| Clamcase iPad keyboard case review Posted: 14 Feb 2011 10:25 AM PST We know you've been on pins and needles since we cleared up some of the confusion regarding the Clamcase, but a review unit finally landed on our doorstep to put through the paces. If you need a refresher, this was one of the earliest iPad keyboard cases to be introduced, but has only started shipping recently after some manufacturing woes. We've had sometime to put this baby through the paces so read past the break for the lowdown. Design & Build Quality Early product renders showed the Clamcase with a glossy black finish, but the final shipping product has a matte enclosure. We actually prefer it, though we think a soft touch coating would've been a bit nicer than straight up plastic. Closed, the Clamcase very much resembles a laptop, albeit one with a smaller footprint than Apple currently offers (notice we didn't say thinner). The unit is split into a bottom part that houses all the electronics and a top part where you insert your iPad. The hinge that connects both pieces is the other main design element, and seems to be pretty sturdy from our non-scientific tests. Since you can use the case in 'laptop mode' or as a folio, the hinge is pretty important, and can be contorted to any angle possible.  Inserting the iPad is as easy as aligning the edges, and the fit seems to be secure and tight. Removing it requires a bit of force as well as some fidgeting to make sure all the edges get freed. We have a small possible concern in that the mechanism for holding the iPad securely in place is a lip that actually digs into the small line between the silver iPad enclosure and black iPad bezel (see photo above). It's very minor -- and could just have been this instant -- but something to keep in mind if you plan on constantly inserting and removing it from the Clamcase. We should also mention that the Clamcase itself weighs in at 1.8-pounds, which is more than the actual iPad, and together weighs more than both the 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air models. Friends who picked up the device noticed the weight immediately, and to be frank it could be a dealbreaker for many. If there's no weight advantage provided by this, why use it over a traditional laptop? You've also got to keep in mind that with the iPad 2 seemingly around the corner it likely won't fit in Clamcase V1, so that's another fundamental issue right there. Keyboard  The meat and potatoes of the Clamcase is the keyboard itself, as that's the real reason you'd want one of these. We appreciate that the Clamcase guys tried to make the keyboard as wide as possible without adding more width to the iPad itself, but to be quite honest it feels cramped. We initially found typing to be a bit awkward, but we certainly improved with some practice. Other friends we consulted agreed that the keys are just far too small and spaces way too close together. Part of the problem is that there's just not enough space between the keys, so you could find yourself accidentally triggering neighboring letters. Quality wise, the keyboard feels cheap and that's really unacceptable for a product whose main purpose is to make typing better. Don't get us wrong, we typed faster on this than on the virtual keyboard, but there's only a small amount of travel to the keys and the click is only moderately satisfying. Being nitpicky, some of the keys appear to be a little slanted and the key labels are somewhat sloppily placed. Our biggest issue was with the space bar, which just seems far too small and not far down enough. We don't understand the constraint, especially given that there's no trackpad to take up space below.  On the upside, however, there's a row of convenience keys above the numbers that do add some welcomed features. There are home, lock, and search keys as well as volume controls, play/pause, and fast forward. You can also cut, copy, and paste, and activate the Slideshow feature with a single click -- but more on that in a bit. The keyboard also has some other standard keys such as control, option, and Fn that don't do much on the iPad. While it's true you can use it as a standard Bluetooth keyboard for any device, we can't imagine anyone besides an iPad owner buying this, and feel that this space could've been used more effectively. You can use familiar cut, copy, and paste shortcuts on the keyboard, but there are already dedicated keys for performing these functions. Usability & Impressions We typed the entirety of this review using the Clamcase in a variety of use cases and have found scenarios where it's both most useful and highly clunky. The most interesting aspect of using it is that unlike laptops, most of the weight is in the top part where the iPad itself sits. This made it a bit frustrating to use on a couch, as any time we moved our hands from the palm rest the weight of the screen would pull it backward. This problem didn't exist when using it on a table, and the hinge did a good job of keeping the screen in place though. The other interesting thing about using the Clamcase is just how much it tries to aesthetically transform your iPad into an actual computer. This sounds great in theory, but we found ourselves searching for the trackpad on more than one occasion. iOS was really designed for direct input from your finger, so pretty much anything besides text input requires you to interface with the iPad screen itself. This isn't something you realize when using the iPad in your lap, but just imagine if your laptop didn't have a trackpad and instead had a touchscreen. It reminds us a little bit of this particular slide that was shown during Apple's Back to the Mac event: constantly lifting your finger to interact is a major annoyance. The perfect example of this conundrum can be seen when trying to copy and paste text. While there are dedicated keys for performing these functions, you've still got to use your finger to select the text, and at that point you don't even need the key to do so.  In addition to keyboard mode, you can flip the keyboard all the way around back and use it as a regular tablet case, but for that kind of use it's really unacceptable the amount of heft it adds. Not to mention the fact that you will have to power it down to avoid accidental input, and possibly even damaging the keyboard itself. You need two hands to hold the iPad + Clamcase together comfortably, and even at that point it's still seriously heavy. On top of this, fingers grasping the case will inevitably activate keys accidentally, so you've got to remember to power down the device if you're using it in tablet mode. This reminds us of another qualm with the hardware -- the lack of a power toggle. Instead there's a key in the upper right corner that handles powering the unit on and off, but there's not even a status light or any feedback other than the Bluetooth icon activating on the iPad screen. We would've much preferred a switch that would more quickly indicate the power status -- and more quickly toggle it -- and a battery meter would've been nice too.  Wrap-up The Clamcase is a decent offering in terms of iPad keyboard cases, but the amount of heft it adds for the limited functionality it brings makes it seem a whole lot better in theory than in reality. We won't be making this our primary iPad case, but for those times when you know you'll need a keyboard, the real thing certainly beats the virtual alternative. For students looking to use an iPad in class rather than lugging around a full-sized laptop, we could see this being a real hit if it was lighter and had a better keyboard -- but we still don't think the iPad is a good enough laptop replacement. Friends we showed the device to agreed that typing was difficult and that the weight gain was a problem. We'll probably keep waiting for the perfect iPad keyboard case to call our own, but if you don't have the patience to do the same you may want to give the Clamcase a shot. |
| Marvell announces 1.2GHz UMTS / TD-SCMA chip 'world phone' solution and Kinoma platform for Android (video) Posted: 14 Feb 2011 10:16 AM PST Claiming to be the "world's first" single chip solution with 3G UMTS and China's fave TD-SCDMA (with HSPA support), Marvell's using its MWC 2011 time to unveil the PXA978 chip with 1.2GHz clockspeeds and a 40nm size. Alongside that, the company's announced Kinoma Play as a barebones, no-nonsense platform with Android underneath the skin. A developer SDK is in the works, and if you're so inclined, video and press releases are after the break. Rest assured, we'll be swinging by Marvell's booth this week to see it for ourselves. Show full PR text
Marvell Announces First 'World Phone' Single Chip Solution: 3G TD-SCDMA Baseband Combining High Performance 1.2 GHz Application Processor with Advanced 3D Graphics and 1080p Multimedia
Marvell's new single chip solution runs on the Kinoma Platform combining unprecedented
hardware and software capabilities aimed at billions of smartphone and tablet users around the globe
BARCELONA, Spain (Feb. 14, 2011) - Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL), a worldwide leader in integrated silicon solutions, continues to build on its heritage of mobile communications innovations with the announcement of its world phone platform based on the Marvell® PXA978 communications processor with Marvell HSPA modem. Marvell's PXA978 is the industry's first single-chip solution to feature 3G UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and China's TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) standard with HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) support and is intended to enable mobile developers to design 3G cellular devices and tablets that can be used and supported globally.
"The quest to deliver seamless connectivity on a global scale requires fundamental breakthroughs in mobile telephony. I'm very proud of our engineering teams for continuously delivering some of the most innovative technologies in our industry. It's truly amazing that a tiny chip like the PXA978 integrates both 3G and TD-SCDMA basebands, a powerful application processor, all advanced 3D graphics capability, with a very low-power profile and affordable cost structure ideal for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets," said Weili Dai, Marvell's Co-Founder. "With the addition of Kinoma's elegant and intuitive software experience and integration of cutting-edge mobile technologies, Marvell has enabled the entire ecosystem – in both its depth and breadth – to convert conventional cell phones into multi-functional mobile gadgets ideal for gaming, video chatting, live news, and more. This small device has the potential to make a huge impact on our world. I envision that a true world phone will transform the global economy by lowering the cost and barriers to entry for billions more consumers and innovators."
Unlike current technology on the market, the Marvell world phone development platform is the world's first and only available solution of its kind featuring R7 3G UMTS and TD-SCDMA with HSPA. Additionally, the platform will feature the industry's first Mobile MIMO, Avastar™ 88W8797, an 802.11n 2x2 dual-band Wi-Fi SoC designed to support high data rates for next-generation mobile devices. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) no longer need to design separate development platforms to accommodate different wireless standards and target markets around the world, saving months of design time and cost. Instead, they can focus on creating a wide portfolio of 3G UMTS supported phones that can be used globally with other UMTS carriers worldwide – all based on a single development platform.
China Mobile, the world's largest carrier with more than 500 million subscribers, recently reported that there are currently more than 18 million TD-SCDMA users in China. With that number expected to grow exponentially, Marvell's world phone platform based handsets will provide wireless handset OEMs with a wireless phone platform designed to deliver unmatched performance and addresses the rapidly expanding requirements of one of the world's largest populations.
Marvell's PXA978 single chip solution uses advanced 40nm process technology and is designed to deliver 3G TD-SCDMA baseband combining high performance 1.2 GHz application processor with advanced 3D graphics and 1080p multimedia, ensuring a feature-rich, fast and exceptionally smooth user experience. Additionally, the processor's extremely high power efficiency and true multitasking capabilities is intended to enable OEMs to design mobile devices that represent a significant leap beyond today's most advanced smartphone and tablet devices. The platform will support all leading OS platforms.
Marvell will demonstrate the newest version of Kinoma Play in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress (Courtyard CY15). For those unable to see Kinoma Play in person, a video showing the speed, elegance, and simplicity of Kinoma Play is available on the Marvell web site.
Marvell Introduces Kinoma– Revolutionary Open Software Platform to Unify Applications
Simple, elegant, intuitive and lightening fast user experience will debut at Mobile World Congress
BARCELONA, Spain, (Feb. 14, 2011) - Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL), a worldwide leader in integrated silicon solutions, today announced the Kinoma®, a software platform that will dramatically transform the way consumers interact with the devices that fuel their digital lives. Kinoma is a new foundation for creating and delivering fast, simple user experiences for an unprecedented range of devices. Through its recent acquisition of Kinoma, a visionary creator of mobile media software, Marvell now offers an experience and solution that is fully integrated from silicon to applications, creating new opportunities for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and manufacturers while freeing developers from traditional restraints.
"We are living in an exciting world of proliferating electronic devices. They are becoming a key part of our lives. More than ever consumers demand great ease-of-use and seamless connectivity across all these devices," said Weili Dai, Marvell's Co-Founder. "I am very excited to bring the talented Kinoma team to Marvell – it is our mission to coherently integrate our industry-leading hardware solutions with beautiful software experiences to enable the entire ecosystem to address this emerging demand. The addition of Kinoma– a simple, intuitive, easy to use software experience optimized for Marvell's total silicon solutions – provides a unified look and feel across an array of products from handheld devices to smart appliances and smart furnishings. It gives designers and developers the freedom to dream up more innovative, personalized, and intelligent products and applications that I believe will change the world by making consumers' lives easier and more convenient. That's our passion."
