Recently in operating systems Category

There are several sources that showing internal Verizon websites leaked that reveal an update to the first gen BlackBerry Storm today at 7:00 pm PDT. to OS 5.0.0.328. The average udpate time will take less than an hour, usually around 20-45 minutes. 

The new BlackBerry Storm2 (which has gotten better reviews than the first BlackBerry Storm) will come already preloaded with the OS 5.0. There are some major improvements in this version of the BlackBerry Storm operating system udpate to 5.0.0.328. The browser is greatly improved and has better rendering of CSS and JavaScript. The 5.0 update offers better screen rotation and a pop-up menu to call a person when an SMS text message is received.

In the BlackBerrry Storm update 5.0, users can increase the number of SMS alerts up to 10 and there improved video/media playing. There's better auto-correction while typing and enhanced sensing of copy/paste. It also adds the quick buttons to access the web, add dates to calendar and send email.

There supposedly will not be an over-the-air update of this BlackBerry update, therefore, you will have take action yourself. You can access the update my visiting the RIM BlackBerry update website to download the file or via your desktop manager where you will see that there is a new update available.

Before you update, be sure to backup your data.

To  Back Up Data:

Open up the Blackberry Desktop Manager Program and click on Backup and Restore .

Many Windows Mobile smartphone owners have been waiting to discover if their smartphones will be updated to Windows Mobile 6.5.  It's especially daunting for smartphones such as the HTC Touch Pro2 which only came out a few weeks ago and now has sold-out and is very difficult to find.

If yoy have a Windows Mobile 5.0 or 6.0 smartphone, you are plum out of luck and not elligible for the update.  Depending on the carrier and manufacturer, an update from Windows 6.1 to Windows 6.5 may be available, and released either through your carrier and/or the manufacturer. Not all models of smartphones will be updatable. You should check with your mobile operator to determine update availability.

Phone*	Manufacturer	Expected availability**
Dash 3G	HTC	Date not yet available
Jack	Samsung	October/November 2009
Epix	Samsung	Date not yet available
Omnia 2	Samsung	Date not yet available
Ozone	HTC	Date not yet available
Snap	HTC	Date not yet available
Touch Diamond 2	HTC	October/November 2009
Touch Pro 2	HTC	October/November 2009
Traveler 137	Pharos	November 2009

Last Friday, some BlackBerry Tour owners were able to download the BlackBerry Tour update OS 4.7.1.53 via the BlackBerry Desktop Manager.  It mysteriously disappeared over the weekend. We offered instructions on how to complete the upgrade.

It has been reported that Reliance, a provider of BlackBerry smartphones in India is offering the BlackBerry Tour update OS 4.7.1.53 , via the RIM website. The update page says it is for "East Asia."

No one knows the real reason why the RIM update was pulled.  From previous experience with the BlackBerry Storm updates, we learned that Verizon is slow releasing updates because of their vigorous testing process. Although it frustrates users, it does ensure quality.

Although BlackBerry bloggers and addicts often install un-official updates, it is not recommended because you are on your own. In other words, if  you contact either RIM or Verizon for support, you not be helped.  Sometimes the BlackBerry gets "bricked" which means it turns into brick and will not function. No matter what you do, you should back-up your data first.

Verizon realease software update CF03 with GPS unlocked and open to be  used with other location-based services.

The notification came out in the form of tweets from Samsung MobileUSA.

Other tweets revealed:

At this time, the open GPS update for the Omnia is only for the Verizon version of the Omnia.

With the new software, your Omnia will be equipped with not only VZ Navigator but other navigational services from third party retailers.

The update is available from  http://www.samsung.com/us/i...  t for your Omnia from Verizon Wireless.

The update also includes:

• The latest Microsoft Adaptation Kit Upgrade (AKU 1.5.1) for Windows mobile is Included in this Update.
•  VZ Access Manager Supports Bluetooth Connection (SPP).

The Symbian Foundation previewed Symbian Horizon, an application-publishing program that will be available in October 2009.

Symbian Horizon gives developers assistance in building applications for Symbian devices and in placing those applications in the many global stores which reach Symbian customers, and will receive promotional assistance for bringing those applications to end users. The goal of Symbian Horizon is to reduce barriers to success, while increasing the profitability of creating and delivering Symbian applications.

Upon general availability, companies and developers participating in Symbian Horizon will gain access to a variety of services that support the development, distribution, and marketing of mobile applications. From application certification and in-store presence, to language translation services and marketing programs – Symbian Horizon works with developers to create a single point of management and distribution to the largest group of mobile consumers worldwide.

The second target community for Symbian Horizon is comprised of developers ranging from individual developers to companies that want to reach a broader mobile consumer market. Companies already committed to participate in Symbian Horizon include Dynatech, The Guardian, MobileIron, National Public Radio (NPR), Skout, Ustream, and Wine.com.

Palm announced  that they have ended the webOS (operating system for the Palm Pre) early access program and opened up the program to everyone and released their public developer portal at http://developer.palm.com.

The portal offers many tools for developers who want to create applications for the Palm Pre. Here are the tools available:

• Mojo Software Development Kit. - requires valid email address.
• Learning tools - learn how to build world-class webOS applications.
• Community - ask questions, get answers, provide feedback. It's free. webOS Developer Guide - Get a basic understanding of the design of the webOS platform and learn the details of the application architecture, how to use widgets and services, and other features of the Mojo Framework.
  
• User Interface Guidelines - Design the user interface of your webOS apps so they look, feel, and work like the other applications on the platform. webOS provides a rich set of features to help your user interface jump off the screen. Learn how to take advantage of them so your app stands out - and fits in.
  
• Hello World Sample Application - This brief tutorial will walk you through the creation of your first webOS application: a simple counter that counts button taps. After completing the tutorial, you'll be familiar with stages, scenes, assistants, and a few other important concepts.

The Google blog has announced the Google Chrome Operating System. Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks.

Later this year Google will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010.

It looks like Google is taking on Microsoft noted some analysts.

Google says speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. They're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal and most of the user experience takes place on the web. They are redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.

Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips. Google is working multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year. The software architecture is simple -- Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. For application developers, the web is the platform. All web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite web technologies.

Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android. Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks. Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems. While there are areas where Google Chrome OS and Android overlap, we believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google.

Google believes tha thaving happier users they are more likely to spend time on the Internet.

pen Source Operating System Research from Juniper Research found that operating systems and applications are playing an increasingly important role in the differentiation of new smartphones and a key factor in the choice of which handset choice by users.  They predict Smartphones shipped with open source operating systems (OS) will increase from 106 million this year to 223 million by 2014

The last three years has seen a revolution in the OS market with market leader Symbian moving to open source and Apple leading the way in the distribution of applications through their innovative, but now widely copied, AppStore approach. The move to open-source OS has also encouraged developers to design new and attractive applications and with over 60% of the OS market is now based on open-source, and a sizeable pool of software design talent out there, there is a massive opportunity for innovation.

However, the real key is not whether the OS is open-source but whether it's easy for a developer to design an application and make money from that effort. The combined changes of Apple's open route to the market and LiMo, OHA and Symbian's open-source OS approach have generated a tidal wave-like effect which even the economic downturn has been unable to reverse.

There is a new update to the webOS for the Palm Pre 1.0.4 which addresses several security issues with Palm webOS software. It also causes some homemade apps not to work because those apps used security flaws in order to be installed. Townsend Ladd Harris a Palm Pre homebrew developer reported the flaws to Palm.

Just before the Palm Pre webOS SDK leak, Palm opened their SDK to new developers.

The Palm Pre webOS developers blog reported that e first batch of invites went out on July 26 and the webOS developer community was double.

This is just the first set of new members -- they plan is to double the size of the program again in the next week, and then continue the growth as fast as they can until everyone who wants the SDK has access to it. 

If you need help installing the Palm Pre update 1.04 please read our article, "How to Install Palm Pre Update."  Other Palm Pre articles you may like are:

• Top Best Coolest Helpful Palm Pre Tricks Tips Suggestions.
• Palm Pre Apps.
  
• Review of Reviews: Palm Pre.
• Top Ten Facts You Need to Know About the Palm Pre.
• Palm Pre: Best Features - Why So Hyped, Why So Good.
  

Most Recent Articles in the Category Palm Pre.

Palm has just updated the webOS operating system for the Palm Pre to webOS 1.0.3. The webOS 1.0.3 update for the Palm Pre improves speed and signal strength. It also improves syncing with Google Apps and changed the alarm clock for weekends.

There are few details you should know before you perform the update on your Palm Pre.You will not be able to use your Palm Pre during the installation of the update. Here's how to install the webOS update on your Palm Pre.

 How to Download the Update

The update may be pushed to you or you can get it via the. updates app on the Palm Pre to download it immediately, (It will take less time to download, if you are connected to Wi-Fi.)

For the OTA (Over-the-Air) update, you will get an alert stating:

"Palm webOS 1.0.3 is now available.  It is about 13mb.  We'll download it over the next few hours when your device is idle and a high speed network is available. You be notified when the update is ready to install.'

You are also given the option to download the update now via the "Download Now" button.

For an automatic "Over the Air" background update, the Palm Pre will wait until you are connected to a Wi-Fi connection, if you don't connect to Wi-Fi within two days, it will download the update via the 3G data network.

If the download process is interrupted for any reason, the process will automatically reconnect and complete. Updates are not downloaded when you have a low-speed data connection or a roaming connection, unless you have enabled data roaming.

Install the Update

Important note: your battery has be charged to at least 30% and do not install the update if you are on a phone call. You can however, use your phone while the update downloads.

After the update is downloaded you have to install it.

Installation can take up to fifteen minutes to complete. While a system update is being installed, you cannot use any part of your phone, and all wireless services are disabled. They warn, do not remove your battery while an update is being installed because you could damage the phone. The update shouldn't effect your data (contacts, emails, calendar etc.) in any way.

Verizon has confirmed  to Information Week, that it will push out an Over-the-Air (OTA) update of the BlackBerry Storm OS version 4.7.0.113, that we wrote about a few weeks ago.

The update adds a portrait on-screen keyboard and fixes over thirty bugs/glitches. One such bug is the one that caused the BlackBerry Storm to freeze when using voice dialing and a bug that caused the multicolored dots across the entire screen. The firmware update also will bring some improvements and new functionality.

For a full list of all the fixed bugs, please see the original article on BlackBerry Storm Update 4.7.0.113 .  We will keep you posted as to the actual date of the push. In general, Verizon prefers to start the push on a Friday, like they did last time. Then they roll out updates over the network over the next couple of weeks.

Although this update is available on the web, we don't recommend you perform the update yourself, unless you know what you are doing.

If you have not gone through an OTA update before and would like to know how it works.  We wrote an article about that during the first official Verizon BlackBerry Storm update.  Since data and voice networks work separately, the OTA will not interrupt a voice phone call. You'll receive a notice about the OTA update and then you will be asked to reboot your BlackBerry Storm. The update will take a few minutes while the files are updated over the air.

If your BlackBerry Storm is off or out of range when the OTA is pushed, you will be contacted again later.

Update on Update May 22: The current update is now 4.7.0.148.

The Symbian open source platform is on course for development this year. They expect a new update of the platform every six months.

The first  release of the new software, called Symbian^2,  will be "functionally complete" by the middle of 2009 and should be bug-free by the end of the year.

Successive updates will occur every six months into 2011.

Tipping Point's Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) will be sponsoring the Pwn2Own hacking contest for the 3rd time.  It will be held during the CanSecWest Security Conference March 16-20th in Vancouver, BC. Hackers are invited to crack into browsers and mobile device for the chance to win $10,000 and the actual devices along with one year of phone service if a phone is a hacked.

Device and software makers don't have to worry because, ZDI will purchase all winning vulnerabilities  and hand them over to the affected vendors, and coordinate public disclosure. 

The Zero Day Initiative will pay $5000 per browser bug, and $10,000 per mobile bug. The first person to crack any of the mobile devices will also get to keep that device along with a one year phone contract.  The first person to crack any of the browsers will get to keep the laptop it was running on.  All winners will be asked to sign and agree to the general ZDI Non Disclosure Agreement.

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer revealed the new features of Windows Mobile 6.5 at Mobile World Congress. They include some improvements such as the application store, a backup and restore service, and an improved web browser.

The images are bigger and it easier to use with fingers on a touchscreen.

The backup and restore service or cloud service is called My Phone, to sync text messages, photos, video, contacts and more to the web. Contacts are backed up with My Phone,so users don't have to worry about losing contacts.

Consumers also will be able to automatically upload photos and video from their Windows phone directly to the My Phone service, making it simple to preserve content that, in the past, would have lived and died on the phone. The My Phone service is currently available in a limited invitation-only beta.

The new Windows Mobile 6.5 home screen keeps people up-to-date on important information by providing a dashboard-like experience to items such as new e-mails, texts, missed calls and calendar appointments. It also includes an improved touchscreen interface and an updated version of the latest Internet Explorer Mobile browser, which in a third-party research study sponsored by Microsoft supported execution of up to 48 percent more assigned tasks than the other browsers and phones studied.

As part of their Mobile World Congress press conference with Steve Ballmer, Microsoft announced their new operating system Windows Mobile 6.5  which will have Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

The Windows Marketplace for Mobile will allow searching, browsing and purchasing mobile applications from Windows phones or from a PC by  using a Windows Live ID.

The new marketplace will be included with all Windows phones based on Windows Mobile 6.5, which will help consumers to easily find, install and experience those applications that fit their needs and make the phone truly personal.

Developers, who have already built over 20,000 applications for Windows phones, will be able to offer applications to customers through the marketplace via a simple security and compatibility check from Microsoft.

Windows Mobile 6.5 has a new honeycomb look and is more "Zune-like."  Microsoft also showcased Windows Mobile Phones.

The Exeda smartphone, a square shaped smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard has been getting a lot media coverage, not for the Exeda but because they posted photos of the smartphone running the new Alpha version of the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. (Pictured at left, to view larger image click on the photo.)

The Exeda website notes that they are open to developers for their an enterprise digital assistant (EDA) because they offer an open source u-boot bootloaded. There are  photos of the Exeda also running Android mobile. The Exeda supports Windows Mobile 6.1, Android, Windows CE 6 and Angstrom Linux. The Exeda has WiFi b/g, Bluetooth, wired ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, a 3.5-inch VGA outdoor-viewable touchscreen, 2 megapixel camera, and trackpad.

A new beta OS for RIM's BlackBerry Storm, version 4.7.0.90 has been leaked giving users a full QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode.

Users of this BlackBerry Storm firmware update upgrade 4.7.0.90 noticed:

• An increase in overall stability.
• Some visual enhancements, "including the older-look application folder and fonts that are slightly larger."
• The screen light will no longer activate when you bump it while it's locked, saving battery life.
• The charging issue in which people would charge overnight but not see progress in the morning has been resolved.
• A higher battery drain reported by a few users.
  

The BlackBerry Storm operating system upgrade known as 4.7.0.75 is currently available for download at Crackberry.com.

It appears to be popular because it was busy when we tried to reach it.

There have been reports that this upgrade will be available over the air soon.

Crackberry advises to install at own risk and install only if you're comfortable doing so.

Yesterday, Boy Genius sang praises of the next version of the OS 4.7.0.76.

Plese note you download the update from a third-party website, it might void all support from Verizon.

Nokia released the new software development kit (SDK) for its Series 40 6th Edition mass-market mobile devices. It provides application developers and network operators with new tools to create unique applications and services for the high-volume feature phone market worldwide. 

Qualcomm is offering  and new software development kit (SDK) for the Company's new Brew Mobile Platform (Brew MP).