Navigon made a splash last year by being the first (if I recall correctly) turn-by-turn navigation app available for the iPhone. They recently released MobileNavigator for Windows Phones and provided an evaluation copy for me to try. I installed it on my HTC Touch Pro2 running Windows Mobile 6.1.

Navigon recommends having at least 1.5GB of free storage space since it installs the maps for North America in this space. Note that this is different from, for example, online map solutions like Bing or Google Maps. These services require 3G wireless in order to operate. In theory Navigon's product can work with just a GPS signal.

MobileNavigtor for Windows Phone started up quite slow on my TP2. The registration process was slowed down by two interesting design choices: First, the keyboard is in an ABCDE layout instead of QWERTY. Second, it would not switch to landscape mode to let me use the TP2's physical QWERTY keyboard.

I found Navigon's legal disclaimer quite amusing: Do not operate this unit while driving. Yes, it is something their attorneys undoubtably insisted on including. But, it is amusing nonetheless.

My TP2's problematic GPS provided a bit of a initial roadblock. During my first test, it took about 10 minutes for the TP2 to acquire GPS satellite signals. My Droid and iPhone acquired accurate satellite data in well under a minute standing in the same spot under clear skies and no tall buildings of any kind in sight (there was a small hillside nearby on one side). Once satellite signal was acquired, MobileNavigtor provided accurate information about my movement while walking.

My next test was downtown among relatively tall building. The TP2 unexpectedly picked up GPS satellite data in about a minute. You can see the three-quarter and overhead views in the photos above. The two biggest issues I had with MobileNavigator during my first set of tests were:

1. The ABCDE keyboard layout slowed down typing information into it
2. I would like the option to view maps in landscape mode and use the TP2's physical pull-out QWERTY keyboard

I expect to give it more of a workout while in the Seattle area next week. My only concern is that the TP2's battery drains quite fast when its GPS is used.

Navigon MobileNavigator for Windows Phones has a retail price of $89.

Have you ever called a ___fill_in_the_blank_with_name_of_any_big_company___ and been greeted with an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) gives you hundreds of options but no apparent way to speak with a human being? Fonolo is a free service that helps you cut your way through a the large and confusing phone trees that businesses often throw in from of their IVR systems. And, they now provide a free iPhone app to help you cut through IVR forests...

Fonolo 1.1 (iTunes App Store)

Be forewarned, however, that the app appeared very slugging during my tests (I was connected to the net over WiFi, not 3G). And, you have to create an account before you can use the service (no fee involved). The app seemed to work as expected during my tests. My only real disappointment is that it didn't have any information for contacting Acer (I have a couple of Aspire One netbook problems I'd like to talk to them about).

There are only 13 customer reviews of the Fonolo app in the iTunes App Store as I write this. And, the average review is only 2 stars (out of a possible 5). There aren't any published comments. So, we can't read why the 9 outof 13 reviewers gave it a 1 or 2 star rating.

My suspicion is that your evaluation of the Fonolo for iPhone app will be directly related to the amount of time you spent trying to get through a company's phone tree before trying Fonolo.

Have you ever looked at a Google Street View and wanted to be able to create something like that yourself. Unlike most of us, Roy D. Ragsdale actually ran with the idea as a student project at West Point, and built a...

DIY Street-View Camera (IEEE Spectrum)

He took 8 Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000 webcams, 2 D-Link USB hubs, a GPS receiver, a notebook running Ubuntu Linux, and shop skills to build a 360-degree panoramic photography device with GPS location information. The total cost of this project?

- $200 for 8 LifeCam cameras ($25 each)
- $50 for 2 D-Link USB hubs
= $37 for a GPS receiver
- $400 (estimate) for the notebook computer
- $300 miscellaneous hardware

Total price = $987 (estimate)

A combination of Open Source and homebrewed software rounded out the development effort. The assembled project took one set of images every 20 seconds.

If you've visited this blog before, you may have caught some of the fun I have when various statistics (or what passes for that) and predictions are made in the mobile market space. Here's the latest one that caught my attention...

