Sony prepares to let out new UMPC Tweet

The Japanese company Of sony intends to let out new model UMPC, which is strictly and confirmed by the presence on the site of the separate page, dedicated to the starting of this product. However, besides the reference about the fact that this product will released and possibility sign to the distribution (all subscribers they will inform, when novelty appears), other information, including description, there are no photo and the periods of output -

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[Smartfon] Of google Of nexus Of one recently will leave in Europe Tweet

As reported the company Of google in its official [bloge], even during the announcement of its [smartfona] Of nexus Of one on the basis of the operating system Of android at the beginning of the present year was declared about the collaboration with such operators as Vodafone in Europe and Verizon Of wireless in the USA. And here now start sales in Vodafone, it will become the first European partner in sales Of nexus Of one. This operator already began the method of preliminary orders, and on April 30 model will be put on the market in Great Britain. Still only later apparatus will leave in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain.

As far as Verizon Of wireless is concerned, thus far the version Of nexus Of one for these networks is not released, Google advises users to focus attention on the model Of droid Of incredible from HTC similar according to the characteristics. It will begin to be sold already on April 29. Let us recall, originally [smartfon] Of nexus Of one appeared in the Internet- store Of google on January 5, it was possible to purchase both without the contract and with the contract of operator T -Mobile.

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Huawei conducted the successful testing of the equipment of ePico3801 in the Kiev metro Tweet

The company Of huawei reported the successful conducting of testing the equipment of ePico3801 Of huawei in the Kiev metro to order of Ukrainian system integrator “PROXIMUS”.

As the criteria were examined the characteristics of the allowed equipment of ePico3801, its correspondence to International standards, failure resistance, compatability with the developments of other producers. In the course of testing was checked the fitness for work of the solutions Of huawei, possibility of the assignment of qualitative services to the connection of standard UMTS on the platforms, the escalators and in the passages of the metro. The results of the carried out works confirmed the possibility of introducing the points of the access Of huawei for organizing the coating indoors of the Kiev metro.

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Android of [smartfon] lg GT540 will leave in June Tweet

The company lg Of electronics declared about the release of [smartfona] lg GT540 Of optimus on the base of the operating system Of android. According to the company, this model with 3-inch HVGA [tachskrinom] is calculated for the beginning users of [smartfonov], it is characterized by ease and ease of control.

SNS Of manager ensures the integrated access to the sites of the social networks within the framework of the convenient platform, with which it is possible to govern plural stock-taking records. Client appendix lg for the work in the social networks makes it possible to easily track its stock-taking records on the services Of facebook, Twitter and Bebo. For the Russian market will be accessible the widget To [vKontakte], and also reference to the sites classmates, [Afisha].[ru], Sport- express, services Of [yandeksa]. Moreover, the widgets Of social Of networking Of system (SNS) provide the output of the renovated information from these sites in the regime of real time directly to screen without the need for access to any other applications. The possibilities of multitask work make possible for users to examine renovations on the social sites of their friends, achieving in this case a search in the list of contacts.

Users can tune interface in the manner that by them this conveniently. GT540 it is possible to dispose to the conclusion from three to seven screens, on which are reflected the frequently utilized applications, the news, the weather forecast, and also other information, selected by user. Furthermore, in basic menu it is possible to include to 10 edited categories for purposes of more rapid and easier navigation.

GT540 possesses the wide entertaining possibilities, including of [pleer] it makes it possible to examine video of the sizes Of divX and Xvid without the preliminary reencoding, and navigation on the multimedia files is convenient because of the three-dimensional gallery of miniatures. 3-[megapikselnaya] camera supports the technology of the tying of photographs to the geographical location, and the functions Of auto Of face-Tagging and Face-To-Action make it possible to be exchanged easily multimedia [kontentom]. GT540 has the built-in application of [videomontazha] with the function of sequential drawings, so that it is possible to add music and text to its video directly on the mobile device.

[Smartfon] is accessible in several color versions, including white, pink, black and silver colors. It supports network GSM and UMTS, are equipped 1500 [mAch] with the storage battery, which ensures the long term of work without the recharging, by standard 3,5- mm [audiorazemom] for the head sets, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1, and also by GPS- receiver; in it is possible to establish the map of the memory of microSD with capacity to 16 Gb. [Smartfon] GT540 will appear on the Russian market in June 2010.

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Opera Of software: the influence Of opera Of mini for iPhone on the profile of the use of the Web Tweet

The company Of opera Of software prepared new report about the mobile Internet, which includes the preliminary data about the influence Of opera Of mini for iPhone on the profile of the use of the Web. According to this report of iPhone it became the third on the popularity cell phone among the users Of opera Of mini in the entire world. This index it was possible to reach only in two weeks after the release of the version Of opera Of mini for iPhone OS. Furthermore, the release of this version introduced changes in the top -10 of the countries according to the number of users Of opera Of mini. According to the preliminary data, the USA soon can leave in the fifth place according to this index, after displacing Nigeria, Republic of South Africa and the Ukraine from their positions into the top -10.

Such data are contained in the monthly report about the mobile Internet after March 2010, where is also marked the influence of iPhone:

* Today Apple of iPhone is the third on the popularity device among the users Of opera Of mini throughout the world. Remaining participants into the top -20 of telephones are represented by the models Of nokia and Sony Of erricsson.
* Apple of iPhone at the present moment is leader in the USA according to the number of users Of opera Of mini, after passing BlackBerry (previous leader in this region).
* In the following month the list the top -10 of the countries according to the number of users Of opera Of mini can undergo change. In the middle of April, in connection with the release Of opera Of mini for iPhone, the USA moved from the eighth position to the fifth.
* Besides the USA, iPhone were engaged the leading positions on a quantity of users Of opera Of mini in Great Britain, Australia, Korea, Canada, Germany and Japan.

One of the parts of the report about the mobile Internet is dedicated to mobile devices and their ranking depending on the number of unique users Of opera Of mini, number of rockings of browser and quantity of examined Web pages.

* Nokia prevails according to the number of users and in the number of rockings Of opera Of mini, and owners Sony Of ericsson more actively work in the network - from these telephones it is opened most of all pages in the conversion to the average user.
* Top -10 of models according to the number of users Of opera Of mini (in descending order): Nokia of 5130 XpressMusic, Nokia 6300, Nokia 2700c, Nokia Of n70, Nokia of 5310 XpressMusic, Nokia 3110c, Nokia Of n73, Nokia 2330c, Nokia 5800d, Nokia 6700c.
* Top -10 of models according to the number of rockings Of opera Of mini (in descending order): Nokia 6300, Nokia Of n70, Nokia 3110c, Nokia Of n73, Nokia of 5130 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800d, Nokia 7210, Nokia 6600, Nokia 2600c, Nokia Of e63.
* Top -10 of models according to the number of examined with the aid of Opera Mini of Web pages on the average to the user (in descending order): Sony Of ericsson Of w900i, Nokia Of e63, Sanyo SCP-2700, Sony Of ericsson Of k800, Sony Of ericsson Of w302, Samsung SPH-M810, lg LX265, Sony Of ericsson Of w508, Nokia 3500, Nokia Of e71.

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Garmin-Asus Of a10: navigation [smartfon] for the pedestrians Tweet

The alliance Of garmin-Asus presented the sequential Of android-[smartfon] with extended navigation component. From the remaining models of company this device differs in terms of the fact that, in the opinion developers, it ideally will approach as the navigation telephone for those, who travel on foot. [Smartfon] Of garmin-Asus Of a10 possesses 3,2- one inch sensory screen with the permission HVGA and supporting the introduction of [multitach]. In the presence there is 5-[MP] a camera with the auto-focus and a GPS- navigator with the predetermined firm navigation services from the company Of garmin. For some markets will be optionally supplied version with the predetermined program of cityXplorer, which will help to be oriented in the routes of public transport.

Although [smartfon] Of garmin-Asus Of a10 is positioned as the solution for the pedestrians, motorists also were not shared unfairly by attention. Into the delivery set of apparatus enters the fastening with the intensive dynamic loudspeaker, which will make a system of vocal prompts for the driver more convenient. Of course [smartfon] possesses the possibility of work, also, with all standard programs for OS Of google Of android, together with the support Of microsoft Of exchange and the access to Android Of market. In addition to the list of characteristics communicates about the presence of the storage battery with a capacity of 1500 [mAch].

The appearance of a model Of garmin-Asus Of a10 on the European and Asian markets is expected in the middle of 2010.

