HIGH TECH NEWS

Twitter takes on Instagram with filters

2012-12-29T10:13:00.003-08:00

Twitter adds photo-editing tools to compete with Instagram, Xbox gets new apps, and CNET ranks the top 100 tech stories of 2012.

Tuesday's CNET Update has no filter:

The CNET 100 has arrived. We've complied 100 of the most influential technology stories, trends, gadgets and people of 2012. A few may surprise you: we ranked the Galaxy S III ahead of the iPhone 5.

Also in today's news roundup:

- Twitter added photo filters in it's latest move against Instagram. But Instagram also updated its app with new camera options.

- Twitter's new profiles will roll out to every user on Wednesday. So if you don't already have a header photo, your icon will just sit behind a gray box. Here's a quick how-to for changing your Twitter header photo.

- Xbox is adding several new apps, including an app for CNET videos. Now you can catch up with CNET Update on your Xbox. Microsoft also added an app for SkyDrive, to pull in photos and videos saved on the cloud service.

Blame holidays for Instagram slippage, AppData says

2012-12-29T10:09:00.004-08:00

The analytics firm suggests that any drop in user numbers stemmed from the holiday effect on daily routines, not Instagram's unpopular new terms of service.

What's really behind today's reported decline in Instagram numbers? AppData -- which touched off a firestorm today when the New York Post used its data to suggest that Instagram had lost nearly a quarter of its daily users -- says that the holidays are likely to blame, rather than proposed changes to its terms of service.

"Though the terms-of-service change spurred a lot of negative media attention and complaints from users, the decline in Facebook-connected daily active users began closer to Christmas, not immediately after the proposed policy change," said Brittany Darwell, speaking on behalf of AppData owner Inside Network. "The drop between December 24 and 25 seems likely to be related to the holiday, during which time people are traveling and otherwise have different routines than usual. A number of other apps saw similar trends, including Skype, Pandora, Pinterest and Yelp."

The Post had reported that someone at analytics firm AppData claimed to be "pretty sure" the decline was related to changes in the terms of service; Darwell told me that quote was "not authorized for publication." In any case, AppData isn't standing behind it.

I asked Darwell how AppData squared Instagram's apparent usage decline on Christmas with its performance on Thanksgiving, when it crowed about a record-breaking number of photosbeing shared.

"Instagram's Thanksgiving milestone was related to the number of photos shared on that day, not the number of users," she said. "Unfortunately we have no way of knowing how many actual photos were shared over Christmas unless Instagram announces that."

Still, on Thanksgiving, AppData reported that Instagram had 14.5 million daily active users connected to Facebook. On Christmas, that number had fallen to 12.5 million users.

At the same time, the number of monthly active Instagram users increased, from 38.7 million on Thanksgiving to 42.5 million on Christmas.

Instagram told CNET earlier today that active users continue to increase.

Darwell also answered another question many of us had about today's story in the Post: how many Instagram users connect with Facebook, and can therefore be tracked by companies like AppData. The company estimates that 20 to 30 percent of Instagram users are connected, Darwell said. It's a minority, but as samples go it's a large one.

"AppData is a sample, and to really understand whether proposed policy changes had any effect on the service, we'll need to observe how that sample changes over time," Darwell said. On that point at least, we all can agree.

source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57561174-93/blame-holidays-for-instagram-slippage-appdata-says/

'Smartphone satellite' developed by Surrey space researchers

2011-01-25T00:56:00.000-08:00

Space researchers at the University of Surrey and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) have developed ‘STRaND-1’, a satellite containing a smartphone payload that will be launched into orbit around the Earth later this year. STRaND-1 (Surrey Training, Research and Nanosatellite Demonstrator) is being developed by the Surrey team to demonstrate the advanced capabilities of a satellite built quickly using advanced commercial off-the-shelf components.

STRaND-1's lead researcher Dr Chris Bridges explained why a smartphone made an ideal satellite payload "Smartphones pack lots of components – such as sensors, video cameras, GPS systems and Wi-Fi radios – that are technologically advanced but a fraction of the size, weight and cost of components used in existing satellite systems. And because many smartphones also run on free operating systems that lend themselves to online software developers, the creators of applications (‘apps’) for smartphones could feasibly develop apps for satellites," he said.

Smartphones aren’t designed to go into space, so in addition to extensive ground testing prior to launch there will be an in-orbit test campaign to put the phone through its paces. A powerful computer built at the SSC will test the vital statistics of the phone once in space. The computer will check which components of the phone are operating normally and when components malfunction in orbit for recovery. Images and messages from the phone will be sent back to Earth via a radio system. Once all the tests are complete, the micro computer will be switched off and the smartphone will be used to operate parts of the satellite.

“If a smartphone can be proved to work in space, it opens up lots of new technologies to a multitude of people and companies for space who usually can’t afford it. It’s a real game-changer for the industry," Dr Bridges added.

A smartphone avionics suite is one of many technological advances packed into this 4 kg nano-satellite. To precisely point and manoeuvre, the satellite also incorporates advanced guidance, navigation and control systems including miniature reaction wheels, and a

GPS receiver, as well as innovative pulse plasma thrusters to propel it through space.

The long-established collaboration between Surrey Space Centre and SSTL means that the company benefits from the University of Surrey's advanced space engineering research, while the University’s researchers and students get the chance to design, build and fly real space hardware alongside engineers from a world-leading small satellite provider. “The STRaND-1 programme is part of a proud history of close collaboration between the University and SSTL; from the UoSAT missions of the 1990’s, through SNAP-1 in 2000," explained Dr Craig Underwood, Deputy Director of Surrey Space Centre and Principal Investigator of STRaND.

SSTL’s Shaun Kenyon, Project Manager for STRaND-1, said he was delighted with how the programme was going: “When we came to the Surrey Space Centre with the idea of flying a smartphone they had the expertise and innovative satellite subsystems to complete our design. The operation of the smartphone is really just the icing on the cake to what is already an incredibly advanced satellite.”

SSTL’s Head of Science Doug Liddle added: “It's planned that STRaND-1 will be the first of many collaborative STRaND satellites between the University and SSTL. This provides a tangible means for the two groups to share capabilities, develop key skills and work with advanced commercial technology in space. With the smartphone payload costing less than £300 and the whole satellite costing less than a family car it’s exciting to see how the team have managed to create a satellite with such incredible performance.”

About SSTL

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is the world's leading small satellite company, delivering operational space missions for a range of applications including Earth observation, science and communications. The Company designs, manufactures and operates high performance satellites and ground systems for a fraction of the price normally associated with space missions, with over 300 staff working on turnkey satellite platforms, space-proven satellite subsystems and optical instruments.

Since 1981 SSTL has built and launched 34 satellites – as well as providing training and development programmes, consultancy services, and mission studies for ESA, NASA , international governments and commercial customers, with its innovative approach that is changing the economics of space.

Based in Guildford, UK, SSTL is owned by EADS Astrium NV.

www.sstl.co.uk

About Surrey Space Centre

The Surrey Space Centre (SSC), a Research Centre of the Faculty of Electronics and Physical Sciences (FEPS) at the University of Surrey, is a world leading Centre of Excellence in Space Engineering, whose aim is to underpin the technical development of the space industry through its advanced research programmes. SSC, comprising over 80 academics and researchers, develops new innovative technologies which are exploited by the space industry.

Surrey's pioneering small satellite activities started in 1979 as an academic activity at the University, leading to the formation of a highly successful spin-out company – Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL).

SSC provides well focused space engineering education, postgraduate and industrial short courses, training the next generation space scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and business leaders. It has a large body of PhD, academic and industrial research, with a direct route through SSTL for rapid commercialization.

SSC's Academic Research Laboratories cover advanced multidisciplinary small satellite and space system engineering techniques for Earth orbit and interplanetary space; innovative communications, remote sensing, robotics and space science payloads for small satellites; and enabling technologies for low cost space exploitation and planetary exploration, working in close collaboration with SSTL.

How to change the default mail account on your iPhone or iPad

2011-01-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

Have multiple email accounts set up on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad and not sure how to set the right one up as your default? If you’re replying, it should behave and reply from whatever email the person contacted you through. But what about when you compose a new email? Having to toggle between mail accounts can be annoying if you have to do it constantly.
If you typically send most of your emails through one mail account, click through to see how to make that account your default one.

This process should work the same on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad but I’ll be using iPhone screens for this example.

Launch Settings from your homescreen.
Tap Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
Scroll down a bit and you’ll see a Default Account option.
Tap Default Account and choose the account you’d like your phone to use as the primary account.

You’re done! Your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad should now default to whatever mail account you’ve specified. Give it a try and let us know if it made emailing a better experience for you. And if you have any other email tips, leave them in comments!

More hints Apple is going with Qualcomm GSM/CDMA chipset for iPad 2, iPhone 5?

2011-01-23T00:21:00.000-08:00

Italian hacker Zibri went digging through iTunes and turned up some more hints that Apple just might be going with Qualcomm’s hybrid GSM/CDMA hybrid chipset for iPad 2 and iPhone 5.

In the picture above you see a “chunk” of code from the latest iTunes. Maybe, for the most of you, names like “partition.mbn” or “AMSS.MBN” means little or nothing. For me and a few others that means only one thing: QUALCOMM. Those files are the building blocks of any Qualcomm baseband.
So I can tell you that the next wave of iProducts will be using a QUALCOMM baseband. Which one I don’t know… maybe the iPad2, maybe the iPhone5 most probably all of them.

Our buddy Mickey Papillon broke news of the Qualcomm chipsets back at CES 2010 so it’ll be interesting to see if Apple finally pulls the trigger on them. It will be especially interesting to see if that means iPad 2 and iPhone 5 will be a dual-network releases, AT&T and Verizon in 2011?

Verizon’s first iPhone ad nods to customer patience

2011-01-21T13:05:00.000-08:00

With less than a month until the big day, we get a glimpse at the first Verizon iPhone commercial.

Verizon definitely doesn’t need to hype the iPhone – years of anticipation have made it a sure thing with consumers. Even still, we got a glimpse of the first Verizon iPhone ad, and it definitely acknowledges the patience some of us have been choking on since 2007.

Apple challenges Nokia suit over touchscreen scrolling patent

2011-01-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

The spat between Apple and Nokia heats up, and Apple won't be backing down.

Nokia has long claimed iOS technology violates its patents – and it’s not backing down. Now, Apple is counter-suing Nokia over the company’s alleged patent on touchscreen scrolling.
The Finnish cellphone manufacturer has been fighting the iPhone and iPad for infringing on countless patents it has registered. Apple has accordingly fought back, and 37 lawsuits later, here we are. Nokia’s fight with Apple escalated over the fall and winter of 2010, and in this particular instance, Apple is trying to invalidate Nokia’s claims that iOS devices violate its touchscreen scrolling patent. The complaint was filed in the UK, and Apple believes Nokia’s hold over touching and scrolling technology in invalid.
Apple continues to assert that Nokia is suing because it doesn’t have its own legs to stand on. “Companies must compete with us by investing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours,” Apple’s general counsel Bruce Sewell said about the situation earlier this year. Nokia’s initial court proceedings centered on Apple’s use of 3G technology, since stretching to challenge other purportedly unlicensed features iOS devices have integrated.
Apple has yet to comment, but Nokia responded to the countersuit. “We are examining the filing and will take whatever actions are needed to protect our rights,” spokesman Mark Durrant told Bloomberg. And Nokia clearly has no problems going to court: earlier today, the company won a case invalidating a patent infringement filed by German company IPCom. According to Bloomberg, Nokia has countered 45 IPCom patents, and so far has been successful.

iPhone 4: Everything You Need to Know

2011-01-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

The iPhone 4 is here and we have all the answers to your questions about Apple's new iPhone including pictures and detailed specifications.

Check out our full Apple iPhone 4 review and our AppleiPhone 4 vs. HTC EVO 4G/Motorola Droid X comparisons.

Update: Issues Since Launch

Apple Shares Take a Hit From Consumer Reports Review
Apple “Stunned:” iPhone Signal Strength Indicators Wrong
Suits Start Over Apple iPhone 4 Antenna
Reception Woes, Screen Discoloration, Glass Issues Plague iPhone 4
Apple, AT&T Struggle with iPhone 4 Preorders

Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone 4 today, which he claims offers over 100 new features, though he would focus on only a handful for the keynote. The iPhone 4 looks like the iPhone prototype obtained under questionable circumstances by Gizmodo: stainless steel casing, all-glass front, and a design Jobs describes as the thinnest smartphone on the planet: almost 25 percent thinner than the iPhone 3GS.. Unlike previous iPhones, the iPhone 4 will have volume controls on the side of the phone along with an accessible microSIM tray. The iPhone 4 features a front-facing camera, and the back sports a microphone, 30pin connector for docking, and a speaker, while the top sports a second microphone for noise cancellation, sleep/wake button, and a headset input.
Jobs went on to highlight the bands around the side of the iPhone 4 that caused much speculation in the wake of the leaked prototypes. Jobs identified them as part of the phone’s antenna system, saying the stainless steel band is also a primarily structural element of the device. The antenna supports all the iPhone 4’s wireless capability, from 3G to Wi-Fi to Bluetooth to GPS along with cellular communications.

iPhone 4: Retina Display

The iPhone 4 will also sport what Jobs described as a “retina display” with four times the pixel density of a typical LCD display at a whopping 326 pixels per inch—by far denser than anything else in the consumer electronics market. The result is a 3.5-inch display with a native resolution of 960 by 640 pixels that is actually a higher resolution than the typical human eye is capable of perceiving, when held at a distance of just 10 to 12 inches. Jobs claims the iPhone 4’s display winds up looking like a high quality printed book (albeit that emits light!) rather than a blocky pixellated grid. The iPhone OS automatically handles rendering text and controls at the higher resolution for the iPhone 4, so developers don’t need to do anything to update their applications to look good on the new display…but, of course, if developers want to add higher-resolution graphics to their apps, they will look stunning on the iPhone 4.

iPhone 4: A4 Chip and Gyroscope

The iPhone 4 will also feature an Apple-designed A4 CPU, following along the lines of the processor powering the iPad. Jobs said the A4 processor improved power management, so the iPhone 4 will manage 40 percent more talk time on 3G networks (up to 7 hours), or up to 6 hours of 3G Web browsing or 10 hours of Wi-Fi browsing. The device can also play up to 10 hours of video, 40 hours of music, and should have an standby time of up to 300 hours. The iPhone 4 will also pack up to 32 GB of onboard flash storage, and will offer quad-band HSDPA/HSUPA for mobile broadband speeds up to 7.2Mbps downstream, 4.8Mbps upstream…assuming carrier networks support that technology. The iPhone 4 will also support 802.11n Wi-Fi, assisted GPS, Bluetooth, and packs and accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor, and an ambient light sensor,. The iPhone 4 also sports a gyroscope, which enables six-axis motion sensing…just like a game controller, and iPhone OS 4 will offer developer APIs to leverage the gyroscope: Jobs envisions the gyroscope enabling whole new types of mobile gaming.

