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AfterDawn: News

Facebook adds high-resolution, batch tagging to photos

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 03 Oct 2010 6:03

Facebook adds high-resolution, batch tagging to photos Citing the fact that users upload 100 million photos per day, social networking giant Facebook has said this week that they have added high-resolution image support to their new photo upload tool.

The new photo software will also have batch tagging and a new view for browsing photos.

Facebook currently has 500 million users, most of which have hundreds if not thousands of photos.

In April, the company purchased Divvyshot to bring in Sam Odio, the founder of the company and a "whiz" with photo uploading and editing software.

Odio says uploaded pics can now have a resolution as high as 2048 for width, as opposed to 720 for current uploads.

Additionally, Odio says "the new photo viewer opens in the center of a user's computer screen, allowing users to view photos and albums without navigating to a new page or clicking Refresh. Odio said he rewrote all of the viewer code to make navigating through photo Web pages faster."

The latest uploader uses Flash 10.1 more better reliability. All the updated features are set for a full rollout by the end of the month.




AfterDawn: News

Google buys BlindType, virtual keypad correction startup

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 03 Oct 2010 5:23

Google buys BlindType, virtual keypad correction startup Google has announced another acquisition this week, purchasing the virtual keypad startup BlindType.

The company makes corrective software for Android virtual keyboards.

BlindType says their software will correct "sloppy typing," making inaccurate typing a thing of the past.

Says Google: "We’re excited to welcome the BlindType team to Google. With their help, we hope to make touch typing on your mobile device easier and faster than ever."

Adds BlindType: "We’re excited to join Google, and look forward to the great opportunities for mobile innovation that lie ahead."

Android has quickly moved into third place in the U.S. smartphone market behind RIM and Apple with first place expected to be taken by 2012.




AfterDawn: News

T-Mobile picks LTE over "niche" WiMax

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 02 Oct 2010 1:00

T-Mobile picks LTE over "niche" WiMax T-Mobile USA has said today that it doesn't plan to rush into any 4G networks, but that it does prefer LTE over the "niche play" WiMax.

The carrier currently uses HSPA+ as its next generation data network, offering speeds higher than Sprint's 4G.

"We’ll look towards LTE at the right point in time for us," says Neville Ray, T-Mobile USA’s chief network officer. "That ecosystem is going to be much richer than the competing one from WiMax, which is really a niche play."

Verizon and AT&T should have LTE networks in place by the end of 2011, while Sprint currently uses WiMax.

Speaking about HSPA+, Ray says: "We’re not waiting for the technology choice, we have the right technology to deliver that experience today."




AfterDawn: News

HTC to launch LTE phone in 2011

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 02 Oct 2010 12:22

HTC to launch LTE phone in 2011 HTC is set to launch an LTE smartphone next year, says its CEO, although details are scarce.

Says CEO Peter Chou: "HTC was the first with 3G smartphone and 4G smartphone, and we are definitely looking to future network technologies."

There were no details on what carrier the phone would be released for, or what type of phone it would be.

Verizon and AT&T plan to launch LTE networks beginning this year with a full rollout expected next year. Verizon's network will cover 30 major markets and 100 million Americans. AT&T's should cover 75 million.

For now, both carriers will offer LTE USB sticks as there are no phones yet with LTE support.




AfterDawn: News

Nokia Ovi Store seeing 2.3 million daily downloads

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Oct 2010 11:21

Nokia Ovi Store seeing 2.3 million daily downloads According to Nokia, the Ovi Store now sees 2.3 million downloads per day, with 200,000 consumers signing up daily for Ovi services.

Ovi includes Maps, Music, Messaging and an app store.

Nokia has made Ovi available in 190 countries and remains the world's largest phone maker.

"At Nokia, we believe that connecting people with great mobile experiences is at the heart of what Ovi is all about," adds Tero Ojanpera, Nokia's executive VP of Services. "Today people discover Ovi through Maps, Music, Messaging, Store and Life Tools."

Furthermore, about 70 developers and publishers have hit the one-million download milestone for their content including EA, Shazam, Qik and Gameloft.




