We are happy to announce that Apple has just approved our new app: Free List. Free List is an ad-supported version of our previously released Skratch List.
Free List and Skratch List are the most fun-to-use To Do List app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. With Free List, we bring you all the same great features such as FlickAdd and ShakeTrash, but it is totally free. We hope you find it useful to help you get things done.
If you are not familiar with what Free List can do for you, please visit this page to learn more about what Free List can do for you.
Today, Google announced the next major release of Android OS, codenamed "Eclair". The new release packs many useful features for both developer and end-users. Verizon is expected to officially announce the first DROID phone tomorrow that dons the new OS.
Here are some of the key highlights:
Exchange Support
Support for multiple accounts synchronization
Quick Contact for Android allows users to quickly initiate various contact actions from the contact list (see image). Developers can also create new widgets to plug in.
Unified inbox to browse email across multiple accounts.
Virtual keyboard improvements.
Camera enhancements (built-in flash support, digital zoom, white balance, etc.)
HTML5support in browser: database API, app caching, geo-location API and <video> tag
Enhanced Bluetooth Support: BT2.1 and new BT profiles support, including Object Push Profile.
You can read about Google’s announcement here. There is also a short video that demonstrates some of the new 2.0 functionality. It’s difficult to say which features of this release are the most important because they are all pretty significant. Some of our thoughts:
Quick Contact blends can blend contact list with social networks, essentially turning Android phones into a more social experience.
Exchange support has a very big impact on their business customers, as Exchange support is the first thing they ask for. To be clear, I don’t think Android is there yet with business users as they are still missing a lot of things (like encryption), but they are clearly making progress.
Bluetooth OPP profile support can have a big impact on gaming and the types of cross-screen applications that can be developed.
HTML5 support is also a big one. Safari on the iPhone already supports app caching and geo-location APIs as well
It’s very impressive that Google has churned out so many OS releases in such a short time. OS 1.1 was only released in February 2009, and they shipped 1.5 in April, 1.6 in September and now 2.0. Android obviously has a lot of momentum with major OEMs, but it still remains to be seen whether there will be significant user uptake.
Unless you have been living in the stone age, you probably know that today’s Windows 7 launch date. Microsoft took the opportunity and lined up several well coordinated events:
CEO, Steve Ballmer, kicked off the launch event in NYC. He also appeared on the Engadget show today.
CFO, Chris Liddell, rang the bell to open NASDAQ this morning.
Microsoft opened their first retail stores to battle Apple Stores. There is one in Scottsdale AZ, and another one in Paris, France. There were long lines of Windows fans in front of the stores before opening.
In Japan, Burger King is selling 7 patty burgers for ¥777 (or $8.55) to celebrate Windows 7’s launch.
Launched a series of Win7 ads highlighting that Win7 is the idea of the users.
So many things are going on with Microsoft’s big launch. What we love the most from today is the counter-attack from Apple, as they launch a new series ads targeting Windows 7. See them after the jump.
Apple reported stunning earnings today, exceeding even the most optimistic expectations. The company recorded GAAP EPS of $1.82, representing a 44% year-over-year growth. Apple sold 7.4 million iPhones in Q4 (that’s 44% more than Q3), barely keeping up with demand. The Apps Store continues to sing along with over 2 billion downloads and more than 85,000 applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Did you think Microsoft stopped making phones? Rest assured that the Redmond giant is still very committed to the game. It’s just too important not to play.
In fact, the big M is hitting a milestone today with its launch of Windows Mobile 6.5. Read on to find out what’s new in this release.
Look what we got here – our very Windows 7 Launch Party Box. Did you get yours yet?
As part of the global Windows 7 launch campaign, Microsoft has asked users to apply to host launch parties. Thousands have been selected to be hosts, and we were lucky to be one of them.
The party box is full of random goodies. We didn’t know what to expect, but suffice to say that we were surprised to see its contents:
Windows 7 branded jigsaw puzzle – hmm… is this one for the kids?
Windows 7 poster – yes… putting this up for sure.
Windows 7 branded napkins – how thoughtful… no need for me to provide my own napkins.
Windows 7 playing cards – when you are done showing off all the Win7 features, you an play some cards?
Windows 7 branded re-usable tote bags – not really sure why this is included, but presumably it’s for guests to take home.
Table top centerpiece – this one is kind of lame… just 2 pieces of hard paper criscrossed with Windows 7 people/pictures.
Balloons – decoration
Streamers – decoration
The real jewel: Special Edition of Windows 7 Ultimate DVD with Steven Ballmer’s signature
We are going to go practice some Win7 demos now. Are you ready to for the best version of Windows yet?
On November 2, you will be able to buy the new Motorola CLIQ for $200 (with contract) from T-Mobile. This is the third Android device from T-Mobile, but the first non-HTC device (the first two were G1 and MyTouch 3G).
The Cliq is crucially important to Motorola. It’s Motorola’s first Android device, and it’s first entrance into the SmartPhone arena without Windows Mobile. Last year, Motorola decided to ditch Windows Mobile and decided to solely dedicate its focus around Andorid. Looks like it is now bearing fruit and it will be interesting to how well it does in the market.
As far as Android devices go, Cliq shouldn’t disappoint. Early reviews are very positive. The device is fast and responsive; form factor is very nice and the slideout keyboard apparently doesn’t make the device too thick. The "secret sauce" from Moto is its custom UI work on top of Android that it calls MOTOBLUR. The UI integrates social networking feeds deeply into the phone, for example, on its home screen as well as in the Contact list. This is not unlike what INQ is trying to do as we have reported back in February.
You can view the video below to get a better sense of how MOTOBLUR works.
For more info on Motorola’s CLIQ and complete photo gallery, check out Motorola’s official site here.
Look what we got here – something that’s finally different from the "me too" iPhone look-alike phone. Samsung today announced SCH-W880 phone camera in Korea. The device sports some very impressive bells and whistles:
Display: 3.3” WVGA AMOLED
Video: HD Level (1280 x 720) 30fps
Terrestrial DMB (Mobile TV)
Connectivity: Bluetooth® 2.0, USB 2.0 HS (micro USB)
Format support: Video – MPEG4, H.263, H.264, DivX, XviD; Audio – MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC+e, WMA
Camera: 12MP with 3X Optical Zoom, 2X Digital Zoom, Image stabilization, Xenon + Power Led Flash, Touch AF Tracking, Smart Auto, Beauty Shot, Macro Shot
Internal memory: 4GB
External memory: Micro SD (up to 32GB)
Battery: 1,100 mAh
Size: 115.8 x 56.9 x 16.3 mm
Wow, all of this packed into a very attractive package. This one looks like it will be very compelling for that photobug in some of us, who wish we have our camera with us all the time but don’t want to lug around two devices.
What we don’t like about this deice though:
Still uses proprietary OS. Throw in Android in there, will you?
No WiFi
No GPS for geo-tagging
Hopefully, when Sammy decides to bring this to North America, they will at least add WiFi and GPS.
We are happy to announce that Apple has just approved our new app: Free List. Free List is an ad-supported version of our previously released Skratch List. 
Look what we got here – something that’s finally different from the "me too" iPhone look-alike phone. Samsung today announced SCH-W880 phone camera in Korea. The device sports some very impressive bells and whistles:
