BPM phone uses camera to measure heart rate

In Japan, a new category of mobile phones is becoming apparent with functions aimed at elderly users. TechRadar reports.

"A perfect example is the new F884iES, a mobile made by Fujitsu for market-leader NTT DoCoMo's Raku Raku (Easy Peasy) range of phones for OAPs.

The new handset creates a daily health diary for its owner by combining information gathered from two sources built into the phone.

A pedometer measures how far the user walks each day and adds it to data from an ingenious bit of camera trickery.

The phone's camera can be used to measure blood flow in a fingertip pressed to the lens, which translates into an accurate heart-rate reading.

Together, the data are graphed over time, providing a useful, yet simple, tool that could easily be shown to a health professional at a check-up or after a problem has arisen."

Lollapalooza Videos Are a Two Way Street

The Lollapalooza music festivalkicks off on Friday in Chicago, but fans and bands are already mingling on the site's video section, which is broken down into two channels. Wired reports.

"Channel 1 will feature backstage interviews with bands, fans and other exclusive stuff shot by two Lollapalooza employees using one "real" camera plus a more compact one.

Meanwhile, the aptly named Channel You features videos shot by fans who are encouraged to "film anything you can with your phones and cameras" on site or at home as they prepare for the festival.

Both sections will be updated with new uploads before and during the event, giving concertgoers a chance to say which bands they think are going to be best, review the shows they've already seen and share their experiences at the event. Those who aren't attending can watch unlimited clips on both channels for free."

RFID Pill Monitors Body Temperature at Walking Race

Researchers at Radboud University in The Netherlands were able to monitor the body temperature of participants at the world's largest marching event using RFID technology. RFID Update reports.

"Volunteer participants in the annual Four Days Marches of Nijmegen swallowed an RFID-based temperature sensor that measured their internal temperature and helped researchers identify potential health issues.

... "Based on their height, weight and age, the system was able to alert the volunteer if their core body temperature had reached a dangerous level," says Martijn Bakkers, branch manager of healthcare at Progress Software.

... Radboud University Researchers were able to monitor and record the ten volunteers' temperatures via a signal transmitted every ten seconds from the RFID "pill" to a receiving device in the volunteer's backpack.

That data was then transmitted via Bluetooth to a GPS-enabled mobile phone (provided by Dutch telecommunications operator KPN) to the operations center at Radboud."

‘Spider-Man’ creator goes high-tech

Stan Lee, the creator of Spider-Man, has struck a landmark deal with Walt Disney that will see his latest comic creation published online and on digital devices in a move that signals the medium’s shift to digital distribution. The FT reports.

"Power Entertainment, Mr Lee’s production company, has developed Time Jumper, which Disney will distribute on the internet and on mobile phones, as well as in the traditional comic book format.

... The digital comic will combine traditional print elements, such as thought and speech bubbles, with music, voices and special effects."

Camphone footage of Qantas Airways Emergency Landing

A Qantas Airways plane made an emergency landing July 24 in Manila on Friday after part of its undercarriage blew off, triggering a loss in cabin pressure during a flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne.

One passenger took video footage with his mobile phone and posted it up on YouTube.

Related: Qantas passengers tell of near-death experience

Stephen King's "N." An original video series

Beginning Monday, July 28, mobile phone users and web surfers can enjoy Stephen King's latest work in a groundbreaking series of 25 original video episodes.

Starting today, viewers can go to NisHere.com or Simonsays.com to see a preview of the episodes, which will also be unveiled at Comic-Con International in San Diego today at a panel event featuring the creators of this pioneering venture.

The series will also be available for purchase at major online digital content retailers.

[Press release via mocoNews.net]

Samsung unveils 8-megapixel camera phone

Samsung announced a new 8-megapixel camera phone called the Innov8.

The camera phone features: an auto-panorama mode; a bright flash; smile, blink, and face detection; wide dynamic range capturing abilities; and a video recorder that captures clips at 30 frames per second. ... Full specs in Crave

Samsung already has a a 10-megapixel cell phone in its handset lineup.

12seconds.tv: The real video Twitter

12seconds.tv is a Twitter-like video status service. It gives you 12 seconds to share video moments from your life. TechCrunch reports.

