Hasta La Gadget!

This article was written on November 10, 2010 by CyberNet.

I’ve been getting into using Google Voice more and more these days since I’m able to send text messages to any phone number without having to pay for an outrageously priced SMS plan. With my iPhone I can use an app like Notifo to get free push notifications for SMS messages that I receive, and then there are several apps to choose from for sending messages using your account (or even Google’s free mobile-optimized site).

The even bigger benefit, however, is that I’m also able to respond to any messages right from my computer. With GVNotifier sending and receiving SMS messages with Google Voice doesn’t seem any more difficult than sending an instant message. If you receive a text message it will popup on the screen, and you can instantly respond from within that window.

Keep in mind that the app also handles calls and voicemails, and Windows 7 users will appreciate the jumplist support that provides quick access to your favorite contacts. At times GVNotifier still feels a bit rough around the edges, but from a functionality aspect it gets the job done.

Here are some frequently asked questions, and some answers provided by the developer:

• Can I change the polling rate?
  Yes. Edit %localappdata%\GVNotifierWPF\settings.xml. Look for UpdateFreq, which is in seconds. Using a zero-value will disable updating completely.
• Can I invoke a manual check?
  Yes. Call GVNotifier.net.exe /check. (Other arguments include: /signout, /quit and /update_contacts)
• Can I change the notification sound?
  Yes. Edit %localappdata%\GVNotifierWPF\new.wav
• Can I dial a number that isn’t in my contacts?
  Yes. Type the number into contacts search.
• What hotkeys does GVNotifier support?
  While on the message window, Ctrl+N will clear the message log, Ctrl+R will check for new messages immediately. Ctrl+Enter will insert a new line, Escape will close the window. You may also middle-click the tray icon to check for new messages immediately.
• Is GVNotifier portable?
  Yes, copy the application files from the GVNotifier install loction. Create a blank text file named settings.xml in the same directory as GVNotifier.net.exe. GVNotifier will then store all preferences and cached contact photos in the same directory.

Unfortunately the developer hasn’t released an update since June 2010, but for the most part it already does everything I want it to. The only thing I’d like to see at this point is an easy way to display the phone number associated with each contact. I have a few contacts that have multiple phone numbers assigned to them, and I have to double-click to open each of their contact entries to find the correct one. That’s just a minor annoyance, and definitely won’t keep me from using the app.

GVNotifier Homepage

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Most people lie. Whether it’s once and a while or daily, everyone has to do their thing and sometimes lying seems like the best way to make it all work. But liars have tells, which can be just as important in life as in poker. And a new study suggests that people take longer to respond to texts when they’re cooking up a lie. Just one more thing to factor into the social calculus.

Read more…

It’s a big day for mobile payments. Multiple former Nokia Money veterans have formally launched iKaaz, a two-pronged strategy to phone commece where choice is the order of the day. The first components, M-POS and its accompanying Tap & Pay, are rough equivalents to familiar NFC-based services like Google Wallet that rely on an NFC tag and matching app for in-store sales. A Consumer Wallet for Enterprises occupies more familiar territory for the ex-Nokia crew: it provides a mobile account that doesn’t require NFC or even an app, letting those in developing countries exchange funds through SMS or USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) if they’re sporting basic handsets. Us end users will need to wait for actual implementations before we see iKaaz for ourselves, but the sheer flexibility could have us paying through our phones in some unexpected places.

Continue reading Former Nokia Money crew kicks off iKaaz mobile payments, lets shops go with or without NFC

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Nokia

Former Nokia Money crew kicks off iKaaz mobile payments, lets shops go with or without NFC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T’s already working on an app to keep folks from texting while driving, but earlier this month it gave folks at a Los Angeles hackathon the chance to develop their own solution. David Grau, a creative director and designer at an interactive agency, and 11-year-old Victoria Walker were awarded $20,000 by Big Blue to bring their smartphone application to the public. Dubbed Rode Dog, the prize-winning software allows friends and family to organize themselves into “packs” and monitor their text messaging habits. Watchful users can spot when a fellow group member is texting and initiate a barking noise on the offender’s phone. Much like squawking seat belt systems, the app is designed to remind drivers of their wrongdoing and doesn’t stop the ruckus until they acknowledge it. If you’d rather have a chicken or other animal grab your attention, the duo crafted an in-app shop that offers other wildlife sound sound effects. Rode Dog isn’t expected to hit iOS, Android and Windows Phone until its fully polished, but you can sign up to receive word of its launch at the second source link below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Mobile

11-year-old wins $20,000 at AT&T hackathon for creating app that discourages texting while driving originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 05:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite our love of gadgets, we’re not willing to give any slack to people that text while driving, and for one good reason: it’s freaking dangerous. You’ve heard the grim stories before, but few incidents resonate to the heart of the matter like that of Chance Bothe from Texas. Despite his better judgment, the young man was texting a childhood friend while trying to bring the conversation to a close by saying, “I need to quit texting, because I could die in a car accident.” That message was followed by one more, an unfortunate, “b right there.” Regrettably, that final text caused him to miss a slight curve in the road and careen into a ravine. Chance is alive today — thanks in large part to the fact that the accident was witnessed — but the recovery hasn’t been easy. In addition to a broken neck, a number of fractures and severe head trauma, he’s already undergone two facial reconstructions. In the wake of the accident, Chance’s friends and family have founded UnSend, an organization that dedicates itself to raising awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. Chance, too, is using his experience to educate others: “They just need to understand, don’t do it. Don’t do it. It’s not worth losing your life.”

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation

Texas man foretells dire outcome: messages ‘I need to quit texting,’ before driving into ravine originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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