SimFlecks » Handheld Devices

YouTube Goes Any Where With Two New Add-ons

Ian — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:24:57 +0000

YouTube has had a big day today, launching YouTube Leanback, and a new mobile site.

YouTube Leanback

Today, YouTube officially opened Leanback, which we first heard about during the Google TV announcement earlier this year. If you don’t have YouTube on your T.V. through a BlueRay player or another device, you will now have it through Google T.V. Leanback is built around a keyboard arrow key interface, with no option for a mouse. And Google was so kind as to make a video of how Leanback works, as seen below.

YouTube Mobile

In addition to YouTube Leanback, YouTube has also launched a new mobile site, with a brand new, slick look — making the UI more touch-friendly, and finally incorporating some of the main site’s well used elements such as favorites and ratings. YouTube also promises to work at bringing updates more frequently to the mobile site than before when they used separate apps per-platform.

YouTube now exists any where. From your computer at home, to your TV, and then even on the go with a universal mobile site, you can get YouTube any where, and anytime.

iPhone 4 For Verizon — There May Still Be Hope

Ian — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:15:05 +0000

It’s amazing how much mystery still covers the new iPhone, even after it’s been revealed to the public and when it’s being released this month. Out of all the unanswered questions, one of the bigger ones are, “Will it be out for Verizon?”, the answer? It looks like it will, “The supply chain was on notice for production of a CDMA version of the iPhone to begin as early as [the third quarter of 2010].” So unless AT&T is switching from their SIM cards to CDMA, it looks like Verizon maybe receiving the new iPhone 4 . (source: Wall Street Journal)

This move would open up a whole new arena of consumers for Apples Mobile Products (that is if they do the same for the iPad), and means that Apple won’t be limited by AT&T any more.

Apple Vs… Nintendo?

Ian — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:43:17 +0000

As odd as it sounds, it’s true. It was back in november that Nintendo’s CEO Satoru Iwata stated that he was uncomfortable with attempts to pit his company against Apple, because he didn’t see any competition. His opinion has changed since then. He now sees a growing gaming threat from Apple against Nintendo. They aren’t mortal enemies yet, but Iwata told his senior executives earlier that Apple was Nintendo’s “enemy of the future.” If this still sounds odd to you, think of it this way:

Apple sold 8.75 million iPhones in the first quarter of 2010 and wad moved 1 million iPads in the first month. So that’s 50 million iPhones in total, and 35 million iPod Touch’s. Comparing the games, Apples app store consists of over 200,000 apps, 50,000 of which are categorized games and entertainment. Compare that to Nintendo’s 4,300 titles for the DS sales, that, at the moment are falling.

So maybe Nintendo just isn’t cut-out for the mobile gaming arena, but they may as well do there best trying to stay in. This next trick up there sleeves is 3DS (said to be announced at E3 this year). For those who don’t know, it is a new rehash of the Nintendo DS, but with 3D capabilities, and glasses to go with it. Yay. It is also said to be using ultra-reality with it’s camara in various games.

Radio Shack Accepting HTC EVO 4G pre-orders for $50 deposit

Parteek — Fri, 14 May 2010 23:08:41 +0000

The HTC EVO 4G will be launching at several locations such as the Sprint store and Best buy, ensuring that a shortage of the device hopefully won’t be a problem. However, Radio Shack is going to sweeten the deal that if you reserve a phone prior to launch by purchasing a $50 gift card which you can use to buy the phone, they’ll throw in a $20 credit toward accessories when you come back in. Sounds great for anyone in need of a new case for it or a screen protector.

–FlexDroid

Android 2.1 available for Samsung Moment?

Parteek — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:28:36 +0000

One of the few devices running stock Android is not about to leave the spotlight quickly. Some users who are updating their devices are ending up with Android 2.1 on their phones. Could this mean that Sprint secretly released 2.1? Or was a it a simple big. However, the phone is still running the stock Android, and the phone is definitely due for an update. However, it’s been hard to get companies to update their devices to 2.1. But it’s still great that they’re doing so. So, all Moment owners, who’ve update, can you give us your experience with the update?

–FlexDroid

Sprint to sell HTC EVO 4G on June 4th for $199

Parteek — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:03:44 +0000

The anticipated HTC EVO 4G isn’t too far from the clutches of enthusiasts who are interested in lining up to buy the device. But there’s no worry about the wait, because it’ll be out on June 4th. The device will be $199 after all the discounts like a two-year contract plan from $450. Another addition to buying the device will be video chatting powered by Qik. You can do it over 3G or 4G being that the device has a front facing camera.

The downside is that there’s a mandatory $10 per month “Premium Data add-on” on top of their plan probably because they have the enjoying WiMAX when they’re in a Sprint 4G market not to mention that the 8-device WiFi hotspot feature runs an extra $29.99 a month. They also convince people by telling them that it’s half what you’d pay for a dedicated mobile broadband account. Not to mention you can enjoy high quality YouTube and voice and data simultaneously.

–FlexDroid

PR:

America’s First 4G Phone, HTC EVOTM 4G, Debuts on June 4 Packed with Industry-Leading Features Including Access to Mobile Video Chat, Simultaneous Voice and Data and HD Video Capture

Sprint leads the 4G revolution with the highly anticipated, award-winning HTC EVO 4G priced at just $199.99; add mobile hotspot capability for up to eight devices for just $29.99

NEW YORK, May 12, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) –If you were creating your dream wireless device what would it look like? Two cameras and video chat so you can say goodnight to your children when you are away on a business trip? Simultaneous voice and data, so you can call in your take-out order while you look at their menu on the Internet? The ability to plug your phone into your HDTV, so you can let your children finish the movie they started watching in the car’s backseat when you get home? And a huge screen for watching the videos you download in seconds — not minutes — with the fastest wireless data speeds available in America today? Stop daydreaming and get ready for Sprint (NYSE: S) to make your dreams come true on June 4 when the highly anticipated HTC EVO 4G debuts.

The critics agree that HTC EVO 4G is this summer’s must-have wireless experience as it continues to win their accolades and endorsements. CNET, LAPTOP and eWeek gave HTC EVO 4G awards for Best of Show when it was announced at CTIA this spring. Engadget said, “It’s easily the best specced phone we’ve ever witnessed.” The Financial Times cooed, “The first 4G phone in the U.S., the HTC EVO … ticks just about all the boxes for my ideal phone.”

“HTC EVO 4G is a fantastic 3G device, but when you use it in our growing 4G coverage area, it becomes a multimedia powerhouse,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO. “The EVO 4G experience is much like going from TV to HDTV. But EVO has more than just an impressive list of features — it is also fun to use with remarkable gaming, video and web-browsing capabilities.”

With the launch of HTC EVO 4G, Sprint customers will be able to enjoy capabilities they have never experienced before with a new video chat service from Qik. The two-way voice and video capability will be available as an upgrade to the preloaded Qik app on HTC EVO 4G to enable conversational, interactive, real-time sharing between mobile devices or from mobile-to-desktop.

Amazing Features, Beautiful Design

HTC EVO 4G features the latest version of the increasingly popular Android platform, Android 2.1, offering more than 35,000 apps, as well as a mind-blowing list of features, including:

* Simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G and Wi-Fi coverage areas, enabling Web surfing and more while the conversation continues.
* Offering a new way to search with pictures instead of words, Google Goggles™ works with everything from books, DVDs and barcodes to landmarks, logos, artwork and wine labels.
* Superfast 1GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor, ensuring a smooth and quick movement within phone menus.
* Two cameras — an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera.
* Built-in mobile hotspot functionality allowing up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 3G or 4G experience on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device.
* Integrated HD video capture with the ability to capture and share live video via the Qik Web site, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter™.
* Ability to easily watch video with the device on an HDTV via an HDMI cable (sold separately).
* Custom Web browser optimized for the 4.3 inch display and Sprint 4G speeds to deliver a full, no-compromise Internet experience.
* A handy kickstand built into the back, making it easy to watch videos on-the-go.
* Adobe Flash technology ensures that rich Internet content, such as embedded video and animation, are displayed the way they are meant to be seen.
* Pinch-to-zoom and automatic text reflowing provide easy Web page views.

HTC EVO 4G boasts the newest version of the highly acclaimed HTC Sense user experience. With HTC Sense, HTC EVO 4G users can use Friend Stream to aggregate multiple social communication channels, including Facebook and Twitter into one organized flow of updates; a “Leap” thumbnail view to easily switch between home screen “panels;” the ability to download new, interactive widgets; and a “polite” ringer, which quiets the ringing phone once lifted up.

While the performance of currently available Android applications will be enhanced by access to 4G data speeds, a Sprint 4G developer guide is available today from the Sprint ADP Web site at http://developer.sprint.com. The Sprint 4G developer guide provides details on developing for an Android 2.1 handset and how to take advantage of HTC EVO 4G’s unique hardware and software capabilities and the Sprint 4G network. The Sprint Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party developers since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in 2001.

Worry-Free Pricing

HTC EVO 4G will be available in all Sprint retail channels, including Sprint.com and national retail partners, RadioShack, Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Sprint will price the award-winning device at $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a $100 mail-in rebate (taxes excluded) with a new line activation or eligible upgrade. Pre-registration is available now at www.sprint.com/evo.

In order to provide the best experience, HTC EVO 4G will use Sprint’s industry-leading Everything Data or Business Advantage Messaging and Data plans that include unlimited Web, texting and calling on the Sprint Network to every mobile in America with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM. Everything Data plans start at $69.99 per month. A $10 per month Premium Data add-on will apply allowing customers to take advantage of a richer data experience than ever before.

Additionally, an optional pricing add-on will turn HTC EVO 4G into a mobile hotspot connecting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, gaming devices and digital cameras, simultaneously at 4G speeds where available and at 3G speeds anywhere on the Sprint 3G network for just $29.99 per month — half the monthly cost of the current Mobile Broadband plan (pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).

With the Sprint Free Guarantee, customers can take advantage of HTC EVO 4G for 30 days and if not completely satisfied, may return the device within 30 days to get reimbursed for the device purchase and activation fee, get both the early termination and restocking fees waived, and receive a full refund for the monthly service plan charges.1

Blazing trails with Sprint 4G

Sprint 4G offers a faster wireless experience than any other U.S. national wireless carrier, and Sprint is the only national carrier offering wireless 4G service today in 32 markets. Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G2,giving HTC EVO 4G the fastest data speeds of any U.S. wireless device available today.

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Today, Sprint 4G covers 41 million people and expects to have up to 120 million people covered by the end of 2010.

Sprint currently offers 4G service in 32 markets: Georgia — Atlanta, Milledgeville; Hawaii — Honolulu, Maui; Idaho — Boise; Illinois — Chicago; Maryland — Baltimore; Nevada — Las Vegas; North Carolina — Charlotte, Greensboro, (along with High Point and Winston-Salem), Raleigh (along with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham); Oregon — Portland, Salem; Pennsylvania — Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading, York; Texas — Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, Wichita Falls; Washington — Bellingham, Seattle. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

In 2010, Sprint expects to launch 4G service in multiple markets, including but not limited to, Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 48 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, and the first and only wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile and Assurance Wireless and instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. With its customer-focused strategy, you can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

What Happens When You Bite HTC

ijoyride — Wed, 12 May 2010 23:10:02 +0000

A while back the world was left stunned at Apple’s unexpected launch of a lawsuit against HTC and the brewing battle between Apple and Google. However, HTC has found a way to battle Apple’s aggressive position by taking the offensive as well.

Now it took HTC two months to formulate a response, yet now they have identified 5 patents that Apple themselves have infringed upon and is requesting the ITC (International Trade Commission) to remove all Apple portable products including the iPhone, iPods, and the iPad.

The irony in this conflict is that Apple had the same intentions when the filing the lawsuit against Android: to stop the production of Android phones which were growing at unprecedented numbers.

However, whatever the result of this lawsuit war, Android is not going to be stopped as seen this week when Android surpassed iPhone in sales through the conclusive results of NPD Group which analyzes the results of survey taken by 150,000 US citizens. More information on Android’s sales success.

The logical conclusion of such a lawsuit war is that Apple will end up licensing its patents to HTC just like Microsoft did not too long ago, and then purchasing the rights to HTC’s licenses which they apparently infringed upon as well.

Here are the 5 patents that Apple Infringed upon, courtesy of Gizmodo:

U.S. PATENT NO. 6,999,800
Method for power management of a smart phone
A method for power management of a smart phone. The method comprises steps of resetting the smart phone, searching for network service, operating the mobile phone system in standby mode and a PDA system in normal mode when connected to a network, switching the mobile phone system to connection mode when establishing communication with a remote terminal, switching the mobile phone system to sleep mode when the mobile phone system has been idle for a first time period, switching the PDA system to sleep mode when the PDA system has been idle for a second time period, and implementing power detection to switch the mobile phone and PDA system to off mode when the detected power is lower than a first and second threshold respectively.

U.S. PATENT NO. 5,541,988, 6,058,183
Telephone dialler with a personalized page organization of telephone directory memory
An advanced telephone dialler has been described, incorporating a fast retrieval and dial telephone directory. The system simplifies the use of the telephone directory by using a single sliding or rotary key for scanning and selection of the name and number to be dialled and one button for speed dialling of the selected number. The name and telephone number of the selected person are simultaneously displayed on a character display and a normal telephone keypad has been used for entering both letters for the name and digits for the number into telephone directory’s memory. A short cut dialling has been also provided by simply using the sequential order number of the person to be dialled from the telephone directory’s memory. An option has been provided for checking the incoming calls numbers with the telephone directory of the system and not only displaying the name of the calling person and its number if they have been found in directory. In addition the telephone directory memory is divided into pages each page having its own access code and the option to be locked or unlocked. If a selected page has been locked the access is denied unless a proper access code for this page has been entered. In the case of the calling number identification feature, in addition to the name of the calling person if it is in the memory, the system displays the name of the person to whom the page, where this number resides, has been assigned. The application is targeted for heavy traffic business or personal phones, family telephones, cellular phones and as a part of an office or home automation system.

U.S. PATENT NO. 6,320,957
Telephone dialler with easy access memory
An advanced telephone dialler has been described, incorporating a fast retrieval and dial telephone directory. The system simplifies the use of the telephone directory by using a single sliding or rotary key for scanning and selection of the name and number to be dialled and one button for speed dialling of the selected number. The name and telephone number of the selected person are simultaneously displayed on a character display and a normal telephone keypad has been used for entering both letters for the name and digits for the number into telephone directory’s memory. A short cut dialling has been also provided by simply using the sequential order number of the person to be dialled from the telephone directory’s memory. An option has been provided for checking the incoming calls numbers with the telephone directory of the system and not only displaying the name of the calling person and its number if they have been found in directory. In addition the telephone directory memory is divided into pages each page having its own access code and the option to be locked or unlocked. If a selected page has been locked the access is denied unless a proper access code for this page has been entered. In the case of the calling number identification feature, in addition to the name of the calling person if it is in the memory, the system displays the name of the person to whom the page, where this number resides, has been assigned. The application is targeted for heavy traffic business or personal phones, family telephones, cellular phones and as a part of an office or home automation system.

U.S. PATENT NO. 7,716,505
Power control methods for a portable electronic device
A power control method for a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device comprises a power supply unit and a volatile memory for storing data when the power supply unit supplies power thereto. First, the portable electronic device is set to enter a deep sleep mode. Then, data accessed from the volatile memory is transferred to a non-volatile memory. Finally, except for maintaining sufficient power to restore the device, the power supply unit is turned off.

From iTechJoy

Android 2.1 being pushed out to Droid Eris’

Parteek — Wed, 12 May 2010 00:18:08 +0000

One of Verizon’s few phones that was running Sense Ui should be getting the Android 2.1 update to all the owners. It’s a good sign for the rumor that it might even have been discontinued by Verizon. This device is one of the few devices available by HTC that will be running that latest and greatest from Google’s ventures. Not to mention that it beat Sprint’s version of the Hero to get 2.1 to sometime around second quarter. While there haven’t been many that have received it, it is being confirmed by Verizon’s twitter that it’ll be pushed out. Besides that, it’s looking good for the device. Give us your comments on the Ui after getting the update!

–FlexDroid

AT&T Pre Plus for $149.99 with free Touchstone on May 16th

Parteek — Mon, 10 May 2010 23:04:54 +0000

After the announcement of the arrival that AT&T would be getting the new Pre line, there weren’t any set details. However, AT&T from their facebook account gave the scoop of the phone. Some of the details include, launch date on Sunday, May 16, as it was expected. The price will be $149.99 on a two-year contract plan after rebates which is also the same as Sprint charges. It is $100 more than Verizon’s Palm Pre but don’t forget that buyers are also getting a Touchstone along with the device itself. They says it’s “for a limited time” when the phone is picked up in a corporate-owned store. However, the spotlights all on the Palm Pre, what about the Pixi? Well there’s no word on it yet but details should be available soon!

Sprint’s Samsung Moment and HTC Hero getting 2.1 update in Q2

Parteek — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:41:38 +0000

Android 2.1 is spreading throughout the available Android devices. While some devices did miss out on the fun, seems like the one’s left are still waiting. Recently, it was thought that Android 2.1 was vastly approaching the Samsung Moment and HTC Hero, the two devices that are still running 1.6 and 1.5. In the PR below, Sprint tells that the update will be available on Q2 this year. At least the carrier doesn’t want their customers to miss out on the fun!

“Official Sprint Statement: Android 2.1″

Hello Community Members,

We wanted to let you know that Sprint continues to work closely with Samsung and HTC to deliver the highly anticipated Android 2.1 upgrade for Samsung Moment and HTC Hero. We are on track for the upgrade to be available in Q2. Sprint had hoped to have this resolved by now — we thank our customers for their patience as we work to bring them a positive experience with this upgrade.