So I Hear it's Raining in Seattle...

[Jason Dunn]

I'm just about to race to the airport to attend the Mobius Redmond 2003 event, an all-expenses paid trip courtesy of Microsoft (flight and hotel). Mobius is an event where Microsoft gathers together people from the top mobile devices Web sites around the world - PDA sites, mobile phone sites, etc. We've also had the occasional "real" journalist there as well. ;-) I'll be gone until late Friday night, so I probably won't be posting much (they usually keep us very busy), but I hope to do another series of Mobius summary articles as I've done in the past. I'll be learning about the latest and greatest Microsoft mobility efforts, getting to network and chat with my fellow mobile enthusiasts, and I'll get an opportunity to ask questions about where Windows Mobile is headed. And I usually get to see cool hardware that I haven't seen elsewhere. :D

[Jeff Rutledge]

Have fun Jason.

And if you find yourself able to smuggle out an XDAII-like device, we'll talk. :wink:

[apeguero]

Have fun Jason. I hope you'll have a lot of good news for us when you come back (or even sooner :D ) 0X

[MitzEclipse]

Yes, it is raining. :|

[Sven Johannsen]

And I usually get to see cool hardware that I haven't seen elsewhere. :D

Which you can't tell us about. :cry:

[Scott R]

Which you can't tell us about. :cry:No, I don't think Mobius involves any NDAs. You're thinking of the MS MVP shindig, whatever that was called.

The Mobius event typically involves a bag full of goodies. I suspect that this year's event will make a big whoop-de-doo about the new HP iPaq 4000-series and the just-announced Sierra Wireless VOQ (which won't even be out till another 9 months it seems). Hopefully there will be some pleasant surprises revealed, but given the fact that PPC 2003 was just released a few months back, I don't suspect a new version of the OS will be among the news.

Let's see...what other hardware will they see? Probably the new Viewsonic V36 PPC with a built-in camera. Am I missing any devices that are rumored to be right around the corner?

Scott

[michael]

The rain is scheduled to stop sometime around May.

[Foo Fighter]

Have a great time, Jason. Be sure to fill us in on all the activities when you get back (including pics). :D

[palmsolo]

It's too bad the weather turned on us this week because it has been an absolutely beautiful and rain-free summer. I must have "connected" with Jason Gordon when I met with him back in August because he invited me to Mobius Redmond as well. It probably helps that I only live just over an hour south of Seattle :mrgreen:

I can't wait to meet all the people I have emailed or chatted with in the PDA community and I am brought my Faster, Smarter Digital Video book for Jason to personally autograph :lol:

I also look forward to talking with Microsoft about the future of the Pocket PC and Smartphone. There has been a lot of talk lately on various sites about the way Palm has advanced and MS has stood still. I specifically would like to know if higher resolution displays, smaller display phone editions, or other non-standard design innovations are planned for the Pocket PC.

[CTSLICK]

Have a good time. Tell anybody who will listen that somebody needs to make a Sony UX-50 killer

[palmsolo]

I am actually taking my UX50 and I just received my extended battery pack so I should be able to go all day with it now :wink:

[dochall]

Have a good time.

but do have a conversation about the problems with alarms which are continuing in WM2003 (and make sure it's NOT covered by the NDA)

[Skoobouy]

Not to mention VGA.

In terms of the UX50 killer, well, despite it's larger size and lower resolution, one could argue that the upcoming h4355 competes directly with the UX50. Dual wireless, SD, and nearly $300 cheaper.

[CTSLICK]

...In terms of the UX50 killer, well, despite it's larger size and lower resolution, one could argue that the upcoming h4355 competes directly with the UX50. Dual wireless, SD, and nearly $300 cheaper.

The price of the HP4355 is MUCH more attractive and the feature set is equivalent. But as you say the form factor is not. I want the UX-50 form factor too. :)

[Jonathon Watkins]

Have fun - and remember the pics - lots of pictures! :way to go:

[Jonathon Watkins]

Jason - looking at my last post - would it be possible to move the subscriber badge besides the avatar? I've been noticing a lot more 'dead space' recently due to the extra badge height. It used to be that the signatures would be the part taking up the vertical space, but no longer it seems. Just a thought....

[maximus]

Well, it is only a 'visual' dead space anyway, not a 'physical storage' dead space ...

[David C]

Not to mention VGA.

Ditto.

I hope Microsoft is waking up to the reality that people have been anxiously waiting for higher resolution for a while now.

[David C]

oh, and also.

Can Microsoft release WMV9 for us loosers with Casio and other non-upgradable 2002 PPC still. I really want to support Windows Media, but I can't do that when my portable device can't even use the WMV9. It's not fair to hold out on people who can't just spend the $30 and get PPC203. I don't want to buy another pocket pc unless it significantly imporve in some way, like finally having 640x460 resolution.