Blackberry partner fund is running a contest named Blackberry Developer Challenge. This challenge is looking for creative BlackBerry application developers who have written applications for BlackBerry and upload them to the newly launched BlackBerry app-world.
This will serve a dual purpose for RIM. A lot of developers will jump into BlackBerry application development and will provide their application for the contest. Either the app wins or not, the application will add to the app-world catalog and will be available for purchase to BlackBerry users. Moreover, the app-developers will not only get a chance to win the $100,000 prize money, they’ll also start selling their app and if they see good profits, they’ll eventually end up developing more applications for the platform. That creates a win-win situation for RIM, for BlackBerry users as well.
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Facebook Blackberry app updated yet again!
The screenshot says it all. No significant feature update found.
Micro-USB One charger, all devices.
It seems that the mobile industry is moving toward a universal charger, and micro-usb connector will take this seat. The standardaization is supposed to start from Europe and will eventually be adopted, possibly, by the rest of the world. Micro-USB is more sleek in size and has the same capabilities as more commonly seen mini-USB.
Micro-USB (left) vs Mini-USB (right)
RIM, the manufacturers of BlackBerry devices, has already committed to micro-usb type connectors that work both as a data transfer as well as charging slot. Also, there several latest models of Nokia that charge on a Micro-USB charger. Several other phones also use them, off and on in different models as their charging and connectivity means but this time it is different.
European commission now, has the backing of inustry leaders and they’ve signed an M0U to support micro USB as a common charging slow on the upcoming devices. CTIA, OMTP, and GSM Association already back micro-USB chargers. This means that you will see more and more micro-USB based devices in the near future.
The companies that back European commission for Micro-USB and signed above mentioned MoU are Nokia, RIM, Apple, LG, Motorla, NEC, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Texas Instruments. You can see all industry leaders in the list.
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Windows 7 release date confirmed – 22nd October
As a Windows 7 Beta tester I keep receiving updates from Microsoft. I just received an email confirming that Windows 7 will hit the shelves on 22nd October. Following is a chunk of the email.
“We are on our way to the last big milestone: Release to Manufacturing. Starting on October 22, you’ll see it on PCs and store shelves”
Windows lovers, get ready for the latest and greatest Windows ever. Its gonna be a Tuesday morning when you can queue outside a software store.
Q2 2009 Nokia sales stablize. Downfall stops!
Nokia has just announced the resuls for 2nd qurater, 2009 and the overall picture is stablizing. We’ve seen that overall figures have been falling since last year and still, this qurter’s sales are 25% below Q2 2008 but they’re 6% m ore than Q1 2009. I hope the postitive trend continues. The detailed results are available here.
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Where did PTCL’s gaming lounge go?
Exactly at a point, when I was about to write a terrible review for PTCL’s gaming lounge, I found the link dead. The gaming lounge was a part of PTCL’s entertainment portal and they had quite a few interesting games servers listed including counter strike, call of duty 4, battlefield 2 and medal of honor-allied assault.
I was excited over the weekend and tried to connect, but found out that none of the servers was actually working. I tried all the 4 games listed above, but no luck. Today I hit PTCL’s entertainment link and only thing I see is a lame site with no links working at all, named Buzz Studio.
What’s going on? I suggest PTCL should finish their sites and get their servers ready before publishing their websites. People actually do visit their sites :p
Warid too? Inspiration or Plagiarism?
Recently Warid launched their pre-paid brand named “Glow”. I think its a great idea to attract more youth toward their products, but wait a minute. I’ve seen that ad somewhere else before. What was it?
Marketing department at Warid has done exactly what we have been blogging about for Zong. Zong’s print media ad and a television ad was so inspired by other pieces of art that they actually copied it as-it-is.
Now if you see Warid’s Glow ads, you’ll see colorful shadows of young people dancing and hopping on a black background. Now go to Google’s image search and type “iPod ad” and hit search. You’ll see bundles of results that look exactly like “Glow” ads.
Thanks to my friend who sent me above photo.
What do you think, its an inspiration or plagiarism?
S60.com is gone for good!
For all the S60 lovers out there, this is a shocking news that S60.com is gone, gone forever. This is not as shocking as it sounds because it is an obvious aftermath of Nokia’s takeover of Symbian platform. Nokia has the largest installation base of Symbian S60 and it has eventually taken it over earliest this year.
This necessarily means, Nokia has more control over S60 now and things are moving very fast on Symbian front. The next generation OS code-named Symbian ^2 is already cooking in the labs and will start beta testing later this month. Retail stores will have devices with Symbian ^2 as early as beginning 2010. That’s not far. More interestingly, a few devices like Nokia’s N97 are already capable of running Symbian ^2 and may be simply upgraded to the new OS if Nokia plans to do so. A firmware update, and there you go Symbian ^2
Further plans list existence of Symbian ^3 that will contain ScreenPlay technology for UI design and will be available in commercial products by end of 2010 and two to three quarters after that we’ll have Symbian ^4. Things are really moving fast at Symbian labs. Following video shows ScreenPlay technology found in future Symbian OS.
Voice call handover from WiFi to GSM and back … Cherry makes it possible.
Cherry is a belgian company that has come up with a really interesting service of switching live calls between WiFi and GSM networks. Let me give you an example. Think of your favorite mobile software that you use to make WiFi calls. I use several software like including Skype and Fring. But the limitation is, I cant go out of WiFi coverage. Obviously, I dont have a city wide free WiFi coverage as well, well, no city has that. I do not enjoy the freedom of movement that one enjoys on a normal GSM call.
If I’m using a Cherry’s solution, I can continue talking and can walk out of my home or office. The call can initially connect over WiFi. When the isgnal is weak and you are moving out of the WiFi range, the call switches to a GSM call without dropping the call. The other party never gets to know about the switch. Marvelous!! Is’nt it?
This essentially means that you are switching back and forth between free and more expensive calls. The idea was meant to be implemented and now people will start working on solutions that will let you switch between wifi/gsm/wimax/eVdo and what not. The idea is to simply keep the cost low.
Keep an eye on Cherry‘s coming soon website till it launches and then keep your fingers crossed till it gets available in your area.
Google Chrome does’nt support its own Translation site.
I just tried translating a page using Google Translate. I entered the URL, that by the way happens to be a blogger URL (Google’s own site) and hit translate. Google chrome simply acts bizarre and opens a million frames and eventually crashes on my face.
Initially I thought I’m using an old version but then I checked and my Chrome is up-to-date: