The new LeDIX watch phone by Celsius X VI II costs more than many houses and does less than many free phones, but looks pretty amazing doing it.
Celsius LeDIX watch phone costs $300,000
Upcoming Technology Promises Improved Mobile TV
The GSM Association is getting behind the emerging mobile broadcast technology IMB (Integrated Mobile Broadcast), it said on Wednesday. The technology opens the door for more mobile TV channels and better picture quality, according to chip maker IPWireless.
The GSM Association (GSMA) got involved at the behest of some of its member operators, according to its director of technology, Dan Warren. The standards work had reached a blocking point between Ericsson and IPWireless and the GSMA helped solved those issues, which were about frame formats and "very technical and quite trivial", Warren said.
The name of the technology was also changed from Downlink-Optimized Broadcast (DOB) to IMB. "There was quite a lot of stigma attached to the previous name as a result of this quite acrimonious, at times, standards work," said Warren.
GSMA's endorsement comes with a white paper that provides a guide to IMB technology for mobile network operators on how the technology can be used.
For users, the adoption of IMB will mean better mobile TV picture quality, since the technology makes it possible to use more bandwidth per channel. It also lets operators offer more channels and send them to more users, according to Bill Jones, CEO at IPWireless, which is currently developing chipsets and software for IMB.
But mobile TV isn't the only application that IMB can be used for. Any application that needs to send lots of the same data to a large number users is a good fit for IMB. Other uses are digital radio, application and content downloads, and the distribution of common content on Internet services such as Spotify, which is a streaming music service, and on YouTube. Currently, 20 percent of all data sent over 3G networks duplicated traffic that can be distributed using IMB, according to Jones.
For IMB to work, a phone needs to be equipped with an IMB chipset. But instead of trying to get mobile-phone vendors to include an IMB chipset, Jones foresees that technology will first be rolled out using a separate accessory.
"We are looking for services to be supported in Q3 or Q4 next year," said Jones.
Operators backing the technology include Orange, SingTel, Softbank, Telstra, T-Mobile and Vodafone, according to the GSMA.
IMB is a complement to the existing MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) standard, according to Jones. The goal was to make use of what had already been done and make it easy to integrate with already deployed networks, but at the same time take advantage of a number of new features, he said.
One of the major advantages is that operators can start taking advantage of previously unused TDD (Time-Division Duplex) spectrum, which most operators in Europe received when they were awarded 3G licenses, according to Warren. Spectrum is also available across Asia and most parts of Latin America and North America, he said.
Whereas before TDD and FDD (Frequency-Division Duplex), which is used by WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) 3G networks, were viewed as separate standards, IMB can be used to merge the two, according to Jones. The data is sent using TDD, authentication and digital rights management, and any interaction with the user is sent over the existing 3G network, Jones said.
The GSM Association (GSMA) got involved at the behest of some of its member operators, according to its director of technology, Dan Warren. The standards work had reached a blocking point between Ericsson and IPWireless and the GSMA helped solved those issues, which were about frame formats and "very technical and quite trivial", Warren said.
The name of the technology was also changed from Downlink-Optimized Broadcast (DOB) to IMB. "There was quite a lot of stigma attached to the previous name as a result of this quite acrimonious, at times, standards work," said Warren.
GSMA's endorsement comes with a white paper that provides a guide to IMB technology for mobile network operators on how the technology can be used.
For users, the adoption of IMB will mean better mobile TV picture quality, since the technology makes it possible to use more bandwidth per channel. It also lets operators offer more channels and send them to more users, according to Bill Jones, CEO at IPWireless, which is currently developing chipsets and software for IMB.
But mobile TV isn't the only application that IMB can be used for. Any application that needs to send lots of the same data to a large number users is a good fit for IMB. Other uses are digital radio, application and content downloads, and the distribution of common content on Internet services such as Spotify, which is a streaming music service, and on YouTube. Currently, 20 percent of all data sent over 3G networks duplicated traffic that can be distributed using IMB, according to Jones.
For IMB to work, a phone needs to be equipped with an IMB chipset. But instead of trying to get mobile-phone vendors to include an IMB chipset, Jones foresees that technology will first be rolled out using a separate accessory.
"We are looking for services to be supported in Q3 or Q4 next year," said Jones.
Operators backing the technology include Orange, SingTel, Softbank, Telstra, T-Mobile and Vodafone, according to the GSMA.
