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iPhone still has the edge over Palm with its new Pre smartphone

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:18:28 +0000

PALM PRE versus iPhone – which one to choose?

Palm has launched its new smartphone now, called Palm Pre.

So far only available on Sprint network for a price of USD 199.99 competing with the price of iPhone.

So what are the similarities and what are the differences between these two gadgets?

Here is the list of Palm Pre capabilities and functionalities.

Layered calendars and linked contacts
Pre uses the Palm® Synergy™ feature to bring your Outlook®, Google, and Facebook® calendars together for one logical view of your day. And if you have the same contacts in different places, Pre can link them together, making it easy to find the information you need.1,2

Activity cards
Keep multiple applications open and move easily between them—email, maps, photos, websites, whatever.3 Pre thinks of your applications as activity cards, and lets you flip through them, move them around, or throw them away off screen.

Intuitive notifications
Things like text messages and calendar appointments appear as notifications at the bottom of the screen. You'll know what's going on without being completely interrupted or losing your train of thought.

Combined messaging
Thanks to Palm Synergy, your conversations with the same person are grouped together in one chat-style view. (Even if it started in IM, for example, and you want to reply with text.) You can also see who's online right from contacts, and start a new conversation with just one touch.1

Universal search4
Simply start typing to begin searching your contacts and applications.4 Pre begins with information on the phone, and then offers to search Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia, or Twitter. With a fast browser at 3G speeds, you'll find what you're looking for in no time.5

Email, Wi-Fi, and GPS
Check Microsoft Exchange email or personal email accounts like Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, and Yahoo!.1,6 Take advantage of Wi-Fi hotspots.1 And look up directions or nearby points of interest using GPS.7 It's everything you need when you're on the go.

Photos, Music, and Videos
Take great pictures with the built-in camera and flash. Watch a video on the vibrant color touchscreen. Buy songs from the Amazon MP3 store1 and listen using the built-in music player. Plus, use the Palm media sync feature to transfer your DRM-free iTunes music, podcasts, photos, and more to your Pre.

Breakthrough design
Slide out the keyboard for faster and easier texting. Close it up and rotate Pre for music, websites, photos, and videos in full widescreen glory. You get the best of both worlds in one beautifully designed phone

Applications
Get applications by browsing the catalog on your Pre, and then download them over the air directly to your phone.1 Apps designed for the Palm webOS™ platform are integrated with other apps on the phone. Buy movie tickets, for example, and you can add the times right to your calendar.8

1 - Third party software may be required at an additional cost. Within wireless coverage area only. Requires data services at additional cost. Third party software, videos and music sold separately. Wi-Fi within range of 802.11b/g Wi-Fi network. Some Wi-Fi hotspots require fee for usage.

2 - Available for Exchange ActiveSync only. Requires Microsoft Outlook using Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2 or later. Within wireless coverage area only. Requires data services at additional cost.

3 - Number of applications and actual performance varies depending on applications used and actions performed.

4 - Searches web and user's applications, contacts, and dialing information. Web search within wireless coverage area only. Requires data services at additional cost.

5 - 3G within HSDPA or EvDO Rev A data coverage area only. Actual speeds vary based on network capacity and application design.

6 - Microsoft Exchange email requires Microsoft Outlook using Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2 or later. Additional fees may apply

7 - Coverage not available in all areas at all times. Requires data services at additional cost. Voice-activated, as-you-go, turn-by-turn directions require third party software at additional cost.

8 - Third party software may be required at an additional cost. Within wireless coverage area only. Requires data services at additional cost. Actual data speeds vary based on network capacity and application design.

So what is the verdict?

Based on this list of functionalities it is clear that Palm Pre is geared towards a different segment of users than the iPhone users.

I beg to see how Palm will take up the competition with iPhone when it comes to the amount of applications available to iPhone and how Apple has made it available to developers through their SDK.

