mobile

Google is launching AdSense for Mobile, which will allow marketers to place contextual ads on sites viewed via mobile devices. The company has been running mobile ads through its auction-based AdWords program since mid-2006. Now it will be automatically converting AdWords ads to text ads that will appear when someone accesses a participating Web site on a mobile device. The Web sites must be optimized for mobile browsers first.

Basically, the system reviews the content on the site and delivers text ads that are relevant; the publisher earns money every time an ad is clicked on. AdSense for Mobile will … Read more

Here's a useful concept: say you're really sick of dealing with your phone's tiny keypad to type in text messages. What if you could simply say what you wanted to write down, and have the tool fill it in for you? Yap is a new service that's trying to fill that need with their new mobile phone client. It's aimed at teens, who the company claims 66% of text while driving. Yap will read off your friend's responses, meaning you don't have to pay attention to what they're writing. The service works … Read more

T-Mobile today picked up another slider phone with the new Samsung SGH-T429. Features include a VGA camera, a speakerphone, instant messaging, personal organizer applications, a voice memo recorder, text and multimedia messaging, and Bluetooth. The slider style is similar to the Samsung SGH-T629's design; it has the same thin profile (0.6 inch) but the SGH-T429 is two-toned blue instead of silver. The tri-band (GSM 850/1800/1900) handset is available for $49 with service.

When I posted my review of Belkin's TuneTalk Stereo, a representative of APC commented on the story to suggest that I might want to use APC's Mobile Power Pack to extend the iPod's battery life when recording.

I started to reply to describe the gizmo I designed to power my iPod from a spare PowerBook battery-- a little clip that connects the battery terminals to an iPod dock cable. This is what I used to use to power up my old 4th-generation iPod while recording long conference sessions with the Belkin Voice Recorder for iPod.

But even as I was typing, I realized… Read more

As expected, Alltel today formerly picked up the Motorola Razr2 V9m, that lovely Razr revamp that caught our attention last month. Alltel joins Verizon Wireless and Sprint in offering the feature-packed handset while AT&T has already countered with the GSM Razr2 V9. As is the case with the other carriers offering the Razr2, Alltel adds its own customization to the phone. The massive external display shows the missed calls list (handy indeed) and you'll find the carrier's unique Celltop application. The carrier chose to use Moto's standard user interface rather than applying its own, and … Read more

Apple will take its keynote show on the road to London next week, with speculation mostly centered on the carriers for a European iPhone.

The company sent out invitations to a Tuesday press conference, but didn't specify the topic. "Mum is no longer the word," was the tagline attached to this invitation, stirring up talk across the pond that Apple is ready to announce its plans for European iPhone sales. The company has previously said that it wants to start selling iPhones in Europe by the end of the year.

The Times Online reported that Peter Erskine, … Read more

The famous quote "there are no second acts in American lives" is attributed to F. Scott Fitzgerald. According to BrainyQuote.com, he also said, "his was a great sin who first invented consciousness. Let us lose it for a few hours."

The convoluted story of NTP and evolution of the American patent system is enough to drive a man to drink. Having beaten the literary metaphors well into the ground, let's ponder NTP's second act on the tech industry stage.

As you may have heard, NTP is once again feeling litigious. Last week it … Read more

It's not the RIM BlackBerry Pearl 2 that most of you are probably waiting for, but T-Mobile and RIM have just released three new color models of the BlackBerry Pearl. In addition to black and white, you can now get the sexy little messaging machine in Sunset (red), Blue, or Gold. They are all available for purchase today in stores and online for $149.99 with a two-year contract and after discounts. T-Mobile will also soon introduce a $9.99-per-month unlimited BlackBerry e-mail-only service (currently, the cheapest plan is $19.99 per month). Aside from the new colors, everything … Read more

Plusmo's mobile widgets application is a cool way to read RSS feeds on your cell phone or PDA, but that's not the only reason it was named a finalist on the Webware 100 list.

In true Webware fashion, Plusmo's site offers hands-on excitement--the chance to publish and share widget mash-ups and create an iPhone widget from templates. Users can also make personal blogs available as a Plusmo widget, and can install a browser bookmarklet or Yahoo plug-in to snag feeds while they surf.

Getting started with Plusmo

Multiple carriers and platforms, small screen sizes, and a glut of information out there make quickly and easily accessing mobile content a downright challenge. That's why interestingly (and wisely), Plusmo steers clear of browser turf wars raging among third-party mobile browsers like Opera Mini (new review) and Minimo (hands-on review); a good move.… Read more