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Apple Announces iPhone Release Date

Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 11 -- that's the date that Cingular has announced that it will begin selling Apple's long-anticipated iPhone. That date is also the first day of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.

Source: Crave

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PocketPcLive/~3/34Nj3u1tIc8/nokia-windows-phone-devices.html

There is plenty of Windows Phone hardware on the horizon, Now Nokia's new Windows Smart Phone has been released with Mango update. After all, the reach of the smart phone depicts a higher level company's recent efforts to find the new relevance with a new mobile platform.

¿Es Windows Phone mejor que Android?

Hace un tiempo que uso ambos sistemas operativos, Android en un Samsung Galaxy S2 que creo es el mejor equipo con ese OS y un LG Optimus 7 P900 que es un buen primer intento, y bastantes veces me pregunto si Windows Phone es mejor o si el ecosistema que lo ayuda es el que le permite diferenciarse del resto…

En cierto punto creo que varios están preguntandose esto, por ejemplo la gente de MaximumPC y de hecho voy a usar su planteo como base pero agregando y agrupando mejor las ideas:

Interfaz de uso algo que muchos parecen olvidar es que la interacción con el teléfono se da constantemente, durante todo el día y de forma mucho mas personal que en la PC con lo que el "Factor diseño" es mucho más importante de lo que puede parecer… y en este punto ¿alguien vió la interfaz Metro de Windows Phone que encima es coherente sobre equipos en vez de estar modificada en todas?

Teclado ¿inteligente? acá quiero meter a un tercero en juego (el iPhone que tiene el mejor teclado touchscreen del mundo) y a alguien que le gana a todos (la Blackberry Bold 9900 que tiene el mejor teclado del mundo mundial :P) pero el teclado de Windows Phone es MUY bueno y me sorprende realmente que Android solo pueda competir con add-ons

Aplicaciones revisadas que el App Store de iOS es la vara con la que se miden todos es una realidad, y la anarquía del Android Market es buena porque permite que haya cientos de miles de ringtones y wallpapers pero… ¿preferís cantidad o calidad? ¿preferís apps sin control de seguridad? y eso termina en una pregunta más filosófica ¿preferís algo abierto o cerrado?

Ecosistema de Microsoft asi como todas las Apps de Google están disponibles para todas las plataformas, las de Microsoft no (las de Apple menos) y eso incluye la integración con Microsoft Office o con XBox Live el servicio que, personalmente, considero un punto de venta gigantesco y que interesantemente Samsung está construyendo por su cuenta en un ecosistema de aplicaciones en la nube

Y en esas 4 patas (interfaz, usabilidad, Aplicaciones, ecosistema) a veces pienso que Windows Phone tiene una gran ventaja sobre Android en algunos equipos; me gustaría ver como esto se conjuga con Nokia en su línea Lumia y en su línea de aplicaciones Nokia Collection para ver si encima la suma de estos jugadores termina siendo una competencia real para lograr al menos un 20% del mercado de smartphones porque con lograr ese peso, va a haber una pelea de plataformas reales que terminaran ayudando a los usuarios.

Interesting iPhone Data from Nielsen

Consumer research firm, The Nielsen Company, released some interesting data on the iPhone this week. The study found:

- As of April 2009, there are 6.4 million active iPhone users in the U.S., up from 2.1 million a year prior.

- 37% watch video on their phone (6x as likely as the typical subscriber).

- There are roughly as many iPhone users 55 and older as there are 13-24. (see chart)

- 98% of iPhone users use the data features of their phone, services that should improve with the enhanced speed promised by the iPhone 3G S.

- 88% use the Internet (4x as likely as the typical subscriber).

- 75% download apps (5x as likely as the typical subscriber).

- 72% use location based services (7x as likely as the typical subscriber).

None of this data is overly surprising but it is good news for all of us in the mobile data market as more and more consumers will be buying iPhones (and other smartphones) so overall usage of applications, mobile web, mcommerce, etc. is about to explode.

Sutures from Bacteria

Sounds icky, but it's true -- the FDA has approved a polymer suture made from modified bacteria using recombinant DNA technology.

The material in Tepha Medical Devices' TephaFLEX Absorbable Suture breaks down in the body as a deep wound or surgical incision heals, improving the healing process and preventing infection. Recombinant DNA allows the manufacture of materials from organisms that would be difficult if not impossible to produce otherwise.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PocketPcLive/~3/qF-srUIktoA/mango-gives-microsofts-plan-for-tango-and-wpv.html

Folks watch this week's Windows Phone view as the video content has a bunch of this week's good and bad stuffs about Microsoft's Windows Phone platform. This edition speaks more about the Windows Phone Mango devices being leaked and of course, great credits go to some developers posting their App testing logs.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PocketPcLive/~3/34Nj3u1tIc8/nokia-windows-phone-devices.html

There is plenty of Windows Phone hardware on the horizon, Now Nokia's new Windows Smart Phone has been released with Mango update. After all, the reach of the smart phone depicts a higher level company's recent efforts to find the new relevance with a new mobile platform.

Fireplace Market, repositorio de aplicaciones para Android 'rooteados'

No son precisamente pocos los sitios que podemos encontrar en la Red para descargar aplicaciones para cualquiera de los innumerables dispositivos Android que existen. Sin embargo, FirePlace Market es una tienda de aplicaciones que presenta un enfoque diferente al de la gran mayoría, centrando su contenido en aplicaciones para usuarios que hayan "rooteado" sus smartphones o tablets.

Por el momento tanto sólo están disponibles un puñado de aplicaciones. No obstante, incluyen aplicaciones de lo más populares que requieren acceso root para su ejecución, algunas de ellas tales como Titanium Backup o Set CPU.

A pesar de presentar esta semana su versión 2.0, FirePlace Market presenta una interfaz bastante sencilla, por no decir excesivamente simple. Aunque dado el todavía pequeño volumen de aplicaciones en catálogo, resulta suficiente para realizar una pequeña búsqueda de aplicaciones, navegar por categorías o mostrar todos los programas en formato lista.

Además, la nueva revisión de la aplicación incluye una nueva página de inicio, pequeñas mejoras en la interfaz y otras actualizaciones menores en lo que a corrección de errores respecta , así como un gestor de paquetes integrado que permite tanto la ejecución como la eliminación de aplicaciones.

FirePlace Market está disponible para cualquier dispositivo equipado con Android 2.1 Éclair o superior y que, evidentemente, se encuentre "rooteado" para la instalación tanto de la tienda como de los programas de su catálogo.

iPhone Game Review - Bed Bugs

My wife and I both have iPhones and this weekend she was mentioning that she has yet to find a game that she 'just loves to play'. Now, to be fair, she doesn't have a lot of time to surf through the thousands of games in the App Store but I have found quite a few that she likes, just none that she is addicted too.

Well, I may have found one tonight in Bed Bugs. Developed by Igloo Games Bed Bugs is highly addictive and very fun. You play the role of a sleepwalker who climbs out of bed and is bombarded by all different types of Bed Bugs that are doing their best to wake him up. At each level (I made it through 9) a new Bed Bug is introduced and each of them have to be handled differently.

Some you can't touch. Others you have to touch multiple times and in the latest level, some you touch once but you better not touch them again.

The game starts out pretty easy but gets progressively more difficult as the new Bed Bugs get introduced and you have to keep your fingers moving to keep your Sleepwalker asleep.

This is a game that is simply perfect for the iPhone and iPod touch and everything about the game is done extremely well: the sound, the graphics, the controls and the game concept are fantastic.

This is Igloo's second iPhone game. Dizzy Bee was the first and although I have personally not played it, it has gotten tremendous reviews so it's no surprise that these guys have nailed it again with Bed Bugs.

This is a game for all ages and I'm excited to show my kids this one as well. It is currently selling for $1.99 in iTunes and I highly recommend downloading it now.

