PhoneDog.com - The latest about Women

ARTICLE: Iowa girl wins $50,000 in goofy texting contest

6/18/2009 6:50:00 PM

A 15-year-old girl with a 500-texts-per-day habit is... well, I guess not necessarily news these days. But when her skills win her a cool 50 grand, well that just makes me want to pick up my cell phone and practice.

Photo: CNN

Kate Moore, 15, of Des Moines, Iowa, beat out 250,000+ competitors to win the $50,000 grand prize at the L.G. National Texting Championship in New York on Tuesday. She outperformed rivals in speed, accuracy and a knowledge round, in which contestants were quizzed on texting acronyms. During that segment, there was one piece of shorthand that stymied all the contestants: PAW. (Do you know what it is? Scroll to the bottom for the answer.*)

There was also some wacky stuff like blindfolded texting and — get this — a "pressure cooker" round. Basically, actors dressed up like emoticons to distract competitors while they texted tongue twisters. Competitor Jordan Rowe, 21, stumbled over "Which wicked witch wished which more wicked witch in the well?" while a human emoticon talked smack about her sister.

Another round had contestants run an obstacle course while texting. (Sounds like an episode of "I Survived a Japanese Game Show.")

On Tuesday, the remaining contestants had to speed-text lengthy messages accurately. The final round hinged on the following: "Zippity Dooo Dahh Zippity Ayy...MY oh MY, what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine Comin' my way....Zippitty Do Dah Zippity Aay! WondeRful Feeling Wonderful day!" Moore kept the everyone in suspense when she forgot to hit "send" after her last text, but when she did, her phone buzzed to notify her of the win.

You'd think Moore has been bending the thumbs since she was a tot, but in reality, she's only had a text-capable phone for less than a year. Even so, says her mother, the teen once worked up a 294-page bill. Good thing she's on an unlimited plan.

After the contest, CNN conducted an interview with the grand champion via text, and it went something like this:

CNN: OMG U r ltrlly the wrld's bst txter. How does it feel?
Moore: It feels the best! Im so prd of myself & it feels aswm that ive gottn so far! :)
CNN: How mny txts do u snd a day? A month?
Moore: Uhhh about lyk 400-500 in a day, an avrg of 12014 thousand a month?
CNN: Wht r u going to do w the 50 k?
Moore: Idk yet! Prlly spend a good amount of the $$$......but ya gotta save some 2 b smart of course!
CNN: Do u ever get in trubl in skwl 4 txting 2 much?
Moore: haah just once or 2ce, teachers hv seen it and taken it away...lol that sux when that happens tho.
CNN: What's ur crzst txting story?
Moore: Haha I actually have a scar on my hand from txtingg....i was txting on the top bunk and I sat up cuz it was a cool txt and then I hit it in the ceiling fan
CNN: Do ur thumbs hurt?
Moore: Hahah not at all! Ud b surprised they don't get stressed out.
CNN: Kthxbi.
Moore: cya! :)

[via CNN]

*If you don't know what PAW stands for, you're probably kind of old, like me. (I had no idea.) PAW is short for "parents are watching." If you've got a kid who's texting or IM'ing when this pops up, you'll know that the Junior is self-editing.

ARTICLE: TIP: Purrrfect fix for a soaked phone

5/19/2009 4:55:00 PM

Okay, so I admit that I like kitten pictures. (I'm not really a super warm and fuzzy person, but small pets just crack me up.) So imagine my surprise when, right next to my Cute Overload feed, I see this in my RSS feed reader:

Use Cat Litter to Save Your Doused Cellphone (Lifehacker)

A post about phones AND cats? I'm all over it.

Actually, as the headline indicates, it's about using kitty litter to save a drenched cell phone from the garbage heap. So not only is this blog post cute, but it's useful as well. And since I destroyed my mobile phone once by getting thrown into a swimming pool, clothes and all (darn spring break!), I felt it was my duty to pass along this handy tip.

Here's the gist: Putting a cell phone in cat litter, which is designed to absorb moisture, helps pull the wetness out of the handset — even from its tight nooks and crevices. The kind used in this post was dried clay litter, though there was no mention if other types work.

Steps:
(1) Take out the battery
(2) Wrap the phone in a towel
(3) Put cat litter in a container (or use the container it came in)
(4) Place the phone on the mound of litter. Do not bury it inside, just place it on top. (This was obviously clean cat litter, because otherwise — yuck. Even if it worked, would you want to put it up to your face after that?)
(5) This is the hardest part: LEAVE THE DEVICE ALONE. Seriously. You will want to keep checking it occasionally, it's natural, but please don't do what the author of this post did, which is power up her damp G1 after only a couple of days.

In general, two days probably won't be long enough. In this case, the writer's screen still showed some moisture, so the phone went back into the litter until it dried completely. But what could've happened is a short that could've fried the phone.

No cat litter? The post also suggests soaking the handset in alcohol and burying it in rice. To be honest, I don't think I'll be trying that one. Dunking a phone in anything just seems like a bad idea. But to be fair, I haven't tried it, so I won't say it doesn't work. I'm just skeptical.

Dropped your phone in the toilet or got drenched in a downpour? How'd you fix it? Share your tips below.

[via Lifehacker and Geek News Central]

ARTICLE: Get your diamond-encrusted phones

5/17/2009 6:10:00 PM

Poor Paris Hilton. The celebrity heiress has long been relegated to using cell phones adorned with fake diamonds. (Actually, that makes some sense. The socialite-turned-entertainer loses her handset — and maybe her brain — every other week.)

But for the real thing, trust-fund babies and the nouveau riche alike turn to Knalihs Athem.

Silly me — I thought showy displays of excess died when the economy went south. And yet, the luxury designer and jeweler just came out with two new diamond-packed offerings for the BlackBerry Bold and the Nokia 8800.

These custom phones — The Diamond Blackberry Bold (BlackBeauty) and The Diamond Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte (SnowWhite) — can be decorated with pink, yellow, black, champagne and white inlaid diamonds.

But what's the point of spending a fortune if you can't customize? To satisfy even the most ostentatious whim, the company can personalize the device with initials, a lucky number, logos, your puppy's name or just about anything else you want.

Nokia owners get the advantage of having more room on their handsets to pimp out than the BlackBerry owners. The poor little smartphone workhorse has to make do with only a small amount of bling.

There's no base price listed on the website, so I guess if you have to ask how much it costs, you clearly can't afford it.

[via Luxist]

ARTICLE: Heidi Klum couples with cell phone maker (i.e., Betcha wish you were an LG Rumor 2)

4/24/2009 8:25:00 AM

If you're a guy or a girl (um, right — who isn't?), chances are, you're probably a fan of either Victoria's Secret or Project Runway — and maybe for very different reasons. (But hey, I'm not judging...) If you're also an LG fan to boot, you might notice a new Rumor 2 ad starting today that features the former VS angel/Runway celeb Heidi Klum.

LG Mobile Phones just signed the German über model to collaborate on projects for the newly minted, QWERTastic handset. In addition to starring in related webisodes, Klum designed five custom backplates and skins — including a limited-edition plate with a short run of just 500.

This latest move by LG just proves its fashion cred yet again. The handset manufacturer's long-running relationship with Christian Siriano resulted in the designer spotlighting the LG Lotus in two separate Fashion Week creations (a scarf in 2008 and a vest in 2009). Now, with Klum on board, the company seems to be going for "the sexy" as well as style with the Rumor 2.

Check out the print ad below, which interestingly seems to feature Klum even more than the phone itself. In fact, aside from the silhouetted shots, I actually couldn't spot the device at first. Can you?

ARTICLE: Android app review: Mother Feed

3/26/2009 11:30:00 AM

I've never been a social website junkie. Well, that is if you discount user-submitted news sites. I only got into Facebook about six months ago, and thought it beat the baggy, sagging pants off of MySpace. I jumped on when right it became "the New Facebook," so I had nothing to complain about - unlike millions of other loyal users.

I tend to roll with changes at websites because the landscape evolves so quickly that websites must adapt. It leads to cool surprises. Facebook's latest reincarnation however, may be a bit drastic. It's losing the characteristics that make it unique - not just growing to meet users' needs. But I probably don't need to tell any of you that. Still, huge friend lists are the norm, and confirming that you actually know somebody seems little more than troublesome nag-screen. So maybe it is appropriate that they are adopting the tools and techniques of sites designed for mass communication. How else can they compete?

Anyway, I've gone looking for some alternatives recently, and one day not too long ago, the Mother Feed icon turned up in the Market. I had never used friendfeed before, but I knew what the program was for based on the font and logo color. I set up my account and started to explore. Being new to this site, I might miss some things that old-timers consider required functionality. But I've tested everything I can see on the site in Mother Feed, and it seems practical to me.

First of all, I like lists. It makes sense for IMs, and it makes sense for micro-blogging and link sharing. Mother Feed doesn't allow you to add or remove people from your lists, but it's organized according the way you've set them up on the site. Rooms are a great feature as well. In fact, while checking out this app for review, I'm becoming a fan of friendfeed. Not only is the web experience unique, but there's a free client out their that offers at least read-access for all of the web features.

Mother Feed has five tabs - Home, List, Rooms, Me, and Account. The options are simple. There is no long-press, and the context-sensitive menu key never offers anything beyond post, refresh, logout, and about. But the interface is clean, the content is well-organized, and posted photos are scaled to the G1's screen size.

I could complain about the inability to add rooms, move friends from one list to another, etc. But how often do you really need to do that stuff? Besides, it's free! For those as clueless as myself, friendfeed can be linked to your Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Amazon, and a few other accounts. It's definitely worth your time to take it for a spin.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

ARTICLE: LG Lotus Shines at Fashion Week

2/20/2009 5:15:00 PM

And now for something completely different...

Christian Siriano and LG partnered up once again to spotlight the Lotus during Fashion Week in New York. Lucky me, I got an up-close look at the designer's latest on the runway last night — and I have to say, I'm impressed.

Last fall, Siriano — erstwhile contestant and last year's winner of Project Runway — created a scarf with a designated pocket specifically tailored to fit the LG Lotus (which is, by the way, possibly my favorite non-smartphone).

I'll say this: The scarf was definitely pretty, with a somewhat billowy and ethereal sensibility. In fact, it was a strong piece on its own. The phone, which was supposed to be featured there, seemed like an afterthought to the garment and actually looked like a square black inkspot that was out of place against the subdued aesthetic.

This time around, however, Siriano got the balance right. The satiny, chocolate-colored vest really spotlighted the phone, which was integrated brilliantly. He featured the Lotus' small form factor by likening it to a pocket watch, with fob and all. That was genius; it added the touch of hardware that was needed to bridge old and new, classic fashion and technology. The shiny glimmer of the fabric also worked — without it, the vest might've seemed too stodgy. (Plus the tomboy in me just loves it when guys' stuff get integrated into womenswear.)

As part of the LG-Siriano partnership, the company has also launched a new contest for budding designers and stylists. Siriano, looking for inspiration in the design of a new LG Lotus accessory, is asking people to submit "mood boards" online. (These are boards with pinned or tacked up fabric samples, images, textures and anything else that can inspire creative design.) The winner will get an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City and an opportunity to work with the designer on co-creating the accessory.

Siriano certainly seems obsessed with the Lotus. This will be his third venture with this specific cell phone model. "Divas and designers want fashionable phones worthy of their creativity," he says. "Mobile phones are fashion accessories, and the LG Lotus is sleek, chic, and fabulous!"

Boy, he said that right. The number of cell phones buzzing off in the tents was crazy. Some even had theirs on during the show, like one little B-list celeb I managed to snap across the aisle from me. (See below.)

In light of last night's event (and others), I've got to say that I'm having a pretty interesting run at PhoneDog. Thanks to Noah and the crew, I've come face to face with Jason Biggs, Erika Christensen and — Tori Spelling??

The former 90210 chick was there to support Siriano (as well as her own bottom line, since the designer used her line of jewelry to accessorize the show). I couldn't tell what she was holding, but I could make out that the gadget didn't go with her dress — which is a big no-no at Fashion Week.

ARTICLE: The cute compact Cleo from fashion savvy Samsung

1/24/2009 2:20:00 PM

I really haven't lusted over a phone in a long time...well, okay, it actually only been a few months since the launch of the Bold, but there was quite a drought for me before then.

When I first spied the Cleo on Engadget, I felt like a teenager who immediately needed to go out and plaster her bedroom walls with posters of Johnny Depp in 21 Jump Street (again)...only this time, my object of desire is a square clamshell that snaps open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. And, I want it.

Clearly geared toward the fashion savvy and connected, the "specs" boasted on the site, include: threaded SMS, IM, 1.3 megapixel camera, MP3 player with up to 8GB of expandable memory, stereo Bluetooth, and of course a super slight frame that only extends to 5.5" when fully extended. It comes in Champagne and Pink and already has a limited edition device: Kisses from Cleo that comes with lip butter from Cake Beauty because that pucker better look good talking into such a hot little device.

Although it's only officially available in Canada with no launch dates known for the US, there's always hope that a carrier (maybe Verizon?) will launch it stateside soon...until then, we may just have to make due with the LG Lotus.

ARTICLE: Girl sends 14,528 texts, requires fingerprint transplant

1/14/2009 4:15:00 PM

Okay, so the 13-year-old in Silverado Canyon, CA, didn't actually get a fingerprint transplant operation, but she probably needed one after burning her fingerpads off on 14,528 text messages in December. Reina Hardesty's poor father found out after receiving a 440-page cell phone bill.

Greg Hardesty dodged a huge financial bullet. Journalists don't usually get paid much, and he's a reporter for The Orange County Register. So good for him that he signed up for an unlimited text messaging plan. Otherwise, at 20 cents per message, he would've been on the hook for, like, $2,905.

Unsurprisingly, the SMS-happy kid's primary group of hardcore texters were four girls ages 12 to 13 years. (Note to self: Invest in Hannah Montana cell phone socks and danglers.)

Though Greg, who seems amazingly level about the whole thing, laughed it off, he did restrict his daughter to limit texting to pre-dinner hours only. That is still an awful lot of prime messaging time, though. For his sake, I hope he stays on the unlimited plan. He'll need to save his pennies for that surgical procedure Reina will undoubtedly need when all her fingerprints get rubbed off on those keypads.

