Mobile posts

Google’s competitor for Apple’s Siri is codenamed “Majel” and could be launched before the end of the year according to AndroidandMe. Geeks are aware that Majel is a reference to Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, wife of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and the voice of the computer on Starships as well as various roles on several of the Star Trek shows. Google’s Voice Actions is currently in use on most Android phones. While Siri functions primarily from natural speech, Google’s VA operates through direct and specific commands. Majel is intended to change that. While December is possible, that…

The concept of business intelligence has been around for decades, but only in the last dozen or so years has it become an essential tool that businesses use to make major decisions about directions and strategies. The rise of the internet has made it the central focus of companies around the world whether they’re internet-based or not. As a result, BI’s important has continued to rise. Society is transitioning towards using mobile devices as primary tools for day-to-day life. Many of the purchases and other transactions occurring in the world are shifting towards promoting mobile interactions…

The iPhone isn’t just a communications tool, it’s a personal computer connected to every piece of electronic information in the world. It’s the most powerful tool in existence and the biggest thing to happen to education news since the invention of writing. It can compress the Einstein’s life work and the philosophy of Marcus Aurelius into three by four inches, and most people waste it on Angry Birds instead. Increase your IQ and become a better person by using these education apps instead. Star Walk Star Walk turns space itself into an open book, one read through your iProduct. It adds…

It’s been a long time since a concept car has really sparked the imagination of tech geeks and car enthusiasts alike. When Toyota unveiled their latest concept car, the Fun-Vii, at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show this week, everyone from Automobile Magazine to Mashable jumped in to discuss its proposed paradigm-shifting features. It’s clear what the “Fun” part of the name means just by watching the second video below. The “Vii” stands for Vehicle, Interactive, Internet. Inside and out, most aspects of the car can interact with the internet and be controlled by a smartphone. Most surfaces on and within…

Technology has been accused of ruining many things in the world and in society, but there are times when it helps to preserve the natural elements around us by replacing things that once hurt the environment with more eco-friendly solutions. Such is the case with paper – more specifically, the ability to keep a few (million) more trees sprouting up and keeping oxygen levels at a sustainable level. E-receipts, paperless storage, and other forms of technology that have reduced the need for paper are poised to start making a difference. There are trade-offs of course; every device that replaces…

Few devices have come along that have truly made me say, “Wow”. Perhaps the last one was the first iPhone. Even the iPad did little to earn my excitement. Those who read this may wonder how much Amazon is paying me. There are times when brand-advocacy comes truly from the heart and this is one of those times. The Kindle Fire by Amazon is the best technology purchase I’ve made in a while, so good that I just ordered one for every member of my family. Here’s why: The right size One of the reasons that I went with the iPad 2 instead of some of the Android devices that piqued my interest had nothing to do with being…

Laugh synth for iOS has just been released, compatible with both iPhone and iPad. Laugh Synth makes it possible create laughing sounds with a simple touch of the screen to control different characteristics of the laugh. Users can even sample their own sounds to create custom laughs. This is as easy as recording any sound you want (laugh, scream, burp, meow, whatever) and trimming to only use the portion of the waveform you want. Touch the screen to control the pitch and the level of effects present in the sound. Add reverb or other effects to further enhance the laugh. Have a look at the app by watching…

In Mark Zuckerberg’s response to the FTC, we learned that Facebook is being forced to be more transparent, more privacy-oriented, and to get permission across the board for any changes they make both by users, the FTC, and anyone else who cares. This is a real blow, not because it hampers their ability to make money with the site but because it will force them to make some adjustments to the phone they’re developing. The folks at Geek Culture “discovered” what the real plans were before. How they will change with the FTC agreement is anyone’s guess, but one thing is sure – they’ll need to make changes…

The Kindle Fire was just the start of Jeff Bezos’ and Amazon’s “Holiday Gadget War 2011″ against Apple (and everyone else). From now until next Monday, Amazon is selling all non-iPhones for a penny with a 2-year contract. The phones on the list aren’t old models, either. Included are the new Motorola DROID RAZR, Samsung Galaxy S II, LG Revolution 4G, and HTC ThunderBolt 4G. Many of the phones on the list retail for over $600 and are sold by carriers and retailers for over $200 with 2-year contracts. With the $199 Kindle Fire already expecting to break 5 million units sold in Q4, Amazon is clearly trying…

In the next year or two (anyone’s guess is valid at this point) Facebook will be releasing a smartphone by HTC according to AllThingsD. Its codename: Buffy. Nobody can predict the future, but a combination of common sense, reality, and historical precedent point to the probability that a phone that focuses so acutely on Facebook will fail miserably. Here’s why: Niche phones are niche The 2nd biggest reason (with the biggest reason being price) that hyped gadgets fail is that they tighten their niche too much. Items like the Zune, HP Touchpad, and Playstation phone put too much emphasis on what…