In their own words: 12seconds.tv allows friends and family to record and share short video updates about what they are doing or where they are. You can use a webcam or a cellphone. It's a FREE, easy, and fun way to stay in touch.

TechCrunch has 500 invites for the alpha launch.

Why the media is on the move

Mobile phones are changing the future of news, reports Stephen Quinn for The Sydney Morning Herald.

In London, Reuters news agency equipped its journalists with a mobile journalism toolkit about a year ago. Reuters' product manager of mobile and emerging media, Ilicco Elia, says this is the start of a future form of journalism and a new way to tell stories. In fact, the BBC's technology editor, Darren Waters, has been filing mojo (mobile journalist) reports from various parts of Europe since late last year.

"Mobile phones allow journalists to change their heavy camera equipment to a smaller device," Mr Elia says. Reuters' journalists tested the mobile toolkit at the New York fashion week last year and on the US presidential campaign trail. The agency now plans to give the mobile devices to citizen journalists. ...

Qik. Live video from your cell phone

Time writes up Qik, a free Web based service that takes video from mobile phones and broadcasts it instantly via the Internet.

"Broadcasting live video used to require a huge satellite truck, thousands of dollars in equipment and several strong souls to lug around bulky machines. Then YouTube came along, and all you needed was a camera, a computer and a little bit of Web savvy. Now Web video has gotten even easier.

With Qik.com, a free Web service launched in public test mode on July 21, all you need is a cell phone."

Related article: - Live from your mobile. The next big thing?

Camphone picture helps jail fraudster

File under not so smart. A fraudster has been jailed for five years after a photo - taken with a camera phone - of his baby surrounded by piles of money was used by police as evidence against him. The BBC reports.

The scam targeted cash machines outside supermarkets including ones in Beverley and Willerby in East Yorkshire.

"... The accused claimed the picture of his baby son surrounded by money was part of a Romanian tradition celebrating the christening of his child.

But the jury dismissed his claims and he was found guilty of conspiracy to clone bank cards. "

Links to related stories where criminals have been incriminated thanks to their own cameraphones.

Fox offers TV downloads through iTunes

Twentieth Century Fox has started adding a selection of television shows to iTunes, which are available to download as of today.

Jamie McCabe, Twentieth Century Fox EVP, Worldwide PPV, VOD and EST, said about the new deal: "Fox TV shows have been incredibly popular on the iTunes Store in the US.
We're excited today to bring these hit shows to fans in the UK via iTunes and look forward to adding more great programming soon."

Currently customers have the chance to download seasons one and six of 24, and the first three series of My Name Is Earl and Bones."

Users of the UK store will now be able to purchase or rent their favourite Fox shows; with the list so far including the likes of 24, My Name Is Earl and Bones.

[via techradar]

NEC technology identifies person’s age and sex, delivers targeted ads

This sounds scary. NEC has developed of an electronic advertisement delivery and face recognition system that makes it easier for companies to address customers with targeted ads. CrunchGear reports.

"The company uses a newly developed plasma display (50 inches) that has a camera on top of it. NEC’s technology makes it possible to detect the age range and sex of a person standing in front of the display. The screen will then show customer-specific commercials, optimizing overall ad spend for the company running it.

NEC said if their system identifies a young girl for example, the person will be shown a commercial featuring products specifically aimed at women. People can then tap their cell phone against an RFID reader that feeds them a URL, which contains coupons or further information about the product advertised. Using the NEC system, companies are able to effectively measure the success of commercials."

Japan iPhone to make shutter sound when taking a picture

According to reporter Nobuyuki Hayashi via Gizmodo, "the camera of the iPhone 3G sold in Japan will make a shutter sound every time you take a photo, even if you put the telephone in silent mode. The reason: all those pervs taking photos up the skirts of unsuspected women in public places.

This issue came up as soon as cameraphones became popular in 2003, Click here for links to articles from around the world that address the issue or suggest legislation-

Virgin Mobile Pulls Back Racy Campaign

Virgin Mobile USA is now in damage-control mode after running an online ad campaign that encouraged people to disrobe for charity. The Wall Street Journal reports.

"A few weeks ago, Virgin Mobile launched "Strip2Clothe," inviting people to send videos of themselves undressing. For each video posted, it agreed to donate a new piece of clothing to nonprofit groups that help homeless youth. For every five views that a video gets, another article is donated. Its tagline: "Someone out there needs clothes more than you."

... In response to the outcry, Virgin Mobile is giving the campaign a facelift, renaming it "Blank2Clothe." Instead of taking their clothes off, viewers will instead be asked to do anything they want -- juggling, singing or standing on their heads, for example -- to trigger views and therefore, more clothing donations.

Postures of Use

[via Jan Chipchase's future perfect]

AT&T lands exclusive Olympics channel for Mobile TV

AT&T has used its clout as an Olympics sponsor and official telecommunications provider to the U.S team to nail an exclusive 24/7 channel on its broadcast mobile TV service.

NBC’s coverage of the Olympics won’t be limited to AT&T entirely, but for mobile the carrier did secure sole rights for live competition footage and commentary on the MediaFLO platform, which both carriers use for broadcast-like TV service.

[engadget:mobile via Moco News]

Mobile phone snaps tell Big Macs from broccoli

A team at the University of Tokyo in Japan has come up with a way for our cameraphones to help us eat a balanced diet. Techradar reports.

"The researchers have developed image-recognition software that can tell meat and potatoes from fish and rice and can ignore any non-food items in an image, the point being to establish what food groups are present in a meal merely by analysing a photo of it.

The idea is that users take a snap of whatever they eat using a camera or cameraphone and have the software keep a meal diary what they've been consuming. Accuracy is claimed to be around 90 per cent."

User-generated content growing rapidly in S'pore

The demand for user-generated content has been growing rapidly among Singapore's 'netizens' in recent years with video-sharing sites, social networking sites and blog sites remaining the most sought after, according to a new study by Frost & Sullivan. Asia Business Online reports.

"The Frost study noted that mobile operators around the globe are enthusiastically exploring UGC in a bid to make money through low-cost, but effective, entertainment services.

Singapore's MobileOne last year launched a user-generated video-sharing service called MeTV. The service allows mobile subscribers to upload their videos through MMS-enabled handsets for other users to view and download.

The service allows users on the Internet, mobile, broadband TV, and residential fixed-line service to view photos and videos.

... Uploading a video clip is as simple as sending an MMS to a designated number with no charges involved.

Users are rewarded when other users download their uploaded videos. Hence, the service was launched to attract users to share their photos, videos, comments with others, and in the process be rewarded for their efforts."

Sexting - fears as teens targeted

An explosion of teenage sex texting is alarming Australian teachers, police and youth counsellors, reports Stuff.

"The mobile phone phenomenon, dubbed "sexting", led to 32 Victorian teenagers being charged with child pornography offences last year.

A survey by Australia's Girlfriend magazine found that four out of ten readers had been asked to forward a nude photo of themselves.

Sexting involves taking or sending an explicit photo of oneself and forwarding it to friends or potential suitors."

Also a problem in the US - Sexting: New, Dangerous Teen Trend (ABCNews, May 2008)

Paparazzi boss Darryn Lyons offers cash for mobile phone pics of celebs

According to The Guardian, Darryn Lyons, the larger than life founder of the Big Pictures photo agency, is encouraging budding paparazzi to start sending him celebrity shots from their cameraphones.

"Lyons will be offering the new service via a mobile version of the website, MrPaparazzi.com, which he launched 18 months ago, combining celebrity news, photos and videos in a Perez Hilton-style blog.

[via MocoNews]

More on Darryn Lyons on Picturephoning.com.

China Halts Illegal Olympic Videos On More Than 20 Websites

File under somewhat extreme with more to come. The National Copyright Administration of China says it sent orders to more than 20 video websites to stop their illegal broadcasting of the unauthorized Olympic torch relay videos. China Tech News reports.

"In a press conference, Xu Chao, vice director of the Copyright Division of NCAC, said that China will impose strict punishments on Internet and mobile platforms that broadcast events and activities related to the Olympic Games without authorization.

If any website is found roadcasting Olympic events and activities without authorization, the website will receive a maximum fine of CNY100,000 ($14,500) in administrative penalties. If the circumstance is serious, it will be investigated for criminal liability.

... In addition, the departments in charge will establish a joint law-enforcement office during the Olympic Games to implement a 24-hour supervision over the broadcast activities of the media."

