by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
Nokia has extended recognition to the initial group of outstanding mobile application developers in its 2008 Forum Nokia Innovation Series program. The program was designed to offer select small- and mid-sized developers with key business and market support and assist access for cutting-edge applications and services to the largest mobile phone market.
The top 8 developers recognised cleared several selection criteria over last year as part of the process and included? internal Nokia reviews and the screening of application features and functionality by consumer focus groups around the world.?
Each entrant was required to show their app or service would give specific benefits to Nokia mobile phone users and that the market demanded that app or service.
The first developer group was recognized for a range of solutions from apps for location based social networking to mobile web widget development platforms; and from mobile TV-shifting and device back-ups to mobile video streaming.
Images via here
by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
By Andrew Liszewski
I don’t have anything wrong with people using cellphones, I just don’t understand why so many of them feel that they have to talk so loud on them. On a daily basis the idiots across the hall from where I work will wander out into the hallway and talk on their phones like they’re in the middle of a noisy construction site. And on a daily basis I wish I had access to a device like this portable cell phone jammer so I could interrupt their completely inane conversations.
As you can see, the device is not much bigger than an iPhone (though probably thicker) but will create a dome of cellular silence for about 32 feet in all directions. The blocked frequencies include GSM850, EGSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900, CDMA800, WCDMA/CDMA2000, PHS, DECT and even 3G. The battery’s only good for about 1.5 hours of jamming, but you probably only need it to operate long enough for people to realize that they’ll have to go somewhere else to find ‘better reception.’ And as GeekAlerts points out, the $246 price tag unfortunately means you’ll actually be spending more to block an iPhone, than to buy one.
[ Hand-held Portable Universal Cell Phones Jammer ] VIA [ GeekAlerts ]
by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
The battle lines have been drawn between Apple and Research In Motion, which could see the biggest battle for mobile markets yet. By improving the iPhone 3G?s email, security and allowing 3rd-party apps to run, Apple has clearly crossed the border into the business market previously dominated by the BlackBerry.
According to MacDailyNews, ?RIM, besides blowing millions of buck on marketing will be in the near future: Pretending that antique technology wrapped in an iPhone-like exterior is innovation; Like every other mobile device company and non-iPhone carrier, totally ignore and never mention Multi-Touch?, especially vs. their single-touch-screen offerings; Talking up physical keyboards over touch-screen keyboards until they finally produce a device with a rudimentary touch-screen keyboard to tout; Watching their market share lead erode dramatically; and trying to keep their central email server online up in Canada.?
Personally I believe all this guff can only lead to good things for the mobile phone consumer, as sooner or later the way this mobile war is shaping up, we may start seeing a price war open up as well?now wouldn?t that be good?
What do you think?
Images via here
by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
By Andrew Liszewski
While not as subtle as the Unbreakable Umbrella, there’s a good chance this Umbuster Umbrella will do a better job at keeping you out of trouble through intimidation alone. The umbrella’s handle is basically a set of brass knuckles, though instead of being made from brass, you have your choice of a wood or aluminum finish. While landing a few choice blows might be difficult with the umbrella part actually open, I have a feeling that a mugger will be less likely to choose you as a mark if they see you carrying something like this around. Just don’t try and sneak it through airport security, or, go ahead and try, but make sure to have someone recording the hilarious results.
The Umbuster will be available from Birkiland in October for about $330.
[ Umbuster Umbrella ] VIA [ Cool Material ]
by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
T-Mobile USA will be taking an extraordinary step later in the year by dumping their deck on the mobile phone and replacing it with a new platform that will open to virtually any developer.
Just think along the lines of Apple?s App Store but for every mobile phone in the carrier?s line up from features phones to smartphones and everything inbetween.
A developer who was briefed on this said: ?The App store was a big deal, but that?s one phone. This is an entire carrier.?
Basically the deal goes like this: developers submit apps online; the app is presented to users based on popularity rather than T-Mobile?s own preferences; and the revenue-share agreement will be based on how much the application uses the network.
The big thing about this is it will apply to all T-Mobile?s platforms from Windows Mobile, Sidekick and Java and including the upcoming Android.
