Mobile - Part 4

Use Mobile Phone as a Webcam

This is a guest post by Keith Palmer. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.

If you want to use your camera phone as a web camera, I assume that you are advanced enough to follow below instructions.

Webcams themselves can be expensive, at least for a high quality one, and wireless webcams can be even more expensive (not to mention rare). Most of us already own several cameras and don’t really want to invest more for a webcam. If you have a cameraphone running WindowsMobile 6.x, Symbian, or Java (I’ve used a new Nokia c6), as well as a Bluetooth enabled computer or laptop, and you can use some nifty software to turn your phone into a wireless webcam.

You can download the PC software at sourceforge, and the phone software here. Install both pieces of software on their respective hardware, and then pair your phone with your computer over the Bluetooth connection. You will need to make sure that both are set to be publically visible, and that you know the password for both Bluetooth connections (if applicable).

Running the actual software and connecting it to your phone is pretty easy. Run the SmartCam software on both your computer and your phone. On the computer side, go to the Settings dialogue under the File menu, and then choose Bluetooth as the method of connection. On the cell phone, simply choose the computer from the list of visible devices (do make sure that your computer is visible as a Bluetooth device).

Assuming that everything above has been done properly, you should now see your phone as a webcam and be able to use it with video chat applications, as well as record and save video streams from it. This is really great because having the wireless feature makes it a lot more versatile than traditional webcams, and having the camera in a small, lightweight phone makes it easy to move around, and set up in different locations. Nowadays, more and more phones have video chat features built-in, but not all of them do, and so this is a great way to get around that limitation. Even though phone camera quality isn’t that great, webcams generally aren’t high quality, and don’t need to be, because of the limitations of most people’s bandwidth. The one thing about this kind of setup that might limit the quality is the Bluetooth connection, as it is not made for streaming large amounts of data. However this is a great way to add an extra feature to your phone, and it does work pretty well.

Keith Palmer is a student at technology science class. He writes tutorials and reviews for warious magazines and websites. At this point he writes tutorials for mobicity

Smartphone Antivirus Protection: Choosing Best Software for You

This is a guest post by Alexis Bonari. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.

Experts have been deliberating over the conundrum of when mobile antivirus software will become necessary, but with the recent Trojan attack on Android-based devices, it looks like the future has arrived. An unknown malicious website has been prompting users to install a “media player application” on their phones. And while the app is no bigger than 13 KB, giving even savvy users the illusion of simplicity and innocence, the Trojan is hidden inside. Once installed, SMS messages, which can cost several dollars, are consistently sent from the devices without their users’ knowledge. Fortunately, the issue seems to be contained in Russia, but it’s obvious that the opportunity for other malware apps has increased. The following are some of the most popular examples of mobile antivirus software designed to protect your phone and put your mind at ease.

avast! PDA Edition
Although it was initially designed for use with PDAs, this antivirus software also works for Windows CE Smartphones. Because of its small size and memory requirements, a typical scan of your phone would only take a few seconds, so it’s practical to run these scans frequently. Report files can be created and viewed, which show a detailed description of the scanning process and anything that may have been found. Updates can be downloaded and installed using the software’s special updater designed to work with pocket devices. Subscriptions can be bought in one, two, or three-year increments and the number of licenses can also be changed to reflect the number of devices to be protected. A 60-day free trial of the software can be found here.

Avira AntiVir Mobile
This software has automatic updates via LAN or other Internet connections, but optimally updates via PC. Its clear menu navigation enables users to easily understand scan results and enjoy simple usability, and an automatic or interactive procedure is run whenever a virus is found. Infected files can be deleted, and the software includes support for the Windows Mobile 6.5 interface. A 30-day test key is available here and can be used to experience the software on a trial basis.

Norton Smartphone Security
The Norton software comes in two versions, supporting both Symbian and Windows Mobile users. It enables users to protect their privacy by preventing the theft of personal information, eliminating text and multimedia spam, and keeping cybercriminals and mobile threats away from your Smartphone. It checks phones with weekly updates and claims that it won’t slow down web activity or affect Smartphone performance. Free trials for both Symbian and Windows Mobile users can be found here.

Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She often can be found blogging about general education issues as well as information on college scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

10 Best Features of iOS 4 for Business

This is a guest post by James. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.

The business features of iOS 4 will make your iPhone the most valuable tool in your arsenal. With new features like multitasking, VPN connectivity and enterprise solutions, individuals can leave the office and still be connected. Here are ten of iOS 4’s best business features.

