Tag Archives: mobile

new ps phone

PlayStation Phone Leaked

Quote (via Multi-touch Fans):

The touchpad-looking device in the center is in fact just that: a multitouch trackpad, which will be taking the place of analog nubs previously found on the PSP. On the sides, you have the standard PlayStation controls (up, down, left, right arrows on the left of the device, and the standard X, Circle, Triangle, and Square on the right side), which will undoubtedly be used to control PlayStation games.

The shoulder buttons are present, though not visible at this angle. Instead of going the traditional Sony-way and offering a device that utilizes their in-house Memory Stick, this prototype will use the much more standardized microSD format. I’d also like to point out that, even though Sony Ericsson phones’ have been historically lacking in the software department, they do generally have outstanding build quality and materials, and the camera is usually of very high quality– the high-end devices are usually made with Carl Zeiss lens, the same brand of lens that the Nokia N8 has.  The prototype which was leaked has no skin, though that could obviously change before launch (guesstimated to be either Holidays 2010, or early 2011).

The software is reportedly very buggy in its current build, so that’s a sign that there will definitely be changes to come. Why does this matter? Because this is the first phone to be positioned (not just from a marketing perspective — the iPhone has already been there) as a gaming device that just happens to do everything a modern smartphone does. Make a call, shoot a text, slaughter some Chimera on Resistance: Retribution (the game has not been confirmed to be available; this is merely an example).

Instead of taking the Apple approach of selling a phone with very minimalistic controls and waiting for enterprising developers to figure out how to make various genres of games work, Sony has designed a phone that just happens to slide out and reveal a full rack of dedicated gaming controls. But do people want a device that is so obviously a gaming machine that you can talk on? That seems to be the bet Sony (and, by extension, Google) is taking with this smartphone – PSP hybrid. It will be interesting to see which mindset prevails in the ever changing smartphone wars, now that we have three– Apple, Microsoft, and now Sony– big players making big bets with mobile gaming. 

Hit the source link for dozens more photos of both the hardware and some of the software!

[Engadget

Photoshop Mobile Gets a New Name and Goes Universal for All Devices

I just want to say first off I didn’t even know they were going to release this today. I was on my iPad and went to download the iPhone version of the app and BAM! There was a universal Photoshop app. So lets get into the review.

via AppAdvice:

Adobe has given their once iPhone-only Photoshop app a bit of an overhaul. Not only has it received a name change, going from Photoshop.com Mobile to the more appealing Adobe Photoshop Express, but it’s now a universal app that sports iPad-specific features.

Adobe Photoshop Express now allows iPad users to edit and upload their photos with ease.  The optimized UI gives you the ability to apply effects, borders and artistic filters with only a few taps, crop, rotate, straighten or flip by simply dragging your finger, and just do so much more with your photos.  Photos can be uploaded to Adobe’s own Photoshop.com to be shared, or you can take the Facebook route.

But this isn’t merely an expanded iPhone app clone, it contains features specific to the iPad as well, including:

• Support for portrait and landscape orientations
• Redesigned Online, Edit, and Upload workflows
• Ability to work on multiple photos in sequence from within a single workflow
• Redesigned Organizer view with simplified album sharing
• Updated icons and visuals that make it easier to navigate and use the Editor
• Ability to upload to Photoshop.com and Facebook simultaneously

It definitely isn’t a full-fledged Photoshop experience with layers and all, but it does the job while on the go.

Apparently the iPad version isn’t perfect, however, as some users are reporting issues when launching the app:

“We have received reports of some users having difficulty launching the application on an iPad in landscape orientation with certain productivity and printing applications installed. We are investigating these reports. In the interim, you can work around the problem by launching the application in a portrait orientation on the iPad. We are continuing to investigate and will post an update to address these issues as soon as possible.”

I have yet to experience the issue myself, but if you are unlucky enough to, just do as Adobe states and launch it in portrait mode for the time being.

Adobe Photoshop Express is available in the App Store for free.

Apple’s New iPad

It’s hard to believe we could fit so many great ideas into something so thin.

A large, high-resolution LED-backlit, IPS display. An incredibly responsive Multi-Touch screen. And an amazingly powerful, Apple-designed chip. All in a design that’s thin and light enough to take anywhere. iPad isn’t just the best device of its kind. It’s a whole new kind of device. Watch the iPad video

LED-backlit, IPS Display

The high-resolution, 9.7 inch LED-backlit, IPS display on iPad is remarkably crisp and vivid. Which makes it perfect for web browsing, watching movies, or showing off photos. It’s also been designed to work in any orientation — portrait or landscape. And because it uses a display technology called IPS (in-plane switching), it has a wide, 178° viewing angle. So you can hold it almost any way you want, and still get a brilliant picture, with excellent color and contrast.

Multi-Touch

The Multi-Touch screen on the iPad uses the same revolutionary technology that’s in an iPhone. But for iPad, the technology has been completely reengineered for the larger surface, to make it extremely precise and responsive. So when you’re zooming in on a map, flicking through your photos, or deleting an email, iPad responds with incredible accuracy. And it does just what you want it to.

Thin and light

One of the first things you’ll notice about the iPad is how thin and light it is. The screen is 9.7 inches, measured diagonally. So overall, it’s slightly smaller than a magazine. And at just 1.5 lbs and 0.5 inches thin,1 it’s easy to carry and use anywhere. There’s also a slight curve to the back. Which makes it easy to pick up and comfortable to hold.

10 hours.

Up to 10 hours
battery life

To maximize battery life, Apple engineers took the same lithium polymer battery technology they developed for our notebook computers and applied it to the iPad. As a result, you can use iPad for up to 10 hours while surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching videos, or listening to music.2

Wireless

With built-in 802.11n, iPad can take advantage of the fastest Wi-Fi networks. And it’ll automatically locate available Wi-Fi networks, which you can easily join with a few simple taps. iPad also comes with Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR, which lets you connect to devices like wireless headphones or the Apple Wireless Keyboard.

3G

iPad will also be available in a 3G model, with super-fast data speeds up to 7.2 Mbps.3 So if you’re traveling, or you happen to be somewhere that doesn’t have a Wi-Fi network, you can still get a fast connection for surfing the web, downloading email, or getting directions.

Performance

Apple A4 chip.The A4 chip inside iPad was custom-designed by Apple engineers to be extremely powerful, and yet extremely power efficient. So the performance is unlike anything you’ve ever seen on a touch-based device. Which makes iPad fantastic for everything from productivity apps to games. But at the same time, the A4 chip is so power efficient that it helps iPad get up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. And iPad is available with a choice of 16, 32 or 64GB flash storage.4 Which gives you lots of room for your photos, movies, music, apps, and more.

Connectivity

The 30-pin dock connector on the bottom of the iPad allows you to dock and charge it. It also lets you connect to iPad accessories like the Camera Connection Kit or the Keyboard Dock.

Audio

The powerful, built-in speaker produces a full, rich sound. Which makes watching a movie or listening to music even more enjoyable. It also comes with a headphone jack and a built-in microphone.

30-pin connector. Built-in speaker.

Accessories

There are lots of great accessories that have been specifically designed for iPad. The Keyboard Dock, for instance, is a dock with a full-size keyboard. There’s also a standalone Dock. And because iPad has built-in Bluetooth 2.1, it’ll work with an Apple Wireless Keyboard, too. There’s also a Camera Connection Kit that lets you import photos from a camera or SD card. There’s even an iPad Case that not only protects it, it also allows you to use iPad in various positions, to make it easy to type, look at photos, or watch movies. And through a range of accessories, iPad can output to TVs, projectors and displays. Learn more about iPad accessories in Tech Specs

Technical Specifications

Size and weight1

Height:
9.56 inches (242.8 mm)
Width:
7.47 inches (189.7 mm)
Depth:
0.5 inch (13.4 mm)
Weight:
1.5 pounds (.68 kg) Wi-Fi model;
1.6 pounds (.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model

Display

  • 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
  • 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
  • Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
  • Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

Wireless and Cellular

Wi-Fi model
  • Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
Wi-Fi + 3G model
  • UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)
  • Data only2
  • Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Location

  • Wi-Fi
  • Digital compass
  • Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
  • Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model)

In the Box

  • iPad
  • Dock connector to USB cable
  • 10W Power Adapter
  • Documentation

Environmental Status Report

iPad embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:

  • Arsenic-free display glass
  • BFR-free
  • Mercury-free LCD display
  • PVC-free
  • Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure

Capacity3

  • 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Processor

  • 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip

Sensors

  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light sensor

Audio Playback

  • Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
  • Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
  • User-configurable maximum volume limit

TV and Video

  • Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
  • H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

Mail attachment support

  • Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)

Languages

  • Language support for English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian
  • Keyboard support for English (US) English (UK), French (France, Canada), German, Japanese (QWERTY), Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian
  • Dictionary support for English (US), English (UK), French, French (Canadian), French (Swiss), German, Japanese, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting, Pinyin), Russian

Accessibility

  • Support for playback of closed-captioned content
  • VoiceOver screen reader
  • Full-screen zoom magnification
  • White on black
  • Mono audio

Battery and Power4

  • Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
  • Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
  • Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

Input and Output

  • Dock connector
  • 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
  • Built-in speakers
  • Microphone
  • SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

External buttons and controls

  • On/Off, Sleep/wake
  • Mute
  • Volume up/down
  • Home

Mac system requirements

  • Mac computer with USB 2.0 port
  • Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
  • iTunes 9.0 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)
  • iTunes Store account
  • Internet access

Windows system requirements

  • PC with USB 2.0 port
  • Windows 7, Windows Vista; Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
  • iTunes 9.0 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)
  • iTunes Store account
  • Internet access

Yet another unbelievable feature: The price.

With iPad, you get all our latest innovations. And all our most advanced technologies. In one of the most revolutionary products we’ve ever created. All at a price that’s well within reach.

16 GB 32 GB 64 GB
Wi-Fi $499 $599 $699
Wi-Fi + 3G $629 $729 $829
  • Prices in US Dollars. International pricing will be announced at a later date.
  • 3G data plan sold separately.

Leave a comment below to tell us what you think of the new iPad.

Apple Acquires Quattro Wireless

Quote (via MacRumors)

Mobile advertising company Quattro Wireless confirms today that it has been acquired by Apple. The news follows a report late yesterday that the deal had been reached, with Apple agreeing to pay $275 million for Quattro.
Happy New Year from Quattro Wireless!

We are thrilled to let you know that Apple has acquired Quattro. We want to share with you our excitement about this news and what it means for our customers.

The announcement on Quattro’s site is signed by former Quattro CEO Andy Miller, who reveals that his title is now Vice President of Mobile Advertising at Apple.

Earlier reports claimed that Apple had considered purchasing leading mobile advertising firm AdMob in the weeks prior to Google’s announcement in early November that it would acquire the company. That deal has yet to receive the approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission necessary for finalizing the transaction.

Xtand by Just Mobile

The Xtand by Just Mobile is a fantastic iPhone/iPod Touch stand. The Xtand has the look and feel of the iMac’s stand and so it compliments all aluminum-bodied Macs terrifically. The one stand-alone factor that makes the Xtand so great, is the fact that it’s constructed for actual aluminum. It is capable of holding the iPhone 3G/3GS as well as the iPod Touch 1G/2G, provides cable management, and allows you to swivel the device a full 360 degrees.

A great design aspect that went into the stand, is that the device will never touch the aluminum part of the stand, only the four rubber grips that hold on to it. Also, there are two rubber feet on the bottom so that it doesn’t move with a gentle nudge. Here are the five main features of the Xtand:

  • All solid aluminium construction
  • 360 degrees rotation
  • Adjustable viewing angle
  • Cable management
  • Non-slip feet

What I like most about the Xtand is the fact that it goes so well with my MacBook Pro and so it provides for a very elegant setup. The cable management comes into play when you choose to charge or sync your device. You simple fish your charging cable through the hole on the back of the stand and move the extra cable out of sight. I use the Xtand on a daily basis now and it really does not bother me to have to remove my iPod Touch from it’s case so that I can go ahead and place it in the Xtand.

The Xtand retails for a fairly steep price of $39.90 USD, however, as of the date this article was written (December 23, 2009), Amazon is having a 27% off sale on the Xtand. To find out where else you can purchase this and other Just Mobile products, please click HERE.

Giveaway: In order to be entered in the giveaway for the Xtand for the iPod Touch 1G/2G, you must be following us on Twitter, click HERE to go to our Twitter Page. Once that’s done, simply tweet this message: @iPT2gGeec Xtand Giveaway. Once you do that you’re automatically entered! The giveaway will end on December 30, 2009.

A Note From the Editors of TechGeec: Though all products and services reviewed by TechGeec are “final,” many companies now make changes to their offerings after publication of our reviews, which may or may not be reflected above.