Filed under: Software, Helio, MVNOs

In a new partnership announced today, Yahoo is going to be launching a slew of services for Helio customers including search, mail, IM, news, sports and more. This is supposed to be one of the most extensive mobile offerings of Yahoo! services, and Helio seems to think it lines up well with that snazzy target demographic of theirs. Some of the more interesting integration includes Yahoo search straight from your phone's home screen and the display of news feeds there as well. There's no word as to when the Yahoo services will launch, but we're guessing they'll be available when Helio itself launches this spring.

Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Palm, Palm OS

border="1" alt="" src="http://www.engadget.com/media/2006/04/videotones.jpg" />

If you’re ready to part with
a Jackson for the ability to rock out with video ringtones for your Treo 600 or 650, then take a peek at VideoTones v1.
It’ll associate MP3, WAV, OGG, or AVI files with contacts for playback on incoming calls, as well as handle logging
inbound calls and reading out the area names based on unknown callers’ area codes. Not that Toysoft (maker of the
software) is even the first to offer video ringtone software or anything, but hey, we’re just giving you options here,
man.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Software

This being a World Cup year, it's only fitting that some of the slickest ways to digest sports stats will be coming our way before the tournament hits in June. Along those lines, Yahoo! has partnered up Everypoint to develop Yahoo! Mobile Matchcast for Java enabled phones. The downloadable app "pushes" scores and stats to a user's handset, along with photos, previews, and tournament news. It all works in real time, and the content is displayed by Everypoint's vector display engine to keep things looking sharp. The app will be available for download at the official tournament site, we're not sure on the price.

Zombie Killer David sent us this excellent potential Zombie Destroyer—the Bob Ross Video Game. A happy little cloud here? A happy little hill there? Enough to melt the heart of even the nastiest former Vice President cum Zombie Overlord! Also, happy birthday, Andrew. You know who you are.

Press Release [Bob Ross]

A program called FlexiSpy, designed to capture call logs and SMSes on cellphones, is getting flagged by anti-virus software maker F-Secure because of its treacherous nature.

The program is completely invisible and installs itself without the phone owner's knowledge. FlexiSpy's manufacturer, Vervata, is sticking to its story that this thing helps parent's keep track of kids surfing habits, but the sneaky nature of this software makes it ripe for abuse.

Product Page [FleixSpy]
Spy program snoops on cell phones [News.com via TheInquirer]

We just installed this interesting piece of software. It allows you to answer video chat requests just by pressing one key or by turning the lens cover on your iSight. Useful? Sure. Cheap? Sure. They offered Gizmodo readers 25% off until April 15 with the coupon code "GIZMODO." Check it out and see if it's useful yourself.

'Go!' keys. You can now use either the iSight camera (with an 'iTwist' of the lens), a key, or an external device (like a Wacom tablet), to answer and hang-up video and audio calls. There's a 'toggle' button too, so you can switch between the automatic fullscreen mode, and a small window (great for browsing whilst videoconferencing!).

Product Page [iTwistnGo]

A new viral marketing campaign by Microsoft encourages you to guess the release date of their new operating system, Windows Vista. Each contest submission garners a video download hinting whether your guess is over or under. A sleuthy web-developer found where the over/under videos are stored and reports that the "early" folder ends on November 30 and the "late" folder begins on December 1.

December 1st slated for Vista [The Inquirer]

It is time for our weekly buyout/merger rumor. Today the New York Post is reporting that Google is looking to align with Napster, possibly buy them completely outright. With Google's recent foray into the downloadable video service it is only a matter of time before they push something in the audio world. Representatives from Google and Napster denied any announcements, but these rumors come from sources within the music industry. Last week a Napster spokeswoman did tell Reuters that they were looking to be bought out. iTunes possibly getting some competition?

Play for Napster (Requires Reg.) [NY Post Via I4U]

Meet Orbicule's Undercover, the king of all laptop security software. This little piece of software has the ability to trace the location of lost or stolen Macs. Undercover will check with a big server to see if the computer is on the missing/stolen list. If it is, then IP information and screenshots will be collected to determine the physical location of the Mac. If that plan fails, then a backup plan is initiated. Undercover will simulate a hardware failure on the laptop and then urge the user to send it in for repair. Once the thief dumps off the laptop, a message will alert the next person using it that the Mac was stolen and should be returned to its rightful owner, and that law enforcement should be contacted. The company even offers a money-back guarantee: if Undercover is unable to recover your Mac, Orbicule will refund you the whole $30 for the single-user license. Innovative software. Let's hope a Windows-supported version is coming soon.

Product Page [Orbicule]

Software generally isn’t our bag, but if it is Apple related you know we are on it like a fat kid on cake. Here is all of the news about Apple's software.

Today we will be seeing Mac OS X 10.4.4 along with a new Google widget, new front-end address book, ESPN scoreboard, ski information and calendar widgets. This is just adding to Apple's database already containing over 1500 different widgets. The OS X 10.4.4 will be downloadable later today containing the updated widgets.

As rumors predicted, we see a new iLife, version '06. This iLife '06 release is GIANT. Here is a rundown of each application and what is new.

iPhoto 6 will be adding support up to 250,000 photos, include photocasting to share albums with other iPhoto users (similar to an RSS feed), editing in full-screen mode, greeting card/calendar/book creation, one-click enhancements, and integration into photo blogs using iWeb.

iMovie HD 6 will be adding Apple iMovie themes for use in your movies, new video effects, new text and titling effects, new sound effects and audio enhancement tools, sharing clips between multiple iMovie projects, and integration in video podcasts and sharing with iWeb.

iDVD 6 will be adding enhanced Magic iDVD for creating complete DVDs, creating widescreen DVDs, 10 new themes, one-click autofill drop zones, enhanced map view editing, and more support for third-party DVD burners.

GarageBand 3 will be adding a ton of podcast support with the new Podcast Studio mode and publishing via iWeb, radio-style sound effects and jingles, iChat interview integration, and iMovie integration for movie scores.

iWeb is a new application that will allow you to create beautiful websites and blogs, then publish them online. It comes with 12 professionally-designed themes, allows adding of movies, photos and music with the iLife Media Browser, easy blogging features, and podcast publication.

iWork '06 will be adding 3D charts, advanced image editing, image reflections, masking, tables with calculations, new themes, and new templates. It will be available for $79 later today, also with new Mac purchases including a demo.

I don't know about the CEA, seems they'll give Design & Engineer Showcase Honors to just about anyone, even something without any concrete details. Case in point is the ViaCube, which does have its own website, but no actual pics or real advice on what the product will be. They do say that it will basically be a single platform for communication, free of device or location, based on what is called OPusOS. Hmmm. Expect to see personal, business and enterprise editions of this software, that it says

combines voice communication, video communication, facsimile communication, task management, calendaring, contact management, emails, instant messaging and SMS into one integrated, seamless platform.

ViaCube Debuts Flagship Product at CES 2006 [ViaCube]

CES 2006: ViaCube Revealed [i4u]

Google is here at CES showing off all their fun stuff and searching software. But that's not all,
they're also giving away fun prizes...provided you know your Google. To get the free swag, Google has provided everyone with these circular cardboard scratch off games. 5 questions about Google are on one side and you can scratch off the answer. You then have to answer the question by scratching off the correct answer. Doing so reveals a green star which if you get all 5 of, you'll score a sexy Google t-shirt. Get one right and you're walking away with silly magnets with the Google logo. Questions include trivia such as: "What is the latest Gmail feature we've added?" or something of that nature. You can bet we here at Gizmodo blew through the questions with ease and walked away fully clothed. Thanks G.

Google is getting into the non-bootleg video kick by selling video on some sort, possibly from CBS or the NBA, using their new Google Video service. No further info just yet, but that's what they seem to have up their sleeve this week instead of some amazing little lump of hardware nobody wants. They're also giving away the Google Pack, which consists of:

Google-tweaked version of Firefox, Adobe Acrobat Reader, antivirus software from Symantec, AdAware, Trillian, and Google's own offerings, including Google Desktop Search, Picasa, Google Earth, Google Talk, and all of the toolbar action you can shake a stick at. Oh, and I left out one other item: the RealPlayer.

Google to sell video, take on Apple; announces Google Pack [ArsTechnica]

Starz, also known as the cheaper and Soprano-less HBO will be launching Vongo, an online movie downloading service. Stuff like this has the tendency to be a little to softwarey for our liking, but this seems like it has potential. Vongo charges a monthy $9.95 fee for its all-you-can-download service. It does require special viewing software so that it will comply with Microsoft's do-you-in-the-ass DRM. Also, movies can be transferred to mobile devices running Portable Media Center v2 (suck, it iPod owners, suck it HARD). Netflix has some real competition? Probably not.

Starz Expands Online Movie Options [Zatz]

Watch out iTunes, cause the bird is gonna getcha. SongBird is the latest piece of open-source software from some Firefox developers aimed at freeing up the music market. Songbird will play iTunes songs as well as other file formats such as WMA and OGG. Leader of the pack Rob Lord is comparing iTunes to an Internet Explorer that "only browses Microsoft.com". Ouch. Many people have expressed anger over the DRM that iTunes uses because it will only allow iTMS songs to play in iTunes or an iPod. The big question will be whether SongBird will catch on like Firefox did and start taking market share away from iTunes. Fat chance currently, but keep an eye out for the open-source bird flying high in the sky.

Open Source for iTunes Arrives [The Inquirer]

Uh oh. Better watch out Mac users. We know how some sites (especially government and collegiate ones) demand you still use stinky, old Internet Explorer 5.2.2 on your Mac. Looks like that will have to change because Microsoft has oficially ended IE for the Mac. No more support or development means IE is pretty much dead for Macintosh now. Distribution of the software will cease at the end of 2006 too so start archiving if you REALLY need it. Even more shocking is that Microsoft reccomends using Safari to surf from now on. Insane.

Microsoft Ends IE for Mac [Slashdot]

Oh, those whacky art students! Now they've gone and created Motor Karaoke, a racing game based on your voice. Two players put on special motorcycle helmets outfitted with microphones, and begin to scream. The louder the scream, the faster you go around the track. First player to complete five laps wins the game. The sounds produced by the players (screams are split into right and left audio channels) are systematically recorded and archived with the intention of editing a CD. It's all part of an art installation. Be prepared to look super-awesome when playing this game. We expect you showing up in full riding gear.

Motor Karaoke [WMMNA]

Generally the only time I manage to make music with Office is when I am bashing my head into the keyboard trying to work with Word and formatting. But Thomas has been thinking along the lines of real Microsoft Office music and has designed a drum sampler within Excel. The sampler is controlled via a USB wireless Xbox controller and plans are in the making for collaboration with the Excel Synthesizer players for a giant, geeky Microsoft-inspired jam band. Check out the alpha release of the Excel drum sampler here, and good luck figuring it out.

Reader builds drum machine in an Excel spreadsheet [Music Thing]

The PSP has been hacked for homebrews yet again — and this time it involves carjacking and indiscriminate gunfire. Using Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories for the PSP, you can use a game save to load a "Hello World" application onto the PSP through the memory stick. Basically you'll be swapping some files using your PC and a memory stick reader and then loading the game save. Now that details about how the app works have been released, further development in the PSP homebrew community is sure to follow. It's a great workaround for 2.xx firmware as well. Maybe sooner or later, we'll see some useful applications through this game-save exploit.

Hello World for GTA [PSP Updates]

Some Finlandianites will be launching the first "smart phone books" in the spring of 2006. This service will work with a variety of cell phones including nine Nokia models, three Ericsson models, two Samsung and pretty much any phone that is Symbian 60-based.

Upcodes of the smart phone book can be read with a mobile phone camera. The user is automatically directed to the Internet pages indicated by the Upcodes.

Eniro launches smart phone books for upcodes [Picture phoning]

Not sure exactly why you'd need this, but in case you were dying to know when and where your Mac or iPod were built, the CoconutIdentityCard is an application that gives you that information instantly. It currently only works with MacOS 10.4 and up, though it should also run on upcoming Intel-based Macs as well. For the iPod info, just plug it in to your computer while the app is running and voila. Oh, doesn't work with the iPod Shuffle, by the way. Guess nobody really cares where they're born.

coconutIdentityCard tells When and Where your Mac / iPod was born [New Launches]

Playboy is jumping on the podcast bandwagon by offering up their new "Bodcast" daily video podcasts.

These Bodcasts will be available through the Playboy website and will feature video of Playmates, the joke of the day, commentary from ole' Hugh, and advice from the gals. The Bodcasts are free as long as you sign up for the Playboy newsletter. Bodcasts. HA! Get it? Oh Hugh, you are SO funny—am I still banned from the mansion? I promise not to hide webcams in the toilet again.

Playboy Begins Video "Bodcasts" [Designtechnica]
Playboy Bodcast (Here be scantily-clad women not suitable for your work environment)

GPSP is a nifty little piece of software for your PSP. It was created via some circuit hacking and using a piece of PSP software called "Lua."

Using a GPS dongle, you're able to pick up a signal and use the PSP as a full-blown GPS device. It can show your location and update in real time (with a slight delay). Do you need GPSP? No. Is it cool? Sure. So go download it and hack away.

GPSP (GPS front end program for PSP) [PSP Updates]

Compare top-rated GPS devices [CNET]

Not that any of you would ever think of looking at porn while at the workplace, but for those degenerates who may be tempted by the sweet, pink flesh of Wallace Shawn in a compromising position, PixAlert is on the case. Using high-speed image analysis software to scan images, the most recent version of PixAlert Monitor will now blur any image it considers inappropriate or illegal, as it comes up on the screen. So, instead of just trying to block these images from your screen, PixAlert lets you get them, just pretty much unwatchable. And if you do try to get some of this stuff up (again we know YOU wouldn't, but there are some pervs out there!), a thumbnail copy is made and sent to the central server, which is the brains of the system.

A gallery of suspect images is available for review by a trusted officer of the company. These images are then categorised by the reviewer and added to a user case. Several reports are generated automatically, providing both a summary view of images found on the company's network and also a detailed view of images per user.

I mean, whoa. Big Bro is definitely watching—and getting a screenful of porn every day!

PixAlert Blurs Porno Pics [Bios Magazine]

Sony BMG announced that they will be temporarily suspending the production of CDs containing the First4InternetXCP content protection. Why you may ask? Well they tried to stop the hax0rs of the world from stealing music, so the hax0rs used Sony's technology to exploit a Trojan virus. Touché Sony!

The technology employed by Sony to protect its music from illegitimate use was picked up by security software as a rootkit which hid files from Windows and made them impossible to detect. But simply using letters '$sys$' in a filename means that any such file will be hidden, even malicious files. And this is exactly what has happened with the latest virus.

Sony Suspends Controversial CD Production [PC Pro]
New Virus uses SOny BMG software [CNN Tech]