Mobile Computing Week Wrap Up - July 13th-20th 2008

Symbian Foundation adds another round of supporters

from Engadget Mobile by Chris Ziegler





The Symbian Foundation's founding member list was nothing to sneeze at, featuring the likes of Vodafone, Samsung, LG, AT&T, and of course Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and Motorola -- but the initiative is getting even stronger here with the addition of a couple other major carrier players, a chipset giant, and a heaping handful of software firms. From the carrier side, 3 and America Movil get added to the list; Marvell joins Texas Instruments from the silicon side of things, and the app developers now include Aplix, EB, EMCC Software, Sasken, and TietoEnator. We're not going to lie, we're not familiar with some of these devs -- but when you're fighting juggernauts like Android and LiMo to win the hearts and minds of the open-platform public, you need all the ammo you can get.

Ad network offers promise of revenue for free App Store apps

from Engadget Mobile by Chris Ziegler

Just because you're scooping up a free app or three on Apple's App Store doesn't mean that the developers behind them need to starve. Medialets, a nascent start-up specifically targeting iPhone devs, offers cookie-cutter code that can be inserted into apps to add an advertisement here and there -- mildly annoying, possibly, but if it means we get charged a big ol' goose egg when we download the goods, it might just be worth the tradeoff. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the enterprise is that Apple's apparently cool with it; the App Store distributes free apps without charging the developer a dime, after all, presumably under the assumption that the entire ordeal is not-for-profit, but that assumption gets turned on its head when Medialets comes into play and cuts Apple clean out of the revenue share. Ultimately, we wouldn't mind seeing two versions of each app offered: one at full price, and a second ad-supported version at a reduced price or free. How's that for thinking outside the box?

Apple says turn-by-turn GPS coming to iPhone, copy / paste not a high priority

from Engadget Mobile by Nilay Patel

There's been a lot of random misinformation about the iPhone 3G floating around out there, like David Pogue's baffling comment that the device's GPS antenna is "too small" to support turn-by-turn directions, and Apple's iPod and iPhone marketing head Greg Joswiak recently sat down with AppScout to clear up some of the confusion. Greg says that Apple has an internal priority list of features for the iPhone, and that the company went as far down the list with the 3G as it could -- and that copy / paste support simply didn't make the cut. Similarly, there are no technical issues preventing turn-by-turn directions, just other "complicated issues" (read: legal agreements) that need to be sorted out, and Josiwak expects developers to "amaze us." as things "evolve." Hopefully that means that nav app TomTom's got in the labs will evolve its way into the wild sometime soon. Finally, Joswiak said that he's not aware of any technical reasons an office suite isn't already in the App Store, but that the lack of a cross-application file structure could impede development. Yeah, and maybe the lack of copy / paste, you think?

Nokia jumps on location-based mobile social networking bandwagon with Nokia Chat

from Engadget Mobile by Chris Ziegler

Services like Loopt and Whrrl are trying to break the door down on a potentially huge new market by convincing phone users that it's totally cool for your friends to know exactly where you are at any given time. Potentially scary, yes, but the benefits are obvious -- and when all the security and privacy issues have been squared away, it could be a big deal. Nokia's diving into the fray now with Chat, an IM client currently in beta that integrates with your contact list and allows selected friends to see one anothers' locations in real time. That in itself isn't novel, but the app also allows you to mark off landmarks which will automatically trigger broadcast messages to your friends with zero involvement or interaction with the phone. Kinda nifty for letting folks know when you show up to work or school, for example -- as long as you're not chronically late, anyhow. Follow the break for a video intro of the system.

Boy Genius Reviews the BlackBerry Bold!

from CrackBerry.com blogs by Kevin Michaluk

Wow does time ever fly. It's been over two months since we posted the web's first review of the BlackBerry 9000. We spilled the beans on the then yet-to-be-named or officially announced BlackBerry Bold, and as we warned on every post in our review series, the review was conducted on what was likely a pre-production device that would feature some further improvements come full release.

Today the Boy Genius put up a solid review of a full-production BlackBerry Bold. It's definitely worth a read and it's nice to have confirmation that some of the OS enhancements that we didn't see in the early version of OS4.6 we reviewed have made their way onto the device as promised, including some cool tweaks to BlackBerry Messenger and a much-improved web browser. What's less cool are some of the potential hardware issues that have been observed... while BG says the overall build quality of the device is solid ("There are no creaks with the device, and it seems sturdy as heck"), he noticed the Bold's display scratches easily. 

OpenMoko's Neo FreeRunner is shipping, getting itself unboxed

from Engadget Mobile by Joshua Topolsky

If you're a Linux fanboy with a hankering for some mobile action, you'll be pleased to know that buyers of the retail, North American version of OpenMoko's Neo FreeRunner have started getting shipments. If you hit the read link, you'll be able to see one lucky owner unboxing his new toy, complete with a spares kit and debug board (this guy is getting into it, okay?). This set of photos should be a nice companion to that in-depth look at the OS we saw recently. Now we're going to be on pins and needles finding out what gets cooked up for that spacious 480 x 640 screen.

Install Android On Your HTC Titan

from Google Android News Android Forums

Not content with the recent port of Android to the Nokia N810, members of the pocked pc forum ppcgeeks.com have successfully managed to port Android over to the HTC Titan handset.

Like previous incarnations of the Android OS, the port still relies on the Windows Mobile OS underneath it, but after successfully loading the software into RAM, the Android OS can take over the the GUI and give users an early demo of things to come.

Users who have successfully ported the Android OS to their HTC devices report a working touch screen along with the ability to make calls and browse the internet.

Palringo brings rich messaging service to a BlackBerry near you

from IntoMobile by dusanb

Palringo, a messaging service that extends all the functionality of PC-based IM services like voice and picture messages to mobile devices, has released its client for select BlackBerry smartphones (Curve, Pearl, 8800 series).

Using Palringo, BlackBerry users can chat using voice and picture messages as well as traditional text. Furthermore, they can also chat with their buddies who use other IM clients like AIM, Windows Live Messenger and GTalk through the single Palringo interface.

Like some similar multi-IM apps, Palringo presents user's contacts from all services into one combined, presence-aware list, thus eliminating the need to continually switch between multiple IM tools. In addition, Palringo's "vocal instant messaging" combines walkie-talkie style voice chat, the real-time text functionality of IM and the ability to share pictures — all within the context of one "threaded" discussion.

Palringo's BlackBerry application is available as free download from their website. Finally, in addition to BlackBerry phones, Palringo also works on smartphones running Windows Mobile or Symbian, as well as on Java-enabled feature phones.

Opera Mobile 9.5 beta is out!

from IntoMobile by dusanb

As expected, Opera Software has released the Opera Mobile 9.5 beta for Windows Mobile. The long-awaited web browser now looks more like Opera Mini or the iPhone's Safari, allowing users to view the entire web page and instantly recognize the site. In addition, there's a new, improved user interface, pan and zoom option, improved standards support, option to save pages and/or images, Opera Dragonfly developer tools, and more.

In a nutshell - it's a must have app even while in beta. Here's the download page, and from here you can see tons of screenshots.

Verizon Wireless Offers Mobile Banking for some BlackBerry Models

from MobileCrunch by John Kullman

Verizon Wireless customers who have a BlackBerry Curve 8330, Pearl 8130 or 8830 World Edition can now access their financial information with Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Banking application. Users get the following services: account balance information and transaction history; the ability to transfer funds between accounts at the same financial institution; the convenience of viewing and paying bills when enrolled in their financial institution’s Bill Pay service and the ability to view the last five transactions successfully completed on their mobile device.

Verizon Wireless customers must be account holders of a financial institution that offers Mobile Banking to enroll in the application. Currently Wachovia, Regions, SunTrust, USAA, Synovus, America First Credit Union (AFCU), Arvest, Bancorp South, FirstBank, South Financial and BECU offer the service.

The Mobile Banking application has the following security features: multi-factor authentication including initialization codes and six-digit PIN requirements; lock out after three invalid PIN entries; use of account nicknames instead of account numbers; encrypted transactions; time out of application after two minutes on Choose PIN screen and 10 minutes on other screens; and lost device functionality, which disables the application. In addition, funds can only be transferred between accounts that are set up with online access, and Bill Pay payees cannot be set up or edited on the phone.

To get Mobile Banking, Verizon Wireless customers with the BlackBerry Curve 8330, BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition can go to the Home screen on their handsets and select the BlackBerry(R) Browser icon to go to the VZ Start home page. Once there, click on the Mobile Banking link to download the application. VZ Start home page can also be accessed by going to mobile.vzw.com from the browser. There is no monthly charge for the application, although data charges may apply.

SyncML for Google Contacts coming next month!

from IntoMobile by Stefan Constantinescu

SyncML, the syncing technology that almost all mobile phones have support for, yet very few people know about and use, will be coming to Google contacts within a month. Google Calender support is questionable at this point in time. Supposedly this is for Google to offer MobileMe like services for the iPhone, but I'm thinking this is more about Google trying to get the rest of their body through the door that leads to the mobile industry. All those J2ME applications, Android and now this? Something is brewing in California and it isn't the premium coffee Googlers get for free.

GlideOS brings Microsoft Word documents to iPhone - Announcing 10GB of free storage

from IntoMobile by Will Park

GlideOS previously popped up on our radar with their Glide Mobile web-app. The web-based application allowed for Microsoft Office document creation and editing on the iPhone (as well as other mobile platforms).

Glide Mobile offers online collaboration on Microsoft Office documents as part of their Glide Mobile suite - which includes Glide Photo Editor, Glide Write, Glide Presenter, Glide Crunch, Glide ad-free email, Glide Groups and Projects, Glide Meeting, Glide Calendar, video Jukebox, Music Jukebox, and Slideshow creator. And, Glide Mobile now comes with 10GB of free online storage to keep all those Word documents, pictures, and PowerPoint presentations safe and sound. 

"We are making Microsoft Word document support available today on the 3G iPhone with 10GBs of free online document storage" said TransMedia Chairman and CEO, Donald Leka. "You can easily create, share and collaborate on Microsoft Word documents on the 3G iPhone with automatic desktop synchronization and automatic version control. 3G iPhone users can even collaborate on documents with family, friends and colleagues who have Blackberry, Palm, Symbian and Windows Mobile phones."

Head on over to Glide Mobile's website to register for your very own GlideOS account.

T-Mobile launches "Tony's World" Sidekick site to celebrate Sidekick LX Tony Hawk Limited Edition

from IntoMobile by Will Park

T-Mobile is celebrating their Sidekick LX Tony Hawk Limited Edition hiptop with a completely revamped sidekick.com. Visitors to the overhauled website will be thrust in to "Tony's World," where the Sidekick fan can interact with different "neighborhoods" and explore the Sidekick LX's capabilities.

And, for the curious among you, T-Mobile has apparently hidden some "easter eggs" in the Flash-based virtual world. So, head on over to Sidekick.com to check out the new "Tony's World" and pick up a limited edition Sidekick LX Tony Hawk for $299.

New updates to Google.com for the iPhone

from Google Mobile Blog by Lawrence Chang

Unless you're living on a deserted island -- and maybe even if you are -- you know about Apple's 3G iPhone and App Store launch last week. Hopefully you know about the Google Mobile App that we launched last week, as well. And some of you may have noticed that we also released a new version of Google.com for the iPhone and iPod touch.

At Google, improving the speed of our applications and user experience is a top priority. The new Google.com for the iPhone browser now loads twice as fast as before -- and not just over 3G or Wi-Fi but also EDGE. We've optimized the page for fast searching, while still providing easy access to other Google applications including Gmail, Calendar, Reader, and many others under the More tab. We also improved the user interface so that there's more room on the page for search results. Take a look at the screen shot below to see how we've eliminated wasted space.



Also, when you click on a search result, the destination web site now opens in the same browser window that you conducted your search with. This means that you can instantly return to your search results or the Google home page by simply pressing the back button of your browser.



Finally, you can now access any of the application tabs directly by adding them to your iPhone Home Screen. We've created cool new icons for all the applications. Simply go to www.google.com in your browser, tap on any of the application tabs, click the "+" button, and select "Add to Home Screen." The icons will appear on your iPhone Home Screen allowing you to go directly to the application with a tap of your finger. Collect the whole set!



The new version of Google.com works on your 3G iPhone as well as the original iPhone and iPod touch. If you use Google Apps, you can also access this new version by going to www.google.com/m/a/your-domain.com, where "your-domain.com" is replaced with your actual domain name.