Throw away those vibrators, videos and Viagra. All you need for a healthy sex life is your iPhone. Ben Hoffman takes a look at all the best sex-related apps in this week's infoMania Tech Report.
The infoMania Tech Report is a weekly segment where technology guru Ben Hoffman takes a look at the newest tech products, gadgets and video games. It has been called "the funniest tech show on the web." (No source for that quote is available at this time. In fact, there's a good chance it was made up.) For more Ben visit http://current.com/techreport/ and Current TV.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.Throw away those vibrators, videos and Viagra. All you need for a healthy sex life is... more
Webmash is a TV show that looks at the web's reaction to the day's news and internet trends.
The show airs on Current TV on Sky 183 or Virgin 155 on Monday - Thursday nights.
Webmash brings together the most discussed news of the day in a vital half hourly show. Anne and Graeme will help you stay ahead of your buddies by rounding up the links to breaking stories, the newest viral videos, and the latest Internet memes that’ll hit your inboxes tomorrow.Microsoft's new operating system Windows 7 hit the shops this week... but how many... more
Microsoft has released their new mobile OS, Windows Mobile 6.5, and reviewers seem distinctly unfazed. In time of massive competition in this area, reviews suggest Microsoft have basically given the look of their OS a bit of an update but it hasn't really moved on from previous versions as much as people thought.
On Gizmodo, John Herman wrote: "Windows Mobile 6.5 isn't just a letdown -- it barely seems done. [The] OS that hasn't been fundamentally changed in years, and which bears a strong resemblance to Windows Mobile 6.1, and a startlingly not-weak resemblance to PocketPC 2002."
I once had an HTC Touch with Windows Mobile and found the OS a little too clunky and not intuitive enough. Sounds like they've gone and released the Vista of mobile systems...Microsoft has released their new mobile OS, Windows Mobile 6.5, and reviewers seem... more
O2's lucrative exclusivity on Apple's iPhone in the UK is set to end later this year when the Orange begin to sell the handset. Orange made the announcement but didn't give more details about when their customers can get their hands on iPhones but it's thought to be no earlier that November.
Though they've lost exclusivity on the iPhone, O2 announced they've got UK exclusivity on the rival Palm Pre smartphone just a few days ago.O2's lucrative exclusivity on Apple's iPhone in the UK is set to end later this year... more
I know, another tablet rumor right? But stay with me on this one. Taiwan Economic News' "industry sources" are saying it's real, and will have a 9.6-inch touchscreen, HSPDA, P.A SEMI processor, "long lasting battery" and cost $800 to $1000...
The new report gets more specific than previous rumors by breaking down which Taiwanese component manufacturers will handle production. They include current iPhone screen-maker, Wintek (display), and Dynapack (up to 300,000 batteries a month).
The supply chain is expected to start delivery to Apple in December.
Playing hypotheticals: Are you excited enough for a tablet that you'd pay that much money for no keyboard?I know, another tablet rumor right? But stay with me on this one. Taiwan Economic... more
There's something too awesome for words about mixing up Land Before Time and iPhone fanboy stylings. I want one.There's something too awesome for words about mixing up Land Before Time and iPhone... more
I totally get the appeal of a netbook for school life -- portable, cheap, maybe even more rugged.
I'm now at a place in my life where I can afford instead to opt for the computer I really want, and I still find myself drooling a little over netbooks despite being a lifelong Mac user.
Here's my sticking point: Operating system. I really loathe Windows and would only want a cheaper netbook if I could run mac os on it...I totally get the appeal of a netbook for school life -- portable, cheap, maybe even... more
The European Commission has investigated reports that a number of Apple iPods and iPhones have exploded.
Apparently there have been several reports across Europe about alleged problems with them and an 11-year-old girl from Liverpool claimed her iPod hissed before exploding.
Apple that the reports related to "isolated incidents" and that there was not a general problem and there's not an app for it! (OK they didn't say the last bit)The European Commission has investigated reports that a number of Apple iPods and... more
Apple's rumour mill has been churning hard for the last few months with 'news' of the Apple Tablet, but there's not been a huge amount of coverage of the next generation iPod Touch since it was rumoured it would now have a camera installed.
If these pictures are genuine, then it seems the rumour mill has been speaking the truth. They show what appears to be the new iPod Touch, with a centred camera.
The pics are a little grainy, but do look like the real deal...Apple's rumour mill has been churning hard for the last few months with 'news' of the... more
Because Apple still haven't made the iPhone waterproof and its owners (myself included) can't bear to be without their device for more than 10 seconds, a seller on the popular arts and crafts community, Etsy, has started selling soap shaped as iPhones.
It seems that the seller is also pretty tech-savvy in the soap world, she's also selling Pac-Man, BlackBerry, iPod and Palm pre soaps.Because Apple still haven't made the iPhone waterproof and its owners (myself... more
It seems that the next iteration of everyone's favourite social networking site is drawing ever nearer, after software engineer Joe Hewitt tweeted that they'd finally submitted 'Facebook 3.0 for iPhone to Apple.
Facebook's software engineer Joe Hewitt updated his Twitter page saying "Just uploaded Facebook for iPhone 3.0 to the App Store for review. :)". Then going onto show there's no rest for the wicked, updating it saying "As excited as I am about 3.0, I am *really* excited about 3.1, which I get to start working on tomorrow. Tonight I can relax."
He also posted a list of the new features coming in 3.0:
1. The "new" News Feed
2. Like
3. Events (including the ability to RSVP)
4. Notes
5. Pages
6. Create new photo albums
7. Upload photos to any album
8. Zoom into photos
9. Easier photo tagging
10. Profile Pictures albums
11. A new home screen for easy access to all your stuff, search, and notifications
12. Add your favorite profiles and pages to the home screen
13. Better Notifications (they link to the comments so you can reply)
14. Quickly call or text people right from the Friends page
15. Messages you are typing will be restored if you quit or are interrupted by a phone call
I've never been a massive fan of the current iPhone app that's available for iPhone, so I'm hoping this one is a bit more stable and less prone to crashing, plus being able to RSVP and zoom into photos has been something I think should have been included in the first version...It seems that the next iteration of everyone's favourite social networking site is... more
Basically this is a capture and upload app, which, if you have an iPhone 3GS, will definitely come in handy (I don't). But the inclusion into the App Store has a bunch of folks scratching their heads. Where's the live streaming experience that Qik has built its business on thus far?
CTA Digital have just released a wheel accessory for the iPhone that "gives you the feel of driving a real vehicle instead of making sharp, erratic turns as you twist your iPhone or iPod Touch from side to side."CTA Digital have just released a wheel accessory for the iPhone that "gives you the... more
Now I'm not sure who on earth has any need for one of these badboys, but someone clearly thinks there's a demand for charging and syncing up to 20 Apple devices simultaneously.
At present, there's no info on pricing or release dates, but what we do know is that the PARASYNC "uses only one USB cable, and it has been certified by Apple to work natively with iTunes," which is great, if you have a need to sync/charge 20 iPhones or iPods...Now I'm not sure who on earth has any need for one of these badboys, but someone... more
In a move that probably won't come as a massive surprise, the CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, has resigned from his position on Apple's Board of Directors.
“Eric has been an excellent Board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple’s Board.”
Hmm, Google Voice app gets rejected and then Schmidt resigns... coincidence??In a move that probably won't come as a massive surprise, the CEO of Google, Eric... more
Michael Arrington of TechCrunch has put down his iPhone.
Article:
I have loved the iPhone, but now I am quitting the iPhone.
This is not an easy decision.
I was there in January 2007 when it was announced and I bought the first iPhone as soon as it was available. I happily bought the iPhone 3G a year later. I’ve proudly yelled “I Am A Member Of The Cult Of iPhone.” I’ve been an unabashed cheerleader for the device to all who’ll listen. And I’ve scoffed at developers who said they’d abandon the platform.
But I’m not going to upgrade to the iPhone 3GS. Instead, I’m abandoning the iPhone and AT&T. I will grudgingly pay the $175 AT&T termination fee and then I will move on to another device.
What finally put me over the edge? It wasn’t the routinely dropped calls, something you can only truly understand once you have owned an iPhone (and which drove my friend Om Malik to bail). I’ve lived with that for two years. It’s not the lack of AT&T coverage at home. I’ve lived with that for two years, too. It certainly isn’t the lack of a physical keyboard, that has never bothered me. No, what finally put me over the edge is the Google Voice debacle.
Most of you won’t know what I’m talking about, so I’ll explain.
Google Voice is a call management service that lets you determine what calls get through to you based on who’s calling and what time of day it is, among other factors. It has amazing features, like automatically transcribing all your voicemails. And you can forward calls to any other phone easily and automatically. Here’s an overview of the service if you aren’t familiar with it.
I’ve always wanted to use Google Voice but there’s a big switching cost - changing your phone number. Too many people have that phone number and use it to call in great stories. There’s no way I’m giving that up. And there’s another problem with Google Voice. When you make outbound calls from a phone, it (obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number, so recipients don’t know it’s you calling. Those were two hurdles I wasn’t willing to jump over.
But now Google is planning on rolling out number portability, so I can move my mobile phone number to Google. None of my friends, family or contacts have to store a new number.
That still leaves the problem of outbound calls, though. I can move my mobile number to Google and then get a new iPhone account, but outbound calls won’t be identified because they are on the new number. Google has a solution for that too, though. They are releasing apps for a variety of handsets that effectively take over the native dialer, address book and call log. Problem solved. I can use any phone I like, or a bunch of phones, and just choose the one that makes sense at any time. I never have to be tied to a carrier and their restrictive contracts again.
Or so I thought. Apple and AT&T are now blocking the iPhone version of the Google Voice app. Why? Because they absolutely don’t want people doing exactly what I’m doing - moving their phone number to Google and using the carrier as a dumb pipe.
So I have to choose between the iPhone and Google Voice. It’s not an easy decision. Except, it sort of is. Google isn’t forcing the decision on me, Apple and AT&T are. So I choose to work with the company that isn’t forcing me to do things their way. And in this case, that’s Google.
So what phone will I use next? Well, that decision is easy, too. I’d move to the Palm Pre because I believe it is the best phone out there other than the iPhone 3GS. But Google hasn’t created an app for the Palm Pre yet, just Android and Blackberry phones. So for now I’m going to use the new Android myTouch 3G along with the Google Voice App. As soon as something better comes out, or Google makes an app for the Pre, I’ll switch. And keep the same phone number. No long term contracts for me.
And Apple, if you ever decide to put the hammer down on AT&T and do the right thing for your loyal users, I’ll consider switching back.Michael Arrington of TechCrunch has put down his iPhone.
Article:
I have loved... more
I love geeks, they take stuff you can buy and then pimp it into something completely awesome and sometimes a little bit pointless.
One 'robot hobbyist' bought a Kondo KHR-2HV robot (priced at $1,300) and converted it to use a new iPhone 3G S as its head. It can now visualise facial expressions, dance, wake you up with his alarm clock and also has a learning function.
I want one.I love geeks, they take stuff you can buy and then pimp it into something completely... more
The device, designed as a larger version of the iPod Touch, will have a 9-inch to 10-inch touchscreen and possibly a keyboard, as analysts, industry sources and news reports have outlined.
An initial version of the long-anticipated Apple tablet will be subsidized by Verizon (VZ Quote), but Apple and Verizon "won't be as tightly integrated" as Apple's iPhone exclusivity deal with AT&T (T Quote), says one source familiar with the companies, who asked not to be named.
Apple has been tinkering with the tablet for nearly two years. The popularity of the iPhone and particularly the iPod Touch have convinced the company that people are enamored with the touchscreens and see the swipe-and-poke, Web-friendly interface as more than just a fad.
The market, however, may not be as ready as Apple is.
With the iPhone hitting its stride, Apple needs a hot new device to carry the next leg of the gadget race. And while Apple will probably have a dazzling tablet, the category has been troublesome for other computer makers like Hewlett-Packard(HPQ Quote) and Toshiba.
Apple has been reluctant to introduce the device, which has been ready as a prototype for nearly a year. Initially, analysts thought Apple would aim the tablet at the education market. But as devices like Amazon's (AMZN Quote) Kindle have gained some popularity, Apple seems to think this year is the right time for a tablet.The device, designed as a larger version of the iPod Touch, will have a 9-inch to... more
