January 18, 2008
Pizza Hut Starts Text Message Delivery [Cellphones]
Pizza Hut, ever expanding both waistlines and accessibility to their greasy goodness, has launched a new mobile ordering service allowing users to text message 4 pizza. Apparently online pizza orders have really taken off, accounting for 20 percent of total sales (that stat is either from Pizza Hut or Papa John's, we couldn't discern from the copy) and texting could account for another huge percentage as well. I realized I was getting old when not so long ago I ordered a pizza via the web for the first time and waited nervously for it to come. It reminded me of tales from Amazon's launch, when customers didn't trust entering their credit cards into their computers...so they instead told the numbers to strangers at Amazon call centers who would write the digits on loose leaf. [reuters/I4U]
From Pizza Hut Starts Text Message Delivery [Cellphones]
Posted by Alex at 12:19 PM
iPhone Getting a Business/Corporate Plan on January 21st [Apple]
Here's some good news for those of you who want an iPhone but have sold your soul to the corporate overlords: AT&T is said to be announcing iPhone compatibility to corporate and business accounts on January 21st. The "business iPhone" is the same as the regular iPhone, but it has a slightly different pricing setup for its plan and is eligible for a $25 per month corporate discount. Holy shit, that's amazing!!!
From iPhone Getting a Business/Corporate Plan on January 21st [Apple]
Posted by Gary at 12:09 PM
iPhone 1.1.3's Lesser-Known Features [Cellphones]
You already know the main features of iPhone 1.1.3 from our hands-on and from the keynote, but there are a few interesting tweaks that got lost in all the other Apple coverage. ' The SMS storage has been upped from 1,000 to 75,000, which means you probably won't need to ever clear a conversation unless you really enjoy texting. ' The keyboard now allows two-finger typing, so holding shift + a key lets you type caps. ' Gmail on the phone automatically defaults to IMAP, which means deleting messages on your phone affects stuff server-side. ' Various bugs hit on Bluetooth and email checks, but workarounds have been found. [iPhone Atlas] [TUAW]
From iPhone 1.1.3's Lesser-Known Features [Cellphones]
Posted by Jason at 11:56 AM
HTC Pharos Spy Shot - Windows Mobile, GPS and Confusing Name [Cellphones]
We're not sure if this HTC Pharos 3470 Windows Mobile Smartphone will actually be called the Pharos when it launches'"especially since it gets people confused with Pharos, who also make GPS Windows Mobile smartphones'"but this spy shot looks interesting. The phone has a 200MHz OMAP processor, 128MB RAM, 2.8-inch QVGA display, Bluetooth 2.0, and GPS. What it supposedly doesn't have, oddly enough, is 3G or Wi-Fi; two things that HTC phones usually throw in standard. It does have the HTC Touch's TouchFLO interface, which means to us that there's no keyboard underneath. [Pcdebolso via Uber Gizmo]
From HTC Pharos Spy Shot - Windows Mobile, GPS and Confusing Name [Cellphones]
Posted by Rob at 09:26 AM
January 17, 2008
Helio's Mysto Slider Now Available Everywhere [Cellphones]
The previously NYC and Santa Monica-only Helio Mysto has finally expanded to a nationwide release, meaning you can grab one online or at your local meatspace Helio store. Here's one bit of info we haven't mentioned before: the Mysto's web browser is "location aware," meaning you can have location data for certain web-based applications. Neat stuff. [Helio]
From Helio's Mysto Slider Now Available Everywhere [Cellphones]
Posted by Murray at 02:55 PM
Samsung i900 Touchscreen Phone with Gesture Control? [Cellphones]
Word on the street is that Samsung is developing the i900 '" a Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional device complete with a touchscreen. However, unlike the F490, the i900 is expected to feature a full-fledged touchscreen that could include iPhone-esque gesture controls. The rumor also claims that the i900 will include high-speed data via UTMS and HSDPA 7.2 mbps as well as quad-band GSM, Bluetooth 2.0, a 5 megapixel camera, FM radio, 8GB of internal memory, and microSD expansion. Again, these kinds of rumors are a dime a dozen, so take it with a grain of salt. [kataweb via Slashphone]
From Samsung i900 Touchscreen Phone with Gesture Control? [Cellphones]
Posted by Stephen at 01:46 PM
January 16, 2008
All Systems Go: 700MHz Auction Rules and Bidders Stamped in Stone [700mhz Auction]
I know I'm a geek because I'm almost as giddy for this as I am for MacWorld: The rules and bidders (214 of 'em) for 700Mhz spectrum auction, which starts on Jan. 24, have been finalized. No surprises here'"the heavies like AT&T, Verizon and Google have their shit in order and the C block fireworks look good to go. [Ars]
From All Systems Go: 700MHz Auction Rules and Bidders Stamped in Stone [700mhz Auction]
Posted by Rob at 12:10 PM
iPhone 1.1.3 Firmware Update is Official [Apple]
The iPhone got its expected firmware upgrade, delivering version 1.1.3 that we've seen and debated about before. It delivers new features like the ability to send SMS messages to multiple recipients at once, faux-GPS on Google Maps via triangulation, Google Maps showing the hybrid map view, drag and drop icons on the home screen and bookmarks on the home screen (i.e. Webclips). There are also some new features, such as videos with chapters, the ability to display lyrics on music. Check out some screenshots below and hit the jump for the official press release. Apple Enhances Revolutionary iPhone With Software Update MACWORLD SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple(R) today announced a free software update for its revolutionary iPhone(TM) that allows users to automatically find their location using the redesigned Maps application*; text message multiple people in one message; create Web Clips for their favorite websites; customize their home screen; and watch movies rented from the new iTunes(R) Movie Rentals right on their iPhone. With its revolutionary multi-touch user interface and pioneering software, users can easily add significant new features to their iPhone through software updates whenever an update becomes available. New iPhone products shipping from the factory will include the software update and existing iPhone customers will automatically get the update for free when they sync their iPhone with iTunes (http://www.itunes.com). "iPhone doesn't stand still -- we're making it better and better all the time," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We've delighted millions of users with this revolutionary and magical product and it's great to share these improvements with them." Maps, one of the most popular and helpful applications on iPhone, has a new interface that is simpler and easier to use and adds incredible new features such as the ability to find your location automatically. With just the tap of a button, iPhone can now triangulate your position using nearby Wi-Fi base stations or cellular towers. You can use this as a starting or ending point for directions or to find local points of interest. The new hybrid map view combines map view and satellite view so you can see major street names overlaid on satellite imagery. Users can now create Web Clips -- icons on the home screen that take you directly to your favorite websites, including to the exact spot you have zoomed into. Web Clips are a great way to easily track websites that you frequently check such as news, blogs, sports sites and movie listings. In addition, users can now customize their home screen by repositioning any of the icons, and even create up to nine different home screens that they can easily flick between. iPhone's new software update also adds the ability to send the same SMS text message to multiple people, and iPhone saves a history of your text messages, so with one tap you can send a new message to the same group. With Apple's new iTunes Movie Rentals, movie fans can rent movies on their computer, easily and quickly transfer them to their iPhone, and watch them anywhere on iPhone's gorgeous 3.5 inch screen. Users can also now navigate forward or backward through their movies by chapters, select alternate language tracks and view subtitles, if available. Pricing & Availability The iPhone software update 1.1.3 is available immediately for free via iTunes 7.5 or later for all existing iPhone customers in the US, UK, Germany and France. New iPhone products shipping from the factory will include the software update and existing iPhone customers will automatically get the update for free when they sync their iPhone with iTunes (http://www.itunes.com). iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only. Further information for iPhone can be found at http://www.apple.com/iphone. *Availability and precision of Maps positioning features will vary depending on actual location.
From iPhone 1.1.3 Firmware Update is Official [Apple]
Posted by Alex at 09:21 AM
