Windows Mobile 7: Is It A Flop, Or Not?

In comparison to some 1.7 million iPhone 4's sold on its very first weekend, and Android sales of some 200,000 phones per day, some are now considering the sale of only some 40,000 Window Mobile 7 phones on its first day as a sign of its failure. Some people might even call it a flop, with reviews that so far have been rather dispassionate.

Despite developers being generally favorable to Microsoft's latest mobile OS offering, according to one report the general lack of interest on the part of consumers has nonetheless left many of these same developers concerned, even disgruntled.

BGR, a very popular mobile site, recently conducted several retail checks, in 15 AT&T stores, of Windows Mobile 7 sales and noted the following from each store:

• Store 1: “They are not flying off the shelves, people are being super cautious.”
• Store 2: “Sold more than a few!”
• Store 3: “Doing okay, third one was delayed due to manufacturing.”
• Store 4: “Store sold 10 since Monday.”
• Store 5: “Sold 4 yesterday in-store; the Samsung Focus is much more popular than the others.”
• Store 6: ”They sold really well”
• Store 7: ”Sold 2 since launch.”
• Store 8: “Sold 4 total.”
• Store 9: “Only have sold 1 since it came out; almost no interest.”
• Store 10: “We sold 2.”
• Store 11: “Sold one Samsung Focus.”
• Store 12: “Between 10-15; Samsung seems much more popular than the HTC model”
• Store 13: “Windows Phone is selling well. We’ve sold around 15 since launch.”
• Store 14: “Sold 10 total.”
• Store 15: “Sold a lot of them! The Samsung model is most popular because of the screen.”

Microsoft recently, and just before its launch of Windows Mobile 7, held a mock funeral for the iPhone and BlackBerry to highlight its belief that it was about to bury its competition with its new mobile OS. Unfortunately, and despite a massive 500 million dollar advertising campaign designed to help them to do just that, Windows Mobile 7 has clearly failed to catch on, at least at this point, with consumers. No wonder Microsoft refuses to release any official sales figures, something that Apple and Google were very quick to do mere days after launching their latest phones.

So, is the newest Microsoft's Windows Mobile 7 a flop, or not?

I'm not sure at this early stage, but clearly it isn't selling anywhere near as well as Microsoft would have hoped for, but then again, as BGR also pointed out, Microsoft normally starts out small and then works its way to the top, much as it did with their XBox console. Clearly, however, it's going to require several more quarters to actually determine whether or not Microsoft's newest OS strategy is truly a flop, or not.

Personally, and in conclusion, even though I find Windows Mobile 7 to be interesting in many respects, I still don't find it quite compelling enough at this point to really take on or replace either the iPhone or its copy cat alternative, Android. One thing that I do like, even love, however, is the fact that Microsoft didn't simply copy and lift, lock-stock-and-barrel, every little aspect from the iPhone in the same way that Android did. In that regard its a lot more distinct and original than Android.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Latest MacBook Pro: From The Great Nation Of Xerox!

The ancient name for China was Zhongguo and Zhonghua , while the medieval Europeans gave them the name of Cathay.

However, if I were to give this great nation a new and more modern name, one that reflected one current aspect of today's China, it might just well as be Xerox! Yes, this amazing nation, with its enormous and intelligent population, has become, if anything, a nation of copy-cat fake goods. Everyday China turns out a steady flood of fake copy-cat products, including everything from cheap knock-offs of Rolex watch's, Armani clothing to electronic gear, including, of course, a slew of Apple goodies.

Speaking of Apple, its highly sought after products are one of the most targeted by Chinese manufacturers of fake electronic goods. One of them, as you can see from the above photo, via M.I.C.gadget, is, at first glance, a pretty convincing copy of one of the latest MacBook Pro's. Yes, and not only does it look like the real thing, its also running the real thing too .... yes, a real live working copy of OS X Leopard. I don't know if their buying individual copies of OS X, as was the case with the now defunct Psystar clone maker, but somehow I doubt it.

Funny thing about this particular Apple fake is, that unlike many other fake MacBook from China that ran some form of Windows or Android OS, this not only runs the real deal, as I've said before, but one of the very first things to give this fake MacBook Pro away is the interesting, if not downright funny fact that its keyboard includes the famous Windows keyboard key!

In conclusion, even though I find Chinese knock-off products somewhat amusing, they are, in fact, anything but. For one thing, not only are they stealing legitimate companies ideas, but they are also guilty of stealing revenue from these same companies and, as I stated earlier, damaging their hard-earned reputations while doing so. In addition, and quite unfortunately, they are also helping to give the great nation of Xerox....... excuse....... me ........ I mean the great nation of China, an equally bad reputation as a country of poor quality fake goods and that of being a nation of thieves'!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Monday, November the 29th., 2010

For more photos of this amazing fake MacBook Pro, check out: M.I.C.gadget

Acer's New 10.1-inch Tablet And 7-Inch, Dual Camera iPad 2

After going nowhere over the past twenty or so years, the tablet market has suddenly exploded ever since the successful launch of the iPad some seven months ago. It now seems that anybody, who is anybody these days is rushing to come up with their own version of the iPad.

The latest, as you can see from Engadget's photo above, is from the Taiwanese electronic giant Acer with its very lovely and rather sexy, if I do say so myself, 10.1-inch tablet.

This black beauty will supposedly feature, for its Windows 7 version anyway, an AMD C-50 dual-core Ontario APU (accelerated processing unit), which also packs a built-in Radeon HD 6250 graphic chip, while consuming a mere 9 volts of power. Acer's Android tablets (Gingerbread) are expected, however, to come equipped with ultra-fast Tegra 2 processors.

Sweet!

In the meantime, the Chinese-language daily newspaper, the Taiwanese Economic Daily News, is reporting that Apple's next tablet, the iPad 2, will be featuring not one, but two video cameras and will be available for sale early in the new year. It says that the iPad 2 is already in production and surprisingly, and despite what Steve Jobs has said about seven-inch tablets, it will also come in a seven-inch version as well!

They are reporting that Largan Precision will supply the iPad's camera lenses, while Hon Hai Precision, better known by its trade name Foxconn, will be responsible for its final assembly.

The Chinese newspaper is also reporting that the new iPad will feature, like the current model, an IPS (in plain switching technology) LED screen, supplied by Chimei.

After playing with the new Samsung Galaxy Tab's seven-inch display recently, I found it to be far better than I was expecting, but far less impressing than that of the iPad's. The iPad's larger screen provides less eye-strain while, at the same time, providing far more of a "wow" factor! Things seem to jump out on the larger screen, something the seven-inch version is harder pressed to do. The only advantage, that I can see, of a seven-inch screen over that of the larger variety, is its extra portability. Other than that, larger screens are clearly the better choice.

In conclusion, with the avalanche of tablets expected to be coming over the next year, I'm not sure which size, be it the seven or ten-inch variety, which will ultimately dominate, but I do know that thanks to the iPad, there will be no stopping the tablet genie now that its out of the bottle.

The iPad, The Big "O", And The "Best Thing Ever!"

A report by ChangeWave is predicting that Apple should have another "monster holiday season" on its hands, thanks in part to the introduction of its new MacBook Air models, with ChangeWave noting that Apple's share of the market for notebooks has jumped from around 25 percent to 36 percent.

The new MacBook Airs shouldn't be the only thing contributing to any "monster season" either. The iPad should also contribute its part, and especially now with the help of the big "O" herelf. Yes, the queen of the talk show circuit, Oprah has come out and embraced the iPad and in a big, big way. Oprah has proven to be a big factor when helping sales of just about anything that she endorses, be it books, movies or electronic goodies.

Not only is she listing the iPad among her favorite things, but she says that it's her "Number 1 favorite thing of all ever."

Wow, now you just can't buy that kind of endorsement anywhere, at any price, and as you can also see from the video of Oprah below, and the reaction of her audience when she announced that they, all 275 of them, were each getting a free iPad, is indeed priceless!

In fact, according to the big "O", "From our very first moment together, I knew it had stolen my heart," and she also added that, "Words cannot describe what I feel for this magnificent device." Now that is what I call a super-duper endorsement if ever I heard one!

These are the kinds of words that any company would kill to hear said about their products from just about anyone, let alone the big "O". Unfortunately, however, for Apple's competitors such words will make it all that much harder for them to compete with their own tablets, and especially after considering that the big "O" also describe the iPad as, "I really think it's the best invention of the century so far."

Oprah's influence is so great that not only can she turn soft-selling book titles into huge monster blockbusters, she is also credited for significantly boosting the sales of Amazon's Kindle when she endorsed it in 2008. Hopefully, as well for Apple, this will also be the case.

In conclusion, even though the iPad has been doing extremely well all on its own, with Oprah's recent endorsement of it being her "Number 1 thing ever," and the "greatest invention of the century," I think that we can safely count on it now doing even better, a lot better. Thanks Oprah.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Thuresday, November 25, 2010

One Hell Of A Cool Laptop: The Dual-Screen Acer Iconia

Acer has taken Apple's famous "Think Different" approach to laptops to heart by creating the Iconia, one of the coolest laptops yet, as you can see in CNET's video above.

What do you think, is this cool or what?

Yuppers, this is cool, and cooler still, it could be in the hands of consumers as early as the beginning of the new year. For people who hate on-screen keyboards it may not be that appealing, but for the rest of us gadget loving geeks, I have to admit this is very, very interesting indeed.

With a five-finger gesture this cool laptop opens up a widget that allows you to scroll through a host of other touch friendly apps, including its own special browser. Unfortunately, however, according to a hands-on by Engadget, the keyboard is rather difficult to get used to and requires a learning curve. Personally, touch keyboards are great on a smart phone, or for just casual typing such as on a tablet, but clearly they are not that conducive for typing out that next million-dollar novel that you might be considering writing.

In conclusion, whether or not this new dual-screen laptop ever takes off, that I can't say. However, I can definitely say that Acer's new-fanged Iconia is cool, very cool! On the other hand, I still think that I would much more prefer a laptop with a dual screen built directly into the keypad itself, thus allowing for a full-sized keyboard as in current laptops.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Samsung Galaxy Tab: A Great Tablet That Fails To Impress

Samsung claims that it has sold some 600,000 Galaxy Tabs worldwide in its very first month of sales.

That's a pretty impressive number, especially when you compare it against all of the other tablets, minus the iPad, that went before it.

However, in comparison, thats not quite up to snuff with the iPad's one million plus that it sold just in the U.S. alone. And that, mind you, was just for the lower-spec WI-FI only model.

Still, it's a pretty impressive number nonetheless and, as far as the machine itself goes, I was quite impressed after playing with one yesterday. The diminutive screen size, only some 7 inch's, was even far better than I had originally expected. Yes, as some have said, it does seem to be more of a large Android phone than that of a real tablet. Its larger screen size was the only real difference, at least that I could tell, between them.

Talking about the screen, even though it was bright and clear, its response time felt nowhere near as good as that of the iPad's. The iPad's much larger 9.7 inch screen was far-and-a-way the better performer. True, I've only spent a measly 10 or 15 minutes playing with the Tab, but I definitely find the iPad's screen to be much more fluid, smooth, and accurate to the touch.

The Samsung Galaxy's screen, on the other hand, seemed downright jerky at times and somewhat slower to the touch. At least that's the impression that I came away with anyway. It could also simply be a bad unit as well, but if that's the best that an Android screen can do, well then it had better start doing it better soon, or, as they say, it ain't going to play well with the folks in Peoria.

Nonetheless, for the most part, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is still a very well put together unit. It felt good in my hands, solid and certainly its a device that Apple has to at least take in consideration. On the other hand, however, at least in the mean time anyway, I don't think that Apple has too much to worry about.

The biggest strikes against the Samsung Galaxy Tab are, in my opinion, is first and foremost its 7 inch screen. Yes, it's nice and all, and certainly it's more portable and what have you, but it's also less enjoyable to watch anything on. Who wants to squint anyway? Not me.

The second big buggy-boo for me was its slower response time and the jerkiness of its performance. It just didn't feel quite right. Mind you, it was good, but not good enough.

The third big problem with the unit was the OS itself. It might be the latest and the greatest version of Android, but it certainly wasn't, as Google itself noted, exactly optimized for use in a tablet and it showed. Of course, any day now Google is expected to release GingerBread, an updated Android version designed to better compete with the rich goodness of Apple's much more polished and mature iOS.

In conclusion, I don't know if the Samsung Galaxy Tab is a "Pocketable Train Wreck" as some have suggested, but, on the other hand, if you just happen to hate anything and everything Apple and you want a tablet other than its highly praised version, then the Samsung is a very good choice. Its just not the best choice. That still goes to the iPad which is clearly the gold standard on which all other tablets will be compared to, and especially now that it has recently been updated to iOS 4.2. For me, the Galaxy is a great tablet, but it still fails to impress.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Galaxy Tab photo via: Samsung.ca

Steve Jobs, The Windows and Android Butt Kicking Action Figure

It's not the first time that someone has made a doll out of the bearded one from Cupertino, as you can see here, but M.I.C gadget has brought forth one of the most phenomenal Steve Jobs action figures yet.

