Mobile Phone News

Filed under: Software, HTC, Android

We’ve already seen it go down unofficially, but we’ve received word from HTC today that Android’s coveted “Cupcake” branch of updates and fixes — or at least a majority of it — will likely be making it to the G1 in the future as a legitimate over-the-air push. HTC isn’t involved in deciding what updates get pushed to the G1 or when, but given the update cadence so far and the G1’s support for Cupcake’s capabilities, the company believes that it’s just a matter of time before T-Mobile makes it happen. The timing is still a big question — HTC’s more or less out of the loop on the schedule, and it’s up to Google and T-Mobile to figure out how it’s plan to play out. We’ll keep you updated as we find out more!

Update: We pressed HTC spokespeople to give us a little more to go on, but got the standard “we can’t comment on unverified information or speculation” line. T-Mobile, Google, your move — you’ve got plenty of folks waiting. A belated Festivus gift, perhaps?

HTC believes Cupcake will come to the T-Mobile G1 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Software, Apple, OS X

At long last, iPhone users who have grown increasingly frustrated by using Google Maps as their primary navigational tool can find relief… sort of. Available right at this time in the App Store, XRoad’s G-Map application requires no internet connection whatsoever in order to function; rather, it packs oodles of maps into a 932MB package that covers most of western America and a few sporadic locales on the east. We’re a bit baffled (and angered) by the not-at-all-comprehensive coverage, but we suppose we can expect updates to patch the gaps in the near future. It provides most of the same amenities you’re used to seeing on real-deal GPS units, including POI editing, memo capabilities, location searching, etc. A word of caution, though: early reviews don’t seem too stoked about it, so you may want to gloss it over good before hitting your card for .99.

[Thanks, Karel]

XRoad G-Map app brings bona fide navigation to the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Nokia, Symbian

Sure, we try to front as world-weary cynics, but when we pinged our folks at Nokia for a statement on that suspiciously-awesome slide about a previously unseen touchscreen interface and device concept, we were totally hoping for a “oh, our bad, that’s a real phone and it’s awesome and it’s being released in the States tomorrow.” Naturally, that was not the case. in this place’s what Nokia had to say on the matter:

“The story you sent over was from a non-public presentation that discussed some UI enhancements - NOT a new product. The form factor shown was a generic form factor and not meant to showcase a new device / product.”

So, yeah. They’re not really plan to fess up to a lot in this place, but if we were to read between the lines we’d say these “UI enhancements” are much more likely to get real and official someday than whatever vaguely-hinted-at device was shown off beneath them. Maybe. Reading in further, we’d say it’s a little odd that Nokia’s demonstrating to investors its “bes. in class touch” capabilities by using a mockup interface on top of a mockup device, but perhaps that’s why we were never so good with “the monies.”

Nokia says touch interface and handset leaked in presentation don’t point to new product originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments