Apple is likely to cut production of its hot-selling iPhone 3G handset by up to 40 percent during the current quarter, an analyst warned Monday, saying the expected change signals weaker demand for consumer electronics. But the prediction drew criticism from Apple observers, who said the situation isn't so grim. "That the firm's iPhone production plans are being revised lower suggests that the global macroeconomic weakness is impacting even high-end consumers, those that are more likely to buy Apple's expensive gadgets, and that no market segment will be spared in this global downturn," wrote Craig Berger, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets, an investment bank. The forecast is significantly more pessimistic than Berger's earlier prediction, announced last month, that Apple will cut its iPhone production by 10 percent. As a result of the expected production cut, Berger said key component suppliers, including Broadcom, Marvell, and Infineon, among others, will see lower revenue during the period. The pessimistic report drew flak from some Apple watchers, including Fortune's Philip Elmer-DeWitt, who panned the forecast in a blog post titled, "The Apple analyst who couldn't shoot straight." "Sounds pretty scary. But perhaps best taken with a grain of salt, given Berger's track record with Apple," he wrote. Elmer-DeWitt blasted Berger for previous calls on Apple and said he's not on a list of analysts who dialed into hear Apple's latest conference call with financial analysts. But the list Elmer-DeWitt cited, contained on a transcriptof the call prepared by SeekingAlpha, appears to list the financial analysts who asked questions during the call, and does not appear to be an exhaustive list of analysts listening to the call. Berger and Apple could not immediately reached for comment However, Apple sounded a note of caution last month when it released fiscal fourth-quarter results, citing an uncertain economic environment. "Looking ahead, visibility is low and forecasting is challenging, and as a result we are going to be prudent in predicting the December quarter," the company said in a press release.
As competition in the mobile phone market heats up, two companies with flagging momentum are teaming up to try to compete better with the market leaders. Microsoft and LG on Monday said that they plan to work closely together, collaborating on research and development, marketing, applications and services for converged mobile devices. The announcement came from Seoul, Korea, LG's base, during a trip there by Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's CEO. The collaboration is not a first for the companies. LG has already been making phones that run Windows Mobile. But the agreement could signal a stepped up effort by both companies to try to beat the competition. While LG has had some hot sellers, such as the Chocolate, it now faces challenges from new competitors Apple and Google which are generating more excitement. Google just two weeks ago introduced the first phone to run on its Android software, HTC's G1. Apple's iPhone continues to build momentum. Microsoft too has been affected by the new competitors. It has been working recently to try to position Windows Mobile, traditionally regarded as solely a business tool, as also useful for more personal applications. LG has traditionally focused on phones that would appeal most to mass market consumers. Both companies have slipped in rankings recently. A recent Gartner study showed that worldwide, Microsoft in the second quarter this year slipped into the third place among providers of smartphone operating systems, behind number one Symbian and number two ranked Research In Motion. Last year in the same quarter, Microsoft beat out RIM for the second position. A recent IDC study showed that LG during the third quarter this year slipped into the number-five position worldwide among mobile phone makers. In a statement, the companies said they expected that their agreement would create momentum and innovation in the industry.
Users of the G1 Android phone on Friday have begun receiving a software update that fixes a flaw that security researchers found earlier in the week.
The update included the fix to the browser vulnerability and a couple of other minor changes as well, said Michael Kirkland, a Google spokesman. Every user of the G1 may not have gotten the update yet but should within a short time frame, he said.
Google worked with T-Mobile USA, the only operator selling the device, to push the update out to users. The G1 went on sale last week, and T-Mobile has not disclosed how many have sold so far.
Researchers at Independent Security Evaluators revealed earlier this week that they discovered that Android, Google's open-source software that is currently only running on HTC's G1 handset, is based on outdated open-source components that do not include a fix to a previously known vulnerability.
On a Web page for ISE, Charlie Miller, Mark Daniel and Jake Honoroff wrote that they wouldn't say much about the vulnerability until Google fixes it. However, they said that Android users who visit malicious Web sites may find their sensitive information stolen. That's because an attacker could access any information the site uses, including saved passwords, information entered into a Web application form and cookies.
The researchers also said, however, that the impact of the attack is limited because of Android's security architecture. An attacker can't, for example, control functions of the phone such as the dialer.
On Friday, Miller was not available to talk about whether he had received and tested the update.
