Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[As Expected, Smartphones and Social Networks Targeted by Malware]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/smartphones-social-networks-targeted-by-malware/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/smartphones-social-networks-targeted-by-malware/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/smartphones-social-networks-targeted-by-malware/#comments Facebook App As security firms have been warning for some time, malware attacks are now more frequently focused on social networks and mobile devices. In Symantec's latest Internet Security Threat Report, the company noted that the number of malware attacks delivered through the Web practically doubled from 2009, with 65-percent of malicious links on Facebook arriving in the form of shortened URLs. The company also took special care to highlight the growing field of smartphone-based attacks, in particular those targeting Android. Many of the pieces of Facebook and Android malware rely on the laziness of users. Apps must specifically request permissions, but many people simply click through the notifications without reading them carefully. And as time passes, the attacks will only become more sophisticated.

For now, attacks seem focused on harvesting personal data from profiles and sending text messages to premium services, which earn a commission for the scammer. But as users start turning to their cell phones for mobile banking and shopping more frequently, they're likely to become a much bigger target for digital crooks.

SwitchedAs Expected, Smartphones and Social Networks Targeted by Malware originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesscamsecuritySocialNetworkingsymantectopMon, 11 Apr 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Students Create Smartphone App Capable of Detecting Malaria]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/09/students-create-smartphone-app-capable-of-detecting-malaria/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/09/students-create-smartphone-app-capable-of-detecting-malaria/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/09/students-create-smartphone-app-capable-of-detecting-malaria/#comments child testing for malaria A group of grad students has come up with a way to instantly diagnose malaria, using only a smartphone and some fancy software.

The team, comprised of students from around the nation, developed the prototype using a Samsung Focus smartphone, running Windows 7. After adding a microscopic camera lens to the phone, the students developed software capable of analyzing and scanning blood for malaria parasites. With the app installed on the phone, doctors or nurses could theoretically take a photo of any blood sample, and instantly know whether or not a patient is infected with malaria, and how severe the case may be.

Continue reading Students Create Smartphone App Capable of Detecting Malaria

SwitchedStudents Create Smartphone App Capable of Detecting Malaria originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appscellphonesdoctorhealthmalariamicroscopeMicrosoftsmartphonesstudentstesttopSat, 09 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Thunderbolt Outselling iPhone 4 in Verizon Stores?]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/03/thunderbolt-outselling-iphone-4-in-verizon-stores/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/03/thunderbolt-outselling-iphone-4-in-verizon-stores/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/03/thunderbolt-outselling-iphone-4-in-verizon-stores/#commentsThere were some who speculated that the arrival of the iPhone 4 on the Verizon network would spell not just certain death for AT&T, but put an end to Android's reign atop the smartphone heap at Big Red. So far, though, neither of those predictions has come to pass. AT&T has not suffered a mass exodus and, according to at least one analyst, the HTC Thunderbolt (Verizon's first LTE phone) is outselling the iPhone 4 in Verizon stores. The claim, however, is based primarily on anecdotal reporting from randomly selected Verizon retail locations, and doesn't take into account sales from Apple or third-party outlets like Best Buy. Still, the report from BTIG Research could indicate that the shift to 4G and the rising popularity of big-screen phones may in fact be working against the current crop of Apple handsets.

SwitchedThunderbolt Outselling iPhone 4 in Verizon Stores? originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapplecellphoneshtc thunderboltHtcThunderboltiphonethunderbolttopverizonSun, 03 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Woodland Contraption Plays Bach, Peddles Phone]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/ntt-docomo-ad-plays-bach-woodland-contraption/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/ntt-docomo-ad-plays-bach-woodland-contraption/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/ntt-docomo-ad-plays-bach-woodland-contraption/#comments
This gorgeous commercial -- conceived by Morihiro Harano, the award-winning creative director of Drill, Inc. -- features a sort of sloping marimba, down which a wooden ball rolls, producing an unadorned rendition of Bach's Cantata 147. "We did not add any artificial music at all," Harano tells the New York Times. The things people do to sell a wood-encased phone! Are we philistines for kinda digging Kristen Schaal's Xperia PLAY spots more? (Answer: yes.)

SwitchedWoodland Contraption Plays Bach, Peddles Phone originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonescommercialdesigndocomoKristenSchaalmorihiro+haranoMorihiroHaranotopTouchWoodtouchwood+phone+adtouchwoodphoneadTouchWoodSh-08cXperiaPlayThu, 31 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[German Politician Exposes Personal Data Gathered by Cell Phone Companies]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/malte-spitz-found-deutsche-telekom-tracked-personal-data-via-cell-phones/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/malte-spitz-found-deutsche-telekom-tracked-personal-data-via-cell-phones/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/malte-spitz-found-deutsche-telekom-tracked-personal-data-via-cell-phones/#commentsLooking for another reason to feel paranoid about your privacy? German politician Malte Spitz may have found one.

Spitz recently sued his mobile provider, Deutsche Telekom, in order to obtain data that the company had collected on his own whereabouts. Deutsche Telekom complied, and handed over all the geographic information it had gathered over a six-month period. As it turns out, the provider recorded Spitz's location on more than 35,000 occasions in six months, or about 78-percent of the time.

Continue reading German Politician Exposes Personal Data Gathered by Cell Phone Companies

SwitchedGerman Politician Exposes Personal Data Gathered by Cell Phone Companies originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesdataDeutscheTelekomgermanylawsuitLocationMalteSpitzmarketingmobilePersonalInformationpoliticsprivacytopMon, 28 Mar 2011 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA['Color' App Takes Your Photos Public, Shows Users in 150-Foot Radius]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/color-app-takes-your-photos-public-shows-users-in-150-foot-ra/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/color-app-takes-your-photos-public-shows-users-in-150-foot-ra/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/color-app-takes-your-photos-public-shows-users-in-150-foot-ra/#commentsLala founder Bill Nguyen's new 'Color' app is keeping the app hype machine rolling by raising $41 million... before launch. The Lala founder's app arrived today at Color.com (the domain having been purchased for a cool $350,000) with commentators claiming that it will "transform the way people communicate with each other." Nguyen has been given huge media exposure by everyone from the New York Times and Fast Company to industry veterans like John Battelle. Photo apps built around sharing (e.g. 'Instagram' and 'Path') have proven extremely popular in the past year, and Color adds another element to the endlessly hyped mobile and social mix: location.

Continue reading 'Color' App Takes Your Photos Public, Shows Users in 150-Foot Radius

Switched'Color' App Takes Your Photos Public, Shows Users in 150-Foot Radius originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappsbill+nguyen+colorBillNguyenbillnguyencolorcellphonescolorcolor+appcolor+app+socialcolor.comcolor.com+appcolor.comappcolorappcolorappsocialcolouriosiphoneprivacyThu, 24 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Stitches Together Cell Phone Photos to Create 3-D Models]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/microsoft-app-makes-3-d-models-from-cell-phone-photos/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/microsoft-app-makes-3-d-models-from-cell-phone-photos/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/microsoft-app-makes-3-d-models-from-cell-phone-photos/#comments 3-D Model Microsoft researchers have whipped up an impressive new cell phone app that turns camera-phone snapshots into 3-D models. The app is similar to Microsoft's Photosynth, which stitches together images to recreate 3-D environments. But Photosynth simply created the illusion of 3-D; this new project actually analyzes images, and maps depth by comparing how objects appear in different photos.

Creating the model is as simple as walking around an object while taking pictures. Larger objects, such as a car, can require up to 40 images, while smaller ones, such as a guitar or a cake, can need less than 20. Those shots are sent to that mysterious place known as "the cloud," where they're analyzed and pieced together to create a (relatively) seamless 3-D model. The model can be downloaded and explored right on the phone. (Swiping your finger around spins the model.)

Continue reading Microsoft Stitches Together Cell Phone Photos to Create 3-D Models

SwitchedMicrosoft Stitches Together Cell Phone Photos to Create 3-D Models originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-d3d3dModelingappscellphonesmicrosoftphotographytopWed, 23 Mar 2011 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[School Bus Driver Arrested After Sending Over 1,000 Texts While Driving]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/school-bus-driver-arrested-texting-while-driving/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/school-bus-driver-arrested-texting-while-driving/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/school-bus-driver-arrested-texting-while-driving/#commentsJust about everyone in the world knows that texting while driving puts motorists and passengers in serious danger, especially if school buses are involved. Evelyn Guzman, however, apparently didn't think it was that big of a deal.

Guzman, 47, was recently arrested in Connecticut after police found video footage showing the woman sending text messages while driving a school bus. The surveillance video reportedly provides evidence that Guzman sent a total of 1,068 texts from behind the wheel, over a period spanning from April 6th to May 15th of last year.

Continue reading School Bus Driver Arrested After Sending Over 1,000 Texts While Driving

SwitchedSchool Bus Driver Arrested After Sending Over 1,000 Texts While Driving originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arrestcellphoneconnecticutcrimeDriverEvelynGuzmankidslawpoliceschoolSchoolBusTextingTextingWhileDrivingtopMon, 21 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T Buys T-Mobile: What Does It Mean for Consumers?]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/atandt-buys-t-mobile-what-does-it-mean-for-consumers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/atandt-buys-t-mobile-what-does-it-mean-for-consumers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/atandt-buys-t-mobile-what-does-it-mean-for-consumers/#comments at&t and t-mobile logosIn the largest deal the wireless industry has seen since 2004, AT&T has agreed to buy T-Mobile USA for $39 billion in cash and stocks. In acquiring T-Mobile from parent company Deutsche Telekom, AT&T will pick up an extra 34 million wireless customers, and will provide service to about 43-percent of all U.S. cell phones, making it the country's largest network operator. At the end of 2010, the company boasted about 95.5 million wireless subscribers -- only slightly more than Verizon's 94.1 million.

In a statement, AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson heralded the deal as "a major commitment to strengthen and expand critical infrastructure for our nation's future," and predicted that it would "help achieve the President's goals for a high-speed, wirelessly connected America." But the agreement still faces some potentially major hurdles.

Continue reading AT&T Buys T-Mobile: What Does It Mean for Consumers?

SwitchedAT&T Buys T-Mobile: What Does It Mean for Consumers? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4gacquisitionantitrustat&t+buying+tmobileat&t+buys+t-mobileat&t+buys+tmobileat&tbuyingtmobileat&tbuyst-mobileat&tbuystmobileATTatt+buys+tmobileAttBuysTmobilebusinesscellphonesconsumerDepartmentOfJusticeFCCLTEmobilenetworkservicesmartphonesprintt-mobiletopVerizonwirelessMon, 21 Mar 2011 08:32:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T None Too Pleased With Your Illicit Tethering]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/atandt-none-too-pleased-with-your-illicit-tethering/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/atandt-none-too-pleased-with-your-illicit-tethering/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/atandt-none-too-pleased-with-your-illicit-tethering/#commentsHave you been tethering your smartphone without shelling out for AT&T's subscription plan? Your days appear to be numbered. The company has started cracking down on unauthorized tethering, sending out an obnoxious email that tells users to cut it out or they'll be automatically enrolled in a more expensive data plan. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. It's something AT&T has every right to do, but is thought to be rather a dick move by users who feel they should be able to use their plans as they please.*

*Hah!

