1) Website- I see a lot of developers that have a single blog page for all their apps. Look at the format of google play and match your website as close as you can to what google play has. Why? Customers are use to a certain format and like things that look familiar . Think like a customer when building a website and put the same effort as you were in programming your apps.

2)Social Networking-Make a twitter and facebook account. Any app release you have or updates post them.You can even interact with customers and get feedback directly from them. Use this as a tool to learn from real people and adjust your game or app based on feedback.

3)Make Niche Apps- There is no way indie developers can match the power of big companies. Rather than try to take on gameloft or EA focus on niche apps. Small apps like car locators or how to cook books. Small apps like these have been know to get more downloads vs making a game going against a bigger company. Small focused apps or simple games with great graphics can draw people to your app.

4)Post in Forums- Post your game or app in several forums. Be careful as many forums are not really indie friendly. Most forums have a section where you can post games or apps away from where regular forum users cant see. Also you might run into jealous developers who have nothing better to do then degrade your game. Post in several forums to bring in users but remember this is only a small part of your marketing efforts. This forums is very developer friendly though.

5)Rate Me Button- In your apps your should have a rate me button and a googleplay button that points to only your apps in google play. You can also have a button to your website to give the customer a more personal touch.

6) Paid vs. Free- I would suggest you make 4 to 5 free apps before making a paid app. Most customers do not want to pay and only enjoy free apps.

Apple Corp. filed its lawsuit in April 2011 and engaged legions of the country’s highest-paid patent lawyers to demand $2.5 billion from its top smartphone competitor. Samsung Electronics Co. fired back with its own lawsuit seeking $399 million.

During closing arguments, Apple attorney Harold McElhinny claimed Samsung was having a “crisis of design” after the 2007 launch of the iPhone, and executives with the South Korean company were determined to illegally cash in on the success of the revolutionary device.

Samsung’s lawyers countered that it was simply and legally giving consumers what they want: Smart phones with big screens. They said Samsung didn’t violate any of Apple’s patents and further alleged innovations claimed by Apple were actually created by other companies.

Samsung conceded that Apple makes great products but said it doesn’t have a monopoly on the design of rectangle phones with rounded corners that it claimed it created.

The trial came after each side filed a blizzard of legal motions and refused advisories by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh to settle the dispute out of court.

Samsung has sold 22.7 million smartphones and tablets that Apple claimed uses its technology. McElhinny said those devices accounted for $8.16 billion in sales since June 2010.

Apple and Samsung combined account for more than half of global smartphone sales.

As part of its lawsuit, Apple also demanded that Samsung pull its most popular cellphones and computer tablets from the U.S. market.

From the beginning, legal experts and Wall Street analysts viewed Samsung as the underdog in the case. Apple’s headquarters is a mere 10 miles from the courthouse, and jurors were picked from the heart of Silicon Valley where Apple’s late founder Steve Jobs is a revered technological pioneer.

While the legal and technological issues were complex, patent expert Alexander I. Poltorak previously said the case would likely boil down to whether jurors believe Samsung’s products look and feel almost identical to Apple’s iPhone and iPad.

To overcome that challenge at trial, Samsung’s lawyers argued that many of Apple’s claims of innovation were either obvious concepts or ideas stolen from Sony Corp. and others. Experts called that line of argument a high-risk strategy because of Apple’s reputation as an innovator.

Apple’s lawyers argued there is almost no difference between Samsung products and those of Apple, and presented internal Samsung documents they said showed it copied Apple designs. Samsung lawyers insisted that several other companies and inventors had previously developed much of the Apple technology at issue.

The U.S. trial is just the latest skirmish between the two tech giants over product designs. Previous legal battles were fought in Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany.

The U.S. case is one of some 50 lawsuits among myriad telecommunications companies jockeying for position in the burgeoning $219 billion market for smartphones and computer tablets.

source: By PAUL ELIAS Associated Press

She’s the T-Mobile Girl, a.k.a. Carly Foulkes, and last time you saw her she was dressed in pink and using a cheerful approach to sell the carrier’s services. The darker image in the new ad spots–dubbed the “alter ego” campaign—are part of T-Mobile’s effort to rebrand itself as more “edgy” and in the process attract more customers.

T-Mobile wants to make a point about 4G speeds. In a hotly contested battle, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile are wooing new customers with the promise of data speeds around 5-20Mbps or higher. Yet, claiming to offer 4G and delivering that speed are different things. No carrier has consistently provided super-fast speeds in every town, especially if you connect in a busy area or far from the tower. We know this to be true from the hotly contested debates on our forums.

But, as to marketing specifically, how do you think T-Mobile is doing? Do you like the new look, or would you rather Carly went back to her spring pink dress?

The latest Nielsen survey released shows some pretty amazing trends in the cell phone industry. First to note is that smartphones now account for 50% of all phone purchases in the U.S., marking a 38% increase over last year at this time. According to Nielsen, this growth is attributed to increasing smartphone adoption, with more than two thirds of the phones purchased in the last three months being smartphones.

What could be considered even more of a telling sign of things to come are the numbers per platform. Android remained unchanged with 48% of the market share, with iOS coming in at 43% and the remaining 9% comprised of RIM, Nokia and Microsoft. The increase of iOS and the unchanged share of Android smartphones in the survey show that these two powerhouses form nothing short of a duopoly in smartphone purchases, in the U.S. RIM slipped to an all time low of 5% with all ofthers comprising the remaining 4%.

While Android is at the top and iOS is steadily coming up behind them, what does this leave for RIM, Nokia and Microsoft? Will they be able to survive the loss of so many new customers? Do they have something up their sleeves to turn things around or are we destined to witness their collapse in the cell phone industry? Which OS do you use and are you tempted to try anything else? If so, which ones?

Give us your thoughts below!

Source: Nielsen Survey

For our first contest of this year, we would like to do a photo contest. Please post a picture of yourself along with a PPCGeeks logo in an interesting location around the country, where you live, work and play. The attached image is your official PPCG logo. Print it out, write your username on it and start taking those pics. Good luck! 

Criteria:

• Pictures are due in this thread March GOTM Contest (Picture Entries only) by March 26th 2012
• Winner of the March Contest and details of the April Contest will be announced on April 1st 2012.
  
• Please make sure the pictures are appropriate and family friendly
• PPCGeeks staff will judge the pictures based on creativity, content, and location.
• One entry per contestant. Contestant may edit their post with another pic before deadline.

Winner gets:

• Yellow username color change for the month as designation of GOTM
• Gift certificate to the carrier of their choice in the amount of $20.00 and
• Entrance into the running for the Yearly Award.

Samsung if finally pushing ICS to the Galaxy Sll in select countries today, then across the U.K. starting in about a week.  As far as the U.S. variants go, it will be coming along “soon.”  ICS came out about five months ago and people who own Samsung and HTC devices have been patiently waiting for their phones to get this awesome update, and it looks like Samsung is finally ready to deliver.

If you do happen to live in a country that is updating, you need to download Kies and connecting your device.

Stay tuned to see when the U.S. will get their ICS updates (or maybe Jellybean will be out by then!)

Well, what we basically thought the new iPad was going to be is basically what it is.  Apple is calling it “the new iPad” so we’ll see if that name sticks or if you will actually have to say that when asking for it at the store.  Let’s talk specs:

*4G/LTE capable on Verizon and AT&T, and of course HSDPA and HSPA+

*5MP rear camera with “advanced optics,” all the others sensors and such, and 1080p HD recording.

*A5X dual-core CPU with a quad-core GPU means 4x the graphics performance and a faster chip while maintaining the same battery life

*Retina display at 2048×1536 means everything looks more crisp and clear and movies are going to look awesome on 3.1 million pixels.

*Form factor remains identical to the iPad2

You can get the 16GB WiFi model for $499 up to $829 for the 64GB WiFi + 3G/4G model.  This also drops the iPad2 price by $100 if you’re looking to get a good deal.  You can pre-order the new iPad online right now and be one of the first to own it, iPads generally sell out fast when they get released.

For our first contest of this year, we would like to do a photo contest. Please post a picture of yourself along with a PPCGeeks logo in an interesting location around the country, where you live, work and play. The attached image is your official PPCG logo. Print it out, write your username on it and start taking those pics. Good luck!

Criteria:

• Pictures are due in this thread by March 26th 2012
• Winner of the March contest and details of the April contest will be announced on April 1st 2012
  
• Please make sure the pictures are appropriate and family friendly
• PPCGeeks staff will judge the pictures based on creativity, content, and location.
• One entry per contestant.  Contestant may edit their post with another pic before deadline.

Stock Removed Apps

1/1/12 Updates v2.5

-Added ROM tweaks (Thx Romanbb & Flashinglights)
-Added Google Music
-Added Chrome-to-Phone

-Updated MyBackup Root to 3.0.6
-Updated Market to v3.4.4
-Updated Wifi Tether to 3.1B9
-Updated Adfree to 0.8.43
-Updated FaceBook to 1.8.1
-Updated CacheCleaner to 2.15
-Updated File Expert 4.0.6
-Updated Google Plus 2.3.0.240337
-Updated Google Maps to 6.0.3
-Updated Gmail to 2.3.5.2
-Updated FlashPlayer to 11.1.111.5
-Updated Sprint VVM to 5.1.0.62
-Updated SuperUser to 3.0.7
-Updated Titanium Backup to 4.6.7

Be sure to check out his thread here. Many thanks to the hours that he has spent building these Rom’s, and supporting our users.

