Unlocking your used cell phone may be illegal thanks to a strict anti-hacking law called DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) passed last year, with folks online pretty upset with it’s broad stroke of power. This didn’t really hit the public’s eye until recently though, with the closing of a short window of legality allowed by the librarian of Congress. Back in October it was decided that, under the DMCA, unlocking your phone was illegal. The Librarian of Congress allowed a three month window for people to unlock as many phones as they wanted… that window closed this past Saturday.
Jan 28
Mar 28
Howdy Blue Dots! I know it can sometimes seem like this country is stuck with a two party system. No, I am not talking about the Democrats or Republicans. (Although, they are also represented by red and blue oddly enough). I’m of course talking about our countries largest cell phone providers Verizon and AT&T. The two seem locked in a constant battle for the hearts and wallets of your fellow Americans. There must be an alternative to the two party system though right? We’ll I won’t tell you to throw your vote away and vote for the Green Party in the next election, but when it comes to phones sometimes the small guys have some huge offers.
Mar 26
It’s not uncommon to meet someone who doesn’t have a landline, especially people who graduated from college this past decade. That generation is the first large generation to have cell phones through high school and into graduation of college. This means, when they finally get their own place, they are already accustomed to their cellphone being their only means of communication through phone lines. Why get a landline anyway? If anyone wants to get in touch with you they already know that you’ll most likely have your cell phone in your pocket, and if someone calls, that you don’t want to answer, you can more easily refuse the call then you would on a landline. So what does this mean for landline phones? Are they going extinct, or are they going to stick it out for a bit longer?
Oct 26
There’s an app for that! With over 250,000 apps currently available on iTunes for the iPhone and iPod Touch, it may difficult to find those that are worthwhile amongst all the apps that are worthless. Ranging from making light saber noises (or fart noises), to finding local restaurants and shops, to finding out your BAC, the purposes of the apps are endless. Here are my top 10 iPhone applications that are very useful, lack in bugs, and easy to use.
Top Iphone Apps - 2010
Oct 19
The huge influx of Androids, iPhones, iPads, Blackberries and other “App” capable devices have allowed every-day people with a little coding knowledge to create their own programs. Everything from finding happy hour specials at local bars to doctors being able to analyze x-rays can now be seen in apps for mobile devices. This open-source theme, is about to take a step to the next level.
Bug Labs, a small firm out of New York, is attempting to provide this freedom to not only applications, but the devices themselves. Using their hardware, anyone can invent a device that will be compatible with their mobile plans. Pete Semmelhack, CEO of Bug Labs, explained to the New York Observer, “Right now there are hundreds of thousands of apps but only a few dozen mobile devices. We want to create an ecosystem for mobile hardware that is just as robust as the one which exists for software.” Continue reading »
Oct 06
Who has the better apps? Who has the better maps? Who has the better phones? Verizon and AT&T, the two powerhouse cell phone providers, constantly try to find ways to one up each other. A recent development paints the picture that AT&T has taken the next big step.
After a three-year delay, Transit Wireless, LLC announced in July it had secured the financing needed to build a network that would allow for cell phone service in all 277 New York City subway stations. AT&T, along with T-Mobile, have each signed 10-year agreements to gain access to this new network. Continue reading »
