New LG Shine Wood LG-LB2500H
LG announced a new mobile phone in its Shine product line. The LG Shine Wood features a wooden body and shiny metal accents.Despite the natural feel the LG Shine Wood sports high-end features. LG packed DMB TV, a 2MP camera, MP3 player, Bluetooth, and an electronic dictionary into the LG-LB2005H.As far as I understand from the Korean press-release, the wooden surface of the LG-LB2005H is no
New LG Shine Wood LG-LB2500H
LG announced a new mobile phone in its Shine product line. The LG Shine Wood features a wooden body and shiny metal accents.Despite the natural feel the LG Shine Wood sports high-end features. LG packed DMB TV, a 2MP camera, MP3 player, Bluetooth, and an electronic dictionary into the LG-LB2005H.As far as I understand from the Korean press-release, the wooden surface of the LG-LB2005H is no
AppSnapp Offers One Step Jailbreak of 1.1.1 iPhones and iPod Touch
The last week or two has seen releases or updates to many popular GUI applications which let you jailbreak an iPhone running firmware version 1.1.1 in a semi-automated fashion. Unfortunately, all of these required multiple steps and a good deal of user interaction. Consider that burden a thing of the past. With the recent release of AppSnapp, owners of iPhones running firmware 1.1.1 can now
AppSnapp Offers One Step Jailbreak of 1.1.1 iPhones and iPod Touch
The last week or two has seen releases or updates to many popular GUI applications which let you jailbreak an iPhone running firmware version 1.1.1 in a semi-automated fashion. Unfortunately, all of these required multiple steps and a good deal of user interaction. Consider that burden a thing of the past. With the recent release of AppSnapp, owners of iPhones running firmware 1.1.1 can now
OS X Leopard Notes Don't Sync with iPhone
A few weeks ago, it was reported by Mac OS X Leopard beta testers that Leopard's mail included notes feature akin to the Notes program on the iPhone. The optimistic, and somewhat logical, hope at the time was that notes on the iPhone would sync with notes in the new Leopard version of Mail. In fact, note syncing was even listed at one time in Apple's feature list for Leopard. Unfortunately, that
OS X Leopard Notes Don't Sync with iPhone
A few weeks ago, it was reported by Mac OS X Leopard beta testers that Leopard's mail included notes feature akin to the Notes program on the iPhone. The optimistic, and somewhat logical, hope at the time was that notes on the iPhone would sync with notes in the new Leopard version of Mail. In fact, note syncing was even listed at one time in Apple's feature list for Leopard. Unfortunately, that
O2 Already Setting Up iPhone Store Displays
Although you wouldn't say the November 9th launch of the iPhone on O2 in the UK is "right around the corner," that's not stopping O2 stores from getting their iPhone displays up. In preparation for what is certain to be a very energetic lanch in the UK, O2 stores around the country have begun dressing up for the release. A MacRumors forums member, DogcowUK, recently snapped the above shot of an
O2 Already Setting Up iPhone Store Displays
Although you wouldn't say the November 9th launch of the iPhone on O2 in the UK is "right around the corner," that's not stopping O2 stores from getting their iPhone displays up. In preparation for what is certain to be a very energetic lanch in the UK, O2 stores around the country have begun dressing up for the release. A MacRumors forums member, DogcowUK, recently snapped the above shot of an
OnRez Second Life viewer & CSI:NY in SL
Yesterday we were finally able to get our hands on the new OnRez viewer for Second Life that was made for a special episode of the hit show CSI New York (which was also aired last night). The viewer is available both for Windows and Mac OS X and it's got a simplified user interface and a built-it browser. If you're familiar with the existing Linden Lab's viewer you'll need some time to get adjusted to some changes. The most obvious one is the fact that you now have the Friends button in the lower right corner instead of the Inventory button - I suppose they think users will need their friends' list more often then their inventory, which can now be found under a button at the top of the screen and it's been renamed to "My Stuff" (I don't even want to comment on that). The good news is that most of the shortcuts still work, and you still have the client menu and all the advanced options (you need to manually enable the Build menu and the advanced options under the View menu).
Some of the new UI elements (the HUD is detachable)And even better news is that we now finally have the back button (and teleport history) built-in. The home button in the upper menu bar is a bit confusing for me though - it takes me to Central park on the CIS sims, although the usual shortcut for home still takes me to my real home. But the best feature of all (at least for me) is the built-in browser. Sure, it's pretty basic (no Flash for example), but it works, it's fast, easily accessible and it seems like a better way for displaying text help files than through notecards, as web pages can of course be hyperlinked and enriched with various design elements.
Viewing my blog in the OnRez viewerOverall I think I prefer the OnRez viewer to the Linden Lab's one. Yesterday I had some problems with textures not rezzing, but now everything appears to be ok (they already had their first update yesterday). You do get CSI pop-ups each time you run the viewer and login, but they can easily be closed. I think I'll stick with this viewer for now - mostly because of the browser.
Now, moving on to the CSI part of the story (note: until now I've never seen an entire CSI episode - I usually switch after a few minutes). Yesterday I already picked up my CSI Toolbar (a HUD) on one of the many CSI Orientation sims, walked through the orientation process, and solved my first crime. I must say the whole experience was quite pleasant and engaging. I think they made a good job of introducing the basics and they also prepared an interesting crime game. They also have nice video tutorials on the special Virtual CSI:NY site. It makes one wonder how we could make some educational sims as interesting...
Working on a crime scene with the CSI ToolbarAnyway, I was also curious to see the CSI TV episode to see how they presented Second Life. I got the chance to see it this morning, and... hm... let me just say I've laughed out loud a few times. I don't know which world they filmed this episode in, but it only looked like Second Life if you took screenshots of the scenes. There was absolutely no lag (!), everything (especially dressing up) was done through a keyboard, no pie menus etc. Not to mention the silly gladiator game effects (there was a large audience at the event - certainly over 40 avatars - and no lag or crashing!), everybody using tools to fly, the silly comments made by most of the CSI team, and some sort of Second Life virus? Somebody's been reading Snow Crash I presume or just playing another video game. Oh well, we've all seen how hacking is usually presented in movies. But anyhow, I'm not quite sure the picture of Second Life on the show would manage to get me interested enough in SL if I were a CSI viewer that's never heard of Second Life. I mean, why would I want to go into a virtual world in which there's a tech savvy professional killer or a world in which you can get a strange virus that keeps a whole team of IT experts busy for hours to fix? I certainly hope the commercials were better than that.
Virtual crime and a game I like to call "Guess who's the sponsor of the project"
Anyhow, quite many viewer of the show were apparently intrigued by the whole thing, and at this moment we still have many CSI newbies wandering around (btw we've also got improved versions of Clint & Brandy - they come with skin, prim hair and decent clothing now ;) ). A few moments ago I re-visited some of the orientation spots and I saw a lot of confused users. Not many very talking. Maybe they just didn't realize they can use text chat - in the CSI episode they were using voice chat all the time; yeah I know, how realistic! Actually, just one newbie said hello and asked me "what are we suppose to do or where are we suppose to go?". Hm, maybe not such a good orientation after all. Maybe we should have more greeters at the starting points (I did meet one last night).
Meet the new Brandy - this defaults certainly look better than usually
I think it's still way too soon to make any final judgments on the successfulness of the whole CSI in SL thing. I'm personally glad I got a nice new viewer, but we still have to see if and how the CSI viewers will play along in this game. The Second Life grid survived last night (the load wasn't even that big), but let's wait for a few days to get more numbers and to see how many of the new users will stay in SL after they learn how the world really works.
Oh an by the way - today we have another big Second Life TV appearance on the series The Office. Oh dear. Not sure whether I should be excited or scared about that :)
Some of the new UI elements (the HUD is detachable)
Viewing my blog in the OnRez viewer
Now, moving on to the CSI part of the story (note: until now I've never seen an entire CSI episode - I usually switch after a few minutes). Yesterday I already picked up my CSI Toolbar (a HUD) on one of the many CSI Orientation sims, walked through the orientation process, and solved my first crime. I must say the whole experience was quite pleasant and engaging. I think they made a good job of introducing the basics and they also prepared an interesting crime game. They also have nice video tutorials on the special Virtual CSI:NY site. It makes one wonder how we could make some educational sims as interesting...
