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Orange to offer SMS Jukebox services
Have you ever been out at your local watering hole and wish you could change the tune that's on a never ending repeat at the jukebox? If you're lucky you'll be an Orange France customer and have their latest SMS Jukebox service at your pub of choice. By sending a text message to the Jukebox's short code you can request "Madonna" or "Beastie Boys" with only a few keystrokes. Oh, the joys of being French. [Via Redferret]
Singaporean yoinks fastest text messager crown
These haven't been a great couple of months for Mr. Ben Cook of Utah. Just weeks after the then-world's fastest text messager got shown up by some newfangled voice recognition system, a 16 year old from Singapore has stripped him of his geekalicious title -- pending verification by the Guinness Book of World Records, of course. To accomplish the feat, Ang Chuang Yang banged out the same 160-character nonsense as Ben Cook had to (as did several others before them), but managed to do it a solid 0.7 seconds faster with a total time of 41.52 seconds. Even more impressive, in order to be official the feat has to be accomplished without predictive text enabled, and to top it all off, Ang apparently chose some crappy Nokia to make it all happen. Our hats go off to you, sir.[Via textually.org]
Treo 750v threaded SMS / MMS app hacked for all
If you're anything like us, you've been waiting for a threaded SMS / MMS app to relieve our mobile Outlook view on messaging with Windows Mobile. Well, some dear sweet blessed soul has answered the call. Hacked directly out of a Treo 750v, which featured Palm's WinMo take on their long-lauded threaded SMS feature, now you too can have IM-like text convos with your pals with a minimum of hacking. Merely install the app, make two quick registry edits and restart your phone. (If you're down with MMS you may have to reconfigure your MMS servers.) It worked like a charm when we tested to see if it was the real deal, though we understand it doesn't work with VGA displays (i.e. the Universal.) We're definitely not vouching for the legality of this one, however.[Thanks, anonymous hero]
Australian schools to make texting a subject?
Kids these days have all the luck it seems -- not only can they undermine proctors by texting answers around the classroom, but now Victorian middle-schoolers may get the chance to take SMS 101. University of Melbourne's John Frow has insinuated that teaching children the value of abbreviations commonly used in text messages may give kids the opportunity to enjoy learning about the underpinnings of the English language. While he does admit that there's no educational merit in teaching 8 to 10-year olds how to establish an after school 'roo-riding party with as few characters as possible, he feels that lessons in texting can lead to a deeper understanding about "important translations from one language to another" and give youngsters the chance to "think critically" about the way we communicate. While Federal Minister Julie Bishop has "condemned" the notion of basing a course around SMS, Victorian Education Minister Lynn Kosky is backing the Victorian school systems, but whether or not the presumably anxious students will ever get the luxury of TXTNG 4 A PROF remains to be seen.[Via Textually]
Sprint's SMS price hike saga
Sprint threw its customers for a bit of a loop last week when it raised its pay-per-use text messaging rate to $.15 per message, leaving some confusion as to whether users could get out of their contract without paying an early termination fee (EFT). The confusion apparently stemmed from the wording of Sprint's contact, which states that customers can be released from their contract if Sprint makes a "material change" to the service. Trouble is, Sprint didn't exactly come out and say if raising text messaging rates constituted a material change. After a short period of of uncertainty, however, CBS 13 in Sacramento claimed that the change was, in fact, a material one, and that customers could cancel their service without paying an EFT, something that was later independently confirmed by PCSIntel.com. So, if you've been looking for a chance to bail on Sprint for another carrier, here's your chance.
SMS to the rescue: texting saves boy's life
Granted, it's incredibly annoying to be unknowingly tracked and monitored by your superiors, but you know what they say, you really can never be too careful. In the case of a Bourne, Massachusetts boy, the cellphone his parent's presumably used to keep a short leash on him ended up saving his life; after being duped on MySpace (haven't we learned by now?) and flown to a small town in Georgia, the hopeless kid was held captive by a crazed (albeit technically illiterate) maniac. By making the mistake of leaving the clever youngster alone -- and assuming all communication required spoken words -- the child was able to warm up those texting fingers and shoot out an SMS to his folks containing his exact location and precarious environment, which eventually led to his rescue. While specialized SOS phones are making emergencies easier to evade, it's good to see texting finally get some positive PR love for a change.[Via Textually]
Mensa Mobil software dishes out lunch menus
Mom might have had your middle school lunches well under control, but thanks to a new development by the student union of Dresden Technical University and Haase & Martin GbR, you can enjoy the upper hand in college. Fed up with not having the skinny on cafeteria offerings, the "Studentenwerk Dresden" has implemented a prototype system on campus that beams a fortnight's worth of upcoming food choices to your Bluetooth-enabled mobile. A hotspot system dubbed BlueBot disseminates the Mensa Mobil (that's "mobile menu," folks) software to any Bluetooth-enabled cellphone within "40 meters" of its tower. Should you choose to install it, you're granted updated access to the foods, pricing, and specific ingredients offered throughout the day at 15 different eateries around town. While the program is currently free, it's apparently becoming quite a hit around campus, and both developers are planning to expand the restaurant choices as well as add additional BlueBot download points should the locals get hungry for more.[Via Textually]
McDonalds brings "m-Venue" user-selected media to face stuffers
Today's discerning consumer can no longer be satisfied by a mere peel-and-win game on their box of fries, now it takes 10 flat-screen TVs and a sound system to keep those burger lovers coming back. McDonalds has started to roll out a new m-Venue system to franchisees, which provides music and videos to customers via text-messaging and WiFi. Users can select the video content they'd like burned into their retina by the in-store big screens via text message while they chow down on fries, and can purchase ringtones, video, wallpaper and games for download as well. This new effort definitely isn't the first attempt at getting customers into McDonalds for more than the meals, but positive reaction at pilot stores might mean this idea is a bit less ill-fated. [Via The Wireless Report]
This is your cellphone... this is your cellphone on drugs
Alright, kids. Rule #1: Don't do drugs. Rule #2: Cellphones and drugs don't mix, as these two recent events amply illustrate. First we have the case of Oklahoma resident Elizabeth Burchfield, who thought she was text messaging a friend to get some help finishing off a stash of marijuana but, in fact, was texting Broken Arrow Police Officer Philip Short. At first, the officer ignored the messages, but when they kept on coming he arranged for an impromptu traffic stop, found drugs in Burchfield's car and arrested her (still oblivious to who she was actually texting) for drug possesion. In other news, a U.S. District Court Judge has ruled that text messages will be admitted as evidence in the case of Antoine Jones, who's accused of being involved in a Washington D.C. cocaine-distribution ring. In this instance, Jones didn't text message the cops, but the judge determined that the Wiretap Act didn't apply to archived email or text messages, and therefore wouldn't be protected under it. So, remember, save the cellphones for more legitimate purposes, like cheating on tests.Read - KOTV.com: Text Message Mix-Up Ends With An Arrest [Via Boing Boing]Read - CNET News.com: Judge OKs text message use in drug case [Via Textually.org]
DoCoMo launching video voicemail
It only makes sense that if you're using your 3G phone to make video calls, you should be able to leave video voicemail (or videomail, as it were). Apparently each person's FOMA "Answering Machine Service" inbox will have room for as many as 20 messages (though if you don't check it for 72 hours they'll start getting deleted willy nilly). Oh, the possibilities.[Via TechJapan]
Palm rolls out BlackBerry Connect for Cingular Treo 650s
Oh, by the way, have you heard? Moto isn't the only one releasing push email for their QWERTY candybar handheld; Palm's announced BlackBerry Connect support for the Cingular Treo 650, albeit a bit (ok, a lot) late.. Seems kind of silly that it would be the case, but when it comes to push email support, the carriers have to get involved as well, so it's not just as simple as having an Exchange server and MSFP or BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Connect, you know? In other words, be thankful Palm's helping y'all out at all, we were kind of thinking after ALP and everything they'd just go scorched-earth on us and let the 650 die slowly.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Results: What would enhance the PSP the most?
About a week ago, PSP Fanboy asked you what would enhance the PSP system the most. It was a pretty obvious win: the ability to play PSone games on the PSP. For some reason, Sony believes that the number one most-wanted feature for the system is the ability to connect to a PS3, but as can be seen by our not-scientific poll, it's one of the least desirable functions, barely beating out Text Messaging. But in all seriousness, who would really want to use the PSP "keyboard" to text message anyone? People also seem to want a hard drive, but for some reason that's one of the main functions that Sony's not planning to implement... for now, at least. Here are some memorable comments from the Fanboys: "How about if it were made by Nintendo. And oh yeah, games worth buying." - mitch "I would so love to not have to name files with that useless naming convention." - PodMonkeys (wish granted!) "I would really like it if the PSP came with a touch screen. Or a keyboard. It could be like the SideKick." - Hans "What about the ability to pull pornography out of thin air?" - Player1 " A decent way to type, like a Virtual QWERTY keyboard" - MacFanBoy "The greatest enhancement would be the ability to download and play iTunes and Videos from iTunes." - MM "Real Bluetooth (data and A2DP) support would be nice. Then with a few software updates we could use bluetooth keyboards, bluetooth mice, bluetooth GPS devices, bluetooth stereo audio, etc. etc. the list goes on and on." - Ixalon
"Wigged out" students caught cheating
You've probably considered it, you may have even given it a whirl just to see if it'd fly; using technology to your advantage in testing situations is most often regarding as cheating, as was the case when proctors recently busted a ring of Vietnamese test-takers attempting to cheat on their college entrance exams. More than 20 hopeful students paid between $1,250 to $3,125USD to get wired up with wigs and shirts that would allow them to communicate questions and answers via mobile phones without being discovered. The potential gain was apparently worth the risk, especially since only 10 percent of applicants in Vietnam get accepted to universities. Once again we see that crime doesn't pay, but we can't help but give props to the high-tech hijinks.
