Filed under: Cell Phones, iPhoneWe've been promised this before, and we're not really sure that the rumors are any more reliable this time around, but here goes: Sources are telling Business Week that Apple plans to open up the iPhone to third-party applications.Currently, running third-party apps on the iPhone is a complex and dangerous operation that can render your iPhone completely useless. The sources presented few details, but expect that the developer kit will be revealed at the MacWorld Expo on January 15. The belief is the delay has less to do with purposely frustrating developers and more to do with the release of Leopard, which many believe will enable more powerful features on the iPhone.One thing is for sure, Apple will not just hand over a developer kit to anyone who asks. Expect the list of developers, at least initially, to be very short. As forthe rest of those hoping to build applications for the iPhone, we refer you to Job's previous message -- build a web app.From Business WeekRelated links:Jobs to iPhone Developers - Write a Web AppThird-Party Apps for the iPhone... SomedayiPhone Version 1.1.1 Unlocked Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersThe boys in Cupertino have finally given us a date: October 26th, next Friday, when the latest update to OSX, 10.5 (also known as Leopard) will ship. Leopard comes with a host of new features, including an overhauled dock with 3D effects and 'stacks' (pictured above) for easy organization. It also comes with the mesmerizing ability to browse your files in Coverflow (also pictured above).Leopard is available for pre-order now for $129 for a single license and $199 for a family pack of 5 licenses. The server version is also available for pre-order at $499 for a 10-client license or $999 for an unlimited client license.As usual, there is no such thing as an 'upgrade' available from Apple, so you're stuck paying full price regardless.From EngadgetRelated links:Coverflow to Come to Mac OSX 10.5New iMac Announced TodayApple Boosts its Free Software Offering Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, ComputersThe trials and tribulations just don't stop for RIAA lawsuit defendant Jammie Thomas -- or at least the trials, anyway. Ms. Thomas has officially filed her appeal to the findings of the lawsuit brought against her for illegal file sharing, citing "unconstitutionally excessive" damages. Jammie is asking that the RIAA fine her any actual damages it suffered rather than the seemingly arbitrary amount of $220,000, which she was earlier ordered to pay.This appeal is certainly a step back from her initial pledge to fight the notion that simply sharing a song on a P2P network like Kazaa is actually illegal. Now, it seems her plan is simply to reduce the fine that she was assessed by the court. Given the feelings of one juror in the case, who called her a liar and that her "defense sucked," perhaps this is the smartest move.Thomas' idea of fair? $151.20.From SlashdotRelated Links: Juror Calls RIAA Defendant a Liar Woman to Appeal $220,000 Music Sharing Verdict Mom of Two Stung With $220K RIAA Penalty  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell PhonesYou've probably seen it -- it's an e-mail going around that claims all cell phone numbers are about to be released to telemarketers. According to the e-mail, the only way to avoid getting cold calls about switching your long distance carrier on your mobile is to register your phone number with the federal government's Do Not Call Registry.The FCC has been quick to point out, however, that this is simply not true. In fact, it is illegal for most telemarketers to call any mobile phone, so registering your cell with the Do Not Call Registry is simply unnecessary. (The law stipulates that companies can't use auto-dialers to call cell phones, pagers, or any other service where the recipient would have to pay for the call.) Since most telemarketers use auto-dialers, they are generally unable to pester you on your mobile with out facing legal consequences.The FCC has no idea where the e-mails are originating from, or why anyone would want to send such a scam, especially since nothing bad happens -- no opportunity for financial gain, no harvesting of phone numbers -- if you doactually register your mobile number on the site. It's a pointless scam! And yet, we guess the FCC is saving all of us from the extra stress we might get from worrying about missing the mobile Do Not Call registry deadline.From USA TodayRelated Links:E-Mail Scam Threatens to Send Hitman After YouCybercrime More Lucrative than Drug TradeMajority of Americans Can't Spot an E-Mail Scam Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, CelebritiesAfter saying some regretable things about Jews, Ann Coulter's site has been hacked. The hackers have posted a fake letter from her, proclaiming her "retirement" from all things media. Here's the note before it goes down:An Open Letter to Readersby Ann CoulterOctober 15, 2007Dear Readers,I've been participating in a charade for nearly eleven years, now. Quite frankly, I'm sick of it. You have all been a part of a sick joke that I began considering shortly after first getting on the air. At first, it was quite interesting to see how people would react when I would use twisted logic and poorly masked bigotry.But eleven years is a long time to be living a fake life, and I can no longer tolerate this falsity. Even someone as fake as I tires out eventually.Here's the truth, I don't care what people believe. Jews don't need to be "made perfect" as I so arrogantly proclaimed to Editor & Publisher not a half week ago. I don't even care if people are Muslim. Granted, I don't know much about the religion or the people, but they are people. This is something that we cannot forget, they are in an abhorrent situation. These people are in need of education. Perhaps if we did not participate in causing them misery, they would not hate us so.In fact, does it really matter whether we are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, or even Pagan? We are one nation. One. We should not let petty differences separate us, we are all American, and should act in that manner.And with that, my precious viewers, I bid you adieu. My career as a media figurehead is over.Signed,Ann CoulterP.S. - Oh, and Bill O'Reilly is also just acting.[From the hackers:] Haha, did it again. Oh, those silly web admins...they just embarrass themselves.(Admins, check for an e-mail address in the CMS. Find it. I know you will.)And the wait to see when her admins figure this one begins...now.Thanks, Adam!Related Links:Penn State Summons Big Brother to Stop Cheating Department of Homeland Security Considers Mind-Control Tech How Presidential Candidates Are Using the 'Net Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, TVDirecTV is breaking out the big guns in the war for TV superiority. The satellite TV provider has bumped up its HD lineup from just a handful of channels to over 70, with plans to offer 100 by the year's end. TOvernight, this addition channels pushes DirecTV from dead last in the HD race to first, and by a huge margin. For example, satellite TV competitor Dish Network -- previously the HD channel leader -- offers between 30 and 40 HD channels depending on the market.Many of the channels are, of course, of the premium (HBO, Showtime) variety, but the lineup also includes HD channels we haven't seen in too many places before, including Food Network, CNN HD, and Sci-Fi HD.$9.99 a month gets you all the HD channels tied to your particular package. For $4.99 a month more, you get access to all non-premium HD programing that's not included in your package. From BetaNewsRelated Links:TiVo Adding Rhapsody Music ServiceAre Satellite Dishes a Serious Eye Sore?Video Gamers Don't Care About HD Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, E-Mail AddictionAbout the only creature lower on the totem pole than the nefarious telemarketer is the spammer. With these creeps, you can't even take solace in the fact that they're only doing their job, which is why it fills us with a sick sense of giddiness every time one of these obnoxious mass-e-mailers gets tossed in the clink.The latest bozos to get nailed for filling our In-boxes with junk e-mail are Jeffrey A. Kilbride, 41, of Venice, California, and James R. Schaffer, 41, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, who should be spending roughly the next five years for e-mailing graphic porn images advertising hard-core sex sites. Anyone who received the e-mail was able to view them.Kilbride was sentenced to 72 months behind bars, while Schaffer will be spending the next 63 alongside him. The difference in sentences is due to Kilbride being charged with obstruction of justice for trying to prevent a witness from testifying against the duo. Otherwise both men were charged with sending spam messages with forged headers and domain names, conspiracy, fraud, money laundering, and obscenity -- all under the Can-Spam Act.In addition to their jail sentences, Kilbride and Schaffer were fined $100,000 and ordered to pay $77,500 to AOL (Switched.com's parent company). They also had to cough up $1.1 million in illegal proceeds.Anything that prevents more spam from coming to our In-box is a-okay with us.How about you? Do you think these guys got what they deserved, or is the sentence too harsh? Let us know.From Information WeekRelated Links:Don't