aloha
Latest
Facebook app's code hints at ‘Aloha’ speech recognition feature
Facebook would have been the last big tech company to bring a smart speaker to market, but the company reportedly paused developing it in March when the Cambridge Analytica scandal erupted. While the device was supposedly still in the works during the platform's F8 conference, we didn't hear much about it. But mobile researcher and regular tipster Jane Manchun Wong has dug something out of the Facebook and Messenger Android apps: A prototype interface for speech recognition functionality, which is supposedly called 'Aloha.'
ICYMI: Hawaiian crows are our new favorite animal
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Scientists filmed young Hawaiian crows and discovered that they're so smart, they figured out how to use tools to get food without ever having been taught by adult crows. There are very few Alala in the world, but some are about to be released back into the wild so researchers are excited they'll bring their stick engineering ways with them.
TUAW TV Live at 5 PM EDT: Catching the TUAWloha spirit
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to your computer, two of the most recognizable voices in Mac-dom are back. My mellifluous voice and that of the pride of the Aloha State -- Doc Rock -- will be gracing the Interwebs today in our special pre-Fourth of July episode. Actually, there's nothing special at all about today's episode, but it's always a lot of fun when the Doc does a house call. I've got a few new products to demo, Doc and I will be talking about a fun new app that keeps your calendar within view at all times, and we'll generally make the one-hour show go by very quickly. As usual, I'll be starting the show at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST) sharp, and we'll take a few minutes to chat before the fun starts. To join in on the chat and watch the live streaming video, drop by TUAW about five minutes before the start time to get your instructions on how to participate. If you're unable to join us for the show, remember that you can always subscribe to the video podcast and watch the show at your leisure in iTunes or any other favorite podcatching app. The past shows are also available on the TUAW YouTube channel.
LG confirms Android-powered Ally, coming May 20th
Well, this hasn't exactly followed the usual smartphone launch route, but LG has now officially confirmed the existence of its new Android-powered LG Ally handset, although it's still not doing much talking about the phone itself. It has, however, revealed that the phone will be available on May 20th (presumably on Verizon, though LG oddly doesn't mention a carrier in its press release), and that it will naturally feature plenty of Iron Man 2 tie-in content, including an augmented reality application of some sort. Otherwise, LG is only saying that the phone will have a touchscreen and a full QWERTY keypad, and it's pointing folks towards an Iron Man 2 tie-in site (linked below) that, last we checked, still says to check back on April 30th. We should be getting some more details on the phone soon enough, however, as LG is holding an event in New York on May 11th where it will be showing off the Ally and other "Stark-worthy" technology.
LG Ally to say 'aloha' to Verizon in mid-May?
Well, LG's Moorestown-based, Moblin-running GW990 may sadly be no more, but it looks like the company will be bringing another fairly impressive-looking handset to US shores: the Android-based LG Ally. According to Android Central, it will be landing on Verizon around the middle of May and, if it looks a tad familiar, it's because it's apparently simply a US version of the phone we've known alternately as the LU2300 or Aloha (though it does seem to have undergone a few design tweaks). Details are otherwise light, but it'll presumably pack the same 1GHz Snapdragon processor as the LU2300, along with a 3.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen, a sliding QWERTY keyboard, a 5-megapixel camera, and Android 2.1. [Thanks, Erik] Update: Android Central has tracked down an Iron Man 2-themed commercial on YouTube clearly suggesting the Ally is coming soon (if you recall, LG had a big tie-in with the original Iron Man, too). Viewers are encouraged to head over to lg.com/ally to check it out, but there's nothing useful there -- yet. Follow the break for the full commercial.
LG LU2300 Android handset gets photos, 'April or May' release date?
Actual, honest-to-goodness photos of what is presumably the Korea-only LG LU2300 handset popped up on a site in the SK recently, and like a family pet that plays professional sports (guess who watched Air Bud last night?) it's certainly captured the imagination of the Android-lovin' world at large. The thing is said to sport a 3.5-inch (800 x 480) AMOLED capacitive touch screen, Android 2.1, landscape mode slide keyboard, support for DivX files, a 5 megapixel (720p video) camera with geo-tagging, WiFi, GPS, DMB tuner and -- last but not least -- a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. The stats are consistent with what we've heard before, and now we have a possible release date: April or May. What we don't have, however, is any reason to believe rumors that this is going to be released in the states as the C710 Aloha. Although we might be skeptical, we understand the inherent wish-fulfillment: this is one sexy phone, and we'd certainly like to see it become available here. See another photo for yourself after the break.
Is LG going Droid hunting with its C710 Aloha Android smartphone?
Android phones are getting ever faster and, with each iteration, ever bigger. The Droid was large and in charge when it was announced, the Nexus One a little taller and a little speedier, and HTC's EVO gives the slab moniker new credence. Now there's talk that LG is getting in on the big and beautiful game, with an Android smartphone called the C710 Aloha. It's said to sport an 800 x 480 screen like the EVO and N1, but unlike those two will have a full QWERTY keyboard. It's also said to offer 802.11n WiFi along with GPRS, UMTS, HSDPA and HSUPA connectivity. Nothing is confirmed at this point, but a device called the C710 was given WiFi Alliance approval recently and, more convincing, a user agent profile file has been found, confirming the resolution and wireless capabilities. If true, the Aloha could provide to be a worthy alternative to the Droid for those who want a phone with a little more to love, and a keyboard to boot.
FCC blesses sale of Aloha's 700MHz spectrum to AT&T
No, it's not that 700MHz spectrum, but the $2.5 billion sale of the airwaves to AT&T from private firm Aloha Partners could have implications as large as Auction 73's massive, open-access Block C itself. Given that Aloha's Hiwire trials for DVB-H-based mobile TV have been playing in the 700MHz arena, we suspect this could spell doom for the whole project -- and on the heels of Modeo's collapse, very likely spells doom for DVB-H on the whole in the US. Though that's great news for Qualcomm and DVB-H competitor MediaFLO, it's awful news for the prospect of a global mobile TV standard, closely (if not eerily) following what happened years back with the European Union's selection of GSM and the rise of CDMA in North America. For its part, AT&T says it's going to use its newfound airwaves -- which cover 72 of the top 100 US markets -- for "broadcast video or for two-way communications such as voice, data or multicast content." Admittedly, the "broadcast video" part of that leads us to believe that Hiwire could somehow survive the change in ownership, but with AT&T's selection of MediaFLO last year as its standard of choice, it sure ain't likely.
LG says "Aloha" to Virgin Mobile
Pardon the pun -- it can't be helped. Virgin Mobile is known for keeping its handsets on the lower end, owing largely to the fact that the MVNO does the lion's share of its business with prepaid accounts (read: contract-free phones). In fact, two of its existing clamshells lack an external display -- a nearly standard feature on all but the most inexpensive flips -- so it comes as no surprise that the newly-introduced LG Aloha is in the same vein. Features include a color display, speakerphone, and support for up to 199 contacts, but that's about it -- if you need a camera or Bluetooth, look elsewhere. Grab it starting in September for $34.99.[Via Phone Scoop]
