No texting While Driving in January 1st

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The governor got a late start on the bills because last month he threatened to veto all legislation until lawmakers approved the overdue state budget. The Legislature responded by holding the bills until they and the governor had agreed on a budget deal late last week.

The Legislature approved the spending plan on Friday and Schwarzenegger signed it on Tuesday, paving the way for the governor to act on hundreds of items.

The first bill, SB28 by Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, will make California one of a handful of states that bans text messaging while driving. Others include Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington.

"Banning electronic text messaging while driving will keep drivers' hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, making our roadways a safer place for all Californians," Schwarzenegger said in a written statement.

But a Republican lawmaker argued the measure is yet another example of adding unnecessary legislation to the Vehicle Code when there's already sufficient rules on the books.

"There's already blanket law that says reckless driving is illegal and if you cause an accident while recklessly driving, it's a misdemeanor...When you start going down that path, where do you end?" said Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine.

The legislation follows California's ban on using a cell phone while driving unless motorists use a hands-free device. That law, also authored by Simitian, went into effect July 1.

"It is a reminder that we live in a changing world and the law has to change to reflect that fact," Simitian said.

The text-messaging ban will go into effect on Jan. 1. A violation of the law would result in a $20 fine for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense.

The Republican governor also signed AB498, which forbids private companies that have business operations in Sudan to bid on state contracts - a way to pressure the Sudanese government to halt the genocide in Darfur.

"California will not underwrite the horrors of murder and genocide in Sudan," Schwarzenegger said in a written statement.

Sarah Grundahl, domestic policy associate for Save Darfur Coalition based in Washington, D.C., applauded Schwarzenegger signing the bill into law.

"Economic pressure is one of the biggest tools that we have and California has stood up and made it clear that we don't help fund genocide," she said.

California already forbids the state's pension funds from investing in companies that have active business in Sudan and Iran.

The governor on Wednesday also signed two bills on charter schools. They are:

-- SB658 (Romero, D-Los Angeles) - Shifts the Year-Round School Grant Program funds, which total more than $90 million, to the Charter School Facility Grant Program beginning July 1, 2013.

-- AB2033 (Núñez, D-Los Angeles) - Lowers the interest rate for lease payments on approved charter school facility projects.

Schwarzenegger vetoed AB2115, authored by Assemblyman Gene Mullin, D-South San Francisco, which would have required charter schools to adopt conflict-of-interest policies for their governing boards similar to the ones used by local school boards.

Schwarzenegger argued in his veto message that AB2115 would create additional costs for charter schools and would run counter to the intent of charter schools, which is to be free from rules governing local school districts.

Original Article

Blackberry Storm vs. iPhone Showdown

How many phones claim that it will be renamed as the "iPhone Killer" and failed? Who knows about Blackberry Storm. But I think that the Blackberry Storm is another awesome product to have this Christmas! Which one is better though? Not content to stand by while AT&T , T-Mobile and Sprint generate all the wireless hype, Verizon last week announced that it would be supporting Research in Motion's BlackBerry Storm smartphone on its network come November.

RIM's first touchscreen device features a "clickable" screen that the company says simulates the feel of a physical keyboard. The Storm can connect to either EV-DO Rev. A or HSPA 3G cellular networks and features 1GB of onboard memory storage and a card slot that allows for up to 16GB of additional storage.

But while Verizon (and Vodafone in Europe and elsewhere) is hoping that the BlackBerry Storm will be its own "iPhone killer," questions remain about whether the offering can match the popular Apple consumer device in several key areas. Here's a look at how the Storm stacks up against the iPhone in terms of call quality, data coverage, price and more. This could be an intriguing matchup, since neither the iPhone nor the Storm has a physical slide-out keyboard like the T-Mobile G1 does. However, RIM says that it is changing the game of how touchscreen keypads work with what it calls a "clickable screen." This means that users can actually press down on the digital keys on the screen and feel them being pressed and released just like they'd feel a mouse button being pressed and released. Thus, users will in theory be able to type much easier by having the touch of a standard qwerty keyboard on the digital screen of their smartphone. Though we won't know for certain until it's tested out by more users, the Storm's keyboard gets the edge here for its ambition and creativity.

Original Article

Apple iPhone, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Considering getting someone an iPhone this christmas? Not a bad gift I would have to say. I do not have one and have not used one to make any phone calls, but I have played with my brother's iPhone. I can only comment on the features that I've used which were the games. I'm not sure if the phone comes that way, but they have a large selection of games. I played the once ever-so-popular, Tetris, also some IQ games which were frustrating but fun. There was a game on there that my sister and other people seem to be addicted to, which appeared to be some kind of explosive mine game. Playing all these games for possibly hours on end, I can also comment on its battery life, which seems very good to me. I sat there for over an hour playing different games and the battery did not seem to be in any immediate danger.

Aside from the many games and admirable battery life, I also enjoyed the sleek look of the iPhone. It's screen (touch pad) was very durable and overall the iPhone was a delight to handle. Now you may not trust my opinion, so I have also found a review from Cnet.com to assure anyone looking to purchase an iPhone. To summarize the Cnet review, the iphone offers new features including support for high-speed 3G networks and expanded e-mail. Its call quality is improved and it continues to deliver an excellent music and video experience. The Bad according to Cnet.com is the iPhone 3G lack some basic features that are available on even the simplest cell phone and battery life was uneven.

The bottom line is the iPhone 3G is a big improvement from its previous models and would still make an awesome gift. YES, every product has its kinks but overall this is the iPHONE need more be said? Just remember to remind the recipient to take good care of this high demand and pricey product!

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Avoid the stats, use a headset.

It's hard to imagine a time when cell phones were the exception, now they seem to be a rule. Anybody, at nearly any age, will have a cell phone. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, considering they are most helpful when somebody may be lost or in situations where a simple phone call to say you're late can ease a loved one's mind. But for every upside there is also a downside. Cell phones are distracting. Ever been in a movie theatre and someone insist on keeping there cell phone turn on? Even worse, they feel it necessary to take the call, DURING THE MOVIE? Yes, cell phones have many downsides, but the worse, may be it's distraction during driving.

According to Edgar Snyder and Associates, their website states that in 2007, driver distraction such as using cell phones or text messages contributed to nearly 1,000 crashes involving 16 and 17 year old drivers. More horrifying, about 21% of FATAL car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16-19 were the result of cell phone usage! Shockingly, this result is expected to grow about 4% each year. Reading this statistics, I know many wonder if there is anything we can do to decrease or even avoid these terrible stats. The answer lies in early prevention. A simple headset can be the answer to many auto involved tragedies.

It is no wonder that the hands-free law was implemented in California in July 1st, 2008. This law states the a driver over the age of 18 MUST NOT use a hand-held wirless phone while operating a motor vehicle, but a hands free device(headset) is allowed. Drivers under the age of 18 however are prohibited from using hands-free or hand-held. This is law will hopefully help lower the terrible stats of car-accidents involving cell-phones.

Cell phones is a good thing. It is conveinent, portable, and necessary. But it is our responsiblity to keep cell phones as a good thing, and not let it affect our lives negatively.


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7 or even more Gadgets Killed by the Cell phone

I think that it's pretty old school to have a pager. I mean I understand if you are a doctor, but come one that was so 1990's. haha Everyone who is everyone has a cellphone. It's an important necessity that people need daily. Nowadays, Cellphones are used for almost everything. I currently have an iphone and you can only imagine what I could do on that. Everyone wants a phone that could do anything, such as searching for a place, internet, and other things. but there were 7 things that were written on this article I found on the website. The Pager

The most popular suggestion was the pager.

5 gadgets? How could you forget the ubiquitous pager? In the not-too-distant past no drug dealer would leave home without it. The pager was the number one casualty of the rise of the cellphone. – Lenny

I couldn't put it better, Lenny. The beeper was indeed killed by the mobile, and rightly so: Not only were you always on call, you had to find a pay phone in order to ring back, and you had to pay for it.

It offered some advantages, though -- doctors could go out to dinner in a fancy restaurant and be called off to work just after ordering (every medical drama made in the 1990s) and, on the other side, patients awaiting transplants could be tipped-off the moment the organs were in stock. All in all, though, a text message is a lot quicker and easier.

The Wristwatch

I still wear a wristwatch, although more as jewelry than as a time-telling tool. In fact, judging by the number of unusable watches our own Danny Dumas buys from Tokyo Flash, it's probably safe to say that watches don't even need to tell the time anymore. The cellphone may not have killed the watch, but it has certainly made it less essential. That hasn't stopped the likes of Vertu trying to hawk overpriced "luxury" cellphones to the same people that buy Rolexes.

Pocket Calculator

I received a surprising number of suggestions for this one, and I actually considered putting it on yesterday's list. But although the cellphone will add, subtract and everything else, the keypad just isn't up to the task.

Anyone who adds up in a professional capacity (accountants, bar managers, shop owners) will always prefer a big, solid desktop calculator. Those things are accurate, and above all, fast. Try tapping $100,000 worth of receipts into a cellphone and see how long it is before you throw the thing out the window.

Alarm Clocks

True. Although an iPod also makes a pretty good alarm clock, and it doesn't irradiate your head as you sleep.

SatNav

Another great suggestion. GPS is finding its way into more and more phones, and even those that don't have it can guesstimate your position using cell-tower triangulation. The problem is that many phones need a network connection to actually pull down a map, whereas standalone SatNav devices store everything onboard and only need to connect to the satellite.

This means that a phone makes a pretty bad GPS device when you are out in the wilds -- arguably where you need it most.

Books

Here at Gadget Lab, we're fans of reading books on the iPhone, but we still don't think the book is anywhere near dead. For starters, the screens on cellphones just don't cut it as e-readers (although the iPhone gets close with a decent size and high 163ppi resolution). Heck, even purpose-built e-readers aren't there yet.

One day, though, the dead-tree version will be obsolete, but we give it some years yet. The irony? Tiny text files are perfectly suited to small, low-power devices.

Handheld Consoles

Will the phone kill the Gameboy? Perhaps. Nokia tried it with the taco-shaped N-Gage and failed. Apple is trying with the iPhone, and doing OK. But in the U.S. the Nintendo DS is the second best-selling console for October, beaten only by the Wii. Nintendo is shifting around half a million of them every month. That doesn't sound like a dead market.

What's certain is that the cellphone is becoming the default device for more and more things, slurping up other gadgets like a a giant Katamari Damacy ball. It might not be the best tool for a given job, but it's certainly the most convenient.

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Cell Phone Kills Brain Cells

Everyone has been questioning for many years, do cell phones kill brain cell phones? who is to know? well i found this great article about it. but everyone who is everyone has a cellphone. Cell phones are more used than house phones, believe it or not! As a long time cell phone user, i'd like to know what's up with the situation!Fears of brain cancer from cell phone usage gained currency with a few high profile lawsuits alleging a connection. In one suit against Motorola and several major cell phone carriers a Maryland neurologist claimed that cell phone use had caused his brain cancer. The plaintiff's attorneys presented research by a Swedish cancer researcher indicating a possible connection. But defense attorneys had plenty of research too, and in September 2002, the suit was thrown out of court.

Still, people are worried. The reason is that cell phones produce electromagnetic radiation which penetrates the brain a short distance from the phone's antenna. But electromagnetic radiation from cell phones is different from the ionizing radiation from, say, an X-ray or a hunk of uranium, which damages DNA and is clearly linked to cancer.

The radiation from cell phones falls in a frequency range somewhere between what you're exposed to when you stand next to your television and what comes out of a leaky microwave oven. It could, theoretically, damage brain cells by heating them. But the heat from cell phones is slight. It isn't like your brain is being baked.

"The research is unequivocal that this type of radiation doesn't cause cancer. But it hits a bunch of emotionally resonant buttons, so we're all afraid of it," said David Ropeik, director of risk communications at the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis.

If you take a call in the waiting room at a hospital, could you be causing someone to go to code blue on the floor above you?

The possibility that anything really awful could happen is small, according to the limited research that's been done. In a study released in January 2001, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., tested cell phones with hospital devices that monitor heart and lung activity. The phones did cause interference, they found, but in most cases the interference would not have been cause for concern.

These tests were done "in vitro" said Dr. David Hayes, one of the study's authors, meaning patients weren't connected to the machines. Tests still need to be done with patients actually connected to the devices.

"Until that's done we really need the [no cell phone] signs up," he said.

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Cell Phones are a Major Distraction

I'm sure a lot of ladies have the great ability to multi-task whenever and wherever. I for one, am one of them! I can get a lot of things done while i'm driving. I mean Yeah Bluetooths and headsets are helpful, but how bout when you have to text someone while you are driving? I have an iPhone so I pretty much have a hard time feeling the buttons that don't even exist on my touch screen phone. I wonder if the cops will pull you over if you have been texting and can you get fined for that? I mean it's just as bad as talking on the cell phone.


Text messaging, or “texting” by teens, a driving distraction related to cellphone use, was the subject of an August 2006 Teens Today survey conducted by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). The survey showed that teens considered sending text messages via cellphones to be their biggest distraction. Of the teens surveyed, 37 percent said that text messaging was extremely or very distracting, while 20 percent said that they were distracted by their emotional states and 19 percent said that having friends in the car was distracting. The January 2007 survey by Nationwide found that 19 percent of motorists say they text message while driving.

Cellphones play an integral role in our society. However, the convenience they offer must be judged against the hazards they pose. Inattentive driving accounted for 6.4 percent of crash fatalities in 2003—the latest data available—according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Inattentive driving includes talking, eating, putting on make up and attending to children. Using cellphones and other wireless or electronic units are also considered distractions.

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McDonald's Sued After Man Loses Phone, Wife's Nude Photos Posted Online

I hope to God that I NEVER lose my cell phone anywhere, again. This story just scares me.

Phillip and Tina Sherman of Bella Vista filed a lawsuit against McDonald's Corp.; Mathews Management Co., which owns the McDonald's franchise on Sixth Street in Fayetteville; and Aaron Brummley, a manager of the restaurant. The suit seeks more than $3 million in damages after nude photographs of Tina Sherman were posted on a Web site.

The suit claims Phillip Sherman lost his phone at the restaurant on July 5. The phone contained nude photographs his wife sent him. Though employees promised to secure the phone until Phillip Sherman returned, his wife began receiving text messages from it, the suit claims. The photographs later made their way to a Web site.

The suit seeks a jury trial, saying the couple and their family suffered severe mental and emotional distress, physical injury, pain and suffering, embarrassment, damage to their reputations and fear. The suit also asks for money to cover the cost for having to move to a new residence.

Brummley refused to comment, referring the matter to company officials.

"I would strongly caution anyone from jumping to conclusions without having all the facts. I believe this act was perpetrated by individuals who do not represent my organization," Bill Mathews, the McDonald's franchisee, said.

"We take these matters very seriously," he said. "We value and respect our customers and their right to privacy. We would never do anything to violate that trust. Because this is a pending legal matter, it would be inappropriate to make any additional comments or speculate about what may have actually occurred."

Original Article form FOX News

What's the Deal with Touch Screen Phones!?

Yeah, I understand that they're easy and that everyone should have one. Right? I don't get why every phone company is trying to make a touch screen phone that will supposedly overcome the Apple iPhone. All though the iPhone is not the first touch screen phone, it's the one that became the most popular. The future is in the palm of your hand.

Touch-screen capability is the latest step in cell phone development, and it’s proving to be a popular one.

Sajwn Boese, manager of Wireless World in Vermillion, said his store sells between 15 and 20 touch-screen phones a month. Wireless World sells three touch-screen models: the LG Voyager, Samsung Glyder and LG Dare.

“We’ve seen more and more sales recently,” Boese said. “A few people get them, then everyone wants one.”

Boese said manufacturers are trying something different to evoke interest in cell phone purchases. It’s a tactic that seems to be working.

