CELLULAR+MOBILE

Netflix (for Android)

2011-05-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

With the free Netflix app for Android phones, Netflix subscribers can watch any movie or television show from the instant streaming catalogue anywhere over a WiFi signal, as well as a 3G and 4G connections. This ability to watch movies and TV shows anywhere makes the $7.99 per month cost of a streaming-only Netflix subscription a little more worthwhile—if you have the right Android-based phone. Currently (at launch), the Netflix for Android app is only compatible with a few phones : the HTC Incredible (running Android 2.2), HTC Nexus One (2.2, 2.3), HTC EVO 4G (2.2), HTC G2 (2.2), and Samsung Nexus S (2.3).

The app, which has already been released for iPhone (free, 4 stars) and iPad (free, 4 stars), works best with a reliable Wi-Fi signal, with which it delivers excellent picture quality and flawless audio. As expected, the picture quality downgrades over 4G, and slightly more over 3G, but the streaming itself is well optimized. The list of available movies and shows in the Instant catalogue is limited, missing award winners and new releases in particular, although it's still extensive.

The home screen lists titles you might be interested in watching, based on their likeness to other titles you've rated highly or genres that you've indicated you like (which you can adjust or add through the Netflix web site). The Genres button lets you browse available titles by genre. To search all the content in the Instant catalogue, browsing by genre is one of the best ways to find films and television series. The Search button brings up a basic search bar, although you can only search by title—not actor, director, or anything else. Since the Netflix app for iPhone was first released, Netflix has tweaked the way search results are ordered, improving them so they are intelligently ordered.

More The search tool has one great advantage on Android phones: predictive text selections appear after you type a few letters, so you never get stumped finding the right movie even if you introduce a typo into your search terms. Finally, the Queue tab pulls up your personalized and ordered list of things you plan to watch.

At the top of the home screen, a Resume button will direct you back to the last title you started watching but have not yet finished. Anytime you pause or stop watching, the app remembers that point and saves it to your Netflix account so that if you resume watching from any device, you can pick up exactly where you left off.

When a reliable Wi-Fi signal is near, Netflix streams beautifully, with crisp pictures, clear sound, and no stuttering. I did experience one crash midway through watching an episode of The IT Crowd, but the app was able to capture the information marking the point where it crashed, letting me resume with no problem in less than 10 seconds. With Wi-Fi, the app works great, and if you have the patience to wait for the Instant catalogue to beef up, the app can only get better.

Streaming over 3G is another story. With one or two bars of service, I could barely page through the main menu options. With three or four bars, I was able to launch a television episode to watch, but every minute or so, I'd have to endure a pause for buffering. Additionally, the picture becomes more pixilated, as one might expect. Nevertheless, Netflix has done a very good job optimizing the Android app. For example, if you're in an area where phone service signal strength fluctuates, the buffering works in such a way that you can get your fill of entertainment fairly seamlessly, provided the signal flickers into the three to four bar range at least once every 30 seconds, give or take a few.

Future Netflix App Wish List
Despite what's missing from the Instant streaming catalogue, the app itself leaves little to complain about. The streaming is great. The app is simple. Every movie entry contains quick information about it, such as the year it was released, MPAA rating (G, PG, PG-13, etc.), running time, and either the average star rating from other Netflix users or your personal star rating if you've entered one.

One "nice to have" improvement that I'd love to see in a future release is a search tool that integrates with IMDB, which can find movies by title, actor, director, character name, writer, and more. Currently, the Android app finds matches by title only.

I'd also like to see new socially-enhanced options in the recommendation engine, such as the ability to connect with friends and see how they've rated movies, or get recommendations based on movies your friends liked. Netflix's recommendation system has a reputation for being excruciatingly lame. If you've ever had a Netflix account, you've probably cringed more than once at a suggested movie, regretting any star ratings you've inputted, much less those three stars you gave Big Momma's House 2. With so many other e-commerce sites leaning on social networks for recommendations and shopping advice, it only makes sense for Netflix to add a social component to its service with an opt-in policy and some additional privacy controls.

Final Word
The biggest complaint about Netflix overall, and it's a valid one, is that a lot of movies and shows most people would like to watch just aren't in the Instant bank. And it's not just new releases. Almost all the Academy Award Best Picture winners are absent from the list, too, from Ben-Hur (1960) to Gandhi (1983).

Netflix doesn't deserve the blame here (the movie studios do). If anything, Netflix has a history of being slightly ahead of the curve, offering media streaming several critical months before the masses were ready to adopt it, in effect buying enough time to fine tune the service before it became widespread. By the time movie publishers figure out how they're going to try and recoup some money in the new disc-less world, Netflix will be set up and ready to negotiate the terms, having already ironed out the basic issues and gotten North America on board.

If Netflix eventually pushes a fully disc-less agenda (which I think it will), the Android app will be an integral part of the service's value proposition. The trick will be for the developers at Netflix to test out service on all the many Android phones that exist. Netflix instant streaming is already supported by many set-top box streaming players, three game consoles, Blu-ray players from 10 manufacturers, and a host of other devices. Netflix is a leader in the market, and it's positioned to only get better.

original article.

Analyst: Prepare for 'iphone 4 s on sprint and tmobile.

2011-05-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

This is bitter sweet news for me.. only becasue i wanted an iphone and considered swithing from tmobile to at&t but then verizon got it and rumors were leaked to belived that tmobile were in talks.. but i couldnt wait years for a new phone so i recently purchased a my touch 4g and now i want the iphone if it comes to t-mobile! just my luck1 but i am excited if i can somehow get the iphone4s.

I should know better than to report on analyst predictions about the next iPhone -- they're often wrong -- but the latest from Jefferies & Company analyst Peter Misek is irresistible.

Misek said in a research note that the iPhone 5 will actually be called the iPhone 4S, suggesting that it'll be a minor upgrade similar to the iPhone 3GS in 2009. The new phone will include Apple's A5 dual-core processor, better cameras and minor cosmetic changes.

But the bigger piece of scuttlebutt is carrier support. Misek's research note said the iPhone 4S will support Sprint and T-Mobile, finally bringing Apple's smartphone to all four major U.S. carriers. Verizon's speedy LTE 4G network, however, won't be supported. Reportedly, Qualcomm's LTE chipset isn't producing sufficient yields, so superfast downloads will have to wait for the iPhone 5. The iPhone 4S will support HSPA+ networks, Misek's research note said.

Most of this stuff seems plausible, and the T-Mobile iPhone rumor has shown its face before. The only real curveball is Sprint support, but with AT&T losing its exclusivity on the iPhone earlier this year, a Sprint iPhone wouldn't be a shock. Most rumors expect the iPhone 4S, or iPhone 5, or whatever, to launch in September, so we'll find out what Misek's inside dirt is worth then.

Original Article.

pple, Verizon to offer wireless updates to iPhone?

2011-05-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

Ideas like these make me very curious to see what the future holds for us.. whats next! that's the exciting part waiting and expecting only the best from now on.

Will Verizon iPhone users finally be able to update their devices wirelessly without the need for iTunes?

Multiple sources have told Apple news site 9to5Mac that Apple and Verizon Wireless will soon offer over-the-air updates to the iPhone following this fall's expected release of iOS 5. Although iOS 5 itself won't be available wirelessly, 9to5Mac reports that any future updates to the OS will come over the air. With such a change, people would no longer need a PC and iTunes to act as the middlemen to keep their smartphones current.

If the reports are true, Apple would join rival Google, which already offers Android users the ability to update their devices sans computer. Apple reportedly also has the technology to update its devices over the air already, but the company has apparently been cautious about opening it up everywhere. However, Apple has been chatting with Verizon about unleashing this technology since early this year, said 9to5Mac.

The sources didn't say whether wireless updates would also be available on AT&T or international carriers of the iPhone. No specific mention was made to the iPad or iPod Touch, but the same technology logically should extend to all of Apple's iOS devices.

Though over-the-air updates would provide a convenient, mobile way to keep the iPhone updated, there are a couple of potential pitfalls.

Most iOS updates now weigh in at over 600MB, a hefty payload to deliver wirelessly. 9to5Mac believes Apple would have to pare down the size of its updates, perhaps by offering smaller and more incremental updates rather than fewer and larger updates.

Also, updating an iPhone through iTunes first syncs the contents of the device to the PC as a precaution in the event the update fails. If an update were to bypass iTunes, people would need some other way to back up and sync their devices, perhaps through some sort of cloud-based system.

Tech enthusiast site Pocket Lint adds a slightly different spin to the story, saying that if Apple were to apply over-the-air updates, it would apply them universally and not just to the Verizon iPhone. The site believes we'll hear more about this potential new development in a month when Apple opens the doors to its Worldwide Developers Conference.

Article.

Sony's Anonymous claim: a health warning

2011-05-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Long article but i mean i know everyone was pretty shocked and intrigued by this story when it first happen.

This week, Sony Corporation claimed to Congress that its investigation of the breach by which millions of customers had their credit card numbers compromised had turned up a document left on the server in question entitled "Anonymous" and containing the phrase "We are Legion", itself a fragment of our longtime slogan. Some have taken this as proof that Anonymous was responsible for the most significant online heists in memory. After all, the online activist movement has lately been engaged in a battle with Sony over its treatment of two individuals who taught others how to alter the PlayStation 3 in such a way as to install Linux OS on the gaming console, making Anonymous a natural suspect.

But those observers who are most familiar with who Anonymous is – such as the dozens of journalists who have been free to watch us at work in our operational venues – tend to agree with us that the circumstances of this incident are highly suspicious, and that any investigation into the crime in question must take into account the natural question of who might benefit from such an act – in other words, a party or parties who would have an interest in smearing Anonymous.

The perpetration of a crime for the purpose of framing another party and thereby damaging its reputation is hardly unusual. The FBI spent two decades operating a programme called COINTELPRO, by which agents would infiltrate "dangerous" groups, such as those advocating civil rights, and then promote violence by its members in order to discredit their cause in the eyes of the public and justify police crackdowns. A congressional committee that investigated the issue concluded that "the Bureau conducted a sophisticated vigilante operation aimed squarely at preventing the exercise of first amendment rights of speech and association."

Such practices continue today. It was only a few months ago that Anonymous's counter-investigation into a group of federal contractors including HBGary Federal, Palantir and Belrico revealed that the three companies – collectively known then as "Team Themis" – had prepared a plan to attack WikiLeaks to submit to law firm Hunton & Williams (retained by Bank of America, panicked over the prospect of a leak concerning its executives). The scheme was to consist of such things as disinformation, placement of fake documents, clandestine operations against WikiLeaks supporter Glenn Greenwald, and "cyber attacks against the infrastructure to get data on document submitters".

Of course, Anonymous itself engages in attacks of that latter sort. On the other hand, Anonymous does so against dictatorships and corrupt institutions that engage in corruption alongside the state – and when we do, the FBI raids the homes of our alleged participants. Not being as respectable as our corporate counterparts, we are not permitted to act with seeming impunity.

Now, having made enemies of the dozens of other firms whose wrongdoing we have exposed in the months since, by way of Operation Metal Gear and other crowdsourced investigations, Anonymous is accused of having committed a major crime entirely different from the campaigns of civil disobedience for which we are rightfully known. The evidence is a single document that helpfully names us as the perpetrators. Sony has thus managed to shift attention away from its own failure to protect client data, while federal agencies have been diverted into a pursuit of us, this time for a massive theft rather than popular acts of revolt. Presently, I have no proof that this action was taken by any of the powerful and sophisticated enemies we have made in the world of intelligence-contracting or law enforcement; but neither can they prove that Anonymous was responsible for this heist.

At any rate, an investigation is being conducted by the usual people. Congress is now on the job. Even more heartening, Attorney General Eric Holder says that the justice department is taking this "very seriously". It is good to see those two entities adopting a healthier work ethic: when, a few months ago, Representative Hank Johson called for Congress to look into the activities of Team Themis in coordination with Hunton & Williams, Representative Lamar Smith, a Republican from Texas, declined, asserting that this was the responsibility of the justice department. He did not seem to think it problematic that, as shown by the HBGary emails, it was the justice department itself that recommended Hunton & Williams to Bank of America.

Eric Holder having presumably been too busy to investigate that particular matter, Anonymous is, of course, flattered to learn that criminal activity that allegedly involves us is a higher priority than dubious activity that definitely involved his own department. Or perhaps, there is some other explanation

Article.

What Should Apple’s iCloud Look Like?

2011-04-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

I'm very interested to see what the future has in store for us technology wise, its going to be pretty epic!

Friday morning, John Paczkowski of Digital Daily confirmed Om’s report earlier this week that Apple acquired the domain name iCloud.com. Apple has acquired and not used domain names in the past, but if Cupertino is planning to use the iCloud brand, what should that trademark encompass?

There’s already plenty of speculation out there about what plans Apple might have in store for cloud service offerings. A revamped MobileMe complete with iOS device remote media streaming of your photos and music is one frequently mentioned possibility. Clues that a service called Photo Stream is coming to iOS have already showed up in code from Apple’s mobile operating system, and rumblings that a cloud music storage and remote streaming service is on its way are only getting louder.

Apple also probably won’t take away any of the existing service it already offers. It’s currently in the process of moving all MobileMe Calendar data to remote server storage, and cross-device email, notes and address book syncing also seem like likely candidates for any larger cloud service package from Cupertino. Indeed, AppleInsider is now reporting that this is in fact the case.

But what else do you want from a cloud service offering from Apple? Are the existing MobileMe offerings even something you’re interested in? Are mobile bandwidth costs a concern? Should Apple’s cloud plans include a basic free offering, and what extras, if any, would you be willing to pay for?

Original Article.

White Iphone 4 chunkier than its Black sibling?

2011-04-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

Hello happy Friday!! well yesterday my boyfriend bought the new white iPhone 4, and i will admit its soo sexy! looks elegant, expensive, it just looks nice! i want one for my self but sadly i do not have at&t or Verizon, so the white iPhone 4 can be slightly chunkier, but either way its damn sexy, who said bigger was bad?

After nearly a year of waiting for the white iPhone 4, which went on sale Thursday, it seems the phone is -- and take your choice here of words — fatter, chunkier, thicker — than the black version.

Those who bought the much-desired white iPhone, which became available Thursday, compared the thickness of the phone next to its black version, and find it to be about 0.2mm thicker than the black iPhone 4.

On Apple's website, the technical specs for the iPhone 4 show it to be the same, although a photo of the black iPhone is used for the tech specs, which lists the depth of the phone at 9.3 mm, or .37 inch.

"I noticed it when my trusty Case Mate Barely There case barely fit on my new white iPhone 4," said Rene Ritchie on TiPb's website. "In fact, it fit like my old black iPhone 4 id back when it had BodyGuardz front and back. It still went in, but it was a much closer, almost too close fit compared to the black iPhone 4. Whether the extra thickness has to do with opacity, a layer of UV protection, or something else is unknown."

Ryan Cash, who handles marketing for a company that makes business apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, also saw the difference after comparing a colleague's newly purchased white iPhone to his own black iPhone.

"I was a bit surprised when I picked it up off his desk (I had my black 32 GB in my other hand at the same time) — it immediately felt thicker," he said on his blog. "We placed them side-by-side on his desk, and sure enough, the white iPhone was a hair thicker."

Over at DVICE, there was this to say: "First, Apple makes its customers wait 10 months for a white iPhone because it needed a special UV coating and second, it's now fatter than the black one and might not fit in your old case? Forget it."

We've asked Apple about the size difference, but have not heard back yet. The white iPhone has been problematic since it was first announced last summer.

"It was challenging,” Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller told Ina Fried in an interview this week for All Things Digital. "It’s not as simple as making something white. There’s a lot more that goes into both the material science of it — how it holds up over time…but also in how it all works with the sensors."

Schiller, Fried wrote, "said that it turned out there were a lot of unexpected interactions between the color of the device and various internal components. Also, like fair-skinned humans, white iPhones need a little more UV protection from the sun."

And, perhaps a little help in the diet department, too.

Original Article.

Twitter Looks To Widen Appeal To More Users

2011-04-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

Who tweets? anyone? lol i tweet and so does almost everyone i know tweets or has a twitter account, but they make a good point, you can tell when the account is active or not. anyways enjoy the article, I'm about to tweet it :)

Twitter Inc., trying to put recent management changes behind it and build its business, is taking steps to broaden the appeal of the well-known messaging service.

Twitter is making a concerted effort to educate its users about what, exactly, it is. WSJ's Amir Efrati explains why to Stacey Delo.
.The San Francisco company, which lets users broadcast and view short messages, wants to make it easier for new users to navigate the service and help longtime users find interesting content.

While Twitter has more than 200 million registered accounts, it doesn't say how many are active users. Users discuss a variety of topics, but some people—especially adults—view the service as a vehicle for celebrities to broadcast their thoughts online.

Twitter wants to show how the service works to first-time users by highlighting tweets from people in their geographic regions, such as local politicians and musicians, when they first sign on, people familiar with the matter said.

Jonathan Strauss, chief executive of Awe.sm, which tracks marketing campaigns on Twitter and Facebook Inc., argues that Twitter needs to attract more mainstream Internet users if it wants to justify its multibillion-dollar valuation. "Most people understand Twitter exists, but they don't understand what Twitter is and how they can participate," he said.

For more experienced users, Twitter is developing ways to create a narrower stream of the most relevant tweets rather than requiring users to wade through messages in chronological order.

As it looks to add tools for power users, Twitter is also in advanced talks to purchase a program used by many Twitter users to view and manage tweets, Tweetdeck, for around $50 million, people familiar with the matter said.

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Bloomberg News

Jack Dorsey, a Twitter founder, recently returned as its product chief. He has become more active advising the company.
.It is unclear when the changes will be introduced or how Twitter may use Tweetdeck. A spokesman for Twitter, which has made seven small acquisitions to date, declined to comment. TweetDeck Inc.'s chief executive, Iain Dodsworth, couldn't be reached.

The moves come as Jack Dorsey, the founding chief executive of the four-year-old company, formally returned as product chief three weeks ago after being pushed out by the board two-and-a-half years ago.

Mr. Dorsey remained chairman of Twitter's board after his ouster, and also leads a mobile-payments company named Square Inc. Mr. Dorsey has been laying out his vision for Twitter to its executives, said a person familiar with the matter.

Twitter allows users to post messages of up to 140 characters in length, and those messages can be viewed by other users. People log on—often through their mobile phones—to track everything from sporting events to transportation delays to natural disasters. Egyptians, for example, used the service to organize revolutionary protests earlier this year.

The company has been slower to build a business around its popularity than some other Web players, such as Facebook. The research firm eMarketer puts Twitter 2010 ad revenue at $45 million and expects ad revenue to reach $150 million this year.

Yet Twitter investors are buying up shares of the privately held company on secondary exchanges or through individual middlemen. Twitter completed a financing at the end of last year that valued the company at around $4 billion, though it has argued for higher valuations in low-level talks with potential acquirers, including Google Inc., people familiar with the matter have said.

The company this year will try to make the breadth of its content more visible to first-time visitors, helping them quickly discover information about stocks, sports and other organizations and individuals they care about, the people familiar with the matter said.

One possibility is showcasing tweets by well-known people or organizations located in the user's region, or from certain types of users, such as athletes or musicians.

Twitter users already have created thousands of "lists" in which such content on specific topics is grouped together, and Twitter is looking at ways to promote such lists, said a person familiar with the matter.

Twitter is also exploring concepts similar to a Facebook technology called "EdgeRank" that highlights posts by a user's closest friends—an effort that is being aided by Ashish Goel, a Twitter research fellow and Stanford University professor, these people said.

"Most of the time what people want is the most relevant and important information, and without filtering its content for individual users that's difficult for Twitter to satisfy," said Awe.sm's Mr. Straus

Original Article.

Samsung defends itself over Apple tablet, phone suit

2011-04-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

My Boyfriend just told me about this yesterday as a matter of fact, i guess this one just goes into more basic details about the problems. Hope you enjoy the article! is pretty funny since Samsung makes all of Apples screens!

The relationship between Apple and Samsung looks to be taking a dramatic turn for the worse, as Apple sued the company over alleged copying of its iPhone and iPad devices in Samsung's own products. Specifically named was the Galaxy Tab tablet as well as the Nexus S, Epic 4G and Galaxy S 4G smartphones.

Apple filed the suit on April 15 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, and claims that the appearance and methods of operation of Samsung's devices directly violate patents held by Apple. Indeed, as of late the Korean electronics maker has mimicked Apple's popular products in its own efforts.

Its tablets and smartphones do have some sort of Apple-like appearance, and even the packaging the devices come in looks like something out of Cupertino. Apple has been quick to notice this. "This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas," an Apple spokesperson said.

Last week's suit is symptomatic of a deteriorating relationship between Apple and Samsung, once strong partners. The Korean electronics maker is a significant supplier of components across many of Apple's products, but its moves into Cupertino's turf -- and its success doing so -- may have given Apple some pause.

At its unveiling of the iPad 2, CEO Steve Jobs specifically called out Samsung, also paraphrasing a statement incorrectly by a representative from the company. Regardless of what Jobs or Apple is saying, Samsung may have decided up until now to deal with it -- Apple makes up about five percent of the company's total revenues, and is Samsung's second biggest component customer behind Sony.

The free pass may be over, through. On Tuesday, Samsung appeared to say enough is enough. "Samsung will respond actively to this legal action taken against us through appropriate legal measures to protect our intellectual property," it said in a statement.

A report by Yonhap News Agency also quotes unnamed sources as saying that Samsung believes Apple has violated the company's own patents, so a countersuit may not be far behind. It also said the sources claimed the company "had no choice" but to respond strongly.

Original Article.

Apple Is Said to Ready White IPhone Following 10-Month Wait

2011-04-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

ITS ABOUT TIME! even tho i was looking forward to the Iphone 5, which is rumored to not come out until 2012.. hmm well either way i know my boyfriend will be very excited for this!

Apple Inc. (AAPL) will start selling a white version of its iPhone 4 in the next few weeks, following a 10-month delay, three people with knowledge of the plans said.

The new model will be available from AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Wireless by the end of April, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public. The release was stalled as Apple resolved manufacturing challenges, including paint that peeled under heat, one person said.

Adding a white model may help spur demand as Apple works on the next generation of its top-selling product. Apple, the world’s largest technology company by market value, isn’t planning to unveil a new iPhone at its June developers’ conference, breaking with its practice in past years, two people familiar with the matter said. It may instead introduce the next iPhone in September, according to Mike Abramsky, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets in Toronto.

After releasing the iPhone 4 in June, Apple announced the delay of the white version, citing unspecified manufacturing trouble. Complications with a sensor used in the device was one difficulty, one of the people said. Until now, it’s only been available in black.

Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of marketing, indicated last month that a white model would be available soon, writing on Twitter that it would be on sale by spring.

