- Spb Software House Releases Spb Insight - a Full-Text Pocket PC News Reader
- Skweezer Selected by Ask.com for New Ask Mobile Search
- Skweezer Selected by Bloglines to Improve Mobile Experience
- PlanMaker 2006 for Pocket PCs enters public beta test phase
- Spb Software House releases Spb Finance 2.6 with Microsoft Money 2007 synchronization support.
- SoftMaker Office 2006 for Windows released
- New website for PDA Developers
- Spb Software House Releases Spb Diary 2.0
- Demand for Mobile Access to Social Networking Sites Growing
- Skweezer Nominated for Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine's Best Software Awards
Codemasters Drives Onto The N-Gage With Colin McRae Rally 2005 Wednesday, June 23 2004
Nokia, together with Codemasters, today announced that Colin McRae Rally 2005 is under development for the N-Gage platform. As the first Codemasters title for the N-Gage platform, Colin McRae Rally 2005, developed by Ideaworks3D, will bring all the gripping action from the leading rally game series together with support for racing competitions via the N-Gage Arena.
"It's great to be able to bring Colin McRae Rally 2005, as the most successful brand in rally gaming, to the N-Gage mobile gaming audience," said Jim Darling, CEO, Codemasters. "We're really excited to work with the N-Gage team and build games that take advantage of the mobile connected features of the N-Gage platform."
"It's fantastic to have Codemasters' support for the N-Gage platform and Colin McRae Rally 2005 is a great first title to showcase the talents of the team," said Pasi Pölönen, Director of Game Publishing, Games Business Unit, Nokia. "The online support for ghost racing via N-Gage Arena will give rally fans a chance to compete with the best rally gamers from around the world."
"We are thrilled to be working with Codemasters and Nokia to craft the definitive driving experience for the N-Gage game deck," said Adrian Sack CEO of Ideaworks3D.
Colin McRae Rally 2005 is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2004.
Source: Nokia Press Office
PhatWare Announces PhatNet(TM) LAN/WAN Monitoring Tool For Windows Mobile-Based Pocket PCs Wednesday, June 9 2004
PhatWare Corporation, a leading provider of software products and professional services for mobile and desktop computers, announced today the release of PhatNet(TM), a new powerful network monitoring application for Microsoft Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs.
Able to troubleshoot a wide range of packet-based networks including UDP, TCP, Ethernet, DNS, and NetBios, PhatNet brings new portability, convenience, and efficiency to the critical task of enterprise network administration.
Source: Internet News Bureau
BACK TO THEIR ROOTS AS NOKIA N-GAGE MEETS CENEGA PUBLISHING Tuesday, June 8 2004
Nokia today announced that Prague-based CENEGA PUBLISHING is planning to deliver selected titles for the N-Gage platform. In the latter half of 2004 and early 2005, CENEGA and Nokia expect to release two titles: Roots: Gates of Chaos, an RPG that features a storyline exclusive to the N-Gage platform, and Shade: Wrath of Angels, a 3D horror game with exclusive multiplayer features.
"This is a fantastic chance for CENEGA games to take advantage of the unique mobile connected features that the N-Gage platform provides. The Roots: Gate of Chaos and Shade: Wrath of Angels on the N-Gage platform will allow the players to join their allies and experience the real meaning of brotherhood in arms via multiplayer gaming over Bluetooth wireless technology. CENEGA fans will be able to enjoy some of their favorite games anytime, anywhere they wish." Slavomir Pavlicek, General Manager, Cenega Publishing.
"Working with CENEGA means that N-Gage gamers can play fantastic titles like Roots: Gates of Chaos and Shade: Wrath of Angels, which should have gamers on tenterhooks across the globe. With Roots, and its support for up to 4-player multiplayer gaming and Shade's 2-player deathmatch mode, we expect to have a long and happy relationship with CENEGA and keep gamers thumbs occupied worldwide." Pasi Pölönen, Director of Game Publishing, Games Business Unit, Nokia.
