<![CDATA[[MobileRatty] tag: download]]> http://mobileratty.com/tag/download Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:07:46 +0000 iRatty Engine http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[CDMA Is Not Dead Yet]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/d2fcbc47b6771489b9daf69afdc8b254 http://mobileratty.com/article/d2fcbc47b6771489b9daf69afdc8b254
“Worldwide EVDO Rev A subscriber numbers ramped up more than eightfold between Q2 2007 and Q2 2008,” says ABI Research analyst Khor Hwai Lin. “The US and South Korean markets shows the highest growth rate for EVDO Rev A. The increased support for LTE from incumbent CDMA operators does not imply the imminent death of EVDO Rev A and B, because LTE is addressing different market needs compared to 3G.”

EVDO Rev A subscribers are forecast to exceed 54 million by 2013 while Rev B subscribers will also increase, to 25 million.

More than 31 million subscribers worldwide are already using HSDPA while 3.2 million subscribers were on HSUPA networks by Q2 2008. Upgrades to HSUPA continue to take place aggressively around Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Hence, HSUPA subscribers are estimated to reach around 139 million in number by 2013.

“HSPA+ will contest with LTE and mobile WiMAX in the mobile broadband space,” adds Asia-Pacific vice president Jake Saunders. The 100Mbps download data rate difference between LTE (20MHz) and HSPA+ may not attract mid-tier operators to migrate, as LTE is based on OFDM technology that requires new components, while a move to HSPA+ is perceived to be more gradual transition.”

Due to the large number of GSM 900 subscribers worldwide and the high possibility of refarming the spectrum for UMTS, ABI Research estimates that the majority of these subscribers worldwide (about 1.2 billion by 2013) will be on a 900MHz-only band. In second place would be dual-band users on 900MHz and 1800MHz (one billion by 2013). 2100MHz subscriber numbers are forecast to ramp up steadily with a CAGR of 23.5% between 2007 and 2013.

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:41:00 +0000 subscribers hsupa subscribers million subscribers worldwide subscribers worldwide evdo rev worldwide evdo rev million subscribers rev million CDMA Is Not Dead Yet <![CDATA[Sony Ericsson Expands U.S. Carrier Channels with T-Mobile Partnership, Unveils New Handset]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/8f67a3cfb1af1e11ed9b2993dd59a6bf http://mobileratty.com/article/8f67a3cfb1af1e11ed9b2993dd59a6bf
TM506 is First Sony Ericsson Handset to Support T-Mobile's AWS Spectrum

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sony Ericsson today announced the expansion of its carrier channels in the U.S. to include wireless leader T-Mobile USA, starting with the launch of the TM506 in early September. Sony Ericsson will now reach more than 31 million wireless subscribers through this partnership. The TM506, Sony Ericsson’s first handset supporting T-Mobile’s AWS spectrum (1700/2100), is a compact and stylish clamshell phone that delivers an exceptional Web experience in an eye-catching design.

"The TM506 not only signifies Sony Ericsson's expanding U.S. portfolio of handsets, but more importantly, that we have forged a strong and promising relationship with T-Mobile," said Najmi Jarwala, president of Sony Ericsson North America. "With the launch of the TM506 with T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson is positioned to offer more choice of mobile handsets for a broader range of U.S. consumer segments at a variety of price points."

"T-Mobile continues its 3G network deployment across the country, and we're pleased to leverage Sony Ericsson's 3G handset experience to help deliver the benefits of our next-generation network to our customers," said Cole Brodman, chief technology and innovation officer, T-Mobile USA. "The Sony Ericsson TM506 is a compelling, feature-rich phone with a vibrant display that our customers will enjoy using to connect with the important people in their lives."

TM506 – Stay Connected in Style

Style and elegance
Compact power
Connect without limits
Style and elegance

With an all around eye catching design, the TM506 was created for on-the-go consumers who want to express personal style with a feature-rich handset fully loaded for a multimedia experience. Users can reflect their personal fashion sense, choosing between Chrome with Amber or Emerald highlights with a sleek ebony gloss.

