Thursday, 9 June 2011
Review of PowerSkin iPhone 4 Case
HTC Sensation 4G for sale early at Walmart bearing $148 price tag
The HTC Sensation 4G is less than a week away from hitting T-Mobile's shelves bearing a price tag of $199 on contract. However, if you have your mind set on the shiny dual-core smartphone, you might want to head over to your local Walmart store and see if the Sensation 4G isn't for sale already.
According to numerous reports from happy HTC Sensation 4G owners, the smartphone can already be purchased at some Walmart stores throughout the country. The offer seems to be available to walk-in customers only so far, but it shouldn't be too long before the smartphone makes an appearance at the retailer's web page. What makes the deal even better is that Walmart is taking about $50 off the handset's price and is offering it for $148.88 with a 2-year agreement.
If you manage to get your hands on an HTC Sensation 4G, feel free to brag about it in the comments below. In the meantime, if you are not sure whether the smartphone is the right device for you, why don't you check our Sensation 4G review?
source: TmoNews
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HTC Sensation 4G for T-Mobile is already for sale at some Walmart outlets | |
Nokia CTO leaves company amidst strategy disagreements
Nokia's transition to Windows Phone as its main platform has been everything but smooth with market share dropping significantly and the company going through a major restructuring. But that's not the only problem that the company is facing – many of its top executives seem to disagree with its current strategy and first to leave after the restructuring is Nokia's chief technology officer Richard Green. Espoo confirmed that Green took a leave of absence for personal reasons, but it was Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat which gave a different point of view saying that it was disagreements with ex-Microsoft's Stephen Elop, the current CEO of the company, that might have forced Green to actually resign.
Henry Tirri heading the company's Research Center will temporarily fill in the position. Speaking publicly, Elop didn't comment on the issue, but did shed light on emerging rumors about a purposeful deprecation of the company in order for it to be acquired at a cheaper priced by industry giants like Microsoft or Samsung. The CEO stressed that “all rumors are baseless.” Analysts however have pointed out the dramatic decrease in market value for Nokia – the company has lost half of its value since Elop announced the transition to Windows Phone in February and is currently valued at some $25 billion (17 billion euro). Credit agencies like S&P and Fitch downgraded the company's stock outlook even further and now Nokia is just one step above junk grade.
Analyst Sami Sarkamies was quoted by Reuters saying: "We will probably see more of these negative news for Nokia in the coming weeks. All the effects caused by the profit warning have not yet come through.”
source: Helsingin Sanomat via Reuters
Apple throws in the towel about in-app subscriptions, publishers rejoice
Apple has quietly introduced changes to its in-app purchasing of newspaper and magazine subscriptions policy, that was supposed to go into effect in the end of June.
Publishers will now be able to offer subscriptions at any value externally, as long as there is no "buy" button or other link in the app that leads directly to them. Previously Apple demanded a 30% cut from the subscription price when the iOS user purchases from inside the publication's app in the App Store, which is its standard procedure with in-app purchases, but was eating away most of the subscription profit of the publishers.
The publishers were rather displeased with Apple, because with the previous rules they were obliged to offer in-app subscription purchasing "of equal or lesser value" than what they were offering externally. Now they can offer a lower price outside of the App Store, and make up for it quoting the default subscription amount inside their iOS apps.
Apple's move might have been because of initiatives like this of the Financial Times, which coded a website in HTML5 that looks and behaves like an iOS app. Since it doesn't reside in the App Store, they are not obliged to give Apple the 30% fee for in-app subscription purchases, and can update it at will, without the need for an app review process.
via MacRumors
Reminder: We'll be covering live the Sprint-Motorola event today
We'll be covering live the scheduled Sprint-Motorola press event today in New York City, which starts at 12:30PM ET. Sprint's CEO Dan Hesse and Motorola's Sanjay Jha will be revealing something for which the companies eagerly sent out invitations about two weeks ago.
The rumor mill is actually suggesting two devices to be revealed today. The brand new gear could be the alleged Motorola Photon 4G, with 4.3" qHD display, dual-core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 chipset, and WiMAX connectivity.
The other gizmo that might be announced is a WiMAX version of the first brand-name Android Honeycomb tablet - the Motorola XOOM.
We'll certainly know more in just a few hours, so tune in around 12:30PM ET for our live coverage of the Sprint-Motorola event.
Nokia CEO debunks rumors about a Samsung bid, says Ovi Maps is coming to Samsung's WP7 gear
As with the previous rumor about a Microsoft buyout, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop called yesterday's speculation that Samsung is preparing a bid "baseless" again, reiterating that the company is not for sale.
Speaking to attendees at the Open Mobile Summit in London, Stephen Elop also said that if it wasn't for Apple Google wouldn't have created Android, and that Nokia and Microsoft are firmly committed to create the third ecosystem. According to him, the Nokia Windows Phone venture will bode well with the carriers, who are already weary about the iOS-Android duo usurping their smartphone portfolios.
He dropped another interesting tidbit - when asked directly if Nokia's thorough support for the Windows Phone ecosystem would mean that some of its unique services, like offline voice-guided navigation with Ovi Maps will be available to other Windows Phone manufacturers like Samsung, he said:
“Absolutely, I sure hope so, that’s very much the intent. It’s about the Windows Phone eco-system, heavily contributed to by Microsoft, by Nokia and others.”
If Google manages to grace Google Maps with free offline navigational capabilities this summer, the added value of Nokia's Ovi Maps will be diminished, but it will still be a great addition to the Windows Phone platform, should you decide to go with it.
via Electricpig
Rovio teases Carnival update for Angry Birds Rio, coming soon
Just mere days after Rovio unveiled a new set of levels for its Angry Birds release with the “Mine and Dine” episode, an update for Angry Birds Rio named Carnival was also teased with a brand new trailer. In this new episode, the birds meet a pack of monkeys under the hot samba rhythm just when the carnival unfolds and you can even see the crowds looking at the action in the background.
It seems that we have the familiar set of birds who first took the journey to Rio, but unfortunately the update is not yet out (despite what the screenshot says) for us to see if there are some neat surprises. We'd expect to see it hit app stores by the end of the month and hopefully even sooner, but for the time being why don't you check out the teaser video below for yourself and get in the mood for action.
source: Rovio via Droid life
Samsung bada 2.0 coming in September, 1.2 update won't be pushed to WQVGA phones
Samsung's own take on operating systems, Samsung bada, won't be updated to its latests 1.2 version on devices equipped with a WQVGA (240 x 400) screen, the company broke the bad news on its bada Twitter account. This affects a couple of phones low to mid-range offerings in the Wave family of phones: the S5250 Wave525, S5330 Wave533, S5750 Wave575, S5780 Wave 578 and S7230E Wave 723 all come with such a screen. Bada 1.2 brings a number of features like Swype along with better overall responsiveness. But there is still hope about owners of these devices getting the next major release of bada, 2.0. The issue is under discussion, so it's not guaranteed, but it's still possible.
At the same time, bada 2.0 was confirmed to be on track for a September release in various countries. The release will introduce multitasking and an overhauled UI among other new features. “But the schedule can be changed,” Samsung warned about a possible delay. The Samsung Wave and Wave II will be some of the devices which are sure to be updated. In addition, the SDK for the next big bada will be released in Q3 as well.
Finally, asked whether the platform will support VoIP applications like Skype, Samsung couldn't confirm about those, so our guess is that for the time being you'll have to make do without them.
source: Samsungbada via GSM Arena
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 for Vodafone UK might sport the 1.2GHz Exynos chipset
Last November we saw Samsung testing its homemade ARM Cortex-A9 Exynos chipset in tablets, when it was still codenamed Orion. The second generation of the Galaxy Tab slates, however, is coming with NVIDIA Tegra 2 chipsets, of which Samsung secured plenty with a huge order last year.
When the Samsung Galaxy S II superphone was revealed, however, with a scorching 1.2GHz dual-core Exynos chipset, the company buried in the press release that it won't be shipping it with Exynos in all markets, but will rather have Tegra 2 in some. Could it be that the opposite is happening with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 for Vodafone UK?
Sony Ericsson uses Facebook to unveil two new phones: Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman, txt pro
Over 5 million fans sounds like a great audience for any company and that's Sony Ericsson's Facebook fanbase, which was the first to hear about the company's two new phones: the music-centric Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman and the full QWERTY-equipped Sony Ericsson txt pro. The two handsets look like mid-range offerings, both are feature phones running SE's corner user interface like the one we've seen in the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini. The Mix Walkman and txt pro share some features like a 3-inch scratch-resistant capacitive single-touch screen with a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels, while they also come with a camera and Wi-Fi module.
From there on, the Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman differentiates with its Zappin key allowing you to quickly search for your favorite tune and even preview the chorus of the next track. In addition, it packs some karaoke-like effects by lowering down the vocals while keeping the music playing at its regular loudness so you can sing along. It adds some visual flare as well with interchangeable color bands.
The Sony Ericsson txt pro looks more serious with a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard. It also packs a 3.2 megapixel camera, while in terms of software it comes with a friends application giving you a sneak peek at the Facebook and Twitter updates of five of your favorite buddies.
Both handsets are coming to select markets with a release date in the third quarter of the year.
source: Sony Ericsson (Facebook)
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Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman | Sony Ericsson txt pro |
Is Google Maps Navigation getting offline mode this summer?
Google Maps has offered free navigation for quite a while, but in order for it to work you have to pull data from the Internet. Google made the first step earlier by allowing caching so you can look at your route before going and relying on the cached maps for navigation, but any change to that initial route would mean that you have to pull additional data from the web.
That's why going fully offline is of paramount importance and the final border for Google to truly compete with standalone solutions like TomTom and Garmin. Coming straight from the rumor mill, the news is far from official, but Dutch website All About Phones claims that the update is coming this summer.
Currently, the only company to offer free offline navigation on its phones is Nokia with Ovi Maps on Symbian, but the adoption of Windows Phone over at Espoo will translate into Microsoft's platform getting that service as well. There's still no word on pricing, but judging from the current price of $0 for using Maps, we could hope Google keeps navigation free. How much do you rely on your phone for navigation? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.
source: All About Phones via Engadget
Watch Steve Jobs pitching a new futuristic Apple HQ in front of Cupertino City Council
With just a few hours warning, Apple's CEO Steve Jobs appeared the other day in front of the Cupertino City Council to pitch the architectural design of Apple's new stomping grounds.
The renders revealed a futuristic circular building, at the same time reminiscing a Roman arena (without the gladiator pit). Steve Jobs himself acknowledged it looks a bit like a spaceship.
The arenalike structure is four stories high, and is taking 180 acres of property that Apple has been buying since 2006 north of Interstate 280, mostly from Hewlett-Packard. The new headquarters will house 12,000 employees, and has been designed by the famous architect Sir Norman Foster.
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The windows themselves are all curved, shaping the building as a dome: "I think we do have a shot at building the best office building in the world. I really do think architecture students will come here to see this. I think it can be that good.", said Steve Jobs.
Needless to say the City Council at the small California town were psyched about the proposition, as it will be one of the iconic buildings not only in the state, but in the world as well. 'Wow!' is the operative term. There's nothing like it. And while some people might wonder why a CEO would get so involved at such a level of detail around a company headquarters, with Steve, it's not surprising at all. He's an integral part of Apple's product design, and this building is just their latest product.", was Councilman Orrin Mahoney's reaction.
