Windows 7 official engineering blog has started

For you who want to know early on what to expect in the upcoming and most the anticipated OS in the world: Windows 7, Microsoft has just soft launched (on August 14th) a special blog that's dedicated to the engineering of Microsoft Windows 7.

The blog is not specially for software or IT engineers, or technical experts, but instead it's meant for everyone who is interested in Windows Vista successor. Like what's mentioned in the blog:

"The audience of enthusiasts, bloggers, and those that are the most passionate about Windows represent the folks we are dedicating this blog to. With this blog we’re opening up a two-way discussion about how we are making Windows 7. ... We strongly believe that success for Windows 7 includes an open and honest, and two-way, discussion about how we balance all of these interests and deliver software on the scale of Windows. We promise and will deliver such a dialog with this blog."

Now I know there are some of you who can't wait for Windows 7, perhaps this could be your ticket to get the beta version when it's ready to come out. Who knows? ;-)

But don't expect to see the "wow" factors, like we all first hope to see at Windows Vista. Because the engineering Windows 7 blog is far from "wow", with only two posts till now, and painted in plain blue & white colors; the blog is really not for sight seeing...

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Little things about the ~rumored~ Treo Pro you (may) have missed

Here I go again, my eyes just won't stay still whenever I see great pictures of a shiny new gadget. The more clearer the images, the easier it is to spot more details. And I thought it's kinda fun, because it's like I'm looking closely on the device before I decided to purchase one. Just like when you're looking at the device you want in the store counters.

Not so long ago, I've brought up some details about Treo 800w right here at PalmAddict. And now we'll have a preview detail look on what could be the upcoming Treo 850w, or known with its new name as Treo Pro.

Although the pictures are all in form of live shot images, they're all shot in quite high resolutions; so the details look crystal clear enough. Thanks to 'Death Night Qingfengdian' (hope I didn't misspell the name, sorry if I did) from Treo8.com for the great live shots, and thanks to Cristopher89 for the heads up.

As always, you'll have to click on all of the thumbnail pictures in order to view them larger. Let's have 'em already shall we:

Keyboard & screen

I'll start from the face of Treo Pro first, which are the keyboard & the screen. Treo Pro's keyboard is seem to be using the same keyboard that's used in Centro, no curve line layout like in the Treo 750/680, or not like its sibling Treo 800w at all. Flat straight, coated with squishy plastic. The light angle from the photo shot, the most left picture, reveal that much.

The middle picture is showing you the main specs within the Treo Pro; just like we've been informed in previous rumor news. I know the specs language are written in Chinese characters, but I'm sure you can guess what they're for. ;-)

Looks like Palm is beginning to use a screen saver that'll display a digital clock, date, miss-calls, and incoming messages. The same that's used in Treo 800w.

Back cover, memory slot & WiFi button

Palm is breaking some of the traditional designs with Treo Pro; one is the placement of stylus (which I'll show you below) and another one is the back cover. What so special of the back cover? Well, judging from the picture; the back cover is slide opened upward, not downward. And this time, the whole back cover is supposed to be opened. Leaving no closed and protected area when opened, this means if you break the back cover; you'll have to replace it as one piece. Good or bad? We have our own arguments about this...

The middle and right pictures show us that the WiFi button is located at the left-bottom side of the Treo Pro, right next to the (looks like) IR. The same as in Treo 800w, Palm is implementing a push button for activating or turning off the WiFi feature. While the expansion memory is using microSD, and to access the slot we must open the back cover. Now why would Palm designs it this way...?

Speaker, jacks & reset button

Turning Treo Pro and see what are under the hood, we can see a distinguishable speaker placed at the antenna and camera area. I wonder how loud can the speaker sound with that kinda size? Perhaps it's meant for making a converence call where everybody in the same room, or next to you, can hear the sound loud and clear.

