Author: SimonandAnders

GPS Discovered In Google Local For Mobile

GPS Discovered In Google Local For MobileDespite their emphatic denial, Google appear to be planning to bring GPS to the recently announced Google Local For Mobile.

Clever clogs, Cristian Streng has been digging around in his Google Local For Mobile .jad, the downloaded binary file for his Nokia 6600 and he found the following “GpsEnabled: false.” Well I never.

Just to refresh you, here’s what Google say in their FAQ

Does Google Local for mobile use GPS to figure out where I am?
Google Local for mobile doesn’t use any GPS technology, even if your phone has a built in GPS location device.

It looks like v2.0 could well be different.

GPS Discovered In Google Local For MobileCurrently the users of the service have to key in or select the desired starting and destination points, and press a key to mimic their progress in the real world. Using GPS eradicates the need to tell the system where you are, or update the system to your progress.

With GPS Google’s service becomes a huge threat to many of the companies that already sell handheld navigation system like TomTom and Navicore. The disadvantage of Google’s approach is that the phone must be connected to the network, racking up data charges for the mobile owner. This disadvantage vanishes when the phone user had an all inclusive data rate.

GPS Discovered In Google Local For MobileThe GPS feature could well be waiting for a second release of the service, or waiting for next-gen handsets with aGPS built into them, to become more widely used.

Google isn’t alone in their desire to provide mapping services to mobiles. Guy Kewney tells us that there have been mutterings about Yahoo Maps linking up with mobile phone companies too.

Google Local For Mobile
Cristian Streng Mobile GMaps app

Linus Torvalds awarded Microsoft and Windows trade marks by mistake

Linus Torvalds, the father of Linux, has, thanks to HP Sweden, been awarded the registered trade mark for Microsoft and Windows.

Linux fans worldwide – don’t get too excited, just prepare to laugh your socks off. This very temporary assignment blunder was in fact carried out in an HP advert in thrice weekly mag, Computer Sweden.

Linus Tourvold awarded Microsoft and Windows trade marks by mistakeNestled down low in the small print of an advert for some HP servers which run unix/Windows and Linux, the following text can be found

“Microsoft and Windows is registred trademarks in USA and is owned by Linus Torvalds.”

Ouch.

HP were initially quick to pass the buck, placing the blame on the ‘London advertising agency’ that they say should have read the copy more closely. Then on reflection, they decided that they too should have read it too.

Hilariously the advert is for an HP range of servers call Integrity. Oh dear, HP will take a while to live this one down.

Linus Tourvold awarded Microsoft and Windows trade marks by mistakeQuite who originally spotted this blunder in the small print, isn’t known, but we suspect that it’s someone with a very keen eye for detail – verging on the fanatical.

Many thanks to the top Swedish spotter, and Digital-Lifestyles friend Anders M Olausson who spotted this being covered tragically in the magazine where the original error was made.

Linus Torvalds on Wikipedia

Skype Integrated Into Eniro, Swedish Phone Directory

Skype Integrated Into Eniro, Swedish Phone DirectoryEniro, the Swedish equivalent of Yellow pages and the phone directory have integrated the Skype URL, callto:, in to their online directories.

This boon for Skype users, gives browsers the ability to simply click on the targets details to use Skype to open a voice call with them.

Currently the only examples we could find used ‘normal’ phone number, so clicking on them connects your Skype to their phone number, using your SkypeOut minutes – much to the joy of Skype we’d assume.

MSN and ICQ ID can also be listed, but these don’t have the same simple click to use functions.

Skype Integrated Into Eniro, Swedish Phone Directory“It’s important for us to add all types of contact information and that makesadding Skype to that logical”, says Cecilia Geijer-Haeggström, VP ofproducts and market at Eniro.

This is currently only available for contacting individuals, but it is planned to offer the same through Yellow Pages for companies.

Skype Integrated Into Eniro, Swedish Phone DirectoryWe also understand that they’ll be printing the Skype ID’s in the printed directories for a small fee.

Many phone directories are owned by the countries incumbent telco, making it highly unlikely that they would offer similar services, as it ‘steals’ call revenue out of the pocket of their telco owners.

The Swedes are as high tech as you like, but we suspect that the fact that Skype CEO, Niklas Zennstrom is from Sweden somewhat smoothed this deal.

Eniro
Skype