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.