Mobile News, Hack and Reviews

Microsoft, Nokia and Google Take Aim at RIM

2009-08-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

Later this year, Google and partners that include handset maker Motorola plan devices and features aimed at business users of mobile phones. Meantime, Nokia and Microsoft Relevant Products/Services are joining forces in their effort to take share in the lucrative market for company-friendly mobile smartphones.

Next, Microsoft said it will team up with Nokia to put the mobile versions of Microsoft’s Office applications on the Finnish phone maker's handsets.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will begin working together immediately to design, develop, and market productivity applications, the companies said in a statement.

The new alliance brings together the two former foes--Microsoft’s mobile operating system competes with Symbian, the leading mobile OS, used on Nokia’s smart phones--in an attempt to fend off their mutual rivals, Apple and Research In Motion.

The Microsoft-Nokia deal will also give the Redmond, Washington, company some ammunition against Google, as the search engine behemoth has already launched free Web-based Office-like applications that directly compete with Microsoft Office.

The Microsoft mobile applications will first be available on Nokia's E-series phones, a business-oriented smart phone, but will then reach to other Nokia handsets, the companies said.

Griffin announces new iPhone 3GS, iPod cases

2009-06-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

Griffin has uncovered new and updated cases for the iPhone and iPod touch: the Reveal, Elan Passport Metal, FlexGrip and Elan Form with Sky Blue Trim. The Reveal case is designed for the iPhone and iPod touch, and uses a thin polycarbonate outer shell with rubber interior lining. Meant to protect against minor impacts and scratches, the case also includes a static-peel screen protector.

The Elan Passport Metal is built for the second-generation iPod touch, and features a leather folio design with micro-suede lining. A flap covers the screen, though the case is also bundled with a screen protector and a cleaning cloth.

The FlexGrip also fits the second-gen Touch, but uses hard two-tone silicone protection. Full access to ports, controls and the screen is provided, along with a raised surface to prevent the case from sliding out of a hand.

More streamlined Facebook for BlackBerry

2009-06-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

It's been only about a month-and-a-half since RIM released the last update to Facebook for BlackBerry (and then a fix to that update just after that), and BlackBerry's maker has already come out with a more streamlined version of the popular social-networking app it co-developed with Facebook's help.

Facebook for BlackBerry 1.6 folds its status feed content, originally in its own screen, right onto the home page. The result is immediate access to view your friends' status update, and a slightly quicker way to update your own status message. The same goes for poking a friend or commenting on their photos.

In addition, the app update removes some of the hassle in the previous version of getting to your pal's Wall. Instead of having to switch to the mobile site to view it in its glory, a click to your buddy's profile picture shows you their wall within the application itself. Facebook for BlackBerry 1.6 also shows photo albums in a modified slideshow ticker format. In the past, you needed to click on each thumbnail to see the image; now you can scroll.

The final change is added support for Thai, Indonesian and Portuguese (European) languages.

Get Facebook for BlackBerry 1.6 for free on your BlackBerry (running version 4.2 of the operating system or higher) by pointing the mobile or desktop browser to www.blackberry.com/facebook.

Nokia N86 8 megapixel camera phone now shipping

2009-06-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

Nokia has announced that its N86 smartphone is now shipping globally. Announced in February, the N86 is a camera phone that features an 8 megapixel autofocus camera, variable aperture for low and bright light situations, and a mechanical shutter capable of shutter speeds as fast as 1/1000th second. It also features a dual LED flash.

Users can store photos and video on 8GB of internal storage or upload content to the Ovi portal or Flickr with one click. The device's 2.6-inch QVGA OLED display will display multimedia vividly with 16 million colors.

The N86 also includes a-GPS technology and an electronic compass that gives users navigation functionality and the ability to geotag photos as they are taken.

The N86 is expected to cost 375 EUR (US$525) after taxes and subsidies.

by Brian James Kirk

Microsoft Makes Windows 7 Even More Attractive to Netbook Users

2009-06-01T02:19:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has freed up its Windows 7 Starter operating system to enable users to do more with the software than the company initially allowed, such as run more than three applications simultaneously.

Microsoft has freed up its Windows 7 Starter edition operating system to enable users to do more with the software than the company initially allowed, such as run more than three applications simultaneously.

Windows 7 Starter edition is an attractive destination for netbook users, and Microsoft would like to tap that opportunity. However, the Starter version is not the only edition of Windows 7 that is effective on netbooks, the company said.

In a blog post on the issue, Brandon LeBlanc, a Windows communications manager at Microsoft, said that when Microsoft introduced Starter editions of Windows—first with Windows XP and then with Windows Vista—there were certain limitations imposed, "such as being able to run only 3 concurrent applications on a PC at a time (this excludes background processes such as anti-virus applications, wireless and Bluetooth, and system tools like Explorer and Control Panel)."

However, based on reactions from Microsoft partners and customers, the company has "decided to make some changes compared to previous Starter editions," LeBlanc said.

PSP Go is the Talk of E3 Opening

2009-06-01T01:44:00.000-07:00

A new version of Sony's PlayStation Portable games console is expected to be launched at the E3 video games show.

Video and photos of the PSP Go have been leaked online, revealing a smaller, more lightweight console that has dropped the failed UMD disk format.

There have also been reports that Sony will announce a re-designed, slimmer PlayStation 3 but BBC News understands this will not be launched at E3.

The new PS3 model will be out later this year, BBC News understands.

Microsoft will kick start proceedings at E3 in Los Angeles with a press conference on Monday, at which the company is expected to showcase a raft of new features for its online games and content service, Xbox Live.

There have been reports that Microsoft will show off a new controller that uses many of the same features as Nintendo's Wiimote, as the company tries to broaden the appeal of its console to non-gamers.

Sony is expected to unveil the PSP Go on Tuesday, following a number of high-profile leaks of announcements to come out of the firm in the last few weeks.

The most recent, about the PSP Go, came after an official video showcasing the new device was mistakenly posted to a Sony website before being hurriedly pulled.

In the video, Sony's John Koller said: "It's a 3.8-inch screen, it's 43% lighter than the PSP-3000, 16 gigs flash memory, Bluetooth support and all digital content so the UMD drive goes away.

"So it's going to be something a lot of consumers like - download straight to a hard drive."

A spokesman for Sony would not confirm the launch of the PSP Go but said any announcements would be given on Tuesday.

Industry leader Nintendo is expected to focus on new software for its popular Wii console.

It is also likely to announce the availability of its Wii Motion Plus device, which adds greater sensitivity and control to its controllers, along with games that support the add-on.

Nintendo needs a big show after last year's announcements were criticised for being lack lustre, and recent evidence of a slow down in sales of its Wii console.

Analyst Mike Hickey, of Janco Partners, told the AFP news agency: "Nintendo needs something; everyone is saying that."

BBC

Google Refreshes Logos, Gmail Gets Psychic

2009-05-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

Google introduced a refreshed look logo line for its services and a new Labs feature in Gmail that allows users to preview their inbox messages while the webmail service is loading.

The new Google logos are being rolled out over the coming weeks and hope to improve consistency and freshen up the look of the company's services across its sites. While it might take a while until they appear on all Google sites, here's a preview of the new logos.

There's not a big difference between the old and the new logos. The product names appear in clean, simple blue lowercase type next to the Google logo, which is always a nice touch in comparison to the old logos that looked like they were slapped together in 5 minutes.

Do you hate or love the new Google logos? Sound off in the comments.

Another addition from Google in Gmail comes in handy for those with slow connections. The new Inbox Preview feature allows users to preview unread messages in their inbox while the AJAX interface is loading.

The simple, static interface previews the ten most recent messages and can be turned on from the Labs tab under Settings in Gmail. If you're on a trip to some remote place with a slow connection this new feature could just save you some time. Otherwise, users on speedy connections can skip Inbox Preview, as it's not likely to make much of a difference for them.

Gmail also added a functional translation feature this week. As the name of the feature suggests, with one click you can turn gibberish into some phrases that actually make sense - and that's including those foreign spam messages clogging your inbox.

Daniel Ionescu, PC Worldl (Twitter @danielionescu)

Vatican launches Facebook application

2009-05-22T11:17:00.001-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI has entered the world of social networking sites and smartphones with a Vatican portal that includes Facebook and iPhone applications.

The Pope2You Web site was launched Thursday and allows Facebook users to send virtual postcards with photos of Benedict. An application for iPhone and iPod Touch gives surfers video and audio news on his travels and speeches, as well as on Catholic events worldwide.

The new portal is the latest update in the Vatican's efforts to broaden the pope's audience and reach out to young people. Earlier this year, Benedict got his own YouTube channel.

While wary of the potential pitfalls of new media, Benedict has also encouraged young Catholics to use the Internet to spread the church's message.

by: Yahoo

'The Sims' return with more personality quirks

2009-05-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's neat, childish, lucky, ambitious and insane — just depends on what traits gamers choose for their neighborhood of virtual playthings in "The Sims 3," Electronic Arts and Maxis' popular life-simulating game for the PC and Mac.

Executive producer Ben Bell said it will focus more on social behavior than ever before.

"'The Sims 3' is a huge step forward for us," said Bell. "You can create incredibly detailed people who have real personalities that you get to design using a feature we call personality traits. By combining words, you can create a new kind of a person that has totally different desires in life and then you get to go fulfill their destiny in the game."

Unlike previous editions in the series, every character will live their lives simultaneously in the fictional town of Sunset Valley.

Bell said "The Sims 3," available June 3, will also feature a moviemaking tool and more options for players to customize their Sims' homes, furnishings and clothes. Gamers can even turn their Sims into kleptomaniacs.

"A Sim who has this trait is going to have wishes in life to steal things from other people," said Bell. "They also have the ability to sneak into a friend's house, walk into a room where nobody happens to be hanging out and maybe swipe something. One of the fun things I've seen people on the team do is build up a whole household of stolen things."

In perhaps a case of life imitating art, a pirated copy of "The Sims 3" has already been leaked on several file-sharing Web sites two weeks before the game's launch.

EA said the pirated version "is a buggy, pre-final" version of the game.

"It's not the full game. Half of the world — an entire second city — is missing," said spokeswoman Holly Rockwood in a statement.

Electronic Arts has announced it is publishing "The Sims 3" without restrictive anti-piracy software known as DRM, a form of copy protection that requires online authentication.

Officials: http://thesims3.ea.com

AP via Yahoo.

Capcom commits to ten iPhone titles

2009-05-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

Remember those days you spent at the arcades, after school, dropping coins inside Street Fighter machines, trying to defeat Bison? If we're lucky, we might get to do it again (minus the quarters, thankfully).

After releasing Resident Evil: Degeneration for the iPhone, Capcom Chief Financial Officer Kazuhiko Abe has announced the company will release 10 more iPhone titles between now and March 2010, according to a report by Reuters.

Capcom is the latest major game developer to commit their resources to the relatively new iPhone platform following Electronic Arts, Konami, and Gameloft. Known for classic franchises such as the long-surviving Street Fighter and Mega Man series, Capcom has an extensive host of video game titles dating back to the 1980’s and many would love to see them ported or adapted to the iPhone.

The company is moving to improve its market position outside of its home country as the video game market is diminishing in Japan. Despite the reduction, Capcom recently posted an 11 percent jump in operating profit thanks to titles such as Resident Evil 5 and Street Fighter 4. In light of this, it will continue to offer titles that appeal more towards American and European markets.

For now though, they have yet to reveal which titles or even which kinds of games will make it to the iPhone. Recently they’ve released Mega Man II to the App Store, as well as Who Wants to be A Millionaire? and Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?

Given these releases and Capcom’s tendency to stick to franchises, there’s a good chance Ken, Ryu, and the gang will make an appearance on our favorite portable platform.

Okay now who wants to test my my hadouken?

By Aulia Masna

Dell: Working on an Android Netbook?

2009-05-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Dell may be cooking up a series of netbooks based on Android software. On May 6, software company Bsquare announced that “it is porting Adobe’s Flash Lite 3.17 technology onto Dell Netbooks running Google’s Android platform.”

Dell hasn’t officially announced any netbooks based on Android, which is an operating system developed by a slew of companies including Google. Dell hasn’t yet returned my request for comment.

But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bsquare leak holds water. After all, Dell has long put out computers based on open-source operating system Linux. Some people prefer them. Plus, they can be cheaper than machines based on Microsoft’s Windows. Android is just the latest variant of the open-source software, and lots of companies, including Hewlett-Packard, are testing it out. So, why not Dell?

Clearly, this is great news for Google, and bad news for Microsoft, the maker of Windows operating system that dominates the market today. If Dell jumps onto the Android bandwagon, the move could push other companies toward Android as well.

Youtube on Android

2009-05-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

As part of a series of blog posts, Google has released more information this week about some of the goodies we can expect out of version 1.5 of the Android operating system, which has been going by the code name Cupcake, and which wireless carrier T-Mobile is expected to push out to U.S. customers at the end of next week. High on the list of upgrades is the ability to record videos and upload them to Google-owned YouTube.

Based on what we can ascertain from Google's introductory video, shooting a video on the Android 1.5 platform will be nearly as straightforward as taking a photo--except that after framing the picture, you'll need to turn the recorder on and off. After taking the video, you'll be able to share it via e-mail or MMS, or as a YouTube upload. You'll have the chance to type in a title and a caption, and set the viewing access as public or private before sending your recording on its way.

For the time being, YouTube will support one login per person, and you'll need an account before you'll be able to upload video. Those wishing to manage video on a separate account will need to access YouTube from the browser of T-Mobile's G1 phone for now.
YouTube video uploading on Android 1.5

We also learned more about what's in store in Android 1.5. Following the phone-to-Web upload theme, G1 owners will be able to more easily push photos from the Android device to Google's Picasa Web Albums online. In much the same way you'll upload videos to YouTube, shooting photos to Picasa will be an option you encounter after taking a photo and pressing Share.

In addition, Android's Gmail will gain some batch editing capabilities similar to what's available in Gmail from the desktop browser. Instead of managing messages one at a time on the phone, as is the current mode of operation, you'll be able to select multiple e-mail threads to archive, delete, label, and mute at once.

You can watch more in Google's Cupcake walk-though video, and lick your chops in anticipation of the greater Android computing power that's imminent for T-Mobile's U.S. customers.

by Jessica Dolcourt

Photo: Google.

Palm's New Eos May be iPhone's Next Challenger

2009-05-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

Palm is upping its game with a new budget phone rumored to launch this fall on AT&T. Deemed to be another iPhone rival with a smaller price tag, the Palm Eos (or Pixie/Castle) sports a size 0 silhouette in a candy-bar form factor with a non-slideout QWERTY keyboard.

Preliminary specs leaked by Engadget point that Eos will cost $99 (after a $250 rebate) and will come with 4GB of on-board storage (Pre will come with 8GB), a 2-megapixel camera with flash and video capture (3-megapixels on the Pre), A-GPS and Palm's WebOS (which will debut on the long-expected Palm Pre).

The Palm Eos is said to be 0.42 inches (10.6 mm) thin and weighs just 3.5 ounces (100 grams). Eos's 2.63-inch capacitive touch screen sports a 320 by 400 pixels resolution, giving it 80 pixels fewer than either the iPhone's or Pre's display. Eos will be a 3G phone (HSPA capable) and extra connectivity comes via Bluetooth 2.1 (with A2DP and EDR - so you can listen to stereo music wirelessly) and a micro USB port (2.0)...

Apple to unveil more wallet-friendly Macs?

2009-05-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

In a market heavily influenced by the economic calamity, Apple has been under fire of rival Microsoft’s recent advertising campaign. Suggesting that Mac purchasers are falling victim to an “Apple tax”, the campaign’s aim is to persuade consumers into buying a PC, portraying Macs as overpriced, unjustified glamour-boxes. In addition to the jabs thrown by Redmond, Apple faces the ever-increasing growth and popularity of low cost netbooks.

To combat the recent trends and stiff opposition, the Cupertino-based computer maker is said to have a plan to revive growth in their Mac computer sales. In the coming months, Apple patrons can look forward to price reductions on the 13” MacBook and the iMac. At this point in time, pricing is either undetermined or undisclosed, but there is much speculation that the budget Macs could be available as early as this spring.

Apple has repeatedly denied having any interest in snagging a piece of the netbook pie. Backing that up, unnamed sources have suggested that the lower cost Macs should offer a temporary solution to the low cost netbooks. In the long term, the sources say that the rumored Newton-like web tablet will offer a more direct competition.

via

Android, Not Windows Mobile, To Motorola's Rescue?

2009-05-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

Motorola on Thursday said it would launch several smartphones based on Google's Android platform in the fourth quarter of 2009, with CEO Sanjay Jha telling investors during the company's quarterly earnings call that Motorola Android phones will mean a "differentiated consumer experience."

But as several reports and analysts were quick to point out late Thursday and early Friday, Jha's discussion of Motorola's smartphone road map was even more interesting for what he didn't say: no mention -- not a peep -- of Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system. Motorola had previously said it would field smartphones based on both Android and Windows Mobile this year, but on Thursday, Jha was all Android, all the time.

2009-04-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

This marks the popular golf video game franchise’s debut on the iPhone. It features famed pro golfer Tiger Woods, along with other well-know golf pros like Annika Sorenstam, Vijay Singh, Natalie Gulbis and Retief Goosen. Play-by-play commentary is voiced by former pro golfer Sam Torrance and The Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman.

You can play as or against Tiger woods on 3D fairways, using realistic sounds, 3D graphics and dynamic camera angles. A unique “Swing Meter” is employed to get you into the game, which features more than 120 holes on seven famous PGA courses around the world: Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, TPC Sawgrass, Doral, TPC Boston, The K Club and Fancourt.

System requirements call for iPhone 2.2.1 software update.

Via

Review: Simplify Media for iPhone

2009-04-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Even with a 16GB iPhone at your disposal, it’s not uncommon to have more media than you can reasonably store on such a device. But where the iPhone’s storage capacity falls short, another of the iPhone’s capabilities—its almost universal ability to access the network—can help pick up the slack. All you need to do is install Simplify Media and you can start jamming away to your whole music library wherever you are.

Think of Simplify Media as a bit like iTunes’ built-in library sharing, only allowing you to share your music over the Internet instead of just your local network. Simplify Media consists of two parts: a desktop program running on Mac OS X, Windows, or Linux, and an app for your iPhone or iPod touch. You’ll also need to set up a free Simplify Media account, which you’ll be prompted to create when you first start the application.

Read Full Review Here.

Windows XP Will Still Be Available After Windows 7 Release

2009-04-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

Microsoft plans to continue offering Windows XP for netbooks after the release of its next-generation operating system, Windows 7.

"OEMs that are using Windows XP on netbooks will have the ability to install Windows XP for one year -- 12 months -- after Windows 7 general availability," said Mike Nash, corporate vice president of the Windows product management group at Microsoft, during a conference call with reporters.

The continued availability of Windows XP during a transition period after Windows 7's release will reassure users who have avoided upgrading to Windows Vista and may be wary of the new operating system.

Review: Bump, the One Billionth iPhone App

2009-04-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

The iPhone app to earn the distinction of being the one billionth app downloaded uses a bit of legerdemain to make it easy to transfer contacts between iPhones and iPod Touches.

Bump, from a small three-man development shop, uses the iPhone or iPod Touch's accelerometer, Internet connection, and location data to promote social connection, so it's a perfect example for the platform.

Here's the idea behind Bump: you launch it, "bump" your device together with another, and they offer to trade contact information. That's what it appears to do, but not what it's actually doing.

When you launch Bump, the app takes a few seconds to connect to the Internet. You choose the contact to send on Bump's settings screen, along with the fields you want to send: phone, email, address, photo, or the entire contact card.

Then, bump the phone. Or wave it - it's really just detecting the accelerometer. The app alerts Bump's Internet server, which checks to see if another phone is being bumped or waved in the same location at the same time. If it finds a match, it pops up a permission screen on both phones telling you who you just bumped with and asking if you want to trade information. Say yes, and the two phones upload their contacts to Bump's servers in an encrypted format, downloading the other contact in exchange. The whole process takes between five and ten seconds.

