Friday, July 31, 2009

My Doggie Ring-Ring, $10,000 Mobile Phone And The Receptacle

My Doggie Ring-RingIf you have a bundle of money, say like $10,000, you will be able to get this designer phone from iida. The designer dog named “Ring-Ring” by bu famed designer Yayoi Kusama has very unique qualities. The dog is usually wrapped in vivid colors and happy dots. While looking fabulous it has the power to make people happy, specially rich people who are bored out and with capability believe anything anyone say.

According to the website, the dog is able to "electrify the atmosphere in an instant, while commanding the presence of a star on stage. With a mysterious allure unseen in any previous mobile phone, “My Doggie Ring-Ring” can affect the very life space and emotion of a person." ! Great, It opens up to give you the mobile shown below! Beat That iPhone, I meant Steve Jobs!
Paris Hilton, your new phone has arrived!
If you are interested there are bunch of other similar goodies at prices ranging from $1000 - $10,000 are there. Only hitch is you have to know Japanese to buy online. But you can fly over to the one of the specially designed retail shops but better hurry! because they are sold as fist come basis. Man!This Yayoi is no joke either, his previous designs, NFOBAR, talby, neon, and MEDIA SKIN, all were added to the permanent collection at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. I like the NFOBAR phone!

iida

VoxOx V2 Offers New Features, Performance Upgrades


VoxOx Two
Telecentris has released feature and advance perfomance capability packed, socially inclined communication app, VoxOx 2 this month. We were hooked to the app, when we tested the VoxOx 1.0.1 last December and were very happy with the results. We all are looking forward to test the version two once all of us get it installed / upgraded. The application is offered in both windows and MAC platform and we only wish that they offered a Linux VoxOx version as many of us are Linux users. But no worries, we all have multiple machines with different OSes.
Following is the press release;

VoxOx, the first and only free consumer service that unifies today's key communication channels — voice, video, IM, text, social media, e-mail, fax and more — into a single user interface, today unveiled its much enhanced second generation release - VoxOx 2, currently in beta. VoxOx 2 incorporates some highly anticipated new features, such as a Personal Assistant, which answers, screens and routes calls based on individual preferences; worldwide two-way texting from the user's VoxOx phone number; IM integration for Skype, Facebook and MySpace, all in one interface; and enhanced social networking support for Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and much more. The performance of VoxOx 2 is significantly improved with faster load time, more streamlined user interface and less memory consumption. VoxOx 2 also offers full two-way network and contact syncing into the cloud.

VoxOx solves the fundamental challenge of communication overload due to the exponential growth of disparate communication channels. According to Neptop Research, during a typical week, 105 million Americans participate in social media, and seven million Americans partake in six or more social media activities, and connect with at least 248 people on a one-to-many basis. Mobile Marketer estimates that more than 30 billion messages are sent on IM and social networks every single day.

―The explosive growth we've experienced since our initial beta launch just seven months ago validates the need for a product like VoxOx, and with VoxOx 2's enhanced features, functionality and performance, we will continue to solve the communication challenges of consumers worldwide, said Bryan Hertz, CEO of TelCentris, Inc. the company that created VoxOx. ―Judging by our recent win of the Stevie's ‗Best Software Product of 2009' award, and positive user feedback, VoxOx is truly solving consumers' communication overload and will continue to innovate the world's first and only Universal Communicator.

VoxOx 2 features and functionality

Among its key capabilities and features, VoxOx 2 offers:

  • "Meta address book" combining contacts from all of a user's disparate communications networks in a single, easy-to-use interface with full syncing of all data into the cloud for access from anywhere
  • Integration with major social networks, including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and others
  • True two-way text messaging around the world from a free VoxOx phone number, enabling communication to/from any mobile device from directly within VoxOx
  • Telephony services featuring ―dial out capability from a computer, landline or mobile phone, along with a free phone number and 100 minutes of free talk time (with potential to never have to pay for a call again)
  • Advanced voice features, including full inbound/outbound calling capabilities, a Personal Assistant, which answers and screens calls, routes callers based on individual preferences, blocks unwanted callers, plays custom ringback tones and more; call forwarding; "one-number- follow-me service"; on-the-fly conference calling; call recording; ability to change caller ID and more
  • Two-way faxing capability with no ―usage plans as charged by other electronic fax providers, enabling users to easily send and receive faxes with any fax machine worldwide
  • Interconnects users to major instant messaging networks (Facebook, MySpace, Skype, MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ, Google Talk and others), allowing members to chat with all their contacts from one service

VoxOx launched on November 3, 2008 and has experienced ten times as many consumer downloads as initially anticipated. In addition, VoxOx recently won the ―Best New Product or Service - New Desktop/End-User or Server Software category in The 2009 American Business Awards, also known as ―The Stevie Awards. VoxOx was also nominated as a Favorite Desktop/End User Software in the first ever People's Choice Stevie Awards.

VoxOx 2 is available for download at www.voxox.com on Windows and Mac. (Minimum requirements: Windows XP or Mac OS X Leopard)

TelCentris Engine

In order to viably offer VoxOx for free to tens of millions of users, parent company TelCentris has engineered and deployed its own proprietary service delivery platform. This award-winning ―Unified Communications Engine offers more types of communication services than competitive offerings. In addition, it is as robust and scalable as any service delivery platform on the market but without the layer of per-seat licensing fees typically charged by competitive solutions.

VoxOx

New Free SIP Phones (SoftPhones), OfficeSIP Messenger And Flash2VoIP.

Free SIP Phones
As usual and while enjoying the Barcelona Sun Andy Abramson pointed me towards two new Free softphones, OfficeSIP Messenger And Flash2VoIP.The OfficeSIP Messenger is targeted towards enterprises or SMBs with deployments of OCS (Office Communications Server) and is free. The application supports text, voice and video chats. OfficeSIP softphone implements ICE, STUN, and TURN protocols to traverse NAT and firewalls, and supports TLS for communication security.
The OfficeSIP Messenger runs only on windows platform.
Flash2VoIP is an unconventional and free SIP softphone. Unconventional because unlike most SIP Soft phones I have seen, this one is written in Adobe Flash. This means, that it will run on any platform that supports flash. This application can connect to any free SIP service provider or a commercial ones and make VoIP calls. Calls are free for up to 5 minutes and if you want to make calls longer than 5 minutes you need to purchase a subscription at $5 a month.

Andy Abramson
OfficeSIP Messenger
Flash2voip (The site (today) has an invalid security certificate and if you wish, you can make an exception in your browser.)

GMail Give You An Option To Ditch "on behalf of" WHen Sending Email From Third Party Mail Servers.

Communication Via GMail
GMail announced today that it will provide a way to bypass "On Behalf Of" from your emails, if you are using another From address than your Gmail Address. Some Email programs displayed "From username@gmail.com On Behalf Of customaddress@mydomain.com" to many peoples dismay.
Now Google Gmail is providing you a way to avoid "on Behalf Of".

"To switch to this new method, go to the Accounts page under Settings, and click "edit info" from the "Send mail as" section. Then choose the option to "Use your other email provider's SMTP servers."

We recognize that your other address might not have a server that you can use to send outbound messages — for example, if you use a forwarding alias rather than an actual mailbox, or if your other email provider doesn't support authenticated SMTP, or restricts access to specific IP ranges. For this reason, we've kept the original method as well. Check out our Help Center for further details on these two "send mail as" configuration options.

If you use Google Apps Premier or Education edition and would like to send mail as another address within your domain or within an aliased domain, no sweat. We do all the work behind the scenes so your original username won't be listed in the "Sender" header, and your recipients won't see "on behalf of." "

Official Gmail Blog: Send mail from another address without "on behalf of"

TechCrunchs Arrington Drops iPhone And Pickup Palm Pre!

TechCrunch drops iPhone for Palm Pre

I was wondering when is this going to happen and if the cost and inconvenience is not a factor, I think many would follow Arrington.
I absolutely love Google Voice and thanks to my multiple phones and accounts, I am using Google Voice, on all my phones.
Apple, I will jailbreak if I have to, because it is my phone, I paid good money making your financial statements, both Apple and AT&T look great in this hard times, and I want Google Voice or any other apps that does not break law on my phone. I am not looking to blow cell towers, I want to make my life easier and depend less on you to run it.
EFF free your phone initiative, here is the food for your case, Apple and AT&T wringing users necks with their profits and monopolistic practices keep poping up. Unlike Apples lame mass destruction argument, (which I have given Snap VoIP, tag because it is so unique) you can have a good argument just with this Google Voice Gaga. How Apple and AT&T uses it's high handedness to stifle users and developers. Yes Google is big yet it is a developer for iPhone. If not for Google Voice, this may have not come to light. How many other developers get rejected under the radar just because it is not ringing along with AT&T and Apple.
Arrington, good move! Jailbreak the bloody phone with Ultrasn0w and let us know how to run Google Voice On Jailbroken iPhones. Tell us more about Palm Pre as well.
And Apple, if you continue to do this, you might end up with iPhone 3Gi, your hands will be free, to scratch what ever you scratch when you think.
Mike Arrignton on quitting the iPhone!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Vonage On Your iPhone?

Vonage on iPhone
According to a post on Gadgetell, Vonage has acknowledged that Vonage is preparing Vonage Smarphone App. Even though the article and Vonage lacks much information, most Vonage users will welcome the convenience and the oppertunity. We reported about Vonage Mobile App last March which CEO Marc Lefar mentioned in the 2008 earnings call.
While I do not see much trouble with app on other smartphones like BlackBerry and Android, will Apple allow the app on iPhone or will Steve follow AT&T orders? like banning Google Voice On iPhone.
Gadgetell

Motorola Sholes, An Android Based Phone Coming To Verizon

Motorola Sholes
There seems to be new Android based phone out of Motorola heading for Verizon in October. The phone seems pretty packed. The Motorola Sholes has 480X854, 3.7" screen and seem to have 512MB storage, 256MB RAM, microSD / microSDHC up to sixteen GB and features CDMA as well as EVDO Rev A. On the equipment side it has a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, GPS, with Bluetooth, WiFI and USB connectivity.
So expect to see it somewhere in October this year in Verizon stores! engadget points to Motorola Morrison as well, in any case Motorola is putting vowels back in the phone names. May be they got cup up with Moto Razr or rocked by Moto ROKR
motofan.ru via engadget

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

iPhone Can Tell You All About Your Personal Happiness

Find your happiness with iPhone.
If you already did not know what makes you happy and all the factors of your happiness, now you have a way to find out.
Track Your Happiness.org, a scientific research project site uses your tracking of your happiness and helps you to find ou what factors are associated with greater personal happiness. Your reasons, as well as those from other users of trackyourhappiness.org, will educate us about the causes and correlates of happiness.

Matt Killingsworth, a doctoral research student at Harvard University created the project as part of a research. This research is approved by the Harvard University Committee for the Use of Human Subjects. Matt works in the lab of Daniel Gilbert.

