A Common Sense Media study has recently shown that plagiarism, data storage and leaked exam answers are very common today, specially thanks to the technological advances. Copying answers from a mobile device has become an aspect of modern schooling, rather than an ethics problem.
Now teens have the power to cheat anonymously and text each other answers, use notes stored on their devices and even check out the Internet for some science papers. The above-mentioned study has shown that 41% of teens say that storing notes on a phone and accessing them during tests is wrong, while 23% seem to think that this can’t be called cheating.
45% of those questioned claim that texting class mates for answers is an offence, but 20% seem to be OK with it. Also, 76% of parents are sure that cellphone cheating happens at their offsprings’ school and only 3% think otherwise. Last, we learn some crazy statistics: two thirds of students use phones during school and teens send an average of 440 texts a week, 110 of them while in classroom.
Not that Apple was having issues or something, but WWDC 2009 was a huge disappointment, as far as surprising announcements are concerned. No Apple netbook, no tablet, no totally new iPhone, nothing… just the 3GS that didn’t blow anyone’s mind and still sold 1 million units in 3 days.
However, Steve Jobs is back in the game, so things might change soon.
Apple spokesman Steve Dowling recently announced that Jobs is “back to work” and he is present at the company’s HQ a couple of days a week and working from home sometimes. We remind you that the 54 year old tech guru survived pancreatic cancer, after surgery in 2004 and a liver transplant two months ago.
It’s nice to see the man behind Apple back at Cupertino, just as promised, at the end of June. We expect Apple’s stocks to increase their value, although some bloggers claim that the tech guru’s return won’t change the company’s master plan for 2009. I, for one, am still expecting that famed Apple netbook, that has got to be more than a concept…
Last time we saw an availability tool from Apple, it was in the summer of 2008, when the iPhone 3G demand was pretty heavy and supplies couldn’t match it. Now, the shortage affects all iPhone versions and the availability widget surfaced again on Friday.
Only 29 of the 257 Apple store are hit by the shortage, but this problem could get bigger, as time passes. As of yesterday, the iPhone 3GS was shown as sold out in most states and in Kentucky’s only store, in Louisville, for example, the new iPhone was nowhere to be found.
The availability widget used this year seems more accurate than the one of 2008 and the 2009 version updates hourly, unlike its predecessor that updated daily. The shortage has struck quite a bunch of stores and we notice that Apple is having difficulties supplying the entry level white iPhone 3GS, mostly.
In Texas, only 3 of the 15 Apple Stores in the state still sell the 16GB model and we’ve yet to figure out if the demand is causing the shortage, or Apple’s rate of production.
HTC on Wednesday unveiled its latest device based on the Android platform: the HTC Hero. The Hero is HTC’s first phone to feature HTC Sense, a range of features and applications that enables users to customise the user interface, the Taiwanese vendor announced at an event in London.
The HTC Hero, which features a 3.2-inch touchscreen, will be available across Europe and Asia from this summer and in North America later in 2009.
“HTC sense is a distinct experience created to make HTC phones more simple for people to use,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, in a statement.
“HTC Hero introduces a more natural way for reaching out to people and accessing your important information,” he said.
The Sony Ericsson T715 allows consumers to stay connected without any compromise on communication features or design. An ultra compact slider mobile phone, the T715 still offers a large keypad and font size allowing you to get the most out of your SMS, MMS or email management.
Keep yourself organised in an intuitive way with the T715’s smart desktop feature, direct reminders of appointments, notes and special animation to remind you of birthdays and global events. Messaging is quick and easy with the ability to review the history of your conversation as you go along.
Need to access the internet? The turbo 3G network connection allows stress-free fast browsing and the large 2.2” screen shows off websites in all their glory – even in direct sunlight! The T715 comes complete with Google Maps including local search and directions and AccuWeather.com – giving you access to three day weather forecasts so you’ll never be caught short without an umbrella or your sunglasses.
At the size of a credit card and with a high-class finish, the T715 adds a touch of sophistication to your life. Whip it out and snap high quality pictures even in a dark environment with the 3.2 megapixel camera with Photo light.
The sophisticated Sony Ericsson design means the T715 will look at home wherever you are, whether it’s at an important business meeting or if you are joining your friends for lunch.
“The T715 is a sophisticated slider mobile phone that fits a busy lifestyle and is perfect for those who are looking for a phone with practical and up-to-date features” said Quentin Cordier, Marketing Business Manager at Sony Ericsson. “Building on our current 3G portfolio, the T715 allows us to bring 3G mobile phones to even more markets giving them high speed internet access wherever they are. With a premium brushed aluminium cover and glossy front, this new mobile phone demonstrates the sophisticated design language consumers have come to expect from Sony Ericsson.”
The Sony Ericsson T715
Practical design for best use of communication features:
Elegant and compact slider – looks sophisticated no matter what the setting
Large keypad and font size – get the most out of your SMS or email management
3G network connection – quick and easy internet browsing
Large 2.2” screen – even in direct sunlight
Smart desktop and birthday reminders – organise your life in an intuitive way
3.2 megapixel camera with Photo light – perfect pictures no matter what the lighting conditions
Also announced today is the Bluetooth™ Headset VH310 – made to fit everyone. The VH310 gives you handsfree freedom with no wires, no worries and weighing only 10 grams. The VH310lasts for more than 20 days on one charge.
Bluetooth Headset VH310
Designed for comfort – made to fit
The perfect fit – three earpieces and two removable ear hooks
All day comfort – weighs only 10 grams!
Talk, talk, talk – more than 20 days of life on one charge
The T715 supports HSPA 2100 and GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and the T715a supports HSPA 850/1900/2100 and GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900. The T715 will be available in selected markets in the colours Galaxy Silver and Rouge Pink in the third quarter 2009.
Analyst Daniel Amir from Lazard Capital markets told CNET in an interview that he expects Apple to release a 32GB iPhone next June. Among the 32GB iPhone, a low-end version is also expected for developing countries such as China, Russia, Brazil and India.
Production is anticipated to begin in April and ramp up in May, and the new phones could be announced in June, Daniel Amir, a Lazard Capital Markets analyst, said in his report.
He noted, however, that the low-end version may only be available in the fast-growing, emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, while the high-end version is expected to make its way to North America and Europe.
The low-end version is expected to run on a 3G network, rather than on Wi-Fi, while the high-end version is anticipated to double its storage capacity from 16GB to 32GB of NAND flash memory and feature improvements to its camera, Amir noted in his report, citing checks with Apple’s iPhone channel partners.
The Omnia II features Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and the world’s largest 3.7-inch AMOLED display with WVGA resolution. TouchWiz 2.0 User Interface and 3D effects make enjoying multimedia and multi tasking convenient and fun. Advanced R Touch (Resistive Touch) enables faster, more accurate touch response. Multimedia features include DVD-like (480p) video recording/playback, internet browsing and interactive 3D games. Users can download content quickly to the Omnia II’s HSUPA 5.76Mbps, HSDPA 7.2Mbps and Wi-Fi capabilities. Up to 48GB lets users store more of their favorite content.
The Work-Life Balance Winner: OmniaPRO B7610
The OmniaPRO B7610 features a hybrid Touch/QWERTY form factor offers greater versatility and ease of use. Push email for multiple accounts supports multiple corporate email solutions and Microsoft Office Suite lets users view and edit their documents in the palm of their hands. The PC-like Opera 9.5 browser and fast HSDPA data transmission and Wi-Fi connectivity, along with the 5-megapixel camera, GPS and brilliant AMOLED display gives the user separate work and life.
The Personal Assistant Perfected: OmniaPRO B7320
The compact design and ergonomic QWERTY keypad on the Samsung OmniaPRO B7320 makes it a portable messaging centre, with corporate push email support. Access social networking applications like Facebook and MySpace, and instant messaging for MSN, Google Talk and Yahoo Chat. The 3-megapixel camera, FM radio with RDS and Wi-Fi also enable users to be entertained wherever they go.
Simple All-rounder: OmniaLITE (B7300)
The OmniaLITE has an easy smartphone interface with full support of multimedia, internet, and business features. TouchWiz 2.0 and downloadable online widgets make it highly user-friendly, while the 3D multimedia player provides and enhanced entertainment experiences. Users have multi-push email access and the Microsoft Office Suite lets users edit and view their office documents. The speedy Opera Browser and HSDPA & Wi-Fi connectivity let users access the net with ease. Features like multi-codec supported high-quality video, 3MP camera, and A-GPS deliver an all-in-one mobile experience.
Many investors hope Palm Inc.’s Pre smartphone, launching Saturday, will do for Sprint Nextel Corp. what the iPhone did for AT&T Inc. It likely won’t, but that doesn’t mean it will be a failure for Sprint.
Apple Inc.’s smartphone reinvigorated a dated AT&T brand and continues to help it nab the highest quality subscribers from other wireless carriers, including Sprint. The Pre, meanwhile, will be the face of Sprint, whose reputation needs a jolt, and should help the No. 3 U.S. wireless carrier slow — and maybe reverse — the loss of such customers.
But it isn’t clear how effective the Pre will be in attracting new customers.”If somebody has the iPhone, I don’t know if they’ll be able to get them to switch over to the Pre,” says Roger Entner, head of telecom research at Nielsen & Co.”For better or worse, it’s a very similar product.”
Expectations for the device’s impact on Sprint are high. Shares have nearly tripled since January to above $5, aided by recent moves to shore up the company’s balance sheet, cut costs and improve customer service. But the Pre has been an underlying source of optimism for Sprint shareholders.
The Pre is expected to do well with existing Sprint customers looking for an upgrade or iPhone alternative. Philip Cusick, an analyst at Macquarie Securities, says he estimates one million of the devices will sell each quarter, or roughly a quarter of the total phones sold to Sprint customers.
But few are suggesting that Pre is the second coming of the iPhone. In addition to questions about Pre’s cachet, supply constraints will limit how many units reach consumers.
Also, Sprint’s reputation remains a key concern. The company continues to be burdened by poor customer service, despite working to make things better in recent quarters. It made the biggest improvement more than a year ago, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, but still remained behind the other national players.
O2 said it has ‘no plans’ to stock the Nokia N97 directly when it launches later this month. The decision will make O2 the only network not to sell the phone. The operator said: ‘The Nokia N97 will be available on O2 through Carphone Warehouse. We have no plans to sell the Nokia N97 through our direct channels.’ The N97 is the next flagship Nseries phone, and will be sold by all other networks when it is released in the UK.
O2 was also the only network to decline the Nokia N96 when it launched in October 2008. The operator conceded to pressure and decided to stock the device one month later.
Nokia’s second attempt to build its music service has started poorly, after the 5800 Comes With Music went on sale last weekend (30 May). Orange and Phones 4u were the exclusive retailers chosen to sell the device.
The touch-screen 5800 was expected to lure more consumers to Nokia’s unlimited download service than the original 5310, but the majority of stores had failed to register a single sale as Mobile went to press (Tuesday 2 June). Phones 4u said it was soft-launching the service to test different aspects of the offer, the marketing and staff knowledge. It also expects to further modify its sales strategy until the full launch of the handset on 11 June.
Phones 4u sold eight 5800 Comes With Music devices across the entire 450 store estate at a late stage on the Saturday it went on sale, Mobile has learned. The retailer said this figure wasn’t a fair reflection, as the handset wasn’t properly launched until three days later, and was only at a testing stage at the weekend.
Store managers were informed of the poor sales by a senior director late on Saturday, and given news of an extra £5 commission per Comes With Music sale.
Managers were also told stores would earn an extra £50 gross profit per sale.
Orange stores fared similarly, with just two sales reported across the
20 stores in the west London region on Monday (1 June).
Nokia’s intentions for its music service are applauded by most in the retail sector. ‘It is good that Nokia is doing this,’ said one manager, and added: ‘It is genuine innovation and is good for the industry, but they need to get the proposition right.’
Store managers were briefed by Nokia reps on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week.
Staff: ‘The text allowance is stingy and putting customers off’
Retail staff at Orange and Phones 4u have pointed the finger squarely at Orange’s Comes With Music tariffs for poor sales of the Nokia 5800 Comes With Music.
Staff have baulked at the failure to include an unlimited text bundle in any of the five tariffs, ranging from £25 per month to £45 per month.
One staffer said: ‘It’s ridiculous to ask the type of customers who want this music service to have a limit of 300 or 500 texts per month. The text allowance is just stingy and it puts customers off.’
According to staff, only the £45 per month tariff offered an inclusive data bundle that allowed customers to download music directly to the phone, rather than via a PC.
One Phones 4u staffer said: ‘Customers will only be able to download 125
songs before they start to get charged for exceeding the limited data allowance, so I’m worried about saying Comes With Music has free downloads.’
Staff at both companies are expecting improvements to the ‘point of sale’ live handsets, laptops and Nokia bays, which showcase the service and have had teething problems so far.
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