Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Is the Android OS Growing Too Quickly?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/android-explosion-poses-a-problem-for-developers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/android-explosion-poses-a-problem-for-developers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/android-explosion-poses-a-problem-for-developers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Android Explosion Poses a Problem for Developers
After getting off to a slow start, Android phones have gone gangbusters. As of last July, there was only one Android-powered device available in the U.S., but that number has since exploded. Now, there are eight Android phones available stateside, with more expected to debut in the coming months. So things must be looking pretty great for the mobile OS from Google, right?

Not necessarily. A few issues have both Google and the developers of Android-friendly applications worried. For the most part, the issue can be reduced to the term "splintering." Right now, those eight phones share three different versions of the Android core: 1.5, 1.6, and 2.0. The phones also have vast hardware differences between them; for instance, some models have keyboards while others don't, and some cameras have flashes while others do not. Then, there are the customized interfaces (or skins), like HTC's Sense on the Hero and Motorola's Blur on the Cliq. These differences make it difficult to build apps, since even basic updates need to be tested against every possible combination of hardware, skin, and Android version. And a smartphone OS lives and dies by its developers.

Continue reading Is the Android OS Growing Too Quickly?

SwitchedIs the Android OS Growing Too Quickly? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgoogleossmartphoneFri, 20 Nov 2009 07:52:00 EST<![CDATA[App Could Aid Migrant (and Illegal) Workers Crossing the U.S. Border]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/new-app-could-aid-migrant-and-illegal-workers-crossing-the-u-s/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/new-app-could-aid-migrant-and-illegal-workers-crossing-the-u-s/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/new-app-could-aid-migrant-and-illegal-workers-crossing-the-u-s/#commentsFiled under:

Cell phones -- and for that matter, app-enabled smartphones -- have typically been aimed at the middle class, containing software designed to help balance meeting agendas, check a flight's status, and the like. But what about the potential for cell phone apps to help a notoriously under-served section of the population?

Well, there's an app for that. The 'Transborder Immigrant Tool,' which is currently in development, aims to aid illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico into the U.S. This month, the app's creator Ricardo Dominguez, who works in the Visual Arts department at the University of California - San Diego, did a long interview with Vice Magazine, in which he spelled out the purpose of this potentially illegal software and the probable public anger it will cause:
"I would imagine [anti-immigration militias] won't be too happy with us, but again we're not trying to hide. It's a safety tool. It's not trying to resolve the political anxieties of these communities or resolve the inadequacies of a fictional border for a so-called free-trade community. Again, our position is that it's not a political resolution; it's a safety tool. That, at the core, is what we're attempting to do."
Using the cheapest cell phones possible (specifically the under-$30 Motorola i455, which comes with a GPS applet), Dominguez and his team were able to create a hack that added navigation functionality and the ability to locate water and highways. Although the app is still only in the alpha phase of development, Dominguez hopes to roll it out soon.

Read the whole interview for more information, and be sure to leave your thoughts on this in the comments section. [From: Vice Magazine, via: BoingBoing]

SwitchedApp Could Aid Migrant (and Illegal) Workers Crossing the U.S. Border originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsborder crossingBorderCrossingillegal appsillegal immigrationIllegalAppsIllegalImmigrationmexicotopThu, 19 Nov 2009 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Luke Wilson Joins the AT&T and Verizon Ad Fray]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/atandt-fights-back-at-verizons-ad-campaign-with-actor-luke-wilson/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/atandt-fights-back-at-verizons-ad-campaign-with-actor-luke-wilson/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/atandt-fights-back-at-verizons-ad-campaign-with-actor-luke-wilson/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In case you haven't noticed, the two major cell phone service providers have spent the past few weeks trying to prove their mettle in a 3G network-wagging contest. It started with Verizon's "There's a Map For That" commercial, which debuted in October and was a direct dig at the iPhone (which just so happens to be carried exclusively by AT&T). The latter company filed a lawsuit against Verizon Wireless, claiming that the commercial led consumers to believe AT&T doesn't offer any wireless service outside a 3G network.

