The Android open mobile platform initiated by Google is one very exciting mobile operating system that I have been following. Mainly because it’s open source and the operating system core is based on Linux. I’ve recently gone to different mobile phone shops in the Philippines to check out whether Android based mobile phones are starting to appear at the shops. After my trips, I’m a bit happy and sad from what I have found. Here’s why.
This is my first week since I’ve decided to set myself up to be as mobile as possible when it comes to getting connected on the Internet. Since I like microblogging via Twitter, I’ve bought a copy of the Gravity Twitter mobile app. This week I’ve decided to find a way to use my Nokia 5800 mobile phone as a mobile 3G router. I found this mobile app called JoikuSpot. It’s basically an app that turns a wifi-equipped Symbian phone into a 3G hotspot.
This year, one of the things I’ve decided was to spend more time on this site. Realizing what this means have led me to a couple of things. One is that I should spend some time setting up my currently main mobile phone, Symbian-based Nokia 5800XM, to perform some of the tasks that I would usually do on my notebook computer.
The other thing is to get myself to use my mobile phone instead of my notebook computer to do these tasks so that I would get myself used to doing them on my mobile phone during those times I find myself without a computer at my side.
Here’s some good news for you mobile warriors who are Linux / Ubuntu fanboys as well. You can now order a Studio XPS 13 from Dell with Ubuntu pre-installed upon delivery. Dell has been really aggresive in supporting Linux and has continued to do so.
Just visit this link and choose the Ubuntu OS version that you want.
Apple’s new iPod Shuffle now has 4GB of storage for music and it got smaller the the previous generation. The new iPod shuffle looks like a USB memory stick with a clip. A couple of new features of is on the shuffle. First is VoiceOver. The new iPod shuffle now talks upon your command. It says the songs in a playlist, the song being played ….
The second new feature is that the volume and other controls aren’t on the iPod shuffle device anymore. It’s now attached to the earphones. This is great since the controls are now more easily accessible when you have the iPod shuffle in your pocket or backpack. On the other hand it’s not so great cause you won’t be able to use your favorite ordinary 3.5mm headset anymore. Hmmm, wonder if Apple would charge licensing for manufacturing the special earpieces? I hope we’re not seeing a trend here that’s going all the way to the Nano’s, iTouch and the iPhones.
I read a post by John Biggs at Crunchgear this morning about Apple’s possible new hardware. After reading all the possible scenarios I think there’s another scenario that wasn’t mentioned by John.
He has a point about OEM’s keeping their lips close so it makes you wonder why Wintek or Quanta would spill it out — unless Apple has their blessing. This will keep people wondering but not enough to hurt sales but enough to divert everyone’s attention.
Remember Amazon’s new Kindle software on the iPhone? Well if you have used a Kindle and the iPhone equivalent, what would be your first reaction? The display. It’s not as crisp as the Kindle.
So how about a very high resolution colored display that you can use to read all those books, magazines, comics and of course play music, watch videos including full HD videos on a device that’s thin, as small as a pocketbook. On top of that, it has options like maybe HSPA, Wimax but of course wifi would be built-in. Also how about 3D built-in for those games. Here’s another thought — detachable keyboard option. Price range — about the cost of a Mac Mini. Wouldn’t you wait for it if you’re planning to buy your netbook?
Even as the world is experiencing an ecomonic upheaval it looks like that the American smartphone market has experienced a considerable growth in the last quarter of 2008. According to the NPD Group fourth quarter sales survey , smartphones have almost doubled to 23 percent of the US consumer market as compared to only 12 percent in the same quarter of 2007.
Also noteworthy is that half of the smartphones now sold has touch screens and 70 percent offer QWERTY keyboards. Two thirds of the smartphones now use 3G networks as compared to only 46 percent in 2007. Apple’s iPhone, Rim’s Blackberry Storm, the Android G1 phone are some of the top gainers.
It seems Qualcomm is also one of those companies benefitting from all these. The company has just announced that it’s Board of Directors approved an annual dividend increase of 6 percent per share of common stock. This brings the annual dividend to $0.68 per share.
I’ve just read an announcement from Dell that the Mini 10 is now available for pre-order in the US. The Dell Mini 10 will be available on Dell’s web site by February 26 and shipment will start next month.
The model that’s going to be initially available is with 1GB fixed RAM (non-upgradable) and a non-standard 1024×576 screen resolution. That said, the new Dell Mini 10 is available with the either the Intel Atom Z520 and Z530, an integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam, an HDMI out port, integrated 802.11g Wi-Fi, a 3-cell 24Whr battery, 160GB 5400rpm hard drive, a 4-in-1 memory card reader.
Although the Dell Mini 10 uses the newer Atom Z5xx processor with hardware accelerated HD video capabilities, Dell said that such features will only be available on a future model of the Mini 10. Also for those of you using Ubuntu, no Ubuntu pre-installed just yet — although I doubt that will ever stop you from buying 
. The newer processor is also more power efficient at an average power rating of 220mW compared to 600mW for the currently widely used Atom N270.
Great Dell, but what I’m waiting to hear about is the upcoming Dell Adamo. Can you please get it out soon. [via Dell Announcement]
I’ve heard about mobile phones with voice recognition, handwriting recognition, face recognition, business card recognition but I have to admit this is the first time I’ve heard about wind recognition for cell phones. At first it seems a little strange as to what possible applications it can have.
Now that Valentine’s day is coming up, maybe pantech should have added a “nano fan” into the earpiece. While whispering sweet nothings to your love ones, you can blow some tingling breeze into her ears.
I’m pretty sure you can probably think of one of your own ideas. [via Akihabara News]
Imagine this, “You come into a coffee shop as a “mobile guest“, you order something. You check if you have enough electronic cash on your mobile phone. Pay for it with your cell phone using secure short range wireless communications meant for transactions.”
Qualcomm is bringing this closer to reality with it’s recently released near field communication technology embedded into certain models of it’s chipset products. Qualcomm is helping accelerate the commercial availability of mobile handsets featuring the short-range technology and is engaged with leading NFC solutions providers to develop reference designs based on the Company’s Mobile Station Modem™ (MSM™) chipsets. NFC is a short-range wireless connectivity technology operating at 13.56 MHz and transferring data at up to 424 Kbps.
NFC technology is well suited for payment, mass transit, ticketing and other similar applications requiring a quick and secure contactless exchange of data between devices that are in close proximity to each other. [via Qualcomm]
