Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by man4253243

Bringing handphone into Malaysia

man4253243 — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:02:22 +0800

I would like to ask,

If I buy handphone from Ebay, and ship it to Malaysia.

1) Customs tax has already be abolished in the last budget.

2) Do I still need a SIRIM permit for handphones?

Thanks.

Mobile phones are a classroom distraction

man4253243 — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:23:13 +0800

A study conducted at the University of New Hampshire has found that college students use cell phones in class, despite knowing that it adversely affects their concentration.

In a universitywide study, student researchers at the UNH Whittemore School of Business and Economics found student cell phone users check their phones an average of one to five times during class. About half of students (51 per cent) say that cell phone use in class affects their ability to concentrate and the amount of information that they receive during class (52 per cent).

"Even though the majority of college students do not own a smartphone, those who do are much more active using their phones in class," said Chuck Martin, adjunct professor of marketing, whose class conducted the study.

Although students are aware that phone use is frowned upon in class, almost half (49 per cent) of those who check their phones during class attempt to conceal their use somewhat or extremely frequently, based on the study of 1,265 students.

The most commonly used phone feature was the clock, followed by texting. Students at the business school were the most active phone users, and they were also the highest percentage who owned smartphones (51 per cent vs. 33 per cent).

Class standing did not have a significant effect on the amount of times students checked their phones, at only a 3 per cent difference. However, 77 per cent of seniors check their phone's clock frequently or extremely frequently, while 42 per cent of freshmen check the clock on their phone at the same frequency.

Female students were found to be 7 per cent more likely to text, or more times per class period, and they are also 13 per cent more likely to frequently hide their phone use in class.

Female students are 5 per cent more likely to text frequently during class. Almost all (99 per cent) of college students own a cell phone, with 9 per cent owning multiple mobile devices

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/stu...ity-of-new.html

Windows Phone 7 Ships 1.5M Devices In First Six We

man4253243 — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:07:24 +0800

Microsoft announced today that 1.5 million mobile devices running its Windows Phone 7 platform have been shipped to retailers in the six weeks since the operating system's launch November 8.

Corporate VP for Mobile Communications, Business and Marketing Achim Berg said this number was "in line with our expectations – especially when compared to other new platform introductions" and that customer momentum and retail presence were still building.

Berg also stressed that 18,000 developers have signed up to work on Windows Phone 7 -- including game developers such as Namco Bandai, Konami, THQ and Glu Mobile -- and have already provided more than 4,000 apps for the platform's online store.

Windows Phone 7's initial shipment rate puts the platform well behind current rates for other major mobile phone operating systems. Analysts estimate Apple sold 1.5 million iPhone 4's on the device's first day of release this year, while Google reports it's currently activating 300,000 Android-powered phones every day.

That said, the numbers are favorable compared to those for other first-generation phone platforms. The original iPhone took 74 days to sell its first million units when it launched back in early 2007. Motorola's Droid phone -- one of many models running the Android operating system -- took a similar amount of time to sell a million units when it launched this year.

"We introduced a new platform with Windows Phone 7, and when you do that it takes time to educate partners and consumers on what you’re delivering, and drive awareness and interest in your new offering," Berg said. "We’re comfortable with where we are, and we are here for the long run; Windows Phone 7 is just the beginning."

The sales rate for the first six weeks represents a slight slowdown from 40,000 reported sales on the platform's first day of availability. Microsoft has since tried to increase that rate by offering a free Xbox 360 game with every new Windows Phone 7 activation.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/win...devices-in.html

Chile has more mobile phones than people

man4253243 — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:05:02 +0800

Country is home to 19.4 million mobile phones, according to government statistics.
There are more cell phones in Chile than there are people, the government's INE statistics institute said Tuesday.

With 19.4 million cell phones distributed across the Andean nation as of October, there were nearly 1.1 cell phones for each of Chile's estimated 17.1 million inhabitants.

Highlighting the explosion in cell phone penetration, in 2006 there were only 11.9 million cell phones for Chile's then 16.4 million population, INE said.

Click here to find out more!Between 2000 and 2009, Chileans made 94.5 billion domestic calls on their cell phones, racking up 126.7 billion minutes, and 264 million international calls, for some 788 million minutes, according to INE.

Meanwhile, Chileans are expected to make 3.87 million local landline phone calls this year, totaling 8.93 million minutes, up from 6.84 million calls and 14.8 million minutes totaled in 1998, INE said.

For the first 10 months of the year, Chileans made 430 million domestic calls and 32 million international calls on landlines.

Meanwhile, in 2009 Chileans made 62,278 calls on public pay phones, totaling 59,131 minutes, compared to 114,518 calls made in 2004 for 136,915 minutes.

The local unit of Spain's Telefonica Moviles SA, Movistar, is the country's largest cell provider, with Entel PCS, a unit of Entel coming in second. Claro, owned by Mexico's America Movil is third, and Nextel holds a minority stake in the local wireless phone service market.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera recently enacted a mobile and landline number portability law, which will allow users to change their operators without changing their phone number. The law will make it easier for users to switch companies and is expected to intensify competition.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/chi...hones-than.html

'Angry Birds' tops iPhone app downloads for 2010

man4253243 — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 22:28:04 +0800

'Angry Birds' was the most downloaded paid-for app on the iTunes store in 2010, reveals Apple.
It is a popular game in which cartoon birds are catapulted towards pigs balancing on teetering structures.
The 'Lite' version of the game, which allows people to try out the game before spending 59p on the full version, was the second most popular free app in 2010.

It was also the third highest-grossing app of the year, second only to two TomTom navigation applications that retailed for around 50 pounds.

Dropbox, which allows people to synchronise and share files across computers, via the Internet, and access these files from their mobile phones, and Nigella Lawson's cooking guide, were the other hot choices.

"Angry Birds has this amazing cross-over appeal that makes it as popular with hardcore gamers as casual gamers," the Telegraph quoted Guy Cocker, of videogames website Gamespot.

"It's a game that plays to the strengths of the iPhone and iPod touch - it's been designed specifically for that platform, and it just works incredibly well.

"Whenever I catch the bus, there's always someone on there playing Angry Birds. It's got a low barrier to entry, and you really feel like you're getting a lot of game for your money. It's no surprise that Angry Birds has been nominated for some of this year's most prestigious gaming awards," he said. (ANI)

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ang...oaded-paid.html

Microsoft won't tell Windows Phone 7 sales figures

man4253243 — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:49:09 +0800

JUST HOW BAD are Windows Phone 7 (WP7) sales is the question on everyone's lips as Microsoft's WP7 chief repeatedly dodged questions on the matter.

Speaking to the master of lobbing softball questions Walt Mossberg at the D: Dive Into Mobile conference, Microsoft's director of Windows Phone program management Joe Belfiore bulldozed his way around questions of WP7 sales figures. First Belfiore said, "We are not talking [sales] numbers", but then he continued by admitting Microsoft's defeat by Apple.

Belfiore had the unenviable task of trying to avoid the question of how many WP7 phones the Vole has managed to flog in the last two months. Given the huge marketing effort, the number of similar devices, availability in over 25 countries and launching just prior to the Christmas sales period, Microsoft's decision not release sales figures only heightens speculation that the Vole's mobile effort is tanking.

Mossberg did press Belfiore on when he thought Microsoft would enjoy similar market share as Apple, only to be met with the vague answer of "maybe" when he put forward a two year timeframe.

The only reason Microsoft would be cagey about WP7 sales figures is if they have been poor. By this stage, given the aforementioned availability and marketing factors, anything less than several million would be deeply disappointing. The longer Microsoft skirts the issue, the more speculation will continue to rise.
Then again, why should the Vole bother? After all, it has already admitted defeat.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/mic...ws-phone-7.html

Google Exec: Android is Profitable

man4253243 — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:16:34 +0800

Android's chief architect offers some good news about Android and some strong advice and some criticism for competitors.
Andy Rubin VP Mobile Platfroms, GoogleSAN FRANCISCO: Google doesn't charge its carrier-, OEM- and developer partners a dime for its mobile operating system, but apparently the search giant is still making money in the mobile space. During a wide ranging talk at the D: Dive Into Mobile Conference. Google's VP of Mobile Platforms Andy Rubin, explained that the advertising on Android-based phones is a revenue stream for the search giant and, in fact, makes the Android enterprise within Google profitable all by itself.
Rubin didn't go into great detail about how Google makes advertising money on the Linux-based platform, but he did explain that even on phones where users do not have the Google search bar pre-installed (some carriers swap Bing for Google), a large number of people still type in Google.com to search on their phones, driving organic search on these Android phones, returning Google search results which, of course, feature Google-driven contextual ads.

When asked about the still sometimes clunky nature of the Android mobile OS, Rubin said he still sees Android as an early adopter platform built for tech enthusiasts, but expect that situation to start improving with the introduction of the tablet-oriented Honeycomb version of Android next year.

There are now, according to Rubin, 172 different phone SKUs offering Android, many of them modifying the interface and swapping in and out Google features and various propriety pieces of mobile software. Rubin said that this is the reality of offering an open platform. One host wondered if Android is becoming the "Microsoft of Mobile Phones," where partners take the OS and build whatever they want around it and put whatever software they want on the hardware. Rubin countered with "We're probably more like the Linux of phones"" a comment he almost instantly regretted.

