Engadget Mobile http://mobile.engadget.com Engadget Mobile http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/mobile.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget Mobile http://mobile.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[iPhone and Vodafone UK set the date: January 14]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/iphone-and-vodafone-uk-set-the-date-january-14/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/iphone-and-vodafone-uk-set-the-date-january-14/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/iphone-and-vodafone-uk-set-the-date-january-14/#comments Vodafone has decided if it can't give us the iPhone for the holidays, it'll do the next best thing and spill details of its launch and pricing of Apple's finest. Available from January 14, the iPhone will be yours for £30 ($48) per month on two-year contracts, though up-front charges will set you back £239 ($386) for the 32GB 3GS variety. A monthly 1GB of 3G data is permitted, alongside unlimited WiFi, but what might be most interesting here is that Vodafone will allow you to use the iPhone as a modem. Such use will not be covered by your allowance of course, and will cost £5 ($8) for each 500MB downloaded, but we're happy to see a carrier offering the option. Furthermore, though Vodafone's agreement to carry the iPhone seemed a rushed defensive move, the company now claims it has been preparing its network for over a year to handle the increased traffic it expects.

iPhone and Vodafone UK set the date: January 14 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple iphoneAppleIphonecarrieriphoneiphone 3gsIphone3gssppleukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvodafonevodafone ukVodafoneUkMon, 21 Dec 2009 06:03:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Espresso's revised Sense UI spotted?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/htc-espressos-revised-sense-ui-spotted/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/htc-espressos-revised-sense-ui-spotted/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/htc-espressos-revised-sense-ui-spotted/#comments Among the seemingly thousands of Android-powered HTC handsets rumored for the first half of 2010, little is known of the mysterious Espresso -- the codename was found in a 2.1 ROM and a sketchy report claims that it'll have a QWERTY keyboard for an MWC announcement, but other than that, we're in the dark. Anyhow, Italian site hdblog.it now claims to have some shots ripped off the Espresso's display, and at a glance, you can tell this isn't quite the Sense we're used to from the Hero. The bar along the bottom now features direct access to People -- a feature we'd already heard would be revised for HTC's next round of Android phones -- and app icons have apparently been graced with translucent surrounds that are... well, not exactly pretty. We've got to keep our opinions in check until we actually see a shipping ROM, of course, so hopefully those talks of an MWC unveiling in February pan out.

HTC Espresso's revised Sense UI spotted? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidespressohtcrumorsensesense uiSenseUiuiMon, 21 Dec 2009 03:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia sprouting a second SIM slot in 2010]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/21/nokia-sprouting-a-second-sim-slot-in-2010/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/21/nokia-sprouting-a-second-sim-slot-in-2010/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/21/nokia-sprouting-a-second-sim-slot-in-2010/#commentsRussia and China have both made it very clear that they like their dual-SIM phones -- in most of Europe and the Americas, they're little more than a novelty, but in the Far East they've become a unique market need driven by the way local carriers work and the average buyer's usage model. LG, Samsung, and Moto have all succumbed to the trend, so why not Nokia? Sure enough, we're hearing from none other than industry heavyweight Eldar Murtazin who confirmed with a local Nokia exec that dual-SIM is in the cards come Q2 2010 in the "mid tier" segment. In other words, don't expect an N900 with a second SIM slot conveniently under the battery, but more likely a high-function Series 40 type of device. And hey, look, we know it wouldn't go over too well with carriers here, but we can think of plenty of times where we'd have loved to be able to flick from AT&T to T-Mobile or vice versa -- so go ahead, Nokia, sell these in your flagship stor... ah, wait.

Nokia sprouting a second SIM slot in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nokiarumor dual simRumorDualSimMon, 21 Dec 2009 02:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Maine mulling cancer warning labels on cellphones, manufacturers mulling warning label on Maine]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/maine-mulling-cancer-warning-labels-on-cellphones-manufacturers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/maine-mulling-cancer-warning-labels-on-cellphones-manufacturers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/maine-mulling-cancer-warning-labels-on-cellphones-manufacturers/#comments The debate on whether mobile phones are slowly turning us into a world of ailment-riddled weaklings rages on in the scientific community, but at least one state may be ready to step up the ominous, non-actionable warnings anyway. A representative in Maine has apparently persuaded her colleagues to let her bring up a proposal during January's session of the state legislature that would require warnings on devices about the alleged link between RF emissions and brain cancer, strongly advising users to keep the devices away from their heads and bodies. At best, this seems premature, and at worst, it runs a risk of breeding a nation of 24 / 7 Bluetooth headset users -- but the politician responsible for the movement seems to have it figured out: she holds her own phone away from her head while using it and turns it off unless she's expecting a call. Could someone in her district please let us know what kind of archaic voice-only device she's using?

Maine mulling cancer warning labels on cellphones, manufacturers mulling warning label on Maine originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancercellphonehealthlabelsmainephonewarning labelsWarningLabelsSun, 20 Dec 2009 20:36:00 EST<![CDATA[LG eXpo unboxing and hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/lg-expo-unboxing-and-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/lg-expo-unboxing-and-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/lg-expo-unboxing-and-hands-on/#comments We're not sure we'd be able to find a piece of hardware that made us adore Windows Mobile 6.5 the same way we adore puppies or a hot cup of cocoa, but that doesn't mean that the usual suspects -- HTC, Samsung, LG, and the like -- aren't producing some magnificent hardware on which to run it. Today we've had a chance to give LG's new eXpo for AT&T a quick once-over, and on paper, this is a hell of a handset: 5 megapixel autofocus cam, a fingerprint sensor that doubles as a d-pad, Snapdragon power, a WVGA display, full QWERTY, and most notably, support for an optional microprojector add-on. Sadly, a ship date hasn't yet been assigned to the PJ, but does the basic package hold its own against the similarly-spec'd Tilt2? Let's check it out.

Continue reading LG eXpo unboxing and hands-on

LG eXpo unboxing and hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attexpohands-onlgqwertywindows mobilewindows mobile 6.5WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5winmowinmo 6.5Winmo6.5wm6.5Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Re transforms your iPhone into a universal remote (which seems like a step backwards, to be honest)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/re-transforms-your-iphone-into-a-universal-remote-which-seems-l/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/re-transforms-your-iphone-into-a-universal-remote-which-seems-l/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/re-transforms-your-iphone-into-a-universal-remote-which-seems-l/#commentsOK, so we know a thing or two about the "convenience" of using your iPhone as a remote control. For instance, using it to control Boxee was alright -- until we needed to make a call. Or we received a call. Not to rain on anyone's parade, but the idea of re-purposing your phone to act as a universal remote seems a little silly. But what do we know? Maybe you hold all calls while Jersey Shore is on anyways. In that case, Re could be your next favorite gadget. This bad boy lets your handset communicate with all your AV equipment via infrared, contains an extensive database of devices, and can learn from any IR remote. If that weren't enough, New Kinetix promises regular updates to the app -- and your typical remote can't do that! Compatible with the iPod Touch as well, there's no word yet on a price or release date, but we're expecting that we'll be getting plenty more details come CES time.

Re transforms your iPhone into a universal remote (which seems like a step backwards, to be honest) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>infraredirNew KinetixNewKinetixReremoteuniversal remoteUniversalRemoteSun, 20 Dec 2009 02:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Poor iPhone reception graduates to SNL 'Weekend Update' joke status]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/poor-iphone-reception-graduates-to-snl-weekend-update-joke-sta/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/poor-iphone-reception-graduates-to-snl-weekend-update-joke-sta/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/20/poor-iphone-reception-graduates-to-snl-weekend-update-joke-sta/#comments "It was reported this week that Google would soon launch its own cellphone as a challenge to the iPhone. Also a challenge to the iPhone? Making phone calls."

Cue uproarious applause.

Update: Video after the break! Thanks Michael!

Continue reading Poor iPhone reception graduates to SNL 'Weekend Update' joke status

Poor iPhone reception graduates to SNL 'Weekend Update' joke status originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleattbad receptionBadReceptioniphonenbcreceptionsaturday night liveSaturdayNightLivesnlweekend updateWeekendUpdateSun, 20 Dec 2009 01:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola's XT701, MT710, and XT800 do Android for China's big three carriers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/motorolas-xt701-mt710-and-xt800-do-android-for-chinas-big-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/motorolas-xt701-mt710-and-xt800-do-android-for-chinas-big-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/motorolas-xt701-mt710-and-xt800-do-android-for-chinas-big-th/#comments Even through the lean years, Moto's been making waves in China where it enjoys comparably high popularity -- it was one of the first major manufacturers to throw its support behind the nation's homegrown TD-SCDMA 3G tech, after all, and it's had a tendency to get the company's sexier WinMo smartphones like the SURF. On that note, it doesn't come as much of a surprise to see that they've now announced not one, not two, but three fairly attractive, high-end Android handsets specifically for duty in the Far East, one for each of China's big three carriers (each of which employs a different 3G technology, per the gub'mint's orders). Starting on the left, the XT701 is the phone that we'd believed to be the Sholes Tablet -- and considering that it uses HSPA for China Unicom's airwaves, we still have no reason to believe it couldn't make the leap across the Pacific. The MT710 (pictured center) is an OPhone for China Mobile and stands the least chance of making an unfettered jump to another continent since it uses a completely customized UI along with a positively China-only TD-SCDMA radio. Finally, the XT800 on the right looks like a Dell Mini 3i done right to us, rocking dual-mode GSM and EV-DO for China Telecom's rather heterogeneous network. We've got to hand it to Moto here: by all appearances, these 3.7-inch WVGA, 5 megapixel beasts could get Android fans drooling pretty much anywhere in the world, so let's get 'em over to Europe and America on the double, eh?

[Thanks, Vitala]

Motorola's XT701, MT710, and XT800 do Android for China's big three carriers originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbreaking newsBreakingNewschinachina mobilechina telecomchina unicomChinaMobileChinaTelecomChinaUnicommotomotorolamt710ophonext701xt800Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Stable Android 2.1 hacked onto Droid, speeds through those extra home screens]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/stable-android-2-1-hacked-onto-droid-speeds-through-those-extra/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/stable-android-2-1-hacked-onto-droid-speeds-through-those-extra/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/stable-android-2-1-hacked-onto-droid-speeds-through-those-extra/#comments Staying warm out there? Got a cup of hot cocoa in hand? Good, because Mr. Greek35T over at AllDroid has a stable version of the (previously rough-around-the-edges) Android 2.1 ROM ready for all you Droid users to play around with. It's officially "super fast," and probably the best thing to happen this weekend outside of that wicked jump you built on the neighborhood sledding hill before you went and watched Avatar with all your old high school friends. Hit up the source link for the full install instructions, and there's a video of 2.1 in action after the break.

[Thanks, Brandon]

Continue reading Stable Android 2.1 hacked onto Droid, speeds through those extra home screens

Stable Android 2.1 hacked onto Droid, speeds through those extra home screens originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.1android 2.1android romAndroid2.1AndroidRomdroidgreek35thackmotorola droidMotorolaDroidromrootedSat, 19 Dec 2009 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint puts out fact sheet for dual-mode U301 WiMAX modem, release imminent?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/sprint-puts-out-fact-sheet-for-dual-mode-u301-wimax-modem-relea/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/sprint-puts-out-fact-sheet-for-dual-mode-u301-wimax-modem-relea/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/sprint-puts-out-fact-sheet-for-dual-mode-u301-wimax-modem-relea/#commentsSo Sprint just published an official fact sheet for a U301 USB modem with support for both WiMAX and EV-DO -- it's not accompanied by any press release or product page on Sprint's online store, but we can only assume this means that a release is around the corner. Of course, the dual-mode capability alone doesn't set it apart -- the carrier's existing U300 model already handles those duties with aplomb -- but what seemingly sets the U301 apart is its support for Mac OS. We'd just as soon they'd release drivers for the U300, but failing that, alright, fine, we'll take a new modem. If we're sustaining over 3Mbps down, we'll take a lot of carrier and manufacturer abuse, actually.

