Tuesday, March 29, 2011

MobileBurn.com

MobileBurn.com

O2 plans massive Wi-Fi hotspot expansion in U.K.

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 02:00 AM PDT

O2 has announced plans to double the number of free Wi-Fi hotspots available in the UK, if not more than double them, from services BT Openzone and the Cloud. Gavin Franks, head of Wi-Fi at O2 outlined the shift from laptop to smartphone in the past decade, noting "a massive explosion" in the number of smartphones, and the way that the internet is used via mobile. Users of the current Wi-Fi hotspots have given mixed reviews, with some saying they'd definitely use it if they had the phone for it, and others claiming that the free Wi-Fi is "a little bit flakey." In either case, O2 has made it clear that the Wi-Fi hotspot expansion is, in no way, a replacement for the 3G network.
Read the full story here.


Sprint officially opposes AT&T's T-Mobile USA acquisition

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:23 PM PDT

This evening Sprint officially stated what everyone has assumed: it's opposed to AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA. In a press release the company said that the deal would "reverse nearly three decades of actions by the U.S. government and the courts" and would further entrench what it called the existing AT&T/Verizon Wireless duopoly. Sprint says that, should the deal be approved, the new AT&T would be three times its own size. The company is urging the government to block the deal, saying that it will harm consumers as well as competition by creating a new "Ma Bel duopoly." Verizon, for its part, does not oppose the deal.
Read the full story here.


Atrix 4G update squashes small problems; leaves big ones for later

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:36 PM PDT

Motorola is pushing out an update (4.1.57) for its Atrix 4G smartphone, which is expected to improve battery performance, the fingerprint reader, the headphone jack, the car dock, and overall software stability on the handset. One of the biggest upgrades the update will offer is improvements for the Atrix 4G's Bluetooth multimedia experience. On the other hand, the update won't have any effect on the two greatest issues with AT&T's handset: voice call quality and the phones incompatibility with HSUPA. The update is available now.
Read the full story here.


Android WebWatcher app keeps an eye on kids' texts

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 11:44 AM PDT

Awareness Technologies today announced the availability of the WebWatcher application for Android devices. WebWatcher Mobile lets parents track all SMS messages sent to and from their childrens' phones.
Read the full story here.


iPad 2 hitting RadioShack locations tomorrow

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 11:21 AM PDT

Apple's popular second-generation tablet, the iPad 2, is going to be sold by RadioShack starting tomorrow according to CrunchGear. Apple's website is still listing the iPad 2 as having a 3-4 week wait, so we wouldn't expect the Shack to be carrying too many on hand at first.
Read the full story here.


Amazon Appstore sees double: free Newsweek Mobile, Farm Frenzy today only

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:35 AM PDT

In the wake of Amazon's launch of the Amazon Appstore for Android, the book-selling company has been featuring one application for free each day. Maybe it's a case of the trying to combat the "Mondays," or maybe the folks at Amazon are just feeling particularly generous today, but in any case, Amazon is offering two free apps all day long today: Farm Frenzy and Newsweek Mobile.
Read the full story here.


GroupMe adds brands to social messaging app

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:30 AM PDT

GroupMe has launched a new feature today for its popular group messaging app for smartphones. Utilizing the Featured tab to showcase brands, GroupMe is allowing them to interact with their customers through GroupMe's platform. Brands can send messages, answer fans' questions, share photos, or post special promotions. GroupMe is available for iOS and Android, with a beta version available for BlackBerry smartphones.
Read the full story here.


RIM puts India in crosshairs despite government resistance

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 09:38 AM PDT

RIM is making its way East, as the company has announced plans to explore investment opportunities in India, which may include setting up a manufacturing plant and logistics operations in the world's second largest market for wireless services. With over 771 million mobile phone users to date, India is a market that RIM can't afford to leave untapped. However, getting a foot in the door may be more difficult than expected as the Indian government seems to have a few issues with BlackBerry's advanced encryption software.
Read the full story here.


Best Buy announces Connect 4G mobile broadband service

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 09:18 AM PDT

Best Buy has announced the launch of its Connect mobile broadband service with 4G. Built on Clearwire's network, Connect provides high-speed data service for many devices sold by Best Buy.
Read the full story here.


Microsoft apologizes for Windows Phone 7 update tardiness

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:46 AM PDT

Microsoft's vice president of the Windows Phone program, Joe Belfiore, has taken to the Channel 9 developer's site to apologize for the slow deployment of the NoDo update for Windows Phone 7. "First, I was wrong when I said that most people have received the February update," said Belifore. "There are many of you who have yet to receive it, and I don't blame you for speaking up and pointing out my mistake." In order for the update to hit customers' phones, both Microsoft and carriers have to sign off on it. This process is unsurprisingly taking longer than expected, something Android users are all too familiar with.
Read the full story here.


AmEx brings account management to smartphones with Serve

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:34 AM PDT

American Express has announced a new service called Serve (www.serve.com) that allows for easy money transfer and account management from a smartphone. The Serve app, available for iPhone and Android, lets users send money to others and move funds around within their Serve account. Bank accounts, debit cards, and credit cards can be linked up with a Serve account for easy access to funds. Serve can then be used as a central money management system to make purchases, send money, or pay bills. Serve is available to U.S. customers now but will be rolling out to other markets in the future.
Read the full story here.


Video: Nokia E7 Symbian^3 smartphone 720p HD video sample

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PDT

Here is a sample 720p HD video recorded with the Nokia E7 QWERTY smartphone. The Symbian-powered E7 features an enhanced depth-of-field lens, not auto-focus, which makes it somewhat of an odd device to sport HD recording capabilities.
Watch the video here.


