Friday, March 18, 2011

MobileBurn.com

MobileBurn.com

HTC ThunderBolt for Verizon - initial impressions

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 02:01 PM PDT

While we're not going to be rushing a full review of the ThunderBolt before its time, we did take some photos and put together a few thoughts on the device now that we've had some alone time with it. Read on to find out how life with the ThunderBolt is going so far.
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Study: social butterflies love their phones, smart or not

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 01:45 PM PDT

According to studies done by J.D. Power and Associates, social media seems to be paramount regarding consumer satisfaction with their mobile device, whether it's a smartphone or a traditional handset.
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RIM, Microsoft partner to bring the cloud to corporations

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 12:14 PM PDT

RIM has partnered up with Microsoft to put the BlackBerry PlayBook in a position to realistically compete with Apple's iPad and iPad 2 in the corporate arena. Currently, more than 65 percent of Fortune 100 companies are testing or deploying the iPad, and RIM hopes that with this partnership the key to fighting back is in the cloud.
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Ericsson completes first HD voice call on CDMA

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 11:58 AM PDT

Ericsson has announced the successful completion of the industry's first HD voice call over a CDMA network, such as those used by Verizon Wireless and Sprint in the U.S. CDMA HD voice offers a wider spectral range for speech audio, which enhances voice quality and intelligibility and decreases listening fatigue. It can do all of this while in an environment with high-level background noise. Ericsson worked with Qualcomm to complete the call in a lab environment. It claims that HD voice will greatly enhance CDMA networks as we know them today.
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New York Times taps Apple for in-app subscriptions post-pay wall

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 11:45 AM PDT

The New York Times pay wall is finally being erected, but the real question is how NYT plans to monetize via mobile. After a recent announcement from the Times, it looks like Apple will step in as the middle man, offering in-app subscriptions to the news source via iTunes. A subscription to the Times via iPhone will cost the user $15 per month, as opposed to $20 per month on the iPad. For news-hungry consumers who must be connected at all times, NYT is offering access via iPhone, iPad and online for $35 per month. Though, regardless of the plan you choose, Apple and NYT are splitting the profits 30/70 respectively. However, anyone who subscribes to the print edition will receive full digital access via whichever device they'd like. For those of us who can't cough up the cash, or maybe don't want to, don't fret: the pay wall isn't too tall to climb. The site already allows each user twenty free article views per month, plus unlimited free views if the visitor clicks through from a search result or direct link.
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Sony Ericsson supply chain breaks cause aches in quake wake

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 11:31 AM PDT

Sony Ericsson released a statement today officially conceding that the devastation of Northern Japan will impact the handset maker's business. The statement also pointed out that none of the 1,100 employees at either of the two Sony Ericsson Tokyo offices were injured. However, the same can't be said for the operational side of the business. Sony Ericsson claims to be in contact with all key suppliers in the region, attempting to relocate certain component manufacturing, as well as search for secondary supply sources. While the full effect of this disaster on Sony Ericsson's business is not yet quantifiable, the company openly anticipates disruption to its supply chain operations.
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Nokia, Samsung make headway in smartphone market

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Strategy Analytics today announced a bit of good news for Nokia, and even better news for Samsung. Analysis of the US smartphone market by Strategy Analytics shows that Nokia should recover its recent market share losses and rebound to 10 percent by 2015. However, this is all dependent on the new strategic alliance between Nokia and Microsoft. Strategy Analytics' report also found that Samsung could make even greater strides toward gaining market share, expected to rise to 21 percent over the course of the next four years. The Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies service predicts that, due to Samsung's track record with Android and Microsoft and an overall 30 percent market share in handsets, smartphone share growth is somewhat inevitable for Samsung. "Samsung can benefit from the enhanced WP7 ecosystem arising from the Microsoft / Nokia partnership in the US," said Martin Bradley, Associate Director for the Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies service. "However, if Microsoft's support to Nokia is highly effective in improving Nokia's share, Samsung could consider a more targeted approach for WP7 within its portfolio." In other words, Nokia's success with WP7 could determine Samsung's future handset strategy.
Read the full story here.


Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi listed for pre-order at Costco for $589.99

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:49 AM PDT

Costco has listed the Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi-only Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet for pre-order for the discounted price of $589.99. It may only save you ten bucks over Motorola's listed price, however Costco is throwing in free shipping and a free gel skin case on top of that. You will have to wait a few more days than if you ordered from other retailers, though, as Costco is holding shipments until April 1.
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Apple iPhone 4, iPad 2 shortages on horizon, claims analyst

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:18 AM PDT

Concerns that Apple's dwindling iPhone 4 and iPad 2 supply may see even greater shortages has been confirmed by analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray. In the wake of the March 11 earthquake in Japan, both Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co and Toshiba, integral component suppliers for Apple, have shut down production to investigate damages. Munster claims that shortages of the newly released iPad 2 and iPhone 4 may occur through the rest of this quarter and on into June. Apple relies on Toshiba for flash memory and on Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co as the primary source of BT resin, a chemical used to make circuit boards. Munster has surmised, though, that Apple's strategy to use multiple component suppliers during this supply-chain slowdown may cushion the blow. "We believe Apple buys futures on important components, which will help offset near-term pricing swings," said Munster. "Our conclusion is that Apple is well positioned to suffer proportionally less than its competitors." While Munster seems to be optimistic on behalf of Apple, the company's stock went down for the first time in what seems like years after an analyst downgraded the stock from "market outperform" to "market perform."
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Telmap userbase tops 5 million

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:02 AM PDT

Telmap has announced that its user base of mobile location-based services has topped 5 million. Telmap provides white label, hosted, and managed mobile location-based services to carriers, including AT&T and Sprint in the U.S. Its mobile location app is available on all major platforms including Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, and Symbian. Telmap notes that the fastest growth it has seen is on the Android and iPhone platforms. To date, they are adding 15,000 new users every day, with iPhone users topping 600,000.
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Opera announces new versions of Opera Mobile and Mini

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 09:36 AM PDT

Opera has announced new versions of its Opera Mobile and Opera Mini browsers that it will release next week at CTIA. Opera Mobile will be brought up to version 11, while Opera Mini will jump to version 6. Details were scarce, but Opera did note that both browsers will have updated user interfaces. Opera Mini and Opera Mobile are currently available for many mobile platforms, including Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Windows Phone 7, and MeeGo. All of these versions should see the updates next week, while the update for Opera Mini for the iPhone will come later.
Read the full story here.


Nokia CEO to developers: room for WP7 alongside Android, iOS

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 09:20 AM PDT

Let's go back a few weeks and pretend that Nokia never partnered with Microsoft to make the Windows Phone 7 platform its most prominent smartphone strategy. Instead, let's imagine that secret emails and hushed meetings were happening between Nokia and Google, in an attempt to snag the growing Android platform. That's the imaginary world Nokia's CEO Stephen Elop suggested may have come true, had it not been for some very influential statistics.
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Sprint rumored to be deploying LTE 4G now

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:42 AM PDT

There are rumors circulating now that Sprint has already started deployment and development of an LTE network.
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LG Optimus Me Android smartphone released for Orange UK

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:53 AM PDT

Orange UK has released the LG Optimus Me, an Android 2.2 Froyo-powered touchscreen smartphone.
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Verizon HTC ThunderBolt now syncs with Outlook via CompanionLink

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:17 AM PDT

Just ordered that brand new ThunderBolt, now that its available, but worried that all of your data in Outlook won't sync with it? Well fret not, as CompanionLink Software has announced that its sync software will bring all of your data over from Outlook, whether you want to do it over USB cable or Wi-Fi. There is also a Secure Hosted Wireless sync service that will perform the sync for you safely and securely wherever you have a cellular data connection. The CompanionLink software is available now and starts at $39.95, while the Secure Hosted Wireless sync service is $9.95 a month. More info can be found at www.companionlink.com/android.
Read the full story here.


Nokia launches Software Updater for Mac OS

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:02 AM PDT

Back in February, we watched as Nokia jumped in bed with Microsoft, which had offered the Windows Phone 7 updater for Mac over a year ago. Perhaps, Microsoft has made an impact on Nokia, as today we're finally seeing the Nokia Software Updater for Mac OS go live. The technology is still in beta form, but users will still be able to update to the latest versions of core software and apps. We haven't gotten any word on possible issues or malfunctions, but the updater app does give fair warning to anyone who doesn't already know: don't unplug your phone during an update or it will magically transform into a brick.
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HTC ThunderBolt released today; Amazon undercuts competition

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:49 AM PDT

The HTC ThunderBolt, the first ever 4G LTE handset to grace Verizon Wireless' smartphone portfolio, arrives in stores and online today. If you've been waiting for this day, and happen to be lucky enough to live in one of the 38 major U.S. cities with brand spanking new LTE coverage, you have choices when it comes to retailers and prices. Verizon Wireless and Best Buy will be selling the device at $250 with a contract, which seems to be the same price tag we'll see on the 'Bolt at most retail stores. Wirefly, on the other hand, will sell the device for $199.99 and ranking in with the lowest ThunderBolt launch price is Amazon at $179.99.
Read the full story here.


2.2 Froyo most common Android OS, 3.0 Honeycomb least common

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:23 AM PDT

According to new data released by Android Developers, Android 2.2 Froyo is the most popular version of the operating system with 61.3 percent of Android phones and tablets using it. The next most popular was 2.1 Eclair, which runs on 29 percent of the active Android devices in existence. Newcomers 2.3 Gingerbread and 3.0 Honeycomb have much smaller shares, with 1.7 percent and 0.2 percent respectively. The rest of the field is split between versions 1.5 Cupcake and 1.6 Donut, who just won't go away and continue to be a pain for developers. The never ending argument of Android fragmentation continues as developers now have six versions of the Android operating system to plan for and contend with. This data was collected during a two-week period ending March 15.
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Android browses 52% faster than iPhone, according to new study

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:14 AM PDT

A new study by Blaze Software has been released that claims that the Android web browser loads websites 52 percent faster, on average, than the iPhone's browser does.
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HTC Flyer Android tablet available for pre-order in the UK

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:08 AM PDT

Online UK retailer, Clove Technology, has listed the upcoming HTC Flyer Android tablet for pre-order on its website. It has set the pricing at 600 GBP, although that is not final and is subject to change. Expected delivery is to be in mid-April. The Flyer, which we got hands-on with at MWC, is unique from other upcoming Android tablets in that it runs an HTC customized version of Android 2.4 Gingerbread, as opposed to the tablet ready 3.0 Honeycomb.
Read the full story here.


Motorola ATRIX now available in Canada from Bell

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 05:42 AM PDT

Motorola's dual-core flagship smartphone, the ATRIX, is now available to those in Great White North from Bell. Pricing is 169.95 CAD on a three year agreement or 599.95 CAD without a contract. The Motorola Lapdock, which converts the ATRIX into a netbook, is 329.95 CAD, while the HD Multimedia dock costs 129.95 CAD.
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