Enjoy! And do not miss this pictures!

As we announced, HTC invited SevenClick to attend the presentation which took place last wednesday in London. The secret surprise was twofold:

• HT SENSE. A brand new user interface created by HTC for ANDROID powered phones.
• HTC HERO. The third ANDROID phone by HTC.

The event was very impressive, bringing together people around the world to the presentation. The organization was perfect, allowing media to talk directly with HTC executives present in the event.

Peter Chou, HTC CEO started the presentation talking about HTC’s perspective of mobility. Then, he introduced the new HTC SENSE interface. Finally, Horace Luke presented the Hardware specs. After the presentation, HTC staff made personalized demos of the devices, allowing people to use them on their own, touching, feeling and sensing them, which is very important in my opinion.

HTC SENSE

Just like the TouchFlo interface for Windows Mobile devices, ANDROID phones will have a specially adapted interface. As one of HTC members said, this is the first 100% HTC ANDROID project. They have invested lot of time (and money) in the software part, and the most remarkable result is HTC SENSE.

The main change from the user point of view is that SENSE focuses on contacts. What does it means? Accessing your contacts you’ll be able to browse their mails, SMSs, Facebook profile, Flickr photos… and so on.

From a user perspective, HTC SENSE is much better than regular ANDROID interface. Looks better, keeping the best things current interface offers, but powering the user experience through a myriad of widgets.  Because all of this is about Widgets.

HTC HERO

With a design very similar to the HTC MAGIC, the most remarkable feature of this device is Teflon. HTC has used this material to create a harder and stronger phone, less prone to scratches. HTC has included a 3.5 mm audio jack, wich is much better than just a Micro USB jack.

I don’t want to include an extensive specification description. Just follow the link in the botton of this post.

HERO will be available on July, and HTC announced agreements with T-Mobile and Orange.

I’m my opinion a very interesting device powered by great software too. We must demand great pieces of hardware running the best software. If one of the parts is not good enough, the formula doesn’t work.  This device follows the path initiated by HTC with the MAGIC (I’n my opinion, the HTC DREAM was just a proof of concept).

I’d like to thank HTC people for the invitation. It’s been a pleasure to be there and attend this great event personally. We look forward to your new presentation guys!!!!

Technical specifications

Product WebSite

Today, Club de Marketing hosted a meeting in Zaragoza where Santiago Baselga, TBS Group President, had the opportunity to make a presentation. Along with Daniel Vecino, SevenClick’s CEO,  they did a very funny presentation which concluded with an special appearance of “our” President Obama.

We have found this picture on Twitter.  Thanks to the peson who published it.

Link Obama’s Picture

Today June 18th, Iniciador comes for the first time to Zaragoza. Iniciador gathers enterpreneurs allowing them to share experiences. This event wants to transmit the “enterpreneur spirit” all over the country.

The guest speaker will be Santiago Baselga, founder and CEO of TB·Solutions and  Co-founder and President of SevenClick.

Schedule:

• 19,30 h Presentation Iniciador Zaragoza
• 20,00 h Presentation of the participants name, company or project and goals for the Iniciador.
• 21,00 h Guest speaker: Santiago Baselga.
• 22,00 h Networking

Place:

• Digital Water Pavilion (Pabellón Digital del Agua, Avda. Francia, s/n, en La Almozara. Zaragoza)

Other:

• Free, but limited to 45 people pre-registered
• To register you must complete the following Registration Form: Formulario de Inscripción del Iniciador Zaragoza (Indicate Name, email contact and project where are working or planning to work)

Stay updated on upcoming events:

• Facebook Group (Join the group on Facebook)
• Google Calendar.

Via: Loogic

HTC has invited SevenClick to attend next 24th of June to an event in London. Everything is very misterious.

No information. Just a cryptic picture of a guy with a Rose (Rosie????).

By the way, SevenClick is going to be there. The mistery will be revealed in two weeks.

Stay tuned for more information.

SevenClick, TBS Group company specialized mobile solutions development, is participating as speaker in the Banking Technology Comittee of the European Savings Banks Group, taking place in Madrid on June 8 and 9.

Invited by La Caixa for such an important event, José Manuel Cristóbal, SevenClick’s CTO, will make a presentation entitled “Mobile Banking. Getting Satisfaction!”covering a number of first-level success stories.

Among them, those related to iPhone and Android electronic banking solutions, mobile Digital Signature, secure authentication mechanisms and payment authorization methods. All of them from a pure mobile perspective, assuring security and legal validity of each process.

Undoubtedly, a new opportunity to know the most important innovations in banking and mobile technology.

All of them in a exclusive environment with representatives of Technology Departments from the main European Savings Banks.

Press Note

I’m the fortunate owner of a HTC Magic, the last ANDROID powered phone launched by the Asian phone manufacturer. I have waited one week to write down my first impressions of the device. The reason: I felt in love with this gadget in the last Mobile World Congress, so I think that my opinion would be more precise after some time using it.

My veredict couldn’t be more possitive. Along with the iPhone, this is the best smartphone ever. Fast, reliable (no hang-ups in one week), smooth, easy to use and, the most important thing, easy to understand. Everything looks pretty clever and easy to find.

By the way, if you are a Google allergic person, stay away from this gadget. Google is everywhere. The first thing you see when you turn on your device for the first time is ANDROID, and then it ask you for a Google Account. What for? It automatically configures your gMail, contacts and calendar. You can use it without configuring your Google account, but you won’t fully enjoy this gadget’s capabilities. In my opinion, it’s made to be used with Google services.

One thing I don’t like is that It comes with two different mail clients, Mail and GMail. The device automatically configures Gmail, but in my case, the first place I went to check my email was Mail, so I configured it. The results? I received double notifications in the notification bar till I realized I had two mail clients working at the same time. Maybe is my mistake, but I don’t like it at all.

In summary, a great device. I don’t want to cover every single aspect since there are plenty of features I still have to look in detail. Marketplace, YouTube, Applications, Notifications, Sync…

Get back to blog.sevenclick.com for new information about this awesome gadget. You won’t regret it.

SevenClick and LID editorial presented yesterday at Hotel Eurostars, Madrid, a brand new collection of personal and enterprise skill development books, FOR ROOKIES.

This time, SevenClick has been in charge of the creation and development of the application to download FOR ROOKIES books to the mobile phone.

The project’s first phase allows to freely download  an extract of the book Búsqueda de Empleo For Rookies. You can download it right now and enjoy reading and listening to it on iPhone and iPod Touch.

This initiative will be complemented with the complete version of the book, followed by the remaining books of the collection. All of them with a free extract and a commercial version of the book.

Download from Apple’s iTunes Store

Presskit

After more than a month of daily use of this nice WinMo device, I can affirm that its one of the best HTC devices right now. Here you have the full review.

HTC Touch Cruise 09 highlights an integrated GPS with CoPilot pre-installed, with a direct button for starting it, as well as a car charger and cradle which also starts automatically the GPS software when setting the device on it. So this is the natural evolution of the HTC Find, which already was substituting the original HTC Touch Cruise.

But let´s review all the hardware and software specs and features one by one.

• Hardware

HTC Touch Cruise weights only 103 grams and fits perfectly on your hand. The materials are good, is plastic but the back has a really nice touch.

1. Screen. The screen is bright and clear, 2.8 inch and QVGA resolution. A bit difficult to read outdoors, but that´s the standard on the current screens, will have to wait for AMOLED to fix that. Regarding the touch capabilities, the responsiveness surprised me, very nice for a resistive screen.
2. Buttons and Wheel. Really nice big buttons with metal-look style. There are two direct buttons for CoPilot and FootPrints (see the software review further on). The other two are the old green and red ones. There´s also a lateral double-button for volume. Like other HTC models, zoom is implemented through a useful wheel. It´s not as impressive as iPhone´s multitouch gestures for zooming, but its a really handy addition, miles away from the typical WinMo zooms.
3. Camera. The 3.2 Mpx camera takes big shots, specially on good light conditions, but forget to take photos on night or in poor illuminated places.
4. Speakers, MicroSD. The speakers are just correct, nothing to highlight, they do their function and that´s all. Regarding the MicroSD card slot, is great to have SDHC support, and you can hot-swap cards just by opening the back.
5. Battery. Provided with 1100 mAh, it lasts long enough, altough other HTC models come with a little more power (e.g. HTC Magic battery features 1340 mAh). My experience is that with “just-phone” use (no wifi or GPS) this longs over three-four days of use. Extensive use of Wifi and GPS translates on a double-quick drained battery, lasting about two or less days.
6. GPS. The quality of the antenna was a surprise, it adquires the signal really quick, and gets it from more satellites that my TomTom.

