Mary Jo Foley has an interesting blog entitled: A single Windows platform for phones and PCs: Can it be done?  In it she discussed the possibility of putting Windows kernel (instead of Windows CE, which underlies Windows Mobile) on an ARM chip for a phone. It's just speculation, but a good read.

Interestingly enough, even in these difficult times, according to Reuters Microsoft is going to follow Apple's lead and open Microsoft stores.

Actually, given Microsoft's dominence in the business world, I think it makes a lot of sense. Not only can Microsoft appeal to consumers with Windows Mobile, Zune, XBox and, of course, Vista, it can service small and medium-sized businesses through its stores.

Even as a Windows Mobile user, you might want to check out the contents of our premiere issue of iPhone Life. You can read the exact digital replica of the entire premiere issue of iPhone Life for free using your desktop browser at http://www.smartphonemag.com/iphone/freeissue.

Perhaps, what I am most proud of in producing the magazine is our annual Best Software Awards. If you haven't seen the results yet in this our eighth year, check out our awards site. You can also pick up a copy of our final issue, the Super Resource Guide, due out this month with awards results and details.

As you may know, Thaddeus Computing, publisher of this web site, Smartphone & Pocket PC, and iPhone Life also buys and sells used PDAs, handhelds, and smartphones. It has a separate site for buying, selling, and repairing the HP 200LX palmtop.

We are now officially http://www.smartphonemag.com!  All PocketPCmag.com URLs should work and be redirected. If you find problems, please hal [at] thaddeus [dot] com. ?subject=Web%20site%20problem.

We also just moved all our site content from a Microsoft based server to a Linux server. The move is the culmination of two years of effort migrating our great and massive content from a hodge podge of mostly ASP code to a Drupal, a Content Management System, written in PHP. Drupal will run more comfortably on the Linux server.

I was fortune enough to be able to visit Israel last February to celebrate my and Israel's 60th birthday. Let us pray that fear, hatred, and distrust can leave the Middle East, so everyone will feel comfortable visiting this ancient, beautiful, and holy land to so many.

 After 11 years, we will be publishing a final 2008 issue of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine and then suspend publication! We are working hard to make it the best Windows Mobile issue ever, a keeper, a reference guide. In 2009 we will publish Smartphone magazine’s iPhone Life. Below, I’ve attempted to answer questions that have been asked of me: 

We are soon making public many 100's of well-constructed tips and how-to's. Microsoft liked them so much that they purchased a portion of them for their web site.

We will probably add a link to our web site menus early next week. However, please take a sneak peek. If you find any problems or have suggestions, comment here, or E-mail me privately at hal [at] thaddeus [dot] com.

Our judges are getting ready to vote in the 8th annual Best Software Awards. For almost three weeks a draft of the nominations has been public. The public until is invited to suggest nominations or that product should be un-nominated until Wed, July 16. Lead blogger and nominations manager Werner Ruotsalainen makes all final decisions.