TechVirtuoso

Nexus One users get some Android 2.3 love, both OTA and manually stimulated

February 25th, 2011 at 12:31 PM  1 Comment

Nexus One owners rejoice. Google has finally released Android Gingerbread (2.3.3) for your mass consumption. Officially, you can get the update over the air here in the next week or so, but if you’re impatient (as most of you are) you can download the update directly from Google’s server and manually update. While the manual update process uses the same signed code as the over the air, it requires a little more work and Google hasn’t stuck their head out to tell you to do it this way, officially.

While Nexus One owners will be the most excited, there is also an update for Nexus S owners, which fixes some bugs and adds some new features to the NFC chipset. With this release, both Nexus phones from Google are now the two most up to date devices running officially released and supported versions of Google Android.

Excellent step by step instructions on how to update the device manually can be found over at Android Central for the Nexus S, and the Nexus One.

via xda-developers

Google video highlights global Android activation levels

February 25th, 2011 at 8:56 AM  No Comments

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqFpq9WXbJo

Just sit back and enjoy this one.

My five predictions for the iPhone 5

February 17th, 2011 at 8:14 PM  2 Comments

Late winter, early spring… it’s that time of year where the entire technology world begins to wonder about what Apple has planned for the next version of the iPhone, which, come late June will be the device that sets the trend for mobile technology into the next year. Like it or hate it, the iPhone is the standard that all Android, WebOS, BlackBerry and Windows Phones must either match or surpass to be taken seriously.

So what will this phone feature? It’s impossible to tell until Steve Jobs takes the stage to tell us, and even then there will still be many unanswered questions until it gets into the hands of the consumer. Even though the release of the next generation iPhone happens like clock work, I’m still constantly asked questions like “when will the next iPhone be out” or “should I wait to buy it?” — This article serves to help anwser those questions right now.

By the way, if you thought I mistaken when I said Steve Jobs will take the stage, let me clarify: (more…)

How much are iOS users worth compared to Android?

February 17th, 2011 at 12:17 PM  3 Comments

I’ll let the chart speak for itself.

via Mobclix

Mobile World Congress award winners

February 17th, 2011 at 11:56 AM  No Comments

Mobile World Congress announced the winners of the various yearly awards. Everything from phones, to apps, to networks, and a bunch of other things no one except the real mobile geeks cares about.

Among the most interesting awards:

  • Best Mobile App – Angry Birds
  • Best Mobile Device – Apple iPhone 4
  • Device Manufacture of the Year – HTC

What is a little bit telling about the ecosystems of each of the major smartphone platforms, is that Apple was the only platform where a third party developer won “App of the Year” in that category:

  • iOS – Angry Birds (Rovio)
  • Android – Google Maps
  • Blackberry – BlackBerry Messenger (RIM)

While Google Maps on Android is quite possibly the best mapping program on any mobile platform, it’s sad that that was the best Android could come up. with As far as BlackBerry goes, if the built in messenger is the most interesting thing about it… it’s not even worth insulting.

A complete list of awards is available at the GSMA website.

Leave Steve Alone

February 16th, 2011 at 10:41 PM  2 Comments

It’s been somewhat disgusting to watch tech blogs and Twitter today discuss Steve Jobs’ health based off rumors and unconfirmed photographs. Let the guy get better and give him some privacy. I’m not going to lend more space to this because aside from what the shareholders and consumers need to know about the absence in his role as CEO of Apple, what happens in his personal health is his business.

Why give credence to grocery store check out stand trash?

Can we all agree to leave the rumors to the release of the products, and the facts to the health of a human being?

Google One Pass to offer unified payment system for online publishers

February 16th, 2011 at 3:05 PM  No Comments

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiz_2c_QpOQ

Yesterday Apple dropped a bombshell on the tech world when it announced it was going to be strong arming publishers and subscription based content providers by demanding 30% off the top of any transaction done in iOS.

Google must have been listening to the backlash, and today announced their own payment platform for publishers called Google One Pass. However, until Apple, it will only take 10% off by handling the transaction and promises that the platform will be “open and flexible” … something Apple isn’t exactly known for.

Also, unlike Apple, this payment system will not only work in regular apps, but on mobile or web based transactions. However if Apple’s recent developer terms are not changed,  don’t expect to see this platform on anything except Android.

The platform is based on the already mature Google Checkout system.

Windows Phone, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Kinect – playing together

February 14th, 2011 at 10:53 AM  1 Comment

This little demo from Microsoft has made me evaluate my position on Windows Phone. While the demo itself isn’t perfect (there is a lot of jitter, and the phone display is just a stick figure outline) it looks like it’s at least beta code they’re playing and not just CGI. If this is what Microsoft has in mind for the future, sign me up!

AT&T and Verizon, head to head 3G speed test with the iPhone 4

February 14th, 2011 at 10:00 AM  No Comments

Before you join the rush of people who are shedding their AT&T iPhone for the Verizon iPhone (oh wait, no one is actually doing that) you should do some research and see what dumping “the nations largest 3G network” and getting on “America’s most reliable network” will get you.

Mostly, slower Internet speeds. A lot slower, actually. Well, that, and no simultaneous voice and data network.

What you also won’t get, as 9to5Mac has pointed out, is the ability to swap between multiple calls. Also, if you’re used to having more than a couple person in a conference call, you’ll want to stick with AT&T. That is, assuming you can make calls on their network.

While your mileage may vary, I’m sticking with AT&T.

video and images via Tipb.com

Fake iPad purchased from Walmart cannot be returned

February 14th, 2011 at 9:49 AM  1 Comment

  1. Man wants iPad
  2. Man goes to Walmart to buy iPad
  3. Man gets home, opens box, realizes the iPad in the box is a store demo unit
  4. Man tries to return fake iPad that Walmart sold him
  5. Walmart says “no way José!”
  6. Man sues Walmart
  7. Man buys second iPad at local Apple store

And all this time I thought Walmart would take anything back!

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