Gizmodo
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question of the day
Question of the Day: Do You Text While Driving?
Man, people really laid into me for texting while driving as a part of reviewing the N97. It's unsafe, no doubt, but the reality is, people do it. Do you? More » -
iphone
iPhone 3.0's MMS Will Be Part of SMS Bundle, Not Sold at Extra Cost
In a nutshell, "AT&T will make multimedia messaging (MMS) available at no extra cost to customers with a text messaging bundle," says AT&T. [PCWorld] -
question of the day
What Method Of 21st Century Communication Do You Prefer?
From time to time I like to revisit the issue of communication because the options are constantly expanding and it is an interesting ongoing sociological experiment. So, the question is simple: which method of communication do you utilize most? More » -
rants
Texting While Driving Is Becoming Ridiculous
It's pretty redundant to make laws outlawing texting while driving because it already falls under laws covering distracted driving, but holy crap, something needs to be done about it.
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cellphones
The Real Reason Text Messages Are 160 Characters
I always thought text messages were limited to 160 measly characters because of some archaic pre-1970s technical standard. But apparently, it's because some German dude thought 160 was "perfectly sufficient." More » -
image cache
Medieval SMS
Send mutton and mead to archer station on crenellation 4SW—can't hold back the hordes on an empty stomach! K Thx :) [English Russia] -
sms
Teen Sends $4800 Worth Of Text Messages, Dad Hammers Teen's Phone
What's worse than your teen sending 10,000 text messages, mostly during school? Her sending 10,000 text messages when you have no text message plan. More »
43,307
By Jason ChenComment by ryanbrenner: so what i sent close to this many once (obv not 10k but > 5k) and you just call verizon... 57 Responses | Other threads
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question of the day
Why Do I Have Negative One Text Messages?
Error in the space-time continuum of SMS? Less than no friends? IS SOMEONE TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING?
28,085
By John MahoneyComment by OMG! Ponies!: Also... clean out your mailbox. That "46" would give me such a mental block. It's like when the... 10 Responses | Other threads
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fitness
Alpha Mat: Dancing For SMS Freaks and Math Nerds
From a fitness and educational standpoint, I understand the idea behind the Alpha Mat. It provides a plyometric type of workout while engaging the mind with numerical sequences—but it's missing a key ingredient. More »
3,209
By Sean FallonComment by tande04: Well if its set up as a phone wouldn't it be upside down for a calculator? 4 Responses | Other threads
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billboards
Snowing Billboards Screwing Up Careers in Norway
Imagine lumbering, blurry-eyed and beat-down to the bus stop on a Monday morning. Just then you notice that the billboard at the stop is snowing—alerting you to optimal skiing conditions at the nearby resort. More » -
iphone
Cell Stickies: How People With No Friends Get Text Messages
I can only imagine these acetate stickers (a mere concept, sadly) of the iPhone's friendly SMS overlay being used to prank someone. But what a prank it would be. [Fiona Carswell via OhGizmo] -
iphone
Google Shuts Down Infinite SMS For Gmail, iPhone
The days of sending free text messages with third-party applications like Infinite SMS in Google Talk has come to an end. The reason? Google was unwilling to foot the bill. More »
23,854
By Sean FallonComment by Kaiser-Machead: I didn't realize that the kids at Hogwarts used iPhones. 8 Responses | Other threads
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shame
London Clinics Begin Sending STD Test Results via Text
The National Health Service in the London Borough of Hounslow, in an effort to coax young people into getting tested, is offering free self-service STD kits, with an added bonus: text message diagnosis!. More » -
crime
Girl Refuses to Stop Texting in Class, School Calls Cops, Cops Arrest Girl
In an incident that wasn't at all excessive (nope), a 14-year-old girl in Wisconsin was arrested for refusing to stop sending text messages during class, where she proceeded to hide the phone in her ASS CRACK. More » -
cars
Is This How Car Makers Think We Talk?
