Your Technology Knowledge Base

HOW TO: Install Android On An iPhone 2G

2010-04-26T01:51:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer

I take no responsibility for any damage you might cause to your phone by following this guide. Whether it gets bricked, blocked or eventually thrown out of the window, I can’t be held responsible. Use this guide at your own risk. Thanks!

Introduction

Today’s hype has all been about Android on an iPhone. As soon as I heard I knew what I’d be doing after work. Anyway, I’ve finally managed to get Android working and thought I’d write up a clear tutorial for anyone who wants to do it. Remember, I did this all on a Mac, but it should be possible on Windows or Linux too. Windows users just get the Windows version of VirtualBox.

The end result is far from a fully working Android system. It’s Android 1.6 with basic features – calls, texts, WiFi but no camera and probably a few Force Closes. It’s easy to upgrade Android versions once you’ve managed to get to the end of this tutorial so there’s no harm in getting the hard part out of the way now!

Downloads

Here’s a bunch of stuff that you’ll need before you start:

IMPORTANT! Jailbroken iPhone 2G

VirtualBox (link). Get the right version Windows/Mac

VirtualBox Ubuntu Image (link). Download number 10, Ubuntu Linux 9.10 codename Karmic Koalax86

iPhone Explorer (link). If you’re on Linux you can use FTP such as FileZilla instead.

Android images and sources (link)

Patched images (link). Courtesy of Geekoid.

Preparation

Let’s get some of the basics out of the way:

Open Task Manager

Kill the iTunes Helper process

Install iPhone Explorer

Connect your iPhone to your Mac/PC

Run iPhone Explorer

Click the Change Root button

Select “/” Real iPhone Root Directory

Browse to private/var

Copy ramdisk.img, userdata.img, cache.img and zImage from Downloads#5 (Android images and sources) to that var directory

Copy system.img and android.img.gz from Downloads#6 (patched images) to the that var directory

That’s all the Android files on your iPhone, now to make them run!

Setting Up Virtual Box

Install VirtualBox

Open VirtualBox

Go on File > Virtual Media Manager

Make sure Hard Disks is selected

Click Add

Locate the ubuntu-9.10.vdi file (download#3) and select it

Close Virtual Media Manager

Go on Machine > New

Click Next

Under Name enter “Ubuntu”

Select Linux Operating System

Select Ubuntu Version

Click Next

Set an amount of RAM, the default should be fine

Click Next

Select “Use existing hard disk”

Select the ubuntu-9.10.vdi

Click Next

Click Finish

Select that new machine to start up Ubuntu

The password to login is: reverse

Setting Up Ubuntu

Almost there – if this feels a bit long, just consider how short and simple each step is!

Click System (top bar) > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager

Enter the password: reverse

In the quicksearch box, type libusb-1.0, click the Check Box next to libusb-1.0-0 and select Mark for installation

In the quicksearch box, type libreadline, click the Check Box next to libreadline5 and select Mark for installtion

Click Apply

When it’s all installed close the Package Manager

Open Firefox (in Ubuntu)

Download openiboot installer from here

Click Places (top bar) > Downloads

Right-click openiboot.zip and click Extract Here

Click Applications (top bar) > Accessories > Terminal

Without the quotes, type ‘cd Downloads/openiboot’

Restart your iPhone in Recovery Mode (power off, hold down Home button, connect to USB cable)

Getting Android Working!

Well done on getting this far! This is where the fun beings (credits to WinX Blog for these instructions –link)

In VirtualBox, the Ubuntu Window, go on Devices > USB Devices and select iPhone (Recovery Mode)

In the terminal type (without quotes): ’sudo su’

Enter the password: reverse

In the terminal type ./loadibec openiboot.img3

You’ll see the OpeniBoot screen appear on your iPhone

Hold down the power button a couple of seconds (iPhone)

The bottom option, openiboot console, will become selected

Press Home (iPhone). You’ll see a bunch of text appear and stop at “Welcome to openiboot”

In VirtualBox, the Ubuntu Window, go on Devices > USB Devices and select iPhone (OpeniBoot Mode)

In terminal type su ./oibc

Enter the password: reverse

If this doesn’t work just type: ./oibc

You’ll see the same text from the iPhone in the Terminal

Type (without quotes) ‘nor_read 0×09000000 0×0 1048576′ and press Enter

Wait for it to say Done

Type (without quotes) ‘~norbackup.dump:1048576′

This creates a backup of your NOR memory – save a copy on USB stick, or email it to yourself or something

Type install, press Enter. When this is done you’ve got openiboot installed on your iPhone. You’re done!

Finishing Off

What you’ve achieved up til now is Android files on your iPhone, and then installing openiboot so that you have an option to start iPhone OS or Android when you turn on your phone. Openiboot was necessary because that’s the only way right now that you can boot into Android. Here’s how to finish off and get into Android:

If you still have Terminal open with the oibc still running, just type ‘reboot’, press Enter and skip to step 3

If you don’t have Terminal open, disconnect your phone, turn it off and back on

When openiboot appears press Power button to switch to openiboot console (bottom option)

Hold down the Home button

Android will start to boot, but it might take a while

Guide to Installing Android on iPhone 2G from AndroidALot on Vimeo.

Sony launches its first 3D-capable A/V receiver for $500

2010-02-21T06:24:00.000-08:00

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18, 2010 – Sony today announced its first A/V receiver capable of supporting 3-D audio and video.

Featuring HDMI™ 1.4 3D pass-through technology, ample high-definition connectivity and compatibility with all of the latest Blu-ray Disc® audio formats, the new STR-DN1010 AV receiver is designed to create a simple solution for controlling any high-definition or 3D capable home theater.

“It’s important for consumers to understand the important role that audio plays in the in-home 3D experience,” said Neal Manowitz, director of Sony’s Home Audio and Video division. “By streamlining connectivity and supporting 3D hardware and software, the STR-DN1010 receiver will provide a simplified approach to 3D home theater control and performance, ensuring the best possible user experience.”

The 7.1 channel STR-DN1010 AV receiver (110 watts power per channel @8-Ohms, 1kHz, 1% THD) features full high-definition 1080/24p support and seven HD inputs in total (four HDMI and three component) allowing for connection to a wide variety of HD devices. The receiver’s HDMI 3D pass through technology supports 3D video from connected devices and passes them through to a 3D compatible high-definition television, while decoding high-resolution audio codecs.

The receiver also features an icon-driven menu system for simple device and content navigation and has the ability to upscale analog video sources to 1080p resolution via HDMI. The model also boasts a sleek piano black gloss design that matches Sony’s line of Blu-ray Disc players and televisions.

The STR-DN1010 is compatible with all advanced audio codecs, including Dolby® TrueHD, dts®-HD Master Audio and features wireless 2nd zone capabilities through Sony’s S-AIR® wireless technology. With the addition of an S-AIR transmitter (model EZW-T100) and separate S-AIR speakers (sold separately), the receiver can also drive wireless audio in up to 10 additional rooms.

The STR-DN1010 receiver also features a Digital Media Port (DMP) input for simple connection to external sources including an iPod® and iPhone® (compatible DMP accessories required and sold separately) and is compatible with both Deep Color™ and x.v.Color™.

Visual Studio 2010 to be launched on April 12

2010-02-21T00:58:00.000-08:00

According to Rob Caron, Marketing Communications Manager for Developer and User Experience Runtimes & Tools at Microsoft, Visual Studio 2010 and .NET Framework 4 are set to officially launch on Monday, April 12. The Visual Studio development system is a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help software developers create innovative, next-generation applications.

Kindle for BlackBerry Now Available for Free Directly from Amazon

2010-02-20T06:33:00.000-08:00

The long awaited Kindle app for BlackBerry is finally here. While not the biggest screen to read on, most of us carry our BlackBerry everywhere we go, so being able to read a book at any given moment is definitely welcome. The app has a fair amount of features (it could still use a few more options) and everything loads super fast. You can store and read Kindle books, as well as browse and purchase from the huge selection in the Kindle Store. Check out the video above for a look at the app, and head to amazon.com/kindlebb to download it free.

“Since the launch of our popular Kindle for iPhone app last year, customers have been asking us to bring a similar experience to the BlackBerry, and we are thrilled to make it available today,” said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “Kindle for BlackBerry is a great way for customers to continue reading their current book wherever they are – in between meetings, at the grocery store or waiting in the doctor’s office. We think customers are going to love how easy and fun it is to read their Kindle books on their BlackBerry.”

Customers using BlackBerry devices on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and other U.S. carriers can get easy wireless access to over 420,000 Kindle books, including New York Times Bestsellers and New Releases, most for $9.99 or less, by downloading the application for free.

Kindle for BlackBerry lets customers bring their Kindle books with them wherever they go. With the new Kindle for BlackBerry app, customers can:

Search and browse more than 420,000 books, including 102 of 112 New York Times Bestsellers, directly from their BlackBerry
Shop the in-app store for an optimized Kindle shopping experience – browse and download samples and full books without leaving the app
Read the beginning of books for free before they buy
Access their library of previously purchased Kindle books stored on Amazon’s servers
Automatically synchronize the last page read between their Kindle-compatible devices
Create bookmarks and view annotations they created on their Kindle, Kindle DX, or Kindle for iPhone and iPod touch
Adjust the text size of books
Read books in full color, including children’s books, cookbooks, travel books, textbooks and graphic novels

Opera Mini browser on iPhone

2010-02-20T06:21:00.001-08:00

As a long-suffering Symbian user, Opera Mini has been the saviour of my smartphone experience for some time. Its lightweight memory footprint and near-magical compression technology has managed to wrangle the web into something practical and usable where Nokia's native browser had fallen flat.

So naturally, when the Oslo-based company invited Wired to try a preview build of Opera Mini on the iPhone at Mobile World Congress, we were very keen to see how it would fare. Our first impression? It's fast. While I've always found the Symbian platform rendered Opera Mini's interface somewhat slugglishly, putting a damper on the browser's lighting-fast network performance, on the iPhone Opera has finally found a platform to do justice to its nimble web-slinging.

Scrolling through webpages is silky smooth, with nary a glitch or stutter regardless of the size of the page. The interface is instantaneously responsive as well, just as you'd expect from the iPhone. However, those expecting a tightly integrated browsing experience will be disappointed.

Opera has maintained the user interface design present on the browser's incarnation on other platforms, so don't expect any iPhone-specific interface elements or conventions. Most noticeable is the lack of pinch-to-zoom support, a feature that Safari users will sorely miss, at least at first, instead adopting the double-tap present on other touch-enabled versions of Opera Mini. In our short test, though, we didn't find ourselves missing the feature at all, as Opera's intelligent text wrapping and reflow neglected the need to constantly adjust our zoom level in the first place.

Also unique to the iPhone version, browsing sessions are remembered between application launches so your tabs and most recent page are available from where you left off -- a feature we'd like to see on versions of the app across all platforms. Lastly, there's a nifty tab-switching widget that appears along the bottom of the screen which looks something like a horizontal stack of cards, allowing speedy switching and closure of open tabs. For the most part, though, this is the Opera Mini you know and love.

The elephant in the room, of course, is Apple. It's not clear whether the famously inscrutable company will even admit Opera Mini to the App Store, particuarly as there's a clause in Apple's terms which precludes the submission of apps that "duplicate existing functionality". When we brought up the predicament with the company representatives, they didn't seem perturbed. "There are two reasons why we are confident that Opera Mini will met the requirements of the App Store," Partner Manager Phillip Grønvold reassures Wired.

"One, our compression technology imposes limitations on what the browser can do -- Opera doesn't render rich, content-heavy documents like Safari does. Two, Opera Mini does not actually render HTML on the device, it uses a custom binary representation of the website. We believe these technical differences make Opera Mini sufficiently different to Safari to be made available on the App Store."

Still, it does feel a lot like the company is flaunting Opera Mini on the iPhone so that it might be pushed through Apple's approval process on a tide of widespread support, but Grønvold insists this is not the case. "If we wanted to do that we'd leak a build and build momentum that way," he said. "We're going through the proper channels. We're not cannibalising a partnership like AT&T (as in the case of Google Voice), and there are a number of streaming music apps on the iPhone already despite Apple's own iTunes app, so we feel there is enough leniency in Apple's approval process.

Google Acquires Email Startup reMail to Pulls It From the App Store

2010-02-20T02:25:00.000-08:00

Google has just picked up Y Combinator incubated startup reMail, bringing its talented founder Gabor Cselle on board the Gmail team.

reMail was an excellent iPhone application that would download all your email to your phone, making searching your email wildly faster. The application could also save you money if you needed to roam outside of the United States where AT&T rates can be abusive.
The application will be pulled (sadly) from the App store. If you have already purchased it, it will remain functional.

The application retailed, before being removed, for $4.99. Google might take the opportunity to use Mr. Cselle to build a similar application inside of the Gmail team, but it seems more likely that this acquisition is more a talent grab than a product purchase.

At the time of writing, no price is known for the transaction. reMail had raised money not just from Y Combinator but also Paul Buchheit and Sanjeev Singh (Friendfeed co-founders).
Gabor Cselle had this to say on the acqusition and his future:

“Gmail is where my obsession with email started as an engineering intern back in 2004, and I’m thrilled to be coming back to a place with so many familiar faces. reMail’s goal was reimagine mobile email, and I’m proud we have built a product that so many users find useful. Still, I feel like we’ve only seen the beginning of what’s possible. Google is the best place in the world to improve the status quo on how people communicate and share information. If you have what it takes to make these changes happen, I encourage you to reach out and come join me.”

While reMail is gone for now, Gmail has just picked up a very capable employee who they intend to use as a product manager. More talent in Gmail means better Gmail, which is something that we can all pop champagne over, whether wants to buy our startup or not.

Microsoft's own Windows Phone 7 device will be made by Asus

2010-02-20T02:04:00.000-08:00

The Redmond, Wash., software giant is working with computer hardware manufacturer Asustek to build its own phone.

The planned device is a so-called candy bar touchscreen design running on Microsoft's newly introduced Windows Phone 7 operating system, says Northeast Securities analyst Ashok Kumar, who talked with Microsoft's suppliers and design partners.

Unfortunately, Microsoft and Asus have encountered some setbacks on the road to manufacturing the next Apple iPhone killer or Google Android annihilator.

Production of the phone has been stopped temporarily. "The phone is still alive," says Kumar, but its arrival to the market will now probably be put off until early next year.

The news comes just four days after Microsoft announced -- at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona -- that its Windows Phone 7 operating system will be available on the some phones by Christmas.

Kumar says he hasn't heard what caused the Microsoft phone delay, but he speculates that if it's a software issue, it could apply to other hardware developers and spoil the Christmas timeframe promise.

A Microsoft representative said the company does not comment on speculation.

The news of Asus' involvement confirms some of the speculation around "project pink," an effort by Microsoft to develop its own phone. This would be a move similar to Microsoft's Xbox approach to video games and its Zune entry in media players.

Asus is a Taiwanese computer maker, perhaps best known for its netbook pioneering effort with the Eee PC line of mini laptops. Asus is also the hardware partner that helped Garmin break into mobile phones with its nuviphone.

Like Google and Apple before it, Microsoft obviously sees the fast-growing mobile phone market as a land-grab opportunity that's far too important to watch from a distance.

Apple and Google both proved that no prior cell phone experience was needed to jump into the game. Apple is enjoying runaway success with the iPhone. And Google chief Eric Schmidt said this week that Android phone shipments are on pace to exceed 21 million units this year.

Last month, Google started selling an HTC-built Nexus One phone directly to consumers, a controversial move that served to undercut its Android partners, particularly Motorola

Microsoft risks the chance of upsetting its own partnerships with hardware shops like HTC and Samsung, two of the manufactures that have signed on to build new Windows-powered phones.

The move can be seen as only more bad news for other players in the already crowded smartphone market. Outfits like Palm are simply clinging to life. And Microsoft's pervasive presence in businesses like desktop software and email servers could strike very close to Research In Motion's lucrative enterprise market.

If Apple and Google's phone efforts have proved anything, having loads of money to throw at the project is a huge advantage. With $36 billion in cash and investments in hand, Microsoft has at least one edge on the competition.

The Bookeen Orizon has a multitouch Sipix display and will be release in May for $250

2010-02-16T23:04:00.000-08:00

Bookeen say that the upcoming Orizon e-reader will be available in May (in both the US and the UK). They also update us that the reader will have a multi-touch Sipix display (6", 800x600).

Beside the Sipix e-paper display, the Orizon has 1GB of internal memory, micro-SD slot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, accelerometer and mini-USB. It weights only 150 grams, and supports several file formats, inlcluding ePub and PDFs.

The Orizon is an e-reader that has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mini-USB. The Orizon includes 1GB of internal memory, and a micro-SD slot. It weights only 150 grams (with the battery), and has a multitouch display (SiPix) and and accelerometer. It supports several file formats including ePub and PDFs.

Source: e-reader info

Volvo unveils touchscreen rear entertainment with 500GB and WiFi

2010-02-16T22:51:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Volvo XC70 will be shown at the Chicago Auto Show on February 10, 2010 with the industry's first Internet connected Rear Seat Entertainment System with Windows XP, WiFi and a 500G hard drive. This innovative product, while still only in the conceptual phase, will allow customers to surf the Internet, download applications to personalize their Volvo to their lifestyle while enjoying video and unlimited music download using a digital touch screen. The RSEi-500TM will also allow customers to connect their vehicle to their home computer thus allowing video, audio and other home data content to be easily transferred to the vehicle's on board computer.

Volvo Cars of North America has partnered with Azentek Corporation and Gracenote® to explore the possibility of bringing this revolutionary product to the market. The Chicago Auto Show demonstration will optimize this leading edge new technology by leveraging the turbocharged speeds of Sprint 4G via its new OverdriveTM 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot.*

"The RSEi-500 has set a new standard for the Rear Seat Entertainment industry. This fully integrated Multimedia RSE allows customers to surf the Internet, enjoy Mobile TV and watch videos, while boasting the industry's first interactive audio library and video exploration experience enabled by Gracenote and its partners, all from the back seat of their Volvo XC70," said Jack Lawson, Product Manager at VCNA. "These technological properties are what we know appeal to the discerning electronics buyers and owners of Volvo vehicles."

Volvo Cars, in teaming with Gracenote and its partners, provides the most comprehensive in-vehicle music and video experience in the industry. Taking advantage of the broadband connection and Gracenote's comprehensive automotive and server solutions, passengers will for the first time be able to navigate their music collections by mood, and display lyrics in North America, artist biographies and reviews as music is playing. Additionally, Gracenote is powering Volvo's Music Service which allows users to explore and download as much music as they desire as part of the bundled entertainment solution. The system can also identify and retrieve information for music currently playing on the AM/FM/Satellite radio and then download those tracks directly to the entertainment system. Users can also display cover art, synopses and cast details for DVD movies, explore additional video content online and have a celebrity artist voice of choice interact with the user during the music experience.

"We are pleased to enable Volvo with the latest Gracenote technologies for music and video recognition, as well as online media exploration, recommendation, and Gracenote-powered music download services for Volvo's next generation of entertainment systems. This implementation sets an entirely new standard for an in-vehicle entertainment system and what is possible with Internet connectivity in the car," said Bill Fleck, Head of Automotive Sales, Americas at Gracenote.

RSEi-500
Feature Highlights

Internet Connectivity
Associate and navigate user's music library with cover art, lyrics in North America and mood attributes
Unlimited music download service and Video exploration
Recognize currently playing broadcast music and download those tracks
DVD playback with cover art, synopses and cast details
USB Drive Interface
Email Access
Aux AV input for external devices like videos, I-Pods, Zune Players, gaming devices, ect.
WiFi Capability for connectivity to various other data storage devices (i.e.: Home Server)
500G Hard Drive
Touch Screen

Based on customer feedback at the Chicago Auto Show, the RSEi-500 may one day find its way into a number of Volvo models. VCNA will continue to study the RSEi-500's viability and hopes to announce a firm launch date in the future.

Source: Volvo

Verizon Wireless And Skype Join Forces To Create A Global Mobile Calling Community

2010-02-16T22:41:00.000-08:00

BARCELONA, SPAIN; BASKING RIDGE, NJ, UNITED STATES; AND LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG — At the 2010 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Verizon Wireless and Skype today announced a strategic relationship that will bring Skype to Verizon Wireless smartphones in March. The new Skype mobile™ product enhances Verizon Wireless’ smartphones for users who have data plans by offering a new way to call around the globe, while also giving hundreds of millions of Skype users around the world the opportunity to communicate with friends, family and business colleagues in the United States using Verizon Wireless.

The two companies have created an exclusive, easy-to-use Skype mobile offering for 3G smartphones. Verizon Wireless 3G smartphone users with data plans can use Skype mobile to:

make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network;
call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence.

Initially, Skype mobile will be available on millions of best-selling Verizon Wireless 3G smartphones with data plans, including the BlackBerry® Storm™ 9530, Storm2™ 9550, Curve™ 8330, Curve™ 8530, 8830 World Edition and Tour™ 9630 smartphones, as well as DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS™ by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR™.

John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless, said, “Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless changes the game. For Verizon Wireless’ more than 90 million customers, Skype mobile adds great value because we’re effectively giving customers with smartphones and data plans the option to extend their unlimited calling community to hundreds of millions of Skype users around the globe. And you’re not limited to using a single type of phone; we’ll have nine smartphones ready right at launch in March.”

Josh Silverman, chief executive officer of Skype, noted, “People want to take their Skype conversations with them wherever they go, whether it’s on a PC, TV or increasingly mobile phones. Verizon Wireless will give U.S. consumers the best Skype experience on mobile phones and will truly change the way people call their friends and family internationally.”

Source: Verizon Wireless

10 things you need to know about Windows Phone 7 Series

2010-02-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

here are the essential facts you need to know. Oh, and our hands-on with the new OS won't be far away.

1. This is where Microsoft gets serious
The new OS marks a real departure for Windows on a phone. A couple of years ago Microsoft decided it needed to get serious about the consumer market or lose out. The iPhone was here and looming large. What it actually needed was to lighten up in terms of design – and get serious about the challenge from its competitors. It has succeeded on both counts.

2. Games will be on board
The impact of the Games hub on the devices will be crucial, . You can read more about this in our piece detailing the entire Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7 Series announcement, but it's pretty clear that Xbox Live will enable access to your Xbox Live profile and avatar. But what else could the Games hub be used for? We're sure Microsoft will want to expand things in this area.

3. It'll be on loads of handsets
Windows Phone 7 Series will be on board a whole heap of handsets from numerous operators by the Autumn. Just look at the initial partner list - AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG , Orange, SFR, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica (they own O2), Telstra, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone and manufacturers Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC Corp., HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Qualcomm. Wowsers.

4. It uses Dorado
Dorado is the codename for the Zune software for the PC. And now, iTunes style, it'll sync content to your Windows Phone, too. After all, ActiveSync is rubbish, isn't it?

5. It's good for work and pleasure
Windows Phone has to keep the features that make it so appealing to corporates – compatibility with Exchange and Office, for example. But Microsoft may finally have found a way to balance this with the thirst for snazzy smartphone tech.

6. It's great with people
The People Hub is the finest way we've yet seen to bring all your communication together in one place. It'll be interesting to see if it integrates other social networks (and if you can totally configure this).

7. It's all about the live tiles
At a time when Apple's iPhone UI still holds major influence over the market (look at Samsung's latest phones to see why), Microsoft has managed to at least mix things up a little. Taking the best aspects of the Zune interface and combining them with the dynamic tiled approach is clever – we're fans.

8. Search is central to the experience
As well as the Start button, every Windows Phone 7 Series phone will come with a dedicated hardware button for Bing, providing one-click access to search from anywhere on the handset. "A special implementation of Bing search provides intent-specific results, delivering the most relevant web or local results, depending on the type of query," says Microsoft. What that actually means is that if you search for "pizza" on a phone, it'll search local businesses for you first.

9. Hubs are it
The People Hub is clever (even if it's not totally original). But we like the idea of gathering together content – after all gathering media together is basically what Apple does with the iPod app on the iPhone. Integration with third-party apps and services also marks a real departure for the OS, even if it may be seen as a necessary evil by some Microsoft internals. Windows Phone 7 Series includes six hubs including Office, Xbox Live and Marketplace for apps.

10. It'll sync over Wi-Fi
Dear Apple, please sort this out. Because Microsoft has beaten you to the punch.

Source: Techradar

Windows Phone Press Conference at MWC 2010 "Live"

2010-02-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer hosts a press conference at Mobile World Congress 2010.

Samsung Wave: 3.3-inch Super AMOLED, Bluetooth 3.0, and HD Movies

2010-02-15T00:32:00.000-08:00

The Samsung S8500 Wave is the first device to run the new Bada OS but it comes with a familiar TouchWiz interface. Lively and colorful, the interface packs several usability and design upgrades compared to its featurephone days.

A notification tray sits at the top always ready to show you the latest events you have missed and let you control all your connections. The video and audio players have completely revamped interfaces and all the UI icons are new. The visual task switcher and the optional ten menu screens are also nice features although not as innovative.

The young Bada OS owners will source applications from Samsung Apps - an online store that is already available in 3 countries and should launch in 50 more in the coming months. For now there are only around 100 Bada apps available there but Samsung promise to put great effort in extending that number.

But the innovations that the Samsung S8500 Wave brings certainly don't end up with software. The handsets runs on a 1 GHz CPU and we can confirm that it's blazing fast. It is also among the little few to support the latest Wi-Fi n standard.

The best part of the Samsung S8500 Wave hardware however is its Super AMOLED display which is simply great. You can find out more details about it in our preview and see how close it comes to perfection.

The list of noteworthy Samsung S8500 Wave features continues with a 5 megapixel autofocus camera and 720p video recording. The camera interface is nice - it's pretty much the same as on Samsung M8910 Pixon12.

Samsung S8500 Wave at a glance

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 1900/2100 MHz, EDGE class 10, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 2 Mbps
Form factor: Touchscreen bar
Dimensions: 10.9 mm thin
Display: 3.3" 16M-color Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 800 pixels resolution, scratch-resistant glass surface
Platform: Bada OS
CPU: 1 GHz processor
Memory: 2GB internal memory, microSD card slot
Camera: 5-megapixels auto-focus camera, (HD)720p video recording
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack
Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate, proximity sensor for screen auto-turn-off, ambient light sensor, FM radio with RDS, DivX/XviD support
Battery: 1500 mAh battery

Sony Ericsson Launches Vivaz, Xperia Phones

2010-02-15T00:21:00.000-08:00

BARCELONA—Sony Ericsson kicked off this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) here with the introduction of three new phones that build on the previously-released touch-screen 3G Vivaz and the Android-based Xperia x10.
All three phones are slated to be released in the second quarter on a global basis, but negotiations with U.S. network operators are ongoing, so there are no firm dates on a U.S. release. At a press conference here on Sunday, Sony pitched the devices as the "fabulous five products."

First up is the Vivaz Pro, which adds a QWERTY keyboard that slides out from underneath the 3.2-inch touchscreen.

Lennard Hoornik, corporate vice president and global head of marketing for Sony Ericsson, said the company was trying to combine the slickness of a touch-screen phone with the ease-of-use provided by a QWERTY keyboard. In Europe alone, the company has seen a 250 percent increase in QWERTY use, he said.

The Symbian-based Vivaz Pro is about 2 millimeters thicker than the original Vivaz, allows for video capture in 720p HD, and comes in black or white. It includes an 8GB microSD card and a 5.1 megapixel camera.

Sony introduced the original Vivaz last month, and that device is set to be released this quarter.

The other two phones Sony introduced tonight take their cues from the Xperia x10 – the Xperia x10 mini and the Xperia x10 Pro. Both phones operate the Android 1.6 operating system and come with access to Google services like Gmail, Google Maps, and the Android Market. They include a 2.55-inch touchscreen and 5-megapixel camera.

The Xperia x10 Pro, however, gets its own slide-out QWERTY keyboard like the Vivaz Pro. The addition makes the Xperia x10 Pro slightly heavier than the mini, 4.2 ounces compared to 3.1 ounces.

Hoornik said the benefit of the x10 mini is the ability to control it with just the touch of your thumb, since icons are located in the four corners of the screen.

The x10 mini comes in black, pearl white, lime, pink, red, and silver, while the x10 mini pro comes in black or red.

The original Xperia x10 debuted in November 2009, and includes an 8.1 megapixel camera and four-inch screen. It will be available this quarter.

Much of the subsequent question-and-answer session dealt with Android and Sony Ericsson's attitude toward Google's approach to the mobile space.

Bert Nordberg, Sony Ericsson president, denied that his company favored one OS over another, pointing to a lineup that including offerings from Symbian, Windows Mobile, and Android.

"I think that this year Android is very important because we have a great cooperation with Google," Nordberg said. "We put a lot of effort in doing co-creation with them to make sure that the experience with our phones is what we expect, [but the] vision is that you become OS agnostic" so people will recognize Sony Ericsson phones, and look past the brand to the OS platform it runs, he said.

That idea of co-creation is the basis for Creations, a new online, open platform also introduced here Sunday. Creations is intended to allow mobile phone users to create and publish their content – video, audio, or pictures – and share, explore, and remix it using mobile apps and tools, or on the desktop.

Nordberg declined to speculate if all three OSes would actually be around several years from now. "I worked in the OS industry many years ago, and 2.5 years ago, Symbian was everything to everyone and now Android is everything to everyone," so it would be foolish to try and guess the future, he said.

"Operators talk about building their own OS, their own app stores, so I think we can expect maybe not fewer but more OSes," Nordberg said.

When asked about the Nexus One and Google's plan to sell its phones online, Nordberg said he has "never been very upset about that."

"We've been offered to sell phones through [the Google site], but we only sell phones with our brand," he continued. "The new distribution model of selling over the Web … is interesting. I wouldn't rule it out, but now there are no plans to sell it through that channel."

Late last year, some Sony Ericsson smartphones were hit with software problems that prompted European retailers to briefly pull them from shelves. When asked if the "fabulous five" phones would be free of similar bugs, Hoornik offered a terse "yes," but Howard Stringer, president and CEO of Sony Corp., joked that the fact that he showed up for today's press conference was a testament to his confidence in the devices.

Source: PC MAgazine

Adobe Confirm No Flash for Windows Mobile 7

2010-02-15T00:07:00.000-08:00

This evening Adobe issued a statement about Flash compatibility with Microsoft's Windows Mobile 7. It said, "Microsoft and Adobe are working closely together. While the newest version of Windows Phone won't support Flash at initial availability, both companies are working to include a browser plug-in for the full Flash player in future versions of Windows Phone. More details will be shared at Microsoft MIX next month." Microsoft is expected to announce Windows Mobile 7 on February 15. Adobe has also committed to bringing Flash Player 10.1 to the Android platform before the end of the first half of 2010.

Google Buzz Makes Gmail Social

2010-02-14T23:55:00.000-08:00

Five years ago, Gmail was just email. Later it added chat and then video chat, both built right in, so people had choices about how to communicate from a single browser window. Today, communication on the web has evolved beyond email and chat — people are sharing photos with friends and family, commenting on news happening around them, and telling the world what they're up to in real-time. This new social sharing is valuable, but it means there's a lot more stuff to sort through, and it's harder to get past status updates and engage in meaningful discussions.

Now, They Are launching Google Buzz, a new way to start conversations about the things you find interesting and share updates, photos, videos and more. Buzz is built right into Gmail, so there's nothing to set up — you're automatically following the people you email and chat with the most.

They focused on making the sharing experience really rich by integrating photos, videos, and links. No more fuzzy little pictures: Buzz makes it easy to quickly flip through photos and experience them the way they were meant to be seen: big and full-resolution. And videos play inline so you can watch them without opening a new window.

You can choose to share publicly with the world or privately to a small group of friends each time you post. And you can connect other sites you use, today there's Picasa, Flickr, Google Reader, and Twitter, so your friends can keep up with what you're doing around the web — all in one place.

To make sure you don't miss out on the best part of sharing, Buzz sends responses to your posts straight to your inbox. Unlike static email messages, buzz messages in your inbox are live conversations where comments appear in real time.

You can follow the specific people whose posts you want to see, but Buzz also recommends posts from people you're not directly following, often ones where your friends are having a lively conversation in the comments. If you're not interested in a particular recommendation, just click the "Not interested" link and your feedback will help improve the recommendations system. Buzz also weeds out uninteresting posts from the people you follow — collapsing inactive posts and short status messages like "brb." These early versions of ranking and recommendations are just a start; we're working on improvements that will help you automatically sort through all the social data being produced to find the most relevant conversations that matter to you.

For all those times when you want to share something but aren't in front of your computer, Buzz is also available on your phone. When you're out in the real world, a lot of the information you want to share often has to do with where you are: for example, you may want to talk about a new restaurant you discovered or the score of the game you're watching. So rather than simply a small screen version of the desktop experience, Buzz for mobile brings location to the forefront and makes it easy to have conversations about places. In addition to checking out buzz from people you're following, you can also see nearby buzz from the people around you.

Symbian Announces New Symbian3 Smartphone OS

2010-02-14T22:23:00.000-08:00

BARCELONA—The Symbian Foundation announced the first fully open-source release of their popular smartphone OS today, the new Symbian3.

Symbian, which is used on phones including the Nokia E72, is the world's most popular smartphone OS. It's extremely common on phones in Europe and Asia, though it isn't used much in the U.S.; typically, AT&T carries one Symbian phone at a time (right now the Nokia E71x and Nokia sells some unlocked phones to individual consumers.

Last week, Symbian announced that the company had made its existing Symbian OS platform open-source and promised that Symbian devices would come to US carriers in 2010.

Symbian's improvements

The new Symbian3 works hard to integrate touch-screen support into the OS, something that has seemed awkward on some previous Symbian devices like the Nokia 5800.

The new OS moves to a "single-tap paradigm," reducing the number of times you have to tap the screen, and implements multi-touch gestures such as flick-to-scroll and pinch-to-zoom.

"There's also support for third party developers to add extra gestures if they want to," said Ian Hutton, chairman of Symbian's Features & Roadmap Council.

Don't worry, though - non-touch phones are still supported, Hutton said.

"I certainly don't see non-touch devices disappearing any time soon," he said.

The new OS release also livens up the phone's home screen with support for multiple pages of widgets and a widget manager.

Symbian3 supports 2D and 3D graphics acceleration and HDMI video output. And unlike Apple's iPhone OS, Symbian3 embraces multitasking third-party applications. The new OS improves low-level memory management by using writeable data paging, which lets apps running in the background, swap their data out to persistent flash storage, and free up RAM when they're not busy.

"It means more of the data that was stored in RAM can be paged out, giving you more apps running in parallel," Hutton said.

Symbian3 also takes care of some old Symbian problems. For instance, many Symbian phones and applications tend to get confused about which Internet access method to use if they have several options. "One-click connectivity" in Symbian3 fixes that.

"It bashes a load of those dialogs [away] and just essentially does the right thing," Hutton said.

Symbian vs. Google

Symbian3 will go up against Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows Mobile in a bid to attract third-party manufacturers. Both Android and Symbian are at least somewhat open-source, and both OSes rely on an alliance of partners to build phones – the Symbian Foundation and Google's Open Handset Alliance. But Symbian sees its strength in the fact that the company isn't shepherded by a single, for-profit corporation.

"I would challenge [Google] to point to a successful open-source project out in the world that's controlled by a commercial entity," said Larry Berkin, Symbian's head of global alliances.

Symbian also approves of a broader array of development tools than Google does. While Google generally tries to get Android developers to focus on writing for the Dalvik Java engine, Symbian developers can write native code in C and C++ or choose to write in Nokia's QT framework or Web standards like Javascript and CSS, Hutton said.

Symbian^3 includes:

HDMI support enables users to plug their phone into a TV and watch a high-definition movie at 1080p quality without a Blu-ray player.
Music store integration embedded within the radio enables users to identify a song and learn more about it. The addition of a “buy now” button, which links with the user’s chosen music store, makes purchasing easy.
More efficient memory management due to Writeable Data Paging allows more applications to run in parallel for a faster, more complete and efficient multi-tasking experience, especially on mid-range hardware.
A new 2D and 3D graphics architecture takes full advantage of the hardware acceleration available to deliver a faster and more responsive user interface. Users, developers and device creators will all benefit greatly from the visual enhancements and smooth transitions that will significantly improve the look-and-feel of their applications and services. Combined with industry-standard OpenGL ES, the new architecture also provides a great platform for high performance games – all without slowing the phone down.
The industry-leading networking architecture, ready for 4G networks, provides next-generation Internet experiences on today’s devices. Consumers will benefit from the architecture's ability to seamlessly balance each individual application’s needs regarding factors such as bandwidth, latency and jitter. This improves the consumer’s experience of network-dependent applications and Internet services like VoIP and media content streaming.
One-click connectivity for all applications greatly simplifies the process of connecting to the Internet, without interrupting the user. New global settings allow the user to configure platform-wide behaviour, for example ensuring the device automatically switches from cellular to WLAN when a free WLAN network is available.
Usability enhancements across the user interface include the adoption of a direct “single tap” interaction model, making it much easier to complete common tasks on a device. Multi-touch support for gestures such as “pinch-to-zoom” forms the basis of a gesture framework that can be extended and leveraged by the developer community.
The Homescreen takes a big step forward with support for multiple pages of widgets and a simple flick gesture to move between them. The widget manager makes discovery and download of new widgets simple and support for multiple instances of a native widget means that consumers can monitor multiple weather forecasts, news feeds, social networking accounts or multiple email accounts simultaneously through a common interface.