Just Call Your Friends, Spam Them!Study Claims 83% of All E-Mail is SpamSpammers' New Method of Deception Uncovered Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Video GamesFirst there were rumors, then there was a supposed confirmation at Best Buy. Now it seems that there can be no doubt that a $399, 40-gigabyte PS3 model is coming to the U.S., even if Sony still isn't ready to confirm it. A couple of intrepid gamers printed out the UPC from the earlier Best Buy leak and scanned it at a Target price check kiosk. Up popped the price and description, shown above, confirming that the thing is destined for U.S. shores.The 40-gigabyte PS3 is rumored to include a copy of 'Spider Man 3' on Blu-ray, which releases on 10/30, two days after theanticipated release date of 10/28 for this new PS3. That's definitely a nice inclusion, but something missing from this newer low-priced PS3 is backwards compatibility with PS2 games, previously one of the big advantages compared with the Xbox 360's limited ability to play Xbox games. But, whether gamers really care much about playing their old titles at this point remains to be seen. From EngadgetRelated Links: New $399 PlayStation 3 Confirmed? Rumored PlayStation 3 Price Cut ... Worth It? PlayStation 3 Controllers Ready to Rumble  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, Green Tech, iPhoneYesterday's story on Greenpeace calling out Apple regarding the nasty (as in toxic) innards of the iPhone has caused quite a stir. Apple was compelled to respond, reminding readers that their recent "greener Apple" pledge was an initiative not set to be fully put into motion until the end of 2008. Given that we haven't even hit the end of 2007 yet, Jobs & Co. are asking for a bit of patience from the eco faction.However, patience isn't something that the company is getting from the California Center for Environmental Health, or CEH, which filed notice of an impending lawsuit. The CEH hasn't actually tested the phone yet (chances are it sent someone running to the closest Apple Store yesterday evening).If the findings of Greenpeace's report are verified, Apple will be forced to put warning labels on the device and send letters to existing customers. However, the center will press for Apple remove the toxic compounds, which have been found to cause reproductive issues in children. If Apple doesn't do anything it will be subject to some stiff monetary damages. So, Apple did indeed respond and respond quickly to the Greenpeace report, but with the potential CEH lawsuit hovering over the iPhone like a dark cloud it may be forced to accelerate those greener plans.From EngadgetRelated Links: iPhone Bad For Environment, Says Greenpeace Earth Day's Tech Losers Apple Getting Greener  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: ComputersIf you were worried that your child wasn't being trained to be a good economic citizen, then check out this toy to make sure he or she grows up learning the value of plastic. The Children's Touch Screen ATM Bank comes with a card and a PIN for your tyke to manage an account of up to $999.99. The bank accepts bills of all kinds and coins.Some of you probably hope that this little gizmo will teach your kid the value of a dollar. It's more likely he or she will just learn that there's a machine that gives them money anytime they put their card in it. We're waiting for "Baby's First Massive Credit Card Debt Simulator" to hit the market.From Shiny ShinyRelated links:Yamaha's New Tenori-On Music Sequencer Instrument ThingComputer Training for TotsComputer Programing for Kids Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell PhonesThe U.S. arm of T-Mobile is joining the rest of America's cell-phone carriers in the 21st-century by preparing to deploy its high-speed 3G wireless data network... or so we assume/hope.The carrier began selling the Samsung T639 handset, the first T-Mobile device to be capable of running on a 3G network. The new phone carries a radio that allows it to work on a WCDMA network at 1700 Mhz, the same band of wireless real estate that T-Mobile licensed in 2006, presumably to build out its 3G network.T-Mobile is quite behind in the wireless data speed race though. Sprint and Verizon have had high-speed EV-DO networks since 2005, and Cingular joined the party with its HSDPA network in 2006, which means that subscribers to any of those carriers have been able to surf the Web or download songs and videos on their phones at near-broadband speeds anywhere there's a cell phone signal. All three networks have pretty good coverage and Sprint and Verizon are already talking up their 4G networks intended to make EV-DO look quaint.We're psyched about this news because