Toshiba spits out K01 QWERTY slider at MWC
Continue reading Toshiba spits out K01 QWERTY slider at MWC
Toshiba spits out K01 QWERTY slider at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toshiba updates TG01 handset with the TG02
Toshiba’s just let slip its MWC press, and here’s what we’ve got: the TG01’s successor… the TG02. It’s a minor update to the original, and yes — it’s exact to that early prototype roadmap leak we saw way back in April. On offer here, we’ve got this 9.9mm badboy with a 4.1-inch capacitive WVGA touchscreen, 1GHz processor, and a newly retooled 3D menu to boot, running Windows Mobile 6.5. All in all, as we said, a pretty minor update to the handset. There’s no firm information for now as to when the TG02 will launch, or how much it’ll cost. We’ll let you know when we do. Full press release is after the break.
Continue reading Toshiba updates TG01 handset with the TG02
Toshiba updates TG01 handset with the TG02 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Study shows cell phone bans may not prevent crashes
Legislation banning cell phone use while driving a car was intended to reduce the number of crashes on the roads, but a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute indicates that the laws may not be fulfilling their purpose. When comparing the frequency of collision insurance claims made in states that enacted a ban against cell phone use to those that didn’t, a study shows that claim rates remain similar.
The HLDI looked at the collision claims per 100 vehicles in three areas that had banned all cell phone usage while driving—California, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia—and compared them with surrounding states (for example, Connecticut was compared to Massachusetts and New York). The study grouped the states in this way to account for the differences in the economy, miles driven, and seasonal effects.
The frequency of collision claims in states with cell phone bans tracked the frequency in states without pretty closely. There’s no marked downward trend in the cell phone ban states relative to their neighbors, as might be expected of a law intended to keep eyes on the road and minds from wandering.
The study could be criticized for using only the broadest definition of collision claims, rather than only cell phone-related ones (HLDI asserts it doesn’t have access to such specific information), or for the way it makes its comparisons, as geography may not be a relevant way to relate states to each other. On the other hand, drivers may be able to avoid reporting some cell phone-related accidents to their insurance because they are relatively minor. Either way, the effectiveness of the cell phone bans seems to bear further investigation.
Teenager invents low-frequency radio for underground communications
digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/hardware/16_Year_Old_Invents_Radio_For_Texting_1000_Feet_Underground’; You know what’s really annoying? Teenagers. Even more annoying? Teenagers inventing legitimately useful things and getting awards for it. Meet Alexander Kendrick, the 16-year old inventor of a new low-frequency radio that allows for cave-texting, which isn’t some fresh new euphemism, it just means people can finally text while deep underground. How deep, you ask — well, Alexander’s team of intrepid explorers went far enough (946 feet) to record the deepest known digital communication ever in the United States. What you see the young chap holding above is the collapsible radio antenna, though plans are already afoot to ruggedize and miniaturize the equipment to make it more practical for cave explorers and rescuers. Way to go, kid.
Teenager invents low-frequency radio for underground communications originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tech world moves equipment, talent, cash to help out Haiti
The earthquakes in Haiti continue to send ripples throughout the Internet community as regular people look for ways to help. However, it’s not just Internet users who are trying to lend a helping hand—major communications companies, as well as the Federal Communications Commission, are stepping up efforts to bring back communications to the area and boost donations to those in need.
A Rallying Cry Against Scummy Carrier Voicemail Messages [Cellphones]
The New York Times’ David Pogue is sick and damned tired of wireless carriers wasting our time and our minutes with their intentionally drawn out voicemail messages. And he wants your help to get them to change.
You know the messages: “At the tone, please record your message. When you have finished recording, you may hang up, or press 1 for more options. To leave a callback number, press 5. (Beep)” That’s 15 seconds that you owe every time you leave a voicemail. And it’s just as bad when you check your voicemail. And the entire thing is a scam.
These little 15-second waits add up–bigtime. If Verizon’s 70 million customers leave or check messages twice a weekday, Verizon rakes in about $620 million a year. That’s your money. And your time: three hours of your time a year, just sitting there listening to the same message over and over again every year.
In 2007, I spoke at an international cellular conference in Italy. The big buzzword was ARPU–Average Revenue Per User. The seminars all had titles like, “Maximizing ARPU In a Digital Age.” And yes, several attendees (cell executives) admitted to me, point-blank, that the voicemail instructions exist primarily to make you use up airtime, thereby maximizing ARPU.
Well that’s pretty shitty! So what to do? Harass the hell out of your carrier and get them to quit it. Pogue has links to places where you should yell at all four major carriers. Here they are:
Verizon: Post a complaint here.
AT&T: Send e-mail to Mark Siegel, executive director of media relations.
Sprint: Post a complaint here.
T-Mobile: Post a complaint here.
In the end, will it work? Maybe. But you can’t win if you don’t play, and these are your overpriced minutes we’re talking about here. So I think you know what to do. [Pogue]
Motorola ‘Sholes’ Android Phone May Show Up On Verizon [Rumor]
We know Verizon is cooking something up with Android, and if motofan.ru’s information is correct, the Motorola “Sholes” render pictured here might be one of their Android projects.
According to the site, the device will feature a 3.7-inch (480 x 854) touchscreen, CDMA, EVDO Rev A support, 512MB of storage 256MB of RAM and support for microSD / microSDHC up to 16 GB (Includes 8GB microSD). It will also include a 5 MP autofocus camera, Bluetooth, GPS, USB and WiFi. If it is the real deal, expect an October release for an undisclosed price. [motofan.ru via Engadget]
First LG Chocolate BL40 Official Shots Don’t Surprise, Still Stun [Lg]
Short of price, release date and carrier(s), there’s not a whole lot that hasn’t been leaked about LG’s comically long next generation Chocolate, the BL40. But somehow, these first official shots are still enticing. I mean, look at it.
Shock and mystery, I suppose, are at the core of the BL40’s appeal, at least until someone actually gets to try one. For everything we do know, and can see reconfirmed here—the featurephone OS, the 5-megapixel camera, the 21:9 screen, the forward-facing videocalling sensor—there’s a less observable thing that we don’t: How does it feel in your pocket? Your hand? How well does browsing work? How does this phone deal with video that’s not encoded for silly-wide displays? And until we find out that LG hasn’t discovered clever and/or magical solutions to these potential issues, ogling is the order of the day. [LG]
Apple on Their Relationship With AT&Tti [Blockquote]
Apple COO Tim Cook on their relationship with AT&T during Apple’s earnings call: “I think it’s an excellent relationship and we’re very happy with it.” So I guess the jabs Apple threw at WWDC 2009 were friendly ones.
Answering another question about the iPhone being constrained by carriers with limited capacity (read: AT&T) Tim Cook replies “without talking about specific ones, I see them making more investments to have faster networks and see them being very happy about” making more money. Mmmmhmmmmm.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit App Is as Close As You’ll Get to an Official iPhone Porn App [Boobs]
Who likes ladies in tiny bathing suits? Many dudes do, that’s who. And now they can get them on their iPhone via the official Sports Illustrated Swimsuit app.
Sure, you have access to millions of pictures of scantily clad ladies via Safari, not to mention unclad ladies, but this is an app. An app, people! For $3 you get photos of 20 models and some bodypainting videos. I’m going to go ahead and guess that a Google search will bring up most of this content for free.
Here’s the sad part: this is going to sell like hotcakes. [App Store Link via TechCrunch]
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