ARTICLE: How to choose a cell phone gift she'll love

12/5/2008 8:55:00 PM

A couple of weeks ago, I hung out with Dana, a formerly non-techie gal pal of mine. Once averse to using cell phones for anything but calls, she was now showing off her new-found texting prowess on her sleek BlackBerry Bold. Over the next 20 minutes, she shot off no less than 3 quick texts and two e-mails. Not to be outdone, I pulled out my iPhone and checked my messages.

Dana looked over and asked how I liked it. Well, that gave me permission to gush like a kid on Christmas morning! I showed her this feature and that app, and then handed it to her so she could experience the big, beautiful screen and swipy goodness for herself. I expected her to revel in its glory, but instead, she played with it for a moment, said it was nice and then handed it back to me.

Wha-? Is she kidding? I felt like a parent whose kid was picked last for kickball. This tasty piece of tech had changed my life. It kept me on time for appointments, offered endless entertainment and gameplay, and kept me connected with loved ones in ways I'd never even conceived of before. That she wasn't kneeling in front of it left me befuddled and nearly offended.

    "You don't like it?" I was flabbergasted.
    "No, it's gorgeous. Seriously. I was even thinking of getting one, but look at these," she said, holding up her
    painted fingernails. "MAYBE I can get used to swiping with these, but there's no way I can touch type on a
    screen."

I had to admit she had a point. Dana's perfectly manicured fingers would never be able to fly on my beloved phone like they do on her BlackBerry.

Later, during a Thanksgiving visit to my brother-in-law's house, he mentioned that he might buy his wife an iPhone 3G. Honestly, I had mixed emotions. I love my phone, but after talking with Dana, I realized that buying gadgets for girls is like gifting clothes -- No matter what the item promises, no one size ever truly fits all. Clothes and gadgets need to suit the unique preferences of the individual woman.

So if you're thinking of giving a cell phone to your wife/mother/daughter/sister/girlfriend this holiday season, how can you possibly know what she's going to like? Well, there are a few things you could (and should) bear in mind before you pony up the dough. (And if there are any ladies in the viewing audience, please pipe in and add to the list, if you see anything missing.)

10 TIPS FOR CHOOSING A CELL PHONE SHE'LL LOVE

(1) Be certain she wants a new phone (duh). I've had friends who carted cells long past their prime. Why? Some had simply grown fond of their old phones or didn't want a learning curve. Others just couldn't care less about new features, as long as the calling was solid. If your intended recipient thinks of upgrading as an unnecessary chore, you may want to rethink this. She probably won't be as ecstatic about the G1 as you are. Speaking of which...

(2) Don't buy something just because YOU would love it. Maybe having 50 different apps or functions excites you, but the recipient may not want that much phone. Identify her most desired features by assessing her habits. When you call, does she usually text you back? Is she always stopping for pics everywhere you go? Does she gab on the phone for hours? Or travel abroad often? Once you know what her priorities are, you can eliminate phones that don't have easy-to-use text, top-of-the-line camera, enormous battery life, GSM compatibility, etc.

(3) Consider her personality and style. Although it's true that a lot of women love pink cell phones -- especially since Carrie Bradshaw showed off hers in Sex and the City -- it doesn't mean that all of us adore a girly hue. (Personally, I prefer gun metal grey, but I've always been a bit of a tomboy.) Personalities and tastes vary widely. Shopping for a goth chick, athlete, nature lover, sci-fi nerd, hippie or fashionista should yield very different items. Even if she's more pragmatic than stylish, that should still tell you something about her preferences. Use this information to help narrow down the choices even further.

(5) Factor in the UI. In other words, check out her hands, dude. As I mentioned, on-screen keyboards are no friend to girls with talons.

(6) Look beyond the clothes. (Uh wait, let me rephrase that...) Does she love jewelry? Hats? Does she have a huge collection of patterned tights? You might have an accessories junkie on your hands. The cool thing about hot phones is that there are usually tons of ways to trick them out, and your gal can have fun shopping for new cases, skins, holsters, etc., so make sure you pick a mobile phone that's current enough to still have plenty of optional accessories on the market. (In Asia, consumption by teenage girls has elevated cell phone dongles to an art form -- and big business.)

(7) Check out her other everyday gear. Yes, those stiletto heels might float your boat, but if she runs around town in sneakers and a big messenger bag (or ballerina flats and a small clutch), this will tell you a lot more about how she functions. Large backpacks or executive totes indicate a multi-tasker who may need lots of features. Little day purses, however, could be a red flag that a bulky, feature-packed phone would bog her down, especially if it's too big for her bag or pants pocket.

(8) Note her tech proficiency. As far as I'm concerned, I'd love to put the stereotype of girls not liking technology to rest. Still, I grudgingly admit that there are plenty who'd rather have root canal than figure out a new handheld. If she's the type who has trouble cutting-and-pasting on her computer, DO NOT buy a phone that requires a dense manual. The only gift you're giving is frustration.

(9) Don't rule out pay-as-you-go phones. If this is her first phone (Yes, there are at least a few people out there who are still cell-less), and you're footing the monthly bills for your wife/daughter/mother, take a look at a pre-paid phone. This won't be a particularly hot gadget, but for a gifter on a budget and a kid who just wants to stay connected with her friends, it's still a treat.

(10) Know the real gift you're giving. All of these tips really boil down to just one thing: paying thoughtful attention to your recipient. I promise you, this is the real gift. Even if she doesn't like the cell phone you ultimately pick for her, she will LOVE the fact that you were so attentive to her needs.

ARTICLE: Wine gets unsnobby with new iPhone app

12/3/2008 3:55:00 PM

If you're like me, a wine enthusiast without a lot of expertise, selecting a bottle can be downright stressful. More than once, I've wandered around and around in a shop, under the gaze of a not-too-helpful sales person who keeps pushing expensive items. I usually wind up choosing based on a cool label or staring at a dinner table wine menu like a deer caught in headlights (that is, until I close my eyes and pick something at random). For mere mortals like me, choosing wines for a dinner party is even more excruciating: Indecisive, I typically end up schlepping multitudes of bottles home, along with a drastically lightened wallet.

Thankfully, I just got wind of Vinofordinner.com, a site that offers pairing suggestions based on three simple questions. The cool thing about this service, which is now available as an iPhone app, is that it's not geared toward the sommelier wannabe. It's for the rest of us who love wine, but don't have encyclopedic knowledge of it. It offers specific wine suggestions, not just general explanations of appropriate wine types, and since It focuses on price points at $30 and under, the recommendations won't break any wallets.

Vino For Dinner Mobile offers reviews only for wines that are currently available, plus details like price, vintage, rating, varietal and an image of the bottle. If you're planning on having a holiday party this month and you have an iPhone -- either the 3G version or the original -- or even an iPod Touch, this really sounds like a must-have app. It's available right now for $2.99 in the App Store.

ARTICLE: Ohio girl beats rap as cell phone porn spammer

10/24/2008 3:20:00 PM

Everyone's made a cell phone goof at one time or another, like accidentally texting the wrong contact or turning a witty remark into an insult by forgetting a crucial smiley face.

This, however, takes the cake: A 15-year-old Ohio teen was arrested for sending naked photos of herself to friends. The charges? Illegally using a minor (herself) in nude materials and for possession of criminal tools, which are considered felonies. Luckily for this girl, prosecutors were willing to strike a deal so she wouldn't have to register as a sex offender for, like, the next decade.

Would the punishment have met the crime here or would that have been overkill? An op-ed in Ohio's Newark Advocate says it's the latter. But while the Advocate debated whether this is a matter for legal prosecution or family punishment, Wired officially declared the behavior a trend yesterday, citing cases that surfaced in Alabama, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah.

I guess no matter whether it's in a red state or a blue state, pretty much everyone's acting kinda liberal these days.

Let this be a cautionary tale: Using your cell phone to act out your nascent exhibitionist fantasies may be cheap entertainment, but having that gaffe picked up by the wires is priceless.

File this under, "Reasons to lock your phone—even from yourself."

ARTICLE: Fierce fashion: Christian Siriano designs scarf to hold the LG Lotus

9/10/2008 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A, Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) today announced a partnership with fashion designer Christian Siriano. The rising designer first became famous by winning season IV of the highly rated reality show "Project Runway" and will debut a one-of-a-kind scarf he designed for LG's newest phone, the LG Lotus, at his fashion show on September 11 during New York City Fashion Week.

"Fashion is so important because it helps convey individual personalities," said Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of product strategy & marketing for LG Mobile Phones. "Similarly, we believe mobile phones have the same ability and have become a fashion accessory within their own right. We are very excited to partner with Christian Siriano and look forward to seeing his unique accessory inspired by the LG Lotus on the runway at Fashion Week."

Exclusive to Sprint, the stylish LG Lotus makes a distinctive fashion statement as a full QWERTY flip phone with a unique square shape and two attractive color options textured purple or satin black. LG Lotus is one of the first Sprint devices to offer One Click, a highly-customizable user interface that makes texting, Web access, email, Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, Sprint Music StoreSM and other features easier to access. It offers the perfect combination of both style and substance with a full QWERTY keyboard that is ideal for quick text messaging, email or instant messaging.

LG Lotus is the recipient of the Red Dot Design Award, one of the largest and most renowned design competitions in the world, for its original form factor. Additional features include a 2 megapixel camera and camcorder, stereo BluetoothÒ, music player with external controls and a microSD memory slot with capacity up to 12 GB. It will be available in October through all Sprint retail channels.

Siriano will be debuting this one of a kind designed fall accessory at his first major fashion show since winning "Project Runway." The LG Lotus will also play an integral role at the show as attendees will utilize the handset's photo capability to take photographs of the collection and send them via picture messaging to appear on large LG screens above the runway.

"The scarf I designed for the new LG Lotus is fabulous," said Siriano. "It has a pocket for another accessory I can't live or work without my phone! I designed the scarf's little pocket for the Lotus' square shape. I love it! You should too."

Following his show, Siriano is scheduled to unveil his custom scarf and fall 2008 collection at various events across the country including showings in San Diego and Boca Raton.

For more information on the LG Lotus click here.

ARTICLE: Say Cheese: Young Adults Love Cameraphones

7/9/2008 7:00:00 PM

I personally have never carried a camera around with me on a regular basis. I bought a used 35mm point-and-shoot for a backpacking trip around Europe 8 years ago, but I don't think I've ever even owned my own digital camera, come to think of it. But once I picked up my first cameraphone I got hooked on snapping loads and loads of (mostly awful) pictures with my cell phone.

So cellular retailer Wirefly's findings on young cameraphone users aren't really surprising to me: Kids love cellies that can take photos. Twice has details on the survey results, but the just of it is that just under half of all recent cameraphone buyers in the US use the camera function at least once a week, but the percentage jumps up to near two-thirds for users between 18 and 30 years of age:

"Young adults use their cameraphones more often than older people, the survey found. A total of 63.8 percent of 18- to 30-year-old adults use their cellphone's camera at least once a week, and 26.3 percent use the camera feature daily. For consumers who are older than 30, usage falls to 40.7 percent use the camera feature weekly, and 13.2 percent use it daily, the survey found.

One in five cellphone buyers said they use their cell phone as their primary camera, the company added."

With megapixel count, optical quality, and additional features (Flash, software settings) in today's cameraphones getting better and better on a daily basis, it's hard to imagine today's youth wanting to carry around two separate devices for phone calls and picture taking by the time they reach adulthood. Of course the professional photographer or serious hobbyist will want the advanced functionailty that only a stand-alone camera can offer. But if we've got 5MP, autofocus cameraphones today with VGA video capture and Xenon flashes, it only stands to reason that after three to five more years of technological advances we should see cell phones that offer imaging features and quality truly on par with consumer-grade digital cameras ... and without sacrificing other functionality, battery life, or size, to boot.

In the meantime, if you're in the market for a top-notch cameraphone right now, be sure to check out my forthcoming list of the Top 5 cameraphones currently available for use in the U.S.

ARTICLE: Work it baby: Yahoo! and Elle to provide fashion week coverage

9/5/2007 12:00:00 AM

Personally, I'm missing New York right now because the US Open is happening. But some of you out there no doubt long to be in the Big Apple to get a peek at Fashion Week, the fashion industry's yearly gathering of runway shows, celebrities, and general fabulousness. Well, if you can't get there at least you can get the next best thing on your mobile handset.

Yahoo! and ELLE magazine have formed a partnership to provide fresh off-the-runway news, photos and trends from Fashion Week 2007 beginning Sept. 5 in New York City. You can check out the exclusive ELLE Fashion Week coverage through Yahoo! oneSearch on their mobile browser.

"The mobile phone is the perfect tool for people looking for information on the go. With Yahoo! oneSearch, now busy fashionistas can now save time and effort by getting instant access to local New York City happenings and Fashion Week news, images and more," said Lee Ott, Director Mobile Web, Yahoo!. "This unique partnership with ELLE Mobile provides fashion-lovers everywhere a VIP pass to the hottest happenings at Fashion Week."

If you say so, Lee, I'll fire up Opera Mini and check out the coverage. Interested? Here's what to do:

Enter http://m.yahoo.com in your mobile browser and search "fashion"

Text "fashion" to 92466 (YAHOO)

Visit ELLE Mobile at the following: fw.elle.com

OR

Check out the rest of Yahoo!'s mobile offerings at: mobile.yahoo.com

ARTICLE: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Struts Its Stuff on AT&T Cell Phones

2/5/2007 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T's wireless unit, formerly Cingular Wireless, announced today that it will once again be providing full, same-day coverage of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on its cell phones. During Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week in New York (February 2-9, 2007) top designers from America and around the world will show off their 2007 fall runway collections to buyers, celebrities, and members of the media. AT&T will feature exclusive video coverage of all the shows under the tents at Bryant Park as well as offer customers access to back stage reports, celebrity parties and more.

"Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is one of the most celebrated and attended events of the year among the 'who's who' of the fashion world. Now our wireless customers can enjoy a sneak peak of the latest designer creations and fashion trends for the upcoming fall season long before anyone else -- just like the chic elite. It's the next best thing to being there," said David Garver, executive director, Segment Marketing and Sponsorships, AT&T.

