Tyfone putting NFC in MicroSD Cards

Wow, this sounds like a great idea, Tyfone has developed a system and are now putting NFC chips, controllers, and antenna’s into Micro SD and SD cards. This makes it possible for mobile phones and other PDA like devices to easily add NFC capabilities to their device just by simply changing the SD card they are using. Sounds like a great plan, don’t have a Nexus S, just get a Tyfone MicroSD Card.


According to them the first field trials of Tyfone’s u4ia Secure Memory Card (SMC) technology are now expected to take place during the first half of this year, following successful internal testing at 21 organizations around the world. Tyfone’s u4ia (pronounced ‘euphoria’) has some serious potential to be very popular, especially with how NFC has been taking off lately, not to mention Google jumping into NFC head first as principle member.

Tyfone’s u4ia Secure Memory Card would be able to break free the handset availability problem and allow any device with a SD slot to have NFC. This goes for most cell phones these days, as well as camera’s and GPS systems and more. For more information on what Tyfone’s cards contain see below:

* An industry standard, GlobalPlatform-compliant multi-application contactless smart card chip
* A memory card controller that includes Tyfone IP that enables the SMC to work with any SD slot equipped device
* A miniaturized antenna, developed by Tyfone
* Flash memory, available in standard SD and microSD card capacities (Tyfone’s NFC additions don’t reduce the size of memory available)

Even though we welcome as many phone manufactures as possible to integrate NFC into mobile handsets because of the possibilities it holds, Tyfone’s solution looks to be a very good one. We will report back with more on this as we hear it.

• [via NFC World]

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Exxon Mobile unveils new app to help you locate stations

I have a couple gas stations that I will use because the quality of the gas is better and my car runs better as a result. I know some people that only like to use certain stations because they get cash back on credit card purchases of fuel too. If you want to specifically use an Exxon Mobile station the company has a new app to help you find one.

 
The new app is called Exxon Mobile Fuel Finder and runs on Android devices. The app uses the GPS tech inside your smartphone to find where you are and show you the closest Exxon station near you. The app will also tell you what features the station has like a car wash or SpeedPass capability.

The stations can also be filtered by hours of operations and more. Once you find a station that will work the app will route you from wherever you are directly to the station. This app has been available for iOS devices since last year.

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Vodafone confirms HTC Sensation: 1.2GHz dual-core and qHD display

Vodafone UK has prematurely announced the HTC Sensation, the device formerly known by its codename of HTC Pyramid, and not expected to make its official debut until HTC’s event later on today. Confirmed is the 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch 540 x 960 touchscreen and 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash.

There’s also a front-facing webcam, 3G, WiFi b/g/n and GPS, along with a unibody-style chassis. We can spy a microUSB port too, and Vodafone says there’ll be 4GB of internal storage and an 8GB microSD card bundled in the box.

No word on pricing or availability – all Vodafone say on that point is that the HTC Sensation is “coming soon” – but we expect to hear more later on today at the event-proper.

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HTC to “Widgetize” Sense Lockscreen

Our good pal Ina Fried from Mobilized recently had a talk with Chief Product Officer Kouji Kodera from HTC. What he had to show was a rather interesting set of upgrades for HTC‘s signature Android user interface “Sense.” This is the interface you’re using if you’ve got your HTC ThunderBolt working with no homescreen replacement app running- and if you don’t know what a homescreen replacement app is, you don’t have one running. So what’s in store for the Sense-ual future?

  While right this moment with the most up-to-date release of HTC Sense, you’re able to have a pattern, a PIN, or a password to lock your phone, in the very near future you’ll be able to have your lock screen display updates from various apps, the weather in whichever location your GPS decides it to be, and more. Adding functionality to ever single screen on the phone may be the future – but is it necessary? Kouji Kodera thinks so, and prefers the weather screen, he says, to any other lock screen he’s seen on any manufacturer’s UI.


Another item Kodera says that HTC is aiming to improve is the camera interface. Yours truly can attest to the fact that they’ve already done wonders with their current release, the HTC ThunderBolt’s camera being the best mobile phone camera – or at least mobile phone camera interface – I’ve ever seen. They aim to improve upon the current system (releasing with the Sprint HTC Evo 3D and HTC Flyer [pictured above]), by upping the camera ante once more.

