Sprint announces Drive First app to stop distracted driving, expects you to pay $2/month for it
March 23, 2011 No Comment
Driving whilst distracted is becoming enough of a problem for our various government agencies to start looking into ways to proactively prevent it, rather than just pass laws against it, but Sprint is being more proactive than most. It’s announced an app called Drive First, developed by Location Labs, which won’t be available until sometime in the third quarter. The app runs on Android and basically puts your phone into lock-down mode “when driving is detected,” automatically sending incoming calls to voicemail, auto-replying to texts that you’re unavailable, and preventing you from using much of any applications outside mainstream navigation fare. As always with these apps we’re not sure just how they’ll differentiate between driving and, say, sitting on a train, and we’re guessing they’ll be just as effective at locking out those riding shotgun, but for parents worrying about whether Junior is texting when he should be driving home from band practice it could be a good solution. That solution, however, will cost those ‘rents $2 per month — and certainly won’t earn them any love from their angsty teen. Continue reading Sprint announces Drive First app to stop distracted driving, expects you to pay $2/month for it Sprint announces Drive First app to stop distracted driving, expects you to pay $2/month for it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Femto Forum publishes API specification for femtocell apps, places focus on ‘awareness information’
March 23, 2011 No Comment
As if the world needed one more association to keep up with, CTIA Wireless 2011 is delivering just that. The Femto Forum, which has done an excellent job remaining undercover of late, has just published an “industry-wide agreed set of API specifications” that will enable “advanced mobile applications based on femtocell technology.” Truth be told, the first apps based on the specifications have already been built, and their currently available to the femtocell community. The specifications are for network-based APIs, which will purportedly “allow operators to drive the development of femtocell-powered open access, enterprise and consumer applications,” and it’ll also provide awareness information in order to allow developers the opportunity to incorporate enhanced presence, context and location-sensitive features into new and existing apps. Granted, we’d care a lot more about those location-based apps if we could drag our 3G MicroCell to Panama to use it to make free calls whilst on vacation, but hey — maybe that’s the next logical step. Not that we’re much for passing along hints or anything. Femto Forum publishes API specification for femtocell apps, places focus on ‘awareness information’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Experiencing voice quality woes with your otherwise delightful Atrix 4G ? You aren’t alone, buster. In fact, the issue has become so prevalent and widespread that Motorola itself has taken notice, with one of its forum managers creating a sticky to confirm that the company is looking into things. As of now, there’s no clear indication of why the problem is emerging, but the positive news is that you aren’t actually losing your hearing — it’s a legitimate quandary, and if you’d care to help Motorola fix it, you can visit that source link to tell your story. Till then, we hear local phone providers are offering unbeatable deals on landline connections. [Thanks, Kyle] Motorola recognizes, investigates Atrix 4G voice quality issues originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Gevey SIM provides janky but jailberak-free unlock for iPhone 4 on iOS 4.3
March 23, 2011 No Comment
If you’ve updated your iPhone 4 to iOS 4.2.1 or above, you might be aware that there is currently no unlocking software available for the accompanying basebands. Naturally, we’d imagine the Dev-Team will soon provide a remedy for this lack of freedom, but for now, Gevey has you covered… somewhat. For $70, this imposter SIM promises to unlock, without the need to jailbreak, all the current basebands found embedded within 4.0 – 4.3. In the video after the break, it appears multiple — and frankly, just plain inconvenient — steps are required to get the kit working on your iPhone . What’s more, apparently you’ll need to do all of this again if you switch off the phone. Oh, and we should mention this involves snipping off a corner on your SIM card, and carriers tend not to like that. Our recommendation regarding this contraption? If you’re absolutely in the need of a carrier unlock and have the cash, proceed with caution. Otherwise, patience is your answer. Continue reading Gevey SIM provides janky but jailberak-free unlock for iPhone 4 on iOS 4.3 Gevey SIM provides janky but jailberak-free unlock for iPhone 4 on iOS 4.3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Gevey SIM provides janky but jailberak-free unlock for iPhone 4 on iOS 4.3
March 23, 2011 No CommentIf you’ve updated your iPhone 4 to iOS 4.2.1 or above, you might be aware that there is currently no unlocking software available for the accompanying basebands. Naturally, we’d imagine the Dev-Team will soon provide a remedy for this lack of freedom, but for now, Gevey has you covered… somewhat. For $70, this imposter SIM promises to unlock, without the need to jailbreak, all the current basebands found embedded within 4.0 – 4.3. In the video after the break, it appears multiple — and frankly, just plain inconvenient — steps are required to get the kit working on your iPhone . What’s more, apparently you’ll need to do all of this again if you switch off the phone. Oh, and we should mention this involves snipping off a corner on your SIM card, and carriers tend not to like that. Our recommendation regarding this contraption? If you’re absolutely in the need of a carrier unlock and have the cash, proceed with caution. Otherwise, patience is your answer. Continue reading Gevey SIM provides janky but jailberak-free unlock for iPhone 4 on iOS 4.3 Gevey SIM provides janky but jailberak-free unlock for iPhone 4 on iOS 4.3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …TelePresence Tech kiosk to bring virtual shopping to a mall near you, we go hands-on
March 23, 2011 No Comment
If Amazon were to venture beyond the web in favor of a more tangible medium to peddle its wares, it might consider something like Telepresence Tech’s new telepresence kiosk for the job. We got a surprise demo of the system at a Samsung event today and came away intrigued. The technology renders 2D images that float and rotate in space, giving retailers a way to let customers see their products as if they were actually there, and at a fraction of the cost — about $1.50 per hour — of paying meatbags to man a traditional brick-and-mortar store. A separate touchscreen lets shoppers scroll through available items, speak face to virtual face with customer service, and make purchases. Check the gallery to see more of what our retail future looks like. Gallery: Telepresence Tech Kiosk at Samsung Mobilization TelePresence Tech kiosk to bring virtual shopping to a mall near you, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Remember Google Instant ? Now, Yahoo’s got something like that — it’s called Search Direct — and like Instant, it consists of a search box that quickly and automatically suggests results as you type. Unlike Instant, though, it won’t update the entire results page to reflect the outcome of your potential search, but rather just the enlarged search box you see immediately above, providing up to ten suggested queries and three suggested results — making it a little bit speedier (we were able to use it on our 3G phone connection quite easily) but also fairly limited in comparison. It’s also a bit… ahem… self-serving , as any search that happens to include the same letters as one of Yahoo’s own services will promote them above all others in the results — in fact, only five letters of the alphabet presently bring up anything but a Yahoo website as the first result when typed in solo. I = iTunes J = Jennifer Lopez Q = QVC X = Xbox 360 Z = Zsa Zsa Gabor Some of the improved functionality is pretty useful, though, as that Xbox query will instantly bring up prices for the console, and you can type in “movies” or “weather” and your zip code to immediately plan your night out. (“Restaurants” and “food” don’t work, though.) Anyhow, Search Direct is in beta. Why not give it a go? Continue reading Yahoo intros Search Direct, takes on Google Instant with insular effect Yahoo intros Search Direct, takes on Google Instant with insular effect originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Voice-controlled Japanese robot assists with eating, makes veggies more fun (video)
March 23, 2011 No Comment
Isao Wakabayashi, a student at Chukyo University in Japan , seems to have made the arduous chore of eating easier. Using a customized version of a Robix robot kit, Wakabayashi coded a program that makes the feeder recognize individual food items and feed them to you. The meal-assistant features two arms, dexterous enough to handle utensils, and can be controlled using your voice . In theory, this system would be ideal for the elderly, folks that currently have trouble eating by themselves, or you know — for those that may or may not be too lazy to bring food to their face. Voice-controlled Japanese robot assists with eating, makes veggies more fun (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Samsung sees a Retina Display in your tablet future, and perhaps glasses-free 3D
March 23, 2011 No Comment
Samsung gazed into its crystal ball today, and what did it see? The pixel density of tablet screens drastically increasing. Yes, while Apple may not have managed to cram a screen into the iPad 2 worthy of the Retina moniker, it sounds like Samsung may be working on just such a thing, as the company projects that it will have tablet displays with 300 to 400 pixel-per-inch resolutions by 2015. Presently, the Samsung Galaxy Tab has a seven-inch, 1024 x 600 panel, which translates to only about 170ppi, but Samsung suggests that tablets of the exact same size might stretch well beyond 1080p desktop resolutions as pixel density increases, and yet still manage a respectable 8 to 10 hours of battery life. Samsung also said that while it’s still waiting to see if consumers adopt stereoscopic 3D, it might be interested in joining the throng, perhaps bringing a glasses-free tablet display to market in the years to come. Curious what else the future might hold, according to Samsung? Take a peek at our gallery below. Gallery: Samsung Display Strategy 2011 Samsung sees a Retina Display in your tablet future, and perhaps glasses-free 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Original iPad retrofitted to play nice with Smart Cover, magnets largely to thank (video)
March 23, 2011 No Comment
Although we don’t exactly know how they work, magnets are one of Earth’s many fascinations and are used in many gadgets today — perhaps most notably in Apple’s new Smart Covers . As you might have already known, the iPad 2′s first party screen concealer uses a bunch of magnets to make the magic happen; it snaps on and fits almost too well. By taking a few rare earth magnets and gluing them to the original slate’s hip, blogger Dan Provost is able to use a Smart Cover with the iPad uno. He positioned them according to how they stuck to the hinge of the cover, which explains the lack of spacing between the four magnets. As you’ll see in the video, Apple’s screen protector works well with the tablet, but it lacks the auto-unlock mechanism found in the iPad 2. Care to give your original iPad a taste of modernity? Hit the more coverage link to find the main ingredient for this DIY project. Original iPad retrofitted to play nice with Smart Cover, magnets largely to thank (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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