what does PDA stand for? PocketPC

The clocks on my PPC 6700 PDA smartphone and on my Dell Axim x50v did not update automatically for the early daylight savings that took place overnight. My PC's were fine. I have a hunch that my handheld devices will update in April like they would in years past. I would at least think that Sprint would have sent an update throught the cell network for the PPC 6700. My five has an LG xv8500 Chocolate (not so smart) phone, and it was updated; presumabley through the Verizon EVDO network.

Palm has a download to update Palm handhelds and Treo smartphones. Even if you reset the clock on your device manually, it might be a good idea to install the update so that your Treo won't change by an hour on the first sunday of April.

Dell has a ROM update for the Axim x50v with Windows Mobile 5.0 installed. It is a great improvement over the previous version. Performance is the best reason to upgrade your ROM image. I also like the battery icon on the today screen. It is similar to what you see on a ppc 6700, or T-Mobile MDA. Remember to backup your data first, as your x50v will be wiped clean.  I am currently testing Minimo and Opera on the new ROM.

The Sprint PPC 6700 works great as a USB or Bluetooth modem for your laptop. The software comes on the Sprint CD that ships with the PPC 6700, but does not install automatically. There is no extra fee on top of the $15 per month unlimited data plan. It is much cheaper than using an EVDO PC card. I have read that this will work on the PPC 6700 sold by Verizon Wireless, but I cannot confirm.

After the modem software is installed on the laptop, you are ready to go. If you tether with the USB cable, you get better speed, and the PPC 6700 will charge at the same time. You will need to disable USB connections in Activsync.

I have finished putting together the Minty Boost charger that I mentioned in the last entry. I have tested it on the following devices: PPC 6700 - Works with a thicker cable. Dell Axim x50v - Device must be off. Palm Treo 700p. T-Mobile MDA.

The kit was easy to solder together, even for a beginner like me. I have ordered more kits to give away as gifts.

Continue reading "Minty Boost Charger for PDA or Smartphone Update"

There is a kit available to make a boost charger out of an Altiods gum tin. The kit requires some soldering, but is suitable for a beginner. The finished charger uses two AA batteries, and will charge any gadget that uses USB. I have ordered two kits ($19.99 each). I plan to use them on my Dell Axim x50v, my Palm Tungsten C and Tungsten T5, and my new Sprint PPC 6700 PDA phone.

The kit can be found here.

I am typing this post on a T-Mobile MDA smartphone. It runs Windows Mobile 5, and functions really well as both a PDA and mobile phone. It features:

- Slide out QWERTY thumboard
- 2.5 inch screen - 320 x 240 resolution.
- Wi-Fi b/g
- Bluetooth
- 128 MB of total memory

Surfing the net over the T-Mobile GPRS/Edge network is a little slower than a Wi-Fi connection, but it is certainly faster than modem speeds. The Minimo browser (screenshot at left) is very responsive, as is Opera 8.6 for Pocket PC. The MDA is pleasure to use.

Download the codebase for the Pocket PC remote control for Roomba.

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I have successfully programmed my Axim x50v to act as a remote control for the Roomba Discovery robotic vacuum. I use NoviiRemote 4.0, and had to customize a new codebase. It was easy.

First I named and arranged the buttons to correspond with the Roomba remote. Next I deleted all of the buttons and tabs that I would not be using. Then I put each button into Learn mode. The Pocket PC clones the IR signal from the other remote. It is a little time consuming, but very straightforward.

The remote on the Axim works like a charm, and has a range of about 15 feet. I did need to keep the IR port on the PDA pointed directly at the Roomba.

I have been beta testing NoviiRemote 4.0 for the past several days. It is awesome. I have tried it on the Axim x50v, and T-mobile MDA (a PDA phone). There are also versions for Palm handelds and Treo smartphones, as well as for Symbian smartphones.

