Author Archive
Skype says Fring violated its Terms of Use, ‘damaging our brand and reputation’ in the process
It looks like Fring’s recent decision to block Skype access to its iPhone 4 video app was the final straw for Skype, who charges that VoIP network was in breach of the Terms of Use and EULA for the Skype API. “Over time,” writes General Counsel Robert Miller, “Fring’s mis-use of our software was increasingly damaging our brand and reputation with our customers.” Although they’ve “been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably,” Friday’s action is being called “disappointing [for] our customers, who have high expectations of the Skype experience.” He goes on to say that “Skype will rigorously protect our brand and reputation, and those developers that do not comply with our terms will be subject to legal enforcement.” Meaning, presumably, that in the case of more Fring shenanigans there will be some sort of red-hot legal action.
BlackBerry 6 teased again in new official video
There have been rumors that the first volley of BlackBerry 6 -powered devices could launch as early as last month — but seeing how we’re still empty-handed, we may as well enjoy more high production value video pimping the biggest new features, right? RIM has published another official YouTube spot on BlackBerry 6 today showing off goodies likes aggregated social network integration, universal search, and — of course — the all-new WebKit-based browser coming out of last year’s purchase of Torch Mobile . Interestingly, this latest video continues RIM’s trend of showing 6 running only on full touchscreen phones; we can’t fathom that they’d abandon the form factor that made them famous, of course, but it’s becoming more and more obvious by the day that we’re going to see this launch on the rumored 9800 or something very similar to it
GamePark’s GP2X Caanoo handheld hits this August, picks up where the Wiz left off (video)
While we’re not sure just how we missed it, it seems GamePark was at E3 2010 in force, with a brand-new Linux gaming portable called the Caanoo. Though it’s got the same 533MHz ARM9 processor as its wizardly predecessor , GamePark’s doubled the memory to 128MB, and added a dedicated 3D GPU to power the larger 3.5-inch touchscreen.
Android App Inventor lets you be the developer (video)
Google is following in Nokia’s footsteps today by offering its users a simple-to-use DIY app maker. Employing a design scheme that relies on visual blocks rather than oodles of arcane code, the App Inventor — still in Beta, of course — has functions for “just about anything” you can do with an Android handset, including access to GPS and phone functionality
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 becomes everyone’s favorite midrange graphics card
It’s rare to come across a universally lauded product nowadays, but NVIDIA’s fresh new GTX 460 is just that sort of exceptional creation.
Acer’s LumiRead 600 hits the FCC with slow bursts of 2.4GHz radiation
Acer’s 6-inch LumiRead e-reader just hit the FCC, but there’s not a lot to learn — the company smartly withheld the user’s manual and detailed images, so all we have are the triplicate forms of stalwart government employees trying to irradiate themselves. Those thankfully painless tests reveal that the Kindle-alike will have standard 802.11b/g WiFi alongside its monochrome E Ink screen, and the whole 532MHz Freescale iMX357 kit will be powered by a 3.7V, 1460mAh battery.
