GPS Voice Navigation for WP7 gives you Google Maps and MapQuest support for $6.99

It wasn't that far back when you couldn't find a decent GPS application in Windows Marketplace to save your trip. Bing Maps is fine, but its map support outside of the US leaves a lot to be desired, and it won't be fully-developed until the Mango update hits.

Third party solutions are starting to appear amongst the 20 000+ applications for WP7, and still from indie developers, the major GPS software players obviously consider the free offline voice-guided navigation of Nokia's Maps, which is coming to WP7 to replace Bing, too much of a threat.

GPS Voice Navigation swoops in to fill the void before Nokia and Microsoft work out the kinks, since the first Nokia Windows Phones are unlikely to sport Nokia Maps yet anyway. The app can work with data from Google, Bing, Yahoo and MapQuest, featuring voice-guided navigation, as well as written turn-by-turn guidance.

Here's what the app features, according to the Windows Marketplace description:

•     Google, Bing, Yahoo and MapQuest maps support (road and hybrid).
•     Spoken driving instructions.
•     Handy dashboard with estimated time of arrival (ETA), time and distance travelled, remaining distance and other information about your trip.
•     User-centered design that offers more than just an interface to online maps.
•     Two ways to define a destination or find a location – point it on the map manually or look it up using the address finder.
•     List of previously searched destinations in the Search menu.
•     Works with metric (kilometers) and imperial (miles) units.
•     Prevent autolock and back-button confirmation options.
•     Landscape and portrait views supported.

GPS Voice Guidance is priced at the reasonable $6.99, with a free trial, and can be found in Marketplace if you want to stray away from the default Bing Maps navigation every now and then.

via WMPowerUser

Some Verizon branded Apple iPad 2 units are being recalled for having duplicate serial numbers

According to 9to5Mac, some Verizon branded Apple iPad 2 units are being recalled by the manufacturer. Units already in the store and those being shipped to buyers via FedEx are being sent back to Cupertino because of a mistake that allowed duplicate MEID numbers on the tablets. This number is called the Mobile Equipment Identifier and each CDMA device has a unique number. In fact, if you activate a new phone on the same number at a CDMA carrier, this is the number they ask you to read to them from the new device so that they can switch your number over.

There is talk that Apple is giving a $50 credit to those who are affected by the recall. If that is you, we would suggest giving them a call and finding out about the $50. And by all means, let us know what is going on by dropping us a comment in the box below!

source: 9to5Mac via BGR

Cricket nabs the Samsung Chrono as well, but prices it more expensive at $59.99

Late last month in May, the Samsung Chrono offered US Cellular customers a basic handset solution that’s priced decently at $19.99 – no-contract of course.

Now it appears as though Cricket has nabbed the device as well, but strangely enough, it’s presented with almost triple the price of what their competitor is offering at $59.99. Considering that it doesn’t necessarily boast anything awe-inspiring, since it’s basically your usual looking clam-shell handset, it just might be a hard sell for some people out there. Just like US Cellular’s version, the Chrono features a  VGA camera and 3G connectivity.

Although it’s seen as an appreciable gesture, the handset is currently discounted down to $39.99 if you happen to pick it up online – albeit, it’s still double the cost over US Cellular's offering with their model.

source: Cricket via Mobileburn

Samsung SGH-T528G is a TouchWiz 2.0 feature phone for Tracfone

Naturally, feature phones aren’t getting the same amount of love they received a few years ago before the boom seen with smartphones – and that’s probably why announcements for them are relatively low key nowadays.

Case in point, the Samsung SGH-T528G, which is essentially a lot like most of the touchscreen candybar feature phones we’ve seen Samsung put out year after year. Some of its features include a 3” display, 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 850/1900MHz GSM/EDGE/WCDMA connectivity, and is powered by Sammy’s very own TouchWiz 2.0 UI. Although it might be perceived as mundane in our saturated smartphone world, it should come to be a decent offering since it’s going to be sold by Tracfone.

Quietly published on Samsung’s web site, there is still no word yet regarding pricing or availability, but we’d gather it to be affordable since it’s a prepaid phone.

source: FCC & Samsung via Phonescoop

Video shows NOOK has mobile browser on board

Considering that the latest version of the Barnes and Noble NOOK, aka "The Simple Touch Reader" is powered by Android, it might not be terribly surprising to find a mobile browser aboard the device despite the lack of any announcement from Barnes and Noble pertaining to the software. The eBook Reader took some video of the browser in action.

To access the hidden browser, click on the search icon from the tools bar at the bottom of any page, and then enter a URL into the search bar just as you would with any mobile browser and the browser will be loaded automatically. It is not a great browser in comparison with what is on tablets and smartphones. Navigation is a problem and when the user wants to open a new window from a site, he is taken back to the search page and cannot quickly get back to the browser. Scrolling, as you can see in the video, is also a problem at times. Certain sites like CNN and the New York Times would not load at all.

While we wouldn't want to make this our everyday browser, it probably could be used to check simple web sites and most likely we will see an update down the road that will improve the functionality of the application.

source: CNET

Pair of Apple iPhones to be aboard last shuttle flight next month

A pair of Apple iPhones will be getting launched next month. By launched, we mean that the two smartphones will be blasting off on the Atlantis space shuttle for a rendezvous with the International Space Station. Installed on the Apple iPhones will be an app created by Odyssey Space Research called Space Lab for iOS which will help the handsets conduct four experiments while in space.

Odyssey Space Research says that the four experiments include a "Limb Tracker" experiment that will have the iPhone snap pictures of the earth. In the words of the research firm, this will involve, "matching an arc to the horizon through manipulation of an overlay," which will help to, "yield an estimate of altitude and 'off-axis' angle, a measurement of the angle of the image with respect to the Earth's center." The second experiment will help the Apple iPhone calibrate certain sensors that will help improve the accuracy of the measurements obtained from future iPhone readings. In addition, the handset's gyroscope and accelerometer will be used to come up with the longitude and latitude of the shuttle. And finally, in a timely experiment, the iPhone will be used to measure the radiation that the unit itself emits while in space.

The great thing is that you do not have to be a rocket scientist to conduct the same experiments. An App Store version of the Space Labs for iOS is available for 99 cents and will let you perform the same four trials with the information simulated to account for "the presence of gravity" which of course, is not found in space.

The last space shuttle launch will be on July 8th and the two Apple iPhone units will be strapped in nice and tight. Since its earth-bound launch in 2007, the device has taken the smartphone industry to new heights, but nothing like this. And considering that this will mark the end of the program, these two Apple iPhones will be probably be setting some records for travel that may never be broken.

source: CNET

Nokia's Stephen Elop says that all Android devices look and act the same

At the Open Mobile Summit in London, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop made some controversial comments about a wide range of industry matters, most of which dealt with the Android OS. The executive commented on how well his company is doing, saying that Nokia is doing better than ever and plans on becoming pals with mobile carriers. He also said that all Android devices look and act the same and that Google's open source OS owes its creation to the Apple iPhone. Elop also managed to blame the OS for the poor sales of Windows Phone 7 devices saying that OEMs prefer Android over Microsoft's mobile OS.

The CEO said that the closed nature of the Apple iPhone led to the creation of Android. Elop said, "Apple created Android, or at least it created the conditions necessary to create Android. People decided they could not play in the Apple way, and they had to do something else. Then Google stepped in there and created Android… and others jumped on the Android train." When discussing how Android models act and look alike, Nokia's CEO said, " If it’s too hard to differentiate on a platform, commoditization steps in. But then differentiation starts to creep back in through fragmentation." In other words, if the manufacturers of Android handsets want to make models that are different from each other, it will require fragmentation of the software.

