• 22Apr
    "Earth Day has to be every day."  Very rarely am I stopped in my tracks while interviewing someone, but the truth of the statement speaks for itself.  In lieu of Earth Day, I had the opportunity to speak with David Conrad, Nokia North America's Senior Manager of Environmental Affairs, and came away very impressed with the company's efforts to promote environmental solutions.  In our discussion, my primary questions centered around the efficiency of such a program.  What are the company's current environmental programs?  What about the people that view the concept as redundant?  How does the company approach the challenge of educating people?  

    According to Nokia, three percent of people recycle globally, with lack of awareness as the primary obstacle.  If everyone in the United States recycled one wireless phone, we could save enough energy to power 18,500 homes for one year; furthermore, the act of recycling alone reduces air and water pollution.  In a sign that the company is at the forefront of conservation efforts, Nokia recently launched the Green Explorer program, designed to target travelers and offer solutions for environmentally sustainable travel.  Available via internet and mobile phone, one can find tips and tricks on eco-friendly travel.  "Nokia's approach is grassroots in nature; it's the best way to grow," Conrad said when I asked about their advertising strategy.  "We're starting from the ground up, because eco-friendly solutions are here to stay."

    The company is also working as hard as possible to influence those that seem unconcerned with the environment, or subscribe to the "I'm just one person" argument.  The road to environmental cleanliness is a gradual movement, and one size does not fit all.  "Nokia engages in lifestyle integration, from beginning to recycling end," Conrad said.  "We're trying to influence some portion of that population, and a question for us has always been 'how can we include as many as possible?'  We can all make massive environmental changes without a lot of effort."

    Though the Green Explorer program could be considered as the forward-facing aspect of their efforts, it is far from the only initiative that Nokia is pursuing.  The company is working on a number of projects to encourage environmental programs in North America, including educating children, offering a phone recycling program with 5,000 locations in 85 countries, and teaching about "eCycling."  Besides energy, Nokia continues to be as efficient as possible on the packaging front.  Box sizes have been halved, and in the last 250 million phone shipments, 5,000 fewer tractor trailers were used, materials were reduced by 50 percent, and 100 million Euros were saved as a result.  "The pressure is on, and we have to lead by example," he said.  "Soon, the biggest gift under the Christmas tree may not be the best thing."


    Users can access Nokia's Green Explorer program by going to their website, or by text messaging 'OCEAN' to 334455.  Twitter users can also see yesterday's live interview tweets at www.twitter.com/PhoneDog_Aaron.

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  • 22Apr
    When it comes to the April 21st T-mobile media event in New York City, there were three truths that can be told:

    1) It had nothing to do with Android/G2. (If you had bets on this, it's time to cough up the cash.)
    2) It was all about the new Sidekick.
    3) Free drinks and nachos are cool.

    The folks at T-mobile really know how to throw a shindig. Better yet, they know how to put together a cool phone.

    So without further delay, here it is: The new Sidekick LX 2009
     
    T-Mobile Sidekick LX Orchid

    The integrated Twitter, MySpace and Facebook feature is smooth, the screen is spectacular and the form factor is sleek and mature.

    As for background processes, app switching and notifications, the handset itself feels fast and zippy. The only lagginess at all had to do with getting decent 3G signal on the NYC block we happened to be on. Sadly, we didn't get to experience the full juiciness of the network, but this certainly won't be the case everywhere. (That speed is really going to come in handy for uploading videos to Facebook.)

    Did I mention that the hi-def LCD screen is flat-out gorgeous? And the keys are, predictably, super easy on the fingerpads.

    Sidekick LX Orchid closed

    Sidekick LX 2009 Orchid open


    The Orchid (pictured) or Carbon casing isn't swappable, which might disappoint some SK fans, but in the hand, this Sidekick doesn't feel plasticky and toy-like, as the SK handsets of old did. It feels substantial, but not heavy. And the dark color and — lest we forget — the upcoming arrival of MS Exchange are intended to make this a more sophisticated messaging center. So if you don't need a full-blown smartphone, but want to stay connected (or watch YouTube clips on a spectacular display), this gizmo offers a sweet alternative that doesn't look like a Leapfrog toddler gadget.

    So that's the quick overview of my first impression with the Sidekick LX. Like we mentioned before on PhoneDog, Noah will get his hands on the device for a full review as soon as he can. In the meantime, I'm working on uploading the video we took at last night's party asap, so you can see the handset in action for yourself. Stay tuned.



    ADDITION: Duh. I was so excited to see this phone that I almost forgot to include the following: The T-mobile Sidekick LX 2009 will be available for retail sale at select T-mobile stores and online starting May 13th. The price is $199 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate.



