George's Review.

George
The WILLCOM W-ZERO3 [es]

The Willcom W-ZERO3 [es] is a phone you would want to buy, for yourself, and perhaps for a friend. Whether you’re a businessperson, or a teen looking for a cool phone with lots of convenient applications, this phone has something to offer for everyone. It is a very good phone, and carrying around made me feel prepared, it was like carrying a computer/phone hybrid around in my pocket.

The W-ZERO3 [es], made in conjunction by three companies Willcom Inc., Sharp Corporation, and Microsoft Corporation, has two keyboards, a touch screen, can play music and videos, and is compatible with USB host functions. It also has lots of applications, making it very convenient to have. For example, Opera Mobileä enables you to browse websites, W-ZERO3 Mail lets you check your inbox and send mail even without your computer. Programs such as Word mobile, and Excel mobile makes this phone even more convenient as you can create and edit documents using just this phone. Other applications such as a MSN messenger, and games ensure that you will not get bored.

Display 2.8” VGA (640 x 480)
OS MicrosoftÆ Windows MobileÆ 5.0 software for Pocket PC (Japanese version)
Memory Flash memory 128MB, SDRAM 64MB
CPU IntelÆ PXA270 Processor 416MHz
Dimensions Approximately 135 x 56 x 21mm
Weight 175g (including stylus and battery)

I liked the ability of the W-ZERO3 [es] to receive and send mail, as I have experienced times where I really needed to check my mail, but couldn’t because I didn’t have access to a computer. Another unique feature was a “name card” reader,” which takes a picture of a business card and automatically copies the information into the contact list, although sometimes there are mistakes. All in all, this phone is a must have for business people or anyone, in fact, who wants to stay connected, or just wants to carry their computer around with them. The URLs of Willcom Inc., Sharp Corporation and Microsoft Corporation respectively are: <http://www.willcom-inc.com/en/index.html>, <http://sharp-world.com/>, and <http://www.microsoft.com/en/us/default.aspx>.

Thanks so much George. You did a excellent review.

Quick Gettogether

Sorry it's on such short notice, but I will be at Linux Cafe with lots of cool Windows Mobile devices at the round table, so if you wanna see some cool stuff, just hop in at 12:30PM today.

-stingraze

btw. It's at Akiba.

Auctioning items...

I'm auctioning alot of items like Windows Vista Ultimate, Office 2007 Ultimate, and many interesting stuff on My Yahoo Auction Japan Listing.

I'll try to make a widget so you can see the listings on the site.

Honest Review Part - 1 HTC Kaiser

This is my honest review of the HTC Kaiser. There will be no favoritism on any companies, and it's going to be quite frank.

First of all, I must say I really like the device, so much that I carry it around everytime I go places like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Hiratsuka, Yokohama, etc. The problem is that the battery lasts very short when a hardcore Windows Mobile user like me uses it. The thing about this is that it only lasts for a couple hours, when I use the internet, and especially when I use GPS. The solution for this is by getting an extended battery.

The other thing I don't like about this is the lack of USB host functionality. I wished it could use this because I can put my USB memory reader, external USB keyboard, etc.

I would rate it a 9/10 for now, but if more accessories are put out, it would probably be 9.5/10

Next Windows Mobile Japan User's Evening - Tuesday 22nd January

Best wishes for 2008 to all readers! I'm expecting an even more exciting year for Windows Mobile in Japan in 2008!

The next Windows Mobile Japan User's Evening will be on 22nd January from 7pm.

We'll be devoting the full evening to discussion among all the attendees so there will be plenty of time to get questions answered and share tips and tricks. I'll go into more detail on the 10 power users tips I presented last month for anyone interested or anyone who couldn't make the presentation.

Even if you don't own a smart phone, but are interested to learn more, please come along.

Please RSVP here so we know how many to expect.

X01T pamphlet scan

I just got the Softbank X01T pamphlet, and made a scan of it. If you would like, I can send the actual pamphlet for free to your address. Please leave a comment if you would like one shipped to you.