Working on a crime scene with the CSI Toolbar
Virtual crime and a game I like to call "Guess who's the sponsor of the project"
Meet the new Brandy - this defaults certainly look better than usuallyOh an by the way - today we have another big Second Life TV appearance on the series The Office. Oh dear. Not sure whether I should be excited or scared about that :)
Nokia 3500 classic
During its annual Nokia Connection event in Singapore, Nokia expanded its portfolio of affordable, well-designed mobile phones for the mid-range market with the introduction of the Nokia 3500 classic. This new device offers a range of easy-to-use features and is designed for the mid-range market, the industry's broadest audience. This new mobile phone is expected to begin shipping in the third
Sony Ericsson К770 - The Cyber Power
Sony Ericsson K770 is an easy to handle cyber-shot phone with loads of features. The bar shape slim phone with sleek design attracts attention because of its handy features and compact and solid looks. Solid doesn’t mean that the phone is made of steel, the casing is made of plastic but it is not flashy and shiny like some others in the market these days. The compact Sony Ericsson k77o measures
Sony Ericsson К770 - The Cyber Power
Sony Ericsson K770 is an easy to handle cyber-shot phone with loads of features. The bar shape slim phone with sleek design attracts attention because of its handy features and compact and solid looks. Solid doesn’t mean that the phone is made of steel, the casing is made of plastic but it is not flashy and shiny like some others in the market these days. The compact Sony Ericsson k77o measures
Gmail now available with IMAP Option
Gmail, by far the most innovative web-based email, has taken the marquee one step higher. Now offering IMAP as a feature. For those not familiar, an email server is typically setup as POP3 or IMAP. The typical email account from your local ISP (ie. Time Warner, Cox Communication, Earthlink, etc.) is usually POP3. That is, when new emails arrive, they are stored on the POP3 mail server until you read(retrieve) it, the moment you hit the send and receive button to retrieve it, the email the emails will be cleared from the POP3 server. So if you download the email from your personal computer, that email is going to stay with that computer; you will not be able to download it again or view it from the "webmail" option.IMAP is usually a more professional option. This is something your work email is likely to be set up as. The IMAP server is the host of the email, you can view(retreive) it via a webmail interface or from a computer or any other device that is configured to read the email. Unlike POP3 servers, retreiving an email from a personal device doesn't wipe the mail off of the server, giving you a wider mobility.
So back to the main story, Gmail is now available with this option. Some users claim that they are not seeing that option yet, while others are suggesting you to log on and off Gmail a couple of times to see that option. I am seeing this option fine within my "Settings"... see screen cap.
Yahoo Gets Aggressive with Mobile Site
I got an email this afternoon from Yahoo informing me about its new mobile web services. This email is a cool attempt to reach out to its customer base to remind them about all of Yahoo's web services are now even better served on the mobile devices. Yahoo was one of the leaders in making their contents available via mobile. It looks like this update is taking whats good and make it even better.The race for mobile dominance is on, this week, Google has made its "Docs" online office application available (view only) for mobile interface, AOL AIM is going further in Mobile, and Mapquest is offering a new mobile interface.
Nokia 5070 review
Nokia's 5070 is a straightforward mobile phone with no frills. It is definitely at the low end of mid-range, if not even lower than that. Made almost entirely of plastic the black, white and red colour scheme is not very inspirational, though Nokia has come up with a grey dot pattern for the back cover and a metal strip to house the back mounted camera which help give it a bit of a lift. The
Nokia 5070 review
Nokia's 5070 is a straightforward mobile phone with no frills. It is definitely at the low end of mid-range, if not even lower than that. Made almost entirely of plastic the black, white and red colour scheme is not very inspirational, though Nokia has come up with a grey dot pattern for the back cover and a metal strip to house the back mounted camera which help give it a bit of a lift. The
Mac GUI iPhone 1.1.1 Jailbreak Tool iNdependence Version 1.2.5 Released
A new version of iNdependence, 1.2.5, is now available. iNdependence is the most widely used tool for jailbreaking and installing third party applications on iPhones running, or looking to upgrade to, iPhone firmware version 1.1.1.Like it's recently released Windows counterpart (of sorts), iDemocracy, iNdependence provides a great deal of automation to an otherwise lengthy and technical jailbreak
Mac GUI iPhone 1.1.1 Jailbreak Tool iNdependence Version 1.2.5 Released
A new version of iNdependence, 1.2.5, is now available. iNdependence is the most widely used tool for jailbreaking and installing third party applications on iPhones running, or looking to upgrade to, iPhone firmware version 1.1.1.Like it's recently released Windows counterpart (of sorts), iDemocracy, iNdependence provides a great deal of automation to an otherwise lengthy and technical jailbreak
iDemocracy Windows 1.1.1 Jailbreak + 3rd Party Application Install Tool Released
For a few weeks now, folks on Mac have been enjoying the convenience of using iNdependence - a GUI tool which partially automates the jailbreak and installation of third party applications - to successfully complete the process to jailbreak and install third party applications on the iPhone with firmware version 1.1.1. With the recent release of iDemocracy, a similar level of convenience is now
New Installer.app is Here, GUI 1.1.1 Jailbreak Coming
Nullriver has released a new beta version of their revolutionary application manager for third-party software on the Apple iPhone. The latest version, 3.0 beta 3, includes a host of new features and a completely redone interface.The new release provides a much easier to navigate interface which replaces the old single list layout of earlier versions. Applications, like before, are organized into
iDemocracy Windows 1.1.1 Jailbreak + 3rd Party Application Install Tool Released
For a few weeks now, folks on Mac have been enjoying the convenience of using iNdependence - a GUI tool which partially automates the jailbreak and installation of third party applications - to successfully complete the process to jailbreak and install third party applications on the iPhone with firmware version 1.1.1. With the recent release of iDemocracy, a similar level of convenience is now
New Installer.app is Here, GUI 1.1.1 Jailbreak Coming
Nullriver has released a new beta version of their revolutionary application manager for third-party software on the Apple iPhone. The latest version, 3.0 beta 3, includes a host of new features and a completely redone interface.The new release provides a much easier to navigate interface which replaces the old single list layout of earlier versions. Applications, like before, are organized into
Dopod C750 - Watch for more
Since the picture of Dopod 750 have been leaked lots of online debate is going on over it being looking like HTC Juno or it being HTC Juno. But apart from this debate the smart phone looks seriously business like. Its non flashy looks are made for the people who just want loads of feature in their phone and don’t want to go on a date with it. Or may be they can get a date because of it? As per
Dopod C750 - Watch for more
Since the picture of Dopod 750 have been leaked lots of online debate is going on over it being looking like HTC Juno or it being HTC Juno. But apart from this debate the smart phone looks seriously business like. Its non flashy looks are made for the people who just want loads of feature in their phone and don’t want to go on a date with it. Or may be they can get a date because of it? As per
Motorola – The ultimate trend setter in cell phones
In the world of globalization people want some thing new and some thing different. Since blue tooth came in the market, we will get various designs and developing solutions, influenced by fashion as well as functionality. Among various mobiles Motorola is one of the best and dazzling handset what you get is only the indispensable, with out any extra price rate. Today we will discuss about
Motorola – The ultimate trend setter in cell phones
In the world of globalization people want some thing new and some thing different. Since blue tooth came in the market, we will get various designs and developing solutions, influenced by fashion as well as functionality. Among various mobiles Motorola is one of the best and dazzling handset what you get is only the indispensable, with out any extra price rate. Today we will discuss about
Quiksilver mobile phone concept
What we have here is an interesting and most probably unofficial Quiksilver mobile phone concept. We’ve no clue whether the popular surf clothing company has any plans to enter the mobile market, but if they end up doing so, they may want to make something unconventional. Guess that was the main reason why the designer of this concept decided to make the device look this way. As you can see, the
Quiksilver mobile phone concept
What we have here is an interesting and most probably unofficial Quiksilver mobile phone concept. We’ve no clue whether the popular surf clothing company has any plans to enter the mobile market, but if they end up doing so, they may want to make something unconventional. Guess that was the main reason why the designer of this concept decided to make the device look this way. As you can see, the
Audi Mobile Device - Audi's 3G/WiFi mobile phone controls vehicle functions
First BMW integrated the iPhone into the vehicle lineup. Then Audi followed suit with their iPhone-integration announcement. If you’re a fan of German cars (we sure are), it doesn’t get much better than that. Or, does it?Audi, apparently not satisfied with integrating Apple’s iconic iPhone into their vehicles, has a new concept on their hands. The Audi metroproject concept, dubbed the “Audi
Audi Mobile Device - Audi's 3G/WiFi mobile phone controls vehicle functions
First BMW integrated the iPhone into the vehicle lineup. Then Audi followed suit with their iPhone-integration announcement. If you’re a fan of German cars (we sure are), it doesn’t get much better than that. Or, does it?Audi, apparently not satisfied with integrating Apple’s iconic iPhone into their vehicles, has a new concept on their hands. The Audi metroproject concept, dubbed the “Audi
Nokia N810 Internet Tablet Officially Announced
As we foreshadowed earlier, the Linux-based Nokia N810 internet tablet is now official. The little PC that's scarcely larger than the palm of your hand hooks up to the internet via Wi-Fi, and also can snag a Bluetooth connection with your cellphone. With its highly desirable slide-out keyboard, looks like some tough competition for the iPod touch. It also adds GPS capability with tons of
Nokia N810 Internet Tablet Officially Announced
As we foreshadowed earlier, the Linux-based Nokia N810 internet tablet is now official. The little PC that's scarcely larger than the palm of your hand hooks up to the internet via Wi-Fi, and also can snag a Bluetooth connection with your cellphone. With its highly desirable slide-out keyboard, looks like some tough competition for the iPod touch.It also adds GPS capability with tons of preloaded
Motorola KRZR K3 - Hello Moto
The Motorola’s MOTOKRZR K3 is an ultimate style statement. The phones sleek casing is made of high class stainless steel and glass which gives it that non-plastic, no nonsense look. It comes in two smart and sophisticated stone gray and dark pearl gray shades. The MOTOKRZR K3 measures 103X42X16 millimeter although a bit larger then other models of similar versions but that hasn’t harmed its image
Motorola KRZR K3 - Hello Moto
The Motorola’s MOTOKRZR K3 is an ultimate style statement. The phones sleek casing is made of high class stainless steel and glass which gives it that non-plastic, no nonsense look. It comes in two smart and sophisticated stone gray and dark pearl gray shades.The MOTOKRZR K3 measures 103X42X16 millimeter although a bit larger then other models of similar versions but that hasn’t harmed its image.
Samsung F330 Review
Samsung F330 is another stunning and sleek looking slim slider by Samsung. The F330 is basically music oriented handset which has got style as well. It is being called the music phone as it has a set of dedicated keys for music which are east to operate. It has 1 GB on board memory space to store you favorite songs and if you think that is enough for the music lover like you then the F330 also
Samsung F330 Review
Samsung F330 is another stunning and sleek looking slim slider by Samsung. The F330 is basically music oriented handset which has got style as well. It is being called the music phone as it has a set of dedicated keys for music which are east to operate. It has 1 GB on board memory space to store you favorite songs and if you think that is enough for the music lover like you then the F330 also
Giving your Facebook profile a Second Life
If you are like me, you probably have some of your Second Life friends among your Facebook friends. And until recently, we had no good way of connecting the two worlds. But now we can; and there isn't just one, but two Facebook applications that can help you with that.
Second Friends
The first app (by release order) is called Second Friends and was developed by Art Fossett (I'm using the developer's SL names in both cases). The app lets you display your avatar name and picture and a list of your Facebook friends that are using Second Friends on your Facebook profile. To use the app you need to do two things: you need to add the app on Facebook, and you need to pick up a personal key at an in-world kiosk on Eduserv island (you can reset the app and get a new key anytime).
You can then enter the key and your avatar name in the Second Friends form in Facebook. If you got that right, the app will import your Second Life profile picture into Facebook, and you are ready to display your SL name and avatar picture (if you wish so) on your profile.
To add and check for Facebook friends that are using Second Friends, you have to go to the My Friends tab under the app, and a list of friends (including their RL and SL names) will be added to your profile. If you wish, you can also choose to display their SL profile pictures instead. The functionality of this app is pretty simple right now, but future plans include adding an in-world tool for updating your Second Friends status while in Second Life and more.
Second Life Link
The second app, Second Life Link, was developed by Fire Centaur and another developer. It enables you to display your Facebook using SL friends in a similar way to the Facebook's defalt friends' list.
The setting up process is similar to the one you have to go through with Second Friends, although it has a few extra functions. You can start the process by either adding the app on Facebook or by touching the in-world terminal in English Village.
In both cases you will get a personal key that you must enter either on Facebook or in-world (again, you can get another key anytime). A neat thing about Second Life Link is also the fact, that your Facebook friends get the option to register for a Second Life account on Facebook (in case they don't already have one) after adding the app. So you can also send invites for the app to Facebook friends that don't have a second life and trick them into getting one ;) After you've confirmed your identity, the app will automatically fill in your friends list with Facebook friends that are already using the app. Then you can also modify your Second Life Link profile by adding your avatar photo and one home and one favorite SL location you want to share with friends. Your SL friends will then be displayed on your profile with avatar photos and names, and if you click the See All link in the app on your profile or access the app from the left-hand menu, you can view whether your friends are online or offline in SL, and you can also teleport to their home or favorite location from Facebook.
That's how my friends using Second Life Link can see meSecond Life Link also has advanced privacy settings, as you can see from the screenshot below, so you have full control of what your friends can see/do.
Both apps are still in beta, and I'm sure both developers will welcome our feedback. Currently, I have both apps installed and appearing on my Facebook profile, because they both help me connect my Second and Facebook life in a bit different way. I'm certainly looking forward to new features of both apps; and who knows, maybe we'll soon be able to "throw a sheep at" or "poke" our friends in SL from Facebook (throwing sheep should look spectacular in SL! ;) ). But for now, I'm really excited about the fact that my SL friends can get a special place on my Facebook profile. So, if you're a Facebook and Second Life user and want to connect the two, I recommend you give both apps a try, and let me (and of course the developers) know what you like/don't like, and what features would best for future versions :)
Second Friends
The first app (by release order) is called Second Friends and was developed by Art Fossett (I'm using the developer's SL names in both cases). The app lets you display your avatar name and picture and a list of your Facebook friends that are using Second Friends on your Facebook profile. To use the app you need to do two things: you need to add the app on Facebook, and you need to pick up a personal key at an in-world kiosk on Eduserv island (you can reset the app and get a new key anytime).
You can then enter the key and your avatar name in the Second Friends form in Facebook. If you got that right, the app will import your Second Life profile picture into Facebook, and you are ready to display your SL name and avatar picture (if you wish so) on your profile.
Second Life Link
The second app, Second Life Link, was developed by Fire Centaur and another developer. It enables you to display your Facebook using SL friends in a similar way to the Facebook's defalt friends' list.
In both cases you will get a personal key that you must enter either on Facebook or in-world (again, you can get another key anytime). A neat thing about Second Life Link is also the fact, that your Facebook friends get the option to register for a Second Life account on Facebook (in case they don't already have one) after adding the app. So you can also send invites for the app to Facebook friends that don't have a second life and trick them into getting one ;) After you've confirmed your identity, the app will automatically fill in your friends list with Facebook friends that are already using the app. Then you can also modify your Second Life Link profile by adding your avatar photo and one home and one favorite SL location you want to share with friends. Your SL friends will then be displayed on your profile with avatar photos and names, and if you click the See All link in the app on your profile or access the app from the left-hand menu, you can view whether your friends are online or offline in SL, and you can also teleport to their home or favorite location from Facebook.
That's how my friends using Second Life Link can see me
Both apps are still in beta, and I'm sure both developers will welcome our feedback. Currently, I have both apps installed and appearing on my Facebook profile, because they both help me connect my Second and Facebook life in a bit different way. I'm certainly looking forward to new features of both apps; and who knows, maybe we'll soon be able to "throw a sheep at" or "poke" our friends in SL from Facebook (throwing sheep should look spectacular in SL! ;) ). But for now, I'm really excited about the fact that my SL friends can get a special place on my Facebook profile. So, if you're a Facebook and Second Life user and want to connect the two, I recommend you give both apps a try, and let me (and of course the developers) know what you like/don't like, and what features would best for future versions :)
Sony Ericsson K810i
While I wait to get my hands on Sony Ericsson's 5 megapixel K850i I'm going to take a look at the Tri-band 3G K810i, a predecessor model which is still a good seller. The K810i is a Cyber-Shot mobile. While not up to the 5 megapixels of the K850i its 3.2 megapixel sensor is a notch up from the widespread 2 megapixel models in the numbers game, should shoot a passable picture and has a fair few
Sony Ericsson K810i
There is nothing remarkable about the format of this handset. Its 103g makes it quite light but not excessively so, while it s 106 x 48 x 17 mm dimensions mean it needs a reasonably sized pocket but feels comfortable in the hand. I am pleased to say that the ergonomics of use are much improved over some other Sony Ericsson models. I found the tiny number pad keys of the W880i simply too small
HTC To Ship 50,000 Google Phones By End of This Year
There have been rumors flying around about a Google Phone for the longest time and many people are saying that the actual handset will be produced not by the search engine giant, but by a third party manufacturer already known for creating some rebadged wonders. And now, there's even more fodder to substantiate that rumor.A UBS analyst is reporting that HTC is set to ship "about 50,000" cell
HTC To Ship 50,000 Google Phones By End of This Year
There have been rumors flying around about a Google Phone for the longest time and many people are saying that the actual handset will be produced not by the search engine giant, but by a third party manufacturer already known for creating some rebadged wonders. And now, there's even more fodder to substantiate that rumor.A UBS analyst is reporting that HTC is set to ship "about 50,000" cell
Three new Samsung smartphones are found
09-10-2007: Samsung will soon expand her smartphone collection with the Samsung i560, i720 and i780. Despite of the fact that these devices have not been announced yet, we offers you the first photos. Samsung expands her portfolio of smartphones surprisingly fast. In a short time, the Korean company has announced an arsenal of devices but the company also manages to show new devices every time we
New Nokia Aeon Concept Phone with Touchscreen
Nokia recently gave a glimpse of Nokia Aeon Concept Phone in the R&D section of the company’s website. The new Nokia Aeon concept phone is developed by Nokia’s research and development team and is one of the most futuristic mobile phones seen so far.The most outstanding design feature of Nokia Aeon is the touchscreen that stretches over the full surface area of the phone. The touchscreen feature
New Nokia Aeon Concept Phone with Touchscreen
Nokia recently gave a glimpse of Nokia Aeon Concept Phone in the R&D section of the company’s website. The new Nokia Aeon concept phone is developed by Nokia’s research and development team and is one of the most futuristic mobile phones seen so far.The most outstanding design feature of Nokia Aeon is the touchscreen that stretches over the full surface area of the phone. The touchscreen feature
bphone
Not to be, uh, upstaged, by all the other fancy phone monikers out there, Samsung set out to find a unique and catchy name for their new “ultra music” music phone. Already having a world-renowned star signed on to help market the phone, Sammy needed an appropriately flashy name (the “Beyonce Phone” just didn’t roll off the tongue). Now dubbed the Samsung Upstage, the former ultra music / F300 /
Beyonce's Samsung Phone Gets New Name - Upstage
Not to be, uh, upstaged, by all the other fancy phone monikers out there, Samsung set out to find a unique and catchy name for their new “ultra music” music phone. Already having a world-renowned star signed on to help market the phone, Sammy needed an appropriately flashy name (the “Beyonce Phone” just didn’t roll off the tongue). Now dubbed the Samsung Upstage, the former ultra music / F300 /
Apple cleans up at T3 Awards
Romping home after a fantastic year in tech, Apple take on all comers at the T3 Awards.Apple swept the board at last night’s T3 Awards, struggling home with an armful of six awards for some of the finest tech products known to man.The iPhone scooped Most Anticipated Gadget for 2008, as voted for by Sky News online readers, while the iPod romped home with the titles of Best Commuter Gadget, Best
Apple cleans up at T3 Awards
Romping home after a fantastic year in tech, Apple take on all comers at the T3 Awards.Apple swept the board at last night’s T3 Awards, struggling home with an armful of six awards for some of the finest tech products known to man.The iPhone scooped Most Anticipated Gadget for 2008, as voted for by Sky News online readers, while the iPod romped home with the titles of Best Commuter Gadget, Best
Palm Treo 500v - World in your Palm
The latest Treo 500v is Palms attempt to save a position for itself in the market. The new Palm phone is coming in the market after a long break. Let’s see if Plam’s innovative team was working hard during this long break or was just having a break.The Palm Treo 500v is available in two colour schemes - grey/silver and white/silver is a Vodafone exclusive, hence given away free with some
Palm Treo 500v - World in your Palm
The latest Treo 500v is Palms attempt to save a position for itself in the market. The new Palm phone is coming in the market after a long break. Let’s see if Plam’s innovative team was working hard during this long break or was just having a break.The Palm Treo 500v is available in two colour schemes - grey/silver and white/silver is a Vodafone exclusive, hence given away free with some
Nokia E51 Review - E-xtra Smart
The new Nokia E51 is a business smart phone made for the people who don’t want fuss of carrying four five devices with them at work. Its simple sleek and no nonsense look make it suitable for the people who want more features in the phone and not flashy looks. With the Nokia E51 users can experience mobile telephony, mobile email and messaging, office phone functionality, and cost savings. It
Nokia E51 Rev
The new Nokia E51 is a business smart phone made for the people who don’t want fuss of carrying four five devices with them at work. Its simple sleek and no nonsense look make it suitable for the people who want more features in the phone and not flashy looks. With the Nokia E51 users can experience mobile telephony, mobile email and messaging, office phone functionality, and cost savings. It
HP iPAQ hw6515 - A Sober Gadget
HP’s IPAQ hw6515 is an innovation in a communicator’s arena because of its slim casing. A communicator has never been so thin and sleek but its main attraction is not slimness but a thumbboard. The phone is totally opposite to what its predecessors looked like, iPAQ hw6300 series, with 118 x 71 x 21 millimeter casing and 165 grams weight you will doubt it of being a communicator. Bu this baby has
HP iPAQ hw6515 - A Sober Gadget
HP’s IPAQ hw6515 is an innovation in a communicator’s arena because of its slim casing. A communicator has never been so thin and sleek but its main attraction is not slimness but a thumbboard. The phone is totally opposite to what its predecessors looked like, iPAQ hw6300 series, with 118 x 71 x 21 millimeter casing and 165 grams weight you will doubt it of being a communicator. Bu this baby has
What's more insecure, the iPhone or Apple?
It's been interesting to watch the reactions to Apple's crackdown on people who hack their iPhones.
If you've been living in a cave or otherwise off the net, I should explain that Apple's latest software update for the iPhone tends to disable phones that have been hacked to undo the SIM lock (enabling them to make calls on other networks) or to install third party applications. In some cases, Apple has refused to repair the software in these "bricked" phones, forcing the user to buy a new one.
I've read contradictory reports on what level of hacking causes the iPhone to be disabled. Some reports say the update disables the phone only if the SIM lock has been broken. In phones with an intact SIM lock but third party applications, word is that the update "merely" erases the apps without disabling the phone. But the fear among iPhone users is that doing anything unauthorized with the phone, even installing an app, can cause it to be disabled. Apple appears to be feeding this fear deliberately.
This has stopped (at least temporarily) the rapid growth of third party applications that developers and enthusiasts had started creating for the iPhone. Although Apple doesn't endorse or encourage the creation of native apps for the iPhone, developers had quickly found ways to access the modified version of Mac OS X inside the iPhone, and were busily producing a series of interesting and cute add-ons.
I was astounded by the speed at which iPhone applications were appearing. Usually it takes about six months to get developers cranked up on a new device, and that's when things are going well. Just three months after the first shipment of the iPhone, there were already a lot of interesting apps appearing, and David Pogue at the New York Times had even created a video celebrating them (link).
Most technology companies would kill to have that publicity and a bunch of third parties creating new software for their products. Web 2.0 companies are all adding application interfaces so they can get developers, companies like Adobe, Microsoft, and Google are competing aggressively to create APIs for web development, and even Apple invests heavily in encouraging developers to create software for the Mac.
The assault on hacked iPhones has provoked a nasty reaction online, starting among enthusiasts (check out the video here) and now spreading to the mainstream press. The latest example, pointed out to me by Chris Dunphy (an angry iPhone user), is from BusinessWeek (link):
I can't remember the last time someone at BusinessWeek actively campaigned against a product of any sort.
Why would Apple expose itself to so much criticism?
The weirdest thing about this whole saga is that it's not at all clear why Apple is putting itself through it. I've been asking myself that a lot, and want to share some thoughts.
The first thing I think we have to do is separate the SIM lock issue from the applications issue. They are two very different business and technical issues, and Apple may have completely different motivations for pursuing them.
Why defend the SIM lock? Many mobile phones, especially in the US, are locked for use on a particular network. All CDMA phones outside of China are like this (because there is no SIM card), and many GSM phones in the US are as well. The excuse for this is usually that the operator paid a subsidy for the phone hardware, and needs to recover the subsidy through service charges. But the operators also achieve this recovery through big cancellation fees if you switch operators before the contract is up, so the industry has not traditionally worked very hard to defend the SIM lock. Unlock codes for many phones are available online, and many operators will reportedly unlock your phone if you call them and say that you're traveling overseas.
Apple is the first phone hardware vendor that I've seen aggressively defend the SIM lock, and I'm not sure why. The most common explanation on the Web is that Apple's getting a revenue share on the monthly billings from iPhone users, so it actually loses a lot of money when any iPhone moves to another network. There is also speculation that if iPhones can be moved into countries where they are not available, Apple will have trouble extracting lots of money from local operators who sign up to carry the phone.
The latter explanation doesn't hold a lot of water for me -- most people want their phone to work in their native language, so an English-language version of the iPhone is not going to destroy the market for a legitimate iPhone in France. Also, iPhones moved onto unauthorized networks lose some of their cool features, such as the visual voicemail function. If Apple were selling iPhones in some countries for $99 and in others for $699, I would see more of a gray market threat, but the price gaps are not nearly that large. Combine the language issue, loss of features, and low opportunity for price arbitrage, and I don't think there is enough motivation for Apple to subject itself to the abuse it's taking.
But the revenue opportunity is a different thing. If Apple got, say, 20% of the mobile billings for an authorized iPhone, that would probably be about $120 a year from an average user -- in pure profit. That's going to be similar to the total margins Apple makes on the actual iPhone, and they get the billings every year. I have no idea if Apple's actually getting 20%, but that sort of number has been rumored for some of the European iPhone deals. Even if Apple's cut is only $10%, the revenue share would be a huge part of Apple's total profit on the iPhone, and something they would be willing to defend vigorously, even if it pisses people off.
Why kill third party applications? This one is harder to understand, because I don't understand what Apple gains from it. Having applications for the iPhone makes it more popular, and also sucks up developer activity that could go to competing products. My first reaction when I heard that Apple wouldn't allow applications on the iPhone was that it was a control issue for Steve Jobs - he watched the base of cool Mac developers get sucked away by Windows, and never wants to be vulnerable to a third party again (link).
There are a lot of commentators online who assume the control freak attitude is driving Apple's behavior on the iPhone. Others speculate that Apple is planning to offer a third party applications store, in which it will take a large revenue cut for third party applications that have been approved by Apple. I have no idea what the cut would be, so it's hard to say how much it's worth to Apple. But I think if it were a big part of their plans, they would have made that store available on the first version of the device. So although I believe they might create such a store (it's an obvious thing to do), I don't think that is the whole explanation. It's hard for me to see them bringing this level of criticism on themselves just to defend that hypothetical store.
Instead, I'm starting to suspect that they have a deeper motivation that they don't want to discuss in public because even acknowledging it could damage iPhone sales. It's better to take criticism from people who think you're evil than to admit that your device has a serious flaw, and I think maybe the security structure of the iPhone is a serious flaw.
When the iPhone was announced, Steve Jobs said it didn't allow third party apps because they could bring down the phone network. I thought that was stupid bluster at the time, because on most smartphones it's very difficult to do anything really nasty to the network. The applications and the phone run on separate processors, and given the limitations of the smartphone operating systems, it's very difficult to do anything really heinous to the network.
But the iPhone has a much more powerful OS in it, a derivative of Unix. The reports posted online by hackers who have played with the innards of the iPhone are very disturbing (link). Here's a great example:
So the hacker was looking to hack other phones via AT&T's Edge network, and was not able to do so. That's a good thing from the perspective of the average user. But you have to wonder what those "scattered routers, switches, and servers" are. I doubt AT&T deploys switches and servers on its network just for laughs, so who knows how important they are to the functioning of the network, or how secure they are. I'm sure they were not set up with the expectation that hackers would be tickling them from an iPhone.
If you know the technical details of Edge and have any thoughts on this, please post a comment. Maybe I'm overstating the risk here. My personal reaction was that if I worked at an operator and read the quote above, my hair would stand on end (if I still had any).
Here's another interesting quote:
Well, that's pretty straightforward. There are already third party applications that turn a smart phone into a spying device, but you need physical access to that particular device in order to install them. The difference with the iPhone, according to this report, is that once you find a security hole you could install that sort of spyware remotely, via the wireless connection.
That led to a Computerworld article which says basically that viruses and other malware could spread from one iPhone directly to another without the user ever being aware of it (link). I'm not too alarmed by that just yet, because there isn't a critical mass of iPhones in any one geographic location to infect each other. But it could be interesting the next time there's a big gathering of iPhone users. Macworld, anyone?
To me the more troubling part of the report was the root privileges thing. I'm not a Unix expert, so I talked to someone who is. He confirmed that applications with root privileges in Unix can do just about anything. Unix is designed to empower programmers, and the assumption is that someone with root access knows what they are doing and can be trusted. (You can read some similar commentary in a eWeek column here).
There are ways to prevent third party applications from having root access, but the disturbing possibility (and I'm speculating here) is that Apple may have stripped out those protections in order to reduce the memory requirements of the iPhone and make it run faster. If that's the case, my friend said, it may be a pretty involved project for Apple to add those protections back in. Not at all impossible, but requiring a lot of work and time.
Through my years in the industry, I've done a lot of research on technology users. One of the things I've learned is that security problems are a great way to scare people away from a new technology device. If it even sounds insecure, a lot of people will stay away from it. Based on what I'm seeing online, there is a lot of evidence that the iPhone as currently structured is a genuinely insecure device once any uncontrolled third party applications get onto it. What's more, keeping third party apps off your own iPhone does not necessarily protect you, because malicious software could propagate from device to device.
If I were working at Apple, and this were the situation, what would I do? Well, first I would not want to acknowledge the vulnerability, because that itself would scare away customers. Second, I would do everything in my power to shut down all third party native application development. Squash it, kill it completely. And I'd be willing to take a lot of criticism for doing so because the alternative, acknowledging the security problem, would produce even more bad PR.
Let me be very clear here: I'm not saying that I know this is what's going on at Apple; I don't. And I'm not trying to start any nasty rumors (they are already out there). I should also point out that some reports on iPhone security have been a lot less alarmist (for example, here is Symantec's take from early July). But that was before the latest reports surfaced.
I think we need to ask whether Apple botched the security of the iPhone in the belief that people wouldn't try to add apps to it. They could easily have made that assumption; there have been comparatively few efforts to add apps to the iPod, after all. But the publicity for the iPhone, and Apple's bragging that OS X was in it, made it an irresistible target for hacking.
If Apple really does have a security problem in the iPhone, I don't think they will be able to keep it quiet. Experience shows that the best approach in this sort of situation is to come clean about the problem, take your lumps, and fix it as soon as you can. That way you at least retain your reputation for honesty. If the iPhone really is vulnerable, Apple risks ending up with the worst of all possible worlds -- it'll damage its reputation for honesty, piss off a lot of technophiles, and people will still hear that the iPhone is insecure.
It will be interesting to see how Apple handles this issue in the weeks to come.
=====
Thanks to John Hering at Flexilis for pointing me to the Computerworld story.
If you've been living in a cave or otherwise off the net, I should explain that Apple's latest software update for the iPhone tends to disable phones that have been hacked to undo the SIM lock (enabling them to make calls on other networks) or to install third party applications. In some cases, Apple has refused to repair the software in these "bricked" phones, forcing the user to buy a new one.
I've read contradictory reports on what level of hacking causes the iPhone to be disabled. Some reports say the update disables the phone only if the SIM lock has been broken. In phones with an intact SIM lock but third party applications, word is that the update "merely" erases the apps without disabling the phone. But the fear among iPhone users is that doing anything unauthorized with the phone, even installing an app, can cause it to be disabled. Apple appears to be feeding this fear deliberately.
This has stopped (at least temporarily) the rapid growth of third party applications that developers and enthusiasts had started creating for the iPhone. Although Apple doesn't endorse or encourage the creation of native apps for the iPhone, developers had quickly found ways to access the modified version of Mac OS X inside the iPhone, and were busily producing a series of interesting and cute add-ons.
I was astounded by the speed at which iPhone applications were appearing. Usually it takes about six months to get developers cranked up on a new device, and that's when things are going well. Just three months after the first shipment of the iPhone, there were already a lot of interesting apps appearing, and David Pogue at the New York Times had even created a video celebrating them (link).
Most technology companies would kill to have that publicity and a bunch of third parties creating new software for their products. Web 2.0 companies are all adding application interfaces so they can get developers, companies like Adobe, Microsoft, and Google are competing aggressively to create APIs for web development, and even Apple invests heavily in encouraging developers to create software for the Mac.
The assault on hacked iPhones has provoked a nasty reaction online, starting among enthusiasts (check out the video here) and now spreading to the mainstream press. The latest example, pointed out to me by Chris Dunphy (an angry iPhone user), is from BusinessWeek (link):
"Wasn't Apple itself the creation of two guys in garage with a knack for making interesting ideas into real things? So why punish the people who try to create something interesting, threatening them with the prospect of an inoperative phone?....The company that styles itself as the technology supplier of choice for creative people with great ideas is insisting that to own its products is to accept a defined orthodoxy where there's only one acceptable way to do things. That doesn't sound like the Apple I know. So I'm not going to buy an iPhone. And until Apple commits to changing this ridiculous policy, I don't think you should either."
I can't remember the last time someone at BusinessWeek actively campaigned against a product of any sort.
Why would Apple expose itself to so much criticism?
The weirdest thing about this whole saga is that it's not at all clear why Apple is putting itself through it. I've been asking myself that a lot, and want to share some thoughts.
The first thing I think we have to do is separate the SIM lock issue from the applications issue. They are two very different business and technical issues, and Apple may have completely different motivations for pursuing them.
Why defend the SIM lock? Many mobile phones, especially in the US, are locked for use on a particular network. All CDMA phones outside of China are like this (because there is no SIM card), and many GSM phones in the US are as well. The excuse for this is usually that the operator paid a subsidy for the phone hardware, and needs to recover the subsidy through service charges. But the operators also achieve this recovery through big cancellation fees if you switch operators before the contract is up, so the industry has not traditionally worked very hard to defend the SIM lock. Unlock codes for many phones are available online, and many operators will reportedly unlock your phone if you call them and say that you're traveling overseas.
Apple is the first phone hardware vendor that I've seen aggressively defend the SIM lock, and I'm not sure why. The most common explanation on the Web is that Apple's getting a revenue share on the monthly billings from iPhone users, so it actually loses a lot of money when any iPhone moves to another network. There is also speculation that if iPhones can be moved into countries where they are not available, Apple will have trouble extracting lots of money from local operators who sign up to carry the phone.
The latter explanation doesn't hold a lot of water for me -- most people want their phone to work in their native language, so an English-language version of the iPhone is not going to destroy the market for a legitimate iPhone in France. Also, iPhones moved onto unauthorized networks lose some of their cool features, such as the visual voicemail function. If Apple were selling iPhones in some countries for $99 and in others for $699, I would see more of a gray market threat, but the price gaps are not nearly that large. Combine the language issue, loss of features, and low opportunity for price arbitrage, and I don't think there is enough motivation for Apple to subject itself to the abuse it's taking.
But the revenue opportunity is a different thing. If Apple got, say, 20% of the mobile billings for an authorized iPhone, that would probably be about $120 a year from an average user -- in pure profit. That's going to be similar to the total margins Apple makes on the actual iPhone, and they get the billings every year. I have no idea if Apple's actually getting 20%, but that sort of number has been rumored for some of the European iPhone deals. Even if Apple's cut is only $10%, the revenue share would be a huge part of Apple's total profit on the iPhone, and something they would be willing to defend vigorously, even if it pisses people off.
Why kill third party applications? This one is harder to understand, because I don't understand what Apple gains from it. Having applications for the iPhone makes it more popular, and also sucks up developer activity that could go to competing products. My first reaction when I heard that Apple wouldn't allow applications on the iPhone was that it was a control issue for Steve Jobs - he watched the base of cool Mac developers get sucked away by Windows, and never wants to be vulnerable to a third party again (link).
There are a lot of commentators online who assume the control freak attitude is driving Apple's behavior on the iPhone. Others speculate that Apple is planning to offer a third party applications store, in which it will take a large revenue cut for third party applications that have been approved by Apple. I have no idea what the cut would be, so it's hard to say how much it's worth to Apple. But I think if it were a big part of their plans, they would have made that store available on the first version of the device. So although I believe they might create such a store (it's an obvious thing to do), I don't think that is the whole explanation. It's hard for me to see them bringing this level of criticism on themselves just to defend that hypothetical store.
Instead, I'm starting to suspect that they have a deeper motivation that they don't want to discuss in public because even acknowledging it could damage iPhone sales. It's better to take criticism from people who think you're evil than to admit that your device has a serious flaw, and I think maybe the security structure of the iPhone is a serious flaw.
When the iPhone was announced, Steve Jobs said it didn't allow third party apps because they could bring down the phone network. I thought that was stupid bluster at the time, because on most smartphones it's very difficult to do anything really nasty to the network. The applications and the phone run on separate processors, and given the limitations of the smartphone operating systems, it's very difficult to do anything really heinous to the network.
But the iPhone has a much more powerful OS in it, a derivative of Unix. The reports posted online by hackers who have played with the innards of the iPhone are very disturbing (link). Here's a great example:
EDGE network access is horribly slow, but it works....I made a few attempts to discover other hosts in the private address space, in hopes of finding other EDGE devices, but instead only found a few scattered routers, switches, and servers.
So the hacker was looking to hack other phones via AT&T's Edge network, and was not able to do so. That's a good thing from the perspective of the average user. But you have to wonder what those "scattered routers, switches, and servers" are. I doubt AT&T deploys switches and servers on its network just for laughs, so who knows how important they are to the functioning of the network, or how secure they are. I'm sure they were not set up with the expectation that hackers would be tickling them from an iPhone.
If you know the technical details of Edge and have any thoughts on this, please post a comment. Maybe I'm overstating the risk here. My personal reaction was that if I worked at an operator and read the quote above, my hair would stand on end (if I still had any).
Here's another interesting quote:
Every process runs as root. MobileSafari, MobileMail, even the Calculator, all run with full root privileges. Any security flaw in any iPhone application can lead to a complete system compromise. A rootkit takes on a whole new meaning when the attacker has access to the camera, microphone, contact list, and phone hardware. Couple this with "always-on" internet access over EDGE and you have a perfect spying device.
Well, that's pretty straightforward. There are already third party applications that turn a smart phone into a spying device, but you need physical access to that particular device in order to install them. The difference with the iPhone, according to this report, is that once you find a security hole you could install that sort of spyware remotely, via the wireless connection.
That led to a Computerworld article which says basically that viruses and other malware could spread from one iPhone directly to another without the user ever being aware of it (link). I'm not too alarmed by that just yet, because there isn't a critical mass of iPhones in any one geographic location to infect each other. But it could be interesting the next time there's a big gathering of iPhone users. Macworld, anyone?
To me the more troubling part of the report was the root privileges thing. I'm not a Unix expert, so I talked to someone who is. He confirmed that applications with root privileges in Unix can do just about anything. Unix is designed to empower programmers, and the assumption is that someone with root access knows what they are doing and can be trusted. (You can read some similar commentary in a eWeek column here).
There are ways to prevent third party applications from having root access, but the disturbing possibility (and I'm speculating here) is that Apple may have stripped out those protections in order to reduce the memory requirements of the iPhone and make it run faster. If that's the case, my friend said, it may be a pretty involved project for Apple to add those protections back in. Not at all impossible, but requiring a lot of work and time.
Through my years in the industry, I've done a lot of research on technology users. One of the things I've learned is that security problems are a great way to scare people away from a new technology device. If it even sounds insecure, a lot of people will stay away from it. Based on what I'm seeing online, there is a lot of evidence that the iPhone as currently structured is a genuinely insecure device once any uncontrolled third party applications get onto it. What's more, keeping third party apps off your own iPhone does not necessarily protect you, because malicious software could propagate from device to device.
If I were working at Apple, and this were the situation, what would I do? Well, first I would not want to acknowledge the vulnerability, because that itself would scare away customers. Second, I would do everything in my power to shut down all third party native application development. Squash it, kill it completely. And I'd be willing to take a lot of criticism for doing so because the alternative, acknowledging the security problem, would produce even more bad PR.
Let me be very clear here: I'm not saying that I know this is what's going on at Apple; I don't. And I'm not trying to start any nasty rumors (they are already out there). I should also point out that some reports on iPhone security have been a lot less alarmist (for example, here is Symantec's take from early July). But that was before the latest reports surfaced.
I think we need to ask whether Apple botched the security of the iPhone in the belief that people wouldn't try to add apps to it. They could easily have made that assumption; there have been comparatively few efforts to add apps to the iPod, after all. But the publicity for the iPhone, and Apple's bragging that OS X was in it, made it an irresistible target for hacking.
If Apple really does have a security problem in the iPhone, I don't think they will be able to keep it quiet. Experience shows that the best approach in this sort of situation is to come clean about the problem, take your lumps, and fix it as soon as you can. That way you at least retain your reputation for honesty. If the iPhone really is vulnerable, Apple risks ending up with the worst of all possible worlds -- it'll damage its reputation for honesty, piss off a lot of technophiles, and people will still hear that the iPhone is insecure.
It will be interesting to see how Apple handles this issue in the weeks to come.
=====
Thanks to John Hering at Flexilis for pointing me to the Computerworld story.
NTT Docomo unveiled its prototype mobile phone Wellness Navigator
At Ceatec 2007 NTT Docomo unveiled its prototype mobile phone Wellness Navigator. A prototype mobile phone can be used to measures your body fat, pulse rate and acts as a pedometer during your cardio session as well as making calls, taking pictures and browsing the Internet. Just wait until the manufacture officially releases this mobile phone.[Source]
NTT Docomo unveiled its prototype mobile phone Wellness Navigator
At Ceatec 2007 NTT Docomo unveiled its prototype mobile phone Wellness Navigator. A prototype mobile phone can be used to measures your body fat, pulse rate and acts as a pedometer during your cardio session as well as making calls, taking pictures and browsing the Internet. Just wait until the manufacture officially releases this mobile phone.[Source]
New Samsung F210 Music Phone looks like the X830
The sexy looking slim Samsung SGH-F210 looks a lot like the Samsung X830 but this one is better, the Samsung F210 is a multimedia music player that has a cool 1GB of built in memory plus an additional micro SD card slot support. Love it yet? Hate it yet? This up coming mobile music phone has a metallic dial pad and the navigational buttons and dial pad are apparently very nice to use. (Let us be
New Samsung F210 Music Phone looks like the X830
The sexy looking slim Samsung SGH-F210 looks a lot like the Samsung X830 but this one is better, the Samsung F210 is a multimedia music player that has a cool 1GB of built in memory plus an additional micro SD card slot support. Love it yet? Hate it yet? This up coming mobile music phone has a metallic dial pad and the navigational buttons and dial pad are apparently very nice to use. (Let us be
Samsung SGH-i450, with music focus, officially announced and Samsung F330 music slider gets official
The Samsung SGH-i450, a music focused S60 3rd Edition smartphone, has been officially announced by Samsung as part of its new line up of music phones. The SGH-i450 is billed as a dual slide with touch wheel music navigation. Features include support for HSDPA connectivity, metallic speaker supporting ICEpower (developed by Bang & Olufsen), and a microSD card slot support for SDHC cards. Read on
Samsung SGH-i450, with music focus, officially announced and Samsung F330 music slider gets official
The Samsung SGH-i450, a music focused S60 3rd Edition smartphone, has been officially announced by Samsung as part of its new line up of music phones. The SGH-i450 is billed as a dual slide with touch wheel music navigation. Features include support for HSDPA connectivity, metallic speaker supporting ICEpower (developed by Bang & Olufsen), and a microSD card slot support for SDHC cards. Read on
iPhone 1.1.1 Update Hacked
Less than two weeks since Apple relocked iPhones with its wolf in sheep's clothing WiFi iTunes update, a hack has been found to once again open it up to third party goodness and potential unlocking. The security hole was found through a single TIFF exploit in Mobile Safari by 'Niacin' - hacker of both the PSP and MSN TV Linux cluster previously - and allows full root access on both the iPhone and
Less than two weeks since Apple relocked iPhones with its wolf in sheep's clothing WiFi iTunes update, a hack has been found to once again open it up to third party goodness and potential unlocking. The security hole was found through a single TIFF exploit in Mobile Safari by 'Niacin' - hacker of both the PSP and MSN TV Linux cluster previously - and allows full root access on both the iPhone and
Apple iPod touch 16GB Review
A few years back anyone who took even the slightest interest in computers was regarded with sniggering suspicion and treated as a figure of fun. To employ a much-overused term, they were seen as 'geeks': a group of hairy, unwashed, pimply, young and middle-aged men indulging in a minority hobby. Now it's cool to be geeky and know a thing or two about technology, and one of the key reasons for
Apple iPod touch 16GB Review
A few years back anyone who took even the slightest interest in computers was regarded with sniggering suspicion and treated as a figure of fun. To employ a much-overused term, they were seen as 'geeks': a group of hairy, unwashed, pimply, young and middle-aged men indulging in a minority hobby. Now it's cool to be geeky and know a thing or two about technology, and one of the key reasons for
AT&T Tilt (HTC Kaiser) Quietly Launched
Its Tuesday, Oct 9th, I am just watching some TV and surfing the web and checking out AT&T's wireless site to see if there is anything new... suddenly, I noticed the AT&T Tilt (aka HTC Kaiser) posted on their website. This is the predecessor to my current AT&T 8525. The price is $549 or $299 with 2-yr service contract.AT&T Tilt Highlights (in addition to 8525) are:
Tilt-Slide out LCD/Keyboard
256MB ROM/128MB Memory (doubled in size)
WM6
3MPX Camera
MicroSD now support up to 32GB
Built-in GPS
Expert Evidential Disclosure in Criminal Proceedings
Expert Evidential Disclosure in Criminal ProceedingsWhen dealing with mobile telephone evidence it is important to be aware of the rules of expert evidence. This too goes for technical and examiner witnesses. In the recent case of R -v- Lorraine Harris & Others (2005) EWCA Crim 1980 Lord Justice Gage was invited by counsel for the Crown to give guidance in relation to expert evidence where the
Another Olympics Games mobile phone
Another Olympics Games mobile phone: "Here is yet another Chinese phone bearing the Olympic rings. This is not an official Olympic phone obviously. This phone looks like those low end Sony Ericsson candybars. Here are the specs.Type rest of the post here- 2 inch 260K 176x220 display- microSD support- VGA camera- measures 103x43x15 mm- weighs 75 gramsI guess the main selling point of this phone is
Nokia 6555 Review – The hi-five wonder
Look at the picture of the new Nokia 6555 by AT&T and guess the price. No wait let us explain it features to you first. Let’s talk out about the AT&T factor first. With Nokia 6555 the user can access the AT&T services which will give him or her instant access to video content which includes weather forecasts, the latest report of ongoing match, entertainment stuff and broadcasts from leading
Samsung i450 Review
The Samsung i450 is a smart slider phone with huge speakers. Yes this is the only way to describe it. It has huge and powerful speaker which pops out of its top. Some say it has spoiled the looks of the phone, but for those who love to hear the music on powerful speaker, this is a boon. The speakers are expected to give you an ultimate music system experience and you don’t need earplugs with
Conflicts Call Records & SMS Delivery Dates
Conflicts Call Records & SMS Delivery DatesOne of the topics dealt with on my training courses just last week is getting examiners to appreciate the relevance of date and time stamps for received SMS text messages. Essentially, it should not be assumed as fact that a text message date and time stamp and call record date and time stamp for the SMS reflect the actual date and time of receipt by a
Third Party Apps ported to iPhone 1.1.1
This morning, we were having a lot of trouble getting third-party iPhone apps to show up properly and run on the home screen. Despite the fact that Apple has added extra protections to SpringBoard and created a list of approved identifiers, iPhone hacker asap18 has managed to port several applications to the iPhone and gotten them to appear properly on the home screen. For now, only 15 icons can
LG KU990 Review
You may very much mistake it for a camera if you look at its rear panel. The new stunner from the LGs Ku990 is all set to become everyone’s favourite. The LG Ku990 is decked with the 5.1 megapixel shooter for the delight of those who love taking pictures. The camera is laces with the eminent Schneider-Kreuznach lens. With image stabilisation and auto focus taking excellent picture is a peace of
Musings on the importance of speaking English
For me, one of the important questions I always have to answer before creating any kind of content is: in which language will it be? Will it be in Slovenian (my mother tongue) or in English (the international language of the web that I've learned as a second language)? This was, of course, also a major question when I started this blog. And sometimes I really hate this question, and I hate having to choose between languages.
On one hand, writing and speaking in Slovenian is always easier for me, but by choosing Slovenian as the language for my content, I automatically limit myself to an audience of probably no more than 2 million people (and the number get smaller if you consider the number of Slovenian speaking people that are actually interested in what I'm writing about). The fact that a lot of the current tech terms (and buzzwords) don't yet have a good Slovenian translation, also make my decision more difficult because I sometimes feel like I'm writing half in English anyway.
On the other hand, I get a much bigger potential audience by writing in English, but it makes writing/speaking a bit more difficult, and it may also make my content more difficult to understand (or maybe even relate to?) for Slovenian people that don't speak English well or at all. And although I consider myself fluent in English, I often feel a bit insecure or self-conscious when I write or speak in English (especially for an audience of native speakers). The self-consciousness is even more apparent in synchronous communication situations - like IM or more recently with Second Life voice. When I blog or write emails I have the time to reflect, analyze, run a spellchecker, so I feel more confident (though I always worry about making typos that could be interpreted as insufficient knowledge).
But no matter which language I choose, there is always the question: should I translate this to the other language? And sometimes I do translate, but usually I don't because I don't have the time or motivation to do it - and let's not forget that some things are always lost in translation no matter how hard you try. There is just so much good content out there that's impossible to translate it all back and forth to one language and another.
So how can one deal with the language problem? I often choose English over Slovenian just because it helps me to get in touch with so many wonderful people around the globe, but I sometimes miss more discussions in my own language. And that is why on some levels I'm glad I can now also blog for my company's website in Slovenian, but then again: I often wish I could share some of my Slovenian content with my English speaking friends... I guess the language question can never have just one answer. For me, it's always a bit of a struggle, and in the end it's up to each individual to choose his/her "side". It isn't easy, but I guess it's one of the prices you have to pay to live in a flat world.
I'd like to finish this post by turning to you, dear reader, and asking for your answers to the language question. If you're not a native English speaker, how do you choose the language you write/speak in? And if you're a native English speaker, how do you deal with all the non-English content on the web? Do you ignore it or try to understand it by turning to native speakers of the foreign language or by trying to learn a foreign language? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject :)
(And by the way: one of my Slovenian friends answered the language question when he recently started his blog, so I guess I'm not alone in the language dilemma :) )
On one hand, writing and speaking in Slovenian is always easier for me, but by choosing Slovenian as the language for my content, I automatically limit myself to an audience of probably no more than 2 million people (and the number get smaller if you consider the number of Slovenian speaking people that are actually interested in what I'm writing about). The fact that a lot of the current tech terms (and buzzwords) don't yet have a good Slovenian translation, also make my decision more difficult because I sometimes feel like I'm writing half in English anyway.
