Author: PhoneDog.com – Latest videos, reviews, articles, news and posts

Few people know who Martin Cooper is (even in the wireless industry), though his work is easily the most influential in the business.   Cooper invented the cell phone that we know and love (or hate), and made the first call on one in 1973.  What’s more, his name is on the “radio telephone system” patent filed in 1973.

In the piece, Cooper spoke about spectrum space and future allocation, and discussed the business changes as a whole.  I won’t tell you which phone he’s using now (yes, he talks about it in the interview), but it’s nice to see that he’s keeping up with the industry.

Check out the video below!

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Via AndroidCommunity
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Holy Benedict Arnold Batman!  Less than a week after the Motorola BACKFLIP – the first Android phone to launch with a search engine other than Google – hits the market, Motorola announces that the trend of Googleless Android phones will continue.  This should be a calculated expense for Google, having been well aware of the price of open source.

Motorola just announced a “global alliance” with Microsoft whose main purpose is to furnish all new Motorola Android devices launched in China with Bing search and maps.  It’s possible that this is the result of Google’s less than desirable relationship with China and that Motorola doesn’t want any trouble from the Chinese government, should relations with Google continue to go south.  The term “global alliance,” however, suggests that China may just be the first stop on the trip, and the press release issued by Motorola mentions that “Search and Maps capabilities through Microsoft will initially be available in China, starting in Q1 2010…”  The word ‘initially’ may be foreshadowing Microsoft and Motorola’s future plans.

Another point of interest is that with the BACKFLIP (a Motorola device, mind you), AT&T was fingered as the bad guy.  Is it just a mere coincidence that Motorola is now involved in another, incredibly similar situation?  Did Motorola steal a page from AT&T’s play book or was Motorola calling the shots all along?  There are just too many questions as to what the implications of these events may be, and I am sure the answers will come out soon enough.

How do you feel about all of this?  Mad at Motorola and Microsoft for stealing Google’s thunder?  Think it’s fair play and part of the open source game?  Read the full press release and then drop your comments in the little box below!

Motorola Announces Alliance with Microsoft for Search and Maps Services; Launching on New Smart Phones in China

Services to provide additional choice to consumers on Motorola devices powered by Android

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced a global alliance with Microsoft Corp. (NYSE: MSFT) to deploy Bing services on Motorola devices powered by Android.  This new offering, launching in China on smartphones in Q1, will provide consumers a choice when using search and map functions on their Android-based devices.

With this collaboration, consumers will enjoy a pre-loaded Bing bookmark on their mobile browser and an enhanced search widget with Bing integration.  By enabling users to customize their devices and select their own Search provider, Motorola, with help from Microsoft, is expanding the capabilities and range of services currently offered in the marketplace and opening the doors for increased personalization.

“We believe that consumer choice is one of the most critical components to ensuring a rich and seamless client experience,” said Christy Wyatt, corporate vice president of software and services, Motorola Mobile Devices. “Motorola and Microsoft have enjoyed a longstanding collaboration and the addition of Bing services to our Android-based smartphones in China is another important step in empowering our end-users.”

“Mobile devices continue to be a critical place for customers to access location-based services such as local search and mapping,” said Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president of the Online Services Division at Microsoft. “We are pleased to expand our long-standing relationship with Motorola to bring powerful Bing location-based services to Motorola’s innovative new mobile devices, providing consumers with more choice and flexibility in mobile search.”

Search and Maps capabilities through Microsoft will initially be available in China, starting in Q1 2010, through either pre-load or over-the-air updates for devices already in market.

About Motorola

Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications and is focused on advancing the way the world connects. From broadband communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility and public safety solutions to high-definition video and mobile devices, Motorola is leading the next wave of innovations that enable people, enterprises and governments to be more connected and more mobile. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) had sales of US $22 billion in 2009. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademark and product or service names are the property of their respective owners.  © 2010 Motorola, Inc.  All rights reserved.

Via Androinica, Phandroid

The gang over at Engadget have received some new information about the Android-powered Motorola i1, and in my book, they’re great improvements.  Hey, on the iDEN platform, any smartphone is nice!

First off, turns out that the i1 will pack a 5.0-megapixel camera, and not the 3-megapixel one rumored in the initial specifications.  What’s more, it has been rumored that Opera is installed on the device, lending credence to the thought that it might be the way forward in Android’s browsing future.  Could it be that third party browsers like Opera are going to become a norm on Android-powered devices (like they have been on some Windows Mobile devices)?

