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Video Preview: Need For Speed Shift shows what OpenGL ES graphics can do on a BlackBerry Storm2

Will Park — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:07:39 +0000

RIM today announced at their BlackBerry Developers Conference in San Francisco that the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) OS will soon support OpenGL ES for 3D graphics acceleration. The arrival of 3D graphics support should finally bring the BlackBerry platform out of the dark ages, where BrickBreaker and other 2D games reigned supreme. RIM and EA Mobile took to the BBDC keynote stage to show off the still-in-development “Need For Speed: Shift” 3D game, giving the world a glimpse of what’s to come. The game looked impressive, to say the least, so we figured a hands-on video was in order.

We sat down with EA Mobile and gave the game a solid once-over. Before we continue, we should mention again that Need For Speed: Shift is still in early stage development, and what you see below is actually the first ever playable version of the game. As such, there weren’t too many cars to pick from, and the game had only a single playable track. Still, the accelerometer-based controls were easy to use – they were responsive but not twitchy (like a lot of racing games on the iPhone). In-game audio was impressive and really gave the game a more polished feel than the two weeks worth of development time would have suggested.

EA Mobile promises to have Need for Speed: Shift polished off by the time it hits the BlackBerry App World. By that time the game should support more computer rivals (AI enemies), a drift-turn feature to slide around corners and player-points to upgrade your ride. Check out the video below!

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OpenGL ES Arrives on BlackBerry, 3D Gaming in Tow

Simon Sage — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:43:34 +0000

Gaming on BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) has never been what you would call breathtaking – a few low-key casual games here and there and the preloaded Brickbreaker could handle the lion’s share of twitchy boredom. Well, the platform is taking a big jump as OpenGL ES support has gone official and is currently available in the beta BlackBerry JDE we had mentioned earlier.

The in-app purchacing sounded vaguely iPhone OS 3.0, and OpenGL even moreso, but between these multimedia improvements and BlackBerry’s existing expertise in productivity, the whole platform is feeling a lot more balanced. Shown here is Need for Speed, which we’ll have some hands-on footage of shortly, complete with gesture controls for brake and boosting, and accelerometer use for steering. There’s going to be at least one other big name game showing off what OpenGL on BlackBerry can do, and we’ll be sure to check it out.

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New Geolocation and Push Services Coming to BlackBerry

Simon Sage — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:12:41 +0000

More goodies from the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Developer Conference today: fresh location-detection options using cell site recognition, and push services for those who want to leverage RIM’s biggest advantage in mobile computing. First up, cell site recognition is a big one for location-based apps who want to keep battery drain down (GPS takes a significant toll). Anyone with 5.0 will automatically update the database of cell towers and their locations; a very cool use of crowdsourcing. There’s also new reverse geocoding that will tag specific coordinates with a proper street address – a nice addition that we’re already seeing in action in Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Maps for Mobile. On top of those two, RIM has introduced an API for estimated travel time within the U.S. and Canada; the time is generated based on aggregated traffic conditions and speed limits cross-referenced with distance.

Good stuff all around, but push services are probably bigger news for most developers. Push Services will enable apps to pull down up to 8 KB of data with all of the righteous immediacy that makes BlackBerry e-mail oh-so-very awesome. It’ll be interesting to see how this service will fare once it’s out in the wild and what developers use it for (push Twitter, anyone?); Web Signals have been testing the waters for a little bit with Alliance Members, but we’ll have to wait to see how much apps can really do with 8 KB. An added bonus, for devs who thought they might have to pay for it, is that Push Services will be available for free.

Both the new geolocation and push services are available specifically in devices with OS 5.0 and up, and will be available in the first half of 2010. You can try out some of these new options in the beta 5 Java Development Environment that was just released today. For more information on the upcoming push service, check out RIM’s page.

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RIM Announces New Advertising Program and In-App Purchacing

Simon Sage — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:58:22 +0000

One of the many announcements made at the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Developer Conference is a new ad partner program that allows app creators to monetize their apps right away. The BlackBery Advertising Service will plug in ads from Jumptap, Lat49, Millennial Media, Navteq, 1020 Placecast, Quattro Wireless and Sympatico.ca – an impressive initial list, but I’m wondering where Google Mobile ads stand, and if their own program stands on its own just fine for BlackBerry devs. Ads offered through this program can do all sorts of stuff, like click-to-call, launching the address book or browser, or find a program in App World.

