Tuesday, March 15, 2011

MobileBurn.com

MobileBurn.com

Retailer offering HTC ThunderBolt pre-order tonight, shipping March 17

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:02 PM PDT

Wirefly.com has announced that it will begin accepting pre-orders for the HTC Thunderbolt LTE 4G smartphone for Verizon Wireless starting at 3 a.m. EDT / midnight PDT (Tuesday) morning. The device is set to start shipping on March 17, 2011 - and Wirefly says that it will offer the Android powered Thunderbolt for a "special" price. The source link below currently leads to an informational page, but will change to a pre-order page at the appropriate time tonight. This seems to confirm the premature tweet sent out by an HTC sales rep earlier today. Wirefly notes that the expected Skype video chat support is not present in the ThunderBolt.
Read the full story here.


Motorola XOOM pre-orders start in UK, shipping April

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:16 PM PDT

UK pre-orders for Motorola's XOOM 3G + Wi-Fi tablet have begun today at the Carphone Warehouse for 599.99 GBP (SIM-free). This is the first mention of XOOM availability in the UK. While pre-order starts now at Carphone Warehouse, which is throwing in a free charging dock with purchase, the Motorola tablets won't be in stock until early April.
Read the full story here.


Dual-screen Kyocera Echo to be available on April 17 for $199.99

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:14 PM PDT

Sprint has announced that the dual-touchscreen equipped, Android-powered Kyocera Echo will be available for purchase in stores on April 17, with online pre-orders starting on March 26. The Echo is the first dual-touchscreen smartphone and runs Android 2.2 Froyo. Check out our hands-on video from the launch event in February here. The Kyocera Echo will cost $199.99 with a new two-year agreement. Interested customers can pre-order the phone from Sprint on March 26.
Read the full story here.


Twitter, FTC settle hacker scandal

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 01:53 PM PDT

Back in 2009, our favorite snack-size social network, Twitter, found itself in some hot water over a number of security breeches to its users' personal and private information. Almost three years since the hack-attacks occurred, the Federal Trade Commission has finally accepted Twitter's settlement offer to resolve the matter.
Read the full story here.


Swype Keyboard Beta for Android updated with a host of new features

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 01:05 PM PDT

The Swype Keyboard Beta, which allows users to trace words on an on-screen keyboard rather than tap them out, has been updated with a host of new features and bug fixes. A pop-up window showing a word tip has been removed and now contact names that have been deleted from the auto-correct database will stay deleted instead of reappearing. Swype has also cleaned up some installer issues that have prevented users from updating the version of Swype in the past. Note that this update is only available to those in the Beta program, not for devices with Swype pre-installed. Follow the source link for the full changelog and download files if you have access to the Beta.
Read the full story here.


HTC Thunderbolt LTE smartphone release now rumored for March 17

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 12:37 PM PDT

In a tweet posted by a regional sales manager for HTC, it was leaked by an HTC rep that the HTC Thunderbolt will be released on March 17.
Read the full story here.


Nokia's IdeasProject seeks world-changing app

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 12:10 PM PDT

In an effort to spread community-based ideas using mobile technology, Nokia today announced an upcoming program called the IdeasProject. IdeasProject is meant to take solid ideas for community improvement, at both local and global scales, and transform those ideas into attractive applications for mobile devices. The program will be hosted online at a forum-type web page, where both developers and activists can submit and discuss application ideas - and eventually turn those into applications. To get the ball rolling, Nokia has announced an app challenge, through which it hopes to find the best app concept that falls in line with the program's main purpose, to change the world. Nokia will choose the best idea out of all submissions and develop a free application.
Read the full story here.


