Android 4.0 now available in Canada for Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi

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May 172012
 

Motorola XOOMMotorola Canada today announced via Twitter the availability of the Android 4.0 upgrade for its Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi tablet. “The software update delivers a refined user interface and introduces innovative features and enhancements for tablet users. Install today for peak performance.” Among the updates highlighted by Motorola are:

  • Updated Browser with faster rendering, zoom and pan Users can also now save pages for offline reading and request desktop versions of websites.
  • Swipe to dismiss notifications, tasks, and browser tabs You can now dismiss individual notifications, apps from the Recent Apps list, and browser tabs with a simple swipe of a finger.
  • Redesigned app launcher In All Apps launcher, you can now simply drag an app to get information about it, immediately uninstall it, or disable a pre-installed app.
  • Redesigned Gallery app with photo editor To help pictures look their best, the Gallery now offers a powerful photo editor so you can crop and rotate pictures, set levels, remove red eyes, add effects, and much more.
  • Richer, resizable widgets You can expand widgets to show more content, or shrink them to save space.

The update is available over a Wi-Fi connection. The next time you connect, you should receive a notification that the update is available. You can also check manually through Settings > About Phone > System updates.

Read more: Motorola (Source: Twitter)

ASUS rolling out additional Eee Pad Transformer TF101 ICS update

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May 162012
 

ASUS Eee Pad TransformerASUS today announced a new Android 4.0 firmware release for its Eee Pad Transformer TF101, the original Transformer tablet. Release 9.2.1.24 comes with additional functionality and system stability improvements. These include:

  • Improved system stability
  • Improved Email App stability
  • Improved MyNet stability
  • Improved MyLibrary stability
  • New System Bar Lock: Lock the system bar when playing games
  • New Face Unlock feature: Unlock your tablet with face recognition
  • Add Email App new feature: Email download size/Thread/Out of office notification/Mail Sync schedule

ASUS began pushing out this update today in both Canada and the U.S.

Read more: ASUS Campus Life

Rumour: Future Nexus devices to come from multiple manufacturers

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May 152012
 

Google AndroidThere could be a lot more Nexus devices in Android’s future, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Whereas there was a single Nexus device per Android major release in the past (2009′s Nexus One, 2010′s Nexus S and 2011′s Galaxy Nexus), Google could allow multiple manufacturers to offer Nexus devices with the next major version (Jelly Bean). It could work with up to five manufacturers to create a portfolio of Nexus smartphones and tablets.

These manufacturers will gain early access to new releases of Android in preparation for the launch of these Nexus devices. Each would also be able to have up to a dozen employees work at Google’s headquarters work directly with Google’s own programmers.

The move would allow Google to give Motorola (which it is in the process of acquiring) the chance to develop its own Nexus devices without the risk of upsetting its Android partners. Motorola could not be seen as getting any special favour from Google with such an arrangement.

The report adds that Google is hoping to have its new portfolio of Nexus devices ready for sale by Thanksgiving. The plan is to sell them unlocked presumably at full retail price, much as Google recently started doing with the Galaxy Nexus. The hardware section of the Google Play store will also expand to cover not only in the U.S. but Europe and Asia as well. Canada was not mentioned unfortunately.

Selling its devices directly will also allow Google to circumvent carriers and the limitations that they can impose. For example, Verizon Wireless’s version of the Galaxy Nexus does not come with Google Wallet.

Past rumours have linked Samsung, HTC and LG to wanting to build the next Nexus device. Perhaps they will all get the chance to do so now.

Read more: The Wall Street Journal

ASUS planning PadFone 2 with 4G LTE connectivity

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May 152012
 

The ASUS PadFone has yet to be released (despite being announced not just once but twice) but that has not stopped ASUS from planning a follow-up. The PadFone, billed as a 3-in-1 device, allows you to dock a 4.3-inch smartphone into a PadFone Station to transform it into a 10.1-inch tablet. Mention of a PadFone 2 turned up on a slide during an ASUS employee strategy debriefing.

ASUS Padfone 2 coming soon?

Little is known about this second version but it should be quite similar but add 4G LTE connectivity.

There is no word yet on availability and pricing of the ASUS PadFone 2.

Read more: Android Tablet Blog (Source: Phandroid)

Canada: Android 4.0 upgrade now available for Sony Tablet S

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May 102012
 

Sony Canada today announced via Twitter that the much anticipated Android 4.0 upgrade for the Sony Tablet S is now available.

Android 4.0 is now available for Sony Tablet S! Next time you connect to Wi-Fi it should prompt you for a system update

No reason was given as to why it took a few additional weeks for the update to make its way up to Canada after its U.S. release.

Read more: Sony Canada (via Twitter)

Rumour: 7-inch Apple iPad to sell for as low as US$200

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May 102012
 

AppleA new 7-inch iPad rumour adds a few new wrinkles to the other rumours floating about. According to a source which has proven reliable in the past, Apple’s new tablet will be priced between US$200 and US$250. Apple’s strategy with this aggressive pricing is clear: Shut out its competitors from the tablet space.

