What's new on SlashGear.com |
- HTC Thunderbolt At Best Buy Price Confirmed
- Intel To Ship Fixed Cougar Point Chipsets February 14th
- Apple Improving Notifications On Next iOS
- Rovio Takes on Nokia with an Angry Call to Arms
- Orbo Watch Takes Circular Face, E Ink, Tells All
- Nokia Workers in Finland Take Collective Lunch Break in Protest of Windows Phone 7 Deal
- Hitachi Announces 4.5-inch Display That May Rival Apple’s Retina Display
- Sony Hints At Withdrawing From iTunes
- AT&T Rewards iPhone Customers With Bonus 1000 Rollover Minutes
- Target Offering iPhone 4 Trade-In Service
- SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: February 11 2011
- Nokia Windows Phone: Everything you need to know
- Advent Vega Update Brings Back Flash Player 10.1, and There Was Much Rejoicing
- Vodafone Webbox internet keyboard plugs into your TV [Video]
- MacBook Air Sandy Bridge refresh tipped for June
- Analysis: Nokia’s Huge Bet On Windows Phone 7 is All or Nothing
- Nokia Microsoft partnership video
- Samsung rebrands Exynos processor family: Hummingbird flies away
- Apple iPhone 5 and iPad 2 NFC rumors debunked by analyst that prompted them
- Google offers sacked Nokia engineers a lifeline
- MeeGo hardware “repurposed” for Windows Phone; no WP7 update for N8 or E7
- Nokia: Big Windows Phone push in 2012; Increased R&D in low-end devices
- Nokia allowed to modify Windows Phone while rival OEMs locked out
- Windows Phone kills Symbian as Nokia strategy shifts
- GeoHot forced to hand over HDD to Sony
- Microsoft paying Nokia “hundreds of millions” for WP7 deal?
- Belkin launches Verizon iPhone 4 case line
- Engage WirelessLCD debuts, Piccard nowhere to be found
- USA Today uses Microsoft Tag to get more interaction from smartphone users
- Boogie Board LCD writing tablet heads to Europe
| HTC Thunderbolt At Best Buy Price Confirmed Posted: 11 Feb 2011 03:08 PM PST We mentioned before that the HTC Thunderbolt release date was confirmed for Best Buy but did not have a confirmed price at the time. For those wondering still, we now have your answer thanks to the guys at Droid-Life revealing images of what should be a Best Buy ad for next week. The image shows the HTC Thunderbolt advertised as $249.99 with a new two-year contract through Verizon. Regular price without contract is set at $749.99. That is quite a huge difference in price and should keep most customers seeking the HTC Thunderbolt locked into the Verizon contract. [Via Android Community] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Intel To Ship Fixed Cougar Point Chipsets February 14th Posted: 11 Feb 2011 02:47 PM PST
According to their latest PCN or product change notification, the design flaw that has the potential to cause physical parts of the chipset to wear out, has been resolved. The folks over at TechPowerUp have the full PCN document in pdf form. This is certainly good news for those early adopters of new Sandy Bridge powered devices that have made returns and are waiting for replacement. And since Intel allowed some OEM partners to continue production with the original chipsets for certain devices not requiring the affected port, the whole issue has not created too much of a ripple effect. [Via TechPowerUp] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Apple Improving Notifications On Next iOS Posted: 11 Feb 2011 02:44 PM PST Apple’s iOS really exemplifies their clean and stylish design approach on their devices and software. Save for one small blemish–their notifications system. The pop-up notifications you currently get on the Apple iOS can be rather annoying. The folks over at Cult of Mac are saying that they have some exclusive information suggesting that Apple will be making improvements on this particular problem and even intends to buy a small app development company to help create a new notification system.
Any iOS user knows how bad the notifications are. They pretty much freeze your device and stop whatever you were doing and forces you to deal with it. There were hopes last year when Apple hired Rich Dellinger, chief architect of HP/Palm's webOS, that notifications would be revamped and delivered much more smoothly. So far that hasn't had any developments. The webOS notification system was lauded for its simplicity and how it didn't intrude on the user experience. The company in talks to be purchased by Apple for this plan has not been identified, but its suspected that it’s a company already developing apps for the App Store. It's thought to be App Remix who has the Boxcar app that allows push notifications for Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail. [Via Cult of Mac] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Rovio Takes on Nokia with an Angry Call to Arms Posted: 11 Feb 2011 02:08 PM PST In a move that can only be called “absolutely insane yet somehow very sensical,” Rovio has re-tweeted a joke sent out by mobile entrepreneur Jan Ole Suhr that notes that the only hope Nokia has of surviving their future with Microsoft is to make sure Rovio creates a version of Angry Birds compatible with Windows Phone 7! Of course there has been no response from Nokia as of yet, while Microsoft has also remained silent on the matter. This is the latest in responses to this morning’s announcement of Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft to seal the deal on Windows Phone 7 (effectively a death warrant for Simbian and/or MeeGo.) The next nearest response has been Google Google offering Nokia employees a job. Meanwhile Nokia workers are walking out on their jobs in Finland, and we explain everything you’re going to need to know about the whole situation. [via Twitter] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Orbo Watch Takes Circular Face, E Ink, Tells All Posted: 11 Feb 2011 02:00 PM PST We’ve got a soft spot for conceptual design in our collective hearts here at SlashGear, and when a bit of industrial design comes along so very close to production that they only need a little nudge to get out of the door, we can’t resist. Especially when that design is brilliant to the level that this watch is. It appears to be analog until you realize what the hands are telling you – the hours, minutes, seconds, day, weather, and basically anything else you’d like, all of it in a cleverly fashionable design. This is the ORBO watch series by Zach Starr Weiss, and it’s about 3 steps away from production. The image you see above is one of many, each of them rendered in some 3D illustration software or another. The display is so flat it’s going to have to be E-Ink, and the watch quality is going to have to be so high it can get back the money it’s put into the display. We want this watch, so what you’re gonna have to do is find Zach, or just post in the comments below, tell Zach where to find someone who wants to produce his watches, and get this show on the road. I’ll take the white one you see above. Thanks! [via Yanko Design] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Nokia Workers in Finland Take Collective Lunch Break in Protest of Windows Phone 7 Deal Posted: 11 Feb 2011 01:26 PM PST It would appear, according to Finnish paper HS.fi Uutiset that workers at at least one Nokia development location in Tampere, Finland, are walking out in protest of the deal made official this morning between Nokia and Microsoft. While a member of the senior staff at this particular location, Kalle Wedge, noted “Aika moni käytti joustavaa työaikaa,” aka “Quite a few people used their flexible working time [their break] to do this protest.” Doing a walk-out during the time you’d normally have a break anyway would seem like it would be rather ineffective, so we must assume there’s something else going on here, as it appears that massive confusion via rumors have been spreading in other locations such as Oulu, where at the moment of the 2,000 employees, 1,000 work on Symbian, while 600 work with MeeGo. At the Tampere location about half of the employees currently work on Symbian. A massive walking out or protest or combination of the two would be right in order with the notes and actions that’ve been playing out and reported today. Take a peek at Nokia announcing “Substantial reductions in employment around the world and Google’s Aidan Biggins tweets “Any Nokia software engineers need a job? We’re hiring: www.google.com/jobs”. Hs.fi Uutiset reports that these engineers are afraid for their jobs and seek answers as their confusion over the future of each of their individual branches appears to hang in the balance. The Marine, Finland branch noted that although the Symbian side of development would be gradually reduced, these workers would more than likely just transfer over to working with Windows Phone, and that thus there’s no reason to fear. [via Geek] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Hitachi Announces 4.5-inch Display That May Rival Apple’s Retina Display Posted: 11 Feb 2011 11:55 AM PST
The 4.5-inch IPS display will boast a 720 x 1280 (16:9) display that can fit 329 pixels per inch and a contrast ratio 0f 1,100:1. Compare that to Apple's much touted "Retina Display" which can do 326 ppi, 800:1 contrast ratio, and a 960×640 resolution on a smaller 3.5 inch screen. Hitachi's display is going to look very good. Mass production on the new displays won't begin until October of this year so don't expect to get your hands on these anytime soon. Most likely you will find them by early 2012 at CES or the MWC. The display seems like it will be amazing, so it will be interesting to see how it faces off against Apple's Retina Display and Samsung's Super AMOLED screens. [Via IntoMobile] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Sony Hints At Withdrawing From iTunes Posted: 11 Feb 2011 11:35 AM PST
Sony Computer Entertainment CEO, Michael Ephraim, said that, "Publishers are being held to ransom by Apple and they are looking for other delivery systems, and we are waiting to see what the next three to five years will hold." However, the Music Unlimited platform will likely be subscription-based since it is streaming music to users without them saving music to their own physical storage. Sony claims this to be a strength since users would have easier access to the music from multiple devices without having to transfer between them. [Via The Age] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| AT&T Rewards iPhone Customers With Bonus 1000 Rollover Minutes Posted: 11 Feb 2011 11:12 AM PST
All the customer has to do to apply the gifted minutes is reply with the word "yes" and it will be added within the next four weeks. If you did not receive a text message, you can text "yes" to 11113020 and you will automatically be sent a reply telling you that the free rollover minutes have been gifted. This gift of rollover minutes, the free microcells, the trade-in service, and the Mobile To Any Mobile service we reported earlier show the extent AT&T will go to keep their iPhone customers. Perhaps a few more strategic moves ahead that will benefit consumers? Have you guys tried any out? Let us know. [Via 9 to 5 Mac] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Target Offering iPhone 4 Trade-In Service Posted: 11 Feb 2011 10:26 AM PST
The offer is available at the Target Mobile centers located in 846 Target stores nationwide. Bring in your iPhone 3G or 3GS and sign a new two-year contract with AT&T to take advantage of the program. You can get up to $100 credit for an iPhone 3G 16GB and up to $200 credit for an iPhone 3GS 32GB towards a new iPhone 4 16GB at $199 or an iPhone 4 32GB at $299. The iPhone trade-in is a limited time promotion through Target's exclusive Electronics Trade-In service that encourages consumers to be eco-friendly by trading in their old devices for store credit. Other mobile devices accepted through the program include iPods and even video games. [Via Target] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: February 11 2011 Posted: 11 Feb 2011 09:21 AM PST It’s shaping up to be a real Nokia day, believe it or not, with Microsoft and Nokia announcing a partnership that they hope will launch Windows Phone 7 to the top of the charts. See all the big points laid out in an On Time Analysis by Ben Bajarin entitled Analysis: Nokia's Huge Bet On Windows Phone 7 is All or Nothing. Next watch the Nokia Microsoft partnership video, see as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer notes that "Nokia will do unique things on top of Windows Phone 7″, and peek at a full guide from Chris Davies entitled Nokia Windows Phone: Everything you need to know. Check out a review of the brand new Twitter 2.0 by yours truly – it’s slick! Grapple your fingers around a brand new ViewPad 10Pro Win7/Froyo slate. And MORE here on SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up! R3 Media Network Editor’s Choice SlashPhone Android Community SlashGear To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Nokia Windows Phone: Everything you need to know Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:48 AM PST Nokia’s news today that it would be adopting Microsoft‘s Windows Phone may have fit in with the rumors, but it still met with significant surprise among industry and users alike. On the surface it looks a lot like the Finnish company has sacrificed independence for short-term survival, though both Nokia and Microsoft argue that this is in fact the beginning of a far more symbiotic relationship. After the cut, everything you need to get up to speed on the new Nokia Windows Phone agreement. In a move that will delight some and infuriate others, Nokia has basically given Symbian its marching orders. The company still expects to sell 150m Symbian devices over the next year, if not more, but Windows Phone – initially Windows Phone 7, and then future iterations of the OS – will take over as Nokia’s primary smartphone platform. Symbian will shift into a “franchisee platform”, with Nokia offering it to OEMs still enamoured by the software, but Nokia-branded Symbian devices will be phased out during what the company has described as a “transition period” in 2011 and 2012. Similarly affected is MeeGo, which Nokia intends to push back into the labs. One MeeGo smartphone will see a release in 2011, as promised late last year, but after that the platform will be treated as an engineering project for research into “future disruption in the mobile ecosystem.” According to Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, MeeGo development simply