 74 Million by 2011. A large driver in this growth would be due to the larger expansion of the Microsoft Exchange platform (RBC Capital Markets,2008).

In February of 2007 the Microsoft Exchange server system through Activesync was opened to third party licensing for all smartphone manufacturers providing a broader base for enterprise users to choose from for their mobile communications. The smartphone was now beginning to be seen as not only a tool to surf the web and make phone calls but for secure enterprise messaging; something that was limited to only a select group of mobile devices prior.

After opening up to the market in 2007, makers like Nokia began using the system in the fall of that year. Apple and Google would follow in 2008. While Microsoft already had wide distribution with its Window’s mobile platform on phones from manufacturers such as HTC, LG and Motorola, making Microsoft Exchange and Activesync available on all major platforms made these phones more relevant to business and gave them a wider choice of handhelds. Phones such as the Apple iPhone which has mass consumer appeal were often disregarded as not suitable for business. As a result of adding Activesync and the Microsoft Exchange system, phones like this were now made viable for the business market.

What’s next for the Exchange platform and Activesync?

While 2009 was a major year for Microsoft with the introduction of its Window’s Mobile Market Place and of Window’s Mobile 6.5, 2010 will be looking like a year of major growth in the smartphone market. With the introduction of Windows Mobile 7 and its branded ‘Project Pink’ smartphones Microsoft’s smartphone offerings will be made to be easier to use and more visually appealing to attract a larger consumer audience who will begin to have mobile email and web communications more widely available to them.

Some highly anticipated phones are also expected to support the Microsoft Exchange system as well. In November the Motorola Droid running the Android OS and the Palm Pixie running Palm’s Web OS will be released to the public. Expect to see the Microsoft Exchange and Activesync systems to continue to be a major push in the adoption of the smartphone. With wider availability these communications devices will continue to be a draw to enterprise owners and the general public for secure mobile communications.

Tag Heuer Meridiist Lamborghini Mobile Phone

Birge Basik — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:26:34 +0000

Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer extends its luxury mobile phone series with the new Meridiist Lamborghini Mobile Phone. Lamborghini is the main inspiration behind the phone and only 1963 of these have been produced.

In tribute of the Lamborghini Murcielago, it is coated in titanium carbide 316 stainless steel and has a unique series number on the back cover aswell as a Taurus bull branded steel central button. Not to mention the 1.9’’ 60.5 carat scratch-resistant sapphire crystal display. Other specs are 7 hours of talking time, 28 days of stand-by time, 2 MP camera, GPRS and Bluetooth.

While it may not be a high tech-phone, it has a hyper price tag at: 6200€.

Cisco FlipShareTV

Birge Basik — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:23:17 +0000

Cisco will introduce a new gadget called FlipShare TV. It’s a wirelessly streaming gadget which allows to watch your home made videos from your TV. It’s a three piece set; FlipShare software, FlipShare TV USB stick and FlipShare TV box with remote controller. No pricing and availability is certain but we believe that it will all be announced soon!

The QOOQ: a recipe tablet for modern kitchens

Birge Basik — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:15:58 +0000

I can cook. Actually I’m an extraordinary cook; people keep saying that my fingers are magical. But I’m aware that lots of people even have trouble boiling an egg. The QOOQ is a kitchen computer, which will replace recipe cards and old cook books. It has 10.2’’ tablet with glass touch screen, on-screen keyboard, Ethernet connection, USB and SD ports and built-in Wi-Fi. However it’s not a netbook, it contains no web browser or such. It has access to online recipe sites and contains a number of built-in recipes, can gather weather information and access to internet radio stations. Plus it’s a very cute digital photo frame. A QOOQ will cost you €349 for the unit with 500 recipes installed and then €12.95 a month for recipe updates. Unfortunately, it’s only available in France, but I’m sure that it will be available internationally soon.

Windows Mobile 6.5 Phones

Birge Basik — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:10:24 +0000

While there are upwards of 30 windows mobile 6.5 phones launching by the end of this year, 7 of them are already on the market or imminent to come. We’ve prepared an extensive list of those new Windows Phones for you.

