Its Official... New Blog is Online

Come on over to my new home on the net: rickmahn.com. I'll be keeping this blog open for awhile, but no new content will be added. So, come on over to the new site and check it out.

Spb Provides New PPC Backup!

Today Spb Software House released Spb Backup, a new Pocket PC backup utility. A utility category for the Pocket PC that, until recently, has been a little light on products.

Spb Software House Releases Spb Backup - the Ultimate Tool for Saving Your Data
February 14, 2006 - Spb Software House, a leading Pocket PC software developer, releases Spb Backup - a new Pocket PC utility for backing up all of your Pocket PC content to a storage card.

Spb Backup is based on the proven technology used in Spb Clone. Thousands of enterprise users rely upon Spb Clone to create exact copies of their "master" PDA devices. This tested technology was used to create a backup program that would benefit Pocket PC consumers at all levels.

Spb Backup creates a self-restoring image file that can be restored with or without installing the main Spb Backup application. The backup file can be compressed and password protected with strong 128-bit AES algorithm. The scheduled backup features will help users to have regular, mistake-free backups.

Spb Backup features include:

• Scheduled backups


• Self restoring backup files


• Options to separately backup PIM data, emails, "My Documents" folder, and system data


• Backup file compression and encryption


• Today plug-in with previous and next backup date notification


• Desktop PC utility for extracting information from backup files

Pricing and Availability
Spb Backup is currently available in Czech, English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, and Traditional Chinese. A free 5-backups limited trial can be downloaded, or Spb Backup can be purchased for $19.95 USD, from www.spbsoftwarehouse.com.

Spb Software House has produced many other great software products including Pocket Plus, GPRS Monitor, Full Screen Keyboard, Diary, Weather, and Finance.

brrreeeport buries web search!!

Ok, so maybe it doesn't but Scoble's little experiment is quite interesting - don't you think?

Via:Scobleizer

HP iPaq hw6900 Announced...

Another data-centric Windows Mobile 5 device is going to make its way into consumer's hands. The HP iPaq hw6900! Fun times.

I've seriously got to investigate what will be the best device to purchase. Since I'm a T-Mobile customer, the upcoming MDA will probably be my choice - of course that'll be dependent on pricing. Sometime soon!

Via: Geekzone

I'm almost happy... seriously

Check out this post at Smartphone Thoughts, I'll wait...

Ok, are you back? The SDA is one-half of the pair of new Windows Mobile 5 devices that T-Mobile is launching this month. The MDA will be launched in a week or two and should be around $350 after rebate if all the rumors are to be believed. When the MDA is released, I'll be happy.

via: Smartphone Thoughts

Microsoft's Mobile Email - Moving Ahead

CNET News.com is reporting that Microsoft is "pushing ahead" with its mobile email technology offereing. While brought to market later than RIM's powerful BlackBerry platform, it still see's a large viable market for their product offering.

Via: CNET News.com

International Data Plans comming online

Cingular is planning on launching new data plans next month that will include different levels of roaming data coverage. Check out Phone Scoop's article for more details.

via: PhoneScoop.com

Looking for blogging nirvana

Ok, so I think I'm turning into a blog nut... I've been looking at tools, utilities, plugins, etc... for a number of reasons, mostly 'cause its fun. I've finally come to the conclusion that I need to go "pro" at this - what I mean by that is to sign up with a hosting service, manage my own site with a professional blogging tool that I can customize to my needs and personal preferences.

So what I've found to date is that I'll be building this site over the next two weeks (and last two weeks - I've already started) and getting it off the ground. This weekend has been one of learning some neglected (by me) web language technologies (XHTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, WordPress layouts, etc...) that are crucial to getting the site I really, really want to publish to the world.

My page layout and site design is mostly complete, I've got a site & domain name picked (I'll post about that later), a hosting service identified, at least a temporary theme picked out that I have customized somewhat (check out my WordPress blog for a taste). One thing that I would really like is to be able to design a theme that really fits what I want to display for "style". I'm not a graphic designer, or an artist - at least not skill-wise, I DO have opinions as most of us do.

One goal will be combine my two existing blogs (here at blogger, and my WordPress.com blog) into one. Though I will keep the two blogs I have, they will likely play a different roll which I can't think of at the moment. What I have learned from both these blogs are some interesting things, for one - they both are drop-dead simple to get started, which is excellent because that means more people can start a blog without needing to understand the underlying technologies. They are both also very powerful. Blogger at the moment is more customizable right away, WordPress.com has only been available to the public since I think Oct 2005 and is a bit more controlled at the moment making customization unavailable right away - though Matt Mullenweg is working on this for future options (Go Matt!).

Well, there is much to do even though its a good start. I'll post more information soon - maybe a few screen shots of things here and there as well.

Review of T-Mobile USA's new MDA

There is a review of the new T-Mobile MDA over at infoSync World by Jørgen Sundgot. The new MDA is based on the HTC Wizard platform that is amazingly compact for how much functionality is built into the product.

Windows Mobile 5.0, a slide-out thumbboard, quad-band GSM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a 1.3 Megapixel camera, oh my: Jørgen Sundgot takes T-Mobile's MDA communicator for a spin.

via: infoSync World

Some Information on RIM's Plan

RIM^* has announced details of it's plan for a software update designed to allow RIM, partners & customers to continue to use the BlackBerry service in case of a court-ordered injuction. A document on their web site indicates that this new software update called "BlackBerry Multi-Mode Edition" was designed for customers using BBs on converged voice/data networks in the US, with either BB Enterprise Server or BB Internet Service. Please check out the link below for more details and additional documentation.

via: RIM BlackBerry

First commercial bot-killer?

McAfee has a new technology to help protect companies from the threat of bot-launched attacks. Check the link below for more information at MSFN.

via: MSFN

Vonage gets a new CEO

Vonage, the inovative broadband phone provider announced the selection of Mike Snyder to become the next CEO, overseeing day-to-day operations of the company. Vonage founder Jeffrey A. Citron was promoted to Chairman and Chief Strategist, focusing on expanding the company's products.

Cingular 8125 Available

Cingular's new 8125 Pocket PC Phone is now available on their website - ready for order. The 8125 is a varient of the HTC Wizard platform (similar to the Orange SPV, UTStarcom XV6700, iMate KJAM, T-Mobile MDA Vario, and O2 XDA Mini. I got a chance to work with the T-Mobile varient of this phone late last fall and was impressed by the device. This class of device is based on the Pocket PC varient of Microsoft Windows 5.0 and includes a slide-out keyboard, landscape/portrait QVGA display and many wireless connectivity options. Some of the specs/features include:

• 128MB RAM


• 64MB ROM


• 200MHz Processor


• 2.8 in. 62K color screen


• weighs 5.3 ounces


• GSM (voice) GSM, EDGE (both data) radio technologies


• Quad Band "World Phone" (850, 900, 1800, 1900)


• 802.11b/g WiFi


• Bluetooth 1.2

You can see a review of the T-Mobile MDA Vario at CoolSmartPhone.com.

via: CoolSmartPhone

Microsoft OneCare on track for June Release

It looks like Microsoft Windows OneCare will be available in June for an annual subscription price of $49.95. Currently in both a private and an open beta test, OneCare is an all-in-one internet security product that includes Antivirus, Firewall, and Antispyware. In addition, automated backup and other system tuning tools are included to help keep Microsoft Windows PCs running at their best.

via: CNET News.com