Archive for October, 2008:
Apple sneaks in MobileMe server updates improving iPhone experience
iPhone and iPhone 3G users with MobileMe subscriptions have been patiently waiting for Apple to get their push-email service up to par with Apple’s usually top-notch products. The struggle to find the silver lining in Apple’s MobileMe service has started to become a bit easier as Apple refines the service.
Motorola reports $397M in Q3 losses, investors’ cringing muscles too tired to do anything
Ow. Motorola’s third quarter numbers are pretty rough, reporting $7.48 billion in sales, down nearly $400 million from a $8 billion in Q2. Although mobile devices in particular were down 31% from last year to $3.1 billion, Moto has the Krave and Aura to help them out for the holidays, and potentially a social networking Android handset sometime soon. Heavy restructuring may also help Moto in the long run, but right now things look less than awesome; sub-awesome, you could say. Of course, ongoing recession fears aren’t helping anybody these days, and as a result, plans to spin off the mobile division in Q3 next year have been held off until things stabalize.
Red BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 Now Available at T-Mobile
A few weeks out now from the official launch of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220, T-Mobile has a new color up for offer. A new RED version of the new BlackBerry Flip phone is now available. Pricing and other details remain the same: $150 on a 2-year contract after rebates. So if you’d prefer a red flipper then this is the device for you.
MyBoxTone Expert takes magnifying glass to BlackBerry stats
Awhile back, BlackBerry enterprise monitoring solution, BoxTone, released a free, handy little app called myBoxTone Insight, which let BlackBerryers keep an eye on their data and voice usage, along with a bunch of other helpful stats. As a Canadian who needed to watch every kilobyte of wireless transfer for fear of ungodly overage charges, this was a good thing to have. BoxTone’s latest iteration, myBoxtTone Expert, takes things just a step higher by facilitating easy troubleshooting and corporate tech support integration.
Built right in is resolution to 20-25 common problems, like low battery and roaming coverage, as well as quick links to e-mail device information and screenshots. As a reviewer, I’m especially interested in the screenshot capability that myBoxTone Expert puts into every menu on the BlackBerry - definitely saves on cumbersome USB cables and desktop apps. These guys made a point to keep everything simple and easy to follow by showing your BlackBerry’s status via changing icon, kind of like security software you might find in your PC’s system tray. If it’s red, you’ve got issues that are blocking communication entirely, if it’s yellow you could do something to better optimize your experience, and if it’s green, everything’s hunky-dory. Right now BoxTone is mostly looking at enterprise rollouts, but expect a consumer version sometime soon, probably not costing more than $20. For a closer look, scope out this review.
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Vlingo for BlackBerry updated to version 2.0
One of my favourite apps on BlackBerry is Vlingo, which allows users to issue a variety of voice-activated commands, like Google searches, text messages, and since their latest beta, Twitter and Facebook updates. I was actually hurting a little bit once I got the Bold, since they didn’t have full support at the time, but it looks like things are running pretty smoothly on it now. The freeness helps, of course, but Vlingo is actually really great quality transcription, with only a few corrections typically needed. They’re also tacking on application launch support for Viigo, Google Maps, Facebook and Opera, which are easily some of the most frequently used bits of BlackBerry software out there. The downside is that the voice recognition is done server-side, so if you don’t have a signal, you’re in a bit a of trouble. Head over to www.vlingo.com/v2 to get started.
Microsoft Secondlight dual interface addition to Surface technology
After Microsoft Surface, the computer technology Co. takes a leap forward in the touch-sensitive table technology, introducing the Secondlight. Microsoft Secondlight projects images through the table itself – for which we have a video presentation to depict. The used dual technology identifies what is touched to the interface on the other hand and also projects that what you are working on simultaneously. This may not sound to convincing to you, and it hasn’t it to us as well – we are still trying to figure out what this concept intends to do and what are the applications that this touchscreen wonder can be used for. We will take it as that for the while we have updates on its utility. However, one thing is sure, Microsoft Secondlight will give surface touch interface technology a new direction.
Nokia E71 is in da house!
Ladies and gents, I’m glad to report that Nokia’s WOM World has lent me the Nokia E71 smartphone for two weeks. As you’ve already seen/read other reviews on the Web, my goal won’t be to compete with other folks who did their job properly. Rather I’ll try to write about my day-to-day experience with the award-winning smartphone.
The first impression is overly positive. The device is super slick, thin and fits in a hand perfectly. Keyboard is just the right size, although I’m not the right guy to talk about this as I’ve used a number of QWERTY phones in the past and my thumbs know how to deal with even the weirdest of the keyboards. On a first glance, the E71’s predecessors, E61 and E61i, have a more comfortable keys, but after typing just a few sentences, you get used to the smaller keys of the E71…
EA Mobile releases Tetris for Android; Bejeweled and Monopoly coming within days/weeks
EA Mobile is committing to the Android platform. The gaming giant has made the all time popular Tetris game available for the Google’s mobile OS. In addition, EA wowed to release Bejeweled and Monopoly Here & Now Edition during the month of November.
I won’t talk much about any of the games, as I’m sure you already know everything you need to know about each of the titles. I’ll only add that all three games rely on G1’s touchscreen to deliver great gaming experience.
Plantronics Discovery 925 Jewel has gold and diamonds all over it
A new flavor of Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth headset has been spotted at the ceremony of rewarding MOBO AWARDS in London. It’s the Plantronics Discovery 925 Jewel, which features housing from 18-kart gold and is decorated with 40 diamonds and 31 natural pearls. As expected this accessory isn’t made for an average Joe, rather it’s the tycoons and millionaires/billionaires who will want to pair their Vertu or Mobiado mobile phone with a “proper Bluetooth headset.” That being said, it’s about time we mention the price. It’s 50,000 GBP! You’ve read that correctly, that’s fifty thousand pounds!
Alternatively, if you like the weird/cool look of the Discovery 925, you can still grab the original, non-luxury model in Onyx Black, Alchemy Gold or Cerise Pink for much, much, much lower price. It’s your call…
Telus BlackBerry Storm teaser site updated
Both Verizon and Vodafone have been making a big to-do about the BlackBerry Storm, but both Canadian CDMA carriers, Bell and Telus, have been fairly quiet, despite having launched their notification pages on the announcement day just like everyone else. Well, Telus has updated their site to include a photo gallery, 360 view and some specs. Renders don’t quite do the real thing justice, but it does show that Telus is on board and ready to push RIM’s latest and greatest handset (although perhaps not with the same enthusiasm as Vodafone or Verizon).
