Archive for December, 2005
“This tape will self-destruct in five seconds” became a household phrase in the 60s and 70s thanks to the creators of Mission Impossible, and now 30 years later, the ability to send your own self-destruct text message has become a reality thanks to a new innovation launched by Staellium UK Ltd – StealthText.
Whether you’re a celebrity who’s up to no good or a business executive
dealing in sensitive information, the last thing you want is for private text messages you’ve sent to fall into the wrong hands. StealthText allows you to send a text message safely in the knowledge that it will delete itself from the recipient’s mobile phone as soon as the person has read it, finally allowing the sender control of his or her own information.
Until now, mobile phone users have had to rely on recipients to delete sensitive text messages on their behalf; although a number of high profile cases (Rebecca Loos..cough), have shown that this cannot always be relied on. However, by simply keying in a code, StealthText users can rest assured that the message goes up in smoke, just like the famous tapes scenes in the Mission Impossible series.
Those wishing to sign up to the service can simply text STEALTH to 80880 to receive a link that will allow them to download the StealthText applet via a WAP connection. Once a message has been sent, the recipient receives a text notification showing the sender’s name and providing a link to the message. Once opened, the message will disappear after a short period of time (about 40 seconds). To unsubscribe to the service simply text STOP to 80880.
Staellium, the company behind the breakthrough, has already received enquiries from interested parties as diverse as financial services, MOD and celebrity agents, demonstrating the breadth of use.
Carole Barnum, CEO and Co-founder of Staellium UK comments, “The technology behind StealthText is derived from military technology, so the comparisons with Mission Impossible are justified. The ability to send a self-destruct message has massive benefits for people from all walks of life, from everyday mobile users, through to celebrities and business people, but this is just the start. In spring 2006 we will be launching new services such as self-destruct email, voice and picture messages, so ultimately no one will ever have to worry about their messages or pictures ending up in the wrong hands ever again.”
SECURITY: To comply with legal requirements, when the message is deleted from the recipient’s phone, the ‘paper trail’ and log stays on a protected, secure server for a period of time before being completely deleted. To prevent abuse, the recipient has no access to the server.
TO REPLY: The recipient can easily reply with StealthTexts, creating a private channel of two-way communication. StealthText is also a widely accessible application for sending self-destruct messages via SMS and WAP. In the mass-market version, every WAP-enabled handset - currently 80% of the 40 millions handsets in the UK, can download a simple applet and send self-destruct messages to any other mobile phone - recipients don’t need to have the applet to receive a message, just if they wish to send one themselves.
TO SEND A FRIEND TWO FREE SELF DESTRUCT MESSAGES: To have access to StealthText, someone needs to have sent you the other part of the “secret code”, turning StealthText in a peer-to-peer application. Each user sending StealthText to someone else will have 2 free StealthTexts.
A 24 hour helpline is available for subscribers 08000 1128 61. The service is currently available around the world for users of UK SIM cards only. StealthText will be available across Europe, in the US and Asia early 2006.
December 12th, 2005
Creative has unveiled the Zen Vision:M, a 30GB video player, photo viewer and MP3 player which has more than a passing resemblance to the new iPod.
The Zen Vision:M more than matches the iPod in a spec for spec battle. They both feature a 2.5-inch screen at 320×240 resolution, but where the Vision:M wins out is in the claimed battery life, number of songs stored and formats supported.
The 30GB iPod can hold 7,500 songs and 75 hours of video, but the Zen Vison:M packs in 15,000 tracks and 120 hours of those moving pictures we all love so much. Battery life for playing music is the same at 14 hours, but Creative have squeezed out double the battery life for video.
The Zen Vision:M wins hands down in the video format stakes, supporting WMV, MPEG4 and DivX, MPEG2, MPEG1, and Motion-JPEG. The iPod only plays H.264 and MPEG4.
