• Uncategorized

    Computer Engineer Barbie

    February 13, 2010 /

    I just saw this over on Boy Genius Report – Computer Engineer Barbie!

    I know a couple of Smartphone Fanatics who will like this Barbie in their collection.

    On their website, Barbie Media website, Mattel writes:

    Consumers loudly campaigned for another Barbie® career. The winner of the popular vote is Computer Engineer. Computer Engineer Barbie®, debuting in Winter 2010, inspires a new generation of girls to explore this important high-tech industry, which continues to grow and need future female leaders.

    “All the girls who imagine their futures through Barbie will learn that engineers — like girls — are free to explore infinite possibilities, limited only by their imagination,” says Nora Lin, President, Society of Women Engineers. “As a computer engineer, Barbie will show girls that women can turn their ideas into realities that have a direct and positive impact on people’s everyday lives in this exciting and rewarding career.”

    You can read more about Barbie’s exciting new career on BarbieMedia.com.

    [Via BoyGeniusReport.com…]

    Read More
  • adobe,  pixi,  pre,  web os

    Rumor: Flash Support Coming to webOS in February

    February 11, 2010 /

    PreCentral.net is reporting that having native Adobe Flash support on Palm webOS devices like the Pre could become a reality later this month.

    “Palm and SFR held their French launch event last night and reports on the ground bring good news: Palm employees specifically said that Flash would be available in February. Previously we had been a little unsure of that, what we knew for sure was that webOS 1.4 would lay the underpinning for it, but the actual release (which is coming in the App Catalog) was less clear.”

    Sounds cool if it’s true and would be a cool trick since the iPhone can’t handle embedded Flash content in web pages.

    You can read the full article over on PreCentral.net.

    Read More
  • microsoft,  windows mobile

    Rumor: Major Changes Coming to Windows Phone 7

    February 8, 2010 /

    If a recent article by Electronista.com is accurate, there will be more changing with Windows Mobile than the product name.

    With the next release of the Windows Mobile operating system, Microsoft is rumored to be changing the name from Windows Mobile to Windows Phone, all the while keeping the version numbering system from Windows Mobile. (Confused yet?) Windows Mobile 6.5.x will be replaced by Windows Phone 7 late this year.

    The name change isn’t the only thing getting a refresh. Microsoft is also rumored to be making several engine changes that will either make you jump for joy or throw up your arms in disgust. After Palm OS 5, the Windows Mobile User Interface (UI) is the next mobile operating system in need of a make over – and Windows Phone 7 will provide it. In addition to making Windows Phone look and work more like a Zune or the iPhone, it is also rumored that Microsoft will be removing multitasking support from Windows Phone. It is also rumored that Microsoft may also lock down the default UI, preventing third-party developers like HTC from adding their own UI layer on top of Windows like they currently do with the Sense UI on handsets running Google’s Android operating system.

    Other changes that could be coming to a Microsoft-powered phone near you could be XNA application programming language that would allow for easier migration of XBox services to the Windows Phone platform. While that does sound cool, Microsoft appears to be eyeing an Apple App Store-like distribution model with applications being installed from a single source. And backward application compatibility? If the rumor is true, they could be on the endangered species list.

    Electronista does state that most of this information has not been confirmed and as with any rumor, needs to be taken with a gain of salt. Hopefully Microsoft will give us more details at this years, Mobile World Congress taking place in Barcelona, Spain, later this month.

    [Via Electronista.com…]

    Read More
  • android,  google,  motorola,  verizon

    Motorola Devour Coming to Verizon Wireless

    February 5, 2010 /

    Verizon Wireless has announced that their next phone based on Google’s Android OS, the Devour, will be arriving in March.

    Verizon Wireless and Motorola, Inc. have announced the availability of Motorola DEVOUR in March. Motorola DEVOUR will be the first Verizon Wireless phone to feature MOTOBLUR, Motorola’s unique Android-powered content delivery service created to make wireless phones more personal and customizable.

    MOTOBLUR is the first solution to sync contacts from work and personal e-mail services, including Gmail, with posts, messages, photos and more from popular sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. With MOTOBLUR, content is automatically delivered to the home screen and fed into easy-to-manage streams.

    Motorola Devour’s Key Features

    • Touch-sensitive navigation pad
    • 3.1” capacitive touch screen
    • Pre-loaded Google apps: Gmail, Google Talk, YouTube, Google Search and Google Maps with Navigation.
    • Android Market application store
    • MOTOBLUR Happenings Widget – automatically receive push status updates updates from popular social networking sites.
    • MOTOBLUR Universal Inbox – gathers texts, social network messages and e-mails into one home screen widget.
    • Back-Up and Security – Contacts, log-in information, home screen customizations, e-mail and social network messages are backed up automatically on the secure MOTOBLUR portal. The portal also allows customers to use the phone’s fully integrated aGPS to help locate the phone if misplaced. Remote wipe easily clears information from a lost device.
    • 8 GB microSD™ card pre-installed
    • Supported Bluetooth profiles include: A2DP, HID, HSP, HFP, AVRCP and GAP

    Verizon Service Plans

    To get the most from Motorola DEVOUR, customers will need to subscribe to a Nationwide Talk or Nationwide Talk & Text plan and a Data Package for smartphones. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access, and Nationwide Talk & Text plans begin at $59.99 monthly access. A Data Package for smartphones is $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.

    Analysis

    What I really like about the Devour is the new keyboard layout. For the Devour, Motorola chose to make the keys bigger and spaced them out more on the keyboard. In my opinion, this gives the user a better typing experience than what is available on the Motorola Droid or on screen virtual keyboards.

