Bing Makes Its iPhone Debut
December 24, 2009
Microsoft reaches out to Apple’s iPhone to extend Bing’s reach.
iPod + Edu Apps = Happy Students
December 23, 2009
Julio Ojeda-Zapata (twincities.com) reports that the iPod touch has taken classrooms by storm in several Minnesota K-12 schools, increasing student enthusiasm and engagement and offering new ways to teach children with special needs.
Preview of GSM UMTS smartphone Motorola Milestone DROID
December 22, 2009
“Launching Motorola DEXT (codenamed Morrison, also know as the CLIQ in the US), Motorola had a global task in mind – they were targeting the top-tier as well with their brand-new Anroid-based line-up. The first flagship device in this range they’re releasing into the wild is the Droid, although in reality this handle is employed by Verizon Wireless for a whole plethora of phones from various manufacturers they are distributing, for example, they’ll launch an HTC-branded device as “Droid” too. In Europe, though, we’ll know it as the Motorola Milestone (its original codename was Sholes), which is a very fitting name, as it’ll mark either the rebirth of the company or its complete fiasco.” Read more here:
Palm Unveils Ares, Web Based webOS Development Tool
December 22, 2009
“Palm has released the first public beta of its innovative new development tool for webOS. Called Project Ares, this new webOS development environment runs completely in a desktop browser. Its aim is to simplify and lower the entry barrier for developing webOS applications by allowing developers to code, debug and build webOS apps within a standard web browser.The web-hosted development environment features an array of developer tools including a drag-and-drop interface builder, code editor, visual javascript debugger, log viewer, framework enhancements, single click deployment on a device or emulator and built in SVN/Mecurial version source control. With this set of features interested developers can simply log in and upload a project or build a new one from scratch. Projects can be easily be uploaded and downloaded for what Palm describes as a seamless “desktop/cloud workflow.” Palm recommends that Ares users have the Mojo SDK v1.3.1 pre-installed, although it is not required.
Palm says Ares has been tested on:
* OSX: Safari 4.0+, Firefox 3.5+
* Windows: Chrome 3, 4, Firefox 3.5+, Safari 4.0+
* Linux: Firefox 3.5+
Ares will not work on:
* Chrome 4 beta for mac (Launch, other plugin-related features don’t work)
* Firefox 3.0.x
* Internet Explorer” via palminfocenter.com
Samsung’s Bada OS screenshots leak
December 21, 2009
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“One of the criticisms of the launch of Samsung’s Bada smartphone OS was that there weren’t any phones available to actually use the software on. There were barely even any images of it in action – just lots of promises of developer empowerment.But now a whole pile of screenshots have appeared of the platform, complete with menus, contacts, diallers, homescreens, messaging and media player. It’s all there. The images come from Engadget Germany, Samsung Flash and GSM Arena, hit the images tab at the top to see them all. To us, it looks like a mashup of Symbian and Android, with a little bit of the original TouchWiz UI thrown in.” via pocket-lint.com
WebOS 1.3.5 coming to CES Better performance and more app storage
December 20, 2009
“On today’s investor conference call, CEO Jon Rubinstein just confirmed that webOS 1.3.5 is coming soon and will have a bevy of improvements, including:
- Allowing for installation of more apps
- Enhances WiFi and app performance
- Improved battery life
- Increased speed and responsiveness on the Palm Pixi
We’re still listening in and hearing good things about what’s coming. Namely: Palm will showcase the Ares development platform and other developer initiatives at CES, they expect “thousands”of apps “in short order,” and they have another set of marketing initiatives that they’re planning on unleashing soon. ” Read more here:
Research in Motion Reports Third Quarter Financial Results
December 19, 2009
“Research In Motion Limited, a world leader in the mobile communications market, today reported third quarter results for the three months ended November 28, 2009 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP, except where indicated).Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 was $3.92 billion, up 11% from $3.53 billion in the previous quarter and up 41% from $2.78 billion in the same quarter of last year. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 82% for devices, 14% for service, 2% for software and 2% for other revenue. During the quarter, RIM shipped approximately 10.1 million devices, including its 75 millionth BlackBerry smartphone.Approximately 4.4 million net new BlackBerry(R) subscriber accounts were added in the quarter. At the end of the quarter, the total BlackBerry subscriber account base was approximately 36 million.”We are pleased to report record shipments of more than 10 million BlackBerry smartphones during the third quarter with higher than expected revenue, earnings and subscriber growth,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “RIM is experiencing a great start to the holiday buying season and the strong Q3 results and Q4 outlook clearly reflect the strength of our diversified product portfolio as well as the success of our efforts to expand into broader customer segments and new geographies while maintaining our strong position in North America.” Read more inside..
Camera Pro Preaches iPhone Photography
December 19, 2009
Thomas Houston (switched.com) reports that Pro photographer Chase Jarvis has created Best Camera, an iPhone app that lets you shoot, apply multiple filters and effects, and share via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, and the Best Camera photography community. In an accompanying video, Jarvis discusses mobile photography, shooting, and his new app.
At Least One Palm webOS Model Coming to Verizon
December 18, 2009
“Verizon Wireless has reportedly started training its employees on Palm’s webOS, which virtually proves that it will soon release at least one smartphone running this new operating system, and maybe more.This carrier currently offersno webOS-based devices, as Sprint has been the sole provider of both of Palm’s most recent models, the Palm Pre and Pixi, in the U.S. However, it is now asking its employees to take a 20-minute online course called “Why Palm? What is webOS?”There is no need for this training unless Verizon plans to release a device running this operating system.Since the Palm Pre debuted from Sprintthis summer, Verizon has said it’s going to offer this smartphone too, with a launch scheduled for early next year.In addition, the FCC recently approved a device that’s almost certainly a version of the Palm Pixi for Verizon Wireless. Unlike the Sprint version, this will have Wi-Fi.” via brighthand.com
iPhone Outranks Windows Mobile, BlackBerry Still King in North America
December 18, 2009
“The following lists the top smartphone operating systems by market share in the United States in October, according to research firm comScore.ComScore conducts monthly user surveys. The following list is derived from a three-month average ending in October of U.S. mobile subscribers over the age of 13. ComScore asked respondents what type of phone they own, and derived operating system information based on those responses.According to comScore’s numbers, around 36 million Americans own a smartphone, while around 196 million own a “non-smartphone” (or a device that does not feature an open operating system).These numbers represent current phone ownership at a specific point in time, rather than the total number of devices sold with a particular operating system.These numbers are the most recent available from comScore, and represent the market situation after the introduction of the Palm Pre and the iPhone 3GS. However, the Pre’s webOS operating system is not listed because the device does not yet have a large enough installed base to accurately be counted by comScore’s survey.” via fiercedeveloper.com