T-Mobile also waiving text messaging fees for Japanese donations

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 11:48 AM PDT

T-Mobile has informed us via email that, like Sprint, it will be waiving fees for text messages sent to short codes to donate funds to the Japanese emergency relief efforts. Customers can donate by sending messages to a variety of short codes. It is not, however, waiving the fees associated with long distance calls and text messages to Japan at this time. T-Mobile has issued a statement regarding this: "We continue to evaluate the needs of our customers. Our thoughts and condolences go out to those affected by the earthquake and to all of our customers who have friends and loved ones in Japan."
Read the full story here.


iOS 4.3 jailbreak for now available for Windows

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 11:36 AM PDT

A jailbreak is now available on Windows for the iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad, and iPod touch running iOS 4.3. Sn0wbreeze 2.3b1 is a tethered solution, meaning that it will need to be reapplied every time the phone or tablet is rebooted. It also does not unlock the iPhone for use on other carriers. Directions and necessary files are available at the source link.
Read the full story here.


Skyfire for Android update in the works

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:39 AM PDT

Skyfire recently announced a large-scale update coming to its Skyfire for Android mobile browser application, to be available in the Android Market. The Skyfire for Android update is touted to include a new look, with more personalization and customization, a new pricing model, and additional features. Since its launch in April 2010, Skyfire for Android has seen more than 2.5 million downloads. The most recent Skyfire update in November implemented social media and Facebook capabilities. Skyfire plans to announce Skyfire for Android 4.0 in the next few weeks.
Read the full story here.


T-Mobile introduces new 10GB mobile broadband plan with no overage fees

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:25 AM PDT

T-Mobile has added a new option to its wireless broadband plans: 10GB of bandwidth per month with no overage fees.
Read the full story here.


Need a job? Try standing in iPad 2 line

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:23 AM PDT

We were all prepared for the outrageous lines outside Apple stores on Friday, and rightfully so, since the iPad 2 sold out in the first day. Yet, none had a plan quite like college student Amanda Foote. After a total of 41 hours outside Apple's Fifth Ave. flagship location in Manhattan, which got her just over 3 hours of sleep in two days, Foote sold her place in line to an application developer named Hazem Sayed for a whopping $900. This means Mr. Sayed paid around $70 more than the cost of a 64GB iPad 2, for a spot in line to buy the iPad 2. Apparently, time is money.
Read the full story here.


Press Release: iSwifter Announces the Only Flash-Enabled Browser for Streaming Video and Games on iPad

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:21 AM PDT

"Try-Before-You-Buy" Feature Helps iSwifter App Shoot Worldwide to 100 Top Free Games in First Few Hours in App Store
Read the full story here.


Apple exec tweets Spring launch for white iPhone

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 10:02 AM PDT

Senior VP of marketing at Apple Phillip Schiller tweeted yesterday that the mystical white iPhone is coming soon, but left us to speculate as to what name the white Apple device will go by.
Read the full story here.


Angry Birds Rio launching exclusively on Amazon's Appstore

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 09:40 AM PDT

Rovio has announced that the next version of its popular Angry Birds game, named Angry Birds Rio, will launch exclusively for the Android platform on Amazon's new Appstore. In addition, users will have the ability to purchase ad-free versions of Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons on the Amazon Appstore, neither of which are currently in the Android Market. Rovio originally partnered with GetJar to release the Angry Birds game on the Android platform, before making it available in the Android Market. Angry Birds Rio will have 60 levels of play at launch, with updates adding more in the future. A date for the release has not been announced but we expect to see it within the next month.
Read the full story here.


Verizon Wireless also offering free calls and texts to Japan

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 09:39 AM PDT

Following AT&T's lead, Verizon Wireless has announced that it too will be offering free calls and texts to Japan for its customers through April 11. Customers on post-paid plans will have all international fees to Japan waived during this time period. Those that pay for an allotment of minutes on the Verizon World Plan to call overseas with will not use up those minutes if they call Japan.
Read the full story here.


Sears planning BlackBerry PlayBook pre-orders on March 12, shipping April 10

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 08:46 AM PDT

The rumored April 10 launch date for RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook is one step closer to becoming reality, after an email from Sears announced a pre-order date and a matching April release date for the QNX-powered tablet. An email offer was sent to Sears Canada affiliates on Friday announcing the April 10 launch date, as well as the option to pre-order the device, starting March 12. Pre-orders will begin shipping on opening day, April 10. RIM's PlayBook is a 7-inch tablet powered by its new QNX operating system. For a closer look at the tablet, check out our hands-on post, including photos, specs and video.
Read the full story here.


