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[Plastic Logic's Que Prepares to Take on the Kindle]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/19/plastic-logics-que-prepares-to-take-on-the-kindle/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/19/plastic-logics-que-prepares-to-take-on-the-kindle/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/19/plastic-logics-que-prepares-to-take-on-the-kindle/#commentsFiled under:

With Google's recent announcement that it will be hopping into the e-book market, the door's been flung wide open for e-readers that might not have otherwise had a chance against Amazon's dominant Kindle. Among those contenders is a forthcoming device developed by Plastic Logic.

Set to debut at January's CES, the Que was briefly detailed in a statement released today by Plastic Logic. Aimed squarely at the business community, the Que builds on Plastic Logic's eReader model by supporting such biz-related files as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents, as well as PDFs. The Que's stylishly black, lightweight, 8.5-by-11-by-0.33-inch frame sure looks cool in the press photos, but we'll have to wait till January to see what it can really do. [From: All Things Digital, via Engadget]

SwitchedPlastic Logic's Que Prepares to Take on the Kindle originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e-booke-readerplastic logicPlasticLogicquetopMon, 19 Oct 2009 14:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Earbuds Under $100?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/07/21/best-earbuds-under-100/http://www.switched.com/2009/07/21/best-earbuds-under-100/http://www.switched.com/2009/07/21/best-earbuds-under-100/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



A reader asks: I travel and commute a lot, and I need a set of headphones for my iPod and laptop. Those white earbuds just don't cut it on a plane or subway - especially for blocking out noise. I like to watch action movies, so they need to have good bass for those Hollywood explosions. But I'm also a jazz fan.

Hey Reader: We're not crazy about stock earbuds, either, and we've tried just about every alternative on the market. While in-ear models from Etymotic and Shure are popular for their excellent noise blocking and über-clear sound, they are expensive -- and uncomfortable on long trips. Instead, we recommend an affordable set from Ultimate Ears, the MetroFi 220. For $79, you get full, crisp bass without sacrificing clarity in the middle and upper ranges -- making the headphones versatile enough for all kinds of movies and music.

The extremely compact earbuds look pretty snazzy, with shiny, titanium-colored accents and a red-tinted ring clearly marking the right-ear bud. You get three sizes of smooth silicon tips. That way, you can select the ones that go just far enough into your ear canals to stay put and block noise -- without tickling your cochlea. Their black, hard-plastic carrying case fits easily in your pocket. For an extra $10, Ultimate Ears also makes an iPhone-compatible version, the MetroFi 220vi, which features an inline mic and a call-answer button.

SwitchedBest Earbuds Under $100? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioearbudsfeaturesheadphonesipodaccessoriesjusttellmewhattogettopTue, 21 Jul 2009 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Is the Viliv S5 UMPC Worth the Hype?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/05/18/is-the-viliv-s5-umpc-worth-the-hype/http://www.switched.com/2009/05/18/is-the-viliv-s5-umpc-worth-the-hype/http://www.switched.com/2009/05/18/is-the-viliv-s5-umpc-worth-the-hype/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Welcome to another edition of Hype Check, where we give much-anticipated new gadgets or services a test drive and tell you whether or not they live up to the hype. Today, we set our critical eyes on the Viliv S5.

What it is: The Viliv S5 is a handheld UMPC -- ultra mobile PC -- that runs Windows XP and has specs comparable to that of most current netbooks, but also includes a touch screen and GPS.

Why it's different: UMPCs have been around for a few years now, but almost all of them have failed to capture mainstream success due to high prices, sluggish performance, and/or wretched battery life. The Viliv S5, on the other hand, costs $599, runs XP like a champ, and has six hours of battery life (200 hours on standby) -- all in a sleek black chassis that fits comfortably in the hand.

Continue reading Is the Viliv S5 UMPC Worth the Hype?

SwitchedIs the Viliv S5 UMPC Worth the Hype? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 18 May 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshypechecktopMon, 18 May 2009 10:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Peek Pronto: Push E-mail, Exchange Support, Multiple Accounts]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/24/peek-pronto-push-e-mail-exchange-support-multiple-accounts/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/24/peek-pronto-push-e-mail-exchange-support-multiple-accounts/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/24/peek-pronto-push-e-mail-exchange-support-multiple-accounts/#commentsFiled under: ,


Boy, Peek wasn't kidding when it called its new device Pronto. With nary a press announcement to froth up the minds of mobile e-mailers the device has rushed straight to availability for $79.95, sadly in just one color. What does the $30 premium over the earlier Peek get you? Push e-mail, Exchange support, and the device now allows for up to five accounts (the previous maxed out at two). The Pronto also supports PDF and Word attachments and (so the company claims) has overall faster performance (by 50 percent says the PR). Peek is also advertising unlimited text messaging, and while we're not yet sure if that's any different than the limited support the last model had, the Pronto should help you keep in touch with your daughter and your mother in one device. Service is still just $19.95, shipping now to the eager hands of complexity-averse messaging addicts everywhere.

Update: According to the PR, the Pronto is available exclusively at Amazon.com from March 24th until
March 31st, then will begin selling at getpeek.com April 1st, and in stores at Radio Shack come April 8th. Also, it's worth noting that the company has retooled the keyboards on the new devices, making the previously stiff keys a bit easier on the thumbs.

[Thanks, Mike H.]

SwitchedPeek Pronto: Push E-mail, Exchange Support, Multiple Accounts originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emailemail deviceEmailDevicepeekpeek prontoPeekProntoupcomingTue, 24 Mar 2009 14:10:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone 3.0 Update Brings Much Needed New Features ]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/17/iphone-3-0-update-brings-much-needed-new-features/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/17/iphone-3-0-update-brings-much-needed-new-features/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/17/iphone-3-0-update-brings-much-needed-new-features/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

iPhone 3.0 Update Brings Much Needed New Features

The wait is over! Well, the wait to know what we're waiting for is over.

The iPhone 3.0 update is coming, and honestly, it's not coming soon enough. We'll have to wait until this June, when the iPhone will get a major software update that will bring boatloads of new features to everyone's favorite multi-touch cell phone. Of course, many of these features, such as support for Multi-Media-Messaging (MMS), have been on other smart phones for years. Check out the bullet list after the break for what to expect, and hit up Engadget for more in-depth coverage.

Continue reading iPhone 3.0 Update Brings Much Needed New Features

SwitchediPhone 3.0 Update Brings Much Needed New Features originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeappleAppStorebluetoothbreaking newsBreakingNewscopy and pasteCopyAndPastegpsiphone 3.0Iphone3.0mmspushpush notificationPushNotificationtopupcomingupdatesTue, 17 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's New iPod Shuffle Talks to You]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/11/apples-new-ipod-shuffle-talks-to-you/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/11/apples-new-ipod-shuffle-talks-to-you/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/11/apples-new-ipod-shuffle-talks-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Bam, another Apple rumor vindicated. Apple just doubled the capacity of its iPod shuffle to 4GB while ditching the control wheel entirely. The new design keeps the clip and adds VoiceOver -- a new feature that gets around the lack of display by telling you which song is playing and who performs it at the touch of a button on the earbud cable. It'll also call out your playlists and let you navigate to others. No word on which languages are supported. Available in black or silver for $80 and your claim to what Apple calls the "world's smallest music player."

Head to Engadget for a gallery and more specs.

Update: VoiceOver in English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.

SwitchedApple's New iPod Shuffle Talks to You originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebreaking newsBreakingNewsipodipod shuffleIpodShufflemusicnew productsNewProductsWed, 11 Mar 2009 09:51:00 EST<![CDATA[GPS Leads Truck to Impassable Road for 5 Days]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/27/gps-leads-truck-to-impassable-road-for-5-days/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/27/gps-leads-truck-to-impassable-road-for-5-days/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/27/gps-leads-truck-to-impassable-road-for-5-days/#commentsFiled under: ,

Truck Blocks Road for Five Days Thanks to GPS
If you have a GPS, you've surely noticed that, from time to time, it gives directions that are a little bit... wrong. Maybe it got the name of an exit incorrect, or told you to turn down the wrong way onto a one-way street, or maybe even told you to turn onto a road that didn't exist. You're certainly not alone in these findings, but we hope your wayward directions were less of an inconvenience than those suffered by an unnamed truck driver in the village of Cotswold, England. His GPS directed him down a tiny road that was too small for his rig and, when he tried to back out, he got stuck, completely blocking the road for five days while his company struggled to extract it!

View Poll



This is an increasing problem in England, with its many small, country lanes that are completely unsuitable for large vehicles. Most GPS devices don't know the difference, and will route cars, trucks, and everything else down these narrow roads, leading to fun times like this.

Continue reading GPS Leads Truck to Impassable Road for 5 Days

SwitchedGPS Leads Truck to Impassable Road for 5 Days originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentdumbenglandgpskiller gadgetsKillerGadgetsroadtruckFri, 27 Feb 2009 12:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet the 9-Year-Old iPhone App Designer]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/05/meet-the-9-year-old-iphone-app-designer/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/05/meet-the-9-year-old-iphone-app-designer/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/05/meet-the-9-year-old-iphone-app-designer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,




At the age most of us began to play video games, nine-year-old Lim Ding Wen has begun to design them, reports the Daily Mail.

Since introducing his first iPhone application to the iTunes store two weeks ago, the Singaporean youngster has already sold over 4,000 downloads of his 'Doodle Kids' game. Inspired by his younger sisters' penchants for drawing, Lim set out to design the illustration app, which allows users to "draw" lines or adjust various geometric shapes with their fingers. Such a feat is not all that surprising for a child who began working with computers at two, started programming at seven, and presently works in six different programming languages.

Apparently, Lim's next project will be called 'Invader Wars.' Let's just hope that's the name of another iPhone app, and not the description of a space-age war that the world's genius-babies plan to wage on the rest of us. [From: Daily Mail]

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SwitchedMeet the 9-Year-Old iPhone App Designer originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStoreiphoneiphone appiphone appsIphoneAppIphoneAppskid inventorKidInventorkidsweirdThu, 05 Feb 2009 12:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Oprah-Approved Content Oddly Lacking on the Oprah-Approved Kindle]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/23/oprah-approved-content-oddly-lacking-on-the-kindle/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/23/oprah-approved-content-oddly-lacking-on-the-kindle/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/23/oprah-approved-content-oddly-lacking-on-the-kindle/#commentsFiled under: ,

Oprah May Not Love Kindle Enough
That Oprah, she's a wily one. She's constantly selling something or giving something away in an effort to tighten her grip on the throat of the world. Which is why we're a little confused that when she decided to endorse the Kindle, she neglected to make sure she had any content to sell on it.

After the TV talk show queen threw her hefty cultural weight behind her "new favorite gadget" last year, legions of fans ran out and bought the hideous-looking (but admittedly useful) Kindle, only to find that less than half of the books in the Oprah Book Club were available for download on the device. Oddly enough, neither of Oprah's magazines ('O' and 'O at Home') were available for the eReader. It turns out that this is still the case.

We're a little surprised at such a lack of planning from someone clearly trying to take over the world. On the plus side, it may mean we'll be able to find a lot of low-priced, slightly used Kindles on eBay from disgruntled Oprah fans. [From: The Register]


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SwitchedOprah-Approved Content Oddly Lacking on the Oprah-Approved Kindle originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazon kindleAmazonKindlee-booke-bookskindleoprahoprah winfreyOprahWinfreytopFri, 23 Jan 2009 10:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Grenade MP3 Player Looks a Bit Too Realistic for Most]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/22/grenade-mp3-player-looks-a-bit-too-realistic-for-most/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/22/grenade-mp3-player-looks-a-bit-too-realistic-for-most/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/22/grenade-mp3-player-looks-a-bit-too-realistic-for-most/#commentsFiled under: ,

Grenade MP3 Player Looks a Bit Too Realistic for Most
If you're tired of boring MP3 players that look like ... well ... MP3 players, check out this custom
model made by a man who goes by the moniker openfly. It's a 1GB Sansa Clip stuffed into the casing of a mock grenade that, if not for the three protruding buttons, switch, and headphone cable, would be more or less indistinguishable from the real thing. openfly cut open the casing, stuffed the player inside (pictured after the break) re-wired the inputs and outputs, and the above package is the result. Sadly, 1GB of music won't get you too far these days, but grenades were always more about impact than range. [From: OhGizmo!]

Continue reading Grenade MP3 Player Looks a Bit Too Realistic for Most

SwitchedGrenade MP3 Player Looks a Bit Too Realistic for Most originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grenademp3mp3 playerMp3Playersansasansa clipSansaClipThu, 22 Jan 2009 15:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Oprah Calls Kindle Her "New Favorite Thing," Gives Everyone $50 Off]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/10/27/oprah-calls-kindle-her-new-favorite-thing-gives-everyone-50/http://www.switched.com/2008/10/27/oprah-calls-kindle-her-new-favorite-thing-gives-everyone-50/http://www.switched.com/2008/10/27/oprah-calls-kindle-her-new-favorite-thing-gives-everyone-50/#commentsFiled under: ,



Been waiting patiently for the next-generation Kindle(s) to hit the market? Growing increasingly frustrated with the wait? Thanks to the Amazon e-reader becoming Oprah Winfrey's "new favorite, favorite thing in the world (can't you see the jubilation on her face?)," you might just have to finally pull the trigger on the existing iteration. As a special offer for 'Oprah Show' viewers (and by extension, everyone who reads this post), Amazon.com is now offering $50 off of the Kindle's $359 price tag by simply entering the code OPRAHWINFREY at checkout and envisioning Tom Cruise leaping on your computer desk. Better act fast, though -- the offer's only good through November 1st, and yes, that Tom Cruise bit is required.

[Thanks, Chad]

SwitchedOprah Calls Kindle Her "New Favorite Thing," Gives Everyone $50 Off originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazon kindleAmazonKindlediscountse-book readersE-bookReaderse-readerskindleoprahMon, 27 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mother's Day: Nintendo DS and Konami Let's Yoga]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-12/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-12/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/top-12-gadget-gifts-for-mom-12/#commentsFiled under: ,



If you thought handheld game consoles were just for kids, then you've got it all wrong. They were made for moms, too. The Nintendo DS is small, with a clamshell design and two LCD screens -- one of which is a touchscreen. With a built-in microphone and Wi-Fi, this little gadget is perfect entertainment for the mom who wants to be at least as cool as her teenage or twentysomething daughters. Add some groovy games -- like Konami's Let's Yoga! and Let's Pilates!, which provide simple instructions for exercises and positions -- and it becomes a portable workout center. Also perfect for her is the Crosswords DS game, which includes more than a thousand crossword puzzles, Wordsearch and Anagrams. The Nintendo DS goes for $130 and the games retail for $30.

SwitchedMother's Day: Nintendo DS and Konami Let's Yoga originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 09 May 2008 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 09 May 2008 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Strange But True Cell Phone Stories]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/24/strange-but-true-cell-phone-stories-1/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/24/strange-but-true-cell-phone-stories-1/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/24/strange-but-true-cell-phone-stories-1/#commentsFiled under: ,

In this day and age, owning a cell phone is about as special as using your tooth brush every night before bed. For some people, however, these gadget must-haves cause more trouble than they're worth. For others, they are literally a life-saver. Either way, they often make life just a bit more odd. To celebrate the weird world cell phones have created, we present to you Strange But True Cell Phone Stories.


The one with the guy who gets text messages from his late wife...

