Facebook for Windows Mobile

Windows Mobile 6.5 preloaded, and the experts there have extracted it for individual download purpose... In case you can't wait until there claimed release date on May, here is their link for the pre-release application of Facebook extracted by Da_G.

Samsung S8300 "UltraTOUCH" launches early May 2009

In Samsung's press conference in Hong Kong, it is revealed that the latest 8 megapixel camera feature phone S8300 (coded in Hong Kong as "S8300H") will be available early May, with unknown MSRP.

Unlike previous TouchWiz series, S8300 UltraTOUCH comes with a dialpad, which is essential for sending SMS during meetings/lectures.

In addition, for this generation of TouchWiz, new widgets can be downloaded from the Internet, feeding your machine with financial and weather information. Depsite supporting 7.2Mbps HSDPA, S8300 UltraTOUCH lacks wi-fi, meaning that you must pay data connection fees to download widgets if your tariff plan doesn't include.

With Google Map pre-installed in the phone, it can update user's approximate location with info by the operator's station. RingHK reports that the GPS chip cannot be used on Google Map - this may be their problem, and we do not have a hold of the machine so we are not sure about this particular point yet.

The 240 x 400 resolution 2.8 inches AMOLED screen is the same level as M8800, which is about right for a touchphone. As merely using the 880mAh battery will never satisfy a 4.1" screen like Toshiba's TG01.

There is also an accelerometer for S8300, when you tilt the phone, the screen will become landscape mode. Handy for taking pictures.

For camera performance, it successfully inherit the merits of M8800, clear and sharp photos are not difficult to take with its upgraded 8 megapixel camera. You can see the sample from RingHK and from ePrice (warning: links are bandwidth unfriendly).

It has the features of an entertainment camera phone - face detection, smile detection and eye-blink warning are included. The camera is also of impressive speed, comparable to a low-end digital camera. (You will know what we're talking about if you've been using any camera phones, sloooooooow)

We speculate that the price should be around HK$3,880 - HK$4,380 (US$497-US$562). Anything more than this just doesn't worth, unless a 8MP camera is critical to you.

Via ringhk and ePrice (contents in Chinese)

Multi-touch for Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Yes, 5800xm is capable for multi-touch:


but it won't have official software since Apple holds the patent. Major pwnage.

Software to share your 3G connection over wi-fi

For long time, the easiest solution to share your 3G connecion to laptop over wi-fi is the software "WMWifiRouter". We have tried version 0.89 and it has been working quite sactisfactory.
Unfortunately, due to the popularity and success, they no longer decided to make the software free. The current version, version 1.30 is now US$29.99. Does it worth the money? You make the call.

There is actually one simple and elegant solution.

Buy ASUS P835. It has built-in Wi-fi hotspot function. The picture says it all. It even has battery display and time of usage. Pictures courtesy of Ringhk.com (link)
As of early April 2009, ASUS P835 is around HK$3800 in Hong Kong (around US$490).

Picture 1 - the warning that wi-fi sharing will devour your battery really quickly.
Picture 2 - the wi-fi hotspot setting page
Picture 3 - setup success!

How to avoid unwanted GPRS charge for PocketPC / Windows Mobile 6.0

A few years ago, older PocketPC or WM 5.0 phones like HP or dopod phone, there are not much functions that relys on the Internet. GPRS charges back that were controllable.

When HTC Touch and similar models launched some innovative (aks pesky) functions like weather, users have been noticing the increasing amount of data usage. If you are unwary about this (probably you were a Nokia user etc), you might have an agonizing memory of being charged for high data charge. This is especially true in some countries where tariff plans are/were just legal pillage.

Recently we have heard a couple of cases of charging more than 1000 euros for unintentional usage. If you want to prevent tregady from happening, you may want to:
- Disable the data function entirely. You can call your phone operator to block the GPRS/3G function. This will ensure you can only use Internet in wi-fi coverage.
- If phone operator refuses to block the function, you can manually set wrong parameter at Start->Settings->Connection->Connection->Internet Settings. Obfuscate the settings (like access point) to prevent it from using the network to online. This option is quite advanced and should only be used by those who understand this entire paragraph. Wrong settings might cause error in wi-fi connection.
- Disable the Assisted-GPS (AGPS) function. This will significantly slow down GPS geographic location though. Use at your own choice.
- set synchonizing of e-mail and RSS feeds to manual mode, do it only when you are connecting via wi-fi
- set weather, update to manual or disable it if unnecessary


and if your tariff has limited usage:

- Never use youtube. (Youtube for mobile)
- Logout services that requires connection. This is common sense, but some users will always forget no matter what. Logout your Windows Mobile Messenger, Google Latitude, Skype for WM and the like after usage. This saves battery too.
- Beware of the connection mode! Ensure the wi-fi does not suddenly switch to HSDPA/EDGE/GPRS/whatever. This is a major trap.
- Monitor suspectible usage with dedicated software, for example, the Spb Wireless Monitor (warning: not freeware).

These methods are generally true for most popular models, HTC Touch Diamond, Cruise, HD, Pro, Samsung Omnia, SonyEricsson Xperia, LG KS20, Motorola Motosurf A3100, ASUS P835, HP iPAQ Data Messenger, and the like.

World's smallest NAS Thecus N0204 miniNAS

While the NAS (Network Attached Storage) in our office still stuck at the previous generation technology (it's Synology DS106j in case you wonder. Yes, we suck we still use IDE harddisk), we are still able to run USB printer, IP Cam, HTTPS server, FTP on a stick. The Taiwanese manufacturer Thecus wants to proof themselves they are among the top of the NAS industry.

As 2.5 inch harddisks are gaining popularity, the volumn of NAS can easily be cut more than a half. Thecus's new world's smallest NAS, "N0204 miniNAS" has caught our eyesight. Its has a size (thickner though) of a palm - 132 x 88 x 63 mm. See the photo from the press release in Hong Kong.

According to Thecus's official website, it
- "comes with RAID 0, 1, and JBOD support";
- "consumes only 25-30% of the power compared to a regular two-bay NAS device";
- allows hot-plug and hot-swap "without even powering off the unit"; and
- supports "USB printers, external hard disks, USB web cam, and even works with USB WLAN adaptors".

Size does matter, but USB webcam and WLAN adaptors are also awesome. So that means with this piece of toy we can use a powerful webcam instead of buying a decent IP cam, effectively saving 150 euros (for us to upgrade from the Synology). The WLAN adaptor is the superstar if you plan to carry the NAS with you. None of us had never imagined the possibility of carrying an NAS.

No official price yet.

(Via Team Anti-X (Chinese))