ABC said to have 3G-compatible iPad app on the way

We had a pretty clear indication that a 3G-compatible ABC iPad app could just be a matter of a relatively simple fix, and it looks like that is indeed the case -- Silicon Alley Insider is reporting that ABC has already submitted an updated app that adds 3G streaming to Apple for approval. Barring some unforeseen issues, that seems to be all but assured, and it will presumably function much like the Netflix app by knocking things down to a lower bitrate when you leave your WiFi comfort zone. Still no official word from ABC on this, but we'd suggest keeping a close eye on the app store if you've been craving some Dancing with the Stars on the go.

Source

Read more »

iPad 3G's non-WiFi video playback restrictions detailed

We could hear the echoing howls of discontent over the weekend as thousands finally received their very own iPad 3G and learned they couldn't watch Dancing With the Stars whilst on the go. Now we have the details on why, exactly, and the repercussions. As it turns out, it's simply a carry-over of an iPhone OS HTTP Live Streaming rule that states quite clearly:

You must include a low quality stream of no more than 64 Kbps for your app to resort to when network conditions demand it, along with the higher quality streams you want to deliver to your customers when the network can support it.

It seems the ABC Player devs chose to skip that option, so when you lose WiFi you also lose Tom Bergeron's charm and wit. Other apps, like Netflix and YouTube, do provide a lower bitrate fallback, but that of course results in nasty compression artifacts when on the go. In other words: there's a very good chance that 3G streaming will come in a future ABC Player release, but when it does it ain't gonna be pretty.

Source

Read more »

Secrets of the Chumby One: it can be turned into a 3G router

Need another reason to plop down a hundred bucks for a Chumby One? How about the fact that it can be turned into a 3G router without so much as a few minor tweaks? Of course, you'll also need a 3G USB modem, but the only other modifications required are a few changes to the Network Config settings, and a quick command in the drop-down console to configure the Chumby One as an access point. Add in a rechargeable battery and you've got a genuine MiFi alternative -- albeit perhaps the bulkiest one ever, which may or may not last for more than an hour. Hit up the link below for the complete details.

Source

Read more »

ICD's Tegra 2-powered Gemini is the most feature-complete tablet we've seen yet

Built around the 1GHz Tegra 2 SOC, the 11.2-inch ICD Gemini should provide comparable endurance to Apple's A4-sporting iPad, while besting it in the grunt stakes with its glorious ability to chew through 1080p video when required. If that wasn't enough, the rest of this thing's spec sheet reads like a wishlist. Headlined by a 3G connection that allows cellular voice calls (crazy, we know!), it also includes a user-replaceable 40Wh battery, an SD card reader, FM radio, GPS, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, MicroUSB connectivity to PCs and USB peripherals, stereo speakers, and dual webcams -- a 2 megapixel front-facing unit and a 5 megapixel autofocusing snapper on the back. Multitouch displays will be available in both resistive and capacitive flavors, with the 1,366 x 768 resolution being filled by Google's snappy Android OS. Oh, and did we mention it will run Flash? Because it will. Full specs and a comparison to its direct competitors await after the break, though we've yet to find out when this JooJoo killer will be making its arrival or at what price.

Update: We've come across a couple of real (i.e. not rendered) pictures of an earlier prototype for the Gemini, which looks generic as hell but should give you a good idea of the dimensions and scale of the device in question.

