Promptu Systems announced that it will bring its ShoutOUT voice-to-text mobile application, powered by PayPal X, to the Android platform (it was the iPhone thing only, until recently). The release date is scheduled for Q1 2010, when interested users will be able to manage such tasks as send text messages and updates to Facebook and Twitter without typing a word.

As for the PayPal’s role, their new Adaptive Payments APIs sits at the backend, enabling purchasing of ShoutOUT voice credits…

And that’s about all we have at this stage. iPhone version is also in works — when I searched for it in the AppStore I found some other ShoutOUT app, so I’m guessing it will hit iTunes in no time as Promptu’s website talks about it like it’s ready.

A must have for any Arsenal fan, the Arsenal Football Club App for iPhone and iPod Touch keeps you up-to-date with the latest goings on in ‘Gunner’ land. Read news, fixtures, player bios, watch highlights, check out injury news, and much more. You can even pull up image galleries from past games.

The app itself pulls content from the official website, so this app serves as a ‘bridge’ of sorts, connecting you to the site when you’re away from your computer’s web browser. However, you may like this app so much, it may be all you use to stay on top of all news and info on the Gunners.

Unfortunately the app isn’t free… You’ll need to throw down $4.99 in the App Store (iTunes link). Gotta pay those player salaries somehow, right?

The cat-and-mouse game between Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) and would-be iPhone hackers is about to get a little more interesting. Following the recent release of “blacksn0w,” an iPhone unlocking tool capable of unlocking new iPhone 3GS’s running the latest iPhone OS, Apple has posted a new job listing for an “iPhone OS Platform Security Manager.” Apple is apparently looking for someone to head the development team tasked with securing iPhone boot-up and operating system installation as well as other aspects of iPhone platform security.

We’re not sure if Apple is looking for someone new to fill the position, or if Apple wants to replace the current iPhone OS Platform Security Manager. In either case, it’s pretty clear that the iPhone maker wants to make sure that hackers like George “geohot” Hotz and the iPhone Dev Team aren’t able to keep cracking the iPhone.

The back-and-forth between hackers and Apple is an ongoing saga juicier than your daily soap operas. The iPhone and iPhone 3G were initially jailbroken (the process of opening the file-system to allow unauthorized application installs) and unlocked to work with any GSM network, courtesy of the iPhone Dev Team. Apple then updated the iPhone OS to close the jailbreak exploit known as “24kpwn,” eventually updating the baseband firmware (the code that controls how the iPhone connects to wireless networks like AT&T (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile (NYSE: DT)) from version 04.26 to 05.11 to prevent unlocking. iPhone hacker geohot countered with his “blackra1n” jailbreak utility, following that up with the release of “blacksn0w” to unlock the latest iPhone 3GS baseband (05.11) to work with GSM networks around the world.

That pretty much brings us up to speed (in a nutshell, from a very small nut). The iPhone platform is, at this point, jailbroken and unlocked. Now it’s Apple’s turn.

It’s conceivable that Apple’s incoming iPhone security manager will put an end to baseband 05.11 unlocks, but it’s hard to see Apple ever locking down the iPhone completely. Still, if you’re interested in jailbreaking and unlocking your iPhone, you’re best bet is to jump on board soon.

[Via: NetworkWorld]

iPhone gaming can be hazardous to your privacy, apparently. A security hole in the iPhone OS allows someone with the right know-how to design an iPhone app to secretly learn an iPhone’s phone number. The problem is serious enough that iPhone game developer Storm8, creators of Vampires Live and iMobsters, has been hit with a class action lawsuit for allegedly collecting the phone numbers of iPhone gamers without their knowledge or consent.

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco on behalf of Washington State resident Michael Turner, claims that Storm8 included “malicious software code” for gathering phone number data into the company’s iPhone games. “Storm8 has written the software for all its games in such a way that it automatically accesses, collects, and transmits the wireless telephone number of each iPhone user who downloads any Storm8 game,” alleges the suit.

In its defense, Storm8 acknowledged back in August that it was getting phone number data from its iPhone games. The company claims a “bug” was to blame.

What’s interesting here is that Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) didn’t catch the supposed “bug” before approving the game for the AppStore. Apple’s getting really good at rejecting iPhone apps that don’t fit into the company’s narrow view of acceptable content, but it seems they still need to work on the basics – like rejecting potential spyware.

Should Apple be held accountable for letting an iPhone app embedded with “malicious software code” onto the AppStore? Should Apple pull the app on grounds that it’s collecting iPhone users’ phone numbers? We’d like to hear what you think in the comments below.

[Via: boingboing]

Two more Canadian HSPA networks = a whole lot more devices

Bell and telus (NYSE: TU) both kicked off their HSPA networks this week, with a lot of new phones to take advantage. Of course, in the U.S., droid mania has kicked in, and we give some thoughts and impressions of the HTC Eris.

On the giveaway chopping block, we’ve got the smooth, simple Motorola H790 Bluetooth headset for one lucky U.S. commenter in this very post.

Hit the jump to get started!

Read the full article »

Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Maps just keeps getting better. Google recently rolled out the “Layer” feature for Google Maps on BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM), Windows Mobile and Symbian S60, allowing users to overlay different types data on top of Google Maps – stuff like Wikipedia entries and your friends’ Google Latitude locations. Today, Google is launching a new NYC subway map layer that should help anyone in The Big Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) navigate the city’s maze of subways.

In addition to the step-by-step public transit directions that Google Maps has been serving up for a while, the new Google Maps NYC subway layer “will help you quickly navigate the New York City subway system.” You’ll need to update your Google Maps for Mobile app to the latest Layer-supported version before you can use the NYC subway layer. Once you’ve done that, “just click the Layers menu and then turn on the Transit Lines layer.”

We’d whine about not having a San Francisco public transit layer available for Google Maps, but public transportation in the SF Bay Area sucks compared to NYC, so it makes sense that NYC gets first dibs. Which is why we drive everywhere.

Google Maps NYC subway layer

[Via: PhoneScoop]

The post-apocalyptic massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Fallen Earth, has just announced an in-depth iPhone app that lets you take care of quite a bit of in-game business from your mobile. For those not familiar with the genre, MMOs are generally subscription-based computer games that take place wholly online with other players (either cooperatively or competitively, as the case may be). Players control characters in the shared game world to embark on missions, gather equipment, craft items, and a bunch of other stuff. If you’ve heard of World of Warcraft, then you know what an MMO is.

Anyway, Fallen Earth is working on an app that allows players to do a few things in-game without having to be at your computer, which is actually really handy since things keep happening in the game even when you’re not playing. Folks will be able to view character information similar to WoW’s Armory app for iPhone, but the real kicker will be talking to clan members, managing auction house sales, and crafting queues remotely; that’s changing the mobile app from an MMO companion reference to an actual part of the game, which I really like. To stay updated on the app’s progress and learn more about the game, hit up Fallen Earth.

[via Icarus]

Remember the HTC Shift? It was HTC’s first attempt at a super-portable laptop capable of running both Windows Vista and Windows Mobile. These days, we’d be inclined to call it a “netbook” if not for its prohibitive price tag. Despite its innovative design and features, however, the HTC Shift never gained any traction in the crowded ultra-portable laptop segment. But, don’t count HTC out of the netbook game just yet. According to HTC CEO Peter Chou, the smartphone maker is still considering an entrance into the netbook market.

At the HTC HD2 launch yesterday, Chou stated that HTC was “carefully looking into [the netbook] category and how it can be part of that.” He added that HTC doesn’t want to make another “me too” netbook that will get lost in the shuffle. Instead, HTC would be looking to launch a product with “unique value” to differentiate itself from the crowd. The HTC Shift was unique in its own right. It offered instant-on access to the Windows Mobile operating system as well as Windows Vista.

How cool would it be if HTC launched a netbook with instant-on access to Android? Or, for that matter, how about an Android-powered netbook? Speculating is fun.

[Via: Cnet]

We recently saw the Dell 3ix pop up in Brazil with WiFi and support for wireless frequencies used in the US, indicating that Dell’s Android handset would make it to The States. Today, we have confirmation that the Dell Mini 3iX is indeed headed to AT&T (NYSE: T) (likely in Q1 2010). The FCC has just given its blessing to Dell’s first Android phone, complete with 3G support on the 850Mhz and 1900Mhz frequencies used by AT&T.

The Chinese Dell Mini 3i lacks WiFi to comply with China’s oh-so-reasonable censorship laws, but we’re happy to say the US-bound Mini 3iX will have full WiFi support. It’ll be running a vanilla Android build of some sort (hopefully Android 2.0 “Eclair”) and will feature a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 3-megapixel camera, GPS, 3G data and a microSD card slot.

As for pricing, we’ll have to wait and see. With Verizon (NYSE: VZ)’s Droid and Droid Eris launched today, T-Mobile (NYSE: DT)’s Behold II on the way, and Sprint (NYSE: S)’s HTC Hero already on market, the Dell Mini 3iX has some stiff competition. Hopefully that will mean a cheaper price point.

[Via: UnwiredView]

With all the counterfeit mobile phones coming out of China, you’d think we’d be desensitized to tasteless cellphones by now. We wish that were true. Unfortunately, atrocities like this here Michael Jackson phone are hard to ignore. It’s decked out in fake gold, fake diamonds, and enough decorative homages to “The King of Pop” to offend the even tackiest gold-chain wearing rappers. To top it all off, the phone comes with a DVD of one of Michael Jackson’s live performances. We’ll leave it to you to decide if the DVD is legit or pirated.

If you’re thinking of picking up one of these Michael Jackson phones as a joke (we can’t imagine anyone wanting one for daily use), you’re going to have to find a way to import one from China. We have to admit, the phone would get some good laughs in our circle of friends.

[Via: Mashable]