IMB is a complement to the existing MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) standard, according to Jones. The goal was to make use of what had already been done and make it easy to integrate with already deployed networks, but at the same time take advantage of a number of new features, he said.
One of the major advantages is that operators can start taking advantage of previously unused TDD (Time-Division Duplex) spectrum, which most operators in Europe received when they were awarded 3G licenses, according to Warren. Spectrum is also available across Asia and most parts of Latin America and North America, he said.
Whereas before TDD and FDD (Frequency-Division Duplex), which is used by WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) 3G networks, were viewed as separate standards, IMB can be used to merge the two, according to Jones. The data is sent using TDD, authentication and digital rights management, and any interaction with the user is sent over the existing 3G network, Jones said.
Paper-Thin Rechargeable Batteries Provide Bendable Power
One of the biggest components in any of today's portable devices is the battery. However if researchers can commercialize their latest innovation--paper-thin lithium-ion rechargeable batteries--that could all change.
According to a report on the Chemical Engineering News web site, Stanford University scientists took a regular sheet of paper, coated both sides with a layer of carbon nanotubes and then a thin layer of lithium compound to create a functioning, rechargeable battery. These thin, flexible batteries outperform other super-thin power sources and the prototypes handled at least 300 recharges.
With thin batteries, super-tiny components and possible flexible displays, paper-based and even rollable cell phones may not be that far away.
Sony Unveils Flexible E-Paper
In a past life, I worked in a lab, helping design and test thin-film circuitry that would hopefully allow people to create devices that had flexible displays that could be mounted on clothing or on other malleable surfaces like backpacks or briefcases. Now Sony has unveiled a 13.3-inch flexible electronic paper device at the Eco-Products 2010 tradeshow that does just that.
The gadget is designed to be a prototype for a gadget that could display images and text in high resolution and possibly someday replace traditional paper in a thin, flexible, and portable way. According to a post at TechOn, Sony didn't want to give details about the prototype, stating that it is, after all, just a concept and a showcase of what's possible, but the working device used E Ink's technology, which is already available in other devices.
Sony also didn't note whether the technology would be coming to any future product, but we can assume they wouldn't put it on display if they weren't thinking about it.
NetTraffic: Track and Analyze Internet Usage
When we are using internet connection with limited bandwidth, it becomes quite necessary to keep track of the usage details. Exceeding this limit may not be desirable, for this purpose we can use bandwidth tracking tools. NetTraffic is one such handy application that calculates the amount of data usage automatically.
NetTraffic is a freeware tool for windows to monitor internet usage in details. It can monitor any interface automatically and start tracking it. It also shows real time upload and download speeds. This tool resides in system tray and further settings for customized interface can be set from there. You can also view detailed statistics of internet data usage using advanced filters for days, weeks, months and years. This information can be viewed on chart or graph.
Download: NetTraffic
Android Paid Apps Now Available in India
While browsing the Android Market today we noticed a number of paid android apps showing their prices in Indian Rupees which only meant one and only one thing that Google has now enabled its payment gateway Google Checkout to be used in the Indian Android Marketplace. Previously Indian Android users only had access to the free apps available in the market, paid apps couldn’t even be searched. But starting today there’s a whole lot of awesome apps you can purchase.
Android Paid Apps in India
The display prices of the apps shown are in Indian Rupees which are converted from the developers native currency. The final amount can vary a little depending upon your bank’s conversion rate. As of now the only supported form of payment is the Credit Card.
If your Android Mobile doesn’t show the Paid Apps or Top Paid Apps category, clear the Market Cache by following these steps
Settings –> Applications –> Manage Applications –> Market –> Clear Cache
Now Open Android Market again, paid apps and categories should now be visible.
Top Android Paid Apps
Top Android Paid Games
World's First Robot Pop Star
Ooh, I know she can be like Beyonce on the floor, but hey, this divabot as a Humanoid capable of performing her steps sync with its back up dancers, lure crowds with believable expressions and sing --we find it, really awesome. We're just off with its strangely large hands and ooh, that prosthetic robotic legs. Watch the video after the break.
Japan's Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology developed the HRP-4C (divabot), using a special software to precisely interpret a singer performer movements along with the Yamaha's Vocaloid software for the voice. The head of the Institute's interactive media group, Masataka Goto, hopes that someday the robots will be used by the entertainment industry.
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