Source

Read more »

Verizon Wireless: 'all' 4G WWAN devices will support 3G, too

Hear that, kids? Tony Melone -- Verizon Wireless' Senior VP and CTO -- confirmed to us during a one-on-one meeting after the company's CTIA roundtable discussion that every last one of its data-only LTE WWAN devices (aircards, MiFi-type products and USB data sticks, for example) would also support 3G. Not too surprising given the natural ties between the two technologies, but it's still refreshing to hear that every 4G data-only product that launches (at least initially) on VZW will also be able to hop onto the company's 3G network if you just so happen to break away from an LTE area. Can't say that for a smattering of existing WiMAX products. In related news, Tony also affirmed that Verizon would be "interested" in getting a smartphone on its LTE network that could double as a mobile hotspot, exactly how the Palm Pre Plus does now (but on 3G, obviously). As for pricing when it comes to LTE data rates? Tony wouldn't give us any indication of the carrier's plans, but if it's anything similar to whispers we've heard in the past (not to mention rates already seen through Clearwire), it'll probably be at least marginally more expensive than what you're paying today for third-generation access.

Source

Read more »

Netcomm MyZone hands-on

Netcomm was at CTIA showing off its 3G pocket router, and while they admit it apes the MiFi, it builds on it in some pretty useful ways. Battery life purportedly outdoes its rival, with four hours use, even with multiple devices connected -- and when your batteries finally do tank, connecting it to your laptop will let it recharge and still allow wireless connectivity. The MyZone ships in both US and global 3G variants with both also packing quad-band EDGE, and 802.11g WiFi. Another handy feature -- at least for those that travel -- is the MyZone's ability to sort out the APN details for whatever carrier's SIM you happen to put in it, so using it is as simple as popping in your SIM and connecting. We didn't have an opportunity to get connected to it and give it a proper test drive, but we're waiting for one to arrive and as soon as we do we'll let you know how we get on. Few more pics right after the break.

Source

Read more »

Compaq Airlife 100 puts Android OS, Snapdragon CPU, and an SSD behind 10.1-inch touchscreen

HP's mobile computing unit appears to have decided that the term smartbook refers to putting a smartphone's components inside a netbook's body -- which kind of makes sense -- so they've built their Airlife 100 atop an Android OS platform, underpinned by a Snapdragon CPU (unconfirmed, but highly likely), a 16GB SSD, 3G and WiFi connectivity, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. We really can find no cause for complaint -- in fact this is the most excitement a Compaq-branded product has caused us... ever. HP touts a rock solid 12-hour battery life for the Airlife, which stretches out to a mighty 10 days of standby, in case you're one of those folks who hate to switch their electronics off. Announced in partnership with Telefonica, this smartbook will be offered as a subsidized part of mobile broadband service plans in Europe and Latin America. It may well find itself renamed under the HP Mini branding when it rolls around to the US, but for now head on over to Engadget Spanish for the full PR.

Source

Read more »

Michael Dell pulls Mini 5 Android tablet from his parka, offers to put one in yours in 'a couple of months' (video)

Hot on the heels of us thinking maybe the Dell Streak / Mini 5 was possibly due for a name change to the "M01M," a roving heckler from TechCrunch managed to catch the man himself, Michael Dell, on the street and get a quick demonstration of the thing -- which he with no uncertain terms referred to as the "Mini 5." He swiped through a number of home screens and quickly showed the five megapixel camera on the back, mentioned 3G wireless, and then tucked it away again. No price was given, but the biggest news is confirmation that it's coming out in "a couple of months," which is something of a surprise given the company was still calling it a concept just a few weeks ago. Video of this choice encounter is after the break.



Source

Read more »

FCC Approved Toshiba TG02 Smartphone

FCC has approved the successor to the Toshiba TG01 smartphone. Dubbed as the Toshiba TG02, the phone sports WiFI 802.11b/g and Bluetooth connectivity. However, the Toshiba TG02 doesn’t support 3G. According to rumors, the TG02 is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a 4.1-inch LCD display. Stay tuned for more updates.

-- Post From My iPhone

Read more »

HTC makes the HD mini official

Only when you’re talking about a phone designed in the same vein as the massive (though drop-dead gorgeous) HTC HD2 with its 4.3 inch display would you ever call a phone with a 3.2″ display “mini” . That’s exactly what HTC’s doing this morning in Barcelona, with the announcement of the Windows Mobile 6.5.3-powered HD mini.
Given the announcement of Windows Phone 7 series, yesterday, it may be a bit hard to get the ol’ salivary glands tickin’ over a WinMo 6 phone. With that said, remember: we’ve still got at least 7 or 8 months before the first WP7 handsets hit the market, and that’s a really, really long time in the Smartphone world.
Hitting Europe and Asia (No word yet about the US) sometime in April, the HD mini doesn’t seem quite as powerful as the device from which it gets its name – in other words, size isn’t the only thing they toned down here. The 1Ghz CPU of the HD2 has been replaced with a 600Mhz model, and the 3.2″ screen is 320×480 rather than 480×800. It’s got a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, though without the flash found on the HD2.
Lowered specs aside, I still expect this to be a damn decent handset. We’ll be spending a bit of time with it (and all the other HTC handsets announced today) later for a hands-on, so check back for our impressions.


-- Post From My iPhone

Read more »

HTC announces the Nexus One’s slightly cooler twin, the Desire

What’s in a name? Would a Nexus One by any other name still be as sweet? Yep. In fact, it might just be a bit sweeter.
Though it lacks almost any indication as such, Google’s Nexus One is actually made by HTC. HTC reserved the rights to the hardware design, and today they’re making good use of that decision with the announcement of the HTC Desire. It’s essentially the Nexus One reflavored to HTC’s liking.
After the Nexus One launched, a good number of gadget geeks went clamoring to HTC in hopes that they (or Google) would release a compatible port of the custom user interface overhaul that can be found on nearly any recent HTC-made Android handset. Alas, it’s not going to happen – the Nexus One is Google’s phone, and thus will always be 100% vanilla Android, just as Google intended.
The HTC Desire, however, is a different story. Sure, it may look almost identical to the Nexus One – and sure, it might be an almost spec-for-spec match. But the Desire is HTC’s phone, and thus, it runs Sense. Its got everything you might expect from a Sense-enabled handset, from multi-touch all around the OS to Flash in the browser.
Like the Nexus One, the Desire runs Android 2.1 on top of a palm-meltingly fast 1 Ghz CPU. Its got the same (stunning) 3.7″ AMOLED touchscreen, and the same 5 megapixel camera. The only real physical change is the jump from a standard trackball to an optical trackpad, just as we saw with the also-just-announced HTC Legend.
While HTC’s not sharing any details on when us folks in the US can get our mitts on it, Europe and Asia should see it hit by sometime in April.


-- Post From My iPhone

Read more »

T-Mobile gives an HTC HD2 reminder, now with more fun!

As promised, T-Mobile announced new features for the HD2 at Mobile World Congress today and I’ve gotta say, it isn’t all that thrilling.
If you’ve ever held the HD2 in your hands as I have (jealous much?), you’ll notice that the screen is unusually huge and vivid. The 4.3-inch WVGA display is perfect for games and movies. Coupled with Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor, this phone has a lot of multimedia potential. So that’s exactly what T-Mobile is doing — pumping up the media and fun.
The HD2 will come with Blockbuster On Demand so you can download videos wherever you are, and you’ll also be able to view that content on your TV, Blu-ray player and PC with Blockbuster software. To get the ball rolling, the HD2 will come pre-loaded with “Transformers” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” right on the 16GB memory card.
Goodies thrown into the package are MobiTV, free Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi for up to six months, and Barnes & Noble’s e-Reader app. Did I say this device wasn’t that thrilling? I take that back. The only reason not to get one of these bad boys is if you have a serious aversion to Windows Mobile, especially with Windows Phone 7 coming later this year. Otherwise, if you find yourself drooling over this phone’s features, you’ll be waiting in anticipation until an official release date is announced.

