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Twitter Updates Its Status With Location Tool
Today Twitter unveiled a new feature that allows users to automatically share their location with their Tweets. Users need to opt into the service via their accounts and can turn it off at any time. Twitter has made more details available yet, including how it will work with various smartphone platforms and third-party applications.
Unreal Engine 3 Scores a Headshot on Palm WebOS
On the official Palm Blog today, the company announced that Epic games has demonstrated the Unreal Engine 3, the gaming back end that drives Unreal Tournament 3 and Gears of War, among other titles. Licensees of the Unreal Engine 3 will be able to use the engine to build games for Palm's WebOS, though no specific titles were announced. The recent build of Unreal Engine 3 on Palm WebOS was made possible by the adoption of OpenGL ES 2.0 in the recently announced Palm PDK.
Google Shows Mobile Users What's In Stock Nearby
Today Google introduced a new browser-based search tool that will let users see at a glance whether or not their search query is in stock at local stores. Searches for retail items performed from the browser will deliver local results, and a blue dot will be placed next to stores where the item is in stock. The feature will also note if the item is in limited quantities, and how far away it is from the user's current position. The feature only works with the iPhone, webOS and Android devices.
American Airlines Expands Mobile Boarding Pass Option
American Airlines today announced 19 new airports participating in its mobile boarding pass service. The new airports include Houston George Bush, New York La Guardia and Phoenix Sky Harbor, among others. Fliers can use any cell phone or smartphone with e-mail capabilities to receive a 2-D barcode, and then check in with the barcode image at their gate. Passengers with baggage can check in at self-service kiosks by scanning the barcode image.
T-Mobile Provides Devs with User Location Tools
T-Mobile today announced that it has joined WaveMarket's Veriplace Cloud Location Platform Initiative. This initiative provides developers of mobile apps and services with the APIs (application programming interface) that they might need to enable their apps with geo-location features. Veriplace's infrastructure can locate 150 million handsets being used by T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint customers. It makes it easier for developers to enrich their applications and services with location information by reducing the complexity of all the location technologies, networks and devices involved. Veriplace works with both feature phones and smartphones.
Casio Brigade Stomps Over to Verizon
Today Verizon Wireless launched the Casio G'zOne Brigade, which was first announced in November 2009. This mil-spec rugged device is a sideways clamshell that has both a numeric keypad on the front and a full QWERTY keyboard inside with larger display. It also offers push-to-talk capabilities in addition to having a 3.2 megapixel, camera with flash, microSD card support, 2.5mm headset jack, dedicated music and messaging keys, Bluetooth and 3G for data. The device supports Verizon's V CAST services, and has business-focused offerings such as Document Viewer and support for Verizon's Field Force Manager software. The Brigade costs $250 after rebate with new two year agreement. The Brigade requires a $10 data plan in addition to a voice plan.
T-Mobile's Rocket Launches March 14, Plans Tweaked
Today T-Mobile USA announced that its first HSPA+ laptop dongle, the webConnect Rocket USB Laptop Stick, will be available starting March 14 for $100 after rebates with new agreement. T-Mobile also announced new plans for webConnect devices. Customers can choose an Even More webConnect data plan, which requires a two-year contract, and get 5GB for $60 per month or 200MB for $30 per month. Those wishing to avoid contracts can select the Even More Plus webConnect data plan, which costs $50 per month for 5GB or $20 per month for 200MB. All plans have overage charges costing $0.20 per megabyte. T-Mobile said that its entire 3G network has been upgraded to HSPA 7.2Mbps, which now covers more than 273 U.S. cities and 206 million people. T-Mobile's HSPA+ network is only available in Philadelphia, Pa., at launch, but T-Mobile plans to add more cities later this year, with much of its network planned to offer HSPA+ by the end of 2010. HSPA+ can reach theoretical download speeds of 21Mbps.
Opera Debuts Mini 5 Beta for Android
Today Opera Software made a beta version of Opera Mini 5 available for the Android platform. Opera says that the Android version of Opera Mini 5 offers all the same features that other versions do, including tabbed browsing, the password manager, bookmarks and Speed Dial. The beta of Opera Mini 5 for Android is a free download. It can be retrieved directly from Opera's web site.
Verizon's First LTE Handset Coming Mid-2011
In a recent interview, Verizon Wireless' chief technology officer, Tony Malone, indicated that the company will have a Long Term Evolution handset ready for the market by the middle of 2011. That's about six months sooner than Verizon had expected. Malone noted that the device won't be straight LTE only, but rather will combine CDMA and LTE chipsets and their inherent capabilities. Verizon Wireless plans to have LTE available in 25 to 30 markets later this year, covering about 100 million pops. Malone also made comments about the future of unlimited data plans. "As much data as you can consume is the big issue that has to change," he said. "It's one thing to say all you can eat is gone. It's another to have consumers worrying, 'Can I stream this radio?' That's what we don't want." AT&T's CEO has made similar comments in recent weeks.
Gowalla Scores an App Hat Trick
In the last couple of days leading up to the South By Southwest interactive (SXSWi) festival in Austin, TX, the location-based social networking service Gowalla has released new apps for the Google Android and Palm WebOS platform, as well as an updated app for the Apple iPhone. Gowalla is a competitor to Foursquare, as both services allow users to 'check-in' at various locations, offering imaginary and, in some cases, real rewards for doing so. These recent releases come on the heels of Facebook's announcement that the popular service will soon become location-aware. Gowalla is currently offering location-based content tailored to the SXSWi festival, and the service has also signed a deal with the Travel Channel to offer content based on the "Food Wars" program. The newest app for iPhone, Gowalla 2.0, offers the ability to upload photos at a location check-in and also browse other users' photos from the same spot.
Twisted Pair's Wave Shoves Push-to-Talk Over IP
Blackberry owners and other smartphone users will soon be able to connect to Twisted Pair's Wave radio platform. Twisted Pair today announced Mobile Communicator for Blackberry, which lets Blackberry owners talk using Radio-over-IP (RoIP). The thin client software on the Blackberry device sends audio to a Wave server for processing, and Blackberry users can then talk to other users on the same radio network, whether they are using a smartphone or a two-ray radio device. The service is similar to push-to-talk (PTT) services offered by the major cellular carriers, but uses the phone's Internet connection instead of a dedicated PTT network, like Sprint Nextel's iDen network. Users can broadcast freely over a radio channel or connect securely with another user for a private conversation. After the Blackberry application, Twisted Pair is also working on similar solutions for the iPhone OS, Windows Mobile and Android platforms.
YouTube Offers WinMo and S60 Mobile App Take 2.4
Today YouTube released a new version of its mobile software for the Windows Mobile and S60 platforms. YouTube mobile 2.4 improves speed performance and also introduces several new features. The new features include search query suggestions, end-user account support, and a new homescreen user interface that is optimized for larger screens. The new software is a free download for WinMo and S60 phones starting today.
Apple, RIM, Moto, Others Hit with Smartphone Patent Suit
SmartPhone Technologies LLC has filed a lawsuit against Apple, AT&T, Samsung, Sanyo, LG, and Motorola alleging that all the companies are infringing upon SmartPhone Technologies' patents. Apple is bearing the brunt of the lawsuit, and it alone faces six counts of patent violation, including power conservation, telephony features, and email syncing. The other companies were named together in violation of a single patent. Smartphone Technologies is seeking damages from all the companies involved. Smartphone patents have become widely contested in recent months, with Apple, Nokia, HTC and others all involved in numerous lawsuits.
Windows Phone 7 Series Won't Ignore Adobe Flash
Mike Chambers, principal Product Manager for developer relations for the Flash Platform at Adobe, made a statement on his personal blog concerning Flash on the upcoming Windows Phone 7 Series OS. Chambers says that "Adobe and Microsoft are working together to bring Flash Player 10.1 to Internet Explorer Mobile on Windows Phone 7 Series." Chambers didn't offer a specific time frame. Microsoft has made it clear that the interface on Windows Phone 7 Series relies heavily on the competing Microsoft Silverlight runtime, but never precluded the use of Adobe's Flash in the Web browser.
Amazon Wireless Store Expands T-Mobile Offerings
Amazon Wireless today that it has expanded the number of T-Mobile devices it offers from its web site, as well as the number of plans from which customers can choose. Amazon Wireless said that customers can now initiate a new T-Mobile line of service and port a number from another carrier. Customers can also extend existing individual or family plans. Amazon Wireless offers phones for sale with no mail-in rebates, offers free two-day shipping and is waiving T-Mobile activation fees until March 14. The T-Mobile handsets that Amazon Wireless offers now includes: BlackBerry Bold 9700 and Curve 8520; Motorola CLIQ; Samsung t749 Highlight, Behold II, and Gravity 2; HTC TouchPro2; Sony Ericsson Equinox; and the T-Mobile 3G Dash. The Amazon Wireless store has been in open beta since July 2009. It offers over 150 different models from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.
Biking Directions Coming to Mobile Google Maps. Eventually
Today Google announced a new feature for Google Maps that allows users to route directions for a bicycle. Biking directions offers a lot of ways to get from point A to point B by taking advantage of trails, known bike lanes and other information. Google says that route times are calculated using an algorithm that considers the length of the route, the number of hills, fatigue over time, and other variables. The new service is launching for the desktop version of Google Maps today, but Google said that it plans to introduce a mobile version of bicycle directions soon.
