Brian White
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It's a toss-up: handset lobbed 95 meters
by Brian White 
posted Aug 19th 2007 at 11:59PM
In the latest edition of "who wants to throw a cellphone," we'll toss out any baseball references and say that those frustrated with their cellphones (or wanting to flex those biceps) were invited to throw three phones as far as they could in an event recently at the Old Hamptonians Rugby Club in Britain. For a pocket-change amount of just £5 (a little under $10US), interested parties were allowed a threesome of tosses. The longest cellphone throw came in at over 95 meters, besting the world record-holding sub-95 meter throw during the 2005 Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships. [Image via everystockphoto.com]
Four versions of Moto's RAZR 2 compared
by Brian White posted Aug 17th 2007 at 6:32PM
With the Motorola RAZR 2 set to drop on Sprint next week as the V9m, the handset will then be released on Verizon Wireless in September. No solid word on AT&T's official release date with the V9, though. How about Alltel? You'll see the V9m with them too, apparently (not sure when). Until then, PC Magazine has reviewed the plethora of differences between the RAZR 2 when it comes to these four carriers (T-Mobile to come later with the EDGE-only V8, according to reports). The review breaks down the per-carrier deets, mentioning that T-Mobile's version will run Linux while the other versions will use Moto's Synergy software platform. The phone books and web browsers are different on the CDMA variants, as well as the overall UI being starkly different on each one. Want CrystalTalk background noise suppression? It's only on AT&T's model. There are so many intricate differences on each RAZR 2 that you just gotta hate carrier branding and custom software. Use the read link below for a full smattering of all the RAZR 2 differences so far.Cellphones failed again after Minnesota bridge collapse
by Brian White posted Aug 16th 2007 at 11:17PM
When major disasters strike, cellphones have a bad habit of being about as useless as that morning piece of burnt toast. At least, that's what those working Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks found out, and those who were directly involved in the Minnesota bridge collapse more than a few weeks ago witnessed as well. Again, the culprit In Minnesota appeared to be overloaded cellular towers and switch traffic that apparently affected all carriers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area where the collapse happened. With cellular service being integral to everyday life, should there not be contingency plans in place for continuing service in the event of a disaster? A recent suggestion of cellular "peer-to-peer" service that bypasses towers and switches in an emergency sounds intriguing to us. Maybe in 2015 or so we'll see it happen.AT&T leans harder on TDMA customer base
by Brian White posted Aug 15th 2007 at 6:55PM
We kinda knew that AT&T was ready to start throwing the switches on its aging TDMA national network, but now the carrier is taking it to the customer with increased fees on older calling plans. Make that stiffing the customer, as those AT&T subs still using tried-and-true TDMA digital handsets on older AT&T "Blue" plans (non-GSM) are apparently now being charged $9.99 per month for sticking with those grandfathered calling and feature plans. So, if you're an "old" AT&T Wireless customer (pre-Cingular merger) using that Nokia 6160, be warned. We know some of those older plans have hard-to-beat prices for features, but AT&T really wants you off them. That, or pony up another $10 a month.Sprint sees 54M customers, 40 percent spike in data revenue
by Brian White posted Aug 15th 2007 at 7:58AM
Sprint's recent second quarter financial results showed an interesting mix of numbers: income dropped by 90 percent, wireless data revenue jumped by 40 percent and the carrier broke the 54 million-customer mark. Dropping from a $291 million profit in the year-ago quarter to a $19 million profit is, well, pretty huge. But, at least Sprint saw its average revenue per sub sit above $60 for its latest quarter, with $9.75 attributable to data revenue. Everyone break out some EV-DO data sessions in salute of this if you please. On a lighter note, Sprint CEO Gary Foresee said the iPhone "blip" has not significantly affected number ports to AT&T, although the level is up "slightly" from before the iPhone launch.[via mocoNews]
Samsung looks to patent two new gaming phone designs
by Brian White posted Aug 13th 2007 at 11:04PM
Samsung looks to move forward into the realm of mobile gaming with two new U.S. patents involving gameplay-oriented handsets. For starters, patent #1 (pictured above) describes a "portable communication terminal for games." The display on this design involves a hinged "flip" that unveils a dual-row numeric keypad complete with phone navigational array when opened, and a gaming d-pad when closed (we hope that hinge is solid); the 'A' and 'B' buttons are near the earpiece and always visible. More info on the second patent application after the break.
Read - Patent 1
Read - Patent 2
Continue reading Samsung looks to patent two new gaming phone designs
Nokia E65 spotted dressed in purple and pink
by Brian White posted Jul 31st 2007 at 3:58AM
Verizon backs limited open-access 700 MHz auctions
by Brian White posted Jul 31st 2007 at 12:35AM
With Google about to possibly compete with established telcos for some precious radio space, Verizon Wireless has joined fellow telephone company AT&T in supporting "some" open access suggestions for the upcoming 700 MHz radio auctions. Verizon Wireless appears to be treading carefully here though, as it agreed to give a certain "portion" of the 700 MHz band up for wireless usage by any carrier's wireless device but did not elaborate on support for anything else open access-wise in the 700 MHz band (yet). Obviously, the carrier said that it would not give any quality assurance for wireless equipment and devices other than from itself.[via phonescoop]
Nokia acquires Twango, gets deeper into media sharing
by Brian White posted Jul 28th 2007 at 11:44AM
Nokia is once again shouting that it wants to be a major player in the mobile media sharing arena by acquiring Twango. If you're big into sharing pictures, video and other digital garb, you may know Twango (founded by former Microsoft employees). And since Nokia sold over 140 million connected digicams (almost all cellphone-based) in 2006, it makes sense for the company to ensure customers are, you know, using all that mobile multimedia goodness as much as possible. Nokia's Multimedia division head puts it great: "the Twango acquisition is a concrete step towards our Internet services vision of providing seamless access to information, entertainment, and social networks - at anytime, anywhere, from any connected device, in any way that you choose."Telstra iPhone SIM hack video
by Brian White posted Jul 28th 2007 at 9:41AM
Although the voiceover on this YouTube video was almost too soothing to listen to, the demo being explained definitely got our excitable attention. We're not sure about this hack's details, but the user demonstrating his iPhone's non-AT&T outgoing call usage here gets two thumbs up from us. Apparently, his iPhone was modified to allow non-AT&T SIMs to make outgoing calls on the Telstra network, although no incoming calls were demo'ed in the video. From watching it, wethinks registration on any GSM network would probably be possible. And catch that authentic GSM radio noise interference that's clearly audible.
[Thanks, Greg]
Sony Ericsson K850 gets reviewed
by Brian White posted Jul 26th 2007 at 6:33PM
The decked-out Sony Ericsson K850 has been thoroughly sifted through the review grinder by our pals over at mobile-review.com. The K850 is so packed that there were two parts to the review, and this one focuses on then phone itself (instead of the exhaustive digital camera functions). Positives seen by Eldar and the crew include an easy-to-use and touch-sensitive 'blocky' keypad with a unique d-pad design (that green rectangle), GPRS / EDGE / UMTS, excellent (and cutting-edge) Java support, obligatory A2DP Bluetooth, that sweet 5 megapixel cam and an overall ergonomic delight to use. This thing is loaded to the hilt, to say the least. Use the read link to glean more deets available in the exhaustive review.[via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog]
Free GPS-enabled mobile nav app from amAze
by Brian White posted Jul 26th 2007 at 2:35PM
Although it really is not the first "free" mobile navigation app designed for J2ME-enabled, GPS-containing handsets, LocatioNet Systems is billing its 'amAze' product as such. AmAze (that's not a typo, heh) is apparently the first mapping, navigation and local search product specifically tailored to the UK. The app features standard location fare like satellite images, route planning and even weather forecasts. Topping it off is voice guidance via external Bluetooth GPS device or from your J2ME handset's built-in GPS. LocatioNet is able to give this app away free using ads integrated into the software itself, even going as far as displaying location-based ads derived from your exact location. Yes, something, somewhere will know you're next to that pizza joint and will send you "free slice" coupon or something. Hit up www.amazegps.com to download it if you're so inclined.Verizon Wireless intros 'Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved'
by Brian White posted Jul 25th 2007 at 6:28PM
We love seeing console and even old-school arcade games being ported to cellphone screens, and Verizon Wireless has done us a solid in that respect. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved can now be landed on the screens of those with Verizon's 'Get It Now' service. Want some gameplay deets? The BREW-based Geometry Wars version serves up Untouchable, Survivor, Monster, Trenches, Speed, Multiplier, Feline, and Bomber modes. We call that mobile game playing paradise. Get it now for a one-time $6.49 fee or $3.49 for a month of use. It's now available on 25 Verizon handsets, including the MOTOKRZR K1m and the LG enV.British parliament members afraid of in-flight mobile use
by Brian White posted Jul 25th 2007 at 5:10PM
With rude passengers and terrorist thoughts in the mind of airline officials and passengers, British parliament members (MPs) are holding steady against any airline policy that would allow in-flight mobile phone use. The real reason they are scared, from what we can glean, is related to the remote detonation of bombs on planes by terrorists. Outside of the Executive Decision movie scenario being painted here, the MPs referenced the 2004 Madrid bombings being set off by cellphones in explaining their support for the ban. As such, we don't see any mobile use coming on Britain-originated flights soon. Better catch a Qantas flight instead, heh.[via textually.org, image via arinc.com]
Google's iPhone-specific search website
by Brian White posted Jul 24th 2007 at 9:41PM
[via TUAW]
