Category: Mobile Tech

School Falsifies Documents For Children to Build iPhones

Apple’s annual report revealed that 137 people in China were poisoned making its products, while 91 children worked in factories making Apple goods. The latter figure is particularly disturbing. This isn’t a knock on Apple at all, but a total knock on China. Perhaps I’m being naive, but I have a serious problem with a country where it’s common for a school to falsify documents for children so that they can build iPhones.

Here are more details from The Guardian:

The report says Apple found 91 children working at 10 facilities. The previous year it found 11 at three workplaces.

It ordered most to pay the children’s education costs but fired one contractor which was using 42 minors and had “chosen to overlook the issue”, the company said. It also reported the vocational school that had arranged the employment to the authorities for falsifying student IDs and threatening retaliation against pupils who revealed their ages.

Apple said it had strengthened its checks on age because of concerns about the falsification of ages by such schools and labour agencies. It also audited 127 facilities last year, mostly for the first time, compared with 102 in 2009.

Due to multiple Foxconn employees committing suicide, Apple has been paying close attention to its manufacturing partners in China. I’m happy that the company appears to be taking an active role at preventing child labor and improving conditions for employees. Still, there’s only so much a foreign company can do. This whole thing just makes me sad and wish that I could live without goods that were made in China.

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HTC Flyer Tablet is Awesome…Mostly

At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, HTC unveiled the HTC Flyer tablet running Google Android. The Flyer combines sleek design, strong specs, and numerous HTC software customizations, including OnLive gaming. On paper and in photos, this looks like an amazing Android tablet, save for one feature. Here’s a chunk of press release action for you:

Encased in a sleek aluminum unibody, the HTC Flyer tablet exudes the iconic style and build quality HTC is known for. It is also ultra-light, weighing as little as a paperback book, and compact enough to fit in a jacket pocket only. With a seven-inch display, lightning fast 1.5Ghz processor and high-speed HSPA+ wireless capabilities, the HTC Flyer tablet is perfect for those who have been waiting for a tablet that is both compact and powerful.

Touch interaction lights up the HTC Flyer tablet experience, but it also offers a groundbreaking pen experience. With the new HTC Scribe Technology on the HTC Flyer tablet, people can rediscover the natural act of writing. HTC Scribe Technology introduces a wave of integrated digital ink innovations that make it easy and natural to take notes, sign contracts, draw pictures, or even write on a web page or photo.

The HTC Flyer tablet premieres HTC Watch, HTC’s new video download service. The HTC Watch service enables low-cost on-demand progressive downloading of hundreds of High-Definition movies from major studios. The intuitive, natural design of the HTC Watch service makes it easy to find the latest movie and video content, while advanced technology on the back-end enables instant playback over the HTC Flyer tablet’s high-speed wireless connection.

HTC takes mobile gaming to an entirely new level by being the first mobile device in the world to integrate OnLive Inc.’s revolutionary cloud-based gaming service. OnLive is leading in the home gaming market by letting people play top video games on their televisions and computers without the need to buy expensive gaming hardware or software. When integrated fully, the OnLive service will enable customers to pipe the OnLive service through the HTC Flyer tablet’s broadband wireless to their television sets, or let them play directly on the tablet. When integrated on the HTC Flyer tablet, people can play a variety of games, including hits like Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, NBA 2K11 and Lego Harry Potter.

I adore the aluminum unibody construction. I love that this thing packs OnLive for gaming. I’m intrigued by the stylus software. Unfortunately, there are two things that prevent the HTC Flyer from being a must-have product (for me, anyway). The 1.5GHz processor should provide ample power, but going with a dual-core chip would have aided the Flyer’s battery life. While HTC Sense will add a lot of differentiation, the base code is still Android 2.4 — a version of the OS that was never meant to run on tablets. I understand that HTC hasn’t had enough time to apply Sense to Android 3.0, but I prefer Android tablets that use an OS version that was specifically designed for the tablet form factor. Call me crazy.

Anyway, let me know what you think of this baby when you have a chance.

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Quad-Core Snapdragon Chipsets Coming in 2012

Qualcomm has announced its next generation Snapdragon products at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The most interesting product is the high-end APQ8064, which features four cores that can run as fast as 2.5GHz each. Here are some tantalizing details from the press release:

The new processor micro-architecture, code-named Krait, in the next-generation Snapdragon will redefine performance for the industry, offering speeds of up to 2.5GHz per core and delivering 150 percent higher overall performance, as well as 65 percent lower power than currently available ARM-based CPU cores.

The quad-core APQ8064 will be designed to meet the performance requirements of the next generation of computing and entertainment devices while minimizing power consumption. As with the Snapdragon dual-core, the APQ8064 will include four asynchronous CPU cores which can be independently controlled for maximum efficiency. The Adreno 320 quad-core GPU debuts in the APQ8064 processor where it enables console-quality gaming and renders rich user interfaces.

The APQ8064 will also include a variety of features that make it a compelling processing solution for use in mobile entertainment and computing devices, including support for both PC and LP DDR memory, serial and PCIe interfaces, and multiple USB ports. The APQ8064 will also seamlessly integrate with Qualcomm 3G and LTE MDM modems and modules, giving OEMs a flexible and cost-efficient platform that can meet all of their design configuration needs and help reduce time to market.

Man, these CPU/GPU combos sound ridiculous. I can’t wait to see what these chips — especially the Adreno 320 on the graphics — can do! At CES 2011, I was drooling over all the dual-core phones on display. The prospect of quad-core processing in the palm of my hand sounds…brilliant. Now please excuse as I glare at my T-Mobile G2 for having a single-core chip running at 800MHz.

iPhone Nano (Mini?) on the Way?

It looks like the iPhone will be getting a diminutive sibling in the near future — perhaps the iPhone Nano or iPhone Mini? That’s the word according to The Wall Street Journal. The rumored model would be small and cheaper than the mainline iPhone. Here are the details:

One of the people, who saw a prototype of the phone late last year, said it is intended for sale alongside Apple’s existing line. The new device would be about half the size of the iPhone 4, which is the current model.

The new phone — one of its code names is N97 — would be available to carriers at about half the price of the main iPhones. That would allow carriers to subsidize most or all of the retail price, putting the iPhone in the same mass-market price range as rival smartphones, the person said. Apple currently sells iPhones to carriers for $625 each on average. With carrier subsidies, consumers can buy iPhones for as little as $199 with a two-year contract.

Although Apple competes in the mid-range market with older iPhone models, it stands to do even better with a new model that costs $49 to $99 (on contract). That part of the rumor makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is the whole “half the size” thing. The iPhone 4 is pretty damn small as it is. Even if the iPhone Nano does use an edge-to-edge screen, something half the size of the iPhone 4 sounds tough to use. I’m having visions of Derek Zoolander’s phone.

What do you think of the iPhone Nano rumor? Do you expect to hear about it at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June? What features do you expect to have (and lack)?

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Sony Ericsson Unveils Xperia Play at Mobile World Congress

As expected, Sony Ericsson unveiled the Xperia Play at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Combining the power of Google Android and the gaming prowess of the PlayStation Portable, the Xperia offers an impressive blend of communication, productivity, and entertainment.

It looks like the phone will hit Asia and Europe before coming to America (through Verizon) in Spring 2011. It will come bundled with a game, while several other will be available at launch. I’m guessing it will be a well-known first-party game from Sony, but that would be cool if Final Fantasy VII was the launch title. The kids would go nuts. Anyway, here’s a clip from the press release:

The Android smartphone offers all the benefits that users have come to expect from Sony Ericsson’s existing range of XperiaTM smartphones with best-in-class entertainment experiences, a great 5 megapixel camera, a brilliant 4” multi-touch screen and great social networking features.

However, slide out the gaming control and users enter a new world of immersive mobile gaming. The slide out game pad reveals a digital D pad, two analogue touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation icons: circle, cross, square and triangle. Qualcomm’s optimized Snapdragon processor with a 1Ghz CPU and embedded Adreno GPU graphics processor deliver silky smooth 60fps play-back 3D mobile gaming and Web browsing with minimal power consumption so Xperia PLAY users can enjoy long hours of battery life and game time.

Initial software partners include Sony Computer Entertainment, Digital Chocolate, Digital Legends, Electronic Arts, Fishlabs, Gamehouse, Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Handy Games, Namco Bandai Networks, Polarbit, PopCap, Trendy Entertainment, and Unity Tecnologies.

Lastly, here are the official specs:

Camera
5.1 megapixel camera
Auto focus
Flash / Photo light
Geo tagging
Image stabiliser
Send to web
Touch focus
Video light
Video recording
Video blogging

Music
Album art
Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
Google™ Music Player
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
PlayNow™ service*
Sony Ericsson Music player
Stereo speakers
TrackID™ music recognition application

Internet
Android Market™*
Bookmarks
Google™ search*
Google™ Voice Search*
Pan & zoom
Web browser (Webkit)

Communication
Call list
Conference calls
Facebook™ application (from Android Market™)
Google™ Talk*
Noise Shield
Polyphonic ringtones
Speakerphone
Sony Ericsson Timescape™***
Twitter™ application (from Android Market™)
Vibrating alert

Messaging
Android Cloud to Device messaging (C2DM)
Conversations
Email
Google Mail™*
Instant messaging
Picture messaging (MMS)
Predictive text input
Sound recorder
Text messaging (SMS)

Design
Auto rotate
Keyboard (onscreen, 12 key)
Keyboard (onscreen, QWERTY)
Picture wallpaper
Touchscreen
Wallpaper animation

Entertainment
3D games
Dedicated gaming keys
Flash Lite™
Gesture gaming
Motion gaming
Video streaming
YouTube™

Organiser
Alarm clock
Calculator
Calendar
Document editors
Document readers
E-Manual
Flight mode
Google Calendar™
Google Gallery 3D™
Infinite button
Phone book
Set-up Wizard
Widget manager

Connectivity
3.5 mm audio jack
aGPS
Bluetooth™ technology
DLNA Certified
Google Latitude™
Google Location Service
Google Maps™ with Street View
Media Transfer Protocol support
Micro USB Connector
Modem
Synchronisation via Facebook™**
Synchronisation via Google Sync™
Synchronisation via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®
Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync
USB 2.0 high speed support
Wi-Fi™
Wi-Fi™ Hotspot functionality
* The service is not available in all markets.
** Requires Facebook™ application installed on the device.

Google™ services*
* These services may not be available in every market Android Market™ Client
Gmail™
Google Calendar™
Google Gallery 3D™
Google Latitude™
Google Maps™ with Street View
Google Media Uploader
Google Music Player™
Google Phone-top Search
Google Search widget
Google Sync™
Google Talk™
Google Voice Search
Set-up Wizard
YouTube™

Screen
16,777,216 colour TFT
Capacitive multi-touch
4 inches
480 x 854 pixels (FWVGA)

In-Box:
Xperia™ PLAY
Battery
Stereo portable handsfree
8GB microSD™ memory card
Charger
Micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer
User documentation

Facts
Size: 119 x 62 x 16 mm
Weight: 175 grams
Phone memory: 400 MB
Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32 GB
Memory card included: 8GB microSD™
Operating system: Google™ Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Processor: 1 GHz Scorpion ARMv7

Talk time and networks Networks
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 8 hrs 25 min*
Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 425 hrs*
Talk time UMTS: Up to 6 hrs 25 min*
Standby time UMTS: Up to 413 hrs*
Talk time CDMA2000®: Up to 7 hrs 40 min*
Standby time CDMA2000®: Up to 405 hrs*
Game play time: Up to 5 hrs 35 min*
MP3 playback: Up to 30 hrs 35 min*

Networks
UMTS HSPA 800, 850, 1900, 2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
UMTS HSPA 900, 2100
GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
CDMA2000®, cdmaOne, EVDO

Colour
Black
White

Pretty cool, hey? Any of you considering this phone?

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Nokia Announces Windows Phone 7 Partnership with Microsoft

Here’s a video of Microsoft and Nokia announcing their partnership on Windows Phone 7. Nokia has been lagging on the software side for years, but still makes some of the best hardware in the business. Windows Phone 7 has tons of potential that can be realized — in terms of sales — through Nokia’s hardware and global reach. This is a huge, huge deal with tons of ramifications for the mobile phone business.

Kindly check out the clip and let me know what you think!

Apple iPad 2 Features…Built-in Obsolescence?

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Apple iPad 2 will feature a myriad of improvements over the original, but it won’t have the one feature Apple fans have been dreaming about — a “Retina Display” screen. The iPad 2 is allegedly in production. Here are the details:

The new iPad will be thinner and lighter than the first model, these people said. It will have at least one camera on the front of the device for features like video-conferencing, but the resolution of the display will be similar to the first iPad, these people said. It will also have more memory and a more powerful graphics processor, they said.

The new iPad will initially be available through Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc., but not Sprint Nextel Corp. or T-Mobile USA in the U.S., according to some of the people familiar with the matter.

There were rumors swirling that the iPad 2 will feature a display similar to the one found on the iPhone 4, boasting a 2048 x 1536 resolution. Instead, it looks like that feature will have to wait until the iPad 3. That makes sense; although processors could power such a device today, display costs are probably too high at the moment.