The associated Coding and design were done by Visnu Pitiyanuvath.
Man all I wanted to make calls and have fun at doing it, now my iPhone can tell me how and what makes me happy! Great!!

Trackyourhappiness

Digium, Asterisk, SIP, Telematrix and Loquendo On A Winning Path!

Multilingual Asterisk.
I was reading an article by the VarGuy and taking into account the latest moves by Digium and it's alliances, a several light bulbs went on my head.
Digium, the Asterisk company has made alliances with TeleMatrix, (SIP and DECT SIP telephone solutions) Loquendo (speech recognition and speech synthesis) and it seems some wise people at Digium is doing the right thing for the Asterisk and basically for all of us.
The VarGuy focuses on hotel industry and what the Digium, Asterisk, Telematrix and Loquendo combination could do to wake up the industry. Telematrix is not a stranger to anyone who is involved in hospitality industry and people who stays in hotels like Best Western, Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, (the Varguy has the whole list, I just stated what is familiar to me). So it is up to Asterisk community to get together and approach these oppertunities with right solutions.

I travel extensively and eventhough I can get away with most international situations (I mange to converse in about six languages, all bad just like my English :) there have been many a time that I wished for assistance in the verbal communications department.
The Loquendo deal will let us customize and adopt Asterisk into many languages like Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish and Russian. Even though it will not provide me the wisdom to speak to my Mongolian Hotel Manager in his language, might make it easier for me to dial into the hotels phone system and make my booking or reservation.
Varguy says he is going to some work at the Astricon, and I am looking forward to read his thoughts.
The Varguy, (Digium Asterisk: A New Wakeup Call for Hotels?)


AstriCon Keynote Speakers Announced.

AstriCon 2009
I am happy that I will be in Arizona and now I have something else to look forward to in addition to celebrating 10 years of Asterisk. I have seen what Chris DiBona, Google's open source program manager, do at Google Open Source initiatives and IBM Server and Technology group is not a strange place to me. I would like to hear about Google Open Source and IBM Asterisk initiatives.
This is going to be a fine conference. If you have not, sign up now

Following is the Digium Press Release;
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., - July 28, 2009 - Digium® the Asterisk® Company, today announced that Chris DiBona, Google's open source program manager, and Mike Smith, CTO of IBM's server and technology group, will deliver the keynote presentations at AstriCon '09. The AstriCon Open Source Telephony Conference and Exhibition, now in its sixth year, remains the longest running conference devoted to Asterisk, the world's most widely used open source telephony software. This year's conference—which takes place October 13-15, 2009—will focus on Asterisk's mainstream adoption in large enterprises and government agencies. DiBona, an internationally recognized advocate of open source technology, will discuss the role of Google in Open Source projects. Smith is an IBM Distinguished Engineer and CTO for the integrated IBM Smart Business Platform. In his keynote, Smith will discuss how IBM is using Asterisk and other open source technologies to design new solutions for small and mid-sized businesses.

"Last year's amazing turnout of more than 600 Asterisk enthusiasts proved AstriCon 2008 to be the open source telephony event of the year," said Mark Spencer, creator of Asterisk and Digium's chief technology officer. "This year as Asterisk turns 10 years old, we look forward to breaking new attendance records and welcoming a broader audience for three days of discussions and keynote presentations from two of the community's authorities on open source's growing footprint in enterprises and government agencies."

AstriCon '09 will take place from October 13-15, 2009, at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel and Spa near Phoenix, Arizona. This year's convergence of users, developers, resellers, entrepreneurs and other fans of open source technology will continue the celebration of one of the most influential open source projects with educational sessions devoted to the developing Asterisk ecosystem, trends in Asterisk use, the latest applications and a broad range of technical topics. Registration is open at www.astricon.net.

AppKonference (Asterikast), High-performance Asterisk Voice/video Conferencing Module.


AppKonference For Asterisk,
Paul Albrecht has announced that a new version of this module has been released and could be downloaded from Sourceforge Developer site. (Link at the end of the article)

App_konference is a channel-independent conference application. It features efficient audio mixing algorithms as well as video selection
support based on VAD, DTMF or CLI.
Appkonference has several design goals:

* It does not require a zap channel for timing.
* It is very efficient when used with channels which support DTX (silence detection/discontinuous transmission).

* It can do VAD on channels which do not support DTX (although this is more expensive than just mixing them, but less expensive then
encoding; therefore it might still be a win).
* It presents messages on the Monitor interface for determine which speakers are active.

Mixing design

* Minimize encoding/decoding, minimize mixing.
* Minimize generational loss from trancoding.
* Usual cases are handled very efficiently:
o One speaker: That speaker's frame is sent directly to each
participant which uses the same codec. It is trancoded
_once_ for each additional codec type used by participants.
o Two speakers: Each speaker gets the other speaker's frames.
The two speaker's frames are decoded and mixed, and then
encoded _once_ for each codec type used by participants.

Video features

* Video passthrough: video from selected member is passed to every member of the conference.
* Multiple ways to select video
- VAD
- DTMF from conference members
- CLI
* Ability to set default video sources and to lock/unlock video sources.
App_Konference at SourceForge

Twitter New Home Page Gives Prominence To Search

Twitter New Home Page.
Looks cool and shows popular topics by the minute, day or the week!

iPhone 3Gi, For Loyals Only (I can't See It, I Am Not A Loyal Apple Customer.)

iPhone 3Gi
I guess I cant see it because I am not a loyal Apple customer. Specially getting ante up on Google Voice App Ban, EFFing jailbroken iPhones must make me one of the unlucky ones.
But Onion, the news paper I read during the lunch, which manage sometimes to send my lunch flying out has the whole scoop.
Must read for all loyal and non loyal fans.
Onion via Gizmodo

Deleting Tweets May Not Work As Intended (Hoped)

Delete that tweet
TechCrunch is telling about Marrissa Mayer from Google twittering about a blog post and then deleting it did nopt entirely remove it from the twitter. Just like deleted web pages sometimes could be found on cached pages on Google, deleted tweets could be found on twitter search.
So, think before you tweet!
Via TechCrunch

SNAP! Latest Apple Joke, Jailbroken iPhones Are Weapons Of Mass Destruction!

Update: Visit Free Your Phone (EFF). In January 2009, 8,200 people signed EFF's letter to the Copyright Office seeking protection for phone related innovations. Keep an eye on EFF.org to find out what happens next.

Freeing your iPhone
After becoming an AT&T bootlicker and banning Google Voice App (Perhaps it is anotherway of Apples control of threats to AT&T business), Apple now trying to be a national security advisor or member of comedy central. It is not clear which it really is.
In answering EFFs efforts to open up iPhone from Apple's monopoly clutches, and run software that people feel they need to run, like Google Voice App, Apple has told government(PDF) that jailbroken iPhones could crash cell towers. Well I guess government will have to ban all other phones now.
“a local or international hacker could potentially initiate commands (such as a denial of service attack) that could crash the tower software, rendering the tower entirely inoperable to process calls or transmit data,” Apple wrote the government. “Taking control of the BBP software would be much the equivalent of getting inside the firewall of a corporate computer — to potentially catastrophic result.
If that is not enough, drug dealers could use this to make anonymous calls using jailbroken iPhones.
( [E]ach iPhone contains a unique Exclusive Chip Identification, (ECID) number that identifies the phone to the cell tower. With access to the BBP via jailbreaking, hackers may be able to change the ECID, which in turn can enable phone calls to be made anonymously (this would be desirable to drug dealers, for example) or charges for the calls to be avoided.). Paranoia

Then again the security Apple seeking is a moot as taking the view of Apple not being able to mange the applications very well, like banned apps getting on the App store, like the Phone Porn apps. Those bad people could design apps that damage cell towers and pretend they are porn apps get in the app store. So government has to ban iPhone as well. On the other hand the danger is already there for iPhones as there are literally millions of Jailbroken iPhones and independent iPhone app stores. May be the Government should ban iPhone first.
Apple, you will do well at comedy central! I guess.
Via Wired


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Creative Zii Egg Plaszma, Android In iPod Clothing.

Creative Zii Egg Plaszma
According to YT comment, Plaszma is an open standard development platform designed to let you create customized applications and devices.This platform is the product of substantial investment: US$1 billion and some 10,000 man hours of R&D. Plaszma comprises Plaszma OS, SDK and the full suite of hardware.
Gizmodo reports that
the Zii Egg Plaszma is an Android-friendly "handheld computer" that's like an iPod touch.
The device is "something I want to see" for me and most probably will search for more information to see if it warrants me to cough up $399. So far from the press release;

Zii EGG Features and Specifications

  • Capacitive 10-point multi-gesture touch display
  • 3.5" 320x480 true-colour display
  • X-Fi audio processing
  • Up to 32GB Internal Flash Storage
  • 32MB NOR Flash (Linux Kernel Boot ROM)
  • 256MB Mobile DDR RAM
  • Supports 720p and 1080p HDTVs via HD cable
  • Composite video out
  • Dual cameras for high definition photos and movie capture
    • - Forward facing VGA camera
    • - Rear Facing HD camera
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
  • Hardware GPS receiver
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light sensor
  • SDHC slot (supports up to 32GB of external SDHC Card)
  • USB 2.0 Mini-B (MTP and Charging)
  • Universal Docking connector (USB, Audio)
  • Headphone socket, built-in speaker and microphone
  • Supports Plaszma™ OS and Zii Optimised Android™
  • Light weight: 108g

Plaszma OS

The Plaszma OS is a robust, fully featured multi-tasking Operating System built upon a Linux 2.6 kernel that enables the creation of native and web based applications that are significantly enhanced by the 3D, advanced media and communication capabilities of the ZMS processor and Zii Plaszma Platform.

The Plaszma OS supports a rich set of industry standard APIs that have been optimized by ZiiLABS, with a wide range of multimedia CODECs, powerful video, image and audio playback and recording capabilities and advanced audio processing including a text-to-speech engine. The Plaszma OS also supports a desktop grade Opera® 9.7 browser with Web 2.0 capabilities, 2D graphics, and OpenGL ES 3D graphics, plus a powerful intuitive gesture-based user interface.

Plaszma SDK

The Plaszma SDK is a software development kit that provides all the developer tools, libraries, documentation and sample CODECs needed to create the next-generation of media-rich networked applications.

Plaszma SDK Features and Specifications

  • Native C/C++ Development
  • Wide range of supported video, image and audio formats
  • Cell Framework of industry standard API's and Libraries
  • Advanced 2D and vector graphics, compositing and blending
  • OpenGL ES 3D graphics
  • HD media playback and record framework
  • State-of-the-art multi-touch, gesture based user interface
  • Opera® 9.7 Web browser supporting CSS, XHTML, JavaScript and Ajax
  • Adobe® Flash Lite™ 3.1 (available later)
  • Internationalization and localization of applications
  • Integrated Database
  • Network Services and Event management
  • Sensor handling, (accelerometer, GPS, ambient light)

A range of market-ready applications such as a music and video player, photo browser, and web browser will be included with the handheld Zii EGG StemCell Computer. Future upgrades to the application suite that will take advantage of the built-in hardware will be made available.

Zii Optimized Android

Zii Optimized Android gives developers the chance to use the familiar Android OS, but with a difference. Harnessing StemCell Computing Technology found on the ZMS-05 Media Rich Processor, Android is now super-charged with seamless 3D graphics and High Definition video playback performance.

Pricing and Availability

A Plaszma SDK Starter Kit is available for immediate purchase at US$399 on www.zii.com. This Starter Kit comes bundled comes with Plaszma OS, Plaszma SDK and the Zii Optimised Android OS.

As an introductory offer, ZiiLABS is offering a 32GB Zii EGG for FREE with the purchase of the Plaszma SDK Starter Kit, limited to one per customer while stocks last.

ZiiLabs via Gizmodo


Apple Tablet Another Bit Of Rumor


Apple Tablet
Chinese News paper Apple Daily in Taiwan has published (also carried by Dow Jones) that Apple Tablet will be manufactured by Hon HAi Precision Industry Co. (Aka FoxConn, Aka iKiller) and that we might see the tablet, aka 10" iPhone, as early as September this year.

They also reported that Wintek Corp. would supply flat panel screens for the device and that its battery would be built by Dynapack International Technology Corp.

AppleInsider thinks that the report related to Hon Hai may instead reflect the upcoming third generation iPod touch, which could easily be described as a "tablet computer" and is expected to arrive in the September iPod refresh as both previous new generations.

I hope Apple come out and tell us about these stuff, rather than doing AT&Ts bidding, like blocking Google Voice.
Apple Insider

Get Your Google Number On A Card For Free

What is your Google Number?
You will be able to do so free, if you keep an eye open for message on your Google Voice Page. I hope you got a Google Number already. If not go here to request an invitation for a Google Voice.

If you have a Google Voice Number then time to keep an eye open on your Google Voice Page. (Who kept an eye open on a phone before? Yes, Google with innovative ideas have made it possible to interact with your phone in different ways and even make free calls with Google Voice.)

Google is giving away 50,000 free sets of 25 cards (no shipping or any other fees) over the next week. Keep an eye open for an image and link to appear in your Google Voice inbox, on the left side below the account balance, as it will appear at different times for different Google Voice users throughout the week. Once you click on the link, you will be able to customize and order your free cards through iPrint.com.

Google Voice Blog: Show off your Google Number

Monday, July 27, 2009

Apple Blocks Google Voice, Looks Like AT&T telling Apple What To Do!


AT&T Helps Apple To Go Rotten



This is what a Google spokesperson has to say regarding Apple Skywalker bowing down to AT&T Emperor. Skywalker and emperor bits are mine.
"We work hard to bring Google applications to a number of mobile platforms, including the iPhone. Apple did not approve the Google Voice application we submitted six weeks ago to the Apple App Store. We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users — for example, by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers." Yes Google Voice on iPhone works fine for me over the browser but I would have loved to have an Google Voice App. The Google Voice on Android, works great!

Apple had begun to pull all Google Voice-enabled applications from the App Store, citing the fact that they “duplicate features that come with the iPhone”.
I use many a Google tools because they make my life easier. I was using Google Voice, when it was GrandCentral and was one of the early users of Google Voice. Same goes for the iPhone but I waited till iPhone 3G to make it a daily used tool.
My Google Voice pints to my iPhone number. Some of my numbers are on Google voice and I get to route all these calls to anywhere I want any time I want. Just because I forgot my iPhone, I do not have to do away with getting calls.
Anyway I jumped when I read the article on TechCrunch on the issue.
Yes I am mad that mighty apple decided to bow down to AT&T, Where are you Steve?
Go read Jason Kincaidarticle about rotten apple, getting worse.

Verizon Enhances Broadband Services With Free Wi-Fi


Free WiFi To Verizon Customers

Verizon is offering its broadband customers with free WiFi services through hotspots in their communities as well as they travel, provided that the WiFi service is available. The service will go into effect July 27, 2009, today.
"Wherever they go - across town or across the country -- Internet users today want the freedom and flexibility of staying connected online whenever they want," said Mike Ritter, chief marketing officer for Verizon Telecom. "In addition to providing in-home broadband networks and the nation's most reliable 3G wireless network, we're now offering even more connections with fast, free Wi-Fi that customers can use in their local communities and when traveling across the country."

New Verizon FiOS Internet customers with 25/15 Mbps or faster connection, And new HSI customers who get 3 Mbps/768 Kbps or 7.1 Mbps/768 Kbps connection, can connect to the new Verizon Wi-Fi hot spots, at no additional charge as part of their broadband service.

The new Wi-Fi service is also available free of charge for existing FiOS Internet customers with up-to-20 Mbps or faster packages and existing HSI customers who have either an up-to-3 Mbps or up-to- 7.1 Mbps package.



NEW YORK, July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon continues to enhance its broadband service capabilities for consumers to offer competitive advantages over rival communication providers.

Since the beginning of the year, Verizon has introduced faster downstream and unprecedented upstream speeds for its all-fiber-optic FiOS Internet service; expanded the reach of its digital subscriber line-based Verizon High Speed Internet (HSI) service; and started offering mini netbook computers to customers as part of select bundle promotions.

And starting Monday (July 27), the company will expand Internet connection capabilities for millions of Verizon broadband customers by providing them free access to thousands of Wi-Fi connections across the U.S., reflecting the company's sharp focus on developing and deploying broadband and entertainment services.

"Wherever they go - across town or across the country -- Internet users today want the freedom and flexibility of staying connected online whenever they want," said Mike Ritter, chief marketing officer for Verizon Telecom. "In addition to providing in-home broadband networks and the nation's most reliable 3G wireless network, we're now offering even more connections with fast, free Wi-Fi that customers can use in their local communities and when traveling across the country."

New Verizon FiOS Internet customers who order an up-to- 25/15 Mbps(* )(megabits per second) or faster connection, or new HSI customers who order an up-to- 3 Mbps/768 Kbps(*) (kilobits per second) or up-to- 7.1 Mbps/768 Kbps(*) connection, can connect to the new Verizon Wi-Fi hot spots, at no additional charge as part of their broadband service.

The new Wi-Fi service is also available free of charge for existing FiOS Internet customers with up-to-20 Mbps or faster packages and existing HSI customers who have either an up-to-3 Mbps or up-to- 7.1 Mbps package.

Free Verizon Wi-Fi hot spot locations include hotels, airports, restaurants, coffee shops, retailers, convention centers and public locations across the U.S. For a list of hot spot locations, visit www.verizon.net/hotspots.

"Our new free Wi-Fi connections are an ideal complement to our current netbook promotion that really enhances the value and functionality of the netbook," said Ritter. "We're making it more enticing for customers to want to use Verizon broadband services by giving them the mobility tools they need to stay connected more often and in more places."

Wi-Fi Access Made Easy For Verizon Broadband Customers

Qualifying FiOS Internet and HSI customers can log on to www.verizon.net and use their Verizon username and password to download software for free Wi-Fi access at the Verizon hot spots.

Verizon broadband services are available to more than 25 million homes in parts of 24 states and the District of Columbia.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon


Unlock iPhone 3G And iPhone 3GS With UltraSn0w 0.9, Tips And Tricks.

Jailbreaking Unlocking iPhone 3GS
iPhone Dev Team has just released some information on Jailbreaking (Redsn0w) and Unlocking (Ultrasnow) iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G with Ultrasnow 0.9. UltraSn0w was the letest release from the team and fixes the issues amd problems reported by users of earlier version.
UltraSn0w 0.9 has many features that include:

  • Works on both 3G and 3GS
  • Works on hacktivated devices
  • Works regardless of how you jailbroke your device
  • Doesn’t patch any mach-o binary whatsoever. (Doesn’t require a separate patch as each new firmware comes out).
  • Doesn’t install any additional daemon
  • Has no race conditions, no popups about “Missing SIM”, no network issues
  • Is almost 7000 times smaller than its nearest competition :)
  • Is available now via Cydia. Source repo is http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com (that last “0” in ultrasn0w is a zero!)

The team has also published details on the fixes and provided tips on how to resolve them and how to address if an more of those problems shows up.

  • Unusual battery depletion is almost always caused by people choosing to “Restore from backup” instead of “Setup as new iPhone” when iTunes asks you. This isn’t caused by either the jailbreak or the unlock, but it’s a common 3.0 snafu. The fix is to just re-run the official 3.0 restore and choose “Setup as new” this time. Your music and apps and all that will still be synced, but you’ll get rid of any conflicting wifi, bluetooth, or carrier settings. Then just re-run redsn0w and install ultrasn0w.
  • Remember, ultrasn0w works with hacktivated phones too, but don’t outsmart redsn0w into thinking you don’t need hacktivation! If you don’t plan on using an official sim, don’t activate via iTunes with such a sim. Just keep your unofficial sim at all times and let redsn0w and ultrasn0w handle hacktivation :)
  • T-Mobile in the USA doesn’t use the 3G frequencies that the iPhones support, so turn off 3G in Settings->General->Network. (Some T-Mobile territories gracefully hand down to Edge mode, but most do not).
  • Certain unofficial plans have limitations on whether you can make calls and use data at the same time. That’s not unlock-related.
  • Some people have installed previous versions of ultrasn0w using non-standard techniques. While the ultrasn0w 0.9 update should have removed all previous versions of ultrasn0w, these users may have outsmarted our removal. So make sure you don’t still see /usr/bin/ultrasn0w present if you’re at ultrasn0w 0.9 (which doesn’t have such a binary anymore).
  • If you don’t need or plan to update to ultrasn0w 0.9 from a previous version, you can avoid having that red badge over Cydia by removing repo666 as a Cydia source. Don’t worry, you can always add it back later :) If you follow us on twitter you’ll be advised of any new updates anyway.
iPhone Dev Team Blog

Spotify App For iPhone, Europe Gets It First

Spotify for iPhone
Spotify posted on it's blog that they have completed work on the Spotify app for the iPhone and submitted to Apple.If approved, it is certain to bring those musical goodness that desktop users enjoy to the iPhones all over the world. It might be some other part of the world like Europe, when I visited the Premium account section, who will first get to enjoy the Spotify:app for iPhone, I was told "go away, you are from the United States" :(
So I watch the video, Spotify mobile demo for iPhone for now!

Spotify Blog

Free (SIP) Calls With Google Voice And Gizmo5

Google Voice Free Calls Via Gizmo5

It is pretty easy to make free calls by combining Gizmo5 and Google Voice account. Once the easy setup is completed, one could accomplish US calling without paying a monthly fee or per minute fee. The calls are currently limited to 30 minutes per call.

First of all you will need a Google Voice Account (or an invitation from Google Voice), Gizmo5 Account and a US Phone number. (You need a US phone number that you could receive calls and answer as you need enter a verification code for Google.)

So if you do not have any of those above, fear not, you can still make free calls via Google Voice, Gizmo5.

In either case you need to create a Gizmo6 account and best way to do so is to download and install the Gizmo5 software on your computer or sign up at Gizmo5 website. (It is also possible to use your mobile phone, smartphone for the purpose. So select what fits you best once you visit Gizmo5 site) .

Once you have registered and received a Gizmo5 user name, visit my.gizmo5.com and login with the credentials that you used at account creation.

Once you login, your MY page will show your 747 number. This is shown as your SIP Number and you need this to complete the process.

Now we need to Google Voice and Sign up. Google Voice is invite only at the moment and you could make a request for an invite. Once this is done, you will have to wait for about 8-11 days to get an invitation. If you are in a hurry, you can borrow one from somebody who has an invite or surf the web and you might find one.

Once you receive the invitation, you will be visiting Google Voice to sign up and during this process, you will need that afore mentioned US phone number. So keep that phone handy near you as Google Voice will call you on that number for verification. This number could be any US number either land line or mobile. You can familiarize yourself with Google Voice here.

Do not despair if you do not have a US phone number. There are many ways you could get one. But since we are talking about Gizmo5, I will tell you how to get a US Number from Gizmo5. You can purchase a Call-in number from your Gizmo5 page that displayed your 747 number. It will cost you $12 for three months. Unless you want to keep the US number longer (as long as you want) select the 3 month only option. The US number is required only during sign up process at Google Voice.

If you are verifying through Gizmo5 for your Google Voice Account, open another browser window and travel to www.GizmoCall.com (a service which lets you make/receive calls using just a web browser). Login with your Gizmo5 account information. Now you can receive calls to your browser (computer).

At this point you are ready to verify the Google Voice account and you can request for the verification call. If you are using a regular phone, use it to answer and enter the code or if you are using Gizmo5 Call in number, you can answer in your browser and enter in the proper code using the on screen dialpad.

Now you have a Google Voice Account which you could use to make calls, receive calls, listen to your voice mail etc. But we are here to learn how to make free calls with Google Voice and Gizmo5.

For this you need to add your Gizmo5 information to your Google Voice. You can do this by selecting Settings(Top right hand corner of you Google Voice Page) and then the Phone tab. Click on the Add Another Phone. Here you enter the complete 747 number that you got from Gizmo5,( remember it is not the Gizmo5 Call In number, it is already there if you registered with it). Enter all the 10 digits. Google Voice always verifies your phone numbers and this Gizmo account also need to be verified and like previously, Google Voice makes a call and asks you to verify. Again you do this at www.GizmoCall.com and if you not already logged in, login with your Gizmo5 credentials and then request Google Voice to verify the number which you can answer in your browser and enter in the proper code using the on screen dialpad.


Now we go to you MY Gizmo5 account and add Google Voice user name and password in the Google Voice on Gizmo5 and save it.

You are now ready to receive and make US calls for free. Gizmo5 desktop software or Gizmocall web site could be used to place or answer your calls.

But do not stop there, you can use multiple devices or software for PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iphone, supported by Gizmo5 to make your calls. Basically any SIP device or software.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Android Donut Is Not Android 2.0 And Seems No MultiTouch Support.

Android Donut,
Even though there were multiple reports about newest Android code having system-wide multitouch, universal search, text-to-speech, automated backups, a new Android camera app and the possibility of Android Donut being the fore runner to Android 2.0. We were bis skeptical about the information as we did not look at the code nor any reliable sources could be reached.
Today Gizmodo published that it does not have multitouch support, and Android Donut is not Android 2.0.
There are a few discussions going on but we just down loaded latest build from andappstore to try it on an Android Emulator as I do not want to flash my phone with the new code.
The site mentiones that the build includes around 8 weeks of extra code from the Google internal repository which was made available in the open source repository on the 24th of July.
Gizmodo
Andappstore Android SDK Build.

iPhone At Hacker Conferences, 10 Tips For Being Safe.

Hacker Safe iPhone.
I was browsing through iPhone Dev Team site, Wikee. When I came across these ten tips (I only have first two tips here, click on the link at the end for the real thing.
I have been carrying my iPhone into places like DefCon and other technical conferences and I have done my bits to stay safe. But the iPhone Dev Team's list gave me much more and some that I even did not think about.
I will be at DefCon 17 and even more interesting is the the 5th Canonball run. I will be in Rodendo Beach on 29th and continue to Las Vegas the following day following the run. I do not take part but I will ride along to help out someone who does.
But what is most important is that I will be in Vegas attending DefCon 17, mostly lurking around!
So here are the tips;

  1. Disable all your login cookies in Safari. If you use the hotel or conference wifi, it is 100% guaranteed that your traffic will be sniffed. If you allow a web site (like twitter.com) to store your login info in a cookie, and if you connect to that site through a normal http connection, your login info will be exposed. At the very least, you'll end up on the Wall of Sheep, where hacked user info is projected on a wall. But you'll be giving up your password to anyone else sniffing too.
  2. Consider not using the hotel or conference wifi at all, especially if you're getting 3G speeds anyway. Do not have your iPhone auto-connect to known networks. If you're bringing a Mac to the conference and you use wifi, at least set up your firewall properly. Turn off everything in Settings→Sharing. Then in Settings→Security→Firewall, click “Set access for specific services”→“Advanced”→“Enable Stealth Mode”.
  3. ......
So follow the link below to 10 iPhone Tips For DefCon 17
iPhone Dev Team Wikee


Saturday, July 25, 2009

Augmented Reality Apps On iPhone, With iPhone OS 3.1

Augmented Reality Apps On iPhone
Apparently Apple told Acrossair, developer of the Nearest Tube train finder (Nearest Subway Finder in New York), that their app will be approved for distribution via App Store after Apple releases the iPhone OS 3.1. It is widely expected to be released in September this year.

But I would love to see Augmented from TAT on my iPhone! Augmented ID visualizes the digital identities of people you meet in real life. With a mobile device and face recognition software from Polar Rose, Augmented ID enables you to discover selected information about people around you. All users control their own augmented appearance, by selecting the content and social network links they want show to others. Modifying your augmented ID is easier than fixing your hair in real life and, of course, according to to TAT Cascades will make me look great! Yes since I look good already!

Macrumors

Friday, July 24, 2009

iPhone Boosts AT&T Earnings

AT&T Quarterly Earnings
AT&T's second-quarter revenues totaled $30.7 billion, net income attributable to AT&T was $3.2 billion, diluted earnings per share totaled $0.54 and cash from operating activities totaled $7.9 billion.

“Our wireless momentum is excellent, operational execution and cost management continue to be strong, and in a challenging economy we delivered solid results,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive officer.

AT&T managed more than 2.4 million iPhone activations in the second quarter, reflecting a record-setting iPhone 3GS launch (Largest ever AT&T retail sales were the day of new iPhone 3GS launch), including iPhone, more than 3.5 million increase in 3G integrated devices in service boosting AT&T revenues.
In depth information at AT&T press room

iPhone Gets Google Latitude

Google Latitude On iPhone.
When Google announced Google Latitude, we had a ball with playing around with it our friends when most of got together in San Francisco, like these people who had fun with Google Latitude. Google Latitude lets you share your location with anyone you prefer like youdo share your email address. This is a bit more personal than an email address so Google let you control who gets to see your location and where on the map you appear to others.
Now Google Latitude is available as a web app on your iPhone. Fire up your safari browser and surf to google.com/latitude. I an sure you will have a lot of fun!

Official Google Blog: Google Latitude on your iPhone
Google Mobile Blog has a longer more descriptive article.

The British Telephone Booth

Telephone box
Telephone Booth, telephone box or Telephone kiosk reminds nice red box, to those who have been to United Kingdom. I was lucky enough to have been there when I was kid when almost ever strret corner had one.
Those memories came flooding back when I read an article in Google Sightseeing on the same boxes. I also found out that there were many revisions or models of the majestic red booth that provided place to make calls on the street but kept the street noises away. I learned a lot about telephone Booths today. I never knew that there were models from K1-K6 and more. There is even a 12 foot version some where in London.
I think it is good read, and you will be able to follow them on Google Maps as well, the mobile phones of the past!
Google SightSeeing

iPhone Suicide Is Mainstream News Now

iPhone Suicide
From BBC News to New Yorker are reporting about the Sun Danyong, the twenty-five-year-old employee of Foxconn who committed suicide in Shenzhen. The news seems to trying to clear Foxconn of any wrong doing.
One Chinese reported to have seen a footage of interrogation of Sun says there were no evidence of beating or torture.
One way or the other, I hope more companies stay away from modern sweatshops in china.
New Yorker

Garmin-Asus nüvifone™ G60 Finally Shipping In Asia

Garmin-Asus nüvifone™ G60
Garmin-Asus, mobile alliance between Garmin and ASUSTeK, has announced that the long awaited Garmin-Asus nüvifone G60, a Linux based phone will go on sale in Taiwan on July 27, following up with sales in Singapore and Malaysia by the end of August.
They also announced that the Garmin-Asus nüvifone M20, a windows Mobile phone too will go on sale in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia in August.

“We can’t wait for our customers to start using a nüvifone,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s president and COO. “Our lives are all about location. The nüvifone is designed around that premise and that’s what differentiates it from the myriad of other phones on the market.”

“Whether it’s talking and navigating simultaneously, geotagging a photograph, or navigating to an address on the web, the nüvifone seamlessly links navigation with other commonly performed activities,” said Benson Lin, Asus Vice President and General Manager of Handheld Business Group.



Press Release

iPhone 3GS Encryption Cracked In Two Minutes. (Video)

iPhone encryption broken, easily
The security related hacker, Jonathan Zdziarski has again got into an iPhone, through not quite a back door.
“It is kind of like storing all your secret messages right next to the secret decoder ring,” said Jonathan Zdziarski, an iPhone developer and a hacker who teaches forensics courses on recovering data from iPhones. “I don’t think any of us [developers] have ever seen encryption implemented so poorly before, which is why it’s hard to describe why it’s such a big threat to security.”

According to Zdziarski, the new iPhone 3GS is not much different from the previous incarnations of the iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 1G, when it comes to security. The earlier iPhones did not have encryption like iPhone 3GS.
With commonly available tolls like Red Sn0w and Purple Ra1n, he was able to extract live data in two minutes and he has also mentioned that a entire disk image could be made in about 45 minutes. So if a knowledgeble person to get hold of an iPhone, all the business secrets as well as personal information could be gone in little as two minutes.
Wired has a longer article.

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