ReadWriteWeb: Android Market Share Doubles - Will Overtake Palm Soon

First, where does this data come from? It came from this comScore press release: comScore Reports December 2009 U.S. Mobile Subscriber Market Share. Next, how reliable is this information? How much validity does it have? That is difficult to say without a much deeper analysis of comScore's sampling methodology and assumptions. Third, does comScore itself make any trend analysis on their "share (%) of smartphone devices" results? No, they do not.

So, where does the prediction that Google Android will overtake Palm's marketshare (Palm OS + webOS?)? I believe it comes from an assumption that we will see linear market growth or loss carry through the current quarter (Q1 2010). That would indeed have Google Android overtake Palm by the end of March. Using this predictive model, let's take it to an illogical extreme and take the numbers all the way through the end of 2010. You can see resulting graph above. If we assume a steady linear growth or loss for this year, Google will also overtake Microsoft's Windows Phone before the end of the year (and that may happen). Palm, on the other hand, completely disappears by September.

Do I actually believe that my chart predicts anything? Not really. Palm's introduction to the Verizon Wireless customer base may pump up its market share a bit. Android has a lot of mindshare right now (expecially following last year's aggressive Verizon Droid campaign) and the recent Nexus One hoopla. But, that hasn't translated into iPhone like sales yet. Google's and Palm's extremely small existing base makes small fluctuations seems a lot larger than they probably are. Their relative growth and loss are probably much flatter than what you see in my graph based on oversimplified assumptions.

We haven't seen much written about Windows Mobile 7 recently - except that it not even close to being delivered and that when it is delivered it will probably be too late to compete with the next generation of other platforms like the Android, BlackBerry, and, of course, iPhone. But, assuming anyone still cares about the future of Windows Mobile, PPCGeeks says they have a crystal ball reading on the topic of Windows Mobile 7...

EXCLUSIVE Breaking News : Windows Phone 7 Details Emerge From The Depths

So, what's new/different?

- The new user interface (UI) is similar to the Zune HD UI. If Microsoft uses words like "souful" and "alive" as quoted in the article, there will be worldwide smirking and snickering.
- No Adobe Flash support. To which I say, Yay!
- Microsoft is adopting an iTunes App Store model by only allowing app delivery through a market. This may work out in the end though there will be a lot of screaming and hand-wringing for a year or two (assuming Windows Mobile survives that long)
- Apps can only be installed in system RAM (no more installing apps on a Flash memory storage card). This is a horrible plan.
- No multi-tasking support. This is another horrible idea in several ways. First, it removes the ability for vertical market multi-tasking app suites. Second, it is a sad admission that after 14 years of mobile platform development, Microsoft has no idea how to manage a multi-tasking mobile platform.
- No NetCF (dot-net Compact Framework) app compatibility. This will cause a huge developer relations problem (to say the least). But, like the single app market model, it may work out well in the end. Microsoft needs to make a clean break from the broken Windows Mobile 6.x model.
- Device availability by September 2010 - Too little too late, I'm afraid. iPhone OS 4 will be available by then. Android and other platforms will probably have their next generation releases available too.
- Full Zune integration. Oh yes, Zune HD has been a huge so success, so... Oh wait... Never mind.
- Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) bites the dust and will join ActiveSync in the Windows Mobile sync graveyard. The Zune desktop will be used for syncing. I've had a lot of issues with Zune incomplete syncs. I'm not looking forward to this development at all.
- XBox gaming integrating. Well,that took long enough! The first Xbox was released in November 2001. So, it only took Microsoft a decade to figure out this integration might be a good thing. What is this? A generational project?
- Full support fo "social networking". Sigh. What can I say. Late to the game folks.

Via Techland: Rumor: Windows Phone 7 Detailed In Full

Screenshot courtesy of Software Cellular Network

The Truphone blog announced...

New Twitter features added to Truphone for iPhone and iPod touch

New features in the 3.3 update include...

