Category: smartphone

  • Adobe Facilitated Android, iOS and BlackBerry with its Updates for Flash Builder and Flex

    Adobe today released much awaited updates to its Flex 4.5 and Flash Builder 4.5 software. The new release enables developers to create cross-platform apps successfully for iOS, Android and BlackBerry.

    This release will facilitate functionality of the adobe Framework, which was released in this year April. In fact, Adobe framework support was extended alone for Android from the day of its launch and these latest updates enabled this facility for rest of the operating systems as promised by adobe earlier.

    Adobe introduced several other applications along with these updates that were built through their latest software and informed that these applications will be available soon for the three app stores Itunes, BlackBerry App World and Android Market. There are few games in this list to be introduced such as Mr. Mixit and Pyramix, Conqu-a task management tool, Muni Tracker for San Francisco’s Public transport system and Netflix Queue Manager by UnitedMindset.

    The announced updates are credited successfully with many productivity improvements according to the Adobe. Also, it is informed that these updates will enable Flash Builder 4.5 with the best practice code templates for developers along with code completion and code generation features. These additions will definitely create significant acceleration for the Flex and some more Action script applications. These things will deployed by adobe through Adobe AIR. It is expected that this AIR will support more than 200 million platforms by this year ending.

    This latest updates release from Adobe got significant influence over the Apple. Earlier Apple imposed a ban over the usage of the third-party development tools and that left many developers away from the Adobe’s Flash, Sun’s Java and Microsoft Silverlight and some more. Now, the latest updates from Adobe in the favor of iOS is lifted another special environment for developers to develop apps with more ease and comfort.

  • LG Optimus 3D Officially Launched in Europe

    Starting today, LG Optimus 3D, the 3D phone offered by LG, is available in the Old Continent’s markets. The much awaited gadget, which debuted in February at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, offers a fully 3D experience: recording, playback and the possibility to a video to all your friends.

    LG Optimus 3D also has a Tri-Dual architecture, about which, the President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company, Park Jong-Seok said the following: "We believe that the Tri-Dual architecture opens a new chapter in the performance of a smartphone”.

    What exactly the Tri-Dual technology is? The Korean company explains the unique architecture of their new smartphone during a press conference. "Unlike other smartphones – those with dual-core processors and of high speed – that are not using these technologies because of the inefficiency of the single-channel configurations, LG Optimus 3D has a dual-channel configuration, the transfer of the material can be made simultaneously between dual-core and dual-memory, resulting in a high performance.”

    In addition to the Tri-Dual architecture and the ability to record 3D videos in 720p at 30 frames per second, the smartphone has other attractive specifications: a 4.3 inch WVGA screen, HDMI 1.4 connection, a double 5-megapixel camera and will be running on Google’s Android 2.2 Froyo.

    Moreover, the owners of the tri-dimensional phone will be able to upload 3D content on the YouTube page dedicated to these types of videos.

    LG Optimus 3D has firstly been released in Europe, but it will be available in a few weeks in more than 60 other markets in the world.

    You may also want to read:
    What You Should Keep in Mind When Buying a Smartphone
    Windows Phone Will Dictate the Smartphone World Soon?
    New Mobile Malware Droid Dream Affected around 120,000 Android Users Badly

  • What You Should Keep in Mind When Buying a Smartphone

    Buying a smartphone is more difficult than it seems. Often, after you do finally purchase it, you feel like you didn’t take the best. And even if it is not so complicated it’s still a frustrating process. The guys at Business Intelligence did a survey in which they asked buyers what are they taking into account when buying a phone.

    On the 5th place came out that many of those who want to buy a new smartphone think of how difficult it’s for them to move the context from one phone to another – all the messages, pictures, calendar, settings, accounts, says one of the authors of the survey.

    He added that for doing this you need to consider the phones you use for transfer, and if you’re still in this chapter, you’d better get something to eat as it will take a while until you’ll succeed. So if you want to know more … Google it.

    In the 4th place in the top things to keep in mind is the mobile operator. This rule is valid in any country, a telephone buyer, especially when buying the phone under subscription, has to choose the operator depending on family and friends.

    The selection of applications is also a priority for consumers, so it is considered "worthy" of a 3rd place. That’s because our phone is so smart depending on how many applications we put on it. But do not forget that the Internet, which all the smart phones can access it, is the ultimate application.

    The phone features are a very important element to be considered by customers. Slider or not, battery lifetime, screen size, storage capacity or Flash support – all these are factors which consumers take into account. The leaders of this survey warn not to fall into the trap of the camera. It does not matter how many megapixels the camera has, so think efficient.

    The most important thing to consider is the platform. For the most of those surveyed it matters if the phone is running on Android, Windows Phone, Web OS, iOS – basically, the operating system dictates, in many cases, what is the best phone. The way icons are placed, how you interact with it matters a lot, because if you do not like, then you bought the phone for nothing.

    In the survey I mentioned above, surprisingly, price was not one of the most important characteristics that consumers take into account when buying a smartphone.

    Related stories:
    Nokia E6 and X7 Ready for Delivery in Europe
    ASUS PadFone – a hybrid between smartphone and tablet
    Microsoft Announces Windows Phone Mango
    The Future Smartphone Designs Presented

  • Windows Phone Will Dictate the Smartphone World Soon?

    There is a huge race among smartphones as currently Apple and Android leading this market. The prevailing interest for smartphone is making much famous research firms to conduct various researches on this market on constant basis and coming up various predictions. The latest research and results from IDC lifted a new veil for these predictions.

    This IDC research revealed that Windows Phone will pretty soon lead the market almost all over shadowing the current popular contenders Apple and Android.

    This research also started soothsaying that by 2015 the Windows Phone occupies the throne successfully. The research result said the there will be one out of five smartphones sold will result from Microsoft. Is it really necessary for Apple and Android to react to this research?

    Coming to the facts, some people really find it tough to get along with Apple’s monopoly and Android’s beyond levels flexibility as a threat. Nokia was already in huge turmoil through its recent partnership with Microsoft. Nokia is no longer looking into the further developments for their Symbian as there is no such desired sales growth for it. Perhaps, all these conditions might fuel up the growth for Windows Phone besides the huge popularity for Microsoft. Practically speaking the IDC results are going to be true until and unless Apple and Android change their approach towards their customer base.

    The recent security threat at Android Market is still warning many smartphone users and asking them to take a wise decision. Apple is still trying to control its customer base through its strong iOS and iTunes. Market is always against to the controls and all of the sudden there is chances to cut lose and start to go against to the limitations through available choices. This is clearly indicating that the Apple and Android is the people to reconsider their approach keeping in mind the possible threat.

    Above details are released by the IDC basing on their research. Just look into those jaw dropping predictions.

    There is one more vital factor to be remembered by everyone. The 2015 predictions mentioned 23.7% as Android share and in fact this is a commanding figure when compared with other contenders. But, reality is Google will not be making any thing out of this success. The Android’s major success share will goes to Oracle for its java-related patent suit issues. This is according to the Google’s acquisition agreement of Sun Microsystems in January. Microsoft too got its share in Google’s success to bite, through Android original equipment manufacturer and gets a part of share on sold out every HTC device. It is clearly indicating how the Google is going to be squeezed and what it is going to make out of its own success. This kind of squeezing might make Google to neglect from concentrating much on Android’s developments and stays happy with whatever is coming through.

    All the mentioned situations are really supporting the IDC perditions and definitely a success path started to lay down on own for Windows Phone’s future.

  • New Mobile Malware Droid Dream Affected around 120,000 Android Users Badly

    It is informed that approximately from 30,000 to 120,000 Android smartphone users are recently affected by a malware named as Droid Dream. It is believed that this malware is not a new thing and it is the same one that affected 50 applications earlier in March. According to Lookout Security, the latest malware was found in 25 and above mobile applications, which were removed earlier from Android Market by Google.

    Lookout Security also informed that this Droid Dream variant is a naked version of the original Droid Dream. This malware will be automatically active whenever user invokes the receipt of “android,intent.action.PHONE_STATE intent” like an incoming call. This is indicating that this variant doesn’t need any manual response in order get triggered into action. This malware is more malicious and requires no user actions to launch.

    The malware was seen light through a tip informed by a developer. This tip enabled security team of Lookout to verify instantly and found the malicious code which is almost as same earlier Droid Dream sample. It is identified that this malware was distributed from four different developers’ accounts. Some of apps that were affected due to this malware are below:

    Magic Photo Studio:
    • Sexy Girls: Hot Japanese.
    • Sexy Legs.
    • Hot Girls 4.
    • Beauty Breasts.
    • Sex Sound.
    • Sex Sound: Japanese.
    • HOT Girls 1.
    • HOT Girls 2.
    • HOT Girls 3.

    Mango Studio:
    • Floating Image Free
    • System Monitor
    • Super StopWatch and Timer
    • System Info Manager.

    E.T Tean:
    • Call End Vibrate.

    BeeGoo:
    • Quick Photo Grid.
    • Delete Contacts.
    • Quick Uninstaller.
    • Contact Master.
    • Brightness Settings.
    • Volume Manager.
    • Super Photo Enhance.
    • Super Color Flashlight.
    • Paint master.

    As a precautionary measure, it is suggested every Android smartphone user to consider installation of apps from trusted source and it is essential to verify the reviews and developer name. It is essential to give more concern towards the permissions that are prompted by the app during its installation process. It is also vital to observe the unusual behavior of the phone and keep the device well equipped with a mobile security app.

    The latest situations with Android Market is clearly informing all the Android smartphone users the necessity of a mobile security app. Definitely end user is suffering a lot though the situation is affecting badly the developers too. Developers are automatically kept at responsibility when their apps’ were ripped off and used for the malware distribution.

    You may also want to read:
    iOS 5 Launched at WWDC 2011, 200 New Features
    Apple Presented the iCloud Service
    Nokia E6 and X7 Ready for Delivery in Europe
    ASUS PadFone – a hybrid between smartphone and tablet

  • iOS 5 Launched at WWDC 2011, 200 New Features

    WWDC, the annual Apple conference, passed without the much awaited launch of the iPhone 5, but the company has not left their fans empty-handed, presenting, among other, the new version of the iOS 5. iOS 5 will bring over 200 new features on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch this fall, the most important being the Notification Center and the iMessage, Newsstand or PC Free systems.

    The Notification Center brings together all the notifications in one location that can be easily managed while iMessage is a redesigned messaging service that allows you to send messages, pictures or videos from all the devices running on iOS 5.

    Apple has listened to criticisms and has also launched the PC Free function, which gives iOS devices users the possibility of activating the product without a PC connection.

    With the new iOS 5 and iCloud, after you’ve entered your Apple ID, iCloud will integrate “into the cloud” all the applications, emails, contacts, photos and music, all without the need to be connected to a computer.

    iOS 5 provides Twitter integration for most applications, so you can access the tweet functions from Photos, Safari, Camera, Maps and YouTube, with a single touch.

    For the fans of magazines and newspapers, the new iOS 5 comes with Newsstand, a new way of organizing the subscriptions, more elegant and more intuitive.

    Safari has also undergone some improvements, including the Reader mode that makes easier reading the text.

    Other improvements that come along with the new iOS 5 are related to the Game Center, mail or keyboard.

    IOS 5 beta is already available for developers, and the final version will be available for free in this fall for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad and iPad 2, but also for the fourth and third generation of iPod touch.

    You may also want to read:
    Apple Presented the iCloud Service
    Nokia E6 and X7 Ready for Delivery in Europe
    ASUS PadFone – a hybrid between smartphone and tablet
    Google Wallet, Launch Followed by Trial

  • Apple Presented the iCloud Service

    Steve Jobs returned from his medical leave to present in San Francisco more novelties, including the iCloud service through which users’ files can be stored on Apple’s servers, they being able to easily access them from anywhere, using iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or other Apple products.

    Companies like Google, Amazon and Microsoft have massively promoted the cloud computing, and Apple hopes to catch them up, helped by their efficient marketing.

    “The iCloud stores your content in the cloud and wirelessly pushes it to all your devices," said Steve Jobs, who held a presentation in his style. He admitted that it’s annoying to have to synchronize with your PC order to transfer various files on them and added that iCloud is the solution because if the user buys a song from iTunes for example, it will be loaded automatically "in the cloud" and a user can easily access it via internet using any Apple device, without needing to synchronize these devices separately.

