Author Archive: Gareth

Palm Pre to be assembled by Chi Mei Communications

According to Digitimes, the Palm Pre will be manufactured by Chi Mei Communication Systems. Taiwan-based Chi Mei Communication Systems will undertake OEM production of the Palm Pre, Palm’s next-generation smartphone that will be launched soon. Chi Mei is likely to source handset FPCBs from fellow suppliers, including Career Technology, Ichia Technologies and Flexium Interconnect, with shipments expected to begin in March at the earliest, indicated the sources.

On another note, the recent Palm and Sprint Webinar is now available for your viewing pleasure although it doesn’t reveal anything that we didn’t already know. The video is after the break.

iPhone software 3.0 video walkthrough

After all the excitement of yesterdays iPhone 3.0 announcements, Engadget have got a copy of the Beta software which was released for developers and put together a walkthrough of some of the new features. Check out the video after the break and see what will be coming in the summer. Lets be honest, its an interesting video but just makes you wish it was summer already.

HTC plans three Android handsets this year

HTC has announced plans to roll out three new handsets this year using Google’s Android operating system.

Peter Chou, chief executive and co-founder of HTC, told delegates at the Merrill Lynch Technology Conference in Taipei that his company is planning to release at least three Android handsets, one of which he described as a " second-generation smartphone".

The Android-powered HTC Magic was launched at Mobile World Congress in February, and the new handsets are widely expected to become available towards the end of this year in time for the lucrative last quarter.

Chou also said that the company will produce 10 new smartphones before the year’s end.

Pocket Informant for iPhone is now available

So the highly anticipated Pocket Informant application is now available in the App Store, we have just had emailed confirmation. Full product description after the break with screenshots. From the Press Release:-

With over eight years of mobile calendaring experience, we have built simply the best personal information manager available on the iPhone. We are excited to bring Pocket Informant to the iPhone and version 1.0 is just the beginning of a much larger vision we have for this product. Take a moment to look over what we have delivered in this release and we’re just getting started.

Third time lucky

Three years on and Apple have done the unthinkable, added cut and paste to the iPhone OS. Some, as they read this, are probably thinking “thank God!” This is one addition that puts the iPhone back at the top of the heap and nearly every iPhone user will be ecstatic their Windows Mobile buddies shall ridicule  them no more.

Apple Previews Developer Beta of iPhone OS 3.0

Apple Previews Developer Beta of iPhone OS 3.0

Beta Release Provides New SDK, Over 1,000 APIs & 100 New Features

CUPERTINO, California—March 17, 2009—Apple® today previewed its iPhone™ OS 3.0 software and announced the immediate availability of a beta software release to registered developers. The iPhone OS 3.0 beta release includes an updated Software Development Kit (SDK) with over 1,000 new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) including In-App Purchases; Peer-to-Peer connections; an app interface for accessories; access to the iPod® music library; a new Maps API and Push Notifications. Apple also announced over 100 new features that will be available to iPhone and iPod touch users this summer including cut, copy and paste; MMS;* landscape view for Mail, Text and Notes; stereo Bluetooth; syncing Notes to the Mac® and PC; shake to shuffle; parental controls for TV shows, movies and apps from the App Store; and automatic login at Wi-Fi hot spots. The iPhone OS 3.0 beta release will also include a new Voice Memo app and expanded search capability for all key iPhone apps, as well as Spotlight™ search across the iPhone or iPod touch.

iPhone 3.0 details emerge

As we already expected Apple are announcing a preview of the 3.0 Software Update for the iPhone and here is a list of the added features that we will soon see:-

For consumers

Cut, Copy and Paste at last, great implementation across all applications including third party apps.

Sending of photos in email now not restricted to one at a time.

Landscape keyboard in all key applications, mail, sms, notes

MMS messaging is included but only on iPhone 3G

Forwarding of SMS messages

Search functionality in all applications like mail and even on an Exchange Server

Spotlight home screen with search

A2DP Stereo bluetooth

Notes Sync

Tethering will be built in once negotiated with Carriers

iPhone OS 3.0 will be available this Summer. A free update to all of our iPhone 3G customers. And it works on the original iPhone. Now the hardware has changed between these two devices. For instance, A2DP and MMS won’t be available on the iPhone 1st gen. It’s also available for the iPod touch… for $9.95."

For Developers

Whole new set of API’s

New api for streaming video and audio

Subscription model applications in the App Store like magazine apps and extensions to games.

Support for Peer to Peer gaming for multi play

Enable accessory developers to build apps that talk directly to the hardware like the dock connector

Developers can now do turn by turn GPS applications

Push notifications are a go but no background applications due to battery life problems

Photo courtesy of Engadget

A farewell to Palm Os

Ever wonder what a Palm OS farewell party in Hong Kong would look like? Well wonder no more… The HKPUG (Hong Kong PDA User Group) just held such a party last week and has posted some interesting photos from the event.

The group decided to host a get together in honor of the Palm OS’s recent retirement mandate. Members brought along their Palm OS devices from over the years and swapped stories and bits of data over IR. Nearly every Palm OS powered device from the Pilot 1000 to the Centro was represented and most all of them were still in good working order. Read on for a couple of more shots and checkout the full details in these HKPUG posts.

via Palm Infocenter

SBSH Calendar Touch 2.1

SBSH Mobile Software announced today the long waited update for its best selling PIM application SBSH Calendar Touch version 2.1. Following the growing demand for innovative Touch-oriented design, SBSH released today Calendar Touch 2.1 featuring a set of new market leading touch technologies: Touch Scrolling, Touch Tray Bar, and Full Screen Touch Menus. More information after the break including a promo video and for a hands on review take a look here.