Mobile news

Tags: Featured, Innovations & Inventions, MIT

25 May 2012

Needle-less injections may soon transform the lives of diabetics everywhere, as medical technology continues to empower patients with non-invasive, mobile diagnostic tools.

MIT researchers created a high-velocity jet injector capable of delivering medicine without breaking the skin. The electromagnetically powered device injects patients through a miniscule needle at nearly the speed of sound, mimicking the barely noticeable pinch of a mosquito bite.

Current jet injection devices deliver a limited range of doses at the same depth, but MIT's creation can adjust to varying volumes and skin thickness, according to Catherine Hogan of the school's Department of Mechanical Engineering.

"If I'm breaching a baby's skin to deliver vaccine, I won't need as much pressure as I would need to breach my skin," Hogan explained. "We can tailor the pressure profile to be able to do that, and that's the beauty of this device."

This technology, if it becomes a commercial success, may prevent children from screaming at the doctor's office, as well as help diabetic patients surmount fears of self-injection.

"If you are afraid of needles and have to frequently self-inject, compliance can be an issue," said Hogan. "We think this kind of technology... gets around some of the phobias that people may have about needles."

Non-invasive technology like this continues to make strides in the mobile market, where users increasingly leverage their phones as medical devices.

Modified iPhones can now measure blood sugar non-invasively, thanks to Professor Heather Clark at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Clark's invention requires an iPhone to read and analyze the florescence levels of a harmless nanoparticle solution beneath patients' skin, which glows when exposed to glucose.

Researchers at Korea's Advanced Institute for Science and Technology last fall developed a way to analyze drops of saliva on smartphone screens, making it theoretically possible to diagnose patients who spit on their phones.

And a non-invasive wireless heart monitor created at Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne can alert doctors immediately about irregular heart rhythms, possibly preventing the need for implants in some cases.

Mobile apps like these may greatly improve healthcare, but they will have to face FDA reviews before going to market. However, regulation is moving much more slowly than the pace of innovation, with the FDA taking over a year to approve Mobisante's smartphone-based ultrasound, for example.

If Mobisante's experience is any indication, MIT's device may face a long wait before finally reaching consumers, endangering its success as stagnation invites irrelevancy.

Still, considering the widespread distaste for needles, needle-less injections will likely enjoy instant popularity no matter when they first hit shelves.

Tags: The Chat Room

25 May 2012

Mount Everest joined cats and photos of food on Instagram, while an unlucky school official ended up joining deviants on a porn site.

Reddit's founder is trying to create a way to instantly activate Internet crusaders, one Internet entrepreneur hoodwinked AOL to save money, and a mayor in New Jersey got down and dirty on the Internet in trying to save his job.

Mountain Climbers Can't Stay Off Their IPhones

Climbers on Mount Everest are privy to some of the most breathtaking and rare views in the world, and they're documenting them with their iPhones. Members from a National Geographic team are using their smartphones to capture scenes using Instagram.

The National Geographic team will ascend to the top, Instagramming their experience along the way. People who want to follow can look up the account @natgeo on Instagram. After the climb, the mountaineers will answer a Q&A about which filters they liked best and their photo technique.

A team from Outside Magazine is also using Instagram to capture moments on Mount Everest, including a rescue mission.

Reddit Wants Bat Signal for Internet Protestors

Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian wants to create a "bat signal" for Internet activists as a way to quickly form online protests and spread information. Citing SOPA and PIPA as an example, Ohanian envisions an "Internet Defense League" devoted to preventing wrongdoing via swift mass outcries.

The "bat signal" will come in the form of code that people can add to their websites. It may trigger a banner asking users to spring to action when crises, especially political ones like bills threatening Internet freedom, emerge.

A number of prominent sites already signed up, including Mozilla, the Cheezburger company and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Homeless Man Lives at AOL, Creates Start-Up

A 20-year-old entrepreneur pulled a fast one on AOL, living on the company's campus for months until security guards discovered his secret.

Eric Simons joined an educational website incubator working out of AOL's Palo Alto campus for four months, and when his stint ended, his identification badge remained active. Jobless, broke, but intent on creating his own educational start-up website, Simons continued to show up at AOL... and never left.

Simons evaded security guards and lived out of a locker in the campus gym. The company did not press charges when he was found out, and he managed to land seed money from an investor that allowed him to rent his own place.

Mayoral Race in New Jersey Gets Hacked

The mayor of a New Jersey town is in hot water after he and his son hacked an adversary's website. Felix Roque, the mayor of West New York, New Jersey, landed in jail along with his 22-year-old son after they allegedly attempted to disable his opponent's website.

The website, run by an anonymous woman using a pseudonym, calls for a recall. Unfortunately, the hackers accessed her information by emailing the customer service department of her Web hosting account, and proceeded to leave her threatening voice mails.

Both Roques face hefty fines for the misbehavior, as well as five years in prison.

Angry Parents Use Porn as Revenge on School Official

After his son's iPod got confiscated at school, one parent felt so enraged he decided to enact a completely inappropriate revenge on the school official who took the MP3 player away.

Robert Dale Esparza created a fake profile for the school's assistant principal on a pornography website, posting sexually explicit photos and videos and engaging in lurid chats. Esparza kept the site active for years, and when the assistant principal interviewed for a different job, his potential employers found it and withdrew their job offer.