• Software

HTC Touch Cruise brigths by its soft bundle. It comes with a heavily modified Windows Mobile 6.1, based on HTC Touch FLO, with the already commented CoPilot GPS soft, FootPrints which means integrated photo geotagging, and other nice additions like Youtube app, Google Maps and the brilliant Opera Mobile, which works great with the wheel.

1. CoPilot 7. This GPS software is really cool, probably the best I have tried till now. Big buttons, several view types, integrated radar POIs, live traffic info over their own service (requires registration and registry), weather forecast… The included maps for the spanish version is obviusly Iberia (no European maps) which comes in a 1GB MicroSD. Remember that HTC, CoPilot and MoviStar had announced other collaboration agreements lately, including lifetime licenses. It´s a pity that there is only one voice included by default, and also the speakers are not loud enough when you are driving.
2. FootPrints. A nice tool for geotagging your photos, adding sound clips, opening directly CoPilot with the geoposition of the photo already loaded… It was not very useful for me, but its nice.
3. HTC Touch FLO. Well, nothing new here as its the well-know HTC front-end for Windows Mobile. Just highlight that it works really quick, withouth any lags, and integrates fine with the extra software (CoPilot, FootPrints, Maps and Opera. Youtube has to be opened from the WinMo program list).
4. Extra Apps: Opera, Youtube, Google Maps. All work really fast, even over 3G connections, and its great to use Opera with the Wheel (not as great as iPhone multitouch zooming, but its the next better experience out there).

• More Tech Specs

1. Micro and RAM. Powered by a Qualcomm MSM7225 at 528 Mhz and 256 MB RAM, it means forget about WinMo lags.
2. Network. Four-band, HSDPA… talk and navigate everywhere over the globe.
3. Connectivity. Wifi b/g, Bluetooth including A2DP, and HTC ExtUSB (no standard headphones can be used with the Touch Cruise, however, the included ones are nice).

We want to thank HTC Spain for the opportunity of testing this great device.

Innovate!Europe has started its final phase in Zaragoza, Spain. Yesterday´s official opening featured the conference and roundtable discussion “Thriving in the crisis”, leaded by Ignacio de la Vega, founder and director of the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Ventures Development at Instituto de Empressa Business School.

All finalists, including zuppex by Sevenclick, are attending today to a series of Master Classes which will offer strategic counsel and first-hand learning to all of us.

The closing event will take place tomorrow at the Teatro Principal of Zaragoza with a public forum, “Meet the Entrepreneurs,” where ten finalist companies will present their businesses plans. Mr. Juan-Tomas Hernani, Spain’s newly-appointed General Secretary of Innovation will announce and present the award to Innovate!Europe’s High-Potential Startup of 2009.

Visit www.zuppex.com to learn more about zuppex, our multidevice product suite featuring operator independent push communication, encryption and digital signature, in a multicontent environment.

Link Innovate!Europe
Link zuppex website

Last week, Vodafone created a new blog about the HTC Magic in order to get their echo on the blogosphere. Altough is just marketing, and they have rush to fill it up with 2 or 3 articles per day (some of them a bit incorrect like the third post that on 21th April stated that HTC Magic was coming on february), they have used this platform to unveil some details of Magic´s launch some hours before the official Vodafone website announcement (which is supposed to happen in just an hour).

The device comes with a 12 €/month data plan which includes unlimited music downloads through Vodafone Music app, made by Real Networks, specialists on streaming. From there, the price range will change depending on the monthly voice plan, 9, 25 and 50 € are available and you´ll get a price of 199, 139 and 19 € respectively for clients coming from other carrier.

The HTC Magic will also be included on the phone upgrade catalog for existing clients, and Vodafone´s blog assures it´ll cost 159€ with only 2000 points.

Via Un Androide en Vodafone

There has been a lot of buzz around the new Skype iPhone app blocking calls over 3G networks because of mobile carrier´s pressure. The fact is that most 3G data plan contracts specifically block P2P and VoIP calls… So, given today market rules, it was just a matter of time for someone to break that apparently holy rule at a certain point, and stand out over its competitors.

MÁSmovil (an Spanish MVNO) not only allows VoIP calls, they are actively promoting the use of Skype and Fring over their networks (well, as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, they don´t have their own licensed frequency allocation, but they use another´s carrier network.. in this case, the service provider is Orange).

I wish this would be the first of a long list of carriers allowing VoIP… but this is simply not the correct time for this to happen. The true convergence of voice and data wireless networks will come with 4G, called LTE (Long Term Evolution) which is still far away from the current market horizon.

Even these are good news and provide an added value for this MVNO (for me a decisive one), I would have appreciated more transparency with their 3G prices comparisions, as they are a bit “tricky”.

For instance, when comparing with their stronger MVNO competitor, SIMYO, the charts show that 25 MB with MÁSmovil costs 0,75 €, which is better than the 0,99 of SIMYO. That´s completely correct, but they seemed to forget that with SIMYO you only pay 0,99 for the first 100 MB. Of course they don´t made a chart showing that you will pay the triple (3 €) for 100MB with them… on the other hand, MÁSmovil computes each single 3G connection as a minimum of 512 KB, in front of the 256KB gap of SIMYO, so forget configuring your mobile mail client for polling every 5 minutes (with both carriers).

Anyway, allowing VoIP over 3G networks is a big step forward for the final users.

Link MÁSmovil 3G prices [eng] | MÁSmovil 3G prices [esp]

Link MÁSmovil promotes VoIP calls [eng] | MÁSmovil promotes VoIP calls [esp]

Link SIMYO 3G prices

Link Skype & Fring reviewed

Android 1.5, based on the Cupcake branch from the Android Open Source project, has been released as an early look version. Although 1.5 is still not supported on Android devices, developers can download the 1.5 SDK and start testing the new features, as well as send feedback to Google in order to improve the 1.5 final version.

Cupcake is full of new features, and though there are no big surprises, the feeling is that most things have been improved. I´d stress the ability to install downloadable IMEs in order to get customized soft-keyboards (we already knew the importance of IMEs for Android roadmap). Here´s a summary of 1.5:

• User interface improvements (refinements of UI core elements, window animations…)
• Home screen Widgets
• Updated linux kernel and SD filesystem checks
• Google Apps integration (uploads to YouTube, Picassa)
• Faster GPS signal acquisition as well as faster camera start-up
• Speech recognition
• New APIs and developers tools (improved JUnit support, easier profiling…)

Via Android Developers Blog

A few days ago the Skype application for iPhone/iTouch was launched. You can download it from the App Store for free. This let us make calls to other Skype users for free and to mobile and landline phones using the known Skype credit.

We have tested it making some calls between an iPhone and a computer or a Windows Mobile device. These are the results and the devices we have used:

• Test iPhone - Computer (Windows XP sp2):

We have installed the desktop application on a PC running Windows XP sp2, and the voice has been transmitted really fast between the PC and iPhone, just like in a standard call, what has really surprised us.

• Test iPhone - HTC Touch Cruise 2 (Windows Mobile):

This time we have installed the application Fring on a HTC Touch Cruise 2. This app, as we already posted, allows us to use different accounts (MSN, Google Talk, AIM, SIP, Facebook, Twitter, Skype) from our mobile device. But the voice sound did not run fast, it had a lag between one and two seconds. The sound quality decreased but just in Fring, not on Skype iPhone.

About Skype UI on iPhone:

It is simple but clear, just what we need and how we need it, so it is easy-to-use. It takes our contacts from iPhone contacts in case you want to call them using your Skype credit. And it also allows to use the camera to change your user picture. The BIG drawback is that it only runs when using Wi-fi connection, not 3G. We hope this changes…

About Fring UI on Windows Mobile:

The user interface is too simple, some features are not easy to find. And it has an old-fashion look, so that it uses WM square buttons and other resources.

