InformationWeek Mobile Weblog

Video: Hands On With The Nokia N97

By Eric Zeman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:29:15 -0500

InformationWeek had the chance to spend some time with the new Nokia N97. Here's a complete rundown of the hardware and user interface of Nokia's darling little multimedia computer.

Nokia Unveils The N97, Its Real iPhone Competitor

By Eric Zeman — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:15:00 -0500

Today in Barcelona, Nokia announced its flagship multimedia phone for 2009, the N97. The N97 sports a 3.5-inch touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard for messaging. Other specs include 3G, Wi-Fi, 5-megapixel camera, GPS, and a whole lot more.

Get Ready For Some Big News From Nokia

By Eric Zeman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:48:36 -0500

On Tuesday, Nokia kicks off its own Nokia World show in Barcelona, Spain. According to what I've been told by Nokia staffers, Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo will be dropping a huge bomb during his keynote address. The device is so secret that most Nokia employees haven't seen it yet.

First Firmware Update For The BlackBerry Storm Blows Into Town

By Eric Zeman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:15:47 -0500

If you've read any reviews of the BlackBerry Storm, you no doubt have heard that the poor thing is a bit buggy. Heck, even The New York Times' David Pogue harshed on it. The initial batch of Storm's are running firmware version 4.7.0.65. Over the weekend, firmware version 4.7.0.75 became available, and with it a bunch of fixes.

Nokia Gives Up On Japan, Starts Shipping Its Touch-Phone

By Eric Zeman — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:05:15 -0500

Some interesting news out of Finland this week. First up, Nokia announced that it will cease making mobile phones for the Japanese market. Second, the touch-based XpressMusic 5800 is now shipping in some markets.

Apple Allows Some MacBook Videos To Play On External Displays

By Mitch Wagner — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:17:30 -0500

Apple released a QuickTime update that allows standard-definition iTunes movies to play over new MacBooks' DisplayPort to older displays, according to reports on Apple blogs. However, high-def movies are still blocked, which is unfair to owners of MacBooks and other systems by other vendors that use the same technology.

Sony Ericsson Adds Facebook, Windows Live To Xperia Smartphone

By Eric Zeman — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:25:31 -0500

Looks like developers have taken advantage of the SDK that Sony Ericsson made available for its Xperia X1 Windows Mobile smartphone. This week, Sony Ericsson added two more panels to the X1's user interface: one for Facebook and another for Microsoft's Windows Live.

HTC: We're Gonna Sell 1 Million G1's In 2008

By Eric Zeman — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:29:34 -0500

Forecasts for sales of the first Android phone from HTC have been all over the map. HTC now says demand is so strong that it is doubling the number it originally projected to sell.

Samsung Adds Its Omnia To Verizon's Smartphone Lineup

By Eric Zeman — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:29:51 -0500

With just three days before Black Friday, the phone manufacturers and network operators are rolling out the new phones in furious fashion. The latest? Samsung and Verizon Wireless jointly announced the Omnia, Samsung's Windows Mobile 6.1-wielding, TouchWiz-toting, touch screen titan.

iPhone MMS App In The Works

By Eric Zeman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:28 -0500

It appears that the iPhone may get the ability to send and receive picture messages after all...but not from Apple. A Swedish company called Mobispine is working on an MMS application that would be available through the iPhone Apps Store. Too little too late?

iPhone Firmware 2.2 Breaking Some Apps

By Eric Zeman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:55:08 -0500

Now that the iPhone firmware 2.2 is available, reports are trickling in about new issues brought on by the upgrade. Among the problems are disabled third-party applications purchased via the iPhone Apps Store.

Thoughts On The BlackBerry Bold

By Marin Perez — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:43:09 -0500

I know everyone has the BlackBerry Storm on their minds, but I haven't had enough time to really kick the tires and give a good review. I have been handling the BlackBerry Bold for a few weeks, though, and keep on reading to see if it's been worth the multiple delays.

First Look: iPhone 2.2 Makes A Great Thing Better

By Mitch Wagner — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:24:04 -0500

The biggest improvement in the iPhone software Version 2.2 is in the Maps application -- particularly the addition of Street View. It's a slick implementation that gets a lot of information into a very small screen. You can figure out the new Street View and other Maps features easily, especially if you've already used Maps.

Was There Really A Fist Fight Over The BlackBerry Storm?

By Eric Zeman — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:11:53 -0500

Reuters posted a piece this afternoon about how Verizon Wireless customers are lining up at retail stores across the country to buy the new BlackBerry Storm. Apparently at one midtown Manhattan location, a "ruckus" broke out. Really? Over a cell phone?

Apple Makes iPhone Firmware 2.2 Available

By Eric Zeman — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:37:56 -0500

The latest version of firmware for the Apple iPhone became available overnight. The 246 megabyte download brings with it a host of new features for the iPhone, many of them for Google Maps. Still no MMS and still no cut-and-paste, however.

People Lining Up For The BlackBerry Storm

By Eric Zeman — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:18:13 -0500

This morning as I drove past the local Verizon Wireless retail store, I was surprised to see no less than 50 people waiting outside. I stopped and asked (just to be sure) what they were waiting for. They answered, "The BlackBerry Storm!"

Hi-Ya! Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Edition Kicks Tail In China

By Eric Zeman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:55:49 -0500

I'm still laughing. Nokia and ... Bruce Lee? Yes. In Hong Kong, a special edition of the Nokia N96 has been made available for sale, complete with Bruce Lee's image on the phone itself and other swag in the box.

Nokia Enterprise Round Up: E71 AT&T Bound, Lotus Notes Now On Board S60 Phones

By Eric Zeman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:30:08 -0500

Some major developments have been occurring in Nokia land lately that are worth discussion. First up, a version of the Nokia E71 smartphone has been spotted with AT&T branding on it. Second, Nokia announced today that it is adding support for Lotus Notes to its S60 smartphones.

Overrated! Underrated! 18 Technologies That Don't Get The Respect They Deserve

By Fredric Paul — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:24:45 -0500

Perception does NOT equal reality. Many technologies simply can't live up to their hype, while others languish in unwarranted obscurity. bMighty.com pumps up the hidden gems and takes the blowhards down a peg.

Wal-Mart Nabs The iPhone?

By Marin Perez — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:30:24 -0500

Have you ever been shopping at Wal-Mart and just had to have a touch-screen smartphone? Well, you may be in luck, as the Boy Genius is reporting that the retail giant will be selling the iPhone 3G this holiday season.

Google Can't Tell The Difference Between 'iPhone' And 'Sex'

By Eric Zeman — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:20:27 -0500

This is a stitch. British users of Google's new voice-powered search application are finding that the software isn't quite ready for prime-time. The issue? It can't understand the British accent. The outcome? Searches for "iPhone" are returning results for "sex" instead. Um, oops.

Is The iPhone The Number One Phone In The World?

By Eric Zeman — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:10:25 -0500

According to AdMob, a firm that serves ads to mobile phones, the iPhone is the No. 1 mobile device in the world. But what does that really mean?

Aww, LG Finally Hatches Its First Smartphone

By Eric Zeman — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:59:33 -0500

Today LG and AT&T offered up the Incite for sale. The Incite is LG's first device that qualifies as a smartphone. It runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional to take care of all the business a professional might need to get done in a day. It also offers some things for the not-so-professional in you to pass the time.

Verizon Wireless Bungles BlackBerry Storm VIP Event

By Eric Zeman — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:44:29 -0500

Last week we learned that Verizon Wireless was inviting its VIP customers to a special preview event featuring the BlackBerry Storm. The whole idea was to give those customers a chance to see the Storm ahead of the masses. Too bad no Storms were at the event.

Google Overhauls iPhone App

By Eric Zeman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:22:41 -0500

This evening the new Google application for the iPhone became available. Not only does it bring the new voice-powered search function, it also revamps the usability in a big way. Here is InformationWeek's first take.