Let's admit it: ringtones aren't such a hit here as it is in other parts of the world. What we want is a normal message alert and a normal ringing phone. Putting in the latest music as a ringtone isn't really that important and sometimes it just gets downright irritating, isn't it? There's been a study made by the folks from SNL Kagan showing just how much the ringtone market is shrinking:
Ringtone sales declined 24% in 2008 versus 2007, from $714 million to $541 million, causing overall U.S. mobile music revenues to post an annual decline -- a first for a U.S. mobile content category. Ringtones' share of the total U.S. mobile music market fell from 80% in 2005 to 63% in 2008.
Maybe it's the recession? I would rather find a job than subscribe to a ringtone, yes? Or maybe that people have finally gotten tired of the whole ringtone business as changing it to the latest music has become an expensive chore.
The music and mobile industry doesn't have to quake in their boots due to such an alarming reduction in profits as ringbacks, music played while you're waiting for the other party to pick up your call, has risen.
So what's the next revenue generator for mobile music? "When we ask mobile music insiders what will replace ringtone revenues, RBTs (ringback tones) are most often mentioned," said SNL Kagan wireless analyst John Fletcher. "We estimate this category grew at a 37% CAGR from 2005 to 2008, from $77 million to $199 million."
Ringbacks for ringtones? Less irritating as everyone in the room doesn't have to listen to it.
Ever got a call from an unknown number? Would you pick it up? What if you received an SMS message from someone you don't know. Will you even read it? With all the security problems that came with the mobile phone industry, we wouldn't be surprised if you don't entertain such calls or messages. However, what if that call or SMS message was important? How can you separate the important calls and messages from the prank ones?
That was what Whitepages thought of when they decided to make LOOKUP: a service that identifies unknown callers.
Although a basic form of caller ID is available on most mobile devices, it typically only presents the calling party number, not the name or location of the caller. LOOKUP from WhitePages shows the name and location of unknown numbers, thus helping identify friends and colleagues not in your phonebook, as well as avoiding unwanted calls. LOOKUP from WhitePages is the first text-based service to offer mobile users
It's so easy to do that you only have to don one thing: remember the letters to LOOKUP:
*An easy way to obtain the identity of an unknown incoming number or text sender. Users simply send a text with the unknown number to LOOKUP (566-587). *LOOKUP is designed to work on any mobile device with texting capability. *Accurate information, within seconds. The LOOKUP database includes information on over 600 million listings, including hard to find mobile and landline numbers.
So the next time you get a missed call from an unknown number and you're not sure whether it's a prospective client or a prank call, send the information to LOOKUP and you'll know what to do next.
Amazon's Kindle has been slaughtering the e-book reader niche market and is currently sitting on top of the mountain. Other companies have been trying to get them off it, but so far no one's been able to do it. Sony is putting their name into the hat and is entering the game with not one, but two e-readers! The PRS-300, called the Pocket and the PRS-600, otherwise known as the Touch.
The specs are as follows:
The latter (pictured left, not to scale) is the 6-inch resistive touchscreen model replacing the PRS-700, with Memory Stick / Duo and SD card slots. The backlighting layer from its predecessor has been dropped to improve touch responsiveness and to alleviate concerns of glare. It also comes packing a stylus and a digitized copy of the Oxford American English Dictionary and will be available in red, black, and silver. The Pocket Edition, on the other hand, is your standard fare with no touchscreen or expandable disk port, and palettes including blue, silver, and rose. Both models have USB 2.0, 512MB internal memory, and no WiFi whatsoever -- Sony assures us a WiFi version is coming and there'll be news on those coming soon, but this isn't it. There's also Mac compatibility, a first for the series, that's trickling down to older models via a firmware update.
Sony's really risking it all just to beat Kindle! Besides putting in two gadgets against the Kindle, they're also pricing it lower: The Pocket at $ 199 and the Touch at $ 299. They're also dropping the Bestseller prices from $ 11.99 to $ 9.99. Personally, I would prefer with the Pocket not just because its cheaper, but also because it seems more pocket friendly (hence the name?) as I really have no use for a touchscreen right now (especially if you have an iPhone or iPod touch). This goes then to my next query: why two devices? Isn't it better to have one quality product where they can focus their Research & Development and their marketing on?
Does this mean that this will beat Kindle? Will Sony's de-pricing beat the Amazon brand behemoth?
With Apple finally patching the SMS vulnerability of the iPhone 3GS OS, everything seems to have settled down (well, if you don't count the FCC asking for an explanation regarding the GV Mobile bruhaha). Let's take a look at some iPhone apps that recently piqued our interests.
NESynth: Make 8-bit music goodness on your iPhone
Using the iPhone as a music medium is a great idea and has been tackled with before, however, they aren't as fun as NESynth. Why? The NES part of the name stands for Nintendo Entertainment System. Here's a sample of it:
If you're a SNES child, you'll recognize the sounds and music. Even if you weren't born at the time, you'll definitely appreciate it anyway. Available for $1.99 US iPhone App Store only.
Amamiya Momo iPhone App: bordering on lewdness
The following app is kind of disturbing--wait--it's REALLY disturbing. If you think the XXX iPhone App should be taken down, then you should check this out as well: Amamiya Momo.
Some may think it cute, especially those Otakus who just like cutesy anime girls or those who just plain like cartoons. But nevertheless, the way that one can just swish on her body is a bit suspect. Although I do have to comment that Tamagotchi, an electronic pet, is a great (and less messier) alternative to real ones, this was not marketed to be a pet but rather as a virtual girlfriend. If you want to check it out, it's $2.99 at the App Store.
Is Apple cleaning up at the App Store?
And lastly, here's an actual Apple third party developer named Perfect Acumen that's getting their whole list of apps getting taken off from the App Store for the somewhat right reasons. Does this mean that the app Store's finally learning from the whole GV Mobile fiasco and taking out the really disgusting apps?
Yes and no. No, in the sense that this, the removal of the 3rd most prolific app-shitters in the whole store, doesn't have anything to do with a change in policy, or an increase in transparency. Yes, in the sense that Apple is finally enforcing some of their clearer prior rules. Like, "DON'T STEAL THINGS."
Ok, granted that they the app developer was taken out still shows that somehow Apple is putting their marbles back inside their hands and trying to put in some quality apps in their store. Now if they can only re-think about putting GV Mobile back there...
When GV Mobile was removed from apple's app Store, there was quite a large uproar from the tech community. They instantly thought that AT&T was the culprit here; influencing Apple to take the app out of the store. However, with such a large amount of attention, the Feds have sent a letter to both Apple and AT&T asking them to explain why GV Mobile was treated that way. Obviously the FCC didn't like what they read and wanted the 4 W's and 1 H: What, where, when, why, and how the whole thing started.
The FCC’s new chairman Julius Genachowski made it clear Friday in announcing the letters that he was not pleased by Apple and AT&T’s actions, while leaving wiggle room about what, if anything, the feds would do.
“Recent news reports raise questions about practices in the mobile marketplace,” Genachowski said in a press statement. “The Wireless Bureau’s inquiry letters to these companies about their practices reflect the Commission’s proactive approach to getting the facts and data necessary to make the best policy decisions on behalf of the American people.”
How will both companies reason out that they eliminated GV Mobile just because Google's VOIP was messing with Apple's other apps? Everyone's dying to know how they'll get out of this one.
VoiceCentral finally gets response from Apple, but it's weird
The other app taken out surreptitiously after it was approved 4 months ago and was already downloaded and being used was VoiceCentral. We reported last time that the developer was pretty much confused and angry and is now was faced with emails from angry users asking for their money back. What was even more frustrating on his side, was that apple never gave him a straight answer as to why it was taken out without even a notice coming from them. Well, Apple apparently needed time to carefully construct their words as they replied the next day:
On June 30, the team was finally contacted by Richard from Apple, a cordial person who was profoundly unable to provide specific, useful information to Duerr, details beyond the fact that “VoiceCentral has been removed from the App Store because it duplicates features of the iPhone … and was causing confusion in the user community.” When Duerr pointed out that other apps like Textfree, Skype, fring, and iCall also duplicated iPhone features, Richard said he couldn’t discuss other apps.
Apple and AT&T sure have a lot of explaining to do after this. I see this as a game changing event with the way carriers and mobile phone makers make their contracts and exclusive deals.
Listening to both customers and security experts can definitely help your company in the long run. The faster you react to their feedback or concern the better your product will be--and that's the problem we found with Apple.
If you remember that last time, we reported a serious flaw in the iPhone 3GS. All it took was an SMS and your precious smartphone would be hijacked by someone else. The ones who discovered this potential devaastating vulnerability immediately reported it to Apple, hoping for a quick patch. Unfortunately that was almost a month ago. In order to push the company to move their behinds, the guys who disovered the hack decided to detail on how to do it on a Black Hat meeting.
Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner told the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas that the hack works by slightly modifying the data - sent by the network and which the user does not see - that arrives as part of a text message.
Which thereafter, Apple issued a statement that they would be patching the Apple OS on the following day. What concerned most people were how Apple dragged their heels to do this. An O2 spokesperson said the patch would be available Saturday through iTunes.
"We will be communicating to customers both through the website and proactively," the spokesperson added. "We always recommend our customers update their iPhone with the latest software and this is no different."
Although it may take weeks to properly create a hacking program that will be able to exploit this flaw, we're glad Apple moved in quick at the last minute--saving not only their company but their iPhone 3GS buyers as well. Let's hope everything goes well after the patch.
VoiceCentral follows Google Voice out of the App Store
Besides GV Mobile and Google Voice being taken out of the Apple App store, another--already approved and available in the store for the last four months--was immediately taken down. VoiceCentral is no longer there.
Until this week, everything was going fine for the developer. He submitted the app and was approved by Apple. He released updates and they were approved by Apple. Then, all of a sudden and without warning, his app was pulled from the store.
And when he tried to find out the reason why it was pulled out?
In a blog post on Riverturn's Web site Tuesday, the developer paraphrased the call. At one point the developer asks the Apple rep if there's something he can change in the app so it can be resubmitted to the App Store. The response: "I can't say." The developer then asks, "if we can't figure out the issue then how will we know whether to resubmit the app. And how will we know whether to invest in any other development efforts? Future apps could be impacted." The response: "I can't help you with that."
So, if Apple can't give you a reason why an app that you worked hard on for months got suddenly taken out, prepare for the answer: "I can't say." And what's worse the people who bought his app is now asking for a refund he can't provide. Ouch Apple, ouch.
LG Electronics officially revealed today the full image and key specifications of the new LG Chocolate phone (model: LG-BL40).
The fourth handset of the Black Label Series boasts a distinctive 4.0-inch wide screen high-definition LCD with an 800 by 345 pixel resolution for a superb viewing quality. The wide screen breaks away from conventional screen designs with a 21:9 aspect ratio for a panoramic, cinema-like quality and optimal mobile computing experience.
With the enlarged screen, users will experience a surprisingly convenient and efficient mobile environment. Browsing the Internet is made incredibly easy because with 800 pixels at one’s disposal, there is no need to scroll horizontally to read entire web pages. The 4.0-inch display also features a Dual Screen UI that can efficiently display two different types of content simultaneously.
The wide HD LCD “Real VGA” screen provides a full range of natural colors for displayed images, making photos more crisp, videos more true-to-life, games more dynamic and documents more readable.
“The initial response to the new LG Chocolate phone has exceeded our expectations by a wide margin,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications. “Although much interest seems focused on the striking shape of the handset, the real surprise will be when people discover the advantages of the 4.0-inch screen in terms of viewing pleasure and ease of use.”
The new LG Chocolate’s wide screen is overlaid with curved tempered glass and is seamlessly encased in a glossy black finish and iconic red highlights. Although the screen may be much wider, the new LG Chocolate makes an incredibly slim and chic style statement that was also inherent in the original Chocolate.
The new LG Chocolate will be available beginning Q3 in 54 countries.
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