Our beloved Ringo has just added some new free ringtones for all of those using Ringo. Made exclusively for Ringo, you won’t find these ringtones anywhere but at www.ringomo.com. Ranging in a mix of Classical, Country, Rock, Salsa (mmmm, salsa and chips) and Ragtime, you’re phone will keep things interesting with every call.
If you don’t know about Ringo, then read our review and find out why we loved it. It works for BlackBerry, WIndows Mobile, and the beloved (but forgotten?) Palm OS. With its easy to user interface and ability to play MP3s for ringtones and messages tones, why wouldn’t you get Ringo now? 
Ringo is available at ringomo.com for US$19.95.
If that’s not nuts enough for you, then check this out. While California legislators agreed with a Harvard study (full report in PDF) that claimed 2,600 people are killed each year from talking on a cell phone while driving, those same legislators felt it was fine to allow drivers to do a little text messaging while navigating fossil fuel burners! In addition to that, you can take pictures with your phone, download games, surf the Internet, and be a good citizen and report accidents on Twitter. All without any fear of being pulled over and cited. Phew! I don’t know what I would have done if I couldn’t tweet while driving!
California is getting the word out and displaying warnings on its electronic signs through out the scene, as seen here on Interstate 80 Business in states capitol, Sacramento. (Note the reddish haze in the picture from the smoke coming from the nearly 900 fires currently a blaze in Northern California.) Surely many will ignore this sign because they are too busy talking on their phone but come July 1st, they’ll fine out quick enough.
Now, I wonder if all the cops I see talking on their cell phones while driving will go hands-free as well. Wonder if I can slap ‘em with a $20 fine if they don’t.
Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless service provider, and Loopt® announced today that Verizon Wireless customers can now access Loopt’s interoperable location-based service.
Loopt allows friends who opt in to be located by other friends to show where the friends are located and what they are doing via detailed, interactive maps on their mobile phones. Loopt helps friends connect on the go and navigate their social lives by orienting them to people, places and events. Users can also choose to permit sharing of location updates, geo-tagged photos and comments with friends in their mobile address book or on online social networks, communities and blogs.
“Loopt helps Verizon Wireless customers stay connected to friends and share their location in a fun and interactive way,” said Ryan Hughes, vice president of digital media programming for Verizon. “Loopt enhances our customers’ real world experiences by helping friends stay informed of their friends’ lives.”
“We are on a mission to deliver Loopt to consumers everywhere, and by offering our service to Verizon Wireless customers, we’re significantly closer to achieving that goal,” said Sam Altman, chief executive officer and co-founder of Loopt. “With Loopt, Verizon Wireless customers now have a powerful tool to navigate their mobile lifestyles and easily connect with people and places around them.”
Loopt, the social mapping industry leader, offers the most intuitive and effective privacy controls and security features for end users. Loopt is 100 percent permission-based and users share location information only with their known friends via private networks. In addition, Loopt users can easily turn location-sharing on or off at any time on a friend-by-friend basis or for all friends at once. Loopt regularly works with organizations such as the Family Online Safety Institute, ConnectSafely.org, the Center for Democracy & Technology, Progress & Freedom Foundation’s Center for Digital Media Freedom, and the Internet Safety Task Force.
Loopt is available today on select Verizon Wireless phones for $3.99 monthly access in the Tools on the Go, Featured Applications and Community shopping aisles in the Get It Now® virtual store. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.
MacGourmet Deluxe brings recipe collection and organization into the digital age. Users are able to create, edit and share recipes; make wine and cooking notes, and easily import recipes found on the Web and expand their collection. Recipes can be published to a .mac account or to a personal Web site. MacGourmet Deluxe can also create a shopping list that can be printed or exported to a PDA.
Even more exciting in the introduction of MacGourmet Deluxe is an industry first feature - the Cookbook Builder. Using a recipe collection, the user can build, print and share their own cookbook. The Cookbook Builder allows the easy addition of images, chapters and text pages. Saving it as a high resolution PDF, the cookbook can be printed out on a desktop printer or through a print-on-demand source.
Also in this release of MacGourmet Deluxe:
A Mealplan feature to create a weekly meal plan with iCal integration.
Access to the USDA Nutritional database.
The ability to view the nutritional value of recipes.
All-new shopping list editor, with simple pantry/favorites and column ordering/hiding functionality added.
The addition of a number of award winning recipes.
Pricing and Availability:
MacGourmet Deluxe is now available on the Mariner Software Web site at www.marinersoftware.com. The shipping version will initially be offered in English and sell for $49.95USD ($44.95 download). Support for more languages is expected in the near future. MacGourmet Deluxe requires Mac OS 10.4 or higher. The standard version of MacGourmet will continue to be available on the Advenio Web site. Registered MacGourmet customers may upgrade to MacGourmet Deluxe for a special price in the Mariner Software eStore.
Immediately available and priced starting at $239.99, the new Mercury On-The-Go 320GB 7200RPM drive has models available with USB 2.0, USB 2.0+eSATA, FireWire 400+USB 2.0, and FireWire 800/400+USB 2.0 Interfaces. These portable drive solutions are built with the latest Hitachi 7K320 mechanism with OWC’s custom bridge interfaces and provide the highest performance of any portable storage solution available on the market.
Geared for the demanding “On-the-Go” professional road warrior who requires dependable, high-performance storage, the OWC Mercury On-The-Go 320GB 7200RPM portable drive solution offers options for virtually all computers and gadgets with an available FireWire or USB port, including all Macs and PCs, as well as digital cameras and camcorders for an instant on-the-go portable storage solution to quickly and safely store all your digital photos and video when traveling.
With The Mercury On-The-Go portable drive, you can back-up your entire desktop computer and bring it with you everywhere you go. For easy backup, the drive also includes the full retail versions of the latest award-winning Prosoft DataBackup III for OS X and NovaStor NovaBackup for Windows.
In addition to the 320GB 7200RPM drive, OWC also offers additional 7200RPM models with capacities of 100GB to 200GB, priced from $109.99; and 5400RPM Models from 60GB to 500GB, priced from $74.99. All drive solutions offer leading performance and reliability due to a well thought-out design, performance bridge interface, and the best hard disk drive mechanisms inside.
The Mercury On-The-Go 320GB 7200RPM portable storage drive is available immediately priced starting at $239.99 through OWC and other retailers. It includes a carrying case, connecting cables, Prosoft DataRescue III for OS X, and NovaStor NovaBackup for Windows. All Mercury-On-The-Go models are covered by a one-year warranty and are compatible with Apple OS Versions 8.5 through 9.2.x; Apple OS X (including the latest OS 10.5.x); and Microsoft Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, Vista.
For more information, see: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go.
Typhoon Touch Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:TYPT), owner of foundational intellectual property in the area of portable touch-screen computing, announced today that it has significantly expanded its patent infringement suit commenced in December 2007 against Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) by adding Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and the following additional defendants via amended complaint: Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation; Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.; Lenovo (United States) Inc.; Panasonic Corporation of North America; HTC America, Inc.; Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ:PALM); Samsung Electronics America, Inc.; Nokia Inc. (NYSE:NOK); and LG Electronics USA, Inc.
“The addition of these defendants is a further step in protecting Typhoon’s IP from being unfairly exploited. Hopefully, the world of potential infringers will take notice that it is the Company’s intent to aggressively protect its intellectual property,” stated Craig Weiner, Esq., from the law firm of Hofheimer, Gartlir & Gross LLP in New York City, Director of Legal Affairs and Licensing for Typhoon. “As alleged in the amended complaint, Typhoon believes that numerous defendants are selling and/or offering for sale — what could be millions of devices — which may infringe Typhoon’s patents.”
