Nokia 500 is now official; runs Symbian Anna and ticks at 1GHz

Remember those photos from not long ago that allegedly represented a leaked Nokia roadmap? The images shed some light on a quartet of mid-range, Symbian-powered Nokia smartphones that were supposedly scheduled to see the light of day in the third quarter of this year. Well, the said leaked roadmap may be genuine after all as one of the devices listed in it, the Nokia 500, has just been unveiled.

The Nokia 500 is actually marketed as an entry level smartphone despite the 1GHz processor that is ticking under its hood. It features a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 360 by 640 pixels, and a 5-megapixel camera with no flash is located on the device's back. The camera is most probably of the full-focus kind, and judging by the smartphone's data sheet, capturing HD video is not among the things that it can do. There is also a pentaband radio crammed in there so the Nokia 500 will be able to run on AT&T or T-Mobile's networks.

Some other goodies that the Nokia 500 has to offer include Wi-Fi, GPS, FM radio, 2 gigs of built-in storage and... interchangeable battery covers. On the software side, Symbian Anna will be running the show accompanied by a selection of widgets for quick access to social networks on the go.

So, some of you are probably curious to find out how much the Nokia 500 is going to retail for when it launches. The good news is that the smartphone will be priced at the affordable €150 (roughly $215), and is expected to hit the shelves in the third quarter of 2011, just as the rumors have suggested. Will it ever launch in the US, however, is still anyone's guess.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

source: Nokia

Motorola MB865 leaks again from the AT&T system, complete with an LTE tracking code

That mysterious Motorola MB865 handset we've been hearing for a while now, is shaping up to indeed be one of the first handsets for AT&T's upcoming 4G LTE network.

We had this model number leak from the AT&T system last week, but at the time the only thing clear from the screenshot was that it will most likely feature Motorola's own Android interface overlay. The LTE part was just a speculation based on the fact that a model number XT865 used to identify the scrapped version of Motorola DROID BIONIC, which would have been the company's first LTE handset, but is now redesigned.

Now a tipster sent us a screenshot from the XDM system, which AT&T's Tier 2 support uses to push MMS, APN and system updates via the IMEI and phone number to individual handsets. Such numbers, he confirms with the screenshot below, have already been assigned to Motorola MB865 handsets in the hands of field testers, with area codes mostly from places where AT&T's LTE network is about to be rolled out first. In his words, the phone "is definitely an LTE device since it has been provisioned with an LTE tracking code in the billing system".

Meanwhile, last week images of a new Motorola phone appeared in a Chinese forum, and the leaker has confirmed for AnandTech that this is a test Motorola MB865. The device, however, seems to be more of a sequel to the Motorola ATRIX 4G in its shapes, rather than having the "hump" of the DROID BIONIC Targa. Moreover, the ATRIX 4G carries the MB860 codename, so MB865 being an LTE-equipped update is highly likely.

The source also states that the Motorola MB865 has a dual-core chipset of which he doesn't know the maker, but says it might be dual-core Texas Instruments, extrapolating from what we've heard about the refreshed version of the DROID BIONIC. He also speculates about the screen resolution possibly being HD, i.e. 720x1280 pixels, but admits the suggestion is based purely on rumors about upcoming phones with HD displays from Samsung, Motorola, HTC and others, so we are most likely going to still have a qHD screen here.

So, for all it's worth, we might be looking at one of AT&T's initial LTE launch handsets, hiding behind the Motorola MB865 codename, which will finally shoot Full HD 1080p video, and resemble more the Motorola ATRIX 4G exterior, rather than the upcoming DROID BIONIC handset for Verizon, despite the similar (or same) specs.

source: IT168 via AnandTech

Asus Eee Pad Slider coming in a single 32GB flavor this September, 3G model to hit shelves in 2012?

The Asus Eee Pad Slider has been officially confirmed for release in September in various European markets, and what's interesting is that the tablet will only ship in its 32GB Wi-Fi-only variety for a price set at nearly $718 (499 euro) off contract. But it's South Africa that will be the first to get the tablet, followed by release in markets in the Old Continent. There were no details yet about a release stateside, but it's very likely that the price will change once the tablet makes it across the pond. A 3G model is not expected earlier than the first quarter of 2012.

The specifications for the 10.1-inch tablet haven't changed from what we already know – a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 chip is under the hood, while Android 3.1 Honeycomb provides the software backbone. Most notable is the USB 2.0 Connector paired with USB Host function allowing you to connect compatible devices such as a mouse (which could turn your tablet into a miniature work station) or USB storage for your media. 

The Eee Pad Slider tilts out to reveal a full-QWERTY chiclet-style keyboard. You can also use it for video conferencing and taking pictures with its 5-megapixel rear-facing snapper and 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera. The slate will be sold in “pearl white” and “metallic brown” flavors. Check out one of the first video demonstrations of the Slider's capabilities below and feel free to share your thoughts about how the tablet fits in the market. 

source: Tablet Magazine (translated) via Engadget

LG to start rolling out its Remote Call services worldwide

Just like any other electronic gizmo on the market today, smartphones can also misbehave and cause a great deal of headaches to their unlucky owners. LG, however, has come up with a way to help alleviate the pain of frustration and will start rolling out its Remote Call services worldwide, as it was announced today.

The LG Remote Call services have been available in Korea since May of this year and have actually received plenty of positive feedback from those who tried them out. By using the Remote Call app, which currently comes preinstalled on select smartphones from the Optimus lineup, users can call an LG representative and get help with resolving a software issue, get assistance with updating their handset's firmware, or simply ask a what-does-that-button-do kind of question. Only the LG Optimus 2X, Optimus Black and Optimus 3D can take advantage of the service at this time, yet other devices are expected to follow suit eventually.

What is required for the LG Remote Call service to work, however, is for the smartphone that is acting up to be connected to the Internet over Wi-Fi or 3G. The requirement is imposed so that the company representative can access the device remotely and diagnose the issue effectively. Nevertheless, there is no need for you to worry about anyone taking a peek at your private data as it will not be accessible by the LG assistant, unless you manually give them access to it, that is, should the circumstances require you to do so.

The LG Remote Call services will be made available worldwide by the end of 2011 with countries across Europe, the Asia Pacific region, South and Central America to be the next to get access to it.

source: LG

Adobe Edge HTML5 tool brings an alternative to Flash

For good or bad, Adobe Flash is all over the web – sure the HTML5 revolution might be coming, but its advent is not as quick as some would hope. Flash however is a double-edged sword with content being dynamic yet too heavy as per some companies (cough, Apple). A new web development tool might eat into Flash space from the inside - Adobe Edge is developed by Adobe itself and relies on the three pillars of web development HTML5, JavaScript and CSS3, translating into full compatibility with Apple products along with others.

"What we've seen happening is HTML is getting much richer. We're seeing more workflow previously reserved for Flash being done with Web standards," Devin Fernandez of Adobe's Web Pro group admitted. To use that richness, Adobe Edge allows developers to add animation effects so elements flow into view when you open a page. The magic happens via CSS and controlled by JavaScript which get tucked neatly in “include” files, not overcomplicating the HTML core of the page. 

The familiar Adobe interface adds a lot to functionality, and the first tool to help that is the timeline giving you quick view and control of triggered events. But Edge is not yet as advanced as you'd hope:

"[For] the first public preview release, we focused on animation. Over the public preview period, we'll be adding additional functionality. We'll be incorporating feedback from the community, taking those requests into account," Fernandez added.

Coming up next are actions triggered by events, video and audio elements, both supported by HTML5, but also support for various graphical formats like PNG, GIF, JPEG and SVG.

Adobe Edge is now available as a free download, but it hasn't yet reached commercial status – the final tool is expected to roll out some time next year and Adobe promises to factor in feedback from the developers community. The company promises to quickly update the products and add new features and functionality as the release date looms closer.

source: Adobe via CNET

Apple and Nokia assemblyman Foxconn to swap a number of workers with one million robots

We thought that a high-tech company like Foxconn, which assembles some of the most popular (and hard to assemble) gadgets, like smartphones by Apple, Nokia and others, is already maxed out on robots working the conveyor belts, Japanese style.

Turns out that simple operations like welding, spraying and assembling are still done by the 1.2 million strong army of Foxconn employees, with only 10 000 robots to back them up. Terry Gou, the Foxconn founder, known as a true capitalist who relentlessly pursues efficiency in his factories, is planning to increase the number of robots to 300 000 next year, and one million total in the next three years.

Well, robots don't jump from buildings because of the unbearable life at the conveyor belt, nor do they leak trade secrets about upcoming Apple products, or demand wage hikes, so in the long run the robot move is smart. Wages in China have to keep rising with the inflation that the West money-printing exercise is exporting around the globe, so the robots will definitely be cheaper in the end for repetitive tasks. We are, however, split should we worry about the Foxconn employees who will be without a job due to the robots taking over, or be happy for them leaving the mind-numbing assembly jobs and going back to nature in the rice paddy.

Either way, Apple is rumored already shifting the iPad 3 assembly entirely to Pegatron, trying to diversify contractors, and also mitigate the bad publicity its Foxconn relationship is creating with factory fires, suicides and leaks. Ironically, CEO Terry Gou broke the news at a "workers' dance party Friday night". Guess nobody was doing the robot afterwards.

source: Xinhua via Forbes

Missing app comments on the Android Market draws the ire of developers

Where have some of the comments on the Android Market been disappearing to? Many developers are upset as positive 5 star ratings for their apps go missing. Actually, ratings from 1 star all the way to 5 stars have disappeared and the good news is that Google is already working to find out what is going on. A Google employee says that the Mountain View based company is aware of the problem and is working hard to resolve it.

Looking at the Android Market  Developer forum, one developer is complaining that half of the comments on his two apps has disappeared. Another had 70 comments on his app now cut down to 28. Another developer lost so many stars on the paid version of his app that it now has a lower rating than the app's free version. Many Android Market 'shoppers' use these comments and ratings to judge whether or not to install an app. Has someone hacked into the Android Market, or is there a more innocent reason for this?

source: AndroidMarketDevelopers forum via AndroidCentral

A Google employee tells developers that Google is working to "resolve the issue"

Verizon soon to get HTC Droid Incredible 2 in silver

You have to feel sorry for the HTC Droid Incredible. When the original model was launched, it was well reviewed and looked like a breakout hit for Big Red. But soon a back order developed and when Samsung decided to keep the AMOLED displays it was producing for other phones so it could ship the Samsung Galaxy S, the Droid Incredible quickly faded from the spotlights.

Is this the silver refresh version of the HTC Droid Incredible 2?

When the HTC Droid Incredible 2 was launched this April, things again looked positive for the handset. But soon, Verizon had three LTE enabled phones with the HTC ThunderBolt, the Samsung DROID Charge and the LG Revolution. The Motorola DROID 3, while not a 4G device, offers what many are calling one of the best non-BlackBerry QWERTY keyboards ever attached to a smartphone. The yet to be introduced Motorola DROID Bionic creates a frenzy whenever the handset is mentioned and the Samsung Function will be the carrier's version of the Samsung Galaxy S II. As we reported, the latter model, considered the hottest handset of the summer and called by many the best Android phone ever, could be rolled out as soon as August 12th.

So how can Verizon drum up attention for a phone that seems outdated after just 3 to 4 months? The carrier's solution is to offer a color refresh if leaked pictures obtained by PocketNow are legit. The pictures show the HTC Droid Incredible 2 in silver and despite the new color, the specs remain the same as from the original black version. There is a 4 inch 480 x 800 resolution screen, with Android 2.3 now on board. A positively barbaric single-core 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 is under the hood.

The problem here is that the price of the HTC Droid Incredible 2 is $199.99 with a 2 year contract. That is also the price for the 4G enabled LG Revolution and the recently released Motorola DROID 3, which beats out the Droid Incredible 2 in just about every spec except for RAM. And it all means that once again, the HTC Droid Incredible 2 becomes Big Red's forgotten phone, even with a silver refresh. If Verizon takes an axe to the price tag, that might help matters somewhat, but it will have to happen soon before Verizon customers get to finally see what the Motorola DROID Bionic is all about.

source: PocketNow via UnwiredView

Amazon decides not to accept app submissions in Germany

Because of Apple's legal actions in trying to get Amazon to change the name of its "appstore", the online retailer has decided to stop accepting anymore app submissions in Germany. In an email sent to app developers, Amazon clearly stated that it would not accept submissions of apps from developers located in Germany. Amazon also clearly made it known that Apple's lawsuit against it in Germany over the use of the "appstore" name was the impetus behind Amazon's decision. The latter did say that it expects to resume accepting submissions from German app developers sometime in the future.

In the States, Amazon has done better in convincing the courts that the Amazon "appstore" name will not confuse Americans looking for the Apple App Store. As we reported, back in June a federal court in Oakland, California denied a request from Apple for a preliminary injunction against Amazon's use of the "appstore" name for its online repository of applications for Android phones. The court ruled that Apple had not shown a "likelihood of success" in the legal battle with Amazon.

U.S. District Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton wrote in her ruling that the court did not agree with Amazon that the "appstore" term  is generic. At the same time, the court said that Apple's claim that the term "App Store" suggests its own online applications store is not the case, "as there appears to be no need for a leap of imagination to understand what the term means," wrote the Judge. The Judge also noted that Apple's basis for its legal action is the fear that Amazon would let inappropriate content, malware and viruses to enter its appstore and therefore harm the reputation of Apple's App Store. But the Judge says that this is not a valid concern for Apple since the Amazon appstore does not offer apps for any Apple device.

The U.S. portion of Apple v. Amazon, Inc. starts this coming October and before the fun and festivities start, you can expect Apple to challenge Amazon's use of the "appstore" name in other countries. After all, Amazon has seemed to cater a bit in Germany giving Apple brass the idea that if they rattle the cages a bit, Amazon will retreat for the moment although it does say that Apple's case is without merit.

source: PCMagazine

Samsung Droid Charge is priced affordably at $99.99 through Amazon

Being the costliest of the big three 4G LTE smartphones right now, one has to seriously dish out some dough to experience all of the joyous wonders available with the Samsung Droid Charge. Yet, its $299.99 on-contract price point might scare away some people from picking one up.

Luckily, that’s where Amazon comes to the rescue – yet again of course! Previously, we’ve seen the online retailer drop the handset’s price to a very reasonable $179.99 for anyone looking to start a brand new line of service with the carrier. This time however, they’re one-upping themselves by now pricing it at an even more remarkable $99.99, which is rather aggressive to tell you the truth.

Nevertheless, we’re certain that more people will now consider purchasing the smartphone now, but if you’re an upgrade customer, just know that you’ll need to dish out $189.99 to pick one up.

source: Amazon