And Elop's comments are ironic considering the strict requirements, for both hardware and software, that Microsoft demands of OEMs in order to get Windows Phone 7 installed on a handset. Google doesn't place the same limitations on Android which might explain why manufacturers seemingly prefer the green robot. Android models range from the cheap to expensive, from low-end specs to amazing high-end devices. Furthermore, each manufacturer of Android smartphones has a signature that makes a Motorola DROID X2 look different than the HTC EVO 3D for example. With all the limitations that Redmond puts on users of its mobile OS, it is hard for one manufacturer to stand out from another. This is the challenge that Nokia will face when trying to promote itself in the Windows Phone 7 market. So when Stephen Elop says that all Android devices look and act the same, we wonder what can he be thinking about the new brains behind his firm's upcoming new models.

source: paidContent.org via AndroidandMe

Best Buy jumps at the HTC HD7S by pricing it unbelievably at $50 on-contract

You really have to hand it to them, but Best Buy is one of those retailers that can push smartphones sales out the door, even more when their pricing can be at times more competitive versus their online rivals.

Amazon seemingly obtained a fantastic price for the recently launched HTC HD7S for AT&T, when they marked it half off to what AT&T is asking for the device at $100 on-contract. Indeed nice, Best Buy’s pricing is shockingly better since they’re able to offer the newest Windows Phone 7 smartphone with a piercing $50 cost with a new 2-year contract.  However, it’s worth mentioning that customers with qualified upgrades are subjected to a $149.99 price point, which is still better than the full $200 that AT&T is asking.

If you do plan on picking up the handset online, just be aware that it’s “usually” offered with shipment dates of 2-5 business days. Nevertheless, you can always fall back and check out your local store to see if they have any in stock.

source: Best Buy via WP Central

iMessage – what difference will it make?

When Scott Forstall introduced iMessage back at WWDC, the first thought that came to mind was that a shift in the way we text might very well be on its way. With its ability to send free messages, photos, videos, and more to any other iOS device, iMessage indeed has the potential to change text messaging as we know it, at least for iDevice owners. Nevertheless, is it really going to make that much of an impact and could it possibly make paying for text messages irrelevant? Now that the initial hype is finally starting to settle, it is time for us to take a closer look at iMessage and evaluate its chances.

First of all, we have to make it clear that iMessage is simply not what will replace the text messages that we are all familiar with today. On one hand, we have its limitation to work only on iOS devices and potentially Macs in the future. So, unless everybody in the world owns an iPhone, good old texting is still going to be around.

MR2 update for the HTC ThunderBolt is leaked bringing better signal reception & more

Only a couple days of us reporting about an upcoming update for HTC ThunderBolt owners who are seeing severe reboot issues, we’re now greeted with the leaked version of the aforementioned MR2 release update.

Available in an unaltered format and for a magnitude of other custom ROMS, the leaked update is arriving earlier than the expected official one, which is gearing for a roll-out sometime around or after June 15th. Specifically, it’s going to provide improved signal strength, carry along a handy 3G/4G toggle setting, and should resolve those pesky random reboot issues plaguing some handset owners. Even though you can download the leaked update right now, it’s still not certain whether or not it is going to be the actual final MR2 release build.

Nevertheless, if you seemingly can’t stand another moment experiencing issues with the ThunderBolt, you can always jump the gun and hope that this leaked update will correct all of your woes. If not, you'll just need to just wait some time until the official one arrives.

source: Android Police via Android Central

HP Veer stars in second commercial with focus on the Nickelodeon set

A pint sized smartphone would seem to fit perfectly in the hands of pint sized humans. So, it makes sense for HP to advertise the credit card sized HP Veer on the television channels that kids watch. Since not too many children watch CSPAN (not too many adults watch that network either, now that we think about it), HP has paid to have its Veer spots put in rotation on Nickelodeon.

Not only does the network have the ideal demographics to reach the kids, it also features a show called iCarly starring one Miranda Cosgrove. You might remember seeing the actress in "The School of Rock", but she has picked up a huge fan base thanks to her show on Nick. Miss Cosgrove is the star of the new HP Veer commercial which no doubt shows one of the directions that HP wants to go with the small, webOS flavored phone. This is the second commercial for the model. As we reported, the first ad featured boxing champ Manny Pacquiao.

