Layar, which is a free appliction for mobile phones – is the first to give you an augmented reality browser in the world.

What is an augmented reality you may ask and how does it work?

Starting up the Layar application automatically activates the camera.  What you see on your mobile is exactly what you see on your phone.  The difference with Layar is it would actually show you another layer (like an overlay) of specific things such as bars, restaurants, information on properties for sale and it can also overlay a map of where you are precisely located which moves with you as you move your phone.  In other words, if you start moving your mobile phone pointing from east to west, the map overlay also moves showing you exactly the way you are pointing your camera.

How does it work and what technology do they use?

Layar uses API from their launching partners and local market leaders such as ;

• ING(bank), Funda (reality website), Hyves (social network), Tempo-team (temp agency) and Zekur.nl (healthcare provider).
• Local search (powered by Google) which is said to be their first global layer in their application.  Through this, Layar is then able to use maps and locate your exact position in relation to your queries or search.
• Layar is derived from location based services and works on mobile phones that include a camera, GPS and a compass.  It is firstly available for handsets with the Android operating system (the G1 and HTC Magic).
• The embedded GPS automatically knows the location of the phone and the compass determines in which direction the phone is facing.  Each partner provides a set of location coordinates with relevant information which forms a digital layer.
• By tapping the side of the screen the user easily switches between layers.  This makes Layar a new type of browser which combines digital and reality, which offers an augmented view of the world

Here is a video to show you exactly how this works;

We hope this explains a little bit more of what Layar is all about.  Now for the final verdict of “pros” and “cons”.

Pros:

• This is the first of its kind and we’re looking forward to using this technology.
• The other possibilities to use this application are enormous.  Just the ability to point to a property and find out exactly its price and also to be able to drive around and find out which properties are for rent.
• This would be very useful in promoting local attractions and is a great promotional tool for the tourism industry.

Cons:

• The application is only currently available on the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and other Android phones in Android market for the Netherlands.
• The only country it’s available at the moment is in Netherlands and soon to be rolled out in UK, Germany and US this year.
• We would like for Layar to consider launching here in Australia this year as well.  We’re pushing hard for this folks and we’ll keep you updated. 

If you ever use your phone to go to the internet or make phone calls using Wi-Fi hotspot(s) – this video may be of benefit to you.

When you use your mobile or cell phone, you might be used to the same access points or Wi-Fi points that is close to your area or where you live.   But what if you travelled somewhere else or overseas?  It just so happens that you didn’t bring your laptop with you and just want to quickly access te internet or make a “sip” phone (free) call from your mobile phone.

Well, this is where We-Fi comes in.  We-Fi is an add on to one of Fring’s many mobile services.  We-Fi gives you the ability to access the many million Wi-Fi datapoints that is on We-Fi’s database.  So wherever you are, you can easily find the closest Wi-Fi to you.

In order to access We-Fi, you will also need to download Fring’s latest version here.  Have a look at this short video explaining briefly what We-Fi is about and what it does.

Fring is a cool application to add if you use your mobile phone a lot.  We hope that this helped you in any way shape or form. 

What about you?  Do you know of any cool applications for your mobile phone.  If so, please send them through on the comments below.

I came across this Twitter post today from @chrispirillo which then led me to a new device with some leaked pictures and photos about the new ‘Crunchpad‘.  Crunchpad is one of Michael Arrington’s (Techcrunch) latest innovations in association with FusionGarage.

The idea for Crunchpad was created back in July 2008 blog, and Arrington says it best here:

“Here’s the basic idea: The machine is as thin as possible, runs low end hardware and has a single button for powering it on and off, headphone jacks, a built in camera for video, low end speakers, and a microphone. It will have Wifi, maybe one USB port, a built in battery, half a Gigabyte of RAM, a 4-Gigabyte solid state hard drive. Data input is primarily through an iPhone-like touch screen keyboard. It runs on linux and Firefox. It would be great to have it be built entirely on open source hardware, but including Skype for VOIP and video calls may be a nice touch, too.

If all you are doing is running Firefox and Skype, you don’t need a lot of hardware horsepower, which will keep the cost way down.

The idea is to turn it on, bypass any desktop interface, and go directly to Firefox running in a modified Kiosk mode that effectively turns the browser into the operating system for the device. Add Gears for offline syncing of Google docs, email, etc., and Skype for communication and you have a machine that will be almost as useful as a desktop but cheaper and more portable than any laptop or tablet PC.

It will also include a custom default home page with large buttons for bookmarked services – news, Meebo/Ebuddy for IM, Google Docs/Zoho for Office, Email, social networks, photo sites, YouTube, etc. Everything that you use every day.”

Here is a video showing the first prototype for Crunchpad:

Personally, I will be watching this space with great interest.  This hardware has a lot of advantages in that it will be less costly (hopefully it will be), a ’straight to the point’ applications and ease of use.  I could see the potential of this for the mobile corporate(s) and for students alike.

What about you?  Is this hardware a likely good fit for you?  Feel free to add your comments here.

Did you ever feel safe when giving out your credit card details buying over the internet? You know you wanted to buy it and had to have it now and yet you still gave your credit card details – reluctantly!

Don’t you wish that sometimes you can just buy over the internet without giving out your credit card details?

Well, now you can! With Amazon’s Text Buy It solution, you can now find and buy items on Amazon.com.

Here are the three step ways to do so:

Step 1:

Text search keywords to “AMAZON” (262966) with either an item name, name of author, name of artist, the ISBN/UPC code, etc.

Step 2:

Reply with 1 or 2 to buy an item from your given search results.

Step 3:

An Amazon.com representative will call you back so you “need to answer the call to hear your details and confirm the order”.

Please note that first time users may receive a text message requesting your Amazon.com account email address and default zip code.

Jupiter Research projects that whilst this year 46 million US mobile users will access the internet via mobile phones – 69.6% or 166 million will send text messages. By adding the text message component to its m-commerce offerings, Amazon.com has greatly increased their exposure to the number of consumers who can access its merchandise via mobile phones.

The significant thing about this is that a consumer doesn’t need to have access to the internet on their mobile phone. This service is going to definitely change the way people shop and the traditional retail outlets either online or offline needs to get their merchandise or store mobilised.

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Pros: No need to lug around your laptop or worry about getting access to the internet to shop.

Cons: You could potentially overshop on your phone!

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For all you die hard cricket fans out there, this is something that could be useful to you;

As a cricket lover, you would watch the game for hours in front of the TV screen so you couldn’t miss the scores and updates of your favorite game.  But what if you have an important appointment to go to?  Surely, you cannot keep making excuses at work saying that you’re sick (again) because of food poisoning.  Could you?  Nor could you say to your girlfriend or wife that you have to help your mate mow the lawn, just so you and the boys can watch the game?

Well, now there’s a solution with Cricinfo MobiCast.

Cricinfo Mobicast, is a service brought to you by Cricinfo and Plusmo.  They say that;

It delivers live cricket action to your mobile device as it happens on the pitch.  You get ball-by-ball updates and live scorecards for cricket matches delivered right to your phone.  The client offers a rich experience and optimizes over the air updates to minimize data charges.  And best of all it is FREE!.”

Watch the video below and see how cricket fans in India and around the world are using Cricinfo MobiCast.

To get the service all you need to do is point your internet or GPRS-enabled mobile browser to http://ci.plusmo.com, follow the instructions and you should instantly have your cricket updates wherever you are.

So best case scenario, not only will your boss think that you’re such a hardworker because you never call in sick anymore – but your girlfriend or wife will also think that you really did not forget your anniversary – in the first place.

Just make sure they don’t see you glancing over your cell phone all the time. 

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Pros:   Did I mention it’s FREE!

Cons:  Make sure your battery last longer than the cricket match.

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I was watching a video by David Lynch last night, on YouTube about – how he believes that nothing can compare and generate the ultimate viewing experience, if you were to watch a movie in a big screen than if you were to watch it in your, quote – unquote “f-ing” telephone.

If you want to see and hear what he said here’s the video from YouTube as below…

So this got me thinking… there’s got to be a way where people can experience the ultimate viewing experience through their mobile devices.  So I thought, what if – in the near future someone can commercially make available, a type of viewing glasses that you can put on whilst on a train station or having lunch in the park, and at the same time you can hear in digital surround the sound effects associated with it.  Kind of like the futuristic movies you see on Star Trek or science fiction movies.

Well, guess what?  Your future has already started!

A press release just a few hours ago, said that the mobile operator “3″ has just introduced “video glasses” on its accessories range.  According to Mobile News International, Vuzix’s iWear video glasses enables customers to view their handset screen as a 62-inch screen.  It was also launched exclusively only in selected “3″ stores and online earlier this April.

Photo:  Courtesy of Mobile News International

It costs just under £200 and your iWear has a video out enabled connection which means you can enjoy watching movies, play games or videos on a virtual screen with in-built speakers.  A single charge would give you around 5 hours continuous use.

As Paul Travers, Zuvix chief executive said:  “iWear adds a totally new dimension to the mobile experience”.

Maybe Paul Travers need to have a one on one chat with David Lynch?!?

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Pros:  It adds another light to the term being “mobile”.

Cons:  It’s a tad expensive and is available in UK.  Unless you purchase it online.

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Welcome to our readers!

This will be one of the many posts, articles, news, latest applications and reviews on mobile phones – that will be on this site.

It is very exciting that we are at a technological era where things are not only constanly changing but are also improving.  Have you ever noticed that one day you think you have the latest cell phone and next thing you know there is another best and latest release of another mobile phone?

Yes, we know what that’s like – we’ve been there.  So, this site is dedicated to help those techie and not so savvy users, maximise their gadgets to their potential.

We hope you learn something from this site and we hope to learn from you too!  If any of posts, articles, tips and reviews helped you at all – we would like to hear it.

For now, take care and have a great day!