BlackBerry Desktop Software 2.0 for Mac OS brings WiFi music sync, broader iPhoto / iTunes support originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 03:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We suspect most developers have gathered this since MIX earlier this year — many of them have been dealing with variations of the problem since the genesis of Microsoft’s .NET Framework — but we thought we’d throw out a note that word’s getting around on how easy it is to tear apart applications downloaded from the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace, gain access to their resources, and get a look at their inner workings. Microsoft has been encouraging developers on the desktop to make this tough by using code obfuscation tools — Dotfuscator, specifically — for many years, but Dotfuscator’s developer has only just released a free version (through March 31 of next year) for WP7, so it’s made things tough to secure. In other words: business as usual, and “business as usual” isn’t as airtight as your average white-hat dev would like.

On a happier note, an enterprising coder by the name of Chris Walsh has fleshed out some hooks into unmanaged (read: native) Windows Phone 7 services. It’s not what we’d call a “jailbreak” — you’re not altering the security settings of the device in any way — you’re just taking advantage of undocumented services Microsoft has in place, though it’s still very cool. Walsh promises some tutorials on hooking into cool stuff like file system and registry access soon, but he notes that apps using these hooks are still running as managed tasks, meaning they can be slapped around by the kernel (killed, suspended, and so on) just as any other WP7 app can — and we also doubt you’d be able to get Marketplace approval using this stuff.

PSA: Windows Phone 7′s third-party apps easy to decompile, native code hooks exposed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It never really occurred to us that Windows Phone 7 buyers wouldn’t be able to use their phones in tandem with Apple computers, but here’s the confirmation all spelled out: Microsoft’s Oded Ran recently tweeted that Zune will let Mac users sync WP7 phones, presumably using an OS X compatible version of the desktop software package. Of course, since the tweet was deleted shortly after it was written, it’s possible this was some sort of mistake, but if buyers find the twain incompatible come launch day, you’d best believe there’s going to be some consumer outrage. Here’s hoping that if the software does exist, it’ll sync good ol’ Zune media players as well.

Zune software headed to Mac, the better to sync your Windows Phone? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite its fairly magnificent set of developer tools, webOS still gets the short end of the third-party app stick more often than not for the simple reason that there aren’t many devices in the field, relatively speaking — and considering how late Mozilla is in the mobile browser game, they’ve got bigger fish to fry. Of course, the code underpinning Firefox is open source, so it comes as little surprise that it’s been repackaged into a Pre-friendly form with the aptly-named PreFox. The app’s developer warns that this is more of a proof of concept than anything else, but we’re sure it could get whipped into shape with enough time and effort.

Separately, judging from a request for developers, Mozilla proper has started planning for a Symbian build of Firefox Home, its companion app to Firefox that makes transferring bookmarks and open tabs a breeze between your desktop and your phone. Seems like another case of attacking the low-hanging fruit — Symbian’s just about everywhere, and we’re sure Mozilla would like to make its presence known.

PreFox is the webOS browser Mozilla won’t make (but they will make Firefox Home for Symbian) originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Sims 3: Ambitions adds a few new things to the mix that you couldn’t do in previous versions. It beefs up your Sim’s career paths and options, including firefighter, chef, musician, athlete and artist. EA‘s also added the option to have babies in this new iPhone iteration. Other than that, however, The Sims 3: Ambitions is a streamlined affair with good enough but not astounding graphics, and, if you already play The Sims, a completely expected progression of gameplay. And for us, that progression is fairly addictive. The streamlined version of the full game focuses on the life and career of just one Sim, with a far more limited range of things you can do. Like the previous iPhone version of The Sims 3, life inside of a mobile device is a little more lonely than it was on the desktop: for some reason, my Sim finds less things to do with her time, has less friends, and spends a few minutes at the end of each day sort of just milling around waiting to be tired enough for bed. Fulfilling her whimsical wants (why she wants to kick over garbage cans has never made any sense) is a fun time-waster, but we’ve always tried to keep our focus razor sharp when honing our Sims, so hobbies have usually come second. Of course, my Sim is also learning to be a gardener. Since her chosen career path was chef, Charlotte (who is named after the author of Jane Eyre and has the honor of being my fourth Sim to bear this name) thought that gardening would be a fitting hobby to cultivate. I haven’t yet gotten Charlotte to either the top level of her career or chosen hobby, but I’m fairly certain it’s a goal I can achieve… and that’s the whole point, isn’t it?

For those unfamiliar with the franchise (if that’s even possible), this new iteration is probably a great starter kit. For diehards like ourselves, the open-endedness of this is a great, enjoyable time sink, to be sure, but it’s also a tiny bit disappointing. Obviously we don’t expect the full features of desktop versions of The Sims 3, but we can dare to dream of a day when the iPhone version hooks into the actual game, allowing us a little midday peek into the more fascinating lives of our smaller, incoherent selves. Regardless, EA’s glorious franchise loses nothing by wasting our precious downtime in yet another way, and while the mobile versions of The Sims may never replace their full counterparts, these games certainly push the limits of the ‘casual’ gaming category.

The Sims 3: Ambitions review (iPhone) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been teased since WES back in April — but with the launch of the Torch today, RIM had to come clean with all the details on its thoroughly refreshed BlackBerry 6 operating system, too. Besides the obvious name change from “BlackBerry OS” to simply “BlackBerry,” the software features countless updates, most notably new universal search functionality, social network aggregation, WiFi-powered media sync with your desktop music collection, and an all-new (and desperately needed) WebKit-based browser with support for HTML5. Thankfully, RIM has also committed to bringing BlackBerry 6 as an upgrade to at least a few recent models — the Bold 9700, Bold 9650, and Pearl 3G, to be specific — “subject to carrier certifications in the months ahead.” Follow the break for the full press release and video teaser.

Continue reading RIM launches BlackBerry 6 platform

RIM launches BlackBerry 6 platform originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been a long road, hasn’t it? Well, in some respects, it hasn’t — in fact, it’s only been about two years since development of Windows Phone 7 as we know it today kicked off — but when you consider that this product will be replacing Windows Mobile 6.5, that puts things in proper perspective. In fact, even the very latest maintenance releases of good ol’ WinMo are based on the same rickety underpinnings as version 5.0 was way back in 2005, at a time when WVGA smartphone displays were science fiction, 4G networks were a good two Gs beyond the average American’s comprehension, and Engadget looked like this. Nowadays, it’s a very different game; eight year-olds have access to mobile email, your phone understands German, and “Yelp” is a verb (okay, actually Yelp is a verb). Indeed, mobile devices are the new PCs — and companies like Apple and Google are dominating an industry that had once been practically handed to Microsoft on a silver platter. No one — either inside or outside of Redmond — is arguing that change isn’t desperately (and quickly) needed, because it simply isn’t enough to dominate the desktop anymore.

In light of all that, you could call Windows Phone 7 a desperation move to become relevant in the pocket again. Call it whatever you like, but regardless, brand loyalty isn’t going to save this product — it simply has to be good to sell. Scratch that; it actually has to be nearly flawless in a world where iOS 4 and Gingerbread play. Microsoft still has a few months before it intends to get the first volley of Windows Phone 7-based products to the marketplace, but we’ve recently been provided with reference hardware — a not-for-retail Samsung called “Taylor” that’s closely modeled on the Symbian-based i8910HD — to get a feel for where they’re at as the clock ticks down. Is this shaping up to be a killer platform for the next generation of high-end smartphones? And more importantly, can it win customers? Read on for our first take.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 in-depth preview

Windows Phone 7 in-depth preview originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alright, we know that playing with the Firefox 4 beta has been a full-time job for you Mozilla fanboys and girls out there, but let’s try something fresh on for size, shall we? Firefox Home has finally been whisked into the App Store on news that Apple gave it the green light, meaning you can now sync your bookmarks and open tabs between your desktop and your phone. Some of us can go a few minutes without browsing the web in the off chance we’re away from our PCs… aw, who are we kidding? No we can’t — and neither can you, so you may as well grab it if you’re using Firefox and an iPhone.

Firefox Home for iPhone bows in the App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like more than HTC’s description was erroneous yesterday afternoon — we’ve just confirmed that the HTC Sync desktop client for the AT&T Aria allows users to install third-party apps on non-rooted devices, just as promised. We ran some quick tests, and while it doesn’t actually enable anything on the handset end, it most certainly does allow those of you with Windows PCs (or VMware) to sideload APKs like Swype over USB with a simple drag-and-drop maneuver. Given how quickly the company sought to correct our original post on the subject, we’d expect HTC will be issuing a rather different version of the software soon, so hit up that source link, pound in your serial number, grab the EXE, and get while the getting’s good.

[Thanks, Dylan]

Continue reading Confirmed: HTC Sync lets tethered AT&T Aria sideload apps

Confirmed: HTC Sync lets tethered AT&T Aria sideload apps originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Emboldened by the (great) success enjoyed by Opera’s Mini in making it onto Apple’s hallowed iPhone platform, Mozilla has today submitted its own browser implement to the App Store censors. We already knew Firefox Home — a weird sort of incomplete browser that syncs your desktop bookmarks, history, and tabs with the iPhone — was in the works, but now we’re finding the team behind it is so confident of its approval that it’s already promising a guide on how to set it up once it’s approved. We suspect the fact it’ll allow you to shift browsing sessions over to Safari will be looked upon favorably, but there’s no escaping the fact that Firefox Home will still browse the web for you should you wish it. This is going to be a highly entertaining approval process indeed. Your move, Cupertino.

Continue reading Mozilla submits Firefox Home to Apple App Store, considers approval a formality (video)

Mozilla submits Firefox Home to Apple App Store, considers approval a formality (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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