Sony Ericsson updates Xperia line with the latest Gingerbread goods

Android update junkies are in for a treat from Sony Ericsson. The handset maker's serving up the freshest batch of Gingerbread to its Xperia line of smartphones starting this October. Bundled in to this 2.3.4 rollout are a bunch of OEM enhancements, bringing along deeper Facebook integration that'll let you like and share your app discoveries with friends, and "3D sweep panorama technology," so you can snap those self-portraits for 3DTV viewing. SE's also thrown in a native screen capture function and, of course, there's Google Talk with Video Chat. The Neo V will be the first phone out of the launch gate with these baked-in tweaks, but if you've got a beefier Xperia device, it's probably better just to wait.

Show full PR text

25 August 2011
Sony Ericsson boosts 2011 Xperia™ family with new experiences and new software

2011 Xperia™ range to be upgraded to Android Gingerbread platform version 2.3.4
Enhanced Facebook inside Xperia™ functionality
Introducing Xperia™ neo V Android smartphone with the best of entertainment technologies from Sony and Google

25 August 2011, London, UK – Sony Ericsson today announced new functionality and features to its 2011 Xperia™ smartphone range with a comprehensive software upgrade from October 2011. Consumers with 2011 Xperia™ smartphones will benefit from improvements to Sony Ericsson's unique Facebook inside Xperia™ offering and 3D camera functionality from Sony. The upgrade also allows consumers to enjoy the full benefits of the Android Gingerbread platform including Google Talk with Video Chat.

Sony Ericsson's unique social experience provided by Facebook inside Xperia™ has been super-charged enabling Xperia users to like, share and discover on Facebook in a faster, easier and more intuitive way. The new functionality aims to make entertainment more social by giving users the ability to share and discover apps and games with friends through Facebook.

The latest camera enhancements from Sony introduce 3D sweep panorama technology so that images can be captured and then viewed in 3D by connecting the phone to a 3D TV using the HDMI output.

"With this software upgrade, we are bringing a wealth of new and really entertaining experiences to all our 2011 Xperia™ smartphones, including those already in consumers' hands today,"said Nikolaus Scheurer, Head of Product Marketing at Sony Ericsson. "Our users will get to enjoy new features from Google, an even richer Facebook integration, and enhanced camera functionality from Sony."

Xperia™ neo V is one of the first new products to launch with the new software and will include all the features like Google Talk with Video Chat, 3D sweep panorama and enhanced Facebook inside Xperia™ functionality. Building on the success of the original Xperia™ neo launched earlier this year, Xperia™ neo V takes the latest Android software for smartphones and the best of Sony entertainment experiences, including Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine, to even more markets. Sony Ericsson Xperia™ neo V will be available globally in select markets from Q4 2011.

The software upgrade will be available in select markets through a phased roll out starting from October 2011. Xperia™ owners will receive a notification instructing them to instantaneously download the software over the air via 3G or WiFi. Alternatively, they will have the option to connect to a computer and download it via PC companion.

Upgrade at a glance:

Xperia™ smartphones to be upgraded to the 2.3.4 version of the Gingerbread platform with new features including Google Talk with Video Chat for smartphones with front-facing cameras
Updated Facebook inside Xperia™ functionality for enhanced like, share and discover abilities
Xperia™ smartphones introducing world's first 3D sweep panorama functionality powered by Sony.
The software upgrade enables consumers to turn their Xperia smartphone into a mini-mobile PC by connecting USB peripherals (mouse, keyboard or game controller) to Sony Ericsson LiveDock™ multimedia station. Connect the smartphone to a TV via HDMI to get a big screen experience.
Swipe text input - text input by swiping the finger from one letter to the next
Screen capture - allows the user to share a screen grab from anywhere in the phone

For full details all products news, please visit the press room and the product blog:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/corporate/press/pressreleases/latestnews
http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ neo V at a glance.
*Please note that all services mentioned below may not be available in every market.
Colours

White
Blue Gradient
Silver

Facts

Size: 116 x 57 x 13mm
Weight: 126g
Operating system: Google™ Android 2.3 (Gingerbread version 2.3.4)
Processor: 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255

Camera

3D sweep panorama
5 megapixel camera
16x digital zoom
Auto focus
Face detection
Flash/LED
Front facing camera (VGA)
Geo tagging
HD video recording (720p)
Image stabiliser
Red-eye reduction
Scene detection
Self-timer
Send to web
Smile detection
Sweep panorama
Touch capture
Touch focus
Video light
Video recording
Video stabiliser

Music

Album art
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Media player
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
PlayNow™ service
Sony Ericsson Music player
TrackID™ music recognition
xLOUD™

Internet

Android Market™
Bookmarks
Google™ search
Google Voice™ Search
Pan & zoom
Web browser (WebKit)

Communication

Call list
Conference calls
Facebook™ application
Facebook inside Xperia™ V2
Google Talk™ video chat*
Noise Shield
Polyphonic ringtones
Sony Ericsson Timescape™
Speakerphone
Twitter™ (Timescape™ integration)
Vibrating alert
Video chat ready

Messaging

Conversations
Email
Google Mail™
Instant messaging
Multimedia messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Sound recorder
Text messaging (SMS)

Design

Auto rotation
Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
Live wallpaper
Picture wallpaper
Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
Swipe to write
Touch screen

Entertainment

3D games
Media browser
Motion gaming
Radio (FM radio with RDS)
Video streaming
YouTube™

Organiser

Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Document readers
E-Manual
Flight mode
Google Calendar™
Google Gallery 3D
Infinite button
Phonebook
Setup guide
Widget manager

Connectivity

All services mentioned in this leaflet may not be available in every market.

3.5 mm audio jack
aGPS
Bluetooth™ technology
DLNA Certified™
Google Latitude™
Google Maps™ for Mobile
Google Maps™ with Street View
HDMI™ support
Media Transfer Protocol support
Micro USB support
Modem
Native USB tethering
Synchronisation via Facebook™
Synchronisation via Google Sync™
Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync
Synchronisation via Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync®
TV Out
USB mass storage
USB High speed 2.0 support
Wi-Fi®
Wi-Fi® Hotspot functionality
Wisepilot™ turn-by-turn navigation

Display

Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
16,777,216 colour TFT
Capacitive touchscreen (multi-touch)
3.7 inches
480 x 854 pixels (FWVGA)
Scratch-resistant

Memory

Phone memory: Up to 320MB
Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32GB
Memory card included: 2GB microSD™

Battery life

Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 6 hrs 55 min*
Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 430 hrs*

Talk time UMTS: Up to 7 hrs*
Standby time UMTS: Up to 400 hrs*

Music listening time: Up to 31 hrs*
Video playback time: Up to 7 hrs 25 min*

*According to GSM Association Battery Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configurations, and phone usage.

Networks

UMTS HSPA 900, 2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900

UMTS HSPA 850, 1900, 2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900

In the kit

Xperia™ neo V
1500 mAh battery
Stereo portable handsfree
2GB microSD™ memory card
Charger
Micro USB cable for charging
Synchronisation and file transfer
User documentation

Legal
1) Facts and features may vary depending on local variant. 2) Operational times are affected by network preferences, type of SIM card, connected accessories and various activities e.g. playing games. Kit contents and colour options may differ from market to market. The full range of accessories may not be available in every market.

© Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, 2011

Samsung's IFA app unveils Galaxy Tab 7.7, Wave 3 and Galaxy Note

We're about a week away from this year's IFA, but that's no reason for the tech teases to dry up. According to a report on This Is My Next, a bevy of product logos from Sammy's Android trade show app were unearthed by a tipster searching for clues in the APK. Among the soon-to-be unveiled products are the new Galaxy Tab 7.7, Wave 3 and Galaxy Note. While we've haven't heard much about the Note, we aren't really surprised to see a 7.7-inch (we assume) iteration of the OEM's popular Honeycomb tablet and an update to its Bada OS-running Wave smartphone line. Not to worry folks, you won't have to live with the suspense for long -- we'll be reporting live from Berlin before you know it.

Microsoft: front facing cameras, Skype integration coming with Mango update (video)

When Microsoft unveiled the SGH-i937 Mango Windows Phone 7 handset last month, we noticed what appeared to be a front facing camera perched atop the Galaxy S II-like device. Now, the company has confirmed that forthcoming Mango flavored phones will indeed feature face-gazing shooters, along with Skype integration. The confirmation came at Redmond's TechEd event in New Zealand, where two employees also revealed that Microsoft's Lync VoIP client will soon expand to other platforms, including iOS, Android and Symbian. As for that Skype integration, the reps assured the audience that it's coming soon, though it remains unclear whether it'll come in the form of an app, or a subsequent update. You can watch the TechEd session for yourself after the break, but be warned that parts of it are somewhat inaudible.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Droid Bionic ad has pretty much everything but a phone (video)

The new Droid Bionic ad sure has it all: a Portman-esque lady in an illuminated leather blouse, brandishing a giant sword against a Terminator-looking 'bot shooting lasers from his hands, all taking place in some crazy sky coliseum thing. As for the actual handset? Not so much on that front, save for a name at the end and a promised September release date -- oh, and the implied promise that the phone will literally slice the heads off of its Android brethren. Video after the break.

