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Garmin intros navigation-centric Garminfone on Android

Ashesh Shah — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:20:13 +0000

GPS manufacturer Garmin for the first time will be releasing its own branded mobile phone, bringing its navigation technology to the Android platform exclusively through T-Mobile.

The Garminfone will come packed with tons of navigation features, including a brand new app called Garmin Voice Studio that allows users to send and share custom directions to friends and family

Android already offers its own built-in GPS app through Google Maps’ “Navigation” service, but Google warns that it is in beta form and the company certainly doesn’t have the expertise in the field that Garmin does.

Expanded functionality for the Garminfone will also include automatically hyperlinking street addresses (from texts, e-mails, Web sites, etc) on the device to bring up direction information. Users can also geo-tag pictures with the built-in 3-megapixel camera and Garmin will introduce a suite of location-based services like movie listings and local gas station prices.

Garmin’s full navigation suite that is used on its GPS devices will also be transferred over, allowing complete voice-based navigation information and guaranteed functionality even if the cell signal is lost.

The phone will also come with a mount that makes it easy to stick it to a dashboard or window. Other specs of the Garminfone were not specifically detailed, though it does include support for Microsoft Exchange e-mail, native social networking functionality, and a 3.5-inch touch screen.

The Garminfone will be available later this spring.

Resource:
http://www.tgdaily.com/mobility-brief/49449-garmin-intros-navigation-centric-garminfone-on-android

iPhone SDK 4.0 suggests new cameras for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad

Ashesh Shah — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:12:33 +0000

Resources tucked away in the new iPhone SDK 4.0 provide strong hints that videoconferencing is coming. And that implies that future iPhone, iPhone touch and iPad models may be equipped with front-facing cameras.

One of the features missing from the iPhone and related devices has been a front-facing camera to allow video calls or video chat.

While video calling is not as popular as some telcos might like, video chat and video conferencing is used quite widely. The difference largely comes down to cost: video calling is a premium service (eg, Telstra charges 55c per 30 seconds compared with 37c for voice), while video chat comes out of the user’s Internet quota for the month.

9to5mac has noted the presence of various resources in the iPhone SDK 4.0 that signal the addition of video chat or conferencing.

In particular, the Conference framework includes a number of strings such as “Creating video conference call” and “Finalizing video conference call”.

Video chat/conferencing is pretty pointless on a handheld device that lacks a front-facing camera, so it is a reasonable assumption that this year’s iPhone and iPod touch – plus the next revision of the iPad – will have front-facing cameras.

9to5mac speculates that video chat could be used as part of Game Center, Apple’s forthcoming social gaming network.

There’s also the question of when the relevant APIs will be opened to third party developers. It is quite possible that they will be initially available only to Apple software such as iChat.

Resource:
http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/mobility/38234-iphone-sdk-40-suggests-new-cameras-for-iphone-ipod-touch-ipad