Apr 21

NFC Technology Gets Angry With Rovio’s ‘Birds’

Posted in: nfc, Today's Chili

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Angry Birds developer Rovio, along with Nokia, have created an intriguing new application for NFC technology.

NFC, which stands for Near Field Communication, lets users hover their mobile phone or other device over a compatible receiver to access content or complete a transaction. It’s been used for years with keycard door access and contactless credit card machines.

Where this is making the most headway right now is with mobile payments – in the near future, you’ll be able to place your phone over a credit card terminal to pay for a purchase without ever taking out your wallet.

However, a new game called Angry Birds Magic, available from Nokia, takes NFC into the social world. When two users swipe their phones next to each other, they unlock new levels in the game.

We expect NFC to become one of the defining features of the smartphone market later this year and into 2012.

Via Gotta Be Mobile

Mark Raby, Blogger

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Apr 20

Something Big is Planned for 10th Anniversary of the Apple Store

Posted in: Apple, Today's Chili

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On May 19, 2001, Apple launched its very first direct-to-retail storefronts in Virginia and California. Now the company commands an entire brick-and-mortar empire, and apparently plans to celebrate that next month when the Apple Store brand turns 10.

It’s reported that Apple Store employees have been told they are restricted from using vacation days between May 20 and May 22. Word on the street is this has something to do with a large-scale celebration of the milestone anniversary, though it’s odd that May 19 isn’t included.

Even employees are still in the dark, as the mass e-mail they received said nothing about why the dates were so important.

Via Apple Insider

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Apr 19

Obama Disappointed White House Doesn’t Have “Really Cool Phones and Stuff”

Posted in: Today's Chili

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President Barack Obama is in the middle of multiple wars, continuing economic crises, and political unrest in the legislative bodies. Yet he still has time to complain that the phones in the Oval Office don’t have, quote, “fancy buttons and stuff.”

In a recent fund raising event, he said in an off-the-cuff remark, “The Oval Office, I always thought I was going to have really cool phones and stuff. I’m like, c’mon guys, I’m the president of the United States. Where’s the fancy buttons and stuff and the big screen comes up? It doesn’t happen.”

Well, we’ve got millions of unemployed people, but we do hope Obama gets his high-tech toys ASAP.

Via Device Mag

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Apr 18

Xperia Play Goes Up On Best Buy’s Canada Site

Posted in: Today's Chili, video games, xperia

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Best Buy has pegged a release date for the Xperia Play…in Canada…leaving the rest of us wondering when it will actually start showing up in America.

The Play, known unofficially as the “PlayStation Phone,” has already been released in Europe, but Sony Ericsson has not yet said anything solid about its availability in the US.

According to the Canadian version of BestBuy.com, the device will be available on April 28 from carrier Rogers. We know it’s coming to Verizon in the US, which may have something to do with the delay (Sony Ericsson usually released phones on AT&T or T-Mobile, which use a different network standard than Verizon).

Via Into Mobile

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Apr 18

World’s First White iPhone 4 Shipping Tomorrow

Posted in: Today's Chili

whiteiphone4.jpg

Beginning April 19, the very first white iPhone 4 units will be on their way to customers. But you have to be in the UK and have service from Carrier Three.

The service provider claims to be the first to actually send out the device. If customers choose overnight shipping, they can get a white iPhone 4 as early as April 20.

The white iPhone 4, of course, has had a very storied delay. Originally slated to come out just a couple weeks after the regular iPhone 4 on AT&T, Apple never gave up and recently said it was able to finally get all the necessary components.

Via I4U

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Apr 13

Nokia Debuts New Symbian Phones Despite Deal with Microsoft

Posted in: nokia, symbian, Today's Chili

nokiahands.jpgYesterday, we told you about Nokia starting the process to end Symbian-based phones, but now we have news about Nokia launching new phones with Symbian as the OS. Nokia has stated that the Windows phones will be released at a later date, but did not give a reason as to why the new phones will still run on Symbian.

Jo Harlow, head of Nokia’s Smart Devices business said in a press release: 

With these new products and more Symbian devices and user enhancements coming in the near future, we are confident we can keep existing Nokia smartphone customers engaged, as well as attract new first-time and competitor smartphone users.

Symbian has made Nokia a leader in cell phones overseas, but not so much in the States. Nokia is currently building the new phones that will use Windows 7 Mobile, but no target date has been shared as of yet. However, these new phones are using a closed-source version of Symbian unlike previous models.

Via TG Daily

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Apr 11

Nokia Makes Symbian Closed Source

Posted in: nokia, symbian, Today's Chili

 

symbian-logo.jpgNokia is slowly stepping away from Symbian. Nokia has stated that Symbian would be dropped, but the first step in the process is to end the open source version. Nokia has just released info that from now on until Nokia ends the use of Symbian, it will be closed source.

This is bad news for those who used Nokia Symbian phones just for that purpose. Nokia is making the switch due to the partnership with Microsoft for future phones. However, Nokia plans to slowly halt all Symbian connects over time.

No word on how much longer Nokia will work with Symbian. Nokia also did not disclose when the new license would take effect.

Via Ars Technica

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Apr 09

Verizon Wireless Kills 1-Year Contracts

Posted in: Today's Chili, Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless - Logo

First it was the New Every Two Program was cancelled, and now it’s the 1-Year Contract: Verizon Wireless has a vision for how its customers will sign up for their agreements, and when they’ll upgrade their devices. 
The company announced this week that on April 17th, they would do away with the 1-year contract option because a “greater majority of customers sign up for a two year contract,” according to a Verizon statement to Boy Genius Report. 
That’s likely true, but also partially because handset prices are more heavily subsidized if you sign up for a 2-year contract, and Verizon Wireless sales representatives push 2-year agreements over 1-year agreements to customers when they shop for handsets. 
Verizon Wireless did say that the company’s month-to-month contract-free plans would remain available, but considering month-to-month plans come with no handset subsidy, it’s unlikely that customers who previously had 1-year plans would move to them. 
[via Mashable]
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Apr 08

DIY Circuit Board Lets You Build Your Own Android Accessories

Posted in: Android, diy, hacking, Today's Chili

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Smartphone apps are great for controlling things like GPS and cameras, but what if you need to add a bit of gear that isn’t built into your handset? Enter the IOIO (pronounced “yoyo”). This little board lets Android developers interface with any number of electronics components through Java, the language used to write Android apps. Think of it like an Arduino for your cell phone: it makes it possible to control anything connected to the little board using an app on the phone. It doesn’t even require any modification to the phone’s hardware or firmware. Your warranty remains intact if you want to tinker around with homemade phone accessories.

Created by DIY-er Ytai in Tel Aviv, the device is coming to the online retailer Sparkfun soon. When the board ships, Ytai has promised to open source the hardware and software behind it with a “very permissive license,” so if you decide to monetize your weekend project, it might not be out of the cards. It’ll be absolutely fascinating to see what inspired developers do with this board if it has anywhere close to the same impact as the Arduino. And hardware hackers, if you’re listening, an iCade for Android would be pretty nice.

[via Make, Ytai]

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Apr 07

Why a Car Company (BMW) Launched a Smartphone Venture Fund

Posted in: smartphone, Today's Chili

iventure.jpgBMW has started I Venture, a $100 million venture capital fund based in New York City, to pursue what it calls “individual mobility solutions.” Why would a car company try to advance technologies that benefit smartphones and tablets as much or more than cars? Because automakers would like to help you out during (and profit from) the entire trip, including when you leave the car, and that requires a seamless handoff when you open the door. I Venture already has one investment, MyCityWay, which comprise location-aware apps that could help you find parking, get around using a subway or bus, and of course find you restaurants, bars, and shops.

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