White HTC EVO 3D gets exclusive RadioShack bow on September 9th

If Wall-E's lady friend, Eve, and Spielberg's E.T. were to come together in engineering matrimony, we're pretty sure this white EVO 3D would be the resulting offspring. This "rare and beautiful" unicorn from HTC's beastly, dual-core Android herd hails from the Hesse-led network, and will be available as a RadioShack exclusive on September 9th. The electronics retailer dipped more than just its toes into our 21st century ways (or more likely hired a new intern), getting the message out via its Twitter account, and snapping an Instagram shot of the bleached handset. Pricing for the phone has yet to be announced, but we'd be surprised if this gets a premium over its $199 on-contract twin.

News on Steve Jobs

An amazing announcement released shows CEO Steve Jobs of Apple retire, he may have retired but he is still going to be chairman of the board with chief operating officer Tim Cook filling his shoes for the new job role. The question is “How will this affect Apple stocks?”

Many will see this retirement as a shock, we all know Steve Jobs as the guru and front-speaker at events such, which of course leaves us wondering if he will be at the next big event announcing the new Apple iPhone 5 and the possibility of the iPhone 4S.

Jobs has said in an eight-sentence letter to the Apple board of directors and “the Apple community,” that he can no longer meet his duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO.

No one knows for sure why Steve Jobs cannot fulfill his obligations as CEO, but we suspect this is down to his poor health, he will surely be missed as public speaker and the man we always put side-by-side with the iPhone, iPad etc.

Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, his tumour was removed successfully and future tests showed that the it spread to his liver undetected, his liver was then removed in 2009 and replaced with a transplant, which left Jobs taking a six-month sabbatical.

We here at Phones Review are very sad indeed that Steve Jobs has retired; he will sorely be missed as the man who is APPLE. Steve Jobs and Apple stock go hand-in-hand and the reaction to his retirement has seen stock falling by 7 percent.

According to LA Times Apple stock has gone from $6.56 to $403 in around 8 years, yesterday saw Apple shares closing at $376.18 on Wednesday meaning that it was up $2.58, these figures we closed before Steve Jobs announcement. However, after Jobs retirement announcement letter shares fell 5.3% to about $356 in after-hours trading.

July 26 saw a record in stock market value at $403.41, stock market value was $348 billion at the close of regular trading Wednesday. Apple has some astonishing figures, especially when you compare to Google’s $169 billion, IBM’s $199 billion, Microsoft’s $209 billion and Intel’s $104 billion.

Please do post your comments below about Steve Jobs retirement; what would you like to say to him (Go below and send a message). We would also love to know how his retirement would affect Apple stocks and shares, even more so will the iPhone 5 announcements and release be the same without the legend speaker?

Here’s the full text of Jobs’s letter via PC World

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

 

BBM Music gets official for BlackBerry owners lusting after Spotify

Nothing warms our hearts quite like the thought of corporate suits and government workers pumping out the tunes of Iris DeMent and Amy Martin as they scurry throughout their busy days. As we've previously speculated, a new service for BlackBerry Messenger -- dubbed BBM Music -- has now become real official. For $5 per month, users may keep up to 50 songs in their personal library, which is kinda reminiscent of the wistful days filled with 128MB MP3 players. Fortunately, it gets better. A social component allows you to add BBM Music friends, which gives you access to their current 50 songs, too -- and serves as a real incentive to grow your social circle. Once you get bored of your jam selection, up to 25 songs per month can be swapped out for new ones, and your current library can be stored locally on the handset. The new service begins today in closed beta for residents of the US, Canada and the UK, but more countries will be added down the road. Curious if yours made the list? Just hop the break for the full PR to find out.

Show full PR text

RIM Announces BBM Music - A New Social Music Sharing and Discovery Service

New Cloud-Based Music Service Makes Music a Social Experience

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) today announced BBM Music, a new BBM (BlackBerry® Messenger) service for socially connected music fans.

BBM Music is an easy-to-use cloud-based service that enables social and viral music discovery by allowing users to build an evolving, community-based music library that is shared amongst their BBM Music friends. The size of the music library continues to grow as new friends join the community and each user can select music from a catalog with millions of songs from leading music companies - Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI.

"More than 45 million customers already love the social communication benefits delivered through BBM and we are thrilled to be extending the experience into a uniquely social and interactive music service," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. "We have partnered with leading music companies to provide a „full track music sharing and discovery experience that will provide users with quality music on demand and allow them to connect with friends on a whole new level."

Key features of BBM Music include:
- Music made social – BBM Music is a cloud-based, social music service that allows you to share and discover music with your friends, creating a continually evolving music library:
- Build a personal music profile with 50 of your favorite songs. You can refresh your profile by swapping out up to 25 songs each month.
- Invite your BBM friends to subscribe to BBM Music and to join your BBM Music Community.
- With each friend that is added to BBM Music, you grow your music collection since the songs from the profile of each BBM Music friend are available to you at any time.
- Up to 50 tracks from your personal profile are shared with your BBM Music Community, and each member of your community shares up to 50 songs from their profile with you.
- Enjoy a truly social community-based music experience – the more friends who join your community, the more songs you can listen to.
- Easily discover music that your BBM Music friends are listening to, and comment on your friends songs and playlists.
- You can create multiple playlists from music in your profile as well as all of your friends profiles, and with one click you can shuffle the entire collection of music from your BBM Music Community. You can even see which friend contributed each song while it plays.
- Within your BBM Music app, you also see a visual timeline that shows the recent updates of all users within your community. It gives you a chronological view of community updates, including who added new friends, which songs were added or removed, which playlists were created and what comments were made by your BBM Music friends.
- Listen to Full Tracks - BBM Music subscribers can listen to full tracks from their friends profiles – not just previews.
- Offline Listening - Music can be saved to smartphones for offline listening, allowing users to access songs even when they dont have wireless coverage.
- Topping the Charts – Keep track of how many friends are listening to your tracks.

"A major component of online music continues to be about community, and the ability to discover new artists and music through word of mouth," stated Rob Wells, President of Global Digital Business for Universal Music Group. "BBM Music dynamically and elegantly integrates the excitement of this social music discovery process with a high quality music service, enabling tens of millions of BlackBerry users to experience new music and to share those experiences with their friends virtually anywhere and at anytime."

"We are pleased to be partnering with Research In Motion on their BBM Music service. RIM and its large base of BlackBerry Messenger users represent an exciting platform for expanding the reach of commercial digital music around the world," stated Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business, U.S. Sales and Corporate Strategy, Sony Music Entertainment. "The combination of a premium music solution and instant messaging will enable viral music discovery and emphasize the social power of digital music. It also offers an effective way of serving younger consumers by integrating music into the fabric of an important hub of their digital activity."

"A dynamic social music experience is a powerful way for our artists to connect with fans and also for fans to discover music by interacting with each other," said Michael Nash, Executive Vice President, Digital Strategy & Business Development, Warner Music Group. "Addressing more than 45 million BlackBerry Messenger users with a service tailor-made for its mobile community, BBM Music has the opportunity to reach a broad and engaged audience."

"We are very excited to work with Research In Motion to bring our artists music to BBMs huge and very loyal user base," said Mark Piibe, Executive Vice President of Global Business Development at EMI Music. "BBM Musics unique social discovery experience offers fans a great new way to discover music, share their favorite tracks with their friends and build a stronger connection with the artists they love."

"The widespread adoption of mobile devices provides the perfect foundation for consuming and sharing music. Brands that want to deliver a unique interactive experience must create services that are mobile, social, and contextual," said Maribel Lopez Principal at Lopez Research and Constellation Research Group.

A closed (limited) beta trial of the BBM Music service is starting today in Canada, the United States and the UK. The BBM Music service is expected to be commercially available to customers later this year for a monthly subscription of $4.99 USD* in Australia, Canada, Columbia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Netduino and WP7 used to remotely control sprinkler system, show off Microsoft's DIY credentials

Arduino, Android and the iPhone usually get all the DIY love, but Mike Linnen, he has taken the road less traveled by -- turning to Windows Phone 7, Azure and a Netduino Plus to get his home hacking on. The .NET-powered microcontroller is the heart of Linnen's new sprinkler system which can be scheduled to turn on and off automatically or manually triggered remotely from his WP7 handset. The system also monitors weather forecasts and, if the chance of rain is above 39-percent, any sprinkler activity for the day is canceled to avoid over watering the grass and plants. It's all pretty neat, and there's some DOS command line action thrown in for good measure. Check out the lengthy demo video after the break, and hit up the source for more detail and the necessary code to set up your own.

Sony Alpha A77 hands-on preview (video)

When it comes to cameras, digital SLRs are a breed all their own. Many DSLR owners don't upgrade their bodies often -- if at all -- and even fewer would consider a switch to a competing camera system, especially after investing in a handful of high-end lenses. Manufacturers need to push innovation even further to target this segment of the market -- when some cameras cost thousands of dollars and already offer excellent performance, simply releasing a body with more megapixels and HD shooting options won't prompt photographers to pull out their credit cards. With its excellent 24.3 megapixel sensor and high-res OLED electronic viewfinder, however, Sony's $1,399 Alpha A77 may just be the DSLR upgrade you've been waiting for. We spent a few days with a pre-production A77 paired with Sony's brand new 16-50mm f/2.8 lens ($1,999 in an A77 kit), and were very impressed with what will undoubtedly be a worthy successor to the well-received A700. Jump past the break for our initial impressions, along with plenty of still photo and HD video samples.