1. Multitasking
You are now able to perform limited multitasking with your iPhone. You can read your mail and have music playing in the background. With the addition of more applications that use this feature, your mobile device will gain more functionality.

2. Organize your applications into folders
You can place up to twelve applications into a folder to keep them safe. If you have different types of apps, the folders make it easier for you to find them. Your home page will have to find other ways to be cluttered.

3. Unified inbox
With a unified inbox, you can combine all of your email accounts within a single application. You do not have to be concerned about missing messages or tasks. You can also thread your messages, making your inbox easier to read.

4. Internal Spell checking
No more worries about misspelling words within email and applications. IOS 4 introduced a spellchecker that is usable through third party applications. You still have to proofread your documents.

5. Geolocation and Digital Zoom
Using the GPS function on your mobile device, iOS 4 allows you to tag the photos that you take on a map. This is another great method for categorization. The digital zoom feature will let you take close ups of your favorite employees and locations. You also have the ability to use zoom within your videos.

6. Messages are improved
You can search through your text messages and see a timeline of the messages that occurred. All of your typed messages are recorded for speedy search and recovery. There is also a character count feature which you can activate to get a better idea of the text limits of the platforms which you’re working with.

7. Photo resizer
The resizer will crunch the photos that you plan to send via email. When you are emailing pictures, you want them to be tiny, clear and easily transmitted. This is a great way of handling the need to have smaller file sizes in the email.

8. Enterprise applications
Your email can be encrypted and sent to employees within your company. You can obtain mobile device management on your server which gives you the ability to let all employees download iPhone apps without having to go through the Apple store.

9. Easily add events to iCal
Times and dates in your email have links which you can easily add to your schedule in iCal. There is no need to leave the program that you are in, it is fully integrated. This feature is great for people whose itinerary is constantly changing.

10. VPN Connection
Connect to your VPN from anywhere through your iPhone using this feature of iOS4. The passwords are more secure for all applications with this operating system. Business professionals can be more efficient with their iPhones because they can now connect directly to the office.

The features of iOS 4 can make you more productive with the use of the iPhone. With the organizational features and the tiny tweaks that Apple has done, you can take your iOS 4 with you to the next level.

James works for a UK-based store offering ink supplies for businesses. He spends much of his time reviewing hardware like the Epson T0715 as well as posting on their blog when time permits.

How to Choose Your Phone’s Operating System

This is a guest post by Susan White. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.

The problem with smartphones is that they’re only as smart as the people who use them. So when you’re buying one of these gadgets, it’s important that you choose the underlying operating system with care.

Some phones run on Windows Mobile OS, others on Palm’s OS 5, and yet others on Nokia’s Symbian OS. BlackBerry addicts don’t choose anything other than RIM’s BlackBerry OS and the same goes for iPhone aficionados who don’t look beyond Apple. And although late to the party, Google’s Android is proving to be a hot favorite. So how do you decide on your operating system if you’re not too particular about the phone you use?

mobile-os-iOS, BlackBerry, Symbian, Android, Palm

If you want a BlackBerry or an iPhone and nothing else, then you’re not going to be scrutinizing other operating systems too closely. The only decision you have to make is the model you want from RIM and Apple.

You would do well to choose the latest models, mainly because of the latest news from Apple – OS 4 for the iPhone is almost ready and it is compatible only with the iPhone 3G and 3GS models. According to the grapevine, OS4 will allow you to multitask (perhaps Apple has taken all those criticisms about the iPad to heart), store more than 2000 apps on your phone in personalized folders, and also put all your email (from different accounts) in one unified folder.

And nothing can beat a BlackBerry when it comes to push email services – if you’re connected to your job and the world via email, this is the best phone to own.

So moving on those who prefer other models of phones, if you choose a phone with a Windows platform, most phones come with Windows Mobile 6.5. While the interface is slick and the multimedia operations great, this OS is generally buggy and induces one too many complaints. If you’re used to Windows Mobile, you’ll probably want to stick with it, but if you’ve found it slow and buggy in the past, you may be wanting a change.

Palm’s new OS 6 has not taken off really well, but it doesn’t really have to with OS 5 still ruling the roost. You don’t have to worry about your phone hanging too often because of too many applications clogging your memory, what with one application closing automatically when you open another. And although multimedia is not its strong point, Palm users are not a worried lot because it has other pros going for it.

Symbian lags behind the rest in terms of both ease of use and advancements, those who are used to Nokia smartphones prefer this OS to any other.

Android is Google’s baby, and like any other product from this tech giant, it delivers what it promises. Because it is used in a variety of phones like HTC, Samsung and Motorola, it is available in different designs based on the phone company. And best of all, it has edged out the Apple OS as the second highest selling OS in the first quarter of 2010, next only to the BlackBerry OS.

So choose your poison based on your needs; read varied reviews and talk to friends who own different models, but make the choice on what you really want to use your phone for.

About Author:
This article is contributed by Susan White, who regularly writes on the subject of High Speed Internet. She invites your questions, comments.

The 10 Most Useful Features of iOS 4

This is a guest post by James Adams. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.
The new OS for the iPhone promised to bring many new features to the table, further positioning the sleek little gadget as the best in the world. You can send email, play games, and call friends, but iOS 4 allows you to do it more easily. Here are just ten of the new features.
iphone4-ios
1. Custom Dictionary
Are you constantly seeing words that are spelled correctly highlighted because they are in your field? Now, you have a custom dictionary at your disposal. The dictionary has been updated in iOS 4 to rival the one that was issued for the iPad. You can add your new words to the OS’ dictionary.

2. Folders
With folders, you can put your iPhone applications together based on the criteria that you specify. You don’t have to bother with the clutter of having applications everywhere. You can even custom name the folders.

3. Email Scheduling
Don’t worry about going through the hassle of shutting down your mail application just to open your calendar. You can do these tasks simultaneously with the new OS. You can have your email open and then open a new application simultaneously to set a date in your calendar.

4. YouTube Zoom and Rotate
Now you can choose the way that you want your YouTube videos played. If you want to show everything in portrait mode, you have that option available. You can use the portrait mode for small clips to get a taste of the video and then shift to landscape to get the best picture. You are also able to zoom in on the parts that you want to get a better view.

5. Locking Rotation
This feature allows you to pick an orientation and have your iPhone stay with it. You will no longer have to contend with applications firing up without your permission. You can lock your iPhone with the press of a few buttons, and release it just as easily.

6. iBooks
You can shop for books any time that you want to on the iPhone. iBooks gives you a virtual library at your fingertips, making downloading new books fast and easy. Whether you’re on the road or just sitting at home, you’ll always have a book to read.

7. Web and Wikipedia Search
At one time, you could only search internally through email. Once you’ve put iOS 4 on your phone, you can search through Wikipedia and the Web to find all of the things that you need. This makes the iPhone even more of a must-have gadget.

8. Continuous Wi-Fi
Your iPhone will now stay connected so you don’t have to go back and forth with restarting applications. Your music will keep playing in the background if you’re streaming. Your Skype will stay up even when the phone itself goes dark.

9. Photo Rotation
Take the photos that you want, then resize them to your needs. Your pictures can be resized to four sizes: small, medium, large or actual size. You can rotate the pictures to your pleasure, customizing it for easier transportability.

10. Playlists
Playlists are now available to the iPhone users using the iOS 4. You can create a playlist, add or remove songs, and arrange your music to your liking. You can control your music more easily at the touch of a button.

With the new iOS 4 features, you have more functionality at your fingertips. Check them out at your own risk, you might be playing with your iPhone for hours.

This article is contributed by James who is a staff writer at a leading supplier of ink cartridges where he covers new product releases such as the HP 901XL ink cartridge as well as writing about art and design on their blog.

10 Best Alternatives to the iPhone

This is a guest post by James Adams. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.

Apple took the mobile world by storm with its release of the iPhone two years ago, causing a cult of fans who wanted to get their own sparkling phone. At this point, many other developers have jumped into the craze and, in some cases, even developing phones more worth looking at than the iPhone.

1. HTC Google Nexus One [$179]
Google and HTC joined forces to bring the Nexus One, which comes complete with a 480×800 touchscreen, a 5 MP camera and the noteworthy Android 2.1 operating system. Available with T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint, this phone has the iPhone beat six ways from Sunday.

2. Palm Pre [$149]
Surprisingly, a Palm device can successfully compete against the iPhone. Features include a 320×480 touchscreen with a slide-down QWERTY board – an effective alternative to the otherwise uncomfortable onscreen board Apple offers. The Palm Web OS-based phone comes available from Sprint.

3. Motorola Droid [$199]
This is another Android 2.1 phone that was built under Google’s supervision, and it comes with possibly one of the largest screens on a mobile phone, measuring at 3.7 inches and a resolution of 480×854. It comes with the ability to recognize 32 GB of SD storage and has an accelerometer built into it, allowing the screen orientation to change. This phone is available through Verizon.

4. Nokia N97 Mini Driver Edition [$479]
A 3.5 inch touchscreen and SD Card support of up to 16 GB have been built into this gem by Nokia, and it has the Symbian operating system. It is available from the Nokia Store.

5. Samsung Omnia II [$199]
This new release comes with the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system installed onto it, proudly displayed across the full 480×800 touchscreen. Its long list of features include an astounding 6 MP camera, 16 GB internal memory and up to 32 GB external memory by way of an SD card. It is available through Verizon.

6. BlackBerry Bold [$199]
The BlackBerry still holds the reign among capabilities regarding email and instant messaging, complete with a comfortable QWERTY keyboard, the familiar BlackBerry operating system and a BlackBerry-specific app store with many different apps from which to choose. Popular all around the world, the BlackBerry Bold is available through AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.

7. HTC Hero [$299]
Another HTC contender comes the Hero, which has many connectivity options, along with a 5 MP camera. While an iPhone cannot display YouTube videos due to the lack of Flash, the Hero is capable of all of this and much more, directly benefiting from Flash inclusion. The Android-based Hero can be purchased through Alltel, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint.

8. Nokia 5800 XpressMusic [$259]
Nokia finally gets the message about slim phones with this new release. Enjoy the new and improved Nokia OS, a 3.2 inch screen and up to 16 GB of external memory. It is available through the Nokia store.

9. New LG Chocolate [$269]
Always renovating the successful phones, LG has come up with their newest version of their popular Chocolate phone. It contains its own LG operating system, has Bluetooth connectivity and is a slide phone. It can be purchased through the LG store or through Verizon.

10. LG Vu [$249]
This phone is a great alternative to the iPhone, especially since it looks just like one. Also containing the LG operating system, the Vu comes with Mobile TV, a 2 MP camera and a large 3-inch responsive touchscreen. This phone can be purchased through the LG store or through AT&T.

James is a product analyst and writer at an online ink cartridges specialist offering a range of franking machine ink and other supplies to business.

Twitter Mobile Web Adds Reply, Retweet, Favorite..

Twitter Mobile Web was friendly only for status update. There was no reply button, no retweet button and no favorite button.

It was kind of frustrating to remember the Twitter ID of the person, and then type it in the update box(without spelling mistakes!) and send the reply.

Recently Twitter has added bunch of new features to it, to make it more useful. Now I don’t use any Apps, I just use the simple mobile web interface.

Some of the things added to Twitter Mobile Web are – reply, retweet, favorite, turn off the images, Popular topics, popular topics of today week etc, real time search capabilities, hhmm, but the copy rights has not yet been updated, its still showing © 2009. If you find some thing more, please share it with us in the comment section.

Missing..
Yes, I still miss the display of updates in AJAX style(That we can see on Standard Twitter Web). We need to refresh each time to see the new updates. And there is a big Refresh button provided at the top for this purpose.

Here are some of the screen shots from my Nokia 6630.

Problem!
Although there was one issue(at the time of writing this post). Once you goto twitter mobile web and input your user id and password and hit signin, it just refuses to signin and stays on the same page. There is a big Refresh button at the top of the page, which is of no use!

To get into Twitter, all you need is, to switch to Standard Twitter Webpage – signin and then switch back to Twitter Mobile Web, and it works!

Phone Recycling – a Smart Idea, for a Good Cause

If you are living in India you might have come across an ad featuring Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, where he endorse Nokia and its phone recycling work.

Message from the ad: “For every recycled phone, Nokia will plant a try.”

I was curious to know, whether there are any other companies out there doing this work already. Just Google and found a website SellMyMobile.

The difference is, Nokia will probably scrap the phone and make new phones using the recycled materials from your old phone.

Sell My Mobile is a mobile phone recycling comparison service that allows users to get the best prices possible when they come to sell their mobile phones. The site lists the most valuable phones and the most popular phones to be sold.

The process of selling your old mobile phone seems to be easy and takes just few minutes. All you need to do is type in your mobile phone’s model number into the search box and pick the best price that is returned to you. You will then receive a freepost address to send your phone away and a cheque will drop through your letter box within a few days. It really is that easy to sell mobile phone handsets with Sell My Mobile.

I also saw ebay and other places, but the price for the old phone was low and the third party website doesn’t seem to take care of the transaction – except taking their piece of price(service charge).