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March 28th, 2011
As Nokia continues to rebuild itself from the ground up, the company is paying special attention to its marketing. Remember the days when there was the Nokia Sans typeface, well you can say goodbye to that as the company is moving on with a more streamlined typeface; one that many are claiming is more in line with what Microsoft has to offer for its Windows Phone 7 fonts.
The company has gone ahead and published an 800-word justification for why it decided to dump Nokia Sans and in turn replace it with Nokia Pure. According to the article, the new font is described as “beauty in supreme usability.” An excerpt from the company’s blog reads as follows:
Nokia Pure also needed to feel open, inviting and friendly, reflecting Nokia’s heritage in approachable, human design. So we were after organic, flowing forms – nothing stressed, mechanical or too obviously ‘on trend’. There were other considerations too, notably that the design should translate across many different alphabets – everything from Greek and Cyrillic, to Arabic and Japanese. And because creating a new typeface is such a huge investment in time, skill and money, we had to have one capable of doing its job for at least a decade.
Of course this is coming just a few months after the company officially announced it would be dropping support for the aging Symbian OS and in turn use Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 to power their devices from here on out. Could it be that Mr. Elop is trying to make sure that the font of the company and that of WP7 look matched on their boxing and not necessarily out of place as has been the case on many an Android device? Honestly we don’t know, and frankly we couldn’t care, as long as this translates into a good blend of hardware and software, we’re good.
Source: Nokia
Tags: Nokia, Nokia-Pure, Windows-Phone-7
Posted in Nokia Phones | No Comments »
March 28th, 2011
Here goes one of those ideas that you’re probably asking yourself how come no one has thought of it before. While Amazon has been working on dominating the eReader arena as well as making sure that the Kindle app is available for every major internet connected device, the company is also expanding its tentacles in the Android region.
As you might have heard, Amazon launched their AppStore last week and to celebrate the company offered a free download of Angry Birds Rio to whoever downloaded their app store app. We’ll be prepared to be a bit more amazed as the company has decided to up the ante against Google’s Marketplace by offering a feature that we’re sure will be duplicated in many other app stores in the near future.
Thanks to the Test Drive feature, prospective app buyers will be able to use an app they are interested in within a virtual device and thus can make a decision on whether they want to actually use the app or not before actually purchasing the app. Amazon explains the feature as follows:
Clicking the “Test drive now” button launches a copy of this app on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), a web service that provides on-demand compute capacity in the cloud for developers. When you click on the simulated phone using your mouse, we send those inputs over the Internet to the app running on Amazon EC2 – just like your mobile device would send a finger tap to the app. Our servers then send the video and audio output from the app back to your computer. All this happens in real time, allowing you to explore the features of the app as if it were running on your mobile device.
Unfortunately the feature is only for U.S customers at the moment, but it should be rolling out for everyone shortly including us here in the U.K.
Source: Engadget
Tags: Amazon, Amazon-app-store, Google, google-android
Posted in Android Mobile Phones | No Comments »
March 24th, 2011
It has been long rumored that Apple was working on a 3G version of its laptop for the longest. According to a new patent granted to Apple a few days ago, it seems like the company might be closer then suspected to completing said laptop. According to the new patent filing, the device will feature a detachable magnetic antenna for connecting the laptop to the internet when away from the home or office.
The patent was first revealed by Patently Apple who announced that Apple acquired the patent in the US just this week. The antenna which is one of the biggest components of the patent sits atop the screen and features a technology similar to Apple’s MagSafe power adapter that allows the antenna to be easily detached should it be bumped, knocked or stepped on.
According to earlier patents, it was thought that Apple was working on an iPhone 4 style antennas, one that would be built into the chassis of the computer. However, it can be assumed that in light of the iPhone 4’s multiple antenna troubles, the company thought it might be a better idea to leave that idea at the drawing board instead of risking another public backlash.
Of course there are no release dates on patents, so our guess is as good as yours as to when such a MacBook could make it to the market. However it should be noted that the company does have a 3G equipped iPad which runs on both CDMA and GSM radios so if that is any indication as to what the future might hold, we could be looking at a MacBook that sports GSM and or CDMA networks for those stuck on CDMA in North America, and one for is (GSM) and the rest of the world.
Source: Cnet
Tags: Apple-MacBook-3G
Posted in Apple Phones | No Comments »
March 22nd, 2011
With Apple’s marketing, it could be believed by many consumers that the iPad was the first tablet. Far from it however as there were Android tablets way before the iPad (namely from ARCHOS) and before that, tablets have been living in the industrial and corporate world for well over a decade. What Apple does get credit for is bringing the first tablet to the market that had a major consumer appeal.
In the wake of Android Honeycomb 3.0 and Apple’s iOS 4.3 and the iPad, Microsoft, the only other major player in the mobile operating system department (now that Symbian is breathing it’s last breaths) has been taking it’s time with bringing a tablet to the market that can rival the iPad. Yes there have been Microsoft Windows 7 tablets before, but none of them quite lived up to expectation performance wise (hello HP Slate).
