macandmobile

Mira Sofwatre announced Bluephone Elite 2Dial and receive calls.
Use your computer’s microphone and speakers like a Bluetooth hands-free device!
Phone to computer call-log synchronization
Incoming call notification with caller ID and customizable alerts
On-screen call controls and duration tracking
Search and export call details with notes
Manage text messages
.Access messages when phone is not connected
Message changes synchronize when phone connects
Organize messages in local folders
Incoming message notification
Searchable database supports 100,000+ messages
Integrate and customize.
Extendable plug-in architecture
Phone number lookup from most Bluetooth phones and Apple’s Address Book application
Integration with OS X features: AppleScript, Spotlight, Speech Synthesis and more…
Integration with Apple apps: Address Book, iCal, iChat, iTunes and more…Status menu and programmable hot-keys provide fast access from any application

(what inspires me most, is that Bluephone Elite finally makes Moto’s classic A780 Linux Smartphone compatible with a Mac!)

Windows Live is now available on S60. S40 support will be out soon.Here’s from the Nokia page.  

Windows Live Messenger
Chat when you are on the move.Windows Live Messenger provides a dynamic way to talk with your friends, whether you’re on your device or PC. While chatting, you can also share pictures or voice clips from your phone. Create new contacts and easily synchronise them between your device and PC. If you’re already a Hotmail or Messenger user, all of your existing buddies will appear the moment you sign in.  Continue reading »

Wish Moto offered a phone like this:

Today If I need to buy a decent smartphone, Moto doesnt offer me one. Nokia has the E61/61i/95, Sony Ericsson has the P990i and the W900 series, Samsung has the BlackJack, Blackberry has them all, so does Palm. Even Apple has one now. What does Moto have?

The Q? Sorry, but it doesnt excite me.

Firstly its yet another device with Windows. The Blackjack looks better. So does perhaps the Palm. And a gazillion other devices that run Windows. There’s the never ending list of HTC too.

What I would love Moto to offer me is a sexy number, like a Razr meets a Blackberry Curve, running on Linux, with the following features:

- 3G/EDGE/ Available Unlocked as well

- WiFi

- Qwerty Keypad (the real one, not a virtual one)

- Expandable Memory (of course)

- MS Office Document Support : View and EDIT/Create New

- PDF Reader

- J2ME Support

- GPS

- Bluetooth

- iSync Support

- Bluetooth DUN with a Mac

- Push Email

- Ability to save SMSs as text files and send them across to the Mac

What else? Cant think of anything else at the moment. I once had a Moto A780 and loved its robust OS. Unfortunately there was only so much that one could do with it.

Ever happened to you, that your smartphone crashed and you lost all your contacts? Hadn’t iSynced your contacts? Or your phone is one of those rare ones that doesnt work (yet) with iSync? Or are away from your Mac AND your mobile phone?

All your missing contact related problems are now easily solved with a small selection of online services that let you save your PIM data on their servers for FREE! All you need is a working DATA connection and SyncML on your phone.

1) Zyb.com
Zyb has an amazing looking UI and simple to use. You login, a passcode is sent as an sms to confirm your number, followed by an SMS that auto saves the required settings on your phone. Once installed, you can auto Sync your phone to zyb.com’s servers. When you buy a new phone, you can sync back!

2) Mobical.net
Another service that I have been using for some time. Really simple to use, has a great UI and does its job well.

3) scheduleworld.com
A service that I first started to use. It has a simple almost Google like UI and even offers Java based SyncML clients for some phones. 

4) GsmSync.netAnother rather simple but effective service.

 Mobile GMaps is a FREE application that displays Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, Windows Live Local (MSN Virtual Earth) and Ask.com Maps and satellite imagery on Java J2ME-enabled mobile phones, PDAs and other devices. MGMaps can connect to a GPS receiver over bluetooth or use internal GPS features on some phones in order to automatically display the map for your current position.
Mobile GMaps is distributed under the Attribution – NonCommercial – NoDerivs Creative Commons license. You may download, use and distribute the application free of charge only for personal, non-commercial purposes.
New MGMaps v1.33The newest version of Mobile GMaps adds web tracking features and multiple language support. You can only see your latest position on www.GMap-Track.com, but more features including “friends” and saving tracks will be added in the following days. MGMaps v1.33 also includes all the features in the previous versions, such as support for local search, directions, hybrid maps, traffic info, view KML, Mobile WikiMapia, FON, Subway maps, Navizon support, etc. For more information, see the news page. Download the new version here. 

For a data enabled mobile phone, the Top 5 must have applications are

1) Opera Mini

download from http://mini.opera.com on your mobile browser

2) Gmail Mobile
download gmail.com/app on your mobile browser

Gmail Mobile Client gives you the same easy user experience as you feel on Gmail through your web browser. You can even open attachments you receive in messages, including photos, Microsoft Word™ documents, and PDF files.

It also shows you the entire contacts list you have in your Gmail. If only Yahoo! too had a J2ME client!

3) Google Maps Mobile
download www.google.com/gmm on your mobile browser

Real-time traffic — See where the congestion is, and estimate delays in over 30 major US metropolitan areas.

Detailed directions — Whether you plan to walk or drive, your route is displayed on the map itself, together with step-by-step directions.

Integrated search results — Local business locations and contact information appear all in one place, integrated on your map.

Easily movable maps — Interactive maps let you zoom in or out, and move in all directions so you can orient yourself visually.

Satellite imagery — Get a bird’s eye view of your desired location. (It’s like you’re there, we swear.)

4) Flurry Mail :

download from www.flurry.comA must have Email client for those non-Gmail webmails. Also supports RSS feeds.

5) Morange :

download from www.morange.com

A must have free push email application that also supports MSN and Google Chat, RSS Feeds, access to your PC files, access to Live WebCam, Contacts and Calendar access and sync etc. All of this for free, inside one clean easy to use interface.

After going through X number of mobile phones over the last so many years, I have a simple check list of what to look for in a new mobile phone, from a Mac user point of view, apart from of course, the looks and features that I want:

1) iSync Compatile: Should work seamlessly with Apple iSyncMost Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Motorola phones sync easily. Others need third party plug-ins or software. For a complete list of ‘official’ iSync  compatible phones, check here

2) Built-in DUN Modem support: Dial Up Networking will allow you to use your phone as a modem with your mac. A great help when you are travelling.

3) Bluetooth:  Will let you wirelessly communicate with your phone, sync wirelessly and enable Bluetooth DUN

4) J2ME : Java 2 Micro Edition, preferably MIDP 2.0. Will let you install a wide range of software like Opera Mini, Gmail Mobile, Google Maps Mobile, Flurry Mail etc. Perhaps the best use of J2ME is Opera Mini, my personal favourite web browser.

5) QWERTY Keypad: Since I spend a lot of time on my phone typing emails and blog articles, a physical QWERTY keypad is a must. I have tried touch screen QWERTY pads too, but they are a pain to type in with a stylus, when you are moving or are in cab. I prefer a physical QWERTY pad, always. Maybe I will change my mind once I type on the iPhone!