Smartphony.net

As an update to our earlier story we've been digging around for news of this handset. On a recent visit to an Orange store there were hardly handsets from the SPV range - just the M3100 and the M600. So where are the new SPV's ? Well, Jason has just sent an email to say...

"I just went into my local Orange shop to look at the C700 wich was supposed to launch on the 29th October. There were no brochures at all and after queueing I was told "Orange aren't going to sell that handset now Sir - it only had 15 mins battery life"!!"

Hmm.. Does anyone have any gossip? We'd love to know what's happening with this handset. Add your comments below!

As we mentioned earlier in our Virgin Mobile Lobster 700TV review, TV channel "ITN News" was showing up on the Lobster handset but was testing at the time. Now, however, Virgin Mobile have added the 24 hour news channel officially giving you all the latest current affairs and news straight to your Virgin Smartphone.

The Virgin Lobster receives BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4, E4 and ITN News plus up to 50 DAB digital radio stations. Currently Channel 4 is a "made-for-mobile" channel however they're expecting a simulcast soon.

Links - Virgin Mobile Lobster 700TV review - Virgin Mobile

Andy has justed mailed in about the new Windows Media Player 11 which is now available to download. He's used it on his Orange SPV c600 and ActiveSync 4.2. He says..

"When I run Windows Media Player now I can syncronise it to my media files just like you can with an iPod/iTunes. The device itself and the memory card show up as different devices and you can choose where you want to upload music to. Pretty awesome."

The new player brings a deeply integrated music library for both online and offline content, a new and improved interface, better connectivity and more. Give it a try now with your Windows Mobile device and let us know how you got on by commenting below!

Incidentally, it appears that the Orange SPV C600 has started to vanish from the majority of Orange shops, so perhaps the way is being made clear for the C700 ?

Links - Windows Media Player 11 - ActiveSync 4.2

Edit - It also looks sweet in your web browser - here's what it looks like whilst listening to UK1Music.com

Last night my mate found this old picture of me from a trip to Ibiza years back. I've got mental hair, I look about 12 years old and I'm thin. Sure, it's an embarrassing photo but I figured I'd post it to promote a new section in the forum.

Most Windows Mobile devices have an in-built camera so I decided that it'd be worth setting up an area for your favourite shots on our forum here. Get posting, even if it's embarrassing images like this one! :)

Oh, and don't forget that you can also use SplashBlog to upload images directly from your handset to your shared photo blog!

Links - Your Phone Photos - Your shared photo blog

It's dark, the clocks have just gone back (at least here in the UK) and my "man flu" has kicked in again. Winter... it's rubbish isn't it ? Still, there's a new game out called "3D Constructo Combat" with some great 3D graphics and the ability to play head-to-head over Bluetooth or take on computer players unlocking up to 10 maps!

Build your buildings on a variety of landscapes and prevent opponents from doing the same. Using your grapple you'll need to grab building parts and weapons then place them corrrectly whilst firing weapons at your enemies or their buildings.

Link - 3D Constructo Combat (Smartphone - £7.89 | Pocket PC - £10.53)

Last week Smartphone and Pocket PC magazine announced the winners of the annual Best Software Awards in 114 (!) categories. Plus, this week we note some freeware from Microsoft as well as free online games....

Hello hello, what's this in the o2 Business store? Why it's the o2 XDA Graphite we saw just the other day from ASUSTek. Wait a minute though, o2 UK appear to be calling it the IQ.

We're confused. Isn't this the o2 XDA IQ ? We saw the "other" IQ back in March so perhaps this is an "all new" XDA IQ for the UK market ? Either way, this IQ comes with Quad Band, 1.3 Megapixel Camera and apparently built in WiFi. Hmm.. I think someone may have published the wrong picture on the o2 website because the o2 Graphite we saw didn't have WiFi.

Link - o2 UK Business Store
Credit - Greg Middleton

UPDATE - It looks like someone put the wrong image onto the o2 website - this picture (right) is indeed the o2 XDA Graphite and it had been placed next to the IQ information by mistake. Hmm.. looks like the o2 XDA Graphite should be arriving soon then! :)

Earlier we showed you shots of what will become Windows Mobile 6.0 for the Pocket PC. Currently codenamed "Crossbow" the Smartphone screenshots have now appeared at GPSPassion.com. Sure, it's got the same Vista shine with newly polished homescreen and icons, but it also has something else, it's got the Office Mobile suite. Word Mobile, Excel Mobile and Powerpoint Mobile appear for the first time on the Smartphone and much to the relief of many who've been asking, "Why can't I open Office Documents?" to us here at Coolsmartphone.com.

Link - GPSPassion.com

The winners and finalists of the 2006 Sixth Annual Best Software Awards conducted by Smartphone and Pocket PC magazine have been announced. Ninety members of the magazine's Board of Experts judged 675 Windows Mobile products in 114 Pocket PC and Smartphone categories to determine finalists and winners....

I'd like to point you to some free dictionaries, some free eBooks that help you use your device, and news about updates of some of the top free software and services for Windows Mobile....