LONDON – Facebook said on Monday it is not building a mobile phone, dismissing a TechCrunch story that it is working on software for a device from a hardware manufacturer.

“The story is not accurate,” according to a company statement. “Our approach has always been to make all phones and apps more social, not build a phone. The bottom line is that whenever we work on a deep integration, people want to call it a “Facebook Phone” (even internally) because that’s such an attractive sound bite, but our real strategy is to make everything social and not build one phone or integration.”

TechCrunch reported that Facebook wanted more control over a phone’s operating system in order to more deeply integrate with phone features such as contact lists.

Facebook said it is also working on enabling full support on mobiles for its Connect feature, which allows people to use their Facebook identification credentials to log into other Web-based applications.

“Our view is that almost all experiences would be better if they were social, so integrating deeply into existing platforms and operating systems is a good way to enable this,” according to Facebook. “For an example, check out Connect for iPhone and the integration we have with contact syncing through our iPhone app. Another example is the INQ1 phone with Facebook integration (the first so-called ‘Facebook Phone’).”

But Facebook did describe its mobile work, such as an HTML5 version of the site. HTML5 is the latest specification for the Web’s mother tongue that enables new graphic features and the ability to create snappy Web applications with desktop-like performance, among others.

By Cliff Joseph
February 25, 2010

By Lexton Snol
February 11, 2009

By Tony Bradley
January 7, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO – Reports suggest that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will unveil details of Microsoft’s entry in the tablet PC arena during his keynote speech today at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The announcement will steal some of the thunder from the extreme hype and speculation over Apple’s “iSlate” tablet PC– which may or may not exist and may or may not be announced at an Apple event later this month.

Tablet PC’s are not new. The slate form factor portable computer has been around for almost a decade, since Microsoft initially pushed the concept with its Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. Those tablets were before their time, though, and the concept never really caught on.

Technology has evolved now, as technology does, and with mobile phones like the iPhone, Droid, and Nexus One which are more or less mini tablet PC’s with phone capabilities thrown in, and newer technologies like netbooks and smartbooks, it seems the time has come for tablet PC’s.
Microsoft and Apple–assuming the rumors are on target and they both release tablet PC’s in the near future–are not the only players in the tablet PC market, but they will be the biggest and most visible. Speculation is already mounting that the Apple “iSlate” could spark lines similar to the launch of the iPhone, and one rumor suggests that Apple intends to sell 10 million tablet PC’s per year.

It’s hard to compare vaporware based on rumored specifications and capabilities , but I’ll give it a try anyway. Actually, I am not going to compare the devices directly, but instead address why a Microsoft tablet will be a more suitable business tool, while the Apple tablet will be more of a consumer gadget.

Apple has a legions of loyal followers and I assume that the “iSlate” will be a grand slam success, possibly rivaling the success of the iPhone. The “iSlate” may revolutionize tablet computing the way that the iPhone revolutionized smartphones. But, almost three years later the iPhone is still struggling for acceptance in the corporate world and is primarily a consumer-oriented device despite its popularity.

A Microsoft tablet will be a better business tool than an Apple tablet because of Microsoft’s dominant position in operating systems, business productivity applications, and Web browsers. Businesses rely predominantly on Windows, Office, and Internet Explorer, and Microsoft is in a position to deliver a seamlessly integrated experience between the applications businesses already use on a daily basis, and the additional functionality and productivity offered by a tablet PC.

While both devices, or any other entries in the tablet PC market like the Joojoo, will most likely deliver a similar suite of tools and functions, Microsoft is in a position to seamlessly sync and merge data between the tablet PC and the desktop without requiring additional applications, like enabling all users to install iTunes.

Businesses need to have control that Apple has been unwilling to relinquish. Whether it’s a desktop PC, a notebook, a mobile phone, or a tablet, IT administrators need tools like Active Directory and Group Policy that enable them to centrally manage and maintain the devices.

Businesses are also subject to regulatory mandates and compliance requirements. They need a way to monitor, log, and archive e-mails, voicemails, instant messaging threads, and other communications, and they need methods for ensuring that sensitive data is properly protected no matter what platform it’s on.