Typhoon Touch Technologies and its licensee and co-plaintiff, Nova Mobility Systems, Inc., previously reached an out-of-court settlement with Motion Computing, Inc. and recently completed a settlement with Electrovaya Inc., wherein Electrovaya recognized the validity of Typhoon’s patents at issue in the litigation, acknowledged infringement of one or more of the patent claims and made an undisclosed royalty payment of at least 20% on past and future sales of its Scribbler Tablet PC’s in the United States.
In the last month, Typhoon withdrew from preliminary settlement talks with defendant Sand Dune Ventures (Tabletkiosk). The Action, which seeks damages for lost profits as well as a permanent injunction from continued infringing activity by the defendants, is pending in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division, Case No. 6:07-cv-546. The Action was filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs by Blank Rome LLP and shall proceed against both Sand Dune (Tabletkiosk) and the other remaining defendants.
Typhoon’s complaint alleges that defendants have infringed and continue to infringe its U.S. Patent No. 5,379,057 (”the ‘057 patent”) issued January 3, 1995 and entitled “Portable Computer with Touch Screen and Computer System Employing Same,” and U.S. Patent No. 5,675,362 (”the ‘362 patent”) issued October 7, 1997 and entitled “Portable Computer with Touch Screen and Computing System Employing Same,” through various actions including the manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, and/or importing of a variety of portable computer products, including but not limited to tablet PCs, slate PCs, handheld PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), ultra mobile PCs (UMPCs), smart phones, and/or other products covered by the patents-in-suit.
Michael Fiola, pictured with his wife, Robin (Photo by Matthew Healey), was just another state employee with a laptop doing his job. One day he was called in and questioned about the content his employer had found on his hard drive after investigating why his Verizon wireless broadband data use was four times that of the average worker. What the Department of Industrial Accidents found was a slew of child pornography and it wasn’t listening to anything Fiola had to say. Immediately terminated on March 14th, 2007, the Department of Industrial Accidents then informed the state police of the evidence which then involved the Boston Municipal Court. The court issued a criminal complaint against Fiola in August of 2007.
Nationally recognized computer forensic analyst Tami Loehrs told the Herald Michael Fiola’s ordeal was “one of the most horrific cases I’ve seen.”
“As soon as you mention child pornography, everybody’s senses go out the window,” she said.
Loehrs found the laptop to be running a corrupted anti-virus program which allowed for a flood of spammers and crackers to hijack the laptop. Loehrs’ investigation for the defense was thorough which lasted a full month. Filled with images of incest and pre-teen porn not visible to the naked eye stored in a temporary “cache” folder, evidence showed that Fiola never downloaded the offending images.
DIA spokeswoman Linnea Walsh confirmed Fiola “was terminated,” but would not recognize the fact that Fiola was completely innocent. “We stand by our decision,” she told the Herald.
Fiola’s attorney Timothy Bradl can’t understand this response.
“Imagine this scenario: Your employer gives you a ticking time bomb full of child porn, and then you get fired, and then you get prosecuted as some kind of freak,” he railed.
“Anybody who has a work laptop, this could happen to,” he said. “Mike Fiola is a hunt-and-peck kind of computer guy. He can barely get on the Internet.”
Fiola, a self-described computer illiterate is taking the DIA to court for “destroying our lives.”
“Our lives have been hell,” said Fiola. “I hope to recover my reputation, but our friends all ran.”
The court officially dropped Fiola’s case Tuesday.
Mac fanboys love to point out the fact that Windows users must waste immense systems resources to protect themselves from the millions of viruses, trojans, and spyware that live on the Internet. Even Apple makes light of this Windows malware problem in its commercial entitled Viruses in which Mac says to PC, “I run Mac OS 10 so I don’t have to worry about your spyware and viruses”. Sadly, however, Macs are no more protected from such attacks as is the Windows operating system. With holes and security vulnerabilities found in OS X and its default applications, such as Safari’s Zero-day exploit, Apple needs to start taking some defensive moves as it increases sales of its shinny machines to unsuspecting “switchers”.