I found it quite confusing when I see there's a 3.5mm headphone jack on the Treo Pro's connectivity panel, the microUSB is understanable since we've seen it on Treo 800w. But why does Palm put it here, but not at Treo 800w? Maybe Palm does listen to the users, who have been requesting for a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack so the expensive headphones we've bought won't go to waste. ~LOL~

On the right picture, we can find a reset button close to the connectivity panel and the SIM slot. I've marked it with a circle red, just in case you're having a hard to find it. ;-p Is it good or not, to push the reset button we must open the back cover first?

The stylus

Aaah..., the stylus. I've been looking and trying to locate the stylus when the first Treo Pro pictures came out, but to no avail. Not until these pictures from

Treo8.com show us where it is at; at the bottom of the device. Yes, this is an "avant-garde" stylus location design from Palm. What do you think? I think I'll let the pictures do the talking. ;-D

The battery

With the new slim body in fashion, the Treo Pro must also fits in this new designed thin, but yet wide, battery inside. Unlike the battery used in Treo 800w, which can be charged using the same Centro's battery charger; Treo Pro's battery will need a new battery charger accessory. Yay, good news for you who love to buy all the accesorries along with the new device. ~LOL~

The last, but not the least; you must be wondering how is the Treo Pro look when it's turned on. At below, I've posted along the pictures of Treo 800w lied down next to iPhone 3G for size comparison. I hope they all can quench our thirst a little before the real Treo Pro out in the market, until then we must brace ourselves and get another empty bucket to drool for.

That's that for this edition of "little things you (may) have missed", see you soon until we have some other little details to talk about. If you're interested to see the whole Treo Pro live shots in all of their glory, then head on to the

translated Treo.com web page for more.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Lauren Conrad practices to juggle between her BlackBerry and a Diet-Coke can

The 22-year-old "the Hills" hottie, was spotted out running errands in West Hollywood earlier today (August 13th), she recently chatted with Ryan Seacrest and ET about a number of topics - describing her lack of acting skills and what the future holds.

But when I see her at the picture above; there's definetely no lacking of her skill to hold both a BlackBerry and a can of Diet-Cola with the same hand. ~LOL~ And don't forget, she also weighted that arm with a shopping bag.

“I tried (acting) when I first moved to L.A.,” Conrad said. “I took a couple of classes. Awful. Any opportunity you have to make fun of yourself I think is fun to do, but acting is an art and I don’t think I have a talent there.”

With this in mind, LC once again resounded her ambitions to get into the clothing business full-time, saying: “I would love to finish out the show and continue doing fashion.”

Watch It Change for iPhone

Caught this intriguing app called "Watch It Change" at Macworld, via Just Another iPhone Blog. The comment reads:

“Watch It Change works using the iPhone’s built-in camera. You create a project with the movie’s title, add credits, then create your film. You can share what you’ve done on the Watch It Change Web site, where they also sell a special stand developed to hold the iPhone in place while you’re making your shots.”

It's not the stand that'll sell ;-p IMHO, the simple idea to create a short film of your own using the iPhone's camera is.That'll another reason for you to always turn on your iPhone, and use it creatively. For iPhone users, head on directly to "Watch It Change" web site to watch the uploaded films.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Grumpy old business for iPhone

iPhone 3G is still no success in the deep core of business market, despite with it has managed to snatched the most Sexiest Gadget Alive 2008 title. Apple’s intention to grow an exclusive branch for business and corporate, hasn’t exactly going to show its green (read: money) yet.

With growing supports of business apps for iPhone 2.0 platform like Microsoft’s Exchange Server, MobileMe & few other apps you can find in the App Store; I have not heard any news that say a big enterprise company has adopted iPhone for its main smartphone.

The only last one, is that HSBC might buy 200,000 iPhones to be used by its employees worldwide; but this is still only a rumor. And unnamed senior IT official at a large U.S. business who, after evaluating the iPhone 3G, said this about it: "It's a great product but has a ways to go. A year after Apple comes out with a consumer device, these kinds of enterprise things are not going to happen magically."

Security would be the most important issue for enterprise and corporate users, since the data and informations stored inside their humongous servers are very valuable to competitors. So data/information theft and leakage are the IT managers’ first concern when it comes to replace the existing smartphones with the shiny new iPhone 3G.