Finally, Kodera notes that HTC won’t be the first one to the $100 price point that appears to be hitting everyone’s tongues as of late, saying “We’ll be a little higher than the rock bottom of the market but we will slowly go into that market as it grows.” On the other hand, they’ll be the first group aiming directly at women. Kodera notes that while the average HTC phone attracts 70% male buyers, they’re working towards a 50/50 with the Wildfire S.

•  [via Mobilized]
  

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HTC Thunderbolt teardown photos released by the FCC

The FCC Teardown report on the HTC Thunderbolt has appeared online and it shows all the internals of the LTE driven handset. Looking at the various layers of the Thunderbolt, it’s really amazing how much can fit into such a thin, by comparison, package.Images show the 1 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, iNAND flash memory and SDRAM from Sandisk and Samsung respectively, and all the antenna including CDMA, EVDO, and LTE. In addition, there’s close ups of the Thunderbolt’s GPS antenna, Bluetooth, and WLAN Antenna’s as well.

In other Thunderbolt news, Amazon is putting the Verizon 4G LTE Thunderbolt on sale for $174.95 with a two year Verizon contract. A savings of $75 over the already low price of $249.99. The unsubsidized sale price still lists for around $669, a $30 price cut. That means that users can afford to add the extended battery and still walk away with a pretty good deal.

In addition to the 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, the Thunderbolt 4G enjoys a 2/4″ Super LCD multi-touch display, a pair of cameras including a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera for video chat and an 8 megapixel rear facing camera for HD video recording in 720p. On board memory is courtesy of 8GB RAM and a 32 GB microSD memory card. Dual Microphones enable HTC’s noise canceling technology for clear calls in noisy conditions.

The Thunderbolt comes with Android 2.2 (Froyo) out of the box, but we reported today that it will be updated by late June.





  

• [via Wireless Goodness and HTC Media]

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Booyah Nightclub City DJ Rivals lands on Android

If you are a big fan of music and rhythm games, a new offering has landed on Android that has a RPG element to it as well. The game is called Booyah Nightclub City DJ Rivals. The game has been on the iPhone previously and this is the first time it has landed on Android.

The coolest thing about the game is that it allows players on the iPhone and Android devices to play against each other. The game uses GPS tech to use your location and the multiplayer mode is expansive. The location-based play lets you become the DJ at real stores and restaurants in your area to earn money in the game.

The game is a free download on the Android Market and on the App Store right now. “Following the success of MyTown on iOS and Nightclub City on Facebook, we are very excited about our first game on Android,” said Brian Cho, director of business development, Booyah. “Mobile is the new frontier for gaming and we see a tremendous opportunity for DJ Rivals on the rapidly growing Android platform.”

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Larry’s Turn

John Lennon would have loved Twitter, Yoko is said to have revealed. Certainly she would have the inside track on this, especially if she had insisted on it. But what I want to know is whether Hendrix would have loved GarageBand, or would Miles have preferred Android over iPhone. It’s open, man…

We’ll never know what the Gettysburg Address would have looked like after surviving auto-correct. Or what Hitler might have done with GPS. By the looks of Techmeme this weekend, we don’t even have a shot at what is happening right now. Instead, we have Larry Page’s first day at his second take as Google CEO. Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues again.

I know it’s just business. Fear of Facebook has sent Eric Schmidt packing or at least down the hall in some newly refurbished executive building. Larry is being handed something similar to the creaking load of stupid situations that Russell Brand wrestled to the ground in the newly refurbished Arthur. Brand did a good job, and so will Page, but to what end? It is increasingly difficult to remember how amazing Google was just a few story lines ago.

Back then, the throw it against the wall and see what sticks approach seemed engaging and faintly revolutionary. Gmail was the real disruption, heralding the Cloud and daring Microsoft to ignore it at what continues to be its peril. Wave seemed like Animal House, live from Australia it’s Saturday Night, now with added realtime. Buzz was like the Apple leaks that came surprisingly true, a capitulation to copying the remaining good ideas out there. Sadly, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, and magic isn’t what it used to be.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Gmail succeeded because it was given time to breathe. Today’s Gmail is streaming, the magic fountain of youth for Netflix and iPad 2 and AirPlay. YouTube made some noises about turning on streaming this week, and if the Gmail strategy of letting beta dynamics build just barely in time scalability is repeated it will be a really big deal.

Google has shown no skill at doing what Jobs does best, wrangling the studios. But wrangled they are, leaving a gaping hole for streaming live news and events to break through. Ustream and the other streaming startups are not moving quickly enough to take advantage of the opportunity, which is summarized in one word: iPad. If Google can do to streaming what iTunes did to podcasting, namely produce ubiquitous iPad consumable live streams of any and all comers, the market will do the rest just like it is doing with Netflix.

This will require some heavy duty gumption on Larry’s part. He’ll have to abandon the Schmidt antipathy for all things Apple and support (or continue to support) H264 and the direct channel to the iPad and AirPlay. You can see noises already about doing Google TV right, but that’s a sucker play that people like Sony’s Howard Stringer are already signaling they won’t go for again. It’s hard to remember apparently that Google’s early alliance with Apple on the iPhone was equally good for both parties.
If rumors of an Apple/Twitter deal are right, it’s all the more reason for Larry to align with iPad on streaming. He doesn’t need anyone’s approval, except perhaps for Adobe’s (and who needs that.) Seriously, Larry has the opportunity to realign with Apple and head off a streaming war that is too early and irrelevant to either company’s assets. It also would limit Amazon’s upside and further damage Microsoft’s chances of doing the much harder job of swallowing the Apple platform.

Today’s movie analogy is The Fighter, where Marky Mark is forced to jettison his mother and crack addict brother to get another shot at a title fight, and then realizes he must bring his new and old teams together to win. Google still thinks it can invent its way forward, but it’s a bit of a bluff given its Facebook paranoia. The swing vote these days is with the users, who know what they want and will flock to the first group that delivers. We know a tell when we see it, and Larry’s 25% social tax is a loser. He’s saying social is the enemy, and we’re saying no it’s not.

Social is not something gained, it’s something we give. Facebook may overreach but we flock to Twitter to reduce the chance of being overpowered. We root for Netflix as much because it is not Comcast as we did for Google for not being Microsoft. We intuitively know that if the majors hold Netflix up for ransom we’ll pay 20 bucks a month instead of 8. And intuitively we know that once we get there it will be a lot easier to cut the cable cord knowing the economics are more in line.

In other words, it’s a counter-intuitive world where the cartel’s smartest move would be to keep prices low to keep Netflix from crossing over. A world where the way forward is to hold your friends close and your enemies closer. We pay Netflix $8 a month not for what they deliver but for what they could. We may not be sure who our friends are, but we know who aren’t. Now it’s Larry’s turn.

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Pandora is sending user GPS, gender, birthday and more to ad servers

Looks like Pandora Radio for Android has been under fire as of late. If you guys didn’t hear they were issued a Subpoena recently over a few different issues, mainly regarding privacy and user data. Apparently there has now been even more information revealed from our friends over at Ars Technica that might have you all even more worried.

I know you all love Pandora Radio, as do I. So please don’t get to upset as I only share the news as I see it. I use Pandora very often, but I’ve yet to turn it on today after reading this.

Apparently after a company named Veracode did a bit more research they found some things that are pretty scary to say the least. According to them Admob was transmitting GPS, but that makes sense as most are driving while using the app, but then they found it randomly at all different times was reporting the users GPS. Then there was other references that appear to also log user data, gender, and possibly birthday. Additionally, the app itself appeared to be sending the users Android ID, and continually access the user’s GPS location for updates.

Veracode then wrote on its blog.

 “The SecureStudies library accesses the android_id and directly sends a hash of the data to http://b.scorecardresearch.com while the Medialets library accesses the device’s GPS location, bearing, altitude, android_id, connection status, network information, device brand, model, release revision, and current IP address.”

I don’t like the idea of them accessing many of those things, one in particular being my IP Address and my gender, that is not any of their business. Pandora has mentioned in the past that they require a certain level of access to user information so that it can continue delivering personalized music streams that we all know and love. Then again, according to Veracode, they aren’t just using that data for themselves, but rather for advertising purposes as well. There is no proof of this next comment, but the thought of them selling my personal information would make me not have a happy face. Ars Technica goes on to mention, “If the grand jury ends up coming to the same conclusion, Pandora (and other app makers) could be facing legal difficulties.”

What do you all think, and will you be dumping your favorite music streaming app over this? Did you just uninstall Pandora like I did? What about Amazon MP3 and the new cloud player, does it just cross reference the music you already have for the music suggestions it sends you, or are they also taking more information than we would like, or they need? Only time will tell. Stay tuned.

• [via Ars Technica]
   

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Trailer Tracking Is More Than A Security Issue!

