Sabeer Bhatia launches free SMS app Jaxtr

Sabeer Bhatia, the founder of Hotmail.com, on Tuesday launched JaxtrSMS, a mobile application that lets users send unlimited free text messages to any other phone anywhere in the world.

He claimed JaxtrSMS is the world's first mobile-based application for sending SMS that is completely open as the recipients do not need to have the app installed.

It is already available as a free download for all major mobile operating systems - iOS, Android, Blackberry and J2ME. In fact, users in 197 countries have already downloaded the app within a few weeks since the soft launch, said Bhatia, who is CEO & co-founded Jaxtr with Yogesh Patel in US.

JaxtrSMS is unique in that a mobile user can send a text SMS to any mobile phone in the world without requiring the receiver to have the JaxtrSMS application installed on her phone. This "open" facet of JaxtrSMS distinguishes it from other free mobile messaging applications such as Whatsapp where messages can only be sent within a closed network to people who also have the same app installed. JaxtrSMS retains the number of the user and no new number is required while signing up for the JaxtrSMS service.

"15 years ago, we gave you Hotmail.com, the world's first webmail service that freed up e-mail from the confines of the desktop and aided the creation of a global communications network which was completely open and free for users. Today, we present JaxtrSMS which does to SMS what Hotmail did for e-mail.
Now, mobile users can leverage our free and open application to send messages to their contacts anywhere across the world without having to pay anything," said Bhatia.

"JaxtrSMS was completely developed in India. I am proud to showcase this as an example of Indian innovation and ingenuity," said Yogesh Patel, president & co-founder.

I Am T-Pain App Gets Upgarde - Video Viral

If you’re one of the millions who downloaded and used the notorious I Am T-Pain iPhone app then hit your upgrade buttons today, as you’ve got an upgrade you just might like.

The latest version is wrapped up in lovely iOS4 improvements, but also offers a fab feature for the iPhone 4 — you can use that front-facing video camera to film yourself singing along to something or other while using the Auto-tune feature.

Then, assuming friends, family or concerned neighbors haven’t made some kind of intervention to save you from future workplace embarrassment
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You can even send those clips right up to the sky, to developer Smule’s own servers, or to the social network of your choice.

Expect millions of these auto-tuned popular music ‘events’ to hit the internets.

On release, the original I Am T-Pain iPhone app saw over 1.5 million people make and share 30 million recordings.

iTunes Link

iPhone 4 Ready Multitasking Apps Appearing In App Store

It seems that the first applications which will use the new multitasking feature in iOS 4 have already started to appear in the App Store. One of the first ones to support the new multitasking feature for the iPhone 4 and iOS 4 is Dropbox, which is a popular file sharing tool.

Apple has introduce seven specific background services for third party applications in iOS 4, and these functions will let you continue a certain task after you switch away from them.

The tasks supported are listed below.

Background audio – Allows your app to play audio continuously.
Voice over IP – Users can now receive VoIP calls and have conversations while using another app.
Background location – Navigation apps can now continue to guide users who are using other apps
Push notifications – Receive alerts from your remote servers even when your app isn’t running.
Local notifications – Your app can now alert users of scheduled events and alarms in the background, no servers required.
Task finishing – If your app is in mid-task when your customer leaves it, the app can now keep running to finish the task.
Fast app switching – This will allow users to leave your app and come right back to where they were when they left – no more having to reload the app.

We can expect to see quite a few more applications appearing in the App store over the next week before the launch of iPhone 4 and iOS 4.

New Skype iPhone App Allows Calls over 3G

Skype has launched a new version of its client software for Apple’s iPhone 3G allowing users who have downloaded the app to make calls to other Skype users on the 3G network. The best part? The service remains free at least until the end of this year.

Skype announced on Sunday that the new app is available for the 3G iPhone and that Skype-to-Skype calls over Wi-Fi will remain free until after the end of 2010. Skype has also said that they have not yet decided on what to charge for the calls.

With the new software, owners of the iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and the second and third generations of the iPod Touch can make calls using the new app. The iPod Touch will need an additional headset and because it is not connected to the 3G network, it can only make those calls over Wi-Fi.

Other improvements to the new Skype software include improved start-up time and improved sound quality (about the same quality of a CD). There has also been a call quality indicator added to this version of the client to help users choose the best moments to make their call depending on the speed of their connection and traffic heaviness.

Overall, it looks like it could be a pretty solid new way of allowing your significant other or parent to check up on you. Everywhere you go.

No new details on the new iPhone 4G, but some sweet pictures previewing what may possibly be a white front. A Taiwanese website, Apple.pro, posted the photos this weekend.

Does this represent a move by Apple to break away via design and color from all the other smartphones bursting onto the market? Are they trying to incorporate the Mac classic white into the iPhone design? At this point, it’s all speculation.

What are your thoughts on the potential new iPhone 4G design? Break them out in our comments section.

