Samir Makes A Comeback, LoudUp & ShakeMe Emerges

Oh yea, things are sure heating up in the accelerometer business! Earlier this year we saw Tong Ren beating Samir to his idea of ShutUp, and Damian who has released a number of fun (but quite pointless) accelerometer applications such as pyPiwo, pyRybka, pyPoziomica as well as pyMoneta. Well, Samir was the one who started developing accelerometer applications from the very beginning so it is only natural that he would like to keep that lead.

Today two more names pop up on Samir's website, shrouded in mystery. No confirmed details on either of the applications yet, but ShakeMe might introduce the functionality of changing sound tracks by shaking the phone, much like what the newSony Ericsson W910 phones does; while LoudUp is said to be an autospeaker that will allow direct answering of phone calls through the loudspeaker. Truely useful when driving or for those who are hearing-impaired.

So here's some food for thought, is Samir really working on TWO new applications when he hasn't even perfected/completed either one of his previous prejects? ... or is this just more of drawing the crowd and attention to himself and to "reserve" some of cool names for his future applications?

...only time will tell.... Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions on this one.

ShakerRacer Released!

When you're playing a racing game or using an RC car, you will very often move your whole body when driving through tight turns or accelerate with full speed — but the control itself is very often still done through abstract buttons on a game controller or keyboard.

ShakerRacer does not need this additional layer and allows you to control an RC car directly through your movements — by using the acceleration sensor of your mobile phone. It works in a very intuitive way: just tilt your phone in the direction you want to drive. That's it!

The car that we used is based on a standard €90 RC car bought from a toy shop. We modded it to accept Bluetooth instead of the proprietary wireless module that it was shipped with. A small microcontroller and a Bluetooth module replace the original wireless components. On the side of the mobile phone, a Python script translates the input of the acceleration sensor to commands that the microcontroller can understand in order to manage the steering servo as well as the main motor.

It turned out that this is a very intuitive and natural way to control the car. You do not need any practice as the concept can be understood instantly. So there's nothing that can block your way to fun!

 

Compatibility

• S60 3.x with acceleration sensors
  e.g. Nokia 5500 Sport, N93i, N95, N82, ...

Developed by

• Andreas Jakl (Software)
• Stephan Selinger (Hardware)

Published

• November 2007

Price

• Freeware

More Information

• High quality video download and additional screenshots and pictures.
• Please contact the developers for more information.

---

Download

• Documentation only (English)
• Source code and documentation (v1.5, English)

Nokia Location Tagger v1.0 Beta Released

Since GPS enabled phones (erhm, or multimedia devices) are getting as common as backpacks, photo tagging has boomed and the demand for such a function in these devices has greatly increased. Late last year many software developers have came up with such solutions offering geo-tagging (tagging a photo to the location in which it was taken) services including the online photo album giant, Flickr. ...but of we know Nokia, they simply won't settle for 2nd place. So now they're releasing their very own geo-tagging application , called Nokia Location Tagger. It's still in Beta, but it's a start.

With Nokia Location Tagger, you can automatically tag your location data to your pictures. As you take a picture, your GPS coordinates are saved to the EXIF header of the JPEG file. You can use this data later, for example, to locate your pictures on a map.

In the near future, Nokia hopes to make location tagging a seamlessly integrated part of the Nokia experience. Until then, Nokia Location Tagger is a small standalone application that gives you a sneak preview. Nokia is not planning to productize this application as such, but we’d love to hear your thoughts already now, so that we have time to take it into account in the mainstream development.

Compatibility
Tested with Nokia N95, N95 8GB, N82, and E90 using the integrated GPS. Should work but not fully tested with all S60 3rd edition devices using an external Bluetooth GPS receiver. Sharing your location-tagged pictures online requires Share Online 3.0.