Hughes Telematics stopped by to show us and our buddies at Jalopnik the in-car connected tech they're pitching to OEMs, which was actually pretty great. But it did include this perfect piece of generational misunderstanding. More »
23,472
By John MahoneyComment by s0crates82: "You can choose to respond in plain English, or with translations using a custom dictionary (here, apparently, set to illiterate... 8 Responses | Other threads
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insane
Girl Sent 35K Text Messages in a Month...Twice, But It is Nowhere Near the Record
The story of a 13 year old girl sending 14,000 text messages in a single month got a lot of press, but truth be told, that figure is actually fairly low. More » -
spam
AT&T Testing the Waters with American Idol Spam Texts
AT&T is the first cellphone carrier to begin spamming its customers with text ads. It recently sent texts advertising American Idol to a "significant number" of its customers. Stop right there, AT&T. More » -
OMG STFU
Teenager Tallies Up 14,528 Text Messages in a Month
A 13-year-old girl in California racked up 14,528 text messages in just a month, which calculates out to 484 a day and 20 an hour. Dear Lord, it's that damn Cingular commercial come to life. More » -
smart meters
Parking Meters From Hell
Fair warning—crazy French smart meters that detect the presence of cars and tell nearby authorities to come and bust you are making their way to the UK. Are we next? More »
16,260
By Sean FallonComment by zigziggityzoo: OK this is ridiculous. If they can do this, then they can have Parking meters that detect exactly what car... 10 Responses | Other threads
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gougings
NYT: Text Messages Are an Even Bigger Ripoff Than You Thought
We all know that text messaging is overpriced, but the NYT has pulled back the technological shroud to find out that the prices aren't just bad, they're practically extortionate. More »
31,919
By John HerrmanComment by soggy_cheerio: Um, since when did bandwidth become free? It is still a supply and demand issue. Before people get their panties in... 9 Responses | Other threads
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cellphones
Marathon to SMS Those Too Lazy to Run In It
I've come to the conclusion that despite childhood fantasies, I will never be passionate or self-loathing enough to run a marathon. However, I could track a friend via SMS. -
gmail
How To Send SMS Text Messages With Gmail's Chat
Google today rolled out a Labs feature that allows you to quickly send SMS messages via Gchat—perfect for continuing to antagonize your contacts with your witty links well after they leave their computer.
23,087
By John MahoneyComment by winshape: Now if only there were a way to totally turn off SMS so I'm not charged for every stupid text... 7 Responses | Other threads
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sms surgery
Life-Saving Surgery Performed via Text Message Instructions
Using text message instructions from a colleague, a British surgeon in the Congo successfully amputated the gangrenous collarbone and shoulder blade of an unfortunate teenager who had his arms torn off in an accident. More » -
iphone apps
SMS Touch: Send Free Text Messages Through Email
From the maker of handy iPhone landscape typing program TouchType, SMS Touch is an iPhone app that allows users to send unlimited text messages without paying for an SMS plan.
41,221
By Mark WilsonComment by iAirmanshirk: Giz, cover the 10,000 apps news story :] 3 Responses | Other threads
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dealzmodo
Buy Two Peek Handhelds and They'll Pay Your Phone Bill
Wow, it's like the longer you wait, the better the deals for the Peek email-on-the-go handheld get. First, there was the price drop to $80; then, unlimited texting. Now the company is offering to pay you entire November iPhone or G1 bill (up to $150), if you buy two peeks (one for you, and one for a friend) at getpeek.com before Monday, December 1. That means those of you with astronomically high phone bills could technically get two of them for a Hamilton.[Peek] -
peek
Peek Handheld Can Now View Images, Text Unlimitedly
The Peek handheld, recently named the Time's best gadget of 2008, has now gotten even better with two added features. While we knew unlimited text messaging was already coming to the device, it's a pleasant surprise to find out it can now view images too. Peek will show .JPG, .GIF, .PNG and .BMP file formats when you click the “View Image” option. Considering its price drop to $80, this little gadget's becoming a better deal day by day. [JKontherun]
4,986
By Elaine ChowComment by tkohrs2002: Isnt this what the blackberry was like 10 years ago?!? 2 Responses | Other threads
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peek
Peek Email-only Handheld Adds Unlimited Text Messaging
Peek, the feature-sparse, email-only handheld will be adding unlimited text messaging to its service within the next few weeks. This will be done by taking advantage of the fact that most cellphones can receive text messages that have been emailed and send text messages to email addresses. Sure, it isn't an elegant solution but it's a clever workaround and it gets the job done. What more could you expect from the guys that somehow garnered enough votes to be considered the best gadget of 2008? [Alley Insider]
6,171
By Seung LeeComment by Shamoononon, Vampire Grater - Now SWF: At first this looked like a fine/great idea. But then I saw it is 80$ for the item and... 4 Responses | Other threads
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gmail
Google Adding Text Messaging To Gchat in Gmail
Those of you who use Gchat through Gmail can now send text messages to mobile phones. The function is experimental, so you have to go to the Labs tab inside of Gmail's settings (or click on that little green flask icon) to turn it on. Your messages will appear as a 406 number—once you've sent a text through gmail, that'll be your specific number. AIM's had this feature for a while, so it's not surprising that Google would implement it as well. Text your friends! See how it goes! [Webmonkey]
11,423
By Elaine ChowComment by El GoFo: where is it? can't find it anywhere.... :( 2 Responses | Other threads
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instant messaging
Researchers Discover Emotions Surpass Technical Limitations of Instant Messages
Now there's officially no reason to leave the house. Ever. We can call in food, clothing and gadget deliveries. We can pay our bills online. Thanks to infomercials, we can exercise in the comfort of a door frame. And today we discover that we can get all randy (or depressed) chatting with significant others on IM or its cousin, the text message. So says Jeffrey Hancock and his team at Cornell University anyway, and who are we to argue with scientists? More »
6,249
By Jack LoftusComment by Collins1: Scientistys? My new favourite non-word. 2 Responses | Other threads
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Sending out an SMS
For a Quick Response, Text Message Instead of Voice Mail
This should come as no surprise to anyone using a phone these days, but text messaging someone gets a far quicker response than voice mail. In a study by Sprint, those under the age of 30 are four times more likely to respond within minutes to an SMS than a voicemail, with roughly 91 percent responding within the hour. Adults 30 and older were twice as likely to text a reply within minutes rather than call. More »
3,506
By Elaine ChowComment by Ike_Skelton: If someone calls me and doesn't leave a message I don't call back. All you have to say is... 4 Responses | Other threads
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yikes
My Mobile Witness Ensures This Picture Message May Be Used Against You in a Court Of Law
"Counsel, may I present Exhibit 112-B—a blurry cellphone picture of my client clearly under verbal harassment, with the caption "Soooo drunkkk xxx :(" attached, clearly sent on the batchelor party evening in question." If you find yourself winning (or losing) a future lawsuit with a similar piece of incriminating evidence, you'll have My Mobile Witness to thank—a new, free service that receives SMS or MMS messages from your phone and stores them in a time-stamped "vault," with the sole purpose of one day using them as official evidence in a future legal matter. More » -
sms
HourDoc SMS Clock-In System Aimed at Control Freak Bosses
Web-based employee tracking company HourDoc.com has just released a new service that will enable employees working on remote projects to clock-in and out by sending a simple text message. The system consists of four commands: “in”, “out”, “bin” or “bout” meaning “clocking in”, “clocking out”, “taking a break/clock in” or “taking a break/clock out.” Obviously, this SMS system is reserved only for the most anal retentive and overbearing of bosses, but I don't see how it would be effective in the first place. Couldn't you just clock back in from lunch while sitting at the bar? [HourDoc via Textually via New Launches] -
Sending out an SMS
Text Messaging Is Saving Kenyan Elephants From Themselves
Elephants are text messaging themselves out of trouble, thanks to an SMS system implemented in a Kenyan nature reserve. The gentle-ish giants are outfitted with SIM cards in their collars, which automatically alert wildlife rangers if they get too close to nearby farms. Rangers can then shoo them away before they do damage to interspecies relations by, say, eating the season's harvest. More »
3,904
By Elaine ChowComment by 92BuickLeSabre: ? = I'm seeing a farmer's crop. Later = I'm seeing a farmer's crop. Later! = I'm seeing a farmer's crop, and... 3 Responses | Other threads
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cellphones
A Guide to What Her Text Messages REALLY Mean
