iOS 5 Legal Disclaimer Section Includes Mapping Companies That Are… Not Google!

Even though Apple has let Google answer life’s navigational questions for us thus far, it doesn’t mean that Apple wants one of its biggest competitors cashing in on the iPhone and iPad forever.

Speculation surrounding Google Maps getting replaced in iOS has been around for years. In 2009, Apple bought a couple mapping companies. In mid-2010, the iPhone maker scrapped Google and Skyhook‘s location databases in favor of its own, and a couple months later started hiring iOS engineers with mapping experience. That’s more than enough to keep the rumor mill spinning, but things got a bit juicier today. The legal disclaimer section of the iOS 5 included references to a number of different mapping companies that aren’t Google, most notably TomTom.

Of course, Apple just recently extended its mapping agreement with the search beast so if a big change is headed our way, it won’t get here for quite a while.

Here’s a list of companies included in the iOS 5 map data section:

CoreLogic

Getchee

Increment P Corp

Localeze

MapData Sciences Pty Ltd. Inc

DMTI

TomTom

Urban Mapping

Waze

[via TUAW]

Nokia N9 Takes the Lead in Speed Picture Taking

Even though it has not been released to the public and being sold like crazy, the Nokia N9 is already making waves with its high-grade features, including its 8-megapixel camera being claimed as the fastest of its class, together with a Carl Zeiss lens and autofocus. Jens Wilke, Business Development Manager for Nokia Finland, has lead the testing against noted competitors such as the iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy SII, and even the 10-megapixel Canon PowerShot S95, and 10 other challengers from Nokia, LG, HTC, Panasonic, and ZTE.

The test and the timing were all measured not just with the picture taking process, but including operations starting from the switch, readying the viewfinder, focusing on the subject, to capturing the image. Aside from the picture quality, N9 also includes continuous auto focusing, which only stabilizes when the subject is already focused. It also has non-destructive photo editing, which makes it possible to undo edits as they are completed, a first in mobile phone technology.

Source: Nokia Conversations

Rumour:Nokia To Produce 125,000 Windows Phone 7 Devices This Year

Last week Nokia announced that their first Windows Phone 7 devices would launch in Europe in quarter 4 of 2011, and would be available in six European countries which include the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

Now according to Eldair Murtzain, Nokia intends to manufacture just 125,000 Windows Phone 7 devices before the end of 2011, that would mean that the six countries would get around 21,000 Nokia WP7 device each to sell to customers.

It really doesn’t seem like a lot of handsets, and if Nokia are planning the companies future on Windows Phone 7 devices you would have thought that they would be producing a lot more devices.

We suspect that it wont be until the early part of next year that Nokia starts rolling out Windows Phone 7 devices to other countries outside the 6 which they have mentioned.

ISIS Announces First Launch Market

The ISIS mobile payment initiative has announced its first launch market in Austin Texas. The agreement for the service was reached in conjunction with the Austin Chamber of Commerce along with local businesses and franchises. The deal also includes availability of compatible hardware in the first half of 2012. This follows the near collapse of the initiative due to recent changes in banking rules that ironically went into effect weeks before the initiative was due to begin its first trials in Salt Lake City and subsequently led to carriers favoring their own internally developed solutions instead of large-scale partnerships.

Nokia N9 Announced: Packs MeeGo, 8 Megapixel Camera, and Swiping

The N9: It's not a Windows Phone.

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything really worthwhile on this blog. Then again, it’s been a long time since there’s been any worthwhile Nokia news. And so, after a four-month hiatus, it’s time again to look at one of Nokia’s latest phones: the oft-rumored N9.

When we last left Nokia, the company had announced that it would be going the way of the Windows Phone, in what was probably one of the biggest deals between two of the largest tech companies out there. Nokia’s two last platforms – Symbian and MeeGo – were going to be jettisoned, in the hope that moving to Windows would give Nokia the flexibility to innovate both software and hardware. Symbian had, more or less, become a dying platform, and MeeGo wasn’t living up to its expectations as a savior for the company:

Months later, Oistm still struggles to hold back tears. “MeeGo had been the collective hope of the company,” he says, “and we’d come to the conclusion that the emperor had no clothes. It’s not a nice thing.”
(BusinessWeek)

But the release of the N9 proves that maybe, just maybe, MeeGo isn’t completely done for.

