Phones

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.

Gigabyte GSmart M1220 runs 6.5

This one went under the radar at MWC 2009, but kudos to Hungarian site MobileArena for spotting it. It looks like the Gigabyte M1220 may turn out to be the second thinnest Windows Mobile device ever…beaten only by the original Motorola Q (by a mere .1 mm). The Windows Mobile 6.5-based device is running with a 528MHz CPU with 256MB ROM and 128MB RAM, plus has a full QWERTY on the front. It’s sporting a unique Flash-based user interface, but sadly does so with a 2.4" QVGA touchscreen display. Beyond that, it includes the usual goods like WiFi, HSDPA/HSUPA, aGPS, and dual cameras. It’s expected to hit Europe around September of 2009. For even more specs, check out PDAdb.net.

via Pocketnow

Hyundai watch easier to justify

Coming weeks after Orange announced they would be pushing LG’s pricey watchphone, Hyundai have produced a watchphone not priced at £1000. Read the rest of the post from PMP Today after the break.

iPhone 3.0, what to expect, maybe

If you cast your mind back to January, Macworld came and went with absolutely nothing for iPhone users to get excited about. The Apple keynote finished with Tony Bennett singing “The best is yet to come”, well hopefully on Tuesday 17th March 2009 we will, at last find out what that “Best” is.

There have been many posts over the last few days predicting what we can expect from the 3.0 Firmware and this picture above sums things up nicely. Apple have to start filling in the blanks of normal functionality, the Palm Pre which in my opinion has pushed Apple to do this, has all of these features out of the box with the exception of a changeable memory card which when you have 16 gigs of storage onboard is not really an issue anyway for iPhone users.

Start Your Windows Phone

Microsoft have a little ad knocking about at the moment that manages to actually generate a little excitement for it’s upcoming 6.5 update and the 7th incarnation due to be swinging in sometime before 2014. The video doesn’t reveal too much of the operating system (aside from the text being aligned to the left) but it’s punchy and fun, hopefully like the new OS will be. Video is after the break.

O2 to reduce iPhone 3G pricing in May

O2 is poised to tweak prices on the iPhone 3G in May, ahead of what is believed to be a new model iPhone in June or, most likely, July, Mobile Today are reporting.
The 3G iPhone will be free on its £35 and £45 per month tariffs from May. The 16GB version is currently only free on the £75 per month contract, while the 8GB handset is free only on the £75 and £45 per month deals.
Customers currently spend between £59 and £159 for an iPhone on the £35 and £45 monthly tariffs.

O2 is believed to be keen to clear its inventory of the iPhone 3G’s ahead of the new device which is similar to events last year leading up to the iPhone 3G announcement by Apple. Now all that remains to be seen is what device or devices Apple will bring us if any.

They have an event planned on the 17th March to show a preview of the 3.0 firmware for the iPhone and a new SDK(Software Development Kit) so it must be a reasonably big change a) for an official announcement and b) to require a new SDK.

Maybe Apple also plan to announce a new model or models at the same time and with competition growing especially from the Palm Pre the time is right for a refresh.

Windows Mobile 7 “not just a me-too iPhone”

An advert has been posted by Microsoft for a Principal Development Manager on the Windows Mobile 7 team and this is what Microsoft are looking for:-

Do you have a passion for the mobile space? Enjoy big challenges, working with and learning from a high-performance team? Do you want to be part of driving the next big business for the company?

Windows Mobile 7 will change the way you view your phone. We aren’t just building a me-too iPhone or RIM competitor; we’re changing the way customers use and experience their device. In the OS Platform team we are responsible for the OS, file systems, security, hardware platforms and drivers, networking & connectivity, location framework and updateability. In other words, we build the foundation upon which the rest of Windows Mobile is built.
As Development Manager for the Core System, you will have both ICs and Leads reporting to you, with a team of approximately 20 developers. As part of a matrix style organization, you will work closely in a triad with your PM and test counterparts. Specific areas of ownership include the kernel, file systems, security, loader, and device management.