SwitchedAT&T None Too Pleased With Your Illicit Tethering originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATTcellphonesiphoneMyWipower tripPowerTripsmartphonetethertetheringtopwifiFri, 18 Mar 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Taliban Uses Texts as Latest Intimidation Move]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/taliban-uses-texts-as-latest-intimidation-move/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/taliban-uses-texts-as-latest-intimidation-move/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/taliban-uses-texts-as-latest-intimidation-move/#comments islamic state of afghanistan facebook page The Taliban has begun sending gruesome "night letters" -- violent videos meant to intimidate and control Afghans -- en masse via SMS. Historically written threats posted on buildings, night letters have long been a successful means of coercion by the Taliban. The video form has cropped up in the last couple of years on Facebook and YouTube, and tends toward the extreme, such as interviews of suicide bombers intercut with their attacks.

In the past years, fundamentalist groups have become increasingly savvy in their use of modern technology and social media. This latest tactic in many ways simply represents a natural evolution. Posts to the Facebook fan pages (such as the one above) are converted to SMS and sent to subscribers, who can easily forward them on. Aside from the chain letter effect, the success of the the mass texting comes in part from the impossibility of controlling such a means of communication.

Continue reading Taliban Uses Texts as Latest Intimidation Move

SwitchedTaliban Uses Texts as Latest Intimidation Move originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afghanistancellphonesfacebookinsurgencynewsmainnight lettersNightLetterssecuritysmstalibanterrorismterroriststopFri, 18 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM: Disable JavaScript on Your BlackBerry for Security]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/rim-disable-javascript-blackberry-security-vulnerability/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/rim-disable-javascript-blackberry-security-vulnerability/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/rim-disable-javascript-blackberry-security-vulnerability/#commentsResearch in Motion is urging BlackBerry users to disable JavaScript on their smartphones after a major vulnerability was exposed at this year's Pwn2Own hacker challenge. According to the company, the security hole could allow a hacker to gain access to the device's data if a user stumbles upon any "maliciously designed" websites.

The vulnerability only exposes data stored on a user's media card and built-in storage (meaning that e-mails and contact information remain secure), and it only affects phones running BlackBerry OS 6. RIM says it hasn't received any reports of hackers exploiting the vulnerability outside of a test environment, but is nonetheless encouraging IT departments to exercise caution until the hole is patched.

SwitchedRIM: Disable JavaScript on Your BlackBerry for Security originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlackBerrycellphoneshackeros 6Os6Pwn2OwnRIMsecuritysmartphonestopvulnerabilityThu, 17 Mar 2011 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Busted for Using a Smartphone App to Impersonate Police]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/alexander-welch-impersonates-cops-iphone-app-gets-busted/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/alexander-welch-impersonates-cops-iphone-app-gets-busted/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/alexander-welch-impersonates-cops-iphone-app-gets-busted/#commentsA guy in Idaho has been arrested for pretending to be a police officer -- with his smartphone.

On Saturday night, Alexander A. Welch allegedly used an app that flashes blue and red lights to trick another driver into thinking he was a police officer. It worked. The motorist pulled over, and Welch sped away. Understandably annoyed, the driver followed Welch's car, and called the real police. Officials eventually tracked down the prankster and threw him in jail.

Welch now faces a felony charge of unlawful exercise of the function of peace officers, and up to five years in prison. Judging from the kid's (s)mugshot, though, he still seems pretty amused.

Continue reading Busted for Using a Smartphone App to Impersonate Police

SwitchedBusted for Using a Smartphone App to Impersonate Police originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexander+a.+welchalexander+welchalexandera.welchalexanderwelchappscellphonescrimefelonyidahopoliceprankssmartphonestupidtopWed, 16 Mar 2011 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Yves Béhar's $10K Phone for Æsir Doesn't Scream Classy]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/yves-behar-aesir-10000-phone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/yves-behar-aesir-10000-phone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/yves-behar-aesir-10000-phone/#comments Yves Behar Phone Yes, it's a $10,000 phone. Why? Why not! Do we question man's desire to set forth and conquer new lands? Do we question our strive to push our bodies to heretofore unknown limits? We are human! This is what we do! A €7,250 cellphone that is sort of ugly as sin, lacks a touch screen, and has a memory on par with your first PC? You guys, that is basically like walking on the moon.

Gallery: Aesir Copenhagen

Aesir Copenhagen

SwitchedYves Béhar's $10K Phone for Æsir Doesn't Scream Classy originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>absurdÆsircellphonesdesignexpensivefancynewsmaintopYves Béharyves beharYvesBéharYvesBeharTue, 15 Mar 2011 17:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago 911 Now Accepting Photos and Video Messages]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/chicago-911-now-accepting-photos-and-video-messages/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/chicago-911-now-accepting-photos-and-video-messages/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/chicago-911-now-accepting-photos-and-video-messages/#commentsChicago has broken new ground by becoming the first city in the U.S. to accept photo and video messages at its 911 center. Cell-wielding citizens can now send images and video captured with their mobile devices to the dispatch, which feeds that information to the crime prevention center. If the images are deemed relevant and sufficiently useful, they are then forwarded to first responders and investigators at the scene. The pilot program began in September, and the city believes it's now ready for prime time.

So far, dispatchers have collected 40 images from citizens calling the emergency line, but wants to emphasize that operators are not there to provide technical support. In the event of an emergency, dispatchers don't have time to explain how to send in images to the caller. There is potential for those images to provide valuable evidence to investigators and offer a more objective analysis of a situation. Still, some believe the program won't gain much popularity, as other mobile phone systems (like Txt2Tip) never managed to take off.

