iPhone on DiggFiled under: Cellphones
Today's iPhone unlocking / jailbreaking update comes by way of Zibree, who, as you may have heard, announced a new version of AnySIM that unlocks v1.1.3 phones with the baseband 4.03_13_g; be warned, though, bootloader 4.6 won't work, only 3.9. If none of this makes sense to you, we envy the blissful, pain-free life you're not whittling away tracking this stuff.
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Recording VGA-quality movies is nothing new, but DivX and LG just announced that the LG Viewty smartphone can now record VGA-quality movies at 120 frames per second with what looks like a software update (new ones will ship with it pre-loaded). Best of all, it records in the DivX format, which means you can watch it back on all kinds of DivX devices (your computer, various PMPs, the Xbox 360 and the PS3 for example). Besides recording at such a high rate, the phone can also take 5-megapixel stills, for the times when one picture says more than 120 of them. The Viewty is already available in Europe, and we got hands-on with it last year. [Mobile Burn]
The Gadget: Sterling Silver USB dog tags that hold a Sony Micro Vault USB drive inside, which lets you carry around USB storage without burdening your pockets with another gadget.
The Price: $349 ($319 if you don't want the 2GB Micro Vault)
The Verdict: Useful, but it's too expensive. Although it's very convenient being able to carry around a 2 or 4GB USB stick for data without having to keep it in our pockets (already crowded by an iPhone, wallet and keys), Mark Wilson says it makes us look douchey when worn on the outside of our shirts. More douchey than normal, that is. In it goes.
The Olinari guys said that the sterling silver is actually a small part of the price, and that assembling and crafting the two pieces (which are soldered together) is what made it so expensive when produced on their small scale. That said, Olinari actually has a new version coming soon that's more affordable, customizable and will store different types of flash memory (not just Sony's Micro Vault). We've got no qualms with the build quality, so if they can get the price down to a more affordable $100-$150ish, we can definitely recommend it to everyone. [Olinari]
Until the Meizu M8 is released, this C-002 HiPhone seems to be the most iPhone of iPhone clones out there. As you can see from the video unboxing, it even comes in an iPhone-esque box and has iPhone-like accessories (protective cover, white earbuds). The UI? Well, just watch.
It's pretty much the iPhone. In fact, if you gave it to your grandpa and called it the iPhone, he probably wouldn't even know the difference. Of course, this is being sold at an online store that sells shoes as well as knockoff phones, but your grandpa would probably just praise you on getting a good deal. [Dragon Kicks via Red Ferret]
Steve Ballmer must be banging his head against the wall after dismissing the idea of the iPhone as "silly" last year: market research firm Canalys has confirmed the trend announced by Jobs at MacWorld, with the iPhone grabbing 28 percent of the U.S. "converged-device" market (aka smart phones) for the fourth quarter, smashing the combined Windows Mobile phones and Motorola. RIM was first with 41 percent, but Canalys thinks the evolution is "striking." Is this beginner's luck or a real success that is here to stay?
Apple's success as a new entrant is striking, but it will face challenges to keep its momentum going, said Canalys analyst Pete Cunningham in a statement. Historically, vendors with just one smart phone design, no matter how good, struggle, he said. That means Apple will have to create and refresh a portfolio of devices if it wants to increase its market share, he said.
Worldwide, Nokia takes the first place with 52.8 percent followed by RIM with 11.4 and Apple with 6.5. When you think that Apple is only available in a few countries, this is a particularly stunning feat.
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[NYT]
Just like WMWifiRouter did for 3G Windows Mobile phones, JoikuSpot allows 3G S60 Nokia phones to act like a Wi-Fi hotspot for other devices. The principal is the same: a 3G connection comes in, goes through the phone, and out to your iPhone or laptop (through Wi-Fi) so you can access 3G on the go. However, JoikuSpot only supports HTTP and HTTPS, so Outlook, Skype and BitTorrent may not work (maybe not even some types of VPN). May want to poke around for more info before you rely on this for work on the go. [Joiku via IntoMobile]
When people bitched about the iPhone's 3G sansness, one counter was that it didn't matter, since AT&T's 3G network was far from ubiquitous anyway. AT&T is stepping up on their end this year, planning on smothering another 80 cities in sticky, delicious 3Goodness for a total of 350 markets, and all of the top 100 cities. Topping it off, the whole thing will be HSUPA by mid-year, for snappier uploads in the 500-800 Kbps range (vs. HSDPA only, D standing for downlink). Next piece of the perfect mobile internet device puzzle: an iPhone that can use it. [AT&T]
T&T PLANS MAJOR EXPANSION OF 3G WIRELESS BROADBAND SERVICE IN 2008Company to Expand 3G Service to More Than 80 New Cities, Complete Upload Broadband Speed Enhancements
New Milestones Mark Next Step in Direction Toward Long-Term Evolution (LTE)
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 6, 2008 -- AT&T is casting a wider Net for mobile customers this year by building out its network to make catching a high speed wireless Web connection easier coast-to-coast.
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced highlights of the company's 2008 wireless network expansion plans, including the deployment of third-generation (3G) wireless broadband service to more than 80 additional cities in the United States through the course of the year. The planned expansion is expected to deliver AT&T 3G services to nearly 350 leading U.S. markets by the end of 2008, including all of the top 100 U.S. cities. The 3G initiative will include the roll out of more than 1,500 additional cell sites nationwide.
Other plans for the new year include completion of the nation's first High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA)-enabled network by the middle of the year. The AT&T 3G network now delivers typical downlink speeds ranging between 600 and 1,400 Kilobits per second (Kbps), as well as faster uplink speeds, ranging from 500 and 800 Kilobits per second (Kbps). The faster uplink speeds allow AT&T's HSUPA-enabled laptop users to more quickly send large files and take full advantage of the latest interactive Internet and business applications.
The company's wireless network is based on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technologies, the most open and widely used wireless network platform in the world, supporting 86 percent of the people worldwide who use wireless devices. This platform also positions AT&T to continually adopt next-generation technologies.
"Fast wireless broadband is the foundation for a whole range of new and emerging applications that our customers are adopting, including everything from social networking to sending live video and large business files," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO for AT&T's wireless unit. "With these aggressive initiatives, we're expanding the scope and the speed of our 3G capabilities, connecting people with their world and enabling more customers to do more with their wireless devices, wherever they may be.
"We're also planning for the future by establishing a clear path to a 4G network that will meet the needs of our customers for years to come," said de la Vega.
The deployment of HSUPA this year is the next step in the evolution of AT&T's 3G network, with further enhancements and speed boosts expected in the near future. This year's HSUPA deployment will complete the transition of the AT&T 3G network to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) standards, marking the only full transition by any wireless provider in the United States to this latest generation of wireless broadband capabilities.
As customer needs continue to evolve and grow in the future, AT&T's global leadership in deployment of GSM technologies positions the company to continuously evolve its network to meet those needs. The evolution towards HSPA+ and LTE technologies will enable the company to continue to deliver higher speeds and capacity in the years to come.
"From the beginning, our wireless network has been designed with the future in mind," said de la Vega. "The capabilities of 3G standards will continue to expand over the next several years, enabling us to stay well ahead of our customers' broadband needs. And looking even further into the future, our existing technologies provide the ideal platform for a smooth transition to next-generation platforms."
AT&T's GSM technology also offers customers the largest international roaming footprint. AT&T devices work in 196 countries and regions - accounting for more than 90 percent of the planet. All GSM customers in those countries can roam on the AT&T network in the United States as well.
Filed under: Cellphones
Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CIX: C-002 HiPhone ups the ante
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Filed under: Cellphones, GPS
Continue reading Garmin's nuvifone flaunted on video
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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless
In the unlikeliest of unions since Julia and Lyle, we bring you some hot iPhone on N95 symbiotic action. Using the free JoikuSpot application released this morning, you can now turn any S60 smartphone into a WiFi hotspot. Yes, just like WMWifiRouter does for WinMo devices. Sure, the solution doesn't make much sense from locations with tethered Internet and you can't encrypt the http and https (only) traffic. But if you've ever been in a WiFi dead spot and needed to share access (think PSP gaming), this type of solution is pretty unbeatable. Assuming you have an unlimited data plan that is. Click the read link for the video.
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