Feb 16

Nokia N900 gets new firmware, new games coming too (video)

Posted in: firmware, maemo, mwc, mwc 2010, Mwc2010, nokia, Today's Chili
Nokia N900 gets new firmware, new games coming too (video)

If your N900 is in need of a little more excitement, this post is for you. First up is word of a new firmware release (3.2010.02-8 (PR 1.1.1)), 16.2MB worth of apparently minor changes along with a slew of new regions, the inclusion of which may mean good things for those who haven’t been granted to this smartphone yet. If that’s not enough for you, at MWC Nokia is showing off some new apps for the handset, the most notable being a couple of 3D games that look a wee bit simplistic in terms of gameplay but don’t disappoint in terms of graphics. No word on when exactly these will be hitting Ovi Store — well, nothing more specific than “soon.” Video after the break (of the games, not the firmware update).

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Nokia N900 gets new firmware, new games coming too (video)

Nokia N900 gets new firmware, new games coming too (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceFirmware at Forum.Nokia.com, Game Demo at YouTube  | Email this | Comments

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Feb 16

MWC: LG GW990 Will Become an Intel MeeGo Phone

Posted in: intel, LG, Linux, mwc, nokia, Today's Chili

IMG_1308.JPGNokia may talk the talk, but LG walks the walk. A day after Intel and Nokia announced they were merging their Maemo and Moblin Linux platforms to become MeeGo, a presenter at LG’s press breakfast today confirmed that the LG GW990, the first phone based on Intel’s Moorestown platform, will “transition” to MeeGo.

The presenter’s English was extremely limited, so it was hard to get more details. But the GW990 currently runs on Moblin, so it makes sense that it would become one of the first MeeGo phones.

Whether it’s actually first depends on several things, like whether Nokia transitions their N900 Maemo device over to MeeGo, and what all the mysterious other gadgets that Intel and Nokia were promising turn out to be. The GW990 is scheduled to come out in Korea during the second half of this year, but LG has no plans to bring it to the US.

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Feb 15

Nokia Feel app suggests activities based on your emotional state (video)

Posted in: nokia, Today's Chili
Still feeling an overabundance of nervous energy over this morning’s big announcement? (No, the other one.) Well, then, Nokia has just the thing for you, in the form of a little app called Feel. Simply tell your handset how you’re, well, feeling, and it gives you suggestions as to how you might best use the device. Feeling creative? Take a picture. Energetic? Put in your earphones and dance, dance, dance. Feel like… giving it a shot? Hit the source link to get in on the beta test. Merely curious? Check out the video (hosted by a man who ironically seems to have little affect) after the break. Already bored by the concept? There’s nothing we can do for you there, sadly — but empathize.

Continue reading Nokia Feel app suggests activities based on your emotional state (video)

Nokia Feel app suggests activities based on your emotional state (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNokia Beta Labs  | Email this | Comments

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Feb 15

MeeGo: Nokia and Intel merge Maemo and Moblin

Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, intel, maemo, meego, mwc, mwc 2010, Mwc2010, nokia, Today's Chili

Well this one is a… doozy? Today Nokia announced a rather bizarre partnership with Intel. Namely, the two companies are merging their odd, half-finished, Linux-based OSs into one crazy little package called… MeeGo. No, really. Intel is mixing its peanut butter Moblin with Nokia’s chocolatey Maemo to create a “software platform that will support multiple hardware architectures across the broadest range of device segments, including pocketable mobile computers, netbooks, tablets, mediaphones, connected TVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems.” That broad enough for you? According to the company’s press release, the new platform will begin baring fruit (AKA devices) later this year, though the specific types of devices weren’t touched upon. Nokia’s CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo claims that the union will “create an ecosystem that is second to none” through openness, though at this point it’s largely bluster. Why the two monoliths have decided to pair up on these decidedly niche platforms rather than focusing energies on their front and center products is anyone’s guess, but luckily you can attempt to decipher more detail in the PR, included for your convenience after the break!

Continue reading MeeGo: Nokia and Intel merge Maemo and Moblin

MeeGo: Nokia and Intel merge Maemo and Moblin originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feb 15

Live from Nokia’s (and Intel’s) MWC 2010 press event

Posted in: LiveBlog, mwc, mwc 2010, Mwc2010, nokia, Today's Chili

We’ve just been sent into an Auditorium here at ONCE in Barcelona — just seconds away from the Fira convention center — and we’re about to get underway. Keep it locked!

Continue reading Live from Nokia’s (and Intel’s) MWC 2010 press event

Live from Nokia’s (and Intel’s) MWC 2010 press event originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feb 15

Symbian S^3 officially announced, previewed on video

Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, mobile os, MobileOs, multitouch, mwc, mwc 2010, Mwc2010, nokia, open source, opensource, operating system, OperatingSystem, os, symbian, Today's Chili

The time has finally come for us to see Symbian’s milestone shift toward finger-friendly operation in motion. Firstly, to allay any fears that it’d lack all the modern amenities, we’ll note that kinetic scrolling, swiping, and pinch-to-zoom are all present and accounted for, while a “visual multi-tasking” option allows you to see the open applications in an interface not a million miles away from the Pre’s card implementation. Customization is also a big deal in the S^3 UI, with multiple Home Screen pages available, accompanied by a litany of widgets you can add and manage. The media player application looks like a homage (read: copy) of Apple’s Cover Flow UI, right down to the album covers flipping around to reveal the track listing. We’re not complaining, we consider that a very intelligent and pleasing way to browse through music. Go check out the moving picture show after the break.

Continue reading Symbian S^3 officially announced, previewed on video

Symbian S^3 officially announced, previewed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBusiness Wire  | Email this | Comments

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Feb 13

PlayStation 3 controller used for N900 gaming (video)

Posted in: bluetooth, controller, diy, gaming, hack, Linux, maemo, mod, nokia, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, smartphone, sony, Today's Chili, video

Is the N900 the most hacker-friendly phone ever created? All sources are pointing to “yes.” Just two short months ago, we saw one determined code monkey turn his N900 into a PS3 controller; today, we’re looking at someone who did the exact opposite. If you’ve memorized the Debian source code and aren’t afraid to dabble in the wild and murky world of N900 modding, you too can one day use a spare SIXAXIS controller in order to dictate gameplay on your Nokia handset. All the instructions you need are there in the source link, and for everyone else just looking to have a watch from the sidelines, hop on past the break and mash play.

Continue reading PlayStation 3 controller used for N900 gaming (video)

PlayStation 3 controller used for N900 gaming (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feb 11

What Will Intel and Nokia Launch at MWC?

Posted in: intel, mwc, nokia, Today's Chili

intel-nokia.jpg

The Mobile World Congress show next week just got more interesting. Intel and Nokia announced they’re throwing a joint press conference on Monday morning about their “partnership to help shape and drive the future of mobile computing.”
We’ll be there, but I have to say, I’m baffled as to what the two companies could be working on. Intel’s Atom chips power Nokia’s Booklet 3G netbook, but Intel’s chipsets have, by and large, been too hot and power-hungry for the mobile phones that fill most of Nokia’s product line.
It’s possible that the two companies are working on some sort of tablet or handheld device using Intel’s Moorestown chipset, which we saw in the LG GW990 phone at CES. The GW990 is almost comically thick, but the chip may find a better home in a 5 or 7-inch tablet – perhaps something looking more like the Dell Mini 5.
We’ll have to see on Monday. Check back at pcmag.com for the news.
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Feb 05

Apple is Now the Third Largest Smartphone Maker

Posted in: Apple, BlackBerry, HTC, market, mobile, motorola, nokia, Phones, RIM, Smartphones, Today's Chili

smartphone-comparison

Apple, which launched its first iPhone barely three years ago, has already become the third largest smartphone maker worldwide, according to an IDC ranking of the top five mobile device companies.

Apple ranked third in terms of market share in smartphones for the fourth quarter of 2009 and the entire year, behind Nokia and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion.

The numbers should be no surprise to smartphone enthusiasts. Apple’s iPhone has become an iconic product as it has set the standard for elegant hardware design and the distribution of third-party software applications through the App Store. Much of Apple’s gains has come at the expense of smaller smartphone makers, clubbed in the “others” category. These include Palm, Samsung and companies such as Sharp and Fujitsu, says IDC analyst Ramon Llamas.

Surprising as it may seem to have Nokia as the market leader on the list–its smartphones are unloved in North America–the company continues to hold on to consumers elsewhere. “Nokia’s shift to bring more touchscreen-enabled smartphones to market began to pay off, as its 5800, N97, N97 mini, and 5530 models drove both revenue and profits,” says IDC in its statement.

smartphone-comparison2

Motorola returned to the top-five mobile phone makers list during the fourth quarter, after a year-long hiatus, says IDC. Last year, Motorola launched a slew of Android-powered devices including the Cliq on T-Mobile and Droid at Verizon Wireless. Combined sales of both the phones crossed two million since their debut.

Overall, 54.5 million handsets were shipped in the fourth quarter of 2009, up 39 percent from the same quarter a year ago. During the year, mobile phone makers shipped 174.2 million handsets.

As for operating systems, IDC says to watch for what Symbian and Windows Mobile do this year.

“2009 was the coming-out party for Google’s Android and Palm’s webOS,” says Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC. “More advances are in store for 2010 as Symbian and Windows are expected to unveil new versions of their respective operating systems.”

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Feb 05

Nokia’s mid-tier ‘Mystic’ to be dubbed C6, will hit stores in May or June?

Posted in: nokia, rumor, symbian, Today's Chili

We can’t say we were overwhelmed by the first leaked photos of what we’ve come to know as the Nokia Mystic, but there’s something about this QWERTY candybar form factor that Nokia just does so well that we have to hang onto the benefit of the doubt. The latest news on this front is that the handset will be dubbed the Nokia C6, which makes a lot of sense as a counterpart to the numeric keypad-equipped but similarly styled Nokia C5 that was recently leaked. Word is that the C6 should retail for around 200 Euro (about $274 US), and that it should be released in May or June. It seems logical that we’ll see both of these S60 3rd edition phones at MWC this month, but there’s nothing solid on that front just yet.

Nokia’s mid-tier ‘Mystic’ to be dubbed C6, will hit stores in May or June? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAll About Phones  | Email this | Comments

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