12:40 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Congress has fired a shot in the struggle between content providers and content users. Unfortunately, they seem to have taken dead aim at content users when they took the shot.

The Register reports that a new Congressional Budget Office paper on Copyright Issues in Digital Media has been released as a advisory document for Congress. But instead of working to balance the public interest with protection of commercial interests, it seems to have focused on keeping the markets profitable to ensure content providers will continue their creativity. In fact, it even goes so far as to support pricing that is set based on the particular uses of the content. Check out The Register's article for some great analysis.

And lest we turn radical as a result of perceived abuses by lawmakers, content providers and their legal teams, we must also acknowledge that we do depend on a reasonable legal protection of content. Without it, we could see some degree of dwindling in the quality and quantity of new books, movies, music, software, etc.

In the mobile computing world, the commercial software developers and content providers are generally our friends and allies, along with sellers such as PalmGear, PocketGear, Handango, Fictionwise, eReader, etc. If we want to see our mobile computing community grow and prosper, it means we also want to see the commercial side of things prosper.

Let's hope we can find a satisfying legal and social compromise that can stand the test of new technology, while meeting the needs of both consumer and producer.

07:45 AM by Colin Dunstan in Archive | iSilo/X

Darren released a new (non-beta) version of iSilo/X today. You can lookup the changes from previous versions here and here.

06:57 AM by Colin Dunstan in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Microsoft's voice input/output software for PocketPCs and phones has now hit US store shelves. Voice Command, which is based on a next-generation phonetic speech-recognition technology, enables voice access to contacts, phone, calendar, media player, and more -- without voice training. In addition to speech recognition, the program also provides voice prompts to the user.

Key features of Voice Command, which supports devices running Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 based Pocket PC and Pocket PC Phone Edition software platforms, include:

• Speaker independent
• No voice training required
• Conversational style that asks questions if more information is needed
• Use a single command to quickly get what you want, or be guided if you prefer
• Say "What can I say" or "Help" at any time

The Voice Command software for Windows Mobile 2003-based Pocket PC and Pocket PC Phone Edition is now available for $39.99 in retail outlets nationwide.

05:17 AM by Colin Dunstan in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Jon Lech Johansen, the infamous cracker of CSS (the encryption used for commercial DVDs), has cracked the Airport Express crypto which uses a combination of AES and RSA to encrypt the audio stream.

Jon has also released a small tool called JustePort (requires Mono) which allows you to stream mpeg4 lossless files to your Airport Express.

For all hobby cryptologists among you, this is the hidden RSA key used by Airport Express:

59dE8qLieItsH1WgjrcFRKj6eUWqi+bGLOX1HL3U3GhC/j0Qg90u3sG/1CUtwC
5vOYvfDmFI6oSFXi5ELabWJmT2dKHzBJKa3k9ok+8t9ucRqMd6 DZHJ2YCCLlDR
KSKv6kDqnw4UwPdpOMXziC/AMj3Z/lUVX1G7WSHCAWKf1zNS1eLvqr+boEjXuB
OitnZ/bDzPHrTOZz0Dew0uowxf/+sG+NCK3eQJVxqcaJ/vEHKIVd2M+5qL71yJ
Q+87X6oV3eaYvt3zWZYD6z5vYTcrtij2VZ9Zmni/UAaHqn9JdsBWLUEpVviYnh
imNVvYFZeCXg/IdTQ+x4IRdiXNv5hEew==
Exponent: AQAB

04:59 AM by Colin Dunstan in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

We reported earlier that a trojanised version of the Mosquitos game for Symbian Series 60 smartphones was circulating online and across P2P networks. The Mosquito Trojan was considered malicious because it fired off premium rate text messages without the user's knowledge while the pirated game was being played.

In an official statement Symbian has now announced that the hidden SMS functionality was put in the game from the beginning by the original games publisher Ojom.

I am curious if some warez pirates are now going to sue Ojom for damages

11:58 AM by sUnShInE in Archive | Mobile Sites

AT&T Wirelss customers will be fully served during the 2004 Athens Summer Games. Crisp Wireless has developed mobile content management applications for the NBC Olympic Games that will be hosted by AT&T Wireless for its customers.

mMode users will have the ability to set up customized alerts to follow their favorite Olympic sports as well as access videos including interviews, promo videos, chart out medal counts, and in-game video highlights. For those who suffer from severe fantasy sports disease, there will also be Fantasy Olympic Games that will allow users to set up a customized Olympic team to earn as many medals as possible.

Unless otherwise "fine-tuned", let the AT&T-only games....begin!

11:54 AM by Colin Dunstan in Miscellaneous | Lounge

The following code gives you 25% off any purchase over $25 when you shop at Handango. Valid till August 20th, 2004.

Checkout-code: NEWSITE25

07:53 AM by Alexander Turcic in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Handheld PC maker palmOne saw its share of Western Europe's PDA market plummet to 26% of units shipped during the second quarter of 2004, down from its previous market leading position with 37% share a year ago, according to the British institute Context Information Services, which tracks sales of technology hardware throughout Europe.

Context notes that palmOne is in a difficult position in Europe. On the one hand, its traditional low-end PDA market dominance and presence on retail outlet shelves has been undermined by HP's very successful low cost iPaq range, and on the other by companies such as Medion cashing in on the boom for cheap in-car PDA-based navigation devices. At the same time, palmOne's attempt to penetrate HP's corporate heartland with its range of business devices has not been successful.