LEGO Business Cards!
February 27, 2009
I don’t think I’d forget that contact! But I might get distracted by playing Legos instead of returning phonecalls. What do you think? Cool way to hype your business?
Via Coolest business card ever.
Sony is Closing US PlayStation Store
February 19, 2009
Sony announced on Wednesday that it will shut down its flagship store in San Francisco. This news comes after the company announced that it will cut 16,000 jobs, and after a projected loss of $2.7 billion.
The slow economy is hitting everywhere, I guess. People have less money to spend on video games and electronics, so the companies that sell them make less money, and then they have to close unprofitable outlets.
Microsoft is planning to open retail stores that focus on selling their software, as well as Xbox and related products.
Microsoft conceals “bad” words
February 19, 2009
Microsoft has gained the rights to technology that will censor speech.
A censoring filter, available in real-time or batch mode, processes an input audio stream that contains speech, then changes “undesired words or phrases” to make them unintelligible.
The software behemoth was awarded the patent on the 14th of October.
I guess the technology is intended to protect “virgin ears” should a naughty word slip out during a live broadcast. Or, if a telemarketer gets rude with a customer, it could be used to filter out the swear words. It’s not clear where Microsoft’s interest in this technology is, but the government of China will probably be all over it. They censor much of what their people see and hear on the internet.
Apple iPhone Censors South Park App
February 19, 2009
Apple has prevented the creators of South Park from selling an iPhone app based on the long-running cartoon series.
The show announced that back in October, it had submitted the app to Apple for approval, and after repeated attempts, it had been rejected. The reason? The content was “potentially offensive.”
Offensive, nooooo, not South Park! (insert sarcasm here)
South Park’s raunchy rudeness is what has made it so popular since it was launched twelve years ago.
Those running the App Store have either been living in a cave since 1997, or they are the most hyper-sensitive bunch on the face of the Earth. What I don’t understand is, they will sell you all twelve seasons of the show on iTunes, but won’t let you get an iPhone app based on the show. What gives?
Apple is pretty much practicing selective censorship here. They approved two other apps, Wobble and iJiggles, with content that I can’t go into here.
Skype and Nokia Come Together
February 19, 2009
These two companies will unite, integrating Skype technology into Nokia mobile phones. It will be part of the address book of the Nokia N97, letting the user see when their Skype contacts are online, and send and receive instant messages. Users will also be able to make free Skype-to-Skype calls, and very low-cost calls to landlines and other mobile phones.
From Scott Durchslag, Skype CEO: “Making Skype available everywhere through mobile devices is essential to fulfilling our vision of ‘enabling the world’s conversations’. Collaborating closely with Nokia to preload and integrate our software onto their devices will benefit the many Nokia customers who already use Skype, as it makes Skype easily accessible and simple to use on the go. It will also bring Skype new users who love Nokia’s Symbian S60 experience.”
Access to broadband Internet is required, and as neat as Skype is, it isn’t meant to replace a traditional phone. It also cannot be used for emergency calls.
Google Mobile for Windows Smartphones
February 19, 2009
Windows Mobile phone owners no longer have to open a web browser when they want to initiate a Google search, with the release of a Google Mobile app for those phones.
Based on Microsoft’s mobile platform, the application (totally free!) installs a plugin from which users can use some of Google’s mobile apps. With an emphasis on the search field, the remaining portion has small icons that open your Gmail, web albums and Google Docs. The Google Maps icon, when selected, will download and install the app on the user’s phone.
The Windows mobile version isn’t a fullscreen application, and it will work on smartphones sold in the US, Canada, the UK, and most of Europe.
Universal Cell Phone Charger
February 19, 2009
With Apple rolling out new products (including a rumored iPhone Nano) every six months, and their absence from the recent announcement concerning the development of a charger that will work with any phone, will the universal charger be successful?
I believe so. Even with Apple’s refusal to alter the design of its popular iPhone to fit with industry standards, there are plenty of other phone manufacturers that are perfectly willing to adapt.
I know I get irritated when I can’t find the charger to my phone, and it would be great if I could just borrow someone else’s. I’m all for it.
