Get the July Ink Shows before they're gone!

It's the last day of July and what a month it's been for GottaBeMobile's InkShows.  Rob, Dennis and Warner aren't really pulling these July videos off the site, but if you haven't seen 'em yet, I gotta ask: what are you waiting for? Here's what those tireless Tableteers have been up to:

• Mind Manager
• BlueBeam Revu
• Tablet Enhancements for Outlook 3.0
• Vista Pen Flicks

All of these software InkShows are a must see, but if that's not enough for you, there are additional hardware and audio features too. You can get the full July line-up right here. Hey, with all of this great mobile content, who needs YouTube?

-kct

Need GPS for the nearest Drive-Thru?

Apparently, fast food and retail stores have graduated to the POI, or Points of Interest, that many GPS devices use. Tele Atlas is including POI icons based on company logos for GPS map data, so that when you're looking for McDonald's Golden Arches, you'll see...well...the Golden Arches on your GPS. (New corporate slogan?: Over 1 billion GPS-vehicles swerved here)

Other corporate easting destinations include Arby's, Bennigan's, Chile's, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Wendy's and Subway. Sounds to me like you could eat your way across America, but without any healthier food choices, I suspect most folks wouldn't make it from New York to Chicago. This explains why I only weigh 125 pounds fully clothed, soakin' wet and with mobile devices in my pockets....

(via Gear Live)

-kct

HTC Excalibur exclusive photo: Smartphone Thoughts

Yowza this QWERTY keyboard Smartphone looks interesting. I'm still not into the whole Smartphone operating system due to my touchscreen addiction, but if you've been enamored by the Motorola Q, you just might want to feast your eyes on the photo Smartphone Thoughts has of the HTC Excalibur.

This anticipated Quad-Band and WiFi unit looks pretty sleek and skinny. In the place of a jog-dial looks to be a tactile "swipe band" on the right side of the phone. Hopefully, the dedicated Internet Explorer Mobile button isn't completely dedicated since many folks choose to go with a different browser!

-kct

Luckymonk combines Basecamp and Tablet PC for Scout

Basecamp is a fantastic on-line project collaboration tool and a Tablet PC is an equally solid productivity tool. So what do you get when you combine Basecamp and Tablet PCs? For those of you that said "TabletCamp", try again because the answer is Scout. ;)

Scout is a little project by Luckymonk that has some serious potential. Ink-ability in a Basecamp setting is a real value add where you can manage and assign tasks, create project milestones and more. Don't take my word for it: check out the four minute video of a preliminary version here.

(via Download Squad)

-kct

Sony UX180P for only $1599!

I received an email this morning from Raphael Salgado from SonyStyle detailing a sweet deal from Staples for the Sony UX180P.  The UX180P is the Sony with the integrated EDGE from Cingular.  Here’s what Raphael had to say about the Staples deal:

Staples is selling the Sony UX180P for $1599 after $200 in instant savings (no rebates!)  That’s a few dollars better than my Sony employee discount on these bad boys!

http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?prodCatType=1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=151512&cmArea=SEARCH

 

Offer expires August 5, 2006.

 

Of course, Staples’ warranties are a little more expensive, so I suggest people get their Sony notebooks protected directly through the Sony…

 

Sony Extended Services Plans with Accidental Damage from Handling Protection (ADH):

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/EW_ViewExtendedWarranty-Detail?CategoryName=Notebooks

• $199 for 2 years, $299 for 3 years, $399 for 3 years
• Onsite service
• Accidental Damage from Handling Protection covers screen damage, liquid spills, and everything in between
• 24/7/365 access to service representatives
• Genuine Sony product and backing
• Available for any Sony item purchased in the last 60 days
• Cost reimbursement if product is discontinued, otherwise new replacement issued (not refurbished)

Tax-free purchase if you are a church or similar organization…

 

Thanks for the tip, Raphael!

 

-jk

 

Digital mag's greatest strength is a weakness on UMPCs

Most folks know that I went solely to digital magazine subscriptions a few years back. There's a few exceptions since some of my favorite mags aren't yet in a digital format, but by and large I'm all digital. Since I've migrated from a 12.1-inch tablet screen to a 7-inch screen, I've struggled a bit with my magazines. One would think that the experience would generally be positive on a UMPC, much like eBook reading. While I personally find eBooks to be without equal on a UMPC, the same isn't said of my digital magazine reading for one very important reason: eBooks are meant to be reformatted for the screen they're on, but digital mags aren't. At least they aren't with my favorite digital magazine application, Zinio. Read on to get a feel for what I'm seeing...

EverNote pre-loaded on Lexar USB drives

EverNote just announced a deal with Lexar that helps keep you productive and mobile: the standard EverNote software will be pre-loaded on 1 GB and 2 GB Lexar USB flash drives. Lexar is including the productivity application with their PowerToGo software, which will allow you to run EverNote on any PC that has a USB port. While you can already download this version of EverNote for free (and I recommend you do), this deal will give much more exposure to EverNote, allowing more users to experience the ability to "store and quickly access typed and handwritten memos, webpage excerpts, emails, phone messages, addresses, passwords, brainstorms, sketches, documents."

For even more functionality including ink-note searching, handwriting recognition and more, consider the trial of EverNote Plus; I've used it in the past and although I tend to use Microsoft OneNote, EverNote Plus is a very solid contender!

-kct

Office 2007 Ribbon getting minor makeover

We often discuss the challenges a smaller screen mobile device faces, so this Office 2007 info is welcome news. Chris Pirillo notes a CRN article telling us that the Office 2007 Ribbon is getting some tweaks. You can currently minimize or collapse the toolbar ribbon by hitting Ctrl-F1, but that's not a very viable option for us slate Tablet PC owners; I currently tap double-tap the Ribbon tab title to expand or collapse the ribbon. Based on beta feedback, Microsoft will modify the interface in the next technical refresh of Office 2007, allowing you to set an option that essentially auto-collapses the Ribbon once you click away from it. This is great for the small screen devices, like UMPCs, where space is limited. If you want to catch a short video preview of the new Ribbon behavior, there's a 22 second video available at the blog of Jensen Harris, who is a Microsoft program manager.

-kct

Students get discounted price on TEO 3.0

I have made it clear how important I feel that TEO 3.0 is for Tablet owners who use Outlook so I won't rehash that here.  I think that TEO is worth every penny of the normal $49.99 price but Josh Einstein has stepped up and offered students a special discounted price of $29.99.  This price is a steal so you students who use a Tablet PC should jump all over this.  Way to go, Josh.

(via The Student Tablet PC)

-jk

Portable Firefox 1.5.0.5 released

Portable Firefox 1.5.0.5 has been released  by developer John Haller.  Firefox Portable (the official name) can be installed on a USB flash drive and run on any computer without leaving any traces behind when you leave.  This new release can be run from a CD if you prefer that over a USB drive or iPod, update support has been added as well as in-place upgrades.  If you like to live on the edge there is a preview version of Firefox Portable 2.0 Beta 1 Preview available.

(via DesktopLinux)

-jk