Compact power

The TM506 proves that good things come in small packages. Its compact design fits into any pocket, purse or briefcase for consumers on the move. An outer display allows users to glance at the caller ID without having to open the phone, and the compact handset is packed with 3G download speeds for faster access (in select markets) to media and content viewing anytime, anywhere. Users can store their favorite tracks and share music with their friends using the removable Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™). Plus, it's easy to keep up with the latest news and weather information with customizable Web feeds.

Connect without limits

Users can capture and share special moments as photos or video clips with a 2.0 megapixel camera with My Album, slide show and video blogging capability. Stereo Bluetooth® connectivity allows hands-free wireless calls, and with Bluetooth® stereo headphones, users can hear their favorite music the way it was meant to be heard.

A built-in GPS navigation feature in the TM506 along with the TeleNav® application from T-Mobile allows users to always know their location. T-Mobile consumers have numerous messaging and communication options such as sending pictures, videos, IM notes and e-mail from their TM506 to their faves from the homescreen with T-Mobile myFaves®.

The TM506 will be available in early September at select T-Mobile retail stores and online at www.t-mobile.com.

TM506 Phone At-A-Glance

Weight: 3.4 ounces, including battery (approx.)
Size: 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.69 inches (approx.)
Talk Time: Up to 9.5 hours GSM; up to 3.5 hours UMTS (approx.)
Standby Time: Up to 250 hours GSM, up to 250 hours UMTS (approx.)
2.0 Megapixel Camera
Media Center
aGPS Built-in
TeleNav® Navigator
RSS Feeds
myFaves-enabled
Audio Postcard
Quicksend
Mobile Backup (T-Mobile Address Book)
Bluetooth® 2.0 / A2DP / Stereo streaming
Tri-Band GSM (850/1800/1900)
Dual-Band UMTS (1700/2100 & 2100)
GSM/GRPS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:35:00 +0000 handset t-mobile tm506 sony ericsson tm506 sony ericsson handset experience sony ericsson handset tm506 phone at-a-glance t-mobile myfaves Sony Ericsson Expands U.S. Carrier Channels with T-Mobile Partnership, Unveils New Handset <![CDATA[Crowdsourced mobile application testing: interview with Mob4Hire]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/51b5d58138ea0d074a403c31ed59a007 http://mobileratty.com/article/51b5d58138ea0d074a403c31ed59a007
When developing for mobile phones there are a number of different variables which can make effective testing time-consuming and difficult. The end-users of mobile applications and services will be using different networks, phone models and potentially different software versions which can all influence the user experience.

Mob4Hire is solving this by enabling developers to post projects online with an accompanying testing specification which an open community of testers around the world can then bid for. This gives developers potentially unlimited access to different test configurations while minimizing the cost involved.

Sony Ericsson Developer World met Paul Poutanen, President and founder of Mob4Hire, who answered our many questions. Below is this conversation:

Where did the idea come from and what is the story behind Mob4Hire?
The idea for Mob4Hire began in 2005 when I was launching the first location-based game in North America. While the software development was going fine, I could not believe the hassle and the expense of testing the application on various networks and handsets. I had to fly to the US with a small team of developers and purchase handsets so they could test their application on a US network.

Initially we couldn't even buy the handsets and subscribe to the mobile service because we didn’t have a US address. Eventually the tests were completed successfully, but I realized testing was the most difficult and onerous component in the whole development process.


Paul Poutanen, President and founder of Mob4Hire.

We were all exhausted, sitting in the airport waiting to board a flight home, when I saw a guy chatting on his cell phone. He was using a handset identical to one we had just purchased and tested on. It dawned on me that if I knew him I could have just sent him our application and have him quickly run the test for us. I'd be happy to pay him for his trouble and it would save me a load of time and money.