There are already some solutions came from the 3rd party software developers such as SplashData & 1Password, but as David Gewirtz, an e-mail security expert, put it: "everybody prefers stuff from the manufacturer."

The lack of native encryption is the iPhone's "one failing," said Glenn Edens, an independent mobile consultant, who is otherwise bullish on the iPhone 3G. "Remote wipe helps but is not good enough."

But another big push is coming from one of the oldest and leading in computer tech: IBM, who is planning to launch iNotes for iPhone later this year. IBM hopes to bring its widely used Lotus Domino service like email, calendar & contacts into iPhone’s good looking UI. The iNotes is acting as client app and will be using web access to use these available features:

• Easy viewing of Lotus inbox
• Read e-mail with details either hidden or shown
• The ability to quickly compose or reply to e-mail
• The ability to attach and send files
• View day-at-a-glance calendar
• View details on meetings, all day events, reminders, and anniversaries
• View an organized view of your contacts
• View information on contacts and groups
• Quickly create new contact entries

Head on to IBM web page to see more screenshots gallery, and find out if you can convince your company’s IT admins to switch into iPhone. ~LOL~

The business market, especially for mobile device, is as old as monarchy tradition itself. Not to mention it’s filled with inexplicable must be fulfilled technical demands. But there are code ethics & unwritten rules that Apple needs to address, before gunning for the technical issues such as security and integrated managements. This has proven on how old-styled devices & technologies are more easily accepted, than the new ones.

Can Apple rely on iPhone’s sexiness to woo business users rather than “the beauty inside”? For ‘common’ users, it’s has been a huge success. I can’t wait to see how it goes with the ‘sovereigns’ (read: enterprise & corporate users). ;-D

Sources are from:

IPhone 3G: Still Not Ready for the Enterprise (PC World)

HSBC Might Buy 200,000 iPhones (Brighthand)

Lotus iNotes Aims for iPhone 3G (PCW Business Center)

Lotus Domino Web Access (IBM)

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Finding needles in App Store hay stacks

It’s a figure of speech, which in the case of Apple’s popular and vastly populated App Store; not all of the apps inside there are all good and useful. Some are made just for fun, and some are even worthless to buy for. But there are few of them are really worth every penny you’ve spent for those apps.

The apps are piling up pretty fast in App Store, I’ve tried to follow on every app reviews out there in the blogosphere; but lost track on most of them because too many and too often every day. With that in mind, I began to question about the quality of those apps.

Is it because there are plenty of software developers for iPhone/iPod Touch, or is it because the ease to make an app out of iPhone 2.0 SDK? And what if one company can create two or three apps at the same time, is it because they have enough man power?

Not that I’m complaining about the numbers of apps to choose from the long lists at App Store from various kind of categories such as for work, business, personal development, for fun, etc. But don’t you feel tired of scrolling down too many, and jumping from one page to another endlessly?

Even with help from reviewers around the net, App Store consumers must still rely on their own hunch and bet on their thin luck when deciding which app is seem right for them. One by one, from abundant contents to choose from. We’re definitely can’t rely on App Store’s ranking system to filter out the bad & useless apps, not with the incident appearance of "I Am Rich" app before.

Isn’t it a lot more easier for us, the end users and consumers, if just software developers are really creative creating new apps that are not just useful but also using every inch of iPhone 3G power-horse inside it? But if the software developers are thinking that making a simple and funny yet less useful apps, is categorized as ‘creative’; then it’s another moral issue to deal with. No one can control somebody’s moral will, it’s not possible.

Then again, we’re talking about Apple here. The only companies so far, who have been successful to bring a centralized place for viewing, sell, and buy apps at one place. And with its eccentric CEO, Steve Jobs, taking the course at the helm with unorthodox ways to deal with partners & users; Apple might be able to control software developers at its will.

Apple has been known for its strict rules and agreements, the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is one of their many feared tools of law. The only way for software developers to join in officially the iPhone bandwagon, is to handcuff their own hands by signing the NDA.

