Make and receive calls in Gmail

Google Voice lets you manage all your phone communications and seamlessly make and receive calls on any of your existing phones. But what if you don’t have your phone with you? Or what if you’re in a place with poor cell phone reception, or you’re travelling internationally and don’t want to incur expensive roaming charges? Wouldn’t it be great if you could use your computer to make or receive calls?

The Nokia N8

Take amazing photos and videos, connect to your favourite social networks and be entertained with the latest Web TV programs and Ovi Store apps.
The Nokia N8 introduces a 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash, HD-quality video recording, film editing software and Dolby surround sound. All in a beautiful, aluminium design.


More about Nokia N8. . . 
Nokia N8 Hands on review. . .

iPort rolls out in-wall Control Mount for iPad

iPort has rolled out its new CM-IW2000 in-wall Control Mount for the iPad. The CM-IW2000 stylishly mounts the iPad in the wall in either vertical or horizontal orientation, providing constant power, allowing full access to the Home button and screen, while replicating the power button on the edge of the frame. It also provides the user with control of audio, video, lighting and climate on the mounted iPad when the control application is connected via Wi-Fi to a compatible control system. iPort’s new CM-IW2000 in-wall Control Mount for the iPad is available now and sells for $499.

Hyundai under Korean Influence . . .

Hyundai and Kia are trying to hold on to their U.S. sales momentum by entering new segments, moving the brands upscale and bringing out vehicles with more eye-catching design.


The corporate cousins share vehicle platforms, a complicated Korean ownership structure and a story line: strong U.S. sales growth fueled by an onslaught of new vehicles with attractive new styling and loaded with technology.


Hyundai and Kia were part of an exclusive club last year: They were two of only three brands to achieve a sales gain in the United States. And each has improved its market share in 2010.


As the two Koreans launch new and redesigned products, they hope to carve out distinct identities and go after different customers.

Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s sales boss, says the brand is pursuing baby boomers who in the past have sought quality and reliability in Honda and Toyota showrooms.


On the other hand, Kia is targeting younger buyers with vehicles made to be stylish and fun to drive.


Both are squeezing into new niches. Hyundai plans its $60,000-plus Equus sedan and the small, sporty Veloster coupe. Kia may replace the Rondo compact minivan with a tall five-door model based on the same platform as the Hyundai i30 sold in Europe.


The brands also are moving upscale with the likes of the Equus, Hyundai’s redesigned Azera and Kia’s Cadenza successor for the Amanti.


Both brands continue to work at shaking off their images as makers of bland budget cars. Kia’s redesigned Optima sedan will have a sporty shape, and Hyundai is giving the swoopy Sonata-like look to the next Elantra.


Alternative-fuel vehicles also are in the pipeline. Kia plans a hybrid version of the Optima and is kicking around the idea of a dedicated hybrid. Hyundai plans a hybrid Sonata and will unveil a fuel cell vehicle in 2012.

Apple applies for patent to kill jailbroken devices

Apple is apparently ramping up its battle to prevent iPhone and iPod owners from jailbreaking their devices.
The company has applied for a patent, titled "Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device," that covers a series of security measures to automatically protect devices from thieves and other "unauthorized users." Unauthorized users apparently applies to those who engage in jailbreaking, which allows devices to run apps not approved by the company producing the operating system--such as Apple, the main target of such bypasses.
The application, which was filed in February 2009 and published Thursday, describes measures to identify "particular activities that may indicate suspicious behavior," so that "safety measures" can be taken to restrict the device's functions. Those activities include the "hacking, jailbreaking, unlocking, or removal of a SIM card," according to the application. Apple also intends to send warnings to owners via e-mail or text message when such activity is detected.
The application also describes a variety of measures that could be used to help identify the unauthorized user, including the activation of a camera that could capture and geotag the device's surroundings, and perhaps current user, and transmit that information to a remote device:
 In some embodiments, an unauthorized user can be detected by comparing the identity of the current user to the identities of authorized users of the electronic device. For example, a photograph of the current user can be taken, a recording of the current user's voice can be recorded, the heartbeat of the current user can be recorded, or any combination of the above. The photograph, recording, or heartbeat can be compared, respectively, to a photograph, recording, or heartbeat of authorized users of the electronic device to determine whether they match. If they do not match, the current user can be detected as an unauthorized user.
When unauthorized use has been detected, "access to particular applications can be restricted, access to sensitive information can be restricted, sensitive information can be erased from the electronic device...," the application states, effectively wiping and bricking the device.
Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In July, U.S. Copyright Office ruled that bypassing a manufacturer's protection mechanisms to allow "handsets to execute software applications" no longer violates federal copyright law. However, while the U.S. Copyright Office has declared the software legal, Apple has repeatedly discouraged users from loading such a bypass, reminding them that doing so will void their device's warranty.
"As we've said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably," Apple said in a statement in response to the ruling.