Palm Not Switching OS from WebOS to Android
Beleaguered mobile device maker Palm, Inc’s stock may have dropped to $4 (should we buy stock?), but there is no plan to switch platforms from WebOS to Google’s Android, despite recent rumors of an internal memo suggesting CEO Jon Rubenstein is showing support for Android. If this switch does happen, it would be more of an integration of the two mobile platforms, not a replacement.
This is a relief, considering I just bought a Palm Pre Plus a few days ago, both for development use and for its MiFi feature that — for an extra monthly fee — allows me to use the phone as a mobile hotspot to connect five devices. This feature came in hand the very next day after purchase, and it’ll be a boon when I get my hands on a WiFi-only iPad soon, also for development. While I’d personally prefer to program in C++ over Java (Android), but if integrating/ switching to Android keeps Palm alive, I support the move. On the other hand, there are some other things that Palm can do to stay alive, including using some of their $500M in cash reserves for better marketing. Also, educate developers with the same massive quantity of video tutorials and college courses that Apple has been doing for the iPhone SDK. Show developers and consumers that you plan to stay with WebOS for the long haul.
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Sexy: iClooly Aluminum iPhone Stand and UBoard Monitor Stand
While browsing one of the Apple Stores in Palo Alto, CA, a couple of months ago, it struck me that despite average store size, a lot of these outlets were lacking in many ways. For example, why aren’t the Apple stores selling any good iPhone stands, given how many iPhones have been sold? I’ve been in two stores (main employee store and downtown Palo Alto) and nothing. I’ve looked at Apple’s online store and nothing there either. Then I stumbled across Pyramid Distribution’s sexy aluminum iClooly stand, and a few other computer accessories.
Sure, iClooly is nearly US$30 (25% off of $39.99 list price) but it looks worth the price. It also makes your iPhone 3G/ 3Gs sort of look like a miniature iMac. Now, if you browse their site, Pyramid does have a few less expensive stands, but even at US$17.95, they look a bit wobbly. I guess the idea with all these types of stands is to give you hands free viewing of your iPhone when you can’t touch. Though given how firmly some iPhone apps require you to touch or tap the screen, I’m not sure you can use this setup like a small touch-screen computer. One push from a finger is could possibly knock your phone over or simply push it away from you. Has anyone had any experience with this iPhone stand?
[Via Buzz Beast]
UBoard Monitor Stand
One of the reasons I was looking around for accessories was to optimize my mobile apps development lab, which involves too many laptops, computers and screens – not to mention, phones, external hard drives, USB hubs and media readers. Things are extremely crowded on my work desk, and there’s no room to add another desk to expand onto. So I’ve been looking for multi-tier monitor stands that could let me slip two laptops underneath when they’re not in use, but still allow access. There’s nothing out there that I’ve seen so far, and I ended up improvising with two wire dish rack stands from Target. They seem to work fine for now, but if you want a stylish monitor stand, Pyramid has the UBoard, which has a glass top and a built-in USB hub for either Mac or Windows computers.
From the dimensions given, you probably cannot put a Mac Mini or a Dell Zino (a bit bigger than a Mini in size, but of a similar form factor) under near the glass ledge, but you could put them on top, slide a closed laptop underneath, and setup a monitor or iMac behind the stand. Or you can put a monitor or iMac on top. The glass top does looking fragile, but specifications say that it will support up to 15kg of weight. Since a 24″ iMac is 11.3 kg (25 lbs), you have some flexibility of configuration. The only setback is the US$50 price, which is not conducive to any bootstrapping apps developer on a small budget. On the other, if you saw how flimsy my current monitor stands are, it might be worth the expense of a couple of UBoards, to prevent the loss of a monitor falling over from accidental bumping.
How have you got your mobile development lab set up? Found any innovative accessories that optimize your workspace?
As Apple Lifts Restrictions, VoIP through 3G Now Possible in the iPhone
Prior to this, VoIP through cellular networks was not possible for the iPhone. Or should say, Apple did not allow the feature. For whatever reason, you can only make VoIP calls whenever your iPhone is connected via Wi-Fi. Sudddenly, Apple realized that it’s now time to lift this restriction and allow VoIP feature through cellular networks.
As soon as Apple updated the iPhone SDK, we now have the first iPhone app to make this possible – iCall. In fact, this app will go down into history as being the first and currently the only VoIP application that uses 3G networks for the iPhone.