You don't actually have to bump phones together, by the way. A colleague and I waved two Apple devices about ten feet apart, and they connected. Bump's manufacturers say that if too many devices are bumping too close to each other, the app will just ask to re-bump until the servers can figure out who should be paired up with whom.

Bump has one critical flaw: because it's server dependent, both devices must have a live Internet connection when you bump them. They don't have to be connected to the same network, though. I bumped an iPod Touch connected to Wi-Fi with an iPhone connected to 3G, and they worked fine. But this isn't a truly peer-to-peer data transfer.

A future, paid version of Bump will allow people to send photos and multiple contacts, the company says. For now, Bump is free.

This post originally appeared on AppScout.

Palm Pre Could Launch with a YouTube Player

2009-04-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

Palm, Inc. has promised that the Palm Pre will eventually get support for playing Flash video, but some leaked images of this phone show that it may come with a YouTube application.

Palm Pre YouTube AppThis is a good indication that Palm is going to solve the problem of Flash support the way several other device makers have: by creating a stand-alone application for playing one of the most popular video sites. HTC's Windows phones come with a dedicated YouTube player and so does the Android-based T-Mobile G1.

Full Flash Support IS Coming
In February, Palm joined Adobe Systems' Open Screen Project – a broad industry initiative dedicated to enabling the Adobe Flash Platform on a wide variety of devices, from phones to televisions.

"We're aiming to bring a rich, Flash technology-enabled browsing experience to Palm's impressive web browser," said Michele Turner, vice president for Product Marketing, Flash Platform Business Unit at Adobe.

However, this doesn't mean the Pre will have full Flash support on the day it is released. Adobe's Flash Player for smartphones isn't expected to be available until the end of 2009. This is why a stand-along YouTube player is necessary.

An Overview of the Palm Pre
The Palm Pre will be the first device to use Palm's newly-announced webOS. This will be a multi-tasking operating system able to wirelessly synchronize a wide variety of data with online services like Google and Facebook.

The Pre itself will feature a sliding keyboard as well as a multi-touch-capable 3.1-inch display. This device will also be equipped with 8 GB of on-board storage, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, and a 3.0 megapixel camera with LED flash.

In the U.S. the Pre will be available first from Sprint, who will add its mobile broadband service EV-DO Rev. A. The launch day hasn't been announced, but unconfirmed reports say it could debut on on May 17.

The GSM version for Europe and Latin America may debut later this year, and will have the 3G standard HSDPA.

Via TreoCentral, Photo: BrightHand

Samsung dumps Windows Mobile and goes Google Android

2009-04-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

Since Samsung Omnia and Samsung i780 we haven't seen any new phones from Samsung that would be powered by Windows Mobile, but why? Because Samsung apparently follows Motorola in thinking that "Windows Mobile 6.5 is too lame for words so we go Android"... and by "apparently" we mean: first 100% certain confirmation and first photos:

The most popular German tabloid newspaper "Bild" is reporting that Samsung i7500 is coming and it will not only be powered by Google Android but also it will have OLED display, 5 megapixel camera and, the most important thing: 3.5 mm stereo miniplug (if you don't think that it is important then you are blind fanboy and you should stop reading our website).

So after Samsung i8910 (also called "Omnia HD" but later Samsung gave up on this name) now Samsung i7500 is coming powered by operating system competitive to Windows Mobile. Clearly manufacturers are realizing that Windows Mobile is developing too slow (no wonder: neither Bill Gates nor Steve Ballmer has been taking seriously mobility) so instead manufacturers of mobile phones are choosing competition. While until recently the main competition of Windows Mobile was Nokia's puppet - Symbian - with introduction of Google Android everything has changed because it is made by Google - a giant in software (Nokia is completely incompetent in software area; Nokia employees, including Symbian guys, have no clue whatsoever about software), and more importantly people (naively) trust Google in everything. Nokia employees have sleepless nights because of Google Android that singlehandedly will erase Symbian from the face of Earth, but what about Microsoft employees? If they don't work in one of Microsoft's mobility divisions then they despise these divisions and if they work in one of these mobility divisions then they shrug their shoulders and say: "so what? we will not get fired, in worst case we will be moved to other division".

Via: MSMobiles.com

2009-04-26T04:07:00.000-07:00

Boasting a bleeding-edge AMOLED display, a slide-out QWERTY keypad, and a 3MP camera, Samsung's new 3G slider sounds great on paper, but the Impression's bulky shell and sky-high price tag are serious turn-offs.

Available now on AT&T for—if you ask me—a too-expensive $199 (with a two-year contract and a mail-in $50 rebate), the Impression makes ... well, a relatively blah first impression, frankly. The 0.61-inch-thick shell doesn't look all that special (especially compared to the likes of new touchscreen handsets like Motorola's gorgeous Evoke), and at 5.3 ounces, the Impression feels heavier than it should.

Get ready for a treat, though, once you switch on the 3.2-inch AMOLED

Once you get past the vivid display, the Impression is relatively similar to Samsung's other recent touch-enabled handsets. The TouchWiz user interface—which lets you drag and drop widgets from the scrolling left-hand column onto the Home screen, is always nice, although the Impression's resistive-touch display (which detects input when its layers of plastic are pressed together) feels squishy compared to the capacitive displays on the iPhone and T-Mobile G1, which react to the lightest touch. Luckily, you can always tap out messages on the roomy, slide-out QWERTY keypad.

Feature-wise, the 3G- and GPS-enabled Impression comes with a solid set, including Samsung's middle-of-the-road Web browser (fine for mobile-formatted WAP sites, but sluggish on standard HTML Web pages), streaming videos and full-track music downloads (via AT&T's Cellular Video and Music services), plenty of messaging options (e-mail, IM, SMS, and MMS), and GPS navigation. The various menu screens and user interfaces are workable but a bit unpolished.

The on-board three-megapixel camera takes decent-enough snapshots, particularly in sunlit conditions; that said, don't expect high-end features like auto-focus and facial recognition. You can geotag your pictures and store them on a microSD memory card (up to 16GB of storage is supported), although you'll have to remove the Impression's back panel to get to the microSD slot.

Also on board: stereo Bluetooth support and one-way video conferencing via AT&T's Video Share service. Sorry folks: No Wi-Fi.

Call quality on the Impression was good, not great. Calls sounded fine (no echoes or dropouts, at least during my tests) while I was outdoors or near a window; once I moved into the living room of my Brooklyn brownstone, however, calls started to break up. (To be fair, the same thing happens on my iPhone with AT&T.) Samsung promises three hours of talk time on the Impression—again, good, not great.

Overall? While I'm a fan of the Impression's bright AMOLED screen, I felt the handset itself was a bit bulky, heavy, and otherwise unremarkable—hence, my unhappiness with the $199 (with contract) price tag, which seems way high to me.

For comparison's sake, check out the new LG Xenon, another 3G touchscreen slider which—while lacking the Impression's AMOLED and 3MP camera (the Xenon makes do with a 2MP snapper—comes in at just $99 with a two-year contract. That's more like it.

MacBook Air External Battery

2009-04-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

QuickerTek has released its latest notebook accessory, a new external battery for the MacBook Air. The external pack powers the device while simultaneously charging the internal battery. The company claims users can achieve 12 to 16 total hours of run time, or around 6 to 10 extra hours of power. The charger is also said to charge the internal battery in only three hours.

The product also features a smaller size than the company's other MacBook external batteries, measuring just 7-inches by 3.5-inches. The battery is housed in a machined aluminum case with an anodized finish. QuickerTek claims the cells are capable of up to 1,000 full recharges.

The MacBook Air external batter can be purchased for $350. Customers must also have a QuickerTek-modified MagSafe adapter, which carries a price of $100. An existing MagSafe adapter can be converted for $25.

MacNN

Microsoft to Start Pushing IE 8 Browser

2009-04-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

Microsoft said it plans next week to start pushing its Internet Explorer 8 browser to consumers who have Windows' automatic-update feature turned on.

The software maker released the browser for download at last month's Mix conference and had said it planned to start pushing the browser out in the coming days.

"Starting on or about the third week of April, users still running IE 6 or IE 7 on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2008 will get will get a notification through Automatic Update about IE 8," Microsoft said, though a representative said on Monday that this will not take place until next week, at the earliest.

The update process will be gradual, with only a small percentage of users seeing the new browser pushed out next week, Microsoft said. Although the code will be downloaded automatically, users will have to opt in to have the browser installed. In addition to saying yes or no, users can also opt to be reminded later.

Businesses will still be able to block the browser download entirely, while those that had been using a prerelease version of IE 8 may already have been prompted for an update.

The release of IE 8, which features a private-browsing mode and greater adherence to Web standards, comes as Microsoft continues to cede browser share to Mozilla's Firefox and other rivals. A version of IE 8 is also being built into Microsoft's upcoming Windows 7 operating system, though users will also be able to turn off the browser.

by Ina Fried (CNET)

2009-04-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

Boy Genius takes us on a tour of BlackBerry OS 5.0, which is a tasty combo of the current Bold OS and the Storm's, but really fast.

Besides the nimble juice injection—which makes it "blow away" the current OS in terms of speed—most of the changes are subtle cosmetic ones, borrowing some extra UI polish from the Storm. There's a new app called Files, which sets up network share access for BES users, but that's about it. Which is fine, except for the fact the browser performs exactly the same. It supports Google Gears now, but the WebKit browsers on every other respectably webby phone will still murder it.

Head over to BGR to read the whole rundown. [BGR] via Gizmodo

Bluetooth Over Wi-Fi Launches on April 21

2009-04-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

The Bluetooth SIG will officially announce Bluetooth 3.0 on April 21, a spokeswoman for the Special Interest Group said on Thursday. The new technology will be able to use 802.11 or Wi-Fi radios to transfer information.Specifically, the SIG will announce a "Generic Alternate MAC/PHY (AMP) that will enable Bluetooth profiles to take advantage of 802.11 speeds," she said.

