Showing posts with label Mobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mobile. Show all posts

Thursday, July 30, 2009

5 Common iPhone Problems and Their Solutions

iPhone is no miracle, its a man-made phone like other mobile phones. Apple iPhone might be overwhelmed with rave reviews. No doubt iPhone is rocking - turning heads with its beauty and featues, but like all other phones it's not invincible. Behind these praises, the Cupertino company might have overheard the annoyances or nuisances about their smartphone that getting under the user's skin.
Well, some of the most common pains that you might come across while using your iPhone include - default apps can’t be hidden, Pandora and other apps not running in the background, grueling task of browsing the App Store and pacified IMAP in Gmail. When there are problems, solutions are bound to come up, almost by default. We decided to highlight the common iPhone problems and share their solutions with you.

1. Easy browsing App Store

Out of the massive junk of apps in App store its too tiring to find your chosen one. Only if you know that release date, you might get the top 100 apps released in that category. Even that might yield a number of unwanted results. Although Apple provides search keywords the function is a bit kinky.

To avoid this Apple needs to come up with a Show All feature. It would allow you to sort out apps by name or rank.
Solution

Well, there's a cool app, Apple Miner that makes browsing the store a cakewalk. It offers you a list of apps that go on sale including the paid apps that are being given away and those that create a watch list for discounts. To filter the choice you can take the help of sites like Macworld's App Guide, Apptism and AppBeacon.

2. Run Pandora and other apps in background
One of the top features in iPhone is that ability to stream Internet radio stations such as Pandora and Slacker from anywhere with a 3G or Wi-Fi connection. However, what's most irritating is that the music is snapped as soon as you start playing games or check emails.

To make things work their way Apple needs to allow certain apps to run at the same time. Well, how come iPod plays the music in background? Hope iPhone's audio system does that same.
Solution

This one is exclusively meant for Jailbreakers, if you have a free get-out-of-jail card download Gaizin's multitasking app iphone-backgrounder.

3. Operating IMAP Gmail
Most of you iPhone owners must be knowing that you can configure the iPhone's Mail app to retrieve your Gmail. Unfortunately, iPhone's Mail app doesn't include all the features you prefer in Gmail, particularly threaded viewing and starting. In case you like email friends or engage in long conversation threads during the day the Mail app would be quickly overwhelmed.
Solution

There's no way you can replace the Mail app completely. However, you can swap it for Gmail's Web app, which sports an iPhone-optimized layout. Recently, the swipe recognition was added. For more you might archieve e-mail messages with a finger stroke and caching would come along with HTML5 support. Add Gmail to the iPhone home page through + button in Safari and shun the old Mail app

4. Create Contact List Groups
One of the most unbearable features with iPhone is that it lists all your contacts under one category. So you can't split your friends and your colleagues in separate groups. Further, you have no options to create custom groups. All your contacts are co-existing in a massive list unless you creates subsections using your computer.

Well, if you are still waiting for Apple to fix it, move out.
Solution

There's a cool app that can create contact list groups for you. With ABContacts you can set up smart files that can categorize your contacts according to groups by name, location, place of employment, or notes.

5. Hide default apps
iPhone's start screen is stuffed with shortcuts of default applications whether you use them or not. For instance, not many of you check the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the weather frequently. These default iPhone apps can't be hidden or customized.
Solution

A quick and nasty solution to this is to isolate the undesirable apps on your last home page. For jailbreakers, you might seek programs like Sbsettings or Poof.
For a an ideal way to get rid of the unwanted default iPhone apps follow the steps below
Step 1: Move any app you don't want on your iPhone like iTune Store, Camera, weather to the 9th page.

Step 2: Arrange the apps you wanna delete to the right most location on the page


Step 3: Now you need to move the iPhone app to the hidden 10th page on iPhone. In order to dump the you can simply push the icons off the screen. When you drag an application from one page to another, it pushes all the apps on that page down to the right 1 space. Make sure that the 8th page has at least 1 more application on it than the number of apps you wanna delete on page 9. Now press and hold an app in the page 8 and start dragging the application from page 8 to page 9. When you release each of the applications the right most app will disappear. It's gone into the hidden 10 page.

Well, whenever you like to restore the hidden app, switch off iPhone and switch it on, its as simple as that
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Friday, April 3, 2009

Google Mobile App for BlackBerry Allows Search by Voice, My Location

Mobile-DeviceGoogle Mobile App for BlackBerry now allows users to search using their voices and with Google's My Location application. Google has been making substantial inroads with its mobile apps, even as a number of mobile device makers gear up to produce Android-based smartphones.
Google Mobile App for BlackBerry now allows users to reduce typing on the Research In Motion smartphones by carrying out mobile Web searches for a location using their voices or the search giant's My Location application, or both.

"If you're like us and hate typing on that tiny keyboard, you'll be glad to hear that Google Mobile App on your BlackBerry will let you search with your voice and with My Location," Luca Zanolin, a Google Mobile App engineer, wrote in a Google Mobile Blog post March 25.

Say you're looking for the nearest bookstore. By inputting "bookstore" with My Location enabled, you generate a list of bookstores nearest your location.

Users also now have search-by-voice functionality for their BlackBerrys, a feature already available to users of the iPhone and the Android platform. Say the word "bookstore" and Google will generate local results and a corresponding link to Google Maps.

"Searching by voice can be used in combination with the My Location feature, and it works well with standard Google searches, such as currency conversion and weather," Zanolin wrote.

Google Mobile App will run on all versions of the RIM BlackBerry running on O/S 4.1+. The search-by-voice feature is supported on O/S 4.2 and above, with support for the BlackBerry Storm coming soon.

Google has been seeking to expand its mobile device-based services lately, as well as refining existing ones such as Google Maps for Mobile.

On March 20, the company announced that Google Voice would include an updated Phone Spam filter. Google Voice provides services such as automated voice mail transcription and grouping a user's phones with a single number.

More mobile-device makers have been committing to Google's Android mobile operating system platform. Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer HTC, which drew buzz at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona for its devices, announced on March 17 that it could produce three more Android-based smartphones in 2009.

