EXCLUSIVES
RIM is not releasing BlackBerry Messenger for iPhone on April 26th
We knew this story was a hoax when we first saw it, but we reached out to Research In Motion to get an official comment from the company. RIM tells us that rumors that BlackBerry Messenger might launch as an app for Apple’s iPhone on April 26th, is false. “RIM did not hold a conference in Toronto this week, and Jim Balsillie did not speak at any event in Toronto this week.” We’re not saying it isn’t coming at some point in the future, but BlackBerry Messenger is definitely not hitting the App Store on April 26th.
E2EK1EL
68 Year Old Woman Dies In iPhone Theft
A Chicago woman has died after an iPhone thief knocked her down a flight of stairs as he tried to make his escape with the stolen device, according to Chicago Breaking News.
A woman on the Fullerton station platform was using her iPhone during rush hour Monday afternoon when a man snatched it and fled, authorities said. As he escaped, the man knocked over Katona-King, who was on her way home from her church receptionist's job.
Katona-King, 68, died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she had been rushed Monday, police spokesman Darryl Baety said. The suspect — who was at large Tuesday night — was last seen heading east on Fullerton Avenue.
Officials said they believe Katona-King suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
"To die over an iPhone? It's senseless," said her son, David King. "Everybody should be the way my mom was. It's just common courtesy. If you have respect for one another, (no one would be) stealing iPhones."
Read More [via CultofMac]
E2EK1EL
Softbank Offers Free Phones and Service to Orphans, Free iPhone Replacements
Softbank has announced that it will give free replacements for all lost or damaged iPhones and give free phones and service to all those orphaned by the Japanese tragedy.
Softbank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son recently visited Tamura, a city greatly affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. During the trip he announced that Softbank would cover a year's worth of living expenses and provide jobs for 1,200 people.
Son's goodwill didn't stop there. According to Engadget, one of Son's twitter followers suggest he give orphaned children free credit for limited time so they could stay in contact with family and friends.
Son then retweeted this idea and announced that all earthquake orphans will receive free phones, along with call costs waived until they reach the age of 18. Another gadget-related initiative came in earlier today with Son promising free replacement for all lost or damaged iPhones due to the earthquake, with details to follow later.
It's definitely refreshing to see companies like Softbank and Apple stepping up to help during this crisis.
Prometheus Xex
quote:
Originally posted by E2EK1EL
"To die over an iPhone? It's senseless,"
Tell that to all those idiots who'll line up for hours/days to get some kind of iDevice !!!
VERTiG0
quote:
Originally posted by r5a
i wish there was an app store called
"apps that i acutally give a about and are worthwhile and not totally worthless and a waste of time"
This
E2EK1EL
Android loses more ‘open’ cred as Google fights fragmentation(BGR)
According to a report filed by Bloomberg Businessweek, Google is beginning to shorten the proverbial leash that Android licensees are currently attached to. Citing “dozens” of industry executives working at “key companies in the Android ecosystem,” the publication writes that Google will need to approve the future Android-plans of its software partners in exchange for early access to upcoming builds of the mobile operating system. “There will be no more willy-nilly tweaks to the software,” reads the report. “No more partnerships formed outside of Google’s purview.”
The report goes on to note that over the past several months, Google has been asking Android distributors to sign a “non-fragmentation clause,” that gives the search giant the “final say” on how manufacturers can “tweak the code.” Bloomberg also casually mentions that Facebook is one of the parties upset about that particular measure, as it has “been working to fashion its own variant of Android for smartphones.”
The article also suggests that Google may have tried to delay the release of Verizon Wireless Android devices that ship with the Bing experience as the default. ”There have been enough run-ins to trigger complaints with the Justice Department,” the report continues.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Google tightening control of Android, insisting licensees abide by 'non-fragmentation clauses'?(Engadget)
A storm seems to be brewing over the realm of Android development. Bloomberg's Businessweek spies have received word from "a dozen executives working at key companies in the Android ecosystem" that Google is actively working to gain control and final say over customizations of its popular mobile OS. That might not sound unreasonable, and indeed Google's public position on the matter is that it's seeking to stabilize the platform and ensure quality control, but it does mark a major shift from where Android started -- an open source OS that was also open to manufacturers and carriers to customize as they wish. Not so anymore, we're told, as apparently Mountain View is now demanding that content partnerships and OS tweaks get the blessing of Andy Rubin before proceeding. The alternative, of course, is to not be inside Google's warm and fuzzy early access program, but then, as evidenced by the company recently withholding the Honeycomb source code, you end up far behind those among your competitors who do dance to Google's pipe.
Things have gotten so heated, in fact, that complaints have apparently been made to the US Department of Justice. They may have something to do with allegations of Google holding back Verizon handsets with Microsoft's Bing on board, ostensibly in an effort to trip up its biggest search competitor. Another major dissatisfaction expressed by those working with Android code is that Google needs an advance preview of what is being done in order to give it the green light -- which, as noted by a pair of sources familiar with Facebook's Android customization efforts, isn't sitting well with people at all. Google and Facebook are direct competitors in the online space and it's easily apparent how much one stands to gain from knowing the other's plans early. As to the non-fragmentation clauses in licenses, Andy Rubin has pointed out those have been there from the start, but it's only now that Google is really seeking to use them to establish control. The future of Android, therefore, looks to be a little less open and a little more Googlish -- for better or worse. As Nokia's Stephen Elop puts it:
"The premise of a true open software platform may be where Android started, but it's not where Android is going."
Jem_hadar
quote:
Originally posted by E2EK1EL
"The premise of a true open software platform may be where Android started, but it's not where Android is going."
quote:
Google designed Android to be open source. The intent here was so that the community of users could access, change, alter and generally control their own individual experiences. In reality however what has happened is the manufacturers and the carriers have jumped on the open platform and attempted to use and abuse it in every way possible – essentially taking advantage so they could control what was supposed to be open and free. Manufacturers load the phone’s down with bloatware designed, in many cases, to sell their own products. Carrier’s pile on the crapware as well. Performance then takes a hit and you wonder how your 1GZ processor could possibly be stuttering on a basic site... or scrolling through your contacts. ... They put out phones, that can’t be upgraded by Google due to the crapware, that they have no intention of ever upgrading in the hopes you will buy a phone every 18 months.
E2EK1EL
^^^
Everyone knows that lol
It's takes an average of 6 - 18 months for Android device to get an official update, which is already out dated by then (hardware & software). They should just close it up and follow Windows method of an ecosystem. Once an update is out, it's deployed to all devices right away, minus the bricking bug of the Samsung devices.
Like I said before, for you to obtain the most recent (that's not the case anymore) firmware, you must root your device and load custom firmware. Which is like jailbreaking and voids your warranty. Android wasn't really open source to begin with in the first place.
Don't forget, the carriers gotta do their nonsense after it's handed down from the manufactures.
Playa24_7
Apparently umm...buy an Android...I guess? LOL
Prometheus Xex
^^^ LOL I love it !!!
Guv should invite it over one night to dance on a podium. GOGO Droid in da house. :P
E2EK1EL
iOS 4.3.1 still makes my IP4 choppy and slow, after a fresh restore everything is smooth ... until you launch some 3rd party apps like Angry Bird, Google and Facebook apps.
Especially Angry Birds when you start multitasking the game and switch back to resume.
Some are reporting, even after a fresh install, OEM apps are causing some sluggish performances.
EDIT: Infinite Blade doesn't seem to like this iOS ver, sometimes when you're fighting and you want to fast forward some areas .... or even fighting, it gets choppy.
FinalFight@CAPCOM ARCADE
iOS iPhone
This Month we are adding “FinalFight” and “1943”!
Your favorite Capcom arcade games are back and better than ever in these near perfect ports of the originals.
Play Street Fighter II, Street Fighter II’ Championship Edition, the original Ghouls ‘N Ghosts, 1942 and Commando in their entirety for the first time on iPhone and iPod touch.
Play three times a day for free. If you’d like to play more often, additional “Tokens” can be purchased in the CAPCOM ARCADE, or if there is a game you truly love, buy a game’s “Arcade Machines” outright for unlimited play and maximum value.
Features:
*Play the classic arcade versions of Street Fighter II, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, 1942 and Commando in their entirety.
This month we are adding FinalFight and 1943!! There will be new games added each month so please stay tune for more.
*New games will be added every month to the Capcom Arcade *Two modes of play - “iPhone” mode for more casual gamers and “Classic” mode for purists *Special premium DLC “cheats” that unlock special abilities, upgrades and weapons
Check out other awesome games from Capcom - Street Fighter 4, Ghost’ N Goblins: Gold Knights II, Mr. Bill and more!
-Change application name and icon
-Added “FinalFight” and “1943”
-Improved control of “Street Fighter II” and “Street Fighter II’ Championship Edition”