In Ghost, a 1990 romantic tearjerker, Patrick Swayze's character needed Oda Mae Brown to contact his beloved wife from beyond the grave. These days, it seems as though the deceased can stay in contact without a middleman. Well, sort of. Englander Frank Jones claims that his wife, Sadie, has been sending him text messages from the afterlife, leaving no return number behind. Turns out the family buried Sadie with her prized cell phone, and now Jones believes his wife's spirit has a hankering to reach out and touch someone. Here's hoping Oda Mae finds a new line of work...

SwitchedStrange But True Cell Phone Stories originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresprepaidweirdThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Strange But True Cell Phone Stories]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/21/strange-but-true-cell-phone-stories-5/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/21/strange-but-true-cell-phone-stories-5/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/21/strange-but-true-cell-phone-stories-5/#commentsFiled under: ,



The one with the $22,000 downloads of 'Friends' episodes....

Whoever said Friends don't cost a thing? A man from the United Kingdom received a bill for £11,000 (about $22,000) after his wife downloaded four episodes of the popular TV show from his cell phone. Apparently, she began downloading shortly before the man left for business in Germany, where roaming charges made the bill skyrocket as the downloads continued. The good news is that one of the episodes the couple downloaded was the one where - eh, never mind.


SwitchedStrange But True Cell Phone Stories originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expire-images2009-4-21oddstrangestrange but trueStrangeButTrueweirdMon, 21 Apr 2008 06:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Nikki Sixx: A Motley Interview, Care of Switched]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/01/nikki-sixx-a-motley-interview-care-of-switched/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/01/nikki-sixx-a-motley-interview-care-of-switched/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/01/nikki-sixx-a-motley-interview-care-of-switched/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Bassist and songwriter Nikki Sixx met fame in the 1980s as a member of the rock/heavy metal band Motley Crue. Sixx cemented a reputation as a hard-charging force on the music scene through his frequent drug binges and over-the-top theatrical performances on stage. In 2006, he joined the members of Motley Crue on a reunion tour, this time gratefully sober. Now the bassist in Sixx: A.M. and one-third of the creative force behind The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, Nikki found time to sat down to answer our Switched Questionnaire and tell us about the role of gadgets in his life, including the love/hate relationship he has with his iPhone...

What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set?
iPhone.

What cell phone do you have right now and what do you love/hate about it?
iPhone. I wish it had copy paste in the email apps.

Who's the last person you sent a text message to and what was it about?
My daughter -- telling me I'm weird

Where do you go pretty much every time you get online?
A good reason to go to Starbucks.

What annoys you most about your iPod, cell phone, or laptop (or any other gadget)?
I hate that I'm addicted to it, but it's hard to imagine life without it.

Name one thing you wish your iPod/cellphone/laptop could do that it doesn't do now?
Wish my iPhone had true video messaging -instead of voice mail it would face mail. Hello, Mr. Jobs?

What upcoming gadget can you not wait to get your hands on?
I can't wait to check into the iHotel. DJ told me it should be ready in 2011.

You're stranded on a desert island: What gadget do you bring?
Suntan oil and a blonde (or a brunette or both), unless the iGirl is ready.

What's the most-played song or artist on your iPod?
A.M. right now, but usually everything from metal to country.

Blackberry, Sidekick, or Treo?
None. Why bring old technology to the party? How many times have I said iPhone in this interview?

What's the longest time you've ever spent playing a video game in one sitting and what game was it?
Don't play video games. Just can't seem to get interested.

Do you use/have a Mac or PC? Why?
Mac. Is there any other kind?

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SwitchedNikki Sixx: A Motley Interview, Care of Switched originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newsexpire-images:2009-1-31MusicNikki SixxNikkiSixxSwitched QuestionnaireSwitchedQuestionnaireThe Switched QuestionnaireTheSwitchedQuestionnairetopFri, 01 Feb 2008 12:17:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone Popularity On the Wane?]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/iphone-popularity-on-the-wane/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/iphone-popularity-on-the-wane/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/iphone-popularity-on-the-wane/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Apple recently said that it has sold about 3.7 million units of the iPhone, but phone service giant (and iPhone carrier) AT&T claims it only has approximately 2 million iPhone service subscribers. CNET News.com reports that the "missing" 1.7 million units may be accounted in several ways: For one, about 400,000 units have been sold in Europe. Another 250,000 that were sold, but not activated, are thought to have been purchased by consumers wanting to hack and unlock the phone, an endeavor that became much harder with the release of Apple's 1.1.2 firmware. The rest are apparently in-store inventory, waiting to be bought up by customers.

