Monthly ArchiveFebruary 2010
News & new features 28 Feb 2010 03:01 pm
ARTICLE: Trade in phones for Sprint instant credit
Are you Sprint customer with an old phone laying around? Then you might be interested in the carrier’s Buyback Program, a service that lets users turn in more than 900 different devices for account credit.
If you have any phone models on the list, then just take it down to one of the 1,000+ official corporate-owned Sprint retail locations to get your instant credit trade-in value. The credits — which go from $5 to 300+ (depending on the handset you’re swapping in) — can be applied to your account balance.
Sounds pretty sweet on paper, but in reality, some users may get more by wheeling and dealing on their own. Engadget makes the point that a secondhand, locked Bold 9700 goes for more than $300 on eBay, but Sprint assesses the value for just $160. That’s a pretty big hit.
Then again, if you just want to avoid the hassle of selling, then at least the program offers a better alternative than getting nada for it (or for that matter, tossing it in the garbage can. That’s a big no-no for the environmentally conscious). Those of you who have a closet full of devices, however, should take note that there’s a max cap of three trade-ins per active line in one year (i.e., every 12 months).
If your old device isn’t on the list, take note that you can still turn in your handset via the carrier’s Project Connect program. It’s a free service for anyone ready to junk their old phones, batteries, accessories and data cards. You won’t get any money for them, but at least you’ll have a clear conscience that your tech addiction didn’t add to any landfills. It’s easy and free to recycle your gadgets; just grab a free, postage-paid envelope at a Sprint-owned store or print the free, pre-paid shipping label off the site here.
Via: Engadget Mobile, Sprint BuyBack Program
News & new features 28 Feb 2010 02:03 pm
ARTICLE: Text to help Chile
When it comes to natural disasters, it’s deeply heartening to see people rally behind a cause that can help so many victims put their lives back together. After Haiti, the key U.S. wireless carriers offered their support by taking text message donations.
Now, after the tragic earthquake that racked Chile recently, aid organizations are taking their cues from that example by enabling donations via text. To make it easier for users to give, they’ve secured text/SMS codes that will work across all four of the major carriers. To contribute, simply text the word “Chile” to one or more of the following numbers:
- 23583 to donate $10 to Habitat for Humanity
- 20222 to donate $10 to World Vision
- 52000 to donate $10 to the Salvation Army
On a personal note…
I was heartbroken to learn of the devastation in Chile. (When I was a college student studying abroad, Santiago was my home for a year, and I’d spent some time traveling the long narrow country from the Atacama desert in the north to the lake region in the south.)
The country and its people have had to struggle through so much in the past few decades, including a military coup and years of political turmoil that resulted in thousands of people disappearing (los desaparecidos) and the torture of literally tens of thousands at the hands of dictator Agosto Pinochet. To this day, many of Chile’s citizens remember the fear and bloodshed of those years, or mourn the loss of loved ones whose ultimate fates were never known.
Since Pinochet’s death three years ago, some of these people have finally managed to put the past behind them — only to now deal with a new national tragedy. This was reportedly one of the strongest recorded earthquakes that ever rocked the country — at an 8.8 magnitude — and it hit the coastal region early Saturday (at 2:34 am).
Initial reports ranged from 200 to 300 lives lost, but now the latest body count has already topped more than 700 people. (Some expect this number to climb further still, as emergency rescue efforts ramp up.) For now, there are still reportedly towns that cannot yet receive aid, and desperate people have resorted to looting and pillaging to survive. Roughly 500,000 houses have been damaged, and according to President Michele Bachelet, there is a dire need for field hospitals and temporary bridges, water purification plants and damage assessment experts, not to mention rescue workers. Those who have already hit the ground have been working feverishly to locate survivors.
It feels so surreal to see my old “second home” torn to pieces like this. The only saving grace in all this is seeing how, despite the antagonistic commercials and business dealings, the major wireless carriers can band together so quickly to support the aid organizations, and give users an easy, efficient way to offer donations. Although I’m wondering and worrying about old friends I’ve lost touch with, there’s at least some comfort in being able to text what help I can — sort of like shooting an SMS that cuts through time and distance — all the way from here, in New England. Those of you who can, I hope you do the same.
Via: MobileGiving.Org, Phone Scoop, CNN, Associated Press
UPDATE: I received a press release this morning with more info on donating in the U.S. and Canada:
...By texting a keyword to a designated short code via a mobile phone, a micro-donation of $5 or $10 can be made to aid the people affected by this tragedy. 100% of your donation goes to the recipient charity, and the donation appears as a charge on your carrier bill, standard rates may apply.
Text the word "CHILE" to 20222 to donate $10, On behalf of World Vision
Text the word "CHILE" to 52000 to donate $10, On behalf of the Salvation Army
Text the word "CHILE" to 45678 to donate $5 (In Canada Only in English), On behalf of UNICEF Canada
Text the word "CHILI" to 45678 to donate $5 (In Canada Only in French), On behalf of UNICEF Canada
Text the word "SAVE" to 20222 to donate $10, On behalf of Save the Children Federation, Inc.
Text the word "CHILE" to 85944 to donate $10, On behalf of International Medical Corp.
Text the word "4CHILE" to 50555 to donate $10, On behalf of Convoy of Hope
Text the word "CHILE" to 50555 to donate $10, On behalf of Friends of the World Program
Text the word "REBUILD" to 50555 to donate $10, On behalf of Friends of the Operation USA
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless are providing free text messages in support of this effort.
For more information on these various campaigns, a list of approved Application Service Providers and how mobile giving works, visit www.mobilegiving.org.
News & new features 27 Feb 2010 10:07 am
ARTICLE: Google execs convicted in Italy for hosting bullying vid
Image courtesy of Getty Images
Three Google executives were convicted in an Italian court last Wednesday, thanks to a third-party online video that showed the bullying of an autistic teenager.
Let’s clarify something: These men didn’t upload the vid. They, in fact, had nothing to do with the content or creation of it. But a judge in Milan held them, as officers of the company, criminally responsible for it anyway. Each of the three defendents — Peter Fleischer, the corporation’s global privacy counsel, Senior VP and Chief Legal Officer David Drummond, and retired CFO George Reyes — were given a six-month suspended sentence.
“The judge has decided I’m primarily responsible for the actions of some teenagers who uploaded a reprehensible video to Google video,” says Fleischer. “If company employees like me can be held criminally liable for any video on a hosting platform when they had absolutely nothing to do with the video in question, then our liability is unlimited.”
Google’s stance is that it was unaware of the offensive vid, but when the company was informed, it yanked the clip within two hours. But even so, it says, the conviction was more than just a shock — it was a dangerous move that “attacks the very principles of freedom on which the Internet is built." Online service providers in the States are protected by the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which offers immunity from this kind of liability. But American laws hold no sway in Europe, and Italy’s courts saw fit to seek charges.
This news does raise some concerns. If internet service providers become accountable for content uploaded by third parties, then it’s not unreasonable to think that some (if not all) of these providers might begin reviewing, even filtering, internet content. But what would that do to the notion of an open and free internet? That is exactly what some experts are worried about.
"We are concerned that non-democratic countries will point to it as a precedent for holding companies responsible for hosting content. This could have a chilling effect on free speech," said Ari Schwartz, chief operating officer of the Center for Democracy & Technology in Washington D.C.
So it’s not just a matter of upholding freedom of creative expression. The question is whether this case could give fuel to authoritarian regimes, who already play loose with people’s access to information. This, they say, could mark the beginning of a slippery slope.
But there are others who are conversely thrilled with the conviction, considering it an act of protection for a person over a business. The 2006 video at the heart of the case was a disturbing look at a true act of bullying. It was hosted on Google Video (pre-YouTube acquisition, which occurred later that year), and showed an autistic teen in Turin being physically assaulted and verbally abused by classmates. The clip was live for two months, during which time it was viewed 5,500 times and reached the top of Google Italy’s “most entertaining” videos.
This situation is definitely not easy to judge. On the one hand, what happened to this victim was humiliating and reprehensible. If I placed myself in his shoes (or those of his loved ones), the last thing I’d ever want would be a lasting digital memory available for public viewing. But does it serve justice to take a sad, upsetting situation and make it worse by setting precedents that others will abuse?
What do you think? Was the Milan court right in convicting Google’s officers? Should they have taken greater measures to block this offensive vid? Or were they simply the latest victims in this sad, unfortunate scenario?