However, once again, Apple wins in the design department with the iPod being almost identical in every dimension except depth where it is almost half the size. This certainly adds to the ‘wow’ factor with the iPod and Creative will be hoping that noone holds their player side by side with Apple’s.
However, Creative bosses are convinced they have a winner. “When people see the Zen Vision:M, they tell us it’s incredibly cool,” said Sim Wong Hoo, chairman and CEO of Creative. “We designed the Zen Vision:M with its mesmerizing 262,144 colorr screen to display four times the colour of the 30GB iPod that plays video, and to provide twice the battery life for video playback. Plus, we offer people the freedom to choose their video in a variety of different formats, and to get subscription music or download tracks from a number of different sites to their player.”
The last point is a definite sideswipe at Apple who are notorious for forcing iPod users to buy their music from iTunes.
There are a whole host of value-added features in the Zen Vision:M.
* FM radio and recording - with 32 preset options
* Intuitive Vertical Touch Pad and Tactile Buttons on the face of the player - including the new “My Shortcut” Button for quick access to favourite DJ functions
* Content password protection - Protects any content stored on the player
* Built-in Microphone - shows volume levels on screen for optimum voice recording quality
* Selectable themes, including Marine Blue, Sable Black, Ice Blue, Forest Green, Candy Pink and Pearl White to match the colour scheme of the player menus to any mood
* Organizer - Provides calendar, tasks and contact lists, and syncs with Microsoft Outlook
* Extras - Enables setting of Date & Time, plus allocation of Removable Disk space for dedicated storage
* A clock with wake-to-any-music alarm, colour themes and different languages for further customization
* A bundled AC adapter, valued at US$29.99
The new Creative Zen Vision:M will be available this month for US$329.99. It comes with an AC adapter, USB 2.0 cable, high-quality earphones, and a protective pouch. Optional accessories, including a docking station and an AV-out cable, will be available for purchase separately.
MediaCenterPCWorld believes that the reasons to buy an iPod, apart from wanting to have the same player as everyone else, have all gone away. If you’re looking for a video-enabled mp3 player, check the Creative Zen Vision:M out first.
December 9th, 2005
GetMeThere.co.uk, a joint venture between Toyota GB and IS Solutions
Plc., today sees the launch of the most comprehensive SMS Traffic Alerts service in the UK. The Single or Multi Trip service brings the latest in traffic avoidance services direct to the mobile phone for a day trip or regular commute. It is no longer necessary to wait 30 minutes for the next radio update or plan a departure time after the morning traffic bulletin, as GetMeThere.co.uk’s new Live Traffic Alert service will
alert you to the latest traffic conditions, before and during your trip and only text the relevant information for the roads and direction in which you will be travelling.
GetMeThere.co.uk constantly check the traffic conditions on your route so you don’t have to and only sent out a Traffic Alert if a new traffic incident occurs or existing traffic conditions change. Live Traffic
Alerts allows you to plan your trip in detail using GetMeThere.co.uk’s award winning Route Planning software and once you are happy with the route, you simply sign up for a Single Trip at 50p per text or Multi Trip at £20 per month allowing you up to 160 SMS Traffic Alerts.
Jon West, Director of GetMeThere.co.uk said “We have concentrated on not bombarding our users with ever changing information but ensuring they will have enough to make the right decisions when they need to. There
are over 1600 types of Live Traffic Alerts that we collect, so it is essential that we filter this information to ensure its relevance. After all an accident, roadworks or traffic lights out of order don’t
necessarily mean there will be any delay in your journey, whereas a road or junction closure on your journey will require at least a re-route.”
December 8th, 2005
It’s a story to gladden the hearts of those of you who queued for days to get you hands on the Xbox 360, or worse still, are still waiting despite pre-ordering. Microsoft Chief Executive, Steve Ballmer, has admitted that he is not allowed a free console otherwise he would have to declare it as income. As a result, the Ballmer family are still Xbox-less (or so he claims) with Christmas just around the corner.