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HTC PURE

Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
Microsoft Office and Outlook Mobile Support
Windows Internet Explorer Mobile
Push E-mail Support
528 Mhz Qualcomm MSM7201A Processor
3.2’’ WVGA 480×800 Touch Screen with Stylus
288 MB Built-in Ram, 512 MB ROM
Up to 32 GB Micro SD
5.0 MP Auto Focus Camera
5 hours of talk time, 15 days of standby time
GPS, Bluetooh, Wi-Fi, 3G

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HTC IMAGIO

Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
Microsoft Office and Outlook Mobile Support
Windows Internet Explorer Mobile
Push E-mail Support
528 Mhz Qualcomm MSM7600 Processor
3.6’’ WVGA 480×800 262K-color TFT LCD Touch Screen with Stylus
288 MB Built-in Ram, 512 MB ROM
Micro SD
5.0 MP Auto Focus Camera
5 hours of talk time, 13 days of standby time
GPS, Bluetooh, Wi-Fi, 3G

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SAMSUNG INTREPID

Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
Microsoft Office and Outlook Mobile Support
Windows Internet Explorer Mobile
Push E-mail Support
528 Mhz Qualcomm MSM7600 Processor
3.6’’ WVGA 320×240 Touch Screen with Stylus
Full Keyboard
288 MB Built-in Ram, 512 MB ROM
Micro SD
5.0 MP Auto Focus Camera
6 hours of talk time, 12 days of standby time
GPS, Bluetooh, Wi-Fi, 3G

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HTC HD2

Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
Microsoft Office and Outlook Mobile Support
Opera Mobile Browser
Push E-mail Support
1 GHz Snapdragon processor
4.3’’ WVGA 480×800 Touch Screen
448 MB Built-in Ram, 512 MB ROM
Up to 32 GB Micro SD
5.0 MP Auto Focus Camera, Dual LED flash
5.5 hours of talk time, 18 days of standby time
8 hrs of Video 12 hours of Audio playback
GPS, Bluetooh, Wi-Fi, 3G

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HTC TOUCH 2

Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
Microsoft Office and Outlook Mobile Support
Opera Mobile Browser
Push E-mail Support
528 Mhz, Qualcomm Processor
2.8’’ TFT-LCD with QVGA resolution 480×800 Touch Screen
256 MB Built-in Ram, 512 MB ROM
Up to 32 GB Micro SD
5.0 MP Auto Focus Camera, Dual LED flash
5.5 hours of talk time, 18 days of standby time
GPS, Bluetooh, Wi-Fi, 3G

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SAMSUNG OMNIA II

Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
Microsoft Office and Outlook Mobile Support
Opera Mobile Browser
Push E-mail Support
3.7’’ WVGA 480×800 Touch Screen
448 MB Built-in Ram, 512 MB ROM
2-8-16 GB built-in memory
Up to 32 GB Micro SD
5.0 MP Auto Focus Camera, Dual LED flash
10 hours of talk time, 18 days of standby time
GPS, Bluetooh, Wi-Fi, 3G

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SONY ERICSSON XPERIA X2

Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
Microsoft Office and Outlook Mobile Support
Opera Mobile Browser
Push E-mail Support
3.2’’ WVGA 480×800 Touch Screen
QWERTY keyboard
448 MB Built-in Ram, 512 MB ROM
Up to 16 GB Micro SD
5.0 MP Auto Focus Camera, Dual LED flash
5.5 hours of talk time, 18 days of standby time
8 hrs of Video 12 hours of Audio playback
GPS, Bluetooh, Wi-Fi, 3G

Sony Xperia X3

Birge Basik — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:24:15 +0000

Sony Ericsson’s first Android based phone is on the way. We could see the XPERIA X3 device on shelves as soon as November 3rd. A new teaser slogan has started recently: “Sometimes there’s a thin line between the extraordinary and the magical. Did we cross it?”. Xperia X3 promises to have a powerful 4’’ 852 x 480 WVGA touchscreen, built-in HSDPA, Wi-Fi, 8 MP camera and Rachael interface. It may even have a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor and Android 2.0. The November 3rd release date may be a just rumor at this point however. We might be forced to wait for the XPERIA X3 until January 2010 instead.

Samsung’s 3mm-Thick HDTV: Are Celebrities Getting Thinner?

Birge Basik — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:13:05 +0000

We heard some rumors about Samsung’s latest LCD HDTV. The South Korean giant challenges Sony’s XEL-1 OLED TV and the Panasonic Z1 Plasma.

It is only 3mm thick! As far as we know, Samsungs new 40’’ LED backlit LCD HDTV will have 120Hz LCD panel, 1080p, 5000:1 contrast ratio.