    The downside is that the Devour is clearly intended to be a consumer device. I’m sure businesses will deploy plenty of the new Android-powered phone, however, without Google’s adding more robust support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support, organizations looking to deploy Devour will continue to need third-party tools such as NitroDesk Touchdown.

    For more details, visit the Verizon Wireless website.

    Read More
  • android,  droid,  eris,  google,  verizon

    Android 2.x Coming to Verizon HTC Eris

    February 2, 2010 /


    Now that I have a Verizon HTC Droid Eris attached to my hip, riding shotgun to my Palm Pre, I’m looking for information on when I might be able to get my hands on the latest release of Google Android.

    According to SolSie.com, Verizon has come out and stated that they will provide an Android 2.-something upgrade for the Eris before the end of Q1, 2010. Go Big Red!
    “Verizon spokesperson Brenda Raney said, “The Droid Eris currently using Android 1.5, can and will be upgraded to newer a Android operating system software in first quarter 2010. The enhancement will allow customers to continue to enjoy the powerful HTC Sense experience while also gaining the additional benefits of Google Maps Navigation.”
    [Via SolSie.com…]
    Read More
  • apple,  ipad

    Time: Has Jobs Seen the Future – Again?

    February 1, 2010 /

    Time Magazine has written a good overview of Apple’s recently announced iPad mobile computing device. If you want to learn more about the device, without having to deal with all the technical details, this is a great article for you to look over. (The same article will also appear in this week’s newsstand print edition; magazine subscribers should already have the issue on their coffee tables.)
    If you want a more in-depth review, including some hands on time, check out Time.com’s sister site, TechLand.com.

    Read More
  • apple,  ipad,  podcast

    Apple iPad Announcement Podcast Posted

    January 31, 2010 /

    Apple has posted the podcast of the iPad announcement from last week. You can download the video to your Mac, PC, iPhone, or iPod by subscribing to the Apple Keynotes podcast feed.

    I skipped watching the iPad event as a streaming video so I can download the event to my Apple TV so I can watch it in my living room on a 42-inch TV. If you can’t see Apple’s keynote events live, then a TV in your living room is the next best thing.

    Read More
  • microsoft,  windows mobile

    Microsoft Makes Windows Mobile Noise

    January 31, 2010 /

    First it was Windows CE. Then it was Pocket PC. Next came Windows Mobile. Now Microsoft is talking “Windows Phone.”

    According to Electronista.com, Microsoft is going to be talking about some new details about the next version of Windows Mobile at Mobile World Congress, held in Barcelona. The February European mobile event is just as geeky at January’s Consumer Electronics Show.

    Will Microsoft finally give us some real details on the next version of their mobile phone OS or will they talk about some release of Windows Mobile that will sit between Windows Mobile 6.5 and 7.0?

    [Via Electronista.com…]

    Read More
  • android,  eris,  google

    HTC Droid Eris

    January 31, 2010 /

    Last week I came back to my office to find a present waiting for my on my desk: an HTC Droid Eris smartphone!

    Since this phone is being issued to me as a corporate asset, I’m required to use the phone for business purposes only. That means that the phone can only be used for business phone calls and email only. (If I need to make personal calls or send personal email, I’ll have my Palm Pre for that.)

    So here are some pictures of the Eris being unboxed. The first thing that I noticed when I took the Eris out of the box was how thin and light it felt; something that I will appreciate since I will be required to carry two phones most of the time. The Google Android OS is on par with Apple’s iPhone OS and Palm’s webOS. The Verizon edition of the Eris ships with Android 1.5 installed. If some of the rumors on the Internet are to be believed, HTC and Verizon are working on an Android 2.0 update, however, the ticking point is the porting of HTC’s custom Sense UI to the Android 2.0 platform.

    Unlike the Motorola Droid that I recently reviewed, the HTC Eris lacks a physical keyboard. I’ll have to get used to that, but it is the price you have to pay to get a thin device.

    I’ll have some more thoughts and impressions on the HTC Droid Eris as time goes on.

    Read More
  • apple,  ipad

    First Impressions of the Apple iPad

    January 28, 2010 /

    Just saw that Jimmie over at GadgetsOnTheGo.net has a cool graphic of the iPad posted with a compact specs block.

    The iPad looks really cool, but I’m not sure I’ll buy one before I get to play with one at Best Buy or an Apple Store. Ya, let’s make that until I play with one at an Apple Store. Sure it’s an hour to the nearest Apple Store, but you kinda have to visit “the holy land” if you’re going to play with the newest Apple hardware and software and talk to someone who really knows the product inside and out.

    Regardless of what I do, I don’t see myself buying one of the cellular service editions of iPad. I really don’t want to have to put more money in the pockets of the phone company. I’ve been doing fine with my Wi-Fi enabled iPod touch. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m willing to bet that hi-def TV shows and movies, which I do watch often on my iPod touch, are going to look great on this thing.

    And while we’re talking about the “phone company,” it looks like Verizon is out in the cold again as Apple selects AT&T as their 3G cellular edition iPad partner. I mean why not? It isn’t like AT&T’s wireless network is getting over run by iPhone users as it is.

    Now for the part that is going to put me in the dog house for a few weeks: the price! How am I going to walk around the house toting this tech without my wife getting suspicious, checking the bank account, and finding out that I’ve dropped $600-700 on a new “toy” that I don’t need?!

    [Images courtesy of GadgetsOnTheGo.net, and Engadget.com]

    Read More