After losing a request for an injunction this week, AT&T decided to fire back with an advertisement of its own. According to Engadget, AT&T's new 30-second spot, which features actor Luke Wilson, makes the Great Smartphone War official (video after the break). In the commercial, Wilson places magnets on a board according to which company offers a certain feature. To no surprise, Wilson and his magnets claim that AT&T kicks Verizon's butt when it comes to the fastest 3G network, and that it has the most popular smartphones as well.

Let's assume that AT&T thought some star power would make people forget about Verizon's witty spot. Well, it didn't. This is an epic fail, folks. If AT&T had to go this route, couldn't it at least have snagged the funny Wilson brother? [From: Engadget]

Continue reading Luke Wilson Joins the AT&T and Verizon Ad Fray

SwitchedLuke Wilson Joins the AT&T and Verizon Ad Fray originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gadvertisingattcellphonedroidfailfeudiphonelawsuitluke wilsonLukeWilsonsmartphonetopverizonThu, 19 Nov 2009 14:48:00 EST<![CDATA[300K Bangladeshis Sign Up for English Classes via Cell]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/300k-bangladeshis-sign-up-for-english-classes-via-cell/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/300k-bangladeshis-sign-up-for-english-classes-via-cell/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/300k-bangladeshis-sign-up-for-english-classes-via-cell/#commentsFiled under:


The BBC World Service Trust, the charity arm of the international broadcast company, is preparing to launch a service in Bangladesh that will offer lessons in English via cell phone. Called Janala, the service, slated to go live Thursday, started accepting subscriptions this weekend, and the BBC was surprised by the rush of customers. Sara Chamberlain, the manager of the service, told the Financial Times, "25,000 people would have been a good response on the first day." To her delight, or possibly terror, Janala has instead seen over 300,000 sign-ups to date. The sheer volume could bring the service to its knees before it's even had a chance to launch.

Learning English is considered a key to economic mobility both within Bangladesh and to Bangladeshis seeking work abroad. According to the Financial Times, 70-percent of employers in Bangladesh are looking for workers with "communicative English" skills.

Continue reading 300K Bangladeshis Sign Up for English Classes via Cell

Switched300K Bangladeshis Sign Up for English Classes via Cell originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbccellphoneeducationenglishlanguagetopWed, 18 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Elaborate Heist Nets Thieves 3,000 Unusable iPhones]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/elaborate-heist-nets-thieves-3-000-unusable-iphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/elaborate-heist-nets-thieves-3-000-unusable-iphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/elaborate-heist-nets-thieves-3-000-unusable-iphones/#commentsFiled under: ,

We can only assume this is an issue with the limitations of Google Translate, otherwise we'd have to say that the description of CEVA Logistics as "annoyed" with the theft of €2 million (roughly $3 million) worth of iPhones from its warehouse in Belgium is the understatement of the year.

The firm was the victim, in what appears to be an inside job, of an elaborate heist that resulted in the loss of at least 3,000 iPhones. The phones, which retail for between €575 and €675, were snatched by thieves who scaled the wall of the warehouse with a ladder then cut a whole in the roof directly above where the iPhones were being stored.

Continue reading Elaborate Heist Nets Thieves 3,000 Unusable iPhones

SwitchedElaborate Heist Nets Thieves 3,000 Unusable iPhones originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimeiphonethefttopWed, 18 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[One in Three Teen Texters Drives While Thumbing]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/33-of-teens-texts-while-driving-study-finds/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/33-of-teens-texts-while-driving-study-finds/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/33-of-teens-texts-while-driving-study-finds/#commentsFiled under:

By now, you'd have to live under a rock to be unaware of the dangers of texting while driving. There have been more studies on the subject than we can count. Despite raising awareness, all this information isn't doing much to change drivers' behavior. According to MSNBC, the Pew Internet & American Life Project recently released a study finding that over a third of 16- and 17-year-old texters drive while doing so. Yes, some of the most inexperienced drivers on the road are busy playing on cell phones instead of focusing on the road.

But they're not alone. The study also found that 48-percent of children between 12 and 17 years old said they'd ridden in the car of somebody who was texting. This means parents might not be setting the best example for their youngsters. One kid surveyed in the study said his dad "drives like he's drunk" while using his cell phone in the car (which, we know from other studies, might be an understatement). On the other end of the spectrum, another kid said "it's fine" to text while operating a vehicle, and that he wears sunglasses so police won't see him looking at the screen.

Sorry to break it to that last kid, but there's no disputing that texting while driving is very dangerous. The challenge is finding a way to break the habits of cell phone users. Different states have enacted bans on the practice, but we need an all-encompassing federal ban to really make a change. Even then, though, it'll be tough to cause a change in hearts and minds. [From: MSNBC]

SwitchedOne in Three Teen Texters Drives While Thumbing originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonedangerdrivingstudyteenstextingtexting while drivingTextingWhileDrivingtopTue, 17 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Complex Cell Phone Plans Dumbfound Economists, Too]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/complex-cell-phone-plans-dumbfound-economists-too/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/complex-cell-phone-plans-dumbfound-economists-too/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/complex-cell-phone-plans-dumbfound-economists-too/#commentsFiled under:

Cell phone plans are complex creatures. With all those options for minutes, text messaging, and Internet, it's impossible to figure out exactly what you're paying for. The result? Thoroughly confused, many customers just play it safe and purchase the most expensive packages.

Barry Nalebuff, economics professor at the Yale School of Management, told the New York Times, "The whole pricing thing is weird. You pay $60 to make your first phone call. Your next 1,000 minutes are free. Then the minute after that costs 35 cents." It's all clear as mud, right? Basically, phone companies want to squeeze as much money as they can out of each customer. Unfortunately, the need to keep investors happy can become more important than the consumer's best interest.

Continue reading Complex Cell Phone Plans Dumbfound Economists, Too

SwitchedComplex Cell Phone Plans Dumbfound Economists, Too originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleattcellphoneinternetiphonemoneysprinttextingtoptrendsverizonMon, 16 Nov 2009 17:54:00 EST<![CDATA[After the Hype: Technologies That Never Lived Up to Their Promise]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/after-the-hype-technologies-that-never-lived-up-to-their-promis/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/after-the-hype-technologies-that-never-lived-up-to-their-promis/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/after-the-hype-technologies-that-never-lived-up-to-their-promis/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The hype machine is a cruel, cruel beast. It builds us up, only to let us down. For every piece of technology that's taken off, there's another handful that failed to live up to the buzz. To honor these fallen ideas, CNET UK has compiled a "Whatever Happened to..." list of the past's most remarkably unremarkable tech.

Remember Sony's MiniDisc? Yes, the colorful plastic cartridge promised that it would become the best, most portable way to listen to music. Well, it didn't. Blame the MP3, if you like. Or go further back, to Apple's LISA. The bulky $10,000 computer was one of the first to use a graphical interface, but it never took off, either. On the bright side, Apple did learn from its mistakes, and certainly knows how to push product these days. There's also the doomed Amstrad Emailer, which arrived about five years too late, and Motorola's Rokr E1, which was promptly owned by the iPhone. Although it's not included on CNET's list, we couldn't go without mentioning Sega's Dreamcast console. We still shed a tear when thinking about what might've been if gamers had only supported the platform.

It's fun to reminisce, but in most cases, we're better off without these failed technologies. Don't believe us? Trade in your iPod for a MiniDisc player, or your iPhone for a Rokr -- just for a day. [From: CNET UK]

SwitchedAfter the Hype: Technologies That Never Lived Up to Their Promise originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecellphonecomputerfailurehypelistmicrosoftsonytechnologytopSun, 15 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[This Just In: Cell Phones Change Your Brain]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/this-just-in-cell-phones-change-your-brain/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/this-just-in-cell-phones-change-your-brain/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/this-just-in-cell-phones-change-your-brain/#commentsFiled under:

The good news? Scientists think they have finally pinpointed the effect that cell phones have on brain function. The bad news? They're not sure whether this is good or bad news.

The Swedish Research Council announced findings out of Sweden's Örebro University that claim to have uncovered a specific effect that cell phones can have on the brain -- namely, a correlation between usage and an increase in the amounts of a protein called transthyretin in a user's bloodstream. Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, since transthyretin actually comprises part of the fluid that provides a nice little cushion to our brains (when was the last time you heard anyone complain about a cushion surplus?).

Teenagers and children who used cell phones more often were more likely to suffer from headaches and impaired concentration, but researchers didn't want to draw any explicit chains of causality (Chatty teens have a harder time concentrating? You don't say.). The most important finding, though, is simply the revelation that, negative, positive, or neutral, there does seem to be some neurological impact from cell phones.

Continue reading This Just In: Cell Phones Change Your Brain

SwitchedThis Just In: Cell Phones Change Your Brain originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainscell phonescell phones and cancerCellPhonesCellPhonesAndCancerresearchtopFri, 13 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Crook Who Texted Cops His 'Preferred' Mugshot Gets Nabbed]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/image-conscious-crook-gets-busted-at-barber-shop/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/image-conscious-crook-gets-busted-at-barber-shop/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/image-conscious-crook-gets-busted-at-barber-shop/#commentsFiled under:

Remember Matthew Maynard? He's the image-conscious crook who sent his own photo to a UK newspaper via text message because he was unhappy with the police mugshot they published. Just when we thought Maynard's vanity had peaked, it turns out the 24-year-old burglary suspect was arrested Wednesday while getting his hair cut at a Swansea, South Wales, barber shop. According to The Sun, a person walking past the shop recognized Maynard and called the police. One witness told The Sun, Maynard was still sitting in the barber's chair "...laughing about as the cops stormed in to haul him off."

When police issued Maynard's mugshot as part of a larger crackdown on crime, the suspect contacted the newspaper. He told the staff he wasn't happy with his look (we don't blame him), and that he would send a better pic. So, Maynard donned some neon yellow pants and a black coat, and just to really stick it to the man, he used his cell phone to snap a photo of himself in front of a police van. Then, he sent the photo via text message to The Evening Post, which ran the shot on the front page.
The BBC News reports that Maynard is now in custody at the Swansea Central police station. At least in his new mugshot, Maynard's hair will be well-coiffed. Let's just hope he looks good in stripes. [From: The Sun and BBC News]

SwitchedCrook Who Texted Cops His 'Preferred' Mugshot Gets Nabbed originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimedumbcriminalfunnymugshottextingthieftopFri, 13 Nov 2009 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Avoid The Doctor: Cough Into Your Phone For a Diagnosis]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/avoid-the-doctor-cough-into-your-phone-for-a-diagnosis/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/avoid-the-doctor-cough-into-your-phone-for-a-diagnosis/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/avoid-the-doctor-cough-into-your-phone-for-a-diagnosis/#commentsFiled under:

What does that cough say about you? Well, a lot. After all, each one is unique (wet or dry, productive or non-productive). Instead of waiting hours at a doctor's office to find out what this common symptom means, a group of researchers want to use the cell phone to get a quicker diagnosis.

According to Discovery News, a new mobile technology could allow people to forgo a visit to the doctor's office by simply coughing into a cell phone. The new technology, which is being developed by STAR Analytical Services, would allow doctors to listen, measure, and analyze a patient's cough. Just by doing that, a doctor might be able to diagnose any disease from the common cold to the flu. But these scientists want to do more than just scratch the surface of the cough. They're compiling sound data on thousands of different types of coughs and analyzing the distinct sounds which occur at the end of each.

