IMok app to reward child/parent communiation

As a teenager, my parents constantly hounded me about where I was going, and when I would return. I didn’t have a cellphone, so communication was limited. Flash forward ten years and although many teenagers have cell phones now, it’s still annoying for kids and teens to constantly communicate with parents and worrisome for parents to not know of their children’s whereabouts. A new app will soon launch to help solve this problem. I’mOK, which is in private beta, is a private mobile application designed to reward kids for staying connected to their parents.

via techcrunch

Android 2.3 'Gingerbread' rolling out for HTC Desire HD and Incredible S

We knew that HTC is trying to pioneer and master the art of updating its current devices to the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread version and they are starting to roll-out over-the-air updates for the HTC Desire HD and the HTC Incredible S.

After the HTC Desire HD update, your numbers will show version 2.36.405.5 and 2.12.405.7 for the HTC Incredible S. We've already seen leaked Gingerbread ROMs for the HTC Desire HD and we knew some will hit this spring.

If you own one of the above mentioned two smartphones, make sure to check for the over-the-air update notification on your device and download the update via Wi-Fi or GPRS/3G (we recommend the first). Enjoy your official Gingerbread! Oh, and HTC Desire and Desire Z owners, hang on there, yours should be coming soon too!

via PocketNow
source HTC

Windows Phone 7 security "post NoDo" update rolling out

Looks like the planned May update is being rolled out, version 7.0.7392.0. This update addresses the fraudulent third-party digital certificates that could lead to potential phishing attacks or intercept web browser connections (man-in-the-middle). The update simply moves these certificates into the "Untrusted Publishers" certificate storage on your device.

More information on the update is available over on the update history page. Have you received the update notification yet?

via WPCentral
source Microsoft Windows Phone

Microsoft got Nokia, are they now slowly going after BlackBerry? Microsoft and RIM announce partnership

Steve Ballmer made an appearance today at BlackBerry World 2011 and after briefly pimping Windows Phone live on stage, announced a partnership between Microsoft and RIM to integrate Bing into BlackBerry products. In addition to making Bing the default search and map provider for all BlackBerry devices going forward, the services will be added at the OS level instead of being bundled as a series of apps. This will provide features ranging from voice and location-aware search to panorama stitching. It also suggests that we'll likely see another iteration of the BlackBerry OS beyond version 7 -- based on QNX, perhaps? -- sometime before the holidays.

via Engadget

White HP Veer heading to AT&T

The Veer 4G has a white case and a black front with a smallish 2.6-inch 400 x 320 resolution screen. The Veer is set for its official launch next week according to Pocketnow. With the official unveil expected next week, the launch of the device should be coming before long. One of the key things that isn’t known about the handset at this point is what version of webOS the Veer will run. Some peg the OS as version 2.2 and others say 2.1.
A new Pre 3 smartphone is rumored for a summer launch with webOS 2.3, so there would be an outside chance the Veer might use that, but I suspect it will be an older version. The processor inside the Veer is an 800Mhz unit. Overall, this sounds to be a decent mid-range offering that might appeal to some users depending on the price, which is unknown at this time.

via SlashGear

RIM announces the BlackBerry Bold (Touch) 9900 and 9930

We've seen it photographed, videotaped, and even, briefly, up on RIM's own website. Now it's up there to stay, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 (aka the Bold Touch) have been made official as RIM kicks off BlackBerry World in Orlando. As expected, the phone packs a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor that has only a 2.8-inch VGA touchscreen with a 287dpi pixel density to worry about. On the back is a five megapixel camera and inside is 8GB of internal storage (with microSD expansion) and NFC circuitry. At 10.5mm it's RIM's thinnest handset yet, featuring a stainless steel circumference and a fiberglass back, while up front of course it makes room for a full QWERTY keyboard. The 9900 supports HSPA+ connectivity to get its 4G on, while the 9930 is the world variant, adding dual-band CDMA and quad-band GSM to the mix, and both do 802.11a/b/g/n along with Bluetooth 2.1. Both, quite naturally, include the new BlackBerry 7 OS, including a faster browser and voice-activated search. Another picture and full specs are listed after the break, which will have to do you until this handset releases sometime in the summer, meaning this could be your next great beach accessory for those working vacations.

via Engadget

RIM introduces BlackBerry OS 7

Included in the company’s barrage of press releases this morning, Research In Motion officially announced BlackBerry 7. The new smartphone operating system — formerly known as BlackBerry 6.1 — brings HTML 5 and a new Just-In-Time (JIT) JavaScript engine to the browser, along with BlackBerry Balance support, enhanced universal search, and a new “Liquid Graphics” theme. BlackBerry 7 will debut on the recently announced BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 — the company did not, however, mention if older hardware would be upgraded to the new code.

via BGR

TUJ says: Unfortunately for current BlackBerry users, your phones will not be eligible for an upgrade.

HBO coming to Android and Apple mobile devices

HBO is going mobile.

The pay TV network on Monday will begin offering its subscribers access to watch HBO programming on Android mobile devices and Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPad tablet.

HBO hopes the iPad will kick-start HBO Go, the online viewing option for current HBO subscribers that the network launched last year. The move marks a turn for the Time Warner Inc.-owned channel, which was a pioneer in enticing viewers to watch cable TV but has moved cautiously in embracing the Internet.e devices and Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPad tablet.

via LATimes

Worldwide Mobile Phone Market Grew 20% In Q1 2011, Fueled By Smartphone Boom

According to research firm IDC, the global mobile phone market ballooned in the first quarter of this year, growing 19.8 percent year-over-year, mostly due to the meteoric rise of smartphone shipments, especially in emerging markets. According to the firm’s Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped 371.8 million units in Q1 2011 compared to 310.5 million units in the first quarter of 2010.

In the United States, Apple’s iPhone and HTC Thunderbolt were two devices (introduced at Verizon Wireless) that helped keep the smartphone category front and center of the overall mobile phone market last quarter. BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android devices were best sellers, says IDC, and the same trend is visible in Canada.

via Techcrunch

Gigabyte's S1080 Windows tablet hits the FCC

Looks like Gigabyte's S1080 tablet, which landed in Taiwan earlier this month, is getting ready to hit shelves here in the US. The 10.1-inch Windows 7 slate stopped by the FCC, where it got cracked open and had its silicon-packed innards exposed for the camera. There's nothing new to glean here -- specs are still the same (dual-core Atom, 320GB hard drive, etcetera) and we haven't heard anything about a much-needed price drop, but if you want a quick peak under the hood, check out the gallery below!

via Engadget