The 7-inch iPad (likely a 7.85-inch panel) will reportedly offer the same resolution as the new iPad (2048 by 1536) putting its pixel density close to that of the iPhone 4S. At the same time, it will only come with 8GB of storage (half that of the current entry-level new iPad). Aside from that, it should be “identical in every way” to the current model.

A Digitimes report yesterday suggested an August launch but iMore indicates that Apple is “currently targeting” an October release.

Read more: iMore (Source: MacRumors)

Rumour: Apple places orders for next-generation iPhone and 10-inch iPad

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May 092012
 

AppleAccording to Digitimes supply chain sources, Apple has placed orders with Pegatron to manufacture both the next-generation iPhone as well as a larger 10-inch iPad. The manufacturer has already completed the necessary facilities expansion and hired additional workers to start production.

According to the report, the new iPhone will launch in the September time frame with the 10-inch iPad to follow sometime in the fourth quarter. According to the latest rumours, the next iPhone will sport a slightly larger 4-inch display, a metal casing, and a smaller dock connector.

The report adds that Apple will also launch a 7-inch iPad in August. It will be manufactured by Foxconn. Rumours of a smaller iPad have circulated for some time. Whether Apple does release such a device or is “just noodling” remains to be seen. A number of past rumours have hinted at a late 2012 release or broader second half launch.

Pegatron already manufactures both the iPhone 4S and the new iPad for Apple.

Read more: Digitimes

TELUS posts “Device Operating System Update Schedule” on its website

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May 082012
 

TELUS MobilityTELUS has posted new information about upcoming device upgrades. The “Device Operating System (OS) Update Schedule” outlines upcoming upgrade ETAs as well as recent ones. It also includes information was to what updates are already being tested in the TELUS labs.

Among devices slated for updates are the following:

  • Samsung Galaxy SII X – Android 4.0 – Early June
  • Samsung Galaxy Note – Android 4.0 – Early June
  • HTC Amaze 4G – Android 4.0 – May 28th
  • Motorola Xoom – Android 4.0 – Late May
  • BlackBerry Bold 9790 – BlackBerry 7.1 – Early June
  • Nokia Lumia 800 – TBD – Early June

The information covers Android, BlackBerry OS, iOS, and Windows Phone.

TELUS warns that “all dates are subject to change.” Check back regularly to see how your update is tracking.

Read more: TELUS Mobility (Source: Mobile Syrup)

Apple releases iOS 5.1.1 for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

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May 072012
 

AppleApple today released iOS 5.1.1 for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This is a bug fix release that addresses a number of issues:

  • Improves reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut
  • Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks
  • Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances
  • Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List
  • Fixes an issue where ‘Unable to purchase’ alert could be displayed after successful purchase

The iOS 5.1.1 update (build number 9B206) is available both OTA (devices already running iOS 5.0 or above) or through iTunes.

Upcoming BlackBerry 10 device list found on BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha?

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May 062012
 

RIM BlackBerryThe BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device appears to have revealed a few details about Research In Motion’s BlackBerry 10 device plans. Buried in the code of the device running a modified version of BlackBerry PlayBook OS is a list of devices. Some device names are familiar while others are new. The familiar ones all belong to rumoured BlackBerry 10 devices suggesting that all of could be BlackBerry 10 devices.

On the list are the following:

  • # R044 – Nevada 0x8400270A,1
  • # R051 – Winchester2 LTE 0x0c001a06,1
  • # R052 – Winchester2 HSPA+ 0x0d001a06,1
  • # R053 – Winchester2 LTE HSPA+ 0x0e001a06,1
  • # R061 – Colt 0×04002307,1
  • # R072 – London 0×04002607,1
  • # R073 – Blackforest 0×04002706,1
  • # R084 – Nashville 0x8500270A,1
  • # R085 – Naples 0x8600270A,1

Among the familiar names are the Colt (the codename for the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha), the London (possibly to be the first BlackBerry 10 device we will see), the Nevada (a full QWERTY BB 10 smartphone>) and the Blackforest (rumoured to be a 10-inch PlayBook tablet).

New names are the Winchester2 in LTE, HSPA+ and LTE/HSPA+ configurations (the 3G and 4G PlayBooks?) as well as the Nashville and Naples.

If you have a BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha, you can see the list for yourself by typing ‘file:///radio/etc/sv.numbers’ in the browser.

It would appear that RIM has a full plate of upcoming devices!

Read more: N4BB

Samsung planning mobile company acquisitions

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May 062012
 

SamsungUnseating Samsung as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer will not be an easy task. And the company is moving to make it even more difficult. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, J.K. Shin, the company’s President and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division, revealed some new directions to keep it at the top.

Samsung has recognized the growing importance of software. The just announced Samsung Galaxy S III is a good example of this new emphasis on software. Running on Android, it added a number of features, such as SmartStay which prevents the screen from shutting off while the user is looking at, it to differentiate it from competing products with similar hardware specifications.