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If the project passes in front of the Cupertino City Council, and the above quote says it most likely will, not to mention that Steve Jobs reminded how Apple is the biggest taxpayer there, we can expect an expansion from the current HQ at Infinite Loop to the new building in 2015. Apart from its cool architecture, the project has been conceived as one of the greenest buildings of that scale. Have a look at Apple's CEO pitch in front of the City Council and the slides.
source: CupertinoCityCouncil & SiliconValleyMercuryNews
Sprint said to be raising 4G upload speed cap on phones to 1.5 Mbps
A leaked screen shot of internal Sprint communication shows that on June 10th, the nation's third largest carrier plans on increasing its 4G upload speed cap on single and dual mode devices by 50% to 1.5Mbps. While customers might notice faster uplink speeds after the increase, it doesn't guarantee that the 1.5Mbps will be available at all times and under all conditions.
Sprint customers won't have to do anything to get the faster speed cap as the change will be "network based". In addition, the carrier does not plan on spreading the word to customers about the increase in the speed cap. Only 4G phones will be affected as Sprint's 4G modems will still be limited to a 1.0 Mbps speed cap.
source: AndroidPolice via AndroidCentral
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This internal Sprint communications says that the carrier's 4G upload speed cap will rise 50% on June 10th |
Dell prototype tablet spotted, featuring a slideout split-QWERTY keyboard
Engadget got their hands on some pictures of a prototype 7-inch Dell tablet with a very unique form factor. Not only does it have a full slideout QWERTY keyboard, but the keyboard employs a split-key design, as we've seen in the upcoming iOS 5 for the iPad.
What's more, it appears that there might be a touchpad between the two halves of the keyboard, like a notebook. Of course, from the pictures below, you can see the obvious drawback to such a design: added bulk. And as we all know, the iPad has trained consumers to expect a sexy form factor along with their function. And a fat tablet might not survive.
The unidentified tablet also features a rear camera, but that's all we know thus far. Even the lone press still gives us no indication of what OS it will feature. But we think that the press still means Dell is considering bringing this buxom beauty to market. What do you think? Is the keyboard worth the extra thickness?
source: Engadget
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Android Market now shows which handsets are compatible with each app
With the new feature, those wanting a specific app on their phone won't have to read the text that is posted in the Market. Sometimes longwinded and too much of a hassle to go through, some developers slip in which handsets are compatible with a specific app, but like the fine print on a contract, it doesn't get read. The addition by Google of the device compatibility check will save Market users time and eliminate the aggravation of having to uninstall a recently downloaded app because it doesn't work on your phone.
source: AndroidCentral
Do you sleep with your iPhone? Stick it in a stuffed owl!
According to a survey of Stanford University students, the majority of people go to bed while using their smartphones. And whether it's to play Angry Birds, or pop off a few neglected emails, we've all done it. Now, a small startup is hoping to produce the ultimate bedtime smartphone accessory.
Swoop the Owl is a stuffed owl that will hold your iPhone, or other similarly sized smartphone, and provide you with a cuddly companion at the same time. It is designed for the iPhone 4, but will fit other similarly sized devices. Jim McGraw and Tara Armbruster, the designers behind the Owl, say that their target consumers are teens and tweens. But with more character options, we could see this appealing to all age groups.
If you have small children that like to use your smartphone or iPod Touch, Swoop the Owl would also serve as a cushion, should the child drop your precious device. And, to personalize the Owl, you can get your name embroidered above the device opening.
For $25, this isn't the most practical purchase. We think they should have included a charger port at the bottom, or even a small backup battery within the Owl. But we don't think practicality was really a priority.
source: Kickstarter via CNET
T-Mobile G2 replacement units are coming back with Gingerbread aboard
During the weekend, a leaked screenshot of T-Mobile's inventory showed the HTC G2 with Google Titanium Kit to be on backorder, but nearing EOL. Some of those whose T-Mobile G2 devices have started to show the wear and tear of age and as a result, were sent back to the carrier in exchange for a replacement unit, might have been stunned to find out that their replacement model came with Android 2.3.3 installed. This could indicate that the Gingerbread update will soon be sent out to all G2 handsets.
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| Some T-Mobile G2 replacement units are being sent out with Android 2.3.3 aboard |
If this is the end of the line for the G2, it goes out in a blaze of glory with the Gingerbread update apparently imminent. And once the handset does get Gingerbread, it will make the owners time with the phone a little more enjoyable until their two year contract expires in no sooner than four months.
source: TmoNews, AndroidCentral
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This screenshot of T-Mobile;s inventory says that the T-Mobile G2 will soon be 'EOL' |
Apple will ban DUI checkpoint apps from the App Store
Back in March, U.S. senators Chuck Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, Harry Reid, and Tom Udall urged mobile OS makers to remove apps that share DUI checkpoint locations. They claimed that such apps, like Trapster and PhantomALERT, put "innocent families and children at risk".
And with the announcement of iOS 5, Apple has changed their App Store guidelines to ban such apps. Section 22.8 of the revised guidelines states that "Apps which contain DUI checkpoints that are not published by law enforcement agencies, or encourage and enable drunk driving, will be rejected".
Apple's ban follows RIM, who removed said apps from the App World months ago. There is no word on whether Google will comply with the measure. But given their lax restrictions, we doubt they will institute the ban unless there is more formal pressure.
Jalopnik points out that, as such apps rely on crowdsourcing, drunk drivers could indicate such DUI checkpoints by other, less explicit means. Regardless of whether you think that such apps really 'encourage' drunk driving, Apple and RIM are making the right move. If someone lost a loved one to a driver using such an app, the courts could deem Apple/Google/RIM liable.
source: Apple via Jalopnik
Android Market attrition rate is twice that of Apple's App Store
Android, and the Android Market specifically, are growing at an incredible rate. Recent research from Distimo and research2guidance claimed that the Android Market was on its way to eclipsing the Apple App Store by the end of this year. But they failed to take the attrition rate into account.
The earlier research only factored in new app additions. But new analysis by AppsFire shows that the Android Market has an attrition rate twice that of the App Store. Of the 300,000 apps published in the Android Market, 32% of those have since been removed. But of the App Store's 500,000 total apps, only 16% have been removed.
So why is this the case? AppsFire says that Android developers might have a harder time monetizing their apps, or it becomes unprofitable to try and maintain them. The Android Market also has an easier process, as well as no $100 development fee. App Store additions, on the whole, tend to be more carefully brought to market.
GigaOM suggests that the Android Market is a better venue for experimentation, while the App Store is better for making money. And we tend to agree. The only downside to Android's openness is that it lends to many under-thought apps, and less quality/security vetting.
source: AppsFire via GigaOM
NVIDIA says that there are no compatibility issues between Tegra 2 and LTE
Rumors have been circulating that the NVIDIA Tegra 2's inability to work well on Verizon's 4G LTE network caused the scrapping of the original Motorola DROID Bionic, which is expected to be released later this year as a completely different phone than originally planned. The same reasoning is behind the speculation that the inability of the Tegra 2 CPU to mesh with Verizon's 4G pipelines caused the LTE update to the Motorola XOOM to happen just now, a little late, as we reported yesterday.
Like an angry parent, upset that his/her kid is the subject of some vindictive rumors that he can't get along with anyone, NVIDIA stood up for its product and said that the Tegra chip has no compatibility issues with LTE. The chip manufacturer brought up the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 4G LTE tablet as an example of how Tegra and LTE play nicely with each other. According to NVIDIA, there is nothing unique about LTE that would prevent Tegra 2 chips from working on it.
Now that NVIDIA has cleared this up, perhaps a play date between the little tykes can be worked out. And at the same time, if Motorola would reveal the reason for the ole' switcheroo with the DROID Bionic, it could stop another vicious rumor from starting.
source: DroidLife
Best Buy is offering pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Couldn’t make it in time for the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 at the Best Buy Union Square store in New York City? Well, if you’re the many across the US interested in picking up Samsung’s shiny and streamlined Honeycomb flavored tablet, you can actually pick up a pre-order now with the big box retailer.
Taking a quick peek this morning at Best Buy’s web site, we now find a variety of different models available for pre-order – including that shiny new metallic gray version. If you happen to get yourself a pre-order, just know that the estimated arrival date for express shipment is around 6/17 to 6/20, which is still over a week away from today. Nevertheless, the time should be able to fly by really quickly, and before you know it, you’ll find the package waiting for you at the front door.
Pricing starts at $499.99 for the 16GB versions, while the 32GB ones are selling at $599.99. Still, it’s unknown on when we’ll actually see them arrive in stores.
Thanks to our anonymous tipster!
source: Best Buy
Verizon slashes the price of the HTC ThunderBolt battery to $19.99
Considered to be the bane for a lot of HTC ThunderBolt owners, battery life has never been one of the strong points for this particular 4G LTE equipped handset, but at least there are some alternatives to get you by throughout the day.
Of course, you can constantly juice the handset whenever you have some free time, however, you can instead pick up a replacement battery for cheap. Verizon is currently selling the official OEM battery replacement for the HTC ThunderBolt at the decent cost of $19.99, which is half the cost from its original $39.99 pricing. Although it shows that it’s priced at $39.99, you simply need it add it to your cart in order to get it down to $19.99.
source: Verizon via Slashphone
Adobe issues security warning about Flash Player 10.3
According to Adobe, those using Flash Player 10.3 on their phones need to make sure that they have downloaded the latest version of the application. Because the security of the program has been compromised, make sure that version 10.3.185.23 is on your handset and if not, head over to the Android Market and install it. The software developer is saying that if you visit a malicious web site, you could receive emails designed to trick you into clicking on a "malicious link".
We can imagine Apple CEO Steve Jobs leaning back in his office chair with a self satisfied look on his face. Nonetheless, once the latest version of Adobe Flash Player 10.3 is installed on your Android phone, your device is safe-for the time being. Back in April, we reported that a similar security problem was found in Adobe Flash Player 10.2, and with the app's widespread use on Android devices and its vulnerability to being hacked, this might not be the end of the problem.
source: electronista
Budget friendly T-Mobile Move is expected to become available in Europe this month
Whenever we hear about carrier branded phones, they’re relatively not the most impressive things out there, but luckily for the upcoming T-Mobile Move, it’s packing Android to at least give itself some noteworthy recognition.
First mentioned way back during MWC earlier in the year, the T-Mobile Move is about to launch in Europe, but pricing for the handset has yet to be revealed – though, it’s probably going to be inexpensively priced. Easily perceived to be an entry-level model, the T-Mobile Move features a 2.8” QVGA touchscreen, 2-megapixel camera, 600MHz processor, GPS, microSD card slot, and Android 2.2 Froyo. Clearly, it’s not a workhorse, but we imagine it being one of those devices that can move some people who still resort to using feature phones.
So far, it’s not known if it’ll be available stateside in the US, but if it does, there shouldn’t be any reason to see this one being offered for free with a contract.
source: Mobil.cz via Unwired View
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Verizon preparing update to repair rebooting issue on the HTC ThunderBolt
Ever since they downloaded the latest maintenance update, some owners of the HTC ThunderBolt are reporting that their trusty LTE enabled device is acting as if it were, well, hit by lightening. Random reboots are becoming the scourge of ThunderBolt users and a leaked internal Verizon memo says that there is no short-term cure for the problem. That doesn't mean that those who shelled out their hard-earned cash for the phone are stuck with this problem forever. In fact, the carrier does have a game plan for handling this situation.
According to the leaked memo, if the reboots are becoming severe and the customer finds the whole thing unacceptable, Verizon reps are to replace the phone with a Certified Like New Replacement (CLNR) model. If the problem is not too severe and the owner of the HTC ThunderBolt can wait, an update is being penciled in for the second half of this month, which will solve the problem.
It is up to the owner of the handset to make the decision whether to accept a CLNR unit or wait for the fix which will apparently be sent out sometime in the next three weeks (most likely toward the end of this month). Either way, it looks like Big Red is not going to let those who purchased its first 4G enabled handset to suffer forever.
source: AndroidCentral
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This leaked internal Verizon memo lays out the options owners of the HTC ThunderBolt have if their handset is randomly rebooting |
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