Blog Archives
Say so with Yahoo voice mobile search
By Michelle Megna | May 21, 2009On the heels of news that Yahoo temporarily put the [brakes on its Java-based mobile app](/dev-news/article.php/3821336/Yahoo+Scales+Back+Mobile+Apps+for+iPhone+Focus.htm) development, the company just announced voice-enabled oneSearch services for its Yahoo Mobile iPhone application and for BlackBerry devices. The promise is that phone owners can search for flight numbers, local restaurants and Web sites by asking for it.
In addition to using voice to conduct a search, the Yahoo Mobile iPhone app lets callers customize the "My Interests" tab by voice as well. This is done by clicking on the "add anything" button and saying the topic of interest, and then selecting the relevant content to add.
The oneSearch with voice is also now available for BlackBerry devices including the Bold, Storm, Flip and Javelin. It is also available on for phones running Windows Mobile and on Nokia phones.
The Yahoo oneSearch with voice application is currently available on more than 80 different devices and, in addition to the iPhone and BlackBerry platforms, is also available for Windows Mobile and Nokia phones.
The search portal company also rolled out the Yahoo oneSearch shortcut for Windows Mobile in 21 countries. The Windows Mobile client came out in the U.S. in February and offers several shortcut features, such as an auto-locate feature on select devices to deliver local search results based on a combination of cell tower triangulation, GPS and Wi-Fi hotspots.
T-Mobile to G1: No Cupcake for you!
By Michelle Megna | May 20, 2009There's hardly anything worse than thinking you're getting a treat, and then having it snatched away for a while, which is what happened to T-Mobile G1 owners.
T-Moblie delayed the roll out of Android 1.5 for G1 customers with the following announcement, "We are working diligently to get Android 1.5 out as soon as possible, while aiming to ensure a consistent, positive experience for our customers. We're finalizing the build this week to ensure optimal functionality and smooth delivery. Therefore, the rollout schedule has been reset by approximately a week, and we expect all G1 customers will have the update by early June."
While Google has improved Android several times since it came out in the fall of 2008, Cupcake -- which bumps the software's version to 1.5 -- is the platform's first significant upgrade.
Though developers have been playing around with the Cupcake 1.5 software developer kit since April, once the roll out actually happens, it will mark the official push of the upgrade to Android handsets, namely the HTC T-Mobile G1.
But the secret ingredient of Cupcake may be that it will support a wide range of phone designs, which should make developers and carriers happy.
One of those carriers is T-Mobile, which recently saw the G1 surpass 1 million in sales . With that milestone under its belt, the carrier is preparing to add a slew of Android handsets later this summer.
Still, some critics say some smartphone makers had to push release dates of Android models from summer to fall due to the delay in the Cupcake update. Google declined to comment on that issue -- as well as on the version 2.0 update dubbed Donut -- but remains optimistic on the promise of the new mobile platform.
"Since Android is available as open source, anyone can take the platform and add code or download it to make Android-related products without restrictions. We look forward to seeing what contributions are made and how an open platform spurs innovation," the Google spokesperson told *InternetNews.com.*
Storm 2 joining June release jamboree?
By Michelle Megna | May 20, 2009The Storm 2 may hit Verizon Wireless store shelves in June, according to the latest unconfirmed reports floating in the blogosphere.
Verizon has been training staff on the so-called Storm 2 for the past week in preparation for release of the new smarpthone before the end of June, according to [BlackberryOS.com's post](http://www.blackberryos.com/forums/blackberry-rim-news/2014-storm-2-will-have-wifi-released-sooner-then-you-may-think.html) citing an anonymous Verizon source.
The original Storm was Research In Motion's answer to the iPhone, and it appears the BlackBerry maker doesn't want to be shown up at the smartphone release party set for June. Apple is expected to introduce new iPhone models next month -- and it is not the only A-list celeb invited to the smartphone-fest.
Palm's Pre goes on sale June 6, two days before the Apple developer conference -- widely anticipated to be the venue for showing off new iPhones -- and a host of other
releases from Samsung, HTC and Motorola are on tap.
The [next version of the Storm ](/mobility/article.php/3818871/BlackBerry+Storm+2+Brewing+Curve+Coming.htm)was confirmed by RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie during a shareholder conference in early May, though he declined to provide any specifics on features, pricing or release dates. Still, industry watchers say it may include Wi-Fi, which was missing from the first model.
Balsillie also said that RIM is moving forward with an aggressive strategy of courting the consumer market. Given that, a lot is riding on the Storm 2 -- the first Storm received tepid reviews -- and RIM will only get so many chances to impress given the competition.
Taking the touch out of iPhone's touchscreen
By Michelle Megna | May 13, 2009Don't get me wrong, I love the iPhone as much as the next person. But with so much coverage lately, I'm a bit Jan-Brady-Bunched out on the topic of how popular -- or not -- it is: iPhone!, iPhone!, iPhone! So when an e-mail hit my inbox touting "iPhone, Nails, Women -- Solution," I thought, finally, a new angle on the "hero phone."
Here's the pitch: "Women with long nails (acrylic or natural) have experienced difficulty typing and navigating the iPhone's touchscreen interface. The capacitive screen was designed to only respond to the electrical charge of your fingertip so nails won't work.
"Well...we have the perfect way to solve your readers' iPhone woes! With the Pogo Stylus -- the world's first iPhone/iPod-touch compatible stylus -- typing and navigating an iPhone has never been easier.
"The Pogo Stylus itself actually has conductive material at the tip and the light-weight aluminum body of the stylus acts as a bridge, transferring the electrical charge from your hand directly to the screen. Plus it comes in four hot colors: cranberry, silver, black and gunmetal. For just $14.95, your readers can pick it up at www.tenonedesign.com or www.amazon.com."
Four hot colors? Count me in for jumping on the Pogo. Seriously, I have to admit, it is a pretty cool idea. The only drawback is, uhm, isn't the touchscreen on the iPhone a huge part of its appeal? Do you really want to tap away on your "iconic" phone with a stylus a la the way-back Palm PDA days? I guess the answer, if you've just had a $30 manicure replete with appliques, is yes.
(photo courtesy of *NailPro Magazine*)
Are latest Android sales stats a whopper?
By Michelle Megna | May 13, 2009It appears there will be a global Android explosion this year if the latest forecasts are true, as worldwide Android-based smartphone shipments will grow 900 percent in 2009, according to research from Strategy Analytics.
Naturally, growth of that stature is easier to come by if you're starting out from ground zero, which is the case with Google's mobile open source platform. Though a few handsets just became available in Europe -- the [Samsung I7500 ](/mobility/article.php/3817436/Samsung+Unveils+First+of+Three+Android+Phones.htm)and the [Android Magic HTC](/mobility/article.php/3817076/Android+Magic+for+Sale+in+UK.htm) in the UK -- right now HTC's T-Mobile G1 remains as the sole Android smartphone stateside.
Still, Strategy Analytics remains exuberant about Andorid. "We forecast global Android smartphone shipments to grow an impressive 900 percent annually during 2009. The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the United States in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009. Android is expanding from a low base and it is consequently outgrowing the iPhone OS from Apple, which we estimate will grow at a relatively lower 79 percent annually in 2009," said Tom Kang, senior analyst at the company.
Meanwhile, the T-Mobile G1 just surpassed 1 million in sales, and it was launched in the fall of 2008. Given that some vendors, such as Motorola, aren't expecting to have Android products out until the holiday shopping season, another nearly 6 million in sales of Android phones by December appears overly optimistic.
But Strategy Analytics isn't the only industry watcher bullish on Android. David Chamberlain, principal analyst at In-Stat and author of the [report](/ec-news/article.php/3812436/Smartphone+App+Use+Set+to+Quadruple.htm), "The Apps Store is Born: Smartphones Enable New Marketing and Advertising Opportunities Worldwide," came out in March with bold projections of his own.