- Integration with yfrog and Twitpic, so you can post photos to your Twitter account
- Integration with bit.ly, so you can shorten links you want to tweet about
- Full Twitter search tools
- The ability to view direct messages as complete conversations
- The ability to follow and unfollow, and read the profiles of other Twitterers
- The ability to change your location, add map links and geotag tweets

Here's the part about Truphone I never understood. Unlike other messaging clients (Skype and fring come to mind), Truphone provides different releases for the iPhone and iPod touch. Both are free, however. So, there's no extra fee involved. You can find the two version in the iTunes App Store at...

Truphone 3.3 (for iPhone)

Truphone for iPod 3.3

The TED (Technlogy, Entertainment, Design) starts today. If you, like me and most of the tech nerd community, are not attending the invitation-only event, AT&T decided to it wanted to help with supporting TED's motta - Ideas worth spreading - is worth supporting by promoting...

AT&T Interactive and TED Introduce Official Mobile App for TED2010

This app provides the conference program, presenter bios, event activities, and real-time alerts about TED news and conversations from the TED blog. AT&T's press release tells you everything except which phone platforms this app is actually available for. I can tell you that it is available for free for the iPhone at...

TED2010 (iTunes App Store)

However, the app was built using the Plusmo platform that AT&T bougth a while back. So, it should be available for other mobile platforms too. A quick check over on the Android Market reveals that the Android version is promoted by Yellowpages.com side of AT&T.

If you carry a lot gadgets and not heard of Scottevest, then you are in for a treat. Many gadget lovers suffer for the lack of pockets, and what Scottevest sells are jackets, vests, sweatshirts, and shirts with lots of pockets. I recently bought the Scottevest Cotton Hoodie that I have been enjoying very much.

The Hoodie has 13 pockets and is very comfortable, even when the pockets are full. Most Scottevest products include a system for securing headset wires inside the garment so that you can walk around without having the wire dangling outside your clothes. The Hoodie has two clear view, zippered pockets on the chest that I use for my cell phone and MP3 player.

You will also find two large hand pockets in the Hoodie, which include two small change pockets that are secured by velcro. The hand pockets have magnetic closures and during a recent stay at a hotel I did have issues with the hotel door key being messed up by the magnets, so I suggest being careful handling cards with magnetic strips in these pockets.

Where Scottevest products really shine is traveling through airports. With all of gadgets that I use secured in the pockets of my Hoodie, I just took the Hoodie off and put it in one of the bins for the x-ray scanner. Once I got through the security line, I just picked up my Hoodie and put it back on and went on my way. The Hoodie was also very convenient while on the airplane as I had everything I needed in in easy to reach pockets.

At $70 the Scottevest Hoodie is more expensive than most hoodies that you find, but the added convenience of the pockets provide makes the purchase more than worthwhile. Scottevest products are available for purchase on their web site.

Over the weekend word came of an update to Google Maps that supports multitouch features such as Pin-To-Zoom on the Motorola Droid. The same update is available for the T-Mobile G1 and myTouch, but it does not support multitouch.

The news had to be frustrating for Droid owners wishing to use multitouch in the browser and picture gallery applications like Nexus One owners, but fear not Droid owners, Engadget is reporting that you will be receiving the full Android 2.1, update 1, version for your device very soon. While no specific date has been provided, it sounds like Droid owners will have to only be patient a little longer.

Last Friday I installed the 1.2 update to my Barnes & Noble nook ebook reader. Since then I have been using my nook and I thought I would share with you my impressions of the new software. When the nook first shipped in mid December 2009 the early reviews were very negative, mostly because of slow page refreshes and the slow response of the capacitive touch screen. I decided to buy the nook because I expected B&N to provide software updates to address the problems, and I think this second release of the nook software in a matter of weeks meets that expectation.

Page refreshes are now faster on the nook than when I first bought it, and the touch screen is now more responsive. The UI on the nook has also been updated slightly to make the buttons more three dimensional, making it easier for me to navigate the screen. You tap buttons on the touchscreen to navigate the cursor on the larger e-ink screen, and previously there was a noticeable delay between when you tap a button and the cursor moving. After the 1.2 update I find that the cursor moves much sooner.

