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  • Jolla Sailfish Phone: Make Way for the Quirkiest Smartphone to Date


    A solid band of engineers decided to leave Nokia in 2012 and went on their way to developing a Meego-derived operating system dubbed as “Sailfish”. The development process was quite successful and this led the band of engineers to their next problem: they needed a new vehicle to host the software. The answer now comes in the form of the newest and the first Jolla phone that is known to be as “quirky” as the OS that it operates on.

    In addition to its dual-core processor, a 4.5-inch display screen, 4G capabilities, an 8-megapixel camera, a microSB slot, and 16GB of onboard storage, the most striking feature of this new phone is its contrasting removable back cover. Believe it or not, this new Jolla phone has the capacity to detect which back cover is attached to it and automatically change its display theme to match the cover that it detects. In addition to that, the covers currently available for this new smartphone comes in slightly different forms, giving users a unique smartphone every time they change back covers. The new Jolla phone is a shape shifter that will surely fit consumers’ shifting tastes.

    Despite the fact that it runs on its own Sailfish OS, developers at Jolla maintain that the newest and the first Jolla phone will be “Android-compliant”. Since the phone is based on an OS that was based on Meego, an OS that initially powered the Nokia N9, skeptics are worried about this claim. The main concern that people have about the phone’s Android compatibility is the selection of applications that will be available for the Jolla phone and the means through which users will be able to download them. Other than that, consumers are excited to see how the best and the most popular Android apps will be made to fit this new Android-compliant Jolla phone.

    The first Jolla phone made its debut on selected European countries and is set to roll out in the rest of the world in the months to come. Set to cost consumers around $500 dollars for a single unit, it falls just within the reasonably priced smartphone category, especially when its unique features are considered. Looks like the quirky public finally got the quirky smartphone that it has been looking for.

    More info: Jolla, Sailfish

  • The first medical tricorder, Scanadu Scout, launches on Indiegogo

    The first medical tricorder, Scanadu Scout, launches on Indiegogo

     scanadu_scout
    Star Trek's Tricorder will soon become a reality with Scanadu Scout, the medical tricorder that has set a record on Indiegogo for the fastest funding velocity. Scanadu, a personalized health electronics company, launched an Indiegogo campaign that invites supporters to contribute to the last step of bringing a first-edition Scanadu Scout into reality. The company aimed at obtaining funding of the scout tricorder into FDA approval and its goal was attained in 2 hours.

    Scanadu Scout is the world's first medical tricorder, which some have called the scanner with a heart. It is small, fast, and affordable, making checking your health as easy as reading your email. It is basically a scanner packed with sensors for conducting physical exams by reading your vital signs and sending them to your smartphone wirelessly in a snap. It tracks, measures, analyzes, and trends your heart rate, respiratory rate, emotional stress, blood pressure (both diastolic and systolic), ECG, core body temperature, and oxymetry (blood oxygenation) in 10 seconds.
     
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    The design of the device is aimed at making it a medical grade tricorder, as it brings a diagnostic clinic or emergency room to the palm of your hands using your smartphone and Bluetooth LE. With usage that is as simple as the working is sophisticated, you measure your vitals by placing the Scout tricorder to your temple for 10 seconds. The stats are uploaded to the Scanadu app via Bluetooth so you get to read them on your smartphone display. You can even scout someone else or share your vital stats with others, but in absolute privacy and at your opting.

    In other words, Scanadu Scout lets you be your own first responder in case of a flux in your vital signs regardless of what you are- MD, medical student, data scientist, parent, athlete, tech geek, teacher, baby boomer…

    kid_scanadu

    Its unprecedented simplicity extends to even charging, whereby a micro-USB adapter connects it to a USB port and in less than an hour it is fully charged. This charge will last up to a week while using it a couple of times a day. Maintaining its cleanliness after use is also hassle-free with just a disinfecting wipe or damp towel.

    Six months ago, a prototype was first revealed that had a computation power of an Apple II at 8-bit. The new edition has been upgraded to 32-bit, making it ideal for a smartphone. The revolutionary device has actually been built on NASA's Micrium, a real-time OS for SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) used on Rover Curiosity.

    Since the prototype's unveiling, Scanadu has been receiving constant emails and calls from researchers, students, parents, and body hackers seeking to be part of the exploratory community of the first generation Scanadu Scout. Starting from Saturday the 25th of May, 2013, Scanadu Scout supporters have been given the go-ahead to reserve a first-edition Scanadu Scout on Indiegogo and become its first generation consumers.

    In the campaign, they will be part of a usability study and give feedback on the usability, feasibility, and consumer friendliness. This is all crucial to Scanadu's road to FDA and will affect the revolutionary tool's final design and characteristics. When the device is FDA-approved and ready for the market, its app will come in iOS and Android versions, and will support Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Low Energey (LE).
    scanadu

    The Indiegogo campaign will last 30 days and among the perks it will offer include a tour of NASA Ames Research Park, a day at NASA as a citizen astronaut for a space medicine workshop, and regular updates from Scanadu. As you scout yourself and provide Scanadu with the feedback to refine the device, you will be helping to make the vision of this being the last generation to know so little about their health a reality. The first 1,000 participants will receive a $149 early bird special for the device. The expected retail price for additional units is $199.

    Scanadu Scout will be shipped in March 2014.

    This article originally appeared on What's On iPhone.

  • Pantech Perception – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

    The Pantech Perception from Verizon is a good, midtier Android smartphone. First off, let's point out the most obvious draw- the price tag: the Pantech Perception is a pretty impressive phone for it's price of only $99.99.

    However, the Perception is a Verizon exclusive smartphone and users would have to switch contracts if they wanted to use this new phone. Designed to react to motion, users can answer phone calls, scroll through contacts and change their playlist by swiping their hand over the screen. The Perception also offers a wide 4.8" HD screen with 1280×720 pixel resolution for superior density in brightness and colors, as well as an 8 megapixel camera and 2 megapixel front camera. The Pantech Perception also boasts a very long battery life compared to other smartphones on the market. The Pantech Perception is runs Android so users can download a plethora of apps available on Google Play.

    Unfortunately it's not all sunshine and butterflies for the Pantech Perception. The camera is not great and the device is rather large, that can either be good or bad. Some people like big phones, some might find this one to be a bit bulky however, at 5.2 inches tall by 2.7 inches wide.

    Pantech Perception is a good base phone for those looking for a standard Android 4.0 smartphone with the basic features, and those who do not have any intention of breaking the bank. The worst feature on the phone by far is the camera, so if that is your least priority on a smartphone, this may be a good, affordable option.

  • iPhone 5Sā€™s Latest Fingerprint Reader Coming Soon

    The iPhone 5S’s latest fingerprint reader has been mentioned in the news a lot these day. It is the latest addition to the parade of features offered by Apple although Samsung and others competitors may have their say about this. Though it has been been given much hype and has already been publicized, fans and spectators must wait until fall before the fingerprint reader will be unveiled.

    For panicky watchers, they will have to wait until the final release is official. Perhaps, there could be changes in the latest software feature that the giant smartphone innovator will reveal during the WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) in June. Some say that the new iPhone might take longer than usual to be released since there could be more updates to be made. The idea of the fingerprint reader innovation was acquired from AuthenTec which is Apple’s security supplier.

    Adding fuel to the fire, some sources say that soon the “I” on iPhone would mean identity. Since many users know about Apple’s inclination for solving problems, the company is trying to venture into solving digital identity. Experts say that this might be part of a grand strategy. Undoubtedly, phones are great part of many people’s lives and some individuals cannot function well without them. Apple is up for the challenge and will soon launch the fingerprint technology on their phones.

