by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
Over at OSiM, Dr. Ari Jaaksi, vice president of Maemo software Nokia, finished his keynote speech revealing quite some juicy snippets on the future of Maemo.
Apparently Nokia?s Maemo 5 will include online anywhere with cellular connectivity over HSPA for broadband anywhere; and photo sharing with hi-def camera – imaging and photo-sharing, powerful computing with TI OMAP3 processor – for better performance and better graphics performance.
Furthermore, Jaksi revelaed, Nokia is now Gold Sponsor of Linux Foundation has contributed code today for 3G/HSPA cellular (data) connectivity for OMAP3 to Linux kernel. However, there is no news as yet on backward compatibility for older Nokia handsets.
by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
Nokia?s highly expensive Vertu, you know the mobile phone you?ll only ever get to see on the internet unless you are a millionaire, well they are going to set up shop in Tokyo?s Ginza district sometime in December.
This new store will be Vertu?s first in Japan and apparently has plans to open further stores in the country.
Vertu has a wide range of luxury models, but it is unclear as to which Vertu mobile handsets will be sold in Japan, but which modele doesn?t really matter as they will more than likely have a start price of 890,000 yen shooting skyward up to 5 million yen.
No word on who will carry the Vertu brand either so it could be NTT MoDoCo Inc or Softbank Mobile Corp.
by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
There?s been much talk and rumour over the Research In Motion BlackBerry Storm over the past few days, so it won?t hurt to throw a little bit more your way. This particular document refers to Verizon Wireless? Pre-Launch Plans for the Verizon BlackBerry Storm.
If you look at the document it isn?t a ?launch date? as such but probably means a launch for direct marketing of the Verizon BlackBerry Storm to Verizon business customers on the 22nd September and to customers on October 1st.
You may notice the ?Target Customers November 1st? is listed repeatedly for upgrade eligibility discounts. So this gives further credence to November the 1st being the official launch date for Verizon to bring the BlackBerry Storm to the mobile world.
by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
Google has invited Taiwan based computer manufacturer Asustek Computer Inc to jointly develop Google?s Android platform for their new intelligent handset model say industry sources.
It is reported that Google made the decision to cooperate with Asustek on their smartphone due to the Asus computer brand recognition worldwide, although this hasn?t been confirmed.
Asustek unveiled their first touch-screen mobile handset the Asus P552w on September 5th which features the Asustek 3D touch interface and expect to start shipping in the 4th quarter of this year.
So does this mean that Asus is going to be breaking into the smartphone market backed with Google Android OS, who knows?
by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
HTC?s newest offering the HTC Touch HD isn?t really reviewed here but does offer a few snippets of information and at least there is a image for the somewhat visually starved who enjoy looking at new mobile phone images.
Apparently the HTC Touch HD has a ?positively gorgeous? 800 x 480 display, while the camera is fairly decent but the auto-focus tends to run a tad slow. The HTC Touch HD incorporates the lasts incarnation of the TouchFLO 3d interface and chugs along quite nicely.
Even with its heavy duty spec sheet and large display, the HTC Touch HD still managed to come out at the same size as an Apple iPhone 3G. Only real problem is the HTC Touch HD is being release in the 4th quarter and without global HSPDA.
by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
Well it appears eBay has done it yet again, they never cease to amaze, nowhere else would you find such a story involving a mobile phone as apparently some eBay user going by the handle of jdavidson31 snapped up the unreleased Research In Motion BlackBerry Javelin for $17,100.
User jdavidson31?s story is already flooding the net wave, and one can see why, I mean is the Research In Motion BlackBerry Javelin really worth that much? Personally I think not, would have been far less expensive to wait for its release, because it seems a bit steep to be able to say ?Look what I?ve got.?
eBay user jdavidson31 resides in Canada which just happens to be the home of research In Motion and BlackBerry, so maybe jdavidson31 is actually an employee of RIM making sure the Javelin doesn?t see the light of day until RIM are ready.
by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
The Apple iPhone has always been thought of as one hot mobile phone, but now if gets even hotter with the Sonic Lighter application that sets your iPhone afire.
The Sonic Lighter is one cool application from Smule that emblazons the Apple iPhone display with a simulated flame which can be controlled by touch and tilt.
Co-founder and chief technology officer of Smule, Ge Wang, says “I’ve found the flame map to be quite useful, especially at night.”
The Sonic Lighter for iPhone captivates onlookers as the flame dances, but not only that as it includes a sonic modem which can ignite adjacent sonic enabled iPhones. There is a video below for you to watch, I believe you?ll find it most interesting, and the Sonic Lighter app only costs $0.99
by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
For the desperate victims of the storm on Wednesday, rows of laptop computers and telephones set up in a building were a lifeline that helped make sure they didn?t end up sleeping on the streets or in vehicles.
U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Stafford, arranged for a mobile communications unit owned by the House of Representatives to come to the Houston area in the wake of Hurricane Ike; 200 laptops and 200 phone lines were links to a satellite truck outside and provided a way for storm victims to communicate and make arrangements.
FEMA is paying for hotels for up to a month to people whose homes are uninhabitable because of damage from Ike.
Image via here
by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
It appears that AT&T will be shipping quite a few mobile phones before the end of October, and one; the cheap Samsung a637 should be hitting stores within days.
The Samsung a637 will then be followed towards the end of the month by the Nokia 6650 and the Motorola V9x mobile handsets.
Then come late October AT&T will ship another two mobile phones, the Pantech C740 Matrix and the Sony Ericsson W760a.
Looks like AT&T is going to have a busy old month ahead that is of course if they can stick with this schedule.
by Techno Witch on September 18, 2008
Apparently the reason Research In Motion?s BlackBerry Bold hasn?t yet launched with exclusive US carrier AT&T is down to Apple Inc?s Apple iPhone 3G.
Yet another reason for BlackBerry fans to despise the Apple iPhone 3G. AT&T Inc isn?t offering the BlackBerry Bold yet because Apple iPhone 3G data traffic is clogging up AT&T?s networks, that?s according to analysts.
BlackBerry data traffic is channelled through Research In Motion servers, however the Apple iPhone 3G uses a “ping-pong” technology which must constantly access AT&T’s network.
Peter Misek, analyst for Canaccord Adams, remarks: “We believe that AT&T is now realizing that it can have up to 20 BlackBerrys for every iPhone on its network.”