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Imagine sharing a word with voice-recognition software, only to hear system confirm your word as “sex”. That’s what some people with British accents reported about Google’s voice-based search tool, part of Google’s recently released Mobile App for the iPhone:

The free application, which allows iPhone owners to use the Google search engine with their voice, mistook the word iPhone for “sex”, “Einstein” and “kitchen sink,” … “Awesome job google. only problem is every time I say the word ‘fish’ it registers as sex,” wrote one, identified as Kevin.

Check out the app page here.

Tags: British accents, Google Mobile App, iPhone apps

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Original post by Rico

n01 writes “The last few months of my spare time I’ve been implementing an abstract strategy board game (that I invented) along with a decent AI. The game resembles TwixT in that it is also a connection game, and could be played without the need for a cellphone or computer. The implementation on the Java 2 Mobile Edition platform will soon be finished, with only some minor usability and sound issues to fix. While I enjoyed working on the game (actually more than on my day job as a programmer) I would still like to earn some money from selling the game, so I can work more on such projects in the future. What experiences have Slashdot readers made with selling their applications/games for mobile phones? With which publisher will I have the broadest audience and achieve the highest earnings? Would you try to publish the game both as a mobile game and a traditional board game?”

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Original post by timothy

HOW TO - Make a Bluetooth handgun handset for your iPhone, ManaEnergyPotion writes-

How to turn an airsoft handgun and a bluetooth headset into a fun, fully functional handset for your iPhone. Pull the trigger to receive calls and to, um, end them. Listen through the barrel, and talk into the grip. I think everyone has made the thumb and forefinger gun-to-the-head sign when someone unpleasant shows up on their caller ID. Eli and I thought it would be fun to make an actual gun handset, and it turned out to be surprisingly straightforward. No glue or powertools were required. Even though it’s not very practical, there’s something so satisfying about ending a call with this handset. Pow. Naturally, this handset works with any cell phone. You just feel like pulling the trigger more if you own an iPhone.

Perfect for this month’s Spy Tech theme and MAKE volume!

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Original post by Phillip Torrone

Totally hilarious and sad at the same time: “Susan042764″ hit the Apple.com forums, asking for help from the community. She discovered her husband sent an email to another woman—with a “raunchy” pictured of himself attached.

Already suffering from infidelity paranoia, poor Susan confronted her husband. His response? The most creative reinterpretation of “it wasn’t me” ever! He claimed that the iPhone suffers from a glitch, where photos mysteriously attach themselves to emails and are marked as sent, even if no such message was sent! Now that’s some fiction!

I could be wrong, but let’s see. As far as I know:

• Messages only end up in the sent folder when they’re actually sent
• Images never automatically attach themselves to emails
• If such a glitch is true, then the maker of the iPhone (Apple) must’ve done something really really wrong

Oh no! Quite a dilemma for Susan’s husband! Does he:

1. Admit that he was lying
2. Stick with his story and declare Apple’s QA standards really awful

In any case, visit the thread for guaranteed hilarity. And do help out Susan, as she’s declared “Has anyone ever heard of this happening? The future of my marriage depends on this answer!”

Tags: dickery, glitches, hilarity, iPhone, iPhone email glitch

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Original post by Rico

HOW TO - Shut down your computer with a text message by Tinkernut via CG.

Control your VCR with a text message.

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Original post by Phillip Torrone

From the MAKE Flickr photo pool

Mightyohm gave a broken phone handset new life in the form of bluetooth functionality - by repurposing a discarded, semi-functional headset -

Upon receiving it, I proceeded to rip the headset apart, interested to see what was inside. I found a fairly simple PCB with a discrete bluetooth module in the center. The PCB is not labeled, but given that this is an older headset (3-4 years old) most of the connections are large enough to attack with a pencil iron and solder wires to.

This headset was begging for a project.

- Bluetooth Handset Hack

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Original post by Collin Cunningham

Brad Fitzpatrick created a garage door application for his G1 Android-based Google Phone. This would be noteworthy enough, but the interesting thing about Brad’s hack is that it opens the garage door automatically as he approaches his home.

I got it all working. I now have an Android Activity (GarageDoorActivity) which interacts with an Android Service I wrote (InRangeService), letting me start and stop the service’s wifi scanning task. The service gets the system WifiManager, holds a WifiLock to keep the radio active, and then does a Wifi scan every couple seconds, looking for my house.

When my house is in range, it does the magic HTTP request to my garage door opener’s webserver (HMAC-signed timestamped URL, for non-replayability/forgeability if sniffed) and my garage door opens. Complete with a bunch of fun Toast notifications (like Growl) and Android Notifications (both persistent ongoing notifications for background scanning, and one-time notifications for things like the garage door actually opening).

So when Brad comes home, he starts the application which scans the WiFi network and then opens the garage door as soon as his home network is in range. He even describes an automated version where the phone constantly monitors the network for common scenarios. For instance, your if your phone sees your work network disappear, followed an hour later by your home network appearing, it could safely assume you have come home from work, opening the door without any interaction.

This is compelling support for a fully hackable, open source device. With normal iPhone development, you don’t this level of deep access to be able to monitor WiFi connectivity or run an application as a background process.

Brad’s released the source code for this one. If this app gives you any ideas, his code might be a good place to start. Just make sure to send us a link to your Android hack when you get your G1 to turn lights on and off when you walk around the house.

