Mini-Update

No T-Mobile service in VT. So after a painful experience trying to fly back to Vermont (but, at least it was long) I am finally here. But, there is pretty much no T-Mobile service to speak of. It works in downtown and roaming in some random places, but that is pretty much it. So now I am back to using my trusty Verizon phone, which although lacks many of the cool data and multimedia features, works everywhere.

More updates to come

Rumor: First Smartphone with QCGA Resolution



A Taiwanese company is rumored to be the first company to release a Smartphone using QCGA resolution. This means it will have 240*320 resolution on its screen, a welcome improvement over most standard models today. It will also run on Windows Mobile 2005 (codename Magneto). However the model announced the D2000W does not seem to have Bluetooth or even a touchscreen. This will severly limit the desirability of such a device. It will probably also cost a small fortune.

[Mobile 9 News]

Google Unveils New Movie Showtime Search



SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc. (Nasdaq:GOOG - news) said on Wednesday movie showtimes are now available on its leading Web search engine and can be accessed via personal computers or mobile phones and other wireless devices that use short-message service.

The new feature also provides information such as theater locations and reviews, and enables users to search for movies by title, plot or genre.

Competitor Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - news), which is making a big move into entertainment, offers such data as movie showtimes, theater locations, reviews and ticketing purchasing through its Yahoo Movies section.

Users of Web-enabled mobile phones also can use Yahoo Movies to search by movie name or to find out what's playing at nearby theaters.

Google, Yahoo and most recently Microsoft Corp.'s (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) MSN Internet unit are battling to offer the most comprehensive Web search products since those services fuel fast-growing advertising revenues.

[Story and Picture From Yahoo! / Reuters]

One Is The Loneliest Number
Cellphones in the Green Mountains



Ever wonder what life would be like without decent cellphone coverage? Well since I live primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area I do not usually complain too much. I know that T-Mobile is not the greatest and lots of dead spots are located all over (especially in my own home), but generally almost every nook and cranny is covered. Not so with where I spent my four college years. Middlebury, Vermont. In Zip Code 05753 it was almost impossible to get a cell signal up until three or fours years ago. Its better now as analog and CDMA providers (Sprint and Verizon) have built towers around the hills. When I matriculated in 1999, it was very rare if not all together impossible to see students talking on cellphones while walking around campus. However, in my final year there in 2003 it was getting more and more common. Now I hear that it is all the norm as students no longer use their dorm phones (and outrageous long distance prices).

Well on February 24th I am going to return to Middlebury for a visit with some old friends. As I used to have Sprint PCS and Verizon this was no big deal as my phone would work just fine. But in the name of technological innovation and being a gadget hoarder I "upgraded" in December 2004 to my Sidekick II with T-Mobile. It uses a GSM network and is great for all my e-mail, data and calling needs I have in California, but I have a feeling its not going to be of much use in the Green Mountain State.... I will be sure to keep you updated.

[Middlebury]

Template Updated: Good or bad?

Today I decided to update the look and feel of the site a bit. Most things are in the same place, just tweaked a bit. Changed the colours to black from the blue with mini dots before. I think this looks more professional and eye catching, but not sure. If you have any thoughts or comments let me know. Thanks!

Netflix Gets Profiled in the NY Times
11% of SF Bay Residents are Customers...


Picture From the NY Times Article

Given the increasing popularity of these types of mail order movie rental service it is no surprise that the NY Times would want to profile the pioneer of them all. While Blockbuster, Amazon.com, and Walmart all want a share of the pie Netflix is the undoubted leader in the market. They operate over 30 distribution centers around the country and have the fastest response time of all the major companies getting into the field (also the best selection IMHO). You would think that all this competition from major US companies would give Netflix some concern. Well you would only be partly right. Turns out that after all is said and done, Netflix is not too scared of a little bit of competition from the other guys (and after using all three services I can see why - Netflix is consistently the ONLY service that had the selection, service and speed that I wanted). But the bosses over in Mountain View, CA are keeping an eye on the on-demand-download movie business, which is just starting to take off. Stay tuned for a nice long fight if downloading movies ever takes off.

[NY Times - Registration Required, FREE]

Verizon Aims To Enlarge Its "Can You Hear Me Now" Network
Makes announcement of new prepaid service.


Verizon Wireless today launched INpulse, the company's new prepaid wireless service. Available today, the service offers unlimited calling to other Verizon Wireless customers, as well as unlimited domestic night calling (after 9 PM,) for a flat rate of 99 cents per day. Daytime calls to non-Verizon customers cost 10 cents per minute. Calls to Canada and Mexico cost an extra 20 cents per minute; other countries cost an extra 50 cents per minute. Prepaid airtime expires at varying intervals depending on the value purchased. The service is available with two phones: the Kyocera KX 414 for $99.99, and the LG VX 3200 for $129.99. Each comes with $50 worth of airtime.

