Mobile – Page 100 – Digital-Lifestyles

N-GAGE 1.5: Back for a Beating

Nokia has announced the next iteration of their mobile gaming platform in the form of the N-GAGE QD. It’s backwardly compatible with the existing N-GAGE games, but there have been a few refinements and changes, all based on what Nokia have been learned since the first model was released.

Nokia’s Senior Vice President of Games (now there’s a crrrrrrazy job title), Ilkka Raiskinen said “After six months on the market with the N-Gage platform, we wanted to expand our device portfolio based on the feedback we’ve received. With improved gaming ergonomics, gamers can now start to play games at the push of a button and enjoy the increased responsiveness of the game keys. We also added support for hot-swap MMC and extended the battery life.”

N-GAGE Arena is pushed to the fore this time, and it’s a smart move too, as it was the multiplayer functions that made the console stand out from other hand-held gaming platforms out there. The QD now has a Arena Launcher allowing gamers to communicate, view score rankings and download content via a GPRS connection.

The N-GAGE QD has also incorporated some of the features that the (admittedly few) purchasers of the first system requested – particularly the improvements to gaming controls. As Nokia insisted that the first N-GAGE was a gaming platform first, phone second many saw the awkward placement and size of the controls as a bit of a howler.

Another welcome change is the positioning of the microphone and speaker – Raiskinen added: “For phone calls, we reoriented the speaker and microphone to support ‘classic talking’.” Previously, if you wanted to make a phone call, you had to hold the handset at a right angle sticking out from your head. At the very least, this would make you look somewhat foolish. However, we can’t imagine anyone getting mugged for an N-GAGE.

With greater emphasis on multiplayer gaming and improved ergonomics, it could be that they’ve got it right this time, especially since Nintendo and Sony’s next hand-held gaming platforms will almost certainly not support GPRS gaming.

Nokia on the new N-GAGE QD

Yahoo on the story

Nokia Picks Visual Radio Partner

Remember we reported on Visual Radio? Nokia have just chosen Hewlett-Packard as a technology partner to help get the service into the market. They intend to develop Visual Radio further, with the aim of making it available to other handset manufacturers through HP.

Felice Swapp, director of strategic initiatives for HP said “As you drive to this ‘digital lifestyle’ where it’s fundamentally mobile and digital and virtual, and content becomes much more meaningful, how do you have business models in that world?”

Their answer is to employ HP to sell Visual Radio to phone makers and radio stations, providing installation and support.

Research from Nokia indicates that phone owners with FM receivers in their handsets only listen to radio once a week – but the company is hoping that their new service will encourage users to take more interest in radio and use Visual Radio to buy ringtones and other music-related content.

Forbes on the announcement

Intel Announce New Mobile Multimedia Processor

Intel has announced a new processor for the mobile phone industry – the PXA27x, previously codenamed “Bulverde”.

With clock speeds from 312MHz up to 624MHz, the processor is geared towards high quality video playback for next generation mobile phones. This new chip can encode 30 frames per second at 320×240, or 15 fps at 640×480.

The new processor also includes the option of a new security subsystem, the Wireless Trusted Platform, allowing users to access their corporate networks via VPNs. The security system also enables sophisticated media DRM on phone. Content providers can specify exactly how music and movies are used on phones featuring the processor.

Intel has also adapted their SpeedStep technology for the new mobile processors, enabling phones to get more out of their batteries by underclocking the chip where appropriate to save power. Figures from Intel imply that the chip can use 50% less power than their previous offerings.

Factory door prices for the PXA27x are $32, should you require them in quantities of 10,000.

Intel’s product briefing

PocketSkype – Free Calls for WiFi PDA Owners

It’s PocketPC only for the time being, but the new version of Skype allows PDA owners with WiFi to make voice over IP (VoIP) calls when in the range of any hotspot. The original Skype application now has nearly 10 million users making free telephone calls over the internet, but it was felt that it was time to take the technology into the space where it will be most useful: mobile.

Niklas Zennstrom, creator of Skype said “While it’s very convenient to use Skype when they’re sitting in their office or at home, many people want to be mobile and want to be able to move around.”

PocketSkype FAQ

Vodafone and Warner Bros. Online in Wireless Distribution Deal

Vodafone and Warner Bros. Online have singed a deal to bring Warner Bros. branded content to mobile phones. There are no details over what brands will be exploited as yet, but WB have announced that they will be initially providing games, screensavers, alerts and other mobile applications, including video content.

Amongst others, WB have such valuable global brands as The Matrix, Friends and Harry Potter.

Details are currently scarce, but the agreement covers some 16 countries. Aside from being a revenue-earner, WB are hoping that the deal will bring increased exposure to its brands and help promote upcoming projects.

It seems the announcement is following the growing trend of content providers teaming up with distributors to leverage their brands in other arenas – similar to has already been witnessed with brand owners licensing brands to video game publishers, magazine houses and toy manufacturers. Expect many more of this sort of deal in future.

The press release

Sharp Introduce SL6000 PDA to US

Featuring IBM enterprise software to allow remote access to systems, the SL-6000 is a Linux-based PDA intended for enterprise users.

The SL-6000 is the latest addition to Sharp’s Zaurus range and they’re touting it as a complete laptop replacement. This focus on features, reliability and enterprise use is reflected in the price: US$700 (€578).

The PDA has a bright, four inch 640×480 (VGA) display, 802.11b WiFi and built-in slide out keyboard. Memory expansion is through CF and SD slots. The display is so good because it is one of the first to feature Sharp’s CD Silicon technology. This new display is said to make the best of both transmissive (back lit) and reflective (front lit) screen modes.

The PDA uses a 32 bit Linux kernel to enable true multitasking – users can send and receive data to different applications simultaneously, rather than making background programs dormant.

IBM WebSphere middleware allows users to connect securely to corporate networks, whether on site or connecting through a mobile phone link.

Amazon on the SL6000

World’s First Customised Multimedia Mobile

Emblaze Mobile of Israel have produced a new multimedia handset, and it’s the first time that a network provider, in this case Partner Communications, has had almost complete control over the specification of a mobile and it’s applications.

Considering that the Alpha 8 is Israel’s first attempt at a mobile phone, the handset is amongst some of the most sophisticated handsets out there. Designed by Emblaze in tandem with Partner, the phone is based around video and gaming functions – it can record 30 minutes of video, play Java games and play MP3s. The user interface is via a 2.2 inch TFT screen which displays 65,000 colours.

Partner Communications, which trades under the Orange brand in Israel are hoping to provide a video on demand portal for subscribers – the phone can play back video at up to 30 frames per second, and can record at 15.

Emblaze are hoping to take the phone to other world markets – notably Europe and Asia: “It’s Israeli-based and we are producing cellphones, but we are selling across the world. Our intent is not just to work with Partner in Israel. We are looking at big names and all the number one (mobile) operators in Europe. We are talking to each one and we are in various stages and hoping to close deals,” said Emblaze’s Doron Cohen.

Emblaze Mobile

Microsoft: Extensive VoIP Features in Windows CE 5.0

Microsoft are including better VoIP support in their next version of their popular embedded version of Windows – CE 5.0. CE is used in many devices such as touch screen phones and PDAs and so enhanced VoIP support makes a lot of sense and will lead to a lot of exciting applications.

CE 4.2 has some limited support for VoIP, but is mainly focussed on call control features like call forwarding. Amongst other new features, 5.0 will integrate with Microsoft Exchange Server contacts, so users will be able to see when another client is online. Importantly, the new OS will provide conference facilities and native WiFi support – ideal for enterprise use.

Also new is support for Direct3D Mobile, enabling developers to make greater use of graphical and media-intensive content.

Version 5.0 is due out in the summer, and we’ll be bringing you reviews of the OS when it appears.

Microsoft’s Windows CE 5.0 technology preview centre

Chris De Herrera’s Windows CE Website

Korean Music Industry Demands Poor Quality MP3 Phones

Manufacturers like Samsung and LG are of course resistant to the idea, but the Korean Association of Phonogram Producers (KAPP) and Korean Music Copyright Association (KMCA) are demanding that new phones can only play MP3 music at low-fidelity, radio quality.

This demand is after a compromise – KAPP and KMCA originally required phones to only play MP3 files that had been purchased legally. In a market where 95% of MP3 files are said to be illegal, phone manufacturers felt that this would put consumers off.

The battle has become so embittered that Samsung has decided to delay the launch of their new MP3 Anycall handset.

Amid claims that MP3 players and pirated CDs have halved the value of the Korean music market, phone with music playback are expected to be extremely popular – there will be 150 new phones launched in Korea next year, and half the population already carry a mobile.

Yoon Seong-woo, a director of the Korea Association of Phonogram Producers said in a statement: “Our industry has been in a nose-dive since the release of MP3 players in 2000. At that time, we felt hopeless because Korean people were insensitive to copyright issues and we did not have any unified organization that could cope with the situation. Because the MP3 phone market is big enough to destroy the music industry, we’re struggling to defend it.”

It’s somewhat striking that the music industry should expect handset manufacturers to develop and sell inferior product to save their dwindling sales.

There are no currently legal download music services in Korea – surely giving consumers the option of buying music from an attractive, easy to use, reliable source would be far better? Samsung certainly think so and is looking to partner with a music site to provide a download service for its phones.

The Korea Herald on the story

Simputer Finally On Sale

With computer ownership in India running at ~0.9%, the market for a cheap device to get users on the internet and provide them with email and note taking software is potentially huge. Enter Bharat Electronics and the Amida Simputer, the first computer to be designed and manufactured in India.

Sadly, the development and launch of the device was hampered by a lack of interest and investment by large computer manufacturers.

With a 206MHz processor, six hours of battery life and 64mb of Flash memory, it’s a lot like a PDA – and is ideal for bringing the internet to rural India. The cheapest of the three models has a monochrome screen, but with pen input interface and Linux OS it’s just like an early Handspring. Apart form understanding Hindi and Kannada, the interface is purely point and click – the Simputer Trust believes that this will increase accessibility: “It has a special role in the third world because it ensures that illiteracy is no longer a barrier to handling a computer.”

Internet access is through a land line or Reliance CDMA phone – the browser is fully-featured and beautifully thought out. It even allows tabbed browsing! Connectivity is through two USB ports – so owners can expand memory with a USB key and connect it to other devices: a very neat solution.

Retailing at US$240 for the basic model, sales projections are still modest at 50,000 in the first year – we hope that this device takes off as the potential is staggering and we can’t wait to see what new uses people think up for it, and create with it.

Amida Home

Simputer Home