9/24 Mobile Magazine

iPod nano Gets Banned from Gyms Because of Camera September 23, 2009 at 3:18 pm If you’ve ever been to your local gym, then you’ll know that it’s a big no-no to bring a camera into the dressing room. No one wants to see their junk posted all over the Internet. Many gyms also ban cameras from the workout area, because some people don’t want their sweaty selves so publicized either. Well, it seems that the new nano falls into this restriction too. A number of different gyms have effectively banned people from using the new Apple iPod nano 5G while in dressing rooms and while working out. That’s because this new nano has that video camera on the back and the gyms are looking out for the best interests of their clients. Privacy is important. Does this mean that you’ll need to invest in a different MP3 player to pump “Eye of the Tiger” into your skull as you trot along on the elliptical trainer? Well, maybe and maybe not. Most gyms will probably still allow you to use the iPod as a music device, but don’t hold it up pointed at anyone in particular for too long of a period. One spokesperson said that “discerning whether someone is taking video or just queuing up a music mix can be difficult.” In this way, some gyms might have an outright ban. How can you overcome this? Seeing how the nano 4G and nano 5G have similar dimensions, couldn’t you just get an old (opaque) case or sleeve and slip it over the new nano? This would block the camera and eliminate the problem, right? Source: Slashgear Emoticons Get Eerily Real with Emo Ball September 23, 2009 at 3:09 pm I think most of us are fairly familiar with the different emoticons that have become the standard of SMS and IM conversations. We all know what it means when someone types out a colon followed by a right parentheses. Even the guys at “Big Bang Theory” made mention of a colon and a capital D in the season premiere. However, emoticons have yet to truly infiltrate the real world. That is, until now. If you’re ready to be terribly frightened and disturbed, then you may want to take a look at the Real Life EMO ball. This peripheral attaches to your desktop or laptop computer via a standard USB connection, but it can actually reproduce the emoticons as you type them in Windows Live Messenger. You’ll need to install the provided Virtual Emo software, but the idea is that this yellow ball will move its eyes, eyebrows, and mouth to best approximate the smiley faces that you are sending to your friends over IM. The marketing speak says that this “realistic buddy” will make your conversations “a lot funnier and more cosy off [sic] course.” What they don’t mention is when your EMO ball gets sentient and decides to thrash about in dark clothing. Source: RGS See the HTC Chin? It's Gotta Be Android September 23, 2009 at 3:00 pm The first Google Android phone was the HTC Dream G1, which was later adapted to become the HTC Dream through Rogers and the T-Mobile G1 through T-Mobile. Aside from the new operating system, one of its most characteristic features was the protruding chin on the bottom. Well, HTC wants that characteristic feature to remain characteristic. There is certainly a mixed response to the whole “chin” thing on HTC smartphones, seeing how some people prefer the chin-equipped version of the HTC Hero and others decry the lack of a chin on the Sprint-bound version of the Hero, but one thing is for sure: you will not see the Leno-esque feature on a non-Android phone. Coming straight from One & Co, the design firm that works with HTC on these kinds of things, only Google Android phones will get the chin treatment. Not all Android phones will get a chin, but all chinned phones will have Android. This angled base is meant to be more “playful” compared to the “dark, glossy finishes” of Windows Mobile devices. The latter is meant to appeal to a professional audience. What do you think? To chin or not to chin? Source: MobileCrunch Onslaught of Windows Mobile 6.5 Smartphones This Year September 23, 2009 at 2:46 pm So, we all know that Windows Mobile 6.5 will officially be launching next month and handset manufacturers will be able to produce smartphones that come pre-loaded with the new platform right out of the box. This is supposed to represent a major leap forward from Windows Mobile 6.1, but how many phones will get this new OS? Quite a few, actually. Benjamin Tan works at Microsoft China as the senior director of the GCR Mobile Team Unit and he’s saying that 15 different manufacturers are on board with the Windows Mobile 6.5 revolution. Not only that, but Tan also goes on to mention that these 15 manufacturers will be releasing 30 new Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets before the end of the year. Considering that Windows Mobile 6.5 doesn’t officially hit the scene until next month, that only gives the handset makers about two and a half months to get their phones out in the marketplace. You have to remmember that this is on a worldwide scale, though, so this goes well beyond the AT&T Tilt2 smartphone. Among the names mentioned are HTC, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, Acer, Toshiba, and HP. For the carrier side of the equation, Tan let us know that AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, NTT DoCoMo, Softbank Mobile, SKT, Telstra, and Telus are all a part of the Windows Mobile 6.5 thing. Will this be enough to make WM6.5 the preferred platform for both regular consumers and corporate customers? Will it be able to usurp Symbian, BlackBerry, and iPhone? With this many options in phones, it just might do it. Maybe. Source: BGR