Google will reportedly add SMS sending capabilities to Gmail Chat today which will now let desktop Gmail users swap instant messages with mobile phone users via SMS protocol. Previously Gmail users could communicate to mobile phone users, but were limited to sending e-mail messages. The Official Gmail Blog hasn't announced the new SMS chat feature yet but reports indicate that SMS support in Gmail Chat will be available for all US users some time today.
When the service becomes available it will require you sign up for it through Google Labs. To do this simply go to Gmail, then Settings (upper right-hand corner of Web page) and select Labs. Simply scroll down and "enable" SMS chat.
The new feature joins a plethora of new experimental features launched this month by Google Labs. SMS in Chat, according to reports, is only available in the US.
How SMS in Chat works
To get started using the service just type a phone number in the Chat search box or search a contact by name (if you have their phone number stored) and click the "Send SMS" option.
The person receiving an SMS from Gmail's Chat will see it as coming from a 406 area code number. This pseudo-phone number will be associated with your account once you first use the feature. That 406 number now can be used for others to send you text messages that will pop up right in your Gmail Chat window.
Potentially Harmful to Your Wallet
This feature is not free. The person receiving SMS messages from you via Gmail Chat will be charged by their mobile carrier each time you hit enter in the chat window. The same applies if they reply to that message. While sending the messages from Gmail is free, at the receiving end users will pay standard text messaging rates to their wireless carrier.
SMS in Chat is a feature that differentiates Gmail from other large webmail providers such as Windows Live Mail or Yahoo! Mail, which do not have such functionality. AOL's instant messaging platform AIM does support SMS messaging in chat.
A mere week after its release, the T-Mobile G1 phone has been unlocked. The dutiful folks at the Android Community posted pictures and a YouTube video of a G1 phone functioning with an AT&T SIM card. The site also claims -- but does not illustrate or explain how -- that the code works with any network SIM card.
But if you're thinking about opening up your open-source G1, there are a few things you should know. One: the Android Community is charging $22.99 for the unlock code. Two: your Google account will no longer work on the G1. Without a functioning Google account, Gmail ceases to operate and the Android App Store becomes inaccessible.
So in the long run, is it worth $22.99 to render a Google phone Google-free? Remember: after 90 days of service, T-Mobile customers can request a SIM unlock code themselves. Or you can wait for a more sophisticated unlock code that will not restrict the G1's functionality. Also, a slew of manufacturers, including Motorola, are preparing their own Google-powered phones that may be compatible with your mobile service carrier. Right now, it doesn't seem worth your money.
Reports have Motorola announcing as soon as Thursday a big push to build new Android phones, but the more important move would be a potential plan by the handset maker to reduce the number of mobile operating systems it uses, analysts said.
On Wednesday, a Wall Street Journal report suggested that during Motorola's Thursday morning third quarter earnings call, the handset maker might unveil plans to focus development on Android and reduce the number of operating systems it uses. Android is the operating system developed by Google that first appeared just last week on the G1 phone built by HTC.
Analysts agreed that choosing to concentrate on just a few platforms would be a good change for the struggling Chicago-area company. "Over the last several years, they've had a one-off of everything," said Jack Gold, an analyst at J. Gold Associates. "If you're trying to do that it's hard to concentrate and get it right."
If Motorola is planning to back Android in a big way, that could happen at the expense of Symbian, said Gold. It doesn't make sense for Motorola to build phones long term based on both platforms, which target generally the same market, he said. Motorola might choose Android over Symbian because Symbian is likely to be unstable in the near future as it goes through its stated plan to become open source, he said. In addition, Gold is predicting that Symbian and Android might somehow merge. "It makes sense not to have multiple open operating systems," Gold said.
Motorola has a stormy history of developing iconic, cutting edge phones followed by prolonged dry spells that threaten the company's existence. Most recently, it built the wildly successful Razr, but in the four years since its launch Motorola has failed to come out with another hot seller. Phone sales for the company have plummeted, from 35 million handsets in the second quarter of 2007 to 28 million in the second quarter this year. Quarterly financial losses have accompanied the drop in sales.
Narrowing its focus could help. Motorola currently makes handsets based on Windows Mobile, Symbian and Linux in addition to several proprietary platforms for low-end phones.
Overall, the more that handset makers focus, the more likely they are to be profitable, said Bill Hughes, an analyst with In-Stat. Nokia, BlackBerry and until recently HTC, all essentially use just one operating system and they are all profitable companies, he noted. LG, Samsung and Motorola all support multiple platforms and none is profitable. "It's hard to say if that's a cause or an effect, but it's an interesting observation," Hughes said.
The analysts did not expect Motorola to support just one operating system, however. The handset maker is likely to continue making Windows Mobile phones targeted at high-end enterprise users and perhaps consolidate down to just one platform for very low-end feature phones. "But that leaves a big chunk in the middle. Android could provide focus there," Gold said.
Android is a likely choice given clear indications that Motorola is staffing up a new group to build phones based on the operating system. One recent job posting on the handset maker's Web site seeks a senior software engineer to work on an Android smartphone. The posting describes a new division within Motorola "with the mindset of a startup, executive level sponsorship and deep funding."
If Motorola does decide to focus on just a few platforms, the move will be challenging and will require a significant cultural shift, said Hughes, who worked for the giant a decade ago, although not in the handset division. Traditionally, Motorola has believed in volume, so when an operator asks the company to make a phone based on a specific operating system, the company has "culturally been unable to say no," Hughes said. "When someone says to them, 'I want to order X million units if you use this OS,' they don't have it within them to turn it down."
Reducing the number of operating systems it supports and turning away some orders would be a big undertaking, he said. "It would be something very Motorola-like to try, but whether they succeed or not... If they announce this and succeed I'll believe they have a different culture. And by the way, the last four CEOs at Motorola have come in planning to change the culture and they were unsuccessful," Hughes said.
In August, Motorola hired Sanjay Jha, a former Qualcomm executive, to serve as co-CEO of Motorola and run the handset business, which the company plans to spin off next year. He fills in for Greg Brown, president and co-CEO for Motorola, who had been temporarily running the handset business after Stu Reed quit the job in February.
Motorola declined to comment on any planned announcements regarding Android.
After several false starts, AT&T on Wednesday began sending SMS messages to iPhone owners announcing that they can now access free of charge the carrier's nation-leading Wi-Fi network of more than 17,000 hotspots.
The text messages directed customers to this page.
"AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and FREE Wi-Fi is even hotter. Which is why FREE AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available for Apple iPhone at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including Starbucks," the company said. "Users can relax and access music, email and web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their nearest location."
Of those 17,000 hotspots, more than 8000 are located in restaurants or Starbucks locations, 700+ in bookstores, and another 50+ can be found in supermarkets. The network is also accessible at 12 airports, 31 hotels, 23 universities, 18 convention centers, and 5 sport complexes.
iPhone owners can use this link to locate AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots in cafés, bookstores, airports, hotels, and universities, or this link to find their nearest Starbucks location.
Once in range of an AT&T hotspot, iPhone users should follow these instructions to gain free Wi-Fi access:
Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks
Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the Acceptable Use Policy. Tap 'continue'
You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hotspot location.
Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot
Memristor circuits lead to ultrasmall PCs. Intel and AMD unleash massively multicore CPUs. Samsung TVs respond to your every gesture. These and other developing technologies will fundamentally change the way you think about--and use--technology. The Next Big thing? The memristor, a microscopic component that can "remember" electrical states even when turned off. It's expected to be far cheaper and faster than flash storage. A theoretical concept since 1971, it has now been built in labs and is already starting to revolutionize everything we know about computing, possibly making flash memory, RAM, and even hard drives obsolete within a decade. The memristor is just one of the incredible technological advances sending shock waves through the world of computing. Other innovations in the works are more down-to-earth, but they also carry watershed significance. From the technologies that finally make paperless offices a reality to those that deliver wireless power, these advances should make your humble PC a far different beast come the turn of the decade. In the following sections, we outline the basics of 15 upcoming technologies, with predictions on what may come of them. Some are breathing down our necks; some advances are still just out of reach. And all have to be reckoned with.
Since the dawn of electronics, we've had only three types of circuit components--resistors, inductors, and capacitors. But in 1971, UC Berkeley researcher Leon Chua theorized the possibility of a fourth type of component, one that would be able to measure the flow of electric current: the memristor. Now, just 37 years later, Hewlett-Packard has built one.
What is it? As its name implies, the memristor can "remember" how much current has passed through it. And by alternating the amount of current that passes through it, a memristor can also become a one-element circuit component with unique properties. Most notably, it can save its electronic state even when the current is turned off, making it a great candidate to replace today's flash memory.