This is one of the main differences, however there are more that differ these two smart phones from each other. The design is of course different and the concept of interacting with the users. Apple has still the edge as they rely on touch completely as Palm still uses keyboard option for the users. Given the development and user ability, it makes the iPhone the winner on this specter as well.

Palm Pre has one advanage over iPhone with its capability to have more than one application active at the same time, as Palm Pre uses available memory and share it between application and notify you when there is not enough memory to seve all applications active. Whether you need this multi tasking option is questionable as you probably will have enough to handle one task at the time when you are on the move anyway. However, for a busy business man it might come in handy as you want to have email and office related applications active simultaneously.

My verdict is still, stick to the iPhone as it offers more versitiliy than the Palm Pre. However it is your choice really.

First iPhone 3G 2009 Screens Look Very Real To Me

iphone — Sun, 31 May 2009 00:36:18 +0000

I'm looking at these images from a Hong Kong blog, and they totally look like The Real Thing™ to me. Sure they are blurry, but those applications' user interface definitely screams Apple design. The gallery shows the video/camera screen, compass, and the autofocus, among other things.

Yes, the more I look at these images, the more I'm convinced they are the real deal. As we get closer to WWDC, it seems that some stuff may be starting to leak. We saw potential parts from the next-generation iPhone 3G and what may be a new finish.

These could very well be the first shots of the new iPhone, featuring the new compass and video functions, as well as the autofocus in the camera. They look like polished new Apple applications. You can also see how the camera app can change between video and still modes, as well as the autofocus overlay—I wonder if you could change it with your finger—and MMS screens.

And I like the shot of the car's dashboard—which in theory was taken with its new camera. [UMPC Fever via The iPhone Blog]

Possible iPhone 3G 2009 Compared to Shiny iPhone 3G

admin — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:20:00 +0000

MacRumors is claiming that this may be the new iPhone 3G 2009, which looks more or less like the current one, but with a matte finish. I hope it's true, because I love the dark gun finish.

iPod Observer and MacRumors already posted a photo of part of this case back in February. Back this Wednesday we published photos of what may be original parts for the iPhone 3G 2009, available for sale now by a Chinese wholesaler.

I don't know if this is going to be its final appearance, but I certainly hope it is. In fact, if it's real I wish that's some kind of black rubber. [MacRumors]

iPhone 3G Now Available Online at the Apple Store

iphone — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:59:39 +0000

iPhones 3G were available online at the AT&T store before, and now Apple has added them to their online store as well. Same old process—which will require an existing AT&T contract or creating a new one—to get the same result. [Twitter—Thanks jmreid]

iCooly Clip Case / Stand For the iPhone 3G

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:40:00 +0000

If you are looking for an iPhone stand that is a little more sophisticated than a couple of paperclips, you might be interested in the iCooly clip stand.

As you can see, the clip in on the back of the case is the heart of the iCooly. It can be rotated and positioned for carrying or standing horizontally/vertically on a flat surface. The case comes in a variety of colors and can be purchased now for around $33. [Maximobileshop via Likecool via Geeky Gadgets]

Apple Is Serious About Gaming: Steals Xbox Senior Director of Strategy

iphone — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:50:00 +0000

Anybody who said Apple wasn't serious about gaming can swallow their pundit nuggets right now: They just hired Richard Teversham, Xbox Europe's (now former) senior director of business, insights and strategy.

It's especially interesting when you take into consideration Apple's other recent major hire, ATI's former graphics CTO, the guy who designed the GameCube's graphics card.

For the love of all that is holy and Jobsian, however, it doesn't mean they're going to make a MacBoxStationCube 1080—the iPhone (and maybe that tablet/pad thing) is Apple's gaming platform. 15 of the top 20 paid apps of all time are games. There are over 9,000 games in the App Store. And there are 37 million iPod touches and iPhone out there—still below the PSP's 50 million and the DS's 100 million, but consider these are consoles that have been out at least twice as long as the iPhone platform.

