January 14, 2008
The Truth About Cellphone Reception Bars [Reception]
The reception bars on your cellphone represent EC/I0 values, which is the scientific measurement that signifies how much of a cellphone's available reception is actually usable. Well, according to the chaps at Ask Metafilter, the bars that are actually present on your cellphone are a watered down representation of the true values. Why so? Apparently, the EC/I0 readings are far from stable and fluctuate many times a minute. Due to this fact, the approximation that is employed is largely meaningless. On the flip side, if you are constantly in an area with strong reception, the deviations in readings are not going to be large, so the vague representation shall be accurate enough. Still, you conspiracy whores, get your hats off and do some sweating. For more information on the EC/I0 rating standard, hit the link and get your read on. [Ask Metafilter via Boing Boing]
From The Truth About Cellphone Reception Bars [Reception]
Posted by Guido at 05:39 PM
January 01, 2008
Qualcomm can use rival chip patents until '09
"A federal judge in California ruled on Monday that wireless chip maker Qualcomm can keep selling chips whose designs infringe patents held by rival Broadcom Corp through January 2009. [Reuters]
From Qualcomm can use rival chip patents until '09
Posted by Michael at 11:05 AM
December 27, 2007
Windows Mobile Internet Sharing Made Easy
After tooling around with getting internet sharing working on the Sprint Mogul for a bit, we discovered this small WMWifiRouter app by Jorrit Jongma. It's pretty much an install and run affair (save a bit of internet connection Wi-fi setup beforehand), but the only thing you have to watch out for is using a static IP address on the device you want to access it with (iPhone/laptop/whatever) because there's no DHCP server present. There's a good guide in the XDA Dev forum as well. The result? A 3G-ish iPhone. [WMWifiRouter]
From Windows Mobile Internet Sharing Made Easy
Posted by Murray at 01:58 PM
December 20, 2007
Polar Phone Concept For Winter Gloves and Fat Fingers
The Polar mobile phone is a concept piece from Yuta Watanabe that is intended for cold weather climates where thick gloves are obstacles to effective communication. The phone looks to be a bit bulkier than usual, with bigger buttons arranged in an easy-to-press vertical layout. There are already plenty of phones on the market targeted towards older individuals that feature big buttons and easy-to-use designs, but the simple Polar mobile phone questions whether companies should go a step further and spend more time designing phones that are climatically or culturally specific. [Design Crack via Make]
From Polar Phone Concept For Winter Gloves and Fat Fingers
Posted by Mel at 11:48 AM
December 15, 2007
Sony Ericsson Patent Depicts the Auto-Cleaning Future
Those fellows at Unwired View have spotted an interesting Sony Ericsson patent application, which seems to depict an auto-cleaning function for mobile phone screens. The concept is simple; a cleaning blade is coupled to the opening/closing mechanism of a clamshell or slider phone. When the phone is flipped/slid open, the cleaning blade runs across the length of the screen removing grubby prints. The same process repeats in reverse when the phone is closed, keeping your screen in good viewing condition at all times. It's a good concept, much like communism is a good concept. Ultimately, it will end up making more problems than it solves. That fiddly cleaning utensil is sure to snap off, at which point the remnants of the device will end up scratching your sexy display. Even if it doesn't break, the cleaning process will soon get really annoying, unless it is super speedy, (which it definitely won't be). Either way, you're better off just washing your filthy, chubby, clammy, blotchy, putrid paws. [Unwired View]
From Sony Ericsson Patent Depicts the Auto-Cleaning Future
Posted by Michael at 03:21 PM
December 07, 2007
Jabra BT3030 Bluetooth Stereo Headset Sucks You in With Dog Tag Design
It doesn't take a genius to figure out what sets the Jabra BT3030 apart from other headsets. In case you didn't notice, the BT3030 is all about how a dog tag design can make you look cool and masculine (or like a massive poser). As far as functionality is concerned, the device has some interesting qualities, like a universal connection, a personalized equalizer, exchangeable headphones and multiple wearing styles. Additional info and pic after the jump. 
It also features Bluetooth 2.0 compatibility, the ability to connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, 230 hours of standby, 8 hours of talk time, and 7 hours of music playing. Available for around $72. [Jabra via Newlaunches via Ubergizmo]
From Jabra BT3030 Bluetooth Stereo Headset Sucks You in With Dog Tag Design
Posted by Sean at 03:01 PM
December 05, 2007
Nokia 3110 Evolve: Greening Up Its Act, One Phone at a Time [Cellphones]
Perhaps in response to Nokia's sizeable slip in Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics, the Finnish phone giant has "Evolved" its 3110 model to become, well, greener. The Nokia 3110 Evolve has "bio-covers" made from more than 50% renewable material, its packaging has been reduced in size and comes from 60% recycled content. It also comes with Nokia's most efficient charger, using 94% less energy than Energy Star requirements dictate. No thanks'"I'm gonna hold out for a built-in wind charger. [Nokia via Reg Hardware]
From Nokia 3110 Evolve: Greening Up Its Act, One Phone at a Time [Cellphones]
Posted by Peter at 12:20 PM
November 29, 2007
Bar Of Soap Is Multi-Talented Gadget That Susses Out What It Is Just By the Way You Hold It [Multipurpose
Researchers at MIT's Media Lab have come up with the Bar of Soap, a gadget that works out exactly what it is depending on how it is held. So, hold it like a camera, and you can take pics, hold it like a cellphone, and it makes calls. Basically developed as a prototype to test the grasp classification concept, the technology behind the Bar of Soap is expected to trickle down into future gizmos. The unit itself is made out of plastic, and incorporates a touchscreen, an accelerometer, as well as 72 touch sensors, and internal Bluetooth. Currently 95 percent accurate, the Bar of Soap's creators tested it in five ways: as a camera, gamepad, PDA, phone and remote control . [MIT via Oh!Gizmo]
Posted by John at 04:53 PM