It is possible that hesitant consumers are waiting for a lower-priced iPhone, or that the superstitious are reluctant about buying brand new products that may still have kinks for the next version to work out. Apple nevertheless projects 2008 sales to number about 10 million units. CNET News suggests that launches in Asia and other European countries, soon-to-be-released new applications, and the release of the iPhone software developer's kit (which will lead to all kinds of cool third-party programs for the device) might all back up Apple's claim.

Or maybe people are just sick of the iPhone. It stopped being a novelty as soon as the iPod Touch came out last Fall, which gave all those users who didn't want to switch carriers the benefits of the iPhone's big, responsive touchscreen and slim form factor.

Besides, aren't we all waiting for the hot, new high-speed 3G iPhone to come out some time this year? Let's hope it really happens.

From CNET News.com

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SwitchediPhone Popularity On the Wane? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applebreaking+newsiPhonetopFri, 25 Jan 2008 18:03:00 EST<![CDATA[1.1 Billion Cell Phones Sold Worldwide In 2007, Says Study]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/1-1-billion-cell-phones-sold-worldwide-in-2007-says-study/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/1-1-billion-cell-phones-sold-worldwide-in-2007-says-study/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/1-1-billion-cell-phones-sold-worldwide-in-2007-says-study/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A recent study concludes that about 1.1 billion cell phones were sold in 2007. Strategy Analytics, a market research firm, says that the number of units sold marks a ten percent increase from the previous year. It also forecasts a ten percent increase in cell phone purchases this year, with regions such as Africa and the Middle East picking up the slack for saturated Western markets.

Finland's Nokia took the top sales spot with a market share of about 39%, or 437 million units sold. The study also noted that Apple's iPhone took about a 0.6 percent market share, which translates to about 2.3 million phones sold. Those numbers are slightly disappointing, says Strategy Analytics, pointing to the reluctance of European consumers to pay for the relatively expensive iPhone with the same fervor as the frenzied American public did last summer. Interestingly, Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently offered a more flattering figure, saying that the number of iPhones sent out numbered closer to 4 million. Somehow, we just don't see the pricey iPhone being a smashing success in economically-troubled Africa this year...

From AFP Via Textually.org

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Switched1.1 Billion Cell Phones Sold Worldwide In 2007, Says Study originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phonesCellPhonescellular phonesCellularPhonesexpire-images:2009-1-24iPhoneNokiaStrategy AnalyticsStrategyAnalyticsFri, 25 Jan 2008 14:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Police Can Search Through Cell Phone Contents]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/24/police-allowed-to-search-through-cell-phone-contents/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/24/police-allowed-to-search-through-cell-phone-contents/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/24/police-allowed-to-search-through-cell-phone-contents/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Unsettling Thought of the Day: The law allows police to search through cell phone contents of people who have been stopped for arrestable traffic offenses. Gizmodo reports that a recent academic article by South Texas Assistant Professor Adam Gershowitz explains that many traffic violations merit a search for contraband like drugs, and search parameters extend to hand-held devices. The law considers cell phones and iPods to be closed containers that police are permitted to "open," even if they contain your private text messages, photos, call history, browsing history and e-mails.

The thirty page article includes a 2007 case that went to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals - the United States v. Finley - in which police arrested a man following a drug sales sting and looked through the cell phone that was on his person. They found text messages that appeared to be connected to drug dealing, evidence which was used to convict Finley. In the end, the appeals court supported the legality of the search.

