News

U.S. government able to track mobile phones without involving operators

Paul Mah — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:44:51 -0500

New documents made available under a Freedom of Information Act request brought additional information pertaining to the use of triggerfish technology to the foreground. Triggerfish is also known as cell-site simulators or digital analyzers. By posing as a cell tower, it is possible to use it to trick nearby phones into transmitting their serial numbers and other data, which can be used to triangulate the location of mobile phones. While earlier understanding of this technology assumes the cooperation of mobile phone operators, one of the uncovered documents explicitly noted that it can be deployed without having to "involve the cell phone provider."

For more on this story:
- check out this article from BlackBerry Cool

Mobile industry pushes for RFID payment

Paul Mah — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:25:39 -0500

The GSM Association (GSMA) has called for the adoption of RFID technology--known as Near Field Communications (NFC)--into mobile phones for the purpose of contactless payment. In a statement, GSMA chief executive Rob Conway extolled the "huge latent demand" for such services, noting that an industry-wide NFC push would be sure to reap significant gains where the economies of scale is concerned. Specifically, GSMA is pushing for the Single Wire Protocol standard to be adopted. Still, if a recent analysis by Jupiter Research is anything to go by, then one in five handsets worldwide would include the technology by 2013. Already, trials have been successfully concluded in various countries around the world, though this talk about a new mobile payment standard was actually announced more than a year ago.

To read more about this story:
- check out this article from ZDNet News

Related Article:
Mobile payment standard coming

Nokia shows off traffic monitoring application

Paul Mah — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:05:00 -0500

Despite its recent announcement to lay off 600 employees, Nokia has been hard at work cooking up the next innovation. The world's largest mobile phone maker is working together with GPS map maker Navteq--which Nokia acquired last year--to help drivers get a more accurate picture of traffic information. The idea is that real-time data can be anonymously collected by handsets equipped with GPS in order to provide up-to-date traffic information. Currently, a pilot project involving more than 10,000 handsets has already been launched in the San Francisco Bay Area. Moving ahead, this technology could really shine if it is able to react to current traffic conditions to recommend the best route for any given destination.

To read more:
- check out this article from Ars Technica

Related Article:
Nokia to lay off 600 employees

Kodak sues LG and Samsung over integrated digital cameras in phones

Paul Mah — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:47:43 -0500

Eastman Kodak Co. is taking both LG and Samsung to court over infringement of their patents relating to the integrated digital cameras in mobile phones. The company is seeking an injunction to bar the defendants from continuing to sell camera phones, as well as unspecified compensatory damages. Kodak alleges that two of its patents are violated, one involving the use of image compression and digital storage, and the other pertaining to the creation of thumbnail images to speed up the display of pictures on digital cameras. It is clear that Kodak intends to leverage its IP to the hilt in order to generate profit--even as the company's previous core business in traditional film crashed with the popularity of digital cameras. At the end of the day, the question probably boils down to nothing more than disagreements over the amount of royalty and licensing fees that Kodak is after.

To read more on the article:
- check out this article from Ars Technica

Carriers respond to uproar over price of text messages

Paul Mah — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:31:06 -0500

Remember the report we had a few months back about the increasing cost of text messaging? Well, it appears that Senator Herb Kohl sent a letter last month to the heads of the four largest wireless carriers in the United States on precisely this matter. In his letter, Kohl noted that at 160 characters per message, text messages are very small and costs little to transmit. Referring to the increasing prices for text messages, he wrote "What is particularly alarming about this industry-wide rate increase is that it does not appear to be justified by rising costs in delivering text messages."

T-Mobile didn't agree with the senator's assessment on pricing though, with president and CEO Robert Dotson contesting that the prices for text messages have actually fallen. This is because the majority of text messages are purchased as part of texting packages, which have fallen by half. Well, the validity of his claims will probably be revealed in a court of law, eventually--given the multiple lawsuits filed over the last few months over this.

For more information about the story:
- check out the article at InformationWeek

Spb Software releases Spb Wireless Monitor 3.0

Paul Mah — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:21:06 -0500

Spb Software has released the Spb Wireless Monitor 3.0 earlier this week. Formerly known as Spb GPRS Monitor, the software is a powerful solution to comprehensively monitor data connections on a Windows Mobile smartphone in order to work out actual tariffs to be paid. Article

Ballmer dismisses Google's Android

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:10:11 -0500

Microsoft's chief executive has dismissed Google's Android operating system as financially unsound. Speaking at a conference in Australia, Steve Ballmer drew parallels to himself going into a meeting with Microsoft shareholders, and announcing a new product that has no revenue model. He noted, "I'm not sure that my investors would take that very well," before claiming that this was precisely what Google is telling their investors when it comes to Android.