    Experts added that this idea will become at a trillion-dollar valuation by 2020. On the other hand, there is one thing that intrigues sources. It is how Apple will approach this digital identity feature because they cannot figure out if it will work like the FB +2.68% and GOOG -0.96% identity systems.

    Apple says that it will allow the user to be in full control of security and how they will handle it. This could work like the slide to unlock feature in many iPhones. It is said that the latest security feature will allow people to choose the level of security they want as well as what situations or maybe even locations in which they would allow identity using their Smartphone. If this idea works, it might be worth the wait for users. Everyone will have to wait and see what Apple is up to this time.

  • Nokia Asha 210, the first mobile with a WhatsApp button

    Nokia is introducing Asha 210, a brand new social smartphone that is proud to be the first smartphone that has its own WhatsApp button. According to Nokia, it is described as the phone that allows you to "have your social life at your fingertips."

    Nokia Asha 210 is considered a budget smartphone and it targets people that enjoy using social networks, but don't want to spend a fortune for a phone. Asha 210 has 2.4-inch display, a QWERTY keyboard, it supports Wi-Fi and 2G connections, while it also has a 2MP camera. It is available in yellow, cyan and magenta and it has been significantly advertised for its unique button for the famous WhatsApp application. WhatsApp is an app that allows you to chat with your friends easily and without any cost, either with calls, or messages. It is available for iOS, Android, Windows phone and Blackberry, which increases the possibilities of chatting with your friends for free. Nokia has already announced that WhatsApp will be free for its users, despite other platforms selling it at a minimum cost.

    "The Nokia Asha 210 really stands out giving super-social consumers new ways to express their personalities through design, color and innovations like the world's first WhatsApp button," explains Timo Toikkanen, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "It has been designed to allow people to easily update their social networks, stay in touch with friends and share user created content."

    What is even more important is that the Asha 210 is going to have a starting price of $72, while it is expected during the second quarter of 2013. As it seems, Nokia is trying to focus at a young age audience, trying to persuade them with the social integration, the beautiful colors and the low price. Asha 210 has already been discussed a lot and this might be the start of a successful phone. 

  • Kolmisoft and 5gFuture to deliver next-generation visual monitoring capabilities

    Billing software MOR and 5gVision, an advanced VoIP & SNMP monitoring system, are both set to be fully integrated by Kolmisoft to provide powerful, next-gen visualized monitoring tools.

    The solution comes in response to customer data accumulated by MOR. The new features will provide current and future customers with powerful new tools to allow for a wide-spectrum of capabilities. Many of these new features will be some which may not even be expected. Over 30 parameters will be consistently monitored to provide consistently updated information that can be easily looked over by customers.

    Just a few parameters listed will be things like the percent of short calls and percentage of various disconnect codes encountered when calling out. Additional statistics made available to customers surround pricing and profits.

    The primary tool used in the new model, 5gVision bases the new reports and statistics on highly elaborate statistics which are all pre-calculated. The calculations come for around the clock monitoring of all points used in call routing. The results have so far been stunning resulting in a very high volume of data collection over the span of only weeks to a month. The new tool provides a flexible alternative to watching connections all the time.

    VoIP providers that take on the new MOR billing and routing technology will ultimately allow additional services to customers. The added functionality provided by MOR allows providers to easily begin managing new business models such as termination of services. Telephony will be expanded to further retailers and residents, even allowing such features as calling cards and call shops. The features require no additional equipment and offer one a single solution to manage any type of business model.

    According to Andrew Han, CEO of LUCA Technology GmbH, transparency was integrated into his business model instantly. Han has made it clear that monitoring the softswitch has become a nearly instant process. He mentioned that the software has provided a model to see exactly where things are headed and how things like the number of active calls, short calls and profits are evolving over the span of time.

    Kolmisoft specializes in providing advanced billing and routing resolutions and services around the globe. Komisoft has made MOR a solution to expand VoIP into areas such as business without allowing room for risks.

    5gFuture is a specialized software design firm based out of Toronto, Canada with the primary goal of creating innovative, next generation monitoring tools.

  • Quickoffice: Mobile File Editing Software Has Arrived

    Being able to share files and add new ones on a mobile device is a process that took a long time to happen but has now officially emerged with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides in a convenient platform.

    Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are a very effective way to share files and add new ones, however, not everyone has converted to the new trend. It is only a convenient process in the business world if everyone associated with the file is able to see it in the form it is in, otherwise, it is a hassle trying to convert from one form to another. Google Apps for Business has started working on the issue of some people being behind in the technology department by developing Quickoffice for the iPad, iPhone, and Android devices to edit Microsoft Office documents.

    Quickoffice was actually invented in 1997 to make Microsoft Office products that were compatible with Palm OS (which is now webOS), Blackberry, Android, iOS, Palm Pilot and Symbian to name a few. Quickoffice was not only the first to be able to translate a file into a mobile form, but it also allowed the file to be edited. Google purchased Quickoffice in 2012 which was an incredible step toward solving the issue of sharing, adding and editing files in the mobile form. This makes it possible for working businesspeople to edit files that need editing while on the go. Whether waiting for a plane at the airport, running to catch a taxi or even taking a quick lunch, Google Apps for Business is helping the busy businessperson out.

    Not only is Quickoffice compatible with Microsoft Office files and Google Docs, Sheets and Slides files, but it is also compatible with programs such as Dropbox, SugarSync, and Evernote. This makes Quickoffice even more universal to even more users.

    When a business is in need of a program that is universal with office type files, Quickoffice is a great program to choose. With the mobility it offers being available on iPads, iPhones, and Android devices, it makes it even easier for more people to use efficiently.

  • Weve and PayPal among the 150+ Mobile Payments experts to meet in London, 23-24 April, 2013

    Weve and PayPal are among the top speakers confirmed for Mobile Payments and Value Added Services, Europe’s biggest mobile payments event, taking place 23-24 April, London. This event looks to unite attendees from major banks, MNOs, payment providers and retailers, in order to debate and discuss how the evolution of mobile technology can be used to cash in on the payments sector.

    Juniper Research predicts global mobile payment transactions will be worth $1.3 trillion over the next five years. The number of people buying physical goods remotely via their mobile handsets is expected to increase by nearly 50% between now and 2015 while 78% of POS terminals in Europe are forecasted to be NFC-enabled by 2017.

    In light of this, many companies are changing their strategies in order exploit the growing adoption of mobile payments. However, the growth in opportunity has also led to the rapid rise in the development differing of payment technologies, and plethora of solutions on the market.  Mobile Payments and Value Added Services will provide a forum to compare these payment solutions and help companies’ assess the benefits of value added services to their consumers.

    The agenda is set to answer the critical questions facing mobile payment professionals today; how banks can preserve their place in the payments value chain; in what way payments can generate additional revenue streams for MNOs; what opportunities exist for the Mobile Wallet; whether one payments solution win out, or is there room for  Cloud Payments, NFC and the rest? Speakers confirmed to speak so far include PayPal, Tesco, Visa, EE, and BNP Paribas among many others.  With attendees from Best Buy, American Express, John Lewis and more

    Event Director, Aoife Gaffney, VP Payments at M For Mobile, outlined what the conference would provide in a recent interview.  “After many years of talking about NFC, we have now seen a variety of other solutions explode onto the scene, using a range of technologies, all competing to reach mass consumer adoption. With forecasts for the payments industry in the billions, in order to profit and remain competitive, it is crucial that companies forge the right partnerships and keep themselves informed to stay ahead of the curve –  that is what Mobile Payments and Value Added Services will allow them to do.’”

    More information on Mobile Payments and Value Added Services can be found here.

