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[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]]>appbreakingnewscellphonecoughdiagnosisdiseasedoctorhealthresearchsciencetopWed, 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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnymobilelifepornt-mobileFri, 06 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Wanted Thief Texts Mugshot to Local Paper, Old Pic Too Ugly]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/wanted-thief-texts-mugshot-to-local-paper-old-pic-too-ugly/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/wanted-thief-texts-mugshot-to-local-paper-old-pic-too-ugly/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/wanted-thief-texts-mugshot-to-local-paper-old-pic-too-ugly/#commentsFiled under:

Fugitives, take note. If you're disgruntled over that unflattering mugshot, follow Matthew Maynard's lead and send in one of your own.

Last Monday, the 23-year-old Welshman took cheekiness to the next level by texting The Evening Post a shot of himself, posing in front of a police van and dressed in matching neon yellow trousers. Maynard, wanted in conjunction with a burglary in Swansea, South Wales, was apparently unhappy with the official mugshot, according to The Daily Telegraph.

South Wales Police had originally issued his mugshot, along with those of seven other suspects, as part of a larger crackdown that eventually led to 81 arrests in 48 hours. Four of the pictured suspects were picked up within hours, but Maynard remains one of the four still at large. After receiving his sensational new photo, The Evening Post responded in kind by splashing it all over the front page of today's paper. "He thinks he's being clever by showing off like this, but we'll have him in soon now," said one officer. "Everyone in Swansea will know what he looks like now." Prison time is a big price to pay for your vanity, Matthew. [From: The Evening Post, The Daily Telegraph, and The Daily Mail]

SwitchedWanted Thief Texts Mugshot to Local Paper, Old Pic Too Ugly originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimedumbcriminalfunnymugshotpolicetextingweirdFri, 06 Nov 2009 16:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Tag Heuer Meridiist Automobili Phone]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-tag-heuer-meridiist-automobili-phone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-tag-heuer-meridiist-automobili-phone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-tag-heuer-meridiist-automobili-phone/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Tag Heuer Meridiist Automobili Phone (Style-o-Phile, Cost No Object)

Thinking of springing for the veritable super car of cell phones? Lamborghini has saved you the trouble of searching high and low by releasing a phone of its own. Housed in black titanium and hand-brushed stainless steel, the Tag Heuer Meridiist Automobili Lamborghini (price TBD) was inspired by the Murcielago LP640, from the trademark Taurus bull on the central button down to the signature on the battery cover. Dual LCD displays crafted from 60.5 carats of scratch-resistant sapphire complement the black, minimalist backlit keyboard, 2-megapixel camera and reasonable seven-hour talk time. It's made by luxury phone manufacturer Vertu, which means it's created with folks who value ease-of-use and bling over the latest techno specs, making it perfect for the high-rolling novice in your life who still needs to stay in touch. But get it while you can. With only 1,963 units manufactured - a tribute to the year Lamborghini was founded -they're about as rare as the real deal.

SwitchedGift Guide: Tag Heuer Meridiist Automobili Phone originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blinghgghgg-cnohgg-novlamborghiniluxurytagheuervertuFri, 06 Nov 2009 16:06:00 EST<![CDATA[9 Banned Apps You'll Never See on the iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/9-banned-apps-youll-never-see-on-the-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/9-banned-apps-youll-never-see-on-the-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/9-banned-apps-youll-never-see-on-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's no denying the runaway success of Apple's App Store: to date, iPhone and iPod touch users have downloaded some 2 billion applications from its ever-expanding library of 100,000. But there's also no escaping the rumblings of discontent from many consumers and developers who feel that Apple is unfairly acting as judge, jury, and executioner by censoring apps and exiling them from the App Store.

Much of the consternation stems from the fact that Apple has never published hard and fast guidelines for what determines whether an app will be allowed through Apple's gatekeepers. To make matters worse for frustrated developers, Apple frequently contradicts itself in its judgments. So, say, while porn stars are free to peddle T and A to consenting adults, e-book packages that include the "Kama Sutra" are apparently too risqué for Apple. In the hopes of discovering a method to this maddening process, we've looked at nine high-profile iPhone apps that were found guilty of transgressing Apple's (unwritten) approval terms, and weigh in on the fairness of Apple's judgment and the likelihood an app will have it overturned on appeal in the future.

