MobiTV Now Letting People Store TV Offline On Their Phone To Watch Whenever They Want

From mocoNews:

No word on when customers will have these options, but it comes just as viewers have tons of options for watching video on mobile phones, from free YouTube clips to even more professional content.

To name one, CBS Mobile gives away a smartphone app called TV.com that lets users watch full episodes from many of its properties, including CW, Showtime and CNet. Likewise, Qualcomm’s FLO TV subsidiary offers broadcast TV on limited phones on both AT&T and Verizon’s networks.

MobiTV currently provides subscriptions for $9.99 a month for several mobile applications that include more than 35 channels like NBC, FOX News, ESPN, Mobile TV and Comedy Central Channel.

Read full article

emily | 9:37 PM | TV on Cell Phones | permalink |

X-Ray Vision for Cell Phones

According to Top News , the University of South Australia and Nokia, the giant manufacturer of mobile phones, have joined hands to develop an application that would allow users of mobile phones to see through walls.

The technology is looking to make the system work by overlaying graphics atop real-world video images.

The newly developed technology has been made available in three different versions - X-ray Vision, Meltvision and Distortvision.

Read full article.

emily | 8:53 PM | | permalink |

Kenya farmers get low-tech micro-insurance

Drought usually spells disaster for small-scale farmers in Kenya. Innovative low-threshold technologies for the first time are empowering farmers to lower their weather risks by purchasing cheap micro-insurance policies. Afrol News reports.

The programme, called "Kilimo Salama," which in Kiswahili means "safe farming," is a partnership between the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, UAP Insurance, and telecoms operator Safaricom.

... Agro-dealers have been equipped with a camera phone that scans a special bar code at the time of purchase, which immediately registers the policy with UAP Insurance over the Safaricom's mobile data network. This mobile phone application then sends a text (SMS) message confirming the insurance policy to the farmer's mobile phone.

Read full article. Image from Kiwanja net.

emily | 1:26 PM | Barcode Technologies / RFID Tags / NFC | permalink |

Cameraphones: Are the Megapixel Wars Over at Last?

Exactly what's causing the apparent ceasefire in the cameraphone megapixel wars? Top 10 Mobile Phones' Joe Minihane investigates. Check it out.

emily | 1:43 AM | New Camera Phones of Note | permalink |

RFID connecting in 2010

According to new ABI research, the RFID market is set to make comeback over the next few years. The Inquirer reports.

After a tough 2009, whereby ABI ended up having to adjust previous forecasts downward, the company reckons that the global RFID market is set to hit around $5.5 billion this year and will grow steadily for the next five years, reaching over $8.25 billion in 2014.

Automobile immobilisation is the biggest application, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the market. ... The report mentions RFID being used in security, animal ID, asset management, baggage handling and cargo tracking.

emily | 9:51 PM | Barcode Technologies / RFID Tags / NFC | permalink |

GestureTek to Let You Interact With Images Projected From Your Phone

Late last year, LG launched a phone with an optional projector attachment that lets you project images from the phone to a larger surface. Now, Canadian company GestureTek says it’ll go one better: It promises to project images from your phone that you can actually interact with.

[via VentureBeat]

emily | 1:34 PM | News, Buzz | permalink |

Facial recognition phone application described as a 'stalker's dream'

Swedish software developer, The Astonishing Tribe, is testing a iPhone application called Reconiizr that will enable the user to find names and numbers of complete strangers. The Daily Mail reports.

The user simply has to take a picture of a person and hit the 'Recognize' button.

The photo is then compared to shots on social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter before personal information, which can include phone numbers, addresses and email addresses, is sent to the user.

The app works on phones with a camera of five or more megapixel resolution.

emily | 12:09 PM | Cell Phone apps | permalink |

Mobile cameras increase surveillance at LA port

The Port of Los Angeles Police Department, responsible for protecting a complex mix of assets on land and in the water, has teamed up with Reality Mobile and SAIC to equip their field personnel in better responding in real-time to emergency situations. Cellular News reports.

Officers will be equiped with software enabling them to capture live video using their cell phone cameras. Reality Mobile says the ability to record and share video instantly with other officers will help raise everyone's level of awareness during an emergency.

emily | 7:42 AM | Camphone snapshots nab criminals | permalink |

Cellphones Let Shoppers Point, Click and Purchase

The New York Times on mobile barcode shopping.

Shoppers will soon be able to stand outside the designer Norma Kamali’s boutique in Manhattan, point a phone at merchandise in the window and buy it — even late at night when the store is closed.

Read full article.

emily | 10:05 AM | Barcode Technologies / RFID Tags / NFC | permalink |

Future Barcodes Could Be Based on Human Scent

It seems that the future evolution of barcodes could be based on human scent, or so says a report on the Spectrocopynow. One advantage of scented barcodes could be that children would be less liable to lose their garments. Mobile Barcodes Innovations reports.

As any parent knows, children have a nasty habit of losing gloves, hats, coats, and even shoes. Today it's possible to mark such clothing with 2D barcodes that can be read and recognized with any good camera phone, avoiding confusion when items are accidently mixed up.

Such a solution, however, requires patient parents to create the appropriate identification barcodes (with free software that is available online), print the codes onto fabric labels, and then sew those labels into potentially mislaid items.

Once found, the codes are 'scanned' using software on any suitable camera-equipped mobile phone, and the garments can be returned to their rightful owners.

Read full article.

emily | 9:07 AM | Barcode Technologies / RFID Tags / NFC | permalink |