    Jobs says that iCloud was necessary because the PC is no longer the center of the "digital life", the PC drops in rank, being a simple device. He added that iCloud “is not only a hard disk in the sky", but is wanted to be "the latest great idea of us".

    iCloud is free except for an option that an iTunes version, called Match, scans and then sends into the cloud songs that users owned on their Apple devices without being bought from iTunes. Users will be able to listen to those songs anywhere, on any Apple terminal, but will have to pay an annual subscription fee of $ 25 for the privilege of listening to these songs.

    The free iCloud services include:

    • The former MobileMe services—Contacts, Calendar and Mail—all completely re-architected and rewritten to work seamlessly with iCloud. Users can share calendars with friends and family, and the ad-free push Mail account is hosted at me.com. The inbox and mailboxes are kept up-to-date across all user’s iOS devices and computers.
    • The App Store and iBookstore now download purchased iOS apps and books to all your devices, not just the device they were purchased on. In addition, the App Store and iBookstore now let you see your purchase history, and simply tapping the iCloud icon will download any apps and books to any iOS device (up to 10 devices) at no additional cost.
    • iCloud Backup automatically and securely backs up your iOS devices to iCloud daily over Wi-Fi when you charge your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Backed up content includes purchased music, apps and books, Camera Roll (photos and videos), device settings and app data. If you replace your iOS device, just enter your Apple ID and password during setup and iCloud restores your new device.
    • iCloud Storage seamlessly stores all documents created using iCloud Storage APIs, and automatically pushes them to all your devices. When you change a document on any device, iCloud automatically pushes the changes to all your devices. Apple’s Pages, Numbers and Keynote apps already take advantage of iCloud Storage. Users get up to 5GB of free storage for their mail, documents and backup—the storage for music, apps and books purchased from Apple, and the storage required by Photo Stream doesn’t count towards this 5GB total. Users will be able to buy more storage, with details announced when iCloud ships this fall.
    • iCloud’s Photo Stream service automatically uploads the photos you take or import on any of your devices and wirelessly pushes them to all your devices and computers. Photo Stream is built into the photo apps on all iOS devices, iPhoto on Macs, and saved to the Pictures folder on a PC. To save space, the last 1,000 photos are stored on each device so they can be viewed or moved to an album to save forever. Macs and PCs will store all photos from the Photo Stream, since they have more storage. iCloud will store each photo in the cloud for 30 days, which is plenty of time to connect your devices to iCloud and automatically download the latest photos from Photo Stream via Wi-Fi.
    • iTunes in the Cloud lets you download your previously purchased iTunes music to all your iOS devices at no additional cost, and new music purchases can be downloaded automatically to all your devices. In addition, music not purchased from iTunes can gain the same benefits by using iTunes Match, a service that replaces your music with a 256 kbps AAC DRM-free version if Apple can match it to the over 18 million songs in the iTunes Store, it makes the matched music available in minutes, and uploads only the small percentage of unmatched music. iTunes Match will be available this fall for a $24.99 annual fee.

    According to Apple, they are ready to ramp iCloud in its three data centers, including the third recently completed in Maiden, NC. Apple has invested over $500 million in its Maiden data center to support the expected customer demand for the free iCloud services.

    You may also want to read:
    iOS 5 Launched at WWDC 2011, 200 New Features
    ASUS to Launch Four New Tablets by the End of 2011
    Nokia E6 and X7 Ready for Delivery in Europe
    ASUS PadFone – a hybrid between smartphone and tablet

  • ASUS to Launch Four New Tablets by the End of 2011

    ASUS has recently introduced, at COMPUTEX 2011, new mobile devices such as Eee Slate, Eee Pad and recent Eee PC models. They are extending Eee’s portfolio, diversifying the range of options to users. As a single unit cannot meet the requirements of all mobile users, ASUS will launch four different pieces by the end of 2011.

    Tablet users who want a compact device for viewing and creating digital content can purchase the two ASUS models announced in early 2011: Eee Pad Transformer TF101 and Eee Pad Slider SL101. Winner of "Best Choice" and "Best Design" at COMPUTEX 2011, Transformer represents a more traditional approach to the concept of tablet, running on Android OS 3.0 ‘Honeycomb‘ 1 and 10.1-inch IPS multi-touch screen. When docking, the device turns into an ultra-portable QWERTY keyboard with 16-hour power autonomy.

