HTC to Work on a Pre-Killer Touchphone

By Ionut Arghire



HTC is reported to plan on releasing a new touchphone sometime in the second quarter of this year, at least this is what a senior executive of Telstra is reported to have stated. According to the news on the web, the device has been developed through a combination of Linux-based software written by HTC and the Google Android operating system.

In addition to this, the handset it touted to feature the largest screen ever offered by HTC. From what the Telstra official is reported to have said, the phone should prove a powerful competitor for Apple's iPhone and for the new Pre device unveiled by Palm. It seems that, after seeing the new Pre, executives from Telstra said that the HTC phone should be “better and more functional.”

“We have seen both and we believe that the new HTC phone will be a real competitor to the iPhone and the Pre which at this stage looks nice but is still not delivered to market,” the Telstra officials seem to have stated. At the same time, HTC refused to comment on the new phone slated for a second quarter release.

The fact that Palm's Pre handset has been considered for comparison with a device in preparation might be good news for the company. The maker went through rather difficult times lately, and it needed a strong product to bring it back in the game. It seems that it finally managed to release such a device, Pre, which is expected to take on Apple's iPhone.

The phone running the company's new webOS won Palm the best product award in the mobile phone and smartphone category at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Moreover, the device was also called the “Best in Show” and is stated to have received the highest number of votes in a “people's choice” Internet poll.

source : http://news.softpedia.com

BlackBerry Is Eventually Heading for Fido

By Ionut Arghire



After playing a little hide and seek with offering BlackBerry devices and services, Fido seems finally determined to make the move and display the handsets for sale. According to the latest news on the Web, Fido representatives and CSRs have been announced that the BlackBerries are on their way and that they will start training sometime next week.

Moreover, it seems that Fido employees have said that the company will have the Pearl 8100 as the first device available from the line. This doesn't sound too good, some voices over the Internet say, and Fido is rather expected to go for the 8220 at full throttle, mainly due to the fact that RIM announced about a year ago the end of the device's life cycle.

Given this situation, Fido wouldn't be able to order any Pearl 8100s, although word has it that it may try to grab whatever devices its parent company Rogers has failed to sell. On the other hand, even if Fido manages to grab some 8100s, place its logo on the cover and print some boxes, the phones would still display the Rogers logo when booting up, since it has been included into the phone's firmware.

At the time, these would only look as speculations, yet, given the fact that Fido is expected to eventually start selling BlackBerry devices, some of them are legitimate. Even the reports that the company might consider using the VSM tool to put a Fido logo into the firmware could be seen as such. Of course, in order to make the move, Fido would have quite a lot of work to do, as it needs to upgrade all 8100s from OS 4.2.1 to 4.5, but it is doable.

Hopefully, Fido users will soon have a reason to rejoice. We're waiting for official announcements to see how soon the BlackBerries will finally come to them.

source : http://news.softpedia.com

Multitouch Capabilities for the T-Mobile G1 Android Phone

By Ionut Arghire



T-Mobile's G1 Android phone is a rather popular device, hence it is common knowledge that it came with a touchscreen but with no multitouch capabilities. This was and still is one of the downsides of the handset, yet there seems to be hope that something will change in the near future. One developer announced on the Web that it managed to come up with a little app that offered multitouch capabilities for the handset.

The creator of this small application is Luke Hutchinson, who announced that the software did not require any changes in the kernel and that only one Java system library was to undergo some modifications. One the other hand, we should notice that the multi-touch system is somehow limited because of the locking of the X and Y coordinates.

At the time the T-Mobile G1 was launched, its lack of multitouch capabilities was rumored to be caused by hardware limitations or by a missing software support. On the other hand, the Android platform was stated to feature multitouch support, yet Google was said to be willing to work on developing such software for compatible hardware devices.

Luke Hutchinson trusted that the G1 could come with more than single-touch capabilities, and worked on his own application that would allow for more than one finger to be used on the device's screen. The article he published comprised a lot of details regarding the way it managed to compile the software, as well as a lot of technical data on other similar solutions.

Besides these pieces of information, there are also a lot of photos available on the multitouch functionality of the T-Mobile G1, as well as a video. Luke Hutchinson even offered the code for its application, nevertheless he stated that it still required some work to be done and mentioned that the code was available so that other developers could benefit from it as well. End-users should be aware of the fact that using the application may also imply several risks.

source : http://news.softpedia.com

Nokia Unveiled Its Locate Sensor at CES

By Ionut Arghire



In order to offer customers an easy solution to avoid forgetting or misplacing their power-packed smartphones, Nokia came to CES with a little device called the Nokia Locate Sensor. This tiny piece of tech is said to act like a little reminder, or sort of an assistant if you want to put it this way, and it is able to keep your handset within your reach at any time.

Basically, the Nokia Locate Sensor can be attached to any other object that either you are fond of or you find it necessary to carry at all times, whether it’s a phone, a wallet, keys, or an I.D., as it is no bigger than a small thumb. Once it is attached to the object, it is able to wirelessly communicate with a user's phone through a special software application.

As soon as certain events occur, like when the object is dropped or, at times, when the user gets too far from it, the Nokia Locate Sensor rings the alarm. The device is not in its final development stage, the company announced, yet work on it is done. Moreover, it seems that the Nokia Research Centre labs could be very soon preparing for an official release of the product.

The company did not explain the way the little device connects wirelessly to a user’s phone, yet some voices say that it might be a Bluetooth connection. What's more interesting is that the software application is reported to be able to sustain up to 100 individual sensors. In addition, each sensor is stated to have enough energy to stay powered from six months to up to a whole year.

Hopefully, the Nokia Locate Sensor will come to retailers in the near future, although it is rather uncertain at what time. Yet, we should reckon that this could prove to be a rather handy device, especially when you're on the go.

source : http://news.softpedia.com/

Nokia E71's Firmware Updated to 200.21.188

By Ionut Arghire


Nokia has released a major firmware update for its E71 handset. The new version, namely 200.21.188, brings Internet Radio and My Nokia application to the device, and it also includes two new themes. Furthermore, it comes with a number of different improvements, among which some stability and functionality updates, like WLAN support, power efficiency on 3G, and leveraged performance for the phone camera.

The change log of the new firmware 200.21.188 shows that functionalities like Easy Dialing support for Simplified Chinese language, One key input method switch for China language, Device Lock improvement: Open device lock with LSK + Fn-keys, ‘Mute’ option in Right Soft Key when wired headset / handsfree is connected, ‘Loudspeaker’ option in Right Soft Key immediately when a phone call is started, Enlarge characters in Chr-table and NTLM v1 and v2 support for Intranet Browsing have been added.

In addition, the time zones have been updated, the localization has also seen some improvements, with missing localizations being added to the device, and the operator name database has been updated, as well as the startup settings, certificates and security. The phone was added Stability and functionality improvements and Keyboard mapping corrections for the Qwerty keyboard, while its browser has also been slightly improved.

All data from the internal memory of the Nokia E71 will be lost as soon as the upgrade is performed, so users willing to install the new firmware should make a backup prior to proceeding. It has been suggested that there would be performance improvements seen if data was added back manually rather than by restoring a previously made backup.

Depending on the region, the previously available firmware for the Nokia E71 was v100 or v115. The new release is stated to be available at the moment for the EURO regions, but it should become more widely available in the near future. Some of the improvements brought by the new update can also be downloaded and installed individually.

A full change log of the update can be seen here. More information on how to install the firmware are available on Nokia's official site.

source : http://news.softpedia.com

Nokia 8800 Gold Arte Available Starting Q2 2009

By Ionut Arghire

The new phone comes with impressive looks

Recently, Nokia has unveiled its new 8800 Gold Arte, the latest handset to be added to the Nokia 8800 Arte product lineup. The rather exquisite features of the new handset include stainless steel parts with 18 carat gold plating, to which premium-quality leather was added. Moreover, the phone also comes with a slide mechanism with precision ball-bearings.

