Google-branded Nexus S smartphone unveiled

SAN FRANCISCO - Internet giant Google unveiled its second branded smartphone, the "Nexus S" made by South Korea's Samsung.


Google said the Nexus S, which comes nearly a year after the Nexus One, which was a critical success if not a huge commercial hit, is powered by the latest version of Google's Android mobile operating system, "Gingerbread."

Google vice president of engineering Andy Rubin said the Nexus S would be the first Android device to ship with the new version of the Android platform, used by handset makers around the world.

It will be available in the United States from December 16 from Best Buy stores and from December 20 at Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy retailers in Britain, Rubin said in a blog post.

The Nexus S is available in the United States with a service plan from US wireless carrier T-Mobile or "unlocked," Rubin said.

It is not clear how long it will take the Nexus S to be released in New Zealand, or if it will be at all. Google's old HTC-based model, Nexus One, is still available through Vodafone NZ.

"Nexus S delivers what we call a 'pure Google' experience: unlocked, unfiltered access to the best Google mobile services and the latest and greatest Android releases and updates," he said.


The touchscreen Nexus S features a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, front and rear facing cameras and 16 gigabytes of internal memory.

It is also equipped with near field communication (NFC) hardware that turns the device into a virtual wallet, allowing users to "tap and pay" for financial transactions.

NFC chips store personal data that can be transmitted to readers, say at a shop checkout stand, by tapping a handset on a pad.

Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said last month that he expects the tap-and-pay mobile technology to "eventually replace credit cards."

Google launched the Nexus One in January of last year in a bid to challenge Apple's iPhone and the Blackberry from Canada's Research in Motion but closed its online store offering the device just four months later.

NZHerald via AFP

Is Windows Phone 7 Microsoft's game changer?

Microsoft is banking big on its new Windows Phone 7 operating system and the devices that will run it.
The new smartphone OS was unveiled in New York overnight, with chief executive Steve Ballmer showing several new devices that the company hopes will reverse its dismal position in the fragmented marketplace.

Some devices have already been announced for New Zealand, with Telecom carrying LG's Optimus 7Q, and Vodafone shipping the HTC 7 Mozart.

But the big question is whether the marketplace will actually get excited by a ground up rebuild of an OS that was never particularly sexy. Windows Phone 7 will face an uphill battle against the smartphone darlings - devices using Google's open source Android platform, Research in Motion's BlackBerry range and, of course, Apple's iPhone.

Respected technology research firm Gartner pegs Microsoft's slice of the global mobile operating system market at 8.7 per cent for last year - and expects it to tumble to a dismal 4.7 per cent this year.

The devices themselves may spark the imagination of business buyers, with near-seamless integration into enterprise networks - something even the ubiquitous BlackBerry can struggle with.


Touchscreens are seen on the Windows devices, and others have slide-out keyboards - but these are features that have become almost par for the course across Android-toting smartphones and are a key selling point for Apple's iPhone.

Apps are currently the crucial ingredient for smartphone buyers - they want applications that do all manner of wondrous things, and both Android and Apple have already got strong app stores in action - Apple's iTunes based AppStore boasts a quarter of a million applications and a staggering 6.5 billion downloads of those apps.

And even with Microsoft pushing hard for local content from local developers, one has to wonder if the software giant has left its run too late.

"There's a huge amount resting on the launch of Windows Phone 7 for Microsoft, its device and operator partners, and for the ecosystem market in general," said Ovum principal analyst Tony Cripps.

"If it fails to claw back market share lost to iPhone and Android, then Windows Phone 7 may well mark the point at which Microsoft turns its back on smartphones forever," he said.

"Targeting its mobile resources at creating compelling services and attracting advertising may prove a better option than beginning again with another mobile operating system, in that instance."

As smartphones only make up a tiny, single percentage point of Microsoft's revenue, if Windows Phone 7 does fail in its bid, it will hardly suffer as a result.

But Ovum's Cripps believes features and user experience are key, and Microsoft could potentially have a win, despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

"On the face of it, though, Windows Phone 7 looks to have positioned Microsoft on the edge of a smartphone renaissance. Its all-important user experience looks to have brought some genuinely new thinking to a smartphone market where all operating systems feel somewhat similar in use.

"That's not the case here and Microsoft should be thanked for taking a different road, especially given that its new operating system seems both intuitive and responsive in the limited time we've had to try it."

Is Windows Phone 7 the smartphone silver bullet? Only time will tell, and with smartphone buyers quite a fickle, feature-driven bunch, it could well be. Or not.