Target Launches Phone-Based Coupon Program
Target announced a scannable mobile coupon program launching nationwide today at its retail stores. Consumers will have several different ways to opt into the program (PC browser, mobile browser, short code), which will then distribute coupons to mobile phones via text message. The text message will have a link to a web page with the coupons on it. Consumes pick the coupon they want to use and it will display a single-use barcode on the display of the handset. Target says the coupon can then be scanned at all if its stores during check-out, allowing the user to redeem the coupon. The program is free to register for and use, save for the cost of text messages.
Facebook to Become Location-Aware in April
According to unnamed sources cited by The New York Times, Facebook plans to introduce a new location-sharing feature to is social networking service. The feature will let users share their own location as well as see the location of their friends in their news feed. The Times' source says that Facebook has been working on the feature for a year, and has waited until it is fully ready before releasing it to its 400 million users. Facebook will also make APIs (application programming interfaces) available to third-party organizations who wish to enable location features within their own Facebook apps. Facebook has not said if or how mobile phones will play a role, but many of the site's users access it from devices such as BlackBerries, Windows Mobile, the iPhone and Android handsets -- all of which offer GPS location tools. More details will be made available at the f8 conference, to be held in late April.
Leap Shutters Some Stores, Reduces Headcount
Leap Wireless recently indicated that it has permanently closed 27 -- about 10% -- of its 269 Cricket Wireless stores. It has also laid off 180 people, trimming its staff level down to 4,200 employees around the country. The company said that the store closings and staff reduction are part of normal retail operations, though the company reported a $64 million loss in its most recent financial quarter. Leap recently announced a new joint venture with Pocket Communications to expand its presence in Texas, and Leap is believed to be seeking another company to partner with on a much larger level, or buy it out altogether.
Apple Revises iPhone OS 3.2 SDK Yet Again
Today Apple made a fourth beta of the iPhone OS 3.2 software development kit available to developers. The SDK provides developers with the tools they need to write for iPhone OS, which also applies to the iPod Touch and forthcoming iPad.
Palm Helps Developers Port Games to WebOS
Palm today announced the Plug-In Development Kit (PDK) for Palm WebOS. The PDK allows developers to use C and C++ in addition to the Web-based framework of the Palm OS. With the new PDK, developers get access to OpenGL ES 1.1 or 2.0, which will improve 3D performance in games and other apps, and the new kit should make it easier to port games from another platform to Palm's WebOS. The PDK works with Windows Visual Studio and Mac's Xcode development tools. This release follows on the heels of yesterday's announcement from Google releasing a similar development package for Google Android devices, including OpenGL ES 2.0 support.
FCC Suggests Free Wireless Broadband
At the Digital Inclusion Summit, the FCC released a statement supporting free wireless broadband for some Americans in a bid to increase affordable broadband service nationwide. The commission did not specify which Americans would qualify for such a service and how the plan would be carried out, but the FCC did suggest using "spectrum for a free or a very low cost wireless broadband service." The Digital Inclusion Summit aims to connect one-third of Americans without broadband Internet access at home. As part of the FCC's statement, the commission recommended a Digital Literacy Corps of volunteers who would teach users how to access the free or low-cost service.
Samsung's Stunt Lands at Cricket
Today Samsung announced that it is offering the SCH-r100 Stunt to Cricket customers. The Stunt is a tri-band CDMA bar-style phone that has entry level features. It includes Bluetooth, speakerphone, and simple messaging services. It costs $100.
NFL Mobile Touches Down on Verizon Wireless
The NFL and Verizon Wireless today announced a four year deal that will bring NFL Mobile programming and the NFL RedZone channel to Verizon Wireless phones. Specific phone and pricing information for the new service will be available in August, close to the start of the next NFL season, but Verizon's new service will be live in time to offer coverage of the NFL Draft on April 22-24. Subscribers will be able to watch NFL games live on Sunday and Thursday night, and will have access to live radio broadcasts of every regular season and playoff game from both home and away teams. Sprint representative Mark Elliott says Sprint passed on extending the NFL sponsorship because the high price tag had the carrier questioning its return on investment. Sprint will still offer some sort of football application that will provide professional and college football coverage. Verizon Wireless notably used the announcement opportunity to tout its upcoming 4G network launch, saying the NFL Mobile experience will become increasingly rich as the LTE network launches in 25 to 30 markets this year. With today's announcement, Verizon Wirleess will also become the official wireless service sponsor for the NFL.
Android Develops Enhanced OpenGL Support
Google today released the Android Native Development Kit revision 3 (NDK r3), offering expanded capabilities to Android developers. Most interesting to end users is probably enhanced support for OpenGL ES 2.0, now offering improved graphics rendering through vertex and fragment shader programs. Android has been roundly criticized for lagging behind Apple's iPhone OS in gaming support. While the new NDK r3 can be used to target devices running Android 1.5 and higher, the enhanced OpenGL support will only target Android 2.0 and higher devices, like the Motorola Droid or the Google Nexus One. On the back end, the new Android NDK r3 also offers refreshed binaries in line with the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) 4.4.0, which Google says will generate more compact and efficient machine code.
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