Daily Bits

mobile devices

Twitterpoo and iLoo: Tales of Addiction

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I have been called a nerd, an addict, obssessive (with and without “compulsive”), but I don’t really think much about them. People like sticking labels to other people, and they can actually be meaningless. Today, though, I came across an article that got me thinking.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson introduced me to the term “iLoo”, which she used to refer to the habit of some people of using their mobile phones while – you got it – doing their business. The result of an informal poll that she did was that five out of six people (whom she knew) had no qualms about checking their e-mail on their phones while on the toilet. More than that, these people actually admitted to having this habit.

If you think about it, checking your e-mail isn’t the only thing you can do in the loo with your phone (or laptop or whatever mobile device you can’t part from). You can play a game, play on Facebook, and update your Twitter. Indeed, I have heard the term “Twitterpoo” used in this regard. (I don’t need to explain what it is, right?) A little crude, yes, but quite apt, don’t you agree?

So are we taking things too far by accessing the Internet and all that it has to offer via various mobile devices – in the bathroom? Are there really e-mail/Internet addicts out there?

Don’t get me wrong – I am not going to deny or affirm my own e-mailing/Internet browsing habits – but hey, if you are bothered by this concept, maybe it’s time to assess your own habits? Then again, why should you? Who cares if you go online from the bathroom – just don’t announce it to the world? :p

Mind Control: The Future of Our Gadgets

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Do you think the way your smart phone changes the display orientation when you flip it is cool?  Or maybe you have lots of fun playing around with voice commands.  I’m sure that your smart phone can do a lot of awesome stuff, but that’s nothing when compared to what Intel is working on.  If they make any progress on what they call “context-aware computing,” we just might be playing with gadgets that can read our minds!

When I first read about context-aware computing, I mentally shouted “Scary!”  At the same time, I cannot suppress the surge of excitement.  This technology is BIG.  The scary part, I think, is the result of watching/reading too much science fiction – that, and the recent news about lying robots.

So anyway, a group of Intel researchers announced that they are working on this technology that will ultimately be able to gather and process information from the behavior of the user.  This data will then be used to predict the mood and the feelings of the user.  Based on the predictions, the gadgets will be able to provide suggestions.  Pretty cool, huh?

Justin Rattner, head of the research group excitedly shared the potential of this technology:

“Future devices will learn about you, your day, where you are and where you are going to know what you want. It gives devices almost this sixth sense of anticipating what a user will need in the future, whether that’s the next few moments or at dinner later in the day.”

If I were the user, the gadget will not have too many problems in predicting what I will need:  Chocolate, steak, and Jack Daniels.

Photo credit: Mr Thinktank

Bluetooth 4.0 Available This Year

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Good news for enthusiasts of mobile devices – Bluetooth technology is stepping up! Before the year is over, we will be able to use mobile devices with Bluetooth 4.0. Version 4.0 was just recently approved by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. This means that the manufacturers of mobile devices will now have access to the necessary tools to use the technology in their products.

What are the advantages of Bluetooth 4.0 over the current version? Perhaps the biggest attraction of this technology is the fact that it uses considerably less power than the previous versions. The implications of the low power consumption are immense. For one, concerns about using electronic devices in sensitive areas due to potential interference can be forgotten. With the amount of power being used by the technology, it will not really be a problem. Batteries are also going to be much smaller – just like coin-cell batteries for little devices such as wristwatches and the like.

More than that, in spite of the low power consumption, 1 megabyte of data can be transferred at a time using Bluetooth 4.0. Of course, it also comes with the same capabilities of Bluetooth 3.0, such as sending as much as 25 megabytes of data via Wi-Fi 802.11.

In spite of the very recent approval of the technology, it will soon be available. It may not mean much to the average consumer at this point, but once manufacturers incorporate Bluetooth 4.0 into more devices, it should catch on.

Cloud Backup for Mobile Devices

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Image: IntelFreePress
Image: IntelFreePress

Cloud backup for mobile devices is getting to be a more attractive option for many users.  Mobile devices are very convenient and portable because of their size but these same features can also make them more prone to loss, theft, and misplacement.  That is why it makes good sense to backup contents of mobile devices.

Reasons to Backup Mobile Devices

Mobile devices have become the new lifeline of the human society in terms of staying in contact and doing business. Losing its contents permanently is more distressing than losing the device itself.  One can always buy a new phone but not every lost information can be recovered.

The loss of list of contacts and other important information stored in mobile devices can be very disruptive to personal lives and business transactions. Many describe the feeling of being isolated, stressed, and virtually lost because of their dependence on these devices.

Having to go through the inconvenience of losing important data is not necessary, especially if it can be avoided. Different backup products and services are being offered in the market. Users just need to consider the best option for them.

Why Cloud Backup for Mobile Devices

Backing-up files contained in any mobile device should be done and there is no question about that.  The only question that remains is how it is to be done. The traditional way is store data in USB drives which is not always reliable.  Another way is to download software from mobile device makers to allow the backup.  It is highly advised that downloading ,whether for free or for a fee, should be done from the manufacturer’s site.  A third party developer is another option.

Cloud backup for mobile devices comes highly recommended.  These mobile devices are literally extensions of people’s computers.  It is therefore in the best interest of users to backup their contents with the best possible option.

With Cloud Backup, users can access their required data at any time and any device connected to the Internet.  The data are all protected from unauthorized access through encryption. All data that has been transferred from a mobile device to a backup server are guarded for privacy.

Online cloud backup offers data storage that is safe and easily updated. It is however necessary to find a Cloud backup provider that is competent and able to provide expert services. Competitive pricing is also a major consideration. To know more about online backup providers, look into www.bestbackups.com.