SwitchedChicago 911 Now Accepting Photos and Video Messages originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911cellphoneschicagoemergencymmstextingtopTue, 15 Mar 2011 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Google to Test Mobile Payment System in NYC, San Francisco]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/google-mobile-payment-system-nyc-san-francisco/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/google-mobile-payment-system-nyc-san-francisco/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/google-mobile-payment-system-nyc-san-francisco/#comments nexus sGoogle has purchased thousands of VeriFone's mobile payment registers, intending to install and test the system in stores in New York and San Francisco, according to Bloomberg. With this system, customers could pay for products with their Nexus S (or other smartphone equipped with a near-field communication chips) rather than using cash or physical credit and debit cards in stores. The anonymous Google source told Bloomberg the mobile payment system should be up and running within four months.

Last year, we reported that AT&T and Verizon would test a mobile payment system, but the technology still hasn't really taken off. If this latest report is true, Google's entrance into the mobile payment arena should be a kick in the butt to other companies that hope to be on the forefront of changing the way we buy stuff. In the end, though, they'll still need customers who are willing to trust in a new technology that has potential security risks. New York and San Francisco are good places to start, but the real test would be expanding beyond those markets.

SwitchedGoogle to Test Mobile Payment System in NYC, San Francisco originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankingcellphonesgoogleMobilePaymentMobilePaymentsNearFieldCommunicationnfctopTue, 15 Mar 2011 16:07:00 EST<![CDATA['Sexting' Teens Avoid Child Porn Charges Under N.J. Bill]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/sexting-teens-avoid-child-porn-charges-under-n-j-bill/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/sexting-teens-avoid-child-porn-charges-under-n-j-bill/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/sexting-teens-avoid-child-porn-charges-under-n-j-bill/#commentsThe New Jersey Assembly passed a bill yesterday that essentially decriminalizes teen 'sexting,' by allowing the courts to send teens to a diversionary program, rather than strapping them with a criminal record.

As sexting among teens grows increasingly popular -- the bill's sponsor, Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt, notes that 20-percent of teens surveyed have sent explicit images -- the legislation commonly used to deal with such "crimes" has spanned from outdated to abused. Teenagers are being charged under child pornography laws; their chances at college or a job lessened by a heinous criminal record. The bill still has to be passed by the Senate and signed by New Jersey's governor to become law. Hopefully this type of commonsense legislation will spawn similar bills in other states.

Switched'Sexting' Teens Avoid Child Porn Charges Under N.J. Bill originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphoneschild pornographyChildPornographylawNewJerseynewsmainpoliticspornsextingsmsteenstextingtopTue, 15 Mar 2011 12:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Times Square Video Screens Allegedly Hacked With iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/bitcrash44-hacks-times-square-video-screens-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/bitcrash44-hacks-times-square-video-screens-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/bitcrash44-hacks-times-square-video-screens-iphone/#comments YouTube user BITcrash44 recently posted a video in which he allegedly plasters his image all over Times Square's TV screens, using only his iPhone and a transmitter.

If the video is to be believed, BITcrash44 apparently created a transmitter capable of taking over any screen within a certain vicinity, allowing him to replace some of Times Square's ads with his own video. After recording a brief clip on his iPhone 4, he proceeds to demonstrate the technology in front of various screens, before attaching the transmitter to a red balloon and "hacking" a display positioned high above him.

Continue reading Times Square Video Screens Allegedly Hacked With iPhone

SwitchedTimes Square Video Screens Allegedly Hacked With iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesfakeiphoneiphone 4Iphone4screensmartphonetimes squareTimesSquaretoptransmittervideoTue, 15 Mar 2011 09:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's Phil Schiller: White iPhone 4 Will Drop This Spring]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/phil-schiller-white-iphone4-coming-spring/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/phil-schiller-white-iphone4-coming-spring/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/phil-schiller-white-iphone4-coming-spring/#comments phil schiller tweet Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, tweeted yesterday that the white iPhone 4 will finally be available this spring. Schiller didn't reveal any specific details about the mythical phone, like whether it'll be available on both Verizon and AT&T, or its exact release date. But with summer a likely target launch date for the iPhone 5, we'd bet on seeing the white iPhone 4 sometime around Easter.

SwitchedApple's Phil Schiller: White iPhone 4 Will Drop This Spring originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applecellphonesiphoneiphone 4Iphone4PhilSchillertoptwitterwhite iphonewhite iphone 4WhiteIphoneWhiteIphone4Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:10:00 EST<![CDATA[After Tsunami, AT&T Offers Free Calling and Texting To Japan]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/att-free-texting-calling-to-japan-after-tsunami/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/att-free-texting-calling-to-japan-after-tsunami/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/att-free-texting-calling-to-japan-after-tsunami/#commentsFrom now until the end of March, AT&T is offering free calls to Japan for anyone who dials from an AT&T line. Any long distance or texting directed to our Pacific brethren will be credited to post-paid accounts, with up to 60 minutes of talk time.

The offer is back-dated to March 11th, when the earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck the country, so those who made frantic phone calls from their iPhones needn't worry. It's surely a PR stunt, but one that provides a small amount of comfort to those who are worried for colleagues, pals and family.

SwitchedAfter Tsunami, AT&T Offers Free Calling and Texting To Japan originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATTcellphonesJapanjapan earthquakejapan tsunamiJapanEarthquaketopMon, 14 Mar 2011 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The iPhone Still Can't Handle Daylight Savings Time]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/fix-iphone-daylight-savings-glitch/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/fix-iphone-daylight-savings-glitch/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/fix-iphone-daylight-savings-glitch/#commentsOver the weekend, as the rest of the country leaped forward to daylight savings time, many iPhone users were once again stuck in the past.

Though some devices adjusted to the time difference with seamless elegance, plenty of other users reported glitches with their iPhone clocks. Some simply failed to advance, while others actually fell backward by an hour, putting their owners a full two hours behind the rest of the U.S.

Continue reading The iPhone Still Can't Handle Daylight Savings Time

SwitchedThe iPhone Still Can't Handle Daylight Savings Time originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applecellphonesclockdaylight savings timedaylight+savings+2011daylight+savings+time+2011daylightsavings2011DaylightSavingsTimedaylightsavingstime2011glitchiphoneiphone+daylight+savingsiphone+daylight+savings+timeiphonedaylightsavingsiphonedaylightsavingstimetimetime changeTimeChangetopMon, 14 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC Launches Crackdown on Cell Phone Jammers]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/11/fcc-launches-crackdown-on-cell-phone-jammers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/11/fcc-launches-crackdown-on-cell-phone-jammers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/11/fcc-launches-crackdown-on-cell-phone-jammers/#commentsTheaters, restaurants and even some schools have taken matters into their own hands when it comes to disruptive cell phone usage. But the signal jammers that they're using to block people from making and receiving phone calls and text messages are illegal. The FCC is preparing to crack down on the sale and use of such devices and encouraging people to report neighbors or businesses that are using such jamming technology. The concern is that blocking cell phone, Wi-Fi or GPS signals creates a dangerous environment that could interfere with 911 calls and other emergency communications.

If you know someone employing a jamming device, you can file a complaint with the FCC here.

SwitchedFCC Launches Crackdown on Cell Phone Jammers originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phone jammersCellPhoneJammerscellphonescrimefccfederal communications commissionFederalCommunicationsCommissionjammerspolitcssignal jammerSignalJammertopFri, 11 Mar 2011 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[To Switch on Your Cell, Show Some Skin]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/nec-skin-touch-interface-makes-arm-controller/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/nec-skin-touch-interface-makes-arm-controller/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/nec-skin-touch-interface-makes-arm-controller/#commentsLost remote control woes, begone! Japanese electronics giant NEC announced this week that it's developed a way to let users control a variety of electronics simply by touching some skin.

No implants are necessary; a wristband with acceleration sensors (similar to what makes your smartphone and Wiimote so awesome) transforms the user's arm into a seven-part controller, with each area corresponding to different, device-specific actions. Most methods of controlling the devices stay strictly in the poking territory, but there is a "clap" command, which will doubtless turn you into this woman.

No word on when NEC will roll the technology out, but they're talking about applying it to everything from cellphones to MP3 players. Clap on!

SwitchedTo Switch on Your Cell, Show Some Skin originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesdesignnecskinputtopuiwearablesWed, 09 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LAPD Using Smartphones to Track, Arrest Graffiti Vandals]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/lapd-using-smartphones-to-track-arrest-graffiti-vandals/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/lapd-using-smartphones-to-track-arrest-graffiti-vandals/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/lapd-using-smartphones-to-track-arrest-graffiti-vandals/#comments tagging On Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department launched the Tracking and Automated Graffiti Removal System (TAGRS) -- a program that allows law enforcement officials to track graffiti artists/vandals with their smartphones. Under TAGRS, graffiti-cleaning crew members can use their smartphones to take photos of any vandalism, and upload the images to a LAPD database. The photos are then analyzed, and used to collect evidence for prosecution. As soon as suspects are identified, their names are added to the database, as well, which may help police link related incidents.

SwitchedLAPD Using Smartphones to Track, Arrest Graffiti Vandals originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonescrimedatabasegraffitilos angelesLosAngelesphotospolicesmartphonetopvandalismTue, 08 Mar 2011 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon Has Best Call Quality Across Nation, Says J.D. Power Survey]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/jd-power-survey-finds-verizon-has-best-call-quality-us/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/jd-power-survey-finds-verizon-has-best-call-quality-us/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/jd-power-survey-finds-verizon-has-best-call-quality-us/#comments Verizon named best carrier. In a recent survery released by J.D. Power, customers named Verizon Wireless the service provider with the best call quality in four of six regions across America. Verizon tied with AT&T for best customer satisfaction in another region, and U.S. Cellular was named the best carrier in the other. The survey, which canvassed 26,000 cell phone owners between July and December 2010, used seven factors to crown its call quality champ: dropped calls, static and interference, failed call connection on the first attempt, voice distortion, echoes, delayed voicemail notification and delayed text mesage notification.

SwitchedVerizon Has Best Call Quality Across Nation, Says J.D. Power Survey originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATTcellphonecellphonesjd powerJdPowerstudysurveytopUsCellularVerizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessMon, 07 Mar 2011 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Humanoid Cell Phone Is Covered in Realistic 'Skin']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/elfoid-p1-humanoid-cellphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/elfoid-p1-humanoid-cellphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/elfoid-p1-humanoid-cellphone/#comments
Remember the Telenoid, the creepy humanoid bot that transmitted both the voice and the head movements of its operator? Imagine having that nightmare-inducing creation in your pocket at all times. The Elfoid P1 is essentially that: a ghostly robot effigy, shrunk down to handheld proportions and made into a cell phone. The outer coating is specially designed to feel like human skin (eww!), and hides a dial pad, as well as a glowing LED "heart," which turns blue when the phone is in use and red when in standby. Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International is hoping to bring the device to market by 2016 with the added ability to display facial movements. A camera in the device's head will track the speaker's facial movements, and the Elfoid on the receiving end of the call will recreate those expressions. See a demonstration of this future star of your night-terrors above.

SwitchedHumanoid Cell Phone Is Covered in Realistic 'Skin' originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdvancedTelecommunicationsResearchInstituteInternationalcellphonescreepydesignElfoidP1robotstelenoidtopweirdFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing to Track Citizens' Cell Phones 'To Ease Traffic Congestion']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/beijing-to-track-citizens-cell-phones-to-ease-traffic-congesti/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/beijing-to-track-citizens-cell-phones-to-ease-traffic-congesti/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/beijing-to-track-citizens-cell-phones-to-ease-traffic-congesti/#comments cell phone in beijing A savvy reader has informed Slashdot that the city of Beijing will soon begin tracking its citizens' cell phones -- ostensibly "to ease traffic congestion." According to the website of the Central People's Government, Beijing's cell phone-owning population (about 70-percent) will be tracked in real time as part of the project, which is called "Platform for Citizen Movement Information."

SwitchedBeijing to Track Citizens' Cell Phones 'To Ease Traffic Congestion' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beijingcellphonechinagovernmentpoliticsprivacytopThu, 03 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[All Smartphones Are Vulnerable to 'Death Grip,' Study Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/death-grip-affects-all-smartphones-bristol-study/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/death-grip-affects-all-smartphones-bristol-study/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/death-grip-affects-all-smartphones-bristol-study/#commentsIt looks like the iPhone 4 isn't the only smartphone that's susceptible to the so-called 'death grip.' A recent study from the University of Bristol found that placing your thumb over any smartphone's antenna can reduce the device's sensitivity by up to 100 fold. The researchers also found that placing a buffer between your thumb and the antenna doesn't mitigate this signal-reducing effect. It should be noted, though, that the iPhone 4 wasn't included in the study -- so there's no reason to throw away those free bumpers just yet.

SwitchedAll Smartphones Are Vulnerable to 'Death Grip,' Study Says originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antennacellphonesdeath gripDeathGripiphoneiphone 4Iphone4signalsmartphonesmartphone+grip+deathsmartphonegripdeathstudytopThu, 03 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers Use Cell Phone Videos to Educate in Developing World]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/scientific-animations-without-borders-educate-developing-world/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/scientific-animations-without-borders-educate-developing-world/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/scientific-animations-without-borders-educate-developing-world/#commentsanimated cell phonesMost aid-based initiatives in the developing world have traditionally involved substantial amounts of money and manpower. But a team of researchers from the University of Illinois have come up with a more efficient and cost-effective way to deliver instructional materials to poor countries: animated cell-phone videos.

As part of a new project called Scientific Animations Without Borders, the team collaborated via e-mail with aid workers, farmers and entrepreneurs in developing countries to produce instructional content on various subjects. Once finalized, the scripts for each video were then sent to an animator, who translated the content into animated clips that can be distributed through the Web or a cell phone -- a commodity that's become commonplace even among the world's poorest populations.

Continue reading Researchers Use Cell Phone Videos to Educate in Developing World

SwitchedResearchers Use Cell Phone Videos to Educate in Developing World originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aidcellphonesCellphoneVideoDevelopingWorldeducationtoptrainingUniversityOfIllinoisvideoWed, 02 Mar 2011 10:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Green-Screen Tech Comes to iPhone With 'Kromath 3' App]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/kromath-3-app-brings-green-screen-to-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/kromath-3-app-brings-green-screen-to-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/kromath-3-app-brings-green-screen-to-iphone/#comments 'kromath 3' If you have an iPhone and $20 to burn, you can now do your best impression of a weatherman, or Michael Jordan in 'Space Jam' -- thanks to the new 'Kromath 3' chroma-keyer app. Simply snap a photo of yourself in front of a solid-colored wall, and you'll have as many bizarre-o self-portraits as you could ever want.

Gallery: Kromath 3

SwitchedGreen-Screen Tech Comes to iPhone With 'Kromath 3' App originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsAppStorecamerachromakeyiosiphoneiphoneappkromath3PhotoEditingphotographytopTue, 01 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Existing T-Mobile Sidekicks to Become Paperweights on May 31st]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/t-mobile-danger-servers-shut-down-may-31st-sidekick-dead/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/t-mobile-danger-servers-shut-down-may-31st-sidekick-dead/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/t-mobile-danger-servers-shut-down-may-31st-sidekick-dead/#commentsIf you're still lugging around a T-Mobile Sidekick -- and we know there has to be at least a few of you -- we've got some bad news. On May 31st, T-Mobile will officially be turning off access to Danger's servers. The company hasn't released a new Sidekick since 2009, and in mid-2010 stopped selling the devices altogether. The brand isn't completely dead, but T-Mobile is gearing up for a launch of new Android-based Sidekicks to replace the aging Danger models. The hiptops (as they were called before T-Mobile rebranded them) were ahead of their time. Not only were they one of the first consumer-friendly smartphones on the market, but they also offered a host of cloud-based services that went largely unmatched until the launch of Android and WebOS.

The shift to Android, with its focus on the cloud, makes a lot of sense -- not only from a features standpoint, but also because Danger founder and father of the Sidekick Andy Rubin is the creator of Android and Director of Mobile Platforms at Google. T-Mobile says it will be working hard to ease the transition for Sidekick customers. In addition to offering Web-based tools to backup and move your data, T-Mobile also promises to "provide offers" for new devices, as old Sidekicks are destined to become nothing more than glorified paperweights. A new 4G, Android-powered Sidekick built by Samsung should be landing this spring, presumably before the Danger servers go offline.