iPhone 4: Camera & iMovie

The iPhone 4 will feature a 5 megapixel camera with a backside-illuminated sensor, which Jobs says increases the amount of light captured by the sensor, resulting in better photographs, particularly in low-light situations. The camera will also record HD video at 720p resolution and 30 frames per second, and the LED flash can be used to light video as well. Like the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4 will feature in-phone video editing and enable users to share video the the Internet (think Facebook and YouTube). However, Apple is pushing the video editing envelope with a new iMovie application for iPhone, that enables users to assemble and trim clips and record directly into an iMovie timeline. Users can also add camera photos to their movies (complete with the pan-and-scan Ken Burns effect), and iMovie for iPhone will enable users to add titles and transitions to their videos. The iPhone 4 camera embeds geolocation information in video; iMovie for iPhone can optional display display that information. Users can also add music as a soundtrack to their video, and select from a number of pre-generated themes. iMovie for iPhone will be available as a separate purchase from the App Store for $4.99.

iPhone 4: Bing

Among new features in iOS 4 will be an option to use Microsoft’s Bing as a default search engine; Google will still be the iPhone’s default search, but Yahoo and Bing-powered searches will be available as options. Note that Bing will be taking over the back end for Yahoo’s search services later this year.

iBooks for iPhone

Apple also announced a version of iBooks will be available for iPhone, with feature parity to the iPad edition (complete with previously-announced PDF and annotations support). The applications will be able to synchronize across devices, so users will be able to start reading an iBook on an iPad, then pick up at the same spot on the iPhone. Users will be able to download purchased books to all their supported devices at no extra charge.

No Longer iPhone OS 4: iOS 4

Since it won’t do to have an iPad running something called “iPhone OS,” Apple has decided to rename its mobile device operating system to simply “iOS 4,” encompassing all its mobile devices: the iPhone, the iPad, and the iPod touch. iOS 4 will have the features Apple outlined back in April, including a form of multitasking support (so applications like Pandora can stream music in the background while an iPhone user, say, surfs the Web in Safari), a unified Mail inbox that supports multiple services, home screen folders, a Game Center, and improved support for Microsoft Exchange and enterprise users. However, developers will probably be more intrigued by a boatload of new APIs and significantly deepened features. Developers at WWDC will be able to set hands on a release candidate today.

iAds

Jobs also took a moment to highlight Apple’s new in-application advertising platform iAds: according to Jobs, Apple is developing iAds as a revenue channel for developers so they can earn money from applications in ways other than direct sales to users. As outlined last April, Apple is aiming for high amounts of interactivity and engagement with iAds, building on HTML5 technologies rather than the still-industry-standard Adobe Flash. Apple will host all the advertising and handle ad sales, so all applications developers have to do is specify where in the applications the ads should be placed, then collect 60 percent of the revenue from placements in their applications. Apple has only been selling iAds for about two months—they should go live Jule 1—and so far has many major brands on board, including Disney (Jobs is Disney’s biggest single shareholder, remember), Target, Best Buy, Geico, DirecTV, and other major brands. Unlike traditional banner ads that eject users from applications out into Web browsers, iAds run without exiting a user’s application, providing an interactive experience without causing people to leave apps, or lose work or messages: the goal is an engaging experience that users know is “safe” regardless of the app they’re using.

Video Calling

Of course, that front-facing camera in the iPhone 4 exists for one and only one purpose: video calls. Jobs demonstrated what Apple is dubbing FaceTime video calling with the iPhone 4. The feature will initially be Wi-Fi only and operate iPhone 4 devices—no word in whether FaceTime will support, say, desktops or notebooks equipped with cameras. Users will be able to switch to the rear-mounted 5 megapixel camera on the iPhone 4 to let callers see what they’re seeing, or stick with the front-facing camera for face-to-face chat. Jobs says Apple plans to work with mobile operators to make FaceTime available over 3G data services. Apple says it plans to ship millions of FaceTime-capable devices this year—and if current iPhone sales are any indicator, they’re right—so iPhone 4 users will have plenty of people to talk to. (How far off is an app called FaceTime Roulette?)
Apple says the technology behind FaceTime will be come an industry standard, and will be supported by other devices and services.

iPhone 4 Pricing and Availability

The iPhone 4 will be available June 24 in black or white, with pricing set at $199 for a 16 GB model and $299 for a 32 GB model: those price points match the iPhone 3GS. Initial availability will be the United States, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
In the United States AT&T will enable any iPhone user whose contract expires in 2010 to upgrade to the iPhone 4 for $199 or $299 (for the 16 GB or 32 GB model) if users top off their contracts for another two years of service.
Apple plans to continue selling the iPhone 3GS, with the 8 GB model going for $99.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 4 will open on June 15.
Apple plans to begin offering the iPhone 4 in 18 more countries in July, followed by 24 additional countries in August and 40 more countries in September.
Apple will offer a selection of accessories, including a $29 dock and a “bumper” case in various colors.

iOS 4 Availability

Apple’s iOS 4 will ship standard on new iPhone 4 handsets. Apple plans to make iOS 4 available on June 21 for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, and iPod touch—although there will be some limitations and some iOS 4 features wont be supported on older handsets. (For instance, multitasking will not be supported on the original iPhone 3G. Apple’s original EDGE-only iPhone, released in 2007, won’t support iOS 4 at all.)

Official iPhone 4 Video

iPhone 4 Pictures

iPhone 4 Technical Specifications

Size and weight

Height:: 4.5 inches (115.2 mm)
Width:: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm)
Depth:: 0.37 inch (9.3 mm)
Weight:: 4.8 ounces (137 grams)

Cellular and wireless

UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR wireless technology

Location

Assisted GPS
Digital compass
Wi-Fi
Cellular

Power and battery

Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter
Talk time:

Up to 7 hours on 3G
Up to 14 hours on 2G

Standby time: Up to 300 hours

Internet use:

Up to 6 hours on 3G
Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi

Video playback: Up to 10 hours

Audio playback: Up to 40 hours

Mac system requirements

Mac computer with USB 2.0 port
Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
iTunes 9.2 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)
iTunes Store account
Internet access

Windows system requirements

PC with USB 2.0 port
Windows 7; Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
iTunes 9.2 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)
iTunes Store account
Internet access

Environmental requirements

Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F
(0° to 35° C)
Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F
(-20° to 45° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Capacity

16GB or 32GB flash drive

Color

White or black

Display

Retina display
3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display
960-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
800:1 contrast ratio (typical)
Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back
Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

Audio playback

Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
User-configurable maximum volume limit

TV and video

Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable (cables sold separately)

Languages

Language support for English (U.S.), English (UK), French (France), German, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Arabic, Thai, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Indonesian, Malay, Romanian, Slovak, Croatian, Catalan, and Vietnamese
Keyboard support for English (U.S.), English (UK), French (France), French (Canadian), French (Switzerland), German, Traditional Chinese (Handwriting, Pinyin, Zhuyin, Cangjie, Wubihua), Simplified Chinese (Handwriting, Pinyin, Wubihua), Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Korean, Japanese (Romaji), Japanese (Kana), Russian, Polish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Estonian, Hungarian, Icelandic, Lithuanian, Latvian, Flemish, Arabic, Thai, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Indonesian, Malay, Romanian, Slovak, Croatian, Bulgarian, Serbian (Cyrillic/Latin), Catalan, and Vietnamese
Dictionary support (enables predictive text and autocorrect) for English (U.S.), English (UK), French, German, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Korean, Japanese (Romaji), Japanese (Kana), Russian, Polish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Flemish, Arabic, Thai, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Indonesian, Malaysian, Romanian, Slovak, Croatian, Catalan, and Vietnamese

Camera, photos, and video

Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio
5-megapixel still camera
VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second with the front camera
Tap to focus video or still images
LED flash
Photo and video geotagging

External buttons and controls

Sleep/wake
Ring/silent
Volume up/down
Home

Sensors

Three-axis gyro
Accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor

Connectors and input/output

30-pin dock connector
3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack
Built-in speaker
Microphone
Micro-SIM card tray

Headphones

Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Impedance: 32 ohms

In the box

iPhone 4
Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic
Dock Connector to USB Cable
USB Power Adapter
Documentation

360 Web Browser Adds Firefox Sync and Download Management to iPhones

2011-01-20T12:03:00.000-08:00

iOS only: 360 Web Browser isn't the first Safari alternative for Apple devices, but it is unique for what it offers. Flash clip conversion, Firefox Sync compatibility, a circular menu around finger presses, and much better management of browser downloads.
360 offers a lot of other features, described in some detail at its developers' site, but the main appeal for most users will be the Flash video conversion and Firefox sync compatibility. Now you can sync your bookmarks, passwords, open tabs, and other Firefox features from any desktop to an iPhone browser that looks like it might play well as an everyday browser.
Update: Commenter neounder explains that a delayed update to 360 Web Browser means it can't sync with Firefox 4 beta 8 at the moment—you can either wait a day or two, or downgrade to beta 7.
360 Web Browser is a 99-cent download from the App Store (at least it's at that price while currently on sale), compatible with iPod touch, iPhones, and iPads.

