Droid's successor to be Verizon-exclusive "Shadow"

While Motorola's Droid continues to sell very well, the mobile phone maker has plans to roll out a successor to the device soon, code-named "Shadow."

The Shadow will come packed with a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and 16 GB of built-in storage, according to Gizmodo, . It will also have a large 4.3-inch display and an HDMI out connection to play HD-captured video and stored media onto an HDTV. Shadow will of course most likely be packed in Android 2.2, the most current version of Google's operating system. That means it can be used as a wireless tether for other devices to feed off its wireless data connection.

The phone will also reportedly be exclusive to Verizon, just like the Droid. The Droid has consistently been the second-best-selling phone on the market, well behind the iPhone but significantly ahead of the rest of the mobile pack.

No word yet on a release date or potential price for this device.

AT&T offers free Wi-Fi in New York City

AT&T is providing free public Wi-Fi hot spots to help it deal with increasing congestion on its wireless network.

The company launched a free outdoor wireless hot spot, on tuesday, in New York's Times Square.

The pilot program will offer free Wi-Fi access to AT&T wireless and broadband customers using Smartphones, laptops, and other Wi-Fi enabled devices. AT&T's Wi-Fi network is set up on the north side of Times Square on Seventh Avenue between 45th and 47th Streets.

The program is designed to see how Wi-Fi can help relieve wireless data congestion on AT&T's network. Customers with Wi-Fi-enabled devices will connect to the Wi-Fi network instead of AT&T's 3G network to access Web-based applications or the Internet. If all goes well, AT&T said it may expand the offering to other cities.

AT&T, the exclusive carrier in the U.S. for the iPhone, has been struggling to keep up with demand for data services on its network. The company has reported that due to new devices like the iPhone it's seen mobile data traffic grow on its network 5,000 percent in three years.

The extra traffic, particularly in densely populated locales such as New York City and San Francisco, has caused problems for consumers in the way of dropped calls and slow Net access.

The telephone company has been investing in its network to improve capacity and network coverage. It's upgraded its backhaul networks, which connect the cell sites to its Internet backbone. It's added new Microcell devices that expand in-home coverage. And it's bulked up coverage in sports stadiums, convention halls and other areas where people congregate.

AT&T has also been using its more than 20,000 Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the country to offload some of the traffic. The company has offered free Wi-Fi access to its smartphone subscribers in the hopes that customers will use the Wi-Fi network when it's available rather than the slower 3G network.

So far, the company has seen some success. In 2009, AT&T consumers connected to an AT&T Wi-Fi hot spot four times more often than they did in 2008, the company has said. And in the first quarter, AT&T handled 53.1 million Wi-Fi connections on its network, which is nearly five times higher than the same quarter last year.

One of the major advantages of Wi-Fi is that it's already in most devices. Laptops come with Wi-Fi pre-installed, and most new smartphones also come with Wi-Fi built in. It's also faster than a 3G network, so it offers subscribers a better experience.

Advancements in the technology, particularly new features found in the latest version of Wi-Fi 802.11n, increase the range and speed of the networks. In urban areas, Wi-Fi hot spots now extend almost 2,000 feet, which is nearly as far as some cellular cell sites, according to Jeff Thompson, CEO of fixed wireless provider Towerstream.

LG Fathom brings Windows Phone to Verizon

Although Windows Phone 7 devices will be on their way in a few months, Microsoft's still supporting and cranking out Windows Mobile 6.5 devices and the latest to join the family is the LG Fathom for Verizon Wireless.

Designed for business users, the Fathom runs Windows Mobile 6.5.3 and has dual-mode GSM/CDMA functionality so the phone can be used internationally. More specifically, you'll be able to make calls in more than 220 countries and use data in 200 countries, 110 of them in 3G.

The LG Fathom’s feature includes a 1GHz processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 3.2-inch capacitive touch screen, and slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The handset also features a 3.2-megapixel camera, a microSD slot (up to 16GB), and support for VZ Navigator Global.

The LG Fathom will be available through business channels May 27 and in stores June 3 for $149.99 with a 2 year contract and after $100 mail-in rebate.

Android 2.2 Available On Google Nexus One

Google has started rolling out its Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system on the Google Nexus One.

Currently, it seems only certain batches of the mobile have received the update over the air, but over the next few days / weeks it’s expected that every Google Nexus One will be modernized to Android 2.2.

Users can manually download the update, but we recommend waiting because it could be that Google are ensuring compatibility with each batch before releasing the update.

Android 2.2 brings vast speed improvements to both internet browsing and general usage. It’s thought it can be up to 5 times faster than Android 2.1 with CPU heavy processes. It also enables the memory to be managed more efficiently improving performance, as well as reliability.

New features of Android 2.2 include a new tips widget for the home-screen to assist you in personalizing your home-screens. Security is also improved, with the option to use alpha-numeric passwords to unlock your mobile.
It also enables the video camera to take advantage of the LED flash so you can shoot night time videos.

Another impressive improvement is the ability to turn your Google Nexus One into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. This enables you to share your internet connection with other devices!

Lastly, it adds multiple keyboard languages that can easily be changed with a swipe of the space bar. This is especially useful for those frequently speak in two different languages.

The Google Nexus One is a ground-breaking handset

The Google Nexus One offers both style and function within the limits of a mobile phone that utilizes the android operating system and a Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD 8250 1 GHz processor. Both of these elements provide an effective platform which offers reliability at its core.

The phones 3.7 inch AMOLED touch screen display offers effective image representation which is contained within its 480 x 800 pixel screen size. The handset provides a trackball in addition to the multi-touch input method, to provide effective navigation around the encompassed functionality whilst also providing an accelerometer sensor as well as a proximity sensor, both of which automate certain tasks.

It provides a variety of connectivity options, with internet access provided by the HSDPA and Wi Fi connections offering the ability to surf the web at speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps. The unit also includes GPRS and EDGE connections, which are both class 10 and combine with the blue tooth and micro-USB connections to offer a myriad of connectivity options. The handsets internal memory is 512 MB with a 4 GB SD card included. For additional memory expansion the integrated microSD card slot can be utilized to increase memory capacity up to 32 GB if desired. The GPS function offers satellite navigation and incorporates A-GPS support.

It has additional features like its 5.0 megapixel camera that offers the benefits of autofocus and smile detection as well as an LED flash. The unit also provides Geo-tagging functionality as an option to reference imagery by location. The camera also provides the means to capture video, offering recording quality of D1 quality. The handset also includes an MP4/MP3 media player, which will play and supports a wide range of file formats.

In addition the phone provides a dedicated microphone as well as active noise cancellation and also includes a digital compass with the benefit of dedicated search keys. For those who utilize Social media, the handset provides Google talk, YouTube and Picasa integration as standard.

HP Mini 210 Netbook Now Available With Verizon

Verizon Wireless has quietly added another netbook into their current lineup. The new model is the HP Mini 210-1076NR and it’s priced at $149.99 on a two year agreement.

It features the 10.1 inch LED display with a 1024 x 600 resolution, 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, 6 cell battery, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth and Windows 7 Starter edition.

Additionally, you will also find a 93% full sized keyboard, HP Clickpad with on/off button, stereo speakers, three USB 2.0 ports, 0.3 megapixel webcam with integrated microphone, 5-in-1 memory card reader, VGA out, Ethernet and headphone/microphone combo.

The reason behind the HP Mini 210 netbook being offered by Verizon comes due to the built in 3G support. But that also means an extra monthly cost in terms of the 3G access. In this case, interested customers can opt to choose from either the 250MB per month option for $39.99 or the 5GB per month option for $59.99.

Most important is $149.99 price tag means a two year agreement and in the case of a netbook you are purchasing what Verizon considers an “advanced device.” In short, that means should you decide to cancel before your two years are up, you will have to pay a $350 early termination fee.

Verizon is also offering a few other netbooks including the Gateway LT2016u with 10.1 inch display for $49.99 and the HP Mini 311 with 11.6 inch display for $199.99. Still, there is always the option to purchase a netbook or notebook elsewhere and just get a MiFi from Verizon, which will be the same as far as monthly cost and allow you to connect up to five Wi-Fi capable devices at any time.

Verizon looks towards five 4G phones by May 2011

The push for 4G technology is certainly on the fast-track, and sure enough, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirms that the largest wireless carrier in the United States is on track to launch, potentially, a handful of LTE-based devices within a year’s time. The company’s plans for Long Term Evolution, on the network side, has been consistent with their plans, so as long as the handsets can match the launch of the network, Verizon could easily be the leader in the 4G market sooner than later.

McAdam was speaking to investors recently, and he said that Verizon would have somewhere between 3 to 5 handsets launched by May 2011, all connected to the 4G network. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to confirm which companies out there would be the ones behind the LTE handsets, but he did say that “all the major manufacturers we’re talking to today are making the transition to LTE.” So, we can probably safely assume we know who the heavy hitters will be, but perhaps there could be some underdogs that rise to the occasion, too.

Additionally, McAdam mentioned that Motorola, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics were all on board for being the companies that would supply the wireless carrier with LTE-based tablet devices. More interesting, though, is that Verizon plans to have these up and ready to go by the end of the year. As it looks from our perspective, that means Verizon could have at least a couple of LTE-based handsets, tablets, and a 4G network expanding to anywhere between 25 and 30 markets by the end of 2010. With an estimated 100 million people covered, this could be a huge increase for the wireless carrier’s customer base.

Intel to Use Wireless Display Technology

Intel is going to use its wireless display technology to mobile gadgets, including smartphones as well as tablets.

Due to the Wi-Di technology, users will be able to transmit video as well as images wirelessly, from PC to a TV available with a high-definition screen. It should be mentioned that such a technology will be added to netbooks, tablets as well as handheld devices.

At an investor conference, Intel CEO Paul Otellini said that by having Wi-Di technology with Intel-based devices, it will be easier to view HD content that can be found on such devices as mobile phones with larger screens.

The company intends to improve out-of-box usage experience. Moreover Intel plans to incorporate the Wi-Di capability into all Intel platforms. It can only mean that Intel-based devices will be able to deal with seamless wireless communication of HD video between the big screen and that device.

Moreover, the quality of video available from home camcorders will be improved. One should say that there is a growing interest when viewing such content on bigger screens.

In fact, Wi-Di makes use of software that takes advantage of graphics capabilities of Intel’s Core processors.

Wireless iPhone sync software rejected by Apple from App Store

Apple this week rejected "Wi-Fi Sync," a third-party application that allows the iPhone and iPod touch to sync wirelessly with iTunes.

The developer, Greg Hughes, has instead turned to the unauthorized source for iPhone software, Cydia, which is available only on "jailbroken" devices that can run software not approved by Apple. Wi-Fi Sync is available to purchase through the Cydia Store for $9.99.

Hughes told Engadget that an Apple representative told him over the phone that the application was not specifically in violation of the terms of the iPhone OS developer agreement.

"While he agreed that the app doesn't technically break the rules, he said that it does encroach upon the boundaries of what they can and cannot allow on their store," the developer said. "He also cited security concerns."

Wi-Fi Sync allows an iPhone or iPod touch to wirelessly transfer data such as music to the device without tethering it to a computer via a USB cable. It is not supported on the iPad. The current application works with Mac OS X and requires separate, free software to be installed on the machine running iTunes. Hughes said a Windows version of the desktop application is forthcoming.

The developer first introduced the application in late April.

Apple has maintained tight control of the ability of its devices to sync with the iTunes desktop client. Last year, the iPhone maker was engaged in a well-publicized sync spat with rival Palm.

Originally, Palm's WebOS mobile operating system identified itself as an iPod to allow the device to sync with iTunes by default. But Apple released numerous iTunes updates that killed the functionality. The back-and-forth battle continued for months, until the USB Implementers Forum sided with Apple and warned Palm that its actions were in violation of the organization's rules.

Android OS 2.2 To Include Built-in Wi-Fi Router, USB Tethering

The next version of Google's Android OS will reportedly consist of software that will allow smartphones running it to share their wireless Internet connections with other computers, such as laptops.

Many people who are often on the go use tethering software, which allows them to hook a PC to their smartphone with a USB cable and share the phone's Internet connection. Some phones can also be used as wireless routers, which allow them to share their Internet connection with several other devices over Wi-Fi.

Google is supposedly going to add both these features to Android OS 2.2.

This should be welcome news to those who use phones based on this operating system. While tethering software is available for Android-based devices, there is no simple solution for converting one into a Wi-Fi router.

However, not all wireless carriers support of tethering PCs to their phones, as laptops tend to use far more data than smartphones. It's possible some Android devices will have this capability stripped out.

Google has begun leaking the details on the next version of its smartphone operating system, but the company has not yet officially announced it or the features it will include.

Andy Rubin, Google's vice president of engineering, has said that this version will have Adobe Flash Player 10.1 included. Unconfirmed reports shows that it will enable users to automatically download and install new versions of third-party applications.

At this point, a likely time for the official unveiling of Android OS 2.2 -- code-named "Froyo" -- is at the Google I/O conference in San Franciso on May 19 and 20.

Sprint to Make HTC's Evo 4G Phone Available in June

Sprint has announced a date and the price to world’s first 4G-enabled Android device. The 4G radio toting powerhouse will be available in stores starting from June 4 for a decent $199.99 with a mail-in rebate and two year contract.

In addition to boasting faster cellular connectivity than 3G, the Evo 4G features a humongous 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen display, 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 8MP main camera with dual LED flash and 720p video recording, 1.3MP front facing camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Radio, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD card slot and the ability to turn the phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 8 Wi-Fi devices.

Palm Pixi Plus for Verizon Wireless Now Free

The Palm Pixi Plus is now available free on Verizon Wireless. At launch, the Palm Pixi Plus was rated at $99. Then, Verizon Wireless dropped its price from $99 to just $30. Ultimately, the carrier is now offering the device for absolutely nothing.

Now, there could be two reasons as to why Verizon Wireless is basically giving away the Pixi Plus:

1. It’s not selling well — which we all know is a big influencing factor.
2. Considering the price of the more advance Palm Pre Plus was also dropped to $30 recently, it only made sense to lower the price of the Pixi Plus. In this case, there was no way other than to make the device free.

It also looks like Verizon Wireless is no longer offering the Buy-One-Get-One [BOGO] free deal for evident reasons. At this point, it only remains to be seen whether Verizon Wireless will make a decision to discontinue the Palm devices in the near future, or if they will begin offering the Pre Plus for free as well.

WiGig group opens way to gigabit wireless devices

Wireless devices that run at speeds of gigabits rather than megabits have been given the green light to hit the consumer market.

The Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig) announced on Monday that its 60GHz multi-gigabit wireless technology is now available for member companies to start turning out products that use the new high-speed standard.

Operating at the unused frequency of 60GHz, the WiGig standard can theoretically offer speeds of up to 7 gigabits per second (Gbps), more than 10 times faster than the current 802.11n Wi-Fi, or Wireless N, rate.

Finalized last December, WiGig is not meant to replace existing Wi-Fi technology but rather complement it. Though WiGig will be faster than traditional Wi-Fi, its range will be shorter.

To further cement the push for high-speed wireless, the WiGig Alliance also announced Monday an agreement with the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit wireless industry group whose goal is to ensure that different wireless products can talk to each other. The two groups will share technology specifications to create a certification program that can push the development of new Wi-Fi products operating in the 60GHz frequency.

Formed a year ago to promote the need for faster speed connections between different wireless devices, the Wireless Gigabit Alliance counts Intel, Nokia, Dell, Microsoft and Samsung among the members of its board of directors. Networking powerhouse Cisco Systems recently joined as a board member.

Borders launches $150 Kobo eReader

Borders Group Inc has entered the rather crowded eReader space with the launch of a $150 device dubbed "Kobo."

Kobo, which is likely to compete against Amazon's Kindle and B&N's Nook, offers users access to over a million eBooks via USB or a wireless Bluetooth connection. However, it does not support WiFi.

Borders launches $150 Kobo eReader. The eReader also comes pre-loaded with 100 classic titles and is capable of storing up to 1,000 eBooks on 1GB of flash memory.

In addition, Kobo boasts a two week battery life and also supports a number of eReader formats, such as ePUB, PDF and Adobe DRM.

"The Kobo eReader is the eReader for everyone. It was created by booklovers, for booklovers," said Kobo CEO Michael Serbinis.

"[And] at $149.99 the Kobo eReader is roughly $100 less than the other eReading devices out there, so it provides a great way to start eReading without breaking the bank.

Serbinis added that Kobo offered free apps for a slew of mobile devices, including the iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Palm Pre and Android.

Epson’s new Stylus NX420 wireless printer is only $99

Epson unveiled the Stylus NX420, the industry’s first all-in-one inkjet printer with built-in wireless and priced under $100.

The Stylus NX420 offers three devices (printer, scanner, copier ) in one compact machine for $99.99. Other features include scan resolution up to 2400 dpi, a 1.5-inch LCD, built-in memory card reader, ISO print speeds up to 6.4 ppm in black and 3.3 ppm in color.

And with low cost individual DURABrite Ultra ink cartridges starting at $8.99, Stacey Tieu, an associate product manager at Consumer Ink Jets, Epson America, Inc. said, “Consumers definitely get more for their money with the feature-rich NX420 all-in-one.”

The latest addition to the Stylus line is also Energy Star qualified and RoHS compliant and the NX420 is designed to be recycled at end of life along with the ink cartridges.

The Epson Stylus NX420 is available now on Epson.com and authorized vendors for $99.99.

Bell Recalls Its Novatel MiFi 2372 3G Routers Due To Battery Issues

Novatel Wireless’ MiFi 2372 has been making headlines today after reports surfaced claiming the Bell Mobility version of the portable wireless hotspot had been recalled over safety issues. According to Hadley, Novatel’s CMO, only two incidents of user-induced damage have been recorded – the Novatel labs suggest that one MiFi 2372 owner used a knife or other sharp object to open the battery compartment, while another used “excessive force” and damaged the battery due to over-compression – and, since damaged lithium ion batteries can overheat, the company decided to redesign the battery door assembly so as to make it easier for customers to remove.

The incidents, Hadley says, are “very isolated” and there have been “zero reports of any harm” caused by the battery damage. Contrary to speculation that the MiFi units could blow up, Novatel says the worst-case scenario their labs have been able to predict is part of the portable router’s case melting if left unchecked. That given, the MiFi 2372 hasn’t been recalled; this is, they say, a replacement program for the battery door as a preventative measure.

Owners are being asked to return both the battery door and the MiFi’s battery, the latter being so that Novatel can test for any damage it may have incurred while the compartment is opened. As for the physical changes to the door section itself, they’ll make the latch easier to press so as to “reduce the incentive” to apply undue pressure or reach for a sharp object.

Bell Mobility has quoted a 6 to 8 week turnaround for the redesigned battery door, though Hadley says Novatel are expecting it to be more like 10 days. In the meantime, owners will be loaned a Novatel Wireless U998 Turbo Stick USB modem to hopefully keep them online. As for now, all new shipping Bell Mobility MiFi 2372 units have the redesigned battery door, so new buyers will get the latest model.

Bell Mobility is shutting off the MiFi 2372’s service as of today, and will be sending out return envelopes and loaner USB sticks over the next few days. The carrier has said that customers with questions regarding the process should contact customer services at 1-800-611-6600.