Swayed by these thoughts, have taken me into the core of the problem: Apple’s stiff attitude to limit the software developers with its NDA atrocity agreement to kill creative and good ideas. The NDA simply restricts any discussions and sharing codes, ideas, troubleshoots, bug fixes, etc. that can help to enhance or develop better apps among software developers.

With restriction to build bridges to connect the islands, software developers are bound to live in their own elusive little world. I like better iPhone Atlas’ words on this baffling oddity: “This state of affairs stands in contrast to the Mac development community, which is open and unfettered, with a wealth of guides and resources.”

Yes, sure. Building great apps from big ideas take a lot of time, and absolutely lots of money. But unfortunately the Kleiner Perkin’s iFund, the $100 million worth of fund to push the development for iPhone/iPod Touch, has found only one new company that it deemed worthy of brand-new, start-up capital, and that company makes only games not serious or business apps. Like what Sascha Segan from PCMag has said: “That's a little dispiriting.”

But maybe it’s understandable, since games are the one that’s often push the limits of computer hardwares. And with iPhone’s speedy 500MHz CPU, wide & clear display, and gorgeous UI; games should be the breakthrough that Apple has been looking for to elevate iPhone to the next level.

According to Apple Insider, while Carmack admits that graphics memory could be a limiting factor, he describes the phone's hardware as equivalent to a Dreamcast and almost on par with a PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. He also sees it as far superior, at least in terms of raw specs, than the two big dedicated handheld consoles out there, saying that is "more powerful than a Nintendo DS and PSP combined." Unfortunately, he didn't have any actual games to show off, but he did at least confirm that Id has two "tentative titles" in the works, including a "conventional mobile game," and one that pushes the iPhone's graphics capabilities.

So, have you found your “needles” in the App Store hay stacks?

Sources are from:

• Apple’s Crap Store (PCMag)
• Apple’s Market-Constraining iPhone SDK (iPhone Atlas)
• Carmack says iPhone is "more powerful than a Nintendo DS and PSP combined" (Engadget)

blogged with my Treo 750v]

Google’s Android first mobile phone; the HTC “Dream”, is to be the first iPhone nemesis?

Whilst the line up of people who wanted to buy iPhone 3G isn’t diminish yet, mobile phone manufacturers have started to make their moves to topple off iPhone as the holder of supreme phone in the mobile industry.

But who’s worthy to be the next “iPhone-killer”? Palm, BlackBerry, Nokia are all solid players who have been in the market for a long time but don’t have yet such device in ready. So our heads are now turning into the sight of Google’s Android, who’s basically a freshman in mobile industry.

The rumor mill on Android first handset to be out this September is rolling fast around the blogosphere, with T-Mobile (the 4th biggest U.S. wireless carrier) as the exclusive carrier who’ll offer it; according to Laura M. Holson & Miguel Heft from the New York Times (NYT). Here’s the exact line from the article:

” The HTC phone, which many gadget sites are calling the “dream,” will have a touch screen, like the iPhone. But the screen also slides out to expose a full five-row keyboard. A video of the phone has been posted recently on YouTube (watch it below this post). A person who has seen the HTC device said it matched the one in the video. “

Although NYT article did mention that T-Mobile plans to sell the “Dream” in the United States before Christmas, perhaps as early as October; it’ll all depend on FCC to approve the release. And we can’t really sure if this rumor will become true or not, until allegedly the three companies (Google, T-Mobile & HTC) announce the “Dream” in September. Fingers crossed.

But what really set apart Android, or let’s just say the handset’s name for now: HTC “Dream”; to be so close expected as the handset that’ll fight head to head with Apple’s iPhone? For now, all we can know of is the “Dream” will sports a wide touch screen display to compete with iPhone’s.
One thing that Android platform is going to bring a great excitement into the “Dream”; is the application market place which is similar to Apple’s App Store.

