Aug 23

Microsoft: Windows Phone Tango will be minor update, is meant for low-end handsets

Posted in: Microsoft, mobilepostcross, operating system, OperatingSystem, smartphone, Smartphones, Today's Chili, windows phone, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7
It looks like we have our Windows Phone roadmap filled out for at least the next year, as Tango has been confirmed by Microsoft as next year’s minor update preceding Apollo (aka Windows Phone 8). As mentioned at a MSDN seminar in Hong Kong, the successor to Windows Phone Mango will indeed be made for handsets in developing countries — a key method to make these devices more affordable. These targeted nations have been neglected to this point, the company said, and the Tango update would bring more Bing services to them at a lower cost. Will such a move help Ballmer & Co. achieve greater market share against Apple and Google? It’s hard to tell — we certainly don’t see this update coming to Vertu anytime soon, so we imagine that’s probably a good sign.

Microsoft: Windows Phone Tango will be minor update, is meant for low-end handsets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink WMPoweruser  |  sourceWe Love Windows Phone (translated)  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 23

Samsung Galaxy S II variant sneaks into American promo video

Posted in: Android, galaxy s ii, GalaxyS, GalaxySIi, Google, mobilepostcross, samsung, Today's Chili, video
American Galaxy S II variant

If you don’t pay close attention, you may not even notice it, but Samsung sneaked a preview of an American Galaxy S II variant into a promo video it released earlier today. For the entire clip you stare at the version we’re all familiar with, which sports a large home button on the bottom. Then, at the very end, a slightly rounder handset with four capacitive buttons and no large home key pops up on the screen. It looks a bit like the T-Mobile-bound Hercules, but not quite as curvy around the edges. It could be Sprint’s Epic 4G Touch or perhaps an as yet unseen model destined for AT&T or Verizon. Check out the full promo video after the break.

[Thanks, Daniel]

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S II variant sneaks into American promo video

Samsung Galaxy S II variant sneaks into American promo video originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 23

Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive

Posted in: Android, Apple, BlackBerry, Google, GoogleAndroid, ios, market share, marketshare, Microsoft, mobile, mobile phone, MobilePhone, mobilepostcross, research, smartphone, Smartphones, Today's Chili, us, webos, Windows Mobile, WindowsMobile, Wireless, Wp7

In other obvious news, Android and iOS continue to sit pretty atop the US smartphone market, according to a recent NPD study. The current titans of the mobile industry both saw their pieces of the OS pie increase in Q2 of 2011, putting Andy Rubin’s green robot in the lead with 52 percent and Apple at 29 percent. Newly adopted webOS, and Microsoft’s WP7 and Windows Mobile all managed to cling to their respective 5 percent shares with no yearly change, leaving only BlackBerry OS to experience an 11 percent decline. But the real meat and potatoes of the report focuses on Google’s soon-to-be in-house partner: Motorola. Despite the rosy picture painted by recent acquisition talks, the company appears to be facing tough competition from Android OEM rivals, and the wireless market as a whole. In regard to overall mobile phone share (read: dumbphones, et al.) and smartphone-only, Moto saw a 3 percent year-to-year decline, with its biggest loss coming from Android unit sales — a 50 percent drop to 22 percent of the market. Will the rosy glow of Mountain View “help inspire new paths to differentiation” for Moto, or are we just looking at a repeat of the “RAZR era?” While you ponder these pressing questions, head past the break to read the full report.

Continue reading Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive

Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 23

iPhone 5 coming to Sprint, other carriers in mid-October?

Posted in: Apple, AppleIphone, att, breaking news, carrier, iPhone, mobile, mobilepostcross, Sprint, Today's Chili, verizon, Wireless

Watch out AT&T and Verizon, it looks like there’s an iPhone 5 hat-trick coming this fall. WSJ is reporting that the Apple smartphone will hit Sprint at the same time as those other two networks, bringing a well-needed boost to the carrier’s shares in afternoon trading. We’ve heard mixed reports about an expected release date, but Wall Street Journal sources “familiar with the matter” are claiming that the phone will ship in mid-October. One source also stated that Sprint will begin carrying the iPhone 4 at the same time — presumably with a price drop in tow. Adding Sprint’s 52 million subscribers to the mix could bring the iPhone within reach of customers currently locked into contracts, family plans or corporate agreements with Sprint, making the move a huge win for both companies.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPhone 5 coming to Sprint, other carriers in mid-October? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 23

South Korea brings the big guns to the mobile OS knife fight

Posted in: Android, Chrome, Google, ios, korea, LG, mobilepostcross, motorola, open source, samsung, South Korea, SouthKorea, Today's Chili
Publicly, Samsung and LG tersely supported Google’s union with Motorola (which we’ve taken to calling Moogle) — privately it appears the South Korean giants aren’t as thrilled to be at the mercy of Mountain View’s whim. Imagine their predicament if they were frozen out of Android tomorrow — which is why the Korean government has stepped in to create its own OS. Kim Jae-hong, deputy minister from Seoul’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, thinks that American dominance in mobile software is generally a bad thing. The minister said that the country would “foster a habitat” for the open-source OS, which might mean incentivized pricing on these devices, and we’re hearing a cloud-based Chrome OS is also in the offing. The biggest news Jae-hong slipped is that Samsung had been very dismissive of a Korean OS until it heard about the Google / Motorola deal. What a difference a Moogle makes, eh?

