Yes, this is a rumor, and by golly it strains the limits of credulity, but take note of its source. Firstly, the details: according to Eldar Murtazin , Microsoft and Nokia will enter talks next week to discuss the potential for the American software giant to purchase the Finnish company’s mobile arm, meaning the part that makes all those delectable smartphones. Eldar’s not been able to dig up any further intel, but expects a deal could be closed as early as the end of this year. We’re inclined to believe there’s at least some semblance of truth to Eldar’s words because of his track record. Way back in December of last year, when nobody believed Nokia would deviate from its Symbian strategy, Eldar reported the similarly incredible-sounding news that Microsoft and Nokia were in discussions about the latter using Windows Phone as its main smartphone OS. That turned into reality this February, and more recently, the Russian mobile spy managed to also accurately predict Nokia killing off the Ovi brand in favor of an eponymous naming scheme for its services. And that’s all on top of Eldar’s knack for obtaining Nokia prototypes way ahead of release. So, assuming for a moment that Microsoft does indeed have its eyes set on turning Nokia’s handset business into its own mobile hardware division, what would it all mean? Well, we can only see this making sense for Espoo if underwritten by a humongous check from Microsoft, but that might not be a problem. The Redmond camp has recently shown its determination to get what it wants by spending $8.5 billion on Skype , and previously offered north of $44 billion for Yahoo, a good deal more than Nokia’s total market cap of around $32 billion . Let’s not forget, Nokia once used to manufacture galoshes and tires, so it already has a history of transformative change. And hey, having an ex-Microsoft guy at the top means that if this kind of move were to ever happen, now might just be the right time for it. Eldar Murtazin: Microsoft will enter negotiations to buy Nokia’s mobile division next week originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posts Tagged ‘rumor’
Eldar Murtazin: Microsoft will enter negotiations to buy Nokia’s mobile division next week
May 16th, 2011 
jedwan 
Posted in att, engadget, htc 
Tags: acquisition, att, eldar, eldar murtazin, eldarmurtazin, htc, nokia, purchase, rumor, russian, skype, smartphones, windows-phone, yahoo 
No Comments »iOS 5 updates expected to be carried over-the-air, at least for the Verizon iPhone
May 5th, 2011 jedwan Having spent a good part of our day yesterday negotiating with iTunes and downloading a whopping 666.2MB file to update our iPhone to version 4.3.3 — a version, we might add, whose sole claim to fame is the removal of things — we know well the pains of updating Apple’s mobile software. Those aches, however, may soon be coming to an end. 9to5Mac has multiple sources informing it that Apple and Verizon are scheming to start delivering iOS updates over the air from this fall, or just as soon as iOS 5 is made available. Untethered OS updates are a familiar feature to users of other smartphone operating systems and even the iOS-infused Apple TV , but getting Apple’s mobile devices up to date has so far always required going through the company’s own cable and software. There’s no reason to believe this wireless update feature will be limited to Verizon, mind you — that’s just where the informants are coming from in this instance — though Apple will almost certainly have to alter the file sizes of its updates. We can’t think of many carriers who’ll be happy to push more than half a gigabyte of data per user per update. Additionally, since iTunes currently acts as the major backup hub, 9to5Mac speculates Cupertino must be working on a cloud backup service as well, which would seem a very sensible idea. Of course, that doesn’t paint a very happy or busy future for iTunes, but so what? iOS 5 updates expected to be carried over-the-air, at least for the Verizon iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 04:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in engadget Tags: alter-the-file, informants, iphone, ipodtouch, operating-system, over the air, rumor, smartphone, updates, verizon-iphone, verizoniphone No Comments »Apple’s cloud streaming service to be called iCloud?
April 28th, 2011 jedwan Okay, so if you had to guess a name for an Apple service that exists in the cloud it’s pretty safe to say you’d pick “iCloud,” right? Good, now that we’re past the obvious, there are some slightly more compelling indicators out there that this may indeed be what Apple is going to call its (presumably) soon-to-launch music streaming service . We received anonymous tips about this name in the past, and now Om Malik is reporting some interesting history, that the domain iCloud.com is owned by a company called Xcerion, which recently re-branded its cloud-based storage service from iCloud to CloudMe. TechCrunch reached out to the company and got a beautifully-worded non-denial talking about how the new name better embraces the company’s cross-platform approach. That it does, but the timing is interesting. Obviously nothing is confirmed, but with Warner and at least one other of the big four record labels signed on , we’d guess the real name for this service should be drifting into view any time now. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Apple’s cloud streaming service to be called iCloud? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in engadget Tags: apple, cloud-streaming, cloudme, engadget, entry, indicators-out, music streaming, re-branded-its, reporting-some, rumor, service-should, storage-service, xcerion No Comments »Motorola promises unlocked bootloaders for future Android phones? (update)
April 27th, 2011 jedwan Android users have spoken , and maybe, just maybe, Motorola actually heard — AusDroid claims to have a statement direct from the mobile phone manufacturer promising unlocked bootloaders later this year: We completely understand the operator requirement for security to the end user, and as well, want to support the developer communities desire to use these products as a development platform. It is our intention to enable the unlockable/relockable bootloader currently found on Motorola XOOM across our portfolio of devices starting in late 2011, where carriers and operators will allow it. Wonderfully corporate of them to pass the buck to the carriers, no? This quote comes by way of a gentleman who petitioned Moto for just such a thing, mind you, so please take it with a grain of salt, and you’ll be the first to know if we get confirmation from Motorola itself. Update: AusDroid managed to get in touch with Motorola North Asia, and it sounds like we’re looking at the truth — let’s see if Sanjay Jha agrees when he wakes up tomorrow morning. Motorola promises unlocked bootloaders for future Android phones? (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in engadget Tags: bootloader, developer, hack, locked, mod, motorola, motorola-north, pass-the-buck, rom, roms, rumor, unlockable No Comments »Walmart to Sell Samsung Infuse 4G in May for $178.88?
April 22nd, 2011 admin The Samsung Infuse 4G has yet to make its way to market, but when it does, you might be able to find it at Walmart. Rumor has it that the retail giant has been sending around circulars indicating that the Infuse and its 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display will hit shelves sometime next month. The notices also mention that the device will be sold for $178.88, which would likely be bundled with a two-year AT&T contract. There hasn’t been any confirmation from Samsung, which unveiled the ultra-thin smartphone way back in January, but we’ll let you know as soon as we get word. [Thanks, John] Walmart to Sell Samsung Infuse 4G in May for $178.88? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in att, engadget Tags: entry, money, release, retail, rumor, rumors, samsung, samsung infuse 4g, samsung-infuse, super amoled, super amoled plus, superamoled, superamoledplus, walmart-rumor No Comments »HTC Sensation 4G launching on June 8th, because Google AdWords says so
April 21st, 2011 jedwan We already knew the dual-core Sensation 4G will be showing up in the states “beginning this summer,” though HTC and T-Mobile have been mum on an actual date — or so we thought. If you look up said phone on Google, you should see a cheeky Adwords ad mentioning a “6/8″ date in the link. But wait, there’s more: TmoNews also spotted the same date stamped on the Sensation 4G product shot from last week, which we’ve embedded after the break for your convenience. Of course, anything could change between now and June, but this preliminary date is certainly a good sign for all HTC Gingerbread anticipators — or, you know, you could just get the leaked ROM right now. Continue reading HTC Sensation 4G launching on June 8th, because Google AdWords says so HTC Sensation 4G launching on June 8th, because Google AdWords says so originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in engadget, htc Tags: after-the-break, cellphone, gingerbread, hspa, htc, htcsensation, htcsensation4g, mobile-phone, rumor, sensation4g, states, the-dual-core No Comments »Next-generation iPhone coming in September?
April 20th, 2011 jedwan Ok, so you won’t be getting an iPhone refresh this summer. But according to a trio of sources speaking to Reuters , the next-generation iPhone should be shipping in September — as we’ve heard before — with production starting in July. One source said that the iPhone will feature a faster processor, naturally, and look largely similar to the iPhone 4. If true then prepare to see it unveiled at Apple’s fall event , usually held in early September. Next-generation iPhone coming in September? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in engadget Tags: apple, entry, friend-via, iphone, largely-similar, rumor, source-said, summer, usually-held, will-feature No Comments »Nokia W7 and W8 tipped as first Windows Phone models
April 14th, 2011 admin If you can accept what we’re about to tell you as rumor, and nothing more, then we’d like to let you in on the latest scuttlebutt surrounding Nokia’s first dip into the shallow Windows Phone waters. Eldar Murtazin , the eternal Nokia antagonist, claims to have the inside scoop on Nokia’s current Windows Phone device plans while getting an early hands-on with a prototype. Besides demonstrating a natural extension of the Nokia naming strategy to accommodate the new Windows Phone devices, Eldar tells us that model W7 is built around an X7 hardware base while the new W8 handset is a variant of Nokia’s N8 cameraphone (conceptualized in the above pic). According to Eldar, all of Nokia’s WP prototypes are built upon Qualcomm chipsets per Microsoft’s requirement (and Nokia’s dismay ). The W7 model is currently being used in-house for development purposes and will likely be the first to market, according to Eldar, with an 8 megapixel autofocus camera and flash. Murtazin claims that the W7 reminded him of the HTC Mozart without any noticeable customizations to the OS . If neither of these models appeal to you, hold tight — Eldar says that Nokia has a dozen Windows Phone devices planed for 2012. Of course, it’s early days so any, or all of this might change before Nokia ships its first device later this year or early twenty-twelve. Imagine it: Nokia hardware slathered in Mango — mmm mmm good. Nokia W7 and W8 tipped as first Windows Phone models originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 03:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in engadget, htc Tags: currently-being, eldar, eldar murtazin, eldarmurtazin, engadget, microsoft, naming-strategy, nokia, rumor, windows-phone No Comments »Sprint LG Rumor 2 Cell Phone
April 11th, 2011 admin The Sprint LG Rumor 2 slider-QWERTY cell phone for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate. New Sprint Phones – LG updated a good and very popular phone with three or four nice improvements for the same price. The LG Rumor 2 is perfect for my …
Posted in Cell Phone, LG Tags: Cell Phone, four-nice, nice, rumor, sprint, sprint-phones, three-or-four, very-popular No Comments »HTC Droid Incredible 2 struts its stuff in leaked press shots? (Updated)
April 8th, 2011 jedwan If you had any doubts about HTC’s Incredible S making it to our shores, they’re probably dissipating as we speak — not only has the phone obtained Verizon’s shiny red checkmark , it’s now got the robotic eye of Sauron staring at us with ferocious intensity. PocketNow obtained these pictures of the likely Droid Incredible 2 without naming so much as an anonymous source, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Verizon’s way of reminding us that the handset is rapidly on its way to market. You’ll find two more pictures at our source link. Update: Android Central got hold of some new shots of the actual phone itself, which shows off its model number ADR6350 and firmware 2.2.1. Thanks, Bla1ze . HTC Droid Incredible 2 struts its stuff in leaked press shots? (Updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 20:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Posted in engadget, htc Tags: handset, incredible s, leaked images, leaked photos, leakedimages, phone, rumor, source, verizonwireless No Comments »
