Access -- Engadget

Access posts

ACCESS and Emblaze Mobile unveil ELSE INTUITION, the Linux-based mobile OS of your dreams

by Tim Stevens posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 7:14AM

It's been a long, long time since Emblaze Mobile and ACCESS engaged in holy cellphone matrimony, and the fruit of that relationship is finally coming to bear. It's called ELSE INTUTION, a Linux-based mobile platform that comes with such a hyperbolic press release that we can't help but think every other mobile manufacturer should just pack up and go home. It's said to match the functionality of "top ranked MP3 players, best-in-class GPS devices, and more, while maintaining an exceptional ease and simplicity of use." Golly. At this point we only have a few images to go by, and though they do look plenty nice, we wouldn't consider our minds blown just yet -- particularly those of us with a left-handed bias. Remember, ACCESS is the company that turned Palm OS into Garnet OS and then failed to win anyone over with its Access Linux Platform, so what could go wrong here? What's it going to be, readers: WebOS or ELSE?

Update: Another right-handed pic (ironically taken on an iPhone) added after the break.

[Via AV Watch]

Continue reading ACCESS and Emblaze Mobile unveil ELSE INTUITION, the Linux-based mobile OS of your dreams

Access and China Telecom in talks to launch CPhone custom Android platform

by Nilay Patel posted Sep 21st 2009 at 11:49AM

Man, the Android action in China just keeps heating up: hot on the heels of China Mobile's OPhone platform debut, we're hearing China Telecom and Access are in talks to launch a rival called "CPhone." Just like OPhone, CPhone looks to be a specialized build of Android 1.5 with a custom UI, but instead of OPhone's KIRF iPhone look, Access seems to have filtered any number of haphazard Samsung UIs through a case or two of Tsingtao and called it a day. The big question right now is whether this one 3.5-inch device is the CPhone or whether Access and China Telecom are looking to launch a range of CPhone devices, but we're sure to find out more soon.

[Via Cloned in China]

Access Linux Platform 3.0 live, in person, and oh-so-full of widgets

by Paul Miller posted Feb 19th 2009 at 7:31AM

We got a quick look at the latest version of the Access Linux Platform (ALP) today, running on an early build of TI's OMAP 3-based Zoom hardware. Access seems excessively enthused with widgets, and really isn't doing a bad job at them, featuring transparency galore and even a second home screen for housing a separate set of them (perhaps "work" or "home" or "really great world clocks"). The machine also run's Access' own NetFront browser, which isn't quite as butter as we've seen WebKit get lately, but might be about on par with Microsoft's new builds of Internet Explorer Mobile. Unfortunately, aside from a jerky, barebones "flickable" photo browser, that's all Access is showing off of LiMo-compliant 3.0 at the moment, and we didn't get a look at that Garnet OS compatibility layer we all know and love. Still, if you suffer from some irrational fear that we'd be short on mobile operating systems here at MWC you can at last rest at ease. Video is after the break.

Gallery: Access Linux Platform 3.0 live, in person, and oh-so-full of widgets

Continue reading Access Linux Platform 3.0 live, in person, and oh-so-full of widgets

Palm introduces Software Store for WinMo / Palm OS devices

by Darren Murph posted Dec 16th 2008 at 9:01AM

Apple's doing it. RIM's doing it. Google's doing it. Heck, even Microsoft might be doing it. As the peer pressure mounts, Palm has finally decided to cave and introduce its very own applications market place, which is simply being christened Software Store. Oddly, it looks as if Palm farmed out the production of said store to one PocketGear, but we're assured that the app will hum along just fine on over 25 Windows Mobile / Palm OS-based Palm devices. Available for download as we speak, it offers up over 5,000 apps and games, 1,000 of which are completely free. Hmm, we wonder if Palm's keeping a Nova-compatible version in its back pocket?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: Palm pinged us to say that this is actually the very same software store that has been around, it's just a sweet looking veneer to make accessing it easier.

Access debuts ALP 3.0 and ALP mini, a scant 20 years too late

by Paul Miller posted Oct 23rd 2008 at 8:55AM

Leave it to Access to completely underplay the debut of one of the most anticipated mobile operating systems of the decade -- anticipation that's certainly waned, but we're sure somebody's at least a little excited. ALP 3.0 and ALP mini are about ready for mass consumption, with ALP mini available to licensees immediately, though no word yet on when ALP 3.0 will hit. From the sound of it, ALP 3.0 concentrates on a fancy, transition-filled smartphone OS, while ALP mini is more stripped-down and ready for featurephone use. Both operating systems are Linux-based, with some strange amalgam of Palm OS-ness, though ALP mini drops Garnet compatibility and can't run native Linux apps like big brother 3.0, which is LiMo compatible. NTT DoCoMo is planning ALP phones in the second half of 2009, that Edelweiss ALP phone for Russia has been outed, and we're still struggling to care.

Edelweiss to launch first ALP-powered smartphone?

by Darren Murph posted Oct 14th 2008 at 9:04AM

It's somewhat difficult to believe that the Access Linux Platform (also referred to as ALP) still has proponents out there, but apparently, Edelweiss could be gearing up to launch what would be the very first ALP-powered handset available on the open market. Slated to launch exclusively in Russia, the touchscreen-driven smartphone would boast a 3.5-inch 854 x 480 resolution screen, quad-band GSM / tri-band UMTS support, 8GB / 16GB of internal capacity, GPS and a 3.2-megapixel camera with Auto Focus. Word around the block has it that the device was actually designed by Emblaze and will eventually be manufactured by Sharp, but that's if the teaser site actually leads to anything tangible.

[Via PalmInfoCenter]

Support for Access Linux Platform waning in the wake of Android?

by Darren Murph posted Aug 17th 2008 at 8:33PM

Without much fanfare, the Samsung i800 was canned at the tail end of last month. When asked why, Orange simply noted that it was pulled in order to "prepare a more competitive Linux mobile." A recent writeup at Ostatic takes a hard look at whether this simple withdrawal is really a sign of things to come, and it suggests that ALP could see support fade as the major players in Linux (and maybe even Nokia) step to the plate. One analyst was even quoted as saying that "having Google's brand behind Symbian could very well mean 'game over' for mobile Linux in the mobile phone market," and we honestly can't disagree too vehemently with that assertion. Of course, the LiMo Foundation has stated its intentions to not back down from the mighty Google, but sometimes, even the best intentions fall through. Guess time will tell, huh?

[Via jkOnTheRun]

AT&T WiFi access now listed as "included" with iPhone

by Darren Murph posted May 8th 2008 at 8:23AM

We're not exactly sure what was going on with that whole on-again / off-again love affair with iPhones having gratis access to AT&T WiFi hotspots, but we're content with letting bygones be bygones. On the slightly tweaked iPhone "Plans" page, the carrier now lists "Access to AT&T WiFi hotspots" as an included feature along with call forwarding, 3-way calling and Caller ID. Sure, it's not a bona fide press release, but same difference, right?

[Via MacRumors]

Update: Oh, ha, it's gone again. We have a feeling it'll be back soon enough though.

Video: AT&T launching Mobile TV May 4th, demonstrated on LG Vu

by Thomas Ricker posted May 1st 2008 at 1:26AM

MediaFLO is about to cut loose for AT&T customers and we've got video to prove it. After the break you'll find Mobile TV running on LG's new $300 (2-year, after $100 rebate) Vu, one of just two Mobile TV compatible handsets launching on AT&T May 4th -- the other being the $200 (2-year, after $100 rebate) Samsung Access. Performance looks reasonably snappy when scrolling through the channel guide although some of the exclusive PIX and CNN Mobile Live content is not yet available. S'ok, AT&T has three more days to throw the big blue switch on the broadcast TV service which includes a $15/month unlimited Mobile TV access plan. Hear that Verizon? AT&T's about to step all over your portable TV game in the US market.

[Via MyFoxUtah]

Continue reading Video: AT&T launching Mobile TV May 4th, demonstrated on LG Vu

AT&T announces AT&T Mobile TV for May launch

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 27th 2008 at 5:09PM

They haven't revealed anything we didn't already know, but AT&T's finally come out with a semi-firm date for the launch of its MediaFLO-powered mobile TV service which will be branded simply as "AT&T Mobile TV." It'll be available to subscribers in May -- no specific date just yet -- on two exclusive handsets, the Prada-esque LG Vu and the more pedestrian Samsung Access; the Vu features an expansive touchscreen and 2 megapixel camera, while the Access makes do with a smaller landscape display and a 1.3 megapixel sensor. Both feature Bluetooth and 3G data, but the real story here is Mobile TV itself, which will come with two new channels that are exclusive to AT&T (in other words, unavailable on the other live MediaFLO service, VCAST TV from Verizon). The latest, hottest way to burn productivity on the go gets real in just a few short weeks, folks, so finish up whatever remaining work you have now.

ACCESS Linux Platform gets integrated with MontaVista Mobilinux

by Darren Murph posted Feb 11th 2008 at 12:49PM

Look out, world -- ACCESS has just announced that it's crawling even deeper in bed with MontaVista Software in order to "accelerate development of smart mobile devices." More specifically, the two have released a "pre-integrated software stack combining the ACCESS Linux Platform with the MontaVista Mobilinux operating system," which should purportedly hack down the engineering time required for DIY integration along with decreasing "associated costs and risks." Reportedly, the ALP-Mobilinux software stack is up for grabs right now on the Texas Instruments OMAP2430 processor, and while specifics are unfortunately absent, we are told that additional hardware platforms will be added in the months ahead.

Palm's Vista-compatible Desktop 6.2 arrives woefully late

by Darren Murph posted Jan 19th 2008 at 12:55PM

C'mon -- hop in this nifty time machine here and float with us back to December of 2006. That month, friends, is when Palm initially stated that it was cooking up a Vista-savvy iteration of its Desktop synchronization software, and yet, here we are some 13 months later wondering what took so long. Nevertheless, a finalized version of Desktop 6.2 for Vista has finally been loosed (half a year after the beta was revealed, mind you), and even though it does play nice with 32-bit editions of Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate, 64-bit Vista / XP users are still left out in the cold. For Palm (and Vista) users out there willing to forgive the tardiness, go on and hit up the read link to get the 65.2MB file headed over.

[Via PDAStreet]

Samsung Access, AT&T's other MediaFLO launch phone

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 12th 2008 at 5:30PM

We already know that the Prada-esque LG CU920 Vu is one of AT&T's two launch handsets in support of its MediaFLO-based mobile TV rollout, but what's the other one the carrier mentions? Mobiledia has scored gorgeous shots of this not-so-gorgeous phone, the A827 "Access" from Samsung, and the combination of AT&T branding and a dedicated "TV" button next to the d-pad has us believing that it'll be stepping up to the plate for that role. Unlike the Vu, the Access seems to be a lower-end handset on account of a 1.3 megapixel cam, unremarkable design, and smallish display, so we're certainly hoping its price point reflects the specs accordingly. Good to see that AT&T wants to bring mobile TV to every price segment, we suppose.

[Thanks, Matt D.]

ACCESS gets nod to craft NTT DoCoMo's mobile Linux platform

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 11th 2007 at 3:10AM

Well, would you look at that! ACCESS has finally landed a whale of a customer for its overdue, underloved ACCESS Linux Platform, the mobile software stack (and sort-of successor to Palm OS Garnet) that has failed to garner enough hardware partners to make a splash in the marketplace thus far. The Japanese firm is partnering with NTT DoCoMo and ESTEEMO -- NEC's joint venture with Panasonic -- to build a standard Linux stack that incorporates ALP while still using the carrier's existing Linux-based MOAP(L) platform. That's not all, though: they're tasked with making the new platform compatible with the LiMo Foundation's specifications, too. A tall order? Maybe, but it's likely an order that has to happen -- NTT DoCoMo's involved in all sorts of Linux initiatives, and it makes good sense to bite the bullet and have some company tie it all together. The one piece of the puzzle missing here is DoCoMo's tie-up with the Open Handset Alliance, and as far as we can tell, this announcement steers entirely clear of Android's domain. Confusing, yes -- but for a company used to releasing 23 handsets in one fell swoop, it's business as usual.

Virtual Palm OS on your Nokia N-Series tablet -- hoozah!

by Thomas Ricker posted Nov 13th 2007 at 3:11AM

You read that headline right, now you can run a Palm OS Garnet VM on your Nokia N-series N770, N800, or N810 tablet. Access just released a beta copy of their Garnet Virtual Machine software. Yes, Snappermail, DateBk5, Pocket Tunes, whatever -- all 30,000+ Garnet applications are supported. Free to download now and free when it hits production status at the end of the year. Thanky thanky Access.

Update: TabletBlog has a first-look video walkthrough up after the break. So much Graffiti, so little time.

[Via IntoMobile]

Continue reading Virtual Palm OS on your Nokia N-Series tablet -- hoozah!