A related update on the transaction front are in-app purchases. That means you can buy new levels for a game you’re really digging, or buy songs from on-device music stores (7digital comes to mind), and similar kinds of microtransactions. Yeah, it sounds suspiciously familiar to the iPhone 3.0 announcement, but it offers BlackBerry developers some added flexibility in how they make their money.

The new ad service and in-app purchacing goes live in 2010, complete with SDKs. Keep an eye on the newly redesigned Developer Zone for more info.

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RIM Launches Academic Program

Will Park — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:05 +0000

Ever wanted to go to school and learn about BlackBerrys all day long? Well, two bits of news for you: one, you’re crazy. Two, RIM is officially offering curriculum to academic institutions under app development, support, and administration branches. This can help you provide students the knowledge they need to achieve those dreams of making the killer app, ruling a BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) rollout with an iron fist, or manning a soul-draining tech support cubicle. Instructors can use the textbooks, labs, and materials to teach the courses in whole semesters, or piecemeal as modules in other courses.

This is a really interesting strategy on RIM’s part, and reminiscent of their past efforts in certification programs. Plugging into legitimate educational institutes ensures that the hard skills necessary to maintain RIM’s infrastructure in the big wide world don’t die, and young tech professionals recognise the platform as a valid and real path to make a living. I’m interested in seeing the quality of graduates versus other IT professionals who have fallen into BlackBerry after finishing nonspecific courses…

For more information, hit up www.blackberry.com/academic, and be sure to stay tuned over the coming week for more information from the 2009 BlackBerry Developer Conference.

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RIM Announces Flash Tools for Developers

Will Park — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:26:02 +0000

While Adobe might be taking potshots at Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) for not providing the footholds to get Flash on the iPhone, RIM has announced that upcoming versions of Creative Suite 5 will allow developers to import Flash content in a BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM)-friendly format through the Eclipse JDE plug-in. So, yeah, Flash on BlackBerry. We had heard this was coming, and it’s great to see something good and official, though we’ll only really understand the scope of this announcement once we see developers do something with it (similar to the Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Gears and widget support in OS 5.0).

Adobe’s participation extends to all of their popular tools, like Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator at first, Fireworks, and plenty of other popular apps already being used by web developers will be available later; AIR is in the works. This all elaborates on the Open Screen Project Adobe was talking about not too long ago, and has the potential to make the BlackBerry experience a heck of a lot more enjoyable. Flash-enabled widgets are a great weapon against Android and webOS who have had the benefit of creating a smooth user interface from the ground up; RIM is shackled to their old OS, and as we all know, it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Well, BlackBerry, prove us wrong – let’s see some new tricks.

Creative Suite 5 should be coming out in 2010, along with all of this BlackBerry support, but you can find more details on RIM’s Adobe tools here. Stick around for more announcements and news from the BlackBerry Developer Conference!

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iPhone App: When you need to find the closest hotel for the “other woman”, use Hilton

Stefan Constantinescu — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:22:18 +0000

We’ve all been there. It’s 3 in the morning and you’re chatting up a beautiful university student who has had way too many shots. She grabs your arm and looks deep into your eyes, channeling a Freudian lust for the love that her father never gave her growing up. She asks to go home with you. Now, you can’t say yes since you’re married and have two beautiful children, but the allure of being balls deep inside a woman half your age is too resisting to pass. You may never have this opportunity again, your wife stopped performing fellatio last decade, and besides, you need the confidence boost by convincing yourself that doing this will make you a man again. Morally grounded men might pull out their iPhone and call the a taxi for this sweet young lady. Some will use the large, multitouch screen to zoom in on their children’s faces as a reminder of what’s waiting for them back home. You’re not one of those men. You’re going to use your iPhone to find the nearest Hilton Hotel, navigate to it, place it on the night stand, and then reach for it once again once when she is in the reverse cowgirl position so you can snap a quick video so you’ll never forget that one night you kicked ass.

[Via: Textually, USA Today, Official Press Release]

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iPhone App: Shazam Encore: $5 gets you premium features such as recommendations and maps

Stefan Constantinescu — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:42:02 +0000

The good news: Shazam, the popular music service that allows you to identify a song by holding your device up to a speaker for a few seconds, has released a premium version of their iPhone application called “Shazam Encore” [iTunes link]. For 5 USD (or 4 EUR or 3 GBP) you get: faster song recognition, the ability to see where you where when you identified a song, music recommendations based on the songs you looked up, find out which songs are being identified the most, and a car mode that helps you identify what’s playing on the radio.

“Since our launch on the App Store, Shazam has achieved a huge following with iPhone and iPod touch users and is now one of the most popular music apps in the world,” said Andrew Fisher, CEO of Shazam. “We have listened to our iPhone and iPod touch users and have created a new app which answers their requests to take them on an enhanced music journey that will change the way music lovers experience and learn about music.”

The bad news: New users of Shazam deciding to use the free verison will be limited to only 5 uses of the Shazam service per month.

[Via: Shazam Press Release]

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Analyst: 1 in 6 mobile subscribers will have an NFC enabled device by 2014

Stefan Constantinescu — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:39:31 +0000

The boffins at Juniper Research have predicted that by 2014, 1 in 6 mobile phone subscribers will be using an NFC device. Whether or not they’ll be using NFC for something other than transmitting naughty pictures and business cards is another story all together. Juniper Research also thinks that in 2014, NFC enabled monetary transactions will exceed $110 billion. If we assume that there are 4 billion mobile subscribers now, and that number will hit 5 billion by 2014, then that would be roughly 833 million people (1 in 6) spending an average of $132 during a 12 month period. That’s roughly the population of the USA and the EU combined, buying a $5 meal at McDonald’s every other week.

Do you think they’re being a tad too optimistic? I am, but then again I tend to stay away from predicting what will happen more than 3 years into the future. At the rate the world is moving, 2014 may as well be a millennium away.

[Via: Business Wire]

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Vobis Computer unveils its second Android device – Highscreen Zeus

Dusan Belic — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:14:07 +0000

Back in July, we saw Vobis Computer’s first Android device – HighScreen PP5420, and now the company unveiled the second one – Highscreen Zeus. The new smartphone is obviously better than its predecessor and it comes with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

Rest of the specs include HSPA connectivity, 3.2-inch 240×400 pixels touchscreen, 3-megapixel camera with auto-focus, GPS, 256 MB of RAM coupled with 512 MB of ROM, Bluetooth 2.1, while Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM)’s MSM 7225 CPU is running the show at 528 MHz. Size wise, the Highscreen Zeus measures 110×55x15.1 mm and has a weight of 124.6 grams.

Exact release date is unknown at this stage, but we do have the price. Once released, Vobis will ask 13,990 rubles (about $483) for the Zeus…

[Via: Unwired View]

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Samsung Convoy is rugged, push-to-talk enabled and available on Verizon

Dusan Belic — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:12:53 +0000

The Samsung Convoy is Verizon (NYSE: VZ)’s latest rugged, PTT-enabled device. It’s a clamshell-shaped phone and aside from rocking the MIL-SPEC 810F standard for ruggedness, it’s also 3G-enabled, making sure you can access data services in all temperatures, altitudes and various solar radiation levels. In addition, the Convoy can also withstand shock, dust, vibration, salt fog and humidity.

As for the rest of the specs, there’s a 2-megapixel camera on board, Bluetooth, GPS (sings along VZ Navigator), large 1300mAh battery, and so on. Starting from November 15th, you will be able to grab this tough baby for $49.99 with a 2 year contract, and after a $50 mail-in rebate. In order to enable push-to-talk, prepare to pour out an additional $5 a month for the service.

[Via: MobileBurn]

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Nokia 3711 clamshell is at T-Mobile USA’s portfolio

Dusan Belic — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:09:30 +0000

T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) has a new Nokia (NYSE: NOK) phone in its offering. Nothing too spectacular like the N900, but something more modest, something for an average Joe who don’t want to spend much to get basic calling and texting functionality. It’s the clamshell-shaped Nokia 3711 which prides itself with such usual specs like QVGA screen, 2-megapixel camera, GPS, FM radio, Bluetooth, microSD memory card slot, media player and so on. It’s available for $69.99 on an Even More contract after rebate or $159.99 on Even More Plus plan. T-Mobile’s AWS 3G is also included… The carrier’s website offers more details for those who care.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

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CHARGE Anywhere unveils mobile payment app for Android

Dusan Belic — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:12:40 +0000

Mobile payment solutions provider CHARGE Anywhere is “going Android” with a dedicated application which it argues is the first PCI PA-DSS validated Payment Application for the platform. All major card processors support CHARGE Anywhere’s mobile payment software and payment gateway solutions, hence seamless integration with virtually every merchant account provider is guaranteed.

To put this mumbo-jumbo into plain words, CHARGE Anywhere for Android enables merchants to easily and securely accept credit and debit card transactions at the point-of-sale or point-of-service.

The software also supports optional hardware such as a Bluetooth printer with integrated card reader, enabling for printing of receipts on the spot… Additional details are available from CHARGE Anywhere’s website.

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Sony Creative Software’s 1,000 Ringtones DVD comes with a bunch of iPhone-ready ringtones

Dusan Belic — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:11:09 +0000

Sony Creative Software has a new mobile content DVD called 1,000 Ringtones, which as you can guess for yourself comes with a bunch of ringtones grouped into three categories: music, sound effects, and spoken words and phrases. Users can select tones for incoming calls, emails and text messages.

Apparently, the DVD is developed with iPhone users in mind (though other devices will work just as well), hence the files are included in .m4r and .mp3 formats, and are ready for immediate use without any additional fees. To install, iPhone users can simply load the DVD, and move selected ringtones into iTunes for synchronization with their iPhone. The DVD includes a tutorial video that demonstrates these steps, so if you’re complete newbie, you’re covered as well.

If this is something you find interesting (i.e. like the idea of customizing your beloved iPhone), you can grab 1,000 Ringtones for $19.95 from Sony Creative Software’s website or from select retailers around the U.S.

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Remember The Milk’s Android app updated with customizable widgets and start screen, Quick Search Box, and HTC Tattoo and Motorola Droid support

Dusan Belic — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:08:26 +0000

On the heels of its recent iPhone app update, Remember The Milk updated its Android application adding some cool new features to the mix. Here’s what’s changed in the version 1.1.0 (codename “Bender”):

Widget customization – you can now choose between two different sizes (2×2 and 3×3) and customize what the widget shows: tasks due today, all tasks, or tasks from a specific list (Smart Lists, included).
Start screen customization – allows for customization of the screen that the app starts up on from the “Settings” menu. Choose between screens like “Today,” “Tags,” and “Nearby,” or select a specific list (or Smart List) to start on.
Quick Search Box – available in Android 1.6 and later.
HTC Tattoo and Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Droid support – meaning that QVGA and WVGA screen resolutions are now supported!

In a nutshell, great update hence it’s a must grab for all RTM fans who are at the same time Android device owners. Look for the RTM app in the Android Market.

[Via: RTM blog]

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The Unboxing: Verizon’s HTC Droid Eris

Will Park — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:32:15 +0000

We’ve already had a chance to play with the HTC Droid Eris from Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless, but there’s nothing like a retail package unboxing ceremony to really get up close and personal with a new handset. As the “ying” to the Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Droid’s “yang,” the HTC Droid Eris offers Verizon customers a fully capable Android smartphone at half the price of Moto’s headlining Droid, and it deserves some of our undivided attention.

The HTC Droid Eris is a lot like the HTC Hero from Sprint. Just like the Hero, the Droid Eris packs a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, 5-megapixel auto-focusing camera, 3G data, WiFi, GPS and a microSD card slot. It also runs the Sense UI, HTC’s custom Android homescreen skin, which gives the Droid Eris a bunch of extra HTC widgets to play with – and it doesn’t hurt that Sense UI looks way prettier than the vanilla Android homescreen.

Surprisingly, the HTC Droid Eris isn’t much thinner than the Motorola Droid, which sports a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. That’s not to say that the Droid Eris is a brick, it actually sits really comfortably in the hand. Still, the Eris could stand to lose a couple millimeters around its waist.

The Droid Eris’s 5-megapixel camera is faster and less laggy than the Motorola Droid. It also supports touch-focusing, which gives it a another small but significant leg-up on the Droid. The 3.2-inch display is smaller than would be ideal, but it’s plenty big for day-to-day use. Above all, there’s no sliding mechanism on the Droid Eris, so build quality is top-notch – no jiggling or creaking here.

The Droid Eris is available from Verizon Wireless for $99.99 with new 2-year contract. Or, you might be able to find a better deal here.

Unfortunately, the Eris runs Android 1.5 OS. The Motorola Droid features Android 2.0 OS, which has the Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Maps Navigation app pre-installed. Android 1.5 isn’t bad, especially with HTC’s Sense UI riding on top, but it’s no Android 2.0.

Anyway, acquaint yourself with the Droid Eris below!

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Need a Fireplace? Sure, there’s an App for That!

James Falconer — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:11:27 +0000

Want to load up a completely useless app on your iPhone? What if I told you that you’d have to pay for it? Still interested? Enter FirePlace from ToughTurtle. The app is a virtual fireplace with the added benefit of not actually being a fireplace. There’s no need to start up an actual fire, to tend to it, or even clean up after it. Bonus. You can use it in both portrait and landscape, and the app features lovely audio crackling noises as if you were in front of the real thing. You can even set it to play background music from your iPod library.

The cost? $0.99. Pick it up in the App Store (iTunes link).

Note: OK, perhaps I was a little harsh here. I could see this coming in handy during that geeky/romantic date, or perhaps as a sideshow feature at those family holiday gatherings. Heck, even if you live in a small apartment or condo, with this app you can turn on the fire and enjoy the vibe. Yeah, maybe I was a little harsh. Still, I don’t think I’d spend $1 on it. That’s just me though

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Verizon to pick up the iPhone in Q3 2010?

Will Park — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:09:37 +0000

Previously leaked image of a rumored 2.8-inch iPhone touch panel

AT&T (NYSE: T)’s iPhone exclusivity deal, by most accounts, will come to an end in mid-2010. When that happens, iPhone fans hesitant to leave Verizon (NYSE: VZ)’s network might finally have a chance to put a Verizon iPhone in their pockets. In fact, according to a new report from OTR Global proves accurate, the iPhone might very well hit the Verizon Wireless network in the third quarter of 2010.

Word on the street has Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) putting in orders to build a batch of iPhones equipped with a new hybrid UMTS/CDMA chip capable of surfing Verizon’s CDMA network as well as the 3G UMTS networks already used by carriers like AT&T. Apple is said to have tapped Asustek subsidiary Pegatron to manufacture the new iPhone, rather than current iPhone manufacturer Hon Hai.

There’s also talk of the hybrid iPhone sporting a smaller 2.8-inch touchscreen. We’d previously seen leak photos showing the 2.8-inch touchscreen panel sitting next to the 3.5-inch panel used on all current iPhone iterations, but we’ve yet to see a smaller-screened iPhone come out of Apple’s R&D labs. Will the rumored hybrid iPhone be the first to hit market with a smaller touchscreen?

At this point, nothing is confirmed. But, with a little luck, we might see Verizon picking up the iPhone in the second half of next year. It’ll be interesting to see how that affects AT&T’s business next year.

The question is – will the prospect of a Verizon iPhone keep you from pulling the trigger on another AT&T iPhone or Verizon’s Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Droid?

[Via: AppleInsider]

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Deal Alert: $99 Motorola Droid, FREE HTC Droid Eris from Wirefly.com

Will Park — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:46:08 +0000

If you’ve been resisting the urge to run out and buy a Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Droid at a Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless store, we’ve got some good news for you. Wirlefly.com is rewarding your patience with a seriously hot deal on a brand new Droid. How hot, you ask? Wirefly is offering the Droid for $99.99 with new 2-year contract (or contract extension). They also have the HTC Droid Eris on deck for FREE, if the HTC Sense UI is more your style.

For about $100, Wirefly.com will ship a newly activated Droid to your door. There’s no mail-in rebate to deal with and FedEx shipping is included, free of charge. The promotional ad makes it look like the $100 Droid requires new activation on Verizon’s $59.99 monthly rate plan, so we went through the checkout process with Verizon’s lowest-tier $39.99/month rate plan selected. We stopped short of processing payment information, but everything looked good to go with the cheaper rate plan.

The FREE HTC Droid Eris offer seems to be more limited. You’ll have to have an existing Verizon Wireless account and be willing to extend your contract for another two years. And, it seems the contract extension only applies to rate plans of $59.99 or more. On the upside, shipping is free via FedEx.

If you can wait a couple days for your new Droid hardware, you’re going to have a hard time beating these two deals.

$100 Motorola Droid
FREE HTC Droid Eris

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MetroPCS adds Huawei M750 all-touchscreen phone

Dusan Belic — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:00:28 +0000

MetroPCS (NYSE: PCS) has a new entry-level all-touchscreen device in its portfolio. It’s the Huawei M750, which interested users could grab for $200. Specs wise, there’s a 1.3-megapixel camera on board, Bluetooth support, media player and a microSD memory card slot. In addition, the carrier emphasizes the “intuitive touch user interface,” but we don’t actually have any details about it.

In a nutshell, the Huawei M750 is a device made for those people who really dig the “touch” but don’t want to pay a small fortune or sign any contracts to grab such a phone.

[Via: PhoneScoop]

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