T-Mobile announces that they will offer a 4G equipped BlackBerry Bold 9900

There’s no arguing that today is all about the BlackBerry Bold 9000 and 9930, however, there was certainly no specific mention as to which exact carriers would be selling the handset.

Well, T-Mobile surely didn’t waste any time in making people aware about their intentions as they officially confirmed through their Twitter account that they’re planning to offer the new handset.

In fact, it’ll be their very first 4G enabled BlackBerry smartphone and should arrive some time later in the year – though, no explicit date was attached to its release. Moreover, we’re still in the dark regarding pricing for the next-generation Bold model.

Regardless of that, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see it priced at the usual $200 on-contract price point.

source: T-Mobile

GeoHot accepts an iPad 2 hacking challenge; jailbreak should be coming soon

Who is that young bright fellow who is being sued by Sony and probably despised by Apple and AT&T at the same time? Why, it is no other than George “GeoHot” Hotz who hacked the allegedly impenetrable PlayStation 3 console and who released a number of jailbreaks for the iPhone... while he was still in his teens. Yes, he may be having a pretty hard time with Sony right now, but that surely isn't stopping him from doing what he seems to be best at – hacking the hottest gadgets out there.

As it became pretty clear yesterday, the next target in GeoHot's scope is going to be Apple's iPad 2. The battle was on after p0sixninja, a member of the iPhone Dev Team challenged him to a little competition in order to see who will hack Apple's latest tablet first. The goal is to dump the iPad 2′s bootrom successfully – a feat that will most probably lead to the jailbreaking of the iPad 2 and will bring fame to the one who succeeds.

So, all of you who are waiting for an iPad 2 jailbreak might want to cross your fingers. We will be keeping an eye on the situation and will let you know as soon as news breaks out.

source: p0sixninja (Twitter) via Redmond Pie

BlackBerry PlayBook is listed in Verizon's 2011 winter consumer guide as “coming soon”

It’s quite natural for companies to be hesitant about deciding on whether or not to carry a specific product, especially when that product’s outreach is relatively unknown for the most part in the short term. At this point, it’s still rather hard to say how well the BlackBerry PlayBook is doing in terms of sales, but it appears as though Verizon Wireless is going ahead on its plan to offer the new tablet.

Back on April 20th, a spokesperson for Big Red was quoted saying that the company was “still evaluating” their decision to carry RIM’s QNX based tablet in their retail stores. However, it seems that they’re now committed to sell the PlayBook seeing that it’s spotted in their 2011 winter consumer guide with the “coming soon” sticker plastered on it.

For a little bit there, some tensions could be felt all around since RIM vehemently indicated that Verizon would be selling their tablet initially, but now that it’s confirmed, it should ease some of the worries out of RIM’s camp. Furthermore, it should help in keeping its visibility up there against some of the competition that include things like the Apple iPad 2 and Motorola XOOM.

via BGR

State Farm app for iOS utilizes the iPhone's sensors to rate your driving

Have you ever come across one of those bumper stickers that simply ask, “How’s my driving?” Well, you can always ask a passenger for some instant feedback, but there’s an app out there that simply rates your driving habits with a numerical value.

Interestingly enough, insurance provider State Farm has an app for iOS that calculates your driving by relying on data provided by your iPhone. Their Driver Feedback app uses the handset’s GPS and accelerometer to measure things like you braking, cornering, and acceleration habits – thus ultimately coming down with a numerical score for you to brag about with your friends.

For those hesitant on using the app, you won’t have to worry because State Farm claims that it does nothing more than offering you some insight to your own driving habits – and that they won’t collect data or adjust your rate depending on your score.

Although there are some services out there that utilize information gathered by specific devices to potentially lower you premium, as long as you’re deemed as a safe driver, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not insurance providers will branch the service out to other smartphones down the road. Then again, it can do the opposite and actually raise your insurance premium!

source: State Farm via Engadget

Mobile phone shipments reach over 370 million in Q1 2011

Mobile phone shipments reached 371.8 million in the first quarter of the year and while the top five phone manufacturers haven't changed, other phone makers have managed to squeeze out the most of the situation and gain market share, according to data from market analysts IDC.