The prequel to the other versions of The Roots, Roots: Gates of Chaos on N-Gage takes place 1000 years before, a time where the gods' struggle for world domination has turned into an open war. Wild hordes of monsters are allowed to ravage the world as the gods fail to take care of the balance of the universe but instead concentrate on mobilizing their armies in preparation for the final battle. A player's mission, should they choose to accept, it is to become one of the gallant heroes fighting to help the Lady of Life defeat her nemesis the Demon Lord. Roots is playable in cooperation or competition modes up to 4 players via Bluetooth wireless technology.
Shade: Wrath of Angels is a 3D horror action-adventure game where intrigue grips the player from the outset, as they find themselves having to wrack their brains to solve puzzles and problems of logic that would even stump Einstein. Throughout its four chapters, gamers must be ever alert as unexpected predators follow them through different times and dimensions. Gamers can use a range of attacking styles from close combat, spell casting and gunfire to create a bizarre and unique game play experience that will leave them wanting more. Shade: Wrath of Angels is expected to have a 2-player deathmatch mode via Bluetooth wireless technology.
About CENEGA PUBLISHING
CENEGA PUBLISHING, s.r.o., based in Prague, Czech Republic, was founded in April 2002 to search and support new projects within Central and Eastern Europe to bring them to the worldwide market. CENEGA PUBLISHING, s.r.o. is a subsidiary of CENEGA N.V., a holding company to the largest computer software distributor in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary . For further information, please visit our website at: http://www.cenega.com.
About N-Gage
The N-Gage game deck is an innovative mobile device that is creating an entirely new market for the games industry. Built for active and hardcore gamers, the N-Gage platform is the first mobile and connected game deck to feature online high-quality 3D multiplayer game play over Bluetooth wireless technology and GPRS. The N-Gage device also offers unique online games services as well as a comprehensive and growing games catalogue from the leading game publishers. Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Nokia and N-Gage are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation.
Source: Nokia Press Office
Nokia & Rankin unite in fairy tale collaboration Friday, June 4 2004
Nokia today celebrates the availability of its latest imaging phone, the Nokia 7610, by announcing a pioneering collaboration with an iconic fashion photographer. Rankin, a highly acclaimed British fashion photographer, has used Nokia's most advanced camera handset to craft six enchanting photographs accompanied by 60 inspiration shots, inspired by the legendary Cottingley fairy photographs.
The magical Cottingley fairy images, created by schoolgirls Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright, have fascinated and mystified the world for nearly 90 years. Now, retraining his eye from fashion to fairy tale, Rankin has re-created these historic photographs with a modern twist using the latest technology from Nokia.
Boasting an integrated megapixel camera with 4 x digital zoom, and a large color display, the Nokia 7610 phone allowed Rankin to capture the spellbinding story behind his exhibition photographs. Whether shooting location ideas, recording flashes of inspiration or simply cataloguing each step of the ambitious project, the new handset was always with him.
Rankin explains: "I've always been captivated by the Cottingley fairy photographs and have harboured a secret ambition to give them a modern day reworking! I draw inspiration for my work from the environment around me and being able to capture my ideas in vivid detail, using the Nokia 7610 - no matter where or when they happen - is priceless. It also allows me to instantly share my ideas with the rest of the team."
Pekka Rantala, Senior Vice President at Multimedia Marketing, Nokia, added: "Our collaboration with Rankin showcases - for the first time - how a camera phone can be used to support and enhance a photographer's creative process by allowing him or her to instantly capture and share visual notes. It highlights one of the many ways that camera phones can enrich our lives, whether it is about unleashing our creativity, enabling spontaneity or recalling past experiences."
Packed with the latest mobile phone technology, the sleek and stylish Nokia 7610 is a must-have phone for creative types. The megapixel camera allows you to capture inspiration on the move, while the state-of-the-art connectivity options mean you can instantly share your images with friends and colleagues and print directly from the phone. In addition, the integrated video recorder allows you to capture up to ten minutes of video footage and edit it into a personal video vignette.
About Rankin
Rankin is a leading fashion photographer famous for his intimate and challenging portraits of the world's most recognisable faces including; Tony Blair, Madonna and Kylie. Having co-founded Dazed & Confused magazine in 1991, he went on to produce a string of innovative exhibitions, such as CeleBritation, Rankin Nudes, and Snog.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia is dedicated to enhancing people's lives and productivity by providing easy-to-use and secure products like mobile phones, and solutions for imaging, games, media, mobile network operators and businesses. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on five major exchanges.
Source: Nokia Press Office
Schools Buying Tungsten C Wireless Handhelds from palmOne Get Free Software License for Creating Wireless Learning Environments Thursday, June 3 2004
Starting today and through Sept. 30, schools that purchase a minimum of 30 Tungsten(TM) C wireless handhelds through the palmOne(TM) Education Purchase Program will get a free license to use a file distribution and exchange program that could revolutionize workflow in the classroom, palmOne, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLMO) announced today.
LearnTracFX from the Readiness Company, formerly known as eLearning Dynamics, is designed to help teachers create a wireless classroom learning environment where they can efficiently conduct routine tasks -- such as distributing and collecting assignments and study materials for an entire class, selected groups, or individual students -- via a wireless network. The high-speed wireless Tungsten C handheld includes integrated 802.11 technology (also known as Wi-Fi)(1) and a built-in keyboard.
"Schools are looking for ways to maximize their investments in wireless classrooms with solutions that increase communication and make it easy to exchange information," said Mike Lorion, vice president of vertical markets for palmOne. "Teachers lose valuable time performing routine tasks, such as passing out assignments and study materials, and collecting homework. LearnTracFX gives it back to them."
With LearnTracFX teachers can exchange a variety of popular file formats, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, GIF and JPEG images, and Adobe PDF files. The system resides on a teacher's laptop or desktop computer, and materials are sent wirelessly to each student's Tungsten C device, or beamed via infrared technology built into every palmOne handheld. The teacher- controlled program can be managed by student, class, and subject categories. Students can use the program's Instant Message and eHand Raise functions to signal the teacher and ask questions.
The platform eliminates the need for instructors to first convert files to the handheld format and synchronize them with each student device separately. Instead, LearnTracFX enables instructors to wirelessly exchange files with as few as one or as many as 100 student devices almost instantly. The file- exchange solution also provides the instructor with a verifiable record of exactly what files were transferred to whom and when. The IT staff gets the added benefit of installing a new application to all of the devices at the same time with a click of the mouse, instead of spending hours, or even days, updating each device separately.
"LearnTracFX gives teachers more time to focus on actual instruction," said Chase Weir, founder and chairman of the Readiness Company. "This is especially critical in K-12, where schools are striving to meet the stiff accountability requirements of the No Child Left Behind act."
LearnTracFX and LearnTracLIVE, the Readiness Company's advanced and powerful student response solution for Palm Powered(TM) handhelds, also can be purchased separately through the palmOne Store ( http://store.palmone.com ) starting this summer.
The palmOne Education Purchase Program gives K-12 schools and universities a way to extend their technology budgets and enable equity among students by offering additional free handhelds for certain levels of purchase. The one- time license from the Readiness Company covers the purchase of 30 or more Tungsten C handhelds, plus the additional free handhelds, and the teacher- controlled LearnTracFX platform. More information on the palmOne Education Purchase Program is available at www.palmone.com/education. More information on products from the Readiness Company can be found at www.elearningdynamics.com.
Source: palmOne Inc.
PalmSource in License Talks with China's Bird, TCL Wednesday, June 2 2004
PalmSource Inc (PSRC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it is talking with Chinese mobile phone maker Ningbo Bird (600130.SS: Quote, Profile, Research) and an arm of TCL about licensing its Palm operating software for handheld devices.
PalmSource President and Chief Executive David Nagel declined to say when agreements might be signed.
"We're talking but it's very early in those discussions. We're not close to announcing anything," Nagel told Reuters on the sidelines of a technology conference in Shanghai.
Ningbo Bird is China's largest homegrown maker of cellphones, while the unit of TCL Corp (000100.SZ: Quote, Profile, Research) has joined forces with Alcatel (CGEP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) to create a company that aspires to be among the world's top five mobile phone makers within a few years.
