Uhhhh… Oh, my aching head. Sorry. Don’t know what’s wrong with me. I know I’m not sick. I was even out and about yesterday, enjoying some unseasonably warm weather. Now I’m at home, multitasking a phone call and rocking some work on the laptop… and… Oh crap. Maybe I should go lie down…

Sound familiar? If so, you might want to stop eyeing your pet as an allergy instigator — and start looking at the gizmo you’ve been pressing close to your face. That’s right, you might be allergic to your cell phone.

There’s a new report that has unearthed a fairly stunning number: As many as 250,000 people in Sweden have been found to be allergic to the radio waves that come off mobile phones when calls are placed or received.

It’s called electro-hypersensitivity (or EHS), and it causes all sorts of weird, ill-feeling reactions like nausea, dizziness, headaches and even breathing difficulty, heartbeat irregularities and fainting. (If you’re a “Ghost Hunters” fan, you’ve probably seen Grant and Jay explain how electro-magnetic fields can cause similar reactions in people, and this is basically the same thing.)

It’s tough to know how far away is a prudent distance to keep a phone (even using a headset or hands-free kit). This is because different handsets put out different levels of radiation, so there isn’t a single guideline for this. To complicate things even more, it’s not just your cellie. Other gadgets create electro-magnetic radiation, like computers and televisions. (I’m usually surrounded by all three — and often using them simultaneously. At this rate, it’s a wonder I’m not constantly fainting.)

According to Popular Science, close to three percent of the Swedish population battles EHS. That’s actually a big percentage, and has lead to the country being the only one to categorize the affliction as a functional impairment. In fact, Sweden entitles EHS sufferers with similar rights and services it affords the blind and deaf communities. (People documented with EHS can even install metal shielding at home on the local government’s dime.)

As an example, the magazine delves into the plight of Per Segerbäck, a former telecommunications engineer at Ellemtel, a division of Ericsson. For 20 years, Segerbäck took a “non-ionizing radiation bath, from computers, fluorescent lights and the telecom antenna located right outside his window.”

Segerbäck lives on a nature reserve, practically free from electricity. This image was shot on film in broad daylight, to avoid triggering Segerbäck’s hypersensitivity.
(Image courtesy of Popular Science)

How electro-hypersensitive is Segerbäck? Very. Whenever he is anywhere near a mobile phone in use, he feels like there is “not enough room in my skull for my brain.” One time, he was on a sailboat when someone below decks placed a call on his cell. The result was headache, nausea, and unconsciousness. Today, he lives on a nature reserve 75 miles away from Stockholm.

The debate over the physical affects of electronics in our lives has been ongoing. And the case made about cell phones causing cancer has been nowhere near proven, at least conclusively. (There have been multiple studies published on both sides.) Even so, we live in a modern era, and en masse, we are likely exposed to higher radiation levels on a regular basis than any previous generation in recorded history. It’s not hard to imagine that this could affect us on a very physical level. But how many of us could take ourselves off the grid, like Segerbäck?

For many people today, our very livelihoods depend on technology, whether that’s sitting at a computer all day in a cubicle or reviewing cell phones. Luckily, it seems that the vast majority of people aren’t susceptible to this condition, but for those of us who are — take special care. And make a note: Is that undeniable queasiness occurring when you’re around electronics?

Via: SmartPlanet, ZDNet, PopSci

Let’s see … CLIQ, Droid, Devour, Backflip, and now CLIQ XT. I’ve been seeing A LOT of the Motorola PR people over the past few months. In the past few weeks, even, Devour, Backflip and CLIQ XT have dropped in rapid sequence, establishing Motorola and Motoblur as the first on the block to get messaging phone-style Android devices out to the major US carriers (Sprint notwithstanding).

Just because you’re first to the game doesn’t mean you’re going to win it, however. So how does CLIQ XT, the latest in the MotoBlur assault on America, stack up? After precisely one minute less than one full day with it, this is what I can tell you:

– The phone ships with Android 1.5 installed, just like Backflip, instead of 1.6 like Devour. Not really sure why. Kind of a drag. But a 2.x upgrade is forthcoming, at least.

– Performance-wise, CLIQ XT is roughly on par with CLIQ and the original Devour, though it seems to have been spared the lag that marred my Backflip loaner. This ain’t no Nexus One, but the device isn’t maddeningly slow, either.

– The phone feels good in the hand. CLIQ XT is lightweight but not flimsy, plastic but not super cheap feeling, and its rounded corners and relatively slim profile should render it easily pocketable. 

– You get two back covers in the box: One dark grey/black and textured, the other purple and smooth. Too bad I had so much trouble taking them on and off.

– Multitouch is good. Out of the box CLIQ XT offers pinch-and-zoom in both the Web Browser and Photo Gallery, and despite my not being entirely sure when I’m supposed to zoom in on a photo and when I’m instead rotating it, the system works well. The capacitive touch display is pretty responsive, all in all. So far. After less than a full day. I mean, barely less, but still less.

– CLIQ XT’s trackpad is so much more useful than Devour’s optical D-Pad I don’t even know what to say. Except that it’s bigger, centered instead of offset to the left (great when Devour’s keyboard is open, lousy when it’s shut), and bigger. Did I mention that it’s bigger? It’s true. And so it’s more usable, even if it’s not quite perfect.

– A 3.1″ display isn’t really all that small, but Motorola managed to make it look small by surrounding it with a lot of plastic on the CLIQ XT. There’s just too much bezel here. I’m not sure how you get around that, given the phone’s proportions, but as with the other recent Motoblur phones, I found myself wanting less plastic and more display on XT.  The MotoPeople hinted that more Droid-style devices (larger displays, less bezel) are headed to the US later this year.

– XT gets two new apps (well, more than two, but two of note, anyway): Swype and Connected Music Player.

Swype is that new dance craze that’s sweeping the land. First you stick your finger out, then you trace a line through the letters in whatever word your spelling (as opposed to tapping them one by one). Swype works well, and works well on CLIQ XT, too. The first time I tried Swype I didn’t like it, but the MotoPeople helped me to understand that because I’m a “two thumb typist,” I probably won’t like Swype as much as the single finger typists for whom Swype was made. That makes sense. And, it turns out, most of you are single finger pointers when it comes to using touchscreen phones. So there you go. Meanwhile, I can turn Swype off and use the standard Android keyboard instead. Or replace it with something else after I ask John Walton what Android keyboard I should use. I can’t keep up.

Connected Music Player is a music player app with integrated streaming radio, music video search & playback, TuneWiki integration, and a Shazam-style song ID tool. You can listen to me try to trick the song ID tool into thinking I’m even remotely on key in my unboxing video.

– The rest is pretty standard smartphone fare: 5 MP camera, 3.5mm audio jack, 2GB microSD card slot, microUSB port, GPS, 3G & WiFI, Bluetooth, and so on. How cool is it that that spec list consitutes “standard fare” these days? Remember when I used to complain about phones that had weird non-standard headphone jacks? That used to be EVERY phone. Hooray for progress!

More on XT as I use it more. I think I might have to come up with some suitably entertaining way to compare the new Motoblurs. Like a Dogfight video or something.  Hmm … 

Noah gets hands-on with the newest MotoBlur phone, the CLIQ XT for T-Mobile. Full touchscreen with multitouch, new connected music app and more.

Like games?  Then webOS might be the place to be (assuming you’re not an Apple fan).  Palm today announced the Plug-In Development Kit (PDK) for webOS.  According to the “Overview” section of the PDK, “the Plug-In Development Kit (PDK) is a new component of the webOS SDK that lets developers use C and C++ alongside the web technologies that power the SDK, and even mix them seamlessly within a single application.”

The press release is below, and the beta is available today.  Gamers, excited about the news?  Let the programming begin!

Palm webOS PDK Public Beta Now Available
Palm Demonstrates New Games at Game Developers Conference

March 09, 2010 09:00 AM Eastern Time
Game Developers Conference 2010

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Game Developers Conference (GDC) – Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ:PALM) today announced that a public beta version of the Palm® webOS™ Plug-in Development Kit (PDK) is now available at the Palm Developer Center (developer.palm.com). Palm is demonstrating new games from early PDK developers in its booth at GDC (No. 2016).

The PDK complements the Palm webOS Software Development Kit (SDK), letting developers use C and C++ alongside the web technologies that power the SDK and mix them seamlessly within a single app. The PDK enables new functionality, including immersive 3D graphics, and gives developers who have built games for other platforms an easy way to bring their titles to the webOS platform. Developers can download the beta PDK and start developing today, but distribution of games built with the beta PDK will require functionality provided in an upcoming Palm webOS update.

“Palm webOS is the go-to platform for great games on two of the three leading carrier networks,” said Katie Mitic, senior vice president, Product Marketing, Palm, Inc. “We have both the developer tools and the hardware necessary for a world-class gaming experience, and an impressive portfolio of webOS game titles from top-notch developers to show for it.”

At CES in January, Palm introduced 12 games built by four leading developers with early access to the PDK:

* “Asphalt 5” (Gameloft)
* “Brain Challenge®” (Gameloft)
* “Glyder 2” (Glu Mobile)
* “Let’s Golf!” (Gameloft)
* “MONOPOLY” (EA Mobile™)
* “Need for Speed™ Undercover” (EA Mobile)
* “SCRABBLE” (EA Mobile)
* “Sudoku” (EA Mobile)
* “Tetris®” (EA Mobile)
* “The Oregon Trail” (Gameloft)
* “The Sims™ 3” (EA Mobile)
* “X-Plane” (Laminar Research)

Since then, more than 20 exciting webOS titles have been launched by these early-access developers:

