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Archive for May, 2010

iPhone 3G Voice Calls Now Supported via New Skype 2.0 App

May 30

Posted by looda in Apps iPhone, iPhone | No Comments

There have been quite a lot of VoIP apps to use on the iPhone, since its maker and AT&T allowed such software to work on the handset, but only now the official Skype app is available. Version 2.0 of the application has just hit the iPhone, two months after Skype and 3G calls were available on Android with Verizon.

Skype 2.0 for iPhone supports voice calls via 3G connection and mobile iPhone calls will be free till August, requiring a mobile subscription afterwards. Engadget has already tested the app and claims that it works just as well as any other similar solution, without being revolutionary.

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Acer Stream, New Android 2.1 1GHz Smartphone Unveiled

May 30

Posted by looda in Android | No Comments

Acer has just announced officially a new Android handset, the Stream model. This phone will run Android 2.1 and will feature a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, plus a 3.7 inch 800 x 480 pixel AMOLED display.

There’s also a 5 megapixel camera on board, complete with 720p video capture, 512MB as well and 2GB internal memory. Acer Stream will be bundled with an 8GB microSD card and it’ll support WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, HSDPA and GPS. This high end Android phone stands out from the crowd thanks to features like HDMI output, UPnP and DLNA compliance.

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Wikitude Drive for Android – Augmented Reality navigation system

May 28

Posted by looda in Android, Augmented Reality | No Comments

This video shows Wikitude Drive, an Augmented Reality navigation system. Wikitude Drive is the worlds first fully functional mobile AR navigation system with global coverage (for Android 1.6 and above). It is a light weight turn-by-turn navigation system that uses Augmented Reality. Wikitude Drive is scheduled to launch in June 2010.

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Altek Leo – 14MP cameraphone with HD video and optical zoom

May 28

Posted by looda in Android | No Comments

Altek announced the first 14 megapixel cameraphone capable of HD video recording and equipped with 3x optical zoom lens. Both Xenon and LED flashes are onboard and the best bit is that Leo will launch within a month.

Altek Leo uses 14 megapixel CCD sensor and has all goodies a true cameraphone geek may want – HD video recording, Xenon flash, video LED flash and 3x optical zoom.

The touch-driven Leo also packs Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity with HSPDA support, and these complete the known specs. Altek presented the Leo as a smartphone but failed to mention the OS it is running. Yet, judging by the selection of buttons below the display we guess it will be packing some version of the Android OS.

Altek promises to present and launch Leo during the CommunicAsia 2010 event in June.

And don’t worry if you haven’t heard of Altek until today. The company is a digital camera OEM and their products are usually rebranded so they remain relatively unkown to the end-users.

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The official Dilbert Mobile application for Nokia 5800 and Nokia N97 (Symbian s60v5)

May 27

Posted by looda in Apps S60, Nokia | No Comments

The official Dilbert Mobile application is now available for download! Get immediate access to your daily Dilbert comic as well as the 20+ year archive of the entire Dilbert collection – all on your mobile device. As one of the world ’s most famous comic characters, Dilbert has become the voice for those that have lived in the world of office cubes, questionable colleagues and impossible deadlines. Now you will never miss a moment of the goings on with Dilbert, Wally, Dogbert and the Boss.

Available on OVI Sore.

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Speed Test: Android 2.2 (Froyo) Web Browser

May 24

Posted by looda in Android | No Comments

Is the Android 2.2 (Froyo) web browser really significantly faster than anything else out there?

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Android 2.2 Froyo is finally unveiled, 2-5x faster than Eclair

May 20

Posted by looda in Android | No Comments

Just as expected Google announced the latest version of the Android OS at their I/O event today. Android 2.2 Froyo has hardly been the industry best-kept secret so you probably already had an idea of what was coming but it is a very worthy update nonetheless.

Bringing a significant improvement in performance and a host of new user features Froyo certainly looks like one of the most mature and advanced smartphone platforms out there.

The official Android 2.2. video will explain some of the new stuff.

Here’s a recap of the most major changes in the latest Android 2.2 edition:

Flash 10.1 support

  • One of the most awaited addons – full Flash 10.1 support is on board the Andrid 2.2 Froyo. For now it’s beta, but the final version is slated for June release.

Performance

  • New web browser V8 Javascript engine allows faster loading of JavaScript-heavy pages.
  • 2x-5x performance improvement for CPU-heavy apps thanks to the Dalvik JIT Compiler.
  • Improved memory management allowing faster app switching and smoother performance on memory-constrained devices.

Extended Exchange support

  • Password unlocking, remote wipe, exchange calendars, auto-discovery

Enhanced camera capabilities

  • Onscreen camera keys allows controlling zooming, flash, white balance, geo-tagging, focus and exposure.
  • Camcorder can now make use of LED flash as video light.
  • Camera now supports portrait orientation.

Apps management

  • You can install applications on the shared external storage (SD card, for instance).
  • The Cloud-based Backup and Restore service can now backup some of the thrid-party app data for future restores.
  • New bug reporting feature for Android Market apps send developers crash and freeze reports
  • New “car mode” and “night mode” controls and configurations allow applications to adjust their UI for these situations.

Misc enhancements

  • You can use the smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 8 devices.
  • You can tether the smartphone to a computer as a 3G modem over a USB cable.
  • 3D Gallery allows you to peek into picture stacks using a zoom gesture.
  • The Phone, Applications Launcher, and Browser now have dedicated shortcuts on the Home screen that are always visible.
  • Supportr for multi-lingual keyboards – toggling Latin-based keyboards is a flick away.
  • Voice dialing over Bluetooth.
  • Contact sharing over Bluetooth.

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Versace Unique, Brand New Luxury Phone Developed in Cooperation with ModeLabs Group and LG

May 20

Posted by looda in Luxury Phones | No Comments

Versace, in cooperation with ModeLabs Group, has just announced the launch of the Versace Unique handset, the first luxury phone with a full touchscreen display and great multimedia features. The handset will be available in stores selling luxury watches and jewels, plus most Versace stores worldwide, starting June 2010.

Versace Unique is assembled manually in France, according to the Versace standards: the front side has a ceramic finish and uses an 18K yellow gold frame, or stainless steel engravings. At the back of the luxury phone you’ll find a layer of precious leather and an image of the Medusa. Furthermore, the display is made out of crystal, that’s scratch resistant and very responsive, providing great control over the tactile interface.

The precious case of the Versace phone is complemented by LG Electronics’ technology, mainly the interface, that’s unique and user-friendly. As far as the features are concerned, Versace Unique supports 3G connectivity, e-mail, it uses a media player and a 5 megapixel camera with flash. Dolby Mobile technology is also on board and the battery on the device should provide around 30 hours of multimedia playback.

More info can be found here.

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HTC Wildfire unveiled – a budget HTC Desire

May 17

Posted by looda in Android, HTC | No Comments

The HTC Wildfire is a lower-spec version of the popular HTC Desire. The lower price, which is yet to be confirmed, is likely to appeal to younger users – according to HTC.

The HTC Wildfire has a 3.2-inch touchscreen, and a 5Mp camera with auto-focus and LED flash. It recognises microSD memory cards, has an FM radio and supports GPS.

The Android operating system, designed by Google, is overlaid with the HTC Sense interface, which gives the Wildfire the typical HTC look – including the seven homescreen options similar to those found on the HTC Legend and the HTC Desire.

One of the features of the Sense interface is the aggregation of the social network updates from the contacts saved in your phonebook in the ‘Friend Stream’ application. This application allows you to see all the recent activity of your contacts through their Twitter, Flickr and Facebook updates.

Another feature of Sense on the Wildfire is the ‘Favourite People’ widget. This works as a phonebook of your ‘favourite’ contacts and brings together all their details and your most recent text or email communication.

A new feature to the Wildfire is the app-sharing tool, which allows you to recommend apps downloaded from the Google Android Market to your friends by text, by email, or through a social network channel. There are currently around 50,000 apps on the Android Market.

HTC Wildfire is expected to hit the shelves across Europe and Asia in Q3 this year. It will be available in four different colors for 300 euro.

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Android 2.2 (Froyo) to Support USB Tethering, WiFi Hotspot Features

May 15

Posted by looda in Android | No Comments

As Google placed a plastic sculpture of a frozen yogurt in front of its Android building, getting ready to launch Froyo, we learn a couple of new things about Android 2.2. For example, aside from support full Flash and a great operating speed, the platform will also come with USB tethering and WiFi hotspot features.

Froyo will allow you to share your data connection via USB tethering with your laptop, a feature that AT&T and Apple have managed to hold back in the US for a while now. Also, thanks to Android 2.2, you’ll turn your smartphone into a portable WiFi hotspot, too. It remains to be seen if carriers will be able to turn this feature off, or charge for it.

Google Voice, plus USB tethering and WiFi hotspot functionality are reason enough to give up the iPhone (even the 4G one) and go with Android right now. After all, Google’s brainchild recently surpassed the iPhone in US market share.

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