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China Unicom apparently nabs another: Nokia's N97
We're a bit curious as to why China Unicom has suddenly grown fond of some of the world's hottest handsets, but we couldn't help but notice that Nokia's N97 has appeared on the carrier's website (a first for this handset) alongside the iPhone 3G and HTC G1. 'Course, Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1 and Nokia's E71 are right there as well, so it's tough to say if this means these phones are coming soon or if they just look really nice on its website. Don't get your hopes up too high, but feel free to pester your local branch as often as you'd like until you get a square answer.[Via TamsS60]
Major smartphone platforms emerge unscathed from Pwn2Own
Sure seems like your handheld is a lot more secure than your computer, at least in some sense -- although the desktop versions of IE 8, Safari, and Firefox were each almost instantly cracked on the first day of the Pwn2Own contest, no one claimed the $10,000 bounty placed on each of the major smartphone platforms. That's certainly reassuring, but it may not ultimately mean much: according to contest organizers Tipping Point, the bugs in Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile, and the iPhone and BlackBerry OSes are still there, but they're harder to exploit because of device, OS, and carrier variations. That makes any vulnerabilities even more valuable -- one of the contestants apparently had an iPhone exploit ready to go, but wasn't willing to part with it since he wanted more than $10K for it. Tipping Point says it'll try and nail down specs of each platform earlier next year to make it easier on hackers, but let's hope the results are similar.[Via Slashdot]
Mobile OS shootout: iPhone OS 3.0 enters the fray
As soon as Apple rolled out its preview of iPhone OS 3.0, the comparisons to existing (and forthcoming) mobile OSs started flying. While the major update isn't exactly a done deal, it's pretty far along, and we've been able to glean quite a bit from our time with the developer beta we've been checking out. iPhone OS, Android, webOS, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, S60; if you're in the market for a new smartphone, your choices have been getting exponentially more complicated lately, and 3.0 won't make the selection any easier. Luckily for you, Engadget is here to make sense of a frightening and uncertain landscape. Read on for an in-depth look at the similarities -- and differences -- between modern mobile operating systems.
Nokia E71x for AT&T in the wild once again
After a long, long wait, the Nokia E71x (which looks to be the official name, not just E71) finally looks poised to bow any week now, and we've just landed a few more shots of the sucker as it rounds third base. Our tipster confirms that WiFi has been left untouched alongside HSDPA -- thank goodness -- and the phone's S60 build has been left "relatively untouched" by AT&T. Pricing is looking to fall somewhere between $150 and $200 after rebate. Personally, we'd love to see it run $99, but maybe we're dreaming. [Thanks, Chris]
Windows 3.1 on S60 dude says 'why stop there,' ups the ante with Win95
Hey, look, it's Windows... mobile. Get it? You know, Windows 95 on a mobile device -- ah, never mind. Point is, the S60 port of DOSBox seems to be doing some really crazy, insane, questionably-useful things for Symbian-powered devices around the world, and when running Windows 3.1 on a 320 x 240 display just doesn't do it for you anymore, you can apparently step up to a harder drug like Windows 95. The video shows good ol' 95 getting demoed on an N82, but given the molasses-like pace of absolutely everything, we'd say this is strictly a for-the-hell-of-it sort of experiment. Translation: there are better ways to run your BBS from the road. Follow the break for video. [Thanks, Daniel]
Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic finally up for grabs Stateside
There was a bit of a false alarm at the flagship stores yesterday -- Nokia's New York and Chicago stores got inventory, but didn't start selling the 5800 right away, causing much anguish in the hearts of American plectrum lovers and our very own Chris Ziegler. Well, all has been rectified, and now you can pick up Nokia's touchscreen pioneer, the 5800 XpressMusic, for $399, unlocked and unsubsidized. If you aren't so much into retail stores you can head to Nokia's online store, though the phone is still inexplicably listed as "pre-order" there -- we're sure things will be rectified soon enough.
Video: 3D Eye Tracking from TAT, the guys behind the T-Mobile G1 UI
Ever notice the word "Malmo" emblazoned across the face of Android's analog clock widget? That's a subtle nod to the city where the Swedish design team called TAT (The Astonishing Tribe) is headquartered -- a group of nerds responsible for finessing the look and feel of the T-Mobile G1's user interface including such innovations as the window shade menu and 9-point visual key-lock. In fact, TAT's software prowess can be seen on the Samsung Instinct, S60 handsets from Nokia, and a variety of devices from Motorola and Sony Ericsson. So when TAT releases a new "3Deyetracking UI" concept that lets you see behind on-screen objects, well, you can bet that the entire cellphone industry is paying attention. Check the video after the break.Read -- TAT's industry influence
Windows 3.1 running on Nokia N95 is both awesome and depressing
If these screenshots are to be believed, then an ironic hacker has successfully installed Windows 3.1 onto a Nokia N95 handset. Marchin-PRV used DOSBox to emulate the x86-class processor on the Symbian handset in order to install Microsoft's 1992 OS. Totally useless, yes... and totally badazz.[Via OSnews]
Nokia to shove Qualcomm MSM chipsets into future phones
Nokia sure is doing a lot of hand shaking over in Barcelona, as shortly after it signed a gentlemanly agreement with Adobe, the Finnish handset maker has decided to equip some of its future devices with Qualcomm chipsets. Right now, details are somewhat vague, though we do know the two are hoping to "develop advanced UMTS mobile devices initially for North America." It's intended for these devices to be based on Symbian S60, and the chipsets involved will be the NFC-equipped Mobile Station Modem (MSM) line. Unfortunately, we aren't apt to actually see a handset emerge from this collaboration until mid-2010, though these devices will be compatible with the forthcoming Symbian Foundation platform. Teamwork, shrouded in mystery -- you guys sure know how to get attention.[Via Slashgear]
LG doesn't rock the WinMo boat, launches S60-powered KT770 on the downlow
In light of its fresh tie-up with Microsoft, we can understand how any LG smartphone not running WinMo might be perceived as a black sheep this week. Still, it bums us that the the company has launched its latest S60-powered handset -- the KT770 slider -- at MWC this week with little more than a brief mention on LG's official MWC site and a couple of forlorn demo models stuffed in the corner of the company's booth. The good news is we decided to make good on LG's oversight and give this little beauty the love it deserves with a mention, a gallery, and a quick video of its tweaked S60 3.2-based UI in action.The faux carbon fiber back is a little cheesy -- particularly for a device that otherwise looks fairly businesslike -- but with 7.2Mbps HSDPA, GPS, a WQVGA display, and a 5 megapixel camera on board, it's hard to argue that this device can't be competitive (put this up against the far bulkier, uglier N95, for example). The UI seemed reasonably responsive, and though we weren't able to test the browser without a connection, we imagine the stock S60 apps work every bit as well as they do on Nokia fare. Check out the video after the break!%Gallery-45005%
Samsung OmniaHD hands-on, now with more TouchWiz
Its TouchWiz implementation is still a little raw -- first time they've done this on S60, so we'll cut them some slack -- but otherwise, we're seriously stoked by everything we've seen of the OmniaHD this week. The display simply has to be seen to be believed, clocking in at a breathtaking 3.7 inches -- and we noticed that it has a rather uncanny capability for washing out any other display within striking distance. Check out this Memoir here, held side-by-side for comparison: taken alone, the thing has a gorgeous display, but it pales in comparison to that glorious AMOLED alongside (also notice how the already-large Memoir gets dwarfed by the OmniaHD's massive package). Despite its size, the phone was comfortable in the hand -- and even in its rickety pre-beta state, the firmware was really flying through crazy 3D transitions, so we're hopeful that this is going to be one of the most desirable phones of the year when it hits. Follow the break for a video tour of the interface!
Nokia Ovi Store unveiled, launches in May
Nokia's just announced at its Mobile World Congress presentation that, lo and behold, the company's launching its own online app and media portal, the Ovi Store. Download, Mosh, widgets are going to be focuses of the Ovi Store. The N97 will be the first device to be "pre-integrated" with Ovi Store, but "tons" of existing S40 and S60 customers will be able to download the service starting in May. The company says it'll learn your tastes over time and anticipate what you want, as well as make recommendations based on your geographical location. A developer site has launched, and is touting a 70% revenue share, which appears to match what Apple's doing with its respective app store.
Sony Ericsson Idou revealed a little early
We're just getting into our seats for Sony Ericsson's MWC press event, but it looks like the partnership's newest Symbian offering has leaked a little early. Called the Idou, it sports a 16:9 touchscreen, a 12.1 megapixel camera with a xenon flash, and an official web site that doesn't seem to be active yet. We'll hopefully be finding out more in just minutes, we'll let you know!Update: Our tipster says the above model might be a concept, but a similar device will be released sometime around the second half of 2009 -- we'll keep you posted as we get more info.Update 2: Nope -- it's real.[Thanks, aleksandarkazi]
Mail on Ovi now in beta, now in zesty S60 flavor
We already saw this go down for Nokia's feature phones, but if you're sporting something with just a little more smartphone street cred in your pocket, you might want to mosey back on over to the Mail on Ovi site. Nokia's web-based email service now has an S60 client in beta -- and while it can't yet be used to sign up for a new account like you can with the Series 40 client, all the other functionality is there. The company is billing Mail on Ovi in part as an initiative to bring email to a wider audience -- that is, people who've never used email before -- hence the on-phone signup capability, which Nokia probably figures doesn't include your average S60 user. A fair assumption, we'd wager.[Via All About Symbian]
T9 Nav now available on S60 3rd Edition
Nuance's T9 division -- you know, the alpha keypad tech found in virtually every phone sold today -- has rolled out its shiny new T9 Nav software after going through beta last year, offering device-wide searching for device settings, applications, contacts, media, test messages, and pretty much anything else you can think of from one convenient location. Naturally, the app uses T9 to work its magic, which should feel right at home for pretty much anyone who's ever used a phone with a numeric keypad. For now, it's only available for S60 3rd Edition devices, and it'll run you €16.95 (about $22) from Nokia's Software Market.
Nokia E63 NAM now available across the US for $279
Can't hop a flight to Chicago or New York? No worries, as Nokia just announced that its QWERTY-packin' E63 can be found in independent retailers across the US along with e-tailers and the aforementioned flagship stores. Just think -- all that Symbian S60 fun, a full keyboard, 3G connectivity, WiFi, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack and a free 12-month subscription to Nokia's Files on Ovi service, all for $279 with no contracts or related strings attached. Catch one now in red or blue at your favorite Nokia outlet.
BlackBerry Application Suite coming to S60, too?
BlackBerry Application Suite is the ghost of the RIM world, making an occasional appearance as a fuzzy leaked pic -- but to the chagrin of WinMo and BlackBerry fanatics the world over, never actually getting announced or released. Boy Genius Report claims to have more details on what exactly BAS is and how (and where) it's going to work, and for the most part, it's a depressing read -- only the Touch Pro, Fuze, and TyTN will be compatible initially and it's only running BlackBerry OS 4.2 -- but there is one bright spot: Symbian compatibility. Presumably, this means S60 devices will have a crack at the package, and seriously, can you imagine this action humming along on an E71? Sorry, Curve 8900, but your title of "hottest BlackBerry" is in serious danger here.[Image via BerryReview]
Nokia E75 clearly in the wild in Vietnam
We can't say for sure why Nokia's still-not-official E75 is camped out in Vietnam, but it is. It definitely is. Unlike the Mr. Blurrycam shots we've grown (sadly) accustomed to dealing with, the smattering of shots hosted up in the read link are clear as day. We're also told it was seen sporting a 2.4-inch display, a 3.2 megapixel camera, Symbian S60, WiFi, A-GPS, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack and a slide-out keyboard to boot. Hit up the read link for more in the wild snaps, and go ahead and consider this one a lock for an official Mobile World Congress unveiling. At your own risk, of course.[Via GSMArena]
Google Latitude coming to other devices, iPhone included
T-Mobile's decision to bundle Google's Latitude location-tracking service into the RC33 G1 update may have gotten all the attention this morning, but if you've got a BlackBerry, Window Mobile or S60 device, you can start oversharing right away -- Latitude is built into the newest version of the Google Maps app. Not only that, but it looks like iPhone owners will be able to get in on the fun soon -- Google says it's working on a Latitude app that will "hopefully" be available shortly. We're guessing that means El Goog is tied up in App Store approval shenanigans -- it's certainly been naughty before -- but what we're really wondering is if the next rev of Apple's Maps app will include Latitude, since it's basically just a really nice Gmaps implementation. We're guessing the developers of Loopt and Whrrl are equally eager to find out -- "duplication of functionality," anyone?
Samsung Mobile Applications gets ready for Symbian S60 launch
While Symbian is generally best associated with Nokia, history proves that Samsung has had a pretty fruitful relationship with the operating system as well. In fact, it's looking to beat Nokia at its own game by launching an S60 App Store first. Samsung Mobile Applications, which already has a website up, is expected to initially focus on providing apps to Symbian S60 users in the UK, and just in case you were curious, "there is no initial outlay or ongoing costs associated with marketing or hosting your product on the storefront and freeware is distributed at no cost to the developer." Reportedly, the storefront will be officially unveiled at Mobile World Congress with 1,100 applications ready at launch (for UK residents), and while details are vague, we're told the program will also support Windows Mobile and possibly other systems later in 2009.[Via Symbian-Guru]
