Microsoft Bricks Windows 7 Phones

The above headline should never need to be written. A company should never "brick" or render any product that a customer paid for useless. The company should replace the product if this happens accidentally and pay a fine for seriously inconveniencing the customer. And exactly what mechanism is in the phone that "bricks" it and renders it useless anyway? Much of the updating problems stem from the halcyon days of AOL, the company that perfected the slipstream update. Back in the 1980s and 90s, when AOL pretty much owned the online segment of the industry, the system would tell you that it needed to make an update when you tried to log off. For the next 15 minutes, AOL would be plugging in all sorts of new code. I found that this process worked well. When users were confronted with...

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Posted in: Winphone

Rumor: iPad 2 to lack SD slot, high-res display

Apple's iPad 2 won't have two key features that some folks have been hoping for, a new report claims. Citing unnamed sources, Engadget reported late yesterday that the iPad 2 won't launch with a high-resolution display or with an SD card slot. Apple initially planned on delivering those two features in the updated tablet, Engadget said, but apparently "engineering issues" caused the company to modify its plans at the last minute. It's worth noting, however, that Engadget's latest report contradicts claims the blog made last month when it also cited unnamed sources who said the tablet would come with a "super high resolution" display and an SD card slot. At the time, the publication wrote that its sources could confirm their claims with...

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Posted in: iOS-Apple-operating-system-i-os

Mac OS X Lion Adds Features from the iPhone's iOS

eatures from Apple's iOS for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad have been added to Mac OS X Lion. Like Google's Android, Hewlett-Packard's webOS, and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, Mac OS X is sharing across platforms. Along with the Mac App Store, built in to Lion, Mac OS X 10.7 supports more gestures, auto-saves files, and offers full-screen views. Accompanying the release Thursday of new MacBook Pros, Apple unveiled a developer preview of its next Mac OS X, version 10.7 Lion. The upcoming OS adds a variety of features from Apple's iOS used on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. With Google revamping its smartphone Android OS for the tablet platform in the 3.0 Honeycomb version, Hewlett-Packard touting how its new webOS works across smartphones and tablets, and Microsoft talking about how...

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Posted in: iOS-Apple-operating-system-i-os

HTC Receives '2011 Device Manufacturer of The Year' Award by GSMA

The award follows a year of global momentum for HTC, which saw the launch of a wide range of smartphones such as the HTC Desire. HTC was awarded from a list of three finalists that included “For HTC to be recognized by the industry in this way for the growth and success we have experienced in the last year is truly humbling,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC (News - Alert) Corporation, in a statement. “Thousands of people at HTC work tirelessly to create the intuitive and deeply personal smartphone experiences for which we have become known. This award is a measure of their passion and dedication.” HTC previously was awarded for the “Best Mobile Phone (News - Alert) of 2010” with the HTC Hero. By putting people at the center of its innovation, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better...

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Posted in: HTC

HTC Mozart Review

Before Nokia announced that it was throwing in the towel on its own smartphone OS efforts and instead putting its faith in Microsoft’s fledging Window Phone 7 platform, HTC was perhaps Microsoft’s best buddy when it came to Windows Phone hardware. Along with the Trophy and HD7, the Mozart was one of three handsets that HTC introduced at the UK launch of Windows Phone 7. Of these three, the Mozart is perhaps the most handsome. Today’s touchscreen phones tend to look quite slab-like simply due to the large size of their displays. However, the Mozart has beautifully rounded corners and curved edges. The dark grey metallic finish also looks the business and the three part approach to the rear of the phone, where the middle is made of metal...

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Posted in: HTC

Summer release for HTC Facebook phones.

Retailer Expansys has revealed the release dates for the HTC Facebook phones pre-order pages. Expect a Summer release for the duet of Facebook phones manufactured by HTC: the ChaCha and Salsa. Expect a June 17 release of the social networking mobiles which feature branded Facebook keys on the front. The special key provides instant access to Facebook notifications, updates, comments and feeds. It is also context sensitive, so a quick press following a photo will send the image straight to Facebook. HTC had previously said that the phones would be available around Q2 2011, so Summer then.. The company has also pointed out that despite the handsets immediately being nicknamed ‘Facebook phones’, they are not Facebook branded. The social...

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Posted in: HTC

Three to release Gingerbread update for HTC Desire.

Date specifics are yet to be confirmed but expect Android 2.3 goodness on your Desire eventually. The network was asked if 2.3 was headed to the Desire and replied with: “Yes we will but we don’t have timescales yet.” Getting the latest version of Android can make a huge difference to the speed and functionality of your phone. Expect portable Wi-Fi and remote wipe with Gingerbread, depending on whether or not Three change anything. Mobile hotspot functionality will prove particularly useful especially given Three’s all you can eat policy on data. Unlike with iOS, networks have to agree to the upgrade which mean the same phones on different networks get updated earlier than others. Statistically you are most likely to get upgraded...

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Posted in: HTC

HTC 7 Pro may be coming to Sprint this week as the Arrive

There has been a limited number of official carrier Windows Phone 7 devices (one on T-Mobile and three on AT&T), which is why I think adoption has not been that great yet. Everyone I know that has tried this new OS has been quite pleased with it and even though it isn’t perfect it is fun and fresh. Sprint has been hinting that a new phone is coming this week and all indications are that it will be the first CDMA Windows Phone 7 device, a US version of the HTC 7 Pro already available in Europe. Engadget thinks it will be called the Arrive. THe HTC 7 Pro has a 3.6 inch 480×800 display with a large side slide QWERTY keyboard. It has all the typical WP7 specs, including a 1 GHz processor, 5 megapixel camera, internal storage (8 GB in...

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Posted in: HTC

Apple planning massive battery life boost for iPhone 6?

Apple - you know the company, the one with all the silver and black expensive gadgets - is looking at the age old problem of battery performance in phones. The new technology has been uncovered in a patent by AppleInsider, which looks at increasing the power density in batteries - essentially keeping the same volume while improving the amount of juice inside. This is achieved using a "multi-step constant-current constant-voltage (CC-CV) charging technique", which is science-speak for 'more sparky, same size-y'. Battery to the Future Such steps forward are pivotal if today's smartphones are to continue on the same path of more feature rich in a thinner frame, and Apple notes that this could be used for increasing the amount of tech...

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Posted in: Apple

iPhone 6 or iPad 3 to come with 6-inch screen?

Apple is said to be working on a 6-inch device to sit somewhere between the current iPhone and iPad ranges. A "connected industry expert" has told AppleInsider that Apple intends to widen its range with a device that sits somewhere between the iPhone and the iPad size-wise, with a 6-inch display. The mystery 6-incher could be the iPad 3, which has been speculated to launch later this year, or the iPhone 6, dwarfing the current iPhone 4's 3.5-inch display. Honey, I shrunk the iPad Some industry insiders, however, are more confident that we'll see a big iPod touch than a mega iPhone or a mini iPad - particularly given Apple's critical view of smaller tablet screens. A blown-up iPod touch would fill a gap in Apple's portable device...

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Posted in: Android

Nokia X6 GSM Phone Review – Slap in Your SIM Card and Go

The unlocked Nokia X6 GSM phone is a very powerful networking and entertainment machine and boasts a 3.2 inch true widescreen touch screen capacitive display, an integrated GPS navigation system, Ovi Maps Navigation added for free, Carl Zeiss 5.0 megapixel camera and 16 GB of onboard memory. There is plenty of room for apps, videos and more, and when you get tired of the same old stuff, head over to the Ovi Store for more downloads. Nokia includes a passable stereo headset with mic, and adds several sets of comfortable gel ear pads in different sizes for just the right fit. The included headset is okay, but you will want to upgrade at some point. The display and phone front is sharp-looking, with everything clearly marked and easy to...

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Posted in: Nokia

Nokia Beat Apple, HTC and Palm et al in Eco Stakes

We all know Nokia is an eco-aware brand and is doing more than any other smartphone company out there to make sure its products are as Green and Eco-friendly as possible. So, it should come as no surprise that Nokia comes top in a new study that looks at the social and environmental impact of making and selling smartphones. That’s right, Nokia beats the likes of Apple, HTC, Palm and even Samsung in the eco stake. Read on and find out more about Nokia and its eco credentials. GoodGuide is a website set up in the US of A and by all accounts is a spin-off from the TechCrunch50 crowd. How they differ from other chart sites is that they have a rating system based on social and environmental issues. This means they take in to account the materials...

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Posted in: Nokia

Nokia will slash prices of Windows Phone devices

FINNISH PHONE MAKER Nokia is so sure that its upcoming Windows Phone handsets will sell like hotcakes that its CEO Stephen Elop has already said that it will slash prices. Nokia might not have been exhibiting at last week's Mobile World Congress, but its decision to jump into bed with Microsoft was the talk of the show, with many wondering if Elop's decision to hook up with his former employer would result in the firm releasing successful handsets. Barely a week since the announcement, Elop has said that he expects the price of Nokia handsets running Windows Phone software to reach "a very low price point", adding that Nokia has "become convinced that we can do that very quickly". Usually companies slash prices on products when they are not selling well or when trying to clear stock...

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Posted in: Nokia

White Sony Ericsson Xperia Play and HTC Desire S headed to O2 UK

O2 has announced that it would exclusively offer the white version of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play in the UK. The carrier plans to sell the new PlayStation-certified smartphone starting April, at about the same time when it will also launch the Xperia Arc. Another new Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone that’s coming soon to O2 UK is the HTC Desire S (which was announced by HTC at MWC 2011, just like Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play). O2 doesn’t say how much its upcoming Android smartphones will cost. Anyway, I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to get any of them for free if you’re willing to sign a new contract agreement, and opt for an expensive data plan.   ...

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Posted in: Sony Ericsson

Samsung Galaxy S 2 Android Gingerbread Hits T-Mobile in US ?

Galaxy S 2 Android Gingerbread smartphone from Samsung has  been revealed recently couple of days back at Mobile World Congress. Now hits with interesting news in the twitter. Samsung, the company earlier confirmed that it will certainly release Galaxy S 2 in the market on T-Mobile. However, the question arise over here is whether the smartphone comes out with T-mobile or still the talks or work in progress? This has been exactly answered by none of the companies. However, today it gives us bit idea that the device might hit T-Mobile. As information regarding release of Galaxy S2 with T-Mobile has been posted in Tweeter for small time by someone at the T-mobile. On the other hand, the Tweet was removed immediately without any explanation...

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Posted in: Samsung

Samsung plans for 20nm scale 4Gb mobile DRAM

MOBILE DRAM with 4Gb storage using 20nm process technology and a wide data transfer interface is Samsung's goal for 2013. But for now it is announcing that it has produced 1Gb mobile DRAM with a wide interface using 50nm process technology. Developed for smartphones and tablets, the 1Gb capable DRAM is said by Samsung to have four times the bandwidth of the firm's low power DDR2 DRAM that it announced last year. The 1Gb DRAM chips can transmit data at 12.8Gbps while reducing power consumption by approximately 87 per cent, Samsung claims. Samsung's wide I/O DRAM uses 512 pins for data input and output compared to the previous generation that had a maximum of 32 pins. Byungse So, SVP of memory product planning and application engineering at Samsung Electronics said, "We will continue...

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Posted in: Samsung

Samsung Epic 4G Froyo update starting right now

Samsung and Sprint are finally delivering the Android 2.2 upgrade to owners of the Epic 4G. After months of waiting and several delayed false starts, Sprint has confirmed that an over-the-air update that will move the Epic from Android 2.1 (Eclair) to version 2.2 (Froyo) is set to begin today. Epic 4G users will receive a notification to download the Froyo update at some point this week, with all users receiving the download by Friday, February 25. The update will be delivered according to a queue, so you won’t be able to use the old manual check to speed-up the process. Just be patient and hope for the best because we’ve already received word of someone getting the update. According to Sprint’s announcement, Epic users should receive...

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Posted in: Samsung

Microsoft bars some open source apps from WinPhone Marketplace

Fate of other open source softwares for Windows Phone is also uncertain Microsoft said it has stopped the sale of some open source software for Windows Phone and Xbox from its Windows Phone Marketplace. The software giant has barred apps licensed under GNU General Public License v3 (GPLv3), Affero GPLv3, and LGPLv3, and also reserved the right to exclude any equivalents of this trio, according to Windows Phone Marketplace Application Provider Agreement. The Free Software Foundation released GPLv3, Affero GPLv3, and LGPLv3 in 2007, but their use is very less as compared to GPL2, which is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU project. The agreement states that programmes "must not include software that... in whole or in part,...

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Posted in: Winphone

Hackers Allow iPad and iPhone to Control Dodgeball Game

This past week, Microsoft showed a Windows Phone 7 real-time integration with Xbox. The demo was designed to show that Microsoft could integrate their Windows Phone 7 to the Kinect and turn it into a game controller. But, if you leave it up to the hackers, they will always take it to the next level. And, that’s what they did with two very successful mobile devices, the iPhone and the iPad. The creative folks at SuperTouch took Microsoft’s concept to the next level and have demonstrated a Kinect hack that integrates the iPhone and the iPad with the Kinect. The great thing about this demonstration is that it shows a multi-dimensional experience where a group of people are playing a game using the Kinect and two iOS devices at the same...

