Lenovo quits cellphones business market

"What, Lenovo released their own handsets??" Those were probably the lines you say when you read the news on Wall Street Journal article here too, I'm as surprised as you to know Lenovo did have their own handsets branded with their company name.

Seems that those handsets are mainly released for Chinese market, so it's no wonder nobody have ever heard or seen them outside the designated geographical area. Still we should know what they all look like, no matter how un-attractive they are; as seen on the picture there. Picture is from Engadget, read on if you want to know more.

Palm is being lazy to give informations about Treo 755p ROM update?

Got the early news from Kris Keilhack (from PalmInfoCenter) on ROM update for Treo 755p Sprint, seems that Palm don't give much informations regarding this one update even in their website...

They only described it as: "This software update is a tune-up that improves audio, stability, software quality and device usability." Anyways, if you own a Treo 755p from Sprint carrier; then you should get it whilst it's still fresh.

More news on Palm's closing their retail stores

Seems like there are more than simple strategic plans for Palm when they've announced closing retail stores, and when one of PalmAddict associate reader see a Palm store is still open at the airport. TreoCentral got what actually is going on: "The first thing to note is that there are essentially two types of Palm stores - stores owned directly by Palm (see update below) and stores owned by Airport Wireless and operated in partnership with Palm. A spokesperson for Palm has verified that Palm is indeed closing down all of their stores except for one - the one located at Palm's own headquarters."

Read the whole story at their site here.

The best mobile web browser is in the making

This sounds too good to be true: a mobile web browser that can perform like the usual desktop web browser, and it's free. I'm talking about the fresh-new comer; Skyfire. The developer said it can handle the most cutting-edge nowadays website add-ons such as Java, Ajax, QuickTime, Flash, etc. And probably the most favourite for everyone, is to able to play YouTube directly from the web browser itself.
They have the Beta version ready for USA subscribers only for now (nicknamed "private beta"), but they plan to broaden it for anyone to enjoy. Although Skyfire is currently run on Windows Mobile 5 and 6, Skyfire Labs Inc. say it'll run on other popular OS and the first roadmap is Symbian.
Glad to know that the best isn't always expensive, heck it's even free! Watch out Opera, this one is a serious new contender in mobile web browser competition...
Hopefully Skyfire Labs Inc. Keep their promise to offer it for free then.
(blogged with my Treo 750v)

What fans' loyalty worth

I've been following HTC Kaiser mobile phone problem with their video/graphic issue, the latest news is that fans & owner of that device have been gathering more than US$5,000 to offer to anyone who can make a driver to overcome the problem. The reward money is growing as the post at XDA-Developers forum is getting more attention and support from fellow fans.
We can pull off two conclusions from above event which is:
1.) Even though HTC is a giant vendor in mobile phones business & a well known for their up to date devices, they seems to ignore the owner's right for driver & firmware update. And the worse thing is their official response; they encourage their loyal customers to purchase newer HTC devices to resolve the problem above.
2.) How loyal fans can be to keep on using their devices, even though the manufacturer stopped their support for that particular device.
Doesn't this sound familiar to Palm fans? Just like me, and you perhaps, we keep using the critized & mocked Palm Treo (680 and 750, or even older ones) devices despite there are plenty other tempting same devices out there. Sometimes I do have a thinking; should I pay someone to modify my Treo 750v so it can have a WiFi inside it? Or boost up the screen resolution better? The thoughts are surely tempting, but I want stability above additional features, so I'll wait untill Palm release a better Treo next time.
Please Palm, don't you let down these loyal fans of yours.
(blogged from my Treo 750v)

Not everyone accustomed to use their mobile phone's camera...