Sony Alpha A77 (hands-on)

At first glance, the A77 looks like any other DSLR. There don't appear to be any special dials, unique design features, or other markings that may reveal the beast within -- besides the A77 logo to the left of the lens mount. Your perception will change after picking it up, however. The magnesium alloy camera is surprisingly light (even with Sony's new 16-50mm f/2.8 lens), though still solid-feeling and quite durable. Its dual displays -- one tilt- and swivel-enabled 3-inch LCD, and that gorgeous XGA-resolution OLED EVF -- are unassuming at first, but their power and function become immediately apparent once you turn the power dial. We love the 24.3 megapixel sensor, but the camera's OLED viewfinder is the star of the show.

Not only is the EVF bright and vibrant, but its 1024 x 768-pixel resolution means images will appear incredibly sharp, with plenty of room left over to display complex settings. While it won't provide as natural of a look, the tiny eye-level display is otherwise on-par with some optical viewfinders, with the added benefit of adjustable brightness and a heads-up display-like settings readout. The main LCD is adequate as well. We found ourselves splitting our time fairly evenly between the two displays -- focusing on the EVF in bright sunlight, even though the main display was still visible, and using the main display when we needed to shoot at unusual angles, or to capture images without alerting our subjects (the near-silent shutter helps on that front as well). Full articulation provides easy viewing from above, below, to the side -- even from in front of the lens, letting you shoot self-portraits with a DSLR -- while the horizon indicator (also present with the EVF) helps you guarantee that you're holding the camera level. There's also a dedicated LCD data display, located on the top right of the body.

While having an excellent display is key to the overall user experience, image quality is far more critical -- even with the world's most powerful EVF, the A77 would be a dud without a top-notch sensor. The camera's images are among the highest quality we've seen, however. As expected, photos shot in ideal lighting conditions were superb. At the highest quality JPEG setting, images zoomed to 100 percent look very good -- details don't appear as sharp as when zoomed out, but we would have no qualms with cropping an image significantly for web use. Elements are noticeably sharper at the center of the image, and tend to degrade gradually (though not significantly) as you move toward the edge of the frame. Images shot side-by-side at f/10 with a Canon 5D Mark II are noticeably sharper with the Canon when viewed at 100 percent (see our gallery for an example), but the 5D is a much pricier DSLR with a coveted full-frame sensor -- the Alpha offers excellent performance for an APS-C.

Sony Alpha A77 sample photos

The A77 also offers a wide variety of video shooting modes, including 1080 / 60p AVCHD. We spent more time shooting video at 1080i in MPEG4 format, however, in order to conserve storage space and produce samples for the web. Video appeared sharp and smooth, thanks to the optical image stabilization. In continuous focus mode, the camera adjusted seamlessly and almost instantaneously when panning from incredibly close subjects to those in the distance, as you'll see in the first sample below.

During our test period, we were able to capture 858 photos and more than 30 minutes of HD video on a single charge, despite spending a significant amount of time flipping through camera settings, reviewing images and videos with friends, and shooting with the built-in flash. The A77 uses a standard NP-FM500H InfoLithium 1650 mAh battery, so backups and replacements will be easy to find. The camera also includes a combination SDHC / Memory Stick slot on the right side -- there's no CompactFlash compatibility.

We only had a chance to scratch the surface of Sony's very capable flagship DSLR, and are looking forward to spending more time with the A77, testing out its 12 fps full-resolution continuous shooting, object-tracking autofocus, GPS tagging, automatic distortion correction, and 3D still and video modes. From our initial impressions, we were very impressed -- the camera offers good performance in all situations, and that high-res OLED EVF is a brilliant addition. We're also looking forward to testing Sony's NEX-7, which features the same 24.3 megapixel sensor, 1080p video capture, and OLED viewfinder -- with an only slightly more affordable price tag.

Show full PR text

SONY'S LATEST α DSLR CAMERAS BRING NEW LEVELS OF SPEED, PERFORMANCE AND CREATIVITY TO PHOTO ENTHUSIASTS

α77 and α65 Models Expand Translucent Mirror Technology Line; Deliver 24.3 megapixels with up to 12- and 10- fps AF-enabled continuous shooting

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2011 – Blazing speed, enhanced image quality, high resolution and incredible performance are just some of the features advanced amateurs and photo enthusiasts will find in Sony's newest alpha cameras, models SLT-A77 (α77) and SLT-A65 (α65).

Sony's latest refinements to its Translucent Mirror Technology make these new cameras the fastest, most responsive interchangeable lens cameras in their class, as well as set new performance benchmarks that even professional DSLRs have yet to achieve. The α77 and α65 both feature a newly developed Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor with 24.3 effective megapixel resolution, as well as the world's first XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder.

The sensor teams with the next generation of Sony's BIONZ® image processing engine to handle huge amounts of high speed data from the camera sensor, enabling unprecedented response times and flawless image quality with ultra-low noise when shooting still images or Full HD video.

"We feel that these cameras are not only a significant evolution of our breakthrough Translucent Mirror Technology," said Mike Kahn, director of the alpha camera business group for Sony Electronics. "They're also a revolution in terms of redefining how this unique technology can be put to use by enthusiasts."

The much anticipated successor to Sony's acclaimed α700 DSLR, the α77 boasts the world's fastest continuous autofocus (AF) shooting performance (among DSLRs in Aug 2011), capturing a burst of full resolution, 24 megapixel images at 12 frames per second with full-time phase-detection AF. The α65 achieves a similarly impressive 10fps shooting speed.

Precision AF tracking of moving subjects is more precise with the α77 due to a new 19-point autofocus system with 11 cross sensors. The α65 boasts 15-point AF with three cross sensors. Tracking Focus maintains accurate focus lock on a moving subject – even if the target is momentarily obscured. Additionally, a new electronic front shutter curtain achieves a minimum release time lag of approximately 50 milliseconds, comparable to much more expensive professional-class DSLRs.

The α77 and α65 further refine Sony's acclaimed Fast Continuous AF Full HD Movie shooting, already featured on previous Sony Translucent Mirror cameras. Phase Detection maintains accurate focus during video shooting of portrait subjects, even when they're moving at fast speeds.

Unprecedented image quality and creative options

A broad sensitivity range of ISO 100-16000 expands (α77 only) down to ISO 50. At the highest sensitivities, both cameras can freeze fast action or capture atmospheric low-noise shots without flash. Low ISO settings are ideal when used with a long exposure to create expressive shots, such as splashing water.

Both cameras showcase a remarkably crisp OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder, the world's first of its kind. With a 2359k dot (XGA) resolution, this precision electronic viewfinder offers a bright, highly detailed, high contrast image with 100 percent frame coverage and a wide field of view comparable to the most advanced class optical viewfinders.

However, unlike optical viewfinders, users have expansive customization capabilities through the XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder and can preview the effects of adjusting exposure, white balance and other settings in real-time. Photographers can also make fine focus adjustments via a zoomed-in portion of the image.

The Smart Teleconverter displays an enlarged central portion of the image sensor, allowing compositions to be displayed clearly on the OLED viewfinder and captured as 12 megapixel images with a digital zoom factor of 1.4x or 2x.

In another first for DSLR cameras, both new models can capture Full HD video at 60p (progressive) frame rates – incorporating the recently introduced AVCHD™ Progressive (Ver. 2.0) format. Also, 24p shooting is available for capturing beautiful cinematic video footage. Manual focusing and P/A/S/M exposure modes, familiar to creative filmmakers, also can provide enhanced control during video shooting.

Shooters can compose and review stills and video on the adjustable-angle three-inch Xtra Fine LCD™ display that offers high resolution (921k dot) and TruBlack™ technology for superb detail and contrast. As an extra refinement, the α77 introduces the world's first three-way adjustable screen that tilts and pivots freely for effortless framing at any angle (α65: two-way adjust LCD).

Revised ergonomics on both cameras include a comfortably contoured new grip design and tactile new button layout for 'eyes off' operation while viewing via the high-resolution XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder.

The α77 adds front and rear control dials for intuitive fingertip operation and a separate top-mounted LCD data display. The durable body features magnesium alloy panels for strength and lightness. Key controls are sealed against the effects of dust and moisture, complementing similar levels of protection offered by the new SAL1650 lens, VG-C77AM Vertical Grip for α77 and HVL-F43AM flash unit.

A new shutter unit on the α77 is tested up to 150,000 cycles and supports an ultra-fast minimum 1/8000 sec shutter speed (1/250 sec flash sync). On-board GPS allows automatic geo-tagging of photos and video clips with location data.

New DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM zoom lens and accessories

The growing range of compatible A-mount lenses for both cameras now includes the quiet, bright DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM standard zoom with 16mm wide angle coverage that's ideal for both portrait and everyday shooting.

