Monthly Archive for June, 2010
Many smart phones will allow a user to instant take a video recording of almost anything. And chances are these videos are shared with friends and families online on various file and video sharing sites like YouTube before they are posted on Facebook.
In many ways, this little convenience is something that users should be careful about. Uploading a video is quite easy (especially when there is a stable and fast internet connection), but the repercussions of doing such could be bigger.
Take the previous case of a Google video which showed a young boy being bullied. The case ended with three of Google Italy’s top heads taking the blame for the psychological damage that the video has brought. Despite the fact that Google does not control the content that is uploaded by users, many feel that they are responsible.
Since Google also owns YouTube, the same argument has also been made –not only because of an uploaded video’s potential effects, but also because of the fact that a large chunk of videos online contain copyrighted material. Viacom has filed a case against Google regarding this matter. Despite the fact that they lost the case, it drives in the fact that there is an issue with the content that is being uploaded to the video sharing site.
Copyrights are not the only issue that YouTube users should be wary of, after all, Google already takes measures to help out the copyright owners (if copyright owners request that certain videos be taken down, Google cooperates with them).
Being careful about how personal and private videos are shared is also important. While it may be nice to upload that video taken at a cousin’s recent wedding, be sure to ask permission from the people who are heavily involved in the video –more often than not, people find themselves tagged in embarrassing moments caught on camera that are publicly displayed by their contacts on Facebook and other social networking sites.
Tags: copyrights, Facebook, Google, Google-video, Internet, smartphones, social-networking, Viacom, video, YouTube
The new Microsoft mobile platform focuses heavily on making phone functions smooth and dynamic. A recent video demonstration showed how easy it is to link from one phone functions to another in a smooth comprehensive manner.
The process often starts with the contacts list, from there, any contact can be emailed, messaged, called or just reviewed depending on the available contact information. When tied up to a social networking account or a Windows Live account, instant messages can be sent and the most status updates can also be seen. From there, users can opt to share Facebook content, leave a comment and more.
The calendar is also connected to various functions of the device as well. Users can create an entry that not only provides the time and name of event, but they can also specify a location which will be integrated to the map function. This allows a person to easily check a schedule, reference an event location on a map then make plans to visit nearby places of interest.
For the most part, the entirety of the Windows Phone 7 is expected to work in this same way. Many believe that the number of things a person can do in contacts will increase as more functions get added in. Sending specific files, inviting people to play games and other functions are expected to be available once the final product rolls out.
According to gamers, there is still not much to look forward to on this smart phone since there is still no lineup of games for the Xbox Live Service which has been announced months ago. With this, many might want to pass up on getting Microsoft’s new mobile platform and focus their budget on other products such as the MS Kinect or even better, Sony’s Playstation Move.
With many new games and accessories coming out later this year, Microsoft will be hard pressed to convince gamers of the value of their new mobile platform.
Tags: calendar, email, Facebook, games, Microsoft, social-networking, Windows-Phone-7
The smart phone industry already knew early on that the Android OS will be getting an update which brings with it the Adobe Flash Player. But now, it appears that the Google OS is not the only platform that will be getting this new feature. It seems that a large range of other platforms will also be getting Flash Players as well.
The only OS that we are certain will not be getting any support from Adobe is the Apple iPhone OS, so all those new Apple iPhone 4s might end up missing a vital feature.
It all started with the release of the Apple iPhone OS4 SDK. With the release of the developer kit, there was also a license agreement which forbade the use of third party software in the development of Apple iPhone apps. During this time, it was common practice for many developers to create Flash apps and use an iPhone compiler to port the game over to the Apple platform. Adobe’s new Flash Professional CS5 featured a Flash to iPhone compiler as its biggest feature. When the Apple license agreement basically cut off Adobe, hostilities between the two companies took a very open and public form.
Before the dust settled, Adobe has found itself declaring that it would no longer support Apple and that Google has teamed up with the developer. This immediately led to an announcement from Google about the new Android supporting Flash –a promise that is seeing realization just now. At the same time, Google and Adobe also announced that they would be supporting the HTML5 format as well –leaving Apple being the only OS in town not supporting Flash.
This reality will sink in even more as the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 OS is confirmed to be getting a Flash update after it is released and that many other smart phones will also be getting the update as well. Phones that make use of the Palm WebOS, BlackBerry OS, Symbian, MeeGo and LiMo are among those confirmed that will be getting a Flash Player.
Tags: Adobe-Flash, Apple, Apple-iOS-4, Apple-iPhone-4, apps, Blackberry-OS, Google, Google-Android, Palm, smartphones, Symbian, WebOS
There were plenty of impressive games that were released for the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System (also known as the Super Famicom in Japan). While most of these impressive titles are stored in cartridge format to be played, there are various PC accessories that would allow owners to store backup copies of the ROMs to their computer.
