Windows Phone 8 to become third platform on Verizon, Galaxy S III makes cameo appearance in Vietnam?

Smartphone Briefs

by Chris Coleman| @PhoneKnack

After garnering some additional attention from carriers for Windows Phone 7, Microsoft is teaming up with Verizon Wireless to help promote Windows Phone 8, which is due out later this year. Verizon’s Chief Financial Officer, Fran Shammo said that Verizon is looking to make Windows Phone their third platform behind iOS and Android.

“We’re really looking at the Windows Phone 8.0 platform because that’s a differentiator. We’re working with Microsoft on it”

While the Windows Phone platform continues to grow it will be interesting to see what other interest they can garner as time gets closer to Windows 8.0 holiday release.

Rumors are constantly flooding the web, its part of the technology world. But what we just stumbled upon may be more then just a rumor. A Vietnamese site has just posted a video of them playing around with the new Samsung Galaxy S III.

Filed under: Android, General technology, Hardware, Windows, Windows Phone 7, WP7, Android, fran shammo, iOS, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Verizon, Verizon Communications, Verizon Wireless, verizon wireless chief financial officer, Windows, windows 8.0, Windows Phone, windows phone 8, windows phone 8.0, Windows platform, YouTube

Nokia takes aim at Apple

Smartphone Briefs

by Chris Coleman| @PhoneKnack

Nokia is attempting to make a big splash in the US market and what better way to do that than to go after one of the top players in the game, Apple.

Nokia’s new ad campaign called Smartphone Beta Test, is a series of mock videos that showcases the developmental process of the iPhone. The aim of the campaign is to show the public that they are just part of beta testing while using an iPhone and they should head over to the nearest AT&T store and buy the new Nokia Lumia 900.

See one of the videos from the beta testing campaign after the break.

Filed under: General technology, Hardware, Windows Phone 7, WP7, ad campaign, Advertising campaign, Apple, april 8, AT&T, best of ces, beta test, beta testing, black, blue, CES, Chris Coleman, electronic shows, iPhone, Lumia, march 30, mothers day, Nokia, nokia lumia, nokia lumia 900, preorders, rumors, Software release life cycle, Viral marketing, White, Windows Phone

Another new Droid device, Nokia Lumia 900 up for preorder in Canada and Switzerland, Samsung Galaxy Beam re-released.

Smartphone Briefs

by Chris Coleman| @PhoneKnack

A new Motorola Android phone has surfaced and we can agree that this is a work of art. The Droid Fighter as it is being called is a 4.6 inch beast.

Reports are surfacing that the Verizon bound Droid Fighter will feature a HD Display and will run on Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich. Something that has been stressed by Motorola has been improved battery life for its upcoming devices. This is pure speculation but we could see a similar battery to that of the Droid RAZR MAXX. We can expect for an official announcement from both Verizon and Motorola in the coming weeks.

Filed under: Android, General technology, Hardware, Windows, Windows Phone 7, WP7, Android, android ice cream sandwich, AT&T, battery life, Chris Coleman, CONTEST, dark knight lumia 900, Dark Knight Rises, digitec, droid fighter, Droid RAZR MAXX, Europe, Google, hd display, Ice Cream Sandwich, India, international, leak, Lumia, Mobile World Congress, Motorola, MWC, Nokia, nokia lumia, nokia lumia 900, preorders, razr maxx, re-announced, rogers canada, rumor, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, samsung galaxy beam, Switzerland, US, Verizon, verizon wireless canada, windows mobile  asia

Voice Share: Send Voice Messages via SMS and Facebook

by George Heymann | @techeadlines

technology-headlines.com

Our friends at Base 2 Applications, LLC have released their latest creation Voice Share. Voice Share is a smartphone app that simplifies sharing “voice notes” with your friends and family through SMS messaging and Facebook available for Android and Windows Phone.

Using the app is a breeze, you tap on the big microphone icon to record your voice message, then tap another to share via SMS or Facebook. You can also attach “gifts” (colorful icons) both free and premium versions to your voice recordings to send with your recordings. Please note you are limited to 1 of each type of gift per day. Premium gifts require you to unlock Voice Share premium a 99 cent in app purchase.