As you can see from M.I.C gadget's photo, this particular Stevie doll, with its oversized head, has a cartoon look and feel to it, but, when you actually look a wee bit closer, it also has a very realistic look to it as well, all thanks to the incredible detail in both the dolls face and body. From the wrinkles on Stevie's face, to the wrinkles and folds in his jeans, this action figure is ready to fight and take on the mediocrity of Windows and Android anywhere.

Mind you, this doll will set you back a whopping $80 U.S, and as much as I would personally love to have one of these limited Stevie boys myself so it could stand guard next to one of my beloved Macs, I think I'll just save my money so I can go back to walking the woods of the Black Forest in good old Germany.

Yeah.... go...... Deutschland!

I especially love the doll's Apple logo stand, and the little, but non-removable iPhone 4 in his hand. The detail in Steve's sneakers is so cool, that it makes me really want one of these babies all the more, but alas, as I've said, I don't have those extra bucks.... ah....shucks, life can really suck sometimes, can't it?

In conclusion, if your a really big Apple or Steve Jobs fan like myself, but unlike myself, you've also have the extra bucks just laying around, then this is the action figure for you. Unfortunately, due to overwhelming demand Stevie baby is now completely sold out and completely "OUT OF STOCK" ! However, you can still try your luck here . I'm sure, if not in time for Christmas, then at least at a later date they'll be bringing more of these 'Windows and Android butt kicking' Stevie action figures' back, so good luck!.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Monday, November 22, 2010

Next Generation Of The iPad To Be Dual-Mode GSM-CDMA Device?

According to reports the next-gen iPad is rumored to become a dual-mode GSM-CDMA device, and one that can easily accommodate either AT&T or Verizon's networks.

In a note to investors, Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair stated that Apple was indeed developing a new iPad, one with a Qualcomm multimode GSM-CDMA chip that could accommodate any worldwide network. He also noted that the next generation iPad would include a forward looking camera and one that would help Apple keep its promise to move aggressively in pushing its video chat software, FaceTime.

Its also noted that the next iPad will be a much thinner and would be made, much like the present uni-body Macs are, from a single piece of metal requiring no pins or screws, and also according to Mr. Blair, it would necessitate a new type of manufacturing process.

If true, this sounds like the next generation of the iPad will be a real show stopper indeed, and one that should help it compete more aggressively with the upcoming huge deluged of Android, Windows and WebOS tablets that are just now beginning to enter the market.

So far, the best of the iPad's competition, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, has been getting a rather lackluster introduction. Some are praising it, but with its small screen and lack of high-quality apps, some are beginning to call it a "Pocketable Train Wreck", and some are saying that even though there is a lot to like about the Galaxy Tab, its a device that "Only Apple-Haters Can Love!"

In conclusion, surveys are showing that iPad owners really love their iPads and if the next-gen iPad is anything like some are suggesting it will be, then the next generation of iPad owners might just end up loving it all the more.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Friday, November 19, 2010

Cool And Sexy iPhone 4 And iPod Nano Accessory Kits

I recently spotted two add-on kits, one for the iPhone 4 and the other for the iPod Nano that I find to be especially interesting, if not even a little down right sexy. The first, seen above, is BoxWave's Keyboard Buddy.

The Keyboard Buddy is a case that not only looks good while protecting your electronic precious, but, as you can also see, it happens to feature a very slim and very sexy looking Blu-Tooth keyboard!

Yuppers, if you ever felt a little envious over other slide-out-keyboard phones than from now on you'll never have to feel that way again thanks to this little gem. This $79.95 accessory features the following:

	- Form-fitting shell designed to snap on securely to perfectly fit your Apple iPhone 4
	- Cut-out design for the touch screen so that you can keep the same tactile feel as using the Apple iPhone 4 without a case
	- Conveniently designed to provide quick access to all of Apple iPhone 4's controls, features, camera, and ports
	- Integrated slide-out Bluetooth keyboard allows you to switch from the touch screen to a physical keyboard as desired
	- Includes a USB cable to charge the integrated keyboard
	- Bluetooth keyboard on/off switch allows you to turn the keyboard off when not in use to conserve battery power
	- Finished with a high-quality smooth coating making the case smooth to the touch
	- Charge Duration: 45 days
	- Bluetooth version 2.0
	- Jet Black color

The iPod accessory, on the other hand, is a product that we seem to be seeing a lot of these days, namely ones that turns Apple's tiny new iPod Nano into a great looking watch. As nice as some of the are, however, the new TikTok and LunaTik Multi-Touch watch kits are by far-away the sexiest looking of the whole bunch as you can see from the photo above and video below.

