After the poor success of the Nexus One, Google might be rethinking its marketing strategy. Previously, the Nexus One was only to be purchased directly through Google; but now, a webpage has surfaced on Walmart’s website that states that the Nexus One is “coming soon.”
Walmart responded with the following statement claiming its error:
Due to a technical error, this item erroneously was displayed on our site. We're working with our partner Let's Talk to have it removed as quickly as possible. We have no plans to carry Nexus One in Walmart stores or online at Walmart.com at this time.
But I’m calling them out on this one. The page was created on purpose. It’s not like they just accidentally typed in all the specs and added pictures for the Nexus One instead of another phone. So it seems to me that there are three different options of why this has happened.
1)Walmart will be selling the Nexus One. 2)A disgruntled employee at Let’s Talk is having a little fun. 3)The website has become self-aware and knows that the best option for mankind is to sell the Nexus One.
If we look past this statement and into some of the specs, we find some interesting things. If you scroll down to the “Network Technology” section, you will see a long list of of various number/letter combination’s. In this list, there are two sets of numbers and letters that interest us. Specifically, 1xEvDO and UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900. The first, is Sprint and Verizon 3G; and the second is AT&T 3G. So that means that we can look forward to seeing the Nexus One on the Sprint and AT&T networks too! Finally, something for us poor Sprint users…
Among some of the rumors about this webpage comes one from Phone Inferno that is claiming Walmart will be offering the Nexus One for $99 under a 2-year contract. So from $179 to $99… It seems not even Google is shielded from the giant price changes all recent phones go through these days.
The FCC is really interested in why cellphone networks operate in the way they do. There was the probe into AT&T, Apple and Google for the Google Voice iPhone fiasco, and the recent probe into Verizon for doubling the Early Termination Fees on smartphones. The committee’s attention is still on ETFs, but now it has its eyes on more than Verizon.
The FCC today sent out letters to Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Google asking questions about their respective ETFs. Google is being asked specifically why it applies an ETF to the Nexus One on top of T-Mobile’s own ETF. The reasoning for the questions is to make sure consumers are fully informed of all ETFs by the companies. The questions focus on what ETFs the companies impose, if there are different fees for different situations and the rationale behind the fees. There are also questions asking if there are ways to avoid ETFs, and if the fees change given the circumstances of the contract.
It is nice to know the FCC is looking into the state of ETFs before other carriers begin changing them around like Verizon did recently. The only problem is with the FCC always sending out questions, and not acting, it might not change anything. It will be nice to find out why Google is charging an ETF on the Nexus One, and the rationale the companies give for using ETFs, though it is doubtful the probing will do much else. Maybe we’ll see some sort of public backlash against the carriers, but given the recent inquiry letters, that will be about it.
Google Voice is a great service, but its functionality becomes even better if you can use it on a phone. Google has created a web app using HTML5 web browser on both the iPhone and WebOS phones. HTML5 allows powerful web apps to work with more efficiency. As long as you have an iPhone running 3.0 software or a WebOS phone, then you can use Google Voice straight from your browser.
When going to the Mobile Google Voice website, you will be shown your Voice inbox, from which you can listen to voicemails and other messages. In addition, if you call from your Google Voice number on your phone, the recipient will see your Google Voice number instead of your actual phone number. This allows someone to call you back on your Google Voice number. Receiving and sending text messages is also free using your Google Voice number.
You will need a Google Voice account in order to use any of the above features. Check out the informative YouTube video below about the Voice webapp.
In a move that does not seem too surprising, a law was passed banning texting while driving either a bus or truck across America. Back in December, a law was passed banning texting while driving a government vehicle, so it is no surprise that buses and trucks were the next vehicles. This law will be effective immediately and it carries a hefty fine of $2,750. If being safe is not a good enough reason to stop texting when driving, then perhaps the monetary costs will deter drivers.
While it may seem like common sense, a research study was conducted and it found drivers of buses and trucks who text when driving are putting themselves at higher risk for accidents during the time their eyes are focusing on the cell phone screen. In addition, the National Safety Council finds 200,000 of all car crashes are caused by someone texting.
I wouldn’t be surprised if a law was passed banning texting in any car, since it does pose a significant safety risk to not only you, but those around you.
Long Zheng over at istartedsomething discovered several very intriguing lines in the latest Zune driver update. The first three lines in the screenshot describe the three types of Zunes available today, however the next few lines are the ones worth more attention. If those lines are describing newer Zune models with higher capacities, it does not make sense to use the word “Phone”. Those lines could very well be describing upcoming unannounced Zune “phones”. While it’s still open for debate whether they will be actual Zune-based phones or merely Zune services incorporated into phones, this piece of news ties in with Microsoft’s rumored upcoming announcements of Windows Mobile 7 and new devices within the next few months. We’ll just have to wait for official confirmation by Microsoft at Mobile World Congress starting February 15th.
FROM GAMERTELL - If you live in Japan and own a PSP, you can take advantage of the free X-Radar Portable program. It’s a free map program that uses either wireless hotspots or the PSP GPS peripheral to help you find your way. A worldwide release hasn’t been announced. MORE »
FROM APPLETELL - It seems the clamor for an Apple tablet will finally be met with an official unveiling. Join our live blog at 9:00 a.m. PST for tablet, iPhone and other Apple announcements as they happen. MORE »
FROM GAMERTELL - If you need a Valentines gift for a technology loving gamer, browse through 8BitMemory’s Etsy Shop, where old SNES, NES and GBA cartridges are turned into external hard drives and flash drives. MORE »
FROM GAMERTELL - Has one of your UMDs broken, to the point where you can no longer play it in your PSP? Check out Gamertell’s PSP UMD repair guide, which will help you place a UMD disc into a new casing, or fix a UMD with a missing metal disc. MORE »
FROM APPLETELL - Apple is about to prove once and for all just how much they really don’t need Macworld, but what can you expect from Apple during their press event? MORE »
"The Text2Chat program permits people across the U.S. to get involved and have their opinions heard," explained John Randall, eCampaign director of the NRCC, Washington. "It provides an opportunity for Americans across the country to talk and receive feedback about the pressing matters facing our country. We are interested in hearing what Americans are thinking across the country—not just telling them what we think they should hear.
To take advantage of the event, users can "text the keyword "UNION" to the short code 777218. After opting-in, members will receive a text message that reads: "Thank you for participating in NRCC's State of the Union Text Chat. Look here on Wednesday 1/27 for the link to participate". Any mobile phone user with an internet-enabled device, on any network, will be able to access the mobile chat rooms."
On tap to appear in the chat rooms are: Erick Erickson, editor-in-chief of the RedState.com blog; Former Congressman Tom Davis; Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary for former President George W. Bush; Rick Scott, private healthcare executive; Grover Norquist, president, Americans for Tax Reform; and Star Parker, founder and president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education.
They had me at Grover, how about you?
This year will also see the broadcast the State of the Union address live - a first in this nation's history.
When RockYou.com's servers were breached last month, 32 million passwords were stolen and posted on the Internet. RockYou committed a grave error by storing them in clear text instead of encrypting them. Security researchers at Imperva analyzed the findings and came up with some interesting findings, among them that the most popular password is "123456", followed by, you guessed it, "12345","123456789", and "password". Here are some other findings from the study:
In just 110 attempts, a hacker will typically gain access to one new account on every second or a mere 17 minutes to break into 1000 accounts
About 30% of users chose passwords whose length is equal or below six characters Moreover, almost 60% of users chose their passwords from a limited set of alpha-numeric characters
Nearly 50% of users used names, slang words, dictionary words or trivial passwords (consecutive digits, adjacent keyboard keys, and so on
What does this mean? Well first and foremost people need to be a lot smarter about choosing passwords. Hackers have software than can crack a numerical password in seconds, which is why you should NEVER and I mean NEVER have a password made up of consecutive numbers. Passwords like "password" are very unsafe as well. When wireless networking first became popular, most people unknowingly left their computers wide open to hackers because they kept the default username and password that came with their routers. The username is usually the brand of the router or "admin" and the password "password". It's extremely important to change this information when setting up a new router and to also enable WPA security (WEP is not as secure).
Never use an easily guessable password such as "QWERTY" or your name. The most secure passwords are a mix of letters and numbers and at least 7 characters long. Most importantly, never use the same password for every site you're on, because if a hacker gets it he gets everything. Vary your passwords.
How can users' safety be further insured? Well for starters RockYou.com and any other site guilty of the same can stop users from choosing weak passwords. Twitter has a blacklist of passwords it won't allow that includes "12345", "QWERTY", and "password" and all sites should be doing the same.
Hackers and spammers are getting more and more sophisticated so our passwords and other protections need to follow suit.
Pentax, in anticipation of the PMA show, unveiled three new digital cameras. They are: Optio I-10, Optio H90 and the E90. Each camera is in a very different class from DSLR-like to stylish and thin to cheap and impressive. The cameras are available for pre-order now, shipping is expected in February of 2010.
The standout of the group is the E90. How Pentax was able to pack 10 megapixels into a sub $100 device is remarkable. The E90 features 3x zoom, AA battery compatibility, a rubberized coating for grip, 6400 ISO for stopping the action, and a 2.7 LCD screen for viewing. Pentax says they kept the menus simple and easy. Price is $99.
The Optio I-10 borrows heavily in design from SLR cameras. The wide angle lens has a 5x zoom while the sensor captures up to 12.1 megapixels. You’ll find a 2.7 LCD screen here too, but in 16:9 for a cinematic when playing back images and movies, according to Pentax. The unit features a triple anti shake system to keep images sharp. Price is $299.
The Optio H90 hops on the “functional beauty” train, dressed to impress in it’s polycarbonate and aluminum construction. The 12.1 megapixel shooter is geared for fashion and convenience with a small body and flashy colors. Thhe H90 features a 5x zoom and can record movies in 720 HD quality. Price is $179.
Press Release below.
PENTAX Unveils Three New Digital Cameras: Optio I-10 and Optio H90 Kick-off New Product Lines and Affordable Optio E90 Priced under One Hundred Dollars
GOLDEN, Colo.—(Business Wire)—Jan 25, 2010 PENTAX Imaging Company announced three new compact digital cameras. Most unique is the slim and stylish PENTAX Optio I-10 with a design inspired by the classic look of film SLR cameras. The new Optio features a flash unit and speaker in the upper mid-section of the SLR-shaped body while the camera's front panel is embellished with high quality leatherette texture and the classic PENTAX logo placed front and center. The Optio I-10 features a wide angle, 5X optical zoom lens (28mm-140mm equivalent), a 12.1 megapixel high resolution CCD sensor, a 2.7 inch widescreen LCD, and HD video capture at 720p and 30 FPS. For optimal image capture, the camera features a mechanical sensor shift Shake Reduction system for blur-free images as well as Smile Capture, Blink Detection and improved Face Detection that spots up to 32 faces including dogs and cats. The Optio I-10 is remote control compatible (sold separately) and will ship in February 2010 in a choice of Classic Black and Pearl White for $299.95 USD.
PENTAX also announced the Optio H90 digital camera with a clean, contemporary design that was developed with the concept of "functional beauty" in mind. The fashionable and affordable Optio H90 offers a full assortment of features to capture a variety of subjects and scenes. This first model in the new Optio H line features a wide angle 5X optical zoom lens (28mm-140mm equivalent), a 12.1 megapixel high resolution CCD sensor, and widescreen HD video capture at 720p and 30 FPS. Improved Pixel Track Shake Reduction technology captures blur-free images and the Face Detection, Smile Capture, and Blink Detection functions help users create better portraits. The Optio H90 will ship in February 2010 in a choice of Orange-Silver, Matte Black and Ceramic White for $179.95.
Both the PENTAX Optio I-10 and Optio H90 offer Eye-Fi connectivity capability for use with Eye-Fi wireless memory cards.
Finally, the latest model in the affordable Optio E series is the PENTAX Optio E90. Priced at just $99.95 USD, the Optio E90 features a 10 megapixel CCD, a 3X wide angle zoom (32mm-96mm equivalent) and a large 2.7 inch LCD housed in a luxurious rubber coated body for a sure grip. The Optio E90's travel-friendly design with AA battery compatibility features an Auto Picture mode that selects the best shooting settings for the scene, and a high 6400 ISO that freezes subject movement in Digital SR (Shake Reduction) mode. The Optio E90 features an intelligent ergonomic design with a sure grip and an easy menu that makes the E series a popular choice. Available in Black and Wine Red, the Optio E90 will ship in February 2010.
Each model is available for pre-order now on the www.pentaxwebstore.com.
Complete information including individual product fact sheets is available here: http://www.pentaximaging.com/about-us.aspx?p=press.
Product images are available here: http://www.pentaximaging.com/press/pressfiles.html.
PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of a variety of digital cameras including weather resistant digital SLRs and stylish, compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. For 90 years, PENTAX has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc.
Motorola has filed a complaint against RIM with the U.S. International Trade Commission over a patent dispute. The company claims that RIM is selling products that infringe on 5 of it's patents related to Wi-Fi access, power management and user interfaces. It wants the ITC to block RIM from importing, marketing and selling its BlackBerry smartphones that use those technologies. They say RIM has refused to cooperate with them.
“In light of RIM’s continued unlicensed use of Motorola’s patents RIM’s use of delay tactics in our current patent litigation, and RIM’s refusal to design out Motorola’s proprietary technology, Motorola has no choice but to file a complaint with the ITC to halt RIM’s continued infringement,” Jonathan Meyer, Motorola’s vice president of intellectual property law, said in a statement.
The two companies have been feuding since 2008. RIM claims Motorola is infringing on 9 of their patents and that it charges unreasonable fees to license its patents. Hopefully the ITC can make the children…I mean companies…place nice. If RIM were to be blocked from importing and selling its wildly popular BlackBerrys, it could be a severe blow to their bottom line.
So far RIM has refused to comment on the issue. It's also dealing with a lawsuit from Kodak over a patent issue involving image previews.
Google Voice is a great service, but its functionality becomes even better if you can use it on a phone. Google has created a web app using HTML5 web browser on both the iPhone and WebOS phones. HTML5 allows powerful web apps to work with more efficiency. As long as you have an iPhone running 3.0 software or a WebOS phone, then you can use Google Voice straight from your browser. 
When RockYou.com's servers were breached last month, 32 million passwords were stolen and posted on the Internet. RockYou committed a grave error by storing them in clear text instead of encrypting them. Security researchers at Imperva analyzed the findings and came up with some interesting findings, among them that the most popular password is "123456", followed by, you guessed it, "12345","123456789", and "password". Here are some other findings from the study:
Motorola has filed a complaint against RIM with the U.S. International Trade Commission over a patent dispute. The company claims that RIM is selling products that infringe on 5 of it's patents related to Wi-Fi access, power management and user interfaces. It wants the ITC to block RIM from importing, marketing and selling its BlackBerry smartphones that use those technologies. They say RIM has refused to cooperate with them. 
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