The JAMM store is putting on their very own “March Madness” event with this month’s Mobile Heist. It is the perfect time to go shopping with you tax return money and pick up some software, themes, or wallpapers that you have been craving.

As an example, BlackBerry users can save 50% on several of the top themes this weekend. There are also deals for Android, Symbian, and both flavors of Windows Mobile. Hit the links below for a direct way into the JAMM Store based on your platform.

From today through Sunday (March 26 – March 28) follow the links below to save:

- BlackBerry – Mobile Link – Desktop Link
- Android – Mobile Link – Desktop Link
- Symbian – Mobile Link – Desktop Link
- Windows Mobile (PocketPC) – Mobile Link – Desktop Link
- Windows Mobile (Smartphone) – Mobile Link – Desktop Link

So, head on over to the JAMM Store and take advantage of these great deals!

QOTD: Will the Over-Simplification of Today’s Technology Harm the Technologies of the Future?

A very scary thought has occurred to me.  With various operating systems, both desktop and handheld, moving towards simplification so that anyone can use them with little to no learning curve, are we doing a disservice to future technologies?

If no one has to get under the hood of the current operating system to tweak and fix it, to look at ways to make it better, what happens to growth?  If developers are left stagnating because they can’t truly get in and develop at the root level of the OS, what happens to tomorrow’s coders?

It scares me… how about you?

NO!  But they sure had us fooled with all of the restrictions they are putting on phone manufacturers and application developers.   It seems that they are taking the most cues from the Comm-iPhone.  Where, to even get apps that they don’t want you to have anymore, (and with no release of a reason) you have to hack your device.

Again I totally understand that they want a specific environment for basic users, but if by doing that doesn’t even allow apps to run on native code I think you have bigger problems.  Microsoft has spent a lot of time on development for this OS and are going to release an unfinished product, according even to them.

In my opinion they still need a lot of work if their OS isn’t even able to support native apps.  That’s how I see it, anyways, that their OS isn’t ABLE to SUPPORT native apps.  Nice try Microsoft, but we think it needs more work.

Am I a tad bit mean or are my findings accurate?

Do you think that not “allowing” native apps is a problem for Microsoft?

Today’s JAMM Store Deal of the Day is PhatNotes for Windows Mobile.  You can register PhatNotes for half of the regular price today, bring the total to under $20, making it quite a deal!  Head over to the JAMM Store (see here) today to check it out!

PhatNotes is an award-winning notes organizer for Microsoft Windows based Pocket PC, Microsoft Windows Mobile based Smartphone, and Desktop PC. You can create notes providing them with category, subject, creation and modification date, which helps to find required information quickly and easily. With PhatNotes you can search for specific text in a specific field and sort notes by category, date, or subject. You can protect notes from unauthorized access with a password and send e-mail messages directly from the Note Editor. Interface to the Contacts Database enables you to pick an e-mail address instead of typing it in. PhatNotes uses a compressed database, saving limited storage space. The intuitive, easy user interface lets you start using the program within minutes. PhatNotes Professional Edition allows synchronizing multiple notes databases between the desktop PC and mobile device.

Features:

• Organize your notes – by clicking on the column header buttons you can sort notes by creation date, modification date, subject and type.
• Compatibility – export and import notes as text files or transfer data to and from other applications using copy and paste.
• Efficiency – small size of the program and compressed database leaves plenty of storage space.
• Privacy – protect notes from unauthorized access with a password and 256-bit strong encryption algorithm.
• Simple User Interface – intuitive user interface allows you to start using PhatNotes right away.
• Email capability – send email messages directly from the Note Editor by clicking on the Send Mail button.
• Customizable Views – provides a wide range of modifiable look and feel settings.
• Advanced Filters and Text Search – allows a user to search one or more notes databases for a specific text or a regular expression, and filter by text, creation, modification, authoring dates, color, and priority.
• ActiveSync support – allows synchronization of multiple notes databases with the desktop PC.
• Microsoft Outlook Support – import or export Microsoft Outlook notes and email messages.
• Hierarchical Notes Organizer – allows a user to group notes by creation or modification dates, type, color, and priority.
• Hyperlinks between Notes – allows a user to create links and cross references notes.
• Context Analyzer – allows dialing phone numbers, opening URLs, and sending emails by clicking on a word that represents a phone number, a URL, or an email address.
• Comprehensive User’s Guide – 180 pages long PhatNotes User’s Guide is also available in HTML and PDF formats online.
• File Attachments – up to 32 files can be linked to a note.
• Database Tree View – optional database view provides easy access to multiple notes databases.
• Spell Checker – now includes PhatSpell Spell Checker with the English dictionary (dictionaries for other languages supported by PhatSpell can be downloaded from PhatWare web site free of charge).
• Today screen add-on – provides an easy access to PhatNotes application recently modified notes directly from the Pocket PC today screen.
• Authoring date – a new editable date field.
• Customizable Toolbars – choose from the selection of over 30 buttons.
• Text Formatting – text formatting is now supported on Pocket PCs.
• PhatPad support – PhatNotes provides direct access to PhatPad, which allows a user to attach handwritten notes in just two taps.

Minimum Requirements:

• Microsoft Windows Mobile based Pocket PC or Pocket PC Phone Edition
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003, 5.0 or 6.0.
• Approximately 1MB of free storage space for full installation (PhatNotes application can be installed on the flash memory card, however notes databases must remain in the main memory).
• Additional storage space is required for notes database, depending on the size and quantity of notes entered into notes databases. We recommend you to have at least 100K of free storage space for notes

Display Dimensions
240×240, 240×320, 320×240, 320×320, 480×480, 480×640, 480×800, 640×480, 800×480
Operating System
Pocket PC 2003, Pocket PC 2003 SE, WM5, WM6, WM6.1, WM6.5

Kobo eReader

The last time we heard from our friends at Kobo, they were busy partnering with Borders.  I, of course, said it was about time.  With Amazon and Barnes & Noble already having eReaders, Borders was in need of something to keep it relevant.  Now, we finally get to see the new eReader.   This device has one focus, and that is reading.  I know its hard to believe that there is actually a product trying to just do one thing very well, but here it is. 

The specs:  6″ e-ink display, USB connectivity, 1GB of memory, SD card slot, and Bluetooth to sync reading lists with smartphones.  Those are pretty standard features.  The lack of 3G is a bit disappointing.  The ability to buy books on the go is a big selling point for Amazon & B&N, and Kobo should not have left it out.  Navigation is simple with a blue D-pad and 4 buttons on the left-handside of the device.  The hardware is also a bit outside the norm.  It has a quilted rubber back to make it easier for the user to handle.  Plus, you can also get skins to dress up the front of your reader.  There is one that is made of book cloth, so you feel like you are holding a real book.  How retro!  Kobo also mentions that they support manga in their offerings.  Now, I would love to see comics, but I need color on my eReader.  I’m not sure if you would lose something with the lack of color in manga.  One huge bonus for the Kobo eReader, they include 100 ebooks already loaded on the reader.  Wow!!!  Plus, they say you will be able to store over 1000 ebooks at one time.  No official price has been released, but anticipated price is $150. 

Honestly, I think this is a good basic eReader.  You have a huge selection of books with Kobo’s services and Borders Books.  If you don’t need all of the fancy features, I think this is worth a look. 

It has been eReader mania for the last two years.  I am beginning to wonder if tablets, or the iPad, will make eReaders extinct.  Convergence is all the rage.  Why carry 3 devices, when you can carry just one?  I am very interested in knowing, for people who use computers for ebooks, does the glare bother your eyes?  For me, the e-ink would be the selling point.  However, as much of a gadget geek that I am, I still love the feel of a real book, but I love watching what will happen next in the eReaer battle. 

Via GottaBeMobile