Motorola smartphones put Android on hold

New EDA MC55 models fit in the mid-range among Motorola’s range of enterprise-grade smartphones, which it dubs “mobile computers,” and which include features like barcode scanners and ruggedized assembly. To keep up with the rest of the company’s EDA offerings, the two new MC55 units are built to withstand a four-foot drop on concrete. Both models have color QVGA (320 x240) display screens and are VoIP-ready, in addition to having 128MB SDRAM and 256MB Flash. The MC55 is based on the Marvell XScale PXA270 520MHz processor and Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system. A number of add-ons are also available, such as a 1D laser scanner, a 2D imager and a two-megapixel digital color camera.

Palm Linux-based webOS platform

Palm has published technical overview of their new Linux-based webOS platform that will support Palm application development with web technologies. Platform SDK Palm’s leverages standards-based web technologies and allows third-party developers to build complete applications using a mix of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It uses a custom JavaScript framework called Mojo and bundles some popular third-party JavaScript libraries, including Prototype. WebOS applications are displayed on “stage” elements, which are described with HTML and contain various “scene” elements. Scenes are organized in a stack and can be displayed or removed programmatically with push and pop actions that are executed through the JavaScript scene assistant. Basic widgets are described in HTML by inserting a div element with a custom x-mojo-element attribute that specifies the name of the widget.

HTC’s Magic - Vodafone G2 phone

Vodafone has presented their brand new model of touchscreen-only Android gphone named: HTC’s Magic. According to the specs G2 will be equipped with a 3.2-inch QVGA screen front and center (that resolution might be a typo, HVGA seems more likely), HDSPA, GPS, 3.2 megapixel camera (no flash), and a G1-style trackball. Details on pricing and availability will be unveiled for local Vodafone markets as they see fit, but pricing in Spain will be from 99 to 199 Euro, depending on contract. Initial markets to nab the phone will be UK (due in April), Spain, Germany, France and Italy, with more countries to follow, and the phone will be a timed exclusive with Vodafone. Crazily enough, the phone has a proprietary headphone jack, proving once and for all that HTC doesn’t like you, but at least this one will ship with a touchscreen keyboard out of the gate — it’s running Cupcake.

Palm plans to open application store

Palm has launched a new online mobile application storefront stuffed with free and paid versions of applications for over 25 Palm devices.The quiet Software Store debut, which it didn’t announce officially, houses 1,000 free applications and 2,000 games. Users can search through categories for applications for personal productivity, fun and games, to professional. You can browse applications listed by device type and also by mobile platform. There are even sub-storefronts for Windows Mobile and Palm’s OS applications.
Is it enough to keep the legions of Palm device users faithful? Palm did not return a call seeking comment. Applications for the Palm platform have long enjoyed a huge following, and have been a key reason many Palm device users, such as Treo and Centro, are sticking with Palm while others are leaving the device for others. Palm has been offering software through its own Shop MyPalm site which is still active. Palm fans can also go to third-party developer sites, like Handango.com, visit retail stores and download applications from wireless carrier sites as well.

Mobile tech conference kicked off

Mobile tech conference, which is the biggest conference dedicated to mobile technology, kicked off in Barcelona. The Mobile World Congress convenes in Barcelona with the industry undergoing negative growth. The rising stars of the industry are tipped to be in areas surrounding mobile broadband and applications for devices such as cloud computing. But there will also be announcements of new handsets and mobile gadgets. The economic downturn is likely to be a dominant theme of discussion. But the sense of a downturn for the mobile industry was made more tangible when Nokia - the leader among handset manufacturers - recently announced it foresaw a 10% fall in mobile phone sales for the coming year. The Mobile World Congress expects almost 50,000 visitors