That was the light bulb moment. That's when Mob4hire was born. I had experience with a crowd-sourcing company in Calgary that had a mandate to nurture business ideas using the power of the Internet "crowd". That's exactly what Mob4Hire does.


Explain how the concept works. What's your business model?
The concept is based on the idea that there are many able, technical people around the globe who would gladly test mobile applications for a fee. They already have the subscribed handset, the time and the inclination. These are typically people who can be defined as the early-adopters of the mobile application industry. Mob4Hire connects those people with developers who want to test their applications on carrier networks where the tester lives.

Geography is the key. Testers need to be physically located where the carrier's service operates.

Testers bid on the testing projects posted by the developers at Mob4Hire. The developer selects the testers they want, downloads their application to the testers' handsets along with specific testing criteria, and pays for the tester's service once they receive the feedback they've requested.

We launched our Beta site in April of 2008. Currently Mob4Hire has close to 1000 handsets ready to test applications in 37 countries on 87 different networks. This includes virtually every handset and network in North America.

The ultimate result is we are able to help speed up the application development cycle in a very cost-effective manner.



Who are these testers, and how do you know they will provide good service?
Testers are generally early adopters who can appreciate the value of a new application and know a bug when they see one. It's the developers responsibility to clearly outline the steps they want the tester to follow. While there is a certain amount of trust that is part of the system, most developers can tell if the application has been tested by the quality of the test report.

All funds are held in escrow until five days after the completion of the test so any tester that has not done the required work will not be paid.

Mob4Hire uses a five-star rating that rates both the developer and the tester after each completed test. This will allow the best testers to shine and quickly build a reputation in the developer community.

We also discovered that many of the handsets were registered by professional testers. It turns out many developers were interested in turning their expensive testing departments into a profit center, bidding on outside jobs to keep their idle testers busy. We've responded to that by developing our Mob4Hire Certified Tester program which is an extra level of comfort for developers looking for the best possible testers.


What are the costs involved for using the service?
That's determined by the market. Testers bid on projects and developers decide which bids to accept. Because data rates vary dramatically from country to country, Mob4Hire is using a bidding process similar to the eBay business model.

We are convinced the bidding process will ensure that the application developer gets a fair price because they can easily see range of all the bids. If there are several Mob4Hire testers bidding for the same job - that gives a strong indication of the market value for that specific test.

Mob4Hire collects a commission from each transaction. This ranges from 6–10% of the cost of the test depending on the number of handsets that the developer has placed in our system.


The internet already has communities of people prepared to test applications and provide feedback at no cost.
While there are many free download sites on the internet, we firmly believe that fees for services rendered is the foundation of an effective free-enterprise system. Our experience is that most free download sites will get your application used by a number of people, but very seldom are they motivated enough to provide the developer with useful information or even bother to report the bugs they have found.

There is enormous goodwill out there, but not many companies are prepared to base their business decisions and development cycles on enthusiasts who may or may not offer valuable feedback.


Crowd sourcing is a relatively new term. How do you define it, and how are you tapping into the crowd?
Crowd sourcing takes a task traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsources it to an undefined, generally large group of people, in the form of an open call.

We believe that some crowd-sourced ideas fail if there is an underlying assumption that individuals will perform quality work on time without immediate and fair compensation.

Mob4Hire was formed with the concept that we could gather skills from around the world and build an effective commercial entity.

Let's face it. We are all busy people and if something has to give, it is usually the item on the plate that we have the least obligation to perform. Putting a commercial face on this concept spins it around and makes it work.


There are many companies who have established in-house testing teams. How can crowd-sourced testing work with an existing testing process?
This is a great opportunity for both Mob4Hire and the developers who have an established in-house testing team. We really provide an opportunity to turn their current testing department (which is most likely a cost-center) into a profit center. We have found that it can really fit into their current business plan because it allows them to test for others when it is convenient, while still maintaining an effective testing department without the accompanying financial burden.

Currently approximately 50% of Mob4Hire's handsets are in the hands of professional testers.


What type of testing services are available?
A test could be as simple as a ping test to see if the application is blocked by a carrier in a foreign country, or it could be an extremely complex test that may take 100 hours to complete. The bidding process determines the worth of these projects.

We are also developing a separate system whereby the developer can remotely log on to the phone and conduct the test themselves. All that would require is that the appropriate handset be turned on and operating on a carrier's network. This doesn't erase the need for a geography-dependent crowd of testers, but will put the testing capability into the developer’s hands.


If I submit an application for testing, how can I ensure that the tester will extensively test the application according to the test specification?
Developer's will benefit by providing a carefully drafted test plan. This serves two purposes. It will attract the appropriate testers and enable them to bid for the project based a clear understanding of the work involved. It also establishes the developer's expectations and clearly outlines the steps the tester needs to follow in order to fulfill the agreement.

Like any business relationship, an element of trust is required. Mob4Hire's online rating system allows developers and testers to offer feedback on the quality of their interaction. It serves both parties to meet each other’s expectations. A highly rated developer will receive more bids, and a highly rated tester can expect to receive more projects.


If there is a dispute over the testing, how is this mediated?
If there is a dispute over the testing, Mob4Hire will continue to hold the funds in escrow and then Mob4Hire personnel will intervene and mediate. Our goal is to ensure that the quality of testing remains very high.


What are steps required to go through a complete test cycle?
The first thing for a developer to do is register with Mob4Hire. When their project is ready to be tested, they post it on the Mob4Hire "site" with a complete test plan, specifying which handsets and networks they want tested.

Bids are entered by the testing community and are hopefully accepted by the developer, although there is no obligation to do so if the bids are unsatisfactory.

The successful bidder receives an SMS with a URL attached that gives him/her access to the application. The application is downloaded wirelessly and the test plan is completed. The developer then has five days to review the completed work and decide whether the test report was completed to his/her satisfaction. If we do not hear from the developer, we assume that all was fine and we release the funds to the tester.


How do you see the relation of Mob4Hire testing to other testing programs, such as Java Verified and Symbian Signed?
Java Verified and Symbian Signed tests may work very well on specific handsets on specific carriers but not on others.

For example even though a developer has been verified or signed does not mean that a network connection will work on a specific handset. A carrier/network operator may block network access to a specific URL that is directed to a mobile server.

As well, just because an application is verified or signed does mean it is a good commercial application. The GUI may be not be intuitive or the application too complicated. The end user may find the help text does not provide enough help or lack detail in given areas.

Mob4hire can be used before verification or signing to test out an alpha version for marketing reasons. As well, it can be used after porting to multiple platforms and handsets to test for functionality.


How can this type of approach be used for marketing reasons?
There are a number of issues that will affect the sales of an application. Do people know what your application does? Is it intuitive? Does the GUI make it difficult to use? Is the help screen truly helpful? Would end users use purchase this application? At what price?

Mob4hire can be used as a focus group for a select group of testers who can answer a series of questions on the applications. The testers would not necessarily be looking to test for functional testing but how they liked the application. The testers may make recommendations about the application that would benefit the developer.


What the technology trends see getting the most benefit from this type of crowed sourced testing?
Mob4Hire is network, carrier, handset and platform agnostic and provides a service required by all developers, regardless of their applications and technologies. Essentially, we are acting as a broker between the testing community and the mobile application developer community. Therefore we think that any mobile application that requires testing is a potential customer for us.

That being said, we think that the LBS market is of special interest because of its inherent need for true mobility testing and its potential upside for growth. We also hear a lot from the social networking application companies as they want to expand their networks across networks and geographical areas.

Ultimately, the nature of the application is less important to us than the quality of the testing that is conducted through Mob4Hire.