Sprint puts out fact sheet for dual-mode U301 WiMAX modem, release imminent? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g4gdatadata modemDataModemdual modedual-modeDualModemodemsprintu301usbusb modemUsbModemwimaxSat, 19 Dec 2009 04:24:00 EST<![CDATA[How would you change Motorola's Droid?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/how-would-you-change-motorolas-droid/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/how-would-you-change-motorolas-droid/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/how-would-you-change-motorolas-droid/#comments The anti-iPhone. The phone that "does." The first Motorola device that we've seen in years that's downright awe-inspiring. Naturally, we're referring to the Droid. VZW spent all kinds of money to hype up this Android 2.0 handset as the phone to get if AT&T's 3G coverage was just too weak for your liking, and it seems to have been at least decently effective. We know the phone had its fair share of quirks right off the bat, but we're happy to say that most of those nuisances were taken care of via firmware update. Still, we know geeks, and those suckers are never happy. If you were in charge of redesigning this thing, what aspects would you tweak? Is the slide-out QWERTY up to snuff? Is the display crisp enough? Are the transitions snappy enough? Do you wish it was impossible to turn off the "Droid" sound emission each time you received an email? Dish out your hot fury below.

How would you change Motorola's Droid? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcdmadroidfeaturefeaturesgoogleHow would you changeHowWouldYouChangehwycmotomotorolamotorola droidMotorolaDroidsmartphoneverizonSat, 19 Dec 2009 01:31:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC Fridays]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/18/fcc-fridays/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/18/fcc-fridays/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/18/fcc-fridays/#comments We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we've gathered up all the raw info you may want (but probably don't need). Enjoy!

Phones
Read - Panasonic P-03B
Read - Huawei C6100
Read - Huawei G2201
Read - Huawei U1280-5
Read - ZTE S319
Read - ZTE S309
Read - LG KM555R
Read - LG GT950
Read - LG GS290
Read - Samsung SCH-R312
Read - Samsung SCH-B199
Read - Samsung SPH-W9500

Peripherals
Read - Parrot MINIKIT Slim Series
Read - Option iCON 461

FCC Fridays originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fcc fridayfcc fridaysFccFridayFccFridaysfridayFri, 18 Dec 2009 23:46:00 EST<![CDATA[WebOS 1.3.5 coming to CES: better performance and more app storage, says Palm CEO]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/webos-1-3-5-coming-to-ces-better-performance-and-more-app-stora/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/webos-1-3-5-coming-to-ces-better-performance-and-more-app-stora/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/webos-1-3-5-coming-to-ces-better-performance-and-more-app-stora/#commentsHere's something to glean from Palm's recent quarterly call, besides the still less-than-profitable fiscal number, of course. CEO Jon Rubinstein divulged that yes, we will indeed be seeing webOS 1.3.5 during CES early next month. Even better, we got some insight into what we'll be expecting from the update: more application storage (hooray!), better WiFi / app performance, improved battery life, and "increase Pixi speed and responsiveness" -- interesting that Pixi is called out solo for that last one, but we're not about to read too much into that just yet. Good news all around, but let's hope there's still a surprise or two left in store come January 7th.

WebOS 1.3.5 coming to CES: better performance and more app storage, says Palm CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3.5app storageapp storage limitAppStorageAppStorageLimitcesces 10ces 2010Ces10Ces2010jon rubinsteinJonRubinsteinpalmpixiprerubinsteinweb osWebOswebos 1.3.5Webos1.3.5Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:26:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile bringing HTC HD2 to the States? All .nbh files point to 'yes']]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/t-mobile-bringing-htc-hd2-to-the-states-all-nbh-files-point-to/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/t-mobile-bringing-htc-hd2-to-the-states-all-nbh-files-point-to/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/t-mobile-bringing-htc-hd2-to-the-states-all-nbh-files-point-to/#comments You know those times when you're sifting through an undercooked ROM, dumping .nbh files right and left, asking yourself: "is this even worth it?" Well, the folks at WMExperts can answer with a resounding fist pump after digging up references to T-Mobile US in an HTC HD2 prerelease ROM that was recently leaked their way. At this point we're looking at a new 2.01 version of the HD2 software in the T-Mobile version, a big jump from the 1.61 seen in previous leaks, which maybe will smooth over some of those performance woes we experienced with the device. WMExperts also claims a March 2010 release date, which seems a while to wait, but somebody told us once about "good things" coming to "waiters" or something like that, so we're cautiously optimistic.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

T-Mobile bringing HTC HD2 to the States? All .nbh files point to 'yes' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hd2htchtc hd2HtcHd2leakrumort-mobilet-mobile ust-mobile usaT-mobileUsT-mobileUsaFri, 18 Dec 2009 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 catches FCC on a good day]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-catches-fcc-on-a-good-day/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-catches-fcc-on-a-good-day/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-catches-fcc-on-a-good-day/#comments Oh, to live the life of an FCC certification lab employee: setting up test benches, writing reports, playing with devices that won't be released for months or years. Instead, we're stuck enjoying their fun vicariously at an arm's length through a little portal we know as the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, where gems like the X10 occasionally pop up complete with pretty in-the-wild pictures, teardowns, and user manuals. What we're looking at here are test results for EDGE 850 / 1900 plus WCDMA Band IV (that'd be T-Mobile's and WIND's spectrum, by the bye), WiFi, and Bluetooth, so even if T-Mobile ultimately chooses not to offer it on contract, you should be able to score it one way or another N900-style. The user's manual is basically just 40 pages of good stuff plus a bunch of conformity statement mumbo jumbo, but it's still a good read -- so if you think this might be your phone of choice come 2010, have a look.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 catches FCC on a good day originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidericssonfccrachaelsonysony ericssonSonyEricssonx10xperiaxperia x10XperiaX10Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon to FCC: hey, you said ETFs were okay!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/verizon-to-fcc-hey-you-said-etfs-were-okay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/verizon-to-fcc-hey-you-said-etfs-were-okay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/verizon-to-fcc-hey-you-said-etfs-were-okay/#comments Even though the FCC just gave Verizon until Monday to respond to its inquiries regarding the company's new $350 "advanced device" early termination fee, they've shown some hustle here and delivered their 77 (yes, seventy-seven) page response today. Here are the two big takeaways consumers are going to care about:
  • The company justifies the advanced device ETF a couple ways; it starts out by referring to some 2003 statements by the FCC in which the Commission says that it doesn't support the concept of customers breaking contracts and that carriers have a right to recoup those fees. Of course, that really doesn't drive to the point here, which is that Verizon's now charging two completely different ETFs based on a rather arbitrary line in the sand drawn by Verizon; to that end, the carrier says that the additional cost it incurs to procure the devices on its advanced list is greater than the difference between the two ETFs ($175) on average. It also says that it needs that extra guaranteed revenue to keep its broadband network up to snuff, since advanced devices are more likely to strain it.
  • Regarding the weirdness at the end of the contract -- where a customer still owes $120 23 months into a two-year deal -- Verizon says that it's still losing money (read: we should be thankful they're prorating at all). As an example, it says that its average loss for a customer canceling 12 months into a contract is about double the $230 prorated ETF on an advanced device, and that statistically speaking, customers are far more likely to cancel early on than late. While we don't doubt that, we think they're trying to divert the conversation here just a bit.
It's hard to say whether these responses are going to sate the FCC on the matter, but seeing how Verizon's showing no signs that it's interesting in changing its policies, this could still turn into a battle royale. Stay tuned -- something tells us this isn't the last we'll hear on the matter.

