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TiVo Lifetime Subscription: Get it While it’s Hot

November 8th, 2007 by iDunzo

TiVo is temporarily offering it’s much loved (and long dead) lifetime subscription option, the Product Lifetime Service, for the Series 3 and HD models.

It’ll cost you $400.00 USD on top of the price of the kit, but that’s it: no more monthly payments, ever.

You’ll have to be quick, though, as the offer only runs until January 2nd next year. It looks like a quick Christmas cash-in.

It also makes the $300.00 USD, three-year service TiVo Giftcard look like rather a silly Christmas present this year.

Posted in Geekery + Technology + Toys & Gadgets | 1 Comment »

Periodic Table Shower Curtain

November 7th, 2007 by iDunzo

If you don’t know your Krypton from your Kryptonite, this vinyl shower curtain is here to help.

Printed with the entire Periodic Table of Elements, peruse the atomic weight of calcium whilst simultaneously considering the limescale on the faucet.

You can purchase this geek-tastic shower curtain from Amazon.com for $30.95 USD.

As an added bonus, you can also get what looks to be the exact same shower curtain from Think Geek for $29.99 USD.

Posted in Geekery + Technology + Toys & Gadgets | Comments Off on Periodic Table Shower Curtain

Microsoft Sync Framework: One Part Google Gears

November 5th, 2007 by iDunzo

Microsoft has released an early preview of a new programming tool known as the Microsoft Sync Framework, which looks to be one part Google Gears, with on/offline sync capabilities, and one part Time Machine-like, OS-level syncing system.

According to the documentation, the Sync Framework will allow developers to take online services and databases offline.

Microsoft says the framework can synchronize “any type of file including contacts, music, videos, images and settings.”

The Sync Framework also includes “built-in support for synchronizing relational databases, NTFS / FAT file systems, Simple Sharing Extensions for RSS/ATOM, devices and web services.”

Microsoft rather boldly claims that Sync will support “any application, any type of data, using any protocol over any network.”

But reading through the description on the Microsoft download site, it would appear that the new framework goes somewhat beyond the scope of Google Gears and enables, in addition to the offline support, various collaboration and file syncing capabilities.

Among the scenarios Microsoft notes in the documentation are multi-master file sync between multiple PCs, synchronization between PCs using a USB Drive, taking a network share offline and maintaining a backup copy of files.

At the moment the Sync Framework only supports Windows Vista, XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 Service pack 3. It’s unclear whether Microsoft will expand that support in the future.

Microsoft has yet to release any details regarding a timeframe for the final release of Microsoft Sync Framework, though the developer preview is available for those interested in testing it.

Posted in Google + Microsoft + Software + Technology | Comments Off on Microsoft Sync Framework: One Part Google Gears

Apple iPhone Firmware Update 1.1.2 On The Way

November 5th, 2007 by iDunzo

In what is sure to ignite another outcry against Apple, the latest firmware update for the iPhone will – you guessed it – wipe out access to third-party applications and wireless networks other than AT&T’s. Again.

The firmware update, to 1.1.2, is said to be coming this week in conjunction with the iPhone’s launch in the U.K.

iPhones will be available in Great Britain starting on Friday, and will come preloaded with 1.1.2.

Since iTunes 7.5 is also rumored to be released this week, it isn’t a big stretch to surmise that Apple will make the 1.1.2 firmware update available to the general public as well.

There are some positives in the update. The iPhone will support more languages, notably Cantonese.

There is also full support for French and German, with different keyboard configurations to provide access to special characters used in those languages.

No real surprises there, as the iPhone is going to be hitting European shores later this month.

The bad news is, according to those who’ve seen the 1.1.2 firmware, it will again lock out access to third-party applications by fixing the loophole that currently lets users unlock their iPhones.

According to MacRumors, one third-party application in particular is being targeted by Apple this time around: iToner.

iToner allows users to create their own custom ringtones from their iTunes library and install them on the iPhone.

Since this prevents Apple from earning some extra cash, it’s no real surprise that it would take action to stop this application.

The update will also break access to unlocking the SIM card so iPhones can be used on other networks.

Not much else has been leaked about the firmware update, and it is unknown if it will provide any new features or functionality to the iPhone.

Undoubtedly, the ever-diligent hacking community will likely come up with yet more ways to circumvent the iPhone’s locking software and open it back up.

All we can do is sit back and wait for it all to happen. Again.

Posted in Apple + Software + Technology + Wireless | Comments Off on Apple iPhone Firmware Update 1.1.2 On The Way

gPhone Software: “Everything You Need To Run A Phone”

November 3rd, 2007 by iDunzo

Google’s Monday Revolution will be a suite of software based on Linux and codenamed “Android,” according to a story published at News.com.

This suite is implied to be an operating system (“it’s said to include everything you need to run a phone”) to be followed immediately thereafter by an SDK.

The rest of the story is standard gPhone preview: weasel-worded blather like “backed by some of the largest wireless industry companies in the world” and “carrier X is said to be heavily involved.”

Buried deep, however, are nuggets like JumpTap executive Dan Olschwang wondering if the whole thing is just a giant trap to get people to write expansions to Google’s software.

Tim Hanlon of Denuo points out that if the gPhone’s framework is anything like what’s described here, the carriers would be loathe to let it in their playground at all.

With all the buzz the past year or so with talks of a Google phone, would you be interested in Google gPhone software?

I’m all for this sort of “geek to the core” phone technology, especially if Google has a say in it.

Posted in Google + Software + Technology + Wireless | Comments Off on gPhone Software: “Everything You Need To Run A Phone”

Google’s Mobile Plans To Be Revealed Monday

November 2nd, 2007 by iDunzo

I guess Google couldn’t wait two weeks to spill the beans.

It appears that Google is prepared to make an announcement on Monday regarding its plans in the mobile space, and sources say Sprint, T-Mobile and a bunch of handset makers will be involved.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Monday will likely be the day we learn the fate of the wireless industry.

Whether Google will move along an evolutionary or revolutionary path is completely unknown, but the result will probably shake up the industry either way.

At least two carriers, Sprint and T-Mobile, are on board with whatever Google is up to. Along with the carriers, handset vendors are working behind the scenes, too.

The Journal’s Amol Sharma writes:

While Sprint appears to be agreeing to work with Google to put the Web giant’s new Linux-based open operating system into phones, T-Mobile will probably go even further: the company has worked with Google for months on plans to build Google-powered phones with a variety of Google software and applications. As far as handset partners for Google, Taiwan’s HTC is a likely bet, our sources say. Samsung, LG, and SonyEricsson are also possible, but we’ll wait and see the full roster. Equally interesting will be who isn’t on the list.

Even though T-Mobile is lagging behind the other major U.S. network operators from a technical standpoint (no 3G yet), it is more forward thinking when it comes to its products and services.

In this respect, it makes sense for T-Mobile to be pushing Google the hardest for a more fully evolved product.

On the OEM side, HTC is an obvious choice but by deploying a platform, and not just one piece of hardware, it will allow more parts of the mobile ecosystem to share in the development and growth of the industry.

Posted in Google + Technology + Wireless | Comments Off on Google’s Mobile Plans To Be Revealed Monday