By Gilbert Falso :: 9:12 PM
A program manager for Microsoft’s Windows Phone division has been forced out of the company just two weeks after tweeting his opinions on an unreleased Nokia phone running Microsoft’s mobile OS.
Joe Marini no longer works for the company, according to a Microsoft spokesperson, but the tech giant refused to provide any additional details, citing a company policy against discussing HR issues with the press.
Sources close to Marini, who had worked at Microsoft since 2003, have told other media outlets that he resigned after Microsoft threatened to fire him for violating company guidelines on the use of social media website and the disclosure of confidential information.
The offending tweets from his account include the following:
“I just got a chance to try out one of the slickest looking #Nokia phones I have ever seen. Soon, you will too! #wp7“
“Overall I would say an 8. Solid feel, good camera, responsive UI, and nice little touches on the body construction.â€
“Yeah, the camera was good, but I didn’t have optimal lighting. I’d like a larger screen too.â€
By Cynthia Herbert :: 8:19 PM
Although many are speculating that Apple could drop the iPad 3 this fall, analysts and most technology experts think that the newest Apple tablet offering won’t be here until early or mid- 2012. With several months to go before the new shiny gadget emerges, a lot can happen to throw Apple’s perceived market lead off track.
First, let’s consider the question – do we really need 3 iPad models in 3 years? Are they really all that different? Is the marketplace screaming for a new one every 12 months? It is possible Apple is close to a saturation point with the tablet market, and an iPad 3, especially at a higher price point than the last two, might not do as well.
Secondly, the competing Android operating system is getting more robust and stable with each release. We’re at a point now that Google’s OS is providing some serious competition for iOS 5. Android still has about 6 more months to catch up and knock everyone’s socks off before iPad3 arrives in the Apple Store.
Lastly, are consumers tiring of the small screen size? Tablets are showing up with 10+ inches of screen real estate, and they’re selling well. Apple is thought to be introducing a smaller iPad, in addition to it’s standard 9.7-inch model. Is smaller really the way to go? It is possible that sales of a 7-inch iPad 3 could be cannibalized by the new iPhone 5.
By Paul Thomson :: 10:19 PM
Foursquare has unveiled a new option to help prevent the location-based service’s users from accidentally sharing their home addresses with the world. The privacy fix allows a Foursquare user to classify a Foursquare check-in spot as a private residence by selecting “Home†for the category of the venue.
A Foursquare support website offers these details, “This will ensure that only you and your friends can see the address on the venue page; everyone else sees a zoomed out map with no map pin (rather than the real location). If a Mayorship, badge unlock, or check-in is shared to Twitter or Facebook, the venue URL will include a map without a specific location for everyone.â€
Did someone else tag your house or apartment with the street address? No fear, Foursquare will also allow users to flag venues as homes even if they didn’t create them. Users just need to click the link marked “Report a Problem†for a list of options. They can then select the “Venue is my home†option.
By Gilbert Falso :: 10:01 PM
The leading Android phone from Motorola Mobility and Verizon Wireless, the Droid Bionic, has an impressive feature and technology list, but may come up short in the battery life category.
The Bionic measures in at at 2.6 x 5.0 x 0.4 in. and weighs just under 6 oz.. It is roughly the same size and weight as the both the Droid X and Droid X2. With a bright 4.3 inch display, it also boasts two cameras — back and front — the one on the back is 8 megapixels and can take 1080p movies. The forward-facing camera is the standard 480 x 640 VGA.
Under the hood, the Bionic sports a 1 GHz dual-core processor and links to Verizon’s 4G LTE network. The Bionic can also function as a mobile hotspot for up to five other Wi-Fi devices.
The list of features is impressive, yes, but now here’s the bad news – battery life. It’s dismal. Really, really bad.
Android phones are hardly held up as power-sipping devices, but even with a good-sized 1736 mAh battery, the Bionic didn’t even last a traditional working day. In some tests, it barely made it to four hours worth of standard use.
The Droid Bionic is available only on Verizon’s network, and retails for $299 with a standard two-year contract agreement.
By Gilbert Falso :: 8:24 PM
The Washington Post is reporting that Facebook will be launching new functionality to it’s base “Like” button at the Facebook F8 developers conference this week.
According to an unnamed source, the buttons will be “Read,†“Listened,†“Watched” and “Want.” It is possible that the “Want” button will launch later than the first three, however, as part of a greater social commerce engine the network is rolling out.
At this time, it is unclear if these new buttons will replace the “Like” button or work in conjunction with it. One this is clear though – this new functionality will add many more granular layers to the types of data that Facebook can pick up from its users. Ad targeting could be a major outlet for better data, as well as the ability for Facebook to personalize the experience for users even further than it does now.