After Skype - its Google

Skype created a revolution in IP telephony when it came up with Skype Messenger. This was followed by MSN adding up Voice to its Messeging service. Next it was time for Yahoo to add IPTelephony to its messenger (which shipped with Yahoo 7 ).

Having said that, its now the turn of Gmail to launch its Messenger Service. Gmail announced: Starting today, Google's new service, Google Talk, will be available to users. The instant-messaging product will allow Internet users to exchange conventional instant text messages, which travel faster than email.The service also will allow users with headsets on their PCs to have conversations with other people who have similar PC setups.

Having installed it - my first chats where with Deepak and Anando, I must say - its really better than Skype. Personally speaking, its also light on system resources. So go ahead and download Google Talk and start "Talking" rather than chatting.

File Explorer for Magneto Smartphone

Having used a Windows Mobile 2003 Smartphone for over three months, it was now the time to use a "flashed" Magneto (Windows Mobile 2005)smartphone. Having done all the testing and R&D on the OS, there was one thing which I terribly missed in Magneto. Rather I missed two things.

1. Magneto doesnt support MMS ( Wondering what with I do with the Cam in the phone now)
2. There is no File Explorer (becomes diffcult to browse though the contents of the storage card).

Going back home, I though I should not wait for anything and write an app for FileExplorer. With very little experience in writing code (I am not a developer, I am more into System Administration), and ofcouse with the help of Andy Wigley's book, ".NET Compact Framework Core Reference" (MS Press), which contains lots of valuable Compact Framework information (it doesn't cover the SmartPhone form factor in depth), I started writing the app. While going through lots of articles, I also came across an article by Wei-Meng Lee, which I must say - helped me a lot in writing the app. Here is the complete code which I have written. Do give me your feedback and comments on how to improve my code and the performance of the Explorer.

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Collections;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
using System.IO;
namespace Explorer
{

/// Summary description for Tree.
public class Tree : System.Windows.Forms.Form
{
const int icoOpen = 0;
const int icoClose = 1;
const int icoFile = 2;
bool copy = true; // whether it is a copy operation
string fileName; // filename of file to be copied or cut
string pathName; // full pathname of file to be copied or cut

private TreeView treeView1;
private MenuItem menuItem1;
private MenuItem menuItem2;
private MenuItem menuItem3;
private MenuItem menuItem4;
private MenuItem menuItem5;
private MenuItem mnuPaste;
private ImageList imageList2;

public event EventHandler NotifyParent;

protected void OnNotifyParent()
{
if (NotifyParent != null) NotifyParent(this.pathName , EventArgs.Empty);
}

/// Main menu for the form.
private System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu mainMenu1;

public Tree()
{
InitializeComponent();
}

/// Clean up resources

protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
base.Dispose(disposing);
}

#region Windows Form Designer generated code

/// Required method for Designer support - do not modify the contents of this method with the code editor.

private void InitializeComponent()
{
System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager resources = new System.ComponentModel.ComponentResourceManager(typeof(Tree));
this.mainMenu1 = new System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu();
this.menuItem1 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem2 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem3 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem4 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem5 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.mnuPaste = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.treeView1 = new System.Windows.Forms.TreeView();
this.imageList2 = new System.Windows.Forms.ImageList();

// mainMenu1
this.mainMenu1.MenuItems.Add(this.menuItem1);
this.mainMenu1.MenuItems.Add(this.menuItem2);

// menuItem1
this.menuItem1.Text = "Exit";
this.menuItem1.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuItem1_Click);

// menuItem2
this.menuItem2.MenuItems.Add(this.menuItem3);
this.menuItem2.MenuItems.Add(this.menuItem4);
this.menuItem2.MenuItems.Add(this.menuItem5);
this.menuItem2.MenuItems.Add(this.mnuPaste);
this.menuItem2.Text = "File";
this.menuItem2.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuItem2_Click);

// menuItem3
this.menuItem3.Text = "Copy";
this.menuItem3.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.mnuCopy_Click);

// menuItem4
this.menuItem4.Text = "Cut";
this.menuItem4.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuCut_Click);