Since the introduction of the first iPod media player in 2001, white has been a popular color for Apple’s gadgets. The earlier iPhone 3GS model was available in white, as is the iPad 2, which went on sale last month.

The iPhone accounted for 39 percent of Apple’s sales in the fiscal first quarter, which ended in December. The Cupertino, California-based company is due to report second-quarter financial results on April 20.

Apple fell $3.71 to $332.42 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares have advanced 3.1 percent this year. AT&T, based in Dallas, rose 11 cents to $30.29 on the New York Stock Exchange, and has gained 3.1 percent this year

Original Article.

iOS 4 purportedly references CDMA iPhone 4, next-gen iPad

2010-08-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

A new report claims that the source code of iOS 4 references new hardware from Apple that is about to begin field testing, including a two revised iPhone 4 models potentially compatible with the Verizon network, and a next-generation iPad.

With a screenshot of the alleged source code to bolster their claim, Boy Genius Report reported on Monday that an "intriguing" piece of code found in iOS 4 indicates that new hardware is set to begin field testing. The source code is said to reference three products: "iPhone3,2," "iPhone3,3," and "iProd2,1."

"Our source says that the code queries the device, and if the device is either a CDMA iPhone or iPad 2, the device will auto-activate, thus bypassing the need for iTunes," the report said. "We're told this block of code has appeared every year consequently before a major iPhone / device release, removed right before launch. This allows the products to be field tested by carriers (or partners) without having to activate the handsets or devices."

Last year, a mystery device known as "iProd" began showing up in beta builds of iOS 3.1. The hardware eventually became the iPad, announced in January of 2010. The "2,1" distinction allegedly found in iOS 4 would suggest that it is actually a revised, next-generation version of the iPad in testing.

Apple always uses the first number in these device identifiers to refer to major revisions, the naming schemes allude to a second major reworking of the iPhone in testing at Apple as well as a minor revision of the current iPod touch and a third-generation overhaul. The original iPhone is seen as iPhone 1,1, while the iPhone 3G appears as iPhone 1,2 -- a minor upgrade to an existing design. The first- and second-generation iPod touch show as 1,1 and 2,1 respectively.

The two iPhone models said to be referenced in the source code carry the same "3,X" suffix, which likely means that the devices are not a complete revision from the existing iPhone 4.

Another tipster reportedly told BGR that CDMA iPhone is code-named N92AP, while the platform for the next-generation iPod touch is N81AP.

Boy Genius Report has had a respectable track record in forecasting AT&T and iPhone related announcements, but some of its Apple rumors have been less than accurate. Last year the site incorrectly indicated iTunes 9 would add Blu-ray support and said Apple would create a social media consolidation application, both times citing a "reliable" source. In January, the site also inaccurately hinted that a Verizon announcement would coincide with Apple's introduction of the iPad.

In June, the site claimed that a Verizon-compatible CDMA iPad with 4G LTE was being tested. It said that a CDMA iPhone and iPad would likely arrive "very soon." And in July, the site claimed that a cloud-based iTunes service was "definitely happening soon," but was quickly disputed by insiders contacted by CNet.

Apple's public relations also recently denied a purported email exchange between a customer and Steve Jobs that was published by the site as being "100% legitimate." The most sensationalist remarks attributed to Jobs, telling a customer to "Retire, relax, enjoy your family. It is just a phone. Not worth it," were mistakenly attributed to Jobs on accident.

Original Article.

RIM, T-Mobile Announce BlackBerry Curve 3G

2010-08-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

The BlackBerry Torch just came out last week, but RIM has already moved on to the BlackBerry Curve 3G. The midrange Curve 3G - which will get an upgrade to the new BlackBerry 6 OS - is coming out from T-Mobile in the next few weeks, the carrier said.

The Curve 3G replaces T-Mobile's Curve 8520 with a faster 624-MHz processor, GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11n, and 3G HSDPA Internet connectivity, although it keeps the relatively low-res 2.4-inch, 320-by-240 screen and 2-megapixel camera. Interestingly, the Wi-Fi is noted for "data and voice," which means that this phone will work with T-Mobile's unheralded (but much loved) Hotspot@Home voice-over-Wi-Fi system.

There's not all that much exciting in the Curve 3G's hardware. The exciting part is that promised BlackBerry 6 upgrade, which will bring a new Web browser and lots of new media features to the phone. RIM and T-Mobile's announcement didn't give a date for the BlackBerry 6 upgrade.

T-Mobile didn't announce a price for the Curve 3G, but it will probably be pretty inexpensive; the Curve 8520 debuted at under $50 with contract. The Curve 3G's appearance also reminds us that the Torch probably doesn't have a very long exclusivity period with AT&T, as the Torch and Curve 3G complement each other quite neatly to provide low-end and high-end options from RIM.

original article.

Rumors of a Verizon iPhone get louder

2010-08-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

Two new reports give some heft to oft-heard rumors that the iPhone may be coming to Verizon Wireless, possibly as soon as January 2011.

The first report is based on AT&T's quarterly filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, in which the company talks about reducing its dependence on "any single handset," with carrier's exclusivity arrangement with Apple in the United States due to end sometime in the near future.

The second is from a TechCrunch report which says that "sources with knowledge of this entire situation" say that Apple has submitted orders for Qualcomm CDMA chipsets "for a Verizon iPhone run due in December. This production run would likely be for a January launch."

These two items provide creedence to a Bloomberg report from last June saying that the Verizon iPhone would indeed be shipping in January.

The iPhone, which came out in 2007, runs on AT&T's GSM network; CDMA, another technology, is used by Verizon Wireless and Sprint. However, both AT&T and Verizon Wireless are moving to a fourth-generation wireless technology known as LTE in the next year, although that rollout will take a few years to complete. There could be a combination CDMA/LTE chip for the iPhone, or perhaps the CDMA chips being ordered by Apple could power another of its devices, such as the iPad tablet.

In its SEC filing, AT&T noted its need to branch out even more with its offerings — and AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega helped unveil Research In Motion's newest BlackBerry, the Torch, last week.

"We offer a large variety of handsets, including at least 18 smart phones (including Apple iPhones, our most popular models) with advanced operating systems from at least 7 manufacturers," AT&T said in the quarterly filing.

original article.

How BlackBerry developed its mobile phone and networks

2010-08-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

The decision of the United Arab Emirates to ban BlackBerry email, messenger and web browsing services goes to the heart of the way in which the handheld devices operate – itself a consequence of the mobile market in which they were born.

When the first BlackBerry appeared, over a decade ago, mobile phone networks were far more basic than they are today. The most innovative service the majority of users had seen since mobile devices first appeared in the 1980s was the introduction of text messaging.

In the US, many mobile users were still making calls on analogue networks, while in Europe the new digital operators were only just introducing data services. But the sorts of speeds possible over networks such as Orange and Cellnet in the UK were pitiful. Speeds of 9.6Kb per second – less than 1% of the average speed available in the UK today, according to recent research – meant the networks had to resort to offering a pared-down version of the internet using Wap (Wireless application protocol) technology. Using a mobile phone to receive email, let alone access the "real" internet was almost unheard of.

By the mid-1990s, Canada's Research In Motion (RIM) was already working with partners on a messaging device that would work on a new wireless data network, which its owners hoped would be rolled out across Europe and the US. It was not much of a success – although the UK network that used this technology eventually became Turbo Dispatch, which now sends mechanics from local garages to help millions of stranded motorists every year.

As a result, RIM switched to working with the existing mobile phone companies, but to squeeze emails across their networks meant using compression technology. RIM also needed to be able to persuade jittery corporate IT departments their emails would be safe, which required encryption technology. To create such a lean and secure service required an end-to-end solution, with both the device, the BlackBerry, and the server hosting the user's email being able to understand each other. However, RIM wanted to be able to offer its devices on any mobile phone network.

As a result, it created the Network Operations Centre (Noc), which seems to have created such a headache in the Gulf. Every mobile phone operator that wants to offer BlackBerry devices has to have a connection to a Noc: – there is apparently one based in Canada to cover the Americas and one covering Europe and Asia. A company that wants to offer BlackBerrys to its employees, meanwhile, has to install software within its own IT systems that can communicate with the Noc.

When a user's inbox receives a new email, that software securely communicates with the Noc, which then connects securely to the BlackBerry over a mobile phone network to deliver the email. It uses compression technology to make sure the email can be squeezed over even the most congested network. Numerous research reports over the past year have suggested that BlackBerrys are at least five times more efficient at email and attachment viewing than any other platform.

RIM has since opened its network up to consumer email services such as Gmail and Hotmail, which together with the introduction of a range of stylish devices aimed at the consumer market has created a boom in usage of BlackBerry phones among teenagers. Opening up the RIM network to the web has also allowed internet browsing, which is also apparently faster on a BlackBerry than other devices. They are three times more efficient than other carriers, according to a recent report by Rysavy Research.

But there is another side-effect to the way that RIM's network architecture is configured and it has been seized upon by cash-strapped teenagers: BlackBerry Messenger. Because RIM knows every BlackBerry device in use, regardless of which network it is on, and they are all directly connected to its Nocs, BlackBerry users who have devices with the right software can communicate with each other without incurring the network interconnection and roaming charges associated with text messages.

Text messages and telephone calls, meanwhile, are routed solely over a mobile phone network, so neither will be affected by the UAE's decision. That also explains why when there is a problem with RIM's network – which has happened in the past – BlackBerry users can still make calls.

The first BlackBerry appeared in the late 1990s and was effectively a two-way pager. The first full email device – the 5810 – appeared in 2002.

The name, incidentally, was created by the company's brand agency, which looked at the trademark small buttons on the device's keyboard and decided they looked like the pips on a strawberry. That name, however, sounded too "slow". Blackberry sounded punchier and it stuck.
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original article.

Google will stop selling Nexus One phones in U.S.

2010-07-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

Google's Nexus One phone, touted as a "super" phone by Google and a key iPhone competitor when it launched in January, is now history in the United States. The search giant said it will no longer sell the phone via its website once existing stock is depleted.

"Once we sell these devices, the Nexus One will no longer be available online from Google," the company said on its blog. "Customer support will still be available for current Nexus One customers. And Nexus One will continue to be sold by partners including Vodafone in Europe, KT in Korea, and possibly others based on local market conditions."

The Nexus One got high marks from reviewers, and is considered a signature Android phone, using the operating system that Google helped create. But it has struggled to find a market. The advent of other high-profile Android phones — including those built by HTC, which makes the Nexus One — have marked stiff competition, and lessened the need for Google to sell a gold-standard phone of its own. Notable models include Motorola's Droid, Droid X and HTC Droid Incredible running on Verizon Wireless, Samsung's Galaxy S, which will appear on a variety of carriers, and the HTC Evo, which runs on Sprint's high-speed 4G wireless network.

Sales of the phone were also hurt by Google's novel and early efforts to sell the phone only via its website, with spartan customer support in the first weeks after the $529 phone became available.

"With only a small percentage of handset sales going through the Web, it was difficult for the Nexus One to gain much momentum," said Ross Rubin, NPD Group analyst. "Google may have backed into such limited distribution to avoid competing too directly with its (Android) handset partners."

Customers could order the phone to be used on T-Mobile's network, and pay $179 for it with a two-year contract. The Nexus One also runs on AT&T's network, but the carrier does not subsidize the cost of the phone, as it does with most others. Sprint, which had indicated it would run the Nexus One, later changed its mind, with the company saying it would instead concentrate on the new HTC Evo. (Verizon Wireless also quietly backed away from supporting the Nexus One.)

Then, in May, Google said it would stop selling the Nexus One on its website "once we have increased the availability of Nexus One devices in stores." That did not happen.

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.While Google has not released sales figures for the Nexus One, "it's likely in the hundreds of thousands, not millions," said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of strategy and technology analysis at Interpret, LLC.

"It was an experiment in retailing that might not have succeeded, but it also redefined the standard for Android devices and that was successful," he said. "Google managed to drive hardware partners to better designs, specs and features in order to stay competitive."

The Nexus One, with its 3.7-inch touchscreen and 5-megapixel camera, "remains one of the best Android devices on the market," Gartenberg said.

The phone is the second high-profile one in a month to be abandoned by its creator. Microsoft's Kin, a social networking phone carried by Verizon Wireless, was discontinued in June after only six weeks on the market. (Msnbc.com is an NBC Universal-Microsoft joint venture.) Some attributed the failure not to the phone's sticker price but to the fact that Verizon decided to charge customers for a full smart-phone data plan, in spite of the phone's limited functionality.

Google's Nexus One announcement came Friday, the same day Apple CEO Steve Jobs held a press conference about the iPhone 4 and its antenna issue, saying iPhone 4 owners will get free bumpers to deal with the reception problem caused by how the phone is held.

"Earlier this year, we announced that we will be closing the Nexus One web store," Google said on its blog. "This week we received our last shipment of Nexus One phones. Once we sell these devices, the Nexus One will no longer be available online from Google ....

"To ensure our developers have access to a phone with the latest Android OS (operating system), Google will be offering the Nexus One through a partner for sale to registered developers."

© 2010 msnbc.com Reprints

original article.

Android Gets a Build-Your-Own-App App

2010-07-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

I think the Android phones are doing great with marketing and appealing to all their customers, and i wish APPLE would open their contract to all mobile carriers so i can get an Iphone! haha but until then maybe an ANDROID phone wont be that bad. short sweet and simple article.

Got an idea for a smartphone app? If you've got an Android phone you might be able to build it yourself, thanks to App Inventor for Android, a new Google Labs program for Windows, OS X, and Linux that's designed to make building Android programs as easy as piecing blocks together.

Steve Lohr's story in the New York Times makes it sound sensational; here's a video from Google showing a lady creating her first App Inventor app:

App Inventor is in closed beta at the moment, and Google says it'll let folks in "soon" -- you can sign up here. As you'll see if you fill out the sign-up form, Google sees the program as an educational tool of particular interest to teachers and students.

It's an exciting idea that's more than slightly reminiscent of HyperCard, the brilliant visual programming tool that was a big deal on the Mac more than twenty years ago, and which is missed to this day. HyperCard or something similar would be a boon on the iPhone -- even Steve Jobs has says he thinks so, although Apple apparently doesn't have any interest in building such an application itself, and new restrictions in the iOS developer agreement prevent apps developed with the HyperCard-like RunRev from being distributed on the App Store.

(More and more, I think that the surface similarities between Android and iOS are less interesting than the fundamental differences in emphasis and philosophy -- and the more different the two OSes get, the more interesting they'll be.)

I still have a cranky-old-man rant about PCs getting boring when they stopped coming with BASIC and normal people therefore stopped learning how to write their own software. I can't wait to get my hands on App Inventor -- and to see whether it's capable of creating programs that anyone other than their inventors will want to use . .

original article.

Apple App Store Suffers Hack Attack

2010-07-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

Apple said Tuesday that it removed a seller from its online applications store after discovering that he gamed the store's sales ranking system to make it appear as though his e-books accounted for 42 of the site's top 50 electronics books.
Apple said the hack was carried about by a developer named Thuat Nguyen.

"His apps were removed from the App Store for violating the developer Program License Agreement, including fraudulent purchase patterns," Apple said in a statement.
The company did not provide details about how Nguyen managed to rig its sales data. Some observers are speculating that he merely manipulated sales figures, while others believe Nguyen may have actually gained access to App Store user accounts to make unauthorized purchases.

SMBs are getting the analytical capabilities to drive faster decisions based on better data

BI For the Small-Medium Business

Nguyen listed his Web site as "mycompany", an Internet address that reportedly leads to a domain name parking page.

Apple insisted App Store or iTunes users' information is not at risk as a result of the incident. "Developers do not receive any iTunes confidential customer data when an app is downloaded," the company said.

Still, Apple cautioned its customers to be vigilant for suspicious transactions.

"If your credit card or iTunes password is stolen and used on iTunes we recommend that you contact your financial institution and inquire about cancelling the card and issuing a chargeback for any unauthorized transactions," Apple said.

"We also recommend that you change your iTunes account password immediately," Apple added. Investors shrugged off news about the breach. Apple shares were up .69%, to $248.65, in midday trading Tuesday.

original article.

Reiner Says Verizon May Sell 12 Million IPhones in 2011: Video

2010-06-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

When is the Iphone going to be Universal! i want one and i have tmobile seriously APPLE consider it.. you'll make twice as much money come one! i want an IPhone! i mean i feel like literally everyone i know has one, dont get me wrong i love my blackberry but ive had BB"s for as long as i can remember and i really want an iPhone.

Yair Reiner, an analyst with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., and James Ratcliffe, an analyst with Barclays Capital, discuss the outlook for Apple Inc. iPhone sales by Verizon Wireless when the carrier begins selling the device next January.

AT&T has had exclusive claim on the smartphone in the U.S. since it was introduced in 2007. They speak with Deirdre Bolton on Bloomberg Television’s “InsideTrack.” (Source: Bloomberg

original article.

Hands on with iOS 4 folders

2010-06-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyone i know has an Iphone, and i seem to be the only one with a blackberry these days lol but either way i still love the iphones i just don't have the right company and actually i think when my contract is up i will be going to at &, anyways its neat that you can update the software on your phone but still keep the same phone. i lovee that idea.

When the iPhone first debuted, all its apps could fit on a single Home screen. But it didn’t take long—especially once the App Store opened up shop—for even the most novice of iPhone users to require multiple screens. And once you started downloading new apps regularly, as many iPhone owners have done over the past couple years, you ended up with screen after screen after screen of apps to swipe through, with more than a few users exhausting the 180 visible slots. (Or, to put it another way, filling up 11 pages of 16 spaces, plus four in the dock).

iOS 4
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The result was a cry—OK, maybe it was just a gentle plea from most people, but it was a cry from us app-hoarders—for a better way to access and manage apps. Rob Griffiths put this wish into specific terms back in 2008, asking for Home-screen folders. With iOS 4, we get just such a feature, even if it’s been much slower in coming than some of us might have hoped.

Folders in a nutshell
A folder in iOS 4 is a group of apps you access by tapping a single icon on your iPhone’s Home screen. When you tap a folder—which sports an icon that includes miniature versions of the icons of the apps inside, along with a name intended to describe the folder’s contents (more on that in a moment)—the dock fades and slides down, and the main Home-screen area fades and slides up to make room for a view of the folder’s contents. This view shows the name and full-size icon of each app. Tap on any app to launch it, or tap anywhere outside the folder area to close the folder and return to the Home screen.

A new install—not an update—of iOS 4 includes a folder containing a few of Apple's apps.
If you’re using an iPhone 4, or if you’ve restored an older iPhone or iPod touch to iOS 4, you’ll see a stock folder named Utilities that includes Apple’s Clock, Calculator, Compass, Voice Memos, and Notes apps. If you’ve updated an iPhone or iPod touch to iOS 4 from an older version of the iPhone OS, you won’t have any folders until you create one yourself.

A folder can contain up to 12 apps. When you consider the 180 icon spaces on the iPhone’s 11 visible Home screens—yes, you can even place folders in the dock—iOS 4’s folders feature lets you view up to 2,160 apps! You can still install more than that number, but, as before, those that don’t fit on the 11 visible screens will be accessible only via Spotlight search. (No, you can’t place a folder inside another folder to gain more visible slots. If you feel the need to install more than 2,160 apps on your iPhone, you may have bigger problems than accessing apps.)

While iOS 4’s folder icons, which squeeze up to nine tiny app icons in the space of a standard-size icon, may seem less than useful at first, I found that, even on an iPhone 3G or 3GS, the mini icons are surprisingly identifiable, especially for apps with icons that are already familiar to me. I suspect this will be even more true on the iPhone 4’s higher-resolution display when that phone arrives later this week.

I also like how Apple has handled status badges, those little white-on-red numbers attached to the corner of an app's icon that indicate, say, the number of unread messages in Mail or new articles in your RSS reader. If a folder contains one or more apps with a status badge, the folder gains a badge displaying the sum of those badges. In other words, if you've got 12 unread e-mail messages in Mail, 37 new articles in Reeder, and three new notifications in Boxcar, a folder containing those apps will sport a badge displaying 52.

Creating and editing folders
So how do you create a folder? First, enter iPhone’s standard Home-screen-editing mode by tapping and holding any app icon until app icons begin to shake and you see the delete (x) button in the upper-left corner of non-stock apps. Then drag one of the apps you want to include in your folder onto any other app you want to include. The Home screen will fade and you’ll see a folder display—still in editing mode—containing both apps.

You’ll also see a folder-name field. This field is automatically filled based on the App Store category of one of the first two apps in the folder. If you’d rather use a different name, just tap in the name field (while still in edit mode) and then edit the name. When you’re done, press the Home button to exit edit mode.

To add another app to the folder, enter editing mode again and then drag the desired app onto the folder icon. Repeat until you’ve added all the apps you want—up to 12, remember—and then press the Home button to finish editing. Note that if you drag an app onto a folder and hold it there for a couple seconds, the folder will open, still in edit mode, letting you place the new app exactly where you want it within the folder.

Editing a folder's contents and name on the iPhone
To edit a folder itself—its name, its contents, or the layout of the apps inside—you can either enter editing mode normally and then tap the folder to edit it, or, if the folder is already open, just tap-and-hold any icon inside. You can then tap the folder name to edit it, drag app icons around within the folder to rearrange them, drag an app out of the folder (and onto the surrounding Home screen) to remove the app from the folder, or tap an app’s delete button to completely delete the app from the iPhone.

Unlike apps, a folder doesn’t have a delete button. To delete a folder altogether, you must remove all the apps from it. Once you drag the last remaining app from a folder—or delete that app outright—the folder simply disappears.

Overall, folders are easy to use, create, and edit and are a welcome addition to the iPhone. However, they do need some fine tuning that I expect will happen in future iOS 4 updates. For example, when trying to rearrange app icons on your Home screens, it’s too easy to accidentally create a new app folder, or to add an app to an existing folder, when all you really want to do is to position an app between two items.

Taking advantage of folders
Although one benefit of folders is that promiscuous downloaders can now see more than 180 apps at a time, even casual app users can reap rewards from this new feature. For example, you can now group similar apps in ways other than screens—the more obsessive-compulsive among us no longer must agonize over which combination of 16 apps best fills a particular home screen. Instead, you can place, say, all your transit and transportation apps in one folder, your travel guides in another, and your food apps in a third—and use up only three spots on a Home screen in the process.

Finally, a way to hide the stock iPhone apps you rarely use
This example also illustrates another folder advantage: condensing your most frequently used apps into just one or two screens. Instead of having to swipe across five or six (or more) Home screens, accessing your favorite apps is now a matter of locating the appropriate folder on just one or two screens and then launching the desired app. Since I started using folders extensively, I’ve found that, whereas I used to regularly access nearly every one of my iPhone’s 11 visible screens, I’m now using mainly the first few.

And, of course, folders provide an alternative to one of the most requested—but still missing—iPhone features: the ability to delete the stock apps you never use. I don’t see Apple providing such a feature any time soon, but you can now stick all those unused stock apps into a folder and put that folder in the boondocks of your iPhone’s Home screens.

Managing folders in iTunes
The capability to create and edit folders isn’t limited to iOS 4 itself. Just as you’ve long been able to manage your installed apps when you sync with iTunes on your computer, the newly released iTunes 9.2 lets you organize your iOS 4 apps and folders using your mouse and keyboard.

When your iPhone or iPod touch is connected to your computer, the Apps view in iTunes 9.2 looks and functions much as it did before, letting you choose which apps to sync to your iPhone, as well as decide how synced apps are organized on and between screens. But drag an app onto another app, and after a slight delay, a folder is created—just as if you’d performed the same action on the iPhone. You get the same editable folder name, and you can rearrange icons within the folder. The main difference is that, of course, you can use iTunes to manage folders only when your iPhone or iPod touch is connected to your computer. On the other hand, you don't need to click-hold to enter the jiggling-icon editing mode; you just click and drag at any time. Similarly, to edit an existing folder, you just double-click it. And my favorite advantage to performing this task in iTunes is that you can Command-click several apps and drag them onto another app or onto an existing folder all at once.

You can also create and edit app folders in iTunes 9.2.
Oddly, creating and editing folders in iTunes suffers from the opposite challenges of performing those tasks on an iPhone or iPod touch itself: Instead of too easily creating or adding to folders when you’re trying to simply rearrange apps on the screen, I find that iTunes’ Apps view too often moves app and folder icons out of the way when I’m trying to create or add to folders. Somewhere in between the sensitivity of on-iPhone and in-iTunes Home screen editing would be just about perfect.

And I did experience one issue where, after creating a number of folders in iTunes, and then syncing my iPhone with iTunes, all the folders disappeared and my apps were rearranged (on the phone) in alphabetical order—an incident that required quite a bit of time and effort to recover from. Thankfully, this didn’t happen again.

Next up, fixing iTunes
The capability to organize apps into folders is a great new feature that’s been a long time coming. It’s sure to be a favorite among those who, like me, have far too many apps. It doesn’t solve all the issues with managing your apps, especially within iTunes, but it's a big step up from swipe, swipe, swipe

original article.

Radio Shack to Sell Apple iPhone 4 with Sweetened Deal

2010-06-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

The Apple iPhone 4 will go on sale at Radio Shack, as well Wal-Mart, Best Buy, AT&T and Apple online and retail stores beginning June 24. Radio Shack will also begin taking pre-orders June 15 and allow customers to trade in older electronics toward their iPhone 4 purchase.

Apple has added Radio Shack to its small cadre of retail partners who will begin offering the iPhone 4 June 24.

Following Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ June 7 introduction of the iPhone 4, Apple announced that newest smartphone will begin selling in Apple and AT&T retail and online stores, as well as at Best Buy and Wal-Mart stores. For those wanting to assure they have an iPhone 4 in hand June 24, Apple’s Online Store will begin accepting order reservations in the United States, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom on June 15.

AT&T and Wal-Mart will also begin taking pre-orders June 15, and as of June 14, Radio Shack had also gotten in the action. According to PC World, a Radio Shack in Boston will begin taking pre-orders at 7 a.m. — making it a good bet for getting on the list.

On June 24, Radio Shack will additionally be sweetening its iPhone deal with a device turn-in program. Consumers purchasing an Apple iPhone 4 can bring in older electronics and put the devices’ estimated values toward an iPhone 4 purchase.

At a Brooklyn-area Radio Shack, a sales representative named Shaquana told eWEEK that only some electronics trade-ins will be allowed in-store, and others will have to be arranged online. Devices that one can safely trade-in at the store, she said, include “phones and game consoles, chargers, old cameras and camcorders.”

While the iPhone 4 will retail for $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model, at Apple and AT&T online and retail stores, AT&T announced June 7 that it will be offering its “best pricing” to current iPhone customers who are eligible for an upgrade anytime in 2010.

“Individual iPhone voice and data plans now start at just $54.99 per month (was previously $69.99) and FamilyTalk voice and data plans with two iPhones start at just $89.99 per month (was $119.99). Our data plans all include unlimited usage at more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots in the U.S.,” Bridges told eWEEK in an email.

The exact language for upgrades, she added, is: “Any existing iPhone customer eligible for an upgrade between [June 7] and the end of this year will be eligible for our best pricing for iPhone 4, $199 and $299, with a two year term commitment.”

The difference, she added, “is that what’s important is iPhone customers’ current upgrade date…not when their contract expires. That’s better for customers, since many customers are upgrade-eligible well before their contract expires.”

To check upgrade eligibility, iPhone owners can dial *639# or visit www.att.com/iphone.

On June 24, Apple will also begin offering its 8GB iPhone 3GS for $99, and AT&T will offer the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS for $159 and $199, respectively — with a two-year commitment plus voice and data plans.

original article.

2010-06-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

WOW... see the Internet has weird ways of impacting your life.. i can semi relate to this story and its not because i was kidnapped or anything but i haven't spoken or seen my mom in like 13 years and then maybe about 2 yrs she found me on myspace and i had the same response.. i was content with my life and i know now that the father has been arrested its going to be even harder for the children to build a relationship with their mother.. read on to find out more about the article.

A San Bernardino mother whose children were kidnapped 15 years ago was able to finally track them down using Facebook.

San Bernardino’s Deputy District Attorney says it’s the first time his office has handled a case like this one. But in this digital age, it may not be the last.

Faustino Utrera, father of two toddlers, a boy and girl, vanished with them in 1995. Their mother reported them missing and 15 years passed. "At the time, they were 2 and 3 years old. So they’re now 17 and 16," said Kurt Rowley, San Bernardino Deputy District Attorney.

But in those years, the Internet exploded and social networking sites revolutionized the process of tracking people down.

"The mother got on to Facebook and typed in one of the children’s names and hit a Facebook page," said Rowley.

It was her daughter, and they started corresponding. The mother even sent the teenager a family photo, dating back to before the split. But the relationship stalled. "The teenager said, 'Not interested in a relationship. We just have a happy life. Leave us alone,'" said Rowley.

The teen’s Facebook page disappeared. The mother, who still lives in San Bernardino, contacted Rowley and his investigators. They tracked the Facebook profile and the girl to Orlando, Fla.

Utrera was then arrested and is now charged with two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of violating child custody orders.

As for the mother and her children, they will have to build a new relationship.

"There is no relationship there," said Carrie Hoeppner of the Florida Department of Children & Families. "You don't have that immediate joyful reunification. If in fact that is what will progress, it will take time. These children will have to build a relationship, and that is something that will not happen overnight."

original article.

Intel to Sell Version of Atom for Tablet Computers (Update2)

2010-06-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

(Adds closing share price in the final paragraph.)

By Ian King

June 1 (Bloomberg) -- Intel Corp., the world’s largest chipmaker, is producing a version of its Atom processor for tablet computers, trying to head off gains by mobile-phone chipmakers.

Intel will begin supplying the chips, which use half the power of other models, in early 2011, the Santa Clara, California-based company said. The new version of Atom, the most common processor in scaled-down notebook computers, or netbooks, is called Oak Trail.

Apple Inc.’s iPad, which went on sale in April, has stoked interest in touch-screen tablet computers, a category that had declined to less than 2 percent of overall PC sales. The iPad and other similar devices announced by Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc. are based on chips more commonly found in mobile phones, using technology from ARM Holdings Plc.

“We’re very excited about the tablet segment,” Matthew Parker, a general manager of the company’s Atom division, said in a telephone interview. “We see it as an opportunity for Intel to extend its business.”

Oak Trail will support multiple operating systems including Microsoft Corp.’s Windows 7, Intel’s own Meego and Google Inc.’s Android. It will have components that let it handle high- definition video and connect with large displays.

Separately, Intel will introduce an update of Atom for netbooks that contains two processors built into one piece of silicon. So-called multiple-core chips are better at running software programs simultaneously. The company will showcase a version of the chip that has been adapted to fit into netbooks as narrow as 14 millimeters, Parker said.

Intel will give more details of the new products in speeches at the Computex show in Taipei this week.

The company’s shares fell 24 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $21.18 at 4 p.m. in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. They have gained 3.8 percent this year.

--Editors: Elizabeth Wollman, Margot Slade

To contact the reporter on this story: Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Julie Alnwick at jalnwick@bloomberg.net

original article.

Study shows why overhearing cell phone calls bugs us so much

2010-05-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

Study shows why overhearing cell phone calls bugs us so much

A new study to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science purports to reveal just why overhearing cell phones calls, on the bus, on the subway, or wherever, apparently bother us so much.

The study, by Cornell University, suggests it's not because, as many have noted, many people on cell phones shout into their handsets as their is no sidetone. Rather, the study suggests that human brains simply don't like one-sided conversations.

The study tested 41 college students to see how their results on a series of cognitive tests on a computer were affected by either silence, a monologue, a conversation between two people, and half a conversation (called a "halfalogue," such as overhearing a cell phone call). It was the "halfalogue" which lowered participants' scores on the tests.

The study showed that a one-sided conversation draws more attention and drains concentration from listeners. Researchers believe that we are unable to tune out a "halfalogue" because unlike a monologue to a two-sided conversation, listeners try to make sense out of the half they hear and predict what speakers will say next.

Lauren Emberson is a co-author of the study, along with Michael Goldstein. "When you hear half of a conversation, you get less information and you can't predict as well," she said. "It requires more attention."

The researchers noted that while talking on a cell phone is already known to distract drivers, listening to a passenger's cell phone conversation may also be distraction. Further study should be done, they indicated.

original article.

Facebook Fight Calls For Flight

2010-05-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Just as smokers are advised to select and work towards a quit date, the Web site QuitFacebookDay is encouraging frustrated Facebook users to cut the chord with the powerful social networking site on May 31.
Founded by technologist Joseph Dee and systems designer Matthew Milan, QuitFacebookDay is asking prospective ex-account-holders to sign their email or Twitter ID to a pledge list. Monday morning, there were 2,635 "committed Facebook quitters," according to the website, up about 70% from the May 15 count of 780.

For a lot of people, quitting Facebook revolves around privacy. This is a legitimate concern, but we also think the privacy issue is just the symptom of a larger set of issues," wrote Milan and Dee. "The cumulative effects of what Facebook does now will not play out well in the future, and we care deeply about the future of the web as an open, safe and human place. We just can't see Facebook's current direction being aligned with any positive future for the web, so we're leaving."
Dee and Milan are not alone in their efforts to organize a mass Facebook exodus. The "Quit Facebook Day" page on Facebook is liked by more than 1,500 people -- or less than 0.00375% of the site's more than 400 million users.

Numerous technologies including deduplication may have a role to play in managing burgeoning corporate storage requirements

Guide To Making The Right Data Deduplication Decisions

FacebookProtest.com -- which as 1,212 followers on Twitter -- plans a June 6 boycott of the Web site. "Be sure to log out of Facebook in all of your browsers no later than the evening of June 5th. On the 6th, be sure to not use Facebook connect or click any “Like” buttons: basically refrain from all Facebook related activity," the site said.

Facebook recently added two privacy tools, but account deactivations are gaining attention.

Some well-known industry names have made much-publicized cuts to their Facebook ties. Google's webspam chief Matt Cutts deactivated his Facebook ties on April 22, according to comments he made on Twitter. Peter Rojas, Gizmodo and Engadget founder also tweeted about his decision to cut his Facebook ties.

Changes to Facebook's privacy policies are spurring concerns about the site. In the last five years, Facebook's privacy policy has grown from about 1,000 words to today's 5,830 words, according to the New York Times.

The site's complementary FAQ is 45,000 words. It is now longer than the U.S. Constitution, the Huffington Post found. In fact, there are 4543 words in the original, unamended Constitution, including the signatures. The Declaration has 1458 words.

original article.

Followers vanish as Twitter squashes bug

2010-05-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

Glitch allowed users to ‘force’ other users to follow
By Helen A.S. Popkin
updated 47 minutes ago
The Twitpocolypse is upon us! Earlier today, as the microblogging site attempted to fix an embarrassing bug, follower lists suddenly disappeared. As the Twitterverse panicked and "Follower 0" rose to the top of it's trending list, Twitter assured its users via the company's own Twitter feed that the issue would be rapidly remedied.

“Follow count display is set to 0 and follow/unfollow is temporarily offline while we fix a bug,” Twitter’s own Twitter account reported at 1:02 p.m., confirming that everyone, from Ashton Kutcher to Justin Bieber bloggers, was affected.

Earlier Monday, the microblogging network was beset by a bug that allowed anyone to force other Twitter users to follow his or her account. Social network news site Mashable reported that one alert reader e-mailed the details of the glitch Monday morning, writing “[tweet] accept [username]” then the [username] immediately starts following you.”

original article.

Facebook's new features raise privacy concerns

2010-05-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

Those are three examples of how Facebook is moving quickly to make the Internet one big personalized social network, setting up the Palo Alto firm as the default communications platform for what some observers are already calling Web 3.0.

The possibilities are exciting to marketers and Web site operators - and alarming to digital privacy advocates.

"Facebook wants to be the center of the social Web," said Debra Aho Williamson, senior analyst for the research firm eMarketer Inc. Whether the company succeeds, "we're going to have to wait and see," she said. "The biggest question to me is whether consumers and companies are going to want to cede the social Web to Facebook. And maybe some privacy concerns will come out that we haven't even thought about yet."

Last week at its developers conference in San Francisco, Facebook Inc. introduced an ambitious plan to export the Facebook experience to all Web sites, using "social plug-ins" like a new "Like" button to link news stories, restaurant reviews, movie data, product information and other content to a Facebook user's network.

Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg outlined his vision of linking the "social graphs" of the more than 400 million Facebook users to the rest of the Internet, creating an efficient, interconnected Web of social interactions.

Companies jump in
Numerous companies are already on board with the plan, including Yelp, CNN, the New York Times, IMDb, Time Inc., Fandango, the National Hockey League, USA Networks, Levi Strauss, Univision and ABC-TV.

They hope that tapping into a beehive of social activity yields a wealth of customer data that leads to more product sales or advertising opportunities. And combined with Facebook's growing reach into the Web, "marketers realized they needed to fish where the fish are," Willamson said.

Job searches
For job search firm Simply Hired Inc., integrating Facebook into its Web site with just a few lines of computer code will provide useful tools for job seekers, said Dion Lim, the Mountain View firm's president and chief operating officer.

original article.

RIM unveils rejigged BlackBerry models

2010-04-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

TORONTO/VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Research in Motion is launching variations of two existing BlackBerry smartphones, the company said on Monday, and its co-chief executive hinted that much-anticipated announcements on a new operating system and browser are also on the way.

Technology | Media

But its stock fell as the news fell short of what many investors were hoping the company would announce to counter growing competition from rivals like Apple Inc and Motorola Inc, especially in the consumer market.

"RIM does not have a competing product for the retail space and that is very, very negative for anyone who's buying the stock today," said Barry Schwartz, vice-president and portfolio manager at Baskin Financial Services.

RIM unveiled the new versions of both devices on the eve of its annual Wireless Enterprise Symposium, a three-day event that officially runs from April 27-29 in Orlando, Florida.

A CDMA version of the high-end BlackBerry Bold device will ship in May to both Verizon and Sprint Nextel - two of North America's largest wireless carriers that run CDMA networks, the company said in a statement. The BlackBerry Bold is already available to carriers that operate GSM networks.

GSM and CDMA are the two main types of mobile technology used by wireless carriers across the world. CDMA lost the battle for global dominance but it still has a strong position in some markets.

The Waterloo, Ontario-based company is also taking the wraps off a new 3G version of the Pearl, which is the smallest of its range of BlackBerry devices. The new GSM device will allow for faster data downloads on newer 3G networks.

But the market was hoping for early news about an improved BlackBerry operating system and browser for navigating the Internet, which even devout fans say is not as easy to use as Apple's iPhone and Motorola's Droid.

Co-Chief Executive Jim Balsillie hinted that fellow co-CEO Mike Lazaridis could reveal more details in a presentation later on Monday as well as throughout the WES trade show.

"You are going to hear a lot about our web strategy this week," Balsillie said in the opening address at the event.

"I won't steal any of Mike's thunder," he said.

Analysts hope the software improvements will allow RIM to compete more effectively against the iPhone, Droid and a slew of other smartphone devices that have been nibbling away at RIM's market share.

A growing number of analysts argue that rival smartphones could keep taking market share from the BlackBerry, especially in North America, unless RIM delivers an improved operating system and browser.

Balsillie took a more optimistic view of the BlackBerry's outlook. "I think the North American market will continue to grow, and grow quickly for us," he said.

Consumer-friendly enhancements, such as more powerful in-phone cameras and an easier-to-navigate display, are also in the offing, he said.

"You are going to see very powerful extensions on our part. I don't think you have to be too patient either," he said.

RIM's apps store, which analysts say falls far short of Apple's applications' offering, is growing fast with downloads doubling in last 120 days, he said.

RIM on Monday also announced an upgraded version of its mobile voice system (MVS) technology, which allows for the seamless integration of a customer's office landline and BlackBerry device. The technology currently allows the two devices to work as one and a user can route all outgoing calls through his office landline device.

The latest upgrade to the MVS technology will allow users to make and receive phone calls from their BlackBerry devices over a Wi-Fi connection.

RIM's stock fell as much as 2.9 percent to C$68.50 on the Toronto Stock Exchange early on Monday. By late morning, the stock was off its lows at C$69.33, down C$1.23 or 1.7 percent.

On Nasdaq, it was down 1.8 percent at $69.37

original article.

Facebook's 'Like' Button: What We Know So Far

2010-04-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

For Facebook's next act, the social networking site will break free of its domain and let you "like" things all over the Web, according to two news reports.

The New York Times and the Financial Times tell a similar story based on unnamed sources: Facebook wants to expand beyond its core site with a "like" button that Web developers can embed in their pages. Yes, it's yet another media sharing tool in the style of Digg and Reddit -- it just happens to be aligned with the second-biggest Web site in the United States.

A Digg Killer?
A lot of sites already use a "share" button to connect with Facebook, letting users post links to their news feed, but a "like" button seems more in line with the simple interaction offered by Digg. In other words, your commitment starts and ends with a simple thumbs up. It also could allow interaction with non-editorial sites, as the New York Times suggests Yelp could use the "like" feature to show users how many of their friends enjoyed a restaurant or business.

That said, we don't yet know exactly how the concept will work. Does liking a page automatically create a news item for your Facebook friends, or is there some other way for Facebook to determine which liked stories get shared?

The rise of Twitter and Facebook have hurt Digg's popularity, but part of the site's allure is its anonymity, and sharing among random strangers. Facebook is all about interacting with your friends. Still, the sheer volume of people using Facebook could quickly cement the "like" button as the premiere way to share Web content.

Privacy Issues, Of Course
It seems like any time Facebook does anything, privacy is part of the discussion. That's likely to be the case here, as some marketers tell the Financial Times that they'll use "like" information to target ads at users. Analysts tell the New York Times that privacy concerns are possible as shares more details about users with external Web sites, though that seems like a more general issue than a specific flaw in the "like" service.

Facebook denies that it will use the service to track users across the Web, saying that it bases ads only on information users fill out in their profiles. "We have no announcements or changes planned to our ad offering and policies," a Facebook representative told the Financial Times.

More "Like" in More Places
Back on Facebook.com, "like" will be implemented in advertisements, replacing the "become a fan" functionality for brands, says the Financial Times. It's not clear what this means for the messages and news postings you get in exchange for brand fandom. Again, liking something seems more casual than becoming a fan, so I'm a bit skeptical that one feature is completely replacing the other. We'll see what happens at F8, Facebook's conference on Wednesday where it's expected to announce the new features.

original article.

Apple iPhone 4G Arrival Won’t Create as Much Buzz as the iPad?

2010-04-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

morning!!
well ive been wanting an iphone for forever! and i don't have at&t soo.. i have to Wait for them to come out with one for my phone company. anyways the 4g is out but i agree with the article I'm sure the ipad will get more buzz.

The iPad arrival already sent shock waves across the globe jolting other tablet manufacturers who were hoping to cash in on the iPad failure. The Apple tablet created a rage at Apple stores but the big question is-will the next generation iPhone 4G be able to create the same magic? There have been times when people talk about Apple products being purely applications centric and that is eventually the reason they succeed, given the hefty app count.

But, what people also find adoring about all Apple products is that they are feature rich and these features give the users the opportunity to eventually use those applications
. Therefore, Apple products do well because of the apps and the features they offer.

This is where the next product from Cupertino could be a problem. The world will already know that this iPhone has 4G merely in the name and it is not going to support 4G speeds. The apps are sure there to help but then, this iPhone will require those ‘features’ the most.

The only thing we know about (hopefully) is that the iPhone 4G will come with a front-facing camera and nothing more. Most of the touted features will be improvements over the current generation models. Novelty is the only thing that will save Apple the blushes as Cupertino isn’t accustomed to failure in the recent history.

The iPhone 4G is seemingly more of a face-lift than a feature-lift and if Apple is conscious about the fall of the iPhone regime, it has to shock us with a real stunner of a smartphone.

original article.

Rumor: Verizon Nexus One To Be $20 More Expensive Than T-Mobile?

2010-03-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Rumor: Verizon Nexus One To Be $20 More Expensive Than T-Mobile?
April 4, 2010

Dear Friends,

Rumor: Verizon Nexus One To Be $20 More Expensive Than T-Mobile?

No one knows when Google's in-house-developed phone, the Nexus One, will be available on any carrier other than T-Mobile, but apparently the price may vary with the network.

The Nexus One launched earlier this year at the affordable price of $180 (with a new or renewed T-Mobile contract). It is widely considered to be the premiere Android phone because this one, unlike all the others on the market, was actually developed by Google, allowing them to tailor every centimeter of the device to its own operating system.

As such, Google wants it available to everyone, not just people who happen to be T-Mobile customers. Because AT&T runs on the same kind of service as T-Mobile (GSM), there is already a Nexus One model that works with AT&T.

For the other major carriers, Sprint and Verizon, Google is making headway. It's expected that Verizon will be the first to bring CDMA service to the Nexus One, but it may come at a higher cost.

According to Brighthand.com, a teaser for Verizon's version of the phone was on Google's Web site with a note that read "$200," but that has since been removed.

Verizon, which has a larger 3G coverage area than any other carrier, currently offers the Droid as its flagship Android-equipped smartphone.

Nexus One sales haven't been anything spectacular since it launched in January, due in large part to the fact that Google is not offering it in any brick-and-mortar location. Users can only buy it online at Google.com/phone

Posted on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:00:46 CDT |
by Mark Raby

original article.
category: DVD Television On DVD
Featured Product on Bayho:Sex And The City Essentials: Romance

Total folly? Opera submits Mini browser for iPhone approval

2010-03-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

well apparently opera has or is creating a browser for iphone.haha i basically repeated the first sentence f the article. but the Truth is i only skimmed through it. so read on.

Total folly? Opera submits Mini browser for iPhone approval
We admit it: when we first heard that Opera was creating a browser for iPhone, we wondered if the browser company was bluffing to prove a point, namely, to pressure Apple into accepting a browser to compete with Safari. Yet Opera followed through on Tuesday, submitting Opera Mini 5 to the iPhone App Store. Before Opera submitted, we got a chance to play with the final version of Opera Mini on one of Opera's iPhones.

No lie: Opera Mini 5 running on the iPhone.

(Credit: Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)
Opera Mini 5 running on an iPhone looks and behaves almost identically to Opera Mini 5 on other mobile browsers, like Java and BlackBerry. The one major exception is the addition of session restore for iPhone, which will reload browsers from the previous session if you need to close and restart the browser. This is an important feature for a platform that runs only one third-party application at a time. Page caching was also notable on the demo version of Opera Mini for iPhone. Pressing the back arrow quickly surfaced the previous page without reloading it from scratch.

As interesting as these details might be, the real elephant in the room--the question perhaps being asked by those who follow Apple's submissions and rejections--is why Opera would go to lengths to submit a browser that has a high chance of never making it into the app store. Apple isn't known for approving browsers that aren't based on Webkit, which Opera Mini absolutely is not. Like many other iPhone apps, Opera wrote the back end of Mini using the Objective C programming language, Opera's founder and former CEO Jon von Tetzchner told CNET, and developed the front end "in our own little language."

Von Tetzchner has high hopes that Apple will accept Opera Mini, citing the browser's merits of speed, high compression rates that lead to rapid loading, and bookmark-syncing. What's more, he said, users should have plenty of choice when it comes to browsers, especially if Opera Mini is in high demand. But Opera's conviction would hardly seem like a compelling enough reason, and we can't imagine it would sway Apple.

More on the mark, perhaps, is the argument that Apple shouldn't nix Opera Mini because it may not actually violate rules laid out in Apple's software development kit (SDK). Unlike other Web browsers (including Opera Mobile,) Opera Mini is a proxy browser that delivers Web pages through Opera's servers. It isn't a standalone HTML browser that interprets and executes code on its own. This loophole is the more realistic justification for how von Tetzchner and the rest of the Opera team hope to get Opera Mini through the golden doors.

"The way we read things, we don't violate anything with [Apple's] SDK license," von Tetzchner told CNET. "From our perspective, there's no reason why Apple would not allow Opera...It brings something really different to iPhone users."

Again, we're not convinced that will be reason enough for Apple's application approval team, but if it is, acceptance could signal a sea change that would make Opera Mini the most notable browsing alternative to Safari on iPhone

original article.

Tricks to Keep Your Device's Battery Going and Going

2010-03-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

Finally an article that really helps me! i know I'm not the only one who hates when there phone battery dies and its funny because we get mad if we need it yet we are the ones who didn't charge it. even tho some of the tips on here are obvious I'm going to go ahead and post it anyways.

If you're a recent convert to smartphones, you're probably still discovering all the amazing things that your new BlackBerry, Android phone or iPhone can do. But one thing you most likely found out right away: the more you do, the shorter your phone's battery lasts.

While a standard cellphone's charge can easily go three days or more, many smartphone owners are dismayed to learn that their new mobile toy requires charging every 24 hours, or even more often. It was great that I could use one device — my iPhone — to check my calendar and respond to multiple incoming calls during January's Consumer Electronics Show, but I paid the price when its battery died at 2 p.m.

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The answer was not to desperately search for an electrical outlet to recharge the phone (though I've done that) or to consider giving up the phone (done that, too), but rather to figure out a strategy to reduce energy consumption while still having it available for essential tasks. Whether you're using a laptop or a smartphone, the devices can be tweaked to get the most out of its lithium–ion batteries.

Reconsider Your Network

All things being equal, the C.D.M.A. mobile standard used by Verizon uses more power than a G.S.M. network, principally used by AT&T and T–Mobile. If battery life is critical, you might want to consider G.S.M. as long as its coverage meets your needs.

Dim It

The brighter your screen, the more juice you're using. If you're in a dimly lit room, turn down your LCD screen's brightness. If your device has an autodimming feature that detects the light in a room, use it. Similarly, if you use your smartphone or laptop to play music, lower the volume.

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If you have a BlackBerry, the company's holster will automatically turn off the screen when you insert the phone.

Stop Searching

It is great that you can use Bluetooth technology to connect your smartphone to a headset, or use Wi–Fi to speed up the downloading of e–mail messages. But when you're not using that headset or not near a Wi–Fi hot spot, turn off those features on the phone or laptop.

The reason is that portable devices will continue to look for Wi–Fi or a Bluetooth headset, using power.

Similarly, put your phone to sleep when it is in standby. On an iPhone, you do so through the "Settings" icon. On a BlackBerry, use the "Manage Connections" icon.

Skip a Generation

Your smartphone is also continually looking for a cellphone signal. If you're in a weak signal area, your phone must work even harder to find one, decreasing battery life. If you know that there is no coverage in your area, turn off your portable device's mobile capabilities.

If your G.S.M. 3G network is not available or the signal is weak, the battery will drain faster looking for one. Consider turning off the phone's 3G network or using the slower EDGE network instead. It will make Web access slower but won't affect phone call quality.

Check Mail Manually

Mobile smartphones can check for e–mail messages and instant messages automatically. Or they can be set to "push" notifications as soon as they arrive in your server's mailbox.

Both strategies can be power hogs. To increase your battery life, turn off push and increase the interval between when the phone checks for new messages. Or better, set up your phone to check for messages manually.

Turn Off Everything

The simplest way to cut power to a minimum is to put your smartphone into "airplane mode." You turn your BlackBerry or iPhone into a music player and personal organizer, and you won't be able to receive e–mail messages or make or receive phone calls, but you will stretch your battery.

"In airplane mode and running just the alarm clock, your iPhone battery will last up to a week," said Kyle Wiens, co–founder of ifixit.com, an online iPhone and Mac laptop repair company.

Disable the Animations

The hotter your laptop feels, the more battery power it is using. And one of the biggest users of power is Flash animation, the technology behind many online videos and animated ads. To improve battery life, disable Flash when not using wall power. BashFlash and ClicktoFlash for Macs and Flashblock for PC are programs that will automatically restrict Flash.

Get an App to Aid You

There are a number of applications that can help monitor battery life and shut off various functions that cut down on a mobile device's effective power.

Battery Go and myBatteryLife tell iPhone owners how much charge they have left and how that power translates into minutes of talk time, music, video and Web surfing.

NB BattStat alerts BlackBerry owners to the amount of battery charge remaining, as well as the battery's temperature. (Hot batteries lose power more quickly.) The device can be set to vibrate or sound when a predetermined low battery level is reached.

Radio Saver will monitor your BlackBerry's mobile coverage and shut off the device's mobile circuitry when you are out of range of a cellular signal.

Best BatterySaver allows owners of mobile phones using the Symbian operating system (including models from Nokia and Sony Ericsson) to create battery–saving profiles. For example, certain features can be automatically turned on when the phone is connected to a wall plug, or Bluetooth can be automatically disconnected when the battery charge drops below a certain level.

For laptops, programs like Battery Health Monitor (Mac) and Laptop Battery Power Monitor (PC) keep track of battery charge and estimate how many more times you'll be able to recharge your battery.

Realize the End Will Come

The older generation of nickel cadmium batteries suffered from memory issues; if you didn't fully charge and discharge one, it would hold a progressively smaller amount of juice.

Today's lithium–ion batteries don't suffer from memory loss, so it is safe to top off a battery.

Lithium–ion batteries cannot be overcharged; a device's circuitry cuts off the power when they are full. However, manufacturers still recommend that a laptop not be continually connected to power once the battery is at its capacity. If a laptop won't be used for several months, it should be stored with the battery in a 50 percent charge state.

All batteries can be fully charged and discharged for a fixed number of cycles; lithium–ion batteries typically last between 300 and 500 cycles. Information on the number of cycles can be obtained at manufacturers' Web sites, or at batteryuniversity.com.

No matter how well you husband your battery's resources, there comes a time when you'll need to send your battery to its final resting place.

Like most things nearing the end of their life, your battery will stay awake less and sleep more. "If your battery lasts only an hour after you've charged it," said Anthony Magnabosco, owner of Milliamp.com, a battery replacement company, "you know its time is up."

original article.

iPad!

2010-03-08T11:53:00.000-08:00

Technically its not a "cellular+ mobile" but i think the ipad is really cool and i saw this commercial last night when i was watching the award shows.

It's lights, camera, and almost "action" for Apple's iPad tablet. During Sunday night's Academy Awards ceremony Apple trotted its iPad down the Hollywood red carpet (so to speak) launching a television advertising campaign. According to reports Steve Jobs himself joined the roster of stars attending Sunday night's event in person.

According to the commercial, Apple's iPad device will launch on April 3. Pre-orders for the iPad will start on March 12 for the Wi-Fi only version in the U.S., and 3G enabled versions will come out later in April.

The iPad ad (embedded below) uses an upbeat song in the background (The Blue Van - There Goes My Love) and was aired immediately after the motion picture "Up" from Disney/Pixar won the Best Animated Film award. Jobs is on Disney's board of directors and used to be Pixar's Chairman before Disney bought it in 2006.

The ad shows a man using the iPad on his lap, going through various features of the devices, such as photos, videos, e-books, and Pages. The ad matches in style previous iPhone and iPod TV spots. Time will tell whether Apple enlists the "Get a Mac" duo of John Hodgman and Justin Long for a "Get an iPad" ad campaign. Maybe we'll see one of those ads if (or when) Microsoft launches its Courier tablet PC.

original article.

New EU Limits on Mobile Roaming Begin

2010-03-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

My phone doesn't allow me to make calls when i roam. i think i set it up that way because overages charges.. not good! anyways this makes sense and i think in the long wrong it will benefit a lot of people.
article below like always.

New regulations in Europe starting Monday will put a halt to out-of-control bills for mobile Internet use while roaming.

The new rules require mobile operators to offer customers a cut-off limit. When customers roam, the operator must send them a warning message when they hit 80 percent of the limit. Once they hit the limit, customers won't be able to use mobile Internet services on their phones or laptops.

The cut-off limit can be for any amount the customer chooses. Customers who do not choose a limit by July 1 will get a default €50 (US$68) limit.

Exorbitant roaming bills have been an issue in Europe for years. The European Commission cited an example of a German traveler who in 2009 received a bill for €46,000 after downloading a TV show while roaming in France.

The commission has limited the fees that operators charge each other for roaming customers who use data to €1 per megabyte, a fee that will fall over the next two years. That falling fee is expected to reduce charges to end-users for roaming Internet use as well, the commission said.

original article.

Cell phone ban goes a little too far

2010-02-22T10:57:00.000-08:00

GOOD MORNING!
actually i wish i was back in bed I'm literally yawning here and finding it very had to keep my eyes open.. considering its all quiet and i don't have my ipod with me right now.. anyways.. cell phones, cell phones, cell phones.. we all love them.

The 2010 legislative session was one-third over last week, with legislators considering many possible laws. Among ideas being bandied about is a complete ban on the use of mobile telephones while driving.

Anchorage Reps. Mike Doogan and Bob Buch rolled out House Bill 257 last month. Drivers' mobile telephone use has been on people's minds since cellular technology intruded into the Americans' lives and the devices became ubiquitous. Cellular telephones vastly increase our ability to contact and be accessed by others all the time. With this benefit comes changed behaviors, necessitating new rules and societal norms.

We should be cognizant of the need to silence portable communications devices at the beginning of meetings and theatrical performances, and ought not to talk when it rudely intrudes upon those about us. But what is the intrinsic harm in talking in the privacy of our own cars?

Some states have banned the use of a hand-held telephone while driving but still allow the use of "hands-free" technology. Many places proscribe cellular use by newer, younger drivers, but not by adults.

In fact, there is another bill (House Bill 15) before the Alaska Legislature banning cellular use by minors, introduced last year. This bill made it through two committees before stalling in the House Finance Committee. Its failure to move may have helped spur the new, more draconian legislation. House Bill 257 would completely ban making a call on a cellular phone except in an emergency. No other jurisdiction in the nation has adopted such a law that makes no distinction between when and where a person would use a cellular.

On an isolated road, with no traffic, you would be breaking the law for placing a simple call, which seems a little extreme. Supporters of banning or restricting drivers' mobile usage cite studies that such activity distracts drivers and leads to accidents. This makes a little sense, but telephone usage can hardly be pointed to as more distracting than many other things that occur in cars every moment of every day. Loud music, adjusting a radio station, eating, talking to others in the car and applying makeup are probably every bit as distracting as the safe and prudent telephone use while driving.

Banning drivers' mobile telephone use unfairly targets one potentially hazardous activity while ignoring a host of others. Anyone who has ever followed a motorist pulling out of a drive-through restaurant window has seen the car ahead swerving, suggesting the application of sauce to a French fry. If we're going to ban all cellular use, we probably need to consider making it illegal to eat while driving, and perhaps even the sale of food to drivers.

While both cellular-ban bills would impose relatively light penalties of $300 and points leading to license suspension or revocation, they still would criminalize behavior that's not always dangerous, certainly in comparison to other behaviors that would remain completely legal and are highly likely to remain so.

I was just on O'ahu, Hawaii, where the municipal government has made it illegal to talk on the telephone while driving. It was the first time I'd spent much time operating a car in a place where it was illegal for me to use my mobile phone, and I didn't like it. I obeyed the law and didn't use the telephone while cruising down the road. When I was merging into fierce traffic on the H-1, I didn't feel constrained, but at other times, in a completely rural, bucolic setting, it made no sense for me not to be able to make a call.

Opponents of the ban on drivers' cell phone use cite statistics showing that less than ½ percent of accidents in a five-year period in Alaska implicated cell phone use, and a disproportionate share of those were caused by younger drivers. It's more reasonable to ban cell phone usage by younger drivers and not everyone on the road, but these motorists already face numerous restrictions on their ability to drive.

Still, a ban on use by younger drivers would create the opportunity to see if it yielded beneficial effects while policy-makers consider imposing similar restrictions on the full population of drivers.

There is a further matter in the debate on banning cell phone usage as to whether the law would allow for "primary offense" stops by law enforcement officers. Just as when seatbelt use was mandated by the Legislature, lawmakers have the option to legislate that one would have to be pulled over for another reason before being cited for being on the telephone. This distinction does not affect the larger policy choice about trying to make people safer by disallowing them from one discrete activity while leaving them free to engage in all sorts of other distractions.

I want to be as safe a driver as I can, and I want our roadways in Alaska to be as free as possible from collisions, injuries and other accident-related unpleasantness. But I also like to multitask and get things done as time permits. I believe that the best way to achieve my desired outcome is for me to be a safe, conscientious, alert motorist, which means exercising common sense when it comes to engaging in distracting activities while driving.

If we're going to try to increase driver safety, perhaps we ought to look at much more stringent screening when we issue driver's licenses, perhaps testing proprioception and kinesthetic-response ability. Maybe there needs to be an essay test or an interview to weed out drivers lacking the mental wherewithal to drive safely. Driving is a privilege, not a right, but that doesn't mean an arbitrary ban on one particular type of activity is going to make the world a better place.

I applaud the legislators who have attempted to advance the common good by increasing driver safety, but I respectfully suggest they need to find another means of accomplishing this end.

original article.
category: Wii
Featured Product on : Wii Console
Posted by www..com at 10:28 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Top 10 kids’ toys for 2010

Pretty boring i will admit.. but hey i have to do one for this seemed to be the top search for " games" on google.
anyways its seems long but its just a list of toys and their pictures which will not be on here so as usual i will post the original article.

1.Guitar, Drum and Amp by Paper Jamz
Suggested retail: $19.99-$24.99
Age: 5 and up
Available: June 2010

Paper Jamz are amazingly innovative, affordable instruments featuring Active Graphics TechnologyTM. This technology makes it possible for our children to rock out by touching the circuit-embedded paper surface on the Paper Jamz Guitar and Drums. Jam on the guitar or the drums in three modes, playing along to hit songs or creating your own music. The instruments have built-in speakers with volume control and a line out for kids to use their own earphones or speaker accessories. They have a rocking amp to blast out the jams as well.

2. LEGO games
Suggested retail: $14.99-$34.99
Age: 6 to 8 and up
Available: March 2010

LEGO is introducing 10 new LEGO games in 2010. My kids and I are love building the dice, the game boards and even some of the characters for the buildable LEGO games. The game play, continuous building, strategy and reconstruction are a blast. Check out LEGO Minotaurus, where, after children build the game board, they work to get their heroes to the secret temple while attempting to avoid LEGO walls and the evil Minotaur. Also try LEGO Creationary, where children roll the LEGO dice, select one of four exciting building categories and test their building and guessing skills. Finally, don’t miss Lava Dragon, where your children will race to be the first knight to climb to the top of the volcano while trying to avoid the lava and summon the dragon.

3. Sing-a-ma-jigs!
Suggested retail: $12.99
Age: 3 and up
Available: May 2010

Sing-a-ma-jigs! are adorable plush characters that treat us to sweet musical fun and silly chatter sounds with an easy squeeze of their bellies. As soon as your little one squeezes the Sing-a-ma-jigs! belly they will giggle endlessly at the sight of their mouths opening, revealing their cute little teeth. Play with one Sing-a-ma-jig at a time or play with them all together to hear them sing together in harmony. The first four Sing-a-ma-jigs! will be out in May and each one will be a different color and sing its own song. The Sing-a-ma-jigs! are simply irresistible.

4. Spy Net Video Spy Watch
Suggested retail: $49.99-$54.99
Age: 8 and up
Available: Fall 2010

The Spy Net Video Watch is real working spy gear that is finally available in the toy aisle. This watch will record video with its built-in camera and microphone and play back video on its built-in 1-4” screen. Our children will be able to upload their video and audio files onto Spy Net, the cool supporting Web site. Our children can also download missions from the Spy Net HQ and receive those missions directly on their watches for more spy fun. This product will be one out of a whole series of cool spy products that will interact with one another, brought to us by Spy Net, so keep your eyes open and your guard up.

5. Toy Story Mania!
Suggested retail: $49.99-$54.99
Age: 8 and up
Availability date: Fall 2010

Toy Story Mania! is an adventure-filled TV video game that simulates the new Toy Story Mania! attraction at the Disney theme parks. Once our children see the much-anticipated “Toy Story 3” movie this coming June 2010, they will be searching for ways to interact with their favorite characters. The Toy Story Mania! game plugs directly into the TV and doesn’t require an additional gaming console so our kids can just plug it into the TV and play. The Motion TV Games Technology in this game makes it a blast, because to move in the game our kids have to grab the control and get moving in real life.

6. Air Hogs Vectron Wave
Suggested retail price: $24.99
Age: 8 and up
Available: Now

The Air Hogs Vectron Wave is a UFO about the size of a hand that has a built-in sensor allowing it to detect objects below and adjust its height accordingly to float in the air above them. The Vectron Wave’s flight is guided by a wave of your hand. My kids and I marveled at the Vectron Wave because we had never seen a flying toy that we could interact with that didn’t have a remote control.

7. Tonka Garage Ricochet RC Vehicle
Suggested retail: $79.99
Age: 8 and up
Available: Fall 2010

The Tonka Garage Ricochet RC Vehicle is an amazing double-sided stunt vehicle that is designed to tackle nearly every type of terrain. It drives, and if it flips over, no problem — it keeps on trucking. I was wowed by the machine's Monsterlift Suspension Technology, which lifts the vehicle into a tough-looking monster truck. The RC vehicle comes with a three-channel remote for excellent steering control.

8. AVATAR vehicles and action figures
Suggested retail: $8.99 and $26.99
Age: 6 and up
Available: Now and new items will arrive in the Spring

“Avatar” the movie is a box office smash hit! My son, his best friend and I loved the movie. Kids are already clamoring for these great toys, and collectors are standing in the toy store right next to the kids, grabbing everything they see. The Avatar toy collection includes Avatar vehicles like the AMP Suit, RDA Grinder and Scorpion Gunship. The collection also has a wide variety of highly detailed and articulated action figures and creatures, all created to the scale of their likeness in the film. Each Avatar toy comes with its own unique i-TAG, which will create a 3-D, augmented-reality image of the toy on a computer screen when held up to a webcam. The animated 3-D image will then “come alive.” To download i-TAG software and find out more information, visit www.avataritag.com.

9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cheese Touch Game
Suggested retail: $24.99
Ages: 7 and up
Retail availability: Fall 2010

If you have a reading-age child, you have surely read or heard of Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series. I have loved reading these books along with my kids, and we are counting down the days until the 20th Century Fox movie based on the series makes its debut in Spring 2010. This year our children will be able to play along with their favorite characters from the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books in its first board game, which encourages creativity and social interaction. Players move their game pieces, including Greg, Rowley, Fregly and Manny, around the game board, facing different challenges and measuring how well they know each other. Correct answers move them closer to finish. Wrong answers can give a player the cheese, and if you have read the books, you know how hard it is to get rid of the Cheese Touch!

10. Kung Zhu
Suggested retail: $7.99-$24.99
Age: 6 and up
Available: June 2010

Kung Zhu is the next generation of 2009’s hottest toy, the Zhu Zhu Pets. The Zhu Zhu Pets now have their own special forces to help keep everything happy and peaceful in the Zhu-niverse, the land where the Zhu Zhus live. Check out the new good and bad Zhu Zhus in the Kung Zhu line. You will love the Ninja Hamsters, the Delta Forces, the Rangers and the Dragon Tribe, and may need to scatter away from the Bad Skull Tribe. The accessories are absolutely hysterical and add loads to the play of these furry warriors.

original article.
category: Media- Blank
Featured Product on :Color CD/DVD Slim Cases 50 Pac
Posted by www..com at 11:35 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars announced – due out fall 2010 [News]

well i remember playing with Lego's when i was younger and i know lot of you guys play the Lego star wars games. i actually have never played the game so i cant really give more insight except for the fact that the new one is due out in fall.. which is actually awhile from now if you think about it haha.
I'll post the article here and then the original in a link as usual. enjoy :]

Publisher LucasArts and developer TT Games have announced the next installment in the LEGO Star Wars video game series, LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, due out for Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PSP, Xbox 360, and PC in time for the holiday season later this year.

Andrew posted this entry on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 9:39 pm. Posted in the category LEGO, News, Star Wars, Video Game You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Original article.
Category:A/V Combo Cables
Featured Item on :4 Output A/V SVideo Amp
Posted by www.com at 10:36 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Lost: Previewing Season 6 Premiere

morrrniinnngg! hope everyone has a great weekend. well today i didn't really want to look for a video game and i figured that alot of ppl watch LOST so I'm sure someone who read these blogs will appreciate this post lol.
if you already didn't know.. LOST premieres tonight. not sure on the time lol but its the 6th and final season.

It's been that long, but we're finally here: the sixth, and final, season of Lost.

I can't really imagine how it feels for all of you who've been around for six years, watching each episode multiple times, breaking each scene into crumbs, and arguing every possible explanation for the intentions of the DHARMA Initiative, or the Island, or the survivors themselves. After all, I'm just new to this game, having started watching the show last September--but, of course, I'm just as excited (and confused) as you are in finding out what this whole thing has been all about.

Last time we're here, we were in the brink of a breakthrough. Jack's plan to detonate Jughead so time will be reset was finally implemented, but not without a pretty significant toll--Juliet's down in that hole, possibly dead, and Sayid's also seriously wounded. The obvious question: did the bomb work? All indicators say that it did, but now what?

But that's just half the story. Jack, Kate, Hurley and Sayid wouldn't have detonated the bomb if they haven't successfully returned to the Island via Ajira 316--but they're in 1977. Sun's stuck in the present time, finding a way to reunite with her 1977-bound husband Jin, and unwittingly being a witness to Locke's efforts to kill Jacob. Well, she didn't see the actual murder: that privilege goes to Ben, who did the actual deed, because he was abandoned by the great Island deity despite his loyal service, or so the argument goes. And then we realize that Locke is still a dead body onboard 316, and the Locke inside the statue is someone else...

It's been almost two months since I finished catching up, and it's annoying having a theory in my head, only to realize five seconds later that it's not exactly airtight. So time was reset, and everything is all right, but isn't it more or less delaying the inevitable--the trip to the Island? So that proves Daniel's variables theory a bit wrong, right? Or is there really just nothing they can do?

And why are they supposed to be on the Island? Why these particular people? Is it some special quality, like being touched by Jacob? (Sayid and Hurley are the holes in that logic.) Is it their need for redemption? Because really, if that's the case, then we should all be in the Island. What was Jacob up to, and what is the Man in Black planning to do with it? What's Locke and Christian and Claire got to do with it?

Is this season really the beginning of the end, or just the end of the beginning?

Yes, I know, I missed some explanation entirely, but that's why we're here now: we'll find answers together... and maybe fight about it a few weeks from now. Lost has 18 hours left, and I won't be surprised if something pops up from out of the blue and steers this whole thing in a different direction.

Lost takes over ABC's entire primetime schedule tonight, with an hour-long recap show from 8pm, and the two-hour season premiere, "LA X", from 9pm. Here we go, folks. Plane's crashing back to the Island. No bailing out. No turning back.

original article.
category:DVD-Recorders External
Featured Product on :4x USB 2.0 Rewriteable DVD Dri
Posted by www..com at 10:37 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 Hits Stores in North America Today

good morning all!
how everyone had a great weekend, if not .. well there's always next weekend ha ;]
anyways.. video games have never been my speciality so i basically just google new releases.. if you happen to be a video expert and want to send me some tips or maybe websites or games. send them! would be much help. in the mean time.,.

biowares article.

Few games live up to the hype during the wait before release. If you were watching the NFL NFC Championship game on Sunday you saw the special 2 minute trailer for Mass Effect 2. The trailer looked fantastic and just added to the hype and the early reviews have been very high for the sequel. Mass Effect 2 is in stores everywhere in North America today for the Xbox 360 and the PC. The game will hit Europe and Australia by the end of the week. Featuring an all-star cast and amazing graphics Mass Effect 2 is certainly taking its place as the must have game of 2010. Remember those who buy the game new get free access to the ‘Cerberus Network’ BioWare’s new online server for DLC and news for Mass Effect 2. Also free is the first DLC add-on that allows gamers to take Commander Sheppard back to the Normandy crash site. For those wondering if you buy the game used you will need to buy access to the ‘Cerberus Network’ for a one time fee of 1200 MS points. Watch for my review in the next day or two of this fantastic game. I must say this is certainly a great title to kick off 2010!

original article.
Category:Trackballs Gamepads Keypads
Featured product on :Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
Posted by www..com at 11:22 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Video game sales drop 8% in 2009

Apparently video game sales are down this year.. well last year since it is only January of 2010. so yes im going to read it as soon as i post it so hopefully its not boring because i didn't pre read it first.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.—US video game sales slipped 8 percent in 2009, according to market research firm The NPD Group, despite record sales in December.

The year’s $19.66 billion tally included sales of video game software, portable and console hardware, and accessories, helped by a December sales performance that “broke all industry records,” according to Michael Gallagher, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association.

December's results were helped by the best sales month ever for the Wii console, according to Nintendo, with 3.8 million units of the recently discounted console sold. The company's DS Lite and DSi handhelds combined to sell more than 3.3 million units during December, the second biggest month for the company’s handheld business, Nintendo added.

Aside from portable hardware, which experienced a 6 percent increase in revenue in 2009, all video game categories experienced declines for the year, with the largest decline coming from console hardware (-13 percent). Console software and portable software both experienced declines of 10 percent, while video game accessories experienced a 1 percent decline.

Retail sales for computer (PC) game software also experienced declines, with revenue down 23 percent to $538 million in 2009, NPD added. Combined video game and PC game software sales were off 11 percent for the year, to $10.5 billion.

The results slammed shut a long run of gains for a historically cyclical but generally upwardly mobile video game market that thrives whenever new hardware is launched. 2009 was not one of those new hardware fueled years.

"[In 2000] when we started the last decade, video game industry sales, including PC games, totaled $7.98 billion," said Anita Frazier, industry analyst, The NPD Group. "In 10 years, the industry has changed dramatically in many ways, but most importantly it [grew] over those years by more than 250 percent at retail alone. Considering there are many new sources of revenue, including subscriptions and digital distribution, industry growth is even more impressive."

ESA’s Gallagher noted that December’s strong sales were “a very strong way to transition into 2010. I anticipate these solid sales numbers to continue upward through 2010 with a pipeline full of highly-anticipated titles.”

original article.
category: Cables- Audio/VideoFeatured Product on : 25' Video and Audio Cable
Posted by www..com at 2:17 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 reaches milestone with $1 Billion in sales

hellloooooo! good afternoon all :]
hope all of you had a great weekend, and since it is humpday.. the weekend is only a few more days away. dont party too hard haha :]
COD news. read below.

There has got to be a party going on right now over at Activision Blizzard and Infinity Ward studios, and if there isn’t there should be. Certainly both the publisher and the developer have a lot to be happy about concerning the major success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. After all, they have over one billion reasons to be celebrating.

This is because Modern Warfare 2 has surpassed another major milestone by reaching over $1 billion in retail sales since the first person shooter hit store shelves back in the Fall of last year.

When the combat game was released on November 10, 2009 it did not take very long for the title get noticed as sales for the video game were smashing major records in less than a week. In fact, during the first five days alone, Modern Warfare 2 took in a total of $550 million, not only breaking video game sales records, but also breaking entertainment records as well.

As previously reported, Modern Warfare 2 surpassed the first five days of box office income for the films Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and The Dark Knight. This major accomplishment signified that video games are indeed a strong market force to contend with in the entertainment industry.

orginal article.

Verizon Adds Skype To Smartphones

2010-02-16T12:15:00.000-08:00

Watch out now! you don't even need a laptop to skype anymore.. which makes sense to me because most phones already have videos on there so you don't need a web cam. anyways i haven't read this article yet so i cant really say if its boring or not.. it seemed like something that what be semi entertaining. so we shall see!

The partnership will enable Verizon Wireless customers to make inexpensive global calls over Skype's VoIP network.

By W. David Gardner
InformationWeek
February 16, 2010 03:02 PM

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" is a proverb appropriate for Verizon Wireless' embrace of Skype's VoIP calling service in a partnership announced Tuesday.
The strategic relationship between the firms will enable users of nine Verizon Wireless smartphones -- including six BlackBerry models -- with data plans to use Skype's VoIP network to make inexpensive global calls. In the past, Verizon, like most mobile carriers, has fought the use of VoIP calls on their networks.

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Bay Area Internet Solutions"Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless changes the game," said John Stratton, executive VP and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless, in a statement. "For Verizon Wireless' more than 90 million customers, Skype mobile adds great value because we're effectively giving customers with smartphones and data plans the option to extend their unlimited calling community to hundreds of millions of Skype users around the globe."
Skype users can call each other free-of-charge and they can make calls to non-Skype users for low prices, generally about 2.5 cents a minute. In the past, Verizon Wireless' parent company, Verizon Communications, fought VoIP calling plans. Verizon Wireless is 45% owned by Vodafone Group.

The new Skype product is offered on BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm 9550, Curve 8330, Curve 8530, World Edition 8830, and Tour 9630; Motorola's Droid and Devour; and HTC's Droid Eris handsets.

Skype has had a long-standing partnership with iSkoot to provide VoIP calling on various GSM carrier networks. Skype's deal with Verizon Wireless is unusual because Verizon uses a non-GSM network, CDMA2000. Skype and Verizon Wireless developed their plan together, the firms said.

Traditionally, carriers have sought to block VoIP calling like Skype's, but they have softened their opposition as VoIP calls have taken hold, particularly as Wi-Fi capability has appeared on smartphones. The Skype service on Verizon Wireless can run in background mode, making callers instantly accessible to Verizon's smartphone subscribers. Skype's instant messaging will also be available on the service, which is scheduled to be launched next month.

Skype has more than 400 million registered users. Verizon Wireless is the largest U.S. mobile phone carrier by number of subscribers.

original article.

Verizon Adds Skype To Smartphones

2010-02-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

nexusss onnee!

2010-02-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

I think this is the 2nd post about the nexus one. i just absolutely love this phone and i really want it! lol im hoping with my tax refund i will be able too! hahah Mann its just soo.. wonderful!
anyways they waved the refund fee. read on to find out more.

Prodded by the Federal Communications Commission, Google has lowered the fee it charges users who return its Nexus One before their contracts expire. The "equipment recovery fee" is now $150 instead of the initial fee of $350.
Users, however, will still face a separate $200 fee charged by T-Mobile USA, which is offering the handset in the U.S. Users of the Nexus One have flooded user forums with complaints, many of which seem centered on the actual network service itself. The most frequent gripe has been that the service drops from 3G to the slower 2G EDGE service.

Google has proactively attempted to fix any problems with the Nexus One, which the search engine colossus is also offering for sale directly to consumers. The company has addressed the support issues, and is reportedly looking to hire a "phone program support manager."

"Google's overall financial philosophy with regard to operator service plans remains unchanged," Google said in a statement. "We make no profit from commissions from operators or from equipment recovery fees, and our recovery fees are based on operator charges to Google for early termination of service."

Consumers who cancel their service within 14 days are not charged any penalty by Google; the lowered $150 fee is charged to customers who cancel after 14 days and within 120 days of starting service. The Nexus One was first offered for sale in early January.

Google said it has been working with T-Mobile to improve the customer experience of the Nexus One. T-Mobile said the lowered equipment recovery fee is not connected to any FCC action, according to media reports. The FCC has been questioning carriers and handset makers about excessive early termination fees, which have been a longtime sore point with consumers and the regulatory commission.

At the same time, carriers are facing an overloading of their networks as smartphone usage continues to surge, and new devices, such as Apple's iPad, come on the market. T-Mobile's Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum hasn't provided broad nationwide coverage and it's still not certain that it is up to handling the increased data demands of Nexus One users.

AT&T, under pressure to upgrade its network due primarily to the boom in Apple iPhone usage, has committed new capital to upgrading its network. Sprint Nextel is betting the rollout of its WiMax wide area network will solve its network problems.

Only Verizon Wireless seems able to currently handle data networks, but it, too, will likely come under pressure as smartphones fill the ether with more and more data.

original article.

ipad :]

2010-02-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

I believe the announcement was made last week about the ipad and i have to say it looks pretty damn cool lol.. im still gonna check it out but here are some of the features it comes with. so yeah. enjoy.

Offering a range of exciting features, within days of its launch, Apple iPad has become the latest hot buzz among the tech savvy generation. Though many people refer to it as the updated version of apple iPhone, iPad is the mix of iPhone, iTouch and a full notebook or laptop. This tablet PC has a touch screen and can be used for browsing the net, listening music, watch movies and play games.

Buzz up!The iPad measures 9.56 inches in height and is 7.47 inches wide. It weighs 1.5 kilograms. Full charged battery would last for about 10 hours at a stretch and 30 days in standby mode.

Apple had launched the iPad at a special event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Steve Jobs, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Apple announced the prices. The 16 GB iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G costs $629, the 32 GB iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G costs $729 and the 64 GB iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G costs $829.

Lets take a look at some of its features

Mail

In landscape, you get a split-screen view showing both an opened email and the messages in your inbox. To see the opened e-mail only, turn iPad to portrait, and the email automatically rotates and takes the full screen. No matter which orientation you use, you can scroll through your mail, compose a new email using the large, onscreen keyboard, or delete messages with nothing more than a tap and a flick.

A photo can be seen right in the message. You can also save the photos in an e-mail directly to the built in Photos application. And iPad works with all the most popular email providers, including MobileMe, Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, Hotmail, and AOL.

I-Pad is the mix of iPhone, Apple iTouch and a full notebook or laptop.

Photos

With its unique software features, iPad has many ways to share your photos. The Photos application displays the photos in an album. You just have to tap the album and the whole album opens for you. From there, you can flip through your pictures, zoom in or out or see them in a slide show.

While charging, you can even use your iPad as a beautiful digital photo frame too!

Video and YouTube

The large, high-resolution screen makes iPad perfect for watching any kind of video. You can enjoy anything from HD movies and TV shows to podcasts and music videos.

The YouTube application organizes videos so they’re easy to see and navigate. When you’re watching in landscape, the video automatically plays in full screen.

iPod

You can browse by album, song, artist, or genre with a simple flick. iPad even displays album art at full size. You can hear the songs with the powerful built-in speaker or with wired or Bluetooth wireless headphones.

iTunes

A tap of the iTunes store icon lets you browse and buy music, TV shows, and podcasts. You can also buy and rent movies.

Maps

You can use your iPads to find your way. You can view maps with the high-resolution satellite images, You get a close with of the street view, topography of a terrain. All applications use Google services. You can also search for a nearby restaurant or landmark and get directions from your current location.

Safari

The large multi-touch screen on iPad lets you see web pages at a size that's easily readable. One can view the pages one at a time. Whether you’re looking at a page in portrait or landscape the page displayed is big and clear.

App Store

iPad runs almost 140,000 applications from the App Store, ranging everything from games to business apps and much more.

Topics: apple ipad, cara gupta sarkar, steve jobs.

original article.

How to Save Money Now on Your Cell Phone Bill

2010-01-26T11:54:00.000-08:00

I should take notes on this.. because it seems like my cell bill is just too high for the plan that i have. hopefully you guys can learn some tips and benefit from this article. on another note hope everyone had a great weekend :]

Cell phones today are virtually mini computers loaded with gadgets, games, and gizmos, from cameras to projection screens. However, these features may ultimately end up costing you more than they’re worth. So if you’re looking to reduce your monthly bill, here are four tips that can help you save now.

Tip #1:
If you don’t use it lose it. For light users, moving to a prepaid plan can help you save on unused minutes.

Tip #2:
Get rid of your phone insurance if your phone is more than three to six months old, or if it’s an inexpensive model under $50. You don’t want to pay more for insurance than the phone is worth, so consider getting insurance for the first few months you have your phone when it’s at its premium, then consider canceling. This could save you five to seven bucks a month.

Tip#3:
Beware of the family plan. Family plans share minutes and have several people working towards a monthly limit. This can result in reaching that limit sooner than anticipated. In addition, family plans often have hidden termination fees, which could cost you in the neighborhood of 200 dollars per phone.

Tip #4:
Compare your calling plan online. There are several free websites that allow you to upload your cell phone bill and compare your usage and needs line by line to see if there’s another plan or carrier that can save you money.

Tip #5:
Need help tracking your cell phone usage? Sign up (for free!) at overmyminutes.com to receive a text, or e-mail when you are about to go over your minutes

Tip #6:
Instead of using your cell to call friends, use your computer! Skype allows you to call people with other skype accounts for free

Tip #7:
Keep it all in the family, by making sure your close ones are all on the same plan. Generally, there’s no charge if you call people on your same network

Tip#8:
Are cell phone international calling fees the reason you want to flee the country? Sites like Jaxtr.com allow you to bypass international fees by linking your cell phone to your computer

Sites like Billshrink.com will then compare your usage and needs … line-by-line to see if there is another plan or carrier that can save you money.

And if you like the service you have you can always call your phone company’s customer loyalty department and ask for a reduction.

orginal article.

Phones For Haiti-Cell Phone recycling program for Disaster Relief

2010-01-19T14:34:00.000-08:00

We all heard the devisating news of the Earthquick that hit Haiti.well there's a way you can help.. buy sending old cellphones! read on and see if its something you might be interested in.

Everyone in this globe started this New Year with lots of hope and dreams but the nature has shown its hard face to the people of Haiti. I’m reminding you all about Haiti earthquake that took place recently which is supposed to be a cold blooded murder by nature

The January 12th earthquake in Haiti has left an estimated 3 million people hurt or homeless and the death rate increases daily as many are still buried under debris. You can help them by recycling your used phones.

There are an estimated 130 million phones retired in the United States every year. If even a small percentage of them are sent to Phones for Haiti, it would contribute millions of dollars towards relief from the devastating earthquake.

3 simple steps to do:

•Gather all makes and models of cell phones.
•Print Pre-paid shipping Label, shipping is free.
•Mail the packed phones in envelope or box and affix label.
ReCellular will give 100% of the phone value as a contribution to the American Red Cross; charities like the March of Dimes and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have already earned more than $10 million dollars in contributions through their partnerships with ReCellular.

With rescue and repair missions already underway, it is critical that funds get to the region quickly. By using the postage paid label, supporters can have their used phones sent to ReCellular within just a few days, allowing for the rapid distribution of funds. All phones are accepted, though newer phones will provide the most value to the charity – in some cases $100 or more.

If your package weighs more than 3 lbs (about 8 phones), please call or email us to arrange an alternative shipping method – PLEASE DO NOT USE A USPS SHIPPING LABEL.

original article.

Seriously? Battery Powers Mobile Phone By Sipping on Soda

2010-01-13T15:45:00.000-08:00

I've seen and read alot of articles but i couldnt resist and post this one because soda! really?! so yeah read please very interesting.

The latest in crazy designs to run on alternative power sources comes out of designer Daizi Zheng, who has dreamed up a reusable-bottle-meets-cell-phone concept. The user adds a can of soda, and can talk on the phone for four times longer than if they were using a lithium ion battery. Um...say what?

This is supposed to be a "green phone" design for Nokia. It's one I highly doubt the company will buy into.

From the designer: "Through my research, I found that phone battery as a power source, it is expensive, consuming valuable resources on manufacturing, presenting a disposal problem and harmful to the environment. The concept is using bio battery to replace the traditional battery to create a pollution free environment. Bio battery is an ecologically friendly energy generates electricity from carbohydrates (currently sugar) and utilizes enzymes as the catalyst. By using bio battery as the power source of the phone, it only needs a pack of sugary drink and it generates water and oxygen while the battery dies out. Bio battery has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium batteries and it could be fully biodegradable. Meanwhile, it brings a whole new perception to batteries and afternoon tea."

Do I need to go into detail on this one? Designers...please, don't waste time on BS ideas like this. A can of soda is not a low carbon footprint way of getting energy for a gadget, nor is it "pollution free." And there's no way a dose of soda can provide four times the length of charge of a lithium battery. Plus, who wants to pour liquid anywhere near their mobile phone, let alone into it?

original article.

Zomm keeps you from losing your cell.

2010-01-06T15:15:00.000-08:00

OOOO!!this looks like something i might actually consider buying its pretty cool. it lets you know when your left your cell phone somewhere.
check out this short article.

Tired of losing your cell phone? Maybe you need a Zomm.

The new gadget is billed as a wireless leash for mobile phones reminding you when you've left your cell phone behind. Here's how it works:

You just pair the nugget sized Zomm with your phone over Bluetooth. Then you clip the Zomm onto you or attach it to your keychain. When your cell phones gets more than 30 feet away from Zomm, the Zomm unit starts to vibrate, flash lights and then eventually lets out a wail.

You can also use the Zomm as a Bluetooth speaker so you can answer calls through it, instead of talking straight into your phone.

The leash idea can work in reverse too. If you're the type who loses their keys more than their phone, you can just attach Zomm to your keys and then whenever you lose your keys, you can call Zomm and set off its alarm.

There's also a panic button. In case of emergency you can just press it and get help immediately, without dialing on your cell phone.

Zomm will be available this summer for $79.95

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/techchron/detail?&entry_id=54684#ixzz0bsR2kJMO

Original article.

IDC: Apple App Store to Top 300,000 Apps in 2010

2009-12-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

slow cold morning. ahh super cold and boring this morning... and im kinda in a rush to type so that i can put my hands back under the blankets. soo here ya go!

IDC: Apple App Store to Top 300,000 Apps in 2010
The Apple App Store will balloon to more than 300,000 apps by the end of 2010, up from more than 100,000 games, calendars and other apps being offered today, according to a new forecast from consultant IDC.

This estimate may yet prove conservative. In the past year, the App Store’s catalogue increased at a much faster pace, from 10,000 apps to more than 100,000 applications, according to Apple. Were the current rate of growth to continue, the App Store would cross 1 million applications in a year. So IDC forecasts a major deceleration in growth.

There are a couple of reasons why this deceleration in developer interest in the App Store might happen. One, rival app stores, such as Google’s Android Market, will continue to gain traction. The Android Market should grow from more than 12,000 apps recently to as many as 75,000 apps by the end of 2010, according to IDC. Two, many developers are growing increasingly frustrated with Apple’s application approval process. They also complain that, as the App Store’s catalogue grows, users will find it increasingly difficult to find their apps, and it will become increasingly challenging to make money in the App Store.

original article

HP announces iPAQ Glisten for AT&T, and no one cares

2009-11-24T11:19:00.000-08:00

good morning bloggers!
its thanksgiving week. my all time favorite holiday. endless amounts of eating not to mention the pumpkin pie and stuffing yum! anyways browsing the google news as use i found this article. enjoy happy holidays!

If this were 2007, we’d be all about HP’s triumphant launch of their latest “WinMo” smartphone. But, seeing as how it’s almost 2010 and Windows Phones are losing market- and mind-share to iPhone and Android hardware, it’s hard to get excited about HP’s new business-class iPAQ Glisten for AT&T (NYSE: T). Still, it’s good to see HP finding it’s way back to the smartphone segment.

HP has announced their iPAQ Glisten as the AT&T production version of the HP K3/Obsidian that we’ve spied in the past. The smartphone sports a 2.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen (QVGA), 3G data, WiFi, GPS and a 3.1-megapixel camera – all powered by Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional. It’s good to see HP’s aging iPAQ brand coming back to market with high-tech features like the AMOLED display and integrated GPS receiver. OLED displays make for some serious color-rich pictures and videos while consuming less power than traditional LCD displays, which is a win-win in our book. Check out our Samsung Behold II hands-on video (in HD) to see for yourself how bright and crisp an AMOLED display can be.

The HP iPAQ Glisten is aimed at the enterprise segment, and will only be available on the AT&T website. Price comes in at $179.99 when purchased with a new 2-year contract.

Learn more about the HP iPAQ Glisten here.

Original article.

Droid

2009-11-17T14:24:00.000-08:00

My friend just recently go one and he says he loves it i haven't had a chance to see it yet but im sure when i do im going to want to play and explore with it. its funny he had about 5 blackberry just this yr because hes dropped them of got pushed in the pool and then he gets a droid.. hmm im going to have to check this out.

Only a few months ago, the best way to describe Motorola’s mobile-market health was “handset division woes” – seriously… just google it. But with the launch of the Motorola Droid the company – at least on the surface – seems to be flourishing. Om Malik from GigaOM just published word from Mark McKechnie of Broadpoint AmTech suggesting Motorola will have sold 600,000 Motorola Droids by the end of this year.

Motorola also has the CLIQ, their first Android phone which launched on T-Mobile, and that doesn’t seem to be doing too bad either. Combine CLIQ/Dexter sales on T-Mobile, Orange, Telefonica and American Movil (400,000) with those Droid numbers and Motorola will have pushed over a million Android Phones this year alone – with most of them coming in a 2-month period.

Next year is looking even rosier – the same company estimates 10 MILLION Motorola Android Phones will be sold in 2010 and with an average price of $286 – we’re talking about 2.86 billion in sales of Motorola Android Phones alone. Wow… just, wow. Of course these are all estimated guesses guesstimates by industry analysts but still, you’ve got to be impressed. I am kind of curious as to whether those Droid stats include the Motoroa MILESTONE, the European version of the Droid that just launched on O2 Germany. But either way… itDoesn’t really matter, the numbers are pretty darn staggering.

For some reason I highly doubt Motorola is very eager to sell their handset division at this particular moment in time.

original article.

reviews on the new verizon phone.

2009-11-10T11:20:00.000-08:00

Article on the new iphone look alike for Verizon.
not really sure on the name so if you guys know please feel free to let me know.. all i know is that Ive been hearing about this and now its finally here.. i attempted to google it but i don't know the exact name! so i didn't really see anything on it.. my sister saw it though on a commercial and she said it was really cool so i cannot wait to see!

Verizon’s Apple- and AT&T-bashing advertisements appear to be swaying public opinion, at least for now.

According to YouGov’s BrandIndex, which measures consumers’ brand perceptions on a daily basis, attitudes toward Verizon Wireless and AT&T have shifted since Verizon launched its Motorola Droid campaign on Oct. 19.

BrandIndex scores can range from 100 to -100, and on Oct. 19, 18 to 34-year olds were asked, “Would you recommend the brand to a friend?” Verizon received a rating of 8.3, while AT&T received a 1.4. A few days later, the carriers were approximately tied around a rating of 10, but from there, customer ratings of Verizon began to soar, while those for AT&T dropped.

Around Nov. 5, AT&T’s overall rating was approximately -8, while Verizon hovered near 28. BrandPoint says it interviews 5,000 people each day, and that its margin of error is plus or minus 2 percent.

Resource Library:

Motorola Connects Remote Campuses for Weymouth College

Manipal University Creates an All-Wireless Campus with Motorola

Galvestons 9-1-1 Wireless Backup Network Proves Itself During Outages

Zion Public Schools Making the Grade

“We measure a bunch of different metrics, and one is buzz. It really tracks ad campaign activity,” Ted Marzilli, managing director of BrandIndex, told eWEEK. Marzilli said measures of buzz tend to move around quite a bit.

“What’s more surprising is to see things like satisfaction and quality move as well,” Marzilli continued. “Those tend to move more slowly. When you see things like quality [ratings] go up or down, those tend to have staying power.”

Verizon’s Oct. 19 ad touted the Motorola Droid as everything the iPhone isn’t — a device with a physical keyboard, with a flash camera, that can run several applications at once and that can be customized with widgets.

Later ads have taken shots at AT&T’s 3G network by comparing its coverage areas to Verizon’s. A new holiday-timed ad shows the iPhone arriving at the Island of Misfit Toys, where the other toys discover that it’s a good fit since — although it can browse the Web and download apps — its barely there coverage map renders its other features moot, the ad implies

AT&T has since filed a suit against Verizon, claiming that the coverage maps are misleading.

According to BrandIndex numbers, AT&T has reason to be upset, as the ads are swaying public opinion.

“The challenge for AT&T is that the commercials have already aired, and they’ve made an impact,” said Marzilli. “I don’t know what AT&T is going to get out of this lawsuit, except to get Verizon to pull the ads. … That may at least be their immediate goal.”

Marzilli added that BrandIndex also measures Attention, which he describes as how tuned-in consumers are to what’s going on with a company in the last two weeks. Verizon and AT&T, both heavy advertisers, so garner a lot of attention, he said.

“This is an interesting period, because with the Droid, Verizon is going head to head against AT&T. And when we see scores start to really diverge, it shows these head-on ads can be quite effective,” Marzilli said. “It’ll be interesting to see how AT&T, or Apple, addresses this in the coming weeks.”

Original article.

phone just to tweet???

2009-11-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

Computerworld - There's a new gadget out today that will let people Twitter while they're on the go.

The issue is that it's the only thing the device, dubbed TwitterPeek, can do. And that's going to be a problem, according to one analyst.

Gadget-maker Peek unveiled its TwitterPeek mobile device today on Amazon.com. The company is touting the $99 device for people who don't have a smartphone or data plan.

"TwitterPeek will make it easy and affordable for everyone who doesn't have a smartphone to really enjoy Twitter on the go," said "Peekster-in-Chief" Amol Sarva, in a statement. ""Twitter die-hards will appreciate its 'always-on' instant tweet delivery and newbies will finally 'get Twitter' once they have TwitterPeek in hand. Even businesses that Twitter will dig TwitterPeek as a convenient way to stay connected with their customers."

But the gadget market has moved beyond devices that can only do one thing.

Are users going to lay down money for a gadget that can't multi-function as a cell phone, camera, digital organizer, video camera and GPS navigator? Dan Olds, principal analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group, said he doesn't think so.

"Just what everyone wants, one more device to carry around," Olds said. "In order to get on the TweetPeek bus, customers will have to pony up $99 and, after six months, an additional $7.95 per month. So for the first year, users will be shelling out $146.70 just for the ability to tweet. And only tweet . This thing is just a piece of high-impact plastic that can send and receive great thoughts in 140 character servings. I don't see the point."

While mobility seems to be the next wave for Web 2.0, Olds added that he doesn't think TwitterPeek will be in a position to benefit from it.

"Mobile is certainly going to be an increasingly important part of the advance of Web 2.0, but single-function devices like TweetPeek aren't the route mobile is going to take," said Olds. "I guess people could duct tape this thing to whatever old archaic non-Web browsing cell phone they have and maybe to a cheap digital camera too. That would be handy."

Orignal article

CANCER CELL PHONE

2009-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Long-term users at risk, 13-nation study reveals

Mobile phone use can be linked to four different kinds of cancer, an international survey found.

It showed "a significantly increased risk" of some brain tumours "related to use for a period of 10 years or more".

The World Health Organisation research, which took 10 years and looked at 12,800 people, will issue a health warning to go with its findings.

Dr Siegal Sadetzki, one of the 13-nation team of researchers, said: "Most studies, including ours, show something happening in long-term users. Why shouldn't we take some simple measures to limit exposure just to be on the safe side?"

Dr Elisabeth Cardis - head of the Interphone project research, which will be published in full within two months - said: "I am in agreement with restricting use by children, though I would not go as far as banning mobiles."

A breakdown of the findings shows a rise in the risk of glioma - the most common brain tumour. Israeli studies found heavy users were at least 50 per cent more likely to suffer tumours of the salivary gland.

Alasdair Philips, of campaign group Powerwatch, said: "Primary school children should not have mobile phones, secondary school children should be encouraged to text rather than call, and males should not keep them in a pocket as they drastically affect fertility

image
Original Article.

Barnes & Noble expected to unveil e-reader

2009-10-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

By MAE ANDERSON (AP) – 21 minutes ago

NEW YORK — Barnes & Noble Inc. Inc. is expected to unveil an electronic-book reader Tuesday to compete with Amazon.com's Kindle in the still-small arena where some see bookselling's future heading.

The New York Times reported that the wireless reader will be called the "Nook" and sell for $259 — the same as the recently reduced Kindle. The newspaper cited an ad to run in its book review section Sunday.

The reader will offer a color touch screen, according to the Times, and there was speculation in blogs that it will let users loan e-books to other people.

Barnes & Noble executives did not return calls for comment Tuesday.

The largest U.S. book store chain is only the latest company to enter the e-reader market, which Kindle has dominated since its 2007 launch. Sony has sold e-readers since 2006 and plans to launch a new version with a touch screen and wireless downloading capability via AT&T in December. Smaller companies IREX Technologies Inc. and Plastic Logic Ltd. also plan to offer e-readers soon.

So far, e-readership is small.

"Only 8 percent of the U.S. adult population bought one e-book in 2008," and most read them on PCs, said Michael Norris, senior analyst at research firm Simba Information. "So it's a device that is extremely important to everyone except 92 percent of American adults."

Still, the niche is growing fast in an industry that is slumping. Forrester Research predicts 3 million e-readers will sell in the U.S. in 2009, and twice as many in 2010.

Sales have been falling for years at Barnes & Noble and other brick-and-mortar booksellers — mainly chief rival Borders Inc., which sells Sony e-readers in some stores — as shoppers turn to online and discount booksellers. The recession also led consumers to slash their spending on discretionary items like books and music.

Barnes & Noble hopes the e-reader and the company's new e-bookstore, launched in July, will boost sales. The e-bookstore, which sells versions of books to read on smart phones and other mobile devices and most personal computers, offers 700,000 books, including the more than half-million offered free by Google Inc. It plans to offer up to 1 million within a year, as well as magazines and newspapers.

Amazon.com meanwhile offers about 350,000 books for the Kindle, and Sony offers about 600,000, including Google's free titles.

When Barnes & Noble launched its e-bookstore, it was to be the exclusive provider of books for a reader from Plastic Logic to be released in 2010. It was not clear Tuesday afternoon whether Plastic Logic makes the e-book soon to be announced.

For Barnes & Noble and Amazon, e-book readers may be customer retention tools more than anything else because owners must buy proprietary versions of books to use the devices. And Barnes & Noble has the advantage that it can feature its e-reader in its stores, said Norris.

"If you buy something from Amazon, you can't touch it first," he said. "Barnes & Noble presumably will have big showcases for these in all of its superstores.... Barnes & Noble, knowing full well that Amazon isn't as big in e-books as it wants people to think, is hoping that the fact they can get consumers to hold a reasonably priced e-book device in their hand ... will target their device to the right people."

Original article

T-Mobile Halts Sale Of Sidekick

2009-10-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

I had a sidekick wayy back when haha okay not that long ago but basically almost a yr ago.. on valentines day i dropped it in the toilet and that was the end of that.. it wasn't an lx tho.. i had the slide, which i do admit i didn't like much lol

T-Mobile USA temporarily suspended selling its Sidekick messaging-centric cellphone following an embarrassing loss of customer data.

A T-Mobile spokesman said the company has stopped selling the devices in its stores and online until it resolves a disruption to an online service for the Sidekick, a phone popular with teenagers.

In addition to a free month of data service that T-Mobile has said it plans to extend to affected subscribers, the carrier is "actively discussing" other plans to make amends to those customers.

The move is a blow to the Sidekick line and T-Mobile's relationship with Microsoft Corp., which owns the company that designs Sidekick's software and service.

T-Mobile, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG and the fourth-largest carrier in the U.S., cannot afford the negative press. T-Mobile is struggling with subscriber growth, and there is speculation from analysts that the company is ready to mount an aggressive campaign to win back customers with a cheaper plan and better phones.

The carrier has deflected most of the blame to Microsoft and Danger, which was responsible for handling the personal data and contacts stored on the Web.

Microsoft expressed regret over the lost data and said it would continue working on recovering it.

The Sidekick problems are a black eye for Microsoft that comes shortly after it made a push to rebrand its Windows Mobile phones as "Windows Phones" with the release of a software update. While adding a few new features, the update has drawn mixed reviews and has been criticized as behind rivals like Google Inc.'s Android or Apple Inc.'s iPhone.

Sidekick users are still awaiting an update on the situation, but Microsoft and Danger have warned that the data are likely lost. Sidekick customers have been advised to not remove the batteries on their devices or let them drain completely.

Original article
image

HTC Touch Pro2

2009-09-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

This phone is mainly for Verizon Wireless. I actually like how the screen is moved differently than most phones. I also love how the QWERTY keyboard is uptodate with its spaciousness. I also love how big the screen is on the phone which is great for touching it. I don't think that the back side of this phone is attractive at all. It looks like any ordinary phone from Verizon or something. "The HTC Touch Pro2 is making the rounds to the various carriers; first showing up at T-Mobile, then to Sprint, and now Verizon Wireless. Verizon's version of the Windows Mobile smartphone isn't all that different from the other models, delivering a powerful business device capable of handling all your e-mail, productivity, and communication needs". I am glad however the fact that better phones are coming out to Verizon. Many people have switched to other companies for the iphone or G1

Original Article

iPhone for MMS comes out September 25th

2009-09-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Finally! This day has come for all of us iPhone users! I think it's pretty lame that we had to wait like 2 years for this feature to come out! -_- How wack is that. But it's okay cause this moment will be happy for all of us that I think AT&T is going to overload. haha We know that iPhone users will embrace MMS. The unique capabilities and high usage of the iPhone's multimedia capabilities required us to work on our network MMS architecture to carry the expected record volumes of MMS traffic and ensure an excellent experience from Day One. I'm really excited though?! (= "MMS, of course, has always been available on a wide variety of phones and when Apple announced that the iPhone 3.0 firmware upgrade would be capable of supporting MMS but that AT&T wasn't quite ready yet, a lot of users were quite disappointed. Indeed, Apple and AT&T are currently being sued for misleading consumers into believing that the iPhone would be capable of multimedia messaging."

I didn't know people would actually sue just because the iPhone didn't have a MMS feature.

Original Article

Line2 adds a second number to your iPhone

2009-09-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

I thought I've seen it all for the iPhone. I was wrong! I can't believe the apps that are made for this phone. I thought that this was pretty cool though! Everything is someone neat on the iPhone. haha But yes! You can add a second line that adds a second number to your iPhone. Well, sort of. Your iPhone rings and you see your Toktumi number as the caller ID. When you answer, the automated Toktumi bot tells you who's calling and gives you the option of accepting the call or sending it directly to voice mail. Toktumi wants to make it clear that Line2 isn't intended as a "cheap calling solution," but rather an option for business professionals seeking a separate number that integrates with their phone. Isn't that cool? Damn this is so impressive! Especially when you could download all this straight to your iPhone! hmmm And I'm so hungry! I should have ate something before I went to work. )= haha

Original Article

Facebook 3.0 App for the iPhone

2009-09-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

So, I downloaded the new facebook app for my iPhone and I thought that it was awesome! haha It was so crazy how it goes landscape and you could move icons around to your choosing. Also there is like a book mark button of some sort whihc I thought was pretty useful! You could actually press a Like Button on there now! haha This new version simply improves upon the old one in just about every way imaginable. Not only does it have a wide range of new options and features, many of which we went over previously, but it’s actually faster. And the design is rather brilliant. Built by Facebook engineer Joe Hewitt, the app manages to maintain the good practices found in many iPhone apps, while at the same time creating its own unique look and feel. “It’s sort of like the iPhone main screen, but with a different, distinctive design” Interesting that it attempts to take over your iPhone in that way.

Original Article

Palm Pre

2009-08-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

I see this commercial like all the time with the white girl who looks pale. haha I think this looks like an awesome phone. The first thing that I thought of the keyboard and how it looks really squished all together like that. I like to have a lot of room especially for a QWERTY keyboard. Despite some missing features and performance issues that make it less than ideal for on-the-go professionals, the Palm Pre offers gadget lovers and consumers well-integrated features and unparalled multitasking capabilities. The hardware could be better, but more importantly, Palm has developed a solid OS that not only rivals the competition but also sets a new standard in the way smartphones handle tasks and manage information. I don't think that Sprint itself has a lot of great phones like Verizon and AT&T does. So for this phone to be out to Sprint, this is a great phone to have as a messenging phone.

Original Article

HTC Touch Pro2

2009-08-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with HTC's! haha On the other hand, I don't like their new touch phone that's only a touch phone for T-Mobile. If it has a roomy keyboard and looks professional, then I'm alright. haha That's what is missing on the iPhone. I hope Apple fixes that lack of feature with a physical keyboard. Like the unlocked version, the HTC Touch Pro2 offers a long laundry list of features, including some standouts, such as an extra-large touch screen, excellent keyboard, and enhanced phone capabilities. In addition, the smartphone offers support for T-Mobile's 3G network. While its bulky size and occasional sluggishness is sometimes a nuisance, we think the Touch Pro2 is one of the most powerful smartphones in T-Mobile's lineup and will make plenty a business/power user happy. However, all the functionality comes at a cost as the smartphone will go for pricey $349.99 with a two-year contract. Wow, I can't believe that this phone is up for $349! That's like the blackberry bold we're talking about here. And the iPhone 3GS is $199 with a contract! 3G is $ 99. And iPhone is still by far the best touch screen phones ever.
I'd like to see someone beat that though.

Original Article

HTC Fuze

2009-08-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

I really do think I belong with this phone )= As much as I love my iPhone, I would love to keep it on the side while I use my HTC Fuze. haha I wish I could afford it though. I really would love a sliding phone with an actual keyboard that is more roomy than a blackberry bold. Besides I really do love the back side of the HTC Fuze! It has a prism shaped on the back and it's black, it looks classy! Sigh, I hope that the iPhone comes out with a sliding phone with a physical keyboard that resembles a lot like the macbook keyboard! That would be just great (= I don't think that i'll ever switch phones after that again! For AT&T business customers who demand the most out of their smartphones, the HTC Fuze is up to the task, delivering plenty of features, good performance, and a functional design."Other controls on the HTC Fuze include a standard navigation array below the screen, which includes Talk and End keys, a Home shortcut, a back button, and a directional keypad with a center select button. The latter is also touch sensitive and in some applications, like the Web browser, you can use your thumb or finger to make a clockwise or counterclockwise circle to zoom in/out of pages. "

Original Article

iPhone's Navigational System

2009-07-29T10:25:00.000-07:00

I left my blackberry for the iPhone 3G. As much as I loved my blackberry, it was way too expensive. I'm saving 30 bucks a month while having an iPhone (with the same exact features as my blackberry). While I had the blackberry, I paid 10 bucks extra for a GPS. It was alright, but I couldn't rely on it all the time. When I came back to the iPhone I realized that there was a new app for the iPhone GPS, I was so happy when I saw "Free" then later realized that I had to pay 10 bucks a month. That was bullshit. haha I can't believe it! Here is what Cnet had to say, "At this point I honestly can't decide whether to recommend MobileNavigator or not. The flat-rate pricing is a big draw, but even $69.99 seems high for what you get--especially when you can buy a standalone GPS for the same or less. (And the future $99.99 price? Too high, period.)Meanwhile, the app is missing a few too many features for my liking, though I'm glad to know many of them are in the works."

Original Article

Apple iPhone 3GS overheating?

2009-07-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

I don't have a iPhone myself so I can't really tell you if it's I had one that was overheating or whatever. But I do have friends who have a 3GS and they love it. They never once come across an overheating problem. They just tell me how much faster it is and how much 'more' they love their iPhone. By the way, great way to rub it in guys.
But in the article I read, I guess there have been cases of overheating iPhone. Sounds kind of crazy because when I think of overheating I think of a car having smoke oozing out of their hood on a hot summer day. But hey, I guess it happens on phones too? As Melissa J Perenson said, "very, very hot. Toasty doesn't even describe how surprisingly hot it got. It was too hot to even put the phone against my face." Too hot for the face? Toasty hot? Sounds pretty extreme huh?
When in use, Apple said you need to keep your iPhone between 32 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit or face possible performance issues. "Low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to temporarily stop working properly."
Other issues that might arise include the device stops charging, the display dims or a weak cellular signal. You also might come across a temperature warning.
Apple's document said if you see the warning you need to let the iPhone cool down, though you might still be able to make emergency phone calls.

Original Article

iPhone 3GS

2009-07-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

I don't think that there is much difference from the iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3GS. I think that the only thing that stuck out was the video recording, which should have been released with the first generation iPhone. Although there is more battery life supposedly, I still don't appreciate no MMS! AT&T and Apple promised us that they would have that by the end of july, and I still see no signs that it's coming. "Since the iPhone 3GS inherits many of the features from the previous model, we'll concentrate on what's different on this device. If you need a refresher on such elements as the clock, YouTube, weather, iPod player, calculator, and e-mail, please see our iPhone 3G review. We'll start off with the new features that only the iPhone 3GS will offer. " -CNET. I still would like to believe that the "iphone pro" by gizmodo or something like that is true. That would be cool if the iphone had a physical keyboard. It looks just as good too. And it also has a camera infront of the phone, I'm guessing that it would be for new camera calling? (= I pray that Apple makes it!

Original Article

Optimize your Cellphone Bill

2009-06-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

I already know that I'm paying way too much for my bill. $130. Yes $130. I don't get it, I simply don't. I had the iPhone with the same features ad my new blackberry and only paid $100 bucks. Which was perfectly fine. I don't understand why they charge me so high. I found this article that will help you actually optimize your cellphone bill. I'm officially disappointed with AT&T, they over charge everything! Here's what I found: You: “Hi, I was looking at my plan and it’s getting pretty expensive. Could you tell me what other plans you have that would save me money?”
Them: Blah blah same plans as on the website blah blah
You: “What about any plans not listed on the website?”
Them: No, what we have is listed on the website. Plus, you’re on a contract and have an early cancellation fee of $XXX
You: “Well, I understand that, but I’d be saving $XXX even with that cancellation fee. Look, you know times are tough so I’m thinking of switching to [COMPETITOR COMPANY]. Unless there are any other plans you have…? No? Ok, can you switch me to your cancellation department, please?”

Psych them out! haha I hope that will work. Becuase these are really tough times.

Original Article

LG Neon (AT&T)

2009-06-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

This phone is an overall good messaging phone. It has great perks and the phone looks like it says it all with the name. The phone actually looks neon! I never thought that LG was a great smart phone, but I don't think that is what they are trying to be. I remember their first messaging phone was the LG Xenon are something like that. lol There phones are so cute! haha They look like they are for kids. This phone isn't for people who are professional! haha The spacing on the keyboard does not look like its roomy. It looks a little cramped if you ask me (referring to the picture above.) Although this isn't a good smartphone, the battery life is simply amazing. CNET says, "The LG Neon has a rated battery life of three hours talk time and 10.1 days standby time. We were very impressed with the 8 hours and 41 minute talk time in our tests. According to the FCC, the LG Neon has a SAR rating of 0.998 watt per kilogram."

Original Article

Personalizing your Facebook

2009-06-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Finally Facebook has joined Myspace & Twitter! Facebook has allowed their users to have their own personalize name to help locate friends easier. Like myspace and twitter, facebook allowed the "www.facebook.com/abc123" concept. Very nice I say! This goes great for mobile phones who actually use the web but do not have an application for it. Those users could easily type their friend's names and boom! Instantly their page. Until this point, Facebook members' profiles have been accessible by unique URLs, but they're hard to remember because they use identification numbers rather than custom names. But starting Saturday at midnight Eastern, Facebook will start bringing up an alert message to members who visit the site--unless they're members who registered after 3:00 p.m.
Original Article

iPhone 3G S

2009-06-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry to say, but I think I will forever be an iPhone lover. When I saw the features presented on the offical apple website, my jaw dropped at the amazing new tasks you could do with the new iPhone 3G S. I'm excited to get mine! I will be selling my Blackberry Bold. I bought my blackberry bold for 400 for the phone itself (with a two year contract). Other than that, the iPhone is $199 for a 16gb, and it does a lot more than the blackberry. I love my blackberry, but it's just not cutting it for me with the dropped calls and the unnecessary phone freezes almost everyday. I hope that this iPhone doesn't disappoint! I love the new voice control, and especially, landscape text messaging! (= I know it's in the new software update, but still. haha

Palm Pre Sprint

2009-06-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

I think I've done an article on this not too long ago! It hasn't came out yet at the time when I wrote it. The most important thing that a smart phone should have a quick interface. Like all phones like Apple iPhone, Blackberry, and the G1, they have all one thing in common. They love to drain their own battery! Overall this seems like a great phone that has been the talk of town eversince it came out. The phone is curvy! But if you are someone who is picky about the size of their phone, then it might be a little too bulky for you. Despite some missing features and performance issues that make it less than ideal for on-the-go professionals, the Palm Pre offers gadget lovers and consumers well-integrated features and unparalled multitasking capabilities.

Original Article

Samsung Jack

2009-06-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to think that almost every phone company wants to look like the iPhone or the Blackberry. What's up with that? Remember when flip phones were in? haha It's like yeah yeah sure Samsung had the Blackjack for awhile, but still. The new samsung jack looks like a blackberry curve, doesn't it? I guess this is a the cool new phone and it comes not as expensive as the blackberry bold at&t. That's good, if you want a blackberry bold and can't afford it, you could always buy the Samsung Jack. Overall, the looks of the Samsung Jack's keyboard looks nice and comfortable to use for the standard texter. Check out AT&T's website if you want more information. It's a great phone that everyone should check out. "As the successor to the BlackJack series, the Samsung Jack brings a fresh look and some nice feature upgrades to make it one of AT&T's more solid and affordable messaging smartphones." <--from cnet.com. I don't want people to think that I'm a freaking coopying my blogs. haha Also check out that website, they have great reviews.

Picture Source

iPhone AT&T

2009-05-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Well as for me, when I did have the iPhone I was quite impressed. I didn't really have a problem with connection, because I was always connected. I didn't have 3G so I couldn't really say much about the new iPhone's that have a 3G speed. My only worry about the iphone was, I couldn't go on the internet and be on the phone at the same time. I tried connecting to WiFi, but it couldn't work. It worked like the first day I got it, but other than that..I was set. But what do other people think about the big rumor about iPhone hitting up Verizon? I can't imagine that at all. haha I think that's going to be really trippy. But I know that Verizon's network, isn't all that reliable as it says on their commercials am I right? If you're in that Dead zone, you'll be stuck there basically. haha As for me, I really was impressed about AT&T and their network. They better have a good network, because I seriously couldn't believe that their prices are so expensive still! WE'll see how it goes for Verizon, if they get the iPhone that'll be a good business deal for them. Good luck Verizon. haha

Picture Source

Apple Shocks Customers

2009-05-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

Literally, Apple shocks customers. I thought that this was pretty interesting to write on because who does not own at least one item from Apple? Well, it seems to be that Apple's very own iPhone and iPods may produce a shock when it comes to their earbuds. I guess when people are listening to their iPhone or iPods in extremely dry air, they come to think that is when an Apple user is most at risk. I can not believe this famous company puts their customers in danger like that? I wonder why this problem didn't occur before. But who knows this could happen to all earbuds of different companys (and apple has stated that). I hope Apple knows how to solve this. Eventhough it is a slight shock, STILL! I don't want to randomly listen to music and bam I'm shocked. haha Good luck with Apple in the future! And now that I think of it, I did have problems with this, yet I'm not sure if it was a shock. Obviously, it didn't bother me MUCH for me to actually stop using my earbuds. But on the other hand, for some users it has gotten unbearable to use because it DID shock them so much!
"This condition is not limited to Apple hardware and static can potentially build up on almost any hardware and could be discharged using any brand of earbuds," Apple said.

Original Article

LG Wine

2009-05-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

This phone is very sleek. I'm not a person who LOVES flip phones, but this one is great. I really enjoyed using them when they first came out. But other than that, I think that they are HANDY. I don't own a flip phone, and I have made my share of "accident calls" when the phone is in my pocket. So that's always a good thing! haha Other than that, this phone looks very professional, and if I wanted a flip phone I would get this one. It is very attractive with its nice purple-ish color! I'm not a fan of not ordinary colors for phones, but this is very nice. It's shiny and it has a great display. so if you are planning on getting this phone, I suggest you do so! This is one great flip phone.

Picture Source

Differences between Blackberry bold and Blackberry 8900

2009-05-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

At first, I have always wondered what is different about the blackberry bold and the blackberry 8900 until I saw my friend have the 8900. It was quite similar from the front if you ask me. I thought that both phones looked great; they had an awesome designs! But when I saw the screen on the 8900, it wasn't as great as the bold. It wasn't as crisp and clear, yet it was still good. and of course like any other curve it was smaller. both phones are a good amount of size. for the blackberry bold, there is a leatherlike cover on the back. For the blackberry 8900, the back cover looks exactly like the storm. It looks nice. (= Both phones are great with its speed. I am still wondering about the dropped calls. Which phone gets more? haha If you're deciding on which phone to get, then you should consider these two phones. since one is for Tmobile and one is for AT&T.

Picture source

My own Blackberry review

2009-05-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

I know I write hella blog posts about blackberry's, but you have to admit that they are popular. Well, I wouldn't say that the phone is bulky, I don't really care about size unless it's too small. the blackberry bold is alright for me. First off, I love how I could be on the internet and be on the phone at the same time. I think it's just the 3G, but eh. The interface is beautiful, and i love how I could do multiple things at once, not just kill an application like exiting to get to the next. The speaker phone is louder than the iPhone's speaker that's for sure (maybe they improved the speaker phone), and the dropped calls are insanely wack! I get them almost everyday, it's ridiculous! )= Other than that I love the blackberry messenger! (=

Picture Source

Nokia 3390

2009-05-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Oh man, who remembers this phone as being there first phone? haha This is awesome! I do a lot of posts about the new and high tech phones, but I thought it was time for a change. This was my first phone, and if you didn't have this, you were most definitely not cool. haha I guess people liked this because you could change the cover of it, and other crap. haha I remember the little ringtone maker you could use to make your own ringtones, but it was like littles tones that try to sound like the original song. haha And OF COURSE, THE WONDERFUL GAME: Snake! haha I loved this! haha It was the funnest game in the whole entire world, and it's still hands down the greatest one ever in life. hahaha Ahh nokia nokia nokia, I'm glad to see them alive in this recession! (= Nokia 3390 will always be my favorite phone. Who else had this phone back in the day? before everything became hightech?

Picture Source

Blackberry Bold's dropped calls

2009-05-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

I know it's not just the Blackberry Bold, I think it's all phones that actually have a 3G Network. I don't know but it drops calls at the worst times. & sometimes I can't even make a phone call. I wonder if I get robbed or something I can't call the police because my stupid blackberry is not even working. I don't like how it does that, besides that and its laggish interface (rarely) I really do enjoy it! I love how we could do multiple things at once and have the internet while you are using the phone. that is an awesome feature that the Apple iPhone never seemed to offer. & I read that the Apple iPhone is also experiencing dropped calls same symptoms as the Blackberry Bold. It drives me nuts sometimes !!! Early tests of the BlackBerry Bold reveal that the new handset is suffering from the same 3G connection problems as the iPhone 3G, according to an Apple Insider story.
Citigroup investment research analyst Jim Suva said he tested the BlackBerry Bold, which has yet to be released in the United States, and found that the device experiences unstable 3G network connection, sometimes switching over to the EDGE network — similar to symptoms many have reported about Apple’s iPhone 3G. Suva speculates that the Bold won’t be released in the United States until AT&T rectifies its 3G network issues.

Original Article
Blackberry 8800/ 8820/ 8830 Holster with Swivel belt clip will keep your Blackberry 8800/ 8820/ 8830 cell phone comfortably on your hip!

Apps Apps Apps

2009-05-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I'm pretty much jealous at the fact that the Tmobile G1's app store is pretty much free. I had the iPhone, and I think that their apps are way better eventhough you have to pay. Right now I have the Blackberry Bold, and the blackberry world appstore is ALRIGHT. I'm just pretty pissed that blackberry users have to pay for "Shazam" which is a cool application where you could let it record the music that is on and it will tell you what the title the song will be and other good stuff like that. Blackberry has a trial, but you have to pay if you still want it after a month. I think that's crap. haha Anyways, I think every phone out there has its advantages, yet ehh it's hard to determine which one is the best. I believe that the iPhone most definitely has the best applications!

Picture Source iPod Mini Holster with Swivel belt clip will hold your Apple iPod Mini player comfortably on your hip!

Nokia 5800 Xpress Music (unlocked)

2009-05-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

Ahh yet, another touch screen phone! Hmm let's see if this one has great touch screen interface. I'd really want to get my hands on it! haha While other manufactures (hello, Samsung) rushed headlong into the touch-screen phone craze, other manufacturers were more cautious. For example, just look at Nokia. Though the cellular giant pumps out phones by the dozen, it wasn't until the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music that the company explored touch-screen cell phones with gusto (the Nokia 810 doesn't count). Positioned as a rival to the Apple iPhone, the 5800 is packed with a range of multimedia features. And it all comes in a sharp, slim package with an expansive touch screen.
We were lucky enough to check out a preproduction model of the 5800 back in October and found it to be very promising. Well, we've now had a chance to play with the final product. While our opinion of the phone hasn't changed too much, we think it has some shortcomings when compared with its competition. The user interface and input methods aren't the best and could use some refinement to take advantage of the touch screen. Also, until the Nokia Music Store launches in the United States, the 5800 doesn't offer the full functionality or advantages of an XpressMusic phone, giving the iPhone the edge with its seamless iTunes integration. The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic isn't a bad phone, but when you factor in the $399 unlocked price, it's a little harder to give the handset's drawbacks a pass.

Original Article

Original Audiovox BC-3600 Holster with Swivel Belt Clip
is designed & manufactured by Samsung for your Audiovox PCX-3600-XL Cellular Phone!

RIM Blackberry Storm (Verizon)

2009-04-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

Hmm I'm not sure if I did a blog oon this but hey might as well do another one. haha My brother switched from a blackberry curve to the blackberry storm, and frankily, he misses his curve. He loves how the blackberry storm is a touch screen phone yet, it's hella hard to type on it! The good:
The RIM BlackBerry Storm features an innovative touch screen that provides tactile feedback to confirm your selection. The Storm offers dual-mode functionality for world-roaming capabilities as well as EV-DO Rev. A and UMTS/HSDPA support. Other highlights include GPS and a 3.2-megapixel camera.

The bad:
The Storm's SurePress touch-screen takes some acclimation and the onscreen keyboard is a bit cramped. The smartphone can be sluggish and buggy even after the firmware update.. Speakerphone quality was a bit choppy

The bottom line:
The RIM BlackBerry Storm may blow in a frenzy for Verizon Wireless subscribers wanting a touch screen similar to the Apple iPhone. However, there are bugs and performance issues that prevent the Storm from delivering its full potential.

Specifications:
OS provided: BlackBerry Handheld Software ; Installed RAM: 128 MB ; Band / mode: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband) / UMTS 2100 / CDMA 800/1900 (Dual Band) ;

Earth Day

2009-04-23T13:35:00.001-07:00

So I know I am a day late, I decided to do a little article on earth day. Shai Agassi is famously persuasive. With just an idea, he was able to raise $300 million to launch Better Place, a venture that plans to build electric car charging spots and battery switching stations in Israel, Denmark, San Francisco, and many other places.

He was able to convince Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Renault-Nissan to build electric sedans with a battery pack that can be swapped out at Better Place's robot-assisted stations.

People in the auto industry seemed intrigued with Better Place's business model, where the company owns the batteries and the consumer buys a monthly contract to charge their cars.

But apart from Renault Nissan, no other automakers have signed on with Better Place. And industry executives have voiced skepticism on various aspects of Better Place's ambitious plan: Can one company build an electric vehicle charging infrastructure and operate it profitably? On a technical level, can battery packs be standardized in size for automated battery changing?

Said another way, nobody doubts that Agassi is a visionary with good intentions--to reduce the world's dependence on oil to help preserve the planet. People just wonder if he can make a business of it.

Original Article

Apple iPhone/ AT&T iPhone Black Skin sticks onto your Apple iPhone/ AT&T iPhone cell phone models providing Scratch Resistance. Skins dress up your cell phone easily & inexpensively!

Samsung Impresion SGH -A8

2009-04-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

This phoen seems awesome! I really want a landscape texting phone with a full qwerty keyboard )= haha but my blackberry is as good with it's features. Here's some stuff that I grabbed off cnet! :
The good:
The Samsung Impression has a brilliant touch screen, a roomy keyboard, and an intuitive design. It offers a functional midrange feature set and admirable multimedia performance and call quality.

The bad:
The Samsung Impression has a proprietary headset jack, the camera lacks a flash, and keyboard shortcuts are few. Also, it lacks voice dialing and the promised battery life is rather short.

The bottom line:
The Samsung Impression isn't perfect, but it ranks high on our list as a messaging and multimedia phone.

Specifications:
Band / mode: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband) / 3G 850/1900 (Dual Band) ; Wireless connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0 ; Talk time: Up to 180 min ;

Original Article

HTC Wing/ Herald/ P4350/ 8125/ MDA/ Wizard Screen Protector Film
HTC Wing/ Herald/ P4350/ 8125/ MDA/ Wizard cell phone models are Better protected by this Lens cover protective film, that prevents screen damage. Try it!
Protector film is precisely measured to fit your HTC Wing/ Herald/ P4350/ 8125/ MDA/ Wizard!
Protector film applies directly to the phone screen, no glue is used. This also allows for easy replacement when the film is damaged.

Another Sidekick LX

2009-04-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

Ok, I admit this phone was really cool back in the day, but they seriously need to start stepping up their game! They're against smartphones like the iphone and the blackberry! And their sidekick camera sucks ass till this day! Overall, we liked what we saw of the T-Mobile Sidekick LX. The 3G and Flash video support are huge and so is the Facebook and Twitter integration--should be a hit with its target audience. The phone won't win any beauty contests (there's something a little odd about it that I can't quite pinpoint), but again, the thinner design, the soft-touch finish, and finger grooves add up to a nice user experience. We're expecting to get a review unit before the national launch on May 13, so of course, we'll have a full review, video, and hands-on photos then.

In the meantime, you can check out some beauty shots of the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 below. Also, for all those wondering about the April 21 private launch event in New York, it will be dedicated to the Sidekick LX and only the Sidekick LX, nothing else (read: no T-Mobile G2 yet. Sorry.) CNET TV's Natali del Conte will be at the event so check back later for video of the party and a closer look at the new Sidekick.

Original Article

Danger Sidekick 3/ Sharp Hiptop 3 Screen Protector Film
Danger Sidekick 3/ Sharp Hiptop 3 cell phone models are Better protected by this Lens cover protective film, that prevents screen damage. Try it!
Protector film is precisely measured to fit your Danger Sidekick 3/ Sharp Hiptop 3!
Protector film applies directly to the phone screen, no glue is used. This also allows for easy replacement when the film is damaged.

Early review of the iPhone 3.0

2009-04-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm still so mad that they have all these features! It's okay though because my blackberry is better )= haha Touch screen was never for me anyway! For the past week, I've been able to play with the beta version on the new iPhone OS 3.0. As you probably know, the 3.0 update brings a long list of features to the iPhone including multimedia messaging, cut and paste and a landscape keyboard. As I said last week, iPhone 3.0 has more many more hits than misses, particularly since it finally adds some very basic features that almost every other cell phone has.

Since this is a beta version, I'm not going to get hung up on the obvious bugs. Yes, my iPhone is much slower, and it has a tendency to crash more often, but such problems are to be expected on an OS that's not quite ready for the real world. Instead, I will tell you about my general experience form a usability standpoint.

Cut, cop and paste This is just as Apple execs described at the OS 3.0 announcement. Just double tap a selection to get the cut/copy/paste commands to appear. You then can change the highlighted area by dragging the blue "grab points" around the page. Once you get to your pasting area, just tap the screen again and select the "paste" button. I like the "shake to undo" option, as well. There's just one caveat: at present it seems to be working for notes only.

Landscape keyboard This is one of those "careful what you wish for" situations. After haranguing Apple over the past twenty months to give us a landscape keyboard for texting, notes and e-mail, I have to admit that it does take some acclimation now that I have it. Though the landscape keyboard is much wider with larger buttons, it's also a lot shorter. It did take me a couple of days to get the hang of it. Don't think that I'm not complaining, though, as it's quite the opposite. I love being able to use two hands, but I had grown accustomed to the one finger tap dance on the vertical keyboard. On the other hand, the new ability to view my e-mail inbox in landscape mode

Original Article

CODE: PCSNN5644
PRICE: $49.95
SHIPPING WEIGHT: 0.16 pounds
Manufacturer: MOTOROLA
Comment: MOTOROLA
Category: MOTOROLA
Shipping & Handling: US standard S/H is flat rate $5.95 free S/H for order over $250.

Blackberry Pearl Flip

2009-04-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

I seriously enjoyed watching these tmobile commercial! haha It is just too funny. It's true about people calling on accident. My friends and fmaily did that to me all the time it was ridiculous! I think this is a great phone though over all. It just adds more variety to the blackberry family It's been quite a year for Research In Motion. In 2008, the company debuted its premiere touch-screen BlackBerry, the RIM BlackBerry Storm as well as its first clamshell model, the RIM BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220. While it didn't draw quite the oohs and ahhs of the Storm or the BlackBerry Bold, there are still plenty of people of who really like the flip phone design. In fact, according to RIM, about 70 percent of the cell phone-owning population in the United States has clamshell phones, which is why it wanted to provide this option to customers.

Admittedly, the overall design of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip isn't the flashiest, but it is functional. Plus, there's plenty to like inside the device: an updated operating system and interface, document editing, Wi-Fi, strong e-mail support, and a 2-megapixel camera. It's not for the power business users, but if you're looking for your first smartphone or just want to keep tabs on your e-mail and have a penchant for flips phones, the Pearl Flip is a good option. The RIM BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 will be sold through T-Mobile for a very reasonable $149.99 with a two-year contract and comes in two colors. The black model will be available on October 13, while the red model will be available around October 20.

Original Article

Samsung Memoir T929 Review

2009-04-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

Hmm yet another touch screen phone I see. How many are out there since the iPhone came out!? haha When I first saw this phone, I thought that it was a camera! haha it looked like a real camera at first. It has a great look, yet I read that it is most definitely not a smart phone. I really would like a new look for the iphone, because all these other touch screen phones are catching up on the sleekness! The good:
The Samsung Memoir has a handsome and slim design with a styling that makes it look like a camera. The TouchWiz interface makes navigation a breeze and we love that you can upload your photos directly to online sharing sites. The photo quality is top-notch, and the overall feature set is very impressive. It has great performance as well. The bad:The Samsung Memoir lacks Wi-Fi, its Web browser is not the greatest, and the touch-screen interface takes some acclimation. You are limited to preloaded TouchWiz widgets.The bottom line:
If you don't mind the price, the Samsung Memoir lives up to its promise as a top-notch camera phone.
Specifications:
Band / mode: WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 ; Talk time: Up to 330 min ; Combined with: With digital camera / digital player ;

Original Article

This Siemens SX56/ T-Mobile Pocket PC/ HP 6300/ 6315 i-mate PDA2K compatible car charger/ cigarette lighter adapter immediately operates & charges your Siemens SX56/ T-Mobile Pocket PC/ HP 6300/ 6315 i-mate PDA2K cellular phone when attached to a good, rechargeable battery.
Rapid battery charger quickly charges a 1200 mAh extended life battery, from empty to full, in less than 2 hours!
Rapid battery charger quickly charges a 600 mAh standard battery from empty to full in less than 1 hour!
Smart IC chip will recognize a full battery and automatically switch to a battery saver, powering the cellular phone directly. Regulated Car charger plug never overcharges the battery.
LED colored charging indicator & Short circuit protection.

Samsung Eternity

2009-03-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of touch screen phones coming out since the iPhone came out. Even before then "palm trio" and all that htc goodness. I always wondered if the Samsung Eternity is a good phone. After Samsung made the carrier rounds with the Instinct, the Behold, and the Delve, it's only natural that some variant of a touch-screen phone would come knocking on America's largest carrier, AT&T. Like its cousins, the Eternity (aka the SGH-A867) offers a vibrant touch screen, a sleek design, and multimedia features. But it also shows its individuality by offering AT&T Mobile TV and a couple of design tweaks. The result is a solid multimedia device but, worker bees needing strong data features will be disappointed. Call quality was satisfying, though the 3G connection was a bit shaky. The Eternity is $149 with a service contract and rebates or $369 if you pay full price.

