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Foursquare hits Nokia's GPS-less Asha 501, gets bearings with connection data
Nokia Lumia WP8 owners have it pretty good on Foursquare thanks to AR and other exclusive features -- but that doesn't mean lower-end device owners are being shirked. The app is now available on the Asha 501, something Nokia and Foursquare promised when it hit the Series 40 smartphone and its huge user base. Despite the Asha's lack of a GPS, owners of the sub-$100 device will get all of Foursquare's main features -- like check-ins, mayorships and badges -- since the app can use a network connection to figure out where you are. It'll likely arrive on other Asha devices soon as well, so if you're looking to rule your local haunt as mayor, better grab it fast.
Apple corporate matching program raises $2.6M for charities
As first reported by AppleInsider, Apple has announced to its employees that their combined efforts have led to US$2.6 million being donated to charitable companies since the company's "Apple Matching Gifts Program" began. That's not a bad haul considering the program is only seven weeks old. The program was started by Apple's new CEO Tim Cook in September. Through the program Apple will match employee donations dollar-for-dollar -- up to $10,000 per employee, per year -- to any nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Currently the "Apple Matching Gifts Program" is only available to US employees, though Apple is expected to roll it out in other countries in the coming months.
Canton decides it's time to expand its Chrono speaker lineup
Looks like Canton is spreading the updates across its speaker lines -- a couple of months back, the manufacturer rolled out updates to its Karat models, and now the Chrono lineup is getting the treatment. For your listening pleasure, the company is rolling out the 511 DC (pictured) tower speaker and a 501 on-wall model. The 511 DC is a 3-way bass reflex system with metal cones across the board: dual 9-inch woofers, a 7-inch midrange and a 1-inch tweeter acting to cover a 20Hz - 40kHz frequency range. That tweeter is an aluminum-manganese part that is shared with the on-wall 501 speaker to ensure good sonic matching. The 501 is a sealed unit, with a 6-inch aluminum mid-bass driver packed in the 3.9-inch deep cabinet. Being a on-wall speaker, you get a choice of black (for traditionalists) or silver (for the Buck Rogers crowd) finishes. Pricing comes in at $1400 for the 511 DC and $425 for the 501 models, per speaker.
MWg starts expanding with UBiQUiO offerings
It certainly didn't take very long for the apple to fall a long, long way from the tree. Just a handful of months after completing its spinoff from parent O2, MWg has started taking to rebranding existing handsets -- in this case, a pair of UBiQUiOs. The QWERTY duo both run Windows Mobile 6 Professional, with the 501 model featuring a 200MHz OMAP750, 2 megapixel camera, and WiFi to get the bits flowing when the GPRS radio won't do. The higher-end 503g (pictured), meanwhile, upgrades to triband 3.6Mbps HSDPA and swaps out the TI core for a 520MHz XScale. Not bad, we guess, but we liked the old days when these guys commissioned their own handsets from the ODMs -- how are they supposed to stand out when they're just slapping a silkscreened logo on a device that's already in the marketplace?[Via Cellpassion]
UBiQUiO 501 owners, come get your free WM6 upgrade
Seems like pretty much every manufacturer big and small alike -- with some notable exceptions -- has come out of the woodwork to do the right thing and offer its customers an upgrade to Microsoft's latest and greatest. Most recent to loose a Windows Mobile 6 update is TechFaith's UBiQUiO brand, covering its 501 model with all the WM6 Pro you can handle at no charge. Seeing how these things can be picked up for well under $400 unlocked, it seems like the 501 might be a decent way to get oneself onto platform du jour outta Redmond -- if the lack of 3G is tolerable, anyway.[Via the::unwired and MoDaCo]
Tech Faith Wireless sells 501 under UBiQUio brand
Looks like the TechFaith Q-killer's finally headed into the discerning hands of the general public under the UBiQUio brand, outfitted with a more BenQ P50-like keyboard, and badged with the model number 501 (as listed on Expansys). You'd have thought a device from a still-no name Chinese ODM would require a little less cash from your pocketbook than the $514 it's being sold for, but aside from having a touchscreen and running Pocket PC, little did you know this thing also has 64MB flash memory, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 1.2 with A2DP, 2 megapixel camera, miniSD slot, and a mini USB port? Motorizon better just hope like the dickens that TechFaith doesn't find someone like Cingular to pick 'em up Stateside -- though that could be a while, considering the 501 is still tri-band with 900MHz, and only has GPRS class 10. A device just can't be perfect, can it?[Via MobilitySite]
