Full FeedTwitterFone: Why type when you can call-in your tweets?
Twitter has already taken microblogging to the next level, and now it has just gone a little further with the launch of TwitterFone, a new speech-to-text service enabling Twitter users to update their accounts through mobile phone.
TwitterFone basically eliminates the need to access your mobile Web and type your so-called “tweets”. Just call it in, dictate your message and it will automatically transcribe and post your message to your Twitter account within 5 to 10 minutes.
Though I’m personally not a big fan of Twitter, it is indeed a popular and powerful tool among Internet marketing practitioners and social networking addicts who are always on the go. Integrating this technology enhances its relevance and ease of use for the members of its community.
But it can be useful even if you’re not an active Twitter user. If you think about it, TwitterFone can be a reliable reminder tool for busy people. Just dictate your errands or things to do while on the go and check it online when you get home. It could work well for someone like me who tends to forget so many things. Think about it.
Although free, this service is currently in beta by invitation only, and as of now its working only in US, UK, and Ireland.
Product [TwitterFone] Via [Pat Phelan]
RelatedMany American home “theater-in-a-box” buyers neglect the rear speaker setup
Though many Americans are obsessed with their home “theater-in-the-box” systems and many more are dying to have one, about half of these owners are not installing their rear-channel speakers. If you’re wondering why, it’s because of lack of technical expertise as well as aesthetic issues such as wire visibility.
This so-called “surroundaphobia” hinders the great home theater experience. The study conducted by Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CE manufacturers reveals that 74% of consumers prefer as few wires and connections as possible. Also, 34% said they wanted to improve the “visibility of wires” in their current system setups.
Windows on USB drive in the works
Microsoft plans to alter the portable computing landscape with its ongoing development on Windows StartKey, a portable USB flash drive which can store your customized Windows settings, desktop wallpaper, contacts, data, application, profiles, and possibly the whole bootable installation. This is an interesting concept for Windows users who are always on the go but perhaps too tired or too lazy to bring their laptops. More importantly, it is more feasible as backup system in case something bad happens to your PC or laptop. In short, you can turn virtually any Windows-based computer into your own personal workstation.
Olympus unveils world’s lightest, smallest digital SLR
Olympus has unveiled the world’s lightest and smallest digital SLR named E-420 to integrate the simplicity of point-and-shoot digital cameras with high quality images associated with professional cameras.
More than that, this new product marks the entry of more affordable digital SLR with its estimated street price of $499. But you have to shell out an extra hundred bucks to get a 14-42mm digital zoom lens or $200 more for 25mm lens. The Olympus E-420 is expected to hit the market this coming May 2008. Hopefully this will encourage other players to come out with their own line of affordable DSLR’s for trigger-happy consumers.
Automatic data backup with Sandisk Flashback Adapter
Even though we know that creating backup files is a very important task, most of us do not actually do it regularly for a lot of reasons. Some simply forget about it but others find it very tedious. Now, there is a new and easy-to-use device called SanDisk Flashback Adapter which aims to streamline this process.
Developed for Windows-based laptops with an ExpressCard slot, this adapter instantly copy and encrypts your important files to any SD or SDHC memory card. No need to schedule your backups, burn your files to CD/DVDs or save to your external hard drive. A simple yet effective solution since we really don’t know when our laptop will crash or petty accidents will happen.
Softbank unveils weird “Transformers” cellphone
You’ve got to hand it to the Japanese, their passion for weird gadgets is really boundless. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at this new SoftBank 815T PB mobile phone introduced by Softbank and TV Tokyo.
Developed by Toshiba, it’s practically the first Transformers-inspired 3G mobile phone equipped with 2.0-megapixel camera, a secondary 0.3-megapixel camera, 2.4-inch QVGA screen, music player, IrDA, and a microSD card slot.
EU slaps Microsoft with $1.35 billion fine over antitrust case
Perhaps the European Commission feels that Microsoft’s song of interoperability is all talk. That’s why it did not hesitate to fine the software giant with a hefty 899 million Euros or $1.35 billion for failure to comply with its antitrust decision.
Apparently, Microsoft had abused its dominant 95% market share in the EU market by using high prices to block software competition. There are also allegations that it tied its Windows Media Player and web browser Internet Explorer to Windows. In 2004, Microsoft had failed to comply with EU’s order to open up its key software to competitors. To date, this is the first and the biggest penalty for such violation.
Sony, Sharp form alliance on LCD panels
Lately, Japanese flat TV manufacturers have been quite busy forming strategic alliances to control their investments, gear up for sharp price declines due to competition and meet the growing demand for flat TVs worldwide.
Following Pioneer’s decision to outsource their plasma panels is a new joint venture between Sony and Sharp. Under this partnership, Sony will own 34% of Sharp’s $3.5 billion LCD panel manufacturing plant which is expected to be completed in March 2010. Sharp will control 66% share in the soon-to-be world’s largest LCD factory.
War not yet over for Blu-ray
Blu-ray may have won the HD DVD format war but market research companies Gartner and iSuppli warned this victory is fleeting if more consumers opt to download high-definition content from the Internet.
Similar to the movie “The Matrix”, the real problem here is choice. Is the physical DVD format still relevant or a thing of the past in this period where consumers can more easily download high definition movies though online stores such as iTunes and Amazon.com? Consumers are now torn whether they should build a library of high definition online movies or invest on Blu-ray discs.
Fujitsu launches 500GB 2.5-inch hard drive
To answer the increasing demand for high-volume data storage, Fujitsu Limited has unveiled its new series of MHZ2 BT 2.5-inch hard disk drives with storage capacity of 500 gigabytes.
The company claims MHZ2 BT is also an environmentally friendly product and a power-efficient hard disk drive since it only consumes 1.8 W of power to execute read and write operations. It is intended for use in PCs, set top boxes, digital video recorders (DVR) and external hard drive applications.
Experience what it’s like to download at unlimited speeds from a massive collection of over 800 Terabytes of user uploads. You’ll max out your Internet connection downloading a file in… Continue Reading »
Palm Pre Information & Updates
Palm just introduced their next-gen smartphone, the Palm Pre, and next-gen operating system, Palm webOS. Gadgetell's got the latest Pre and webOS information and news for you right here.
