Mobile Miscellany: week of October 24, 2011

This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here’s some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of October 24, 2011:

  • Fan of white phones? Here ya go: the BlackBerry Bold 9900, Curve 9360 and Torch 9810 can be pre-ordered on Phones4U. If white doesn’t do it for you, the Curve 9300 will be available in pink. [Stuff]
  • HTC has announced its partnership with Dropbox, which means you can get 5GB of available storage on any of the company’s Android devices. [Twitter]
  • A few customers on Verizon’s family plans have noticed a peculiar addition to the company’s #DATA service; when the text showing the data usage arrives, it now mentions “shared,” which may be an indication that Big Red’s on its way to offering shared data plans in the near future. [Droid-Life]
  • Rumors have flown for some time about LG’s attempt at reviving the Prada series by introducing the K2 (aka the P940), and now we’re finally starting to see images of the Android device leak out. Apparently, it’ll be less than 9mm thin, offer an 8MP camera, 1.3MP front-facing cam, 21Mbps HSPA+ and have a 4.3-inch display with 1,000 nits of brightness. [PhoneArena via UnwiredView]
  • Research in Motion announced BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365, which extends Microsoft Exchange Online to the BlackBerry lineup. It’s geared toward midsized businesses and enterprises. Head to the source for the details. [Microsoft-News]

Mobile Miscellany: week of October 24, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ARMv8 detailed: 64-bit architecture, AppliedMicro first in line

Thought Windows on ARM was snazzy? Have a gander at this. The outfit’s forthcoming ARMv8 architecture, the first ARM architecture to include a 64-bit instruction set, has just been detailed, with a goal to expand the reach of ARM processor-based solutions “into consumer and enterprise applications where extended virtual addressing and 64-bit data processing are required.” The ARMv8 architecture consists of two main execution states — AArch64 and AArch32 — and we’re apt to see the real benefits hit high-end servers first. The ARMv8 architecture specifications are available now to partners under license, with the company planning to disclose processors based on ARMv8 during 2012, with consumer and enterprise prototype systems expected in 2014. Head on past the break for ARM’s take, or meander to the source links for AppliedMicro’s gloating.

Continue reading ARMv8 detailed: 64-bit architecture, AppliedMicro first in line

ARMv8 detailed: 64-bit architecture, AppliedMicro first in line originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAppliedMicro (1), (2), (3)  | Email this | Comments

Google+ learns about trending topics, photo filters and how to appease Google Apps users

Still having a blast adding people into circles? Well hold on tight, because Mountain View just introduced some worthy upgrades to its social network. First up is a new feature dubbed “What’s Hot” which, much like trending topics on Twitter, highlights popular content being shared on the social network. Photography aficionados in the audience can gussy up snaps with more photo editing features dubbed “Creative Kit”, including a multitude of filters — some of which (for a limited time) pertain to Halloween. And finally, those of you who use Google Apps within an organization can now partake in all the Google+ fun — provided your IT admin isn’t a social networking-hating luddite. Links explaining all that and more await you below, but before you go, why not hop past the break for some vampiric renditions of Larry and Sergey, and a few other celebs.

[Thanks, Rich]

Continue reading Google+ learns about trending topics, photo filters and how to appease Google Apps users

Google+ learns about trending topics, photo filters and how to appease Google Apps users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Pro+ 4G rides into Canada November 7th, will kick off shoes and stay a while


We knew it was planning to grace Europe and Asia with its presence this month, but now we’re hearing the Motorola Pro+ 4G is ready to make its North American debut at Bell Canada. We’re not seeing any large differences here compared to the overseas model, though the addition of “4G” to the title is an obvious exception. The device offers a 1GHz CPU, 512MB of RAM, Android 2.3, a 5MP camera, 3.1-inch VGA (640 x 480) display with Gorilla Glass, HSPA 14.4 (hence the “4G” name) and a lot of Enterprise-friendly security features. We know it’ll be hitting shelves on November 7th, but no price has been announced so far. To find out the full shebang, head south for the press release.

Update: We’ve confirmed with an inside source that it’ll sell for $349.95, but there’s no word on whether subsidies will apply for long-term contracts.

Continue reading Motorola Pro+ 4G rides into Canada November 7th, will kick off shoes and stay a while

Motorola Pro+ 4G rides into Canada November 7th, will kick off shoes and stay a while originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Latitude ST tablet gets official with vague press release, dead links (video)

Remember that Latitude ST that Dell gave us a sneak peek at earlier in the week? Well it’s slowly inching its way towards an official release, appearing on Dell’s Corporate Blog early this morning. The Windows 7-based enterprise tablet is powered by an Intel Atom processor and includes a 10-inch multi-touch display with stylus, WiFi, mobile broadband options, front and rear webcams and a mic. There are also durability features like Gorilla Glass and a rubber bumper, enabling it to survive violent impacts with plush office carpeting. Port details are rather vague in the PR, though USB, HDMI and an SD card reader get their 15 seconds of fame in the promo video. There are also security features, like remote hard drive wipe, Microsoft Bitlocker support (this is a Windows 7 tablet, after all) and a Kensington Lock slot. Pricing details are absent and the product page isn’t live quite yet (though that didn’t stop Dell from linking to it from the blog post), but it looks like we could see these ship as soon as November 1st. Ready to get your tap and sketch on? Jump past the break for an enterprise montage, complete with doctors, educators and suit-sporting business pros.

Update: Looks like the specs have leaked out overseas, so we’re guessing it’ll get official soon enough.

Update 2: And here come the unboxing videos!

Update 3: And Dell’s business page is up! Thanks, One Love!

Continue reading Dell Latitude ST tablet gets official with vague press release, dead links (video)

Dell Latitude ST tablet gets official with vague press release, dead links (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chromebooks now available to enterprise and education customers with a pay-once option

Chromebook

Google made a big splash when it revealed plans to offer Chromebooks to enterprise and education customers under a subscription model. What’s not clear is how much of a splash it actually made in those markets. While the notion of paying a monthly fee for three years, instead of buying a machine up front sounds like a game changer, some people just like the comfort of the familiar. To that end Google is now offering those same customers the option to purchase a Chromebook (with a year of support included) in one lump sum — $449 for the WiFi model or $519 for the 3G to educational customers, while business are looking at $559 and $639 respectively. After that first year is through, customers have the option to sign up for a monthly support contract, at $5 a month for education and $13 a month for enterprise.

Chromebooks now available to enterprise and education customers with a pay-once option originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Next Web  |  sourceGoogle Enterprise Blog  | Email this | Comments

Research in Motion announces BBX, ‘combines the best of BlackBerry and QNX’


And it’s real, folks — RIM has made BBX, its latest mobile platform, official at its DevCon keynote. Dan Dodge, President of QNX, mentioned that the new OS — designed for smartphones and tablets alike — is a “single, unified platform for the whole world,” incorporating Enterprise, NOC and cloud services. BBX will offer over 100 open source libraries and is certified for POSIX, which should entice more developers to use the new platform. It’ll support HTML5 (which “acts as a bridge between old BlackBerry versions and BBX”), NativeSDK and Adobe AIR / Flash, as a few examples. Finally, the OS will offer a new advanced graphics framework called Cascade UI, enabling Super Apps that provide smooth 3D animations and deep integration with BBM and Push services on the device. Make your way to the presser below to get all of the details.

Continue reading Research in Motion announces BBX, ‘combines the best of BlackBerry and QNX’

Research in Motion announces BBX, ‘combines the best of BlackBerry and QNX’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson Xperia pro on sale this October, corporate thumbs flex in anticipation

Back at Mobile World Congress in February, Sony Ericsson managed to surprise attack us with the reveal of its Xperia pro. Now, nearly a full year and oodles of leaks later, that Android 2.3 QWERTY slider’s ready to find comfort in consumers’ hands. Hitting retailers globally this October, SE’s 3.7-inch enterprise-minded handset comes pre-loaded with Mc Afee mobile security, Office Suite Pro, and is designed to make syncing with MS Exchange and other email clients a cinch. Business-friendly add-ons aside, the device packs ANT+ (to keep you in peak road warrior shape), and a generous 8.1 megapixel rear camera outfitted with an Exmor R sensor for HD video and 3D Sweep Panorama capture. There’s also a Type & Send widget to make use of the device’s Smart Keyboard — which suggests reply options when slid open — letting you bang out and send off text from the homescreen. Sound like the kind of slider that’ll suit your white-collared needs? Then hit up the source below to get your order on.

Sony Ericsson Xperia pro on sale this October, corporate thumbs flex in anticipation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft reveals Data Explorer tool, gets into the sorbet business (video)

Redmond houses quite a few little teams beavering away on quirky projects and one of those has just gone public with its latest creation. It’s codenamed “Data Explorer”, which perhaps isn’t an ideal codename since it describes exactly what the enterprise-focused service does. Instead of manually searching and copying data into a report, Data Explorer pulls information from SQL databases, spreadsheets and other “random sources” that could be relevant, and then attempts to “clean it up, transform it, merge it together and then publish it out” as a coherent report. You can learn more and sign up for the beta at the source link, or click past the break to watch a Microsoft exec demo the tool using a real-world case study — we found it a bit dense, but you’ll be fine as long as you remember that kids love frozen yogurt.

Continue reading Microsoft reveals Data Explorer tool, gets into the sorbet business (video)

Microsoft reveals Data Explorer tool, gets into the sorbet business (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic’s 7- and 10-inch BizPads port the Honeycomb drizzle to Japan’s enterprise set

Salarymen, get those contactless employee IDs set to swipe. Panasonic’s throwing your overcaffeinated ilk a bone with two Honeycomb-based enterprise slates for release this winter. Coming under the BizPad umbrella, these 7- and 10.1-inch Android 3.2 tablets are ruggedized for the road warrior treatment, offering the clumsy and sleep-deprived alike dust-, drop- and water-proof protection. Both tabs pack a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, 16GB of onboard storage, 1GB RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC capability (via its IC card reader), but the shared specs end there. While the larger tab certainly wins out with its higher resolution, digitizer-friendly WXGA 1280 x 800 IPS capacitive display (vs. WSVGA 1024 x 600 resistive LCD display), the more diminutive of the bunch gets the better 5 megapixel camera (vs. 1.3 megapixel) and optional 3G connectivity. No word yet on pricing or an actual launch date, but don’t let that stop you from petitioning your IT department right now.

Panasonic’s 7- and 10-inch BizPads port the Honeycomb drizzle to Japan’s enterprise set originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourcePanasonic  | Email this | Comments