Do You Follow Too Many People On Twitter? Use ManageTwitter.

A few days ago, I noted that Seesmic Web had perfected the management of Twitter contacts. I was wrong. A new service has been brought to my attention that is much, much better. Actually, it’s a must-use. 

While Seesmic Web is great for a number of things (it’s arguably the best Twitter web client out there), ManageTwitter is great at one thing: managing your Twitter followers. To use it, you simply link up your Twitter account (via OAuth) and it lets you know which of the Twitter users you follow aren’t following you back, who is inactive, who is talkative, and who is quiet. Each of these are great gauges for whether you should still be following them or not.

Personally, I was able to eliminate over 200 people I was following that I determined I shouldn’t be. Most of these were users I followed a couple years ago that either were simply not using the service any more, or were no longer that interesting to me.

Unfollowing users is as simple as selecting their name and clicking the “unfollow” button. You can also do this in bulk. And hovering over any users gives you more information about them including their average tweets per day. You can also sort the various ManageTwitter fields by ‘date followed,’ ‘username,’ ‘followers,’ or ‘timezone.’

While there are no shortage of services that recommend people you should follow, I’ve long needed one to suggest who I maybe shouldn’t be following. Of those, ManageTwitter is easily the best.

Created by the Australian company Melon Media, the site notes that it has unfollowed 17092 people for 381 users in the past 3 days.

by techcrunch

Microsoft Unveils Windows Phone 7 Series, finally!

Here it is, windows Phone 7 is now official! And finally I am allowed to talk about it! After several months of stress and torture for me when I read many inaccurate claims on the So call Windows Phone 7 and could not tell anything to anyone, I am happy to be able to talk about it without breaking any NDA.

Now, Windows Phone 7 is a turning point for microsoft and being so it will either shape the mobile future of the company or break it… This new Opus of Windows Phone 7 is really something drastically different and will surely make some people unhappy, and from what I saw late 2009, there were at this time many little aspects that did not please me at all, but hey, microsoft had to make many change to keep-up on its competitors.

Now I am sure that you would like to know more about this new Mobile OS, and at the time I am typing this news, I do not have yet any official picture of the final Windows Phone 7 Series OS, but hope that our little Cutkillavince will shoot some nice stuff later today, so meanwhile, just enjoy this Official press release below!

BARCELONA, Spain – Feb. 15, 2010 – Today at Mobile World Congress 2010, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the next generation of Windows® Phones, Windows Phone 7 Series. With this new platform, Microsoft offers a fresh approach to phone software, distinguished by smart design and truly integrated experiences that bring to the surface the content people care about from the Web and applications. For the first time ever, Microsoft will bring together Xbox LIVE games and the Zune music and video experience on a mobile phone, exclusively on Windows Phone 7 Series. Partners have already started building phones; customers will be able to purchase the first phones in stores by holiday 2010.
“Today, I’m proud to introduce Windows Phone 7 Series, the next generation of Windows Phones,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. “In a crowded market filled with phones that look the same and do the same things, I challenged the team to deliver a different kind of mobile experience. We believe Windows Phone 7 Series is a phone that truly reflects the speed of people’s lives and their need to connect to other people.”

Designed for Life in Motion
With Windows Phone 7 Series, Microsoft takes a fundamentally different approach to phone software. Smart design begins with a new, holistic design system that informs every aspect of the phone, from its visually appealing layout and motion to its function and hardware integration. On the Start screen, dynamically updated “live tiles” show users real-time content directly, breaking the mold of static icons that serve as an intermediate step on the way to an application. Create a tile of a friend, and the user gains a readable, up-to-date view of a friend’s latest pictures and posts, just by glancing at Start.
Every Windows Phone 7 Series phone will come with a dedicated hardware button for Bing, providing one-click access to search from anywhere on the phone, while a special implementation of Bing search provides intent-specific results, delivering the most relevant Web or local results, depending on the type of query.
Windows Phone 7 Series creates an unrivaled set of integrated experiences on a phone through Windows Phone hubs. Hubs bring together related content from the Web, applications and services into a single view to simplify common tasks. Windows Phone 7 Series includes six hubs built on specific themes reflecting activities that matter most to people:

* People. This hub delivers an engaging social experience by bringing together relevant content based on the person, including his or her live feeds from social networks and photos. It also provides a central place from which to post updates to Facebook and Windows Live in one step.
* Pictures. This hub makes it easy to share pictures and video to a social network in one step. Windows Phone 7 Series also brings together a user’s photos by integrating with the Web and PC, making the phone the ideal place to view a person’s entire picture and video collection.
* Games. This hub delivers the first and only official Xbox LIVE experience on a phone, including Xbox LIVE games, Spotlight feed and the ability to see a gamer’s avatar, Achievements and gamer profile. With more than 23 million active members around the world, Xbox LIVE unlocks a world of friends, games and entertainment on Xbox 360, and now also on Windows Phone 7 Series.
* Music + Video. This hub creates an incredible media experience that brings the best of Zune, including content from a user’s PC, online music services and even a built-in FM radio into one simple place that is all about music and video. Users can turn their media experience into a social one with Zune Social on a PC and share their media recommendations with like-minded music lovers. The playback experience is rich and easy to navigate, and immerses the listener in the content.
* Marketplace. This hub allows the user to easily discover and load the phone with certified applications and games.
* Office. This hub brings the familiar experience of the world’s leading productivity software to the Windows Phone. With access to Office, OneNote and SharePoint Workspace all in one place, users can easily read, edit and share documents. With the additional power of Outlook Mobile, users stay productive and up to date while on the go.

Original post by akihabaranews

Microsoft's Windows Phone event at MWC kicks off tomorrow at 9AM ET

If you're both ready and set, then you'll be pleased to know that Microsoft has major Windows Mobile goings-on to discuss tomorrow at 9AM ET (3PM here in Spain). What does that really mean? Well based on the torrent of circumstantial evidence we've seen, it looks like the big M is set to deliver its most important piece of mobile news in years: Windows Mobile 7. Or, Windows Phone 7 Series... or whatever it is they're calling it these days. Regardless, it looks like a new era for Redmond's smartphone platform, and we'll be there covering the whole thing minute-by-minute... as only Engadget can.

If you're as curious as we are about Microsoft's plans, the event kicks off on Monday, February 15 at the times below.

04:00AM - Hawaii
06:00AM - Pacific
07:00AM - Mountain
08:00AM - Central
09:00AM - Eastern
02:00PM - London
03:00PM - Paris
11:00PM - Tokyo 

Original post by here

PlayStation 3 controller used for N900 gaming (video)

Is the N900 the most hacker-friendly phone ever created? All sources are pointing to "yes." Just two short months ago, we saw one determined code monkey turn his N900 into a PS3 controller; today, we're looking at someone who did the exact opposite. If you've memorized the Debian source code and aren't afraid to dabble in the wild and murky world of N900 modding, you too can one day use a spare SIXAXIS controller in order to dictate gameplay on your Nokia handset. All the instructions you need are there in the source link, and for everyone else just looking to have a watch from the sidelines, hop on past the break and mash play.

 

Original post by engadget

Apple to sell 99 cent TV shows at iPad launch?

Today's "people familiar with the discussions" prattle carried by both the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times has Apple reducing the price of some of its US television shows to 99 cents in time for the iPad launch. A quick search through the iTunes store makes it apparent that Apple has already been experimenting with the 99 cent rate (and a few freebies) on select iTunes episodes; shows that previously ran $1.99 for standard definition quality or $2.99 in HD. Of course, this could all change by the time the iPad launches since the talks are ongoing. Unfortunately, discussions between Apple and content providers to provide a monthly TV subscriptions have stalled according to sources at the Wall Street Journal, although Apple remains open to the idea.

It's worth remembering that prior to adding video support to its iPods, Steve Jobs regularly lambasted the idea of watching video on a tiny, handheld display. The iPad, with its big 9.7-inch 1,024 x 768 pixel IPS panel, is certainly better positioned for video consumption so it's no surprise to hear rumors that Apple's trying to jump start its video business by getting back to the magical 99 cent price point it so loves.

Original post by engadget

Facebook 'unnamed app' bug is fixed

(CNN) -- Word of a Facebook bug spread on the social networking site Wednesday before the "unnamed app," which officials say wasn't harmful, was fixed.

Facebook members used their status updates to warn online friends about the glitch. The following was the language many users copied and passed on:

"ALERT >>>>> Has your facebook been running slow lately? Go to "Settings" and select "application settings", change the dropdown box to "added to profile". If you see one in there called "un named app" delete it... Its an internal spybot. Pass it on. about a minute ago....i checked and it was on mine."

Facebook said the weirdness was real, but never a real threat.

"Due to a small bug, an application listed as 'Unnamed App' appeared in some users' Applications Settings," spokeswoman Malorie Lucich said in an e-mail to CNN. "No user accounts or data were lost or damaged."

Lucich said the bug had been fixed by Wednesday afternoon.

Multiple Facebook users reported that while the application was in their settings they got fake messages telling them a friend had commented on one of their photos or other posts.

Others said that when they removed the application, their "boxes" tabs on their Facebook page disappeared.

By Wednesday afternoon, Facebook users were having fun with the bug. "Unnamed App" had its own fan page on the site -- albeit with a paltry 105 fans.

"Thanks for your personal data, people! Keep those passwords coming," read one note posted by the page's administrator.

It included a supposed inbox scanner beneath the words, "Molesting your inbox. Please wait."

Original articl by cnn

Google Buzz goes after Facebook, Twitter

Google plunged into the world of social networking on Tuesday, melding pieces of Facebook and Twitter into a new feature, Google Buzz.

Buzz, which will work through the popular Gmail service, will allow users to post status updates, photos and links to members of their network -- as well as pull in their activity on other sites like Twitter, Flickr and Picasa.

Google spokesman Bradley Horowitz said the service, which was rolling out to some Gmail users Tuesday afternoon and should be available to all in the next couple of days, aims to weed out what he called the clutter of other networking sites.

With networking sites, "there's obviously value there," he said. "It's a phenomenon that's real, but it's increasingly becoming harder and harder to make sense and find the signal in the noise."

By letting users post photos, links and updates openly, the tool would mimic Twitter's micro-blogging format. But users also will be able to make their content available to "friends only," more closely following the Facebook model.

At an event at the company's Mountain View, California, headquarters, Google also seemed poised to take a poke at the AOL Instant Messenger service, saying Buzz will be offered to companies as a tool for interoffice communication.

"It will change the way businesses communicate around the world," Horowitz said.

Despite the inevitable comparisons, Google spokesmen said they didn't set out to tread on anyone else's turf.

"We try not to pay too much attention to competitors," Gmail product manager Todd Jackson said. "We try to listen to users."

Horowitz said Google Buzz will automatically make "friends" out of the people a user e-mails or chats with the most on Gmail.

Comments on posts will appear in real time. And comments by other users will be weighted, similar to how Google's search engine weighs results, to "collapse bad buzz and recommend the good buzz," Jackson said.

The hands-down leader in the search engine world, Google has been branching out on projects that include its Nexus One smartphone, the company's first foray into hardware marketing.

Late last month, Google announced that people could tweak their accounts to make results related to friends, co-workers and other members of their social networks appear above all other results.

The Social Search feature was introduced to a limited number of Google users last year and was made available to everyone in beta status on January 28.

The change came with a hint of more things to come.

"This is just a first step in our ongoing effort to ensure that Google Web search is always as social as the Web itself," the company said in an instructional video posted to its official blog.

Google Buzz probably won't be able to bring in status updates and other materials from Facebook for the same reason that Social Search doesn't.

Because most Facebook users set their information to be viewed only by friends, Google's search engine can't collect that information in the same way it can from Twitter and, obviously, Google-owned sites like YouTube.

Buzz also will have a mobile component, operating on most major wireless operating systems with features that include voice-recognition posting and a GPS-enabled ability to attach the user's location to posts.

