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ASiQ Bluetooth Access-point for In-flight Service
Posted by Finnian Durkan Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi,
ASiQ Limited has announced the release of the world’s first bluetooth access-point for commercial airlines. According to Ron Chapman, ASiQ’s CEO, airlines will now be able to offer passengers affordable SMS, MMS, Voice-messaging and text email capabilities while in flight via their new SafeCell app. Better still, SafeCell will also eliminate GSM roaming charges since it does not require a GSM connection to deliver its services. Bluetooth access points are far more efficient than their Wi/Fi counterparts, as they operate as a Personal Area Network (PAN) and unlike Wi-Fi do not have to waste time and money logging in to the internet in order to establish a link. The SafeCell App uses file sizes that are so small even a narrow band satellite link can accommodate the SMS/MMS/text-email needs of up to 192 individual passengers. Bluetooth also operates at up to 3 megabits per second making it compatible with any current data or media plan available. Besides giving you more options to drain your battery with whilst in-flight than just playing Bejeweled II, ASiQ’s service will also enable you to completely ignore the fact that you are crammed in a glorified cigar-tube built by the lowest bidder. Hopefully. I’ll be the guy directly behind you faking trying to light his shoe on fire.
Gallery: ASiQ Bluetooth Access-point for In-flight Service
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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 Now Available at Wiredia
Posted by Finnian Durkan Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,
Today, the uber-expensive and not-so-much-better-than-anything-else-out-on-the-market-already Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 becomes available on the Wiredia website. At nearly $700 this thing had better come with the entire DVD set of StarBlazers and 42 ninja stars, or I am going to be seriously disappointed. According to the press release, you are going to be able to do everything that other smartphone users can do, plus the X2 is Skype-friendly. Is this a bonus? Who knows? All I know is that, judging by what I look like while fielding phone calls in the morning, this might end up being more of a curse than a benefit. Plus, if you think that Skype isn’t going to drain your battery faster than choosing vibrate/full volume on your settings then you probably still believe in the moon-landing too. Hippie.
Read More 
| Wiredia
Gallery: Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 Now Available at Wiredia
iPad launches April 3, pre-orders start March 12
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds,
The iPad news that a lot of you’ve been waiting for is finally here, as we now have a firm launch and pre-order start date for the Apple tablet. The iPad will be shipping from Apple for online orders, and also available at retail Apple Stores and “select Authorized Retailers” on April 3rd, which technically falls short of the “late March” timeframe. As for pre-ordering to make sure you can get one on day one, that starts on March 12. You can pre-order both the Wi-Fi-only and 3G models of the iPad online, or you can head to an Apple Store to reserve an iPad for pickup on Saturday April 3rd.
By the way, both models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.
Gallery: iPad launches April 3, pre-orders start March 12
AisleBuyer intros new mobile app - checkout lines obsolete?
Posted by Finnian Durkan Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,
To buy online, or to brave the the crowds of sharp-elbowed, pushy bargain hunters at your local Nordstrom/GAP/Barnes & Noble/Lover’s Packa—Macy’s? It is the eternal question: do you purchase from the safety and security of your own home, eschewing any ability to try on the clothes or flip through the book that you are about to purchase, or do you strap on your helmet and elbow-pads and, head down, make ready for battle at your local fashion outlet? Well, AisleBuyer is trying to make the question moot by offering the best of both worlds.
Today at the National Retail Federation Retail Innovation and Marketing Conference in San Francisco, CA AisleBuyer is offering a sneak preview of its new mobile app that promises to make waiting in line a thing of the past. When entering a store, shoppers who have iPhones and Android devices will be able to download the AisleBuyer app and use it to scan items for product information, reviews and more. When they are ready to purchase, they can checkout instantly using the same app. Shoppers can also browse online product reviews, and AisleBuyer will also provide helpful hints, such as suggestions for purchases that work with, but are not included in, their purchase (i.e. batteries or SIM Cards). Add to this the fact that you save trees by not producing a receipt and you can rest assured that children of hippies will be buying this app in droves to offset their lithium-ion battery usage… I’m looking at you, environmentally-conscious/ironic Prius-owners.
Gallery: AisleBuyer intros new mobile app - checkout lines obsolete?
JooJoo tablet shipments delayed to March 25
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Handhelds, Internet,
Well, it looks like one of the two Hail Mary-esque advantages that the JooJoo tablet had over the iPad has just gone away with the company announcing that shipments of the device will be delayed by a full month, due to a manufacturing issue. The culprit? According to Fusion Garage, makers of the JooJoo, it had to do with a defect in the 12.1-inch capacitive touchscreens. To make up for the delay, anyone who has pre-ordered a JooJoo device will also receive a free accessory. From the looks of things, it’ll be the JooJoo kickstand.
