TamsBlackBerry – the BlackBerry blog

As quite a few of you are visiting the Tamoggemon Content network from a Windows-powered desktop or notebook, I felt like sharing this with all of you.

Microsoft has just warned that the End-of-Support time for Windows XP SP2 and the initial release of Windows Vista is nearing:

If you currently use one of the above-mentioned operating systems, you will no longer receive updates and patches after the specified dates. Fortunately, the solution is easy: install the latest service pack…

P.S. Windows 2000 heads: your EOL time is in July…irregardless of the service pack you use!

RIM’s devices traditionally had but one form factor: QWERTY candybar. The introduction of the Flip and Storm series showed that RIM is willing to experiment – and it looks like the slider form factor is the next victim.

The Boy Genius claims to have heard about a new device with the following features:

• OS 6.0
• Portrait slider
• Wifi 802.11n
• Maybe touchscreen

From my personal point of view, the maybe in front of touchscreen is superfluous – how should the user do something meaningful with the device if all he has is the five-way navigator?

BTW: the image he shared is a mock-up. He explicitly stated that this is NOT the device…

When it comes to smartphone market share, the figures from Garnet’s have caused quite a stir in the past – after all, there was a time when the distinction between smartphone and handheld was important. Nowadays, this isn’t as important any more…and with out further ado, we bring to you: the Q4 2009 figures.

First of all, a per-OS table:

And a per-manufacturer table:

Those of you seeking further info can get it via Gartner’s. Their paid report can be accessed below:
http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1306513

Long-term followers of Tamoggemon know that the products usually have a minimized interface – this is due to fanatic tap counting in the UI design department. However, tap counting is but part of a successful mobile UI – you usually also need to adhere to common design patterns.

So far, no collection of design patterns for mobile applications has been published in book form. However, the design4mobile wiki is a more than adequate replacement:

Hit the link below to find out more:
http://patterns.design4mobile.com/index.php/Main_Page

Owners of Linux-based routers are in for a “reverse treat” – a botnet called Chuck Norris attacks these devices.

PCWorld reports the following:

…

Once installed in the router’s memory, the bot blocks remote communication ports and begins to scan the network for other vulnerable machines. It is controlled via IRC.

Because the Chuck Norris botnet lives in the router’s RAM, it can be removed with a restart.

…

So: change that default password, folks!

Microsoft has traditionally used the Catalonia Plaza hotel in Barcelona as its “base” during the congress – it offers better logistics and cleaner, better-managed venues. This year, they really overdid it though – and transformed the entire hotel into a huge Windows Mobile 7 ad.

During the day, the clock was always set to Seven:

And at night, it got really funny. Not much to add to the shot below:

Rumors of an upcoming browser from RIM have floated around the net for some time. The MWC didn’t see the announcement of the browser – but it was shown off during one of the many keynote sessions held.

The video below shows the thingy in action on an unspecified device:

When it comes to booking stuff for the Mobile World Congress, earlier is better. This has led to a large variety of weird date speculation on Facebook and other social networks.

At Tamoggemon’s, we are proud to bring you the more-less official dates for the next issue of the MWC; as When it comes to booking stuff for the Mobile World Congress, earlier is better. This has led to a large variety of weird date speculation on Facebook and other social networks.

At Tamoggemon’s, we are proud to bring you the more-less official dates for the next issue of the MWC; as displayed at the venue:

Of course, this can still change – but it should make for a pretty good estimate. Get booking .

Like last year, the folks at RIM’s treated themselves to a booth. But what did it contain?

Their booth was made up of three parts, which were richly decorated:

Two of the parts were full of developers showing off their products:

The third part contained ads for various RIM-branded accessories.

I got my hands onto a Storm 2 there, and have to say that its touchscreen is a lot better than the one on the first-gen Storm:

In the end, RIM played it safe. Their extremely large booth (significantly larger than last time) contained loads and loads of third party developers, while glossing over more “difficult” topics like new devices or the BlackBerry Application Suite…

Whether you like it or not – Samsung’s extremely large MWC booth was dominated by its newly-announced bada OS and its accompanying Wave device.

The booth design obviously has a “wavy” touch:

Loads and loads of Wave devices are on display:

The Wave itself looks similar to the Omnia HD:

Size-wise, its quite large but still comfortable:

bada itself is a combination between iPhone and Symbian v5. The 2 minute video below shows you more:

In the end, I think that Samsung’s bada is definitely an OS which can power all kinds of smart phone. The question Samsung faces is whether it can generate enough developer interest – if Google has to resort to giving out Nexus Ones en masse, I wonder how Samsung wants to accomplish that…

The Tamoggemon Team was at the MWC – and it also visited the RIM booths. We are currently working on a more detailed report, but feel free to enjoy the video below in the mean time.

It was run at the booth in a loop mode, showing off the BlackBerry Presenter:

Dear Readers,
just in case anyone of you is wondering why its so goddamn silent here today.

The Vienniese TCN team is packing for Barcelona!

Yes, we are on our way, and expect to bring you loads of live coverage and thousands of shots by tomorrow. Stay tuned!

P.S. In case anyone of you wants to meet up: SMS me at 0043 676 7886431!

RIM’s BlackBerry Application Suite has been leaked yesterday – we now have a video showing the program in action on a HTC HD2.

xda-developers user barshad has posted this video:

In general, the program seems to work well – and could cause significant issues for the BlackBerry Storm once it gets released…

I guess that everybody who frequents the Tamoggemon Content Network is well aware that cell phone providers always know where your cell phone is. You lot probably also know that this data is often logged, and can theoretically be used for all kinds of data-mining processes.

So far, the common assumption was that cell phones will not be tracked without a court order. Unfortunately, this is untrue. CNet News reports the following:

In that case, the Obama administration has argued that warrantless tracking is permitted because Americans enjoy no “reasonable expectation of privacy” in their–or at least their cell phones’–whereabouts. U.S. Department of Justice lawyers say that “a customer’s Fourth Amendment rights are not violated when the phone company reveals to the government its own records” that show where a mobile device placed and received calls.

The message is short and sweet here: if your phone is on in the USA, the US government knows where you are. Do with that what you want to, and don’t hold us liable…