Tech Tidbits — Tech Tidbits

Target launches first scannable mobile coupon program, frugalistas going wild

Target 's announced it is launching a scannable mobile coupon program -- the first of its kind. The opt-in program will provides Target shoppers with a customized webpage on their mobile phones, with all offers scannable at checkout via a single barcode.Posts of Interest:

Flash 10.1 snubbing non-ARMv7 Android devices, too? (update: yes)

KDDI concocts snooping mobile phones, line managers rub hands with glee

Sci-fi movies often present us with omniscient villains who are able to track the most minute actions of their underlings and foes. Rarely do we get a glimpse into their surveillance systems, but you have to imagine that some of the more rudimentary "employee evaluation" hardware will not be too far off from KDDI 's latest. The Japanese cellphone giant has unveiled a new system, built around accelerometers, that can detect the difference between a cleaner scrubbing or sweeping a floor and merely walking along it.Posts of Interest:

Flash 10.1 snubbing non-ARMv7 Android devices, too? (update: yes)

Sony Ericsson X10 unboxed by — who else — Sony Ericsson

Guys, guys, look: unboxing is our job. We know it's fun and we know it brings eyeballs to your site, but we think your customers would be better served if you just concentrated on shipping the mighty X10 rather than teasing them with a product they can't yet havePosts of Interest:

Bluetooth Access Point brings text messaging, voice messaging, email to the friendly skies

Whether you covet your Irish friends' ability to make in-flight cellphone calls or value your aerial naps too much to care either way, you must admit that the promise of in-flight SMS, MMS, voice messaging, and text email is tantalizing. To this end, the kids at Asiq have announced a little something called the Bluetooth Access Point. This device uses the aircraft's satellite link to send data to your respective carrier, eliminates the need for a picocell, and boasts up to 3Mb/s speedsPosts of Interest:

Samsung Galaxy Spica comes to Rogers

Granted, they got off to a slow start -- but every since the Dream and Magic originally launched, Rogers has done a pretty commendable job of leading the Android charge north of the border. Latest in the line is Samsung's venerable i5700 Galaxy Spica , a phone that won't win any awards for running up-to-date firmware (it still rocks Cupcake ) nor any medals for being high-end (the camera's just 3.2 megapixels with no flash), but at the very least, it makes an interesting, cheap Magic alternative with a high likelihood of an Android 2.x upgrade down the road.Posts of Interest:

Flash 10.1 snubbing non-ARMv7 Android devices, too? (update: yes)

Verizon selling Casio Brigade on the downlow?

It feels like the Brigade's been in the public conscience for forever and a day (and let's be honest, November is forever and a day ago by phone standards), but amazingly, Casio's latest rugged G'zOne for Verizon still isn't being offered -- at least, not in any official capacity. It seems some HowardForums posters have managed to order and receive their Brigades by calling the carrier's telesales directly, and a few uploaded shots of the boxed QWERTY clamshell is enough to have us believing it's the real deal.Posts of Interest:

Flash 10.1 snubbing non-ARMv7 Android devices, too? (update: yes)

Motorola CLIQ XT hands-on

We know you've barely recovered from our Devour review , but Moto just threw another Blur-ified phone in our laps this afternoon - the CLIQ XT .Posts of Interest:

Flash 10.1 snubbing non-ARMv7 Android devices, too? (update: yes)

RIM tweaking Storm2’s SurePress underpinnings, Verizon units getting swapped out

We hadn't heard that the Storm2's unique piezo-actuated touchscreen was acting up in any statistically significant way, but apparently, there'd been enough with dodgy lower left corners to prompt RIM to do something about it. BerryScoop and BlackBerry Leaks are reporting that Verizon stores have been ordered to return their existing stock in favor of new Storm2s with "silicone actuators" added to "to improve touchpad performance and tactile response," and don't worry, current customers -- it seems you're more than welcome to exchange your old unit for an upgraded one provided you're "experiencing touchpad performance issues" (wink, wink)Posts of Interest:

Microsoft shows off XNA games running on Windows Phone, full 3D is a go

Alright, we're going to be straight with you: you're not going to like this.Posts of Interest:

Does Android dream of DIY cushions?

With the estate of Philip K. Dick up in arms over the slightest commercial reference to his published works, we may come to regret the above headline. But it's worth the risk to bring more attention to this lovely, handcrafted Android pillow.Posts of Interest:

Flash 10.1 snubbing non-ARMv7 Android devices, too? (update: yes)