By Staff Writer –

After the gut wrenching review from Consumer Reports, the iPhone 4’s fate has been put into question. And it’s anyone’s guess if the phone will be recalled.

But Mashable insists, the recall is just a Twitter rumor. Instead of endlessly complaining about the problems the iPhone 4 has, some people are taking the time to take the piss out of the new gadget.

Newmax lists David Letterman’s Top Ten:

Top Ten Signs You’ve Purchased a Bad iPhone

10. To make a call, you have to insert a quarter

9.  Automatically answers every call with a computerized, “Yello!”

8.  Operates on 20 “D” batteries

7.  Pre-loaded with naked photos of Steve Jobs

6.  You keep getting anonymous texts reading, “iPhone kill you”

5.  “Apple Store” looks suspiciously like some dude’s trunk

4.  Looks, smells, and tastes like a Pop-Tart

3.  There’s no lather when washing your cornea (Sorry, that’s a sign you’ve purchased a bad eye foam)

2.  You check your e-mail and it shocks you

1.  Only accepts calls from Mel Gibson

According to CNET, the iPhone 4 problem isn’t a laughing matter:

While a recall could be damaging to Apple’s reputation, it would also be a costly endeavor, according to some calculations made by Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi. In a research note on Tuesday, Sacconaghi estimated that while “a full product recall of the iPhone 4 (is) highly unlikely,” it would cost Apple $1.5 billion, or 3.5 percent of its total cash on hand.

Photo via Consumer Reports

The iPhone 4 recall rumors and more is a post from: TechStartups.com

When I’m at the beach, I love nothing more than sitting back and reading — until I fall asleep with the sound of the waves hitting the shore.

I feel like a dinosaur when it comes to using E-books or the iPad, as I looked at the stack of magazines I lugged with me. But I can see the appeal of e books. After all, I did take my iPhone with me to the beach to read the news.

Today, Amazon rolled out with multimedia content for e-books, including video and audio playback. By taking advantage of the functionality of devices like the iPhone and Kindle apps, the e books are turning into a lively, engaging book.

Unlike the Kindle, a device that is designed to require low batter and use special e-ink technology, other devices such as the iPad, are made to run video and audio. Anyone who owns an iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch can check out a selection of 13 books that add audio and video along with the printed word.

Some of the books offered are:

• walking tours by Rick Steves (Paris, London, and Venice)
• Rose Levy Beranbaum’ book, Heavenly Cakes, with video
• Beatles songbook
• Les Miserables Vol 9
• Knitting for Dummies 2e
• Lullaby Baby
• Bird songs

The change in technology is easy to adapt to because we are the ones making the choices. However, in the workplace, the “iWorker” could catch IT guys by surprise.

Information Week reports:

While it comes as no surprise that enterprises have been trying to support all the various devices, including a multitude of computers, phones, audio players, tablets, and eBooks, the speed with which they are penetrating the workplace is catching IT off guard, the June report said.

On average, an employee has four devices and several social media sites that he uses throughout the work day. How many do you use? And have you started reading books on your devices yet?

E-books take on a new life with multimedia content is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

Pizza Hut is a great example of a company who has embraced short codes for advertising. As it turns out, and is also a no brainer, giving away free pizza is a great way to get people to text in.

The results? Pizza Hut will reach out to more pizza lovers.

According to a White Paper called “Common Short Codes: The Time Is Now for Mobile Marketing and Outreach”:

Common Short Codes (CDCs) represent the only universal way in the United States for brands to connect with almost all mobile users. They do so through Short message Service (SMS), or “text messaging,” which is built into almost every cell phone….

Common Short Codes represent the fastest, surest, and most proven way for brands
and organizations of any size to obtain access to today’s mobile culture and create a
mobile presence.

Pizza Hut is just a piece of the pie. Other businesses are using short codes too, according to The White Paper:

• NBA, NFL, and the Grammys
• Political campaigns. Obama for America, of course.
• The Boston police
• Verizon
• GQ magazine
• Fandango
• ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and Bravo
• AskMeNow
• MLB
• Google

Even journalists could use a short code. My short code is Boonsri. I’m new at it, so I’ll let you know how it goes as I learn how to use it.

In the future, I think it will become much more personal. Instead of texts and links to mobile sites, you’ll send out voice messages or videos.

There’s one company that’s already pioneering that technology. Startup company Bubble Motion has the infrastructure to send voice messages to the masses. It’s popular in Asia and India, so far.

As I previously wrote in Forbes:

“We have a real revenue model, a traditionally based one with real margins, not just page views,” says [Tom] Clayton… The initial launch of Bubbly is with voice, but Clayton says the company has plans to enable video sharing too.

How to use short code advertising for your business is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer – Boonsri Dickinson (@boonspoon)

So many print publications have died as advertising dollars have dried up. While more of our time is spent online, the advertising online budgets have been sluggish to catch up and the CPM numbers are way below other traditional forms of media.

Bambi of Vator.TV writes about how online advertising will explode. Cecilia Kang agrees, saying in her blog Post Tech that “even as users spend 28 percent of total entertainment time on the Internet, advertisers only spend 13 percent of their budgets on the Internet. That represents a $50 billion opportunity, she said, that advertisers are starting to seize.”

Internet research analyst Mary Meeker talked about online marketing in a presentation at the Conversation marketing Summit in New York. In her talk, she mentioned the big companies that have incredible innovation: Apple, Google, Amazon.com, Tencent, Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft, PayPal, Netflix, and Salesforce.com. The startups that came from nothing include: Facebook, Skype, Zynga, Twitter, OpenTable/Yelp, Hulu, Gilt/One Kinegs Lane/ Rue La La, Groupon, Tapulous/ Digital Chocolate/Ngmoco. It’s interesting to note that the startups have a social platform to exchange ideas, watch content, video calling, play location games, and buy virtual goods.

As much as online media confused advertising models, mobile ads are supposed to cause an even bigger disruption. The Wall Street Journal reports that advertising will be Apple’s next shakeup. As people use apps and search from their phones for information, the need make traditional searches will be less necessary.

via Vator TV

Photo: Plinkk/ Flickr

Is online advertising ever going to take off? is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer – Boonsri Dickinson (@boonspoon)

I am happy now — I survived my first story telling experience.

People told me I was “good,” but I won’t believe them until I see the video footage. Plus, is “good” the same as “nice” in the dating lingo?

I was impressed with the silly, smart co-host scientists. But this is how the night began.

I got to the story telling show right on time. It was at the Pacific Standard in Brooklyn and the owner of the bar was in the line up behind me.

Tonight’s show was based on the theme — “Friction.” The show began with Ben Lillie and Brian Wecht introducing themselves and telling a little story themselves. Check out the Facebook page for their bio.

The crowd laughed a lot — which ALWAYS helps. I told a story about taking a creationist on a dino digging trip with me.

After the 1.5 hour show, I thought the two physicist hosts did a wonderful job making all five acts intertwine. Discussion centered about science, religion, dinosaurs, dreams not working out, and feeling alienated in your childhood home, getting scooped on research — and how it totally sucks and by making a list of topics, I’m naturally leaving a lot of interesting ones out.

The video of the show will be posted on the show’s main site, The Story Collider, soon. Stay tuned.

The hosts ended by telling people to think about what image reminds them of science. Period Table does it for some. And Hubble was Ben’s personal favorite — you’d think he was talking about Star Wars or something. Here’s my answer:

My image of science is a magazine, in fact, it is that single memory that made me apply for a job at the magazine that occupied much of my childhood. It was everywhere around the house. I looked forward to getting the new issue of Discover magazine in the mail because it explained science to me in a way my text books failed to. So obviously, when it came time to apply for a science journalism job,  I applied to Discover. I’m glad I experienced it, but I am glad to be free.

Speaking of freedom, I think that it’s time to catch up on some sleep.

Why science story telling was funnier than stand up comedy is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer – Boonsri Dickinson (@boonspoon)

Here’s what happened after the Gizmodo drama unfolded with the stolen iPhone.

“I got a lot of advice from people who said you got to let it slide…I thought the worst thing that could possibly happen as we get big and get more influence in the world is if we change our core values than let them slide,” he says in the video.

Jobs says want to build the best products for people. He loves getting emails from customers that say how “cool” the products are. It makes his day and it’s what keeps him going.

Steve Jobs gives his side of the stolen iPhone ordeal is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

The iPhone 4 is coming soon. I really want one, even more than an iPad — especially since my friend who said the iPad was magical, thinks the awkwardly named gadget is a waste of space. Go figure.

As buzz over our gadget obsessed culture hit the social media scene today, Steve Jobs unveiled a device catered to our multi-tasking needs — the iPhone 4 allows media hungry users to run several applications at once.

But you’ll have to wait until mid June to pre-order the new phone. Tech Crunch demonstrated how the phone would run with Pandora in the background. As a frequent user of Pandora, I thought this video was worth posting:

Besides being a powerful musical companion, the iPhone 4 could be a traveler’s best friend. You can put travel related apps in a folder, the microphone blocks out background noise, and email is put into a universal inbox. And the cameras (the front camera, the HD video camera, and the 5 megapixal camera) are the major selling point.

However, Apple will have battle it out with Google in the mobile ad market, which is slated to be much bigger than the actual sale of the smart phones. According to True/Slant:

Jobs predicts iAds will grab nearly half of the 2010 mobile advertising market — a claim that was immediately challenged by Admob, Google’s dominant mobile ad network.

US mobile Web advertising is expected to reach $3.8 billion this year, according to JP Morgan analyst Imran Khan, which is well below his forecast of nearly $25 billion, a majority of which is spent on text messaging. Morgan Stanley analyst Mary Meeker predicts mobile Web users will outpace desktop Internet users within five years. The yawning gap between the consumer time and advertiser dollars spent on mobile connected devices represents a $50 billion opportunity,  superceding the actual sales of iPhones and Android-powered devices.

I want the iPhone 4 is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

Most of us are addicted to gadgets. Today, Steve Jobs announced the iPhone4, adding another one for us to get attached to.

“Now stop me if you’ve already seen this,” Jobs joked.

Laughter broke out, as people recalled the Gizmodo exclusive of the phone’s prototype.

It turns out many of Gizmodo’s predictions were accurate. Here are the features the new iPhone will have:

• Video recording in HD (720 pixels at 30 frames per second)
• 16GB or 32GB flash drive
• 5 megapixel still camera
• front camera
• FED flash (finally a flash!)
• Photo and video geotagging

The video calling feature is available through FaceTime, in places where there is a Wi-Fi network. The phone also has built-in video editing and a A4 processor. Oh and the battery life is supposed to be better.

The gyroscope helps detect motion — which is good for all the gamers out there. The “retina” display is the “highest-resolution phone screen ever.” And you can multitask with the phone, which we all love to do apparently.

Jobs called it his “baby.” From what I’ve seen (in pictures and video), I like everything about the phone, except the fact users won’t be able to have unlimited data plans. This seems like highway robbery to me.

Still undecided? Well, PC magazine compared the iPhone 4 to the other smart phones on the market. None of them are perfect.

Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone 4 is a post from: TechStartups.com

Vator Tv lets startups share news, follow their favorite companies, and contribute to tech news.

Bambi Francisco Roizen runs an impressive shop, no doubt. The entrepreneurial channel began in 2007 as “a little garage project.” For the full story, read here.

It’s been called the YouTube of startups. And Bambi taps into the elevator pitch method to vet startups and combines it with American Idol style of voting to weed them out.

Check out some recent news covered by Vator:

• 52% of U.S. adults have watched online videos
• Can CrowdFlower become Thunder Lizard?
• HearPlanet – a geoWeb iPhone app worth a look
• Vator Box gives Ofbeat Guides two thumbs up
• Social apps as ads? We look at Buddy Media

Three years in, Bambi reflects on what Vator has become:

Vator has always been – from the moment it was conceived to the time it launched nearly three years ago – a place for startups to bubble up from the pack, or at the very least, have a platform to be recognized by anyone and everyone. We’ve evolved a lot since first having a crude site where entrepreneurs of all stripes (toy maker in Austria for example) uploaded video pitches. Today, mostly high-tech entrepreneurs use their profiles to communicate with our growing entrepreneur ecosystem. Smule is a great example.

If you are thinking about starting a company, it would be worth checking out the site’s resources section.

