***The tree that tweets and speaks***
If a tree tweets in Las Vegas and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Well, a team of bored marketeers at Sony Ericsson apparently believe so.
Yes, the CTIA ConnectedTree senses changes in its surrounding electromagnetic field as people pass by or touch its leaves. The tree, which reacts by playing music, speaking and turning on/off lights, also sends mood updates directly to its own Twitter account.
“My leaves have been stroked by 16 friendly visitors. I’m starting to like this place. #ectree”
Ugh. Creepy!
***InvenSense gives touchscreen commands the finger***
Blackberry and iPhone toting hipsters beware! InvenSense has given touchscreen commands the finger by allowing mobile users to control their shiny devices with one-handed motion gestures. Yes, gone are the days of clumsy two-handed touchscreen commands and fumbling button touches that made you appear less than cool. Now *you* can get your ironic CTIA mojo back by using InvenSense’s MotionCommand to activate various applications – such as a photo library – simply by drawing a letter “p” in the air.
Sweet!
***Steal this Android phone***
Please, steal my Android phone. I promise you won’t get very far with it. Er, and that isn’t because Android-based devices suck. No, really! Seriously, GadgetTrak is locking CTIA down with its Mobile Security app for Android smartphones. This critical security app allows users to track lost or stolen devices and remotely wipe data. In addition, the utility features a remote “ping” which prompts the misplaced or kidnapped phone to scare off even the toughest cat burglar by emitting a loud, screeching alarm.
***Motorola kicks off CTIA 2010 with i1 smartphone***
Motorola and Sprint kicked off CTIA 2010 by jointly confirming a sunny summer launch date for the long-awaited i1 smartphone.
The Android-powered i1 is expected to feature a 3.1 inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen display, Wi-Fi radio, Bluetooth and a shock resistant bodyshell. The smartphone will also include Microsoft’s Document Viewer, Android standard and Swype virtual keyboards, a 5.0 megapixel camera/video recorder with flash, geo-tagging and panoramic imaging capabilities, along with a media player and microSDHC card slot.
Now that’s an ill phone!
***It’s raining again…but not for iPhone users***
It’s raining again! Well, maybe not in scorching Las Vegas, but there are surely dark storm clouds gathering somewhere. Still, hipster iPhone owners with vintage umbrellas and patched trench-coats can stay dry by simply loading an app that displays up-to-date weather radar and satellite images on an interactive Google map. iMapRadar – which is being showcased at CTIA – automatically detects users’ current location with a blue pin. Browsers can also type in the name of a location, prompting the application to drop a marking pin on the map, while providing current/future weather conditions, temperatures, forecasts as well as highs/lows.
***CTIA awaits 4G WiMax smartphone***
3G is really so yesteryear! Yes, CTIA was abuzz with pre-conference chatter, tweets and wild speculation about the first 4G smartphone which is expected to be unveiled as early as tomorrow. Although specific details are hard to come by, word on the hot Las Vegas Strip is that the HTC-manufactured device has been dubbed the “Supersonic” by its proud, beaming parents. We’ll keep you posted!
***Big Brother is watching YOU***
FreightWatch has chosen CTIA to unveil a rather disturbing “Big Brother” surveillance device known as the Geo F2 “Pill Bottle.” This James Bond-like assisted-GPS tracker is powered by Qualcomm’s inGeo Platform and can be concealed in small enclosures to facilitate covert tracking operations.
Um, like what? Well, never you mind, because they aren’t saying! Still, we managed to discern that the aptly-named “Pill Bottle” includes a large capacity lithium-polymer battery and is designed to be deployed in rapid reporting, law enforcement surveillance scenarios as well as long term remote asset location assurance applications.
Sounds cool enough (if not a little scary), but really, this is CTIA, not an international spy show!
***Mobile cloud-based solutions arrive at CTIA***
You can’t really attend a wireless conference these days without falling victim to a fevered sales pitch about about the ubiquitous, omnipresent and infallible Cloud. And why should CTIA be an exception?
Well, FeedHenry clearly doesn’t think it should be! Yes, the company proudly launched its cloud-based platform – sans umbrellas – to help extend business and telecoms applications across the iPhone, Android, Web and social media sites. The carrier-grade development environment enables enterprises to build applications and services, complete with access to an ecosystem of developers and readily available apps, without having to invest in new hardware or software.
***BlueAnt app reads text messages to lonely drivers***
Have you ever wanted to peruse random text messages while barreling down a dimly lit highway evading speed traps and listening to bad country music? Well, now you can fulfill your lifelong dream with BlueAnt’s Q1! This application for lonely drivers allows text messages to be concisely and discretely read aloud directly into a hands-free headset. The app also helps clueless Q1 users by providing pairing and connection guidance, support information and a direct link to BlueAnt Customer Service.
***Microsoft and Sprint Yap it up at CTIA***
Microsoft has selected Yap to power the company’s speech-to-text capabilities in its Talk to Text mobile application. The Redmond-based behemoth apparently developed the app for Sprint, which allows hopelessly addicted Blackberry users to “speak” (rather than type) their text messages and emails.
