The next version of the Bluetooth short-range wireless protocol officially launched this week, promising an eightfold speed increase that could help device makers like Apple offer true wireless syncing on their handheld products in about a year’s time.
Ever find yourself with a water-soaked low-battery phone? Sharp and Japanese network KDDI have a solution: the world’s first solar-powered waterproof cell phone.
Apparently never having felt the wrath of a dissatisfied buyer with internet access, someone over at Verizon has just decided to enable users to leave public reviews on any phone in their catalog. If I’ve learned anything from gallivanting around the internets it’s this: the majority of people taking the time to talk about their phones hate them.
A mobile analytics firm has published new findings which show the iPhone taking the majority of the app market — especially when it comes to the sheer number of users.Examining 8 million users and 100 apps, researchers at Flurry hint that Apple’s handset has a conspicuous market share lead among developers, the number of apps and the actual ran
FireID system creates unique passwords for mobile apps for Java-enabled phones.
A new report is backing rumors of Voice Dialing support inside betas of Apple’s iPhone 3.0 Software but adds that capability may be just one of several features included in a new Voice Services framework that may also facilitate voice control of the new OS.
644bd346996 writes “Newsweek has an article about the latest weapons in the US military’s arsenal. The iPod Touch and the iPhone are being adapted as general purpose handhelds for soldiers in the field. ‘Apple gadgets are proving to be surprisingly versatile. Software developers and the US Department of Defense are developing military software for iPods that enables soldiers to display aerial video from drones and have teleconferences with intelligence agents halfway across the globe. Snipers in Iraq and Afghanistan now use a “ballistics calculator” called BulletFlight, made by the Florida firm Knight’s Armament for the iPod Touch and iPhone. Army researchers are developing applications to turn an iPod into a remote control for a bomb-disposal robot (tilting the iPod steers the robot). In Sudan, American military observers are using iPods to learn the appropriate etiquette for interacting with tribal leaders.'”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Ilya writes “Companies such as BMW are investing in Thermoelectric Generators to make their cars more efficient by replacing the alternator. Thermoelectric Generators convert wasted heat from the engine into electrical power. This green instructable shows how you can use the same technology right now at home to harvest expelled heat from home appliances to charge your cellphone and other gadgets. Also features a lego racer powered by the roaring flames of a tea candle.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
According to Newsweek, both the iPod Touch and to a lesser degree the iPhone are increasingly being used by the U.S. military because of their versatility, ease of use and comparative low cost.
Reports say a mobile application for Hulu is on the way that will let users watch full TV shows and movies on their iPhone over 3G and Wi-Fi. It’s about time!
