MobiWire has new S:PHONE that offers unprecedented data security

MobiWire has recently announced a new range of secure business phones which come with embedded security for voice, SMS, data and on-device encryption. We are pretty sure that this would have business associates high up sit and take notice – after all, the secure voice phone and secure data smartphones would be among the first of their kind in the world, delivering fully integrated protection against stolen terminals, eavesdropping of voice and SMS, and data theft through attacks via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

Powered by the Android operating system, this secure phone solution was co-developed with secure communications specialists ERCOM following a strategic partnership that was announced last December.

Needless to say, these devices will cater mainly for corporations and government organisations, where they form part of a full security solution which delivers secure data access to corporate servers, where among them include email, intranet and file servers. There is also a “Trusted Market” on-device app store that takes over the public Android Market store, offering a secure and private market of trusted applications that have been certified and approved by an enterprises corporate IT team.

Also known as the S:PHONE devices, they are based on the Cryptosmart embedded security engine from ERCOM while playing nice with MobiWire’s patented User Interface software, Core UX. Its internal security is so tough, it cannot be removed from the device or tampered with. You can sleep easy knowing its high grade encryption of local data and signature algorithms will keep all your precious data within safe and sound.

The Cryptosmart encryption engine comes in the form of a Cryptosmart microSD memory card, a Cryptosmart CardManager for PC, and a Cryptosmart Gateway that is hosted behind the corporate firewall. Said gateway will deliver a secure interface with the corporate PBX system, intranet and mail servers and the private Trusted Market store of applications owned and trusted by the IT department. Don’t expect this puppy to look as sleek as the iPhone 4 though if you prefer style over substance…

Press Release

MetroPCS teams up with Snoop Dogg for Samsung Galaxy Indulge

Rappers are one of the better businessmen out there, after all they tend to drive those flashy big cars, cruising around town with a couple of birds in the back seat, wearing a whole lot of bling while boasting of an earning power which would put a small nation’s GDP to shame. Well, guess when it comes to money, it is never enough for most people.

One of the more famous rappers to have graced this planet would be Snoop Dogg, and here he is teaming up with MetroPCS (one of the smaller mobile carriers in the US), introducing the recently announced Samsung Galaxy IndulgeT, which holds the distinction of being the world’s first commercially available 4G LTE Android smartphone, where it is offered only with 4GLTE service from MetroPCS.

According to Snoop Dogggg, “It feels good to be working with MetroPCS and Samsung for the launch of the Galaxy Indulge. I’m stepping it up to 4G’s so my phone can keep up with my demanding, always-connected lifestyle.” Now we don’t know if that is the gospel truth, or was it part of his endorsement plan, but at least there is one thing we do know – that hot dawg lives a demanding lifestyle, yo!

Of course, MetroPCS and Snoop Dogg has your money’s best interest in mind (that depends on how you see it), so they will be offering the 4GLTE smartphone service plans at around half the cost of other carriers’ 4G smartphone service plans if you decide to shop around. Both $50 and $60 plans will include all applicable taxes and regulatory fees, not to mention MetroPCS’ unmatched value with unlimited talk, text and 4GLTE Web page browsing.

Feel free too to enjoy unlimited data access (this is also pretty subjective, there is usually a cap before they throttle your line) to streaming audio, video and gaming content, downloads and Android applications on the Galaxy Indulge. If you were looking for a new smartphone that is supposedly blazing fast, tearing up the performance charts, the Galaxy Indulge might be worth a peek.

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HTC Merge in the US this spring

HTC has just announced that their latest HTC Merge smartphone will arrive across various North American carriers from the beginning of spring onwards. Just what does the Merge bring to the table? For starters, it will deliver a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard that is powered by the Google Android 2.2 Froyo operating system, coupled with the highly vaunted HTC Sense experience.

Apart from that, it brings along with it a large 3.8-inch touchscreen display and a 5-megapixel camera that will result in a complete mobile experience for those who want a complete smartphone experience. Apart from that, the HTC Merge will also be the first CDMA world phone from HTC that is powered by Android.

HTC has taken great pains to create unique solutions which will meet the needs of different customers, and the Merge does just that with features such as a full keyboard and global 3G roaming. HTC hopes that the HTC Merge will be able to deliver a reliable mobile experience with the features and functionality of a smartphone, regardless of whether you’re one who stays here or do plenty of traveling around the world.

Those who have emails on Microsoft Exchange will definitely appreciate the seamless integration with Exchange ActiveSync, not to mention enjoying quick and easy access to Flickr if you happen to share and view pictures, while finding new methods of customizing your experience with the Android Market. After all, with more than a 100,000 apps to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice – although we do admit that plenty of those are shovelware.

The HTC FriendStream service will also let you be up to speed with Facebook and Twitter updates on the go. In terms of hardware, we did talk about its 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash that captures outstanding images even in low light conditions. Want to remain connected on the go? 3G support makes it a snap, while integrated GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity also help you out in a tight spot.