Microsoft's OneNote --- the best app you don't use gets better with iPhone support

2011-01-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

I've long been a fan of the stepchild of Microsoft Office --- OneNote. This little-used app is the best piece of software you likely don't know about, and it just got better, because there's now a version available for the iPhone. Here's why you need it.
OneNote is one of those apps that are easy to use but hard to describe. As the name implies, it lets you jot down notes and keep track of ideas, and so on. But that's just a start. It really shines if you've got multiple projects you need to track. Each project can get its own notebook or section of a notebook, and you can then subdivide the project into its components --- budget, schedule, and so on. In each of those sections you can type in notes, but even better, you can include links to documents on your PC, or Web sites or documents online. You can also embed audio and video notes as well, include screen captures, and more.
I use it for large projects, such as books, or lengthy articles that require a great deal of research. I don't know how I got along without it.
Today OneNote got better --- Microsoft announced that it's now available as an iPhone app. It's already available for Windows Phone 7. The mobile version is a stripped-down version of the full-blown OneNote, but it's also optimized for smartphones because it syncs with Windows Live SkyDrive, Microsoft's free cloud-based storage service.
There's not an Android available yet, but it would be quite a surprise if Microsoft didn't release one eventually. A spokesperson for the company told me: "While we have nothing further to announce today regarding Android, you should expect Office to continue to evolve and integrate productivity experiences in new ways and on new devices."
It doesn't take a lot of reading between the lines to see that as a way of saying eventually there will be a version available for Android.
While I'm a big fan of OneNote, there's one big feature that it's still missing --- true synchronization among devices and SkyDrive. Right now the mobile app, for example, will sync to SkyDrive. And you can also create OneNote documents on SkyDrive itself. But you can't create OneNote documents on your PC and have them sync to SkyDrive and then read them online or from your mobile phone. (Or at least, I haven't yet found a way to do that.)
(Update: You can in fact, sync OneNote documents to SkyDrive and then read them online and from your mobile phone. See Microsoft's instructions here . I've still been having problems doing it, but others have done it successfully.)
OneNote now comes with Office, so if you have it on your PC and haven't used it yet, I suggest giving it a whirl. And if you're an iPhone or Windows Phone 7 users, give it a shot as well. Android users, like me, will have to wait for an Android version, but I expect one is on the way.

Android upgrades: Which manufacturers can you trust?

2011-01-19T09:54:00.000-08:00

For most smartphone users, Google's Android upgrades are both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, each upgrade opens the door to exciting new features and functions for a phone. On the other hand, the updates don't arrive instantly -- and the wait to receive them can often be long and filled with uncertainty or disappointment.
The Android upgrade frustration has never been more evident than with the rollout of Google's Android 2.2 upgrade, best known as Froyo. Since being announced last June, Froyo has slowly made its way onto handsets around the world. Some phones got the software within a matter of days. Others, however, waited weeks or months, while others yet (cough, cough, Galaxy S) are still waiting for their turns. Then, of course, there are the phones that have been given the dreaded "no upgrade" stamp -- the Android equivalent of being forced into retirement from a game you're still itching to play.
So who can you trust to provide timely Android upgrades, and whose track record is less than impressive? I set out to find that answer. I compiled data on all Android phones released in the U.S. between 2009 and 2010. I looked at which phones were upgraded to Froyo by the end of 2010, and which were either still waiting or being left behind. I calculated exactly how many days it took for each phone to receive its upgrade, then used that data to generate overall upgrade reliability scores for all the major manufacturers and carriers.
Here's what I discovered.
Android Upgrades: Calculating the Scores
First, a few quick notes on my methodology: For the purposes of this analysis, I included only phones released by major manufacturers and tied to one of the four main U.S. carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon). As mentioned above, I looked at phones released in 2009 and 2010. The T-Mobile G1, while obviously a groundbreaking and important product in Android's development, was truly a different generation of device; given the advances made in hardware and software since its release, combined with its long-passed 2008 launch date, I opted not to include it in this comparison.
When calculating the time it took for each phone to receive the Froyo upgrade, I counted from the day Google released the Froyo source code -- June 23 -- for all devices that were on the market by that point. For devices that launched after June 23, when Froyo was already available, I used the phone's launch date as its starting point. I considered the first date that an over-the-air rollout was observed to be each device's "upgrade date." And finally, phones that launched with Froyo preinstalled were not included in this analysis, as the upgrade in question would not have been applicable to them (and we're looking here at upgrade reliability -- not launching-with-the-latest-version reliability).
There are a million ways you could analyze Android upgrades. Some phones, for example, were upgraded between June and December of 2010 -- but only to Android 2.1. Since those decisions were made despite the fact that Android 2.2 was readily available, I'm not factoring them into this analysis as full commitments to Android upgrading. Only phones that received Android 2.2 by the end of December 2010 -- six months after the software's release -- are considered "upgraded" in this report.
Android Upgrades: Grading the Manufacturers

All right -- ready to see how the manufacturers stack up? Click on the two charts at right to check out the breakdown. The first chart shows the percentage of Android phones upgraded by each manufacturer within 2010; the second chart shows how long, on average, each manufacturer took to deliver the software. You can also view the full set of raw data here.
Some conclusions:

When it comes to sheer number of upgrades, HTC is the best by a long shot, with 50 percent of its Android phones having been bumped to Froyo within 2010. Its average upgrade time is also relatively impressive, at 56 days.

Motorola comes in second for number of upgrades, with 15.4 percent of its Android phones having tasted Froyo before the end of 2010. While that number sounds low, especially compared to HTC, note that Moto had four handsets that weren't released until November, which means those devices had far less time on the market before the year's end. That said, those phones also launched several months after Froyo had been released, yet they didn't come with Froyo preinstalled -- so make of it what you will.
Motorola's average upgrade time was the best of any manufacturer, at 54.5 days.

Samsung swings into third place in terms of both overall upgrade numbers and average upgrade time. Samsung so far has upgraded only one out of nine Android phones that fit the criteria for our comparison, giving it an upgrade score of 11.1 percent. That phone -- the Samsung Intercept -- was on the market for 159 days before getting its upgrade. Its rollout also encountered some serious problems -- so all together, this score is not one to be proud of.

Dell and LG are at the bottom of the barrel -- but while they certainly don't get points for timeliness, they're owed some level of credit for perseverance. Though neither company has managed to come through with a single upgrade as of yet, both manufacturers have confirmed that at least one their devices will see Froyo eventually. LG's Ally is currently scheduled to be upgraded in February; Dell's Streak, meanwhile, is set to "hopefully" receive its upgrade sometime this month (the company blames AT&T for the delay). The Aero, meanwhile, is still a wildcard; Dell has yet to issue any official word on its fate.