The high-performance lens features a dust- and moisture-resistant design, and offers a zoom range of approximately 3x range at constant wide F2.8 aperture. Optical performance is assured by aspherical glass and three ED (Extra Low Dispersion) lens elements to minimize aberration at all focal lengths. An internal Super Sonic wave Motor (SSM) drive enables fast, quiet autofocus.

An optional dust- and moisture-resistant VG-C77AM Vertical Grip for α77 assures comfortable handling in vertical shooting positions. It can house up to two NP-FM500H InfoLITHIUM® batteries, doubling shooting stamina up to approximately 1060 shots (via LCD monitor)/940 shots (via Tru-Finder™ viewfinder) when using Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media. Other new A-mount system accessories include a back pack (LCS-BP2), soft carrying cases (LCS-SC21 and LCS-SC8), LCD protectors and eyepiece cups.

Pricing and Availability

The new α77 Translucent Mirror interchangeable lens camera will be available in a kit with the new SAL1650 f2.8 lens for about $2000, and offered as body-only for about $1400. The SAL1650 lens will also be sold separately for about $700.

The new VG-C77AM vertical grip, designed for the α77 camera, will be available in October for about $300.

The new α65 Translucent Mirror interchangeable lens camera will be available in a kit with a standard 18-55mm lens (SAL1855) for about $1000, and offered as body-only for about $900.

Both the α77 and α65 cameras kits and the new SAL1650 lens will be available this October at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) as well as other authorized retailers throughout the Sony dealer network.

For "sneak peak" videos of the new products, please visit www.sony.com/cameravideos.

UK Advertising Authority smacks Motorola for misleading Atrix advert (video)

Oh dear. Remember Motorola's advert claiming the Atrix was the "world's most powerful smartphone?" Well it's now been banned in the UK by the Advertising Standards Authority. Viewers complained about the misleading phrase as the Galaxy S II has a faster 1.2 GHz processor, compared to Atrix's 1GHz. Moto said it meant "powerful" in the sense it could drive various devices -- the ASA didn't agree, since the phrase was read out over the final shot in the advert, where the phone appears in isolation. It ruled that as such, the advert was misleading and can only reappear on UK TV with the contentious phrase removed. Armchair adjudicators can decide for themselves in the video after the break.

Microsoft woos webOS developers with free phones, training

WebOS developers may not have had much good news in the past few days (apart from a slew of new TouchPad owners looking for apps), but they are at least getting some attention. That includes a message from Microsoft's Senior Director of Windows Phone 7 Development, Brandon Watson, who offered free phones to published webOS developers on Friday, plus all the necessary tools and training to get them started with Windows Phone. Judging from his tweets since, the response has been fairly overwhelming -- Watson says he's received close to 600 emails from webOS devs as of Sunday evening.

BlackBerry Bold 9930, Torch 9850 go on sale at Sprint for $200, $150

As expected, the BlackBerry Torch 9850 and BlackBerry Bold 9930 went on sale at Sprint yesterday as part of its BlackBerry 7 lineup. Both phones feature 1.2GHz Snapdragon processors and five-megapixel cameras, but the 9850 has a 3.7-inch touch-only display compared to the Bold's 2.8-inch screen and keyboard combination. Purchased online with contracts and after rebates, the 9850 is selling for $150 while the 9930 is going for a cool $200 -- a departure from the originally announced Bold price tag of $249, with no mention of cash back. For Sprint users, a rebate is clearly better than no rebate -- even if it does require a stamp.

LG Brings Scanning Convenience To IFA 2011 With Innovative Mouse Scanner

LG LSM-100, built in scanner, mouse scanner

LG Electronics (LG) will be opening a new era for scanners at this year’s IFA with the LSM-100, the mouse with a built-in scanner. Incorporating technology specifically developed for the new device, the LSM-100 offers an array of unique functions that blend surprising innovation and user convenience.

Operating the LSM-100’s scanning function is far more convenient than on conventional scanners. While holding the Smart Scan button on the left side of the mouse, the user simply swipes the mouse over the material to be scanned. The scanned image can then be saved in a variety of file types – PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PDF, XLS and DOC – or dragged and dropped into the desired application.

 

The LSM-100 is also equipped with LG’s Optical Character Recognition technology, which converts scanned text into a Microsoft Word document that can then be edited and manipulated as the user sees fit. By eliminating the need to retype text from print media onto the screen, Optical Character Reader saves users a great deal of time.

 

The mouse’s compact size belies its big-sized capabilities. Because it’s not limited by a frame, the LSM-100 can scan page sizes up to A3, larger than most conventional portable scanners. Additionally, the scanning technology itself has been upgraded to handle faster pass-over rates, meaning that scanning an A3 sheet can be done smoothly and quickly.

 

The LSM-100 is also a top-end mouse. The laser sensor is accurate and durable, and the stylish design lends itself to easy, smooth motions as well as providing an ergonomic, comfortable grip.

 

HP: Pre 3 not destined for US shores

Looks like all of those currently enjoying HP's deep discounts on the TouchPad won't be reaping similar benefits with regards to the Pre 3 -- not in the US, at least. HP broke the news to PCMag, explaining that the smartphone won't be hitting the States. European webOS fans will be getting a pretty sweet deal from all of this, however, with the handset running a rather affordable $75 unlocked in France and the UK. And what about Germany? HP is reporting that the Pre 3 has sold out in that country.

Acer M310 Windows Phone said to have HDMI-out, 8GB storage

We first heard about the existence of the Acer M310 Windows Phone last week, but literally no information was given besides the fact that two test units were discovered on a developer's traffic sheet. How about a few more shreds of meat to chew on? According to WindowsPhoneNZ, the Mango device was sighted at TechEd New Zealand with HDMI-out support. We may be seeing this feature across a large variety of Windows Phones coming out this fall, as the HTC Eternity has been rumored to include video output via HDMI as well. The observer claims the M310 has a "black shiny look" and "bevelled edges," has a similar appearance to the Acer W4 (shown in the above image), and includes DLNA support over WiFi. The handset was also seen snuggling up to Asus' entry into the Windows Phone market, which was said to have a matte black finish and may have a front-facing camera. Certainly, if these factoids are correct, this fall's Mango lineup looks to be laden with all kinds of hidden gems we haven't seen on Microsoft's OS yet.

Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition gets blinged out with 1GHz processor and gold-plated bod

Searching for the perfect accessory to your gold lamé hot pants, gold tooth and gold pinky ring? Then look no further than the Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition. This hunk of sparkly splendor is basically a Series 40 C3-01 Touch-and-Type feature phone with a fancy 18 carat gold topcoat and an upgraded 1GHz processor. Less impressive on the inside, this gilded ringer is packing a quadband GSM radio, HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 2.4-inch QVGA touchscreen, a 5 megapixel camera and a microSD card slot. Since it's a made in Finland, it's got Nokia Messaging for email and IM, Nokia Communities for Facebook and Twitter, the new Nokia S40 browser and the Ovi Store, obvi. This ultimate feature phone is available primarily in Eastern Europe and the Middle East for a price of €220 ($320) -- but is there really a price on looking fresh?

Show full PR text

ESPOO, Finland - Recently, we launched the new Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition. Designed exclusively for Eastern European and Middle Eastern markets, it brings together the popular Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type with a luxury 18-carat gold plating, ceramic-feel keymat and a matching theme.

We introduced the original Series 40 based Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type last year, and its combination of simplicity and classic phone design has made it something of a hit among people who are less into megapixels and gigahertz and more interested in "making a phone call".

That's not to say that the Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition doesn't have the technology bases covered. Offering a quadband radio and up to HSDPA data speeds alongside WiFi and Bluetooth, you won't have any problems getting connected. The hardware's been updated with a 1GHz processor in this model, too, so it's no slouch when it comes to performance. The screen is a 2.4-inch QVGA touchscreen. On the back, there's a 5-megapixel camera with flash. There's also a MicroSD card slot for up to 32GB of extra storage space.

On board, you'll find Nokia Messaging for email and IM functionality and Nokia Communities for checking into Facebook and Twitter. And of course, there's Ovi Store for downloading extra apps and games. New to this device is the Nokia Series 40 browser, for fast web access without high data use charges.

It measures 111 x 47.5 x 11mm and weighs 100g. The battery is rated as offering up to 5.5 hours talk-time and up to 18 days on standby.

The Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition has already started shipping in selected markets, and will extend to more in coming weeks, and, without local taxes or operator subsidies, will cost around €220. More information on the product page here.

LG announces LSM-100 Scanner Mouse, saves valuable desk space

You may recall, back at CES, we got our hands on LG's LSM-100 mouse scanner and were able to try it out for ourselves. Well it appears that you may have that same opportunity soon. The company has announced that it will be "opening a new era for scanners" at IFA in a few days with its mouse that boasts a built-in scanner. Simply by holding the Smart Scan button, you'll be able to save or drag and drop scanned images as large as A3 paper size in a variety of formats -- PNG, JPEG, TIFF, and PDF, just to name a few -- by swiping the mouse over it. If that wasn't enough to entice you, the peripheral also features Optical Character Recognition that converts text from said images into an editable Word document. Perhaps lost in all this is the fully functioning mouse bit... which you'll probably need as well. No word yet on pricing or availability, but hopefully soon, you'll have room on your desk for one of these.

