New Palm handset teased by Bill Gates at CES

The picture is here.

al-Qaida available on cell phones

Our enemy appears to be pretty hi-tech in spreading their propaganda:

Al-Qaida video messages of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri can now be downloaded to cell phones, the terror network announced as part of its attempts to extend its influence.

The announcement was posted late Friday by al-Qaida's media wing, al-Sahab, on Web sites commonly used by Islamic militants. As of Saturday, eight previously recorded videos were made available including a recent tribute to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the former al-Qaida in Iraq leader killed by U.S. forces in Iraq in June 2006.

[...]

The terror network has been growing more sophisticated in targeting international audiences. Videos are always subtitled in English, and messages this year from bin Laden and al-Zawahri focusing on Pakistan and Afghanistan have been dubbed in the local languages, Urdu and Pashtu.

In December, al-Qaida invited journalists to send questions to al-Zawahri. The invitation was the first time the media-savvy al-Qaida offered outsiders to "interview" one of its leaders since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

I wish we could figure out a way to use it against them.

Man hits boy while texting

People are getting too comfortable behind the wheel and aren't remembering that it takes concentration to drive (says the woman who does Greek and Hebrew flash cards when she drives). Our prays for the family who lost their child:

The man accused of killing a 13-year-old boy in a hit-and-run in Taunton told police he was behind the wheel typing a text message on his cellphone when he lost control of the sport utility vehicle and hit what he thought was a mailbox, a prosecutor said today in court.

Craig P. Bigos, 31, told investigators that he did not realize the SUV had struck the boy on the bicycle until he drove back down Poole Street hours later on his way to work at a restaurant, said Bristol County prosecutor Aaron T. Strojny.

The boy, Earman Machado, was sleeping over at a friend's house Thursday night. The teens had gone out at 12:30 a.m. to meet two girls, Strojny said today in Taunton District Court. Machado was riding a bicycle and his friend was walking on the soft shoulder of the road. Police said the friend, also 13, attempted to call 911, but was unable to get through on his cellphone.

(via)

The Wii-like Cell Phone

Available only in Japan:

More videos here.

Man hit by train while talking on a cell phone

Imagine if you were the person on the other end of the phone when the train struck:

A pedestrian apparently absorbed in a cell phone call was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in San Leandro today after he walked around a lowered crossing gate and onto the tracks, authorities said.

The victim, a man who was not immediately identified, was struck at 12:30 p.m. by a northbound Capitol Corridor train at the Alvarado Street crossing, about 8 miles south of the Oakland station, Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham said.

I bet some politician will propose making it illegal to talk on your cell phone near the train station.

(via)

New touch screen Blackberry in early 2008

You have to give props to Steve Jobs, he changed the face (or should I say interface :-) of computers, he set the standard for music devices and now he's changed the face of the cell phone.

Research in Motion (RIMM) is developing a touch-screen version of the BlackBerry designed to compete with Apple's fast-selling iPhone (AAPL), says analyst Carmi Levy at AR Communications. Levi says the new Berry, to be launched in the first half of 2008, will be a complete departure from the BlackBerries of today.

[...]

The 9000 series will break from the traditional half-screen, half-keyboard look of the BlackBerry. The handsets will also incorporate an upgraded multimedia system, along with the standard push email capabilities... Levy speculates that RIM will introduce the 9000-series in the first quarter of next year...

(via)