IntoMobile » Simon Sage

No Windows Mobile 6.5 Update for XPERIA X1

Simon Sage — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:04:34 +0000

Previously, there were rumours that Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE)’s X1 would get an update to Windows Mobile 6.5 after a supposed leaked ROM hit xda-developers. Well, sources close to the matter are apparently dashing those hopes, saying that no official update is actually in the works. Considering the X1 already has a customized user interface, you aren’t really missing out on the facelift, and Marketplace is coming to 6.1 anyway, so the only substantial feature X1 owners won’t be enjoying is My Phone. Big loss? Not really.

[via CNET]

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Google Navigation Now Available for Android 1.6 Devices

Simon Sage — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:22:13 +0000

The Motorola (NYSE: MOT) droid launched rolling large with Android 2.0, but for those with older Android devices, you can shelf away your jealousy; the biggest feature, voice-prompted driving directions in Google Maps, is now available on all Android 1.6 devices. Aside from a nice robot lady telling you when to turn, you can also set shortcuts for regular destinations, making it even easier to get to where you’re going. The update also includes Layers support, so you can keep an eye on specific points of interest, even when you’re on the way to your destination. The service is technically only available in the U.S, but there are workarounds. The Android 2.0 launch was hard enough on TomTom and Garmin, who make their business with premium versions of this service; I wonder how they’ll recover from this blow…

[via Official Google Mobile Blog]

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Gameloft selling 400 Times More Games on iPhone than Android

Simon Sage — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:06:34 +0000

Gameloft had previously been very excited about Android, jumping into the market with twenty titles last February, but they have since changed their tune, and are pulling away from Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s mobile platform. Gameloft’s director of finance, Alexandre de Rochefort, had this to say about their performance on Android at a recent investor’s meeting:

“We have significantly cut our investment in Android platform, just like … many others … It is not as neatly done as on the iPhone. Google has not been very good to entice customers to actually buy products. On Android nobody is making significant revenue … We are selling 400 times more games on iPhone than on Android.”

Ouch. The iPhone has definitely made a name for itself in mobile gaming, and combined with mass consumer demand for the handset itself, it’s easy to see why a big name publisher would side with Apple (NSDQ: AAPL). Motorola (NYSE: MOT)’s droid is certainly pushing hard with its marketing and preliminary sales have been decent, but odds are slim that it will put a significant dent in iPhone’s numbers. The bigger question raised here is “is this attitude prevalent across application segments other than gaming?” Gameloft is a pretty big deal; I can only imagine how many other major app developers are openly neglecting other mobile platforms as a result of the iPhone’s massive gravitational pull. With resources shrinking for a lot of companies, devs have to be especially picky about which camp they chose.

[via Reuters]

Update: I don’t if that financial director was talking out of line, or what, but Gameloft just issued a press release reiterating their support for Android, including that they have plans for 2.0. VP of publishing, Gonzague de Vallois said:

“The arrival of this new generation of phones will allow the development of High Definition games that make the most of the technological capacity and the speed of execution offered by the new Android phones. Consumers will benefit from a top quality gaming experience.”

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Samsung Omnia II Goes Official on Verizon: December 2, $199

Simon Sage — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:17:49 +0000

Good news for those who have been following the rumors about the Samsung Omnia II i920: Verizon (NYSE: VZ) has set a pricetag and release date! Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface built on top of Windows Mobile 6.5, a 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and dual-LED flash, GPS, and Wi-Fi all round out the Omnia II. Initially, we thought it would be launching with Windows Mobile 6.1, but it’s possible that originally-planned release dates were pushed back to include 6.5. You can expect to pay $199.99 on contract after mail-in rebates to pick up the i920 from Verizon stores on December 2.

[via Verizon]

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Sony Ericsson Kurara/U5 Reviewed

Simon Sage — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:15:33 +0000

The upcoming Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) Kurara, which got a brief glimpse of last week, just got an extensive review. This is clearly Sony Ericsson’s competitor to Samsung’s OmniaHD i8910, and meets the challenge on a few levels, such as processor (Cortex A8) and camera (8 megapixels), but the display loses a few points for not being AMOLED. The Symbian-based OS is similar to the Satio, complete with Facebook and Twitter integration, but the reviewer’s final conclusion is that this handset’s success will depend entirely on the price point – there’s not a lot of innovation going on, but a 300 Euro price point would likely be enough to win over a few folks. Even with the pricetag taken into account, I’m not sure why anyone would pick up the U5 over the X10…

[via Mobile-Review]

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Seesmic Released for Android and BlackBerry

Simon Sage — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:43:19 +0000

Heavy-duty social networkers will be familiar with the name “Seesmic“, a desktop and web Twitter client. It has officially gone mobile for Android and BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM), with the expected features such as home screen notifications, picture sharing, timeline viewing, saved searches, and basic tweeting. The one thing I haven’t seen elsewhere on a BlackBerry twitter client yet is lists support; more specifics can be found on the BlackBerry page. The Android version has a few cool tricks, like saving tweets as drafts and video sharing, but to get a closer look, check out Seesmic’s Android page. To get downloading, point your mobile browser to seesmic.com or find it in the Android Market.

[via Seesmic]

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The Signal 48: Windows Mobile A-Movin’ and Scosche reCOIL Giveaway

Simon Sage — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:53:36 +0000

Could Windows Mobile really be catching up?

Between the opening of the Marketplace for Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1, and some leaks about the upcoming version 7, it sounds like Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is getting ready for a big push. Will is out judging Under the Radar, but we tap Windows Mobile blogger and Microsoft MVP Darren Humphries from MobileJaw for his take on the platform in the face of fresh competition on the smartphone circuit. We also talk about legal squabbles between carriers over “misleading” ads.

Of course, we never want to leave our listeners empty-handed – this week we’re giving out a Scosche reCOIL to one commenter in the U.S. It’s handy, simple car charger for the iPhone whose cable is retractable for easy stowing when not in use. Normally it retails for $29.99, but you can nab it for free just by leaving a comment.

Hit the jump to get started!

Music by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, as featured on Tap Tap Revenge for the iPhone.

The Signal is a part of the Tech Podcasts Network.

Download The Signal ( Episode 48 ) – iTunes – RSS – (32:38)

Headlines

Windows Mobile 7 Shown in Secret, Impressions Leak
Windows Marketplace open for PC, Windows Mobile 6.0 and Windows Mobile 6.1
Verizon to AT&T RE: Lawsuit: “The Truth Hurts”
TELUS Sues Rogers over Ads

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New GMail Icons Let you Know Which Friends Use Android

Simon Sage — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:57:18 +0000

Those who use GMail regularly be familiar with the Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Talk sidebar showing which of your friends are online, as well as the wide variety of customization options available. A new one fresh from the labs is Android icons that let you know if your contact is currently online thanks to an Android device, complete with yellow Away robots, and red Busy ones. This would be a great option even if it were just extra eye candy for the Android-obsessed, but knowing someone is mobile definitely helps contextualize the conversation, and potentially avoids anyone getting offended at short, terse replies. You can enable the option in GMail over here.

[via Official GMail Blog]

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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Priced at $860

Simon Sage — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:13:46 +0000

Ow, did anyone else feel like their wallet just got kicked in the crotch? At a Swedish press event, Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) revealed that their Android-powered X10 to be released in February will be costing 6,000 Swedish kroner (which works out to $US 860 at the current exchange rate). Even among high-end smartphones that’s pretty steep, and considering SE’s history with selling the xperia brand unlocked, odds are we won’t see X10 carrier-subsidized for awhile. We’ve seen the super-slick user interface built on top of Android, 8 megapixel camera, slim profile, 1 Ghz processor, and 4-inch display, but it is a very small niche that will shell out that kind of money for this device. Anyone out there unfazed by the pricetag?

[via WSJ]

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BlackBerry Pearl2 9100 (Striker/Stratus) Makes First Appearance

Simon Sage — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:16:29 +0000

There have been rumblings for the last couple of months about a next generation BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Pearl code-named Striker, but in the way of details, we only knew it would have 3G. Well, today the veil has been lifted, and there’s a batch of pictures and a short clip giving us a full hardware tour. In terms of styling, there’s a lot borrowed from the latest BlackBerrys, like the Storm2-style battery door and chrome-finished siding, and the optical trackpad and sharp beveled edge of the Bold 9700, but anyone who used the original 8100 series phones will recognize the similarities immediately. The SureType keys have changed little, except for maybe a little extra rounding, but notably absent is any influence from the Pearl Flip, which featured a completely flush keypad with frets between the rows. Maybe RIM would just like to forget that one, and go with what works, eh? Hardware aside, OS 5.0 is purring like a kitten on there, and Wi-Fi and 3G are both confirmed. Since the home screen is asking for a SIM card, we can only say it’ll be coming to GSM carriers for now. I’m curious what kind of screen resolution it’s packing, but it’s expected to be in the same ballpark as the Bold (HVGA). More specifics are likely on the way, so stick around!

