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Nokia joins forces with the BBC for a more complete iPlayer Experience
The iPlayer is already available on Apple's iPhone and iTouch, but only as a "streaming" service, which means that people can only watch the programmes if they are in a Wi-Fi or 3G area.
Under the deal, owners of the new phone, which goes on sale next month, will need an internet connection to download a programme or radio show from the catch-up service. Once stored on the phone, they will have seven days to watch it before it is automatically wiped from the phone’s memory.
The iPlayer is paid for by the licence fee, which means that it cannot be accessed outside of the UK. British holidaymakers abroad will be able to watch programmes already stored on their phones, but will be barred from accessing the service to download new shows.
Launched last year, the iPlayer has proved immensely popular. Last month, more than 20 million programmes were watched through the service.
Erik Huggers, the BBC director of future media and technology, said: "Over the past eight months we have worked tirelessly to ensure BBC iPlayer is available on as many platforms as possible, from the PC and TV to games consoles and mobiles. This partnership is critical to ensuring we continue to reach out to audiences wherever they are and allow them to catch-up on their favourite BBC programmes." The iPlayer is already available on Apple's iPhone and iTouch, but only as a "streaming" service, which means that peop... more -
Family Racks Up $19,370 Cell Phone Bill
A Portland family racked up nearly $20,000 on their AT&T bill, local station KPTV reported.
The Terry family said they wished they would have received some kind of warning before receiving their 200-page bill in the mail for $19,370.
In July, their son headed north to Vancouver, Canada, and used a laptop with an AirCard to send photos and e-mails back home. The bill showed he used the service 21 times, but because he was out of the country, the activity added up to thousands of dollars in charges.
The AirCard allows users to connect to e-mail, the Internet and business applications while traveling, according to AT&T's Web site. On the Terry family's bill, they were charged international fees for the service.
The Terry family said they asked an AT&T employee about the service before their son left the country. They said they were told nothing about international fees.
http://www.wftv.com/money/17390103/detail.html A Portland family racked up nearly $20,000 on their AT&T bill, local station KPTV reported. ... more -
The Text Message Debate
Do you think IMing and text messaging diminishes your understanding of the English language? A new book from a linguistics expert offers some surprising results. Do you think IMing and text messaging diminishes your understanding of the English language? A new book from a linguistics expert offe... more
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Girl killed by her mobile
A schoolgirl died from a heart attack triggered by a mobile phone alarm - after medics failed to spot she had a rare condition.
Apparently healthy Kasia Ber, 17, collapsed at home just two weeks after teachers took her to a doctor when she suffered palpitations and breathing difficulties.
It was later found that Kasia had Long QT syndrome, but it was not discovered at the time despite further tests.
and cell phone companies say they dont do us any harm A schoolgirl died from a heart attack triggered by a mobile phone alarm - after medics failed to spot she had a rare condition. ... more -
The Future of Visual Computing
Hands-on from Nvision 2008: Immersive 3-D gaming, Mobile Phones that capture and play HD video, Virtual one-on-one with NBA star Dwayne Wade, and a World Record for a LAN party ... Hands-on from Nvision 2008: Immersive 3-D gaming, Mobile Phones that capture and play HD video, Virtual one-on-one with NBA star Dway... more
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Motion-powered phone charger
M2E Power, a company formed last year to charge electronic gadgets with human motion, has reported back that its system actually works.
Next year it expects to release a charger that can harvest enough motion from walking to replenish cell phones or other small gadgets, like GPS devices.
It says that six hours of cumulative motion can add 30 to 60 minutes of talk time to a cell phone.
Inside is a lithium ion battery and a series of coils and magnets. When it moves, an electromagnetic field forms around the coils to generate electricity.
The technology, developed in part at Boise State University, optimizes that field to match the slow frequency of human motion and draw a usable current.
The charger unit can be charged by an AC wall socket as well. M2E Power has had discussions with cell phone manufacturers to build the generator directly into a phone.
This totally owns! M2E Power, a company formed last year to charge electronic gadgets with human motion, has reported back that its system actually works... more -
Sony La Croix PSP Phone: blend business with pleasure!
"While cellphone companies out there are pumping millions of dollars into marketing to try and make their handsets more popular, designer Nate Ribbens has come up with a way to make cellphones literally sell themselves. The Sony La Croix PSP Phone created by him is a marvelous design that blends all the essentials of a business phone with the goodness of a larger than life PSP. Thanks to a handy touchscreen and video playback support, the device allows uses to easily switch from phone mode to game mode and the delicious 180 degree slider makes us wanna ask for more." "While cellphone companies out there are pumping millions of dollars into marketing to try and make their handsets more popular, ... more
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FCC scratches plan to change cell roaming rules
The head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has put on hold a plan to revise the rules governing the right of small wireless phone carriers to "roam" on the networks of larger rivals.
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin had proposed guaranteeing that carriers who owned unused spectrum could continue roaming for four years before they lost roaming rights. But he withdrew the proposal before a meeting of the FCC's five commissioners on Friday because they had not reached an agreement on the issue.
The move also comes after small carriers such as Leap Wireless International Inc asked the FCC to ban Verizon Wireless' plan to buy Alltel unless rules are put in place to make sure consumers are not left without roaming in some areas.
Verizon, which hopes to close the Alltel deal by year-end, declined comment beyond documents it filed recently with the FCC promising to maintain Alltel's roaming agreements.
The FCC review of the rules stems from an order it adopted last year that reaffirmed the rights of smaller carriers to roam on the networks of bigger wireless companies such as AT&T Inc and Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications Inc Vodafone Group Plc. The head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has put on hold a plan to revise the rules governing the right of small wireles... more -
8 megapixel camera phone - Samsung i8510
"The i8150 camera phone with its capability to take high quality pictures identical to the ones taken on a digital camera, might as well lead to the end of digital cameras. Sources indicate that the pictures taken on the i8150 were the best ever to have been taken via a camera phone. Says Paul Nuttall, writer of What Digital Camera, that the open space between a digital camera and a camera phone has narrowed over the years and with the introduction of an 8 MP on mobiles, customers will find it difficult to distinguish an image taken with a 8 MP camera phone and a digital camera..." "The i8150 camera phone with its capability to take high quality pictures identical to the ones taken on a digital camera, might ... more
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Who needs an iPhone??
Check out this review of the new Omnia!
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Apple acknowledges reception issues with iPhone 3G
Apple Inc. has acknowledged that users are experiencing issues getting reception on their iPhone 3G handsets. It was revealed that the OS 2.0.2 software update was designed to fix problems with the iPhone 3G that have been reported from users around the world. A company representative confirmed to the Associated Press that the update "improved communication with 3G networks." Apple Inc. has acknowledged that users are experiencing issues getting reception on their iPhone 3G handsets. It was revealed that the... more
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Surprise! New iPhone comes loaded with photos of the girl who made it
"The photos were found on a new iPhone shipped to the UK, and one of the pictures was even set as the home screen."
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Yahoo and Intel (re)Introduce Interactive TV
Is Yahoo! rising from the dead as the new player in ... Interactive TV???
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Japan introduces 'wallet phones'?
TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Japan will start an aggressive push to market abroad its mobile technology, especially the nation's popular "wallet phone," a government official said Tuesday.
Although Japan boasts some of the most sophisticated cell phones in the world, delivering high-speed Internet connections, digital TV broadcasts and video downloads, the nation has failed to make its handsets, wireless technology and mobile services hits outside of Japan.
The latest initiative spearheaded by the government with an industry group of Japanese carriers and manufacturers is an effort to help Japan catch up in wooing global users, said Masayuki Ito, official at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Among the wireless innovations Japan hopes to peddle is the wallet phone. The technology relies on a tiny computer chip called FeliCa, embedded in each cell phone, which communicates with a reader-device at stores, train stations and vending machines for cashless payments.
FeliCa was developed by Japanese electronics and entertainment company Sony Corp. Such technology is more common in smart cards, popular in Singapore and parts of Europe. But Japan hopes to market the technology abroad for cell phones. TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Japan will start an aggressive push to market abroad its mobile technology, especially the nation's popular ... more -
Iran Starts Inspecting the Cell Phones of Young Female and Male in Public Places
Last year, a report on “mobile policing” caused an uproar in the media. NAJA, an acronym for security agents, officially denied inspecting young men’s and women’s mobile phones in public places. Nonetheless, a special crime prevention and combat squad in Eastern Azerbaijan province took the first step in this regard and became the first to enforce the mobile phone inspection law.
According to reports by Shahab News, an order was issued on Tuesday morning to special crime prevention and combat squads in Eastern Azerbaijan province to inspect the mobile phones of “people of interest” selectively in public. Authorities in Eastern Azerbaijan province stressed that the operation is intended to counter those who are promoting corruption using Blue-Tooth technology, and that the operation will be conducted in cooperation with the judicial office. Violators will be detained, their mobile phones will be confiscated, and their cases will be sent to the local general and revolutionary court for review.
Although a similar announcement has not been made in other provinces, and inspecting young citizens’ mobile phones is considered illegal, there is a possibility that a special crime prevention and combat squad will begin implementing similar surveillance in other provinces.
The Shahab News report indicated that Malek Azhdar-Sharifi, chief prosecutor in Eastern Azerbaijan province, emphasized confronting Blue-Tooth users who are alleged to use immoral material. Mr. Azhdar-Sharifi stated: “Those responsible for distributing immoral CDs and Blue-Tooth technology with be prosecuted to the full extent of the law”.
Mr. Azhdar-Sharifi further added: “the subject of immoral CDs and Blue-Tooth technology is a very sensitive subject and on certain occasions has offended the public. It appears that this issue is another tactic to exploit and subvert our Islamic ways and values by [importing] the outside world’s corruption. We should consider this issue very serious”.
On implementing this law Mr. Azhdar-Sharifi stated: “security forces and dedicated revolutionary guards must coordinate their actions with the judicial office to take an effective step in eradicating these promoters”.
In his statements Mr. Azhdar-Sharifi turned his attention to prosecutors across the province and reminded them: “considering the enormity of the situation across the province, no compromises should be made when combating promoters and distributors of immoral products”.
According to a Fars report, which initially published news on this subject, Yahya Mirza-Mohammadi, the general and revolutionary prosecutor for Tabriz, also made a statement in this session and said: “young people, instead of spending their time being educated and using their energy in positive ways, are swayed toward these corrupt ways that are very destructive”.
The chairman of the special crime prevention and combat squad added: “it is a worrisome situation […] we should counter the issue legally and seriously”.
The chairman further added; “security, intelligence and revolutionary agents are requested to uncover and arrest those responsible for such a destructive phenomenon and take legal action in combating and turning them in to the judicial system”.
Mr. Mirza-Mohammadi stressed confronting the promoters of corruption in a serious way and stated: “I can earnestly announce the I and other colleagues in judicial offices, especially the offices responsible for reviewing issues related to morality, will confront the corrupt individuals without any reservation. It appears to me that there is no difference between these violators and those who are considered irredeemably corrupt, and we can treat these types of violators in the same way that we deal with irredeemable violators. Last year, a report on “mobile policing” caused an uproar in the media. NAJA, an acronym for security agents, officially denied inspec... more -
Coming soon: 'wallet phones' from Japan
Japan will start an aggressive push to market abroad its mobile technology, especially the nation's popular "wallet phone," a government official said Tuesday.
Although Japan boasts some of the most sophisticated cell phones in the world, delivering high-speed Internet connections, digital TV broadcasts and video downloads, the nation has failed to make its handsets, wireless technology and mobile services hits outside of Japan.
he latest initiative spearheaded by the government with an industry group of Japanese carriers and manufacturers is an effort to help Japan catch up in wooing global users, said Masayuki Ito, official at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Among the wireless innovations Japan hopes to peddle is the wallet phone. The technology relies on a tiny computer chip called FeliCa, embedded in each cell phone, which communicates with a reader-device at stores, train stations and vending machines for cashless payments.
FeliCa was developed by Japanese electronics and entertainment company Sony Corp. Such technology is more common in smart cards, popular in Singapore and parts of Europe. But Japan hopes to market the technology abroad for cell phones. Japan will start an aggressive push to market abroad its mobile technology, especially the nation's popular "wallet phone,&#... more -
VoIP for iPhone!
Global IP Solutions has released software for the iPhone that can place VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls which in turn will allow users to use less celluar airtime.
This has AT&T very upset for obvious reasons. Global IP Solutions has released software for the iPhone that can place VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls which in turn will a... more -
Numb3rs
A visual sequence that shows that almost everything deals with numb3rs.
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Cell phones safe, some cancer experts say
People burned up the phone lines -- land lines, presumably -- after a prominent Pittsburgh cancer researcher warned of a possible cancer risk from cell phones.
Most alarming was his warning that children are at greatest risk because their brains are growing and that they should use cell phones only in emergencies.
But the warning was met with widespread skepticism among other cancer experts.
How should people react?
"I don't think they should react at all. I think this is a warning that is totally unfounded. Quite frankly, I'm surprised the statement was made," said Dr. Jonas Sheehan, who treats brain cancer patients at Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute.
The warning came last month from Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, the director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. It was contained in a memo that went to 3,000 faculty and staff members.
"Recently I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer. Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use," he wrote.
The advisory generated a lot of attention. By the middle of last week, the Pittsburgh hospital was refusing requests for interviews.
A report and a note from Herberman remained on the institute's Web site at www.upci.upmc.edu.
The report said existing research on cell phones and cancer can't be conclusive because cancer can take many years to develop and cell phones have been popular for about a decade. It mentions studies involving long-term cell phone users showing a "possible association" between brain cancers on the same side of the head where the cell phone was usually held.
The American Cancer Society, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Cancer Institute are among organizations that have expressed the belief that there's little to suggest that electromagnetic waves from cell phones can cause cancer.
Numerous other studies have failed to find a link between cell phones and cancer. " People burned up the phone lines -- land lines, presumably -- after a prominent Pittsburgh cancer researcher warned of a possible canc... more -
Cell phone carriers' early termination fees dashed in CA!
$150 or more to cancel your service - robbery without a gun!
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