Rumor: Apple Orders 10-Million CDMA iPhones From Pegatron

Here’s some interesting news for those of you wishing for an Apple iPhone on Verizon — Apple has allegedly ordered 10-million CDMA iPhones from Pegatron. Pegatron was formerly a division of Asustek and is not a Transformer. According to DigiTimes:

Pegatron Technology has received orders for an iPhone based on CDMA from Apple with annual shipments expected to reach 10 million units. The orders should start contributing to the Taiwan-based company’s revenues in August or September, according to sources from component makers.

As I mentioned the other day, Verizon’s ad agency is supposedly working on a campaign for an iPhone launch. The Pegatron rumor fits in nicely with that rumor to create a lovely iPhone-is-coming-to-Verizon-rumor sandwich.

Anyone else hungry?

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Android 2.2 (FroYo) Features Built-In Tethering and WiFi Hotspot

The next version of Google Android — nicknamed FroYo or Frozen Yogurt — will feature built in tethering and WiFi hotspot functionality according to TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington. The other day I mentioned one web site claiming a 450-percent performance improvement from Android 2.1 (Eclair) to 2.2. Being able to use your Android phone as a wireless modem or hotspot is a brilliant feature. I’m hoping that Google will have more Android surprises at next week’s Google I/O conference.

It will be interesting to see how carriers react to this new addition (as opposed to New Edition). I’m guessing that the feature will be removed on phones using a custom Android build. I don’t see mobile providers wanting to give away that functionality for free. A handset like the Nexus One will be much more difficult for carriers to handle since they have no control over plain vanilla Android. (Perhaps this was one of several reasons Sprint and Verizon told the Nexus One to piss off?)

It’s funny, I was extremely impressed with the HTC Incredible on Verizon and pretty much crowned it the best Android handset on the market today. The one issue I had with it — and really any phone using a custom interface like HTC Sense or Motorola Blur — is that new features would take longer to implement due to the customization. FroYo is restoring my love for stock Android. Why yes, I will have plain vanilla frozen yogurt, thank you very much.

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Coffee Talk #144: Do You Like Mediocre Games/Music/Movies?

I’ve been questioning my taste in movies for the last year or so. I think it started when I saw Semi-Pro on cable. I really enjoy Will Ferrell movies, but this one got panned so I didn’t see it in theaters. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it on cable. It wasn’t a great movie, but it certainly entertained me. It was the same exact thing with Forgetting Sarah Marshall — totally enjoyed it, despite the poor reviews. Next it was Role Models, I Love You, Man, and Land of the Lost.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Ken Griffey, Jr. sleeping in the clubhouse, whether Lebron James should ditch Cleveland, or Howard the Duck, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve been questioning my taste in movies for the last year or so. I think it started when I saw Semi-Pro on cable. I really enjoy Will Ferrell movies, but this one got panned so I didn’t see it in theaters. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it on cable. It wasn’t a great movie, but it certainly entertained me. It was the same exact thing with Forgetting Sarah Marshall — totally enjoyed it, despite the poor reviews. Next it was Role Models, I Love You, Man, and Land of the Lost.

Initially I was worried that getting older has made me lower my standards, but I don’t think that’s the case. I realize that some of these movies aren’t the best; I just happen to find a lot of the writing and scenes entertaining. Perhaps I’m just drawn to Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Jason Segel. I don’t know and really, I don’t care anymore. I accept that I enjoy these movies and I’m comfortable with it.

Today I want to know what movies, games, music, etc. you enjoy, even though you know they’re not the best. Let’s celebrate mediocrity on this fine Thursday!!!

HTC Evo 4G Available Through Sprint on June 4…With Caveats

Sprint has announced that the HTC Evo 4G will be available on June 4, 2010 for $199.99 on contract. If you’ve been keeping up with this hot Android phone then you’ll know that it’s America’s first 4G handset and uses Sprint’s WiMax network for speedy data. The faster speeds come at a price — a $10 a month premium on top of the 3G data rate. If you want to use the phone as a mobile hot spot, that’ll run you an additional $29.99 a month. Here are some bullet points from the press release:

  • Simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G and Wi-Fi coverage areas, enabling Web surfing and more while the conversation continues.
  • Offering a new way to search with pictures instead of words, Google Goggles(TM) works with everything from books, DVDs and barcodes to landmarks, logos, artwork and wine labels.
  • Superfast 1GHz Qualcomm(R) Snapdragon(TM) processor, ensuring a smooth and quick movement within phone menus.
  • Two cameras – an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera.
  • Built-in mobile hotspot functionality allowing up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 3G or 4G experience on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device.
  • Integrated HD video capture with the ability to capture and share live video via the Qik Web site, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter(TM).
  • Ability to easily watch video with the device on an HDTV via an HDMI cable (sold separately).
  • Custom Web browser optimized for the 4.3 inch display and Sprint 4G speeds to deliver a full, no-compromise Internet experience.
  • A handy kickstand built into the back, making it easy to watch videos on-the-go.
  • Adobe Flash technology ensures that rich Internet content, such as embedded video and animation, are displayed the way they are meant to be seen.
  • Pinch-to-zoom and automatic text reflowing provide easy Web page views.

The phone looks fantastic on paper, but I’m really not high on these premium charges. What do you think of the phone and its pricing? Any of you tempted to pick it up?

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Pokemon Black and White Starters Revealed + A Poll

The excellent people at Serebii have translated a recent issue of CoroCoro magazine that revealed information on the starter Pokemon in the upcoming Pokemon Black/White. As expected, you can choose from a fire, water, and grass Pokemon. (In my best Bob Sheppard voice) And now…your starting lineup…for Pokemon Black/White:

  • Tsutaja — A snake-like grass Pokemon
  • Pokabu — A pig-like fire Pokemon
  • Mijumaru — An otter-like water Pokemon

I’m really digging the new starter Pokemon designs. I have a soft spot in my heart for grass starters (bulbasaur and chikorita rule!) and Tsutaja seems like an interesting choice. However, the concept of a fire pig is just awesome. Otters are also amusing to me, simply because of a term I learned a few years ago from a San Francisco bear (bonus points if you know what an otter is in the context of the gay community).

Now for the poll!

[poll id=”45″]

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Check Out My Nier Review (Please)!

My Nier review is up on Machinima.com. Please check it out if you get a chance. This was a tough one to write. Some aspects of the game were cool, but others were frustratingly annoying. It added up to a middling experience. It’s easy to write reviews on games that suck and games that are awesome. The ones that are mediocre…not so much. I’m going to quote myself for amusement:

While some aspects of the gameplay are good, there are several facets that are poor and annoying to the point where it detracts from the overall experience. The incessant backtracking and frustrating minigames are enough to turn off many gamers.

So yeah! Kindly read it, let me know what you think, and leave a comment (on Machinima). If you do leave a comment, please include “RPadtv” in the handle so I can keep an eye on it and reply to you directly (yes, it also helps me market this site). For example, on Machinima, smartguy would be RPadtv_smartguy or something like that.

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Android 2.2 (FroYo) Improves Performance by 450%?

The buzz on Android 2.2 (aka FroYo) is that most of its improvements are under-the-hood performance gains and not flashy new features. If the tests conducted by Android Police are accurate then the performance increase will be extraordinary, largely due to an improvemend JIT (just-in-time) compiler. Using the Linpack tool, the site reported a 450 percent increase over Android 2.1 on a Google Nexus One:

Think about this for a second. 37.6, compared to 6.5-7 — that’s about a 450% speed improvement.

These results are so impressive, most likely due to the introduction of the long awaited JIT compilation into the kernel, that we felt they deserved immediate attention.

That’s pretty sick, hey? Hopefully I’ll be seeing Android FroYo in action next week at Google I/O.

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Off to Google I/O Next Week — What Do You Want?

I mentioned this to RPadholic N8R yesterday and I wanted to let y’all know that I’m attending Google I/O next week in San Francisco. My priorities are digging up info on Android gaming, Android 2.2 (FroYo), and what’s going on with Chrome OS. That said, I’ll try to pursue any angles you’re interested in as well. Check out the agenda and let me know if there are any sessions you’re interested in. If I’m not in a meeting, I’ll hit it up for you and write about it.

Coffee Talk #143: Do You Have a Dream Job in Gaming?

Yesterday I told you about a recurring BioWare dream that I’ve had for the last ten years. For the last three years or so, I’ve been having this other dream about BioWare. I’m living in southern Thailand — probably Phuket or Koh Phangan — and telecommuting as a BioWare community manager. Life and work are pretty much perfect. It’s such a lovely dream. *sigh*

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Lost, Lebron James’ ailing elbow, or your favorite island, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Yesterday I told you about a recurring BioWare dream that I’ve had for the last ten years. I’ve been having this other dream about BioWare for the last three years or so. I’m living in southern Thailand — probably Phuket or Koh Phangan — and telecommuting as a BioWare community manager. Life and work are pretty much perfect. It’s such a lovely dream. *sigh*

Don’t get me wrong — I love writing and interacting with an audience. What I’m doing now is absolutely what I want to be doing (though making money would be nice). The only other job that I really want (off the top of my head) is working as a community manager for a developer I love. Hell, I’d work for a developer I midly disliked if I could telecommute from Thailand. Ha!

I was wondering if you have a dream job in the gaming business. Is there a certain company or game designer that you dream of working for? RPadholic bsukenyan has mentioned that he’s interested in becoming a gaming analyst, but I’m not sure about the rest of you. Kindly share your videogame dream job(s) in the comments section!

iPhone HD/4G Caught on Video

I love this video of the Apple iPhone HD/4G, but not because it shows off one of the most anticipated consumer electronic devices of 2010. Don’t get me wrong — that part is definitely cool, but this video’s use of the Vietnamese language and the Bee Gees is brilliant. I’m pretty sure this clip would win several awards at Cannes. Also, I can hear Steve Jobs asking, “And it’s me you need to show, how deep is your love?”