iPhone Palringo app updated to include location, distance, and maps

Palringo has been in my opinion one of the better free messaging apps for the iPhone.  It has a ton of features that the more expensive paid apps sometimes lack, or has had those features longer than the paid versions.  The developers of Palringo are not sitting down though as a new version has been released.  Starting today, when you look down your contact list in Palringo you can see your Palringo friends’ location, in the form of a city name, as well as how far away that contact is from you.  Pretty neat feature!  Not extremely useful per say, but a fun tid bit of information none the less.  Further updates of Palringo will include an option to click on that friends location which will in turn bring up a map showing the exact location of that friend as well as all of you other contacts within a 10km radius.  I for one will be looking forward to the update.

What’s your take on more and more apps including mapping features?  Are they usefull? Worthless? Or just time wasters?  Shout out below.

Source: Slashphone

Blackberry 8900 complete head to toe review

So,  you want to jump into the Blackberry world, or, upgrade from your old curve but don’t need the speed (and battery serial killer: 3G)?  Rim and T-Mobile have the solution for you.  The Blackberry 8900 is basically the same exact thing as the Bold save for 3G.  There’s even a few improvements on the 8900 that the Bold doesn’t have such as a 3.2 MP camera vs. the Bold’s lowly 2.0 MP.  Also, the pixel density is higher on the 8900 as the screen squeezes more pixels into the same sized screen: 8900 (480 x 360) vs. Bold (480 x 320.  Is it a huge difference? No, but it is one more eagled eyed users will surely notice and appreciate.  Beyond the innards, the outside appearance of the 8900 is just stunning.  It’s a big step up from the Curve, and the Curve was previously the best looking in my opinion.  RIM truly inovated here.  RIM’s current line up with the Bold and the 8900 provide a pretty heft 1…2… punch.  For a much more detailed review full of pictures and all kinds of specs to answer every question and make you whip out your wallet faster than Angelina Jolie at an orphanage, head on over to Crackberry!

Source: Crackberry

Teach the tot how to email, get them a “Baby Blackberry”

In what is sure to infuriate some pyscho anti-tech invasion group out there, Leap Frog has announced a toddlerized “email device” that will allow them to learn how to type on such devices without mommy and daddy  having to worry who and what little jimmy is sending.  This baby beast has a full QWERTY keyboard and large screen so little Jimmy can send pretend text messages to the onscreen puppy, “Spot”.  Don’t worry parents there is some knowledge to be had as the device also comes with a calendar for the little tikes to learn numbers and dates.  So how much will it cost to leapfrog (pun intended…sorry couldn’t help myself) little Jimmy into the digital age?  Around $29.  Happy typing!

Source: Pocket Lint

Comcast/AT&T buddy up with the devil. (RIAA)

Not too long ago the RIAA was suing the pants off of supposed “illegal filesharers”.  Their normal targets being helpless 12 year old kids.  Good plan guys.  They’ve since moved on and are now dropping that tactic.  Instead they are going higher up to to ISP level.  When the RIAA first came out with this proposal none of the ISP’s were really interested in helping the RIAA and being an internet cop.  However Comcast and AT&T seem to be changing stances.  The new polices implemented would be loosely based off of a copyright law that was enacted in France in 2007.  What happens is that when the ISP detects a “file sharer” they send them a notice to cease and desist.  After three notices, the ISP will cut off your internet access.

The “A” phone coming February 16th (Acer)

That’s right, Acer is supposedly launching a smartphone on February 16th.  The smartphone arena is quickly becoming a hotbed of activity and for good reason.  There is a ton of potential in this marekt space.  So far all thats confidently known is that the aPhone will be rocking dragging Windows Mobile along.  Heres hoping that they making something truly innovative instead of another cookie cutter Win Mo phone.

Source: Boy Genius, Pocket Lint

iDen breaks into 2006 with their first QWERTY phone!

When you hear the words “Nextel” or “iDen”, you usually begin to picture old, thick, and rubber encased phones that are horribly out of date. Well, most of that still applies. However the ‘ol iDen network is making some progress. Take for example the new i465, which claims the title of “Nextel’s first QWERTY phone”! So what OS will this beast be rockin’? Windows Mobile? Nope! Symbian? Try again. Android? Keep dreaming. Sadly, the first QWERTY title is coming to a “dumbphone”. That is, the i465 is more geared towards little Benny, not daddy. Mobile professionals will definitely want to look elsewhere. Hopefully Nextel comes to their senses quickly and starts pushing out this new feature to many more phones in their lineup! Besides the keyboard, a few other known specs include an aged VGA camera and Bluetooth 2.0. Hey give Nextel a break. This is a hot phone for them!

Source: Engadget Mobile

“All you can eat…errr listen music buffet”…$1.38/month. Compliments Isle of Man

Can you imagine downloading all of the music you want for a measly $1.38/month?  Does this sound too good to be true, a mere figment of someone’s imagination?  Well this “figment” is very real and slowly making its way through the local government of a tiny little island.   This tiny little island that is located in Irish Sea goes by the name of “Isle of Man” has come up with quite possibly the most ingenious method to embrace ”piracy”.  I’ll give you a hint, it involves a buffet!