The Web-based mobile application, which can be used by iPhones despite not going through Apple's online store, can also be set to pick up posts to Buzz being made near the user's location.

Changes to the tool could be coming quickly, too. Google officials say they're already studying possible expansions. They include allowing Buzz updates by phone, letting users post to their Twitter account through the tool and linking Buzz with the still-emerging Google Wave system.

"We're just getting started," Horowitz said. "We're not launching this today because we think we're done. We don't think that's how a product like this is built."

Original artical by cnn

iPhone 4G Parts are Here…

And they have a couple of interesting features.

1. The LCD appears to be factory glued to the digitizer which is more similar to the first generation iPhones than the iPhone 3G and 3GS. The digitizer can be separated from the LCD on the 3G and 3GS models, which should be interesting to all, but for the repair folks like us–this means that the 4G screen repair price will be higher since both parts will have to be replaced at once.
2. The iPhone 4G front panel seems to be about 1/4″ longer than its predecessors.
3. There is an interesting reflective, mirror-like surface directly above the speaker. This is likely a spot for the proximity sensor. If that’s what it is, it’s in a different location than previous models.

UPDATE: There are a lot of skeptics out there and rightly so. There have been a lot of “leaked” photos from various Apple products in the past that have turned out to be parts for another product. Here are the things that we know: a) The phone has not been released yet. Until it is, Apple could change the product design or the parts we have acquired could be prototypes. Since we don’t have an actual fourth-generation iPhone in our hands, we have no way to know for sure. b) We obtained this part as a sample from a reputable source. They have been reputable up to this point, and have provided genuine parts for us in the past.

We are a repair company and it’s in our best interest to get samples of these new parts as they become available to us. Of course it is possible that these are not the final design or these are parts for another product completely, but that is not how they have been demonstrated to us. If these parts are not for the fourth generation iPhone, we will obviously not be using them for future repairs when the new iPhones do come out.

 

 

Thanks for looking. We will continue to obtain these parts in anticipation of the 4G release.

Original artical IRESQ

Google's 'Social' Gmail: Could It Really Work?

Gmail, meet Twitter.

Google is preparing to unveil a new social networking component for its Gmail Web service, according to reports published Monday. The service, The Wall Street Journal says, would add tweet-like status updates into the Gmail interface. It could be announced as early as this week.

As generally happens anytime we get a glimpse at a new tech product, people are already rushing to label the social Gmail concept as a "Twitter-killer." (Following that same logic, by the way, I'm pretty sure the Nexus One killed the Droid, which killed the iPhone, which killed the Nintendo DS, and so on. For all this technology-killing going on, there sure seem to be an awful lot of things still out there.)

Homicidal digressions aside, could a social Gmail really work? Ultimately, it all depends upon the connections.

Gmail Gets Social

First, here's what we unofficially know so far about Google's potential social Gmail setup (Google's spokespeople have yet to comment on the reports):

• Gmail will supposedly gain a stream of "media and status updates" within its Web-based interface.

• Users would be encouraged to use the stream to "post and view messages about their day-to-day activities."

• Users would see information only from people with whom they choose to connect.

• The updates could eventually include info shared from YouTube and Picasa as well.

The reports compare the social networking concept to the status update system already present in Gmail's chat feature. As with most instant messaging platforms, the Gmail chat feature allows you to set a status that users on your friend list can see. The new social Gmail platform, The Wall Street Journal reports, will "aggregate updates from more friends" into a single stream. It's not clear if those updates would be tied directly to the Gmail chat statuses or whether they'd be something completely separate.

Gmail and Social Connections

When considering any kind of social Gmail system, I think the real question is whether the service will attempt to create something new or to centralize something old. In this case, the latter may be preferable. YouTube and Picasa integration, after all, are fine -- but would that be enough to convince you to get on-board? We're already facing a serious bout of social network overkill; there are simplyfar too many different sites to keep up with as it is, and the last thing we need is one more destination to frequent.

How a Gmail social service could fill a relevant void would be by creating a convenient way to manage the existing noise. Sure, you've got options likeTweetDeck and Ping.fm , but let's be honest: Outside of us techies, far more people are familiar with Google and Gmail than with these kinds of niche-oriented offerings.