Ppctweakies Online Shop gets an update

I updated my online shop selling handhelds from many companies in Japan. I finally put up the shopping cart feature. Though it's not completely done, I will update it today.

I sell handhelds and accessories that are hard to find to overseas customers at my shop, and my customers include shoppers from: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Brazil, Austria, Netherlands.

I ship to Japanese address too.

http://www.hpcnut.co.uk/winmo/shop.htm

Full keyboard smartphone from Asus!

This is a really cool smartphone that is going to be released from Asus. It's called the Asus M930W, and has Windows Mobile 6.0, 3.6Mbps HSDPA, MicroSDHC, 256ROM, and 128MB RAM.
via pocketgames

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to Windows Mobile in Japan readers!

Hope you are having a blast, and wish you all a Happy New Year!

-stingraze

P.S. 2008 is going to be an exciting year for Windows Mobile! :D

Sigmarion Radio

This is a very interesting Youtube clip.

O2 Xda mini

Today, the O2 Xda mini arrived from U.S., which I have been waiting for some time. The device is a little old, but I really like the metal covering of the Xda mini, and I fell in love with this device three years ago, but couldn't afford to buy it at that time.

Hope you guys are having a Merry Christmas Eve.

Wish you guys the best and Thanks for Reading.

Tsubasa Kato

Intel ships Penny-Size Solid State Drive

Intel shipped their penny-sized solid state drive on December 17th, which means that next generation cellphones and portable audio/media players will have a even smaller, thinner size, with increased memory space!

The actual size of the solid state drive is said to be smaller than a penny, which is amazing. Probably, next year, there will be many Windows Mobile devices with this SSD as the internal disk.

via Windows CE FAN

Windows Mobile Centric Search Engine

I've made the Mohawk Search Engine back in 2003 with Perl, and now it has a major upgrade. I finally got a cool crawler to update my database with, and the Mohawk Search Engine is now on BETA.

The Mohawk Search Engine has thousands of Windows Mobile and Windows CE sites you will find useful and interesting.

Hope you like it.

http://hawkey_t.tripod.com/cgi-bin/new/search.cgi

P.S. It worked quite well on my Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es] even when using the PHS network.

Sincerely,
Tsubasa Kato

Secubox - 256bit Encryption for Windows Mobile

I tried out the Secubox from Aiko Solutions, and it was quite interesting. What Secubox does is that it creates a mounted virtual storage card with a 256bit encryption on your Windows Mobile. I found the software very well made, although it was a little difficult first to see what to use the software for, but after Irina Oltu gave me a little how-to, I could understand its benefit in securing data.

Secubox is available for $39.99, and can be bought at their online store.

More detailed review to come soon.

VITO SmartNavigator Review Part 2

I tried the VITO SmartNavigator with my Tytn II in my car, and it worked flawlessly. The response was good, and there was very little lag as the speed changed on the speedometer on SmartNavigator.

Toshiba Portege G910

This smartphone is going to be released next year, according to endgadget japanese. I perosonally think this is pretty cool!

It looks like the beginning of next gen design, not just copies and clones of HTC devices. :)

via Engadget Japanese

VITO SmartNavigator Review Part 1

I am reviewing the VITO SmartNavigator on my HTC Kaiser (Tytn II). The user interface is superb, and I really like the looks. Because I didn't have the chance to use it outside yet, I will be making this review in two parts, and the next review post will be the actual software in use.

Nice job, VITO. I really like it!

keep tuned for updated posts on this software.

HTC Shift Japanese

HTC was showing off its HTC Shift Japanese at the Windows Mobile Blogger's event in Shinjuku yesterday. It is to be released next year.

Edit your Ringtone from Windows Mobile!

VITO updated their RingtoneEditor to 1.2 on November 27th.

"The new version of VITO RingtoneEditor supports famous BlackJack and Moto Q including other devices with the same screen resolution. With VITO RingtoneEditor you can easily create as many ringtones as you wish from your favorite music. The slider showing the song progress has become more informative. When you start making ringtone the scroll box becomes highlighted. Now it is clearly seen what part of the song is chosen for the ringtone."

VITO RingtoneEditor is available for $ 9.95 at www.vitotechnology.com.

Many reviews of VITO products coming soon. so keep tuned!

Windows Mobile in Ikebukuro

Today, I walked to Ikebukuro to look at the Windows Mobile devices in Bic Camera. I looked through the Willcom's booth, and looked at the Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es] on display. The cool thing was that as I was looking at the flyers, I noticed the HTC P3600 on it. I didn't know they sell HTC unlocked smartphones in Bic Camera, and I went to the display case that contained the HTC P3600 and the HTC X7501.

For me, however, neither devices really impressed me because the HTC P3600, although it has a GPS, does not have a slide-in keyboard, and was a big downer for me. I was surprised, however, that the device was not too expensive, being 69,800yen. The HTC X7501 was 119,800yen.

I think the HTC Athena will be a good replacement for older Handheld PCs, but I still think the Sigmarion 3 is better because it has many accessories and has a SDIO and CF slot for expansion.

I also went over to the Softbank booth to take a look at the X01T, but there wasn't any one on display except for the mock up. I guess if I had asked, they would have put it out for me to play with. I think the best smartphone to get at the moment is the Softbank's X02HT because it has Wifi (IEEE802.11b/g). By adding the latest add-on, the X02HT supports the Office 2007 format. I also thing the good part is that the X02HT supports charging by USB.

After I finished looking at the Bic Camera's smartphone booths, I headed over to the Yamada Denki's Emobile booth. I got a pamphlet from the EMobile booth, and in the pamphlet, I noticed something very interesting called 3D Box. 3D box is a 3D browser software in which you can view News, Weather, Movies, Music, and Variety Programs. The interesting feature of this program is that it shows the bookmarks in the Internet Explorer and Opera Browser in a 3D cabinet format. You can see the details here .


The new D02HW supports the latest 7.2 Mbps HSDPA connection,which I find it cool. The only negative part of this modem is that it doesn't support any Windows Mobile devices, let alone Windows CE.

The EMobile subscription rates are quite cheap, being 5980yen for basic data plan and 4980yen when you get a two year "Shin ninen " plan. ADSL service can be added for only 1,500yen per month, which I think is quite good.

Before I switched over to Yahoo ADSL and current FTTH, I was using EAccess' ADSL service, but I found their service pretty satisfying, and I am sure they improved it even more since then.

Sigmarion III Detailed Review

Sigmarion 3 Review

The best thing about the Sigmarion 3 is that it is very useful for making reports, editing text, and even surfing the web on the go. There are many enthusiasts all over the world, and since I am exporting Sigmarion III to users all over the world, they seem to be getting many new patches for the device created by individuals, on sites like HPCFactor. The best feature of this device is the instant on/off, unique to the Windows CE devices.


The light weight (455 grams) is very good, and it is much better than carrying a heavy laptop which sometimes can be about 3 Kgs.

You can use the Wifi at 54Mbps by buying the IODATA 54Mbps card or the Planex 54Mbps card. There are also many 11Mbps Wifi cards that are supported by this great device, including WLI-CF-S11G and WLI2-CF-S11G. You can also use SDIO Wifi card from Sandisk and such.

The best option for the Sigmarion 3 will probably be the extended battery, which is very rare and quite expensive. This allows 3000mAh of power, which means you can use for about 16 hours straight without recharging. This will make the Sigmarion 3 even more trustworthy, and you won't have to worry about bringing several batteries on the go, which will cause quite a bit of hassle.

Most people think the small factor of the Sigmairion 3 quite impressive, even after 4 years after its initial release (the device was put out of line in 2005). The display size is still impressive, being WVGA (800X480) instead of the regular VGA (640X480). Watching movie files on Sigmarion 3 is quite good, which you will need to use the TCMCP player available for free.

Also, there is a hack of increasing the video memory to 8MB, in which I found it to have some effect on the speed.

Overclocking the Sigmarion 3 is very easy, and can be done using a software, and it will increase the speed to 796 Mhz (uncofirmed). I tried overclocking it myself to 520 Mhz, which made the device faster, but a little unstable when connecting to Wifi. The utility I used is called xclkcfg.

