Posts in Handhelds

Total 117 pages : 1 2 3 4 5 [6] 7 8 9 10 » ... Last

My Palm Pre first-gen fears

David Carnoy | May 28, 2009

I usually follow a simple rule when it comes to consumer electronics: I avoid buying any first-generation products. That doesn't mean I haven't ever done it, but I tend to wait for generation two or three before I plunk down my dough, particularly when it comes to heavily hyped stuff.

As I've written before, I'm a prime candidate to buy the Palm Pre. I'm a Sprint customer who has a contract conveniently expiring in June and I have a phone (the Mogul) that's on its last legs. Ideally, the Pre would cost US$50 less and not have a mail-in rebate, but at least Sprint didn't price the thing at a pure US$299, as I'm sure it would have preferred to do. Pricing aside, the biggest hurdle I'm facing is the fact that the Palm Pre is a first-gen phone--and platform--and I'm really not a first-gen guy.

By contrast, the iPhone will be on its third generation and its platform is already fairly mature. We'll find out exactly how the new third-generation iPhone specs out at next week's WWDC event, but it's safe to assume that many of the small, nagging kinks that were found in earlier editions of the iPhone will have been ironed out. I don't expect it to be perfect (no phone ever will be, because there's always something better around the corner), but I feel pretty good about getting a lot more iPhone for my US$199 than those who purchased the original non-3G model (which was originally US$599--with contract!) or even the iPhone 3G.
Read more »

Filed under: Handhelds, Mobile Phones
Leave a comment | Bookmark | Share

Slashdot

Digg

Facebook

Twitter

Delicious

Google

StumbleUpon

close this

Add tag

To add tags, you need to become a member. It's FREE.

Cancel

Log in or sign in

Google's Idol-like Android challenge

Jessica Dolcourt | May 28, 2009

Android 1.5 on Google's brand-new "Ion".
(Credit: CNET/Photo by Stephen Shankland)

To encourage gifted developers to give iPhone programming a rest, most mobile platforms have built app stores that lure with the promise of a cash-positive distribution. But not Google. It baits with cash.

Sure, Google installs and sells Android applications through its on-board Market, but a mobile platform with such a slim slice of the pie needs an infusion of fresh and original apps if it's to stay in the bake sale. Google's answer: The second Android Developer Challenge, or ADC2, as it's nicknamed.

This time, submissions will vie for popularity and "wow factor" on the Android 1.5 operating system known as Cupcake. Announced Wednesday at Google I/O, the company's second annual developer-focused conference held in San Francisco, ADC2 will award three top prizes to applications in ten categories. The categories include gaming, social networking, media, and productivity. Google will also award an additional purse to the top three programs that cross-cut all categories. That's US$250,000 for the one lucky development team considered the best in show, with second and third places for the best all-around app bringing its developers US$150,000 and US$125,000, respectively. First place in each category receives a cool US$100,000 to pocket.
Read more »

Filed under: Handhelds, Mobile Phones
Leave a comment | Bookmark | Share

Slashdot

Digg

Facebook

Twitter

Delicious

Google

StumbleUpon

close this

Add tag

To add tags, you need to become a member. It's FREE.

Cancel

Log in or sign in

Documents To Go now available on Android

John Chan | May 28, 2009

(Credit: DataViz)

Mobile software developer DataViz, well-known for its Documents To Go (DTG) application on the Palm OS, has released a version for Android. Being unable to handle Microsoft Office documents is one of the major factors that may prevent a business user from embracing Google's mobile OS. DTG bridges that gap by giving users the ability to view, edit and create Word and Excel documents. It is available through the Android Market for US$19.99 now, but will revert to its regular price of US$29.99 after the introductory offer.

Here's the bad news--we can't access paid apps using the Android Market here in Asia. This service is available only in the US and some European countries. Google was unable to give us any indication when paid apps will be available in this region.

For those using the iPhone, Dataviz has also created a version of DTG for Apple's smartphone. This has been submitted to the App Store and is awaiting approval from the Cupertino firm.

Filed under: Handhelds, Mobile Phones
1 Comment | Bookmark | Share

Slashdot

Digg

Facebook

Twitter

Delicious

Google

StumbleUpon

close this

Add tag

To add tags, you need to become a member. It's FREE.

Cancel

Log in or sign in

New HTC Android phone leaked

John Chan | May 25, 2009

(Credit: Engadget Mobile)

Engadget Mobile got its hands on some AT&T internal documents and one of them shows a new HTC Android device called the Lancaster. Like the HTC Dream, this model comes with a slide-out keyboard, though the front looks similar to the design of the newer HTC Magic.

According to the specifications, it will come with HSDPA connectivity, Bluetooth and a 3-megapixel camera. Apparently, its display resolution is 240 x 320 (QVGA), which is strange considering all the other Android phones have been sporting 480 x 320 (HVGA) screens. Hopefully this is a mistake because a QVGA display on an Android phone would be very disappointing. It's also supposed to have a "unique HTC social messaging user interface", which may refer to the Android modifications we've seen in the HTC Hero firmware videos.

According to the leak, this device is targeted for an August launch in the US, which means the announcement may not be too far off. For now, we'll just have to sit tight and wait for the official word from HTC.

Via Engadget Mobile

Filed under: Handhelds, Mobile Phones
Leave a comment | Bookmark | Share

Slashdot

Digg

Facebook

Twitter

Delicious

Google

StumbleUpon

close this

Add tag

To add tags, you need to become a member. It's FREE.

Cancel

Log in or sign in

Staying connected while overseas

Darius Chang | May 22, 2009

For frequent travelers, getting online to retrieve emails or surf the Web can be a trying experience. Granted you can search for free wireless hotspots or Internet cafes, but as a tourist finding these places can be challenging, especially if you like traveling to remote places.

One solution is to purchase a prepaid mobile broadband card from a local telco. Though more expensive than a monthly subscription, the advantage of the prepaid system is that for short trips you do not need to spend a bomb on a roaming plan.
Read more »

Filed under: Handhelds, Mobile Phones, Notebooks
1 Comment | Bookmark | Share

Slashdot

Digg

Facebook

Twitter

Delicious

Google

StumbleUpon

close this