Instructions
* Launch Nokia Location Tagger application.
* On the main screen, you will see the status of your GPS module. It will show the coordinate if GPS module is active. Otherwise, it will show "Searching".
* To tag pictures with GPS coordinates, simply use the built-in Camera application. Press the Camera button of your device to take pictures as usual. When Nokia Location Tagger is running in the background, you will see small icon at the top left corner of Camera’s view finder. This indicates the status of GPS module:
Green: GPS module is active.
Amber: Nokia Location Tagger is connecting to GPS module or searching for GPS coordinate.
Red: GPS module is inactive.

YouTube Releases Official Mobile Application

YouTube has released a beta application that will allow you access to their entire library on your phone. Sadly those who have the N82(yes loy shine you know I'm talking about you) will not be able to to use this great application. For now it works on my N95 which is on a select list of compatible devices along with Nokia’s N73, E65, 6110, 6120 and SonyEricsson K800 and W880.

The video (above) should help guide you on installing the application.
Access millions of YouTube videos at any time right from your mobile phone. This downloadable application puts YouTube in your pocket. Yea seriously it does.

With YouTube mobile, you can...........

• Find Out Which videos are hot?
  Access the latest, the best and the most viewed videos.
  
• Search...
  ...and watch any YouTube video.

• Stay tuned
  Watch your subscriptions, playlists and favourite videos any time.
  
• Upload
  Upload videos directly from your mobile phone.

What are you waiting for? Download it now!

Firm awarded patent on smartphones - Apple, Nokia, RIM, HTC, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, AT&T, Sprint, everyone gets sued!

Did that title just spike your blood pressure? Well it damn sure almost gave us a freakin’ stroke.

It seems that the USPTO, in all their patent approving wisdom, has awarded a patent holding firm a patent on a “mobile entertainment and communication device.” Okay, the patent title sounds inconspicuous enough, but the patent covers a mobile phone with removable storage, camera, internet connection, and the ability to download video and audio files.

Raise your hand if that patent-description reminds you of the smartphone that you use everyday.

The patent was issued last Tuesday, after which point, the firm promptly filed suit (three different suits, actually) against just about everyone in the mobile phone industry. Apple, Nokia, RIM, Sprint, AT&T, HP, Motorola, Helio, HTC, Sony Ericsson, UTStarcomm, and Samsung are named among the defendants in this case.

To make matter worse, the patent was issued on the premise of a “continuation filing,” in which a patent holder apply for a patent to cover technologies that have already emerged and hit the market. Here’s the kicker - the patent application was basically a combination of well-known technologies and concepts that were already in use, a patent-practice that the Supreme Court recently ruled does not deserve a patent.

Has anyone over at the USPTO ever heard of “prior art?” Apparently not. A patent on a smartphone?! We still can’t believe it.

-adapted from intomobile.com-

Fill her up!

All men out there...
I bet some of you know what we should eat to keep us in tip top shape..
but..
just for the sake for everyone..
I will inform all you guys..


Most men know which foods they should avoid, and you know that it’s not a good idea, especially if you’re trying to watch your weight, to sit down and eat a 12-oz. steak dinner complete with fries and gravy, six nights a week. We imagine, however, that the temptation is likely there for many of you.

To really take your nutrition to the next level and maximize your diet, it helps to know which foods you should be eating.

The following top foods for men are all great additions to your diet and should be eaten on a regular basis. Doing so will not only help you to progress maximally with your workouts, but it will also help to promote much better health in the long run.

Salmon

Salmon is a rich source of essential fatty acids, making it one of the best varieties of fish to eat on a regular basis and one of the best foods for men. If you enjoy canned salmon, you’ll appreciate the excellent source of calcium provided by the bones, which, in turn, will promote strong bones in yourself and proper muscle contractions.

When ordering salmon from a restaurant, however, watch out for any sauces it may be slathered in. Salmon is a popular fish to drown in cream sauces, which can provide you with a lot more fat and calories than you need.

When preparing salmon at home, try grilling it on the barbecue -- or oven grill -- after it has been sitting in a marinade composed of 1 tablespoon soy sauce, chopped fresh ginger (amount depends on taste preference), a half tablespoon olive oil, and a half teaspoon onion soup mix. This will enhance its flavor and won't add a lot of additional fat or calories.