Windows 7 in-depth review

Engadget has managed to get their grubby hands on a "reference hardware" Samsung Taylor - not for sale. What they have done is a really long and in-depth review of WP7. I'm a bit annoyed that most of the time, they compared it the iphone - but what can you expect? The iphone is apparently the best "smart phone" out there. In conclusion what they say is that WP7 is not complete yet at the moment, with official launch date looming, hopefully Microsoft will be able to fix/complete WP7 to the masses.

Read it here

SPB TV now free!

Received this great news from SPB in my inbox yesterday that the SPB TV will be available as a free download fow Windows Mobile. Check it out:

SPB TV has got a major update and now a new version SPB TV 2.0 is available for all Windows Mobile users. The app goes free-of-charge and subscription-free and offers live TV streams along with video-on-demand channels.

• Live TV and video-on-demand channels
• Channels from more than 17 countries
• Integrated TV guide
• Picture-in-picture mode

Get it here

Theme: GTX Sense Theme

This must be one of the most beautiful Sense themes I've seen! Just look at it. Very nice and simple. I guess it's the white/grey colour of this theme that just makes it stand out. I'm getting bored of the usual Sense black theme & will give this a try.

- Support for Co0kies Home Tab 1.8.5
- Fixed as much bugs as possible
- Some music widget enhancements
- Smoothened Graphics
- Some others that i cant remember ^.^

as always, found at xda-developers

iPhone 4 gets 'thumbs down' from Consumer Reports

WASHINGTON - Consumer Reports, the influential magazine for product reviews, gave the thumbs down to Apple's new iPhone because of reception problems it said were caused by a design flaw.


Consumer Reports engineers have just completed testing the iPhone 4, and have confirmed that there is a problem with its reception," the magazine said on its website, ConsumerReports.org.

"When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone's lower left side - an easy thing, especially for lefties - the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you're in an area with a weak signal," it said.

"Due to this problem, we can't recommend the iPhone 4."

Apple earlier this month said that it had used erroneous formulas to calculate signal strength for the iPhone 4 and promised to issue a free software patch to resolve the issue that has already triggered lawsuits.

The California gadget maker denied that reception problems were due to faults in its new antenna system, which is incorporated in the casing.


Consumer Reports rejected Apple's explanation.

"Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4's signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software," it said.

Consumer Reports said it had tested three iPhone 4s and other devices, including a previous iPhone model, in the same conditions, but "none of those (other) phones had the signal-loss problems of the iPhone 4."

Consumer Reports said it had found "an affordable solution for suffering iPhone 4 users: Cover the antenna gap with a piece of duct tape or another thick, non-conductive material."

The magazine said the iPhone performed well in other areas.

"It sports the sharpest display and best video camera we've seen on any phone," it said, and "outshines its high-scoring predecessors with improved battery life and such new features as a front-facing camera for video chats."

- AFP

Apple sued over iPhone 4 antenna problems

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple is hiring antenna engineers to work on its iPhone, the latest generation of which has triggered lawsuits from buyers upset because certain grips choke signal strength.

A posting online at jobs.apple.com said the company is looking for experienced engineers "able to design antennas suitable for wireless handheld devices with excellent radiation performance."

Apple's iPhone 4 launched a week ago with blockbuster sales and complaints by some that cupping the smartphones in a way that covers the lower left corner strangles telecom service signal strength.

The iPhone 4 has silver edging designed as part of the antenna system to improve signal strength.

Apple responded to signal strength complaints by telling owners of its latest generation iPhone to be mindful of how they hold the handsets.

The problem could be fixed by moving one's hand or encasing iPhones in rubber "bumper" frames that Apple sells for US$30.

"Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas," Apple said in a statement.

"This is a fact of life for every wireless phone."

Apple advised users who experience the signal problem to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."

By Thursday, reports surfaced of iPhone 4 buyers unsatisfied with Apple's response filing lawsuits in the United States against the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Macintosh computer maker.

A lawsuit filed in the state of Maryland wants Apple and exclusive US iPhone telecom service provider AT&T to pay for "unlawful and unconscionable conduct" including "fraud, negligence and deceptive trade practices."

California law firm Kershaw, Cutter and Ratinoff used a freshly redesigned website to recruit disenchanted iPhone 4 buyers for a lawsuit against Apple.

"Thousands of people are really unhappy with their new iPhones and Apple's response to the antenna issue," the law firm said in a blog post. "We told our audience we wanted to hear from them and boy did we."

The law firm said it got 1,400 emails in a single day and that 98 percent of the missives "overwhelmingly expressed discontent."

Antenna concerns did not deter the hordes that descended on Apple stores, with the firm reporting that it sold more than 1.7 million of the smartphones in the first three days on the market.

"I think these issues will sort themselves out," Gartner technology analyst Van Baker told AFP this week. "It is a very impressive phone."

Features luring people to the iPhone 4 include high-definition screens and 'FaceTime', which uses a forward facing camera to enable video chat.

The original iPhone launched in 2007 brought smartphones to the masses. Apple has sold more than 50 million of the handsets in the past three years.

But its latest version enters a crowded market full of rivals boasting bigger screens and running on Google's open-source Android operating system, which is more accessible to developers than Apple's tightly guarded system.

Sales of a white iPhone 4 model have been delayed to the second half of July because of unspecified manufacturing difficulties.

The new iPhone will be available in 18 other countries, including New Zealand, in July and 24 more in August.
- AFP

50% Off at Zagg.com

Another coupon for use on Zagg.com. This time it's 50% off site wide. Better hurry, expires 31.05.2010

isnjzzbp

Head on over to Zagg.com

HTC tries to block iPhone, iPad from sale

Some C&P news that I just read today...

SEATTLE - Taiwanese cell phone maker HTC said it filed a legal complaint against Apple, saying its iPhone, iPod and iPad devices infringe on HTC patents.

The move escalates a patent dispute between the two electronics companies, as Apple tries to maintain the iPhone's supremacy against Android, the increasingly popular mobile software upstart from Google.

HTC, which makes several Android phones including the new Droid Incredible, said it filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission seeking to block US sales of the gadgets. In its statement, HTC did not say what patents it believes Apple has violated.

HTC's complaint is not likely to block sales of Apple products any time soon.

Patent disputes are common among technology companies and often take years to resolve. The cases often lead to licensing agreements rather than outright bans on imports, as HTC is seeking in its complaint.

Apple filed its own lawsuits against HTC in March, saying HTC's cell phones violate 20 of Apple's iPhone patents. Apple's complaints were made before the trade commission and in US District Court in Wilmington, Delaware.

Android phones, like the iPhone, support multitouch screens. Users sweep their fingers across the screens, and different "gestures" stand for different commands.

Among the patents singled out by Apple is one that lets a device's screen detect more than one finger touch at a time - for instance, allowing someone to zoom in or out by spreading their fingers apart or pinching them together.

Another patent refers to technology that helps a device react to information about its surroundings gathered by sensors.

Apple, which is based in Cupertino, California, had no comment on HTC's complaint, other than to point to its own legal actions against the cell phone maker.

HTC signed a patent-licensing agreement with Microsoft in April, presumably to avoid a legal tussle with another of the computer industry's biggest players.

Even though Google's software powers Android phones, hardware makers such as HTC will bear the brunt of the legal actions. Industry experts say that has historically been the case, and they note that HTC is an easier target than Google for US lawsuits.

Even if a legal decision is a long time coming, Apple's move against HTC could tamp down other mobile phone manufacturers' enthusiasm for Android if it seems hefty legal fees could erase the gains from using free software from Google.

- AP

HTC Droid Incredible review

With a name like the Droid Incredible from HTC, it must be worth noting! Pocketnow.com has made a really in depth review of this new Android 2.1 mobile from HTC. Unfortunately for us outside of the US, it's a no go since it is CDMA and locked to Verizon.

However, head on to Pocketnow.com to read this awesome review of the HTC Droid Incredible.

Windows Phone 7 Build 6176

Pocketnow.com have posted a video walk through of Windows Phone 7 Build 6176 with an emulator. Seems all nice and all that but from watching the video, seems still buggy. However though, we'll have to wait for the final release this coming holiday season!

Discounts on ZAGG products

ZAGG.com, the company behind invisibleSHILED and ZAGGskins are offering discounts across their site.

Use code:

is8pssna for 40% off
isasdwap for 30% off

What are you waiting for?

Head on over to ZAGG.com

No Windows Phone 7 for the HTC Touch HD2

There were rumours abound when Microsoft revealed Windows Phone 7 at MWC that the HTC Touch HD2 would get an upgrade. Hell, even the Microsoft ads had what looked like to be a HTC Touch HD2 in the actors hand.

But now it has been confirmed by Microsoft that the HTC Touch HD2 *WILL* not get the upgrade to Windows Phone 7. Even with its large capacitive screen and a 1Ghz Tegra processor, it just does not qualify.

Microsoft is setting strict hardware requirements such as 3 hardware buttons and most likely at least a 1Ghz processor.

I think this is reasonable seeing that Windows Phone 7 will be released at the end of the year, and by then the HTC Touch HD 2 would be superceeded by some other hot HTC phone.

Microsoft's Oded Ran, "We've received many questions about the upgradability of HTC HD2 and we currently do not have plans to update the HTC HD2 to Windows Phone 7 Series... For Windows Phone 7 Series we are enforcing a strict set of hardware requirements to ensure a consistently great experience for end-users and developers... we cannot confirm that Windows Mobile 6.5 phones that satisfy those requirements will be upgradeable”


news via Neowin and Programmerfish

Windows Phone 7 Series Features Video

MWC: Microsoft debuts Windows Phone 7 Series

Introducing Windows Phone 7 Series

Over at Engadget, they have full coverage of MWC and the introduction of Windows Phone 7 Series. Damn, this looks interesting, expect to see it during the Holiday season of 2010...

Now, will this be ported to other aging devices when released by Microsoft by the extra-ordinary people at xda-developers? You betcha!

But will it run on older devices? Don't know, chances are even on my HTC Touch Pro, I doubt it. I would say, it may need a processor faster than 500Mhz or at least 1Ghz....

Only time will tell....

Windows Mobile updates

Over at pocketnow.com, there's some rumours about Windows Mobile 7 which Microsoft will unveil at the Mobile World Congress. Will it be true the rumour about no multitasking in WM7/WM phone? No muliti-masking?

WMExperts has done a nice recap of the latest Windows Mobile 6.5.3:

Ease of Use

• Capacitive touchscreen support
• Platform to enable multi-touch
• Touch controls throughout system (no need for stylus)
• Consistent Navigation
• Horizontal scroll bar replaces tabs (think settings>system>about screen)
• Magnifier brings touch support to legacy applications
• Simplified out-of-box experience with fewer steps
• Drag and drop icons on Start Screen

Browser Performance

• Page load time decreased
• Memory management improved
• Pan & flick gestures smoothed
• Zoom & rotation speed increased

Quality and Customer Satisfaction

• Updated runtime tools (.NET CF 3.5, SQL CE 3.1)
• Arabic read/write document support
• Watson (error reporting) improvements and bug fixes

But, the bombshell apparently came from ppcgeeks.com... have a looksy and tell me what you think...

I may not use Windows Mobile 7/Windows Phone if the rumours were true and my Touch Pro goes belly up.

Say it ain't so Microsoft!

5 Reasons Why The iPad Fails To Impress

On January 27th Steve Jobs unveiled Apples latest "it" product, the iPad. Essentially the iPad "fills the gap" in between smartphones and laptops. One question remains to be answered, is there a need for a device to bridge the gap in between the two technologies? We're not sure yet, but there is one thing we know, the iPad has some issues... below are 5 of the most glaring.

1.) The Name
Numerous names were being thrown around in the months/weeks leading up to the release (iTablet, iSlate, iPad) but which name was Apple going to choose? I had grown accustomed to referring to the device as the iTablet, I could even see calling it the iSlate… but iPad never seemed quite right. Why would Apple want to name their new product something that sounds so familiar to the iPod? Some people are objecting to the name referring to it as the "iTampon".

2.) No Multitasking
Are you serious... who thought this was a good idea? How can the iPad even compete with Netbooks if you can’t multitask? This means that if you're writing a document you can't listen to music, you can’t have TweetDeck open if you want to check your email, you can only do one thing at a time, which has always been a complaint with the iPhone.

3.) No Camera
Why is there no camera on the iPad, front or back? It's got a microphone… but no camera. Look at the size of the case that surrounds the screen, there is ample space for a camera. The iPad should've at least came with a 3-megapixel camera built in. As it stands, this means no iChat/Skype chat for you. Good move Apple, good move.

4.) Huge Ridiculous Adapters
Want to access your camera or plug in something USB… well there’s an adapter for that, actually 2 separate adapters both excessively huge.

5.) Same Touch Keyboard
The iPad needed to re-revolutionize the keypad for touchscreen devices, make it easier to use. So what did we get... just a larger version of what we already had. It’ll be incredibly hard to type on, unless you're lying flat with your knees holding the device up, or you buy the iPad Case (essentially an book cover).

BONUS: No Flash (We just couldn't stop at 5)
Most of us are probably accustomed to Apple devices not being Flash compatible, but if Apple is truly wanting to compete with other Netbooks they need to remedy this. With a larger screen comes more responsibilities, i.e. you can't just leave gigantic holes in the middle of webpages if you claim it to be "the best web experience you've ever had".

The iPad is still in its infancy, so we're sure that it'll get better with time. Only time will tell if Apple's iPad will be a success or an iFlop.