• 25Feb

    MetroPCS today announced the touchscreen-equipped Samsung Caliber, available today in the carrier's retail stores.  The Caliber features EVDO Rev. 0, a 3.2-inch touchscreen, full HTML browsing, microSD expansion up to 16GB, and a 3.0-megapixel camera.  It also comes with the manufacturer's TouchWiz user interface.  Pick it up for $249 at a MetroPCS store.

    The full press release can be found below.  Anyone planning on snagging one?


    Samsung Caliber (SCH-r860) Available at MetroPCS
    Advanced Touchscreen with Widget Support and Full HTML Browser For Easy Access to Applications
     
    The advanced touchscreen on the Samsung Caliber™ (SCH-r860) features Samsung’s unique TouchWiz™ interface. The TouchWiz interface incorporates specially-designed widgets that allow users to customize and personalize their phone. Users can access popular social networking applications like Facebook and MySpace by using the phones full HTML web browser and messaging features that include mobile IM and personal email. The 3.0 megapixel camera and camcorder is perfect for capturing images, while the stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology and a speakerphone make hands-free communication effortless. The Samsung Caliber offers MetroPCS applications and services including downloads, along with an array of other features to keep users connected. Additionally, the phone comes equipped with a built-in video and music player, and will support an optional external microSD up to 16GB.
     
    PRODUCTIVITY
    Samsung’s TouchWiz™ User Interface
    Customizable Widgets
    Full HTML Web Browser
    Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
    Advanced Voice Recognition
    MetroNavigator® GPS navigation system*
    Metro 411 Directory Assistance*
    MetroWEB*
     
    ENTERTAINMENT
    Text Messaging (SMS), Multimedia Messaging (MMS)
    E-mail and Mobile IM Applications*
    MP3 player and video playback camcorder
    3.0 megapixel camera
    External memory up to 16GB
     
    SPECIFICATIONS
    CDMA 1x800 MHz/1900 MHz, EVDO Rev 0, AWS Band 1700/2100 MHz
    Dimensions: 2.2” x 4.5” x 0.47” (standard battery)
    Weight: 3.74 ounces (standard battery)
    Display: 3.2” WQVGA, 262K TFT
    Standard Battery: 3.7 Volt Lithium Ion, 1080mAh
    Talk Time: Up to 4.5 hours*
    Standby Time: up to 300 hours*
     

     


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  • 25Feb

    Talk about taking the iPad name a little too far: The new iMaxi tablet sleeve was designed with... um... protection in mind. For any ladies in the reading audience, if this looks familiar to you, then you've just gotten the whole point of this accessory. The item was designed by Hip Handmaids and sells through Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade goods. (Am I missing something? When did feminine products become hip?)

    It features a vinyl outer, Velcro closure, quilted cotton interior and, yes, wings for a snug fit. The funniest part is this line from the seller's page: "It shields your iPad from all those unsightly data leaks that would make any motherboard worry!" No wait, let me retract that; this is actually the funniest (grossest?) part: The iMaxi comes in white, or white with red interior. (eww!)

    This kooky product might actually stand a chance of being a success, if only as a gag gift to poke fun at iPad lovers. The only thing stopping it is the price. ($40 is a little steep just to crack a joke, no?)

    Be warned: If you are (a) getting an iPad, and (b) have any iPhone/Apple bashers in your life with deep pockets, then (c) don't be surprised if this thing winds up on your doorstep.

    Via: iPhoneSavior, Etsy


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  • 25Feb

    Palm HQ

    Ruh roh.  A day after analysts downgraded the company's stock due to less-than-spectacular sales at Verizon, Palm has released its earnings report - and suffice to say, things aren't looking good.  In an update to its third quarter financial guidance, Palm said that customer adoption of its devices is "taking longer than expected," and order volumes are being lowered and pushed back to "future periods."  In a statement, Palm said the following:

    "...Palm expects fiscal year 2010 revenues to be well below its previously forecasted range of $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion. The company will provide more detail on its financial results during Palm's third-quarter financial results conference call currently scheduled for Thursday, March 18."

    The company remains committed to driving the Palm brand to consumers, with CEO Jon Rubinstein commenting that "our carrier partners remain committed, and we are working closely with them to increase awareness and drive sales of our differentiated Palm products."  Though a rumor was making its way around the internet yesterday regarding Verizon Wireless dropping the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus from its lineup, it was quickly debunked.  Company spokeswoman Brenda Raney told PreCentral that "Palm devices are an important part of our portfolio as more and more people enjoy both the Palm Pre Plus and the Palm Pixi Plus on the nation's most reliable network."

    Frustrating news for Palm, and for shareholders, as the company's stock has dropped 30 percent this week.  For those that own Palm devices, are you concerned about the future of the organization?

    Via PreCentral, BusinessWire


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  • 25Feb

    Apparently there has been some concern as to the performance of Flash 10.1 on Android devices (specifically the Nexus One).  Two videos have surfaced recently that have raised some questions as to Flash's ability to handle responsiveness on games, and overall battery performance on both games and streaming video.  One of the videos in question showed a Nexus One, with the leaked HTC Desire ROM, running FarmVille and displaying a lack of sensitivity to touch.  The other video demonstrated the use of several games and streaming video over an eight minute span, noting a 25% decrease in battery power in that short time.

    Adobe caught wind of these videos and posted a response on their Flash Mobile blog.  They made mention of the fact that the Nexus One with the leaked HTC Desire ROM was running an alpha version of Flash Lite and not Flash 10.1, thereby explaining the issues with the game.  Additionally, to show that Flash can be utilized without killing your battery, Mark Doherty of Adobe posted a video on Vimeo showing a Nexus One playing a 17 minute streaming video from the YouTube website, and then showing a mere 6% decrease in power over that time.  He also states that the "tests show that video can be played for well over 3Hours over WIFI from youtube".

    For additional technical details, visit the Flash Mobile Blog.  So, what do you think: Flash or HTML5?

    Via Engadget, Android and Me
    Videos: Battery Performance, FarmVille


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  • 25Feb

    Palm Pre Plus

    Update: Palm has confirmed that webOS 1.4 will be available for download tomorrow.

    Though the rumored launch date continues to be pushed back, the gang at PreCentral received a document from a tipster, complete with a changelog for webOS 1.4.  While I can't say for certain whether it's official or not, most of the updates look legitimate to me.  Check out the improvements below - and hey, here's to hoping that webOS 1.4 still launches today!  After all, we only have a few more days left in February...

    webOS 1.4 updates

    Fixes

    • Time Zone bug Fix
    • Network time sync bug fix to reflect accuratenetwork time
    • BT car-kit transition to device corrected
    • No EV-Icon bug fixed (random)
    • Random browser formatting bug fixed
    • Fixed bug that incorrectly displayed Sprint when actually was Digital Roaming

    Enhancements

    • Phonebook Transfer
    • Supports Video Capture Capability
    • Performance enhancement within phone and calendar

    Apps

    Calendar

    • Dial phone # from within a meeting event
    • Allow custom Alerts sounds for Calendar event and reminders
    • Added AM – PM detail within Calendar events

    Email

    • Embedded phone $ or email address (embedded inemail) can be easily added to Contacts app
    • New email sort options  (date, Sender, Subject)
    • Return to inbox view after send – email

    Messaging

    • Ability to forward SMS to email
    • Ability to dial phone # from SMS chat session (No need to open contact any longer
    • Press and hold on a phone # to get more options( Call, SMS)

    Universal Search now includes EAS (outlook Exchange) GAL corporate address look up.

    Application Launcher – Easier user interface providing usermore feedback during an application launch

    Pre Button in gesture area blinks when notification pending

    Added Adobe Flash 10 Beta – Palm Pre only

    Supports Flash 10 Beta – download available in Palm AppCatalog


    Via PreCentral


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  • 25Feb
    Dell's Mini 5 is an Android tablet with a phone inside. Go hands-on from Barcelona with a pre-production version of the phone.


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  • 25Feb

    When Windows Phone 7 was launched at Mobile World Congress, it was clear that Microsoft were going to be keeping a much closer eye on the way their software would be marketed and implemented on phones.  Aside from naming carrier partners, there was also mention of the disappearance of manufacturer UIs like Samsung’s TouchWiz and HTC’s Sense.

    This theme has continued with the emergence that Windows Phone 7 will be be available on just three different styles of handsets, cunningly entitled Chassis’ 1, 2 and 3 at this stage.  With this has come some information on their minimum performance specification too.

    Starting with the chassis form factors, Chassis 1 will be a touchscreen phone without a physical keyboard, presumably similar to the phone used to demo WinPho 7 at MWC.  This device is likely to be the first released and according to IGN, it will built by a PC manufacturer.  Looking back at the press conference, several PC manufacturers were listed as partners in the project, including HP, Toshiba and most interestingly, Dell.

    Chassis 2 will come with some type of keyboard, but there is some discrepancy as to whether this will be slider-mounted or fixed, as it’s described as being a slide-out, but like a Palm Treo, which has a fixed QWERTY.  Chassis 3 isn’t described, but will probably fit whichever form factor Chassis 2 doesn’t.

    All Windows Phone 7 handsets must have a minimum of 1GHz processor power and pack hardware graphics acceleration to keep things moving smoothly.  More news on the new OS is likely to come at Microsoft’s MIX10 conference next month.

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  • 25Feb

    T-Mobile corporate location

    T-Mobile today reported a fourth-quarter operating income of $1.38 billion, down from $1.57 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008.  The nation's fourth largest wireless carrier added 371,000 net subscribers in the fourth quarter, up from 77,000 losses in the third quarter of 2009.  Wireless retail postpaid churn came in at 2.5 percent, while total blended churn (combining postpaid and prepaid) was 3.3 percent.  Total data ARPU (average revenue per user) stood at $10.20 in the fourth quarter, up from $9.30 in the prior year.  At the end of the year, T-Mobile served 33.8 million subscribers, up from 32.8 million at the end of the fourth quarter in 2008.

    “T-Mobile USA delivered on two significant objectives in 2009. The first was to achieve national scale with a high-quality 3G network offering. This was realized in the fourth quarter of 2009 with more than 200 million people now covered across the country. The second was to launch our first HSPA+ market. The successful launch of T-Mobile HSPA+ in Philadelphia now serves as the model for a national roll-out of one of the fastest and most pervasive networks in the United States,” said Robert Dotson, President and CEO, T-Mobile USA.

    On a rather interesting note, contract customers comprised 79 percent of T-Mobile's total customer base at the end of 2009, compared to 82 percent at the same time in 2008.  The carrier's HSPA rollouts, combined with the new price structure of Even More and Even More Plus, will inevitably bring additional subscribers to the carrier as we move into 2010.  With the wireless market nearly saturated, individuals are either picking up a second device or hopping between wireless carriers.

    T-Mobile customer?  Potential T-Mobile customer?  Give us a shout in the comments!

     


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  • 25Feb

    Explicit apps category

    Amidst the disappointment felt by consumers over the removal of over 5,000 apps deemed inappropriate or offensive, there was a brief glimpse of hope discovered by developers in the form of a new "Explicit" category.  The addition of such a category would suggest that the recently banned apps might have a home to return to by the time all is said and done. 

    Unfortunately, this dream was short lived.  Just as quickly as the new category was discovered in the morning, it was found missing later in the day.  Apple confirmed the removal of the Explicit category via phone, but left the caller with a tiny ounce of hope, stating that while they are considering the new category in the future, "it's not going to happen anytime soon."

    For more information on the whole ordeal, check out Adriana's article.  Where do you stand with Apple's banning of apps? Sound off below!

    Via Gizmodo


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  • 25Feb

    We recently took a look at twenty of the greenest iPhone apps available. However, you don’t have to be an iPhone user to have access to great eco-friendly phone apps. You also have a lot of options if you’re an Androider.

    Here’s a look at twenty green apps for your Android handset:

    3rd Whale Mobile. This is actually a popular iPhone app, too, but the company decided to support Android as well. It offers a wealth of green information including green news, tips for sustainability and a database of green businesses in North America.

    CauseWorld. This is a phone app that lets you earn “karma points” for every store that you enter that’s part of the program. You simply walk into a store, check-in on your phone and the points add up. These points can then be used to donate to charities for specific actions. Choose the green charities, and you’re helping the earth just by continuing to do your normal shopping.

    Green Tips. As the name suggests, it’s a simple way of receiving a regular stream of green living tips on your mobile phone. These tips can teach you new green habits or just remind you to keep up with the old ones.

    Eco Buzz Widget. This green app is described as doing multiple things including delivering “the latest news on climate changes, the best organic items on the market, and which car has the best impact on the earth”. Packed with information, this looks like a great green app for Android users.

    Eco Charger. This app lets you know when your Android handset is done charging. You can immediately unplug the charger so that you aren’t draining electricity for no reason.

    Print Green. Are you interested in the niche news market of green issues and sustainability in the printing industry? If so then you can download this free app to stay up to date on that green news.

    EpiCollect. This Android app puts the lab information for some ecologists onto your mobile phone. You can participate in adding important ecological data to their labs. This is an example of a crowdsourcing information app that is designed to enhance green activism. We’re likely to see more green apps like this for all phones as crowdsourcing becomes more and more popular.

    IAmGreen. This app aims to “ecofit” your smartphone. Use it to reduce the amount of power wasted when using your mobile phone. Plus, when you download this app, a tree will be planted. This one is available for Android, iPhone and BlackBerry.

    Mobile Banking from USAA. Mobile banking is becoming increasingly popular. It’s a green activity if for no other reason, than it saves a trip to the bank. This mobile app even lets people deposit their checks using their mobile phones. This is a great example of a green finance app.

    Seasonal Harvest. Do you want to eat only those foods that are local to your environment during a certain season? This app uses your Android phone’s GPS technology to inform you what those foods are.

    Green Mileage. This simple Android app lets you easily track how far you’re driving in your car. It’s a mobile phone option for keeping track of how much gas you’re guzzling.

    Ecorio. This app isn’t available in the Android marketplace yet, because they’re still working on updating it. However, it’s a promising green app that won a huge chunk of money in the original Android Developer Challenge back in 2008. It’s designed to make it super-easy for you to track your carbon footprint using your mobile phone as well as to offset that footprint with carbon credits. Supposedly, the new updated version is going to have some exciting features; we’ll have to wait and see!

    Green Driving Gauge. Have you learned about the tricks that hyper-milers use to get better gas mileage? This green app helps you figure out how to easily implement those methods into your current driving routine.

    GreenYou. Calculate your carbon footprint using this app. That’s not all though, you can then go on to make a green plan so that you’ll reduce that footprint in your own individual way.

    The Amish. This is just a short publication about the Amish and their way of life which you can download to your Android handset. This culture of people is super-green so this could definitely be some inspiring green reading!

    iGreenCircle. This is a social network app intended to connect green-minded people to one another. It doesn’t seem to be especially popular yet, but there’s a lot of potential for something like this in the market.

    Carbon Meter. This app tracks the activities that you engage in that are friendly to the earth, such as jogging and walking. It can help provide you with an incentive to keep on behaving in a way that keeps your carbon footprint small.

    PedNav. One of the ways that you can make your carbon footprint smaller is by making sure that you use the most efficient route possible to get everything done that you need to do during the day. That’s what this app will teach you.

    Recycle Guide. If you’re using your Android handset on T-Mobile then you can get this app which shows you what, where and how to recycle a variety of different items in the UK. T-Mobile users in the US will want to look into the Green Perks app.

    PowerTutor. These are all great green apps but are you actually using too many apps on your phone? This app helps you to clearly see how much power your apps are wasting on your phone. It’s a green app to organize all of your other apps and make your phone more efficient!

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