Which has been a big success for iPhone and iPod Touch with iPhone 2.0 firmware update, bringing in more income revenue for Apple. Both parties; Apple and iPhone/iPod Touch users, are getting mutual benefits from a centralized apps distribution like that.

Of course Google has seen the green (read: money), and decided to jump into similar pool Apple has created. Just like what NYT has reported:

” Google is eager to get the Android platform on phones quickly because it thinks that the mobile Web is vital to the long-term growth of its digital advertising business. “We can make more money on mobile than we do on the desktop, eventually,” Eric E. Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, said in an interview on CNBC this week. “

I don’t like to call Google is stealing Apple’s idea of App Store, because idea like this is eventually come out by market demands. And Google is starting it up early with Android, in order to catch up quickly before fallen behind too far from Apple. So if Apple has so far still trying to make order of its App Store, can Google pull off Android’s apps market better? That would be the crucial answer that’ll determine who’s the winner in the future.

It is still a long way for Google to answer that question now, since there are lots of Android software developers (219 developers to be exact) who’re being frustrated by Google ‘strange’ behavior on Android SDK. Such as delaying the new updates on the SDK, no news on the development schedule for the software, and worst is the lack of communication with the software developers.

Not all are agree that the “Dream” is going to be the ultimate arch-rival for iPhone, like what Kasper Jade from AppleInsider has said about Android first phone in his article:

” While the Dream is "apparently a hot item to show off in Google's cafeterias these days," those familiar with the device describe it as "big and bulky," and nowhere near as sleek as iPhone that's forever altered the landscape of the mobile industry. The Android software itself is similarly not up to par with standards set by Apple, leaving it feeling "less-elegant, less-user-friendly" just months before its slated to be unleashed into the wild. "

What do you think?



Sources are from:

T-Mobile to Offer First Phone With Google Software (the New York Times)

Google Says Thanks for Android Petition (PCW Business Center)

First Google Android phone sighting reveals awkward iPhone rival (AppleInsider)

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Renee Zellweger snaps back

The multi-talented Renee Zellweger has thought of a better way to fight back the annoyance she gets from paparazzis; take a snap back at ya! ;-D

The "Chicago" starlet decided to be really clever while getting confronted by the cameras after leaving Ole Henriksen on Sunset Plaza yesterday afternoon (August 11th)... she pulled the old switcheroo and started taking pictures of the photogs with her phone! See the video of her in action at X17-Online.

The next day, Renee was spotted break from filming on the set of her new movie “My One And Only” on Wednesday afternoon (August 13th) in Marina Del Rey, wearing a yellow jacket paired with blue spandex tights with an iPod shuffle hang at left pocket of her. She's still practicing her new addiction: using her mobile phone to annoy others. ~LOL~

The film is a 1950s-set comedy in which the glamorous Anne Deveraux (Zellweger) embarks on a drive down the Eastern Seaboard in a quixotic search for a wealthy man to fund a new life for her and her sons. The other stars that join in the movie, which is set for a 2009 release date, are Kevin Bacon and Chris Noth.

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

A simple proof that Palm is not dying: Treo Pro

It only took three vaguely blown-up screenshots taken from some kind of presentation slides, to make the tech weblogs and websites, not to mention bloggers; are all hyped and mentioning the newly called Palm Treo Pro.

And then not long after that, a bountiful of live shots is posted and make a firmer confirmation on the upcoming arrival of the formerly known as Palm Treo 850w.

Now we know why did Palm has placed orders of new different mobile phones to manufacturer Compal Comm., which is rumored to be in huge volume up to 5 million units. So these whole shebangs are actually a solid news we can hope to become into a reality.

Who said Palm is dying? Who said mobile users are not interested in Palm's smartphones anymore? If it so, then why all the fuzz of this Treo Pro?
In physical and exterior design, Treo Pro is like a cross over breed from Treo with Centro. The navigational ribbon buttons is the latest trade mark of Palm's design, and the QWERTY keyboard is not different at all from Centro's. But one of the most exciting part to see, is the thin body of Treo Pro. Could it be more slim than Centro?

