TechStew

Today Microsoft introduced Windows Phone 8, its umpteenth attempt at conquering the mobile world arena. All the buzz (or FUD, since no release and pricing information was given) that has been created lately in order to promote this new iteration of MS mobile platform as the something utterly new, something that will ride like a tsunami through iPhone and Android ruled ocean fails to acknowledge that there is in fact not much new here - it is NOT a new operating system. Its first iteration saw the light of day, 2 years ago as a Windows Phone 7 , a successor to clumsy Windows Mobile, which has, in one form or another been on the market since April 2000. Yes, folks, Microsoft has been in the mobile game for over a decade now, way before the onslaught of Apple and Android powered devices. 

Good Night RIM & Nokia Research In Motion Once the king of the smartphone market RIM could run out of cash and ultimately fail, even with the launch of its now-delayed BlackBerry 10 device early next year. It was late to the consumer market, where Apple and a legion of Google Android phones have crushed it. BlackBerry 10, considered to be RIM's make-or-break product, was originally slated to be launched in the first quarter of 2013 and the delay has already contributed to a 40 percent drop in the company's stock price so far this year. The delay also caused its US market share to dip from 44% in 2009 to only 10% in 2011. Data from research group Comscore shows that share has fallen further this year. RIM cannot survive as a standalone operation in the face of these trends. The Wall Street Journal recently reported “outright buyers could include Asian handset makers like HTC or online retailer Amazon.com which has recently jumped into the tablet business.

Love to download and share music and movies? Well, don’t be surprised if you get a ‘love’ letter (actually, email) from your provider on or after November 28. This will be the implementation of an earlier agreement signed in July 2011 between the a coalition of U.S. Internet providers — including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable — in order to crack down on online copyright infringers.

  The  Nasdaq Index fell 1.18% today as  Google, and Microsoft reported weak performances in the previous quarter. The two tech giants are usually seen as proxies for the wider economic condition, in part because their business fortunes tend to fluctuate with global spending. Google’s advertising revenue, which still makes up the bulk of its business, it closely tied to the wider economy, and Microsoft still makes a lot of its money off desktop software sales, which also fluctuate with the economy. Google’s quarterly results fell short of Wall Streets expectations; the initial report stated a 20% decrease in revenue resulting in the Internet giant’s stock drop of 9%. The earnings report, which had not been expected until after the market close, revealed a weakening in Google's core Internet advertising business and persistent losses at its recently acquired cellphone business, Motorola Mobility. The slowdown in revenue growth came on the back of f...

Available in the coming months, the Galaxy S III update offers the latest Android platform; new camera, video and customization enhancements; and access to ESPN's ScoreCenter app with custom AllShare integration


 Samsung Galaxy III with Jelly Bean Samsung Telecommunications America will finally bring the latest Android version (4.1) aka Jelly Bean, to all Galaxy S III smartphones in the U.S. in the coming months.

The update will be made available both over the air and as a download via Kies, Samsung's content sync and software update solution. The specific timing and update method will be announced by each carrier partner, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular.

 Galaxy S III owners will receive the Jelly Bean update as well as a host of new and enhanced TouchWiz features, making it a faster, richer and more responsive device experience. Samsung refined and enhanced the Galaxy S III experience by adding new capabiliti...

Apple has distributed invitations to special event on Tuesday, October 23, at the California Theatre in San Jose, with the tagline "We've got a little more to show you." The Wall Street Journal, has reported that Apple is planning to unveil a new, smaller iPad. The Journal has reported that Apple's Asian suppliers have started to produce components for a new tablet smaller than the current iPad. The new model is expected to compete with tablets released by Google, Amazon, and with Microsoft's Surface tablet, set to go on sale later this month. Both the day of Apple's latest event and the venue are unusual. Apple product-release events are usually held on Wednesdays, either in San Francisco or at the company's campus in Cupertino, Calif. There are a lot of rumors flying about Mini's specs; it's screen should be 7.85in, 1,024 x 768 pixels which at 163dpi is a bit short of 'retina' display buy on a smaller screen the difference wi...

Microsoft has officially announced the launch details for its revamped Xbox Music service, which will work on all Windows 8 desktop and mobile devices as well as on Android and iOS devices shortly thereafter. Conspicuously absent from the compatibility list are Microsoft’s own Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7 devices. Those few people who believed in and stuck by MS’ mobile platform (including the writer of these words) are once again abandoned and thrown under the bus. Xbox Music is Redmond's attempt at competing with music-streaming powerhouses like Spotify. Microsoft will offer two levels of service: a free, ad-supported version for all Windows 8 computers and tablets, and a $10 subscription service for ad-free playback on all Windows 8 and Windows 8 Mobile devices, as well as on Xbox 360 consoles. At least at launch, Windows 8 will have one advantage over consoles; Xbox 360 users will not be able to download tracks to the Xbox for offline play, and they'll have to purchase a...

Gaza Strip Check Point (Reuters) - Apple's new iPhone 5 is selling well in the Gaza Strip despite inflated prices, reaching the Palestinian enclave via smuggling tunnels even before high-tech hub Israel next door. The cutting edge smart phone is being snapped up for almost double what it costs in the United States, its price jacked up by middlemen on its circuitous delivery route from Dubai via tunnels linking the blockaded territory with Egypt. Prices ranged from $1,170 for the 16 gigabyte model to $1,480 for 64 gb. The iPhone 5 will not be available until December from mobile operators in tech-mad Israel, which along with Egypt maintains a partial blockade of Gaza to prevent the entry of anything that could be used for military purposes. "I ordered 30 and I've sold 20 so far," said one dealer. "We can order as many as we want. But most people are waiting for the price to go down. They're pretty expensive." Apple has no store or official deale...

How important is mobile phone screen size? iPhone and Galaxy Note In the sea of mobile devices available to consumers the screen size ends up being the deciding factor way too often when purchasing a new mobile phone. I think this is definitely a wrong approach akin to the choice of number of pixels on your next point and shoot camera. Simply put there is a score of characteristics which is far more relevant to your user experience than the mere size of the cell phone screen. Before I go any further I would like start by admitting that I was somewhat of a ‘size queen’ myself; started on HTC HD with 3.7” and ended up with Titan with 4.7” screen. I loved the idea of larger screen thinking of improved web page browsing and movie watching. So I spent hours transcoding my favorite movies to the mobile format hoping that one day I would watch these movies (or my transcoded TV series) when travelling and away from my home TV. Do you know how many times I actually watched them? Zero...

Facebook  Facebook for iPad Free The official iPad app, refreshed for iOS 6, featuring an excellent layout reminiscent of the Facebook website, lets you access friend lists, subscribers, and subscriptions, as well as upload photos, send messages, and more. Google+ Google+ for iPad Free The new Google+ app for iPad is absolutely fantastic looking, sporting a wonderful and clear design with large photos and video feeds. Ease to navigate and in my humble opinion looks much better than Facebook app. Air Display 1.2 Air Display for iPad $9.99 A second monitor can be a boon to productivity, as you can keep Outlook, Twitter, or other potentially distracting work element on a second screen. That's where Avatron's Air Display comes in: It turns your iPad into a wireless second LCD monitor for your Mac or PC Dragon Dictation Dragon Dictation for iPad Free Featuring very accurate voice transcription and the ability to ...

Nexus vs. iPhone A U.S. appeals court overturned a preliminary injunction on the sale of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone today, dealing a setback to Apple in its legal battle against Google’s increasingly popular mobile software. In August, Apple scored a sweeping legal victory over Samsung when a U.S. jury found Samsung had copied critical features of the iPhone and awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages. In this case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was considering an injunction ordered before the trial began but which was quickly stayed. The appeals court reversed the injunction entirely on Thursday, saying that the "district court abused its discretion." Apple failed to prove, the court said, that consumers purchased the Samsung product because of the infringing technology. The appeals court has sent the case back to a lower California court for reconsideration. The Nexus is an aging product in Samsung's lineup, with a ...