News

• Apple Bows to Developer Complaints September 9, 2010
  Apple today released a statement about some revisions it is making to its developer guidelines. It is making changes to sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2 and 3.3.9 that, in effect, reverse some of the changes Apple made earlier this year. Apple explained, "We are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, as long as the resulting apps do not download any code. This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need. In addition, for the first time we are publishing the App Store Review Guidelines to help developers understand how we review submitted apps. We hope it will make us more transparent and help our developers create even more successful apps for the App Store." Apple had upset developers earlier this year when it imposed the third-party tool restrictions. Apple says that it took developer feedback to heart and decided to make this change in reflection of developer wishes. The end result should mean better applications for iOS users in the long run.
• Opera Refreshes Mini Browser for Windows Mobile September 9, 2010
  Opera today released Opera Mini 5.1 for the Windows Mobile platform. Opera Mini 5.1 includes support for high-resolution displays, support for accelerometer control and the ability to set Opera Mini 5.1 as the default browser. Opera also notes that Opera Mini 5.1 includes improved page layout and font rendering. It is compatible with Windows Mobile 2003 SE, 5.x and 6.x devices. The download is free from Opera.
• ARM Debuts Cortex-A15 MPCore Processor September 9, 2010
  ARM today introduced its latest processor chip for smartphones and other mobile devices. The Cortex-A15 MPCore adds hardware support for OS virtualization, soft-error recovery, and larger memory capabilities while maintaining the Cortex line's power efficiency. It works with a number of mobile and software platforms, such as Android, Flash, Java SE, Java FX, Linux, Window Embedded 7, Symbian and Ubuntu. The Cortex-A15 MPCore processor will be initially targeting 32nm and 28nm technologies with a roadmap extending to 20nm. ARM says the Cortex-A15 MPCore can range up to 2.5GHz for advanced applications, though its smartphone-compatible dual-core processors will cap off at 1.5GHz.
• T-Mobile Shares More Details About First HSPA+ Phone September 9, 2010
  T-Mobile has offered more details about the T-Mobile G2, an HTC-built follow up to the original Android phone, the G1. The G2 will be the first handset to take advantage of T-Mobile's HSPA+ network. The phone will feature a 3.7-inch touchscreen on a "unique hinge" with a QWERTY that slides beneath. The phone will run Android 2.2 on an 800 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7230 processor. A 5 megapixel camera will take still images and record 720p video. The phone will come with 4GB of internal storage and an 8GB microSD card pre-installed. Besides the hardware QWERTY, Swype will provide a gesture-based keyboard. The T-Mobile G2 will be available for preorder to existing customers first, starting later this month. Pricing and specific availability are still unknown.
• Apple Makes iOS 4.1 Available to the iPhone September 8, 2010
  Apple today made iOS 4.1 available to the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 3G. Apple says iOS 4.1 has fixed the proximity sensor bug and performance issues on the iPhone 3G. It also adds a number of new features, including High Dynamic Range (HDR) image capture; Game Center is now also built into iOS; the ability to upload HD video captured with the iPhone via Wi-Fi; TV rentals; and the ability to conduct FaceTime video chats with users of the new iPod Touch.
• Google Instant Hitting Mobile Devices Later this Fall September 8, 2010
  Google today introduced a change to its main internet search product called Google Instant. From Google.com, users who are signed into their accounts will see that Google Search performs instantaneous searches for queries as users type them. The tool is right now only available from desktop browsers. However, Google noted that Google Instant will be made available to mobile devices via their browser at some point later this fall. Google said that Google Instant should work in any mobile browser capable of handling AJAX. Google is first testing it on the Android and iPhone platforms, and is still weighing whether or not to offer it to BlackBerry 6, as well. The goal behind Google Instant is to reduce the time it takes to conduct searches and boost personal productivity.
• Comcast Intros Text-For-Account-Info Service September 8, 2010
  Comcast today announced the launch of COMCAST4U, a new sms short code service that Comcast customers can use to access account and other information for free. Once customers register their account and mobile number, they can issue commands via short code to Comcast to obtain information such as what's on TV now, what that night's primetime lineup looks like, sports schedules and scores, account balance, cancel service calls, and report service outages. The service will automatically send alerts for appointment reminders, payment confirmations, service information, and account due/past due reminders. The service is launching first in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, as well as portions of New Jersey and northern Delaware. Comcast will begin rolling out the service to other markets over time, and expects to offer it to all customers by the close of the first half of 2011. The service works with most wireless network operators, and can be turned on/off at any time.
• Nokia N8 Arriving End of September in the U.S. for $549 September 8, 2010
  Nokia has made the Nokia N8 device available for pre-order in a number of countries, including the U.S. Other countries where the N8 is available for pre-order include the U.K., France, Italy, and Germany. The N8 has been available for pre-order for a while, but Nokia has updated the ship date of the N8, which will hit the U.K. and the U.S. at the end of September. Nokia has yet to announce when the N8 will be available in other markets. The Nokia U.S. web store lists the N8's price at $549 with out a contract.
• T-Mobile's 'Kids Are Free' Plan Means the Kids Are All Right September 8, 2010
  T-Mobile today announced a new promotion called Kids Are Free. With Kids Are Free, new and existing T-Mobile customers who sign up for a family plan through Nov. 2, 2010, receive free add-a-line service on up to three lines of their plan until 2012. T-Mobile also indicated that Family Plan subscribers will have access to other promotions, such as special discounts on select devices, and unlimited messaging for the entire family for $20 per month. Even More family plans start at $60 per month and Even More Plus family plans start at $50 per month.
• RIM Confirms DataViz Acquisition September 7, 2010
  Research In Motion today confirmed reports that it has purchased business application developer DataViz. RIM said in a prepared statement, "RIM has acquired some of the assets of DataViz and hired the majority of its employees to focus on supporting the BlackBerry platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but the transaction was not material to RIM in the context of RIM's financial results." DataViz is known for its mobile Documents To Go software, which lets a number of smartphone platforms access and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
• Energizer Offering Qi-based Wireless Charging Accessory September 7, 2010
  Energizer today announced a new wireless inductive charging accessory that works with a number of smartphones, such as the iPhone and BlackBerry Curve 8900. Energizer's new Inductive Charger is one of the first to make use of the recently-finalized Qi specification from the Wireless Power Consortium. The spec, which was finalized in July, sets the ground rules for device and accessory makers for building compatible wireless charing solutions. The Energizer Inductive Charger is large enough for two devices to fit at a time and doesn't require them to lock to a specific spot on the pad. There is also a USB port that can be used to charge an additional phone. LED lights alert users as to the status of the charge. The Energizer Inductive Charger requires that devices be fitted with a special sleeve in order for the charging to properly work. Energize plans to introduce a sleeve for the iPhone 3GS/3G and replacement battery cover for the BlackBerry Curve 8900. The charger will cost $90, and the sleeves will cost $35. Both will become available in October. In the future, Qi technology will be build directly onto handsets, negating the need for the additional sleeve.
• ZTE Agent Hired by MetroPCS to Sign Up New Customers September 7, 2010
  MetroPCS recently made the ZTE Agent available for sale via its web site. The Agent is a candybar phone that has a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 1.3 megapixel camera with video capture, music player with 3.5mm headset jack, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (with A2DP) and support for microSD cards up to 16GB. According to MetroPCS, the Agent also has GPS, a WAP browser, and runs Qualcomm's BREW platform. The Agent has tri-band CDMA 1xRTT radios, and costs $69.
• Google Voice Now Offering Missed Call Notifications September 7, 2010
  Google today announced that Google Voice can now provide missed call notifications in both a user's Google Voice inbox and Gmail inbox if they so wish. The feature can be turned on in the Google Voice settings menu.
• SD Association Rolls Out New 300Mbps SDXC/SDHC Spec September 7, 2010
  The SD Association today announced a new design for memory cards that improves bus interface speeds to 300Mbps for both SDXC and SDHC cards and devices. The SD Association achieved the new speeds by introducing a dual-row pin configuration. The SD Association says that the new option will be available to full-sized SD cards as well as microSD cards, and will not require card makers to change the physical form factor of the cards. The design will be included in the forthcoming SD 4.0 specification, which is expected to be ratified in 2011.
• Motorola and Ericsson Teaming on LTE Safety Initiative September 7, 2010
  Motorola and Ericsson have announced a new partnership aimed at providing public safety agencies with the best possible set of mobile tools, including a new Long Term Evolution-based voice and data mobile broadband system. Ericsson will provide public safety agencies its LTE technology backbone, and Motorola will provide its devices, video security and command and control solutions. The combined mobile broadband, devices, and command center tools will help public agencies have access to real-time data and improved communications capabilities during emergencies.
• LG Picks Tegra 2 Dual-Core CPUs for Optimus Phones September 7, 2010
  LG today announced that it will be using Nvidia's Tegra 2 line of dual-core processors for "a series of fast, powerful smartphones starting in the fourth quarter of 2010." LG didn't specifically define what operating system will be running the Tegra 2, but LG did mention that the Tegra 2 will be used in its Optimus-branded smartphones. LG recently announced that Optimus 7 will be the branding used for its Windows Phone 7 devices, which go on sale during the fourth quarter, too. In addition to two 1GHz cores, the Tegra 2 also has Nvidia's GeForce graphics processing unit, support for 1080p HD playback, and 3D gaming capabilities.
• Samsung Fascinate Hits Verizon Stores September 9 September 7, 2010
  Verizon Wireless today announced that the Samsung Fascinate Galaxy S Android device will be available from its online store starting Wednesday, September 8, and will be available in Verizon retail stores starting Thursday, September 9. The Fascinate will cost $200 after mail-in rebate with a new contract.
• Samsung Announces New Memory, Camera, Processor Chips September 7, 2010
  Samsung today announced a slew of new technical components for mobile devices. First, Samsung has developed new embedded memory modules for smartphones that adopt the e-MMC 4.41 specification. This specification's biggest improvement is that it provides improved multitasking and the ability to help devices better manage read/write cycles. Samsung has already started manufacturing the 8GB moviNAND chips, and will follow with the 16GB chips later this month. Second, Samsung introduced a range of new CMOS sensors for mobile devices, including the S5K4E5 module for smartphones. This new CMOS sensor has adopted back side illuminated (BSI) pixel technology, which improves low-light performance by 30%. The S5K4E5 has a 5 megapixel sensor and supports video capture at 30 frames per second. Samsung claims it also has reduced lag time for faster picture taking. Third, Samsung introduced a new, dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor for smartphones. The new processor, which is named Orion, has two processor cores each with 32Kb data cache, 32Kb instruction cache, and 1MB L2 cache. Samsung says the Orion is ideal for multimedia applications, and it supports 30 frames per second video playback, full 1080p HD video recording, and 3D gaming with its enhanced graphics processing unit. The Orion will be sampling by the fourth quarter of 2010, and Samsung expects it to go into full production in the first quarter of 2011.
• Samsung to Use New Plant to Boost Display Production September 6, 2010
  Samsung Mobile Display expects that a new plant, scheduled to open in July 2011, will help it meet the growing demand for its displays for smartphones and other products. The new plant will increase Samsung's production capabilities tenfold, jumping from 3 million per month today to 30 million per month when the plant opens. Samsung is going to spend about $2.1 billion to set up the plant, which will be located near Seoul. It will primarily be used for 3-inch smartphone screens. Lee Woo-Jong, vice president of marketing for the display business, said to Down Jones Newswire in an email, "We've put in a great deal of effort to move up mass production." Lee said Samsung has not given its own Galaxy S Android phones priority over orders from its smartphone competitors. He noted that the shortage has affected Samsung, too. Demand for Samsung's AMOLED displays has left phone makers unable to manufacture enough of their own devices. Companies such as HTC have been impacted, which eventually had to use Super LCD displays from Sony in order to keep up with orders of its devices from carriers such as Verizon Wireless.
• LG Adds Swipe-to-Share DLNA Tech to Windows Phone 7 September 6, 2010
  LG today announced that it will be branding its Windows Phone 7 devices LG Optmus 7. LG also announced that it is incorporating DLNA media sharing technology into its forthcoming line of Windows Phone 7 devices. The unique feature that LG is introducing will allow users to automatically share media content by simply swiping the content up off the top of the screen. The Korea Times explains that the Optimus 7 device will see other compatible DLNA equipment that's in range, and users will be able to choose which device they flick the content to. Files that can be shared include 720p HD videos, high-resolution photos and high-quality music files. LG's Optimus 7 Windows Phone 7 line is expected to launch during the fourth quarter of 2010.