It remains to be seen which tablet PC will win the popularity contest. If the iPhone versus Windows Mobile is any indication, odds favor the “iSlate”. But, being popular doesn’t make it a good business tool, and Microsoft is in a unique position to provide businesses with a valuable productivity tool instead of a popular consumer gadget.

By Mikael Ricknäs
IDG News Service
November 3, 2009

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
www.sonyericsson.com

Sony Ericsson‘s first Android-based smartphone, the Xperia X10, comes with a unique user interface that’s designed to improve handling and organization of communications and multimedia content. But one analyst said the interface still needs work, particularly when it comes to speed and responsiveness, before the phone hits the market.

The X10 will be flagship model in a family of phones coming to market during the first half of next year, Sony Ericsson said, without providing details of other models in the lineup.

As part of the X10′s interface, Sony Ericsson added two applications, dubbed Timescape and Mediascape, to the Android, following in the footsteps of Motorola, HTC and Acer, which have also tweaked the operating system for their own handsets.

These modifications may prove to be important. Apple‘s iPhone has shown that winning in the smartphone space is about ease-of-use and not hardware specifications, like offering the biggest display or the best camera.

Sony Ericsson hopes that helping users better organize messages and multimedia will help it stand out from other Android handsets. Its Timescape application organizes messages, such as Twitter posts and Facebook updates as well as phone calls and SMS messages, in a number of different views. For example, users can choose to view all messages in chronological order, or view them by user or message type, such as all Twitter posts.

The Mediascape application helps users arrange their multimedia content, including music and videos. The application also gives users access to Web-based content, including YouTube and Sony Ericsson’s Playnow store.

The new user interface may be a key part of Sony Ericsson’s Android strategy, but the interface still needs work, according to Carolina Milanesi, a research director at Gartner.

Right now, the user interface isn’t as snappy as it should be, Milanesi said. But the device is still in development and the interface can still be improved she said, adding that a final verdict will have to wait until the phone ships.

In many respects the X10 is a “me too” device, given that most handset makers are touting the integration of social networking as a key features of their handsets, Milanesi said. But it also shows that Sony Ericsson can get its act together and do something different from the Walkman and Cybershot phones of the past, she said.

Overall, the X10 and its user interface represents a new start for Sony Ericsson, and one the Milanesi thinks should come with a new brand. It’s a bit of a shame that Sony Ericsson went with the Xperia brand because the X1 wasn’t that well received, she said.

While hardware specifications may not be critical to a phone’s success, the X10 offers a range of cutting-edge features.

For example, the X10 has a facial recognition features that can recognize up to five faces in any picture, automatically connecting them with friends listed in your address book and of your communications with that person.

There is no doubt that Sony Ericsson has had the iPhone on its mind when designing the X10, which will also be available in either black or white and lacks a physical keyboard. The two phones weigh the same, but the X10 is slightly larger.

In terms of memory, the iPhone has a larger built-in storage capacity; 32GB versus 1GB. But the Sony Ericsson phone comes with a microSD card slot and ships with a 8GB card.

In most other respects the X10′s hardware specifications surpass those of the iPhone and other Android handsets, including the Acer Liquid and Motorola Droid, which will be called Milestone outside of the US.

The X10 has the largest screen and the camera with the highest resolution. The 4-inch touchscreen display has a resolution of 854×480. Cameras have for some time been one of Sony Ericsson’s major strengths, and the X10 has been equipped with an 8.1-megapixel camera and a LED flash. Added camera features include touch focus, geotagging and smile detection.

X10 users can surf the web over HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) or Wi-Fi networks. They can also listen to music via a standard 3.5 millimeter stereo headphone jack or navigate using A-GPS (Assisted-GPS). The phone has a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor under the hood.

On the software side, the X10 will ship with Android version 1.6 but users will be able to upgrade to version 2, Sony Ericsson said.

Globe Tattoo, the hot new mobile brand from Globe Telecom, brings another first to Filipino cellphone fans with the upcoming launch of the new modu phone, available only from Globe.  The modu phone is the world’s lightest phone that also happens to be one of the most compact, sleekest gadgets ever to fit in the palm of your hand. modu, the manufacturer of this diminutive device, and Globe have teamed up for the exclusive first-time ever entry of this cool new mobile, sure to become the newest must-have for the hyper-connected fashion fanatic.

Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s lightest fully-functional phone, weighing in at a spare 1.5oz., the modu phone features a dynamic user interface and a unique seven-key keypad that’ll make you do a double take when you see it.  You can also choose whether you want your modu in hot pink, metallic blue, pearl white or classic black.

With the modu phone, the communications experience is all-new, with the modu jackets, fashionable phone enclosures which you can slide on to give the phone its full featured keypad. You can customize the look and features of your modu phone while still retaining the incredibly small size.  Take your pick from three curve-hugging modu mini jackets available in minimalist metallic hues of silver, blue and pink;  five modu express jackets in  hot new skins like red bamboo, graffiti, and artsy floral; and one sexy new modu^TM express jacket exclusively designed for Globe which you wont find anywhere else in the world, destined to become the new Hermes Birkin, the fashionistas’ Holy Grail.

modu users can be chic on the cheap, because the modu phone is now available for as low as P7,999 via Globe Tattoo prepaid kit. As if all that weren’t sweet enough,  each prepaid phone kit also comes with one free modu express jacket, plus a year’s supply of Immortaltxt, the newest offer from Globe Tattoo that’s got all the cool kids buzzing.  So for a whole year you’ll get twice-weekly free text allocations from Globe Tattoo:  Each allocation gets you 50 free texts Globe to Globe and TM, plus 10 texts to other networks. That means 120 free texts every week for the first year of using your modu,  and what’s more, your Immortaltxt allocation never dies, so text away because Globe Tattoo has got you covered just this side of forever.

You can also get your modu phone for just P7,999 if you get a Globe postpaid plan for only P500 a month.  And if you subscribe to a Plan 1200 or up, your modu is totally free, only from Globe.

The modu phone is triband, has a mass storage device with 2GB internal flash memory (available memory for user is 1.6GB) and supports Bluetooth connectivity.  In addition to its complete mobile functionality the modu phone is also an MP3 music player, so you can play your favorite tunes anytime.

With the world’s lightest phone powered exclusively by Globe Tattoo, you’ll be the next fashion heavyweight. So call (02) 730-1000 or head on over to your nearest Globe store and soon, branches of  Wellcom,  Hello, Memo Express or BSD, and meet your new modu phone, only from Globe Tattoo.

Samsung Preston S5603
P14,000
www.samsung.com.ph

During the second quarter of the year, Samsung introduced the Samsung Star (S5233), a 2G feature-packed full touch phone that was easy on the budget.

The Samsung Star has experienced great success in the country with new owners raving about its features. With this, Samsung is once again thrilled to introduce the Samsung Star’s brother, the Samsung Preston (S5603).

New owners of the Samsung Preston will surely be proud to display this phone’s compact, slim (measuring a mere 12.9mm in thickness) and sleek design.

Internet browsing will even be an enjoyable experience with the Samsung Preston’s 3G capabilities with HSDPA speeds of up to 7.2mbps and accelerometer, the technology that allows for portrait or landscape view when the phone is rotated. Not to mention, the Samsung Preston’s widget allow for both local and online applications to be easily displayed and accessed. Knowing one’s calendar schedule or even accessing one’s online social network account can be done with a simple touch of a finger.

The Samsung Preston also boasts of an excellent full touch user interface with it’s 2.8-inch LCD providing crystal clear QVGA resolution and haptic feedback that allows users to be informed of every action done on the touch screen.

And, the Samsung Preston is great for entertainment with it’s 3.0mpx camera and smile shot feature, video recording and playback as well as listening to mp3s and the FM radio.

In the Philippines, the Samsung Preston is available at all Samsung mobile phone dealers at a suggested retail price of P 14,000.

In addition to expanding their Omnia phone into a full series and the unveiling of their latest of smartphone Jet, mobile phone provider Samsung has reinforced its leadership in the high megapixel cameraphone market by introducing the Samsung Pixon12 (M8910) – the world’s first 12-megapixel camera phone with full-touch screen – during CommunicAsia 2009 this week.

A response to today’s consumers who demand robust camera features in their mobile phones, the Pixon12 comes packed with a host of functions which enable consumers to easily capture, browse and share their images on the move – all on a brilliant full-touch 3.1-inch AMOLED screen.

“The Pixon12 is a testament to how Samsung’s ongoing consumer research enables us to develop groundbreaking products that do not just meet but surpass our customers’ expectations. Speedy access to the camera mode, fast shutter speed and quick browsing are some of the key factors consumers are looking for in their mobile phone cameras” said JK Shin, executive VP and head of Mobile Communication Division at Samsung Electronics. He added, “We are very pleased to introduce the world’s first 12-megapixel camera phone that holds the answer to these pressing consumer needs.”

Instant Shoot
The Samsung Pixon12 enables users to take perfect pictures quickly and easily, thanks to a Dedicated Camera Power Key which gives users fast one-touch access to the camera function. Once the camera is turned on, users can aim and snap, capturing images as fast as today’s advanced digital camera. Samsung Pixon12 also features fast image saving for next shot, so users can move to next shot within around two seconds.

With Touch Auto-Focus (AF) tracking, users can simply select focus point with the touch of a finger, after which the AF function will automatically follow the object, keeping it in focus even as it moves across the screen. Moreover, Smart Auto feature allows users to capture the perfect images as the camera automatically changes the scene and mode based on its object, background and lighting.

Images taken on the Pixon12 are worth showing off to friends and loved ones as they boast digital camera quality thanks to the phone camera’s superb lens and Xenon flash.

The 28mm wide angle lens also allows a better perspective and more full capture of a scene for consumers.

Instant View
After they are done snapping, users can re-live and enjoy the pictures on the Pixon12′s brilliant 3.1-inch AMOLED screen. It boasts a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 while providing power-saving features which increase battery life.

Finally, the Pixon12 enables easy photo organization and management with multiple ways of sorting – by tags, file names, ratings, and time. In addition, the multi-selection feature enables users to pull up images in groups rather than one by one, making viewing and editing photos much easier.

Instant Share
With Samsung Share Pix, the Pixon12 lets users easily upload images and videos to popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Picasa, Flickr, MySpace, Photobucket, Friendster – a breeze. Add to that, the phone’s high-connectivity functions including Wi-Fi and HSUPA capabilities mean that user’s photos can be shared to their friends in no time.

The Samsung Pixon12 will be available from end of June in European countries and it wil be expanded to other regions in August.

Globe brings the BlackBerry lifestyle to Filipino consumers with the launch of the new BlackBerry Storm powered by Globe‘s Personal BlackBerry Plans. The BlackBerry Storm features the world’s first “clickable” touch-screen, allowing its users to experience a tactile touch and click response that is unique to this exciting device. 

The BlackBerry Storm is the first touch-screen BlackBerry and the same great BlackBerry that its users all know and love. It is the handy Internet access tool and social tool that one can carry around.  

US President Barack Obama is just one of the famous BlackBerry users. Foreign celebrities Kate Hudson, Madonna, Victoria Beckham, Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, Ashley Tisdale and Adriana Lima are all on BlackBerry. The new BlackBerry Storm was even spotted in an episode from the latest season of Gossip Girl. 

Filipino consumers are fast becoming avid users of BlackBerry, too. Honee So, national sales manager at Perfetti Van Melle, said, “I love that my BlackBerry gives me unlimited access to my friends and loved ones here or abroad through YM, Facebook, and real-time email. Plus, the ever-efficient BlackBerry Messenger is the techie equivalent of passing notes during meetings!” 

Jannie Villacorta, brand manager for Armani, Ralph Lauren, Diesel and Cacharel fragrances, also said, “I’ve always been a BlackBerry user. I love the ease of use my BlackBerry gives me. It’s a digital assistant, phone and camera in one. I also love the fact that I can IM my friends abroad for free without having to worry about IDD costs and surcharges!” 

Vicky Encarnacion, channel head at Watsons, added, “I like my BlackBerry because it can link to my calendar and I see it updated from my emails. I can’t do this with other phones.” 

The new BlackBerry Storm brings cutting-edge mobile capabilities to Filipino consumers and you can get it first from Globe. At the same time, BlackBerry Storm users can enjoy a stunning view with its 3.25-inch hi-res 65,000 color LCD screen so one can browse the Web as it was meant to be seen. 

Stay up-to-date with family, friends and other business or personal contacts in style through instant messaging (IM) that one can take anywhere. The BlackBerry Storm allows users access to BlackBerry Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and Google Talk. With these popular IM applications, users can carry on real-time IM with friends in several locations, with no per-message charge.  IM apps also allow group chats, so making plans with a group of friends for Friday night becomes a breeze. 

With BlackBerry’s famous push e-mail capability, get all your important emails wherever you go, all the time. Want to get even more connected? Know the latest about friends and acquaintances by connecting to popular social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Flickr using the BlackBerry Storm.  

The BlackBerry Storm, with all its powerful communications and multimedia features, is easy to use. It has browser-like forward and backward buttons, full size keyboard and one hand operation design. It has a virtual keyboard and is also easy to navigate. 

It is equipped with a dynamic orientation sensor that automatically switches between Portrait and Landscape views whichever one prefers. Its advanced media player and wide display gives the perfect browsing experience when watching streaming video on YouTube and surfing the Internet. 

The BlackBerry Storm can view PDF, Zip and graphic files and it can sync with iTunes and Windows Media Player. It has a 3.2 megapixel camera with autoflash and autofocus to capture the perfect picture and enables video recording. It has 1GB onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHC memory card slot that supports up to 16GB of additional storage per card. An 8GB microSDHC card comes preinstalled. 

Now, one need not be in front of the desktop or laptop to stay in the loop. Be in control and get the mobility one needs with the BlackBerry Storm. Get it first from Globe and make the most of the BlackBerry Storm with the new Personal BlackBerry Plans of Globe. 

For the first time, individuals can now get their very own BlackBerry Plans. The Personal BlackBerry Plans are one-of-a-kind postpaid data plans that you can add to your existing Globe GPlan or GFlex Plan for a complete call, text messaging and mobile Internet package in one. Ideal for frequent email and instant messaging users, they can also be used to surf the net on your BlackBerry. 

Globe’s Personal BlackBerry Plans are available at Plan 700 for 5MB of data, which is approximately 130 e-mails or 500 instant messages (IMs) per day. The Plan 850 gives subscribers 8MB of data for approximately 210 e-mails or 700 IMs per day. The Plan 1100 allows 10MB of data so its users get approximately 265 e-mails or 1000 IMs per day. These are based on estimated e-mails using a BlackBerry device. 

Get a Globe postpaid plan and subscribe to the Personal BlackBerry Plans to make the most of the new BlackBerry Storm. Visit any Globe Business Center or log on to www.globe.com.ph.

March 15, 2009

The Cheap Alternative
By Luis Anthony G. Oliveros
Published in the December 2008-January 2009 print edition of PC World Philippines

HTC P3400i
P16,400
www.htc.com

Sure the current high-end HTC Touch Pro smartphone does sound like a great decision with all its features busting at the seams, but if you’re part of the working class on a budget and fancy a Windows Mobile companion, the HTC P3400i is your low-cost alternative.

For its considerably cheap P16,400 tag, you get a touchscreen smartie carrying the bare essentials and then some. It has an intuitive interface and lets you get around the phone’s features, settings and access applications using swipe-and-tap finger motions. It functions on a Quad-band GSM network with GPRS and EDGE capabilities for connecting to the Web with Internet Explorer. Internal storage is at 64MB for all your basic e-mail and SMS messages and contacts, but if you still find it a little scant for your multimedia files and work documents, an SD/MMC slot is available up front for expansions up to 4GB.

Powered by Windows Mobile 6 Professional, it comes preloaded with the Microsoft Office Mobile suite, Outlook, Adobe Reader LE and Windows Live- essential applications to keep you productive but still keeps it light and upbeat with Windows Media Player10 for your multimedia playlists and a built-in two-megapixel cam for your photos and videos.