March 4, 2010

Engadget Mobile

Engadget Mobile

Microsoft talks Windows Phone 7 Series development ahead of GDC: Silverlight, XNA, and no backward compatibility

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 05:30 PM PST

Microsoft is keen on unveiling the meat of its developer story around Windows Phone 7 Series at MIX10 in less than two weeks, but with GDC coming up next week, they're figuring that now is a good time to start dropping hints -- they'll want to be capturing the collective imagination of the gaming industry, after all, what with that Xbox Live integration they've got going on. To that end, Charlie Kindel of WinPho's developer experience team has outed a few key items at a reception in San Francisco this evening.

The major points are that Silverlight, XNA, and .NET will figure prominently into the developer story -- not a surprise considering that Microsoft is heavily invested in both, gaming is central to the Windows Phone 7 Series story, XNA is a big deal on Zune HD already, and this all lines up with what we'd heard in the past. In fact, Kindel boldly proclaims that "If you are Silverlight or XNA developer today you're gonna be really happy." On the flipside, it's a bit ironic considering that Silverlight spends much of its existence going head-to-head with Flash, and all indications are that we won't see Flash support on 7 at initial availability (though it's sounding like a lock post-launch).

One final note at today's event is that Microsoft has now officially confirmed for the first time that 7 represents a clean break from Windows Mobile as we know it today; existing apps won't be compatible. Though that's likely to be a pain for existing owners with specialized apps who are looking to stay in the Microsoft ecosystem, Windows Phone 7 Series itself is a very different beast than the operating system it replaces -- it feels different, seeks a different demographic, and symbolically represents a very important clean-slate departure for a company that had lost its way in the mobile space. The bright side for the 6.5 faithful, we suppose, is that Kindel closes by saying that they "will continue to work with our partners to deliver new devices based on Windows Mobile 6.5 and will support those products for many years to come" -- a message Microsoft has been echoing recently.

We expect to hear much, much more on this at MIX -- and we might hear a few more tidbits at GDC as well -- but in the meantime, there's a developer Q&A going down on Twitter around 9:00PM ET (check the #wp7dev tag) where we could get some details. Stay tuned.

Microsoft talks Windows Phone 7 Series development ahead of GDC: Silverlight, XNA, and no backward compatibility originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MeeGo repository going public later this month, coming to Nokia N900

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 04:12 PM PST

Valtteri Halla -- Nokia employee and one-half of MeeGo's Technical Steering Group -- has blogged up a storm this week about the first baby steps that'll get the platform off the ground from its Moblin and Maemo roots, and from the sounds of things, we'll be able to get our first glimpse at it on production hardware before the month's out. Currently, the plan is to open up MeeGo's code repository to all comers "by the end of this month," targeting both Atom boards and the N900. Now, we certainly wouldn't say that MeeGo's decision to use the N900 as an early target device is indicative of an official upgrade down the line -- but this is particularly interesting in light of the fact that we've never gotten a commitment out of Nokia to bump its latest MID to Maemo 6. And besides, considering that the average N900 customer is a bit of a hacker in his or her own right, let's be honest: a code repository that supports the phone is just about as good as an official gold build anyhow.

MeeGo repository going public later this month, coming to Nokia N900 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HyperDevbox ExZeus Arcade allays fears that Android games are destined to suck

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 03:39 PM PST

For whatever reason, Android's high-performance Native Development Kit introduced back in the Cupcake days never got a ton of attention despite the subtle hints that it'd give devs the low-level access they needed to create killer, graphically rich, immersive environments ready to compete with pretty much any other gaming device you could shove in your pocket. Of course, at the time, every phone in the market was running an older, slower ARM11 core -- so maybe the new generation of ARMv7-based devices we've got hanging around now like the Nexus One and Droid are the catalysts we need to get this party started in earnest. Japan's HyperDevbox studio has just shared the news that its ExZeus Arcade shooter makes full use of the NDK, your microSD card, and a custom sound driver to bring a gaming experience hotter than pretty much anything we've seen on Android thus far; the only catch is that you need Android 2.0 or up and a phone with a dedicated GPU to get it going. It's available now in the Market for a seemingly reasonable $3.99 -- and let's let this serve as a reminder to other game studios that they've got the tools and the horsepower to rock Android hard. Follow the break for video of ExZeus in action.