Memristors will theoretically be cheaper and far faster than flash memory, and allow far greater memory densities. They could also replace RAM chips as we know them, so that, after you turn off your computer, it will remember exactly what it was doing when you turn it back on, and return to work instantly. This lowering of cost and consolidating of components may lead to affordable, solid-state computers that fit in your pocket and run many times faster than today's PCs.
Someday the memristor could spawn a whole new type of computer, thanks to its ability to remember a range of electrical states rather than the simplistic "on" and "off" states that today's digital processors recognize. By working with a dynamic range of data states in an analog mode, memristor-based computers could be capable of far more complex tasks than just shuttling ones and zeroes around.
When is it coming? Researchers say that no real barrier prevents implementing the memristor in circuitry immediately. But it's up to the business side to push products through to commercial reality. Memristors made to replace flash memory (at a lower cost and lower power consumption) will likely appear first; HP's goal is to offer them by 2012. Beyond that, memristors will likely replace both DRAM and hard disks in the 2014-to-2016 time frame. As for memristor-based analog computers, that step may take 20-plus years.
32-Core CPUs From Intel and AMD
Photograph: Courtesy of Intel
If your CPU has only a single core, it's officially a dinosaur. In fact, quad-core computing is now commonplace; you can even get laptop computers with four cores today. But we're really just at the beginning of the core wars: Leadership in the CPU market will soon be decided by who has the most cores, not who has the fastest clock speed.
What is it? With the gigahertz race largely abandoned, both AMD and Intel are trying to pack more cores onto a die in order to continue to improve processing power and aid with multitasking operations. Miniaturizing chips further will be key to fitting these cores and other components into a limited space. Intel will roll out 32-nanometer processors (down from today's 45nm chips) in 2009.
When is it coming? Intel has been very good about sticking to its road map. A six-core CPU based on the Itanium design should be out imminently, when Intel then shifts focus to a brand-new architecture called Nehalem, to be marketed as Core i7. Core i7 will feature up to eight cores, with eight-core systems available in 2009 or 2010. (And an eight-core AMD project called Montreal is reportedly on tap for 2009.)
After that, the timeline gets fuzzy. Intel reportedly canceled a 32-core project called Keifer, slated for 2010, possibly because of its complexity (the company won't confirm this, though). That many cores requires a new way of dealing with memory; apparently you can't have 32 brains pulling out of one central pool of RAM. But we still expect cores to proliferate when the kinks are ironed out: 16 cores by 2011 or 2012 is plausible (when transistors are predicted to drop again in size to 22nm), with 32 cores by 2013 or 2014 easily within reach. Intel says "hundreds" of cores may come even farther down the line.
Nehalem and Swift Chips Spell the End of Stand-Alone Graphics Boards
When AMD purchased graphics card maker ATI, most industry observers assumed that the combined company would start working on a CPU-GPU fusion. That work is further along than you may think.
What is it? While GPUs get tons of attention, discrete graphics boards are a comparative rarity among PC owners, as 75 percent of laptop users stick with good old integrated graphics, according to Mercury Research. Among the reasons: the extra cost of a discrete graphics card, the hassle of installing one, and its drain on the battery. Putting graphics functions right on the CPU eliminates all three issues.
Chip makers expect the performance of such on-die GPUs to fall somewhere between that of today's integrated graphics and stand-alone graphics boards--but eventually, experts believe, their performance could catch up and make discrete graphics obsolete. One potential idea is to devote, say, 4 cores in a 16-core CPU to graphics processing, which could make for blistering gaming experiences.
When is it coming? Intel's soon-to-come Nehalem chip includes graphics processing within the chip package, but off of the actual CPU die. AMD's Swift (aka the Shrike platform), the first product in its Fusion line, reportedly takes the same design approach, and is also currently on tap for 2009.
Putting the GPU directly on the same die as the CPU presents challenges--heat being a major one--but that doesn't mean those issues won't be worked out. Intel's two Nehalem follow-ups, Auburndale and Havendale, both slated for late 2009, may be the first chips to put a GPU and a CPU on one die, but the company isn't saying yet.
USB 3.0 Speeds Up Performance on External Devices
The USB connector has been one of the greatest success stories in the history of computing, with more than 2 billion USB-connected devices sold to date. But in an age of terabyte hard drives, the once-cool throughput of 480 megabits per second that a USB 2.0 device can realistically provide just doesn't cut it any longer.