Sirloin steak

Steak has long been among the top foods for men, and thankfully, a moderately sized serving of lean sirloin steak is one of the best protein sources for you to consume. Not only will it take slightly longer for the body to break down steak in comparison with egg whites, for example, but it is also an excellent source of iron, which helps to transport oxygen to the various cells in the body.

Anemia (iron deficiency) is usually associated with women, since they typically suffer from this condition; however, as men we shouldn’t overlook the importance of iron in our diet. Men may need slightly less iron each day then women do, but it is still just as critical to performing optimally in the gym.

Typically, most guys prefer to barbecue their steak, but during the winter months, don't be afraid to slice it into thin pieces and toss it with some vegetables in a stir-fry. By using a cast-iron pan you can increase the iron content slightly, and the vegetables will really help to up the nutritional content.

Cabbage

A vegetable that often gets lost in the mix, cabbage is chock-full of nutrients and incredibly low in calories. This is the perfect food to eat when you're trying to shed body fat because it offers good nutrition and gives you a sense of fullness, which is a major factor in top foods for men. Potentially one of the biggest benefits that cabbage offers is an antioxidant that helps to work toward preventing cancer.

A one-cup serving of cabbage has 22 calories, 5 grams of carbs, 0 grams of fat, and 1.5 grams of protein.

One unique way to incorporate cabbage into your diet is to prepare a twist on the traditional cabbage roll: stir-fry some lean, sliced chicken breast with chopped vegetables, wrap it up in a slice of cabbage, and then bake these rolls in a light tomato sauce until tender. These could easily be frozen and then taken to work for lunch.

Pomegranate berries

A very healthy fruit, pomegranate berries have been shown to help prevent cancer, particularly prostate cancer. Since this is a concern for many men, getting your daily dose can offer you extra reassurances that you are doing everything you can to protect yourself.

This fruit is also an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps to maintain proper collagen development and to fight the common cold.

To make it really simple to reap the benefits of this healthy fruit, toss in half a cup of berries into your post-workout protein shake and blend until smooth.

Cottage cheese

One of the best things to eat right before you go to bed, cottage cheese is a great source of casein protein, thus supplying your body with slow-digesting protein during the overnight fast. This is precisely why cottage cheese is among the top foods for men -- especially if you’re lifting weights.

Some men tend to shun cottage cheese because it is higher in sodium, but a slightly higher sodium intake is generally not that problematic as long as you are getting enough water and potassium in your diet. If you are really concerned, then look into the lower sodium varieties of cottage cheese that are on the market.

A terrific way to consume this before bed is to mix it with one tablespoon of peanut butter (melted if you prefer) and throwing in a few chopped nuts of choice, which will add a small amount of fat to the snack, further slowing the release of protein into the blood.

Swiss chard

Typically, you likely go for the romaine lettuce, since you know it's higher in nutrients than iceberg, but you should really give Swiss chard a try the next time you’re looking for a tasty alternative to your everyday greens. This leafy vegetable is a little more bitter to taste, but it provides you with a really terrific source of lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which help protect your eyes from dangers of aging.

To add this top food for men to your diet, saute a large batch of chard leaves in a small amount of oil, some salt and pepper to taste, two cloves of chopped garlic, 2 ounces sherry, and one tablespoon of sherry vinegar. Continue to saute the dish until the liquid has been reduced by half.

Dates

If you’re looking for something to include in your post-workout meal, dates are the perfect choice. This fruit is very high on the glycemic index, which is what you want at this point since it will cause the protein you consume at this time to be taken up by the muscle cells at a faster rate.

Most guys, when choosing a post-workout fruit, will opt for a banana, which has a glycemic index of 56, while a date has a rating of 103. Remember that the rest of the day you want to be eating on the lower side of the glycemic index, so only eat dates after your workout.

One easy way to incorporate dates into your post-workout meal is to spread a date jelly over a few rice cakes, which will give you fast-acting carbohydrates that will really get the protein from your post-workout protein shake into your muscles.

SO...
Next time when you are out for a grocery shopping..
Don't hesitate to put these few edibles into your shopping cart or basket.. :)

NiiMe -3D Mouse Control With Accelerometer-

Still using a traditional wired mouse to control your PC? We feel that is starting to get a little outdated. Embarrassed? don't be. You may quickly restore your reputation by using wireless mice or better yet, your N95!

The dream has became a reality! It is now possible to control the mouse using the N95's accelerometer. Sure, some of you might already thought of using Nokmote and Salling Clicker, but that only allowed a very 2D left, right, up, down navigation and didn't feel natural at all.

A solution has arrived, in the form of a python application called NiiMe (sound slightly similar to a certain Nintendo gaming console don't you think?). Basically this application allows you to control your computer mouse in all directions using the n95's built-in accelerometer.

Have a look at this demo of you still have no idea what I'm talking about.

Installation Guide:

IN THE PHONE (Install all applications in the phone memory, tested with N95 v20.0.015 RM-159)

1. Install Accelerometer Plug-In and aXYZ Plug-in

2. Install Python for S60 3rd edition (IMPORTANT: Plug-in and Shell)

IN THE COMPUTER (Step 1 only in .Py version not in packaged .EXE)

1. Install Python 2.5 and modules(WxPython, PySerial and Win32Ext) in your computer

2. Plug-in a Bluetooth adapter (Use its own drivers, not Microsoft ones)

RUNNING IT!

1. Enable Bluetooth ;)

2. Open Python in your mobile, go to: "Options>Bluetooth Console" and connect to your computer

3. Run the NiiMe software (NiiMe.exe or NiiMe.py) and select the COM port of your bluetooth.

** For me I had to manually go into the control panel and set up a separate COM port before the phone could connect.

If you have trouble setting it up don't be shy to post here and seek our help. True losers are the ones who don't dare to ask.

USING IT

Tilt the phone in any direction you wish to point the mouse. Right now Left click button is the "Right Option" button of the mobile and Exit button is the "Red Button"
The "INVERT" function is useful in Google Earth to fly (Press Ctrl+Alt+A in Google Earth)

Cutting edge? Certainly! Efficient? Hmm... Not so much.

Download the file from the developer's website here.

Enjoy!

ShutUp!

ShutUp! No, not you.. I'm talking about N95 application developed by Samir. Earlier this year we saw that Samir's idea was rudely "stolen" by a developer in China, who beat Samir to releasing an application with a similar feature -FlipSilent-. FlipSilent received a lot of attention as many N95 users were craving the sensational idea of "flipping the phone over to silent it". Though first announced by Samir, the idea was actually demonstrated in a S60 Touch introduction video. Anyway, who first thought of it or released it doesn't matter. What's important is that it is here now, and two developers are battling it out to win the heart's of fellow N95 users!

Today Samir made his come back with ShutUp Beta 1, as promised by the man himself months ago. ShutUp is a very simple application: When the phone is ringing (alarm, call...), silence it simply by physically flipping the phone over. You can also answer and hang up a call by using the slide of the phone.

A video of demonstration of ShutUp is available here.

Features: (beta 1)

Modes
* FlipProfile: Flip your phone face-down to activate the selected profile. Simply take it to reactivate the previous profile.
* FlipCall: Flip your phone to mute or hang up an incoming call.
* SlideCall: Slide up the selected keypad to answer a call. Slide down to hang up.

Settings:
* Reactivity: Set the reactivity of the FlipProfile mode. The lower this setting is, the longer you have to keep your phone flipped to activate the selected profile. (This setting prevent from unwanted profile changes)
* Auto Start: Enable this setting to launch ShutUp automatically at the phone boot.
* System App.: When activated, this setting prevents ShutUp to be closed by the OS in low RAM conditions.
* Hidden App.: Enable this setting to hide ShutUp from the tasks list.

Samir has sent me an early request that this application remains only to the donators, so I will not post it here. but rest assured once the public version is out it will be uploaded here first!

Just Got My Bose Companion 3 Speakers!

Yes, it's that time of year again, all the food, relatives, red packets... Chinese New Year is coming! So I went and did some new year shopping for new clothes with my family in Kl today... but while everybody was shopping for clothes, i fished this out!

Whoever said that silence is golden probably never experienced music this way, as this baby spits out music sweeter than concentrated sugar syrup!

Traffic in KL was absolutely unbearable, but at least this made it worth all the hassle. Sorry for the crappy photos, it was taken from my N95 and i was too excited to take decent shots!

pyPoziomica, FlipSilent & emTube Updated

Since i've posted about these applications before i feel there is no need to do it again. All the updates only contain minor bug fixes and not much new functions so i feel there is no need for a changelog either.

Download them here:

pyPoziomica v3.00

FlipSilent v3.00

emTube v1.0.10


We hope you you'll enjoy these software even more now with the bugs fixed.

HourPower v1.04 Out!

You know the situation - you experience it almost every day: When you wake up in the morning, you'll want to know the time.

Of course you could take a look at the alarm clock, but that would imply looking at the small clock on your bedside table. If you have a clock that's able to project the time on the ceiling, it's better - but still, you have to get your eyes into a state where they can focus at the numbers. This is where talking alarm clocks come in handy. But you might not have one. However, you do have a mobile phone. Why not let the phone read the time for you?

This is exactly where HourPower comes into play. It reads the current system time out aloud (in a Stephan Hawking like tone) - nothing else. No fancy UI, nothing to configure. Just press the button and hear the time. Put it on a softkey of the standby-screen for maximum comfort.

HourPower uses the built-in text to speech-engine of S60 3rd Edition phones. English, German and French are currently supported. If your phone is running a different language, you might not get the optimal experience: your phone will try to speak the default English words, but use your local dialect. In that case, you're welcome to translate the words (and - if necessary - extend the source code to make sure that all possible counting-irregularities in your language are properly handled) and send it to us: HourPower is open source and licensed under the GPL!

Now, Stephan Hawking, the time please!

Changelog from v1.03 to 1.04:

- Improved time reading in English for a correct handling of noon / midnight in the 12 hour clock system as well as optimized speech of full hours and the first ten minutes of each hour. Thanks to Joel M. Parks from Nokia for pointing that out!
- The application now launches in the background.
- Optimized icon and code resulting in a smaller application (installed size: 28 kB instead of 48 kB).
- Changed license from GPL 2 to GPL 3.

Download here from the developer's website.

Lighter Than Air - MacBook Air

Apple's latest notebook turns out to be more than just hot air. Yes, the rumours were true, Apple has launched the MacBook Air, an ultra-light 13.3” laptop that does not have an optical drive. This will give Sony much needed competition in the uber-thin laptop category.

Amazingly thin. Amazingly full-size.

The thinness of MacBook Air is stirring. But perhaps more impressive, there’s a full-size notebook encased in the 0.4 - 1.94 cm of sleek, sturdy anodised aluminium. And at just 1.36 kg, MacBook Air is more than portable — it’s with you everywhere you go.

A no-compromise display

The glossy 13.3-inch, widescreen LED backlit MacBook Air display is the same viewable size as the screen on MacBook. The 1280-by-800 resolution gives you vibrant images and rich colours at full brightness the moment you open MacBook Air. So you get full-screen performance with all the benefits of a slim design. The mercury- and arsenic-free display is also more power efficient, which translates to longer battery life, 5 hours of it to be exact.

Full-size, full-feature keyboard

The keyboard is full-size with crisp keys just like the ones on MacBook. But MacBook Air goes further by adding backlit key illumination, making it easy to work in low-light settings such as airplanes and conference halls. A built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts keyboard and display brightness for optimal visibility. And with the oversize multi-touch trackpad, it just keeps getting better for fingers. You can pinch, swipe, or rotate to zoom in on text, advance through a photo album, or adjust an image. For example, instead if clicking back and next for browsing web pages, simply use 3 fingers to swipe either left or right to screen through your web pages, we like.

Extras

The innovative now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t port hatch flips down to reveal (and closes to hide) all the ports you really need: a USB 2.0 port, a headphone jack and a micro-DVI port that supports DVI, VGA, composite and S-video output. Even the MagSafe power connection has been reconsidered and slimmed to fit MacBook Air.

MacBook Air comes with a way-more-than-generous 2 GB of RAM built in — ample memory for working with your favourite applications. The 80GB hard drive provides plenty of storage space. And you have the option to upgrade to a 64GB solid-state drive, which has no moving parts for enhanced durability.

Unlike most other ultraportable notebooks, MacBook Air includes a built-in iSight camera. It’s so smartly integrated, you hardly notice it’s there. The iSight camera and iChat software make video chatting easy anywhere there’s a wireless network.

To compromise it's slimness, Apple has excluded an optical drive, but for those times when you still need to install software on MacBook Air from a CD or DVD, a new feature called Remote Disc lets you wirelessly use or “borrow” the optical drive of a Mac or PC in the vicinity. So you can have full access to an optical drive without having to haul one around. Other wireless features, include Time Machine, which now wirelessly backs up all your files.

Technical specs

• .16 to .75-inch thickness on top
• 12.8 x 8.94 inches
• 3 pounds
• 5 hours of battery life with everything running

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor at 1.6 or 1.8GHz, motherboard the length of a pencil.
• 800MHz frontside bus.
• 2GB RAM 667MHz DDR2 standard.

• 13.3-inch screen, LED backlit.
• 1,280 x 800 pixels
• Micro-DVI adapter (for DVI, VGA, composite and S-Video output)
• Intel GMA X3100 Graphics processor with 144MB RAM shared

• 1.8-inch 80GB HD or 64GB Solid State Drive (no moving pieces, but for a stunning $1,300 price increase!)
• Multitouch trackpad with gestures. Pans, zooms, rotates, etc.
• 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1.
• Optional external HD for $99, USB-bus powered.
• Full backlit keyboard.
• One USB 2.0, one audio port, one Micro-DVI

Verdict:

This wonderful notebook will set you back around $1,799. Not bad at all considering all the technology Apple threw into this one.

Love: Sexy slimness, light, packed with features, reasonable price.

Hate: No optical drive, limited USB ports.

LandscapePro v2.0 For N95

What's that? I hear complains that RotateMe isn't enough for you? You want more rotation on your N95?

Well you got what you wished for, LandscapePro v2.0 is out for the n95.

So why this instead of RotateMe? LandscapePro allows you screen to rotate in both landscape modes (left and right), much like the N82 and iPhone. This application is a demo version and it's free, the full version is scheduled to release in February 2008, probably Valentines Day from what I've heard.

The verdict:

Though this application makes viewing a lot more pleasant, and may be more convenient for left handers, I do not really see the need for such an application. The application itself is has no interface and needs a lot more improvement. There is no hidden app function, no auto start setting to choose from (it does it by default), no sensitivity setting to adjust.. and so on. The way I see it if this application gets enough attention (not likely) and is worked on enough, it can overshadow Samir's RotateMe. However, for now this is highly unlikely. As with RotateMe you will have to sign this application before using it.

Download here

Simple, Yet Effective!

Listen up people.. especially those guys out there.. yeah you..!
I know u want 6 packs of hard muscle to impress the girl of your dreams..
who wouldn't like a gizmo fan with hard strong abs? :)

So.. here are some simple yet effective ab exercise for you guys out there..!


First of all.. this exercise is nothing as good as the original gym practice and hard core training..
but.. it will show amazing results too.. and you can do this in the comfort at your home..

For all these exercises.. you will have to make sure to suck in your stomach, which will activate your transversus abdominis, the muscle that should always fire before any other core muscle.