Apple iPad 2 shortage begins in U.K.

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:17 AM PDT

Just a few short days after Apple launched the iPad 2 in Britain, the country is already experiencing shortages of the tablet. Hundreds of gadget-crazed Apple fans stood in lines waiting for the chance to tap their thumbs across its 9.7-inch touchscreen, only to find that the iPad 2 is out of stock. Apple did not confirm the unavailability of the tablet nationwide. As we noted yesterday, many locations throughout Europe had sold out by Saturday. However, not a single Apple store phoned by The Telegraph this morning had an iPad 2 in stock. "Country-wide, you won't get one," said an Apple staff member at the Covent Garden location. Apple suggests reserving the iPad 2 online to be picked up in stores as soon as a new shipment arrives.
Read the full story here.


Real Racing 2 HD for iPad 2 gets HDMI-output support

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:08 AM PDT

Firemint, an Australia-based games studio, has announced plans to add support for HD-res full-screen output to its Real Racing 2 HD game, once the iPad 2 update goes live. The new version will give users the option to connect their iPad 2 to a Full HD television or monitor and play the game in 1080p resolution. This way, the user can see the full game on an HD monitor, while using the tablet as a controller. The iPad 2 display will show a map of the racetrack while the game is hooked into a television set. We can expect to see many more games follow in Firemint's footsteps by offering HD-output support. This functionality requires the HDMI-adapter for the iPad, which sells for $39.
Read the full story here.


NYT iPhone app adds push alerts to keep readers post pay wall

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:57 AM PDT

Over the weekend, the New York Times added a few updates to its iPhone app, a move that can only be seen as preparatory, as the New York Times' pay wall erects today. Minor adjustments have been made to the interface, along with the added option to swipe between stories. Most strategic, however, is the addition of push alerts, which will constantly remind readers to tap that app.
Read the full story here.


AT&T drops prices on popular smartphones

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:39 AM PDT

AT&T has just released new pricing for a few of its popular smartphones. The Samsung Captivate with Android 2.2 Froyo is now $99.99, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 is $49.99, and the Curve 3G sells for $29.99, while the Windows Phone 7-powered Samsung Focus and LG Quantum are both $49.99 now. Does this mean there are replacements on the near horizon? Probably, if we had to guess.
Read the full story here.


Google launches Disco group-messaging iPhone app; forgets Android

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:29 AM PDT

Google's recently acquired social apps start-up Slide seems to have created a group-messaging iPhone app right under Google's nose (and brand name), without the least bit of concern for Android. The app is called Disco, and it launched in beta this weekend, along with its parent site Disco.com. The Disco app seems to be a bit behind when compared to group messaging powerhouses Fast Society, Beluga, and GroupMe. In fact, the SMS app on the iPhone has more functionality than the Disco beta. However, Disco.com has a streamlined and efficient setup for sending and receiving messages to/from your groups from the web, all in real time. The site even works with the Google Voice Chrome extension. Only time will tell if the Disco beta will grow into a powerful competitor in the group messaging arena. Until then, we'll just have to keep our thumbs out for the final release.
Read the full story here.


iPad 2 devs warm up to sub-pixel camera

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:13 AM PDT

We're seeing developers start to integrate support for the iPad 2's somewhat low-end cameras into more and more applications these days. To name just a few, Evernote 4.0.1, Twitter 3.3.2, and WordPress 2.7.1 have all received updates to incorporate the iPad 2's camera functionality. Obviously, the iPad 2 doesn't tout the same megapixel power as the iPhone 4's 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. However, in applications like Evernote and Twitter, the quality of the photo comes second to making a note and connecting with friends.
Read the full story here.


Nokia unveils new branding and font ahead of Windows Phone 7 launch

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:44 AM PDT

Nokia has unveiled new branding and an all new font for its phones in an effort to modernize its appearance and give a fresh look to its devices.
Read the full story here.


Apple to unveil details of next version of iOS at WWDC in June

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:31 AM PDT

Apple has just released a press statement announcing the dates of its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). From June 6 through June 10, Apple will be discussing its plans for iOS and Mac OS.
Read the full story here.


Possible Google Nexus tablet to be built by LG

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:22 AM PDT

News has come out that Google could possibly be developing a Nexus branded tablet to be made by LG. The Nexus tablet would be similar in concept to the original Nexus One smartphone that carried a "pure" Google Android experience.
Read the full story here.


Official Android Gingerbread update for Samsung Galaxy S leaked

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:13 AM PDT

The Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for the Samsung Galaxy S has leaked out to the internet for enterprising users to install. This is supposedly the official version of the update, as opposed to the beta that had leaked out previously. With the official version out and about, this can only mean that an honest-to-goodness update from Samsung itself can't be too far off. Note that this is for Galaxy S models without any carrier branding. The versions of the Galaxy S available in the States will have a bit longer to wait before getting their Gingerbread on.
Read the full story here.


ViewSonic introduces ViewPad 7 try it for free program in the UK

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:52 AM PDT

Viewsonic has announced a program for UK customers that will allow them to try out its ViewPad 7 Android tablet for free for an entire month.
Read the full story here.


Google inching closer to NFC mobile payments

Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:41 AM PDT

As rumored earlier this month, Google is reportedly taking more steps with credit card companies and banks to deploy Near Field Communications (NFC) payment systems. The latest reports say that MasterCard and Citigroup have teamed up with Google to roll out the technology.
Read the full story here.


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