Your Windows Mobile powered device is not just a great tool for staying in touch when you’re away from your desk. It can also help you take notes, learn people’s names, and even avoid parking tickets. Here are a few tips–and a few add-on utilities–to help you get the most out of your mobile device.

Nintendo has stated numerous times that its next generation video game machine will be less expensive than the competition. Now it appears that it might be on store shelves considerably earlier than many were expecting as well. While Nintendo has not made any formal announcements about the launch date for the Wii, most of the industry has expected the machine to hit retail at approximately the same time as Sony’s PlayStation 3 (which is set for November 17). Now, industry observers–and insiders–say they expect the system to be available in October, with late September a dark horse candidate.

Japanese electronics maker Sharp unveiled a new smart phone, aiming to cement its leading position in the market ahead of the impending launch of the popular BlackBerry device in Japan. Canada’s Research in Motion said last month that it would bring the BlackBerry to Japan this autumn, potentially breathing new life into Japan’s relatively small smart phone market while also causing headaches for entrenched players like Sharp. Sharp said its new phone, called the W-ZERO3 would come equipped with a Microsoft operating system and 128 megabytes of flash memory. In addition to making calls, users can access the Internet, read emails, and work on Microsoft applications such as Word and Excel. The phone will be sold by mobile carrier Willcom.

CallRec is a novel program for Palm OS Treos that can record your phone calls. It is able to record both sides of the conversation at the touch of a button. It can also be used as a quick voice memo recorder. Calls are saved as standard wav files on your memory card. This new version adds compatibility with the Treo 700p, automated recording of all calls, the ability to beam, Bluetooth or email recordings and a new windows PC conduit.

Due to Europe’s Reduction of Hazardous Substances pollution legislation, which went into effect on July 1st, Palm has decided not to ship anymore Treo 650s in the European Union. RoHS sets limits on the amount of hazardous substances contained within electronic equipment. Rather than updating the Treo to comply, Palm has chosen to stop shipping its only smartphone available in Europe.

The Memory Place, an online store known for computer upgrade expertise since 1983, now offers batteries, chargers and power adapters and more for over 30,000 consumer devices. Their new line consists of high-capacity power products built to match or outlast the original OEM batteries by as much as 1.5-2 times. They also carry power related replacement parts including AC adapter cords, PDA sync cables, stand alone battery chargers and AA/AAA rechargeable batteries. An easy-to-use Quick Find tool helps visitors search for replacement batteries, chargers and power accessories for their device.

Paris wants blanket wireless Internet coverage by the end of 2007, helping to make it the most connected capital city in the world, Mayor Bertrand Delanoe said Tuesday. Under a new plan, the city hopes to set up 400 free Wi-Fi access points next year and allow Internet service providers to install antennae on strategically located public property.

With the number of speed cameras on British roads increasing all the time, Wayfinder, the live mobile satellite navigation service is advising motorists to take caution when driving. Speed Camera sites, whether they are mobile or fixed camera locations are growing year on year. Wayfinder, the live mobile satellite navigation service that works on mobile phones can help motorists identify where strict speeding regulations are in force. Over 11, 000 speed camera locations, including fixed, mobile, free standing, traffic light and temporary cameras are updated daily onto the live service with a guaranteed 99.9% accuracy of their location. The service is provided to Wayfinder from Cyclops, an authorized supplier of this data who survey all camera sites to confirm their accuracy.

A typical plasma television has a half-life of about 30,000 hours (some newer high-end units now claim up to 60,000 hours). This means that it will lose approximately 50% of its brightness during that time. Based on a 30,000 hours rating, if your plasma television is on for 8 hours a day, its half-life would be about 9 years–or, if on 4 hours a day, the half-life would be about 18 years. Keep in mind that a standard television loses about 30% of its brightness after about 20,000 hours.

U.S. lawmakers said Thursday they have learned of two more data breaches at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, even as the agency announced that law enforcement agencies had recovered stolen computer hardware containing the personal information of millions of U.S. military veterans. The House of Representatives Veterans Affairs Committee has learned of a May 5 incident in which a data tape disappeared from a VA facility in Indianapolis, and a 2005 incident in which a VA laptop was stored in the trunk of a car that was stolen in Minneapolis.