Tuesday, April 19, 2011

MobileCrunch

MobileCrunch

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Microsoft Releases Photosynth For iOS

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 04:43 PM PDT

Microsoft’s Photosynth app for iOS is one of the few apps I will use on a regular basis. It’s essentially a photo-stitcher for iPhone that can create some pretty amazing panoramic photos. All you have to do is slowly move an iPhone, as directed on-screen, in a circular fashion around a scene you wish to capture. After briefly processing the series of photos, Photosynth will allow you to share the photo either on Facebook, Bing Maps, or on Photosynth’s site. Unfortunately there isn’t a way to email or save the panoramic photo to your phone.

It’s not perfect, but then again, it’s free and it works. If you can get over the limited sharing options, it’s a cool, useful little app.

Apple Says Samsung “Chose To Copy” iPhone and iPad, Sues Them

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:30 PM PDT

Wowza. Think that Samsung’s Galaxy phones or Galaxy Tabs are a little bit too much like the iPhone and iPad? Apple agrees. So much so, in fact, that they’re taking Samsung to court over it.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has just filed a suit against Samsung on the following basis:

“Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple’s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products”

So, what does Apple want out of all of this? A bit of everything: an injunction (potentially preventing Samsung from manufacturing more Galaxy devices until the case is settled), damages (read: money), and, perhaps most importantly, being able to legally say “Yeah, Samsung totally copied us.”

The timeline, for those wondering: Apple’s first iPhone was released in 2007. By the time the second iPhone was released in 2008, the series was already quite clearly a hit. In 2010, Samsung released the Galaxy S — which, while Android-powered, was running a custom user-interface (TouchWiz) that certainly does bear a stronger resemblance to iOS than the stock Android skin does. In April of 2010, Apple released the original iPad; Samsung’s Galaxy Tab was announced in September of that year.

It’ll be incredibly interesting to watch how this case goes, as it sets a rather important precedent. We’re moving beyond enforcing patents on specific ideas here, and into the realm of simply shouting “Hey, they copied us!” when competition starts to heat up. While Apple certainly made the idea of displaying a grid of icons on a slab of glass popular, it’s not a novel one. Once that idea has been done once, there are only so many unique ways to do it.

Also interesting: Samsung makes part of the iPhone and the iPad. Samsung has supplied the processors for Apple’s mobile devices from the very beginning, from the S5L8900 in the original iPhone to the A5 in the iPad 2.


Grooveshark Back On Android, Bypasses The Android App Market

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 12:01 PM PDT

A bit shy of two weeks ago, Google threw out a bit of a facepunch to music fans on Android: Grooveshark, a rather great (if questionably legal) over-the-air music streaming service was pulled from the App Market following record label complaints.

Today, Grooveshark makes its triumphant return to Android, albeit not through the official App Market. Playing on Android’s ability to install third-party applications through the browser, Grooveshark has taken on the responsibility of distributing the application themselves (you can find it by pointing your Android device at m.grooveshark.com). Alas, this route means not everyone will be able to partake; some carriers — we’re staring (angrily) at you, AT&T — have disabled the option to allow non-market apps to be installed on some or all of their phones.

Oh, and just a heads up for those new to Grooveshark: for mobile access, you’ll need to be a “VIP Subscriber”, which’ll set you back $9 a month.

Verizon LTE launching in “a mess of new cities and towns” on Thursday

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 11:17 AM PDT

Generally, the term “mess” isn’t one you want to hear. For example: “OH GOD, JUNIOR, THE CARPET IS A MESS. WHERE DID YOU EVEN GET A GALLON OF TOMATO SOUP?”, or “You were pretty drunk last night, man. Pretty sure you messed in your pants.”

When Verizon tweets out that they’ll be launching their LTE/4G network in “a mess of new cities and towns” come Thursday, however, we start smilin’. Alas, they’re staying pretty mum on just want said “mess” entails. They mentioned two of Thursday’s launch markets ( Wilmington, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina) in an e-mail to us earlier today, but we’re hoping there’s more to it than that.

Are you in a 4G/LTE zone yet? Weigh in down below.

Video: Verizon Droid CHARGE Charges Its Way Into Spy Footage

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 10:53 AM PDT

Boom! Just days after gettin’ footage of the rather unoriginal looking Droid X2, our buds over at TechnoBuffalo have just come back with some footage of another DROID in-development: the Samsung Droid CHARGE.

It was a long weekend, so a quick refresher: the Droid CHARGE was originally announced back at CES as the aptly named “Samsung 4G LTE Smartphone for Verizon”, where we actually got a good amount of video footage ourselves. Shortly after the most-fortunate name change, its specs leaked out for all to ogle.

Verizon To Launch LTE MiFi On April 21st

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 10:40 AM PDT

Be still, my heart.

We’ve had a bit of a crush on the MiFi ever since these things were brand new. Back then, the concept was pretty much unheard of: flip the switch on a little pocket-friendly box, and said box would turn into an on-the-go, cellular-network-powered WiFi router for you and a handful of friends. The idea is a bit less novel now that just about any iPhone or recent Android phone can do something along the same lines, but we’re still fans.

Come April 21st, Verizon and Novatel will be launching their next MiFi (pictured above, apparently rendered on the planet of Tatooine. Anyone who gets that reference is my friend.) The big bullet point for this one? 4G support. Poke that switch, and up to 5 devices can be surfin’ the Internets over Verizon’s 4G network in no time flat.. It’ll set you back $100 on a 2-year contract (and after a $50 mailer), or $270 without one. Then the data plan will set you back an extra $50 a month, at least.

What do you think: with devices like the Thunderbolt replicating these features, is there still room for standalone devices like the MiFi?

The Tiny HP Veer To Get A Big Launch Party On May 2nd

Posted: 18 Apr 2011 08:46 AM PDT

Here comes the Veer! Is the world ready for a 2.6-inch touchscreen phone? Who knows! That’s the fun part. HP just sent out invites to a May 2nd “Launch Party” which, as the name suggests, is likely for the launch of the Veer. However, Monday May 2nd might not be the day the Veer hits the general retail market although the first week of May sounds about right. Now this doesn’t seem like a press event — at least we didn’t get an invite. Instead it seems that this is for retail associates of some level because after registering, a note pops up indicated that a Best Buy or AT&T ID or business card is required to attend. AT&T, eh? Yeah, the small phone hitting the ol’ telephone & telegraph company.

Of course the rest of the pertinent launch info is missing. Pricing and exact launch date isn’t mentioned in the invite. Hopefully HP and AT&T doesn’t price this phone out of its likely niche market. Anything more than the $50 iPhone 3GS will doom the Veer in a Kin-sort of way. [Cvent via PreCentral]
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