FocuSoft Tech Blog |
- Is this Palm’s revamped App Catalog?
- Nixie Concrete Clock is perfect for the bomb shelter or the bedroom
- Harmonix auctions off custom Beatles Xbox for charity, free publicity
- Location-Based Mobile Social Network Centrl Integrates Web App, Adds First Real-Time Location-Based Messaging System
- The Vivienne Tam HP netbook tries to justify its existence with a fancy butterfly design
- Earlier iPod touch with camera leak vindicated in light of 3rd gen teardown
- Did AT&T Just Start Rolling Out MMS For The iPhone?
- Deutsche Telekom eyeing Sprint Nextel for acquisition?
- Volution Bluetooth Headset Concept Almost Makes Headsets Cool— Almost [Headsets]
- Zynga Settles Mob Wars Litigation As It Settles In To Playdom Fight
| Is this Palm’s revamped App Catalog? Posted: 13 Sep 2009 11:02 PM PDT
We know that Palm’s hard at work implementing desperately needed payment infrastructure for its App Catalog, and we might now be getting some of the first glances of what it — and the non-beta App Catalog as a whole — will look like. Major new features include the aforementioned support for credit card payments, some sort of tag cloud that appears to show up when searching, and integrated app management, while many other screens have been gently tweaked from the early release Pre owners are using today. Last we’d heard, Palm had been targeting mid-September for e-commerce to make its grand debut, which is like… now, so we’re thinking we won’t be waiting long to see this out and about. [Thanks, Mitchell R.] Gallery: Is this Palm’s revamped App Catalog?
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Is this Palm’s revamped App Catalog? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Nixie Concrete Clock is perfect for the bomb shelter or the bedroom Posted: 13 Sep 2009 10:12 PM PDT
 What desktop contraption could possibly be more evocative of the Cold War than a handcrafted clock made with some genuine Nixie tubes? How about a clock made with Nixie tubes and forged in concrete? While it’s unfortunately just a one-off creation for now, this so-called Nixie Concrete Clock designed by Daniel Kurth is indeed fully functional (and even wall-mountable, depending on the wall), and could possibly be headed into production if Kurth can line up a few partners (and buyers). In the meantime, you can get a closer look at the clock by hitting up the read ilnk below, and contemplate the daunting task of building your own after taking a peek at the spec list (which includes 244 cable connections). [Via OhGIzmo!] Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Nixie Concrete Clock is perfect for the bomb shelter or the bedroom originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Harmonix auctions off custom Beatles Xbox for charity, free publicity Posted: 13 Sep 2009 07:56 PM PDT
 We’re sure you’ve already heard about the kerfuffle surrounding the use of Kurt Cobain’s likeness in a Guitar Hero avatar. Maybe it’s a generational thing (or maybe it speaks to the difference between the temperaments of Ms. Ono and Ms. Love) but while the former members of Nirvana are not amused by their treatment at the hands of videogame consoles ’round the world, it’s nearly unanimous in the Beatles camp: Beatles Rock Band is awesome. If you’re looking to indulge your Fab Four fixation — and if money’s no object — you might want to head on over to eBay and peep the first of fifty Xbox 360s being auctioned off for by Harmonix. Bidding started off at $780, but as of Sunday afternoon it’s over $17,000 — with over four days left to go! Designed by Passion Pictures (the kids responsible for animating Gorillaz), proceeds go to Doctors without Borders. Please insert your own Courtney Love joke here. [Via T3] Filed under: Gaming Harmonix auctions off custom Beatles Xbox for charity, free publicity originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Posted: 13 Sep 2009 07:17 PM PDT
But there are more location-based social networks out there, and one of them, Centrl, is now intending to further bridge the gap between mobile phone users and the web at large (a move we called for last year). The service, which has been available on the iPhone [iTunes link], Android, BlackBerry [JAD file] and Nokia since May 2008, extended its offering with a web app a few days ago. The service runs within major social networks and lets you login from your existing accounts (on Facebook, MySpace, iGoogle, Friendster, Ning, Hi5, bebo, Orkut, iTimes, or Sonico) on any platform and device, which means there’s no need to register. (It’s free to use in all variations, too). iPhone and Facebook versions (click to enlarge): Centrl’s new web application basically does all what the mobile version does: broadcast your own location to your friends, help users find coupons, restaurants, bars, gas stations, general points of interest, real estate, or events near you by pulling information from Yelp, Citysearch, Wikipedia and other sites (Centrl calls these sites “layers”). The web app is completely integrated into Centrl’s social network versions and mobile phone apps. It’s also possible for users of the web version to contribute and share content, for example by marking a certain place on a map, uploading a picture of it, adding a comment and posting a link to Twitter (mobile app users can do this, too). Centrl then automatically creates a profile page based on that information for other mobile or web app users to view and interact with. Screenshot of the Centrl web app (click to enlarge): Centrl’s web version also introduces location-based communication in real-time. According to CEO Murat Aktihanoglu, his service is the first to offer a “free IM on a map”-system that doesn’t rely on SMS and is completely device- and platform agnostic (as long as you’re a Centrl user). The way the messaging system works is that people accessing Centrl on a PC, for example, can see the location of people using one of the mobile apps and instantly start text-chatting with them, virtually in real-time and without fees for both sides. Centrl has attracted 500,000 users so far. The service is based out of New York and angel-funded with $500,000.
Information provided by CrunchBase Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0
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| The Vivienne Tam HP netbook tries to justify its existence with a fancy butterfly design Posted: 13 Sep 2009 06:34 PM PDT
Read more here:
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| Earlier iPod touch with camera leak vindicated in light of 3rd gen teardown Posted: 13 Sep 2009 05:18 PM PDT
 That mysterious 6- x 6- x 3-millimeter slot found within the most recent iPod touch teardown? We were pretty sure it was the eventual resting place for a camera sensor, but now we’ve got mounting evidence with the discovery of a missing link. If you recall, there was an August-borne leak of an iPod touch with camera that showed said slot filled with a chip that, in hindsight, looks to match up well with the video camera sensor in the 5G iPod nano (check out step 17). This revelation doesn’t get us any closer to snapping videos with the touchscreen PMP, but we do have a few more questions for Steve to dodge. Filed under: Digital Cameras, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video Earlier iPod touch with camera leak vindicated in light of 3rd gen teardown originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Did AT&T Just Start Rolling Out MMS For The iPhone? Posted: 13 Sep 2009 03:39 PM PDT
Then a few hours later, we got another one. And another. More here:
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| Deutsche Telekom eyeing Sprint Nextel for acquisition? Posted: 13 Sep 2009 03:19 PM PDT
 With T-Mobile UK and Orange now having to (potentially) learn to play nice, Deutsche Telekom is already looking ahead to its next big target: Sprint Nextel. According to a Telegraph report, the telecom giant, with an estimated value of $60.45 billion, has called in advisers from Deutsche Bank as it reportedly prepares to submit an offer to the $10.6 billion-valued Now Network within the next three weeks. The assimilation of Sprint and Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Mobile US under the same umbrella could give second-place AT&T a fight with a 78.2 million-strong customer base… but that said, we wouldn’t anticipate any quick or smooth merger given the US carriers rely on substantially different bands (CDMA vs. GSM) for service. Hey, there’s always WiMAX might come into play. Obviously there’s a lot of unanswered questions here, but at this point it’s all speculation given no actual offer has been thrown on the table — and we bet Hesse will have some choice words on the matter. Keep an eye out on this one, things could very quickly get very, very interesting here. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] Filed under: Cellphones Deutsche Telekom eyeing Sprint Nextel for acquisition? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Volution Bluetooth Headset Concept Almost Makes Headsets Cool— Almost [Headsets] Posted: 13 Sep 2009 03:00 PM PDT
As you can see, the headset is more earring than funky robotic ear leech, and it actually looks kind of nice in a futuristic fashionista kind of way.
See the original post:
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| Zynga Settles Mob Wars Litigation As It Settles In To Playdom Fight Posted: 13 Sep 2009 02:33 PM PDT
In February 2009 Mob Wars creator David Maestri sued Zynga for copyright infringement. Zynga's game Mafia Wars – a text-based game very similar to Mob Wars – was just too much of a copy of Mob Wars, said Maestri. Maestri himself had only recently cleared up his own rights to the game after a scuffle with his former employer, SGN. The Maestri-Zynga lawsuit has now been settled as well. The rumor was that Maestri was demanding $10 million from Zynga to settle the litigation. Ultimately, says one source, he got a payment in the “high seven figures.” So that implies something like $7 – $9 million. Wonder why the settlement was so high? It’s hard to believe, but Mob Wars was pulling in an estimated $1 million/month at one point from users eager to upgrade their weapons and other stuff. These games seem silly, but real money flows through them from virtual goods. Not a bad payday for Maestri. And it also highlights the fact that none of these companies have a completely clean record when it comes to respecting the intellectual property of competitors. Information provided by CrunchBase Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware. Read the original post:
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A few hours ago, we got a tip from one of our readers that they’d popped into their iPhone messaging app this morning, only to find that they’d suddenly gained the ability to send MMS. We chalked it up as a fluke – AT&T promised it would launch on September 25th, after all, and they haven’t exactly been punctual about this whole thing thus far. Two whole weeks early? It seemed shaky. ![184f9ecf59tgJ 58.jpg Volution Bluetooth Headset Concept Almost Makes Headsets Cool— Almost [Headsets]](http://www.focusoft.biz/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/6fbb560213tgJ_58.jpg.jpg "Volution Bluetooth Headset Concept Almost Makes Headsets Cool— Almost [Headsets]")
![4290b315aaeadset.jpg Volution Bluetooth Headset Concept Almost Makes Headsets Cool— Almost [Headsets]](http://www.focusoft.biz/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/4290b315aaeadset.jpg.jpg "Volution Bluetooth Headset Concept Almost Makes Headsets Cool— Almost [Headsets]")
Like a traditional headset, you tap the sensor to answer an incoming call, and talk into the air like a idiot as normal. But you look good, especially if you happen to be a model. [![Volution Bluetooth Headset Concept Almost Makes Headsets Cool— Almost [Headsets]](http://www.focusoft.biz/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/226ac3e48deus.gif.gif?eui=2226 "Volution Bluetooth Headset Concept Almost Makes Headsets Cool— Almost [Headsets]")
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