What is it? USB 3.0 (aka "SuperSpeed USB") promises to increase performance by a factor of 10, pushing the theoretical maximum throughput of the connector all the way up to 4.8 gigabits per second, or processing roughly the equivalent of an entire CD-R disc every second. USB 3.0 devices will use a slightly different connector, but USB 3.0 ports are expected to be backward-compatible with current USB plugs, and vice versa. USB 3.0 should also greatly enhance the power efficiency of USB devices, while increasing the juice (nearly one full amp, up from 0.1 amps) available to them. That means faster charging times for your iPod--and probably even more bizarre USB-connected gear like the toy rocket launchers and beverage coolers that have been festooning people's desks.
When is it coming? The USB 3.0 spec is nearly finished, with consumer gear now predicted to come in 2010. Meanwhile, a host of competing high-speed plugs--DisplayPort, eSATA, and HDMI--will soon become commonplace on PCs, driven largely by the onset of high-def video. Even FireWire is looking at an imminent upgrade of up to 3.2 gbps performance. The port proliferation may make for a baffling landscape on the back of a new PC, but you will at least have plenty of high-performance options for hooking up peripherals.
Wireless Power Transmission
Wireless power transmission has been a dream since the days when Nikola Tesla imagined a world studded with enormous Tesla coils. But aside from advances in recharging electric toothbrushes, wireless power has so far failed to make significant inroads into consumer-level gear.
What is it? This summer, Intel researchers demonstrated a method--based on MIT research--for throwing electricity a distance of a few feet, without wires and without any dangers to bystanders (well, none that they know about yet). Intel calls the technology a "wireless resonant energy link," and it works by sending a specific, 10-MHz signal through a coil of wire; a similar, nearby coil of wire resonates in tune with the frequency, causing electrons to flow through that coil too. Though the design is primitive, it can light up a 60-watt bulb with 70 percent efficiency.
When is it coming? Numerous obstacles remain, the first of which is that the Intel project uses alternating current. To charge gadgets, we'd have to see a direct-current version, and the size of the apparatus would have to be considerably smaller. Numerous regulatory hurdles would likely have to be cleared in commercializing such a system, and it would have to be thoroughly vetted for safety concerns.
Assuming those all go reasonably well, such receiving circuitry could be integrated into the back of your laptop screen in roughly the next six to eight years. It would then be a simple matter for your local airport or even Starbucks to embed the companion power transmitters right into the walls so you can get a quick charge without ever opening up your laptop bag.
Triple play packages of cable, internet, and land-line phones are standard fare for any cable company, but Cox is looking to shake things up. The company will add cell phone service, too -- making its offering a quadruple play. Cox is working on building its own network for cell phone usage, but initially the network will be based off of a partnership with Sprint. That means that Cox customers will have access to Sprint's 3G network. The USA Today report also indicates that Cox is also testing 4G network technologies, although there is no word on whether 4G will be ready for the 2009 launch of Cox's cell phone services. On the side of convenience, this is a huge plus. Having all of your services on one bill makes things much easier to manage. There's also the fact that Cox is planning for features such as using your cell phone to program your DVR while you are away, which would be incredibly helpful. Still, there are some possible problems with having all of your services on one bill. The more services that are on a single bill, the easier it is for a company to sneak in hidden charges. I've already seen enough hidden charges snuck onto my own cell phone bills, and it would be even harder to catch them if that same bill also had cable, internet, and land-line charges attached to it. Having all of your services come from a single company is a huge convenience, but convenience usually comes at a cost. And so far we don't know what that cost will be.