Just in case your kids start politely asking for demanding the phone, the HP Veer 4G (4G thanks to HSPA+ connectivity) can be purchased from AT&T for $99.99 after a signed 2-year deal.

source: YouTube via Precentral

Motorola quietly hints that they're saying adios to the MOTOBLUR moniker

As we’ve seen evident with the latest batch of Android powered Motorola smartphones, they’re running the most up-to-date light version of MOTOBLUR that was first introduced by the Motorola DROID X last year. Increasingly, we’ve seen fewer devices relying on the full-blown MOTOBLUR experience, which requires you to log in with an account before getting things set up.

Well, it appears that the company is quietly steering away from using the MOTOBLUR moniker with their products – especially when it wasn’t uttered even once in the press materials for the Motorola PHOTON 4G and TRIUMPH. Moreover, a Motorola spokesperson went on to confirm that the company is steering away from the MOTOBLUR name. In fact, it isn’t the first time we’ve heard of such things, because it was actually mentioned by Motorola’s very own Sanjay Jha last year.

In actuality, the choice was made primarily due to some public feedback they received about it – albeit, some parts of its social networking aspects will continue to live on with future devices.

source: Engadget via TmoNews

AT&T bringing free WiFi to NYC parks

AT&T's reputation in the more tech savvy hubs of America has taken a beating since the introduction of the iPhone. Cities which generate a lot of smartphone traffic like San Francisco and New York have been cities where AT&T is notorious for having dropped calls and poor service. It looks like AT&T is trying to appease customers in NYC by offering free WiFi in parks across the city.

This morning, NYC Mayor Bloomberg and AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson announced the deal, which will have AT&T offering free WiFi in 26 locations in 20 parks throughout the 5 boroughs. This comes after NYC had shut down its own initiative to offer free WiFi in 10 parks which ran from 2004 to 2009. The deal with AT&T will span 5 years.

Starting today, service will be available in Manhattan at Battery Bosque in Battery Park, at the Thomas Jefferson Park rec center in East Harlem, and at the north-end playground in Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx. Throughout the summer, the other 23 locations will come to:

Bronx: Bronx River Park and Devoe Park Brooklyn: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fort Greene Park, Herbert Von King Park, McCarren Park and Prospect Park Manhattan: Central Park (multiple locations), the High Line, Holcombe Rucker Park, Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park Queens: Astoria Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and MacDonald Park Staten Island: Clove Lake Park and South Beach

source: NYC Blue Room via Venture Beat

Nokia expected to swing into loss in Q2, “worst-case scenario is crystallizing”

Nokia, the world's biggest handset maker, has seen its shares nosedive like virtually no other company in the mobile industry. But it's sales that really matter and the general public sees no light at the end of the tunnel at least for the next two quarters. A recent Reuters poll showed that Nokia is expected to swing in the red in the next two quarters and the future is murky at best. 

The fourth quarter of the year is the earliest when the Finns could start recovering and register a profit, but don't expect it to be huge. "We believe the new guidance ... is a strong indication that our worst-case scenario for the company, of accelerating market share and gross margin decline, is crystallizing," Bernstein analyst Pierre Ferragu said recently.

But what's in danger is not just profits – it's the whole idea of a “three-horse race” - a key concept in Nokia CEO Stephen Elop's vision. The ex-Microsoft employee was accused of being a trojan horse for Redmon and purposefully announcing the transition to Windows Phone a whole year before a product could be delivered only to bring down the value of the company. But the reality of Nokia's situation is that the company is in dire straits after dramatically losing both value and customer approval.

Former Nokia employee and industry analyst Tomi Ahonen has mentioned that even the first quarter results of the company were hiding the horrid message about what's to come as while the overall decline in Espoo's market share was only 14%, it was mostly due to seasonal sales in China which celebrates New Year then. Sales were in shambles everywhere except the Asian country and if you factor the Chinese market out, you arrive at a 28% decline in a single quarter.

But even if Nokia survives to release its Windows Phone portfolio, question remains about how the Nokia Windows Phone will be received as initial response to Microsoft's platform in the States was lukewarm. More and more analysts see the only salvation in firing Stephen Elop and changing the course back to Symbian, but the past three months have virtually burned the way back. Do you have any suggestions about what Nokia should do to survive given the latest data? Feel free to discuss them in the comments below!

source: Reuters, Communities Dominate Brands