Vator TV is the YouTube for entrepreneurs is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer – Boonsri Dickinson (@boonspoon)

Where is the value in the brands to create new products? What is it about the Vanity Fair brand? Why does society think that is okay to illegally download movies online, but think it’s not okay to steal a DVD from Walmart?

These are all typical executive questions about the future of media.

So are you wondering what the future of media is?

Well, the panelists seem to think game mechanics and game like interactions will change the business model around the way content is delivered.

Maybe it’s the experience that you can never pirate and illegally downloading stuff will become extinct (unlikely). Content will emerge with games. For instance, Zynga can make games cheaply, where web series don’t incorporate the game element and cost a lot to make.

There might be value in long narratives — where media companies can engage people. Currently, the media business is so fragmented and the content is rather chunky.

Some key points from the panel are:

• Spotify: paying for access not for ownership. Not ownership model.
• Epicurious: from online to print
• GQ: iPad is helping with sales. bigger additive experience. 250,000 sessions. 60 percent of iPad and 40 percent iPhone
• Vanity Fair: 90 percent on the iPad

I’m really impressed with livestream video of the panel and how you can watch the conference on the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android. Watch the whole discussion on Evolve or Die: The Evolution of Music, TV, Games and Publishing here:

The discussion brought up some good points, but I am seeing other types of media evolve that doesn’t quite fit the picture these executives are painting. It’s not about the platforms (iPad or the iPhones) as much as it is about how the companies use technology to reach the readers. For instance, if you give reporters an iPhone, they can do their own live broadcast.

It seems like these executives are thinking too far into the future, rather than embracing how the technology could help enhance their storytelling and also help cut down the costs right now.

Must see: Tech Crunch Disrupt on media (video) is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

Booyah raised $20 million for Accel. You might know about Booyah by their popular app called MyTown, which is a location based game app for the iPhone. Since January, the user base has grown from 450,000 users to 1.8 million users. Impressive!

It’s clear why Facebook and Walmart backer Jim Breyer at Accel has chosen to fund Booyah over the competing location based services (like Foursquare and Gowalla). While MyTown has similar check-in features as the other two location based apps do, it has more game play and exchange of virtual goods.

Venturebeat calls it the digital monopoly, and reports:

Accel’s investment is especially significant given rumors of talks between Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley, as well as clear indications that Facebook plans to build location-based features into its social network. Since venture capitalists try to avoid conflicts in their portfolios, especially when agreeing to board seats, it seems significant that Breyer would choose to back Booyah even as Facebook’s location strategy takes shape.

It sure does look like 2010 is going to be the great location land rush after all.

MyTown gets $20 million in funding from Jim Breyer of Accel is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

Google purchased BumpTop, a startup that makes your desktop look 3D. This is big news because the acquisition of BumpTop might help make Android more popular than Blackberries and possibly compete with iPads.

BumpTop was made to run on desktops, but it doesn’t matter. Once Google uses the Bump talent to bring the easy to drag applications to your smart phone — you’ll be able to manage Excel spreadsheets and documents with your fingertips.

BNET reports:

If Android could handle that kind of heavy lifting with a 3-D virtual desktop like BumpTop, business users would arrive in droves, happy to finally — after years of disappointment in the power of smartphones — be able to leave their laptops at home.

And clearly we like the touch interface. Apple has sold over 1 million iPads in just one month. This would definitely give the Android over iPhones if it can let business users navigate their smart phone the way they work on their laptops. That’s the point right? We want our phones to be our computers too.

Taylor Buley writes on Forbes:

We were wondering the same thing here at Forbes, so I called up Gartner analyst Leslie Fiering to help iron out the confusion. As she explains it, the BumpTop interface is a strategic play in a burgeoning market for touch-enabled computers, a new market category widely expected to grab eyeballs (and advertisers) everywhere.

In other startup news, Google just invested in Record Future, a firm that attempts to predict the future. Calculating future changes of momentum is of interest to many, including government agencies and trading firms, apparently.

Google buys BumpTop for its 3D software company is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer – Boonsri Dickinson (@boonspoon)

Finders keepers, losers weepers. Well, not exactly. The person who sold the new iPhone to Gizmodo.com could face criminal charges.

You probably already know about this, but Gizmodo paid $5000 for the iPhone prototype. Watch here for the full exclusive.