Show full PR text

LG BRINGS SCANNING CONVENIENCE TO IFA 2011 WITH INNOVATIVE MOUSE SCANNER
LSM-100 Saves Time, Space and Creates a Whole New Way of Capturing Images

SEOUL, Aug. 24, 2011 – LG Electronics (LG) will be opening a new era for scanners at this year's IFA with the LSM-100, the mouse with a built-in scanner. Incorporating technology specifically developed for the new device, the LSM-100 offers an array of unique functions that blend surprising innovation and user convenience.

Operating the LSM-100's scanning function is far more convenient than on conventional scanners. While holding the Smart Scan button on the left side of the mouse, the user simply swipes the mouse over the material to be scanned. The scanned image can then be saved in a variety of file types – PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PDF, XLS and DOC – or dragged and dropped into the desired application.

The LSM-100 is also equipped with LG's Optical Character Recognition technology, which converts scanned text into a Microsoft Word document that can then be edited and manipulated as the user sees fit. By eliminating the need to retype text from print media onto the screen, Optical Character Reader saves users a great deal of time.

The mouse's compact size belies its big-sized capabilities. Because it's not limited by a frame, the LSM-100 can scan page sizes up to A3, larger than most conventional portable scanners. Additionally, the scanning technology itself has been upgraded to handle faster pass-over rates, meaning that scanning an A3 sheet can be done smoothly and quickly.

The LSM-100 is also a top-end mouse. The laser sensor is accurate and durable, and the stylish design lends itself to easy, smooth motions as well as providing an ergonomic, comfortable grip.

Android still king of the US smartphone hill, Motorola facing a market nosedive

In other obvious news, Android and iOS continue to sit pretty atop the US smartphone market, according to a recent NPD study. The current titans of the mobile industry both saw their pieces of the OS pie increase in Q2 of 2011, putting Andy Rubin's green robot in the lead with 52 percent and Apple at 29 percent. Newly adopted webOS, and Microsoft's WP7 and Windows Mobile all managed to cling to their respective 5 percent shares with no yearly change, leaving only BlackBerry OS to experience an 11 percent decline. But the real meat and potatoes of the report focuses on Google's soon-to-be in-house partner: Motorola. Despite the rosy picture painted by recent acquisition talks, the company appears to be facing tough competition from Android OEM rivals, and the wireless market as a whole. In regard to overall mobile phone share (read: dumbphones, et al.) and smartphone-only, Moto saw a 3 percent year-to-year decline, with its biggest loss coming from Android unit sales -- a 50 percent drop to 22 percent of the market. Will the rosy glow of Mountain View "help inspire new paths to differentiation" for Moto, or are we just looking at a repeat of the "RAZR era?" While you ponder these pressing questions, head past the break to read the full report.

Show full PR text

The NPD Group: As Android Solidifies Lead, Google Acquisition Has Potential to Revitalize Flagging Motorola
Patent-rich handset pioneer's second quarter share fell to gains by Apple, Samsung and LG.

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, August 22, 2011 – According to The NPD Group, a leading market research company, Google's Android operating system (OS) continued to dominate U.S. smartphone market share, accounting for 52 percent of units sold in the second quarter (Q2) of 2011. Like Android, Apple's iPhone OS (iOS) experienced slight quarterly gain rising to 29 percent in Q2; however, BlackBerry OS share fell to 11 percent, as Windows Phone 7, Windows Mobile, and webOS held steady at less than five percent of the market each.

"Google's acquisition of Motorola shifts the balance of power in the handset-patent conflict between Google and its operating system competitors," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD. "Android's momentum has made for a large pie that is attractive to Motorola's Android rivals, even if they must compete with their operating system developer."

Motorola's overall mobile phone market share declined 3 percentage points, from 12 percent in Q2 2010 to 9 percent in Q2 2011. The company's share of the smartphone market also declined from 15 percent to 12 percent. Motorola's year-over-year unit share of Android OS sales halved from 44 percent in Q2 of last year to 22 percent in Q2 of 2011, as Samsung and LG both experienced substantial gains.

"Much as it did in the feature phone market in the RAZR era, Motorola is experiencing increased competition from Samsung and LG in the smartphone market," Rubin said. "Closer ties to the heart of Android can help inspire new paths to differentiation."

Growing opportunity in prepaid smartphones

Beyond the four largest national carriers, Motorola can also make up ground in the rapidly growing pre-paid smartphone market. Based on the latest information from NPD's "Mobile Phone Track," one in five new handsets acquired in Q2 was on a prepaid plan, and carriers offering prepaid mobile phones continued to grow their smartphone portfolios. In Q2 2010 just 8 percent of prepaid phones were smartphones, but in Q2 2011 that number jumped to 22 percent.

"Android is also leading the charge in the rapidly growing prepaid smartphone market," Rubin said. "This was once a key segment for Motorola that the company has an opportunity to reclaim as prepaid carriers build their smartphone portfolios."

Data Note: The information in this press release is from "Mobile Phone Track" – NPD's consumer tracking of U.S. consumers, aged 18 and older, who reported purchasing a mobile phone. NPD does not track corporate/enterprise mobile phone purchases.

South Korea brings the big guns to the mobile OS knife fight

Publicly, Samsung and LG tersely supported Google's union with Motorola (which we've taken to calling Moogle) -- privately it appears the South Korean giants aren't as thrilled to be at the mercy of Mountain View's whim. Imagine their predicament if they were frozen out of Android tomorrow -- which is why the Korean government has stepped in to create its own OS. Kim Jae-hong, deputy minister from Seoul's Ministry of Knowledge Economy, thinks that American dominance in mobile software is generally a bad thing. The minister said that the country would "foster a habitat" for the open-source OS, which might mean incentivized pricing on these devices, and we're hearing a cloud-based Chrome OS is also in the offing. The biggest news Jae-hong slipped is that Samsung had been very dismissive of a Korean OS until it heard about the Google / Motorola deal. What a difference a Moogle makes, eh?

New York judge denies government warrant for Verizon location data

Beating the man at his own game on Monday, a federal judge from the Eastern District of New York denied the US government's application asking Verizon Wireless to hand over 113 days of customer location data. Washington has long debated whether or not the Constitution protects modern day communications that include a third party (like cell phone conversations supported by a carrier company), and non-conversational meta data (like cellular GPS location data). Some say that buying a cell phone and using a carrier's services waives one's privacy rights in that data, while others claim we have a reasonable expectation of privacy in such info under the Fourth Amendment. In making his decision, Judge Nicholas Garaufis held that "the fiction that the vast majority of the American population consents to warrantless government access to the records of a significant share of their movements by 'choosing' to carry a cell phone must be rejected."

As communications tech continues to change, these questions will likely be revisited. That's why Judge Garaufis went on to say that "in light of drastic developments in technology, the Fourth Amendment doctrine must evolve to preserve cell-phone user's reasonable expectation of privacy in cumulative cell-site-location records." Get the full opinion by clicking the source below.

Intel talks up next-gen Itanium: 32nm, 8-core Poulson

It's been a long time since Intel tried to tempt the world with a new Itanium chip. The VLIW 64-bit processor last received a serious update in 2008, with the 2-billion transistor Tukwila. Now Chipzilla is upping the ante -- moving to 32nm process, adding up to four more cores, and tacking on more than one billion additional transistors. Poulson also adds a new feature called Intel Instruction Replay Technology, which adds a buffer for more quickly recovering from errors, allowing the chip to pick up from the last known good instruction instead of having to completely flush the pipeline. Those looking to upgrade will also be happy to hear that the upcoming IA-64 CPU is pin compatible with Tukwila, so customers can simply drop the new processor in to existing systems. Check out the full PR after the break.

Show full PR text

Intel Discloses Architecture Features of Next Itanium Processor at Hot Chips 2011

Aug. 19, 2011 - Intel Corporation today revealed architecture features of the next Itanium processor codenamed Poulson. Scheduled for launch in 2012, Poulson, the most sophisticated Intel processor to date, will offer the strongest RAS features as well as the biggest leap in performance compared to previous Itanium generations.

New disclosed features:
Intel Instruction Replay Technology – New capability to enable errant instructions to be re-issued and thereby automatically recover from severe errors to help prevent system crashes and data corruptions.

In addition, Poulson adds extensive RAS protection to nearly all the major structures in the Itanium core design. This includes the Last Level Cache (LLC), Mid-level Instruction cache (MLI), Mid-level Data cache (MLD), Integer Execution Unit (IEU) and Floating Point Unit (FPU), to name a few.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, enhanced with dual-domain multi-threading support – new architecture enables independent front and backend pipeline execution to improve multi-thread efficiency and performance.

Major hardware investments on multi-threading include: dual threaded register files, dual threaded data side Translation buffers (TLBs), and a new fairness mechanism. Together, these additions enable the dual domain multi-threading support to significantly improve Poulson's multi-threading performance over that of the previous generation.

Intel Itanium New Instructions -- new instructions simplify common tasks and branch operations to help take future Itanium performance to the next level and to lay the foundation for the future of Itanium computing.

The above features are designed to take full advantage of the 8-core, 12-wide issue architecture by enabling the maximum amount of parallel execution, said Pauline Nist, General Manager of Mission Critical Segment at Intel. Poulson is on track for 2012 delivery and the follow-on future Kittson processor is under development.

Additional "Poulson" Highlights:
Eight high-capacity cores
54MB on-die memory (50MB SRAM)
3.1 billion transistors on 32nm process technology
33 percent higher system bandwidth improvement with higher bus speeds (QPI and SMI)
Next-generation architecture with new data and instruction pipelines, floating-point
pipeline and instruction buffers
2x max execution width vs. current architecture from 6- to 12-issue
Advances in reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS) features
Improved power management features and reduced overall socket power consumption
Pin compatibility with the current Intel Itanium 9300 Processor Series

About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.

Opal: the 7-inch HP tablet that almost was

Shoulda, woulda, coulda, but alas, HP ultimately didn't. Such is the tale of the behind-the-scenes gaffes that almost saw webOS launch on a path to success, and instead, ended in the platform's corporate disavowal. The story may be all too fresh in our memory, but did you also know we were this close to a fire sale for a lesser-sized tablet? According to a report on gdgt, HP's QA team had in its possession a production-ready model of the "Opal" tablet, and were in the process of debugging the unit. The aborted 7-inch little brother to the TouchPad had reared its head at the FCC only two weeks ago, en route to a future AT&T home in both 16GB and 32GB versions as the TouchPad Go. Though the passing days bring further bits of this muddled HP puzzle into perspective, it appears likely this mini webOS tab may never know the appreciative touch of consumer hands. And with the recent news of an overseas-only bow for the Pre 3, all that remains to be seen is what'll happen to our recently adopted TouchPads.

App logs reportedly confirm dual mode CDMA / GSM iPhone 5 in testing

While the world waits to find out what the fifth-generation iPhone looks like, TechCrunch reports an anonymous app developer has pulled information from their registration logs confirming the existence of a new device that's rocking both CDMA and GSM radios. That conclusion is based on registrations that came from the same device that show mobile network codes and mobile country codes from both AT&T and Verizon. This is hardly shocking however, since the Verizon iPhone 4 already has a dual mode chipset from Qualcomm with the GSM side turned off, and we'd heard back in January that Apple was planning to go the one-size-fits-all route this time around. Who this does matter for however, could be world travelers that will find keeping their device connected between countries and networks much easier with a world iPhone, whenever the new phone is revealed later this year. The bad news is still the same however, as this probably also means there's no plans for speedy LTE access -- pencil in a pithy explanation from Steve about why it's not necessary here.

Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition Arrived

Nokia C3-01, Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition, Series 40, gold plated Nokia C3-01

Recently, Nokia launched the new Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition. Designed exclusively for Eastern European and Middle Eastern markets, it brings together the popular Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type with a luxury 18-carat gold plating, ceramic-feel keymat and a matching theme. Pictures and details after the break.

Nokia introduced the original Series 40 based Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type last year, and its combination of simplicity and classic phone design has made it something of a hit among people who are less into megapixels and gigahertz and more interested in “making a phone call”.

 

That’s not to say that the Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition doesn’t have the technology bases covered. Offering a quadband radio and up to HSDPA data speeds alongside WiFi and Bluetooth, you won’t have any problems getting connected. The hardware’s been updated with a 1GHz processor in this model, too, so it’s no slouch when it comes to performance. The screen is a 2.4-inch QVGA touchscreen. On the back, there’s a 5-megapixel camera with flash. There’s also a MicroSD card slot for up to 32GB of extra storage space.

 

On board, you’ll find Nokia Messaging for email and IM functionality and Nokia Communities for checking into Facebook and Twitter. And of course, there’s Ovi Store for downloading extra apps and games. New to this device is the Nokia Series 40 browser, for fast web access without high data use charges.

 

It measures 111 x 47.5 x 11mm and weighs 100g. The battery is rated as offering up to 5.5 hours talk-time and up to 18 days on standby.

 

The Nokia C3-01 Gold Edition has already started shipping in selected markets, and will extend to more in coming weeks, and, without local taxes or operator subsidies, will cost around €220.

 

Mobile Payments Set To Take Off

VRL Financial News, leading provider of market intelligence for the financial services industry, announced today that mobile phones are already capable of replacing credit and debit cards as a means of transacting electronically, but mobile payments will not pick up as quickly as some are predicting because the benefits have not yet been clearly communicated to them

James Ratcliff, Editor of Cards International, comments: “According to Eurosmart, telecoms smart device issuance is forecast to grow at a rate of 12.5 percent by the end of 2011, whereas cards will grow at more than double that rate 28.6 percent. However, the volume of smart devices issued is still far greater, android phones in particular have seen an 886 percent rise in sales in 2010. Showing that the technology is there but widespread adoption is still some way off.”

BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for Smartphones v2.1.1 Update

BlackBerry WebWorks SDK

The latest version 2.1.1 of the BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for Smartphones (release notes) is now available for download. Known as the Echo release, this update provides new features that can be used by developers to build even better capabilities into their BlackBerry WebWorks applications.

New Option in this release

BlackBerry 7 OS simulator – a BlackBerry Bold 9930 simulator running BlackBerry 7 OS device software is now included in the WebWorks SDK download.

Web Inspector – As promised in a previous blog post, developers can now use WebKit Web inspector to debug, test and profile Web browser or BlackBerry WebWorks application content running on a live device or simulator.

Microphone API – The same API that was recently made available for the BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for Tablet OS can now be used to record WAV audio files in BlackBerry WebWorks applications running on BlackBerry smartphones.

Auto injection of Gears-to-HTML5 shim – BlackBerry WebWorks developers that wish to use HTML5 features on BlackBerry 5.0 smartphones no longer need to manually add the Gears-to-HTML JavaScript toolkit to their projects. The BlackBerry WebWorks SDK automatically does this for you.

 

Microphone API code sample

 

Use the microphone to record audio and immediately save it as a WAV file to the BlackBerry smartphone file system or a removable SDCard.

 

More Info

 

Stay up to date with the BlackBerry WebWorks Platform by bookmarking http://blackberry.github.com

 

SK19i is a New Phone Leak for Sony Ericsson

Of all the unlikely places, a hidden Sony Ericsson phone has been revealed via the AnTuTu Benchmark, where a device with no name, even having a unique model number, has been spotted. According to the app, the SK19i has an Android Gingerbread, and a 1GHz processor, which could be assumed as a part of the Xperia line. One speculation that can be close to real as that the phone may have a full QWERTY keyboard, in respect to the “K” in the model number, which is also applied to the Xperia Mini Pro SK17i.

In addition, information that can be taken for a fact is that with the models Xperia Mini ST15i and the Xperia Mini Pro SK17i; the SK19i could also be a small phone, with “S” at the beginning. Other models even include “M” for Medium, “L” for Large and “W” for Walkman phones. That should be it for now, as more information will come later.

Source: Xperia Blog

Two 90GB SATA 6Gb/s Force 3 And Force GT SSDs by Corsair

Corsair has added this week a couple of new units of 90 GB solid state for distribution in the form of force and strength of 6 Gb SATA GT / s SSD. The strength of the GT series, shown below is designed for enthusiasts and ONFI uses synchronous flash memory is suitable for reading video and music files to create a read speed of up to 555 MB / s and write speeds of up to 505 MB / s.

Group 3 90GB unit has the same read and write speed as the GT Force, but is not equipped with synchronous ONFI Flash memory.Both Force Force 3 Series and GT Series models are also compatible SSD SATA 2 and are now available for purchase from retailers for a suggested retail price of $ 159 for the series Force 3 90GB and $ 199 for the Force GT Series 90GB.

TELUS introduces the Motion CL900 Tablet PC for mobile workers

TELUS today announced the release of the Motion CL900 Tablet PC, a highly mobile, connected tablet that runs the Windows 7 Professional operating system. The new business-oriented tablet brings the excitement of tablets to mobile workers and enables them to work faster and smarter wherever their job may take them.

TELUS is the first Canadian carrier to offer the new Motion CL900 Tablet PC on its network. Designed for business, the 10.1″ CL900 is a rugged, ultra-light tablet PC that is competitively priced and powered by Windows 7 Professional to provide superior performance, security, manageability and business integration.

 

“The majority of Canadian businesses use a Windows platform to manage their day-to-day activities. The Motion CL900 Tablet PC solves some of the key issues our business customers are facing when working in the field or moving around an office by allowing them to run the Windows applications they depend on through a mobile, large-screen tablet that is both robust and lightweight,” said Jim Senko, TELUS vice-president of Small and Medium Business. “The competitive starting price of this tablet PC, when compared to similar products, makes it an incredible value proposition for businesses with a mobile workforce. We are thrilled to be working with Motion to be the first Canadian carrier to launch the CL900 on Canada’s fastest coast-to-coast 4G wireless network*.”

 

“Today’s launch by TELUS and Motion is another example of how we are leading the way for mobile workers looking for connected, point-of-service solutions,” said Scott Ball, Canada Business Development Executive, Motion. “The Motion CL900 Tablet PC can easily integrate and run business applications, be deployed across multiple locations and is designed for people who work outside of a typical office environment, such as on a construction job site, in a home healthcare environment or on the road.  TELUS has also made the CL900 affordable for small, medium and enterprise business customers to experience the power of a rugged tablet PC.”