Continue reading HyperDevbox ExZeus Arcade allays fears that Android games are destined to suck

HyperDevbox ExZeus Arcade allays fears that Android games are destined to suck originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos Phone Tablet shelved due to lack of carrier support?

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 01:11 PM PST

We'd already heard that Archos' Android-based phone tablet might be in trouble if the company wasn't able to line up at least two carriers to support it, and it looks like that unfortunate end may have now come to pass. While Archos itself still isn't saying anything, French daily Les Echos is reporting that the company has indeed shelved its plans for the phone, and is apparently returning its focus to its line of non-phone internet tablets. Of course, the phone does still exist, so there's always a slight chance that it could make a comeback, but the word out of CeBIT seems to be painting a pretty grim picture.

[Thanks, Chris]

Archos Phone Tablet shelved due to lack of carrier support? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon's HTC Incredible spotted again, looking as red-accented as ever

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 12:51 PM PST

We're missing that crazy contoured back this time around, but otherwise, HTC's so-called Incredible for Verizon is looking as real and ready for action as it ever has in these latest shots leaked over at Phandroid. It's hard to say whether these crimson bits are going to make it to production -- they seem a little too spectacular for a high-end device that Verizon will want to appeal to the masses, but then again, red is Verizon's color, so who knows? We've seen from countless prototypes in the past (Moto's Morrison comes immediately to mind) that they're often given special colors, presumably to identify bandits trying to expose them as anonymously as possible -- and we're tentatively going to say we dig it here. AT&T's gone wacky on us in the past, but is Verizon hip enough to ship a phone this edgy? Release rumors span from March to May at this point, so we'll know within the next couple months what's what.

Verizon's HTC Incredible spotted again, looking as red-accented as ever originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Project Pink QWERTY slider 'Pure' found in the wild, headed for Verizon?

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 11:51 AM PST

There's a lot of rumbling in Project Pink land today, as Microsoft is seemingly nearing that magical time where its much-leaked Sidekick followup can finally see the light of day. First off, we're hearing from a tipster that the phones (we've seen 'Turtle' and 'Pure' so far) will be exclusive to Verizon, at least at the outset -- makes sense, given the CDMA radios we saw at the FCC. He calls the UI "hectic and colorful," and also says that there's still some serious cloud backup reliance, along with some desktop software to sync up with the cloud as well, and data plans that including a certain quantity of app downloads a month.

This is all fine and exciting, but it's helped along by a couple of image leaks. Conflipper, well known among the xda-dev crowd, is teasing the Twitter world with some screenshots of the emergency dialer (which also mention Verizon Wireless), and a Facebook upload from the device, which can be found in the gallery below. The dialer is about as barebones as it gets right now, but there's a bit of a hint of Windows Phone 7 Series in there to be sure. Finally, Gizmodo hit upon the hardware jackpot with a Mr. Blurrycam capture of the bigscreen 'Pure' QWERTY slider (pictured up above). If you really squint your eyes you can make out some of that "hectic and colorful" UI we're hearing about.

Project Pink QWERTY slider 'Pure' found in the wild, headed for Verizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple / Nokia federal lawsuit put on hold pending ITC investigation

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 11:39 AM PST

We normally wouldn't cover something so procedural, but given the heightened interesting Apple's patent dealings this week, we thought we'd note that Cupertino's tiff with Nokia in the federal courts has been put on hold while both companies argue their case before the US International Trade Commission. We expected the ITC to be the primary front in this fight from the start, but now we'll be particularly focused on the Commission's ruling, since several of the patent claims Apple's asserting against Nokia in this case are also being claimed against HTC. We don't have a timeline on when the Commission will reach a decision, but we'll keep an eye on things.

Apple / Nokia federal lawsuit put on hold pending ITC investigation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony prepping new line of handhelds, including PSP phone?

