Apple releases second major update to Mac OS X Leopard
Apple has released Mac OS X version 10.5.2, the second major update to Leopard, which brings with it 80 specific fixes and improvements. Most notably, wireless connectivity is now more reliable and stability has been improved when running third-party applications.
Apple has also added an option to turn off the much-maligned translucent menu bar that was introduced in Leopard, along with adding a Time Machine menu bar option. 18 issues have been addresses in Mail, while another 8 were fixed in Finder. Mac OS X 10.5.2 is available now via Software Update.
LiMo wants to make Linux a mobile phone platform
Today at 3GSM in Barcelona, LiMo announced the release of a software development kit with the ultimate goal of providing developers with a completely open, Linux-based alternative to mobile other operating systems.
"To reduce both complexity and time needed for supporting latest mobile software, demand for more sophisticated operating systems on mobile phones has grown," according to a white paper from the Linux Mobile Foundation, which is responsible for LiMo, a standardized Linux distribution for the mobile space. "An operating system that supports applications developed by third parties, and provides an open development and multitasking environment, is a key requirement to fulfill these changes and demands in the mobile market."
Samsung sued over incompatible Blu-ray players
It's a story that's been hard to ignore, and now a class action lawsuit has been filed: early Blu-ray players had compatibility problems when new features and DRM were introduced into Blu-ray movies.
While Blu-ray Disc Association representatives told BetaNews at CES that early adopters "knew what they were getting into" regarding the changes to the platform, some apparently didn't. Bob McGovern, who has become the lead plaintiff in the case, says his BD-P1200 player from Samsung was unable to view "numerous Blu-ray disc titles."
Motorola produces a Linux-based slider with an open platform
Today Motorola debuted what some believe could be its last new phones before cutting its handset division free, including a Linux-based slider.
Motorola's Wi-Fi enabled slider, the MOTO Z6w, can simultaneously connect on GSM for voice and the 802.11b/g frequency for data. It comes with a 2.0 megapixel camera and 14 frame per second video camera, and offers up to 4 GB of optional removable memory.
Why you can't have Vista SP1 yet: Microsoft fixing driver problem
Despite being released to manufacturing last week, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not being made available to all customers because Microsoft is trying to resolve an issue in which hardware devices may stop functioning after SP1 is installed.
Apparently, there is a problem that can occur when the operating system re-installs drivers after SP1 is loaded onto a system. Microsoft says the drivers themselves are not at fault, but ostensibly because Vista SP1 is already finalized, the company has opted to work with hardware manufacturers to implement fixes.
ARM is not showing an Android phone at 3GSM
Sometimes so much speculation surrounds an event that some might feel it's safe to simply presume it happened at the time predicted. But ARM confirmed to BetaNews it has not produced a portable handset prototype that runs Android.
Despite an abundance of speculation over the weekend that leading mobile processor manufacturer ARM would be demonstrating one of the first of many prototype handsets running Google's Android platform at the 3GSM Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and despite the proliferation of photographs this morning purporting to actually be of that prototype, ARM's chief US spokesperson told BetaNews this afternoon that no such demonstration took place.
Microsoft buys Sidekick phone creator Danger
The mobile device company responsible for the Sidekick smart phone, and originally co-founded by Andy Rubin -- who now heads up an open source project at Google -- will be joining the Microsoft arsenal in the mobile space.
Although stymied for the moment in its multi-billion dollar bid for Yahoo, Microsoft forged ahead over the weekend in building up its cache of buyouts, leveraging the remote venue of a mobile conference in Barcelona, Spain to announce the purchase of Danger, Inc., the company that created the Sidekick smart phone.
Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1 takes on iPhone, HTC Touch
On the first official day of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Sony Ericsson showed off its forthcoming touchscreen phone, the Xperia X1, its first Windows Mobile device.
It is quite a big sentiment for an equally large development development for both Sony Ericsson and Microsoft. With this phone manufacturer now on board, all of the top five cellular hardware producers except for Nokia now make a Windows Mobile handset.
Valentine's Day Zunes may not arrive in time, but will be free
Microsoft has sent a letter to buyers of its pink Zune, because the special edition player may not arrive in time for Valentine's Day. The Zune was announced just three weeks ago and has an engraved heart on the back. Apparently, the demand was too high to get all orders out on time.
"Due to some issues in our fulfillment center there remains a chance we will miss getting your Zune to you by February 14th," Microsoft wrote to buyers. The company will be refunding the entire purchase price of the special Zune, which should make customers happy even if the iPod alternative arrives after Valentine's Day.
AOL's behavioral ad service to premiere under 'open' mobile platform
After spending the last few years in a whirlwind of activity that, in the end, got it just as far along as if it had been in limbo, a kick in the tail by new Time Warner CEO Bewkes has AOL back in gear, with a mobile premiere for its new ad platform.
Back when Jeffrey Bewkes was being groomed to succeed Richard Parsons as CEO of Time Warner, it was plainly obvious his pet project upon assuming the helm would be AOL -- specifically, either giving it a specific mission or being done with it. At lightning speed, Bewkes has opted for the former strategy; and this morning in Barcelona, AOL is making clear it's no longer a dial-up service. It's a platform for advertising, and mobile is where the action is.
AOL: The ideal Microsoft deal-breaker for Yahoo?
Over the weekend, reports surfaced that Yahoo's new financial advisors want it to chase down a merger with AOL to counter Microsoft's multi-billion-dollar bid. But can AOL parent Time Warner afford Yahoo's financial freight?
After Yahoo gave a definite "no" to Microsoft's multibillion dollar buyout bid on Friday, indications emerged over the weekend that AOL might come to the rescue as Yahoo's fabled white knight. But after just turning in less-than-stellar fourth quarter 2007 financial results, can Time Warner, AOL's parent company under newly anointed CEO Jeff Bewkes, afford to take on Yahoo's freight?
Broadcom's Android alternative: An SoC supporting Symbian, Linux, WM6
In an attempt to blockade Google's Android platform at the big Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, Broadcom is putting forth a chip with some real ammunition behind it, supporting the existing big three mobile OSes all at once.
Perhaps the least likely partners you might think you'd ever see on a joint ticket together may not end up being Google and Yahoo after all. In Barcelona this morning, Broadcom -- which makes chipsets for many brands of mobile phones and smart handsets -- threw a big lasso around Symbian, mobile Linux (LiMo), and Windows Mobile, corralling them under a collective tent it calls "OpenOS."
Starbucks drops T-Mobile, offers free Wi-Fi from AT&T
Customers who buy a cup of joe using a Starbucks card will now receive 2 hours of free Wi-Fi at the ubiquitous coffee shop thanks to a new partnership with AT&T.
Starbucks is ending its six-year relationship with T-Mobile, and inking a deal with AT&T instead. Starting this spring, AT&T will be providing the Internet access at over 7,000 Starbucks locations across the United States and in the process making the Wi-Fi more attractive to customers who balked at paying T-Mobile's $10 per-day fee.
Nokia officially unveils leaked N96 handset, new services
Nokia is making a compelling presentation at the Mobile World Congress today in Barcelona, Spain, unveiling the progeny of its high-end N95, as well as the beta of its new mapping system, and launching Share on Ovi, an integrated media-sharing site.
Keeping with the leitmotif of Nokia's "portable multimedia computers", the N96 carries with it a long list of features, some of which were accidentally leaked several months ago. This slider offers W-CDMA HSDPA 900/2100 MHz connectivity with dual transfer of voice and packet data when used in a GSM/EDGE network, EGPRS/GPRS, WiFi connectivity, and even a DVB-H mobile TV tuner, perfect for use in the EU.
Netflix to cease offering HD DVD movie rentals
In a win for Blu-ray and a loss for consumer choice, Netflix said Monday it will no longer be stocking new HD DVD movies for its subscribers to rent.
The leading online movie rental company cited "a clear signal from the industry" for deciding to go Blu-ray only, noting that four of the six major Hollywood studios are backing Sony's format. Universal and Paramount are the two studios supporting HD DVD exclusively.
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