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Thursday, March 19, 2009

Facebook Connect for iPhone

Mobile-DeviceFacebook has announced Facebook Connect for the iPhone, which enables users to take their Facebook friends, identity and privacy with them wherever they go. Facebook Connect for the iPhone provides the first live social experience for iPhone and iPod Touch applications, as users can now connect with their Facebook friends to play games -- whether their friends are at home on a computer or on their iPhone.


Facebook has announced Facebook Connect for the iPhone, which enables users to take their Facebook friends, identity and privacy with them wherever they go.

Facebook announced the new capability on March 14 at the South by Southwest (SXSW) 2009 conference, noting that there are nine applications currently live in the iTunes app store, with more to launch in the coming days.

Developers can get started taking advantage of Facebook Platform APIs to add social context to all kinds of iPhone applications.

Facebook Connect for the iPhone provides the first live social experience for iPhone and iPod Touch applications, as users can now connect with their Facebook friends to play games—whether their friends are at home on a computer, or on their iPhone—and share restaurant reviews on the go, location-based status updates, and more.
Users can go to the iTunes app store to see the first nine applications:

* Who Has the Biggest Brain by Playfish
* Movies by Flixster
* iBowl and Agency Wars by SGN
* Urbanspoon
* Tap Tap Revenge 2 by Tapulous
* Whrrl by Pelago
* Live Poker by Zynga
* Binary Game by SayEight

In a March 14 blog post, Joe Hewitt, the engineer who built Facebook for iPhone, said:

"A few months ago, we announced Facebook Connect, an extension of Facebook Platform that makes it easy for you to bring your friends with you all over the Web. We're now expanding this to Apple’s revolutionary iPhone and iPod touch, making it easy to connect with your Facebook friends in your favorite applications from Apple’s App Store.

"If you've used Facebook Connect on the Web, this will seem pretty familiar. You can now use Facebook Connect on your iPhone in the same way you can for a website. Simply download any application featuring Facebook Connect and log in using your Facebook account from your iPhone. Then, you'll be able to easily find your Facebook friends. They will be able to see the same profile information as they can on the site, controlled by your privacy settings. You can also share what you’re doing with your iPhone applications with all of your Facebook friends by publishing stories back to your profile."

Facebook officials said several developers are working on Facebook Connect for iPhone applications that will begin to be released shortly.

"In the coming days, many more applications will be available in Apple's App Store so keep checking back," Hewitt said. "If you don't see your favorite iPhone application soon, ask the developer to implement Facebook Connect -- together we can make your application experience on the iPhone truly social."

Meanwhile, according to Gareth Davis, another Facebook engineer who wrote a March 14 blog post, "Facebook Connect easily lets developers make their websites and desktop applications more social. And with the explosion of iPhone apps over the last year, we want iPhone developers to reap all the benefits Facebook provides."

Added Gareth:

"If you develop apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch, you can now start making those apps more social. With just a few lines of Objective-C code, your users can log in to Facebook from within your app, find their friends, then share what they do in your app back on Facebook, which opens up exciting new opportunities for your users."

In addition, he said that now your iPhone apps can enjoy the benefits that Facebook Connect sites and Facebook Platform apps already enjoy, including:

* Making API calls so your app can access users' profiles and share information on Facebook.

* Publishing to Facebook via Feed forms.

* Asking users for extended permissions, like offline access, so you can still interact with their data when they're offline.

Meanwhile, Limbo, one of the largest mobile social networks in the United States, today announced that Limbo for iPhone and iPod touch now features Facebook Connect for iPhone. iPhone and iPod touch users can link their Limbo and Facebook accounts, enabling automatic status and activity updates that are shared between the two accounts.

With Facebook Connect, Limbo members can see their Facebook friends on Limbo without their friends having to be Limbo members. They can also view the status of their friends on Limbo based on their Facebook status message, or automatically set an “On Facebook” status for members who are logged on and active on Facebook.

“Our members want a new way to share their experiences from their iPhone or iPod touch with friends who may not yet be Limbo members,” said Jonathon Linner, Limbo’s CEO, in a statement. “Now that Limbo features Facebook Connect for iPhone, they can easily share and distribute information and experiences with their friends via Facebook status updates, requests and notifications. The location-aware emphasis of the Limbo application enables users to find and meet up with their friends to increase face time and real world experiences. This makes it even easier to connect with friends in the real world, not just online.”
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Mozilla Fennec Browser Is Firefox for Mobile Devices

Mobile-DeviceThe new Mozilla mobile Web browser called Fennec is similar to Mozilla's open-source Firefox browser for laptops and desktops. The early beta version of Fennec, launched on March 17, is intended as a way of collecting feedback and raising interest in the mobile browser. Mozilla says the Nokia N810 Internet tablet is the best mobile and wireless device for experiencing Fennec 1.0, but users can also download Fennec to computers running Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

Mozilla's Firefox Web browser has a new mobile sibling—Fennec.

Mozilla released the first beta version of Fennec on March 17. Mozilla describes it as being for testing purposes only, to get feedback and to encourage developers to port existing add-ons and invent new ones for mobile use.

"One of the main themes of Fennec was to try to minimize the amount of typing you have to do as you make your way around the Web," Madhava Enros, the lead user interface designer for Fennec, says in an introductory video on the blog of Mozilla developer Stuart Parmenter.

With Fennec, Parmenter wrote, Mozilla increased zooming speed, improved start-up performance, enabled plug-ins that let users watch videos, and "improved bookmark management and support for bookmark folders."

Fennec also makes it easier to search the Web, remembers pages where users have been, optimizes screen space for mobile content and remembers passwords, reducing typing and doing more work so the user doesn't have to.

Fennec 1.0 was designed for the OS2008 Maemo software platform running on the Nokia N810 Internet tablet. Everyone, however, with a computer running Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X or Linux is encouraged to download Fennec and get it running.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

iPhone 3.0 Adds Copy and Paste, MMS, Search, Notes Sync, and Tons More [IPhone 3.0]

Mobile-DeviceThe iPhone event just ended, and the upcoming iPhone 3.0 software update adds a ton of new functionality to the iPhone—claiming over 100 new features, including long-awaited copy and paste, MMS messaging, and more.

