Android Hack and HTC Click Revealed!

The Android and the HTC seems to be connected at the hip these days. One almost always seems to be involved in the same news. It makes me wonder whether the other Android powered mobile phones feel jealous about it.

Hack your Android Phone the Easy Way

The Android is an extremely flexible mobile phone Operating System due to it's "open source"- ness. This literally means that if you have enough knowledge and experience in this particular field, you can do anything you can imagine. It's not surprising then, that some people actually does something to make your Android-powered phone better without coming from the usual sources.

Unfortunately, if you don't have the know-how of dealing with complicated matters such as the Android, you run a rather large risk of making your mobile phone an expensive piece of brick. It's a good thing then that someone in the Android community has developed a program that will increase your chances of being successful at hacking your mobile phone OS.

RyeBrye has pieced together an Android app that does all the rooting legwork, a process that used to range from mildly intimidating to headache-inducing. In either case, the prospect was always daunting for the mainstream, which kept the joys of an unbound Android from most G1 and MyTouch owners.

Here is the complete list of steps on how to do it right. As a bonus, here's a video that'll show how fast and easy it is to do it.



Just a little note: this is good for US Android phones ONLY! Good luck!

HTC Click Gets Shot!

We mentioned last time that if HTC doesn't go on par (price-wise) with the Motorola Morrison that it may just lose the Android OS race. Lo, and behold! HTC's got one brewing under the name of the HTC Click. Supposedly this phone is still under development, however there's a video proof that it already exists in the wilds of Tech Cool Vietnam.

The device sports some interesting graphics (likely customized by the owner) on the back, a microSD slot, 1100mAh battery, standard 3.5-mm headphone jack up top, camera (no flash), and of course, Android, "Donut" build 1.50.999.0 according to the device's about page. Clearly, it lacks that swank SenseUI and the LCD is much smaller than the HTC Magic -- indicators that the Click is very much HTC's cheapo Android phone as previously rumored.

This surely targets those who want a cool Android phone but doesn't have the moolah to buy one or someone who just wants to try out an Android OS before he buys the more expensive ones. Whatever the reason, it surely must be on one of the top of every mobile gadget freak's Christmas List.

In the end, anyone with an Android mobile phone wins as its future as a powerhouse mobile OS is assured. The question now is--how will it break into international waters when the iPhone 3G and Palm Pre are still US bound? Will the Android overtake them? With it being free and open source, you bet it will. How can you beat a quality mobile OS that's free?

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The LG Watchphone is here!

Every once in a while a gadget will literally blow you away and change the way you look at technology forever, such is the LG GD910, otherwise known as The LG Watchphone.

With the current crop of mobile phones with time-telling ability, the watch has literally gone down the list of must wears before going out. However, with the LG Watchphone, not only will it be hip to wear it again, but productive as well!

We reported on this a month ago and even showed you a Youtube clip, this time around the good people of Orange UK will be demonstrating the other capabilities of the LG Watchphone.



If you think it'll be complicated to operate such a device, you'll be in for a surprise!

To make a voice or video call – in true 22nd Century fashion – all you have to do is ask it nicely. The combination of voice activated command, VGA camera and Bluetooth technology mean you’ll never have to raise a finger to make a call again... just turn your wrist and talk away. The handmade timepiece is designed with the image conscious in mind too and features eight different watch faces – one to suit your every mood or crime-fighting outfit.

What are you waiting for? The gadget will be available in limited supply, on a first come first served, one device per customer basis, from August 27 9:00 AM in the Orange Shop at Bond Street, Central London, and will be sold for just £500.

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Android Updates: HTC New Firmware, G1 Rises

Image by netzkobold via Flickr

When we reported on a couple of Android powered mobile phones a few days ago, we were left hanging on a couple of issues: Will the T-Mobile G1 OS ever get updated? What's being hastily updated with the HTC Hero? Here are a couple of updates on both news.

HTC Hero Firmware Update Preview

Someone named Paul in the MoDaCo Forums was able to get an advanced firmware for the HTC Hero (the one which was reportedly on the way within a couple of days). The coolest thing about it was that he did a video of it and uploaded it to Youtube for everyone to see!



According to the video there's only two features that he noted was new:

• An addition of a Java icon: we don't know whether the phone's Java was updated or if the icon was just placed on the menu. We're hoping it was then former.
• Smoother scrolling from the Homescreen: no lag according to the video. This will surely please fans who were bothered by how terribly slow the HTC was scrolling that they missed punching keys.

It looks good but something bothered us as well:

Paul says he thinks the ROM “takes the [Hero] to the next level”, and considering we called it the best Android device so far that’s a pretty impressive level indeed. Our only point of concern is timing for its release: HTC told us it would arrive “in the coming weeks”, but Paul seems to have been told “a couple of months”.

Whether in a few days, weeks, or (gulp) months, this will be a very welcome update for those who already have the HTC Hero.

G1 Rises From Seeming Death

The T-Mobile G1 can be considered as one of the pioneers of the Android OS. It's name will forever be known as the one that started the Android revolution. Unfortunately, according to our report a few days ago, it's time is up and, supposedly, there won't be any upgrades to that mobile phone anymore.

It's good news that the G1's death has been quite exaggerated. According to a certain Mr. Wimberly of Android and Me, he was able to discover something to the contrary of our earlier post:

According to Wimberly, he’s seen builds of Donut listed as 1.6 in “mobile analytics reports” and that G1s will, in fact, receive the update later this year. Which is probably sooner rather than later considering Google dropped Donut a few weeks back.

Cupcake seems to be going Donut for G1 in the near future.

It never hurts when Android engineers, like Dan Morril chime in, “Rumors of the G1’s demise are greatly exaggerated.”

The only questions left regarding this piece of news is when and how it will be implemented to an extremely limited memory of a mobile phone. Overall, we'd call it a resurrection from rumor death for the G1 and its loyal fans. Once it does happen we'll be there to report it.

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PS3 Slim: Announcements, Secrets, and Firmwares

When I woke up this morning and read through the tech blogs, there was only one particular news that was all over the headlines: PS3 Slim! Yes, it's no longer the fake that we saw a few weeks ago, but rather the real deal!

PS3 Slim Unveiled in GamesCom 2009

At Sony's GamesCom 2009 press conference, SCEI CEO Kaz Hirai unveiled the PlayStation 3 Slim. The new model will be available in stores starting the first week of September 2009. It is roughly 1/3 smaller and lighter than the current PS3 (and uses 1/3 less power! Gcycle!!!). The Slim will come with a 120GB hard drive. Sadly, backwards compatibility will not be a part of the PlayStation 3 slim, as well. However, most importantly, it will be the cheapest PS3 to date, with a price of $299 USD. The lower price will also apply to all 80GB models still available.

Let's admit it, the Sony PS3 was expected to become the no. 1 gaming console in the world when it went out, but it was beaten by a smaller, cheaper, and more gameplay innovative Nintendo Wii. Sony decided to do something about it by somewhat "copying" the Wii: they got smaller and (supposedly) cheaper with the new PS3 Slim.

Sony hid the PS3 Slim secret from everyone!

Here's an interesting story about the PS3 Slim: Sony wanted to keep it hush-hush before the big announcement (which was today). They used "Sand Dollar Enterprise, Inc." to file the PS3 Slim with the FCC.

Turns out "Sand Dollar Enterprise, Inc"'s address in Foster City, CA is registered to Sony, and by listing the PS3 Slim under a different company, they avoided detection by diligent FCC hunters like, well, us. Interestingly, the filing includes mention of two other models, differing only in HDD capacity from the 120GB model we've seen—looks like a 150GB and a 250GB.

Well, they surely hid it well and now the interwebz is all abuzz with the new gaming console!

Here's what we know for now:

• Price: $299.99
• Color: Matte Black
• HDD: 120GB 2.5-inch SATA
• Dimensions: 11.42 x 2.56 x 11.42 in.
• Weight: 7.05 lb.
• Power: 250W
• Compatibility: PSOne
• BRAVIA Sync (HDMI-CEC): Yes
• Bundle: Wireless DualShock 3 controller
• Availability: September 2009
  

Sony Playstation Firmware 3.0

In a related story, the Sony PlayStation Firmware will be upgraded to 3.0. The changes will be as follows:

• A new Playstation Network tab, named "What's New". Supposedly it'll be the first thing that pops up when you turn on your console. It will focus on new features, news, and downloadable content
• New theme upgrades. You will have to option to change themes as the day goes on.
• A status box will allow you to see and contact your friends who are online.
• New avatar icons. There will be premium ones which will have to be bought from the Playstation Store.

