HTC might have rekindled its old romance with Microsoft for its 8X and 8S Windows Phones, but Nokia is still the closest partner to Redmond. In an interview with Pocket-lint, Microsoft’s senior Windows Phone marketing manager, Casey McGee, has revealed exactly how close the pair are. Describing how Microsoft brings Windows Phone to life, McGee notes “it feels like our child too” in the process. “Especially with Nokia,” he adds, as both companies work so closely together.
“Our relationship is so close we get hardware early and we have some say in how these things are designed,” explains McGee. “I am very happy with the relationship and the ability to influence what they are doing.” Microsoft may have pumped most of its marketing dollars…
Times Square is where Samsung is gearing up to unveil the Galaxy S IV tonight at a special press event, but the leaks won’t stop coming. The latest, from the same Chinese source that brought us videos of key features earlier today, is a long, extensive review of the supposed SGS IV hardware, laying bare all of its secrets and even going so far as to take a microscope to the new smartphone’s screen.
The review is, as mentioned, exhaustive (and also in Chinese), but there are some key elements worth drawing specific attention to. In the disappointing column, that metal-look border surrounding the phone does indeed appear to be plastic upon closer prodding. On the good side, it looks like the plastic backing for the device actually doesn’t feel like plastic, according to the reviewers, thanks to micro-perforations in the surface.
Taking the scope to the screen reveals improvements to the sub-pixel arrangement which help increase density and maximize the rendering of deep blacks, with changes that also help it improve its ability to render fine detail. The screen is reportedly better able to render images clearly, making it impossible to discern pixels with the reviewer’s naked eye. The camera also looks improved, in side-by-side comparisons with the iPhone 5, though the reviewer says accurate color rendering isn’t up to par with Apple’s smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy S IV tested in the leaked review had an eight-core Samsung Exynos Octa processor on board (the one rumored for the international version, which makes sense), which led to it blowing away the competition in AnTuTu benchmarking tests. Users definitely won’t be disappointed by the GSIV’s performance if these leaks prove legit.
The review notes that Samsung has focused a lot on adding and refining screen transition animations and tap action effects, which are likely made possible by the big bump in processing power. It also supposedly has Smart Scrolling, Smart Pause, and Smart Rotation features onboard, which is in keeping with earlier reports about Samsung enabling eye-tracking interaction on the handset.
The leak may disappoint some who were hoping for more surprises later tonight, but Samsung likely isn’t too concerned: this phone will sell well, regardless of how much it has to demo to the press tonight has been publicized beforehand. Check out the full review at it168.com for all the poorly translated spoilers your heart could desire, and then follow along with our live coverage to get the full scoop.
Most Lego Mindstorms constructions have never slipped the surly bonds of Earth. The Flying Fortress Lego Blimp from Tyler Westmoreland and Chris Shepard won’t be similarly held down, however. Courtesy of two NXTBee wireless adapters, Tyler and Chris can fly the Mindstorms NXT-driven airship using a remote control and adjustable propellers. There’s no secret tricks involved, as everything is an off-the-shelf part that anyone can find, including the 55-inch helium balloons. We have proof: Tyler has shared the source code for both the blimp and the controller, so anyone with the resources can recreate the Flying Fortress for themselves. While the thought of homemade drone blimps looming overhead is slightly disconcerting, we’ll steel our resolve when it means that most any enterprising builder can take Lego airborne.
[Thanks, @frankiebit]
Source: Dexter Industries
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Canonical’s Ubuntu handsets are expected to be upon us very, very soon, and given that some say a phone is only as good as its apps, the firm wants to make sure the experience is indeed a great one right out of the box. To help accomplish that, Canonical has announced the CoreApps project, setting its sights on about a dozen default applications which should give Ubuntu devices ample functionality from day one; this, of course, includes essential ones such as a calendar, calculator, clock / alarm, weather and email client. That’s not it, however, since the project also lists plans for social networking apps like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as well as an account and file manager, document viewer, RSS reader and even a terminal — the latter, naturally, should make Android rooters feel right at home. Canonical is seeking help from the community to make the CoreApps project a reality, so those devs interested in helping may want to click the source link below to learn all the nitty-gritty.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Via: OMG!Ubuntu!
Source: Ubuntu (Wiki)
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Google’s decision to drop Exchange ActiveSync support, a protocol used to sync Gmail calendar, contacts, and mail items on mobile devices, left Microsoft surprised and disappointed. The change means new Windows Phone users after January 30th with personal Gmail accounts will be unable to sync calendar and contact items. The Verge has learned that Microsoft is planning to support CardDAV and CalDAV in Windows Phone, Google’s new preferred route to sync contacts and calendars. The software giant has not yet issued a public statement on its plans, but sources at Microsoft have detailed an eyeopening path that has led to the decision. In exchanges that underline the tensions between Microsoft and Google, we understand that Microsoft was…
Before you go hurling insults like “donkey killer” at a multinational software giant, it’s probably best to get the other side of the story. In spite of visual evidence to the contrary, Google insists that it did not, in fact, run over a burro while gathering shots for Street View. In fact, the company has laid the whole thing out Zapruder-style over on its Maps blog, highlighting how the donkey, which appears to be dead, gets up and walks away, after lying down in the road, “perhaps enjoying a dust bath.” So, rest assured, Botswana’s equidae are safe from Google’s reach — for now.
Filed under: Google
Via: The Next Web
Source: Google Maps Blog
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Not every CEO makes a graceful exit — just ask HP. It’s clear that Deutsche Telekom chief René Obermann would rather leave on his own terms, as he’s orchestrating his departure up to a year before it takes place. The 16-year veteran expects to leave the company before the end of 2013, and the company has already lined up CFO Timotheus Höttges as the replacement at the start of 2014. Obermann says he’s leaving to get closer to on-the-ground operations than possible while he’s leading a telecom giant. Whether or not that’s the full story, he likely won’t mind leaving some of DT’s uncertainties behind him, including the fallout from the blocked T-Mobile merger with AT&T as well as the long-term fates of both EE’s rollout and the MetroPCS acquisition. When the company’s Supervisory Board chairman says he wishes Obermann would stay, however, there’s little doubting that this CEO transition is happening on friendlier terms than we’ve known in recent memory.
Continue reading Deutsche Telekom CEO René Obermann leaving by the end of 2013, CFO to take over
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What would be a neat trick to round off a perfect holiday with friends, family, and — if you’re lucky — some bargain-priced tech? How about getting your smug, contented face up on the screens in Times Square? Not got the big corporate budget? No worries, as Google’s here to pick up the tab as part of a Chromebook promotion, and possibly make it happen for you. Submit a picture at the source link, along with a snappy “For… ” caption, and you could find yourself, your mom, your cat, or football team up there for all to see. We were going to submit one of our own, but, well y’know, we’re still wearing the t-shirt.
Filed under: Misc, Internet, Google
Source: Gallery For Everyone
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Police in Germany pulled over a 35-year old man doing 130 kph (80 mph) in a 100 kph (~62 mph) zone, and discovered he’d built an entire mobile office in the passenger seat of his vehicle. This is that mobile office. I know, I used ‘deluxe’ in the title pretty liberally.
Built on a wooden frame on his passenger seat they found a laptop on a docking station tilted for easy driver access, a printer, router, wireless internet stick, WLAN antenna, and an inverter to power it all.
A navigation system and cellphone mounted to the windshield completed the array.
Since there was no evidence he used the office while moving, he got away with a (EURO)120 ($ 153) speeding ticket and a possible fine for having unsecured items in his car.
Man, this guy gets off with a $ 150 ticket with an entire mobile office in his car WE ALL KNOW HE USES WHILE DRIVING and I get a $ 200 ticket for making an EMERGENCY cell phone call on the highway? “You were playing Game Boy.” Haha, you should have seen me hold it up to my head and try to convince the officer it was a Blackberry.
Thanks to Pyrblaze and neolardo, who agree your car is not the place for office work. Your car is a place for screaming at other drivers and waving your fist in the air. Plus sometimes punching the steering wheel.
Former chief of Windows, Steven Sinofsky, departed Microsoft earlier this week in a shock announcement following the release of Windows 8 and Surface RT. While sources have claimed his departure was related to a clash of personalities, Sinofsky has started to share some insight into his role at Microsoft.
“No one ever approached me to manage them as part of Windows 7 or 8.”
In a blog post by Hal Berenson, a former Microsoft distinguished engineer, Sinofsky has replied in the comments section to dispute some facts around rumored internal battles. Berenson claimed in his post that Sinofsky had lost recent attemps to control Windows Phone and Microsoft’s developer division. “I never initiated any discussions to bring together the…
