• sprint

    Android Powered HTC Hero Coming to Sprint, 10/11/09

    September 4, 2009 /

    Sprint has announced that it will be launching their first Google Android device, the HTC Hero on October 11, 2009.

    “The arrival of HTC Hero and the Android platform to Sprint’s network is an important milestone for our customers and the U.S. wireless industry,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president of product development for Sprint. “With the dependability and coverage of Sprint’s 3G network, HTC Hero users will appreciate a much better experience than is possible now with any other Android phone operating in the United States. They will enjoy the robust potential to personalize their wireless experience as well as the best value in wireless with a Simply Everything plan from Sprint.”

    “Sprint and HTC are helping to drive openness and innovation in the mobile industry with the introduction of the Android-powered HTC Hero,” said Andy Rubin, vice president, mobile platforms at Google. “As the world’s first truly open mobile platform built with the Internet in mind, Android provides to consumers the same Internet services they have become accustomed to on their desktop PC. Offering access to thousands of applications, a suite of Google services, and unique personalization features, the HTC Hero offers a compelling mobile experience.”

    The HTC Hero will be an EVDO Rev. A device and will feature built-in synchronization support of Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, and YouTube as well access to additional applications that are available from the Android Market.

    Beginning on Oct. 11, customers will be able to purchase HTC Hero through all Sprint retail channels including Web (www.sprint.com), Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and our national retail partner Best Buy for $179.99 (excluding taxes) after a $50 instant savings and a $100 mail-in rebate with a two-year service agreement. Pre-registration begins today at www.sprint.com/hero.

    I’ve always liked the looks of HTC’s hardware, and the press photos of the Hero make it look like another cool looking phone. I’m interested to see if the Hero will come bundled with DataViz Documents To Go, my “gotta-have-it” application for smartphones. I’m also wondering how the launch of the Hero will impact sales of the Palm Pre. Echoing the comments about the Pre vs. Hero consumer showdown, I think that Palm best be getting read to get the Pre shipping on more carrier networks besides Sprint and Bell Canada (Big Red, anyone? AT&T?) sooner than later. I personally expect that the Hero and the Pre will be considered by the same group of customers who don’t want an iPhone or a BlackBerry. Worse yet, after rebates, the phones will be similarly priced and have access to many of the same Google features.

    [Via GadgetsOnTheGo…]

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  • apple,  att,  iphone

    MMS Coming to iPhone 3G, 3GS – 9/25/09

    September 3, 2009 /

    It’s official! AppleInsider.com is reporting that AT&T will be bringing MMS – multimedia messaging – to the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS on September 25, 2009.

    “It was important to give our customers a positive experience from day one,” AT&T said. “We support more iPhone customers than any other carrier in the world so we took the time necessary to make sure our network is ready to handle what we expect will be a record volume of MMS traffic. We truly appreciate our customers’ patience and hope they’ll understand our desire to get it right from the start.”

    According to AppleInsider.com, the new feature will come in the form of iTunes downloadable update for 3G and 3GS owners. Unfortunately, owners of the original iPhone will be left out in the cold as they will be locked out from getting the update. I guess that is a subtle hint from AT&T that you need to upgrade.

    [Via AppleInsider.com…]

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  • pre,  web os

    New Apps in Palm App Catalog

    September 3, 2009 /

    I noticed that there where a handful of new applications in Palm’s App Catalog today. The new applications that you will find in the App Catalog are:

    • DirectTV NFL Mobile
    • Tip ’em!
    • Translator
    • The Globe And Mail
    • TMaps – DC
    • Express Horoscopes
    • wikiHow
    • Dumb Waiter
    • Zilch Lite
    • PhotoDialer
    • UberPass
    • Lemonade
    • CoinFlip

    I’m glad to see this large batch of apps appearing in the “official” software catalog for the Pre. I’ve downloaded and Zilch Lite (a dice game) and CoinFlip (yes, it does what you think – some might even call it an executive decision support tool). I’m planning on taking a look at PhotoDialer and UberPass (Hey, DataViz! Where are Documents To Go and Passwords Plus?!)

    To get your apps on, head over to the App Catalog on your Pre.

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  • Uncategorized

    Metaviewsoftware Twitter Client for Palm OS

    September 3, 2009 /

    Clemens Schuchert, the host of the PUGcast – Sync Your Ears podcast, has a new article posted about a new Twitter client for Palm OS-based PDA handhelds and smartphones that is under development. Kind of timely since Smartphone Fanatics has recently started a Twitter feed as @spf360.

    Mr. Schuchert writes:

    “Metaviewsoft is currently working on a full featured twitter client for the PalmOS platform. For less than a week the Berlin based software brewery has implemented the twitter core functions and is doing some tricky API usage to display your tweets and those of your your subscriptions nicely on the PalmOS screen. I say PalmOS screen rather than Treo’s or Centro’s Screen, because reducing it to smartphones would not be fully true. Due to the fact that the new twitter client “2TwitMe” do support screen rotation it will surely become the first choice for all the PalmTX’ out there very soon, because of the built-in WLAN functionality, it’s bigger screen, a gorgeous on-screen-thumbboard replacement, etc.”

    Keep reading…

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  • motionapps,  palm desktop,  pre

    MotionApps Demos HotSync Support for Classic

    September 3, 2009 /

    MotionApps, the company behind the Palm OS 5 emulation software for webOS, has posted a new video to YouTube to demonstrate the upcoming support for HotSync.