Android Garage Door Opener
Download the Java Source

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Original post by Jason Striegel

The Nokia N96 is big. That’s the first thing you notice when you hold this phone in your hand. Then you notice the slight UI lag, perhaps caused by all those features crammed into a phone. Less obvious is the available 16GB of onboard memory, which makes microSDs unnecessary. In any case, a full review to follow; more pics available over at Philippine affiliate Technograph.

(image from Technograph)

Tags: First Impressions, nokia n96

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Original post by Rico

Have a G1 Android Google phone? If you want to get hours and hours of extra talk, stand by, web and video time the do-it-yourself open source MintyBoost charger works great with it! via Ladyada.

More:

• Mac and T-Mobile G1 (Google Android) phone syncing.
• Android Proxy App - Use your Android ˇ for net access.
• “Upgraded″ ˇ headset - use whatever earbuds you want…
• 24 hours of Android.

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Original post by Phillip Torrone

Barring the obvious differences in picture quality (which also make clear the advantages of a dSLR working in good natural lighting), aren’t the similarities between the Nokia N96 and the ỉ 8GB as apparent?

Much better pics and a review to follow, in that order. For now, here’s another pic for your satisfaction:

Let’s hope the N96 isn’t as slow as its older counterpart. Dun dun dunnnn!!

Tags: comparisons, First Impressions, Nokia N81 8GB, nokia n96

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Original post by Rico

Barring the obvious differences in picture quality (which also make clear the advantages of a dSLR working in good natural lighting), aren’t the similarities between the Nokia N96 and the ỉ 8GB as apparent?

Much better pics and a review to follow, in that order. For now, here’s another pic for your satisfaction:

Let’s hope the N96 isn’t as slow as its older counterpart. Dun dun dunnnn!!

Tags: comparisons, First Impressions, Nokia N81 8GB, nokia n96

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Original post by Rico

Barring the obvious differences in picture quality (which also make clear the advantages of a dSLR working in good natural lighting), aren’t the similarities between the Nokia N96 and the ỉ 8GB as apparent?

Much better pics and a review to follow, in that order. For now, here’s another pic for your satisfaction:

Let’s hope the N96 isn’t as slow as its older counterpart. Dun dun dunnnn!!

Tags: comparisons, First Impressions, Nokia N81 8GB, nokia n96

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Original post by Rico

It may take a while for these models to get stateside—if ever—but here’s what consumers can expect from these six Nokia models set to launch over the next year:

The Nokia 1202 may be real basic (with a monochrome screen and all), but that’s because it’s designed for “rural” customers. A built-in flashlight and a phone book designed to work for five different users makes this 25 EUR ($32) phone is surprisingly functional. Set for a Q1 2009 release.

The Nokia 1661 will cost 30 EUR ($38), making it the cheapest color phone in the manufacturer’s line-up. Like it’s monochromatic cousin, the 1661 also has a built-in flashlight, features multi-phonebooks, and is set for a Q1 2009 release. But it also comes with an FM radio and a color screen.

The Nokia 2323 classic and 2330 classic are practically similar, expect that the latter has a built-in VGA camera. Both phones feature an FM radio and web browsing capability, and are set for a Q2 2009 release. The 2323 will cost 45 EUR ($57), with the 2330 to go for 50 EUR ($64).

The Nokia 5130 looks to be the 5310’s successor. It also supports the standard 3.5mm audio jack, comes with a 2.0 megapixel camera, and of course, features dedicated music playback keys. Set for a ̫ 2009 release with a promised price of 90 EUR ($115).

Last but not least, The Nokia 7100 Supernova (again) an FM radio and a 1.3 megapixel camera in a slider form-factor. Nokia promises a Q4 2008 release and a launch price of 75 EUR ($96).

Tags: nokia, Nokia 1202, Nokia 1661, Nokia 2323 classic, Nokia 2330 classic, Nokia 5130, Nokia 7100 Supernova

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Original post by Rico

Wolfger writes “Continuing the recent (useful) stupid theme: I′ve recently become a BlackBerry user, and I′m in love with the obvious(?) tricks, such as installing MidpSSH to access my home box remotely. But I′d like to know what more experienced Crackberry addicts can share.”

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Original post by kdawson

JC sent in a link in response to 24 hours of Android. He was suggesting an adapter for the headphone, essentially usb to 1/8″ stereo. The $6 purchase price indicates that there must be a simple way of doing it. While checking out some of the other accessories for HTC phones, I came upon this neat little terminal. Redfly is apparently a keyboard and screen to go with your smartphone. With no processor, memory or much else, it is likely pretty light. It looks to be about the size of the micro laptops or notebook computers running processors similar to the OLPC. It rides off the USB connection from the phone.

So what are the possibilities in these little computers and terminals when combined with the new, powerful phones on the market? Could I get my MSI Wind to be a terminal for my G1? That would have been handy last night, where I had ok coverage on the 2G network, but no wifi. Out here in the cellular fringe, 3G is not an option. The small screen and keyboard of the Wind would have been easier to use than the tiny screen and keyboard of the phone. Since both devices have USB ports, then it should be possible to program them to talk to each other.

If you have been poking around with this idea, then post up in the comments!

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Original post by Chris Connors