The year is 2008, and mobile phones with camera in them is already a standard accessory; and every young to middle age people use at least carry & use one mobile phone.
Just last night, I went to my best friend's wedding. I met plenty of colleagues & old friends, of course I planned to capture those precious meeting with my Treo 750v. Took it out and snap couple of pictures, when one of my friend asked to take over the Treo so I could join in, I gave it and joined the crowd. Just few seconds later he had difficulty to take a snap of picture with it, although I kept telling him to push the middle button, he couldn't do it. I felt very dissapointed cause the fun moment melt immediately when everybody was going home in a hurry.
Just when we're walking home, we met with another old friend, so I decided to give it a try once more. But this time I gave it to another friend to try, again this one also had difficulty to make the snap. I really can't believe it this time, is it my Treo which had error or what? Then I realized that friend of mine is pushing the middle D-pad button too long, I told him that he's supposed to push it lightly only once. After that the snap was successful, although the picture is a little blurry because my friend moved the Treo too fast before the picture was taken perfectly.
What happened there got me thinking, how can two of my friends who carry around modern mobile phones had so difficulty on such trivial thing: push lightly the middle button in order to take a snap of picture?? At first I thought Palm Treo phones are different from other vendors' phones? But that's not the answer, the answer is: there have been lesser people we thought of who actually use their mobile phone's camera. I asked both of my friends there, and their answer is just what I've mentioned; they never use their mobile phones to take a picture! Wow, how many people out there like that I wonder...
(blogged with my Treo 750v)

Contacts disaster!

When I saw MacBook Air, I immediately agreed to sell my ThinkPad R61 to my friend who's been asking for it, I'm going to order it as soon as it's available. I used to sync my Treo 750v with it before, so after I sold it yesterday I have to use my PC once more.
The thing is I forgot to set the sync settings at my PC to not to replace the contacts in my Treo 750v. The result is like what I'm most affraid of: I lost every contacts! Because the Outlook 2003 in my PC is still empty, I know now that I learned a valuable lesson to look at the settings first before pluggin my Treo ever again.
But on top of all that, I really hope Microsoft could change the ActiveSync settings default into ask the user first when it's going to replace any contacts. Please be careful you guys if you also use Windows Mobile.

Palm Drucker is coming soon than we wanted

Brace yourself for another round of Palm Treo 800 leaked info, apparently Andrew from Treonauts stumbled upon a mistaken option for the phone model when he was trying to update his Telenav, but without any picture available yet.

This could be a very strong evidence that Palm Treo 800 a.k.a. Palm Drucker is being prepared by vendors and Palm partners to be launch soon. Still according to Treonauts, besides the previous specs mentioned many times before, it seems that this new Treo will not have headphone jack anymore. So the owner must use Bluetooth connection or micro-USB jack (if there's any) compatible. See the full specs here if you still can't get enough of this news.

Brace yourself for another round of Palm Treo 800 leaked info, apparently Andrew from Treonauts stumbled upon a mistaken option for the phone model when he was trying to update his Telenav, but without any picture available yet.

This could be a very strong evidence that Palm Treo 800 a.k.a. Palm Drucker is being prepared by vendors and Palm partners to be launch soon. Still according to Treonauts, besides the previous specs mentioned many times before, it seems that this new Treo will not have headphone jack anymore. So the owner must use Bluetooth connection or micro-USB jack (if there's any) compatible. See the full specs here if you still can't get enough of this news.

Play Lucas Arts' classic games with your Treo 750

Classic games are the best in storyline, because back then the graphic card was not yet available so game developers relied mostly on the storyline to attract gamers, and with little help on better sound card. Yes, for those who's not experienced the beginning of PC games back in the '80s, where we need to add an additional sound card just to get musics & sounds out, instead of "beep-beep" sound from PC speaker. One of the emulators I recommend is ScummVM, at Jan 13th 2008, they released a new version for WindowsCE (also for Windows desktop, run fine on Vista too).

I tested it on my Treo 750v, and it works great! Although Treo's small squarish screen make my eyes squint to see the details, everything works fine until I finished the game: Monkey Island 2. Great-great game, specially it's musics which uses iMuse technic (nope, it doesn't have anything to do with Apple). Really brings back all the good memory of wit challenge games that can take you in for hours, even days. I really have to give two thumbs up for the people who dedicated their times & efforts to make such amazing engine, and it's free! But you still need the games, because they don't provide those games and recommend you to purchase them legally.