 

Meeting the needs of mobile workers

 

Weighing less than 1kg (2.1 pounds), the Motion CL900 Tablet PC has been designed from the inside out to meet the challenging conditions of mobile workers. Built around an internal frame, the Motion CL900 Tablet PC is equipped with an ultra-durable Corning Gorilla Glass screen and has been tested to withstand drops up to four feet, making it the ideal tablet for use in the field.

 

Available at TELUS with a price starting of $999** on a three-year contract the Motion CL900 Tablet PC has been built for business and also features:

A 10.1″ brilliant screen for superior display even in bright sunlight

A rear-facing 3.0 MP documentation camera and front facing 1.3 MP web camera for easy video conferencing

Up to eight hours of battery life, so workers don’t have to waste time re-charging

A host of onboard connectivity options, including a USB port, an SD card slot, audio in/out jack, and micro-HDMI video out

Connectivity via Gobi, integrated Bluetooth, WLAN

System memory of 2 GB 800 MHz DDR2

30 GB solid state drive for storage to save all your important documents

Multi-touch and digitizer pen input for signature capture and handwriting recognition

 

TELUS offers office and mobile communications solutions to more than 250,000 small and medium-sized businesses across Canada. SMBs doing business with TELUS can count on a large team dedicated to meeting their business needs 24/7, access to Canada’s fastest coast-to-coast 4G wireless network*, Clear and Simple wireless rate plans, the most network and business device choices in Canada and customized solutions that enable them to work wherever they are.

 

The Motion CL900 Tablet PC will be available on a three-year contract from TELUS starting from $999.00**. For more information, please visit: telus.com/tablets.

 

*Based on TELUS’ tests of data throughput speeds in large Canadian urban centres.

 

**$999 after application of $250 airtime credit to be applied to the TELUS invoice within 60-90 days for each tablet purchased on a 3-year term on Tablet PC 25 rate plan.  Offer valid with the purchase of Motion CL900 Tablet PC from TELUS between August 16 to November 1, 2011 and for new activations only.  Valid for Business (Business Regular and Business Personal) and Corporate accounts only with a minimum of two (2) subscribers on the account.

 

Millions of Sprint Customers Get Faster, Improved Rebate Experience with American Express Prepaid Reward Card

Sprint American Express Prepaid Reward Card

American Express and Sprint today announced a new program offering mail-in rebates via prepaid reward cards. Customers who purchase a Sprint phone and are eligible for a rebate will receive the mail-in rebate via prepaid reward card rather than a check.

The American Express Prepaid Reward Card can be used at millions of U.S. locations that accept American Express Cards. Benefits of the program for Sprint customers include:

Faster rebate processing

Immediate use of funds when customers receive the card in the mail and activate

Card may be replaced if lost or stolen

No fees for activation, balance inquiries or customer service

 

“Our goal is to provide premium quality and a great customer experience in all aspects of the sales process. With the help of American Express, we are able to streamline the rebate process and continue to offer our customers the best value in wireless,” said Bob H. Johnson, president-Consumer, Sprint. “The new program will provide a simplified rebate experience that’s faster than a check and safer than cash. Additionally, many Sprint phones will continue to qualify for instant savings.”

 

Sprint customers previously received rebate funds via paper checks that expired in three months. Once the Sprint customer receives the prepaid reward card, the customer can immediately activate and use the card. The Card has no fees until six months after issuance, when a $3 monthly fee applies. Most prepaid users typically use the funds soon after receiving the card.

 

“We are proud to serve millions of Sprint customers by providing a faster and improved rebate program through our prepaid reward cards,” said Stefan Happ, senior vice president and general manager of the Americas for American Express’ Global Payment Options. “Innovative partners like Sprint play an important role in our mission of expanding the company’s payment portfolio beyond charge and credit products.”

 

This announcement builds on the larger strategic initiative of the American Express Enterprise Growth organization to expand beyond traditional payment forms. In July, in the first such agreement with a wireless carrier, American Express and Sprint announced that the Serve mobile wallet application will be made available in the Sprint Zone to Sprint customers using select Android-powered smartphones.

 

Mobiado Now Has Android Gingerbread Luxury Phones

Care to invest for your personal touch screen phone with that pizzazz and luxury? If Gold and Silver were your thing while getting all techie with your device, then turning to Mobiado would be your best option. They now have created new handsets in the name of Mobiado Grand Touch and Mobiado Grand Touch GCB. Just imagine your phone being covered in 139 carats of sapphire crystals, tempered by a CNC machined, aluminum body that are found on airplanes, and sturdy black stainless gun screws. Grand Touch GCB is colored in yellow and rose gold.

They both carry an Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen display, 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, PowerVR SGX540 GPU, 512MB RAM, and internal 16GB storage. It also has a 5-megapixel rear camera, which has autofocus, geo-tagging, and LED flash. Networking capabilities include HSDPA at 7.2Mbps, WiFi, DLNA, and Bluetooth 2.1. Battery is Li-Ion 1500 mAh, which staying power varies on 2G or 3G operation. There are no dates yet when this sophisticated handset will be on sale.

Source: Mobiado News Room

HTC Puccini screens leak (again), to be known as Jetstream on AT&T?

HTC's Puccini tablet is shaping up to be the company's worst kept secret. This latest batch of leaked screen shots over on PocketNow show off the tab's skinned homescreen where a clearly visible AT&T widget indicates a missing SIM card, and the Settings menu which points us to the product's possible release name -- Jetstream. The 10-inch slate, said to pack a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 8 megapixel rear-facing camera and Scribe functionality, appears to have a "true" 4G LTE AT&T destiny ahead of it, with a potential launch coming before the close of this year. Make sure to hit the source below for an additional look at this Android slate.

Symbian Anna now available for download on Nokia N8, E7, C7 and C6-01

Just a day after popping up on NaviFirm, Nokia's Symbian Anna has finally arrived for download, right on schedule. Available for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 users, the new OS brings a fresh new UI and a virtual portrait QWERTY keypad to Symbian smartphones, along with split-screen messaging, richer maps and speedier browsing. The update also brings NFC capabilities to the C7, in particular, allowing users to share contacts, photos and other goodies by simply tapping their handsets together. If you're interested in upgrading, you can download Anna using the latest version of Ovi Suite (3.1.1), or with an OTA update, though availability and method of delivery vary from market to market. Find more information in the full PR, after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Show full PR text

Symbian Anna now available for download

Published August 18, 2011

Espoo, Finland - Symbian Anna - the latest software update for Symbian smartphones - is available for download starting today*.

Symbian Anna significantly enhances the user experience on the Nokia N8, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01 and Nokia E7. A new user interface, virtual QWERTY keypad in portrait mode, split-screen messaging, enhanced Nokia Maps, better web browsing and stronger security are just a few of the improvements that people will be able to enjoy. Symbian Anna can be downloaded using the latest version of Ovi Suite (version 3.1.1) on a PC, or over-the-air directly to your smartphone**.

"Nokia's Symbian smartphones are used by millions of people around the world every day, addressing specific consumer needs and providing choices at many price points," said Ilari Nurmi, Vice President at Nokia. "Symbian Anna represents a significant update to the experience those users have and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to Symbian, which will see up to 10 more phones introduced over the next 12 months, further updates to the user experience and support for the software until at least 2016."

Key features with Symbian Anna:

- User interface: Symbian Anna brings a fresh new look and feel to the Nokia N8, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01 and Nokia E7 with crisp icons and multiple usability enhancements. Typing on the touchscreen is much easier with a split screen, so you can see message threads, webpages, contacts or email view while typing on the virtual QWERTY keypad - now also available in portrait mode.

- Maps and navigation: Symbian Anna enhances Nokia Maps with better search functionality, new public transportation routes and the ability to check-in to favorite geo-social network sites like Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter

- Browsing: A faster, easier-to-use browser, delivering quicker page loads and improved device navigation allowing people to connect more easily to their favorite sites on the go.

- Better for business: Symbian Anna brings true business-grade security with improved data encryption on Nokia smartphones. Business users with a Nokia N8, Nokia C7, Nokia C6-01 or Nokia E7 can now easily and securely access their company intranet with IPSEC and SSL VPN enablers.

- Near Field Communications (NFC): The Symbian Anna software update also activates the NFC hardware in the Nokia C7, so people can now simply tap their Nokia C7s together to share contacts, photos, videos and play games; easily pair with NFC-enabled accessories from Nokia and others; and read NFC tags to check-in and more

*The precise rollout schedule of the Symbian Anna software update varies from market to market.

**Method of delivery of the software update differs from market to market and operator to operator.

MetroPCS and Rhapsody Partner to Deliver "Music for All"

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Rhapsody, the leading on-demand music service, today announced the availability of an unlimited mobile music experience for MetroPCS customers. Starting today, MetroPCS Android customers can plug into unlimited music with MetroPCS' new Rhapsody Unlimited Music service with access to more than 12 million songs in Rhapsody's vast music catalog.

Rhapsody Unlimited Music is available on MetroPCS Android handsets with the $60 monthly rate plan from MetroPCS, which in addition to Rhapsody Unlimited Music, offers unlimited talk, text, and Web access and other unique features like MetroNavigator, Pocket Express and Visual Voice Mail Plus - all taxes and fees included, and all without a long-term contract. Music lovers can now play, download and stream as many songs as they want, free from the per-track charges that come with most other music download services.

By 2011 70% Consumer Electronic Devices will be Connected

Seventy percent of Consumer Electronic (CE) industry 2011 revenues will come from Internet connectable devices, according to the latest research from the Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices (CHD) service. Internet connectivity has become a key feature for the majority of CE devices, whose global installed base will reach the two billion unit mark by the end of the year.

“While connected flat panel TVs, set-top boxes and DVRs still represent a small portion of their respective product segments, sixty-eight percent of all CE devices sold this year will be connectable to the Internet.” says Peter King, Director at Strategy Analytics.

T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9900 available on August 31st, on presale to business customers today

There's a good chance you've already heard a thing or two (or a hundred) about the BlackBerry Bold 9900 series, so by now you have a good idea whether or not you'll want to pick one up. So if you're leaning toward "buy," T-Mobile's got one coming to a retail store near you on August 31st, with the phone on presale for business customers starting today. Procurers of the new device will need to shell out $300 after a $50 mail-in rebate. Early adopters, start your engines! The ull press release can be found after the break.

Show full PR text

T-Mobile Launches the BlackBerry Bold 9900, Its First 4G BlackBerry Smartphone

Featuring the new BlackBerry 7 operating system, the smartphone will be T-Mobile's fastest BlackBerry to date, leveraging a 1.2 GHz processor and America's Largest 4G Network

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the upcoming nationwide availability of the first 4G BlackBerry® smartphone to run on America's Largest 4G Network™ - the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900. Available today in an exclusive pre-sale for T-Mobile business customers and launching nationwide on Aug. 31, the 4G-capable BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone ever (at only 10.5mm) and the first to offer the perfect union of a high-performance keyboard and brilliant touch display integrated within the iconic BlackBerry Bold design. Featuring a range of powerful hardware enhancements including a 1.2 GHz processor, Liquid Graphics™ technology, 24-bit high-resolution graphics and advanced sensors, the new smartphone is designed to deliver the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity.

"We continue to deliver innovative products for our customers, and we're excited to offer our first 4G BlackBerry smartphone"

"T-Mobile is excited to add a BlackBerry smartphone to T-Mobile's best 4G product lineup ever," said Andrew Morrison, vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. "With the new BlackBerry Bold 9900, we are offering our socially-active and business-minded customers a powerful device with a unique proposition - the pairing of a nationwide 4G network with the mobile communications efficiency that has become synonymous with BlackBerry smartphones."

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is powered by the new BlackBerry 7 operating system, which introduces a next-generation BlackBerry browser with a significantly faster, more fluid Web browsing experience that is among the best in the industry. Additional enhancements to this next-generation BlackBerry browser have also optimized zooming and panning for smoother Web navigation and optimized HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences.

"We continue to deliver innovative products for our customers, and we're excited to offer our first 4G BlackBerry smartphone," said Femi Lakeru, vice president of business sales, T-Mobile USA. "Since T-Mobile offers 4G speeds in more places than any other wireless broadband network in the U.S., CIOs can trust that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 will give their employees the ultimate combination of speed, productivity and security."

T-Mobile's high-speed 4G network continues to expand and is now available in more than 190 markets, reaching more than 200 million people nationwide*. With the addition of the BlackBerry Bold 9900, T-Mobile now offers a wide variety of 4G devices including smartphones, tablets, laptop sticks, a netbook and a mobile hotspot. Running on America's Largest 4G Network, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 helps make life truly mobile - all at 4G speeds. Whether accessing email, sending an invoice, getting directions or uploading photos, T-Mobile customers stay connected and informed virtually anywhere life takes them.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone continues the tradition of delivering a leading mobile communications experience with a highly refined and integrated suite of phone, email, messaging and social apps to keep users connected and productive throughout the day. Recent enhancements include the newest release of BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger), and an updated Social Feeds (2.0) app. The new Facebook® for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that make it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is also the first device to come preloaded with T-Mobile's new MobileLife® Family Organizer application. Powered by Cozi, MobileLife Family Organizer makes managing families' busy schedules easier with centralized calendars, shopping lists, to-do lists, and family journals that allow family members to share updates with each other on the go. Calendar reminders can be sent by text or email allowing customers to avoid missing their kids' soccer practice or an important shared appointment. More information about MobileLife Family Organizer can be found at http://www.t-mobile.com/calendar.

Availability

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is expected to be available in an exclusive pre-sale for T-Mobile business customers beginning today, Aug. 17. The smartphone is expected to be available at T-Mobile retail stores and at select dealers and national retailers nationwide starting Aug. 31. For more information about T-Mobile products and services, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.

T-Mobile Launches the BlackBerry Bold 9900, Its First 4G BlackBerry Smartphone

BlackBerry Bold 9900

T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the upcoming nationwide availability of the first 4G BlackBerry smartphone to run on America’s Largest 4G Network  — the BlackBerry Bold 9900. Available today in an exclusive pre-sale for T-Mobile business customers and launching nationwide on Aug. 31, the 4G-capable BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone ever (at only 10.5mm) and the first to offer the perfect union of a high-performance keyboard and brilliant touch display integrated within the iconic BlackBerry Bold design. Featuring a range of powerful hardware enhancements including a 1.2 GHz processor, Liquid Graphics technology 24-bit high-resolution graphics and advanced sensors, the new smartphone is designed to deliver the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity.

“T-Mobile is excited to add a BlackBerry smartphone to T-Mobile’s best 4G product lineup ever,” said Andrew Morrison, vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “With the new BlackBerry Bold 9900, we are offering our socially-active and business-minded customers a powerful device with a unique proposition — the pairing of a nationwide 4G network with the mobile communications efficiency that has become synonymous with BlackBerry smartphones.”

 

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is powered by the new BlackBerry 7 operating system, which introduces a next-generation BlackBerry browser with a significantly faster, more fluid Web browsing experience that is among the best in the industry. Additional enhancements to this next-generation BlackBerry browser have also optimized zooming and panning for smoother Web navigation and optimized HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences.

 

“We continue to deliver innovative products for our customers, and we’re excited to offer our first 4G BlackBerry smartphone,” said Femi Lakeru, vice president of business sales, T-Mobile USA. “Since T-Mobile offers 4G speeds in more places than any other wireless broadband network in the U.S., CIOs can trust that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 will give their employees the ultimate combination of speed, productivity and security.”

 

T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network continues to expand and is now available in more than 190 markets, reaching more than 200 million people nationwide*. With the addition of the BlackBerry Bold 9900, T-Mobile now offers a wide variety of 4G devices including smartphones, tablets, laptop sticks, a netbook and a mobile hotspot. Running on America’s Largest 4G Network, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 helps make life truly mobile — all at 4G speeds. Whether accessing email, sending an invoice, getting directions or uploading photos, T-Mobile customers stay connected and informed virtually anywhere life takes them.

 

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone continues the tradition of delivering a leading mobile communications experience with a highly refined and integrated suite of phone, email, messaging and social apps to keep users connected and productive throughout the day. Recent enhancements include the newest release of BBM (BlackBerry Messenger), and an updated Social Feeds (2.0) app. The new Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that make it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time.

 

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is also the first device to come preloaded with T-Mobile’s new MobileLife Family Organizer application. Powered by Cozi, MobileLife Family Organizer makes managing families’ busy schedules easier with centralized calendars, shopping lists, to-do lists, and family journals that allow family members to share updates with each other on the go. Calendar reminders can be sent by text or email allowing customers to avoid missing their kids’ soccer practice or an important shared appointment. More information about MobileLife Family Organizer can be found at http://www.t-mobile.com/calendar.

 

Availability

 

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is expected to be available in an exclusive pre-sale for T-Mobile business customers beginning today, Aug. 17. The smartphone is expected to be available at T-Mobile retail stores and at select dealers and national retailers nationwide starting Aug. 31. For more information about T-Mobile products and services, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.

 

T-Mobile’s 4G network has expanded to additional markets, including Atlantic City, N.J., and  Florence, Ala. A complete list of all the markets where T-Mobile’s 4G network is live can be found at http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/articles/4g-fact-sheet.

 

BlackBerry Curve 9360 going to Bell August 29th, T-Mobile September 14th

We have to hand it to Research in Motion. No matter what feelings you may have for (or against) the company, it's sure doing a great job staying in the news day after day. After unleashing a bevy of reviews for the Bold 9930, Torch 9810 and Torch 9850, now we're hearing whisperings about the latest Curve. The 9360, aka the Apollo, is ready to make its way to both sides of the northern border, beginning its North American tour with Bell on August 29th and swiftly making its way to T-Mobile September 14th. We're hearing that the 9360 will have a 2.4-inch screen with 480 x 360 resolution, an 800MHz CPU, and BlackBerry 7 installed. As is the case with most leaked screenshots, we can't know for sure that these days will actually stick, but at least it gives us a solid indication that the device is inbound sooner than we were expecting.