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Samsung launches new services for the Galaxy S III: Music Hub, S Health and more

Richard Lawler — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:05:00 EST

Samsung has just taken the wraps off of its highly anticipated Galaxy S III and, in a move similar to Nokia's efforts with the Lumia line, decided to package extra services and features to further differentiate itself from the competition. Mentioned onstage were the S Health "personal wellness app" and an enhanced Music Hub cloud service with access to over 17 million tracks and an iTunes Match-sounding "Scan and Match" feature. Music Hub will launch in seven countries, while the matching feature is supported in six of those. There's also a hub for Games that promises quick tie ins to social gaming and a Video Hub with TV and movies. One other new feature is support for MirrorLink enabled headunits that should bring access to all of these things even while you're driving your car. Finally, there's NFC-based mobile payment support that should get some use among visitors to the Olympic games this summer.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S III Services and features

Samsung launches new services for the Galaxy S III: Music Hub, S Health and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two Sony MirrorLink car stereos coming in Q2, along with compatible Samsung smartphones (hands-on video)

Zachary Lutz — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:37:00 EST

For everybody who's waited with bated breath for the widespread arrival of MirrorLink, take heed because the smartphone / car stereo integration technology is about to make a significant splash in the first half of this year. Along with the Sony XAV-601BT and the XAV-701 HD -- two MirrorLink-enabled Sony head units set for a Q2 arrival -- we've also just learned Samsung will introduce MirrorLink support for its smartphones during this time frame as well. Even Sony Ericsson's jumping into the fray, although the company wasn't able to provide any additional details regarding availability. Be sure to read on for our impressions of the new toys, along with a video of the same.

Gallery: Sony MirrorLink deck units hands-on

Continue reading Two Sony MirrorLink car stereos coming in Q2, along with compatible Samsung smartphones (hands-on video)

Two Sony MirrorLink car stereos coming in Q2, along with compatible Samsung smartphones (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Car Mode for Symbian Belle now ready for download

Sharif Sakr — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:34:00 EST

Nokia loves motorists and is showering them with gifts over at the Nokia Store to prove it. Well, one gift at least: the free-of-charge Car Mode app, which helps to transform your Symbian Belle smartphone into a turn-by-turn sat nav, with all the power of Drive, traffic updates, Music and voice calling presented in a more dash-friendly manner. (Did we just say 'Symbian'? We didn't mean to.) The other offering is Car Mode with MirrorLink, priced at £17.99 (roughly $28), which we took for a bump-free ride back at Nokia World, and which repeats the smartphone's screen on compatible systems such as Toyota's Touch Life. Head to the source link to claim your prize.

Nokia Car Mode for Symbian Belle now ready for download originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Drive with MirrorLink on Toyota Touch Life hands-on (video)

Zach Honig — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:02:00 EST

Just a few meters from the entrance to Nokia World at London's sprawling ExCel Exhibition Centre, we found a Toyota iQ compact with Nokia branding on the door. And in the dash was Toyota's new Touch Life smartphone integration system, complete with Nokia Drive compatibility and display mirroring via MirrorLink. In addition to mirroring your Symbian Belle (or MeeGo) display on the 7-inch touchscreen, Touch Life also provides a driver-friendly interface, including enormous icons to control music playback, or to place calls to contacts by tapping their name and photo, or by using the jumbo telephone keypad. It also integrates with the Nokia Drive app, with a very simple (and also oversized) navigation interface. The concept is simple: access basic smartphone functions as you drive while limiting distractions. While you're parked, you'll have unrestricted access to your phone's interface, but non-critical features are disabled as you drive.

The demo unit we saw is still a few months away from hitting production, so there were a few hiccups. After connecting the Nokia 701 to the system, the smartphone's display appeared on the in-dash screen within a few seconds. We had full access to all of the phone's features until shifting into drive, when a much simpler screen popped up, with Call, Drive and Music modules. Everything worked rather seamlessly until we neared the end of the demo, when an "Enjoy the sound while driving" message appeared on screen, where the navigation window had been just a moment before. There isn't a firm release date in place, and the demo unit only appears to work with Symbian Belle at the moment -- though MeeGo support (and likely Windows Phone as well) will be available after launch. Jump past the break to see how it works from behind the wheel.

Gallery: Nokia Drive with MirrorLink hands-on at Nokia World 2011

Continue reading Nokia Drive with MirrorLink on Toyota Touch Life hands-on (video)

Nokia Drive with MirrorLink on Toyota Touch Life hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota introduces Touch Life smartphone mirroring system, your Prius and iPhone can become one

Billy Steele — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:06:00 EST

If you're looking to get your smartphone more in-sync with your car, you may want to consider a new Toyota with the Touch Life infotainment system. Given a compatible smartphone / app combo, it can mirror the phone's display on its 7-inch touchscreen for access to navigation, music or social networking services. Nokia owners can connect their Symbian Belle devices by way of MirrorLink, developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium, in its first deployment by the automotive industry. Apple iPhone (and iPod) faithful will have to install Application Launcher in order to sync up with the infotainment system. If driving distractions are a concern, steering wheel controls play nice with the tech as well -- it's not quite SYNC Applink, but we'll take it. Toyota promises features and smartphones will continue to be added, but for a current list of compatible cars, devices and apps, check the press release below.

Continue reading Toyota introduces Touch Life smartphone mirroring system, your Prius and iPhone can become one

Toyota introduces Touch Life smartphone mirroring system, your Prius and iPhone can become one originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia announces Car Mode with MirrorLink support for Symbian Belle and N9 smartphones (video)

Zachary Lutz — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:43:00 EST

It's about time some fruit emerged from the Car Connectivity Consortium, and Nokia is here to show other manufacturers how it's done -- and perhaps more importantly, why it's significant. The company has introduced Car Mode for Symbian Belle and N9 smartphones, which is an application that interfaces with MirrorLink (previously known as Terminal Mode), to provide a seamless and attractive connection between your smartphone and stereo head unit. Like we've previously seen, the system essentially works by mirroring your phone's display onto the vehicle's in-dash touchscreen. From there, you're given full access to navigation, music, contacts and videos without the need to fumble with your handset. Coinciding with this announcement, Alpine has introduced an aftermarket head unit known as the ICS-X8 that supports MirrorLink, which is expected to go on sale in November. We're loving the functionality here, but are still wondering when Android, Windows Phone and iOS will get their share of due diligence. Follow the break for video demos from Nokia and Alpine, along with the full PR.

Continue reading Nokia announces Car Mode with MirrorLink support for Symbian Belle and N9 smartphones (video)

Nokia announces Car Mode with MirrorLink support for Symbian Belle and N9 smartphones (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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