Design
The Eternity has all the hallmarks of a touch-screen phone. It has a rectangular candy bar shape with a slim profile (4.3 inches by 2.2 inches by 0.5 inch) and a large display. The Eternity is 3.88 ounces, a bit lighter than some of its counterparts, but it retains a sturdy feel in the hand. The black color scheme is simple but attractive; we like the glossy material that surrounds the display and the shiny metal spines. Our only gripe concerns the plastic battery cover; a metal cover is preferable.

Original Article

Totally Wireless Speakers
Stream High Quality Music to your rechargeable Samsung CK811 Stereo speakers.
Bluetooth Hands free Speakerphone.
Supports VoIP applications on your computer.
Built in Stereo Speakers and Microphone.

New iPhone software updated

2009-03-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm so mad that everything I've ever wanted in an iPhone has now came AFTER i SOLD MY IPHONE! haha Now there is MMS, Landscape text/email, copy&paste, and 100 more features (from what I read) I think that's ridiculous they waited this long to make a new update of it. Advance preview of 100 new features.
For iPhone owners, it just keeps getting better. When iPhone OS 3.0 arrives this summer, it will introduce over 100 new features, including the ability to:

Search your iPhone
Cut, copy, and paste
Send photos, contacts, audio files, and location via MMS*
Read and compose email and text messages in landscape

1,000 new APIs for developers.
With the new SDK, members of the iPhone Developer Program can build applications that do even more. Developers will have the tools to enable in-app purchases — like subscriptions, additional game levels, and new content. They can also create apps that connect peer to peer via Bluetooth, communicate with hardware accessories, and use the Apple Push Notification service to provide alerts.

I'm so madd!!! haha Every feature sounds good! But there are too many bugs in the past!
Original Article

Rapid Battery Charger Saves the Traveler
Panasonic Promax ProMax EB-TX210/ EB-TX220 DuraMax cellular phone 110VAC rapid travel chargerimmediately operates your cellphone when attached to a rechargeable cellular phone battery.

Supported Models and Categories:
Panasonic EB-TX210/ ProMax Cell Phone Accessories
Panasonic EB-TX220/ DuraMax Cell Phone Accessories

The Ultimate Blackberry

2009-03-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

I can't help but write about blackberry's since I have one! haha I got the Bold, and I just wanted to let you guys know how I thought about it. Since I was a former iPhone user, transferring to a Blackberry Bold was a big change for me. I think that there are a lot of great features on the Blackberry and can match up to the iPhone with its built in programs. With the iPhone, I couldn't be online while I was on the phone. I could change the themes on my phone without actually hacking it. I could make ringtones without hacking as well. That's a huge step up for me, considering I didn't even want to hack my iphone to begin with. The BlackBerry Bold ships with the latest BlackBerry OS 4.6, bringing the aforementioned updated user interface as well as new functionality. E-mail, of course, remains the strongpoint of the BlackBerry Bold. It can sync with your company's BlackBerry Enterprise server, with support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise, to deliver corporate e-mail in real time. With BlackBerry Internet Service, you can also access up to 10 personal/business POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts. Like all recent BlackBerry models, the Bold has a spell-check feature that will look for errors in e-mails and memos, but not text messages. There's also an attachment viewer for opening Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Corel WordPerfect, PDF, JPEG, GIF, and more.

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Apple iPhone adapter for the iPhone audio jack, recessed, adds microphone to any 3.5 mm Stereo headset device, and fits Apple iPhone cell phone modelsby adding a Microphone with Send/ End button. $19.99

G1

2009-03-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

The G1.
hmm what ca i say about the G1. well to be honest when it first came out i wasn't a big fan.. i mean i thought it was kinda like a brick to be honest and i didn't like the fact that it was so big and bulky. well its been almost a year since its come out and my friend recently bought it.. and well now i kinda like it i mean i don't use it so i cant say i really like but i like how it looks and how it operates ya know. plus i think they re sized it or something because i remember it being alot bigger.. maybe the white one is just smaller i don't know.. but the truth is.. its funny how when you see something or hear a new song for the first time you do like.. then after seeing it or hearing it a few times it grows on you and you start to like it. That is exactly what happened with me this time.. i felt kinda like a Hippocratic but yeah... i think the G1 is pretty cool has alot of useless features but still its an entertaining phone . so if you were interested in it. i say go check it out because you might like it.

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AT&T Quickfire Review

2009-03-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

Before my blackberry, I wanted to look at more phones with a qwerty keyboard. Of course, it came down to blackberry bold and the HTC Fuze. Then I came across the AT&T Quickfire. I read the reviews and it wasn't that great. First off, it looked like it was a generic looking sidekick and that is exactly what the reviewers said. I think that this phone is great for younger kids. Nowadays, I see kids with iPhones. Please, why does a 13 year old girl need a iPhone for? To check her stocks? Haha No, I'm kidding. I think that the Quickfire is great because it looks easy to use although the touch interface is a tad bit slow. Other than that, how they made a wannabe sidekick. When the Quickfire first appeared in public, many people described it as a clone of the T-Mobile Sidekick. It's easy to see why; the Quickfire does have a similar form factor to the Sidekick, with the large, wide screen in the middle and bezels to the left and right (or top and bottom depending on your perspective). Like the Sidekick Slide, the Quickfire slides open to reveal a full QWERTY board, and also like the Sidekick, the Quickfire is on the bulky side. Measuring 4.3 inches long by 2.2 inches wide by 0.7 inch thick, it's even a little thicker than the Sidekick, albeit a bit smaller in size. The overall style of the Quickfire is rather blocky and clunky, and its hefty 4.8 ounce weight adds to that impression.

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HTC Fuze

2009-03-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

Before getting my new blackberry bold I really wanted the HTC Fuze! I couldn't help think about that damn phone! Until I saw that the touch screen was ridiculously slow and the whole phone was very laggish.I really liked the back of the HTC Fuze with it's diamond shape ordeal that it has going on. haha But it was a finger print magnet. The good:
The HTC Fuze for AT&T ships with Windows Mobile 6.1, push e-mail capabilities, and a good helping of multimedia features, including a 3.2 megapixel camera. Other highlights include a full QWERTY keyboard; VGA touch screen; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth: GPS; and HSDPA support.

The bad:
The HTC Fuze doesn't have a standard headphone jack, and the smartphone is a bit bulky. Speakerphone quality isn't the greatest and streaming video can cause the phone to stall. It's also pricey.

The bottom line:
For AT&T business customers who demand the most out of their smartphones, the HTC Fuze is up to the task, delivering plenty of features, good performance, and a functional design.

Specifications:
OS provided: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional ; Installed RAM: 288 MB ; Processor: QUALCOMM 528 MHzMSM7201A

Original Article CNET has some great cell phone articles!Great grabbing covers!

My How Times Have Changed.

2009-03-02T17:09:00.000-08:00

I remember back in the day when no one had a cell phone.shot! i remember when i didn't have a cell phone.. and to be honest i really don't know how i communicated with everyone haha,like now I'm constantly on my phone texting as many as 4 or 5 people at a time.

My My how times have changed i just read this article that said that more then half the world owns cell phones.. MORE THEN HALF! that's crazyyyy i didn't get a cell phone until my senior year in High school( i was basically the only one without one lol) and now that i think back and i try to remember how i use to communicate with the world i really cant remember haha. it amazes me when i see a little 2nd grader on there phone texting.. because when i was in 2nd grade i didn't even know what a cell phone was! yet alone how to send a text message.

but i cant complain because i love my phone.. i have a blackberry and its pretty much amazing haha. so yeah i love all the new gadgets and to be honest im really excited to see where technology's going to be like in a few years.
flying cars maybe?? hahha :]

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Why Blackberry's are so Popular

2009-02-26T17:36:00.000-08:00

I think that iphones are not becoming a sophisticated phone just because it is touch. and children need the newest technology nowadays a children has to TOUCH EVERYTHING with new inventions. I see 12 - 15 year old teenboppers getting an iphone and frankly, it's not as classy as it was before. Blackberrys are very much for business and it is more user friendly if you ask me. There are a lot of games with the iphone, but what are you going to do with all those games when you need to send something to your boss right? A lot of businesses have their employers own a blackberry because it's reliable. The BlackBerry is a wireless handheld device introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager. In 2002, the more commonly known smartphone BlackBerry was released, which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services as well as a multi-touch interface. It is an example of a convergent device. Developed by the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM), it delivers information over the wireless data networks of mobile phone service companies. BlackBerry first made headway in the marketplace by concentrating on e-mail. RIM currently offers BlackBerry e-mail service to non-BlackBerry devices, such as the Palm Treo, through the BlackBerry Connect software. The original BlackBerry device had a monochrome display, but all current models have color displays.

Original Article

2009-02-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

I recently got a new phone and so far i LOVE it. its so much better compared to my old phone. I got the Blackberry curve ( sunset) i use to have a sidekick slide but to be honest that had to be one of the worst phones i ever had( didnt start off that way tho)

anyways i love my curve its amazing! i just got it a few days ago so im still learning the ropes.. so far i love it. i mean im having a little trouble with the whole importing and saving things to my sim but im sure when i read the manual i'll figure it out.
For those who do not have the curve but were thinking about purchasing one heres some more information about the phone and maybe after reading this you'll consider it even more.

Wireless email
Organiser
Browser
Phone
Camera
Multi-media player
Corporate data access
SMS
MMS
GPS

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Maharashtra govt bans mobile phones in schools

2009-02-21T15:29:00.000-08:00

So when your cell phone rings in class and your professor gives you a dissaproving glance or worse, calls you out in class and tells you to turn off your phone, maybe you say few words in your head or get angry at the fact that you're not allowed to use phones in class. Maybe you shouldn't be too quick to curse your misfortune at being in such a "strict" society.

In an article on the timesofindia.com, The Maharashtra government in India has banned the use of mobile phones on school premises. This is not only directed towards students but teachers as well. If a student is caught using a cell phone on school premises, they can be fined Rs 50 while teachers will be fine Rs 100. This ban will be enforced by the school principals, who will also be fined if caught using a cell phone by the Education Department Officials.

It's nice to see that this ban isn't just restricted to the students but teachers and school officials must also follow it aslo. Lead by example right? Anyways, I thought this article is relevant to us in the states because it's just shows that never take what you have for granted. Maybe you can't use your phones in class but atleast you can still use your phone on school campus.

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Awards and More...Best Handset 2009 INQ1

2009-02-21T15:02:00.000-08:00

With the amount of cellphones and cellphones related items coming out monthly, it's hard to keep track of what's good, what's reliable, and what's a fad. If you're in the market for a new cell phone, you could ask the sales person, but be ready for a lot of run arounds and extras being tossed into the conversation. The best thing to do for yourself, is do some research and ask around. See what people liked or dislike about their phones and service and ask the why's.

According to an article on cellphones4us.com, the winner of the best handset for 2009 is the INQ1, it defeated very popular ones such as Nokia E71 and Blackberry Storm. The award was based on its social networking functionality. The article states the phone to, "providing facilities like Facebook access, along with last.fm." Skype and Windows Live Messenger was also added to the worth of this device.

The award for best moblie internet service was given to Nokia Sports Tracker. This feature tracks activites like jogging and running using GPS techonology. The award for Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough was given to Sure Press Techonology from Blackberry. If you do your research, you're bound to find the phone and servie you're looking for and if you don't, I'm sure something new will come out in a few months that will be quite tempting to consider.

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Which Blackberry is the Best?

2009-02-19T17:24:00.000-08:00

I've recently switched from the iPhone to a Blackberry Bold. And I absolutely love it! I checked out one website and just picked out one random blackberry out of all the blackberry's models (and believe me there are a lot). Here is more information about the RIM Blackberry 8800 When thinking about the problems with the BlackBerry 8800, we're tempted to paraphrase James Carville by saying: "It's the interface, stupid." The BlackBerry 8800 has a great feature set, including the well-designed trackball, GPS-navigation, an excellent microphone and speaker for calling, as well as a bright, clear screen. Still, the interface holds the phone back in almost every way. Even worse than the lack of 3G networking, a feature most true business users won't miss, is the poor interface design, which hasn't changed noticeably from monochromatic days of BlackBerrys past. With Windows Mobile 6 on the near-horizon, and Apple's magical iPhone interface not too far off, RIM needs to redesign the interface from the ground up to remain competitive. The device does a great job with e-mail and calling, admittedly its primary functions, but should be a much more pleasant phone to use. Release: February 2007. Price: $300.
Pros: Excellent calling capabilities; best-in-class battery; slim design; trackball is great for navigation.
Cons: Dated interface; lacks 3G connectivity; creaky construction; multimedia could be better.
Multimedia and GPS - Mediocre

On paper, the BlackBerry 8800 seems to have a wealth of multimedia options. It can play WMV and MP4 videos. It can handle WMA, MP3 and AAC music files. GPS-navigation comes standard (though you'll pay about $10 a month for TeleNav service), and there is a rumor that A2DP support could be an upgrade with a forthcoming firmware update. Still, The entire experience is quite average. The media transfer software is as bare as it gets, relying on folder trees to move files to and from the device. Songs sound good, and videos look okay, but not great, with some pixelation and stuttering. EDGE means there are no streaming or over-the-air download options, and the phone lacks any DRM support. Also, we understand the lack of a camera for sensitive business environments, but many manufacturers omit the camera as an option, not as a standard "feature."

GPS was disappointing as well. The sensor had trouble finding our location in Manhattan, and navigating our commute home on the New Jersey highways, our signal dropped off about once every 10 minutes. Maps downloaded slowly over the EDGE connection, as well. We do like the fact that the address book links directly to TeleNav, so you can find a contact and then use the "Drive To" option to get directions to their address. Still, this didn't make up for poor GPS performance.

Our favorite: Integrating the address book with the navigation app makes sense

Our request: More multimedia, including some DRM support and better transfer software

Battery life - Excellent

We don't usually devote a section to battery life, but the BlackBerry 8800 does have extraordinary power management. We managed a phone call that was fifteen minutes shy of nine hours, which is much more than the already-impressive five hours that RIM claims. We've never seen such performance from a smartphone battery. Here, the lack of HSDPA support probably helps greatly, as 3G capabilities do drain batteries quicker.

Price and availability

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Cell Phone the Nuisance

2009-02-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

Cell phone are undoubtly a great conveinence. They allow people to communicate with one another in nearly any area of the world (pending reception ofcourse). They have saved the lives of probably tons people out there, avoiding tragedies from being lost or stranding to simple task such as turning off a forgotten stove. But cell phones are beginning to get out of controll.

I never cease to be amazed at those individuals who answer their phones during the movies. Or when I'm driving on the freeway and nearly get blind sided by someone, and I look (out of curiosity) to see who is the driver, and find that they are yapping away on their cellphone, no headset and no regard for the well being of other drivers. Now cell phones are becoming a nuisance in a more microway.

I guess in part it's my fault for being to analytical but cell phones are just a burden to carrry around. Often times I am strolling in the store, enjoying my scenary and lost in my thoughts, when suddenly I am loudly and rudely disturbed by the pestering and obnoxious sound of my phone. I reach into my bag to shut it off, but can't find it among the other items in my purse. Yes, I could keep it in my pocket, and risk sitting on it or maybe losing it (maybe that's not such a bad thing). My fiance use to keep his phone in his pocket and recently discovered that due to sitting on his cellphone, his bone is slightly out-of-place in his hip area. Although it is not a big deal, the professional opinion was to not keep it in his pocket or atleast take it out before sitting down.

Yes, cellphones have their benefits, but boy, they sure do pesture you, if not cause you injuries. I guess the simple thing for me is to not have a cellphone, but that is impossible since that is my only means of communication aside from my laptop. I guess I'll just have to find a compromise between me and my cellphone.

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Finding the Pefect Headset

2009-02-14T14:47:00.000-08:00

I've been using cellphones since I was 20. Maybe that's later than others, and now that I think of it, I haven't been using cellphones that long (compared to others). But ever since I've had a cellphone, I always tried to use headsets. I am not exagerrating when I say I still have not had one headset that I've kept. Either they don't sit in my ear comfortably, or they're just too much trouble for me to use. I've tried nearly every kind and I haven't kept one.

The kind of headset that I prefer is the non-bluetooth kind. I don't mind the cord attached to my phone, it's just seems easier than attaching a huge earpiece to my ear and clicking a button when you want to activate your ear piece or deactivate. My current phone is the Palm Centro (which I love). And I tried the bluetooth, and hated it. Then I ordered the original earbud (which attaches to my phone) on freeheadset.org and to my dismay did not work with my phone (even though the site said it would). So now I given up, and just refrain from using my phone in the car.

I recently found an article on ehow.com titled, How to Choose the Best Cell Phone Headset, although I haven't tried any of its tips yet, I thought I'd share the article with you. Maybe it can help you find a good headset for yourself. These were the author's tips:
1) Set a price range
2) Know the feature that are important to you in a headset
3) Chose a cellphone headset that suits your personality (bluetooth did not fit mine)
4) Make sure your new headset is comfortable (my old ones kept sliding off my ear)

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heyyy butt!

2009-02-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

Im sure we've all seen the new tmobile commerical for their new blackberry phone that flips(a.k.a BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8220) you know the one where the husband is sitting on the couch and the phone rings then the wife goes.. " ooh look who it is its your butt"
hahah when i first saw it i thought it was funny cause thats true when you do sit down sometimes you "butt dial". so i give them props for thar clever commerical.

On the other hand.. im not really liking the whole idea of a flip blackberry phone. yeah it makes sense and im sure the persion who came up with the idea meant well.. but im just not feeling it. To me it doesnt really seem like a real Blackberry phone anymore. It just seems like a regualr flip phone.
who knows.. maybe one day i'll think differently about it.. but as of now im pretty firm on my opinion. But for those who are interested in find out more i'll post some of the features it comes with.

*Messaging
-Text messaging*
-Instant messaging*

*Fun
-2 Megapixel Camera with Video Capture
-MegaTones®, Wallpaper, HiFi Ringers®, & Games*
-Music player
-Video capture/playback

Communication
-E-mail
-Easily synch w/ Microsoft Outlook
-Wi-Fi and Mobile Calling
-Picture messaging

*Information
-Real web browsing
-Micro SD memory slot
-EDGE & Wi-Fi
-Address book

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Give Your Phone Some Personality

2009-02-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

Don't you hate when your phone looks plain without any designs on it or anything? I do. I like my phone to have all weird colors or something unique, but I never could find anything that satifies me! I usually have to buy those ugly clear cases, or one's that have only two different colors of black or silver. I am tired of the same old look. I just recently found out that they now have different "skins" for your phone! You could even make your own! Now how cool is that? Really cool I would say! I think I am going to go out today and buy one myself!

Set yourself apart from the crowd with a phone skin that reflects your tastes and passions. Choose from a wide selection of designs from professional sports leagues, entertainment, colleges, fashion and more. You can even create your own skins with the Photo Uploader.

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Butterfly

RIM BLACKBERRY CURVE 8900

2009-02-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

I've had my iPhone for about a year and half, and as much as I love the features on it, I think I want to switch the a blackberry! Has anyone else done that? I mean I love my iPhone, but to be honest, I'm pretty sick of not having a keyboard. It's like a disappointment or something. haha But I hope I can make up my mind soon! here's some info on the blackberry bold!It's been a good six months since Research in Motion first announced the RIM BlackBerry Bold (aka RIM BlackBerry 9000). Originally slated for a summer release on AT&T, the launch date kept getting pushed back...and back. Frustrated with the delays and wooed by other new smartphone releases, we moved on (and so did many of you) and nearly gave up on the Bold. However, now that we finally have it hand, the love affair has begun all over again.

The BlackBerry Bold delivers on a number of fronts. Its half-VGA display is one of the sharpest screens we've seen on a smartphone, which, combined with the stereo speakers, really boosts the multimedia experience. The Bold also ships with the latest BlackBerry operating system, new productivity applications, and support for HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. This is on top of all the great messaging capabilities. Of course, it's not perfect. The smartphone isn't the sleekest device on the block, and the Web browser could use more work. It's also not going to have the mass appeal of an Apple iPhone 3G, nor would we recommend it to the general consumer. With its feature set and strong e-mailing capabilities, the BlackBerry Bold is very much a business-centric smartphone, but what is offers mobile professionals is a premium device that can handle work and play. The RIM BlackBerry Bold will be available November 4 for a slightly pricey $299.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates and discounts.

Design
When you first lay eyes on the RIM BlackBerry Bold, the words "sleek," "sexy," and "cool" don't exactly to come to mind. At 4.5 inches high by 2.6 inches wide by 0.6 inch deep and 4.8 ounces, the Bold is bulky and wide, making for a bit of a tight fit in a pants pocket. It doesn't exactly take your breath away like the iPhone 3G, but that's not to say it's a bad-looking phone. The black chassis and silver trim are attractive enough and the rounded edges give the handset a streamlined design. Plus, if you turn the phone over, you'll notice that the back has a leatherette texture (no more slick plastic), providing a sophisticated look. If you want to customize your device a bit, RIM will sell replaceable backplates in different colors, including blue, gray, and red, for $29.99 each, which is a little pricey in our opinion.

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Protect Your Cell Phone

2009-01-31T16:03:00.000-08:00

It took me a while to get it. After a few broken cell phones and wondering why mine looks so much more beat up than others, I realize I was being careless and not taking care of my precious companion, my cell phone. I think many people neglect their cell phone because they're so use to seeing and carrying their cell phones around with them every day. I think many people forget to go back to the first day they bought the cell phone and opened up the box and took out their brand new, shiny, and scratch free cell-phone.

Ms. Nicole A from associatedcontent.com suggests several ways to take care of your cell phone so that it'll last for a long time and in good condition too. This may be good information for those who have the very expensive phones out there like the iphone or blackberry. Her first suggestion is

1) keep it out of the rain- while this may seem obvious, you'll be suprise at the people out there who insist on talking on their phone in the pouring rain. If you must take a call in the rain, then do so, but make it short and then put your phone away. Your phone is electronic and I'm sure not water resistant.

2)do not keep your phones in your pocket- because of the convienience many people keep their phones here due to the easy access. However, keeping your phones in you pockets puts it at risk for being sat on or falling out of your pocket and to the ground. I cringed every time I rop my phone or see other people drop theirs.

3) do not handle cell phones while eating- I have no comment to this one because I am guilty of it.

4) get a protective cell phone case- I think this is the simplest and most logical step to protecting your cell phone. If you get the right case, not only does it protect it from scratches, it can be a a shock absorber when you inevitably drop your cell phone.

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