You want to save electricity but the question remains, do I save more electricity keeping my computer on or turning it off at night? Well, it depends. On a recent article and study by Microsoft’s Monty Enbysk, the answer lies in counting watts. Putting the computer into sleep mode reduces your wattage use to a mere 7.3 watts which means lots of energy savings. By using sleep or hibernate, it can also equate to time savings of just waiting for about 20-30 seconds to wake the computer up to where it is ready to serve you again. Compare that to the 2-5 minute reboot time of a fully off computer. The one thing we must still remember is that even if the computer’s fully off, the power supply of the computer still draws energy for LAN functions which is about 2.3 watts…this same amount of wattage is true for hibernate as well. If you decided to yank the plug, then yes, the computer is truly off…no more power drain.

So, briefly a quick recap:

Sleep (with Monitor on) = 7.3 watts
Sleep (with Monitor off) = 3.1 watts
Hibernate = 2.3 watts
Off (plugged in) = 2.3 watts
Off (unplugged) = 0 watts

For a more detailed read as well as more interesting facts on computer energy savings, visit Microsoft’s website.

Technorati Tags: Tips and Tricks, Energy Savings, Tjchan, Just Another Mobile Monday, JAMM

Simply put, cool just got more cool.  With today’s announcement of SPB Software upgrading SPB Mobile Shell for Windows Mobile Professional to version 3.5, they’ve crammed enough new features and enhancements to make the update almost worthy of a full new version number.  To be honest, there HAVE been programs see a jump in version number for less of an update that SPB Software has put together for us.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been running the Windows Mobile UI replacement for the last couple of days on one of my phones, and while the new version has seen a bump up to 11 MB in size, SPB Mobile Shell 3.5 handles resources beautifully.  In never slows down nor consumes an inordinate amount of RAM.

Version 3.5 builds on and refines all of the major UI enhancements that version 3 brought to a handheld.  The update includes additional widgets ranging from enhanced clock and weather widgets, to Facebook and Twitter widgets, to the much longed for Tasks widget.  The previously existing widgets have all seen refinements in functionality and aesthetics, as has the whole system for managing them.

SPB Mobile Shell also adds refinements in the areas of the information screens it provides.  Additional weather information is available for the selected city.  An integrated image viewer has been included for the picture frame widget.  A 3-D message viewer has also been incorporated, allowing users to read and reply to email and SMS directly from the application.  Contacts now include optional support for direct dialing or sending of an SMS.

In addition, version 3.5 enhances the functionality found in the Professional and Lifestyle layouts.  Users can now disable one or the other, as well as control the number of virtual panes available to scroll between.  You can set either one, three or five panes to be used.  What’s really cool is to have five panes in the Professional layout and five panes in the Lifestyle layout, allowing the user to quickly navigate between different a total of ten different virtual screens, all not counting the other screens provided in the carousel!

In summary, SPB Software has put together a fantastic update with SPB Mobile Shell’s 3.5 revision.  All of the features they added are well thought out and integrated intuitively.  My only hopes for a future version is that they open the SDK for developing widgets.  I’d really like to have access to a couple that aren’t provided, including a button to turn off the device, a meter to monitor the free memory in storage and in a memory card as well as a few others that I’m sure will come to mind after finishing here.

DETAILS:

• You can download a free trial of SPB Mobile Shell 3.5 here.
• The full version is available for $29.95.
• Registered users of version 3.x can upgrade to version 3.5 free of charge.
• Additional information can be found here.

If you are speeding downhill on your faithful inline skates you will like this. Only thing you need is a GPS capable Windows Mobile and hdSpeedo.

Image courtesy of 1800PocketPC

This new freeware measures your speed using your Windows Mobile phone internal GPS and can be downloaded from FreewarePocketPC.net. You will only need the .NET Compact Framework 3.5 installed on your Windows Mobile.

For now the supported features are basic:

• configurable background colours;
• day and night colour schemes;
• works in portrait or landscape mode;

…more than enough to have fun tracking your speed with your phone.

However, please drive safe and… wear your helmet!

Samsung W880 AMOLED 12M is the new kid on the block showing its muscles in the 12 Mpixel cameraphone arena.

Image courtesy of Samsung via C|Net Asia

After the Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou) and the Samsung M8910 (Pixon12) the new Samsung’s cameraphone is the first of its kind to sport an optical 3x zoom.  The phone, which will ship in the Korean market early October, has really impressive specifications (via GSMArena):

Network: WCDMA (2100 MHz); GSM(900), DCS(1800 ), PCS(1900) Roaming
Display: 3.3” WVGA AMOLED 800 x 480 touchscreen, TouchWiz interface
Camera: 12MP with 3X Optical Zoom, 2X Digital Zoom, Xenon + Power Led Flash, Touch AF Tracking, Smart Auto, Beauty Shot, Macro Shot
Video: 720p@30fps
Format support: Video – MPEG4, H.263, H.264, DivX, XviD; Audio – MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC+e, WMA
TV receiver: T-DMB
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0 HS (micro USB)
Internal memory: 4GB
External memory: microSD (up to 32GB)
Battery: 1,100 mAh
Size: 115.8 x 56.9 x 16.3 mm

Image courtesy of Samsung via C|Net Asia

If you want start drooling on it while waiting for a release out of Korea, read the concluding remarks of the preview made by the guys at GSMArena:

The Samsung W880 AMOLED 12M didn’t need an awful long time to convince us that it’s the most complete photography tool among the mobile phones. Combining optical zoom with splendid image and video quality has certainly resulted in something way beyond the powers of its competitors.

It’s almost unquestionable that the handset will become immensely popular and get iconic status once it gets released outside Korea. The touch experience that Samsung are providing recently is pretty good and we don’t see any reason for the handset not to become a dream device for every self-respecting geek.

Combined with the proper pricing it might also cash in on its popularity as it will convince quite a lot of people to leave their point-and-shoot cameras at home next time they’re out and about.

There you will also find photos and videos of the AMOLED as well as photo and movie samples taken with the device.

While someone could lament the lack of the wireless connection, the major flaw I see in this new Samsung 12M is the lack of GPS, which makes perfect sense on the most powerful cameraphone to hit the market, and which will not allow you to geotag your photos.

INTRODUCTION

WebIS, author of some of my favorite Windows Mobile software, has just released an update to their flagship application, Pocket Informant.  The latest incarnation of Pocket Informant, version 9, provides support for the popular task management style Getting Things Done, or GTD for those of you more familiar with the strategy.

Pocket Informant 9 also provides a more finger friendly interface and gesture support in anticipation of Windows Mobile 6.5.  Additionally, PI 9 brings along some slick animations and some overall bug fixes.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been working with the Pocket Informant team during the version 9 beta testing period.  As a result, WebIS has been kind enough to provide free registration details.

During the review that follows, we’re going to take a bit of time to focus on the Getting Things Done implementation in Pocket Informant 9, as this is THE major new feature of the new release.  Go ahead and grab yourself a glass of iced tea and join me below as we start wrapping our heads around this update.

A (VERY) CONDENSED INTRODUCTION TO “GETTING THINGS DONE”

Prior to taking an extensive look into the Getting Things Done approach that has been implemented into Pocket Informant 9, I think that it would be wise for us to take a moment to condense what the concept of GTD is.  After all, not everyone may be familiar with the idea.  Next, I offer a disclaimer… I have read the book titled “Getting Things Done” and believe that I have a working knowledge.  I’m not however a rabid follower of the philosophy, so please don’t pounce if my understanding isn’t the greatest.

First, Getting Things Done is a strategy for more effectively managing time and attitude made popular by author David Allen in his book aptly titled, “Getting Things Done”.  The essential goal of the GTD philosophy, at least in my opinion, is that each person is to manage their tasks in a system that is organized and efficient, clearing the mind of the random “sticky notes” it has laying around.  Each bit of information is intended to be placed into the organizational system, with the intent of then having a mind that is clear to enjoy the present.  Tasks gets the response they need, nothing more (eliminating overreacting and worrying, hopefully) or less.

In doing so, tasks are entered rapidly into the system of organization.  They are caught in an “inbox”, patiently waiting to be reassigned with a context and action.  You are to enter the task or bit of information into your system as soon as you know about it, so that it doesn’t have to be carried around in your mind, either eating away at your harmony or waiting to be forgotten.

You can think of contexts as the many different hats that you wear through out the day, where you have different job focuses or actions that you may require your attention.  For example, I have a list of contexts including:  @ computer (JAMM), @ computer (personal), @ computer (work), @ email, @ call (cell phone), @ store, @ home, @ home (outside), @ work (NCA), etc, etc.  I could go on and on.. but to be honest with you, there are too many to list.  Each is a different physical area that I occupy each day or a mindset that I must entertain, where my tasks are focused.

Each task within a context is then assigned an action status.  These can be next actions that take a short amount of time, planning, delegated, someday / maybe, and so on.  At the end of the day, your mind is to be clear of information.  Ready to enjoy the moment.  Only focusing on what needs to be focused on as a priority when faced with a certain context.

IMPLEMENTATION OF GTD IN POCKET INFORMANT 9

Version 9 of Pocket Informant sets aim to be your GTD organizational system where you can rapidly capture your tasks and bits of information in the inbox, then reassign to contexts and actions as needed.  When adding a new task in Pocket Informant 9, you will find that there are now a few different options in the dialog.  Of these, you will most likely note “Starred”, “Project”, “Context” and “Action”.  The screenshot below illustrates these additions.

Failing to enter a context or action will place the task in the Inbox of Pocket Informant so that you can process it later.  As the screenshot below illustrates, an empty “inbox” is a good inbox.

When ready to process a task, you will need to assign a context and action.  This will remove the task from the Inbox, where it will be filtered by the Contexts you have defined.  When selecting this filter, you will find that you are presented with a full screen list of the different contexts.

NOTE:  You’ll find that when entering a task, the Context popup will provide you with an option to add new and edit existing contexts.

Tapping a context will then take you into the list of assigned tasks.  Here you have the standard grouping options available in Pocket Informant including priority, category and date to name a few, plus the ability to group by Actions.  This will place the tasks in collapsable lists according to the type of action that it will require.  You can easily expand the sections to see your Next Actions, your Active tasks, your Delegated tasks (a personal favorite of mine) and your Someday/Maybe tasks (another one I like).

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Pocket Informant 9 also incorporates a more finger friendly layout in many views, as well as gesture support.  These are both in anticipation of Windows Mobile 6.5 but should prove useful on some older model handhelds as well.  Rest assured, if you are a stylus user tried and true, you can toggle these options off to retain the original layout.

CONCLUSION

The Pocket Informant 9 update isn’t a huge update with a completely redesigned user interface.  You’re not going to find a million new features.  Instead, what you are going to find is a really useful layer of Getting Things Done (GTD) support implemented tightly into the already well thought out array of options that the guys at WebIS have put together for you.

Finally, is this an update for you?  Well, I would have to ask:  Do you want to have a more relaxed lifestyle where you never overreact and place thoughts and actions in their appropriate contexts?  If so, I highly recommend getting a copy of “Getting  Things Done” and a copy of Pocket Informant 9.

DETAILS

• The full version of Pocket Informant 9 costs:  $19.99
• Registered users of version 8.x can update from the here.
• You can download a trial version here.
• You can find additional information here.