Technology

Just in time for the launch of a new iPhone model, AT&T Inc. is reportedly reigning in data usage by its customers using smart phones and iPads. A recent AT&T press release introduced new wireless plans, which says will make it much "more ... affordable" to enjoy the benefits of mobile Internet. AT&T customers will now be able to pick a plan that best meets their needs: a $15/month entry level plan or a $25/month plan that allows 10 times more data. Current customers will not be required to switch to the new plans, but can choose to do so without a contract extension. ( ... (view more)

Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer spoke at a news conference in New Delhi on Thursday and has guaranteed the much delayed Windows Phone 7 system will be released before the end of the year. Critics suggest, however, that beating the holiday shopping ... deadline will not provide much financial gain, but is more of a deadline to save face. (Source: informationweek.com ) Microsoft Management Shake-Up The comments do clear up some concerns over Microsoft's recent management shake-ups. As noted last week , Robbie Balch, who headed the entertainment and devices division, is leaving the company. Instead of ... (view more)

Sprint has dropped plans to carry the Nexus One, Google's flagship cellphone. The news has somewhat undermined the revelation that Google's Android system is -- technically, at least -- outselling the iPhone. The news comes just weeks after Google ... cancelled plans to offer Nexus One with carrier Verizon. (Source: eweek.com ) The release of Nexus One, produced by HTC, marked the first time Google itself had directly marketed a phone based around its own open-source system, Android. The original plan was to have it available for all the major networks, but to engage in minimal advertising and to ... (view more)

The Ford Motor Co. is hoping to make it an easy choice for North American social networking fans when deciding on a new vehicle. Thanks to a feature called "Sync AppLinks", those who buy or lease the forthcoming 2011 Ford Fiesta will be able to use ... applications on their smartphones simply by verbalizing commands and using buttons on their steering wheel. Ford is pitching Sync AppLinks as a safety feature that makes it easier for car owners to use mobile phones while operating their motor vehicle. In large pockets throughout North America, non-hands-free mobile phones are illegal when in use ... (view more)

Sean Koehl, a man known throughout Intel Labs as a technology guru, has raised a few eyebrows with his recent Nostradamus-like prediction that the Internet will "go three-dimensional" within the next 5 to 10 years. Of all the forthcoming technology ... projects underway at Intel Labs, Koehl said that he is most excited about the work being done on 3D technology and how it will change the way people interact with online information. According to Koehl, the only reason it is taking so long for this technology to evolve (if being 5 years away from a three-dimensional Internet can even be considered ... (view more)

Decentralized computing is a trend in modern day business environments. This is the opposite of centralized computing, which was prevalent during the early days of computers. Decentralized computing is the allocation of resources, both hardware and ... software, to each individual workstation, or office location. In contrast, centralized computing exists when the majority of functions are carried out, or obtained from a remote centralized location. Benefits of Decentralized Computing A decentralized computer system has many benefits over a conventional centralized network. For example, desktop ... (view more)

With strict hands-free mobile phone laws affecting people in cities across North America, in-car services such as Onstar are seemingly the only way a person can make a legal phone call while driving. But what if you need to send an important email ... reply or text message while on the go? For Blackberry users on a Sprint plan, hands-free emails and texting is now a reality. These subscribers have the opportunity to install a speech-to-text mobile application that will enable them to dictate text-based messages without having to take their hands off the steering wheel. The technology that allows ... (view more)

A Californian company says it has developed a revolutionary new way of capturing digital images. It could mean cellphone cameras take shots four times more detailed than current models, putting professional quality capabilities in everyone's pocket. ... At the moment, digital cameras work by capturing light on a sensor chip, a layer of silicon effectively broken up into millions of points. The information from each of these points is converted into digital format, with each point's information being one pixel in the captured image -- hence the term 'megapixel' which is used to describe how many ... (view more)

According to reports, gadget gurus Sony are currently developing a smartphone and a portable computer to compete with Apple's iPhone and iPad devices. Sony is hoping to woo consumers by releasing a smartphone that will capitalize on what some ... experts might call its biggest strength: video gaming. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Sony is working on a phone that will play PlayStation Portable, or PSP, titles. Given that the level of development involved in the average PSP game tends to be more significant than that associated with an iPhone game/app, it's possible Sony's ... (view more)

Microsoft looks set to severely restrict the range of phone designs compatible with the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 series. Right now, it appears there will be just three basic styles of handset with the new system. A recent podcast featured two ... members of Microsoft's Australian division discussing plans to restrict manufacturers to three different chassis, the basic physical design of the phone. Three Windows Phone 7 Chassis Classes The first design will be for touchscreen phones and includes some very specific requirements: a 800x480 pixel screen, an accelerometer, a 5 megapixel radio, a 1 ... (view more)