There's really no way to sugar coat it: Sony failed when it came to Android upgrades in 2010. It gets a big fat zero all around, and with confirmation that its Xperia X10 phones will never see Froyo, there's really no hope remaining. To be fair, Sony Ericsson execs have been quoted as saying they're now better prepared to make upgrades for their newer phones, such as the recently announced Xperia Arc -- so we can only hope the company is at least serious about making some serious improvements.

Based on this data, we can conclude that HTC and Motorola -- our upgrade leaders -- tend to be far more reliable for updating handsets that are higher-end and higher-profile, such as the EVO 4G, Droid Incredible, and Droid X. Phones that are mid- to lower-range and less prominently marketed -- like the Droid Eris, Backflip, and Devour -- generally fared less well.
It seems safe to say, then -- no big surprise -- that aside from considering a phone's manufacturer, going with a higher profile, top-of-the-line device will improve your odds of receiving regular OS upgrades (see also: "The argument against entry-level Android phones").
Of course, manufacturers aren't the only ones involved in the Android upgrade process; carriers are also involved and can potentially play a role in how quickly updates are delivered.

And for the latest upgrade status on any Android device, be sure to visit our Android 2.2 upgrade list as well. It's always kept up-to-date with the latest Froyo info available for all phones.

White iPhone 4 purportedly turns up in Best Buy's inventory system, launching February 27th?

2011-01-18T15:04:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time coming, but it's starting to look like things just might be starting to maybe, possibly line up for the white iPhone 4. We saw some inventory shots from Vodafone Germany ourselves yesterday, and now Mac Rumors has turned up a shot of it own that appears to show both 16GB and 32GB versions of the phone in Best Buy's inventory system in the US. What's more, these listings also show a specific in-stock date of February 27th and, for what it's worth, the model numbers match those that first turned up in Best Buy's system when it was originally taking pre-orders for the difficult-to-manufacture phone. Of course, we still won't be fully satisfied until we start seeing some actual boxes with white iPhones in them, but here's hoping we won't have to wait too much longer for that to happen -- Apple still hasn't pushed back that "spring 2011" date, after all.

Editing your Google Docs on the go

2011-01-18T13:55:00.000-08:00

With Google Docs, we’re always trying to make you more productive—and part of that means making it possible for you to get things done from anywhere, at anytime. That’s why we’re excited that the new documents editor now supports editing on your mobile browser. We’re rolling this out over the next few days.

That means that...

You can work on that important memo...while on the bus or train to work.
If you’re behind on a group proposal, but really want to make it to the ball game tonight, your whole team can work on it from the bleacher seats.
You can take minute-by-minute notes at a concert so you’ll always remember the setlist. And your friends can jealously follow in real-time at home.
...and the list goes on!

Take a look at this video to see mobile editing in action:

It’s easy to get started: visit docs.google.com in a browser on a supported device, and select the document you want to edit. Then, when you’re viewing it, press the Edit button to switch to the mobile editor.

In the next few days, we’re rolling this out to English-language users around the world on Android with Froyo (version 2.2) and on iOS devices (version 3.0+) including the iPad. We’ll be adding support for other languages soon. And as before, we also support editing of spreadsheets from your mobile device’s browser.

We hope you enjoy editing your documents on the go—especially when you’re at the game with a hot dog in your other hand.

Under the hood of Google Maps 5.0 for Android

2011-01-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

In order to create these features, we rebuilt Maps using vector graphics to dynamically draw the map as you use it. Building a vector graphics engine capable of achieving the visual quality and performance level you expect from Google Maps was a major technical challenge and enables all sorts of future possibilities. So we wanted to give you a closer look under the hood at the technology driving the next generation of mobile maps.

Vector graphicsBefore diving into how Maps uses vector graphics, it may be helpful to understand how maps were created before. Previously, Google Maps downloaded the map as sets of individual 256x256 pixel “image tiles.” Each pre-rendered image tile was downloaded with its own section of map imagery, roads, labels and other features baked right in. Google Maps would download each tile as you needed it and then stitch sets together to form the map you see. It takes more than 360 billion tiles to cover the whole world at 20 zoom levels!

Now, we use vector graphics to dynamically draw the map. Maps will download “vector tiles” that describe the underlying geometry of the map. You can think of them as the blueprints needed to draw a map, instead of static map images. Because you only need to download the blueprints, the amount of data needed to draw maps from vector tiles is drastically less than when downloading pre-rendered image tiles. Google Maps isn’t the first mobile app to use vector graphics—in fact, Google Earth and our Navigation (Beta) feature do already. But a combination of modern device hardware and innovative engineering allow us to stream vector tiles efficiently and render them smoothly, while maintaining the speed and readability we require in Google Maps. Just try it out and see for yourself!

See the difference between image tiles (left) and vector tiles (right) tilted to show 3D buildings.

One map, many perspectivesUsing vector tiles instead of image tiles gives Maps the flexibility to re-draw the same map from different perspectives using the same set of data. Zooming is one example of this at work. If you magnify an map image tile by 2x, lines such as roads and text would get twice as wide and appear blurry. As a result, we had to constrain Maps to 20 fixed “zoom levels,” each one twice as close as the last. Every time you zoomed in further, you’d need to download a completely new set of image tiles. It took time to load new data over a mobile data connection, and would fail when you lost your connection in a subway or large building.

Compared to image tiles (left), vector tiles (right) keep lines and labels crisp as you zoom.

With vector graphics, you no longer need to “round” to the nearest zoom level and then download all the tiles for that level. One vector tile has the underlying vector data (or blueprints) to draw the map at many different levels of scale. So when you zoom, the map stops when your fingers stop, and roads and labels always stay crisp. This same technique powers the new 3D map interactions: tilt, rotate and compass mode. Just like with zooming, Maps uses the same vector data to draw the map from any angle or direction as you tilt or rotate.

We can also display entirely new levels of detail that weren’t possible with flat image tiles. For example, in the 100+ cities where we have 3D building data, each building is drawn in 3D using a polygonal building footprint and heights for different parts of the building. And with tilt and rotate, you can see them from a variety of different angles.

Reading the mapJust like other map features, labels are dynamically drawn so they continue to face you and stay legible if you rotate the rest of the map or use compass mode. Maps also “chooses” the best labels to show you based on several factors. You’ll notice labels fade in and out as you interact with the map so that the most useful ones appear and the map never gets too cluttered.

See the difference between rotating maps with static labels (left) and dynamic labels (right).

Vector graphics also allow us to draw additional data on the map more clearly. For example, traffic or transit lines no longer block the labels beneath them. We can also draw the same map in different styles—like “satellite view” where the roads are translucent over aerial imagery, or Navigation’s “night mode” where a darker palette helps your eyes adjust quickly in the lower light.

Previously, map features like labels and traffic could conflict (left) instead of blend seamlessly (right).

Offline reliabilityVector graphics also enable another significant new feature: the ability to continue viewing maps even when you have poor—or no—network connections. Because each vector tile works across multiple zoom levels, it requires more than 100 times less data to view maps across all zoom levels than before, allowing Maps to cache much larger areas of the map on your device.

With this first version, Maps proactively caches map data for the places you use Maps the most—where you’re actively using it as well as places for which you search or get directions. Then when you’re plugged in and connected over WiFi, caching happens automatically. Near your frequent places, you’ll get detailed vector tiles for city-sized regions so you can see every road labeled. Further away, you’ll have less detail but will typically have towns and highways labeled for miles. We’re continuing to work on these algorithms, so you’ll see improvements over time.

Offline reroutingWith Google Maps Navigation (Beta), you’ll also see the benefits of additional caching with offline rerouting. This feature is only possible because Navigation caches not only map data but also data like turn restrictions for the areas surrounding your route. You’ll still need to be connected when you first start a trip to download and cache your route. But this way, even if you take a wrong turn after losing your connection, Navigation can use the cached data to get you back on your way. We will be rolling this feature out gradually over the next few weeks.