[Thanks, Daniel P.]

Verizon to FCC: hey, you said ETFs were okay! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>early termination feeEarlyTerminationFeeetffccverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 18 Dec 2009 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Incredible is coming to Verizon, better live up to its name]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/18/htc-incredible-is-coming-to-verizon-better-live-up-to-its-name/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/18/htc-incredible-is-coming-to-verizon-better-live-up-to-its-name/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/18/htc-incredible-is-coming-to-verizon-better-live-up-to-its-name/#commentsWe've just been able to confirm with a trusted source that the Incredible -- one of the codenames found in HTC's leaked Android 2.1 ROM -- is destined for Verizon. We don't know what the Incredible is, but given its... well, incredible name, we can only assume it's going to be a beast -- possibly yet another name for the Dragon / Passion. Our source isn't sure whether Incredible is a go-to-market name or just something that's being thrown around internally, but frankly, it's just dorky enough so that we hope they stick with it.

HTC Incredible is coming to Verizon, better live up to its name originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidhtcincrediblerumorverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 18 Dec 2009 15:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford to give Sync some App Store flavor, opening API to devs in 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/ford-to-give-sync-some-app-store-flavor-opening-api-to-devs-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/ford-to-give-sync-some-app-store-flavor-opening-api-to-devs-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/ford-to-give-sync-some-app-store-flavor-opening-api-to-devs-in/#comments Ford has already shown it can tie the controls of Sync-enabled vehicles to the music and contacts databases of drivers phones and PMPs and though it may take time before our emotions can be detected, the next step is extending that connectivity to downloadable apps on those devices. Since Sync first debuted, the explosion of the App Store concept has meant nearly every smartphone owner is packing plenty of ways to access and use information from the internet, but without an easy way to interact with it while driving. Extending access to vehicle controls could lead to programs like Pandora or Google's turn by turn navigation letting users change stations with their existing stereo knobs, or listen to directions via the in-car system by simply updating their existing software. The first ones to get a crack at it? A few university students, check after the break to see what they came up with given just a few weeks to test system out.

Continue reading Ford to give Sync some App Store flavor, opening API to devs in 2010

Ford to give Sync some App Store flavor, opening API to devs in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010APIAppledevelopmentfordiphonesyncFri, 18 Dec 2009 14:12:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM's optical trackpads: they weren't joking about the 'optical' part]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/rims-optical-trackpads-they-werent-joking-about-the-optical/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/rims-optical-trackpads-they-werent-joking-about-the-optical/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/rims-optical-trackpads-they-werent-joking-about-the-optical/#comments Thinking about how your phone's touchscreen operates, you might assume that the so-called optical pads that have been making appearances on recent BlackBerrys (among other devices) operate in a similar fashion -- but you'd be wrong. RIM's official BlackBerry blog is chiming in today to drop some knowledge on us dullards, and it turns out that "optical" isn't just a cute nickname -- the pads do actually operate in much the same way as modern desktop mice, using a low-res infrared camera to capture movement across the surface and translate it into movement. In practical terms, what this means is that you don't need a conductive surface to operate the pad -- you can use pretty much anything that the sensor can see, so a gloved hand (for instance) is theoretically good to go. That being said, don't expect to be snapping photos with your "camera" any time soon -- we're literally talking about a handful of grayscale pixels here, which should make it only marginally better than the Droid's cam.

RIM's optical trackpads: they weren't joking about the 'optical' part originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryopticaloptical trackpadOpticalTrackpadrimtrackpadFri, 18 Dec 2009 13:43:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone nabs 46 percent of Japanese smartphone market, the tiny Japanese smartphone market]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/iphone-nabs-46-pecent-of-japanese-smartphone-market-the-tiny-ja/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/iphone-nabs-46-pecent-of-japanese-smartphone-market-the-tiny-ja/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/iphone-nabs-46-pecent-of-japanese-smartphone-market-the-tiny-ja/#comments
So you read a headline like "iPhone grabs 46 percent of the Japanese smartphone market" and the first thing you're likely to think is, "wow, Apple is really doing well for itself." Well, it is and it isn't. While it has made some considerable gains in the smartphone market at the expense of phones like Sharp's W-ZERO3 and the Willcom 03, it still hasn't gained nearly the same total mindshare or market share that it has over here. That's because "smartphones" as we know them are still a relatively small market in Japan, where carriers' lineups consist of a whole range of offerings including everything from mobile TV-equipped phones to true camera phones to perfume holders. For a bit more context, check out the pie chart after the break courtesy of IDC Japan, which shows cellphone vendors' market share in Japan as of October of this year. The leaders by a wide margin are Sharp, Panasonic, Fujitsu and NEC with a combined 72.8% of the market, while Apple is lumped in with "Others," which add up to 22.6%. It's making inroads, to be sure, but just that at the moment.

Continue reading iPhone nabs 46 percent of Japanese smartphone market, the tiny Japanese smartphone market

iPhone nabs 46 percent of Japanese smartphone market, the tiny Japanese smartphone market originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple iphoneAppleIphonecellphone salesCellphoneSalesiphoneiphone 3giphone 3gsIphone3gIphone3gsjapanmarket shareMarketShareFri, 18 Dec 2009 12:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Tiki'Labs virtual keyboard for iPhone takes shot at Swype, one-handed typing wars commence]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/tikilabs-virtual-keyboard-for-iphone-takes-shot-at-swype-one-h/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/tikilabs-virtual-keyboard-for-iphone-takes-shot-at-swype-one-h/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/tikilabs-virtual-keyboard-for-iphone-takes-shot-at-swype-one-h/#comments One-handed touchscreen typing is the hip new thing, apparently, since mere weeks after getting our first whiff of Swype, Tiki'Labs has debuted its own free TikiNotes app for the iPhone with a proprietary "large target" sort of keyboard. We've seen the idea before, specifically with some accessibility devices, which lets the user drill down into one of six alphabet sectors, and then pick one of six characters. TikiNotes improves upon that by not only predicting the word you're currently typing, but also often correctly guessing the next word you were planning on typing. To be honest, we find that second feature just a little depressing -- all that money the government spent on our two years of high school education and we still form sentences like everybody else -- but certainly useful (Tiki'Labs claims a 40% success rate). We tried out the free app for a couple of minutes and found it more akin to a Brain Age-type exercise than a typing utility, but we're sure we could get used to it. What we can't get used to, however, is how hilariously great it is that Tiki'Labs spliced a Swype demo video (originally pitted against the iPhone keyboard) to serve as a typing race example... and still only barely squeaked through with the victory. It can be found after the break, naturally. The app will be available on Windows Mobile and Android soon.

Continue reading Tiki'Labs virtual keyboard for iPhone takes shot at Swype, one-handed typing wars commence

Tiki'Labs virtual keyboard for iPhone takes shot at Swype, one-handed typing wars commence originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityandroid appAndroidAppappiphone appIphoneAppkeyboardone handed keyboardone handed typingOneHandedKeyboardOneHandedTypingsix keysSixKeystikilabstikinotesvirtual keyboardVirtualKeyboardwindows mobile appWindowsMobileAppFri, 18 Dec 2009 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[BlackBerry Curve 8530 now available on Sprint]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/blackberry-curve-8530-now-available-on-sprint/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/blackberry-curve-8530-now-available-on-sprint/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/blackberry-curve-8530-now-available-on-sprint/#comments
What's this we see here? Looks like the Curve 8530 has made it to Sprint after all. When all is said and done, she'll cost you $50 with a new contract (after mail in rebate). Featuring a 2.5-inch display, OS 5.0, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and glorious, glorious WiFi, this is a solid, sensible device. Besides, if you wanted pizazz, you'd be looking at a Pureness right now. That, or you could always do a number on this guy with some Swarovski crystals and a hot glue gun -- but please, don't.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

BlackBerry Curve 8530 now available on Sprint originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8530BlackBerryBlackBerry Curveblackberry curve 8530 ariesBlackberryCurveBlackberryCurve8530Ariescurvecurve 8530Curve8530on saleOnSalesprintFri, 18 Dec 2009 10:32:00 EST<![CDATA[BlackBerry shipments break record in Q3, RIM profits jump 59 percent]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/blackberry-shipments-break-record-in-q3-rim-profits-jump-59-per/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/blackberry-shipments-break-record-in-q3-rim-profits-jump-59-per/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/blackberry-shipments-break-record-in-q3-rim-profits-jump-59-per/#commentsRIM being a thriving and profitable company is hardly a new story -- as confirmed by third quarter earnings of $628 million off the back of a record-breaking 10 million units sold -- but the way it's making its money seems to be changing. More than 80 percent of new BlackBerry subscribers in the quarter were private customers, marking a distinct shift -- maybe not away from the corporate arena, but definitely toward embracing the consumer market. In an effort to further consolidate its global empire, RIM has also announced a partnership with China Telecom to go along with its earlier China Mobile deal. Oh, and there's the small matter of the 75 millionth BlackBerry being sold, but we're sure the cool cats up in BB HQ aren't counting handsets, they're probably too busy rolling around in piles of money.

BlackBerry shipments break record in Q3, RIM profits jump 59 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberrychina telecomChinaTelecomdatafinancialfinancial resultsFinancialResultsfinancialsnumbersprofitprofitsrecordrecord breakingRecordBreakingresearch in motionResearchInMotionresultsrimsalessales dataSalesDatashipmentssmartphonesmartphonesstatisticsstatsFri, 18 Dec 2009 09:41:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC extends deadline on Verizon's ETF response, lets it enjoy the weekend]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/fcc-extends-deadline-on-verizons-etf-response-lets-it-enjoy-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/fcc-extends-deadline-on-verizons-etf-response-lets-it-enjoy-th/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/fcc-extends-deadline-on-verizons-etf-response-lets-it-enjoy-th/#comments They're not exactly calling off the hounds, but the FCC's standing down just a wee bit in its hunt to get to the bottom of Verizon's astronomical new $350 "advanced device" early termination fee; the original deadline for the carrier's responses was yesterday, December 17, but instead, the FCC will now be checking its mailbox on Monday. Even in the most extreme outcome, it'd likely be months or years before the FCC would actually go from an inquiry to applying pressure on Verizon to lower the fee. In the meantime, though, failure to respond to the questionnaire will probably result in an entertaining series of strong verbal admonishments and -- if Genachowski's in a feisty mood -- perhaps a flurry of punishing blows to Verizon's torso and upper body.

FCC extends deadline on Verizon's ETF response, lets it enjoy the weekend originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>etfextensionfccinquiryverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 18 Dec 2009 09:23:00 EST<![CDATA[IEEE begins work on new cellphone battery standard, we circle 2029 for ratification]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/ieee-begins-work-on-new-cellphone-battery-standard-we-circle-20/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/ieee-begins-work-on-new-cellphone-battery-standard-we-circle-20/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/ieee-begins-work-on-new-cellphone-battery-standard-we-circle-20/#commentsYou'll excuse us for poking a bit of fun at the IEEE, but after it took seven years to finalize a wireless standard that didn't change for most of that time, we have to wonder how long a new battery rulebook is going to take. IEEE Std 1725 is the current set of commonly agreed rules, in effect since 2006, but apparently "the cellular industry has grown tremendously since then" and our needs as consumers have changed. No kidding, 1GHz processors and 1080p video recording can kind of do that. The Cell Phone Battery Working Group (a real entity!) will hold its first meeting on the topic in February, and the final outcome will lay out up-to-date rules on the requisite quality, reliability, construction, and discharge characteristics of modern cellphone batteries. Let's hope "smartphones that last more than a day" figures somewhere on that list.

IEEE begins work on new cellphone battery standard, we circle 2029 for ratification originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterycellphonecellphone batteriescellphone batteryCellphoneBatteriesCellphoneBatteryguidelinesieeeieee p1725ieee rulesieee standardsieee std 1725IeeeP1725IeeeRulesIeeeStandardsIeeeStd1725rechargeablerulerulesstandardstandardsFri, 18 Dec 2009 04:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's Nexus One lacks multitouch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/googles-nexus-one-lacks-multitouch/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/googles-nexus-one-lacks-multitouch/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/googles-nexus-one-lacks-multitouch/#comments Our buddy Tnkgrl just had a sit down with Google and HTC's lovedroid, the Nexus One. She "wasn't allowed" to take pictures or video but she came away with plenty of detail. The biggest point of clarification might not be what's included in the handset, but what's missing: multitouch. She confirms, "no multitouch support in the browser or in Google Maps," just like Verizon's Droid (but available on its European Milestone brother). The unit she tested included a 4GB microSD card, 1400mAh battery, worked on T-Mobile's 3G only (AT&T is limited to EDGE data), and was "super snappy! Faster than the Droid." She also noted "gold contacts" along the bottom edge presumably for a docking port thus jibing with whispers of a Nexus One Car Dock accessory. Now hit the read link for all the details if you still have the strength.

P.S. We should probably clarify that while the Google Apps tested don't respond to multitouch, the OS and hardware are presumably multitouch capable. See our previous exhaustive analysis of this topic if you're wondering why.

Google's Nexus One lacks multitouch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgooglegoogle phoneGooglePhonemultitouchnexus oneNexusOnepassiont-mobileFri, 18 Dec 2009 04:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon getting Palm Pre Plus and Android-powered Motorola Devour?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/verizon-getting-palm-pre-plus-and-android-powered-motorola-devou/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/verizon-getting-palm-pre-plus-and-android-powered-motorola-devou/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/verizon-getting-palm-pre-plus-and-android-powered-motorola-devou/#comments We're still not totally clear on how exactly Verizon intends to enter (or rather, re-enter) the Palm stage in 2010; we know there's definitely a WiFi-equipped CDMA Pixi out there that'll likely find its way into Big Red's clutches, but otherwise, we really need to wait for this event at CES next month. Well, maybe -- we've got another little clue here in the form of some tips to PhoneArena stating that a "Pre Plus" has found its way into the carrier's systems, which fits in nicely with info we'd previously received from one of our trusted sources that Verizon's Pre would be somehow "different" from Sprint's though we don't yet know how. As far as we can tell, this isn't the same as that WiFi Pixi (wouldn't it be confusing if it was?), so we should probably expect at least two webOS models on Verizon over the next few months. In other news, that Motorola Calgary (pictured) appears to be shaping up as the "Devour" with a 3 megapixel cam and Blur running on Android 2.1 -- yes, 2.1, not 1.5, which should give hope to CLIQ owners that an update is probably in the works. Finally, there's talk of an LG VS750 in a mega-thin form factor running WinMo 6.5 with global roaming capability, but we don't have a picture of that one just yet. Anyhow, back to the Pre Plus, we're accepting all guesses as to what the "Plus" in the name might stand for -- 16GB of integrated storage or a microSD slot seem like obvious candidates, but feel free to get creative with us.

[Image via BGR]

Verizon getting Palm Pre Plus and Android-powered Motorola Devour? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blurcalgarydevourlgmotomotoblurmotorolapalmpalm pre plusPalmPrePluspre plusPrePlusrumorverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvs750vzwweboswindows mobilewindows mobile 6.5WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6.5winmowinmo 6.5Winmo6.5wm6.5Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Bluetooth 4.0 finally rolls low energy tech into a shipping standard]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/bluetooth-4-0-finally-rolls-low-energy-tech-into-a-shipping-stan/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/bluetooth-4-0-finally-rolls-low-energy-tech-into-a-shipping-stan/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/bluetooth-4-0-finally-rolls-low-energy-tech-into-a-shipping-stan/#comments Bluetooth low energy and its predecessors (think Wibree) have been in the pipe for ages now, but we might actually see this tech take off en masse for the first time now that the Bluetooth SIG has officially added it into a release: 4.0. While Bluetooth 3.0 was all about high energy with the introduction of WiFi transfer, 4.0 takes things down a notch by certifying single-mode low energy devices in addition to dual-mode devices that incorporate both the low energy side of the spec plus either 2.1+EDR or 3.0. In a nutshell, the technology should bring a number of new categories and form factors of wireless devices into the fold since 1Mbps Bluetooth low energy can operate on coin cells -- the kinds you find in wristwatches, calculators, and remote controls -- and the SIG's pulling no punches by saying that "with today's announcement the race is on for product designers to be the first to market." Nokia pioneered Wibree, so you can bet they'll be among the frontrunners -- bring it, guys.

Bluetooth 4.0 finally rolls low energy tech into a shipping standard originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluetoothbluetooth 4.0bluetooth low energybluetooth sigBluetooth4.0BluetoothLowEnergyBluetoothSiglow energyLowEnergywibreeThu, 17 Dec 2009 21:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment on track to get Android 2.1, not 2.0]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sprints-htc-hero-and-samsung-moment-on-track-to-get-android-2-1/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sprints-htc-hero-and-samsung-moment-on-track-to-get-android-2-1/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/sprints-htc-hero-and-samsung-moment-on-track-to-get-android-2-1/#commentsSo Sprint's backtracking on its promise to deliver Android 2.0 to its Hero and Moment in the first half of next year, but it's backtracking in an awesome way for a change of pace -- they'll actually be getting 2.1. That makes tons of sense considering that the leaked Hero builds have all been on 2.1 and 2.0 will be all but obsolete by the time HTC gets around to releasing anything -- so yeah, we probably could've predicted this anyway, but now it's official. Unfortunately that 1H 2010 window hasn't been reigned in at all, but here's hoping this is a case where they under-promise and over-deliver.

Sprint's HTC Hero and Samsung Moment on track to get Android 2.1, not 2.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.0android 2.1Android2.0Android2.1cupcakefirmwareflanherohtcmomentsamsungsprintupdateupgradeThu, 17 Dec 2009 20:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Bada UI unveiled in beautiful stills, reason for existing still blurry]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/samsung-bada-ui-unveiled-in-beautiful-stills-reason-for-existin/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/samsung-bada-ui-unveiled-in-beautiful-stills-reason-for-existin/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/samsung-bada-ui-unveiled-in-beautiful-stills-reason-for-existin/#comments We hate to harsh on a new phone platform -- what could be more exciting, after all, than a whole new take on handset software? -- but we're pretty confused by Samsung's Bada. Still, these leaked screenshots fill us with some hope: it looks fairly pretty, and quite a bit more intuitive than the standard Samsung UI. It also seems to be an odd visual mashup of Android and Symbian, but in a good sort of way, and we look forward to the sort of democratization of touchphones it seems to represent. There, that wasn't very harsh-ey at all! Now check out the developer-oriented video after the break to let a new wave of confusion wash over you.

