Nokia "evolves" away from Internet Tablets with new N900

It's turning out to be a busy week for Nokia. Days in advance of NokiaWorld in Stuttgart, and a couple of days after lifting the curtain on its first netbook, Nokia has announced the Nokia N900, the successor to its almost four-year-old lineup of Internet Tablets.

The N900 follows in the footsteps of the N810 with its slide out keyboard, but adds for the first time built-in 3G (Nokia calls it 3.5G) functionality, making the N900 the first Nokia tablet with the ability to go online without a WiFi connection or cellphone pairing. It's also the first Nokia device to run Maemo 5, Nokia's homegrown Linux distro.

As one might expect, Nokia has also upgraded the hardware inside the N900. It's now powered by a 600MHz ARM-based OMAP processor (compared to the N810's 400MHz CPU), supports OpenGL 3D graphics acceleration, and has 32GB of internal storage (expandable to 48GB via a microSD card). Like the N810 (and N800 with a Bluetooth add-on), the N900 also functions as a GPS. Nokia has also upped the ante on the camera with a 5-megapixel sensor and dual LED flash. Nokia has kept the 800x480 pixel resolution but has shrunk the touch-sensitive display from 4.13" to 3.5", making it one of the highest-resolution handhelds available.
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Nokia has changed the branding on the N900, dropping the "Internet Tablet" identifier that has been present since the launch of the 770 in December 2005. The Finnish hardware giant is instead touting the N900 as an evolution from the "previous generation" of tablet devices. From the looks of it, the N900 falls squarely into the Mobile Internet Device (MID) category, but the device's quadband EDGE/WCDMA/GPRS radio means that it should be able to function on most cellular networks as a vanilla cellphone, as the Nokia product shot at right shows.

On the software front, the N900 ships with built-in Flash support (take that, Apple), its own Mozilla-based Maemo Browser, as well as the usual contacts, e-mail, calendar, and media player apps seen on earlier versions. It can handle all the popular audio and video formats, too (with the obvious exception of DRMed iTunes content).

When the first Internet Tablet hit the market in December 2005, it was a revelation with its built-in WiFi, Linux OS, full-featured Opera browser, and 4.2" 800x480 touchscreen display. Each succeeding iteration of the Internet Tablet family has been a significant upgrade from the previous model, but the competitive landscape has changed even faster. The N900 is an impressive-looking piece of hardware, but it finds itself swimming in a sea of iPhones, BlackBerrys, and Android devices (and maybe, someday, some Atom-powered mobile Internet devices). With the announcement of the N900 and the Nokia Booklet 3G (rumored to be priced in the $800 range), Nokia has shown that it is interested in being a part of the MID and netbook conversations.

The N900 will carry a retail price of €500 before subsidies and will launch in "select markets" in October. No word on US pricing or availability yet.

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Gaming on the Apple iPhone

Since Apple launched its iTunes Application Store in July 2008, iPhone and iPod touch users have downloaded more than a billion “apps” - city guides, translation dictionaries, travel tools, photo-sharing widgets and restaurant-finding applications - on to their devices.But it is the unexpected success of the iPhone and iPod touch as a gaming platform that has taken everyone by surprise.The touch-screen interface and motion-sensing capabilities of Apple’s devices have allowed video-game developers to experiment with new kinds of gameplay. Instead of simply bashing buttons, as on a conventional hand-held games console, players instead tap the screen of their iPhone, or move the device itself, to control on‑screen action.Games account for 14 of the 20 most popular paid-for iPhone and iPod touch applications of all time, and six of the top 20 free applications.While games companies such as Sony and Nintendo are largely dismissive of the threat posed by the iPhone and iPod touch in the portable gaming space, they ignore the platform at their peril. Apple has sold more than 35 million touch-screen devices worldwide since July 2007, creating a huge potential audience for a growing number of game developers who are making titles specifically for Apple’s gadgets.
And a recent software update has enabled the use of micropayments in applications - this means that users will be able to make in-game purchases, splashing real money on virtual weapons, armour and new levels, generating more revenue for Apple and game makers, and keeping players engaged with their favourite games.

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Windows Mobile to be Windows Phone!

