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Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Discount Cellular Phones-Facebook to Showcase New Phone In Its Network
Facebook to Showcase New Phone In Its Network-Discount Cellular Phones
www.mylancellular.com Facebook has been putting increasing focus on its mobile products for over two years.Facebook users post more photos, write more status updates and hit the like button more often from mobile devices than they do from computers. So it was almost inevitable that Facebook would introduce a smartphone that put its social network front and center.
On Thursday, Facebook plans to unveil the first smartphone created to showcase its social network. The phone, made by HTC, uses a version of Google’s Android software, according to two people briefed on the announcement, which will be made at a news conference at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif.
The software is designed so that some of the core features of the phone, like the camera, will be built around Facebook’s services, according to one of the people, who is a Facebook employee. Both people briefed on Facebook’s plans spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the product before the formal announcement.
Derick Mains, a Facebook spokesman, declined to share details of the event. But he said it would be a “significant mobile-focused announcement.” The invitation sent to members of the news media says, “Come see our new home on Android.”
For Facebook and any other online business that is supported by ads, mobile is a tough puzzle to crack. It is difficult to get people to look at advertisements on smaller screens, where display space is limited, without becoming too intrusive.
Facebook’s business strategy is to persuade people to congregate around its social network as much as possible and eventually show them more ads. That is why, over the last year, Facebook has been revamping its organization to be “mobile first.” Every team at Facebook is involved somehow in its mobile products. And the company has recruited engineers who specialize in mobile phone development, including former Apple employees who worked on the development of the iPhone.
The Facebook employee familiar with the announcement said that when the Facebook phone is turned on, it will immediately display a Facebook user’s home screen. A phone with a strong Facebook focus would prompt customers to use Facebook more than competing apps and services. But the success of such a device would depend on how much support the handset received from wireless carriers, said Chetan Sharma, an independent telecommunications analyst who consults for carriers. The carriers can choose which devices are sold in their stores, as well as how prominently to promote them.
“Unless the phone is in front of the consumers in stores, it’s hard to see how it will gain traction,” Mr. Sharma said.
He said it was difficult to imagine that big carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless would place a serious bet on a Facebook phone from HTC, because that manufacturer’s other phones have not been selling very well. HTC once made a phone called the Cha Cha that had a button for posting photos directly to Facebook, but it sold poorly.
The idea of a Facebook-powered Android phone is not new. In 2008, Inq, a phone maker based in London, released a phone called the Inq1 that integrated Facebook services into crucial areas of the device. In 2011, it said it would release an Android phone called the Inq Cloud Touch, which had some of Facebook’s services integrated into the home screen.
But early last year, Inq pulled the plug on theCloud Touch, saying it would instead focus on other products. Frank Meehan, the former chief executive of Inq, said in an e-mail interview that the Inq had felt too threatened by Samsung Electronics, now the biggest maker of phones in the world, so it abandoned its plans.
“Samsung was already on a path to crush everyone, and we decided to get out of hardware and turned the company into software only,” Mr. Meehan said.
Mr. Meehan said that if HTC released an Android phone with a focus on Facebook, it would still face the problem that Samsung is the dominant player on Android, Sony is gaining traction in mobile and Huawei, a Chinese handset maker, is dominant in Asia. He said it would be better for Facebook to create a special layer that consumers could install on Android devices so the social network would embed more deeply into Android apps and Google services.
“I would see this as a more radical way of providing the social layer functionality on mobile that would really bring the power of Facebook to Android,” he said.
The Facebook employee familiar with plans for the new phone said the stand-alone mobile apps it released over the last two and a half years were essentially experiments to see what worked on mobile devices before rolling them into a Facebook-focused Android phone. This year the company introduced Poke, a private messaging service, as a stand-alone app. Last year, it released a camera app that specialized in tagging and uploading photos to Facebook. In 2011, it introduced Messenger, an app for free text messaging, which was later expanded to include free voice calls.
Facebook has been exploring making its own smartphone for the last two years. But the project, which was at one time code-named “Buffy,” had stalled because the company could not decide whether to make its own hardware or team up with a phone maker.
Facebook’s approach to modifying Google’s Android software is similar to Amazon’s, said a former employee of Facebook who had been briefed on the product. For its Kindle Fire tablets, Amazon removed Google’s apps and promoted its own services, like the Kindle e-book store, Amazon’s video service and Amazon’s own app store. The tablet is essentially an Amazon-powered shopping console.
A smartphone that gives priority to Facebook services is good for Facebook, but it is unclear whether that is something consumers want. Jan Dawson, a telecommunications analyst at Ovum, said the concept was “a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.”
“There are lots of people who love Facebook, but I doubt if any of them feel like they need a more Facebook-centric experience on their phones,” he said. “There isn’t anything obviously missing.”
He agreed that it was unlikely that wireless companies would put much support behind such a device, because they are already worried about the way Google and Facebook are supplanting carriers in people’s minds as providers of content and communication services.
Please visit our ONLINE STORE for a
complete selection of discount cell phones,
used cell phones, refurbished cell phones
as well as new and used tablets.
Discount Cellular Phones-Facebook to Showcase New Phone In Its Network
Facebook to Showcase New Phone In Its Network-Discount Cellular Phones
www.mylancellular.com Facebook has been putting increasing focus on its mobile products for over two years.
Facebook users post more photos, write more status updates and hit the like button more often from mobile devices than they do from computers. So it was almost inevitable that Facebook would introduce a smartphone that put its social network front and center.
On Thursday, Facebook plans to unveil the first smartphone created to showcase its social network. The phone, made by HTC, uses a version of Google’s Android software, according to two people briefed on the announcement, which will be made at a news conference at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif.
The software is designed so that some of the core features of the phone, like the camera, will be built around Facebook’s services, according to one of the people, who is a Facebook employee. Both people briefed on Facebook’s plans spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the product before the formal announcement.
Derick Mains, a Facebook spokesman, declined to share details of the event. But he said it would be a “significant mobile-focused announcement.” The invitation sent to members of the news media says, “Come see our new home on Android.”
For Facebook and any other online business that is supported by ads, mobile is a tough puzzle to crack. It is difficult to get people to look at advertisements on smaller screens, where display space is limited, without becoming too intrusive.
Facebook’s business strategy is to persuade people to congregate around its social network as much as possible and eventually show them more ads. That is why, over the last year, Facebook has been revamping its organization to be “mobile first.” Every team at Facebook is involved somehow in its mobile products. And the company has recruited engineers who specialize in mobile phone development, including former Apple employees who worked on the development of the iPhone.
The Facebook employee familiar with the announcement said that when the Facebook phone is turned on, it will immediately display a Facebook user’s home screen. A phone with a strong Facebook focus would prompt customers to use Facebook more than competing apps and services. But the success of such a device would depend on how much support the handset received from wireless carriers, said Chetan Sharma, an independent telecommunications analyst who consults for carriers. The carriers can choose which devices are sold in their stores, as well as how prominently to promote them.
“Unless the phone is in front of the consumers in stores, it’s hard to see how it will gain traction,” Mr. Sharma said.
He said it was difficult to imagine that big carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless would place a serious bet on a Facebook phone from HTC, because that manufacturer’s other phones have not been selling very well. HTC once made a phone called the Cha Cha that had a button for posting photos directly to Facebook, but it sold poorly.
The idea of a Facebook-powered Android phone is not new. In 2008, Inq, a phone maker based in London, released a phone called the Inq1 that integrated Facebook services into crucial areas of the device. In 2011, it said it would release an Android phone called the Inq Cloud Touch, which had some of Facebook’s services integrated into the home screen.
