The Motorola Zhishang XT800 is an Android-based smartphone that allows Chinese users to access SHOP4APPS.
CORP TALK: Motorola unveiled SHOP4APPS (or Zhi-Jian-Yuan in Mandarin, which means “Place for Apps Wisdom”), a store for Android applications in China.
The online store is designed to host apps customized for Android-based Motorola phones in China.
Motorola has also announced a new feature on their Android handsets enabling users to customize their Android devices by selecting their own search provider.
Users will be able to select their search experience from a number of providers including Baidu, with whom Motorola has signed strategic agreements.
SHOP4APPS will also give developers a platform to promote their apps through MOTODEV, Motorola’s global developer program, and via other Android development ecosystems.
To begin submitting their Android apps immediately for hosting on the SHOP4APPS store in China, developers need to only look here.
The Nexus One has a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash.
CORP TALK: The internet is abuzz with the much hyped Nexus One Android-based phone from Internet search giant Google. Word from the Telegraph is that the launch will be in California later today.
TechTree India even has a list of specifications. Of course, Engadget has a video review and photos of the Nexus One already. The phone itself is built by HTC and runs on Google’s Android 2.1 operating system.
It has a 1GHz SnapDragon processor, a 3.7-inch 480 x 800 display and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash. Here’s a list of the hardware features of the Nexus One:
Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus with flash and geo tagging Onboard memory: 512MB Flash, 512MB RAM Expandable memory: 4GB removable SD Card (expandable to 32GB) Noise Suppression: Dynamic noise suppression from Audience, Inc. Ports: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack with four contacts for inline voice and remote control Battery: Removable 1400 mAh Personalized laser engraving: Up to 50 characters on the back of the phone Trackball: Tri-color notification LED, alerts when new emails, chats, text messages arrive
Here’s a video of the phone after launch just earlier today:
UPDATE 06/01/10: Apparently, the Google Nexus One smartphone will indeed be available to users in Hong Kong and Singapore at US$577.31 and this includes Google shipping the phone unlocked (with power adapter) to you via DHL. Here’s a screenshot of the shipping terms once you reach the checkout page.
Paolo Manzano, Managing Editor, HWM Philippines
Paolo (HWM Philippines): Despite all the hype that the Nexus One is indeed the Google Phone, it will remain as one handset amongst many other handsets in the crowd.
This means that it will still need to compete with the rest, finding its relevance amongst a user group that will embrace it just like the iPhone was whole-heartedly embraced.
Of course, it has several advantages: one, it is conceptualized by Google, with all the sweets they have to offer, including seamless integration of Google Apps, the best support for Android Market, and perhaps extensive compatibility with future Android updates.
Another point to watch here is the fact that Google is now treading on its partners’ territory by producing their very own branded handsets, something that Microsoft has avoided at all costs in order to keep their WinMo partners happy.
Perhaps the market will go for the Droid or Hero or some other handset, but for any partner, is competition from Google on this front something that they want?
Probably not. It will be interesting to see how it turns out in the next few years and how it will shape the business of Android partners such as Motorola and HTC, and most especially Google.
HWM Indonesia
HWM Indonesia: Being Google, everything that comes out from the Google factories will be hot cakes.
Coupled with HTC’s manufacturing wits, the combination is lethal. Good hardware with global-reach software, what else would you ask? Well, lower pricing may be.
Since the HTC Dream’s launch, when I had expected Android-based phones to boom in two years, I now think it will probably be faster, pending internet infrastructure to be more established in certain countries (e.g. Indonesia).
The product is certainly worth the hype.
Smartphone communities welcome this change from the unreliability we’ve so far seen in other more established platforms.
The Android-based HTC Hero was unveiled in the UK touting a new Sense User Interface.
SHOWCASE: IntoMobile.com has reported on the unveiling of the HTC Hero in the UK here and it’s currently generating a lot of Android buzz.
The HTC Hero is the latest Android smartphone from HTC, but according to the site, the real star is the new customized Android OS user-interface called HTC “Sense UI”.
If you’re familiar with the TouchFLO 3D UI in Windows Mobile-based HTC smartphones, then this is what Sense UI is to the Android-based HTC Hero. There seems to be high expectations that the HTC Sense UI will be the key catalyst for making the HTC Hero the best Android phone to hit the market.
Oh did we also mention it supports multi-touch inputs (other than the Palm Pre’s WebOS and iPhone 3GS’s iPhone OS)?
Anyway, words aside, here’s a video showing you how the HTC Hero’s “Sense UI” works. Check it out (click the link after to check out two other videos related to HTC Hero and its Android Sense UI).
A video presentation of what the Sense UI is going to feel like on the Android-based HTC Hero.
SHOWCASE: Besides the mobile phones announced by Nokia, Samsung, LG and Garmin-ASUS (for its nuvofone series), there are other highlights from the show worth mentioning and taking note (at least from a HWM regional standpoint).
1) Bridgewater gives iPhone and BlackBerry users control over data usage and roaming charges
Mobile personalization company Bridgewater Systems introduced its myPolicy solution which will enable Apple iPhone and BlackBerry subscribers to control components within their devices so that they don’t get a shock on their data charges in their phone bill.
Hoping to work with potential mobile operators, the firm’s solution features real-time usage tracking of data, SMS and apps, including voice and roaming charges; the ability to set personalized limits, notifications and roaming controls; as well as support for special offers in real time such as day passes for new apps, bandwidth top-up and free SMS with mobile advertising.
Bridgewater Systems can be found at Hall 3 (booth 3J2-01) at CommunicAsia 2009.
2) Asia leads the world as broadband grows 4% despite downturn The Broadband Forum announced that broadband and IPTV growth has been on the rise despite the economic downturn. Industry analysts Point Topic points out that broadband grew by 16.6 million lines globally in the last quarter alone, with Asia being the dominant riser.
Within Asia, China dominated with an addition of 4.8 million lines with others like India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and Singapore taking top spots. For IPTV growth, there is now nearly 7 million lines of IPTV across Asia. Download the PDF report to read the rest of the findings here.
3) Huawei branded smartphones unveiled at CommunicAsia 2009
Huawei's U8230 is based on Google's Android platform, featuring a 3.5-inch touch screen and QWERTY keyboard.
Huawei's C8000 is Windows Mobile-based, has a 2.8-inch touch screen and optimized power management features.
Shenzhen, China-based Huawei Technologies showcased two new smartphones at CommunicAsia 2009 - an Android-powered U8230 and a Windows Mobile-based C8000. Huawei expects these two smartphones to be commercialized by the second half of 2009.
The Android-powered U8230 features full and half QWERTY keyboards and a 3.5-inch LCD touch screen. It uses Google Chrome Internet browser as it’s based on Google’s Android platform. Battery is a 1500mAH. The C8000, on the other hand, being Windows Mobile powered, incorporates a 3-D menu user interface on a 2.8-inch touch screen. It has an optimized power management for usage to last 6-8 hours.
4) MDA forms FutureTV network initiative with partners
Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has put its support behind a group of companies coming together to form a FutureTV network initiative to shape a new generation of media experiences. Leading the network are StarHub, SingTel and so forth, where together with MDA, the network will seed ideas and collaborations to explore greater interactivity and personalization in the way visual media is consumed and experienced.
5) Panasonic wows broadcasters at BroadcastAsia 2009 with 3D Theater showcase and new P2HD and AVCCAM cameras
Panasonic's AG-HPX302EN is the world's first AVC-Intra Camera-Recorder with 1/3-inch, 2.2-Megapixel image sensor.
For broadcasters, filmmakers and producers, Panasonic Systems Asia Pacific has launched an affordable, Asian-made 3D Theater solution in Full High-Def featuring a dramatic 10-minute 3D Thai film. The film was shot in full HD with Panasonic’s P2HD AVC-Intra camera (AJ-HPX3000). The theater itself includes 5.1-surround sound, 2.7 x 1.5-meter silver screen and two Full HD DLP projectors (PT-DZ6710).
Of course, besides the 3D theater, new products demo-ed at their booth include:
AG-HPX302EN (world’s first P2HD AVC-Intra camera-recorder with 1/3-inch, 2.2-Megapixel image sensor)
E-series P2 cards
AG-HMC40 (low-cost professional AVCCAM handheld with 10.6-Megapixel still cam)
AG-HMR10 (AVCCAM portable recorder/player)
AG-HCK10 (multi-purpose 3-MOS HD camera head)
AW-HE870 (2/3-inch 3-CCD high def convertible camera)
Panasonic Systems Asia Pacific is located in Hall 8 (8L3-01) of the Singapore Expo as part of BroadcastAsia.
6) Hong Kong-based firm, BNS, showcases revenue-centric interactive shopping app for IPTV operators
BNS Touch utilizes the IPTV platform to give home shoppers a richer experience when browsing catalogs.
One of Asia’s leading IPTV technology and content solutions provider, BNS, has launched a multimedia solution integrating the IPTV platform, shopping catalog/advertisement in a magazine and an RFID pen called The Wiz to enhance customer loyalty when it comes to shopping experiences.
Called BNS Touch, the system combines IPTV technology with sophisticated invisible dot-code printing and recognition technology, allowing hotel guests or catalog shoppers to browse (printed catalog), view (via the IPTV rich media network) and order (via the pen called Wiz) the items they want (including selecting quantity, color preference, etc.). BNS is located at Hall 3 in CommunicAsia. Check out the trailer to get a better idea of what the platform does.
Will there ever come a time when one smartphone rules over the rest? Knowledge at Wharton finds out.
Knowledge at Wharton lets users download an audio file commentary of their news. We’ve included the link here. It’s a playable MP3 audio file.
T&A: Knowledge at Wharton online business journal released a report asking the question if there will soon be one smartphone company emerging to become the overall market winner.
Basically, this seems to be a trend now, considering that computer operating systems were jostling for the same position in the late 1970s and early 1980s until Bill and company hit jackpot thanks to the IBM-compatible PC.
Today however, the smartphone market is far more fragmented than it ever was. Smartphones today allow users to web surf, email, manage calendars beyond making phone calls and watching the latest bloopers. Players like BlackBerry, Apple, Palm, the Symbian guys (Nokia especially), Google Android and Microsoft are all vying for that sweet spot. What’s complex however is the dominance the telecom providers (like AT&T in the US, Sprint for the Palm Pre, etc.) have over these device manufacturers.
According to Wharton, if this isn’t a game-changing tipping point, nobody would know what is. Will there be a consolidation of just one or two dominant operating systems or will the fragmentation hamper the growth of the industry? The attraction however lies in the locking in of users once their minds are fixed on a particular smartphone. This is because the entire ecosystem has a ‘locking in’ effect and it would be extremely difficult to switch platforms without busting both familiarity and contract. (Editor opinions: 1)(more…)
The Broadband Forum announced that broadband and IPTV growth has been on the rise despite the economic downturn. Industry analysts Point Topic points out that broadband grew by 16.6 million lines globally in the last quarter alone, with Asia being the dominant riser.
Knowledge at Wharton lets users download an audio file commentary of their news. We’ve included the link 