EBS boldly enters 21st century, preparing SMS alerts
Although the nuclear war for which it was designed thankfully never happened, the US' Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) soldiers on, occasionally interrupting our Wheel of Fortune viewing with disconcerting bloops and bleeps. FEMA, recognizing that the mobile phone now easily outstrips traditional media for reaching the uninformed masses in the event of a crisis, is finally turning to text messaging to give us a heads-up on air raids and the like. A system for distributing emergency text messages from the nation's digital TV stations to carrier networks has been in testing since 2004 and is getting ready for its public debut in the Gulf area by the end of the year, with rollouts in large cities nationwide thereafter. Apparently, the texts do little else but tell you to flip on your TV -- and you'll be able to opt out if you so choose -- but if we can track down that frighteningly dissonant EBS tone to use as our incoming message indicator, we're all for it.
Sky+ users can record TV via mobile phone
Ever got stuck in traffic or got called into a meeting that forced you to miss that crucial episode of your favorite show? Own a cell phone? Sky+ is on a mission to persuade you that just having a mobile could solve all your TV recording dilemmas, as if this hasn't been conceived before. Touting itself as the first company to allow TV recording commands to be sent via SMS, mobile internet, or online, Sky steps up once again. The free "Remote record" software lets you access a listings guide on your 2.5G, 3G, or GPRS-enabled phone and communicates the record commands to your Sky+ box. If you don't have a data plan, you're still covered, as SMS messages accomplish the same task. Up to 8 handsets can control a single Sky+ box, and they've integrated the service into all of their HD boxes, too. The company claims the trifecta of inputs is a "world's first," but later mentions the online portion is "coming soon." This is good news for UK users, but Sky+ should probably climb down a few rungs and realize this isn't exactly groundbreaking.
EMBARQ launches One Voicemail
Reaching out to all those who maintain both a land line telephone and a mobile number, EMBARQ has launched the EMBARQ Together Phone PaQ which introduces at least one rather handy feature: "One Voicemail" allows users to have just a single voicemail inbox for both their home and mobile phones. If only having to check one mailbox doesn't sway you, voicemail alerts are sent to both phones where you can retrieve them at home or on the go. The biggest "feature" here, however, is the usual double-play integration between home and mobile phones; billing for both are handily included on one bill, calls to and from the two phones are always free, and there's only one customer service number to remember for both services -- a dream come true for many who can't seem to completely reside at home or in the office, or who just want less maintenance from their voice providers.
Cingular's southern base skewing American Idol results?
Market research firm the NPD Group thinks it might have an explanation for American Idol's apparent bias toward contestants from the south, pointing to the show's exclusive arrangement with Cingular for voting via text messaging. You see, Cingular is based in Atlanta, and the majority of the company's customers -- some 20 million -- are also from the south; of the 18 million Cingular customers that use text messaging across the country, more than half are (you guessed it) from the south. So, NPD suggests, since only Cingular users are able to vote by text messaging, it would stand to reason that they'd be more likely to vote for contestants from their own region -- and, wouldn't you know it, all five American Idol winners are indeed southerners (even though Cingular wasn't sponsoring the show during the first two seasons). We hope you'll understand if we don't get too worked up over this.[Via RCRNews]
Cingular brings Push Mail to 8125: MSFP up for download
Bang! Just as expected, Cingular pulled the trigger on that MSFP, finally bringing Microsoft's Direct Push eMail to your 8125. If your packing a 2125 you'll have to hold tight; your update is "coming soon." No surprise, but Cingular fails to mention the inclusion of A2DP stereo audio support so we'll just have to wait for you brave souls to report back on your experience m'kay? Now best get to downloading 'cause your boss budgeted the extra $49.99 per month (same as BlackBerry Access) required for unlimited Internet and Direct Push mail, right?[Thanks, Ed Haber]
Zi announces advanced Chinese text messaging input system
Calgary-based Zi Corporation has announced an updated version of its eZiText predictive text input system that they say is the most advanced predictive text solution for China to date, making it even easier for users to break China's questionable texting laws. Zi's new system offers full phrase-level input for both phonetic and stroke modes and promises new levels of error toleration, as well as Cangjie support for users in Hong Kong and Taiwan. More details on how well all this actually works should start coming out when the system is unveiled at CommunicAsia in Singapore next week.
Meetro released for OS X
Location based social-networking is a concept that has been bouncing around the net for a while now. The idea is to make getting together and interacting with people easier by sorting users by--or simply displaying--their geographic proximity to you. Services such as dodgeball have become hugely successful in mobile markets, and Meetro is attempting to do the same thing for desktops and laptops. With Meetro, you create a buddy list, and are alerted whenever someone on that list comes within a user specified distance of your current location. I'd get into the magic internet voodoo that Meetro uses to figure out where you are, but their FAQ page is currently down. Although Meetro is the first location-aware instant messaging service that I know of, I can't see it taking off. My issues with it are two fold; I have to create a whole new identity to use the service, and if I want to know where my friends are, I have to get them to do the same. Although the interface of the program has come a long way from when I first saw it in its early beta stages, its still not nearly as user friendly or intuitive as I would like. Ideally, I'd like to see a plug-in for iChat or Adium which allows me to see the location of my regular AIM/MSNIM/YIM buddies when I mouse over them. In any case, Meetro is certainly an interesting concept, and worth checking out, even if only to get a taste of what surely will be many similar services to come.Via MacNN
