iPhone as a Gaming Platform

It's a smartphone. It's an iPod. It's Apple's iPhone -- and its making room on deck for video games. One of the top casual-game publishers just stepped aboard the iPhone express, and analysts are saying the move might lead to other developers climbing on board.

PopCap Games launched a custom version of its flagship game Bejeweled for the iPhone. If that's not enough to excite iPhone-toting gamers, perhaps the price tag will turn some heads: Bejeweled is available at no cost.

Starting Monday, iPhone users can log on to popcap.com via the iPhone's Safari Web browser and play the iPhone-specific version of the original Bejeweled for free. The customized version of Bejeweled leverages the Web 2.0 capabilities of Safari and the wireless capabilities of the iPhone, and has been optimized to take advantage of the iPhone's unique display and input controls.

PopCap developed the Safari-based version of Bejeweled in partnership with Polish developer Arkadiusz Mlynarczyk. PopCap execs did not reveal whether its newest wireless game, Chuzzle Mobile, or its popular mobile game Zuma, will be available for the iPhone. But considering PopCap's success working with the video iPod, more games could be in the works.

Apple has clearly demonstrated a proof of concept for delivering premium gaming content on its new device, Gartenberg said. The question now is how to monetize the games. Currently, there is no way for iPhone users to purchase and download video game titles and play them when offline.

Music don´t sound as usual

The key to the problem is that, in making the soft parts of a track louder (in the process making the entire track loud), you lose detail in the song: The difference between what's supposed to be loud and what's supposed to be soft becomes less and less. The result is that, sure, the soft parts of a song are nice and loud, but big noises like drum beats become muffled and fuzzy. But consumers often subconsciously equate loudness with quality, and thus, record producers pump up the volume. Anything to make a buck.
The bigger problem is that this is all unnecessary. Stereo equipment is more powerful today than ever, and last time I checked, every piece of music hardware had a volume knob.

Motorola prototype cell phone with a tiny projector on board

Motorola will use technology from Microvision to build a prototype cell phone with a tiny projector on board. Called a pico projector, the technology uses a miniature laser-based DLP display engine to project a widescreen, 15-inch image onto a surface about 19 inches (half a meter) away. The image measures 854x480 pixels, which is superior to DVD quality. The projector can be used to share pictures, video content, web sites, and presentations with others. There is no word on when the prototype will be ready for demonstration, or whether the pico projector will be included in mass-market phones.
The prototype was first demonstrated in May 2007 at the Society of Information Display annual conference.

Miami Heat Tickets

Have you ever waited in line to see your favorite NBA game and as soon as you get to the box office window the person inside flips the sign to read "Sold Out?" Or, have you been really excited to see a pot season game but you don’t have the time to wait days fighting with other fans?
Forget old days, with online ticket services prevent these situations and add expediency to a night out at the game so you can enjoy the show.
With an online ticket you can avoid long lines and go directly to retrieve your Miami Heat Tickets. You can pick up them avoiding the long lines. Go directly to the game and find your seat.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Cell phone trick to save money

What you can do is put software in the phone that brings it back to all of its original functions so that the phone will operate exactly the same as one you bought directly from the manufacturer or from a company abroad where they wouldn't restrict it as much. If you wanted to upgrade to a different phone that maybe Cingular doesn't sell, unlock that phone so it accepts all SIM cards.

When you put your SIM card into the phone, your account goes with it and works just as it always would.

You can get a SIM card locally, and it will give you a local number in Spain or France, the U.K. -- wherever you may be. You'll pay a local rate like the locals do which will be a lot lower. You can save people hundreds of dollars easily. You know people who travel for business love this because they'll keep a SIM card for every place that they visit and in a week you could easily spend $500 in minutes and having a local SIM, its pennies compared to that.

Wisconsin would become the 16th state to limit or ban cell phone use by teen drivers

Teenage drivers would have to put down their cell phones when behind the wheel under a bill introduced in the Legislature. If passed and signed into law, Wisconsin would become the 16th state to limit or ban cell phone use by teen drivers, according to the National Council of State Legislatures. The push to ban cell phone use has been increasing nationwide with mounting evidence that talking on a mobile phone impairs a driver's ability to operate a vehicle safely and because younger drivers account for a disproportionate amount of accidents. Attempts to limit drivers’ cell phone use have a long, and unsuccessful, history in Wisconsin. Legislation to ban all drivers from using cell phones did not even get a hearing in 1997 and 1999. The teen driving restriction has been introduced every session since 2001 but failed to pass despite no opposition from cell phone companies.

Disney World and all Orlando theme parks

Soon school will be out, and a family's fancy turns to summer vacations. Topping most family's wish list is a visit to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Sometimes referred to as scheme parks, there are a myriad of ways in which theme parks endeavor to part you from your money.

With some advance planning and a few tried-and-true tips, you can minimize the sticker shock. Buying tickets directly from Disney is the most expensive route to take. Even if there is a discount available, it is not in their best interest to offer this information. The best way to get tickets is with a qualified Cheap Universal Studios Tickets seller like Orlandofuntickets.com.

This web site will guide you through best options available for newly-released discounts tickets. Time is money when it comes to a Walt Disney World vacation. So, forget worries for tickets availability and enjoy your vacations thanks to the lowest prices and services of Orlandofuntickets.com.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Universal emergency number?

Well, kind of. In Europe, it's "112". But, that number doesn't work in the US. Here, of course, it's 911. Even if your cell phone doesn't have service anymore, if you have power and a signal, you can still dial 911 at anytime. So, it's a good idea to keep an old phone charged up and in your glove compartment for emergencies. And, that's no myth. This could be one time when a cell phone can save your life.
If you travel outside US, you must contact the local authorities or neighborhood to check the correct emergency number for that country.

True or false

You can get free 411 calls on your cell phone: It's not that complicated. Just call 1-800-Free-411. The call is sponsored by Summer Bay Resorts. So, it works. Not counting the minutes you use, the call is free.

You can remotely unlock your car through your cell phone: This is one of the most popular myths on the internet, but is false.

There's a code to access hidden battery power when you run out: No such thing. No hidden battery power. There's a process with most phones where you can save some batttery power by not having it lit, backlit all the time and that saves some battery power for you, but there's no such thing as hidden battery power.

Blackberry 950

I have the Blackberry 950 exchange edition. I tried the 957 for a month and returned it in favor of the 950. I like being able to bring the 950 everywhere and the small form factor is better for that. Plus, when reading text, the smaller screen is not such a big deal. I have a lot of contacts and appointments and they synch just great. I really don't use it much for that, however, because I also have a Casio EM-500. That is my main PDA. I like having both. As for email attachments, they don't really chew up RAM the way you'd think they would. I don't think they are actually stored on the handheld. The cool thing is that you can forward the message to a handy computer - say your home pc or an internet cafe and read the attachment on that machine. I use the heck out of that capability. It is much better than lugging a Laptop on a business trip. With my EM-500, I can dial in to my ISP and retrieve the forwarded messages from a pop3 mail account.

One doesn't need to be "addicted" to email for this machine to be valuable. Also, I wouldn't view it as a one-size-fits-all tool. The beauty of the Palm was that it focused on doing a few things very well. The Blackberry's strengths may be even more specialized. However, it is the Blackberry, not the endless string of PDA's that I've tried in the past 2-3 years, which has finally freed me from the laptop!!! Get you a Pocket PC with a beautiful color screen, games, and feature-rich applications, but if you need to keep in touch with clients, friends, and family while you're on the road, bring a Blackberry along too.

MobileTouch capacitive sensing technology has been chosen for the Huawei U550 mobile flip phone

Synaptics announced that its MobileTouch(TM) capacitive sensing technology has been chosen for the Huawei U550 mobile flip phone. The backlit three-button MobileTouch interface solution provides MP3 player controls on the exterior of the Huawei U550 mobile flip phone. These intuitive interface controls allow users to play, pause, fast forward and rewind their music. Users can enjoy the richness of the multimedia experience and easily manipulate controls on the go. Synaptics' capacitive sensors are mounted beneath the plastic of the phone, making them well suited to the mobile phone environment where slim design and durability are essential. The Synaptics interface allows us to create sleek and thin designs that enhance the user experience.

Your own vending business

Putting change in a gumball machines is almost a national past time for most people so it would stand to reason that a lot more people are looking to buy their own gumball machines either for fun or profit. Gumball machines from vendstar are easy to maintain and depend on a virtually imperishable staple. You only need to fill up the machine, check it periodically to gauge inventory and go about your day. Gumball machines make for pretty easy additional income when placed in the right location or they can be used simply for fun in your own home. This may be a business for you.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Tips for cell phone photography

Wait to edit your photos on your computer rather than using the camera phone's built-in editing buttons. You'll get better-quality images.

Don't throw away mistakes. If they don't look good on your phone, you may be able to save them while editing them on your computer.

Avoid using the digital zoom. The zoom lenses on phone cameras still fall short of the quality of standard digital cameras. However, the new "optical zooms" are better - as long as they don't enlarge your subject by enlarging pixels.

Experiment with white balance. An increasing number of camera phones come with adjustable white balance that allows you to modify color balance based on shooting conditions.

Practice. That's the beauty of digital photography.

Keep your lens clean. This includes fingerprints, which are a common problem on phones. Regularly clean the lens using a soft cloth, such as sunglass-cleaning cloths.

The Universal Service Fund

A decade old telephone tax intended to help bring affordable service to rural areas has instead turned into something quite different: a bottomless and politically protected well of cash for cell phone companies that do big business in rural America. The Universal Service Fund has collected $44 billion over its 10-year lifetime from a surcharge on the phone bills of nearly every American. The Universal Service Fund was created by Congress in 1996 as part of an overhaul of the nation's communications laws designed to create competition. Specifically, Congress ordered that consumers have access to telecommunications and information services at rates comparable to those charged in urban areas. That was to be financed by a fee added to long-distance bills. The charge may only be a few dollars per month, but it adds up fast.

Online courses

The cost of a college degree continues to accelerate at colleges and universities nationwide. Undergraduate students seeking a quality education have with capella university a more affordable online education program alternative. Capella University’s accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) also assures students of a quality education that will help them compete throughout their careers.

The online undergraduate degree programs are designed to help students complete their degree requirements. Capella University’s online courses are completed by working one-on-one with faculty over the Internet. Students can enroll in two or more college courses online to decrease time to graduation. And programs offered are very diverse from Business Administration to Information Technology.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

iphone security

Systems like Symbian have mobile security built in from the ground up; for example, the system asks before any new application can access phone data or the network (similar to capabilities-based UNIX security). Every program could do everything. I have programmed an installation program that opened a GPRS connection, downloaded a SIS file and installed it on the Symbian phone without user interaction!!!
This was a bit tricky but it worked fine on Nokia Series 60 phones an on Sony Ericsson P800 and P900. Evidently, an OS X-based phone lacks these safeguard. I guess that's the real reason Apple has been refusing to permit third party phone apps on the iPhone, even though they don't cause problems on other phones: the iPhone software architecture just doesn't seem designed for it.

Polls in the cell phones

About 4,000 cell phone-only users will soon start receiving calls from the California Health Interview Survey, an effort being closely watched by polling experts across the country who find it difficult to reach people who don't have landlines. The biannual health study provides data on more than 42,000 of the state's roughly 12 million households and drives recommendations made to the Legislature and governor, said Sandra Shewry, director of the California Department of Health Care Services. Adding cell phones will raise the state health survey's cost by hundreds of thousands of dollars. That's in part because the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, which is conducting the study, decided to pay cell phone users $25 for completing the half-hour survey to reimburse them for their air time.

Vending business through Multivend

Vending machine business is a great opportunity for anyone. With a minimal investment, you can start making money immediately and then watch your business grows.

No matter you have or have not decided to start a vending machine business or currently are running this kind of business, visit multivend and find out precious information to help you build your vending machine business and to turn your business into a profitable one.

Many people know that vending machine business is potentially a high profit activity. But that’s not the only thing you should consider when deciding to start one. Before you start a vending machine business, you should understand some facts about vending machine business.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

F3 won't work in the US

The US uses 850MHz & 1900 MHz for GSM, most of the rest of the world uses 900 MHz & 1800 MHz. The F3 uses the latter 2 frequencies and won't work in the US. Assuming you are a Cingular/T-Mobile customer, you can just buy an unlocked GSM phone (remember to check to make sure it works with US frequencies) and stick your SIM card in it. For a cheap, dependable model, may I suggest the Sony Ericsson T637? Yes, it has some of those features you don't want. But you can get one as cheap as the aforementioned F3.

Top cell phone tools

This is the top tools/accessories for your cell phone.

1. Motorola H350 Bluetooth Headset (all colors)

2. Car and Travel Chargers (particularly for RAZR, BlackBerry Pearl, LG Chocolate and Samsung Blackjack)

3. Cases and Holsters (particularly for RAZR, BlackBerry Pearl, LG Chocolate and Samsung Blackjack)

4. Jabra BT125 Bluetooth Headset

5. Kingston 1GB Micro SD Memory Cards

6. Anycom Aris-21 Bluetooth Headset

7. Motorola H500 (Project Red)

8. Motorola Mobile Phone Tools 4.0 Software

9. Seidio High-Performance Extended Capacity Batteries (for Treo, BlackBerry and other smartphone devices)

10. Wi-Ex zBoost Wireless Signal Boosters

Mobile Phone Tools is perfect for people who store entire address books, calendars and other personal information on their cell phones, and consistently send data from PC to cell phone, or vice versa.

Crew cabs

Crew cabs have bigger passenger compartments than extended-cab pickups, and have four conventional doors instead of stubby back doors. Bare-bones versions for construction crews have been around for years; fancy ones for families are recent. They are bought instead of big sport-utility vehicles.

Crew cab pickup trucks offer the perfect blend--a true truck bed for hauling cargo and rear doors leading to full second row seating for your passengers. crew cab trucks are gaining in popularity every year and automakers have revved up production to accommodate the increasing number of buyers for this versatile body style. There's a selection of Isuzu crew cab trucks in varying price ranges. There should be one to suit your tastes and needs.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Safety Tips for Cellular Phone Batteries

1. Do not use incompatible cell phone batteries and chargers. Some Web sites and second-hand dealers, not associated with reputable manufacturers and carriers, might be selling incompatible or even counterfeit batteries and chargers. Consumers should purchase manufacturer- or carrier-recommended products and accessories. If unsure about whether a replacement battery or charger is compatible, contact the manufacturer of the battery or charger.

2. Do not permit a battery outside the phone to come in contact with metal objects. These would include objects such as coins, keys and jewelry.

3. Do not crush, puncture or put a high degree of pressure on the battery. This can cause an internal short-circuit, resulting in overheating.

4. Avoid dropping the cell phone. Dropping it, especially on a hard surface, can potentially cause damage to the phone and battery. If you suspect damage to the phone or battery, take it to a service center for inspection.

5. Do not place the phone in areas that may get very hot. This would include on or near a cooking surface, cooking appliance, iron or radiator.

6. Do not get your phone or battery wet. Even though they will dry and appear to operate normally, the circuitry could slowly corrode and pose a safety hazard.

7. Follow battery usage, storage and charging guidelines found in the user's guide.

LG VX8550 Chocolate

LG's VX8550 Chocolate phone looks tasty, just as its predecessor did. Aesthetically, the shiny, piano-black unit closely resembles the KG800, first released last year. The one obvious difference in this front view: The VX8550 eschews its button-oriented navigational ring for a navigational wheel that moves around. The Chocolate's top level slides up to reveal the phone's keypad. In addition to the standard alpha-numeric keys, LG has added an extra row of buttons--send, camera, and end/power--that were absent in the previous iterations of the Chocolate. The change is a positive one: It puts standard cell phone buttons (send and end) where you'd expect them. However, relocating the power button beneath the slider means that if the phone is off, to use it for other functions (such as playing music) you have to first push up the slider so you can power up.

Teak patio furniture

Start dreaming of sun-drenched days and relaxing in the privacy of your own back yard because even though winter may still be nipping at your toes, now is the time to order outdoor furniture if you want it by the time the weather actually warms up. Outdoor furniture tends to have long lead times with deliveries taking from four to eight weeks and sometimes even longer, according to industry sources.

Choosing the right teak patio furniture for you and your lifestyle is important not only for your optimal enjoyment but because, like your interior furnishings, it's an investment. So start thinking about blue skies and barbecues – and where you're going to sit to enjoy them.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Free cell phone signal

Advanced Telecom Services announces that it is giving away free cell phone signal boosters to anyone who wants one. There's no cost at all to the consumer, not even a shipping cost, and you'll be less likely to lose your cell phone connection when in a tall building, elevator, tunnel, or rural area. Once you install the cell phone antenna booster, users no longer need to worry about scratchy background noise or lost calls. Users will find improved, crisp, clear reception in elevators, tunnels, even office buildings. This antenna is discreet and easy to install. Plus, it fits onto any model of cell phone. This clever device is like having a four foot long antenna on your phone. As seen on TV, the cell phone antenna booster originally had a retail price of $19.99. Advanced Telecom Services, however, was able to purchase the cell antennas in bulk from a South Korean distributor for a fraction of the original cost.

Cell phone and your memory

Studies have shown that heavy mobile users have a problem with memory. According to a recent UK survey for a brain teaser magazine, heavy mobile users can no longer remember phone numbers, birth dates or similar information. A quarter of those polled said they couldn't remember even their landline numbers, while two-thirds couldn't remember the birthdays of more than three friends or even family members. Incidentally, the techsavvy , under-30 people fared worse than those over-50 . The survey concluded that users of mobiles and other portable devices that store reams ofpersonal information are incapable of memorizing even the simplest things.

All inclusive Jamaica

If you like to go somewhere just to relax and not worry about taking out your wallet every couple of hours to pay for food, drinks, or activities, then there's probably an all inclusive jamaica that's just right for you.

If you like to stay up all night partying and drinking, if you want to take advantage of all the included watersports and activities, if you want to have food and snacks available all day and if you don't want to have to worry about the final bill when you check out, an all-inclusive is definitely a viable option. Some resorts even boast 24-hour room service.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

My gadgets

I have an unlocked quadband Motorola V3 Razr and participate with my family on a T-Mobile family plan. When I travel, I use pay-as-you-go SIM chips, and currently have them for about 6 different countries. Service everywhere else, even India, is far superior to what is available in the US, particularly with respect to coverage areas. I recently got a Nokia N800, which now has Skype, so I can make VoIP calls whenever I have a wireless connection. The N800 also has a webcam, so I can make video calls, too. It's a very good alternative (cheaper, too) to the iPhone, which only offers the inferior AT&T EDGE connectivity under terrible terms and conditions. I'm a big fan of the Mac, back to the original 128k machine, and couldn't live without my MacBook Pro, but the shortcomings of the iPhone, at least for now, will make me wait for 2.0.

Beware to use your cell phone driving

Preliminary investigation into a Topsham crash on resulted in a three-hour road closure indicates that the driver, Sara LaFlamme, 29, of Topsham, was attempting to use her cell phone at the time of the crash. LaFlamme was traveling west on Route 196, a major corridor between Lewiston-Auburn and the Midcoast area, near Whorff's Pit, when her SUV veered off the right shoulder, struck and snapped a Verizon pole head-on, pulling down CMP, Verizon and Comcast lines across busy Route 196. The road was closed to through traffic for three hours while a new pole was set and lines repaired, Sgt. Lewis said. Westbound traffic was rerouted over Meadow Cross Road in Topsham while eastbound traffic was rerouted by Lisbon police through Summer Street in Lisbon Falls.

Aquarium supplies

There are a lot of different kinds of aquarium decorations. You will find everything from ancient ruins to treasure chests to simple rock designs. If you find the right store, your aquarium supplies will seem endless.

If you have a saltwater tank, you might consider coral designs, and more pirate-like decorations.

For regular freshwater tanks, you can be as creative as you want. Create an ancient civilization or even get some moving decorations. Moving decorations are a little more expensive, but they are a lot of fun. These commonly attach to an air pump, which provides them motion. You can find treasure chests that open and shut as well as divers who dive up and down, all the time with air bubbles popping up.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Tips for the correct use of your cell phone

1. No need to shout: Despite the smaller handsets now available, your callers can hear you just as well on a wireless phone as on a regular phone. Keep your voice to a low, conversational tone.

2. Watch your tone: Downloading the latest ring tone has become extremely popular among wireless users, and you can still keep your personal style without distracting others. Turn down the ring volume or place the handset on vibrate when in public settings.

3. Put People in Front, First: Always put the people you’re with first, not the person calling you. If you absolutely must take the call, be sure to let people know in advance that you’re expecting a call and excuse yourself from the conversation.

4. Mind you multi-tasking: Wireless phones are great tools for living and working more efficiently. However, it can also be discourteous to chat on your cell phone when people are assisting you in stores, banks or other locations.

5. Keep it private: Personal and business conversations are better off remaining private, especially when emotion is involved. Don’t forget to pay attention to your surroundings and be discreet. Text messaging during meetings is also considered bad manners and causes distraction to the speaker and those in attendance.

AT&T is adding 30 cell-phone towers this year

In a multimillion-dollar expansion, AT&T Inc. is adding 30 cell-phone towers this year to increase its service in Central, North and Southwest Florida. The new cell sites, part of a $130 million investment plan, is almost double AT&T's expansion last year, when it added 16 towers. Customers in Orlando, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Jacksonville and Fort Myers will benefit from the latest improvements in coverage, according to AT&T, which has now spent $800 million on its Florida network since 2005. The former Cingular service is now available to more than 12 million Florida residents, AT&T said. AT&T acquired Bellsouth Corp. and the Cingular brand last year.

Computer Carts

When purchasing a computer cart, there are several things you should consider to ensure it provides you with comfort and with ease of use. A computer cart should compliment your space effectively and fulfill your workspace needs. The first thing you should consider when purchasing computer carts is the area where it will be placed. If the computer cart will be placed in a home office, determine which room will house the desk. Then, take measurements to determine how much space you have available for the computer cart.

Keep in mind that you will need clearance space for any drawers or cabinets that your cart may have. Therefore, you might not be able to butt the computer cart against two walls in a corner. If you absolutely must use the corner of the room, or if you prefer the look of a corner cart, then you will need to shop specifically for one designed to fit this type of area.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Motorola Rokr Z6 review

Message lock
Very few people know about this feature. We can actually lock our messages using numbered code which is required to open any incoming message and also to enter in to messages folder. This is very important for those people that I have many private messages which they don’t want anybody to read it even accidentally.

Additional features:
1. No FM. (This is one serious Drawback and I think should not have been missed for a music phone)
2. Only 3 alarms can be set (although it will be sufficient for most).
3. Video recording is not that good.
4. For people with large hands, it will take some time to get adjusted with the keypad.

Motorola, now in PCI

Motorola announced that the company's enterprise mobility business is now a member of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council. The council was established in 2004 to help prevent theft of consumers' financial account data in retail environments such as home repair, department and grocery stores. Motorola's enterprise WLAN portfolio offers a standard feature set -- requiring no additional hardware or software -- for a simple, economical solution to PCI compliance. The enterprise WLAN infrastructure products include an integrated firewall between a company's wireless traffic and the rest of the network, and support the latest encryption and authentication standards available from IEEE, including Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2. The portfolio includes intrusion detection system (IDS) functionality, allowing retailers to determine what mobile devices are connected to their network.

Lists brokers

This World is full of marketing tools and companies. However, if you want a professional marketing campaign you must use professionals obviously. A good strategy is to use lists brokers like Martin Worldwide.

Over the years, Martin Worldwide has provided quality lists and innovative marketing solutions to businesses of all sizes. If you visit their website, you will find several tools that allow visitors to connect with their data list experts and the company as a whole, allowing them to provide innovative marketing solutions for their clients. The website provides visitors with information on their consumer and business mailing list product lines, as well as the various marketing services they provide.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Nokia's Navigation Kit for the N800

Nokia's Navigation Kit for the N800 Internet Tablet works great when used in a car in metropolitan outskirts. However, the unit seems a bit pricey for what you get, is ill-suited to outdoor use, and seems to struggle holding a fix when the battery gets low. The Kit consists of a small, Nokia-branded 'LD-3W' hardware GPS receiver unit, a sturdy, highly configurable windshield mount for the N800, and a 2GB SD card containing navigation software and maps (choose Europe or North America/Canada). TeleAtlas supplied the maps, while the navigation software was supplied by Navicore, a small, recently-acquired. Nokia needs to improve some features of this gadget.

Open C Challenge

Nokia has announced its first Open C Challenge, a global contest for S60 mobile application development on Symbian OS smartphones. The scheme aims to encourage open source and freeware developers to use the Open C environment to create mobile applications for S60 smartphone users worldwide. The event is sponsored by the Forum Nokia global developer program in conjunction with Orange and the Symbian Developer Network. The Open C Challenge will enable developers to apply their desktop and open source development skills using Nokia's Open C POSIX environment, which is built on Symbian's PIPS technology (PIPS is POSIX on Symbian), to create and port mobile applications for next-generation devices based on the smartphone platform.

The challenge will provide contestants with web-based seminars, training sessions and peer-to-peer discussion boards to help their migration from desktop to mobile application development and in porting open-source applications to Symbian OS using the Open C SDK plug-in. The finalists will be invited to present their applications to a select panel of industry judges at the Symbian Smartphone Show in London on 16 and 17 October. The winners will be announced on 17 October.

Make Money On Stock Option Trading

PowerOptions and SmartSearchXL are flexible, customized software trading applications designed to meet the specific needs of professional electronic stock options trading. Whether you choose direct market access for options express or managed transactions, these applications (registered trademarks of Power Financial Group, Inc.) optimizes electronic trade efficiency through cutting edge speed and functionality. Your success comes from better decision-making, fewer errors, and an overall enhanced electronic options trading experience.

PowerOptions (provides the data) and SmartSearchXL (take decisions) to gives their clients complete flexibility with various combinations of order entry, show, analytics and portfolio management. Furthermore, their client receives these benefits without incurring the cost of being an exchange specialist.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Turns your cell phone into a personal GPS assistant

There are many great free services available to assist you while you're on the road, but one of the most useful I've seen so far turns your cell phone into a personal GPS assistant. You could always print directions before you leave the house, but if you're already on the road you now have an option to call 347-328-4667 (or dial DIR-ECT-IONS if you forget) for a text message with turn-by-turn directions. The service is called Dial Directions, and they recently launched a service for those living in Los Angeles, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The service itself is easy to use. You dial the number, provide the voice-activated system your location and destination, and before the call is over, a text message is sent to your phone with driving directions. Dial Directions is a free service, although a short advertisement may be tagged at the end of each text message.

Cell phone equipped with GPS technology. A weapon against crime.

A robbery suspect police had been pursuing for three months was caught after prosecutors said he inadvertently stole a cell phone equipped with GPS technology. Police used the technology to pinpoint the residence of John Wesley Womack, 34, of Middletown, who was indicted July 11 on 10 counts of robbery. He is scheduled to appear in Butler County Common Pleas Court on July 30. Police said they tracked the phone after a robbery at a Papa John’s pizzeria in which a $150 designer purse was stolen. Inside the purse was the GPS-equipped cell phone, and Sprint cell-phone services was able to find the phone’s location.

Gold as an investment

You must know the important fact that the largest mining companies in the world like BHP are not investing in finding more mines when the demand has already outnumber the supply. Instead they are putting more funds in M&A activity. So, gold and silver are good investments in the long run. You can invest in these minerals through well famous and regulated companies like Monex Deposit Company (MDC). They can offer good advice for novice and professionals, and you can buy US gold coins or ingots for your convenience.
Gold is definitely a good option to diversify your investments. Remember, real estate and stocks have bad times frequently.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Cell phones virus. CommWarrior

Cell phone users need to install special software on their phones to prevent them from becoming infected with viruses. Every cell phone owner should be extra vigilant before they open applications or attachments sent to their phones. This warning comes following the return of the CommWarrior virus, which was widely reported by cell phone users early last year. If users were not sure about applications or attachments received through Bluetooth or MMS, they should delete them without opening them.

Recipients with 'smartphone' handsets that use the Symbian operating system are at risk of being infected with the virus, although not all such smartphones will run the application.

Dog lifesaver

A 17-pound beagle named Belle is more than man’s best friend. She’s a lifesaver. Belle was in Washington, D.C., to receive an award for biting onto owner Kevin Weaver’s cell phone to call 911 after the diabetic man had a seizure and collapsed. Belle was the first canine recipient to win the VITA Wireless Samaritan Award, given to someone who used a cell phone to save a life, prevent a crime or help in an emergency. Using their keen sense of smell, animals like Belle can detect abnormalities in a person’s blood-sugar levels. The dog periodically licks Weaver’s nose to take her own reading of his blood-sugar level. If something seems off to her, she will paw and whine at him.

Distance learning phd

Getting an online education has become a very popular technique these days. Whether you are looking for a high school diploma or a graduate degree or some specialized certification to supplement your existing knowledge, it is very convenient to obtain these online from capella university without having to take time off from your schedule to attend a regular educational institution.

Unlike traditional learning, distance learning phd can offer you greater flexibility, as you don't have to waste time and money commuting to the campus and you can choose a program that truly suits your interests or professional needs, because you are not confined to the classes that are offered locally.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.

Smart phone backup

10 GB would be less than $50 per month in many services providers. Speeds are over 100k/sec. Do the first sync by popping the SD card into your laptop, install rsync, set up a scheduled task to run while the thing is on the charger at night and then forget about it.

If you are at home it can even discover and use WiFi saving you some bandwidth, if you think it's worth the hassle.

Of course you might have problems with this if your smart phone doesn't run Linux, but it'll only cost you about $300 to fix that.

Cell phone as a modem

Many wireless phones can double as modems so you can link your notebook to the Web when you can’t find a direct or wireless Internet connection. But the method for making them work varies with the type of phone you have and your service. You can usually find specific information in the support area of your carrier’s Web site.

In many cases, you just need your laptop, any required connection software and a data plan from your phone carrier. You also need a way to connect the phone to the computer, like a USB data cable or Bluetooth link. If your phone didn’t come with a USB cable, sites like www.anglomall.com may have what you need. When you connect the phone to the computer, you may get a message asking for drivers. If your phone did not come with a CD of drivers and additional software, you can probably find the drivers for your model with a quick Web search.
Some Mac OS X machines can automatically recognize the phone as a modem. There are illustrated guides for setting up the phone as a modem for a Mac with a Bluetooth connection; the page at homepage.mac.com/jrc/contrib/tzones/ has an example.

