Who Knew an iPhone Would Do That?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, January 9, 2012 · 
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The next time you leave the house, don’t forget your iPhone. It just may save your life!
Now, I’m not talking about how you can call for help, although you can. I’m not even making reference to the GPS features, although that would come in handy too. Christopher Tkacik of Maryland was able to use his iPhone to help a rescue crew on New Year’s Eve after he and his dog became lost.
Naturally, we would assume that Tkacik used the phone to call for help once he realized that he and Boo were lost in the woods northwest of Frederick, Md. He did.
He tried to give the police his coordinates, but the reading on his GPS was incorrect. Read more
33% Report Internet Access is a ‘Fundamental Resource’
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, September 26, 2011 · ·
Demonstrating the increasing role of the network in people’s lives, an international workforce study announced last week by Cisco revealed that one in three college students and young professionals (33%) believes that the Internet is a fundamental resource for the human race – as important as air, water, food and shelter. In addition, about half (49% of college students and 47% of employees) believe it is “pretty close” to that level of importance. Combined, four of every five college students and young employees believe the Internet is vitally important as part of their daily life’s sustenance.
Case in point, more than half of the respondents (55% of college students and 62% of employees) said they could not live without the Internet and cite it as an “integral part of their lives.” If forced to make a choice, the majority of college students globally – about two of three (64%) – would choose an Internet connection instead of a car. Read more
My Lowes
Posted by Josh Seidemann on Friday, September 9, 2011 · ·
Responding to Home Depot’s provision of Motorola handheld devices to employees, Lowes is set to issue 42,000 Apple iPhones to its retail staff. Bloomberg news reports the provision of about 25 iPhones per store will supplement the introduction of “MyLowes,” an online tool that will enable customers to access everything from user’s manuals to paint formulas. According to reports, Lowes also plans to add WiFi to in-store locations in order to enable customers to use their smartphones.
The handheld battles are not limited to home improvement stores: Read more
U-verse on Xbox 360 and Smartphone
Posted by Steve Fravel on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 · (2) ·
AT&T U-verse subscribers will have the ability to access service via the Xbox 360 as of October 15.
Current U-verse subscribers may access video service after they have downloaded and installed special software onto their Xbox. New U-verse subscribers will be required to purchase an Xbox kit with the download for $99. The software will enable the Xbox to access live TV, manage and playback DVR recordings and navigate on-demand content and interactive applications. Read more
Apps Seemingly Everywhere for TV
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, August 13, 2010 · ·
Many video providers are creating apps for the iPad.
Dish Network is “slinging” content to mobile devices such as the Apple iPad. Time Warner Cable is also developing a prototype application for the iPad. AT&T U-verse is making content available to smartphones. Verizon is developing a video application for devices than run Google’s Android operating system too. It seems like every distributor has or will have a means of making video content available to mobile devices.
Filling the “three screens” with content seems to be well on the way. Consumers will have many different choices for providers that can send content to whatever device is convenient, when it is convenient for the consumer to watch it. Is this a good thing, bad thing or just another part of the digital metamorphosis?
Mobility with the capability of effectively expanding the options for communications and entertainment is efficient.
Good or bad? Time will tell.
For more, see this Wall Street Journal article.
Internet Gadgets Play a Key Role in People’s Lives
Posted by Dave Lowe on Friday, July 2, 2010 · ·
A recent survey conducted by Burst Media found people are becoming more dependent on Internet-connected gadgets like smartphones, PDAs and electronic netbooks to interact with friends, make decisions regarding purchases, engage in online research and react to advertising messages. The survey reached 1,768 online, U.S. respondents age 18 and over.
Key findings from the report indicate: more than 25% of the respondents feel completely disconnected if they are not online for over a week or more, three out of five (61%) respondents use their gadget to browse Web content at least daily, and the vast majority of respondents believe new technology significantly impacts their daily life. Read more
RCA Demos WiFi Smartphone Charger
Posted by Jesse Ward on Friday, January 22, 2010 · (1) ·
RCA recently demonstrated a prototype of its Wi-Fi Hotspot Power Harvester device called Airnergy. (See the video after the jump.) It’s designed to convert WiFi signals into DC power for charging small wireless devices such as smartphones. The idea is that as long as you are within range of a WiFi network, you could charge your phone.
The Airnergy is about 2 in. by 3 in. in size and is expected to sell for $39-$49 this summer. RCA is working on a smaller version that would substitute for a battery inside a handheld device and would sell for around $59. That smaller version might ship in 2011, according to a demonstration at the 2010 International CES. Read more