Daily Marauder

WIRELESS by Marauder

WIRELESS

Once again, Microsoft is throwing some flattery Apple’s way by following its lead. Earlier today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Microsoft announced the latest version of its mobile operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5. The new OS takes cues directly from the iPhone. It has “an improved touch-screen interface, making it easy to take action with a finger” and a dashboard-like interface with different application icons in honeycomb cells (screen shots). (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/16/microsoft-updates-windows-mobile-to-make-it-more-like-the-iphone-my-phone-anyone 2/16)

CEO Steve Ballmer has revealed that Microsoft will launch a service like Apple’s popular App Store that will give Windows users easier access to add-ons for their smartphones. The App Store’s success has inspired similar moves from Google and Research in Motion to cater to their own mobile platforms. Financial Times (2/16)

At the Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona, Nokia has unveiled its initiative to try and repeat the runaway succes of Apple’s App Store with its own mobile storefront dubbed Ovi Store. This was an expected move as the rumors about the Finnish mobile juggernaut’s mobile applications store already spread last week; they were late confirmed to Reuters by industry sources. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/16/nokia-unveils-ovi-store-application-sales-to-debut-in-may 2/16)

Adobe wants everyone to know that its fully-featured Flash Player, not the dinky lite version, will be available on many mobile phones . . . in 2010. So hang tight until then. The phones that will support Flash 10 include the Palm Pre, Nokia S60 models, Android phones, and Windows Mobile. (http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/02/15/adobe-is-all-flash-announces-vaporware-for-several-mobile-phones-except-the-iphone 2/15)

Lionsgate reached an agreement with mobile services company Webalo, Inc. to enable the studio’s executives to be the first to receive smartphone access to up-to-the-minute figures about box office receipts and other performance data, via Webalo’s Mobile Dashboard Service. (Cynopsis 2/16)

Samsung has teamed up with Texas Instruments for the development of built-in video projectors on its W7900 and I7410 smartphones. The phones, set to launch in South Korea and Europe early this year, can produce images in excess of 50 inches. MSNBC/The Associated Press (2/13)

Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment