Last week we hosted our first 3 hour session on Microsoft Windows Mobile development at NITH in Oslo. The session was split into two topics - usability best practises and developing custom GUI controls. Me and Per Ola split the session where i did the first part and he did the custom control development.

Since this is an introductory class to Windows Mobile development we cannot go too deep into the how’s and why’s but rather give a brief overview with pointers to more information for those wanting to learn more.

The UX session started as i always like to do by introducing “Death to the stylus” as i am a firm believer of that it has no future in the world of mobility. It is an obstacle for efficient use of applications. Following this i talked about that it is not a goal for mobile developers to minimize an existing application or process, but to mobilize. Continue Reading

Sbp Software house announces in a press release the launch of Mobile Shell 3.0 today.

Spb Mobile Shell 3.0

Snipped from the press release:Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 is available in 24 languages, is compatible with Windows phones running Windows Mobile 5 and later Professional platforms, qVGA, VGA, Square QVGA, and WVGA screen resolutions are supported. A free, 15-day trial can be downloaded, or Spb Mobile Shell can be purchased for 29.95 USD from www.SpbSoftwareHouse.com. Users of any 2.x versions of Spb Mobile Shell are welcome to upgrade to Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 for just 14.95 USD. According to Spb Software’s upgrades policy, all Spb Mobile Shell users who have purchased the product within the last 90 days, are invited to exchange the previous version of software for the newly released one, for free.

First impression Continue Reading

Psion netBook of Y2K

What’s now called a smartmobile, smartphone or pocket pc was once called a PDA – it was a Personal Digital Assistant and part from Psion’s first attempt in 1984, no one has had any real success until Apple launched the iPhone. As a curiosity in this day of buzzword technology – Psion released a netBook in March 2000. The first netbook, as they were first with the PDA? Exciting to see the result on the oncoming counter suit from Psion for Intel’s use of the term “netbook”

The early years Continue Reading

Loke Uei Tan and John Bruno had a session at Mix09 on Windows Mobile 6.5 if your are interested in having a look at how it works and the services launched with it. They are talking about features, the new UI and also about the Windows Mobile application marketplace.

I am not quite sure, but i think Luke Uei about 30 seconds into the presentation mentioned august 09 as planned release month. I am really looking forward to this release and hope i heard it right.

“Death to the stylus” – It’s also good to see that Microsoft finally has understood that the stylus is a really, really bad usability thing. And that lists and screens are now navigable from your fingertip (the most natural stylus of all). Continue Reading