15 March 2005

Nokia Announces New Price Point For N-Gage QD and Games

The N-Gage QD portable gaming phone from Nokia keeps getting cheaper and cheaper, but still not as cheap as overseas. Today Nokia announced new North American price points for both the unit and the games. The N-Gage will now retail at $99.99 US prepaid and the games will range from $15-$25 a piece. Back in May of 2004 Nokia announced that they will be selling the unit overseas for around €49.99 ($60 USD).
Nokia says that the new price point will allow retail stores such as Gamestop and Musicland to sell the N-Gage as a prepaid solution.
The new US price is still reasonable; you usually pay around $60-70 for a decent pre-paid phone anyways, so why not get one that can play games and keep you entertained.
A few months ago there were rumors floating around claiming that Nokia was ready to scrap the N-Gage, but they got squashed pretty quick.
Nokia expects pricing in retail stores to hit the $100 price mark in a few days

13 March 2005

Nokia and Wolkswagon teamed up to bring Bluetooth to the new Passat

Your new 2005 Passat and Bluetooth enabled cell phone have developed a symbiotic relationship thanks to the innovative engineers at Volkswagen and Nokia Automotive. The new Passat will have an integrated handset which harnesses Bluetooth wireless technology. The technology supports the Bluetooth SIM Access Profile which enables the car to connect to your SIM card via Bluetooth and log onto the GSM network.

"For the first time, an automaker is offering a communication solution using the Bluetooth SIM Access Profile that is factory-fitted in the vehicle. This represents an important engineering achievement: we have taken a further step toward universality in the domain of factory-installed, integrated communication solutions: Users looking for wide-ranging compatibility with a variety of mobile phones have a choice between an aftermarket solution or a factory-fitted system," says Marcus Stahl, General Manager Nokia Automotive.

The car will be fitted with an external GSM antenna, excellent audio quality in hands-free mode, and alphanumerical keyboard integrated into the steering wheel. In addition, you can access all personal contact data stored in the mobile phone using the cars built-in Bluetooth technology. As soon as you enter the car, your compatible phone will connect and login to the GSM network, when you exit or press a button on the handset, it will seamlessly return you to the mobile network.

12 March 2005

Mobile phone code badly written

ONCE TOUTED as the virus we should all fear, Commwarrior, which spreads across mobile phone networks is turning out to be useless.
According to AV outfit TrendLabs, Commwar is a badly written bit of code which is too bugged to do anyone much harm.
Upon testing, Trendlabs have lowered the virus threat from the bug to low. The bug, which was discovered on March 7, infects mobile phones running the Symbian operating system, propagates via Bluetooth, and targets the majority of Nokia handsets. Although the virus should be able to be spread on MMS, there is a bug in the MMS component of the mobile phone part of the code. In an 'ideal world' this would randomly send an MMS message containing the mobile phone virus to other users. Because this does not happen it limits the way the virus can spread.
It is now thought that the virus could have initially got onto phones after some users downloaded the virus disguised as a cracked mobile game.
In this way it can infect different Nokia models like the 3650, 3600, 3660, 3620, 6600, 6620, 7610, 7650, the Nokia N-Gage, the Panasonic X700, Sendo X, and the Siemens SX1.

09 March 2005

Nokia Announces New Competitive Deals For N-Gage Game Deck and Games

Nokia has announced new pricing that will enable it to offer a range of competitive deals across a full range of retail sectors. New software pricing enables retailers to offer the existing catalogue at starting prices of Ł15 through to Ł25. The new pricing for N-Gage games also means N-Gage fans can pick up new releases at Ł25.

X-MenTM Legends and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos TheoryTM will be the first new N-Gage titles with the adjusted pricing, while the existing games catalogue will benefit immediately from the new prices.

"This new price point makes it even easier to get your hands on an N-Gage QD to experience the thrill of mobile connected gaming,” said Gerard Wiener, Director and General Manager, Games, Nokia.

The N-Gage QD combines the best of phones and games which means it’s always with you when you need a quick fix of gaming. Our latest N-Gage games provide great gaming experiences, whether it’s a 4-player Bluetooth sessions of Snakes, or providing back-up for your friend’s Pathway to Glory platoon on the other side of the world through the N-Gage Arena.”

09 March 2005

Simens SX2!?

This image looks more like some kind of concept than the SX2, but who know?

I cant understand why they cant produce smart phone with “normal” keypad layout!?
Why they repeat same mistake like nokia with their 3650 models, same damn thing like on their previous model, I was lived in hope that Siemens learnt the keypad lesson with sx1.
Correct me if I’m wrong but this keypad looks like 3650 one, and even nokia was realize mistake and rearranged keypad on their 3660 model.
I hope they will be released very soon, maybe even on CeBIT 2005!?
It drains your battery, and it drains your account...

09 March 2005

Smartphones expected to kill the PDA

The end of the PDA is nearing. In-Stat has predicted that users will switch to smartphones and portable media players while the PDA slowly phases out of the consumer market, it’s main purpose will be to fuel low-end applications and industry-specific specialty devices by 2009.
Integrated GPS receivers will be a popular feature within PDAs this year, manufacturers will closely target niches and corporate focused applications. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular wireless are also expected as part of their attempt to compete with the growing smartphone market. Regardless of these innovations, new smartphones coming this year will be more stylish, portable, and have all the features a user desires.
The PDA market will experience a -21.5 percent Compounded Annual Growth Rate during 2004 through 2009. Device shipments reached only 8.7 million units in 2004, down from 10 million in 2003.

08 March 2005

New Symbian Virus Spreads Through MMS

Security experts have reported that they are analysing what is believed to be the first mobile phone virus able to replicate via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).The malicious code, dubbed CommWarrior, runs on the Symbian Series 60 Smartphone operating system and can spread using multimedia messages that include an image, audio or video which is sent from one phone to another or by email. "Phone viruses so far have been spreading over Bluetooth, so they only affect phones that are within a few metres. A MMS virus can potentially go global in minutes, just like an email worm," warned F-Securer’s antivirus laboratory-Secure said that it will post more detailed analysis on CommWarrior after investigating the code more closely.

This virus is still under analysis. We've seen two different versions so far.

The virus drops these files:
\system\apps\CommWarrior\commwarrior.exe
\system\apps\CommWarrior\commrec.mdl

\system\updates\commrec.mdl
\system\updates\commwarrior.exe
\system\updates\commw.sis

It contains these texts:
CommWarrior v1.0 (c) 2005 by e10d0r
OTMOP03KAM HET!

The text "OTMOP03KAM HET!" is Russian and means roughly "No to brain-dead".

Problem with this virus can be even worse because installation file can be found really easy on the Internet because author so called "e10d0r" made even website for this mallware.

It's a one hell of a program. Tested by myself...
It drains your battery, and it drains your account...

07 March 2005

ARM Discloses Technical Details and Partner Support For ARMv7 Architecture

ARM today disclosed technical details of its new ARMv7 architecture, at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Francisco, Calif. The new ARMv7 architecture defines three distinct processor profiles: the A profile for sophisticated, virtual memory-based OS and user applications; the R profile for real-time systems; and the M profile optimized for microcontroller and low-cost applications. New processors compliant with the ARMv7 architecture will enable systems designers to intelligently match the CPU to their chosen application target, optimizing performance, power consumption, code size, and silicon cost.

ARM is working with key members of the ARM® Connected Community to ensure broad support for the ARMv architecture. This program embraces operating systems, third-party tools and EDA vendors, including Cadence, Green Hills, IAR, Lauterbach, MontaVista, Synopsys and Wind River.

Symbian
“The close level of technical collaboration between ARM and Symbian on the ARMv7 architecture was a logical extension to our work on previous processor architectures,” said Jorgen Behrens, VP Strategy, Symbian. “The demand for increased performance and functionality in increasingly high volume feature rich Symbian OS phones is growing to meet the fast growing market for 3D gaming and other native graphics and multimedia applications. The low-power consumption characteristics of the ARMv7 architecture will enable handset manufacturers to meet that demand.”

05 March 2005

New Symbian trojan !!?

F-Secure says it’s received a sample of new Symbian trojan that’s different enough to warrant a new name - Dampig.A, a trojan-born SIS file masked as a crack of version 3.2 of the FSCaller application.
It disables some built-in applications and third party file managers, installs several Cabir variants to phone and because it corrupts uninstall data, can’t be removed without completely disinfecting the phone, says Jarno on the F-Secure blog.
The new Symbian trojan installs Cabir variants, says F-Secure going on, “The Dampig.A trojan disables Bluetooth UI, system file manager, Messaging application and phone book on the infected handheld."
The good news is the menu app isn’t disabled, so users can use their phones to download disinfect programs.The Cabir variants don’t start automatically, “but some of the applications that are replaced with Cabir executables, such as Messaging application, will be most likely called and thus executed by the user,” says F-Secure.
And, it warns, “Please note, that even as the FSCaller application that Dampig.A pretends to crack, has similar name to our product naming. It has nothing to do with F-Secure. FSCaller is software made by SymbianWare OHG in Germany.”

Disinfection:

Kill the Cabir variants that are currently running in the system:

1. Press menu button until you get a list of running applications
2. Kill all applications that look suspicious by pressing 'C' button

F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus will detect the installed Cabir variants and delete the worm components. After deleting worm files you can delete go to application manager and uninstall the Fscaller3.2Crack7610.sis
If your phone is infected with some Cabir variant and you cannot install files over bluetooth, you can download F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus directly to your phone.

1. Open web browser on the phone
2. Go to http://mobile.f-secure.com
3. Select link "Download F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus" and then select phone model
4. Download the file and select open after download
5. Install F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus
6. Go to applications menu and start Anti-Virus
7. Activate Anti-Virus and scan all files.
   

04 March 2005

Virgin Radio Player for S60

Virgin Radio has become the first station to broadcast globally over 3G phones. The technology from Sydus mobile streaming services has made this possible, no matter where you are; Tokyo, Toronto or Chicago, if there is a wireless signal, there shall be music.
The software from Sydus is free to download from Virgin Radio UK, it will install an application icon to your supported mobile phones desktop. From there you can tune into Virgin Radio, the UK rock and pop station or two new digital stations; Virgin Radio Groove and Virgin Radio Classic Rock, and best of all it’s free! This really puts a damper on Satellite Radio’s outlook, which requires special hardware as well as monthly fees.
“This radio player is what the 3G network was built for, giving consumers high quality and high data products through a handset in their pocket. With Sydus, Virgin Radio has become the first brand to be available globally through a truly mobile music service.” Said Saumil Nanavati, President of Sydus.

The service will work on 30 compatible 2.5G and 3G handsets currently on the market using Series 60 or the Symbian UIQ platform. As it stands now, over 14.9 million consumers across the globe can tune in to this new service, and as 3G phones grow in popularity more people will have access.

04 March 2005

Make SIS wizard v 1.0

Is read and avilable for download. Now you can choose between Light and Heavy mode:

In Light mode, you can build a SIS file verz easily with the default options,
In Heavy mode you can use advanced functions (Select a language for the installation, Insert an UID number, popup message, etc).

You can switch between Light and Heavy mode simply by clicking the buttons on the top corners.

Completly rewritten engine
Graphic improvement
Now you can chose the destination drive of every single file
You can put another sis file inside yours

03 March 2005

Profile of Symbian Virus writter

The author of the Symbian worm, Lasco, says he doesn’t wish his viruses spread, but predicts that his work will take the threat of mobile malware to the next level.
Brazilian programmer Marcos Velasco, 32, lives in Rio de Janeiro with his wife and kids. Velasco has published his virus code, a practice that is seriously frowned upon by security experts.

Interview highlits:
Making malware available has also been criminalized in most industrialized countries.
“I’m a professional programmer. Viruses, hacking and security are my favourites. Viruses are my life,” says Velasco in the email interview he granted to Finnish IT weekly, ITviikko. The interview will be published in Finnish on January 20.

Velasco published his version of the Cabir worm’s source code in December. Cabir is the first malware to infect mobile phones and spread via Bluetooth. The original worm was introduced last summer by the virus writing group, 29a.
“I wanted to demonstrate how the worm works. The reason I published the source code was that the anti-virus researchers at Kaspersky did not believe it was mine.”

Velasco rebuilt Cabir from scratch on the basis of the worm’s description published by anti-virus companies.
“My work was easy because I reused a lot of code available on the Internet, for example from symbian.com.”

Velasco made a few corrections of his own. Velasco’s version of the worm is capable spreading from one mobile phone to another without a reboot, unlike the orginal Cabir.
In addition he also made a new mobile worm, dubbed Lasco.A by anti-virus companies. Lasco is based on the same source as Velasco’s Cabir.H but unlike Cabirs it also infects Symbian installation system files (.sis) making it the first mobile malware that spread’s using two methods.

Velasco says he does not wish that his viruses actually spread.
“I’m not trying to spread the worms and I don’t want them to spread.”