Samsung has begun to aggressively hire foreign software engineers in a bid to keep pace with Apple, its closest competitor. The company is also looking at a number of acquisitions. “The technology industry is growing very quickly and it is too much of a burden to try to do everything in-house,” said J.K. Shin, adding that “There are small companies that we can acquire that have good research and development capabilities.” He even revealed that one such deal is “in the works right now” without giving any details.

Shin also reiterated that Samsung is not interested in buying Research In Motion.

Read more: The Wall Street Journal

WordPress for PlayBook gets update

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May 042012
 

RIM BlackBerry PlayBookWordPress today announced an update for its WordPress for PlayBook app. Version 2.1 adds some “totally radical stuff” including:

  • Comment editing: tap the new ‘Edit’ button when viewing a comment and you will be taken to a new screen where you can edit the comment information including the name, email, URL, comment text, and status.
  • Post Autosave: to better protect your content, the app will now autosave posts you are editing every 60 seconds.
  • New Scaled Image Setting: you can now set the width of linked images. Tap ‘Settings’ and then tap the ‘Upload and link to scaled image’ checkbox.
  • Minor changes including reliability improvements and a new app icon

WordPress for PlayBook is a free app available on the BlackBerry App World. It requires BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 or higher.

Read more: WordPress for PlayBook

Nokia to launch tablets and “hybrid” smart mobile devices

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May 022012
 

NokiaNokia’s plan to turn its fortunes around will not rely on smartphones and feature phones alone. In an interview with The Financial Times, outgoing chairman Jorma Ollila indicated that the company is planning to launch a range of tablets and “hybrid” smart mobile devices. Ollila mentioned “Ollila said Nokia was had some “exciting form factors” and exclusive services in the works. “Tablets are an important one, so that is being looked into, and there will be different hybrids, different form factors [handset designs] in the future,” he said.

Ollila gave no time frames for the launch of any of these devices. Nokia has, in the past, confirmed that it is working on at least one tablet and rumours have suggested it could be a 10-inch Windows 8 model that would come out later this year.

Ollila also admitted that Nokia missed the smartphone revolution despite identifying as a key trend as early as 2006. He attributed Nokia’s fall to inadequate software capabilities and the lack of “platform software know-how.” He added that, “The competitors were faster, and bringing their solutions to the marketplace faster.” He appears satisfied with Nokia’s new strategy and expects that Nokia will recover.

Read more: The Financial Times (Source: Reuters)

Samsung Canada begins pushing out Android 4.0 updates

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Apr 302012
 

SamsungSamsung Canada today announced that Android 4.0 updates have now begun here in Canada. While Samsung is planning to upgrade a number of devices, it has not yet provided details as to which ones (and on which carrier) have begun to receive the much expected update. The rollout is expected to continue through the quarter.

“We are passionate about providing the best possible mobile experience to Canadians and the upgrade to Android 4.0 will offer an improved user experience for Samsung GALAXY devices,” said Paul Brannen, Vice President, Mobile Communications at Samsung Canada. “We expect that our customers will enjoy an enhanced experience with their GALAXY device through this upgrade and we remain committed, alongside our carrier partners, to satisfy our customer needs”.

If a leaked Bell Mobility upgrade schedule is a somewhat accurate indication, the Samsung Galaxy S II, Samsung Galaxy Note, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 should be among the first devices. Others scheduled to receive it are the

  • GALAXY S II LTE
  • GALAXY S II LTE HD
  • GALAXY S II X
  • GALAXY Tab 7.0
  • GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus
  • GALAXY Tab 8.9

Samsung points out that “availability and scheduling of the software upgrade and specific models upgradable to Android 4.0 will vary by market and wireless carriers’ requirements.” Patience will likely still be required.

Drop us a comment if you’ve received the update, telling us what device you have.

Read more: Samsung

Microsoft and Barnes & Noble form Nook e-book platform partnership

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Apr 302012
 

MicrosoftMicrosoft and Barnes & Noble today annnounced a new partnership in a new Barnes & Noble subsidiary focused on e-reading technologies. The new subsidiary, called Newco until a final name is found, will consist of the Nook unit as well as Barnes & Noble’s college textbook business. Microsoft will make a US$300 million investment in Newco for a 17.6% equity stake.

“The shift to digital is putting the world’s libraries and newsstands in the palm of every person’s hand, and is the beginning of a journey that will impact how people read, interact with, and enjoy new forms of content,” said Andy Lees, President at Microsoft. “Our complementary assets will accelerate e-reading innovation across a broad range of Windows devices, enabling people to not just read stories, but to be part of them. We’re at the cusp of a revolution in reading.”

As part of the new partnership, the two companies also announced that they have settled their patent litigation. Barnes & Noble and Newco will now have a “royalty-bearing license under Microsoft’s patents for its NOOK eReader and Tablet products.” The litigation had been tied to Barnes & Noble’s use of Android on its Nook tablet.

Microsoft will bundle the Nook digital bookstore with Windows 8 when it launches later this year. The move will significantly broaden its exposure both in the U.S. and globally.

Read more: Microsoft

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