The big five are still headed by Nokia, which managed to sell 108.5 million handsets, translating into a 29.2% market share, down from 34.7% in the same period last year. Samsung is the second-largest phone maker, with a total of 70 million handsets or 18.8% of the market, a healthy grow over the 64.3 million units the company shipped in the first quarter of 2010.

LG Electronics is the only loser in the top five phone makers ranking third with 24.5 million shipped phones, or 6.6% share, down from 27.1 million in Q1 2010. It's also trailed by Apple, which managed to push 18.7 million iPhones in the quarter and capture a 5.0% share, but the company is the only one represented exclusively with high-end devices. ZTE is also showing growth with 15.1 million shipped handsets granting the Chinese company a global share of 4.1%.

Other manufacturers have grown their share, and we would look for the reason in Nokia's transition plan, which seems to have opened a lot of opportunities for other companies.

source: IDC via IntoMobile

BlackBerry Enterprise Solution launched to help managing devices, Android and iOS included

RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook hinted that the company might be looking into closer integration of other platforms and now with the launch of the multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution, 'Berry users will be able to administer not only the PlayBook or RIM handsets, but Android and iOS devices as well. The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is available for both tablets and smartphone and allows to securely manage a growing number of devices across various platforms.

To do the trick, RIM will use a separate device management server running on ubi-Suite, which functions as a virtual machine for different environment, all under the umbrella of a single server. It is also running under the same web interface through which devices are accessed and activated, but you could also administer them by updating software, locking the gadgets, resetting passwords, IT policies and overseeing apps.

Is the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution a key selling point for the BlackBerry Bold 9900? It's hard to say so as it will run across other devices as well, but it seems that RIM has reserved some features exclusively for the new Bold. For a full press release with all the details of the new service, hit the link below.

source: RIM

T-Mobile G2x is slashed in price to $99.99 today only through RadioShack's web site

Wasting no time in making one of today's best all-around Android smartphones truly affordable on just about any budget, RadioShack has one memorable deal that chops the pricing of the T-Mobile G2x in half.

Only available through the end of today, May 2nd, both new and existing customers with qualified upgrades are able to pick up the still fresh T-Mobile G2x for $99.99 on-contract. Remarkably, that’s literally a full $100 in savings that you’ll expect to see when comparing it to the customary $200 pricing that T-Mobile is asking for through them. In addition, unlike most places that provide the savings in the form of mail-in-rebates, RadioShack gives it to you instantly – so there’s no wait for it!

You’d better think fast on your feet with this one since it’s only available today! Therefore, if you’re in the mood to pick up one of the best Android smartphones available right now, head on over to RadioShack’s web site to place your order before it’s too late.

source: RadioShack via TmoNews

Gingerbread ROM for the T-Mobile myTouch 4G leaked; is an official update coming?

If you are one of those people who enjoy tinkering with their smartphone, then you probably do take a peak at XDA-Developers' forum from time to time. One of the latest spicy ROM leaks over there is an Android 2.3.3 build for the T-Mobile myTouch 4G, and even though the software is not an official release, it does give us a hint that an update for the myTouch 4G to Gingerbread might be coming soon.

One of the noticeable tweaks that we see in the leaked ROM is a Quick Settings tab found in the pull-down notification bar. It lets you easily turn the smartphone's Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, cellular network, and hotspot feature on and off eliminating the need for having a dedicated widget for that. Other than that, the user interface experience looks and feels pretty much the same, as you can see in the video below.

User feedback regarding the leaked Gingerbread build has been quite mixed with some people reporting Wi-Fi issues and stability problems. On the other hand, others seem to be having no troubles at all and are saying that their myTouch 4Gs are running smoothly. If you feel like giving the ROM a shot, please, be careful and back up your data first. Feel free to share the experience with us in the comments below!