Here's a couple of screencaps for you:






How will this impact sales for the Wii and the Xbox 360? Does this mean that there will be a price cut for the PS3 Fat 80 GB (since it's both priced at $299)? Will Sony finally make a killing on the gaming console industry?

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Palm Really Needs More Apps

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We reported a few days ago that Palm's Pre was in dire need of games in its App Catalog to liven it up a bit. Unfortunately it was just the tip of the iceberg as Palm explained the reason for their low number of apps in their store:

Palm said the low number of apps initially were because it had been offering its Software Developers Kit (SDK) called Mojo only to a few select developers. On July 16, the company made its Mojo SDK available to all.

After a week the Pre was launched last June 6 only 30 apps existed. Most can probably attribute it to the SDK not being released early enough, but it's really losing big time to Apple's App Store up until now.

What's curious is that Apple's iPhone 3GS has more apps in its store than the Palm Pre's even though it's regarded to have such a "closed" platform compared to Palm. Why is there a lack of interest in creating applications for the Pre? Is it because the developers feel that they won't earn anything off it? Most likely...

Now with the App Catalog e-commerce beta program, Palm has taken the next step towards having a complete app store. Developers will receive 70 percent of the revenue from their apps, with Palm collecting the rest 30 percent. The split is similar to what Apple charges for iPhone apps. Pre users will be able to purchase apps using Visa and MasterCard credit cards, said Palm.

With this carrot dangling in front of application developers, hopefully it will change things around for the excellent yet app/games thirsting Palm Pre.

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A Tale of Two Android Phones

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It's about time we write about one of the newest and possibly-game changing smartphone OS out there: the Android.

For those who want to know what the Android is without going to Wikipedia, we've posted it here for you:

Android is a mobile operating system running on the Linux kernel. It was initially developed by Google and later the Open Handset Alliance. It allows developers to write managed code in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries.

If you're familiar with Linux as a free OS that's uber flexible that can run on any old computer, then imagine it in your mobile phone.

Is this end for T-Mobile G1?

One of the very first phones out there that had the Android was the T-Mobile G1. It was touted as "the Google Phone" and was considered as one of the best phones of its time. However it's OS: the Android 1.5 (loving nicknamed the Cupcake) maybe near its end.

According to Android software engineer Dave Sparks, a time is soon coming when devs "wont be able to fit the latest [Android] release on the G1's internal flash," and yet another engineer has chimed in via Twitter to say that he "can't promise" that any update after 1.5 will fit.

From what they're saying, it's more of a hardware problem than anything else. After that Engadget article was put up, a T-Mobile representative said:

"We plan to continue working with Google to introduce future software updates to the T-Mobile G1. Reports to the contrary are inaccurate."

Is there a miscommunication between Android developers and T-Mobile or is this just another way of you not ditching your G1 for an iPhone 3GS? Will there really be a new update for this legendary phone? Will we ever see the Donut in the T-Mobile G1? Only time will tell...

HTC Hero about to get a new update in ten days?

On the other end of the spectrum, the newly released HTC Hero Android OS maybe getting an update really soon! This was disclosed by an HTC customer Service e-mail:

“HTC is actively working on a software update that will make your experience on your Hero device better. A partial update is ready in 10 days and a major release will be available in mid-September containing local language support.. Please check our website from time to time and update your device when the software is available.”

The catch was that there was no info nor any details on what those updates will be. Is this another one of those "leaked" news coming straight from the Marketing Department? Why is this Android OS being updated so quickly as the T1 has been left at 1.5? A lot of questions, but it'll be a win/win for HTC Hero users nonetheless.

Nevertheless, updates are supposed to make your OS phone better and if the update does come, we'll be sure to cover it as soon as we get it.

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Palm's Lack of Good Games is Showing

Image by PatrickMoorhead via Flickr

Despite some security issues, the Palm Pre is a magnificent mobile phone. It's almost gone toe to toe with its main rival, Apple's iPhone 3GS. However, it does lack one feature that their rivals have: good games.

Should they be bothered with the lack of games in their phone? Both phones may not have been originally marketed for gamers, but let's admit it: a lot of gadget lovers are gamers as well! It may not beat the Nintendo DS nor the PSP, but if people get stuck in traffic or in a commuter train, some would wish for a game to whittle away their time rather than listen to some mp3s.

We're familiar with a lot of games for the iPhone 3GS, but none yet coming from Palm Pre. As far as we know only emulator hackers and homebrew heroes have tried using the Pre, but none yet coming from big time gaming companies or even from Palm itself.

It's nice to know that Palm Pre's really serious about putting games into their phones by posting a "webOS™ and Game Development" article on their site. However with the phone's WebOS, 3D games will surely be out of the picture. Instead, they are promoting "puzzles, word games, card and board games, innovative social games, and the list goes on – even simple arcade games." The question here, is how can they beat the iPhone's games with such?

Hopefully with Palm Central's list of Homebrew games for the Pre, it should urge the company and some developers out there to try using Palm's newest baby as a "somewhat" platform for gaming.

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Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700

It seems to be Logitech love today here at Technology and Tricks as we found out another gadget coming from the said company that will be coming out this month for the US and Europe.

The keyboard and mouse are two of the necessary input devices that you will need to use your computer. It's a wonder then that most PC users would focus on upgrading processors and graphic cards yet have really crappy keyboards or mice. Logitech is now offering a two in one release of their Logitech® Wireless Desktop® MK700, a wireless keyboard and mouse to reduce clutter behind or even in front of your PC.

Below are the keyboard's features:

• Low-profile keyboard with Logitech® Incurve keys™: Concave keys position your fingers properly, and their softly rounded edges invite your fingertips to glide from key to key, hour after hour. Keys so comfortable, you’d think they were custom-made to fit your fingers.
• Longer key travel: Not easily found on many low-profile and notebook keyboards, longer key travel improves comfort and your overall typing experience.
• LCD dashboard: Gives you at-a-glance icon status of your battery, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, and Num Lock, you won’t skip a beat while typing. * Keyboard battery life calculation based on an estimated 2,000,000 keystrokes/year in an office environment. User experience may vary. Mouse battery life may vary based on user and computing conditions.

Listed here is the mouse's benefits:

• Cushioned palm rest: Feels so much better than hard plastic.
• Sculpted mouse: Positions your hand and fingers comfortably and naturally.
• Reliable connection: Logitech® Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology dramatically reduces interference with virtually no delays or dropouts.** Includes 128-bit AES keyboard encryption—one of the highest levels of security available. Get all the benefits of a cord, with the convenience of wireless. Range up to 30 feet (10 m).

So what are you waiting for? It's wireless and it's from Logitech, go get one!

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Logitech: Harmony 900, S315i, and S125i

Logitech has always been known for its quality and diversity of PC and gadget accessories as they always seem to be churning out new ones almost every week. It's no surprise that they would usually release more than one and it's what we'll be reporting on below.

Logitech Harmony 900 Remote control: One control to rule them all

Do you own a lot of remote controls? One for the TV, one for the DVD Player, and another one for a certain gadget? Isn't it always a chore to handle two or even three of them at a time? Wouldn't it be better if you have one remote control to rule them all? That's what people from Logitech thought of when they designed and built the Logitech Harmony 900 Remote Control. The Logitech Harmony 900 Remote Control serves as a universal remote control to your favorite gadgets connected to TVs, movies, games, and music.

“Like all Harmony remotes, the Harmony 900 simplifies home entertainment, which is particularly relevant with more and more people staying home to watch movies on their big-screen TVs and enjoying surround sound and hi-def video from the comfort of the couch,” said Ashish Arora, vice president and general manager of Logitech’s Harmony business unit.

This device would definitely be a shoe-in for those loved ones who have a hard time moving around the living room to be entertained. This would also be ideal to those who don't like a lot of clutter and wires all over the floor.

