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Late last week I pulled a dummy move and washed my phone with a load of laundry. I got it out when the cycle was done (so about 50 minutes later) and gave it my best shot, but the gadget’s definitely got some battle scars and now it’s just a step above a throw away phone with a messed-up monitor to boot.
It was an interesting undertaking to go without a phone for a number of days during the revival process — because while I absolutely hate the thing, I do use it a fair amount. But I think it helped that I’m not a much of a phone talker, so although I’m into texting in a big way, by cobbling together Facebook and Gmail communiqués along with the phone of a friend I borrowed when calling was essential, I felt sort of liberated by the experience as opposed to isolated. However, because of this little foray into the Land of Limited Electronics, I decided to do some digging to find out if my phone-saving game plan had any obvious flaws, or if different strategies could have brought about better results.
In a move that is sure to stir up controversy and debate, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has passed a law requiring cell phone manufacturers to disclose how much radiation their handsets emit, according to Reuters. The law is in response to concerns that cell phone radio frequency radiation may lead to health hazards including everything from dizziness and headaches to brain tumors. But is the law warranted?
We’ve all seen the ads for the fancy wristwatches from places like Rolex and Gucci. But this article is pointing out the fact that cell phones are much more essential to our lives (and they tell time too), so it may be better to invest in an upscale cell phone instead: Crème de la Cell: [...]
You Asked: How is the motherboard of a computer built? — Chukwuka, Benin City, Nigeria Marshall Brain Answers: A motherboard is a “printed circuit board” (PCB) with components soldered onto it. A printed circuit board is a piece of thin fiberglass with thin copper traces etched onto it. In the long-ago past, the components could [...]
This morning, FanStuff’s Tracy V. Wilson pointed out an article by Wired’s Priya Ganapati, in which she talks about a brand-new technology for digital camera image sensors. A California-based company named InVisage Technologies has created an image sensor that uses quantum dots rather than silicon as you’d find in the charged-couple device (CCD) or complementary silicon oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors that predominate the digital camera industry.
How many times have we heard ridiculous roaming stories like this: EU cracks down on “bill shock” roaming horror stories Heard the one about the German tourist who downloaded a TV program in France and got whacked with a €46,000 mobile Internet bill? How about the UK student who racked up almost £8,000 in roaming [...]
Windows Phone 7 – Microsoft Awakens from its Smartphone Slumber
by Marshall Brain | February 16, 2010
Microsoft was an early entrant to the Smartphone marketplace with Windows Mobile, but then it fell asleep as the iPhone overtook it. Now Android is exploding and could do the same thing. Microsoft is now waking up and trying to fight back with Windows Phone 7. Here is a quick look at the new smartphone [...]
Today’s cell phones are amazingly compact, complex devices that provide a wide array of services. Discover the origins of these technological wonders, and the technology that makes them work, in this episode of BrainStuff.
Isn’t the FTC supposed to protect consumers from stuff like this? Verizon: How Much Do You Charge Now? “The phone is designed in such a way that you can almost never avoid getting $1.99 charge on the bill. Around the OK button on a typical flip phone are the up, down, left, right arrows. If [...]
Last night, I attended a performance of Star Wars: In Concert. As I arrived at the venue, I saw that my HTC-G1 had no reception. That’s unusual — T-Mobile’s coverage in Atlanta tends to be pretty strong. I met up with my wife and we took our seats. Her cell phone, also on T-Mobile, still had reception. But she noticed that she wasn’t able to send text messages. Something was definitely odd.
As John Williams’ music filled the arena, I couldn’t help worrying about my phone. The last message I saw as I tried everything to check the connection (including removing and replacing the battery and SIM card) said my SIM card wasn’t registered with the network. I wasn’t sure what that meant. I listened to the oppressive opening notes of The Imperial March, looked at the enormous image of Darth Vader staring at us from the massive screen behind the orchestra and began to worry that my phone had turned to the Dark Side.
As it happens, I was one of thousands of customers affected by a service outage. T-Mobile customers across the United States began having trouble with their service. I was one of the lucky ones — by the end of the concert, my service had returned. But some people are still experiencing problems with their phones.
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