You can download the leaked ROM from the 911HTC blog.

source: XDA-Developers via Android Central

RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are now official

RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are the announcement many 'Berry fans have been waiting for – a powerful touchscreen candybar with the signature keyboard by RIM and an all-new BlackBerry 7 OS. Featuring a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor and a 2.8-inch "Liquid Graphics" VGA screen with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, the performance of the handsets should be excellent.While we're yet to decipher the Liquid Graphics part, it seems that it's the high-pixel density (287dpi) and expected framerates of around 60fps for graphical apps and games that justify the name.

Both models run the newest BB OS 7, but the BlackBerry Bold 9900 (AT&T, T-Mobile) comes with HSPA+ 4G (supporting 14.4Mbps on the downlink) on board, while the Bold 9930 (Verizon/Sprint) is a global device coming with quad-band GSM and dual-band CDMA to support virtually every network out there.

But most importantly, the new additions to the Bold lineup come with an improved QWERTY keyboard feeding on your texting addiction. The new handsets are very slim at just 10.5mm, easily becoming the thinnest by RIM so far, and look traditionally well-made with a brushed stainless steel frame and a high-gloss glass-weave back. In terms of functionality, RIM has added an NFC chip, that could be used for mobile payments, as well as support for Augmented Reality applications.

The handsets also feature a 5-megapixel flash-equipped camera capable of 720p HD recording and 8GB of internal storage. If all that sounds alluring, you won't be disappointed with the release date. While a specific date wasn't pointed out, the new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930's release date should be sometime "this summer."

“The new BlackBerry Bold smartphones and BlackBerry 7 OS are inspired by millions of customers around the world who want the ultimate combination of performance, functionality and style,” RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said. A nice start to BlackBerry World in Orlando, but is this the next-generation of 'Berries you personally have been waiting for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

source: RIM (press release)

Another Samsung Galaxy S II ad released, talks up its dual-core CPU and HSPA+ support

We don't know about you, but it seems to us that Samsung wants every single person on the planet, including your granny, who (presumably) is not particularly tech savvy - to know that its new heavyweight - the Samsung Galaxy S II - is awesome any way you look at it.

This particular ad is talking up the dual-core Exynos processor, which, as you surely know, is clocked at 1.2GHz, as well as the HSPA+ 21Mbps support you get with this handset.

It's obvious that Sammy is putting a lot of faith (and resources) in this handset, which seems justified to us - truth be told, our initial impressions (we are currently reviewing this beauty) are that the Samsung Galaxy S II may live up to the hype, as it genuinely seems like one heck of a phone.

via: Samsung Hub

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 gets some Honeycomb love thanks to XDA-Developers

The guys at XDA-Developers are constantly pushing themselves to new heights, so here comes another great feat - Honeycomb has been ported to the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.

Take into account this ROM is only at a pre-alpha stage, which means it's far from a stable build. Regardless, here's a list of a few features that work to one degree or another:

• Wi-Fi (needs testing);
• Honeycomb's GUI;
• Touchscreen;
• GPS;
• The phone's keys;
• microSD card (not working properly yet);
• ADB connection;
• Charging.

Don't get us wrong - unofficial ROMs are awesome - but it's even better that there is a great (and official) turnaround from the days when Sony Ericsson unequivocally ruled out updating its Xperia X10 phone beyond Android 2.1. Truth is, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and a new Sony Ericsson has emerged - one that's stating over and over again it has learned from its mistakes.

That translates into the joint-venture promising timely updates for its Android phones. Even better, now it's backing its words with actions, so it's officially announced it's only a matter of time before we see some Gingerbread love for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.

As for this phone's Honeycomb ROM, it's already available for download on XDA-Developers' forum.

source: XDA-Developers via Ubergizmo

RIM unveils BlackBerry 7 OS: new browser, BlackBerry Balance, no legacy support

BlackBerry World has kicked off in full steam and just days after RIM's co-CEO promised “a whole next generation” of 'Berries, the BlackBerry OS 7 was unveiled. An update to the BlackBerry OS 6.1, the BlackBerry OS 7 is heralded by an all-new BlackBerry Bold Touch, expected to hit shelves as soon as “this summer.”

It's still too early to judge whether it will push RIM's “aging products” (as per RIM's co-CEO Balsillie words) to the next generation, but it brings a handful of new features:

- BlackBerry Balance allowing fast switching between the business and personal side of your BlackBerry. That should translate into both corporate and personal information being perfectly secure.

- optimized user experience: to be faster and more intuitive

- voice searches coming for the phone and the web

- noticeably improved browser with JIT JavaScript compiler and support for HTML5 Video

RIM has also confirmed that the new BlackBerry 7 OS will have "no legacy support," meaning that your "aged" 'Berry would feel even older when those new BlackBerry Bolds come out. The main reason behind such unfortunate decision is the fact that previous handsets won't have the graphical power to handle the new version of BlackBerry OS.

source: RIM

T-Mobile makes its 2GB for $40 data plan official

We told you about the rumor, but now it's reality - T-Mobile has officially announced it is offering a new 2GB data plan for $39.99 a month.

It comes with no overages, but once your 2GB allotment is reached, the speeds are reduced. As with the other three T-Mo data plans, you need to sign a two year contract, while you also receive unlimited Wi-Fi access at T-Mobile HotSpots. As can be expected, the usual charges and fees are still there.

There is a nice discount for existing T-Mo customers with a voice plan, as they get 20% off the price, which is to say they will have to pay $31.99 a month for these 2GB.

This plan is placed nicely among the other data plans offered by the fourth-largest US carrier - you can also choose between 200MB for $29.99, 5GB for $49.99 and 10GB for $84.99.

source: T-Mobile and its Twitter via Engadget

The mobile movement: one in 3 users would give up chocolate for smartphones

One might argue whether smartphones are all that powerful, theorize if they can replace computers in the future, but one thing seems universally true – the smartphone has become an indispensible part of our daily lives. We not only need it – we want it, any time, any place, and the urge is stronger than chocolate. At least, if we are to believe a survey carried among some 5,000 respondents, a third of which claimed they'd give up the pleasure of chocolate for the sweetness of being able to keep on using their smartphone.

And while targetted at Google Mobile Ads customers, this video gives an interesting insight at just how addictive our handsets have become. The sheer numbers? Take a look below to see the details of the intimate relationship between the human race and the smartphone.

Out of 5,013 U.S. adult smartphone users:

• 39% use smartphones while going to the bathroom
• 33% while watching TV
• 22% while reading the newspaper
• many would give up high heels, cable TV or even chocolate (1 out of 3).
• 79% use a smartphone to help with shopping
• 81% browse the internet
• 77% use a search engine
• 48% watch a video
• 63% access a social network

What do you use your smartphone for? Don't hesitate to share your smartphone experience in the comments below!

source: GoogleMobileAds

Motorola to launch more laptop-dock compatible devices in H2 2011

The Motorola ATRIX 4G Laptop Dock was one of the most innovative gadgets we saw at CES. Deservedly, it stole the show, only to underwhelm us with its price when it was released later in March. But the disappointing price and slightly laggy performance, shouldn't bring the whole idea down, and luckily – they haven't.

Motorola's earning conference call last week brought some exciting news about the future of the accessory as chief executive of Motorola Mobility Sanjay Jha himself said that it's a key component of the company's strategy:

"In the Android ecosystem, there is a need for us to differentiate," Jha said. "[With] Atrix devices with the Webtop and lap-dock we really think there is an alternative way of viewing the convergence between mobility and computing. And we will continue to focus on that," he answered an analyst's question.

"You will see multiple devices from us in the second half...and we will expand the range of our lap-dock devices so we cover a broader price point, addressing both the enterprise premium tier as well as more consumer tiers," Jha added.

