ViewSonic ViewPad 7 Is Real, See At IFA 2010, In Berlin

ViewSonic ViewPad 7 http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
If you thought DELL Streak was a cool Android Tablet cum Phone, you can freeze yourself with the just announced ViewSonic Viewpad 7, a 7 inch dual cam Android Froyo based device with 3G capabilities.
It said to be pocket-sized, I guess it is, if you are a giant or wearing one of those below the hip, almost falling down, HipHop Pants.

"We are proud to announce another world first at Viewsonic. 3G phone functionality combined with dual cameras gives the ability for use of Android apps to use augmented reality or video calling on the move with the benefit of an excellent 7" screen. The ViewPad 7 is aimed at users who require the 'always on' connectivity they are used to from a mobile phone with a more agreeable screen size for longer term use. says Derek Wright, European Product Marketing Manager.

But much less bulkier than the iPad to use on the go. With a full size SIM slot, Bluetooth built in, and WiFI capabilities, you are open to make instant messaging, text/mms messaging, VOIP and standard voice calls with the Viewpad 7, when you are not browsing the web. Well it is an Android, you can do all that together with multitasking capabilities of Android 2.2 (Froyo). WIth it's GPS capabilities it is unlikely that you get lost either.
It said to cost around £350.


Press Release;
31st August 2010 – ViewSonic Europe ushers in a new product category to its portfolio with the introduction of a premium capacitive multi-touch screen 7" tablet.

Viewpad 7

The ViewPad 7 is a world's first 7" Android 2.2 (Froyo) tablet with phone functionality, multi-tasking capabilities and front and back-facing cameras, VGA and 3MP, resolutions respectively.

Within a lightweight, pocket-sized design, this device is ideal for anyone who needs a mobile connection to the world via email and video and wants to enjoy a wide-range of applications.

With full 3G and phone functionality, a full size SIM card slot and integrated Bluetooth connectivity the ViewPad 7 will support instant messaging, text/mms messaging, VOIP and standard voice calls all in a single device.

It features an easy to use familiar interface with a G-sensor that reorients the screen depending on how the device is held and access to the Google Android app store featuring over 100,000 applications.

Additional features includes a Micro SD slot for up to 32GB of storage; Wi-Fi and 3G functionality for web browsing and USB connectivity. It also boasts advanced features including Assisted GPS and an office document reader, along with the capability for hand-written note taking. There is also an e-book reader, when combined with the crystal clear LED screen, makes the ViewPad 7 an invaluable travelling companion.

Superior to other tablet offerings with resistive touch technology the ViewPad 7 incorporates a capacitive multi-touch screen and is a portable, easy-to-use and competitively priced device that will transform the way that consumers read, watch, listen to and interact with media in a mobile environment.

"We are proud to announce another world first at Viewsonic. 3G phone functionality combined with dual cameras gives the ability for use of Android apps to use augmented reality or video calling on the move with the benefit of an excellent 7" screen" says Derek Wright, European Product Marketing Manager. "The ViewPad 7 is aimed at users who require the 'always on' connectivity they are used to from a mobile phone with a more agreeable screen size for longer term use."

ViewSonic will be showing the ViewPad 7 at its stand at IFA 2010, in Berlin, Hall 14.1 stand 107.

-ENDS-

For further information and review samples -available early October, please contact: -

Paul Kinsler
PK Media Solutions
paul@pkmedia.co.uk
Tel: +44 20 8449 1636
Via Endgadget

Pay-as-you-go 4G Service From ClearWIre

Clearwire launches pay-as-you-go 4G service http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
With the introduction of Rover Stick and Rover Puck, priced at $100, the "Stick" is a USB modem for one machine, and it's compatible with Windows as well as OS X. The "Puck" is a pricier $150, but provides wireless access for up to eight device, Clearwire is offering pay-as-you-go 4G service in many areas. (check out the coverage at www.rover.com/coverage )
Rover is priced at $5/day, $20/week, or $50/month for unlimited 4G internet usage. Depending on the retail channel, customers will be able to purchase a Rover Re-Up PIN code or physical Rover Re-Up card in $20 or $50 denominations. Rover Re-Up is available online at rover.com, at all retail outlets carrying the Rover Puck or Rover Stick, as well as at Rover Re-Up specific retail locations. Rover does not require a credit card to activate service and is designed to bring broadband internet to a new audience. 

Press Release; 

KIRKLAND, Wash., Aug 30, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR) today unveiled Rover(TM): the nation's first pay-as-you-go 4G mobile broadband service for tech-savvy Gen Y customers. The Rover brand is designed for digitally addicted youth who refuse to settle for long-term contracts, overpriced internet service, or speeds slower than what they've become accustomed to at home.

Rover is available in all of Clearwire's 49 4G markets across the U.S. at rover.com. Rover is also available at CLEAR stores, Best Buy stores and select independent wireless dealers in Houston and St. Louis.

"Simple, commitment-free wireless services are wildly popular with the Gen Y crowd, and Rover provides them with the first pay-as-you-go unlimited mobile internet offering at 4G speeds," said Mike Sievert, chief commercial officer for Clearwire. "We've built Rover from the ground up with products, pricing and features designed specifically to serve a younger market who knows how you get connected is just as important as where. Expanding our offers to meet this underserved segment is an important new business opportunity for Clearwire as we continue to extend our leadership in mobile broadband."

"The opportunity for pay-as-you-go mobile broadband should not be underestimated," said Carrie MacGillvray, program manager and wireless analyst at IDC. "Prepaid - or pay-as-you-go - data provides an option for consumers to experiment with the power of mobile broadband without being saddled with a two-year commitment. A prepaid mobile broadband service can offer consumers the ability to access and share Internet service, at home or on the go, in an affordable way."
PUCKS AND STICKS

Friends with Benefits

Rover's flagship device is the Rover Puck: an ergonomically designed portable Wi-Fi hotspot that lets you share broadband access, or "Puck", with up to eight devices at home, out on the town or nearly anywhere the feeling strikes you. The Rover Puck can easily slip into a purse or backpack and serve as an on-the-go broadband access point for devices such as laptops, netbooks, the iPad(TM), the iPod touch(R), smartphones, PSP(R) systems, game consoles, and Wi-Fi enabled digital cameras, among others. Users have the option to connect up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously.

The Rover Puck features mobile download speeds of three to six mbps, with bursts over 10 mbps (up to 4x faster than conventional 3G), using Clearwire's 4G network. The Rover Puck is available today for $149.99 (plus tax).

Going Solo

The Rover Stick(TM) is a personal 4G USB modem that connects any notebook, laptop or desktop to the Rover 4G Service. The Rover Stick is compatible with MacBook(R) and MacBook(R) Pro laptops using Mac OS X, as well as netbooks and notebooks running Windows(R) XP, Windows Vista(R) and Windows(R) 7. Offering the same super-fast internet speed as the Rover Puck, the Rover Stick is available today for $99.99 (plus tax).

No Commitment Issues

New users receive two free days of service to ensure Rover's metro-focused 4G coverage fits their mobile lifestyle. Rover has a 14-day no-hassle return policy for any device purchases made on rover.com or in CLEAR stores.

Rover is priced at $5/day, $20/week, or $50/month for unlimited 4G internet usage. Depending on the retail channel, customers will be able to purchase a Rover Re-Up PIN code or physical Rover Re-Up card in $20 or $50 denominations. Rover Re-Up is available online at rover.com, at all retail outlets carrying the Rover Puck or Rover Stick, as well as at Rover Re-Up specific retail locations. Rover does not require a credit card to activate service and is designed to bring broadband internet to a new audience.

GENERATION Y

The Rover brand is designed for a demographic that has grown up in a wireless world. They manage their life through the internet, and their devices signify status. Rover provides products and service to meet their need for all things internet.

"Rover's target audience has never known life without internet. They love their devices and they want as much speed and capacity as possible, without the limits and commitments of most mobile options," said Seth Cummings, GM, Rover. "Rover offers iconic devices along with straight-forward pricing, and plans where unlimited truly means unlimited. It is not in Rover's DNA to be constraining, confusing or complex."

MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Launch campaign

Rover's initial communications will showcase the dramatic ways in which 4G mobile broadband can change human behavior in previously unimagined ways. More information is available at www.evology.com.

Life @ 4G

Rover.com invites users to experience "Life @ 4G." Rover-sponsored athletes and music artists will be profiled, showing how Rover influences their careers and lives as they live Life @ 4G. Sporting a Rover wingsuit, base jumper JT Holmes, who travels up to 150 mph during freefall proximity flying, lives life with the Rover Puck and no strings attached.

Rover Activity Badges

Rover believes in loyalty, and will introduce a badging system that rewards users for participating in Rover activities. For example, the "Trendsetter" badge recognizes early adopters of Rover in each market, and the "Friends with Benefits" badge acknowledges users who refer friends to the Rover service. Badges have become wildly popular on location-based apps and are expected to resonate with the youth consumer and motivate usage.

THE BIG PICTURE

4G Network of Networks

Rover is the newest brand connected to the Clearwire 4G network, joining brands which include CLEAR(R), Sprint 4G, Comcast High-Speed 2Go, Time Warner Cable Roadrunner 4G, Best Buy Connect and Cbeyond. Today, the Clearwire 4G "network of networks" is available in select cities throughout the United States, where approximately 56 million people live.

Detailed coverage maps of service availability can be found at www.rover.com/coverage.

For press, broadcast and bloggers: Video footage can be linked from www.youtube.com/rover4g. Product and brand images and company logos can be downloaded from the Clearwire Newsroom at www.clearwire.com/newsroom. To subscribe to Rover RSS news feed, click here.

For more information about Rover, visit www.rover.com. Clearwire company information is available at http://www.clearwire.com.

Did A Droid Loosen Some Verizon Nuts?

#verizon
Droid Ad by Verizon http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Or perhaps that is how they always were;



Gizmodo

Search Social Media's Real Time Content With Google Realtime Search

#realtime

Google does all sort of things with search and one of these things are realtime search. It was introduced last December but remained in the back servers of Google but accessible to anyone who wanted.
Today Google Realtime Search is getting it's own page and will allow all of us to search through the realtime content from sources like Twitter, Friendfeed etc.
There are many refinements that you could add to your realtime search and it is not hard work at all.
Instead of reading about it, you should try it. If the page is not showing up yet follow this link to see how it is coming.
You can also read more and see a video by following the link below.
Official Google Blog: Google Realtime Search: a new home with new tools

Is Google Eating AT&T's Lunch?

Call Directly From GMail. Free Phone Calls from Google http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
I have been using GMail since April of 2004. I think it was a great change from the usual email programs and online services, I was used to.
 I have used GMail voice chat and  video chat, I even had video conferencing through that GMail feature. The caveat was, all parties needed to be near a computer.
But now all those have changed, you can call any number directly from your GMail Browser Tab (Yes I have a permanent GMail tab on my my desktop(s) ) as seen below.

Calls within USA and to Canada are free at the moment and the rest of the world is accessed for very low rates, just like the Google Voice. You can compare the rates for all the countries here, if you wanted to and you will notice that Google have worked hard to keep them low. We tried Japan mobile for one fourth of what AT&T charges us for a landline call. The call experience was alright. Would I use it again, yes, my partner already added credit through Google Voice and I already have Google Voice credit.

For people like us, who already have a Google Voice number, the out going calls will show as if they are coming from the Google number. If you decided to, you can also receive your Google Voice calls through GMail as well, it is pretty simple;

To receive calls in Gmail:

1. Make at least one outbound call from Gmail.
2. In Google Voice, navigate to Voice settings under the Settings link.
3. In the Phones tab, click the check box next to Google Chat.

If you wish to edit the settings for this forwarding phone, click the Edit button. You can disable Gmail as a forwarding phone simply by unchecking the box next to Google Chat.

(Official instructions)

All in all Google is going somewhere with all this and yes, I want Google to have AT&T' lunch. Now do you want Google Voice on your iPhones Steve?

Netflix On iPhone And iPod

Netflix on iPhone iPod http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Now you can add more to the load on AT&T networks with Netflix on iPhone and iPod touch. I think it would be enjoyable over the WiFi but I do not know about 3G as I have not had much luck with it. At least iPhone and iPod users now can stand abreast with iPad users watching Netflix movies..
The App is available at iTunes Store and Netflix members can watch TV shows or Movies.
Here is the Netflix press release;

LOS GATOS, Calif., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today announced the availability of its free Netflix App for iPhone and iPod touch, allowing Netflix members on plans starting at just $8.99 a month to instantly watch a vast selection of TV episodes and movies streamed to their iPhone or iPod touch at no additional cost.
The Netflix App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.
“Apple has changed the game for mobile devices,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer. “We’re excited that our members can now carry Netflix around in their pockets and instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed from Netflix right to their iPhone or iPod touch.”
The Netflix App delivers a high-quality viewing experience, a broad array of movie and TV choices and a clean, intuitive interface. It is available via both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. TV episodes and movies are conveniently organized into a variety of categories based on members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant Queues. Members can choose a movie or TV episode from any of the lists and just tap the innovative Multi-Touch user interface to watch instantly or to save the title for viewing later.
Additionally, users have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream, and stopping at any time. When users want to start watching again, the video stream starts exactly where it was stopped, even on a different device capable of streaming from Netflix.
The Netflix App supports any iPhone or iPod touch device running iOS version 3.13 or later.

Images from CrunchGear

Summer Holiday seem to last!

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Hello everyone, we are enjoying our Summer holidays  and promise to return next week with vigor! Take care.

Android Developers Get Nexus One Developer Phone

Android Developers Blog: Nexus One Developer Phone http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Google has announced that the unlocked Google Nexus One (Google Droid) is available to registered developers for $529.00
The Nexus One phone comes with Android 2.2 (Froyo) on modern hardware. Developers could use either SDK, NDK to develop applications for the Android platform. Other than being a developer platform for Android arena, Nexus One could also be used as a regular smartphone.
Nexus one accessories are available, either from HTC's European online store. or the HTC US store
Happy developing.