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The form factor Of nokia C2 will resemble [E]70? Tweet

From the company Of nokia occurred the leakage of information relative to the budgetary telephone Of nokia C2. At first glance device is appeared as the successor of the telephones Of [e]70 and even the earlier series of 68[khkh], which had a QWERTY- keyboard accessible in the opened form and been arranged on both sides of screen. However, there is difference. Old models were such unique [raskladushkami] new will, while have the revolving screen. If necessary it is possible to turn screen to the side and to obtain access to the second-half of keyboard. Thus, this device should be considered as that executed in the form factor rotator.

However, as far as characteristics are concerned, device there will be initial level and it is not necessary to expect some of super-extent of outfitting. At the present moment it is known against 2-[MPiks]. To camera with optics from the company Of carl Of zeiss and screen the permission of 240[kh]320 of pixels. There are no indications that the screen will be sensory: this is highly improbable for a budgetary S- series.

It does not communicate also about that, where and when can be represented telephone with a similar form factor, but therefore it is not possible to exclude the version of the fact that this “[feyk]”.

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Lg in the 1st quarter of 2010: an increase in the incomes, but not due to the mobile subdivision Tweet

The South Korean company lg Of electronics announced its financial indices for the passed first block of 2010, which for it ended by an increase in the incomes. However, in the mobile subdivision was fixed reduction in the commodity turnover to 19,4% in the comparison with the analogous period of last year, which in the opinion company is connected with “dead season” and reduction in the prices of the cell phones.

The total number of cell phones, which placed the company on the markets, were 27,1 mln. units, whereas their sales fell 19,7% in the comparison with last year. The operating profit of mobile subdivision was reduced by 0,9% in the comparison with the analogous period of last year, where lg connects this fact due to an increase in the investments and expenditures for marketing.

Subsequently the company is intended to increase the volume of sales and the profitability of its production of mobile subdivision due to the conclusion for the market for the new models of [smartfonov] and expansion of the markets for sale.

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Samsung Of galaxy A: the continuer Of galaxy S, but for the Korean market Tweet

To the family Of android-[smartfonov] Of samsung Of galaxy it arrived. In the rule was added the model Of samsung M100S Of galaxy A, which is the nearest “relative” of the [topovogo] apparatus Of samsung Of galaxy S. from the latter it differs in terms of the presence of simple OLED of screen, but also are supported DivX of video, mobile television DMB- T and simultaneous connection not less than to three stores of applications. However, all this happiness will be accessible exclusively for the South Korean market. Although it is known that the apparatus will support standard HSDPA/HSPA of network, most probably into sale will enter only sym -[lokirovannaya] version.

As far as characteristics are concerned, [smartfon] Of samsung Of galaxy A possesses the 3,7- one inch sensory OLED- screen (not SuperAMOLED) with the permission WVGA, it supports the reproduction of HD- video with the permission to 720[r] (to the record in this permission be achieved it cannot), DivX/XviD and mobile television of standard DMB- T. In this case the video signal can be reproduced and as by video of high clearness. As the operating system it is used by OS Of android 2.1, but the clock frequency of the processor only of 720 MHz and model does not possess the capacious built-in memory, although the map of memory on 8 GB enters into delivery set. Other characteristics include 5-[MP] camera, Wi-Fi, A -GPs and storage battery with a capacity of 1500 [mAch]. Apparatus possesses the possibility of the load of applications from the firm store of the applications Of samsung, operator SK Of telecom (T -Store) and standard store of applications from Google. The company Of samsung promises to place not less than 100 applications, specially developed for the local market and this device, which will be accessible in the following month.

It will enter within the next few days in sale Of samsung M100S Of galaxy A. It does not communicate on the deliveries for the World Market.

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New QWERTY- slider HTC on the base Of android is approved BY FCC Tweet

Federal commission for the connection of the USA (FCC) certified the mobile device HTC Of c70110. It is slider with the sensory display and the sliding QWERTY- keyboard. In the documentation on the site FCC are present the photographs of model (in the reports about the testing). Judging by the collection of keys under the display, this is [smartfon] under control of the operating system Of android. It is possible to find entirely a little on the characteristics in the documentation: are mentioned only the ranges of honeycomb networks 3G - 850/1900 MHz (in the USA service in them it allows operator AT&T).

Judging by the photographs, HTC Of c70110 - this is sufficiently simple device. The diagonal of its display can be 3,2 inches. Hardly it has any super-possibilities, cost also, probably, it will be average. Thus far difficult to say for what regions is intended this [smartfon]. Supposedly, its trade name can be HTC Of widlfire: for it voted the users during the recent interrogation, organized BY HTC.

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Nokia Of e72 in the white, with that renovated ON and “adornment” Tweet

The company Of nokia enlarged the model row of the telephones, which can be acquired in the purely white color solution. To the apparatuses Of nokia Of n97 and Nokia X6 was added the model Of [e]72. But so that the appearance of a white apparatus would be actually noticed, then it appeared together with that renovated ON for all Nokia Of e72 independently of “[okrasa]”.

It is also necessary to note that the delivery set of the white version Of nokia Of e72 differs from standard. In the box there will be not only apparatus itself, but still Bluetooth of the set Of nokia BH-216, or the certain adornment, which is only named Nokia C-313, but in no way it is identified. The white color of housing is emphasized by the theme of the formulation of the menu: according to the representatives Nokia “white outside telephone will be white inside”. In other respects the telephone completely corresponds to the standard Of [e]72: 10- mm of thickness housing, rapid access to the calendar, the contacts and the electronic mail. There are and 5-[MP] a camera, an objective from the company Of carl Of zeiss, build it by A -GPs navigator and 3,5- mm [audiorazem].

That renovated ON for the model Of nokia Of e72 includes the newest version Of ovi Of maps with the free navigation, the improved work with social networks, with the possibility of the indication of its position into FaceBook, and also obtaining of weather forecast both in the current location and assigned. Was improved the operational stability Of email, calendar, contacts and built-in browser. Into the renovation there was also switch oned renewable Intern- radio.

To [skachat] renovation for Nokia Of e72 users can through Nokia Of software Of updater.

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Google confirms: the support Of flash will appear in Android of 2.2 Froyo Tweet

The publication Of new Of york Of times published interview with Indy by ruby (Andy Of rubin), Vice President of the company Of google. In essence, the discussion during the encounter dealt with the operating system Of android. Thus, ruby noted that the platform Of android has great advantage over BlackBerry OS and iPhone OS - these are its openness and accessibility for the different producers of consumer electronics. Now in the USA Android-[smartfony] occupy only 9% of market (according to the data Of comscore), but ruby it is confident, which will succeed in exceeding competitors.

Mentioned Vice President and such most important question, as the support Of flash. By the way, the products Of apple it do not possess, since this company counts this technology of that become obsolete. According to the ruby, valuable Flash Of player will appear in the following version of the operating system Of google - Android 2.2 or Froyo. It will be, apparently, completed already in May, and soon after this already released [smartfony] will begin to obtain renovations and, of course, for the market will leave new devices on its basis.

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Official European [reliz] of the plane-table Of jooJoo Tweet

We earlier already reported about the plane-table Of jooJoo developed by the group of the enthusiasts Of fusion Of garage. However, earlier it was not known relative to possibility and delivery times for the European market. It became now known that the model will be sold in Europe. The cost of plane-table for Europe is determined €359, in Britain - £319 and in the USA - $499. In this case the company Of fusion Of garage expects an increase in sales.

On the threshold of European [reliza] the plane-table underwent the specific processing, which was caused by the fact that initial ON had a number of deficiencies. In the frequency became accessible the possibility of the [polnoekrannogo] reproduction of video in the high clearness. As far as involuntary comparisons from iPad are concerned, the executive director Of fusion Of garage does not have illusions: “possibly, we are arrogant, but we are not in error”. Therefore JooJoo on no account should be considered “the killer of iPad”.

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[Skay] link began connection to “children's Internet” in Ul'yanovsk Tweet

Operator [Skay] link began connection to the tariff plan “children's Internet” in Ul'yanovsk and regions. Unlimited [kontent]- tariff “children's Internet” is developed specially for the young users of the Internet. Entire accessible to children [kontent] is approved by the regional public center of Internet- technologies ([ROTSIT]) and by the center of the safe Internet in Russia. License fee in Ul'yanovsk and Ulyanov province is 150 and 250 rubles depending on the selected by subscriber age category.

