September 14th, 2009

Shortcovers has ePub ebooks for reading enjoyment on several platforms

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 12:56 pm

Categories: Apple, Gadgets, Mobile software, Palm, Smartphone, ebooks, iPhone, mobile services

Tags: Shortcovers, ePub, E-books, Personal Technology, Matthew Miller

While there are now thousands of applications for the Google Android platform, one area that has very few alternatives is the ebook reader category. Several months ago I did find the Shortcovers application and ebook store. At the time I tried it though you needed a connection to read books on the Android since only a certain number of pages were available. That has appeared to change now with downloadable books, but even better for me personally is that I read on MobileRead that you can now browse, purchase, and download books in ePub format for the Sony Reader and several other dedicated ebook readers. To compete with Amazon, Shortcovers even offers many of the latest and greatest books for just US$9.99 and I think I have found my new online ebook store to use across multiple platforms.

Their ePub books can be loaded onto the following devices using the Adobe Digital Editions free software from your Mac or PC:

• Sony Reader (PRS-300, 600, 505, 700)
• Asktak EZ Reader or EZ Reader Pocket Pro (see my review)
• BeBook (One, Mini)
• Bookeen (Cybook Opus, Gen 3)
• COOL-ER Classic
• Elonex eBook 600
• HanLin eBook (V3, V5)
• REX Digital Reader 1000S
• Neolux NUUT2

You can also read these ePub title on your PC or Mac using the same Adobe Digital Editions software that you use to transfer the books to your dedicated reader. As you can see the folks at Shortcovers want to enable you to read your ebooks on just about any platform available, unlike the Amazon Kindle format currently just for Kindle devices and iPhones/iPod touches.

In addition to the ePub formatted books for download and installation on your ebook reader, they currently have mobile clients for the iPhone/iPod touch, BlackBerry, Google Android, and Palm WebOS platforms with clients for Symbian and Windows Mobile under development.

October 6th, 2008

MobileTechRoundup show #149, Netbook talk, WiMAX available, new phones in the house

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 8:51 am

Categories: Gadgets, MoTR podcast, Netbook, Nokia, Palm, Ultra portable PC, Windows Mobile

Tags: MobileTechRoundup, Freeware, Phone, Memory Card, James, WiMAX, Memory, Flash Memory, Wi-Fi, Wireless

Listen here (MP3, 29 MB, 31:35 minutes)

Subscribe to the show with this link (RSS)

While we were recording MobileTechRoundup show #149 Kevin was able to swap out internal parts on his MSI Wind and is trying out for the Netbook pit crew. We chatted about the long-awaited release of WiMAX in Baltimore, my Palm Treo Pro, the N96 devices that James and I are now evaluating, and the 16GB microSD memory card announcement. James has a Lenovo S60 netbook and all of this talk about them has me seriously thinking of the MSI Wind that should arrive soon for me to evaluate. We also had a couple freeware products that turn your phone into a trackpad or mouse.

Please let me know if you have anything you would like us to cover and discuss on the show and I’ll try to work it into a future podcast.

September 17th, 2008

Check out the new ZDNet Smartphones and Cell Phones blog

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 7:07 am

Categories: BlackBerry, Feature phones, Open Handset Alliance, Palm, S60, Smartphone, Ultra portable PC, Windows Mobile, Wireless carriers, Zune, iPhone

Tags: Phone, Mobile, Smart Phone, Blog, Cell Phone, Smart Phones, Blogging, Advertising & Promotion, Cellular Phones, Consumer Electronics

I’ve been covering everything related to mobile tech here on the ZDNet Mobile Gadgeteer blog, including mobile phones, Tablet PCs, netbooks, digital media players, portable gaming devices, and more. In an attempt to provide a bit more focus, I am now splitting that blog into two blogs with this new one focused solely on news, review, and commentary of mobile phones, accessories, and software. The new ZDNet Smartphones and Cell Phones blog kicked off this morning and in addition to the smartphone devices (Apple, Palm, Windows Mobile, S60, BlackBerry, and Google Android) I will also start including some higher end feature phone coverage there as well.

I’ll be covering all other types of mobile gear here on this blog, including Tablet PCs/MIDS, digital audio players, portable GPS units, portable gaming devices, and much more. Please let me know what interests you and what you would like to see covered in future posts, including any software or hardware you would like to see me evaluate and review. Thank you very much for your support on the Mobile Gadgeteer these last two+ years and I look forward to writing on this new blog and keeping you informed.

