Archive for December, 2007 Page 3 of 12

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pyPoziomica - that’s easy for you to say

Published by Stuart Houghton on December 20, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

pypoziomicaPoziomica is the Polish word for ’spirit level’ - and that is exactly what is on offer here.  Yes, some crazed Polish software developers have written an app for Nokia S60 handsets that transforms the phone into a useful DIY tool.

It’s not super-accurate as you need to calibrate it first by laying it on a surface that you know is flat (if the calibration surface is even a little bit out then all your measurements will be distorted by the same amount) but it does work and is small enough to be one of those apps you keep on your phone ‘just in case’.

The app needs a phone with an accelerometer (e.g. the Nokia N95 or N82) and as the ‘py’ prefix might tip you off also requires Python version 1.4.1 (available at the above link).



Hackers setting sights on the iPhone, says security expert

Published by Stuart Dredge on December 20, 2007 in Mobile internet. 0 Comments

criminal_img.jpgBad hackers, I mean, not the ones who just want to unlock their iPhones and install unauthorised applications. No, EVIL hackers are apparently targeting the iPhone, according to a ‘vulnerability forecast’ from Arbor’s Security & Engineering Response Team. They sound a bit Thunderbirds, don’t they? I imagine uniforms and sirens are involved.

Anyway, ASERT have put together a list of predictions about what devices, services and sites will be the biggest targets for cybercriminals in 2008, and iPhone occupies top spot in their chart. Apparently, they’re likely to be so-called “drive-by” attacks where nasty coding embedded into images or other media will Mess With Things on the iPhone when loaded in its Safari browser.

I’m not quite sure how this would work, and presumably Apple will have a crack response team of its own patching any Safari vulnerabilities as soon as they’re identified. But I’d agree with ASERT’s opinion that the reason iPhone is being targeted by so many hackers is its security - they want the kudos of being the first to crack Apple’s handset for nefarious purposes.

(via GameShout)



iPhone Web Apps No. 6: Bob’s Sheep Counter

Published by Stuart Dredge on December 20, 2007 in Applications. 0 Comments

bob-sheep-counter-iphone.jpg

When it comes to bad ideas, falling asleep while using your iPhone must be near the top of the list. What happens if you roll over onto your precious handset, or knock it off the bed, or sleeptalk to one of your friends and say something you’ll regret in the morning? The consequences just don’t bear thinking about.

Robert Atchison laughs in the face of such cowardice. To prove it, he’s created a nifty web app for iPhone called Bob’s Sheep Counter. Yep, it does what it says on the tin: shows an animation of sheep diving over a brick wall, and suggests you wait to see if it sends you to sleep.

Admittedly, that’s all it does. But if you’re an iPhone-owning insomniac, it’s just the thing.

Bob’s Sheep Counter



Moto announces Z8 Ferrari but won’t sell it til after Xmas

Published by Chris Leonard on December 20, 2007 in Hands on. 0 Comments

motorola-z8-ferrari-edition.jpgMobile phones with some high-profile, non-mobile branding seems to be all the rage with manufacturers and retailers at the moment, what with Samsung’s Armani phone, and Carphone’s Ted Baker and  phones. Now Motorola’s got in on the act with its new Ferrari phone.

While most deals like this feature new or original handsets, Motorola’s gone for the easy option and basically slapped a Ferrari badge on a reasonably-old handset, the Z8 RIZR.

To be fair, the Z8 isn’t actually that bad a phone but this new limited edition isn’t exactly going to set the world alight. As well as a Ferrari logo plastered on the side, the Moto Z8 Ferrari Limited Edition, comes with two pre-loaded Ferrari videos, registration to the official Ferrari website, custom Ferrari wallpapers and ringtones and direct internet links to magazines like Top Gear, Auto Express, GQ, Esquire and Autosport. And like the standard Z8 release, you also get a bundled copy of The Bourne Identity movie.

Sadly, this won’t even be out in time for Christmas either, as it’s not going to be out until early next year from Ferrari and Motorola’s main retailers. Oh well…



Sony announces 2007 Content Awards Winners

Published by Chris Leonard on December 20, 2007 in Applications, Biz & Tech, Games, Mobile internet, Music and Other stuff. 0 Comments

seca-2007.jpgSony Ericsson has announced what it thinks are the best content and applications of the year in its Sony Ericsson Content Awards 2007.

Announcing the winners on a special micro-site, the manufacturer has announced the best third-party apps and content available for its mobile phones, split into five categories.

Each was judged by a panel of industry professionals considering ease-of-use, entertainment, innovation, functionality and audio performance.

Without further ado, the winners:

Gaming: RealNetworks’ Mobile Games Studio Mr Goodliving – Playman Extreme Running

Imaging: BitCycle – Pull Face Image Manipulator

Productive Mobility: Opera – Opera Mini 4.0

Music & Audio: Gracenote – Track ID

Themes & Graphics: Metronize/Clavitones – The Geeks themes and graphics

The winning entries don’t actually really win anything, but do at least get some recognition and kudos in the development community. Mind you, Opera’s new browser (Mini 4.0) has been getting plaudits and awards by the handful anyway, but they probably don’t mind another pat on the back from a manufacturer.

On the site, you can find out more about these apps and see the full list of nominees.



Jean Paul Gaulthier launches fragrant site for iPhone

Published by Stuart Dredge on December 20, 2007 in Mobile internet. 0 Comments

iphone-fleur.jpg

Even the world of high fashion is getting excited about the iPhone. Jean Paul Gaulthier has launched an iPhone-friendly site based around his Fleur Du Male perfume and French band Hey Hey My My. They’re apparently (it says here) “known for their irresistible catchy folk ballads and instinctive blend of enthusiasm and melancholy”.

Anyway, the site lets you lap up all manner of Fleur Du Male branding, while listening to exclusive tracks from Hey Hey My My. The site also claims to be offering exclusive ringtone downloads, although given you’re not allowed to install your own ringtones on iPhone, I’m not sure quite how that works.

Anyway, there are five songs going live on the site, as well as a ‘making-of’ video and interviews with the band. Be warned, when you go to the site on your iPhone (as I just have) it looks like a static image, but you have to scroll sideways to view the content. It’s a slick site anyway, and the band are good too.

iPhone Fleur Du Male website



Nokia N82 gets exclusive ‘adventure pack’ from its online store

Published by Chris Leonard on December 20, 2007 in Handsets. 0 Comments

n82-shop-copy.jpgNokia’s released an exclusive ‘adventure pack’ for its brand spanking new N82, just in time for Christmas.

Available only from Nokia’s online store, the ‘adventure pack’ includes a Sim-free N82 (naturally), but also a pre-installed copy of Nokia’s Sports Tracker app and a Salomon backpack, as well as the 2GB microSD card and music headset which come as standard. And all this for only £399.

The phone itself is quite a nifty piece of kit with a five-megapixel camera, built-in GPS and Nokia Maps (in case you get lost while jogging), mobile internet (on 3G and Wi-Fi), plus a music player and FM radio.

The handset, currently available on O2 with a range of mobile retailers is already a pretty hot device, and presumably the ‘adventure pack’ is going to prove pretty attractive for sports enthusiasts.



iPowerRush promises 10-15 hour iPhone battery boost

Published by Stuart Dredge on December 20, 2007 in Handsets. 0 Comments

ipowerrush-iphone.gifThis news sounds pretty exciting, but the devil is in the detail. A new gadget called the iPowerRush claims to add up to 15 hours to your iPhone’s battery life.

Specifically, it offers four more hours of talktime, three more hours of web surfing, 3.5 hours more video, or 14 hours more music listening.

However, here’s that devilish detail: the iPowerRush itself requires six AAA batteries to work. That could work out pretty expensive if you intend using it regularly. And you’re probably killing the planet somehow unless you use rechargeables.

Anyway, the iPowerRush is made by a US firm called Fusion Audio Technologies, and is on sale Stateside for $29.95.

iPowerRush website (via ZDnet)



iPod Touch is more different to an iPhone than you think

Published by Stuart Dredge on December 20, 2007 in Handsets. 0 Comments

ipod-touch.jpgApple’s iPod Touch is basically an iPhone, except with double the memory and no phone module, right? Wrong.

Analyst iSuppli has been pulling the iPod Touch to bits, and has discovered that while the two devices share 90% of the same components, there are other design differences between them. For example, the iPod Touch uses space-saving components in its wireless LAN module that aren’t in the iPhone.

Meanwhile, the iPod Touch uses a single printed circuit board design, rather than the two-PCB design used for the iPhone. iSuppli also estimates that Apple charges roughly double for a Touch than the cost of its constituent parts.

(via InformationWeek)



Japanese operators battle over iPhone

Published by Stuart Dredge on December 20, 2007 in Handsets. 0 Comments

iphone.gifJapan has traditionally been the most advanced mobile market in the world, but right now it’s lagging behind the US, UK, Germany and France in terms of getting the iPhone. You can’t buy Apple’s handset in Japan yet, although that could soon change.

Apple is reportedly in talks with two separate operators there: market leader NTT DoCoMo, and third-placed Softbank. DoCoMo appears to be in pole position, since its president has already met with Steve Jobs (and thus presumably encountered Steve’s Reality Distortion Field that makes giving up a chunk of iPhone voice and data revenues seem sensible).

I could be wrong here, but isn’t one of the things about Japan that the operators only run 3G networks? If so, I’m not sure what that means for the resolutely 2.5G iPhone - would Apple have to wait to launch in Japan until it has a 3G iPhone ready to go?

(via ITWire)



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