PalmSource is striving to add customers in China even as its number two client, Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) , announced on Tuesday it would stop selling new handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs) based on the software outside Japan this year.
PalmSource's shares tumbled 12 percent in New York on the news, which would decrease the number of new PDAs that need its operating system.
Lenovo Group (0992.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) and Founder Group, China's top two computer makers, have already signed up as PalmSource licensees, Nagel said.
Lenovo, formerly known as Legend, launched two Palm-powered Chinese-language handheld computers in December.
According to research firm Gartner, handheld computer sales in China were forecast to hit 475,000 units this year, up from an estimated 442,000 last year.
PalmSource is slugging it out with Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , Symbian Ltd and Linux to become the world's premier software provider for handheld devices.
That rivalry is just beginning to intensify in China, where a growing middle class is showing a voracious appetite for digital gadgets, and where rival Microsoft commands an overwhelming software market share of up to 95 percent.
Symbian's shareholders include Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research) , Ericsson (ERICb.ST: Quote, Profile, Research) , Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (000830.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) and Siemens AG (SIEGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) .
Source: Reuters
Sony Puts Its Hand-Helds on Hold Wednesday, June 2 2004
Sony Electronics Inc. said it is "reassessing" its involvement with hand-held computers, stating that it has no plans to release new models of its Clie devices in the U.S. later this year.
The action amounts to an exit by Sony Electronics, a unit of Tokyo-based Sony Corp., from the U.S. hand-held-computer industry, by far the world's biggest market for the devices. Sony's move is the latest sign of the waning prospects for the gadgets known as personal digital assistants, which are being vastly outsold by cellphones that offer computing capabilities.
Sony's pullout underlines the overall decline of conventional hand-held devices, which typically are used to keep track of contact information and appointments. That market was hit hard by the tech downturn several years ago. Since then, the industry has been battered by the rise of competing devices, including high-end cellphones. Sony is still developing sophisticated cellphones in a joint venture with Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson.
Sony's decision was better news for palmOne Inc., which sells competing devices based on PalmSource operating systems. PalmOne's shares traded at $21.45, up 1%, in 4 p.m. Nasdaq trading. A palmOne spokeswoman said, "Sony's exit bolsters our leadership position" in the hand-held market.
Sony entered the hand-held market in 2000 with its first Clie, which stands for Communication Linkage for Information and Entertainment, following the success of market leader Palm Inc., which subsequently split into palmOne and PalmSource.
Source: Wall Street Journal
New Nokia Plug-In Car Handsfree easy to install and compatible with a wide variety of mobile phones Wednesday, June 2 2004
The new Nokia Plug-In Car Handsfree HF-3 offers users an easy-to-install solution for in-car communications*It consists of a built-in speaker and integrated microphone enabling good audio quality and a connecting cable featuring a Pop-Portä interface. Calls are handled via a compatible mobile phone without the need for any other components. The unit is powered by simply plugging the product into your car's 12 V-cigarette lighter socket. It is recommended that the handsfree product is used together with a compatible mobile holder when available, since this provides a convenient place for the phone in the car and also ensures optimal positioning of the microphone. An indicator light above the speaker shows that the unit is properly installed. The handsfree unit also includes a charging function for all compatible mobile phones**.
"The Plug-In Car Handsfree responds to the desire of many users for an inexpensive and easy-to-install option for comfortable in-car communications", explains Teemu Suila, Director Complementary Products, Nokia Multimedia "The product was designed for quick and easy transfer to other vehicles. This means that when users change cars, they can still rely on the convenience of their handsfree solution."
The device is expected to be available in Europe during the 3rd quarter 2004.
Source: Nokia Press Office
Rio Grande Schools Purchase 1,000 New palmOne Handhelds Tuesday, June 1 2004
When Roel Gonzalez stepped into the shoes of superintendent of a large school district in Texas nearly seven months ago, it didn't take him long to see that handheld computers from palmOne, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLMO) not only motivate students, they also help prepare them for the demanding Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills test administered by the state annually.
Now, with the addition of 1,000 Zire(TM) 71 and Tungsten(TM) E handhelds from palmOne, the Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District at Fort Ringgold has more than 2,700 handheld computers in second through fifth grades. And if Gonzalez has his way, all 10,000 students in the district will be using handheld computers within the next two years. Plans also are under way to provide Tungsten C wireless handhelds to administrators in the central district office and to bring wireless access technology to all 12 district campuses.
"We now consider handhelds a necessity," says Gonzalez. "Students love using them, educators say they can't do without them, and parents are asking when the first graders will get them. You can't beat them in terms of affordability and application."
Gonzalez has many reasons to be excited about the technology. He credits handhelds with motivating students, saying, "Students are immediately receptive to using handhelds because it's a format that they 'get' -- thanks to handheld gaming and MP3 players, they're already very savvy with electronic devices. The difference is, handhelds empower them.
"From what we have seen, handhelds increase motivation, reinforce writing and improve spelling. With thousands of curriculum and productivity applications available for handhelds, my goal is for handhelds to replace the heavy backpacks students carry today."
In addition, the Zire 71 handheld with its built-in digital camera has become very useful in promoting student success. "We can take pictures of students in recognition of any type of academic success," he says, "adding momentum to special events and fun to learning."
On a larger scale, the district has implemented a comprehensive assessment using handhelds from palmOne and Tango assessment software from Liberty Solutions, a Texas-based consulting and system integration firm. The software captures data quickly and creates profiles of each student in the school district. Educators populate the profiles with data collected from daily work; homework; assessments taken using handhelds; assignments; homework; and projects in reading, writing, grammar, math, science and social studies. The information helps schools to prepare students to pass the state test, which ultimately helps the district meet the accountability requirements set by the No Child Left Behind act.
"I serve a student body where 87 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged, and 50 percent are designated Limited English Proficient," says Gonzalez. "This makes an already demanding state test even more difficult for them. Just before we started the handheld-based assessment program, 30 students had failed the test. We brought the number down to five when the test was administered again, and on the third administration only one student failed to pass the test. Technology helped us to assess these students quickly, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and make appropriate adjustments to the curriculum."
The Tango automated assessment program uses handhelds to collect data, and it provides a way for the district to assess all students at the same grade level, over the same amount of time. Gonzalez says handhelds are a cost-effective way to retrieve student information quickly; the cost of desktop or laptop computers limits the number of kids who can use them simultaneously.
The software correlates to state objectives, monitors tests, helps educators set and track measurable performance goals, and helps improve student achievement by identifying successful teaching methods and developing early intervention strategies. What used to take teachers weeks of manual tabulation can now be done in real time, allowing them to quickly assess students and redirect instruction immediately. Now, student data on the handheld is synchronized with the teacher's desktop computer. The system lets teachers generate independent progress reports or individual educational plans for parents, and utilize state standards to make comparisons as to where students should be academically. Grades go into an electronic grade book. The program all but eliminates the manual grading of papers.
Vilma Garza, principal of General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary School, says the data helps her to be a more productive and efficient administrator because she can easily view all the data on her handheld and organize it by campus, teacher and grade level. "Access to this information helps me identify strengths and weaknesses in teaching strategies and provide help to a teacher without having to wait for grades and report cards. If a parent drops by my office unexpectedly or if I meet a parent at the grocery store, I can immediately access their child's profile from my handheld."
So far, Gonzalez is pleased with the results. "Our kids are doing wonderfully, and we have raw test scores to prove it," he says. "Our assessment program gives us feedback that mirrors the state requirements, and it gives us predictors on how students will do on the state test."
Because they are designed for mobility, handhelds can be used anywhere and at any time; students are not restricted to class time to continue to work on assignments. The assessment program also keeps track of individual students' incomplete assignments and makes them responsible to complete them before the six-week grading period is over.
Together, the handhelds and assessment program also allow the district to collect and analyze data to evaluate its curriculum, provide required data for federal programs and grants, develop staff training, ensure that teachers address the state-required expectations, and monitor the implementation of instruction.
Source: palmOne Inc.
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