wasn’t happening quickly enough to pick up the slack where Symbian’s market appeal was fading. So, if Nokia is in the process of phasing out Symbian and marginalising MeeGo back to the labs, what is it left with? From what we know, the company has cut the best licensee deal with Microsoft to date, though that’s partly because this isn’t a regular OEM/software relationship. To get Nokia’s prodigious hardware strengths and global reach on-board, Microsoft has promised “significant” investments in engineering and marketing. Neither company is talking specific figures, but the talk is that it’s in the region of “hundreds of millions” in a pre-deal battle between Microsoft and Google to win Nokia’s hand. In return, Nokia will get hitherto unseen flexibility in designing Windows Phone devices. Microsoft has, with its initial tier of OEM licensees, set strict guidelines on minimum hardware requirements: that’s why every Windows Phone 7 device on sale now has the same 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the same WVGA screen resolution, and the same button layout. What Nokia is able to do, however, is customize pretty much the entire OS, along with make broader decisions about hardware. That plays to Microsoft’s hand, however, and to the other OEMs involved. Part of Microsoft’s gain from the deal is the prospect of pushing Windows Phone down to cheaper entry points and developing markets, outside of the current narrow segment devices from HTC, Samsung and others cater for. If the platform is to take on Android, which has quickly become a firm favorite among low-cost device manufacturers, then that sort of diversity is essential. Meanwhile, Nokia’s software engineers will be injecting some of the company’s services creativity into the OS, and feeding those developments back into other OEMs. Stephen Elop said that Nokia will be “actively encouraging” other vendors to follow suit, and being cautious over making changes for the sake of it so as to ensure as much platform consistency as possible. There’ll also be benefits from Nokia’s existing services, not least NAVTEQ and Ovi Maps, the technology of which will be fed back into Bing Maps, while Nokia devices will get access to Xbox Live and Microsoft Office. Engineers from both companies will work together on future services and OS changes. The story for third-party developers is not quite so clear. Nokia’s Ovi Store – and its global billing systems – will be rolled into Windows Marketplace, which will certainly be of assistance to Windows Phone developers, but the outlook for Symbian developers is less bright. There’ll be no port of Qt to Windows Phone, which Elop suggested might take away from the perception of platform strength, and the Symbian market will inevitably dip now that Nokia is stepping back from it. Microsoft will be pushing its own tools for software developers, but the two companies will likely have a battle on their hands to retain long-time developer advocates. The big question, then, is when we’ll see the first retail sign of this new partnership, and that’s a question Elop wasn’t ready to address. Initial devices will, he revealed, be the Frankenmonster combination of hardware and chipset designs originally cooked up by Nokia’s MeeGo team, with smartphones intended to follow the single 2011 MeeGo release being “repurposed” for Windows Phone. Meanwhile, the company has put out its industry feelers for the latest in chipsets and radios, though Elop says we’ll have to wait through the coming “weeks and months” before there’s any specific announcements. When they do arrive, though, we should expect more than just a trickle. Nokia has always played big when it comes to device ranges, and Windows Phone promises to be little different. While the transition in 2011 may mean a relatively small amount of handsets, Elop promises “a large number of Windows Phone devices over a variety of price points” in 2012, which is when the flood should begin in earnest. The company is also looking at the possibility of MeeGo, Windows or other platforms for tablets. S40 and S30, meanwhile, will continue to be used by Nokia’s Mobile Phone division, for the low-end market. In fact, Nokia plans greater R&D investment into this segment, in an attempt to wrench back some market share from cut-price far east rivals. That means new, cheaper chipsets and more competitive radios. While the outlook for both Nokia and Microsoft will continue to be debated, there’s certainly an opportunity for the two companies to produce some stand-out hardware and software. Nokia’s problem has never been physical design, construction or specifications with its smartphones; its struggles in the North American market have been down to software and carrier reluctance. Meanwhile, Windows Phone has arguably failed to make the splash Microsoft expected because the strict regulations has resulted in a line-up of me-too devices. If together they can inject some stand-out interest in hardware and fast-track the software sparkle – Windows Phone 7 has only been on the market since October 2010, after all – then they could stand a good job of establishing the “third ecosystem” Stephen Elop described. More thoughts on the Nokia Microsoft deal in Ben Bajarin’s analysis Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Advent Vega