SwitchedExisting T-Mobile Sidekicks to Become Paperweights on May 31st originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcellphonesdangerhiptopsidekickt-mobiletmobiletopTue, 01 Mar 2011 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T Texting Users Location-Based Shopping Deals with ShopAlerts]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/atandt-shop-alerts-send-sms-deals-to-shoppers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/atandt-shop-alerts-send-sms-deals-to-shoppers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/atandt-shop-alerts-send-sms-deals-to-shoppers/#comments shop alertsAT&T has launched a new service called ShopAlerts, which sends promotional text messages to subscribers who are near certain retailers. According to The New York Times, AT&T is now the first American carrier to push location-based ads via text messages. The free service will soon be available for subscribers in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.
The technology AT&T uses to determine a subscriber's location is called geo-fencing, developed by Placecast. Basically, a virtual "fence" is placed around locations of retailers who partner with AT&T. So, whenever a subscriber who has opted to receive ShopAlerts enters this designated area, he or she will receive a text message about a nearby special deal from companies like Hewlett-Packard, Kmart, JetBlue or S.C. Johnson. (Expect more companies to sign up if the program is successful.) The idea is that shoppers are more likely to buy, for example, a product if they're notified of a deal while they're one block away from a store, rather than while they're sitting on the couch in their underwear.

SwitchedAT&T Texting Users Location-Based Shopping Deals with ShopAlerts originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>at&t+shop+alertsat&t+shoppingat&tshopalertsat&tshoppingATTcellphonecellphoneshpJetbluekmartlocation-basedLocationBasedServicesshopalertsshoppingtextTextingTextMessagingtopTue, 01 Mar 2011 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Homeless Man Uses Prepaid Phone, Twitter to Find Estranged Daughter]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/26/homeless-man-uses-prepaid-phone-twitter-to-find-daughter/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/26/homeless-man-uses-prepaid-phone-twitter-to-find-daughter/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/26/homeless-man-uses-prepaid-phone-twitter-to-find-daughter/#comments
A homeless man in New York City used a prepaid cell phone to sign-up for a Twitter account and find his estranged daughter. Daniel Morales was given the phone by the Unheard in New York project, which uses social networking to give a voice to the city's homeless. On Wednesday, Morales tweeted that he was looking for his daughter, as well as his phone number and a picture of her at age 16. The next day, his daughter, Sarah Rivera, saw the tweet and called from Brooklyn. The father and daughter planned to meet for the first time in 11 years on Friday.

SwitchedHomeless Man Uses Prepaid Phone, Twitter to Find Estranged Daughter originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonecellphoneshomelesshomelessnesssocial networkingSocialNetworkingtoptwitterunheard in new yorkUnheardInNewYorkSat, 26 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Snoop Dogg(gg), Warren G Star in Smooth New Samsung Commercial]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/24/snoop-dogg-gg-warren-g-star-in-bizarre-new-samsung-commercial/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/24/snoop-dogg-gg-warren-g-star-in-bizarre-new-samsung-commercial/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/24/snoop-dogg-gg-warren-g-star-in-bizarre-new-samsung-commercial/#comments
Samsung's new commercial for the Galaxy Indulge smartphone isn't just a commercial. It's a bona fide work of art, built around Snoop Dogg (in various iterations), Warren G, and a dating show from a bygone era. There's an overt emphasis on all the G's, a clever 'Regulate' reference, and narration from Ted Williams -- the formerly homeless man with the Golden Voice. Unfortunately, the spot ends before the contestant chooses her lucky date, but it's pretty clear that Bachelor Number Two is in pole position.

SwitchedSnoop Dogg(gg), Warren G Star in Smooth New Samsung Commercial originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementbachelorcelebritiescellphonescommercialmemessamsungSnoopDoggTedWilliamstopWarrenGThu, 24 Feb 2011 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: Cell Phones Can Speed Up Brain Activity, Long-Term Effects Remain Unclear]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/cell-phone-use-speeds-up-brain-activity-study/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/cell-phone-use-speeds-up-brain-activity-study/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/cell-phone-use-speeds-up-brain-activity-study/#commentsA new study from the National Institutes of Health suggests that using cell phones can change the way our brains behave, though it remains unclear whether these changes can be harmful.

The study, published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that just 50 minutes of cell phone use can noticeably speed up brain activity in the region closest to the phone's antenna. While overall brain metabolism didn't change when exposed to wireless radiation, activity in the area next to the antenna spiked by 7-percent. Dr. Nora Volkow, who led the study, told Reuters that the findings are significant because they demonstrate that even weak radiation from cell phones can alter the brain's metabolism. But she added that it's still too early to tell whether or not cell phones pose a tangible neurological risk, emphasizing that the results do "not in any way indicate that" cell phones can cause cancer.

Continue reading Study: Cell Phones Can Speed Up Brain Activity, Long-Term Effects Remain Unclear

SwitchedStudy: Cell Phones Can Speed Up Brain Activity, Long-Term Effects Remain Unclear originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braincancercellphonesCellPhonesAndCancerelectromagnetichealthmetabolismradiationresearchsciencestudytopWed, 23 Feb 2011 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Secret Service for Billionaires Reminds You How to Stay Safe from Assassins (on Facebook)]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/guidry-group-protects-you-from-facebook-google-assassins/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/guidry-group-protects-you-from-facebook-google-assassins/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/guidry-group-protects-you-from-facebook-google-assassins/#commentsAre you a billionaire? Are you on Facebook? Holy hell! Immediately solicit the services of Mr. Michael Guidry, whose Guidry Group "helps physically protect 22 billionaires." An "expert in hostage negotiation and terrorism," the former Texas State Trooper spoke at the Mobile Security Symposium in San Francisco this week, explaining how the Internet will invariably cause you to fall into the hands of ransoming Mexican cartels.

Guidry explained to USA Today how a smartphone was employed in the recent kidnapping and murder of one of his client's associates. Basically, the kidnapper used Google to look the guy up on his phone. Thus, causality! "We're seeing that a lot," says Guidry. "Between that and kids hanging out with their parents at a Starbucks and Twittering everywhere that their parents are going, it's unbelievable." Got that? Smartphones, children and Starbucks are putting our country's billionaires in danger.