This little feature is taken full use of by the Android operating system. With many apps that allowed the smart phone to run emulations of old game consoles; these ROM backups can be played once again –providing the Android with a large library of impressive game titles.
Lucasart’s Metal Warriors is one such title. While the game itself was not so well known, the small circle of fans that have been able to try out the game will attest to its well made storyline, impressive gameplay and high replay value. Sadly, since the Google Android SNES emulation’s two player options are limited, it is hard to make full use of the game’s extended feature of letting to players duke it out.
The story mode however, remains fully intact. The game places players in control of a mech pilot, able to run up to six types of robot battle machines that are found in the game. While the pilot itself is a fragile little human armed with only a pistol, he can be made to pilot any empty mech found in the game –and this is where Metal Warriors truly shines.
Each of the 6 machines has their own unique forms, strengths, capabilities and limitations. Being able to pilot each properly takes practice and effort –but is ultimately very rewarding. The graphics are also very impressive. The sprites are well detailed and the mechs take battle damage in the form of dents, paint damage and eventually, loss of parts before it is fully destroyed.
Tags: apps, emulation, games, gogle, Google-Android, SNES
You might have found yourself with a phone on low battery more than once. It is not a crime, but it is terribly inconvenient. Mobile phones are made to help people get in touch with one another, coordinate, communicate and plan. However, with most of society becoming all too reliant on the accessibility of the modern mobile phone, being stuck outside with a phone on its last few bars of energy leaves one with a feeling of hopelessness.
Here are a few simple pointers that could help ration the energy left on your mobile phone when a charge is still too far away.
First off, go silent. Most mobile phones have a silent mode setting that will keep all the tones, beeps, rings and music to a muted level. This helps save a lot of energy. If you are waiting for a message to arrive or a call, simply be sure to keep the phone on hand or in a visible position in your desk so you can check the screen regularly.
Of course, when checking the screen, there is no need to unlock the device if there are no updates –the dark standby screen often has notifications if you have a new message or call to check.
The second best thing to do is to go offline. Connecting to WiFi or a 3G network will drain your battery faster, especially when there is plenty of content coming in and out. When in a situation where a person really needs to have a phone with power, being offline from a social networking account for a few hours should not be much of a compromise (if it is, you might want to seek help).
Lastly, change the screen settings. LCD screens and backlights eat up power when left on for a long time. Devices often have a low power settings mode, or have similar adjustable settings to achieve the needed effect.
Tags: 3G, battery, social-networking, Wifi
Now here is a big claim. At the Nielsen 360 Consumer Conference, Sheryl Sandberg is saying that Email will eventually go away, despite the fact that even she finds it hard to imagine a future without it.
The silly thing here is that prior to this statement, Sheryl also declares that it is the current web usage patterns of teens today that determines the trends of the future. It sounds logical, but it also completely ignores what teenagers are actually doing. Her example covers the concept that teenagers would not send emails to each other; they would message each other privately using Facebook’s message features.
The only reason this happens is that accessing the ‘send a message’ button is far easier than logging into a web server. But if all email did was send personal messages among people in a one’s friends’ list, then the technology would have been phased out by now.
Emails do more than help people communicate. Email also works as a personal identification tool on the web –Facebook is trying to do the same, but the need for privacy alone is enough to stop the effort.
And the reason why people trust email accounts to identify them and not their Facebook accounts is due to the fact that emails, as personal as they are, are also anonymous. Of course, barring the use of one’s own name as an email address, anonymity is a key factor that Facebook cannot provide.
Despite the fact that the highest amount of traffic that mobile internet sees is with social networking site Facebook, search engine Google and microblogging Twitter, accessing emails is also an important part of the day for many people. Access to emails is one of the main reasons why smart phones were developed. And while social networking may be pushing the distribution of smart phone technology, it would never be able to replace or phase out emails.
Tags: email, Facebook, Google, Internet, social-networking, Twitter
When Microsoft announced the Windows Phone 7 operating system at the Mobile World Congress last February, many of us in the industry were impressed with the way they have changed and evolved the older Windows Mobile OS.
Windows Phone 7 was dynamic, full of animations, new features, social networking integration, plenty of media support, a high potential for games, and stylish new look that simply changed the way we perceived operating systems and user interfaces. While there will never be a perfect OS, WP7 at least has the looks of one.
Now, recent news has once again re-confirmed previous announcement that the Windows Phone 7 will be getting support for Flash. This was a feature that was not counted in the many demonstrations of the OS –not when they showed off the multi-platform app compatibility, the 3D games, Silverlight support, the MSN new player and other features. But it is certainly as important as any of these.