The entire range benefits from exclusively designed soundtracks and living wallpapers. The Nokia 8800 Gold Arte handset is also reported to sport the tap-for-time feature. Basically, users are enabled to tap two times the leather surface below the display so that a clock would appear on the screen. Another interesting feature of the phone is its turn-to-mute silencing mechanism, which comes as a hallmark of the range. Customers can discretely silence incoming calls by simply turning the handset over, with the screen side down.

On the other hand, the new Nokia 8800 Gold Arte is not all about looks and exquisite features, but it also packs capabilities we are used to see in a modern mobile phone. Thus, the specification list of the handset shows that it sports a 3.2-megapixel camera with auto focus, while also coming with 3G capabilities.

The device comes with a stunning OLED display and packs 4GB of internal storage memory. In addition, the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte has a unique all-in-one micro USB, which is meant to create a seamless design experience. The company's anti-fingerprint coating included with the handset is meant to reduce smudges on both metal and glass.

According to the news on the Web, the newly unveiled Nokia 8800 Gold Arte will be made available for purchase on selected markets in the Southeast Asia Pacific. The phone is expected to hit the shelves in the second quarter of the year.

source : http://news.softpedia.com/

Mobile technology WiMax seems to be losing the battle to Long-Term Evolution (LTE).

By Reuters, 8 Jan 2009 at 08:57



Nokia has ended production of its N810 WiMax Edition tablet PC - the only device made by the world's biggest mobile manufacturer to use the US-centric WiMax technology.

WiMax has been competing for the status of next generation mobile technology, but has largely lost the battle to Long-Term Evolution (LTE).

"We have ramped down the N810 WiMax Edition tablet. It has reached the end of its lifecycle," said a Nokia spokesman. Nokia unveiled the model only nine months ago, while usually even the most trendy models have a shelf life of well over a year.

Canada's Nortel Networks Corp has said LTE will be the most likely upgrade path for about 80 per cent of the world's existing mobile phone providers, with others going for WiMax.

But Nokia did not rule out introducing further WiMax phones in the future.

"We will continue to follow the technology and its evolution," the spokesman said.

source : http://www.itpro.co.uk

The Palm Pre: CES 2009's Hottest Product

by Lance Ulanoff
CES 2009

LAS VEGAS—The Palm Pre is the technology product I've been waiting for. Like every tech journalist I know, I knew what was coming, but today's demo literally blew away my expectations. Step aside, iPhone, sit down, Bold, this is the Palm, maybe the device, I've been dreaming about: A touchscreen phone with a full QWERTY keyboard.

Okay, okay. Touchscreen phones and even smartphones with both touch screens and keyboards are a dime a dozen, but in my estimation, the Pre (weird name aside) grants the wishes of a once-devoted Treo audience in ways that none of the competitors have or could.

First of all, the specs are impressive: a large multi-touch screen, powerful processor, accelerometer, hidden QWERTY keyboard, multitasking, GPS, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and 3.2 megapixel camera. Honestly, it's a long list that I could scarcely cover. However there's more than simply me-too technology to the Pre; it offers real innovation. From a new app and tasks management metaphor known as "Cards" to the gesture area, this is a smart phone that's breaking new ground.

I was particularly impressed and intrigued by the gesture area. It's a touch sensitive section that actually sits below the screen. So instead of always using the large touch screen to access oft-used apps, you can spend much of your time making swipes and flicks in this smallish area. Now you're not obscuring the screen with your fingers—unless you want or need to and maybe, just maybe, you'll cut down a bit on all those greasy screen fingerprints.

Pre will give me what the iPhone and Bold (the former leader in my smartphone lust affections) can not: a full-sized touch screen and a QWERTY keyboard. The combination of touch screen and QWERTY keyboard is one of the reasons I fell in love with my Treo 700p. That thing is old, dust filled and hoary now, but once it was my beloved.

Like my old Treo, the Pre will be exclusive – at least initially – on the Sprint platform early in 2009. (There is no pricing info yet). For some, this is a downer, but Sprint has become a much better and more reliable service over the years and I have no complaints about the EVDO Rev A 3G service.

Palm told us that they built the Palm Web OS platform from the ground up. It has a Linux core and is capable of numerous feats never before attempted by a Treo, including multi-tasking and deep integration of virtually every aspect of your online, social and information-management life. The demo made it all look so simple and because it's an entirely new, yet somewhat familiar-looking, interface, it all looked good.

