It's been a long time coming... but a group of major mobile maufacturers has settled on Mini-USB as the jack of choice on mobile phones. Details here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4217093a28.html

"An industry group containing the five dominant manufacturers - Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, LG and Sony Ericsson - has committed to using a micro-USB plug in all future models. "

Here's a useful table that compares desktop with mobile for WCF work.

Feature	Desktop WCF	Compact WCF
Bindings:
·         BasicHttpBinding	Yes	Yes
·         CustomBinding	Yes	Yes
·         WindowsMobileMailBinding	N/A	Yes
·         ExchangeWebServiceMailBinding	Yes, via NetCF install	Yes
Formatters:
·         SoapFormatter	Yes	Yes
·         BinaryFormatter	Yes	No
Encoders:
·         TextMessageEncoder	Yes	Yes
·         BinaryMessageEncodingBindingElement	Yes	No
·         MTOMEncoder	Yes	No
·         GzipEncoder	No	Sample available
Transports:
·         HttpTransportBindingElement	Yes	Yes
·         HttpsTransportBindingElement	Yes	Yes
·         MailTransportBindingElement	Yes, via NetCF install	Yes
·         MsmqTransportBindingElement	Yes	No
·         TcpTransportBindingElement	Yes	No
·
XmlDictionaryReader/Writer	Yes	Yes; stub around XmlTextReader/Writer
DataContractSerializer	Yes	No; but can be wire-compatible with DCS via XmlSerializer
Service proxy generation	Yes; via SvcUtil.exe	Yes; via NetCFSvcUtil.exe, not integrated into VS2008
·         Non-HTTP transports	Yes	No
·         Custom headers	Yes	No
WS-Addressing	Yes	Yes
WS-Security message level security
·         X.509	Yes	Yes
·         Username/password	Yes	No
WS-ReliableMessaging	Yes	No
Patterns
·         Service model	Yes	No
·         Message layer programming	Yes	Yes
o   Buffered messages	Yes	Yes
o   Streaming messages	Yes	No
·         Endpoint descriptions in .config files	Yes	No
Extensibility	Yes	Yes

Just got off the phne with the people at Vondafone. Still no support for Vista on these cards.

What a HOPELESS state of affairs!

http://www.thestreet.com/newsanalysis/investing/10332670.html

Has some sobering facts on the jump in the APPL price with iPhone announcement.

One of my team posted in the comments... I'll reply to some of his posts.

> What do you think GOOGLE maps is, 1st party software?

No. Software provided by a multibillion dollar 3rd party developer with a seat on the Apple board. Not exactly a shining example of a rich and diverse ISV ecosystem.

The closed platform might mean that they are controlling what does go on so that the brand always has good reputation and consistency. The current state of the device suggests that 3rd party software will appear there. They've also previously shown that a closed platform works for them (although apparently gen 5 iPods have Apple sanctioned 3rd party games on them).

Yup. Don't deny their justifications. Just don't agree with them.

3G support? You've got to be kidding. Considering the availability and pricing of such networks, surely this is something that Apple would put in if it actually becomes viable.

Most US carriers have flat rate all you can eat 3G plans. At a very good price. As I said in original post this WILL change efore release.

They're also allowing the phone to preferentially transfer onto Wi-Fi networks - something which may be worth having for a business customer who spends the majority of their time in an area with such a network.

The irony here is that the Telcos and other device vendors are all saying no need to bother with WiFi as WWAN on flat rate is just as good. e.g. SPJam has no WiFi any more.

EDGE also seems to go a couple of hundred K - that is plenty for music and web-browsing.
Are there actually mobile carriers who have significant uptake on the streaming video thing? EDGE would be fine for youtube too.

There are lies, damn lies, statistics and then there are theoretical traffic speeds. As someone who has used EDGE (on my SP5 though only overseas) I can assure you it's not really up to much.

Maybe it's not the best for the technical elite, but I develop apps for WM and will be getting an iPhone ASAP because I've never come up with an app I want to develop aside from a usable replacement for mobile outlook and messaging - which I hope iPhone will deliver.

Urm... you will not be able to run it in NZ by the sounds of things.

The key feature for me will be whether I can choose the length of time to snooze a reminder for!! That's a big fuck you to the WM fellas by the way - that really pisses me off because I generally like to be reminded multiple times and determine subsequent reminders by snoozing from the first.

Windows Mobile 5 supports this.

Oh, and I don't expect to have to restart my iPhone on a regular basis because the drivers developed on the open platform for the vendor's technology are shit either!

Granted.

Tim Haines popped me a good link on MSN...

http://blog.webreakstuff.com/2007/01/iphone-love-and-hate/

In summary

1. iPhone will be carrier locked to Cingular- by the sounds of things not just a simple SIM lock either. No surprises there, but it means Rod probably can't have one even if he wants one.... Apple says it's to do with the additional GSM extensions required... I'm inclined to say its a marketing thing. Those features could surely be disabled.

2. No 3rd party support. Apple are quite clear that they will not allow third party code to run on these devices. Thus, it's another closed game for Apple. While we see all these great web 2.0 platforms with APIs that let you mash them up etc... Apple builds a non extensible iPhone. Apple LOSES! I defn. don't want one now. What a piece of shit. This sort of 'closed shop' behaviour is what everyone accuses MSFT of being. What a load of shit. I think Zune is the only REALLY closed platform MSFT has done in the last 5 years that I can think of off the top of my head.

Also links to some more posts from

Dave Winer

“This is what I was trying to say yesterday. Carrying Apple's product announcements as if they were news is probably not good for reporters and bloggers, ethically. We're making a big mistake if we accept the news about iPhone, for example, only from Apple. There are other companies already in this market. How about taking a close look at their products when Apple asks us to look at the category? When Apple boasts of patents, as if that were a feature for users (imho it's a feature that's actually against them), this begs for a closer look as well.“

and Matt Ingram which is really SCATHING

Well, a number of people have blogged about the iPhone over the past few days... I've not had a bundle of time but here are some of my thoughts.

1. They are going to have to do a REALLY kick ass job with Touchscreen for me to like it. I've tried phones withiout buttons plenty of times both MSFT and other devices. I hate them with a vengence.

2. Only EDGE!?! Bleh! THis rules out streaming video to take advantage of the screen and over the air music purchases too. I GUARANTEE this will change prior to launch.

3. As to be expected from Apple the UI looks sexy as sin!

4. The webbrowsing looks evolutionary rather than revolutionary. We'll see just what sort of a job they end up doing.

5. The google maps doesn't look as good as the new MSN Mobile Live Search IMHO/

6. The user interaction design. Is, as per usual up to Apples high standard... let's just see if they can pull off a good touch screen.

7. God damn it's expensive!

THose are my thoughts... as I said... gonna be hard to get me off my candy bar smartphone... but we'll see.

Thought I might just a address a few of Rods points while I am at it.

“The Microsoft Mobile team must be performing hari-kiri. They have had 5+ years and did not make it about the software. They wasted Microsoft’s key advantage. They could have easily done a soft keyboard but did not innovate. The mobile software was just a scaled down PC interface that doesn’t really work. Compare Pocket Outlook to the Blackberry Message Stream interface. Microsoft squandered the opportunity to make it about Software. Heads will roll. BillG must be pissed.“

Urm... Windows Mobile has always been about the platform. It is a generic platform that supports a huge array of devices. The range of different form factors trumps even Symbian. More importantly the platform is all about enabling developers. The reason that enterprise developers especially prefer Windows Mobile over Palm/Symbian etc... is that it is a doddle to develop software for. The platform is VERY welll supported across the whole gamut of tools, from core driver level stuff (allowing easy addition of peripherals at the OS level- Symbol, HHP, Navman) through to simple developer tools (eVB, .NET Compact Framework). It is trivial for someone to pick up the Windows Mobile platform and tailor it to their needs be they a multinational hardware vendor or a small ISV.

“OSX as a multitasking Interface should suit mobile networks as it allows background downloading.“

This is a complete marketechture red herring. People have been doing multitasking for ages. I can happily surf the web on my Windows Mobile device while mail is downloading. Same with Palm.

"They have eliminated a device. The iPhone really is an iPod + Phone. With the iTunes infrastructure there are many opportunities for monetizing over the air downloads. This will guarantee carrier support.“

Urm... I use Plays for Sure support on my windows mobile phone. It syncs really nicely with my Media Center PC pulling down not only audio but also video. And... the fact that it's build on a broad and simple to develop for platform means that I can have rich additional content such as DRM'd eBooks and Audio books supported in unique ways as well. iPhone only eliminates the iPod in so far as one might insist on having an iPod.

“The iPhone is a compelling wireless Internet device. The inclusion of Safari is compelling.“

No it's not. Unless they add decent WWAN support (at least UMTS) it's a MOST uncompelling wireless internet device. The inclusion of Safari has great potential... but again... hamstrung by bandwidth.

Windows Live Search

http://wls.live.com/

Available in both a J2ME and native Windows Mobile version.

Gizmodo says that it 0wns the Google variant.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/smartphones/windows-live-search-for-mobile-vs-google-maps-mobile-218467.php

Rod is SUPER excited because his new Smackberry has some great new features... like..

• Bluetooth
• Handsfree
• Phone Buttons
• A Calculator

I mean come on! Really? WOW!My nanna had those on her Sony t610 about 4 years ago.