"The Daily Front Row," published by global sports, entertainment and media company IMG, is providing customers of AT&T's wireless unit with an inside look into Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. From their cell phones, customers will enjoy exclusive, up-to-the-minute access to designer shows, models, elite parties and news on the latest fashion trends, including:

Fashion News: Up-to-the-minute images from all of the designer runway shows under the tents, events and the latest updates on fashion and brands. AT&T's 3G customers can access exclusive video footage from designer runway shows.
Behind the Scenes: Reports and gossip from elite parties, events, dinners and product launches.
Quotes: Some of the most delicious, outrageous things fashion insiders are saying.
Models: Moments with the most beautiful faces in fashion -- latest projects, fitness, beauty regimes.
Fashion Tips: Exclusive Trend Reports, trunk show alerts and style and beauty tips from designers and retailers, including Tracy Reese, Jenni Kayne, Louis Verdad, Sephora and more.
Glam Cam/Photos: Photos from the week's ultimate VIP fete and fashion insiders who were there.
Today's Obsession: Products, services, fads that everyone's obsessing about right now.
Designer Screensaver Collection: Downloadable wallpaper graphics of designer sketches from Tracy Reese and Jenni Kayne."There's nothing like the energy that surrounds Bryant Park during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. And while there's nothing quite like seeing it in person, I am thrilled to team with the new AT&T to showcase some of my designs on the mobile stage," said designer Jenni Kayne.

In addition to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week content, AT&T's wireless unit's relationship with IMG Fashion gives its customers access to a year-long series of fashion events, including FashionWeekLive -- which, for the first time, will bring the energy and style of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to Houston, Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco throughout March. Supermodels Naomi Campbell and Gemma Ward along with other internationally recognized faces will model the collections of America's leading designers. Video footage captured from these four events will be available through Cingular Video.

How To Access "The Daily Front Row"

AT&T wireless customers can access the "The Daily Front Row" from their cell phones in three simple steps:

1)    Choose the MEdia Net option on your phone's main menu
2)    Click on Entertainment
3)    Click on Fashion

3G customers also can access the "The Daily Front Row" from their wireless handsets with three simple steps as well:

1)    Choose the Cingular Video option on your phone's main menu
2)    Click on Entertainment
3)    Click on Fashion

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week content will be available beginning February 2.

PricingTo access Cingular Video content, consumers need to purchase a 3G phone and sign up for the $19.99 MEdia Net Unlimited package. For more information on this package or other MEdia Bundles for additional cost savings when using other Cingular devices, check cingular.com/media.

Designer wallpaper sketches from Tracy Reese and Jenni Kayne are available for download for $1.99 each.

ARTICLE: Best Groomed: Top 5 Style-Conscious Phones

10/17/2006 12:00:00 AM

Sometimes you just need looks that kill. While none of these mobiles are lacking for features, it's their high style that you'll notice first. And they'll get you noticed, too - for your good taste, not your crazy ringtone.

1. Motorola K1 KRZR - Verizon/Alltel CDMA (K1m) and Unlocked GSM (K1)
The successor to the RAZR is taller, curvier, and gentler to the touch. Where the RAZR was all about hard edges, the KRZR's built on sensuous curves, glossy reflective glass, and a longer, narrower profile that feels great in the hand. Forget the goofy name, this is one gorgeous phone.

2. Sony Ericsson z610i - Unlocked GSM
Glass is in. LIke the KRZR, the SE z610i is finished with a hard reflective glass surface. It's like a mirror in an uber-chic funhouse. The 610 also sports an external OLED display that appears to disappear when not in use, and then magically reappears when it has something to say. Available in three oh so fashion-y colors: Luster Black, Airy Blue, and Rose Pink.

3. Samsung D900 - Unlocked GSM
There's something about a slider all done up in Black. I'm not so big on the new sliders available through Cingular and T-Mobile - their silver trim seems somehow cheap to me. I'll stick with the classic black on black of the D900 - aka Ultra Edition 12.9. So thin and such a big, beautiful screen. Wear one with your tux and a crisp, white dress shirt (open collar and sans bow tie, preferably).

4. LG Chocolate - Verizon CDMA
I have to admit that once I waded through all of the hype and got Chocolate in my hands, I wasn't all that impressed. Maybe I'm a tough sell. Still, there's no denying the success of this phone, though, and it's due in large part to a sleek form factor, touch sensitive controls laid out like an iPod wheel, and a velvet-smooth marketing campaign.

5. Tie: Cingular 3125/HTC Star Trek - Cingular/Unlocked GSM and Motorola PEBL T-Mobile GSM
The Cingular 3125 (aka HTC Star Trek) is a smartphone gone sexy. It's definitely geek chic, like Karim Rashid got his hands on a prop from a Sci-Fi movie and turned it into a cell phone. The 3125 is as slim and stylish a smartphone as you'll find. Carry one of these and nobody but your fellow WinMobile users will know what you're really packing under the hood.

The MOTOPEBL is kind of chunky and odd, but it's also pretty cool looking. Touch it, though, and you'll know why it's a winner. The soft grip plastic is nice to hold, and the smooth-release latch mechanism makes opening the phone fun. The PEBL's getting kind of old, but they keep re-introducing it in new colors ... I think there's a Pumpkin PEBL just out in time for Halloween.

ARTICLE: Alltel promotes Girlfriends in LA contest

9/25/2006 12:00:00 AM

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Alltel Wireless, America's largest network, today announced the launch of the "Girlfriends LA Getaway" promotion. From now through Oct. 28, 2006, customers will have a chance to win one of five weekend getaways to Los Angeles. Winners will be chosen by entering a "Txt2Win" contest, in which Alltel will send text messages to customers with "Girlfriends" trivia, including questions about beauty tips, fashion and female authors.

Each week one winner will be drawn from those who answer that week's three trivia questions. To begin receiving trivia questions, customers can send a text message with the key word LAGIRL to 87366 or visit alltel.com/girlfriends for details of a mail-in alternative.

The five winners will receive a trip to Los Angeles for themselves and three of their friends, as well as a $1,000 shopping spree, and a Motorola RAZR phone with one free year of Alltel Wireless service. During their trip each winner and their "Circle" will receive prizes, including entertainment events, a day at a spa and an Alltel "Girlfriends" gift bag.

"Women have a history of gathering together and creating a special bond with their girlfriends," said Regina Woziwodzki, director of segment marketing for Alltel Wireless. "Alltel is committed to keeping friends connected, whether through our exclusive 'My Circle' calling feature or via promotions such as 'Girlfriends.'"

The contest celebrates Alltel's exclusive "My Circle" feature which allows Alltel Wireless customers to get unlimited free calls to and from the 10 phone numbers that matter most to them at any time of day, on any network. Eligibility is limited to women 18 years of age or older who are legal residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina or Ohio. For full details and rules, customers can visit alltel.com/girlfriends.

ARTICLE: Sony Ericsson and Cingular Wireless Sponsor 2B Free Fashion Show

3/7/2006 12:00:00 AM

LOS ANGELES, March 7, 2006 Sony Ericsson and Cingular Wireless, sponsors of the 2006 2B Free Fashion Show, have partnered with the Los Angeles based designers in the creation of a signature limited edition designer carrying case for the Sony Ericsson W600 Walkman® Phone.

The 2B Free Fashion Show, part of Los Angeles Fashion Week, will be held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in the GM Penthouse on Friday, March 17th.

The limited edition designer carrying case and the award winning Sony Ericsson W600 Walkman phone, will be featured in the fashion show, carried by the 2B Free runway models. The Sony Ericsson W600 Walkman phone, designed specifically for the needs of Cingular customers, is a Walkman phone for the 21st century and its all about today's consumer having their phone and their favorite tunes on a device they always carry with them. The W600's unique design and ability to provide easy access to your digital content, be it music, images, games, or email has set a new standard by providing the main stream market a single wireless mobile phone device option that is like no other.

The debut of the limited edition designer carrying case for the Sony Ericsson W600 at the 2B Free Fashion Show will also mark the launch of an in store consumer promotion with Cingular Wireless. Beginning on March 20 and running through April 30th, select Los Angeles Cingular Wireless locations will be giving a complimentary 2B Free limited edition designer carrying case, as a gift with purchase to consumers who purchase a Sony Ericsson W600 Walkman® phone.

On the heels of three consecutive unprecedented Los Angeles Fashion Week events, 2B Free has solidified their position in the fashion community as the trail blazers in the realm of high end casual wear. The Sony Ericsson and Cingular Wireless sponsorship and partnership in the limited edition designer carrying case for the W600 Walkman Phone marks the most exciting sponsorship opportunity for 2B Free to date.

"We are so excited to be aligned with two of the world's most innovative wireless companies, and are honored to have been approached to create this case...it is such a natural connection...fashion and technology...as mobile devices are now literally serving as a direct correlation to a person's style," stated 2B Free designers, brothers Yves and Cedric Benaroch.

Celebrity fans of the 2B Free brand include, Alyssa Milano, Amber Valetta, Brandy, Britney Spears, Carmen Electra, Denise Richards, Dominque Swain, Drew Barrymore, Eva Longoria, Eve, Halle Berry, Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba, Jessica Simpson, Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, Mischa Barton, Paris Hilton, Penelope Cruz and Rachel Bilson, many of whom are expected to attend the 2B Fashion Show sponsored by Sony Ericsson and Cingular Wireless.

An exclusive post show party will be held on the Regent Beverly Wilshire's rooftop patio. The W600 Walkman phone will be featured as part of the live DJ music entertainment and used to showcase the W600 Walkman phone music capabilities.

"Los Angeles is the epitome of whimsical "rock and roll" style, when it comes to fashion, and the 2B Free brand offers such a perfect depiction of this look that is so unique to Los Angeles, and copied all over the world. We're thrilled to be a part of the fashion community in such a unique manner. The W600 Walkman phone is a high quality mobile device, but it is also very stylish. The 2 B Free case makes it nothing short of a ‘statement,'" says Frances Britchford, vice president, marketing communications at Sony Ericsson.