A clean and simple service that'd integrate updates from Facebook, Twitter, and other social services into Gmail could gain some solid traction (and might actually be rather handy, too). If it could somehow leverageGmail's spam-filtering capabilities to cut through Twitter's junk -- er, sorry, "social media expertise" -- hey, that'd be icing on the cake.

Google's Social Moves

Realistically, any kind of cross-platform integration may be a long shot. Google has been slowly but steadily building its own army of social services over the past months. The company even hired a handful of social media veterans earlier this year, one of whom told CNET the social media realm was set to be one of Google's "big focuses for 2010." The goal, he said: getting there "faster and better."

So will Google's alleged Gmail social service be another Orkut, or will it give us something we'll actually use? Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets. Google has a media event scheduled for Tuesday, so odds are, we'll learn the answer very soon.

Original articl by PCworld

PwnageTool for iPhone OS 3.1.3 released for the version obsessed

While the list of tweaks is absurdly small in the latest iPhone OS update, we know that some of you simply have to run the latest and greatest OS at all times regardless of risk. Fortunately for you, the Dev-Team has stepped to with a new version of PwnageTool (v3.1.5 for Mac OS X) that handles the update to iPhone OS 3.1.3 with aplomb while preserving your device's ultrasn0w unlock and jailbroken state. As usual, there's a litany of precautions depending upon the device you own so hit the source link and read the dev-team's words carefully before proceeding. With a little luck, patience, and undue stress, improved accuracy of your device's reported battery level can be yours -- Huzzah?

Original artical by engadget

Entelligence: Context is the killer application for mobile

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

 

We live in a world of diverse mobile devices. Laptops, smartphones and everything in between define the mobile experience of the 21st century. But what is the killer application for mobile computing? We all know the theory of killer apps -- they're the reason and the purpose people invest in new devices. The killer app in the early days of PCs was the VisiCalc spreadsheet. PageMaker and the creation of desktop publishing were the killer apps for the GUI-based PC, most notably the Macintosh. But for mobile, it's not as clear; some people think the killer app for mobile is email, while other say it's the mobile web. Personally, I don't think there's one specific killer application -- I think the killer app for mobile is simply context.

Historically, we've tailored the devices we use to the places where we are. We distinguished between business users and consumer users because the functionally required was often tied to the location the user was sitting. Mobility was often dead space. People found ways to distract themselves during travel time, and were generally disconnected when out and about. Today, the mobile space is connected, and that

The fastest and most powerful laptop won't do much for a user on the road if it weighs 10 pounds and gets barely an hour of battery life -- or can't open in a coach seat on a plane.

makes it quite unique: it's neither home or work, work nor play. Your context shifts rapidly depending on what you're doing, where you are, and what devices or devices you may be carrying -- in our age of digital ubiquity, you can access the relevant information, either personal or professional, wherever you are, on whatever screen you choose. Delivering the contextual information users need, when they need it, is what's critical -- not any particular application or service.

Context contradicts conventional wisdom. For one thing, feeds and speeds are no longer the defining metrics for value. The fastest and most powerful laptop won't do much for a user on the road if it weighs 10 pounds and gets barely an hour of battery life -- or can't open in a coach seat on a plane. By contrast, the ability to check email, browse the web or listen to music doesn't matter if your phone won't make a call when you need it to. Smart vendors will learn technology applied to context for users is what matters -- especially since I think there's an upper limit on the number of devices most people will carry with them at any given time. As I've said in the past, for most of us that's two, with a maximum of three.

It's time to be liberated and connected. The dream is real -- now it's time to see more devices execute and deliver the vision.

[Image via Celebrity BlackBerry Sightings]- Original artical by engadget

The NexusOne story [Video]

>> See more story of nexus one phone in youtube channel

Facebook’s Project Titan: A Full Featured Webmail Product

Facebook is completely rewriting their messaging product and is preparing to launch a fully featured webmail product in its place, according to a source with knowledge of the product. Internally it’s known as Project Titan. Or, unofficially and perhaps over-enthusiastically, the Gmail killer.

Facebook messaging has been the bane of users’ existence for years. My first public gripe was in 2008, when I said that urgent changes were needed. The biggest problem is simply deleting old emails. It takes so long that I have thousands of unread and read but not deleted messages in my inbox.

But Facebook messaging is also only indirectly linked to the email, which is still the standard way that people exchange digital messages when not on Facebook.

Facebook has occasionally dabbled with improvements to messaging, like adding the ability to search messages. But for the most part it has remained static. And not very useful.

Even MySpace moved away from their aging messaging platform to a true webmail service in 2008 (albeit one that lacked POP or IMAP support).

But now Facebook is getting itself back in the game. And if the details we’ve heard are accurate, Project Titan, or whatever it’s called when it launches, may be the kind of product people flock to.

First, our understanding is that there will be full POP/IMAP support, meaning users can access the account other than through Facebook itself. Your email account name will be your technologya – technologya@facebook.com.

Email is all about identity. And Facebook is ahead of everyone else in the identity game via Facebook Connect. Facebook says more than 60 million people log in to 80,000 third party websites each month via Facebook Connect.

Tacking a real webmail product on top of those vanity URLs and Facebook connect is something even Google may shudder at. Gmail killer? I don’t think so. But a strong product move nonetheless.

Original artical by techcrunch

More Windows Mobile 7 rumors; will it really not support multi-tasking?

Mobile World Congress is kicking off on 15 February and with it start date getting closer and closer the rumors of announcements is starting to kick into high gear. Rachel wrote last week that it looks like Windows Mobile 7 may be shown off and announced at MWC. Microsoft still hasn’t issued any public announcement that there is such a thing as Windows Mobile/Phone 7, but Steve Ballmer, other Microsoft officials, and partner representatives have all said it will be coming at the end of 2010 so there is no doubt it is real and being worked on. It was way back in 2007 when Mary Jo talked about Windows Mobile 7 so I have to really question if Microsoft can actually deliver this operating system by the end of 2010 and I will be keeping a close eye on MWC announcements.

There have been lots of rumors floating around about what the OS contains and these latest posts over on PPCGeeks and MobileTechWorld have long lists of possible features and service integration. I have to say that some are a bit disturbing to me. One that really shocks me in the list is the lack of multi-tasking. Really Microsoft? Everyone harps on Apple because the iPhone doesn’t support this and all indications are that iPhone OS 4 will add it. Microsoft has always supported multi-tasking in its mobile operating system and I would be shocked if they took a step back and removed this capability. It is also interesting to see the part about other interfaces not being supported. One thing that I really like about Windows Mobile is the ability to customize it to your heart’s content and if this is true then no more HTC Sense, Spb Mobile Shell, Samsung TouchWIZ, etc. Then again, if the OS is excellent then maybe none of these are necessary.

I do like the rumored Zune support and Zune taking over ActiveSync and WMDC. I don’t understand the Xbox support since it doesn’t seem to include gaming and just a way to check on your friends status, but maybe that will appeal to real gamers.

I am sure we will continue to see lots of rumors around Windows Mobile/Phone 7 and hopefully when we do see an announcement it shows that Microsoft is still interested in the mobile phone space.

It was pretty funny to read the line, “MS are actually ahead of schedule which will surprise the analysts / journalists” since the OS is at two years behind what Mary Jo talked about in 2007.

Original article by zdnet

Microsoft tackles 17-year-old bug

A 17-year-old bug in Windows will be patched by Microsoft in its latest security update.

The February update for Windows will close the loophole that dates from the time of the DOS operating system.

First appearing in Windows NT 3.1, the vulnerability has been carried over into almost every version of Windows that has appeared since.

The monthly security update will also tackle a further 25 holes in Windows, five of which are rated as "critical".

Home hijack

The ancient bug was discovered by Google security researcher Tavis Ormandy in January 2010 and involves a utility that allows newer versions of Windows to run very old programs.

Mr Ormandy has found a way to exploit this utility in Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and 2008 as well as Windows Vista and Windows 7.