Unfortunately, these great looking iPod kits are not presently on the market yet. The developers are asking for pledges to help guaranteed that the project gets off the ground. The bad news is that they need $15,000. The good news is that they have, as of this writing, already raised some $84,916 from some 1,185 backers, meaning that the project should be a go by Thursday, December 16!

In conclusion, both the Keyboard Buddy and the TikTox/LunaTik accessory kits are great add-ons for any self-respecting iPhone 4 or iPod Nano. They're both thin, slim and trim, and as sexy-as-hell to boot.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Thursday, November 18, 2010

'My Site-4-The-Day': SCOOPERTINO!

Scoopertino is a dedicated Apple news site, but one with a unique twist that other Apple news sites simply can't match, and, therefore, I proudly present it as my site-4-the-day.

I just recently discovered this unique site, a site that I guarantee will give you Apple news with a spin that you simply won't get from anyone else, anywhere! Yes, it's truly unique, very well written and one guaranteed to put a smile on your face, so it's no surprise to me that it has already received several times over one of the most coveted and 'imaginary' award ever presented for journalism, the prestigious Fick Award!

Yes, that's because like the Fick Award itself, Scoopertino is a site that 'Really' only presents 'Unreal News', including these great imaginary news stories:

- EXCLUSIVE: Jony Ive takes us inside his castle

- Microsoft Store opens at bottom of Chilean mine

- Deja Scoop: Apple Store experimenting with Genius Bar wedding service

- Apple extends free Bumper offer to everyone on earth, plus other great posts including Multi-Touch goes Multi-Toe: Introducing Magic Footpad, and one of my favorites Apple introduces iHand: the right way to hold your iPhone.

As you can see just from their post titles, Scoopertino is a comedy site, one that parodies any and everything related to the Cupertino giant, or one of its main competitors, such as Microsoft.

Scoopertino says of itself:

"Scoopertino is an independent news organization devoted to ferreting out the most relevant stories in and around the world of Apple, whether or not they actually occurred. With a global staff of mostly professional journalists, we are capable of responding instantly to breaking spoofs everywhere. Our stories are stress-tested in focus groups prior to release, to guarantee reader safety."

In conclusion, Scoopertino might report 'Unreal' news, but its definitely a very 'Real' and 'Funny site', and one that I can highly recommend to anyone interested in the wild and wacky world of Apple, because even though what they report may not exactly be true, it's also true that this is one hell of a very enjoyable and very funny site, so be sure to check em out.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Wednesday, November 17, 2010

iTunes, iPhone and iPad: Three (4) Interesting Developments To Consider

Gizmodo yesterday posted three interesting developments for the iPhone and iPad. The first project, seen above, involves a cool new 3D accessory that helps to turn the iPhone (or iPAD) into a fun 3D cinema.

However, they note that you can't exactly buy this cool i3DG peripheral just quite yet, but hopefully we will soon. And, hopefully, as well, developers will also create some nifty and cool 3D software to go along with it. In the meantime, I think it's something that would be very cool to see either on the iPhone or iPad, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Below is another cool video of yet another cool piece of software for the iPad: Comcast's new and awesome Xfinity remote app. Wow, like this has got to be the mother-of-all-remotes. It's sort of like having a live and animated TVGuide at your finger tips, and, as you can see, there isn't anything else quite like it out there anywhere.

Gizmodo is also reporting on Path, a new social iPhone app, a 'personal network', that

has been gathering some buzz of late. Gizmodo also features a video of Path in action, one that you can also see on its developers site. If you into socializing in a big way, then Path just might be your path to enlightenment. Path is available in the App Store now with the equally cool price of being absolutely FREE!

So, finally, in conclusion, there is also that little announcement coming later today from Cupertino regarding its iTunes service. According to Apple "Tomorrow is just another day. That you'll never forget."

