Wires Crossed #56 – October 14
Ultrasound Via Smartphone?
US-based company Mobilsante is producing a smartphone ultrasound device. It’s not enough that your phone can text, play HD video, be used as a SatNav, surf the net, or do what it was initially designed for – make phonecalls – now it can take pictures of a baby in the womb. Facetiousness aside, the main reason for the company developing the device is so it can be used in remote areas. Think of outback Australia, the Antarctic, huge tracts of land in places like Russia, Canada and the US, and you can see how it could be handy. Unfortunately it is not compatible with Android or iPhone operating systems, and you don't get much change out of $8,000 for a device.
Not ‘Liking’ Facebook Leads To Assault
What’s not to like? Your estranged husband if you are a Facebook user. Texan resident Benito Apolinar took exception to his estranged wife, Dolores, not responding to a Facebook update he made. So next time he saw her, he pulled her hair to show his displeasure. Although, he has pleaded not guilty after being charged with assault, you have to ask how thin his skin is after getting all het up over such a nothing incident. Gee, I wonder why she left him.
Vodafone Set To Restore Sight
Vodafone have been making news this year for all the wrong reasons, so we thought it fair that we try and balance all the negative publicity with a ‘good news’ story. Vodafone Ghana is funding an initiative aimed at restoring the sight to some 2,500 Ghanaians who suffer from trachoma and cataracts. It is all part of the United Nations’ World Site Day and will include free screening, as well as surgery for those who need it.
BBC Puts on Brakes Over Clarkson TomTom Gaff
UK TopGear presenter Jeremy Clarkson lent his voice to a GPS navigational device made by TomTom. However, the BBC says its own rules do not allow presenters on its shows to endorse any motoring products, which Clarkson has done vicariously, by supplying his voice. As you would expect, TomTom are less than amused, and the BBC’s commercial arm has egg on its face, but with 54,000 units already up for sale it is too late for a recall. All it means is that once they have sold out, then no more will be sold.
