Dec 29

Tikinotes Texting Challenging Swype

By Chase Buckner Cell Phone Reviews, Interesting Phone Stuff 1 Comment »

Tikinotes_0001I recently did a little review of Swype, but a new app from Tiki’Labs is challenging Swype for the fastest touch texting app title for your new or refurbished cell phone. They’ve even put a video in which Tikinotes wins (by a very small margin).

Tikinotes seems to be focusing on the idea that the bigger the “button” on the touch screen, the quicker you can type. They have designed a two-touch system where the initial screen shows you six large boxes, four containing six letters and two containing a combination of letters and symbols. To type, you first tap the box containing the letter you need, which changes the six boxes of multiple letters to six boxes, each containing only one letter. You then tap the letter you need. It sounds tedious but if you watch their tutorial video, you’ll see that it actually looks pretty quick. Again, the idea is that you eventually memorize where the letters will appear and can type really quickly because the buttons are so big, so you don’t have to worry about hitting the wrong letter.

I’m still not entirely sold, but I think that if I try it out, I will be. I still swear I could text faster on the old two-letter-per-button layout of the Blackberry Pearl than I can on a full QWERTY because the buttons were just a little larger, so maybe Tikinotes is what I need. You can get the app at iTunes for, I belive, $1.99.

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Dec 28

Ford to Offer Wifi in 2010 Models

By Chase Buckner Phones In The News No Comments »

ford-logoRecent reports show that Ford will be offering a Wifi option in a select number of their 2010 models. These models will have Wifi built in and will have a USB port so that device’s can be plugged into the modem. This seems to be geared more towards using laptops in the car as opposed to your new or refurbished cell phone but if you’re disappointed with, say, your 3G coverage on your iPhone, having the option to plug into your car’s high speed Wifi will be pretty nice.

Ford hasn’t yet confirmed which models will offer Wifi, but they have assured consumers that the vehicle’s internal modem will automatically update itself to remain compatible with as many devices as possible as technology advances.

Although companies like Verizon are offering products like Mifi that give you hotspot access anywhere, Ford’s $29 per month service fee is definitely on the more affordable side of the spectrum.

Dec 16

Rumors of the new Google Phone Seem True

By Chase Buckner Phones In The News No Comments »

google-phone-coryobrien-twitterIt seems that the rumors about Google releasing a new Android phone (like the Motorola Droid) are true. Word on the street is that Google gave a number of its employees a sample of their new Nexus One, a name will not likely be the official name when it is released.

The Nexus One is rumored to be the first cell phone to run on Anroid 2.1. It is also supposed to be a little shallower in depth than the iPhone and posses a larger touch screen. Most exciting to me, is that it seems fairly certain that the Nexus One will be sold directly from Google as an unlocked cell phone, so you will be able to use it on T-Mobile or AT&T.

If the rumors are true, and day-by-day it seems clearer that they are, the new Google Phone should be released in January. Whether or not it will be fabled “iPhone killer” remains uncertain, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if anyone has a shot at taking down Apple, it’s Google.

For more on the new Google Phone, visit Engadget or The New York Times.

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Dec 15

Google Goggles Review

By Chase Buckner Cell Phone Reviews, Interesting Phone Stuff, Phones In The News 4 Comments »

goggles_landmarkGoogle never ceases to blow my mind with what we will soon be able to do from our new and refurbished cell phones. Google has recently released Google Goggles (currently available for only Android phones like the Motorola Droid), which allows you to use the camera on your cell phone to perform Google searches.

All you have to do is open Google Goggles, point at the building, book, business card, painting, etc., snap a picture, and the Google search results appear. It gets even better when you use it with local businesses. Just open Goggles, point your camera at the business and without even having to take the picture, Goggles will display the name of the business, which you can tap for more information like contact info and reviews. There is a nice little video on the Google Goggles page, where you can get more information about Goggles.

There has been some backlash about Goggles, however, as Google has been working to incorporate face recognition into Goggles. Face recognition means you could literally point your camera phone at someone walking by and if there is information about that person online, the search results for them would pop up. I admit, I’m not sure if this feature is scary or cool. Maybe scary cool.

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Dec 11

Be Careful With Your Text Messages

By Chase Buckner Phones In The News No Comments »
Photo via The New York Times

Photo via The New York Times

I’ve been reading a lot of articles lately about text messages sent from people’s new and refurbished cell phones being used as evidence in court, especially in divorce cases. Text messages can now be used to prove infidelity, which can lead to the loss of some serious cash so if you’re a cheater, watch what and to whom you text.

If you are sending incriminating texts, there are some things you should know about how your phone works, especially if your carrier uses GSM and SIM cards. Apparently, when you delete a text message, it doesn’t actually delete the message from your SIM. Instead, it frees up the space used to store the message so until that space is actually replaced with new data, the text message can still be retrieved from your SIM.

In addition to your SIM card, text messages (even if deleted from your phone) are stored with your carrier for up to a few weeks. An article from The New York Times shows that AT&T stores text messages for seventy-two hours and Verizon stores messages for five to ten days.

Dec 11

New Green Cell Phone Design

By Chase Buckner Phones In The News No Comments »
Image via fastcompany.com

Image via fastcompany.com

Did you know that the energy it takes to produce a cell phone is greater than all of the energy the phone will use during the average cell phone’s lifetime? Just Barber, a green warrior in the fight against unnecessary consumption of planet’s resources, has come up with a new concept for cell phone design, providing another option, in addition to recycling your old phones and purchasing refurbished cell phones, for doing your part in saving our planet.

Barber’s idea is to create a durable cell phone made of materials that are 85% recyclable, which is designed to facilitate constant internal upgrades as technologies improve. Although well intentioned, I don’t really see how Barber’s plan is really making much progress, unfortunately. The majority of the problem with cell phones, in terms of waste, lies in the constant need to update the internals of a phone as technology increases, which leads to the toxic materials from which the internals are made being thrown away and thus polluting the earth. The plastic housing of a cell phone is easily replaceable with greener materials; it’s the speed at which phones are becoming outdated that is the source of the problem.4173723527_652f0a6373_o

Until we make a phone (or maybe Apple’s already made it) that can be constantly updated to keep with the break-neck speed of technological advancement, the best way to go green in the cellular world is purchase refurbished.

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Dec 11

Five Text Messages You Should Send Every Day

By Chase Buckner Cell Phone How To's, Interesting Phone Stuff No Comments »

checklistIt’s easy to let life become so busy that you forget what and who is most important to you. Fortunately, technology is available to make life easier, even when it comes to prioritizing and maintaining the relationships that matter most in your life. Here is a list of five text messages that, if sent out every day from your new or refurbished cell phone, will not only keep you on track but will help you and your loved ones succeed in all of your endeavors.

Number 1: “I love you” – This seems obvious, but I’d wager that most people don’t speak these words as often as they should (or want). Think about how nice it would be to receive a text that says, “Hey (your name), you know I love you, right?”

Number 2: “I miss you” – What’s almost as nice to hear as “I love you”? Simple, “I miss you.” One of the beautiful things about technology is that it makes it easier to express our emotions. Letting people know that you miss them is an easy way to brighten anyone’s day.

Number 3: “Thank you” – Thanking people is an easy way to show people that you appreciate them and your relationship with them. Even something as simple as, “Thanks again for dropping by last week,” will change a person’s impression of you a great deal for the better.

Number 4: “Hey, remember that idea you had about… that was really a great idea. I think you should pursue it further” – Reminding someone of an idea they had but let fade is a great way to keep your friends and loved ones encouraged. Encouragement leads to action, and action leads to success. You can be sure that the more your friends and loved ones succeed, the more they will help and encourage you with your own aspirations.

Number 5: “Hey (name), you know I’m always here for you if ever need to talk.” – With life comes obstacles and setbacks. More likely than not, someone you care about is going through something difficult. Letting them know that you are available to listen and talk can really make it easier for them to get through a rough time. This one requires that you will actually be available when they call.

Positivity attracts positivity. If you send these five texts out every day, your circle of friends and loved ones will be charged with positive energy on a daily basis, which will undoubtedly come back to you.

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Dec 07

University of Michigan has a Mobile Phone Orchestra Course

By Chase Buckner Interesting Phone Stuff, Phones In The News No Comments »

iphoneuniorchestraWhen I first came across this article, my first reaction was to snicker and scroll on. After watching the video on the U of M’s website, however, I have to say it’s kind of impressive how people are beginning to use their new and refurbished cell phones to express themselves creatively.

I’ve seen some other “cellular orchestras” before, and they were horribly annoying. Because the iPhone is so advanced, however, this group of grad students at the U of M has been able to manipulate the phones in some really interesting ways. The course that they are enrolled in, which seems to sparking a new field as universities like Stanford will soon be adding similar programs to their course catalog, teaches the students to design, build, and play instruments on their iPhones. The music they are making is definitely different but if you’re a fan of Phillip Glass, you might be into it.

Georg Essl, the instructor of the course, feels that, “The mobile phone is a very nice platform for exploring new forms of musical performance,” because “we’re not tethered to the physics of traditional instruments. We can do interesting, weird, unusual things.” If you are into what they have going on, they are putting on a concert December 9th.

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