September 12th, 2008

Video look at the Palm Treo Pro, my soon-to-be new daily device

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 2:15 pm

Categories: Palm, Review, Windows Mobile

Tags: Device, Palm Inc., Palm Treo, Video, Keyboards, Cellular Phones, Handhelds, Hardware, Peripherals, Consumer Electronics

Back on August 22nd I posted an unboxing of the Palm Treo Pro because it was unique for a Palm device and then posted my full review of the device on August 27th. I had to leave for Singapore when I posted my full review and didn’t get a chance to post a video walk through of the device and have received a couple of requests for this. Since I am out the door to return the review unit in a few minutes I thought it was fitting to post my video and final thoughts on the device.

While you can see there are very few Palm customizations and “special sauce” added to the Palm Treo Pro, it is a solid Windows Mobile 6.1 device. Even after loading up about 25 3rd party applications over the review period I NEVER had to perform a soft reset on the device. It was rock solid and the only reset I made to it was as I prepared to send it back and clean up the device.

I found the battery life to be excellent and it easily went a full day for me without any worries. I LOVE the standard 3.5mm headset jack, the fairly new standard microUSB port for syncing and charging, the capability for A2DP audio, the WiFi button, the ringer switch, and the rock solid feel of the device. The camera could be better, but the photos seemed to be fairly decent and acceptable for the most part.

While the keyboard is a bit tight and very similar to the Palm Centro, I discovered that I am much more productive with these type of QWERTY keyboards and actually like the keyboard on the front like this and the Curve because I can use them with one hand with very little effort. Thus I am trading my Samsung OMNIA for a Treo Pro and will soon have my own Treo Pro to use as my daily device.

September 11th, 2008

More thoughts and videos on the Samsung OMNIA, may be traded soon

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 7:30 am

Categories: Mobile software, Palm, Review, Windows Mobile

Tags: Touch Screen, Device, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Video, Corporate Communications, Keyboards, Monitors & Displays, Marketing, Hardware, Peripherals

While on my business trip to Singapore I picked up a white 16GB Samsung OMNIA Windows Mobile device and a couple days later offered my first impressions. I am still quite impressed with the device, but I am finding that I am leaning towards devices with integrated QWERTY keyboards and may soon be trading my OMNIA for a Palm Treo Pro (another device I recently wrote about). I took a couple of videos, included below, showing more functionality of the OMNIA and also offer a few more thoughts on using the device.

Samsung includes a few utilities that are quite useful and help set the device apart from the crowd of Windows Mobile devices. As I mentioned before, I particularly enjoy their podcatcher and video player. They also include a utility to edit videos right on the device and create slideshows from your photos. Check out the video below for a walk through the software applications and utilities included on the OMNIA.

Samsung includes a 5 megapixel camera with a flash light on the back of the OMNIA and this looks to be one of the best Windows Mobile cameras on the market today. As you can see in my video below there are lots of options in the software for capturing images and video.

I’ve been trying to use the HTC Touch Diamond and now the Samsung OMNIA as my main devices and what I keep finding is that I rarely text, send email, or write when I am using these touch screen devices. However, when I have a device like my BlackBerry Curve or the Treo Pro I text, email, create notes and appointments, and update Twitter and Facebook a TON more since I am quite adept at these QWERTY keyboards. Thus, I am working out a trade for a Treo Pro to swap with my Samsung OMNIA.

Like the iPhone, the OMNIA is a wonderful content consumption device (video watching, music listening) and with the 5 megapixel camera it also does a good job of offline creation. However, without 3G in the U.S. it is a bit limited in its connectivity and as someone with teenage daughters I just need something that lets me write faster and easier than a full touch screen device.

There are still no announcements about the OMNIA coming to the U.S., but there have been indications in the FCC that it is possible it could make its way here. Even then, I doubt I will go for it since I keep confirming that I am a hardware keyboard type of guy rather than a touch screen only guy.

