Jul

15

2008

(0) Comments

Big Brother is watching the iPod touch

07:55PM by Jim Frost

It’s been a crazy spring so I haven’t been writing much, but I finally got a breather from work and in a timely manner: The iPod touch Update 2.0 came out concurrent with the iPhone 3G release.  Like everyone else it was impossible for me to download it on Friday, but the next morning was another story.  A long back-up, update, and restore process followed, and some revelations: mostly good, mostly what everyone anticipated, but there are still areas were Apple clearly isn’t even trying.

Jun

9

2008

(0) Comments

Riding Shotgun: A week with the Dash Express GPS Navigator

02:14AM by Wayne Lam

After spending a week with my commute partner, I can’t imagine life without without this driving companion.  Overall, I believe the greatest benefit of the Dash Navigation system is in its awareness of the traffic conditions ahead as well as the amazingly accurate ETA time calculated at the outset of your commute.  In my humble opinion, the confidence that this navigation tool gives you on your daily commute is worth more than its unique features list.

Okay, well, let’s go through my impressions of this unit:

Jun

3

2008

(1) Comments

Nokia N95-3 Firmware Version v20.2.011: Worth the the Trouble of Updating

02:09AM by Wayne Lam

First off, apologies to Nokia for blaming their NSU application for the firmware update delay - apparently my version is corrupt and had to get a fresh install from a virgin PC.  Overall, I have to say that the version 20.2.011 is definately worth the wait.  Sadly, this should have been the firmware to ship with the phone.  Overall, the performance - especially, the phone, GPS and camera startup times were vastly improved.  Even Java applications open and close more promptly.  We can thank Symbian for improving the basic memory management systems in a technology they call Demand Paging.

Jun

2

2008

(0) Comments

Pocket Babbage Machine

07:32AM by Jim Frost

Ok, it’s not really a Difference Engine, but the Curta mechanical calculator is pretty cool nonetheless ... how often do you get to see the guts of a tiny mechanical adding machine?  Especially one that looks like a boutique pepper grinder?

May

31

2008

(0) Comments

My new Commute Buddy: Dash Express GPS

01:05AM by Wayne Lam

Living in LA means that you get to spend a significant amount of your time in a car stuck in traffic.  When I heard about the Dash Express GPS unit with its wireless connectivity and “true” traffic updates, I rejoiced.  Now, I finally get a chance to take this personal navigator out for a spin.  So far, I really enjoy its bright and responsive screen as well as a rather ergonomic design.  Granted I haven’t kept up with the state of art on GPS navigation systems on the market today, I don’t really need all those bells and whistles for the type of driving I do (mostly long commutes to work).  As a LA driver, I’m only interested in timely and relevant traffic info.  Check back in a couple of days to read my reviews of this GPS driving companion!

May

26

2008

(0) Comments

Nokia N95 NAM (North American Model) gets Firmware update in advance of 3G iPhone intro

01:07PM by Wayne Lam

North American Nokia N95 owners had been bemoaning the fact that they’ve been left out of the firmware updates but today, and a full week earlier than expected, Nokia has released firmware v20.2.011 for the N95-3.  Obviously, with the imminent release of the 3G iPhone, Nokia has plenty of motivation to stay competitive with a software update on their tried-and-true flagship N95.  Check back in a few hours when I post the results and impressions on the firmware update…

May

12

2008

(5) Comments

To the Bat Cycle!

07:25PM by Jim Frost

Ok, it’s not really a Bat Cycle in the Batman sense, but it’s certainly unusual.  This is the Uno, invented by Ben J. Poss Gulak.  It’s a gyrostabilized motorcycle with the wheels side-by-side.  It seems very much like the Segway, and it also operates by leaning, but there’s no question about which device is waaay cooler than the other.

Apr

27

2008

(2) Comments

A Skateboard With 14 Wheels

07:55PM by Jim Frost

I started skateboarding years and years ago and have watched the boards get bigger and bigger but, overall, the technology was pretty much the same.  Then I saw a Flowboard in a sporting goods store.

The Flowboard is unique to say the least: It has 14 wheels, 7 at each end.  The trucks are completely rigid.  Instead of pivoting against a spring or cushion as most skateboards do, the Flowboard puts a set of wheels along an rigid steel arc that is perhaps 60 degrees from perpendicular to the board.  This makes the each wheel have a slightly greater angle than the next as you move out from the center.  Instead of pushing against a spring to turn, then, you roll from one set of wheels to another.  The greater the tilt of the board, the greater the angle between the wheels and the sharper it turns.

Apr

21

2008

(1) Comments

Walking Hot Spot: Be Your Own Roaming Access Point!

02:56PM by Wayne Lam

Mobility software solutions provider Taproot has just rolled out a trial software based Wi-Fi access point solution for smartphones.  The software made available on WalkingHotSpot.com is designed only for a select few Symbian and Windows Mobile powered devices.  It essentially performs a data-stream patching between the cellular network to the on board Wi-Fi radio; allowing 3G data subscribers to pipe out and share data over the on-board Wi-Fi.  On the downside, there’s a 5-device sharing limit and a significant power drag on the host smartphone battery.  However, for those of us with unlimited data plans, WalkingHotSpot should provide a very cost effective data sharing solution.  Of course, the network carriers has yet to weigh in on this data plan work-around.  In all likelihood, they’ll be in staunch opposition to it. 

Apr

15

2008

(0) Comments

iPhone App Watch: Do you Fring?

03:53PM by Wayne Lam

As a part of the continuing coverage of 3rd party iPhone application launches, I would like to feature a new VOIP and IM app called Fring.  I’ve been using Fring for the past year now on the Symbian S60 platform and I found it to be the most comprehensive IM, Skype, SIP service aggregator out there.  The application connects to VOIP services such as Skype and SIP over Wi-Fi or 3G.  In the case of the new iPhone app, the network bearer will remain only on the Wi-Fi access.  The above YouTube video gives readers a quick tour of what the application can do. Fring also supports Windows Mobile platform.