One area that still needs improving is highlighting. To select text to highlight one must tap buttons that are displayed in a circle and I find the buttons to be too small. I think it would be better if the buttons were in an upside down T configuration like the cursor keys on many keyboards, but regardless of the configuration the buttons must be larger. The nook also needs to provide an overview of the highlights and notes that you add to a book. Right now you have to scroll through the pages and look for highlights. A work-around is to create a bookmark whenever highlighting as the nook does provide a way to jump between bookmarks. The nook currently does not synchronize bookmarks, highlights, or notes with other versions of the B&N eReader applications, and this is a feature I really would like to see implemented soon.

Finally, I stopped by my local Barnes & Noble to see what additional in-store features have been added. The update notes says there is enhanced in-store connectivity and additional More In Store content. When I was at the store on Saturday I did not see any additional content beyond what I had seen in previous visits. Another feature we heard about when the nook was originally announced is the ability to read full copies of any book while you are in the store, and this feature is still not available.

Barnes & Noble will finally have nooks available for sale in their stores this week, and the devices that you buy in the store should already have the 1.2 update applied. If you want to see whether your local store has devices to sell, you can check for availability on their web site at barnesandnoble.com.

Now that I have my feet under me here, I would like to take this time to introduce myself. Hello, I am Frank McPherson, and I am happy to join Todd in writing for this web site. I have been using mobile devices since the early 90's when I bought a Sharp Wizard QZ-7000. When I first heard of the Newton MessagePad I just new I had to have one, and bought one of the very first MessagePads when they were released in 1993.

What Apple did with Newton continues to influence my views of mobile computing to this day. I know I am in a minority that thinks that a stylus is actually a natural form of input, but we don't write on a pad of paper with our fingers, we use a pen or pencil, and I think mobile devices ought to be replacements for pads of paper. I wouldn't want to go back when a stylus is the only way we interact with mobile devices, but I also do not think it should be done completely away with.

Steve Job's return to Apple marked the beginning of the end of Newton's short life, and as I looked at the handheld computing landscape at the time my choices were the new Microsoft Handheld PCs or the new Palm Pilot. I was attracted to the Handheld PC's expandability via the PC Card slot, and larger screens. While I didn't particularly like the keyboards on the handhelds, I also did not think I should have to learn how to write in a different way such as how you had to write on the Palm Pilot's input area.

My decision to use the Handheld PC lead me to find the MSN Handheld PC forum and my introduction to Todd, who was the forum manager. Todd's invitation to me to become assistant forum manager later lead to being named a Microsoft MVP for mobile devices, a relationship with the mobile division at Microsoft, and to writing four editions of books on using the Handheld and Pocket PCs.

When Google announced Android, I became intrigued by Android's integration with the Internet and particularly the Google applications I found myself using more and more every day. I bought the T-Mobile G1 shortly after it was released and tolerated its shortcomings until T-Mobile released the myTouch 3G, which is my current personal phone. I continue to also use a Windows Mobile standard phone to keep up with Microsoft's developments.

I am excited about writing for MobileContentToday because it aligns with my own long-held belief that what is important is how we use mobile devices to be more productive, grow, and have fun. While I am attracted to shiny objects like most other men, I am less excited with the latest and greatest hardware than by the latest and greatest software and capabilities. What is certain is that the mobile industry is rapidly changing, which makes keeping up with and writing about the mobile industry fun. I hope that you come along with me for the ride

Screen captured image courtesy of Apple

Aha! My iPhone and iPod touch connection problems and generally iTunes "crash-iness" was not unique to me. Apple just relesesed...

iTunes 9.0.3 (DL927 description)

Here's what's fixed:

- iTunes no longer ignores your "Remember password for purchases" setting.
- Addresses problems with syncing some Smart Playlists and Podcasts with iPod.
- Resolves a problem recognizing when iPod is connected.
- Addresses issues that affect stability and performance.

It would be great if Apple fixed iPhoto 09 next. That application crashes about 50% of the time I connect and iPhone or iPod touch (via USB) and doesn't recognize the device about 25% of the time