With that said, PPCGeeks is proud to announce several contests for our members this year starting in March of 2012. We appreciate your interest in our site and your continued participation and support. Let’s get to the details!

Contest Details:

PPCGeeks will award a member “Geek of the Month” (GOTM) based on contests announced each month. Monthly winners will receive the following:

• Yellow username color change for the month as designation of GOTM
• Gift certificate to the carrier of their choice in the amount of $20.00 and
• Entrance into the running for the Yearly Award.

• Username color change for one year displaying their distinction.
• Gift certificate for $250.00 to the carrier of their choice to buy/upgrade a device or whatever they so choose.

User jmart518 has released his latest ROM for the HTC Imagio called  Project: Teya 2.0.2 RC.  This is one clean looking ROM. In this ROM he has decided to go with both Sense 2.5 and Titanium.

I now introduce Project: Teya WWE for the HTC Imagio! A WM COM3 (aka 6.5.3) build, focused on speed, clean looks and an overall smooth feel. Both Sense 2.5 and Titanium are included (I like to often switch between the two). Consider this ROM to be “cutting-edge” I include all the latest and greatest working packages and sys available.

**Note: I include HTC Messaging, what this means is:
-You must have a SIM card installed to use HTC Messaging Service
-Messaging will give you a text when you receive a Voicemail and another after you check it. This is a well known and obnoxious feature associated with the latest HTC messaging and I am still working on a solution.
-Verizon MMS configurations will be automatically configured at first boot, so you will no longer need to configure them yourself.

If you own an HTC Imagio go check this ROM out http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/imagio-development/137641-rom-project-teya-2-0-2-rc-12-jan-2012-a.html

Strongsteve has decided to host his latest latest ROM for the Epic 4G Touch over here at PPCGeeks dubbed [ROM][Odexed Blue][Updated 1/22][EL29][NoCIQ, 1x/3G, 4g Hotspot, Power Options]

Got Odex ? ?

– ROM is:

– Base is Stock EL29 [ OS 2.3.6 ] – Thanks Calkulin
– Completly ODEXED system for smooth speed and optimized Dalvik
– VERY BLUE themed… if you don’t like blue, this rom is NOT for you. Please do NOT ask me to make other colors
– 1x/3G Mod – Thanks Nivron
– Hotspot Hack 3g/4g – Thanks Necrosan and HUGE thanks to Maddoggin for 4G with hotspot
– No CIQ natively – Thanks to Samsung
– zImage – Rogue Stock EL29 v1.1.4 – Thanks Steady Hawkin
– Odexed LauncherPro included in system/app if you choose to use it
– Odexed GoLauncher included in system/app if you choose to use it
– Start up sound removed
– Charger plug-in sound removed
– DRM removed
– Rotation Mod (Removed because of issues) FLASHABLE ZIP ATTACHED Beware it may cause inverted images
– dexopt-wrapper binary placed in system/bin for easy odexing from terminal
– Odexed Silent Camera with volume rocker shutter
– CRT Animation
Download/Install Spare Parts, Set Transition Animations to FAST, Window Animations to FAST for NO CRT – – NORMAL for CRT
– Extended power options (reboot, recovery, download) – Huge thanks to Crawrj for helping me with this!
– MMS with 2MB Limit and Compression – Thanks Calkulin
– UA Browser Mod allows for desktop or mobile browsing – Thanks nobrakes
– TouchWiz launcher displays 5 dock icons & 5×5 app drawer – FULL Credit goes to Calkulin
– Several apps themed with Blue icons
– Samsung Galaxy S2 Boot and Shutdown Animations
– Extended Toggles including 4G – Thanks gtg465x
– PNG Optimized

Feel free to check out this ROM for yourself http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=2165419#post2165419

Tommytomatoe has just released his EVO Classic – Sense 1.0 Redefined and if I still had an EVO this is one ROM I would be flashing. His intent behind making this ROM was to make a highly customized, fast, and optimized ROM. This is what came of it.

If you feel the urge to use any of my mods, apks, jars, or files – please link back to this Original thread. Thanks for your consideration! Also, this ROM was completed and optimized using Android-Utility.
The Goods
Full Feature List <- Click Here!
Hightlights