Now, this is one rumor we seriously wish remains a rumor. So, someone from Microsoft's naming department (we made that up, alright) seems to think Windows Mobile, the age old mobile operating system needs a name change. And why not? In the midst of the Androids and the OSX'es of the world, Windows Mobile juts out like a Ford Model T in the midst of a dozen Lamborghinis.So, after zillions of round table conferences and board room meetings, they seem to have come up with the "Windows Phone" moniker for the revolutionary Windows Mobile 7 (sigh) OS that is set to hit the shelves by next year. This is not the first time we have seen Microsoft's obsession with the word "phone". In fact, earlier this year, we had heard of the same name crop up and then die a natural death. If the rumors have sprung up again, it more or less looks likely that this one might just not remain a rumor.Why would someone want to change something that's been doing so well? Windows Mobile is still cool! Why fix it if it's not broken Microsoft?

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Researchers identify critical iPhone security flaw

Researchers have identified a critical iPhone security flaw that could allow hackers to take control of the shiny device. Although Club Cupertino was warned of the ulnerability in July, it has yet to issue a patch or even comment on the issue.Security experts Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner explained that the public needed to be cognizant of the fact that iPhones were at least as vulnerable to attack as personal computers."If we don't talk about it, somebody is going to do it silently," Mulliner told Reuters at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. "The bad guys are going to do it no matter what."According to Mulliner, hackers could exploit the flaw to prevent users from making calls, acccessing the Internet and exchanging text messages. He added that the two have already tested the hacks on four German carrier networks. The hacks - which are reportedly enabled by an SMS memory corruption bug - were also successfully implemented over the AT&T network in the US.

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World Has 2,000 BlackBerry Apps

Report By Jano
In just over 4 months, Research in Motion managed to get double their applications on their App World store for the BlackBerry in hopes to get more Apple users on their side. This will be pretty hard to achieve, seeing that the iPhone App Store now has about 50,000 applications up and running.Although they're not even close, RIM is pretty happy with the number of apps, saying that "it doesn't matter whether it's 40,000 or 2,000, you've still got a broad range of choice".This month, RIM's 2,000 BlackBerry apps will be available to users in France, Italy, Germany and Spain, with Brazil and India to follow in the coming months.

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Apple iTunes App Store is 1 year old this week

Report By Jano
In case you didn’t know, Apple are celebrating the 1 year old milestone of the iTunes App Store this week. As a result of this, the company are promoting and recommending some of their favourite apps and games.As reported from Cnet, in just one year, the Apple App store has managed to accumulate more than 50,000 apps, a staggering number when you think about it. They have also notched up more than 1 billion app downloads and made the App store one of the most essential things about the iPhone.Well I guess congratulations is in order, isn’t it? Well not if your an angry developer who have had their apps swiftly declined by Apple. Let us know your thoughts on the milestone.

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Nokia N97 with £30 of vouchers included!

Report By Jano
Those of you that are not enamoured with the iPhone or Pre might be pleased to know that e-tailers are looking after your Nokia (NYSE: NOK) needs with the N97 and some good deals!eXpansys is one of those companies, and are currently offering the N97 for £499.99 - but with £30 of vouchers in there, for you to spend on what you like in the rest of their store:Buy the Nokia N97 from eXpansys and we’ll give you £30 of eXpansys vouchers to spend on accessories so you can make the most out of your new phone. Why not use them to get yourself a car charger or a spare battery so you never run out of power? Follow this link for full terms and conditions.Running Series 60 5th Edition, the Nokia N97 Smartphone makes connecting more personal with the touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard. Take top-quality 5 megapixel photos and watch widescreen videos on the large screen or download the latest games

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iPhone apps get down to business