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  • 22Apr
    Droid Wars is a new segment I'm going to try and put together once a week or so.  Forget the other clones. For this kind of puzzle game, two stand at the top of the heap: Jewellust and Bejeweled.

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  • 22Apr
    Just because the Palm Pre and its WebOS platform are on the way, it doesn't mean that the antiquated PalmOS can't get in one last appearance - and hey, we can't complain, as it was the Centro that (most likely) kept Palm going while the Pre was being developed.  The unlocked GSM Palm Centro, previously available in only Glacier White, is now being offered in Ruby Red and Cobalt Blue for a cool $199.99.



    If you're down with purchasing a nearly outdated phone as the Palm Pre is preparing for launch, it's definitely worth the buy.

    Source: Engadget Mobile


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  • 22Apr
    AT&T and Verizon are poised for another price war, but this one has nothing to do with MOTO RAZRs and smartphones.  The US' leading cellular carriers are set to offer netbooks - small, lightweight, low-cost laptop computers - to customers later this year.  AT&T has been offering one model on a limited basis via Radio Shack retail outlets already, and both Ma Bell and Big Red should be pitching the machines nationwide in time for back-to-school this Fall.

    The netbooks will be sold on the same subsidized basis that cell phone customers are familiar with: $xx after rebate, with a two-year service agreement.  AT&T has offered the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 or 12, LG Xenia (a rebadged MSI Wind), and the Acer Aspire One for as little as $49 in recent trials in Atlanta and $99 in Philadelphia.  The $49 deal required a two-year commitment to an AT&T DSL/mobile data combo pack starting at $60/month, according to Engadget.

    So here's the thing.  That $49 Dell Mini 9?  Dell was selling a Linux version of it for $198 just today (okay, it was a Vostro A90, which is ever so slightly different than a Mini 9).  While you may well want AT&T's DSL/3G data tag-team in your life, you might just be intrigued by the promise of a laptop for fifty bucks, in which case you need to remember this: By the time you pay an activation charge, get your monthly bills with those extra fees & taxes, and forget to send in the rebate slip, odds are you would have been better off paying full price for that netbook sans AT&T's discount and 24 monthly bills.

    Forget today's $198 Dell Deal: Current "top of the line" netbooks (is there such a thing?) are going for under $400, and the last-gen models are routinely being cleared out for $250, $200, or even less.  Netbooks got real hot real fast, so everyone from Asus to Sony flooded the market with a million not-so-different varieties of them, and now that the economy's tanked, retailers have extras to get rid of.  Not to mention the used market: It shouldn't be too hard eBay or Craigslist your way to a sub-$200 netbook.

    I'm not meaning to poo-poo AT&T and Verizon's initiative to get subsidized netbooks into the hands of college kids and bloggers across our fair land.  I think it's great.  I just wonder if US consumers will take to the subsidized pricing model for computers the way we have for cell phones.  Remember, we've been buying computers at full price for years now, so we know how to bargain hunt and comparison shop (I think).  My theory is we only flock to those "cheap after rebate" cell phone deals because we've never known a better way.

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  • 22Apr
    Earth Day's upon us, y'all, so in honor of the green occasion, Griffin AirCurve's getting a little play today. The cube-shaped base is not just a holding base for the iPhone, but acts as an acoustic amplifier that reportedly boosts the phone's audio sans electricity.

    But does it really work, as advertised? I was curious, so I asked for a review sample, just to see.



    I opened the box to find a pretty nice-looking cube. I don't know what I was expecting; something cheesier and kind of junky-looking, I guess, given its $16 to $20 price point. But it looks and feels substantial, not at all flimsy or cheap. Minimalists and modern design enthusiasts would probably dig its size, shape and aesthetic.

    But I didn't want to check out this accessory for its looks. I'm a bit hard of hearing, and using the iPhone's single built-in speaker is kind of useless for me. For most people, though, its probably okay for playing voice mail messages or listening to a short podcast with a friend (who will need to be sitting directly beside you to make out the sounds). But unless you cup your hand around it so the audio can bounce off it, you have to be in a pretty quiet room to hear anything intelligible. For me, the room has to be stone-cold silent, and I still have a tough time.

    So looking at this pretty little block of what looks like plastic, I admit that I was doubtful — and hopeful. With no wires, I'd be able to cart this thing all around my apartment or on road trips without fuss. But I just didn't believe the thing would actually work.

    Well, I was wrong.



    I popped in the cradle (it comes with 2 fittings,  for the iPhone and iPhone 3G) and seated my phone into it. It was a little loose, and could fit a big snugger, but as long as I didn't jostle it, the setup worked fine.

    When the handset played a song without the AirCurve, it came out thin and kind of mono-sounding. Through the acoustic speaker, however, the audio was both louder and — unexpectedly — a little bit richer in sound.



    According to Griffin, the secret to the amplification is in the physical design. The inside of the clear plastic block kind of looks like an ear canal, which makes sense, given what it's supposed to do. When audio from the iPhone's single speaker travels through this coiled "horn," it comes out the other side roughly 10 decibels louder.

    Now that amount of amplification isn't going to raise the roof at a dance club, but it will work for background music at my next dinner party, as an alarm clock on my bedside table or for a portable sound boost in a hotel room or camping tent.

    Generally speaking, the AirCurve is well-designed — minus a couple exceptions. There's a space routed along the bottom to fit a docking cable, either the standard one or a Griffin-branded cord, which is sold separately. This would allow the cube to act like an all-in-one speaker/dock/recharging station.



    It's a great idea, but when I tried it with my standard cable, the plug's head wouldn't stay put, making it difficult — nearly impossible — to just slide that puppy in. The cube also doesn't allow for a landscape orientation. Being able to watch YouTube or video podcasts with amplified sound would be nice.

    But despite these hiccups, the AirCurve is still a winner in my book. It does what it's supposed to with both style and efficiency. Plus, I don't have to worry about audio interference from the cellular signal, like the crazy pops and buzzes that result from putting the iPhone anywhere near my powered Altec Lansing speakers.

    I know it's hard to get a sense of how well an audio-oriented accessory performs from a written article, so I'll do a video review soon. That way, you can see and hear for yourself. As for me, I'm glad I got a chance to check this out. I'm constantly amazed at how good green, energy-efficient products have become. And, I'm happy to note, the AirCurve is no exception.


    [Thanks to ThinkGeek.com for the product sample.]

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  • 22Apr

    nokia-1100.jpgHere’s the story: Ultrascan Research Services, a website which gathers information on such subjects as online fraud and the notorious 419 scams, claim that demand for the Nokia 1100 mobile phone has increased considerably among high-tech cyber-crime gangs, to the point where they change hands for as much as £22,000 each!  The reason behind this is the apparent ease with which this phone can be ‘cloned’ and used to intercept SMS’s with individual bank codes.  These are used in conjunciton with stolen bank details to access accounts thoughout Europe.

    It’s not just any Nokia 1100 though, it has to have been produced by a factory in Bochum, Germany around 2002 for the software to be used for nefarious purposes - making them among the very first models released.  Ultrascan has said they are working on obtaining one of the 1100’s to confirm the exploit and Techworld have contacted Nokia themselves on the subject, but have no reply at the time of writing.  Even web security specialists F-Secure have an article on the implications of such a problem.

    For one of the most basic mobile phones, originally costing less than £100 unconnected, to be ‘worth’ the price of a brand-new VW Golf GTi is (more…)

    Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

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  • 22Apr

    samsung-i780.jpgSamsung Mobile Display, a division of the larger Samsung Group corporation, is predicting a huge growth in the purchase of smartphones around the world in the next few years and the company believes that it can dominate that market with the new handsets that Samsung plans to release. The global smartphone market is hovering around 170 million this year and makes up about fourteen percent of all mobile phone sales. Samsung says that by 2012 smartphones are going to make up nearly thirty percent of the market and there will be about 500 million of them sold at that time. Some people predict that an even greater share of the market will be driven by smartphone sales.

    These smartphones are expected to primarily be touchscreen smartphones comparable to the newest releases we are seeing on the market today. They are also expected to primarily be OLED displays, a handset design feature that is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing areas of the industry. OLEDs are thinner, higher-quality screens that are desired by phone users today; Samsung Mobile Display is the number one maker of (more…)

    Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

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  • 22Apr

    farmer-with-phone-1.jpgIt turns out that revolutionary communications gadgets, armed with GPS locators and digital cameras, are extremely useful.  And not just for teenagers showing each other where they threw up last night.  A pilot project in Kenya is equipping community workers with camera-ready GPS phones which they can use to help farmers throughout the province.

    The phone farmers can take photographs of crop blights, pests, or other problems and get expert feedback from the other end.  The reply can contain detailed instructions on how to eliminate the problem, and charting the incoming data on the location and type of problem could be used to head off epidemics before they start.

    The seven month trial is being conducted by the Grameen Foundation.

    Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

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  • 22Apr
    T-mobile had its April 21 media event for the Sidekick LX 2009, and PhoneDogger Adriana Lee was there for a hands-on look. Here's the scoop.

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