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Touch screen BlackBerry spotted

Paul Mah — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:40:15 -0400

Photographs of the new BlackBerry Thunder Smartphone have been posted by the folks over at The Boy Genius. Rumors of this new touch screen device have been floating around for quite a while now, though this is the first time that actual photos of this elusive device have surfaced.

Though the signature convenience keys are there, the BlackBerry Thunder is a clear departure from the conventional BlackBerry, which has always featured some kind of hardware keyboard. There is also no sign of any trackball or scroll wheel, though two touch-capacitance buttons have been added to the top edge for locking the Smartphone and to interact with the built-in music player respectively.

For more on the BlackBerry Thunder:
- check out the InformationWeek article

Opera Mini 4.1 released

Dan Bowman — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:07:12 -0400

Opera Mini 4.1 has just been released. If your phone is equipped with JSR-75, it is now possible to upload and download files. As such, those users who update their blog while on the go will now find that they can upload their photos at the same time. Alternatively, you can download attachments and files onto your phone.

Another new feature is the ability to search for text on a web page. Because Opera also upgraded its servers prior to this release, you now will receive requested web pages up to 50 percent faster. Version 4.1 looks like an increasingly strong contender in the mobile phone space. It is available for download here.

For more on Opera Mini:
- check out the Ars Technica article

Live from CTIA Wireless 2008

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0400

Though it feels like we've been out here forever, we're only on day 2 of 3 here at CTIA Wireless 2008 in Las Vegas. And while we've done our best to pack today's issue full of the most important announcements, devices and software from the show, the fact of the matter is that there's just way too much to fit in one newsletter. Want to see a hands-on with Sony Ericsson's hot new XPERIA device? Want a walkthrough of HTC's booth on the show floor, where they're showcasing all of their new Windows Mobile 6.1 devices? Want to see photos from all three days' keynotes? Well, you're going to have to head to our website, where we're updating throughout the week with live CTIA coverage. And if that's not enough for you, head over to FierceWireless, the official online show daily of CTIA Wireless 2008. There's a whole lot of exciting new technology to cover and we'll be bringing it to you all week long. -Mehan

MMS starts to grow

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:59:56 -0500

There's no question that multi-media computing is growing in importance. There has been, so far, a very real question about just how well consumers were embracing MMS (multimedia messaging services) to send photos and videos to friends and family. Why do businesses care? Because, like so many other aspects of wireless and mobile computing, consumers are leading enterprise players into the future. If you've seen the value of multimedia, then the news is encouraging: Nielsen Mobile says that 41 percent of wireless customers (or approximately 97 million users) had signed up for MMS by the end of June, 2007. The MMS market in North America is now second only to China in the total number of MMS users--and that means business mobile IT folks should be looking at how they're going to use and market the MMS functions in their mobile wireless fleet.

For more on MMS wireless:
- Read the service news at WirelessWeek

Live from CTIA IT

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 06:59:59 -0400

We're here in sunny San Francisco, soaking up some rays and getting ready for CTIA IT. Things are just getting started now, so be sure to check out our CTIA Live website for live coverage and photos from the show floor. If smartphones and enterprise mobility are your thing, you might also want to hit up DailyTechRag, where we'll be covering all of CTIA IT's hottest gizmos throughout the week. There's sure to be a whole lot of exciting announcements this week, so be sure to check back as the show heats up! -Mehan

Palm Treo 500 runs Windows Mobile

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:59:57 -0400

It's been a while since we felt shocked by a Treo running Windows, but the latest offering provides evidence that people can still be impressed by a low-cost smartphone from Palm. That, at least, seems to be the hope of Palm and its provider partners. The new Treo 500 looks to be a Windows Mobile device with no touch screen and 3G network support, leading some to point to a consumer-market focus for the new device. Time (and more partners) will tell.

For more on the new Palm smartphone:
- see this DailyTechRag article
- and these photos of the new device

The day the world changed

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 20:01:39 -0400

The day the world changed

Do you think you'll tell your children where you were at 6 p.m. EDT Friday night? Yeah, me neither. It has been interesting, though, watching the hype and response for Apple's iPhone. When you sort it all out, the thing everyone seems to agree on is that the next wave of smart phones will bear the stamp of the iPhone in their feature sets and usability. I think the result will be good, because we'll see far more capable mobile devices in the future. I also think that, as the population of cell-phone users increases, it will be up to IT departments to lead the way in teaching proper use of cell phones in public. No one wants to see their company name attached to a bad driver or a rude caller, so it's time to get to work. -Curtis

P.S. Friday marked the launch of Apple's new iPhone. FierceWireless was on hand to cover the madness that was the iPhone launch in Washington D.C., so be sure to check out their liveblog (now updated with photos). Wondering how the iPhone stacks up? Head over to DailyTechRag for unboxing photos and some hands-on impressions of the device.

QUICKLINKS: Fingerprints for secure WiFi; Multiple nets for ambulance access; Photos mean never having to say "I'm lost."; Vona

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 20:01:35 -0400

Fingerprints for secure WiFi. Article

Multiple nets for ambulance access. Article

Photos mean never having to say "I'm lost." Article

Vonage wants an appeal. Article

Making the phone-PC connection work

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:01:37 -0400

Ever been texting or on a call and wished you could grab some information or a file from your office PC? It's now possible thanks to a new service from SoonR, which has developed a system using Opera Mobile combined with Asynchronous Javascript and XML (Ajax) technology. You can not only connect to your PC, but also read files, view photos, access email and check your calendar all from a handy wireless device. The application, which is deployed on the PC, is compatible with dozens of phones from Nokia, Samsung, Sendo, Sony Ericsson and Motorola. Article

For text needs, Sidekick 3 is hard to beat

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 20:01:37 -0400

If your users are heavy emailers and note takers, one device you might want to check out is the Sidekick 3. Danger's new PDA and phone boasts both a trackball and a comfortable keyboard, along with an MP3 player. The one drawback is that the device, which retails for about $300, doesn't have terrific phone capabilities. You have to do a lot of flipping to make a call--initially swiveling and flipping the display up to access the phone keyboard and then flipping the screen shut to actually talk. Yet the voice quality tested well and there are a bunch of nice add-ons for communication needs such as a calendar, an address book and the ability to save photos. Review