Flash is a feature that will forever be a thorn on Apple’s side. As the Cupertino based company’s operating systems are unable to provide enough stability for Flash, it became Steve Jobs’ personal quest to rid the internet of Flash content. However, his recent move to stamp out Flash (by pushing Adobe aside) simply made the Flash developer to look for support from other companies. While Google made a very public show of support for Adobe, it appears that Microsoft was also quietly supporting the Flash developer too.
This does not change HTML5, or the eventual demise of Flash, but the fact that both the Android and Windows Phone 7 will support to older web format is a testament to the fact that Flash still has years of use ahead of it.
According to Microsoft, WP7 Flash support will not be included in the release version of the operating system. But a later update (expected to be around 2011) will be bringing both Flash and AIR to the new OS.
Tags: Adobe-Flash, Apple, apps, Google, Google-Android, Microsoft, windows-mobile-7, Windows-Phone-7
If you plan on giving your child a smart phone with internet access, you might want to check into the latest Norton Family Report to be able to know what you need to do to prepare the child for access to the internet.
According to the annual study, children these days are more likely to encounter “negative experiences” when browsing the internet. Not that the internet has always been clean, but access to various content that contains violence, profanity, nudity and other similar material is now made easier. Norton states that at least 60% of children will encounter this content when they go online.
The initial solution for many parents is to control what their children can and cannot access. This usually entails placing firewalls, passwords and family filter protocols to determine what goes through the router and what cannot. However, shielding does not actually prepare the child for anything; it is simply delaying the inevitable.
A generation ago, it would have made sense to keep children away from such materials until they are at an age where their level of understanding and level of maturity is able to cope with the ‘negative content’. But given how integrated the internet is to our society (and how the material can also be found offline –on the telly and on other media), it is actually more important for parents to know and understand the value of educating their children properly.
The internet will not wait for your child, and keeping a child away from social networking, games and the internet in general would be akin to deprivation. What is important is to give the child discipline, confidence and awareness of what the internet truly is what can be found there.
With smart phones now considered to be a basic necessity for many modern families, this is one crucial step that parents cannot afford to miss.
Tags: firewalls, games, Internet, smartphones, social-networking
Apple may have had a vision for the tablet industry when they came out with the Apple iPad. After all, with most of their profit coming from the iPhone, there was no doubt that they intended that the tablet device would co-exist with the smart phone. However, as cool as it may be to have a pocket based device handling your calls and very mobile needs and a dedicated large display tablet for media access, the concept still goes beyond the trend of consolidation.
Just as smart phones have merged together GPS, beepers, Pocket PCs and mobile phones into a single handset, a new generation of touch screen tablets is going to change the need for the mobile phone. As opposed to having the smart phone co-exist with a tablet, the two will have separate areas of use: tablets for the home and mobile phones when you are on the go. As for taking calls when at home, that will be a function that tablets will also deliver.
Apple’s iPad may not support that idea, but upcoming Android tablets seem to be on track. Samsung’s Galaxy Tape is already bringing plenty of features that surpass the iPad in almost every single way –and having phone calls is just one factor. The tablet is set to have a faster processor and will be using the super AMOLED touch screen –which makes the 7 inch screen better than Apple’s 9.7 inch vanilla display.
At the same time, smart phones are also going along with the larger touch screen display option as well. Dell’s Streak (which is also known as the Dell Mini 5) and Sony Ericsson’s upcoming 5.5 inch display smart phones are just two examples. We can expect to see more devices with large touch screens appearing on the market soon.
Tags: Apple, Apple-iPad, Apple-iPhone, Dell, Dell-Streak, Google-Android, Samsung, Samsung-Galaxy-Tape, Sony Ericsson, super-AMOLED
There is a new announcement that many tariff subscribers should be wary about: the old unlimited internet access is no longer available, networks are now categorizing data usage rates into samples of 200MB, 500MB and more. It is a very big move from having 1GB to just 200MB, and while it is reported that the average mobile phone user consumes less than 200MB each month, every user should be aware.
Of course, if you are already on a plan and are planning to simply renew, then the network operator is obliged to keep you at the original rate you have. On the other hand, data plans for new subscribers have to be watched and monitored in order to ensure that monthly usage does not surpass the given allowance.
According to O2, the new plan will also keep users informed and up to date with text messages summarizing data usage. But users will still need to be aware that certain things will drain their allowance. First off, refreshing advertisements –just because a person has loaded a page on the internet does not mean that there is not data being transferred. More often than not, ads tend to change; cycle and refresh, which means that it would be wise to disconnect of stop all page processes if you intend to read a long news article or post.
Videos are also an obvious thing to look out for. Despite the relatively small size of YouTube uploaded videos and more, these will add up, and some videos that are only two minutes long could be over 10MB depending on the quality. The best thing that people can do is to minimize the media access on their mobiles. Connect to the web only if needed and for all other purposes, use a netbook or computer instead.
Tags: bandwidth, Data-allowance, Internet, O2, YouTube
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