Vodafone's Otello search engine uses images, not text

Showcased at CeBIT, the Otello search engine simply uses images as input; in other words, handset owners just snap a picture of anything -- a landmark, DVD case, unidentified flying object, etc. -- and Otello then "returns information relevant to the picture to the mobile phone."

Reportedly, Vodafone is expected to conduct a trial with German paper Bild in which readers can "find out more about specially-marked articles by photographing them with their mobile's camera and sending the image to Bild"

[Pcoket-Lint via engadget:mobile]

N-Gage to make use of your phone's camera and GPS capabilities

NokNok interviewed Will Shen, the head of Production for N-Gage in North America who revealed that "the Finnish company intends to develop games which will make use of the imaging and GPS capabilities on a handset.

Shen explained an N-Gage game could potentially use clever techniques to interpret the histogram extracted from a photograph to interact with characters in a game. Shen’s example being, “a monster you could feed photographs”, presumably requiring you to take shots of appropriate real-life items while you’re out and about.

According to ta href="http://noknok.tv/news/exclusive-n-gage-camera-games-and-gps-action/">NokNok, Shen also said that Nokia is seriously looking at location-based gaming and stressed that the concept is not a gimmick, but one which focuses on innovation."

[via Asia C/net]

$22,000 bill for downloading 4 episoes of "Friends" via Vodafone UK

The wife of a city executive cost her husband £11,000 ($22,000) after she downloaded four episodes of the sitcom "Friends" through his mobile phone while abroad. The Telegraph reports.

"The woman used the broadband package on his Vodafone mobile phone to order the programs, which would have been free had the download taken place in Britain.

However, her husband flew to Germany on business while the download was still in progress and it resumed after he touched down, incurring the massive fees.

The pair, who have not been named, discovered the unwelcome bill after the executive arrived back in the UK and Vodafone called his firm to alert him.

Ed Richards, the chief executive of industry regulator Ofcom, said it would investigate the huge fee.

He said: "We will be looking to take action."

Middle school students swap nude cell phone photos

Four students at Daphne Middle School in Alabama, two boys and two girls - in separate incidents - used cell phone cameras to take nude photos of themselves and exchanged the images, police said, reports The Associated Press.

"Police and school system officials have declined to release the students' names because of their age (between 11 and 12).

Photos from the incidents were apparently seen and exchanged by other students. Police do not believe the pictures resulted in any sexual contact or abuse.

"We're trying to educate and kids, as well as the parents, about what can occur with a cell phone," Beedy said. "If you give your child a cell phone with a camera, you need to be aware because of the trouble they can get into."

Getting Wickd

GetWickd is a dating service using mobile technology. Participants buy Wickd clothing, which features a code. Other participants spot a likely person sporting such a code, check the signil on cell phone, and have the option of sending a message to the wearer.

The idea is this: you buy a GetWickd shirt or jacket, download an app to your phone and set up your profile.

Then, when you’re out and about, looking stylish, but unapproachable, a prospective mate (who also has the GetWicked app on their phone) can scan your code from afar and initiate contact from the safety of their mobile.

It’s powered by ShotCode, a proprietary version of QR Code

Apart from the initial setup, all interaction is via the phone. The profile only let’s you link to your other mobile profiles - YouTube, Facebook, MySpace.

This also let’s you get to the know that person you’re staring at across the room a little better; you can see what they’re into before even talking to them.

[via Grinding and Smart Mobs]