How do you see the service developing in the future?
Mob4Hire's goal is to become the central meeting place for the application developers and the mobile testing communities. These two communities require ongoing dialogue and we exist to facilitate that relationship. We are excited to see what develops from this improved interaction and intend to provide additional services to further improve those relationships.

The industry is witnessing the convergence of mobile voice and mobile Internet. The applications that will come out of this ground-breaking environment are only limited by the imagination of the developers. Mob4Hire exists to accelerate that development process.

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:29:00 +0000 application mobile application application developer application development cycle application companies application developers mob4hire mobile test Crowdsourced mobile application testing: interview with Mob4Hire <![CDATA[Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela tops in Latin America for mobile Web usage]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/710e099875360ad897bd6c4a99358919 http://mobileratty.com/article/710e099875360ad897bd6c4a99358919
Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela lead Latin America in adoption of the mobile Web according to the newest "State of the Mobile Web" report issued by Opera Software today. The report also specifies the Top 10 most popular sites ranked according to unique visitors in each of the top countries for mobile Web usage in Latin America. Google leads the way in most countries, followed by some of the most popular social-networking sites. Opera's "State of the Mobile Web" report, published each month, is available to the public at http://www.opera.com/mobile_report/ in both HTML and PDF formats.

Additionally, statistics from July reveal that the mobile Web continues to expand worldwide. The number of people using Opera Mini, the world's most popular mobile Web browser with 15.8 million unique monthly users, grew 9.4% month over month, while page views grew almost 16% in the same period.

"We're pleased to see such considerable growth and interest in accessing the Web from mobile phones globally," said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera. "But the pace of adoption in Latin America is increasing rapidly. The reasons behind this growth are two-fold. First, consumers are willing to purchase data plans because of the cost savings associated with Opera Mini's data compression. They are able to surf more. Second, 80% of phones in Latin America can support a lightweight Web browser. Giving those consumers a better Web experience helps drive both interest in and adoption of the mobile Web. Operators in Latin America are now embarking on ambitious mobile Web strategies as they realize the business benefit and increased revenue of offering full Web browsing to their customers."

Select highlights for Latin America:
Brazil leads the way in mobile Web usage in Latin America, followed closely by Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina.
Orkut, metroFLOG and hi5 are the most prevalent social-networking sites in Latin America, although Facebook is the fourth-most-popular site in Venezuela.
Local domains are few and far between in the top 10. Brazil leads all Latin American countries with two, while most have one or no local domains in the top 10.
Select global highlights from the July report:
Mobile Web usage continues to grow in significant categories: unique users, pages viewed and data traffic.
More than 15.8 million people used Opera Mini in July, a 9.4% increase from June.
Those 15.8 million people viewed 3.7 billion pages in July, averaging 236 pages each. Since June, page views have gone up 15.9%.
Data traffic grew in line with the page-view increase. Opera Mini users generated 53.8 million MB of data for operators worldwide, a 15.2% increase over last month. Because this data is compressed an average of 90%, Opera Mini users would have viewed more 538 million MB of data in the month of July.
As the world's most popular Web browser for mobile phones, Opera Mini provides an elegant, fast and rich Web experience. While some Web browsers work on only 20 to 30 phone models, Opera Mini runs on more than 800 different handsets, making it the available to the widest range of consumers worldwide. Almost every phone with Java can run Opera Mini. Completely free for anyone to download and use, Opera Mini is available from http://www.operamini.com/.

Data in the report is based on aggregate and anonymous statistics from Opera Mini servers. All percentages are based on a snapshot of the Top 100 sites for each region. Beyond providing a snapshot of worldwide browsing trends, Opera's "State of the Mobile Web" highlights the browsing trends in the ten countries where Opera Mini is most popular: the United States, Russia, China, Indonesia, India, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, South Africa and Ukraine.