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Posted in: Unlock or Jailbreak

Sony Ericsson 4G tablet prototype pictured

Sony Ericsson is rumoured to be working on a 4G, Android-running tablet, a prototype of which has been snapped by a Dutch blog. Hiding in plain sight, the tablet was spotted on the TDIA stand over at Mobile World Congress. The inclusion front-facing camera comes as no surprise – apparently it's a 3MP snapper – and that screen is estimated to be 6 or 7-inches. Chubby Android The TDIA representatives on the stand confirmed to NieuweMobiel.nl that it will run Android on release, although they did not specify which iteration of the OS. There are three buttons on the prototype device – home, menu and back – which are pretty standard for Android phones but most tablets these days do away with as many buttons as possible. Of course, there's...

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Posted in: Android,Sony Ericsson

Steve Jobs cancer rumors and iPhone 5, iPad 3, iPad 2 release date speculations

Steve Jobs cancer rumors and iPhone 5, iPad 3, iPad 2 release date speculations. Meanwhile it is being said that without Jobs at helm, Apple's future is uncertain. Is the future of the world’s most important technology company in jeopardy? This and other questions are being debated in the industry. Fans, tech mavens, the media and analysts are all worried after reports surfaced that Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs is battling cancer. What has taken the world with surprise is that the CEO who revolutionized the company has only six weeks to live. Since then everybody is deeply concerned with the fast deteriorating condition of the 55-year-old Jobs. However, the main problem with the story is its veracity. Apple has yet officially confirmed the report. This has only created confusion...

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Posted in: Apple

Simple Reason Why iPhone 5 Should Adopt Micro-USB....

By now, almost everyone has learned aware that the European Union (EU) has moved forward on micro-USB as battery charging standard for smartphones beginning January 2011. Nearly every major smartphone manufacturer has jumped onto the bandwagon yet only Apple still hasn't have adopted the micro-USB connector. This leaves room for speculation whether Apple will abandon its proprietary 30-pin dock connector and finally embrace micro-USB. Apple however can separately include a dock to micro-USB adapter in order to comply with the EU ruling. As it's unlikely that Apple will roll out a different iPhone with integrated micro-USB for the European market, it does sound logical the next iPhone will just feature micro-USB. It's probably in the best...

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Posted in: Apple

will iPhone 5 bring down Sprint and T-Mobile networks?

With the iPhone 4 having found its way to two of the nation’s four major cell carriers, logic dictates that it’ll find its way to the other two eventually, with the potential for an iPhone on Sprint and/or T-Mobile to be a reality as soon as the iPhone 5. This begs the question, hypothetical for now, of whether the arrival of the iPhone on the third and fourth largest U.S. cellular networks would drag down those networks. Or as one Beatweek reader put it, sarcastically: “Oh great – T-Mobile’s Blackberry users are already having trouble sending and receiving data in some cities. Now we’re going to have to compete with the ultimate bandwidth hog that’s responsible for screwing up the AT&T network (iPhone).” So is there any truth to...

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Posted in: Apple

New Android API with NFC Makes Bluetooth Pairing Obsolete

Google is making good use of NFC technology and its Software Development Kit for Android version 2.3.3 features an API for “insecure Bluetooth socket connections”. Paired with NFC technology, this API will be able to provide a tap-to-connect feature, which would render Bluetooth pairing redundant. This API can work on both the client and server sides. HP has already demonstrated the similar effects with its TouchPad tablet and Pre 3 smartphone. So, now the devices running Android 2.3.3 or later can look forward to the time where they just have to use a simple tap to interconnect and transfer data. On the other hand, Apple is also said to be busy working on enhancing NFC technology. A security analyst with Ticonderoga Securities has claimed...

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Posted in: Android

New Google Android Unveiled At Mobile World Congress 2011

Mobile World Congress News As many as 60,000 professionals gathered in Barcelona, Spain, for Mobile World Congress 2011. At least 200 different countries were represented. The unveiling of the newest generation of Google Android smartphones and tablets took place. Android had a huge footprint at the gathering. Its booth took up two floors and sported items such as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play phone that operates on Gingerbread. LG’s Optimus Pad was also highly visible. It is powered by Honeycomb. Since video games drive the market of mobile devices, the Android display had a very large section strictly devoted to the next generation of mobile games. New technology will provide the capability for smartphones and tablets to achieve the level of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Mobile World...