While his report focused on app usage, it also touches on smartphone sales broken out by mobile operating system, and the numbers look good for those based on open-source. "When you look on a global basis, Apple is only a tiny part of the smartphone market," said Chamberlain. "We didn't break out Android separately, it's with Linux and other open-source devices, but we're predicting in five years that ultimately sales of Linux and Android will be double that of devices based on Apple's OS."
With a summer of signature product launches slated in the smartphone sector, it will be interesting to watch actual sales figures to see which devices and operating systems ultimately win the hearts and minds of consumers.
Using a Kindle 2 out in the sticks
By Michelle Megna | May 11, 2009With all the news recently on the Kindle front -- the new large-screen [DX launch last week](/ec-news/article.php/3819046/Amazon+Enlarges+EBook+Play+With+Kindle+DX.htm) and today's launch of a Kindle Store optimized for the Safari Web browser on iPhone -- one can almost forget that the Kindle 2 was just released in February.
Indeed, Amazon's push into the e-reader market is in full swing. The DX is aimed at nothing short of salvaging the newspaper industry, while the optimized Kindle Store for the Safari Web Browser will be tailored for the size and shape of the iPhone and iPod touch screens.
But despite Amazon's recent developments in the e-reader arena, the Kindle 2 is still the big hitter in the company's e-reader line up, so I decided to take a closer look.
As recent refugees from Manhattan like myself are fond of saying, more people lived in my old apartment building than do in my current rural town. Here folks wear Carhartt and the thermal dynamics of woodstoves and the state of one's maple syrup sugaring shack are hot topics. 3G and Whispernet technology? Not so much. So it was with plucky New England spirit that I tested out the Kindle 2 in a place where there's not a [Frankenpine](http://inews.webopedia.com/TERM/F/Frankenpine.html) in sight.
Naturally, it's not surprising that the 3G coverage doesn't cover out where I live, so undaunted I took the Kindle 2 "to town" and was impressed by how easy it is to use. The claim is true: you really can download and be reading a new e-book in less than a minute. I handed the device to a friend who doesn't know anything about e-readers, and much to my chagrin, she purchased "Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man" for me in less than 40 seconds.
The Whispernet technology, which is the Kinde's free, built-in, wireless connection, lets you tap into Amazon's Kindle Store from anywhere you can access Sprint's EVDO cellular data network -- no computer needed, no Wi-Fi hot spot hunting. This is really the key to the Kindle's appeal, though alternatively, you can shop for Kindle publications from your computer and have them wirelessly sent to your Kindle 2 by simply hitting the one-click purchase button.
The Kindle 2 delivered also delivered on its promise of longer battery life, a chic, slim design and features you'd want in an e-book, namely easy page-turning, search, navigation and e-periodical purchasing functions. The keyboard is easy to use, too, which is nice for folks who don't like typing with their thumbs.
Another improved feature in the Kindle 2 is its charging system. Instead of an AC adapter, you use a micro-USB device, with a detachable cable so you can also charge the Kindle by connecting it to a USB port on your computer, which is pretty nifty.
I think any e-book fan, will certainly love the Kindle 2. There's still room for some improvement -- for instance it won't work overseas, you can't read native PDF or Word files on it, you can't remove the battery, there's no expansion slot for adding memory -- but these are not deal-breakers. In fact, it's a pleasure to use the Kindle 2 because there's literally no learning curve, which is a pretty big plus given that the e-reader market is still in its infancy. And even the lack of coverage in some rural areas can be balanced out by the added convenience of having a Kindle Store at your fingertips. If you want to buy a book, you don't have to drive 45 minutes to the closest bookstore.
Still, and this is no knock on the Kindle 2 but rather my own opinion on e-readers in general, after spending all day on a computer, I personally don't want to scroll, select and five-way-navigate my way around to read a book, magazine or paper no matter how easy it is to do so. I really just want to turn the page. (And not worry if my toddler yanks it out of my hands and throws it across the room, which is another story and topic entirely, but I digress.)
And e-readers are so darn precious. There's no denying the cache of owning such a sexy gadget, but I'm afraid to toss it in my car -- let alone in my beach bag or backpack -- for a day trip without the fear of utterly destroying it in what is a decidedly unkempt lifestyle, carrying case or not.
But that's me, and I'm sure writing that puts me squarely in the league of the [Terry Semels](http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/18/yahoo-mistakes-employees-tech-enter-cx_bc_1118yahoomistakes.html) who failed to embrace the future when it was dumped in their lap -- and I'm OK with that. I also realize e-readers are not a trendy fad destined to fade away, even if the masses don't adopt them anytime soon. And if the devices improve upon the already stand-out Kindle 2, I'll be OK with that, too.
Android HTC Magic in Wal-Mart soon?
By Michelle Megna | May 11, 2009It's not the traditional birthstone ruby, but sapphires that may mark the month of July this year in terms of coveted gems. Wal-Mart may be selling the HTC Magic, a.k.a. Sapphire, in July for $179, with the standard two-year contract, according to the latest unconfirmed report from the blog [Boy Genius Report,](http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/05/08/t-mobiles-walmart-roadmap-t-mobile-g2-with-a-surprise/) which posted what it claims to be the store's roadmap for upcoming mobile phones.
As the HTC Magic launches in several European countries, all eyes are on carrier T-Mobile and phone-maker HTC as the industry eagerly awaits news on when we���ll see the next Android smartphone in the US.
In other Android news, an unofficial T-Mobile blog, [TMOToday](http://tmotoday.com/forums/ground-zero/blog-posts-and-discussion/htc-g1-v2-android-device-revealed-codenamed-t-mobile-bi), says a new version of the T-Mobile G1, version 2 and codenamed Bigfoot, is in the works. That smartphone may be out in October for $148, according to BGR.
Samsung and Motorola have announced plans for Android phones, but Motorola says it will miss the summer showdown, launching in time for the holiday season, and Samsung remains tight-lipped on release details.
Microsoft, PayPal: attack of the smartphone apps
By Michelle Megna | May 11, 2009Apple recently saw its billionth app download and just ended a standoff with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails over its approval policy for iPhone apps. Still, the iPhone maker isn't the only big player in smartphone app news recentlly -- Microsoft's new Facebook mini-program debuts and PayPal introduces a mobile Android program.
Microsoft announced its first native [Facebook app for Windowns Mobile 6](http://www.windowsmobile.com/facebook) as a free download. The Windows Mobile Facebook app lets users upload video from their smartphones.
People will also be able to access status updates, friend requests and photo tags, as well as read and create wall posts, share photos, send messages and update profile pictures. Facebook users will also be able to share their Facebook activities, including photos and status updates, across the full range of Windows Live services.
On the payment processing front, PayPal launched a free Android app for accessing PayPal accounts. The PayPal app offers direct integration with the contact list, recent history, so you can use your phone to check transactions over the past few months and your balances, according to a [blog post ](https://www.thepaypalblog.com/2009/05/new-paypal-application-for-android/)by Eric Duprat from PayPal's mobile team.
"And, of course, all your mobile payments are kept safe using the same start-of-the-art technology we use on paypal.com. So, if you have an Android phone, visit the Android Market to download the app and try it out," writes Duprat.
Finally, in other app news this week, AT&T, the exclusive carrier for the iPhone, just released its top 10 performing apps, based on new sales from January through March, offering a closer look at what consumers are doing with their phones beyond talking, texting and tweeting.
As reported in AT&T's first-quarter earnings, wireless data revenues for the company grew 39 percent year-over-year. A key contributor to this growth is use of mobile applications and games. The top 10 AT&T apps are: AT&T Navigator, AT&T Mobile TV, Napster Mobile, XM Radio Mobile, MobiTV, WikiMobile, Shazam, Make-UR-Tones, My-Cast Weather and MobiVJ.
The top games are: Tetris, Bejeweled, Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile, Pac-Man by Namco, Ms. Pac-Man, Jewel Quest II, Diner Dash, The Oregon Trail, Midnight Pool 2 and Platinum Sudoku. (Wait, what? Oregon Trail? Seriously?)
Can ToldYa eStores bring e-commerce to Facebook?