Now Esparza faces charges for smearing the school official's good name.

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25 May 2012

Needle-less injections may soon transform the lives of diabetics everywhere, as medical technology continues to empower patients with non-invasive, mobile diagnostic tools.

Tags: Featured, Microsoft, Strategies & Solutions, Windows

25 May 2012

Microsoft's Windows 8 is launching into a crowded market, but it boasts a number of remarkable features that may help it stand out.

Microsoft's grand ambitions for Windows 8 focus on integrating the new operating system across platforms in a way that appeals to people with multiple mobile devices. Aiming to bridge the desktop environment with mobile, Microsoft is aiming to angle itself at the forefront of a new era of computing with the OS, especially as PC sales are expected to slow and mobile computing on phones and tablets picks up.

Though it faces an uphill battle distinguishing itself among entrenched rivals like Apple's iOS and Android, the operating system shouldn't be ruled out just yet and could end up giving other platforms a run for their money.

The company took risks differentiating Windows 8 from previous Windows versions and competitors on the market, developing a unique product with some truly interesting features. Here are a few that stand out, and may help Windows 8 develop a loyal following:

1. Compatibility with Touchscreen Laptops

Windows 8 will work on touchscreen devices like smartphones and tablets, and the touchscreen features will work on laptops as well. PC maker OEMs is working on a touchscreen laptop specifically designed for Windows 8, which could reinvigorate the netbook market and attract tech fans looking for novelty. Microsoft's emphasis on compatibility will pay off for cloud users, and since businesses are rapidly adopting cloud software, this could be a huge plus for Windows 8, especially among a core group of customers.

2. Strong Multi-Monitor Support

For users running Windows 8 on multiple monitors at the same time, the company worked hard to fix problems plaguing Windows systems in the past. This time around, the start button and other important features will be available on any monitor, not just the primary screen. Microsoft also boosted the mouse detection to prevent the cursor from spilling onto the wrong screen.

3. Potentially Runs Adobe Flash Without Plug-Ins

Although it isn't certain yet, Microsoft is working to make Internet Explorer on Windows 8 run Adobe Flash video even though it will not have plug-ins. The move may restore some tech cred to the oft-maligned Internet Explorer, since Google Chrome works in a similar way and is often lauded for its strong design. Chrome now dominates Web browsing, but a souped-up, slimmed-down but still robust IE optimized for media could put Microsoft back into the game.

4. Super Quick Boot-Ups

The boot up time for Windows 8 actually received criticism for being too quick, since people couldn't access the boot menu as it flitted across the screen in record time. Microsoft fixed the problem, but the system still starts incredibly quickly, addressing a common complaint with Windows systems. Apple is known for having a quick start-up time, so this will help Windows 8 compete with its Cupertino rival.

5. Possible App Haven

Another project still in the works, but it's a big one if it goes through: reports are leaking that show Windows 8 expanding its repertoire of built-in apps, which may prove critical for attracting young fans, since users consider apps an increasingly vital feature for mobile devices. Apple and Android phones have a big head start, with robust app stores and enticing deals for app developers.

Bluestacks' app player will allow Windows 8 to run Android apps, which is an absolute coup for Microsoft, because without apps Windows 8 simply will not succeed, especially in the mobile space where it must make headway to remain viable into the future. At the same time, just having the apps available from Android will not help the OS stand out, so the reports circulating about Windows 8 coming out with its own unique, built-in apps suggest the company is working hard to bulk up its app supply and prove that it offers something original.

Tags: Business, Featured, Mobile Payments, PayPal

25 May 2012

PayPal is taking the express lane to in-store mobile payment dominance -- but competitors' efforts and consumer suspicions may block the road to success.

PayPal is joining forces with several major retailers, including Toys R Us and Barnes & Noble, as it solidifies its retail presence to boost its movement into mobile payments.

The eBay-owned company signed deals to partner with sixteen major retailers in total, starting with Home Depot several months ago. PayPal also inked a deal with VeriFone Systems, which will help it establish smooth in-store services using VeriFone's payment software.

"An important part of our future is to get to ubiquity," PayPal exec Don Kingsborough explained. "There will be 40 million terminals eventually to let consumers buy in stores with PayPal. That's one of the big building blocks we have to get to ubiquity."

PayPal is off to a solid start and has an established online payment history behind it, but the company will have to reprove its security credentials to entice in-store customers visiting brick-and-mortar retail locations.

The company is buddying up with large, trusted retailers and gradually adding waves of partners to ensure success in this arena, but it still faces stiff competition from upcoming mobile payment alliance Isis. PayPal's name recognition and a strong reputation alone won't be enough to topple Isis, which is making a concentrated, comprehensive effort to offer exemplary security. The big banks and phone carriers attached to the Isis project may convince people to give Isis a whirl.

Both mobile payment options, along with rivals Square and Google Wallet, must contend with consumer reluctance to trust mobile payment systems and fuel their adoption. PayPal's decision to directly link to trusted stores may assuage some wariness, but if the company's security is compromised even once it could devastate its reputation.

Inking the retailer deals set the company on the right path, but to surge ahead of Isis and other rivals, the company needs to keep making alliances with retailers and cementing its place as a convenient and safe payment option.