Acer Planning to Launch WP7 Handset in The Fall 2011

“Acer spoke to Pocket-lint stating their plans on launching a Windows Phone 7 handset in the fall this year, which predicted to be around September or October. Last November, Acer CEO, Gianfranco Lanci say “if we look at Windows Phone 7, today, I think we see the same opportunity you can see on Android in terms of customisation.” Although Gianfranco did mention that Acer is mainly focused on developing Android but they are also busy working on Windows Phone 7. Since Acer is planning to launch in fall, their WP7 handset will obtained “Mango”, the newest update for the platform. Seems, Acer and Nokia will be head to head.” via slashphone.com

Route 66 Maps + Navigation brings AR to the road, keeps drivers’ eyes on their phones

ROUTE 66, a pioneer in mobile mapping and navigation solutions for smartphones and tablets, today announces the launch of ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation, a new app for Android leveraging TomTom’s highly accurate maps and enhanced location content. ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation is the first application coming to market that is based on the global agreement between ROUTE 66 and TomTom announced at the end of 2010. This new ROUTE 66 app is a feature-packed mapping and navigation solution for drivers and pedestrians around the globe. The app provides access to the latest crystal-clear maps for over 100 countries, with stunning 3D graphics, packed with handy links to useful information like the weather and Wikipedia. Users can explore maps in any direction with multi-touch gestures for zooming, moving, tilting and rotating the view, even during navigation. ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation provides navigation with clear spoken directions in 57 languages, optional Real Time Traffic and Speed Camera services and a number of unique extras, including the spectacular Follow Me augmented reality feature. Maps are free to download and also included is a 30 days free worldwide navigation license.
Follow Me™ Augmented Reality
In addition to a full range of premium navigation features, ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation now has Follow Me. Follow Me shows video of the street in front of you using the camera of the phone or tablet and adds a virtual 3D car driving in front of you. Indicator lights flash to tell you where to turn left or right. This is augmented reality navigation at its best: your own Follow Me car on top of a live camera image, combined with crisp, clear, spoken directions which make finding your way more intuitive and more fun than ever before.
Map storage taken to a new level
With ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation users can access map data in various ways. The app automatically downloads the map data needed from high-speed servers to phone or tablet as you go, providing access to the very latest and most accurate maps whenever is needed. Users can also store complete maps on their smartphone or tablet using Wi-Fi before they go on the road, avoiding data roaming charges while abroad and ensuring instant access with guaranteed performance, whatever the local network reception.
TomTom Maps and Location Content
ROUTE 66 selected TomTom as the provider of map data for ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation to ensure its users the best possible mapping and navigation experience available. For this brand new app, ROUTE 66 is using TomTom maps, and a wide range of location content such as 3D City Maps, 3D Landmarks and Premium POIs.
“We are extremely pleased to provide a critical component in this compelling new ROUTE 66 application,” said Maarten van Gool, Managing Director, TomTom Licensing. “Our maps rate very highly in terms of quality and reliability, and are updated daily via millions of GPS system users worldwide, who help to track and validate changes in real time.”
“ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation provides the future of navigation, today,” said Paul Warmer, ROUTE 66 Vice President Marketing. “And it’s also great fun to use. Everyone who tested our new product, became hooked on the unique Follow Me feature, which we believe is a major step forward in making navigation more intuitive and a lot more fun.”
Availability and pricing
ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation is available soon via Android Market. ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation offers lifetime free access to maps. Turn-by-turn navigation is a premium feature, which can be purchased via the in-app store. Navigation licenses are available for 30 days, one year and lifetime. See the License menu for the in-app store for actual end-user prices. ROUTE 66 Maps + Navigation comes with a 30 days free worldwide navigation license. The app is compatible with Android 2.1 and later.

Apple maintains lead in mobile app store revenues, but its share is shrinking fast

“Somewhat ironic in the light of Nokia’s imminent partnership with Microsoft to produce Windows Phone phones (“joining an ecosystem”), figures have been released showing that Nokia’s Ovi Store revenues (much of which was from Symbian-based smartphones) were up 719% year on year and ahead of the Google Android Market. Apple’s iOS App Store’s no. 1 position is no surprise to anyone, not least because it also includes iPad app revenue, while I don’t think many people would have believed BlackBerry’s App World being there at no. 2, a credit to RIM for managing the growth of their own ecosystem so well. Nokia’s Ovi Store may well lose third place to the Android Market in 2010, but equally, both will be close to the Blackberry Market by then, so it could be a fairly even three way fight.Steve Ballmer and Stephen Elop were talking of Windows Phone being the “third ecosystem”, but this chart shows what a mountain they have to climb together. The Windows Phone Marketplace is nowhere at the moment and there are four contenders currently ahead. If the Ovi Store (mainly borne on the shoulders of Symbian-powered smartphones in 2011) can keep revenues ticking along and be blended seamlessly into Windows Phone then there’s hope for third place, but it does seem curious that the two Steves completely ignored BlackBerry in their ecosystem analysis.” via allaboutsymbian.com