• Rosie Ghost Edition – with on-the-fly Tweaks Remapping for Left and Right Buttons
• Extended Quick Settings
• Apks Unique and Optimized
• Smali Debugging Removed
• Statusbar Tweaks, by Romanbb
• CRT On/Off – able to toggle on/off
• 4 Full Themes
• Quick Settings
• CIQ Removed
• Native ScreenCapture

v0.0.6 – January 11, 2011 – Supermagic Preview

• Detailed Changelog
• Enabled shutdown animations
• Added ICS wallpapers
• Added some awesome wallpapers
• Added some hidden MMS settings
• Changed default bootanimation
• Fixed Browser force close issue
• Completely rebase of apks
• Completely re-optimized pngs
• Added Classic IME – thanks to Steven Lin and Kommodore for theming it red

v0.0.5 – December 27, 2011 – Ecstatic – Finale

• Changelog
• Everything in v0.0.1, v0.0.2, v0.0.3, and v0.0.4
  v0.0.5 Finale – 12.27.2011
• Added MIUI Battery Bar – Thanks go to Pvy
• Integrated Classic Tweaks with battery bar settings
• Added Extended Quick Settings – Thanks skyraider for original code
• Removed Kindle App
• Removed Quick Office App
• Removed SMS Popup
  v0.0.5 Beta-003 – 12.07.2011
• Fixed Bluetooth File Sharing capabilities
• EPST from Android 2.1
• Added ICS Animations
• Added White Overscroll
• Updated Netflix to v1.5.2 – thanks Dblfstr
  v0.0.5 Beta-002 – 12.06.2011
• Updated superuser
• Updated market to 3.3.12
• Added wget
• Changed “clear” button string
• Changed usb icon
• Removed astro
• Added es file explorer
• Updated all market apps
• Optimized bootanimation
• Removed bootanimation sound, but can be changed
  v0.0.5 Beta-001 – 12.05.2011
• Added video Gtalk
• Updated kernel to latest HTC stock kernel
• Added flash_image binary
• Added older reboot binary [ thanks flipz ]
• Added Tweaks entry in Settings
• Added ClassicUpdater – now you can download mods and themes directly from app! [ thanks cyanogen for source code, thanks myn for links to tips, and thanks flipz for reboot binary and tips ]
• How to configure the updater
• Disabled FOTA
• Reordered Settings Menu
• Fixed auto-birghtness sensitivity issue

v0.0.4 – November 15, 2011 – Harmony – Expected Delivery time: 3pm EST November 15, 2011

• Everything in v0.0.1, v0.0.2, and v0.0.3
• Dual Rosie Remap [ via Tweaks and LaunchKey Classic – modified by yours truly ][ LaunchKey provided by Beansoft, feel free to purchase the updated donate version in the market, but it will not have the changes I put into the free version ]
• Clear Notifications Button moved
• Added ZipThemer Edify files [ no longer need to edit edify settings ]
• Updated all Market Apps
• Added Google Android Market 3.3.11
• Removed HomeController
• Customizable Sense 1.0 Lockscreen (Change “Sprint” Text to a custom text, default “EVO Classic”)
• Rebased Rosie.apk, smaller, even more optimized [ I added landscape xmls and pngs back, perhaps a future development???? proof ]
• Fixed unthemed Mms notification icon
• Fixed unthemed Mail notification icon
• Added slight theming to SystemUI [ slight because we have 5.5 going on 7 full themes, so I don’t need to. lol ]
• AOSP Dialer [ optional, can uninstall if you want ]
• AOSP Contacts [ optional, can uninstall if you want ]
• AOSP Email (optional, can uninstall if you want ]
• Added some build.prop tweaks
• Removed some build.prop tweaks (dalvik related code)
• Believe it or not, even faster User Interface [ tweaked system xmls to make Sense faster ]
• Added my favorite apps: Minimalistic text, Google Plus, imgur, SMS Popup, ZipThemer
• Added Maxthon Browser
• Added Wimax Notifier [ tested and works ]
• Smaller System fonts

v0.0.3 – October 27, 2011 – Circle of Life

• Everything in v0.0.1 and v0.0.2
• Updated Base to 4.54 – More info here
• Fixed Mms Compression
• Fixed Phone # Alignment during in-call screen
• Added newer tweaks app, titled EVO Classic Tweaks [ thanks gruesome wolf for informing me and Romanbb for writing app ]
• Changed Statusbar to transparent (80%)
• Added DSP
• Added Home Switcher
• ODEX
• Removed extra files (wallpapers, ringtones, et cetera)
• Reverted to older EPST
• Added Rotate Animation from 2.3.5 [ thanks mik, I just ported ]
• Added Song Changer by Holding Down Volume Key
• Added Stock Battery with % [ by popular demand ]
• Added Option to Show data Speed in Statusbar
• Added Option to Center Clock in Statusbar
• Added Hack to allow Force Roaming [ thanks MrGreg from Hero Forums ]
• Modded Tweaks App
• Remapped Rosie to Tweaks instead of Settings
• Custom Lockscreen Arc [ inspired by EViO – thanks calk! ]
• Much much more

Themes, Mods, and Requests for the EVO Classic
[THEMES][MODS] The EVO Classic Pages

• Rosie, Full Themes, Tweaks and Scripts, Battery/Statusbar, Fonts/Ringtones/Et Cetera
• FAQ
• Wallpapers
• User Screenshots

Lowrider32119’s Warm Tomatoe
Linsalata28’s Blue Funk and various Mods
PHE-NOM’s Classic Underground
EVOlvedAndroid’s EVOlved Classic
krwdre’s Supreme Classic
Downloads:
Optional Downloads
Classic Updater v3

• Optimized for AMON RA Recovery
• Modified some layout
• Download button is bottom, to encourage pressing on “Details of selected mod” and “Screenshots” button
• Changelog layout looking better
• Install right over original apk – no need to uninstall original

Official Releases– Full Wipe Recommended
EVO Classic Stable Directory

EVO Classic Supermagic Previews Directory

• Changelog
• v0.0.6 and beyond
• Please wipe cache and dalvik minimally
• As of v0.0.6 themes for v0.0.5 will work

Version 0.0.5 – Ecstatic Finale – December 27, 2011
Full wipe if coming from v0.0.5-betas or older
md5sum – 5a7fa34fecd4f4571f789c96e2cae522
size – 205.2mb

Version 0.0.5 – Ecstatic Finale Senseless – January 02, 2012
Full wipe if coming from v0.0.5-betas or older. Dalvik wipe if coming from v0.0.5 Finale
md5sum – f066455a4e1da1a5996023fe97ebd9f5
size – 163.8mb

Version 0.0.5 – Ecstatic Official Beta Nightlies – December 07, 2011
Full wipe if coming from v0.0.4
Dalvik and cache wipe in between nightlies

Version 0.0.4 – Harmony – November 15, 2011
md5sum – 6a4264b083593ed69e66da7d7cf2ddbe
size – 203.4mb

Version 0.0.4 – UPDATE PATCH – From v0.0.3->v0.0.4 [ wipe cache and dalvik! ].:.[ for users coming from v0.0.3 only! you’ve been forewarned]
md5sum – f13bb19b006d7fbec1f17370a5cdd2ec

Version 0.0.3 – Circle of Life – October 27, 2011
md5sum – 12cf529007ca241e069a85fba54a5a89
size – 190.21mb

Beta Releases
Version 0.0.2.5-BETA – October 24, 2011
Version 0.0.2-BETA – October 21, 2011
md5sum – b3cba01f4835b12f980c5ee15bdb875b
Version 0.0.1-BETA – October 20, 2011
md5sum – 4686d35e3dbdce82a9d61b7046fddc20

For over five years, we’ve been a home to community members who appreciate the right they have to develop new content for devices they own and share it with the world. PPCGeeks has never been a place to denounce or deprive its community of opportunities to be creative, be advanced, and be innovative. As you can imagine, we have been with much distraught in the wake of the recent developments of two bills in the United States, the “Stop Online Piracy Act” and the “Protect-IP Act”, also known as SOPA and PIPA.

Both of these acts, in short, destroy the very fundamental part of the internet we are built upon – the free and unfiltered exchange of knowledge. Thousands of other websites, including Google, Facebook, Wikipedia, Youtube, RootzWiki, and many others like ourselves are built upon the ability for its users to add content and allow it to be placed without first being filtered or approved, ensuring it is not in violation of copyright. It is also essential that we remain free to not be restricted by a “guilty-first” philosophy, which prevents sites to develop themselves under fear of being indited by Governments. SOPA and PIPA – if enacted – destroy the foundation our Internet is built upon, including websites such as PPCGeeks.

This goes against ever we stand for – and this is what is entailed within both SOPA and PIPA’s legislation, currently in the process of being discussed within Congress. As a site that is not only based in the United States, but also carrying a very strong American population, we feel standing idly by the wake of such an act is foolish and ignorant.

For 16 hours, on January 18th, we willl be joining such other websites in our community such as XDA-Developers, as well as in the greater spectrum such as Wikipedia, to protest the enactment of SOPA / PIPA and its potentially detrimental effects on our way of life on the Internet by shutting down all our services at PPCGeeks and displaying this protest statement regarding SOPA / PIPA starting Wednesday Morning from 7 AM until 8 PM EDT. After which PPCGeeks will return to its regular state as a website.

We urge everyone with a voice to use it, and to express concern to their Congressmen or to sign petitions available in other communities. Join us in fighting SOPA and ensuring our Governments are aware of what WE want our Internet to be. Free, Open, and For Everyone.

Sincerely,

We have finally come into a position to pay a little money for some hard work and are currently seeking News Writers for PPCGeeks. I (tsowen) will be taking over as the News Administrator/ Editor in Chief. We have a few slots that are available and we are looking for serious applicants that are serious about writing for us. Here is a list of some information we will need from you:

·         What history in writing do you have?
·         Have you written for any other sites?
·         Why are you interested in being at PPCGeeks?
·         What do you think you are going to bring to the table?
·         Please provide us with some info about yourself.
·         What device do you currently use?
·         Are you familiar with WordPress?

Our goal is to get serious when it comes to our Front Page News Section; we are looking for how-to articles, application review articles and news from our forum as well as the latest industry news. Here is what you will receive:

·         1 Editorial/Month/Writer @ $5
·         4 Forum-Related/Month/Writer News @ $3
·         20 Internet/web Rewrites/Month/Writer @ $2
·         Totaling 125 paid articles per month with an average of 4/day.
·         Part of the PPCGeeks Staff.
·         PPCGeeks email address.
·         Private forum to discuss news.

We are hoping to pick up a few very talented writers for the site that are as passionate about the industry as we are. Our site is ever-changing just as the industry is and we have big plans for our news section and would like to eventually incorporate the writers into the PPCGTV when it launches.

If you are interested please email:
terry.owen@ppcgeeks.com
admin@ppcgeeks.com

Today, HP decided to drop an early Christmas present for WebOs loyalists and development. A few month prior things looked bleak for HP after spending $1.2 billion on Palm only to have their Tablets collect dust and carriers refusing to carry their devices.

It almost seemed like an end to WebOS when BesyBuy and other distributors decided to send all their stock of TouchPads back, forcing HP into making the best of it and selling it at a loss on a fire sale. People were able to get their hands on a HP Touchpad for as low as 99$ – 149$ depending on capacity. Even though HP officially discontinued the HP TouchPad they still maintained updates and promised that WebOS would live on.

Still, the future of WebOs seemed uncertain as HP itself seems to have went on to reshuffling, and talks broke out of possibilities of licensing the os, selling to os, or even as far as selling off the entire consumer division of HP. These talks eventually came to an end as HP denied any ongoing effort to sell their divisions but the future of WebOs remained shrouded.

Fast forward to today, HP has finally decided on a course for WebOS, it will now be distributed under an open source license. While certain components of WebOs were always open source like the Linux Kernel which was distributed under the GPL license. HP has yet to announce under which open source license they plan to release the source code.

This effectively moves HP from competing in the iphone’s business model to direct competition against Android. HP was quick to point out in the press release though, that they plan to keep a tight grip on licensees to prevent fragmentation.

Personally I think the best start for WebOs would be to include the ability to run Android Applications, this will pave doors open for larger app support until they can build up their own app library.

What do you make of this? Does this put a new interest in webos? Are you already really thinking about porting WebOs to that TP2?

Source

A security researcher Trevor Eckhart  has posted a video detailing hidden software installed on smart phones that logs numerous details about users’ activities.

In a 17-minute video posted Monday on YouTube, Trevor Eckhart shows how the software – known as Carrier IQ – logs every text message, Google search and phone number typed on a wide variety of smart phones – including HTC, Blackberry, Nokia and others – and reports them to the mobile phone carrier.

 Eckhart showed his findings off first in the XDA Developer Forums. Once his first findings were found by Carrier IQ (again, an app that runs in the background that you may never have known is on your device right this second), they threatened legal action against him. As it turns out thanks to the support from the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation), Carrier IQ has decided not pursue a lawsuit against TrevE, issuing a statement apologizing for their actions.

“Our action was misguided and we are deeply sorry for any concern or trouble that our letter may have caused Mr. Eckhart. We sincerely appreciate and respect EFF’s work on his behalf, and share their commitment to protecting free speech in a rapidly changing technological world.”

 
When they found that legal threats weren’t going to do them any good, they sent out word to the public that their software does not record keystrokes or other personal information. What we’re to understand today if Eckhard’s findings are true is that this claim was quite simply incorrect.

 On its website, Carrier IQ, founded in 2005, describes itself as “the world’s leading provider of Mobile Service Intelligence solutions.” Carrie IQ has since issued the following press release: [showhide type=”pressrelease” more_text=”Show Press Release” less_text=”Hide Press Release ” hidden=”yes”]MEDIA ALERT
Measuring Mobile User Experience Does Matter!
Mountain View, CA – November 16, 2011 – Carrier IQ would like to clarify some recent press on how our product is used and the information that is gathered from smartphones and mobile devices.
Carrier IQ delivers Mobile Intelligence on the performance of mobile devices and networks to assist operators and device manufacturers in delivering high quality products and services to their customers. We do this by counting and measuring operational information in mobile devices – feature phones, smartphones and tablets. This information is used by our customers as a mission critical tool to improve the quality of the network, understand device issues and ultimately improve the user experience. Our software is embedded by device manufacturers along with other diagnostic tools and software prior to shipment.
While we look at many aspects of a device’s performance, we are counting and summarizing performance, not recording keystrokes or providing tracking tools. The metrics and tools we derive are not designed to deliver such information, nor do we have any intention of developing such tools. The information gathered by Carrier IQ is done so for the exclusive use of that customer, and Carrier IQ does not sell personal subscriber information to 3rd parties. The information derived from devices is encrypted and secured within our customer’s network or in our audited and customer-approved facilities.
Our customers have stringent policies and obligations on data collection and retention. Each customer is different and our technology is customized to their exacting needs and legal requirements. Carrier IQ enables a measurable impact on improving the quality and experience of our customers’ mobile networks and devices. Our business model and technology aligns exclusively with this goal.
For media Commentary, contact:
Mira Woods
Phone: 617-513-7020
Email: mwoods@carrieriq.com
www.carrieriq.com[/showhide]

