Though they’re totally open about the fact that their source is a bit peculiar, BGR is reporting that that Nokia might be looking to begin up a motion picture download service.

Rather than a pay-per-view or rental service, the new service is tentatively all-you-can-eat. One lump sum per month garners you unlimited access to a catalog of 320 x 240 H.264 movies, streamed straight to your handset. Love the movie so much you want to put it on your shelves? With just a click or two, a physical copy will be on the way to your mailbox.

While the idea sounds grand, does the world really need yet another motion picture download service? With every new service comes another catalog limited by licensing issues, and another DRM implementation to help negate them. Why not just jump on the Netflix partnership party bus?

Via Mobilecrunch

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With many a smart phone, tethering (sharing your phone’s internet connection to another device, generally a computer) is a standard option. Not so on the iPhone 3G, which generally a requires good bit of hackery and finagling to tether.

When NullRivers’ $10 iPhone tethering application NetShare hit the App Store on Thursday, the iPhone-bearing world wide web rejoiced. Finally, tethering for the masses! Pages were downloaded, videos were streamed, and iPhone-shaped gum drops rained from the skies. That is, until the application got pulled about 20 minutes later.

While all was mum on Apple’s end (with even the developers left in the dark), the forums were ablaze. Some blamed Apple. Others blamed AT&T. It was the topic of the evening.

Then the application reappeared, and at the time of writing, still remains. While it doesn’t seem to show up in the main listings, it can be found swiftly via search.

I played with the app a bit this afternoon. While it definitely does what it’s intended to do, the initial set up is a bit convoluted, with instructions that might be a bit confusing for non-power users. It’d be nice to see NullRiver push a companion application to act as a connection assistant on the Computer end, automating things a bit for Joe Schmoe who heard about the application from the IT guys at work.

Unless NullRiver hears something from Apple, the status of the application will stay up in the air. If you’ve got $10 bucks to burn and you’re looking to tether, you can grab the application here (iTunes link).

[Via AppleInsider]

Via Mobilecrunch

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According to a report in Reuters, Nokia has cut prices on many of its handsets worldwide, by as much as 10%. The largest cuts are on the Nokia 5310 and Nokia 5610 music phones and the 8GB Nokia N81. As the handset market faces increasing pressure from slowing economies in the U.S and Europe, Nokia’s price cuts are seen as a move to put pressure on its smaller rivals such as Sony Ericsson and Samsung.

Nokia increased its already substantial lead over other phone makers during the second quarter, from 40% to 41% according to Strategy Analytics and CCS Insight.

While Nokia refrained from commenting on the price cut report, David Hallden, an analysts at Cheuvreux, told Reuters the move was a ‘Crazy Ivan’ and said: “This is basically a way to run away from competition. You’re putting a lot of pressure on your less competitive peers.”

Via Mobilecrunch

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Samsung and AT&T kicked off their exclusive music tour last night with a free Mariah Carey performance in Hollywood. The Summer Krush tour presents seven one-night only private music events, with tickets only available from radio promotions, street teams and online registration. This summer’s acts include: Gavin Rossdale in Seattle, on August 7; LeAnn Rimes in Dallas, on August 13; Nelly in Atlanta, on August 19; Smashing Pumpkins in Orlando, on August 22; Nas in New York, on August 27; and Good Charlotte in San Francisco on September 16.

Along with the music, AT&T and Samsung will be have interactive booths at the shows “showcasing the music abilities of the Samsung BlackJack II,” and prizes including a, surprise! BlackJack II.

Check out the Summer Krush site for more details about the shows.

Via Mobilecrunch

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Anyone have any of that gear in the SF Bay Area, please drop me a line!

Via [Gizmodo]

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During QuakeCon 2008, Game development icon and id co-founder John Carmack shared some insight on working with the iPhone SDK.

A complete turnaround from his stance with previous iPods, Carmack’s got nothing but good to state about game development for the iPhone. While he states that he doesn’t believe it’s the definitive answer for mobile gaming, he mentions that the handset is “more powerful than a Nintendo DS and PSP combined” and that he’s also a fan of Apple’s revenue sharing model.