On the other hand, I get a much bigger potential audience by writing in English, but it makes writing/speaking a bit more difficult, and it may also make my content more difficult to understand (or maybe even relate to?) for Slovenian people that don't speak English well or at all. And although I consider myself fluent in English, I often feel a bit insecure or self-conscious when I write or speak in English (especially for an audience of native speakers). The self-consciousness is even more apparent in synchronous communication situations - like IM or more recently with Second Life voice. When I blog or write emails I have the time to reflect, analyze, run a spellchecker, so I feel more confident (though I always worry about making typos that could be interpreted as insufficient knowledge).
But no matter which language I choose, there is always the question: should I translate this to the other language? And sometimes I do translate, but usually I don't because I don't have the time or motivation to do it - and let's not forget that some things are always lost in translation no matter how hard you try. There is just so much good content out there that's impossible to translate it all back and forth to one language and another.
I'd like to finish this post by turning to you, dear reader, and asking for your answers to the language question. If you're not a native English speaker, how do you choose the language you write/speak in? And if you're a native English speaker, how do you deal with all the non-English content on the web? Do you ignore it or try to understand it by turning to native speakers of the foreign language or by trying to learn a foreign language? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject :)
(And by the way: one of my Slovenian friends answered the language question when he recently started his blog, so I guess I'm not alone in the language dilemma :) )
Another Mobile Telephone Stun Gun
Another Mobile Telephone Stun GunIf I carry on like this I will probably end up with the world's largest webblog catalogue of mobile telephone stun guns. Having previously reported on mobile telephones being re-designed as weapons at this webblog, well here's another. Just to be clear I will not promote where these products can be obtained, but I do highlight that these devices do exist and, as
Sony Ericsson W660 Review
Sony Ericsson is all set to woo women with its new W660 walkman phone. Girls too love music guys. Most phone makers forget to keep this in mind while making the music phones. But Sony Ericsson is awakened to the fact and has made a walkman phone which has got looks to kill. We say it’s made for girls because it is stylish and good looking apart from being a walkman phone. With the attractive red
Stylish Samsung Dual SIM Slider Hits UK
With recent research by First Direct reporting that the UK's 45m adults share 70m mobile SIM cards Samsung's latest could have real appeal...The 'DuoS D880' is the first mainstream focused dual sim handset I've seen and it lets users operate two sims from different networks or two numbers from the same network. Users can make and receive calls, send and receive text messages and even email and
Hackers Regain Access to iPhone Under Firmware 1.1.1
Erica Sadun of TUAW, well known in the iPhone community for "Erica's utilities", has been liveblogging her attempt to replicate the success of two iPhone hackers, named "dinopio" and "Edgan", who have recently regained access to the full file tree of the iPhone through a bit of upgrade trickery. The latest update show that Erica has acheived similar success, proven by screen shots she has posted.
Mac OS X Leopard Pre-Order on Amazon.com
I noticed on Amazon.com tonight, they have the Mac OS X Leopard available as Pre-Order. The price is the as expected $129.99. I have been checking on Apple website everyday since Oct 1st to see when the new Leopard 10.5 will become available. Perhaps the release date is coming close as Amazon.com is gearing up for the sale. Here is what the website says:"This product is expected to ship sometime in October. We will update the site with more specific information as soon as it is available, including system requirement details."
There are some rumors indicating that Mac OS X Leopard may be available by Oct 26th.
Nokia Power Pack DC-1
So if you were thinking that if only your battery can last few more hours until you reach home or office then this is the news for you. Along with the recently launched enhancements like Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module LD-4W, Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module LD-4W and Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W, Nokia has also launched Nokia Power Pack DC-1. This new device is made for the people with busy life style
Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W
Now you can enjoy the powerful stereo sound when you go for a picnic, on beaches or on outing with the help of the Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W. The crystal clear sound of the Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W will keep you pumping up the volume on the go. Do not judge these speakers by their size as they can keep 3D stereo widening sound and dynamic bass control equals a strong bass performance.
Next Generation iPhone to Offer 3G, WiMax, and 24 Hour Talk Time?
You're probably guessing that the title is a cheap teaser designed to get everyone's attention while offering nothing but unfounded speculation about the mysteries of the universe. Well, you'd be wrong - for the most part. Sure, the title is intended to catch your eye, but there's some real meat here. While absolutely nothing is clear, news from part suppliers suggest that Apple may be eyeing up
Skitch: Fast 'n' Easy photo sharing (review)
Last night I finally got a invite for Skitch, an application (currently for Macs only) that lets you easily capture and annotate photos and share them with friends through web (on your myskitch page), by mail, Bluetooth or just by saving the image to your hard drive. Skitch offers different ways for getting images: you can take snapshots (it's easy to capture just part of your screen), take a photo through your camera or work on any photo on your hard drive or on the web by dragging it into Skitch. Once you've got a photo in, you can add text and various shapes, and do a few basic edits. When you're done, you can easily share it in any way you want. And what if you want to change the text or delete a shape later? No problem, you can always come back to the saved or uploaded images later and edit them again through Skitch (by the way - Skitch can also export images in the svg format; apart from the standard jpg, png, pdf and tif of course).I saw the promo video of Skitch some time ago, but then I really didn't imagine how great it is to actually use it. It's super fast, very easy to use (I love the fact that you get subtle, not intrusive, and useful help tips just when you need them), and it works like magic (even though it's still a beta). The app was created by plasq, the makers of Comic Life (another application I love to use!), and I can only hope that we all get a copy of Skitch in the next releases of Mac OS X (just like we get the basic version of Comic Life).
I really see myself using this application a lot for different purposes. One obvious use is surely making images for blogs, and I think it will also be great for making annotated screenshots for user manuals (which can be really time consuming!), sharing ideas fast or just having fun by adding captures to photos :) Skitch is surely a great product that wisely uses simplicity and provides with all the tools you need to make photo sharing a bit more fun and fast. I think I'll keep the Skitch icon (it's a cute pink heart :) ) in my dock from now on, just in case I need to skitch something fast (it's surely much faster than Photoshop for simple tasks Skitch was built for).
If you want to know more about Skitch, take a look at plasq's site and watch the Skitch introductory video, which is in my opinion a great example of how to make an attractive video manual for first time users (I usually give up on video manuals after a few seconds, but this one kept me interested).
Edit: Just got 100 invites to give out! Leave you e-mail under the comments or e-mail me at ialja (at) mac (dot) com to get an invite and to try out the Skitch magic :)
iPhone Firmware 1.1.1 Update Video Walkthrough
Apple has a video tour of the new features in iPhone 1.1.1. We covered them in our Firmware Update Changelog earlier, but the video gives you a quick tour of the new features to enable you to see whether it's worthwhile or not for you to upgrade in this limbo-time when third-party hacks and apps aren't quite working yet. [Apple][Via http://gizmodo.com]
Nokia N95 (US Edition) 3G Now Shipping
Previously, I've written about Nokia's N95 being nearly the perfect phone if only the 3G band was supported by the US. Well, Nokia N95 just released a US Version which will support Cingular's HSDPA 3G data network.
Other Nokia News: Nokia is buying Navteq for a cool $8 Billion. A very aggressive move into the GPS market for handsets.
Other Nokia News: Nokia is buying Navteq for a cool $8 Billion. A very aggressive move into the GPS market for handsets.
Before and after the latest iPhone update
We’ve already posted that the latest iPhone firmware version (1.1.1) is now live and that you can update your beloved handset at any time you want. On one side you’ll get an access to the WiFi iTunes Music store, improved security and louder volume; while on the other, you’ll lose all your favorite native third party applications, hence limiting the iPhone to Web 2.0 apps and services. Is it
Sony Ericsson W580 Review - Feel the Style
The Sony Ericsson W580 walkman phone has been designed for the generation which eats, drinks and sleeps music. The slim slider phone is 14 millimetre thick and comes in modest white and grey colours. Although its designs somewhat matches to the W880 but it has distinctive features to offer. One of them is its curved body section at the bottom of the device that caused the Fast Port power/headset
Nokia Ad Campaign Lashes Out at Apple
Nokia recently revealed a new ad campaign which promotes their devices over Apple's by criticizing Apple's stance on locking their devices. Primarily targeted at the iPhone, Nokia has begun promotion of their new campaign by hanging posters in major cities which feature slogans such as "the best devices have no limits" and "phones should be open to anything." The image below, snapped by a
Palm Centro - the smallest smartphone
Palm presented its Centro for the low end mobile phone market which is claimed as the smallest smartphone. The Centro is just a bit bigger than credit card weighing in 4.2- ounce, it also comes with a qwerty keyboard, touch screen and also supports the ability to read and send e-mail or manage document and spreadsheets.The Centro will sell exclusively through Sprint Nextel in the United States
Nokia 8600 Luna
The 8600 Luna is a stunning handset in some respects. Simple clean lines define the design and it feels a million dollars in the hand. Just as well, as it costs a heck of a lot SIM free - £549 from Nokia's online store or, at the time of writing, £424.95 from Expansys, and from ‘free' when you're tied into some price plans.For that kind of money you have the right to expect a phone with plenty of
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