Continue reading 9 Banned Apps You'll Never See on the iPhone

Switched9 Banned Apps You'll Never See on the iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleappstorebannedbanscensorshipfeaturestopFri, 06 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola DROID: The Reviews Are In]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/motorola-droid-the-reviews-are-in/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/motorola-droid-the-reviews-are-in/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/motorola-droid-the-reviews-are-in/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Motorola's DROID may be the largest threat to Apple's stranglehold on the smartphone market to date, and for good reason. Available starting tomorrow for $199 (with a minimum $70 voice and data monthly plan), the DROID offers lots to like: a sturdy, angular, all-black design; a crystal clear, high-resolution display (854 by 480 pixels); a faster, 550MHz-rated processor; the next-generation Android 2.0 operating system from Google; a physical keyboard; and Verizon's decent call service. Overall, critics see the DROID as a huge step forward for Android-loaded phones, despite there being a few significant kinks to work out. Head after the break to see what the Web is saying:

Continue reading Motorola DROID: The Reviews Are In

SwitchedMotorola DROID: The Reviews Are In originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>droidHGGiphonemotorolareviewroundupsmartphonetalkinghedstopThu, 05 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Purdue's 'Hotseat' Brings Twitter to the College Classroom]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/purdue-universitys-hotseat-brings-twitter-and-facebook-to-the/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/purdue-universitys-hotseat-brings-twitter-and-facebook-to-the/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/05/purdue-universitys-hotseat-brings-twitter-and-facebook-to-the/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Purdue University Bringing Twitter and Facebook into the Classroom
Schools have been surprisingly quick to embrace new online tools to enhance education and encourage participation both in and out of the classroom. Professor Dave Parry, from the University of Texas at Dallas, has taken his class to Twitter, The University of Missouri has required all Journalism majors to own an iPhone or an iPod touch, and Griffith University has an entire course dedicated to Twitter for it's Journalism students.

Purdue University, one of the first to institute an emergency text messaging system and an early adopter of Apple's iTunes U, is testing a custom developed app called 'Hotseat' that allows for students to comment and ask questions in real-time, via Twitter, Facebook, text message, and a Web interface. The university is testing the application in two classes right now, and of the roughly 600 students taking those courses, 73-percent have used 'Hotseat' to ask questions, critique their professor, or vote for topics to be covered.

Continue reading Purdue's 'Hotseat' Brings Twitter to the College Classroom

SwitchedPurdue's 'Hotseat' Brings Twitter to the College Classroom originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>educationfacebookschooltoptwitterThu, 05 Nov 2009 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone App, Where's My Car?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-wheres-my-car/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-wheres-my-car/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-wheres-my-car/#commentsFiled under: ,

We love holiday shopping as much as the next person, but we could do without the mammoth parking lots (and our embarrassing inability to navigate them). Honestly, is there anything more demoralizing, after a successful raid on Walmart, than not being able to find your own car when you get outside? We think not.

Thankfully, there is hope for the parking-lot challenged, and it comes in the form of 'Car Finder' [App Store link]. Using augmented reality (real-time video overlaid with computer-generated graphics), this marvel is available from Apple's App Store for $0.99. It sounds cool, and it is. Simply use the app to mark your car's location, and walk away. On your way back, Car Finder, in conjunction with the iPhone's built-in GPS, lets you view your surroundings in on the iPhone's screen. Simply rotate your body until the screen displays the general direction of your wayward automobile, and a big red arrow will guide you to the icon that represents your car's location. Neat, huh?

Continue reading iPhone App, Where's My Car?

SwitchediPhone App, Where's My Car? originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStoreiphoneiphone appiphone3gsIphoneAppsmartphonetopWed, 04 Nov 2009 08:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/gift-guide-joby-gorillamobile-for-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/gift-guide-joby-gorillamobile-for-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/gift-guide-joby-gorillamobile-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone (Media Hound, Under $50)
Joby first earned fans several years ago when it essentially invented its own market: low-cost, flexible but durable mini tripods for cameras. And Joby's done it again by extending into the iPhone accessory market with the $40 Gorillamobile. Put any iPhone 3G or 3GS (sorry first genners) into the included soft case and then snap it into the tripod and you're good to go -- use it to keep your iPhone within easy viewing when you're on a bike, or while you're driving (for hands-free calling and GPS functions only!), or on a plane (to watch movies), or in the kitchen, or wherever else you are that requires you to go handsfree. Nicely, it also comes with a standard 1/4-inch adapter for attaching a camera as well. Oh, and just to be clear, no gorillas were harmed in the manufacture of this product.

