Jun 17

Details Leak About New T-Mobile Android Handset, myTouch 3G

Posted in: Android, Smart Devices, t-mobile, Today's Chili

The race to release new Android handsets has been a slow crawl, indeed. The deluge of new phone utilizing Google’s open-source operating system has yet to surface in any way, beyond the multitude of promises from a number of phone and netbook manufacturers. T-Mobile, however, is reportedly working on its own follow up to the first–and still only–Android handset in the States, the G1.

According to The Wall Street Journal, more details about the handset–set to be called the myTouch 3G–will surface next week. Like its predecessor, the new phone will be designed by hardware manufacturer, HTC. The myTouch 3G will reportedly look a lot like the HTC Magic–with a touchscreen and no physical keyboard and a smaller body than the iPhone.

The phone’s software will also feature some update, including a voice-activated search function. More details next week–probably.

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Jun 16

Apple Declares War on Palm Pre iTunes Support

Posted in: Apple, itunes, palm pre, Smart Devices, Today's Chili

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Considering that the Palm Pre was designed in part by ex-Apple employees, and that its iTunes syncing function works by pretending to be an iPod, it was predictable that Apple would try to shoot it down.
The Big Fruit today released a very thinly veiled attack on the Pre’s iTunes capabilities, in the form of a support note. While it never mentions the Pre by name, it’s clear what they’re talking about here. 
“Apple is aware that some third-parties claim that their digital media players are able to sync with Apple software. However, Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players and, because software changes over time, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players.”
In other words: we’re going to do our best to break the Pre’s syncing with our next iTunes update. When I’ve spoken to Palm, though, they’ve said in a similarly thinly veiled fashion that they’re ready for Apple to do something like this.
Let the cat and mouse game begin.
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Jun 16

Sprint, Verizon Launch BlackBerry Tour Sites

Posted in: BlackBerry, Smart Devices, Sprint, Today's Chili, Verizon Wireless

sprint-bbtour.jpgOn the heels of RIM’s official announcement of the BlackBerry Tour 9630, both Sprint and Verizon have rolled out teaser sites for the hot new phone.

Sprint gave away some specifics of their launch, too. The Sprint Tour will cost $199.99 with a new two-year contract and $100 mail-in rebate, and it will include some Sprint proprietary services: Sprint Music Store, Sprint TV, Sprint NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile.

Sprint, Verizon, Bell and Telus are all remaining a little vague on their launch dates other than to say the phone is coming this summer, so if you want more details you can sign up on Sprint’s or Verizon’s sites. Check out our full news story about the Tour on pcmag.com.

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Jun 15

ABI: Cell Phone Shipments Drop 12 Percent

Posted in: Smart Devices, Today's Chili, Wireless

Motorola_Stature_i9_3.jpgAccording to a new study from ABI Research, the number of cell phone shipped worldwide in the first three months of this year fell 12 percent from the same period a year ago–and 20 percent from the fourth quarter of last year, MediaPost reports–mainly due to the global recession.

“The industry and consumers have gone into protection mode,” said ABI Research Practice Director Kevin Burden in a statement. The report added that vendors are beginning to produce fewer handsets, now that customers are delaying upgrades until the economy stabilizes.

Latin America saw the biggest drop of 28 percent, while the Asia/Pacific region was off just 8 percent, the report said. Smartphones continue to be the lone bright spot, as Gartner reported last month that sales of smart devices increased over 12 percent even as overall cell phone sales dropped. Credit huge, news-making device launches like the iPhone 3G, the Palm Pre, the BlackBerry Storm, and the T-Mobile G1 for that sort of thing.

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Jun 15

Micrsoft Wont Pay For Employee iPhone Plans Anymore

Posted in: BlackBerry, iPhone, Microsoft, Today's Chili

Things are tough all over, for Microsoft as much as anyone else. Last month the company laid off thousands of employees as a cost-cutting measure. Now the company is taking another drastic move–it’s decided to stop paying for employees’ iPhone plans. And BlackBerries and Palm Pres, for that matter. Microsoft won’t reimburse any of its employees’ data plans–that is, unless they own a Windows Mobile phone.

Not all of the company’s divisions will be forced to follow suit. As Business Insider points out, Microsoft-owned Razorfish will continue to reimburse employee phone expenses, regardless of OS.

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Jun 15

Nokia Debuts E72, 5530 XpressMusic

Posted in: nokia, Smart Devices, Today's Chili

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Nokia today announced two new handsets set to debut before the end of the year. The smartphone wars got a bit more heated today with Nokia’s announcement of the E72. The successor to the E71 adds 10.2Mbps HSDPA, a 5-megapixel camera, an optical navigation pad, and a 3.5-mm headphone jack. The phone is due out in the third quarter of this year for €350 ($489).

Also due out in Q3 is the 5530 XpressMusic features a 640 x 360 touchscreen, a 3.2-megapixel camera with LED flash, and built-in Wi-Fi accessibility. The handset is set to retail for €199 ($278).

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Jun 10

iPhone 3G S Cases Available? But Of Course!

Posted in: Smart Devices, Today's Chili

iphone-3gs.jpgWe just got a very amusing press release here at Gearlog. It’s from a case vendor saying that they’ve already got iPhone 3G S cases available!

Well, duh.

The iPhone 3G S has the exact same body as the iPhone 3G, except for its new “oleophobic” coating that’s supposed to repel face grease, and, in some cases, white paint on the back. That means all existing iPhone 3G cases will work with the new 3G S, as well as existing docks, headphones, styli and such. So feel free to browse the entire world of iPhone cases and accessories if you’re looking for something for your new iPhone 3G S – if it works with the 3G, it’ll work with the S.

I will not mention the case vendor’s name, because I don’t want to encourage them.

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Jun 10

iPhone 3G S Pricing, Explained

Posted in: Smart Devices, Today's Chili

iphone-3gs-price.jpgThe new iPhone 3G S is coming out on July 19th. Because it’s a mobile phone, the pricing is really difficult to understand. Here’s the full deal.

All prices below are for the 16 GB model. For the 32 GB model, add $100. For the old 8 GB iPhone, subtract $100.

If you are an existing AT&T customer who has been in your current contract for at least somewhere between 18 and 22 months (it varies by individual), you pay $199.

If you are a new AT&T customer willing to sign a two-year contract, you will pay $199 plus a $36 activation fee, for a total of $235.

If you are an existing AT&T customer who hasn’t been in your current contract for 22 months, and you’re willing to extend your contract, you pay $399.

If you want no commitment and no contract, you pay $599 – plus the $36 if you’re activating it on a fresh line.

You will want to get AppleCare, which gives you decent service beyond the iPhone’s 90-day support period, for up to two years. That’s an extra $69.

Now, this means that most folks who signed new contracts for iPhone 3G models a year ago are not eligible for the lowest possible price. That was in your contract. Your two-year contract only gets you a discounted phone every 22 months. You agreed to that.

iPhone service plans are similarly complicated. Here’s how they break down.

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Jun 10

NYT: Smartphones Now a Necessity

Posted in: Smart Devices, smartphone, Today's Chili

Apple_iPhone_Messaging.jpgIt’s no surprise that smartphones are immensely popular these days. The New York Times has a piece today entitled “Smartphone Rises Fast From Gadget to Necessity” confirming this trend. In it, the research firm Gartner projects sales of BlackBerrys, iPhones and other smartphone models will rise 25 percent this year–even as total cell phone sales fall due to the struggling economy.

The report pinned the growth on the emerging expectation of being always connected and reachable. In other words, it’s as much a social and psychological phenomenon as a technical one. That’s turning out to be true even for the gadget phobic, and those “who count pennies,” the latter of whom increasingly view the smartphone as a job search tool.
“The social norm is that you should respond within a couple of hours, if not immediately,” said David E. Meyer, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, in the article. “If you don’t, it is assumed you are out to lunch mentally, out of it socially, or don’t like the person who sent the e-mail.” The article goes on to suggest a parallel between smartphones today and e-mail a decade ago, noting how “at some point in the early 1990s” it became socially unacceptable not to have an e-mail address.
For more on iPhones, BlackBerrys, and other smartphones and mobile technologies, be sure to visit our dedicated site Smart Device Central for the latest news, reviews, opinion, how-tos, and tips.
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Jun 09

iLuv Announces iPhone 3G S Accessories

Posted in: accessories, Today's Chili

iLuv-iCC77.jpgThe iPhone 3G S was announced just yesterday, and already one company has produced a line of accessories for it. iLuv today announced its iPhone 3G S accessories, including cases, a windshield mount kit, and an armband.

The iCC77 Flexi Clear Thermoplastic Polyurethane Case is a lightweight, flexible case for the iPhone 3G S that’s both tear- and damage-resistant. It will come in four color choices (pink, blue, clear, or black) and will be on sale for $24.99 in mid-June.

Other protective cases include the iCC705 Graphic Silicone Case ($24.99, July), iCC79 Hard Case with Stand ($29.99, available now), iCC74 Clear Crystal Hard Case ($24.99, available now), and the iCC75 Holster with Stand and Cover ($34.99, available now).

Road warriors will find a use for iLuv’s iCC781 Windshield Mount Kit with Power Combo Pack. Since the new iPhone is now capable of turn-by-turn directions, this kit will come in handy for mounting the iPhone to your dashboard, so you can view the screen easily . The kit also features a car charger for powering the iPhone. Look for it in July for $34.99.

Health nuts can take their iPhone 3G S along with them on runs and to the gym, thanks to iLuv’s iCC212 Armband for iPhone 3GS. You can purchase it now for $34.99.

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