Archive | January, 2009
Filed under: Misc, Apple Look out, world -- Apple's on the hunt for that number one spot in worldwide mobile market share! Of course, it's got like a bazillion miles to go before it gets there, but achieving that magical 1 percent is always a day worth tearing up about. According to data in a recent ABI Research study, iPhones now make up 1.1 percent of all cellphones, which is a pretty nice bump from the 0.3 percent share the original iPhone held in 2007. As expected, Nokia's still making everyone else look bad with 38.6 percent, while Samsung (16.2 percent) notched the silver and Motorola / LG tied for third with 8.3 percent apiece. Number lovers can dive into the links below for more where this came from, and feel free to dispute the facts 'til your heart's content down in comments.[Via Electronista]Apple crosses the magical 1% mark in global phone market share originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read
Filed under: Software, Android It's tough to find someone who doesn't appreciate the amenities in Opera Mini, and we have to say, that hamstrung version that hit the Android Market in November just made us yearn for the real deal. Thankfully, that waiting window has finally closed. As of today, mobile surfers can suck down the non-beta version of Opera Mini 4.2 for Android, complete with easier URL entry, upload / download support and the ability to zoom in / out on double tap and handle multimedia files. Give it a go and report back with any praises / gripes, won'tcha?[Via phonescoop]Opera Mini 4.2 escapes beta, arrives for Android originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read
Filed under: Handsets, Motorola So, there's good news and not-so-awesome news. As for the former, we've got four new Motorola handsets that look to be as good as definite. As for the latter, there's only a sliver of a chance you'll actually be interested in owning one. That said, those looking for a new dumbphone (and unwilling to wait for the bounties sure to unfold at Mobile World Congress) can have a gander at the VE465, ZN300, QA4 and VE66 Lux. Unfortunately, the only one which has bothered to show its whole self (and not just its face) is the above pictured VE465, which we already knew was on the way courtesy of the FCC. Prep your best yawn and hit the read link if you're ready for more.Motorola's VE465, ZN300, QA4 and VE66 Lux get one step closer to officialdom originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read
Filed under: Fiber Man, talk about being loved. The citizens of Madison, Wisconsin are indeed loved... at least by programming providers. Not too terribly long after Charter added in a half dozen HD channels to its lineup in the area -- and just weeks after DISH Network finally delivered HD locals to Badgerville -- along comes official word from AT&T that U-verse is also ready for consumption. Select Madison-area residents can now opt for AT&T's fiber-based TV, high-speed internet and digital phone services, and given that the provider just boosted its HD count by 30 (for free), today seems like an excellent day to mull a switch. If you're parked in Beloit, Fitchburg, Janesville, Madison, Maple Bluff, Middleton, Monona or Shorewood Hills (among other South Central Wisconsin communities), feel free to give AT&T a call and see if it's available at your domicile.[Thanks, Nik]AT&T U-Verse shows up in Madison, Wisconsin, badgers get celebratory originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read
Filed under: Handsets, Samsung, ATT, Windows Mobile, GSM, EDGE, UMTS More spy shots from the net, eh? This latest set shows what's purported to be the Propel Pro, an update to Samsung's QWERTY that launched last October. There's a more streamlined interface under the screen, including a new optical joystick that according to Boy Genius Report's source is "worthless." The Windows Mobile 6.1 device also sports 3G and a camera of unknown quality, although we expect to at least match its 1.3-megapixel predecessor. Mum's the word on price and availability.Samsung Propel Pro in the wild, caught on camera originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read
Just as expected, the T-Mobile Shadow (Shadow 2, technically, but they’re dropping the trailing number for the sake of branding and confusing the hell out of everyone) is hitting store shelves today - and it’s bringing a friend! Tagging along on the Shadow’s coattails is the Nokia 7510, which we actually expected to see last [...] Just as expected, the T-Mobile Shadow (Shadow 2, technically, but they’re dropping the trailing number for the sake of branding and confusing the hell out of everyone) is hitting store shelves today - and it’s bringing a friend! Tagging along on the Shadow’s coattails is the Nokia 7510, which we actually expected to see last week. $200 bucks and a fresh contract will get you the Shadow in “White Mint” or “Black Burgundy”, while $49.99 after rebates works out to a Nokia 7510 in “Fatal Red”, “Emerald Green” or “Espresso Brown”. Specs after the jump. Shadow II Specs: Windows Mobile 6.1 Two-letters-per-key QWERTY WiFi 2.0 Megapixel camera QVGA Display 850 MHz;900 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz 5.3 ounces, 2.1 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches Stereo Bluetooth Nokia 7510 Specs: 3 hour talk time, 12 day standby 2.0 megapixel camera (with video capture) FM Radio microSD support 850 MHz;900 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz 4.4 ounces, 1.8 x 3.6 x 0.7 inches Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0 Source[Mobilecrunch]
Filed under: Cable, New content Hot on the heels of TWC's Greensboro expansion announcement comes some official word from the carrier itself on how it'll be handling new HD rollouts in the Carolinas at large. For starters, many Raleigh-area customers received an e-mail proclaiming that 20 new high-def stations would be coming soon, though it mistakenly claims ESPN2 HD as a newcomer. At any rate, the director of digital communication at Time Warner Cable chimed in to clear things up, noting that the company is "rolling out up to 20 HD channels over the next several months, depending on the division." From the looks of things, Raleigh and Charlotte will be getting just about everything TWC has, while Greensboro, NC and Columbia, SC will receive smaller allotments. Curiously enough, the Wilmington area wasn't mentioned at all, but here's hoping they'll be on the same wave as Raleigh. For the full report from Jeff Simmermon, jump on past the break. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]Continue reading TWC gets official with HD expansion in the CarolinasTWC gets official with HD expansion in the Carolinas originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink
After word got out that Britney Spears’ next tour would be sponsored by Virgin Mobile and the Helio Ocean 2, the estimated Ocean 2 launch date finally found it’s first deadline: March 3rd, the first day of the tour. We can now confirm that the Helio Ocean 2 will be coming over 3 weeks earlier, [...] After word got out that Britney Spears’ next tour would be sponsored by Virgin Mobile and the Helio Ocean 2, the estimated Ocean 2 launch date finally found it’s first deadline: March 3rd, the first day of the tour. We can now confirm that the Helio Ocean 2 will be coming over 3 weeks earlier, launching on Helio.com on February 12. The Specs: 2.6″ QVGA Screen Optical Sensor for touchpad-like navigation Dual slider (One QWERTY, one number pad), a la the original ocean 5 hours of talk time, 10 days of standby 2GB internal storage, microSD support 2MP Camera w/ video support, night shot, and geotagging Full HTML browser with tabbed browsing Upgraded Ultimate Inbox: Threaded text messages, Google Talk Access to all the Helio services: Connect, Buddy Beacon, WHERE, HelioUP Contrary to what we’ve seen in previously leaked images, the Ocean 2 will be launching in the “red limited edition” color scheme you see above, with other colors said to be coming “later in the year”. Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware. Source[Mobilecrunch]
Casio's new Exilim FC100 is all about the speed. The sleek brushed metal digicam can capture video at up to 1000 frames per second, full-sized, 9 megapixel stills at a ridiculous 30fps and it can even slow down time itself... Casio's new Exilim FC100 is all about the speed. The sleek brushed metal digicam can capture video at up to 1000 frames per second, full-sized, 9 megapixel stills at a ridiculous 30fps and it can even slow down time itself -- the camera has a mode which shows a slo-mo version of the real world on the LCD screen so you can pick the precise moment to fire the shutter. All this for $400. Available March. Press release [Casio] See Also: Casio Crams High-Speed Shooting into Tiny Camera Body Review: Casio EX-F1 Is a Speed-Demon Snapper Source[Wired Gadget Lab]
Filed under: Verizon WirelessThings haven't been quite so rosy for some of its rivals, but it looks like Verizon is at least managing to keep its head above water for the time being, with the company now reporting that its fourth quarter earnings rose a relatively impressive 15%, which is being largely attributed to growth in its wireless and broadband units. In cold hard cash terms, that translates to a net income of $1.24 billion on $24.6 billion in revenue, which is just ever so slightly shy of the $24.76 billion analysts have been forecasting. In less positive news, however, the company says it netted just 1.4 million customer additions in the quarter, which is down from 1.5 million the previous quarter, and a full 2 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Hit up the link below for the complete rundown of the numbers.Verizon reports 15% increase in earnings, thanks wireless, broadband units originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read
LAS VEGAS -- Multi-Star International, famous for its netbooks, is showcasing a new family of all-in-one desktops at the Consumer Electronics Show. Of the product line, the Wind NetOn AE2208 (above) is the top-of-the-line system -- and boy is it... LAS VEGAS -- Multi-Star International, famous for its netbooks, is showcasing a new family of all-in-one desktops at the Consumer Electronics Show. Of the product line, the Wind NetOn AE2208 (above) is the top-of-the-line system -- and boy is it ugly. The specifications are as follows: Display: 21.6-inch widescreen; up to 1920-by-1080 resolution (full HD); optional touchscreen CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Memory: 2GB The AE2208 starts at $800 and is expected to ship second quarter of 2009, according to MSI. In terms of specifications, it sounds like a pretty decent system that offers a cheap alternative to the iMac. But boy does MSI lose in the looks department. Computers shouldn't have nipples. See Also: MSI Introduces the 'NetTop': Low-Cost, All-in-One PC MSI to Showcase Low-Powered All-in-One Desktop, Netbooks at CES ... Photo: Brian X. Chen/Wired.com Source[Wired Gadget Lab]
Unlike with the upstart HTC G1 or the Apple 3G iPhone, news that Nokia has sold a million of one of its latest phones shouldn't surprise industry watchers. But the 5800 XpressMusic device from Nokia is no ordinary phone. The... Unlike with the upstart HTC G1 or the Apple 3G iPhone, news that Nokia has sold a million of one of its latest phones shouldn't surprise industry watchers. But the 5800 XpressMusic device from Nokia is no ordinary phone. The phone is the company's first "mass-market" touchscreen device, says Nokia. Nicknamed the Nokia Tube it is also bundled with the company's 'Comes With Music' subscription service that offers one year of unlimited access to the company's music store catalog. The 5800 XpressMusic has been closely watched because of its potential to rival Apple's iTunes in popularity, especially in Europe. The phone, which sports a 3.2-inch screen, a 3.2 megapixel camera and supports Flash-based browsing for the web went on sale in October 2008 in just a few countries including Russia and Hong Kong. The 5800 XpressMusic is went on sale in UK a few days ago and is available in the US only as an unsubsidized and unlocked phone. Maybe this could spur a US telecom carrier to pick up this device for its network. See also:Nokia's Upcoming Music Phone Takes Shot At Apple Source[Wired Gadget Lab]