Image via here and here
by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
By Andrew Liszewski
It’s not uncommon for people who travel across the country in a large RV to tow a smaller car so that they can leave the RV parked at a campsite while still making day trips. The same problem exists for pilots who fly around the country, except that they have no choice but to leave their light planes at the local airport when they want to go into town. But finding a ride can be difficult since most small airports that cater to light planes don’t have car rental facilities. So if you’re a pilot who’s encountered this problem before, you might want to consider the MotoPOD which is basically a cargo pod that allows you to carry a street-legal motorcycle underneath your plane.
The motorcycle is a Yamaha XT225 which was selected because it was both economical and lightweight, and overall the pod and bike add about 500 pounds to an aircraft’s total weight. (Resulting in an airspeed cut of about 9 knots.) The bike does require a bit of assembly before it can be ridden, but the pod is easily lowered with a built-in powered winch and you can apparently be on the road just minutes after landing. The MotoPOD is expected to go on sale later this year with a price tag below $10,000 (including the motorcycle) but you can reserve one now for a fully-refundable $1,000.
[ MotoPOD ] VIA [ Gizmag ]
by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
Yet another outing for yet another RAZR mobile phone along with yet another name for it, along with what is presumed an aesthetic overhaul, and only the colouring pencil pushing wizards over at Motorola know the reason.
Of course, if you are a Motorola fan, a fan of the RAZR design and happen to want Sprint as your provider then fine, go ahead and droll your little heart out.
That new name is the RAZR VE20 a shiny silver cased flip phone in the true fashion of Motorola RAZR and carrying a 2 megapixel camera along with Sprint?s Mobile NFL Live app.
Nothing else new with this, nothing that actually jumps out and slaps you in the face as extraordinary, and thus comes across as yet another Motorola re-hash of the tired RAZR form.
Price wise, who knows? But I?m guessing the RAZR VE20 can?t command anything more expensive that free on contract.
Image via here
by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
The bods over at Nokia are keeping a little tight lipped on this, but apparently the word roaming the net waves is that Nokia plan to show off a couple of new mobile phones next Monday.
There is even a rumour that Nokia may follow up with an actual launch of both mobile phones a week later, which would put it on the following Monday or just after.
Boy Genius Report speculates that these two new Nokia mobile phones will be the Nokia N79 and the Nokia N85. Both these were spotted alongside Nokia?s XpressMedia 5800 Tube mobile phone, but were somewhat light on the details side of things.
The Nokia N85 recently passed through the FCC and is tri-band WCDMA with a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, GPS, integrated FM transmitter and a dual-slide form factor. Whereas, the Nokia N79 is still somewhat shady on the specs department.
Still it?s not long to wait to see if this happens.
Image via here
by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
Japan?s Softbank Mobile stays that have had a fairly decent quarter, however if you compare with the likes of DoCoMo, it tends to look a little weak. Softbank, the exclusive carrier in Japan for the Apple iPhone 3G, in answer to much outcry of ?Too expensive? has decided to lower the price of monthly data charges to each iPhone 3G user.
Softbank?s ?Too expensive? previous charge was ¥5,985, roughly about $55.00 per month for their unlimited data; now Softbank has lowered that charge to ¥1,695 , roughly $16.00 per month.
Quite a big drop to cover 20,175 packets of data, ?after which the user will pay per packet until 71,250 packets, at which time the previous ¥5,985 charge is reached and further data use is not charged.”
Other news is that Softbank is to start allowing stores to take reservations for the Apple iPhone 3G handset, previously Softbank had not allowed this.
Image via here
by Techno Witch on August 14, 2008
If you regularly take photo?s with your mobile phone, we have good news for you, Polaroid have announced that they are getting together with O2 the UK mobile phone provider and forming a retail partnership following Polaroid?s launch of the PoGo Instant Mobile Printer that happened in July. 480 nationwide O2 retail stores will sell the Polaroid PoGo and accessories as from next week.
By using Bluetooth technology which is standard on most mobiles now, the Polaroid PoGo creates full-colour digital photos without the need for ink cartridges or ribbons, not only that it only weights eight ounces.
According to Uk Sales Manager for Polaroid Steve Smith, more than billion photos will be captured on mobile phones by 2010, according to InfoTrends, and the Polaroid PoGo? Instant Mobile Printer provides the ideal way to print and share these trapped images.?
You can already purchase the Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer at Amazon, Play.com, John Lewis, Curry?s Digital and PC World. We just love the Polaroid PoGo, its so instant, so the next time your friend asks for you to download the photo and email it to them so they can print from the main computer, you can just print it off for them there and then and be done with it. Perfect.