The newest version of Kinoma Play is the first product built on Kinoma. Featuring an elegant, touch-friendly design coupled with lightning fast speed, Kinoma Play shows how the Kinoma delivers a seamlessly integrated user experience. Combining 40 applications, ranging from social networking to digital media to location to search, Kinoma Play offers consumers a simple, consistent user experience for work and play.
To encourage broad industry adoption, Marvell will offer Kinoma under an open source license. Developers will be able to adapt Kinoma for any device they can imagine. Marvell will also provide two software development kits (SDKs). The first SDK is for application developers to fully integrate their content and services into Kinoma powered devices. The second SDK is for OEMs and manufacturers to port and customize Kinoma for their products.
"As digital devices have become more powerful, creating the software to power them has become increasingly difficult," said Peter Hoddie, vice president of the Kinoma Platform at Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. "Kinoma makes it easier for developers to bring their ideas to life. Kinoma lets developers focus on creating great applications with thoughtfully refined user experiences that taps into the full power of the underlying hardware. We want to make life better for developers, so they can craft the products that make life better for our users."
"Kinoma delivers on the promise so many companies are chasing – a thoughtfully designed, beautiful user interface that enhances user experience," said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies. "The capabilities of this platform are crucial for creating a new class of connected devices with a simple, consistent user experience and access to the content they need, no matter where they are."
Marvell will demonstrate the newest version of Kinoma Play in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress (Courtyard CY15). For those unable to see Kinoma Play in person, a video showing the speed, elegance, and simplicity of Kinoma Play is available on the Marvell web site.
Marvell will announce further information on developing with Kinoma and licensing in the coming weeks.
About Marvell
Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) is a world leader in the development of storage, communications and consumer silicon solutions. Marvell's diverse product portfolio includes switching, transceiver, communications controller, wireless and storage solutions that power the entire communications infrastructure, including enterprise, metro, home and storage networking. As used in this release, the term "Marvell" refers to Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and its subsidiaries. For more information, visit Marvell.com.
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Marvell, the M logo and Kinoma are registered trademarks of Marvell and/or its affiliates. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
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| Reminder: Vote for the 2010 Engadget Awards! Posted: 14 Feb 2011 10:10 AM PST The nominations are in, the picks have been sorted, and now it's time for you, the reader, to help us judge the best in tech from 2010! We've put together a long, long list of the top selections below -- all we ask is that you cast your vote for the gadgets nearest and dearest to your hearts. Votes will be tallied until Monday February 20th, 11:59PM EDT. Hit up the link right here to vote. No cheating. We can see you. |
| Filmmaker says Motorola's Super Bowl ad bears some striking similarities to his short film Posted: 14 Feb 2011 09:54 AM PST  He's not going as far as to say that Motorola (or its ad agency) blatantly swiped his idea, but L.A.-based filmmaker Mike Sarrow thinks that the company's recent Super Bowl ad bears a few too many similarities to one of his short films to simply let slip by without a comment. That film, "Do Not Disconnect," was shot back in 2009 (and shopped around for a few years prior), and involves a world filled with "drones" wearing white earbuds who are oblivious to the real world around them and incapable of human interaction. Now, that in and of itself obviously isn't the most original of ideas, but Sarrow notes that there a few "striking" similarities beyond the general concept between the ad and his short film, particularly when it comes to the ending (which we won't spoil for you here). Contrary to what you might think, however, Sparrow isn't seeking any compensation from Motorola (or even an attribution), he just wants people to see his film and make up their own mind. Judge for yourself after the break.
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| T-Mobile Galaxy S 4G hands-on Posted: 14 Feb 2011 09:48 AM PST What do you get when you gently massage HSPA+ support and a front-facing camera for video calling into a Vibrant's backside using technology, science, and a selection of essential oils? Well, you get a Galaxy S 4G -- and in the case of Samsung's US-focused event this evening here at MWC, you get a Galaxy S 4G on orange crushed velvet. The phone feels exactly like a Vibrant -- thin, but still almost ridiculously light for its size -- and looks exactly the same from the front. Like a mullet, though, it's the back where the Galaxy S 4G starts to party: T-Mobile's switched up the cheap-looking gloss black plastic on the Vibrant for a trick gray optical effect battery cover that seems to shimmer as you move it around. Definitely a step up, and it'll let the T-Mobile enthusiasts around you know that you mean business. Follow the break for our quick hands-on video! |
| The iPhone nano to forgo local storage? Common sense says 'no' Posted: 14 Feb 2011 09:44 AM PST Well, MWC is in full swing, where folks like LG, Samsung, Sony, and Nokia are pouring their souls out in front of us in device form. So, naturally, the rumors are swirling about... the iPhone nano. In a followup to the Wall Street Journal's big story, Cult of Mac is claiming some additional inside info from a source with a "great track record." The main idea is that the iPhone nano would rely on the cloud to such an extent that the device wouldn't really have any local storage to speak of, outside of a streaming buffer. This would of course go hand in hand with a MobileMe / Lala-powered streaming music service, and result in significant component cost savings (flash memory is still pretty spendy). While this sounds like a beautiful dream, it doesn't make much sense in 2011. Streaming all your music and other media over a capped 3G connection doesn't sound very consumer-friendly, and there are still plenty of situations where having a nice offline stash of music is a lifesaver. But there's a bigger problem: where do you put your apps without local storage? Android's historic shortage of app storage really bit it in the ass, and we doubt Apple wants to go down that route. Sure, we can see a 4GB or so ultracheap device, with a heavy reliance on streaming media (many people get most of their music from Pandora these days, anyways), but a memory-free iPhone just doesn't sound feasible at this point in time. |
| Droid Bionic and HTC Merge hit Best Buy website, accessories galore Posted: 14 Feb 2011 09:33 AM PST Prices and release dates for the HTC Merge and Droid Bionic are still eluding us at the moment, but we have at least found a place where you can load up with add-ons. Best Buy's mobile accessories site is listing both phones, complete with pictures, and while there's no information provided about the handsets themselves, this certainly would seem to point to a release in the very near future. Oh, and if you had any doubts these handsets would be compatible with the many and myriad Bluetooth headsets on offer at BBY, you need worry no more. [Thanks, Matt] |
| NXTBee enables long-distance wireless for Mindstorms NXT, funny little RC cars (video) Posted: 14 Feb 2011 09:21 AM PST Lego Mindstorms NXT is robotic democratization, DIY designing for the everyman, but being stuck with only Bluetooth or IR wireless can put a bit of a damper on your egalitarian goals. No more. Dexter industries (who previously brought us solar-powered Mindstorms) has created the NXTBee, which uses the an Xbee radio to send data much further: 300 feet for the base $55 NXTBee, up to a mile if you opt for the $78 NXTBee-PRO. You'll probably need two of the things, though, so make sure you budget appropriately. There's definitely some lag evident in the video of a long-range RC car below, but we're not sure if that's the wireless or the machine itself. Regardless, that's surely a design challenge that won't stop you from having fun with this one. |
| Sierra Wireless intros dual-carrier HSPA+ / LTE AirCard 753S and 754S, with 319U and 320U in tow Posted: 14 Feb 2011 09:02 AM PST Thanks to Verizon's blowout at CES, we've already been treated to a couple of LTE-friendly mobile hotspots from the likes of Samsung and Novatel Wireless, but Sierra Wireless is joining the crowd here at Mobile World Congress. The outfit has just revealed its two newest mobile hotpots, the AirCard 754S and 753S. The former supports dual-carrier LTE, while the latter handles dual-carrier HSPA+, enabling up to five WiFi devices to surf on either of the fastest two mobile superhighways. We're told that the 753S can hit downlink rates as high as 42Mbps (and upload rates near 5.76Mbps) on a DC-HSPA+ network, while the 754S can reach 100Mbps (down) / 50Mbps (up) while operating on an LTE network. Both of these are right around the size of a deck of cards, and no software installation is required to get 'em working. There's also an integrated LCD that provides a look at WiFi access information, battery life, network signal strength, and the number of devices connected, with audible alerts and a web admin interface available as well. The duo is expected to ship at some point during 2011's second quarter, but there's no news yet on which (if any) carriers will be picking them up. Moving right along, Canada's own Telus will be offering yet another new one from Sierra Wireless this March: the AirCard 319U USB modem, a device we recently spotted in the FCC's database. This one promises download speeds of up to 42Mbps and upload speeds approaching 5.76Mbps, with a swiveling design that allows the body of the modem to be tucked up against the side of the notebook and protects it from being damaged by accidental bumps. The LTE-friendly AirCard 320U is the USB version of the 754S hotspot shown above, with an articulating and pivoting hinge that works with the widest possible variety of USB port placements, and if all goes well, it'll ship during Q2 2011 for an undisclosed rate. Sierra plans on having Mac and PC support for the whole lot, and we'll be digging for details surrounding price and availability. |
| Humans had a good run: Watson to debut on Jeopardy tonight Posted: 14 Feb 2011 08:50 AM PST Today, tomorrow, and the 16th are the fateful days: IBM's Watson supercomputer will go head to head with Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings in this silly, human-devised game we call Jeopardy. It promises to be some kickass TV, at the very least, and a historic event if Watson can prevail over his fleshy competition. The two matches, which are being spread over the three days, were pre-taped, so Ken, Brad, Alex and Watson already know the outcome, but they've done a pretty good job of keeping the secret so far. Hopefully they can keep mum until 7pm-ish this evening (check your local listings for a specific time). Need something to keep you occupied until then? Check out the great Esquire feature on Ken Jennings at the More Coverage link below. Oh, and don't miss our coverage of last month's preview match. |
| Advent Vega finally gets its Flash Player Posted: 14 Feb 2011 08:41 AM PST  The Advent Vega tablet shipped late last year but quickly had its Flash Player pulled due to a little spat with Adobe about certifications. Now that's been fixed and this 10.1-inch, Android 2.2 and Tegra 2-powered slab can finally take off its mask and show us what it can do. If you're an owner, get yourself the 1.09 software update on the other end of the source link below. |
| Sonim XP3300 Force claims insane ruggedness, longest talk time in the world Posted: 14 Feb 2011 08:30 AM PST Sonim, purveyors of insanely overbuilt handsets that are virtually guaranteed to survive far longer than you, is back at it again at MWC this year with the XP3300 Force. Though it looks a lot like the models that have come before it, the Force has a unique claim: it alleges to offer the longest talk time of any cellphone in the world at 20 to 24 hours, which can be traded in for 20 to 24 hours of continuous GPS tracking, along with 800 hours of standby. Sonim hangs on to its ruggedness chops by casting the Force in a fiberglass shell with 1.5 millimeters of Gorilla Glass over the display, all adding up to an IP-68-rated device that can withstand a two-meter drop onto concrete, two meters of submersion in wastewater (yes, not water, but wastewater), and temperatures ranging from 20 below zero to 55 degrees Celsius (-4 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit). Pricing and availability are yet to be announced; follow the break for the full press release. Show full PR text SONIM LAUNCHES THE XP3300 FORCE − A MOBILE PHONE WITH THE LONGEST TALK TIME IN THE WORLD
Ultra-Rugged GSM Phone Designed for Mobile Resource Management (MRM) Applications in Vertical Industries
Barcelona, Spain – Mobile World Congress – February 14th, 2011 −Sonim Technologies today announces the Sonim XP3300 FORCE (http://www.sonimtech.com/products/xp3300force.php) GSM mobile phone, an ultra-rugged MRM-ready handset designed to help enterprises and government organizations locate, track and manage mobile workers, their tasks and assets. Built on lessons learned from serving half a million customers with the toughest jobs on earth, some who work 16 hour shifts, Sonim's XP3300 FORCE helps maximize workforce efficiency, minimize downtime and enhance safety in industries such as transportation, logistics and utilities.