Via Engadget
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Just days after hearing about Verizon’s successful LTE field trials and plans to deploy LTE in 25-30 markets by the end of this year, more news has surfaced about Verizon and 4G.  In a conversation with Anthony Melone, chief technical officer at Verizon, WSJ confirms that Verizon plans to have a 4G capable phone available within six months of the LTE deployment.  As is the case with Sprint (who is already boasting 4G speeds in certain markets), Verizon will most likely launch 4G mobile broadband devices for laptops before we see a 4G phone.

Melone also mentioned that the first phones will come equipped with dual chipsets that will allow consumers to access 3G networks in the event a 4G network is not available; a good strategic plan as new technologies have a tendency for hiccups.  Unfortunately, building a 4G network is not a cheap endeavor, and Verizon will probably be looking to recoup their money in the form of tiered data plans.   Regarding unlimited data, Melone said that “as much data as you can consume is the big issue that has to change.”  He went on to say, “It’s one thing to say all you can eat is gone,” and “it’s another to have consumers worrying, ‘Can I stream this radio?’ That’s what we don’t want.”

I think we’ll be hearing a lot more about Verizon’s 4G/LTE plans as they start moving towards their goal of 25-30 markets by the end of this year.  And while it seems that data plans as we know them will probably be changing, time, competition amongst carriers, and the market as a whole will likely dictate the structure of future data plans.

Let’s hear it for advancements in technology!  Drop your comments in the box below!  

Via MobileBurn, WSJ

Remember when you were younger, and your Mother forced you to spend your Saturdays trying on clothes instead of watching cartoons?  You knew exactly what you wanted to wear – your PJ’s – but thanks to Mom, you had to go out and get normal clothes.  Keeping that in mind, I kind of symphathize for the HTC Touch Pro2.  Two days after it was trying on Ubuntu for size (instead of the stock Windows Mobile), it’s back again with Android in tow.

As with most “installations” of this nature, a few things aren’t working properly – in the Touch Pro2’s case, GPS, Bluetooth, and “other key functions.”  Despite that, the essentials (calling, messaging, browsing) are working well.  I’ve often wished that there was an Android variant of the Touch Pro2, so for those that feel the same as I do, this might be your opportunity.

Take a look at the video below, and if you feel comfortable with it, give the install a go (at your own risk, of course)!

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Via PocketNow
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The rumor mill continues to churn, but hey, it’s always fun to get additional pictures and specifications, isn’t it?  The folks at Android Forums have new information on the HTC Incredible, and I must say that it’s rather…incredible (you knew that pun was coming at least once).  According to the tips, the device will feature 512 MB RAM with about 320 MB available for consumer use.  The Snapdragon processor is said to be clocked at 768 MHz versus the stock 1 GHz configuration, but despite the underclocking, the Android 2.1-equipped device is said to be “blazing fast.”

In regards to design, a soft-touch shell with the Verizon logo seems to have replaced the glossy back seen in previous shots, though the red tones are still present.  The “blazing red” color scheme (reminiscent of the HD Mini’s yellow colors and the Motorola Q9m) will inevitably be one of those love or hate things (c’mon, it’s even covering the battery).

The gang is pegging it for an April/May release, so if the rumors hold water, we’ll see it soon.  What do you think?  Android 2.1, Sense UI, new design – all things you’d be interested in?

Via Engadget, Android Forums
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Sick of wasting paper on boarding passes?  If you’re flying with American Airlines, you can have the ticket sent to your mobile phone for scanning at the gate.

The airline began accepting mobile boarding passes in late 2008, and had been available to passengers departing from Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS), Chicago’s O’Hare International (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW), Los Angeles International (LAX), John Wayne Orange County (SNA), Las Vegas McCarran International (LAS), Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) and Minneapolis–St. Paul International (MSP) airports.  With the expansion, the program covers 27 airport locations.

New airport locations include:

-Albuquerque International (ABQ)
-Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
-Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE)
-Denver International (DEN)
-El Paso International (ELP)
-Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)
-Jacksonville International (JAX)
-Little Rock Adams Field (LIT)
-Memphis International (MEM)
-New York La Guardia (LGA)
-Oklahoma Will Rogers World (OKC)
-Orlando International (MCO)
-Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
-Salt Lake City International (SLC)
-San Antonio International (SAT)
-San Diego International (SAN)
-San Francisco International (SFO)
-Tulsa International (TUL)
-Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Setting up the option is easy.  Passengers must have an active e-mail address where their boarding pass may be sent, along with an internet-enabled smartphone where the barcode can be received.  The program can be utilized for domestic flights, including those in the United States, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Mobile coupons, mobile boarding passes – soon, it will be mobile everything!  What say you – good thing, or bad thing?

Via PhoneScoop
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Today Target launched a coupon program that will allow consumers to receive links to scannable coupons on their mobile devices.  They have developed several ways to opt-in to the program, and all Target stores across the nation will be able to scan the coupons directly from people’s phones at check-out.  I’d wager that it’s far more common to leave coupons or circulars at home than it is to leave your phone, and it seems as if Target is counting on it.

“At Target, we know that mobile phones are an integral part of our guests’ lives, and mobile coupons are just another way we’re providing convenient, on-the-go shopping solutions,” said Steve Eastman, president of Target.com.

I went to the site on my BlackBerry to try it out for myself (m.target.com) and was able to sign up for the program.  The automated system told me that I would receive my first coupon within two weeks, so unfortunately I won’t get to see first-hand what the scannable coupons look like until later.

For more information, see the press release below.  Planning on shopping at Target more often?  Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Target Launches First-Ever Scannable Mobile Coupon Program

MINNEAPOLIS (Wednesday, March 10, 2010) – Target is the first national retailer to offer a scannable mobile coupon program that allows guests to receive exclusive offers directly on their mobile phones. Coupons are redeemed by scanning a barcode on the phone at checkout.
 
“At Target, we know that mobile phones are an integral part of our guests’ lives, and mobile coupons are just another way we’re providing convenient, on-the-go shopping solutions,” said Steve Eastman, president of Target.com.
 
Guests can opt-in to the program on their PC at Target.com/mobile, on their phone at m.target.com or by texting COUPONS to 827438 (TARGET). After opt-in, guests receive a text message with a link to a mobile Web page that contains multiple offers, all accessible through a single barcode. Offers are single use and expire on the date listed.
 
Target’s point-of-sale scanning technology makes mobile coupons possible, and Target is the first major retailer with the ability to scan mobile barcodes in all of its stores. A leader in mobile retail, Target continues to offer innovative mobile solutions for guests. In addition to using the new mobile coupons, Target guests can access their Target Mobile GiftCards, view online assortments, check product availability and store locations, manage their Target gift registry and lists, browse the weekly ad, and receive text and e-mail notifications of great deals – all via their mobile phones.
 
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,740 stores in 49 states nationwide and at Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week. Target Corporation news releases are available at www.target.com.

Palm Pre Plus & webOS: A Commitment-Phobe’s Journey 

Today I am the proud owner of my first smartphone – a Palm Pre Plus.  In the past, I had openly coveted the smartphones of others and obsessed about owning one of my own, but couldn’t get passed the idea of renewing my contract.  This contract commitment phobia led to a sub-par relationship with the same basic cell phone for the past three years.  Whether you are a techie, the average user or somewhere in between, you have probably taken advantage of upgrade offers and the opportunity to get something newer and better at a low price.  Yes, I passed up at least one upgrade in those three years, but I was paralyzed by the thought of taking the bait and renewing my contract.  What if I later decided that I wanted a new carrier?  What if I upgraded just as an even better phone was set to release right around the corner?  If I was going to make the leap with my current carrier and solidify our relationship for another two years, I couldn’t waste my upgrade on a passing fad or a phone that wouldn’t live up to my expectations.  

Part of my problem was also that I couldn’t find the smartphone that held that special spark for me.  The iPhone seemed like a great option, but could I really switch to AT&T from my trusty Verizon? My fears about AT&T were readily confirmed during my family’s Christmas vacation to Walt Disney World, where we experienced AT&T’s version of the “Cell Phone Tower of Terror.”  After narrowly surviving half a day of “Can you hear me now?” moments and dropped calls on my parents’ AT&T phones, my family swapped cell phones around so that when we divided up at Disney, each group had a non-AT&T cell phone at all times.  I looked briefly at BlackBerrys, but once I tried their Web browser I found myself wanting more.  I even flirted with the idea of a Droid, but quickly decided that its masculine look and flimsy keyboard weren’t right for me.  I began to wonder whether I would ever find “the one.”  Why wasn’t there an eHarmony for smartphones that could match me with my dream phone based on our 29 dimensions of compatibility?

Then everything changed with the launch of the Palm Pre Plus and the webOS 1.4 update.  For weeks Palm had been popping as I searched for my perfect smartphone, and the release of webOS 1.4 drove home the decision to go with the Pre Plus. 

Funny, I can’t help but laugh every time I write the terms “webOS” and “webOS 1.4.” Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of either.  Truth be told, I am no techie.  I am just an individual who enjoys technology – all the extraordinary possibilities that it creates and enables – in theory, but really only utilizes it on a mainstream level.  I didn’t even realize that Palm was still a contender in the smartphone market before I came across the Pre Plus.  Very few of the stores I had been to during my search even carried Palm, and my only “experience” with a Palm was a sweet but short-lived relationship with a Palm Pilot back in 2000. 