Now, the California police are on the case.

CNET reports:

Apple argued in that case that information published about unreleased products causes it significant harm. “If these trade secrets are revealed, competitors can anticipate and counter Apple’s business strategy, and Apple loses control over the timing and publicity for its product launches,” Apple wrote in a brief.

Under a California law dating back to 1872, any person who finds lost property and knows who the owner is likely to be but “appropriates such property to his own use” is guilty of theft. If the value of the property exceeds $400, more serious charges of grand theft can be filed. In addition, a second state law says that any person who knowingly receives property that has been obtained illegally can be imprisoned for up to one year.

Anyways, just because you find something, does not mean that you can do what you want with it. Bloomberg reports:

“The finder may have broken the law,” said Peter Henning, a law professor at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit. “The law of theft isn’t ‘finders, keepers.’ If you know that something has just been mislaid, you can take it and return it, but you can’t take it and keep it, or sell it.”

By Apple shouldn’t worry too much about the leak. According to a Mashable poll, the iPhone 4G won over the Android Incredible.

I definitely can’t wait until the new iPhone comes out, especially after reading Gizomodo gush over the front-facing camera feature. Gizmodo reports on how Apple is bringing iChat to the iPhone:

• Front-facing camera means video calling
• Leaks suggest video calling is part of overall iChat
• iChat software and new VOIP provisions in OS means voice chat, too (maybe even for older iPhones)
• iChat branding, arrival of iPad and new OS multitasking all suggest compatibility with desktop app and standard buddy lists
• iPhone-to-desktop compatibility means everybody talks to everybody, no special plans needed

Cops investigate lost iPhone 4G debacle is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

Apple announced their revenue of $13.50 billion and a quarterly profit of $3.07 billion. Selling nearly 3 million Mac computers and 8.75 million iPhones certainly made that dent. The iPad will certainly make an even bigger dent next quarter.

Lee Gomes at Forbes calls the iPad the world’s first couchtop. It’s not the next laptop, it’s more like a kitchen appliance that you can push a button and watch the machine perform. And you know, he might not be that far off. Reuters is creating a financial news video service and are streaming onto the iPad. Reuters Insiders will only be available to its paying customers and will include content from other major TV partners.

While all the rave is about how the iPad will save the magazine and news business, the real value of the iPad will be seen when you take it shopping. Ad Age suggests the iPad will help out in the following areas: catalogs, customization, sales floor assistant, personal shopper, registries, and e-commerce. I still like the interaction I have when I ask people for their recommendations at the store. While the iPad might lead us to make better choices when we shop, it might make those serendipitous situations rare. That would be a tragedy.

Image: flickr/ fraserspeirs

Related Post:

Dear iPad. I love you. I really do.

iPad fever. Who has it?

Ad platform wars: Admob versus iAd

iPad is a couchtop, a shopping buddy, and more is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

AdMob was one of the very first large exits in the mobile space, which set off a wave of mobile and advertising activity in the industry. However, the Federal Trade Commission has raised their eyebrows at Google’s purchase of AdMob and is now considering blocking the acquisition.

Daily Finance reports:

Clearly, Apple wanted AdMob. But ironically, Apple’s aggressive push into mobile advertising may help ameliorate regulatory concern over the AdMob deal. Or at least that’s what Google CEO Eric Schmidt would like us — and the FTC — to believe.

Over the weekend, Schmidt said that Apple’s iAds launch is “evidence of a highly competitive market,” according to Reuters.

Yes, iAd is cleverly named like the iPad without the P. iAd would allow apps in the iTunes store for the iPhone and for the iPad to have an advertising element to it. Well, it was only a matter of time. And this is encouraging that the advertising community is finally growing up and maturing beyond Google AdWords. But the old school advertising isn’t going away anytime soon, now that Twitter just introduced their ad plan through Promoted Tweets.

Forbes reports mobile advertising is expected to get a boost of 45 % this year. Developers better brush up on HTML 5, as I wrote earlier, MeFeedia has the first ad solution for the much anticipated iPad. iAd will also require developers to use HTML 5 as the programming language.

Ad platform wars: Admob versus iAd is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

The Internet made the news free, it might soon do the same thing to phone calls. Enter Line2, an app that makes the iPhone more robust by allowing the user to get around the rules of its sole mobile provider, AT&T.

Not only does Line2 give your iPhone a second line, it also lets you make calls using Wi-Fi. After the initial investment of a $1 for the app, you have a month to try it for free.

And if you like it, you can pay $15 a month to use its service. Not only can Line2 save minutes on your minute plan, it can prevent the dreaded (and embarrassing) dropped calls.

The New York Times reports:

Line2 gives your iPhone a second phone number — a second phone line, complete with its own contacts list, voice mail, and so on. The company behind it, Toktumi (get it?), imagines that you’ll distribute the Line2 number to business contacts, and your regular iPhone number to friends and family. Your second line can be an 800 number, if you wish, or you can transfer an existing number.

To that end, Toktumi offers, on its Web site, a raft of Google Voice-ish features that are intended to help a small businesses look bigger: call screening, Do Not Disturb hours and voice mail messages sent to you as e-mail. You can create an “automated attendant” —“Press 1 for sales,” “Press 2 for accounting,” and so on — that routes incoming calls to other phone numbers. Or, if you’re pretending to be a bigger business than you are, route them all to yourself.

As The New York Times points out, people with an iPod touch can use their gadget as a phone as long as there is Wi-Fi available.

Hmm, there must be tension brewing behind the scenes of Google and Apple. After all, Steve Jobs rejected the Google Voice app.

In the future, when broadband becomes more ubiquitous, these mobile apps might soon replace our cell phone providers. If you are wondering why you wouldn’t just use Skype, keep in mind Line2 can manage your calls, connect to a Wi-Fi if available to put you on a more reliable network, and improves the sound so that it’s radio station quality. But of course, Skype is completely free to use and it also works on your cell phone.

But the Skype app has to running to accept incoming calls and the Line2 app doesn’t.  But Line2 is hardly perfect and has a few hiccups to solve — some scratchy sound in the background of calls and a slight delay is enough to annoy someone on a bad day.

If your cell reception is really horrible, you can always take matters into your own hands and buy your very own personal cell tower.

Images: iTunes

When the signal is weak, Line2 makes the iPhone into a super phone is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

Finally, multitasking will soon come to the iPhone. But if you want to take advantage of the multitasking feature, you would need to upgrade your iPhone to an OS 4 version.

Physorg.com reports:

“We weren’t the first to this party, but we’re going to be the best,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs declared Thursday, as bloggers, software developers and others in the audience greeted the news of such “multitasking” with applause.

The iPhone already permits some multitasking, but that’s largely limited to Apple’s own programs. Apple had not given users ways to seamlessly switch among all the software “apps” available from outside software companies, the way phones from rivals Palm Inc. and Google Inc. already do.

By being able to multitask, the iPhone really will get closer to replacing the function of personal computer.

Speaking of the personal computer, The Times published a beautiful piece on Edward Roberts, the underdog personal computer “pioneer”.

Image: flickr/ mattjb

Multitaskers look forward to being able to multitask on the iPhone is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

Even if I was in New York tonight, I would not be lining up for the iPad like so many others are. As a magazine writer, I should be excited about it, but I’m not. Considering the fact that the iPad is expected to change the landscape of magazine publishing, my heart should be fluttering. People, Esquire, and Wired are among the few magazines that have iPad apps ready to go.

But as BNet puts it: Magazine people better stop acting like a giddy teenager before a date and figure out how to make money off of the new gadget.

According to the New York Times:

Many consumers do not understand the device’s purpose, who would want to pay $500 or more for it and why anyone would need another gadget on top of a computer and smartphone. After all, phones are performing an ever-expanding range of functions, as Apple points out in its many iPhone commercials.

But it’s expensive. And it’s big. It’s apparently a big deal. And it’s easy to use. It’s just hard to get.

We can all remember the hype over the iPod and the iPhone. And the hype was well justified, as the devices have transformed the music and cellular industries. The first versions of both had so many kinks in it and were clunkier. But eventually Apple does win my heart — yes I have an iPhone, iPod, and MacBook.

Needless to say, Apple’s stock got a big boost. It always does after a new product launch. Besides the iPad debut April 3rd, the rumors that the iPhone will hook up with Verizon Wireless is helping the prices sour.