AfterDawn: News

Microsoft sues Motorola over Android phone patents

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 01 Oct 2010 10:37

Microsoft sues Motorola over Android phone patents Microsoft has sued Motorola this week, alleging patent infringement on a number of Android devices.

The software giant says Motorola infringes on patents "that are essential to the smartphone user experience, including synchronizing email, calendars and contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power."

Microsoft filed the suit with the U.S. District Court and the International Trade Commission (ITC).

There are nine patents in questions, all relating to Android smartphones.

The new case seems similar to the suit filed in March by Apple against HTC, a popular maker of Android phones. Apple claims Android violated iPhone patents.




AfterDawn: News

'Google Phone Gallery' gives users a chance to compare Android devices

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Sep 2010 7:38

'Google Phone Gallery' gives users a chance to compare Android devices Google has launched a new Android comparison Web page this week, giving would-be consumers a place to compare all the current Android smartphones against each other before making a purchase.

You can check the site at google.com/phone and search through a "showcase of Android-powered devices."

Adds Ben Serridge, product manager for Android: "There are tools that make it easy to compare phones side by side: you can filter phones by country, manufacturer, and carrier; view and compare technical specifications and features; and find where each phone is available for sale."

You can sort the devices alphabetically or by "newest devices" first. The last listed phones are the Motorola Charm, Samsung Epic 4G, and the Droid 2.

Each phone has an "add to compare" button and a "buy from" link. You can compare up to three devices side-by-side at one time.




AfterDawn: News

New QNX OS headed to BlackBerrys, says report

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Sep 2010 3:27

New QNX OS headed to BlackBerrys, says report An RIM executive has apparently confirmed today that upcoming BlackBerry smartphones will no longer run the BB operating system but will instead move to the open-source QNX OS that was revealed with the PlayBook tablet.

Speaking at the BlackBerry Developer Conference, an unnamed RIM VP confirmed the move towards QNX.

The move will take time however, and BlackBerry OS 7 will likely be a "transitional" operating system.

RIM remains the top smartphone maker in the United States at around 40 percent, followed by Apple and Android which account for another 40 percent combined.

Although they have the most share, growth has slowed and even gone negative over the past few quarters while Android's has exploded and Apple's has grown steadily.

RIM launched the BlackBerry 6 OS last month with the release of the Torch slider.




AfterDawn: News

'Star Wars' films to be re-released in 3D starting in 2012

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Sep 2010 2:40

'Star Wars' films to be re-released in 3D starting in 2012 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilms are set to re-release Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace in February, 2012, this time in converted 3D.

George Lucas, the man behind Star Wars, says releasing the film early in the year and not during the summer blockbuster season will give the movie a chance to run at the box office.

Furthermore, subsequent Star Wars films will be released annually during the same month.

Although unconfirmed, Hollywood Reporter expects the release date to be February 15th.

The Star Wars films are expected to hit Blu-ray next year and most likely in 3D Blu-ray the year after.




AfterDawn: News

YouTube adds Arabic to interface list

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Sep 2010 2:21

YouTube adds Arabic to interface list Google has finally added Arabic to its YouTube language list, giving hundreds of millions of native Arabic speakers a chance to change their YouTube interface to their native language.

Arabic is now the 36th language available to YouTube fans.

Reports have claimed the new interface is still buggy, however, and lacking compared to the English version.

Last year, telecom executives in Jordan said a full 40 percent of all Internet traffic in Arab nations goes to YouTube.

Google is releasing six new languages this month, including Lithuanian, Slovenian and Vietnamese.




AfterDawn: News

Congress passes bill that will limit TV commercial volume

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Sep 2010 1:56

Congress passes bill that will limit TV commercial volume The United States Senate has passed a bill this week that will limit the volume of TV commercials, effectively putting the FCC in charge of regulating the new limits.

Dubbed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM), the bill passed the House last year and will return there for a final vote before President Obama signs it into law.

For decades, avid TV viewers have complained about the lack of volume control on commercials which can sometimes be much louder than the program you were watching.

"Every American has likely experienced the frustration of abrasively loud television commercials," adds Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. "While this may be an effective way for ads to grab attention, it also adds unnecessary stress to the daily lives of many Americans. Last night’s action in the Senate will help end this annoying practice."

Whitehouse introduced the bill in the Senate.

