$14k to Help Design LG’s New Touchscreen UI
April 8, 2008 Category: Cell Phones, Contest No Comments »
Korea’s LG is offering a 14 million Korean Won prize ($14,364) to help it’s team of designers create a new user interface for their future touchscreen offerings. They will be working on this internally as well, so get a move on and create a UI theme their engineers can use before you miss out on prize money. [Gizmodo]
EDIT: This contest is actually already over. 10 designs were selected to be made functional with LG’s future touchscreen offerings. Apparently, the ridiculous car theme pictured is one of them. Hope the other nine are better.
Trapster is My New Driving Savior
April 3, 2008 Category: Cell Phones, Vehicles No Comments »
A new service, dubbed Trapster, will allow users to map out police speeds traps, red light cameras and other "threats to ticket-free driving." Users enter a simple key combo on their cell phone, such as "pound-1", and the data is uploaded to a database, which will alert other drivers. The alerts come in via your mobile’s GPS or Wifi location. Police have said they do not have any issues with the Trapster service–I guess better than them seeing your radar detector. (Personally, I don’t use one. They take all the fun out of ’speeding’) The best part is the service is free, and currently usable by ten different platforms; yes, WinMo, Nokia, BlackBerry and the bunch are all supported. [Giz > CNN]
Blackberry + Guitar Hero = 2x the Addiction
April 2, 2008 Category: Cell Phones, Games No Comments »
For those of you who love Guitar Hero III and wish you weren’t tied down by a console and TV, you day has come. Now, you can play anywhere you want. All you have to do is take the plunge, buy a ‘Crackberry’ and you’re on your way to mobile fake-guitar-goodness, you know, if Guitar Hero is your thing… [OhGizmo!]
CITA Starts Tomorrow
March 31, 2008 Category: Cell Phones No Comments »
For everyone that is interested in cell phone technology, especially in the US, I recommend you follow the CITA Wireless 2008 coverage. The show kicks off tomorrow, April 1, in the Las Vegas Convention Center, and will go through Thursday. I won’t be there, unfortunately, but I highly recommend Gizmodo for throughout-the-day updates, it will probably be on their live page soon. There are lots of products, so make sure to check other tech blogs for even more info.
Crackberry Watch
March 28, 2008 Category: Cell Phones No Comments »
BGR is reporting a rumor that the release date of the new Blackberry 9000, 8XXX or whatever is will be called, is probably being pushed back from the original late May speculation. Of course, AT&T is getting it Stateside, and they might have a six month exclusive deal with Blackberry for the device. It is looking like July or August is the timeframe you want to look at if you "need" to update your current Blackberry, or take your first Crackbeery hit. The phone really looks quite sexy, so I won’t hold it against you for indulging. I’ll be in iPhone heaven by then, but the business community should take notice and start bugging their bosses now for a late summer upgrade. Unless you are your own boss, then you can get whatever you want; maybe even two new Crackberries. [Boy Genius Report]
A Motorola Must Read
March 26, 2008 Category: Cell Phones No Comments »
Numair Faraz, the personal assistant to the late Geoffrey Frost, of RAZR fame, has delivered this letter, which reveals inside information. Frost was said to be the “father of the RAZR” and essentially running the company before his death in 2005. It is worth taking the time to give it a read. Follow the link for a good read. [Engadget]
NTT DoCoMo Hits 250 Mbps in Super 3G Trial
March 26, 2008 Category: Cell Phones 1 Comment »
Today, NTT DoCoMo, Inc., announced their recent achieved downlink transmission of 250 Mbps in an outdoor field test near their Yokosuka R&D labs. The test was performed using new Super 3G technology that promises low-latency data transmission and high spectrum efficiency, so quick transmit and receive, plus increased information over the given bandwidth. Super 3G is also know at LTE, and is expected to be fully developed by 2009. DoCoMo will present more detailed results at CITA 2008. This is just another reason I am looking for any opportunity to move to Japan. [NTT DoCoMo]
Is LG to Bring the iPhone Competition for CDMA Carriers?
March 24, 2008 Category: Cell Phones 3 Comments »
LG has just revealed their LG LH2300 touchscreen mobile, and it’s CDMA EVDO compatible. The 3-inch WVGA (800×480) touchscreen, coupled with LG’s new "Hello UI" interface looks to be the best new iPhone competition for CDMA carriers. It is set to launch in Korea during April for around 600 USD, and will pack BT 2.0, microSD and a 3MP autofocus and image stabilizing camera. Verizon users, like myself (and I guess Sprint too) can cross your fingers for a U.S. release, especially if you are having trouble giving up Verizon’s faster EVDO network for a slower GSM iPhone, which will still be slower, even with a 3G update expected in June. [Akihabara News]
The Cellphone is On Its Way to Inflight Use
March 22, 2008 Category: Cell Phones, Travel 4 Comments »
Emirates, a Dubai-based airline, has claimed to allow the first mobile phone call on a commercial flight. A specially outfitted Airbus A380, with electronics that keep the phones from interfering with the all important plane systems. The airline has courtesy rules in place, and the flight crew is able to put use to an end. Deployment in the U.S. and other countries seems to be on the horizon. [Gizmodo > BBC News]
Verizon News
March 19, 2008 Category: Cell Phones 1 Comment »
Good news for the mobile phone world in the U.S., CDMA in particular. Verizon’s ‘Open Device’ promise is coming into fruition with certification details among a host of other points made in today’s keynote. The company is making radical changes to it’s device and plan policies, which could be considered industry-leading moves for U.S. mobile companies. Gizmodo, as usual, was Johnny-on-the-spot, and has a detailed article on all the happenings. Check it out to get today’s news as well as the recent history of Verizon’s shift to a more open network. Also, one point that has already been the hot rumor lately, and can pretty much be assumed after the comments of today’s presenters, Verizon has put up the $4.75 billion to take the 50-state C-block in the 700 MHz auction. FCC rules say there is to be a ten day non-disclosure of the winning bid, so I didn’t tell you. [Gizmodo]