For you who never heard of old games like Day of the Tentacles, Full Throttle, Indiana Jones & the Fate of Atlantis, etc.; you should give them a try sometime. Specially the last one I mentioned, Indiana Jones 4th movie is about to be released soon; you can warm up a little bit with the old game. O' how I wish Lucas Arts make these kind of games again... I can hear the Indiana's theme song calling, I'm off to play it again, have a nice Monday y'all.

Prediction for the future of mobile companion market [part-4]

Still dazed by CES & MacWorld 2008 events, we all amazed by how many press attended both events and how crowded is the press room at peak hours. While gadgets consumers around the world are dazzled by Apple’s slim-sexy MacBook Air (I really can’t stop saying it, my bad), thus making thin is in again for laptop built trend. Although laptop vendors like Sony don’t agree right away, they insist that thinner built means less features, Gizmodo got the article here. Most likely Asus will follow Sony’s statement silently, but they’re for sure will improve the Eee lineups pretty soon now. What all of these got to do with Palm? Palm needs to refined their design for Foleo, if they still insist to use the one we last saw (the “cancelled” one) then nobody will be impressed enough to buy it anymore. The failure to launch Foleo on schedule, has undirectly backfires Foleo marketing campaign itself; because everybody wants it while it’s still fresh. With the new MacBook Air (MBA) already surfaced on the horizon, all eyes are on it. And without new strategy, Palm will never take those eyes from MBA to look at their Foleo. Some of you may argue that Foleo is to be release again at 2009, where MBA’s shiny aura has diminished at that time; but I’m betting my money that Steve Jobs will not sit still to let MBA loose it’s galore & popularity. The examples can be seen of iPod, Apple has announced new models every year now; prolonging iPod’s popularity as top selling music player. I’ve put Foleo, Redfly & MBA pictures side by side on my laptop’s screen; I must admit that I can’t stop staring at MBA although my heart really still with Foleo. So I pick up a pen & a paper to start drawing, what I would design for Foleo if I’m one of Palm’s engineers? How about you, if you’re Jeff then what would you change the Foleo to compete in mobile companion market at 2009 later? Hope Jeff understand, we’re doing this because we still love Palm...

Prediction for the future of mobile companion market [part-3]

What an unbeliveable coincident, as I am talking about Intel’s newest small platform called Moorestown; I read Sammy’s post about MacBook Air (MBA) announced at MacWorld 2008. I couldn’t believe myself how Apple’s newest slim-sexy laptop looks very similar to Palm’s “cancelled” Foleo, of course I still have to admit that Apple’s minimalis design is always more appealing. Even after I read Steve Jobs’ keynote speech and watch MBA Guided Tour movie clip, I really wish Palm could do something like that too for their next gen Foleo. Apple’s MBA even have exceed my expectations of what a smaller laptop platform can achieve, it’s smaller than any thinnest laptop right now but still capable to run Leopard. It’s belly inside only consists of electronic parts, HDD, & battery; almost like what Redfly and Foleo have too (heck, it’s way much thinner than Foleo). MBA’s secret for getting so thin built is none other Apple’s partnership with Intel to make a new smallest laptop platform & processor, as you can see at the picture: the platform is only sized long as a pencil & the processor is 60% smaller than before. During his keynote speech, Steve Jobs kept on thanking Intel for their effort to made those specially for MBA.
Now Palm, Ed Colligan & Jeff Hawkins, why can’t you guys do what Apple & Steve Jobs have done? As I’ve mentioned before at the previous post, a partnership with strong vendors is what Palm really needed right now. With mobile companion’s biggest advantages: thin built & light weight, have been surpassed and Celio’s Redfly is the only one in the market right now; which one you’ll likely will carry then?