South Korea brings the big guns to the mobile OS knife fight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phonearena  |  sourceThe Chosunilbo, Yonhap News Agency  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 23

Square app update lets iOS users buy cookies on credit, sans signature

Posted in: app, application, ios, ipad, iPhone, itunes, mobilepostcross, money, Software, Today's Chili, update
Heads up, card swipers, because Square has just issued an update to its iOS credit card app. Version 2.1 brings enhanced transaction speeds and a streamlined tipping interface to iPhone and iPad users, along with added support for $0.00 price points. Plus, any purchases below $25 will no longer require a signature, meaning you can safely buy that latte while keeping human interaction to a bare minimum. If you’re interested in making the jump, hit up the source link below.

[Thanks, Chris]

Square app update lets iOS users buy cookies on credit, sans signature originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 23

Samsung Impulse 4G to lead AT&T’s 4G LTE charge?

Posted in: 4G, att, lte, mobilepostcross, samsung, Today's Chili
Could the above shot be the first 4G LTE smartphone for AT&T? BGR thinks it just might be. The site nabbed a shot of what purports to be the Samsung Impulse 4G, which may grab that distinction on its release. That’s about all we’re getting in the way of details on this Droid Charge-esque device at the moment. Hopefully the screen of truth will be pulled back even further in the near future.

Samsung Impulse 4G to lead AT&T’s 4G LTE charge? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 23

Verzo teases its first Android smartphone, aims for a late-September launch

Posted in: Android, exclusive, mobilepostcross, teaser, Today's Chili
Ready to check out a phone brand you’ve never seen or heard of before? Of course you are. We just got our hands on exclusive photos and details of a mysterious Android handset from Verzo, a newcomer to the market. The phone’s called the Kinzo and is slated for a launch in late September. Verzo’s keeping a tight lid on the specifics for right now, but we know the phone was designed by Novague and it’ll feature its own UI — not in an attempt to be different, it says, but “to get the most from the Android system.”

The brand is playing the humility card in its release, claiming that it’s not trying to change everything or be the next Samsung or Apple, nor is it going to be “the slimmest, fastest, or the best… for now.” However, Verzo plans to be open to suggestions and actively involved in what its customers love and hate about its products. The company aims to first sell the Kinzo on its website, with shipments to the US and Europe shortly after; the rollout will continue in Russia, China, South America and the Middle East in late 2011 / early 2012. Verzo’s definitely worked up a nifty teaser here, so how intrigued are you? Check out a few more images of the Kinzo below, and follow past the break for the company’s press release.

Gallery: Verzo Kinzo

Continue reading Verzo teases its first Android smartphone, aims for a late-September launch

Verzo teases its first Android smartphone, aims for a late-September launch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 23

Mild-mannered RadioShack employee outs Google Wallet’s launch date?

Posted in: Android, Google, leak, leaked, leaks, mobilepostcross, nfc, Sprint, Today's Chili

Okay, there’s a possibility that our growing anxiousness for Google Wallet is distorting our perceptions. Or, perhaps we’re merely days from its debut. Let’s put it this way: new information from RadioShack suggests the retailer will begin accepting Google Wallet transactions on September 1st. While this fundamentally means that NFC readers will be in place — which isn’t earth-shattering news — The Shack is one of Google Wallet’s launch partners, and it seems the company is priming its employees for the revolution late next week. Like Fox Mulder, we want to believe. Worst case scenario, we now have proof that Google’s launch partners are gearing up for its arrival. Hey, we’re looking forward to handing over our phones to complete strangers. Aren’t you?

Update: We’re hearing this is more likely just another retailer ramping up for a launch later in the month, so don’t get too eager for something shocking to happen on 9/1. Also, of course you don’t need to hand over your phone to use Google Wallet. Customer-facing NFC readers mean it can stay very much on your person and out of the hands of sure-handed, dashing, and handsome retail workers.

[Thanks, Abed]

Mild-mannered RadioShack employee outs Google Wallet’s launch date? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 23

Blackberry Curve 9360 hands-on

Posted in: BlackBerry, hands-on, mobilepostcross, RIM, smartphone, Today's Chili, video

So, the trickle of BlackBerry juice is now a flood. Just weeks after RIM launched its high-end Torch 9810, 9850 and Bold 9900 handsets, it’s revealed the refreshed mid-range Curve 9360 (aka the 9350 or 9370, depending on the carrier and region). When compared to the Bold 9900, which can be seen as a richer cousin with a similar form factor, the new Curve clearly comes with key hardware sacrifices in order to meet a lower (but still to-be-confirmed) price point, including an 800MHz processor (instead of 1.2GHz), no touchscreen and a 480 x 360 HVGA+ display rather than the Bold’s full VGA panel. Compared to previous Curves, however, the 9360 is a significant upgrade. It sports the new BB 7, a 5MP camera and a physical design that RIM hopes will entice the “youth demographic” as well as the millions of international users who have helped to turn the Curve into RIM’s globally bestselling range. The question is, is this device enough of an upgrade, considering it’s been a year since the last refresh in the Curve series? Read on for our initial hands-on impressions…

Gallery: Blackberry Curve 9300 hands-on

Continue reading Blackberry Curve 9360 hands-on

Blackberry Curve 9360 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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