While fleet operators might view the key benefits of trailer tracking as maintaining constant cargo visibility while trailers are constantly coupled and uncoupled or left parked unattended overnight, determination to cut fuel costs and doublecheck driver timesheet records are never far behind in their thoughts.

It's for the above reasons that over recent years, the desire to maintain constant contact with every single one of their Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) and articulated trailers has led to transportation companies installing a vehicle tracking solution as standard policy.

Yet beyond the safeguarding of valuable assets and shipments against loss or theft, today's highly competitive and cost-conscious, customer-service led industry cannot be underestimated. It is too often forgotten that before GPS vehicle tracking technology was available, trying to locate and speak with drivers once they were en-route, could take many long hours or even days via telephone, causing costly delays or scheduling chaos.

Maintaining control over driver movements via a realtime tracking device enables fleet managers to determine if their trailers are being used for ‘moonlighting' or other unauthorised, and possibly illegal use.

However, different freight and transportation companies will have their own requirements according to the different types of trailer being employed, from refrigerated, curtain sided to box container to even flat bed, where applications needed might be for temperature monitoring, perishable freight and bulk load transportation.

Notwithstanding, the importance of a tracking device for pinpointing vehicle location and a fast response trailer tracking can supply load security by implementing motion sensors and door monitoring. Precise data measurement of time and distances travelled can be collected from the trailer on a 20-second update and location-based reporting can be pre-set, even when the trailer is off-road, on a daily, weekly or monthly reporting cycle.

Temperature control on chilled, refrigerated or frozen goods containers can also be continuously monitored by independent probes or directly connected recorders.

Load capability has significantly expanded in recent years and it is estimated that for every HGV there are now three trailers. However monitoring was still based on operating both a trailer tracking and a separate vehicle based system at the same time. Latest technology advances now enable the same data reporting for both the trailer load and vehicle.

A trailer tracking unit can be installed in a covert and secret recess to avoid tampering or theft and is manufactured to specification, allowing the device to successfully cope with exposure to tough weather conditions, including protection from winter road salt.

• (ArticlesBase SC #4491289)

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Vehicle Tracking Systems and its Benefits

Vehicle tracking systems have become increasingly popular. This technologically advanced system has enabled vehicle owners to keep a track of their vehicles. Basically, car or vehicle owners are given the power to track vehicles through a device controlled electronically.

Those vehicles, which are fitted with electronic device, can be easily controlled by well-designed computer software at any specific operational foundation. Through this, the third party or the owner can easily track the location of vehicles. All modern day vehicles come fitted with the Global Positioning System (GPS) in order to track the vehicles. This is a unique satellite-based navigation system which comprises of a network of about 28 satellites positioned into the orbit.

Designed exclusively by the United States Department of Defense services for the military purposes, GPS gained immense popularity among the other sectors. And later on the need of GPS system was also felt in different other industries as well and that's the major reason why the GPS was allowed to be used by civilians.

The Global Positing System comprises of three main segments- user, control and space. The Space segment comprises the total network of the satellites. The user segment stands as the receiver which is also a defined electronic device that comes positioned in the vehicle. Last, the control segment monitors the ground stations for prompt and smooth functioning of satellites. The best thing is that all 3 segments almost work in conjunction with one another to precisely detect the location of a lost or stolen vehicle.

Auto theft is a big problem worldwide. Most technologically advanced countries like the United States and the United Kingdom also experience increasing cases of auto theft each year. Countries like Brazil which sees auto theft as a big problem has passed a separate law to minimize the total number of the auto thefts in the country and to help authorities locate their stolen vehicles. As per the law, all vehicles those receiving new registration are needed to have vehicle tracking systems installed in them. Prior to the law, there were only 10 percent vehicles in Brazil which were well equipped with the tracking systems.

Overall, tracking vehicles hold a great significance. For individuals owning their own car, the GPS system assists to resolve cases of the car thefts by means of tracking the ideal location of the vehicle. Additionally, the system is also widely used across different platforms. These include construction, cargo, transport, food industries. For instance, the GPS system as used in food industry can be utilized in the distribution of the food to different places. In the construction industry, the GPS system helps to assure the timely delivery of the construction materials. In the transportation industry, GPS is used for supervising speed of the driver and then tracking vehicle location and even setting up the route for them.

Apart from this, vehicle tracking systems can be best used in numerous emergency services like accident, paramedic, police, and fire. In any kind of emergency situation, this technological advancement helps to locate the vehicles which are need of any help.

•  ArticleBase

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