What I’d like to know is what happened to the assailants — you know, the ones who actually abused the autistic student and presumably recorded the video that set this chain of events in motion. My mind is in knots when I think of it: An act of cruelty, a few moments to upload, and suddenly, three strangers’ lives are marked, and the internet and all digital democracy has been threatened.
For the whole article, click the link below to go to the Associated Press story. (It's worth a full read.)
Via: The Associated Press
News & new features 27 Feb 2010 07:45 am
VIDEO: The iPhone 4G: A designer’s vision of the future
Whenever an upcoming handset gets a lot of buzz, artist renderings always surface that range from strange to sublime, even fantastical. (I’m trying not to use the word “magical” — I think we’ve all had enough of that from the January iPad announcement.)
When it comes to Apple devices, they seem to get more than their share of mock-ups and fantasy imaginings. But this one grabbed my attention, just for the fact that it gave me a seriously visceral reaction. I want this. Badly.
The short but stunning presentation shows a sleek device, with an outer shell forged from aluminum, with an AMOLED screen and a front-facing camera. Now it probably doesn’t need to be said again, but there’s no solid evidence that any of this is actually in the works. Still, this beautiful design does set the imagination going, no?
If what’s in creator Antonio De Rosa’s head is anywhere near what’s in store for the next-gen handset, then sign me up. (BTW, Cupertino: I hope you do whatever it takes to get De Rosa on your design team. This is genius.)
Those who are curious for a peep at the 2D images, hit up the ADR Studio website here.
Via: TUAW
P.S. Today’s iPhone will be holding a contest for people who submit cool mock-ups/renderings. We're in the process of raiding our product closet to see what apps or accessories (like iPhone or iPod Touch cases) we can give to the masses, so click here to check it out.
News & new features 26 Feb 2010 01:26 pm
ARTICLE: Is a cheaper iPhone in the works?
As if we needed more iPhone 4G rumors... Apparently, this new handset is going to have a front-facing camera, allow video chat, work with keyboard accessories, boast more storage and fix my coffee in the morning. (Not that the current incarnation is anything to sneeze at. How many gadgets do you know that can beat extreme cold?)
This latest item from Apple Insider is less about specs and hardware though, and more about the ducats: The site sources a prominent analyst — one Ms. Katy Huberty from Morgan Stanley — who believes that the next version will cost less to buy and own than the others did at launch. In fact, she asserts that the large expense is the reason that the iPhone hasn’t been adopted even more widely in the States or abroad, especially in places like China (which has had a pretty ho-hum reaction to the Apple device).
The analyst points out that the old wallet takes a pretty huge beating, both for the handset and the service plan. Apple simply has to address this, she says, if it truly hopes to take a larger marketshare globally.
In a letter to investors, in which Huberty also references gesture control (probably based on a related application patent from Apple that surfaced), she says, "We expect Apple to launch new iPhones in June that offer both a lower total cost of ownership and new functionality, potentially including gesture-based technology."
On the price issue: Well, I can’t argue with the fact that the iPhone isn’t exactly a cheap proposition. But I don’t think price alone is the only barrier here. First, even when the 8GB iPhone 3G dropped down to $99, the more expensive 3GS models were still selling like hotcakes. Second, when it comes to mass adoption in other countries (especially Asia), mobile television — which the iPhone lacks — is very popular and even quite ubiquitous. So the phone’s lack of built-in TV tuner is actually a negative. And lastly, let’s not forget about Android and WebOS (and soon Windows Phone 7 Series). Even some of the most die-hard iPhone enthusiasts can be found salivating over these platforms’ ability to multitask, among other things.
So slashing prices would probably help, but I’m not sure it’s the panacea Huberty thinks it is. Not that I wouldn’t welcome a less expensive iPhone. And I’d love to see Cupertino follow the pattern it set with the iPod, with various models priced to please both the stingy and the affluent. Then again, some of us have been waiting (in vain) for years to see the iPhone Nano to Pro range, so I’m almost afraid to pin hopes on this yet again.
But one thing’s for sure: If there was ever a time to unleash a family of iPhones, it would certainly be now.
