Verizon Wireless realizing people like phones?

The Big Red is stepping up its phone game.

It’s no secret that when it comes to US cell phone carriers, Verizon wireless is king. Not having Verizon is to be out of the loop. What?! You have AT&T? How am I supposed to tell if you got my texts, there’s no check mark!?

However when it comes to its actual phone lineup, the king isn’t really the king.

Verizon consistently loses exclusivity deals on shiny new phones to competitor carriers. The most obvious being the Iphone and AT&T. It doesn’t stop with Apple’s baby though. The Palm Pre is exclusive to Sprint for the time being; even T-mobile and the G1 scored the first Android phone before Verizon. RIM and their Blackberry(s) are Verizon’s only real heavy hitters in the Smartphone market. Even so their flagship phone on Verizon, the Storm, did not impress.

Verizon’s focus over the years has consistently been on its network as opposed to its actual phones, and recently the Basking Ridge NJ based company has pretty much admitted that the network is their priority.

Oh how things can change quickly.

The Palm Pre is widely regarded as one of the only Iphone competitors and it’s coming to Verizon early next year.

Verizon and Google have partnered to bring Android devices to the carrier, starting with the Motorola Sholes and HTC’s Hero.

The new Blackberry Storm 2 is releasing this holiday on Verizon and has been met with much more favorable reviews than its predecessor.

Even the Iphone won’t be exclusive to AT&T forever, and now Verizon customers finally have some phones to be excited about in the coming months.

Android This Week: Quick Search Box, Liquid With Snapdragon Debut

Android (s goog) news is getting hotter every week, as the platform becomes poised to take off. This is due to new handsets being released now through the end of the year. And the ability to search across a phone’s content and the web for that desired nugget of information is a highly desirable feature for consumers. The latest version of Android addresses that craving by adding a universal Quick Search Box widget that facilitates searching across Apps, Contacts, Browser and Music. The widget can be put on the home screen, making universal search just a tap away.

Plus, Acer this week showed off an early version of a new Android phone based on the speedy Snapdragon processor. The Liquid, as it is currently dubbed, is a touchscreen-equipped phone with a large display. The 1GHz Snapdragon processor in the Liquid is beginning to be used in smartphones, and currently is the fastest processor used to run handsets. Like Motorola (s mot), Acer is customizing Android to provide social-network integration on the Liquid to appeal to consumers.

Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble (s bks) is expected to announce its own branded e-book reader soon. In leaked photos online, the reader looks like the Amazon Kindle with a second small color screen at the bottom of the display to handle touch controls. What does this have to do with Android? Rumor has it this reader will feature Android under the hood.

Nokian 3G Booklet laajaan levitykseen USAssa

Nokia tiedotti tänään että AT&T alkaa subventoimaan sen 3G Booklettia ja että laaja ja kattava Best Buy ketju ottaa sen jakeluunsa. Tämähän oli erinomainen uutinen Nokian booklettibisneksellä ja ylipäätään bisnekselle USA:ssa. Läppäri lähtee kotiin 299 dollarilla kunhan sitoutuu kahdeksi vuodeksi AT&T asiakkaaksi (kuukausisopimuksen hinta 60 dollaria). Ekat toimitukset marraskuun puolivälissä eli ehtii hyvin joulukauppaan ja on ensimmäisiä myyntiin tulevia tietokoneita varustettuna Windows 7:lla. Kovasti AT&T pomo hehkuttaa laitetta: “The Nokia Booklet 3G is a really sharp, exciting device and we look forward to powering it with the nation’s fastest 3G network,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Consumers and small business customers can’t get enough mobile broadband. Nokia’s mobile device leadership, together with AT&T’s mobile broadband network leadership, Best Buy’s retail reach and Windows 7, is a very strong line-up to drive this fast-growing market.“

Mitä olen nettiä selannut niin kovasti tuosta laitteesta ja sen designistä tykätään ja akunkestoa ylistetään. Ainoa mistä on tullut moitteita on hinta ja nyt kun amerikkalaiseen malliin myyntihinta näyttää subventoinnin takia alhaiselta niin kauppa voi hyvinkin käydä ja Nokian brändi ja asema USA:ssa voi parantua. Ja saa nähdä tuoko tuo huhuttu T-Mobilen “project black” entisestään parannuksia Nokian asemaan. Forbes-lehti kirjoitti erinomaisen jutun Noksun PC suunnitelmista. Eli lisää läppäreitä on luvassa ja osassa niistä on mukana myös Nokian Comes With Music – palvelu.

Muutaman vuoden takainen Telsim-ceissi nostaa päätään. Olinkin jo melkein unohtanut koko jutun, kunnes törmäsin google news haulla tähän uutiseen. Olisi kieltämättä hienoa jos Nokia saisi jo kauan sitten alaskirjattuja rahojaan takaisin noilta turkkilaisilta huijareilta. Motorolalle tuo raha olisi varmasti elintärkeä ja antaisi hieman lisäaikaa ja varmasti Motorolan lakimiehet tekevät kaikkensa että rahat saadaan palautettua sinne minne ne kuuluvat.

Torstaina sitten nähdään mikä on Nokian kunto ja se taas aika pitkälti määrittää oman salkkuni kunnon loppuvuodeksi.

Telnet Pada Motorola ROKR E2

Apakah telnet itu?

Telnet adalah semacam P2k Commander di ponsel-ponsel Motorola lain atau file manager untuk mengeksplor (mengakses) file system. Tidak hanya itu, telnet banyak kegunaannya,  misal mengeksekusi skrip, menjalankan command dan banyak lainnya. Telnet merupakan langkah awal setelah flashing Firmware, serta  harus dipelajari untuk memodifikasi E2.

Amankah bila melakukan telnet?

100% Aman, tidak seperti Flashing yang kalau kita salah jalan, HP bisa matot alias mati total. Alhamdulillah Udah bolak-balik Flashing HP 99% berhasil, tapi pernah 1x (1%) E398 saya mengalami matot kurang-lebih 1 mingguan, namun pada akhirnya E398 saya normal kembali setelah mengalami koma berkepanjangan hoho.. sereem..

Langkah-langkah telnet adalah sebagai berikut.

1. Pada ponsel, Pilih Main Menu -> Settings -> Connection -> USB Settings -> USB Net.

2. Pada PC, pilih Start -> Run -> Ketik cmd dan enter. Jendela Command prompt akan muncul. Koneksikan HP dengan PC melalui kabel data, Windows akan meminta driver.

3. Sekarang kembali ke jendela Command prompt, ketik ipconfig dan enter. Anda akan melihat banyak tulisan, perhatikan ip address-nya. Biasanya sih 192.168.16.1.

4. Selanjutnya ketik telnet ip. Dimana ip adalah ip address yang telah Anda catat di langkah ketiga. Disini Anda harus menambah 1 dari angka terakhir ip di atas. Contohnya 192.168.16.1 menjadi 192.168.16.2. Jadi Anda harus mengetik telnet 192.168.16.2. Enter!

cmd -> enter!

5. Jika sukses, Anda diminta untuk login. Lalu ketikan root. Tapi jangan ditutup dulu Command promptnya.

pass -> root

jika sukses

6. Sekarang di Windows Explorer, pada bagian Go To ketik \\192.168.16.2 jendela baru pun muncul.

explore -> ketik \\192.168.16.2

7. Ya, itulah file system E2! Anda akan melihat banyak folder di dalamnya. Untuk tambahan, folder yang bisa ditulis ulang adalah ezx_user, ezxlocal dan mmc/mmca1 (ini memory card Anda).

Oke selesai, Anda siap memodifikasi ponsel Anda hoo..

Appliance Review: LG 21.0 Cu. Ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator, Model: LSC2194ST

Lucky Goldstar, or LG, appliances have become some of the best and most requested appliances in the industry. This company is constantly pushing the envelope in designs and technologies so you are able to receive one of the best appliances in the industry. If you are in the market for a new refrigerator, I would highly suggest viewing an LG refrigerator so you can understand what true and high-quality refrigeration is really like. The LG 21.0 Cu. Ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator, Model: LSC21943ST is one of the best refrigerators in the market for its unique style and its amazing refrigeration technologies. I highly recommend this product for all consumers.