That changes with the Eee Slate from ASUS. This is a fully fledged tablet with the power of a notebook (not netbook). After seeing the specs such as 4GB of DDR# RAM, Intel Core i5 processor and a host of connectivity options, it is clear to see that this tablet is anything but ordinary in terms of power.
With their latest commercials, Microsoft and ASUS are taking real customer stories to show how the tablet is useful. One of the biggest things both companies are playing on here is the device is not limited to an app store or the web. Almost any program that can run on a regular desktop can run on the ASUS Eee Slate with no performance decline. Those are big statements, but after seeing demos of Photoshop and other graphically intense programs on the tablet, we are inclined to believe Microsoft and ASUS. Check out all four commercials below and tell us what you think.
Source: Engadget
Tags: Asus-Eee-Slate, Microsoft
Posted in Asus Phones, Microsoft Phones | No Comments »
March 17th, 2011
Every company seems to be making a tablet these days and Nokia is no exception. It has not been uncommon knowledge that Nokia has been looking into the tablet market for some time. Thanks to a patent filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, we have a bit more evidence of the company’s aspirations and plans.
The federal agency recently published the documents for the patent that was filed May 28th 2010. That said, it should be noted that the design is probably a MeeGo machine that was set for world domination but was probably shelved thanks to the move towards Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 system.
 Unfortunately there are not design specs concerning the device, but judging from the 3.5mm port on the side, we’re pegging this at a 9 or 10 inch slate with a couple of ports which judging from size could be USB, HDMI, SD card and SIM slot.
Although the company has not come outright and claimed the existence or the lack thereof of the device, it has been widely thought that Nokia decided to shelve the idea, at least for the time being as it takes up Windows Phone 7 as it looks to compete better with the iPhone and Android line of phones.
If Nokia plans to manufacture such a device in the future is not sure although the company has said it plans to manufacture a MeeGo device, smartphone, by the end of the year for developer’s purpose. Nokia has continued to iterate that it is still dedicated to maintain MeeGo and work with Intel on bringing devices to the market, but it will be placing more priority on Windows Phone 7. Hopefully the company decides to offer some more details about this tablet in the future.
Tags: Nokia-tablet
Posted in Nokia Phones | No Comments »
March 17th, 2011
In light of Nokia’s new partnership, many have been wondering if the company is dumping its joint venture of MeeGo with Intel altogether. Thankfully for those who are interested, the company has reaffirmed its dedication to the new platform and has hinted that there will be at least one MeeGo device on the market before the end of 2011.
We’re now hearing that even though Nokia officially scrapped the MeeGo packing N9, it will bring the forthcoming OS to the N900 series. Jukka Eklund, Nokia’s developer edition product manager released the news in an email to MeeGo developers and it reads as follows.
“Basically we want to have MeeGo running in N900 device, so that it’s really usable as your daily development device. Basic Handset UX should work, phone calls, SMS, web browsing. So we are concentrating on a few selected features and polish those to be perfect. It might mean that we leave out some things in MeeGo 1.2 trunk for this edition, but that is not the default intention. We are doing this fully on the open, and I hope this is an interesting project where we all in the community work towards the same goal: have a great MeeGo edition in the N900.”
This should be a breath of fresh air to prospective developers who have been scared of their minds thanks to the recent matrimony of the Finnish and Redmond based company, and it doesn’t help that Nokia’s CEO, Stephen Elop, recently styled the MeeGo platform as a “disruptive technology.” What he means by that, we have no idea but it could hint that the company’s R&D team has been given internal orders to spend more time developing Windows Phone 7 devices and put MeeGo on the back burner.
Tags: MeeGo, Nokia, Nokia-N900
Posted in Nokia Phones | No Comments »
March 8th, 2011
Augmented reality is one of those technology concepts that sound exceptionally awesome on paper but until recently has been taking a little longer than expected to hit mainstream devices. However, it looks like the adaptation of augmented reality might be moving a bit faster than we thought thanks to the Layar, one of the highest profile augmented reality apps, currently on Android and iOS finally coming to Nokia devices, those that run Symbian at least.
As we speak, the Layar Reality Browser is live on Nokia’s Ovi Store for handsets like the Nokia N8 and Nokia E7. For those new to the Layer concept, it is one of many AR apps which allow you to overlay digital content and information on the view of the real world through the phones camera. Developers can than create individual layers for the app (which gives it its name) and each layer display something different. For instance, you have layers that allow you to see local tweets while others show the property prices or shopping data of nearby real estate and stores. There are game layers and for those who are Beatles fans, a theme of said band which contains a tour of London.
In order to utilize the app, you will need a GPS equipped Symbian handset with a front facing camera, compass and accelerometer. Currently, Layer supports the following Nokia handsets, the N97, N97 mini, N8, C7, C6-01 and the E7.
“We are proud to help bring augmented reality to the masses, and with Nokia and Symbian — which remain juggernauts in the mobile industry with millions of users and devices in the market — we are significantly closer to that goal,” said CEO of Layer Der Klein.
So if you’re into the augmented reality fad, get moving to the Ovi Store from your compatible device and begin downloading.
Source: Cnet
Tags: Augmented-Reality, Layar, Nokia, Symbian
Posted in Nokia Phones | No Comments »
March 8th, 2011
Believe it or not, the British Broadcasting Center is planning on offering it’s iPlayer at a cost for international subscribers. While this might sound nice idea for many users who are fans of the media powerhouse but are across the seas or land, at £6.13 it might strike many as a bit steep.
The player is set to be launced later this year on the iPad and according to Mark Thompson, the player will be “a small number of dollars per month, definitely fewer than 10.” Mark Thompson, who spoke at the FT Digital Media and Broadcasting conference in London on Wednesday, went on to say that “We’re exploring internationally what the right pricing and models are … the most important thing is the consumer pricing is right.” According to Mark, this would allow the BBC to “sell directly to consumers” without the rebranding of shows which occurs very often when UK programs are bought by international blockbusters.
Continuing the discussion concerning mobile broadcasting in the country, Thompson said that “I believe that there’s a strong case for the UK’s broadcasters, mobile phone operators, Ofcom and government to come together to develop a roadmap for the introduction of mobile TV in this country.”
While the price for such an app appears a bit steep for many, it should be noted that the app would offer access to many of the BBC’s archived shows as well and it would be a one stop destination for almost everything shown on the BBC both past and present. However, the job of convincing subscribers that $10 is reasonable for such a service can be easier said than done. Only time will tell if this pricing model is correct or not.
Source: Guardian
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPad, BBC, BBC-iPlayer
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
March 8th, 2011
RIM has had to make some serious adjustments in recent years thanks to the onslaught of Android and iOS and while it has been pushing more touch oriented phones in the past months as well as the BlackBerry PlayBook which is set to compete with the likes of the iPad, Xoom and Galaxy Tab, they have still been losing market share. That said, it looks like the company could be making an about face in some sorts by offering one the most popular features from the Blackberry line on its competitors operating system.
That’s right folks, according to closes sources to the company, RIM is planning to offer a version of BlackBerry Messenger for the Android and iOS platform, albeit a stripped down version. In any case however, this would be great for many individuals who were loyal BlackBerry fans until recently when they decided to defect to the camps of Android and iOS.
According to the same sources, the Android version of the software is expected to hit the Android Marketplace before the end of the year while the iOS version is slated for some time next year due to Apple’s excessive rules and regulations.
While many analysts see might look at this as a sign of defeat, if played right, RIM could not only play both sides of the game, but they could influence many users on other platforms to try their software without having to use one of their devices. If this is the case, just like Microsoft which has taken a nonchalant approach to hardware, RIM could than use the extra leverage from the new base of loyal users to market new BlackBerry products to. Of course, all this is speculation and only time will tell if the rumors were true, but at any rate the idea of BBM on another platform does sound cool.
Source: Engadget
Tags: Apple-iOS, BlackBerry, BlackBerry-Messenger, google-android, RIM
Posted in Blackberry Phones | No Comments »
March 3rd, 2011
It is truly the year of tablets and with Apple just announcing their latest refresh to the iPad 2, other companies are coming forward as well with plans of release dates for their respective products. One such company is Acer who back in February at Mobile World Congress announced the existence of the Acer Iconia Tab A100 and Iconia Tab A500 Android Honeycomb tablets that will be heading to Vodafone sometime in the near future.
Vodafone Germany has confirmed the rumors that it will be stocking said tablets by the end of the month although it has not confirmed whether the duo of tablets will be heading to the shores of Great Britain or not. However, we know a European launch is on the table so we would be very surprised if they did not come here.
The A500 tablet sports a 10.1 inch screen while the A100 sports a 7 inch screen. The A500 is equipped with 1GB of RAM while the A100 has the RAM cut in half to 512MB. Storage on the A500 is listed at 16GB and 32GB variants; the A100 has its storage cut to 8GB.
Both the A100 and A500 will come with Android 3.0 Honeycomb at launch, a 5 megapixel rear facing camera, 2 megapixel front facing camera for video conferencing and 1080p HD video playback thanks to HDMI out. Connectivity is limited to Bluetooth, 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and no NFC support, not that that would be practical in the first place.
Pricing on either tablets have been yet to be confirmed, but we will go out on a limb and expect to Acer to bring this well under the price of the Xoom and something more in line with the price of the iPad 2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Source: Twitter
Tags: Acer, Acer-Iconia-Tab-A100, Acer-Iconia-Tab-A500
Posted in Acer Phones | No Comments »
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