Here’s a unique musical contraption combining a variety of smart phones. My favorite part of this instrument is the portable speaker at the base of the “guitar.” Classic.

…or should I say neo-classic?

Link via Engadget

Posted in Mobile Marketing, Smartphone, Social Media

Japanese electronics-giant Sharp recently unveiled an LCD touchscreen that displays 3D images without requiring special glasses. Sharp identified mobile phones as a potential outlet for this technology, and this week announced the first 3D camera to be used in mobile devices.

In a press release, Sharp explained how its 3D technology works:

“3D images are composed of two views taken using two cameras that simultaneously capture separate images for the right and left eyes. Consequently, a 3D camera requires peripheral circuitry to apply image processing to the two images, for example, to adjust color or to correct positioning between the images from the two cameras.”

The glasses used to view 3D images have lenses with colored filters. This creates the illusion of something popping off the screen known as parallax. The left and right eyes see separate images because of the apparent displacement of an object as seen from two different points.

The reason 3D technology did not successfully gain widespread use in the 1970s was because technologists failed to create a 3D user experience without the need for funky glasses. In order for parallax to work without glasses on mobile, viewers will hold a mobile device 12 inches (30 centimeters) in front of their face – approximately the same distance a mobile phone is typically held.

Sharp plans to ship the cameras as soon as July, and will begin mass-producing the product this year. Could we be on the verge of capturing and presenting eye-catching 3D images and video with our mobile phones? It’s an exciting prospect.

How will 3D content change our mobile experience?

Three-dimensional imaging technologies are changing the way we experience media, first in movie theaters, now in our homes, and soon in our hands. If 3D cameras become standard in our mobile devices, a wave of new content would contribute to the refinement of the technology.

Here are five ways we’d like to see 3D cameras and imaging for mobile applications:

1. Games. (Did we hear someone say Nintendo 3DS?)

2. Data charts and interactive surveys. Information architecture in 3D would be amazing.

3. Product previews for smaller items like jewelry could change the way we pop the question.

4. 3D profile pictures and video chat.

5. Navigation and maps with pop-up landmarks to guide viewers along.

What are some of your ideas for 3D imaging in mobile applications? Tell us what you’re thinking in the comments section.

Posted in 3G, 4G, Design, Games, Mobile, Mobile Marketing, Mobile Web, Smartphone

Microsoft is teaming up with Nokia to develop mobile versions of its hugely popular software titles for Nokia devices. This sounds like a very promising union, and I’ll be excited to see what develops.

You can read the story here.

Tags: Apps, Microsoft, microsoft office, mobile versions, Nokia, office apps, popular software, software titles
Posted in Microsoft, Nokia, PDA, Smartphone, Symbian

This is very exciting news as I can’t think of a single thing that could more quickly expand the reach of Flash Lite.

Sony Ericsson announced today at its Developer World conference plans for a new technology that bridges Adobe Flash Lite and Java ME development platforms.

The technology, called Project Capuchin, allows Java ME (formerly known as J2ME) applications to use Flash Lite as the front-end interface for mobile phone applications.

“In using Flash, you typically can’t access properties of the phone. But with Capuchin, you can get at information and applications in the phone and use that info with the Flash display,” said Christopher David, director of long-term platform planning at Sony Ericsson.

The Java ME/Flash Lite connection will be a two-way street, so both can invoke the other, according to Ulf Wretling, director of Sony Ericsson Developer World. But most importantly, Flash content is packaged as a Java JAR file for use on Java ME-compatible mobile phones.

Read the full article on InternetNews.com

Tags: Adobe, Capuchin, Flash, Flash Lite, J2ME, jar, Java, Java ME, Mobile, Sony, Sony Ericsson
Posted in Adobe, Flash Lite, J2ME, Jave ME, Mobile, Smartphone, Sony Ericsson

I stumbled across the self-proclaimed “World’s Largest PDA Database,” and as soon as I did I thought, “I can finally get a tally of how many Windows Mobile 2002, 2003 or 5.0 devices are on the market!” In total I found 584 devices. Unfortunately, however, there is no data on the penetration of these devices.

Why is this important? Adobe offers installers for Flash Lite 2.1 for Windows Mobile 5.0, Flash Player 7 for Pocket PC 2003, and the Flash Player 6 for Windows Mobile 2002. Although this does not have the mass market appeal of Verizon Wireless, it is certainly notable.

Flash is pre-installed on:

• 70 Nokia Phones (includes N96)
• 58 Sony Ericsson Phones
• 13 BREW Phones
• 6 Sony CLIE PDAs
• All NTT Docomo handsets
• All KDDI handsets

Flash can be installed on:

• Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Phone Edition (166)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Premium Edition (52)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Professional Edition (10)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 for Smartphone (61)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition (25)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Premium Edition (54)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Professional Edition (6)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone (11)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition for Pocket PC Phone Edition (57)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition for Pocket PC Premium Edition (41)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition for Pocket PC Professional Edition (4)
• Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition for Smartphone (35)
• Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition (20)
• Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Premium Edition (33)
• Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Professional Edition (2)
• Microsoft Smartphone 2002 (7)

Note from Adobe.com:

Note: This version of Flash Player is for the individual use of developers of Pocket PC devices. For more information about Adobe’s Flash Player distribution policy read the FAQ.

When you download the free player, it is provided “as-is”—which means that Adobe will support it only for Windows Mobile 5 and Pocket PC 2003 OS devices through available online resources on our website. If you experience any problems for non-certified devices, you should discuss them with other developers in various forums.

The World’s Largest Handheld Database

Tags: Adobe, css, developer, Flash, Flash Lite, flash player, ie, Microsoft, Mobile, mobile devices, N96, Nokia, PDA, Pocket PC, PR, punchkick, Smartphone, Sony, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, Windows Mobile, Wireless
Posted in Flash, Flash Lite, Microsoft, Mobile, PDA, Smartphone, Verizon Wireless

Nokia Germany has posted the N96 specs. There are still no official images, but I imagine that it will be similar to the N95. The most notable visual changes will be the size; the N96 is slightly longer and wider, but .7 inches thinner than the N95. No official release date as of yet.

• Quadband EDGE
• Dualband HSDPA 850/2100 MHz
• DVB-H Class C
• 92 cc volume
• 125 gram weight
• 103 x 55 x 18 mm
• 16 GB internal memory AND a microSD slot; 24 GB total if you spend an extra $80
• 950 mAh battery
• 6.1 cm (2.8 inch) 320×240 display with 16 million colors
• 3.5 mm headphone jack
• WiFi (802.11b/g)
• AGPS
• 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens that also does VGA video recording at 30 FPS
• Dual LED flash that can also be used when video recording
• S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 (Flash Lite 3 enabled web browser included)
• microUSB

Via [IntoMobile] and [Nokia]

Tags: colors, electronics, Flash, Flash Lite, Flash Lite 3, ie, Mobile, N95, N96, Nokia, PR, punchkick, s60
Posted in Nokia, Smartphone, Symbian

Every once in a while—perhaps as often as the solar equinox or emergence of the breeding cicadas—I open my mouth and say something I later regret. And when I do so, I feel it is my duty to own up to my mistake. So, with my sneaker on my plate, I apologize to all of you about my July 5th rant, Why a True Apple Fan Would Never Buy an iPhone.

Why, you ask? Allow me to explain.

I decided that I needed a smart phone with true email capabilities about two months ago. Looking around at the options out there, I wasn’t particularly blown away by any of the smart phones I played around with at the Verizon store. On second look, the iPhone started to seem like a phone I could (*ahem) learn to live with.

Fast forward two months.

My iPhone and I are best friends, and in some countries, possibly married. I absolutely cannot live without it. The email software is incredible and syncs perfectly with my .Mac account and IMAP business account. The camera is beautiful and I find myself constantly taking pictures with my phone—something I’ve never done in the 11+ years I’ve been a cell phone user. I use the iPhone religiously for iPod purposes, and my video podcasts have never looked better. And the Safari browser has proven to be a mid-argument-dispute-resolution miracle on more than one occasion.

Sure, the iPhone has some problems. Edge isn’t too quick, and 8 gigs just isn’t enough memory. But the goods FAR outweigh the bad. Software updates have even fixed a number of the issues I once complained about. Reading through my previous post, I’ve had to ask myself: Am I so jaded that a technical marvel like the iPhone can elicit a complaint from me?

Mr. Jobs, if you’re reading this, please accept my apology. Please continue to deliver me gadgets like the iPhone. And please forgive us tech-geeks when we are overly critical. We don’t mean it.

*Sometimes.

Learn more about Punchkick Interactive’s iPhone software development capabilities.

Tags: Apple, cell, cell phone, editorial, geek, ie, iPhone, Mobile Marketing, PDA, PR, punchkick, update, Verizon
Posted in Apple, iPhone, Mobile Marketing, Smartphone

Via Engadget and Ryan Block.

Engadget created a great 15 minute presentation of the new LG Prada phone interface. For those who are still interested in the iPhone (and it’s competition), this video is a must.

Download link 

Tags: iPhone, Mobile Marketing, PR
Posted in Apple, Design, Flash, Flash Lite, Mobile, Mobile Marketing, Mobile Video, Smartphone

GotoMobile did a great writeup about this. The video should explain everthing. Make sure your speakers are on.

Download link

Next Generation 2D Coding

Tags: Mobile, Mobile Advertising
Posted in Design, Flash Lite, MMS, Mobile, Mobile Video, Smartphone

First noted by Aniway:

Adobe released the mobile device profile update #5. Get it here. This update contains or makes changes to the following device profiles:

• Nokia 3250
• Nokia 5200
• Nokia 5300
• Nokia 5500
• Nokia 6085
• Nokia 6125
• Nokia 6131
• Nokia 6151
• Nokia 6300
• Nokia 7390
• Nokia 8800
• Nokia E50
• Nokia E60
• Nokia E61
• Nokia E62
• Nokia E70-1
• Nokia N70-1
• Nokia N71-1
• Nokia N73
• Nokia N75
• Nokia N80
• Nokia N91-1
• Nokia N92
• Nokia N93
• Nokia N93i
• Sony-Ericsson K600
• Sony-Ericsson K600c
• Sony-Ericsson K600i
• Sony-Ericsson K606c
• Sony-Ericsson K606i
• Sony-Ericsson K608c
• Sony-Ericsson K608i
• Sony-Ericsson K610iM
• Sony-Ericsson V600i
• Sony-Ericsson V800
• Sony-Ericsson W300i
• Sony-Ericsson W550c
• Sony-Ericsson W550i
• Sony-Ericsson W600c
• Sony-Ericsson W600i
• Sony-Ericsson W710i
• Sony-Ericsson W810i
• Sony-Ericsson W830a
• Sony-Ericsson W830c
• Sony-Ericsson W830i
• Sony-Ericsson W850i
• Sony-Ericsson Z712a
• Sony-Ericsson Z800i
• Verizon Motorola RAZR V3c
• Verizon Motorola RAZR V3m
• Verizon LG VX9800
• Verizon Samsung SCH-A950

Download here.

Tags: Adobe, Advergames, css, developer, device profile, Flash, Mobile, Mobile Marketing, Mobile Screensavers, Nokia, PDA, PR, Samsung, Sony, update, Verizon
Posted in Adobe, BREW, Design, Flash, Flash Lite, Mobile, Mobile Marketing, Mobile Video, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, Smartphone, Symbian, Verizon Wireless, WAP