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Posted in: Android

Samsung Galaxy S II Tegra 2 variant ?

The Samsung Galaxy S II was, of course, unveiled at MWC last weekend. The Gingerbread touting S II comes with a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED Plus display, an 8 megapixel camera (capable of full HD), bluetooth, wi-fi and the option of 16 or 32GB of memory. All this alongside a dual-core 1GHz processor, one of Samsung’s own Exynos system-on-a-chips. However, it seems that according to Anandtech (via T3), Samsung and Nvidia also quietly let slip that they were working on a joint “superphone”. The website speculatively put two and two together, given that Samsung has listed its own processor as not being used in all regions in the S II, guessing that a Tegra 2 replacement may be on the cards for some markets. Samsung hasn’t said anything yet, and has kept this all on the sly, to avoid confusing...

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Posted in: Samsung

Samsung announces the thinnest smartphone in the whole world

Seoul. Samsung has also shown off what it says is the thinnest smartphone around - the 8.49mm thick Samsung GALAXY S II. Sony Ericsson claims the title for thinnest phone, but that is due to its curved shape - the overall thickness is wider. The dual-core Android 2.3 based smartphone also supports HSPA+ with peak download rates theoretically reaching 21Mbps on supported networks. The GALAXY S II also delivers seamless multitasking, switching between applications instantly. The Samsung GALAXY S II has been equipped with an 8MP, high-profile camera and camcorder with 1080p full HD recording and playback ...

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Posted in: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S Wi-Fi: A Replacement For The Ipod Touch ?

It seems that Samsung is taking on the iPod touch with their new device, the Galaxy S WiFi. Samsung introduced this media player at the Mobile World Congress a few days ago. It is expected for both these devices to be released this year. However there is no official word on the release date or the price. Samsung introduced two Android based media players at the Mobile World Congress, the Samsung Galaxy S Wi-Fi 4.0 and the Samsung Galaxy S Wi-Fi 5.0. Overall, these devices are just like the Galaxy S phones, the only difference being that they do not have cellular phone capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 has a 4-inch WVGA Super LCD display. It is powered by a 1GHz Hummingbird processor. It comes with a 3.2 MP rear camera with...

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Posted in: Samsung

Nokia X7-00 Leaked, Runs Symbian^3 has Four Speakers

Another Nokia phone surfaces in the wild, videos and pictures of the unannounced Nokia X7-00 have now leaked online. The report comes from SlashGear, the upcoming Nokia X7-00 runs the Symbian^3 and has four speakers which suggest that it is heavily focused on entertainment. Features of the phone include a 4-inch screen with a resolution of 360 x 480 (probably a gorilla glass like the Nokia N8). Along with four speakers the Nokia X7-00 has an 8 megapixel camera, 245MB of RAM and 450MB on onboard storage. Obviously now pricing and availability information is yet available, but check out this video. I feel it is way better than the Nokia N8 and definitely a great device for Nokia fans. ...

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Posted in: Nokia

Nokia to push out cheap Windows Phone handsets quickly

Speaking during a meeting with Finnish business journalists, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said the handset maker would produce inexpensive Windows Phone handsets quickly. The ability to produce smartphones with a very low price point was reportedly on of the key factors in selecting Microsoft as a partner for the future of the Finnish company’s mobile platform. “We have become convinced that we can do that very quickly,” Elop said during this meeting on Friday. The final agreement between Microsoft and Nokia should be inked within the next few months and Windows Phone handsets are expected by the end of the year. The initial response to Nokia’s decision to drop Symbian and adopt Microsoft Windows Phone has been mixed. The Finnish company’s...

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Posted in: Nokia

Android 3.0 Honeycomb Booting on the HTC EVO 4G

When Android Honeycomb was released it came along with notice from Google that it would be for tablets only. Since it would be opensourced, just like other versions of Android, people could do with it as they wished. They were quick to follow up that Android Ice Cream Sandwich would be coming soon for smartphones which would incorporate all of the improvements realized in Honeycomb. Shortly thereafter Google released a beta of the Honeycomb SDK -- the tool kit that developers need to write apps (or update existing ones) to work with, and take full advantage of the new OS. Along with the SDK came a Honeycomb emulator. After some hacking and slashing people in the development community were able to pull out the necessary files and build...

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Posted in: Android,HTC

HTC, INQ Mobile Facebook Phones Aim for Social Butterflies

Analysts discuss the viability of INQ Mobile's and HTC's Facebook phones, which seek to improve the Facebook experience for mobile phone users worldwide. INQ Mobile and HTC made pretty bold bets at Mobile World Congress last week when they introduced what has become to be known as Facebook phones, or handsets that provide super speedy access to the social network. To be clear, the INQ and HTC handsets won't have the actual Facebook brand and logo on the device. Rather, Facebook's presence is situated on the home screens, with the social network's features and contacts easily available to users. The INQ Cloud Touch and INQ Cloud Q handsets run Android 2.2 and provide single sign-on and one-touch access to Facebook features. The home screen includes users' Facebook News Feed and links...

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Posted in: HTC

Nokia, Samsung Take Top Spots in Good Guide's Green Phone Ranking

With mobile phones becoming ever more ubiquitous around the globe, and taking on many of the tasks previously assigned to personal computers, measuring the environmental impacts of mobiles is an urgent task. This week, the Good Guide, publishers of detailed rankings of the health, environmental and social impacts of consumer products ranging from pet food to appliances, have added mobile phones to the lists. The results of the rankings of 596 cell phones from 16 manufacturers, highlight some clear winners and losers, and also showcase how a company's overall performance can and should impact the greenness of a product. Nokia holds the crown for having the highest-ranking phones -- 26 of the top 30 models are Nokia phones -- most with...

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Posted in: Nokia,Samsung

BlackBerry App World beats Android and Nokia; Is the Apple App Store unstoppable?

IHS reports state that while Apple is still wiping the floor with the rest of the mobile market in application market sales, BlackBerry is in second place overtaking both Android and Nokia. While the battle for younger users is between the iPhone and BlackBerry handsets, these figures show that iPhone users buy and download the most applications. Though BlackBerry users in a far away second place downloading even more applications as they become available. In short, while it does not show a direct correlation between Apple and BlackBerry users and application sales through their respective application stores, it does show Apple’s dominance in the market. Granted, the Apple App Store is in clear first place with 82% of all revenue, raking...

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Posted in: Apple,BlackBerry,Nokia

Nokia: Cheap Windows Phones will reach market “very quickly”

Nokia has promised low-cost Windows Phone 7 smartphones “very quickly”, addressing concerns that the Microsoft OS would drive up prices of the Finnish company’s smartphone range. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop confirmed that “we have become convinced that we can do that very quickly” having revealed that one of Microsoft’s key messages throughout negotiations was that Windows Phones could readily hit “a very low price point.” Mobile World Congress 2011 this past week proved something of a flop for Windows Phone, with new Android devices dominating the line-ups of most manufacturers. Nokia itself has said that its first smartphones running the platform aren’t expected until later in the year, and SlashGear is hearing that carriers are responding...

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Posted in: Nokia,Winphone

Technology review : Windows Phone 7

If you’re shopping around for a new smartphone, the choice just got harder. Microsoft has come up with a revamped operating system for mobile phones, Windows Phone 7, and it’s an impressive answer to the current smartphone giants. The new OS was released in Taiwan at the end of last year and is available on two new phones from HTC, the HD7 and Mozart. Windows Phone 7 couldn’t have arrived any sooner for Microsoft, which has taken a serious beating in the smartphone race over the past four years. The software giant’s previous platform, Windows Mobile 6, fell into obscurity shortly after the iPhone and Android came out. As a touchscreen OS, Windows Mobile 6 just couldn’t compete with its frustrating keyboard, awkward interface and the...

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Posted in: Winphone

Mobile World Congress: All Out Competition

Flying back from the Mobile World Congress show, the thing that stands out the most is that mobile remains the most exciting, most competitive, and fastest changing technology market I've ever seen. I well remember the amazing changes and excitement around the birth of the PC market in the early 80s, and the Internet explosion in the late 90s, but this feels even more exciting - in part because the competition is so fierce on so many different levels. The MWC show fills the Barcelona Fira and attracts about 50,000 attendees. While that's technically only about one-third of the size of the Consumer Electronics Show, the show actually felt more crowded, and I just couldn't see half of what I would have liked to. Of course, there are lots...

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Posted in: Android,Apple,Samsung