“Unfortunately, more remotes and more wires tend to be byproducts of increasingly sophisticated home-entertainment systems. With the Harmony 900 remote’s RF technology and ability to control up to 15 devices, you can say good-bye to the clutter while gaining better control of your devices.”

It's so simple to use that almost anyone will know that pushing the "Watch TV" icon means what it says. To know more about the details of this product feel free to go to the product page.

Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S315i and Portable Speaker S125i

Since we're talking about entertainment gadgets, nothing comes more complete than using the iPhone 3GS/iPod. Unfortunately with such a small and mobile device, you really can't expect much of it when you want to share music and dancing with your friends. It's great then that Logitech has announced, not one, but two speakers that fit well with your mobile phone or player! Logitech® Rechargeable Speaker S315i and the Logitech® Portable Speaker S125i.

The S315i is really two gadgets in one. Besides amplifying the music from your iPhone, it also charges it as the same time!

Because you don’t always have time to recharge your iPod at home, and it’s inconvenient to carry your charger when you’re out and about, the Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S315i gives you a full day’s (or night’s) worth of music on a single charge – up to 20 hours of power (in power-saving mode). Plus, unlike other iPod speaker docks, the Rechargeable Speaker S315i can play your music while it’s plugged in and charging your iPod.

Talk about hitting two birds with one stone! The Logitec Rechargeable Speaker S315i will be available in the US and Europe this month for $129.99.

The S125i on the other hand is extremely light at a weight of one pound. This is ideal for those trips to the park where you just want to enjoy music with your loved ones or when you want to make an impression with your friends.

At less than one pound, the portable, power-smart and compact Portable Speaker S125i runs on AC or battery power – up to 10 hours of battery-powered music (4 AA not included) – so it can go just about anywhere inside or outside the home.

The Logitech S125i Portable Speaker is already available in the US and Europe for $69.99.

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The Palm Pre Gathers Your Data

Customer trust is something that a company works on. However, if it betrays that trust, the company will lose in the end.

This is the predicament where Palm is right now.

According to a Wired article, the Palm Pre sends your GPS location, what web apps you use, and how long you've been using it to Palm HQ everyday. This happens even after you turn off the GPS in your mobile phone. All this was discovered by Joey Hess, a programmer.

Hess says he stumbled on to the privacy problem while trying to find a fix for another issue. “I bought the Touchstone (wireless) charger and found that the screen stays on all the time when the phone is on it,” says Hess. “That was keeping me up at night so I started looking around to find a fix .”

Instead Hess, who works as an embedded systems developer, stumbled into the code that showed how the webOS collects data.

In response, Palm said the following:

“Palm takes privacy very seriously and offers users ways to turn data collecting services on and off,” says Palm in a statement. ”Our privacy policy is like many policies in the industry and includes very detailed language about potential scenarios in which we might use a customer’s information, all toward a goal of offering a great user experience.”

In short, they're doing it so they can figure out how to service the Palm users better. However, it would have been better if Palm has been upfront in telling the user about it rather than the user discovering it running under his nose.

Charles Golvin, an analyst with Forrester Research, said the following about disclosing this deed:

“The question here is the level of granularity when it comes to seeking permission,” says Golvin. ” If the permission on part of the user is overarching, which seems to be the case with the Palm Pre, then it is a rather crude way of doing things.”

So far, Palm hasn't issued any further announcement on this issue. For the meantime, if you're a Palm Pre user, you can turn out the batteries of your device if you don't like the idea of them snooping on you or continue using it if you think it's ok.

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Sony ups the ante vs. Amazon's Kindle

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If you're into e-books then most likely you love them and hate them at the same time. Not the books themselves mind you, but they way that it's been restricted for you to read them in certain mediums. Amazon is one of the well-known proponents of this as their e-books can only be read through their uber expensive Kindle or the iPhone. It's good news then that Sony seems to be thinking in the opposite way.

We reported on Sony's e-readers a few days ago, the Pocket and the Touch, and we were rather surprised at what the company will sacrifice to ensure they get one over Amazon in this market. First, they decided to make two e-readers--both priced way lower than the Kindle. Second, they slashed the e-book Bestsellers from $11.99 to $9.99. Now, they've totally gone way overboard with the latest news that they will be releasing books on the ePub format!

What's ePub? It's a format that will allow you to read your e-book on a plethora of e-reading devices! Imagine buying a book through Sony and then reading it in the Plastic Logic eReader or the iPhone through Lexcycle Stanza! This is totally the opposite of how Kindle is handling their e-books.

“There is going to be a proliferation of different reading devices, with different features and capabilities and prices for a different set of consumer requirements,” said Steve Haber, president of Sony’s digital reading unit. “If people are going to this e-book shopping mall, they are going to want to shop at all the stores, and not just be required to shop at one store.”

Somehow the gadget book geeks will be taking a second and even third look at Sony's Touch or Pocket as a better and cheaper alternative to Kindle. We know we will!

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Hello Kitty USB and Nick Notebook

Exposing kids to new technology these days doesn't seem to be that hard compared to the olden days. They get to see it both in the cartoons they watch and the people around them. They're basically a goldmine for tech companies if somehow they convince the kids and their parents that their product is best for their child. Below are just two products that will just make your young child giddy with excitement over new technology.

Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition

Since Spongebob Squarepants burst into the scene, the kids who religiously watch his antics on Nickelodeon have increased as time went on. Now some of the kids who used to watch his early shows are either young teens or even parents already. It's a treat to both of those groups that Dell and Nickelodeon is producing the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition.

Designed specifically for kids, the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition sports Nickelodeon's trademark green slime yet is loaded with entertaining and educational content that will also appeal to moms and dads. Designed with kids in mind, the Dell Inspiron Mini Nickelodeon Edition is wrapped in an eye-catching, Nickelodeon-inspired slime artwork scheme. Based on Dell’s popular Inspiron Mini 10v netbook, it features a bright 10.1-inch color LCD display and built-in wireless Internet access.

It will be available October 2009 and specs will come shortly before that.

Hello Kitty USB Flashdrive

If you thought Nickelodeon had a big following, Hello Kitty is even bigger! Hello Kitty's fans are even more older and diverse. It's noteworthy to say that she will be celebrating her 35th birthday on November 1, 2009. To celebrate that occasion, Hello kitty and her friends will be immortalized in MIMIBOT fashion.

The crossover collaboration with Mimoco will begin with Hello Kitty® and expand to include SANRIO friends Badtz-Maru®, My Melody®, Kuromi®, Keroppi®, Chococat®, and TuxedoSam™ in MIMOBOT form ranging from 2GB to 16GB capacities. The MIMOBOT flash drives will also be bundled with the mimoDesk™ personalization suite of SANRIO-themed wallpapers, screensavers, icons, and avatars, as well as videos and other digital surprises. The line will be available for purchase at MIMOBOT.com and SANRIO.com, select SANRIO boutiques and other specialty retailers.

More information will be available next month.

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What's the Traffic Tweetuation?

Ever had a time where you heard from the news that your way to the office would be clear However that may change as Mobomo just announced that they will be releasing an app for the iPhone 3GS that will allow you to view, search, and tweet traffic conditions in any U.S. city. This is way more better as it is in real-time compared to other services where you need to wait for reports of traffic in your area.

Key Features:

• Leverages iPhone 3.0 OS Maps API to directly embed Google Maps into the application, providing a quick snapshot of all traffic alerts on nearby highways and roads.
• Leverages Twitter Platform so drivers using TrafficTweet can report current road conditions (traffic accidents, lane closures, speed traps and other alerts) to others via Twitter on an interactive map. App users can use color-coded icons to provide the driver with instant feedback.
• One-Click Driver Reporting eliminates need for onerous driver texting as it takes just one click to report speed and two clicks to report a traffic incident.
• Powerful Search Function embedded in TrafficTweet app allows users to quickly search for traffic conditions anywhere in the world.

The good thing about it is that it doesn't depend on proprietary data nor does it refer to driver generated content, but rather it's based more on a community attitude. Think of it as helping your fellow driver in avoiding the heavy traffic you're in right now.

"With the click of a single button, TrafficTweet is really the first way for drivers to, in effect, let off some steam about driving conditions in an easy, safe and productive way that allows other drivers to benefit from real-time updates tweeted by the community," adds Upender. "And by leveraging the Twitter platform so drivers can report conditions of any road or region - no matter how rural - TrafficTweet is truly global from day one."