Photos by Gizmodo. Huge thanks to Gizmodo for their up-to-the-minute coverage. We've only highlighted a few of our favorite features, so be sure to check out Gizmodo's iPhone 3.0 OS guide for everything you could ever want to know about the updates.



Copy and Paste
This one was no surprise. Copy and paste is finally available on the iPhone through a double-tap and a little dragging of the paste boarders. Any text can be copied, but you can also now copy and paste photos—which means that you can also send more than one photo at a time. Developers can also integrate copy and paste into their apps.

MMS Messaging
The iPhone's terrible multimedia messaging always seemed like us to be just as bad as the lack of copy and paste on the iPhone, requiring you to jump through absurd hoops to view photos that someone shared via MMS (you couldn't even do it from the iPhone). Not only can you send pictures via MMS, but you can also share contact vCards and audio files using the new voice notes application.The one catch: MMS will be iPhone 3G only.

Spotlight Search

3.0 adds Spotlight to your home screen (and search to many different apps), allowing you to launch an application or find a contact or note through one central application and document launcher.

File Sharing Between iPhones
iPhones will now be able to connect directly over a Wi-Fi network for sharing files directly between phones. The first thing we'd consider sharing is music, but it seems unlikely that that's the kind of functionality Apple will enable for this. Still, sharing a document, vCard, or photo with a direct peer-to-peer connection is pretty cool.

Turn-by-Turn Directions
Though not enabled in anything provided by Apple in this release, the 3.0 update will enable developers to create turn-by-turn apps.

Push Notification (For Real This Time?)
Apple promised this one last year—a feature that allows developers to send push notifications of updates without the cost of running the app in the background. We'll believe it when we see it.

VoIP
It's not clear if this means we can expect to see Skype or something like Google Voice on our iPhones or iPod touches any time soon, but Gizmodo is reporting that voice communication will be available in applications. They point out that this means users could chat with people they're playing a game with, but we'd be much happier to see a simple VoIP application for talking with people when you're on a Wi-Fi network without wasting your minutes.

Notes Sync
Gizmodo didn't mention much about this one, but Notes sync is clearly listed as a new feature. Guess that doesn't mean all that much to the guys at Giz, but we've been dying for this one forever.

Much More
We cherry picked some of our favorite new features, but head over to the Gizmodo Liveblog for a look at their play-by-play, or just check out their exhaustive iPhone 3.0 guide.

When Can I Get It?
According to the Apple, the public release will be sometime this summer. However, it looks like eager early adopters may be able to join the Apple Developer Connection to start testing it today. We'll let you know when we find out more.

What's Missing?
We're sort of reeling at the thought of all the new features, leaving us at a bit of a loss for what's missing. Was there a feature you were hoping for in the iPhone 3.0 update that it doesn't look like we'll be seeing? Let's hear about it in the comments.
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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Connect to Skype via your Nokia N97

Mobile-Device

Skype and Nokia have worked hand-in-hand to bring the best services to their clients. Skype is developing a VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) software client for Nokia’s smartphones. Nokia will preload the application onto the top-of-the-range N97 starting from the third quarter of 2009.


“The Skype application will allow users to make voice calls, send instant messages and also to select it as a widget so they can see which of their friends are online, all the time”, said Jose-Luis Martinez, Nokia’s Vice President for N-series phones.

“The application will be integrated into the phone’s address book, making it as easy to place a call to a contact’s Skype username as to their regular phone number”, said Skype Chief Operating Officer Scott Durchslag.

With the Skype application, the Nokia N97 users will be able to make free or low-cost phone calls over the internet whether using Wi-Fi or cellular connections.
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Making YouTube Work for Your Business

Mobile-Device

Keep it short
YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley says the average viewing time for a clip on the site is 2.5 minutes. That should tell you something. Viewers do not visit YouTube for an hour-long discourse. Newsom's series was broken into 10 segments that lasted approximately 45 minutes apiece. However, his introduction, which lasted less than a minute and a half, garnered 12,000 views in the first week. The longer segments only attracted 100 views during that time period. People simply don't have the time, nor, in most cases, the inclination to watch anyone for more than 10 minutes, even in person. Research shows that people watching a presentation tend to tune out after approximately 10 minutes. Attention spans are even shorter online. Keep your YouTube clips under three minutes. If your presentation is longer, edit the segments, and upload them as shorter clips.

Make it loud and clear
When I worked as a CNN correspondent, my videographers would spend a lot of time setting up audio for interviews. They would tell me viewers will forgive bad video but not bad audio. However, very few video clips on YouTube make use of an external microphone. Most users simply use the built-in microphone on the camera, which results in very poor audio quality, and is sometimes completely unintelligible. Always use an external microphone. You can buy an unobtrusive clip-on microphone from Radio Shack (RSH) or Best Buy (BBY) for $20 to $50. You might even consider spending a little more for a wireless microphone and transmitter. To his credit, Newsom delivered his presentation with a microphone clipped on to his suit lapel. The length may have been too long, but his voice was loud and clear.

Avoid bulleted PowerPoints
What works in person doesn't necessarily work on YouTube. Newsom stood in front of a monitor and advanced traditional PowerPoint slides in the background. Bullet points on slides are hard enough to see in person on a large screen; slides on YouTube are impossible to see. I don't believe in using bullet points anyway, and in this case, the slides were a real distraction. All one could make out were blurry words behind Newsom. The fact is, most presentations do not translate well on YouTube. If you're going to share a presentation that you delivered, use a program to edit your presentation into shorter segments first, insert full-screen slides, and then upload the talk.

YouTube is a great potential resource for your business. It can jump-start your marketing by creating a more personal, direct connection between you and your customers. But try to understand what works and what doesn't before you jump in. People will forgive bad lighting and audio at your daughter's school play, but they expect more from your business.
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Monday, December 15, 2008

Google's Android Gains More Powerful Followers

Mobile-Device
Today is a dark day for Nokia and Microsoft: Telco Vodafone, equipment maker Ericsson and handset maker Sony Ericsson have joined Google’s camp in making rival cell-phone software.

