Pop quiz: what do you usually find on the floor of a bar? Answer: cigarette butts, beer caps, peanuts, a few loose change and perhaps the occasional passed-out drunk frat boy. It’s not everyday that you find a possible prototype of the iPhone lying on the floor of the bar, right?
Well, this is exactly the situation that went down in San Jose recently when one of the bar goers found an Apple iPhone device on the floor. If it was your usual iPhone 4G or even the iPhone HD, you could’ve just chalked this under lucky breaks and it probably won’t even make the news. However, what makes this story unique is the fact that the iPhone found on the floor was unlike any iPhone that was seen before. It had the usual camera in front but it also had a storage capacity of 80 GB before it stopped working. These “discoveries” are leading people to believe that the handset may be a prototype model.
Unfortunately, those who want to analyze the phone will have to pay up since the guys who found it are asking for quite the compensation for those who want to tinker with the phone. Just like claims regarding sightings of UFOs and Bigfoot, a number of speculations are also surrounding this mysterious iPhone model. Some are saying that the phone was running on a mysterious OS program while some claimed it was an OS 4.0 SDK program. More reports will surely be up ahead.
There is no doubt that mobile phones make our everyday lives better by making communication faster and more convenient. Unfortunately, the same positive results cannot be said for its effects on consumers’ health. The link between diseases and cell phone use has been a target of many studies ever since mobile phones became rampant. One of the common fears that consumers have is the possibility of developing brain cancer due to the prolonged exposure to cell phones. Yet people are spending more and more time with the cell phones nowadays, thanks to multiple features such as internet browsing, e-books, TV shows, etc.
Thankfully, a group of German researchers managed to eliminate one disease possibility—the risk of developing eye cancer. These findings were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. However, another recent report tells of an incident involving two women who regularly keep their cell phones within the vicinity of their bras. When these women were diagnosed with breast cancer, their cell phones were one of the factors speculated as causes. If cell phones cause breast cancer in women, how do they affect men? Some are saying that guys who constantly put their phones on their belts or pants’ pockets are exposing themselves to sperm quality risk.
Before you start holding your phone within arm’s length because of these stories, remember that more scientific evidence is necessary to confirm these claims.
The Internet and technology are two things that are evolving everyday, finding more and more ways to make life easier for consumers. One of the many aspects of everyday life that has been affected by technology is financial transactions. Before online payment was possible, people had to make payments physically or through the bank. Now, it seems more and more people are preferring the more convenient way to pay.
This is proven by the fact that the PaypPal app in iPhone has currently reached 1 million downloads. This means that a large percent of PayPal users are also big iPhone fans. The 1 million-user mark is made even more incredible with the fact that it was accomplished within only three weeks of PayPal’s debut in the iPhone App Store. Many of the mobile phone owners have certainly taken to the convenience that they enjoy when they use their cell phone for sending and receiving money.
The app also included a couple of features that allows PayPal transaction to be a more interactive experience. These apps are the “Split the Check” and “Bump Money Transfers” options. The PayPal application is not only available in iPhone but also in Blackberry and Android programs but the numbers of downloads from these app stores are yet to be reported.
If you’ve recently purchased a cell phone that lets you access products in the Ovi Store then you’re certainly in for a treat. The Ovi Store has recently launched applications that use motion activation lets mobile phone users approach their phones in a more interactive manner. Most of these apps use the phone’s built-in camera. For instance, eyeSight developed an app named FartControl, wherein your handset releases a fart-like sound without the need for you to press any button. The sound is released when your phone detects any type of motion through the camera. You can try it out by placing your phone somewhere in the room, sit far away where you are within the lens of the camera and wave you hand or do any simple gesture. It’s definitely a fun app if you want to have some fun or pull jokes on your buddies.
If you’re interested in astrology then you can also purchase the Fortune Cookies apps. Even though this app doesn’t come with a real edible cookie, there are virtual cookies that you can crush to get to the fortune inside. With a couple of taps on your phone, you will be able to read your fortune for the day.
Ninja Strike is for those who are looking for a bit of action by throwing Ninja Stars around. Play the nostalgic Truth or Dare again in another app that features a virtual bottle that you can spin.
If you are techie or an electronic buff who is always in the know about the latest gadgets to hit the market then there is no doubt that you know who Steve Jobs is. He’s mostly known for introducing his latest creation on stage, demonstrating it in from of awestruck audiences while wearing his trademark glasses and black turtleneck. Recently, Barron’s has released its yearly list of the world’s best CEOs and it is no surprise that Steve Jobs has been crowned as “the world’s most valuable CEO”. Other admirable bigshot CEOs that made the list were Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett, Amazon’s Jeffrey Bezos and HP’s Mark Hurd.
Jobs’ return to the list was quite a pleasant surprise since he had some serious health issues last year. Jobs is so invaluable to Apple that stocks took a downturn during the time he was sick. In fact, experts have estimated that Jobs is responsible for at least $25 billion of the value of Apple’s market. When Jobs stepped down because of his medical issues, it was as though Apple lost sense of direction. Thankfully, Jobs has returned with a vengeance to rightfully reign again as Apple CEO. The launch of the new iPad goes to show that this brilliant man is unstoppable.
With his monumental accomplishments in the iPod, iPhone and their applications, it’s easy to overlook Jobs’ other remarkable accomplishments. For instance, few people know that he is also the founder of film animation company Pixar.
Texting is one of the most important features of any modern mobile phone. Even though many people still use their mobile phones primarily for calls, a growing number of people prefer to communicate through texts. Texting can be done discreetly, so you need not step out of the room in order to send a message. When you get a call during an inappropriate time such as a meeting or a movie, you have no choice but to hang up or quickly tell the caller to call back later. On the other hand, when you receive a text, you can simply store it and then reply later in your own time. When it comes to texting, you also need not worry about noise or signal.
If you have a mobile phone that runs on the Android system then you might want to check out ThickButtons which is available at the Android Market. This app uses predictive technology in order to predict the letters you will type next when texting. These letters then become enlarged so you can easily press them while the other letters shrink in size. Phone experts conducted experiments with this new Android feature and discovered that the app may actually backfire on itself. Instead of speeding up the typing process which is the app’s goal, the app may even slow down some users who are used to texting rapidly. This is because power typists have already mastered the positions of keys in a particular keypad. When the letters are constantly changing sizes, the typist could easily press the wrong key.
However, you should still check out this feature and see how it holds up to Swype technology which many texters still prefer.
Movie theaters usually reprimand audiences who use their mobile phones during a movie. In a recent case however, it seems that the tables have been turned. A woman who used her mobile phone is now suing the movie theater. Apparently, the woman tried to keep her call discreet by hunching over in her seat as to avoid getting caught by the theater attendants. Unfortunately, she accidentally hit her head in her attempt to hide her call. What started out a small bump turned into a bigger lump and required the woman to actually seek medical attention in a nearby hospital.
So why was the woman suing the theater? Does she really have any rightful reason to do so? We all know that using a cell phone during a movie, a lecture, a play or any public viewing event is a disagreeable habit and shows disrespect for the people that you are likely to disturb. What the woman is complaining about is not the rule against cell phones but the poor maintenance of the armrests, one of which caused her accidental head bump. The woman also reasoned out that she bent down in her seat so she can avoid disturbing anyone with her call when the armrest suddenly fell on her head. What do you think will happen to this case?
Samsung recently unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S—the company’s latest addition to its collection of smartphones. If you are looking for an ultra-modern phone that can keep up with your social lifestyle then the Galaxy S may just be the phone for you. Aside from providing access to popular social networking sites, the phone also offers other applications so you can communicate with your friends, family and work colleagues.
One of the unique features of the Galaxy S is its “Smart Life” app. With this feature, your personal preferences are recorded and used the next time you start browsing the Internet to look for online information.
The Galaxy S also boasts plenty of impressive multimedia features. Aside from its 4-inch touchscreen, it has also been equipped with a mobile digital natural image engine, also known as the MDNIe. The MDNIe has only been featured in LED TVs and LCD screens by Samsung. With this feature installed in the Galaxy S, browsing photos, videos and even e-books becomes a more enjoyable experience.
Just like many of the handsets released by Samsung lately, the Galaxy S runs on the Android OS platform so you can easily access the Android Market. You can also avail the mobile services offered by Google such as Google Maps, Google Search and Gmail.
The CTIA 2010 was recently held in Las Vegas and Motorola took this opportunity to announce its latest Android creation. The new handset will be called the Motorola i1. One look at the phone and users can easily conclude that it is designed to be a trendsetter phone, what with its unusual appearance. The handset will run on Android OS and will boast plenty of smartphone features.
The Motorola i1 will also boast a 3.1 inch vibrant touchscren, Wi-Fi connection and access to numerous Android apps that you can download.
The Motorola i1 is also ideal for users who are looking for a durable cell phone. It is solidly constructed and has passed military testing for its protective features. The mobile phone boasts resistance to elements such as dust, rain and vibration. The handset is also shock-resistant. The Motorola i1 was designed for users that lead active and rugged lifestyles and who need a cell phone that can keep up with them. If you’re more of the office professional type, the i1 also has plenty of features for you, such as email applications, calendars, a Microsoft Document Viewer and more.
Users who frequently text will also have an easier time since the phone offers two options between a Swype virtual keyboard and a standard virtual keyboard from Android. The phone also has an impressive built-in 5 mp camera that has geo-tagging and flash.
At the recent Mobile World Congress, Sony Ericsson turned heads by unveiling the latest addition to the Xperia handset series. This latest addition is none other than the Xperia X10 Mini Pro. This latest handset will remind users of a more compact version of the earlier Xperia X10.
The Xperia X10 Mini Pro boasts a full QWERTY keyboard that fashionably slides out, allowing for a more convenient typing experience. The handset also incorporates an Android Platform. This means that you will be able to access various applications that are available in the Android mobile phone market. The phone also features a modern homescreen that users can easily customize using a variety of widgets.
One unique feature of the Xperia X10 Mini Pro is an application called Timescape, which was exclusively designed by Sony Ericsson. This feature allows you to browse your Facebook updates, text messages and missed calls using a single interface. Music lovers also have a chance to download their favorite tunes from YouTube or downloadable music stores.
Other features of the Mini Pro include a 5-megapixel camera, WiFi and more. The mobile phone also allows you to capture, store and share videos. The handset is available in red and black but both have the same sleek design.
