| Nokia Open Studio New York 2006
I posted some initial impressions of the Nokia N95 and wanted to post my report on the complete Open Studio event. I paid for my own ticket to get to the event held in an historic armory in downtown New York. I checked in as press and then had some breakfast snacks and chatted wit people like Howard Chui. Nokia had a huge stage setup and we then moved over into this area for the press briefings. We learned about the N95, N75, and much more that I'll chat about a bit below in each section. We were given a nice Nokia Bluetooth headset, the 800 model, and were loaned a Nokia N80 Internet Edition to try out during the event with the opportunity to purchase it at a reduced price. I used the device for a couple hours, but like my N91 better so I returned it before I left. There is something about the American cell phone user that has most of us desiring to use a clamshell form factor device.
CDMA Based Payphone Launched
Kyocera and Microtel Electronica have announced a collaboration on a new CDMA wireless payphone. Easy and convenient to install and relocate, the payphones eschew hard wiring by using the Kyocera 200 Module to connect via CDMA wireless networks. Targeted for Latin American and Caribbean countries, the Microtel wireless payphone is first approved for use in Venezuela with wireless service provider Movistar. "With the Kyocera 200 Module integrated into our wireless payphones, we are revolutionizing the public phone market with a new level of convenience and economy for users," said Nelson Martinez, president, Microtel Electronica S.A. "Consumers no longer need to dig for change if a cell phone is not handy or if the battery is depleted, and they aren't saddled with exorbitant estimated costs either.
Old-time religion gets boost from new-time electronics
That old-time religion of yesterday is as close today as a handheld, a short DVD or lil iROCC William's latest Christian hip-hop tune. And that's more than good enough for a growing number of people. The ingredients are there for explosive growth. According to research by the Barna Group, two-thirds of American households in 2005 had Internet access in their homes, 72 percent used a cell phone, 84 percent owned a DVD player and 15 percent had a palmtop, pocket computer or PDA. A Pew study shows that 64 percent believe the Internet provides easier access to religious study and educational materials than is available offline. And 44 percent believe it provides easier access to prayer. Scott L. Thumma, a professor of the sociology of religion at Hartford Seminary, says technology does not diminish the richness of congregational life.
Spay, neuter drivers for safety?
Wow! Letter-writer Dennis Boettcher just called me a "stupid and reckless" driver ["Talk on the cell phone ," Sept. 27]. Well, sticks and stones! I prefer to refer to myself as American, and proud of it. What makes this country different from most others? Our individual freedoms. And talking on my cell phone while driving is a much-appreciated one. I've been driving for 14 years, having clocked in hundreds of thousands of miles. My driving record is completely free of blemish, with not even a parking ticket to fess up to. Am I "reckless" and "swerving like a drunken driver" when I use my cell phone? No. However, when I'm on Interstate 95 when my infant drops her pacifier on the floor, and I'm frantically trying to reach behind my seat to retrieve it and plug it back into her mouth, while at the same time flailing my arm in the back seat at my two toddlers who are fighting over a moldy sippy cup they found under their car seat, I confess! Guilty as charged! Would Mr.
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