To the end May 2010 for the new subscribers Of [skay] of link in Ul'yanovsk and the region acts the action: with the connection to any tariff plan - 1 month of service “children's Internet” into the gift. Thus, to subscribers lets the possibility to try in action new for the region tariff plan and estimate its practical benefit. At present “children's Internet” is accessible to the subscribers of Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk and Ul'yanovsk.

Entire of service “[Skay] link” are accessible in the territory of more than 6000 populated areas in 36 subjects RF, where “[Skay] link” attends more than million subscribers in networks 3G. On the sums of 2009 the volume of Internet- traffic in the network “[Skay] link” comprised more than 2 500[Tb] (increase to 72% by 2008).

Within the framework tariff plan “children's Internet” to subscribers is given the possibility of unlimited Internet- access only to the Web- resources taking into account the age category checked: “Children's Internet from 6 to 10 years” and “children's Internet from 6 to 14 years”. More than 280 sites, grouped within six divisions depending on thematics, are included in the list of the permitted resources. The list of sites is open, each user can propose its site to the examination.

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Lg GM360 Of bali - [tachfon] with two SIM- maps Tweet

In the network appeared the information about the cell phone lg GM360 (Bali). This is the device of the small thickness of 11,9 mm, equipped with 3-inch sensory display with the permission WQVGA. But here apparatus keyboard in it is not provided. In this case it is asserted that the possibility to work with two SIM- maps is provided in telephone. Lg GM360 Of bali works in four ranges of honeycomb networks GSM/EDGE. For photography in this device answers 5-[Mp] the camera with the auto-focus and the light-emitting diode flash (it also easy to note on the photo).



In addition to this, the apparatus is equipped with musical [pleerom], Fm- radio, are supported the interfaces Of bluetooth and USB, and also map of the memory of the size of microSD. Characteristics average and it is possible to assume that lg GM360 Of bali it will be characterized by reasonable cost. Thus far nothing it is known about the tentative periods of its release and the purposeful regions. If this is actual telephone with two SIM- maps, then it, will be most likely, sold, where such models popular, for example, in Asia and Russia.

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MTS starts the networks of the third generation in the Ryazan province Tweet

The operator of MTS declared about the starting in the commercial operation of the network of the third generation in Ryazan. MTS ensured coating network 3G in all basic city districts. Prior to the end of 2010 the operator plans to ensure 100%- noy coating the territory of the city of Ryazan, and to in 2011 neglect network 3G in the operation in a number of other cities of the Ryazan province.

C by the appearance of a network of the third generation subscribers MTS in Ryazan obtained the possibility to use the mobile Internet at the speeds, compared with the wide-band Internet from the operators of the fixed connection - to 3,6 Mbit per second. This will make it possible to substantially improve quality and convenience in the use of services MTS - operationally to work with the corporate network and the post applications, to examine flow video.

In order to use 3G- services, to subscriber it suffices to have a telephone, which supports standard 3G, the connected service MTS “OF GPRS” and to be located in the zone of coating 3G- network MTS. The presence or the absence of network 3G subscriber can control on the special mark on the screen of his telephone or on the computer on the indication in the window “mts -[Konnekt] manager” with the use of an modem “mts -[Konnekt]”. Also in the telephone/modem must be included on the regime of the selection of network “2G (GSM) + 3G (UMTS)”. Usually this can be made with the aid of the point of the menu of the cell phone “of tuning of network”.

Now the networks “third generation” from MTS act in 75 cities in all federal regions of Russia. In the central federal region network 3G already works in Moscow, Vladimir, Voronezh, Tver, Tambov, Smolensk, Ryazan. To the end May 2010 the company MTS plans to neglect the networks of the new generation in all provincial centers [TSFO].

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Left the version of the [pre]- alpha browser Of firefox for OS Of android Tweet

In [bloge] of the developers of the mobile browser Of mozilla Of firefox (Fennec) appeared the communication about the release of its first version for the program platform Of android. Assembling thus far is found in status of [pre]- alpha, already it is possible to load here it. Although, the developers warn, which in it is thus far sufficient “[bagov]”. Firefox for Android can be established only into the memory of device, but not on the map of memory. In to the same, the browser works only with the version OS Of android 2.0 and it is above, it is desirable from OpenGL ES 2.0.

Thus far Firefox for Android was tested thoroughly only to Motorola Of droid and Google Of nexus Of one. Most likely, browser will work also on other devices, which satisfy the declared requirements, but is not excluded the appearance of any problems. However, for so early an assembling this is completely not surprising. Developers mentioned the economical use of resources of memory by the data by browser, and also they reported the fact that they will develop Firefox for Android, adding to it all new possibilities in the following versions.

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First electronic book from Digma: [multiformatnaya] [chitalka] of [e]500 Tweet

TM Digma represented its first model of the electronic book - Digma of e500. E-ink screen by the diagonal of 5 inches will make it possible to read without the stress in the comparison with smaller in the size by the displays of [smartfonov] and other mobile devices. Because of the special technology of electronic inks e-ink, e500 consumes a minimum quantity of the energy: even during intensive reading about the recharging of storage battery it is possible to forget by approximately 1 month (equivalent of reading 15 000 - 18 000 p.).

[Chitalka] of [e]500 supports the most popular sizes of the electronic books and documents - FB2, TXT, PDF, RTF, EPUB, HTML, CHM, PDB, MOBI, DJVU. But also with the aid of Digma of [e]500 it is possible to examine images JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF, GIFF, to listen to music WMA, MP3, WAV, OGG and Fm- radio.

For more comfortable and more pleasant reading into e500 is realized the function of a change in the standard tuning. User can establish the individual tuning: to change the type of system type and its size, to [otmasshtabirovat] text and image, to hear music in the background regime. For storing the data it is possible to use internal Flesch- memory of the device with the size of 256 mb. or detachable maps of the memory of the size Of microSD (SDHC) by volume to 32 Gb. Into delivery set already enters the map with a volume of 2 Gb.

To load the dear literature and other information possible with the aid of the computer through the built-in port of mini-USB. In addition to this, through this port occurs the battery charging.

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Motorola Milestone XT701 Tweet

Motorola Milestone XT701

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Apple WWDC 2010: Five Things To Watch For Tweet

Apple announced on Wednesday that the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference will run June 7 to 11 at San Francisco's Moscone Center West. Apple is dubbing this year's WWDC "The Center of the App Universe," indicating the conference's--and Apple's--focus is on iPhone OS-based devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

The WWDC keynote address has been the traditional venue for the introduction of new iPhone devices, and there's always a guessing game about what other surprises the company might have in store. With that in mind, here's five things to watch for as we get close to WWDC 2010.

Apple WWDC 2010

The New iPhone

Gizmodo already gave us a sneak preview of the new iPhone by posting photos and a detailed breakdown of a next-generation iPhone prototype the gadget blog acquired earlier this month. But keep in mind that it was only a prototype, and there's no guarantee that what Gizmodo reported on will be the official device that Apple unveils in June--assuming Apple comes out with a new device at all.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the next-generation iPhone, including its storage, screen resolution, and even its name. It's also not clear if the new iPhone will use that flat, boxy case found on the protoype, or whether it will stick with the more rounded shape of previous iPhone devices. Will the front-facing camera be ready for prime time by June? Remember, Gizmodo reported that the anonymous person who found the iPhone said the prototype's camera kept crashing.

Also, how will Apple CEO Steve Jobs handle this one? Will he acknowledge Gizmodo's scoop with a passing reference or a joke, or just pretend that the biggest tech leak of 2010 didn't happen?

iPhone OS 4.0

Most of the big news about the latest iPhone OS was revealed during the company's sneak peek at the software in early April . But Apple likes to keep a few surprises in store for WWDC. One new feature could be iChat for the iPhone . Developers looking at the iPhone OS 4.0 preview have found references to iChat, and the leaked iPhone prototype did have a front-facing camera.

Game Center

Apple's sneak peek at iPhone OS 4.0 introduced us to Game Center , the company's new social gaming network. Game Center can tie into iPhone games and will include things like the ability to challenge your friends to a game and a matchmaking service that lets you find an opponent you don't know. Game Center will also have leaderboards and achievement tracking. While Apple introduced the feature earlier this month, the company didn't spend a lot of time on it. I'd expect to see this service in more detail, and perhaps see a few demos during the keynote. It will also be interesting to see how many game developers embrace Game Center, as some developers already offer similar features through gaming services like OpenFeint .

iAds

Advertising on the iPhone and iPad is supposedly going to get a whole lot more interactive with the introduction of Apple's own iAds advertising network . During the sneak peek of the next OS, Apple showed off some advertising mock-ups the company had made, but nothing from an actual advertising partner. Apple also said during a Q&A with reporters after the iPhone OS 4.0 preview that it didn't anticipate having to approve iAds to the degree it approves iPhone and iPad applications. So that begs the question, will iAds be something that users can embrace or will advertisers shoot low and come out with plain old mobile advertising that some free iPhone apps are using now?