Continue reading Secret Service for Billionaires Reminds You How to Stay Safe from Assassins (on Facebook)

SwitchedSecret Service for Billionaires Reminds You How to Stay Safe from Assassins (on Facebook) originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesgoogleguidry groupGuidryGroupmichael guidryMichaelGuidryMobile Security SymposiumMobileSecuritySymposiumsecuritytopwebFri, 18 Feb 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Canadian Woman Wins $30,000 in Sexting Lawsuit]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/lisa-mcintosh-wins-30000-in-sexting-lawsuit/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/lisa-mcintosh-wins-30000-in-sexting-lawsuit/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/lisa-mcintosh-wins-30000-in-sexting-lawsuit/#commentsA woman who lost her job after ignoring her boss' sexually explicit text messages has been awarded $30,000 by a Canadian court.

The woman, Lisa McIntosh, worked as a truck driver at an aluminum company in British Columbia, where she was briefly involved in a consensual relationship with Zbigniew Augustynowicz, the company's owner. During the relationship, the two would exchange text messages on a regular basis, but after McIntosh broke up with her boss, the texts turned inappropriate.

Continue reading Canadian Woman Wins $30,000 in Sexting Lawsuit

SwitchedCanadian Woman Wins $30,000 in Sexting Lawsuit originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BossBritish ColumbiaBritishColumbiaCanadaCellphonesCourtHarassmentLawsuitSexSextingTextingTopWorkFri, 18 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Driver Who Killed Pedestrian Was Updating Facebook Status, Lawsuit Claims]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/facebook-update-killed-pedestrian/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/facebook-update-killed-pedestrian/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/facebook-update-killed-pedestrian/#commentsA driver who killed a pedestrian late last year was allegedly updating her Facebook status behind the wheel, according to a lawsuit filed by the victim's family.

On December 7th, 70-year-old Raymond Veloz was driving around Chicago's South Side when he got in a minor accident. When Veloz got out of his car to inspect the damage and exchange information with the driver of the other car, a woman named Araceli Beas allegedly hit him with her vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Continue reading Driver Who Killed Pedestrian Was Updating Facebook Status, Lawsuit Claims

SwitchedDriver Who Killed Pedestrian Was Updating Facebook Status, Lawsuit Claims originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentaraceli beasAraceliBeascellphonesdeathDrivingfacebookillinoislawsuitpedestrianRaymond DomenechRaymondDomenechsafetySocialNetworkingtopWed, 16 Feb 2011 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[First Two 'Facebook Phones' Announced, Expect Plenty More]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/htc-salsa-chacha-facebook-phones-announced/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/htc-salsa-chacha-facebook-phones-announced/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/htc-salsa-chacha-facebook-phones-announced/#comments HTC Facbeook Phones So all those rumors about a Facebook phone turned out to be wrong. There are a ton of Facebook phones in the pipeline! Mark Zuckerberg popped up in a pre-recorded (and extraordinarily creepy) video at HTC's press event at Mobile World Congress yesterday, to announce that his company had worked closely with the Android wizards at HTC to tightly integrate Facebook with Sense (HTC's custom Android skin). The first two devices to market will be the HTC Salsa and HTC ChaCha, decidedly low-end devices running Gingerbread on top of bargain hardware. Both phones pack 512MB of RAM and 600Mhz, single-core processors -- the Atrix 4G these are not. The ChaCha features a 2.6-inch, 480x320 screen above a full QWERTY keyboard, while the Salsa keeps the lowly 480x320 resolution, but ditches the keyboard in favor of a 3.4-inch touch panel. At the bottom of both devices, though, you'll find a context-sensitive Facebook button for quickly sharing what your doing.

The level of integration between Facebook and Sense on the devices is deep -- perhaps too deep. Any time you place a call to or receive a call from a Facebook friend, the screen will display their latest photos and status updates, and alert you if their birthday is approaching. (OK, maybe that last one is useful.) Facebook chats and messages even get lumped in with your text messages and e-mail. Europe and Asia will get the first pair of Facebook phones during the second quarter of 2011, while American customers will have to wait until some point "later this year" for AT&T and HTC to bring the devices to market. Pricing wasn't announced, but we expect these handsets to be priced to move. $50 with a 2-year contract is probably a safe bet.

SwitchedFirst Two 'Facebook Phones' Announced, Expect Plenty More originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcellphonesfacebookfacebook phoneFacebookPhonehtchtc chachahtc salsahtc senseHtcChachaHtcSalsaHtcSensetopTue, 15 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Working on Smaller, Cheaper iPhones, Sources Tell WSJ]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/apple-working-on-smaller-iphone-n97-mobile-me-free/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/apple-working-on-smaller-iphone-n97-mobile-me-free/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/14/apple-working-on-smaller-iphone-n97-mobile-me-free/#commentsThe Wall Street Journal has confirmed rumors that Apple is developing a new line of smaller and cheaper iPhones. Those trusty old "sources close to the development" tell the Journal that the new device will be about half the size of the iPhone 4, and will be sold to service providers at about half the price of existing iPhones. The new phone, which goes by the codename "N97," will apparently feature an "edge-to-edge" touchscreen, as well as "voice-based navigation" capabilities. According to the Journal's source, it will also be "significantly lighter" than the latest iPhone.

These unusually loquacious sources went on to tell the Journal that the company is considering offering its MobileMe cloud storage service for free. (It currently costs $99 per year.) And Apple may use the MobileMe platform to launch a new online music service, which has reportedly been in the works for more than a year. Both Steve Jobs and an Apple spokesman declined to comment on the reports.

SwitchedApple Working on Smaller, Cheaper iPhones, Sources Tell WSJ originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applecellphonescheapiphoneiphone 4iphone+n97Iphone4iphonen97MobileMen97rumorsmartphoneSteveJobstoptouchscreenMon, 14 Feb 2011 12:20:00 EST