Stem-Cell Treatment Cures Type 1 Diabetes

A clinical trial involving patients with type 1 diabetes (aka: juvenile diabetes) and stem cell therapy has shown that treatment with stem cells can help such patients produce their own insulin.

The stem cells, created from the patients' own blood, proved effective in 13 of 15 subjects in the trial, who no longer need daily insulin injections. However, more studies are needed to verify the findings and learn more about exactly how the therapy works. Experts believe that a widely-available stem cell treatment for type 1 diabetes is at least five years away. The research, furthermore, does not address type 2 diabetes.

The findings were published in the most recent edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Source: London Times

First Step Toward Organ Regeneration in Humans

Research conducted at Stanford University suggests that humans may one day be able to regenerate damaged organs and nerves, and possibly even regrow limbs. This research has focused on primitive animals such as the sea squirt, which can heal itself in ways that higher-order animals cannot. By understanding the way in which animals repair damaged body parts, scientists hope to be able to replicate such processes in humans.

Source: Biology News Net

Virgin Mobile Brings Pre-pay to Air Cards

Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) today announced the launch of Broadband2Go, a 3G nationwide wireless Internet service without an annual contract, monthly subscription or activation fee.

Operating on the Sprint Nationwide Network and developed in conjunction with Novatel Wireless (NASDAQ: NVTL), the MC760 Broadband2Go device carries the distinction of being the world's smallest EV-DO Rev. A modem.

'Forget the long-term contracts, monthly bills or desperately seeking a local coffee shop for Wi-Fi. Prepaid mobile broadband is ideal for students, families on the go, freelancers, anyone who needs wireless Internet access...and wants to pay only when they use it,' said Bob Stohrer, CMO, Virgin Mobile USA. 'We've already demonstrated the benefit of no annual contracts and the ability to tailor spending to individual needs. Broadband2Go is another way to give consumers value, flexibility and convenience.'

Like Virgin Mobile USA's mobile phone service, activation is simple and megabytes can be added as often as needed with credit/debit cards or Virgin Mobile Top-Up cards. Top-Up cards can be used to purchase data usage from 100MB to 1 gigabyte on the pay-as-you-go model. A new Broadband2Go-branded Top-Up card for $20, which customers may use to purchase 250MB good for 30 days, translating roughly into 12 hours of web browsing. Other data plans are available at $10, $40 and $60, and any VMU Top-Up card can be used.

Virgin Mobile USA's Broadband2Go requires no activation fee and there are no roaming charges. Customers have a real-time usage meter to monitor and check 'Remaining Megabytes of Use' at any time. From the Broadband2Go My Account page, customers are provided with approximate estimates for how many hours of web-browsing, video-viewing and number of emails each plan will generally handle.

The package will be available exclusively at Best Buy Mobile starting in late June for $149.99, and is the first prepaid broadband product Best Buy Mobile is offering.

Lights out for incandescent lights?

The incandescent electric light was one of the paradigm-shifting inventions of the last 125 years, transforming the way people live, work and play. But the era of the incandescent light bulb may be drawing to a close.

Though more expensive up front, compact flourescent light bulbs are far more efficient -- and environmentally friendly -- than incandescent bulbs, using less electricity and lasting longer while providing the same amount of light. For that reason, local and state governments have been encouraging the adoption of compact flourescent bulbs, largely through subsidizing their cost. However, Australia is moving toward banning incandescent bulbs altogether by 2010. By enforcing minimum energy performance standards, selling incandescent bulbs would effectively be illegal. In the US, California is considering a similar measure that would outlaw sales of incandescent lights by 2012. The measure is significant because, as the nation's most populous state, California is a trendsetter in environmental and health legislation. Indeed, state governments in Connecticut and New Jersey (ironically, where Edison developed his light) are considering similar bans on incandescent lights.

The private sector is also jumping on the compact flourescent bandwagon. Retailers plan to increase shares of the bulbs substantially, and light bulb manufacturer Philips will stop manufacturing incandescent bulbs by 2016.

By switching to compact flourescent bulbs on a national level, Australia could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by four tons per year.

Source: International Herald Tribune