Oct 28 2008
Posted by: Maria Mihale in Apple
You must think I’m crazy, isn’t it? The title is way beyond any power of comprehension, because it tells nonsense. There isn’t any Google Earth software for phones, at least not one that you know of, not to mention it’s kind of outrageous for such an application to be launched – inexplicably, as a matter of fact – first on iPhone, not Android.

But it’s true. Google has released a version of its Google Earth software for the iPhone as a dedicated application. Designed and developed as a virtual globe program that was originally called Earth Viewer, it maps the earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite imagery, aerial photography and GIS 3D globe. At the moment, it is available under three different licenses: Google Earth, a free version with limited functionality, Google Earth Plus ($20 per year), which includes additional features, and Google Earth Pro ($400 per year), which is intended for commercial use.
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Even before it was introduced back in 2005, the team had a burning dream: to be able to carry the Earth around in your pocket. Well, today that dream becomes a reality as these guys have just introduced Google Earth for iPhone and iPod touch. With just a swipe of your finger you can fly from Peoria to Paris to Papua New Guinea, or anywhere in between. It looks like a fantastic application and is free, and as such will likely become another shiny application with which iPhone users will try to impress their friends.

It may be small, but it brings all the power of Google Earth to the palm of your hand, including all of the same global imagery and 3D terrain. You can even browse any of the 8 million Panoramio photos or read Wikipedia articles.
To conclude, let’s see what you can do with Google Earth for iPhone: you can tilt your iPhone to adjust your view to see mountains terrain, view the Panoramio layer and browse the millions of geo-located photos from around the world, view geo-located Wikipedia articles, use the “Location†feature to fly to your current location and search for cities, places and business around the globe with Google Local Search.

But I have a question, a justified one, if you ask me. I totally agree with the fact that Google is a big company which has lots of product teams. And, most probably, those teams, making software for all platforms, not just its own, have a lot of autonomy. But come on, this isn’t Gmail. We’re talking about a stunning entertainment software that would have made the difference between the Android phones and their competition. Then why would Google Mobile rather distribute it for iPhone first? So, when you’re feeling kind of mixed up, just remember it’s a mixed up world.
I don’t know what’s inside those guys’ heads, but what I know is that a free Google Earth download is available today in 18 languages and 22 countries in the iTunes App Store.
(Source: googleblog.blogspot.com)
Oct 14 2008
Posted by: Maria Mihale in Apple, Sony Ericsson
Whenever someone takes hold on a precious information about a soon-to-be-released-device, for a long time expected to see the light of the day, people start following every step of the product until an official statement of the manufacturer. That’s what happens when information leaks and everyone feels like being the first to grab and publish the news is an ultimate task.

A couple of weeks ago, blurry pictures and some not-so-very-reliable information about a brand new Sony Ericsson device became public. If at first glance, the phone seemed to lack appeal, things get very interesting as more details are revealed.
The point is Sony Ericsson is working on a new Cybershot model and this doesn’t come as a surprise for anyone nowadays, as some time ago a blurry photo of the new model was leaked on the internet. There’s only one thing that is certain: the fact that the company doesn’t spare any effort in order develop handsets for people to enjoy. The same scenario applies to the Cybershot codenamed Kate.
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These new photos can make us a whole lot happier as they’re clearer than the one people got to see before and are able to satisfy even the most demanding eyes. As seen in the photos, the phone seems to be a medium-sized one, maybe a little bit too thick. Instead, it features a large screen which is meant to make most of the pictures taken with the 5 megapixel camera Kate apparently has; in addition, as rumors go, the camera comes with Xenon Flash, Auto Focus and Smile Shutter options.
There’s a dedicated key on the sides for picture/video switch, along with the volume/zoom key and the round capture key. You can easily see that yet another key is placed there, which seems to allow users access to the gallery of photos. The other side of the device features the traditional Sony Ericsson connector for data transfer and charging.

Have a look at the keyboard now! Don’t you have the impression it’s a Nokia-keyboard-wannabe, given the large keys? Luckily, the design still manages to keep the Sony Ericsson feel, so you wouldn’t have to go through the embarrassment of not knowing what type of mobile phone you own.
Based on the Sony Ericsson’s Java Platform 8.4, the device has no GPS or frontal camera for video calling. Therefore, if you don’t want to put off getting a portable GPS navigation system just yet (in the case you don’t have one already), Kate might disappoint a little bit. On the other hand, it is expected that the device has at least EDGE/UTMS/HSDPA and Bluetooth 2.0 functions, as found on many Sony Ericsson’s mobile phones.
The handset is said to be announced at the end of this month. Rumors go even further, as Kate is priced at 300 Euro or $450. Nothing official yet, so we shall live and we shall see!
(Source concept-phones.com)
Oct 09 2008
Posted by: Maria Mihale in Apple, News
Brian Eno, widely known as the father of ambient music and one of the greatest musical minds of our contemporary epoch, is the composer of the music for the Windows 95 project. When he was approached in 1994 by designers Mark Malamud and Erik Gavriluk, he created the six-second start-up music-sound of the Windows 95 operating system, which was called The Microsoft Sound.

There’s a confession in the San Francisco Chronicle, where he said that “the idea came up at the time when I was completely bereft of ideas. I’d been working on my own music for a while, and was quite lost, actually, and I really appreciated someone coming along and saying “Here’s a specific problem – Solve it!†[…] “And it must be 3¼ seconds long". I thought it was so funny, and an amazing thought to actually try to make a little piece of music. It’s like making a tiny little jewel. In fact, I made eighty-four pieces. I got completely into this world of tiny, little pieces of music. I was so sensitive to miscroseconds, at the end of this, that it really broke a logjam in my own work. Then, when I’d finished that and I went back to working with pieces that were, like, three minutes long, it seemed like oceans of timeâ€.
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Today, Brian Eno was once again approached by the musician/programmer Peter Chilvers, but this time to create one of the coolest iPhone applications that was ever designed. The project was dubbed Bloom and it’s “part instrument, part composition and part artworkâ€.
Most music-creation applications take an existing musical instrument and stuff it in a very awkward way into the phone, but compared to those Bloom creates from scratch an entirely new “instrumentâ€, which is, of course, designed for the iPhone and for the iPhone only. A very important aspect is that everyone can play with Bloom, generating and visualizing ambient music. It’s a little bit hard to explain the mechanism, but you’re provided with a colored screen and a quiet drone and you should tap the screen in different places, at random, in order to generate sounds. The sounds you play repeat themselves from time to time, forming a composition.

When you get bored, you can either shake the screen and your work up until that moment will be cleared, or tap anywhere else, so that more sounds are added. If you’re not in an inspirational mood, you can also let Bloom create music on its own and listen to it, especially because the application comes up with a unique piece every time you run it. Once you have something you like, you have the possibility to freeze the piece you’ve created, so new notes will be no longer introduced. In addition, the tones correspond to colored spots appearing on your display and slowly fading.
If you are familiar with Eno’s work you might have expected this application as he has always been interested in exploiting the latest technologies and platforms for his artworks. As a consequence, you can now witness several Eno-inspired tools and toys available on Apple platforms.
Bloom is available on the App Store for $3.99 and addresses to all of you out there interested in ambient music or, why not, music in general.
(Source TheAppleBlog)
Sep 04 2008
Posted by: Sierra in Apple, News
In September, our friends, TechPin.com together with the LaptopsArena.com team, are inviting you to take part at a giveaway that will bring some cool pocket gadgets to 6 of you who will get on the randomly chosen winners list!
It will be fun, interesting and you won’t have to do anything complicated in order to participate. Further details are available on TechPin.com and LaptopsArena.com. Subscribe to our newsletters and start posting your opinion. Good Luck!
Jul 21 2008
Posted by: Sierra in Amosu, Apple
This is indeed the price set for the world’s most expensive iPhone, which is available exclusively at Amosu Luxury, one of the top luxury customization companies founded by Alexander Amosu. It’s called Amosu Ultimo Diamond iPhone because it is decorated with 1179 dazzling 16.18 carat diamonds, handcrafted by some of the best specialists in this luxury side of art.

“Amosu Luxury is at the forefront of customisation and diamond encrustation, but we have our impersonators," declared Amosu. “Our diamond iPhone is a genuine and exclusive product that is designed to appeal to a select audience that is above the mass market.â€
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On the world’s most expensive iPhone, 458 diamonds are surrounding the front face, while the rear bottom case is made of 18 carat solid white gold encrusted with 660 diamonds. In addition, the Apple logo is has 61 diamonds, and the handset is brought in a luxury wooden box.

Together with this special creation, customers receive one year’s complimentary VIP International Concierge Service available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as well as a Luxury Network VIP Privilege card accepted by Lamborghini UK, Bombardier Skyjet International, Sunseeker Yachts, Oliver Sweeney, Holland and Holland, Selfridges and Ascot Horse racing.

The world’s most expensive iPhone is also the world’s most popular mobile handset, as well as world’s most advanced. It features multi-touch input, which allows you to control it using multiple fingers simultaneously, a 16-million colors display measuring 3.5 inches, the accelerometer technology for landscape mode, proximity sensor for automatic turn Off, multimedia player, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, the Mac OS X v10.4.8, email, a built-in 2MP camera, TV out, picture editor, Safari Internet browser, and up to 8 hours of talk time.
It's the most expensive iPhone but it has a very low price comparing to GoldVish Le Million, available at 1 million Euros.
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