Showing posts with label windows mobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label windows mobile. Show all posts
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Celio planning BlackBerry & Android support for REDFLY smartphone companion
0 comments Posted by luna at 9:03 AMCelio are looking to broaden support for their REDFLY smartphone companion device, tipping compatibility with RIM’s handsets and potentially Google’s smartphone platform. The company is apparently looking into developing BlackBerry support for the REDFLY devices by the end of 2009, with Android likely to be the next candidate after that.
The REDFLY devices resemble netbooks, but in fact are intended to be used as interface devices with a user’s Windows Mobile smartphone. 7-inch and 8-inch models are available, providing more screen space for the smartphone, and the devices have QWERTY keyboards and trackpads for easier text-entry and navigation.
While waiting for BlackBerry and, later Android support, Celio are looking to boost sales of their existing range by reducing prices. The 7-inch REDFLY C7 is now priced at $199, a reduction of $30, and offers 5-hours of battery life; meanwhile the 8-inch REDFLY C8N, which has an 8-hour battery, has seen a $50 cut to $249.
The REDFLY devices resemble netbooks, but in fact are intended to be used as interface devices with a user’s Windows Mobile smartphone. 7-inch and 8-inch models are available, providing more screen space for the smartphone, and the devices have QWERTY keyboards and trackpads for easier text-entry and navigation.While waiting for BlackBerry and, later Android support, Celio are looking to boost sales of their existing range by reducing prices. The 7-inch REDFLY C7 is now priced at $199, a reduction of $30, and offers 5-hours of battery life; meanwhile the 8-inch REDFLY C8N, which has an 8-hour battery, has seen a $50 cut to $249.
Speculation a-plenty today, after HTC’s Peter Chou apparently confirms that the company’s Sense UI “will be available on some other existing devices”. That, understandably, has prompted many Magic and G1 owners - previously to be found looking at their devices and sneering at the basic UI – to believe that at least one of the two phones will get HTC Sense. However, it might also be a little more complex than that.
HTC didn’t make it entirely clear during their press event yesterday, but afterward took pains to clarify that Sense is branding for their entire custom UI work. Speaking to an HTC executive at a dinner event in London yesterday, he explained that what you see on the Hero is just the latest step in a UI project that began all the way back at the inception of the original HTC Touch. That means Sense includes TouchFLO 3D for Windows Mobile, rather than being a separate Android strand.
That given, it’s possible that Chou meant that certain Windows Mobile devices could get new Sense UI updates, rather than the company’s two existing Android smartphones; likely candidates include the Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2. It certainly seems more straightforward to port the new UI to other Android phones – in terms of processor and the like, the Hero is pretty much the same device as its predecessors – but until we get an official announcement we won’t know for sure.
HTC didn’t make it entirely clear during their press event yesterday, but afterward took pains to clarify that Sense is branding for their entire custom UI work. Speaking to an HTC executive at a dinner event in London yesterday, he explained that what you see on the Hero is just the latest step in a UI project that began all the way back at the inception of the original HTC Touch. That means Sense includes TouchFLO 3D for Windows Mobile, rather than being a separate Android strand.That given, it’s possible that Chou meant that certain Windows Mobile devices could get new Sense UI updates, rather than the company’s two existing Android smartphones; likely candidates include the Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2. It certainly seems more straightforward to port the new UI to other Android phones – in terms of processor and the like, the Hero is pretty much the same device as its predecessors – but until we get an official announcement we won’t know for sure.
HTC have confirmed that the distinctive HTC Sense UI seen today on their Hero Android handset will in future be featured on the company’s Windows Mobile devices. According to the HTC press release, “all new HTC devices moving forward” will get the new system, which integrates Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and other widgets into the homescreen.
What will be interesting to see is how Sense co-exists with Windows Mobile’s own UI and that of third-party apps and widgets. While Sense obviously has elements of TouchFLO 3D to it, one distinct difference is that it co-exists happily with Google’s own Android widgets and those of other developers. In contrast, TouchFLO 3D pretty much takes over a Windows Mobile device, leaving little to no room for other providers.
While there’s no definite timescale for Windows Mobile devices using HTC Sense, the press-release’s assertion that all new phones “moving forward” will use it does suggest sooner rather than later. Of course, HTC have only relatively recently launched the Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2, which means there could be a few more months before a fresh Windows Mobile handset is forthcoming.
What will be interesting to see is how Sense co-exists with Windows Mobile’s own UI and that of third-party apps and widgets. While Sense obviously has elements of TouchFLO 3D to it, one distinct difference is that it co-exists happily with Google’s own Android widgets and those of other developers. In contrast, TouchFLO 3D pretty much takes over a Windows Mobile device, leaving little to no room for other providers.While there’s no definite timescale for Windows Mobile devices using HTC Sense, the press-release’s assertion that all new phones “moving forward” will use it does suggest sooner rather than later. Of course, HTC have only relatively recently launched the Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2, which means there could be a few more months before a fresh Windows Mobile handset is forthcoming.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
We're actually surprised we didn't make the connection earlier, but word on the street today is the the rumored Samsung Omnia Pro will actually be a renamed Louvre B7610, a set's which been popping up a lot lately. Makes sense -- the Louvre's 3.5-inch WVGA AMOLED screen, 800MHz processor, and 5.1 megapixel camera match up nicely with the Omnia line. It's running Windows Mobile 6.1 right now, but we wouldn't be too surprised if the rumored August release date is held back to September or October to coincide with WinMo 6.5. One more pic after the break, couple more at the read links.
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