“The Ballmer children do not have their Xbox 360 yet. I’m in the same boat as many of you,” Ballmer said. “Thanks to the wonders of Sarbanes-Oxley [ financial disclosure regulations ], management does not get a free Xbox 360.” What, not even a prototype for ‘testing’. Pull the other one Steve!
Still, the thought of Mr Ballmer standing in the rain, or arguing with a sales clerk in Walmart, is one that we treasure, so in the spirit of the season of goodwill we wish him every success in his quest for the most ineptly launched console since the last ineptly launched console.
December 8th, 2005
The community-edited Wikipedia online encyclopedia has found itself the focus of some unwanted attention, courtesy of John Seigenthaler, a retired journalist who served as Robert Kennedy’s administrative assistant in the early 1960s.
Writing in USA Today, Seigenthaler describes how he discovered his biography on Wikipedia (he was probably Googling himself - we’ve all done it!), but was shocked to discover the accusation that he was involved in the assassination of Kennedy in the early 60s.
“John Seigenthaler Sr. was the assistant to Attorney General Robert Kennedy in the early 1960’s,” said the biog. “For a brief time, he was thought to have been directly involved in the Kennedy assassinations of both John, and his brother, Bobby. Nothing was ever proven.”
Seigenthaler eventually got the accusation removed and then launched into at attempt to track down the writer. Wikipedia provided him with an IP address which was traced to BellSouth Internet, but then ISP refused to disclose the identity of the poster citing privacy laws. The only way of identifying the culprit would have been via a lawsuit, which Seigenthaler decided not to pursue.
The nature of Wikipedia is that it relies on the good will of its users to a) not post incorrect information b) edit it promptly when the inevitable errors, planned or otherwise, creep in. In some cases this model is flawed and of course, the Wikipedia brand is one that encourages trust from its readers, making false information very powerful.
Seigenthaler is quite sanguine about the whole business.”And so we live in a universe of new media with phenomenal opportunities for worldwide communications and research,” he writes. “But populated by volunteer vandals with poison-pen intellects.”
December 1st, 2005
Struggling to get watch TV programmes on your PSP? The StorVision miniVCR is a compact low cost solution to record videos suitable to be played on handheld viewing devices such as the PSP, Epson P2000, Nintendo GameBoy Micro, or the iPod Viewer.
The miniVCR enables you to record directly from your television onto a memory card, which you can then simply place in your PSP and watch the recorded programme of your choice. This means that you can record onto Memory Stick Pro Duo Gaming edition and Compactflash/Microdrive memory cards (other type of flash cards via an optional adapter).
With the MPEG4 personal video recorder you can store your favorite movies onto a memory card and watch it anywhere.
Any programme which is shown on TV can be recorded onto the memory card; classic movies, your favorite soaps, football matches, etc…
Equipped with two memory card slots, the miniVCR accepts Memory Stick Pro Duo for Sony PSP, Compactflash / Hitachi Microdrives, or any other type of memory card via an optional Compactflash 5in1 adapter. The miniVCR records under digital MPEG-4 (ISO simple profile) video format to the inserted memory card.
Simply connect the miniVCR to your TV or satellite set up box using the supplied Audio/Video composite cables (you may need a SCART adapter), and record via the supplied remote control your favorite TV programmes and movies. The remote control will also give you the controls to play / pause / rewind / fast forward your stored videos. Both NTSC and PAL TV standards are supported.
It also has a convenient timer for recording along with an enhanced interface for quick timer setup, auto record and scheduled recordings, which means that you will never miss what you want to watch.
The encoder can handle video content in both QVGA (320×240) and 368×208 pixel resolution (16:9 screen ratio) for the Sony PSP and in VGA (640×480) for other uses.
The miniVCR combines an MPEG4 movie player, MP3 music player and JPEG photo viewer in the same compact unit.
You can use the miniVCR to play MP3 music through your TV, view photos stored on your memory card, giving you the ability to share various types of media easily.
