CellPhones

BlackBerry App World now home to 2,000 applications, RIM pretty stoked

It may have some 48,000 or so to go before it catches the runaway leader in app choice, but doubling up its catalog after launching just 3.5 months ago ain’t nothing to scoff at. As RIM suffers through the traditional growing pains with its fledgling BlackBerry App World, it has managed to amass around 2,000 programs for users to love, hate or feel completely indifferent about. According to Jeff McDowell, vice president of global alliances, that number is apt to rise when it goes live in Italy, France, Germany and Spain this month. Also of note, Mr. McDowell declined to say just how many downloads had taken place, but he did note that RIM was “very happy” with the response. Unfortunately, we’re not so certain that the company is eager to raise that 2,000 figure to something much higher, with ole Jeff spouting off that “[it doesn’t matter] whether it’s 40,000 or 2,000 [apps], you’ve still got a broad range of choice.” We’re willing to bet the public sees that a bit differently — right, public?

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

BlackBerry App World now home to 2,000 applications, RIM pretty stoked originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walmart’s $30 deal vaults Pixi from ‘meh’ to ’sure, I’ll take three’

At $100, the underpowered Pixi doesn’t look like a great value against its bigger, older brother — but at the $30 Walmart is charging through its partner LetsTalk, the game changes a bit, doesn’t it? Sure, $70 isn’t that huge of a difference quantitatively, but emotionally, $30 is basically an overpriced meal or two — and considering the old adage of “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips,” wouldn’t you just rather have webOS? We’ve heard of some bad experiences with LetsTalk rebates in the past, but in this case, it’s just an instant discount, so it seems like it could be a no-brainer for on-the-fencers.

[Thanks, Snake]

Filed under: Cellphones

Walmart’s $30 deal vaults Pixi from ‘meh’ to ’sure, I’ll take three’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 1.6 makes Market refresh official, apps get screenshots at last

Evidence suggests that the Android Market has a long way to go to be a profitable enterprise for would-be developers, but the good news is that Google seems to understand — and they’re doing something about it. Those in-the-wild shots of a totally rethought interface have turned out to be legit, being made official today by Android’s official dev site; the beautified UI itself isn’t really anything to write home about, but what makes it all worthwhile is the addition of screenshots and improvements to descriptions that should do a much better job of letting users know what they’re getting for their hard-earned cash. Otherwise, there are a few new app categories and Italian support, all of which should bow with the release of Android 1.6 Donut. Sholes, Morrison, you fellas can’t come soon enough. Follow the break for official video of the new Market in action.

[Via Phandroid]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Android 1.6 makes Market refresh official, apps get screenshots at last originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 6.5 to officially “launch” on May 11

Well hey — it looks like Windows Mobile 6.5 will arrive a little earlier than expected. A post on the WinMo team blog says that the update to Redmond’s smartphone platform will officially launch on May 11, the first day of the Tech Ed conference. We’re figuring that could mean we’ll see the gold build demoed for the very first time, seeing how the version showed off at the glamorous MWC launch was described as an “alpha” cut. Of course, after that it’s all up to the carriers and handset manufacturers as to when we’ll actually see the OS loaded onto devices, but we’re sure the hacking community will find a way to satiate the impatient until then — or until Windows Mobile 7 comes out.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Cellphones

Windows Mobile 6.5 to officially “launch” on May 11 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Garmin-ASUS nuvifone G60 to run $300?

While several shipping dates have come and gone, we’re still hopeful of seeing Garmin’s nuvifone in the flesh and on the street at some point in the future. If you’ve forgotten (and nobody would really blame you), the HSDPA, quad-band handset will boast GPS (of course), WiFi, Bluetooth, plus a full browser. The G60’s been available in Asia for some time now, and while a confirmed US launch has been much anticipated, no pricing has ever been announced. Rumors now abound that the device will carry a $300 price tag on contract, running about $550 without. Of course, it is just a rumor — and one that we hope is off base, too.

[Via Navigadget]

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

Rumor: Garmin-ASUS nuvifone G60 to run $300? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Public Radio App lets you resume ‘This American Life’ whenever you please

Now that you’ve got an NPR-lovin’ stereo in your bedroom, the only thing missing in your otherwise completely fulfilled life is an NPR application that enables you to listen to your favorite programs whenever, wherever. If we just rung your bell, you can now drift away and die happy. Available this very moment in the 100,000-strong App Store is the Public Radio App, which essentially acts as a DVR for the iconic station. Once fired up, the app can “pause and rewind public radio streams from NPR, PRI, APM and local public radio stations,” and there’s even an alarm clock setting that wakes you up with your favorite public radio stream. Unfortunately, on-demand streaming is still a pipe dream, but there’s nothing to stop these guys from adding that very feature in the next iteration. Go on — try and lay off the trigger. It’s not like that awfully low $2.99 price point is tempting or anything.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

Public Radio App lets you resume ‘This American Life’ whenever you please originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jailbroken iPhone gets Expose-like view, you retail users just keep on scrollin’ (video)

How many apps do you have on your iPhone? Yeah, we figured it was a lot. Being able to re-arrange items now is mighty helpful, but not so helpful as this little hack from Steve Troughton-Smith that adds Exposé-like functionality to the mix. Just press the Home button and up pops a view of all the application pages; tap one and you’re taken straight there, as shown in the video after the break. Nice and simple — and at this point not available even to jailbroken handsets. We’re sure that’ll change soon, but it’s anybody’s guess if or when Apple will add something like this to the official OS. Yet another reason to go ahead and roll your own.

Continue reading Jailbroken iPhone gets Expose-like view, you retail users just keep on scrollin’ (video)

Filed under: Cellphones

Jailbroken iPhone gets Expose-like view, you retail users just keep on scrollin’ (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre data tethering is a go, Sprint be damned

Well, that was fast. Just a couple hours after we noted Palm warning against hacking webOS to allow data tethering on the Pre, the first set of instructions has popped up. It’s not the cleanest hack we’ve ever seen — you need to root your phone, enable SSH, and then configure your browser to run through a SOCKS proxy — but it’ll certainly get the job done in a pinch. Just don’t go crazy, alright? We’ve got a feeling Sprint’s watching Pre accounts with an eagle eye.

Filed under: Cellphones, Networking

Palm Pre data tethering is a go, Sprint be damned originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blacksn0w unlock available now for iPhone 3G and 3GS

There’s no stopping the eternal tug-of-war between the powers that be and the hackers that will, and for the time being it looks like things are back in the hands of the hackers. As of noon today giddy jailbreakers can take the next step and go full-on with blacksn0w, the unlock for the latest 05.11.07 baseband (with tethering enabled to boot). And if that weren’t enough, it looks like blackra1n RC3 is alive as well, with Mac and Windows support. What are you waiting for? Hit the read link to get started, if that’s your thing. And the battle for the iPhone’s immortal soul continues…

[Via On The iPhone]

Filed under: Cellphones

Blacksn0w unlock available now for iPhone 3G and 3GS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft makes a funny with Marketplace ‘apps lab’

It’s another Microsoft video, another few minutes of hilarious, unintentional pain. This time Microsoft is tackling the topic of apps, riffing on the abundance of gimmick apps for the iPhone. Unfortunately for Microsoft, we’d think the last thing it would want to do is draw comparisons between Apple’s App Store and the company’s freshly minted Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Video is after the break.

[Via TUAW]

Continue reading Microsoft makes a funny with Marketplace ‘apps lab’

Filed under: Cellphones

Microsoft makes a funny with Marketplace ‘apps lab’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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