People have been speculating that Apple is about to finally announce that they are adding the Beatles catalogue, or adding a new music subscription service, or other type of cloud base service to coincide with the opening of its new and massive service farm in North Carolina. We'll see about that soon enough. I can't wait.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Is The HP's Slate 500 A Successful Failure?

While Toshiba's answer to the iPad, its new Folio tablet, has seen so many dissatisfied customers returning them that one of Briton's biggest electronic chains has decided to stop selling them, HP has claimed that it has seen such an 'extraordinary demand' in pre-orders for its forthcoming Slate 500 tablet that it has been forced to issue a six-week shipping delay, but is this really the case?

Apparently, not at all, according to a post from AppleInsider . They report that according to an inside and trusted tipster, HP only planned to sell some 9,000 units of the Slate 500 in the first place, but when pre-orders hit and fizzled out at some 9,000, HP's marketing decided to spin the facts and give the world the impression it was so successful that it couldn't keep up with demand!

To help keep things in perspective, Apple presently sells an average of 46,000 plus iPads each and every day! In other words: in comparison, there is no comparison! Despite what seems to be superior specs for the Slate 500, the iPad apparently offers a much more superior experience than the much more expensive HP tablet, which kind of makes it seem, to me, more like a successful..... FAILURE!

In conclusion, as AppleInsider also pointed out, "recasting failure as an extraordinary surprise of sorts" doesn't exactly make it so. As an avalanche of upcoming competing tablets tries to copy and then out spec the iPad, I can't help but wonder how many of them will end up like the Toshiba Folio, or how many other companies will try to spin off their failure the way HP has apparently done with its Slate 500?

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Monday, November 15, 2010

Illustration via: HP

The World's Most Valuable Personal Computer?

Hey... if your quick, and you got an extra $150,000 t0 $250,000 U.S. burning a hole in your pockets, then you can buy yourself the most powerful and most expensesive personal computer ever created at the time.

This computer is the best of the best, a true technical marvel, and boasts these following impressive specs:

- a whopping 8 kilobytes of RAM!

- a printed circuit board consisting of get this..... four whole rolls numbered A-D

- An Apple-1 motherboard

- and best of all, three whole transistors!

Yes, you got it, if you buy this particular baby with all its screaming high-end parts, you'll also be buying an important part of computer history, namely the world's very first true personal computer --- the Apple 1!

This fabulous piece of computer history is being offered by Christie's Nov. 23 auction. In addition to your main prize, the Apple 1 also comes with some nice bonus's, namely a rare book by Charles Babbage, a whole collection of Alan Turing’s published papers, and the patent specifications for the ENIAC computer, plus an old Enigma cypher machine, and according to the New York Times, most importantly:

“the original packaging, manuals, cassette interface and basic tape, early documentation and provenance, and a commercially rare letter from Steve Jobs.”

In conclusion, if your a museum or your just a rich old money-bag type who loves tech history, then this baby, the Apple 1, number 82 of only 200 ever made and sold, could be all yours. No, it probably doesn't include Flash support, and, for that matter, it doesn't even come with a monitor, keyboard or even a case, but for a measly $150,000 to $250,000 what do you expect anyway? You really can't have it all, so don't be greedy..... sheezh!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Friday, November 12, 2010

Photo via: The Tech Herald

Hacking: Running The Newest Android OS (Froyo 2.2.1) On Older iPhones

Upgrading your Android phone with the latest version of Android isn't exactly as easy as Apple pie. That's why some of the newer Android phones are still running older versions of Android rather than the newest version known as Froyo 2.2.1.

Some Android phones are easier to upgrade than others, but guess which phone is among the easiest?

The iPhone, and more specifically, only the older 2G and 3G versions!

Yes, believe it or not, according to an article on Softpedia, adding Froyo 2.2.1 on an old iPhone 2G or 3G is even easier to update than on most Android phones!

Of course, naturally, this involves hacking of some sort. That leaves me out, since I'm much too lazy and technically inept to even attempt such a feat, but if your interested in the various steps involved they are broken down by Redmond Pie, and they include screenshots of each and every step.

I'm not sure why anyone would even want to add Android to their still perfectly functioning iPhone, but I guess hackers have to do what they have to do.... hack!

In conclusion, hacking isn't for me, and just like Softpedia, I don't exactly recommend it at all, and that goes especially for the non-technical-savy among us, but if your into jail-breaking and you want to hack-away at installing Android's Froyo 2.2.1 on your perfectly innocent and helpless little old iPhone, then by all means, be sure to check out the above links and let me know how you make out.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Thursday, November 11, 2010

Image via: Softpedia

The iPad's Latest Keyboard Case: The ZAGGmate

The above video shows off one of the iPad's newest accessories, the ZAGGmate case with built-in wireless Bluetooth keyboard. The ZAGGmate has a price of $99.99, but you can get the same aluminum case without the keyboard for thirty dollars less.

All-in-all, both versions make for very attractive cases and are designed to match the fit and finish of the iPad itself. ZAGG's official site gives the following specs:

Size and Weight

• Height: 9.75 inches (248 mm)
• Width: 7.625 inches (194 mm)
• Depth: .4 inches (10.2 mm)
• Depth w/keyboard: .54 inches (13.7 mm)
• Weight: 7 ounces (.2 kg)
• Weight w/keyboard: 12.8 ounces (.37 kg)

In the box

• ZAGGmate
• MicroUSB cable for charging
• Quickstart guide
• Four rubber feet (optional)

Battery

ZAGGmate with keyboard uses a 510 mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery that will last several weeks of normal use without charging.

Below you can see both versions of the ZAGGmate, and both are, in my opinion great looking cases. Both are made of aircraft-aluminum with a bead-blasted,hard-anodized finish; offers military grade high-density padding for maximum drop protection; including an innovative hinge which provides ten angles for viewing in either portrait or landscape mode, and the included large, flat base allows one to use your iPad on a soft or uneven surface such as a lap or on a bed.

ZAGGmate, of course, isn't the first and only keyboard iPad case out there, nor, most likely, will it be the last. However, in conclusion, they are definitely some of the best looking ones that I have seen to date thus far, and despite its price, I can easily see myself buying one, if and when I ever get my hands on one of these latest lust worthy Apple gadgets.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Kno: The Dual-Screen College iPad?

Kno is a small start up that is hoping to make a big splash in the emerging world of tablets that was kick started by the hugely successful iPad.

This dual-screen tablet will also be big, some 14.1 inches across and some five times the weight of the iPad! It will run on a Tegra 2 cpu and it's also believe to be running some form of Linux, and, oh, by the way, for your information, it also comes with a very big starting price, a whopping $899!

The Kno, as you can see in the video below, is designed primarily as a college text book replacement, but considering its half-inch thickness, its weight and the fact that it looks to be designed more for giants than for us regular folk, it's questionable whether it will become the iPad for college students, but you never know, you know?

Some people love the idea of having a dual-screen tablet, but I don't. For one, I can foresee those hinges easily breaking and worse, I can't possibly imagine holding one of these things with one hand while trying to manipulate it with the other. Because of this perception, Kno has recently announced that they will also be offering a newer single screen version which makes a lot more sense to me.

In conclusion, with some $55 million in financing, I hope for the sake of its investors the Kno takes off, but for me, it's a little too late, a little too big and much, much too expensive, so I'll gladly rather take the upcoming iPad 2, thank you very much.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Photo illustration via: Kno

The Ultimate iOS Game For The iPad, iPhone and Touch: INFINITY BLADE!

Well, now, just looky, looky what we have here in the above video clip, it's the official trailer for Infinity Blade, one of the most visually gorgeous and awesome iOS games ever created by Epic games.

Yes, this game, in all its gory glory, will be coming soon to the iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad for the holiday season, and it's specifically optimized to run on Apple's A4 processor.

The game, based on the Unreal Engine, looks absolutely amazing and it has been getting some pretty amazing reviews. If you can't wait, but you want a taste on how just great this game will look and feel, you can always download a demo of Epic's Citadel, which, as you can see in the pic below, will offer a world rich in visual splendor. By simply using your thumbs to move around its visually rich world, you should be able to appreciate just how great Infinity Blade will be once its released.

What can I say except that Infinity Blade may just be the most awesome iOS game ever, and the ultimate must have app as many others have already written. As great as it looks on the iPhone or Touch, just imagine how great it'll look and play out on the iPad's much larger and more visually appealing screen.

In conclusion, I'm not really that much into gaming, but this is one game that, if for no other reason, I would still nonetheless buy just in order to show off my iOS device's capabilities. As far as Android, WebOS and Windows 7 platform users go, well, I guess, that you guys will just have to eat your heart out.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this day, Monday, November 08, 2010

Epic Citidel photo via: iTunes Preview