Last year, 30 million touch-screen handsets were sold, according to an IMS Research report. LG reported selling seven million touch-screen handsets this summer and the Samsung Instinct has been Spirit’s best-selling handset in company history.

Sales are not expected to slow down soon. IMS Research projects that between 2008 and 2012, 200 million touch-screen devices will be sold.

The first “must-have” touch-screen device was the Apple iPhone, released in June 2007. In the first 30 hours of launch weekend, 270,000 iPhones were sold.

The latest version of the iPhone 3G boasts faster Internet access, GPS, camera, iPod capabilities and downloadable applications like games and news feeds. The retail price for the 8 GB iPhone is $199.99.

The iPhone is only sold on AT&T networks, although some carriers have started selling devices without contracts or by unlocking the restrictive software. Starting June 29, AT&T service providers in South Dakota began supporting the iPhone.

Other mobile phone companies were quick to jump on the touch-screen bandwagon. LG released the Voyager in November 2007 to be sold exclusively by Verizon Wireless. Like the iPhone, the Voyager features a large touch-screen cover and applications like a camera and Internet access.

The Voyager, however, has an internal screen and a full QWERTY keyboard. Retail price without a contract is $149.99.

Sophomore Mike Yaggie owns a Voyager model and although it was spendy, he said the purchase was well worth it.

“I really like (the Voyager) better than any other phone I’ve ever had,” Yaggie said. “The touch screen works well and for texting, the keyboard is always there to back you up if you need it.”

Boese recommended the Voyager and the Samsung Glyde for those whom text a lot because of the physical keyboards available on each of the phones.

“The Voyager is much easier to type on,” he said. “The (LG) Dare is nice, but for those who text a lot, the absence of the physical buttons might turn them off.”
Voyager also features V-Cast Mobile TV, although Boese said that service was not offered in the region.

Wireless World’s third model, the LG Dare, has a full touchscreen cover and 3.2 megapixel camera. Boese said the Dare offers many features.

“For instance, if someone used their phone for an alarm clock a lot, the Dare has an option to drag the alarm clock to the front screen,” he said.

Senior Brooke Kuchta recently bought a Dare and loves it. Although she was warned about the problems of touch-screen phones beforehand, Kuchta said she’s had no issues with her phone so far.


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World's Fastest PDA?

ASUS has announced business PDA phone (P565) and claims that it is the fastest phone out there. Riiight.

Aside from being the "fastest PDA phone", theP565 also features a touch-driven user interface called Glyde. The P565 is a stylish, leather-accented PDA phone which is capable of delivering graphics and system performance which is beyond anything else on the mobile phone market today. With Glyde technology, users can glide through resource-intensive tasks with easy and allow them to handle heavy multi-tasking well. Hence the ASUS P565 is an ideal phone for businesspeople who needs uncompromising performance and maximum speed from their productivity tools such as a PDA phone.The ASUS P565 also features a 2.8-touchscreen with 480×640 pixel resolution for a clear display when working on photos and spreadsheets. Since the ASUS P565 is a business-oriented phone it is but necessesary for it to have business-orietend software and applications. And it does actually have push mail, business card recognition and Microsoft Office Mobile as well as other useful applications including Anytime Launcher and Multi-Home which allows users to view calendards, times of local and visiting cities, weather reports, online news and many more - through a tap slide or flick of the user’s finger. Design-wise the ASUS P565 emits an air of exclusivity as well with with its battery lid which is lined with black synthetic leather which contrasts well with the form factor and design of the P565’s body consisting of high-gloss face. The complete rundown of the ASUS P565’s features would give as the following: HSDPA 3.6Mbps/UMTS 2100, EDGE/GPRS/GSM/900/1800/1900 Class 10 network support, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional for OS, 250-300 hrs standby time with 3G on and 200-250 hours with 2G on, talk time is at 3 hours with 3G and 4 hours with 2G,2.8-inch TFT VGA Touchscren at 480 x640, Marvell Tavorp 800 MHx processor, 256 MB Flash and 128 MB On-board memory,microsSD and microSDHC support, Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth+EDR, WAP browser, SiRF Star III with InstantFix GPS, various business applications including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and more, 3MP camera with auto focus, and video recording at 24fps.

Original Article from Cell Phone News

BlackBerry "Storm" Release Date & Price FINALLY Unveiled

FINALLY! FINALLY! FINALLY! Give me just a second to catch my breath! Verizon Wireless has FINALLY unveiled the release date and price for the highly anticipated BlackBerry "Storm". It will become available online and in stores on November 21 (that's one week away!) for the competitive price of $199(after a $50 mail-in rebate)! Beat that overrated iPhone!

The new BlackBerry caps off a crazy (crazy exciting, that is) five-plus months of blockbuster phone debuts, which started in July with the iPhone 3G and continued with T-Mobile's Android-powered G1, the touchscreen Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, the HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro on Sprint, and Sony Ericsson's touchscreen Xperia X1 (which Chris just reviewed). I know plenty of people who've been holding off buying anything until the Storm comes out, and based on the early hands-on impressions, the Storm does indeed look like a force to be reckoned with; the clickable "ClickThrough" touchscreen has earned particularly high marks.

The "Storm" comes out the same day the movie Twilight comes out. So I've set out a plan. I'm going to a midnight showing of Twilight, after that (which will be like 2am) I'm going to stand in line at the nearest Verizon store and wait to get my damn phone. I have been a really big fan of Blackberry's for a while, so you could only imagine my excitement when I heard the news that they were coming out with a touch screen for BlackBerry! It will be an early Christmas present to myself.

Original Article form Yahoo!Tech

Samsung Touch- Screen for T-Mobile

T-Mobile has announced their newest phone to add to their network, Samsung's "Behold". When i look at Behold, it makes me think of the LG Voyager, it has the same touch screen on the front. But there are a few differences.

The Behold has a large 3.0-inch LCD color touch screen displays crisp, clear images and offers responsive feedback called haptics. A built-in accelerometer automatically switches the screen between portrait and landscape modes. Through Samsung's innovative TouchWiz user interface, users can 'drag and drop' widgets to personalize the handset - functions such as the clock, music player, instant messaging and photos.

Users can blog, text and chat with the virtual QWERTY touchpad. Multiple messaging capabilities include text, multimedia messaging, instant messaging, email and Audio Postcard support. The built-in 5.0-megapixel camera and camcorder with flash and auto-focus snaps high-resolution photos and videos. A GPS receiver uses TeleNav GPS Navigator for turn-by-turn driving directions with maps. The Behold has high-speed connectivity and a full HTML web browser for faster access to the Internet.

With stereo Bluetooth wireless technology, speakerphone and voice activated dialing, the Behold lets customers go handsfree. A microSD memory card slot stores of videos, images or music up to 16GB. "Behold offers a full web browsing experience at your fingertips," said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile. "When you combine the high-speed web browsing, powerful 5.0-megapixel camera and music and video player, Behold is the ultimate phone for people who want to stay connected and entertained wherever they are." The Samsung Behold will be available in a brushed espresso or light rose finish beginning November 10.

Original Article from Mobiledia

Featured Category:

Fake Calls

Yep, Apple went there. With the new uprising FREE application, you could actually get a phone call that is on command whenever you want it to call. Magic Tap, a 99-cent iPhone application, lets you send fake calls to yourself on command, just in case you ever need an excuse to get out of an awkward situation such as a horrible blind date, or having "that talk" with your girlfriend. To make this application more realistic, it lets you customize the caller's name, number and photo I.D. to anyone you choose. However, keep this in mind: setting the caller I.D. to "Shakira" with a steamy photo of the diva probably wouldn't be too convincing, so you better stick with using Jason Chen's sexy mug instead. We've even provided one for you after the cut.

I actually have this application on my phone, and I've used it once (I don't need to get out of awkward situations that often) But I really do think that this is a handy application for the people that can't face the person they are talking to. haha It's convenient. The only think that you might want to consider is that you can't pick your own ringtone, it's actually just the default ringtone you heard when you first got the phone. sucks i know right?
I hope that people get it! you never know when you are gonna need it!

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Wasting Paper Much?

A local AT&T iPhone customer was one of the first to receive her first phone bill. Surprisingly, it came up to a lot more than just a bill! PITTSBURGH -- Apple’s iPhones are all the rage, but their customers aren’t too happy about the size of the first service bills from AT&T. One Pittsburgh woman, Justine Ezarik, received her first bill on Saturday.She said it was so large – 300 pages – it was delivered in a box. Ezarik's story grabbed national attention after she posted a video on YouTube. zarik told USA Today, “This is so silly. There is no reason they need to send you this much information.” hannel 11’s Andy Gastmeyer met with Ezarik, who has a Web page with a live camera, to discuss the bill. Gastmeyer was surprised to learn his interview was being shown live online. Channel 11 called AT&T to get their response.
They said that customers have three bill options and they don't have to select one with all of the detail, which would save paper.

Although they have an option, VIEWING THE DETAIL would be a stupid option for the environment and I think that all tree huggers would be furious! The fact that they can view every little detail online is what frustrates me. I have an iPhone and I was worried to see a ATT box in my mailbox!

Original Article

Cellphone Bill > Utility Bill

Our country has been taken under electronics. We have millions of jobs that are offered based on electronics, like computers, the internet, and much more. Nowadays you can't function a business well without technology! Has people really considered paying their cell phone bill is more important than paying for utility bills? ­Recent economic hardships may have consumers scrambling even more to stay out of debt, but Americans won't let the wireless payment slip. According to a recent Consumer Spending Behavior survey sponsored by US mobile phone retailer LetsTalk, more than half of cell phone owners are willing to pay increased cell phone bills this year compared to last year.



Surprisingly, over 75 percent of respondents report never being late on their wireless bill, but close to 90 percent admit delaying their utilities bill, ISP bill, landline telephone service bill, credit card payment, or rent/mortgage payment. When asked the primary motivation for prioritizing their wireless bill, over 63 percent agree that their mobile phone is essential to staying connected with families and friends. LetsTalk initiated the survey to better understand customer rationale behind increased spending when economic indicators are not favorable.

"The cell phone is a lifeline that keeps people connected not only to friends and family but to employers and potential new employees. Today, even in the midst of our economic downturn, bills that were once seen as a priority take a backseat to our cell phone bills," said Delly Tamer, CEO and Founder of LetsTalk.com. "The survey confirms to us what we've known for quite some time: cell phones, or more specifically, smartphones, have become an essential component of our everyday lives. We would rather risk our electricity shut off than our cell phones disconnected."

Conducted last month, the LetsTalk Smartphone Consumer Spending Behavior survey canvassed over 500 LetsTalk customers, ages 18 and over.

Original Article

Mobile Phone Users Curbing Spending and Upgrade Plans

­Mobile users around the world are delaying plans to upgrade or buy new phone handsets while also changing their current spending habits, due to the global economic crisis, claims a survey carried out by mobile applications portal, GetJar.

GetJar's 'Mobile Attitudes' poll revealed that 78 percent of respondents from a worldwide audience are delaying plans to upgrade or buy a new mobile phone as a result of the current economic climate. Similarly, 76 percent of mobile phone users are immediately planning to reduce the amount they spend on phone usage.

When asked whether they had reduced spending on mobile phones in the last 12 months, more than 50 percent of respondents had not reduced their spending at all, or by as little as 10 percent, during that period. For those people who had reduced their spending, the economy was the reason given by just over one third of respondents, while 20 percent changed their usage habits to lower expenses, and a further 28 percent had switched to using free applications to avoid charges.

GetJar also asked its users to reveal which mobile services they spend most money on each month. 35 percent said SMS accounted for the greatest proportion of their mobile phone bill; 18.5 percent said it was voice services; and just under 17 percent identified data services. Premium services accounted for the largest part of the monthly mobile spend for 12 percent of the survey participants.

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LG enV2

A phone for serious text message users, the LG enV2 is a definite upgrade from its larger and less stylish predecessor, the enV. This latest handset offers a full QWERTY keyboard, music player with Bluetooth stereo support, microSD memory card slot and a 2.0-megapixel camera and camcorder, merged together in a well-designed package.

Verizon Wireless services include VCAST Music and Video, and VZ Navigator. VCAST Music provides more than 3 million songs from both well-known and independent artists. With VZ Navigator, the enV2 gives audible turn-by-turn navigation to addresses and more than 14 million points of interest, from ATMs and gas stations to restaurants and tourist destinations.


Fans of the enV2 have praised the phone for its vivid 262K-color LCD screens, great audio quality and overall user friendliness. Advanced features like auto text readout, message sort and the ability to store up to 300 text messages now make your texting habit something to celebrate.

Verizon has made considerable improvements to its menu interface. With the enV2, menu customization is a snap. Choose from tabbed, icon grid or list - whatever layout you feel most comfortable with. You can also select the menu mode that best suits your usage needs. Select the multimedia setting and get icons for videos, games and VCAST right on your main menu screen. Or choose the messaging setting to get shortcuts to mobile IM, email and your contacts list.

Overall, this is a clamshell phone that looks good both opened and closed. The enV2 boasts a sleek outer design while the keypads - perhaps this phone's greatest asset - are wide and comfortable to use.

Out of the box, the LG enV2 comes with a standard 950 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Travel Charger, and User Manual.

For more information, visit the Original Article

Blackberry Storm 9530 takes on iPhone 3G

Seriously, why is every company trying to compare or make better phones than Apples iPhone? I think it's a bit ridiculous how they try so hard to, yet they fail. Well, here is another phone. A blackberry is a well known phone that most people have. It's a very good business phone! Has Verizon made another new version of the blackberry to overthrow the Apple iPhone?

Verizon Wireless and RIM today announced the upcoming launch of the RIM BlackBerry Storm (formerly known as Thunder), which will be the first BlackBerry device with a touchscreen interface. Beyond the touch innovations, however, RIM has loaded the phone with a surprisingly robust feature set, including dual-mode capabilities, so the phone can browse Verizon's fast EV-DO Rev. A networks at home, or roam on international 3G HSPA networks abroad. The phone will also feature a 3.2-megapixel camera with auto focus and a flash, as well as a host of multimedia features.

Touch it

Of course, the BlackBerry Storm has us most curious for its touchscreen, which offers a capacitive touchscreen panel with tactile feedback, making it feel more like a real button. The phone will use multi-touch gestures, like the Apple iPhone 3G, for smooth navigation. The interface also looks unique to this BlackBerry, officially called the BlackBerry Storm 9530 in the U.S., dual-mode version. The phone will retain the standard phone, menu and escape keys of other BlackBerry devices, but will incorporate a new interface designed for touch.

Hear it

For business users, the BlackBerry Storm will come packed with DataViz Documents to Go software to view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. For multimedia fanatics, the BlackBerry Storm 9530 will include a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as 1GB of onboard memory storage and a microSDHC memory card slot that supports cards up to 16GB. The BlackBerry Storm will also ship with BlackBerry Media Sync, which lets you sync your non-DRM iTunes music files with your BlackBerry.

The BlackBerry Storm will come with an enhanced Web browser offering full HTML browsing, though not supporting progressive downloads of Flash videos offered by sites such as YouTube and infoSync. Like the iPhone, the BlackBerry Storm will use an accelerometer to switch between portrait and landscape modes when you tilt the phone. The BlackBerry Storm will also feature a 3.25-inch screen, packing 480 by 360 pixels at 184 pixels per inch (ppi). Compare the BlackBerry Storm to the iPhone 3G and the T-Mobile G1 here.

. . . and the kitchen sink, too

It's an overall impressive handset, and RIM hasn't left anything out. Well, Wi-Fi is missing, but RIM rarely bundles GPS and Wi-Fi on the same phone, perhaps due to battery concerns. The BlackBerry Storm 9530 will use GPS for navigation, stereo Bluetooth for wireless headphones and features a large (1400 mAh) battery, which RIM claims will bestow up to 6 hours of 3G use on BlackBerry users. BlackBerry phones have always impressed us with their excellent battery life. If RIM can deliver on 6 hours of solid 3G use, that would put it at the top of its class for 3G touchscreen phones.

Of note, the upcoming BlackBerry application store was never mentioned in Verizon Wireless' release. Whether this new app store, comparable with the popular Apple App store on the iPhone, will make it to the device at launch has yet to be seen.

When and how much?

The RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530 will launch on Verizon Wireless in the U.S. very soon, though an exact release date has not been announced. The price is still to be determined, though we would be disappointed if this phone came in at more than $300 with a contract agreement. With its world phone capabilities (CDMA / EV-DO, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, HSPA 2100 MHz), the phone is uniquely suited to the Verizon Wireless / Vodafone partnership, so we wouln't be surprised if Verizon Wireless maintains an exclusive lock on the BlackBerry Storm for some time.

Original Article

3G Americas

­3G Americas, a wireless industry trade association representing the GSM family of technologies has published a research report which uncovers the issues for consumers and application providers about attempts to compromise services and applications through such trust and security issues as identity theft, phishing and pharming.

"There is a segment of society that does not trust transactions solely machine-based, particularly where mobile devices are concerned," noted Yale Vinson, Manager, Technical Consulting Telecommunications, Gemalto North America and leader of the 3G Americas work group.

The white paper discusses key applications and services that are on the leading edge of those offered today and in the near future, such as near field communications (NFC), mobile banking, eticketing, mobile broadcast services and mobile payment as well as key security features in place today which the authors claim will give the GSM technology family a decided advantage over other mobile wireless technologies.

"Not surprisingly, the applications that have the greatest revenue potential are also those that are obvious targets for hackers to steal information and use it maliciously," stated Chris Pearson, President of 3G Americas. "The resulting goal is simple: the system that provides the greatest security and trust will be seen as superior to other implementations. That is why today most GSM and HSPA operators have these proven security features in place through authentication mechanisms."

For more information, visit the Original Article

Photo Source

G1 Applications

Apple has never failed when amazing us. With the Apple iPhone, it's not just a phone anymore. It's everything that you ever wanted in a phone plus much more. There has been many phone companies trying to beat Apple. But has Google bumped down Apple and they have no made history? The Google phone has 50 applications available to their users... and that makes them better comparing themselves next to Apple's Apps that have tons of applications? I highly doubt that. iPhone has graphics that you would never think that a phone could actually carry. I haven't really checked out the G1, but I'm sticking with my iPhone. I suppose it's good for all the Tmobile carriers that wanted an iPhone, now they have there own version kind of. haha

Applications already available in the Android Market store include those created by winners of a developer contest that Google sponsored.

A few new Android applications have begun appearing in the market over the past couple days, presumably made available through special arrangements Google made with the developers. They include one from MySpace, a mobile banking application from Bank of America and a T-Mobile Hotspot locater.

The Android Market includes a rating system where users can rate applications and comment on them. Google will highlight the applications with the best ratings and usage at the top of the market, although for now it has chosen which apps appear there.

Apple, which this week said it has already sold 10 million iPhones this year, reported that its App Store has supported 200 million downloads in around 100 days. Apple's store launched with 200 applications.

Original Article

Cell Phones Have Become Central Components of Modern Family Life

The Internet and cell phones have become central components of modern family life. This is pretty obvious considering that everywhere you go everyone is on their cell phone or even yourself. A computer is so helpful and its basically required for a job and school. Most of the time we use a cell phone or computer is because we have to because its mandatory to accomplish a task.

Among all household types, the traditional nuclear family has the highest rate of technology usage and ownership. A national survey of 2,252 adults by the Pew Internet & American Life Project has found that households with a married couple and minor children are more likely than other household types -- such as single adults, homes with unrelated adults, or couples without children – to have cell phones and use the Internet.

The survey shows that these high rates of technology ownership affect family life. In particular, cell phones allow family members to stay more regularly in touch even when they are not physically together. Moreover, many members of married-with-children households view material online together.

Some analysts have worried that new technologies hurt family togetherness, but we see that technology allows for new kinds of connectedness built around cell phones and the internet," noted Tracy Kennedy, author of a new report about the survey called "Networked Families."

However, the benefits of the internet and cell phones are somewhat counterbalanced in some families by their contribution to the speed of modern life and their role in blurring the lines between "work" and "home" life. Some 11% of employed internet users say the internet has increased the amount of time they spend working from the office, and 19% say it has increased the amount of time they spend working from home.

For more information visit the Original Article

Photo Source

Guardian Angel Technology's Remote Cell Phone

I'm still a youngster, yet I'm old enough to work and pay for my own cellphone bills. But I read this article about Guardian Angel Technology's Remote Cell phone for kids and teenagers. In my opinion, I think that's an invasion of privacy if you ask me! I think it breaks the how privacy and trust issue for the relationship of the parent and child. There are some parents who are over protective, how are they ever going to let go, if they always know where they are? I think that the child would probably feel like a prisoner.. OUTSIDE OF HIS or HER HOUSE. Like the child has a little ankle bracelet without limits. It could be a good thing, in a very small way from what I see
Here is what the company informed Guardians:
Guardian Angel Technology proudly present its state-of-the-art Monitoring System. By utilizing our advanced technology, we are able to help parents monitor, track and locate children or teenagers in real time via a map on the Internet. Our child safety monitoring software is not limited by distance (All of North America and parts of Mexico) and takes no technical knowledge to use.

Just give the cell phone to your child. Log in to our secure web site to see the exact location the child is currently at. If the child changes location, you will be able to track and see the movements on the map. If the child is in or driving a car, you will be able to see the travel speed along with the direction of travel. It is that simple.

Features of our Guardian Angel Tracking Technology:

No technical skills or setup needed: we configure the cell phone for you. All you do is activate it and turn it on. That's it!
No distance limitation: Works in all of North America and some areas of Mexico. Your child or teenager can travel out of state and you can still monitor them.
Web based tracking: just log on to our secure web site with your username and password and see where your child is currently at.
Simple to use: just give the cell phone to your child or teenager. The tracking application automatically starts running as soon as the phone is turned on.
Able to view with pin point accuracy: see the street, building or house your child is at on a graphic map or satellite view.
If your child or teenager is traveling in a car: know at what speed the vehicle is traveling. Know if your teenager is speeding in real time.
Even for adults: many adults have special needs, such as cognitive disabilities. Providing them our tracking cell phone can relieve some of the concerns of family members.
Our cell phone was designed to be simple for your children to carry around and our Internet software is easy for the parents to use. With our technology, you are able to monitor and track your children with our child monitoring cell phone and software from anywhere that provides Internet access.

Original Article

CBS News To Go

Ever wonder what's happening in the world or even in your own town? But really can't because you are busy running around with school, work and a family to take care of. Well check this out!!

CBS News is now truly available anytime, anywhere when you access the CBS News Mobile web. You'll never be out of touch when you take CBS News To Go with you. Their wireless website is available anytime, anywhere and is your direct connection to breaking news, developing stories and the rest of the day's news.

CBS News Mobile Web is a service available from all major wireless carriers, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Service is available only on Internet-enabled phones with data package that supports the service.


And not only that, there is also Video Alerts! Now you can get updated on the day's top stories with full video and graphics wherever you are. When you sign up for CBS News Mobile Alerts, you'll do more than just read the latest news-you'll see it in video and photo. CBS News is the first in the US to offer full video and photo alerts to cell phones.

So now you'll not only know the latest news, you'll see it unfold.

Service is available only on Internet-enabled phones with data package that supports the service. And if it's not for you, there is no contract or any obligation to keep it. To stop, text 'STOP' to 99888. Simple and so easy!

Get the latest news from across the nation or around the world, and get updated on politics, technology, health, entertainment, business and the CBS Evening News on your schedule! Now that's pretty nice.

Original Article
Photo Source

LG PRADA phone

The LG PRADA phone is of course stylish! It gives a sophisticated look that is high class! It kind of reminds you of the iPhone if you really think about it! It doesn't have the same kind of features. It is touch screens.. but we all know that some touch screen cellphones shouldn't be touched at all! Of course this is all in my opinion. What's great about this phone is the camera! its 2.0 megapixels and we all know that's good for a camera being on a phone! The name itself can attract customers.. and that's what attracted me to write this blog on the article I found about it. Speaking of the touch screen, you'll need to use it with your finger to navigate the phone, as the Prada does not come with a stylus. Also, since it's almost entirely touch screen with just a few keys, you'll need to get accustomed to dialing and texting without any tactile feedback. Surprisingly, this went a lot better than we thought. The screen's sensitivity was just right, and we had no problem dialing numbers with the virtual keypad. Texting messages was a little trickier, though, as the Prada does not provide a virtual QWERTY keyboard; rather, you have to text messages with a virtual alphanumeric keypad just like on a normal phone. If we concentrated hard enough, we managed to text normally, but it did require a bit of precision on our part and there were many times when our fingers slipped and we pressed the wrong key by mistake. Again, it wasn't too difficult, but it does require a bit of a learning curve. And of course, you won't be able to dial by feel.

Original Article

Androids are ready or is that HTC?

Google actually hired Japanese Engineers to make their phone about two years ago. They really wanted to satisfy the customers, and it helped them by having the stuff in the phone that Apple iPhone doesn't have. For instance, copy & paste (which I'm sure the Apple will have in their next update) and a keyboard. One thing that Google won't have, is an iPod. Maybe they will have a Media player, but nothing tops an iPod because everyone has an iPod and it has been known to carry more music than ever. But hold the phone, is there another cell phone coming out that we don't know about? HTC is a new smart phone that Google hopes to be a success. They wanted to make it a headturning cellphone, which is pretty cliche considering Apple beat them to it (and did a pretty good job doing it!)

The Google phone, which has been called the HTC Dream and the T-Mobile G1, has a touch screen that slides out to expose a five-row keyboard. It offers easy access to Google’s services and to a range of third-party applications.

Many analysts and industry insiders say HTC has turned them into believers. “HTC has been pushing the innovation envelope for quite a long time,” said Jeffrey K. Belk, a former senior vice president for strategy at the cellphone chip maker Qualcomm. “It is only now that people are starting to get know to them better.”

Still, analysts say that HTC faces long odds in its quest to become a global consumer electronics powerhouse. It is competing against much larger rivals in a market where few niche players have been able to establish themselves.

The company began running ads in the United States this year, but a global marketing campaign could be expensive. And unlike some of its most successful competitors, like Apple and Research in Motion, HTC does not control the software that powers its phones.

“HTC is trying to compete on better hardware in a point in time when more and more of the differentiation of phones is going to be in the software,” said James Faucette, an analyst with Pacific Crest Securities.


Original Article

Verizon Wireless Launches New Motorola

Looking for a new fun phone? One with the flip design and with both touch and haptic feedback. Well check this phone out!

Verizon Wireless has secured the exclusive rights to a touch-?screen Motorola phone, the Krave ZN4, featuring two layers of touch, on the interactive clear flip outside and the full touch-screen inside. Without opening the phone, the clear flip provides customers with one-touch access to popular features and services. The flip design also makes it easy to place clear and reliable phone calls while preventing touch-screen wear, and a side lock key prevents accidental usage.

The Krave ZN4 also offers a fancy 2.0 megapixel camera featuring an accelerometer that detects the movement when the phone rotates and changes the display. No more slow moving cameras!

If the above wasn't enough, well Verizon's Motorola Krave offers high-quality multimedia experiences while still maintaining their promise on how the phone should work and feel. So no more broken promises and running to the nearest store to fix your phone.

Original Article

Camera Phone Offers Face Detection

Listen up all you people who love taking pictures of yourselves and then posting it up on Myspace or Facebook. Do you ever get frustrated when you cut off half of your face while taking the picture simply because you cant see whats being taken? Well there's a phone that's about to change all of that. LG Electronics announced the launch of the KC780, a slim 8-megapixel camera phone with smart technologies to automatically finds and focuses on people's faces.

At just 13.9 mm thick, the KC780 manages to include a large 2.4-inch widescreen LCD. A Schneider-Kreuznach certified 8-megapixel lens takes high quality photos that are sharp and clear. Face Detection automatically find people's faces for clearer pictures. Using Smile Detection technology, the KC780 recognizes the angle of people's mouths and adjust focus for faces. LG's SmartLight setting automatically fixes lighting. It has adjustable light sensitivity up to ISO 1600. Built-in Image Stabilizer ensures photos come out clear and sharp, even in shaky situations. Other features include different shot modes. Smile Shot automatically triggers the shutter when it determines that the subject is smiling. Beauty Mode removes spots and imperfections on people's faces, making faces look bright and clear.

The KC780's D1 Video recording captures DVD-resolution video. Movies captured on the handset will still look great when played back on a large screen TV. Smart Bluetooth opens up new options when the phone is connected to a PC. For example, the KC780's camera can be used as a webcam for online conversations. Motion Sensor Games make it easy to get into the action. "We found that most of the time people use the cameras on their mobile phones to take pictures of themselves, their families, friends and significant others," said Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics. "With this in mind, LG developed the LG KC780 with a number of face-enhancing features to augment its high quality 8 megapixel camera." LG KC780 will go on sale in November 2008, in Europe, later expanding to CIS and Asia, including India, Thailand, Hong Kong and China.

Original Article

Crunch could prevent Nextel Sale

Worry not about social inequality. Because at this point the fat cats in the business world are as hungry as the rest of us. Sprint has been trying to sell off its Nextel brand while Verizon has been trying to expand its business with a purchase of Alltel. Unfortunately, both deals may go down the toilet as the current credit market remains airtight. The current instability in the market have led banks to halt its lending to many businesses and individuals. As a result, people are struggling to purchase things such as automobiles and homes while businesses are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. Sprint is alredy certian to be on the losing end in this situation because it now only has a 5 billion dollar price tag on Nextel, a company which it had purchased for about seven times as much. Verizon, on the other hand, would have to shoulder more out of pocket expenses to complete its buyout of Alltel. Either way, these two instances show that this financial crisis is widespread and the only way to solve it is for the nation to quit the class warfare between the "Wall Street" and "Main Street" and actually work towards a more pragmatic solution.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.informationweek.com/news/telecom/business/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=211100163&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All

PHOTO SOURCE: http://www.harrythompson.com/demo/img/nextel_2d.JPG

Elephant goes wireless

The people of Kenya hve come up with an innovative way to protect their crops: placing mobile phone cards on the collar of an elephant. Elephants in this part of the world have been known to destroy the crops of local residents, wiping out months and months and hard work and income. These phone cards allow rangers to be alerted through text when an elephant is coming into a residential area, and they promptly rush to the scene. Usually, simply flashing car headlights to an approaching elephant would be enough to scare the animal back into the wild. The most usual invader of these crop is an elephant named Kimani, which has been intercepted by authorities from destroying crops 15 times. This practice of installing phone cards began two years ago as an effort by a group called Save The Elephants who became concerned after about five elephants were shot (albeit reluctantly) by the Kenya WIldlife Service for raiding the crops of the local residents. The move seems to work, although it remains to be seen for how much longer rangers will be patient in responidng to these text messages.

ORIGINAL PHOTO and ARTICLE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081011/ap_on_re_af/af_kenya_texting_elephants;_ylt=AvBhWxCQyXUDx3rP3_UQ3SkjtBAF

ANDROIDS VS. IPHONES

I think that there are many companies who try to top Apple's Iphone. When simply, they can't. Everyone has to admit, everyone thought the Voyager from Verizon would have killed the iPhone simply because it was touch and it had a keyboard. Wrong! iPhone is still the top cellphones today. What makes Android so different? All I read is that there is a copy and paste (which Apple will probably do later in the future). not only does the iPhone look better than the Android, it's slimmer than it too! Android can never top iPhones application store where you can get tons of new things for your iPhone. It's not just an iPhone anymore, it's your best friend! I have a iPhone and I love everything about it just because Apple keeps updating the software to make it a brand new and improved phone!

Still, many questions remain unanswered, and it’s too soon to tell how well Google will pull off the open handset concept, but if the Internet giant’s past successes are any indication, Apple better get working on some new iPhone innovations soon.

Do you think Google’s mobile phone platform will take the iPhone by storm?

If you’re an iPhone owner, will you consider giving up your mobile device for an Android one? Or if you’re thinking about getting yourself an iPhone, will you put off your purchase until later next year to see how Android phones compare? Leave a comment and let us know.

Original Article

Delayed Blackerry Bold9000

When RIM announced there new phone, the Blackberry Bold9000, I was really excited for its release. It was set to be released in the states sometime during summer. That obviously did not happen. And with no set date announced yet, I'm getting a little tired of waiting.

RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said Thursday that the phone is still undergoing the certification process in which AT&T tests all new handsets to make sure they work well on its wireless network. "There's great scrutiny, as you might know, on that network and a certain device. So I guess everyone wants to be sure on every last test," Lazaridis told The Associated Press. Apple Inc.'s iPhone 3G went on sale in July, with AT&T as the sole U.S. carrier. Customers soon started complaining of slow data downloads and dropped calls on some units. AT&T and Apple have not directly acknowledged a problem, but Apple has released a software update that was supposed to improve performance. The majority of iPhones appear to be working well.

"We're very meticulous about what our product does," he said. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel would not confirm that the Bold was still in testing and said only that it would come out this year. The delay of the Bold's U.S. launch has weighed on RIM's stock. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company will now be launching several new phones at once in the coming months, and said last week that expenses from those rollouts would eat into short-term profits.

RIM's U.S. shares fell $1.04, 1.7 percent, to close at $60.96 on Friday.

Original Article

Obama campaigns with tech-savvy

The election fever is spreading throughout the country. Its latest victim is Apple, which just released a new application for its iPhone and iPod Touch called "'Obama '08: The Official iPhone Application". Said application is the Obama campaigns latest attempt to create inroads among voters in this year's tight presidential election. According to Yahoo Tech News, the application features "information on Obama's positions on the issues, photos and videos from the campaign trail and news on the race." In addition, it also allows users to know about Obama campaign events and tell their friends about it.

I believe the Obama campaign made a good move by creating this application, because iPhone users tend to be younger folks, the major bloc of Obama's supporters. It also ushers in a new age in American campaign politics, in which technology and the internet play a major role. The Obama campaign's deecision to create this application shows that it is highly organized and is very attentive to current trends in American culture.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/afp/20081003/tc_afp/usvotetelecomcompanyappleobamaiphone

PHOTO SOURCE: http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos

Samsung's Pixon Has 8MP Shooter

If the Samsung Omnia’s 5MP camera still left you short-changed in terms of camera power, and you still want something more, then Samsung is giving you yet another powerful camera phone - the Samsung Pixon. Featuring an 8MP camera resolution with 16x digital zoom, auto-focus, fast shutter, face detection and geo-tagging. And yes, it is still a camera phone, so don’t even think that it’s your mid-range digital camera.In fact, the Samsung Pixon might even be better with those digital cameras since it comes with a 3.2-inch full-touch screen and an integrated Photo Browser which lets you share and view photos easily and quickly.The Samsung Pixon would put into shame all other camera phones which claims to be powerful ones and yet fall short in terms of photo image quality and resolution. The Samsung Pixon is a GSM/GPRS/EDGE Quad Band 850/900/1800/1900 MHZ phone the runs on HSDPA 7.2mbp. Other features of the Samsung Pixon include; 3.2-inch 240×400 262K WQVGA TFT LCD, dual LED Flas, advanced shake reduction, wide dynamic range, face detection, smile shot, face link, geotagging, photo browser, video recording and playback function 30fps, music player function, surround sound system, FM Radio with RDS, Bluetooth, TV Out connection, 200MB internal memory and microSD support. The Samsung Pixon will be available mid-October in France to be followed by other European countries and in Asia as well, later on. No words yet on pricing though.

Original Article

You Can't Just Buy the iPhone

When you think of the iPhone.. you already think it's expensive. Just for the phone itself. I got mine for around $475 when I got my iPhone. And that's when I got my rebate back! Believe me, the price you pay for an iPhone is totally worth it. But wait a minute! You can't JUST BUY THE IPHONE. You need accessories for it. Not just to make your phone look pretty and easier for you, but to PROTECT IT. The iPhone screen protector is probably the most important thing to get RIGHT WHEN YOU GET YOUR IPHONE. It's a very important essential to have. If one part of your iPhone is cracked or damaged on the screen, most likely the whole screen is messed up! and you wont be able to fix your phone. You need a case for all around your phone that isn't the screen. You also might need a bluetooth if you don't want to use your earphone head set that comes with your phone. There's a lot more to just buying the phone, expect to buy a lot more than just the phone!

A case is the most important of iPhone accessories, as it will protect your investment. Cingular has not confirmed if they will be offering insurance on the iPhone. The iPhone uses multi-touch technology which requires you use the touch screen to navigate the phone. This will undoubtedly result in "smudges". While cases can protect your iPhone from drops, an iPhone screen protector will protect the screen from accidental scratches from a fingernail. It is a further safeguard against mishaps and allow you to enjoy Zoolander in all it's glory.

Original Article

Verizon Wireless Offers No Contract Plans

With the popularity of Virgin Mobile's no contract plan and T-Mobile following it up with there version of a no contract plan, it is no wonder why Verizon Wireless has decided to get in on this action. Yes you heard me right (or in this case read me right). Beginning Monday, September 22, 2008 Verizon Wireless will start to offer this no contract plan. Verizon Wireless customers can sign up for month-to-month service, without any contracts.

The new Month-to-Month agreement lets consumers purchase new devices at full-retail price, or use their own CDMA devices without the commitment of a one- or two-year contract. Additionally they can terminate their agreement at the end of any month without paying an Early Termination Fee.

Month-to-Month agreements are now available on all Nationwide Voice and Data plans for new and current contract customers. Current contract customers must fulfill the terms of their current contract before moving to a Month-to-Month agreement.

Original Article

Illinois tackles e-waste

Changes in technology is not only transforming our lives and society, but also our landfills. E-waste, a umbrella term used to describe discarded televisions, computers, etc., is a growing problem for many cities and communities. These objects contain chemical that are believed to be contaminating if not disposed properly. Many cities are now trying to solve this problem, and one of them is the Illinois. According to the Lake County News-Sun, the state's legislature has passed a law that would create a new program which would aim to "recycle and reuse electronic devices and eliminate their disposal in landfills." The measure was sponsored by Democratic State Senator Susan Garrett. News-Sun did not delve into specifics, but it said that the law will provide "incentives" for people to dispose of their e-waste properly. It also said that the law would give private companies freedom to figure out how to comply with the new recycling standards.Finally, electronics manufacturers will also "will receive credits for collection of products in rural areas and refurbishing products that are collected."