Truth be told, this news gives us goosebumps. Not because we plan on going 90 mph in a school safety zone, but because the larger issue of privacy seems to be at stake. It would be easy just write this one off as a proof that The Man is indeed a Fascist out to take away all of our liberties, but we just think it's a case in which the law has to catch up with technology. The writers of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights could not have foreseen this kind of scenario, and it should be the responsibility of the US Congress to take up the issue as we become more and more enmeshed in a gray legal area that hasn't kept up with technological developments. Do you think police are justified in looking through your cell phone during a legal search?

From Gizmodo

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SwitchedPolice Can Search Through Cell Phone Contents originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newscell phone searchCellPhoneSearchexpire-images:2009-1-23policepolice searchPoliceSearchtopU.S. v. FinleyU.s.V.FinleyThu, 24 Jan 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile Debuts New Samsung SGH-t819 Cellular Phone]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/21/t-mobile-debuts-new-samsung-sgh-t819-cellular-phone/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/21/t-mobile-debuts-new-samsung-sgh-t819-cellular-phone/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/21/t-mobile-debuts-new-samsung-sgh-t819-cellular-phone/#commentsFiled under: ,



Today, the Tech Wizard of Oz lifted the curtain to unveil the new T-Mobile Samsung t819 cellular phone. Equipped with wireless, stereo Bluetooth technology, the t819 sings its own praises with features like a 1.3 megapixel camera with video capture capability, an MP3 player and a micro SD slot for a maximum of 2-gigabytes (GB) of removable memory.

A slider phone that weighs in just shy of 3.5 ounces, the latest T-Mobile device has numerous messaging options, including AOL, SMS, MMS, ICQ, Windows Live and Yahoo. Furthermore, it is compatible with T-Mobile Address Book and offers the T-Mobile myFaves calling plan.

The cellular phone's full moniker is the Samsung SGH-t819. It is available in a two-toned brown hue, with a frame that measures approximately 4"x 2" x .5", which makes it one of the smaller slider-phones out there. The phone should be available over the next few days and weeks at T-Mobile retail stores, as well as online at t-mobile.com. Check out the gallery below for images.

Gallery: The New T-Mobile Samsung SGH-t819



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SwitchedT-Mobile Debuts New Samsung SGH-t819 Cellular Phone originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phoneCellPhonecellular phoneCellularPhoneexpire-images:2009-1-20newnew productsNewProductsSamsungSamsung SGH-t819SamsungSgh-t819slider phonesSliderPhonesT-MobileMon, 21 Jan 2008 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Wireless Portable PlanOn Printer Holds Paper, Too]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/08/wireless-portable-printer-asks-you-not-to-carry-around-paper/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/08/wireless-portable-printer-asks-you-not-to-carry-around-paper/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/08/wireless-portable-printer-asks-you-not-to-carry-around-paper/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Yesterday, PlanOn, the company that brought you the DocuPen scanner writing utensil, released for retail a one-of-a-kind portable printer, called the PrintStik. The tiny, mobile device, oblong and light, is a Bluetooth-enabled development that allows users to print e-mails and images from a smart phone, laptop or PDA. The technology is particularly useful for those of you who get annoyed with wires running wild when you're on the go, or for the professional who hates having to suffer in line behind Larry the Molasses Executive at those business centers just to print out a couple of pages.

The PrintStik is a self-contained unit, meaning you don't have to lug the 20 sheets of paper that fit inside. It prints at a leisurely three pages per minute, with the only other drawback being that you are not going to get a sheet of paper that might have come out of the printer at home. Instead, you will get thin, ticker-type sheets set with ink that looks like it came out of a random cash register.

Obviously, this product is not meant to turn out the annual report while you're driving to work. Instead, it is best suited for printing out things like directions or an E-mail from your handheld device.

We know, we know -- where and when, right? Expect to pay $299 for the PrintStik when you visit planon.com.

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SwitchedWireless Portable PlanOn Printer Holds Paper, Too originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mobile printerMobilePrinterNew ProductsNewProductsPrinterWireless printerWirelessPrinterTue, 08 Jan 2008 18:20:00 EST