Rubin also talked about the competition, and was generally complimentary to Apple, saying the company learned from its mistakes and that they "make great consumer products." In fact, he said the iPhone and Android share a distinct advantage: They're both new. Starting with a clean slate is, Rubin explained, a definite advantage. He then compared it to Windows Phone 7 which Rubin contends is built on 20 year-old Windows Mobile 1 code.

There was some praise for Microsoft's latest mobile accomplishment. Rubin likes the tiled screen and called Windows Phone 7 "a good 1.0 product."

Rubin also had some interesting advice for Blackberry manufacturer RIM. "What did [Motorola's] Razor do? It faded away. So what did Motorola do? Switched to Android."

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/goo...profitable.html

BlackBerry vs. iPhone: What's in your pocket?

man4253243 — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 17:32:42 +0800

There was a time when BlackBerrys grew wild.

They were everywhere: boardrooms, restaurants and kitchen tables. The dark little devices would vibrate every time a new e-mail arrived, delivering a tiny thrill that millions of employees came to both loathe and desire. It wasn't long before the device earned its enduring nickname: CrackBerry.
The famously addictive device popularized e-mail on the go and turned its Canadian maker, Research in Motion Inc., into a $34-billion company and the business world's leading supplier of smart phones. It has 41 million users worldwide, and BlackBerrys represent more than half of all corporate smart phone users in the U.S., according to research firm ComScore Inc.
But now Apple Inc., the company that upended the music industry with its iPod and then the cellphone market with its iPhone, wants to gobble up a slice of BlackBerry's multibillion-dollar pie.

In September, after only three years on the market, the iPhone for the first time surpassed the BlackBerry in total quarterly sales with 14.1 million devices sold, compared with 12.1 million for Research in Motion, or RIM, as it is commonly known.

In its quest to become the de facto smart phone maker for business users — the company has already won about 23% of that market, ComScore said — Apple has hired a number of former RIM salespeople to help it sell its phones to corporate America.

Apple says the iPhone is more than a mere appliance for sending e-mail. The device, with its sleek touch screen and ability to run hundreds of thousands of Web-connected applications, games and utilities, can be used for nearly any purpose, business or personal, a line that Apple hopes to blur out of existence.
"Most people now want to use a single device to handle both their personal and professional lives," said Shaw Wu, an analyst at Kaufman Bros. "That's what Apple's really good at — and now RIM is playing catch-up."

For its part, RIM has begun appealing to consumers with an array of flashier, user-friendly devices. Newer models such as the Torch boast both an iPhone-like touch screen and a physical keyboard for die-hard Blackberry users accustomed to rapidly tapping out e-mail messages.

The company has also created an online app store, called App World, though it has only about 15,000 apps compared with Apple's 300,000.
RIM officials declined to be interviewed for this report.

For decades Apple has been the specialist in consumer electronics, with its iPod music player and Macintosh personal computers. It has never been more than a niche player in the corporate market.
Lately, though, the Cupertino, Calif., company is putting forth a novel argument: When it comes to smart phones and tablet computers, the distinction between a home and office device is becoming less necessary.

"We're not developing two different lines like many companies do with enterprise versions and consumer versions," Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook, said in an October conference call with investors. "This is another part of our simplistic approach to things that I think will pay us great dividends, and it's already starting to do so."
Apple says that 80% of Fortune 500 companies are trying out the iPhone to varying degrees, including General Electric Co., Procter & Gamble Co., Allstate Corp. and Pfizer Inc., though many of those are trials that involve small numbers of users.

Last year, drug maker Sanofi-Aventis gave iPhones and iPad tablet computers to 1,500 employees across the company and said it planned to continue moving employees to Apple's platform, giving workers the option of replacing their company-issued BlackBerrys.

With apps downloaded from Apple's App Store, Sanofi employees can use iPhones or iPads to monitor live data "dashboards" about sales of particular drugs and the performance of marketing initiatives. They can watch live Web presentations by colleagues, and they can communicate with groups of other employees via a company-specific social network called Yammer.
"True mobility is now kicking in," said Vic Rupinder, a senior technology manager at Sanofi. "You're no longer tied to your desktop, so you can do work while you're moving around."
San Francisco software maker Salesforce.com Inc. broke from standard corporate information technology practice this year: Instead of assigning smart phones to its 4,800 employees, it lets them bring their own. Under this new model — known as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) — the employee buys the device and the employer pays the monthly voice and data bill.
That approach is catching on in the business community and has tended to favor Apple, which is already a favorite among consumers. At Salesforce, BlackBerry was the standard device before the new policy. Now 40% of the employees use iPhones while 60% still have BlackBerrys.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/the...errys-grew.html

Khap panchayat bars girls from using mobile

man4253243 — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:23:01 +0800

Notorious for imposing its diktat against same-gotra marriages sternly, a Khap panchayat in western Uttar Pradesh has now come out with yet another bizarre order forbidding unmarried girls from using mobile phones.

A Khap panchayat gathered in Lank village of Muzaffarnagar to discuss "the bad effects of mobile phones on youngsters". Showing a Talibani mindset, it banned the use of mobile phones for unmarried girls insisting that it aids elopements and marriages without the sanction of community elders.

Apart from the use of mobile phones, the panchayat also issued directives to ensure that girls of the community do not wear tight clothes or dance on stage during parties or celebrations even at home.

The prohibition comes as a shock to women and youngsters as they have seen the fate of those who defied Khap diktats in the form of honour killings, mainly in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/11/kha...from-using.html

Sony Ericsson CEO Hints at Games-Oriented Smartpho

man4253243 — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:42:42 +0800

TOKYO—The head of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB indicated that the mobile-phone maker may be working closely with parent company Sony Corp. on a smartphone with a slide-out controller to play video games.

Sony Ericsson Chief Executive Bert Nordberg said he is aware of widespread speculation that the company is at work on a smartphone that would take advantage of Sony's experience in developing the PlayStation Portable video-game device.

"There's a lot of smoke, and I tell you there must be a fire somewhere," Mr. Nordberg said in an interview. "Sony has an extremely strong offering in the gaming market, and that's very interesting."
While many have already started to call the highly anticipated device a Sony PlayStation phone, the handset is likely to carry Sony Ericsson's Xperia brand, another person familiar with the matter said. The handset is also likely to run on Google Inc.'s Android operating system, and the video games may be available through an application, the person said.

Sony Ericsson, a 50-50 joint venture between Sony and L.M. Ericsson Telephone Co., has tapped the Japanese conglomerate's consumer-electronics expertise in the past, but it has steered clear of the PlayStation gaming platform, in part because of Sony's concern that it might dilute the successful PlayStation brand.
However, the popularity of simple games available on smartphones is now a serious threat to dedicated portable gaming devices like Sony's PlayStation Portable. The current generation of smartphones with touch screens is not "optimized for games," said Mr. Nordberg, who took over as CEO in October 2009.
Asked why Sony Ericsson hasn't already released a phone employing Sony's gaming resources, Mr. Nordberg said: "I haven't dug into that history, but the future might be brighter."

Mr. Nordberg, who said he wants to make a lot of "noise" with a new product at the Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona in February, said there is no technological difficulty in launching a gaming-oriented phone.
The main challenge, he said, is that the company has to consult many lawyers to negotiate rights issues with game publishers. "I'm very glad that we work with a company like Sony, who actually knows how to do it," he added.

After several fiscal quarters of net losses, Sony Ericsson became profitable earlier this year, thanks to aggressive restructuring and successful releases of Android-based smartphones.

Mr. Nordberg said analysts have been too focused on sales-volume declines in the July-September period. Sony Ericsson could easily increase sales volume by offering more inexpensive phones, but profitability is more important, he said. "We do no phones under €50 ($67.99), because we won't make money," he added.
Since the spring release of its first Android-based smartphone, Mr. Nordberg said, the company has built a strong position quite quickly in that segment. He said he expects Android to remain the "dominant" smartphone platform in Sony Ericsson's lineup for at least the next two years.

To gain an edge in an increasingly crowded market for Android-based smartphones, the company will have to diversify its lineup. "Sony is of course a very strong brand, and why shouldn't we use that?" he asked. "Gaming, including content, is a very interesting proposition."

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/11/tok...son-mobile.html

The anti-iPhone: World's simplest mobile that only

man4253243 — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:56:24 +0800

You can't access the internet. And it doesn't have a camera or games you can play.

In fact, this new mobile phone doesn't even let you send text messages.

The designers of 'John's Phone' have created a device that has only one function: it lets you make calls.

Hailed as the world's simplest phone, it is designed to be a tongue-in-cheek 'basic backlash' by targeting users who do not want the flashy features of next-generation models.
Hailed as the world's simplest phone, 'John's Phone' only makes calls

Basic: Hailed as the world's simplest mobile, 'John's Phone' only makes calls
LET THE BATTLE BEGIN: iPHONE v JOHN'S PHONE

iPhone: Make calls, send texts, email, web browsing, access to apps galore, watch tv/film, download music, camera/video function, tweet, GPS navigation, play games.

John's Phone: Make calls.

Dubbed the 'anti iPhone', the £67 device with a brightly coloured facade and big buttons resembles a toy.

The phone's Dutch makers, advertising agency John Doe, are hoping it will be a hit with technophobes and children buying their first phone.

The manual is only one page long and, unlike its battery-hungry smartphone counterparts, the makers of 'John's Phone' claim that a single charge will provide users with three weeks' battery life.

Even the phone's 'built-in' address book is old-fashioned - concealed behind a flap at the rear of the phone, it's a physical pen-and-paper notepad used to store your contacts.
Super-advanced smartphones
A view of the newly-announced iPhone 4

Throwback: John's Phone, left, is seen as an antidote to feature-packed devices such as Apple's iPhone 4

For those in a rush, the device does have the ability to record ten speed dial numbers.

The phone's designers wanted the phone to have 'no frills and no unnecessary features such as a camera, text messaging and an endless number of ringtones'.
JOHN'S SPECS

Weight: 95g

Size: 105mm x 60mm x 15mm

Network: Quad band

Ringtones: Just one but with 3 volume settings

Battery: 1200 mAh

Standby time: 3 weeks-plus

Designer Diedriekje Bok said: 'At a time when there is an abundance of choices and oppressive channels, we wanted to develop a simple gadget.

'It is also a useful phone while travelling, exercising or weekend sailing.

'You always reach for your close family and friends, so John's Phone is for when the rest of the world does not matter.'

It remains to be seen whether all mobile phone users will be rushing to swap their hi-tech phones for this new, pared-down model just yet.

Customer Ben Reed, 24, from Preston, said 'I think it looks quite cool. The design is stylish and I like the simplicity of it.

'But I don't know if I could use it instead of my current phone. I rely on it to coordinate my social life, keep an eye on my work e-mails and to follow news updates online.

'I can see how this phone might be good for old people or very young kids, though.'
Simple: Even the phone's 'built-in' address book is old-fashioned. Concealed behind a flap at the rear of the phone, it's a physical pen-and-paper notepad used to store your contacts

Simple: Even the phone's 'built-in' address book is old-fashioned. Concealed behind a flap at the rear of the phone, it's a physical pen-and-paper notepad used to store your contacts

Read more: http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/11/cal...-phone-for.html

What’s the difference between an iPod and an MP3 p

man4253243 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 23:46:22 +0800

Recently I was at a colleague’s home for dinner and she asked, “What the hell is an iPod?” Her exact words. Apparently, her teenage daughter has been asking her for one. I silently wondered why her daughter couldn’t just explain to her what she wanted but to my surprise, she too didn’t know what an iPod is and was simply using the term generically to mean an MP3 Player. So what is an iPod and what’s the difference between an iPod and an MP3 player?

Both are MP3 players, but the iPod is a specific brand of MP3 player made by Apple and has a specific set of features and design. Since the release of the Apple iPod in 2001 under the iPod brand, Apple has released many variations of its product such as the iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle, iPod Mini, iPod Nano, iPod Touch and several spin-off devices such as the iPod Photo, which just didn’t do well and was pulled from the market.

It is arguably one of the best known and loved gadgets of our time. One of the main reasons for its success is its ease of use. Apple has continued to develop the iPod, giving it a slimmer, sleeker exterior, while expanding its capacity and capabilities. The user interface has also evolved as Apple seeks to find the most intuitive, user-friendly design. The result is a piece of hardware that anyone, even the most technology-challenged people, can use with ease.

Unlike most mass-market MP3 players, iPods use the Apple iTunes software to transfer music to devices. Using iTunes, you can store a music library on your computer, copy music from CDs, transfer photos and videos and many other features. There are open source alternatives available to iPod users who do not want (or cannot) run the iTunes software.

The iPod Shuffle is the smallest model in Apple’s iPod family and was the first to use flash memory. The current fourth generation model was introduced on September 1, 2010 and currently comes in 2GB capacities only but in a host of colours including silver, blue, green, orange and pink. It’s the budget model in Apple’s iPod lineup, designed to take songs from a listener’s library and play them back randomly.

The latest iPod Nano is in its 6th generation with a high-resolution touch screen. If you’ve had the same iPod Nano for the past few years, this new device will probably make you feel like you need a replacement. It has an FM radio and comes in eight and 16GB capacities, with the same colours as the Shuffle.

The iPod Touch is the iPhone without a phone. It does everything the iPhone does including games, photos and music. It is currently in the 4th generation and comes in eight, 32 and 64 GB capacities.
The iPod Classic is the grandfather of all iPods. Unfortunately, it did not get a refresh in 2010, an indication that it’s getting the axe. Nonetheless, the last generation came in 120 or 160GB capacities, enabling one to have their entire music collection on the go.

The iPod is the king of MP3 players and there is simply no contender. The only grievance with many potential iPod owners is always the price. As with all Apple products, the iPod too exhibits premium pricing.

Zombie virus infects 1 million Chinese cell phones

man4253243 — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:59:19 +0800

Chinese authorities are trying to stop the spread of a spam-texting virus that has infected more than 1 million cell phone users in the country.

The downside of having smarter phones is that they are easier to hack. China is finding this out the hard way. More than 1 million cell phones in China have been infected with a virus that continually sends out text messages, costing the country’s citizens $300,000 a day (2 million yuan), according to Shanghai Daily (via InformationWeek).

The ‘zombie’ virus is hidden in a fake anti-virus app. Once installed, the virus sends all of the names and phone numbers on a user’s SIM card to the hackers, who automatically take control the phone and send spam texts to friends and family. The texts are usually full of links that will infect others with the virus or are sent to pay-to-text phone numbers, racking in cash for the hackers. The virus infected one million users by the end of the first week of September and has continued to grow since then. China’s National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team Center is working to solve the problem.

Like always, copycat viruses have already begun to appear and the country is having a difficult time tracking down those responsible for the virus.
A troubling trend

As the smartphone market continues to evolve, more exploits, hacks, and viruses will likely appear on phones worldwide. A recent prediction by Imperva drives this home. “We expect exponential growth in the number of incidents related to mobile devices in the next few years. From theft or compromise of information in these devices, through massive infection campaigns, and up to frequent exploit of the vulnerabilities introduced into the server side.”

In July, a security company discovered that a series of Android wallpaper apps were bundled with a virus that steals personal information. The virus sent the user’s phone number, subscriber identifier, and voicemail number to an unknown location in China. Luckily, that virus didn’t end up costing users millions in overages.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/11/chi...ng-to-stop.html

Windows Phone 7 a ringing success — really, Micros

man4253243 — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 01:48:57 +0800

American interest has been piqued, but not crazed, by Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7.

The new mobile phone, which Microsoft hopes will mark its comeback into the mobile market, started selling in the U.S. on Monday.

AT&T spokeswoman Colleen Smith said the company is "encouraged by early demand."

"We did have lines in some of our markets across the nation," she said. "There definitely was anticipation for the phone." She declined to give sales figures.

T-Mobile USA, which is also selling the phones, released a statement saying it was seeing "strong interest."

At the AT&T store in Seattle's Pacific Place, staff said a line of people was waiting to buy the phone when the store opened.

AT&T stores have set aside space to promote the phones, with two models — from Samsung and HTC — selling for $199.99 on a two-year contract.

As of noon Monday, a T-Mobile store in Bellevue had sold three phones, and at a downtown store, a steady stream of people wanted to check out its HTC HD7, which also sells for $199. T-Mobile stores had no signs promoting the new Windows Phone.

"A lot of people focus on the fact that unless you have a line circling three times around a New York City block that you've launched a failure, but I think what we've seen is that people are interested in these alternative devices and they're willing to take a look at them," said Will Stofega, an analyst at research firm IDC in Framingham, Mass.

No matter how it sells, Stofega said, "It's a monumental step forward. ... It is something that's unique and different."

By Monday, Microsoft had already whet the public's appetite with a television campaign, which will cost $100 million, satirizing people entranced by their phone screens. In Europe, where the phones began selling in late October, Stofega said shortages have been reported as a result of high demand and a lack of components.

Bob Carr, who lives in Bellevue, went to the T-Mobile store in the Factoria area Monday after seeing the TV commercials and ended up buying an HTC HD7. He wanted a bigger screen than the one on the HTC phone he bought two years ago, which runs Microsoft's earlier phone software, Windows Mobile 6.0.

advertising

"At the end of the day I just want basic stuff that's easy to see on a bigger screen," said Carr, who works in telecom services. He wanted to be able to check e-mail, read Office documents and get driving directions.

Also, Carr said he wants to support Microsoft. "If I can support a hometown company, all things being equal, why not?" he said.

At Pacific Place, Ed Chang, a consultant based in San Francisco, stopped by the AT&T store to play with the HTC Surround.

"I think it's a cool phone," he said. "But I don't know if it can beat the iPhone. It's late in the game."

Chang is looking for a phone to replace his BlackBerry, which he bought a year and a half ago. He said Microsoft may be able to win him over if the integration with other Microsoft software is done well. "I'm waiting to see when the dust has cleared," he said.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/11/win...ess-really.html

A Mobile phone cheaper than a cup of coffee

man4253243 — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:04:18 +0800

LONDON: Mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse is introducing the ultimate throwaway accessory - the 99-pence mobile phone.

Available in a range of colours, the handset is the perfect Christmas gift for the hard-up shopper. The retail chain claims the OT-209, made by French firm Alcatel, is the cheapest pay-as-you-go phone ever to be sold in Britain - cheaper probably than a cup of coffee.

Customers, who are not tied to an expensive contract, will be connected to the Virgin network, the Daily Mail reported.

The only catch is they will have to buy 10 pounds of credit to make calls. There are no more fees other than the cost of making calls and text messages.

The phone is aimed at first-time users and people fazed by technology. It has just a few features and is uncomplicated to use.

Executive chairman Charles Dunstone said it is also useful for consumers to have as a back-up phone. "You have to remember at Christmas the one question we get asked the most in our stores is 'what's your cheapest phone?' and at 99p this is the lowest its ever been."

"I guess it reflects just how competitive the UK mobile market has become between carriers and manufacturers. Mobile phones are such an important part of people's lives and so many are manufactured that they have become very cheap to make.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/11/mob...-of-coffee.html

iPhone 4 Sales Make Apple Top 5 Mobile Phone Vendo

man4253243 — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 16:24:28 +0800

The iPhone 4 recently joined the list of the top 5 mobile phone vendors because of their amazing sales during the past year. The mobile market its self has been steadily climbing at 14.69 % in the third quarter of2010. This would make it the 4th consecutive month of double digit growth for the mobile phone industry. Apple entered the top 5 mobile vendors at the 4th position as the 4th highest selling mobile phone company worldwide.

Apple along with the company Research in Motion posted the top growth rates of anyone else on the mobile phone vendor lists. It is being seen that apple and its smart phones are putting pressure on Nokia’s sales. “The entrance of Apple to the top 5 vendor ranking underscores the increased importance of smartphones to the overall market. Moreover, the mobile phone makers that are delivering popular smartphone models are among the fastest growing firms,” said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker. “Vendors that aren’t developing a strong portfolio of smartphones will be challenged to maintain and grow market share in the future.”

The phone comes with many features that help to increase its popularity. The phone has many features that are useful to a multitasker. A person using the iphone 4 can still receive emails and calls while checking their text messages. A user also has fun features to use like a built in camcorder, and camera that enables them to take pictures and share them family and friends. There are many features that keep this new model selling.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/11/iph...p-5-mobile.html

Sales of mobile phones tops 340 million in third q

man4253243 — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:58:42 +0800

The Global market for mobile phones market grew 14.6% in the third quarter of this year, the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, according to a recent report from the International Data Corporation (IDC).

IDC says vendors shipped 340.5 million during the July to September timeframe compared to 297.1 million units in the third quarter of 2009.

The top selling manufacturer was Nokia which sold 110.4 million mobile phones during the quarter, up 1.8% from a year. While Nokia’s sales were up, the company’s market Share fell to 32.4% during the quarter down from 36.5% in 2009. Next up was Samsung with 71.4 million units sold followed by LG Electronics with 28.4 million units.

The growing popularity of smartphones was in evidence as Apple became the second smartphone-only vendor to join the top 5 ranking and the number one smartphone only vendor overall. Apple moved into the number 4 position worldwide in the third quarter by selling 14.1 million iPhones, a 4.1% marketshare. Canada’s Research In Motion (RIM) was the fifth biggest mobile phone seller and number two smartphone only seller with 12.4 million units sold, a 3.6% marketshare.

“The entrance of Apple to the top 5 vendor ranking underscores the increased importance of smartphones to the overall market. Moreover, the mobile phone makers that are delivering popular smartphone models are among the fastest growing firms,” said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker.

The Top 5 vendors accounted for 69.5% of all mobile phones sold during the quarter.

The following is a list of the top mobile phone sellers in the third quarter of 2010 by units according to IDC. The number in parentheses is the company’s marketshare.

* Nokia – 110.4 million (32.4%)
* Samsung – 71.4 million (21.0%)
* LG Electronics – 28.4 million (8.3%)
* Apple – 14.1 million (4.1%)
* RIM – 12.4 million (3.6%)
* All others – 103.8 million (30.5%)
* Total – 340.5 million (100%)
http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/11/sal...40-million.html

Farmville invades iPad

man4253243 — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 22:28:39 +0800

Fresh on the heels of a class-action lawsuit being filed against it, social games publisher Zynga has launched an iPad version of its mega hit Farmville.
So now those annoying people on the subway will have another reason to never look away from their screen when they walk through the doors.

The existing iPhone version of Farmville is playable on the iPad, but as with most other iPhone game it isn't optimized for the larger screen. The new Farmville iPad game, which is available to download for free,
has "custom graphics built specifically for the larger iPad" and enhanced touch-based gameplay controls. Even though it's free, though, you won't be able to escape the grasp of DLC entrapment. This is the first Zynga game developed specifically for the iPad.

It's not all champagne and roses for the social gaming
giant today, though. Zynga has found itself in a lot of hot water this week due to allegations it was illegally collecting private information about users who played its games. It could end up tying the company in litigation for years.

Luckily, though, playing the game on iPad doesn't expose as much private data as it would if you were playing it on Facebook. The game does have integration between platforms, though, so if you start up a farm on the iPad game, you can tend to it later on Facebook and then give it a last-minute check on your iPhone before you go to bed. In other words, you're now supposed to have an eye on your digital farm during every waking hour.

Is it a scary thought? Yes. Will at least some of us still latch onto it like it's our new baby? You betcha. That's what social gaming is all about.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/10/fre...on-lawsuit.html

'Ugly Meter' iPhone app may be hurtful to kids and

man4253243 — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 02:29:08 +0800

Call it the iTaunt.

Critics of the new iPhone "Ugly Meter" app fear it's all too easy for users to harass their victims, especially when those victims are image-conscious teenagers, according to Switched.com.

The 99-cent app analyzes how symmetrical a person's face is by using facial recognition. It scans and rates faces as they are submitted by the user, generating a ranking on a scale of 1 to 10.

A "1" means the person is "not ugly,"while a "10" comes with a message that says, "You're so ugly, when you walk by the bathroom, the toilet flushes."
The News tested the app on male and female members of the staff. The results often varied depending on the angle of the photo or how well the subject's face matched up with facial recognition software.

One male News staffer's photo elicited a high score on the ugly scale along with the comment that his face appeared to have put in the dryer with rocks. Yet, another photo of the same staffer scored a lower, more pleasing score and the comment, "I am blinded by your beauty".

Most staffers received less than glowing messages from the app, including "You're so ugly a farmer could use you as a scarecrow"and "your face could turn milk into yogurt just by looking at it."

While adults can see the silly side of the app, there are concerns over the Ugly Meter's potential to make young people feel bad about their appearance and give bullies new ammo.

One in six kids are regularly bullied, according to a recent study conducted by Clemson University, per MSNBC. Of those bullied, nearly 40 percent of the girls and 45 percent of boys say the abuse has gone on for over a year.

"There's a fine line between teasing and razzing one another,"Dr. Gwen O'Keeffe, who wrote "Cybersafe: Protecting and Empowering Kids in the Digital World of Texting, Gaming and Social Media,"told Fox News. "And this is just hurtful. It could have crushing blows on kids with low self esteem. There's just nothing good that could come from an app like this.”

She'd like to see the app either taken off the market (it's on the iTunes store) or make it only available to adults. So far, Apple hasn't issued any comment. But Eugene Overline, app programmer, doesn't see the "Ugly Meter"going away anytime soon.

"All of our insults are PG-rated,"Overline said, according to Switched.com. "We kept it pretty clean on purpose."

Comments on the "Ugly Meter"are varied on the official iTunes website. One user wrote, "I was suffering from extreme depression due to my looks. This app has given me a new outlook on life. I'm now dating a model and making millions due to my new found confidence. Thanks for changing my life ugly meter!"

Another person called the description of the Ugly Meter "cheating"and added, "It sounded like a serious app. However the joke is on you if you buy it!"

A third user left a comment that he wanted his 99 cents back.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/10/ugl...hurtful-to.html

Want to Know How Ugly You Are? Ask Your iPhone

man4253243 — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:57:47 +0800

If you want the cold, hard truth about how you look, don't ask your friends. Ask your iPhone.

A new iPhone application called "Ugly Meter" lets users take photos of their faces and then analyzes their facial structure in real-time. Once the app is done scanning, it delivers a score on a 10-point scale.

Get a 10 out of 10? It might tell you "You're so ugly, when you walk by the bathroom, the toilet flushes." But if you score something closer to 1, it might be a little kinder. A 2.6-rated picture, for example, might generate the comment, "If beauty were time, you'd be an eternity."

"We've done some serious games in the past and just wanted to do something funny," said Eugene Overline, co-owner and lead programmer of Dapper Gentlemen of Gilbert, Arizona, the company behind the application. "You take it out and you won't get your phone back for an hour."

When he's taken it out at dinner parties, he said," People will just be crying, they're laughing so hard."

The application, which launched last week, costs 99 cents in Apple's Overline said the application is based on actual science linking symmetry to beauty, but given the limitations of an iPhone camera (in terms of lighting and resolution), it's meant to be a light-hearted game, not any kind of scientific tool.

http://234blogger.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-...-about-how.html