    Contact
    Aoife Gaffney
    VP Location
    M For Mobile (Formerly NFC Insight & TheWhereBusiness)
    Direct: +44 (0) 207-375-7521
    US Toll Free: 1800-814-3459 ext. 7521
    Canada Toll Free: 1866-996-1235 ext. 7521
    E: [email protected]
    Twitter: wheresgaff

    About M for Mobile
    M for Mobile publishes news and events for those involved in the mobile industry, primarily mobile technology. Through high-end B2B conferences, we connect people across the industry, provide market leading intelligence and enable companies to capitalise on emerging business opportunities in location-based services, tracking, NFC, mobile advertising and mobile payments and much more.

    M for Mobile was created in February 2012 by uniting two established conference brands; NFC Insight and TheWhereBusiness. Through continuous independent research with hundreds of companies and dedicated journalists, our news portal keeps you one step ahead of an industry in flux, and our events provide key networking forums for the industry.

    Through an unusually high level of support from leading companies we provide opportunities to connect with typically unobtainable executives. Over the past two years we’ve brought together senior execs from companies such as Google, Fedex, Ogilvy, Yahoo!, MasterCard, Nokia, Apple, Microsoft, MTV, T-Mobile, AT&T, TomTom, BBC, Orange, Visa, BMW, Vodafone and many, many more!

  • "Facebook phone": HTC First to arrive with Facebook Home

    Facebook made another big announcement, this time about Facebook Home, an Android launcher that will be pre-loaded on HTC First. Although Facebook did not create its own phone, it managed to grab our attention with something between an operating system and an application that manages to turn an Android phone into a Facebook phone.

    According to Mark Zuckerberg,

    “We’re not building a phone; and we’re not building an operating system, but we are building something that’s a whole lot deeper than an app.”

    HTC First will be the first Android phone that will have Facebook Home pre-installed and it is expected on April 12th by AT&T, at the price of $99.99. It is described by Peter Chou of HTC as the "ultimate social phone" and if you are a Facebook fan you won't be disappointed. It will feature LTE connectivity, it will have a ualcomm dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, a 4.3-inch display and it will run on Android Jelly Bean 4.1. What's more, it will be available in 4 colors, in black, white, red and light blue.

    Facebook Home will be a completely new experience, allowing you to connect with your friends faster than ever. If you also love Instagram, except for Facebook, you need to know that HTC First will be the first phone that will have Instagram pre-loaded at the device.

    As it seems, Facebook is targetinh a young mobile audience, trying to increase its audience, but also its revenue from the mobile market. HTC and At&T will also benefir from such a big collaboration with Facebook, while Android must be happy leaving iOS behind on such a social innovation.

    Whether you'd be interested in buying such a phone or not, HTC First was indeed the first Facebook phone and it cannot be ignored. At least for the time being. 

  • Facebook phone: Ovum comments ahead of Facebook's announcement

    Ahead of Facebook’s announcement today, Adam Leach, principal device analyst at Ovum provides his perspective on how Facebook should move forward.

    Adam Leach, principal device analyst, Ovum:

    “Today Facebook will announce its ‘new home on Android’. There has been much speculation about what this will be, ranging from introducing a more deeply integrated Facebook app for Android all the way to launching its own “Facebook” phone.

    “But why is Facebook doing anything at all? The company wants to increase its engagement with its users and in particular its users accessing the service over mobile. To achieve this Facebook needs a mechanism to deliver its own services to a portfolio of devices. If this can be achieved with an Android Facebook skin or a co-branded phone then this will be better for Facebook as it avoids upsetting its current phone and platform partners and removes the immediate need to launch its own branded devices.

    “Whether Facebook needs to launches its own-branded devices depends on how ambitious Facebook is in moving into new consumer services which it currently does not provide. Facebook currently relies on the good will of its partners to carry the Facebook service. If it intends to move further into delivering digital services and go head to head with its consumer tech rivals such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon. This will bring Facebook into conflict with its current partners and will require the company to have more control over the platform and the devices it delivers the experience to.”

    Image: Michal Bonikowski