One More Thing...

Steve Jobs has become famous for using the "Just one more thing," line and then introducing a new device or feature to excite the Apple user base. He doesn't use this line at every Apple event, but it's always interesting to watch out for it in case Apple unveils something particularly interesting and unexpected at this year's WWDC.

source

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Qualcomm Bringing Flagship Gigahertz Processing to Mainstream Smartphone Tier of Chipsets Tweet

- Company Now Sampling MSM7x30 Family of Solutions, Breaking New Ground in Mobile Web and Multimedia Performance -

SAN DIEGO -- Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies, products and services, announced that it is sampling a new smartphone chipset family that breaks new ground in mobile performance in the mainstream smartphone tier. The MSM7x30 family features a strong emphasis on multimedia performance, supporting high-definition video recording and playback, exceptional graphics with dedicated 2D and 3D cores, and an overall chip design optimized for a highly responsive, immersive Web experience. The first devices based on the flagship MSM7x30 family of chipsets are expected to launch commercially before the end of 2010.

"Qualcomm continues to focus on enabling the best possible mobile experiences and this new family of solutions brings an unmatched feature set to the smartphone segment," said Alex Katouzian, vice president of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. "As the demand for smartphones continues to grow, our innovative technology will enable Qualcomm's device manufacturing partners to deliver products with greater value than ever before."

The MSM7x30 family of chipsets, which includes the MSM7230(TM) solution for HSPA+ networks and MSM7630(TM) solution with multi-mode HSPA+/EV-DO Rev. B and SV-DO support, is designed around optimal data throughput and powerful multimedia functionality. The 7x30 has the same market-leading Scorpion CPU as previously commercialized in the Snapdragon QSD8x50 chipset. The 7x30 uses an 800 MHz to 1 GHz custom superscalar CPU based on the ARM v7 instruction set, delivering exceptionally high-end processing at low power to support features that include:

* 720p high-definition video encode/decode at 30 frames per second
* Integrated 2D and 3D graphics GPUs with support for OpenGL ES 2.0, and OpenVG 1.1 industry standard APIs
* Dedicated low-power audio subsystem supporting 5.1 surround
* 12-megapixel camera support
* Integrated GPS for location-based services
* Support for leading mobile operating systems, including Android, Windows Mobile, Brew Mobile Platform and Symbian
* Support for package-on-package memory for reduced board space, optimized power consumption and more responsive performance

The MSM7x30 family of chipsets is supported by the PM8058(TM) power management integrated circuit and the QTR8600(TM) RF subsystem with integrated Bluetooth® and FM radio. MSM7x30 chipsets will directly interface with Qualcomm's WCN1312(TM) WLAN solution for 802.11 b/g/n.

Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 100 Index, the S&P 500 Index and is a 2009 FORTUNE 500® company. For more information, please visit www.qualcomm.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company's ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of the MSM7x30 family of chipsets on a timely and profitable basis, the extent to and speed by which HSPA+ and EV-DO Rev. B networks are adopted and deployed, the speed by which the smartphone segment grows, the time when devices based on the MSM7x30 family of chipsets are commercially available, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 27, 2009.

Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. MSM7230, MSM7630, PM8058, QTR8600 and WCN1312 are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) set for June 7 Tweet

Today Apple announced that its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) would occur on June 7th in San Francisco at the Moscone West conference center. The five day conference includes development sessions for the iPad, as well as iPhone OS 4, and Mac OS X labs. "This year's WWDC offers developers in-depth sessions and hands-on working labs to learn more about iPhone OS 4, the world's most advanced mobile operating system," Apple's senior vice president of iPhone software, Scott Forstall, said. WWDC has been the place of past iPhone product launches, and so we could see a new iPhone announced this year as well. More information can be found at developer.apple.com/wwdc.

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Microsoft outs Windows Phone 8 already? Tweet

Begins recruitment drive for 'next version of Windows Mobile'

Microsoft has begun looking for engineers to come and be part of the next generation of Windows Phone devices.

A new job post on the Microsoft Careers website has asked for someone to join the Customer Experience Engineering team, with the post title referencing Windows Phone 7.

But the copy clearly asks for someone to look at the 'next version of Windows Mobile' - which is either an upgrade to WP7 or a whole new version.

Shaping the future

"Do you want to help shape the future of mobile technology? The Mobile Device division is Microsoft's fastest growing business where we are building the next version of Windows Mobile.

"The Customer Experience Engineering (CXE) team has openings for great people to create and drive an infrastructure to delight our customers and end users. You will partner closely with your peers in Test, PM and development, and be engaged throughout all phases of the product life cycle.

"Responsibilities include test automation development, participation in design/code reviews, creation of test tools, creation, review and execution of test plans and helping to innovate the way we verify quality in our products and work with customers."

The ad also says that 'a strong passion for the needs of customers [is] a plus,' highlighting that this is very much about making sure the new OS is consumer, rather than business, facing.

However it will likely be months or even years until we hear about the next version of Windows Phone - we're not going to see WP7 until the end of 2010.

source

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Samsung eyes Google TV Tweet

Samsung Electronics, the world’s top TV maker, is considering developing “Google TVs” which run Google’s Android operating system, its executive told The Korea Herald yesterday.

The move came as Samsung’s rival, Sony, is reportedly working with Google and Intel to offer Internet-connected, Android-based TVs, seeking to allow viewers to download and enjoy a wealth of Web content and software as they do on computers and smartphones.

Apple and Google are seeking to take a bite out of the TV market, hoping to expand their influence beyond the mobile arena. Such moves herald a repetition of a race over operating systems and applications, as is currently seen in the smartphone market, analysts said.

“We are considering (developing) Google TVs. We are examining the business feasibility of Google TVs,” a Samsung executive said.

He said the company will decide whether to develop Android-based TVs after details about Google TVs are available.

A Samsung spokesperson said the company is studying Google TVs, and will watch market developments, saying Sony is expected to introduce its Android-based TV possibly late this year.

Samsung’s cross-town rival, LG Electronics, said yesterday it has not considered making Google TV.

Chun Seung-hoon, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities, said Samsung’s Google TV is plausible, given that Google’s Android is an open platform. “There is no problem for Samsung to produce Google TVs,” he said.

However, he said the hardware manufacturer faces the risk of losing its control over the TV market to Google, a software firm, should it make Google TVs. “This is not a good picture. I think it would be better for Samsung to expand its own platform Bada,“ he said.

Korean TV makers Samsung and LG face an increasing threat from the likes of Apple and Google, which seek to leverage their strength in software to enter the TV market. Samsung and LG, which are the world’s No. 2 and No. 3 handset vendors, are also eclipsed by those rivals, mainly because of their weakness in content and software offerings, analysts say.

However, Kim Kyeong-hyun, a Samsung vice president, downplayed the potential threats by Apple and Google in the TV market, saying Samsung has a manufacturing edge, and the new entrants mainly focus on software.

He added they could be both competitors and partners.

“(Apple and Google) will help expand the TV market,” he said.

In the face of the challenge, Samsung launched the world’s first application store for TVs, dubbed Samsung Apps. Samsung is also holding an application contest to woo developers and secure content.

The move came as TVs are becoming more like computers, which give viewers access to the web.

ISuppli forecast worldwide sales of Internet-enabled TVs will rise to 87.6 million units by 2013, up from 14.7 million in 2009. An estimated 60 percent of total North American flat panel TVs shipped in 2013 are expected to be Interne-enabled TVs.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics announced its plan to launch the world’s slimmest TV in the United States this week and in Europe and other countries next month.



However, in terms of content and software, which are increasingly important not only in handsets but in TVs, the expensive “full HD 3-D LED TV 9000 series” fails to differentiate itself from Samsung’s previous models.

In Korea, the new model is priced at 9.9 million won ($9,000), along with a Blu-ray disc player and 3-D glasses.

Although the new TV stands out with its ultra-thin profile (7.98-millimeter thick), the new model has similar functions and software with Samsung’s other premium series.

It features a 2-D to 3-D conversion technology, which renders 2-D content into 3-D content. Like previous models, the new product features Samsung Apps, which allows users to download applications onto TVs, and “Samsung internet TV,” which offers Web content such as news, weather, stock information and movies.

Kim said he was confident that the company will be able to achieve its sales target of 2 million units of 3-D TVs, despite consumer worries about health risks associated with 3-D viewing.

He said its research showed that there is little health risk if certain guidelines are met in TV viewing.

Meanwhile, he said the company will join forces with designer brands to promote its new premium TVs. He declined to identify them, saying talks are under way.

source

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HTC Desire rooting guide (now with A2SD + radio update!) Tweet

Read this whole topic - it contains a ton of useful information as well as the instructions and downloads!

Remember that if you use this guide, you do so entirely at your own risk!

Welcome to my guide on how to root the HTC Desire - this is a 'first cut' of the guide, and will be refined / improved as time progresses!

Compatibility

This guide will allow you to root your HTC Desire, provided it has a bootloader version of 0.75 or below. To check this, turn off your device, then turn it back on with the 'back' key held. On the second line in green text you will see HBOOT- and then a number. Provided this is 0.75 or below, this guide should work for you.

O2 Germany devices are currently shipping with a 0.80 bootloader, and as such cannot be rooted using this guide at this time.

Desire rooting protection

Back in the early days of Android, rooting was easy. You had several options - you could flash stuff via the bootloader, you could flash an engineering bootloader, you could use kernel exploits - there were many ways of getting the low level access to your device that - in fairness - I think we as paying customers are entitled to. As time has progressed however, the manufacturers have made things harder and harder. The Desire is not a straightforward phone to root, for many reasons, including...

* a 'perfected bootloader' that doesn't allow flashing or booting of any images (even HTC signed ones)
* a RUU flash process that does not allow downgrading of the bootloader to earlier versions
* a kernel (that as yet does not have publicly available source) that as yet has no known exploits
* a new protection method previously seen on the HTC Tattoo that protects key partitions from having write access. Even with SU access, it is not possible to write to the boot, recovery or system partitions.

In reality, the options for rooting a device this secure are limited. Even if a kernel exploit were found, the key partitions would still be unwritable, rendering su access useless. This was circumvented on the Tattoo very cleverly, using a specific memory address from a confidential Qualcomm datasheet, however this information is not yet available for the Snapdragon chipset used in the Desire (and indeed may never enter the public domain).

And so the root process becomes a process of methodically probing every possible point of exposure on the device, looking for the slightest chink in the armour. I found one and we're putting it to good use! The downside is that it's not as easy or as pretty as rooting a device that is actually DESIGNED to be accessible at the lowest level, such as the Nexus One.

Shame on you HTC for going to such unnecessary lengths (but that's another story for another day).

What this root process provides and does not provide

The root process will...

* flash your device with a new, generic 1.15.405.4 based ROM that has Superuser access
* show you how to enter the recovery image in future, allowing you to flash update zips

The root process will NOT...

* enable you to flash your device with a custom recovery image that can be launched easily by just holding down the volume down button when powering on
* enable you to have write access to the /system partition in normal use of the device

Both of these limitations are being worked on of course. wink.gif

Pre-requisites

In order to complete this guide, you need the following...

* a HTC Desire wink.gif
* a Windows machine (sorry, I am trying to remove dependencies on specific OS')
* a Linux (a liveCD should do) or OSX machine (sorry, I am trying to remove dependencies on specific OS')
* a microUSB cable
* a microSD card (to be made into a 'goldcard')
* the downloads below
* balls of steel (actually, I just made that up) tongue.gif

source

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Google Android 2.2 to Support Flash, Going Where Apple Won't Tweet

Google's Andy Rubin told The New York Times that Android 2.2, or Froyo, will fully support Adobe's Flash technology. The position stands in stark contrast to Apple, which has eschewed Flash for its iPhone and iPad. In case it wasn't clear before, there is a new crusade among the mobile Web, or rather an old crusade with newer players, with Apple unapologetically waving the proprietary flag and Google taking up the open mantle.

Google's Android director has confirmed that Android 2.2, the forthcoming version of the company's operating system for smartphones, tablets and netbooks, will support Adobe's Flash technology at launch.

Flash is the industry standard for multimedia on the Web. Apple has staunchly refused to support the technology for both its popular iPhone and new iPad tablet computer. Enter Google and Android, whose multiple iterations are seeing strong adoption even as they confound application developers and consumers for the fragmentation they represent.

Andy Rubin, the vice president for engineering at Google who spearheaded the creation of Android after selling the same-named company to Google in 2005, told the New York Times that Android 2.2, code-named Froyo, will fully support Flash.

This should ensure that Websites written in Flash will run smoothly on Android 2.2 devices without developers having to rewrite the Websites to accommodate Android.
Resource Library:

Perhaps more interesting was Rubin's comment about the support. Sometimes being open "means not being militant about the things consumers are actually enjoying," he told the Times.

It's tough to accurately divine intent from this context without a full transcription of the conversation, but it seems that Rubin is taking a shot at Apple.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has shown disdain for Flash and even Adobe, which he has described as "lazy." Jobs and Co. have publicly endorsed HTML5 for Web multimedia, a position the company holds in common with Google.

Apple lit Adobe's fuse April 8 when it unveiled the new iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, which has been revised for the company's iPhone 4.0, slated to appear in June. Specifically, Apple's Clause 3.3.1 notes:

"Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs..."

Rubin's comments to the Times stand in stark contrast to Apple's positioning not only on Flash, but with respect to the app programming industry at large.

"We use the same tools we expect our third-party developers to," Rubin told the Times. "We have an SDK we give to developers and when we write our Gmail app, we use the same SDK. A lot of guys have private APIs. We don't. That's on policy and on technology. If there's a secret API to hook into billing system we open up that billing system to third parties. If there's a secret API to allow application multitasking, we open it up. There are no secret APIs. That is important to highlight for Android sake. Open is open and we live by our own implementations."

Note Rubin specifically said Google has no private APIs, the very same application hooks Apple is outlawing on the iPhone.

What Google's Android team builds for its own use, it frees up to others. What Apple builds, it builds for itself and protects it fiercely with restrictions. And when application programmers write software for Apple's App Store, they must follow that company's regimen and processes to the letter.

In case it wasn't clear before, there is a new crusade among the mobile Web, or rather an old crusade with newer players, with Apple unapologetically waving the proprietary flag and Google taking up the open mantle.

While it will please many developers that Android 2.2 will support Flash, it could also extend the fragmentation issue plaguing the OS. Android 1.5, 1.6, 2.0 and 2.1 all comprise the four flavors of Android.

Adding a fifth one to the mix will widen this fragmentation, especially if Google fails to extend its Flash support from Android 2.1 to the previous iterations.

source

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An introduction to the Vodafone 845 Tweet

In this video we'll give you an introduction to the Vodafone 845, the first Vodafone branded handset to run on Android

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An update on Nexus One partnerships Tweet

When we launched Nexus One in January, we announced partnerships with Vodafone in Europe and Verizon Wireless in the US. We have news on both fronts.

Today, Vodafone begins accepting pre-orders for Nexus One from customers in the United Kingdom at www.vodafone.co.uk/nexusone, and on April 30th Vodafone will start selling Nexus One in their UK stores, online, and over the phone. Soon after, they will also begin selling Nexus One in France (SFR), Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Vodafone is our first European partner to distribute the Nexus One.

In the US, if you’ve been waiting for the Nexus One for Verizon Wireless’ network, head over to http://phones.verizonwireless.com/htc/incredible to pre-order the Droid Incredible by HTC, a powerful new Android phone and a cousin of the Nexus One that is similarly feature-packed. It will be available in stores on April 29th.

We are very pleased with the amazing pace of innovation and strength of the Android ecosystem and to be working with partners around the world to bring the Android experience to more people.

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Microsoft Announces Patent Agreement With HTC Tweet

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft Corp. and HTC Corp. have signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft’s patent portfolio for HTC’s mobile phones running the Android mobile platform. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will receive royalties from HTC.

The agreement expands HTC’s long-standing business relationship with Microsoft.

“HTC and Microsoft have a long history of technical and commercial collaboration, and today’s agreement is an example of how industry leaders can reach commercial arrangements that address intellectual property,” said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft. “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with HTC.”

Microsoft’s Commitment to Licensing Intellectual Property

The licensing agreement is another example of the important role intellectual property (IP) plays in ensuring a healthy and vibrant IT ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 600 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. The program was developed to open access to Microsoft’s significant research and development investments and its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio. More information about Microsoft’s licensing programs is available at http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

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Why Google Shelved the Nexus One on Verizon Tweet

If you're a true Google watcher, by now you've seen the news that Google nixed its agreement to put its Nexus One smartphone on Verizon Wireless' network of 90 million-plus users.

This clearly deals a blow to Google's hopes for expanding the device, which it sells solely through its Webstore. So now the only major question to be entertained is: why? Why did Google (or Verizon, if you're of that school of thought) do this?

Journalists, bloggers and pundits are hurling around different reasons. Before I get into them, my gut was that the Nexus One, despite Google's claims to the contrary, just didn't sell well enough.

Then here comes this sexy HTC Incredible, boasting the same size and quality of display, the same operating system version, Android 2.1, and the same 1 GHz processor.

In limited testing, I've come to find the Incredible is just a better Nexus One, boasting a better camera (8 megapixels to 5 MP on the Nexus One), and a richer user interface with the seven palette HTC Sense experience.

So it makes no sense for Verizon to support the Nexus One when the Incredible will run right over it. It would cost more money for both Verizon and Google to support it, even though Google exclusively sells it.

Someone at Google or Verizon made the decision, but which side did so is unclear. Google positioned this hard blow to the Nexus One in a soft light, noting:

We won't be selling a Nexus One with Verizon, and this is a reflection of the amazing innovation happening across the open Android ecosystem. Verizon Wireless customers who want an Android phone with the power of the Nexus One can get the Droid Incredible by HTC.

Indeed, the Nexus One Website, which used to advertise the gadget going to Verizon in the spring, now points users toward the Incredible, which goes on sale April 29:

Nexus One Incredible.png

Here is what others are saying about it:

Wall Street Journal: "After lackluster sales, it was Google that decided to pull the plug on a CDMA version of the Nexus One that would have worked on Verizon's network, according to a person familiar with the matter."

BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis, via Bloomberg: "The breakdown of the deal signals Verizon may view Google as a competitor rather than a partner when it comes to Nexus One sales, said Gillis."

I'm not sure I buy that theory. Here's one I do buy:

TechCrunch: "Others will see this as Verizon fearing Google entering its own space. If that's the case, why agree to partner with Google in the first place? And why be more afraid now when sales through Google itself don't look that strong? No, the real reason Verizon is dumping the Nexus One is much easier to understand: There's simply a better Android phone coming shortly."

However, TechCrunch also assumes this was Verizon's move and that's where I'm having trouble.

Why have Google announce this move with sugarcoating we can all see though instead of saying flat-out that it won't support the Nexus One? Presumably to save face and to keep the Android on Verizon innovation and marketing shop humming.

Perhaps. Verizon is the best network on which Google can move the Android needle forward versus the iPhone, so Verizon wears the pants in this relationship. If it doesn't want Google releasing phones that compete with it, then Google won't or can't.

Of course, it could just be that this was just a practical technological roadmap decision and not a business grudgematch pitting Verizon's heft first the fledgling Google Webstore.

In other words, the Incredible just cannibalized the Nexus One on Verizon.

How do you see it?

source

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Motorola to Put Skyhook’s Location Technology into Android Phones, Bypassing Google Tweet

For Google, it’s been a good news/bad news week. The good news is that the search leader’s open-source Android mobile operating system is catching on fast, with more manufacturers and carriers selling Android-equipped phones and more consumers buying them. The bad news is the story isn’t playing out exactly the way Google planned.

Yesterday the UK’s Vodafone announced that its UK customers will be able to buy Google’s Nexus One Android phone only in Vodafone retail stores, rather than through the Web store Google set up specifically for that purpose. And Google revealed that Verizon, the largest U.S. wireless carrier, won’t be selling the Nexus One at all, and is going instead with HTC’s Droid Incredible.

Today comes another change: Motorola is announcing that its own Android phones, such as the Droid and Cliq, will bypass the free location finding system that Google built into Android and use software from Boston-based Skyhook Wireless instead.

That’s a big win for Skyhook, adding a notch to a belt that already includes Apple’s iPhones and iPad line, Dell notebook computers, and mobile devices from Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, and other manufacturers. It’s also testimony to the open nature of the Android ecosystem, which—in contrast to the iPhone OS—was designed so that manufacturers and developers can swap out pieces of the operating system, such as the location-finding system, if they feel like it. And if, as Skyhook and many mobile developers argue, Motorola’s switch results in more accurate location readings for mobile users, then the move will ultimately benefit consumers as well.

Nonetheless, there’s reason to believe that Google is unhappy about Motorola’s decision. After all, there’s much more at stake than just bragging rights about whose location-finding system is installed in millions of smartphones. If Motorola phones use Skyook’s hybrid GPS-, cellular-, and Wi-Fi-based system to find their locations rather than Google’s own similar technology, it means vast amounts of data about the locations and travel habits of mobile users will go into Skyhook’s databases instead of Google’s. And location data, in the coming era of targeted advertising and location-based search and mobile commerce, will be one of the hottest commodities around.

Motorola is the first phone maker to add Skyhook’s location system to an Android phone. Ted Morgan, Skyhook’s founder and CEO, says Skyhook won Motorola’s business because it was able to persuade the Illinois-based mobile giant that its positioning system—which works in part by measuring signals strengths from nearby Wi-Fi networks and checking in with Skyhook’s continuously updated database of Wi-Fi network locations around the world—is more accurate than Google’s.

“We do side-by-side field tests all over the world and show that in a daily user’s life, this will perform much better,” says Morgan. “Every time you check in on Foursquare, it’s going to pick the right bar; every time you drive, it will pick the right road.”

It also helped, Morgan says, that Skyhook has direct relationships with scores of mobile-software developers who have built location-related apps for the iPhone platform and who say they want Skyhook’s system on Android devices.

“We decided to add Skyhook location to the ‘Movies’ Android App when we realized that it improved our accuracy over the native Android APIs,” said Joe Greenstein, co-founder and CEO of Flixster, in a statement prepared by Skyhook. APIs, or application programming interfaces, define the way different components of an operating system talk to each other; San Francisco-based Flixster has quite a bit of experience dealing with them, as its movie-search service is available on

Click to read the rest of the article

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Nokia takes clear lead over Samsung Tweet

Nokia's X6, 5530 and 5330 handsets put it 4% ahead of arch rival in March
Nokia has recaptured a clear lead over Samsung in the UK market, according to recent market share figures.

Sources said as of the end of March, Nokia has around a 4% lead on Samsung, with the X6, 5530 and 5330 handsets doing particularly well.

Samsung held the number one position for the two months before Christmas, after taking the top spot several times during 2009.

However, sources told Mobile that Samsung's lead had been fuelled by its low-end E1120 handset, which was sold in Asda for £4.99 during the run-up to Christmas.

Asda is understood to have sold 350,000 of the devices in a four-week period, giving Samsung around five points of share. The grey market cost of the phone is around £13.99.

One distributor source said: 'Everyone's feeling more positive towards Nokia. They are doing a lot and it might be enough to get strong business.'

Meanwhile, some blamed Samsung's slow approach in bringing its flagship device, the Wave, to market on its drop in share. One source said: 'The Wave is way too late.'

Samsung has produced new QWERTY and slider Genio variants this year, as well the Google Android-based Galaxy Portal.

CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood said: 'Samsung cant afford complacency in the low end. It will come under pressure from Nokia which hasnt announced a cheap touch-screen, but we think it will.'

He added: 'The mid part of the market is gone now. It's the lower cost prepay segment or a smartphone.'

'The Wave is a beautiful product, but [Samsung's platform] Bada hasn't got the credentials that Android and BlackBerry have.'

source

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Android Commercialization Tweet

Android has met with rapid success because it delivers an open source, integrated, comprehensive software development framework.

While it was initially developed for mobile handsets, all types of devices are now turning to Android as a complete software solution. Customers are now using Android in consumer devices, Smartphones, set-top boxes, Digital TVs (DTV), IPTVs, Internet connected TVs, eReaders and eBooks, In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems, and other connected devices. This broader adoption has created the need for tools and solutions to simplify and speed the development of Android-based devices.