Details on the Bluetooth 3.0 spec were actually discussed in detail a year ago, when SIG chairman Michael Foley disclosed that the Bluetooth spec would be able to ride both the Wi-Fi specification as well as the ultrawideband protocol, which has since shut down its standards group and seen UWB firms like TZero go under.

Bluetooth 3.0 will include a new feature, however, known as "Enhanced Power Control," which will reduce the incidence of disconnects caused by movement such as placing a phone in a pocket or purse, the spokeswoman said.

The Bluetooth 3.0 specification was originally slated to be released last year, with products scheduled to be released early in 2009. The spokeswoman said that chip companies were "already lined up to roll this out," an indication that products might not be far behind.

The idea behind Bluetooth 3.0 is that while Bluetooth can transfer media files, it's not nearly fast enough even at the 3.0-Mbits/s data rates of the Enhanced Data Rate protocol. Wi-Fi is much faster, especially with the 200 Mbits/s or so bandwidth that 802.11n promises.

Bluetooth 3.0 will allow both generic Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-encoded Wi-Fi data packets to coexist in the same network, simultaneously, through time-slicing. Under the Bluetooth 3.0 scheme, a Bluetooth radio will contact another using the Bluetooth protocol. Once a connection has been established, the Wi-Fi radios will be enabled for data transfer; the Bluetooth radios will then unclasp the handshake between the two devices.

source

SimCity for iPhone

2009-04-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Along with Tetris, the SimCity franchise was one of the great campus computer time-wasters of the 1990s. The app turned a generation of college students into urban planners designing and running their own virtual cities.

Reviving the classic game (the SimCity 3000 version, to be precise) for the iPhone turns out to be a master stroke for Electronic Arts, as the title not only gives gamers a blast from the past but also is a great fit for the device. At $9.99 (direct), it's not cheap for an iPhone app, but, as it's both endlessly replayable and extremely addictive, SimCity 2009 is an investment in creative time-wasting that's sure to pay off in the long run.

Simply visit iTunes Store and search for SimCity.
Read the SimCity 2009 (for iPhone) full review

Apple updates VoiceOver Kit for iPod shuffle

2009-04-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

Apple on Friday released an update for the recently released iPod shuffle, fixing a couple of minor items.

The 17MB download will install VoiceOver Kit 1.0.1, which contains corrected pronunciations for several artist names. According to Apple, the update also fixes a few minor bugs, but they did not elaborate on what was fixed.

Apple released the new iPod shuffle in mid-March and included several new features, including the ability for the iPod to speak your song titles, artists, and playlist names. The iPod uses the VoiceOver engine to make this happen.

The update is currently not listed on Apple's Web site, but it is available from the software update mechanism in Mac OS X.

By Jim Dalrymple, via AskIphone

Firemint’s Real Racing for iPhone

2009-04-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

Firemint’s Real Racing promises to be the first serious racing simulator on the iPhone.

“With Firemint Real Racing, we’ve pushed the iPhone’s capabilities to its limits,” explained Robert Murray, CEO and founder of Firemint in a recent press release. “While it’s true that there is no shortage of racers on the platform, we are confident that Firemint Real Racing offers the absolute best quality and gameplay.”

Though it will not be released until late April, there has already been significant buzz about this title. Firemint Real Racing was awarded the International Mobile Gaming Award for Excellence in Connectivity during a ceremony held at the Mobile World Congress. At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, Firemint Real Racing walked away with the Technical Achievement Award from the Independent Games Festival Mobile.

Read Full Story

Palm Invites Developers to Create Apps for Pre Mobile Phone

2009-04-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

Palm is taking what it hopes is the next step in to make its Palm Pre a viable iPhone competitor. On Wednesday, at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco, Palm opened up its Mojo Software Development Kit (SDK) program to a "broad group of developers." The Mojo SDK allows developers to make applications for Palm's newest operating system, WebOS, which replaces its once popular Palm OS. The ultimate goal is likely to create a broad selection of applications available for Palm handsets such as the Pre - similar to the thousands of apps available to iPhone users.

Palm could start distributing the WebOS SDK to developers as early as today, according to reports. Developers can apply to receive the Mojo SDK at the Palm Developer Network website.

Key features included in WebOS include simplified multi-tasking; the Mojo Messaging Service, a push notification system; and user-friendly device alerts that Palm says won't distract you from any task your phone is currently performing. WebOS will also feature Synergy, a database that pulls a variety of information streams into one place including Facebook updates, Google services and Microsoft Exchange data. Synergy's functions sound similar to Instant Messaging clients like Digsby, which in addition to IM also pulls social networking updates and web-based email alerts onto your desktop.

If you're finding it hard to let go of the old OS, Palm has a Pre-based solution for you as well. At launch, a Palm OS emulator from MotionApps called Classic will be available for purchase. Palm says it is working hard to make sure that popular Palm OS apps transition to WebOS. In the meantime, Classic will be available to give you peace of mind as you transition to the new operating system. How well Classic will work remains to be seen, but MotionApps says Classic can run apps twice as fast as the Treo 700p. There's no information yet about which of the more than 30,000 Palm OS applications will work with Classic or how much the application will cost.

