HTC is about to make Legend available
January 27th, 2010 by admin in Google, HTC
HTC seems to be on a roll with an entire slew of new and upcoming smartphones heading our way, and another interesting model would be the HTC Legend which boasts an unibody aluminum casing alongside plastic inserts for the cover to be easily removable, making it a snap to access the SIM card carriage, microSD memory card slot and battery. Word also has it that the Legend will sport a 5.0-megapixel camera, an AMOLED display at a high 480 x 800 resolution count and an optical sensor trackpad similar to the one found on the Bravo. Let us keep our fingers crossed that Android 2.1 will ship with the Legend…
HTC HD2 Almost Certainly Getting Windows Mobile 7
January 17th, 2010 by admin in HTC
Smartphone users who want to buy a device that they know will get an upgrade to Windows Mobile 7 when it’s released this fall should seriously consider the HTC HD2 — sources at HTC have said this device will be getting an upgrade to the next major version of this operating system from Microsoft.
HTC Russia recently promised that the HD2 will be getting Windows Mobile 7, and warned that this would be the only current model from this company to do so. This message came in the form of a Tweet, which was quickly removed.
In addition, Terry Snelling on the HTC customer support team reportedly e-mailed a customer a promise that the HD2 will be getting the version 7 upgrade when it becomes available in November.
What’s Coming in Windows Mobile 7?
There has been no official word from HTC on upgrades to the next version of Windows Mobile because Microsoft has not yet formally announced it. This might happen at the Mobile World Congress next month, though.
At this point, few specifics are known, but it is reportedly going to make Windows phones more appealing to consumers with a new look that offers much greater support for fingertip control and capacitive touchscreens.
An Overview of the HTC HD2
The HD2 (AKA the HTC Leo) is possibly the most cutting-edge model available today with Microsoft’s mobile operating system; it has 1 GHz processor, and sports a 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive display with multi-touch support.
It was one of the first devices on the market with Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro, but it has a new version of HTC’s custom user interface layered on top. This used to be called TouchFLO, but has just been renamed HTC Sense to reflect a greater focus on consumers.
It lacks a hardware keyboard, but that’s just about the only feature it doesn’t have.
The HTC HD2 is the first Windows Mobile smartphone with a capacitive display that supports multi-touch, so users can resize websites, Microsoft Office files, PDF documents and pictures easier with a pinch of their fingers.
This 4.3-inch display is the largest yet on a smartphone running Microsoft’s OS, and has a WVGA (800×480) resolution.
Naturally, the HD2 has mobile broadband (7.2 Mbps HSDPA), plus it includes Wi-Fi b/g and Bluetooth 2.1. It is even be able to act as a Wi-Fi router for another computer.
It also includes a whopping 448 MB of RAM, a 5 MPx camera with auto-focus, a microSD card reader, GPS receiver, 1,230 mAh battery, and a 3.5 mm headset jack.
This HTC device comes with Windows Mobile’s standard collection of mobile apps: Outlook, Office, Media Player. Opera Mobile is the default web browser.
Coming to T-Mobile USA
The HD2 was launched in Europe and Asia this fall, and currently is available in the U.S. only from gray-market retails.
However, T-Mobile USA announced last week that it will be releasing this high-end smartphone at some point in the spring.
Microsoft plans to present new Mobile Windows in February
January 15th, 2010 by admin in Microsoft
Microsoft Corp. plans to unveil its new mobile-phone operating system next month, a bid to reverse market share losses to Google Inc. and Apple Inc., according to a person familiar with the matter, the Bloomberg reports.
The company may use the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to demonstrate the new software, called Windows Mobile 7, said the person, who didn’t want to be identified because the plans are confidential. The decision isn’t final, the person said.
Microsoft is counting on the software to reignite enthusiasm for Windows Mobile among consumers and phone makers. The last update — Windows Mobile 6.5, which came out in October — didn’t do enough to advance the software, said Matt Rosoff, an analyst at Kirkland, Washington-based Directions on Microsoft.