"The XP3300 FORCE takes Sonim's legendary ruggedness to the enterprise segment," said Bob Plaschke, CEO of Sonim Technologies. "There's no question it's a power tool of communications. We continue to dream up new ways that showcase how Sonim's handsets stretch the limits of phone engineering such as:
• submerging it in an antifreeze mixture (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYbxs6CQJAk);
• dropping it from 30 meters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zFhuJ2evvU);
• casting it in concrete (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9369639.stm)."
WORKFORCE EFFICIENCY
With the XP3300 FORCE, Sonim's objective is to help companies with mobile workforces reduce operating costs, increase productivity, improve customer satisfaction and ensure employee safety. The handset has professional-grade Assisted GPS that delivers highly accurate locations and faster location fixes due to the excellent signal sensitivity. With 20 to 24 hours of talk time or GPS tracking time of up to 26 hours with MRM applications (at 5 minute location update intervals), the XP3300 FORCE has the power to work through the long 16-hour shifts endured by Sonim users. The 2 MP camera with a bright LED flash and digital zoom captures critical job site information. Sonim has further improved the reliability, speed and available memory for JAVA applications and the Sonim JAVA Application Manager (JAM) store will offer a range of pre-tested and certified third party workforce management applications for download. The handset is a quad band GSM unit with GPRS and EDGE data capability.
The MRM applications being integrated with the Sonim XP3300 FORCE offer workforce location monitoring, fleet tracking, monitoring, timecard reporting, real-time work order updates, alerts, job scheduling, event confirmation, data collection and reports. "Integration and field testing is underway with some of the world's leading MRM application providers, who have recognized the XP3300 FORCE as the ideal rugged MRM phone," said Sanjay Jhawar, VP/GM of Marketing and Applications.
A software revision for the XP3300 will be released following final MRM field-testing and the following will be commercially certified and available in Q2 2011:
• mComet from Actsoft: www.actsoft.com
• Timecard from Econz Wireless: www.econz.com
• Track & Trace from Spotmaster: www.spotmaster.com
• TimeTrack from Xora: www.xora.com
Other applications for the XP3300 include an Opera Mini® browser and City Cruiser® navigation. NoteVault, a voice note transcription and project-reporting tool specifically for the construction industry, is also available. Subscription fees will apply for NoteVault and MRM applications. Enterprise application developers can register at www.sonimdevelopers.com.
RUGGEDNESS TO MINIMIZE DOWNTIME
Sonim's Rugged Performance Standards Certified (RPS) surpass the military specifications for ruggedness.
Even wastewater 2 meters deep is no challenge for this IP-68 rated, water and dust proof handset, which can also be dropped from 2 meters onto concrete. The 2 inch high-resolution display is protected by a class-leading 1.5 mm thick Corning® Gorilla® Glass lens for the highest scratch and shock resistance. Sonim has added a fiberglass mix to the phone's housing to give users the confidence to truly take it anywhere. The phone is certified against salt, fog, humidity, transport shock, and thermal shock and operates in temperatures ranging from -20ËšC to +55ËšC.
SAFETY
The Sonim XP3300 FORCE enhances the worker's safety by enabling calls under the worst conditions. The phone features strong antenna performance, the industry's longest talk time of 20 to 24 hours and 800 hours of standby time, an active noise canceling microphone, and loud audio with a 23mm speaker, protected by a GORE® protective vent. Enhanced usability with widely-spaced keys for ease of use with gloved hands and a higher resolution display with good outdoor visibility also contribute to dependability that saves lives.
Rugged and reliable, the XP3300 FORCE is backed by Sonim's 3-Year Comprehensive Warranty.
ABOUT SONIM TECHNOLOGIES
Sonim Technologies (www.sonimtech.com) is the provider of the world's most rugged, water-submersible mobile phones designed specifically for workers in challenging outdoor and industrial environments. Sonim's industry-leading three-year comprehensive warranty has redefined customer expectations of rugged technology. Sonim provides a suite of high-performance workforce management applications including push-to-talk and lone worker safety services on cellular networks. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California and offers its products in over 50 countries. |
| Acer Iconia Smart hands-on (video) Posted: 14 Feb 2011 08:07 AM PST Well, would you look at what finally powered on! Yep, Acer's brought its 4.8-inch phone / tablet to MWC, and not only is it finally ready to show off that beautiful 1024 x 480-resolution display but it also gave it a real name -- it's now the Iconia Smart. For those of you who aren't familiar with Acer's "100 percent phone, 100 percent tablet" that was introduced back in November, it packs a Snapdragon processor, Android 2.3, and is said to be coming to a US carrier sometime in April. Now that we're all up to speed on the details, we're ready to tell you that the device is a pretty cool one. It's obviously going to be for those with big pockets -- it's one long phone -- but the high resolution 4.8-inch widescreen panel makes it incredibly unique and nice for viewing pictures and movies. The actual feel of the phone is quite good -- it's made primarily of plastic, but the border surrounding the display seemed to be made out of some sort of metal. As we note in the video, the four buttons look as if they are flush with the bezel, but they're actually fairly stiff physical buttons. So, how's the software? Naturally Acer's taken to skinning Gingerbread a bit here -- there's an assortment of Acer widgets as well as that retooled homescreen you're seeing in the picture above. That said, we actually like Acer's neat webpage and media carousel widget. Hit the break for a short hands-on video.
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| Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 preview (video) Posted: 14 Feb 2011 07:08 AM PST Well, would you look at what we found chilling at Samsung's booth here at MWC? Yep, it's that Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 we heard about just the other day, and it's one interesting tablet / media player hybrid. We'd be inclined to call this thing a Streak 5 or Acer 4.8 Iconia competitor, but it doesn't have a trace of cellular or 3G connectivity. We were, however, able to confirm what it does have -- it packs a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, a 800 x 480-resolution display, a 5 megapixel camera with a flash, and a 2500mAH battery. On the software front, it runs Android 2.2 (although it will be upgradable to Gingerbread) and TouchWiz. Oh, and it has the full suite of Google applications (YouTube, Gmail, Google Chat, etc.) and access to the Market. So, what's it like? Well, it looks like an enlarged Galaxy Player (or what is now known as the Galaxy S WiFi 4.0), which really means it looks like Galaxy S smartphone and the Galaxy Tab mashup. The white slippery back clearly looks like our Sprint Galaxy Tab, but the thinner design and rounded edges remind us of a Vibrant or Fascinate. It's really a very "Samsung" device, and we don't mean that in a bad way -- the plastic build feels pretty solid and the screen seemed very high quality. As for performance, it seemed fairly quick and a preloaded video played rather smoothly. We wish we had more information on when this one was going to land stateside, but a rep on hand would only tell us that it will be hitting Korea this month and other countries soon. Check the break for a short hands-on look at this guy and the galleries below for some close up shots.
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| Microsoft Rally Ball demo shows Windows Phone 7, Kinect, Xbox Live living in perfect harmony (video) Posted: 14 Feb 2011 06:41 AM PST Though it's billed strictly as a technology demo -- not something we'll necessarily see in any imminent over-the-air update -- Microsoft showed off a pretty cool demo of how Windows Phone 7's Xbox Live integration could take advantage of Kinect down the road at Steve Ballmer's MWC keynote today. How, you ask? Using the Rally Ball game, a Windows Phone user was shown tossing balls to an on-screen character that's controlled by someone else on an Xbox using a Kinect. Simple, yes -- but perhaps as interesting as the Kinect aspect is the viability of real-time cross-platform gaming that Microsoft seems to be throwing its support behind. Seems like a good way to torture your friends into working out from thousands of miles away, doesn't it? Update: We have a video of this in action after the break! |
| Windows Phone 7's multitasking uses zoomed-out cards to check on your apps Posted: 14 Feb 2011 06:37 AM PST Want to know how the eventual, inevitable implementation of app multitasking on Windows Phone 7 will look? Wonder no longer: it's cards, which seems to be the way a lot of guys are going after webOS showed how to do it right a couple years back, and it looks hot. To see this in action on WP7, simply hold the back button and you'll get a card-like view of all running apps. Pick your app and you're back where you left off in that one. You can multitask even in games, have Slacker playing in the background, and if you press a volume button while on the home screen you'll get a quickie interface for changing track, pausing, and playing. Microsoft indicated it didn't previously allow for third-party multitasking due to battery life concerns, but those concerns have been mitigated -- somehow. We're not sure of the API-level details that's letting all this magic happen, but we'll look for those later. All we know right know is that it looks great and we can't wait to try it out for ourselves. |
| Microsoft shows off WP7's future with multitasking, Twitter integration, and IE9, all coming this year Posted: 14 Feb 2011 06:09 AM PST We've just barely begun to get ready with Steve Ballmer's keynote at MWC 2011, yet the company's Twitter and press feeds just scooped its main man. It's confirmed that Windows Phone 7 is getting multitasking for third-party apps and a suite of other updates, including Twitter integration and IE9 Mobile. We're still waiting on details on the multitasking, but the company has confirmed a "new wave of multitasking applications" in this next release, though hopefully that means open to all. Twitter will be integrated into the People Hub, so you can get your real-time "what's for dinner" updates right there. And, of course, Microsoft confirmed IE9 is coming. It'll deliver a "dramatically enhanced web browser experience" thanks to graphics and hardware acceleration that'll make the most of what your handset has to offer. Sounds tasty to us. We're told to expect the update in " early March," which isn't that far away at all. Show full PR text Microsoft Shows New Features and Future Direction as Momentum Builds for Windows Phone 7
BARCELONA, Spain – Feb. 14, 2011 – Microsoft today kicked off Mobile World Congress by giving people a glimpse of what the rest of the year will bring for Windows Phone 7. Among the updates are several new features, a booming app marketplace, and the integration of even more Microsoft products with the phone.
A concrete example of the company's vision is the new strategic partnership with Nokia. "This partnership will combine the strengths of our two companies, and fuel our growth as we build the global Windows Phone ecosystem. This is a great win for us, for Nokia, and for our existing and new customers around the world," said Andy Lees, president of Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business.
New Windows Phone Features & Apps
"...A year ago, we introduced Windows Phone 7 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. We described how we are putting the entire muscle of our company behind our mobile strategy including Windows, Windows Live, Bing, Zune, Xbox LIVE, Office, SharePoint, Exchange, and our developer tools," Lees said. "Our alliance with Nokia creates opportunities for both companies far beyond what we could achieve separately, and offers a compelling alternative to the existing choices for consumers, mobile operators and developers."
The first goal with Windows Phone 7, Lees said, was to deliver a uniquely delightful customer experience. And the results, as provided by Windows Phone 7 users, show that the overall experience is great. "So far we've had a fantastic reaction from customers, with a 93 percent customer satisfaction rate and nine out of 10 customers saying they are likely to recommend [the phone] to someone else," Lees said. "All of this contributed to Nokia choosing us. And with this partnership, we are taking another big step toward driving global scale, reach and impact."
Microsoft announced several new Windows Phone 7 features coming in 2011, including a "dramatically enhanced" browser experience based on Internet Explorer 9; additional multitasking capabilities; support for Microsoft Office documents in the cloud; and the addition of Twitter to the People Hub. The expanded capabilities announced today include:
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Copy and paste functionality via first major update, coming in the next month
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Twitter integration directly into the People Hub in 2011
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Support for Office documents in the cloud in 2011
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Dramatically enhanced Web browser experience based on IE9 in 2011
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A new wave of multitasking applications in 2011
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Targeting significant volume of Nokia Windows Phones in 2012
Microsoft sold 2 million phone licenses in Windows Phone 7's first two months, and the phone is now available from 60 mobile operators in 30 countries around the world, Lees said. As phone availability and sales grow, so too does the app marketplace – there are now more than 8,000 apps in the marketplace and 28,000 registered developers.
In addition, the phone will be available soon on U.S. networks such as Verizon and Sprint, he said. Also, with an expanded feature set, more capabilities, and new partnerships like the one just announced with Nokia, the Windows Phone 7 platform is positioned to scale up rapidly.
First Mile Point in the Marathon
With the bang of a starting gun firing last fall, Windows Phone 7 launched itself into the mobile race. It's a race that Microsoft leaders are quick to point out is not a sprint, but a marathon – and one that's just begun.
"We're in the race – it's not a sprint but we are certainly gaining momentum and we're in it for the long run," said Achim Berg, a corporate vice president in Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business and Marketing Group. "We know we have tough competition, and this is a completely new product. Our design is different, our platform is different, our customer experience is different, and our long-term strategy for earning widespread adoption is different."
Over the next year, the company will continue to work with third parties on phone innovation and will add new features and apps that customers want and that make using Windows Phone 7 a "delightful experience." Microsoft also will work to engage more of the nearly 80 percent of worldwide phone users who are not using a smart phone, said JP Wollersheim, a Windows Phone 7 product manager.
A Different Kind of Phone
It was just two and a half years ago that Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 team came together with a single mission: to go back to the drawing board to create a completely new Windows Phone, to rethink and smarten up the smart phone, and to create a device that successfully integrated many favorite Microsoft products into one device – Bing, Windows LIVE, Xbox and Office, among others.
"For the first time, Microsoft has actually collected all of those great products and put them on a device with a screen that's 480x800," said Wollersheim. "It's always been about being different. Because we were starting fresh, from the ground up, we were able to look at what our competitors were doing, look at their issues and work through their experiences, and design something better."
Wollersheim said Microsoft built a smarter smart phone that focuses on user experience, integrates experiences rather than launching separate apps for tasks, gives information at a glance, and "allows you to have things happen on your behalf."
One example of how deep thinking about the mobile phone experience translated into a feature is the Windows Phone 7 camera. Each device has a camera button on the side and can instantly take a photo, even if the phone is locked, rather than the user having to miss the moment while scrambling to unlock the phone and open a camera app.
It's just one of many thoughtful details that make the phone different, and Wollersheim said that is largely why people are so "jazzed" with their new phones.
"You don't sell phones if people aren't happy. That's the leading indicator of where we're at, and it's predictive as to how many we're going to eventually sell," Wollersheim said. "We want it to sell, and we want customers to be super happy, and we want them to tell their friends and family. That's the best recommendation you could have." |
| Windows Phone 7 update with copy and paste, CDMA support coming in 'early March' Posted: 14 Feb 2011 06:07 AM PST Though he wouldn't give an exact date, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer whittled down the availability window for the company's first big update to Windows Phone 7 at his keynote address to the crowds gathered at Mobile World Congress today. The latest message is that it'll be available in "early March," which puts us precious few weeks away -- more or less on track with what we'd been anticipating -- bringing support for CDMA radios, copy and paste, and performance improvements. Hopefully that clears the way for the 7 Pro on Sprint, eh? |
| Live from Steve Ballmer's MWC 2011 keynote! Posted: 14 Feb 2011 05:43 AM PST 4:54PM And that's a wrap! 4:54PM "I thank you for the chance to speak with you today and I hope you enjoy the rest of Mobile World Congress." 4:53PM "Should be a great year for our company and our industry." 4:53PM "We have a lot of energy, optimism, and a sense of tremendous opportunity for everyone who participates in the wp7 ecosystem, and of course for every consumer that buys a Windows Phone." 4:53PM Also rehearsing the earlier announcements, Twitter integration, hardware acceleration, etc. 4:52PM Repeats that WP7 will be the most operator-friendly platform. 4:52PM "Not just good for Nokia, good for all of our partners." 4:52PM "Nokia's support with help Windows Phone overall." 4:51PM Warm applause and Stephen leaves the stage for Steve to return. 4:51PM Echoed a lot of what was said at Nokia's Friday event. 4:51PM "Nokia contributes things like operator billing" that are not available in other ecosystems. 4:51PM "Microsoft has a very modern collection of tools to help developers." 4:50PM "Unquestionably the most operator-friendly ecosystem today." 4:50PM "We understand what it means to be friendly to operators." 4:50PM Offers, and allows more choice to consumers, which is important. 4:50PM "Our belief that it is good news for operators." 4:49PM "To ensure that we deliver products that are more competitive, which of course is what it's all about." 4:49PM The third point of symmetry is in services, Nokia bringing mapping and other services, which melded with Msft's stuff forms that "third ecosystem." 4:49PM "A second point of symmetry" relates to their similar scale and global reach. 4:48PM "Between the two of us, we have the understanding of what it takes to take it even further" down the price range. 4:48PM "Nokia brings iconic hardware, incredible industrial design." 4:48PM "Microsoft and Nokia together represent a natural partnership. People are getting it." 4:47PM "A battle of devices shifting to a war of ecosystems." 4:47PM "It's truly a pleasure to address you here today." 4:47PM Stephen Elop introduced to the stage. 4:47PM It'll help consumers get new choices, fresh hardware, more services. 4:46PM Nokia's input will "accelerate the adoption of the Windows Phone platform." 4:46PM Ovi Maps integration in Bing services will be used everywhere - pc, phone, tv, wherever Bing goes. 4:46PM "We're sure from that base that Nokia will be able to deliver absolutely phenomenal Nokia (he stressed that word) Windows Phone." 4:45PM Microsoft is providing its powerful Windows Phone platform and its backend services, Nokia has a lot of strengths, like camera and sensor technology, broad, very efficient supply chain capabilities. 4:45PM "On Friday, we announced a very important new partnership with Nokia." 4:44PM He urges that innovation shouldn't lead to fragmentation for the consumer. 4:44PM WP7 will only thrive with scale, says Steve. 4:44PM "We're off to a strong start. We know we've got a lot of work." 4:43PM Over 1 million software devs have downloaded the Windows Visual Studio dev kit. 4:43PM "Still a lot of work to do, but today, four months after WP7 shipped, users can pick from 8000 applications." 4:43PM "We saw more applications on day one for Windows Phone than any other phone introduced at the time." 4:42PM Operators, too, have been important enough for him to name the majority of them -- Orange, Telefonica, Vodafone, etc. 4:42PM He namedropped all of Msft's current partners, saying they're "critical" to the success the platform has had so far. 4:41PM Users today aren't just picking a phone, says Steve, "they're choosing a platform." 4:41PM Steve Ballmer has returned after Joe left the stage to a round of applause. 4:41PM The flurry of balls looked terribly laggy, actually. 4:41PM Woah, they're bombarding him. 4:40PM The lady on the couch is controlling the balls that the standing Kinect player has to deal with. Looks slick. 4:40PM Xbox Live Kinect Windows Phone companion. 4:40PM "We're gonna show you a video now of real code, not a mockup video, that gives a tech preview of Windows Phone working as a companion to Kinect." 4:39PM Xbox Live and Kinect mentioned together.. what? 4:39PM "All of these features that I've described will be coming in a free update in 2011 to all Windows Phone 7 users." 4:38PM Today, if you exit the Slacker app, music would stop, but on his super-futuristic updated WP7 phone, it's still jingling along. 4:38PM Third-party multitasking, wehey! 4:37PM Joe's launched Slacker and is now playing some music for us. 4:37PM Joe got himself a chuckle by showing that you can multitask between two games. 4:36PM You access it by pressing and holding Back. And guess what, you get card previews of your last apps used. 4:36PM Task switcher! 4:35PM When he pushes Back to get back to the app, he gets back to it without having to wait. 4:35PM "But with multitasking, the user gets an instant resume to the game." 4:35PM Joe has loaded up "Rise of Glory" and is noting that resuming this game if you want to make a phone call takes quite a while, up to as much as 10 seconds. 4:34PM And now, evidently, Microsoft has figured out how to do it without sapping your cell. 4:34PM Saying multitasking isn't in WP7 because of battery life concerns. 4:33PM "Later on this year" is again repeated as the delivery time for the update. 4:33PM Let's give Joe the benefit of the doubt. 4:33PM Streaming HD video would be playing if we had a web connection. 4:32PM HTML5's native support for video is being touted. Erm, sounds to us like Flash isn't going to be part of this upcoming IE9 update. 4:32PM Still, the WP7 experience looks very smooth indeed, just as Joe says. 4:31PM The iPhone is chugging. Not exactly the fairest test, we all know GPUs handle multimedia much better than CPUs. 4:30PM Uh oh, iPhone 4 shows up with the current build of Safari. No hardware acceleration. 4:30PM "When website developers create a site, if it works well on the PC, it'll work well on the phone." 4:30PM "The same core browsing engine" will be on phones as is on the PC. 4:30PM Ooh, here it is on Windows Phone! 4:29PM Here comes a demo vid of IE9 performance. It's that familiar fish test along with hardware acceleration-friendly web pages. 4:28PM What we're about to see is the same hardware acceleration on phone as well as on the PC. 4:28PM IE9 on the PC has "fantastic standard support," including HTML5, CSS, Canvas, etc. 4:28PM "We will have support for IE9 on Windows Phone in our update later this year." 4:27PM "Instant and easy, no app download, no extra sign-in." 4:27PM Looks and acts quite a bit like Dropbox. 4:26PM Entering Joe's skydrive didn't require a login because he's already logged in on his WP7 device. 4:26PM "Over 70 million who are using SkyDrive." 4:25PM Ah, good to know that this will come to current users as well as prospective future handsets. 4:25PM "Update we'll making available later this year to all WP7 users." 4:25PM Here comes the "unfinished code" part of the demo, yay! 4:24PM The "what's new" feed is up on show, our buddy Aaron Woodman showed up on the list. 4:23PM We feel so proud. We've clogged up the airwaves! 4:23PM Hah, it did! 4:22PM Ooh, he's trying to connect to the internet, let's see if it fails. 4:22PM History lesson about "glance and go" continues. 4:22PM We've got like 6 different reviews of these handsets. 4:21PM Can someone please email Steve while he's off stage and show him our WP7 reviews? 4:21PM Deep integration of Facebook and Windows Live throughout the WP7 services. Oh, "we call these Live Tiles" ... yes, Joe, we know. 4:20PM He just took a picture of the front row, it looks pretty horrible. 4:20PM This is a great pitch -- here's our old stuff, not as good as the upcoming new stuff. 4:19PM Joe's recapping the "current Windows Phone 7 product" that we should all apparently go out and buy. 4:18PM Joe Belfiore coming right up to demo the new goodness. 4:18PM In 2011, it'll be "fully" integration into the hubs experience, just like Facebook has been already. 4:18PM Twitter integration coming to all these hubs! 4:18PM And Games, our favorite hub, and its Xbox Live integration get a mention. 4:17PM Music + Video. "Drags in music information from the cloud and integrates other music and video applications." You can sate all your musical needs without having to launch a special app. 4:17PM Pictures Hub. Honestly, can someone tell Steve we've seen Windows Phone 7 before? 4:16PM It's integrated into the Office Hub on WP7. 