Fancy a spot of video? The camera is also capable of shooting high-definition 720p video for posterity. No idea on which operator will offer the HTC Merge this spring, but you know that there is at least a month more or so to save up for this puppy if you want one.

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80′s Retro Phone Case

If you’re one who tends to be the life of the party and love playing practical jokes on others, might we recommend you sneak in your iPhone 4 into the 80′s Retro Phone Case? For just £12.99, you will definitely attract the attention of everyone at the next social event not because you have the fabled white iPhone 4, but because your handset hails back to the 1980s.
Available for pre-order, it is scheduled for delivery on April 14th 2011 (which means you will miss out on April Fool’s this year), and turns your modern handset into a classic, brick-style phone which works great to hit a thief over the head or break open crab claws to get to its succulent meat inside. This isn’t waterproof though, and we don’t recommend you bring this to your next job interview unless you’re working for Baronbob.

Solar Powered iPhone

So, I take my cell phone with me no matter where I go. I consider it a luxury, but I also like to think that I would have it with me in the case of an emergency, like when my brand new car broke down this morning, and I was stuck on the side of the highway. Oh I had my phone alright, but the battery was dead, and the charger was in my other (and I guess, better) car.

Well that wont ever happen to any of us again if Apple has it’s way. According to U.S. patent reports, Apple wants to be able to incorporate solar cells into some of their touch screen products. Can anyone say iPhone 5? Okay, can anyone say iPhone 6 then? Anyway, let’s imagine if you will, the premise of throwing your phone up on the dashboard and having it be ready to go anytime you need it. Awesome.

The Cupertino giants have a better idea for solar-charging than just sticking a whole bunch of ugly solar panels on the back of their iDevices, the plan seems to be to put energy collecting cells hidden underneath the ever popular touchscreen display. So the hope would be that the iPhone won’t look much different, but would be able to charge itself cord-free!

It’s not that solar powered cell phones haven’t been lurking around for a while. In fact, a couple of companies have already waved around some prototypes of solar powered phones quite a while ago, but they’re not here yet, and when a company like Apple starts talking solar, I say let the sun shine in. Of course I don’t know what you say when it rains, but I’ll let them figure that out too.

Source: patentlyapple.com

Tobii Technology rolls out eye controlled laptop

The disabled have yet another way to let technology work for them – and this time round it will be Tobii Technology that will help them out, with the introduction of a new eye controlled laptop. This is still not the final deal just yet, but a prototype at the moment and has been developed in collaboration with Lenovo of China. For those who are interested, you will be able to drop by CeBIT which is happening in Germany from March 1 to 5.

It makes perfect sense for Lenovo to be the manufacturer – after all, they are the world’s fourth largest manufacturer of personal computers, and it must be their honor to build the world’s first eye-controlled laptop, thanks to eye tracking technology from Tobii. The laptop, after all, is a fully functional conceptual prototype and will be an important breakthrough for Tobii as they intend to bring their own eye tracking technology to other serial production and consumer products.

It makes perfect sense to use one’s eyes to control your computer, after all, it is a natural form of movement, and boy are we glad to see technology progress to such a point where one is able to use one’s eyes to point, select and scroll through a myriad of windows.

According to Henrik Eskilsson, CEO of Tobii Technology, “More than anything else, the Tobii laptop prototype is proof that our eye tracking technology is mature enough to be used in standard computer interfaces. To reach a state where the technology is part of the average computer, we need to make it smaller and cheaper. We believe that this can be realized in a couple of years by partnering with the right manufacturer.”

You can’t find these in stores immediately though, since the first batch of eye-controlled laptops will only comprise of 20 units split evenly between Tobii Technology and Lenovo, and they’re up and available for development and demo purposes.

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Wind Explorer car is both electric and kite powered, and crossed Australia

This is the Wind Explorer, and it is a car that can drive by kite.

The Wind Explorer can take credit for breaking three world records: the first continental crossing by a wind-powered vehicle, the longest distance covered by a wind-powered vehicle, and the longest distance covered by a wind-powered vehicle in 36 hours.

You can catch a video of it after the jump if you want to see it in motion. The Wind Explorer traveled 3,107 miles across Australia in about 18 days, and it uses only $15 worth of electricity. Talk about your fuel efficiency!

It is electrical, and has a battery pack and wind turbine in the back, with a trunk up in front like a Volkswagen. The Wind Explorer is made of carbon fiber and sits over an aluminum frame on top of a bicycle tires.

You will notice in the video that driving this vehicle involves some sort of control that looks like kiteboarding. The kite is powerful enough to have the ability to lift someone off of the ground. The kite pulls the vehicle, while someone else steers it.

The Wind Explorer is quite slow, as its top speed is 50 miles per hour. The best distance was 306 miles per day.