The awesome little phone that could, webOS, is dead. Discontinuing all phones and tablets, HP intends to “explore options to optimize the value of webOS software.” If that’s not murder, then it’s certainly lobotimizing, de-limbing and leaving webOS in the middle of an ocean. Tragic. More »
HTC’s Puccini tablet is shaping up to be the company’s worst kept secret. This latest batch of leaked screen shots over on PocketNow show off the tab’s skinned homescreen where a clearly visible AT&T widget indicates a missing SIM card, and the Settings menu which points us to the product’s possible release name — Jetstream. The 10-inch slate, said to pack a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 8 megapixel rear-facing camera and Scribe functionality, appears to have a “true” 4G LTE AT&T destiny ahead of it, with a potential launch coming before the close of this year. Make sure to hit the source below for an additional look at this Android slate.
HTC Puccini screens leak (again), to be known as Jetstream on AT&T? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Nearly two years after releasing their Red Eye app for iOS users, the convenience enthusiasts over at ThinkFlood have now brought the universal remote control to the Android community, as well. The app, which was released in beta a few months ago, allows users to remotely control their non-networked home theater, lighting and air conditioning systems from the comfort of their tablets, laptops or smartphones. Version 2.7.0 also brings plenty of customizable graphics and layouts, for those looking to add a more personal touch to their lives of leisure. Compatible with any device running Android 1.6 or later (including tablets running Honeycomb), the app features a built-in TV program guide that can be used with any display, but in order to take advantage of its other home theater controls, you’ll have to purchase networked ThinkFlood hardware products like RedEye or RedEye Pro (it’s not compatible with RedEye mini). If you’re interested in downloading the tool for free, check out the source links below, or click past the break for more details, in the full PR.
ThinkFlood releases RedEye remote control app for Android, makes it even easier to sit around originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Just a day after popping up on NaviFirm, Nokia’s Symbian Anna has finally arrived for download, right on schedule. Available for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 users, the new OS brings a fresh new UI and a virtual portrait QWERTY keypad to Symbian smartphones, along with split-screen messaging, richer maps and speedier browsing. The update also brings NFC capabilities to the C7, in particular, allowing users to share contacts, photos and other goodies by simply tapping their handsets together. If you’re interested in upgrading, you can download Anna using the latest version of Ovi Suite (3.1.1), or with an OTA update, though availability and method of delivery vary from market to market. Find more information in the full PR, after the break.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Continue reading Symbian Anna now available for download on Nokia N8, E7, C7 and C6-01
Symbian Anna now available for download on Nokia N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | 
Nokia | Email this | Comments
A Radio Shack lost is a Family Dollar gained. Now that T-Mobile’s ended its allegiance with The Shack, the carrier’s looking for a few new companies willing to hoist its prepaid service up on a pedestal. Family Dollar, following in the footsteps of 7-Eleven, will be the next business to dole out the LG GS170 blister packs on T-Mo’s behalf. The phones will be sold for $30 and come with a $50 / month plan that consists of unlimited calls, texts, and 100MB data. With such a large emphasis now being placed on its no-contract offerings, we can’t help but wonder if this is the result of T-Mobile making an adjustment in its strategy. Any other companies want a piece of the prepaid pie? The press release can be found beneath the break.
Continue reading T-Mobile announces deal to sell prepaid at Family Dollar, costs more than a dollar
T-Mobile announces deal to sell prepaid at Family Dollar, costs more than a dollar originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 
CNet | T-Mobile | Email this | Comments
The fact that Nokia and Acer are busily preparing Windows Phones is no secret, but Sea Ray and W4 may not be the manufacturers’ only projects. Elbert Perez, a Windows Phone game developer with a keen eye for statistics, was looking through a list of the various devices that run his games, and a couple gems stood out — the Nokia 800 and Acer M310. The plot thickens when realizing that these names have never been seen before. Sadly, such a revelation prompts more questions than answers: are these completely new phones, or just the Sea Ray and W4 with new names? If testers are playing games on them, can we assume these are close to production? But don’t forget the lingering question that won’t ever be answered: are they winning the game?
Nokia 800 and Acer M310 caught on Windows Phone dev’s stats, likely in testing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Windows Phone Sauce | Twitter | Email this | Comments
There’s a good chance you’ve already heard a thing or two (or a hundred) about the BlackBerry Bold 9900 series, so by now you have a good idea whether or not you’ll want to pick one up. So if you’re leaning toward “buy,” T-Mobile’s got one coming to a retail store near you on August 31st, with the phone on presale for business customers starting today. Procurers of the new device will need to shell out $300 after a $50 mail-in rebate. Early adopters, start your engines! The full press release can be found after the break.
T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9900 available on August 31st, on presale to business customers today originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | T-Mobile | Email this | Comments
We’ve seen a few leaks from HTC lately, and now we’ve got the scoop on two more. And get this: one is being developed just for aspiring hip-hop moguls! Okay, not really… but a couple of new names were filed with the USPTO last week, as it keeps spittin’ game in the mobile marketplace. Four total trademark applications were filed for the HTC Enamor and HTC Rhyme — covering smartphones and tablets along with their hardware and software cohorts. No specs have been revealed (or much else) as of yet, but if you’d like to scope out the particulars for yourself, hit the source links below.
HTC files trademarks for Enamor and Rhyme, keeps on hustlin’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Fusible | USPTO (1), (2), (3), (4) | Email this | Comments
Update: It looks like Symbian Anna is now available for N8 users, with early variants of the firmware showing up on NaviFirm. No word yet on when V22 will be available via Ovi Suite or as an OTA update, but if you’ve already upgraded, let us know how you’re finding it in the comments.
[Thanks, Daniel]
Symbian Belle download leaked to N8 community, quickly pulled from site (update: Anna available on NaviFirm) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Smart Girls Choose Smartphones
A lot has been made of the popularity of smartphones among local female consumers but what’s the reality?
According to data quoted by INterRIDE and drawn from multiple sources, smartphones are actually preferred by gadget-loving men, not women. Some 26.3% of men have a smartphone as of August 2011, against 18.3% of women. The regular Japanese feature phone is still the device of choice for 67.2% of women, compared to for 51.9% of men.
A much-discussed local trend has seen consumers using both a regular Japanese keitai and a fashionable new smartphone, allowing them to maintain their familiar phone lifestyle while also playing with the latest popular toy. 10.4% of Japanese women are dual-users like this, but actually it’s even higher for men, 17.1%.
Though a lot of the marketing clamor has been targeted at girls, it’s the boys then who for the most part are the reigning smartphonistas. However, compared to figures six months ago, the proportion of women with smartphones (single device or dual usage) is now just under 30%, which is actually a three-fold increase, indicating the ladies might just catch up with the lads before long.
Demographically, as things stand, female smartphones users are mostly in their twenties (22.4%), followed by women in their thirties (16.9%). Interesting, male users are also mostly in the same two age groups, though it’s a much tighter split: twenties (35.2%) vs. thirties (35.1%).
What are they actually using these smartphones to do, though? According to NHN Japan data from April, there is almost no significant change between male and female users here in both their twenties or thirties, though curiously girls are playing games quite a lot more it seems, contradicting apparent stereotypes.
User Backlash?
After being seduced by blanket ad campaigns and mountains of hype, people can often feel a bit disappointed by their shiny new purchases once the novelty goes away. In a survey of 500 female smartphone users aged 20 to 39, people were thus asked to rank their biggest complaints with the devices.
Drawing a joint “winning” place were gripes about the reception being bad and that you cannot use infrared transmission (a common function among local phone users to exchange telephone numbers and email addresses), both with 35%. These were ahead of the next complaints by quite a margin: glitches (21%) and the inability to view Flash sites (19%).
This summer we have seen new smartphone releases for specific female users. These include phones like Sharp’s 007SH J, with a customized keypad interface to make it easier to operate for women with long nails, along with a bundle of models in girl-friendly pinks and reds. Panasonic have even created a special “My First Smart Phone” [sic] site to help educate females about the new lifestyle they can enjoy with the devices.
The question to be answered in the next quarter is whether all this effort by marketers et al leads to strong sales.
Smartphones and E-Commerce
The extent to which the introduction of smartphones may change the e-commerce market in Japan is something we are watching.
In a June survey of 446 iPhone users and 423 Android users, it was asked whether they used their phones for performing practical functions like shopping. 59% of iPhone users had participated in e-commerce (i.e. online shopping for books, clothes, DVDs, tickets etc — not apps) with their device, against 44% for Android. Regular shoppers percentages (10 times or over) are much lower, though — just 16.8% for the iPhone and only 5.4% for Android.
Though users really enjoy browsing the internet with their smartphones, it seems that their usage centers on mostly “surface”-level actions, such as interacting via social media, as opposed to shopping, working and so on. In terms of SNS, at least, Twitter is the clear leader of the pack, claiming 54.5% of users (the service now has 12.5 million members). Mixi is second with only 46.4%, hinting that Twitter’s success here has been greatly boosted by the mass release of smartphones.
This is the latest in a series of blogs based on newsletters provided by our local research partner, INterRIDE Inc.
Related Posts:
Brands Bring Tryvertising Fashion To Photo Booths
Japan Mobile Marketing Round-Up Part 3
Smartphone App Measures Users’ Brainwaves
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