SwitchedGift Guide: Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesgorillamobilehgghgg-50hgg-mediahoundiphoneiphoneaccessoriesjobytravelTue, 03 Nov 2009 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Preview Your Plastic Surgery With iSurgeon]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/preview-your-plastic-surgery-with-isurgeon/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/preview-your-plastic-surgery-with-isurgeon/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/preview-your-plastic-surgery-with-isurgeon/#commentsFiled under: ,

Thinking about a nip here, or a tuck there? If you're not certain that a face lift or lipo is right for you, you might want to test the waters with an iPhone application. According to Reuters, two plastic surgery apps, both aiming to inform surgical candidates about different procedures, have been released in the past month.

The first, the Shafer Plastic Surgery App, was launched in October. It hosts a database of more than 1,000 questions and answers that people interested in surgery might ask. If you choose to pay $2.99 for the full version, you can also send the creator, Dr. David Shafer, direct questions about procedures. The second, iSurgeon, is a little creepier. This app, free to download this month, alters photos according to the plastic surgery procedure you select. For example, if you'd like to know what that breast enhancement would look like, simply snap a pic of yourself, select that procedure on the app, and bam. The digital version appears right before your eyes. Creepily easy, sure, but if just one less person ends up looking like Michael Jackson, these apps are successes in our minds. [From: Reuters, via DVICE]

SwitchedPreview Your Plastic Surgery With iSurgeon originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeapplicationAppStorebeautybodycellphoneiphoneiphone appIphoneAppplastic surgeryPlasticSurgerytopTue, 03 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA['Electronic Fog' From Wireless Devices Might Block Study of Space]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/electronic-fog-from-wireless-devices-could-impede-study-of-spa/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/electronic-fog-from-wireless-devices-could-impede-study-of-spa/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/electronic-fog-from-wireless-devices-could-impede-study-of-spa/#commentsFiled under:

As our world becomes increasingly wireless, scientists must grapple with the effects of millions of people using devices like cell phones and laptops. After all, there's only so much space on the electromagnetic spectrum. You might not consider it while Googling or browsing Facebook, but that signal you're transmitting could be making it tougher for some scientists to do their jobs.

That's why the U.S. National Research Center (NRC), in a report released today, is calling for tougher regulations on the emissions of wireless signals. According to LiveScience, man-made signals have created an "electronic fog" that often blocks natural signals from the Earth or outer space. Scientists monitor these signals to keep an eye on temperature and water level changes in the atmosphere, to determine weather patterns, and even to learn about the origins of the universe.

Continue reading 'Electronic Fog' From Wireless Devices Might Block Study of Space

Switched'Electronic Fog' From Wireless Devices Might Block Study of Space originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphoneelectromagneticelectronicsemissionsfccsatellitesciencetopwirelessTue, 03 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Texting Bus Driver Caught Red-Thumbed by Passenger's Phone Pic]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/02/texting-nyc-bus-driver-caught-red-thumbed-by-passengers-phone-p/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/02/texting-nyc-bus-driver-caught-red-thumbed-by-passengers-phone-p/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/02/texting-nyc-bus-driver-caught-red-thumbed-by-passengers-phone-p/#commentsFiled under:

The debate about driving while texting (DWT) is about to hit a fever pitch. If you think people were up in arms about this dangerous habit before, just wait till you hear the latest alarming story. According to the New York Post, a New York City bus driver is being investigated after a passenger snapped a picture of him texting while steering the bus through thick traffic Thursday. Allegedly, the unnamed driver sent three messages during his route from Manhattan to Staten Island. Transit spokesman Charles Seaton told the Post that drivers are prohibited from using a cell phone while in the driver's seat.

While this story is a black eye on the city, it's also ill-timed news for the entire state, which saw a new ban on texting go into effect today. There's a positive side, though. More people might be waking up to the dangers of texting on the road. Yet another new poll by The New York Times and CBS News found that 97-percent of those polled support a ban on driving while texting. Even more resounding, 50-percent said the practice should be treated like drunk driving. With such overwhelming support, it wouldn't be a surprise to see stateside crackdowns similar to the one in England (where texting now results in serious jail time.)

Continue reading Texting Bus Driver Caught Red-Thumbed by Passenger's Phone Pic

SwitchedTexting Bus Driver Caught Red-Thumbed by Passenger's Phone Pic originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonecontroversydangerdrivingnewyorkcitytextingtexting while drivingTextingWhileDrivingtoptransportationMon, 02 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST