Usually I do not misuse my status as webmaster to point at companies who obviously have a massive problem, but Pearl Germany managed to enrage me that much, that I want to warn others.

All started out when I bought two german computer magazines which had advertisements of Pearl’s new “XP-25” smartphone, which they do offer in cooperation with SimValley. The specs and the price are pretty much amazing and everything looked like a good deal. It was also the perfect chance to get my hands on a PPC and try out some of the programs I always post about. In particular the XP-25 is a cloned I-Mate 101 anyway…

I’ve ordered the XP-25 on 5th August along with a 2GB memory card. One week before start of September I called the hotline and asked where my already paid smartphone is. The service center lady talked about massive problems due to the fact that they were just hammered with orders and did not count with it in the beginning.

Okay… that can happen, even in the best company.

I pointed out that I am going on vacation on 4th September and therefore would like to have my phone as soon as possible. Of course no promise has been made. In particular she said we will get a bunch of XP-25 in the next 5 working days and things will be sent out by first come first serve concept.

Two days later I got an email with a pretty hughe explanation why there are delivery problems and how they are going to solve it. Pretty much it was putting you into the “waiting position” again with vague information and no fixed date set again.

I’ve responded to this email and explained my situation again. I am off for almost three months, the money is paid and I want to have that item. I also asked if there is the possibilty to exchange the given adress to my vacation adress – Up to this day, I do not have an answer.

Today I called the hotline again. The guy was not really what you would call friendly – anyway. The result of the discussion as follows:

– A given adress can not be changed once it’s in their system. If you want to have your item delivered to a new adress, the current order must be deleted and a new one must be given, which results in NEW waiting time.
– A parcel with the 2GB SD card has been sent out, but without the ordered smartphone. I wonder why they did not send that SD card at least three weeks ago. I’d like to have seen everything together in one parcel
– I’ve been advised to deny taking the parcel and he can delete my order for the XP-25 too – tho I never even mentioned that I don’t want to have it.
– According to the information I got on the phone I have to wait three to four more weeks!!! (if that is true at all and not beeing extended over and over again)
– As I’m away and things need to be claimed within seven days I asked him what to do. He responded that they will be fair and I can mention any problems even after this limitation. When I asked him to put a note into the system so I wont get any troubles, he said that this is not possible. Everyone with basic trading skills know, that a spoken word is absolutly nothing worth.
– The partitial good delivery mail said that I do have an open account of 12,90 EUR, but everything has been paid together and in advance. The “friendly” guy said he does not have access to information, why this amount is declared as not paid in the email.
– I told the guy that this is the first and last order I am doing with Pearl, he pretty much was angry and dropped the call in a rude way with a short “Aufwiedersehen” (goodbye).

I’ve found a webboard and the guys there have similar problems, see here: http://www.mobi-forum.de/simvalley-xp-25/fragen-probleme-zum-simvalley-xp-25/5-wann-liefert-pearl-endlich/.

Pearl simply can not handle the run for the XP-25 and people need to wait and wait for their paid goods! The costumer service lags, does not respond or is rude

To be honest I can buy a SD card in every shitty corner and do not need Pearl for this. Probably they even do not have people who can count one and one togher, that the SD card is an item which just makes sense delivered together with the smartphone…

It was for sure my first and last order from Pearl and I encourage everyone to think twice, where to order.

PS: I’ve contacted Pearl’s press department so they have a chance to answer. Any possible answer will be published directly in this newspost.

This application by darksidious77 is used to edit Lua files on your PlayStation Portable.

Changes:

– 240 characters
– Copy
– Paste (3 lines)
– Search function
– Function replace
– Img_viewer
– The launch of mp3 file management since
– MP3 IMPROVEMENT
– Eboot launcher (file) available only from the menu open
– Iso launcher (file)
– File management (select button)
– General amelioration of lediteur
– Function functional test
– Auto backup before a test and replace it before
– Menu option (for setting the autosauveguarde and color of the cursor)
– Menu lua function (explaining many of the functions lua)

http://xtreamlua.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4170

A tool by BigProMan, count the time you spend playing games on your PlayStation Portable.

Release notes:

Following the request of some members, I make a plug capable of calaculer how much time you spend on your favorite games or homebrews.

– You can activate a GAME, GAME150 and POPS! (you can also activate a VSH if you want ^ ^)
– A timer starts at each launching a game
– You can view real-time this time, a push button SELECT (time displayed in the upper left of the screen in red)
– To save time, activate the button HOLD quans you are about to leave the game, and time is saved in a file corresponding to the date itself in the folder “GTC” (created for the prx you)
– You can look at how long you play your games / homebrews each day!

http://xtreamlua.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4183

A raycaster written in Lua by JDourlens.

http://xtreamlua.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4163

Sk4rT4l released a new program written in C called “Musical Blind Test”. Full details in french language at it’s release thread (follow the link below).

http://xtreamlua.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4172

iContact is designed to be an all-inclusive finger-friendly contact manager for Windows Mobile PocketPC phones.

Changes:

Added settings editor!
Added icon for settings editor into control panel
Changed add contact icon in default skin
Fixed “auto” email account
Bugfix: An upgrade will no longer overwrite your settings
Added GPLV3 License text to source code
Added iPhone skin to standard distribution
Removed ListBackground from .skn file, added to .png file
Added DetailMainText and DetailMainShadow to .skn file
Removed TitlebarBattery and TitlebarBatteryCharge, now uses .png to fill battery
Changed “Show Summary” to the less confusing “Manage Contact”

Discussion: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=395829

http://www.supware.net/iContact/

G-Alarm is an alarm clock with a special mechanism to wake you up. Before the alarm clock stops you need to guide a ball through a labyrinth.

Changes:

– [FIX] QVGA support
– [FIX] Error when trying to add files to the playlist
– [FIX] Error when creating alarms on devices where time format is not 24h
– [FIX] Error on reloading alarms on some devices
– [ADDED] Better power management support

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=422362

Imagine someone giving you an audio blogcast talking about homebrew releases – your wish has become true!

Homebrewcast is just doing this!

Episode 5 has the following topics:

-GBAtemp Homebrew bounty 08/08

http://homebrewcast.net/

SuperTux is a free software, classic style 2D jump and run game inspired by the Nintendo Super Mario series. It was originally created by Bill Kendrick and is currently maintained by the SuperTux Development Team.

Instead of Mario, the hero in this game is Tux, the mascot of the Linux kernel, albeit the game’s only reference to Linux. Many of the in-game graphics were created by Ingo Ruhnke, creator of Pingus.

Thanks to http://www.dcemu.co.uk for the news.

http://kunaldeo.googlepages.com/supertux2forps3

donnerkuh from Germany is working on his very first Atari 2600 homebrew game with the help of batariBasic.

Avoid shurikens and defeat ninjas!

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=130646