Tag: Mobile Tech

Dell, Bank of America, and Citibank Ditching BlackBerry

RIM’s BlackBerry platform has been taking a beating in 2010, losing market share to Apple iOS and Google Android. While RIM hoped to change its fortunes with the BlackBerry Torch, the phone is technically unimpressive and the software is still archaic. It looks like the BlackBerry bashing will continue, with corporations like Dell, Bank of America, and Citibank looking to leave the platform.

Right now, Dell is the only company that’s confirmed to be abandoning BlackBerry. According to The Wall Street Journal, Dell is offering its employees Dell Venue Pro phones (Windows Phone 7) to replace their BlackBerry handsets. According to the paper, “The switch begins next week and will save the company about 25% in mobile communication costs.” The cost savings would come from not having to run BlackBerry Enterprise servers.

The Dell move isn’t surprising considering that the company now competes with RIM, offering a variety of Android and Windows Phone 7 handsets. What’s more alarming for RIM is Bloomberg’s report that Bank of America and Citigroup (Citibank) are considering dropping the BlackBerry platform in favor of Apple iOS. Those are two of the biggest banks in America with almost 600,000 employees between them.

If Bank of America and Citigroup join Dell in abandoning the BlackBerry platform then that’s nearly one-million customers lost. Until RIM makes significant improvements to its crusty software, I don’t see things changing for the company. Perhaps I should have called this article “BlackBerry Torched”. *snicker*

Source 1

Source 2

T-Mobile Has a Branded iPhone Cable Because….

TMoNews has posted a picture of an iPhone cable with T-Mobile USA packaging. Some are speculating that this is a sign that the iPhone 4 is headed to the carrier. Others believe that the company is simply selling lucrative accessories to its customers that use unlocked iPhones. What say you? Is this a sign of things to come? Or is it just a smart cash grab?

Source

T-Mobile G2 WiFi Calling and Tethering Video

Here’s a video overview of the T-Mobile G2’s WiFi calling and tethering features. WiFi calling is fantastic for areas with poor signal (basements, remote towns), as well as international traveling. Tethering is tethering…but unlike its competitors, T-Mobile isn’t charging (yet) for USB or WiFi hotspot functionality!

Anyway, please, please, please watch the video when you have a chance. At the very least, you can stare at my pal Nutchy some more. She’s a beautiful girl.

(And yes, I didn’t sleep last night because WiFi calling made me so excited that I wanted to make a video about it.)

MetroPCS Launches LTE in Los Angeles and Philadelphia

MetroPCS, America’s fifth-largest mobile-carrier, has announced that its LTE network is up and running in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. While rivals Sprint and T-Mobile are deploying WiMax and HSPA+ networks, respectively, MetroPCS is the only carrier in America with LTE available now. Here’s a clip from the press release:

As the only no annual contract, pay-in-advance service provider offering 4G LTE services, we are building on the successful commercial launches of 4G LTE service in Las Vegas, Dallas/Fort Worth and Detroit with the launches of our 4G LTE service in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. With a compelling handset line-up and a superior network, we deliver unmatched value with flexibility, predictability and affordability that consumers demand.

The Samsung Craft is the only MetroPCS phone that supports LTE at this time. Now that the network is alive in my town, I’m planning to get a test unit and interview a MetroPCS executive to get more info on the company’s unusually aggressive LTE roll-out.

Any of you live in a MetroPCS LTE city? Are you intrigued by the Samsung Craft on LTE?

Adobe Flash Kills Battery Life on the New MacBook Air

Most pundits believed that Apple omitted Adobe Flash from its new MacBook Air due to the Flash vs. HTML5 war the companies are waging. It turns out that there’s a more practical reason for the snub: battery life. According to Ars Technica, the Air gets more than 33 percent more juice without Flash than with it. Here’s the deal:

Having Flash installed can cut battery runtime considerably — as much as 33 percent in our testing. With a handful of websites loaded in Safari, Flash-based ads kept the CPU running far more than seemed necessary, and the best time I recorded with Flash installed was just 4 hours. After deleting Flash, however, the MacBook Air ran for 6:02—with the exact same set of websites reloaded in Safari, and with static ads replacing the CPU-sucking Flash versions.

Prettty crazy, hey? The whole thing has me rethinking my position on Flash-based advertising. What do you think of The Situation the situation?

Source

T-Mobile myTouch 4G Sizzle Video

T-Mobile has released a sizzle reel for its upcoming myTouch 4G phone. The video is snappy and cute, but I’m mostly unimpressed with the phone. It looks plastic-y and I detest the “Genius Button”. Then again, I was unimpressed with the T-Mobile G2’s announcement and the phone is one of my favorite Google Android handsets of 2010. Check out the clip and let me know what you think (please)!

Epic Games and Chair Team Up For Infinity Blade on iOS

Remember that impending mobile gaming explosion I wrote about in Coffee Talk #204? It just got one step closer. Epic Games (Gears of War, Unreal) and Chair Entertainment (Shadow Complex) have officially announced Infinity Blade for Apple iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad). The game blends sword-based action with RPG elements. Here’s a clip from the press release:

Taking handheld gaming to new heights, the graphically intense “Infinity Blade” features adrenaline-fueled sword battles and epic boss fights set in the realm of a fully 3D castle. The game’s robust single-player mode features an intuitive combat interface and simple touch controls which enable hardcore and casual gamers alike to engage in fun, furious battles. As play progresses, players gain experience, build stats and earn more powerful items to prepare their knight for the final encounter with the game’s nemesis, the God-King.

And here’s a quote from my pal, Epic Games president Dr. Mike Capps…or as I like to call him, “Busta” Capps.

More than one million people have been introduced to the world of ‘Infinity Blade’ through our free app, ‘Epic Citadel,’ and soon everyone will be able to play our first fully featured game for iOS devices. With ‘Infinity Blade,’ ChAIR has created an amazing looking, incredibly fun game that really demonstrates the potential of triple-A mobile gaming.

To be honest, I only included his quote to remind y’all that Dr. Mike should be referred to as “Busta” Capps.

Seriously though, this is going to be huge for iOS gaming and more gaming in general. While there are loads of engaging games available in the iTunes App Store, most of them are visually unimpressive. The upcoming generation of iOS games will have deep gameplay and sharp graphics. Infinity Blade should set a new standard for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad gaming. I’m truly excited for this title. How about you?

Welcome to Apple’s Winter Wonderland

Apple has had a ridiculously successful 2010, selling millions of iPhones, iPods, iPads, iMacs, MacBooks, and more. The crazy thing is, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet (b-b-b-b-baby, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet). The company is going to be one of the most dominant brands this holiday season — perhaps the most dominant brand.

The iPad will be available in more stores than ever, including electronics outlets like Best Buy and mobile phone stores like Verizon’s. Target recently announced that it will start offering the iPhone 4 on November 7, 2010. While Apple does well with its online store and Apple Stores, brick-and-mortar chains like Best Buy and Target have a much broader reach. The sales figures are going to be nuts!

What do you think? Will Apple be the most wished for brand this holiday? What else can touch it?

T-Mobile G2 vs. Samsung Epic 4G Video

You should watch this video because it features several images of an outstandingly beautiful woman and it compares the two best Google Android phones with a physical keyboard — the T-Mobile G2 by HTC and the Samsung Epic 4G for Sprint. Whether it’s the lovely girl or the excellent phones, please, please, please give it look and let me know what you think!

Did You Know That the T-Mobile G2 is the Sequel to the G1?

According to eWeek, the T-Mobile G2 is the follow-up to the T-Mobile G1. Take a look at this fine piece of investigative journalism:

T-Mobile, meanwhile, has just launched the G2, which is clearly intended to be the next step from the highly successful G1 phone.

Really? The G2 is the “next step from” the G1?!? What gave that away? The name?!?

Source