New iPhone rival

Google partners with T-Mobile to launch Android-powered smartphone

Google ventures the smartphone market with the introduction of T-Mobile G1, the first phone to feature the Android operating system. Android is a Linux-based software platform designed for mobile devices developed by Google in collaboration with Open Handset Alliance.

With features that directly compete with Apple’s iPhone, the Internet-centric G1 smartphone will initially become available in the U.S. and Europe at about US$400.

Manufactured by High Tech Computer (HTC), the T-Mobile G1 runs on Qualcomm MSM7201A 528MHz processor with 128MB of RAM. Its main features include a 3” 480x320-resolution touchscreen, a QWERTY keyboard, 1GB flash memory, GPS, a microSD, built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3.1MP camera and so on.

The T-Mobile G1 comes pre-installed with a host of Google web-based service incluing Search, Maps, Gmail, Calendar, Talk, Amazon MP3, and YouTube. The G1 also features Android Market, which includes a number of applications and mash ups.

Singapore develops new GPS movie technology based on viewer’s location

I was browsing through the CNet Asia web site when I stumbled upon Isabella Chen’s Chick Click blog entry “Real spaces, digital memory” about GPS Film, a Singaporean government initiative project for developing a new motion picture technology designed for GPS-enabled handheld devices like PDAs or mobile phones. GPS Film automatically selects clips from an extraordinarily produced movie based on the location of the viewer.

Considerably a breakthrough in the movie industry, GPS Film will provide a new opportunity for the viewer to explore the actual environment via digital content. GPS Film’s "picture moving, not a moving picture" catchphrase sets a new type of movie experience where viewers don't just take movies on the road but movies will actually take viewers to the road.

According to the GPS Film web site, 

"GPS Film invents a new form of film-viewing experience by using the place and movement of the viewer to reveal the story.

"As the viewer travels by walking, bus, or taxi, the movie unfolds by passing through different areas. 

"By exploring a park, a neighborhood, or even a city or country, GPS Film continually ‘reads’ the location of the viewer and plays scenes that are tied to those places. The more the viewer travels, the more of the film they see."

In her blog, Isabella talks about dead spaces and dead times where people are forced to go through in between productive situations. She wrote,

“The more time you spend in spaces like these, the more brain dead you become.”

Well, GPS Film would definitely give life to our dead brains during dead times. And dead spaces will actually take an important role in the process.

Click here to go to Isabella Chen's Chick Click blog.
Click here to go to Isabella's "Real space, digital memory" blog entry.
Click here to go to CNet Asia.