Apple is not the only one whose earnings have been buoyed by strong iPhone consumer adoption. AT&T reported its third fiscal quarter earnings on Wednesday, recording consolidated revenues of $31.3 billion, up 4.0 percent year over year. AT&T is Apple's cell service partner in the United States. AT&T said that consolidated revenue growth was driven by 15.4 percent growth in wireless revenues. The company's adjusted earnings were $0.67 per diluted share, with $0.10 of that "pressure generated by strong performance from the Apple iPhone 3G initiative." AT&T said that 2.4 million iPhone 3G devices were activated in the quarter, and that about 40 percent of those wireless customers getting an iPhone were new to AT&T. What's more, the quality of the revenue generated from iPhone users is better, according to AT&T. The company reports that Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), a financial calculation used to determine the overall value of a product, is "significantly higher" among iPhone customers, and that churn -- a term used to describe the number of customers who discontinue their service -- is lower among iPhone users. "Based on third-quarter customer response, AT&T is optimistic regarding continued strong iPhone 3G activations and is confident in the long-term value created by this investment in acquiring high-value, data-centric wireless subscribers," said the company in a statement. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/152609/att_financials_iphone.html?tk=rss_news
Google planned to announce on Tuesday that the source code for its mobile operating system, Android, is now available for anyone to use free. The move was expected, although the timing was uncertain. Developers can find the source code on the Web site for the Android Open Source Project. “An open-sourced mobile platform, that’s constantly being improved upon by the community and is available for everyone to use, speeds innovation, is an engine of economic opportunity and provides a better mobile experience for users,” said Andy Rubin, senior director of mobile platforms for Google, in a statement. The first Android phone isn’t yet on the market—the G1 goes on sale in the U.S. from T-Mobile on Wednesday. Journalists were first able to publish reviews of the G1 last week. Google expects that by making the source code for the operating system open, a wide variety of applications will appear, as will cheaper and faster phones. But Google’s model for Android has some critics. The LiMo Foundation, which publishes specifications for middleware for mobile Linux devices, and of which Google is not a member, says that Google’s model might be too open. “There’s a debate about whether Google’s approach to openness is sustainable and good for the industry,” said Andrew Shikiar, director of global marketing for the LiMo Foundation. Android will be released under the Apache license, which doesn’t require developers to share their changes to the code back with the community, he said. This is one of the reasons why some people wonder whether Android will become fragmented as various incompatible versions of the software appear in phones across the market. In the FAQ section of the site for the Open Handset Alliance, the group supporting Android, Google says that using the Apache license will let manufacturers innovate on the platform and allow them to keep those innovations proprietary as a way to differentiate their offerings. Shikiar floats a more sinister reason that he’s heard for why Google may have chosen the Apache license. “If it’s fragmented and scattered, and the only common version is the Google-optimized one, it’s good for them,” he said. That’s because the G1, which is optimized by Google, comes loaded with many Google services that can eventually bring in revenue for the search giant. If that turns out to be the best version of an Android phone, more people will use it and so, presumably, more people will be using Google apps. LiMo and Symbian, which also is going open source, each use different licenses, but both include obligations for people who change their code to share their changes, Shikiar said. Shikiar also criticized Google because he said the search giant hasn’t created any sort of governance model for the Open Handset Alliance and doesn’t publicly publish the group’s membership agreement. A governance model spells out for participating companies exactly how their intellectual property can be used by other members. Without it, members might be reluctant to contribute, he said. The OHA did not reply to questions recently posed regarding its choice of license and its governance model. Google also was not immediately able to respond to similar questions.
Symbian released a free tool on Tuesday that lets developers see how their code performs on the mobile operating system. The Symbian Analysis Workbench (SAW) is a prepackaged set of Eclipse-based tools for optimizing Symbian C++ code, according to the company, which is in the process of being acquired by Nokia. SAW has also been designed for future Symbian releases, said David Wood, Symbian's executive vice president for research. For example, SAW will show the allocation of resources across different processors for Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) versions of the Symbian OS, Wood said. SAW lets develops see trace data, or how instructions are executing on the processor, and monitor memory usage. It also has a CPU profiler, which shows which part of the application is using the most processor cycles, and a thread state reporter, which shows how threads relate to one another, Symbian said. A "target management" feature lets a developer control a device from a desktop PC. Files can be managed on the device using FTP, and commands can be executed using a TelNet agent. The tool is rolling out worldwide and will be available as part of the Symbian Developer Network, an online forum for Symbian OS development, Wood said. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/152539/.html?tk=rss_news
Motorola is clearly gearing up to enter the iPhone-killer market with its own Android-based phone. Motorola has had posted several job openings for software engineers for Google Android applications (We spotted one on Monster.com, but the post has disappeared. Click on thumbnail image below for screenshot of Monster.com ad). Motorola's commitment is sparking excitement and speculation among Android watchers. Business Week reports that the new device will feature a touchscreen about the size of the iPhone's and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and be geared toward social networking. The Moto-droid will also be cheaper than its Android competitor, T-Mobile's G-1. Both require a two-year contract, but Motorola is currently pricing its device at $150 versus the G1, which costs $180. The social networking aspects of the phone are unknown at this point, but will most likely be similar to the iPhone's Facebook and MySpace Apps, supporting such functions as sending and receiving messages, uploading photos, and viewing status updates. According to Business Week, Motorola has been shopping the device around to different carriers for the past two months showing off specs and images. Nothing has surfaced online to give us an idea of what the new phone will look like, although it will reportedly resemble Motorola's Krave ZN4 (pictured above). Motorola's new device is expected to ship between spring and early summer next year. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/152480/motorola_android_phone.html?tk=rss_news
Intel's upcoming Moorestown chip platform will include optional support for high-speed cellular data services when it hits the market in 2009 or 2010, Intel said Monday. Moorestown will be based on Lincroft, a system-on-chip that includes an Atom processor core and a memory controller hub, and a chipset called Langwell. Designed for small, handheld computers that Intel calls Mobile Internet Devices, Moorestown will offer optional support for both WiMax and HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) cellular networks. Intel is heavily pushing WiMax, which it sees as the best option for future wireless broadband services. But WiMax availability is very limited and it will take time for networks to enter commercial operation and expand their coverage areas. The addition of HSPA support to Moorestown hints that Intel recognizes that WiMax may not be extensively deployed as quickly as it would like, and users will want an alternative way of connecting wirelessly outside of Wi-Fi hotspots. This isn't the first time Intel has flirted with offering 3G (third generation telephony) support to computers. In 2007, the company shelved an agreement with Nokia to provide 3G modules for Centrino laptops, saying customer interest in the technology was lukewarm. That appears to be changing. At the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco during August, Belgium's Option showed off HSPA modules it developed for MIDs based on Intel's Atom. On Monday, Intel announced that Option and telecom equipment maker Ericsson will make low-power HSPA modules that will be offered as an option with Moorestown. Intel is making its own WiMax module for Moorestown. The module, code named Evans Peak, made an appearance at the Ceatec show in Japan during late September. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/152472/.html?tk=rss_news
T-Mobile USA will become the first company in the world to announce a mobile phone based on Google's Android OS at a New York press conference Sept. 23, the New York Times reports, citing T-Mobile. The handset was manufactured by Taiwan's High Tech Computer (HTC), the Times said. HTC representatives in Taipei declined to comment on the report. Several other Web sites are also reporting the Sept. 23 event, including Gizmodo, which is displaying what appears to be an announcement from T-Mobile. HTC has already said it is developing a mobile phone developed around Android and plans to call the handset "Dream." The handset maker may end up being first in the world to put out an Android-based mobile phone, but other companies are also developing handsets around Android, including Samsung Electronics. HTC's Google handset is just over 5-inches long and 3-inches wide, with a keypad underneath the screen that either slides out or swivels out. The aim of the keypad is for easy e-mail, note-taking and writing Web addresses. Internet navigational controls are situated below the screen on the handset. Android is an open source software platform that includes an OS and is designed to take advantage of Internet services for mobility। The software could become a potent new rival to Windows Mobile and other handset operating systems. At the launch ceremony early this year, Google announced that over 30 companies had joined the Open Handset Alliance. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/151165/.html?tk=rss_news
T-Mobile USA will become the first company in the world to announce a mobile phone based on Google's Android OS at a New York press conference Sept. 23, the New York Times reports, citing T-Mobile. The handset was manufactured by Taiwan's High Tech Computer (HTC), the Times said. HTC representatives in Taipei declined to comment on the report. Several other Web sites are also reporting the Sept. 23 event, including Gizmodo, which is displaying what appears to be an announcement from T-Mobile. HTC has already said it is developing a mobile phone developed around Android and plans to call the handset "Dream." The handset maker may end up being first in the world to put out an Android-based mobile phone, but other companies are also developing handsets around Android, including Samsung Electronics. HTC's Google handset is just over 5-inches long and 3-inches wide, with a keypad underneath the screen that either slides out or swivels out. The aim of the keypad is for easy e-mail, note-taking and writing Web addresses. Internet navigational controls are situated below the screen on the handset. Android is an open source software platform that includes an OS and is designed to take advantage of Internet services for mobility। The software could become a potent new rival to Windows Mobile and other handset operating systems. At the launch ceremony early this year, Google announced that over 30 companies had joined the Open Handset Alliance. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/151165/.html?tk=rss_news
Microsoft Corp. and Research In Motion (RIM) today announced they are working together to integrate rich Live Search capabilities into the BlackBerry® Browser and BlackBerry Maps. BlackBerry smartphone users will be able to use Microsoft Live Search as their search engine of choice within the BlackBerry Browser as well as access Live Search from Mobile.BlackBerry.com. Live Search will leverage the wireless data optimization capabilities of the BlackBerry solution to deliver results quickly while users are on the go. BlackBerry customers will also be able to use Live Search to perform contextual, location-sensitive searches or look for nearby points of interest from inside BlackBerry Maps.* “As the BlackBerry platform continues to evolve and broaden its appeal to all mobile users, RIM looks to answer our customers’ needs with a broad range of high-value solutions optimized for use with BlackBerry smartphones,” said Mark Guibert, vice president, Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. “Offering Live Search on BlackBerry smartphones extends choice for our customers and allows users to conveniently and quickly search the Internet when they are on mobile devices..........................Continue At Source Reference : http://bink.nu/news/microsoft-and-rim-to-launch-live-search-for-blackberry-smartphones.aspx
Japanese mobile phone service provider KDDI plans to start selling smartphones made by Taiwan's High Tech Computer (HTC) across Japan, the companies said Thursday. KDDI and subsidiary Okinawa Cellular will unveil the first HTC model, the E30HT, at Japan's largest electronics show, CEATEC, which runs from September 30 to October 4. Commercial sales of the E30HT will begin in the spring of next year, KDDI said. The Japanese company did not provide further details about the agreement with HTC nor how much it would sell the E30HT for. The E30HT is believed to be similar to HTC's upcoming Touch Pro, which will be launched in the U.S. by Sprint on Oct. 19. KDDI will only sell HTC smartphones made for 3G (third generation mobile telecommunications) networks। Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/150937/.html?tk=rss_news
Only six months after the launch of its Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, Microsoft Corp. announced that more than 25 phones powered by the platform are expected in market by holiday 2008 with many available today. Offering form factors ranging from touchscreens and QWERTY keyboards to dual sliders, the diverse spectrum of smartphones will be available from a wide range of device makers and mobile operators.Around the world, the open platform of Windows Mobile is best suited to meet the growing demand for smartphone experiences that are as dynamic as people’s everyday lives.“People want their phones to reflect their personality,” said Todd Peters, vice president of marketing for the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft. “With the growth we’re experiencing, people can select from an increasing number of phones, applications and services that meet their daily ...........................Continue At Source Reference : http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/sep08/09-10CTIAMobilePhonesPR.mspx
Even while new mobile operating systems continue to hit the market, experts speaking during the CTIA conference in San Francisco are anticipating a consolidation of the software. "There will be a sharp contraction in the number of platforms," said Christy Wyatt, vice president of software platforms and ecosystem for Motorola, speaking at a round-table event about open-source software in mobile on Wednesday. "We won't get to one, but maybe there will be one consistent version of Linux." For now, the LiMo Foundation and Google are separately working on incompatible Linux-based operating systems. Symbian recently announced that it is in the process of open sourcing its operating system. Some industry observers have speculated about the merging of various combinations of those open-source platforms, though spokespeople from the groups have not publicly acknowledged any discussions to that end. Even if the open-source platforms merge into one, it will join many other mobile operating systems including Microsoft's Windows Mobile, Apple's software that runs the iPhone, as well as many other proprietary operating systems running mid- to low-end phones. Which operating systems win might ultimately be decided by mobile operators, not end-users. Some operators, such as Vodafone in Europe, have said that they intend to only sell phones running two or three operating systems. For now, however, AT&T at least is selling phones running on most every available operating system and letting end-users decide which they want, said Roger Smith, director of next generation services at AT&T. The increasing number of mobile operating systems is putting a strain on the pool of application developers interested in building products for mobile devices, but some industry leaders aren't too concerned about that. Application developers will tweak their applications to work on different devices if they think that it will help them address a bigger market, said Oren Levine, a product marketing manager in Nokia's S60 group. Motorola's Wyatt agrees that the overall size of the mobile market makes it worth it for developers to port their applications across platforms. "If they port to just one handset, the volume in that one may be interesting enough," she said. As an example, she points to the iPhone, which has a relatively small portion of the market but a successful application market. Many companies are building platforms designed to let developers write an application that can run across the various mobile-phone platforms। For example, Yahoo on Wednesday said it expanded its Blueprint development platform so that developers can build an application that will run on Java, Windows Mobile and Symbian phones. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/150921/.html?tk=rss_news
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