04.11.08
Posted in Blogs, Mobile, Mobile Devices, News at 11:37 pm by Alice Pretchet
Was reading off a blog that America is launching a National alert text messaging system that alerts people in a certain areas or the entire country of severe weather, terrorists attacks or other major emergencies. And although I think this is a great step in the right direction, it does have me wondering wheather or not something more is coming with this next type of text messaging alert system such as, being located via GPS on the phone or being told you have a warrant and to come turn your self in, or other Governemt related things that can be done that might be considered BIG brother type activity.
Of course I am happy that such a system is in place to help alert the people of this great country of emergencies but I think it needs to be watched after carefully because I can see where this could be a serious problem with privacy issues. Was wondering what everyone else thought about this new alert system and future possibilities.
Permalink
04.06.08
Posted in Mobile Devices, Widgets at 3:22 am by Alice Pretchet
I am wondering how they got myspace on board with this, it’s certainly a step in the right direction for me and many others to be able to more easily connect to the myspace silo. It’s a great idea, but it’s not free. A desktop widget and a cell phone app that lets you upload photos to myspace and facebook (among others) - and chat. I do not use the myspace IM client, but I do have some friends that do, so perhaps they will test this out. Not sure how many people will try it, but if the payments are cheap enough the cost may just be forgotten. We’ll see.
It’s called Wuawee - info found at Techcrunch.
Permalink
03.22.08
Posted in Games, Mobile, Mobile Devices at 10:15 am by Alice Pretchet
Could exclusive games on mobile networks influence a persons decision to buy a contract? I think this question is being answered now and the results are something I am looking forward to seeing in the coming quarters of profits and new customers for various mobile networks. Of course content will always be a deciding factor for most people when they choose a cell phone and a service provider but games could have a huge impact.
Getting songs is something any phone can do even trailers and videos but games that only play on certain phone networks is sure to have a big impact on which new customers decide buying because they are the teenage and youth market and they play video games more than you average Joe who is in his 40s compared to a 16 year getting there first cellular phone.
Should be interesting to see is Microsoft one day releases Halo on a certain network or if Nintendo does the same with its big hit games, like Sony did recently with Verizon Wireless and its blockbuster game Metal Gear Solid which is exculsive to the Verizon customers only.
Permalink
02.26.08
Posted in Misc Tech, Mobile Devices at 5:44 am by Alice Pretchet
Scientists discuss the possibility of using the “piezoelectric” effect (a property of quartz crystals, among other natural phenom) to power cell phones and other mobile devices in the future. Tiny nano fibers can convert vibration and
movement into power. Currently the technology needs a zinc covering which does not play well with water.
From mobile crunch
“The two fibers scrub together just like two bottle brushes with their bristles touching,” converting the mechanical motion into electrical energy, explained Wang.
“Many of the devices could be put together to produce a higher output,” he said.
The nano-fibers use the “piezoelectric effect”, which is the method of generating power from friction.
read the story at Mobile Crunch
Permalink
02.07.08
Posted in Friends, Misc Tech, Mobile Devices at 6:12 pm by Alice Pretchet
I have spoken with two friend in the past week that are starting new podcasts. I found that quite odd, as podcasting was a big buzz word two years ago, I had thought that there were a couple of popular podcasts out there, but for the most part rss text was still king. Perhaps since I still do not have an ipod, or similar device in my tech arsenal, then I am not as aware of the video and audio podcasts that may get listened to or watched everyday. I still use the DVR and streaming video, I do occasionally hear an audio cast withing my netvibes feed reader, perhaps if I had a portable mp3 player I would find some good webcasts to listen to.
This week I also see a story in one of my rss feeds (via netvibes) talking about podcasting picking up steam and advertisers are looking to step up advertising in this arena as well. I certainly hope Steve and Glen’s podcasts take off. I know Glen is looking to do a video podcast, I just hope there are easier ways to subscribe to them, currently Itunes will not let me preview podcasts without having iTunes installed on my machine, which means I can’t listen in at work, no iTunes will be installed on this system.
I think there was a movement for some time to rebrand podcasts as webcasts or something, since audio and video files put into an rss feed can be listened to on other portable devices, no need for an ipod to listen in. Perhaps there will be mix of this webcasting with you tube channels and such, perhaps there already is a way to auto-download video channels online without itunes, is anyone doing this already?
Permalink
« Previous entries