By Michelle Megna | May 06, 2009A new online storefront for social networking sites from [ToldYa.com](http://www.toldya.com) debuts today and claims to outshine other widgets designed to cash in on the social media craze by keeping the transactions at the original site and by not requiring merchant accounts.
The ToldYa eStore is a three-by-four-inch mini store that can be embedded and posted at social networking sites, blogs or Web sites and can be customized with images, text or video. Shoppers can browse, checkout, select shipping methods and pay for their items within the eStore app, without leaving the page for a third-party service such as PayPal, according to the company, which gets a 99-cent transaction fee for sold items.
Unlike eBay, which now prohibits money orders, ToldYa eStores can accept cash or credit, and the company provides tools for order tracking and processing in the seller's ToldYa account.
The news comes at a time when many online store owners and retailers are trying to capitalize on the millions of members -- Facebook has some 200 million active users -- frequenting social networking sites.
Anyone can brand their business, for instance, by creating a fan or business page at Facebook. And, some big retailers, for example Sears, have Facebook pages, but primarily businesses use Facebook for promotional purposes and link back to their online store for actual transactions. Plus, widgets and other mini apps exist that link to online stores, but to date, e-commerce has yet to take off at social networking sites.
Aside from payment logistics and despite the fact that people are more inclined to buy something from a friend or even a friend-of-a-friend, it appears most social networking site members see them as social hubs, and quite simply, are more interested in socializing than in buying things.
ToldYa seems to think that will change if the logistics are streamlined, saying that the lack of commerce exists because other apps require casual sellers to have a merchant account or because too many steps are involved in the buying transaction.
"The leading consumer e-commerce marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon and Craigslist have yet to truly adapt their offerings for Web 2.0. These sites don't allow users to easily share listings on social media sites, other than posting affiliate links that market products from other sellers.
"Additionally, any purchase made must be checked out at the e-commerce marketplace -- so even if you could figure out how to post a link on your Facebook profile to a bicycle you're selling on eBay, your friends will have to leave Facebook and checkout at eBay. With a ToldYa estore you never leave the page you are viewing while you are shopping," Michael Birnholz, chief executive officer and founder of ToldYa, said in a statement.
It remains to be seen if e-commerce will truly happen at Facebook and other social media sites -- and if ToldYa is the company that will be one of the first to do so. If it does, you can bet the folks there will say, "Told ya so."
Palm Pre at Best Buy in Time for Apple Dev Meetup?
By Michelle Megna | May 04, 2009While Palm and Sprint remain tight-lipped on any specifics, reports out today suggest that electronics retailer Best Buy will get a limited supply of Palm Pre units June 7.
It's not clear if that would be the launch date, as 4,500 Pre models are on tap to be distributed evenly to each Best Buy store selling mobile devices, according to a report by the [Boy Genius Web site](http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/05/03/best-buy-to-trial-launch-palm-pre-on-june-7th/).
If reports are true, new customers with a two-year contract, would pay $199.99, while existing customer upgrades would cost $299, close to the basic Apple iPhone model price tag of $200.
The Palm Pre is set to ship in the first half of the year by Sprint, but there has been speculation by industry watchers that Palm may roll out the Pre in May to avoid overlapping with the highly anticipated release of any new iPhones, rumored to be unveiled between June 8 and 12 at the Apple developer conference.
Meanwhile, two other unconfirmed reports are circulating that a lower-cost version of the Pre, dubbed Pixie, priced at $100, would be out a few months after the Pre while yet another unit, the EOS, which could be priced at $349, excluding any carrier rebates, is on tap for AT & T.
The GSM/HSDPA Eos phone, seen as the successor to the Pre, also runs on the new Palm webOS and offers a 2.6-inch, 320 x 400 display, 2-megapixel camera, cellular video and 4GB of storage, according to [Engadget](http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/30/palm-eos-super-thin-3g-and-headed-to-atandt/).
Meanwhile, Palm at its blog is asking for people to sign on as reviewers, with the chosen testers to be notified Friday.
It's shaping up to be a smack-down in the smartphone sector this summer, so we'll keep you posted.