Let’s start with the specs. Nokia isn’t pulling any punches here with the N9 (which honestly looks like an iPod Nano mixed with an N8), a candy bar that sports a 3.9-inch AMOLED display, 8 megapixel camera (featuring Carl Zeiss optics), HD video recording, Gorilla glass, and NFC support. It runs MeeGo 1.2. It also looks (granted, this is from the promo video) smooth as hell, with an interface that looks, for once, slightly ahead of the curve.

Gone are the Home buttons (hardware or software) of yesteryear. Nokia’s touting the simplicity of the N9 over everything, in that all it takes is just a simple swipe. Swipe to scroll, swipe to move through your home screens, and even swipe to minimize your applications. And speaking of the home screens, you’ve got three of them here: your application launcher, your multitask view (similar to the N900′s), and finally, your notification page which shows missed calls and social media updates.

Everything about the N9 looks impressive – too impressive, maybe. What’s Nokia’s doing here? They’ve cast aside MeeGo for Windows Phone, but put the spotlight back with a hell of a device. I don’t quite get it. But I have to hand it to Nokia: the first release candidate of MeeGo (1.1) looked nothing like this. I’m amazed that it got this far.

Unfortunately, there’s no talk about price or availability (yet), other than the generic “The Nokia N9 is scheduled to be in stores later this year, with availability and local pricing to be announced closer to the sales start.”

Samsung Mobile Unveils Premium Accessory Suite for Galaxy Tab 10.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Accessory, Samsung Mobile, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Docking Solution, Samsung Multi Media Dock, HDMI Adapter, Bluetooth Keyboard Case, Cell phone, Mobile news, phone news, mobile plan, telecom news, new release, Cool Gadget, latest gadget

Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No.1 mobile phone provider in the United States1, today announced a line of premium accessories designed exclusively for the Android 3.1 Honeycomb-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The new set of accessories includes an array of docking, charging and convertibility options to provide users with an enhanced mobile experience for the latest in Android tablet computing. 

GALAXY TAB 10.1 KEY ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE NOW

 

Docking Solutions

 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 accessory portfolio includes several docking solutions for consumers to easily view their favorite movies, listen to music, or quickly empty their inbox on their Galaxy Tab. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Multi-Media Dock provides desktop docking in landscape view, allowing users to charge their Galaxy Tab 10.1 while checking email, listening to music via the 3.5 mm stereo line-out port, or viewing their favorite photos in digital picture frame mode. With easy data sync to PC, pictures, videos, music, contacts, and calendar appointments sync smoothly from the Galaxy Tab 10.1 to a home computer. The Multi-Media Dock also includes HDMI pass through, allowing users to connect their docked Galaxy Tab 10.1 to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 HDMI Adapter (sold separately) to seamlessly transfer multimedia content to a home entertainment center.

 

With comfortable, soft-touch Android Hotkeys, convenient charging and audio line-out capabilities, the full-size Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Keyboard Dock maximizes the Tab’s features while keeping it securely stationed in the weighted, integrated charging and media dock. Meanwhile, the Android Hotkeys give you one touch access to key features like Internet, e-mail, music and video controls.

 

Protective Casing Options

 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 line of accessories also provides users multiple protective casing options, with two available now and a third option – the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Bluetooth Keyboard Case – available later this summer. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 Book Cover Case protects all corners and sides of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 against bumps and scratches while also converting into an easel stand with non-slip feet on the edges. When propped as an easel stand, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Book Cover Case holds the Tab higher to easily view multimedia content while standing up, or props it lower as a keyboard stand for owners to use the Galaxy Tab 10.1 touch-screen keyboard without removing the Tab from its case. Made from premium material, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Book Cover Case is durable, stylish and always maintains its shape.

 

Also available now is the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Leather Pouch for the perfect mix of portability and convenience. Made from soft leather, this black protective pouch snugly holds the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and fits easily in luggage or a briefcase, offering users a stylish protective carrying solution with no added weight or bulk.

 

Adapters for Multimedia Solutions

 

Samsung’s popular movie and TV content service, known as Media Hub, has been redesigned with a new user interface for even faster content downloads and will be available on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 through a future software upgrade. The new version of Media Hub also includes an HD Extender, allowing users to play back Media Hub content on their television via Samsung’s new HDMI Cable Adapter. This adapter also charges the Galaxy Tab and provides 1080p Video playback.

 

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 supports USB On-The-Go (OTG), a hardware solution that allows for several USB enhancements that go beyond data sync and charging. In addition to the ability to upload and share multimedia content between the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and other devices, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 USB Adapter utilizes the Tab’s USB OTG support and allows seamless connectivity between the Tab 10.1 and USB accessory devices such as keyboards, mice, memory sticks, and other peripherals. After simply plugging the USB Adapter into the Galaxy Tab accessory port, owners are now able to use a keyboard, mouse, or memory stick directly with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 without having to load drivers.

 

Additional Galaxy Tab 10.1 Accessories Available Now

 

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 accessories lineup also includes a collection of charging and enhancement solutions universal to the entire Galaxy Tab portfolio. Whether at home or abroad, the USB 2A Travel Charger and USB 2A Car Charger allow users to stay powered up while on the go. Each includes a USB to 30 Pin Data Cable that can also be purchased separately.

 

Additionally, seamlessly interact with your Tab while leaving messy finger prints behind with the Galaxy Tab Conductive Stylus. Finished in attractive chrome and black and styled similar to a premium writing instrument, the Conductive Stylus simulates a finger touch, tap or swipe to provide a full touch screen environment without fingerprints or smudging. The Conductive Stylus is designed with a shirt pocket clip for convenient storage and portability.

 

GALAXY TAB 10.1 KEY ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE MID-SUMMER

 

Available later this summer, Galaxy Tab 10.1 users can enhance their accessory portfolio with additional solutions for content sharing and protection. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 Bluetooth Keyboard gives users a full-sized wireless keyboard in a super-thin design. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 Bluetooth Keyboard comes in a sleek black leather case that allows for easy tying at an adjustable angle, while the comfortable Android Hotkeys provide shortcuts to users’ favorite Tab 10.1 features.

 

Also later this summer, users can transfer photos and videos directly from their digital camera to their Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with the Samsung SD Card Adapter and USB connection kit. Put the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in digital picture frame mode, and users can easily view slideshows of their favorite photos on the Tab’s brilliant 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display with WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution, delivering vibrant colors, crisp clarity, and smooth transitions.

 

Freshly Awarded iPhone Patent Could Mean Trouble For Apple’s Competitors

Apple has just been awarded a very important patent that describes changes to the iOS user interface. The patent was originally filed back in December of 2007 as a part of a string of provisional patent applications that go back as early as January 2007. While this patent isn’t necessarily as significant as the 358-page “iPhone Patent” granted in 2009, but it still has major implications for other smartphone makers.

Basically, the patent describes a way of navigating around the screen, while simultaneously panning through an embedded frame on the screen using multitouch actions. In other words, you can scroll around a web page with a single finger, while using a two-finger touch to scroll through a specific, embedded frame.

Patent experts who spoke to PC Magazine weighed in on the potential affects this patent may have on Apple’s competitors. They suggest that the content covered in the patent is broad enough to limit its competitors in what they can implement to their capacitive multitouch UIs.

Here’s the important bits of what the experts had to say:

Apple’s patent essentially gives it ownership of the capacitive multitouch interface the company pioneered with its iPhone, said one source who has been involved in intellectual property litigation on similar matters. Apple’s patent is also written broadly enough to apply to non-smartphone devices such as tablets and iPod touch-like media players, giving Apple significant clout in protecting its technology.

[via Mac Rumors]

Games at Google revealed in job posting, takes a stab at social gaming

Well, one of the few remaining sectors that Google has yet to conquer, gaming, will be Big G free no longer. The tech giant is looking for a product manager to man a new property called Games at Google. Obviously, with just a job posting to work with, details are scant, but we can tell you that the gaming platform will boast some social features -- an area where the Goog has struggled mightily. What don't we know? Just about anything else. Will it be a Game Center-like feature for Android phones? Or, perhaps, a web-gaming outlet for Chrome built with help from the folks at Zynga, who Google quietly partnered with back in the summer of oh-ten. Regardless, we're waiting with bated breath to find out when and where we'll be able to order hits in Mafia Wars next.