Hit the jump for a quick hands-on video!

[via CB, Salomondrin]

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Mobile Google News Optimized for iPhone, Android, and webOS

Simon Sage — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:37:29 +0000

Those with an iPhone, Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre, or any Android device will be happy to hear about some new changes to the mobile Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News. The new version allows you to add custom keyword, local, and recommended sections, as well as shuffle and move the sections as you like. That’s the main thing, but it looks like there are a lot of optimizations in terms of layout and navigation that make Google News on mobile all the better. Personally, I’m still waiting for an official Google Reader application, which would make News pretty much a moot point, but you might as well go ahead and check out news.google.com in your mobile browser in the meantime.

[via Official Google Mobile Blog]

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Verizon Outs Rugged Casio Rock

Simon Sage — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:00:20 +0000

A tough, useful little flip has been announced on Verizon (NYSE: VZ) called the Casio G’zOne Rock. It had been previously spotted on a leaked roadmap, but few specifics were available.This phone looks like it would be a hikers dream, complete with compass, walking counter, thermometer, astro calendar, sunrise/sunset and tides apps to keep you oriented in the wild. It also features push-to-talk over EV-DO rev. A, a 2 megapixel camera, and meets MIL-STD-810F-grade ruggedization for impact, vibration, water, dust, extreme temperatures and just about anything else you could throw at it. The Rock joins the Boulder and Type-S in the G’zOne family of rugged handsets, but it’s tough to draw any real differentiation between them. The Casio Rock will run you $199.99 on contract after rebates starting tomorrow – just keep an eye out on the VZ store to pick it up.

[via Verizon]

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TELUS Sues Rogers over Ads

Simon Sage — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:34:45 +0000

Hey, Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and AT&T (NYSE: T) aren’t the only ones getting into hissy fits over inaccurate ad campaigns; telus (NYSE: TU) has just launched their own litigation against Rogers (NYSE: RCI) on similar grounds. Shawn Hall,? senior communications manager with telus, said “Rogers has no network advantage and should not be misleading Canadians with false superiority claims,” although those claims were apparently accurate until telus opened up their HSPA network a few weeks ago. In compensation for these misleading advertisements, telus could be seeking millions in damages, although no dollar sign has been set. The tension is definitely building between Canadian carriers now that Rogers doesn’t have an exclusive on the iPhone (and all GSM handsets, for that matter). Combined with their move to shut down wind for not following foreign ownership laws, telus has been pretty aggressive towards the competition lately; way to keep ‘em on their toes.

[via Globe and Mail]

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HTC Hero on Sprint Gets Firmware Update

Simon Sage — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:01:34 +0000

An over-the-air software update for the Sprint (NYSE: S) Hero is now available, the biggest change being a fix to SMS and daylight savings time bugs. There’s no documented changelog, but if you notice anything different, feel free to drop a comment. If you didn’t automatically recieve the option to update to 1.56.651.2, go to Settings, About, System Updates, then Firmware Update.

[via BGR]

Update: Oh, snap. Official change log here.

Feature Updates and Enhancements

HTC Hero Software Enhancement SW 1.56.651.2 provides feature updates and enhancements to address the following:
• Improvement to camera picture quality
• DST (Daylight Savings Time) issue addressed
• Unable to receive SMS due to full memory
• Memory leak when Bluetooth is in connecting state
• 3.5mm mono when not using headset with mic
• Dialer application causing excess battery draw

Important note: Dedicated Mute/Speaker buttons have been added to the Talk screen

Verification of updates:
To verify the customer has the updated build after the update:
1. Press Menu, Tap Settings
2. Flick Up, Tap About Phone
3. Scroll up and check Software version: After update 1.56.651.2

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Windows Mobile 7 Shown in Secret, Impressions Leak

Simon Sage — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:09:33 +0000

Now that Windows Mobile 6.5 is getting out there into the public, it’s time we started seeing something regarding the next generation of Windows phones. Apparently an early demo of WinMo 7 was shown to a private audience; some folks, like @ryanblock, kept their yap shut about it (presumably under the force of a non-disclosure agreement), but some of SoloPalmari’s impressions made it out to Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Translate before getting DCMA’d in the face:

Revolutionary, no need to take away: the next version of Windows Mobile, as shown by the leaks and the first screenshots of the new system, the Web will soon be spring, we are faced with an upheaval of the logic of interaction and not just a substantial revision of the interface. The concept of “applications”, as the programs continue to live their important identities, will bend to the principle of “user experience”.

Finally the performance, the fluidity in the display of screens, images and icons becomes a priority. As powerful and versatile Windows Mobile will be next, will never submit to slowdowns and delays in the response. How will, indeed, as they did to achieve this result is not yet technically clear. But developers say Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is certain: the experience of use to forget the “old” Windows Mobile.

Those are some very promising (if awkward) words, and if Microsoft delivers, WinMo could be set for a resurgence to properly compete with the rest of the smartphone ecosystem. That’s a best case scenario, of course, since Windows has a lot of ground to make up for, what with new players like Android stealing the spotlight and riding a lot of momentum. Many of the important updates coming to WinMo 7 aren’t entirely secret – we’ve seen lots of bits and pieces, and one especially beefy leaked strategy document, but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more juicy tidbits, especially now that Microsoft is starting to get comfortable talking about the update.

[SoloPalmari via MobileTechWorld]

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Sony Ericsson Launches WebSDK for Android and Symbian

Simon Sage — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:24:40 +0000

In preparation for the incoming X10, Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) has opened up a new tool for developers called WebSDK. As you might imagine, it allows developers to write mobile apps in web languages like HTML, CSS and JavaScript, not unlike Palm’s webOS or BlackBerry’s recently-launched widgets. The system is all based around the open-source PhoneGap project cooked up back in March. It’s not just Android getting the love – Symbian phones will also be compatible with WebSDK, and combined with the Kurara/U5 leak earlier today, Sony Ericsson is clearly not forgetting Symbian, even in the wake of their burgeoning Android romance.

The devs in the house can read more and download the new WebSDK here, or get involved with PhoneGap here.

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Samsung Behold 2 Now For Sale on T-Mobile

Simon Sage — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:41:18 +0000

November 18 was set as the Samsung Behold 2’s launch, and here we are with another addition to the Android family. T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) is offering a 3.2″ AMOLED touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera with flash and autofocus, Wi-Fi, GPS, and the usual Google (NSDQ: GOOG) fare like Maps, Mail, Search, YouTube and the Android Market for $299.99 on two years of the Even More plan (or $57/month if you’d like to try financing the device). That cube-spinning interface gimmick looks like it would wear off awfully quick, but if you’re interested in giving TouchWiz-tinged Android a shot, you can pick up the Behold 2 from T-Mobile here. I believe Will is giving the Behold 2 a test drive presently, so sit tight for a review in the near future.

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Meet the Sony Ericsson Kurara

Simon Sage — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:34:15 +0000

The most promising thing coming from Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) these days is the Android-powered X10, but not so fast – they haven’t put all of their eggs in one basket. This here is the Kurara, a Symbian smartphone with 8 megapixel camera with LED flash, ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz processor, 3.2″ touchscreen, and HD video recording at 720p. Also called the U5, the usual fixings like GPS, Wi-Fi (with DLNA support), 3.5mm, microUSB and HSDPA/HSUPA connectivity are packed inside. We’ll have to see more of the device to pass judgment, but maybe SE should take a hint from Motorola (NYSE: MOT) and focus on Android for the immediate future. No release date, target markets, or pricetag just yet, but we’ll be keeping an eye out.

[via GSMArena]

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BeamReader PDF Viewer Available for Android

Simon Sage — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:24:30 +0000

It’s been in the works for awhile, but the BeamReader PDF viewing app fro Android is now ripe for the downloading. BeamReader boasts native font rendering, text search, and no requirement for network connection to handle document processing. On top of PDFs, BeamReader can handle TIFF, JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF image files, as well as compressed ZIP arhives. For a free app, that’s pretty dang useful. Documents to Go is still a big name in the Android Market (they even scored a preload deal on the T-Mobile Pulse), but PDF viewing in particular is locked away in the premium version. For more info on BeamReader for Android, hit up SLG, or go ahead and find the app in the on-device Market.

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Urbanspoon for BlackBerry Ready for Download

Simon Sage — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:15:32 +0000

One of the gems for the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Developer Conference that slipped through the cracks was the announcement of Urbanspoon for BlackBerry. You might recognize the app for its prominence in iPhone ads – it’s the one where you shake your phone to get suggested restaurants within your area based on GPS location. You can set criteria for cuisine, budget, and area, if you’re feeling picky. The Storm retains the accelerometer support, so you can shake and eat to your heart’s content. To turn the crank and spin the foodie slot machine, check out UrbanSpoon’s BlackBerry page. The iPhone version, as ever, is available from iTunes here.

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