Beijing-based Vimicro has announced an ARM-based system-on-chip (SoC) intended for low-cost Windows Mobile smartphones. The VC0818 is built on a 0.13 micron process, offers a variety of multimedia features, supports three-megapixel camera sensors, and is available as part of a
Sprint has announced a dual-mode CDMA/GSM Windows Mobile phone aimed at frequent international travelers. The Samsung Ace features an unlocked SIM slot, QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth 2.0, a 1.2 megapixel camera, and a 2.3-inch display, according to the company. (Click here
HTC has announced a Windows Mobile 6-based device it claims is one of the most compact phones in its product line. The P3470 is just 4.25 inches tall and weighs 4.3 ounces, yet features quad-band GSM connectivity, a 2.8-inch touchscreen
Microsoft's MSDN developer website has published a transcript of the Windows XP Embedded (XPe) online "chat" held on January 29th. In addition to six Microsoft XPe team members, the chat included "special guest" Alexander Wechsler (left), an expert on XPe's
Glacier Computer has introduced a rugged ARM9-based tablet computer intended for mounting on forklifts and other vehicles. The Ridgeline CE runs Windows CE and has a 5.7-inch touchscreen display, along with a 10/100 Ethernet port, watertight rubber keypad, and integral
Torch Mobile has become the first company to release a Windows Mobile 6 web browser based on open-source WebKit browsing technology. The Iris Browser provides a powerful, standards-based experience on resource-constrained devices, with multiple windows and tabs, and "virtual mouse"
Microsoft's Windows Mobile business has lost its top executive. Pieter Knook, an 18-year company veteran who is currently senior vice president of the company's Mobile Communications Business (MCB), will leave on Mar. 10 to become director of Internet services for
Benq has announced a phone it says is the first Windows Mobile device incorporating NFC (near-field communications). Capable of storing NFC data on either its microSD or SIM cards, the "T80" will allow contactless payment, secure access, or control of
Blue Tree Services is shipping software claimed to turn GPS-equipped Windows Mobile phones into real-time tracking devices. KoolTrax provides accuracy to within 13 feet, and sends alerts by email or SMS if a "trackee" moves outside a pre-defined area, says
Intrinsyc plans to build new capabilities and add third-party software support into its Windows CE-based software stack. During 2008, the Soleus stack will gain support for 3G handsets and touchscreen interfaces, document viewers, multimedia codecs, and more "pre-certified" phone driver
Aricent has announced audio and video codecs aimed at letting phones based on TI's OMAP3430 system-on-chip (SoC) play and record high-definition (HD) video in MPEG-4 format. Devices will be able to act as HD camcorders and play movies in 720p
HTC says it is now shipping an ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) that includes both x86-compatible and ARM-based processors. The Shift runs both Windows Vista and Windows Mobile, along with Microsoft's "Origami Experience" user interface, and has a seven-inch touchscreen display, slide-out
Janam has started shipping a rugged handheld computer based on Windows CE 5.0. Powered by a Freescale iMX.21 processor and sporting a 3-inch QVGA touchscreen, the "XM60" features Bluetooth and optional 802.11b wireless networking, a backlit numeric keypad, and a
Microsoft is offering a free download aimed at integrating news, weather, and stock "channels" onto a Windows Mobile device's home screen. Developed by the Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) group, the MSN Direct download delivers instant access to information "in
Samsung has announced an ARM-11 based application processor fabricated using the company's 65-nanometer technology. Targeting Windows Mobile devices with clock speeds up to 667MHz, the S3C6410 offers MPEG4 encoding/decoding, TV output and two-way videoconferencing capabilities, according to the company. The
Advantech has announced a fanless industrial computer that runs either Windows CE or Windows XP Embedded on a 1GHz Celeron M processor. The 1U-high UNO-4678 is intended for industrial automation and control applications, and boasts eight isolated serial ports along
Nvidia says it is sampling an applications processor for Windows Mobile smartphones that can capture HD video, and play it back for 10 hours. The APX 2500 is based on an ARM 11 core, handles 720p (1280 x 720) video,
HTC has announced a new PDA/phone it bills as running a "future version of Windows Mobile." The Advantage X7510 has a 5-inch VGA display, a detachable QWERTY keyboard, GSM/GPRS/EDGE telephony, WiFi, and both Internet Explorer and Opera Mobile 9 web
Sony Ericsson, previously associated mainly with phones using the Symbian operating system, has announced its first Windows Mobile-based smartphone. The Xperia X1 features an ultra-high resolution 3-inch touchscreen display with custom user interface, slideout QWERTY keyboard, an optical joystick, and
Intel and STMicroelectronics have begun sampling phase-change memory (PCM), a potential flash memory replacement that uses heat instead of electrons to store data. Code-named "Alverstone" in this 128Mbit, 90-nanometer implementation, it outdoes flash by providing bit alterability, faster speed, and