The promise of cloud computing is a good one — all your gadgets can be used to access all your information, all the time. Your iPhone can call up just the same files and music as your desktop machine at... The promise of cloud computing is a good one — all your gadgets can be used to access all your information, all the time. Your iPhone can call up just the same files and music as your desktop machine at home. You can go on the road with a laptop and just pull down your data from the internet. And that same data, your precious data, is secure, backed up in the ether and resistant to both disaster and your own negligence alike. The reality is far from this. There’s so much talk of “living in the cloud” that you could be forgiven for thinking it a workable solution. But there are a few big problems related to both your own hardware and the hardware of the network. Let’s take a look. The main problem is ubiquity. By definition, your most important files are the ones you need with you at all times, or at least at any time. But what if the internet connection is down? How do you get the spreadsheet from Google docs, or refer to the map in that email when you are offline? The standard scenario is that you have your connection chopped of when you’re on a plane, although I actually like the relaxing offline time of a plane ride. This is a problem, but in truth you are cut off whenever you are away from home or office. What about 3G modems? Well, they work for small data, but the networks are still too slow for shifting big files like music, photos or movies and when you get outside the Big City and its 3G coverage, you may as well be on dial-up. And war-driving for Wi-Fi is no way for the professional to work. So, say we solved the network problem. You have a netbook with a day-long battery life and a guaranteed, 24/7 connection that’s fast enough to stream HD video. We’ll dream a little here and pretend that it is also cheap and has no crazy bandwidth caps. Would this work? Maybe, but I think most people still like to have their data with them, where they can “touch” it. The cloud is nice as a backup, but if it’s the only copy of your data, it’s a little worrying not to have your own local one. Enter Google’s GDrive, which is being rumored for launch soon. The idea seems to be that you upload all of your data to Google’s servers and then use that instead of a hard-drive. This seems stupid. More likely is that you mirror your computer’s drive at Google and then changes are seamlessly copied across your various devices and the web as you make them. This keeps every gadget up to date but also means you can grab files while in an internet cafe without your own machine. Sounds dumb? There are already services that do this. I have my MacBook Pro and my hackintosh partially synced via DropBox, and I can also get those files on my iPod Touch via the internet. the problem is that I only get 2GB free, and if I pay, I can still only get 50GB. Remember how, before Gmail, you counted webmail storage space in the megabytes? I have a feeling GDrive will do the same for web storage. All your info, everywhere, all the time. Think of it as IMAP for everything. It’ll happen, and when it does, our portable gadgets will become truly useful Source[Wired Gadget Lab]
Mobile VoIP and IM service fring, one of the more popular mobile communication services around, is experimenting with porting a bunch of third-party apps to the fring client and will be announcing a number of those in the course of this year. Today, fring is launching a custom mobile-optimized Last.fm music radio add-on that brings [...] Mobile VoIP and IM service fring, one of the more popular mobile communication services around, is experimenting with porting a bunch of third-party apps to the fring client and will be announcing a number of those in the course of this year. Today, fring is launching a custom mobile-optimized Last.fm music radio add-on that brings a lot of the music recommendation service to the fring client but also integrates with the latter’s social and communication features. Fring users (also referred to as fringsters) are now able to fire up streamed music radio channels, including their own Last.fm library, tag favourites, ban disliked tracks, view album artwork and basically take their Last.fm music account mobile. In addition to getting those features into the client, fringsters can also opt to view in real-time what their contacts are currently listening to, with the help of a friends list embedded into the Last.fm add-on. Read the rest of this entry >> Crunch Network: TechCrunch obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies Source[Mobilecrunch]
Filed under: OTA, SportsAustralia's Channel Ten has been known to snag some pretty enticing sporting events in the past, but all that will pale in comparison to a new channel launching next year. Yes, Aussies -- in mere months, you'll have the pleasure of enjoying a free-to-air 24-hour sports channel in glorious high-definition. For those not paying attention, you should also know that Ten has thrown down winning bids to show US NBA basketball, US Major League Baseball and the US Open golf tournament (among other events). There's no set time frame for launch outside of sometime in '09, but worst case scenario, you've got just over 13 months to wait.Australia's Network Ten to launch 24-hour HD sports channel in 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Comments Off