// menuItem5
this.menuItem5.Text = "Delete";
this.menuItem5.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.mnuDelete_Click);

// mnuPaste
this.mnuPaste.Text = "Paste";
this.mnuPaste.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.mnuPaste_Click);


// treeView1
this.treeView1.ImageIndex = 0;
this.treeView1.ImageList = this.imageList2;
this.treeView1.Indent = 20;
this.treeView1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 0);
this.treeView1.SelectedImageIndex = 0;
this.treeView1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(176, 177);
this.treeView1.BeforeExpand += new System.Windows.Forms.TreeViewCancelEventHandler(this.treeView1_BeforeExpand);
this.treeView1.AfterSelect += new System.Windows.Forms.TreeViewEventHandler(this.treeView1_AfterSelect);
this.imageList2.Images.Clear();
this.imageList2.Images.Add(((System.Drawing.Image)(resources.GetObject("resource"))));
this.imageList2.Images.Add(((System.Drawing.Image)(resources.GetObject("resource1"))));
this.imageList2.Images.Add(((System.Drawing.Image)(resources.GetObject("resource2"))));


// Tree
this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(176, 180);
this.Controls.Add(this.treeView1);
this.Menu = this.mainMenu1;
this.Text = "Explorer";
this.Closing += new System.ComponentModel.CancelEventHandler(this.Tree_Closing);
this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.Tree_Load);

}

#endregion

public string stripExtraSlash(string str)
{
string path =String.Empty;
if ( str.Length > 1 && str.StartsWith(@"\"))
{
path = str.Substring( 2, str.Length - 2);
}
else
{
path = str;
}
return path;
}

private void displayChildNodes (System.Windows.Forms.TreeNode parentNode )
{
DirectoryInfo FS = new DirectoryInfo(stripExtraSlash (parentNode.FullPath));


try {
foreach (DirectoryInfo dirInfo in FS.GetDirectories() )
{
//' ?-create a new node ?-
TreeNode node = new TreeNode();
node.Text = dirInfo.Name;
node.ImageIndex = icoClose;
node.SelectedImageIndex = icoOpen;
parentNode.Nodes.Add(node);
// ?-add the dummy node?-
node.Nodes.Add("");
}
}
catch (Exception err)
{
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(err.Message);
}

try {
foreach (FileInfo fileInfo in FS.GetFiles() )
{
// create a new node to be added
TreeNode node = new TreeNode();
node.Text = fileInfo.Name;
node.ImageIndex = icoFile;
node.SelectedImageIndex = icoFile;
parentNode.Nodes.Add(node);
}
}
catch( Exception err)
{
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(err.Message);
}
}


private void Tree_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

TreeNode node=new TreeNode();
try
{
node.ImageIndex = icoClose;
node.SelectedImageIndex = icoOpen;
node.Text = @"\";
treeView1.Nodes.Add(node);

node.Nodes.Add("");
treeView1.SelectedNode = node;
}
catch (Exception err)
{
}
}

private void treeView1_BeforeExpand(object sender, TreeViewCancelEventArgs e)
{

if( e.Node.ImageIndex == icoFile) return;

// remove the dummy node and display the subdirectories and files
try {
e.Node.Nodes.Clear(); // clears all the nodes and...
displayChildNodes(e.Node); // create the nodes again
}
catch(Exception err )
{
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(err.Message);
}


if (e.Node.GetNodeCount(false) > 0) {
e.Node.ImageIndex = icoClose;
e.Node.SelectedImageIndex = icoOpen;
}

}

private void menuItem2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

}
private void mnuCopy_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{

// copy
pathName = stripExtraSlash(treeView1.SelectedNode.FullPath);
fileName = treeView1.SelectedNode.Text;
copy = true;
mnuPaste.Enabled = true;
}

private void menuCut_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
pathName = stripExtraSlash(treeView1.SelectedNode.FullPath);
fileName = treeView1.SelectedNode.Text;
copy = false;
mnuPaste.Enabled = true;
treeView1.SelectedNode.Remove();
}

private void mnuPaste_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
File.Copy(pathName, stripExtraSlash(treeView1.SelectedNode.FullPath) + @"\" + fileName, true);
System.Windows.Forms.TreeNode node = new System.Windows.Forms.TreeNode();
node.Text = fileName;
node.ImageIndex = icoFile;
node.SelectedImageIndex = icoFile;
treeView1.SelectedNode.Nodes.Add(node);

if (!copy){
File.Delete(pathName);
}
mnuPaste.Enabled = false;
}

private void mnuDelete_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
File.Delete(stripExtraSlash(treeView1.SelectedNode.FullPath));
treeView1.SelectedNode.Remove();
}

private void menuItem1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
this.Close();
}

private void Tree_Closing(object sender, System.ComponentModel.CancelEventArgs e)
{
this.OnNotifyParent();
}

private void treeView1_AfterSelect(object sender, TreeViewEventArgs e)
{
this.pathName = stripExtraSlash(treeView1.SelectedNode.FullPath);
}
}
}


private void menuItem2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Explorer.Tree exp = new Explorer.Tree();
exp.NotifyParent += new EventHandler(tree_NotifyParent);
exp.Show();
}

private void tree_NotifyParent(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
this.textBox1.Text= sender.ToString();
if (this.textBox1.Text != String.Empty)
{
System.Drawing.Bitmap bmp = new Bitmap(this.textBox1.Text);
this.pictureBox1.Image = bmp;
this.pictureBox1.Show();
}
}

AudioVox SMT 5600

Three months since this AudioVox is with me. In between had a iMate as well, but then again a SmartPhone is a SmartPhone.

My impressions within the first 5-minutes of holding the SMT5600 are Wow! It's small, light weight, and has a beautiful large 2.2" color screen. Material quality seems excellent, and speed of navigating through menus and apps is very fast. The sound quality and signal clarity is good but I need to get familiar with the volume and position to my ear as well as the speakerphone levels and proximity.

The Audiovox SMT 5600 weights approx 75 grams and is designed to combine many of the features commonly seen in larger, more expensive devices into a small, compact form factor, making this an ideal device for those customers looking for a powerful wireless experience without the bulk. Looking over the SMT5600 you first notice the slim attractive design and large screen. Even the included leather belt clip carrying case is a very clean design with its magnetic button flap. The screen top is made of a soft material that keys might easily gouge, but for viewing clarity is probably negligible due to brightness and resolution. There is a 2.5 mm headset socket on the bottom edge (a stereo set of ear buds with mic and volume dial are provided), along with a standardized 5-pin mini-USB port for synchronizing AND power/charging. (Also provided) One side holds a small, dedicated camera button and the loudspeaker port, while the other side features a volume rocker.

In terms of feel, the keys are hard silver plastic, domed, with a clicky tactile feedback that's pleasant to use. Then there is the much discussed Joystick/rocker control; I agree with others that the rocker design is awesome for up/down, left/right, but clicking enter (press down) is an exercise in surgery and can lead to selecting choices you didn’t intend.Probably not good for games and might not be easy for big fingers.

There is a user friendly albeit limited VGA camera that encodes JPEG Photos-(640x480 320x240 160x120 up to 4x zoom) also phone size Photo ID-(176x180) as well as 2x Zoom Video and MMS Video-(both 176x144 or 128x96). There is a 'mini' SD Card slot for more storage room. It's hard to miss a photo op as you can press the dedicated camera button on the side to instantly access the camera mode you last used.You can assign different photos and ring tones to individual contacts or whole groups. All you do to add more sounds or pictures is drag and drop the files to the appropriate folders using the Explore program in Windows.


Connecting to a PC couldn’t be easier using the internal Windows Mobile Smartphone software 2nd Edition. No drivers to load no hassle, just plug and play. You can even use it to transfer file to different computers. Connectivity is through mini USB, IR port or Bluetooth(2), which uses less power and the performance with headsets is far more reliable. Wifi is not an option at this time. Though on the sad part - there is no WiFi

The Audiovox SMT5600 includes a portable version of Windows Media Player (WMP) 10.0. The sound quality of mp3 songs is superb when using the headphone jack. The extensive, easy to use menus are very responsive. It took some practice to learn and remember all the procedures to customize and use the phone to meet my needs and expectations. The layout is well thought-out and with so many powerful features in such a small package, the time it takes to learn them all is well spent.

In Short - the key features of SMT 5600 are
Versatile mobility: The Audiovox SMT 5600 is enabled for Bluetooth and infrared support and is a tri-band phone, which also includes a speakerphone.

Advanced (Read: Great) Multimedia features: The new Windows Media Player 10 Mobile provides leading-edge audio and video playback experiences with support for secure content, album art, playlists and more.

Expanded memory capability: With a built in mini-SD slot, users can expand the 32MB RAM to up to 512 MB and store images, video clips, music and other data, all of which can easily be transferred to a PC. (I had a MiniSD card of 256 MB in that)

Windows Mobile 2003 SE: Offering users the familiarity of the traditional Microsoft Windows operating system, including Outlook(R) for email and Internet Explorer for true HTML Inte browsing.

Seamless Communications: The Audiovox SMT 5600 includes pocket versions of Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer and MSN(R) Messenger, and Microsoft Exchange Server ActiveSync(R) which enables easy wireless email, calendar and contact synchronization.

One point to mention is that this phone has Class 2 GPRS - which means - the GPRS get disconnected the moment you get a call or attend one. Overall - an amazing phone. Give you all the features that you want. I would prefer this phone, anytime over the sleek Nokia ones.

iMate PocketPC Phone Edition Reviewed

I've been able to lay my hands on iMate PocketPC Phone Edition for past two weeks. This one came with Win Mobile 2003, however it was flashed with Windows Mobile 2005 Beta codename Magneto. I though it would be nice to put up reviews for both of them :D

The i-mate is designed for mobile professionals; it is a fairly small Pocket PC Phone Edition, which includes SD I/O expansion slot for memory or add-on accessories for the i-mate.
It has wireless Bluetooth capability and features a small and sleek design. The name of the game is wireless control with the i-mate, though it does not come with built-in Wi-Fi. :(

Its powered by 64 of ROM, 128 MB of RAM and a 400 MHz X-Scale PXA263 applications processor. (this is as good as a PIII in older days). The most unique thing that the iMate has is the capability to add on an expansion backpack. It has the ability to handle VGA out; this is due to the ATI video chipset inside the iMate. The supported resolution for LCD displays is XGA 1024x768, VGA 800x600 and 640x480. It also includes extended battery which can charge the main battery on the device, giving users longer run times while using energy draining accessories like wireless networking, or playing movies and music on long plane rides.

You can keep i-mate always connected to GPRS and in the same time receive calls, MMS and SMS messages. Since this is a Class B GPRS device, it will hold the GPRS connection if there is a call, and reactivate it when the call ends. This is not possible in SmartPhones like AudioVox SMT 5600, where the GPRS connection is lost the moment you receive a phone call. Making a phone call can be done from the dialer, contacts, speed dial, call history or the SIM manager. Answer to a call is done by pressing the answer hardware button, or can be rejected by the reject hardware button. At the same time - a call can be accepted by pressing the "accept" key on the touchscreen. You can also take NOTES for a call - which then goes as a attachment with that call. This was the most amazing and useful feature that I found.

The phone keypad can be locked this is a helpful feature to prevent accidental key press. I was listening to MP3 and multitasking with no problems at all, there were no missing frames the sound quality was really good. The good part is that while you are listening to a song or watching video with Windows Media Player 10, if you received a call during that time, iMate will pause WMP, and when you are finished with the phone call, it will resume from where it was paused.

You can snap photos or shoot video clips with accompanying audio simply by pressing the camera hardware button on the side of the device, press once you activate the camera, the second time you press you take a photo. The iMate has all the features to make this equally a phone and a PDA all in one slim device. At the same time - Magneto proved to be power efficient and I would not require to charge it for a day with normal usage. One note of caution though - Magneto had lots of memory problems, which would sometimes hang the device. My advice is to wait till the final release is out.