Report By Jano
The enduring popularity of the Zippo branded lighter app for the iPhone has not been lost on the business world. Its virtual flame has been spotted lighting up concerts around the world, keeping Zippo safely at the top of the iTunes charts.Australian businesses are now getting in on the act, adding their home grown applications to the iTunes app store in the hope that some of the iPhone's marketing magic rubs off on their brand.Starting out as a cottage industry, most iPhone applications in the app store today are the creation of small developer-entrepreneurs hoping to cash in on the faddish appetite for novelties and gaming applications.While a handful of them have reaped small fortunes from apps that went on to top the charts, it is brand visibility rather than profit that has lured companies like ANZ and Honda Australia onto the platform.Both companies chose to act quickly to gain a presence on the iPhone, to project their brand as innovative and forward thinking. ANZ beat competitors to the punch with its first transactional banking app delivered alongside the Australian iPhone launch - which has since been downloaded 50,000 times.Sam Plowman, head of online banking said: "It was very apparent to us that Apple had developed an interface that would bring forward the use of browser and internet apps on mobiles. We decided we had to be ready with app when the iPhone launched here.''

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Animoto launches a premium app for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Animoto Videos has come back with its latest version for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Called as the Animoto Videos 2.0, this application facilitates users to create and view professional-quality music videos.This latest application permits iPhone and iPod Touch users to connect their devices to their accounts at Animoto.com. Users can then synchronize and play them in any of those places. Further, the videos created on Animoto.com are immediately orchestrated with the iPhone app. It thus allows users to access all of their videos either on the desktop or on their mobile phone irrespective of the time and place.“Usage of our iPhone application has exceeded expectations. This release brings closer feature parity between our mobile and online experience but, more importantly, makes the iPhone and iPod touch the ideal mobile companion to Animoto.com since users can now view all their videos in either location while online or offline.” remarked Brad Jefferson, CEO & Co-founder of Animoto.Additionally now iPhone and iPod Touch users can store Animoto videos on their handset and view them even when they are offline. Moreover paying users are not restricted to 30-second videos within the mobile application. In order to create a video using this app users have to select pictures from their handset and also select a song from Animoto’s music compilations. The application then designs an exclusive video synchronization with the visual liveliness of a music video and the touching effect of a movie trailer.Further users can also remix their video into a fresh one or include it in their album. The essence of Animoto is the Cinematic Artificial Intelligence Technology. This technology thinks akin to a real director and editor and makes use of the similar refined post-production proficiency and practices that are used in television and film. Every aspect of the song like the genre, song structure, energy, rhythm, instrumentation, and vocals are taken care of by this technology.It ascertains that no two videos are alike, even if the videos are created with the same images and music. Both of them will have a unique set of motion design. Moreover videos are generated in widescreen format to exploit the full iPhone and iPod touch screen. It also enables users to share their videos through email effortlessly.The Animoto Videos 2.0 application can be downloaded from the iTunes App store for free.

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IPhone game turns ordinary into fantastic

When what you can see with your own eyes isn’t interesting enough, there’s always augmented reality. Sure, Boston Common has an excellent playground, paddle boats, an ice rink for cheap dates, and sprawling meadows for rallies. But where are the dragons, fairies, and genies?The Hidden Park (www.thehiddenpark.com) brings these fantastic creatures to your iPhone camera’s view of the Common. For me, a guy who failed to plan anything for my 6-year-old, Maeve, this summer, the game will help keep her engaged on those days we find ourselves strolling through town.The $7 iPhone game mixes augmented reality with turn-by-turn directions, geocaching, and animation.The phone’s camera and GPS transponder set the stage for Hidden Park. Armed with a Dora the Explorer-like map, you follow a troll named Trutton past the Common’s benches, over its bridges, and around its ponds. Hidden Park uses a location-based service to recognize your iPhone’s proximity to particular landmarks and then provides directions to the next spot in the game.You will be challenged with riddles and puzzles along the way. And you’ll find the answers in real-life sights and signs. In this way, Hidden Park works like one of the augmented reality tours from Boston-based Untravel (www.untravelmedia.com).Hidden Park works in a handful of other public parks and gardens. Visitors to Central Park and Kensington Gardens, for example, can also play the game on their iPhones.As you photograph various landmarks around the Common, you’ll find Hidden Park cartoon characters appearing in your shots. When you’re done, you will have an album full of things you never really saw. I think of it as meeting Walt Disney characters, without worrying about who might be lurking inside the suit.