It's not just the numbers, either. The argument that the production value of games doesn't match those on on the PSP or DS, is slowly becoming more irrelevant—not simply because extremely short-form gaming, which the iPhone handily beats the PSP and DS at, is becoming more interesting, but because the iPhone is picking up fare like Metal Gear Solid Touch, even if hardcore gamers can't replace their dedicated portable consoles yet. (Bad sign though: I'm a huge gamer, but haven't touched my DS Lite in months. I do play an iPhone game at least a couple minutes every day I'm on the move.)

Apple's got a very real gaming platform, they've got their own chips in place, and now they have a legit gaming strategist. If Nintendo and Sony weren't concerned at all previously, I imagine at least a bead or two of sweat is dripping down their forehead now, even if direct, bloody conflict between their consoles and the iPhone is still a generation or two away. [MCV via 9to5Mac]

AT&T Selling Refurbished 16GB iPhone 3Gs For $149

iphone — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:45:00 +0000

I've said it before and I'll say it again—buying refurbished can be a really smart move. And getting a refurbished 16GB iPhone 3G with a 2-year contract for $149 ain't bad. [AT&T via Phonenews]

iFighter Lite Lightning Review: Accelerator Controls Rock

admin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:40:00 +0000

It's my favorite iPhone game and it's not even available in full yet: iFighter—inspired in games like 1941—has surprised me, showing that the accelerometer can be used to perfectly control complex shoot 'em up games.

I saw this game in the Top 25 free applications section of the iTunes Store and I downloaded it thinking it was going to be bad. After all, every arcade game I've tried in the iPhone has been horrible. Not having physical controls is a real drag when it comes to control platformers and complex shoot 'em ups. Specially shoot 'em ups like this, where you are fired dozens of bullets from every single direction. Without a D-pad, I thought, it would be impossible to do it right. However, I like WW2 games and I loved Capcom's 1941: Counter Attack. And it looked pretty and was free, so I downloaded it.

And oh boy I'm glad I did. The game may not be finished yet—it's only one level—but it's incredibly well polished and pretty. Most importantly, it shows how you can implement accelerometer-based controls for these kind of games and get it right. At first I tried touch controls, but those are not good. I then tried motion, which is the one you want to use. It works amazingly good—calibrate it first—allowing you to dodge enemy fire with maximum precision. You can also lightly tap at the bottom of the screen to fire more quickly—the game comes with auto-fire on by default, but it's too slow—but that doesn't make the control of the plane difficult at all.

Now I can only hope other iPhone/touch developers work in their controls like these guys, opening the way to old-style games that don't depend on imprecise software-based touch D-pads. iFighter Life addictive. I can't wait for them to release the full version.

The motion-based control is great and allows for surprisingly precise motion.

Great retro graphics and effects.

[iTunes Store]

Hulu iPhone App Coming, and It’s “Badass”

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:19:00 +0000

Sweet jesus. Alley Insider reports Hulu is developing an iPhone app that'll stream over 3G and Wi-Fi, and it's "badass." It'll hit "within a few months." I've been dreaming of this moment since Joost's app.

30 Rock, Dollhouse, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, Arrested Development, oh yes. Any hope AT&T has of charging people a monthly fee for mobile TV dies with a Hulu app, especially once ABC jumps onboard and it hits other mobile platforms (which it surely will). If it truly delivers the full Hulu experience—every video with a great UI—the potential awesomeness literally blows my mind. Hulu CEO Jason Kilar said one year ago that mobile is "ripe for the Hulu experience" but it "may not be identical" on every platform. I'd hope the iPhone is as close to the real thing as it can get, though that obviously depends on NBC and Fox to allow it, as well. And Apple has to approve it, obviously.

AT&T Trying to Keep iPhone Exclusive Until 2011

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:43:13 +0000

The WSJ reports that AT&T is talking to Apple rightthissecond about extending its exclusive iPhone deal until 2011. If you're wondering why they need to extend that "five year deal," here's a refresher. [WSJ]