On November 10, 2011 Sprint announced the Samsung Epic 4g would be updated to Gingerbread S:D700.0.5S.EI22 over the course of the next ten days.  Sprint’s intent of slowing updating everyone to the EI22 ROM is to be able to monitor the process in the event they have to pull the update due to technical problems. Already users are reporting WiFi, GPS, and keyboard bugs which Sprint or Samsung has yet to acknowledge.

For those of us who are too anxious to wait on the OTA now have several methods available (a few of these methods have fixes already available).

IMPORTANT:  Please make sure that you make backups of all your information before doing any upgrades, while some methods like the update.zip is rather safe, it doesn’t hurt to make a copy of what is important to you. For those who have clockworkmod 2.X (green one), you should upgrade to the latest clockworkmod 3.X (purple) as old clockworkmod backups will not be compatible.

1) First method is to do a manual update.

a) Go to this link and download the file gTen has provided.
b) Rename the file to update.zip (make sure it’s not renamed update.zip.zip)
c) Place the file on the Root of your SD Card
d) shut down your phone and boot into recovery by holding voldown+camera+power
e) Choose to flash update.zip

 Notes:
1 This method will not give you Root
2 If you already rooted the above method will not work
3 This is NOT a custom ROM it is the manual way to upgrade.

2) Second Method Rooting EI22 after OTA or Google update (credits: XDA member metalblaster)

a) Video Provided by qbking77
b) first you need to install the OTA either through the OTA method or through the Google link method.
c) Next you need to go to the ACS forums and Download the ACS recovery 1.0.0.5.tar.md5 file, You will need this file as well

1 confirm you have gingerbread EI22.
2 download the 2 files above (you can use CWM purple version as well if you don’t want the acs Recovery.)
3 Put the su-3.0-efgh-signed.zip file onto your sdcard and turn off the phone.
4 Boot into Download mode by holding the 1 key on the keyboard and the power key
5 open odin and connect the phone to the computer, one of the ID:com boxes will light up to confirm it is connected.
6 put the ACSrecovery.tar.md5 file into the PDA area of odin, make sure everything is uncheck except Auto-reboot and hit start.
7 if done correctly your phone should reboot directly into ACS recovery mode.
8 once in recovery flash the Su-***** .zip file then reboot the phone.
9 If CWM does not stick due to the added script Samsung embedded in the phone kernel you should see below. There are thus far, 2 possible options, Option 1 will give you the Keyboard fix with a relatively Stock experience and Option 2 will give you a Deodexed Rom, nubernal, the keyboard fix and the GPS fix.

***UPDATE***

Apparently Samsung included a script that reflashes the stock recovery upon boot, so if you install a custom recovery (ACS or CWM) it will overwrite it upon boot.

d) (Option 1) Fix so that Clockwork Sticks

i) First Odin Mkasik’s EI22 Keyboard fix Kernel (PDA – Only check Auto Reboot) Then Odin Purple Clockwork.

e) (Option 2) override the built in Samsung issue and make CWM as well as add the nubernal.

i) Follow the steps up until you get into ACS recovery or CWM and flash the .zip in this post rather than the Su.zip file.
ii) This will completely fix your GPS and CWM problems as well as deodex the EI22 version you have.

Motorola’s new DROID RAZR for Verizon Wireless will be available starting 11:11 a.m. on 11/11/11. The DROID RAZR comes with a price tag of $299.99 with a qualifying two year service agreement. The new RAZR is supported on Verizon’s 4G LTE data network and offers a 1.2GHz, dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM, a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display, and an 8MP cmaera with 1080p video recording, 1800mAh battery advertising 12.5 hours of 3G talk time. The Droid RAZR will be running on Android 2.3.5 and Motorola is putting emphasis on their “Smart Actions” for extended battery life which will allow a user to turn off bluetooth when you get home, underclock the CPU when battery is low, and promises 30% better battery life than devices without it. The razor-thin steel body of the DROID RAZR measures in at just 7.1mm thick.