Today, Open Handset Alliance (OHA), a Google-led consortium of companies developing mobile-phone software Android, announced 14 new members, these three huge companies among them. Other impressive additions include AKM Semiconductor Inc., ARM, ASUSTek Computer Inc., Atheros Communications, Borqs, Garmin International Inc., Huawei Technologies, Omron Software Co. Ltd, Softbank Mobile Corporation, Teleca AB and Toshiba Corporation.

What does it all mean? One, that sales of the first Android-based phone, the T-Mobile G1, must be going very well. Only available for sale since this fall, the iPhone-like device made by long-time OHA member HTC is expected to sell around 500,000 units this year. Now, handset makers like new member Ericsson, which plans to release its Android device in mid-2009, want in on the action — particularly since the cost of Android-based handsets is lower than that of phones made with operating systems from Nokia and Microsoft, according to researcher NPD Group. Motorola recently announced it’s going to focus on Android come next year as well.

Second, and most important, carriers and handset makers who’ve just joined the Alliance are, in effect, expressing their dissatisfaction with Android’s long-established rivals, Nokia’s Symbian and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile software. And no wonder. Symbian is going through a major restructuring, and it’s unclear exactly what it will look like come next year. Microsoft has been losing developer interest, sources tell me.

The bottom line: Until today, Android’s future looked uncertain. Only a minor handset maker, HTC, was making Android-based phones. T-Mobile was the only carrier globally to offer G1, and only in a few markets, including the U.S. Motorola’s support helped but not that much, as the company is in a fragile financial state, and its own future is unclear. That’s why today’s announcement is so important. Vodafone’s support is huge. The carrier has 280 million customers worldwide. Sony Ericsson’s involvement is important as well (larger handset makers like LG are already part of the Alliance). Clearly, big guns are joining this game, and lining up their pawns on Google’s side.

A side note: I find it interesting to see Austek and Toshiba in the new members list. It’s long been expected that Android will be used not only in phones but also in netbooks, which are tiny laptops with screens of less than 10.2 inches. Austek is the largest player in the netbooks category, and today’s announcement could indicate that Android-based netbooks may be coming out, and soon.
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Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sony Launches PlayStation Home

Mobile-Device
After pushing back the launch date by more than a year, Sony's (SNE) video game division plans to release PlayStation Home, an online 3-D social networking service, on Dec. 11. Like Linden Labs' Second Life, Home will let users interact with others through their own computer-generated characters in a virtual setting.

Sony is counting on Home to improve the fortunes of its struggling video games unit. Home's launch comes two days after Sony announced 16,000 layoffs and other moves to cut spending as the global recession hurts demand for consumer electronics. The unit, which is in charge of the PlayStation 3 business, has been a huge drag on earnings, losing roughly $3.8 billion over the past two years. Credit Suisse (CS) has predicted that Sony's gaming unit could eke out a profit this year, but that's less than certain in the face of a long recession and an unfavorably strong Japanese yen.

Sony officials say they don't expect an immediate payoff from Home. Their plan is to offer it as a free software download to all PS3 users and to charge gaming companies and other brands to create shops, sell goods, host events, and advertise. "We think that Home will increase the opportunities for gamers to find each other," says Ryoji Akagawa, Home senior producer. "That, in turn, will increase the total number of people playing games, which is a key mission for us."

Behind the Competition
Home marks the latest phase of a rollout of online services for the PlayStation 3. Recently, Sony added video downloads to the PlayStation Network, an online smorgasbord of stuff—including games, music, movies, TV shows, and trailers—which, according to Sony, has attracted 15 million subscribers worldwide. But rival Microsoft (MSFT) still has the lead in offering a full range of online gaming and video-download services, and Nintendo (7974.T) is ahead in game console sales. In October market researcher NPD said Sony sold just 190,000 PS3s in the U.S., compared with 803,210 Nintendo Wii consoles and 371,000 Microsoft Xbox machines. (Since the PS3's release in November 2006, Sony has sold more than 16.8 million units globally. Nintendo launched its Wii that same month but has sold 34.5 million units.)

It's unclear what impact the delays will have on Home. The original plan was to have Home ready by autumn 2007. Sony Computer Entertainment chief Kaz Hirai announced the first delay in October 2007. The company had expected Home to be ready by April of this year, but instead announced another delay. In late August, the company started inviting a limited number of users worldwide to try out a working version of the service known as a "closed beta."

Sony asked for feedback to fine-tune the service before making it available to a broader audience. Among the things programmers learned: Japanese users complained that the virtual characters, or avatars, looked too Western. Home's programmers also changed the appearance of options menus and added voice-chat features. And they built in security measures so parents could prevent their children from visiting certain areas and gamers could report cyberstalkers.

No Global Interaction for U.S. Users
The beauty of Home is that it's constantly evolving. Sony officials are already considering new features that will make Home more similar to social networks like Facebook and MySpace (NWS). In time, Home users will be able to post links to outside Web sites or upload photos for others to see. Want your avatar to eat or drink? That's not possible now but it might get programmed in later, says Sony's Akagawa. With so many features, though, could Home distract gamers from playing games? "We don't really worry about that," says Shoda.
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Saturday, December 13, 2008

Windows Mobile : What Microsoft Needs to Fix

Mobile-Device

In September, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer spent a week traipsing across Europe and parts of the U.S. schmoozing 17 of the world's largest handset makers and wireless carriers. It was Ballmer's longest trip ever aimed at drumming up support for Windows Mobile, the company's software for cell phones. The trip may not have been long enough.
In recent months, Microsoft's (MSFT) mobile strategy has hit a rough patch. In the third quarter, iPhone maker Apple (AAPL) shipped more smartphones than all 56 device makers that make Windows Mobile phones combined, according to research firm Canalys. As a result, Windows Mobile slid from its position as the world's second-most popular mobile operating system a year ago to the No. 4 spot, behind Nokia's (NOK) Symbian, Apple's OS X, and Research In Motion's (RIMM) BlackBerry.