It is great to see these kind of applications come to our mobile devices, so we just don’t need our computer to call for free! =)

HTC has introduced a new terminal this week, the HCT Snap. A mobile phone which, as they say, shows you “Your life in a Snap“. It is a slim and stylish device with an exposed QWERTY keyboard, out of useless features and perfectly suitable for people who want to simplify their life. This can be good for smartphone newcomers or users focus on e-mails, sms and web browsing.

This is not the first HTC device with portrait QWERTY format and, as his predecessors , it doesn’t have touchscreen, but it offers some new features that make it really interesting:

• Inner Cyrcle:  A system which “get to your most important emails with a single press of a button.”  You can create your own group of contacts and, pressing the “Inner Cyrcle” button, emails from these people you have selected will be moved at the top of your inbox.
• Jog ball: There is a trackball similar to Blackberry’s one, that allows you navigate in phone applications and menus.
• Keyboard: A Keyboard with raised keys for comfortable typing and buttons to direct access to the main functions as contacts list, calendar or inbox.

Although others of its features don’t stand out from the current mobile phone market, it doesn’t fall behind it either:

• Processor: Qualcomm MSM 7225, 528 MHz
• Operative System: Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard
• Memory: 256MB ROM, 192MB RAM
• Size: 4.59 X 2.42 X 0.47 inches
• Weight: 117.6g
• Screen: 2.4 inch QVGA (320×240)
• Battery: 1500mAh Lithium-ion (300 minutes WCDMA and 510 minutes GSM)
• Expansion Slot: SDHC (SD 2.0 compatible)
• Camera: 2.0 megapixel with fixed focus
• Communication: GPS, HSDPA, Wifi, Bluetooth 2.0

The HTC Snap is expected to be launched first in Europe in this quarter (the US version will be launched later).

Vía HTC Press Note

Last week  HTC Spain prepared a meeting to present its new devices for the upcoming months. SevenClick was part of the audience, composed by some of the most important people in Spanish blogosphere, with people from Xataka, PixelyDixel, etc…

Let’s take a look at the novelties.

HTC Diamond 2

HTC focused the presentation in two devices. First one, HTC Diamond 2, focused to the consumption market, is the evolution of the HTC Diamond. The device looks a bit different, with a metallic aspect which I prefer to the plastic one.

Reagrding software, the most remarkable aspect of the device is its video playing features. We had the opportunity to watch Star Wars Episode 2 and the results are awesome. Fluent, perfect colors, nice screen size…

HTC Touch Flo interface has also been updated, getting closer to the current tendencies in button sizes and finger operation. Despite we are talking about a Windows Mobile 6.1 device, the buttons are bigger than usual, getting close to the aspect of future Windows Mobile 6.5 software. Great point here. Every new release improves this interface, but It still has to improve in terms of fluency. Nevertheless, much better than older versions.

HTC Touch Pro 2

The second Windows Mobile device presented was HTC Touch Pro 2. Focused to the enterprise market, the device features a really useful qwerty keyboard. The most important part of the device is software.

HTC has developed a new interface focused on contacts. This way, users will be able to navigate through the contact list, allowing to call, e-mail or message every person of the contact list. It’s a paradigm change. Other devices allows you tu make a call, dialing the number or chosing the contact to call. This propotition focus on contacts, not on the action you want to make. Believe me, it’s a wiser approach and you’ll get use to it very quickly.

Another feature of this device is what HTC calls “Push Internet”.  The service allows the user to set-up a number of websites that will be automatically downloaded at a certain time. How useful it is deppends on personal taste.

And the jewel of the crown. The device is prepared for multi-conference in a really easy way. Just turn around the device and put it on your table with the screen on the botton. The back loudspeaker and microphone are activated and you are able to share the conversation with more people. Do you want to mute your call? A useful button has been included in the back of the device to do so. Smart, really smart.

HTC DREAM

This device has generated plenty of noise since launched by T-Mobile. The device will be distributed by Telefonica Movistar, which is already late, since the official launch was planned for March 2009. Basically, is the same device you can find in other markets. Nothing new regarding hardware design. Anyway, an interesting device for those who don’t want to change their mobile operator and want an ANDROID mobile phone.

HTC MAGIC

First of all, I love this device. Since I fist saw it in HTC’s stand in MWC I felt in love with it. The device has been slightly modified from MWC. Now, it has 6 buttons, including a Google Search button to directly access Google Search Engine. It comes in two colours, black and white. The black model is very nice, being the white one the most appealing for people. Put both models side by side and the first one to be picked-up will be the white one.

ANDROID really means a strong competitor for iPhone. The screen is pretty similar, with a really, really good response to finger operation (oh, no  stylus here, everything must be operated with your fingers). The best thing we can say about it is: It works!!! Is nice, is Fluent, is clever (don’t miss the notification zone) and works, which in my opinion is the best you can say about a mobile operating system.

As you might now, the device will be launched next April by Vodafone Spain. I can’t wait to have one in my hands!!

Finally i’d like to thank HTC for inviting SevenClick to this event. It was really nice to share points of view with other people about HTC technology. Thanks!!!

Oh, HTC gave us a Touch Cruise 2 Device for testing purposes. Don’t miss the review!!

Can´t recall her name?… Google can help you, just use Google´s CADIE technology to search into your memories with your phone !

Nice April Fool’s joke, guys.

Link Google Mobile Blog |  Google Brain Search | CADIE | Google´s hoaxes

Finally, we have on our hands the first beta release of Fennec, the Firefox browser for mobile devices. It’s the milestone number 12 in the development roadmap and its intented for testing purposes, get wider feedback, engage community and encourage add-on developers to port existing add-ons. It’s only available for ‘Maemo’, the Linux OS running on Nokia N810 Internet Tablets.

You can look at all the features in the Release Notes. There’s nothing shocking, but some of them are really inteteresting. I specially like what they call ‘Devices services integration’: click on a phone number to initiate a call and a JavaScript API to get device location.

Anyway, I must confess I’m a bit disappointed by the pace of Mozilla’s advances in its mobile version. Two years ago, Mozilla decided to discontinue the Minimo browser project. It was the first attempt. Some months after, they announced their intention of starting a new project and Fennec development started from the ground up.

From that moment, the release of a stable version has been delayed time over time, and now we have no idea of when we’ll have a version for a mainstream platform (Windows Mobile or Symbian, the only two covered by Fennec).

Let’s hope all the feedback and re-encouraged contributions of the community will help to make Fennec a reality as soon as possible. Otherwise, it could be too late for them, as all WebKit-derived browsers take the market.

Via ObservatorioInternetMovil
Links ReleaseNotes SevenClick SevenClick

HTC has announced that their high-end smartphone HTC Touch HD, offered by Telefónica in Spain, will incorporate the awarded GPS software CoPilot Live, developed by ALK Technologies.

And what´s more, they give you a perpetual CoPilot license just for signing a 3G data contract !

In case you still don´t know the incredible HTC device Touch HD or the contract options with Telefónica, please visit our coverage for the Spanish HTC Press Conference presentation, where you will find all these details plus some interesting videos of the Touch HD´s TouchFLO 3D interface. You can also read its technical specifications here.

So, you know HTC´s Touch HD… now put its 3,8 inch high-res touchscreen together with a magnificient turn by turn GPS software. What you get its the best GPS on a smartphone nowadays. Apple finally announced support for turn by turn GPS software on iPhone 3.0 by summer, but there are still no announcements for any concrete GPS software, and the screen its not as good as HTC´s for this task. Also, CoPilot Live benefits not only from Touch HD screen, it also runs great and smoothly over HTC Touch FLO interface.

There are just a few dedicated GPS hardware devices with such a screen and capabilities, and the price for those which can face the specs of the Touch HD is just too high comparatively. Take into account that Touch HD runs Windows Mobile, so you have a media player (music, videos, photos) and a bluetooth handsfree.

Thanks to Telefónica 3G Data plans (10 and 15 euros depending on the maximum traffic) and the perpetual license you get with it (you can get a license for 99 € on ALK website shall you don´t want data plans), you will be able to upgrade CoPilot Live with new updated maps and POIs (Points Of Interests) like the included radar warners.