Product Ratings:

User-Friendliness: 4.5/5 Stars

Refrigeration Technologies: 4.5/5 Stars

Product Features: 5/5 Stars

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Main Product Features:

Within this LG refrigerator, you will find some of the coolest, literally, features within the industry as well as a smartly designed exterior. With a gorgeous stainless steel exterior that is highlighted with steel handles and an ultra-large water and ice dispenser this refrigerator will greatly enhance any kitchen it is placed in.

There is a digital LED control panel, which will allow you to view the temperatures within the refrigerator/freezer as well as the temperature of your kitchen. There is also a child lock safety feature as well as a water filter status indicator. Of course, you will be able to choose between crushed and cubed ice as well as purified water from this control panel.

Within the refrigerator, there are a total of eight digital sensors located throughout the unit. These sensors will detect the slightest temperature change, and thus activate the compressor. You will always have consistent temperatures within this advanced refrigerator.

The fresh foods section features the OptiChill Drawer, which will provide you with three different temperature placements, so you can store extra-sensitive food items without having to cool your entire refrigerator. This drawer is perfect for fruits that you wish to chill but not freeze, which are perfect for smoothies and other cold food items.

There are a total of three spill-proof glass shelves, which will contain any spill that may happen. These shelves include one folding shelf, which can be enlarged or closed depending on what you are storing. There is also one fixed shelf and one slide-out shelf, which is perfect for long casserole dishes. There are numerous door baskets as well as basic features as dairy storage and a meat drawer.

Within the freezer section, you will have a total of three drawers that will slide out, giving you optimum access to your frozen foods. There are also two freezer door bins and you will also be able to enjoy over 10% more freezer space than comparable refrigerators due to the ice maker being located in the door and not on a freezer shelf.

Product Price:

This LG Side-by-Side Refrigerator can be purchased online and in retail stores for an average price of $2,000.

D-pad Behavior MB200-Motorola Add-on

Some of you in the many developer email lists were asking about the MB200 Motorola emulator D-pad behaviour. The post about the bug is here. As Anas of Motorola has mention you could use:

public void whatsAvailable() { Configuration myConfig = new Configuration(); Context context = getApplicationContext(); int duration = Toast.LENGTH_SHORT; CharSequence text = ""; myConfig.setToDefaults(); myConfig = getResources().getConfiguration(); switch (myConfig.orientation){ // test for Configuration. // and display a toast }

..to get the values as you cannot depend on model numbers, see the post here.

An Apology to MotoDEV Studio Team

Image via Wikipedia

My intention was to see if I would be able to use the MotoDev Studio for Android  in producing Android Applications for several book proposals that I am submitting to Apress. But due to everal short-sighted decisions that are evidently part of the core MotoDev Studio philosophy I cannot accomplish that feat. Let me explain.

Part of the Android OS Mobile Platform design philosophy has been  applications without limits. Imagine you as the Star Trek Captain character named James(Jim) T Kirk. You do not want to be told by your engineer that you cannot have full power. By limiting the whole MototDev Studio series both in JavaMe and Android to not including CVS and SVN, Mylyn, TPTP and WTP for such things as the Eclipse Memory Analyser Tool to analyse Android heap dumps..Motorola has effectively told mobile developers that  you do not want full power.

That is not to say that the other additions ot MototDev Studio in term sof emulator/device control, code templates, SQLite view(in Android’s case)..are not important additions to making it easier fro first time developers. However, it is too much of a sacrifice to ask that first-time mobile developer that  they give up their right to be able to go to full developmental power for those features. Yeah, it is probably why both my interviews at Motorola both ’sucked’. I cannot help it, I have a full blown user(in this case user is the mobile developer both beginner and advanced) full power ethics bent and it is somewhat impossible to turn it off.

I am sorry that all that hard work by the MotoDev Studio team cannot be appreciated by those who want both the beginner and advanced mobile developer to have full power at their finger tips in their mobile IDE. Due to the limitations to MotoDev Studio for Android I will not be using it in the development of the Android Programming WebView Web code using Goolge Web Toolkit book. I certainly hope that a ‘re-tooling’ of MototDev Studio addressing  these issues occurs as it would be a huge win for both the beginning developer and the advance developer.