The Challenge of Delivering Commercial Products

The very success of Android has presented its own set of challenges. Successfully
building a commercial product using the Android framework is a challenge for any product developer since no formal support is available. In addition, Android is a complex software framework, so one of the core requirements is a strong knowledge of the Linux kernel and firmware. The Android framework has to be ported onto your custom hardware platforms, and this requires porting of the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) to fully support all the devices on the hardware. This requires detailed knowledge of devices such as Wi-Fi, GSM/GPRS/EDGE/3G, Bluetooth®, GPS, WiMax, camera, audio, graphics, and multimedia to complete the HAL porting in an efficient manner.
Andromeda
Rapid Deployment Program for Android

Rapid Deployment Program for Android is a complete offering designed to help you reduce your development effort by months, deliver a better quality product faster, and lower your overall development risk. It helps customers developing Smartphones and MIDs to reduce their time to market, while improving overall product quality, and lowering development costs. For customers using or interested in using Android in areas outside the Smartphone and MID domain it provides additional benefits by offeringthe same benefits and adds integrated features not found in the standard Android framework, for example IPTV, DTV, and VOD engines for digital media applications. The rapid deployment program consists of:

* Android reference platforms
* Automated Test and Validation Suite (ATVS)
* A complete set of Android Commercialization Services


Android Reference Platforms

Android reference platforms are designed to provide customers a complete, commercial quality software stack to begin their development efforts. This includes:

* A Linux port to the selected hardware platform
* Support for all on-chip SoC devices including video acceleration, graphics acceleration, etc.
* Drivers for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other peripherals
* Complete integration of the HAL to work with the Android framework
* Detailed test and quality assurance reports for the entire system
* The first available reference platforms are the TI OMAP™-3430 and OMAP-3630 processors, and MIPS-based processors


Automated Test & Validation Suite

The existing Android Compatibility Test Suite (CTS) only offers tests cases for the Android framework. The ATVS extends what CTS offers by providing a set of test cases for the HAL and the Linux layers to provide a complete test and QA solution for the entire system. Some of the key features of ATVS are:

* System wide testing from the Linux kernel to the applications layer
* A set of over 3000 manual and automated tests cases
* Incorporates CTS test cases along with other community test solutions
* Easy to use graphical user interface (GUI)
* Comprehensive and detailed diagnostics and reporting
* Benchmarking tools for performance testing and measurements


Commercialization Services

With more than 10 years experience in embedded Linux, MontaVista has the expertise to deliver high quality professional services for Android. Our experience with the Linux kernel and firmware can help deliver hardware ports quickly and efficiently. We work closely with our customers to transfer Android knowledge and technology to your development engineers, allowing you deliver future projects on your own. Commercialization services include, but are not limited to:

* Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) porting for all devices required like:
o WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, Camera, Audio Graphics, Multimedia

* Adding Advanced Features:
o Additional devices to the HAL, e.g. WiMAX, which is not available in the open source Android solution
o Additional features in the Native Libraries/ Java Native Interface layer/ Java Application Framework layer
o Adding Java application support to existing applications, integrating third party applications, or custom development of some applications
* Performance and device optimization
* Field Support and Testing

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Fennec For Android: Firefox Mobile Tweet

Fennec For Android: Firefox Mobile

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Fennec on Nexus One (Mar 29 Build) Tweet

Fennec on Nexus One (Mar 29 Build)

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Nokia Point & Find: Augmented Reality and Mobile Discovery Tweet

Nokia Point & Find lets you explore information and services on the internet, simply by pointing your mobile phone camera at real life objects. The service combines the first mobile augmented reality browser on S60 devices with a web-based content management tool that allows anyone to create and publish augmented reality experiences.

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pocketnow Turns Ten Contest! Sponsored by Wirefly Tweet

For this contest, three lucky people will get a free phone from Wirefly.com. ANY phone!

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Personalization of menu and widgets on XPERIA X10 mini Tweet

A short clip showing the desktop user experience of XPERIA X10 mini from Sony Ericsson.

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BMW Bluetooth Demo Tweet

Here is a video demonstration on how BlackBerry and BMW worked together to bring email to your car via Bluetooth.

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Lost iPhone flap deepens as police actions questioned Tweet

US police and Apple representatives have reportedly visited the home of a man responsible for shattering the secrecy surrounding Apple's next iPhone.

The move to interview the man who found an iPhone protype in a California bar comes amid heated debate over whether the related raid on a gadget blog editor was legal.

The prototype has been the subject of intense scrutiny and argy bargy after Gizmodo bought the device for $US5000 and published extensive details online.
Advertisement: Story continues below

It was found in the bar by an unnamed man after it was misplaced by Apple engineer Gray Powell while he was celebrating his birthday. Apple says it was stolen.

This week, the house of Gizmodo editor Jason Chen was raided by police over the matter. A significant number of items were seized, including documents, computers, servers, digital cameras, hard drives, mobile phones, laptops and other gadgets.

Gizmodo publisher Gawker Media argues the raid was unlawful because Chen is a journalist and protected by US shield laws. The company had already returned the prototype to Apple, but only after all of its secrets were revealed.

The controversy surrounding the raid has deepened after it emerged that Apple sits on the steering committee of the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT) taskforce, which was responsible for the raid on Chen's house.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's office told Yahoo! News in a statement that Apple provided the taskforce with "advice, recommendations, strategic input and direction", but the extent of the company's involvement in the Gizmodo raid is not yet clear.

Authorities have already confirmed that their criminal investigation into the alleged theft of the iPhone prototype from the bar came at the request of Apple. Nobody has been charged with a crime.

Following the raid on Chen's house, law enforcement officers were able to identify and interview the man who took the phone from the bar, the San Jose Business Journal reported. However, the man has not yet been identified and it is not yet clear if he is the same person who sold the phone to Gizmodo.

But Wired.com reported today that, according to insiders, Apple representatives also visited the house of the phone finder and asked for permission to search his house. A roommate reportedly refused to let them in.

The source told Wired that the goal of shopping the prototype to tech blogs was not to make money but to confirm that it was in fact the next iPhone. Nevertheless, legal experts have said both the finder and Gizmodo could face criminal charges.

Some have found it curious that REACT, a taskforce set up to investigate high-tech crimes, was handling a case involving a phone left in a bar.

However, the risks to Apple as a result of the intellectual property leak are far greater than one missing handset. Apple is known for being one of the most secretive tech companies in the world, and the leak of the prototype killed some of the mystique surrounding the upcoming device and might dissuade people from buying the current iPhone model.

Matt Zimmerman, spokesman for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said the raid on Chen's house was unlawful because reporters such as Chen were protected from police searches aimed at uncovering confidential sources and seizing other information developed during newsgathering activities.

"The police appear to have gone too far," said Zimmerman, adding police were putting the interests of Apple ahead of citizens' rights.

"Now that First Amendment lawyers, reporters, and others have highlighted the potential legal improprieties of this search, the taskforce should freeze their investigation, return Chen's property and reconsider whether going after journalists for trying to break news about one of the Valley's most secretive (and profitable) companies is a good expenditure of taxpayer dollars."

Authorities have said Chen's computers, hard drives and servers would remain untouched until investigators determined whether Chen was in fact protected by US shield laws. A crucial question will be whether shield laws apply, given that the prototype was believed by law enforcement officers to have been stolen.

Meanwhile, Nokia, by contrast, has taken a very different approach to leaks. Its new smartphone, the N8, fell into the hands of a Russian blogger, who published extensive details before the launch day.

Nokia did not initiate a police raid or sack any staff, instead opting to ask for the prototype back politely in a blog post. The company made a veiled attack on Apple in its post.

"While we are determined to protect our intellectual property and maintain the surprise when a shiny new gadget is introduced, we are not going to do so at the expense of the working conditions we enjoy here at Nokia," the company wrote.

"We are not the Secret Police, and we want to maintain our culture of openness."

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On Adobe, Flash CS5 and iPhone Applications Tweet

A little over a week ago Apple released a new draft of their iPhone developer program license which contained the following clause:

3.3.1 — Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).

Essentially, this has the effect of restricting applications built with a number of technologies, including Unity, Titanium, MonoTouch, and Flash CS5. While it appears that Apple may selectively enforce the terms, it is our belief that Apple will enforce those terms as they apply to content created with Flash CS5. Developers should be prepared for Apple to remove existing content and applications (100+ on the store today) created with Flash CS5 from the iTunes store.

We will still be shipping the ability to target the iPhone and iPad in Flash CS5. However, we are not currently planning any additional investments in that feature.

