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Will the BlackBerry KickStart be a Centro Killer?
Stories >>
Commentary - Jul 23rd - 2:23 PM EDT | By Jennifer Chappell
Kevin over at our sister site CrackBerry.com has posted a great hands-on review (part 1 of 2) of a yet to be officially announced or released BlackBerry smartphone, the 8220, codenamed "KickStart". Kevin and the CrackBerry team were the first to get their hands on a KickStart. Way to go Kevin!
The KickStart will be the first BlackBerry clamshell flip phone made by RIM. The KickStart will most likely be an introductory smartphone like the Centro, targeted at first time smartphone users.
Kevin noted that the leaked images of the KickStart back on April 30th pushed RIM's stock up nearly 5%:
...and for good reason - it showed the world and investment community that RIM wasn't afraid of reinventing and targeting opportunities outside their norm. No, the KickStart doesn't feature the same high-end hardware and all-in-one functionality of the Bold nor have the same allure that a touchscreen BlackBerry proposes, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't get excited about this device. It may not be something that existing BlackBerry or other smartphone users will flock to, but if it hits store shelves at a reasonable price it should be a top pick for flip phone lovers and feature phone upgraders, which should mean CrackBerry nation is about to get a whole lot bigger, and that is exciting.
Read on for the full article
Palm Announces New Sprint Centro Update, My Location Is A Go
Stories >>
Software - Jul 23rd - 8:24 AM EDT | By Mike Guccione
Well I'd say it's about time, but that would be an understatement. For those Sprint Centro owners who thought that only the GSM users could have all of the Google Maps My Location fun, your time has come.
Palm announced the availability of the new update for said Centro owners on their official blog today. You'll need about 15 minutes of your time and can choose from two different update methods (expansion card or the old-fashioned sync cable). Things seem to have gone pretty smoothly on my trusty phone, so hurry up and head on over to the Palm update page and get some of that My Location goodness - one thing that they do fail to mention is that you will need to get the latest version of Google Maps (umm...hello, oversight much?)
Read - Palm Sprint Centro Updater Page
Read - Official Palm Blog
Adios, Treo 755p! We hardly Knew Ye...
Stories >>
Business - Jul 23rd - 7:35 AM EDT | By Annie Latham
Psst! Hey, Verizon customers! Hear this... If you've been eyeing a Treo 755p but have delayed pulling the trigger on getting one, you might want to jump online and act now. According to a report by Kris at PalmInfocenter, a Verizon spokesperson has confirmed that they are "phasing out" the Treo 755p in favor of the newer Centro. And if you go to the Verizon website, you can snatch yourself a 755p for the same price as a Centro, $99.99.
Now to put that in context, in December 2007, when Verizon introduced the 755p, you could get it for $299.99 with a 2-year contract (after $100 instant online discount $50 mail-in rebate) or $579.00 directly from Palm without a contract.
And as a refresher on what's hot about the 755p from Verizon, back when it launched, Andrew from our sister site, Treonauts wrote about the Treo Voice Dialing software (included in the box) which allows you to place a call, launch an application, even initiate a text or email message with just the sound of your voice. That's something iPhone folks dream about. He also remarked, "...I personally feel that the lighter and slimmer form-factor with no protruding antenna will make a significant difference for those Treonauts looking for a slicker alternative - it's certainly much better looking than the Treo 700p."
Treo 755p vs. Centro? Verizon customers better act quickly before the decision is made for them. One more thing to note: The Verizon spokesperson said they will continue to provide customer support for the Treo 755p. You can probably count on Palm to support you as a Plan B.
Palm SDHC beta available
Stories >>
Software - Jul 22nd - 2:07 PM EDT | By Dan Nimtz
PalmPowerups reports good news for many Palm users. Treo and Centro users can already access SDHC cards allowing storage all the way to 32GB currently. However, other Palm users have been left out in the cold since the Palm OS for those devices has been limited to SD cards only. And that means 2GB maximums. PalmPowerups has released a free beta driver to allow these Palm devices to access SDHC cards. In addition to the ability to use larger memory cards, users will experience faster access, and card access will not shut off in low battery conditions.
PalmPowerups states:
Palm Inc has repeatedly refused to write an SDHC driver for
their handhelds. This has long been regarded as a lost cause by most
Palm owners. Luckily Palm Inc are not the only ones in power to help.
PalmPowerups to the rescue! We've been hard at work creating an SDHC
driver for your devices. It is very difficult and has been one of the
most complex projects we've ever undertaken here. It is made harder yet
since each individual device needs to be uniquely supported and
programmed for.
The PalmPowerups article contains caveats as well as instructions including getting the proper FAT32 driver if needed for your device, and how to get the trial version running on various platforms (note: this requires several steps depending on your hardware, so it probably isn't for the newbie).
Read on for the full article
What happens in Vegas, can be booked from your Mobile...
Stories >>
Commentary - Jul 21st - 3:07 PM EDT | By Annie Latham
A lot happens in Vegas, as we all know. That's why websites like VisitLasVegas.com are helpful when planning a trip there because you can reserve tickets to shows ahead of time. But what do you do if you happen to be already in Vegas and find yourself with some extra time on your hands? Chances are, you haven't schlepped your computer with you.
The old-fashion way is to track down a concierge to help you out. The "new-fashion" way is to get help from "Mobile Concierge" and "Box Office in Your Pocket," two new applications brought to you by VEGAS.com, the largest seller of Las Vegas show tickets and source for Vegas information.
According to their announcement, these applications are the first-ever deployment of mobile show ticketing in Vegas combined with mobile concierge services.
Read on for the full article
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