In the last Mobile World Congress, Microsoft give us a official word about new features on Windows Mobile 6.5 like MarketPlace, MyPhone or the new look. However, they forgot to tell us an important one: WM 6.5 will feature Widgets!

Last weeks we have read lots of rumours about it, but it was not clear how Microsoft will use these widgets. At last, yesterday, a member of the Windows Mobile Developer Team explained us this new feature in their blog.

Widgets are a good advance for user, who are going to enjoy using nice looking applications, and a great one for developers, who will able to develope them easier.

WM widgets will be powered by Internet Explorer. Take a look to some outstanding matters about Windows Mobile Widget platform:

• Widgets written using all the Web Technologies (Html, Ajax, JavaScript…).
• Full access to flash and ActiveX controls.
• Look like a normal standalone application.
  • Individual app in task manager.
  • Own start menu icon.
• The platform implements the latest draft of W3C standard for mobile widget applications.
• Basic things of normal applications like native support for transparent PNGs or Window.XMLHttpRequest object are considered.

On the other hand, don’t forget that widgets already exist in Windows Mobile since, some months backs, the Opera’s widget runtime engine was released. The advantage of the Opera’s platform is that it works in Symbian O.S. too, but it has a significant drawback, it doesn’t expose much device functionality to developers.

Soon we will see how the Windows Mobile Widget performance is.

Vía Windows Mobile Team Blog.

Five out of ten items of our wishlist for iPhone firmware 3.0 have been announced to be included on iPhone 3.0, on the special media event held on Apple´s Cupertino headquarters. Well, sort of. And there are a bunch of unexpected surprises, too. Anyway, to test all the features you are going to find out after the jump, we all will have to wait till summer…

Let´s make it clear: some of iPhone 3.0 new features will come included into the new firmware, while others are SDK improvements that will allow developers to include new features on their apps. Some of the firm-included features are not as good as the community awaited, and others were not even mentioned, perhaps that´s why Apple made the event full of 3rd party demos… it´s clear they trust on the developer community to cover the hole they can´t (or don´t want to).

But I´m critizicing to soon, go ahead, read the facts, and decide wheter the new firmware it´s just an stylish way of accepting their errors (while earning more money with the new appStore changes), a deception for not including all the features that other mobile devide brands support since years (while earning more money), or a great leap forward for the mobility world (while Apple earns more money).

iPhone Hall of Shame

iPhone represented a big step forward for mobile devices in many senses, and that´s one of the reasons of its success. However, there are a few simple things that iPhone is not able to do, even old mobile standards that all devices can do. The list below is a list of the features that iPhone still NOT support after “major” 3.0 update:

• Video Capturing. And what it´s worse, they gave no word on this… as I said, seems apple trust on the developers and their apps to cover their holes.
• Standard Bluetooth. Don´t be confused! Apple has announced P2P connectivity via bluetooth (read more on “Hall of Surprises” list) which means they don´t use standard bluetooth and iPhone won´t be able to communicate with other bluetooth mobile devices. They say developers woul be able to do teir custom P2P protocols, so there will probably exist the possibility for an app to use standard bluetooth, but the P2P included with 3.0 firmware it´s not standard.
• Background processing. It´s “not good for the customer”, on Apple words. They say that their tests shows it drains battery for up to 80%. So Apple decides for you.
• iTunes wireless syncing. Was not even mentioned on the event.
• Flash. I was expecting flash support to be the big hit for iPhone 3.0 firmware release, but I´m a fool. As the Wired guys perfectly explained a while ago, “Allowing Flash — which is a development platform of its own — would just be too dangerous for Apple, a company that enjoys exerting total dominance over its hardware and the software that runs on it“.

iPhone Hall of Lateness

At least, they have partially redeemed enabling the next long awaited features:

• Tethering ? That´s one of my favourites, as I consider it as a MUST for any 3G device. However, it´s not completely clear if 3.0 will provide complete tethering support on all countries. Why? Many carries have special iPhone data plan contracts, and the legal stuff of that type of contracts usually specifies that the source of any 3G connections will be the iPhone device. For instance, in Spain where iPhone is exclusively sold by MoviStar, they charge an extra fee each time you use 3G from anywhere but an iPhone if your SIM is associated to an iPhone data plan. That´s what Apple guys said on the Q&A round: “There’s two pieces needed to support that: client side and working with carriers. We’re absolutely supporting tethering in the client side in iPhone 3.0, but we’re working with carriers around the world to see when they can add tethering support on their networks. But we are building that support into iPhone 3.0“.
• MMS. Wooow! What an incredible feature !!! This is the best innovation I´ve ever seen !! … Now back to seriousness: iPhone has now MMS support. Shall we say thanks? Note: 1st gen iPhone con´t support MMS even with the firm update, because of hardware issues, they said.
• Cut & Paste. At least copy, paste and cut is supported, they apologized stating that there were too many security issues for implementing such a feature, and they wanted to do it fine. The UI seems great, there´s also an undo option, and you can delete by shaking the iPhone.
• Turn by Turn GPS. Finally !! And as seen on some photos of the event, “B.Y.O.M.” (Build Your Own Maps). Which is logical because of Google Maps licensing. So again, Apple leaves the hard work to developers.
• Stereo Bluetooth. A nice feature, unfortunately 1st gen iPhone won´t be able to support this, as happened with MMS.
• Push. They canceled push support on firm version 2, now they have re-engineered all the system and they are ready for 3.0. There are notifications as badge alerts (shown on the app icon), text alerts and audio alerts. Apple states that it affects battery life just on a 23% (not much compared whith the tests they said they did to background processing which drains 80%). That´s how it works: the Push Notification Service (PNS) will have a permanent connection with the iPhone, then a 3rd party server will send notifs to the Apple´s PNS and it will forward them through the permanent connection. So they say the good part is that they do the “hard work” of adapting to the carrier networks of each country… There are other solutions out there and they handle push withouth problems (e.g. our zuppex product provides push notifications over any provider on any device, and we also are multi-carrier… ).

iPhone Hall of “Surprises”

There were space also for unexpected features added to 3.0, to highlight the improved App Store.

• App Store improvements. They expanded the bussiness model, so subscriptions are now possible (e.g. magazines), also there are “in-app” payments, which will allow to download extra-content. For instance, you could get by a low amount the first levels of a game and then if you like it you will type your iTunes password inside the app and pay for the next levels. In the Cupertino event, two interesting demos of games used this: Sims 3, where you could buy in-game objects for real money, and LiveFire, a first person shooter where you could buy new weapons, as the rocket launcher. In other words, as I said above, Apple earnings grow with this model.
• P2P conectivity via Bluetooth. This will allow users to share files, apps, and what´s more, this will introduce iPhone games to the multiplayer world. It´s a pity that they don´t follow the standards and also we will have to test its performance, as it would be quickier with Wi-fi.
• Voice Memos. An integrated app for voice-recording which supports external compatible microphones. nothing special.
• Lanscape on All included apps. Including Mail.
• Shake to shuffle. A bad copy of Sony-Ericsson´s shake controls for music.
• Notes sync. So you can synchronize your notes with iTunes.
• Search (Spotlight). That´s a new function which can search over all your iPhone, including Mail, iPod library, your apps…

iPhone SDK 3.0

Thanks to the new SDK, developers will be able to create richer apps.

• Control over accesories. The new SDK provides support for controlling the accesories, for instance, if a hi-fi iPod dock has an equalizer, you could control it in your app.
• Embedded Google Maps. To get them into your apps.
• Access to proximity sensor. Still have to see who uses this on an innovative way.
• 1000 new APIs (e.g. VOIP APIs). That´s too much.
• Streaming audio and video over HTTP. This is good for live audio apps, as HTTP isn´t usually blocked by firewalls.

And that´s all. The new SDK and firmware are available for beta testing to people affiliated to the iPhone Dev Program, but the final release won´t be available for downloading till summer. Btw, iPod touch users will have to pay $9.95 again to upgrade.

So now it´s your time to judge. What do you think about the new firmware 3.0 ? Does it deserve such a version jump (from 2.2 to 3.0) ? Is it enough to beat Android and WebOs outstanding features?

As you already may know if you follow the specialized blogosphere, iPhone has set a meeting for some invited parties on their Cupertino base on next tuesday, to show off what they have been working on for next iPhone firmware, as well as a new SDK.

