• hp,  pre,  sprint,  web os

    HP Palm webOS 1.4.5 Update Available For Sprint Customers

    August 11, 2010 /

    A short while ago, Sprint Palm Pre and Pixi customers started receiving notifications that the Palm webOS 1.4.5 software update was available for download and installation on their phones.

    During my frantic game of “Keep Tapping the Refresh Button In The Updates Application,” I finally received my upgrade notice.  Reports are also coming in, and I have seen it first hand, that there is some trouble downloading the update from Palm HQ.  In the Palm webOSdev Twitter feed, Palm writes:

    “we are aware of the problems downloading 1.4.5 for sprint customers. It’s being investigated.”

    Update: 
    As of 1:00am Eastern time, the download issue has been resolved and Sprint Palm Pre and Pixi customers can download and install the new webOS update.  If you tried to download the update earlier this evening and couldn’t and you still can’t, try rebooting your Pre or Pixi.  Once I did, I was able to download the update successfully.

    It’s after midnight here on the East Coast, so I’m sure that by the time we all get out of bed in a few hours, the update will be ready for download and installation during our morning commute.  In the mean time, here are the official details on webOS 1.4.5.

    Palm webOS 1.4.5 weighs in at 8MB and includes “minor software improvements.”  Palm has also updated their Palm webOS support site to list the changes in webOS 1.4.5.

    Palm webOS 1.4.5 Change Log

    New applications

    NONE

    Feature changes to existing applications System

    • This release includes minor fixes and enhancements to support the public release of the webOS Plug-in Development Kit (PDK).
    • This release may require you to update certain apps to their latest version to properly support the launch of the webOS PDK. If you have a game that is not saving your game information correctly (high scores, stages, settings) check the App Catalog for updates. For more information on updating apps, see Using App Catalog

    Web

    • If a user enters text in a field on certain websites, the screen focus now remains on the text being entered.
       
    • This release fixes a rare problem so that podcasts now download correctly.

    Security

    • This release addresses several security issues with the Palm webOS software.

    You can review the change log for each of the webOS updates on the Palm support website.  Just in case you are keeping score, this is software update 12 since Palm released the original Palm Pre on Sprint a little over a year ago.  Not too bad Palm.  While 1.4.5 will bring some new enhancements for 3D gaming on the Pre and Pixi, I’m really looking forward to webOS 2.0 which is scheduled for release late this year if all goes well.

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  • hp,  pixi,  pre,  sprint,  web os

    Yes, No, or Maybe? Will HP webOS 1.4.5 Show Up This Week In the US?

    August 11, 2010 /

    Despite the fact that Sprint may have posted the change log for HP’s Palm webOS 1.4.5, US customers of the Palm Pre and Pixi still don’t appear to have access to the update yet.

    Running the Updates application on my Sprint Pre gives me the “Your phone is up to date. Palm webOS 1.4.1.1” message and the official Palm webOS change log does not show any release notes for webOS 1.4.5.

    While the software update is not currently available today, as suggested by Sprint’s release notes, it will likely be released in the next few days to a week if past history is any indication.

    So who wants to join me in a frantic game of Tap the Refresh button?

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  • oracle

    Oracle to HP: You Guys Are Idiots

    August 10, 2010 /

    I just read this over on Gizmodo and had a good laugh.  Too bad Mr Ellison is right.

    In an email to the New York Times, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison wrote:

    “The H.P. board just made the worst personnel decision since the idiots on the Apple board fired Steve Jobs many years ago…that decision nearly destroyed Apple and would have if Steve hadn’t come back and saved them.

    In losing Mark Hurd, the H.P. board failed to act in the best interest of H.P.’s employees, shareholders, customers and partners…The H.P. board admits that it fully investigated the sexual harassment claims against Mark and found them to be utterly false.”

    Mr. Ellison is correct that Mr. Hurd was not ousted from HP for the sexual harassment claim the board later found to be false, but rather submitting inaccurate expense reports.  Maybe HP can get Carly Fiorina back.  No?

    [Via Gizmodo.com…]

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  • blackberry,  blackberry os,  tablet,  Uncategorized

    BlackBerry Tablet Coming In November

    August 9, 2010 /

    Digitimes is reporting that Quanta has won the bid to manufacture RIM’s tablet, the BlackPad.

    “The tablet (BlackPad) will support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as 3G through connection to a Blackberry smartphone. The device will be priced at US$499 and Quanta will start shipping orders in September with volumes to reach two million units in 2010 and eight million units in 2011, the paper added.”

    [Via GadgetsOnTheGo.net…]

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  • att,  blackberry,  blackberry os,  rim,  tmobile

    RIM Introduces the New BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300

    August 9, 2010 /

    Following closely on the heels of their BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry OS 6 announcements, Research In Motion introduced the BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 today.  The new BlackBerry Curve has a GSM/HSDPA radio in it so I would expect it to appear on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks here in the United States before long.

    Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the new BlackBerry® Curve™ 3G, an exciting addition to the globally popular BlackBerry Curve series of smartphones. Designed to provide the growing mass of smartphone purchasers with a distinctly powerful, approachable and affordable choice, the BlackBerry Curve 3G supports high-speed 3G (HSDPA) networks around the world  and gives users the exceptional communications features they need to accomplish more than ever, when they’re at home, at work and everywhere in-between.

    “The majority of people in the worldwide mobile phone market have yet to buy their first smartphone and the BlackBerry Curve 3G is designed to provide an extremely attractive and accessible choice that will help convince many of them to make the leap,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “The new BlackBerry Curve 3G is a perfect choice for happily busy people who are looking for a user-friendly 3G smartphone to help them make the most of their day and to stay connected with their friends, family and co-workers.”

    The BlackBerry Curve 3G smartphone features a comfortable full-QWERTY keyboard for fast, accurate typing, optical trackpad for fluid navigation, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi®, as well as dedicated media keys, so music lovers can easily access their tunes while on the go. The new smartphone also features a camera that can record video and a microSD/SDHC slot that supports up to 32 GB memory cards for media storage. Support for 3G networks makes browsing faster, streaming music smoother, and gives users the ability to talk on the phone while they browse the web, instant message with BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) or share their location with friends on popular social networking sites.

    The BlackBerry Curve 3G ships with BlackBerry® 5 and is BlackBerry® 6 ready. BlackBerry 6 is a new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones that was announced last week. It retains the trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 is expected to be available for the BlackBerry Curve 3G, subject to carrier certifications, in the coming months.

    The new BlackBerry Curve 3G smartphone (model 9300) will be available from various carriers and distribution partners around the world beginning in August. Check with local carriers for details about availability and pricing.

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  • Uncategorized

    HP’s Hurd Is Out, Lesjak Interim CEO

    August 8, 2010 /

    By now, most of you have read that there has been a leadership change over at HP.  Mark Hurd, amid a sexual harassment suit, was essentially forced to resign because he submitted and was reimbursed for improper company expenses.

    When the news broke, we all a hear “Hurd,” “resigned,” and “sexual harassment.” If you want to go beyond the headline grabbing blurbs, you need to read the New York Times article on the subject.

    “Mark V. Hurd, who turned Hewlett-Packard into the world’s largest technology company on the back of fierce fiscal discipline, has been ousted from his post for the lowliest of corporate offenses — fudging his expenses.”

    Ouch!  Not cool.  I find it totally amazing that someone so well respected, who has a lot of money in today’s economy would lose such an amazing job just because they wanted to cut some corners and save some personal cash.  If it’s business, OK fine, expense the dinner or whatever.  If it isn’t, and if there is a chance it can come back to bite you in the end, they just pay for it yourself.  Mr. Hurd reportedly filed expense reports that inaccurately contained reimbursements “from $1,000 to $20,000, according to a person close to Mr. Hurd who was briefed on the situation but was not authorized to speak publicly.”

    The good news for Mr. Hurd, which should allow him to get another senior management job in the near future, according to the Times article is “that the sexual harassment charge was unsubstantiated.”

    With Hurd’s departure, HP’s Board of Directors has appointed Cathie Lesjak (seen above in the inset) as the interim CEO.  Ms. Lesjak is a 24-year veteran of HP and will retain her responsibilities as CFO while acting as the interim CEO.

    Mr. Hurd will be leaving HP with a $12,224,693 severance package.  Not too bad for only violating HPs Standards of Business Conduct policy.

    You can read the full article on the New York Times website.  Friday’s press release can be read on the HP website.

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  • apple,  blackberry,  clie,  foleo,  iphone,  lifedrive,  palm os,  storm,  t5,  tx

    Remembering the Palm TX, T5, and LifeDrive

    August 7, 2010 /

    I just moved my Palm TX, T5, and LifeDrive into storage.  They had been local residents on my desk since I acquired them and I have enjoyed playing and working with them for many years.  Today was the day they they moved into my storage crate with all of my other decommissioned smartphones and PDAs.

    My Palm Pre, Apple iPhone 2G, BlackBerry Storm2, HTC Droid Eris, and Palm Foleo just got more room to spread out.

    If you want to take a walk down memory lane, check out the PDA Museum where you can find write ups on many of the Palm/pa1mOne and Sony Clie Palm OS devices.

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  • adobe,  android,  google,  motorola,  verizon

    Has Verizon and Motorola Suspended Android FroYo 2.2 Updates?

    August 7, 2010 /

    Has Motorola and Big Red suspended all OTA updates of Google Android 2.2 to their Android smartphones?

    If MyDroidWorld and Droid-Life (link 1, link 2) are correct, there seems to be problems between the new Android OS and Adobe’s Flash Player, and Pandora.

    MyDroidWorld writes:

    “Motorola and Verizon are pulling all FRG Froyo builds and ceasing any current plans to update to Froyo. Seems there is a problem between Google and Adobe concerning flash, rights, and royalties. This comes as quite a surprise to us as it will others.”

    Personally, I’m a little bit skeptical of that statement.  You would think that Google and Adobe would have there ducks, and lawyers, in a row before the software goes out the door.  I quick Google search, ya, I should have used Bing this time out, finds an article from Examiner.com that seems to backup the Google/Verizon/Adobe claims until you start checking the links and see that they reference MyDroidLife too.

    So how about it Droid Nation on Big Red; are you getting your FroYo on? Drop us a line and let us know.

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  • android,  facebook,  google

    Facebook for Android Updated, Fixes Battery Drain Issue

    August 6, 2010 /

    Facebook has released version 1.3.1 of their Android client that corrects a battery drain issue.

    Recently, the Facebook client for Android devices received a major upgrade from the previous release in the form of the 1.3 update.  However, there was a bug in the background notification system that kept the phone from going to sleep and drained the battery very quickly.

    Hit up the Market Place application to get your weekend update action on!

    [Via Androinica.com…]

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