Women are confusing to me. They mean things they don't say, say things they don't mean and there is a hidden meaning to everything. Or I just don't understand women. I have all heard the stories about what her body language really means...but what about her text messages? Honestly, I have never thought about it before—but the folks at Cellphones.org have. According to their analysis, putting a period after a message means she is demanding or pissed off. Really? If she says "whats up?" that means she is trying to get close to you without being clingy or bitchy. Wait...really? Some of it seems like common sense, but it is an interesting psychological study nonetheless. Take a look at the rest of the list and see if you agree. [Cellphones.org] -
Scam Gear
Presenting the Latest in ATM Scam Gear: The SMS-Sending Card Skimmer
NYC is full of ATMs. It's one of the great things about living in this city—you're never more than a block or two away from cash. But a large, large percentage of NYC's ATMs are cut-rate bodega models that look like your card could catch something nasty from them once dipped. Helping spread the nasty is this, the newest development in ATM skimmers, with SMS capability. So now, if he's got $8,500 to drop on the top of the line scam gear, the asshole who just jacked your card number and PIN doesn't even have to come back to the scene of the crime to retrieve it. More » -
gougings
Verizon Charging $0.03 to Text Its Customers, Could Murder SMS-Based Services
Verizon has decided to start asking for $0.03 per message from anyone who wants to send mobile-terminated messages to its customers, possible strangling SMS-based services like Google SMS, Yahoo! oneSearch. The move will also penalize any other company that uses text message notifications for its customers (though the change won't affect rates for mobile-to-mobile messaging.) Like others, Verizon used to charge a fraction of a cent to text their subscribers, during which time lots companies built up SMS notification services for everything from social networking to banking — services which may now be too expensive to operate. More »
6,868
By John HerrmanComment by Giz Has Lost It: Regardless of whether it's 3¢ or 30¢ it's the same basic idea... it's called commerce. I don't know where people ever... 6 Responses | Other threads
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election
Democrats Still Most Tech Savvy, Rent Digital Billboard to Text Message Sarah Palin at Rally
Need more evidence that Democrats are more grassroots tech savvy than their elephantine counterparts? At a Sarah Palin rally in LA on Saturday, the California Democratic party rented a digital billboard across the street which displayed questions for the veep candiate sent by text message. Granted, even if Palin did read them, she wouldn't be able to recall which ones she read specifically. But still, quite awesome—I hope both parties get creative with tech like this, it's a fantastic way to reach voters. [CA Dems via Online Video Watch via Textually] More » -
cellphones
Schwarzenegger Terminates Texting While Driving in California
California is joining seven other states and Washington DC by imposing a full-on ban of text messaging while driving. The bill signed by the Governator himself imposes a $20 fine for the first offense and $50 for repeat offenders starting next year. Kind of a slap on the wrist if you ask me—but that is more than 43 other states in this country are doing. [LA Times via CrunchGear] -
cellphones
Blindingly Fast Touchscreen Text Entry System Gets a Push By Creator of T9
Everyone who has owned a cellphone over the last 10 years should at some point pour one out in thanks to Cliff Kushler, one of the inventors of the T9 text entry system that knows you mean "DONKEY" when you type 366539 in an SMS. Now Cliff is smartly shifting his focus on touchscreens with Swype—a way to type blindingly fast on a touchscreen by tracing your finger or stylus over the letters you want without lifting up, connect-the-dots style. It looks frankly amazing in a demo—so amazing that we remembered we've seen it somewhere before. Thankfully, it could be heading to the iPhone and Android really, really soon. More » -
braille
B&D Messenger Helps the Blind Read SMS
The B&D messenger, designed by Okada Noriaki, bills itself as a way for both blind and deaf people to communicate via text message. Though there are several Braille phone products already in the market, Noriaki device is much smaller in size and pretty inexpensive. On one side of the gadget is twelve points that rise and fall in braille lettering; on the other side is a small LCD screen and a regular numerical touch pad. Users must connect the B&D messenger to a computer for it to receive and translate texts. More »
2,257
By Elaine ChowComment by pardyhardy: @ViperBorg: Are you serious? @GadgetPlay: AHH you got it before I did. Damn. It's nice to see that some people are devoting... 1 Responses | Other threads
sms
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