2008 July 02 | tech gadget update

Jul 02 2008

Rumors state LG is working on a 8 megapixel touch phone

Posted by: admin in Life Gadgets

Supposedly there was a leak about LG developing a touchscreen camera phone named KC910 and has the potential to put competitors to shame. This will be the first LG phone to feature an 8 megapixel camera, decent flash, and image stabilization. On top of that, if the rumor is true you should be able to […]

Supposedly there was a leak about LG developing a touchscreen camera phone named KC910 and has the potential to put competitors to shame. This will be the first LG phone to feature an 8 megapixel camera, decent flash, and image stabilization. On top of that, if the rumor is true you should be able to take 720×480 video. The phone will also feature a “new” interface and 800×480 screen resolution.

Keep in mind this rumor is far from confirmed, but this could be what LG plans to use to compete with Motorola’s new 8 megapixel phone due out this fall. A few people are speculating that this phone will be out sometime in October. We’ll keep you posted it more details as they become available.

Via [crunchgear]

Jul 02 2008

Blockbuster Drops Bid for Circuit City, Making Future For Both Unsure [Blockbust

Posted by: admin in General Gadgets News

We were excited for the merger speaks between Blockbuster Video and Circuit City, as that union could create a probable entertainment behemoth, and we don’t mean like Paula Abdul. Sadly word is coming down that Blockbuster is pulling its offer for Circuit off the table. Apparently it was ultimately decided that the match wasn’t a good fit for Blockbuster’s shareholders, so the plans have been scrapped. What could have been an awesome two-front retailer now means Blockbuster has to find new ways to catch up with Netflix, and Circuit City has to keep its head above water without any help. Bets on what happens next? [Forbes]

Via [Gizmodo]

Jul 02 2008

Openmoko Neo Freerunner to launch July 4th

Posted by: admin in Mobile Gadget

Man, I cares about me some Openmoko Neo Freerunner. Sure, it’s not the prettiest thing on the planet. Sure, a totally open source mobile device may be a bit ahead of the times for all but the most dedicated gadget geeks amongst us. But man oh man, have I been drooling about this for a while.

For the uninitiated, Openmoko is a project aimed at creating a series of open source mobile phones. Don’t like the way the device looks? Blast out a new casing with a 3D printer and the provided CAD files. Bugs got you down? Pop open your compiler and code your own fix, or work with other developers to make things superior for all. It’ll work just fine out of the box - but if you’re looking to change it up a bit, the sky’s the limit.

Following a limited release to select developers back in the beginning of this year, Openmoko has announced that they’re readying the release of the Linux-based Neo Freerunner for July 4th. At $399 (no contracts involved), it’s no economy phone - fortunately, the specs justify the price: tri-band GSM (850/1800/1900MHz or 900/1800/1900Mhz), aGPS, Bluetooth 2.0, multiple motion sensors, a 2.8″ VGA touchscreen, WiFi, and the freedom to do just about anything your technical knowledge and abilities grant.

I’ve put off picking one of these up until it was considered consumer-ready, but I’m achin’ to tear this thing apart.

Jul 02 2008

UTStarcom offloads its handset division

Posted by: admin in Mobile Gadget

We don’t really hear much about ~~Audiovox~~ UTStarcom these days. In all the time I’ve spent staring at other peoples phones, I’ve encounter but a handful of UTStarcom handsets. Am I in the minority here?

Regardless - someone out there thinks UTStarcom’s phones are worth a chunk of change. A group of private investors from AIG Investments has snatched up UTStarcom’s Personal Communications division for a cool $240 million, with an additional $50 million on the line be it that the deal proves profitable over the next three years.

Not much is changing, from what they’ve announced thus far: The new group will be known as Personal Communications Devices, LLC, the original management team is staying on board, and the main focus will continue to be on the manufacturing of North American market handsets.

Jul 02 2008

Cellufun Recruits Keith Katz and Tom Burgess

Posted by: admin in Mobile Gadget

The mobile game and entertainment company Cellufun adds two new executives to its management team. Tom Burgess will sit on the advisory board and Keith Katz will become VP of Marketing. Both new hires are mobile industry veterans and have experience in the entertainment and advertising businesses.

Tom Burgess is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Battery Ventures. He was the Founder and CEO of Third Screen Media, a mobile advertising network AOL bought in 2007. An executive in on the web and wireless interactive marketing technology, Mr. Burgess is a pioneer of innovative advertising solutions and holds a patent in wireless advertising. He will assist Cellufun as it develops new advertising models.

“Cellufun’s growth and breathtaking volume of active subscribers excited me enough to learn more and eventually join the team to bring my mobile advertising and startup growth experience to the table as advisor to the company,” states Tom Burgess. “This company is on an impressive trajectory and I’m happy to be a part of that.”

Keith Katz is the former Head of North American Marketing for mobile gaming company Gameloft. Before that, he worked for Atari in global brand management and had his own startup called Little Upstarts that promotes physical development in infants and toddlers. Mr.Katz also worked for the NFL in brand marketing. Early in his career he worked for Feld Entertainment where he marketed family brands such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice. Mr. Katz will develop Cellufun’s brand and market the mobile solution Cellufun provides to service providers, media companies, major brands and advertisers.

“I couldn’t be more excited about joining Cellufun. As someone with a background in both console and mobile video games, I see Cellufun at the epicenter of both worlds. This company is truly unique its capability to entice both very casual and avid gamers to pick up their mobile devices to play games. Cellufun’s offerings have the “stickiness” and community feel of an MMO like World of Warcraft or Second Life that avid gamers crave, but they also possess the “pick up and playability” that many casual Web and mobile game players like. These are characteristics that simply don’t exist elsewhere in the mobile world, so a company with a consumer proposition like this is really a marketing person’s dream.”

Cellufun

Jul 02 2008

Tech

Posted by: admin in Video

cool gadgets plz wacth

Jul 02 2008

Mobile Phones Banned in Cyprus Schools

Posted by: admin in Mobile Gadget

Legislators in Cyprus are poised to pass a tough law that bans students from bringing mobile phones to school. Jamming handset reception in schools has also been contemplated.

The new law would reprimand students caught carrying a mobile phone on campus. Those caught with a handset turned on could be suspended and anyone filming with a mobile phone would face expulsion.

According to Dr. Zena Poulli, director of secondary education at the Cypriot education and culture ministry, students have been caught text messaging during exams and lessons. Classroom video and pictures have been posted on the World wide web, and it is feared this has led to more unruly behavior and violent bullying incidents.

I’m not a fan of banning things. Classroom conduct is the responsibility of the individual instructors. If cheating and not paying attention to lessons is a concern, the teachers should be able to deal with the problems as they arise. Suspension is a serious punishment. Hopefully, school officials will only enforce this sanction in situations where cheating has been proven.

Expulsion is a worst sanction. Schools yard bullies have been around as long as there have been schools. The bullies are the ones that should be expelled, not those who record their misdeeds. Unruly behavior goes hand-in-hand with the education of young people. Anyone with enough education to read this post can remember a time when they misbehaved in school. It is up to the classroom teacher to enforce discipline. Life lessons can be learned from such discipline, along with academic learning.