To be clear, during the entire development cycle of Flash CS5, the feature complied with Apple’s licensing terms. However, as developers for the iPhone have learned, if you want to develop for the iPhone you have to be prepared for Apple to reject or restrict your development at anytime, and for seemingly any reason. In just the past week Apple also changed its licensing terms to essentially prohibit ad networks other than its own on the iPhone, and it came to light that Apple had rejected an application from a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist on editorial grounds (which Apple later said was a “mistake”).

The primary goal of Flash has always been to enable cross browser, platform and device development. The cool web game that you build can easily be targeted and deployed to multiple platforms and devices. However, this is the exact opposite of what Apple wants. They want to tie developers down to their platform, and restrict their options to make it difficult for developers to target other platforms. There is plenty of commentary online about this, so I won’t belabor the point, but I have included some links below that cover it more depth:

* Apple Wants to Own You
* Apple Locks iPhone Developers in Its Walled Garden

So, was all of the work on the iPhone packager a waste of time and resources? No, I don’t believe so. We proved that:

1. There is no technical reason that Flash can’t run on the iPhone
2. Developers can create well performing and compelling content for the device with Flash

However, more importantly, the teams implemented features (such as hardware acceleration and Ahead of Time compilation) that we will now be able to leverage for other devices and platforms. We have gained knowledge and experience that are being directly applied to Flash Player 10.1 and Adobe AIR 2.0 for other mobile operating systems.

Fortunately, the iPhone isn’t the only game in town. Android based phones have been doing well behind the success of the Motorola Droid and Nexus One, and there are a number of Android based tablets slated to be released this year. We are working closely with Google to bring both Flash Player 10.1 and Adobe AIR 2.0 to these devices, and thus far, the results have been very promising.

Because this is Flash, it is rather trivial to port games created with Flash that target the iPhone to target other operating systems, such as Android. At FlashCamp San Francisco on Friday night, David Wadhwani (GM and VP of the Flash Platform) showed off a number of games running on Android that had been created with Flash, many of which had already been deployed as iPhone games. My personal favorites were Chroma Circuit and GridShock created by Josh Tynjala of Bowler Hat Games. Both games were originally developed as browser based games and were then updated to target the iPhone (Chroma Circuit was featured on the iTunes app store). Josh recently updated and optimized them to target Flash Player on Android, and the results have been impressive. There have already been a couple of developers who have moved their Flash based content from the iPhone to Flash on Android (couple of examples below) and I expect that this is a trend we will be seeing more and more of.

Here are some links to developers who originally targeted the iPhone with their Flash content and are now deploying to Android:

* Adobe AIR for Android: Chroma Circuit and Qrossfire Videos
* Jobe Makar : Flash is Speedy on Android
* Jobe Makar’s Fruit Smash Organic (Video)
* Alan Queen’s Star Map Game (Video)

Both Flash Player 10.1 and Adobe AIR 2.0 for Android are in pre-release testing. If you are interested in being notified when we expand the testing, you can sign up at:

* Flash Player 10.1 for Android Beta
* Adobe AIR 2.0 for Android Beta

Personally, I am going to shift all of my mobile focus from iPhone to Android based devices (I am particularly interested in the Android based tablets coming out this year) and not focus on the iPhone stuff as much anymore. This includes both Flash based, and Objective-C based iPhone development. While I actually enjoy working in Objective-C, I don’t have any current plans to update and / or maintain my existing native iPhone applications (including the AS3 Reference Guide, and Timetrocity). As I wrote previously, I think that the closed system that Apple is trying to create is bad for the industry, developers and ultimately consumers, and that is not something that I want to actively promote. Don’t worry though, I definitely plan to get both Pew Pew and Bacon Unicorn Adventure running on Android and am planning on open sourcing both.

We are at the beginning of a significant change in the industry, and I believe that ultimately open platforms will win out over the type of closed, locked down platform that Apple is trying to create. I am excited about Flash Player 10.1 and Adobe AIR 2.0 and all of the opportunities that they will make available to Flash developers across multiple platforms (desktop, Android, Palm, Windows Phone 7, RIM, etc…).

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Adobe scraps work to bring Flash apps to iPhone Tweet

What a difference two weeks and a few words of legalese can make to the future of a widely used programming technology.

In that span of time, Adobe Systems has gone from touting its technology for building Flash applications that run on the iPhone to canceling future development of that technology.

When Apple changed the terms of its iPhone 4.0 software developer kit license, it effectively blocked Adobe's move. But in his Tuesday announcement that Adobe will cease future development of the Flash-apps-on-iPhone technology, Mike Chambers, Adobe's principal product manager for the Flash platform, let loose a tirade that indicates the battle between the two companies isn't over yet.

"As developers for the iPhone have learned, if you want to develop for the iPhone you have to be prepared for Apple to reject or restrict your development at any time, and for seemingly any reason," Chambers said. "The primary goal of Flash has always been to enable cross browser, platform and device development. The cool Web game that you build can easily be targeted and deployed to multiple platforms and devices. However, this is the exact opposite of what Apple wants. They want to tie developers down to their platform, and restrict their options to make it difficult for developers to target other platforms."

Adobe takes the matter seriously. It disclosed in a regulatory filing that its business could be harmed if the iPhone and iPad don't support Adobe technology. And Adobe could be considering legal action against Apple, too, according to one report.

In a response, Apple indicated its preference for a variety of up-and-coming standards that collectively compete with what Flash can do.

"Someone has it backwards--it is HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and H.264 (all supported by the iPhone and iPad) that are open and standard, while Adobe's Flash is closed and proprietary," said spokeswoman Trudy Muller in a statement.

HTML5 is a revision to Hypertext Markup Language used to describe Web pages; CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) are used to format Web pages; and H.264 is a video compression technology used in streaming video among other areas. Adobe isn't totally removed from these technologies, however: its Flash Player includes H.264 support, and its AIR technology has built-in HTML and CSS support through inclusion of the WebKit browser on which Apple's Safari is based.

Adobe isn't limited to lashing out on blogs. It's got a big ally in any competition against Apple: Google.

"Fortunately, the iPhone isn't the only game in town. Android based phones have been doing well behind the success of the Motorola Droid and Nexus One, and there are a number of Android based tablets slated to be released this year. We are working closely with Google to bring both Flash Player 10.1 and Adobe AIR 2.0 to these devices, and thus far, the results have been very promising," Chambers said.

Google is a willing ally, too, as evidenced by a Wednesday blog post from Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering for the Android effort, on Adobe's Web site.

"Google believes that developers should have their choice of tools and technologies to create applications. By supporting Adobe AIR on Android we hope that millions of creative designers and developers will be able to express themselves more freely when they create applications for Android devices. More broadly, AIR will foster rapid and continuous innovation across the mobile ecosystem. Google is happy to be partnering with Adobe to bring the full Web, great applications, and developer choice to the Android platform."

The alliance fits a common pattern of convenience in the technology industry, with challengers working together to take on an incumbent. Apple, with tens of thousands of iPhone applications available and strong sales of the phone, the iPod Touch, and now the iPad, holds a lot of power over developers. Even those who feel Apple is riding roughshod over them likely will think twice before choosing not to participate in a market that is vibrant and in many cases lucrative.

In a synchronized move, Adobe's Flash platform evangelist, Lee Brimelow, lauded Rubin's post and spotlighted demonstrations of 13 Flash and AIR applications running on Android.

The upcoming Flash Player 10.1 and related AIR 2.0 programming foundations are in private beta testing for Android now. The software, scheduled to arrive this quarter, will work on a variety of other phone operating systems, including Windows Phone 7, the BlackBerry OS, Symbian OS, and Palm's WebOS.

Rhetoric can have teeth, and Adobe clearly hopes to give Apple a bad reputation among programmers. Chambers, a programmer himself, is directing his own attention toward Android.

"I think that the closed system that Apple is trying to create is bad for the industry, developers, and ultimately consumers, and that is not something that I want to actively promote," Chambers said. "We are at the beginning of a significant change in the industry, and I believe that ultimately open platforms will win out over the type of closed, locked-down platform that Apple is trying to create."

The Adobe technology for bringing Flash-derived applications to the iPhone is now effectively irrelevant at the very moment when Adobe is bringing it to market in its CS5 product line. Chambers, though, argues it wasn't a waste of effort.

The work proved, he said, "There is no technical reason that Flash can't run on the iPhone."

By blocking Flash, though, Apple, has proved that there is more to programming than technology.

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