Blackberrystuff.com

Blackberrystuff.com is an online store exclusively for BlackBerry accessories. The store, developed by Moftware, offers Original Equipment Manufacturer products for users of BlackBerry wireless handhelds. The store sells, chargers, software, batteries, desktop stands, headsets and more.

Synchronica SyncML's Siemens Phones

Synchronica has inked a deal with Siemens to provide the mobile phone vendor with the its SyncML server, delivering over-the-air firmware updates for Siemens' handsets. With this new solution, updating the firmware of a mobile phone is as simple as selecting a menu item. The mobile phone establishes a wireless connection to the Synchronica server which then automatically installs the most up-to-date firmware onto the device.

TCS Joins Symbian Program

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has joined the Symbian Platinum Program. As a Platinum Partner, TCS said it is extending its mobile computing-based services, solutions and offerings to the Symbian platform. TCS' offerings include Symbian OS embedded software development, consulting, systems integration, re-engineering and testing services. Symbian develops and licenses the Symbian platform, the leading smartphone operating system.

PicturePassword

With SOFTAVA's PicturePassword ($14.95) users tap a point only they know on their Pocket PC or Palm OS handheld's screen to unlock the device without entering a password. After one wrong attempt, however, the only way to access your data is to enter a long and complicated text password.

Wide Notes

With Varibyte's Wide Notes for the Palm OS ($9.95), not only can you write ink notes full screen, but you can use it in split screen mode, with ink notes and drawings on one side and text on the other. Wide Notes offers three line widths, a color picker, an eraser, the ability to assign a note to an alarm and more. Version 1.3 of Wide Notes is compatible with the Tungsten T3 in landscape mode. It also includes an improved interface: buttons now depress to give better response; an improved table sort bar appearance; and the ability to set the default pen width.

Survey Says...

A recent national survey released by headset vendor Plantronics shows that 75 percent of respondents wish their friends and family would use a hands-free device such as a headset while driving and talking on a mobile phone. The survey, which underscores America's growing concern regarding individuals driving while talking on handheld mobile phones, also shows that 69 percent are concerned about other drivers talking on a mobile phone without a hands-free device. Plantronics polled asked 1,000 adults.

MobileMeeting for Symbian

Polycom's MobileMeeting is a wireless instant group calling application for the Symbian platform. MobileMeeting is for mobile carriers. It aims to offer a fast and convenient way to connect and collaborate on mobile phones and smartphones. By pressing a few keys on a wireless phone, users can instantly initiate group calls and quickly connect with others for voice collaboration.

palmOne Deals

Four handheld models discontinued in April are back at palmOne through special deals. The $69 basic Zire, the $199 (after $50 rebate through 6/1/04) Zire 71, the $299 Tungsten T2 and the $419 Tungsten W are all available for a limited time. The Zire 71 and Tungsten T2 are the last of the Palms under $399 with the Palm Universal Connector – necessary for peripherals such as the Palm keyboards and digital projection cables. You won’t find these handhelds at palmOne Home, even using Palm’s product search – check out palmOne Home> Stores>The Palm Store>Handhelds.

Thanks to Gary Ankney of EduPalm.org for the tip.

Launch 'Em

The next version of Launch 'Em, version 5, one of the best interface replacements for the Palm OS, is one step closer to reality. Now owned by Installigent, the company said a beta of Launch 'Em 5 should be available this July.

New Sena Cases

Sena Cases plans to release a new series of cases for Sony Clie TH55, TJ27/TJ37, and Toshiba e800/e805 handhelds. The TH55 case can be used with or without the original plastic flip cover of the unit and it gives access to the camera and back jog-dial. The TJ27/TJ37 case allows easy use of the camera. Toshiba e800 series case allows sync/charge thru cradle without removing the case. All new models are discounted by 25 percent. The cases should be available by the end of the month.

Battle Dwarves

Infinite Ventures' Battle Dwarves ($9.99) is a strategy-action game for Microsoft Smartphones including the Motorola MPx200, Orange SPV, and Samsung i600. Players are challenged to take-on the tactics and weapons of the six teams of Battle Dwarves. Select from up to twenty weapons of dwarf destruction from bazookas and frag grenades to nail guns and napalm.

Players battle across six different terrains building resources in order to obtain more weaponry. Play by yourself or with up to four players, each taking turns.

Goin' Dutch

With Goin' Dutch from mBrain Software, an application for Symbian-based Series 60 smartphones, such as the Nokia 6600, the Nokia 3650, the Nokia 3600, the Nokia N-Gage, the Siemens SX1 and the Sendo X, you can keep track of shared expenses, made by a number of people for different events. With it, you enter events, participants and expenses. Each event uses it's own currency, whether it being Dollars, Euro's or Pounds. Goin' Dutch immediately shows how much the event has cost so far, how much each person has paid and how much each person additionally should pay or receive back.

European Soccer Championships

In time for the European soccer championship in Portugal, PocketPC-Ennovation has developed EURO 2004 ($2.99).

The Pocket PC program automatically calculates rankings according to the FIFA rules as well as the matches of the quarterfinal, the semifinal and the final. The program contains information about the time and place of each match and shows the location of the stadiums in a map. You can also use the program to simulate fictive scenarios.

Smartphone Weather Center

Weather Center, neohand's latest solution for smartphones, is designed to help users access weather forecasts on a Sony Ericsson or Nokia Symbian-based smartphone. With a minimal amount of effort, the company said users can download and store detailed weather forecasts for more than one thousand cities worldwide.

Users select a home city as well as up to five additional preset cities. These preferences are saved. The five days forecast remains until the program is updated again. An annual subscription costs $14.95.

ProBackup

Proporta's ProBackup software is now available on a 128MB card ($71.95) for newer Palm OS and Pocket PC handhelds and smartphones. ProBackup backups the data from a handheld onto a memory card and are compatible with MMC/SD card slots. There are also 64MB and 32MB editions of the product.