MobileViews Blog

Author: todd

  • Australia McDonalds Free WiFi Users Using Up Too Much Seating Bandwidth

    Very interesting item from Australia’s ITnews…

    CeBIT09: McDonalds’ free wifi users soak up seating

    McDonalds in Australia started providing free WiFi in their restaurants in November 2008. Unfortunately, as you might expect the average WiFi user stays seated around 35 minutes instead of the 10 minutes non-WiFi users do. So, they’re running out of seating bandwidth with WiFi users hanging around too long.

    The 5GB monthly cap on 3G wireless data services in the U.S. means that many 3G subscribers are probably looking for free or low-cost WiFi hotspots to avoid going over their monthly limit. Hotspot providers that figure out a way to balance the longer seating time of WiFi users with their revenue generating products should be able to continue to attract customers of all types (WiFi using or not).

  • Funny Product Photo: Netbook Messenger Bag

    netbookbag_w_discs

    I was looking at this messenger bag built for netbooks (max 11 inch screen) because it is a Checkfast designed item (for getting through airport TSA checkpoints) and it is inexpensive ($29.99). While looking at the product photo closely, I noticed something amusing. The photographer (or his/her assistant) decided to add a couple of CD or DVD discs in jewel cases as props. Of course, netbooks don’t have optical drives so…

    Ok, geeky humor. But, I found it amusing. Still considering buying the item.

  • MobileContentToday Blog is Mobile Friendly Now

    mobilecontenttoday_mobile

    I’m not sure when it happened. But, the…

    MobileContentToday.com

    …blog that I write for as a freelance writer has a mobile device friendly web interface now. I remember asking for it last year when I was editor of MobileAppsToday.com (which now redirects to MobileContentToday).

  • Microsoft’s Loke uei Tan Demos HTC Snap’s Quick Photo Taking Ability

    Anyone who has ever used pretty much any cameraphone has experience the huge delay between bringing the camera app up, pressing the “shutter” button and actually taking the photo. However, based on this brief video demo by Microsoft’s Loke uei Tan, it looks like HTC has solved this issue in the upcoming HTC Snap (Standard Edition – no touch screen).

    I giving a lot of thought to replacing my T-Mobile Dash with either the HTC Snap or HTC TouchPro2. Hmm.

  • Mini-Podcast 9: LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen

    The LiveScribe Pulse Smartphone 2GB model I bought arrived a few days ago (There’s also a 1GB model). In this mini-podcast:

    1. I discuss syncing with multiple computers and multiple platforms (Mac OS X & Microsoft Windows)
    2. I provide a short sound recording made with the pen’s built-in microphone (it also comes with a headset that records in stereo).

    livescribe_ink_p1
    Sample image of notes written using the LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen

    – You can listen to the podcast right now from your web browser by using the embedded player above.
    – You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or this RSS feed.
    – You can also point your smartphone’s browser at mobiletoday.podbean.com to listen to or download the MP3 file over the air to your phone.

  • iPhone Compared to Star Trek Communicator (STTOS Era Device)

    sttoscomm_iphone3g

    My daughter and I went to see the new Star Trek movie last night. As a long time Trekker I give the movie a big thumbs up despite the shocking ret-cons (no spoilers). My non-Trekker daughter (she’s never watched an episode of STTOS (Star Trek The Original Series) or previous Star Trek movies) loved it too. I liked it so much, it moved me to find my dusty old STTOS Communicator I was amused to note the iPhone 3G is about the same length and width as the Communicator though the iPhone is much thinner.

    Live long and prosper…