Today’s JAMM Store Deal of the Day is SBSH Software’s Calendar Touch for Windows Mobile.  For today only, you can register Calendar Touch for half the regular price, dropping the grand total to only $12.47.  Hurry, though, as with the coming day this deal will expire.  You can get it here.

Turn your device into a powerful time management system. SBSH Calendar Touch is the ultimate time management application for your touch device. Packing the best tools and touch-based technologies to ensure a world-class time management solution! Features: Introducing the ultimate time management system! Enjoy innovative and compelling tools to manage your daily agenda using advanced views, category coloring and icons far beyond the ability of the default Pocket PC tools. Calendar Touch offers the best innovative tools to help you organize your daily agenda using your Windows Mobile Touch device. Easily control and track your busy agenda using Calendar Touch’s set of professional calendar views; Search view; Filters; Attendees notifications and much more! All tools designed especially for use with the latest Windows Mobile Touch devices! Gestures Calendar Touch offers cool gesture-navigation features designed to make navigation easier and more enjoyable! o Swipe your finger horizontally will step backwards/forward for the current view date-span (e.g. next/prev day on the Daily view, next/prev month on the Monthly view) o Swipe your finger upwards will jump to today’s date; downwards will bring the Touch-Date-Picker control to the screen o Swipe your finger horizontally without releasing your press from the screen brings the Touch-Date-Spinner, an animated date-picker that will continue to cycle until you release your finger from the screen. You can move forward/backwards in larger gaps faster and with a single finger swipe on the screen! Touch Featuring touch-oriented design making it easy to control most Calendar Touch view features with your finger Quickly navigate between different Calendar Touch views using the full screen touch buttons View Picker Touch date and time pickers, easily input date and time values with a full screen large selection dialog and much more! Powerful Calendar Astonishing look & feel to all Views with a professional Touch styling Automatically adopts current OS theme and colors, offering the best unified feel Switch between all different views with a single finger touch! Easily jump between the Daily, List, Weekly, Monthly, Tasks and Search views Tasks Management Filter tasks view based on task status: all, overdue, active, completed, progress limited, undated and additional criterias Greatly enhanced Tasks view to see more details than the default Tasks application offers Sort tasks by due/start date, priority, completion and subject. Define two sub-sort levels for the Tasks view list. Search Utility Search your agenda for specific appointment or task items using an innovative search tool Define Calendar Touch to show between 5-100 most relevant results Search within up to 2 years configured time frame! Get results in a time frame of one year ago until a year ahead Innovation Inside Designed to take advantage of all screen resolution devices Especially designed Monthly view for landscape devices displaying the preview pane on the side Innovative Pop out effect on Monthly and Weekly views for easier day tracking Advanced Filtering system for personally configured task and appointment view Calendar Touch supports all Windows Mobile screen resolutions available

Minimum Requirements: Windows Mobile 5 or 6 device Display Dimensions 240×240, 240×320, 240×400, 320×240, 320×320, 400×240, 480×480, 480×640, 480×800, 640×480, 800×480 Operating System WM5, WM6, WM6.1, WM6.5

I am always happy when developers release truly original game concepts for our mobile devices, and that is exactly what Concrete Software (and Mobigloo) seems to have found with their latest release Abyss.  While it has elements which may remind us of games we have seen before, the concept behind this one appears to be unlike anything I have played before.  Abyss is one of those puzzle games which sounds easy enough, but will challenge you for hours.  Just slide the pieces in order to stop your pearls from dropping into the abyss.  Read on for the full press release.

Concrete Software, Inc.®, a leader in innovative mobile content, announced today the release of Abyss for Android and Windows Mobile devices.  Abyss is an original action puzzle game that challenges you to rearrange colored pieces by sliding them horizontally and vertically to create a path for your pearls so they do not fall into the abyss of the ocean. It was recently named the grand prize winner of the Verizon Wireless “Apply Your Ideas” contest for the BlackBerry smartphone version done by Mobigloo.

Abyss has a simple concept, for ease of play, but still tests your strategy and problem solving skills by increasing the difficulty of each level as you progress.  This game is for all players, especially for those who enjoy challenging puzzles and strategy games.  A unique feature to this game is the unlimited number of levels- the game continues to increase in difficulty by adding more pearls.  It also randomly generates each game, so you will never get the same game. Moreover, Abyss utilizes touchscreen and accelerometer capabilities (accelerometer for Android only) for innovative and fun game play.

Abyss is expected to gain much attention from the Android and Windows Mobile communities.  The full and trial versions are available through the Android Market as well as other channels.

Well maybe, if they decide it is worth something.  If Sprint does you will be able to use it towards a phone or accessories.

Apparently they are copying some of the practices from across the pond.  Maybe all of us in the mobile world should take some more cues from them.

All 25,000 Sprint stores in the United States will start kicking this campaign off soon, hoping to achieve a wireless reuse and recycle rate of 90 percent by 2017.

One question lingers in my mind, though.  They of course are going to gain market share if no other US carrier adopts a similar plan.  But are they also after the value of precious metals that are found in cell phones?

According to uk.reuters.com, a ton of ore from a gold mine produces just 5 grams (0.18 ounce) of gold on average, whereas a ton of discarded mobile phones can yield 150 grams (5.3 ounce) or more.

My calculations led me to believe that it wouldn’t take long for 25,000 stores to come up with a ton of tin, giving them an extra $5,000 and up in the time that it takes to collect a ton.  I can’t imagine that it would take that long.

Is Sprint catching on to the lazy gold rush as well?  Do you think they will gain a noticeable market share before other carriers catch on? How much gold have you thrown away throughout two years?

[geek.com]

As I mentioned last night (see here for my rant), about this yesterday morning I had to do some of my consulting work while my Toshiba laptop was tethered to my HTC Touch Pro.  While I was able to get some of my work done, I’d hate to have to go through a full day’s work or internet usage in this way.

And so, my question to you:  Do you tether to your phone regularly?  If so, how often and for what purpose?  Hit the comments below and let us know.

Case-Mate has been known to make some pretty nice accessories for iPhones and iPod Touches, so I was pretty excited to learn that earlier today they announced a plethora of cases and a stand for the iPad.  As I have written in this space, I preordered an iPad, which I am anxious to receive soon…though not soon enough.  Unfortunately, it looks like the case I ordered could be delayed…until May, if the rumors are true.  The thought of running around with an unprotected iPad, well that just seems crazy, so I am pretty excited to give some of these awesome looking cases a try (though it is not clear exactly when they will be available).  In addition, Case-Mate also had some news for Blackberry lovers today at CTIA as well.  Read on for the full announcement.

Case-mate, a designer of innovative accessories for mobile devices, today announced seven new iPad accessories and the latest version of its extremely popular online personalization tool, I Make My Case, which gives consumers the ability to collaborate with trendsetting global artists to create one-of-a kind covers, now for the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 and BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520 smartphones. 

“Case-mate is committed to giving consumers fashion-forward accessories that support their personal style,” said Shashi Reddy, founder and CEO of case-mate. “We believe that these eight products add unique personality to our growing array of accessories already on the market and give iPad and BlackBerry users new ways to protect their devices in style.”

I Make My Case

First announced at CES 2010, ‘I Make My Case’ is now available for BlackBerry® smartphones. ‘I Make My Case’ is the first web site of its kind in the mobile accessories space that allows users to create their own original composition by re-mixing the designs of internationally-renowned graphic artists, including Joshua Davis, Deanne Cheuk, Thomas Hooper, Matt Moore, Hannah Stouffer, Ray Frenden, Anthony Yankovic, Nigel Dennis, Shadow Chen, Chuck Anderson and more. Consumers who want the end-result without the effort can purchase a pre-designed case from the site as well.

Designed for true customization, case-mate’s ‘I Make My Case’ allows users to choose all elements of their case including background color, unique effects and one-of-a-kind illustrations. Using a state-of-the-art 3D sublimation printing process that embeds ink directly into the case, case-mate ensures that the cases will not scratch or abrade with daily use. 

Beginning March 23^rd, consumers can create their own case for select BlackBerry smartphones at www.imakemycase.com/blackberry. Pre-designed cases will be available for $34.99 and customized made-to-order cases will be available for $39.99 per case. Finished cases will begin shipping in mid-April.

iPad Portfolio

With seven new case styles for the iPad, case-mate offers something for everyone:

• I Make My Case: Offering the ultimate in personalization and protection, consumers can remix art from world-renowned artists to create a completely unique, one-of-a-kind case for their iPad.
• Tough: The Hybrid Tough case for the iPad uses the protective power of dual layers. A form-fitting silicone skin surrounds the iPad completely, absorbing each impact or hard knock. Wrapped around the skin is an ABS plastic shell for complete security, adding another level of protection – and making for a firm grip.
• Gelli: The Gelli adds a splash of color while keeping the iPad safe with a fully protective, cutting-edge flexible thermoplastic material. The Gelli is soft, light and sports a unique pattern to guarantee the iPad will stand out. 
• Felt Folio: Sporting a side-opening and leather accents, the Felt Folio includes light storage with additional pockets and keeps the iPad secure with a magnetic strap while on the go.
• Leather Commuter: This executive folio made of premium tan leather offers magnetic locks embedded into the case for a sleek protective fit.
• Nylon Folio: Created out of a black ballistic nylon material, this splash-resistant folio is the perfect basic for a minimalistic mindset.
• Stand: An innovative stand for the iPad, the stand offers both landscape and portrait modes for viewing. Its unique design collapses and snaps together for easy storage when not in use.

The portfolio of iPad accessories will be available in Q2 and will range in price from $20.00 – $80.00.  All products will be available at www.case-mate.com.