Watch Fast Company’s video on the iPad:

Image: flickr/ PACMan3000

iPad fever. Who has it? is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

eBay wants to sell $1.5 billion goods through smart phones this year. The company is rolling out with an app for selling and bidding and another app for classifieds.

In 2009, they only had $600 million in sales. Besides the push for mobile apps, eBay has announced plans to set up eBayClassifieds (to revamp its old site Kijiji). Sorry no personal ads or x-rated materials here.

The New York Times reports:

The mobile apps will be eBay’s third and fourth. Its main app, for searching, buying and paying for items on eBay, has surprised executives with its success, [Lorrie Norrington, president of eBay Marketplaces] said. Another app, called Deals, sends daily deals to the shopper’s iPhone. Eight million people shop eBay on their iPhones.

Posting ads will be much easier. Just take a photo and post in it online. In less than 60 seconds, your item is up for sale. Plus, you can than spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.

When the iPad goes on sale on April 3rd, eBay sellers and customers can expect to see an eBay iPad app too. Not surprisingly, some people who can get their hands on the iPad will try to earn a profit by reselling the iPad to people in the UK and other countries who will not yet have access to the new device.

Scott Moritz, a senior tech reporter for The Street, warns that owners of the iPad will have to worry about theft. Watch Moritz explain:

Image: eBay

eBay rolls out with its iPhone apps and wants (more than) a billion dollars is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer –

The startup company, mSpot, is known for its ring tones and radio streaming, but is now treading into the movies market. Bonus, if you start out watching a movie on your phone, you can continue watching it on your PC.

Through partnerships with major studios like Paramount Pictures, paying customers have access to feature length films. Enter Mobile Movies, which is available through most of the major cell phone carriers and more than 50 cell phones. There’s an app for it if you happen to have an iPhone, otherwise try browser streaming.

Mediapost reports:

“We are no longer tied to a specific location or device when accessing email, Internet, music, and now, movies,” said mSpot CEO Daren Tsui. “Our new service is the first of its kind to fully leverage the latest technology, making the experience of watching a movie easier and more seamless than ever.”

The company has more than 6 million users and is one of Inc’s top growing private companies. If you go to the website, you can type in your cell phone number to see if mSpot Mobile Movies works on your phone. I was impressed by the selection of movies: Inglourious Basterds, The Fourth Kind, Paranormal Activity, Star Trek, A Perfect Getaway, Knocked Up, Couples Retreat, and The Bourne Ultimatum. And the price for being mobile? Only $4.99. I’ll have to try this when I’m at the airport.

mSpot lets you watch movies on your phone and PC is a post from: TechStartups.com

If you don’t have Siri on your iPhone, download it now. Seriously.

It’s extremely useful when you are traveling.

It’s my first time in LA and just got into West Hollywood. Siri is helping me explore the nearby scene like a local instead of a tourist. Thank you Siri. Thank you artificial intelligence on my iPhone.

Meet the creator: Artificial intelligence researcher Adam Cheyer. He built a virtual personal assistant in the cloud.

You basically can use Siri to make dinner reservations or book movie tickets on your iPhone.

I’m actually really impressed with the recommendations. In a matter of seconds, you can find out the weather forecast. I looked for restaurants that are serving espresso in West Hollywood. By pulling data from Allmenus.com, Gayot, and Open Table, an instant list of suggestions pop up on screen.

It was dinner time, so I searched for Asian restaurants in the area. I asked for available reservations at 7 pm in West Hollywood. Through OpenTable, Siri asked me for “How many in your party?” I answered 2, and clicked “Find a table.” There was a 7 pm available, so I clicked on the time.

Meet Siri, your iPhone personal assistant is a post from: TechStartups.com

By Staff Writer – Boonsri Dickinson (@boonspoon)

Happy, snowy Friday. Do you feel like having some self help ideas for your business? Here are some things that happened this week.

10 entrepreneurs who created companies valued at $50 million talk about their biggest mistake.

Scientists turn body movement into electricity.

Start-ups get $3.5 billion in an attempt to boost innovation in the states.

Bits blogger Nick Bilton talks about the three Fs: Facebook, Farmville, and Foursquare.