Story from [Phonescoop]
Direct Link to VZW Press Release

Sprint Sanyo MM-5600
Another Solid Sprint Sanyo Phone, high price included



Sprint has upgraded its line of solid Sanyo phones yet again. Upgraded specs and features with a price to match. The new multimedia phone, Sanyo MM-5600 includes the new standard 1.3 megapixel camera that can be stored on internal memory or miniSD card (why great yet another memory card format - smaller but more expensive). Sprint throws in a 16 MB miniSD card which is nice until you realize that Nokia throws in a 64 MB on many units its ships at the high end.

On the audio side the MM-5600 can playback MP3 and AAC music along with streaming video. This time Sprint / Sanyo did a good thing by including a pretty good pair of stereo headphones so you can take advantage of the full capabilities of the entertainment device without having to shell out more of your hard earned cash. Its LCD can show off QVGA resolution pouring out a beautiful 262,000 colours. These LCDs are really nice and clear compared with the 64,000 colours of yore. And lastly, yawn... this latest phone also includes support for Sprint's Nextel like Push-To-Talk system (PPT) called ReadyLink. Hope they don't still have the beep beep noises because if I have to hear another beep while eating dinner in a nice resturant I will probably go nuts.

Sprint says that the Sanyo MM-5600 will be available for $279.99 after rebate.

[SprintPCS]

NTT DoCoMo Shows Off Fuel Cell Phone



NTT DoCoMo has announced it has a working fuel cell phone. Looking past the days of Li-Ion batteries is very exciting as it might allow super small, super power phones to run for days on end without needing to recharge. However, many hurdles remain as companies begin to research this potential power source. Cost for one as these prototypes probably costs millions to make and have some crazy detailed charging / usage requirements. Expect those to slowly be resolved and products to trickle in at the high end and then become standard (if it ever takes off at all).

And no the picture is not of the fuel cell strapped onto the back of the phone. Its just the base station / charger.

If you read Japanese then find more at [NTT Fuel Cell Phone]

Sony Ericsson Arrives in the US
Cingular sells another expesnsiiiive gadget




I first saw this phone in Hong Kong over Christmas vacation there. I thought wow, what a cool camera ... then I realized I was in the cellphone section. The S710a is a very cool combination device with a nice little 1.3 megapixel camera built in, bluetooth, 2.3 inch 262,000 colour display and a layout that is very good for picture taking. Its coolness factor is about that of any new gadget / phone in this niche market. If you are one of those people who are excited by announcements of new PDAs, phones and combination devices then you will love this new device. But, one little dimmer on the parade, Cingular has announced pricing at $449.99 WITH a TWO YEAR SERVICE AGREEMENT! That is just as much if not more then some deals on the new Treo 650 and this thing does not even offer many of the Smartphone / PDA functions. Sure its layout, design and camera are nice, but are they $449.99 nice (plus monthly bills for 2 years). If you want to buy it without a contract be prepared to shell out $549.99 of your hardearned dollars.

Mobile9.com has a great in-depth review on the Sony Ericsson S710a. Its a bit long, but if you are going to spend this kind of money on a new device you better know if its actually worth it or not. [Mobile 9 review - Sony S710a]

One last picture for you all. Click on Cingular if you want to buy it.

Get Enough Of Paris Yet?
(Paris Hilton that is)



Since T-Mobile's Sidekick II service was hacked into about a month ago there was much to do about all the info possibily stolen from Paris Hilton and other famous stars who got their Sidekicks free. Well looks like free has some drawbacks, one is having all your personal information put onto the web and having your (former) friends pissed at you after getting millions of random stalker calls. [Since I use T-Mobile and have a SKII I am kinda worried, but oh well. Identity theives beware that if become me your life will suck, long hours, no pay and bad credit]

Here is the story from Engadget

"Dude, could someone buy Paris Hilton an OGO or a Treo already? She had that Sidekick hacked once, and whether or not it’s happened a second time, someone’s finally pulled the data and posted it all up online. They managed to dig up dirty camphone shots (right alongside shots of her holding a baby and hanging out with kids—oh, Paris), her notebook, and her address book, which has had such high-brow, mover-and-shaker entries as: Christina Aguilera, Devo Aoki, Fred Durst, Jermaine Dupri, Vicki Gotti, Stephen King, David Lachappelle, Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan, Bijou Phillips, Ashlee Simpson, Twiggy, Usher, and Vin Diesel. (We have a feeling she might not be getting some of those digits again once they’ve changed.) Anyone care to guess which ones she hasn’t done a tape with?

P.S. Nudity warning on link! Cover your eyes (but maybe peek just a little)!

[Thanks to Tront and an anonymous tipster]"