News

CoPilot Live now on sale for iOS and Android

I do like a bargain and ALK are offering an Easter special: discounts on CoPilot Live.

With possible gridlock at the airports, many people will be hitting the roads this Easter weekend, particularly now that the risk of a fuel tanker strike is over (for now at least!). Although UK destinations are likely to be popular, many will be heading across to the continent to escape the sudden cold snap and to find some spring sunshine.

So what else could go wrong? Traffic chaos? Getting lost? Arguments over which way to go? How about huge roaming costs from downloading maps to your phone when abroad?

At CoPilot Live, they want to help you avoid travel problems this Easter. So they are offering some great discounts on the European map versions of our CoPilot Live Premium smartphone sat nav apps – for this weekend only.

USA to get the HTC EVO 4G LTE

Wow, what a name! The HTC EVO 4G LTE has tonight been announced in Americaland and will be available exclusively with Sprint. Here in the UK we are still way behind when it comes to LTE so I’m a little jealous of the speeds this new Android device will offer.

The new EVO is not too dissimilar to the HTC One X we now have here in the UK. Both have the same size screen and 8mp cameras but there is one big difference and that is storage.

The EVO 4G LTE packs 16gb of internal storage (One X has 32) however it also sports MicroSD support, a feature that many Smartphone users hate to be without. Why this feature is on one new flagship handset and not another baffles me but that’s just the way it is.

If you fancy checking out the full specs of the EVO 4G LTE you can do so below:

Instagram hits Android

At last it has arrived. The camera app that has been so popular with iOS users is now available for Android.

Instagram – A beautiful way to share your world. It’s fast, free and fun!

Pick from one of several gorgeous filtered effects to breathe a new life into your mobile photos. Transform everyday moments into works of art you’ll want to share with friends and family.

Share your photos in a simple photo stream with friends to see – and follow your friends’ photos with the click of a single button. Every day you open up Instagram, you’ll see new photos from your closest friends, and creative people from around the world.

Features :
– 100% free custom designed filters and borders
– Lux works its magic by making your photos more vibrant and brings out details in your photos you couldn’t see before
– Instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Foursquare (Flickr coming very soon)
– Interact with friends through giving & receiving likes and comments
– Works with Android versions 2.2 and above that support OpenGL ES 2
– Full front & back camera support
– And much much more…

 

You can find the app here.

Posted by: James

RIM launch BlackBerry Mobile Fusion

RIM has now officially released the entire BlackBerry Mobile Fusion solution, including the Universal Device Service. Similar to how BlackBerry Device Service provides a set of security and management features for BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, the Universal Device Service provides Mobile Device Management for iOS and Android based devices.

Now let’s be clear: this does not turn a random phone into a BlackBerry smartphone! BlackBerry® Enterprise Server (conveniently accessible through Mobile Fusion’s unified, web-console, Mobile Fusion Studio) pushes out 500+ IT policies to BlackBerry smartphones. This is the champagne of enterprise mobility solutions, giving organizations back-end integration and end-to-end security that only BlackBerry offers; accessed through feature rich BlackBerry smartphones in a multitude of form factors that end-users desire.

As more devices come to market, however, IT managers need to accommodate individually purchased units that come into the enterprise, whether by a sales rep deciding to expense the latest handset, a doctor bringing in their personal phone for hospital work, or a field worker getting whatever’s available on special as a replacement unit. Universal Device Service offers you – if not a champagne solution – perhaps a Cava or Prosecco. And, given how individual-liable devices are typically used, this is often quite sufficient. BlackBerry Mobile Fusion finally gives you a solution, managed from a single web-console, to deal with the influx of personal-liable devices in the enterprise and ensures that a range of suitable security mechanisms are in place.

Orange also to sell the HTC One X and One S on Thursday

We told you yesterday that T-Mobile would have the HTC One S and One X in stock on Thursday this week.

Orange will also have the devices the same day. The HTC One X will be available free on a £41 per month, 24 month plan, and the HTC One S will be free on a £36 per month, 24 month plan. Customers can register their interest for the HTC One X here and for the HTC One S here.

Our HTC One S unboxing video will be live a little later today.

Posted by: James

T-Mobile announce HTC One X and One S prices

T-Mobile have today announced that the new HTC One X and One S will be available in store, online and via telesales from next Thursday, 5 April. The HTC One X will be available free on a £41 per month, 24 month plan, and the HTC One S will be free on a £36 per month, 24 month plan.

If you are interested in taking a One Series phone with T-Mobile you can register here to keep you up to date.

Posted by: James

BlackBerry Curve 9220 specs and simulator available

After all the confusion this morning (not here though) regarding RIM and the consumer market the BlackBerry Curve 9220 that we mentioned has appeared on the BlackBerry developer blog. As well as specs there is also a simulator for devs to download in order to help them crate apps for the new low end device.

The BlackBerry 9220 will support Bluetooth® 2.1 and include the following profiles:

• Headset Profile (HSP)
• Hand Free Profile (HFP)
• Address Book Integration using AT commands or OBEX (Object Push)
• Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
• Dial-Up Networking (DUN)
• Bluetooth Stereo (A2DP / AVRCP)
• Serial Port Profile (SPP)
• Secure Simple Pairing (SSP)
• A/V Remote Control Version 1.3
• Bluetooth Message Access Profile (MAP)

RIM will continue to focus on the consumer, despite what the media is saying.

You may have seen on more than one of the main news channels today details of RIM’s earning call last night. You may also have noticed that several of these channels, including the BBC, have stated that RIM say they are going to focus on the enterprise segment of the market and not the consumer.

Whoever wrote these articles clearly didn’t listen properly to the earnings call. These claims are totally misleading. Sure, Thorsten Heins did say that the company would re-focus on core strengths, including the enterprise customer base but he certainly didn’t say that they would not continue to support the consumer market. In many parts of the world the consumer market is where Research in Motion is strongest, including here in the UK. The BlackBerry Curve 8520 has been hugely successful and continues to be.

One thing that Thorsten also said, which the bigger media channels didn’t pick up on, was that RIM would be bringing new low end devices to market within weeks. If this is the case how on earth can RIM not be focusing on the consumer!

Jim Balsillie resigns from Research in Motion

With just minutes to go until RIM’s Q4 earnings call starts some big and shocking news has hit the web.

Jim Balsillie, former Co-CEO of the Company, has resigned as a Director on the Company’s Board.
"As I complete my retirement from RIM, I’m grateful for this remarkable experience and for the opportunity to have worked with outstanding professionals who helped turn a Canadian idea into a global success," said Jim Balsillie.
"On behalf of the Board and everyone at RIM, I would like to thank Jim for his 20 years of service to RIM," said Barb Stymiest, Chair of RIM’s Board of Directors. "His energy, drive and enthusiasm helped build one of the most successful technology companies of our time."
In addition, David Yach will be retiring from his role as CTO, Software after 13 years with the Company and after 4 years with the company and following an open dialogue on the future of global operations, Jim Rowan, COO, Global Operations, has decided to pursue other interests. The Company is currently undertaking a search to hire a single COO with responsibilities to run the Company’s operations.
"RIM would like to thank David Yach and Jim Rowan for their years of service and many contributions to RIM," said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO. "We wish them well in their future pursuits."

More as we get it.

Posted by: James

Gloucestershire Police Adopt The BlackBerry Solution

We have reported a couple of times in the past about UK Police forces using the BlackBerry solution. It seems that Gloucestershire Constabulary have taken the plunge and adopted the BlackBerry in a bid to save costs and make officers more efficient out on the street.

Officers will use the phones to carry out paperwork and update logs, jobs previously carried out from the office. It comes after the force closed and put up for sale 13 of its stations in a bid to hack £18 million from its budget.

Katy Roberts, spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Police, said: “641 BlackBerry devices are being issued across the county to PCs and PCSOs working in our Local Policing Areas. The devices will give officers access to the majority of the systems used in their work, allowing them more time on patrol and less time travelling to or working within police stations. This is part of our drive to increase the number of officers working in high- visibility roles. It will also reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency, thereby cutting overall policing costs.”