Update Brings Back Flash Player 10.1, and There Was Much Rejoicing Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:44 AM PST If you’ll remember back in December of 2010, there was a bit of an upsetting announcement for those who had or were planning on obtaining the Advent Vega Android Tablet. It seemed that the Vega slate, according to Advent, up until that point did "not exhibit the optimal performance that the NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor is capable of running with certain Flash website content" — therefore, they pulled Flash Player 10.1 from the system and said that it’d be ready in the early part of 2011. Turns out that time is now, today! You may have been able to grab Flash Player 10.1 with your device before now if you had access to less legal sources, but this announcement by Advent is encouraging. They’ve linked to Build 1.09 at http://bit.ly/cDd99a and encourage you to go ahead and download, while they mention further that the soft update will be coming out early next week. Now you can do all the flashing you ever wanted to do in your life! While we’re here, let me ask you Advent Vega owners – are you glad you purchased the Vega? How’s it working for you? [via Twitter] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Vodafone Webbox internet keyboard plugs into your TV [Video] Posted: 11 Feb 2011 08:16 AM PST Vodafone has announced Webbox, an internet-enabled keyboard intended to turn a regular TV into an “internet portal”. Based around a 14 x 25 cm QWERTY ‘board with an RCA connection for the TV, the Vodafone Webbox packs the Opera Mini 5.1 browser together with support for SMS and email messaging, an FM radio, photo gallery and a music player. Video demo after the cut Connectivity is via an integrated GSM/EDGE modem (no 3G), though thanks to Opera’s compression technology – which can shrink pages by up to 90-percent – Vodafone still reckons that speeds should be palatable. The carrier will preload bookmarks suited to its entry-level audience, including online news, dictionary, social networks, some games and a rudimentary application service. While we can see many users being keen on the idea, Vodafone is targeting emerging markets with the Webbox, at least initially. South Africa will get the internet keyboard first, from next week, with broader availability in 2011. It will be priced at around €75, with a free 2GB SD card and data purchased on pre-paid SIM. Press Release:
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| MacBook Air Sandy Bridge refresh tipped for June Posted: 11 Feb 2011 07:51 AM PST Apple is reportedly planning to refresh its MacBook Air ultraportable with Sandy Bridge processors in June, delayed slightly due to the chipset issues Intel has experienced. CNET‘s sources haven’t disclosed which exact processors in Intel’s Core 2011 range will used, though the update is expected to follow a MacBook Pro Sandy Bridge refresh in March or April. Back in December, rumors circulated that Apple had been conducting testing on the Sandy Bridge chips, and was planning to use Intel’s onboard graphics for its entry-level MacBook and ultraportable MacBook Air lines. MacBook Pro notebooks, meanwhile, would offer a choice of integrated and discrete AMD Radeon GPUs. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Analysis: Nokia’s Huge Bet On Windows Phone 7 is All or Nothing Posted: 11 Feb 2011 07:11 AM PST I was getting a sense earlier in the week from contacts of mine close to both Nokia and Microsoft that Nokia was going to pick Windows Phone 7 as their smart phone platform of choice. Initially I thought this was crazy given that all the momentum is with Android, it appeared as though picking any other smart phone platforms was suicide. However the more I thought about what this partnership means the more I think it makes sense. This is an incredibly bold decision by Nokia. There isn't a shred of evidence that Windows Phone 7 is gaining any momentum in the marketplace. Not with consumers, not with developers and not with handset manufactures. For Nokia to have chosen to go with Microsoft's mobile platform their executive team must believe that they can single handedly inject new life into the platform. They Must Attract Developers For this to be successful, Nokia will need to use whatever market forces they have behind them to get Windows Phone 7 toward the top of the list of developer mindshare. Perhaps the sheer volume of handsets Nokia makes and ships globally will help this. If Nokia can convince developers that not only can they make good money on their platform but also attract them with a large TAM (total addressable market) then perhaps developers may take them seriously. That, of course, will not be easy, especially since Apple and Google are not taking the proverbial foot off the gas. Nokia Must Differentiate One observation about Microsoft's giving into Nokia's demand for customization. What about other vendors like HTC or Samsung or others who may want to do some customization as well? HTC, for example, would love to put their Sense UI on devices they make running Windows Phone 7; Microsoft up to now has not allowed it. The short answer is if Microsoft does not treat each vendor equally they will lose a lot of potential licensing deals. If they tell other handset vendors that they can't have the freedoms that they are giving Nokia they better be prepared to lose a lot of vendors as partners. If that is the case it becomes Nokia and Microsoft against everybody else. Will This Partnership Work? As Stephen Elop said, they are up against a monumental challenge. If this decision does not pay off for Nokia it may be too late for them to do anything else. I keep saying we are living in interesting times. Things just got even more interesting. What do you think, is this a good or bad decision? Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Nokia Microsoft partnership video Posted: 11 Feb 2011 07:11 AM PST We’ve not been short on news from Nokia and Microsoft‘s partnership event this morning, with the announcement that the two companies will be working together on Windows Phone moving forward, and now the press conference video has been thrown online too. Steve Ballmer and Stephen Elop, respective CEOs of Microsoft and Nokia, take to the stage to describe how shared leadership of the platform will create a “third ecosystem” to take on iOS and Android. Video after the cut It’s early days, of course. The first Nokia Windows Phone devices aren’t expected for a few months, initially taking the form of hardware designs the Finnish engineers have cannily repurposed from MeeGo concepts. That will be followed by a far bigger push in 2012, with Nokia using its market strength to broaden the price points at which Windows Phone 7 is available. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Samsung rebrands Exynos processor family: Hummingbird flies away Posted: 11 Feb 2011 07:03 AM PST Samsung has rebranded its latest-gen application processor range, which will now be known as Exynos. Incorporating Orion, the Samsung dual-core chip expected to power tablets and smartphones later in 2011, Exynos originates from the Greek words smart (exypnos) and green (prasinos). Orion will now be known as the Samsung Exynos 4210, though while the name has changed the release estimates haven’t: the company says Exynos 4210 is scheduled for production next month. The chipset is a 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor, a dual-core chip with five-times the 3D processing abilities of the model it replaces. Press Release:
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| Apple iPhone 5 and iPad 2 NFC rumors debunked by analyst that prompted them Posted: 11 Feb 2011 06:34 AM PST Rumors that Apple is planning a wholesale assault on the NFC ecosystem, with NFC-enabled iPhone 5 and iPad 2 devices together with freely-distributed payment terminals to vendors have been debunked, by the very source that prompted them initially. According to analyst Richard Doherty, speaking to the NFC Times, he was significantly misquoted in the original Bloomberg report, claiming he had sources among Apple engineers whereas in fact he was the third layer in a string of speculation originating from iOS app developer guesswork. “Bloomberg erred totally in quoting me as saying (the engineers worked for) Apple,” Doherty claims, insisting that “any consultant or analyst who says they know of what Apple is planning to do more than two weeks ahead of time is either a liar, an opportunist or both.” His sources were developers at far east equipment manufacturers who supply Apple, they themselves having heard talk of ambitious NFC plans from software developers theorizing about the iPhone 5 and iPad 2. As for the payment terminals which Apple was expected to distribute, Doherty says he meant only the sample terminals he knows have been supplied to Apple over recent years. Anything beyond that he claims was “overplayed” by Bloomberg’s writers and editors. Of course, this could also be an analyst back-tracking somewhat on over-ambitious speculation that got out of hand – or, more likely perhaps, a mixture of the two – but it seems Apple’s play for the NFC market may not be quite so enthusiastic as previously suggested. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Google offers sacked Nokia engineers a lifeline Posted: 11 Feb 2011 05:44 AM PST Google hasn’t exactly had words of support for Nokia and Microsoft in the run up to today’s Windows Phone deal announcement, and the search giant has been quick to step in amid Stephen Elop’s confirmation of Nokia job losses across the world. Google EMEA recruiter Aidan Biggins gleefully pointed out that Google was hiring, and invited Nokia software engineers to apply. “Any Nokia software engineers need a job?” Biggins tweeted, reminding those potentially facing redundancy that “We’re hiring: www.google.com/jobs.” Nokia has not confirmed how many jobs will be lost as it retools to handle the Windows Phone partnership, though it does expect a reduction in services, MeeGo and obviously Symbian R&D investment, while Mobile Phones R&D will increase. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| MeeGo hardware “repurposed” for Windows Phone; no WP7 update for N8 or E7 Posted: 11 Feb 2011 05:41 AM PST Nokia will use hardware, industrial design work and chipsets intended for MeeGo devices for Windows Phone handsets instead, it has been confirmed, as the company “repurposes” its investment into bolstering what’s expected to be a “large number of Windows Phone devices” by 2012. According to CEO Stephen Elop, the same is true for Symbian devices, suggesting that “you may see some similar devices that launch with Symbian and Windows Phone,” though existing devices are unlikely to see an update to Windows Phone 7. MeeGo was expected to be Nokia’s next push into smartphones, and while the company will launch a single device in 2011, the rest of the projects the company’s engineers have been working on will be shifted over to Windows Phone. Asked whether recent Symbian devices, such as the E7 we reviewed yesterday, would see an update to Microsoft’s platform, Elop said it was more complex that in might appear. “We have to make a series of decisions that relate to modems, chipsets, etc. as relates to Windows Phone” he suggested, “there are very specific aspects of devices, like the camera and keyboard slide of the E7, which you will see on future Windows Phones. However it won’t be a case of plugging your phone into your PC and downloading Windows Phone.” Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Nokia: Big Windows Phone push in 2012; Increased R&D in low-end devices Posted: 11 Feb 2011 05:24 AM PST Nokia has described 2011 and 2012 as “transition years”, with Symbian gradually phasing out and the company putting its weight behind Microsoft’s platform. According to Stephen Elop, “2012 will be the year when we ship a large number of Windows Phone devices over a variety of price points.” However, it’s not only smartphones that Nokia is planning to invest in. Asked how Nokia expects to cope with the ongoing impact of low-cost device manufacturers, Elop said that the company’s engineers are already looking at new chipset and other designs which will keep them competitive. ”There’s no reason that we believe we can’t believe with the Shenzhen ecosystem in a variety of ways” Elop suggested, “[We have the] ability to do much more in the mobile phone space, but it requires more investment.” Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Nokia allowed to modify Windows Phone while rival OEMs locked out Posted: 11 Feb 2011 05:10 AM PST As we suggested earlier today, Nokia has confirmed it will have a hitherto-unseen freedom of customization on Windows Phone, starkly different from the strict limitations existing OEM partners must operate within. Following Steve Ballmer’s suggestion that Nokia would “do unique things on top of Windows Phone 7″, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said that the company would be able to customize “everything” on the platform, but that it would not necessarily take advantage of that flexibility. Instead, Elop has said that Nokia will prioritize compatibility across the Windows Phone platform rather than differentiation for its own sake. Nokia and Microsoft have positioned the partnership as a co-engineering project to collectively drive Windows Phone forward, introducing new advantages and abilities in the OS that other OEMs will also be able to enjoy. Nonetheless, having the freedom to modify Windows Phone 7 and future iterations will give Nokia a significant advantage over HTC, LG, Samsung and other current Microsoft licensees. Both Microsoft and Nokia will take responsibility for services in what the companies describe as “a unique relationship.” Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Windows Phone kills Symbian as Nokia strategy shifts Posted: 11 Feb 2011 05:00 AM PST The writing for Symbian is on the wall – or on the slide, at least. As part of its financial presentation today, Nokia has illustrated the diminishing role Symbian will play as Windows Phone takes over its space in smartphones. The company also expects Windows Phone to eat into Nokia’s Mobile Phone business. However, as part of Nokia’s “web for the next billion” strategy, the company will continue to focus on the Mobile Phone space and the “billions of aspirational consumers” in developing markets. Symbian won’t die instantly either; Nokia is expecting sales in the region of 150m in 2011, and potentially more. The OS will live on as a “franchise platform” beyond that ,while MeeGo will be treated as a development platform for exploring future platform possibilities. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| GeoHot forced to hand over HDD to Sony Posted: 11 Feb 2011 04:57 AM PST
The courts looking at the case have forced GeoHot to turn over the HDD from his PC to Sony so that Sony can dig thought the HDD and find details that relate to the hacking of the PS3. It seems a bit strange that the company suing would be digging for the evidence to me. The judge that made the ruling is US district Judge Susan Illston. The hack that Hotz posted was the first to fully break the console to allow for the installation of home brew software and pirated games. The Sony case is using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and accuses Hotz of trafficking in devices that circumvent controls meant to protect copyrighted works. Via Wired Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Microsoft paying Nokia “hundreds of millions” for WP7 deal? Posted: 11 Feb 2011 04:49 AM PST Microsoft has reportedly offered Nokia “hundreds of millions of dollars worth of engineering assistance and marketing support” in clinching the Windows Phone deal, as part of what’s supposedly been a bidding war between them and Google. According to the NYTimes‘ source, an unnamed Nokia consultant, the Finnish company’s continued strength in the mobile market held powerful appeal for both Microsoft and Google. CEOs Stephen Elop and Steve Ballmer sidestepped the question of royalty fees during a Q&A session after their presentation this morning. Asked what sort of fees Microsoft was charging Nokia for use of Windows Phone 7, Ballmer said that the relationship was instead a more complex, reciprocal one, with Nokia’s investment into the Windows Phone platform balanced against Microsoft’s providing the software. Going by this latest leak, however, that reciprocity may in fact be more heavily weighted in Nokia’s favor, at least financially, and some of the sting of jumping platforms and creating a “third ecosystem” should be dulled by the strength of Microsoft’s wallet. Stephen Elop suggested earlier today that the Android ecosystem was too crowded for Nokia to sufficiently carve its own niche. Nokia has said that Microsoft’s input in sales and marketing support will be “significant” but has failed to specify figures. [via BusinessInsider] Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Belkin launches Verizon iPhone 4 case line Posted: 11 Feb 2011 04:42 AM PST Belkin has announced that it has a new line of cases that are available that will work with the Verizon iPhone 4. The new cases are in Verizon stores right now and include the Grip Vue, Grip Groove, and ProFit Armband. The three cases are all designed to work with the repositioned buttons on the Verizon iPhone 4. The ProFit armband is a case that attaches to the arm with a neoprene design for comfort and to keep the smartphone out of the way, but accessible when working out. The clear front cover allows you to control the phone when it is inside the case. The Grip Vue is a case with a light texture that you can see through and comes in clear or purple for $24.99. The Groove Grip s a silicone case with a wave like pattern on it that sells for $19.99. All of the cases will also fit the AT&T iPhone. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Engage WirelessLCD debuts, Piccard nowhere to be found Posted: 11 Feb 2011 04:31 AM PST I have two kids that are in elementary school and I can tell you that learning is boring for them on the average day. When computer day rolls around though they are excited and really look forward to computer lab and playing the educational games they get to use. Technology really gets kids excited about school. A really cool new interactive display has launched that will make learning more fun for kids that is wireless called the Engage WirelessLCD. The device syncs to a computer and replicates the computer desktop, video, and touch annotated content over projected material. The engage has a 10.1-inch widescreen LCD and uses USB technology to annotate and highlight projected data from up to 30 feet away from the computer. The LCD can be used with a finger or a stylus and it has six buttons that can be assigned to functions. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| USA Today uses Microsoft Tag to get more interaction from smartphone users Posted: 11 Feb 2011 04:00 AM PST Print publications are trying all they can to become more interactive and useful to readers in the age of the internet and with more and more advertising dollars and readers leaving for online news where multimedia is expected and offered freely. USA Today has announced that it is integrating Microsoft Tags into each section of its printed paper. The Tags can be scanned with an app available for Android, iPhone, and many other platforms. Once the Tag is scanned the smartphone user is sent to more content to go along with the Tag and the paper section. The Tags lead to content like photos and video. USA Today also notes that the Tags can lead to financial news and sports scores. These might be a good way to get readers to access the company’s webpage as well. The barcodes are 2D and the Tag reader app is a free download. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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| Boogie Board LCD writing tablet heads to Europe Posted: 11 Feb 2011 03:41 AM PST The Boogie Board LCD writing tablet has been around for a while for geeks in the US and back during CES several new colors for the tablet surfaced. The Boogie Board always reminds me of one of those kids toys where you have to lift the grey sheet to erase the writing. The company behind the Boogie Board is called Improv Electronics and the company says that this spring the tablet will land in gold or silver colors as well. Geeks in Europe that like the looks and performance of the Boogie Board will soon be able to get their hands on one when it launches there for the first time. The Boogie Board and its pressure sensitive LCD from Kent Displays will land in Europe for about 40 euros. The LCD retains what you write indefinitely without power and only a small amount of power is needed to erase. The exact day the Boogie Board will hit Europe is unknown. Relevant Entries on SlashGear
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George Hotz, known as GeoHot, has really pissed Sony off with the release of his PS3 hack. Sony took him and other hackers of the console to 
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