*****UPDATE*****

Thanks to our folks over at Verizon Wireless they have provided us with an updated link for the “Motorola DROID RAZR” http://www.verizonwireless.com/droid-razr.shtml This URL will take visitors directly to the product, without asking them for zip codes or attempting to set cookies, etc.

VERIZON WIRELESS AND MOTOROLA ANNOUNCE DROID RAZR BY MOTOROLA: DROID STRONG. RAZR SHARP.

Impossibly Thin with Unstoppable Power on America’s Fastest and Most Reliable 4G Network

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Today, Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) and Verizon Wireless announced DROID RAZR by Motorola, the world’s thinnest 4G LTE smartphone. A true marvel of design, this smartphone packs strength and smarts into a stylish package offered exclusively from Verizon Wireless.

Measuring 7.1 mm thin, made with KEVLAR® fiber for strength and Corning® Gorilla® Glass for scratch resistance, the DROID RAZR is ready to face the elements. Speed limits are just an illusion with a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor and Verizon Wireless 4G LTE. DROID RAZR customers can expect to rip through the Web with speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.

“DROID RAZR by Motorola combines style, performance and the power of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network into one innovative device,” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “These are two iconic brands that separately symbolize the best technology available today. The combination will provide an unsurpassed wireless experience for customers.”

“DROID RAZR by Motorola is a testament to the innovation and design possibilities that stem from a strong partnership between Motorola Mobility and Verizon Wireless,” said Sanjay Jha, Chairman and CEO, Motorola Mobility. “We set out to design the best smartphone on the planet and delivered DROID RAZR which is thinner, smarter, stronger than any device on the market.”

Not only does DROID RAZR by Motorola deliver heart-pounding speed, but it has a mind-bending 4.3-inch hyper-vibrant display with more colors than most LCD HDTVs. The Super AMOLED Advanced display with qHD resolution dishes out beautiful images and smooth action so on-the-go movies and TV shows aren’t a blur, whether customers stream from Netflix or rent from Android Market. It’s the first smartphone capable of streaming movies and TV shows through Netflix with up to HD resolution.

DROID RAZR customers can take advantage of the Super AMOLED Advanced display and 4G LTE speeds to stream videos with NFL Mobile, only from Verizon. Fans can stay up to date on news, schedules and scores from their favorite teams on the go. NFL Mobile is included at no additional charge for 4G LTE customers for the remainder of the 2011 season.

If cutting-edge visuals are its beauty, apps on DROID RAZR are its brains. Enter MotoCast, the free Motorola app that lets you stream or download your music, pictures and more from your PC to your phone. The Smart Actions app helps automate everyday tasks and optimizes battery efficiency by letting customers create rules, such as automatically setting the phone to vibrate during work hours or dimming the display at a specific battery level. The revolutionary webtop application allows customers to combine the device with separately sold accessories, like the Lapdock 100 or HD Station, unleashing the power to edit documents and browse the Web with a full Firefox® browser on a larger screen – all while charging the device.

Additional features:
· Powered by Android 2.3.5, Gingerbread
· 1 GB RAM for a fast user interface and multi-tasking
· 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD video capture and image stabilization technology for crisp and clear videos
· Front-facing HD camera for video chat over 4G LTE, 3G or Wi-Fi
· 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot capable so customers can share 4G LTE speed with up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices
· Water repellent nanocoating protects the phone, and even the inside components, against everyday spills
· Remote wipe, pin lock and government-grade encryption for email, calendar and contacts as well as voice and video chat conferencing
· Use Quickoffice® to view, create and edit Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on your mobile device from anywhere at anytime
· Bluetooth 4.0 low energy
· 32 GB memory: 16 GB on board and 16 GB microSD card pre-installed (actual formatted capacity is less)
· Powerful 1780 mAh battery

The DROID RAZR will be available in early November for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at: www.verizonwireless.com; as well as at authorized retailers. Customers can visit www.droiddoes.com/droidrazr to pre-order DROID RAZR beginning on October 27. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com/droid-razr.shtml

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Yup, you heard that right. LightSquared took to the stage this wendsay during the Open Mobile Summit to outline their goals going forward as a national provider of 4G LTE service.

“We want to be the dumbest wireless broadband pipe. No intelligence in our network. None. Zero.” said  LightSquared CEO Sanjiv Ahuja in his keynote address.

Effectively Lightsquared is distancing themselves from every player in the mobile industry that tries to monetize their income by charging you ridiculous prices for exactly the same thing. Instead they seek to become a utility company that provides unrestricted data via LTE.

Now of course there is a possibility this claim is done to garner more popular support for them in their never ending debacle with claims of GPS interference. But any cell phone enthusiast can’t disagree that if this come to be, it will be like a dream come true.

What do you think?

[Source]