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Best Software Awards 2007

Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine's Seventh Annual Best Software Awards helps users select software that best suit their Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone needs by honoring companies that produce the most outstanding software.

The list of 2007 nominations can be found at pocketpcmag.com/awards.

Windows Mobile 6 Upgrades

Palm announced that an update from Windows Mobile 5 to the WM6 Professional operating system is coming for Treo 750 Smartphone customers. The update will eventually bring AT&T customers High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) capability. AT&T also announced WM6 upgrades for the Samsung BlackJack and Cingular 8525. Palm's Windows Mobile update for the Treo 750 will be available later this year. No word on when the other upgrades will be available.

E-Ten is offering Windows Mobile 6 upgrades for users of its Glofiish X500 and M700 Pocket PCs. (http://www.etencorp.com/support/index.php)

T-Mobile has announced that it offers a Windows Mobile 6 upgrade to users of its Windows Mobile 5 Dash Smartphone. (http://www.t-mobile.com/wmupgrade).

HP has announced that there WILL NOT be any Windows Mobile 6 upgrades for their existing WM5 devices.

HTC offers Windows Mobile 6 upgrades for their recently released "messaging" line, including the HTC Advantage, the HTC TyTN (Cingular 8525), the HTC S620 (T-Mobile Dash), the HTC P4350, and the HTC P3300. These are available through carrier partners in the U.S.

Since Dell is no longer in the Pocket PC business, users shouldn't expect upgrades.

HTC introduces "Shift"—a Windows Vista-based UMPC

The Shift is the first Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) to be introduced by HTC, the world's leading manufacturer of Windows Mobile devices. The Shift will run Windows Vista Business OS and feature a 7" WVGA screen (800x480 pixels), 30 GB hard drive, 1.2 GHz CPU, and quad-band GSM/GPRS and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA support. It will be available in the U.S. and Europe in Q3 2007. For full specs and details on both the Advantage and the Shift, visit http://www.HTC.com

Motorola announces MC35 Enterprise Digital Assistant

Motorola's Enterprise Mobility business (formerly Symbol Technologies) recently launched the MC35 "Enterprise Digital Assistant" (EDA).The MC35 includes the Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition OS, has a 416 MHz processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 2.8" screen. It runs on the EDGE/GSM network and also features a bar code scanner, camera, and GPS receiver. For more information, visit the MC35 Web page (http://www.symbol.com/mc35).

Avvenu Music Player allows remote access to PC iTunes

Avvenu has a free service that allows you to remotely connect to and access files on your PC. They are now also offering the beta version of a music player program that allows you to listen to music files stored on your PC, including music in your iTunes library. You can get more information about the service from the Avvenu Web page (http://www.avvenu.com).