Unlocking Mobile - Texting delays a given on New Years, celebrate accordingly
Texting delays a given on New Years, celebrate accordingly
Filed under: Cellphonesdigg_url = ‘http://digg.com/gadgets/Texting_delays_a_given_on_New_Years_celebrate_accordingly’;It probably doesn’t come as much of a shock to you that plenty of texting goes down midnight-ish tonight, and naturally the carriers are gearing up for just such an onslaught. Palm isn’t so optimistic about the proceedings: according to a study it commissioned in the UK with lpsos MORI, 70% of people who send messages at midnight experience a delay in delivery, with places like London experience 77% delays, and 23% of Britons waiting over six hours for their text messages to arrive. Palm suggests an IM or email might be in order, and smartphone users will have better luck getting their messages delivered over the comparably unclogged data networks. Verizon seems more excited about the prospect, expecting the 284 million text messages sent last year on its network between 12pm New Years Eve and 4am New Years Day to rise to 300 million. Telstra expects to process more than 53 million messages across Australia, and will have a “small army” of techs on hand to monitor network performance. Canadians are expected to send 50 million texts this year, according to Virgin Mobile Canada, with the average canadian sending two text messages each — double that of last year. However and wherever you party, stay safe out there — friends don’t let friends drink and text their estranged exes.Read - Palm study warns of delays Read - Verizon predicts 300 millionRead - Canada doubles in textsRead - Telstra’s small army in Australia Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: www.engadget.com
Celio’s REDFLY platform enables Foleo-like WinMo devices
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds It’s not that we don’t see the appeal of using a supplementary keyboard and display with our smartphones, rather, we simply felt that the Foleo was way overpriced for the relatively limited functionality it provided. Well now a new company called Celio seems to be heading down the same risky path as Palm, announcing the REDFLY Smartphone Interface System, a platform that allows Windows Mobile 5 and 6 devices to be controlled using external hardware — sounds promising, except that the first piece of gear to incorporate the technology will cost $499, the same targeted MSRP as the failed Foleo (after its planned instant rebate). Celio wisely claims that it’s initially targeting enterprise users with the Bluetooth 2.0, clamshell device, although frankly it seems like they’d have more success concentrating on the software and letting OEMs deal with designing products that offer a more attractive price / performance ratio. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: www.engadget.com
Nokia N95 8GB listed on Nokia USA: $780
Filed under: Cellphones What’s that we see? The Nokia N95 8GB listed on the Nokia US retail site? Okay, calm down, it’s not the US-specific version (read: it uses 2100MHz WCDMA, i.e. European 3G), but you’ll still have a 2.8-inch mammoth screen, A-GPS, a five megapixel camera, and the rest of the goodies that maybe, just maybe, you’ll be willing to fork out $780 for, even knowing that a US version HAS to be right around the corner.[Thanks, Preston] Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: www.engadget.com
Syntax-Brillian’s Olevia line: Now with 120Hz and more 1080p
Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, HDTV, Home EntertainmentNewly LCD-focused HDTV maker Syntax-Brillian has teased a few details about its plans for CES, bringing a high-end feature from CES 2007, 120Hz, to its mainstream Olevia brand. No word on specific models or prices, but 1080p and 120Hz motion processing are the highlights of the 42-, 47-, 52-, 55- and 65-inch LCDs. Rounding out the CES 2008 plans are a JPEG/MP3 support, USB firmware upgrades, a new universal learning remote, and a whole slew of Olevia-branded accessories including HDMI cables, wall mounts and a wireless/waterproof LCD. Expect more details in a few days, and look for these HDTVs to hit shelves in the second quarter. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: www.engadget.com
HAI brings home automation control to your smartphone
Filed under: Cellphones There’s certainly no shortage of solutions out there for those looking to control their home from their cellphone, but it looks like the select few with a HAI home automation system will soon have an app specially tailored to them. Set to be officially unveiled at CES, HAI’s Snap-Link Mobile app will work with any Windows Mobile-based smartphone or PDA, and promises to give you control over lighting, security cameras, heating, alarms, and music in each room of your house, among other things. No word on what it’ll cost, but HAI says it’ll be sold without any subscription fees and should be available by the end of the first quarter of 2008.[Via CE Pro] Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: www.engadget.com
Yapping motorists found to make long commutes longer
Filed under: Cellphones, TransportationAs if there wasn’t already enough conflicting evidence surrounding the act of talking while driving, along comes a new “study” suggesting that yapping motorists actually make long commutes even longer. According to David Strayer, a psychology professor at the University of Utah, drivers on the phone tend to cruise “about 2 miles-per-hour slower on commuter-clogged roads than people not on the phone, and they just don’t keep up with the flow of traffic.” Of course, one may wonder just how much difference that would make if traffic is crawling already, but we digress. Additionally, it should be noted that the results were garnered from three dozen students “driving in simulators,” but nevertheless, Mr. Strayer still maintains that “distracted drivers are adding an extra five to ten percent of time to your commute.” Telecommuting never sounded so good, eh? [Via Techdirt] Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: www.engadget.com
Zealot leaps onto subway tracks to retrieve iPhone
Filed under: CellphonesAt first listen, one may assume that leaping onto subway tracks for an iPhone is completely and utterly insane, and while we’d tend to agree, it’s not like we haven’t seen folks do similarly zany things in the heat of the moment. Reportedly, a vacationer in New York recently dropped his iPhone down onto the subway tracks while shuttling back home, and after realizing his dear mobile was missing and backtracking quite a ways, his pal finally spotted it down below. As you can probably imagine, the crazed owner leaped down, snagged the scratched up (but still fully functional) device and managed to climb back out unscathed. Granted, we can only imagine how painful it would be to drop even more dough on yet another iPhone when all that stands between you and your current one is a leap of faith, but we’d probably just ask one of those friendly MTA employees to help us out before going mano a mano with the Reaper.[Via Switched] Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: www.engadget.com