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Free PIGFLU Updates by Text

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Hot Deals, Internet, Science,

Is there no end of the ways to remind us that the Swine Flu (H1N1) exists? Apparently not, as this one will give you free updates with SMS messages on your cell phone. Text “PIGFLU” to 41411 and you will receive news that included CDC/WHO updates, new outbreak alerts, travel warnings and health authority information. Messages are sent one to 3 times daily and you may have to pay for text charges, depending on your phone plan.

Tellme Mobile Voice Service

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, GPS, Microsoft,

Tellme When you get tired of answering “What are you doing now?” try Tellme. A subsidiary of Microsoft, the mobile voice service allows users to press a button and say what they want. Due out this fall in Windows Mobile equipped phones, say “text” and a box opens, say “call” and a name and the contact list retrieves it, or search by words like, “pizza in Seattle” or “movie matinees.” By the way, it will only work with GPS-enabled phones and rates may be applied.

TweetCall - Twitter by Voice

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Handhelds, Internet, Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop,

Poor texters can now use TweetCall to speak their messages. A free service, after signing up, you dial up 1-877-TWEETCALL, tweet a bit and your voice is transcribed. The service is powered by Quicktate that uses real humans to proofread for correct syntax, spelling, punctuation and capitalization, not that most use them in the first place. And speaking rather than typing may result in your being cut off because you went past your 140 character limit.

Plustek BookReader

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech,

Plustek’s BookReader has optical character recognition and auto-document orientation that converts Text to Speech in what they say is “high quality speech with a lifelike voice.” You simply push a button and the device converts printed text with high-speed scanning, which can be saved in MP3 format for later access. Other features include magnifying and bookmark functions, volume and speech controls, font control and PDF reading. What a great gift for lazy parents, visually impaired, or anyone who has neither the time nor inclination to pick up a book. The BookReader can be yours for $700.00.

Amazon Two For One Peek

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Hot Deals, Internet, Misc. Tech,

Peek Amazon has joined the ranks of other companies to offer a sweet deal for Valentine’s Day. Can’t get enough emails from your loved one? The online company is offering a 2fer deal. Buy one Peek for $79.99 and get a second free with instant rebate. The device comes in grey, pink or aqua, and has a color display, full keypad and simple menu usage. To get both, add an extra one at checkout.

Gmail Now Offers Drunken E-mailing Protection

Posted by Patrick Phelps Categories: Google, PC / Laptop, Software,

Google Drunk E-mailing First there was drunk dialing – with a virtual Rolodex of both personal and work-related contact information just a keystroke away, it was only a matter of time before Google Labs came up with an idea to combat the latest device of the cocktail-inspired composer: drunk e-mailing. Mail Goggles, a new Gmail feature offered only on weekends between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. was created with the intoxicated in mind. The program requires users who’ve enabled the function to perform five simple math problems within 60 seconds of clicking the send button, just to verify that you’re in the right state of mind – a designated driver on the so-called information superhighway.

Kapsys Kapten GPS System

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: GPS, Portable Audio / Video, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi,

Kapten Never get lost jogging again. The French company Kapsys has unveiled their Kapten mini portable GPS device without a screen. Designed for pedestrians rather than vehicles, its interface works with voice recognition or text-to-speech. At a size of only 74 x 44 x 13mm and a weight of 50g, it has TeleAtlas from France but other cities are downloadable. The Kapten has a SiRF Star III receiver and can hold up to 4GB memory. It also can do Bluetooth and is an MP3 player and FM tuner. Look for a mid-September launch for £150 (~$300.00.)

Student Diagnosed with Text-Messagers Thumb

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Science,

Text Messaging A 20 year-old student in New Zealand has been diagnosed as having the country’s first case of texting tenosynovitis, aka text-messager’s thumb, caused by sending about 100 messages a day from her cell phone. The affliction results in tendons in the thumb becoming inflamed. Only two other cases have been reported from Singapore and Australia, but we can think of plenty of our friends that probably suffer from it but would never admit to it.

Text It Before You Forget It

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Internet,

kwiry For those who cannot always remember, kwiry is a California-based company that finally understands what it is like to see something when you are out and about, want to make a note of it, and keep it when there is no post-it around to remind you. To receive the service, you sign up, text on your cell phone to 59479 (K-W-I-R-Y,) and once you get home they will send you an e-mail. You can also log into their website and get the message. One more click and it will search for you. Of course, you can always text it yourself, or take a pic of it on your phone, but sometimes we forget that, too. kwiry is a free service, but you may have text message rates that will apply. Umm, what was that number again?

X7 Does More Than Find Your Way

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, GPS, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Transportation,

Yukyng has unveiled their viliv X7 GPS DMB that runs on AU1250 600MHz CPU and supports TPEG/DMB. It features a 7-inch, 600 x 480 touchscreen as well as a cam and has image and text viewing capability. It holds up to 4GB storage that can expand to 8GB with an additional SDHC card. But the part we like best is the ability to connect to karaoke, so that if you manage to get lost, you can always sing until someone finds you and tells you to shut up. Look for a MSRP of 499,000 KRW ($539.00.)

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