• att,  bell,  hp,  pixi,  pre,  sprint,  verizon,  web os

    Rumor: HP webOS 1.4.5.1 Update On The Way

    May 8, 2011 /

    Call it a parting gift.  Call it a party favor.  Heck, it might as well be a case of Turtle Wax or a year’s supply of Rice-A-Roni, but HP is allegedly pushing out a very small maintenance update for devices running webOS 1.4.5.

    HP webOS 1.4.5.1 weighs in at an underwhelming 1MB and is reported to a bug fix release.  I’ve been checking my Sprint Pre for the last two days and there has been no notice of a new patch in the Updates application.  I’ve also checked the HP Palm support website, and the webOS Updates pages for the Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi, and Pixi Plus for Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and Bell don’t list any updates.

    Someone keeping watch over the Twitter @webOSdev account claims the update is real and that they are “just cleaning up some bugs.”  Hopefully, one of the bugs that will get fixed in the update is the annoying HTML tag error in the Contacts notes field that was fixed in webOS 2.x, but not in the 1.4.x software line.

    I’ll keep an eye out for the webOS 1.4.5.1 update and let you know if it finally arrives on my original Sprint Palm Pre.  The Palm webOS 1.4.5 update was first rolled out for the Sprint Palm Pre on August 10, 2010.  Additionally, HP has not yet released the details of their “alternative plans” are for customers who, according to them, will not be receiving the HP webOS 2.0 update.

    [Via PreCentral.net…]

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  • astraware,  bn,  ereader,  games

    Astraware Games Now Available for Nook Color

    May 7, 2011 /

    Astraware® is excited to announce the launch of four games, now available on Barnes & Noble’s NOOK Color Reader’s Tablet. The Astraware games are available through NOOK Apps™, a collection of high-quality applications launched this week for NOOK Color. As was announced on April 25, 2011 Barnes & Noble issued a major software update that delivered significant new features and content to its NOOK Color Reader’s Tablet including NOOK Apps, one of the most-requested features from NOOK Color customers.

    Astraware Mahjong, Astraware Solitaire, Astraware Sudoku, and Astraware Casino have all been optimized to take advantage of NOOK Color’s high resolution screen, and touchscreen controls. Astraware Mahjong is currently exclusive to NOOK Color on the Android platform for a limited time.

    “We’ve put together a selection of titles that are ideal for people who like to both relax and use their brains – which will be perfect for NOOK Color owners! With great features to make the games rewarding to play, and customisation to really make them your own, these will sit perfectly alongside the books, magazines, and entertainment that NOOK Color owners already enjoy!”

    All 4 games can be purchased for $4.99 each on device. NOOK Color customers can easily download each game in seconds from Shop on NOOK Color. For more information on NOOKcolor, visit http://www.nookcolor.com. For more information on Astraware games, visit: http://www.astraware.com.
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  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  itunes

    Apple Releases iOS 4.3.3 to Address “Locationgate” Bug

    May 5, 2011 /

    Today, Apple released the iOS 4.3.3 update for iPhone 4 (GSM), iPad, and iPod touch alongside of iOS 4.2.8 for the iPhone 4 (CDMA).

    Today’s updates are intended to address the location tracking issues around the consolidated.db file that contacts a large amount of cellular and Wi-Fi hot spot location tracking data that is used by an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to help the device locate itself.

    Specifically, iOS 4.3.3 and iOS 4.2.8 address:

    • Reduces the size of the cache
    • No longer backs the cache up to iTunes
    • Deletes the cache entirely when Location Services is turned off
    Today’s updates can be applied to the iPhone 4 (GSM model), iPad and iPad 2, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch (4th and 3rd edition), and iPhone 4 (CDMA model).

    Use iTunes 10 on your Mac or Windows PC to download the software and update your device.

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  • hp,  pre,  sprint,  web os

    webOS 2.x for the Sprint Pre? Probably Not.

    May 2, 2011 /

    There is an interesting thread that I picked up this weekend over at PreCentral.net, thanks to last Friday’s Pre Doodle cartoon.

    It seems that PreCentral forum member “zacky59” chatted with a Sprint customer service rep and inquired about webOS 2.x being released for the Sprint Pre and Pixi.  The Sprint CSR told the customer that an update was coming as early as May 2, 2011.

    I don’t think that this is a hoax or anything on zacky59’s part.  I just don’t believe that Sprint will be releasing an update for a 2-year old smartphone.  Time has passed the original Pre and Pixi by.  HP is has moved on to the Pre 2, the Veer, the Pre3, and their new tablet, the TouchPad.  I’d be shocked if Sprint and HP roll out an update to webOS 2.-anything.

    How can I be so sure you ask?  What proof to do I have that an update is unlikely?  Beside the age of the phone, Sprint hasn’t announced any new plans for any of HP’s new webOS smartphones.  The webOS development team is hard at work on tweaking up webOS 2 for the Veer and the Pre3, not to mention webOS 3.0 for the TouchPad.  Aside from the thread, there has been no other blog coverage of an impending software update.  And lastly, HP, via their Palm website, clearly states that there is no update coming for the Sprint Pre.

    If you head over to the webOS 2.0 Update Info page, and enter the first five characters from a Sprint Pre, you are rewarded with the following message:

    “Your device is not able to support the new features of webOS 2.

    Therefore, your device will not receive a webOS 2 update. The latest software version for your device is webOS 1.4.5.”

    Now I did play with a legitimate beta build of webOS 2.0.1 on my Pre a few months ago.  Yes, it did run on my Pre.  No, it wasn’t fully finished or optimized for my hardware.  Think about the last time you upgraded your PC – the old one was working, but, gosh, it was slow.  Same thing holds true for webOS 2.0.1 on the Pre.