Why New York isn’t the best place for a start-up.

100 things entrepreneurs should know.

Anyone building an app? How to deal with Apple.

Online video is hot in China: Chinese search engine Baidu raises $50 million for Oiyi, its online video site.

Approved. Facebook patents The News Feed. What does this mean for Twitter and other social networks?

Apple pulls sexy iPhone porn apps from its store. Prude and unfair?

Unhappy? You’ll have to wait until you’re 74 to be content, scientists say.

Cybercriminals are after Twitter users again. Don’t click on shady links people!

Image: flickr/ veesees

Roundup of Start-up News is a post from: TechStartups.com

MobileGamesBlog has a recent post that Apple has begun to block users that have jailbroken their iPhones from the App store.

I guess Apple now figures if you’re gangster enough to go rogue with your iPhone you should be stuck with unofficial apps.

So far this has only happened to a few users. If we see more of it we’ll update our post.

From a personal perspective I’m not surprised by it. Every version of the iPhone and its software with the exception of the 3Gs model has come with major limitations in areas of video, control over phone operation at customization. Jailbreaking the device cleared up most of that.

With the 3Gs release there isn’t much need to jailbreak the phone unless you want to tether the phone for internet access. But it appears that will come at a hefty price.

Image credit: MobileGamesBlog

Via [MobileGamesBlog]

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Apple Blocking iPhone Jailbreak Users . . . is a post from: TechStartups.com

When I logged into my reader this morning there was one meme that was loud and clear – Android.

With Mobile World Congress going on right now in Barcelona the announcements regarding new phones and tech has been flowing. Today brought a ton of Android related devices and news.

Here are the best 10 reads for Android all from today:

1. Hands On With Notion Ink’s Pixel-Qi Equipped Adam Tablet
2. Android gets support for multicore processors from ARM and ST-Ericsson
3. Android first to host Adobe’s AIR for smartphones
4. Bug Labs intros BUG 2.0 platform with faster processor, Android support
5. Two Dozen Telecoms Unite to Form Apple App Store Rival [Apps]
6. Comsys joins GSM and WiMAX into holy matrimony under Android as ComMAX CM1125
7. Acer Liquid e Android phone
8. Motorola’s Eighth Android Will Be Called Cliq XT in US, Quench In Europe [Motorola]
9. O2 and Orange link up to fight iPhone
10. Samsung reveals first Android phone with DLP Pico projector

If you dig all these Android links check out @androidville and @droidville on Twitter. They both have these links and more.

10 Android Reads for Today is a post from: TechStartups.com

First Google does a Super Bowl commercial and now Microsoft is doing a phone. As Eric Schmidt from Google noted about their commercial, “Hell has indeed frozen over.”

With this new cold comes the official announcement from Microsoft that they are updating rewriting their mobile phone OS to be sexy, useful and are now going to bring out the big guns to compete with Google and Apple.

The predecessor to Windows Phone 7 Series, Windows Mobile, has been around for years and before the iPhone and Android occupied majority share of the smartphone market. It came in one variety but often you could find flavored ROM’s that could skin the interface and it had apps.

Windows mobile was the first widely accepted platform by developers for building apps. Sure, Palm was rocking their own OS but it never had the apps that Windows Mobile had for productivity or, ahem, tethering and such.

What makes this launch so interesting is that the forward thinking design aesthetic that has helped to brand the Zune and the Zune Marketplace will be front and center in Windows Phone 7 Series. The design lends itself very well to small screens and touch-based interactivity.

If this thing had come out today with the typical Microsoft aesthetic it would have been panned handily.

Another element that helped make this launch look more put together than the lackluster CES keynote from Microsoft was the announcement of the number of partnerships that they have entered into. Those extensive partnerships include both carriers and device makers. Engadget has a short list this morning:

“including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Orange, SFR, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telstra, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, while hardware partners include Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC, HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Qualcomm”

You’ll have to wait for this new competitor . . . Holiday 2010 to be a little more exact. Is it me or are these announcements getting farther and farther away from their intended release dates?

Via [Gizmodo]

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• Microsoft Announces New Mobile OS (wired.com)

Windows Phone 7 Series: Get Zune-ified is a post from: TechStartups.com