Google coming with Chrome OS Operating system soon:

Google isn’t satisfied to challenge Microsoft with office-productivity software, search and the browser. On Tuesday the company announced an operating system to challenge Windows. Google Chrome Operating System is the company’s attempt to “rethink what the operating system should be.” Google Chrome OS is an open-source, lightweight operating system initially aimed at netbooks. Google Chrome OS will run on x86 as well as ARM chips, and the company said it is working with multiple OEMs to bring several netbooks to market in 2010. Google plans to open-source the code later this year. “Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the Web in a few seconds,” said Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management and Linus Upson, engineering director, in the Google blog. “The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the Web.” A Web-Based Approach Google Chrome OS runs within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. Google said all Web-based applications will automatically work and developers can write new applications using Web technologies. The apps would run on any standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux, Google said, giving the developers the largest user base of any platform. “We hear a lot from our users and their message is clear — computers need to get better. People want to get to their e-mail instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers to boot and browsers to start up,” wrote Pichai and Upson. “They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them. They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer.

LG's latest phones win Software Award

The software behind some of LG's latest phones has been singled out for praise at a recent industry event.

As part of the 2009 iF Communication Design Awards, the South Korean manufacturer was selected for its 3D S-Class user interface (UI).

Taking a Gold Award in the Product Interfaces category, the manufacturer was praised for bringing innovation, design and functionality to handsets like the LG KM900 Arena, as well as the Viewty Smart GC900, GM730 and GD900 Crystal.

Commenting, president and chief executive officer Dr Skott Ahn said the company would "continue to lead with products that enhance the user experience".

Samsung Launches First Nightvision Camera Phone SCH-W760

In what will either be seen as an innovative move or a gimmick to attract customers, Samsung have launched a handset featuring a night vision camera. Launched in Samsung’s native South Korea the SCH-W760 has infra-red capabilities allowing night time usage. letting you hold video calls even in low-light situations like a club, where such a situation would best go with a bone conduction Bluetooth headset.The handset also sports a 2.8″ AMOLED screen, 8 GB memory and a TV tuner and high speed 3G connectivity. Presumably there is demand for a nightvision cameraphone in South Korea .Folks in South Korea can expect to pick up this handset for approximately $457, and it remains to be seen whether Samsung will make available this handset in other markets.

ARTICLE ON MOBILE NETWORKS GSM AND MOBILE BROADBAND

USEFUL INFORMATION ON MOBILE NETWORKS GSM AND MOBILE BROADBAND:
GSM stands for ‘Global System for Mobile communications’. GSM Cellular Technology is a very famous technology & is used Worldwide. GSM is an evolving wireless communications standard that already offers an extensive and feature-rich 'family' of voice and data services. The GSM family of technologies consists of today's GSM, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) and third generation GSM services (3GSM) based on W-CDMA and HSDPA access technologies. Together these technologies underpin the GSM platform.

In Pakistan, most of the cellular networks are GSM based i.e. Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone, Warid, Zong.

The GSM Association (GSMA) is a global trade association representing more than 750 GSM mobile phone operators across 218 territories and countries of the world. In addition, more than 180 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association's initiatives as associate members.

The number of mobile broadband subscribers using 3G HSPA has increased by 850% worldwide in the past year, according to the GSM Association.

HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) is an advanced form of 3G deployed by cellular operators that use GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology. Worldwide, GSM is the most widely-used cellular technology. HSPA currently offers speeds ranging from 1.8Mbit/sec. to 7.2Mbit/sec.

There are now more than 32 million HSPA connections worldwide, compared with 3 million a year ago, according to the GSM Associaton.

There are several reasons for mobile broadband's increased popularity. Lower pricing, improved ease of use and the convenience of being able to surf the Internet almost everywhere have played a role.

But with enormous success come new problems. For operators a big concern is capacity, both in mobile networks and backhaul -- the links that attach base stations to the rest of the world, according to Newman.

As the subscriber numbers increase, operators will have to upgrade networks, or users will see performance decrease and start to complain.

The installed base of HSPA subscribers isn't the only area of growth. The number of networks and devices has also exploded. The number of devices has increased by more than 265% since January of last year, according to the GSM Association.

Users can choose from about 467 USB modems, mobile handsets, notebook PCs, data cards and wireless routers, compared with 128 devices in January last year.

The number of networks currently supporting mobile broadband using HSPA is 166, in 73 countries. In May last year, the number of networks was 73, according to the GSM Association.

The growth on all fronts is creating a so-called virtuous circle in which mobile broadband is achieving greater economies of scale, driving down the cost of devices and attracting even more users, said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSM Association.