Phones

Google music service on it’s way

The Wall Street Journal reported some new details about the long-rumoured Google music service, this time with a tasty Android twist.

Google’s plan, it seems, is to launch a download service first — one that is tied to the company’s search engine — and then to progress to an online subscription service by 2011. The ultimate goal is to have a cloud-based subscription service that could stream directly to Android-based devices.
While rumours and reports about Google formally entering the music sales or subscriptions space have been ongoing for years, this time the talk might be for real. In October, Google launched its music discovery search features. At the time, we discussed its implications on the music business as a whole.

Additionally, VEVO (a partnership service between YouTube and Universal Records) has at least theoretically created better relationships between the major labels and the search giant. However, when trying to assess Google’s overall music strategy, Android appears poised to be the biggest catalyst.

Skyfire Launches Skyfire Browser 2.1 and Passes over 500,000 users on Android in first Six Weeks

Skyfire today releases version 2.1 of its Android browser. The enhancement provides increased stability as well as support for 750,000 additional websites for watching Flash video.

Since the launch of Skyfire for Android on April 29^th, Skyfire has added over 500,000 new users. In just six weeks, Skyfire activations have reached the top 0.7% among all the 65,000 apps on the Android Market.

Skyfire’s Cloud Solves Problems that Adobe Flash 10.1 Won’t
Skyfire enables Flash video from across the millions of web sites that use the popular Flash plug-in. Skyfire plays Flash video by transcoding video files into HTML5 in the cloud and optimizing them for mobile delivery. Skyfire’s cloud technology means videos play faster and smoother, with less buffering, less “stuttering”, and better battery life.

In a series of tests conducted by Skyfire, users were able to watch twice as many minutes of video per hour, and conserve 30% more battery life, when compared to native Flash 10.1 being released this week on a subset of Android phones. The vast majority of Flash video content on the internet is designed for desktop computers with high-speed connections. When it comes to mobile, this makes playback difficult, especially on crowded 3G networks. Skyfire’s cloud ensures that each video is adapted to the right bandwidth, as well as the right format to ensure hardware decoding, which saves battery and preserves video performance.

Yellowsnow revenge as iPhone 4 screen change colour

A forum poster claiming inside knowledge has explained the discolored displays on iPhone 4s as being a result of the devices being fresh out of the factory. The bonding agent (which the poster says he was involved in pitching to Apple) between the layers of glass hasn’t had time to dry yet, he says, and normal use for a couple days should clear it right up.

Obviously this solution takes time, and we’ll only know that it worked if reports start rolling in that the blotches are spontaneously disappearing. If you have a discoloured iPhone screen, keep a close eye on it and let us know if anything changes.

Apple is using a bonding agent called Organofunctional Silane Z-6011 to bond the layers of glass. Apparently, Apple (or more likely Foxconn) is shipping these products so quickly that the evaporation process is not complete. However, after one or two days of use, especially with the screen on, will complete the evaporation process and the yellow "blotches" will disappear.
How do I know? I was involved in pitching Z-6011 to Apple.

The iPhoneBook

A special applicaiton that know no bounds is the iPhone PhoneBook. On of the most simple ideas beautifully executed for kids. Check this out for the new way to blend old and new to keep the kids entertained.

iPhone 4 cases from mobilefun

With only 48 hours to go until many of us will be lucky enough to have the iPhone 4, www.mobilefun.co.uk just dropped me a line to say they have a nice selection of iPhone 4 cases. As you will see, not all are in stock but you can pre order which is to be expected with the launch of a new device.

So without me waffling on too much head on over to mobilefun and have a look at what treats they have to offer.

Posted by: James

3 iPhone 4 deal to feature unlimited tethering

Three has confirmed that it will be the last of the remaining networks to reveal its iPhone 4 deal and it looks like it could be holding an ace – free tethering! Intrepid phone sleuths have got their hands on a Three carrier update and free iPhone 4 tethering evidence is lurking within it…

iPhone 4 tethering from Vodafone will cost you £5 a month for 500MB, £10 a month for 1.5GB and £15 a month for 3GB. Orange has announced iPhone tethering bundles starting at £5 a month and will give you 3GB worth of tethering data with its £75 a month, 24-month contract. O2 hasn’t detailed its iPhone 4 tethering deals yet but currently charges for the privilege if you’re rocking an iPhone 3GS.

[Source]

Best value guide for the iPhone 4

Those of you debating which contract to go for should take a look at Engadget’s analysis of the tarrif information currently made available on O2, Orange and Vodafone. Everyone is different but should you have to pay through the nose for more messages, data of maybe the only network that gives you good service in your area.

iPhone replacements fail to materialise

Staff in O2 are facing down unhappy customers attempting to claim replacements of the iPhone 3G 8GB model under O2’s £15 per month Insure scheme. All reseller channels claim the iPhone 3G 8GB is now completely out of stock, which means O2 cannot deliver on its Insure promise of a 24-hour iPhone replacement. The run-down of stock is a part of Apple’s rebalancing of its iPhone handset portfolio across different price points with launch of the iPhone 4 this week. Some customers have faced “weeks” of waiting, claimed staff.

"I am receiving complaints on a daily basis from angry customers who are waiting for a replacement. There is simply no stock available,” said one staffer. But an O2 spokesperson said: “O2 Insure offers customers a range of policies and, while we promise to assess returned claim forms within 24 hours, sending out a phone can take longer.

“In this specific case, O2 Insure has been waiting for a supply of replacement iPhones to be delivered which has now arrived. As a result O2 Insure will be contacting all customers affected by this delay within the next couple of days to confirm what happens next.”

It is understood Apple is discontinuing the iPhone 3G 8GB, and also the 3G S 16GB and 3G S 32GB models when stocks run down. It will instead launch a 3G S 8GB model.

Apple was unavailable for comment.

Disappointed supporters send 16 million texts during and after Algeria game

England fans bemoaned the poor outcome of the World Cup match with Algeria in a blaze of text messages. Mobile has once again teamed up with Billmonitor.com, to bring you the mobile text action throughout the game.
A dismal display of inept football from England in the team¹s second game of the World Cup saw fans express their anger and dismay by sending millions of angst-filled texts during the match.
According to billmonitor.com, the new service that helps UK consumers to find the right mobile phone contract, England fans bombarded one another with 1.3 million texts at the moment Capello brought on Shaun Wright-Phillips ahead of fan’s favourite Joe Cole.

Toshiba Libretto W100 dual 7-inch display UMPC

Here is the Tosihba Libretto W100, an ultraportable notebook that is priced around $1000. Featuring a 1.2 GHz Pentium processor and 2GB of RAM, it runs Windows 7 and due out later this year. Instead of a keyboard you get the choice of six virtual keyboards including a keyboard spread out on the two screens. Check out the three videos after the break has two more parts, so check it out.