As reported here on Cell Phones Etc. and across the Web, here’s your daily brief on what happened in the world of mobile phones this Friday, July 8th 2011.
Mobilicity Changes Up Return Policy, Goes With 14-Days And Removes Usage Limitations
Mobilicity has changed up their return policy on their devices. Seems to be a better move for the customer. When they initially launched they put in place a “7 Day Guarantee” that gave customers the ability to try out the Mobilicity service. If for any reason they were dissatisfied/not happy/frustrated they could return the device and get a refund for both the phone and the service. However, there was slight catch as you couldn’t have used over 30 minutes of talk time, sent 30 text messages or used or 1Mb of data. So now, for whatever reason, Mobilicity has removed any usage limitations and have gone only with a 14-day policy.
MobileSyrup
Toshiba Shows Off New 8MP CMOS Sensor
Toshiba recently unveiled a new CMOS camera meant for smartphones that packs 8.1 million pixels into a quarter-inch sensor. Toshiba claims it has created one of the densest camera sensors available, with the pixels each separated by just 1.12 micrometers. The sensor also makes use of back-side illumination (BSI). BSI uses lenses on the rear of the sensor, not on the front. This improves light sensitivity and absorption, and prevents the small size of the sensor from having a negative impact on image quality. Toshiba said that the new sensor is sampling now and will reach full production by the end of the year.
Phone Scoop
Apple Preparing New Wireless Sharing Feature That Will Compete With WebOS ‘Touch-To-Share’
Apple has been testing a new wireless sharing feature that could allow users to quickly and easily transfer files from various iOS devices, PatentlyApple has discovered. The technology will no doubt compete with HP’s webOS “Touch-to-share” feature, which lets the Palm Pre3 and the TouchPad share files with one another. Though there is no indication as to when Apple might implement the tech, Apple’s patents outline a technology that appears to one-up HP’s offering. The patent describes the sharing experience as including both visual and audio aspects. As PatentlyApple points out, imagine an iPad “sucking” the files from your iPhone with a vacuum noise, and seeing the files leave the iPhone and appear on the iPad in an animated fashion.
BGR
Poll: Is the Amazon Appstore Worth It?
In April, the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) warned its members to stay away from the Amazon Appstore because of “significant concerns” it had about the pricing, terms and policies Amazon had in place. And this week, the Appstore was once again in the news after an independent game developer called the store a “disaster” in a scathing blog post filled with complaints. But are his issues the result of one bad experience or more indicative of an overall broken system? Let us know what you think in this week’s ReadWriteMobile poll.
ReadWriteWeb
LG Struggles Through First Half Of 2011, Cuts Smartphone Sales Target By 20%
LG has thrown in the towel, as it were, on its original goal to sell 30 million smartphones in 2011. After having delayed the worldwide launch of it’s beastly Optimus 3D smartphone, and losing its smartphone boss to Apple’s South Korean unit, LG hasn’t exactly been thriving. The new goal for 2011 is 24 million smartphone units sold, and overall handset shipments falling between the 114 to 150 million marks.
MobileCrunch