For customers that are waiting for the iPad 2 (like me) and chronic early adopters, the WSJ rumors present an annoying problem. The features are improved, but it will be hard to resist a high-res iPad 3. I’m sure I’ll fall into the group of millions that will buy an iPad this year and next. Damn it. Built-in obsolescence sucks.

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Nokia CEO Blasts Company, Hints at Windows Mobile 7?

I highly recommend reading this leaked memo from Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. It’s a brutally honest critique of the company’s recent performance. Once the dominant leader in all mobile phone segments, Elop admits that Apple has captured the high end with the iPhone, Google has captured the mid range with Android, and Chinese manufacturers are cleaning up in the budget market. Here’s my favorite excerpt:

The battle of devices has now become a war of ecosystems, where ecosystems include not only the hardware and software of the device, but developers, applications, ecommerce, advertising, search, social applications, location-based services, unified communications and many other things. Our competitors aren’t taking our market share with devices; they are taking our market share with an entire ecosystem. This means we’re going to have to decide how we either build, catalyse or join an ecosystem.

The last sentence is the most fascinating. Elop is a former Microsoft executive and Nokia is set to make a major announcement this week. People have taken this “2+2” and have come to the conclusion that Nokia will license Windows Phone 7. This would be a tremendous development for Microsoft and Nokia.

Microsoft has a compelling product on its hands with WP7, but it’s way behind iOS and Android. Despite having crap software for the last three years, Nokia still makes some of the best hardware on the market. More importantly, its global reach is second to none. The partnership would give Microsoft’s WP7 efforts an enormous boost and Nokia would finally have quality software that complements its excellent hardware. Here’s another take on the matter from VentureBeat’s “Dancing” Dean Takahashi:

A Microsoft and Nokia partnership would be beneficial to both companies. Windows Phone 7 is a surprisingly strong mobile entry for Microsoft, and if paired with Nokia’s strong hardware, it would give the company some killer phones that could compete against the iPhone and Android platforms. Microsoft, meanwhile, would be able to take advantage of Nokia’s popularity in Europe and other countries to help spread the popularity of Windows Phone 7.

Although Windows Phone 7 has some really interesting features, the hardware hasn’t grabbed my eye; almost every WP7 phone has an Android equivalent. The thought of WP7 running on something similar to a Nokia N8 has the wheels in my head spinning. That would be a truly compelling combo.

A tag team of Microsoft and Nokia would shake up the mobile phone market — big time. I hope it happens simply because it would be fascinating to watch (and write about). What do you ladies and gents think of this potential pair? Is it a match made in heaven? Or is it too little too late for both?

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Verizon Can Shape Bandwidth for All Customers

When is unlimited data not really unlimited? When it’s throttled and shaped. In addition to reserving the right to throttle bandwidth for the top five percent of data users, Verizon also reserves the right to shape and manipulate bandwidth for all its customers. According to Wired:

Verizon incidentally announced a plan for “data optimization” for all customers, which may degrade the appearance of videos streamed on smartphones, for example.

The “optimization” method involves caching less data and resizing video, which “may minimally impact the appearance of the file as displayed on your device” — and that affects every Verizon customer.

This makes choosing an iPhone carrier a bit more difficult, hey? AT&T has shoddier service, but faster speeds. Verizon is more reliable, but it’s slower and the company reserves the right to make its vaunted “unlimited” service sucky. In the immortal words of Dennis Hopper, “What do you do? What do you do?”

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HTC Invests $40-Million in OnLive, Boost for Android Gaming?

Here’s an interesting development that’s all Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (you know, two great tastes that taste great together): mobile-phone manufacturer HTC has invested $40-million in streaming-game provider OnLive. Here’s the scoop from The Wall Street Journal:

HTC, which has gained popularity world-wide for its early adoption of Google Inc.’s Android software in its mobile phones, said it will acquire London-based mobile platform company Saffron Digital for £30.15 million ($48.6 million) and will buy a $40 million stake in U.S.-based on-demand games company Onlive Inc.

As many of you know, I’m a big fan of HTC phones like the G2 and the Evo 4G. I’m also intrigued by the potential of streaming videogames and have been impressed with OnLive’s partnerships. OnLive is just getting more interesting all the time. Between this and Sony’s PlayStation Suite, the future of Android gaming is looking better and better. Color me psyched (which in my head is cobalt blue)!

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