Windows Mobile 6.1 to be released on 1 April

Pocket-lint has learnt from sources close to the matter that Microsoft will announce the much-rumoured refresh to its mobile phone operating system, Windows Mobile, on 1 April 2008.

An improvement over Windows Mobile 6 released in February 2007 the new version, unsurprisingly named 6.1, will be a stop-gap measure to keep both consumers and industry happy until the launch of Windows Mobile 7.

Leaked screenshots of 6.1 have already done the rounds in the blogosphere, and show the system has been simplified with the screens displaying less mess than the Vista-inspired version 6.

A new look with new fonts, new homescreen and new features such as a task manager and copying and pasting in Internet Explorer all bode well for users of Microsoft's OS for handhelds.

Cell phone firms to redial North plans

A cellular phone company has dialed down its plans to construct a 120-foot wireless phone tower on property behind the Allen Avenue School - at least for now.

Lightower Wireless, a company that builds and operates cell phone towers and rents them to carriers and Metro PCS, a company in the process of building a wireless network, have withdrawn their proposal to build the tower on property at 346 Allen Ave., which abuts the elementary school.

However, the companies intend to come back to the zoning board again later with another plan.

"It has come to our attention another wireless company has a service gap in that area," said Ricardo Sousa, an attorney representing the phone companies.

Sousa said the companies will work together to compile information and coordinate for another application from the zoning board.

The tower is being proposed for the property, which currently has a three-family home, due to coverage gaps for cellular phone service in the Interstate 295 area.

The proposal has drawn a mixed reaction from residents of the neighborhood. Some looked forward to the tower because it would improve telephone service in the area.

Other residents argued against the idea, saying that a cellular phone tower does not belong in a residential neighborhood.

Source: thesunchronicle.com

Cheap Cell Phone Rates

In Friday's consumer and money headlines, for cell phone customers, it's getting cheaper-by-the-minute. And this week's mortgage rates.

Continuing troubles in the beleaguered housing market, but there is one bright spot: mortgage rates -- and Metro Atlanta's home mortgage rates continue to fuel a buyers' market.

For housing in general, the sale of new homes was down again in January, keeping sales at their slowest pace in 13 years. Also down, the price of homes -- down 9 percent in the fourth quarter. In foreclosures, no letup.

Georgia foreclosures are up 28 percent, while nationally, they are up 57 percent. For buyers, that means big inventories, and strong incentives. Add to that, the lowest mortgage rates in decades.

The best Metro Atlanta 30 year fixed rate is now set at 5.875 percent and no points, while in the shorter term, the best 15 year rate is pegged at from 5.375-to-5.50-percent and no points. In the variable rate market, the best 5-and-1 ARM is down this week to from an even 5-to-5.125-percent and no points.

The battle for cheaper minutes and data rates on cell phones is heating up.

Latest in is Sprint Nextel. After posting a $29 billion loss in the fourth quarter, the wireless giant is now offering unlimited voice, web surfing and text messaging for $99 a month. Both Verizon and AT&T have voice only for $100 and say will not match -- at least for now.

Microsoft is now dropping prices on Windows Vista. Timed to coincide with release of its latest service updates, Microsoft will offer discounts ranging from 20-to-nearly 50 percent on boxed versions of the software.

Nokia nanotech cell phone - Morph

Nokia and the University of Cambridge are showing off a new stretchable and flexible mobile device of the future called Morph.

The new concept phone is part of an online display presented in conjunction with the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition underway through May 12 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The device, which is made using nanotechnology, is intended to demonstrate how cell phones in the future could be stretched and bent into different shapes, allowing users to "morph" their devices into whatever shape they want. Think Stretch Armstrong for cell phones. Want to wear your cell phone as a bracelet? No problem, just bend it around your wrist.

Nokia says the concept device demonstrates handset features that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering, including flexible materials, transparent electronics, and self-cleaning surfaces.

"Nokia Research Center is looking at ways to reinvent the form and function of mobile devices," Bob Iannucci, chief technology officer for Nokia, said in a statement. "The Morph concept shows what might be possible."

Even though Morph is still in early development, Nokia believes that certain elements of the device could be used in high-end Nokia devices within the next seven years. And as the technology matures, nanotechnology could eventually be incorporated into Nokia's entire line of products to help lower manufacturing costs.

Motorola W230 Cell Phone

Unveiled on CES last January and showcased on the recently concluded MWC 2008 is Motorola's new low-end music phone -- the Motorola W230. The phone is part of the W-series along with the W161 and the W181. The Motorola W230 is a phone which goes straight to the nitty-gritty. No frills, no added layers of useless fat. In short, it only has basic features. A candybar, it has 1.6” 128 x 128 color screen, 9 hours of talk time, and the CrystalTalk audio technology. It also features support for Hinglish (Hindi + English), as well as seven different African languages. Its main attraction though, is the dedicated music key, which audio (iMelody, MIDI, MP3, AMR) listening easier. The Motorola W230 comes with two color faceplates: manadarin-bordered dark titanium gray and lustrous silver-bordered licorice. It's now currently available in some countries for around US$50-75, depending upon the market. Yes, that's 50 to 75 bucks. And that's not the price after a mail-in rebate either. The phone costs just that, without plans of any sort whatsoever.

Apple's iPod shuffle price cut will buoy iPod sales

Apple's decision to cut prices on its iPod shuffle range should help the company meet shipment forecasts across its iPod range, an analyst said Wednesday.
American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu said: "We view this development as an incremental positive that helps eliminate one of the key risks lingering from its December quarter, namely that being light iPod units (we think from poor low-end shuffle sales) caused Apple to miss consensus shipments by 2-3 million."
The analyst, who rates the stock as one to buy with a price target of US$175 per share, expressed a little disappointment that Apple management failed to cut prices in the crucial Christmas quarter, saying that doing so would have helped drive "incremental demand" as new users grew hooked on Apple's music ecosystem.
"We believe these lower-cost shuffles could bring incremental sales of 500,000-1 million units per quarter, he said, observing the move will likely "put pressure on competitors."
The analyst concluded: "While near-term trends look difficult with a looming recession and a slow-down in consumer spending, we continue to believe Apple is well-positioned to weather the storm better than most with its strong fundamentals."

Apple lowers price of iPod shuffle to $49, intros 2GB model

Apple on Tuesday introduced a new 2GB model of its iPod shuffle that will cost $69 and lowered the price of its original model, which is now 1GB, to $49.

“At just $49, the iPod shuffle is the most affordable iPod ever,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “The new 2GB model lets music lovers bring even more songs everywhere they go in the impossibly small iPod shuffle.”

The iPod lineup now includes the iPod shuffle; iPod classic holding up to 40,000 songs; the iPod nano with video playback and the iPod touch.

The $49 1GB shuffle is available immediately. The $69 2GB model will be available later this month.