Eclectic Electronics

Windows Marketplace (for Mobile) purchase can be shared among five devices

Posted: 19 May 2009 10:45 AM PDT

If you purchase Windows Mobile 6.5 (WM 6.5) applications from the Windows Marketplace, you are allowed to share it with a maximum of four persons (one for you and four other personsx). These can be friends, family members or whoever. If you’re crazy enough to own and operate multiple Windows Mobile devices, you can also use the application across 5 different devices.

According t o Microsoft, this move of allowing applications to be shared among 5 devices will thwart piracy. And get this, Microsoft is will also refund your money within 24 hours of purchase if you find the WM 6.5 application to be inadequate to your needs.

Microsoft, along with Nokia, is seemingly trying to mimic Apple’s App Store success. I don’t exactly see how they will be able to stop piracy with the share-among-five-persons marketing tactic but hey, it’s worth a shot.

[via Mobile Tech Addicts and CrunchGear]

Dell executive says Windows 7 pricing may hinder OS adoption

Posted: 19 May 2009 08:45 AM PDT

Microsoft is yet to release pricing details for its Windows 7 operating system and according to Dell’s Darrel Ward, pricing may be a potential hindrance for those who want to adopt the new operating system. Windows 7 is believed to cost more than Windows XP or Windows Vista.

The Windows 7 Release Candidate has been up for grabs for more than a couple of weeks now. Windows 7 system requirements have also been officially released by Microsoft and it essentially requires the same as Vista, which is a good thing. The latest operating system from Microsoft is expected to arrive sometime during the 2009 holiday season, which is just a few months away.

Microsoft shouldn’t price Windows 7 higher than Vista. They should consider making mends to the hundreds of thousands (or should I say millions?) of customers who decided to migrate to Vista and were extremely not pleasedwith the experience. They should present an aggressive marketing scheme where they would target both those who use Windows XP and Windows Vista.

[via Windows 7 News and Windows 7 Center]

Palm Pre to be launched by Sprint on June 6

Posted: 19 May 2009 06:30 AM PDT

Sprint is finally giving the world a hands-on experience of the Palm Pre starting June 6th. Finally! The date pretty much coincides with the purported Launch Lunch of Sprint which is going to be held on June 5th.

Better start saving some money, the Palm Pre will run you $199.99 with a two-year Sprint lock-in (on an Everything Data plan or Business Essentials with Messaging and Data plan) and after a $100 mail-in rebate. The Palm Pre will be available at the following locations on June 6th:

Sprint stores (of course)
Best buy
Radio Shack
Select Wal-Mart stores
Sprint.com

A number of interesting accessories, including Touchstone Charging Kit, which includes the highly-talked about Touchstone wireless charging dock along with a Touchstone back cover, will be available for $69.99. Should you choose to purchase the two components separately, the charging dock would cost you $49.99 and the Touchstone back cover, $19.99.

For more information, head on over to the Palm Pre product page at Sprint.com.

[via Sprint Press Release and The Official Palm Blog]

Wal-Mart cashing in on Circuit City’s demise? Also possibly selling the Palm Pre?

Posted: 19 May 2009 04:45 AM PDT

Gary Severson, Wal-Mart’s senior vice president of home entertainment, has stated “Circuit City’s business is up for grabs right now and we expect to get our share.” Will the Wal-Mart chain of stores be able to successfully, partially convert themselves into a pseudo-Best Buy?

Big retailer Wal-Mart is reportedly expanding its electronics department to accommodate more well known brands, they are also on track to expanding their movies selection.

If you frequent Best Buy and Wal-Mart, you would very well notice that Best Buy carries all the superior brands. Wal-Mart wouldn’t have any Sony, Panasonic or Samsung TVs on display. They would also have a mediocre DVD/Blu-ray collection when compared to the Best Buy inventory. BloggingStocks also mentions that some brands such as Apple and Nintendo, will have dedicated display stands for their products.

As far as I am concerned, only iPod products from Apple have made their way into Wal-Mart stores. I wonder if they’ll be carrying those high-end MacBook Pros and other accessories.

According to Gizmodo, fixtures and displays to makeover Wal-Mart will start making their way into stores starting this week. Hopefully, the Walton (owners of Wal-Mart) family would be able to do things right and be a competitor to Best Buy. Wal-Mart should employ better and knowledgeable sales representatives and offer great customer service that will supercede the subpar quality that Best Buy offers in some areas.

Surprisingly, the Palm Pre will be offered to Wal-Mart shoppers, according to Wal-Mart executives. No word on whether they’ll have the overhyped smartphone during launch day.

[via CrunchGear]