-- Post From My iPhone

Read more »

HTC introduce the HTC Smart, an affordable and easy-to-use smartphone

HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, and Telefónica are today announcing an exclusive partnership to sell the HTC Smart, an affordable and easy-to-use smartphone in Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The HTC Smart is a new type of smartphone that offers easy-to-use widgets, browsing and connectivity at an affordable price. “More and more people are craving advanced mobile phone experiences with email, web browsing and social networking but the cost and complexity often represent a significant obstacle for many. The HTC Smart introduces this functionality in an intuitive phone that is affordable,” said Peter Chou, chief executive officer, HTC Corporation. “With the HTC Smart, HTC and Telefónica share a similar vision for bringing easy-to-use, affordable smartphone experience to the masses.”
HTC Sense

The HTC Smart embodies HTC Sense , HTC’s unique design philosophy that focuses the mobile experience on people. The HTC Smart’s compact touch design integrates the pillars of HTC Sense – Make It Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected – to deliver a user-friendly user experience. People can customise their own, personal HTC Smart experience using a variety of widgets for quick access to contacts, photos, music, weather and more. People are able to follow their friends’ status updates using HTC Friend Stream, an application that seamlessly aggregates all of your social communication including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr into one organised flow of updates. This simple aggregation makes it easier than ever to focus on what friends are doing as well as the images and links that they share.

“We believe this is a key move in our ability to bring smartphones to a far wider cross section of the population,” said Matthew Key, chief executive officer of Telefónica Europe. “The benefits of web browsing on the move and ability to experience applications like mobile social networking will now be brought to the mass market and reinforces O2’s position as the home of the smartphone.”

HTC Smart utilises Qualcomm’s Brew Mobile Platform (Brew MP), a powerful and popular mobile operating system that enables HTC to deliver the HTC Sense experience on more affordable smartphones. By pioneering a new era of mass-market smartphones, Brew MP also provides the HTC Smart with a mass-market opportunity for new applications and services from software developers worldwide.

“Qualcomm’s collaborations with HTC have resulted in some of the most innovative smartphones the market has seen in recent years,” says Paul Jacobs, chief executive officer of Qualcomm Incorporated. “The HTC Smart is a budget-friendly smartphone that delivers a really exciting user experience. We are pleased to be supporting HTC’s move to bring this advanced mobile experience and HTC Sense to the widest possible audience.”

-- Post From My iPhone

Read more »

Peek TwitterPeek: Twitter Only Device, Nothing Else

When it comes to handheld devices, the most popular has to be smartphones, nothing else comes close. Just occasionally a device is launched that makes you think “Are they serious,” and you then look very surprised when you learn that they are. This is just what we thought when the TwitterPeek was previewed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night.
The device made by Peek is a Twitter only device and will not do anything else. All you can do is send and read Tweets, as well as send personal messages in Twitter. Peek has done something similar in the past with a device that can only send e-mails.
TwitterPeek comes with a Full QWERTY keyboard, ideal for sending Tweets. Geek.com have been looking more closely at the device and said that although this is a device designed for use with Twitter, Tweets only show as text, you cannot click on them as the device is unable to go onto the Internet.
TwitterPeak comes in Twitter Blue and can be purchased from Peek or Amazon. The price is $99.99, this gives you 6 months of service, then will cost $7.95 a month after that. However, if you pay a one-off fee of $199.99, you will receive a lifetime subscription to the service.



-- Post From My iPhone

Read more »

MyTouch 3G Fender Limited Version

T-Mobile fans can now look onward to a novel phone. T-Mobile has avowed the forthcoming obtainability of the T-Mobile myTouch 3G Fender Limited Edition. The business also proclaimed collaboration with renowned musician and Fender guitarist Eric Clapton to aid in unsealing the latest handset.
The handset comes with a novel design and loftier qualities to produce an exclusive mobile music experience. The device will be obtainable with pre-installed classics of Clapton like Layla, My Father’s Eyes, Rock ‘N’ Roll Heart and Wonderful Tonight. Since the phone was planned with the collaboration of Fender, the handset has a Fender guitar sunburst-finish motivated design. The stratagem comprises a 16GB microSD card to preserve thousands of songs/videos, a 3.5mm headset jack and a superior music player. The music player, produced by HTC, can distribute an impulsive consumer interface that allows toggling between sundry views or for changing a song or album by just touching the album art. It also lets consumers create ringtones from songs that are frolicking.
Mark Van Vleet, senior vice president of Business Affairs, FenderMusical Instruments, mentioned, “In a modern culture that forms an essential bond between music, mobile devices and one’s individual lifestyle, Fender is very proud to partner with T-Mobile on the exclusive new T-Mobile myTouch 3G Fender Limited Edition. This is an exciting and innovative way to connect people to their passion for great music wherever they go, and we are thrilled to share this news with our customers and fans.”


-- Post From My iPhone

Read more »

LG Mini GD880: Minuscule by name, infinitesimal by nature

LG has revealed its newest effort in the mobile-phone arena — the GD880. If you find that name a tiny fiddly to cloak your tongue around, you’ll be enchanted to learn it also goes by the Mini moniker.
As you may have predicted, the Mini’s chief draw will be its size. When it’s free to European marketplaces in March, the Mini will be rocking a definitely diminutive, 81mm (3.2-inch) touchscreen.
This minuscule screen will be packed into a petite housing, which, arbitrating by the press photos, will be perfectly suave, save for a rare buttons round the verges. The Mini’s face, though, will be totally button-free. That does ample for the handset’s appearances, but might hamper usability.
Facets-wise, the Mini will be sporting a 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, and — joy of joys — social-media incorporation. LG has also pledged push email and quick Web browsing, though how easy it will be to surf the Net on the little screen remains to be seen.
Seemingly, the Mini was designed in reply to specific needs from customers who consider present touchscreen handsets ‘too bulky, too clunky and too expensive’.
Hmm. We haven’t precisely been overwhelmed with grievances about bulky smart phones, but we’re enthusiastic to see how the Mini’s numerous traits will look on the small screen, and whether, if the value is right, LG’s newest proposing could become the toast of the budget-smart-phone town.
There’s no word yet on which networks will be proposing the Mini, or how much it’ll price when it launches, but keep it CNET for all the newest.


-- Post From My iPhone

Read more »

Samsung WAVE launches on Valentines Day!

No, Samsung isn’t hurling any social networking site for lovers. Wave is the latest name they have given to their first Super AMOLED handset, which is extensively speculated to be launched at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, in less then 24 hours from now.
Guys at Engadget came across a teaser on the Samsung Unpacked site that speaks “on Feb 14, a new mobile from Samsung is born. See it First in Barcelona”. There is a sturdy speculation that this novel mobile may well be Samsung’s first smartphone with its own OS – the Bada OS (“bada” means “ocean” in Korean).
Precisely, it’s called S8500 Wave. And one of the revelation features is its support of USB 3.0 (& bluetooth 3.0), which is yet to go mainstream. The Super AMOLED here refers to the 800 X 480 resolution and is claimed to have better discernibility, when used out in the open (20% higher than competing phones).
Here are some other specs :
1 GHz processor
5 megapixel autofocus camera with flash
720p video recording
2GB of internal memory (or microSD expansion)
802.11b/g/n WiFi and HSDPA data
DivX video support
USb 3.0 / Bluetooth 3.0
a 3.5-mm audio jack (in a device measuring 10.9-mm thick)


-- Post From My iPhone

Read more »

D-link MyPocket 3G router comming soon

If you’re looking for a new 3G router you will soon have a new option to choose from as the D-Link myPocket 3G router has just gotten approval from the FCC.

This router does essentially the same thing as the MiFi in the sense that it will give you WiFi access to 7.2Mbps (depending on your provider) HSPA mobile internet over the 850 and 1900MHz bands.

Exactly what carrier will pick this up if any, we don’t know, but as soon as we do we’ll relay the information to you.

Read more »