Carmack also shared that id was crackin’ away at 2 iPhone titles - One ‘conventional mobile game,’ and another intended to take the iPhone to its graphical limits.

It’s probably a good sign when Carmack says something has some power behind it. Back in 2004 when id released Doom 3, it made my fairly powerful PC curl up in the corner and cry tears of chunky frame rate sadness.

(Photo Credit: Rob Fahey)

Via Mobilecrunch

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Get ready for the rumor frenzy. According to EDGE, analyst Michael Pachter is telling investors that, with DS sales taking a dive in Japan and PSP on the rise, Nintendo might release a new handheld game console by year’s end:

We think that the timing of a new product introduction will depend upon the sales profile for the DS, and believe that lower than expected DS hardware sales could trigger an earlier launch for the new device. DS sales are solid worldwide, but are weak in Japan, leading us to anticipate an introduction of a new device in Japan before the end of the calendar year. We think that Nintendo has a new handheld device ready for launch in [Japan] before the end of the calendar year.

We don’t know if this is going to be the Nintendo DS 2, but that’s the most probable scenario, as Iwata isn’t very optimistic about new breakthroughs, and the DS touch concept works quite well. On the other side, it could be something that combines the DS with another device.

Or maybe Michael has eaten one too many magic mushrooms and his report stinks worse than Bowser’s dung. [EDGE via Kotaku]

Via [Gizmodo]

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We know Apple recently warned their resellers to stock up on certain items, in expectation of an inventory and manufacturing crunch. As the supply chain stabilizes itself, rumors abound about what it all means. Most tend to believe that the upcoming iPods will feature more massive storage and at cheaper prices. Considering the success of the iPhone […]

We know Apple recently warned their resellers to stock up on certain items, in expectation of an inventory and manufacturing crunch. As the supply chain stabilizes itself, rumors abound about what it all means.

Most tend to believe that the upcoming iPods will feature bigger storage and at cheaper prices. Considering the success of the iPhone 3G, that should be a given. The iPod touch, features a similar styling to the iPhone, but at a higher price point. With the 8GB iPod touch currently shipping for $299, (rumors say) expect to see at least a $50 price cut.

It’s not outside the realm of expectation to think that a new 64 GB iPod touch model might be hitting the shelves. Increased capacity certainly would be a selling point. As for feature upgrades? MacRumors speculates that the iPod touch also could be getting GPS capability.

Look for the iPod nano to also get an upgrade with more massive capacity, stated to double from their current 8 GB to 16 GB. Rumors about a new form-factor have been flying about regarding a change from the current 1.33:1 aspect ratio to the iPhone’s 1.5:1 ratio. Also, multi-colored bodies are said to be in the mix.

Same story goes with the iPod shuffle. Cheaper and bigger. We could be seeing a new 4 GB model, with entry point prices hovering around $49.

Via [crunchgear]

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Make sure you read this!!!! link to download it scroll to bottom of page http://www.psp-themes.net/tech-computer-themes/iphone-theme-529-psp-theme.htm Make sure the file is named Iphone_theme.ptf

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US Lawmakers are sick of people sitting on airplanes, talking about all sorts of private matters while waiting for the plane to taxi. After a round of story-telling on conversations they’ve overheard in the past, the Home of Representatives has voted to upgrade the FAA’s ban on in-flight cell phone usage to “Permanent” status.

On one hand, I’ve felt their pain: a few plane trips ago, a girl three seats from me was proudly divulging how sick she’d been a week prior. I’ll spare you the nitty-gritty, but it involved poop and pants. On the other, it’s not everyone’s fault that a few people can’t remember to not talk about poop in public. Taking their cell phones away isn’t going to make them any more courteous.

Not that this decision solves the issue, regardless. It only affects the in-flight period; that’s, during and between take off and landing. People are still free to humiliate themselves during loading, taxiing, and unloading.

Via Mobilecrunch

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