As the hour-long demo went on I began to feel like I was sitting at an Apple event, listening to Steve Jobs wax rhapsodic about the amazing stuff his latest tech gizmo could accomplish. The spell was broken by Sprint chief executive Dan Hesse, who probably went on too long about how excited he was about the Pre.

Later I learned that this new Palm Web OS platform would do not one thing that could bother a lot of devoted Treo users: offer backward compatibility for existing Palm apps. There's no SDK yet, but it will likely be announced soon. Palm reps told me that rewriting code for this platform should be trivial; that remains to be seen.

I don't really mind. I have just a handful of proprietary apps running on my Treo: Dataviz DocsToGo, Goodlink and a crappy chess game. I'm sure at least two of those will be upgraded. Palm also left open the question of an Apple-style application store for the Pre, but that announcement can't be far behind.

As excited as I am, I still haven't had a chance to touch Pre's sleek, black, semi-curved body, to feel the fit and finish, tell whether or not the keys are rubber or plastic and know if the gesture area and multi-touch screen are as good as they looked in the live demo. But now I have real hope.

With that hope, by the way, comes the real prospect that I have witnessed Palm's phoenix moment. It's rising from the ashes on good word of mouth and reaction to this crucial demo. Let's hope the Pre provides wings for it to fly toward renewed success. This is, after all, Palm's last best chance.

source : http://www.pcmag.com

The Next Generation of SD Memory Cards is SDXC

By: Michael Kwan



Click to ZoomOn the surface, these things will look identical to the Secure Digital (SD) memory cards that we have been using for ages, but they're going to pack a lot more of a capacity wallop in the same sized package. We've already become familiar with the SDHC format that pushed SD cards well past the original 2GB maximum. I'm using a 4GB and an 8GB memory card for my digital camera, for example.

Get ready for the next generation. The new SDXC (eXtended Capacity) memory card standard has been announced, providing a theoretical maximum storage capacity of two terabytes on a single card. This applies not only to the full-size SDXC card, but also the microSDXC format as well.

Considering that the hard drive market is still trying to reach the two terabyte milestone (I hear that could be coming next week), it's really amazing that you may soon get the same capacity on something the size of a postage stamp. The first SDXC cards will hopefully be reaching the market as soon as next year, starting out with data speeds in the 104MB/sec range. In the future, they'll push it to 300MB/sec.

Also, while the theoretical maximum capacity is 2TB (enough room for dozens of high-definition movies), the first SDXC cards will likely only be offered in 32GB and 64GB capacities. That's still a noted improvement over the current maximum SDHC capacity of 16GB.

I just hope that memory will get even cheaper when these cards come out, because I don't really feel like spending more money on memory than I did on my camera.

source : http://www.mobilemag.com

Video: Hands-on with OQO Model 2+ UMPC

By: Michael Kwan



Click to ZoomAs I mentioned late last month, the OQO Model 2+ UMPC is currently on display here at the Consumer Electronics Show. At the time, we thought that they were going to call it the OQO Model 02+, but they've apparently dropped that superfluous zero to streamline the name.

I had the opportunity to chat with the OQO representative about the new Model 2+ UMPC and seeing it in person, I'm more impressed than ever. That OLED display is simply stunning, especially when you're using it to watch some great videos and movies. The clip shown below gives you a glimpse into what this thing can do with its rich colors and superior contrast.

There are two versions being offering. The less expensive of the two, retailing at $999, comes with an Intel Atom (1.33GHz) processor, Windows XP Home, 60GB hard drive, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 5-inch WVGA LCD touchscreen. If you want the nicer stuff, you need to move up to the $1499 version. That gets you Vista Business (or XP Pro), 120GB HDD (or 60GB SSD), 2GB of RAM, the OLED touchscreen, and a 1.86 GHz Atom processor.

By going with Atom and the OLED, this UMPC is more power-efficient than ever before. That's great, considering that the Model 2+ UMPC is meant for the mobile professional. Look for it to start shipping some time in May 2009.

source : http://www.mobilemag.com