Remember the scene in Seinfeld where the gang forgot where they parked and spent an entire episode looking for their slot? Well you can avoid moments like these with a rather interesting app from the Ovi store. “I Parked Here” costs about 3 Euros and remembers your parking space using Skyhook’s data network. No need for GPS to locate your car. Running your data connection via your phone will help you find the prodigal parking slot.

I Parked Here also comes with a “parking meter mode” that alarms your phone if your time is almost up with the parking meter. Hence, a small investment of 3 EU for saving on parking tickets sure sounds like a winner!

[photos c/o Staron]

Post from: Cellphone9

Now, Belkin has released a new update to their FM transmitters, combining GPS technology to locate strong empty station signals. Not really useful when you’re driving, but it is useful so you won’t need to guess where to place your MP3 player and radio.

TuneCast Auto Live (F8Z498) – $79.99

* Specifically compatible with iPhone OS 3.0
* Also compatible with the iPod Classic and nano
* ClearScan one-push station locator
* PRO setting optimizes audio and boosts volume
* Two programmable preset buttons
* High-contrast backlit display
* In-car charging

[Read More // Photos from Belkin PR]

Post from: Cellphone9

Some telcos offer a service which allows you to triangulate your friends’ cellphone location through many cellsites scattered across the metro. Now you can do the same using Google Latitude. There is a detailed explanation to this process that allows you to track your friends through profiles which you create using your phone and Google’s cartography software.

The cool thing about Google Latitude is that there are really no fancy, expensive gadgets required. All you need is a mobile phone and you can build what’s essentially a GPS network of friends, without the need for GPS technology. Wondering whether your buddy Jim is still at work? Just log onto Google Latitude, or check Google Maps on your phone, and sure enough, Jim’s icon shows up on the map where he works. Did your best friend go missing after her date the other night? If she left her phone on, all of her friends can check out where she’s currently located.

Image courtesy of makeuseof.com

Post from: Cellphone9

I want to believe that this is how it should work, but in practice, it could offer hassles. Let me give you an example.

Where I’m from, I’m able to purchase and download apps from my local iTunes store (Philippines). When I want to download and subscribe to new podcasts however, the system won’t allow me unless I login to the USA store. The problem arises when I do OTA downloads of apps once again from my iPod touch — I’ll get an error message saying that the feature is only limited to the PH store.

Hassle?

[image c/o Share on Ovi website]

Post from: Cellphone9

What sucks about today’s GPR positioning technology is that it really just works outdoors. Sometimes, we feel the need to go into a more “macro” level of positioning especially when we’re inside a mall or a huge office building that’s unfamiliar to us and we need to find the nearest bathroom for that !!! huge emergency !!!.

Nokia has been working on a triangulating technology that uses WLAN to find your mobile phone and project you in relartion to everything else in the building:

The mobile uses the buildings’ WLAN infrastructure to triangulate your position and then indicates where you are on a building map. Nokia prototypes today can show your location – building section and floor level. They allow you to browse the building, find points of interest and you can even share your position with the people you choose, when you want. Today Nokia has Indoor Positioning trials ongoing within 40 buildings worldwide.[Nokia]

So it isn’t just bathrooms – it’s everything and to be honest I feel that this is more useful than the “macro” GPS technology. Now if only malls and establishments could have a standard to use to allow this system to scale, wow.

[Photo c/o Nokia]

Post from: Cellphone9

Yup it’s the AT&T guy again but this time he’s in the car. Check out how the iPhone 3G fares on the road with its built in GPS navigation. This makes use of the GPS Maps feature and the search function for commercial establishments. I still think that using the iPhone inside a car is a deadly combination as it really isn’t text-friendly while driving (oops, don’t text while you drive!!). I also noticed that there was no voice overs giving directions on where to turn.

Post from: Cellphone9

320×320 screen
400mhz CPU
128mb of RAM, 256mb of ROM
EVDO REV-A
GPS enabled
integrated WiFi
Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP
2.0MP camera
Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

Even if it didn’t have GPS, this would still be a slick device. What it basically is — Palm’s way of catching up with the current market of handhelds out there. There isn’t anything spectacular or innovative. Everything is standard. WHat this also shows is Palm abandoning their own OS for Windows Mobile to tap into the corporate market.

* In a related note for Asian distributors of Palm, I was talking to some folks who were responsible for the glory days of Palm back in 2004. Turns out that the Palm Centro isn’t being prioritized in developing countries which is really a sad sad thing as this is Palm’s most affordable device ever. *shrug*

Image credit here.

Post from: Cellphone9

The Motorola Z9 is a classic slider phone with built in GPS. It is packed with music playback and online music downloads as well as HSDPA connectivity to support the GPS downloading and online store. This is pretty much a straightforward classic design and is a good upgrade for anyone who loves Motorola’s design and user interface.

HSDPA 3.5G
2.0MP camera with flash
Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
MPEG4 video support and capture

Post from: Cellphone9

The new tagging feature in the firmware update will allow tagging into the camera itself.

[Image courtesy of the Nokia Beta Labs]

Post from: Cellphone9

The Garmin nuviphone can actually be a serious consideration for mobile phone users who want something kick ass huge. Imagine a 3.5 inch screen, hefty form factor, HSDPA, and GPS navigation maps. The nuviphone announces Garmin’s take on the mobile phone industry, which really tells more about how they want to bring their GPS navigation experience down to the mobile phone user. If you’ve used Garmin products before, you’ll definitely take a second look at this device.

Again, Garmin should heavily consider third party application support rather than remain in a closed platform. Killer device? We’ll see when they launch this in Q3 2008.

The phone seems to be a direct competitor to the N95. And the iPhone. But heck, everything competes with the iPhone nowadays. The nuviphone will be announced at the Barcelona 3GSM this coming February.

Post from: Cellphone9