The latest version of the Opera Mobile web browser has been released for Windows Mobile devices. 

Version 10.3 adds support for non-touchscreen Windows Mobile smartphones (WM Standard), Flash Lite 3.1 support, Opera bookmark sync (if you happen to use Opera on your PC or Mac), automatic touch-to-dial phone number linking, and general fixes.

Visit the Opera Mobile web site for more information, or to download the new browser directly to your Windows Phone, go to m.opera.com from your smartphone’s web browser.

From the Google Nexus One Blog:

Starting today, Nexus One users will begin to receive an over-the-air software update on their phones. This update provides some great new features, and fixes a few problems that some users might have experienced, including:
Google Goggles: this mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web
Google Maps: the Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:

• Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com – access your favorite places from your phone or computer
• Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history – makes it easy to search for places you’ve searched for before
• Night mode in Google Maps Navigation – automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving

Pinch-to-zoom functionality: devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone’s Browser, Gallery and Maps applications

3G connectivity: we will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones

In order to access the update, you will receive a message on your phone’s notification bar. Just download the update, wait for it to install, and you should be all set. This update will be rolled out gradually to phones…

T-Mobile has released – a bit earlier than expected – the Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional OS upgrade for their version of the HTC Touch Pro 2 Windows Phone.

To get the update, click this link, enter your Touch Pro 2’s IEMI, download the installer and you’re good to go.  Just remember: Windows Mobile OS updates wipe data on the device and return it to factory specs condition. 

Be sure you’re synced, backed-up, etc., etc.

Some Verizon Wireless Motorola Droid users are reporting that they’re now seeing an Android OS update available for their smartphone.  The AP:ESD56/BP:C_01.3E.01P update contains the following updates and fixes:

- OS stability is improved.
- Battery life is improved.
- Camera auto focus functionality is improved, and time between shots is reduced.
- Enhancements for three-way calling.
- Audio for incoming calls is improved.
- When receiving a call on call waiting, the speakerphone now remains on.
- Bluetooth functionality is improved; background echo is eliminated.
- Improved Bluetooth phone book transfer of contacts to in-vehicle Bluetooth solutions.
- Users can now receive SMS and MMS messages after an EMS message is received.
- SMS and MMS may now be sent to seven-digit addresses.
- Google contact merging has been updated to accommodate seven-digit numbers.
- Visual Voice Mail notices now arrive instantaneously.
- The corporate calendar widget user interface is updated.

As of this posting, we have not yet been able to upgrade our Droid.  To check if the update is available for your Droid, go to Settings > About phone > System updates.

UPDATE: According to BGR, Verizon is putting the OS update out in stages.  If you haven’t yet received the update, you’ll have to wait a couple of days for the next update cycle.  Read more…

Resource: Verizon Wireless Droid Update Page

Thanks, Rob!

It’s been more than a year since the first release of Opera Mobile 9.5 beta was made available for Windows Mobile.  In that time the mobile browser has been a favorite of many Windows smartphone users and has received several important updates. 

But today there’s an entirely new version available.

The just-released Opera Mobile 10 Beta promises faster browsing, a more desktop-like interface, true tabbed browsing, auto-completion, an updated password manager, adaptive zoom, and more.  Version 10 is compatible with Windows Mobile 5, 6 and 6.5 touchscreen devices.

You can download and install Opera Mobile 10 Beta with your PC (via ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center), or for direct-to-device download just point your Windows Smartphone’s browser to m.opera.com/mobile.

Check out the video below for a quick walkthrough.

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The first Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade for a WM6.1 smartphone has been released.  The upgrade is for AT&T’s Samsung Jack SGH-i637 and is available for download free of charge.

The installer flashes the ROM of the Jack with the new OS, so you’ll need to backup your data before the upgrade.  Also, the update software is only recommended for 32-bit versions of Windows XP or Vista, so if you’ve already made the move to Windows 7, try to find another system to perform the upgrade.

Click the link below to find out more about the upgrade.

Download the Samsung Jack Windows Mobile 6.5 Upgrade

Today is the day Windows users have been waiting for – after a year of testing and tweaking, Windows 7 has finally arrived.  Hailed by many as the best version of Windows ever released, Windows 7 provides an excellent user experience even Apple lovers have praised.

Of course, the easiest way to get Windows 7 is to purchase a PC with the new OS pre-installed. Beginning today, it’ll be difficult to find a new PC that doesn’t run Windows 7.  But easiest doesn’t mean cheapest, so a new PC is also your most expensive option. For a great list of Windows 7 PC deals, head over to Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite blog.

If you have a PC or multiple PCs you want to upgrade to Windows 7, that’s an option for you.  Microsoft has made upgrades editions of all version of Windows 7 available.  How you can upgrade (clean install, in-place upgrade, etc.) depends on what version of Windows you’re currently running; check out this article and chart for clarification.  Windows XP and Vista users can upgrade to Windows 7 with upgrade media, which is about half the price of full versions of Win7.

Windows 7 Home Premium will be the upgrade most home users (and even a fair amount of business users) will want.  If you already have XP or Vista and want to upgrade to Win7, you can grab the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $119.  But the best upgrade deal is on the Upgrade Family Pack, which sells for $150.  With the Upgrade Pack, you can upgrade three PCs for just $30 more than upgrading one.  This is a great deal if you have multiple PCs, $50 per computer.

Keep in mind that “upgrade” doesn’t necessarily mean an in-place, over-write everything that’s there and keep my files and software in tact upgrade.  This is an option for some users (again, check the chart) and not for others.  Upgrade can also mean a clean installation, which we highly recommend.  It’s more work, but it keeps your computer running smoothly and starts fresh with the new OS.  If you want to do a clean install, Windows 7 includes an Easy Transfer app on the installation disk that’ll help you backup and move your files to a clean install of Win7.

So, what about Windows Mobile? Windows 7 hasn’t changed much with respect to Windows Phones, so you’ll still sync via Windows Mobile Device Center.

If you have a Windows Mobile 6.1 Smartphone (touchscreen or non-touchscreen) bought new in the six months or so, there may just be a Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade in your future. 

Microsoft has released a list of eight WM6.1 smartphone which are not only Windows Mobile 6.5 ready, but already have upgrades in the works.  These phones are the T-Mobile Dash 3G, the Samsung Omnia, Jack and Epix, the HTC Ozone, Snap, and Touch Pro2, and the Pharos Traveler 137. 

There’s no word yet on when upgrades will be made available for each device, but we hope it will be a matter of days or weeks rather than months.  We’ll post any upgrade information made available on each device’s information page (which you can reach by clicking the links above).  You can also check Microsoft’s 6.1-to-6.5 update page here.

Spb Mobile Shell is a very popular Today Screen UI replacement for Windows Mobile Professional (touchscreen) smartphones.  This week, Spb Software released version 3.5 of the software.

Mobile Shell 3.5 includes new widgets for Facebook and Twitter, a new email and SMS viewer, accelerometer support for the 3D carousel, updated weather functionality and more.

Other features of Mobile Shell include multi-page home screen, Facebook contacts integration, navigation gestures, photo speed dial, an app launcher, Internet tools and more.

Download Mobile Shell 3.5 Trial

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A new ROM update has been posted for the 2008 Sprint HTC Touch Pro Windows Mobile Professional Smartphone.  The update contains the following software components:

1)TouchFlo 3D updated to improve speed and stability

2)Dialer application enhanced to improve the handling of incoming calls

3) Resolves an issue using the “r” and “w” keys on the virtual keypad

4) Improves contact searching performance

5) Includes a variety of minor bug fixes

Download Sprint HTC Touch Pro 9-25-09 ROM Update