That´s 3.0 firmware version, an such a jump (from 2.2 to 3.0), plus the fact of such an intimate event with selected media, must mean that Apple is cooking something big and juicy.

The wishlist was just too long, and the speculations of the coming changes covers all of them… These are the top-wanted features for iPhone:

1. Tethering. Which means using iPhone as a 3G modem from any non-mobile-connected device (e.g. your desktop, or your not-3g-laptop). Note that most iPhone rivals provide tethering. We´ve talked about this before, check it again for learning how to make your current iPhone tethering-capable (it´s not so easy).
2. Flash. Adobe is working on Flash support for iPhone since long ago, and recently they said they had a working version which had to be approved… I bet next 17th Apple will unveil that iPhone finally supports Flash !
3. Video capturing. That´s one of the inexplicable awkward things of the iPhone, I just can´t understand why they don´t support something that´s implemented on all camera phones since years ago. Next 17th will be a good moment for redeeming, so users won´t need to install apps for doing something basic.
4. MMS. Those are a kind of ghosts for the iPhone. another inexplicable thing, as MMS are not precisely new…
5. Cut & Paste. One of the more feverish requested feature. There are some “unnofficial” apps providing copy&paste on jailbreaked iphones, one of my favourites, OpenClip, get broke on firm 2.1.
6. Standard Bluetooth. Only Apple-certified bluetooth devices are able to understand iPhone´s bluetooth implementation. Now it´s the time for Apple to provide support for standard bluetooth.
7. Background processing. Don´t you hate losing your game advancements each time you hit the home button or on any entering-call ?
8. iTunes wireless syncing. What era is it ? Cables are just not needed anymore except for charging your phone (unless you have a Palm Pré with the TouchStone thing)
9. A decent GPS software. hope the new SDK announced next tuesday will help GPS software developers to provide a decent software for iPhone.
10. Real Push. Apple announced the MobileMe service along with firmware 2.0, but the service was never stable and they finally recalled it. If you need Real Push for any device, just try zuppex ! ;-)

These are the points the community wants fixed. Stay tuned with Sevenclick Blog&More for live news next 17th !

Check this out! Two people named “Simon and Steve” have developed a software application that lets remote control a F1 toy car from a BlackBerry Storm via Bluetooth.

You can see it in the above video, but that is not the end! Simon and Steve were invited by Vodafone and McLaren to the Grand Prix training circuit to show them something.

Also they had developed a similar application, but more advanced and for a real F1 car! It lets control everything just like if you were driving it. In the video you will see how Lewis Hamilton uses the Storm to control his car.

Just amazing. =O

Thanks to Jesus Viñuales for these news.

After a long time discussing about which mobile operator will be carry the Palm Pre in Europe, today the battle between Vodafone and Movistar has finished.

Although it seemed clear that Vodafone was the favourite, due to Vodafone and Palm already have a history of co-branded Vodafone handset versions (such as the Treo 500v), this time they have not reached any agreement, and it will be Movistar who is going to have an exclusivity Palm Pre carrier in Spain, Latin America and UK (O2).

Probably the device is going to be distributed before the summer in the same way as Movistar markets the IPhone, it is will required a data plan contract.

Have a look at the Palm Pre features:

• WebOS: Brand new proprietary operating system based off Linux.
• 3.1 inch 480×320 screen that slides vertically to reveal a keyboard.
• 3MP Camera with LED Flash.
• EV-DO wireless wide-area access, as well as Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and 8GB of storage.
• Gesture Bar on the screen for navigation and use.
• Removable battery. Inductive charger.
• Micro USB, USB mass storage support.
• Synergy: application which can pull contacts from all your sites (Facebook, Gmail, AIM, etc…).
• Light sensor, proximity sensor, and accelerometer.

The first impressions about the device are good enough to whet our appetite… soon we can bear these opinions out.

Vía Gizmóvil, elPais

The new Blackberry Storm opened as new mobile device for the members of Congress of the USA. They were waiting for a touchscreen device, but was not well received, though it had passed the tests the CAO had performed on the phone.

Some of the Washington elected officials have found problems using the Storm. Senator Harry Reid had trouble sending emails on the Storm and did not like the touchscreen. I guess that is because of the particular functionality of the touchscreen that consists on that the screen must be pressed like a button (not just touch, cause actually is a button, =(  ). Jeff Ventura, spokesman of the House chief administrative officer, said that many who tried the Storm on the Hill have returned it.

A number of members tried to use the Storm but only one or two still use it. A workshop has been started for Storm users, teaching them how to use the many functions on the device. But maybe this does not solve the problem, cause, for instance, some people don’t like the touchscreen even if they know it has to be used like a button.

Via PhoneArena

Firmed by artist Marius Watz, Nokia has released an application for Nokia E71 that turns your text messages into “unique pieces” of Art.

The picture can be set as wallpaper, sent via MMS, and many other not-so-useful options. Right now, the Text Art application is only available for the E71 and can be downloaded for free on the Nokia E71 website, where you can also try it online in the most likely case you don´t have an E71.

Via Register Hardware

Skype and Nokia announced on Tuesday a colaboration agreement to work together in the incorporation of Skype application on Nokia devices. This concerns Nseries devices, having Nokia N97 as first device to incorporate it, which is planned to be released on 3Q 2009. N97 will incorporate Skype as a new feature of the Guide section, where we will be able to check if our contacts are connected to Skype and even use the IM system.

This involves that Nokia users will be able to speak among them for free if they are connected to a WLAN or only paying the cellular operator for the 3G service. In this second case, people who have a plain-rates contract (usual case in mobile-internet users) will never be charged for those additional calls, so it is like they talk “for free”. Even the kind of 3G contracts that decrease the bandwidth to 128kbps doesn’t signify a drawback cause that BW is enough to transmit VoIP calls. Skype also allows to make calls to mobile phones and land lines at low rates.

Skype has 400 million users, since the beginning of the project in 2003. This and the big impact Nokia has on mobile world can make this agreement a real triumph and a new feature for mobile tech users who will take it really glad.

The competitor: Fring

We can say that they have a competitor, Fring, which is not new. The big difference is that its application supports multiple IM accounts (MSN, Google Talk, AIM, SIP, Facebook, Twitter…), including Skype. So it also allows making calls via Skype or any SIP/VoIP account, which opens the functionality of the app to almost any user. So this is also a similar solution, and also free, but multiaccount and which supports the open protocol SIP. So this gives the user Skype functionality and more.

Since its beginning Fring application has increased the supported devices, including WM, iPhone, Symbian, UIQ, Linux and J2ME devices. So they reach any user.

Trend?

All this is not just a new functionality on mobile devices. We are talking about that any person with a mobile device and a Skype account or a free SIP account can talk for free to other mobile users and at really low rates to mobiles and land lines. Just using WLANs or data plans. This means if our mobile telephony contracts just included data plans (3G, GPRS, …), and no calling plans (GSM …) the trend would be to use those data plans to call via SIP/Voip/Skype, which is cheaper than tradiotional calls.

We’ll see…

Link Skype | Nokia

Last fall the french manufacturer Archos released its last three Internet Media Tablets. The Archos 5 and Archos 7, which both include high-resolution touchscreen, WiFi, up to 320GB storage besides slim casing, and the Archos 5g which adds 3G HSDPA cellular broadband. They are powered by OMAP 3 applications processors from Texas Instruments, based on a 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor.

Now, Archos has announced is going to combine this Archos’ multimedia framework with Google’s Android telephony stack. This makes Archos possible to think in a IMT with smartphone capabiliteis. With the integration of voice Archos is looking to expand beyond portable media players, and moving into the mobile device market with a high-quality video content delivery clearly better than its competitors. Android also provides access to its fast-developing applications environment.

The new Archos’ IMT will offer:

• PC-like Internet experience enhanced by a high-resolution 5″ screen and full-width page viewing
• Adobe FlashTM and Flash VideoTM support, full screen
• Access whenever and wherever to TV, movies, photos, music and game
• Uncompromised TV recording and High Definition (HD) playback, all formats
• Innovative design: compact 10-mm ultra-thin tablet
• Long battery life, 7 hours’ video playback
• 3.5G 7.2 Mb/s HSUPA
• Laptop-like performance from the first implementation of OMAP3440 processor based on the ARM(r) CortexTM superscalar microprocessor and DSP

ARCHOS’ new Android-based IMT with voice functionality will be released in 3Q 2009. Don’t miss it.