The patch for this vulnerability will appear in the February security update. Five of the vulnerabilities being patched at the same time allow attackers to effectively hijack a Windows PC and run their own programs on it.

As well as fixing holes in many versions of Windows, the update also tackles bugs in Office XP, Office 2003 and Office 2004 for Apple Macintosh machines.

The bumper update is not the largest that Microsoft has ever released. The security update for October 2009 tackled a total of 34 vulnerabilities. Eight of those updates were rated as critical - the highest level.

In January 2010, Microsoft released an "out of band" patch for a serious vulnerability in Internet Explorer that was being exploited online. The vulnerability was also thought to be the one used to attack Google in China.

Following the attack on Google, many other cyber criminals started seeking ways to exploit the loophole.

Also this week, a security researcher has reported the discovery of a vulnerability in Internet Explorer that allows attackers to view the files held on a victim's machine.

Microsoft has issued a security bulletin about the problem and aims to tackle it at a future date. At the moment there is no evidence that this latest find is being actively exploited online.

Original article by BBC news

Apple Blocks Competition From Using iTunes: there can be only one iPhone (sorry, Palm!)

The latest iTunes v8.2.1 update includes a fix that blocks devices such as the Palm Pre that utilise the program to synchronise data. One of the Palm Pre’s major selling points was it’s “seamless integration into iTunes” allowing for a simple way to move data such as music, pictures and videos to and from the device. Palm described this as a “direct blow to Apple users” [Rather prematurely! -editor]

It was possible for the device to use iTunes because it is identified as an iPod, and therefore is picked up in iTunes to synchronise; while most phones allow connection via some sort of software, this is the first of its kind. In June, Apple released a statement stressing that it “does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players” along with stating that “newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality” with them.

The latest release - version 8.2.1 has patched the way in which non-Apple products could mask themselves as an iPod. Although the update isn’t mandatory so in effect, so current products can still use it. Palm released a statement regarding the decision from Apple which said “if Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience.”

Clearly, Palm are attempting to discourage Apple from disabling features to stop other devices connecting, but I sense a connectivity war on the horizon between both companies.

- Original Article by BBC News

Nexus One Sales: Slow Month is No Surprise

Sales of Google's Nexus One didn't improve over the smartphone's first month according to Flurry, the same firm that reported limp debut week sales.

Flurry says Google sold 80,000 Nexus Ones in January, after selling 20,000 during week one, the Wall Street Journal reports. Those figures aren't official; they're based on mobile app usage by newly-detected phones, divided by the types of phones detected. The numbers suggest that Nexus One sales haven't significantly sped up or slowed down over the course of a month.

By comparison, Flurry says Apple's iPhone sold 600,000 units in its first month, and Motorola's Droid sold 575,000 units (an interesting comparison in itself).

But don't call the Nexus One a failure. There are way too many factors that make comparisons with other Android phones, and of course the iPhone, unfair.

When the iPhone debuted, the market was quite different. Yes, the iPhone cost more than today's subsidized smartphones, but it was also a unique product. Today, there are lots of consumer-friendly superphones to choose from, including Motorola's Droid and Cliq, Palm's Pre and Pixi, and of course the Nexus One. As for comparisons with the Droid, that phone also had the advantage of launching during the holiday season, a popular time to buy new phones.

That's not to say the Nexus One couldn't do anything to improve its sales. As I've said before, Nexus One marketing -- little more than an intermittent Web ad and a YouTube channel -- has nothing on the aggressive campaigns for the iPhone and the Droid, both of which have strong images that appear in television ads and billboards. There's also the issue of online-only sales, turning off anyone who wants to try before they buy. And until the Nexus One becomes subsidized through Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint instead of only T-Mobile, the potential customer base is limited.

But this is vintage Google. The company will sit on a product and let it incubate for years, making little tweaks here and there until the team is ready to take it out of beta. The Nexus One's not a beta test, but between slow initial sales and early technical problems, it seems like one. I'm still waiting for Google's mobile phone revolution, but it could take a while.

Source [ PCWORD ]