But early last year, Inq pulled the plug on theCloud Touch, saying it would instead focus on other products. Frank Meehan, the former chief executive of Inq, said in an e-mail interview that the Inq had felt too threatened by Samsung Electronics, now the biggest maker of phones in the world, so it abandoned its plans.
“Samsung was already on a path to crush everyone, and we decided to get out of hardware and turned the company into software only,” Mr. Meehan said.
Mr. Meehan said that if HTC released an Android phone with a focus on Facebook, it would still face the problem that Samsung is the dominant player on Android, Sony is gaining traction in mobile and Huawei, a Chinese handset maker, is dominant in Asia. He said it would be better for Facebook to create a special layer that consumers could install on Android devices so the social network would embed more deeply into Android apps and Google services.
“I would see this as a more radical way of providing the social layer functionality on mobile that would really bring the power of Facebook to Android,” he said.
The Facebook employee familiar with plans for the new phone said the stand-alone mobile apps it released over the last two and a half years were essentially experiments to see what worked on mobile devices before rolling them into a Facebook-focused Android phone. This year the company introduced Poke, a private messaging service, as a stand-alone app. Last year, it released a camera app that specialized in tagging and uploading photos to Facebook. In 2011, it introduced Messenger, an app for free text messaging, which was later expanded to include free voice calls.
Facebook has been exploring making its own smartphone for the last two years. But the project, which was at one time code-named “Buffy,” had stalled because the company could not decide whether to make its own hardware or team up with a phone maker.
Facebook’s approach to modifying Google’s Android software is similar to Amazon’s, said a former employee of Facebook who had been briefed on the product. For its Kindle Fire tablets, Amazon removed Google’s apps and promoted its own services, like the Kindle e-book store, Amazon’s video service and Amazon’s own app store. The tablet is essentially an Amazon-powered shopping console.
A smartphone that gives priority to Facebook services is good for Facebook, but it is unclear whether that is something consumers want. Jan Dawson, a telecommunications analyst at Ovum, said the concept was “a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.”
“There are lots of people who love Facebook, but I doubt if any of them feel like they need a more Facebook-centric experience on their phones,” he said. “There isn’t anything obviously missing.”
He agreed that it was unlikely that wireless companies would put much support behind such a device, because they are already worried about the way Google and Facebook are supplanting carriers in people’s minds as providers of content and communication services.
Please visit our ONLINE STORE for a
complete selection of discount cell phones,
used cell phones, refurbished cell phones
as well as new and used tablets.
Friday, March 29, 2013
cheap used cell phones-New Windows 8 specs could open door for 7-inch tablets
New Windows 8 specs could open door for 7-inch tablets-cheap used cell phones
The Windows 8 display specifications now allow for a minimum resolution of 1,024x768, a change from the previous 1,366x768.
Microsoft's move to relax the minimum resolution for Windows 8 devices could trigger a slew of seven-inch Windows 8 tablets.
An update to Microsoft's Windows Certification Newsletter, uncovered by Ed Bott of sister site ZDNet announced the change in the required resolution for Windows 8 tablets.
To claim Windows 8 certification, a tablet can now offer a minimum resolution of 1,024x768 at a depth of 32 bits. That's a change from the previous guidelines, which specify a minimum resolution of 1,366x768. Microsoft said it isn't encouraging device makers to shoot for such a low resolution but noted that "partners exploring designs for certain markets could find greater design flexibility helpful."
Tablets with screens larger than seven inches typically offer a resolution much higher than 1,024x768. In contrast, smaller tablets naturally tend to use use smaller resolutions. Google's Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire both offer resolutions of 1,280x800, while Apple's current iPad Mini is stuck at 1,024x768.
Reading between the lines, Microsoft seems to be laying the groundwork for smaller Windows 8 tablets. That's a smart strategy given the popularity of seven-inch tablets.
Apple's iPad Mini has scooped up sales from its larger Retina Display counterpart. Smaller Android tablets such as the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire have helped Google's mobile OS steal more of the market away from the iPad. It seems time for Microsoft and its partners to carve out a slice of all that seven-inch tablet action.
A resolution of 1,024x768 does offer one problem in the world of Windows 8.
The snap app feature, which lets users snap two Modern apps side by side, requires a resolution of 1,366x768. Therefore, any tablet vendors who sell 1,024x768 Windows 8 devices must alert potential buyers that the snap app feature won't work, at least not without an external display.
But the upcoming Windows Blue may offer a solution to this dilemma.
Microsoft is reportedly tweaking the snap app feature to let 1,024x768 devices display two apps side by side, says The Verge. Devices with higher resolution would be able to display four apps next to one another.
Please visit our ONLINE STORE for a complete selection of discount cell phones, used cell phones, refurbished cell phones as well as new and used tablets.
Tags: Tablets, Microsoft, Windows 8, cheap used cell phones, discount cellular phone
cheap used cell phones-New Windows 8 specs could open door for 7-inch tablets
New Windows 8 specs could open door for 7-inch tablets-cheap used cell phones
The Windows 8 display specifications now allow for a minimum resolution of 1,024x768, a change from the previous 1,366x768.
Microsoft's move to relax the minimum resolution for Windows 8 devices could trigger a slew of seven-inch Windows 8 tablets.
An update to Microsoft's Windows Certification Newsletter, uncovered by Ed Bott of sister site ZDNet announced the change in the required resolution for Windows 8 tablets.
To claim Windows 8 certification, a tablet can now offer a minimum resolution of 1,024x768 at a depth of 32 bits. That's a change from the previous guidelines, which specify a minimum resolution of 1,366x768. Microsoft said it isn't encouraging device makers to shoot for such a low resolution but noted that "partners exploring designs for certain markets could find greater design flexibility helpful."
Tablets with screens larger than seven inches typically offer a resolution much higher than 1,024x768. In contrast, smaller tablets naturally tend to use use smaller resolutions. Google's Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire both offer resolutions of 1,280x800, while Apple's current iPad Mini is stuck at 1,024x768.
Reading between the lines, Microsoft seems to be laying the groundwork for smaller Windows 8 tablets. That's a smart strategy given the popularity of seven-inch tablets.
Apple's iPad Mini has scooped up sales from its larger Retina Display counterpart. Smaller Android tablets such as the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire have helped Google's mobile OS steal more of the market away from the iPad. It seems time for Microsoft and its partners to carve out a slice of all that seven-inch tablet action.
A resolution of 1,024x768 does offer one problem in the world of Windows 8.
The snap app feature, which lets users snap two Modern apps side by side, requires a resolution of 1,366x768. Therefore, any tablet vendors who sell 1,024x768 Windows 8 devices must alert potential buyers that the snap app feature won't work, at least not without an external display.
But the upcoming Windows Blue may offer a solution to this dilemma.
Microsoft is reportedly tweaking the snap app feature to let 1,024x768 devices display two apps side by side, says The Verge. Devices with higher resolution would be able to display four apps next to one another.
Please visit our ONLINE STORE for a complete selection of discount cell phones, used cell phones, refurbished cell phones as well as new and used tablets.
Tags: Tablets, Microsoft, Windows 8, cheap used cell phones, discount cellular phone
New Windows 8 specs could open door for 7-inch tablets
The Windows 8 display specifications now allow for a minimum resolution of 1,024x768, a change from the previous 1,366x768.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Microsoft's move to relax the minimum resolution for Windows 8 devices could trigger a slew of seven-inch Windows 8 tablets.
An update to Microsoft's Windows Certification Newsletter, uncovered by Ed Bott of CNET sister site ZDNet announced the change in the required resolution for Windows 8 tablets.
To claim Windows 8 certification, a tablet can now offer a minimum resolution of 1,024x768 at a depth of 32 bits. That's a change from the previous guidelines, which specify a minimum resolution of 1,366x768. Microsoft said it isn't encouraging device makers to shoot for such a low resolution but noted that "partners exploring designs for certain markets could find greater design flexibility helpful."
Tablets with screens larger than seven inches typically offer a resolution much higher than 1,024x768. In contrast, smaller tablets naturally tend to use use smaller resolutions. Google'sNexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire both offer resolutions of 1,280x800, while Apple's current iPad Mini is stuck at 1,024x768.
Reading between the lines, Microsoft seems to be laying the groundwork for smaller Windows 8 tablets. That's a smart strategy given the popularity of seven-inch tablets.
Apple's iPad Mini has scooped up sales from its larger Retina Display counterpart. Smaller Android tablets such as the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire have helped Google's mobile OS steal more of the market away from the iPad. It seems time for Microsoft and its partners to carve out a slice of all that seven-inch tablet action.
A resolution of 1,024x768 does offer one problem in the world of Windows 8.
The snap app feature, which lets users snap two Modern apps side by side, requires a resolution of 1,366x768. Therefore, any tablet vendors who sell 1,024x768 Windows 8 devices must alert potential buyers that the snap app feature won't work, at least not without an external display.
But the upcoming Windows Blue may offer a solution to this dilemma.
Microsoft is reportedly tweaking the snap app feature to let 1,024x768 devices display two apps side by side, says The Verge. Devices with higher resolution would be able to display four apps next to one another.
New Unlocked Cell Phones-iPhone 5S to launch June 20, go on sale July, claims report
iPhone 5S to launch June 20, go on sale July, claims report-New Unlocked Cell Phones-
A report from Japanese Web Site MacFan seems the first to suggest a specific date for the launch of the next iPhone.
(Credit: Apple)Apple will unveil its next iPhone on June 20 and kick off sales in July. At least, that's the claim from Japanese Mac enthusiast site MacFan.
Marking its 20th anniversary as a Mac-oriented Web site, MacFan suggests that the next-generation iPhone will take the stage at a Apple event on Thursday, June 20. The new iPhone will then go on sale a few weeks later in early July, as reported by Electronista.
The report further claims that Apple will launch the much-rumored low-cost iPhone in August and target it as a pre-paid device for developing markets such as China and India.
Electronista dubs the rumor plausible but doesn't indicate where or how MacFan got its information.
A June or July launch timeframe for the iPhone 5S has been proposed by other Apple watchers and even a couple of analysts. Apple did release the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4 during the June and July period and only switched to fall for the iPhone 4S and 5.
How does MacFan's claims stack up with other recent rumors?
- Apple analyst Gene Munster expects the iPhone 5S to launch in late June, followed by the low-cost model in the September quarter.
- KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple will announce the next iPhone in Juneand offer it for sale in July.
- Japanese Apple blog Macotakara said earlier this month that production of the next iPhone had already gotten off the ground.
MacFan's report does echo those of other sources, though it's gone farther out on the limb by suggesting a specific launch date. And like most rumors, that one should be taken with a grain of salt.
A June 20 event would come hot on the heels of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, which typically runs throughout the second week of the month. In the past, Apple actually used WWDC to announce new iPhone models, including the iPhone 4, 3GS, and 3. So, if Apple returns to a June iPhone launch, an announcement during this year's WWDC seems the more likely timeframe.
Whatever the date, a summer debut for the next iPhone could be a good strategic move on Apple's part.
Apple launched the iPhone 5 last September in large part to end its September quarter with a bang.
But the company then proceeded to unveil a new iPad, the iPad Mini, a new iPod Touch, and other refreshed products in October. If Apple continues to stack all its product launches in the fall, it leaves the company with little to announce the other three quarters of any given year.
Apple could generate even more attention for its new products if it spaces out the launches throughout the year, in essence a return to its older strategy.
Please visit our ONLINE STORE for a complete selection of discount cell phones, used cell phones, refurbished cell phones as well as new and used tablets.
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