Via PRNewswire

According to several of the most respected on-line sources, including Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Wired and Information Week ( the original source of the information seems to be The Wall Street Journal), Microsoft plans to announce next monday a brand new Windows Mobile Application Store.

Monday 16th February seems to be the chosen day. Well, it looks pretty clever, since Steve Ballmer is making a keynote presentation in Mobile World Congress, taking place in Barcelona.

Along with this new service, Microsoft is also presenting My Phone service, an on-line repository of personal information for mobile devices. This seems to be true, since the official website has been up and running during the last weeks (in fact, it was discovered by fault, with the subsequent confirmation by Microsoft).

Don’t expect details of the new Microsoft Service. Nothing has been disclosed yet. Nevertheless, everything seems to be true.

I believe Microsoft will use this keynote to present more products and services, like Windows Mobile 6.5, My Phone, and so on… Last year’s MWC announcementes were, you know, disappointing. Hope they have learned the lesson. At least, Steve Ballmer will be present this year, and it assures the show. If you don’t what I’m talking about, check this video.

Via Wired, WallStreet Journal, Information Week

I criticized Google recently for not including Gmail Tasks as part of Google Calendar instead of a Gmail Labs add-on, because of the missed synchronization capabilities of tasks management.

Despite that this fact has not changed, I won´t be surprised when it would, as Google folks can´t keep quiet. Now it´s time for extending a synchronization feature already available for Blackberry, to a bunch of SyncML capable devices, including iphone/ipod touch.

It´s called Google Sync and even it´s a beta (as usual) it provides full bi-directional synchronization capabilites with Google Calendar via Microsoft Active-Sync. This includes up to five calendars, but note that a Microsoft´s Exchange Active-Sync config could not co-exist with a Google Sync config, so you´ll have to choose from which to sync if that´s your case (and beware Google Sync will erase your local contacts, so you have to back-up before proceeding).

Keep up the good work.

Link Google Sync |  Known Limitations
Via TUAW

As we already knew, Windows Mobile 6.5 (available on the second half of 2009) will have a new and more atractive interface, which is called “honeycomb interface”, as we can see in the below picture. We will see on the screen several joined polygons which form the honeycomb menu and an application will be available on each polygon. This interface gives a new and fresh look to the current Windows Mobile version which seems more like a Windows 3.11 style.

Anyway, we can turn off this interface and access the O.S. using the classic view, which consists on browsing folders, like we can see in the below pictures. The folders show a 4×4 icons grid (current version shows 3×4 grid). LIttle changes are new scroll bars, which seem thick to be on a mobile device, and the close cross button, that is too big (I guess this is a beta icon). We can also see the new WM Media Player interface menu, which looks nice and reminds of the WM 7 version.

Let’s talk about something new! These screenshots have revealed some cloud-based services: My Phone, Outlook Live, Marketplace.

• My Phone: it is a cloud-based syncing service that will come preinstalled.
• Outlook Live: this is a cloud-based mail solution that will replace Pocket Outlook. It lets the user manage several accounts from the device and over the web.
• Marketplace:a centralized applications marketplace or what it’s the same, an app store. Its codename is “Skymarket” but it’s not official yet.

UQ Communications - a Japanese consortium led by KDDI and also including Intel, JR East, Kyocera and several banks - launches a commercial Mobile Wimax trial service at Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaki. Nagoya and Osaka will also go online in June. This means the major areas of Japan will be covered at a 40$ monthly flat-rate, a rather interesting fee.

They also will offer a Wifi service on Shinkansen trains that will be available for all customers by September (though some commercial clients will have it by March).

We’ll have to wait patiently until we see this in Europe.

Via WirelessWatch

Now you can upgrade your iPhone camera from 2mpx to 4mpx by software!

Occipital ClearCam turns your iPhone into a high quality camera with more than double the resolution ofthe original camera application.

How to get it? Easy! (^_^)

Install the application using Cydia (only jailbroken iPhones), search for ClearCam on Cydia´s browser, Select “Install” from the menu at the top of the screen, and then “Confirm”. Now you have a new camera application on your iPhone desktop.

How does it works? Easier than its installation!

Open the application, push the camera icon and it will capture 6 photos in 2.5 seconds, then it automatically create an enhanced 4·megapixel photo. Send it to your camera roll and enjoy the 4mpx picture.

Easy and useful, just if you want to take a special picture of something or somebody, because it takes a few seconds to enhance the picture, but you´ll obtain a sharpener and bigger picture than the original.

Free version is limited to take one picture in the album, you must to delete the picture to snap another one. You can use the trial version using all the features for free for a period of 15 days or pay 10$ to get the entire application.

Try it to believe it. I recommend it (~_^)

link Occipital

Gmail Labs developed Tasks a while ago, and now a mobile version has been launched. On higher-end devices like iPhone and Android-based ones, you can add/edit your own lists of tasks, and on the rest there is only one list. Note that your Gmail language must be set to english in order to enable Gmail Labs. If you have Labs enabled, try Tasks just entering http://gmail.com/tasks from your mobile.

Since Google announced synchronization capabilities with Outlook had been added to Google Calendar, a lot of people have been eagerly awaiting Tasks management included in Calendar, as now just events are supported (and therefore, just events can be sync´ed) and people have started using Calendar as a bridge synchronization for other apps (e.g. Thunderbird + Lightning).

Is a bit of a pain that Google have been working on Tasks to get it to mobiles, when they could have been working to get it into Calendar and then to mobiles. But hey, that´s my view, perhaps you will find Tasks on Gmail for iPhone super useful…

Link Google Mobile Blog | GMail blog

Things are moving in Palm’s world!!! Short after presenting the awesome Palm Pre, Palm has just announced a DevCamp focused on this device.

The most remarkable fact of Palm Pre application development is the usage of standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS and Javascript. The good thing is that the potential developer base is awesome, including mobile application developers (like SevenClick) and web-based developers. We have certain doubts about how deep Palm will allow developers to access. I mean, javascript is not the quitessence of security, and allowing access to contacts, certificates, Telephony API, etc… will be a bit risky if not treated carefully. Let’s see…

For all of you who doesn’t know what’s a DevCamp, I’ll try to explain. It’s very simple. A bunch of developers/fanatics/geeks/freaks/put your own adjective here/people get together to talk and work around a topic, the Palm Pre in this case. Companies usually organize these events to foster application development and to allow developers get in touch with the gurus behind a technology. In my point of view, results are always interesting since developers can share knowledge and impressions. It has nothing to do wih sharing business cards, but sharing knowledge.

If you are interested in PreDeveCamp, check the official website.

Link PreDevCamp
Via MonkeyWeb

SevenClick, a TBS Group company specialized in mobile solutions development, has been selected to participate in the final phase of Innovate!Europe, after presenting to the international market their last creation, zuppex.

zuppex is introduced as a complete multidevice product suite solving situations like sending certified notices, broker less secure push mail or document signing, mobilizing operations that, until now, could only be done from a PC.

This way, public agencies, companies and users around the world, will be able to perform on their mobile phones and with complete legal validity, actions such as sending, receiving and signing certified notices, secure e-mail exchange, digital voting, administrative procedures, and payments.

And all of these, thanks to zuppex, featuring operator independent push communication, encryption and digital signature, in a multidevice and multicontent environment.

Innovate!Europe final phase will take place in Zaragoza (Spain) on May 4-6 2009. As a result of this phase, a prestigious team of investors, big companies, government leaders and media from around the world, will choose the most promising technological start-ups.

Link innovate!europe
Link zuppex website
Download press release

The wait is over!!! Zuppex is here!!!

After a long time of hard working and great expectations, SevenClick is proud to present its brand new product: zuppex.

The first question that will come to your mind is: What is zuppex?

For a more detailled explanation, visit www.zuppex.com, where you can find information about zuppex and and its product suite.

We are very happy and  proud  of this product that, in a short period of time, will change our conception of mobile security and mobile push communication.