Point in case, today SecureMac is reporting that the AppleScript.THT Trojan Horse runs hidden on a Mac and , “Allows a malicious user complete remote access to the system, can transmit system and user passwords, and can avoid detection by opening ports in the firewall and turning off system logging. Additionally, the AppleScript.THT Trojan horse can log keystrokes, take pictures with the built-in Apple iSight camera, take screenshots, and turn on file sharing. The Trojan horse exploits a recently discovered vulnerability with the Apple Remote Desktop Agent, which allows it to run as root.” Ouch! The trojan is distributed through web sites, iChat, and Limewire. This trojan only effects OS X 10.4 and 10.5.
There are a few ways to protect yourself from this trojan. One, do not download an AppleScript named ASthtv05 (60 KB in size), use sharing services such Limewire, or use a virus scanner such as SecureMac’s MacScan. SvenOnTech does not endorse this product; however, it would recommend it over Norton or McAfee as we have tested those on the Mac and they are horrible.
President of SecureMac, Nicholas Raba, cautions OS X users by telling SvenOnTech, “The increased number of threats, security advisories, and security updates is an indication that Mac users must pay attention to computer security issues. As Apple’s market share continues to grow, so will security research and hack attempts against OS X.”
Recommended reading: MacForensicsLab Malware document.
Just the other day, I ran into a printer driver issue. The CD-ROM the HP LaserJet 4200 that came with the printer didn’t seem to want to print graphics or reports properly. HP’s web site didn’t feel like offering up the latest driver as 404s kept coming up. So in the end, I used the old retired PC, with the proper drivers on it, as a printer server. Maybe I should have gone to Xerox’s site for the driver instead. Yes, I said Xerox.
Xerox has just informed SvenOnTech of a printer driver that not only works on every Xerox printer, but nearly every printer (PostScript enabled printers). The Xerox Mobile Express Driver automatically detects your location (laptop or desktop) based on your network and updates its list of preferred printers. Every time you print, you have a list of online and available printers. You do nothing but click that Print icon! The Xerox Mobile Express Driver allows you to sort printers based on status, location, name, and so forth. You can find out in-depth detail about each printer to find the one that best meets your needs. Everything is automatic as it configures the printer for you.
The best thing about this driver is if you’re a road warrior and find yourself in many offices with various printers, you’ll now be able to print to them without having to call IT or go to a manufacturers web site that may be down for a model specific driver. The Xerox Mobile Express Driver takes care of this all for you. Nice.
This is a Windows only driver (Mac OS X has a built-in generic PostScript driver already) and can be downloaded and installed for free.
When connected to an ultra-mobile device, the four-ounce Optoma Pico Projector allows users to share photos and videos, and enjoy a far better visual experience with an image that is up to 100 times larger than the small screen of the source device.
“The Pico Projector is the next step in sharing visual media for today’s ultra-mobile consumers. Fitting in your shirt pocket, the Pico Projector can display pictures, videos or any content from a mobile media player or smart phone” says Jon Grodem, director of Product Management for Optoma. “Optoma’s Pico breaks free from the limitations of the 2 or 3 inch displays found on today’s mobile devices. This category defining projector creates a new benchmark for sharing content-on-the-go.”
Optoma’s Pico Projector utilizes the latest LED technology resulting in a colorful and vivid image. The small and powerful unit is based upon DLP technology assuring the highest possible contrast.
“The handheld Pico projector represents the latest advancement in the mobile device display industry. We view the Pico projector as a completely new and exciting market – one which dramatically expands the reach and potential of projection products into new end user applications,” says Dr. William Coggshall, founder and president of Pacific Media Associates.
The product will be first shown at Texas Instrument’s InfoComm 2008 booth C909 and will be available in limited distribution in Europe and Asia in late 2008, with a worldwide launch in 2009.