So why the Palm Pre Plus, especially when theres so much Verizon-faithful hype surrounding the Droid and other Android-based smartphones? webOS and I have a spark between us, plain and simple (The phone’s stylish look and physical keyboard were great selling points, too).  webOS is super slick – its multitouch capabilities and ability to swipe applications in and out of view are just fun, while also smooth and practical.  It’s also very satisfying to swipe away an application that I no longer want on my screen.  Intuitive and cool – what could be better?  

Multitasking with webOS is phenomenal.  I cannot operate in just one application or screen while doing my work as an administrator for, ironically, a software company. I often will read an email that requires me take action via other programs or documents, or need to refer to an email while doing another task or two (or three).  I need to be able to move between open screens seamlessly and simultaneously, and I can do it with webOS.  An in-store demo of the previous version of webOS left me feeling like it was a little slow when opening applications.  This was frustrating and something of a deal-breaker for me.  The 1.4 update makes opening applications faster – and more satisfying since I can now see the system working on my request before my eyes. 

webOS also has an outstanding notification system.  As a part-time telecommuter and full-time stay-at-home mom of a seventeen month-old, I am not always in front of my computer, but still need to know when emails come in and things need to be done.  Instant notifications of new emails on my Pre Plus – both on-screen and via notification light – has been a life-saver.  I now know that as long as my phone is near, I can play with and take care of my daughter without missing a beat, work-wise.

The Palm Pre Plus won me over, and I am sure this is only the beginning of a great relationship.  Is my contract commitment-phobia cured?  Maybe, maybe not.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see two years from now.

Top 5 Thursdays!

From now on, every Thursday we shall give you at least one Top 5 list for your reading, commenting, and arguing-about pleasure. Hide the neighbors, tell the kids, and tweet it from your pockets: Top 5 Thursdays are here on PhoneDog.com!  

This week it’s my current Top 5 phones – that is, the Top 5 that are currently available for purchase and use in the U.S. Since I didn’t get to Barcelona for MWC this year, I haven’t hand my hands on several newly launched devices that might otherwise have made the list. The HTC Desire and Legend, Samsung Wave and i8510, Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro and a few others come to mind. Hopefully I’ll get to paw them in a few weeks at CTIA (when I go to Vegas I paw phones … isn’t that what you paw when you go to Vegas? Right, thought so.), and can hit you back a few Thursdays from now with an updated list.

But that’s all in the future. Let’s live in the moment, shall we?

 

Noah’s Top 5 Phones – March 11, 2010

1. Google Nexus One (Unlocked / T-Mobile)

 

Yes, on paper this slot would rightly go to the HTC Desire, a slightly upgraded, HTC Sense-ified Nexus One that made its debut at MWC last month and is rumored to be hitting Verizon as the “Incredible” in the coming weeks. But no matter, you can’t buy Desire in the US just yet and so Nexus One it is.

 

C’mon, it’s not like a put a slouch of a phone in the #1 slot or anything. Nexus One is easily the best Android experience I’ve had to date, even accounting for the fact that it lacks HTC’s supremely nice Sense UI. Why? Power, speed and grace. N1’s Snapdragon processor and Android 2.1 OS make a snappy duo that’s easy on the eyes and quick through app launches and menu scrolls – and it’s all the better now that Google finally gave in (or whatever) and enabled pinch-and-zoom on the stock Browser.  Put that experience on a huge, gorgeous display and build it all in a sleek, thin body with rounded corners that go easy on the hand and you’ve got the best smartphone on the market – or at least the best one you can currently buy in the US. 

 

And, oh yeah: Free turn-by-turn navigation including voice command. Crazy.

 

2. Apple iPhone 3GS (AT&T)

 

 

Nexus One may be the best smartphone around, but there’s good reason that Apple’s line of iPhones has been so popular for so long. 3GS is still dead simple, easy on the eyes, and fun to use. iPhone OS 3.x is getting long in the tooth as compared with the sophistication of Android 2.1 and webOS 1.4, and so I’m expecting big things from Apple with iPhone 4.0 this Summer. Luckily there are tons of apps to mess around with in the meantime. 

 

Lest you think I was kidding, I’m not. For all the flack the App Store gets from haters and those with legitimate reasons to criticize Apple’s approval process, it’s still pretty amazing how many fun, useful, or fun and useful pieces of software you can buy and run on an iPhone OS device. My latest find? Abvio’s Runmeter, which is shaping up to be a very worthy competitor to my beloved Runkeeper Pro. That, and Fun Mail, which isn’t new, but to which I’ve become happily re-addicted lately.

 

3. Palm Pre Plus (Verizon)

 

 

Palm’s in a bad way right now, which makes me sad because a Pre Plus running the new webOS 1.4 is a pretty seriously great device to have with you. The system update brings video recording and sharing, enhanced contacts and messaging functionality, and much needed speed and battery life improvements to Palm’s wonderfully elegant platform. Pre Plus itself is basically the device I wish Palm had initially launched on Sprint: A Pre with a Pixi’s superior keyboard grafted on to it, and double the internal flash memory to boot. 

 

webOS still lacks a desktop media sync client, an official soft QWERTY and some other goodies, and I for one think Palm really needs to break tradition and launch a thin, keyboard-less, all touch device, but the platform itself rocks. Here’s hoping Palm and their carrier partners can retool their (awful) marketing campaigns and get something to market that will really grab consumers’ attention before it’s too late. webOS is too bright a star to burn out just yet.

 

4. HTC HD2 (Coming soon to T-Mobile)

 

 

I’m cheating a tiny bit here, as the US version of the HTC HD2 won’t be available until March 24th or thereabouts. Then again I had an unlocked European HD2 in my possession long enough to fall in love with the thing. Mainly I fell in love with the hardware and the HTC Sense portion of the software – there’s a reason Microsoft won’t be supporting WinMo 6.5 much longer, after all.

 

Still, the HD2 is to me perhaps the only true superphone on the market. Nexus One is cool and all, but it’s not that wildly different from a few other devices that preceded it. HD2, on the other hand, literally blew me away with its insanely large capacitive display and sleek, chic tablet-style form factor. Not everyone will want a device this large in their pocket every day. But not everyone is from the future, either.

 

5. I Have No Idea

 

Seriously, I’m not sure what phone comes in at #5.  So here are some contenders:

 

– Motorola Droid (Verizon): Some people would rank this Numero Uno since it’s Verizon’s flagship Android device. Me, I don’t like the keyboard or the styling on the thing. But I hear ya.

 

– HTC Droid Eris (Verizon): My personal favorite Android phone save Nexus One. Droid Eris feels a wee tiny bit old compared to N1 and everything else that runs Android 2.0, but it’s still a very slick, pocketable device that runs HTC Sense.

 

– HTC Touch Pro 2 (Various): The best physical QWERTY board available on a mobile phone right now, save perhaps for the BlackBerry Bold. But is that enough to overcome the death sentence that is buying a WinMo 6.5 device right now? Touch HD2 made the list, but like I said it’s totally from the future, man.

 

– Palm Pixi (Sprint): Probably the webOS device I would carry, even though it’s specs are totally outclassed by the Pre Plus. So why would I carry it? The form factor is insanely nice, it has a pretty good physical QWERTY and it runs webOS, that’s why. Also, Pixi on Sprint is cheaper each month than Pixi Plus on Verizon.

 

– Nokia E72 (Unlocked): I flirted with Nokia’s Maemo-powered N900 for a few weeks, but it’s user interface is just to bizarre to commit to. While I have serious reservations about recommending a Symbian S60 phone to a US consumer, there’s no denying E72’s beauty and power. If you like you some business-class Symbian, you’ll love you some E72.

Demo of Nokia UI running on Symbian^3. Nokia media briefing, 3/10/10, San Francisco, CA

Oh, come on! Aren’t patent lawsuits just getting a little ridiculous now?

For the record, Noah made an excellent point that lawsuits are pretty much common operating procedure in the big old tech biz. But even so, it just seems like the litigation is coming at breakneck speed, and practically everyone is being accused of infringing on something these days.

On the hot seat this time are AT&T, LG, Motorola, Research In Motion, Samsung, Sanyo, and quite notably Apple. (I can almost hear some of your thoughts as I write this; “Ha! Serves them right!”) A Texas-based company called Smartphone Technologies alleges that the majority of these defendants violated its rights over a patent called “Personal Communications Internetworking.”

In Apple’s case, however, the accusation involves more than one patent; there are, in fact, six of them related to Bluetooth, mobile e-mail syncing, bandwidth, power conservation, single-step setup, and personal computers “providing telephone capabilities.”

Is Apple’s high-profile suit against HTC the spark that lit this powder keg? That’s tough to say. Smartphones are undeniably hot, and just like with all trending industries, the companies behind them would’ve done battle (in and out of the courtroom) regardless of whoever’s big silly, stupid stone was cast into the mainstream spotlight first.

But in case you thought that Cupertino’s defense over six measly patents seems unfair, considering the 20 it cried foul over in the HTC case, here’s an interesting factoid: Aside from this situation, Apple’s in the hot seat for 47 other patent cases, some dating back to 2009.