With more features packed inside, I wish it is:

• 400Mhz CPU
• 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM! (Other reports show “In use: 43.96mb, Free 57.72mb)
• 320x320 screen
• GPS
• Full Tri-band 3G, Quad-band GSM
• 2 Megapixel camera
• microUSB connector
• 3.5mm Earphone connector
• 1500mah battery

Personally, I'm hoping Palm will squeeze more power-horse specs inside Treo Pro. Isn't its initial code number/name: Treo 850w, is a quick indication that this newest model should be more superior than the not so long ago released Treo 800w?

I'd love to see speedier processor (500MHz or up), bigger sized ROM (at least 512MB) and higher megapixels in the camera's resolution. And what we all will enjoy more, is a specially customized Windows Mobile 6.1 just like in Palm 500v. The unique "Carousel" UI has definetely the one thing that seperates it from other WinMob smartphones, it's a Palm thing. Dont' you think so?

But I guess we'll have to wait and see whether or not Palm is really gonna release Treo Pro a.k.a. Treo 850w, I really-really hope these all rumors are true. Because we all have been tired of taking too many grain of salts...

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Live shots of Motorola's V70 Retro edition

Eeeek...! Is that Motorola's new handset?
As if it's not enough for Motorola to amazes us with it so and so new designs, that don't really much different from its old handsets. Now according to PhoneArena, Motorola is trying to resurrect the old V70 and comes up with the brightest idea: relaunch it with an additional name behind it; Retro.
So in short, the "new" handset name is V70 Retro. This successor of the V70 has similar design with swivel form-factor and will be targeted as a fashion-statement model, with the only spec we know of is that it'll equipped with 5MP camera.
[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Congratulations & wishing the best on PalmAddict new design

First thing first, let's start off by the order.
I'd like to congratulate Sammy, Mike and all of the guys behind the making of PA new design layout; it is a blast! Love it!

The new design feels like a refreshing breeze of smooth wind in a hot day, and of course a sight for these sore eyes of mine. ;-)

If I have permission to comment on it, then I have only one: what took you so long? Ohkay I know; Sammy wanted to make it working right and Mike is a perfectionist artist who has done a great job by the way. Or maybe there's some kinda technical issue behind uploading the new design layout, but I'm glad everything seems to be working perfectly now.

At last, I can sleep tight tonight after long nights haunted by the screenshots image teaser sent by Sammy. ~LOL~ Thumbs up! And I wish for the best of luck for PA's new look, hope we'll be able to pass on our addiction to wider audience with it. ;-D

[blogged with my Treo 750v]

Poor my Treo...

A disaster happened on my Treo today, as I was in a hurry to leave my cousin's house; I left it behind on the living room couch.

Not that I missed my Treo so much when I was wandering outside ;-p But more because when I got back to the house and looked it up, it wasn't at the place I remember. It was on the top of a fridge, and one of the babysitters told me that she had to put on there so the children can stop 'harassing' it and stop putting it into their mouths!

Well, you see. My sister's children are only 1,5 & 6 months years old, and the youngest one still love putting things into her mouth, everything.

With my heart was beating faster when I checked my Treo, my fear has come true; the bottom left corner of the screen is loose from its frame and make squeeky voice when touch. Plus the Newsbreak app has lost all of the RSS feeds that I've registered for, I can't imagine what have happened that caused all of that.

I love kids, cute kids, and my sister's youngest daughter is very-very adorable. So in the end I couldn't get mad at all, although I still found some saliva at the screen crack when I cleaned it up. ~LOL~

After a thorough check, I didn't find any other broken parts or software errors. By the time I finished restoring back the RSS feeds, the news have already hit up at more than 200 unread news. I don't know if I'm able to catch up tonight, but I definetely won't be missing out the Treo Pro news! ;-D

Oh, when I'm writing this blog; the cute girl is looking at my Treo again. Distracted by its bright screen and shiny buttons, she's heading right to me; running at full speed! Gotta go now, and hide it for awhile...

[blogged with my Treo 750v]