Huawei built T-Mobile Pulse: Dutch only for now?

With the second half of 2009 looking pretty decent for Android with several handsets already released and several more promising ones due out before years end, Android is setting up for an even better 2010. One phone that has caught my eye and kept my attention particularly because I’ve never really had any experience with that manufacturer before, is that of the T-Mobile Pulse built by Huawei. The device has already passed the FCC and is slated for an October Dutch release before the ball drops for 2010. As far as specs go, the Pulse will feature a 3.5″ 320 x 480 HVGA touchscreen display, HSPA/WiFi/GPS, 1500 mAh battery, and a 3.2 megapixel camera — definitely a handset worth looking at. Not to mention, from the image above, it also actually packs a rather slick looking design which is something the G1 wishes it had I’m sure.

The only disheartening news is that for now, the Dutch look to be the only lucky souls to soon be wrapping their little fingers around such a stylish and feature packed device. However I remain hopeful that T-Mobile U.S. decides to dip it’s toes in Huawei’s product line. Don’t you?

Source: Cellphone Signal

Apple desperately needs to hire…More App Store employees needed

With all of the controversy and public fixation on the Apple App Store approval process (or lack thereof) and the seemingly increasingly ridiculous app rejections that are coming to light, many have called for an explanation. Being the tightly run and secretive company that Apple is, answers to such pleas have gone largely ignored until recently when the FCC jumped in on the bandwagon with the Google Voice rejection. However, the real sweet bit of information came when Apple revealed exactly how apps get approved/rejected and just how many bodies are responsible. The glaring truth: Apple needs to hire more people…

Entitlement and greed in the digital age never cease to amaze me…

Since the age of entitlement is upon us, why not highlight the problems and idiocy that is prevalent in today’s world with another story of someone/group abusing and using DMCA to stifle forward progress. Today’s story-o-stupidity centers around an iPhone app named “StationStops” (iTunes Link) and the MTA. StationStops as you can gather from the name, provides offline access to train arrival/departure times for New York’s metropolitan train lines. The problem is that the MTA is throwing out the now all too common complaint of a DMCA violation as they claim the train schedules and data are copyrighted intellectual property. The developer, Chris, believes stalled negotiations with the MTA is the reason they’re being less than hospitable.

BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac “cleaner, faster, and less-bloated than PC version”.

While Mac/OS X and BlackBerries/BlackBerry OS both share the same basic philosophy, “It just works”, the way they display that ideology to the world is considerably different. Macs have a pristine eye candy appearance whereas BlackBerries employ a bare bones simple approach to the whole UI thing. Since the dawn of time (and the two respective companies), Mac support for RIM developed software has been sorely lacking to non-existant. 3rd parties have had to step in to remedy the situation which often result in incomplete or downright crappy apps. However, as announced several months back, RIM is in the final stages of Desktop Manager for Mac to the joy of Mac addicts and CrackBerry freaks everywhere. If you really want to get a good look at the app in action, check out Boy Genius’ early “pre-review” as he was oh so lucky enough to somehow get his hands on it.

So what’s the overall verdict so far? “It’s cleaner, faster, less-bloated and generally more pleasurable to use than the horrid excuses they call software for the PC”. Looks like the Windows development team is going to need to step it up just a tad if they want to keep their jobs.

Source: BGR

DMCA bullshit be dammed! Free Speech FTW!

Just because I can! To hell with Yahoo and Flickr! You may or may not know the controversy surrounding the whole Obama/Joker image and the removal of said image from Flickr. The last couple of days has seen an outpouring of angered individuals across the internet accusing Yahoo and Flickr of trying to sensor the internet and such. Yahoo has rebutted with a DMCA violation take-down notice they received saying that they cherish free speech but the law made them do it. But did they really? Why wasn’t a similar notice filed for the Jokerized image of Bush? Such double standards make one curious. Yahoo further added that any individual with a side of beef can file a counterclaim themselves. Wow. Way to rollover. Here’s a crazy idea…grow some balls people and stand up for yourself and your rights! If every company and individual was as spineless as Yahoo/Flickr God help us. Censorship is something that we usually hear about occurring outside of the US. But now it is coming from within.

The utter useless horseshit that is the DMCA is quickly killing any shred of common sense and fair use across the internet. DMCA notices are being unleashed in a flood to users all across the internet all over the world. Often times, such as the case with the Obama/Joker picture, the DMCA accusations are being grossly misused. The last couple of years copyright laws, policies, and DMCA non-sense has escalated to alarming levels. What does the future hold for us? Now I’m not trying to drum up fear and drama to get another post done. It is a legitimate concern. Now that the sensor/DMCA abuse ball is rolling, how/when is it going to stop? How about another dose of fair use and free speech! (See below)

Either way you look at it, either the DMCA and “copyright violation” are being abused, or we’re seeing the beginning of censorship. Which is it?

*I realize that Obama portrayed as the joker and the word socialism don’t go together (as noted by Tech Crunch) as the joker in his true form is an anarchist…still…the larger issue remains*

Source:TechCrunch, LA Times

Glowing Toilet Paper: Never miss another opportunity to poop in the dark

While most of things that pass my eye and make their way onto the front page of Gadgetsteria have some sort of electronic circuit in them or aid something with an electronic circuit in them, this particular innovative geekified object was too good to pass up. Let me ask you a question. Have you ever been in the situation when the light was a little lacking, your bowels are screaming for mercy, and there is not bathroom/port-a-potty/soft grassy patch behind a tree in sight? For many nomads and campers, this is a daily occurrence. For others, such a scenario is practically a death sentence. But it doesn’t have to be. How so? Thank the inventors of glow in the dark toilet paper.

While it won’t help you find a place to “go”, it will at least make those midnight bowel emptying excursions into the unknown a tad more bearable. At first the concept of lgow in the dark toilet paper may sound a little crazy and pointless, just think of how helpful it would be in the middle of a pitch black woods. Wouldn’t want to go it alone without any light would you? God forbid your hand slips…. £5/$8 USD (pre-order….available from September 30th) entitles you to happier lightless pooping. I’ll take two cases please.

Happy Pooping!

[Product Page]

Source: Nerd Approved,

Whitoken iPod Touch theme. Best ever?

As if we needed another reason to jailbreak…if you were on the fence as to whether to jailbreak your iPod Touch or not, the Whitoken theme could quite possibly drop kick you off of your perch atop the digital fence of uncertainty. Featuring what is (to me) by far the best layout and color choices for a theme to date easily convinced me to re-jailbreak my iPod and start rockin’ this theme. Whitoken hasn’t been officially released yet and you’ll also notice I only mention the iPod Touch as an iPhone version hasn’t been announced yet. Hopefully with greater showcasing, the creator or someone willing to take the time will create an iPhone version. I really can’t get over how awesome this theme looks. Agree?

Source: Gizmodo, MacThemes