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Sat, Jun 27, 2009 Google Android, Mobile Phone, Rumors HTC Hero on Sprint?Hot for the new HTC Hero Android phone and living in the US? Well, here’

HTC Hero on Sprint?Hot for the new HTC Hero Android phone and living in the US? Well, here’s a new rumor that might be of interest to you. Word is that Sprint is testing out the HTC Hero suggesting its possible debut on the US carrier later this year. If that doesn’t manage to get you excited, this next one should. In addition to the HTC Hero, talk is that they’re also trying out a CDMA/WiMAX capable Samsung Android phone. We’re sure if this will be a completely new model or just an enhanced version, but this is clearly something we haven’t heard about before. Of course, being that this is still just a rumor, take this latest bit of info with a grain of salt until we get more concrete data on this.

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SlashGear Week in Review – Week 26 2009

It has been an eventful week in the geek world with all sorts of new products and important announcements turning up for the first time. The big story of the week was the launch of the iPhone 3GS last Friday. Word came on Monday that the 3GS sold a whopping 1 million units in its first three days of availability. Unfortunately, for some users, it took them an extra three days just to get their shiny new iPhone 3GS activated. Despite the fact that activation failures were on AT&T’s side of the iPhone equation, Apple offered users $30 in iTunes credit as a sorry AT&T sucks peace offering to new owners.Apple did have a problem that was first reported last week that it had no one else to blame for. Some MacBook Pro models were having a problem with SATA speeds, but Apple issued a fix for the SATA problem on Tuesday. The issue only reared its head on Pro models that were equipped with the factory SSD option.Intel and Nokia had been teasing the tech community with promises of a big announcement that many had pegged as a Nokia MID or netbook running Intel hardware. The reveal was a letdown for many of us as the two firms announced that they would be collaborating on open source software like Moblin and Maemo and that Intel would be licensing Nokia HSPA modem tech. AT&T also released its iPhone OS 3.0 supporting AT&T Navigator application this week. The app turns the iPhone 3G and 3GS devices running the latest OS version into full featured turn-by-turn navigation devices. The big catch is that the App costs $9.99 per month.Perhaps the largest announcement this week was the official introduction of the HTC Hero Android-powered smartphone. The device may have been leaked in the excess prior to its official introduction, but it was still an important event. In fact, we got our hands on the Hero and spent some time fondling it on video just for you, and the Hero is certainly sweet. The Pre is still big news since its launch a few weeks back and word came out on Thursday that the Pre had racked up a cool one million app downloads in its first 18 days of availability.That number is better than many though at first glance when you step back and look at the number of downloads per Pre user. The stats show that most Pre users are much more likely to download an App than iPhone users are.

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Apple's iPhone 3.0 firmware upgrade brings powerful features

The iPhone 3.0 update to Apple's smartphone operating system delivers a raft of dazzling new features, including copy and paste, Spotlight search, and user-interface refinements. The Apple nerdosphere had a meltdown Wednesday, when Apple released Version 3.0 of its iPhone firmware. Breathless, sweaty fanboys and girls filled Twitter with messages describing in excruciating detail how they were downloading and installing the software.I know all this because I was one of the nerdiest, most breathless, sweatiest, and overenthusiastic fanboys of all.The iPhone 3.0 software is a treat, making a good smartphone even better. It delivers some new capabilities, like long-overdue copy/cut/paste support, Spotlight search, and push notifications, as well as small user interface refinements that make the device more pleasant and efficient to use. And the Find Your iPhone and Remote Wipe security services are surprisingly interesting. The upgrade is free to iPhone users, $10 for iPod Touch users

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Zune HD is powered by Nvidia Tegra

In April, the rumors about the Zune HD were plentiful and very interesting. Among them was one that suggested the device would be powered by Nvidia's Tegra chipset. This rumor kept coming up every few weeks or so, but no one could get official confirmation from Microsoft. However, during podcast number 24 of the Zune Insider, Matt Akers, Software Development Engineer in Test, finally gave the official statement that many have been waiting for. We actually wanted to confirm something. There's been a lot of chatter going on right now about us possibly putting the Nvidia Tegra chipset in the Zune HD. Guess what we did. Ok, right now, we’re going to go ahead and confirm that. Yes, the Zune HD does have the Tegra chip in it, which is so sick. So much better battery life, graphics acceleration. I mean, this thing is like a mini laptop in your hand. It's so awesome.

