Garmin Provides Navigator for Samsung Phones
March 31, 2008
Garmin announced today that select Samsung mobile phones will be integrated with its turn-by-turn, voice-prompted navigation.
The Garmin navigation software is on a plug-and-play microSD card. Once users load the card into the phone, the software automatically installs. Customers can use their phone to receive voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions. A 3D moving map on the phone's display shows users exactly where they are, and if a turn is missed along the way, Samsung Mobile Navigator automatically calculates a new route. Consumers can key in specific street addresses or search millions of points of interest (POI) - like hotels, restaurants, shopping, and tourist attractions. Users can also dial the POI's phone number automatically for reservations, hours of operation, or other information.
Consumers using Samsung Mobile Navigator can also access Garmin Online, a free and subscription based service that offers dynamic content such as traffic, weather forecasts and safety cameras. Garmin Online content varies by region.
Samsung phones with this navigation capability are expected to be available in Europe and other parts of the world in several months.
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SIM2, Dolby showcase 46-inch HDR display prototype
March 31, 2008
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NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX already popping up in stores?
March 31, 2008
Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Peripherals
[Thanks, Ryan]
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Sony’s HDR-SR12 1080/60 camcorder gets reviewed
March 31, 2008
Filed under: Digital Cameras, HDTV
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BlackBerry Pearl 8120 for T-Mobile with @Home Wi-Fi Service
March 31, 2008
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T-Mobile Research In Motion (RIM) today announced the April 14 availability of the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone, a Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone with connectivity for T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home service.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 adds enhancements and features such as a new titanium-colored finish. With the T-Mobile HotSpot @Home mobile add-on plan, customers can get mobile coverage and unlimited nationwide calling over accessible Wi-Fi networks and at T-Mobile HotSpot locations nationwide.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 also includes video recording and playback, a 2.0-megapixel digital camera with 5x zoom, stereo Bluetooth support, and an externally accessible microSD/SDHC memory card slot for expandable memory storage. Combined with a mobile messaging platform, support for personal and corporate email, and Web browsing at Wi-Fi speeds, the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 is ideal for balancing a busy lifestyle.
Featuring RIM's SureType keyboard system, the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 has built-in spelling checker and a user-customizable dictionary. The BlackBerry browser is also improved and features a new page view option that lets users point and zoom in on specific areas of a Web page. Key features of the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 from T-Mobile include:
- Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) connectivity for expanded coverage, as well as fast Web browsing
- Support for T-Mobile HotSpot @Home, offering unlimited nationwide calling over accessible Wi-Fi networks
- 2.0-megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom and built-in flash
- Media player with full-screen video playback, stereo Bluetooth support (A2DP/AVRCP) and 3.5 mm stereo headset jack
- Expandable memory storage via microSD/SDHC expansion slot and high-speed USB, for transferring files between the handset and a PC at up to 10 MB per second
- T-Mobile's myFaves support to stay in touch with those who matter most, with quick, one-click access for instant messaging, emailing, texting or calling to Fave 5 from the Home Screen
- Access to four popular instant messaging clients: AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger and Google Talk
- Roxio Media Manager for BlackBerry (included with BlackBerry Desktop Manager software), which allows customers to manage their media files, transfer them from their computer to the handset, create MP3 music files from CDs, add audio tags and album art, create playlists, and automatically convert files for optimal playback
- High-performance HTML browser for visiting favorite Web sites
- Intuitive user interface with an easy-to-use trackball
- Enhanced SureType keyboard with word completion, easier editing of misspelled words, built-in spelling checker and user-customizable dictionary
- 240 x 260 px display with light-sensing technology that automatically optimizes brightness for indoor, outdoor and dark environments
- Phone features with Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), dedicated send, end and mute keys, noise-cancellation technology, a low-distortion speakerphone, Bluetooth 2.0 with support for handsfree use with headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals, and intuitive call management features such as smart dialing, conference calling, speed dialing and call forwarding
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE/Wi-Fi network support for international roaming
- BlackBerry Maps, giving customers access to maps as well as turn-by-turn driving directions
- BlackBerry Internet service support allowing access to up to 10 supported email accounts, including most popular ISP email accounts such as Yahoo! Mail, AOL and Gmail
- BlackBerry Enterprise Server support that provides integration with IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange, and Novell GroupWise, and features IT policy controls for IT departments to manage usage and deployments
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 will be available April 14 in T-Mobile stores and online.
- RIM BlackBerry Pearl (8120) Specs
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Mobile Advertising Revenue to Surpass $2.7 Billion in 2008
March 31, 2008
Worldwide mobile advertising is projected to surpass $2.7 billion in 2008, up from $1.7 billion in 2007, but the market has developed slowly and obstacles remain, according to independent research firm Gartner. Ease of use and relevancy to consumers are two important factors that must be addressed to help build momentum in the mobile advertising market.
"Innovative developments, such as minimizing the number of keystrokes required to access information, using the phone's camera to improve the overall user experience and tying content or shopping location relevancy to advertisements will move the market forward," said Tole Hart, research director at Gartner. "To encourage users to accept advertisements, advertisers must improve the way search results are managed on the handset so that the experience is painless and rewarding to end users."
"There are a number of players that can benefit from the mobile advertising market moving forward, including brands, merchants, carriers, banks, and bill paying agencies," said Andrew Frank, research vice president at Gartner. "An important attribute of mobile advertising will be relevancy because the device is very personal to the consumer. All parties win when greater relevancy occurs. The market and consumer will gravitate to content and advertisement messages that are relevant to them."
The mobile advertising market has generated a lot of hype for a variety of reasons: number of handsets, capabilities of the phone and the major Internet portals entering the market. However, the industry must still overcome several problems to drive the market forward. Some of the impediments to growth include slow adoption of multimedia, lack of consumer acceptance, lack of metric transparency, immaturity of standards, diversity of platforms, form factor issues, cross-media integration priorities and the complexity of the value chain, inventory of content, privacy, education and ease of accessing content.
"Many of these issues will be resolved during the next two years, but the make-or-break question of mobile advertising is: Will customers accept advertisements, and can brands and advertisers drive revenue via mobile advertising?" Mr. Hart said.
While effective targeting can dramatically improve response rates to advertisements, Gartner analysts said this may require existing knowledge of customers' demographics, an opt in to the brand's advertisements, location sensitivity, or contextual relevance to the content delivered.
"Advertising often runs the risk of being perceived as junk mail or a privacy violation, so advertisers must use such targeting techniques with care," Mr. Frank said. "However, sponsored content has proven successful in other media. There are several companies working on providing mobile content integrated with advertisements. In addition, location has long been thought of as a factor for relevancy, but to date precision has been limited as the capability and the cost of GPS has been too high, along with the low penetration of GPS phones."
Despite challenges to the market, the industry is still poised for consistent growth. By the end of 2011 worldwide mobile advertising revenue is forecast to surpass $12.8 billion.
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AT&T Updates Early Termination Fee Policies
March 31, 2008
AT&T today announced a new approach to early termination fees (ETFs) that provides greater flexibility for wireless customers.
Starting on May 25, AT&T's new and renewing wireless customers who enter into one- or two-year service agreements will no longer be required to pay a single, flat early termination fee. Instead, that fee, which is $175, will be progressively lowered by $5 during each month, every month, for the term of the contract. (The single, flat ETF will continue to apply to new and renewing customers who enter into one- or two-year service agreements prior to May 25.)
AT&T noted that it continues to offer options for those customers who do not want term commitments or ETFs, including:
- Buy a phone at full price and go on a month-to-month service plan
- Bring own compatible GSM device - With this option, users can buy a SIM (subscriber identity module), slip it into the back of the phone, and select a month-to-month service plan
- Choose one of AT&T's GoPhone prepaid wireless plans
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- Palm Centro Unveiled for AT&T
©2002-2008 Mobiledia Corp. A Cell Phone Resource Site. All Rights Reserved. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only.
Hitachi intros short-throw CPX3 WXGA projector
March 31, 2008
Filed under: Displays
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Nokia WiMAX N810 appears in the wild
March 31, 2008
Filed under: Handhelds
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Cybook Gen3 e-book reader gets reviewed
March 31, 2008
Filed under: Handhelds
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