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SaskTel to offer HTC One S Roughriders Edition

May 172012

We already knew that the HTC One S was headed to SaskTel. Today the carrier announced that it will carry a special edition version, the HTC One S Roughriders Edition. While the specifications will be unchanged, it will add a few extras.

“SaskTel is pleased to offer Saskatchewan Roughrider fans with a tailored HTC One S,” said Stacey Sandison, SaskTel Chief Marketing Officer. “The HTC One S is a high-end smartphone with an amazing camera, stunning design and authentic Universal Beats Audio Sound that will allow Rider fans to snap a picture of their favourite Rider player while shooting HD video at the same time.”

HTC One S Roughriders Edition

The HTC One S Roughrider Edition will include:

A free Riders case
The official Roughriders mobile app. Featuring a complete league schedule, past game results, statistics, team roster, player info, news, video interviews, game day forecasts and more!
A Rider Widget, which shows live scoreboard updates, next game info, and quick access to the Rider app right on your home screen
Free Rider ringtones and wallpaper
A specially wrapped box with a Riderized graphic and the full Rider schedule

The HTC One S Roughriders Edition will be available starting on May 26^th.

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

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 172012

Motorola 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.

HTC One S now available in Canada

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 172012

A number of Canadian carriers today launched the HTC One S.

HTC One S specifications:

Processor: 1.5GHz dual-core
Operating system: Google Android 4.0 with HTC Sense 4
Cellular connectivity: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band HSPA
Other connectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA
Display: 4.3-inch qHD (540×960)
Input: Capacitive touchscreen
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 16Gb onboard
Rear-facing camera: 8MP with LED flash, BSI, f/2.0 lens and 1080p video capture
Front-facing camera: 1.3MP (720p for video chat)
Connectors: 3.5mm headphone jack, micro-USB 2.0, HDMI
Battery: 1,650mAh
Dimensions / weight: 130.9 x 65 x 7.8 / 119.5 grams
Other: Beats Audio

Pricing by carrier is as follows:

Bell: CA$99.95 with a three-year contract or CA$599.95 with no contract
Fido: CA$150 with a three-year contract
TELUS: CA$99.99 with a three-year contract, CA$469.99 with a two-year contract, CA$519.99 with a one-year contract or CA$569.99 with no contract
Virgin Mobile Canada: CA$99.99 with a three-year contract or SuperTab or CA$599.99 with no contract

Read more: Bell, Fido, TELUS and Virgin Mobile Canada

Nokia Lumia 710 now available from Mobilicity

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 162012

The ‘coming soon’ label today came off the Nokia Lumia 710 at Mobilicity. It is the carrier’s first Windows Phone 7.5 device and promises Windows Phone users the chance to “lower their wireless costs through Mobilicity’s unlimited talk, text and data service.”

Mobilicity is offering the Nokia Lumia 710 for CA$249.99 with no contract.

Mobilicity today also launched a 4-day promotion (May 17^th to 20^th) offering 50% off all their regular rate plans for new activations. The offer is good for 12 months “while on preauthorized credit.”

Read more: Mobilicity and Mobilicity 4-day promotion

HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE imports delayed by U.S. Customs

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 162012

HTC The launch of the HTC EVO 4G LTE will likely occur later than HTC and Sprint had planned as the smartphone is facing import delays imposed by U.S. Customs. The HTC One X is facing similar delays and will likely become difficult to find at AT&T stores. The holds are due to an unresolved patent infringement issue with Apple. HTC confirmed the delays in a short statement:

The US availability of the HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed due to a standard U.S. Customs review of shipments that is required after an ITC exclusion order. We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with Customs to secure approval. The HTC One X and HTC Evo 4G LTE have been received enthusiastically by customers and we appreciate their patience as we work to get these products into their hands as soon as possible.

In December, the ITC ruled in favour of Apple for one patent infringement and imposed an importation ban on some of HTC’s devices. The ban took take effect on April 19^th. At the time, HTC described the ’647 patent as “a small UI experience” and planned to remove it from all phones.

It is likely that HTC will try to stay the ban as part of an appeal. For now, it remains unclear if and when U.S. Customs will allow imports of these devices to resume.

HTC announces HTC Desire C

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 152012

HTC formally announced the HTC Desire C today, a day after it was accidentally revealed by Vodafone Portugal. As expected, it is an entry-level smartphone running Android 4.0 and aimed at those getting their “first smartphone or for those upgrading from an existing one.”

HTC Desire C specifications:

Processor: 600MHz Qualcomm
Operating system: Google Android 4.0 with HTC Sense 4.0
Cellular connectivity: GSM/GPRS/EDGE and HSPA/WCDMA
Other connectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC (carrier-dependent)
Display: 3.5-inch HVGA (320×480)
Input: Capacitive touchscreen
Memory: 512MB RAM
Storage: 4GB onboard and microSD cards
Rear-facing camera: 5MP
Front-facing camera: None
Connectors: 3.5mm stereo audio jack, micro-USB 2.0 port
Battery: 1,230mAh
Dimensions / weight: 107.2 x 60.6 x 11.95 millimeters / 98 grams
Colours: Red, white and black
Other: Beats Audio, 25GB of DropBox storage

A variant which adds NFC will also be available. Carriers will choose which version they will offer.

The HTC Desire C will be available starting in June. Among the first countries to launch it will be the UK where it will sell for £169.99 with no contract. There is no word yet on Canadian or U.S. availability.

Vidéotron launches Samsung Galaxy Q

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 152012

Vidéotron is the latest Canadian carrier to launch the Samsung Galaxy Q, an entry level smartphone with slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

With the Samsung Galaxy Q, users can stay connected with friends and family in the blink of an eye. The 3.2” touchscreen makes for user-friendly navigation and with the Social Hub you can see all your contacts from Facebook, Twitter and MySpace at a glance. Users in a rush can use the convenient sliding keyboard to respond to friends that much faster.

Samsung Galaxy Q specifications:

Operating system: Google Android 2.3
Cellular connectivity: GSM / UMTS AWS
Other connectivity: GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Display: 3.2-inch HVGA (320×480)
Input: Slide out QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen
Storage: 4GB onboard and microSD cards up to 32GB
Rear-facing camera: 3.2MP with LED flash
Front-facing camera: None
Battery: 1,500mAh
Dimensions / weight: 113.9 x 58.7 x 13.9 millimeters / 135 grams

The Samsung Galaxy Q will be available from Vidéotron as of May 16^th for at CA$39.95 with “a 36-month economic inducement.”

LinkedIn for Windows Phone now available

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 142012

LinkedIn has launched its official LinkedIn app for Windows Phone. Already integrated in the People Hub, the new app gives you additional functionality. As you would expect, it will let you post updates and view updates from your colleagues but you can also send and receive invitations, browse groups, and search for a new job. There is also a Live Tile and a panorama view to let you easily navigate within the app.

Get on-the-go access to your professional network with LinkedIn for Windows Phone. Find and connect with more than 150M members worldwide, read the latest industry news, keep up-to-date with your groups, explore jobs you might be interested in, and share content with your network from anywhere.

LinkedIn for Windows Phone is a free download but requires Windows Phone 7.5 or higher.

NVIDIA Tegra 3 with integrated LTE chipset slips to 2013

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 132012

NVIDIA The NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipsets does not come with an integrated LTE modem. This has forced handset manufacturers to release North American variants of their quad-core Tegra 3 smartphones. Examples include both HTC and Samsung with the HTC One X and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III.

NVIDIA originally expected to have its Tegra processor with built-in LTE connectivity (codenamed Grey) out by the end of the year. CEO Jen-Hsun Huang this week announced that this has slipped into early 2013. On the analyst call that followed its latest financial results, Huang said:

“Looking forward, you’ll see Tegra 3 LTE phones with partners’ baseband processors in the second half of this year and then next year with our own LTE baseband processors as well.”

Instead, as Huang says, we will see Tegra 3 processors paired with partners’ baseband processors, later this year. Such devices could arrive in North America “towards the end of the year.”

Huang also added that investors should not fret too much. “Although we don’t have LTE at the moment, LTE is predominantly a U.S.-centric phenomenon. Outside of the United States, the big superphone upgrade is quad-core,” he said. Tegra 3 smartphones are now available from 22 carriers in Europe and Asia.

NVIDIA is also wrestling with demand still outstripping supply for its latest GPUs, namely 28-nanometer chips.

Samsung announces the Windows Phone Samsung Omnia M

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 122012

Only days after the launch of the LTE-enabled Samsung Focus 2 for AT&T, Samsung has announced the Samsung Omnia M (model: GT-I8350), another Windows Phone-powered smartphone. According to JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division:

“Mobile consumers increasingly carry and share a large part of their lives through their phones. They are looking for phones that combine individual style with the ability to consume and share all kinds of content across their ever-growing social networks. The Omnia M meets all these demands, with the enhanced performance and social options afforded by Windows Phone and Samsung services.”