* “Apollo” (Laminar Research)
* “Assassin’s Creed™ – Altair’s Chronicles” (Gameloft)
* “Brothers In Arms®: Hour of Heroes” (Gameloft)
* “Castle of Magic” (Gameloft)
* “Deer Hunter 3D” (Glu Mobile)
* “Dungeon Hunter” (Gameloft)
* “Earthworm Jim” (Gameloft)
* “Gangstar: West Coast Hustle” (Gameloft)
* “Giant Fighting Robots” (Laminar Research)
* “Guitar Hero 5 Mobile” (Glu Mobile)
* “Hero of Sparta” (Gameloft)
* “Real Soccer 2010” (Gameloft)
* “Real Tennis” (Gameloft)
* “World Series of Poker: Hold’em Legend” (Glu Mobile)
* “X-Plane Airliner” (Laminar Research)
* “X-Plane Carrier” (Laminar Research)
* “X-Plane Extreme” (Laminar Research)
* “X-Plane Glider” (Laminar Research)
* “X-Plane Helicopter” (Laminar Research)
* “X-Plane Racing” (Laminar Research)
* “X-Plane Space Shuttle” (Laminar Research)

“The Palm webOS PDK is extremely powerful and far-reaching, as evidenced by the number of titles we’ve been able to bring to the webOS platform in a very short time,” said Baudouin Corman, vice president of publishing, Americas, Gameloft. “It’s quite difficult to make a great phone that’s also an outstanding gaming platform; Palm has been successful delivering both.”

More information about the beta PDK is available at the Palm Developer Center (developer.palm.com). More information about games for Palm webOS is available at www.palm.com/applications.

About Palm, Inc.

Palm, Inc. creates intuitive and powerful mobile experiences that enable consumers and businesses to connect to their information in more useful and usable ways. The company’s groundbreaking Palm® webOS™ platform, designed exclusively for mobile application, introduces true multitasking and Palm Synergy™, which brings your information from the many places it resides into a single, more comprehensive view of your life.

Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels, and at the Palm online store (www.palm.com/store).

More information about Palm, Inc. is available at www.palm.com.

Palm, Synergy, and webOS are trademarks of Palm, Inc. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Via Engadget, image via SlashGear
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Thanks to the internet (and/or tipsters), unboxing shots of T-Mobile’s HTC HD2 have surfaced on the internet.  Looking good with the T-Mobile branding and stylish box, there’s not a great deal of new information here.  But hey, pictures are worth a thousand words!  On that note, check out the pictures below, and click through to BGR for all of the unboxing shots!

Via BGR
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If you were undecided about the Plus versions of the Palm Pre or Pixi, here’s some news that might tip the scales for you: Various retailers are practically giving away these phones, in an effort to bolster sluggish sales.

First, Verizon ditched the mail-in rebates and is offering a BOGO promotion. (Buy one Pre Plus or Pixi Plus, at $150 or $80, respectively) and get another of equal or lesser value for free.

Budget-conscious WebOS fans can do even better with third-party stores: Certain Wirefly affiliates (like PreCentral’s) and Amazon are charging only $39.99 for the Pre Plus and the rock-bottom price of zero for the Pixi Plus. (Well, okay — Amazon’s technically selling it for a penny.)

That should help a little in offsetting that pricey 3G Mobile Hotspot feature, no? At $40 (for 5 GB, with 5 cents per MB overage), users could use all the help they can get. So is anyone buying?

Via: PreCentral

UPDATE: And the prices keep on dropping: Walmart‘s selling the Pre Plus for $30, and giving away the Pixi Plus for nothing. (Wow, wonder how much longer it will be before retailers start paying customers to take these off their hands…)

 

One of my favorite things about air travel?  Besides listening to Lionel Richie’s You Are and hearing the gentle hum of the engines, it’s fact that there’s absolutely no cell phones allowed.  Needless to say, it’s very peaceful – and minus Wi-Fi, it’s the only place where I can’t be found for a few hours.  Should ASiQ’s technology take off (no pun intended), we could see a change in the way we use our devices while in the air. 

The access point eliminates the need for a picocell on board the aircraft, utilizing the satellite connection instead.  The company’s SafeCell technology, combined with the Bluetooth Access Point, allows for extremely small file sizes, along with the possibility to transmit up to 3 Mbps.  With a price of approximately $10,000 per airplane, ASiQ’s Bluetooth Access Point would allow passengers to utilize cellular services (SMS, MMS, voice messaging, and e-mail) while in-flight.  Two access points are needed to cover a narrow body aircraft, and the technology supports up to 192 passengers.

How do you feel about this?  Let me rephrase – frequent flyers, how do you feel about this?  One more step towards full phone use on a plane, or a nice step towards communication while traveling?

Via PhoneScoop, PRWeb
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April Fool’s Day is a month away, and yet I feel like my leg is being pulled. Apple and Microsoft are pals now?

In a speech last week at the University of Washington, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made the following statement: “Apple’s done a very nice job that allows people to monetize and commercialize their intellectual property.” Wow, talk about a new attitude. Ballmer has been known to criticize Apple and even laugh at the iPhone. Now this latest item has some experts wondering if this 180-degree turnaround is somewhat related to the Apple vs. Google war.

There have been rumors that the iPhone will dump Google search (via the mobile Safari browser), and replace it with Bing. Ah, okay. If that pans out, then it would explain Ballmer’s newfound congeniality toward Cupertino and the handset he used to sneer at. The Seattle Times tried to get Ballmer to comment on the situation (or as TUAW put it, asked him if there’s an “enemy of my enemy is my friend” situation brewing). To that, Ballmer acted almost coquettish: He demured, smiled, replied that he couldn’t answer that, and then drove away.

The thought of a Microsoft-Apple relationship makes me wonder if I’m in bizarro land. And the tension between Apple and Google seems to be going beyond “just business” now; like there’s something mysteriously personal fueling Steve Jobs’ strategy. He seems so fired up, he’s willing to partner with almost anyone — even rivals who’ve previously bashed his work — to take on Google. (And on a side note: If Bing lands on the iPhone, does it mean Jobs doesn’t really see Microsoft’s other pet project, Windows Phone 7 series, as a threat?)

Wow, who needs soap operas when we’ve got the mobile tech sector to tune into?

Maybe this drama will spawn “Pirates of Silicon Valley, Part 2.” I’m pretty sure the original TV movie’s star — Noah Wyle, who portrayed a young Jobs — has plenty of space in his schedule for it. William H. Macy would make an awesome Eric Schmidt. As for Ballmer — Craig T. Nelson’s ability to simultaneously turn red at the drop of a hat and play nice as needed would make him a shoe in.

Via: Today’s iPhone, TUAW

It’s not all that exciting, but the Samsung Stunt is performing tricks at Cricket retail outlets across the United States.  Complete with a color screen and a slim size, it’s a good entry-level device for Mom or the casual talker.  Most importantly, the device packs Bluetooth functionality at a low price (“to our most affordable tier of devices,” according to Cricket) – a useful feature, given the restrictions in many states across the US.

The Samsung Stunt can be had for $99.99 (sans contract) at Cricket retail stores, online at mycricket.com, and via telesales at 800-922-9169.  Check out the press release below for more information!

Cricket Introduces Samsung Stunt™
~Sleek Bar Phone Provides Mobile Web and Large Display at Affordable Price~
 
SAN DIEGO AND DALLAS – March 9, 2010 – Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited wireless services and subsidiary of Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP), and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)[1] the No.1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.[2], today announced the availability of the new Samsung Stunt™ (SCH-R100).
 
A slim, sleek and stylish bar phone, the Samsung Stunt comes loaded with Mobile Web, Games & Apps, BluetoothTM, long battery life, speakerphone and voice commands. In addition, Crickets MyBackup, which enables subscribers to automatically protect their mobile contacts without the hassle of data cables, is available via a link in the contact list. The Samsung Stunt is a sophisticated evolution from its predecessor, the Samsung SCH-R211, and features a larger and more vibrant 128 x 160 color display and slimmer design. The Samsung Stunt measures 4.22” x 1.73” x .54” and weighs 2.61 oz.
 
“The Samsung Stunt provides a slender, smart design and introduces BluetoothTM to our most affordable tier of devices,” said Matt Stoiber, vice president and general manager of devices for Cricket. “And with its friendly user interface, it offers a sophisticated experience while remaining easy to use.”
 
The Samsung Stunt is now available for $99.99 at Cricket retail stores, dealers, mycricket.com and by calling 800-922-9169.  For more information, please visit www.mycricket.com or www.samsungwireless.com.

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Announced in November 2009, the LG eXpo was intended to be the “phone with a projector.”  As it stands today, it has become the phone that is out of stock.  According to industry insiders, “production hurdles” are keeping the device off of retail shelves.  LG and AT&T claim that the device is out of stock due to “strong demand,” while Ari Stewart, Vice President of wireless products at AuthenTec, claims that the eXpo suffered from “antenna issues.”  “We shipped thousands of [sensors] to LG…but there has been a delay,” Stewart said.  When pressed about the issue, LG said “We are working with all our partners to address this issue and expect to have product available soon.”

The eXpo is the manufacturer’s second smartphone (after the Incite), and in a competitive smartphone environment, the manufacturer is working hard to move into the No. 2 spot by 2012 (as it stands, LG is the third largest phone manufacturer in the world).  LG is rumored to be the first to launch a device with Windows Phone 7 Series installed, so should that come to fruition, it could translate into a sales boon for the company.

Via Forbes
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In like a lion, out like a lamb, and full of oddly cryptic teasers for mobile tech launch events. Ahh yes, March!

Two weeks before CTIA and the press invites are starting to fly around the ether. Just now this cryptic teaser arrived courtesy of Samsung Mobile, leaving us all to ponder that eternal question: What’s S Life?

Like you, I have no idea. Like you, I’ll find out on March 23. And like you, I’m excited that it’s “as much a feeling as it is an incredible achievement.” Until then, guesses anyone? Post your thoughts on S Life – and just what Samsung might be unpacking in the Vegas desert a few weeks’ hence – in the comments.

If you recall, Verizon Wireless and Skype inked an agreement earlier in the year, giving Big Red exclusive rights to the VoIP provider for international calls.  That being said, there’s a number of people that have never used the service, and as such, Verizon and Skype have created a Skype Mobile video.  Complete with Verizon logos peppered in at all possible points, the video explains how to use the service to make international calls.

All in all, it’s quite the exciting deal, and will be a nice feature for Verizon Wireless subscribers.  Check out the video below for more information, and let me know – something you will use, or not?

{Widget type=”youtube” id=”AhBfA2rkZvM&”}

Via PhoneArena
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If you’ve been contemplating boarding the Verizon train lately (or already have), you might be interested to know what’s in store for the future.  Back in August of 2009, Verizon began field trials of their LTE (read: 4G) network in two US test markets and just recently posted their results.

Peak Results

“Trials in Boston and Seattle indicate the network is capable of peak download speeds of 40 to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and peak upload speeds of 20 to 25 Mbps. The speeds are significantly faster than Verizon Wireless and other wireless providers’ current or promised 3G network speeds.”

Realistic Results 

“Verizon Wireless engineers report LTE average data rates of 5-12 Mbps on the downlink and 2-5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world environments and will offer Verizon Wireless customers mobile browsing speeds comparable to customers’ current, typical online Internet experience.”

As you might assume, companies will often “talk up” their high speeds, great products, and great service with what often results in delusions of grandeur.  When they announce that tests have exceeded their expectations, however, you tend to take notice.  Verizon’s Jeffrey Nelson did just that in a phone conversation recently, stating that their network tests were “faster than we’ve ever suggested,” and that their “network team is shocked.”

Unfortunately, unless you live in Boston or Seattle, you are currently unable to experience these high speeds (and even if you did there’s not a phone out there capable of fully utilizing LTE, to my knowledge).  However, the good news is that Verizon plans on bringing LTE to your doorstep by the end of the year.

“Our LTE rollout plan positions Verizon Wireless to be a global leader in 4G LTE deployment. We are on track to deliver an outstanding wireless data experience to customers in 25 to 30 markets covering roughly 100 million people by year’s end,” said Tony Melone, senior vice president and chief technical officer at Verizon Wireless.

It looks like Verizon will be gradually ushering in LTE throughout the rest of the year, and I’m hoping for a leaked roadmap and 4G capable phones to come soon!  Who’s excited about 4G on Big Red?  Sound off in the comments!

For the nitty gritty, see the press release below.

Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Network Testing Promises Significantly Faster Speeds Than Current 3G Networks
Available to 100 Million Americans in 25 to 30 U.S. Markets by End of 2010

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless announced today that its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network field trials in the United States have demonstrated wireless data speeds that are significantly faster than today’s 3G network speeds. Trials in Boston and Seattle indicate the network is capable of peak download speeds of 40 to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and peak upload speeds of 20 to 25 Mbps. The speeds are significantly faster than Verizon Wireless and other wireless providers’ current or promised 3G network speeds.

Verizon Wireless has been testing its forthcoming 4G LTE network in both Boston and Seattle since August, 2009. Successful data calls involved streaming video, file uploads and downloads, and Web browsing, as well as calls with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to enable voice transmissions over the LTE network. Verizon Wireless engineers report LTE average data rates of 5-12 Mbps on the downlink and 2-5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world environments and will offer Verizon Wireless customers mobile browsing speeds comparable to customers’ current, typical online Internet experience.

“Our LTE rollout plan positions Verizon Wireless to be a global leader in 4G LTE deployment. We are on track to deliver an outstanding wireless data experience to customers in 25 to 30 markets covering roughly 100 million people by year’s end,” said Tony Melone, senior vice president and chief technical officer at Verizon Wireless. “As device makers, manufacturers and others around the world begin to introduce newer and faster products to take advantage of these incredible new speeds, Verizon Wireless will be positioned to offer our customers new and exciting products on the nation’s first 4G LTE network.”

By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment in the United States, Verizon Wireless is capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless broadband network with excellent coverage and in-building penetration. Verizon Wireless is currently installing LTE equipment at existing cell sites and switching centers around the United States as part of its extensive, ongoing investment in its voice and data network infrastructure.

Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.

Via BGR, Computerworld

 

Just one day after AT&T’s first Android device – the Motorola BACKFLIP – went on sale, the complaints are already filing in, suggesting AT&T has missed the point with Android.  These are pretty strong words considering the short amount of time the device has been on the market.  However, it seems to be a fairly universal opinion.  MobileCrunch has even gone as far as to say “Don’t buy it.”

