Sep 21

Gmail for Android updated, becomes Market app

Posted in: Android, android market, AndroidMarket, Email, froyo, Gmail, Google, market, Today's Chili

We’ve always said the native Gmail app is one of the best parts of Android, and it just got even better: it now supports Priority Inbox, has a “show quoted text” button, and features a floating message actions toolbar like the browser-based mobile Gmail webapp. The bigger news, though, is that Google’s releasing Gmail directly to Android Market, where it’ll be a separate download that can be revved with new features independently of Android itself. That’s a pretty great move, as anyone still waiting for a carrier-approved Froyo build can attest, but there’s irony afoot: the new Gmail won’t run on anything less than 2.2. Wah-wah.

Gmail for Android updated, becomes Market app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 23

Jobs: Software Fix for iPhone 3G Slowdown ‘Coming Soon’

Posted in: Email, iPhone, Phones, Software, Today's Chili

Apple’s iOS4 is hurting many an iPhone 3G, slowing them into uselessness for many who have installed the update. Whatever is going on, a fix is due soon, according to an email from Steve Jobs.

According to Mac Rumors, a disgruntled iPhone 3G owner mailed the Apple boss about his sluggish device:

I’ve waited patiently through 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, looking for a fix that will make my phone work again. I’ve read the forums that advise me to jailbreak my phone or use some other method so I can downgrade back to a version of iPhone 3, however I’m not prepared to use a method that is not supported by Apple.

The answer? You won’t be surprised at its brevity:

Software update coming soon.

Sent from my iPhone

That there is a problem with running the shiny new OS on a grubby old iPhone is clear: Apple admitted as much when told Wired.com, in customarily terse fashion, that “We are aware of these reports and we are investigating.”

Some have speculated that the 3G hardware wasn’t fast enough to run iOS4, but that seems unlikely. Not only are several new features disabled (multi-tasking, for instance), but Apple software updates have a habit of making old hardware seem faster, not slower (unlike Windows, which does the opposite). Also, pure processor speed is unlikely to be the problem: The iPhone 3G uses a 412 MHz ARM 11 chip, against the 600MHz ARM 11 processor used in the 3GS model. The MHz difference isn’t that big.

If this short new email exchange is legit, then it means one thing: that Apple has found the problem and fixed it. So hold on, iPhone 3G owners: The solution is near. Or just go out and buy an iPhone 4 already. It’s not like your contract hasn’t expired, is it?

Jobs: Software Update to Address iOS 4 Performance Issues on iPhone 3G ‘Coming Soon’ [Mac Rumors]

Photo: (twenty5pics/Flickr)

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Aug 10

Android Froyo Update Breaks Gmail Sync on HTC Evo

Posted in: 4G, Android, Email, froyo, Gmail, Phones, Sprint, sync, Today's Chili

Updated to include HTC comment

After Google’s Nexus One, HTC’s Evo 4G phone is the first device to get upgraded to the latest Android 2.2 Froyo version of the operating system. But some users are not happy about it.

The Froyo update has broken the syncing of multiple Gmail accounts on the device. The results is that only the primary Gmail account is updated automatically. Second and third Gmail accounts  have to be manually refreshed to pull in new e-mails, say Evo users on forums such as Android Central and Google’s Android support board.

“My two Gmail accounts have always worked great on 2.1. Moving to 2.2 my primary Gmail pushes instantly. My secondary Gmail account doesn’t sync at all. I have to manually sync to get it to work,” says ‘tommy m‘, an Evo user who first posted about the issue on the Android Central forum.

The problem also means that users don’t see new e-mail notifications from secondary accounts.

A HTC spokesman told Wired.com the company is aware of the bug but does not see it as a widespread issue.

“The good news is that it has not affected a majority of users,” says Keith Nowak. “We are working to find a fix.”

HTC and Sprint, the exclusive carrier for the Evo, started pushing out Froyo to customers on August 3. The update offers features such as voice dialing over Bluetooth, the ability to store apps on the external memory card and browser improvements including a faster JavaScript engine and Flash support.

The problems with syncing of multiple Gmail accounts flared up right after the Evo moved to Android 2.2. Some Froyo users have been offering homebrewed solutions on message boards including deleting the accounts and adding them again with a change to the mail setting of ‘notify once.’  But the solution hasn’t worked reliably for all users.

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Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com




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Aug 10

Ce-Oh no he didn’t!: Larry Ellison likens HP board to ‘idiots’ at Apple

Posted in: Apple, Email, HP, steve jobs, SteveJobs, Today's Chili

Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO and regular tennis buddy of the disgraced (and now former) chief of HP Mark Hurd, has decided to share his thoughts on the matter of Hurd’s departure in an impassioned email to the New York Times:

“The H.P. board just made the worst personnel decision since the idiots on the Apple board fired Steve Jobs many years ago. That decision nearly destroyed Apple and would have if Steve hadn’t come back and saved them.”

The communique, also obtained by the Mercury News, included other tasty tidbits such as Ellison describing HP’s disclosure of the apparently unfounded sexual harassment claim against Hurd as “cowardly corporate political correctness,” and dismissing the financial irregularities that forced the former CEO’s resignation as “petty expenses report errors.” So, in short, the world according to Larry is populated by messianic CEOs who shouldn’t be held up to the same petty standards as the rest of us.

Ce-Oh no he didn’t!: Larry Ellison likens HP board to ‘idiots’ at Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink All Things Digital  |  sourceNew York Times (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 07

RIM averts Saudi Arabia’s BlackBerry messaging ban, negotiates surrender (update: 48-hour ultimatum)

Posted in: BlackBerry, Email, RIM, security, Today's Chili

It took two long years for India to (allegedly) tap BlackBerry traffic, but Saudi Arabia may not have to wait nearly as long; the Wall Street Journal reports that RIM has all but agreed to set up a local server in the country. While we’ve no details yet on what the deal entails, an unnamed Saudi telecom official said negotiations are already in the final stages. Sorry, RIM, but it looks like Saudi Arabia called your bluff. We imagine the company will deny any potential for government snooping in short order… and both Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates will start planning their own attempts to wrest away control. We’ll let you know where this house of cards falls.

Update: Saudi Arabia has reportedly given its three national cellular carriers 48 hours to try out proposed solutions that “meet the regulatory demands” of the country, else the BlackBerry messaging ban will take effect as originally planned.

RIM averts Saudi Arabia’s BlackBerry messaging ban, negotiates surrender (update: 48-hour ultimatum) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWall Street Journal, Associated Press  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 07

Email-based FaceTime support surfaces in iOS 4.1 beta 3

Posted in: Apple, Email, ios, iPhone, ipod, ipod touch, IpodTouch, rumor, rumors, Today's Chili, touch

Fool us once, shame on us. Fool us twice? Fuhgetaboutit. Apple has a thing for introducing new iPods each fall, and given that the existing touch is being given away gratis with a new student computer (not to mention how long in the tooth it is), we’re guessing the tradition will continue in 2010. We’d heard earlier on in the year that Apple may toss FaceTime over to the iPod line whenever it finally gained a front-facing camera, and now the evidence is nearly too strong to ignore. In the latest iOS 4.1 beta (numero three, if you’re keeping count), there’s an option to connect to a contact via FaceTime by ringing their digits or by pinging their email address. We’re guessing that the latter is there mostly for iPod touch users (the ones without Apple Peel 520s, anyway), and it’s the most glaring sign yet that the next generation touch will flippin’ finally boast a camera (or just a way around that SMS-based activation?). Still, we wouldn’t get our hopes up too high — falling ain’t no fun, you know?

Email-based FaceTime support surfaces in iOS 4.1 beta 3 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMac Rumors  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 03

Google finally enables same-browser, multiple account Gmail sign-in

Posted in: Email, Gmail, Google, Today's Chili

Hardcore Gmail users have been waiting for quite a few things from Google, but few are higher on the must-have list than this. In the past few hours, the Big G has quietly enabled some accounts with a multiple account sign-in option, which — as you’d surmise — allows users to sign into more than one Gmail account within the same browser. In the past, users had to use all sorts of tricks (or worse still, a secondary browser solely for their secondary email account) in order to view various identities at once, but now it’s as easy as selecting the option and tagging a drop-down menu. Sadly, committing to this sort of sorcery has its drawbacks: Offline Gmail and Calendar will both be disabled (and this doesn’t work on mobile devices), and there’s no time table as to when those kinks will be worked out. For now, most of you will have time to think it over as you wait for your account(s) to be activated — everyone else has no excuse for twiddling their thumbs.

Google finally enables same-browser, multiple account Gmail sign-in originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TekGoblin, Google System  |  sourceDownload Squad  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 03

RIM reported to have agreed to snooping deal with India, says ‘no way!’

Posted in: BlackBerry, Email, government, RIM, security, Today's Chili

Reports out of India this morning claim that RIM has agreed a deal with the local government to permit its security agencies to “monitor” email and messaging done on BlackBerry devices. There’s even a roadmap for this snooperiffic rollout, as all consumer email is expected to be opened up within 15 days and tools are being developed over the next six to eight months to allow chat surveillance as well. A very detailed report indeed, but the IDG News service reports RIM has rubbished the entire thing, stating it’s in a continuing dialog with the Indian government and discussions remain confidential. Then again, we’d expect RIM to keep up the facade as long as possible, considering the likely domino effect a capitulation in India would have in nearby states that have similar security concerns. In the mean time, Nokia has meekly announced it’ll be complying with the Indian government’s rules for push mail and is “installing the required infrastructure.” For more on that and the BlackBerry saga, hit the source links below.

RIM reported to have agreed to snooping deal with India, says ‘no way!’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 07:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 01

BlackBerry email, web and messaging banned in UAE due to ‘security concerns’

Posted in: BlackBerry, breaking news, BreakingNews, Email, RIM, security, Today's Chili, web

Looks like those regulators over in the Middle East don’t mess about. Following this week’s revelation that the United Arab Emirates’ telco overseers weren’t happy with being unable to monitor how people were using their BlackBerrys, today we’re hearing what their solution to the problem will be: an outright ban. Internet access, email and instant messaging on RIM devices will be blocked in the UAE starting this October — provided, of course, that the Canadian phone maker doesn’t do something in the meantime to appease the authorities. Saudi Arabia is similarly peeved with the BBM service, which it intends to shut down later this month. And just in case you were wondering why all this drama is taking place, the BBC cites a Saudi Telecom board member as admitting it’s designed to pressure RIM into releasing users’ communication data “when needed.” Charming.

BlackBerry email, web and messaging banned in UAE due to ‘security concerns’ originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 15

iPod touch FaceTime calling to be based on email addresses?

Posted in: Apple, Email, iPhone, ipod, ipod touch, IpodTouch, rumor, rumors, Today's Chili, touch

We’ve been assuming that the next iPod touch will get in on Apple’s FaceTime video-calling action, but the open question has been how calls will actually be initiated without phone numbers, and BGR’s saying it has the scoop: it’s going to be based on email addresses. Registering an email address with the touch and FaceTime will let people videocall you using that address, but apparently calling an iPhone user will still involve knowing their phone number, which is a little odd — but BGR believes the email-based system will extended to the phone eventually as well. It all sounds plausible enough, but we’ll wait and see — we’ve been burned waiting for Apple to add a camera to the touch before, after all.

iPod touch FaceTime calling to be based on email addresses? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBGR  | Email this | Comments

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