So, now you make unrestricted free local and long distance calling vover 3G networks using your iPhone.
iCall is already available at the Apps Store as a free download. And iCall CEO is more than happy about the release of this app and applauded Apple for lifting the restrictions.
“I applaud Apple’s decision to allow iCall to extend its functionality beyond Wi-Fi and onto the 3G networks. This heralds a new era for VoIP applications on mobile platforms, especially for iCall and our free calling model. I hope that now more developers will begin using our VoIP as a platform to integrate VoIP into their applications.”
Here’s the link to iCall iPhone App at the Apps Store.
It’s Not the iSlate but the Apple iPad, a Bigger iPod Touch
Apple’s Press Event for its “latest creation” has just ended. Finally the mystery has been unfolded. What we speculated as the Apple iSlate is now officially called – iPad. And what is it really?
Apple’s Steve Jobs describes the iPad as “our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price.” Magical and revolutionary may be too exaggerated. But the price is definitely unbelievable considering that it is an Apple product with a bigger screen than the iPod Touch but with almost the same specs and features.
Yes, that’s what the iPad is – an iPod Touch, a bigger version. An iPod Touch in steroids. Specs and features would give you a 9.7-inch IPS display, full capacitive multi-touch screen, 16GB to 64GB flash storage, Wi-Fi Bluetooth, and 3G connectivity features, accelerometer,0.5-inch thick, 1.5 lbs, 1GHz Apple A4 Chips, and 10 hours of battery life.
The iPad should run almost all of the current apps available at the iTunes Store. So, it means that it is using the same OS structure as the iPhone and iPod Touch.
As expected, it will also be an e-book reader. Apple also announced the iBooks app which is actually an e-reader application. It will be supported by major publishers and in fact, Apple has already snagged a deal with four of them including HarperColling, MacMillan, Simon and Schuster and Hatchett. E-book prices will range from $9.99 – up.
Pricing starts at $499 for the base model with 16GB storage and Wi-Fi.
So, are you happy about Apple’s latest creation? Do you plan on buying it?
Walmart to Release the Nexus One for $99
Over at Walmart’s Online site, specifically under its Wireless section, a new product page showed up announcing the Google Nexus One. While it may not be impossible for Walmart to release the Nexus One soon, what is more interesting as noted by AndroidandMe is that it may be released not only under a Verizon contract but AT&T as well.
While Google may have previously announced that it is also planning to release Nexus One under Verizon, what was not announced though is the AT&T version.
The blog post also cited another blog reporting that Walmart might offer the Nexus One for $99 under a 2-year service contract. What is not clear is whether Walmart was able to negotiate a lower price with Google , if indeed the rumor is true. As you all know, the Nexus One is available under T-Mobile for $179.
Again, these are both unofficial and does not really came from Google. Although we could not discount the fact that Google might resort to this plan to increase the Nexus One’s userbase. If indeed the $99 Nexus One is true, those who have not yet bought the phone should start hoping that Google will also reduce T-Mobile’s offering price for the phone.
So, what do you think? Will this push through or not?
Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus Land on Verizon
There you go, Verizon has finally made the Palm Pixi Plus and Palm Pre Plus available for its customers. As announced earlier, the Palm Pixi Plus and Palm Pre Plus are available for $99.99 and $149.99 respectively. Both phones require a two-year activation.
Now, here’s the best part – Verizon is offering some great deals tied up with the two phones. If you get the Palm Pre Plus, you will be entitled to get 3 phones for free. The bad news is you are only given two phone choices – the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone and the LG VX5500. You if you avail of these free three phone promo, you’d end having two phones of the same model.
The Palm Pixi is on a buy-one-take-one promo. That means you’d get two units for the price of one but would also require you another 2-year activation plan.
As a review, the Palm Pixi Plus features full QWERTY keyboard, Palm webOS, widescreen display plus all the goodies you’d normally find in most smartphones available in the market today.
The same thing goes true for the Palm Pre Plus but it has an advanced touchscreen, full keyboard display. This phone’s keyboard was built on a slide out style.
So, are you getting any of these Palm Phones? Which one are you most likely to get?
Apple Tablet News Round-Up
Since Apple’s big event is just a few days away, the anticipation over what Apple will actually announced next week continues to sizzle. The whole week, tech news aggregator Techmeme’s front page has nothing for the main news but anything about the Applet Tablet. So here we go rounding-up the latest information available, be it official or unofficial about the Apple Tablet.
First issue has something to do with the fact that the rumored Apple Tablet will help wireless capability. This is pretty obvious since Apple definitely wants to compete against the Amazon Kindle. The question is which carrier will it be supporting. Words on the streets point to both, Verizon and AT&T.
Then people are also predicting how the Apple Tablet could possibly look like. Apple Insider pointed to the closest rendering of the Apple Tablet created by Flicr user Fotoboer.nl. From what we can see from the photos, the Apple Tablet looks like a bigger iPod Touch.
iLounge joined in the fun with their own predictions, this time regarding the Apple Tablet having double dock connectors and antennas. They mentioned that these information came from reliable sources. The double dock connectors are fine but I just hope that the antennas are not true.
Apple is said to be holding talks also with several possible content partners including McGraw-Hill and Hachete Book Group. This is a very important concern that Apple must iron out, possibly before the January 27 event. If Apple is posing the Apple Tablet primarily as an e-book reader, having a content partner in tow would be a plus for the device.
Finally, how about those who are eagerly anticipating this Apple Tablet, the consumers who are actually going to buy it, what are they expecting from Apple’s new device? Retrevo has some interesting findings from a quick poll it did among selected people. Interestingly, solar charging as the main feature is what most respondent want to have on the Apple Tablet.
Interesting bits and pieces, right? Now, we should all put this into a rest for the weekend and resume the waiting game on Monday.
Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Pricing Finalized
Finally Verizon and Palm have set the pricing scheme for the soon to be released Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi smartphones. According to the blog Electronista, the Palm Pre Plus will have the same pricing as its older Sprint counterpart on Verizon, that is – $150 under a two-year Verizon plan. The Palm Pixi on the other hand will cost $100 under the same two-year Verizon data plan. But in addition, the Pixi will be offered on a buy-one-get-one deal.
In relation to the pricing schemes of the said Palm smartphones, Verizon is also offering the Palm Mobile Hotspot which uses the Palm Pre or Palm Pixi as access point. Cost of said hotspot access is at $40 and will be added to existing plans owned by users. It will also have the same 5GB transfer cap and 5 cents per MB overage fees as a stand-alone modem.
Seems like a pretty good deal, right? All you have to do now is wait for January 25 when both the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi smartphones become available on Verizon. Both smartphones will carry the latest version of Palm’s webOS which currently – version 1.3.5.1. But come February, this will updated to version 1.4 and will have video recording plus other features as enhancements.
WhiteHouse.gov Jumps into the iPhone Bandwagon
Available now for free download from the iTunes Apps Store is the White House App. This iPhone app will bring in real-time dynamic content from the WhiteHouse.gov site to the palm of your hand.
The WhiteHouse iPhone app is loaded with great features, more notable of these is of course live video streaming capability. This means that after installing this on your iPhone, you will be able to watch President Obama’s public events at the White House, visit web chats with Administration official as well as witness other official events include key speeches and press briefing.
To kick off the launch of its iPhone app, The White House iPhone app will be streaming Pres. Obama’s State of the Union address scheduled next week.
Other features of the White House iPhone app include access to the White House Blog as well as from the Briefing Room, browse behind-the-scenes photos and watch on-demand videos. The White House app gives you instant access to full videos from the most recent speeches, speeches, press briefings and other special events.
iPhone 4.0 Features Leak Out, Apple Tablet to be Named iPad?
Following last week’s rumor that Apple is also announcing iPhone 4.0 during the big event that it is holding on January 27, rumored features of the said iPhone OS started leaking out. Boy Genius Report is running some of these iPhone 4.0 features.
Some of the more promising iPhone 4.0 features include:
- multi-touch gesture OS-wide
- new ways to run apps in the background (probably referring to multitasking capability as a response to Google Nexus One’s app multitasking feature)
- changes in GUI to make navigation easier and more efficient
- iPhone OS 4.0 update will be available only for iPhone 3G and 3GS as Apple aims to make these phones smarter than they are right now
- new ability to sync contacts and calendar apps
As for the Apple Tablet that will be announced on the same event. Another rumor surfaced indicating that Apple may actually name it iPad instead of the recent speculations that it will be called the iSlate. MacRumors is citing several patent applications for the name iPad filed by Apple’s dummy corporations in various countries recently.
So, there two new juicy rumors about the January 27 Apple event that is making everybody excited right now. Whichever is true among these rumors, it will certainly rock us all once again next week.