I am hoping NTT Docomo or some other company will revive the Handheld PC device soon, because I am very sure there will be many new users who will find such device very valuable if they put out the latest OS on it. It will even be more interesting if NTT Docomo decided to make a Windows CE 6.0 upgrade to the Sigmarion 3, providing a ROM upgrade. I think they can even make the device over 100,000 yen. Personally, I am hoping that companies other than NTT Docomo to make such a device, like Softbank or Au.

Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es] extended battery

PocketGames is selling an extended battery (2400mAh) for the W-ZERO 3 [es] ! :)

This is something I would like for my Christmas, I guess, because my Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es] seems to run out when I need it the most.

HPCNut Online Store Christmas Special: $1 Sigmarion III on eBay!

$1 Sigmarion III Auction !

Christmas Special! I put up a Sigmarion III with accessories on eBay, starting from $1, no reserve.

For giving special thanks to all the people who bought Windows Mobile and Windows CE products on my shop :)

Check it out here !

Wired LAN connector for W-ZERO 3 [es] series

Planex just announced their Wired LAN connector that enables wired LAN via USB host cable. This is very useful for people who need to access networks that are not wireless.

http://www.planex.co.jp/product/usb/ue-200txgp
via Windows Keitai

X01T First Impression

Today, before attending the UG Windows Mobile in Japan event, I went to the BicCamera at Shibuya to try out the new X01T. I felt the device was very well made, sort of like a cross between the X01T and the Willcom Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es]. Though I didn't have time to try it out, the fingerprint recognition (security) on the back was cool.

The only bad point about this is that it doesn't have an integrated GPS, butI honestly thought the device is worth buying.

Livecast of Tonight's Windows Mobile UG Event

If you can't make the event this evening, then you may be able to participate remotely. Experimentally I'm going to try livecasting it using the widget below. There is a chat and comment function so please send in any feedback.

X01T availability

Today, I went to the Hibarigaoka LAOX to check if they had the X01T. Unfortunately, after I asked the clerk if they had one available, she said even though it is already out, they do not have one in stock.

So, I took some photos of Windows Mobile phone X02HT and Softbank phone instead. I was surprised they were giving an iPod nano (older one 2GB one) away with the Softbank phone.

X01T Release Date

I went to the Softbank shop today, and I asked when the X01T is going to come out. The shop clerk said it will come out on December 8th, but I will have to pre-order it.

Good news for those who waited for the cool device for a long time!

Charging Tytn II via Advanced W-ZERO 3 es

Today, I had this idea that popped into my head. Since Advanced W-ZERO 3 es has a USB host capability, why not charge the Tytn II by this?

I just connected a miniUSB cable from my Tytn II to the Host cable that is connected to the Advanced W-ZERO 3 es. Surprisingly, it worked even when the screen was on ! This will be a temporary solution to drain Advanced W-ZERO 3 es' battery to charge HTC Tytn II. I am sure the same process will work on other smartphones as well.

Windows Mobile (X01T) ads in train

Coming back from the SANYO Xacti event that took place in PinkCow, Shibuya, I took a picture of a Softbank X01T ad in Saikyo Line. The Windows Mobile market will increase tremendously by viral marketing strategy, for example, it should be put up on Youtube and other video upload sites, so new users will by the Windows Mobile and begin to create a higher demand on both hardware and softwares.

I think the most effective way to promote devices is lending the device or giving it away to people who just love to carry around gadgets. Naturally, many people will touch the device, and there should be many new users. The process should be very effective among the high school students, around 16-18.

Tytn II, Windows Mobile and Yokohama

It is getting very Christmas like here in Japan, as many decorations are put everywhere.

Today, I went to Yokohama's Sofmap to get a 802.11n router to setup a network in my friend's house. He bought the Sigmarion III from me, and it included many accessories like Wifi card, etc.

The Sigmarion III is rather old (made in 2003) but still very popular among users in Japan.

I took a snapshot of Windows Mobile booth (Sofbank) in Sofmap.

I also went for a stroll around Yokohama Nishiguchi (West Exit). I took several snapshots there. Hope you enjoy it.

How to view Japanese E-mail and Web Sites on an English Windows Mobile device

Unfortunately Windows Mobile has not yet caught up to desktop Windows desktop in terms of of internationalization. Out of the box you still will not be able to view text using non-roman character sets, which includes of course Japanese.

I don't know of a good commercial solution to this problem, but luckily well know blogger and Windows Mobile expert 'Asukal' has put together a program called 'Let's Japan'. A quick install and you'll be happily reading email and web pages in Japanese.

Here are the current links to these files.

Be sure to check what version of Windows Mobile you are using and download he correct package.

Thanks to Asukal for putting these together and making them available. A big service to the Windows Mobile community.

Note that these files don't give you Japanese input. There are some solutions out there but I'm not aware of a simple one. If anyone has any ideas, please post in the comments or to the Yahoo Group . I'll collect the information and put into a separate blog entry.

Listen to the radio... on W-ZERO 3

Willcom has announced to start an internet radio portal called W+Radio from December 5th. The new radio portal will have programming from FMTokyo's Magic 702, Bunka Housou's UNIQue the RADIO and several others.

Willcom developed a special program for listening to their internet radio, called W+Radio, which saves the hassle of opening a new browser.

via Windows CE FAN

Exchange Server service from Softbank BB

Softbank BB is going to put out a business Exchange Server 2003 ASP push mail service, "Mail Service by P-BERRY" from December 10th, according to Windows CE FAN. It is to be a new menu on their "TEKI-PAKI" ASP/Download service.

Mail Service by P-BERRY organizes mail,schedule, and address book and features Outlook Mobile Access in their service. Both Windows Mobile 5 and 6 are supported, and it will enable users to have a PC Outlook-like experience through their browser.

I hope this will be a start to make other companies provide similar solution.

via Windows CE FAN

EMobile boosts HSDPA to 7.2Mbps

EMobile will be boosting the speed of their HSDPA service to 7.2Mbps (down) from December 12th. The upload traffic maximum is 384kbps. The USB adapter D02HW for connecting to 7.2Mbps HSDPA is going to be available, but only supports Windows and MacOS. I really want the adapter to support Windows Mobile, and I heard somebody else say that too. The initial cost to get this service will be 39800 for Basic plan, one year contract 9980yen and 2year (new) 9980yen. The D02HW is planning to be available without contract also, for 39800yen.

Pre-order is going to be available from December first in shops selling EMobile products.

I'm hoping Softbank and NTT Docomo is going to put out similar products soon.

via Windows CE FAN

Windows Mobile phones should be targeted at Women too.

According to a recent research by Microsoft, only 14.6% of the Windows Mobile usrs are women, compared with 85.4% of men. This is a serious indicator that in the next generation of Windows Mobile phones marketed in Japan, they should design it so that women will be more comfortable to use it.

Regular cellphone share have 50.4 % share by women, and 49.6% by men, which shows there can be more improvement about the color, compactness, and design. Women care alot about design, and if they have colors that are feminine, they are sure to buy more. I think NTT Docomo's HT1100 will be a hit because it is HTC Touch's 3G version, and very compact.

via NikkeiBP

Willcom Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es] GPS option

Well, as some of you may know, you can use a GPS stick (IODATA USBGPS2/WS) on the Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es] by Willcom through a USB host adapter. The only thing I can say about this is that it looks mighty weird when you put it on. The USBGPS2/WS uses SiRF StarIII/LP chipset, and you will be able to get GPS information on NAVITIME, Pocket Mapple, and Google Map. The USBGPS2/WS can be used on laptops as well, and supports Windows Vista/XP/2000. It is available through Willcom's online store for 19,800 yen, and can also be purchased where they sell Willcom phone options.


If you really care about how your phone looks, it might be better if you get a mini USB bluetooth adapter from IBS Japan, and get a bluetooth GPS receiver. How it looks on the Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es]

Get more juice for HTC Tytn II (1600mAh!)

