QNX-Powered BlackBerry Colt, Curve 9360 Release Dates Rumored

Even with all these new BlackBerry OS 7-running smartphones arriving, the operating system's days are already numbered, thanks to RIM planning to transition to a QNX-based platform in the near future. The company already uses QNX for its tablet, and we've heard rumors that its first QNX-powered smartphone, code-named the BlackBerry Colt, would arrive in early 2012. Now it seems that the Colt, along with QNX for smartphones, could be hear even sooner than that, with a new rumor pointing to a late 2011 debut.

While we're definitely excited to see RIM make this major transition, this new timing just sounds awful for new BlackBerrys like the Bold 9900 and Torch 9810. We're used to buying smartphones only to see their replacement models hit retail shelves in the following year, but expecting it to be just a few short months before they're effectively made obsolete is a much harder pill to swallow. For now, we don't expect an unsupported rumor to affect sales that much, but if evidence arrives in support of these claims, attitudes could quickly change.

For now, you might do well to not worry about the future and just enjoy the new BlackBerrys RIM has arriving presently. The latest we've heard some release information regarding is the Curve 9360. According to a leaked Costco lineup, the retailer is expecting to kick-off sales of the 9360 for T-Mobile on September 14. 

Possible LTE Hardware Spotted In Apple Store

Yesterday we looked into the possibility that testing was underway to bring LTE connectivity to the next iPhone. Some leaked code snippets show clear references to LTE communications, which, if genuine, suggest this fall's iPhone launch could very well feature the first 4G iPhone. Today there's some new evidence supporting this LTE theory, with the supposed discovery of LTE hardware being installed in Apple stores.

The components in the above image were reportedly just installed in an unnamed Apple store, supporting LTE on the 700MHz band AT&T will use when it starts offering LTE data services later this month. According to the source, the hardware is also capable of LTE on frequencies currently held by T-Mobile, should AT&T manage to succeed in its acquisition. There's no word if the hardware also supports the separate LTE band in the 700MHz range used by Verizon, but we'd be surprised to see multiple carrier support in one device.

If Apple is gearing-up to ensure that its customers have access to a strong LTE signal within its stores, it's not too much of a leap to conclude that the company is interested in selling its own hardware to take advantage of it. Now, that might not mean the next iPhone necessarily; we could be seeing LTE-equipped MacBooks or iPads, but it certainly helps throw some fuel on the rumor fire. 

Why Are Carriers Locking-Down BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 NFC?

When the Nexus S first arrived late last year, it shipped with its NFC capabilities only partially enabled, supporting read-only interactions. Later software updates, in the form of Android 2.3.3, gave developers access to a new NFC API, unlocking the NFC chip's potential. More recently, we've seen Android 2.3.5 enable secure NFC transmissions for e-commerce. While it would have been nice to have all the software in place for NFC at the time of the phone's launch, adding features through incremental updates is a sensible way to introduce them after the fact. We're reminded of all this now, looking at how some carriers are treating the newest generation of RIM's BlackBerry hardware, disabling NFC functionality in software.

AT&T will start selling the BlackBerry Bold 9900 shortly, and rumors indicate the smartphone will arrive with its NFC chip switched off. Verizon already has its Bold 9930 out, and users have confirmed that NFC functionality is absent. When asked about this situation, RIM responded with the following message:

"RIM believes that NFC is an exciting technology that will enable many new capabilities, and we are aligning with our partners in supporting the overall NFC ecosystem by investing in NFC in our products. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 series are the first to be NFC ready, and we are working closely with carrier partners on their roll out plans for NFC."

That avoids directly answering why Verizon is doing this, but this talk of an "NFC ecosystem" makes it look like the carriers may be withholding NFC access until they monetize the technology through some sort of mobile payment system. That may be a jaded read of the situation, but we're finding it hard to understand why the feature is completely disabled, not even letting you scan passive tags. 

Beware: Counterfeit Plants vs. Zombies in the Android Market

Plants vs. Zombies is one of my son's favorite games. He was very excited when it finally came to the Android platform, but wasn't enthused to find out he had to get if from the Amazon Appstore -- not Google's Android Market.

Recently that changed! Or has it?

Plants vs. Zombies is now on the Android Market -- but, even though it has similar (identical?) artwork, it's not the original version of the game. It's a Chinese knockoff -- with a tempting price: free.

The real Plants vs. Zombies is distributed exclusively through Amazon for a price of US$2.99.

Luckily, most users aren't likely to get the fake version confused with the legitimate one: the fake doesn't show up well in searches because it's description is written entirely in Chinese. Should the developer change this, the potential for confusion with the original is could be very high -- and with that confusion comes the possibility of malware being hidden inside an app that would otherwise be trusted because of its name.

As the old saying goes: Let the buy beware... especially if the app is free.

植物VS殭屍 

UPDATED

by 玉米树

50,000 downloads, 193 ratings (3.2 avg)

Free

Install

Download the imitation from the Android Market


Download the authentic version from the Amazon Appstore

Firefox Mobile 6.0 Comes to Android

Those of you following the evolution of web browsers already know about the desktop version of Firefox hitting the 6.0 milestone -- ahead of schedule -- last week. Today, some of the same goodness that's packaged inside the desktop version is available in the updated version for Android-powered smartphones and tablets.

Firefox version 6.0 includes the following upgrades and enhancements:
1. Higher-quality image rendering and smoother zooming
2. First wave of optimizations for tablets and large-screen devices
3. Improved interaction with touch-optimized sites (e.g Google Maps, games)
4. Improved form helper
5. Visual refresh for phones running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
6. Continued performance and memory management enhancements

Firefox 

UPDATED

by Mozilla

>250,000 downloads, 33378 ratings (3.4 avg)

Free

Install

Download Firefox Mobile from the Android Market