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:51:00 +0000 mobile web usage mobile web opera opera mini servers web opera mini runs opera mini users mobile web continues web browsers Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela tops in Latin America for mobile Web usage <![CDATA[Lonely Planet content hits Nokia Maps]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/20116796c0fca8d2fac12ae0f58592d3 http://mobileratty.com/article/20116796c0fca8d2fac12ae0f58592d3 Lonely Planet content hits Nokia Maps

Nokia has teamed up with Lonely Planet to distribute their content via Nokia Maps to allow users to purchase and download the popular city guides.

With over 100 destinations available now, and more to come, Nokia Maps and Lonely Planet have many of the most world’s most popular tourist locations covered. The Lonely Planet guides will help travellers to find great places to eat, shop and sleep, as well as describing the popular sights and nightlife for each destination.

Both parties are satisfied with the deal. Lonely Planet’s CEO Stephen Palmer sees the partnership with Nokia as a “genuinely transformational deal”. “It will help all those questions which travellers frequently have on the road such as ‘What should I explore today’ or ‘where should I go for dinner tonight?’ Together with Nokia we will help more travellers connect profoundly with their world, every day,” he added.

The Lonely Planet downloads are already available from the Guides section in the Extras menu of Nokia Maps 2.0 for 7.99 EUR. For more information check out Nokia Maps’ official website.

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Related Articles at IntoMobile:



]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:46:14 +0000 nokia maps nokia lonely planet lonely planet downloads lonely planet guides google maps mobile travellers connect profoundly mobile travellers Lonely Planet content hits Nokia Maps <![CDATA[Fix for iPhone third-party application crashes and problems]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/0bf13a5198dececa5ec2b010b0c30d25 http://mobileratty.com/article/0bf13a5198dececa5ec2b010b0c30d25 iPHone 3GWhat good is a new iPhone OS update if you can’t make use of most of the installed applications on your iPhone or iPhone 3G? Not much good.

The iPhone 2.0.2 OS update has been reported to be causing application-related headaches for some iPhone users. The iPhone app-problems range from third-party applications simply not starting up to applications starting up and immediately crashing out. In either case, the iPhone application problem is bound to be annoying for some users.

Incidentally, it seems that too many third-party iPhone applications on your iPhone can cause many of the applications to start going wonky.

Here are a couple potential ways to fix your iPhone application woes after updating your iPhone or iPhone 3G to iPhone 2.0.2 OS:

  • Delete as many third-party iPhone application as you can bear to part with. If you can get your homescreen down to 3-pages worth of applications, you’ll likely start to see a huge improvement in iPhone application performance. Hopefully, deleting all but a couple dozen iPhone applications will fix application crash and non-start problems.
  • If that doesn’t work, re-install all your iPhone applications (it would be wise to only re-install up to 3 pages of apps). To do this:
  1. Turn on your iPhone and navigate to Settings > General > Reset and hit the “Erase All Content and Settings” button.
  2. Delete all iPhone applications through iTunes (fire up iTunes, hit the “Applications” category on the left-hand navigation bar, and delete all apps).
  3. Deselect any music, video, and pictures for synchronization (we want to remove all music and video from the iPhone)
  4. Connect iPhone to computer and sync iPhone
  5. Re-install those iPhone applications (again, try to keep it under 3 pages worth)
  6. Sync your music and other media.
  • Failing that, you can try a full restore of the iPhone. You will want to “Restore” your iPhone and then “Setup as new iPhone.” This will erase all text messages, stored passwords, and any personal customizations you’ve made to your iPhone.
  • You may also want to downgrade your iTunes installation to iTunes 7.7.0 for Windows or iTunes 7.6.2 for Mac. Here’s how:
  1. Delete your iTunes installation (remove the application from Windows).
  2. Download the previous version of iTunes.
  3. Install the older iTunes package.
  4. Setup your iPhone as a new iPhone.
  5. Sync your apps.

Happy iPhoning!