    In the video, Motion shows how you will be able to HotSync the Classic software to Palm Desktop on your computer using a Wi-Fi connection. In the video, the person leading the demonstration appears to be using Palm Desktop 6.2 by ACCESS, not the older, Palm Desktop 4.1.4 or 4.2 that shipped with some of Palm’s most popular PDA handhelds and Centro smartphone.

    I’ve purchased a copy of Classic because I’ve come to rely on DataViz Passwords Plus for keeping my personal data secure and available to me all the time. When the Wi-Fi HotSync feature comes to Classic I’ll be looking to resume using the Passwords Plus desktop application to help manage my personal data.

    Check out the MotionsApps Classic HotSync demo on YouTube or click the video below.

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  • apple,  appletv

    Apple iPod Event – Will Jobs Make an Appearance?

    September 2, 2009 /

    After weeks of rumors and wild speculation by almost everyone, it is clear that on September 9 Apple will be talking about new iPods, iTunes 9, and possibly a hardware or software update to Apple TV.

    Interestingly, what has taken on a life of its own is whether or not Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs will take the helm and deliver the presentation and product demos or will Apple chose to bring out SVP of Product Marketing Phil Schiller or COO Tim Cook who took on the role of acting CEO while Mr. Jobs was on his medical leave earlier this year.

    Personally, I think there is a 50/50 chance that Mr. Jobs will make an appearance at the event to kick off and wrap up the presentation. If Mr. Jobs doesn’t run the presentation, I would expect to see Mr. Schiller take on the presentation chores as he has done in the past.

    The bottom line is that I like watching Steve Jobs hock is ‘wares, but what I’m more interested in is seeing what new features will added to the iPod touch and the Apple TV.

    On the top of my list for the iPod touch is the addition of a 3.0MP digital camera and the inclusion of a GPS radio. On the Apple TV front, I’d like to see Apple add a TiVo-like TV show recording feature that will record the show to the local hard disk and then transfer down to iTunes on a Mac or PC. It would be really cool if the exiting Apple TV hardware could do that (since I have one), but I suspect that for a TiV0-like feature to become available on Apple TV, it will require a hardware change to add a line-in connection.

    What would you like to see Apple add to the iPod and Apple TV? Let us know in the Comments section below.

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  • t-mobile

    T-Mobile Raising Overage Rates

    September 2, 2009 /

    BoyGeniusReport.com has a new post indicating that T-Mobile is raising their rates when you go over your monthly allotments of voice minutes.

    BGR writes:

    “As of [9/1/09], T-Mobile is raising its overage rates to 45¢ per minute on individual plans under $59.99 and family plans under $89.99, and 40¢ per minute for plans above those price points. Since this rate increase is carrier-invoked and it constitutes a “materially adverse change of contract,” subscribers will be able to flee without the need to pay a hefty Early Termination Fee.”


    The good news is that you will be able to get out of your contract without having to deal with that annoying early contract termination fee. The bad news is that you’re going to have to work hard to get out of your contract.

    Read the full article on BoyGeniusReport.com…

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  • rumors,  sprint,  verizon

    Rumor: Palm Working on New Smartphones for Verizon, Sprint

    August 31, 2009 /

    I’m still catching up on the week’s news after having spent most of last week on vacation. PreCentral.net has two screen shots posted that indicate that Palm is working on new devices headed for Verizon and Sprint.

    Speculation is that Verizon and Palm could be working on bringing both the Pre and the Eos (aka: Pixie).

    “What’s important to you is that there are two Palm devices listed in this inventory system. Yes, two: the Palm P101VZW and Palm P121VZW. Considering that we know the Sprint Pre to be the P100, it seems reasonable to assume that the P101 is the Pre for Verizon, though we have no clue if the number bump means that the hardware has been changed. And P121? There’s only one other upcoming Palm device that we’ve heard of, and that’s the Eos, presumably the P121 indeed will be the smaller slate-style webOS phone.”

    On the Sprint front, the screen shot shows three devices: the P100 (the currently shipping Pre), the P120, and the C40. Popular opinion is that P120 is either a hardware refresh of the current Pre (more memory anyone?) or is the Eos candy bar webOS device that will take hardware queues from the Centro and the Treo Pro.

    What the C40 might be is anyone’s guess. It could be a new Windows Mobile phone. It could be a new webOS phone. Or, dare I even mention it, the C40 could be something else entirely with an EVDO radio built in to it. (cough Foleo II cough netbook cough)

    One thing is for sure; we will have our answers one way or another in due time.

    [Via PreCentral.net…]

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  • att

    AT&T to Require Data Plans

    August 30, 2009 /

    Starting on September 6, 2009, AT&T will require that customers who chose to purchase a smartphone also purchase a data plan in addition to their voice and text messaging plans.

    In a recent statement issued by AT&T, a company spokesperson reported:

    “Smartphone users tend to consume a higher amount of data services, like advanced e-mail, mobile Web, applications and more,” an AT&T press release stated. “Being able to take full advantage of these features without having to worry about a fluctuating or unusually high bill generally leads to greater customer satisfaction, so effective Sept. 6, smartphone customers will need to subscribe to a data plan, as the vast majority of customers already do.”

    If you currently have an AT&T branded smartphone you will be able to continue using your phone as you always have. However, if “[you] update your device or want to make changes to your account, [you] will have to bring their accounts current, which in some cases may include subscribing to a data plan.”

    The requirement for a data plan isn’t something new for AT&T. There are some devices that the wireless company already requires a data plan for, which includes the wildly popular Apple iPhone.

    If you have been thinking about upgrading your AT&T smartphone and hoped to keep the data plan off your monthly bill, you should get yourself down to an AT&T store before September 6 when then new Terms of Service rules go into effect.

    [Via PCMag.com…]

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