January 01, 2008
Ion-Mask, a Waterproof Coating for Gadgets [Waterproofed
Scientists in Britain have come up with a solution for making electronic gadgets completely waterproof, using a type of coating that repels liquids. The technology has, up until now, been used for military gear, but the makers of Ion-Mask are already in discussion with three cellphone manufacturers with a view to using the coating on their products. Full story below. Government scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in Porton Down, Wiltshire, are behind the breakthrough. Ion-Mask is a protective layer that bonds to the device using a plasma, or electronically charged gas, and its chemical properties allow oil and water to be repelled easily. Originally developed for treating soldiers' uniforms to repel toxic vapors and liquids in chemical or biological attacks, the technology will be used to protect devices thought to be too small to be fitted with waterproof seals, such as mobiles and MP3 players. As well as covering the devices, Ion-Mask is versatile enough to be able to coat individual components, in order to up the level of protection. Having an Ion-Mask device might help lower insurance rates for cellphones too, as more than 1.2 mobiles were lost in 2006 to toilets, drinks and washing machines. [Telegraph]
From Ion-Mask, a Waterproof Coating for Gadgets [Waterproofed
Posted by Lorren at 01:31 PM
December 29, 2007
The Saddest iPhone We've Ever Seen
In Japan, even with their 500-foot mechs and supercomputer cellphones, some people are craving Apple's smartphone. One fanboy went so far as to transfigure his Sony Ericsson Walkman W52S slider to...is "resemble" being too generous?...an Apple iPhone. From it's horribly scuffed face to the hammered-on metallic edging, it's confirmed. We need to get Japan some iPhones before this guy cuts his ear on a sharp piece. Here are two more pics for your enjoyment: 
[gizjapan]
From The Saddest iPhone We've Ever Seen
Posted by Peter at 03:02 PM
December 14, 2007
Canadian Hoser Runs Up $85,000 Mobile Phone Bill [Read The Fine
How do you manage to run up an $85,000 mobile phone bill you ask? Apparently, 22-year-old Calgary native Piotr Staniaszek was under the impression that his $10 "unlimited browser plan" on Bell Mobility gave him carte blanche to use his cellphone as a PC modem. Unfortunately, when a $60,000 bill arrived in his mailbox for the month of November he learned the hard way that this was not the case. The charges were later upped to $85,000 "because the company was charging him on a per-kilobyte basis." Bell Mobility has reduced the charges to $3,243 as gesture of goodwill, but they claim that Staniaszek should have known that using a cellphone as a modem fell outside the realm of normal usage. They also noted that the software he used for this purpose warned him that additional charges would apply. Still, Staniaszek plans of fighting the bill citing that Bell Mobility's policies were unclear. You would think that this would be pretty open and shut, but in a world where you can be rewarded a settlement for spilling hot coffee in your lap at McDonalds, I'm not so sure. [The Register]
From Canadian Hoser Runs Up $85,000 Mobile Phone Bill [Read The Fine
Posted by Bob at 11:02 AM
December 04, 2007
Windows Mobile 6.1 Has Streamlined Today Screen, More Improvements [Windows Mobile 6.1]
The Windows Mobile successor we told you about last week seems to have gotten a tentative name (Windows Mobile 6.1), and Boy Genius has an illustrated guide to some of the new features you can find. Among them are a sideways scrolling home screen that gets rid of the cluttered Today page you have now, threaded SMS, recent programs in the Start Menu, and an auto-completing To: field in emails and SMS. This all sounds pretty delicious, so much so that we're actually getting excited about using Windows Mobile again. Either that or we've sniffed one too many white-erase markers this morning. Or one too few. [Boy Genius]
From Windows Mobile 6.1 Has Streamlined Today Screen, More Improvements [Windows Mobile 6.1]
Posted by Doug at 01:03 PM
November 30, 2007
N95 Accelerometer Used to Control R/C Car; Begs to be Ported to the iPhone
Some enterprising modders have written a Python application that links up a remote control car with their Nokia N95 via Bluetooth, using the accelerometer to turn the phone into a little steering wheel. It's awesome. The next logical step would be to put a camera on the car that streams to the phone so you could see where it was going when it was out of your field of vision. N95/iPhone modders, the gauntlet has been thrown down. Let's make this happen. [Project Page via New Launches]
From N95 Accelerometer Used to Control R/C Car; Begs to be Ported to the iPhone
Posted by Alex at 05:08 PM
November 28, 2007
CellQ Phone Service Promises an End to Amusement Park Lines
Tired of waiting two hours in the blistering heat to get on Space Mountain? If the folks at CellQ have their way, you could skip the annoying lines (friggin' Disney) and book your place. While you wait for a phone call notification that it is your turn, you can feel free to roam around the park. When the call does arrive, you are free to take your spot whenever you choose. The service also claims that it can recognize personal ride preferences, and help reunite parents with lost children. That's all well and good, but what happens when a whole mess of people have this service? What happens if they show up at the same time? How many fistfights will take place when CellQ users skip to the front and snicker at the poor bastards waiting in line? It's a good idea in theory, but my guess is that some major problems would erupt as the service grows more popular. Pricing information has not been made available. [TRFJ]
From CellQ Phone Service Promises an End to Amusement Park Lines
Posted by Jim at 02:52 PM
November 21, 2007
Software Radios Boost Crappy Cellphone Reception Cheap and Easy
Mid-Tex Cellular systems out of De Leon, Texas is currently running both GSM and CDMA network using a software-based radio system on nine of of their cellular towers. Because the Vanu, Inc. designed software can be upgraded easily, there is no need for costly new hardware when supporting new or incompatible networks. If this technology is widely adopted, cellphone carriers will be able to upgrade and adjust to new standards more cheaply and users will see bigger, better, and possibly cheaper coverage. Currently, Vanu is looking to expand their business outside of Texas with 200 towers set to go up in Alaska. They have also announced a prototype of a "femtocell" device '"a base station of sorts for a single house or office. The plan is to use the device with the 700-MHz spectrum band that is coming up for auction from the FCC in January 2008. [Wired]
From Software Radios Boost Crappy Cellphone Reception Cheap and Easy
Posted by Greg at 10:59 AM
November 06, 2007
Ultra-Orthodox J-Phone Doesn't Roll On Shabbos
It turns out, the real J-phone is still waiting for a messiah. According to the NYT, ultra-Orthodox Jews living in Israel have developed a phone that flashes the insignia of a rabbinical council on startup. It can't send or receive text messages, take pictures or run a WAP browser. If you try to call one of over 10,000 "900" numbers known to promote sex, dating or other illicit activities, you will be blocked. On the plus side, calls to other registered ultra-Orthodox phones get you a steep discount'"2 cents rather than 9 cents per minute, but if you make a call on Saturday (Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest), they dock you a serious $2.44 per minute. [NYT]
From Ultra-Orthodox J-Phone Doesn't Roll On Shabbos
Posted by Matt at 04:24 PM