T-Mobile has some pretty cool phones (first out of the gate with the BlackBerry Pearl, new Sidekicks) and fun, money-saving features (like MyFavs). From BetaNewsRelated Links:Beyonce's 'B Phone' for SprintLG Phone to Work All Over PlanetLG and Verizon Take on the iPhone Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  This silhouette wins the award for coolest thing we've seen all day -- and it's not just because the tiny dancer above is in the buff. This is a little test that will tell you whether the left or right hemisphere of your brain is more dominant.Instead of concentrating on her chest, concentrate on the woman's movement. If you see her spinning clockwise, that means you're using the right side, or more creative side of your brain. If she appears to be moving counter-clockwise, then that means the left side, or more logical side of your think muscle is superior. At the Switched office, some of us see her going clockwise, others see her spinning counter-clockwise. At least one of us claims to see both, while another one of us opened this animation in Adobe ImageReady in order to isolate the frames to see if there's any direction-changing funny business going on. There isn't. Take the test for yourself. Then, if you have time for a 50-question survey, compare these instant results to a more thorough diagnosis.From Gizmo WatchRelated Links:Video Games Rot Your Brain, Study FindsA New Game for Your BrainAre You a Cybercondriac? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, iPhoneEarlier this year, LG Electronics released a touch phone designed by Prada in non-US territories in direct competition with Apple's then upcoming iPhone. Some photos this week uncovered possible plans for the US-bound version of a new Prada phone, known as the CU920. The phone is rumored to be 3G (which would make its network connection faster than the iPhone's), run a mobile version of the Firefox web browser (the iPhone runs Safari) and have a similar finger-spread zoom function as the iPhone. Perhaps most interestingly, this new phone's service looks to be available through AT&T, the same company that offers the iPhone. That would give AT&T exclusive rights to both competing products.Initial reports, however, indicate that the CU920 is a bit more difficult to navigate than the iPhone and, curiously, has an antenna that reportedly breaks off quite easily.While the original Prada phone runs upwards of $700 in foreign markets, there is no information on price or date for the new US model.From CrunchgearRelated Links: LG and Verizon Take on the iPhoneSamsung and Armani to make Fashion Phone? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, Video GamesThose supposedly random security searches at the airport aren't the only things that aren't as unpredictable as they should be. A recent study of security at Los Angeles' LAX airport found that the patrols of terminals made by guards are not random or unpredictable as they should be, but instead fall into predictable paths -- the result of normal human nature to make and follow comfortable patterns. The problem is, predictability is easily exploitable by potential criminals or terrorists; randomness is not. Enter a new simulation by Praveen Paruchuri, a PhD candidate at the University of Southern California. His software is a sort of video game for determining how random paths for security guards impact the behavior of simulated criminals. It applies so-called game theory to develop random paths through pixelated versions of LAX terminals, with each path rated according to rewards such as finding criminals, and penalties such as triggering terrorist explosions. The goal is to keep guards more alert by breaking routine -- which, for airport security, is a deadlier habit than suckling down cigarettes.Video-game simulations of dangerous real-life situations have been used in the past to train our military. You may remember an urban warfare game for the Xbox from a few years a go called 'Full Spectrum Warrior.' That game was actually a more consumer-friendly version of a simulation that had been developed by the military to help train soldiers. Today, there are several companies contracted by the military and law enforcement to make such games, including Will Interactive, which makes a series called 'The Incident,' for training police officers on such issues as domestic violence and suicidenegotiation.This all makes 'Halo 3' look a bit trivial, don't you think?From New Scientist TechRelated Links: ATA Tries to Arrest Passenger for Using iPhone in "Airplane Mode" Lost Cell Phone Sparks Airplane Bomb Scare Gigantic Bird's-Eye Billboards Target Air Travelers  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments