Fotopedia Heritage, the new app for iPad and iPhone users, now offers access to over a few thousand works by photographers who are a part of the Fotopedia community bringing together more than 20.000 photos locating close to 3.000 places of interest throughout World Heritage locations. Fotopedia is now officially a collaborative encyclopedia of photographs from all over the world. Fotopedia Heritage was developed by a team headed by Jean-Marie Hullot, who is the former CTO of American computer company NeXT and has been a part of Apple's application release division.

According to Fotopedia, as this incredible app was coded, the entire Fotopedia community placed and screened the photos carefully in order to ensure a high level of relevance and immaculate quality. Fotopedia CEO Jean-Marie Hullot also says that their much awaited application has now reinvent the whole coffee table photo-book experience as the app merges the whole concept of a limitless number of photos with equally vast and needless to say, relevant information.

Fotopedia Heritage allows iOS platform device owners to navigate through content easily, with the help of tags, and at the same time learn about every place they search for by going through rich descriptions provided by UNESCO and complemented by Wikipedia.

Initial test on the unlocked iPhone4 confirm this app is bug free despite the small glitch that displays information on this app on a small part of the iPhone screen. However this app was intended to be more appropriately for the iPad in the first place. Users also have the added benefit of a proper and interactive map service on this very map. TripAdvisor has provided travel information for all the World Heritage Location anyone may find interest in, for a trip.

The only issue with this app is that it requires either iOS 3.1.3 or a later version to function fully. Otherwise it is compatible with all iOS devices.

The Unlocked iPhone4 exclusively was marketed by AT&T for time immemorial(a little over three years in the mobile world) in US, but that is short lived, in the wake of the rumor of a iPhone launch by Verizon  in few years. If/When the Verizon iPhone is really launched; Big Red can cause a big setback to AT&T by help of their self proclaimed superior wireless network. A new study reveals that a large part of the existing users of iPhone on AT&T are keen on replacing them with an alternative Apple Smartphone carrier.

The numbers, though not that surprising, are very significant. According to the study from Morpace, 1 out of 3 AT&T iPhone users are considering changing loyalties to handsets on another carrier. A solid 34% want to jump ship, and 47% of the current users are ready to consider a Verizon alternative of their handset of choice. This is not at all good for the carriers’ bottom line when Apple will start reaching out for its iOS-powered Smartphone to the various other carrier partners.

The survey also categorizes the customer intent by carrier.20% of T-Mobile customers are “somewhat” or “very likely” to opt for an Apple Smartphone on Verizon. The same thing applies for 22% and 23% customers of Sprint and AT&T respectively. But surprisingly, 51% of Verizon customers are waiting for a handset powered by iOS which is certainly the icing on the cake.

Even more fascinating is the possible impact an iPhone on Verizon will have on the other Smart phones offered by Big Red. At present, the majority of most compelling Android Smart phones are claimed by Verizon in US. A lot of their resources are invested into marketing Android phones like Unlocked Motorola Droid X and Motorola Droid 2. Considering the arch rivalry between Android and iOS in the mobile space, it is worth wondering how newcomer Apple will overcome Android, especially if it is more powerful than AT&T’s iPhone 4.

The Simon Property Group, that current owns more than 350 malls in the United States of America has teamed up with a startup from Silicon Valley called Shopkick in order to devise a way to make cell phone coupons work.

Starting from August, around 25 malls in the cities of Loa Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York will have devises installed that will help Shopkick in its effort to make its cell phone coupons work. The malls owned by Simon Property Group, have on an average, 140-150 stores and the shops that will be participating in this scheme will have to have speakers installed near its entrance, which will emit a high frequency sound that is beyond the audibility limit of humans, but the frequency will match that of the microphones in mobile phones. When a customer walks by the store, they can activate the application, which is by the way, only available on unlocked iPhone4 and Android powered devices, and will start to receive points, discount offers, news and updates about what the shop has to offer and so much more that the shop could use to get you inside and cajole you to part with your money.

Four other big guns in the retail business are also using the latest application from Shopkick, the most recognizable being Macy’s Big Buy, although the other three wished to remain anonymous. Macy’s will have the technology up and running in almost 25% of its store in one week in the test phase and if the experiment goes well, they will expand it to the other stores as well. Sources reveal the Macy’s stores in San Francisco might be the first ones to have this technology.

However, the skepticism about it is still there and experts believe that it will drive young people to shop online even more.

It’s official! Finally BlackBerry has answered all the prayers from its ‘worshippers’ and released the new Unlocked Torch 9800, the vertical slider and it will be going live on AT&T. it packs quite a punch, it must be said, for RIM and also the new BlackBerry 6 operating system. The Torch, however, has been hailed as one of the best offerings from RIM in quite some time and the news time that it is getting is nothing short of what it deserves.

The new device is very impressive, to put in short. The full QWERTY keypad was a cause for concern for many users, but after prolonged sessions of testing it, it has been found to work just fine. The slider display also does not cause any sort of hindrances to the QWERTY keypad in no way, and once you open the keyboard to use it, you will find that the device balances nicely in your hand as well. The BlackBerry 6 also fares quite well and although it is not much different from earlier renditions of the Operating System, the users of BlackBerry unlocked cell phone will more or less be satisfied with the total package that the company is offering them.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Touch is the Touch screen display. RIM’s previous touch screens do not have a very good reputation, but the Torch does it no harm and rather enhances it very much and puts it on the same category as the iPhone or such devices. The response of the display is very prompt and the latest pinch-to-zoom feature is very much a delight to use and is very much like those on the iPhone4 unlocked handset.

AT&T is offering the BlackBerry for $199 and here is the real test for the phone and everyone is eager to see how it actually fares in the market.

Valentine’s Day may be long gone, but the spirit of love seems to still be there with Sprint, who are giving their Premier Customers the opportunity to reserve their own Unlocked Samsung ( Epic 4G). While others will have to wait for some time to get a chance to be able to reserve the Epic 4G for themselves, this is one opportunity that the Premier Customers of Sprint would just hate to pass on. If you are one of those few, lucky enough to be Premier Customers of Sprint check the inboxes of your e-mail accounts as soon as you can, so that you don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Now, we do know that many of you technology freaks out there have been eyeing the Epic 4G ever since the announcement of its launch. Sprint has put out a comparison just for those fans, which pits the Samsung Epic 4G and the HTC EVO 4G. Although Android is the common feature of both the devices, EVO trumps the Epic with the latest version of the Google platform on board, and is also WiMax enabled. The Epic has a QWERTY keypad that slides out where as the EVO’s keypad is on board the screen itself, that functions on touch. The EVO, however, will cost you around $199, which is not so bad for all the features that it offers. Again, the Epic 4G will push you back by $249, (the rates are after rebate) which raises a very basic question. Is it worth paying the additional $50 for a phone that just offers a few extra features and because it is a variant of the Samsung Unlocked Galaxy S? Critics say it would not be a bad investment either; however, a few more adjustments would have made it much more tempting.

It seems that Verizon, like Sprint, will charge an extra amount between $10 and $15 for using the data service of 4G LTE of the carrier-which is to be added to the data plan that exists in case of compatible devices. It is not at all surprising for us, but the reaction of the customers towards this drastic rise in fees will be interesting.

It is expected of Verizon to begin bringing 4G network of nascent to laptop (through data cards of USB) and after that the LTE enabled Unlocked Smartphone which will be in the market sometime during the initial half of the year 2011, if possible in the month of May. Motorola and Verizon are also rumored to launch Android Tablet that is FiOS-enabled before the end of the year. Since it will be a very expensive affair to launch a worldwide network, Verizon actually justifies the fee that is extra. But we are bound to agree that these types of infrastructural roll outs are much expensive, even more than T-Mobile USA’s upgrades of software.

The John Killian Verizon CFO said at the conference of Oppenheimer & Co. in Boston in this week,” Customers will pay for quality and premium service and premium speed”. The users will be facing the similar dilemma they faced in case of Sprint when it offered users of EVO 4G a service of premium not even available in the area you live in. It is pointed out by Verizon that even if the customer is not living in any 4G area, Sprint charges monthly premium of $10 for 4g Smartphone uses of EVO. Therefore, the 4G premium has link with to not just performance, but also coverage.

Thanks to that, AT&T and Verizon are nearly same I case of monthly bills, but because of this new fee hike; Big Red will become the carrier who is most expensive in US. T-Mobile has a need to upgrade the HSPA+ network of them to keep up with others.

It was only a year back, when Gangster: West Coast Hustle was released by Gameloft. The obvious inspiration for it was the Grand Theft Auto series by Rockstar Games. And as it seems, Gameloft has again been ‘inspired’ by the series and will be launching the follow up Gangster: Miami Vindication in a few weeks.

The backdrop of the game is beautiful Miami. The game is said to be full of unrestricted environments where you will be required to take up missions, with a combination of action and driving sequences and so you better brush up on those skills of yours phone. As it was with its predecessor, here also, you will be required to brawl, steal, kill i.e., get involved with a number of criminal activities as you advance through the game. The company has promised to surpass all previous levels of 3D graphics, as it looks to take advantage of the new Retina Display technology in the iPhone 4.

A trailer of the upcoming game was released by the company also to give gamers a sneak peak of what is to come, what they could expect from the game. The trailer looks promising, although some of the vehicles lack a few minor details, as well as some of the characters which could have been made to be much more detailed. Knowing these kinds of games lack details in its characters, it is very difficult to understand how even the Retina Display of the Unlocked iPhone 4 will help with the lack of quality in vehicles and models of characters.

Gangster: West Coast Hustle was very enjoyable and was immensely popular and those who loved the original game are surely looking forward to the new one, however, with such low key details, it might be hard for the company to keep hold of its fan base.

As the BlackBerry unlocked 9800 Torch and Motorola DROID 2 go head to head it seems that both AT&T as well as Verizon will be laughing their way to the bank. The DROID 2 is being distributed by Verizon and the time for pre-sale has passed with Verizon now stocking up the sets in their stores with people queuing to get their hands on one of these sets.

The D2 is offered by Verizon for a price of $199 that is after calculating a $100 rebate for mail-in orders or an online discount for an agreement for a two year agreement. A purchase in-store will help you avoid any waiting for the deliveries of the set but will instantaneously increase your up-front costing. Simply put $100 rebates are valid for purchases made in-store and purchases made online only. Purchases from any third party retailer will cost you $299.

For those looking to upgrade to the DROID 3 as soon as it releases, the 20 month default contract length will be a hindrance so as a recommendation go for the one-year contract which will allow you to upgrade before you apply for the next contract. Any one who owns the original Verizon Motorola Unlocked DROID will fill you in on the pains of an upgrade if you wish to do so in the contract period. Despite Verizon’s end-of-year upgradation plan, contractual issues prevent D1 owners who are on two-year agreements find an upgrade to D2 a difficult affair to say the least.

A one year plan on the D2 will cost you $269 after a %100 rebate which is a $70 hike on the two year plan but the deal is you still get to upgrade to the D# with ease. A monthly plan will push the price of your D2 to a pricey $559. A termination fee of $350 applies for early cancellation of contract and a minimum requirement of a data plan worth $29.99 per month is also set up in the terms and conditions. Complications galore, but the set may well be worth it.

No one was surprised in the fact that the Android device from Garminfone has not really hit on T-Mobile hugely, or nor for any other carriers, as it is said by Garmin that the cell phone division of them has not also performed as per as their hopes expectations.

The second quarter earnings of the company have given the following statement:

Sales of their smartphone product of contributed category of $27M revenued in while the quarter is going on. The time When all these were below their plan, they had been working with utter aggression with T-Mobile as well as other around the world carriers on their appropriate positioning as well as pricing of their devices in random competitive space of smartphone.

It did not surprise anybody terribly that the world is not set on fire by the Garminfone because several key features are missed by the device such as a jack of headphone! Even Android of modern version is also missing. Although to be fair enough, on-board maps are packed by it, so, quite unlike the Google Navigation, there is nothing to be worried about holding a continuous connection of Data for directions.

One solid quarter was posted by Garmin overall but unfortunately we cannot see a well bode future until and unless it can really up its games with the smartphones. The market of the device of personal navigation device is eventually likely to be dwindled as many more people now carry smartphone and that too with similar kind of navigation capabilities. It is quite sure that the phone sets are not quite that good as those dedicated devices; still it has got more convenience as well as enough good features for most of the cases.

Garmin to all its credits understands this well and it is making a team with Asus for producing Android phones.

MyTown, a location based check-in game from Booyah will now be made available in iTunes stores of countries like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and so on. This is good news for a whole bunch of people, who had actually been waiting for this for quite some time now. It is not too much different from the location based check-ins from familiar elements such as Foursquare and Gowalla. Here, only a thick slather of game elements is added on top of the usual familiar material. The basic thing is altered just a little. Before, you had to go and check into a store to get your points. Here, it has almost been turned into the game of Monopoly, which allows you to ‘own’ the business that you decide to check into, and in its turn, charges rent from the other people who might be checking into that business. Another difference is that it puts out a list of the stores, according to specifications. The others, in this case tend to be friendlier towards the users with a huge variety of content.

A ‘scavenger hunt’ was also launched by Booyah today. What you have to do is check into locations, as many times as you require, and in your turn will be able to discover parts of a map, holding the clues to a ‘key’ that has been hidden somewhere in the city. Once you get to this key, you will be given a code, that you will need to mail to Booyah. This will enter you into a contest and you stand to win iTunes gift cards, and if you are really lucky, even an unlocked  iPhone4. However, the contest is only for the American users and the new regions will just have to wait out their turn to get lucky.