Mobile Computing News, Reviews & Tips

PDA News: Microsoft Upgrades Windows Mobile

Here are some choice details about the upcoming Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system for handhelds and smart phones, from PC World's Yardena Arar. This summer, Dell and Hewlett-Packard will offer the OS upgrade to users of some Windows Mobile 2003 devices (no price yet). You'll be able to edit Word documents with graphics on a handheld, without throwing the original document's formatting out of whack. Want more? Read "Microsoft Upgrades Windows for Handhelds."

Wireless News: Mobile Wi-Fi on United

By mid or late 2006, you'll be able to use Wi-Fi on domestic United flights. The airline is the first U.S. carrier to receive Federal Aviation Administration approval to install the necessary equipment for delivering wireless Internet access to passengers.

Gadget Review: Sony's Wide-Screen Digital Camcorder

I've often wanted to bring a digital camcorder along on personal trips. Business travelers might find one useful, too. For instance, you could video products on display at a trade show (with permission, of course) to show colleagues back home. But many digital camcorders are a bit too big for easy portability. And the really tiny ones usually don't deliver good quality.

Sony's DCR-HC42 MiniDV Handycam is an exception. The tape-based digital camcorder is small and light, and yet I've been impressed with its video quality (I bought one from Best Buy in May). I love its 2.7-inch wide-screen format LCD. And PC World writer Richard Baguley gives the camcorder 4 out of 5 stars in his review. For current pricing, go to the PC World Product Finder.

Gadget News: One Million Songs at Half the Cost

For $7 a month, you can load up your portable music player with tunes from the new Yahoo Music Unlimited service. That's about half what Napster To Go and Rhapsody To Go charge. PC World's Eric Dahl encountered some problems with a beta version of Yahoo's offering. Still, if Yahoo works out the kinks and keeps prices low, this could be the go-to service for downloading tunes.

Notebook News: Mac OS and Windows on the Same PowerBook?

Crystal-ball gazing is always tricky, but here goes. Next year, you may be able to boot both Windows XP and the Mac OS on the same Apple notebook or desktop PC. Apple's decision to use Intel chips in future Macs makes this sci-fi scenario a possibility. And supposedly, Steve Jobs isn't interested in preventing Intel-inside Macs from running the Windows OS in native mode. (You can run Windows on Macs in an emulation program, but it's slow.) For more potentially idle speculation, read "Intel-Based Macs May Run Windows."

Wireless Soap Box: Grace's Top 10 Wish List

What's wrong with mobile phones and wireless service? At least ten things, says PC World "Dialed In" columnist Grace Aquino. Number ten on her list is cell phone design. Why can't they all use a standard AC adapter, for instance? As for number one, it may not be what you think.

Suggestion Box

Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it. However, I regret that I'm unable to respond to tech-support questions, due to the volume of e-mail I receive.

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