Increasing memory capacity and reducing the footprint of mobile phones is akin to taking one step forward and one step back. The two sort of cancel each other out.
Instead of trying to do both, CMWare is introducing a service called myMobileMedia, a PC-based place-shifting technology that streams media content to MP3-enabled phones. Other companies, like Orb Networks and Avvenu, have the same idea, but myMobileMedia's hook is its ability to stream even DRM-protected content.
CMWare's proprietary technology allows all music files, including those purchased from Apple's iTunes Store, to be played without violating any DRM rules, CMWare co-founder Steve Ott said. When played on a phone, each song is identified by file extension. If an iTunes song is played, myMobileMedia remotely launches iTunes on the owner's PC for playback. The song is then captured and transcoded to MP3 or AAC+ format, and played, but never copied to the phone.
Users aren't limited to music--video and photos can also be streamed to Java- and Symbian-based handsets using the service. MyMobileMedia's technology also has the ability to continually analyze the network connection and adjust the stream accordingly to reduce interruptions in service.
MyMobileMedia is currently available in Europe, and will be launched in the U.S. as a subscription service this summer through mobile operators, or as a direct download. Though CMWare has not announced pricing yet, it has said there will be a free and premium version of the service.
I went to the gym yesterday and was initially surprised to see how packed it was. At first I attributed it to the fact that there are probably plenty of people who are still taking a day or two off from work after the holidays. Then I remembered, of course, it's the beginning of January, and people are still idealistic about keeping their New Year's resolutions. Even the ones who swear they're too good for resolutions are probably trying to do something about that holiday-party pudge.
(Credit:
PumpOne)
Consequently, many a company is currently trying to capitalize on this brief spike in health and fitness mania. One of them is PumpOne, which specializes in visual workout tutorials that you can download to your iPod, iPod Nano, or Palm Treo. And now, just in time for 2007, PumpOne's workouts are available for regular cell phones, too, as part of the new PumpOne Mobile service. By accessing the company's mobile Web site, you can choose from a variety of workouts--PumpOne stresses that these are full workouts, not individual exercises--and purchase one that suits your specific fitness goals.
Some of PumpOne Mobile's options are a little bit on the pricey side. A single workout, available on your cell phone for 24 hours, will cost you $2.99. Consequently, if you want to repeat the workout, you'll either have to remember the whole thing or fork over another $2.99 to re-purchase it. Alternately, for $4.99 you could have access to the entire repertoire of PumpOne workouts for a week, or $14.99 for 30 days. Keep in mind you'll also need a data plan on your cell phone.
I'm not so sure I'd want to succumb to the level of carrying a cell phone around at the gym to follow workouts, but hey, it might appeal to some of you who are determined to actually keep your New Year's resolutions this year.
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