Continue reading Samsung Bada UI unveiled in beautiful stills, reason for existing still blurry

Samsung Bada UI unveiled in beautiful stills, reason for existing still blurry originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badaleakplatformsamsungsamsung badaSamsungBadascreenshotsuiThu, 17 Dec 2009 19:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Hey, Midwest: is T-Mobile down for you?]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/17/hey-midwest-is-t-mobile-down-for-you/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/17/hey-midwest-is-t-mobile-down-for-you/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/17/hey-midwest-is-t-mobile-down-for-you/#commentsWe've gotten a number of reports this afternoon that both voice and data services are down for T-Mobile throughout much of the Midwest, including parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. This wouldn't be the first time in recent memory that the carrier's had a major outage, so we don't doubt it -- but hit us up and let us know what you're experiencing out there in the field right now, alright?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: TmoNews is reporting that it's actually much of the Southeast -- either way, it sucks!

Hey, Midwest: is T-Mobile down for you? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>outaget-mobileThu, 17 Dec 2009 17:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm's Ares SDK goes to public beta]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/palms-ares-sdk-goes-to-public-beta/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/palms-ares-sdk-goes-to-public-beta/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/palms-ares-sdk-goes-to-public-beta/#comments After a brief private testing period, Palm's interesting Ares software development package has made its way into a public beta phase. Breaking tradition from Mojo -- Palm's other webOS SDK -- the big news with Ares is that the dev environment is fully web-based with no additional tools needed for apps to get whipped into reality. Not only does that make getting started a breeze (theoretically, anyway), but Palm thinks that this is the way to bring mobile development to a whole new category of folks who may not come from traditional dev backgrounds -- they want to pull in web geeks who've got the ideas and design experience but not necessarily the hardcore coding background that you'd normally need to take the next Air Hockey to production. Grab that sucker now and let us know what you come up with, alright? We'll split the profits 60 / 40.

Palm's Ares SDK goes to public beta originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aresares sdkAresSdkbreaking newsBreakingNewspalmsdkwebosThu, 17 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm loses $85.4 million in latest reported quarter -- hey, it's an improvement]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/palm-loses-85-4-million-in-latest-reported-quarter-hey-its/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/palm-loses-85-4-million-in-latest-reported-quarter-hey-its/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/palm-loses-85-4-million-in-latest-reported-quarter-hey-its/#commentsWe don't know just how quickly Palm (or Elevation Partners, for that matter) thought it'd become profitable following the release of webOS, but it's not there quite yet -- the company is in the process of outing its earnings for the second quarter of fiscal year 2010 right now, and in a word, they're still in the red. The good news is that it's a marked improvement from last quarter -- they've gone from a $164.5M GAAP net loss to an $85.4M one this time around. On a non-GAAP gross basis, they actually made $5.5M, which is up from $2.8M a quarter earlier. They've got $590 million in cash and other "short-term investments" on the book right now, which seems like it should be enough to keep the company going without a profit or additional cash infusion for at least a few additional quarters, but then again, burn rate is going to vary with just how much hardware and software R&D they're doing and the kinds of carrier deals they're scoring. We bet they're looking forward to this Verizon business going down, eh?

Update: Palm's specifically saying that they're looking to grow carrier and geographic coverage right now -- a good plan, if we say so ourselves.

Update 2: They've sold 784,000 phones in the quarter, which compares to 823,000 in the last -- a 5 percent drop. That's up 41 percent from the same quarter a year ago... but yeah, of course it's going to be way up from the pre-webOS days.

Update 3: Over 800 apps in the catalog so far, once they graduate from the Early Access Program exclusivity, Palm foresees a "flood" of apps. No plans right now to change SDK strategy to a more native development environment.

Palm loses $85.4 million in latest reported quarter -- hey, it's an improvement originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsearning reportEarningReportearningsearnings reportEarningsReportfinancialspalmreportresultsThu, 17 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Stunt for MetroPCS performs surprisingly few stunts]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/17/samsung-stunt-for-metropcs-performs-surprisingly-few-stunts/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/17/samsung-stunt-for-metropcs-performs-surprisingly-few-stunts/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/17/samsung-stunt-for-metropcs-performs-surprisingly-few-stunts/#comments MetroPCS' bread and butter rests in the low- to mid-end of the handset spectrum since it offers its devices on a pricey contract-free basis, so it shouldn't come as any surprise that the freshly-announced Stunt from Samsung doesn't mess with the time-tested formula. The candybar trudges along with a 160 x 128 display, Bluetooth, AWS CDMA (like all MetroPCS handsets these days), and a shell utterly devoid of meaningful industrial design -- that's it. No more, no less. And sometimes, simplicity is a beautiful thing, right? It's not showing up on the carrier's site just yet, but the Stunt should be available today.

Samsung Stunt for MetroPCS performs surprisingly few stunts originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>candybarmetropcsr100samsungsch-r100stuntThu, 17 Dec 2009 15:22:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC debuts widgets for Sense-equipped Android phones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/htc-debuts-widgets-for-sense-equipped-android-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/htc-debuts-widgets-for-sense-equipped-android-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/htc-debuts-widgets-for-sense-equipped-android-phones/#comments HTC was already in the Android software game by virtue of the fact that it drops a fully-customized UI and widget suite on some of its models, but this is new: they've migrated over to the Market. Now, what'd be insanely awesome here is if you could, say, buy Sense for $9.99 and install it on any Android device, but yeah, not so much -- what we've actually got here is a four-pack of free widgets that are compatible with the Hero and Droid Eris. Dice, Today in History, Tip Calculator, and Battery are each downloadable individually; none are particularly exciting or different than what's already available in the Market, but they've all got that famous HTC high style and the exclusivity of knowing that Motorola, Acer, Samsung, and Huawei riffraff can't use them. All four are available now.