    Transformer recently runs Android 3.1 – the latest version of Honeycomb, available to users through the update on May 31. FOTA update brings significant improvements in operating experience. The 3.1 version will be an important step forward for the tablet based on Android and ASUS is proud to be a market leader, taking the lead when it comes to providing the best to consumers.

    Eee Pad Slider, on the other hand, is a tablet that runs Android 3 and incorporates a QWERTY keyboard behind the 10-inch multi-touch screen.

    For users on the move, who are focusing on portability above all, ASUS created Eee Pad MeMO 3D. This 3.0 Android tablet has a 7-inch multi-touch screen which can be used in custom applications using a stylus, becoming a productive tool. MeMIC headsets in the package are perfect for music or phone calls. If turning the MeMO 3D back in "landscape", it will become a 3D display that does not require glasses, adding a new dimension to the tablets.

    Launched earlier this year, Eee Slate EP121, with 12-inch screen, is already selling well in USA and Europe. Powered by an Intel Core i5 and running on Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Eee Slate is the best tablet available at this time.

  • Nokia E6 and X7 Ready for Delivery in Europe

    The first two Nokia phones that come with Symbian Anna, Nokia E6 and Nokia X7 have been launched commercially. Fortunately, both phones will be available on the European market.

    Symbian Anna brings a better browser, faster, QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode and also new additions to Ovi Maps.

    The Nokia E6 model is the next evolutionary step in Nokia’s business line, following successful models such as Nokia E71 or Nokia E72. Nokia E6 has in its turn an elegant case, with steel and glass elements, full QWERTY keyboard and a 2.4-inch TFT LCD screen. Business functions are solid and we can mention here the access to Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Communicator Mobile and Microsoft SharePoint, applications such as QuickOffice or World Traveler and business applications on Ovi Store, such as Sale Force. Its connectivity is also excellent, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and HSDPA 9.

    The Nokia X7 distinguish itself by its superb design made of steel and glass that combines in sharp geometric shapes. Nokia X7 has a 4-inch AMOLED touch screen with a resolution of 640 x 360 and resistant glass from Gorilla Glass, an 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and HD recording and 8 GB memory, expandable to 32 GB. The phone also offers easy access to social networks, Facebook and Twitter, navigation with Ovi Maps and preinstalled HD games such as Galaxy on Fire HD and Asphalt 5 HD.

    This event comes in the same time when Nokia passes through a tough period, its shares continuing to decrease with 10, after an initial decrease of 18%, reaching the minimum value of the last 13 years.

    The company makes the transition to Microsoft software, part of a restructuring process of mobile production division, which began three months ago. The main concern of analysts is that Nokia will not be able to recover an important part of the market share even after the launching phones based on Microsoft’s software.

  • ASUS PadFone – a hybrid between smartphone and tablet

    ASUS PadFone, the latest product of the Taiwanese company, has been officially launched. PadFone, the first model of what appears to be a new class of portable devices, lures features borrowed from both smartphone and tablet.

    The tablet serves as a dock for the phone, providing an interface optimized for a larger screen of the same applications present on the phone. Being embedded in the tablet, the phone can be charged through its internal battery. Also, if it is connected to a 3G network, the tablet can also use the network to connect to the internet.

    The two devices are as one, each complementing the other. In times when the speed and the mobility are needed, the phone is the preferred device, but when it comes to productivity and media, the tablet wins.

    Among the benefits obtained by using ASUS PadFone include a significantly improved battery life and extended desktop display.

    The idea of creating two devices able not only to “discuss”, but also to integrate, represents a new concept, which opens new horizons for the technologies in this sector.

    The body of the tablet in which ASUS PadFone is housed, seems to have similar size with the ASUS Transformer tablet, but the weight is probably slightly bigger because of the carcass.

    Among the visible enhancements on the tablet include a set of stereo speakers, front camera and a 5MP camera, mounted on the back of the PadFone. Currently weren’t disclosed any technical details, but it seems that will have HDM and micro-USB ports.

    ASUS’ choice regarding the version of Android that the new PadFone will run on is currently unknown, but certainly the future Ice Cream Sandwich is among the favorites, being the first version of Android adapted for both tablets and smartphones.

    Even if it wouldn’t please everyone, ASUS PadFone may be a good compromise for those who want to enjoy the functionality of a smartphone and of a tablet, without spending an exorbitant amount of money for purchasing two separate products.