$62,000 Cell Phone Bill: Data charges for downloading Prison Break abroad

A Manchester- based IT consultant returned from a holiday in Portugal to a hefty £31,500 ($62,000) telephone bill. Digital Lifestyles reports.

"Iayn Dobsyn downloaded an episode of Prison Break and a load of MP3s by using his mobile phone as a modem.

Sadly, for Mr Dobsyn, he’d failed to check the limits set on his data plan, and he joined the long queue of punters who have been hit with Everest-sized bills when using data abroad.

Earlier this year, a Vodafone customer was slapped down to the tune of £27,000 ($3,000), after he’d downloaded a load of television shows via his mobile data package in the mistaken belief that he was on an unlimited data plan."

Great Photo on Flickr? Getty Images Might Pay You For It

According to Bits, Yahoo and Getty Images said Tuesday that they have entered into a partnership under which Getty editors will comb Flickr in search of interesting images.

"They will then invite photographers to participate in the program and ensure that their images have the proper releases to be licensed legally. Those who are included in the program will get paid at the same rates that Getty pays photographers who are under contract with the company."

Nielsen Reports TV, Internet and Mobile Usage Among Americans

The Nielsen Company today released the first comparable U.S. figures showing video and TV usage across the 'three screens' - Television, Internet and Mobile devices. (pdf)

Nielsen's findings show that screen time of the average American continues to increase with TV users watching more TV than ever before (127hrs, 15 min per month), while also spending 9% more time using the Internet (26 hrs, 26 min per month) from last year.

At the same time, a small but growing number of Internet and mobile phone users are watching video online (2 hrs, 19 min per month), as well as using their cell phones to watch video (3 hrs, 15 min per month).

... As of Q1 2008, 91 million Americans (36% of all mobile phone subscribers in the U.S.) owned a video-capable phone.

[via PR Newswire]

Photo Messaging Climbed 60 Percent in the United States During the Past Year

comScore Inc. has released the latest figures from the M:Metrics Benchmark Study report saying that photo messaging from mobile phones has grown 60 percent in the US over the past year and 16 percent in Europe.

As the mercury climbs in the summer months, so does the usage of photo messaging in the United States, where for the past three years, photo messaging rates have been higher than average in July and August.

The M:Metrics Benchmark Study indicates that the photo messaging growth in the U.S. is coming from all age demographic segments, with the fastest growth coming from teens and those older than 35. In the more developed European market, the strongest growth is coming from those aged 55 years and older.

[via M:Metrics e-mail press release]

Phone photo proves prisoner’s downfall

File under pretty stupid. An Australian prisoner who denied he owned a mobile phone and SIM card found in his cell had used it to take a photo of himself.

[via Fairfax Digital]

"Basic Tab" Mobile Phone Design

"How many ways can you reinterpret the flat black touchscreen screen? Well designer Jaren Goh has done a pretty decent job of putting his own spin on this movement with his “Basic Tab” mobile phone design. He has masterfully taken softer side out of the iPhone silhouette and gave it a more edgy, masculine appearance.

Perhaps a better way to show how this design correlates to fashion is the camera tab on the back. Instead of having it looking like camera shutter or lens cover. It was designed using features found on handbags and fashion accessories that is so everlasting."

[via Yanko Design]

Photos revealing everyday life in Iraq. By Citizen Reporters

Photos revealing everyday life in Iraq, stories usually left untold. They form part of Geert van Kesteren's new book Baghdad Calling, but the photographer - author of Why Mister, Why? - didn't take any of them.

... Baghdad Calling is a collection of more than one hundred of these pixelated amateur images. Taken by Iraqis both living in and outside the war zone, it gives them a voice and allows them, for once, to take control of the narrative.

It also shows the importance of mobile phones in a country at war, in which utilities such as landlines have broken down and such phones are the best way to stay in touch with kidnappers - and coroners.

Since the end of Saddam Hussein's regime, the number of phone owners has jumped from 1.4 million to 7.1 million."

Orange’s hole-cameraphone

Designed by De Montfort University student Chi Shing Lo as part of Orange’s D&AD Student Awards, it replaces the cameraphone’s viewfinder with a simple hole, as well as using it to hang the phone on a peg charger when its low on juice, or needs to upload shots to a PC.

[via Electripig]