Via: PhoneArena, AppleInsider
News & new features 26 Feb 2010 11:41 am
ARTICLE: Radio Shack gets iPhone
One of the annoying things about the iPhone’s initial roll out was that it wasn’t available everywhere. Even some of the authorized AT&T dealers couldn’t sell the handset directly (though over time, the device became more available across different outlets).
Now there’s a new one to add to the bunch: Radio Shack has begun sending iPhones out to its stores across the country. The retailer offers devices across the major carriers, but until recently, wasn’t able to procure the Apple handset beyond a few limited locations in New York City and Dallas. (They carried the Apple smartphone as a trial last November.)
Says Chief Exec Julian Day, "We are currently implementing several hundred stores per week with a plan to have the product available in about 3,000 stores by the end of March." That’s a decent push for a phone that’s been out for a while. As for the future versions, it’s unclear whether those will be up for the grabbing at The Shack.
Via: TodaysiPhone.com, PhoneArena
News & new features 26 Feb 2010 11:15 am
ARTICLE: Windows Mobile 6.5 to be called Windows Phone Starter Edition
Just when you thought Windows Mobile was being renamed to Windows Phone Classic, new information sheds light on a few additional name changes.
According to information gathered by Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet, there will be two types of Windows Mobile 6.5: Windows Phone Starter Edition for emerging markets (think Windows 7 Starter Edition here), and Windows Phone Classic (unconfirmed, but it's said to be the 6.5 you're used to). Windows Phone Starter Edition will offer two types of versions (with all of these versions, it gets confusing, I know): one with Office 2010, and one without Office 2010. While Windows Phone Starter Edition was confirmed, the status of "Windows Phone Classic" is still up in the air.
When Microsoft was asked what was stripped from the platform to merit "emerging market" status, HSDPA 3G was notoriously absent, while EVDO was listed. Could this be a standoff between GSM and CDMA, or a push to force Windows Phone 7 Series on everyone?
Despite the name change, I'm going to stick with Windows Phone 7 Series, thank you very much.
Via Engadget
News & new features 26 Feb 2010 10:45 am
ARTICLE: Unconfirmed: AT&T to announce several devices at CTIA?
Don't you just love the rumor mill? One of our tipsters pinged me this morning to update me on a few important things regarding AT&T at CTIA 2010, and it looks like the nation's second largest wireless carrier has quite a few announcements lined up (if these come to fruition).
Here's what we have:
-Microsoft's "Pink" devices have passed through the FCC, but haven't been announced on a carrier just yet. These will be coming to AT&T in the second quarter. This is part of Microsoft's partnership with AT&T (more on that in a second).
-Microsoft will be the "premier partner" for Windows Phone 7 Series devices in the United States, which lends credence to the whole "Pink" theory.
-Expect an official announcement at CTIA about the Dell Mini 5 coming to AT&T. The Dell Mini 5 will be part of a "tablet family," complete with AT&T 3G.
-AT&T will be announcing two Android devices - though he wasn't sure which two devices would make the list. Makes sense, as that would bring the total to three of the five promised in 2010.
This is all from an unconfirmed tipster that we haven't worked with before, so take it with a big can of salt (Morton's is my favorite brand, but you may think differently). In other words, the leaksauce is juicy in this piece (and I love me some leaksauce, but this is loaded with it - so loaded that you can't taste the meat). At any rate, CTIA is less than one month away, so we'll find out soon. Who's excited?!
News & new features 26 Feb 2010 09:39 am
VIDEO: Cell phone costs Olympian his race
Noah goes on a live talk show to talk about how a cell phone cost an Olympian a shot at the gold medal.
News & new features 26 Feb 2010 09:20 am
ARTICLE: Motorola CLIQ experiencing issues with new firmware
If you haven't downloaded the CLIQ's new software update just yet, you might want to hold off, as the update is reported to be causing problems for users. The T-Mobile message boards are ablaze with complaints about long freezes when using the messaging application, text messages either not being sent or being sent more than once.
Rest assured, as T-Mobile has said that the complaints "have been forwarded to the appropriate people." In the interim, T-Mobile has instructed everyone not to do a master reset, as it purportedly causes more problems. Good to know, as that would be my first recommended fix.
The official statement from T-Mobile is as follows:
For those who have downloaded the "update," have you experienced any of the issues mentioned here? Sound off in the comments!
Via Engadget, BGR
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