Filed under: Android, General technology, Google, Microsoft, Quick look, Services, Software, Windows, Windows Phone 7, WP7, @VoiceShareApp, Android, Audio, Base 2 Apps LLC, chat, contacts, Email, Facebook, gift, Google, Google messages, Google Voice, greeting, Paul Benjamin, push, push-to-talk, record, SMS, talk, URL, voice, Voice message, voice messaging, voice messaging for Facebook, voice messaging via SMS, Voice Share, VoiceShare, VoiceShare app, Windows Phone, WP7

Instagram Officially Coming to Android, Will AT&T ever launch the Nokia Lumia 900? iPhone 5.1 Update Brings 4G To iPhone Users?

Smartphone Briefs

By Chris Coleman|@PhoneKnack

Instagram, the beloved iOS app that has 27 million registered users has been officially announced for Android. Co-founder Kevin Systrom took to the stage at South By South West (SXSW) to announce that after two years of being an exclusive iOS app that Instagram will be making its way into the lives of Android users.

Systrom gave a brief preview of what Instagram would look like on Android, and had went on to say that, “in some ways, it is better than their iOS app.” The app should be hitting the Google Play store soon.

Filed under: Android, Apple, General technology, Google, iOS, Iphone, Media, Microsoft, Photo, Services, Software, Windows Phone 7, WP7, 4G, Android, announcement, Apple, apple 4s, AT&T, Google, HSPA+, Instagram, iOS, ios 5.1, iPhone, Kevin Systrom, lte 4g, mobile industry, Nokia, nokia lumia 900, official, photo app, release date, rumors, Smartphone, South-by-Southwest, sxsw, US, Windows Mobile, wireless.  3g

Verizon to allow shared Family Data Plans by Mid 2012, Verizon “Loyalty” Offer, Skype arrives on Windows Phone.

Smartphone Briefs

By Chris Coleman|@PhoneKnack

Verizon’s CTO Fran Shammo revealed that Verizon Wireless will be offering shared family data plans to Verizon Wireless customers by the middle of this year. The rumor has been circulating for a while, Shammo said that Verizon has been working on this for a year, so that everything will be smooth once the shared family plans are launched.

Unfortunately the rollout of these shared plans will begin with current 4G subscribers, so 3G users, looks like it’s time to upgrade.

Filed under: Android, General technology, Hardware, Media, Preview, Services, Software, Windows Phone 7, WP7, 3g users, 4g users, beta, Chris Coleman, cto fran shammo, customers, Data, family data, Free, gold version, Google, HTC Corporation, htc radar, loyal, Microsoft, Mobile World Congress, Motorola, MOTOROLA DROID RAZR, MWC, Nokia, nokia lumia 710, nokia lumia 800, plans, rollout, Samsung, Samsung Focus, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, samsung stratosphere, shared data  android, shared family data plans, Skype, upgrade, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, verizon wireless htc titan, Windows Phone, windows phone marketplace

iPhone 5 design rumors, your chance to win a Lumia 800 from Nokia, HTC X looking to steal the show at MWC

Smartphone Briefs

By Chris Coleman|@PhoneKnack

With Mobile World Congress (MWC) rapidly approaching phone leaks abound, MWC is the perfect stage for companies to unveil their products. According to the latest unsubstantiated rumors the iPhone 5 is slightly taller and wider than the 4 and 4S. The front facing camera is also higher resolution on the iPhone 5.

Is Apple looking to shape-up the front facing camera game on smartphones? If these rumors are true, we are on the edge of our seats awaiting further details about the iPhone 5.

If you head on over to Nokia’s Facebook page you will see a contest to win a white Nokia Lumia 800. The game is simple, upon opening the page, you will have 60 seconds to catch a white tile by clicking on it. After catching the tile a score will be displayed and you will be asked to enter your info for a chance to win.

Filed under: Android, Apple, Hardware, iOS, Preview, Services, Software, Windows Phone 7, WP7, Android, Apple, Barcelona, HTC, HTC Corporation, HTC X, iPhone, iPhone 5, Leaks, Mobile World Congress, MWC, Nokia, Nokia Facebook page, Nokia Lumia 800 contest, Samsung

Samsung Galaxy III, Skype & InstaCam for Windows Phone, Blackberry Resurrection?

Smartphone Briefs

By Chris Coleman|@PhoneKnack

Reports have surfaced that the latest edition to the Samsung Galaxy family, the Samsung Galaxy III will measure in at a relatively slim size of  7 mm. The Droid RAZR, which is currently one of the thinnest phones on the market measures in at 7.1 mm, so you can imagine how thin we are talking.

The Samsung Galaxy III is rumored to be released this upcoming May and will feature a 8megapixel rear camera and 2megapixel front-facing camera. Look for the device to run on Google’s latest operating system, Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich). Multiple reports have cited that the Galaxy III will sport 2GB of RAM, have a quad core processor, and will also be 4G LTE compatible.

If this news is all true, the Samsung Galaxy III will be a hard phone to beat this year.

Filed under: Android, Blackberry, General technology, Google, Hardware, Media, Microsoft, Services, Software, Windows Phone 7, WP7, BlackBerry, BlackBerry London, Instagram for Windows, London, Mobile World Congress, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Galaxy S III, Skype, Skype for Windows, Windows Phone

Temple Run to land on Android, Instagram coming to WP7? Motorola will perform live magic show to highlight RAZR MAXX battery life

Smartphone Briefs

By Chris Coleman|@PhoneKnack

The hit iOS game, Temple Run will be making its way to Android this year, says creator, Imangi Studios. The game developers took to their Facebook page  posting a simple status saying, “On a (Samsung) Galaxy not-so-far away. Temple Run Android coming February 2012. We’re so excited to announce this and appreciate all of our fans’ support across both platforms!” The post has accumulated over 1,000 comments and over 6,000 likes showing that Android users are more then ready for Temple Run to make the jump. Temple Run will be debuting in the Android market in February. Now all we need is for Instagram to reveal a set date to join the Android Market and we will be set for the year.

Bil Simser has been working on an unofficial  Instagram program for Windows Phone, titled Metrogram. If you do not know, Instagram is a popular photo app exclusively for the iOS (iPhone, iPod, iPad, etc) that allows you to take pictures and add filters to them. You can then share them with your Instagram followers as well as upload them to Twitter or Facebook. It is unknown if Instagram will accept the development of the Windows Phone app as Bil Simser’s Metrogram program is an unofficial version of the original Instagram application.

Filed under: Android, Hardware, iOS, Services, Software, Windows Phone 7, WP7, Android, Android Market, Battery, battery life, BATTERY POWER, BIL SIMSER, Chris Coleman, CRISS ANGEL, DAVID BLAINE, Droid, Droid RAZR MAXX, Facebook, FEBRUARY, Imangi Studios, Instagram, iOS, IPad, iPhone, IPod, LIVE SHOW, MAGIC, METROGRAM, Microsoft, Motorola, TEMPLE RUN  IPHONE, UNOFFICIAL, Windows, Windows Phone

TECH the HALLS

Electronics gifts don’t have to be budget-busters

by George Heymann

Technology-Headlines

Despite the downturn in the economy, early polling indicates that a majority of consumers — 52 percent — plan to spend the same or more for gifts this holiday season, according to a recent ICM Research report.

Last year, nearly a third of U.S. consumers’ holiday gift-spending budget went to consumer electronics.

I don’t know who the folks are that participated in the ICM poll, but most of my friends and associates have a more conservative budget this holiday season. Keeping in mind that many of us will need to spend less, I wanted to share my picks for hot tech gifts that won’t break the bank or your budget. Happy Holidays!

Filed under: Android, Apple, Blackberry, General technology, Google, Hardware, Ipad, Iphone, Media, Services, Windows Phone 7, WP7, Android, Apple TV, AT&T, BlackBerry, Christmas and holiday season, E-book readers, E-ink ebook readers for less than $100, Electronic gifts, feature, featured, Freehand gloves, Google TV, high tech gifts that won't break the bank, holiday season, ICM Research, IPad, iPhone, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod Shuffle, Kindle Fire, Logitech Revue, Low cost high tech gifts, MP3 Player, Music, Nook tablet, Roku, Roku 2, Roku HD, Roku XD, Roku XD/S, Sprint, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, The Roku Player, tv shows, Ultraviolet, UV light, Verizon, Video streaming, Violight cellphone sanitizer, Windows Phone, Windows Phone 7, windows phone mango