Phone Scoop - Latest News

Apple Updates Beta Version of iPhone/iPad 3.2 SDK

Eric M. Zeman — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:13:51 GMT

Today Apple provided a revised version of the software development kit for iPhone OS 3.2. This second beta updates tools that developers can use to create applications for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

Google Maps Updated for Android, S60 and WinMo

Eric M. Zeman — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:10:40 GMT

Google has made Maps for Mobile version 4 available to the Android, S60 and Windows Mobile platforms. Once installed, Maps 4.0 will enable Google's Buzz social networking service within the layers feature of Google Maps.

Google Announces Buzz Mobile Social Networking App

Eric M. Zeman — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:35:22 GMT

Today Google announced a new social networking service called Buzz that is integrated into Gmail. It offers easy ways to share links. photos and videos with Gmail contacts. In additional to this Gmail integration, Google also announced related products ...
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Fraunhofer Adds More Audio Codecs to Android Platform

Eric M. Zeman — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:04:06 GMT

Today Fraunhofer announced several new initiatives aimed at improving the audio and multimedia experience of Android devices. Fraunhofer made MPEG-4 HE-AAC v2 support available to the Android platform beginning today. This codec is used by digital television and radio ...
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Broadcom Says All Wireless Chips Now Support Android

Eric M. Zeman — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:13:55 GMT

Today Broadcom made a slew of announcements regarding its portfolio of wireless chips. Its combo and single wireless chip solutions now all support the Android platform. Broadcom notes that it will bring Bluetooth 3.0+HS and Wi-Fi Direct to Android ...
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Texas Instruments Announces WiLink 7 Combo Chip

Eric M. Zeman — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Today Texas Instruments introduced the WiLink 7, a new Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM radio combination on a single chip. The Wi-Fi support includes the new Wi-Fi Direct standard, the Bluetooth includes the Bluetooth 3.0+HS standard, and the FM radio ...
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Motorola Says Android 2.1 Headed to Droid This Week

Eric M. Zeman — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:23:59 GMT

Today Motorola announced via its official Facebook page that users of the Motorola Droid should expect their devices to update to Android version 2.1 at some point this week. The company said, "We're happy to relay the 2.1 upgrade ...
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Google Lowers Nexus One ETF to $150

Eric M. Zeman — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:20:41 GMT

Google recently indicated via its support forums that it has lowered the early termination fee for its Nexus One smartphone from $350 to $150. Google had originally instituted its own "equipment recovery fee" of $350 for those who cancel ...
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Broadcom Intros New Smartphone Chip

Eric M. Zeman — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:48:25 GMT

Today Broadcom announced a new baseband chip for the Android and Windows Mobile platforms. The new chip supports HSPA with 7.2Mbps on the downlink and 5.8Mbps on the uplink. It has a new core to support 3D graphics, it ...
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Novatel Makes Its First LTE Call

Eric M. Zeman — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:31:51 GMT

Today Novatel announced that it has completed its first data transmission via Long Term Evolution technology. Novatel didn't state what speeds it attained, nor whether or not the equipment used was standards compliant. Novatel did say that it will ...
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Google Maps v3.4 for Droid Enables Multitouch

Eric M. Zeman — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:01:55 GMT

Google recently announced version 3.4 of Google Maps for Mobile. It became available for the Motorola Droid today in the Android Market. One of the new features includes multitouch within Google Maps.

Bluetooth SIG Approves First ZTE Phone for Verizon

Eric M. Zeman — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:36:17 GMT

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group recently approved a ZTE phone with Verizon branding on it. This would be the first ZTE phone picked up by Verizon if it goes on sale. The SIG's documents confirm the ZTE phone has ...
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AT&T Pushes Family Locator Details To iPhone

Eric M. Zeman — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:37:37 GMT

Today AT&T announced an updated version of its FamilyMap iPhone application that comes with a number of new features. The biggest change is that it allows users to locate family members and see their whereabouts directly on their mobile ...
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Deutsche Telekom Considering T-Mobile USA Spin-Off

Eric M. Zeman — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:09:02 GMT

According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, Deutsche Telekom is weighing options for its T-Mobile USA property. One possibility would be to hold an initial public offering for the unit to build capital that could be used ...
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FCC Exploring Cell Booster Ban

Eric M. Zeman — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:11:53 GMT

The Federal Communications Commission is currently seeking comments on the idea of banning cell signal boosters. Boosters are used to extend or enhance network coverage in a given area, such as a car or home. The CTIA claims that ...
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Video Tour: Motorola i680 Brute

Eric M. Zeman — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:30:10 GMT

Phone Scoop beats the snot out of the Motorola i680 Brute, an iDEN phone for Sprint Nextel. What sort of abuse can it take? Watch the video to find out!
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Slacker Announces webOS App for Palm Devices

Eric M. Zeman — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:43:46 GMT

Today Slacker Radio announced a new version of its mobile music streaming application that is compatible with Palm's webOS platform. The free application lets users create their own custom radio stations and stream the music to their phone. Slacker ...
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GetJar Offers Whitelabel App Store to Carriers

Eric M. Zeman — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:52:24 GMT

Today GetJar announced its App Catalogue Express (ACE), a new service that wireless network operators and others can use to launch their own, branded apps stores. GetJar does things such as manage all the back-end infrastructure of an apps ...
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Symbian Foundation Releases Symbian Source Code

Eric M. Zeman — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:32:00 GMT

Today the Symbian Foundation announced that it is making the source code for Symbian^3 available to anyone who wants to download it. The Symbian Foundation hopes that by making it freely available to developers and other handset makers, it ...
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AT&T Says SlingPlayer Mobile Over 3G A Go

Eric M. Zeman — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:21:05 GMT

Today AT&T said that it will allow a new, optimized version of the SlingPlayer Mobile application to operate over its 3G data network. Previously, the SlingPlayer Mobile application was restricted to work only over Wi-Fi. AT&T tested the application ...
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