We already knew from last week that AT&T was replacing Google with Yahoo! as the native search engine, however, this is just one of a few blunders rendering the BACKFLIP undesirable by Android enthusiasts.  Apparently, if you want to install an app that’s not offered in the Android Market, you’re out of luck.  To “protect” its customers, AT&T has blocked this functionality on the phone.  This also hinders the ability of beta testers and developers to test any apps that aren’t obtainable through the market.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, you may remember from last weeks slew of articles that AT&T has taken the liberty of pre-installing over 10 of their own branded apps on the BACKFLIP.   Apps that can’t be removed.  Let’s say you can live with the fact that Yahoo! is your new search engine of choice, and that you can only obtain apps directly from the Android Market.  Despite that, you’re still forced to look at 10 apps you may not want – and you’re constantly reminded of the valuable memory wasted.

But hey, at least you’ve got rollover minutes, right?  And not everyone gets to keep their unused minutes!  Sound off in the comments!

Motorola Backflip Review | Unboxing

Via AndroidandMe, MobileCrunch

I LOVE football season!  Don’t get me wrong March Madness is great, but Super Bowl Sunday will always be #1 in my book. So for those of you looking to stay in the know like me, the NFL and Verizon Wireless are bringing football to life on your mobile device.  

Verizon Wireless announced today that a new NFL Mobile program will kick off next month providing their customers with the “deepest NFL experience”.  Coverage will begin April 22nd with the 2010 NFL Draft.  Once the football season starts, the program will also offer on-demand video highlights, live radio broadcasts of weekly games, and access to fantasy football stats. 

Full pricing and device information is pending.  Find Verizon’s full press release is below.

NFL MOBILE KICKS OFF WITH VERIZON WIRELESS IN APRIL
 
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and NEW YORK – The National Football League (NFL) has joined forces with Verizon Wireless, the owner and operator of the nation’s most reliable wireless network, to provide fans with the deepest NFL experience on their mobile phones, it was announced today.  The new four-year agreement for NFL Mobile kicks off next month with coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft to be held from April 22-24 and continues with the NFL’s regular season.
 
Verizon Wireless, which also becomes the NFL’s official wireless service sponsor, will provide fans with unprecedented access to America’s favorite sport regardless of whether they are in the stands, at home, or on the go.
 
Among the programming that will be available for the first time during the regular season will be the wildly popular NFL RedZone channel from the NFL Network, which airs live look-ins of every key play and touchdown from Sunday afternoon games.  Fans also will be able to watch live streaming of NBC’s Sunday Night Football and NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football.  In addition, fans will receive the NFL Network channel, which airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis, and is the only network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football.
 
“This is an agreement that has, at its core a mutual desire by both the NFL and Verizon Wireless to provide consumers with what they want on and off the field,” said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.  “For Verizon Wireless, it is NFL content delivered over our 3G network so football fans can extend the excitement of the sport long after the last touchdown of a season.  And the NFL content is customizable in that consumers have options from video to ringtones to alerts; the choice is theirs.”
 
The NFL experience will become increasingly rich as Verizon Wireless launches its 4G network.  It plans to have 4G available in 25 to 30 markets in 2010 and in virtually all of its current nationwide 3G footprint by the end of 2013.
 
“We are looking forward to working with Verizon Wireless to deliver our fans the most extensive experience on mobile phones,” said Brian Rolapp, the NFL’s senior vice president of media strategy.  “Our fans have an insatiable appetite for football, and we will be able to keep them connected wherever they are on game day but also throughout the year.”
 
In addition to NFL RedZone, live Sunday Night and Thursday Night games, and NFL Network, other features of NFL Mobile on Verizon Wireless will include:
 
·         Video: Game highlights and an extensive collection of on-demand video featuring analysis and inside access from NFL Network and NFL Films.

·         Audio: Live radio broadcasts of every regular season and playoff game from both home and away teams.

·         Fantasy: Access to fantasy information, news, and player and team statistics.

·         Customizable NFL alerts, ringtones and graphics.

Fans will get their first taste of NFL Mobile on Verizon Wireless with one of the most anticipated sports events of the year, the NFL Draft, to be held from April 22-24.  Among the content:
 
·         Live 24/7 stream of NFL Network’s coverage of the Draft from Radio City Music Hall.

·         Extensive collection of on-demand video of NFL Network analysis.

·         Pick-by-pick Draft tracker updated in real time.

·         In-depth prospect profiles, blogs, news and more.

 
Additional information on specific phones and associated pricing will be available closer to the start of the NFL season in August.

These days we take it for granted that we should be able to have our phones on us at all times regardless of where we are or what’s going on around us. (Just ask the pastor at my brother’s wedding whose phone went off five minutes into his sermon!)

Why this is has become a hot debate amongst scientists.  Evidence is mounting that our phones and the information we access through them are genuinely addictive. Psychologist Susan Wienshenk claims that we get caught up in an addictive dopamine loop when we use our phones to access information, and that this causes us to lose control over our use of them. I’ve got to say this really rings true for me.

The thought of missing out on breaking news or otherwise being denied mobile access to information is literally driving us to distraction. Our phones may be smart, but our use of them is dumb and becoming dumber.

The National Safety Council reckons that 25% of all automobile accidents (1.6 million each year) are caused by drivers distracted by their mobile phone use, and that using a mobile increases the risk of a crash fourfold. I think this is obvious and it is inevitable that more and more states will follow the federal governments lead by banning mobile use for their employees and begin adopting legislation to limit or entirely eliminate the use of mobile phones in vehicles.

In the past year we have seen a veritable “pledge-fest” spring up on the Web as insurance companies, state governments, NGO’s, manufacturers, carriers and Oprah Winfrey all pile onto the bandwagon that will inevitably make the use of phones while driving as socially unacceptable as drunk driving. Personally I find the pledge sites themselves pretty lame and the pledges aren’t worth the virtual paper they’re written on, but their very existence points to the fact that the law is out of step with the underlying desires of the people (addicted though we are).

As it stands today 31 states have no partial or full ban at all on texting while driving and those states that do often levy relatively small penalties even in the case of accidents resulting in a death. Iowa is proposing a maximum fine of $1000. Not much for a life.

I grew up in the UK in the ‘70s and ‘80s and our (French made) car literally had more ashtrays than it did seatbelts. No one buckled up and car rides regularly ended with drivers and passengers flying through their windscreens. This doesn’t happen anymore. Adoption of safety belts in cars happened only because legislation was imposed upon car makers and the reluctant driving public. Such has been the impact of this change that now car manufacturers fall all over themselves to market vehicles as safe, and you are as likely to watch a car ad showing a vehicle flying off the road as you are to see the car cruising down it.

The mobile industry needs to take a page out of what is now the auto industry’s playbook. Pledges and legislation are responses to a vacuum that the mobile industry could and should be filling with technology.

The software already exists to prevent mobile phones from being used to send texts or surf the web when a handset is travelling at speed. Manufacturers, carriers and organizations with large field based employee groups should be installing this technology as standard – and for free — on all smartphones.

These solutions obviously aren’t foolproof but look at it this way: New cars these days have seatbelt alarms programmed to annoy us into buckling up. No one objects to this “contextual reminder” – in fact you’d think less of the manufacturer if it wasn’t there. Surely the same principle can apply to phones.

The industry has nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking the lead and helping us (for we are addicts after all) to use our smartphones to do smart things in a smart way. I can’t for the life of me work out why RIM, Apple, Nokia, etc. and all the carriers aren’t feasting off this opportunity already instead of starting yet another “pledge drive” … but then maybe it isn’t just us addicts who aren’t paying attention.

 

Check out BestBuy Mobile for other cellular news, videos, and How To’s.
 

New York Minute #3

I remember the day I looked around the crowded rush hour train and realized that 90% of the usually miserable commuters were blithely swaying to music from white earbuds cascading down the front of their black pea coats. The iPod takeover. Now, everyone and their mother has an iPhone. In fact, I think I got my grandmother hooked on Plants Vs. Zombies. Hey Nana, can I have my phone back now? No? Okay.

Seriously though, smartphones are everywhere! Maybe I just notice more iPhones because I have one, but I can decidedly say that NYC has iPhone fever. From the Brooklyn bodega owner to the woman on Central Park West with her teeny tiny dog (you sure that’s not a rat with a collar, lady?) to the Wall Street suits and the aspiring Broadway stars currently waiting tables at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, the iPhone has become an extension of their arm. This is a welcome takeover, of course. If everyone has an iPhone, it makes sharing contact information with the Bump app so much easier.

I’m sure everyone will agree with me that the current iPhone’s battery life leaves something to be desired, especially in a city where users are constantly checking into locations. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes just to check in on Foursquare, Gowalla and BrightKite. As a side note, the whole “checking in” thing is getting a little a out of hand, but I’ll discuss that later. We are all hoping for a battery life tune-up on the iPhone 4G so we can continue to bury our faces in our iPhones as life whizzes past us. New Yorkers have a hard time pulling themselves away even while crossing busy Manhattan streets. I am guilty of this myself and have also witnessed an iHipster almost getting sideswiped by a taxi while he tapped and swiped away, though he seemed to be most upset about the speeding cab ruffling his handlebar mustache, and not that it almost killed him.

I have to side with God – oops, I mean Oprah – here and say no to texting while driving. Since New Yorkers don’t drive, I actually mean no to texting – and iPhoneing in general – while strolling into oncoming traffic. That means you, dude reading Infinite Jest on your Amazon Kindle app. Have you ever really looked at the back of an NYC taxi? They say “We break for NOBODY.” True story. 

 

New York Minute #4

The constantly growing number of apps in the App Store is staggering and it can be daunting to sift through them and find ones that are suited to your interests and location. Here are my top three of the moment:

Tweetie 2

If you are Twitter-savvy, Tweetie 2 is the only client you need. (Editor’s Note: Unless, like me, you prefer Tweet Deck because it’s better – NK). The pull-down refresh-timeline option is my favorite feature mostly because of its adorable popping sound (I’m easily amused), but it also loads every tweet you missed so you can read them offline. Joy! You know how you get excited when you have a new @ reply or DM? Tweetie 2 lets you know about those right away with a fancy little blue light under each column. Like the web version of Twitter, the Tweetie 2 update has implemented the ubiquitously disliked new RT feature, making it impossible to comment on a retweet without using the awkward “Quote Tweet.” That aside, Tweetie 2 is the best Twitter client I’ve seen so far (Editor’s Note: Except for Tweet Deck, which lets you use the ubiquitously more-liked old-style RT feature, thus making it better – NK).

Plants Vs. Zombies

Popcap really does such a great job with their games. Inspired art, bright colors, excellent music and challenging gameplay make this my favorite addiction of the moment. Using sunshine to grow plants, you must choose which seed to plant in your yard or pool. That seed will become a weapon and ward off the zombies trying to eat your brain. I have wasted hours of my life on this game. No regrets. 

Time Out New York

An iPhone OS version of the popular guide to the city magazine, this is one of the most well-developed apps I’ve seen. Search Music/Nightlife, Arts, Eat, Drink, or Free & Cheap and you’ll find a thorough and comprehensive list of places to go and things to do arranged by neighborhood. My friend Jessie wanted to grab a drink in Chelsea last night and I used the app to scope out the perfect place. I ended up choosing the Rye House, a critics’ pick, described as “a dark, sultry bar with emphasis on American spirits.” In this case, “dark” was the keyword I was looking for since Jessie is like ten times hotter than I am.

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You know what baffles me? What baffles me is how someone could be tech-savvy enough to score a super hot, unreleased gadget and know it’s worth risking their job/friends/kneecaps to post video of it online for the rest of us nerds to drool over … and yet not be tech-savvy enough to take a half decent video of the thing.

Seriously, what is it with Mr. Blurrycam? Someone explain it to me.

That said, here’s a video of what the (can’t shoot a decent video for his/her life) poster claims to be the subject of much white hot rumorsauce adoration right now: The HTC Supersonic, a supposedly awesome, supposedly running Android, supposedly dual-mode CDMA/WiMax cell phone supposedly being prepped for launch on the Sprint sometime real soon. Like maybe at CTIA in two weeks?

I’m posting this video out of duty and loyalty to you, fair readers, but I’m not happy about it. Dude can’t even shoot an in-focus 45 second clip? Grrr.

Thanks, @MOE_GUNZ for the tip-off.

If Megan Fox can have a Motorola Devour, then you should be able to have one too.  And you can!  Available since February 25th, the Motorola Devour is available for $99 at Best Buy locations across the US.  That being said, I’ve been working with one, and have a few first impressions of the device.

At 4.55″ tall by 2.4″ wide by .61″ thick, the Devour is much larger than it looks in pictures.  It holds its own against other smartphones on the market when it comes to size, and it feels good in the hand as well.  Though it’s not as brash as the DROID when it comes to the sharp angles, you can see some similarities in the two devices.  The metal body is very nice, and makes the device look more expensive than it really is.

The Devour has a 600 MHz processor, and overall performance has been decent, with little to no lag.  With that in mind, it leads to the next topic…MOTOBLUR.  I’m not sure how I feel about MOTOBLUR.  On one hand, I like the concept of being able to organize everything in one place, but on the other hand, BLUR can feel like that strobe light at the club.  In other words, I often felt like it was too much going on at once.  If you so desire, you can customize, add, and remove the widgets to your liking, so there’s something you can do if the colors, text, and imagery becomes a blur (pun intended).

The QWERTY keyboard works well, though it’s not the best keyboard I’ve used by any means.  The keys are raised and curved slightly, making it relatively easy to feel them, but they’re a bit too squishy for my liking.  As such, I’ve found myself using the on-screen keyboard more than the physical QWERTY.  This is probably where I’ll break with every other journalist in the tech sphere, but I prefer the DROID’s keyboard to the Devour’s keyboard, due to the DROID’s flat QWERTY configuration and non-separated keys.  The optical trackpad was a nice touch, though I often questioned the need for it.

I really like the battery configuration on the Devour (and to a larger extent, the unibody construction).  Instead of a flimsy battery cover, the battery loads from the side, cutting down on manufacturing inconsistencies for a better build quality overall.  The sliding mechanism is decent, though there was a bit of wobble in my unit.  Again, I prefer the do-it-yourself slider on the DROID versus the mechanized sliding found on the Devour, but it’s something you should try out for yourself.

If you’re seeking a Motorola CLIQ variant on Verizon, this is your device.  Otherwise, given the proximity in regards to pricing, my recommendation would be to choose the DROID over the Devour.  Stay tuned for my full review of the device, coming soon!

It’s a regular occurence – prior to a major phone launch, manufacturers (and/or carriers) will often hold launch parties promoting the product.  To that end, T-Mobile USA is sending out invitations to an HD2 launch party on March 16th in New York City.  The date of the party lends major credence to the rumored March 24th retail launch date as well.  The company had alluded to a March launch in prior statements anyway, so the timing of everything makes sense.

With the device (presumably) so close to the retail shelves, will you splurge and pick one up?  Sound off in the comments!

Via Engadget