Of course, this puts the JooJoo right in iPad launch territory, which can’t bode well. But hey, there is that other distinct advantage, that being that JooJoo support Flash. Is that enough of a factor to make people choose this device over an iPad? Yeah, right.
Gallery: JooJoo tablet shipments delayed to March 25
Apple releases Family Travel iPhone ad
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software, Videos,
Apple recently changed directions just a bit with the iPhone commercials, which now feature voices of people in different roles talking about the apps they use during certain experiences. Case in point, the latest ad, titled ‘Family Travel.’ It’s got a mom talking about using various apps to check flight status, check in right on the iPHone 3GS, watch movies, and even turn off the lights at home, remotely. Good approach, wouldn’t you say?
Gallery: Apple releases Family Travel iPhone ad
What to expect from Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Video Games,
So last week when Windows Phone 7 Series was introduced to the world, one of the major bulletpoints was the fact that Xbox Live integration would be a big part of the platform, although Microsoft didn’t give too many details. That changed on during a conference call this morning, where Microsoft mobile communications chief Andy Lees gave a bit on insight on hat we can expect to see in the mobile version of Xbox Live:
“We are very excited about the way in which the platform works across screens, so we have commonality of platform across the PC, the Xbox, and the web and the phone. We provide a new set of tools that makes it easy and very fast for people to develop applications for the phone but also in a way that works across screens, and we’ll announce details of that at MIX. You’re also right to point out that a marketplace is included, and the marketplace will work for applications but also for games, so the gaming marketplace for the first time will utilize Xbox Live, and that enables you to create multiplayer, multiscreen games, and the marketplace will facilitate that, so that it will actually work across screens.”
We like it, especially that whole multiplayer, multiscreen aspect, although of course we have to see how it actually looks and feel before making final judgment. We’ll know about when Microsoft’s MIX conference kicks off next month.
Read More | TechFlash
Gallery: What to expect from Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7 22-minute definitive walkthrough
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Software, Videos,
Okay, so we’ve hit you with the Windows Phone 7 Series keynote video, which introduced the product. We also gave you the shorter Windows Phone 7 Series demo video, which just gives you a glance at the new hotness from Microsoft. We’ve got one more for you though, as Joe Belfiore, the VP of Windows Phone, as he chats with Microsoft’s Laura Foy on Channel 9. They have a conversation about the new operating system, and it’s a deep 22-minute look at what Microsoft has been cooking up to try and reclaim their mobile crown.
Read More | Channel 9
Gallery: Windows Phone 7 22-minute definitive walkthrough
Windows Phone 7 Series demo video
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Software, Videos,
So, aside from that Windows Phone 7 Series keynote video, we thought you might want a condensed version that will allow you to just take a look at what all this Windows Phone 7 fuss is all about. Microsoft took the liberty of putting together this much shorter demo video to explain. Here you can get a look at all of the design elements and decisions that have gone into Windows Phone 7, which fundamentally set it apart from other mobile operating systems on the market. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Every Windows Phone 7 device will have three physical buttons on the front: Start, Search, and Back.
- There’s a focus on productivity, simplicity, music, and gaming. Both Xbox Live and Zune are deeply integrated into Windows Phone 7.
- People hub: Pulls in live data feeds, bringing you social networking status updates and photos from services like Facebook, Twitter, and Windows Live.
- Pictures hub: Brings together picture and video assets from your phone, web, and PC, allowing you to view your entire collection.
- Games hub: Check out your Xbox Live messages, achievements, avatar, and even play some games. Achievements can be earned on the phone.
- Office hub: Access to Microsoft Office suite, including OneNote and SharePoint Workspace. Also includes new version of Outlook Mobile for email.
This is definitely the biggest step that Microsoft has taken in the mobile phone space, and they do it over three years after Apple announced the original iPhone. The competition is heating up, and we are super-excited about it.
Gallery: Windows Phone 7 Series demo video
Windows Phone 7 Series keynote video
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Software, Videos,
The big news today is the announcements of Windows Phone 7 Series over at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and Microsoft has released video of the announcement and reveal of their new mobile OS. Let it be said right now, Microsoft has essentially killed what we all know as Windows Mobile, and has replaced it with what may, in fact, be the slickest interface we’ve seen on a mobile phone. They borrowed heavily from the Zune HD navigation scheme, but made it highly polished and optimized for a device that is constantly connected to a cellular data connection. Also, it looks like that whole Xbox Live Anywhere demo that we saw at E3 a few years ago is finally coming to fruition, as Windows Phone 7 Series includes Xbox Live gaming built right in. Hit the play button on the videoafter the jump for a look at everything, but color us impressed.
Hey, Apple, the ball is in your court.
You can expect to find Windows Phone 7 Series devices in stores this holiday season.
Click to continue reading Windows Phone 7 Series keynote video