“The sooner they show Windows Mobile 7, the better,” he said. “The longer Microsoft delays and the longer they are perceived as having a mobile operating system that just doesn’t look modern, the less consumer interest there will be and handset manufacturers will look at other options.”
Debbie Anderson, a spokeswoman for Redmond, Washington- based Microsoft, declined to comment on the timing of an announcement. “We’re always working on future versions and have nothing new to announce,” she said.
‘Almost Nothing’
Microsoft has said “almost nothing” about Windows Mobile 7, Rosoff said. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said a year ago that the program would come out in 2010. Microsoft doesn’t produce its own phone, just an operating system for partners to use.
Windows Mobile has lost market share to Apple’s iPhone, Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry and models that use Google’s Android software, according to Stamford, Connecticut- based Gartner Inc. Android is a freely available operating system used by Motorola Inc., HTC Corp. and other manufacturers. Google, based in Mountain View, California, introduced its own phone based on the software this month.
Android is “a particular threat” to win over handset makers looking to ditch the Windows software, Rosoff said.
Microsoft rose 61 cents to $30.96 yesterday in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares climbed 57 percent last year.
Microsoft’s share of the smartphone operating-system market shrank to 7.9 percent in the third quarter, compared with 11 percent in the year-earlier period, according to Gartner.
Market Share
Research In Motion’s share rose to 21 percent from 16 percent, while Apple increased to 17 percent from 13 percent. Android had 3.5 percent of the market in the quarter, up from none a year earlier.
Microsoft’s next mobile operating system “really does move the bar forward, not in an evolutionary way from where we are today, but it’s something that feels, looks, acts and performs completely different,” Robbie Bach, a Microsoft president who oversees the mobile business, told analysts at the Consumer Electronics Show this month.
The company needs it, Rosoff said.
“Their lack of execution so far is very troubling,” he said. “It’s always possible to turn it around with a great product, particularly in the mobile space because people buy new handsets every two years. But nothing about their execution so far gives me any confidence that will happen.”
LG turns to Google Android instead of Windows Mobile
January 14th, 2010 by admin in Google, LG
In the absence of a new version of Windows Mobile, LG said it plans to use Google Android on more than half its smartphones, despite a recent pledge to use primarily Microsoft’s mobile operating system.
On Wednesday, LG said that at least 10 of the 20 smartphones it plans to introduce this year will be based on Android. The rest will run Windows Mobile and Linux. In a statement, LG said its hopes are particularly high for Android phones.
LG said just under a year ago that it would make Windows Mobile its primary - although not exclusive - phone software platform over the next four years. It also said it planned to launch 50 Windows Mobile phones during that period, including 25 in 2012.
But Microsoft has been slow to make Windows Mobile more competitive in a new smartphone landscape first defined by the iPhone. Since LG announced its agreement with Microsoft, Android has gained momentum while Windows Mobile has stagnated and lost market share. Microsoft is expected to release Windows Mobile 7 sometime this year.
In the meantime, about 20 Android phones have been released from various hardware makers. The introduction of the Nexus One, made by HTC and sold exclusively by Google online, does not appear to have discouraged LG. Some onlookers wondered if Google’s decision to sell phones itself might dissuade manufacturers from choosing Android.
Microsoft has been working with LG to “lay the foundation for an increase in scale,” it said in a statement. “We’re very pleased with the long term trajectory of our relationship with LG and look forward to bringing a number of new phones to market in 2010.”
According to research from IDC, LG is the third-largest mobile-phone maker by volume, but it does not yet rank among the top five smartphone makers. It has lofty aspirations. On Wednesday LG said it hopes to achieve a double-digit share of the smartphone market in 2012. Currently, fifth-place Samsung has 1.3 percent market share, IDC said.
Giorgio Armani, Samsung and Microsoft present the new Smartphone
January 10th, 2010 by admin in Giorgio Armani, samsung
Giorgio Armani, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and Microsoft are proud to present the new Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone, the most elegant and functional mobile on the market.
Giorgio Armani personally designed this stylish smartphone, as he did with the first Giorgio Armani Samsung mobile in 2007 and the Emporio Armani Samsung “Night Effect” mobile in 2008.
In 2009, the new smartphone makes its debut with more powerful functions and superior usability. The next rendition of this style and technology partnership includes a Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, a unique two step tilt hinge form factor with both full touch screen and QWERTY keyboard hybrid, and a stunning 3.5 inch Ultra Brilliant AMOLED display.
The Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone is part of an innovative brand alliance of portable electronics and household products by Giorgio Armani and Samsung Electronics. This phone stands out due to the innovative blend of Giorgio Armani’s refined style and Samsung Electronics’ cutting-edge technology.
Giorgio Armani, President and CEO of Giorgio Armani S.p.A., commented:
“Today more than ever, elegant dressing is part of daily business life. When Samsung asked me to design the new business and lifestyle smartphone I decided to use my fashion aesthetic to create it. I simply aim to create a smartphone which is not only an elegant tool but also functional and useful, perfect for today’s managers. The result is a unique smartphone perfectly suited to every moment of one’s business and private day. This is the Armani aesthetic - to combine beauty with function in a simple and timeless way.”
Sandeep Saihgal, general manager of mobile phones, Samsung Gulf Electronics commented: “We are delighted to have reached another milestone in the collaboration between Giorgio Armani and Samsung Electronics. This latest-generation mobile masterfully combines our experience in technology with a design from one of the world’s best known designers, and the functions offered by Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. What’s more, the Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone is a demonstration of our commitment to offering customers cutting-edge technology in our products, along with exclusive design and fashion.”
“Mobile phones armed with Windows Mobile bring together the best of the Web, the PC, and mobile phones so that people can connect instantly to the experiences they care about,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corp. “But people want more than just a useful device - they want a phone that offers design qualities that match their personality and lifestyle. The Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone we’re announcing today with Giorgio Armani and Samsung combines technology innovation and fashion to deliver a great mobile phone that also fulfills the desire for style and elegance.”
Designed to standout in the crowd
Like previous Giorgio Armani Samsung Mobile, the new device is designed by Giorgio Armani, reflecting his simple and graceful design philosophy. The unique two-step 30-degree tilt hinge form factor combines sophisticated design with exceptional usability. The phone also comes in a distinctive and elegant bronze gold color, which coordinates perfectly with Giorgio Armani’s suits.
Your mobile business partner
The new Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone offers always-on connectivity tools including 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 5.76Mbps HSUPA and WiFi access. With its unique form factor supporting full touch and QWERTY at same time, the phone provides a dynamic mobile internet experience through Push e-mail with Microsoft Exchange and full internet browsing.
The Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone comes with the new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. It’s one of the first phones available with the innovative Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, which will lead the way to a new generation of mobile services and applications. Windows Mobile 6.5 includes a new start page and dashboard that simply and intuitively displays key productivity features such as e-mails, text messages, missed calls, and calendar appointments.
It also includes a touch interface that provides quick access to the main functions of the smartphone. The free My Phone service, which is a newly added Windows Mobile 6.5 application, lets users access, manage, and easily run backups of the personal information contained in the device using a password-protected Web-based service. Synchronization and automatic backups guarantee users that their contacts, appointments, text messages, and other information is kept up-to-date and is always easy to retrieve if the phone is lost or when changing phones.
Work hard but play harder
To satisfy business professionals, who want to easily and efficiently manage their work and personal lives, the Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone offers the latest multi-media features such as a 5-megapixel camera, a music player and a video player supporting various types of multimedia formats. The phone comes with 3.5″ ultra brilliant AMOLED screen for viewing videos and slide shows in high-resolution and with reduced power consumption. Furthermore, it offers 8 Gigabytes of internal memory and an extendable microSD slot up to 32GB to store multimedia content.
The Giorgio Armani-Samsung smartphone also offers GPS navigation, so users can get their bearings wherever work or life takes them.
HTC announces ‘Smart’ phone set for Spring
January 7th, 2010 by admin in HTC
HTC has unveiled the Smart, available across Europe and Asia this Spring.
The handset, which runs of Qualcomm’s Brew platform, comes with the manufacturer’s HTC Sense interface, which works a user’s particular social networking and communications services into a customisable homescreen.
The handset has a 2.8-inch touchscreen, HSDPA, a three megapixel camera with fixed focus and flashlight, and a microSD card slot for expandable memory.
HTC chief executive officer Peter Chou said: “HTC has always focussed on listening to customers and setting the stage for new mobile categories and HTC Smart is the response to customer demand around the world for an easier-to-use affordable smartphone.
“Just adding a touch interface doesn’t mean a phone is a smartphone. The integration of HTC Sense brings an unparalleled smartphone experience for people looking to do more on their phone.”
Details on retail and network availability will be announced in due course.
Dell confirms Android-powered tablet device
January 7th, 2010 by admin in Dell, Google
Dell has teased with a new tablet/slate PC at its keynote speech at CES in Las Vegas.
Giving virtually no details, as per usual with Dell’s teasers, the new device will get a 5-inch screen size and be Android powered.
“It is 5-inches, however we are working on different screen sizes and form factors”, said a Dell spokesman.
Refusing to be drawn on a name for the device, the word “slate” (just like in Ballmer’s Microsoft keynote speech) was bandied around.
The new model, which will go up against the currently available Archos Internet Tablet and recently announced JooJoo (formerly the CrunchPad), will allow users to surf the Web from a handheld device bigger than a touchscreen smartphone, but smaller than a standard netbook, whilst working in a similar way to a mobile phone.
Dell, has confirmed that the device will come with a built-in SIM card option making the HD2 from HTC look tiny in comparison.
Intel Shows Off LG Smartphone That Runs on Atom Chip
January 7th, 2010 by admin in LG
Intel Corp. Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini showed off a smartphone based on a new version of the Atom chip, part of the semiconductor maker’s strategy to break into the wireless-phone market.
The GW900 phone from LG Electronics Inc. runs on a chip called Moorestown that will go on sale in the first half of the year, Otellini said today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Devices based on the chip will debut in the second half, he said.
Otellini offered the LG phone as evidence that Intel, the world’s biggest chipmaker, is making inroads into the wireless- handset business. Intel, based in Santa Clara, California, is working to fend off challenges by Qualcomm Inc. and other phone- chip makers, which are pushing their products into portable computers — until now the exclusive domain of Atom.
Intel is also seeking to tap what chipmakers see as their next area of growth: consumer electronics, cars and industrial equipment with Internet connections. Otellini, 59, demonstrated a television set-top box, tablet computer and another smartphone design, all based on versions of Atom.
Intel fell 20 cents, or 1 percent, to $20.60 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares climbed 39 percent last year.
This week, Qualcomm and other makers of chips for phones have announced partnerships and unveiled designs that encroach on Intel’s turf. San Diego-based Qualcomm said yesterday that it’s working with Hewlett-Packard Co., the world’s biggest personal-computer maker, on a scaled-down notebook computer.
Intel makes more than 80 percent of PC processors — the brains of computers. It aims to use its Atom product, which runs small laptops known as netbooks, to break into chips for wireless devices. That market is estimated to increase 14 percent to more than $46 billion this year, according to researcher IDC, in Framingham, Massachusetts.
The annual Consumer Electronics Show, which began in 1967 in New York, has given rise to the videocassette recorder in 1970, the compact-disc player in 1981, the DVD in 1996 and plasma TV in 2001.
Google to sell Nexus One
January 5th, 2010 by admin in Google
Google Inc. began selling its own mobile phone Tuesday, a much-anticipated move aimed at protecting its online advertising empire as people increasingly surf the Web on handsets instead of personal computers.
The Nexus One joins about 20 other mobile devices that already run on Android, the mobile operating system that Google introduced in 2007 to make it easier to connect to its services and other Web sites away from home or the office.
Google designed the touch-screen phone in partnership with Taiwan’s HTC Corp., which made the first Android-powered phone and will manufacture this one, too. Google will handle all sales online and has no plans to let consumers check out the Nexus One in retail stores.