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Apple Airport Express

Now with blazing 802.11n, the affordable Apple Airport Express is powerful enough to run a home Wi-Fi network, yet small enough to take on the road. Share your wireless network with up to 10 users, print documents, photos, and more from any room in the house to one central printer, play iTunes music through your stereo or powered speakers using AirTunes, and more.

AirTunes takes the music from the iTunes library on your computer and sends it wirelessly to any stereo or speakers in your home. All you have to do is plug an AirPort Express into an electrical outlet near those speakers, then connect them with an audio cable. In iTunes, you can choose which speakers you want your music to play on--in your den, living room, or bedroom.

If you have more than one AirPort Express connected to speakers, you can play the same music on all your speakers at the same time to create a whole-house musical experience. Plus, if you already have a wireless network in place, you can use AirPort Express to add music to its capabilities.

(Source) Amazon

Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player

Combined with a My Passport portable drive, the Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player is the most convenient way to play HD movies or user-generated videos, listen to high-quality digital music and show high-resolution slideshows of your family photos on your TV. Also works with popular USB drives, and digital cameras, camcorders, and portable media players that can be recognized as mass storage devices.

Full HD video playback and navigation - up to 1080p - Experience the spectacular picture quality of HD video and crystal clear sound clarity of digital audio. Use the included remote control to navigate through your entertainment choices using our crisp, animated HD menus. Collect without limits - There's no limit to the size of your media collection; just add more USB drives for more space.

Access two USB drives simultaneously - Two USB ports on the player let you connect two USB storage devices and access them simultaneously. Media Library feature aggregates the content on both drives into one list sorted by media type. HDMI and composite video connections - The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port lets you connect to the highest quality HDTV or home theater.

Additional composite (RCA) outputs ensure compatibility with virtually all television sets. Hassle-free playback of HD movies, home videos, digital music, and photos on your TV

Price:$99.00

(Source)Amazon

Apple iPod touch 8 GB 2nd Generation

The iPod touch has always been an amazing iPod. And with its groundbreaking technologies--including a Multi-Touch screen, the accelerometer, and 3D graphics--and access to hundreds of games, iPod touch puts an amazing gaming experience in the palm of your hand. It comes in 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB models with new volume controls and a built-in speaker. Play hours of music.

Create a Genius Playlist of songs that go great together. Watch a movie. Surf the web. View rich HTML email. Find your location and get directions with Google Maps. Browse YouTube videos. And shop the App Store for games and applications.

Price: $214.99

(Source) Amazon

Motorola Morrison Specs Leaked?

After we were able to confirm that Motorola has gone Android OS via the Morrison a few weeks ago, the specs suspiciously appears out of nowhere. Now, we don't have any qualms about leaks because that's where we get some of our unconfirmed news from (yes they're called rumors), but someone in Motorola Inc seems to be happily giving this out as a way to drum up publicity for this phone. Nevertheless, as we mentioned last time, if this is cheaper than HTC (who uses the same OS), then this phone just may be the winner of the Android phone race. Specs below:

• CPU: Qualcomm MSM7201A 528 MHz
• Memory: 256MB RAM
• Flash Rom: 512 MB
• Memory Card Type: microSDHC, Class 6, 32 GB supported
• Display: 320×480 (HVGA)
• Accelerometer: 3-axis, Four-way screen rotation
• Magnetometer
• Proximity Sensor
• Ambient Light Sensor
• Voice Bands: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, W-CDMA 900/(1700 or 1900)/2100
• Wireless Lan: 802.11 b/g, WEP, WPA, 802.11i (WPA2)
• Bluetooth Version: 2.0 + EDR
• Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, GAP, HFP 1.5, HSP, SDAP, SPP
• USB: USB 2.0 High Speed, Micro USB connector
• Headset Jack: 3.5mm, Stereo out, Mic
• Camera Resolution: 5 MP
• Image Capture Resolution (max): 2560×1920
• Camera Features: Autofocus, White Balance, Geotagging, Color Effects
• Camera Digital Zoom (max): 5.4x
• Video Recording Resolution: 320×240 (QVGA)
• Video Recording Frame Rate: 25 fps
• Location Services: Standalone GPS w/ internal antenna, Assisted GPS, E-Compass
• Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP4, Exchange ActiveSync

Surprise, surprise! With the leaked out specs, there's a "possible" release date as well on October 21.