4:16PM "Customers are already taking advantage of this ability as consumers to roam information among friends through the clouds" via the OneNote app. 4:16PM Hah, "keep your team moving along even if you are *dramatic pause* I don't know, sitting at a keynote at MWC." 4:15PM The Office Hub brings together those applications for "the productive side of life." 4:15PM The People Hub, all your social contacts and interactivity options. Hey, didn't we get this demo last year? 4:14PM "We love our apps. We love our services. But it's often hard to find what you want." App discoverability is important, yes, but have hubs really helped with that? 4:14PM "A single integrates experience." 4:14PM The second emphasis point for WPhone: hubs. 4:13PM Sounds nice. 4:13PM "Later this year, we're gonna release a version of IE9 complete with graphics and other hardware acceleration to the Windows Phone." 4:13PM "This past September we released the beta version of Internet Explorer 9 for the PC." It became a release candidate on Thursday. 4:12PM The full internet, he says, does that mean Flash? 4:12PM 2011, he said, but nothing more specific. 4:12PM Multitasking coming "in the near future!" 4:12PM "We're gonna help customers move between their many applications very easily and very quickly." 4:11PM That was an example of voice-activated searching in Bing on Windows Phone 7. Why did nobody else laugh? It was funny. 4:11PM "Phone! How do I find coffee?" 4:10PM Little jab at the iPhone and Android there, not surprising. 4:10PM In describing the pre-WP7 situation: "Good phones, but all filled with a sea of icons." 4:09PM It's about "completing tasks more easily." Well, no kidding, Steve. What else you got? 4:09PM Smart design and hubs are the two pivotal topics he's about to start on. Smart design first. 4:09PM "Great products are really defined by the passion and the loyalty that they inspire from the people who've gone out and purchased them." Sounds like Symbian fans to us, hah! 4:08PM "93% of customers are delighted with their Windows Phones." 4:08PM "We knew from the reaction that we got here at MWC last year that we were on a right path." 4:07PM He promises to discuss how Microsoft will build its platform with its "new *and* old partners." 4:07PM "2011 will be at least as fast-paced, if not more so, as 2010." First mention of Nokia as well. 4:06PM That first WP7 update will be delivered "in just a few weeks, in early March." 4:06PM Now he's going through the chronology of developing and bringing WP7 to devices. 4:06PM "The past year has been very fast-paced." 4:05PM "Touch, feel and experience." That made us smile. 4:05PM Bing, Office, Xbox Live, Facebook, he's just rattling off features. 4:05PM "Windows Phone 7 was really more than the launch of a single new product." 4:04PM Hands on hips. "The last year has certainly seen a lot of change for our industry." 4:04PM And now, a hush. Here comes Steve Ballmer. 4:04PM The music's getting livelier and louder, but there are still no humans on stage. 4:02PM Lights coming down... 3:58PM Our MiFi is holding up fine, thanks for asking. We've also got a half dozen redundancy plans as well, including sending Myriam Joire out with handwritten missives, but let's hope we won't have to resort to them. 3:56PM The WiFi at this event is completely dead, by the way. As it has been at every event this year. 3:54PM Scratch that, the music just turned extremely lounge-y. And not even a classy hotel, more like a two-star hovel on the side streets of London. Can you tell we're bored yet? 3:51PM Now they're bringing flutes into it, Microsoft sure is setting a classical stage for itself. Think there'll be any news worthy of such a setup? 3:47PM Three screens behind a vast stage and soothing violin music. We're ready... to be rocked? Woo! Developers! Yeah! Synergy! Steve Ballmer is sure to bring his characteristic enthusiasm to another MWC keynote, though this one should be quite a bit different from the same presentation this time last year. Microsoft is no longer just talking about Windows Phone 7, it's shipping it all around the world, and now it has a major new partner in the form of the world's foremost smartphone seller, Nokia. Stephen Elop might still be around central Barcelona and drop by for a chat, but we suspect Microsoft will have some more goodies up its sleeve. Join us after the break as we liveblog every second of it. |
| Acer Liquid mt hands-on (video) Posted: 14 Feb 2011 04:51 AM PST The Acer Liquid mt, everybody! Oh come on, don't be such snobs, so what if it only has an 800MHz CPU, a humble 3.6-inch screen and standard 800 x 480 resolution? It's a pocketable and delightfully rotund little device, and Acer's added a couple of tweaks that we actually found quite useful. The biggest is a part of Acer's skin atop Android 2.2, which is set to be upgraded to Gingerbread "soon," a boilerplate promise with any device not running Google's latest. The Liquid mt offers multiple lock screens, allowing you to do things like control media and check your messaging inbox without having to unlock the phone and enter an app. It's a pretty sweet implementation, as is the simulated page-turning unlocking animation. The handset's rear features a 5 megapixel autofocus camera and the stainless backplate that gives it its name (mt standing for "metal"), but its top is most intriguing -- it has multiple status lights integrated under the metallic surface, which light up to give you alerts for things like low battery status or unread messages. Check out more of this handset in the gallery below. Update: Now with added video sauce.
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| T-Mobile G-Slate hands-on: yep, it's an LG Optimus Pad Posted: 14 Feb 2011 04:19 AM PST In case there was any lingering doubt in your mind, we can now definitely confirm -- having just played with it -- that the G-Slate that'll be going on sale shortly from T-Mobile in the States is a dead ringer for the Optimus Pad officially unveiled here at MWC this week. We just posted our impressions on that bad boy a few minutes ago, so let's go over the few differences: first off, there's a tastefully small T-Mobile logo silkscreened toward one side of the back (and thankfully, no logo whatsoever on front). As software goes, the only customizations include a utility to activate the tablet on T-Mobile's network along with the standard My Device app that users of T-Mobile's other Android hardware will be familiar with; the carrier tells us it'll be making some additional announcements revolving around media and content partnerships closer to launch (tablets are good for reading and watching things, don't you know), but they don't have anything ready to unveil just yet. That's literally it -- other than those minor details, customers on both sides of the pond are going to be enjoying the same 3D-capturing Honeycomb action with this one. See the full gallery below! |
| SmartQ announces Ten, an Android tablet packing IPS display with piezoelectric touchscreen Posted: 14 Feb 2011 03:58 AM PST OK, before y'all haters state the obvious in the comments below, there's actually something noteworthy about this familiar-looking Chinese slate. What we have here is the SmartQ Ten (or T10, as referenced above), a forthcoming Froyo tablet that'll feature a juicy Cortex-A9 chip plus a Mali 400 GPU, as well as 512MB RAM and a 9.7-inch 1024 x 768 IPS display. This wouldn't be the first Android device to get the IPS goodness, though, as its predecessor R10 -- launched with Android 2.1 and a 720MHz processor back in December -- also has the same LCD panel within a seemingly identical form factor. In fact, we stumbled upon an R10 earlier today, and the prettiness of the screen did surprise us. But what really sells the Ten is its piezoelectric touchscreen, which supports multitouch input even with non-conductive objects like the old school styli. This means said tablet can achieve light transmittance similar to its capacitive touchscreen counterparts but using cheaper parts, as well as having point-input precision similar to those with resistive touchscreens but with better screen clarity. Alas, no date or price has been announced for the Ten just yet, nor do we know if it'll get Honeycomb in the future, but price it right and it might still get some love. |
| Qualcomm ships dual-mode Gobi3000 WWAN chip, intros LTE / HSPA+ chipsets galore Posted: 14 Feb 2011 03:35 AM PST  Qualcomm just refined the term "blowout" here at Mobile World Congress. It's obviously a critical show for the wireless supplier, and while the 2.5GHz Snapdragon CPU is the undisputed highlight, there's quite a bit of chipset action worth paying attention to if you'd prefer that your next handset / mobile hotspot be capable of handling the world's most advanced network technologies. First off, there's the Gobi3000 modules, which Qualcomm just announced were shipping en masse. Compared to the Gobi2000 that has been infiltrating laptops and MiFi devices for the past year, this one doubles the HSPA downlink speed and enhances the Gobi common application programming interface (API) functionality for enterprise applications. The design supports single-mode (UMTS) and multi-mode designs (CDMA / UMTS), and should be popping up soon in devices from Huawei, Novatel Wireless, Option, Sierra Wireless and ZTE. Next up are the MDM9625 and MDM9225 chipsets, which are designed to support LTE data rates as high as 150Mbps within mobile broadband devices. These guys are fabricated using the 28nm technology node, and are backwards compatible with previous generations of LTE and other wireless broadband standards, giving consumers using USB modems powered by the MDM9625 or MDM9225 chipsets an uninterrupted broadband data connection on nearly any network around the world. These are being launched alongside the MDM9615 and MDM8215, which are similar chips designed to support multi-mode LTE and dual-carrier HSPA+, respectively. As for the MDM8225? That's being released today to support HSPA+ Release 9 (the latest version, obviously), which will support 84Mbps on the downslope (not to mention dual-carrier HSUPA operation) and should fit into at least a couple of T-Mobile USA devices by 2012. Finally, Qualcomm has nailed down a deal that'll enable all future Snapdragon-powered Android devices to "have access to instant streaming of TV shows and movies from Netflix." Just sounds like a pre-loaded installation to us, but hey, we'll take all the optimization we can get when it comes to streaming video on the mobile. |
| LG Optimus Pad priced at €999 in Germany Posted: 14 Feb 2011 03:26 AM PST Yikes. We just finished getting our fingerprints all over LG's Optimus Pad (aka the G-Slate), and now we're thinking we should have been wearing white gloves while doing so. The tablet is coming in March to the US, but we didn't know a price. Now we do -- in Germany, at least, and get ready to wince: €999. That's about $1,350 if you do a straight conversion, out-classing even the Xoom's eye-wateringly high $1,199 pre-order price, which we're still holding out hope is a misprint. Maybe the golden goo in Honeycomb really is gold. Update: Roland wrote in to remind us that German prices include a 19 percent VAT, which would drop this price down to a mere $1,075 if you're into the conversion game. Well within pocket change territory. [Thanks, Enzo] |
| Intel talks Medfield: will ship in a phone and have the longest usage time Posted: 14 Feb 2011 03:08 AM PST We had a feeling we'd be hearing about Intel's Atom for smartphones here at Mobile World Congress, and Intel did in fact take the stage today to talk about its forthcoming Medfield processor. The company has announced that it's starting to sample or test its 32nm Medfield processor for mobile devices with its customers (obviously, it's not telling us which ones) and more importantly that it will ship in a phone. Yep, Intel's Senior Vice President Anand Chandrasekher spoke quite firmly about how the platform will in fact ship in smartphones and that it will also support Android. He pulled out the phone above just as a proof point, and while he didn't say who made it, we have a sneaking suspicion it's that Aava Mobile phone we've heard about. Chandraskher also took direct aim at ARM (he even called out ARM's CEO Warren East), and hammered home Intel's focus on battery life. He didn't quote an exact run time, but he did say that "on active power we are the most efficient architecture on the planet." We actually believe he repeated that it will have the "longest usage time" at least three times -- we're thinking he's serious. What about standby? He was a bit more vague on that, but did say it would be competitive there as well. We'll be doing our best to track down that Medfield-powered handset up there, so stay tuned. Update: Our friend Chippy from CarryPad caught a bit of Anand's talk on video. Hit the break for that.
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| Huawei S7 tablet hands-on, now with capacitive touchscreen Posted: 14 Feb 2011 02:49 AM PST We just got a hands-on with an updated version of the Huawei S7, a 7-inch Android tablet which will be priced at $300. Huwaei was unable to provide us with any information beyond pricing, but here's what we've gathered. The 7-inch touchscreen is capacitive, unlike the model we played with before, and the tablet is running a slightly customized skin on top of Android 2.2. Build quality is solid and the device is satisfyingly thin and light. There are cameras front and back and a microSD card slot and a docking port on the bottom edge. We spied a SIM slot underneath the battery, so it's likely that the model we used features 3G. We hope to have more details for you soon -- in the meantime, feast your eyes on the gallery below. |
| Intel shows off more of its MeeGo Tablet UI, still needs lots of work Posted: 14 Feb 2011 02:30 AM PST You may remember back at Computex we caught a very quick look at Intel's MeeGo for tablets. Well, Intel's landed at MWC with that very same tablet user interface, except it has done a bit of work to the underlying software and it's finally ready to start letting the press play around with it. If you were to closely compare the design of the UI or what Intel is calling its "tablet user experience" to the one we saw back in June, you probably wouldn't notice much of a difference in terms of aesthetics, and that's because most of the work Intel's been doing has been to the code and framework -- it shifted it away from C++ and moved it over to QML, which is part of the Qt language. The brunt of the experience and the individual apps (we'll get to those, or the lack there of soon) are all built on QML, which Intel's Mike Richmond promises will enable lots of neat UI elements. So yes, Intel's done some important retooling on the technical and software end of things, but unfortunately, that doesn't mean the interface is anywhere close to done yet. We got a look at the software running on an Atom-powered ExoPC, so hit the break to find out just what we are talking about. We'll be blunt about it: it's actually rather shocking how little seems to have been improved since June. Intel claims the software is now in an Alpha stage (it was in pre-Alpha at Computex), though we're not even sure it is that. The live updating pane interface, which reminds us a bit of the webOS cards, is certainly a neat idea and it's actually decently attractive, but it's when you start to dig in deep that the glitches and the lack of applications Intel's got at the moment become very apparent. While the video and music players worked, the browser, which is based on Chromium and happens to be a larger part of the OS, was frustrating to say the least. While we could live with the lack of pinch-to-zoom at the moment (Intel says it will come), the slow scrolling and double tapping to zoom just made the browsing experience downright disappointing. On the bright side, Intel's working with Swype so text input in both the browser and e-mail client was actually rather swift. However, beyond those four or so apps, there's nothing else at the moment in terms of applications, and while Intel's promising to bring its AppUp store to the platform (it's even holding a developers meeting on it here at MWC), it wasn't willing to discuss a time frame on that. In fact, Richmond wouldn't even give us an idea of when the tablet UI would be ready. We've got a video for you after the break, which actually makes the experience look much breezier than it really is, but the bottom line is that while it's nice to see Intel attempting to get into the software side of things, MeeGo for tablets isn't anywhere close to ready for prime time. Here's hoping we're not looking at the same thing come this year's Computex...
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| ViewSonic ViewPad 10Pro hands-on Posted: 14 Feb 2011 02:18 AM PST We promised to dig up ViewSonic's dual-booting Windows 7 and Android 2.2 ViewPad 10Pro tablet when we got to Barcelona, and here we are delivering on our word. We just got a chance to check out the 10.1-inch slate and we have to say hardware-wise, we're dealing with typical ViewSonic quality -- the 1024 x 600-resolution, capacitive screen isn't exactly high quality (horizontal viewing angles were pretty bad) and the build was mediocre at best. However, software-wise we have to say the 10Pro is pretty interesting -- the Intel Atom Oak Trail-powered slab boots Windows 7 Home Premium, but is running Android 2.2 on top. Unlike the first ViewPad 10, you don't have to reboot the device to switch between Android and Windows as the Google OS is running as a virtualization. No word on the pricing of this one, but it should be hitting the market this May. Hit the break for a quick look at the relatively-quick Android / Windows hand-off.
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| LG Optimus 3D hands-on Posted: 14 Feb 2011 01:59 AM PST Glory be the LG Optimus 3D. Okay, we'll get right to it: the Optimus 3D is kinda kitschy, but at the same time fun, inevitable on a mobile device, and still a great conversation piece. The 4.3-inch glasses-free 3D display's effect in games, film, and even the UI is pretty convincing using the set's applied parallax barrier technology, which is otherwise unnoticeable while the effect is off. Best bit? You can film your own 3D videos using the dual cameras on the back then watch them on your 3D set via HDMI. The Optimus is by no means a tiny set, though, still pretty comfy when held. Material choices are top notch -- as we'd expect hope for in a high end device -- and as you'll see in the vid, it is plenty fast with no lag getting in the way of the little demo we had. So why not take a few minutes to admire the pics and videos (which unfortunately will be very flat for your eyes) won't you? |
| LG Optimus Pad first hands-on! (video) Posted: 14 Feb 2011 01:24 AM PST We've just gotten back from playing around with LG's 8.9-inch, 3D-friendly Optimus Pad (known as the G-Slate in the US). This Android Honeycomb tablets sports a dual-core CPU inside and a dual-camera array outside, giving you both the optical and processing capabilities to produce 3D video. Its screen cannot actually play back glasses-free 3D, but if you really have to have that third dimension on the move, you'll be able to buy a set of glasses to recreate the effect. The Optimus Pad is slim, though we couldn't get a great feel for its ergonomics with all the wiring attached to it, has nicely curved corners, a matte black back cover that's pleasant to the touch and seemingly durable, and an extremely glossy screen up front. We likened the Pad to the Optimus 2X in an earlier post and it carries over a lot of industrial design elements from its smartphone sibling, including the metallic strip down the middle of its rear branded with a "with Google" logo. That's actually meaningful this time -- the Optimus 2X wasn't a stock Android installation, it was subjected to LG's ( not entirely successful tweaks), however the Pad looks to be a straight Google Experience Device, in much the same vein as the Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, its nearest and most direct competitors. That being said, the code on the device we handled still wasn't up to scratch on the software front, as evidenced by us managing to crash both the browser and Google Maps within a few minutes of putting down our first fingerprints on the tablet. The 3D camcorder also seems like a memory hog, we weren't able to get it started up initially because of the number of apps that were already open (which at the time was no more than four). Let's remain optimistic, though, this wasn't exactly a slate we snatched off a retail shelf and LG has time to optimize and spruce things up before shipping this thing out. We've got pictures for you below and a press release after the break. Video is incoming at the very fastest speed our wireless connection can carry it. Update: Video is now in, get to the ogling! Show full PR text SETTING A NEW STANDARD IN TABLETS,LG OPTIMUS PAD DEBUTS AT MWC
Designed for Both Work and Play, LG's 8.9-inch Tablet is Convenient to
Hold with One Hand; Features Android 3.0, Dual Core CPU, 3D Camera
Barcelona, February 14, 2011 – LG Electronics (LG) today unveiled the highly anticipated LG Optimus Pad at a press conference on opening day of Mobile World Congress 2011. With diverse multimedia and productivity features, the LG Optimus Pad features a unique 8.9-inch display for one-handed portability and uncompromising viewability, a departure from the trend toward tablets featuring 7- and 10-inch screens.
The LG Optimus Pad is powered by Google's Android 3.0 platform and the NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor. The world's first tablet with a 3D camera, the LG Optimus Pad wraps users in an immersive multimedia environment with Full HD 1080p decoding.
"With a flood of tablets hitting the market, we felt strongly that the LG Optimus Pad needed to set a new standard for what a tablet should be," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. "We think the LG Optimus Pad achieves the right blend of portability and viewability with no performance compromises."
The LG Optimus Pad also represents the fruits of a close partnership between LG and visual computing leader NVIDIA. "The world of computing is shifting under our feet," said Phil Carmack, Senior Vice President of NVIDIA's mobile business. "Tablets are quickly taking their place as our most personal computer, providing previously unimagined capabilities and full mobility. The new LG Optimus Pad uses NVIDIA's Tegra 2 to give consumers outstanding levels of power, speed and performance."
Easy Portability, Ideal Viewability
Sized at 8.9-inch diagonally and 149.4-mm horizontally, the LG Optimus Pad offers a sensible solution to other tablets on the market that are either too large for comfortable portability or too small for ideal viewing. The conveniently-sized LG Optimus Pad fits comfortably in one hand, goes anywhere and slips easily into purses and slim briefcases. With 15:9 aspect ratio, the LG Optimus Pad allows users access to the full range of applications in Android Market and its 1280 x 768 WXGA resolution vividly displays multimedia content in full widescreen format.
Powerful, Fast and Versatile Platform
The LG Optimus Pad is powered by Android 3.0, Google's latest platform optimized for tablets which supports larger display resolutions and applications specifically designed for tablets, including Google eBooks, Google Maps 5, and Google Talk. Android 3.0 also makes the LG Optimus Pad easy to use with a more intuitive PC-like interface. The LG Optimus Pad fully utilizes the 1 GHz Dual Core CPU of NVIDIA Tegra 2 to deliver lag-free web browsing and quick app start up. The superb graphics and multitasking capabilities of NVIDIA Tegra 2 enables the LG Optimus Pad to run multiple apps simultaneously and handle rich multimedia with ease.
Haven for Multimedia Enthusiasts
As the world's first tablet equipped with a 3D camera, users can capture vivid images and video with the LG Optimus Pad for viewing on 3D TVs using HDMI or on the web via YouTube 3D. Business users will also appreciate the built-in videoconferencing feature. With 1080p Full HD decoding, movie enthusiasts can transfer high quality content to their TVs without any loss in picture quality. Serious and casual gamers alike will delight in the wide collection of console-quality games available through the Tegra Zone app that runs seamlessly on the LG Optimus Pad.
The LG Optimus Pad will begin shipping in local markets starting in March. |
| Motorola Xoom gets Q2 European launch, WiFi-only and silver models now extra official Posted: 14 Feb 2011 01:23 AM PST Motorola just went official with its WiFi-only Xoom headed to Europe along side its 3G and WiFi cousin in the second quarter of 2011. Besides that little detail, it's still the original 10.1-inch Honeycomb tablet built upon a dual-core 1GHz processor and 1280 x 800 pixel resolution display. Oh, and look at what we spotted here in Barcelona. Yup, a Xoom decked out in silver just for your viewing pleasure in the gallery below. Show full PR text Motorola Mobility to Bring Motorola XOOM™ to Europe
BARCELONA - Mobile World Congress 2011 – Feb. 14, 2011 - Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced Motorola XOOM™ 3G/WiFi®-enabled version as well as a WiFi-only version will be available in Europe beginning in Q2 2011. Motorola XOOM runs on Google's Android™ 3.0 Honeycomb – the only Android operating system designed specifically for tablets – and was named "Best of Show" by CNET at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The tablet will be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress this week at the Motorola booth in Hall 8, Booth No. 8A51.
"Motorola XOOM re-defines what the tablet experience should be. Designed from the ground up with the consumer in mind, it provides more ways to have fun, connect with friends and stay productive while on the go," said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president of Portfolio and Device Product Management, Motorola Mobility. "Whether surfing the Web, watching the latest hit movie, or video-chatting with friends, Motorola XOOM will delight consumers with its ease of use, speed and vivid graphics, as well as its Motorola Smart Accessories."
In today's fast-paced mobile device market, Motorola XOOM isn't the next generation tablet; it's the one after that. Thanks to its dual cameras, true multi-tasking functionality, latest Google Mobile innovations, 1GHz dual-core processor and 10.1-inch (25.65 cm) widescreen HD display, the Motorola XOOM provides users with diverse content-consumption capabilities.
Motorola XOOM Features
Motorola XOOM delivers a new type of mobile computing experience, including: a widescreen HD display with 1280x800 resolution to support HD video and with HDMI out; a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera for 720p video capture and 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video chats; and a built-in gyroscope, barometer, e-compass, accelerometer and adaptive lighting.
A dual-core processor with each core running at 1GHz offers an optimal experience for Android 3.0 Honeycomb. The Honeycomb user experience improves on Android favorites such as widgets, multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization, and also features the latest Google Mobile innovations such as Google Maps 5.0 with 3D interaction. Video and other rich web content plays seamlessly with Adobe® Flash® Player.
Motorola XOOM supports up to 10 hours of video playback, and charges in half the time of competitive tablets on the market.
Motorola Smart Accessories
A Standard Dock for watching video content or listening to music through external speakers as the device charges
A Speaker HD Dock for sending HD content directly to a TV or clearly listening to music through two built-in speakers – eliminating the need to attach external speakers
A custom keyboard with Bluetooth® wireless technology and special Android shortcut keys
Please visit the Motorola MWC 2011 press kit for additional information www.motorola.com/mediacenter/mwc2011
About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility. |
| Motorola updates Motoblur and Media Link client for Macs and PCs Posted: 14 Feb 2011 12:51 AM PST  A couple of changes for Motorola this morning. First up is a new version of Moto's Media Link iTunes sync software. Media Link version 1.5 is available now for Mac users or March for the beige box bunch. More importantly, perhaps, is a new version of Motoblur with enhanced location, messaging, music, and gallery features. The new Connected Music service features streaming lyrics and a social aspect that lets you follow the tracks your friends are listening to. Connected Gallery unites your photos and videos with your friends' online albums from sites like Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, and Picasa. Aloga, meanwhile, is a Motoblur-integrated location-triggered push platform that provides third-party publishers with information about your location, identity, and social relationships. The idea is to offer users non-intrusive information about places, events, or bargains for the "channels" they select. Look for the new Motoblur to arrive on "recently announced devices" like the Cliq 2 and Atrix 4G. Full detail in the press release after the break. Show full PR text Motorola Mobility Showcases Software and Service Offerings at Mobile World Congress 2011
Motorola Mobility's enhanced software and services empower people's lives
Feb. 14, 2011
BARCELONA – Mobile World Congress – Feb. 14, 2011 – Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) is announcing software innovation that offers unparalleled access to converged mobile computing experiences.
"Motorola Mobility is delighting consumers with experiences that enrich interactions with their personal network of content and connections," said Sanjay Jha, chairman and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobility. "The next generation of solutions we are highlighting today is another great step forward in our effort to provide the best software solutions for consumers on the go and in the home. With these enhanced experiences, we look to solve real customer problems, like device management, enterprise security and content access."
At Mobile World Congress 2011, Motorola Mobility will showcase the latest software innovations featured in its extensive smartphone and mobile computing portfolio:
Motorola Mobility brings Android™ to Enterprise with 3LM and "Ready for Business"
3LM, a recent acquisition, sets a new standard for enterprise computing on the Android platform, allowing users to enjoy all the benefits of a smartphone with the full push delivery of corporate e-mail and security. Leveraging 3LM technology as well as its Ready for Business Suite, Motorola Mobility will offer the first mobile management solution for Android devices that supports all of the critical IT device policies commonly requested by enterprises and governmental entities. 3LM and Ready for Business software enable the adoption of Android enterprise-ready devices by addressing ease-of-use, cost-of-management and security concerns of information technology teams and chief information officers. Understanding that within a corporate environment there is a high desire for device diversity as well as security, Motorola will also enable the broader Android ecosystem to work together to support the needs of the enterprise consumer by making 3LM technology available to other manufacturers during the second quarter of this year.
MotoConnect: A Suite of Solutions to Sync Your Content
Motorola Mobility is creating a suite of solutions that allow consumers to connect with the entertainment content and personal files they want, when they want them, from anywhere. By merging ZumoCast and Motorola Media Link into a single platform, consumers will benefit from their own private cloud. The MotoConnect suite of solutions is available immediately via www.motorola.com/medialink and www.zumocast.com independently, and will merge by the third quarter of 2011
Motorola Media Link (1.5): Keeping You In Tune and In Sync
Understanding that users will continue to have their content located in multiple locations, Motorola Media Link (1.5) is simplifying the desktop sync experience for Mac® platforms by enabling the seamless transfer of content from iTunes® music, Windows® Media Player files, photos and videos. Motorola Media Link 1.5 will be available for PC users in March.
ZumoCast: Delivering Your Content Where You Want It, When You Want It
Motorola Mobility is making it easier than ever for consumers to create and control their own private cloud from anywhere in the world. Motorola Mobility is integrating the recently acquired Zecter Technology's ZumoCast into a sync and remote access platform for desktops, smartphones and tablets, delivering a simple way for consumers to easily and instantaneously access their home collection of music, video, photos and documents.
The Evolution of MOTOBLUR™: A Newly Enhanced Services Platform that Enables Personal Connections
The evolution of MOTOBLUR leverages the social power found within the existing MOTOBLUR platform to offer enhanced location, messaging, music and gallery features. The evolved MOTOBLUR platform is enabling a new host of client applications:
Connected Music: MOTOBLUR's new Connected Music service makes sharing and buying music-related content a snap. Consumers can follow what friends are listening to, get recommendations on new songs and purchase them immediately. And while songs are playing, lyrics are streamed so users can sing along without missing a beat.
Connected Gallery: MOTOBLUR's new Connected Gallery service merges photos and videos on your phone together with you and your friends' online albums from Facebook®, FlickrTM, Photobucket®, Picasa® and more. By leveraging MOTOBLUR's unique data and network management capabilities, users can get pushed updates when new media is uploaded or friends comment on online media in a managed way to avoid overloading the network or consuming too much data.
Aloqa™: Aloqa's open, location-triggered mobile push platform has been integrated into the MOTOBLUR experience, enabling third-party publishers to utilize a user's location, identity and social relationships, to proactively inform them of places, events, bargains and other opportunities that may be of interest through "channels". These channels are active only the when the user selects them, providing relevant data only when the user is looking for it and without being intrusive.
In addition, the redesigned MOTOBLUR Owners Portal enables users to continue to locate and erase their devices remotely if lost or stolen -- and back up user data such as contacts, account settings, and phone configurations with a new, streamlined user interface.
MOTOBLUR-enabled applications Connected Galley, Aloqa, and later, Connected Music, will be available as upgrades to recently announced devices, including ATRIX™ 4G and CLIQ 2™. Devices enabled with the full suite of enhanced MOTOBLUR applications are expected to ship in the coming months.
MOTODEV: Accelerates Innovation in the Android-Powered Ecosystem
Motorola Mobility's developer network, MOTODEV, is jumpstarting global development for Android 3.0 Honeycomb, and Motorola Mobility's powerful tablet computing device, Motorola XOOM™, with a worldwide series of developer app summits. These summits will fully empower a developer to target any one of Motorola's new products: XOOM, ATRIX or DROID™ BIONIC, with their applications by giving them technical information, access to devices and hands on support from Motorola experts. The first summit will be held in San Francisco on March 1 and will be followed shortly thereafter by events in Berlin, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. Developers can sign up today at http://developer.motorola.com/appsummits.
Motorola Mobility's software portfolio includes cloud-based enterprise software that enables converged media experiences for fixed and wireless broadband subscribers. Motorola is demonstrating the following software innovations for the home at Mobile World Congress:
Medios: Bringing Entertainment and Community to Every Screen
Motorola Mobility's cloud-based Medios service management software enables service providers to offer true converged experiences, such as companion devices to the TV screen, or live and on-demand TV content to other devices both in and outside the home. By blending community with entertainment, Medios experiences create an emotional connection with consumers that drive increases in loyalty and revenue.
4Home: Peace of Mind at Home and Away from Home
The 4Home software platform enables consumers to stay connected to their homes using simple and intuitive applications on their mobile computing devices, such as smartphones and tablets. 4Home services provide consumers with the real-time ability to monitor and manage home security, actively control systems and appliances, manage health-related solutions, and optimize energy consumption in the home.
Motorola EDGE Home Center: Your Mobile Life's Remote Control
Cloud-based EDGE Home Center expands Motorola Mobility's software solutions suite and enables consumers to manage their home networks, mobile devices and services remotely or from home. With expanded visibility, flexibility and control capabilities, the EDGE Home Center helps consumers answer support questions and resolve problems on their own, minimizing the need to contact their service provider's technical support.
Additional information on Motorola Mobility's new software and services portfolio, as well as its products, can be found at motorola.com/mobility.
About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility. |
| Qualcomm unveils next-gen Snapdragon family, including quad-core 2.5GHz CPU Posted: 14 Feb 2011 12:24 AM PST Not one to let the name Snapdragon down, Qualcomm's gone and announced a much faster generation of the processor family, with speeds up to 2.5GHz per core. The multi-core (one, two, and four) 28nm chipsets, codenamed Krait, will feature WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, and FM, support NFC and stereoscopic 3D video / photo (capture and playback), and also boast multi-mode LTE modem integration. Qualcomm claims a performance increase of 150 percent and a power consumption drop of 65 percent over current ARM-based CPU cores. Included is a new Adreno 320 GPU with support of up to four 3D cores. Samples for the dual-core MSM8960 will be avialable in second quarter this year, while single-core MSM8930 and quad-core APQ8063 (for "computing and entertainment devices" -- i.e. tablets) versions are coming early 2012. The power-crazed products housing these chipsets? You'll have to wait even longer to see those. |
| LG Optimus 3D features YouTube 3D app for multi-dimensional sharing Posted: 14 Feb 2011 12:20 AM PST Now that the LG Optimus 3D is official, we know what you're wondering: why would I want 3D how can I share 3D video from my new dual-core cellphone? Easy, the YouTube 3D channel. LG's new twin-lens handset features a YouTube 3D video application that lets owners upload their 3D flicks in snap. So get ready to bust out the paper anaglyph glasses folks. Our future, as envisioned by a 1950s 3D-film audience, has arrived. Show full PR text LG AND YOUTUBE PARTNER TO BRING THE FULL 3D EXPERIENCE TO MOBILE DEVICES
BARCELONA--(Korea Newswire) February 14, 2011 -- LG Electronics (LG) and YouTube are taking a major step forward today by announcing a partnership to provide a unique 3D mobile experience to users. LG's upcoming Android-powered premium smartphones will enable users not only to capture and view 3D videos without glasses, but also to upload and share them instantly with others via YouTube.
"The Optimus 3D is LG's newest flagship smartphone. It is our answer to two major pain points of the current 3D experience - limited mobility and specialized glasses. Furthermore, our partnership with YouTube will ensure that our customers can easily generate and access ample 3D content," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.
The new partnership is part of a broader push into 3D entertainment by LG and the world's largest online video community. YouTube and LG collaborated to enable the delivery and sharing of 3D video onto mobile devices in a way that makes it simple and easy for consumers.
"3D technology has traditionally been reserved for the major Hollywood movie studios," said Francsico Varela, Head of YouTube Platform Partnerships"With the new LG Optimus 3D anyone anywhere in the world can shoot 3D videos, upload them to YouTube and share them with their friends. We're excited to see the creative videos our community captures and shares with this new technology."
Powered by a unique "Tri-Dual" Configuration -- dual-core, simultaneous dual-channel and dual-memory, LG's advanced Optimus 3D will be unveiled at the 2011 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and will be the first mobile device capable of providing the YouTube 3D experience. The Android-powered Optimus 3D will be available globally starting in Europe early in the second quarter of 2011.
For more information, visit the LG stand at 8B178 in Hall 8 at Mobile World Congress in Fira de Barcelona from February 14 to 17 or go to the online newsroom at www.lgnewsroom.com/MWC2011. |
| Motorola Pro: the Droid Pro takes a European vacation Posted: 14 Feb 2011 12:01 AM PST You do realize that Mobile World Congress is underway in Barcelona, right? To celebrate, Motorola just announced a Eurofied Droid Pro under the more succinct Motorola Pro moniker. The portrait QWERTY candybar features Android 2.2 running on a 1GHz processor and 3.1-inch HGVA touchscreen display. But this pup's all business with the ability to remote wipe the device and SD card and integrated VPN, Quickoffice, and complex password support. See it in action after the break.
Show full PR text Introducing Motorola PRO in Europe; Finally a Work Phone Worth Taking Home
Device offers greater choice to consumers and IT departments
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 14, 2011 -- Mobile World Congress 2011 -- Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced Motorola PRO, the Android™-powered smartphone optimized for business use, is set to come to Europe. Delivering the speed, convenience, security and productivity tools that consumers and businesses alike require, Motorola PRO is showcased at Motorola's booth at MWC: Hall 8, Booth No. 8A51.