Continue reading Avoid The Doctor: Cough Into Your Phone For a Diagnosis

SwitchedAvoid The Doctor: Cough Into Your Phone For a Diagnosis originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appbreakingnewscellphonecoughdiagnosisdiseasedoctorhealthhggresearchsciencetopWed, 11 Nov 2009 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Reports 100K DROIDs Sold in Opening Weekend]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/motorola-reports-100k-droids-sold-in-opening-weekend/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/motorola-reports-100k-droids-sold-in-opening-weekend/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/motorola-reports-100k-droids-sold-in-opening-weekend/#commentsFiled under:

Motorola Sells 100,000 Droids Opening Weekend
It's been a very, very, very, very, long time since Motorola had a legitimate hit on its hands. In fact, ever since the release of the RAZR in 2003, the company -- which had been the driving force behind the mobile industry for 20 years -- has been steadily sliding into obsolescence. But, if sales numbers for the highly anticipated DROID are a good predictor, the company that sold the first commercially available cell phone is slowly crawling its way back into a place of significance.

In the DROID's first weekend of availability, Motorola says it sold 100,000 units. Sure, that's no iPhone (An estimated 1 million units were sold the weekend following the 3GS's launch.), but it is double of what the Palm Pre sold in its first weekend. In fact, Motorola expects to sell over 1 million Android-powered handsets (Cliq and DROID being the only models currently available) in the fourth quarter. In addition, the company's stock rose slightly due to news of the DROID's successful opening weekend. Market analyst Mark McKechnie, of Broadpoint AmTech, Inc., called the first few days "encouraging" when speaking to Bloomberg.

So, are we seeing the renaissance of this once-great handset maker? Possibly. Having gotten overwhelmingly positive reviews of the device, and boasting the power of "the network" and Google, Motorola certainly has a real contender in its corner. [From: Bloomberg, via Engadget]

SwitchedMotorola Reports 100K DROIDs Sold in Opening Weekend originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbusinessdroidmotorolatopTue, 10 Nov 2009 14:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Tech Etiquette: Cell Phone Dos and Don'ts]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/tech-etiquette-cell-phone-dos-and-donts/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/tech-etiquette-cell-phone-dos-and-donts/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/tech-etiquette-cell-phone-dos-and-donts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The cell phone has been draining the world's sperm supply for more than 35 years already. And yet, as ubiquitous as mobiles are today, so too are the dolts who still haven't grasped how to use one responsibly. For anyone who's ever gabbed at dinner, texted on the toilet, ruined a movie, or grossed out an elevator (just to name a few mobile no-nos), Switched presents the following guide of cell phone Dos and Don'ts. By all means, do us (and yourself) a favor and forward it on to your fondest offenders.

SwitchedTech Etiquette: Cell Phone Dos and Don'ts originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>etiquettefeaturestechetiquettetopTue, 10 Nov 2009 12:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Texting Booming: Up 80-Percent Over Past Year]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/texting-booming-up-80-percent-over-past-year/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/texting-booming-up-80-percent-over-past-year/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/texting-booming-up-80-percent-over-past-year/#commentsFiled under:

Like it or not, it's pretty routine these days for teens to text in class, for AARP members to playfully sext each other, and even for narcissistic fugitives to MMS better mugshots of themselves to the cops. Yep, texting is a wonderful, sometimes dangerous, thing -- leapfrogging at a pace that even analysts couldn't have predicted a year or two ago.

According to The New York Times, texting spiked 80-percent from June 2008 to June 2009. Apparently, the reason has less to do with the number of texting-enabled phones (only a 7.3-percent increase), and more to do with those popular "bucket plans" -- monthly services that give users hundreds, thousands, or unlimited texts per month. We guess not having to worry about being charged for every text message encourages cell phone users to communicate more freely -- way more freely.

Continue reading Texting Booming: Up 80-Percent Over Past Year

SwitchedTexting Booming: Up 80-Percent Over Past Year originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonecellular carriersCellularCarriersteensTextingtopTue, 10 Nov 2009 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Kick Your Friends in the Face With 'FaceFighter' iPhone App]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/kick-your-friends-in-the-face-with-facefighter-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/kick-your-friends-in-the-face-with-facefighter-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/kick-your-friends-in-the-face-with-facefighter-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Don't even attempt to lie. We know you've daydreamed about how great it would feel to haul off and punch one of your friends in the face or plant a foot right in his or her kisser. Now it may be hard to get away with doing that while hanging out at the bar or at a party -- and still keep them as friends afterwards. But iPhone game developer, Appy Entertainment, understands your desire to commit acts of physical violence against loved ones and has created 'FaceFighter,' which lets you paste the face of friends, family... really just about anyone, on a computerized foe and beat the hell out of them.

Get started by choosing images from your camera roll or taking a new snapshot, then line up your eyes and mouth with the game's guidelines. Zoom in and out to fit the image into a cutout, and you're ready to go. The game is pretty simple -- basically a button masher that lets you kick, block, and throw a right or left punch, leaving your custom opponent bruised, bandaged, and missing teeth. It doesn't actually offer much in the way of strategy or depth, so we're thankful you can try the game for free with 'FaceFighter Lite.' If the Lite version isn't enough for you, the full game is available for only $0.99 (for a limited time), and lets you battle friends head-to-head, so you can beat on each other's virtual mugs.

Continue reading Kick Your Friends in the Face With 'FaceFighter' iPhone App

SwitchedKick Your Friends in the Face With 'FaceFighter' iPhone App originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facefighteriphone appIphoneApptopTue, 10 Nov 2009 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Knockoff Michael Jackson Cell Phone Redefines Gaudy]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/08/knockoff-michael-jackson-cell-phone-redefines-gaudy/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/08/knockoff-michael-jackson-cell-phone-redefines-gaudy/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/08/knockoff-michael-jackson-cell-phone-redefines-gaudy/#commentsFiled under: ,

When King of Pop Michael Jackson passed away earlier this year, we knew the line of people waiting to profit from his death would be a long one. These bling-tastic exploitations, though, took us by surprise.

The Michael Jackson phone, manufactured by a Chinese imitation goods company, is in the very poorest of spectacularly poor taste. It boasts enough faux gold and jewels to make a Liberace impersonator cringe, and it has the audacity to come packaged with a Michael Jackson DVD. (We can only assume that the manufacturer and distributor of this shiny P.O.S. made sure the accompanying DVD was a bootleg of the highest order.)

This phone is garish, disgusting, and exploitative. That being said, at least the phone gaudily admits the fact that it's exploitative. It's honest, in a way. And that's a lot more than we can say for that streaming biopic from last month. [From: Mashable]

SwitchedKnockoff Michael Jackson Cell Phone Redefines Gaudy originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bootlegcell phoneCellPhoneChinaMichael JacksonMichaelJacksontopweirdSun, 08 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Senior Citizen Sexting on the Rise]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/senior-citizen-sexting-on-the-rise/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/senior-citizen-sexting-on-the-rise/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/senior-citizen-sexting-on-the-rise/#commentsFiled under:

Troubling instances of teen sexting have been all over the news as of late, with randy kids and their sexy messages and photographs often leading to public derision, expulsion, and sometimes even arrest. Thankfully, the disturbing trend among the nation's youth seems to be nearing an end.

The primary reason? Because it looks like old people are getting into it. We know (gag), and we're sorry, but the American Association of Retired People (AARP) Web site recently posted a story that details the growing popularity of raunchy text exchanges among senior citizens. (Hopefully it's exaggerating.) One man named Roger (His last name was apparently withheld to prevent his grandchildren from jabbing pencils into their eyes and ears.) told the AARP, "I'll say, 'You have an amazing body. You have amazing breasts.' The next thing you know, you'll get a picture of a breast." Shudder.

So, the next time you see Grandma sheepishly grinning as she checks her cell, don't even try to wipe the memory of this indelible story from your brain. It will, unfortunately, be permanently seared into your subconscious. Again, our apologies. [From: AARP via Tech Radar and Gawker]

SwitchedSenior Citizen Sexting on the Rise originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AARPromanceseniorssextingtextingtopweirdSat, 07 Nov 2009 12:27:00 EST<![CDATA[App Developer Sued for Stealing Customers' iPhone Numbers]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/app-developer-sued-for-stealing-customers-iphone-numbers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/app-developer-sued-for-stealing-customers-iphone-numbers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/app-developer-sued-for-stealing-customers-iphone-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

iPhone Game Developer Sued for Secretly Collecting Customer Phone NumbersStorm8, the developer of popular (but terrible) iPhone games like 'Vampires Live' and 'iMobsters,' has found itself on the wrong end of a potential class-action lawsuit.

A lawsuit has been filed, on behalf of Washington resident Michael Turner, that alleges Storm8 built its games with a "feature" that automatically sends the phone number of each host iPhone to the developer. Turner is suing on the grounds that this practice is in violation of both the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California state law, and is pushing to turn it into a class-action suit, on behalf of all Storm8 customers.

Storm8 has admitted to collecting the phone numbers, but denies any real responsibility, attributing the "phone home" function to a simple bug in the code. The company maintains that the glitch has been fixed. Turner countered that a "glitch" could not lead to the collection of phone numbers and that specialized code would have to be purposely placed within the games to have that effect. Not being programmers,we can't say for certain whether or not the collecting of phone numbers was intentional, but it doesn't sound like the sort of feature that could be accidentally implemented.

Continue reading App Developer Sued for Stealing Customers' iPhone Numbers

SwitchedApp Developer Sued for Stealing Customers' iPhone Numbers originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class actionClassActioncomputer crimes and abuse actComputerCrimesAndAbuseActlawsuitprivacysecuritystorm8topSat, 07 Nov 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Are Mobile Devices Getting Too Complex?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/cell-phone-inventor-says-mobile-devices-are-too-complex/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/cell-phone-inventor-says-mobile-devices-are-too-complex/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/cell-phone-inventor-says-mobile-devices-are-too-complex/#commentsFiled under: ,


Last year, Martin Cooper, the man credited with inventing the cell phone at Motorola in 1973, made headlines when he complained at a Boston conference that the iPhone was too complex. Further cementing his reputation as a curmudgeon, Cooper told a gathering in Madrid this week pretty much the same thing -- that modern cell phones are too feature-packed to be useful. "Whenever you create a universal device that does all things for all people, it does not do any things well," he told the crowd.

Now, our knee-jerk reaction was to dismiss Cooper as a crotchety, out-of-touch coot when he said, "[Our] future... is a number of specialist devices that focus on one thing." Clearly, the trend in technology has been convergence -- cramming more and more capabilities into fewer, smaller gadgets. Many of us at the Switched offices lug around smartphones that can snap photos, record video, play games, browse the Internet, get directions via GPS, play music and video, and make calls. Yet a quick survey revealed that most of us own, and still use, dedicated iPods and GPS devices, as well. And no one would even contemplate ditching a computer to rely purely on a smartphone for Web access.

Continue reading Are Mobile Devices Getting Too Complex?

SwitchedAre Mobile Devices Getting Too Complex? originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonehistoryMartin CooperMartinCoopersmartphonetopSat, 07 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Some T-Mobile Users See Nude Strangers on Their Profile Pages]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/some-t-mobile-users-see-nude-strangers-on-their-profile-pages/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/some-t-mobile-users-see-nude-strangers-on-their-profile-pages/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/some-t-mobile-users-see-nude-strangers-on-their-profile-pages/#commentsFiled under:


T-Mobile is apparently offering a scintillating ('Titillating' would have been far too easy and predictable.) new feature for people with online accounts: pics of naked girls. The Consumerist is reporting that when T&A- T-Mobile subscriber "Andrew" signed in to his account to check a bill payment recently, a picture of an unfamiliar, topless female appeared on his profile page, within his MobileLife photo album.

Andrew also claims that when he signed in again later, yet more nudie shots appeared. After the Consumerist broke Andrew's shocking story, the site was flooded with still more reports of even raunchier images appearing on T-Mobile profile pages. When asked for a comment, a T-Mobile spokesperson told the Consumerist that the company is investigating the incidents, which it claims are "not common."

Continue reading Some T-Mobile Users See Nude Strangers on Their Profile Pages

SwitchedSome T-Mobile Users See Nude Strangers on Their Profile Pages originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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