Apple [AAPL] is more than likely going to announce the Apple iPhone 4G early next month. We are currently hearing that AT&T [T] are making changes to customer upgrades bringing the eligibility dates from November 21 2010 over to June 21 2010 knocking 5 months off the contract terms.

This is causing speculation that AT&T are going to allow customers of the iPhone 3GS to upgrade to the iPhone 4G on June 21.

Last year caused a number of headaches for AT&T with customers complaining that they couldn’t upgrade to the 3GS from the 3G unless buying themselves out of the contract they had signed. It seems like AT&T are backing down here by allowing 3GS users to upgrade to the latest iPhone. [Read more…]

Some tests have been performed on a Google Nexus One running Android 2.2 (Froyo) vs a Nexus One running Android 2.1.

Early results indicated that in some cases Android 2.2 runs 450% faster than the previous 2.1 OS.

The speed tests were done using a tool called Linpack and the speed increase is believed to be because of JIT compliation in to the kernel. When using Linpack it tests how fast the phone can operate and provides results where you can then compare numbers.

The LINPACK Benchmarks are a measure of a system’s floating point computing power. Introduced by Jack Dongarra, they measure how fast a computer solves a dense N by N system of linear equations Ax = b, which is a common task in engineering. The solution is obtained by Gaussian elimination with partial pivoting, with 2/3*N3 + 2*N2 floating point operations. The result is reported in Millions of FLoating-point Operations Per Second (MFLOP/s, sometimes simply called FLOPS).

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After the huge leak over on Gizmodo about the Apple iPhone 4G, we are now seeing more pictures of what looks to be a slightly updated prototype model. When we say updated, we mean a couple of screws around the dock connector are not on this version captured by camera.

Other than that the phone appears to be a prototype due to the XXX stamp on the back although this model of the Apple iPhone 4G looks to have 16GB of storage.

The phone was captured on a Vietnamese website which we assume had close contacts with the factory where the iPhone 4G is being built for Apple [AAPL]. [Read more…]

Google [GOOG] has provided an update for Google Maps Navigation on Android that brings a few new features to the software.

The new features include biking directions, a navigation shortcut for the homescreen along with sharing and a few other bits. The new version of Google Maps is 4.2 that works on all Android devices running Android OS 1.6 and above.

The biking directions on Google Maps bring details of lanes and trails to your Android smartphone. When navigating you can select a new Bike icon that brings up details of bicycling routes in the US. By using layers the software can show various coloured routes with each indicating a different type of challenge.

The Google Navigation shortcut brings a small arrow to the home screen of the Android device. By clicking the navigation shortcut you are able to go right in to the Navigation features of Google Maps and get navigating right away. [Read more…]

Occasionally, mobile phone users get hit with a surprise bill. In some cases the bills are huge spreading in to the hundreds of pages to print them out. Of course it’s the user who really needs to keep tabs on usage and especially when roaming, but the FCC plan to step in to help tackle “Bill Shock”.

The FCC are putting plans in place that will require cell phone providers to let users know when charges are being exceeded and when users bills look like they are going to be very large.

Although it isn’t clear if and when all this will happen, perhaps later this year or next year we might get some friendly reminders when roaming and using excessive amounts of data and voice calls. [Read more…]

Details of the LG Ally have been revealed by the team over at BGR. The LG Ally will be up for pre-order on May 13 and will follow a week later on May 20 with a launch in all channels.

The LG Ally comes with a 600MHz processor and runs with 256MB of RAM. It will run Android 2.1 from Google [GOOG] and come with an LG user interface. The phone it’s self is a slider that opens to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard.

Features running on the device include a calendar, weather/time and socialite widgets. Verizon has also made some changes to the UI and included features such as Visual Voicemail and V CAST media manager. [Read more…]

About two months ago we heard that Orange and T-Mobile in the UK were to join forces and merge together. Since then there has been no information until today where we now hear that both Orange and T-Mobile will be joined together and run from the name Everything Everywhere.

A bizarre name if you ask me, but the name was chosen to indicate that two networks working together will offer just that.

The company called Everything Everywhere¢ will run two of Britain’s most famous brands, Orange and T-Mobile, and has a customer base of 30 million people: over half of the UK adult population.

The two brands (Orange and T-Mo) will continue to operate independently in that you will still see Orange and T-Mobile shops on the high street, but behind the scenes they will be called Everything Everywhere. [Read more…]

We are hearing rumours today indicating that Apple [AAPL] could be making the MobileMe service free for all users.

Normally the service costs $99/year on a subscription basis and provides a number of features such as cloud based email, storage, photo galleries as well as the ability to sync contacts, calendars and bookmarks across a range of computers and phones. Another feature is Find My iPhone that allows users to track down their iPhone if lost, or remotely kill it if stolen.

The downside right now is obviously the cost with what seems to be a number of people just ignoring the service.

The rumours are saying that MobileMe will soon become free of charge to all users and that Apple are just waiting for their new server farm to become active in North Caroline which I assume is to handle the influx of iPhone and iPad users wanting to utilise the service. [Read more…]

Ever since the launch of the Apple iPhone back in 2007 a number of people have speculated on what the length of contract was for AT&T to retain exclusivity of the iPhone in the US. We have heard several times in the past that “exclusivity is ending this month” and it never does.

Engadget did some digging around and have found confirmation that a five year deal was signed between Apple [AAPL] and AT&T [T] starting in 2007 when the iPhone came out and ending in 2012.

The reasons this information is now confirmed is due to some court documents that were filed by Apple in California.

Here’s the deal: an ongoing California class-action lawsuit filed in 2007 claims that Apple and AT&T illegally exerted a monopoly over iPhone service by telling customers the iPhone’s required service contract was two years long when the Apple / AT&T exclusivity deal was actually for five years — thus requiring buyers to re-up with AT&T for three years (and not, say, T-Mobile) if they wanted to keep using the iPhone. Obviously Apple had to respond to these allegations, and in addition to arguing that no one was ever promised an unlocked iPhone after two years, the company’s lawyers repeatedly confirm the existence of the five-year agreement while noting it was publicly reported in USA Today.

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The Motorola Flipout is a new smartphone that runs the Android 2.1 operating system. The phone it’s self is a square that flips open to reveal a QWERTY keyboard underneath. On the front of the Flipout is a 2.8 inch screen. The Android 2.1 operating system appears to be running MotoBLUR allowing for easy access to social networking features from the home screen.

Other features of the Motorola Flipout include GPS, a 3.1 megapixel camera although there is no mention of wifi for connectivity at the moment.

Either way, it’s a unique looking phone that will appeal to some people. When launched, it will come in three different colours. [Read more…]

Ryan Stewart of Adobe has given a demo of flash running on the Nexus One. The Nexus One is running the latest version of Google [GOOG] Android which is version 2.2.

The video demonstration below shows how smooth flash runs in the browser by showing a demonstration of a site running 3D interactive objects along with flash charts found in Google Finance. Each runs flawlessly.

Also in the video demonstration towards the end the new desktop of Android 2.2 can be seen with a few new features not seen before. These new features include a new global search box, new launcher and a built in tutorial system. [Read more…]

Data collected by the NPD Group indicate that smartphones running the Android OS are now outselling the Apple iPhone for the first time.

This switch over in sales puts Android as the second most selling OS behind RIM devices.

In the first quarter of 2010, Android from Google [GOOG] took about 28% of all handsets followed by Apple at 21% and just behind RIM at 36%. [Read more…]