"Consumers above all need choice to meet the needs of work and play and Motorola PRO strengthens Motorola Mobility's position as the leading provider of Android devices. We don't take a one-size-fits-all approach," said Andrew Morley, vice president of marketing, international markets, Motorola Mobility. "In addition, employees and IT departments have made it clear that they want other options and solutions and Motorola PRO meets this need."
The Motorola PRO smartphone powered by Android 2.2 features a 1 GHz processor with 2 GB internal memory and expandable external memory with SD card up to another 32 GB, as well as 3G mobile hotspot support for up to five other Wi-Fi-enabled devices/laptops and a QWERTY keyboard designed for speed and convenience. The business smartphone also includes QuickOffice pre-loaded and email support (Corporate Sync, Gmail™, POP3/IMAP embedded, Push Email, Yahoo Mail).
Other features of Motorola PRO
Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 support on a full multi-touch 3.1-inch (7.87-cm) brilliant display as well as the ability to capture and share content with the device's 5-megapixel camera featuring auto focus and dual LED flash
Motorola security additions such as AuthenTec IPSec multi-headed VPN integration, remote wipe of device and SD card, and complex password support as well as device and SD card encryption
Accessories
Completing the package is the Motorola PRO desktop dock (sold separately), which provides a convenient charging station on your office desktop or kitchen counter and allows access to additional handset features while docked, including a clock (with alarm), a local weather reading, and the ability to play music or a slide show.
Availability
To learn more about the Motorola PRO visit YouTube™.
About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility. |
| RIM BlackBerry 4G PlayBook tablet now in delicious LTE and HSPA+ flavors (updated) Posted: 13 Feb 2011 11:33 PM PST  Count 'em, because RIM has now announced four varieties of its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. As of today, we've got the PlayBook with WiFi + LTE and WiFi + HSPA+ models joining the previously announced PlayBook with WiFi and PlayBook with WiFi + WiMax. As such, there's a pretty good chance that your carrier will have a 7-inch dual-core PlayBook with the QNX-based BlackBerry Tablet OS on offer at some point in the future, no matter how it chooses to define "4G." Unfortunately, RIM says that its LTE and HSPA+ models won't be coming until the second half of 2011. Update: RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie was particularly chatty after the announcement of the new 4G PlayBook models. The takeaway is that RIM expects to price that BlackBerry tablet at less than $500 (WiFi-only model, presumably) -- much less with any carrier subsidies. He's also expecting to followup the Sprint deal in the US with similar signings of AT&T and Verizon Wireless. "All of our carrier partners want [PlayBook]," said Balsillie, referencing the 580 carrier partners that RIM enjoys in 165 countries. While Balsillie refused to comment on the PlayBook's rumored ability to run Android apps, he did confirm that RIM's new tablet was on track for a March or April release. Show full PR text MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS, BARCELONA, SPAIN – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced plans to launch two additional BlackBerry® 4G PlayBook tablets during the second half of 2011, featuring support for LTE and HSPA+ high speed wide area wireless networks.
"The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is already being widely recognized for its superior performance, rich web experience, enterprise readiness and deep support for web standards and open development tools. We are now building on the BlackBerry PlayBook's many advantages with support for additional 4G networks that will allow enhanced business opportunities for carriers and developers and unparalleled mobile experiences for users," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion.
RIM's family of upcoming BlackBerry 4G PlayBook tablets will deliver professional-grade, consumer-friendly experiences that redefine the possibilities of mobile computing. These innovative tablets will each provide users with an ultra-portable design featuring industry leading performance with real-time multitasking and symmetrical multiprocessing, uncompromised high-fidelity web browsing including support for Adobe® Flash and stunning HD multimedia, as well as advanced security features and out-of-the-box enterprise support.
The combination of premium hardware features and design powered by the new and highly acclaimed BlackBerry® Tablet OS and open development tools, along with support for carriers' high speed 4G networks, will provide a high performance platform that enables a mobile services revolution.
RIM has now announced plans to offer four BlackBerry PlayBook tablets:
1. BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi
2. BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi + WiMax
3. BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi + LTE
4. BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi + HSPA+
In addition to the Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity referenced above, each tablet can also support:
1. Bluetooth tethering
2. Mobile hotspots (ie. a MiFi, smartphone or other portable device equipped to act as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot)
3. BlackBerry Bridge
About Research In Motion
Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com. |
| Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 looks like a new Android PMP Posted: 13 Feb 2011 11:06 PM PST What happened when Samsung's phone division gobbled up the media player team? We're pretty sure you're looking at it right now -- the YP-MB2 / Galaxy Player 50 is now formally known as the Galaxy S WiFi 4.0, and it's big bad brother the Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 is pictured immediately above. While we can't actually tell you much about the SIM-less smartphone other than hazard guesses at front-facing camera, HDMI port, microSD card slot and (given naming conventions) a 5-inch screen, we can tell you that the 4.0-inch version of the device is now sporting Samsung's Super Clear LCD. We're expecting the company to unveil these any hour now in Barcelona, so keep your eyes peeled for further coverage at MWC. [Thanks, Kin-Yip] |
| Google's Androidify app lets you create your very own bot avatar (video) Posted: 13 Feb 2011 10:18 PM PST While we're probably still years or decades away from getting our very own animatronic clones, Google's released the next best thing for the time being. Available on the Android Market is this Androidify app, which, as the name says for itself, lets us mere mortals craft our Android mascot lookalikes. Hell, you can even slap on some facial hair or a baby droid while you're at it. We'll say no more -- see the app in action after the break, if you're not already busy dishing out your new avatar across the web. |
| Adobe says Flash 10.2 coming to handsets soon, offers roundabout confirmation of Honeycomb for smartphones Posted: 13 Feb 2011 09:29 PM PST Google's been notoriously tight-lipped about when Honeycomb will come to cellular handsets, but we may have gotten our answer at a recent Adobe event, as the company's Anup Murarka tells us Flash 10.2 will be coming to both tablets and smartphones "in the next few weeks." Come again? You see, Adobe Flash 10.2 uses fewer CPU cycles to play back web video, likely providing better battery life in Android devices (and BlackBerry tablets), but Adobe told us it can't support the function in earlier versions of the Android OS -- Google had to specifically add new capabilities in Honeycomb to let Flash 10.2 take full advantage of hardware. In short, if Flash 10.2 requires Android 3.0 and Flash 10.2 is headed to phones soon, the transitive property of equality suggests that Android 3.0 will soon appear on smartphones as well. Our algebra teacher would be so proud. In related news, both Flash and Adobe AIR seem to be doing quite well in the mobile arena thus far, as Adobe reports that that AIR is presently in over 84 million smartphones and tablets -- with over 200 million such devices ready for the cross-platform apps by the end of the year -- and Flash has shipped on 20 million devices across 35 different models (twelve percent of all smartphones, says Adobe) with 50 new Flash-ready tablets scheduled to appear in 2011. PR after the break. Show full PR text Adobe Reports Strong Mobile Adoption of Flash Player and AIR; High Expectations for 2011
Company Showcases Performance Advancements with Flash Player 10.2
Mobile World Congress 2011
BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At Mobile World Congress, Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) announced that developers and content publishers can now deploy Adobe® AIR® applications to more than 84 million smartphones and tablets running Android and iOS. Thousands of applications have been created and made available on Android Market and Apple's App Store to date. By the end of 2011, Adobe expects more than 200 million smartphones and tablets to support Adobe AIR applications. For examples of popular AIR applications for Android and iOS, visit m.flash.com.
"We are thrilled to see mobile adoption of Flash Player and AIR exceeding even our own expectations, with much more to come in the months ahead"
In addition, Adobe announced that more than 20 million smartphones were shipped or upgraded with Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 software on over 35 certified devices in the first six months following the launch. For 2011, the company expects Flash Player to be supported on more than 132 million units worldwide. More than 50 tablets are expected to support Flash Player this year alone. Using Adobe Creative Suite® 5 tools, over three million Adobe Flash Platform developers are now able to author content across a substantial number of devices for both Flash Player and AIR.
"We are thrilled to see mobile adoption of Flash Player and AIR exceeding even our own expectations, with much more to come in the months ahead," said David Wadhwani, senior vice president, Creative and Interactive Solutions Business Unit, Adobe. "This is tremendous progress toward ensuring that mobile users everywhere have access to their favorite content from casual games to Web video and enterprise applications regardless of what device they are using. And, our CS5 customers are excited about the ability to easily extend their creative work across millions of mobile devices."
Adobe is also showcasing the latest release of Flash Player – Flash Player 10.2 – along with additional performance advancements at the conference. The new release includes support for innovative new features including Stage Video, which delivers much improved video performance through optimizing hardware acceleration on mobile devices, desktops and TVs. Stage Video decreases processor and memory usage while enabling higher frame rates and improved video quality. Test results show up to 80 percent CPU savings when playing back video in 1080p on Windows® and Mac OS. Stage Video support for mobile devices will be available on Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" and BlackBerry Tablet OS. Existing H.264 video content on the Web will benefit from Stage Video on mobile platforms without any changes to the content.
Adobe AIR
A key element of the Adobe Flash Platform, AIR enables developers to leverage existing code to create and deliver standalone applications across devices and platforms. Adobe AIR supports smartphones and tablets based on Android™, iOS, BlackBerry Tablet OS, and desktops including Windows, Macintosh and Linux® operating systems. In addition, Samsung is the first television manufacturer to ship Adobe AIR in its line of Samsung SmartTV devices. With Adobe AIR, developers are able to use familiar tools including Adobe Flash Professional CS5, Adobe Flash Builder™ and Flex to build rich standalone multiscreen applications. Thousands are already available on Android Market, Apple's App Store, Adobe InMarket and Intel AppUpSM center today.
Adobe AIR enables rich application experiences through a series of features, including support for accelerometer, camera, video, microphone, multi-touch and gestures. Support for geolocation allows developers to create location-based applications and services. AIR is also able to display native browser controls within the application allowing for the integration of HTML and .SWF content. With SQLite support developers can easily store and cache databases inside an AIR application.
Adobe Flash Player
One of the top free apps on Android Market, with more than 6 million downloads to date and more than 150,000 users giving it a 4.5-out-of-5 star rating, Flash Player brings rich Flash based content to mobile devices inside the browser. In addition to Android Market, the runtime is distributed directly by device manufacturers and operators via pre-installs and operating system upgrades.
Flash Player is available today on Android, HP webOS and Google TV. BlackBerry Tablet OS, future versions of Windows® Phone, LiMo, Samsung SmartTVs and others are also expected to support Flash Player. For a list of certified devices, visit http://www.adobe.com/flashplatform/supported_devices/smartphones.html. For examples of the broad variety of content running in Flash Player on the Web, visit m.flash.com. |
| Leica M9 Titanium unboxed, handled with all the care a $32,000 camera deserves (video) Posted: 13 Feb 2011 07:58 PM PST Even in its "standard" magnesium alloy body, the Leica M9 is an exclusive piece of kit that prices out all but the most fervent and deep-pocketed rangefinder lovers. Nonetheless, Leica has a habit of putting together even more limited editions of its shooters, one of which has recently been subjected to a thorough unboxing and video overview. Only 500 special edition Titanium M9s cameras have been produced, each one individually numbered and costing nearly £20,000 (or about $32,000) in a set with a Summilux-M 35mm F1.4 lens, also made from titanium. With a full frame 18 megapixel CCD sensor and dual image processors inside, it's a fully fleshed-out beast of a portable shooter, but you'd probably expect nothing less given the fact it costs more than most cars. Go past the break to ogle this special M9. [Thanks, Aaron]
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