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Related Articles at IntoMobile:



]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:20:33 +0000 application fix application crash iphone application iphone application woes third-party iphone application iphone third-party iphone applications iphone applications iphone application performance Fix for iPhone third-party application crashes and problems <![CDATA[Sony Increases Hard Drive, Decreases Features Of New PS3]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/0809cc018ef921aaa9a16669b44aa15e http://mobileratty.com/article/0809cc018ef921aaa9a16669b44aa15e

By Luke Anderson

If you’ve been wanting a PS3, but have been waiting around to see if they would up the hard drive just a bit more, you’re in luck. Sony has just announced that they will be releasing a 160GB model this November. This is double the storage space of the previous model, but the bigger hard drive comes as a price.

Yes, they have increased the cost of the new version to $500, but that’s not what I’m talking about. In order to cut costs, they have left out features such as the built-in card reader and backwards compatibility. Backwards compatibility has been a major issue with PS3 fans, and it seems that Sony is killing it off for good.

What you will get in the box is a DualShock 3 controller, and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and a voucher to download Pain from the PlayStation Store. Honestly, if you’re concerned about hard drive space and backwards compatibility, just find yourself an older model and upgrade the hard drive yourself.

VIA [ Crave ]


]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:12:05 +0000 hard drive bigger hard drive hard drive space backwards compatibility ps3 model previous model sony ps3 fans Sony Increases Hard Drive, Decreases Features Of New PS3 <![CDATA[Ganzbot is a Twitter Reading Robot!]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/721235b75d513c198cdca4fd26153558 http://mobileratty.com/article/721235b75d513c198cdca4fd26153558 Ganzbot is a Twitter Reading Robot!

Download latest version of Flash to view video!.

Click Here to View in Full Screen Mode

Check out this cool Ganzbot that can talk.  The Ganzbot can also read Twitter posts and show emotion.

This funny little robot has eyes, eyebrows and a mouth and will verbally read your latest Twitter status to you. It uses an Arduino Decima to control the head actions and receives the latest Twitter status information over USB from a host computer.

For those who don’t know, Twitter is a micro blogging tool where users announce what they’re doing with 140 characters or less. You can also send the robot something to say directly from the command line with a few Ganzbot moods to choose from.

via make, mozmonkey

Brought to you by: Zedomax.com

Ganzbot is a Twitter Reading Robot!

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:39:54 +0000 twitter robot twitter posts ganzbot twitter status wheel style robot twitter status information champion robot ganzbot moods Ganzbot is a Twitter Reading Robot! <![CDATA[Sony Ericsson Announces the TM506 for T- Mobile]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/675b06a207e8949fac5949e6094c0cd4 http://mobileratty.com/article/675b06a207e8949fac5949e6094c0cd4 Sony Ericsson today announced the expansion of its carrier channels in the U.S. to include wireless leader T-Mobile USA, starting with the launch of the TM506 in early September.

Sony Ericsson will now reach more than 31 million wireless subscribers through this partnership. The TM506, Sony Ericsson’s first handset supporting T-Mobile’s AWS spectrum (1700/2100), is a compact and stylish clamshell phone that delivers an exceptional Web experience in an eye-catching design.

With an all around eye catching design, the TM506 was created for on-the-go consumers who want to express personal style with a feature-rich handset fully loaded for a multimedia experience. Users can reflect their personal fashion sense, choosing between Chrome with Amber or Emerald highlights with a sleek ebony gloss.

Compact power
The TM506 proves that good things come in small packages. Its compact design fits into any pocket, purse or briefcase for consumers on the move.
Sony Ericsson TM506
An outer display allows users to glance at the caller ID without having to open the phone, and the compact handset is packed with 3G download speeds for faster access (in select markets) to media and content viewing anytime, anywhere. Users can store their favorite tracks and share music with their friends using the removable Memory Stick Micro (M2). Plus, it's easy to keep up with the latest news and weather information with customizable Web feeds.

Connect without limits
Users can capture and share special moments as photos or video clips with a 2.0 megapixel camera with My Album, slide show and video blogging capability. Stereo Bluetooth® connectivity allows hands-free wireless calls and with Bluetooth® stereo headphones, users can hear their favorite music the way it was meant to be heard.

A built-in GPS navigation feature in the TM506 along with the Telenav® application from T-Mobile allows users to always know their location. T-Mobile consumers have numerous messaging and communication options such as sending pictures, videos, IM notes and email from their TM506 to their faves from the homescreen with T-Mobile  myFaves®.

The TM506 will be available in early September at select T-Mobile retail stores and online at www.t-mobile.com.

TM506 Phone At-A-Glance

          o Weight: 3.4 ounces, including battery (approx.)
          o Size: 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.69 inches (approx.)
          o Talk Time: Up to 9.5 hours GSM; up to 3.5 hours UMTS (approx.)
          o Standby Time: Up to 250 hours GSM, up to 250 hours UMTS (approx.)
          o 2.0 Megapixel Camera
          o Media Center
          o aGPS Built-in
          o TeleNav®  Navigator
          o RSS Feeds
          o MyFaves-enabled
          o Audio Postcard
          o Quicksend
          o Mobile Backup (T-Mobile Address Book)
          o Bluetooth® 2.0 / A2DP / Stereo streaming
          o Tri-Band GSM (850/1800/1900)
          o Dual-Band UMTS (1700/2100 & 2100)
          o GSM/GRPS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA ]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:42:27 +0000 tm506 tm506 phone at-a-glance phone compact handset handset stereo bluetooth stereo headphones tm506 proves compact Sony Ericsson Announces the TM506 for T- Mobile <![CDATA[Researchers Make Quantum Bit Out of a Single Electron]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/63899d7eeb8f5bac608202ebaa22197f http://mobileratty.com/article/63899d7eeb8f5bac608202ebaa22197f Bxmap_2

In yet another step ahead for quantum computing, researchers have been able to hold a single electron in a stable "1" or "0" state, enabling it to function as a numeric bit.

The researchers were able to trap the spin of an electron in a single quantum dot to stably produce states of quantum bits between the equivalent of 0 and 1. A quantum dot is the equivalent of a transistor in electronic computers.

The achievement is significant because it moves closer to fulfilling one of the five criteria, known as the DiVincenzo criteria, for building a scalable quantum computer.

In classical computing, a  bit, or binary digit, takes on values of either 0 or 1. In quantum computer, the quantum bit -- also known as a qubit -- can take on the value of either 0 or 1 or both at the same time.

So far researchers weren't able to stabilize the dual state and move between the 0 and 1 state, known as "spin up" and "spin down" in reference to the position of the electron in the qubit.

Now, using two lasers that were phase locked together, researchers were able to produce an arbitrary super position between the two states by trapping the electrons in a state that doesn't interact with light, says Duncan Steel, professor at the University of Michigan who is working on this research, along with scientists from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and University of California at San Diego.

Known as the dark state, it is a significant milestone because it means researchers have been able to trap the electron as a 0 and a 1 at the same time and can adjust it to anywhere in between.

And since the electron is trapped in a dark state, light cannot affect the coherence and destabilize the qubit, says Steel. As a result, the dark state is also a place where information can be stored without any error.

The ability to represent multiple states is important in quantum computing as it theoretically suggests the system can compute much faster than conventional computers or even today's supercomputers.

The researchers paper, 'Coherent population trapping of an electron spin in a single negatively charged quantum dot' will be published in an upcoming issue of Nature Physics.

Photo: Quantum Optoelectronics and Nano-optics lab.


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]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:07:46 +0000 quantum bit quantum bit scalable quantum computer quantum bits single quantum dot electron single electron quantum computer Researchers Make Quantum Bit Out of a Single Electron