In addition, the Microsoft executive also pointed out that since Android was Google's first phone operating system, it is inevitable that they start out way behind. He was probably drawing upon his own experience, with Microsoft's development of its Windows Mobile operating system, when he noted that designing a phone operating system wasn't easy. Ballmer is known for his outspoken nature: Just last month, Ballmer was reported to have made uncomplimentary remarks about its partner Intel.

To read more about this story:
- check out this article from CIO.com

Nokia unveils new E-series smartphone

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:09:55 -0500

Despite recent plans to lay off some 600 employees, phone juggernaut, Nokia--with some 40 percent of the market--certainly has no plans to take things lying down. It announced the new Nokia E63 earlier today, a QWERTY-based smartphone which builds upon the success of its earlier E71 messaging device. The E63 is expected to begin shipping in the coming weeks. It is the result of research by Nokia that shows consumers want a device that will work for their work and personal lives, yet be able to separate between the two. As such, the E63 comes with the ability to switch modes between a corporate view showing corporate emails, appointments and Intranet data, and a personal mode showing pictures of friends, personal email and shortcuts to personal websites. In addition, the Nokia E63 packs closer integration with the PC world by coming with a free 1GB of online file storage that users can access directly from their phone.

To read more:
- check out this Nokia press release

Netbooks eat into Microsoft's revenues

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:09:36 -0500

Citigroup Global Markets analyst Brent Thill thinks that the drop in first-quarter earnings and revenues at Microsoft is related to the success of netbooks, or low-end laptops. In a report explicitly titled "Netbooks crash the party," Thill noted that "their sales are literally blowing the roof off any analyst's expectations." Sales of netbooks are expected to reach 11 million before the end of this year, and reach 41 million by 2012. This is phenomenal growth, considering that there were only half a million netbooks sold last year. Unfortunately for Microsoft, up to a quarter of netbooks run the Linux operating system, with the rest opting for the older--and cheaper--Windows XP Home Edition. Indeed, Microsoft has been forced to push back its planned obsolesce of the Windows XP operating system as a direct result of netbooks. Still, it is too early at this point to tell whether netbooks are cannibalizing sales of Microsoft's Vista operating system, or creating a brand new market as customers acquire netbooks as a secondary unit.

To read more on the article:
- check out this article from the Inquirer

New processor could help reduce smartphone cost

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:04:54 -0500

A new baseband processor for smartphones has been created by a company called Sandbridge Technologies. According to the company, this processor could bring down the prices of smartphones, as well as increase the pace of innovation in the mobile arena. What is unique about this processor is that it is based completely on software and hence easily reprogrammable. Also, integrating multiple functionalities into a single chip serves to bring down the cost of phones by as much as 15 percent, according to Tanuj Raja, VP of Business Development over at Sandbridge. While existing chips by Qualcomm and Broadcom already pack multiple functions into a single processor, the real differentiator in the Sandbridge processor is that its software heart means it could be quickly programmed to support new technologies like 4G wireless. Indeed, the company is confident that its chips can support 4G wireless technology--even before the respective standards are even finalized.

For more information about the story:
- check out the article at CNET News.com

Existence of Windows Mobile 6.5 confirmed

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:04:32 -0500

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave the official confirmation of the existence of Windows Mobile 6.5, while speaking at a conference in Australia this week. With no previous indication that there would be another release before the highly-anticipated Windows Mobile 7 upgrade, this came as a surprise to many in the community.

The dates were dropped at a Q&A session as Steve Ballmer responded to a question about what plans Microsoft has to stay competitive against companies such as RIM and Apple. As he highlighted the Microsoft roadmap, Ballmer said, "And with releases we'll make this year, releases we'll make with Windows Mobile 6.5 next year, Windows Mobile 7, I think we've got a pretty interesting roadmap." It should be noted that Windows Mobile 7 was originally slated for early 2009, and has been pushed back to an undetermined date.

For more on this story:
- check out this article from BetaNews

DataViz announces Documents To Go Premium for BlackBerry Smartphones

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:21:01 -0500

DataViz, maker of the Documents To Go Office-compatible suite has announced Documents To Go Premium for BlackBerry Smartphones. Besides the native Office 2007 support, a copy of its new PDF viewer "PDF To Go," will be offered as a free bonus for customers who upgrade to Documents To Go Premium Edition. Press Release

The link between Smartphones and sales of Windows PCs

Paul Mah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:36:30 -0500

Shane O'Neill has a different take on Apple's ever-increasing prices--as evidenced by the price tag on the new MacBooks, unveiled just a few weeks ago. Recent comScore data shows that even consumers below the median household income are buying into the iPhone, and O'Neill argues that folks who can only afford either a laptop or Smartphone are choosing the iPhone. He wonders whether this will be a blue Christmas for sales of Windows PCs, as a result of this below the belt sweep by Apple. Somehow, I doubt that. To me, users who opt for a Smartphone instead of a PC don't really need a PC anyway. What do you think?

To read more about this story:
- check out this article from CIO.com

Study: Half of mobile consumers intend to buy a Smartphone in the next two years

Paul Mah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:36:08 -0500

A study by The Kelsey Group says that 18.9 percent of mobile consumers in the United States are currently carrying Smartphones, with another 49.2 percent planning to get one within the next two years. The results of the study come as no surprise, as Smartphones are becoming more affordable and making "dumb phones" less appealing.

I do not, however, agree with the analysis of the source article, when it says that the way forward is via open platforms. That being said, "half of mobile consumers"--or those that want to switch to a Smartphone--is a daunting number. Even if only two-fifths of these consumers actually materialize, the effect would be to double the Smartphone market. I wonder if hackers will switch over to targeting Smartphones the way they built up botnets of zombie PCs.

To read more:
- check out this MobileCrunch article

Apple in the process of reinventing the iPod

Paul Mah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:35:43 -0500

Remember the story we ran about Apple hiring away chip-guru Mark Papermaster from IBM? Well, it appears that he will be taking over as the head of Apple's iPod group, replacing longtime Apple executive Tony Fadell, the inventor of the iPod. Now, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has made it clear that he believes the future of the mobile computer is based on the quality of its software. For that to happen, top-notch hardware will be the order of the day for the next generation of iPods. It is clear that Apple intends to leverage Papermaster's experience in designing cutting-edge, energy-efficient chips. Looking forward, and noting its P.A. Semi acquisition, Apple could manufacture its own custom chips for a lineup that others will be hard-pressed to copy.

To read more on the article:
- check out this article from CNET News.com

Will better graphics hardware result in a revitalized games market for the MacBook?

Paul Mah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:31:58 -0500

If you have been following the news recently, you would have known that Apple recently dropped its long-standing integrated Intel graphics chip set in favor of a discreet Nvidia GeForce graphics processor. The GeForce 9400M, which is currently proprietary only to Apple, promises to be twice as fast as the old Intels.

Will this move herald the dawn of gaming on Apple's MacBooks? The answer: Probably not. A number of factors cause me to cast doubt, among them is the fact that the PC games market has actually shrunk by over a third, and let's not forget the effects of piracy. Piracy drives PC and Mac publishers toward platforms that are more difficult to steal from, such as gaming consoles. Well, I suppose MacBook-toting graphics professionals can now benefit from the hardware-acceleration for Adobe's Photoshop rendering, at least.

For more information about the story:
- check out the article at TechNewsWorld

Nokia to lay off 600 employees

Paul Mah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:13:37 -0500

Things might not be so rosy over at phone-maker Nokia. The number-one handset maker in the world announced Tuesday that it plans to cut about 600 employees. Nokia cited a weakening worldwide economy and the presence of new competitors as the reason for its move. Reflecting the company's shrinking market share, hundreds of these people will come from its headquarters in Finland, and about 130 people who do long-term research at the Nokia Research Center will be shown the door as well. This announcement comes on the heels of Nokia's third quarter financial report, which showed a drop of 28 percent in earnings, and a drop of 5 percent in revenue compared to last year. The company isn't staying still either, in June Nokia announced that it will buy all of Symbian and release the platform in an open-source model.