I have set up my Viewsonic HDTV, Dishnetwork satellite receiver, DVD recorder, and am working on my Roomba robotic vacuum. If NoviiRemote does not have a codebase for your TV/DVD/etc., it will learn from your existing remote. That is what I am going to try with the Roomba. That will be the subject of my next post.

The Core Pocket Media Player (formerly BetaPlayer) is free PDA software that can handle streaming MP3's. This alone makes it worth installing. I listen my local NPR news streamed by KPCC.org. I can even plug cordless speakers into the headphone jack of the x50v or Palm Tungsten T5, and let the PDA act as a media center.

The Palm Tungsten C needs an adapter for the mono headphone jack, but the Core Pocket Media Player is a must have for a gadget that comes with no MP3 player. Another plus is that it will play AVI video files. The lack of AVI support is a shortcoming of Windows Media Player on the Pocket PC, and Realplayer Mobile on the Tungsten T5. Best of all, it's free!

I recently purchased Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006. This comes with a USB GPS receiver (for my laptop). It also includes Pocket Streets, and I promptly installed it on the Dell Axim x50v. I needed new mapping software for the Axim because Destinator 3, which I had been using, did not work after upgrading the x50v to Windows Mobile 5.0.

Installation was a snap, as was exporting a map to the handheld. It was easy to get my gps receiver working with Pocket Streets. I use a StarNet SD gps receiver with the x50v, and keep maps on a CF card. I did need to set the com port, but after that, getting a fix took less than five minutes. The software is comparable to Destinator 3, but without the turn by turn voice instructions.

I have been testing the beta version of Opera for PocketPC. It is much better than Pocket IE, but not as good as Minimo. Opera's best features are:

• Fast page rendering. The fastest page loading I have seen on a handheld.
• VGA device support. Like with Minimo, most sites look great on the Dell Axim x50v.
• Zoom and fit to screen features.  The screenshot is scaled to 70%.

This is a winner over Pocket IE. Too bad it is not going to be free. You can download it here.

Here is a screenshot of the new Minimo PDA web browser on a Dell Axim x50v that is running the Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade. This is what Yahoo should look like on the handheld screen. The performance is still a little slow, but this is the real thing as far as PocketPC browsers are concerned. The next release should be out around valentines day.

I have just begun testing the beta version of the new Opera web browser for PocketPC.  I will review and post a screenshot in my next entry.

Finally a real web browser for VGA (or any other resolution) PDA's. Minimo is a Pocket PC version of the Firefox browser. It is still in the development stage, but from what I have experienced, it is close to being the killer app for Pocket PC's. I have used it on the Dell Axim x50v after the Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade. It would not run on WM 2003 SE.  If you want a true web browsing experience, try it out.  Download the latest release here.

I have installed the Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade on my Dell Axim x50v. The installation went without any problems, and the PDA runs with no glitches. My first impressions were that not much had changed. Here are the goods and the bads:

• This is not a huge departure from Windows Mobile 2003 SE. Dell should not have charged for this upgrade. It had a very similar look and feel to 2003 SE, and current users will feel at home.
• Windows Mobile 5.0 has built-in support for GPS devices. This is a great feature.
• Wi-Fi connectivity is easy and straightforward.  I would have liked a rework of the proxy server information in Connections.  I would like the ability to enter a proxy address for each network I connect to.  I may be at work, but as I move from one building to another, the access points use different proxy servers.  It is no good having to change them each time.
• Pocket Internet Explorer is still a piece of junk.  It still renders at QVGA.  The beautiful VGA screen on the x50v looks just like my old x3i when Pocket IE is on the screen.  Yuck.

If you were one of those that got the upgrade for free, it is worth installing.  If cash is tight, it will not be a life changing purchase, and sticking with 2003 SE would be a wise choice.

Dell has a Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade available for the Axim x50 series on CD. The cost is $39.99. I ordered mine at the end of September, and the estimated ship date is Nov. 9, 2005. I will offer a review when it arrives.