Mercades-Benz has launched a new iPhone app. The new application allows the iPhone to communicate with mbrace and access details of the car such as it’s current location. A virtual key lets you remotely lock or unlock the car if needed.

Some of the features include the following…
• Securely lock and unlock your Mercedes-Benz vehicle doors
• Find your vehicle on a map
• Contact Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance for help
• Search for nearby Mercedes-Benz dealerships
• View your key mbrace account and vehicle information
• Contact your Mercedes-Benz dealer to conveniently schedule a service appointment or speak to a sales representative
• Call Mercedes-Benz Concierge for personalized assistance (requires mbrace PLUS subscription)
• Call Mercedes-Benz mbrace Response Center for questions regarding your mbrace account
• Call Mercedes-Benz Financial Client Care Center for account assistance
• Secure system validates user’s credentials prior to allowing access to the application
• Simple and intuitive user interfaces allow for quick and easy navigation [Read more…]

Skyfire is a browser that is capable of playing flash content on the iPhone. The way it works is that Skyfire has a cloud server which recognises content on a page is flash. The server then converts the flash to HTML 5 content on the fly (when the user wants to play flash content). The content is then streamed down to the user to view when needed.

When converting the content from Flash to HTML 5, the system is capable of compressing the file size making the content as small as 25% of the original size. [Read more…]

An insider at Verizon [VZ] has informed Engadget that the Samsung Fascinate is being prepped for launch and that it will be arriving soon.

Verizon is currently training up staff on how to use the phone. Launch kits are also currently being shipped to Verizon stores around the US. [Read more…]

Yesterday at the Apple [AAPL] special event, Steve Jobs mentioned that iOS activations were running at 230,000 new per day. He then commented that these are “new” activations and not upgrades. He then went on to say that some companies give large numbers of upgrading customers. This was an attempt to make Apple look better.

Google [GOOG] has responded by saying…

“The Android activation numbers do not include upgrades and are, in fact, only a portion of the Android devices in the market since we only include devices that have Google services.”

[Read more…]

Motorola could be launching a new handset called the Motorola XT300. A picture of the Motorola XT300 was uploaded to a Chinese Android forum called HiAPK recently.

Details of the phone show that it is Android based and runs the Android 2.1 OS. A full QWERTY keyboard is to be found on the device. The keyboard slides out of the bottom of the device in a Palm Pre style. [Read more…]

It has been confirmed that the T-Mobile G2 will run Android 2.2 when it launches. Other details also reveal that the MSM7x30 CPU to be found inside will be clocked at 800MHz rather than 1GHz.

T-Mobile are still calling it the fastest smartphone experience in America although that could be in regards to it’s fast HSPA+ network connectivity.

It could still run very fast though. If HTC opt for cutting out a lot of junk from the OS, commonly known as bloatware, it could gain an advantage over other smartphones. [Read more…]

Windows Phone 7 has now been released to manufacturing by Microsoft [MSFT]. What this means is that smartphone manufacturers can start making the hardware that will run it in preparation for launch which is expected in the middle of next month.

There are several hardware manufacturers creating hardware for Windows Phone 7 such as Samsung, HTC, LG, Dell and ASUS. It is expected that each company will release a smartphone in preparation for launch.

Although the official launch date hasn’t been revealed, there were indications that the HTC HD7 will launch on October 18 in the UK which could indicate this is also the official launch date of the new Microsoft OS. [Read more…]

At the Apple event today, a demo of a 3D engine was used to show what the iPhone and iPad is capable of. The game demo was called Epic Citadel and it is available in the app store now to download free of charge.

The app lets you roam around a very well rendered 3D city and is described as the developers as follows…

The Citadel Awaits You!

From the circus bazaar on the outskirts of the castle grounds to the mysterious cathedral at the center of town, Epic Citadel will dazzle you with a visual parade of special effects that recreates a stunning and realistic world only imagined by Epic Games, and powered by the critically acclaimed and award winning Unreal Engine 3.

Are you ready to explore the realm of the Epic Citadel and all the beautiful secrets it holds?

Epic Citadel was created using the same tools and technology used to develop high-end consoles games, now delivered for iOS devices!

[Read more…]

Apple [AAPL] announced today that iOS 4.1 is launching next week (second week of September).

iOS 4.1 is for the iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and newer generation iPod touch devices. The new iOS 4.1 fixes the slowness problems found in the iPhone 3G and brings a number of new features, or enhanced features to the iOS devices. Note that this version is not for the iPad. The iPad will get iOS 4.2 which launches in November. [Read more…]

Swype is a keyboard available for Android OS based devices that lets you draw between the characters of words to enter text on a virtual keyboard. By using the Swype system to enter text, it allows for text entry up to about 40 words per minute.

Swype is now landing on Symbian touchscreen devices and has been made compatible with several Nokia S60 5th Edition touchscreen phones which includes the Nokia 5800, Nokia 5230, Nokia X6, Nokia N97 and Nokia N97 mini. [Read more…]

Motorola has announced that the DROID 2 will be heading to Europe as the Motorola MILESTONE 2, like the Motorola DEFY, it will also be “enhanced” with MOTOBLUR. Unfortunately.

The MILESTONE 2 will launch with Android 2.2 installed which also allows for Adobe Flash 10.1 to be run in the browser. The CPU on the MILESTONE 2 is 1GHz and the device features the same slide out keyboard as the DROID 2. Essentially, it’s the same phone but branded slightly different for whatever reason.

Features of the Motorola MILESTONE 2 include the 3G mobile hotspot capabilities that allows for up to five wireless devices to connect up and share the 3G connection. [Read more…]

Motorola has announced the Motorola DEFY. The DEFY is “enhanced with MOTOBLUR” according to the press release although most people believe that MOTOBLUR should be removed. Either way, it’s an Android based smartphone that is also rugged.

Technical specs show it has a 3.7 inch high resolution touchscreen that is WVGA. A 5 megapixel camera is included that also has a flash, auto focus and digital zoom. In regards to the Android operating system, it is Android 2.1. Nothing else is really revealed about the phone in terms of technical specs although a few features are mentioned in the press release below. [Read more…]