For more about Nokia's reduction of its workforce:
- check out this article from NetworkWorld

Related Article:
Nokia to buy all of Symbian

Femtocell trials planned by AT&T later this year

Paul Mah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:09:18 -0500

AT&T will be following in the footsteps of Sprint and Verizon Wireless by testing femtocells later this year. Femtocells are tiny cell phone base stations that channel the calls through an Internet connection for improved coverage. Lab testing is ongoing at the moment. Article

Intel shows off new cooling technology for ultra-thin laptops

Paul Mah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:59:18 -0400

In anticipation of a rush of ultra-thin laptops from PC makers, Intel unveiled new cooling technology that will help ensure that these thinner models stay cool. According to the general manager of Intel's Mobile Platforms Group, Mooly Eden, current thermal design technology only focuses on keeping internal component temperature down, and pays little attention to the outside of the computer. This results in laptop hot spots that can be uncomfortably hot. By using a system of laminar air-flow technology however, it is possible to move heat off a laptop's skin. This is akin to that of a jet engine where its wall is kept cool despite heat of 1,000 degrees centigrade on the inside. As it doesn't make actual laptops, Intel will license this technology to customers so that they can make thinner laptops like the Apple MacBook Air and the Lenovo ThinkPad X300.

To read more about Intel's new cooling technology:
- check out this article from CNET News.com

Shipments of notebook processor gives Intel better-than-expected quarter

Paul Mah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:58:57 -0400

A better-than-expected quarter for chip maker Intel propelled the company's market share to 81.2 percent, compared with just 76.2 percent from the same period in 2007. According to an October 23 report from Mercury Research, Intel's performance can be attributed to its shipments of mobile processors for laptops; mobile processors outstripped that of desktops in terms of total processors moved. In contrast, competitor AMD's market share slipped to 17.7 percent from 23 percent. 2007 was a rough year for AMD, and the company's performance most likely contributed to the layoffs earlier this year.

For more:
- check out this article from eWeek

Shoot&Proof application adds legal value to photos

Paul Mah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:55:10 -0400

French developer Codasystem has announced the release of BlackBerry support for its Shoot&Proof application. The smartphone-installed software establishes the legal value of photos snapped by the built-in camera. The "when" and "where" of photos taken by the BlackBerry is recorded--a important feature for those in industries such as construction and public works, real estate, poster advertising and media. This makes the service to stand out from a plethora of similar services for publishing and sharing photos. The other platform supported at the moment appears to be Microsoft's Windows Mobile devices.

For more:
- check out this article from BlackBerryCool.com

Open-sourced Symbian questioned

Paul Mah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:52:50 -0400

Richard Windsor, a research analyst for technology and communication equipment at Nomura International, questioned whether Nokia's move to open source the Symbian platform a "win" for everyone involved. In the wake of Nokia's acquisition of Symbian Limited, the Finnish phone giant announced its plans to open source the venerable Symbian operating system.

While the move bodes well for the Symbian platform, non-Nokia licensees like Sony Ericsson will have "a massive disadvantage against Nokia," noted Windsor. One of the reasons is that its sheer volume allows Nokia to sell S60-based hardware at a staggering 40 percent lower price than its competitors. This may be the reason Sony Ericsson came up with phones based on Windows Mobile, such as the Xperia X1 Smartphone, which was unveiled earlier this year.

To read more on the issue of open sourcing the Symbian platform:
- check out this EETimes.com article

HP gets serious about netbooks, launches three new versions

Paul Mah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:47:35 -0400

Hewlett-Packard has decided to get serious about their netbook operation after its brief experiment with the Mini-Note 2133 netbook. Sporting a C7 processor from Via, HP claimed that the product was strictly targeted to "K through 12 students and some business travelers." Apparently, the sales of the 2133 exceeded expectations, and has led to the launch of the HP Mini 1000, which is available worldwide in three versions ranging from $379 to $699, starting on Wednesday.

All of them will sport Intel's Atom processor. The Mini 1000 will run Windows XP and is available in 8.9-inch or 10.2-inch screens, and costs $399 and $449, respectively. The Mini 1000 MIE will be sold for $379 and runs Linux--though it won't be available in the United States until January. The final model is also the boldest-looking one--the Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition, goes on sale in mid-December.

For more about HP's new netbooks:
- check out this article from CNET News.com

Google releases Gmail for mobile 2.0

Paul Mah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:44:41 -0400

Google has released version 2.0 of Gmail for mobile devices. Designed for devices with J2ME support and BlackBerry Smartphones, the new version is touted as faster and more reliable. Article

Testing the battery life of the new MacBook, MacBook Pro

Paul Mah — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:11:54 -0400

Macworld assistant editor Chris Holt recently got a hold of Apple's new MacBook and MacBook Pro, running them through their paces by performing a battery-drain test that involves playing a movie clip that has been ripped from a DVD. Screen brightness was set to maximum, and the movie was played at full screen. Both the 2.4GHz and 2.0GHz MacBooks lasted just over 2 hours and 30 minutes. The 2.53GHz MacBook Pro model, on the other hand, lasted 2 hours and 12 minutes, while the 2.4GHz MacBook Pro ran for 6 minutes more. Switching to the 9400M graphics option resulted in only an additional minute of runtime. Of course, Holt was quick to point out that these tests do not indicate the expected battery life for everyday tasks such as email and web browsing.

To read more on the new MacBook and MacBook Pro:
- check out this article from PC World

HP unveils two new iPAQ smartphones

Paul Mah — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:07:50 -0400

HP has announced two new smartphones: the iPAQ Data Messenger and the iPAQ Voice Messenger. Both of the new devices will run Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1, though the iPAQ Data Messenger runs the Professional Edition and will come with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, while the Voice Messenger runs the Standard Edition and come in a candy-bar form. Screen resolution is a rather standard QVGA; other hardware features includes HSPA capabilities, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.1 megapixel cameras, and microSD slots. Both smartphones are expected to debut next month on Vodafone. Neither, though, provides anything more than evolutionary updates to the hardware; it appears as if HP is still attempting to play catch-up with some of HTC's newer designs.

For more information about the new iPAQs:
- check out the article at Brighthand

The rise of application stores for mobile software

Paul Mah — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:05:23 -0400

Probably as a result of pressure from Apple's highly successful application store, the maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, Research In Motion (RIM), has unveiled an application storefront for the BlackBerry operating system. Indeed, Google also announced an Android Market earlier, which will serve as an online center for its open-source operating system. Not to be outdone, Microsoft has also been spotted posting job advertisements for new staff for a Windows Mobile related "Skymarket" service. As expected, carriers are not keen to give application developers free reign on this lucrative front. At this point however, there appears to be nothing much they can do against this inexorable trend. Principal analyst Charles Golvin at Forrester Research believes that wireless carriers can already "see the writing on the wall." The upside, of course, is carriers will still make money on their data plans.

To read more about mobile application stores:
- check out this article from CNET News

Facial rashes linked to mobile phones

Paul Mah — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:02:39 -0400

Skin experts from the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) have revealed that some heavy mobile phone users have experienced allergic reactions manifesting in a rash on and around where their handset touches their face. Published cases tell of rashes in inexplicable regions such as the ear, cheek, and even on the fingers. These cases have been linked to allergic reactions stemming from the presence of nickel, which is used during the manufacturing of the casing and keypad buttons, on mobile phones. Indeed, this is supported by a U.S. study conducted earlier this year that tested 20 phones; the study found that more than half had traces of residual nickel. Those with a known allergic reaction to nickel in jewelery should be particularly cautious. Time to get earpieces, perhaps?

To read more on allergic reaction to mobile phone:
- check out this article at The Tech Herald

Asustek has high hopes for 2009

Paul Mah — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:56:50 -0400

Taiwan's Asustek Computer, which rode to fame on its Eee PC low-cost notebook line (which also created a whole new genre called netbooks), has no plans to slow down production anytime soon. Chairman Jonney Shih hopes to increase the company's notebook output by 77 percent, and ship up to 20 million laptops next year. This will effectively propel Asustek into the top four laptop makers in the world. Already, the company is on track to ship 11.3 million units of portable computers this year. Confidence in the Asustek is strong, with company shares up 3 percent on Tuesday this week, despite a 0.3 percent drop in the benchmark index.

For more about this article:
- check out this article from eWeek

Not safer for women to chat on phone at night

Paul Mah — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:54:18 -0400

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has warned that younger women chatting on mobile phones at night are actually putting themselves at a greater risk of being mugged. A majority of women surveyed thinks it is safer; they feel they can easily call for help, not realizing help would ultimately arrive too late to prevent any violence from taking place. Article

LG showcases LCD panels with built-in privacy protection feature

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:08:44 -0400

LG Display Co Ltd. has developed an LCD panel with a viewing angle that can be dynamically adjusted from between 175-degrees to 60-degrees. The viewing-angle image control display (VIC) technology would offer privacy protection without the hassle of having to remove physical privacy filters when viewing the screen with other people.