It is easier with Sprint and Verizon, which use a network standard called CDMA, because they offer their own connection kits. Once you get any required software from your carrier installed and the computer recognizes your phone when you connect it, you usually just click the software’s Go or Connect button to take the laptop online through the phone connection.

AT&T and T-Mobile, which use the GSM standard for their networks, are not quite as straightforward. You might need to set up the phone as a modem by creating a new dial-up connection, just as you would set up a dial-up modem on a PC at home. Ask the company for the number to use for dialing into its data network and put that number in the modem’s dial-up settings. Most carriers have help on their Web site; T-Mobile’s, for example, is tinyurl.com/28j2xr.

iPhone impact: Sales will add to electronic waste

Good reviews. People camped out to get one. And buzz that makes the launches of xBoxes, PlayStations or new Krispy Kreme stores pale in comparison. If the iPhone lives up to its hype - Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc., predicts that 10 million will be sold in the first 18 months...

Travel Services Now Free for Nokia S60

WorldMate Inc., a leading provider of travel services for mobile devices, today announced WorldMate is now free for Nokia S60 smartphone users. This product represents the first "Freemium" travel service for S60 devices, providing added value for consumers and frequent fliers alike. Through WorldMate's services, travelers across the globe can access the superior mobile travel tool at no charge.
The new WorldMate for S60 is a powerful mobile travel application that provides the most comprehensive collection of sophisticated software features. With the release of the S60 version, WorldMate provides best-of-class services to assist the on-the-go traveler. Basic travel services ranging from world clocks through weather forecasts to currency conversion are provided for free. Only a handful of specific premium services including comprehensive flight schedules and real-time flight status require a paid professional subscription.
WorldMate's feature set include weather forecasts, world clocks, a currency converter and a world day / night map. The new S60 WorldMate version also contains the Weathercaster service, the users' favorite audio / visual tool that pushes weather updates to the user. Premium services include real-time flight status, flight schedules and satellite weather imagery, and are available for a subscription fee. Purchasing a subscription can be easily done on the phone using MobiMate's secure shopping cart.

The perfect cellphone

Buying that perfect cellphone has become a tightrope between watching your bank balance, looking for the right features you want and making sure you aren't sporting the same model as your panwalla.

The fact hat there are so many options to pick from, doesn't help matters. Some harp on the music while others tempt you with the slimness and finesse of their ware. So if you have been tearing your hair out over question like ‘should I buy a fashionable number thinner than a supermodel is dancing to?' here are a few pointers that could help you in your quest for that perfect talk-mate:

The basics: With cellphone companies clamouring to squeeze in innumerable features and functions into tiny handsets sometimes the most critical functions of the phone tend to suffer, so here is a checklist of a few ‘must-haves' to look for:

First off, check for a good voice quality, because what use is a great phone, if you can't hear callers when driving down a highway? Go for a phone with simple navigation interface. Any phone that requires over three menu selections just to type an SMS is a goner straight off!

Another factor of critical importance is the battery life. Get one with a battery that will last longer than a few days. Here, ignore the ‘stand-by' battery life; instead look for one that gives a good battery life during normal day-to-day use.

Bluetooth is a must. Bluetooth lets you connect with any (Bluetooth enabled) phone in the vicinity and transfer data such as ringtones, pictures or even SMS for free. While on the topic of connectivity, look for a phone that comes with EDGE or 3G technology. These simply mean that while accessing the internet via your phone the data will be sent faster, and you will be able to browse websites quicker.

Design factor: Look and feel is probably one of the most important deciding factors while buying a phone. Each design factor has its unique characteristics, so you'll want to think carefully about which is best for you. For instance, flip phones are useful if you frequently keep your mobile in a pocket when on the go, simply because shape prevents accidental dialling. The coolest-looking flip handsets today are also the skinniest; a couple of models to start with would be Motorola's Razr V3i and Samsung's MM-A900.

On the other hand, candy bar-style phones can be sturdier and, for many users, easier to use. For candy bar style, you could look at Sony Ericsson W-series phones such as W810 or Samsung's slim ultra edition series.

Lastly, slider models can provide the best of both worlds. Many people find the sliding action pleasing—if you are one of them, Nokia's 5300 Xpress phones are worth a look. And yes, no matter what you pick, before making your decision be sure to hold the mobile in your hand and next to your ear to see how comfortable it is.

Feature check: If you thought picking a design was hard, choosing the right feature set isn't any easier. As a thumb rule, you shouldn't buy anything more than you need, so don't let any sales pitch bulldoze you into buying an expensive handset full of unwanted features.

If you want a handset just to make calls, stick with something simple. Nokia 6030 and Samsung X210 could be good options here.

Alternatively, if you'd like entertainment options on your handset, look for a phone with a good inbuilt camera, an MP3 player and streaming video quality. Thanks to the popularity of iPods there is a slew of music phones in the markets, nearly all the models today can play music. But a few of them—such as Sony Ericsson's walkman series and Motorola's Slvr L7—are better equipped to do so than the others.

For camera phones a 2 megapixel would be the only option to look at. The ones with a lower resolution or VGA versions are a complete no-no. The ones with good camera reviews are Sony's K 790i and Nokia's N-series phones.

Finally, if you're going to use your mobile for email or organisational tasks,it is best to go with a higher-range model or smart phone or even a PDA. Blackberry's Pearl or Samsung's Blackjack could be worth a look.

Mobile Phone Integration for PS

Sony is offering mobile phone access to the social and communication features of Playstation Home. You can also directly upload photos taken from your mobile phone into your space on Playstation Home.

Sony is establishing the 3D world as the integration point for all things. You will be able to launch your games from within Playstation Home.
Games like Singstar will be also integrated into Playstation Home. This way you can meet virtually and battle in Singstar virtually - pretty impressive stuff.

The graphics quality of the Playstation Home world is still stunning. Home will be an exciting place when it launches.

Motorola A1200

- The volume is not sufficient for many users.

- The phone internal Opera web browser makes unexpected internal errors in random occasions (on the same web page it might work flawlessly one time, and fail on another).

- The interface between the phone dialer and address book is not good. For instance, you can not write a number in the dialer and then store it as a contact without dialing the number first. I can not point on the exact other problems with this issue, but it is definitely less comfortable then other phones that I used.

- Scrolling down the list of contacts in address book if very slow - unless you drag the scroll bar with your pen which will scratch the screen.

- You can set the email reader not to download large emails. But then it does not even let you know that you received such emails.

- The phone reboots itself with no particular reason from time to time. This is not a big deal, but it is definitely strange behavior.

- Motorola programmers (not all of them are good according to the results with this phone) set the shortcuts to important applications on the main screen. Their choice of "important" applications is strange however: the video camera got one of the 5 icons. The ring style settings got the second shortcut, etc. You have the choice of changing the shortcuts, but only 2 of the 5. Which means that you will always see the video camera, web browser, and ring style shortcuts on your main screen, but will have to spend much more efforts to access your real favorite applications.

- On the main screen there is no indication whether you set up your alarm clock (and, as you may find out in the hard way, in order to complete setting the alarm clock you have to click the appropriate "save" button).

Sidekick data plan

Without the data plan, you can only use the calling and texting on the Sidekicks. With the data plan, you'll be able to use the email, Instant messengers, and internet.
You're required to purchase to data plan. There is no way out. Without it, it pretty much makes the sidekick pointless. The data plan is your internet, email, ims, etc. it’s an additional 20 bucks per month.

Chinese man was killed when the battery in his Motorola cell phone exploded

A 22-year-old Chinese man, Xiao Jinpeng, was killed when the battery in his Motorola cell phone exploded. The death happened on June 19, and Motorola is working with Chinese authorities to determine what caused the explosion. According to reports, the phone was in Xiao’s chest pocket, and had been exposed to high temperatures before the explosion. Xiao died when rib fragments pierced his heart. This isn’t the first explosion caused by an exploding cell phone battery. Several injuries have been reported in the past, but this appears to be the first fatality. To date, it’s not known whether the faulty battery was a Motorola original or a replacement.

Aliph Jawbone Wireless Cell Phone Headset

It took well over an hour trying to find the magic combination of earloop and adapter to fit and after it was fitted about as good as I could get it, including some slight twisting and bending of the wire earloop it still felt insecure and the rubber adapter that fits into the ear canal did not provide a good sound seal. The problem is compounded by the fact that the earloop is lightly spring loaded to press the sensor against your cheek but this has the side effect of tending to pull the adapter out of the ear. This is likely the reason that I feel the sound quality is not what it should be for the price. Additionally, the material that the earloop is made of is very stiff and apparently a bit brittle since one of the earloops broke near the end when trying to fit it. I am going to attempt to fit the earloop a little better than the fit that I have now and give it another chance but it would be better if the earloop was of more malleable material to allow the user to fit the loop better since, as they note, everyone's ears are different.

iPDA that will work on your WiFi

It's not just a PDA. It's a SWEET solid state iPod... In fact, it;s currently the only flash based iPod that can play videos; and it has a kickass screen and touch interface to boot... the iPhone is apple's best ipod to date. While the price may seem high, there is clearly a demand for an iPhone-like iPod, and I imagine one at a lower price point than the iPhone will be released soon. Time will tell if the new ipod has any connectivity features built in (wifi, bluetooth, etc), but I hope so!

click here for the iphone Independece Day

Majority favors cell phone ban for drivers

A majority (60%) would favor a ban on cell phone use while driving, according to a News-7 poll conducted Monday by SurveyUSA. The pollsters surveyed 500 adults. Most people (84%) say they favor Virginia's new law banning cell phone use by drivers younger than 18. Support for restrictions on cell phone use was slightly higher among older respondents. Those in the 18-49 age groups were evenly divided on the issue of a general ban on cell phone use while driving

The iPhone root password has already been cracked.

If Apple consider it important, all they need to do is update the values and/or system libraries in the next software update. They could even change the encryption *mechanism* to make it pretty-much un-brute-forceable if they wanted to. I doubt they need to do that though, just change it to a 31-character string with punctuation/digits etc.

Apple have said they intend to provide updates, changes, additions, etc. to the iPhone over time. They have a policy of supporting older computers with new OS releases, and I don't see why they wouldn't migrate this approach to their new market. It only *benefits* them if there are more used phones in circulation running OSX - even if it was a hand-me-down from the big-brother/sister who went and bought the new one...