Source: Apple Insider

Stylus Knob Brings Rotation to the iPhone

Twist, turn and twist it again. That pretty much sums up this neat little invention. The people at DsLabs came up with the idea of a physical knob having the same feel of your finger when applied to the screen. The point behind the invention is to make it easier to rotate objects on the screen.

Since it’s so touchscreen friendly, not only does it work for the iPhone but it also works for the iPod touch and the iPad. The stylus knob was created with the same technology that other touchscreen-friendly styluses have, except this stylus only rotates.

Source: UberGizmo, DsLabs, Techi

Another Series of 4G iPhone Photos Leaked

Last month Gidzmodo leaked photos of the yet-to-be-released fourth-generation of the iPhone. Now a Vietnamese website, Taoviet has published a series of photos of the prototype.

One month after Gizmodo leaked photos of a device it said was a prototype of Apple’s fourth-generation iPhone, a Vietnamese website has posted its own series of photos, claiming it, too, has the yet-to-be-released device.

Last month, an Apple engineer left the apparent 4G iPhone in a Silicon Valley beer garden. It was found and sold for $5,000 to tech site Gizmodo, which posted photos and a review. Apple didn't deny the authenticity of the device -- the company just wanted it back.

Now the Vietnamese website Taoviet has published its own scoop on a iPhone prototype. Another tech site, AppleInsider.com, says this phone is a “more refined prototype than the one obtained by Gizmodo last month.” The photos include a breakdown of the phones's hardware, and according to the AppleInsider.com, the phone lacks visible screws, is designated as being a 16-gigabite model and has what appears to be an A4 processor—the same processor in the iPad.

Tech blogs have speculated that such leaks may be intentional on Apple’s part to drum up buzz, with Geekosystem.com saying, “one is an accident, two is a trend.”

Though Apple has not issued an exact release date for the 4G iPhone, the device is expected to hit stores sometime during summer 2010.

Doctors Monitor Pregnancy With Smartphones

There are some pretty awesome phone features and apps out there lately but it doesn’t seem like much can top AirStrip Technologies new way of tracking pregnant women and their babies using Smartphones and iPhones. Using the AirStrip OB, this has become possible and is a huge breakthrough for the medical field.
With the touch of a few buttons, doctors and nurses are able to monitor mom and baby’s heart rate and contractions to be able to ensure that everything is going smoothly. If any problems were to arise, doctors would be instantly notified and be able to recommend what to do in the situation. Even if they’re thousands of miles from the actual patient.
This new feature could possibly save a lot of lives. With immediate notice of any issues, women will be able to rest easier knowing that they’re being closely monitored 24/7.


Nurses notes regarding the patient and other important information is available for doctors. Having their patient’s history off-hand is a very useful tool and could prevent potential misdiagnoses.
AirStrip is working on a new concept that is currently awaiting FDA approval. ‘Critical Care,’ will potentially be able to send ventilator flow tracings, rhythm strips and patients vital signs. Another idea in the works is, ‘Cardiology,’ which would forward data such as EKG results, ventilator pressure measurements and arterial pressure monitoring, among other important information. The options are endless and having this type of technology available is an invaluable tool.

“At Memorial Hermann, we are convinced that AirStrip OB is a huge advance in patient safety and quality of care and we expect it to become the standard of care for obstetrics in the United States,” said Barbara Durham of System Executive Risk Management – Memorial Hermann Hospital System, Houston Texas.

Durham is only one of many in the medical field who are highly impressed by the new technology. Visit AirStrip’s website to view many more personal feelings on the AirStrip OB along with their other innovative ideas.
[Source: Physorg & AirStrip Technologies & Youtube]

Wave Your iPhone, Buy Your Stuff With Visa

The Apple iPhone 3G and 3GS are about to get even more useful. You’ll be able to wave your phone over a system that doesn’t require any contact to pay for your smaller purchases. Germophobes rejoice!

Visa and DeviceFidelity are partnering to bring this payment system to your iPhone. The only problem we can foresee is that it isn’t just an app; it is a shell constructed specially for the iPhone 3G and 3GS that has a secure memory card that works with Visa’s app, PayWave. Will iPhone users go for it? If you’ve ever been faced with a greasy pay terminal just to get your morning coffee, you’d be tempted…

Source: Engadget

Retro-fit Your iPhone

Absolutely the coolest thing I’ve seen in weeks, the iRetrofone is exactly what it appears to be – an old skool phone that uses your iPhone rather than your phone line.

That’s right, 1955 called, it wants its phone back. With this add-on you’ll be perfectly suited to take that call.
The iRetrofone is hand made, lovingly cast one at a time in resin. It also allows you to connect via USB to your computer for syncing and charging.

Available in black, pink and clear, the iRetrofone will set you back $195, a hefty sum over and above the ha’penny price tag one might expect for such an item. Oh well – no one ever said cool was cheap.