The Nexus One has been in the hands of Google employees for the past three weeks, triggering media speculation and anticipation for the company’s first attempt to peddle a consumer electronics device.
Given the hype, the Nexus One could be a bit of a letdown because it only takes a few incremental steps beyond what’s already possible on handheld devices. And the Nexus One’s standard sales price of $529 may lessen its appeal in a still-shaky economy.
The move does escalate the budding rivalry between Silicon Valley’s two most valuable companies — Google and Apple Inc., which has sold more than 30 million iPhones in the past 2 1/2 years. Apple announced a deal Tuesday to buy mobile advertising service Quattro Wireless to counter Google’s planned $750 million acquisition of Quattro rival AdMob. Both announcements came ahead of this week’s International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Most of the more than $20 billion in ads that Google sells annually are tied to Internet searches, a market that it dominates. But a proliferation of programs that create more direct routes to mobile applications may lessen the need to conduct searches on wireless phones. In designing and selling its own phone, Google gets yet another way to ensure its services remain within easy reach of people on the go.
Google is billing the Nexus One as the first “super” phone in an effort to position the device as a cut above the iPhone and other smart phones such as Research In Motion Ltd.’s more utilitarian BlackBerry.
It appears to be sleeker than other phones, as thin as a pencil at 11.5 millimeters and as light as a keychain-sized Swiss army knife at just 130 grams. Among other things, the Nexus One will offer more ways to customize the phone’s home page and use voice recognition technology to perform more tasks, including composing e-mails and navigating Google’s mobile mapping products.
“This phone, from a performance perspective, looks a little like your laptop did four or five years ago,” said Andy Rubin, a Google executive who oversees Android.
But most of the features on the Nexus One are already on other Android-powered phones, and it probably will be a long time before it can offer as many different tools as the iPhone, which boasts more than 100,000 applications compared with Android’s 18,000.
The Nexus One’s $529 price tag is more than twice as much as the most powerful iPhone sold in conjunction with a two-year service plan from AT&T Inc. Google is asking consumers to pay more so they can select their own wireless carriers. That’s a departure from the usual sales model in the United States, where mobile phones are typically offered exclusively by specific providers and subsidized by them for customers who agree to service plans that cost $800 to $1,000 annually.
For the first few months at least, the Nexus One will only work on GSM networks — a limitation that means buyers in the U.S. will have to use T-Mobile USA if they want the handset for high-speed Web surfing. Consumers willing to enter into a two-year data plan with T-Mobile will be able to buy the Nexus One for $179, $20 less than the top-of-the-line iPhone with an AT&T subsidy.
The technological barrier also precludes the initial version of Nexus One from working on the U.S. wireless networks of Verizon Wireless and Sprint, though Google plans a version that will work on those carriers’ CDMA technology this spring and Verizon Wireless plans to subsidize that. For AT&T, the phone’s compatible only with its slower wireless network instead of the 3G one used by the iPhone.
The Nexus One should work with many carriers abroad, as GSM is the predominant technology used. Vodafone’s wireless service in Europe also will begin to subsidize the Nexus One in the spring.
Samsung Corby, CorbyPRO and Galaxy Spica Make U.S. Debut at CES 2010
January 5th, 2010 by admin in samsung
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, a leading mobile phone provider, showcases several of its groundbreaking, revolutionary global handsets at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show. These handsets make their U.S. debut at the show and exemplify Samsung’s leadership in innovative technology, including Samsung’s exclusive ultra-brilliant AMOLED displays, 800 MHz processor speeds, as well as their commitment to the Android operating system and design innovation.
Samsung Galaxy Spica™ is a slim and compact Android-powered smartphone that offers seamless connectivity with access to Google mobile services and popular social network sites, such as Facebook and MySpace. Equipped with an 800 MHZ application processor, the Galaxy Spica lets users download a variety of applications from Android Market. The phone provides users an exceptional multimedia experience by supporting DivX to eliminate the hassle of file format conversions. Equipped with DNSe 2.0 for better sound quality and a 3.5 mm ear jack the Galaxy Spica offers the fully comprehensive multimedia feature set. The phone also supports the full suite of Google services including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Talk letting users enjoy a familiar desktop computer experience while on their phone.
Samsung Corby™ incorporates simple and easy to use Samsung’s Touchwiz™ user interface and haptic feedback system, which gives users the ability to customize their Corby with applications and widgets. The Corby features a substantial library of additional applications by providing access to Samsung’s online widgets store. The “one finger zoom” on the Corby lets users zoom in-and-out with one finger while the “smart unlock” feature allows users to unlock the phone easily by drawing a letter on the screen. Corby users can instantly update their current status and access their friend’s updates and live feeds via Facebook, MySpace and Twitter through a simple Pop-up SNS (Social Networking Service) notification feature. The phone also supports various community sites by integrating leading user-generated content sites such as YouTube, Flickr, Picasa and Photobucket and other popular SNS sites. Photos and videos can be uploaded easily to these sites by using the Corby’s communities solution. The Corby comes with a selection of colored back covers in yellow, white, orange, pink and two additional back covers (called ‘Fashion Jackets’), which feature a unique pattern design cover and a standard black cover. The interchangeable back covers let users change the style of their handset to reflect their personal style.
Samsung CorbyPRO features a full, slide out QWERTY keyboard that lets users send text messages and emails instantly without sacrificing style. The CorbyPRO also meets the needs of business users by offering a variety of entertainment and multimedia capabilities including push e-mail services, conversational SMS and access to Facebook and MySpace. The CorbyPRO packs a 3MP digital camera, Wi-Fi access, 3G/HSDPA and quad band connectivity. Equipped with a 3.5mm ear jack and dedicated music keys, the CorbyPRO offers the ultimate in multimedia and music entertainment.
Samsung Galaxy Spica (SGH-I5700) Specification
Network HSDPA 3.6Mbps (900/2100)
EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900)
OS Android (ver. Android 1.5)
Display 3.2” HVGA(320×480) TFT
Camera 3MP Camera (Auto Focus)
Video / Audio Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV,DivX
Audio: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA
Value Added
Features
Full Web Browser, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail,
YouTube, Google Talk, Android Market, 3.5mm Ear jack, GPS
Connectivity Bluetooth® 2.1, USB 2.0, MicroUSB, WiFi
Memory Internal memory: 180MB
External memory: Micro SD (Up to 32GB)
Battery 1500 mAh
Size 115 x 57 x 13.2mm
* Android, Google, Android Market, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk are trademarks of Google Inc.
Samsung Corby (SGH-S3650) Specification
Network EDGE/GPRS, Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
Display 2.8” QVGA 262K TFT-LCD Full touch screen
Camera 2 Megapixel CMOS
Video H.263, MPEG4, WMV
Audio FM Radio with RDS
Poly 64, SP-Midi, i-melody, MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA
Value-added Features Fashion Jacket (changeable battery cover)
Pop-Up SNS
Cartoon UI
One Finger Zoom, Dictionary, Smart Unlock
Connectivity USB 2.0, BT 2.1/ EDR
Memory 50MB + microSD (up to 8GB)
Size 103 x 56.5 x 12.0 mm
Weight 93g
Battery 960mAh
Samsung CorbyPRO (SGH-B5310) Specification
Network HSDPA 7.2Mbps, 900/2100
EDGE/GPRS, Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
Display 2.8” TFT 16M QVGA Full touch screen
Camera 3 Megapixel FF, CMOS
Video H.263, MPEG4, WMV, WAV, DivX,
Audio FM Radio with RDS
Poly 64, SP-Midi, i-melody, MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA
Value-added
Features Fashion Jackets (Changeable battery cover)
Cartoon UI, One Finger Zoom, Smart Unlock
Connectivity WiFi, BT 2.1. USB 2.0, microUSB, 3.5mm earjack
Memory 100MB + microSD (up to 16GB)
Size 105 x 56.8 x 15.68 mm
Weight 135g
Battery 960mAh