The Motorola ATRIX 4G Laptop Dock won't cut it to a full-blown netbook, but it was a big step in that direction. As Moto promises updates to its Webtop software and with quad-core smartphones in the works, we can easily see it turning into an even more appealing accessory.

source: CNET

Nokia N8 gets trendy in hot pink

We heard the rumor that the casual shutterbug's dream - the Nokia N8 - is about to appear in one more flashy color, red, but turns out pink has been first on the line, or just those who let it out couldn't tell pink from red.

To recap the specs, the Nokia N8 sports a 3.5-inch AMOLED display, 12-megapixel camera with Xenon flash and has HDMI port for outputting these 720p HD videos you capture. A unique feature combo is USB-on-the-Go, together with an FM transmitter. The drawback is that it's running Symbian, which only supports the lowly 360x640 screen resolution to boot.

“Following the fantastic response to the range of colors we launched for the Nokia N8, it seemed a natural step to extend this choice. The Nokia N8 in pink complements the original line up well with its expressive, intense hue.”, says Rachael Bell, a senior designer at Nokia.

Are you getting the pink Nokia N8, or you'd rather wait for the elusive Nokia Windows Phone with the same 12MP camera sensor?

Bear in mind it's accompanied by a Little Pink Diva theme and a Pink Neon clock, together with the Elle app. If that pink clock doesn't sell the color to you, we don't know what will. Besides, from the looks of it in the marketing shots, the Nokia N8 in pink is running Symbian Anna, with the updated browser, rounded icons and all.

source: NokiaConversations

Qualcomm demos 3rd-gen Snapdragon MSM8660: smooth mobile video

Qualcomm first showed us the 3rd generation of its Snapdragon chips back at CES in January, and we've seen some benchmarks confirm its rock solid performance and nearly double improvement in graphics, but now that the mobile development platform (MDP) is out, you can see the future of smartphones for yourself. The prototype, which is available through Bsquare for $1350, should capture your attention mostly if you're a developer as its not meant for commercial use, but rather for software development.

The third generation dual-core Snapdragon MSM8660 does make playing back full HD 1080p videos and HTML5 in your browser a breeze. And if you weren't convinced by that, the video below shows just how much smoother playback on the Snapdragon rates against a popular rival (cough, Tegra 2, cough). The spec sheet proves that the processor's clock on the MSM8x60 could be set to as much as 1.5GHz and it comes with Adreno 220 graphics.

Qualcomm's naming convention uses a different number for different technologies, so while the 3rd generation processors are generalized by the MSM8x60 moniker, the 8260 is the GSM/UMTS version, the 8660 works on CDMA networks, while the 8960 is reserved for LTE devices. All of them share a common 45nm semiconductor technology. The first devices with the chipset are coming in the third quarter of the year, including handsets like the HTC EVO 3D and HTC Sensation.

source: Qualcomm (1), (2) via SlashGear

Jan Lokpal Bill: Second meeting of Joint Drafting Committee today

New Delhi:  Five Union ministers and social activist Anna Hazare's representatives will meet today to take forward the process to draft an effective legislation to combat corruption.

Civil society members held rallies in several cities yesterday in support of a strong anti-corruption law as the Union ministers went through minute details of various versions of the draft Jan Lokpal Bill prepared by Hazare's team.

Gaddafi shells Misrata amid chemical weapons fears

Misrata, Libya:  Moammar Gaddafi's forces used tanks to shell the besieged western town of Misrata on Monday, as rumours fuelled fears that the Libyan leader was preparing to use chemical weapons.

Pakistan not informed about strike on Osama hideout

Washington:  Apparently fearing a leak, the US did not inform Pakistan about the closely guarded operation on the outskirts of Islamabad today that resulted in the death of al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden, a senior administration official said.

In Arab world, confused Osama legacy

Beirut:  The words were not uncommon in angry Arab capitals a decade ago: Osama bin Laden was hero, sheikh, even leader to some. But after his death, a man who once vowed to liberate the Arab world was reduced to a footnote in the revolutions and uprisings remaking a region that he and his followers had struggled to understand.

Taliban threaten US, Pakistan over bin Laden

Peshawar:  Pakistan's main Taliban faction today threatened to attack Pakistan and the United States after the US confirmed that Osama bin Laden had been killed near the Pakistani capital.

Pakistan: Bomb blast kills four persons

Islamabad:  Four persons were killed and 11 others injured when a bomb blast hit a police station and a mosque in northwest Pakistan, hours after US special forces killed Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden near the garrison city of Abbottabad.

The blast ripped through the police station and mosque in Umerzai area of Charsadda in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, police said.

Did ISI know exactly where Osama was hiding?

Osama's digitally enhanced pic released by the FBI

New York:  The killing of Osama bin Laden deep inside Pakistan in an American operation, almost in plain sight in a medium-sized city that hosts numerous Pakistani forces, seems certain to further inflame tensions between the United States and Pakistan and raise significant questions about whether elements of the Pakistani spy agency knew the whereabouts of the leader of Al Qaeda.

US embassies put on alert

Washington:  The State Department early Monday put U.S. embassies on alert and warned of the heightened possibility for anti-American violence after the killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by American forces in Pakistan.

In a worldwide travel alert released shortly after President Barack Obama late Sunday announced bin Laden's death in a U.S. military operation, the department said there was an "enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counterterrorism activity in Pakistan."

"Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations," it said.

The alert said U.S. embassy operations would continue "to the extent possible under the constraints of any evolving security situation." It noted that embassies and consulates may temporarily close or suspend public services, depending on conditions.

Osama was just 800 yards from the Pakistan Military Academy

Islamabad:  Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was hiding in a massive compound, worth a million US dollars, located just 800 yards from the Pakistan Military Academy near Abbottabad city, in the country's northwest when he was killed in a pre-dawn raid by US special forces today.

Osama's two wives, four children in custody

The compound where it is believed bin Laden lived in Abbottabad

Islamabad:  Two wives and four children of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden have been taken into custody after he was killed by US special force's commandos in Abbottabad in Pakistan.

How the bin Laden announcement leaked out

New York:  The terse announcement came just after 9:45 p.m. Sunday from Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director. "POTUS to address the nation tonight at 10:30 PM Eastern Time," he wrote on Twitter, sharing the same message that had just been transmitted to the White House press corps.

US has violated our sovereignty: Musharraf

London:  Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf said on Monday he was surprised Osama bin Laden was in Abbottabad, just a short distance from capital Islamabad. He also termed the US strike against the Al Qaeda leader a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.

US adds security at airports, World Trade Centre site

New York:  Some local law enforcement agencies in the US are adding security measures following Osama bin Laden's death, out of what one called "an abundance of caution."

In Los Angeles, police say they're stepping up intelligence monitoring, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says it will add more police Monday at airports, bridges and the World Trade Centre site itself.

The agency says the extra police is not a response to any current threat "but out of an abundance of caution until we have the chance to learn more" and that the facilities it runs will operate normally otherwise.

And a lieutenant says police in Philadelphia were on heightened alert, checking on mosques and synagogues every hour.

The military operation that killed Osama

 
Islamabad: 

• Heliborne operation which involved US Navy Seals (a highly trained commando operation)
• Choppers flew in from US bases in Afghanistan
• Special forces came down by ropes into the mansion
• One of the helicopters developed mechanical problems and crash landed
• This helicopter was destroyed by US Forces
• The operation lasted 40 minutes
• Osama bin Laden personally fought back along with others
• He was shot in the head and his remains were taken into US custody
• Three other men and a woman were killed in the raid
• The woman was being used as a human shield  
• Osama was allegedly living here with his youngest wife
• No American casualties
• All American forces return to their base in the other helicopters

The Associated Press adds:
Osama bin Laden was holed up in a two-storey house 100 yards from a Pakistani military academy when four helicopters carrying U.S. forces swooped early Monday, killing the world's most wanted man and leaving his final hiding place in flames, Pakistani officials and a witness said.

Pak distances itself from Osama raid, killing

Islamabad:  In a statement issued by the Pakistan government, it said it was not directly involved with the raids that led to Osama bin Laden's death this morning. The 40-minute military operation was carried out by four US helicopters.