Sprint waiving text message fees for Japan relief donations

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 08:40 AM PDT

Following Verizon Wireless' announcement of waived text messaging fees for donations to Japan, Sprint has announced that it will also waive text messaging fees for such purposes.
Read the full story here.


Apple's iPhone can't tell time; owners oversleep

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 08:16 AM PDT

Daylight savings time ended up being more confusing than necessary for a group of iPhone owners whose smartphones turned on them Sunday morning. Tweeters barraged Apple with complaints after the iPhone fell back an hour, even though the rest of us intended to spring forward. The glitch put affected iPhone clocks two hours behind the rest of the world, understandably enraging owners.
Read the full story here.


RIM and India continue to spar over email encryption

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:44 AM PDT

In the continued battle between RIM and India over encrypted BlackBerry email services, a RIM executive has made statements regarding India's continued pressure on RIM to release encrypted data.
Read the full story here.


iPhone 5 will not have NFC say carriers

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 07:01 AM PDT

Carriers in the UK have stated that the next iPhone from Apple will not support Near Field Communications, but that the successor to that model in 2012 might.
Read the full story here.


AT&T: Calls and texts to Japan free until the end of the month

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 06:30 AM PDT

AT&T has announced that it is making calls and text messages sent to Japan from the United States or Puerto Rico free through March 31. Customers who are calling Japan in search of information about loved ones who may be affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami no longer have to be concerned with having massive international long distance charges on their phone bills.
Read the full story here.


Nokia hopes to convert 200 million customers to Windows Phone 7

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 06:23 AM PDT

Nokia intends to convert 200 million Symbian users over to Windows Phone 7 by 2013 when its transition off Symbian will be completed. Nokia will still sell Symbian smartphones during the transition, as many as 150 million more units. This transition is happening at a time when Nokia is rapidly losing market share to competitors such as Apple and Google.
Read the full story here.


Motorola XOOM sales slow but steady says analyst

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 06:10 AM PDT

A Morgan Keegan analyst claims that Motorola's iPad 2 rival, the XOOM, is shaping up to be the turtle to Apple's hare. After speaking with approximately 80 different retail locations, the analyst found that the Motorola XOOM is only moved from the shelf to the register twice a day at any given Verizon store. Still, 2 tablet sales per day is enough to reach Motorola's quarterly estimate of 300,000 units. To put that in perspective, analysts have estimated that there will be around 600,000 iPad 2 sales over this weekend alone. In any case, there has been glowing consumer feedback for the XOOM at Verizon stores and, as of yet, there is no evidence people are returning the Motorola tablet.
Read the full story here.


Google: 40 percent of Google Maps usage is mobile

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:51 AM PDT

In an address at South By Southwest last week, Marissa Mayer of Google gave some statistics regarding the usage of Google Maps and Google Maps Navigation. It turns out that 40 percent of the usage of Google Maps is done on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. There are now 150 million mobile users of the service. On Google Maps Navigation, users are now driving more than 12 billion miles a year. Mayer also discussed ways that Google could take the service further and add more context aware routing and navigation in the future in addition to the traffic aware routing that it recently introduced.
Read the full story here.


AT&T confirms suspicions: ATRIX 4G data speeds are slow

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 05:34 AM PDT

As we had discovered in our hands-on review, and as many owners of the Motorola ATRIX 4G have noticed, the ATRIX 4G has slower data speeds than expected, specifically in uploads when using the HSUPA radio, as confirmed by AT&T. In response to many customer complaints and a Better Business Bureau inquiry, AT&T has stated that it has not capped the ATRIX 4G's data speeds, but rather it is performing testing on the service so that it will be prepared when it actually turns on the higher speed service. Reading between the lines, we can surmise that while the proper hardware exists within the ATRIX 4G, AT&T has not enabled it as of this point. AT&T has not given a date as to when this functionality will be enabled, however it continues to sell and market the device as having 4G despite its performance being inferior to many 3G devices.
Read the full story here.


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