Source

Mogo Mouse for Netbooks!

One of the really annoying facts with the Netbook design is that the trackpad is small--it's so small that people with fat fingers would have a hard time using it. Therefore most would bring in their own mouse. The problem with that is that they have to place it in a separate part of the bag and usually the cords get tangled with the other cables. It was with this problem that Mogo decided to actually attach their Mogo Mouse BT to the Netbook via a hostler at the top.

MoGo NetPack Mouse X54™ Finally a solution to the cramped trackpads of netbooks. A slim holder attaches to the top of a Laptop or Netbook and holds the MoGo at the ready. Slides easily into laptop sleeves and pockets. Kit contains the MoGo X54 Presenter Mouse, NetPack holder and a USB Charging Cable. Add an optional Bluetooth adapter for $9.99

The main star of this pack is the Mogo X54 mouse.

It includes the same functionality as conventional laser wireless mice – scroll, right click, left click – without the bulky, oversized design. With the push of a button, your MoGo Presenter Mouse X54™ turns into a wireless presenter – allowing you to control your PowerPoint presentations with 30 feet of freedom. It features a slide changer, start/escape button and laser pointer.

This mouse would be ideal for those Netbook users on the go but it would also suit well for those who just wants to look cool in a free WiFi Cafe.

Source

Pentax Optio WS80 Waterproof Camera

Pentax has unveiled the successor for its Optio series with the release of the Pentax Option WS80. Though touted as a water-proof camera, it can only be used up to 5 feet down. So if you are a diver or a person who loves to take images below the sea, this camera may not necessarily be suited for that.

The Pentax Option WS80 has a 10 megapixel CCD with a 720p video capability. It is equipped with face detection, smile capture and blink detection. It is available in black with orange accents or white with purple. The camera costs $250.

(Source) Dvice

Site Review: Qwest Broadband Services

For those who want residential broadband services, you can look in a lot of places for it. You can register for several different internet service providers for what seems to be decent DSL, but various problems like lag and frequent disconnection may plague you most of the time; all this while having to pay high monthly rates, despite the below-average quality of service. It is quite a tall tale to find a provider that can provide quality DSL while still being affordable for most households, but there is one. Qwest can provide all of these and more.

With other DSL services, you may have to pay extra for renting the modem and even for an extra phone line if they pull a fast one on you. It is best to do your research right before register for a service. If you are someone who is upgrading from 56 kbps, then going to the Qwest website to learn more about what should be done. You can learn more about the services available along with the DSL connection, like the equipment and other amenities.

Speed is definitely not a problem with Qwest. They have DSL services with bandwidths from 1.5 to 20 megabytes per second. This gives you options according to your needs, but this is definitely more than enough for residential use. They even have information on how to avail of these services without having a local phone line. With monthly rates are as low as $19.99 plus 2 gigabytes of online storage, it is definitely great value. If you have more questions, you can get most of the answers from their website. There is definitely no reason to complain at all.

Qwest also have other services like wireless internet, VoIP, and TV services. All the information is available in the website, especially their digital TV service. You can consult their map to see if you are within Qwest's area of jurisdiction. If you do, then you can avail of their services not only with DSL, but also with digital TV. If you are a new customer, all you need is your zip code to know more. Just visit the website and click "TV services" for more.

You have to browse through the site to learn more about the services, especially once you do have it. They have installation and troubleshooting guides and walkthroughs for beginners who have just availed of Qwest's broadband services. You will learn about the equipment, the DSL service's technical aspects, and how you can maintain it for longevity. As long as you are a paying customer, you can make use of this information

They also have other special offers and promos along with the registration. If you get lucky, you can even get two months of service free, as well as many incredible offers for new customers. All the information about these is available in the website as well.

If you are interested with what Qwest broadband services are all about, just visit the Qwest website to know how to register for this incredible service.