Mobile Update for August 5, 2008

The biggest news while receive little mainstream coverage is the Department of Homeland Security's directive allowing its authorized officers to conduct search and seizure of your electronics, books, and even printed or written material. There is no reason to believe the government is creating a wholesale database of everything a visitors or resident, going overseas or return, carry. It's simply something we want to keep an eye on. In our follow up, Onxo explore the summary of the DHS directive and examine its purpose. On to today's Mobile Update:

Onxo Udpates:

• Access, major OS provider, saw its first and only phone to use its OS cancelled.
• Is Android better than iPhone? Maybe.
• Steps, an app that turns the iPhone into a pedometer, will get a second chance today when I go on a run to see if it has gotten any better.
• Steve Jobs tells Apple troops MobileMe launch was a disaster but will do better next time. It's smart consider it saves him from a public apology.

Mobile Device Updates:

• Verizon dropped Blackberry prices. Verizon reported stellar earnings and saw no impact from the iPhone 3G onslaught. It will launch a counterattack later this fall with a barrage of Samsung and Blackberry phones. Some Bold and Thunder, anyone? (Blackberry Sync)
• Mobilecatcher is saying a Nokia And Microsoft collaboration in bring Zune media to Nokia phones. Last week, Onxo thinks Microsoft is the one we need to be watch, not Apple, for any surprises. (Mobile Catcher)
• Onxo has no idea what this phone is but it's got a nice picture. Hello! (ixploria)
• Electonista is reporting new phones from Motorola. While they seem like regular updates, there is a picture of the next smartphone from Motorola that will join the smartphone war. We've seen and and we're wondering if Mot is even trying anymore.
• CNet is reporting Microsoft R&D is at an all time high. Again, they need to be watched this fall.

Mobile Issues Update:

• Yahoo, Microsoft, and Google are working on a way to deal with China's less than open Internet and the occasional demand from Internet companies information to be used to jail dissidents. Last week, the IOC gave in to Chinese demands to curtail Olympics reporting.
• Sprint has joined Verizon and ATT in capping the amount of 3G usage (at 5GB). Then they can cut off the service. (Gizmodo)
• Yesterday, Intel introduced their dedicated GPU. Today, they announced plans to introduce their next generation mobile platform, Calpella, in the third quarter of 2009.

DHS: We'll Stop Data From Coming Through On Storage Media

We reported on this matter of a new DHS directive allow Customs agents to seize mobile devices and make copies of the data to be shared with other US intelligence apparatuses for analysis.  Sure, for terrorists and drug smugglers.  You know, criminals.  But not the business executive with a family, wife, two kids, and a dog who is driving back from Canada on a consulting job.

That is right.  HIs business laptop may be subject to seizure because at this point, Customs officials do not have to have any reason to seizure data at border checkpoints.

Techdirect pointed out something very important.  The exercise of this very alarming policy by DHS will not stop digital data from coming into the country.  There is this thing call the Internet.  Very useful for e-mail, IM, surfing, or watching a video.  Very useful.  And there is nothing that is keeping terrorists from transmitting data over the Internet to each other.  Very useful for them too.


(From TechDirt)

Impact:  This may be the stampede of election challenged US Representatives and Senators clamoring to protect our rights on this matter.  HR-this.  HR-that.  But with any teeth and mere grandstanding, it does the American people no good.  Also, will foreign companies not complain to their own governments where upon they implement such policies of their own.  And not just at borders but airports as well?  After all, the Land of the Free is doing it, why can't China, North Korea or Burma?