HTC debuts widgets for Sense-equipped Android phones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid marketAndroidMarketbatterydicedroid erisDroidErisherohtcsensesense uiSenseUitip calculatorTipCalculatortoday in historyTodayInHistorywidgetwidgetsThu, 17 Dec 2009 13:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Fuse UI video shows wild, dynamically lit 3D interface]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/second-fuse-ui-video-shows-wild-dynamically-lit-3d-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/second-fuse-ui-video-shows-wild-dynamically-lit-3d-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/second-fuse-ui-video-shows-wild-dynamically-lit-3d-interface/#comments We only got the briefest of glimpses at the new UI approach in Synaptics' collaborative Fuse concept handset, and now TAT (The Astonishing Tribe, the folks behind the original Android UI), has posted a brief clip that gives a better idea of the full UI. It's pretty wild, with some sort of rendering engine that really emphasizes depth, lighting and motion. We're not sure it's the most usable UI on the planet, but it's certainly one of the oddest we've witnessed. Check it out in motion after the break.

Continue reading Second Fuse UI video shows wild, dynamically lit 3D interface

Second Fuse UI video shows wild, dynamically lit 3D interface originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fusefuse conceptFuseConceptsynapticstatthe astonishing tribeTheAstonishingTribeuiui conceptUiConceptvideoThu, 17 Dec 2009 13:23:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T to offer 'incentives' to customers willing to limit data usage]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/atandt-to-offer-incentives-to-customers-willing-to-limit-data-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/atandt-to-offer-incentives-to-customers-willing-to-limit-data-us/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/atandt-to-offer-incentives-to-customers-willing-to-limit-data-us/#commentsAT&T exec #1: You know, our network's really getting slammed with all these people using their unlimited data plans to download things and do stuff online all the time. Any ideas how we can fix it?

AT&T exec #2: We could put out more WiFi hotspots. People seem to use those. Sometimes.

AT&T exec #1: Sure, but that's not going to make a dent in places like New York City. I mean, have you used an iPhone there?

AT&T exec #2: We have these things called MicroCells that people can use at home, if they live in North Carolina. Maybe more people could use those?

AT&T exec #1: Yeah, that's good. But people like to use their cellphones outside their house too. What happens then?

AT&T exec #2: Well, what if we offered customers incentives to use less data?

AT&T exec #1: Now you're talking! What sort of incentives could get them to do that?

AT&T exec #2: Hmm....

Well, readers, are there any incentives that would get you to use less data? Feel free to offer your suggestions for AT&T in the comments below. And don't worry about actually paying more for data (yet, anyway), as AT&T 's Ralph de la Vega is now saying that "we have not made any decision to implement tiered pricing," which is a slight backtrack from previous hints to the contrary.

AT&T to offer 'incentives' to customers willing to limit data usage originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attdatadata usageDataUsagefemtocellhotspotmicrocellralph de la vegaRalphDeLaVegawifi hotspotWifiHotspotThu, 17 Dec 2009 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[BlackBerry email down / delayed in North America (update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/blackberry-email-down-delayed-in-north-america/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/blackberry-email-down-delayed-in-north-america/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/blackberry-email-down-delayed-in-north-america/#comments
Gonna be a long day for BlackBerry users: RIM's confirmed to multiple outlets that its BIS servers are acting up and that email services are being delayed -- and we're actually hearing that they're just down, period. BlackBerry Messenger still works, though, so you can still BBM your BFF or whatever the kids do nowadays. No word on service restoration, but we'll update you when we find out.

P.S.- That's two months in a row with significant BIS problems -- what's up with that, RIM?

Update: ... and we're back!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

BlackBerry email down / delayed in North America (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bisblackberryblackberry internet serviceBlackberryInternetServicebreaking newsBreakingNewsdownemailrimThu, 17 Dec 2009 12:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Ericsson demos 42Mbps HSPA Evolution for the laypeople]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/ericsson-demos-42mbps-hspa-evolution-for-the-laypeople/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/ericsson-demos-42mbps-hspa-evolution-for-the-laypeople/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/ericsson-demos-42mbps-hspa-evolution-for-the-laypeople/#commentsTalk about making good on a promise... and then some. Back in March, Ericsson proudly proclaimed that it would be able to make 21Mbps look like child's play by reaching 28Mbps before the dawn of 2010, and now the company is tooting its horn once more after demonstrating 42Mbps equipment to common folk over in Stockholm, Sweden. Reportedly, it's the planet's first 42Mbps HSPA achievement on commercial products, and better still, it's now available for mass deployment. Unfortunately, details beyond that were few and far between -- we're guessing Ericsson just needed an avenue to gloat -- but we suspect carriers like Telstra will be pushing out their own releases once the upgrades start rolling out. Granted, we've seen mobile data rates tickle the 42Mbps mark before, but those showcases were hardly ready for public consumption. Meanwhile, Verizon and AT&T are spending bundles arguing about their comparatively glacial "3G networks." Way to go, America.

Ericsson demos 42Mbps HSPA Evolution for the laypeople originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g42MbpsbroadbanddataEricssonglobalHSPAinternationalinternetmobile broadbandmobile internetMobileBroadbandMobileInternetspeedStockholmSyndromeswedentelstratransfertransmission speedTransmissionSpeedThu, 17 Dec 2009 11:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia furloughing up to 20 percent of employees at only Finnish factory]]>http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/17/nokia-furloughing-up-to-20-percent-of-employees-at-only-finnish/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/17/nokia-furloughing-up-to-20-percent-of-employees-at-only-finnish/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/17/nokia-furloughing-up-to-20-percent-of-employees-at-only-finnish/#commentsOf its nine factories around the world, Nokia has just one in its home country -- the only one left in all of Western Europe -- in the town of Salo. As you can imagine, its well-being is probably a pretty touchy subject, not just for locals but for Nokia fans around the world -- especially when you consider that the company's highest-end devices are assembled here, making the health of the factory a bellwether for the health of the coolest models in the range. The company has revealed this week that it'll be sending home up to 20 percent of the plant's staff for up to 90 days at any one time, saying that there's simply no need for it to operate at full capacity in the current market; we say you could argue that making the right phones could lead to a need for full capacity, but what do we know? Anyhow, the move closely mirrors one that had already been made for 2009, and you could look on the bright side -- at least they're not closing it down the same way they did Jyväskylä.

Nokia furloughing up to 20 percent of employees at only Finnish factory originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>finlandfurloughjobjob cutjob cutsJobCutJobCutsjobsnokiasaloThu, 17 Dec 2009 10:44:00 EST