    Would I like to seen an optimized version of webOS 2 for my Pre be released this month from Sprint?  You betcha’!  But I’m not going to get my hopes up.

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  • android,  google,  ipad,  motorola,  sprint

    Motorola Sells 250,000 Xoom Tablets

    April 29, 2011 /

    Motorola Mobility, the handset and tablet device making spin off company from the Motorola mother ship recently announced their Q1, 2011 financials.

    According to BGR.com, Motorola shipped something north of 250,000 Xoom Android powered tablets.  Not too bad for a device that doesn’t have a fruit logo on the back, and certainly better than the ugly sales figures that are being tossed around by analysts for RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook.

    Motorola’s press material reads:

    “The Company shipped a total of 9.3 million mobile devices, including 4.1 million smartphones and more than 250,000 Motorola XOOM™ tablets. In the first quarter of 2010, the Company shipped 8.5 million mobile devices, including 2.3 million smartphones.”

     The good news for Motorola Mobility is that they are selling more Droid devices, smartphone and tablets, than they were a year ago and is holding their own against the pack of iPad wanna be devices.

    If you are looking to pick up a Moto Xoom, Sprint announced today that they will begin selling Wi-Fi only version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb powered tablet starting on May 8 for the “low” price of $600.

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  • apple,  att,  iphone,  verizon

    Apple White iPhone 4 Now Available

    April 28, 2011 /

    After months of delays and false starts, the iPhone 4 is now finally available in white.  Starting today, the elusive white iPhone 4 can be purchased directly from Apple at their amazing retail stores or online at Apple.com.  You can also purchase a white iPhone directly from AT&T and Verizon locations or their online stores too.

    The white iPhone has the same internals as the black model and the only difference between the two versions is the front and back plates and the home button.

    The pricing for the white iPhone 4 is the same as the black model: $199 for the 16GB version; $299 for the 32GB version.  A new two year service agreement is required to get the special pricing.
    It’s rainy out today, so skip standing in line and use one of the handy links below to order your white iPhone 4 and stay warm and dry.

    Apple Online Store…
    AT&T Online Store…
    Verizon Online Store…

    Phew!  I’m glad that’s behind us now!  My guess that by this afternoon the iOS 5.0 and iPhone 5 and iPhone 6 rumors will be back in full force.

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  • hp,  rumors,  web os

    Rumor: HP Pre3 To Run webOS 2.3

    April 27, 2011 /

    An article posted on gadget site Electronista.com today passes along a tip that HP’s up coming Pre3 will run HP webOS 2.3 – an newer version of webOS over and above webOS 2.1 that is currently available on the Pre 2.

    The table below clearly reads “SW Version WebOS 2.3.”

    So how about it HP fans?  Are you more inclined to pick up a Pre3 when it becomes available later this year?

    [Via Electronista.com…]

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  • apple,  att,  iphone,  rumors,  tmobile,  verizon

    Rumor: White iPhone 4 Lands on April 27th, T-Mobile Prototype Spotted

    April 25, 2011 /

    Just because it was a long Easter holiday weekend didn’t mean that there was a shortage of new white iPhone rumors.

    The first is that the white iPhone 4 will finally go on sale here in the United States this week.  Since this is a rumor, it is unclear if the near mythical iPhone will go on sale simultaneously for AT&T and Verizon Wireless or not.  After all of the delays, I personally hope that Apple rolls out the white iPhone 4 in both the GSM and CDMA flavors at the same time.  If the rumor is true, white iPhone 4’s are already being shipped in advance of the debut of their retail sales date.

    [Via AppleInside.com…]

    As a side note, BGR seems to have gotten their hands on what appears to be a prototype iPhone 4, yes, it’s white, running on the T-Mobile network.  The T-Mobile iPhone seems to have all signs pointing to test device, so don’t expect any T-Mobile/Apple product announcements anytime soon.

    [Via BGR.com…]

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  • Uncategorized

    Apple Wireless Keyboard + iPad

    April 21, 2011 /

    Apple Wireless Keyboard

    Earlier today I dropped by my local Best Buy. No, not to buy an iPad 2 – everyone knows that they are sold out.

    I stopped by because I had a gift card and felt like playing with other people’s money today. After looking around for a few minutes, I decided that I would “look” in the Apple Store section.

    There on the shelf was an open box Apple Wireless Keyboard. Normally, the sell for $69 dollars, but this was $61. The box appeared to be in good condition so I picked it so I can pair it up with my 32GB iPad. it seemed like a better choice than the Apple iPad dock with built-in keyboard because I would be able to use my new Bluetooth keyboard with more devices.

    After spending about 5 minutes setting it, I’m very happy with my new “toy”. I also picked up a copy of the new iPad blogging app Blogsy, with which I’m writing this post with.

    The keyboard, obviously, works with the iPad as well at other iOS devices. You can also use the keyboard with a Bluetooth enabled Mac running current editions of OS X. While I haven’t tried it yet myself, if you have a Windows Vista or Windows 7 PC, and a Mac OS X/Boot Camp disc handy, you should be able to install the Apple drive for the keyboard and use it with your Windows box too. (Not too bad, if I do say so myself.)

    The compact size of the keyboard means it is small enough to be carried around with me and my iPad so I can bang out blog post, long emails, or touch type and take notes in the many note taking and task management applications for iOS. I also like that fact that the face of the mini keyboard is metal. (The bottom plate is plastic.) The Apple Wireless Keyboard is powered by two AA batteries (included). This is a nice second keyboard, however, if it was going to be my primary, every day keyboard that I was going to use with my Mac Pro or MacBook Pro, I like the older Apple Wireless Pro keyboard better since it is larger and has a numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard.

    The Apple Wireless Keyboard is available now at Apple Stores, Apple resellers like Best Buy, and online at Apple.com for $69.00.

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