Latest Gadgets, Tablets and Smartphones
Verizon [VZ] is launching a new 4G LTE network next month. Launching the new 4G network in December fulfills a promise that the company had made earler this year.
In the beginning, there will be no compatible cell phones that can use the service, but the company will be launching 4G data cards that are compatible with the service and will then follow up early in 2011 with 4G LTE compatible handsets. [Read more…]
Apple [AAPL] just announced that the iOS 4.2 update was being launched today. Mixed within that press release were details showing that Find My iPhone was now being made a free feature and that a MobileMe subscription would no longer be required for you to track your missing iOS 4.2 device. The Find My iPhone feature is available on the iPad, iPhone 4 and 4th Gen iPod touch only and requires you are running iOS 4.2 to activate it.
The Find My iPhone (or iPad or iPod touch) feature is now free to use without a MobileMe? subscription and helps you locate your missing device.* The Find My iPhone app is a free download on the App Store? and lets users easily locate a missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. Users can even remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device to protect privacy.
Just a few weeks ago, we reported that Apple [AAPL] was working on an integrated SIM card that could potentially cut the carriers out of the buying loop. What an integrated SIM card would do is come “blank” and when the phone is first used, you get to chose from a list of carriers which one you want to join and what price plan on. This in turn would prevent the need for Orange, O2 and others from selling the phone as essentially, they wouldn’t be needed as such (other than providing a price plan of course).
It seems that Apple will not actually be going down this route any more now due to backlash from carriers. One particular carrier is believe to have said…
“Apple has long been trying to build closer and closer relationships and cut out the operators. But this time they have been sent back to the drawing board with their tails between their legs.”
The AutoBot is a car connection kit that connects up to the OBD-II port on your car. This particular port has been available on all cars built for about the last 10 years as standard.
When connected up, the AutoBot allows you to diagnose and track problems with your car as well as control various functions (if available) such as locking and unlocking doors, opening windoes as well as track with GPS where abouts your car is parked (or traveling when stolen). [Read more…]
We are no closer to knowing if the Playstation Phone from Sony Ericsson is actually real or not, but more hints that it could be made available have arrived. This time the information comes from the Sony Ericsson CEO who suggests that a new device will be launching in February of 2011.
The CEO basically said that with all the smoke around, there must be a fire in there somewhere. He then dropped a hint that a new device will be launching at Mobile World Congress this coming February. [Read more…]
Two new live wallpapers have been released for Android based smartphones. The first one is a Doom themed wallpaper that shows characters from the original Doom that launched in the 90’s. You cannot play it like the original game, but you can tap the screen to give your character powerups whilst watching him shoot the bad guys. [Read more…]
Nokia has announced the Nokia X2-01 today. The new smartphone has a QWERTY keyboard below the screen and has a 2.4 inch QVGA display.
The X2-01 keyboard has been designed for those that use a lot of email and text messages and allows a more tactile way to type when compared to a virtual keyboard. Facebook has been integrated in to the X2-01 with friends status’ showing up on the home page of the device. [Read more…]
Rovio has announced that a new version of Angry Birds will be launching for Android smartphones. This particular version will be a light weight version that can run on low powered devices such as the older T-Mobile G1.
“We are aware that a number of our fans have had trouble running the game on their devices. For example, some older and lower performance Android devices are experiencing severe performance issues. We are preparing a new solution for the next update … This does not mean lighter gameplay or a lesser amount of levels, but a game experience optimized for devices with less processing power.” Rovio Mobile
Yesterday, the Verizon [VZ] website briefly uploaded details of the HTC Merge. Android Central managed to grab a few screenshots just before Verizon took down the details.
When details of the phone were uploaded, a 360 degree view of the device was also uploaded with it. As well as capturing the image, Android Central also managed to capture the 360 degree images and put them in to a video. Check it out below… [Read more…]
The GSM Association is looking in to the idea of using embedded SIM cards in mobile phones beginning sometime in 2012. The new embedded SIM cards will be capable of being activated by software which means that one SIM card can be activated on any GSM network when the phone is purchased.
This follows on from what Apple [AAPL] is believed to be doing in their collaboration with Gemalto. Although the idea is good in some ways, ie, you don’t need to worry about a SIM card, it potentially will lead to a whole host of problems for users. [Read more…]
Microsoft [MSFT] has re-released the Kin ONE and Kin TWO. This time around, they are being called the Kin ONEm and Kin TWOm and will be launching back on the Verizon [VZ] network.
As for pricing, the Kin’s are a little cheaper with the ONEm costing $19.99 and the TWOm costing $49.99.
Full pricing details as well as tariffs can be found over at Verizon. Kin ONEm here, Kin TWOm here.
Via: Engadget
THQ, Inc. has launched the Star Wars Arcade: Falcon Gunner App for the iPhone.
Falcon Gunner brings Star Wars to your iPhone (4, 3GS only) and allows you to use the camera to create an augmented reality game. By mixing the camera with the gyroscope and compass, you get to accurately see Tie Fighters and other ships bombing around your living room. Your task is to shoot them down. [Read more…]