This is just the start, and we’re really excited about all the possible ways to use vector graphics technology for the next generation of Google Maps. So please stay tuned!

Some cool Android tips and tricks

2011-01-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

(Note: Many of the tips are specific to Android 2.3.)

Tips

Visual cue for scrolling: When you are in a scrollable list (like your Gmail inbox) and you reach the end of the list it shows an orange hue—a visual cue that you can’t scroll anymore.
Notification bar icons (Wi-Fi, network coverage bars, etc.): Turn green when you have an uninhibited connection to Google, white when you don't. Hint: if you're in a hotel or airport using Wi-Fi, the bars won't turn green until you launch the browser and get past the captive portal.
Voice actions: Tell your phone what to do by pressing the microphone icon next to the search box on the home screen, or long press the magnifying glass. You can tell it to send an email or text message (“send text to mom, see you for pizza at 7”), call someone ("call mom"), navigate somewhere (“navigate to pizza”), or listen to music ("listen to Mamma Mia").
Find things you’ve downloaded from your browser: Your downloads are now neatly collected in a Downloads manager, which you can find in the apps drawer.
Turn a Gallery stack into a slideshow: In Gallery, when you are looking at a stack of photos, put two fingers on the stack and spread them. The stack spreads out and the pictures flow from one finger to the other, a moving slideshow that lets you see all of the photos.
Walk, don’t drive: Once you’ve gotten directions within Google Maps, click on the walking person icon to get walking directions.
Easy text copy/paste from a webpage: To copy/paste from a webpage, long press some text, drag the handles around to select the text you want to copy, and press somewhere in the highlighted region. To paste, simply long press a text entry box and select paste. Gmail is a bit different: you need to go to Menu > More > Select Text.
Turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot: Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Tethering & Portable Hotspot. (You may have to pay extra for this feature.)
Look at Maps in 3D: With the latest release of Google Maps, you can now look at 3D maps. Tilt the map by sliding two fingers vertically up/down the screen, and rotate it by placing two fingers on the map and sliding in a circular motion, e.g., from 12 and 6 o’clock to 3 and 9.
Cool shutdown effect: When you put the phone to sleep, you’ll see an animation that resembles an old cathode tube TV turning off.

Keyboard tricks

Shift+Key to capitalize a word: In Gingerbread (and supported hardware), you can Shift+Key to capitalize a letter instead of going to a separate all caps keyboard.
Auto-complete: The space bar lights up when auto-complete can finish a word.
Quick replace: Tap on any previously typed word, then tap on a suggestion to automatically replace it with the suggested word.
Easy access to special characters (like numbers, punctuation): Press and hold any key to go to the special character keyboard. You can also press and hold the "," key for an extensive punctuation keyboard.

Applications

Angry Birds: Popular game that lets you knock down blocks by slingshotting birds.
Astro: Awesome file explorer app. Browse and access the directories on your phone, and take full advantage of its capabilities. Great if you’re a power user.
Chrome to Phone: This one is really useful for Chrome users. You can send anything you browse on your computer to your phone. So if you are heading out to a restaurant or party and look up directions on your computer, just click the “send to phone” button (requires Chrome to Phone extension) and that exact page will open on your phone. Same with virtually any webpage.
Flash: Install from Android Market to watch Flash videos embedded throughout the web. Runs even better on Gingerbread.
Fruit Ninja: A juicy action game that tests your ability to smash flying fruit. A fun time-killer on the bus or train.
FXCamera: Popular photo sharing app with slick effects and filters.
Google Maps: Use your device as a GPS navigation system with free turn-by-turn voice guidance, and take advantage of other Google Maps features like Street View, Latitude and Places.
Instant Heart Rate: Measure your heart rate using your camera.
Phoneanlyzr: Track your phone usage: who you text most, call most, average call length distribution, etc.
RemoteDroid: Control your computer from your phone. Gives you a mobile wireless mouse and keyboard. Great if you’re using your computer for music or movies.
Shazam: Identifies virtually any song you are listening to.
SoundHound: Record a snippet of a song and get it identified instantly. You can even hum (if you can carry a tune!).
Tango: A free, high-quality video call app that works on both 3G and Wi-Fi. If your device has a front facing camera (e.g., Nexus S), you will love this app.
YouTube: New UI. Plus, portrait-mode player, and view comments and drop-down box video information

A new look for Google Translate for Android

2011-01-18T13:23:00.000-08:00

When we launched the first version of Google Translate for Android in January 2010, we were excited about the year ahead. For the first time, we were bringing the capabilities supported on Google Translate—like machine translation, romanization of non-Roman scripts and spoken translations—to the Android platform. We also offered voice input to let you speak the word or phrase you wanted to translate instead of typing it in, and SMS translation so you could translate SMS messages sent to you in foreign languages.

Today, we’re refreshing Translate for Android with several updates to make the app easier to interact with. Among other improvements, we’ve created better dropdown boxes to help select the languages you want to translate from and into, an improved input box, and cleaner icons and layout.

We also want to let you in on an experimental feature that’s still in its earliest stages—Conversation Mode. This is a new interface within Google Translate that’s optimized to allow you to communicate fluidly with a nearby person in another language. You may have seen an early demo a few months ago, and today you can try it yourself on your Android device.

Currently, you can only use Conversation Mode when translating between English and Spanish. In conversation mode, simply press the microphone for your language and start speaking. Google Translate will translate your speech and read the translation out loud. Your conversation partner can then respond in their language, and you’ll hear the translation spoken back to you. Because this technology is still in alpha, factors like regional accents, background noise or rapid speech may make it difficult to understand what you’re saying. Even with these caveats, we’re excited about the future promise of this technology to be able to help people connect across languages.

As Android devices have spread across the globe, we’ve seen Translate for Android used all over. The majority of our usage now comes from outside the United States, and we’ve seen daily usage from more than 150 countries, from Malaysia to Mexico to Mozambique. It’s really rewarding for us to see how this new platform is helping us break down language barriers the world over.

Translate supports 53 languages, from Afrikaans to Yiddish, and voice input for 15 languages. You can download the application, available for devices running Android 2.1 and above, by searching for “Google Translate” in Android Market or by scanning the QR Code below.

White iPhone 4 shows up in Vodafone Germany's inventory system

2011-01-17T13:52:00.000-08:00

Could it be that Apple and Foxconn engineers have finally found a way to harness and contain the raw, blinding power of the color white? Last we'd heard, the rarest member of the iPhone 4 clan was tracking for a spring '11 launch -- and that'd line up pretty nicely with shots we've received from a trusted source today showing new entries in Vodafone Germany's inventory system for weiß (white) iPhone 4s in both 16 and 32GB flavors. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean Vodafone has any idea when these phones are showing up on their doorstep -- maybe they're just preparing (and hoping) that it materializes before too long -- but for what it's worth, the source says to expect a launch "soon." If you've got a few hundred euro lying around, we suppose it'll be a good way to bide your time while you wait for an iPhone 5 launch in a few months, right?

Making the call on Windows Phone 7

2011-01-16T01:30:00.000-08:00

CES 2011 saw the debut of what could be the biggest challenge to the Wintel dominance of personal computing since Windows 95 cemented its position. The combination of the Android operating system on ARM processors -- ARMdroid if you will -- grabbed most of the attention in the emerging tablet category on products such as devices such as the Motorola Xoom and LG G-Slate. But it was also clear that manufacturers -- unconstrained by Cupertinian notions of what operating system is best suited to what kind of device -- are willing to take the combination in new directions that come much closer to the notebook form factor. A clear example of this was the ASUS Eee Pad Slider. If having the tablet thunder stolen from Microsoft wasn't enough to make the company uncomfortable, clearly encroaching designs like this were.

And so, at Steve Ballmer's keynote, the company announced that the next version of Windows will support not only x86 offerings from Intel and AMD – themselves moving closer to ARM-like system-on-chips – but ARM designs from companies such as Qualcomm and NVIDIA as well. Microsoft noted that the new chip support was requested by its partners, implying that PC companies want to take advantage of the long battery life and thin form factors enabled by ARM architectures, but also bring along Windows' broad driver and software support. Microsoft clearly considers the tablet another PC, albeit one that Windows' hardware and user interface layer needs to support better. However, in striking back at Android evolution, Microsoft risks collateral damage to its own mobile OS. Can Windows Phone 7 co-exist with a ARM-based version of the real thing?

Let's look at the competition. Microsoft's support of both x86 and ARM with its "desktop" OS and support of ARM with Windows Phone 7 represents a contrast to Apple and Google -- even though, as Microsoft accurately pointed out, both have dual OS strategies. Apple reserves Mac OS for notebooks and desktops while using iOS in its tablet and smartphone, although some believe that iOS will eventually replace and not just influence Mac OS later down the road. For Google, it's open season, so to speak, as device manufacturers call the shots, but while Android has been moving to support larger devices with the Honeycomb release, Google's Chrome team has also staked out the notebook. Both operating systems support x86 and ARM, and we will no doubt see notebook-like devices with both of them.

While Apple's position is defensible (and the only one that has been successful on both fronts), Switched On has previously questioned the role of Chrome in the wake of Android's success. Is there, then, a need for the just relaunched Windows Phone 7 in a world where Windows itself runs on ARM architectures? While Microsoft refrained from any discussion of the user interface of the next version of Windows, the company made sure to remind us of its touch expertise via a revamped flat-panel version of Surface, and Windows development chief Steven Sinofsky dismissed the challenge of implementing touch user interfaces, even scaled to a variety of differently-sized screens. The next version of Windows -- and apps developed for it -- may well dynamically adapt their UI depending on the usage scenario, with a traditional desktop mode when used as a clamshell notebook, a Metro-like touch experience when used as a tablet, and a Media Center-like experience when projected onto a television screen for a 10-foot entertainment experience.

Microsoft mentioned mobile devices as candidates for this revamped Windows; there's no telling at this point how small that will go. Confusing the matter a bit more, Intel CEO Paul Otellini noted on Intel's most recent earnings call that the PC chip giant will be able to ride "desktop" Windows as it slims down into the handset market. "[W]e have the ability to put our lowest-power Intel processors, running Windows 8 or the next generation of Windows, into phones." As it stands, we might see both of Microsoft's operating systems compete for the same realm.

However, there is a good reason to draw the arbitrary line between Windows and Windows Phone 7 at devices that are indeed phones. Whereas Microsoft's hardware partners may seek more openness in its tablets than what Apple provides, handset carriers want some degree of consistency and control to reduce support costs. Providing that degree of consistency and control could also help differentiate from Android. Or, much as will be the case with 10-inch notebooks running either Android or Chrome, we may well see 4.5-inch or 5-inch handhelds running Windows or Windows Phone 7 both. Perhaps some embedded version of the former will eventually cause the demise of the latter. For the time being, though, there is a place for Windows Phone 7 even as it shares ARM support with its big brother platform.

Google Places for iPhone

2011-01-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

Why build a local search app for iPhone when the Maps app already lets you find businesses and local attractions? Apple's Maps app doesn't use all the information that's available about businesses, doesn't show photos, reviews and other details. That's one of the reasons why Google decided to build an iPhone app called Google Places.

"We realize the importance of finding places you'll love while you're out and about, no matter what mobile device you use. And Places with Hotpot not only helps you find places near where you are, it gives you the best places to go for you by personalizing your search results," explains Google.

The application integrates with Google Hotpot and uses your ratings and your friends' ratings to recommend other places. Google Places encourages users to rate businesses and to post reviews in order to get better search results and that's an interesting proposition. What's missing from the app is a list of business you've previously rated and the Hotpot feed that's now available on Google Maps.

Geo services are one of the key Google assets and it's very likely that Google will use them to create a stealth social network. Google Maps is probably the best mapping service and one of the most popular local search engines, so the social layer will have an important user base. Unlike Google Buzz, Hotpot doesn't have privacy issues yet and it doesn't feel like a different app because it's properly integrated with Google Maps.

Google Places for iOS can be installed from the Apple App Store and it's only available in English.

Tweaked iPhone 4 parts discovered: an antenna fix, Verizon's iPhone, or the best KIRF ever?

2011-01-15T14:41:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty bizarre video, but we watched the whole thing and we're prepared to comment: this is a pretty bizarre video. The folks at GlobalDirectParts somehow got ahold of iPhone replacement parts (a common story in Apple device leaks), and they've posted an in-depth video that illustrates the differences between this new set and regular iPhone 4 parts. Interestingly, nothing has been majorly tweaked, but there's a huge quantity of minor tweaks, primary in the internal wiring. Most notable are antenna adjustments, that are either an antenna fix, or, more likely, adjustments to optimize the antennas to work with Verizon's CDMA network. Other tweaks are bigger head scratchers, including a SIM slot (which wouldn't be necessary on Verizon, but wouldn't hurt anything either), and the removal of the rear camera hole (perhaps an extra SKU for enterprise use?). GlobalDirectParts isn't the only one to receive the tweaked parts, SmartPhone Medic made a similar score, so at least we know this isn't a one-off prank. We'll keep scratching our heads while you check out the video, located after the break.

Update: So apparently Apple's yanked the video off YouTube, which may or may not be an indication for the part's authenticity. Anyhow, we've got you guys a backup video after the break.

Google Latitude App for iPhone

2011-01-15T14:27:00.000-08:00

Google has finally released a native iPhone app for Google Latitude. The web app is nice, but you can't use it to update your location in the background. Google Latitude for iPhone uses one of the new features in iOS 4 that allows applications to track your location even if they aren't in the foreground. That's the main reason why it requires an iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 or iPad 3G running iOS 4. (Update: According to Google, "the Google Latitude app will run on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad, and iPod touch (3rd/4th generation). However, background location updating is only supported on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPad 3G.")

The native app is better because it shows more information about the locations of your friends and it sends you to the map view when you click on a friend, but the web app is just a layer in Google Maps and this makes a lot of sense. Google Latitude should not be a standalone app, it should integrate with Google Maps and Google Contacts, so you can quickly find your friends.

Marissa Mayer, Google's VP of geographic and local services, has recently said that Google Latitude will add explicit check-ins, inspired by Foursquare. "Latitude is useful for a smaller group of people. Only a handful of people you'll want to know where you are at all times. There will be new layers coming on top of it. It's more useful when more people are on it. And implicit and explicit — yes, the check-in. Maybe that's in Latitude or maybe it's in Maps."

How to Try the New Google Docs Apps

2011-01-15T13:56:00.001-08:00

Here's how to try Google Drawings and the new interfaces of Google Documents and Google Spreadsheets:

* create a new drawing by opening the documents list, clicking on "Create new" and selecting "Drawing".

* to see the new document editor, go to the settings page, click on the "Editing" tab and select "Create new text documents using the latest version of the document editor." Unfortunately, you can't see the existing documents in the new interface. The new document editor is code-named "kix" and it's a completely new application.

* to switch to the new spreadsheets editor, open a spreadsheet and click on "New version" at the top of the page. All spreadsheets will now open in the new interface.

The new interface is not yet available for presentations.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Reality Display vs. Retina Display... fight!