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 11:16 AM PST

You know who knows everything? People familiar with the matter. In particular, they know everything when "the matter" happens to be Sony's handheld strategy for 2010, which is said to finally include an honest-to-goodness PSP with phone capabilities -- something the world's been demanding for as long as they've wanted a Zunephone. According to the WSJ, the device is apparently part of a larger push by Sony to create an iTunes-like Utopian ecosystem of products this year that connect to Sony Online Service, an ecosystem that would also include a hybrid portable of some sort that "blurs distinctions among a netbook, an e-reader and a PlayStation Portable." Details aren't offered on this particular monster -- but turning our attention back to the phone for a second, it's claimed that Sony's working with it in conjunction with the folks at Sony Ericsson under the direction of Kunimasa Suzuki, an exec largely responsible for the VAIO line who's also involved with the PlayStation team. Of course, SE's already taken some baby steps toward corporate harmony by bundling Remote Play support with the Aino, but everyone knows that PSP compatibility is the panacea; Microsoft finally buckled on the Zunephone thing with the introduction of Windows Phone 7 Series, and there's no reason why Sony shouldn't follow suit.

Sony prepping new line of handhelds, including PSP phone? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 2.1 for Droid Eris leaks out

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 10:56 AM PST

We've already seen a broken build of Android 2.1 for the Droid Eris slip out accidentally, but now the full package is available for installation courtesy of the fine folks at xda-developers. We haven't tried it ourselves, but we're told it's working fine, and that snazzy new version of Sense is apparently quite snazzy and new. Of course, you're risking your phone and all your data if you try this, so the absolutely smart and prudent move is to wait for the official update, but do let us know how it goes if you're daring enough to load it up, okay?

Update: And just like that, it's been ported to the Sprint Hero, although not everything works quite yet. You be careful, kids.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Android 2.1 for Droid Eris leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T USBConnect Turbo and Velocity are carrier's first LG and GPS modems, respectively

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 10:11 AM PST

Location-based services have finally melted our brains to the point where we're completely useless without immediate and constant access to Google Maps or a reasonable facsimile -- we couldn't fold a paper map if we tried, and even if we could, we'd spend an hour looking for the pulsing blue dot. That's why we're so delighted to hear that AT&T has finally outed its very first GPS-enabled USB modem, the USBConnect Velocity from Option, that includes a so-called Option GPS Control Panel for injecting your whereabouts into popular services like Yahoo and Bing (Google, curiously, isn't mentioned). The other newbie to the lineup is the USBConnect Turbo -- AT&T's very first modem from LG -- with an "ergonomic design" and versatile connector for even the most awkward ports (MacBook, we're looking straight at you). Both devices will be available on the 7th of the month; the Turbo will be free on contract after rebate while the Velocity comes in at $29.99.

AT&T USBConnect Turbo and Velocity are carrier's first LG and GPS modems, respectively originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC HD2 and Windows Phone 7 Series: Just tell us no, Microsoft

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 09:29 AM PST

Dear Microsoft,

We've had it up to here with these shenanigans. You're jerking us around, and we're sick of it. We get it, you have a very particular concept of what sort of phones you want running your new Windows Phone 7 Series OS. Not only do we get it, but we're kind of proud of you for sticking up for yourself for once and ensuring some sort of sameness across your platform. Unfortunately, it's not the holiday season yet, so we can't buy one of these fancy WP7S phones yet. Meanwhile, on the other end of town, HTC is bringing the HD2 to T-Mobile in the US this month. Sure, it runs your soon-to-be-outdated Windows Mobile 6.5 OS which nobody wants, but it's also pretty much the best hardware we've ever seen. Bar none.

This brings us to our plea: Microsoft, please put a line in the sand and tell us if the phone will be upgradeable to Windows Phone 7 Series. Of course we know why you won't, you don't want to "Osborne effect" the sales of your one last hope for Windows Mobile 6.5 success, and you don't want to harm one of your most loyal handset builders. But what about your consumers? You've recently pushed out a number of statements about the device, full of wimpy non-line-in-sand-ers like "We currently do not have plans to update the HTC HD2 to Windows Phone 7 Series." Sure, you're not telling us to get our hopes up, but you're also just cruel and calculating enough to leave room for hope. We're pretty resigned at this point to receiving our Windows Phone 7 Series update on the HD2 from our good friends at xda-developers, but we'd just like to hear it from your mouth. Or better yet? Just get WP7S on there yourself, caveat it as "non-preferred" or whatever makes you comfortable, and save us all from this paralysis.

See you at MIX!

HTC HD2 and Windows Phone 7 Series: Just tell us no, Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opera Mini 5 beta shuns Java for Windows Mobile version

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 07:54 AM PST

Got WinMo? Don't have a Java VM? No problem! Opera has taken the time to rewrite its Opera Mini 5 beta as a native Windows Mobile application compatible with both 5 and 6.x-based handsets, meaning you won't need the Java compatibility that's traditionally required to run it -- compatibility that ironically makes it one of the more widely-deployed mobile browsers in the world. Though the thicker, fuller-featured Opera Mobile product is already a stalwart on WinMo that HTC bundles with the better portion of its devices, the presumed advantage with Mini is that it's tighter, faster, and consumes considerably less data -- perfect when roaming or on a low-allowance plan. Heck, why not have both? The Mini beta download is available now.

Opera Mini 5 beta shuns Java for Windows Mobile version originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Potato's FLPR IR dongle gives your iPhone home automation capabilities

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 06:00 AM PST

It's hard to say why we've seen a glut of these adapters hit all within the same week, but hey, the more the merrier! North Carolina's own New Potato Technologies (yes, we're serious) has followed up on ThinkFlood and Power A's efforts by introducing an Infrared iPhone / iPod touch dongle of its own. The difference? This one connects to the dock connector, and when used with the accompanying app, it can control lights, stereo systems, home cinemas and pretty much anything that allows dictation via IR. The best part just might be said app, as it allows users to search a database of over 14,000 device codes and just add the products they already own, which means that you'll probably only be stuck programming that LaserDisc player you refuse to give up. It'll start shipping today from the company's own website for $79.99, or you can consult the middleman (read: Best Buy) on starting on March 28th.

Continue reading New Potato's FLPR IR dongle gives your iPhone home automation capabilities

New Potato's FLPR IR dongle gives your iPhone home automation capabilities originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Terminal Mode spotted in the wilds of the Geneva Motor Show

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 04:31 AM PST

Those lovely people over at Nokia have furnished us with a few images of what their dashboard integration will look like, as well as the names of a few more partners for the Terminal Mode initiative. Intended to smarten up your car's hardware with the phone's capabilities -- whether that be to play back music, use Ovi Maps, browse the web, or whatver else -- this was announced in partnership with Alpine yesterday, but today we're hearing that Fiat, Harman Becker and Valmet Automotive are also getting in on the fun. The gallery below shows off a mockup from Valmet, which plops your Nokia into a cradle just under the Eva concept's "on" button, and then transfers all the important stuff onto an LCD integrated into the dashboard above. Nokia tells us that each OEM will have their own particular design, so this might not be how they'll all look, but as far as ease of use goes, we don't know how you can improve much on what's being shown already. Let's just hope the software is as effective as the presentation is handsome.

Nokia's Terminal Mode spotted in the wilds of the Geneva Motor Show originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tag: Microsoft's first Android app is it

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 03:58 AM PST

Everybody loves a world's first. So we might as well mention that Microsoft just released its very first application written for Google's competitive Android smartphone platform: Microsoft Tag Reader. Tag, as you might recall, is Microsoft's pseudo QR code implementation that uses high capacity color "barcodes" to link back to content. Download the app from the Android Market, scan a Tag with any camera enabled Android phone, and the linked data will automatically load on your device, be it a web page, video, advertisement, coupon, etc. Of course, readers without tags are as useless as tags without a wide swath of people with devices to read them -- so really, Microsoft has no choice but develop its Tag apps (already available for WinMo, Symbian, Blackberry, and iPhone handsets) for as many platforms as possible. First!

Tag: Microsoft's first Android app is it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone gets a stainless steel clamshell case, we'll wait for the titanium version

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 12:43 AM PST

You know, for all the praise the iPhone has received in its time, we never thought it looked quite Matrix-y enough. Thankfully, that all-important deficiency has been remedied by a man named Ryan Glasgow up in Portland, who has just started selling the above case to all who care to have one. It's built out of stainless steel on the outside and silicone padding on the inside, with strategically located cutouts for wireless signals and heat emissions to get through. You can flip the front plate open, turning it into a rather outsized clamshell, or you can just talk with the lid closed, it's all up to you. Aluminum and engraving options (how about "my other phone is a Vertu"?) are also available with each case costing a slightly spendy $95. See more of it in the gallery below.

iPhone gets a stainless steel clamshell case, we'll wait for the titanium version originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 2.1 looking fast, furious on Motorola Droid

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 09:35 PM PST

Alright, Droid owners, decent multitouch performance isn't the only thing you've got to brag about. As you likely know by now, 2.1's in the works for you -- and from the latest video we're seeing of an official test build running in the wild, we're cautiously optimistic that it's going to be a fantastic little update. As we'd reported some time back, the Nexus One's revamped app launcher is missing, but multitouch appears to work like butter in both the browser and revamped Gallery app and the new news and weather widgets have made the cut as well. Most notable, though, might simply be the fact that everything flies -- home screen switches, opening of the app drawer, zooming, it's all mega-fast. Granted, anyone with an Android device knows that the speed of the device depends on the number of apps you've got running, the moon phase, and the direction of the wind, but it's an encouraging sign nonetheless. Now if only Moto would stop fumbling the launch, we'd be good to go; in the meantime, though, check some video of the update after the break.

Continue reading Android 2.1 looking fast, furious on Motorola Droid

Android 2.1 looking fast, furious on Motorola Droid originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More BlackBerry slider pics appear -- is this the next Bold?

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 08:42 PM PST

What looked like a drizzle last night seems to be turning into a full on downpour. The folks over at BlackBerry Leaks have gotten themselves even more facetime with that mysterious BlackBerry slider device -- and it looks a lot better than we thought. Right now the theories are flying about just exactly what kind of phone this is, with BBL suggesting it might be the next phone in the Storm family, while Kevin over at CrackBerry has it on good authority that this new handset will be part of the Bold line. Kevin also says that the rumors he's heard on this device call for a 360 x 480 touchscreen display (sans SurePress) and expectations for BlackBerry OS 6.0 to be onboard. The pictured phone apparently has a battery issue which is keeping it from powering up, but hopefully someone will find a way to spark this thing to life and we can get some more solid info. For now, check out one more pic after the break.

Continue reading More BlackBerry slider pics appear -- is this the next Bold?

More BlackBerry slider pics appear -- is this the next Bold? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook for webOS gets a much-needed, and much-appreciated, 1.1.0 update

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 06:17 PM PST

After a disappointing initial effort, Palm has unleashed version 1.1.0 of its webOS Facebook app. Currently only available via the update function but not the standard App Catalog, users will find new and improved access to their inbox, all their friends' photo albums, profiles, direct photo uploading, friend search and a list view for upcoming events and birthdays. The first thing we noticed was the initial news feed now matches the notification preferences set on the standard webpage stopping the inevitable flood of Farmville updates we blocked so long ago. Features still missing include chat, video and the ability to respond to friend requests but with a distinctly faster and tighter experience, it's certainly surpassed the mobile webpage as the best way to access Facebook on the Pre. Can't reach the update button right now? Check our gallery for a few more images or this video demo from PreCentral embedded after the break.

[Thanks, @Isaac]

Continue reading Facebook for webOS gets a much-needed, and much-appreciated, 1.1.0 update

Facebook for webOS gets a much-needed, and much-appreciated, 1.1.0 update originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexus One's multitouch confused more easily than Droid's?

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 05:31 PM PST

Thought all multitouch-capable displays were created equal? Think again -- Android and Me has posted a rather fascinating (if not somewhat depressing) video showing a demo multitouch app created by a game developer who'd grown suspicious after running into all sorts of trouble getting the feature to work the way he wanted on the Nexus One. First up, the Droid handles the demo with aplomb -- two thumbs are recognized smoothly and consistently. Next, though, the Nexus One gets confused after a while and starts registering presses at the wrong corners of the on-screen box formed by the placement of the thumbs. There's always hope that this could be fixed with a firmware bump, but that hope looks to be in jeopardy from language posted by a Google engineer in the official Android dev forums: "...this is how the touch screen hardware on the Nexus One works (which is essentially the same screen as on the G1 and myTouch). The Droid has a sensor from a different manufacturer, with different behavior. Other phones will likewise have different sensors." In other words, Google seems to think that HTC's just using a lower-quality sensor than Motorola is. That's good news for Droid owners, we suppose -- but with game development on Android still something of a non-starter, hardware issues like this keep fragmenting the user base and preventing big-name developers from jumping in and betting on the platform. Follow the break for video proof of the wackiness.

Continue reading Nexus One's multitouch confused more easily than Droid's?

Nexus One's multitouch confused more easily than Droid's? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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at 6:21 PM

The Nokia Phone Blog

The Nokia Phone Blog

Revisiting the Nokia N900, Two Months Later

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 09:26 PM PST

Revisiting the N900, Two Months Later

Two Months Later: More Apps, More Bugs

I originally reviewed the N900 back in early January. A lot has changed since then, both in my honest opinions of the device and what’s out there. So how has the N900 fared? Let’s find out!

Thoughts on Hardware

I was initially impressed with the N900’s build quality. I still am. I’d put the hardware as one of the N900’s biggest strengths, along with multi-tasking and customization. More on that later.

The keyboard, which I noted was “pretty much average”, is slightly better now. My typing speed on the keyboard has improved, although I still find myself making mistakes from time to time. And while the keyboard isn’t as tactile as I’d like it to be, it’s one of Nokia’s better QWERTYs. The ability to change your key layout in Maemo (aka hacking the config files) is also a bonus.

Thoughts on Software

If I could best sum up Maemo 5, the user interface, and the N900’s feature set in one word, that word would be unfinished. And the first reason I say this is because of a number of basic features that still haven’t made it to production. For example:

  • Portrait mode
  • MMS
  • Front camera support
  • Custom ringtones for contacts

Portrait mode is a great example that illustrates these shenanigans. Portrait mode is obviously doable, since the Phone application includes the option to run in portrait view, effectively rotating the screen and everything. But that’s only limited to the Phone app. PR1.1 also brought a new “easter egg” that activated a hidden portrait mode – but that was only for the browser.

To be honest, portrait mode really wouldn’t interest me too much IF there wasn’t an annoying bug associated with it. Occasionally, the phone will get confused and stay in portrait mode after switching from the Phone application to something else. And while this might sound cool – hey, portrait mode at last! – it’s broken (ie, the screen gets cut off). And when it happens, you also can’t activate the main menu. Real weird stuff.

I’ve managed to reset it most of the time (reboot fixes the problem 100% of the time, but that’s annoying), but I haven’t come up with a real tried-and-true method other than trying to continually switch to and from the Phone application.

Is it really that difficult to implement a full portrait mode option?

Bugs

That bug, along with several other gravity-defying bugs, are another reason why I consider the N900 unfinished. There’s a weird one I’ve been trying to figure out lately For some reason, when I receive a call and select Answer, the phone goes blank and locks itself. I realize that it’s probably assuming that the phone is next to my ear, but most of the time I’m actually trying to turn on the loudspeaker. I don’t know if it’s a proximity sensor issue (due to my screen protector, maybe – but this has never happened to me on any other Nokia with similar screen protectors) or a software issue, but other people on the talk.maemo forums seem to be having the same problem.