My shiny new(ish- it's a few monthsold now) iMate SP5 has

• WiFi... yes real 802.1 WiFi. That way I don't pay $30/MB while roaming the world.
• A Megapixel Camera which is great for using with servces like Scanr
• A media player that happily plays all the nice content off my 1GB mini SD card- oh... it syncs with my Media Center to so I can get my news straight onto my phone.
• A web browser- with frames and Javascript support.
• Smack down yo' Smackberry ass whoopin development environment called the Compact Framework that lets me take all my desktop/server dev skills and apply them to the mobile world. If my device doesn't have a *sexy* calculator... I can write one...
• A DIRECT push connection to my Exchange server. (Oh... and it works if you run Small Business Server too!)
• A look that is more 'suave urbane clubber' than 'oh lord I wish I hadn't spilt that soup down my tie in house counsel'

Who's laughing now Rod!!!!

Anyway. You can see Rod and myself discussing future technology in software and other great things at CodeCamp this weekend... Look forward to seeing you all there.

Ok.. sone under NDA I've known about the Desktop availability of SQl mobile for quite a while.

It was announced in the wild this week. Steve Lasker has a great Q&A on his blog...

http://blogs.msdn.com/stevelasker/archive/2006/04/10/SqlEverywhereInfo.aspx

Check it out here

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000867059961/

0800 DONBRASH

Labour has a piss taking 0800 number setup...... now I'm assuming this isn't like the Working For Famalies Propoganda which was paid for by the taxpayer......

Anyway assuming it is not. I encourage you all to ring it from your mobile phone ('cos that costs them LOTS of money) at least once a day..... If we ca phone bomb this line enough we'll be sure to either

a) Get it pulled or;

b) Send the labour party broke....

I'd be happy with either....

For those with MS Smartphones let me know if you are interested in an autodialer... if there is enough demand I might write one so you can put your phone on the charger and leav it dialing 0800 DONBRASH all day....

From http://www.russellbeattie.com/notebook/1008563.html

Mobile Research Launches First of Its Kind Mobile Device Data Service

SEATTLE, WA (Aug. 3, 2005) - Mobile wireless tools and services provider Mobile Research today announced the launch of their "Mobile Device Database" service for the North American market.

The "Mobile Device Database" is the first commercially available solution that provides mobile developers and content publishers the data they need to address the problems associated with mobile device fragmentation. The "Mobile Device Database" is a comprehensive database of device data for each device on every major carrier. The "Mobile Device Database" contains over 500 data per device including supported APIs, media support, markup language tag support, WAP Push characteristics, messaging, and much more.

"Device specific information is crucial to developing mobile games and applications, formatting mobile media, providing customer support, and the delivery of mobile content in a mobile market where there over 100 unique models of mobile device available to subscribers at any given time" said David Adams, CEO of Mobile Research. The "Mobile Device Database" is launching initially for the North American market but will be expanding into European mobile markets this fall. The "Mobile Device Database" service is available on an annual subscription basis.

Here comes the RAZRBErry!

http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=1299

Nic Mentioned he didn't know wifef's name... Its Deborah (or Deborah Darling if I've been naughty).... haven't really blogged my wedding day yet- scanning some photos soon... but here she is... and like any good Windows Mobile Device MVPs wedding the vows were read off a Windows Mobile Device- in this case an HTC Harrier..... thought about using an HHP Dolphin but wouldn't fit in the suit pocket......

Remember Spokey Dokeys? The little plastic beads you put on ya bike spokes- I used to have some on my downhill bike (and my toddler trike when I was 3)...

Anyway. Gizmodo has the latest in Spokey technology- LED Spokey Dokes! How cool is that. You can program them with your Palm- now if they would only choose a decent mobile computing platform I could be tempted to splurge on some- write them off as a company marketing expense!

For those of you who follow the msmobiles.com saga- that Jacek guys who wishes to sacrifiice all Mobile MVPs to the devil.....

Herewith Jacekwatch blog.

Crikey!...

That's a VERY significant move. Let's hope it gives more revenue to the Exchange Active Sync team to make things better..... like adding tasks sync and follow up flag support...

Read all about it @ Geekzone

Bill blogged on the emergence of Viruses on CE. I've been in computerworld a couple of times over the past month (here and here) discussing both the CE virus and the Symbian one. The underlying theme of my comments is that once virus devs start really taking advantage of the inherent capabilities and weaknesses of the platforms themselves.

Think about how nasty a virus that flashed your rom image could be... how hard would recovery be from that!?! Even a hard reset wouldn't save you.

Lukas is blogging about the new HTC Blue Angel. I played with one of these a couple of months ago in Beijing.... very SEXY... will try and dig out some photos.... pity they didn't stick a nicer processor in it though :-(

Lot's of peeps (incl Bill and Julia) are having kittens over CC's /tabletWeb article. Doesn't really do it for me to be honest (well not like his other articles do)- been living the smart client dream for too long now.