For more on this story:
- check out this article from TechOn

Related Article:
Flexible e-ink displays coming next year

Thin-client approach by NComputing undercuts OLPC in classrooms

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:06:26 -0400

California-based NComputing announced earlier this week that they will be providing computers to some 5,000 schools in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh--dealing yet another blow to the beleaguered XO laptop by OLPC (One Laptop Per Child). NComputing adopts a thin-client approach and uses a clever combination of both hardware and software to enable a single PC to power up to 30 terminals. Users get their own display, keyboard and mouse, giving them a user experience akin to that of a dedicated terminal. The steep savings on hardware bodes well for school districts looking to give students a computing environment that is as "real world" as possible.

For more about this topic:
- check out this article from TechNewsWorld

Related Article:
Windows XP comes to OLPC

Forrester: Three-quarters of workers will be mobile by 2012

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:04:51 -0400

A new report from Forrester Research warns that enterprises are drastically underestimating the number of workers that will require some form of mobile support. The problem has to do with a growing segment of workers who might not be defined as mobile workers in the traditional sense, yet want access to corporate applications while on the go. Often called "mobile wannabes," this group is estimated at about 6 percent of all employees, but expected to jump to 25 percent as Smartphones continue to increase in prevalence, and younger, tech-savvy workers enter the workforce. At the end of the day, Forrester pegs the number of employees that will be mobile--in some capacity--at 73 percent by 2012.

To read more on this study by Forrester Research:
- check out this InformationWeek article

Related Article:
Remote workers are security conscious

Using the iPhone for learning

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:03:05 -0400

Nearly 1,000 Freshmen students at Texas' Abilene Christian University (ACU) started school with a pleasant surprise. As part of the university's pilot mobile learning project, each got to choose between a spanking new Apple iPhone 3G or iPod Touch. The idea is to fuse the traditional learning experience of the students, with ready access to the Internet for mobile learning. As such, a bundle of mobile web applications have been specifically written to help connect students through maps, news updates and campus directories. Campus email and filing systems have also been integrated with the mobile ACU portal as well.

To read more about this unique approach:
- check out this NetworkWorld article

Netbooks could prove an opportunity for Linux

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:01:28 -0400

Novell's chief technology and strategy officer for Linux thinks that the popularity of netbooks could prove an opportunity for the Linux operating system. This is because low-cost netbooks will invariably run Linux due to its lower storage footprint. Vendors selecting it will also avoid the higher licensing cost of the Windows operating system. Of course, Linux is also more easily tailored to work with unusual form factors and limited specifications, as pointed out by Ryan Paul over at Ars Technica. Unfortunately, more polishing probably needs to be done; the return rates disclosed by hardware manufacturer MSI reveals that the company's Linux-based netbooks are a staggering four times that of those with Windows installed. You can read more about the analysis here.

To read more on about Linux on netbooks:
- check out this article from PC World

Apple unveils MacBooks with multitouch trackpad and Nvidia graphics

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:55:32 -0400

As expected, Apple introduced a new line of MacBook laptops yesterday, and they are faster and slicker than their predecessors. The key innovations are its "multitouch" trackpad and thinner laptop casing, which is constructed from a single aluminum slab. Gamers will rejoice over the inclusion of a new Nvidia Geforce 9400M integrated graphics processor and more powerful 9600M GT, both of which will be exclusive to Apple for now. Apple says the 3D graphics power will be "up to five times" that of previous MacBook Pros.

The multitouch trackpad is especially interesting. The first of its kind, the trackpad is 39 percent larger and as its name implies, it sports multitouch capabilities. It has no button, though; instead, one can simply press down on the pad itself, or define parts of the trackpad to act as the button. Users will swipe and pinch by moving one to four fingers across the glass surface--which means entirely different configurations are possible.

For more on MacBook:
- check out this list of related articles
- check out the article at CNETNews.com

Its official: Touchscreen BlackBerry Storm announced

Paul Mah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:53:45 -0400

On Tuesday, Research in Motion officially unveiled the first touch-screen smartphone in its history. Known as the BlackBerry Storm, or 9500, this new BlackBerry is a 3G device and comes with a "responsive touch screen" that attempts to simulate the tactile experience of actual hardware buttons for a better experience with its on-screen keyboard. In addition, a built-in accelerometer allows a seamless transition between portrait and landscape mode. Beyond its trademark push mail capabilities, the smartphone comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera that can be used to take photos and record videos. The BlackBerry Storm will be available from Verizon sometime in November.

For more about the BlackBerry Storm:
- check out the article at ZDNet blogs

Toshiba unveils new battery that charges up to 90 percent in just 10 minutes

Paul Mah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:52:40 -0400

Toshiba has unveiled a prototype of what the company calls a super charge ion battery (SCIB), a technology that purports to enable charging of drained electronic gadgets up to 90 percent battery capacity in just 10 minutes. No mention of eventual availability was announced though, and not much else is known about the SCIB, unveiled at CEATEC 2008 in Japan. Actually, I am not sure if this is entirely new technology here; I can distinctly remember consumer electronics such as portable disc players and "Walkmans" of yesteryear touting 10 minutes "fast charge" as one of their features. Having said that, I certainly won't mind something similar for my smartphone and laptop!

To read more on this technology:
- check out this article from Engadget

New law in the EU could force iPhone redesign

Paul Mah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:49:51 -0400

The EU's 2006 Battery Directive, which originally was implemented to prevent the use of unnecessary toxins, is now being strengthened and amended under a "New Battery Directive." Essentially, all battery-powered devices that pack a power cell will be required to have batteries that can be easily removed for disposal or replacement. This makes perfect sense--users will no longer have any excuses not to properly dispose of their batteries before throwing their obsolete gadgets into the dumpster. The downside though, is that media players and mobile devices belonging to a certain company named Apple probably would not make the cut. While I personally don't think gadgets would become bulkier as a result, some redesign would certainly be in order.

To read more about the New Battery Directive:
- check out this article in The Inquirer

Symbian S60 5th Edition released

Paul Mah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:46:55 -0400

Nokia's new touch-screen phone, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, will be powered by the newly released Symbian S60 operating system, 5th Edition. Besides building upon the Internet experience of earlier editions, the S60 5th Edition adds a touch user interface and sensor technology. Other additions to the OS would be enhanced resolution support, including widescreen mode, as well as video and photo editing features. In addition, support for open-source technology was also expanded via integrated support for Open C++. If this is your cup of tea, the 5th Edition SDK and associated tools for developers can be downloaded via the Forum Nokia website.

For more on the S60 5th Edition:
- check out this InformationWeek article

T-Mobile reports heavy presales for G1 Android phone

Paul Mah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:46:12 -0400

It seems that T-Mobile has quickly run out of its initial batch of HTC G1 Android smartphones. This comes just after it began taking preorders on the heels of its late September announcement for the company's first ever Android-based phone. The carrier is now claiming that due to G1 sales being better than expected, HTC has since tripled production for launch days. Preorders will continue to be taken through October 21 to be delivered at a later date. T-Mobile has its sight set on selling between 400,000 and 500,000 devices during Q4 of this year, with plans to order as many as two million of the G1s "in the near future."

For more about this article:
- check out this article from Ars Technica

Sony unveils third generation of digital eBook Reader

Paul Mah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:23:41 -0400

Sony has unveiled its third generation of digital eBook Reader late last week. Called the PRS-700, it features a 6-inch touchscreen not present in earlier iterations. Article

Microsoft reiterates that it will not make handsets

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:13:10 -0400

Even as the first Google G1 Android phone launched and Apple looked set to sell between 10 to 12 million iPhones this year, Microsoft's group product manager for Windows Mobile, Scott Rockfeld, remained adamant that Microsoft there are "no plans to build our own phone." He added that, "Right now we're happy to share the limelight." So far, Microsoft's strategy has worked well. Fiscal year 2008 saw Microsoft's partners shipping 18 million units, up from 11 million the year before. Still, competitors like RIM are certainly ratcheting up the pressure by releasing more consumer-centric headsets. Barely two years into the market, Apple too, has managed to garner an incredible momentum, if not in absolute numbers, certainly in mindshare. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will attempt to tweak its strategy in the near future.

To read more on this topic:
- check out this article from Silicon Alley Insider

Motorola building up its team to launch into Android

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:12:25 -0400

Motorola could be readying for a major move into Google's Android platform according to reports from an Android developer approached by a headhunter to join the team. While Motorola already has 50 people on its Android team, it is working to grow that number to 350. This is a huge commitment by any measure, and shows the seriousness with which Motorola is putting on this new mobile platform. As pointed out by The Channel Wire, Motorola never managed to recapture the excitement that devices like RAZR V3 phones caused in 2004. Android, with its open sourced nature and superior web capabilities--other than the iPhone that is--might just be the ticket to really getting things moving for its mobile division again.

To read more about Motorola and Android:
- check out this TechCrunch article

IBM puts Lotus Notes onto the iPhone

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:11:37 -0400

IBM released a new software that will bring the email, calendar and contacts functionality of its flagship Lotus Notes software to the comparatively new iPhone platform. Available as a web-only application, access will be free for anyone with an existing Lotus Notes license. Despite gains by Microsoft in the area of enterprise collaboration and messaging, Lotus Notes remains popular among corporations with some 140 million licenses moved. The aspirations of Apple in the enterprise arena continue to gain slow-but-steady momentum. Already, the iPhone is able to connect to Microsoft's Exchange to access email, while mobile versions of other services, such as Salesforce's business applications, already are available on Apple's App Store.

For more on the story:
- check out this New York Times article

U.S. Congress debates the risk of developing cancer from mobile phones

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:10:12 -0400

Cancer researchers are giving their testimony to a House Subcommittee on Domestic Policy with regards to the potential dangers of mobile phone use. Calling for more research, two experts giving testimony--while agreeing that the rise in temperature caused by holding an active mobile phone beside one's head isn't significant--argue that more subtle forces could be at work. An unusual comparison with tobacco was cited. It was noted that before its link to cancer was proved, tobacco actually was thought to be safe. One of the experts, Dr. David Carpenter of the University of Albany, was more pessimistic in his outlook, warning that an epidemic of brain cancer was in the making because of "uncontrolled" use of mobile phones.

For more about this article:
- check out this article from The Register

Casio unveils ultra-high resolution LCDs

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:09:33 -0400

In what could eventually have a paradigm-changing effect on the kinds of displays that are used on mobile gadgets, Casio has unveiled the sharpest display panel ever produced. Measuring just two inches diagonally, the hyper amorphous silicon LCD manages to cram an astounding 960x540 pixel resolution, with a dot pitch of just 15.5 microns. The result is an incredibly dense display of 546 pixels per inch (PPI), which is far in excess of other displays on the market. Indeed, Casio claims that the breakthrough comes at little sacrifice to other areas; images are rendered in a complete 16.7 million colors, as well as with a 160-degree viewing arc. It will be interesting to see if such dense displays will herald the creation of previously unimagined gadgets in the future.

For more about this new LCD technology:
- check out the article at Electronista

A look at a showcase of some cool cell phone concepts

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:07:36 -0400

Crave hopped on a flight to Ceatec 2008 in Japan and reported on some really cool cell phone concepts on display there. While nothing more than wild ideas at this point, cell phones in the future might well feature disparate pieces that can be snapped together into various configurations by magnets. Article

Apple clamps down on unofficial applications

Paul Mah — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:49:23 -0400

If you've been following our report on Apple's arbitrary rejection of Alex Sokirynsky's Podcaster application, you might be interested to know that the developer has actually found a loophole in the form of an ad hoc licensing scheme originally intended for education and software testing. New licenses are created in exchange for a $10 contribution, allowing Sokirynsky to distribute his application away from the restrictions of the Apple App Store. Unfortunately, Apple has just shut Podcasters out of this unorthodox channel as well. Critics have labeled this controversial move as risky, both from a legal perspective and as a precedent in shuttering other modes of distributing software to the iPhone.

For more on the story:
- check out this AppleInsider article

iPhone traffic clogs up plans to launch the Blackberry Bold

Paul Mah — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:48:55 -0400

The reason that the Blackberry Bold has yet to launch in the United States with its exclusive carrier AT&T is because of Apple's iPhone, according to a report by the Globe and Mail. Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek wrote to clients this week noted that the iPhone lacks the data compression technology found in RIM's BlackBerry devices. The result is that a great strain has been placed on AT&T's cellular infrastructure, which resulted in a lack of resources to launch the Bold as the company tackled its iPhone-related issues. Misek said, "We believe that AT&T is now realizing that it can have up to 20 Blackberrys for every iPhone on its network." More provocatively, he also noted that "AT&T will need to spend as much as $1 billion to repair its network."

To read more on this issue:
- check out this Globe and Mail article