December 1st, 2005
Skype today released the beta version of Skype 2.0, the newest version of its software that allows anyone with an Internet connection to make free Internet calls. The software is designed for greater ease of use, integrated video calling, and enhanced features that allow people to stay in touch and express themselves online. Skype also announced its collaboration with global headset and Webcam partner Logitech, as well as partnerships with Webcam manufacturer Creative, and with weblog software and services company Six Apart.
Available in 27 languages, Skype is used by people in almost every country around the world, and Skyping has become a global phenomenon. The latest version of the software has further simplified the Skype interface, making it even easier for people to see and speak with their family, friends and colleagues.
“At Skype we want to make talking over the Internet the most natural, simple thing for people all over the world to do. With the release of our new software, it’s never been easier for people to talk to one another for free, and now they can see each other with video as well,” said Niklas Zennstrom, CEO of Skype.
Skype 2.0 Beta Features
The beta version of Skype 2.0 is available for people to download at www.skype.com. The free software includes:
* Skype Video - see your friends and family on the full computer screen or in the Skype calling window. Skype Video also includes a window to view what you look like to the person you are calling.
* Simplified user interface - an intuitive menu with one-click access to key features and options makes it even easier for the whole world to talk for free.
* Self-expression - broadcast your mood along with your online presence. Let your contacts know whether you’re happy, sad, listening to your favorite music, available to talk or do not want to be disturbed.
* Personalization - personalize your Skype identity with avatars or custom ring tones. http://personal.skype.com
* See your contacts’ time zones - before you wake up your friends, family or colleagues take a quick glance to see what time it is in their location.
* Group your contacts - organize your contacts by grouping your friends, co-workers or family members. Start conference calls, chats or file sharing with the whole group with just one click.
* Real-time contact search - look up contacts in real-time by typing a name into the dialing field.
* Skype toolbar for Microsoft Outlook - one-click calling to contacts from your Microsoft Outlook address book.
Skype Video gives users free, high-quality video calling capabilities. Compatible with almost any Webcam, Skype Video is fully integrated into Skype calling, and can be adjusted to provide full-screen video with just one click. After downloading Skype 2.0, simply plug in a Webcam to start using video for free. Skype-certified Webcams will be available from Creative at select retailers in Europe and from Logitech through the Skype Web store located at http://www.skype.com/store.
“Logitech is a pioneer in video just as Skype has pioneered Internet calling,” said Junien Labrousse, Logitech senior vice president of the entertainment and communications business unit. “Together we are providing a superior video communications experience to Skype’s community around the world.”
Skype Certified Webcams
Skype has partnered with Logitech to jointly market Skype video and offer select Skype-certified Webcams including the Logitech QuickCam Fusion webcam and the QuickCam for Notebooks Pro webcam. The Webcams come complete with Logitech Video Effects software, a 1.3 megapixel sensor, Logitech RightLight technology, Logitech RightSound technology, intelligent face tracking and a Logitech headset, providing a complete package to begin using Skype video right away.
Skype is also working with Creative, who introduced a Skype-certified Webcam for use with its new video-based Internet phone service. Known as the Creative WebCam Instant Skype Edition, this new Webcam comes with a personal headset with microphone, software and a stand-alone microphone for use when several people wish to talk.
People can find Skype-certified products, such as Webcams, headsets and USB phones at www.skype.com/store, at major U.S. retailers such as RadioShack, and at select retailers in Europe.
Express Yourself Online
Skype 2.0 also offers users the ability to show their availability and initiate Skype calls directly from a blog or personal Web site. Skype has partnered with Six Apart, to let users of its TypePad blogging service integrate Skype presence into their weblogs. Skype users, who use TypePad for their blogs, can indicate to visitors on their site when they are online, and allow visitors to easily initiate a Skype call right from the Web page. Similarly, hundreds of companies are integrating Skype’s application into their own services to provide people with enhanced communications tools. For example, Webdialogs is already working to integrate Web presence into its services.
December 1st, 2005
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