This law seems good, but as with any government regulation, we have to look at it with skepticism. Getting rid of harmful waste is essential to public safety, but we must take into consideration the costs it will require. Every community that plans to regulate its E-waste problem, or any waste for that matter, must make sure that businesses and individuals are not shouldering too much of the burden by a new law.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1174383,5_1_WA20_NEWLAW_S1.article

PHOTO SOURCE: http://www.vonsydow.com/images/electronics.jpg

Intelliscreen overthrows the screen of a Blackberry

To all the iPhone users that noticed, why doesn't an iPhone have calender alerts on the front home screen? If you haven't already known, Blackberry's have a homescreen that has little notes for your reminders or whatever is on your calender. I wish that you wouldn't have to jailbreak your iPhone for this, but unfortunately you do. The features conclude viewing your calender, email, text messages, news, sports, and wearther from your iPhone "Slide to Unlock" screen. And there's many more features added onto this application.
Such as:
Taskbar Icons for Missed Email, SMS, and Phone calls
IntelliDial - Dial by photo from the lock screen by pressing the Home Button
QuickView - View/Mark Read/Mark Unread/Delete your Emails and SMS from the Lock Screen
2 IntelliScreens - Double Tap the Clock Area to goto Page 2
Hide IntelliScreen with a Swipe to the left on the Clock Area - Swipe Right to get it back
Customizable Alert Reminders - Don't forget about a missed call, unread email, unread SMS, or repeating Calendar Alerts
Vibrate, Sound, or Flash Alerting with Alert Quiet Time
Smooth scrolling across each item to quickly glimpse at your data
Tap-To-Check Email when you view the unlock screen - no need to "Refresh" from Mail.app or wait 15 minutes
Go directly to the application of your choice with a "Swipe"
Precise International Weather (by Zip) provided by Weather Underground.com
News Feeds include Yahoo!, CNN, BBC Fox News, and Reuters
Add your own Custom RSS Feed
ESPN Sports Feeds include MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA Men's Football and NCAA Women's Basketball
Customizing your IntelliScreen™ is easy! Choose which content you want to view and where
Customize your Layout by pinching and pulling content
Mail and Text Messages can be shown only if new items are available
Skinnable - Customize to the way you want IntelliScreen to look

Original Article

Apple tweaks iPhone

To all iPhone users and to those wanting to lay their hands on it, here's a newsflash. According to a recent Associated Press wire story, Apple has uploaded a new software to iTunes that would supposedly decrease "dropped calls", improve "battery life", and cut "the time it takes to synchronize the device with a computer." Users of the iPhone gave praised the new software, saying that it improved the basic functions of the iPhone. One of the key features of this software is that it allows for more connectivity by actually improving the signal capabilities of every iPhone that has the software. Expectedly, Apple also said that the the network-enhancing software would " improve e-mail reliability and reduce crashing applications." Despite a positive boost in its product quality, Associated Press reported a 2.7% decline in Apple Inc.'s shares in the market. Of course, this loss of share value has to do with other trends in the market, which taken overall has been relatively volatile recently. I would expect Apple's shares to hum along steadily with the economy, taking in small losses from time to time, but coming out as a survivor. Apple's products remains very competitive, and in a market economy that is what matters.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080912/ap_on_hi_te/apple_iphone_update;_ylt=AinfgEU8X8pSODhxmNHhByAjtBAF

Motorola Jewel Fashion Phone Announced for Ladies in UK

Don't you wish that you could have a phone that's just as stylish as you? Never mind the Apple iPhone and the LG's Dare. Motorola has just announced their latest phone, Jewel Fashion Phone. Unfortunately, its only available in the UK. Cut like a crystal but glossy like a mirror so you can apply your lip gloss perfectly. The jewel-like design in a Midnight Quartz color has a stylish purple keypad. Its metallic, lustre finish comes to life with animated screen savers that appear to "float" across the borderless, external display. The display's touch-sensitive, digital keys let consumers control the music player from the outside. It comes with a mini-clutch designed to hold essentials for night out. A built-in 2.0-megapixel with 8x zoom camera delivers high-quality, printable images with multi-shot feature, video capture and playback, and a light and landscape viewfinder. The Jewel offers mobile music capabilities with one-touch access to the tracks and pauses music as calls come through. Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology lets users to enjoy a wireless mobile stereo experience. "The Jewel combines fashion-forward trends with the latest in premium mobile design and inventive controls to deliver a unique and mesmerising mobile experience," said Andrew Morley, Vice President of Motorola. The Motorola Jewel is available in the UK exclusively at Carphone Warehouse starting in November 2008. Hopefully this gem will become available in the U.S. soon.

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Samsung eyes buyout

The New York Times reported that an arm of Samsung is considering purchasing "flash memory maker, SanDisk, in a deal that could reshape a struggling industry." Flash drive prices are declining across the board, but Samsung's decision to purchase SanDisk would "expand their market share" and reduce their "licensing costs." The key part of the decision, however, would probably be the competitive edge it would grant to Samsung. Toshiba is another company that creates flash memories, and it is planning to eclipse Samsung's share in the market by jacking up their production and getting into a partnership with SanDisk. Samsung's plans to purchase SanDisk, to me, is obviously a pragmatic and well-calculated business move. And I think that should this buyout push through, Samsung will not come out as the only beneficiary. I see SanDisk standing to gain from this deal as well. SanDisk is quite a popular brand, but Samsung's wider household name status should be helpful for any electronics company wanting to expand its market reach.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/business/06samsung.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1220734887-XUs5SfwCPOzsY1j6ki1hjg

PHOTO SOURCE: http://imago.techtop.it/d/286-1/samsung-SCH-B330.jpg

External Battery for iPhones

This battery is for all iPhone, iTouch, iPod, practically anything made by Apple. Have you ever used your phone a little too much, and it was running low on battery? I'm sure all iPhone users experienced "Low on Battery" so quickly after you just took it off the charger. And I'm also sure that you don't use wifi on your iPhone as much as you used to because it leaks more battery. Just like having your bluetooth on and your lighting settings set up to the max. I found this External Battery on a Iphone forum I was on. I believe that Apple should invent something that you don't have to buy an External battery. The iPhone has so many programs on it, and now you can add more applications. It causes up memory, but also drains the battery quicker.

This battery is ideal for long flights, outdoor activities, or anytime your device might run out of power. The hi capacity battery cell will increase usage time approx. 3-4 hours and it's compact size means you can take it anywhere.

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Jawbone 2007's "Best of What's New"

Since July 1, 2008 people are not allowed to drive while talking on the phone unless with a bluetooth head set or with speaker phone. Before only busy people would need the bluetooth head set, but now that everyone will need one, what is a good bluetooth head set to be considered? The Jawbone bluetooth head set was awarded 2007's "Best of What's New" award. The jawbone head set can cancel out the background sounds when you are talking to someone on the other end creating a non-echoing conversation with no background noise. What is more annoying than not being able to hear the other person you're talking to from background noise? Well the Jawbone's new technology of canceling out the background noise creates clarity in your conversations with whomever you're talking to on the other line. Aliph, a leading developer of mobile audio products, today announced the Jawbone® Bluetooth headset has been recognized by Popular Science as a 2007 "Best of What's New" award winner - adding to its numerous awards for technological innovation and product design excellence received in 2007. Jawbone is a groundbreaking Bluetooth headset that integrates the latest innovations in acoustics and audio processing with premium product design to provide users unparalleled incoming and outgoing voice clarity.

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Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte Luxury Phone Made from Carbon Fiber

Have you ever seen those cars driving around and it just looks like they have a black hood? Well its most likely not just a "black" hood. Its probably what they call, a carbon fiber hood. Racing car enthusiasts put these on their cars for the looks and the for what it does. But can you really put carbon fiber as a phone? Well Nokia did just that. Nokia today introduced its 8800 Carbon Arte, a premium mobile phone engineered from carbon fiber, titanium, polished glass and stainless steel. Keeping with the Nokia 8800 Arte range, the 8800 Carbon Arte has a minimalistic and seamless surfaces, slide mechanism and lightweight feel. Crafted from an ultra light and strong material, it reflects 3D patterns, a modern feel and unique tones, textures and sculpted shapes. The 8800 Carbon Arte offers the unique tap-for-time feature. Consumers can tap the steel surface below the display twice and a clock appears on the screen. Background images organically change during the day, giving a unique appearance to the display. The turn-to-mute silencing mechanism lets users silence incoming calls in a discrete manner by turning the phone over, screen-side down. In addition to 3G capabilities, the 8800 Carbon Arte has a 3.2-megapixel auto-focus camera, high-quality audio, and a vivid OLED screen. Nokia's anti-fingerprint coating reduces smudges on metal and glass and unsightly outer seams are hidden by a unique all-in-one micro-USB connector.

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