mocoblog

combo - one social interface to rule them all (on your iphone)

I’ve been a member of Combo for some time now. The service is still in beta. Not the Gmail kind of beta where they have millions of users who don’t quite know why it’s still beta. It’s a true beta - complete with cool, innovative features and bugs alike.

Combo provides a simple, AJAX, web interface which allows users to interact with their multiple web 2.0 social websites with a single login. You can update your facebook profile, check out your flickr, add delicious bookmarks and even IM all from Combo.

Indiciduals like me aside, it is a great tool for companies or institutions who need to manage social profiles across multiple networks. No more logging in to individual sites to see who is sending you email and who is requesting to be your friends.

They also have an iPhone version of the site. I don’t have an iPhone yet, but when I do (next 2 weeks), I’ll be able to login to Combo to access all my social websites. There is some real value here to consolidate all that info in a single interface on a mobile screen.

Beyond that, Combo is a great way to track (or stalk) your friends using their Watchbox feature.

Since joining, Combo has gotten better and less buggier every day. I think there will be many me-too sites like this; but for now, Combo has a big head start.

Read Techdirt’s Review

Posted in Convergence, Mobile Services | 1 Comment »

gTalk for iPhone

aMazing

Long ago I posted about GrandCentral. Google bought Grand Central some time ago.

Google hasn’t linked GoogleTalk to GrandCentral. They will. Google is going to sneak traditional voice services into the iPhone. Can you say “data-only plan for iPhone”? Not likely by AT&T.

Read

Posted in Miscellany | No Comments »

back to blogging

after a blogging hiatus i realized that i need to get back to my roots.

the new iPhone is upon us and i plan to have it soon.

stay tuned for my many mobile musings.

also, hope to install a new theme soon.

new wordpress, new features!

Posted in Miscellany | No Comments »

Cellibacy in 2008 - 60 days w/o a cell phone

This is a New Year’s resolution I would certainly default on.

The project is called “Cellibacy”, but as comedian and advocate Amy Borkowsky explains, “It’s not about giving up sex. I’m giving up something much harder than that.” On January 1st, Borkowsky will attempt to ring in 2008 with a lot less ringing, as she officially turns off her cell phone service for sixty days, becoming America’s first advocate for moderation in cell phone use.

Cell phone usage in moderation?!? Makes me smile.

Cellibacy (thanks Inverbras)

Posted in Funny, Wacky, & Weird, Miscellany, News | No Comments »

Windows Live Messenger Gets SMS (finally)

I ususally use GAIM as my instant messenger application. When choosing to send an IM to a mobile phone I use my AIM account. It’s easy, simply send any message to +1XXXYYYZZZZ (where XYZ is a 10-digit cell phone number). Conveniently, your message arrives on your buddy’s handset and they can even reply back to your message.

Now in with MSN Messenger you can do the same. Simply create a contact, give it a name, and add a mobile device number. (It’s about time!) Also, Microsoft has taken the security of IM to SMS a step further than AOL (to prevent abuse?). The first time you receive a message via MSN you get a authorization message identifying the email of the sender and requiring the recipient to reply A to allow the message to come through.

Link: Windows Live Messenger

Posted in Convergence, Mobile Services | 1 Comment »

Make an A, Get a Ringtone

I used to get good grades because it was expected of me. If I did exceptional my folks would sometimes reward me with a toy or game. However, that was never the motivation. I’d say it was mostly pride, sibling rivalry, a sense of what I felt was right, and of course, fear. In NYC there is a plan hatched which includes incentives for high performance, like free concerts and sporting events and free minutes and ring tones for their phones.

Wow a city, corporate and volunteer sponsored rewards program to help students in their studies so they can earn tickets, sneakers, ringtones, and talk time.

What about an incentive program for crappy parents to be less crappy? Isn’t that where the real problem is. I digress…

Nonetheless, I hope that this program proves to be an effective way to reach out to our misguided youth. However I will have a feeling that the smart kids will wind up with all the goodies. Seems they always do.