Finally, I’d like to thank SevenClick’s zuppex team for their hard work during the last months. A product like this can only be created with enthusiasm and hard work. Congratulations!!!

Link Zuppex web site

Microsoft has created a new kind of custom tags. So far we had QR Code and Datamatrix Code. The new system from Microsoft is called Microsoft Tag and main difference is that it does not use square pixels, but triangle shapes and colors to store data.

As we can see in the below picture, it represents 1 byte in less area than the current custom tags. That’s because the triangles are half the size of the previous squares, and it uses 4 colours insted of black and white.

Microsoft is not the only one researching into QR codes. Movistar recently created the system Bidi, and also Orange its system Flashcode. Both introduce these encoding systems to provide services like buying spectacles tickets, share website links, download multimedia content, so to sum up, it provides automatic access to services and contents.

And what about the “future”???

Will this technology become a social reality? Will it give us some useful functionality? IT CAN!!! In Japan this technology is used everywhere, like on posters and billboards, providing anyone with a cell phone immediate access to information on consumer prize campaigns, addresses or maps for retail outlets. In the below TV ad, NTT DoCoMo explains to viewers how QR codes work, to make their use familiar.

In Barcelona the company Daem Interactive uses this tech in its solution Skuair (supports Symbian S60 3th generation). This solution could be use, for instance, in a supermarket to select the products you want to buy, send the list to the supermarket server/device, pay and wait for your products to be packed.

Software

We have talked about custom tags technology, let’s talk now about ohw to use it. This tech becomes useful if we can work with it everywhere, what means that has to be accesible from our mobile devices. This is real, nowadays we can have it in our mobile phones. There are several mobile applications for this purpose, and they consist on taking a picture to the custom tag (QR Code, Datamatrix, and others) and then the app will decode the picture into the info that was encoded, like an URL, a mobile command…

For instance you can download the application for Bidis os Flashcodes from Movistar and Orange sites. Also Microsoft has developed a mobile application for mobile devices to work with Microsoft Tag. The name of the application is the same as the custom tag, and it is available on Windows Mobile, iPhone, BlackBerry, Symbian S60 and mobile phones with Java. You can download it from this website.

Try this code on your Phone :D

Via iPhone Buzz | Microsoft

T-Mobile´s G1, HTC Touch HD, Blackberry Storm, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic… they are all hard contenders for the iPhone. Each have flaws and pluses, but none of them seem to have (still) beaten Apple´s prodigal son.

Now it´s time for Palm, not the lately stucked Palm we have seen, but the Palm that laid the foundation for PDA devices. Yes, after several difficulties, Palm is back to its origins of excellence and commitment, and the proof is here: Palm Pré, the One that will rule them all.

Over the last years Palm have lost supremacy of their traditional mobile operating system, PalmOS, to the point of finally adopting both Windows Mobile and PalmOS. The new Palm Pré is not only the release of an impressive hardware device, but the release of PalmOS heritage: the brand new WebOS, which IMHO has enough potential as to finally reclaim supremacy… but this is something the market will show us at the right moment.

Do you think I´m crazy? Look the video of the official Keynote and think if this is better GUI than iPhone Os or not…

So seems this covers all the flaws of the current competitors, and it does so with style, perfect responsiveness and great usability.

Of course WebOS will be accompanied of an online store for apps, which is a key feature on an emerging mobile OS, as it will have to fight against settled down OSes like Windows Mobile or Symbian, with a wide catalog of appplications.

Pré software acceptance (even if it smells to quality) it´s still unknown, but right now there is something sure: Pré hardware is impressive. (You will find at the bottom the hardware features extracted from Palm website.)

The main reason is its core: the new Texas Instruments OMAP3430 (Pré is the first device mounting it), which delivers brute power at minimal power consumption, and I daresay its the best embedded processor right now for a mobile device. This gem is based in the acclaimed ARM Cortex-A8 platform, which is years away on all terms of iPhone´s ARM 11-based architecture from Samsung (S3C6400).

Note that Pré also have ambient light, accelerometer, and proximity sensors, GPS, 8 Gb, integrates with Exchange (one of G1´s flaws), can be used as a laptop modem (one of iPhone´s flaws), supports copy and paste as well as multi-tasking (both iPhone flaws) …  so it have all the cards to win the game.

With great power, comes great responsibility control, so Pré display provides a responsive multi-tactile screen, with improved gestures on the bottom part of it. They´ve taken only the best of iPhone´s screen features (two-finger zooming) and G1´s (straight-forward acessibility to apps) and mixed it up nicely. And to fit all preferences, Pré has an sliding full QWERTY keyboard!

These are the official features extracted from the OMAP34xx product family brochure (pdf):

•IVA™ 2+ (image, video, audio) accelerator enables multi-standard (MPEG4,
WMV9, RealVideo, H.263, H.264) encode/decode at D1 (720 x 480 pixels) 30 fps
• OpenGL ES2.0 compliant
• Integrated image signal processor (ISP) enables up to 12 megapixels still image capture
• Flexible system support
• Composite and S-video TV output
• XGA (1024×768 pixels), 16M-color (24-bit definition) display support
• MIPI and FlatLink™ 3G-compliant serial display, parallel display support
• High-speed USB 2.0 On-The-Go (OTG) support
• HLOS support for customizable interface
• Optimized power-management companion chip: TWL5030

Note the awesome graphics power, including up to 12 Mpx cameras (Pré mount a 3 Mpx one, which beats iPhone and G1), XGA resolution, accelerated video… shall you search deeply on IMAP3430 delights, you will find that it includes a PoverVR SGX, better than the MBX iPhone ships with, so Pré might able to do better games than the great games we have seen on iPhone.

If all this weren´t enough… Pré comes with a wireless charger !!! Yes, you read fine. It´s name: Palm TouchStone. This technology has been available for a while but nobody is still selling it. Look at the impressive Pré dock charger, which several Palm employees call “the puck”, for its resemblance to the hockey discs.

Finally, these are the hardware features extracted from Palm website, and some photos of the rest of Palm Pré views:

• Network specs: 3G EVDO Rev A

• Display: 3.1-inch touch screen with a vibrant 24-bit color 320×480 resolution HVGA display

• Keyboard: Physical QWERTY keyboard

• Email: Microsoft Outlook® email with Microsoft® Direct Push Technology POP3/IMAP (Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, etc).

• Messaging: Integrated IM, SMS, and MMS

• GPS: Built-in GPS

• Digital camera: 3 megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth of field

• Sensors: Ambient light, accelerometer, and proximity

• Audio Formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV

• Video Formats: MPEG-4, H.263, H.264

• Image Formats: GIF, Animated GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP

• Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g with WPA, WPA2, 802.1X authentication, Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support

• Memory: 8GB of user storage (~7.4GB user available)

• USB mass storage support

• Phone as laptop modem

• Bluetooth tethering

• Connector: MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed

• Headphone jack: 3.5mm stereo

• Palm® Touchstone™ charging dock

• Width: 59.5mm (2.3 inches)

• Height: 100.5mm (3.9 inches)

• Thickness: 16.95mm (0.67 inches)

• Weight: 135 grams (4.76 ounces)

One year ago, in CES 2008 tradeshow, the company LG showed us a prototype of its future Watch Phone. In those days it was like a diamond in a showcase which we can only see but cant touch it.
This year this has changed, and that future prototype, is now a working prototype which has been displayed during CES 2009.

The LG GD910 is a 3G Touch Watch Phone that includes:

• Touch-screen:  Despite the screen only measures 1.43 inches diagonally it seems easy to  dial numbers on the tiny dial pad or write text on the virtual T9 keypad.
• Voice commands.
• Voice calls.
• Video calls: The watch features 7.2 Mbps 3G HSDPA compatibility, enabling high-speed data transmission and video phone calls using the built-in camera.
• MP3 music player: The sound comes from the speakers on the watch but it is possible to use a stereo bluetooth headset.
• Messaging (SMS, EMS, MMS).
• Test-to-speech capabilities: it reads text messages and other information out loud for even greater convenience.
• Phonebook and Scheduler.

Besides all this features it is, of course, able to keep accurate time. The phone is set to go on sale in Europe sometime in 2009 in a long range of colors.

Enough talking, see this video.

Long time ago we spoke about this original phone, Motorola Aura is the first gadged provided with a circular display in the world, now we can see how does it works in this hands-on video. Impressive

Via EngadgetMobile

Although the news seem surprising is true, a few days ago Todd Peters, the Vice President of Marketing for the Windows Mobile division announced at current CES.

It seems that Windows Mobile is losing interest not only to users, but also from the viewpoint of manufacturers, because of the new systems that are emerging (Android and WebOS) and also due to iPhone and the different models of BlackBerry.

Microsoft wants to change its business model. Now prefer to have fewer devices and thus focus more on each of them to achieve better integration with the phone.

And who knows, just surprise us this year with the introduction of a mobile phone with Windows Mobile 7 developed by them.

Via XatakaMovil

From SevenClick we want to wish you a Merry Christmas and of course a happy new year 2009.

7Clickers! You are the best! No more words, no more comments!
I am proud of us and our work! 2009 Here we go!
Daniel Vecino CEO

It’s been a great year for SevenClick, and this is just the beginning. With this great group of people, you can only expect the best. Merry christmas and happy new 2009.
José Manuel  Cristóbal CTO

A year of hard and challenging work on mobile messaging applications is over. I wish 2009 will be a nice year in mobile arena.
Rafael García Girón MTA

Almost a year as a SevenClicker, lot of projects and inverted effort to generate fresh and cool images and designs. Of course zuppex is my best creation, my little!. I wish the best for all of us. Zuppex! (Battle Cry).
Alvaro Arregui CCO

Hope Next year would bring you hapiness… For me, I Hope it brings at least one Android device :D
Javier Rubio MTP

I have really enjoyed working in SevenClick so far. I have learnt a lot about mobile technologies and have had a lot of fun (really important!). Now that year comes to the end, I really have good feelings for 2009 cause I think we are a great team. Best wishes!
Alex Moros MTP

I am the last incorporation in Sevenclick. Almost half a year learning how being a good SevenClicker, which includes not only improving my mobile technology knowledge, but also enjoying being part of this great team. Be happy you all!
Marta Tejel MTP

These have been my first nine months working in a company and I have to admit that have been passed quickly. I have been involved in many projects, but the best part is the good working atmosphere and of course, winning to my workmates playing the Wii or PlayStation (in our free time).
Merry Christmas!
Alberto Aparicio MTP

Download this zuppex xmas wallpaper and do not miss WhatObamaNeeds.com

SevenClick participated in Innovate!Europe 2008 first phase, taking advantage of the international window of this event.

The event, celebrated in Zaragoza (Spain), is the only program designed to identify and accelerate international promotion of the world most promissing technology start-ups. Among the attendees we can find investors, big clients, goverment leaders and communication media coming from around the world.

Coinciding with the event, SevenClick launched the first part of “What Obama needs!” campaign, showing an exclusive video of the critical moment when Barack Obama, elected President of the United States, is forced to hand its precious Blackberry over.

With this mise en scène, SevenClick introduces worldwide its new solution, zuppex, that will be officially presented on January 2009.

“What Obama needs!” can be followed from www.whatobamaneeds.com

Download press release (including image resources)

Ladies & Gentlemen, The President of the “new” United States.

Is Mr Obama a geek? or just a 21 century citizen?. Why can’t he use his cellphone anymore?, Is this a matter of National Security or just there’s not a safe way to call yet?

Two weeks ago, New York Times reported about Obama´s love of Blackberry. Next January, once he become the President of the United States of America, he will have to put an end to this romance. Why? USA Security Agencies don’t trust Blackberry system.

“For years, like legions of other professionals, Mr. Obama has been all but addicted to his BlackBerry. The device has rarely been far from his side — on most days, it was fastened to his belt — to provide a singular conduit to the outside world as the bubble around him grew tighter and tighter throughout his campaign.”

If you remember, In UK the BBC admitted that it had been forced to suspend its Blackberry email service after senior executives reported portions of other people’s electronic conversations appearing in their own messages.

In France, French ministerial workers was banned from using BlackBerries by the General Secretariat for National Defence (SGDN), responsible for French national security. RIM issued a strong defense of its network, claiming  Blackberry’s security mechanisms - AES 256 - as “the strongest commercial cryptography available to any vendor in the world”.

Even Indian Goverment put pressure on RIM to provide security agencies with a way around its encryption mechanism. They demanded either a “master key” into data and e-mails sent from the company’s BlackBerry devices or making RIM servers able to be monitored by Indian security agencies.

The source of these problems is the transport and delivery mechanism used by Blackberry. In order to make Blackberry´s Push service work, RIM integrates his servers with carriers. This way, mails are sent through Blackberry servers placed on UK and USA before you receive them. If you were responsible of your country’s national or presidential security, Would you trust a system working that way?

So, what can Obama do?
What does Obama need?

You will find the answer in this blog very soon!

Last tuesday, Barcelona. Nokia unveiled their new iPhone killer device: N97. These are its amazing capabilities:

• 32 GB internal memory.
• Up to 16 GB external memory, via MicroSD slot. (32 + 16 = 48 GB!)
• 3.5-inch, 640 x 360 pixel (16:9 aspect ratio) touch screen
• QWERTY keyboard
• Connectivity: HSDPA, WiFi, and Bluetooth.
• TV-Out, 3.5 mm jack, microUSB
• 5 Mpx camera (Carl Zeiss Tessar lens), records VGA video (640 x 480) at 30 fps
• A-GPS receiver
• N-Gage games
• S60 5th edition

With such nice features, offering a long battery life is a big challenge. Here are the official battery specs:

• Talk time: Up to 320 min (3G), 400 min (GSM)
• Standby time: Up to 400 hrs (3G), 430 hrs (GSM)
• Video playback: Up to 4,5 hours (offline mode)
• Music playback: Up to 37 hours (offline mode)

And now, admire its beauty:

Link Official Specs | N97 Datasheet

The European Union will approve the price limitation on the rates of roaming services and SMS messages among countries. Viviane Reding, telecomunications responsible of the EU, was who proposed this legislation, as the Internation Herald Tribune says.

EU industry ministers will approve this plan, which will limit SMS prices to 11 cents and also roaming service rates. These changes will be activated on 1st July 2009.

Obviously, this means that in some countries international SMS messages would be cheaper than local ones! This may provoke that companies reduce local SMS messages, but we’ll have to see. Anyhow, these rates reduction could also make the companies increase local prices. We hope not.

Via NY Times

China maybe is not the best point of reference of handsets, owing to we can find in its market, mobile device brands that sound too much familiar, like Nokla or HiPhone. But this time, China offers a handset with an original feature, a smartphone that runs Windows Mobile or Android. The client chooses. TechFaith Wireless and Qigi Future Technology announced it with the name of QiGi i6.

Unfortunately, instead of offering a dual-boot approach, the i6 comes in separate models: i6-Goal (Android) and i6-Win (WM 6.1). The two models differ only with respect to their operating system ROMS. On the other hand, both models share the following features:

• 2.8” LCD touchscreen display with 320×240 resolution.
• Marxvel PXA310 processor clocked at 624MHZ .
• Bluetooth connectivity.
• 2 megapixel camera.
• Wi-Fi support.
• microSD memory card slot.
• GPS navitation.
• Dimensions: 109 x 58 x 14.9 mm.
• No 3G connectivity

Pricing and availability  for both devices have not been released. However, the i6-Goal (the first Android-powered mobile phone in China) will be “shipping soon,” according to Qigi.

Vía PocketNow, LinuxDevices

Yes, you read correctly.  Although it may seem incredible, a few days ago a research group had succeeded porting the Linux Kernel 2.6 to work in an iPhone.

The OS uses OpenBoot to allow users to choose the OS they want boot (Linux or the iPhone OS).

At the moment, have ported:

• Framebuffer driver.
• Serial driver.
• Serial over USB driver.
• Interrupts, MMU, clock …

Things to add:

• NAND.
• Wifi.
• Touchscreen.
• Sound.
• Accelerometers
• Support for Baseband.

The Dev Team have a lot of work, but it is a breakthrough. It even sounds like they are thinking about porting Android in the near future.  Will they Port Windows Mobile? :)

Via Engadget Mobile