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August 27th, 2008

Review: Palm Treo Pro brings thinnest Treo to the world

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 9:38 am

Categories: HTC, On the road, Palm, Review, Windows Mobile, Wireless carriers

Tags: Keyboard, Device, Palm Inc., Palm Treo, Palm Treo Pro, Treo Pro, Display, Earpiece, Palm Centro, Nokia E71

In a bit of a surprising move for Palm they launched a second Windows Mobile Professional device, the Palm Treo Pro, just about a month and a half after the Treo 800w. I expected to see a GSM version of the Treo 800w, but that hasn’t happened and we don’t know if it every will. I posted an unboxing video and some responses to my Q&A with Palm last week and finally the NDA was lifted so I could bring you more details about the device. I am on the road in Singapore so am unable to post a video until I return, but there are some images and screenshots in my image gallery and lots of thoughts and answers to your questions below for you to check out.

The Palm Treo Pro has just about the same specifications as all the latest Windows Mobile Professional devices and it is getting tougher and tougher to differentiate between the devices and lower cost may be what drives people to a specific device. The Treo Pro is launching in the U.S. only in an unlocked configuration with a retail price of US$549, so low cost is not a feature of the Treo Pro (in comparison, the Treo 800w is US$249 with a contract). Some of the Palm customizations I’ve seen on other devices are not present, but there are still a couple that help differentiate the Treo Pro. Are they enough to make this a device to buy at a premium price?

	Image Gallery:Check out product photos and screenshots of the Palm Treo Pro.

With the Treo 800w now available from Sprint, the Treo Pro is the second Palm branded mobile phone with WiFi and GPS. It is an unlocked phone with quad-band GSM and tri-band HSDPA/UMTS radios so even though it may cost a bit more, enterprise customers may like to pick it up without any contract obligations and send employees all over the world with a high quality phone. Just 5 days after I received the review unit, I had to head out of town to Singapore for business so I took the Treo Pro along to see how it performed in a real-life test. It didn’t seem to work with my MaxROAM SIM like my Nokia N82, but the WiFi was handy to have so I could connect to my test Boingo Mobile account.

In the box: Palm made a good move with the Treo Pro and it looks like they modeled the packaging after the Apple iPhone. I don’t think there is anything wrong with emulating a successful feature and as I showed in my unboxing video Palm did a great job with the packaging. Inside the rugged, attractive, and compact Palm Treo Pro box you will find the device itself (displayed prominently right under the top cover), micro USB sync/charge cable (Palm’s new standard), compact A/C charger, wired stereo headset, stylus (no extra in the box), generous 1500 mAh lithium ion polymer battery, Palm recycling label, and a couple printed materials (Getting Started Guide and warranty information). There is no case or CD included in the box. Rather than include a CD with ActiveSync, Palm now includes a PC Setup utility right on the device that actually contains ActiveSync and more so you get the latest version on your Windows PC the first time you connect the USB cable so the out-of-box experience is optimized. This does not work with Apple computers.

Specs: The Palm Treo Pro is the first GSM Treo with WiFi and GPS and has the latest and greatest specifications to make it a winner in the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional lineup. Specifications of the Palm Treo Pro include:

• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• Quad-band GSM and tri-band HSDPA/UMTS supportt
• 128MB RAM and 256MB flash ROM (about 100MB available to the user)
• Qualcomm MSM7201 400MHz processor
• 1.74 inch square 320×320 high resolution display (wish it was a bit bigger)
• Integrated 802.11 b/g WiFi radio
• Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 radio with A2DP
• Infrared port
• Integrated A-GPS receiver
• 1500 mAh Lithium ion battery with reported 5 hours of talk time
• microSD card slot with microSDHC support
• 2 megapixel camera
• micro USB port for syncing/charging/wired headset
• Standard 3.5mm headset jack
• Weight of 4.69 ounces
• Size of 4.49 x 2.36 x 0.53 inches

A couple of design features of the Palm Treo Pro that are different than the Treo 800w are the Read the rest of this entry »

August 27th, 2008

MobileTechRoundup show #144, Palm thoughts, Acer Aspire One is gone

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 4:12 am

Categories: HTC, MoTR podcast, Palm, Ultra portable PC

Tags: MobileTechRoundup, Palm Inc., Acer Inc., Kevin, Podcasts, Internet, Matthew Miller

Listen here (MP3, 36.1 MB, 39:20 minutes)

Subscribe to the show with this link (RSS)

James, Kevin, and I had a chance to get back together over Skype and record MobileTechRoundup show #144 and talked a bit about the devices I planned to take to my work trip to Singapore. Kevin tells why he took back the Acer Aspire One and why he may end up getting another in a different flavor. We talked for quite a bit about the Treo Pro and I have to say after further usage that I may have some different thoughts when my full review goes live. We all three chimed in on thoughts of Palm and what the future may hold. Kevin then shared a freeware of the show for your iPhone that you need to grab before it becomes a commercial application.

If you enjoy listening to the MobileTechRoundup podcast, please vote for us at Podcast Alley. Also, please let me know if you have anything you would like us to cover and discuss on the show and I’ll try to work it into a future podcast.

August 23rd, 2008

Ryan Block's last day as Engadget editor-in-chief ends with 1 year update on the state of Palm

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 7:59 am

Categories: Palm

Tags: Palm Inc., Engadget, Ryan Block, Smart Phones, Professional Development, Cellular Phones, Handhelds, Keyboards, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology

Ryan Block is ending his role as editor-in-chief at Engadget to pursue a new gadget site opportunity with long-time buddy Peter Rojas and I wish them both the best of luck and look forward to seeing what they come up with. As a fitting end to his role at Engadget, Ryan posted an update to his open letter to Palm that he posted last year. His 2007 letter gave lots of unsolicited advice to Palm and CEO Ed Colligan even responded to the letter. The sad news is that one year later there is very little that shows Palm has changed much and it is tough to keep pulling for the company and hoping they come out of it.Looking through Ryan’s latest article, I have to agree with his comments on the new Treo Pro and you will see this in my review next week. For a high end device, available only at a US$549 unlocked price, the keyboard is a step back to the low-end Centro line and the lack of Palm’s special touches is disappointing.

I began my mobile career with a Palm device and want to see them succeed. But in todays market with strong competition from RIM, Apple, and HTC I think people are expecting more. That said, I do know a lot of new smartphone users who are very happy with the Palm Centro and wonder if us gadget enthusiasts are expecting more from Palm than what is really needed to be successful. Sometimes we get wrapped up by the latest and greatest and the common person may just want something that meets their basic needs.

August 22nd, 2008

It looks like HTC made the Palm Treo Pro

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 9:03 am

Categories: HTC, Palm, Windows Mobile

Tags: High Tech Computer Corp., Palm Inc., Palm Treo, Cellular Phones, Handhelds, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Hardware, Matthew Miller

HTC made a few Treo devices in the past, like the Treo 650, but Inventec has been the primary ODM for most of these newest devices. I saw the HTC Task Manager on the Treo Pro, wondered about the new flush display like that seen on the Touch Diamond, and also noticed that the bottom soft keys have a touchable area that is quite large to make it easier to activate the soft keys and wondered if HTC made this new device. Chris Leckness at Mobility Site found a DigiTimes report that HTC is indeed the ODM for the Palm Treo Pro.

I think this is great news for the Treo Pro buyer because HTC is a proven player in the touch screen Windows Mobile market. Another thing is that the excellent resources at XDA Developers may be able to support customizations of the device for those who like to tweak things. HTC is focusing more on branding their own line of devices, but still is manufacturing others like the Sony Ericsson EXPERIA X1 as well.

August 22nd, 2008

Unboxing video and shots of the new Palm Treo Pro

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 4:31 am

Categories: Palm, Windows Mobile

Tags: Palm Inc., Palm Treo, Video, Corporate Communications, 3G, Cellular Phones, Handhelds, Marketing, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology

The Palm Treo Pro was announced a couple of days ago and I received an evaluation unit yesterday. Unfortunately, I cannot post a review of the device until next week, but in the meantime I wanted to post my unboxing video below and a couple of out-of-the box photos for you to check out. I don’t shoot videos of all of my unboxings, just the ones that are a bit unusual and as you can see in the video below Palm did a great job with the packaging on this device.

I am collecting questions from readers in my earlier post and will take a look here too if you post questions you want answered in my review. I will be in Singapore over the next couple of weeks, but should have full net access to post my review so stay tuned for that.

Some of my first initial thoughts of the device are that it is much glossier than I anticipated, the width and thinness are just about right and feel good in your hand, I don’t like that the Palm threaded SMS implementation was removed for the Windows Mobile 6.1 version (I find it less attractive with fewer features), the keys are very Centro-like with a bit more spacing, and the 3G reception is much better than what I saw on the iPhone 3G.