Hasta La Gadget!

We suppose this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, but we’re still disappointed to see that HTC has pulled the version its Sync app that had been posted late last week with support for sideloading of Android apps on AT&T’s Aria, seemingly by mistake. Given that the new version of Sync had never been accompanied by an over-the-air firmware update to enable non-Market app installations from the phone itself, this seems to totally confirm what had been suspected all along: it was nothing more than a mix-up, and AT&T hasn’t approved any sweeping changes in its branded Android philosophy. Considering the excitement and buzz this whole thing generated, we can still hope AT&T has a change of heart, of course — but in light of everything we know, we certainly wouldn’t get our hopes up.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HTC pulls sideload-capable Sync app for AT&T’s Aria originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  HTC  | Email this | Comments

Texting while driving may not be banned where you are yet, but it probably it will be soon, and Ford is pretty okay with that. As we saw at CES this year, the company is promoting SYNC and MyFord as solutions to distracted driving, enabling the car to read text messages to you so that you can keep your eyes on the road. The blue oval is working to get RIM digging Bluetooth MAP, enabling streaming of text messages to cars, functionality said to be coming in “all new BlackBerry smartphones.” Beyond that Ford is touting its new “Do Not Disturb” button to block all incoming calls and text messages while still allowing outgoing calls and use of the phone for providing data to the car. This is in addition to already disabling much of the phone’s functionality whilst in motion, keeping you focused on what you should be doing: shaving, reading the newspaper, and eating breakfast.

Continue reading In a world of automotive cellphone hate, Ford promotes SYNC as the solution

In a world of automotive cellphone hate, Ford promotes SYNC as the solution originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Music WithMe will wirelessly sync the music on your computer with your BlackBerry, wherever you happen to be. Specifically, it will sync selected playlists in iTunes over a Wi-Fi or cellular network so your mobile music library is always up to date.

The app, from a company named ParkVu, works with a piece of client software on your Windows PC to read your iTunes library database. Whenever you add or change something in iTunes, those changes are pushed to an app running in the background on your BlackBerry and added to its standard music-player.

It sound a little gimmicky at first, although when on the same Wi-Fi network, auto-syncing would certainly be helpful. But it somewhat ironically solves one of the biggest problems of the iPad or iPhone: the lack of auto-updating podcasts. If you are away from your home machine and you want to update your podcasts on an Apple device, you have to search them out one at a time and download manually. With Music WithMe, you could just check your podcast playlist and have new episodes pushed to your BlackBerry.

Sadly, Music WithMe won’t be coming to iOS anytime soon, although Android, Symbian and Maemo users (yes, both of you) will be getting versions. The trial price, when the app launches any day now, will be $15. The final price has yet to be announced.

Music WithMe puts your iTunes library on your smartphone [Music WithMe. Thanks, Roseann!]

Wi-Fi Sync is quite the gem (at least we think so) but it had some limitations — namely, it only worked on OS X for desktop, and only with iPhone / iPod touch. Developer Greg Hughes pinged us earlier today to let us know he’s thrown the gates off such restrictions. The jailbroken app now works for both iPads and Windows — XP, Vista, and 7. The desktop client is free to download but it still cost just a hair under $10 for the appropriate mobile device. Worth the price of breaking free from wires? Your call.

Wi-Fi Sync now compatible with Windows and iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Get Wi-Fi Sync  | Email this | Comments

Continue reading Firefox Home ‘coming soon’ to iPhone, will sync with desktop browser

Firefox Home ‘coming soon’ to iPhone, will sync with desktop browser originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 21:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Mozilla blog  | Email this | Comments