Customizations

There is one bright spot on the horizon, however, and that is customization. The N900 is absolutely one of the most hackable phones out there. I’m always pleasantly surprised by some of the stuff that people have managed to figure out – things like modifying the keyboard keys so that they suit your tastes, changing the pattern and colors of the LED notification light, switching system fonts, hto hook up PS3/Wii controllers to the N900 – the list just goes on and on.

These mods aren’t done lightly though – messing with your system files can potentially brick your N900 – but in most cases you can always reflash and start back at square one.

Thoughts on Apps and the App Store

I wish I could write about how the Ovi Store is taking off and hitting 1 billion app download miletones. Unfortunately, it’s not. Let’s see what’s currently available at the N900 App Store:

Number of Free Games: 11
Number of Paid Games: 0
Number of Free Apps: 43
Number of Paid Apps: 0
Number of Themes: 9
Number of Ringtones/Videos: 34

That is truly pathetic. While I can’t speak for the applications, most of the games are crappy demos (except for Angry Birds).

Repositories

On the other hand, the number of free apps on the repositories grows every day, thanks to the efforts of some dedicated developers. There’s a nice range of software available, even though I find that only a small percentage is really practical or useful for me. But overall it’s still an excellent alternative to the Ovi Store.

I’m still surprised by the lack of a decent Office app that allows you to edit .doc and .xls files. I would think this would be a priority for a “pocket computer”. Guess I’ll have to settle for Google Docs.

Conclusion

What’s the difference between the iPhone, the Google Nexus and its Android clones, and the N900? Polish. And the N900 still feels like a diamond in the rough.

I hestitate to recommend the N900 to regular users. It’s just missing some of the things that users take for granted these days – a couple of basic features, a loaded App store, and there’s still a number of bugs that would probably turn off newbies.

But for those who are willing to brave the waters and dive into phone customization (or patiently wait until some of the kinks get ironed out eventually), the N900 is potentially one of the most rewarding devices out there.

No related posts.
at 6:12 PM

New Cell Phones

New Cell Phones

Sony Ericsson Naite cell phone from Sony Style

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 03:39 AM PST

The Sony Ericsson Naite cell phone is now on sale for $159.99 in Sony Style store. The Naite is a lower end phone and it’s nice. For a dumphone the menu is quite usable too, though the one on the Naite looks different.  The SE Naite is constructed from a minimum of 50% recycled plastic and it uses a low power consumption charger, making it a Greenheart phone.

The Sony Ericsson Naite cell phone features include a 2 MP camera, 2.2-inch QVGA 240×320 display, FM Radio, Bluetooth 2.0, speakerphone, 8GB microSD card.

New Cell Phones 2010 – New Sony Ericsson Cell Phones
- Sony Ericsson Naite cell phone photos

Sony Ericsson Naite cell phone Sony Ericsson Naite cell phone Sony Ericsson Naite cell phone

Sony Ericsson Naite cell phone

via Sony Style

BlackBerry slider cell phone pictures

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 09:38 PM PST

The BlackBerry slider cell phone has a WebKit browser. I think this will be a great device. Touch screen and trackpad is a good combination. RIM phones are very durable. I trust the opinion and decisions of their engineers. it's an interesting design. If it is indeed touch screen, they can afford to lose the track pad, in my opinion.

New Cell Phones 2010 – New BlackBerry Cell Phones
- BlackBerry slider cell phone pictures

 BlackBerry slider cell phone

BlackBerry slider cell phone

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Nokia 5230 Nuron cell phone for T-Mobile US

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 07:47 PM PST

The T-Mobile Nokia 5230 Nuron cell phone is a LOW end device. The 5230 Nuron has been available overseas for a long time, and its lower price makes it attractive for entry level smartphone. At $179, its the cheapest smartphone in America. The only thing missing in this device is Ovi Music…and No WiFI support. But It’s a true smartphone with multitasking and with lot of features.

New Cell Phones – New Nokia Cell Phones – New T-Mobile Phones
- Nokia 5230 Nuron cell phone photos

Nokia 5230 Nuron cell phone for T-Mobile

Nokia 5230 Nuron cell phone for T-Mobile

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