2011-01-15T13:28:00.000-08:00

Sony Ericsson isn't being shy about hyping the Xperia Arc's new Reality Display, so we naturally had to take a head-to-head shot with the iPhone 4's Retina Display. They actually compare quite well in person, even though the Arc actually has the same 854 x 480 resolution as the Droid X -- you can definitely see some pixels up close, but since the panel is a hair smaller than the X at 4.2 inches, the pixel density is a little tighter. The real noise behind the Reality Display is Arc's Bravia Engine, which Sony claims will enhance colors and detail just like on Bravia TVs, but we didn't get to play with it too much beyond finding the option in settings to turn it off. We'll obviously be diving deep on that once we score a review unit, but for now check a macro shot and a Droid X comparison after the break.

Verizon iPhone: everything you need to know

2011-01-14T23:46:00.000-08:00

Update: The Verizon iPhone has been announced! Here's our hands-on, and here's a comparison chart with the AT&T version. Below is documentation of the rumoring and the speculation and the historic desperation for this product. You know, for posterity.

Ah, the Verizon iPhone. In our bizarre careers as tech journalists, if there's one question we've heard more than "When is Verizon getting the iPhone?" we can't think of it. Also, outside the original rumors for the iPhone and iPad, we can't think of another product so heavily teased by those in the know and those not in the know -- though mostly by those not in the know.

But then we heard Verizon is having a little get together on Tuesday, which is particularly odd timing because Verizon has a huge presence and a large amount of announcements at this year's CES. Rumors of the event being a Verizon iPhone announce immediately flared up, but there were still reservations: Apple usually announces its own products at its own corporate campus -- why would Verizon be doing the honors in NY?

That's when the Wall Street Journal swooped in with a confirmation: the Verizon iPhone will be announced on Tuesday, and WSJ's All Things D even thinks Steve Jobs will be there. So, who is this fly-by-night "Wall Street Journal" publication we speak of? They have one of the best track records on Apple rumors in the business, and they've been leading the Verizon iPhone predictions from day one. Follow after the break as we talk it out.

Back in March the WSJ said that there would be a new iPhone in the summer (not much of a stretch), and that an additional Verizon iPhone would go into production in September. After the iPhone 4 happened, new Verizon rumors started in earnest, with Bloomberg's crack financial reporters and Apple pundit John Gruber independently citing a January launch date. Then the WSJ followed up in October with some harder facts: again, the VZW iPhone would be in mass production before the end of the year and launch early next year. WSJ also claimed the phone would be running a CDMA chipset from Qualcomm -- and we've heard similar rumblings from good sources (something that previously seemed unlikely, and a knock against imminent Verizon iPhone potential). The WSJ also said there's a separate brand-new iPhone in the works as well, which would presumably launch in the summer once again, another thing that we've heard around the campfire (and which appeals to our common sense).

Yesterday we saw tweaked iPhone 4 parts with slightly different internals and an altered antenna configuration, adding considerable fuel to the fire -- which intensified further when YouTube pulled the video of the parts, presumably due to a "copyright claim from Apple, Inc."

That leads us to today. WSJ has confidently confirmed an iPhone launch at Verizon's announced Tuesday event, and considering their track record we have no reason to doubt them.

The biggest question right now seems to be whether or not the Verizon iPhone will have LTE. Obviously, Verizon has launched its LTE network in a big way, with plenty of upcoming devices, but it sounds out of character for Apple to jump on so early -- they famously went with EDGE for the original iPhone, despite 3G being a rather mature tech on AT&T at that point. Of course, Qualcomm makes a Gobi chipset that has LTE along with EV-DO backwards compatibility, and there is a SIM slot in those parts photos (LTE requires a SIM, EV-DO doesn't). It will probably remain a mystery until Tuesday, but our money is on no LTE -- there's always the iPhone 5 launch in the summer to offer an LTE upgradeportunity. Overall we're probably looking at an iPhone 4 that runs on Verizon, nothing fancier for now. Rumor has it that the phone will begin to ship in February, after this January announce.

Speaking of, a word of warning: in your rush to buy a Verizon iPhone, you might be locking yourself into a contract you'll be dying to break when the iPhone 5 launches in the summer. Apple typically keeps its product cycles at around a year to avoid this sort of regret, but a Verizon iPhone launching in the middle of the iPhone 4's lifespan really throws a wrench into those proceedings. Oh, and speaking of contracts, Verizon is about to up its early upgrade policy to 20 months instead of the typical 12 (as in, you have to wait 20 months to get a new fully subsidized phone), so if you recently got a phone on Verizon you might have a bit of a wait before you get a cheap upgrade to the iPhone.

So, we'll see you on Tuesday when we'll be liveblogging Verizon's presser from beautiful New York City. Don't miss it.

What's left? A walk down memory lane:

Verizon CEO hates on Steve Jobs, doesn't see iPhone as a mass-market handset Jul 1st 2008
Verizon chief talks LTE iPhones, hates on rival: "I don't know what Sprint thinks it is" Apr 16th 2009
Apple, Verizon mulling iPhone deal for next year? Apr 26th 2009
Verizon chief says offering the iPhone is Apple's call Oct 26th 2009
Verizon takes another swing at AT&T, puts iPhone on the Island of Misfit Toys Nov 8th 2009
AT&T building out network capacity to prevent exodus to Verizon's iPhone? Mar 31st 2010
Verizon CEO confirms he's told Apple he wants the iPhone, won't say if he's getting it Apr 6th 2010
Ralph de la Vega 'laughs' when asked about AT&T iPhone exclusivity expiration date, says most customers will stay May 19th 2010
Apple discussed Verizon switch 'at least half a dozen times,' and other stories about its AT&T relationship Jul 19th 2010
Verizon CEO talks (more) about iPhone: 'we have to earn it' Sep 23rd 2010
iPhone 3,2 rumored to be in near-final testing phase, cue the CDMA speculation Oct 18th 2010
iPhone locked for early 2011 on Verizon, says Fortune Oct 29th 2010
Verizon execs propose speed-based pricing for LTE data plans, say LTE has 'drawn the interest of Apple' Nov 17th 2010
Tweaked iPhone 4 parts discovered: an antenna fix, Verizon's iPhone, or the best KIRF ever? Jan 5th 2011
Wall Street Journal: Verizon to announce iPhone on Tuesday (Steve Jobs to appear?) Jan 7th 2011

998

The Verizon iPhone

2011-01-14T15:12:00.000-08:00

We've waited and waited, and now Apple and Verizon have made a million dreams come true: the iPhone is coming to Big Red. After talking up his new LTE network a bit, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed a CDMA (non-LTE) version of the iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon Wireless next month. Talks started way back in 2008, and the phone has been in testing for a year -- it sounds like they wanted to get this one right. Current Verizon customers will be able to pre-order on February 3rd for the standard $200 price for the 16GB model on a two year agreement, $300 for the 32GB version -- everyone else can order on February 10th (see it compared with AT&T's iPhone 4). Just to clarify and put any wild rumors to bed, the phone is Verizon 3G (EV-DO) only, no 4G data or GSM roaming. It's not a world phone or an AT&T + Verizon phone, it's just a Verizon phone.

Outside of Verizon connectivity, the phone is basically unchanged, although Verizon's CDMA network doesn't support simultaneous voice and data as with the GSM version. It does have the new antenna design we were hearing about last week, but that's just because CMDA requires a different configuration of antennas. (Apple says they didn't go LTE just yet because first-gen chipsets would force unwanted design decisions, and customers want a Verizon device now.) That slight modification also equates to a slight bump in where the volume buttons and mute switch -- a new case might be required. Software-wise the big innovation is five user WiFi hotspot functionality, something that's standard on Android phones, while Apple has kept the iPhone only able to tether directly to one computer.

Check out our full hands-on with the Verizon iPhone right here, and stay tuned -- we've got lots more coming up.

Verizon iPhone 4 full hands-on

Verizon iPhone 4 detailed comparison shots

History lesson: the run-up to the Verizon iPhone
January 11, 2011 @ 11 AM ET
Verizon iPhone Liveblog
Verizon iPhone hands-on