Partners Warm to Rivals
The threats don't end there. While Windows Mobile shipments continue to grow, its share could slip if, as expected, Apple begins to sell its iPhone through Wal-Mart (WMT), the world's largest retailer. And T-Mobile G1, a phone based on Android, an operating system backed by Google (GOOG), has met with popular demand. Windows Mobile's share may drop to 11% this year from 12% in 2007, says Chris Ambrosio, an executive director for wireless at research firm Strategy Analytics. "On the important issues, they are chasing the market," Ambrosio says. "And they've got to chase much faster" to ensure continued carrier and handset makers' support, he adds.

That backing is far from assured. Speaking at a conference for Symbian partners and developers on Dec. 4, AT&T (T) executive Roger Smith hinted that his company, which offers seven Windows Mobile devices, would prefer to support one type of mobile software. The remarks were widely interpreted to mean AT&T, the No. 1 U.S. wireless service provider, would eventually focus solely on Symbian. Still, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel more recently said, "Microsoft continues to be an important partner for us."

Whatever approach AT&T takes, other Microsoft Microsoft partners are clearly warming to rival software providers. And in a climate where manufacturers and carriers want to narrow the list of their suppliers to reduce costs, Microsoft may not always win out. On Dec. 9, the Android movement added 14 new converts, including British carrier Vodafone (VOD) and handset maker Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, which released its first Windows Mobile-based phone, the Xperia X1, earlier this year. Cell-phone manufacturer HTC, partly owned by Microsoft, made its first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1, earlier this year.

Some longtime Windows Mobile developers are switching allegiance. Koushik Dutta, who works for a stealth startup funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, now spends as much time on Android as on Windows Mobile projects. "It will be soon mostly Android," says Koushik, who previously worked exclusively on Windows Mobile software. "I like the [Android] phone better. It's mostly a usability issue." He says Windows Mobile phones tend to lose juice fast when running graphics-intensive applications, though that's a concern voiced by some people about the G1 as well. Plus, Windows Mobile is designed for use with stylus vs. a touch interface, which is now all the rage among consumers.

But all is not lost for Microsoft. To keep partners and developers on board, analysts say Microsoft needs to adapt Windows Mobile software for use with touch interface. However, a major update may not hit the market until 2010.

Microsoft also should also follow Google's and Apple's lead in the area of wireless cloud-computing services. The move would shift energy-sapping computing power away from users' cell phones and onto the powerful servers maintained by Microsoft. Rivals are already offering such services. When you purchase an iPhone application from the Apple App Store, the payment is processed on Apple's servers rather than on an individual device. When you ask your G1 to find the nearest sushi joint, it's Google's servers and not your phone that churn out the map. In both cases, your phone doesn't do much legwork. Most of the processing is done on remote servers "in a cloud." So processing typically happens faster and it requires your handheld device to be less sophisticated—and less costly. As cloud computing spreads onto rival software-based devices, Microsoft could lose $850 million in revenue in 2012 alone, according to Bernstein Research—unless it ramps up its own efforts
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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

FriendMobilizer for Windows Mobile Phone Users to Enjoy Full Access to Facebook

Mobile-DeviceMacrospecs Inc has brought good news to Windows Mobile phone users by unveiling a new software application, FriendMobilizer, which allows users to enjoy full access to their Facebook account while they are on the move. Keeping track with friends via the social networking website, Facebook, has become a new trend in this latest technological era.For avid travelers, they can access their Facebook via mobile phone to know their friends’ status, update information, etc. However, there seems to be a lack of good applications for Windows Mobile Phone users to enjoy this social networking website via their mobile phones. Thus, FriendMobilizer is introduced just in time.

FriendMobilizer allows Windows Mobile phone users to enjoy full access to their Facebook account. They can upload photos and information, view friends’ information and profiles, approve/deny friends’ requests, read messages, write on friends’ walls, get notifications sent directly to their home screen, etc. Unlike other Windows Mobile Facebook software applications such as Snap2Face, the features and functions available in FriendMobilizer are more comprehensive.

FriendMobilizer is a free application currently available for both Windows Mobile devices and Pocket PCs. Users can register their mobile phone numbers in the FaceofMobile website and download the free application. Stay tune with FriendMobilizer and enjoy your Facebook activities via your mobile phone.
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Free Samsung Mobile Tricks And Tipsw

Mobile secret code
Samsung Reset Codes
You can try these in case you downloaded corrupted or incompatible Java midlets or other media, which are causing problems with the phone.
*2767*JAVA# Java Reset and (Deletes all Java Midlets)
*2767*MEDIA# Reset Media (Deletes All Sounds and Pics)

*2767*WAP# Wap Reset
*2767*CUST# Reset Custom EEPR0M
*2767*FULL# Reset Full EEPR0M (Caution)
For example : *2767*JAVA# would be keyed in as *2767*5282#
Note : Not all codes will work with SGH-C100.

Other Samsung Codes
*#06# IMEI code
*#9998*4357# Help Menu
*#9998*5282# Java menu (GRPS/CSD settings for JAVA server)
*#9999#0# Monitor Mode
*#9999# or *#9998*9999# Software Version
*#8888# or *#9998*8888# Hardware Version
*#9998*746# or *#9998*0746# or *#0746# Sim Infos
*#9998*523# or *#9998*0523# or *#0523# Display Contrast
*#9998*842# or *#9998*0842# or *#0842# Vibration On (until you push OK)
*#9998*289# or *#9998*0289# or *#0289# Buzzer On (until you push OK)
*#9998*288# or *#9998*0288# or *#0288# Battery & Field Infos
*#9998*377# or *#9998*0377# Error log
*#9998*778# or *#9998*0778# or *#0778# Sim Service table
*#9998*782# show date and alarm clock
*#8999*638# show network information
*#9998*5646# change operator logo at startup
*#9998*76# production number
*#9998*968# view melody for alarm
*#9998*585# Non-Volatile Memory (NVM)
*#3243948# Digital Audio Interference Off
*#32436837# Digital Audio Interference On


SAMSUNG T100 SECRET CODES
*#06# -> Show IMEI
*#9999# -> Show Software Version
*#0001# -> Show Serial Parameters

*2767*3855# -> Full EEPROM Reset ( THIS CODE REMOVES SP-LOCK!!!! but also change IMEI to 447967-89-400044-0, you must use CHGIMEI to restore it)

*2767*2878# -> Custom EEEPROM Reset
*#8999*228# -> Battery status (capacity, voltage, temperature)
*#8999*246# -> Program status
*#8999*289# -> Change Alarm Buzzer Frequency
*#8999*324# -> Debug screens
*#8999*364# -> Watchdog
*#8999*377# -> EEPROM Error Stack
*#8999*427# -> Trace Watchdog
*#8999*523# -> Change LCD contrast
*#8999*544# -> Jig detect
*#8999*636# -> Memory status
*#8999*746# -> SIM File Size
*#8999*778# -> SIM Service Table
*#8999*785# -> RTK (Run Time Kernel) errors
*#8999*786# -> Run, Last UP, Last DOWN
*#8999*837# -> Software Version
*#8999*842# -> Test Vibrator
*#8999*862# -> Vocoder Reg
*#8999*872# -> Diag
*#8999*947# -> Reset On Fatal Error
*#8999*999# -> Last/Chk
*#8999*9266# -> Yann debug screen (=Debug Screens?)
*#8999*9999# -> Software version


SAMSUNG V200 SECRET CODES

v200 Unlock Code-> *2767*7822573738#

*#9324# Netmon (press the hangup key to exit)
*#9998*JAVA# Edit GPRS/ CSD settings (S100 Only)
*#9998*Help# Help screen/ List of codes
*#9998*LOGO# Change operator Logo
*#9998*RTC# RTC Display
*#9998*Bat# Battery Status
*#9998*Buz# Turns Buzzer ON
*#9998*Vib# Turns Vibrator ON
*#9998*LCD# LCD Contrast
*#9998*9999# Softwre Version
*#9998*8888# Hardware Version
*#9998*377# NVM Error Log (?????)
*#9998*NET# SIM Network ID
*#9998*778# SIM Serv. Table
*#9998*SIM# SIM Info
*#9998*PN# Production No.
*#9998*968# Reminder Tune
*#9998*NVM# Displays Non-Volitile Memory Status
*#9999*C# ???????????????????
*#06# Displays phones I**I No.

***/// ***/// NOTE /// *** RED COLOR , they appear serious !!! Use at
own risk !!!

*#9998*2576# Forces SIM Error
*#9998*DEAD# Forces Phone Crash
*2767*MEDIA# Resets the medis on the phone (deletes all downloaded
pics/tones)
*2767*FULL# Resets the EEPRON *DANGEROUS*
*2767*CUST# Resets the Custom EEPRON
*2767*JAVA# Resets JAV downloads (deletes all downloaded midlits)
*2767*STACKRESET# Resets Stack
*2767*225RESET# ????????????????? * Dangerous *
*2767*WAP# Resets WAP Setting & Deletes Favorites
SAMSUNG A800 SECRET CODES

The universal unlock code is *2767*637# do this with out your sim in

By default, the firmware (software) for x600 only receives java
apps and other applications like stuff by serial port.
but even for it, you have to enable the serial port, which also
causes
the closing of all other ports, even the IrDA too :-( ..

well, guess what, i have very good news for you,
do you know, you can increase the sound level,
the sound level for tones, speaker fone, etc,
can be increase even then if it is at max (level 4)

you still can do it,
just follows the instructions!

============ HERE WE GO =============
Enter the following code:

*#8999*8378#
(You'll be shown menu, then ...)

then go to:

"H/W test"

then go to:

"Audio Settings"

then go to:

"Melody Gain"

There will you see a number.
there are five (5) Melody Levels" of it.
(and currently, you are at level 1 and after
pressing the "save" button, you will move to
level 2 and so on .........................)

you have to change the values of all the levels.
and as the resultant, it will give increase the
melody sound!, your tones will more louder,
even more louder then the max. ringing volume.

the level wise numbers are: (as its my setting :-) )
Melody Level 1: 13
Melody Level 2: 17
Melody Level 3: 18
Melody Level 4: 25
Melody Level 5: 31

you even can make your own combinations of level wise
sounding numbers that can change the sound level!.

if your combination cause more louder sound level,
then mine,
then do share it with the group! ... :-)
meanwhile, try my figured-out combination!

============ CAUTION ==============

if anything goes wrong,
then you can apply the master reset code,
that will NOT delete anything, ANYTHING from your
cell fone, but set each and eveything to its
default/standard setting ...
(likes, factory settings :-) )

the master reset code is:

#*7728#

#########################################
I take no responsibility of these codes are working or not,
or its effects on your cell fone
but i have tried these codes on my cell fone.
and i bet, nothing goes wrong,
but even then of my words, be carefull!,
#########################################

The code: *#8999*8378#
as i regarded it a informative code,
will tell you each and everything about your cell fone.
and in the "H/W test",
there are lot of other Audio settings,
each of them having five (5) levels,
you can change the combination, but before doing anything,
do write the defult number sequence to some place so that
you'll be then able to invert it again! .. :-) ...

#*2558# - Time ON
#*2527# - GPRS Switching Set to class {4/8/9/10}
#*4263# - Handsfree Mode: ACTIVATED
#*53696# - [Java dnload] WAPSAR mode
#*536961# - WAPSAR enable HTTP disable
#*536962# - HTTP enable WAPSAR disable
#*536963# - SERIAL enable Others disable
#*5663351# - [Phone Model] SAMSUNG SGH-X100
#*6420# - Mic off
#*6421# - Mic on
#*7632# - Sleep mode
*#8999*523# - Main LCD Brightness
*#8999*3825523# - (?) External display
*2767*3855# - Full EEPROM reset(Reset all type of locks)also you'll
lose pictures and java not melody

Remove camera sound:

On main screen type:

*#8999*8378# --> Test mode

H/W test
Audio Settings
Melody Gain

Then replace 6 by 0, it'll show 12 but it's OK
Press back until main screen
Then press key volume to minimum and let's try !!! no more sound
tip by C-Quest

*2767*688# resets the phone
read more...

Saturday, August 2, 2008

A messenger for make cheap phone calls & SMS



Just point out your mobile browser to www.mig33.com

Remember--- You will get 1$ initial account balance to make calls and sms when you signup

Features:

you can chat in group chatrooms, private chat, send SMS and even connect to MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger

<-- Cheap Phone Calls & SMS -->


And when you actually want to talk to the person you're chatting with, mig33 gives you cheap voice calls and SMS.

With mig33, it's really easy to launch a cheap international call. Just select your buddy, and select 'call buddy' to launch a call. Their global VOIP network is ever expanding so as to give you the best service and the best rates.

It's more than just cheap calls

You can control your costs as well. Making calls back to a mobile phone is expensive. You can 'throw' the call to a landline near you and save even more.



<-- Share mig33 with all your friends! -->


From mig33, you can send mig33 to your friends. From within mig33, simply select 'Invite friend' and they will receive an SMS invitation to install mig33 on their phone. Once installed, you'll get an extra AUD$1.00 of credit to make phone calls and send SMS.

You can also share your credits with other users. Simply open your account balance in mig33, and select 'Transfer credit' to push credits to other users. Now you and your friends can recharge your account once and share your credits around.

Requirements
JAVA midp1.0 mobile phone with GPRS or WAP enabled
read more...

ZTE C150 Nam Programming



This mobile is very popular in south india ( Tata indicom offered it as indicom ACE )

Nam Set: *983*3641#

This code provide options that takes you into a secret menu...

Debug: - trace the mobile
Version: - Display's ESN (also works *#06# )
Programming: - default security code 000000, allows you to change network options.
read more...

Common Codes for SAMSUNG


Software version: *#9999#
IMEI number: *#06#
Serial number: *#0001#
Battery status- Memory capacity : *#9998*246#
Debug screen: *#9998*324# - *#8999*324#
LCD kontrast: *#9998*523#
Vibration test: *#9998*842# - *#8999*842#
Alarm beeper - Ringtone test : *#9998*289# - *#8999*289#
Smiley: *#9125#
Software version: *#0837#
Display contrast: *#0523# - *#8999*523#
Battery info: *#0228# or *#8999*228#
Display storage capacity: *#8999*636#
Display SIM card information: *#8999*778#
Show date and alarm clock: *#8999*782#
The display during warning: *#8999*786#
Samsung hardware version: *#8999*837#
Show network information: *#8999*638#
Display received channel number and received intensity:

*#8999*9266#

*#1111# S/W Version
*#1234# Firmware Version
*#2222# H/W Version
*#8999*8376263# All Versions Together
*#8999*8378# Test Menu
*#4777*8665# GPSR Tool
*#8999*523# LCD Brightness
*#8999*377# Error LOG Menu
*#8999*327# EEP Menu
*#8999*667# Debug Mode
*#92782# PhoneModel (Wap)
#*5737425# JAVA Mode
*#2255# Call List
*#232337# Bluetooth MAC Adress
*#5282837# Java Version

Type in *#0000# on a Samsung A300 to reset the language
Master reset(unlock) #*7337# (for the new samsungs E700 x600 but not E710)
Samsung E700 type *#2255# to show secret call log (not tested)
Samsung A300, A800 phone unlock enter this *2767*637#
Samsung V200, S100, S300 phone unlock : *2767*782257378#

#*4773# Incremental Redundancy
#*7785# Reset wakeup & RTK timer cariables/variables
#*7200# Tone Generator Mute
#*3888# BLUETOOTH Test mode
#*7828# Task screen
#*#8377466# S/W Version & H/W Version
#*2562# Restarts Phone
#*2565# No Blocking? General Defense.
#*3353# General Defense, Code Erased.
#*3837# Phone Hangs on White screen.
#*3849# Restarts Phone
#*7337# Restarts Phone (Resets Wap Settings)
#*2886# AutoAnswer ON/OFF
#*7288# GPRS Detached/Attached
#*7287# GPRS Attached
#*7666# White Screen
#*7693# Sleep Deactivate/Activate
#*2286# Databattery
#*2527# GPRS switching set to (Class 4, 8, 9, 10)
#*2679# Copycat feature Activa/Deactivate
#*3940# External looptest 9600 bps
#*4263# Handsfree mode Activate/Deactivate
#*2558# Time ON
#*3941# External looptest 115200 bps
#*5176# L1 Sleep
#*7462# SIM Phase
#*7983# Voltage/Freq
#*7986# Voltage
#*8466# Old Time
#*2255# Call Failed
#*5376# DELETE ALL SMS!!!!
#*6837# Official Software Version: (0003000016000702)
#*2337# Permanent Registration Beep
#*2474# Charging Duration
#*2834# Audio Path (Handsfree)
#*3270# DCS Support Activate/Deactivate
#*3282# Data Activate/Deactivate
#*3476# EGSM Activate/Deactivate
#*3676# FORMAT FLASH VOLUME!!!
#*4760# GSM Activate/Deactivate
#*4864# White Screen
#*7326# Accessory
#*7683# Sleep variable
#*3797# Blinks 3D030300 in RED
#*7372# Resetting the time to DPB variables
#*3273# EGPRS multislot (Class 4, 8, 9, 10)
#*7722# RLC bitmap compression Activate/Deactivate
#*2351# Blinks 1347E201 in RED
#*2775# Switch to 2 inner speaker
#*7878# FirstStartup (0=NO, 1=YES)
#*3838# Blinks 3D030300 in RED
#*2077# GPRS Switch
#*2027# GPRS Switch
#*0227# GPRS Switch
#*0277# GPRS Switch
#*22671# AMR REC START
#*22672# Stop AMR REC (File name: /a/multimedia/sounds/voice list/ENGMODE.amr)
#*22673# Pause REC
#*22674# Resume REC
#*22675# AMR Playback
#*22676# AMR Stop Play
#*22677# Pause Play
#*22678# Resume Play
#*77261# PCM Rec Req
#*77262# Stop PCM Rec
#*77263# PCM Playback
#*77264# PCM Stop Play
#*22679# AMR Get Time
*#8999*364# Watchdog ON/OFF
*#8999*427# WATCHDOG signal route setup
*2767*3855# = Full Reset (Caution every stored data will be deleted.)
*2767*2878# = Custom Reset
*2767*927# = Wap Reset
read more...

Motorola Common Codes



IMEI number: *#06#

Note: hold down * key until box appears [] (pause).

Eng Field options (main menu): [] [] [] 1 1 3 [] 1 []
Slow (Frequency of search menu): [] [] [] 1 0 1 [] 1 []
Medium (Frequency of search menu): [] [] [] 1 0 2 [] 1 []
Fast (Frequency of search menu): [] [] [] 1 0 3 [] 1 []
Enable EFR (Enhanced Full Rate Codec) : [] [] [] 1 1 9 [] 1 []
Function : [] [] [] # # # [] 1 []

Change pin: [] [] [] 0 0 4 [] 1 []
Unblocking using the "puk" number: [] [] [] 0 0 5 [] 1 []

---------
enter menu and press 048263* quickly, enter into secret menu
under "Opcode"
input 10*0*3 for GSM 900
10*0*4 for GSM 1800
10*0*5 for GSM 1900
10*0*6 for dual band GSM 900/1800
10*0*7 for dual band GSM 850/1900
read more...

Sony Z5 unlock info

To view unlock info enter
*#7465625#



To unlock the phone, enter:
- for SIM code: *#7465625*XX*(8-digit received
SIMcode)#

where XX is:
12 for NCK lock
22 for Provider lock

For example (unlock code here is 11111111):
- unlock the NCK lock: *#7465625*12*11111111#
- unlock the provider lock: *#7465625*22*11111111#

Once you've entered both these codes in your
phone, the Phone is now
unlocked to all networks!!
read more...

Key in Proxy settings for access point in NOKIA S40 v2 v3




As we all know, Nokia doesn't allow one to specify a proxy for an Access Point in Series 40 v2 and v3 phones (6131, 6133, 3110c ...) etc.

In its recent versions of the Series40 OS (v2 & v3), Nokia has removed the ability to specify a proxy server associated with an access point. Therefore, those with WAP network plans (such as TMobileWeb users, Airtel NOP users) are unable to use JAVA programs that require internet access (such as Opera Mini, Google Maps, ...)



However, Nokia does allow users to create a provisioning document on their computer. This document, created in wbxml, specifies an access point along with a proxy. The S40 phone recognizes the configuration settings in the document and allows the JAVA midlet to use those instead, thereby allowing the midlet to access the proxy. Its very simple to implement.

The files included in the zip provide some sample xml documents, and the associated provisioning (.prov) files.

Download Nokia S40 proxy settings for JAVA applications ZIP file

figure it out yourself, genius.
NokiaJAVAProxy.wml: The wml file that you can edit if you need/want different proxy settings.
NokiaJAVAProxy.prov: The actual binary wbxml provisioning file that should be sent to your phone (via bluetooth or usb). This can NOT be manually edited.

---------------------------------
QUICK START:
1: Push the "NokiaJAVAProxy.prov" file to your phone using Bluetooth. send the file via "Send File..." option only do not copy paste to your phone ("object push", not file transfer). If your are unable to do it, just transfer it to any bluetooth supported phone and send that file via bluetooth to your phone.

2: The phone will recognize the configuration settings, and will prompt you to save them. Don't worry if it says "no supported applications".

3: Go to Settings->Configuration->Default Config. Settings, and change the default config to [the name of the configuration we just loaded].

That's it! JAVA midlets like Opera Mini, Google Maps, MGMaps, etc... should work now.

Detailed README file is inside the zip file.

read more...

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Unlock Information



The service provider (SP) lock is used to lock
the cell phone to the SP's SIM card. Once the
cell phone is locked to a specific operator, if
one inserts a SIM card from a different
operator the phone will refuse to accept it! The
cell phone will however accept another
SIM card from the same operator.

All Nokia phones (2110 and newer) have four
different SIM locks which can be used to lock

the phone for upto 4 different providers. But
most phones with restriction only have one
lock activated. ( lock 1)

The main code used in Nokia phones is:
#pw+(master code)+Y#
This code is able to check, activate or remove
Sim card restriction (SP-lock).
Use the * key to get the p, + and w chars.
'Y' has to be 1,2,3 or 4 - depending of what lock
you what to deal with.

#pw+1234567890+1# for Provider-Lock status
#pw+1234567890+2# for Network-Lock status
#pw+1234567890+3# for Country-Lock status
#pw+1234567890+4# for SimCard-Lock status

# = DOUBLE-CROSS
W = PRESS "*" THREE TIMES
P = PRESS "*" FOUR TIMES
+ = PRESS "*" TWO TIMES
MASTERCODE = 1234567890
Y = NUMBER 1 TO 4

(master code) is a 10 digit code, based on the
phones IMEI number.
(I can NOT give you the master code - SO DON'T
ASK ME FOR IT !!!!!!!)

Eg. To remove restriction on lock 1 type
following code:
#pw+(master code)+1#
If you just want to check your phone use 10
random numbers Eg. 1234567890 as the (master
code)
eg. To check if phone if restricted on lock 1
type the following code:
#pw+1234567890+1#

Please NOTE that these codes could be used with
care! A user told me that it's only possible
to type in about 3 different codes on each lock!
Then something bad will happen ..therefore be
careful!

read more...

Finding your Masercode


There are some tips here to unlock your mobile
phone. All of them require something called a
mastercode.

So, how do you find out your mastercode? Search
through the newsgroups using
DejaNews and look for an article entitled: 'How
to unlock your Nokia
phone...' this contains a program called: 'nokia
masterkey gen.exe'

check out http://www.nkmobile.co.uk/ also.

Run the program and you will be asked for your
Service Providers code :

Cellnet 234-10
One2One/Virgin 234-30
Orange 234-33
Vodafone 234-15
and then enter your phones IMEI number (enter
*#06# into your phone - see
above).

read more...