"It's about time we turned down the volume on loud commercials that try to startle TV watchers into paying attention. This is a simple step that will keep ads at the same decibel level as the programs they are interrupting," notes Senator Charles Schumer, a co-sponsors. "TV viewers should be able to watch their favorite programs without fear of losing their hearing when the show goes to a commercial."




AfterDawn: News

Dell close to launching 7-inch tablet

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Sep 2010 10:20

Dell close to launching 7-inch tablet Dell Greater China President Amit Midha has said today that the company is launching a 7-inch tablet within weeks and a larger 10-inch device within a year.

The computer giant currently sells the Streak, a 5-inch hybrid phone/tablet that runs Android.

Dell CEO Michael Dell briefly showed off the device at an Oracle conference last month, but gave no timeframe for its release.

"It was showed off at Oracle World by Michael last week and we'll be launching very, very soon—within the next few weeks," says Midha.

Furthermore, Dell will be releasing smaller new products, as well, including a number of smartphones running Windows Phone 7 and Android.

"In fact, very much in the near future we'll be launching the seven-inch tablet as well as the additional three-inch product," says the president.

Dell has said it is still considering whether to create a product that runs Google's upcoming Chrome OS.




AfterDawn: News

Best Buy wants to carry RIM PlayBook

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Sep 2010 10:05

Best Buy wants to carry RIM PlayBook According to CEO Brian Dunn, Best Buy is already in talks with RIM in an effort to bring the upcoming PlayBook tablet to brick-and-mortar stores around the nation.

"When it comes to market, we’re going to be very happy to offer it to our customers," says Dunn.

Because the device does not have built-in 3G, there were questions about how the PlayBook would be distributed. Other tablet makers have deals with wireless carriers and therefore the tablets are offered in-store at thousands of locations.

Best Buy currently offers the iPad and Dell Streak.

The tablet will measure in smaller than the iPad at just 7 inches, but it is thinner at 9.7 millimeters. Furthermore, the tablet has a rear and front-facing camera, and the ability to natively playback Flash videos.

BlackBerry smartphone owners can tether their devices and use the 3G via the tablet.

The Playbook will not run on RIM's new BlackBerry 6 OS, instead it will run on a brand new mobile operating system created by QNX Software, which was acquired by RIM earlier in the year.




AfterDawn: News

T-Mobile G2 shipping to early pre-orderers

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Sep 2010 9:46

T-Mobile G2 shipping to early pre-orderers A number of early pre-orderers have reported today that their T-Mobile G2 has shipped, over a week before the device hits retail stores and Best Buy.

The G2 will be T-Mobile's first device to support HSPA+, the carrier's very fast 3.5G/4G data network.

Furthermore, the device will have an 800MHz Snapdragon MSM7230 processor, which has the HSPA+ support built-in. While slower than current 1GHz chips, the processor can still record 720p video and handle Flash videos and is as powerful as those 1GHz chips.

The G2 will also run a stock Android 2.2 (with no custom UI) and will have Swype as the default keypad.

Made by HTC, the phone has a 3.7-inch multi-touch screen, an optical trackpad, a 5MP camera with LED flash, 4GB of internal memory and an extra 8GB microSDHC card.

Upgrade price is $200 with contract, $500 without.




AfterDawn: News

RIM defends low 'App World' app count

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Sep 2010 9:29

RIM defends low 'App World' app count RIM VP of product platform management Alan Panezic has defended the low BlackBerry App World app count today, saying "we don't need 200 fart apps."

The App World currently has just over 10,000 apps, tiny in comparison to Android's 100,000 and Apple's 250,000.

Continuing on, Panezic says: "Those are apps you'll use three or four times then never open again (the fart apps). You're not looking at ads, clicking on ads or buying premium upgrades, and the app isn't adding any value to your device."

RIM mainly adds "super apps" to its store, apps that will be heavily used and improve the phone as a whole.

Panezic says Android and iOS app counts are "deceptive" since many are useless and a significant amount are redundancies with different names and slight differences.

With all that being said, the VP did note that BlackBerry app sales are poor due to how expensive their apps are compared to other stores. Until a month ago, RIM forced a $3 minimum for paid apps.





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