I ordered an extended battery for HTC Tytn II from Hong Kong, which has a 1600mAh cell in it. It worked great out of the box, and it is made by Cameron Sino Technology.

I haven't tried charging it full, nor have I used it enough to compare the battery life, but 18% increase in power life is still valuable, when it comes to using it long hours. The major difference between the two batteries is that the SAMSUNG (original) cell has a metal plating on the bottom, which might be an enhancer for radio receptance.

I will post a detailed comparison between the two batteries later on.

eVB programs work on Windows Mobile 6 !

Today, I was really surprised to find out that I could run eVB programs on the Windows Mobile 6 HTC Tytn II. Basically, you will have to download the eVB runtime from Microsoft, intended for Pocket PC 2003/2003SE. This is a really good news for people who want to run old programs written in eVB on your latest Windows Mobile 6.0.

More details can be found at: http://www.hpcnut.co.uk/winmo/evbonwm5.0.htm

I did not originally discover this, but I found it through a post in PocketPCMag.com

Any questions about Willcom Windows Mobile Phone? try OKWave

If you are a Willcom user, and want to know more than how to surf the web and send emails, there is a site called OKWave, an official Willcom Q&A Community site.

Go to OK Wave

54Mbps miniSD Wifi Card introduced by Planex!

This is a very good news, which I have been waiting for. Although there are several 11Mbps miniSD wifi card from Spectec and IBS Japan, there wasn't a miniSD wifi card with a 54Mbps speed. The GW-MS54G, newly produced from Planex, is officially recommended on Willcom's W-ZERO3 [es] by Willcom, and will be available through Planex direct in the middle of December this year. This will add the missing functionality on the W-ZERO 3 [es] - the Wifi capability.

For those readers who live in places other than Japan can buy through mobileplanet, a different version of the similar card, called Spectec SDW-825. It is now available for preorder, and you can get it on December 3rd.

via Windows CE Fan

EMOBILE booth in Yamada

In Yamada and other electronics store in Japan, there is a EMOBILE booth, where you can sign up to EMOBILE on the spot. The second generation EMONE (EMONE α) with cradle costs 39,800yen with subscription (3,480yen-6480yen per month). The flat rate plan is 5980yen .

EMOBILE does not have telephone devices yet, but their HSDPA goes up to 3.6Mbps. They are planning to have telephone service soon, but meanwhile, you can use skype. The pictures in this post were taken with my Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es] in Yamada.

Glittery modification for Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es]

Willcom announced "Kira kira Crystal Keitai", meaning "Glitter crystal cellphone" which is basically a crystal glitter bead (swarovski crystal) decoration cover for the Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es]. The shocking thing about this is that, it costs 42,000yen to 48,000yen. Would you get it for your girl friend who has Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es] this Christmas?

Check it out yourself on Willcom Store

via Windows CE FAN

X01T - Finally available for Pre Order!

The X01T, which was supposed to come out earlier this year, is now available for preorder through Softbank's online site. This device runs at a 520Mhz supports WVGA(800X480), and has a lot of RAM and ROM. There are two colors for X01T, white and black. The supply stock is limited, so get it when you can! This might become a great competitor to the X01HT which also came out from Sofbank last year or the Willcom's Advanced W-ZERO 3 [es]. I'm hoping Softbank will put out a lot of accessories for this device, especially an optional GPS card.

The X01T spec is below:

OS: Windows Mobile® 6 Professional Edition (Japanese version)
CPU: Marvell®PXA270 520MHz
Memory: ROM: 128MB / RAM: 128MB
Weight: 198g
Dimensions: W61×H119×D21.5mm (when closed, excludes projections)
Talk Time:
(when stationary) 200 min. (Japan/W–CDMA) / 170 min. (GSM)
Standby Time:
(when stationary) 380 hrs. (Japan/W–CDMA) / 300 hrs. (GSM)
Charge Time: 280 min.
Screen: 3 inch display
800×480 pixel Widescreen VGA resolution
65,536 colors touchscreen, TFT LCD

via Windows CE Fan

Smartchance Campaign - Details

Microsoft is now doing a campaign called Smart Chance Campaign, which 500 lucky winners who buys specific Windows Mobile devices between November 1st to January 7th, will get a chance to get cool prizes.

10 lucky winners will win a free one night trip to a high rank hotel in Tokyo.

In order to enter, you must buy Emobile EM ONE α Willcom 　　　　　　Advanced/W-ZERO3 [es] (WS011SH) Softbank Mobile　 X01T、X02HT HTC Nippon HTC Advantage X7501

Deadline is until January 15th, 2008.

More details are here

[Event] Windows Mobile Japan UG Evening #1 - Wednesday 12th December 2007

On September 22nd Softbank released the X02HT – the first smart phone device in Japan with an English interface. This opened up the market to English speakers who didn’t want to an interface in Japanese. Many people dashed out to purchase the new device adding to the community of users already using Windows Mobile devices from Willcom, Softbank, DoCoMo and e-Mobile. Now many more people are experiencing the fun, efficiency and productivity increases from mobile access to e-mail, PIM data and full web browsing!

This new community will gather at the Pink Cow on December 12th to share tips and tricks on how to make the most of Windows Mobile smart phones. If you are a Windows Mobile device owner and want to learn how to make more of your device or you are not yet an owner and just want to learn more, join on the 12th for the biggest Windows Mobile event for the international community in and around Tokyo.

DATE: Wednesday 12th December

TIME: 7pm-10pm
7.00: Doors Open
7.30: Presentation: 10 Tips to Become a Windows Mobile Power User
8.30: Networking

VENUE: The Pink Cow, Shibuya (www.thepinkcow.com)

COST: 2,000 yen (Includes light buffet and chance to win some Windows Mobile accessory giveaways)

RSVP: Limited to 50 people. Please pre-register by Friday 30th November so we know how many people to expect and for a chance to win some of the Windows Mobile giveaways.

http://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?e32=0zzb5rt677ybsy199011seebv0

This event is organized by Andrew Shuttleworth of www.windowsmobileinjapan.com

HTC Universal in Shibuya

I went to Shibuya yesterday to meet up with Andrew, and I tried HTC Universal as a phone using Softbank SIM card. I wouldn't consider phoning using this device in Japan as a main phone, because it is very bulky, and kind of embarrassing to phone especially in crowded places like Shibuya.

I think it will draw too much attention when you are holding a small handheld, and suddenly switching over to a huge phone.

The voice quality, however, was very good, so it is actually the concept that is a little hard to get accepted to the masses in Japan although Willcom has their W-ZERO 3.

The experience of HTC Universal as a Windows Mobile device is pretty good, but the keyboard of Universal is rather hard type on, because you can neither hold the whole device entirely nor actually type it well, because it has almost no key stroke.

I really liked using HTC Universal because it has a much bigger screen than my Tytn II. The Universal experience will be superb if I watch a movie while on plane or a train ride.

The camera of the device I am using did not work very well unfortunately, because it has a Windows Mobile 6.0 on it. If I were to rate the Universal in a scale of 10, I would give it a 8.5 .

The integrated wifi worked great while I was listening to presentation in Fujimama, and actually, a guy sitting next to me was very interested in this device, and asked me what maker makes it and where he could get one.

There are still alot of users who don't even know that Windows Mobile exists, including my friends, who show great interest in the device. The next target of Windows Mobile in Japan and elsewhere should be aimed at students, and it will be a HUGE success!

Tytn II and Softbank

Tytn II has arrived here in Japan, and I am using with Softbank at the moment. First off, I must say it is a great device, I really enjoy the device. The sliding keyboard of Tytn II is much better than that of Tytn, since it actually slides out very smoothly. The tilt function is pretty cool, but not that important to me. The integrated GPS is very good, and I could get many satellites reception in Higashi Kurume, Akihabara, and Koenji. If you use Live Search or Google Map, you will be able to see your current position for free.

I am hoping to get a Mapfan map to navigate with GPS soon. More reviews coming soon.