Samsung Omnia M specifications:

Processor: 1GHz single-core
Operating system: Windows Phone 7.5
Cellular connectivity: GSM/HSPA
Other connectivity: A-GPS, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
Display: 4.0-inch Super AMOLED
Input: Capacitive touchscreen
Memory: 384MB RAM
Storage: 4GB onboard
Rear-facing camera: 5MP AF with flash
Front-facing camera: VGA
Connectors: micro-USB 2.0
Battery: 1,500mAh
Dimensions / weight: 121.6 x 64.1 x 10.5 millimeters / 119 grams

The Samsung Omnia M will initially launch in Europe. Other regions will follow later. More precise availability and pricing details are not yet available.

WIND Mobile launches Samsung Galaxy Q and Huawei U8651

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 112012

WIND Mobile today announced two new devices, the Samsung Galaxy Q and the Huawei U8651. Both are entry-level devices that should be fairly friendly to your wallet.

Samsung Galaxy Q specifications:

Operating system: Google Android 2.3
Cellular connectivity: GSM / UMTS AWS
Other connectivity: GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Display: 3.2-inch HVGA (320×480)
Input: Slide out QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen
Storage: 4GB onboard and microSD cards up to 32GB (2GB card included)
Rear-facing camera: 3.2MP with LED flash
Front-facing camera: None
Battery: 1,500mAh
Dimensions / weight: 113.9 x 58.7 x 13.9 millimeters / 135 grams

Huawei U8651 specifications:

Operating system: Google Android 2.3
Cellular connectivity: GSM / UMTS AWS
Other connectivity: GPS, Wi-Fi
Display: 3.5-inch HVGA (320×480)
Input: Capacitive touchscreen
Storage: 512MB onboard and microSD cards up to 32GB
Rear-facing camera: 3.2MP FF
Front-facing camera: None
Battery: 1,400mAh
Dimensions / weight: 116 x 60.5 x 11.9 millimeters / 118 grams
Other: Two extra covers in red and white

One note of caution: It is unlikely that either of these will be upgraded to Android 4.0.

WIND Mobile is offering the Samsung Galaxy Q for CA$199 with no contract or for free on its WINDtab plans. The Huawei U8651 is available for CA$149 with no contract or free as well on the WINDtab.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy Q and Huawei U8651

Rumour: Amazon to launch colour e-ink Kindle this year

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 112012

Amazon Amazon may launch its first colour e-ink Kindle by the end the year. The Digitimes report suggests Amazon will use electronic paper displays (EPD) provided by E Ink Holdings (EIH) and multi-touch capacitive touch panels from TPK Holding instead of the infrared one used for the Kindle Touch.

To meet the target of a launch later this year, suppliers are expected to begin shipping the necessary compoents this month.

EIH will reportedly formally announce its colour EPD products in the near future.

A similar Digitimesreport in February suggested that EIH was to begin supplying Amazon with the colour e-ink displays in March.

Android 4.0 updates begin rolling out for Samsung Galaxy Note

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 112012

Samsung Galaxy Note Samsung has begun to roll out the Android 4.0 update for the Galaxy Note. Reports from Europe indicate that users have begun to receive notifications of the over-the-air update (and Samsung’s Kies software in Germany). Build XXLPY will update Android to version 4.0.3.

The update, dubbed a “Premium Suite upgrade” by Samsung will not only include Android 4.0 but also extra multimedia features and a range of new S Pen optimized applications such as the new S Note app and widget.

The staggered rollout should expand to other regions in the near future. In Canada, TELUS expects to deploy the update in early June.

Mobilicity launches Samsung Galaxy Q

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

May 102012

Mobilicity today launched the Samsung Galaxy Q. An entry-level smartphone, it comes with an increasingly rare feature: a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

Samsung Galaxy Q specifications:

Operating system: Google Android 2.3
Cellular connectivity: GSM/HSPA
Other connectivity: GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Display: 3.2-inch HVGA (320×480)
Input: Slide out QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen
Storage: 173MB onboard and microSD cards up to 32GB (2GB card included)
Rear-facing camera: 3.2MP with LED flash
Front-facing camera: None
Battery: 1,500mAh
Dimensions / weight: 113.9 x 58.7 x 13.9 millimeters / 135 grams

One caution: The Samsung Galaxy Q does not figure currently in Samsung’s Android 4.0 upgrade plans. Don’t hold your breath for an upgrade.

Mobilicity is offering the Samsung Galaxy Q for CA$199.99 with no contract.

Canada: Android 4.0 upgrade now available for Sony Tablet S

Posted by Jerome No Responses »

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.