Category: News (Page 93 of 130)

      Samsung announces yet another mobile OS

      November 10, 2009 /

      samsung-badaToday Samsung announced that it was entering the open mobile operating system business with a service called “bada.” It’s still unclear as to the plan for the system, but we at least know that it’s not for smartphones. Yes, Samsung has designed a feature phone OS with its own SDK to lure in developers. And by “lure” I mean attract so few developers that the plan is scrapped for a stripped-down version of Android in the next year or two.

      There are precious few details about the operating system. The press release tells us that the word bada means “ocean” in Korean, which “was chosen to convey the limitless variety of potential applications which can be created using the new platform.” Awww, your optimism is so adorable, Samsung. Really, that’s about all we know. The rest is coming in December, which is when Samsung will release the SDK. Wait – an SDK release just a month after the OS is announced? Are you watching this, Palm? Hmm?

      Mobile, News

      Twitter lands shitmydadsays a TV show

      November 9, 2009 /

      shitmydadsays-twitterIf you haven’t heard of the Twitter account “shitmydadsays,” you should check it out. Written by a guy named Justin Halpern, the site is supposedly just what the account name suggests – a running list of anecdotes from this guy’s grumpy old curmudgeon of a father. According to the bio on the account, Justin says, “I’m 29. I live with my 73-year-old dad. He is awesome. I just write down shit that he says[.]” Things might change around the Halpern household, though, unless Justin is in desperate need of new material for his TV deal. Yes, the Twitter account has turned into a TV deal for Halpern.

      The deal for the show came from CBS, with Warner Bros. set to produce. Halpern is actually going to write the show, and will be working with Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. I’m still so shocked I feel like I should rewrite the whole thing to see if it makes any more sense. The weirdest part is that the account doesn’t even have that many followers. Sure, it’s grown exponentially, but exposure on sites like TechCrunch will do that. But 700,000 followers = TV deal? CBS must really like the content.

      Maybe that’s the part that isn’t so surprising, and actually turns out to be kind of reassuring. I think Halpern’s funny – damn funny, in fact – so it’s kinda cool to see a network pick up something with a little potential. Now, if we could just get them to stop cancelling shows like Arrested Development.

      Source: TechCrunch

      Lifestyle, News

      Yes, Australia, there is an iPhone worm

      November 9, 2009 /

      Rick Astley.There’s a worm spreading among jailbroken iPhones in Australia that makes one hilarious modification. The virus changes the iPhone wallpaper to a picture of Rick Astley. Luckily for those who have picked up the bug, there is no malicious code involved. It’s just a stunt by a 21-year old who hopes to get a few laughs and get people to get a little more serious about phone security.

      “The virus itself is not malicious and is not out to hurt people. It’s just poking fun and hoping waking people up a little,” said the creator, who lives in Sydney. For those of you who are unaware, jailbroken phones can be accessed using the password “alpine” for SSH control. If you don’t change the password upon jailbreaking, anyone with a little tech savvy can add or remove files to/from your iPhone.

      Luckily for you, the fix is really simple. Just load up Cydia and get the MobileTerminal app, and then use the “passwd” command to make the necessary change. And do it now. Rick Astley may seem harmless, but he’s just a gateway drug to much more serious problems.

      iPhone, Mobile, News

      Verizon early termination fee could jump to $350

      November 5, 2009 /

      Verizon hot air balloon.Verizon might be getting cocky about this whole Droid thing, but it’s becoming painfully clear that Big Red is hurting from all that missed iPhone business. In a move to recoup some of its losses to iPhone churn, Verizon may be looking at bumping that early termination fee – all the way up to $350.

      To be fair, the iPhone is not the only thing to blame. People have been opening new lines on existing contracts for some time, paying the early termination fees, and then reselling contract-priced phones like the Blackberry Storm on eBay for a couple hundred bucks in profit. Well no more. The new fee will apply specifically to “advanced devices,” which pretty much covers anything Verizon deems expensive enough to make you pay for.

      The only good news is that the price will decrease by $10 per month over the life of your contract. So halfway through you’re back to the original fee of $175.

      Source: Boy Genius Report

      Mobile, News

      AT&T suing Verizon for “Map for That” ads

      November 4, 2009 /

      There's a map for that.Verizon’s had some pretty clever ads lately, most of them targeted at AT&T and the iPhone. One of the latest plays on the “There’s an app for that” saying that’s become inextricable from the iPhone. Verizon’s ad instead boasts, “There’s a map for that,” referring to the 3G coverage maps you see in the pictures. AT&T’s taken issue with the ads – so much issue that the iPhone provider is suing – because it claims the ads are misleading.

      The bulk of the accusation goes like this:

      Consumers are interpreting the white or blank space on the maps to mean that AT&T customers who are not in an AT&T “3G” coverage area have no wireless coverage whatsoever, and therefore have no ability to use their wireless devices for any purposes in vast areas of the country. This interpretation is not surprising as Verizon, in its own coverage maps, uses white space to inform customers that no coverage of any kind exists.

      I realize the average American consumer isn’t as tech savvy as you and I, but for people to whom 3G matters I’d say Verizon’s claims are pretty clear. And as someone who has recently moved a fair distance across the country, I can also vouch for the fact that AT&T’s 3G coverage is at least as pathetic as that coverage map shows.

      The part of the lawsuit that’s truly entertaining, though, is where AT&T claims Verizon is jealous of the former’s smashing smartphone sales. Sure, AT&T, everyone wishes they were selling the iPhone. You know what no one wants? The massive fallout you’ll see when the iPhone is on every other provider.

      Mobile, News

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