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How Apple, AT&T Are Closing the Mobile Web

by Jano
A growing chorus claims that Apple’s questionable approval policy for its iPhone application store raises issues with net neutrality.Free Press, a group that advocates the idea of an open internet — that is, one in which consumers have the right to browse the web and run internet applications without restrictions — is the latest of several organizations to call out Apple for its inconsistencies. Free Press alleges that Apple crippled SlingPlayer, a TV-streaming application for iPhone, so that it would only work on a Wi-Fi connection; the initial version worked with a 3G cellular network connection as well as Wi-Fi. The SlingPlayer restriction is inconsistent with Apple’s approval of the Major League Baseball application, which provides live-streaming of sports events on both Wi-Fi and 3G connections, the group said.“That strikes us as odd and potentially nefarious because it really represents a carrier picking and choosing applications for consumers as opposed to letting consumers decide which videos they want to watch,” said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press. “It’s exactly the sort of thing you’d expect in an internet experience that’s controlled by the carrier.”Now nearly a year old, Apple’s App Store has received as much praise as it has criticism.
Featuring more than 50,000 applications, the App Store has made some programmers quite wealthy with sales of their apps while leaving others penniless when their software met the harsh fate of rejection. Apple has said that iPhone and iPod Touch users have downloaded more than 1 billion apps from the store since it opened in July 2008.IPhone application developer Ben Kahle also feels that Apple is overreaching in its role as a gatekeeper to the mobile internet. In May, Apple rejected Kahle’s app “Me So Holy,” which would have enabled users to fashion their faces into portraits resembling Jesus Christ. Apple said the app contains “objectionable material,” and when Kahle asked if he could modify the app to gain approval, Apple said it would never appear in the App Store under any condition.Why? Apple said it has a “worldwide market” and must “protect the sensitivity of the customers,” according to Kahle.“It’s definitely hypocritical,” Kahle said of 3G-capable live-streaming for MLB in relation to SlingPlayer, which is Wi-Fi only. “There needs to be a better system for people to choose the type of content they can download.”

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T-Mobile plans July launch of new Google phone

By Jano
Following huge introductions of the Palm Pre and new iPhone 3G S, T-Mobile on Monday announces July availability of MyTouch 3G, the second phone on Google's Android operating system.It's the first of 18 new Google-powered phones coming worldwide by the end of the year, Google says, declining to provide specifics. Tech and telecom analysts expect Sprint to have an Android phone by year's end.T-Mobile has sold 1 million of its first-generation Google phone, the G1. That's tepid compared with the 21.2 million iPhones sold in the last two years, but T-Mobile says it's thrilled with the response. It expects the new phone to sell at a faster clip.The MyTouch is smaller, can sync with Microsoft Outlook and has an improved battery, T-Mobile says. "We've addressed some of the concerns from customers," says Andrew Sherrard, T-Mobile vice president.Current T-Mobile customers can order beginning July 8 for delivery later in the month. General retail availability is planned for early August.The touch-screen phone — made by HTC — sells for $199 with a new two-year contract. Sherrard says T-Mobile will offer a discounted rate for current customers but hasn't finalized pricing.T-Mobile's selling point is personalization, with customizable menus, wallpapers and icons. A new program called Sherpa learns your favorite locations and preferences and makes recommendations accordingly. The phone also has instant access to Google services.Even though the Android platform hasn't taken off in public consciousness as the iPhone has, "It's important to remember that globally, this is a market of billions and billions of users," says Andy Castonguay, a Yankee Group analyst. "There's plenty of room for lots of different players."Google first announced Android in 2007. It gives the operating system to manufacturers for free. Google product manager Erick Tseng says getting phones from idea stage to manufacturer is an 18- to 24-month process. "What you're seeing now is the outcome of the development."Google has 5,000 applications available for Android from its network of developers, and the list is growing, says Tseng.Apple has a huge lead, with more than 50,000 applications available from about 20,000 developers, says Forrester Group analyst Charles Golvin. "But in the United States, there are probably more developers working with Google, after Apple, than any other mobile platform."

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Microsoft to launch Windows Mobile 6.5 on May 11

Earlier this year Microsoft announced the latest version of its mobile operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5, a relatively minor update focused on changes to the user interface and its touch-friendliness. But while the first Windows Mobile 6.5 devices are not expected to arrive until the second half of the year, it appears the company is ready to show off the interim operating system next month.According to a post on their corporate blog, Microsoft is going to deliver the kick off launch presentation of Windows Mobile 6.5 on May 11, at the start of TechEd 09. The session is targeted at both IT Professionals and Developers and will include “a cool demo and an outline of great stuff to come.” There are a handful of other WM 6.5 sessions on the agenda, including one on developing apps that use touch and gestures and another to help developers monetize their creations through the Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

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Apple may take iPhone from AT&T

Apple's iPhone could see wider distribution in the US next year as the company has not yet agreed to a request from AT&T to extend the telecom giant's exclusive rights to the hit smartphone, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The report said the exclusivity deal signed in 2007 is set to expire in 2010 and AT&T is asking Apple to extend it for two years.The cult status of the phone has helped AT&T nab millions of new customers. In the second half of last year alone it signed up 4.3 million new iPhone subscribers - 40 per cent of whom switched to AT&T from other carriers. In total Apple has sold an estimated 17 million iPhones worldwide.According to the Wall Street Journal, AT&T is heavily subsidizing the price of iPhones, shelling out 1.3 billion dollars to bring the price down to affordable levels. The company hopes to make up the cash with income from monthly data plans and by cross-selling other AT&T services such as landline phones, cable TV and internet access.Industry analysts say that selling the iPhone to other carriers could greatly increase its market penetration in the US and that ties between executives

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More Zune HD Details Emerge

After the leaked pictures of the Zune HD appeared on Saturday, more unconfirmed technical specifications of the device have now emerged. Microsoft's new portable media player is set to go neck-to-neck with Apple's iPod Touch, as the specifications of the Zune HD make it a viable contender.The Zune HD is set to feature a multitouch (capacitive) OLED screen in a 16:9 aspect ratio and will have a TV out port on the side (apparently HDMI). Coming in 16 and 32GB versions, the device will also support wireless syncing to your computer. Some even speculate the PMP will support 3D Xbox games, if the Zune HD will actually use Nvidia's Tegra chipset.The new details also mention a Web browser on the Zune HD, which in turn supports multitouch. No word on what kind of browser this will be, but let's hope it won't be anything similar to Internet Explorer on Windows Mobile. As previously reported, the Zune HD is set to launch this fall (probably September) with new details of international availability in Canada, the U.K, and France.

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Apple posts third iPhone OS 3.0 beta with minor API changes

Apple has released another beta of iPhone OS 3.0. This third beta has relatively few changes to the developer APIs, though Ars has learned that there has been a fairly important change to push notification types. While it appears to be relatively stable, Apple will have its work cut out to clear up the remaining issues in order to have it ready to launch with new hardware this summer.The major change in the UIKit API is that Apple has added separate types for the three notification methods: badge, text alert, and sound. Developers can register their apps for these different notification types individually for the needs of their users. Previously, apps registered to received remote notifications but controlled the type via settings. Developers we spoke to universally agreed that this was a welcome improvement.A change many developers will also welcome is an improvement to the XIB files created by Interface Builder 3.1. The format for these files has been updated to be "more diff friendly." The older format causes lots of issues when making changes and checking them in to a CVS, especially when more than one developer is working on the code.Also, Dashcode—the IDE for creating Dashboard widgets—has been updated to allow the creation of iPhone-optimized web applications. While open source projects like iUI help web developers create a native-like iPhone interface and web app frameworks like SproutCore and Cappuccino are adding iPhone-specifc views, Dashcode could be just the help some developers are looking for to make an iPhone-specific web app.iPhone OS 3.0 beta 3 still has a number of issues to patch up before the OS is ready for public consumption. Still, developers familiar with the betas concurred that 3.0 is faring far better than 2.0 so far, which wasn't particularly stable at launch and required a major point update to 2.1 before many users felt comfortable. Judging from the few API changes and the current stability, Apple should be on track to have the new OS ready in time for this summer's expected iPhone hardware update.

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