Clearly there’s long been a target drawn on the chest of the iPhone maker. But only time will tell if that big red bull’s eye isn’t just a little bit bigger now.

For the full rundown of the key patents in this case, hit up AppleInsider at the link below.

Via: AppleInsider

 

 

A side note about patents:

Lately, I’ve been wondering if the problem is actually with companies suing each other. Just maybe, the #Fail lies in the weaknesses in our patent laws that allow frivolous or meritless cases.

From the US Patent and Trademark Office website:

A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the Patent and Trademark Office… The right conferred by the patent grant is, in the language of the statute and of the grant itself, “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” the invention in the United States or “importing” the invention into the United States. What is granted is not the right to make, use, offer for sale, sell or import, but the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing the invention.

The site defines an invention as:

any art or process (way of doing or making things), machine, manufacture, design, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, or any variety of plant, which is or may be patentable under the patent laws of the United States.

Well that’s vague. “Art or process” doesn’t seem very well defined, which leaves several general concepts open to patenting. (I have a “way of doing” things, like serving dinner. Can I sue any restaurant that dares to serve paying customers using the same fork/spoon combo move I use?)

I’m no patent expert (and if you are, please weigh in here), but it seems like so many cases are based on pretty feeble claims. And instead of companies investing their resources in R&D, they waste precious time and money suing each other over these concepts. Then what happens? Innovation suffers. Not just because these companies distract themselves and each other with this. But because laying claim to an idea that others could actually take further might also be what’s keeping us from speeding forward. And I’m not just talking about mobile phones or consumer technology — there’s medicine, pharmaceuticals, assistive devices, automobiles… things that could drastically improve the quality of life for people.

I once stood staunchly behind the idea of, “Let no man take what is yours.” Now, in light of current patent laws, I’m really not so sure. If you sit on a good idea or concept, is it fair to prevent anyone else from bringing it forward?

Today has been a rumor-filled day for those of you who follow the Android scene.  And we like rumors, so here’s another one to tempt your palate.

BerryScoop today claimed that a reliable source informed them of Verizon’s future plans for the Droid Eris.  The source mentioned that Eris’ end of life (EOL) would be April 1st of this year and that the HTC Incredible would be launching around that same time.  Additionally, they mentioned that despite speculation of the Nexus One coming to Verizon retail stores, that this is unlikely and Verizon is viewing the Incredible as their token superphone.

Now, to make things a little more interesting, the folks at Phandroid got wind of the rumor, and seem to think it’s preposterous.

“Let’s just say I would be incredibly surprised if this actually happened and the fact that the source of this rumor is BerryScoop – a non-Android site with little proven history – I can’t say I’m very confident in the potential they nailed this rumor.”

They suggest that it doesn’t make sense for the Eris to be phased out now, as it was only released in November.  Additionally, they mention that the Eris and Incredible are two different phones for different demographics and that removing it from Verizon’s smartphone lineup would be a hindrance to the selection of phones they offer.  

Let’s not forget that all of this is just a rumor, and there’s nothing to confirm on either side as of yet.  I will say this, though – if I were in a position of power, I would put a buying freeze on all Android devices for the next few months to prevent an uproar of buyers remorse.  Sound off in the comments!

Via BerryScoop, Phandroid

PhoneDog just can’t cram every bit of analysis, in-depth coverage, and tip/trick/how-to goodness onto our home page. So we’ve built a few more home pages to hold it all.  Whether it’s Android, BlackBerry, or iPhone that makes you tick, we’ve got the goods.

Here’s what’s going on right now on PhoneDog Media’s network sites: Today’s iPhone, BBerryDog and DroidDog.

Top 10 free travel apps

Is iPhone getting “Bing’ed?”

Video: TiPs & Tricks – Map Tips

RIM’s Twitter for BlackBerry and LinkedIn coming soon!

OS 5.0.0.545 leaked for BlackBerry Bold 9700

How-To: Installing third party applications

Pershoot’s 2.6.32 Kernel (Tutorial)

Malware found on HTC Android phone – really?

Is Bravo headed for T-Mobile US?

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There’s no argument – with a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, large 4.0-inch 480 x 854 resolution display, 1 GB of internal memory, 8.1-megapixel camera with flash, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, the X10 is well-equipped.  The device also features Sony Ericsson’s UX interface above Android 1.6, offering Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking enhancements.  With an official release coming soon, an unboxing is in order – and what better than to get it directly from the manufacturer?

Check out the video below, and let me know what you think!  Is it worth waiting for, or are other Android-powered devices (Desire, Incredible, Bravo) far more exciting?

{Widget type=”youtube” id=”tOKZpvSUd4s&”}

Via PhoneArena
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Though the Brigade isn’t officially on the market just yet, a lucky member over at HowardForums has been able to score his hands on one.  This isn’t an irregular happening – as seen in cases in the past, a quick call to telesales and a bit of begging can do wonders in some cases.  The device isn’t available online just yet, but a few retail stores here and there have reported having it in stock.  Be prepared to spend $249.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and new two-year agreement.

Given the fact that the Brigade is $250 after rebates and requires a data plan, I’ll stick with my smartphone.  For those that need a workhorse, however, this might be your phone.  Anyone interested?

Via Engadget, HowardForums
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When I was working with the BlackBerry Storm2, I noticed that the lower left hand corner was noticeably harder to push than anywhere else on the unit.  At the time, I thought it was my device, but it appears that the problem was a bit more widespread than I thought.  According to a leak obtained by BerryScoop, Verizon retail stores have been directed to return their existing stock of Storm2 devices for replacements that use improved “silicone actuators.”

Once the fix is in place, it is said to “improve touchpad perfornace.”  Unfixed handsets must be out of stores by March 11th, so if you’re having issues with yours, you should be able to visit your local Verizon Wireless store and get it swapped out.  On that note, is anyone else experiencing issues with the accuracy of their Storm2?

Via Engadget, BerryScoop
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There is much speculation surrounding the CDMA version of the Nexus One, which is slated to hit Verizon by Spring 2010.  Early last week we reported that the N1 had cleared the FCC, and that sources were suggesting a March 23rd launch date (which lines up with CTIA 2010).

BGR is now reporting (and when I say reporting, I mean sharing the rumor love) that based on a few emails exchanged between “some curious customers and some rather knowledgeable [Verizon] reps,” it’s reasonable to believe that Verizon has started training employees on the N1, and in addition to being sold online by Google, it will also be sold in Verizon retail stores.

If the rumors are true (and I’m hesitant to say Google is ready to jump ship this early in the game), this is a considerable deviation from Google’s original plan to change the way consumers purchase cell phones.  On the other hand, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that in recent news, Goldman Sachs reported to WSJ that:

“Google’s initial sales figures were disappointing and that it is expecting Google to sell just 1 million Android-powered Nexus Ones this year. That’s down from the original 3.5 million in sales the firm first projected.”

If ever there was a reason to change a plan, I suppose the prospect of failing to meet forecasted sales is a good one.  Perhaps (and again this is assuming that the rumor is in fact true) this is Google’s way of offering an option that will please both consumers and shareholders, in an effort to eliminate any possible “disappointment.”

We’re not far away from the rumored Nexus One launch date; that being said, are you gearing up to make your purchase then?  Sound off in the comments!

Via BGR, MobileBurn

Our brethren over at DroidDog caught wind of an interesting and potentially exciting rumor that’s just begging to be spread (and confirmed, of course). If there was an official scale of rumors (let’s say 1-5 to make it easy), I’d have to give this rumor a two.  Wondering why?  You’ll see as you read further.

According to Andrew Kameka of Androinica, there are three separate accountings from various contacts at T-Mobile that give reason to believe the HTC Desire is coming to Magenta.  The contacts’ stories are similar in that all say their managers attended training for phones coming down the pike and they “strongly suspect that the HTC Desire was one of those devices.”  The statements are the only “facts” we have, however, it was said that the phone is “awesome and it was Android,” and that “it was all touchscreen and large.” 

What it breaks down to is that we really only know one thing (and this isn’t particularly earth shattering news in itself) – that T-Mobile will be getting another Android device in the future.  We also know that just about every carrier in the UK will be getting the Desire.  Specifically, T-Mobile UK will be launching the Desire on March 26th, and while T-Mobile UK (or any other Deutsche Telekom variant) doesn’t always carry the same phones as T-Mobile USA, we can certainly hope that the Desire will be one phone shared among siblings.   

You gotta love the rumor mill.  It may not churn out facts, but it’s the source of much hope for us phone geeks.  How would you rate this rumor on the rumor scale?  Become a statistic below!

Via DroidDog, Androinica

 

As I explained in last week’s column, I’m using the HTC Droid Eris utilizing HTC’s Sense UI with the Android operating system (currently Android version 1.5).  This week, I’ll focus on customization options with Android vs. other operating systems that I’ve used, as well as the apps and widgets that I use most with my HTC Droid Eris.

Android is the most user friendly mainstream operating system available right now in terms of its ability to customize the homescreen, especially because it allows widgets.  The Blackberry OS is probably the least customizable on the market, and in my opinion lacks the ability to capture the imagination of ordinary non-business oriented consumers.  Blackberry does not support widgets, and in fact limits the number of app shortcuts available on the default homescreen. Blackberry’s only advantages over other operating systems are the speed with which apps open and its mastery of email, which is no small feat.  Similarly, the Windows Mobile phones I’ve used offered no widget support (except for Samsung’s Touchwiz UI, which was excruciating to use on the Omnia), and default homescreen customization options were very limited.  I am very much looking forward to Microsoft’s next generation Windows Phone 7 Series in the second half of this year, however.  I really think Microsoft will be back with a vengeance to challenge Android and Apple. Palm’s webOS is very good looking, but also lacks customization options. If Palm can make some improvements in this regard and with respect to webOS’ overall speed, they could really gain respect as a viable competitor to Apple and Android.  

For the unfamiliar, here’s a brief explanation of the difference between apps and widgets. Android supports the ability to place application shortcuts on the homescreen panels so that you don’t have to search through all of your apps each time to find the one you want.  This is very similar in concept to shortcuts on a PC desktop.  When you tap an shortcut icon, the application it’s linked to opens for use.  Widgets, on the other hand, are active application interfaces that live on your homescreen panel.  They can be designed to pull data from an app, or they may be “freestanding,” without the need for any other software installed on the phone.  I love widgets because they make data available at a glance without the need to dig into full apps.  Not all apps in the Marketplace come with widgets, but many do.  

A few examples of great apps and widgets that I’ve found in the Marketplace: First, the Radiotime app is the single most exciting app that I have to tell you about. I will definitely be writing more about Radiotime in a subsequent column, but here’s a preview.  Radiotime gives me access to literally thousands of streaming radio stations throughout the country (ClearChannel Stations are available only through the iheartradio app, however) and I can easily find most any genre of music, or classification of talk radio programming, including  syndicated radio programs, at any time of the day.  I actually use the auxiliary jack in my car to listen to radio programming using my Droid Eris and Radiotime on the way to and from work.  This works so well, I plan to cancel my XM Radio subscription and use this exclusively going forward. I’m a talk radio junkie and commute at least an hour per day to and from work and am able to listen to most all of the same programming that I’ve been used to with XM Radio.  (Note: My car’s factory radio did not include an auxiliary jack or iPod adapter, but I found a great aftermarket module that gave me both, which I’d be happy to share about as well in a future column if there is interest.)

One of the most useful widgets I use is Android Agenda Widget, which places a list of my calendar entries for the current day and upcoming several days, as many as will fit within the customizable widget size option that I have chosen. It updates itself at a user-defined interval by pulling data from the calendar app.  

There are a couple of messaging apps that I use all the time.  First, the Hancent SMS app. HTC’s messaging app (which comes pre-installed on Droid Eris) is great, but not quite as good as the Handcent SMS app.  Handcent is infinitely customizable, from the ability to change the look of the app through different themes and conversation styles to the ability to enable popup notifications of new SMS and MMS messages.  The main reason I use Handcent is the popup feature.  With popups enabled, upon arrival of a new SMS text message a popup will appear that allows me to read and quickly reply to the message without having to open the app itsef (the app may be used to view older messages and threaded conversations).  I’ve disabled notifications in HTC’s messaging app and have removed its shortcut from the homescreen panel in favor of Handcent and the experience is now seamless.  Its as if Handcent came with the Eris instead of HTC’s app.

The other great messaging app is Google Talk, which is an instant messaging app that allows you to send messages to other Google Talk users without using your wireless carrier’s SMS data.  I communicate with my wife via Google Talk to avoid using up our pre-paid SMS allowance each month.  Verizon has a crappy way of charging users for sending and recieving SMS and MMS messages to other Verizon users – even to other phones on the same family share plan.  I know, you can pay $10 extra per line for unlimited SMS and MMS messages between Verizon phones, but I don’t want to have to pay that extra money if I can avoid it.  My wife and I use the $5 SMS and MMS add-on which allows 250 messages before you a $0.20 charge for every subsequent message sent or received.  My wife and I used to send and receive lots of texts, but now with Google Talk we can communicate without message length being an issue and without worrying about going over our monthly messaging allowance.

About two weeks ago, I discovered the Touiteur Twitter app and it has quickly become one of my favorite new apps.  I don’t have room to go into it now, but suffice it to say Touiteur is the best Twitter experience I’ve had on the Droid Eris to date. Maybe next time I’ll get into Touiteur and some more killer Android apps.  Let me know in the comments what your favorite apps are, and also some suggestions on what you’d like to see in future columns.