H/Palm takes so much out of Apple’s playbook, couldn’t they also include the same iPhone/iPad screen scaling feature too? H/Palm tires really hard, but they always seem to come in second.
[Via GadgetsOnTheGo.net…]
HP TouchPad Support for webOS Apps
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Rumor: Sprint webOS Customers Get Shafted. Again.
It’s tough to be a webOS fan. Especially on Sprint. If it wasn’t bad enough that Sprint Pre and Pixi customers have been left out in the cold for the webOS 2.0 party, but now a new rumor from a reliable source is saying that the Pre3 won’t be coming to Sprint.
“Today the folks over at This Is My Next cited a “trusted source” in saying that the Pre3 – or any other webOS device – will not be coming to Sprint. We know a lot of you just died a little bit inside, and that’s not the news you wanted to hear today. On the flipside of the same coin, we’ve heard from plenty of “I talked to an HP rep” crowd that have heard that the Pre3 is coming to Sprint, along with Verizon and AT&T. You can hold out hope if you want, but trusted sources trump chatter in our book.”
I was in line at 6am to one of the first people to get a Palm Pre on launch day. With webOS market share below 5% in the US and the Pre3 not coming to Sprint any time soon, it just reaffirms my decision to switch phones this fall when the iPhone 5 goes live. The only question that really remains is whether or not Sprint will get the iPhone 5. If they do, I’ll say with Sprint to grandfather in my unlimited data plan. If Sprint doesn’t get the iPhone 5, then I’m looking to head over to AT&T Wireless.
[Via PreCentral.net…]
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What Do You Call a Pre-Beta Beta? Silly Rabbit, It’s an Alpha Release
Is Microsoft looking to repeat their Windows Vista mistakes with Windows 8?
WinRumors writes:
“Microsoft’s 2012 CES will be full of Windows 8 according to company insiders. Microsoft is expected to deliver a beta copy of the next-generation operating system at its BUILD developer conference in September this year. Microsoft should be ready to deliver a second test copy of Windows 8 to the public at CES 2012. Ballmer will likely demo a number of ARM and Intel based Windows 8 tablets that will hit the market later in 2012 when Windows 8 is generally available.”
No, that doesn’t sound like they are rushing things at all. Question: What do you call a September beta release before a January 2012 beta release? Answer: An alpha release.
In an unrelated note, Microsoft has hired a “content coach” for Mr. Ballmer’s 2012 CES keynote address. Is Microsoft suffering from “Steve envy?”
[Via WinRumors…]
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Firemint Sale: Redo
Firemint, the makers of a small collection of really awesome iOS apps for iPhone/iPod touch and iPad is at it again, today only, with an 80% off sale on Flight Control HD, Real Racing, Real Racing HD, Real Racing 2, and Real Racing 2 HD.
Check out the Firemint Facebook page for details, or head directly to the App Store to save on some of my favorite iOS games!
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Happy Independence Day!
July 4th, is Independence Day here in the United States – the day we celebrate he birth of our nation.
Happy 4th of July, America!
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BlackBerry Bridge Now Available to AT&T PlayBook Owners
After a long string of bad news, a dramatic decline in stock prices, departures of senior management, and calls from investors and alleged employees to restructure how the CEO and President of the Board roles work, there was finally some good news for BlackBerry fans on AT&T who plan on purchasing a BlackBerry PlayBook.
Yesterday, AT&T allowed the BlackBerry Bridge software for AT&T branded BlackBerry phones to be released into the BlackBerry App World.
“BlackBerry Bridge is an app you can download to your smartphone to get access to your email, calendar, contacts, memo pad and tasks—all on the large tablet display. Depending on your wireless service provider you can even browse the web using your existing BlackBerry smartphone’s data plan.”
That last item, browsing the web using your BlackBerry’s data plan will run you an extra $20/month for the privilege AT&T has announced.
You can download BlackBerry Bridge from the BlackBerry App World (link).
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Rumor: RIM Cancels 10″ Playbook, Realizes They Need New BlackBerry Phones
The Boy Genius Report blog has word that the executive management team has gotten a cold, hard dose of reality and has finally realized that they need to get new QNX-powered BlackBerry smartphones out the door as quickly as possible.
The sobering fact that RIM’s stock has taken a nose dive in recent weeks has served as what I can only describe as a wake up call. According to BGR, plans for an iPad sized 10-inch BlackBerry Playbook are being scrapped and the company will “focus as much effort as possible on building and releasing its first QNX-powered BlackBerry smartphone.”
The specs and timing for a new BlackBerry running the QNX operating system are, obviously, thin at best.
“Specs of the purported next-generation BlackBerry smartphone include a single-core 1.2GHz processor — though it may be swapped for a dual-core if RIM can find a way to reduce the drain on the battery — along with a 4.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen display. Further details surrounding the device were not made available, nor was a codename, launch name or a time frame for the device’s release.”
The previously planned 4G cellular version(s) of the BlackBerry Playbook is still planned for release in the October timeframe.
As a strictly utilitarian device for email, text/instant messaging, and phone calls (who makes those anymore?), the BlackBerry is a great phone. Messaging has always been at the core of what a BlackBerry is. (I own and have used a BlackBerry Curve and Storm2 and loved them both.) But today’s “prosumers” want more features than that, and when compared to the iPhone and Android devices, all of the RIM devices fall flat on their faces. If RIM is serous about turning their company around, they need to get QNX-powered phones out the door as quickly as possible.
[Via BGR.com…]
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HP Rolls Out webOS 2.1 for Verizon Pre2
Looks like HP and Verizon have started pushing out the webOS 2.1 update for the Pre2 smartphone. Hit up the Update application to get your webOS 2.1 goodness.
And yes, I’m still bitter that the Sprint Pre won’t be getting webOS 2.1 either as an OTA or slide load Doctor update.
[Via PreCentral.net…]
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Conan O’Brian: Thumbs Down on FCP X
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRzLP0FJ82I]
I guess we can add Conan to the list of people who are not happy with the new version of Apple’s Final Cut Pro software.
We now return your to your regularly scheduled programming.
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Skyfire Can Save You Money As Carriers Push for Tiered Data Plans
The huge success of the iPhone helped to not only change the shape of smartphones for ever, but the growing numbers of iPhones and Android devices is causing carriers to take action to protect their data networks – or reap huge profits; you can call it anyway you like. With unlimited all you can eat data plans giving way to tiered/capped plans, look for more mobile applications to start to become more efficient with data use.
“Skyfire came out with a set of numbers today showing that smartphone users can save up to $120 a year by using data efficient apps like their browser. If you recall our post showing Verizon’s data calculator, you can see that streaming video is what’s going to be really eating up your data on a month to month basis, but with Skyfire’s “Instant Optimization” video process, which compresses data by 75%, they can save you a ton on your monthly bill.”
[Via Droid-Life…]
