mobile phones

No more Freudian dream interpretations from thin air – Japanese Scientists are discovering ways to interpret brain activity via computer systems.

Google tells us what we’re searching for the most with a list of the top 10 fastest growing queries.

2nd life comes to Playstation with their launch of a next-gen social networking site.

An application for the iPod Touch can turn this mp3 player into a virtual mobile phone.

Technology short-comings have been revealed as having a negative effect on Mumbai attack investigations.

Mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, digital cameras – we use them every day and some of us can barely stand to part with them for more than a few hours. So, when you stop and think about the millions of people without access to them, you may want to second guess throwing out last year’s mobile phone.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) allow access to rural healthcare, agriculture and education, as well as improving the lives of people in rural communities through easy monitoring and reporting. In the UK, organisations like Inveneo need support to provide affordable and sustainable ICTs to those who need it most. Visit their website at http://www.inveneo.org/ to find out how you can help.

I signed into MSN this morning only to find this list of Top Christmas Gifts, including some of our favourite gadgets and gizmos -

Here’s a quick summary of the list:

The gadget – iPhone
The book – Jamie’s Ministry of Food: Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours
The games console – Xbox 360 Elite
The TV show DVD – The Wire
The DVD film – Mamma Mia!
The toy – Pleo
The mobile phone – Nokia N96
The CD – Kings of Leon – Only By The Night
The splurge electronic – Pioneer Kuro

When the Nokia 7310 Supernova was released, it received positive reviews and was praised for it’s user-friendly menus and sleek design (see reviews 1,2). One of its standout features, was giving users the ability to customize the mobile through the use of changeable face-plates. Nokia has now taken this idea one step further now with the introduction of NokiaBuild.

Using simple design elements such as background themes and stickers, the NokiaBuild site makes it incredibly easy for users with no design experience to create something unique. For the photoshop gurus out there, it is also possible to upload your own designs (as I have done above) to further customize your mobile. I have even created a simple photoshop design template using vanishing point so you can test out your designs before uploading to NokiaBuild (download template here).

NokiaBuild does not require a contract, and each purchase of the mobile comes with one free custom design face-plate, though extras can be purchased as well. Happy designing and feel free to post links to your designs in the comments below.

Thanks to Trusted Reviews and 3G.co.uk.

Having premiered a few years ago, the Nokia 888 concept was seen as an instant hit, and was showered with design awards and accolades from numerous organizations. Though practically a dinosaur in the constantly moving mobile-technology universe, the concept still manages to get mobile-enthusiasts excited, as seen below in a viral advertising video which has almost received 1 million hits on youtube.

Declaring the mobile as revolutionary is admittedly hyperbolic, however I feel the concept brings enough new ideas to the field to deserve the label. The use of technologies such as liquid batteries, speech recognition and touch screen, provides the substance needed to balance the stylistic prowess that the mobile clearly possesses. The fully flexible body could be contorted to suit the users needs, and the ability to effortlessly change the mobile’s colour provides an added benefit for the fashion conscious out there.

So here’s to hoping that this mobile will sometime hit the stores, as I know I’ll surely be in line. As for the rest of you, do you share my enthusiasm? or is this just another gimmick destined never to see the light of day?

Sleek and minimalistic, could this become the ipod of the mobile world?

It can even become a handy money clip...handy if you didn't spend all your money on the mobile that is.

Source: Nokia 888 official site.

As unbelievable as it may seem, the guys at Gadgetell have recently showcased a Chinese-made mobile that apparently features a staggering manufacturer-rated battery life of two years. As expected this statistic is slightly misleading, and the battery actually experiences average standby time of 666 days, while call time clocks in at 3-5 days.

In addition to this 32,800 mAh battery (which sounds very impressive), the mobile also boasts a slew of other features including touchscreen, mp3 player, bluetooth and a fully functional digital camera. If you’re interested in finding out more, the mobile is supposedly available on the Solomobi online store, however I have yet to figure out where.  So, is this mobile a fine example of marketing spin, too good to be true, or simply technologically impossible? As always, feel free to chime in below with your comments and opinions.

Source articles: Gadgetell, Just Another Phone Blog