Crunches

Lie flat on your back on the floor. Take a deep breath, suck in your stomach, keep your eyes focused on the ceiling, and raise your upper body off the ground until it is at a 45-degree angle with the floor. Don’t pull on your neck, as this can lead to forward head posture, neck pain and, in extreme cases, migraine headaches. Hold the contraction for 2 to 3 seconds and slowly return to the starting position. Perform 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

Standing side bends

Stand up straight and suck in your stomach. Keeping your legs straight and your arms at your sides, lean from left to right. Make sure you don’t rotate at the hips; rather, keep your upper body in a forward-facing position and simply tilt your body left and right. This easy ab exercise primarily works the obliques, but it also engages the entire abdominal wall and some of the lower back muscles. Perform 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

Torso twists

The torso twist is one of our favorite routines for tightening up the midsection and it's among the best easy ab exercises. Stand up straight, suck in your stomach and rotate your upper body from left to right while keeping your legs straight. As you turn, you will engage both the internal and external obliques, which are very important core muscles. The contraction produced in this exercise will hit the obliques from a different plane of motion than the side bends. Perform 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

Double crunches

Whenever you do a crunch, you work the entire abdominal area, but there are ways to add a little more emphasis to certain sections of the abdominals. The double crunch combines the crunch and another exercise called the knee raise, which will place more emphasis on the lower abdominal region.

Lie flat on your back against the floor with your legs in the air and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle so that your calves are parallel with the floor. Take a deep breath, suck in your stomach, keep your eyes focused on the ceiling, and raise your upper body off the ground until it is at a 45-degree angle with the floor. Once again, make sure not to pull your neck. Hold the contraction for 2 to 3 seconds and slowly return to the starting position. Perform 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

EASY ABS

If you follow these easy ab exercises, you will effectively work your core muscles. In combination with good nutritional and cardiovascular plans, they will help you achieve those chiseled muscles in no time. Also, don’t forget to include stretching in your regimen, as resistance training exercises tighten up the muscles.

N95 8GB Lens Horror

Another reason for you not to buy the n95 8GB, and to keep to the N95 classic (N95-1).

Have a look:

Before replacing camera lens (with all the scratches)

After replacing the camera lens

...and here's what happened after only about 2 months of using the n95 8GB

Gosh... I think the photos speak for themselves..

RotateMe Beta 7

I know Samir was hoping Beta 6 was the last beta, but there was an autostart bug in that version. So he fixed that and here is beta 7. What more do i have to say?

*update* Samir has put a lot of effort into this and since he personally requested that this version stays solely available to the donators, i respect that. I will repost it when he releases a final version.

Note: Still unsigned so you will have to sign it yourself or if you want post a request here and i can do it for you.

RotateMe Beta 6 Is Out.

The much anticipated app of Samir's has got another update today! It is not yet available on his site so I will upload it here.

Here's what the man himself said:

"Hi,
Here is rotateMe beta 6 (and I hope the last this time)
In fact it's a final version, but as usual, I need some tests to be sure that it's working well.
I tried to add new hotkeys, but there is no suitable hotkey for N82, as they are all being used.
So I decided to add a functionality from the v1.50 (which is almost done): Activate/Deactivate autorotation by launching the app. (see photo above)

ChangeLog:
- 'Hidden App.' bug fixed
- Enable/ disable auto-rotation by hotkey or by launching the app (launch it from the menu to launch the app)

Don't forget to install N95AccelerometerPlugin.sis
Don't forget to uninstall any previous version of rotateMe, before installing beta 6
rotateMe 2.1 and rotateMe 1.50 to make it work.
Thank you all for your support.
Regards,
Samir "

So there you have it, Beta 6, probably the final version as he said it himself. It is still unsigned, so you will have to sign it yourself. Feel free to post a comment here if you need help signing or want me to do it for you.

User Data Preservation with N82

One of the most common complaints about updating a devices firmware is that your settings and applications that you had installed are gone. I agree and in order to improve this situation with the Nokia N82 some changes were made as to how your data is stored.

So when you update with Nokia Software Updater to the latest firmware your settings and applications will still be available! The N82 is the first Nseries device to implement User Data Preservation.

Note: Even with a device that has user data preservation, you should always back up any important data before performing a firmware update in case something goes wrong (and if something does go wrong you'll feel much better knowing you backed up your data beforehand.)

With that said, having your settings and installed applications still there after a firmware update makes for updating to the latest firmware much more convenient. This feature has not been discovered by you guys and gals because there hasn't been a firmware update available yet for N82 (don't worry the first N82 firmware update that improves the stability of key applications is in the pipeline and will be available soon). Since this is the first time user data preservation has been implemented in an Nseries, don't get your hopes up too high. What we predict is that only key applications will stay intact, and most 3rd party applications will not be usable without a reinstall. (much like how applications behave when you keep them on your memory card and reformat the phone), though it still is exciting to hear about this.

Nokia's Announcements in CES 2008

At the recent 2008 International CES show in Las Vegas, Nokia made several important announcements and demonstrations.

The Nokia N95 8GB multimedia computer has been optimized for networks in the Americas using 850/1900 MHz high-speed data packet access (HSDPA). The need for the device — which is based on the S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1, developer platform — was supported by a recent Nokia-commissioned global survey, which predicts that in 2012, as much as 25% of all entertainment will be created and consumed within peer communities.

Available in the Americas for the first time, the Nokia N95 8GB device features a 2.8-inch QVGA screen that supports as many as 16-million colours, 8 gigabytes of built-in memory, assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) for improved location access, and enhanced battery life. A limited edition of 5,000 bright-red versions of the Nokia N95 8GB device will be sold in the Americas during the first quarter; both the limited-edition red device and the regular black and bronze units will retail for $599.

Also at CES, Nokia showcased its leadership in Internet services. A large part of the company's booth was dedicated to demonstrating how the consumer experience is driving Nokia's transition to an Internet company. These demos included Nokia Maps, Widgets, N-Gage™ mobile game deck, and Nokia Internet Radio. Third-party applications were also shown, including SlingPlayer, which lets users watch their home TVs from wireless devices; Rhapsody, which transforms the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet into a virtual jukebox; and Skype, the popular voice over IP (VoIP) service, which is now available for the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet.

SDB -Small Diameter Bombs-

Saw this on Discovery the other day and felt I just had to Blog it! There's an old saying that goes, "good things come in small packages."

Small Diameter Bombs, or SDB for short come in at just 5.9 feet long and 285 pounds. The bomb’s small size increases the number of weapons an aircraft can carry, therefore raising the amount of targets it can kill in one sortie.

Due to its size and precision accuracy, it also reduces collateral, or unintended, damage in the target vicinity, amazing!

Complementing the weapon is a smart miniature munitions carriage system. This system can carry four small diameter bombs, enabling an aircraft to quadruple its load out. A small diameter bomb can be used in adverse weather and has a standoff range of more than 60 nautical miles. Once released, the weapon uses its inertial navigation and an anti-jam Global Positioning System to fly to the target. Its guidance is further augmented by a differential GPS system, which provides corrections to enhance accuracy.

Boeing was selected in 2003 to complete the system development and demonstration phase and produce the small diameter bomb. During its developmental testing program, the small diameter bomb completed 35 out of 37 flight tests successfully. The program office attributed its success to having a good stable design early and keeping focused on the schedule. In contrary to common missiles, this one uses kinetic energy and it's set of wings instead of jet propulsion to steer itself towards the target. A second version of the SDB is currently under development.

SDB testing

Small Diameter Bomb I delivered ahead of schedule

Small-diameter bomb makes Strike Eagle squadron more lethal

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE. -- A small diameter bomb hits its target. The SDB is a 250-pound class munition providing the warfighter with a four-fold increase in weapons per aircraft station. It can penetrate more than 13 feet into a target and can be accurate from up to 70 miles away. The bombs are delivered in single, reusable aluminium weapon containers or loaded on a miniature munitions carriage.

*Adapted from www.globalsecurity.org*