Windows Live Updated For Windows Mobile Devices

Not content to just offer a new version of Windows Live Messenger for a competing platform, Microsoft today released an updated official version of the full Windows Live app for Windows Mobile that features contacts syncing, support for Live Spaces, Live Maps, and push email from HotMail, MSN, or Live accounts. It's a free mobile download, though you'll have to make sure you nuke the old version first lest you mess up your device.

Nokia E71 Debuts in the U.S.

Nokia's E-series devices have been rarely sold through U.S. carriers and as a result they have usually have to be imported by wholesale retailers or bought through one of Nokia's flagship stores.

The E71 is reportedly the latest to go on sale at Nokia's Chicago flagship store. In addition, it's the North American (NAM) variant that's available. This model features compatibility with AT&T's 3G network.
The listed price for the E71 at the Chicago store is $473.

More about the Nokia E71

The Nokia E71 has a 320-by-240-pixel QVGA screen and QWERTY keyboard design that similar to devices such as the Palm Treo 800w, RIM BlackBerry Curve, and Samsung BlackJack II, though in a body that is only 10mm thick.

It comes with 802.11g Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP, 3.2 megapixel digital camera with Carl Zeiss optics and auto focus, a microSDHC memory card slot, and Symbian S60 Feature Pack 1 operating system.

For more information about the Nokia E71, visit the Nokia website and view Brighthand's preview.

Latest Version of Windows Mobile Comes to HTC Mogul

The HTC Mogul is the latest device to get an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.1. This helps keep this Sprint model, which debuted last year, relevant in the smartphone market.




The Mogul is one of several models that have received similar upgrades recently, including the Samsung i760 and HTC Touch. These come in the wake of the release of Windows Mobile 6.1 itself, which happened this spring.

What New?

As its version number suggests, Windows Mobile 6.1 isn't radically different from 6.0. The major improvement Mogul users will see will be in Internet Explorer Mobile, which gets a new rendering engine based on Internet Explorer 6 for the desktop, as well as a "Zoom Out" mode for full page preview.

The upgrade also includes Microsoft's threaded Text messaging app, and it adds support for Sprint TV.

Downloading

This upgrade can be found on HTC's website. It is available for free.

BlackBerry Curve 8330 Review

RIM has been pretty successful in many respects with both its BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry Pearl offerings. Both models have the business sense and email ability that marks the BlackBerry brand, and offer a bit more style and substance to the table than past devices.

The Curve leans toward staying mainly a business device, but with a bit of a consumer flair. Its smaller profile than the BlackBerry 8800 series makes it pocketable, but its not so much so that the famous RIM QWERTY keyboard style needs to be changed, as it is on the Pearl. It also offers an increasing amount of third party applications, and a slightly different style than feature phones tend to have.



I spent some time with the BlackBerry Curve 8330 for Sprint to see for myself some of this ability to merge consumer functionality with BlackBerry sensibility. And while not everything is as point-and-go as the push email, there's good reason to believe that future RIM models will be able to do just fine keeping work productive and play enjoyable.

In This Review

* Design
* Wireless Connectivity
* Day-to-Day Use
* PIM and Other Applications
* Battery Life
* Switching Smartphones
* Conclusion

iPhone 2.0 Tips: Safari Shows Embedded YouTube Clips

Much like the way Safari has handled Quicktime videos on former versions of the firmware, the new 2.0 release now allows you to see embedded YouTube content with your iPhone or iPod Touch on Safari. Click and it hands off video duties to the YouTube player. Really, that's better than watching it embedded, and makes the handheld Web browsing world that much closer to its desktop version.