This is the second release for the Mojo SDK after a smaller "private release" in January. Some applications have already been developed for the Pre including programs from Fandango, Pandora and a flight tracking application.

Palm is pinning its hopes on the Pre and WebOS as it tries to bounce back from lagging sales. A phased SDK release seems to be a very Apple-like move and a way to build anticipation for the launch of the actual device. Taking another page from Apple, Palm is being very opaque about when exactly the Pre will launch. For now, the date still stands as the first half of 2009.

By Ian Paul, PC World,

Photo: CNET Asia

Amazon Releases BlackBerry Shopping App

2009-04-10T14:47:00.000-07:00

Amazon on Thursday announced the release of its Amazon App for BlackBerry, a new free app from the popular smartphone that lets users fine and by products from the online retailing giant. According to the company, that app was designed in response to the popularity of a similar program for the iPhone.

Users can take pictures with their Blackberry and upload them to Amazon.com--the app will then attempt to find similar products in the store. Amazon App for BlackBerry also features one click purchasing with Amazon Prime, package tracking, personalized recommendations, Wish List, and more.

Owners of Blackberry of any Blackberry with a trackball can download it for free from Amazon's site.

By Brian Heater - PC Magazine, Originally posted to AppScout.

iSkin Solo FX case for iPhone 3G

2009-04-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

iSkin has launched a new color in its Solo FX line of iPhone cases, which feature mirrored screen protectors, and embossed patterns in a high-gloss translucent casing. The purple "vive" color is the fifth shade for the FX, with blue, green, orange and red also being available. The cases offer full access to an iPhone 3G's ports, as well as its camera lens and controls.

The mirroring on the screen protector is reflective when an iPhone is off, but fully transparent when the screen is operational. The new vive case costs $33, and has color-matching Cerulean XLR headphones available for an additional $23

source: AskIPhone

Apple Unveils Unlocked, no Commit $599 and $699 iPhones

2009-03-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

Apple has introduced a no-commit option for prospective iPhone 3G customers who don't want to sign a 2-year service contract with the AT&T. Apple stores are now carrying 8GB and 16GB iPhone 3Gs for $599 and $699 respectively, as confirmed by the staff of Apple’s flagship New York, Fifth Avenue store. AT&T is expected to follow Apple's move shortly. And in the UK, several online retailers are also now carrying SIM-free iPhones for use with any network.

This no-commit iPhone indicates Apple and its carrier partners are clearing the backlog of iPhones in anticipation of new models early June. And the pricing of the no-commit iPhone at Apple stores suggests that AT&T heavily subsidized 8GB and 16GB models at about $400 and $500 respectively.

Apple does not appear to have limited the number of no-commit iPhones available to a single buyer. In addition, no-commit iPhone do not require prospective buyer to have an existing service contract with the AT&T.

Read Full Story

LG KM900 Arena

2009-03-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a mobile phone comes along that hits you straight between the eyes, knocking you off your feet and out of your socks (not literally, or course). And sometimes a phone makes you so angry that you want to find a few windows arranged in a line so you can throw it through all of them.

The LG KM900 Arena falls somewhere in between both categories, sometimes hitting the heights of mobile perfection and other times making you wonder if human beings really can spew steam out of their ears.

Right out of the box the Arena looks special, with the dark grey polished metal exterior giving the phone a luxurious air, despite the presence of a simple black battery cover. However the handset is barely 10mm thin, and feels a little lightweight in the hand... like it doesn't quite balance in the 'weighty feel = more expensive phone' equation.

High resolution

Turning it on and you instantly see what WVGA means... lots of pixels packed into a tiny screen for super high resolution, and widescreen to boot - 480 x 800 pixels stuffed in a three inch touchscreen is beautiful.

The S-Class interface is also something to get excited about, on paper at least. Two chipsets in the handset (one running the UI, the other dealing with the internal workings) promise a slick touchscreen experience, and the chance to have four homescreens and a spinning cube to let you quickly choose the one you want is a real plus.

Read Full Story

Sony Ericsson T707

2009-03-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

Though Sony Ericsson is promising that it won't be introducing any new phones at the CTIA show next week, the company did unveil a new model Thursday in Miami. The Sony Ericsson T707 offers a sleek flip design with multimedia features, and it has the official endorsement of tennis player Maria Sharapova. Lucky it.

On the outside the T707 sports a thin profile with calling lights, a glossy skin, and minimalist touches like a hidden external display. Three colors are available: mysterious black, spring rose, and lucid blue.

Features are solidly midrange. You'll find a 3.2-megapixel camera, a music player, stereo Bluetooth, an FM radio, a personal organizer, USB mass storage, PC syncing, a voice recorder, and a speakerphone. It also supports Sony Ericsson's gesture control feature, which allows you to control some calling functions and the alarm clock by waving your hand across a sensor on the T707's front face. And as a quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and tri-band UMTS (850/1900/2100) handset, it will supports calling and 3G networks around the world.

The T707 will have limited availability in the second quarter of this year; there are no plans at present to bring it to a U.S. or a Canadian carrier.

Originally posted at Crave

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