Read: New York Times

Posted in News, Ringtones | No Comments »

nazi ringtones!?!? - problems with affiliate search marketing

It’s hard to believe that anyone would sell Nazi ringtones. But according to this landing page they are available by SendMe Mobile, Thumbplay, and FunMobile. Wow. Who knew?

Now really?!? Which company in their right mind would offer such content? This is a typical case of a search affiliate who would do anything to show up for a cheap search term. At $15 - $18 CPA who wouldn’t. This tried and true method of keyword spamming(?) has worked for Amazon and Ebay in the past. You know, like when you search on Google for, say, daggers and you see the eBay ad which looks like this:

How does this differ? For starters, chances are, eBay has daggers…and probably nazi daggers as well (which apparently are censored in the US).

Also, I would think that unlike most ringtone companies, Amazon and eBay work directly with their search marketing partners. I also think that they are placing more scrutiny on offensive and irrelevant keywords. Most ringtone companies are probably unaware of this sleazy, albeit effective, longtail keyword tactic.

This example is an extreme case, but often these affiliate marketers will ignore the rules set forth by the ringtone companies and will advertise ringtones for artists, movies, tv shows, and sports teams which don’t exist in their catalog; let alone any catalog. All to make a sleazy buck; while polluting Google and leaving many disappointed and irate “customers” in their wake. It could be worse, they could be advertising for “Free Nazi Ringtones” - Doh!

See for yourself: nazi ringtones - Google Search

Posted in Mobile Services, Ringtones | 1 Comment »

Verizon Wireless to Share Your Data (for advertising?) - Opt-Out Now

Verizon Wireless has quietly made a change to their privacy policy. This to allow data mininig to improve customer service and allegedly to enable targeted advertisements. They won’t be sharing your name or phone number, but they plan on sharing your call history and handset information.

At issue is so-called Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) data. While CPNI data does not include explicit information identifying your name and address or your phone number, it does include data on the calls you make and receive, and the services that you may make use of. This includes information about the features of your phone and its capabilities. The data could easily be mined to see what kinds of businesses you call and how often.

Call 1-800-333-9956 to opt-out. You will be asked to provide your phone number, billing zip code and last 4-digits of your SSN.

Failure to opt-out means you opt-in. (Funny how that works.)

Read: ArsTechnica

Posted in Carriers, Mobile Services, News | No Comments »

GSM Feature Codes for your T-Mobile or AT&T phone

My buddy Jimbox sent me this link: GSM Feature Codes

According to him, this is a great way to eff with a buddies GSM phone. (I like the way he thinks.) There are also some codes which people may find useful (outside of deviance). Some of these may work with CDMA technologies too. Either way, use at your own risk. Here are some examples:

SMS Message Delivery Confirmation
Some GSM handsets have a built-in feature to let you know when your SMS message has been delivered, which may be a nice feature to have. If your handset doesn’t support this or you wish to manually use this feature then prefix your outgoing message with either 111 or *noti#, such as:

To: +1-250-555-1212
Message: 111Hey Steve — give me a call ASAP

The recipient of the message won’t receive the “111″ or “*noti#” at the beginning of the message, but you will receive a confirmation that it has been delivered to their handset. Note that not all GSM networks support this feature (e.g., Fido in Canada supports 111, T-Mobile supports *noti#)

Read: GSM Feature Codes

Posted in Carriers, Phones, Software | No Comments »

WindowsMobile cure for iPhone envy (PocketCM and iPhone skin)

My buddy Jimbox showed me his HTC MDA recently. He had installed PocketCM, a “flickable”, iPhone-esque contact manager which replaces the crappy Windows mobile one. 5 minute review: I like!

Here is a video of it I found on Youtube:

The iPhone skin I did not try, but link below nonetheless.

Get it:
PocketCM
iPhone Skin for Windows Mobile

Posted in Gadgets, PDA, Phones, Software | No Comments »