Double Standards for iTunes App Process?

In an interesting twist to the current state of things iTunes app wise; are double standards now at play? Mippin have been having trouble with an Application for weeks, while their indiscretions are live through competitor.

Content was an issue for Tweetie, whereas Mippin have a similar issue, thus modifications were made to filter the “objectionable” content. Checks were implemented to rate all 50,000 feeds and stop the ones with the bad language. All well and good you would think, but no; this time Mippin was rejected because of a YouTube Video.

Through the above screenshot, the left image is the YouTube screenshot of the video which has had nearly 1/2 million views. To the right is Mippin. This video has a naughty wash-your-mouth-out-with-soap word. This video is the reason Mippin got a big ‘no’ however through Apple’s own YouTube, the video can be seen. Mippin states in a recent blog that they feel “persecuted by Apple of this situation.” Put simply, the reason Mippin were rejected, no filter exists for YouTube and the video (and their application as a whole) is approved and available. Are Apple playing favorites? What is the real reason Apple keep rejecting Mippin (their app is cool)? Is Rachel Ray really that smokin?

Symbian extends collaboration offer to Google, possibly Android

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Symbian’s buy-out by Nokia, by far the largest handset manufacturer to rely on the Symbian smartphone mobile operating system, paves the way for an open-source Symbian environment that will hopefully spark a new wave of Symbian-based mobile platforms.

With Symbian’s code destined to be opened up by the Symbian Foundation for all to use, the software maker has announced today that it is open to collaborating with Google on “operating system level.” It seems that Symbian wants to make friends with Google and their Linux-based Android mobile operating system – which can be considered an open-source competitor to Symbian.
Google formed the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) to help push the open-source Android platform among mobile phone vendors, and Nokia answered by forming the Symbian Foundation to tout Symbian’s open-source code. The two camps can be seen to be competing against each other for smartphone market share. But, with today’s announcement, Symbian looks to be extending a hand in friendship to Google.

“We already work together and so whatever collaboration, if there is an opportunity, we will be happy to collaborate with them,” Symbian chief executive Nigel Clifford told reporters in Tokyo. “And that could be on the application level or that could be on the more fundamental operating system level.”

We can see the two open-source mobile platform initiatives working together to cross-license applications and services across both Android and Symbian operating systems. Of course, that’s all speculation. But, with Symbian already using Google Maps and Search, it’s not hard to imagine Symbian wanting to push some of their own services through Android – in return for more extensive support for Google services on Symbian.

The rapidly consolidating mobile platform market signals the next-step in the smartphone revolution. Segmentation of the mobile operating system environment has hindered standardized services and application, but with large groups of developers and handset manufacturers choosing to side with one of a just a few remaining mobile OS camps, we’ll be seeing some significant headway in the mobile space.

Collaboration, it’s a good thing.

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Samsung Memoir (SGH-T929)

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The Samsung Memoir (also called the SGH-T929) is a handset aimed exclusively at the T-Mobile network in the US. Right at the moment, there are frustratingly few hard specifications for this device. Clearly, this is a touchscreen phone with a wide display, plus an 8 megapixel camera with a Xenon flash. The rumours are that this is a 1700 MHz UMTS (3G) device with GPS, but we don’t know this for sure.

Samsung Memoir (SGH-T929)

We can tell you that it measures 106 x 54 x 14mm and the Memoir weighs in at 125 grams. Maximum talktime is about 8 hours (presumably on GSM), and standby time is up to 9 days.

Broadly speaking, the Memoir appears to be a US take on the Samsung M8800 Pixon, although it is clearly cosmetically different. It’s clearly not a Windows Mobile device like the Omnia.

We don’t have any definite word on pricing or availability, but the Memoir looks like it should be an effective competitor to AT&T’s iPhone.
Samsung Memoir (SGH-T929) provisional specifications

Available:

Q1 / Q2 2009

Network:

GSM + UMTS

Data:

GPRS + EDGE + UMTS

Screen:

240 x 400 pixels (not verified)

Camera:

8 megapixels

Size:

PDA style device
106 x 54 x 14mm / 125 grams

Bluetooth:

Yes

Memory card:

Yes

Infra-red:

No

Polyphonic:

Yes

Java:

Yes

GPS:

Yes (not verified)

Battery life:

8 hours talk / 9 days standby (GSM)

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50% of HTC phones to run on Android next year?

The bad news (or at least rumors) just keep on piling for Windows Mobile.

This morning we’ve heard the talk that in addition to Symbian, Motorola might be dropping Windows Mobile OS on it’s new phones as well.

Now we are hearing that HTC is hard at work on a touchscreen device that might be even better then recently announced Palm Pre. At it won’t be carrying Windows Mobile, opting for Android OS as well.

According to Australian Telsra execs -  the new HTC device was better and more functional then Pre and will be a real competitor to both Palm Pre and iPhone.

They are probably talking about the successor of HTC G1 here and that it should be a significant improvement over the first test model. And I would not read anything more into it. For now…

HTC will have a new good high end touchscreen WM device this spring, and probably quite a few more through 2009. And WM devices will still make a bulk of the phones produced by HTC this year.

But going into 2010 things might become very different. A guy with some amazing inside sources in the industry says that HTC decided to strongly prioritize the development of Android phones and that already next year (2010) HTC inventory will be split 50/50 between WM and Android handsets.

So, if both reports – loosing Motorola and preference of HTC – are true, some pretty challenging years are ahead of Windows Mobile division at MS.

Via WMPowerUser and Eldar Murtazin

Nokia Booklet 3G now available in the UK | Eee PC – Blog

A little later than expected but, the Nokia Booklet 3G is now available within the UK. Unfortunately the pre-order price of £649 is correct and the booklet.

Here is the original: 
Nokia Booklet 3G now available in the UK | Eee PC – Blog

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