Nokia CEO Stephen Elop is currently on stage at MWC in Barcelona, and he's had a few choice things to say about the recent announcement that Nokia will partner with Microsoft to create devices which run Windows Phone software. Elop told the crowd assembled there that Nokia's "first priority is beating Android," and he also took a moment to let everyone know that Nokia is not interested in being the only company producing Windows Phones -- countering some recent exclusivity chatter. The presentation is still going on, so we'll keep you updated.
Switched On: Iconic trends meet ironic ends
This week saw significant and contrasting twists for the legacies of two operating systems that had their roots in the heyday of the PDA. HP revealed that it is killing off the Palm brand, and Nokia announced that -- while it would continue to "harvest" less capable versions of the Symbian operating system on its basic handsets -- it would shift away from the operating system in its smartphones in favor of Windows Phone 7. In some ways, the demise of the Palm brand and the loss of Symbian's last major supporter at Microsoft's hands represent the end of an era.
Palm's salad days included the creation of Graffiti, the category-defining Pilot, and the sleek and popular Palm V. However, it suffered under many troubled owners and strategies, including the separation of and failed reunion with the Palm operating system. At the start of the company's final chapter, CEO Jon Rubinstein pointed to the company's focus on mobile as its main differentiator, but mobile wasn't enough to keep the company afloat.
Now, with its software and handsets inside HP, the group formerly known as the Palm Global Business Unit is working hard to bring webOS to products that include PCs and printers. That's a long way from today's mobile handset – so long that one may question whether apps developed for such devices will have much relevance for a smartphone – but the operating system that was once laser-focused on pocketable products is living on through devices that are anything but.
The Nokia of the '90s saw Microsoft – not Android – as the agent of commoditization.
That twist is nothing compared to the fate of Symbian, the roots of which were an OS called EPOC32, the product of another PDA company called Psion. (Psion, which continues today as a maker of industrial handheld devices, produced what is still arguably the best handheld keyboard in a pocket device with its Series 5 and 5mx clamshell PDAs.) Symbian was driven by a consortium of handset companies led by Nokia -- but also including Motorola, Samsung and LG and Sony Ericsson -- that wanted to have a hedge against the potential influence and growing mobile ambitions of -- that's right -- Microsoft. The Nokia of the '90s saw Microsoft – not Android – as the agent of commoditization.
Symbian was not only successful in terms of driving a massive installed base and market share, but also in its strategic mission of keeping Microsoft at bay. Its demise was driven not by the success of Microsoft, but of Android, which has served the same purpose for many handset vendors while offering many of the characteristics consumers liked about the iPhone.
You could consider these games of chess as similar but unrelated, but the truth of the matter is that they share a common player. Before webOS was ready, Palm too embraced Windows Mobile as a stopgap operating system. Just as for Nokia, Windows wasn't necessarily the operating system that was "right" but the one that was "right now." The smartphone market has changed radically since those days, of course. Nokia can keep working on MeeGo as an alternative should things not work out with Microsoft, but it's clear that the struggling handset giant is committing to Windows Phone as far more than just a hedge. For things to turn out otherwise would be the biggest twist of all.
E2EK1EL
Cydia Has Been Blocked in the UK, Ireland, and China!
Cydia has been blocked in the UK and Ireland by 3 and in China by China Unicom, according to tweets from developer Steve Troughton-Smith.
Wow, 3 Ireland (iPhone carrier) has blocked Cydia's servers from their network: http://go.ww.com/cydia/ /via @0xMW
@stroughtonsmith @0xMW #China unicom has been blocked #Cydia's server too
@stroughtonsmith 3 UK have blocked Cydia too. Not only pre-pay but pay monthly aswell.
This a pretty disturbing series of events and we'll keep you updated as more develops. Note that Cydia is being blocked over 3G. You will still be able to access it via Wi-Fi.
Nerologic
quote:
Originally posted by E2EK1EL Is this what court does to white ppl?
hahahaah
:stongue:
E2EK1EL
NTT DoCoMo begins lightning fast LTE-Advanced field tests
LTE may only just be launching in countries like the US and Sweden, but NTT DoCoMo recently announced that it's starting to field test the better, faster, stronger LTE-Advanced. The Japanese carrier is experimenting with the new technology in the cities of Yokosuka and Sagamihara and gathering data to evaluate performance in indoor vs. outdoor environments. LTE-Advanced is a backwards-compatible with NTT DoCoMo's existing LTE network, but reaches speeds up to 1GHz down and 200MHz up. No word on when the carrier plans to make the new technology available to its customers.
(Now that's a true 4G network)
E2EK1EL
Unconfirmed: New Fido Unlimited Plan
Unconfirmed, but all directions are pointing yes
Unlimited VP w/ SMS - $35
E2EK1EL
AT&T is very similar to Rogers ...
When there's no competition, they both rip you off. Once there's a threat, at least AT&T gives out tons of free mins and data w/o any obligations._
Rogers on the other hand increases their pricing and offer a lot less then before._
E2EK1EL
Apple said to be testing three iPhone 5 models, including one with a slide-out keyboard
A new rumor from Taiwanese Apple enthusiast blog Apple.pro suggests that Apple is currently testing three different prototypes of what will eventually become the iPhone 5. One such prototype, the report claims, features a slide-out physical keyboard similar to the one seem above (which is an iPhone 4 keyboard accessory by BoxWave called the Keyboard Buddy). A physical keyboard on an iPhone would certainly come as a surprise considering the company’s prior stance against hardware keypads, though Apple has often been known to reverse its stances where the iPhone is concerned. Apple.pro’s report states that the other two prototypes are similar in design to the iPhone 4, though at least one features an upgraded 8-megapixel camera and a thinner case compared to the current iPhone model.
(Nigga you crazy?)
Prometheus Xex
quote:
Originally posted by E2EK1EL Unconfirmed: New Fido Unlimited Plan
Unconfirmed, but all directions are pointing yes
Unlimited VP w/ SMS - $35
Hmmm... my current plan at $50 is unlimited everything except for data, but inc. calling anywhere in North America and no roaming charges in Canada.
VDub
I ing hate slide out keyboards and if apple comes out with one, galaxy s here I come!!!
Or a win 7 phone...
It would break my heart but I don't want a slider...
E2EK1EL
quote:
Originally posted by Prometheus Xex
Hmmm... my current plan at $50 is unlimited everything except for data, but inc. calling anywhere in North America and no roaming charges in Canada.
Yes I know, I'm the one who posted that info for you to obtain that plan a while ago. :p
(Once again, you can't use the term "roaming" in Canada. It's impossible since Robellus blankets the entire country from coast to coast and you won't be able to switch between them with a single sim card. Using the AWS carriers is a diff story, since they have such limited coverage.)
EDIT: It's gonna be in March, Fido is gonna have some massive change and it's a positive thing.
quote:
Originally posted by VDub
I ing hate slide out keyboards and if apple comes out with one, galaxy s here I come!!!
Or a win 7 phone...
It would break my heart but I don't want a slider...
I doubt they're gonna do it, that's like moving backwards when they've pushed the entire industry forward. Physical keyboards is such a dinosaur thing now.