Samsung Introduces Bada, Wave -New Platform, New Phone

2010-02-14T22:19:00.000-08:00

Samsung used its press conference the night before the Mobile World Congress show opened to show off its Bada platform and its new Wave smartphone. ("Bada" means "ocean" in Korean, and their launch event was filled - maybe overfilled - with sea and water analogies.)

Samsung is in the smartphone space. Samsung's phones have been widely popular, but it is now focusing on creating now just the phone, but the platform that runs it, and applications that run on that platform as well as processors and screens for its own phone and others.

Samsung's focus at the event was "the democratization of smart phones," talked about how it is now #1 in what it calls "full touch" phones and how it believes smart phones should not be defined by location, cost, or lifestyle, but should be available to everyone.

While that may be the goal, tonight the company only announced its first Bada-based device, called the Wave, which seems to be clearly a high-end smart phone. A couple of features make Bada stand out - notably its integrated contacts list,which pulls in contacts from your web mail accounts, Facebook, MySpace,, and Twitter etc. in a way designed to make messaging to and from all these places quite integrated (including things like seeing all of a contact's Facebook pictures in their contact record. While Palm's WebOS seems to have pioneered this concept, it looked quite good in the demo.

Other software features include TouchWize UI 3.0, a very nice looking touch-screen interface; an integrated inbox; a push calendar that lets you send event requests to people on multiple services; support for Adobe Flash; and a series of Samsung Apps.
Samsung's JK Shin said the companies has three core believes about mobile platforms - that hardware drives the software; that it needs to be operator-friendly; and that openness matters. Of course, all three points are debatable - and Bada seems open only in that developers can create applications that run on it. Samsung does not appear to be trying to evangelize it to other phone makers, the way Google or Microsoft are with their platforms.

On the hardware side, the Wave has a number of new features, including a 1GHz Samsung applciations processor (of which there were very little details available), and a new 3.3-in. "Super AMOLED" display. This is interesting to me because instead of putting a touch sensor between the screen and a layer of glass on top, as in active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays to date, this one integrated the touch sensor with the AMOLED itself, eliminating an air gap. The result, Samsung says, is a display that instead of reflecting back 20% of the light that reaches it, only reflects back 4% -- which should make it much easier to read in sunlight. Unfortunately, the demos were all done in a darkened room, so there was no way to judge this, but the concept is good. (OLED displays are notoriously bad in bright light.)

Source: Pc Magazine

Exclusive HTC Incredible Photos

2010-02-08T06:44:00.000-08:00

Pocketnow managed to obtain a few details along with a batch of leaked photos and video, so here's what we're being told: Snapdragon processor, Android 2.1 with Sense UI, 256MB of RAM, optical mouse pointer, and dual LED flash for the camera. The screen's about 3.5 or 3.7 inches, WVGA resolution and possibly AMOLED.

Source: pocketnow.com

Facebook Plan to Launch their Webmail

2010-02-07T21:20:00.000-08:00

Facebook is completely rewriting their messaging product and is preparing to launch a fully featured webmail product in its place, according to a source with knowledge of the product. Internally it’s known as Project Titan. Or, unofficially and perhaps over-enthusiastically, the Gmail killer.

Facebook messaging has been the bane of users’ existence for years. The biggest problem is simply deleting old emails. It takes so long that I have thousands of unread and read but not deleted messages in my inbox.

But Facebook messaging is also only indirectly linked to the email, which is still the standard way that people exchange digital messages when not on Facebook.

Facebook has occasionally dabbled with improvements to messaging, like adding the ability to search messages. But for the most part it has remained static. And not very useful.

Even MySpace moved away from their aging messaging platform to a true webmail service in 2008 (albeit one that lacked POP or IMAP support).

But now Facebook is getting itself back in the game. And if the details we’ve heard are accurate, Project Titan, or whatever it’s called when it launches, may be the kind of product people flock to.

First, our understanding is that there will be full POP/IMAP support, meaning users can access the account other than through Facebook itself. Your email account name will be your vanity url – vanityurl@facebook.com.

Email is all about identity. And Facebook is ahead of everyone else in the identity game via Facebook Connect. Facebook says more than 60 million people log in to 80,000 third party websites each month via Facebook Connect.

Tacking a real webmail product on top of those vanity URLs and Facebook connect is something even Google may shudder at. Gmail killer? I don’t think so. But a strong product move nonetheless.

Source: TechCrunch

Nexus One: The Story

2010-02-07T00:23:00.000-08:00

Google has launched a series of videos on its official Nexus One YouTube channel,documenting various details on how one of the world’s best Android phones was created

Windows Phone 7, No multitasking, limited Flash

2010-02-06T21:58:00.000-08:00

Microsoft may consciously limit Windows Phone 7 in its attempt to compete against Apple, a leak sent out today claims. Echoing some previous reports, a source says WP7 will have a Zune-like interface at many levels but goes on to say this will extend to the underlying framework as well. It would drop multitasking and instead pause apps, using an iPhone-like push notification system to handle new updates.
The revamp would also be less open as a whole than Windows Mobile 6. Hardware makers like HTC would not have the option of modifying the home screen with their own interfaces, such as TouchFLO. Apps would also have to go through a "service based delivery" system such as Windows Marketplace to install, reversing a years-old ability to download apps through the browser or other sources. A broad file system would be dropped in favor of a centralized but simpler storage area.

WP7 would use the Zune HD interface wholesale for media playback but would actually have a significant amount of Xbox Live compatibility. It would not only tap into the social network but would support XNA app programming that would let developers write games using the same code they use for Xbox 360 games, although touch input and resolution would mean having to write different versions. Again, Windows Mobile apps wouldn't be backwards compatible but would have a similar enough code base to port some titles over.

Microsoft's ambitions for the web experience would allegedly be another mixture of steps forward and back. The company is consciously aiming to beat the iPhone 3G in speed and accuracy but isn't yet certain if it would beat the several months old iPhone 3GS. Flash and Silverlight would be limited to the out-of-browser environment even though both should be part of Windows Mobile in the first half of the year.

Hardware would be available in September and should have a fast-track development cycle, according to the source. Since Microsoft would provide the drivers, third parties could not only ship phones faster but would finally have fast, over-the-air updates. Windows Mobile has widely been criticized for a slow update model that requires carriers and hardware makers to approve and implement updates, often leading to updates only arriving several months after Microsoft updated the code.

While much of the information still isn't confirmed, it corroborates previous rumors and hints at an unusual regressive strategy when trying to compete against Android, Apple and other more modern platforms. The design appears targeted at media-heavy phones like some Android devices and the iPhone but would, if true, eliminate some of the key advantages that Microsoft has claimed for Windows Mobile. Android and webOS already have true, simplified multitasking systems and allow users to download apps outside of traditional channels. Apple doesn't yet have such code but is widely expected to show off iPhone OS 4.0 as soon as this spring.

Nook a Kindle killer ?????

2010-02-03T02:07:00.000-08:00

While information on Barnes & Noble's new e-book reader, the Nook, has been trickling out for several days, the company unveiled the new $259 device on its Web site Tuesday a few hours before the official launch event in New York.
As previously reported, the Nook, billed as the first Android-powered e-book reader, features not only a 6-inch E-ink screen but a color touch screen that allows you to navigate content and also can turn into a virtual keyboard for searches. At launch, no separate Android apps will run on the device, but Barnes & Noble says that one of the reasons it chose Android to power the Nook is because it's an open platform with a large developer community and that future apps are a possibility.

Like the Kindle, the Nook has a built-in 3G wireless connection (AT&T is the carrier) and a dictionary. However, the Nook also packs in Wi-Fi connectivity and a memory expansion slot--you get 2GB of internal memory, but can add up to a 16GB micro SD card.

It's worth noting that initially Barnes & Noble said the WiFi connection would only work in its stores, where Nook owners would have have access to exclusive offers and free browsing of complete e-books. But later a PR person emailed us to say that, "The Wi-Fi connectivity will also work on other Wi-Fi networks to give you access to browse and download from the company's digital store at fast broadband speeds."

The Nook does weigh an ounce more than the Kindle (11.2 ounces vs. 10.2 ounces) and can't match the Kindle's battery life (10 days vs. 14 days). And while it does play back MP3 audio and has a built-in speaker, it doesn't have the Kindle's text-to-speech feature or a Web browser.

That said, Barnes & Noble is touting one very important new feature: the ability to lend out e-books you've purchased to friends for free for 14 days. The company says that you'll be able to send e-books to a friend's Nook, iPhone, or iPod Touch, select BlackBerry and Motorola smartphones, as well as Windows or Mac PCs that have the Barnes & Noble eReader software installed on them. However, not all e-books will be available for lending.

At the launch event, Barnes & Noble reps weren't letting anybody touch the small number of working prototypes they had on hand, so we didn't get a chance to actually play around with one ourselves, though we did see demos of various aspects of the device. The color touch screen uses capacitive technology and seemed quite responsive (as for it being as responsive as the iPhone's screen, that was hard to tell). All in all, the device measured up quite well against the Kindle from a design standpoint, but what really sets the Nook apart is that color touch screen--it immediately catches your eye and represents a clear competitive advantage.

The Nook is due out toward the end of November, with Barnes & Noble prominently featuring the device and its accessories (mostly protective covers) in its brick-and-mortar stores. The company is also taking pre-orders on its website and the first 10,000 buyers will receive a free e-book copy of Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point (Gladwell made a brief appearance at the launch event).

Source: CNET

Samsung GT-S8500 is first with Bluetooth 3.0

2010-02-03T01:41:00.000-08:00

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has approved the first consumer handset with the Bluetooth 3.0 specification on board. Bluetooth 3.0 was first announced in April 2009. Other Bluetooth 3.0 devices have been approved, but this is the first consumer phone. According to the Bluetooth SIG's description, the device in question is the Samsung S8500, which features a 3.1-inch, anti-reflective, outdoor-viewable, OLED touch screen with the TouchWiz user interface. The SIG also notes that it is slim, compact, will come in several colors, and also contains quad-band GSM/EDGE radios. The description of the S8500 was provided to the Bluetooth SIG by Samsung, and doesn't necessarily represent the final specs of the phone. The Federal Communications Commission also approved the S8500 later in the day, confirming in the process that it will have Wi-Fi.

Source: phone scoop

Nokia to skip Symbian v2 to v3

2010-02-03T01:31:00.000-08:00

Nokia plans to speed up the development of the Symbian platform by jumping over version 2 to offer version 3 featuring multi-touch functions in the third quarter of 2010 and then version 4 in late 2010 or early 2011, according to Michael Hsu, general manager of Nokia Taiwan.

The Symbian version 4 is believed to be based on the Qt cross-platform application development framework developed by Trolltech, which Nokia acquired in June 2008, said industry sources. The Qt will allow software developers to develop application software supporting Symbian and Maemo platforms simultaneously, added the sources.

For terminal end products, Nokia will continue to offer Maemo-based mobile computing devices, Symbian S60-based smartphones as well as Symbian S40-based feature phones, with the prices for Symbian S60-based models likely to be more competitive in 2010, Hsu said.

By 2011, smartphones based on the Symbian S60-platform will account for 55% of Nokia's total handset shipments, followed by Symbian S40 feature phones at 35% and Maemo-based devices at 10%, according to sources who are familiar with Nokia's product roadmap.

Nokia also plans to launch Maemo 6-based products in the second half of 2010, the sources added.

In other news, Nokia has launched its business-class E72 smartphone in the Taiwan market. The E72 supports multi e-mail systems, including Ovi mail, Yahoo Mail, Windows Live Hotmail and Gmail.

Nokia shipped 6.1 million E-series and 4.6 million N-series handsets in the fourth quarter of 2009, and shipments of E- and N-series handsets reached 18 million units each for all of 2009, according to Hsu.

Source: DIGITIMES