Mobile & Apple Update for August 1, 3008

First, for the six point five million iPhone owners, a $9.99 app, NetShare, is available for down from the iTunes store that will allow you to tether your iPhone to allow any mobile device to access the Internet through the iPhone's wireless connection.

Also, at Onxo, here, we talked about the availability of even Netshare for the iPhone is even a sign that wireless networks is beginning to show cracks.  Also, we have a tip on how to gain WiFi access at Starbucks.  Then with Microsoft 5% shy of the 20 million copies of Windows Mobile, we think the fault lies with Microsoft, not other phone makers, and why we need to be watching them this fall.  Also, a true iPhone killer in Omnia?

Mobile Gadgets Update:

• Blackberry Sync has posted a link to a Blackberry Bold review.  We can't say it's exactly neutral or informative but we like you to decide. 
• A bit of news on the Nokia N96.  (Source:  Mobility Today)  - there is also a video.  Nothing new we have not seen though.  Standard refresh from Nokia.
  
• Mobile Catcher has posted a link to HTC Touch Pro in action. 
• Kindle:  Finally some news.  Engadget is saying Amazon has moved 240K units.  This is very important for the publishing world.  We'll make you go there for details.  Onxo can't say we're impressed.  Maybe Jobs is right about America not reading.  Well certainly Japan and Europe still do.  Time for someone to light another fire in the ebook indusry.  6" iPod Touch, anyone?
  

Mobile Issues Update:

• ATT may have extended their deal with Apple through 2010.  Not exactly the 5-year deal folks have assumed.  USA Today on Ma Bell and the iPhone.  A good read.
• Electronista is reporting Blackberry could lose its top spot as ATT favorite to the iPhone.  We see more promotions for the iPhone but that's about it.  If this turns out to be true, well, Blackberry will just have to be nicer to us now, won't they?
• Onxo believes Microsoft fell short of its goal to push out twenty million Windows Mobile due to sameness and lack of innovation.  It is no one else's fault.
• ATT, control freak, allowing NetShare, an iPhone tethering app, to be distributed is the biggest wireless story of the week.  Can you imagine them doing this a year ago?  (Other US networks have allow tethering for some time now.)

Onxo On Possible iPhone Killers

The smartphone market is undefined and far too vast for any mobile device to step on one another's toe any time soon.  While we are amazed at the features across the spectrum of smartphones available on the market now, the evolution of smartphones and other mobile devices are just beginning.  There is no iPhone or Blackberry killer because we simply have no idea what form mobile convergence will eventually take shape.  Perhaps a year from now, we'll be talking about a Nokia killer.  


Today, I'm liking the Samsung Omnia a lot.  It will be available on the AT&T network in the 3rd quarter (Boy Genius Report).  It'll be inevitable that there will be comparison between Omnia and the iPhone.








Apple usually dance to its own tune so don't expect it to try and match the Omnia and other smartphones feature for feature. Features in the Omnia appears to be where the phone trounces the iPhone. But without an iTunes-like store for music, movies, and apps, it cannot be a true iPhone killer. Here a list of four arguably hottest smartphones (iPhone, HTC Diamond, Instinct, and Omnia) on the market now with specs for comparison from InfoSync. Yup, Apple, Samsung, and HTC will soon by Sony, Blackberry, and Nokia.  


You decide!

Mobile Update for July 29, 2008

We had a bit of excitement in Los Angeles today with a 5.4 (or 5.8, depends on who you listen to).  Now to today's update!

Mobile Devices:

• T-Mobile will be introducing the Blackberry Curve Sunset on August 4th.  Originally, we were suppose to see it in store this week.  AS for Bold?  We're going to see it on AT and T before we see it on T-Mobile.  
• Check out a review for Samsung Omnia (Crunchgear).  More pictures at Mobility Today.  I'm not too keen on using a stylus anymore.  Those years with the Palm PDAs and Axims and scratched screens.
• 
  
• Speaking of new devices, Nokia's E71 is now availabe for purchase.  $500 unlocked.  That's $100 cheaper than when the iPhone 8GB went on sale.  You'll feel better about getting it then.  The Wired went as far as to call it a bone fide iPhone killer. But ooooh, not a Blackberry killer.  

• And finally some PALM NEWS!!!  WOOHOO!  Two million Centros sold to-date.  Palm CEO nterview here with CNBC.
• Also, Sony looks to get back into the headlines with an annoucement soon. Xperia line, anyone?  

Mobile Computing/Issues:

• In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake in Los Angeles, I tried called people to see if they were okay.  We were only 15 miles from the epicenter but we did not know that at the time.  So the shaking felt very strong.  Anyway, I was unable to get through to anyone.  However, I was able to twitter, IM, and e-mail folks.  Something to keep in mind.  Gizmodo also reports that SMS was working.
• We had an article on multi-touch potential with a demo using an iPhone and a Macbook.  Then we have Microsoft showing off the Surface Sphere.  Very, very impressive.  Nevertheless as we've said, we like to see something for mobile users first.  Not hotels and bars.  

• Just how HP, Intel, and Yahoo got together to form the Cloud Computing Test Bed is beyond me.  While Apple is trying to figure out MobileMe, the trio here is looking to expand beyond any kind of cloud computing that is available today in this research project.  With six data centers (one to four thousand computers each) around the world, researchers will conduct studies "in areas of intelligent infrastructure and dynamic cloud services".  

Note:  The Palm Centro is not for me.  I know what an iPhone is capable of.  That is not to say the Centro is not a good device.  For those new to the smartphone scene, the Centro is a great device for folks to cut their teeth on.  And as a Palm fan, I love to see the company that made PDA affordable (Newton great also had its faults - particularly its price) thrive.  Maybe I've just got a soft spot for the underdog.  Maybe it's the loyal Palm fans like myself who are still with the company.

Read Palmcenter's analysis of Ed Colligan's interview on CNBC.  They went through to the meat of the matter.  Including the lack of details regarding next generation devices and the absent OS.  Maybe we'll see a Centro II somewhere down the line.  But is only one way for Palm to innovate its way out of this hole:  that is if Palm innovates its way out.  Fans still hold out hope that Jon Rubinstein.

If you're wondering who he is, think iPod, the baby that help turn Apple around.