Discussion Renews on Risks of Cell Phone Use

If you read the back of cereal boxes, watch TV and look at advertisements in Time magazine, you’re probably getting the message (as I am) that everything in life can cause cancer, but at the same time nearly everything in life can reduce the risk of cancer. On and on and “so they say.” But eager as a producer may be to sell a health product, cancer is no laughing matter, and we want facts, not marketing blather.

That’s why more than just the medical pros are going to be talking about cancer today. Today, a special senate hearing will begin to explore the issue. The specific topic at hand considers the cancer risks of cell phone use. The question has often been raised in the past: do cell phones increase risk of cancer?

Nothing conclusive has enjoyed consensus, professionally or popularly. Studies have been conducted and ‘conclusions’ have been published, but no agreement has been found. One major study has been hacking away at the issue for over ten years, and, though a yes/no answer hasn’t been forthcoming, some of the evidence hints at a cancer-cell phone link that is unsettling at the very least.

But so far, the masses are not abandoning cell phones. And with good reason. They are backed by a large community of scientists, researchers, and specialists who say “no problem.” The ‘no problem’ crowd does not see a connection between cancer and cell phone usage, and encourages the concern-free attitude toward technology that characterizes most of the population. Dr. Richard Besser, ABC New’s on-staff medical guru speaks for this group when he says, “the best science doesn’t show a link between cell phone use and cancer of any kind. No link whatsoever.” The government-backed FDA makes the same claim.

But there is middle ground between the ‘no problem’ crowd and the ‘very concerned’ crowd that simply states that we need more research. As the Senate hearing committee meets to discuss the issue, they will probably borrow from the findings of an international conference that meets this week to discuss the same issue.

The concern all begins with radiation. Radiation comes from multiple sources. Nobody goes through life without experiencing radiation. The concern over cell phones has to do with the level of radiation that they emit, and where that location is being directed. Different cell phones release differing amounts of radiation. But invariably, cell phone radiation goes to the head since that is where most people hold their cell phones. The risk increases for children whose thinner skulls render them more susceptible to radiation rays.

Although no one is expecting a final resolution at the end of today’s hearing committee, we may at least be one step closer to addressing a potential problem that affects nearly everyone in our nation.

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We just got done explaining how RIM strategically lopped $100 off the price of their BlackBerry Storm in order to compete with the iPhone. RIM’s strategy becomes clearer today, as they announced their latest iPhone-jabbing caper. Soon, CrackBerry addicts will get to use BlackBerry Desktop Software on their Mac computers.

Although it will not be available until September, the announcement was released on Monday, in the venue of Andrey’s blog post on the official Blackberry blog, “Inside Blackberry.” He explained, “we have all been hard at work here for a while now,” and promises the new “BlackBerry Desktop Software: Coming Soon to a Mac Near You!” The new software will be able to do everything that the PC version does: sync iTune playlists, calendars, notes, to-do lists, contacts, and applications, keep up with firmware updates and device backup.

The one interesting question about the whole setup is this: how common is the Mac-owning BlackBerry user? Generally, Apple loyalists will use a Macbook an iPhone, not a BlackBerry. As Andrey explains in the blog, “many of you…[were] saying “…this is great! But what about Mac?” Perhaps he knows of “many of you” who already use both. In this latest overture RIM should find out how much competition they can lure from iPhone.

This is not the first attempt that RIM has made to lure iPhone users and/or the Mac community using a piece of sync software. Late last year, they released “PocketMac” for Blackberry. It was a preview version of the BlackBerry Desktop Software allowing users to sync media. Back then, insiders promised enhanced Mac/RIM device compatibility in 2009.

Interested Mac/BlackBerry users can keep up with the soon-coming software on the “BlackBerry for Mac” page.

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Carbon Footprint, and Green might have been banned words going into 2009, but don’t tell that to Motorola. They’ve release the first phone that is completely carbon neutral. Meaning “no hazardous forms of production were used in the making of this phone”.

The handset is called, MOTO W233 Renew. In Motorola’s press release, they don’t go into greatl detail about what the phone does. It’s pretty much a four paragraph long statement about how ‘green’ their phone is. Here’s the statement:

MOTO W233 Renew delivers the quality you expect from a Motorola device while empowering you to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only is the plastic housing of Renew made from plastics comprised of recycled water bottles and 100 percent recyclable, but it is also the world’s first carbon neutral phone. Through an alliance with Carbonfund.org, Motorola offsets the carbon dioxide required to manufacture, distribute and operate the phone through investments in renewable energy sources and reforestation. The phone has earned Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree® Product Certification after an extensive product life-cycle assessment.

Renew was designed for eco-conscious consumers as well as the millions of people who put making phone calls as their number one priority in a mobile phone. With nine hours of talk time, CrystalTalk technology and messaging capabilities, Renew makes environmental responsibility affordable for consumers everywhere. Renew will first be available at T-Mobile USA in Q1 2009.

It really does sound like Motorola has spared no expense in making sure that they were completely environmentally friendly in making the Renew. From the handset made from recycled bottles, to the recycled paper used in printing the instructions.

I would also like to have seen what the Renew is capable of though. Will it come with more stripped down features to help keep it affordable, because of the higher productions costs? The MOTO W233 Renew will be available sometimes in Q1 of this year, so we don’t have too much more time to wait.

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The first G1 Google Android phones will go on sale tonight, in San Francisco at 6pm PST. It could be debated that the Google Android phones are releasing at, or even more hype than the Apple iPhone. I guess it would all depend on who you talk to, whether or not one is receiving more hype.

Only one store will be selling the G1 today, with all of the 3G coverage areas getting their chance tomorrow. The big piece of news it the MySpace App that will come with the G1, here’s a press release with information.

LOS ANGELES—October 21, 2008—MySpace, the world’s premier social network and leading mobile social network, today announced a free, new MySpace Mobile experience customized for Android and available via the Android Market. More than two million daily unique users visit MySpace’s mobile website, and according to ABI Research 70 percent of people who use social networks on mobile have visited MySpace.

“MySpace users will love the new Android integration with cool features like instant photo uploading and access to the latest shows from their favorite bands,” said John Faith, vice president and general manager of Mobile for MySpace. “We want to ensure that all users have access to their global MySpace network while they’re on-the-go, and we believe Android is a natural fit for an optimized MySpace Mobile experience.”

The MySpace Android application lends itself to a personal, unique MySpace experience and allows for a deep integration with the device including:

* Instant photo uploading from an Android device to a MySpace profile
* Check out tour schedules on band profiles
* View and comment on photos, profiles, and bulletins
* Search and add new friends
* Send and read messages
* Update and view mood and status

The MySpace Android application is integrated exclusively with Shazam, the world’s leading mobile music discovery provider. The integration allows MySpace users to identify music by holding the phone towards an unknown song and connect to the artist’s MySpace page. From there you can see band information, check out photos of the band or artists and even check Upcoming Shows schedules.

“We are excited about this collaboration,” said Andrew Fisher, CEO of Shazam. “It allows users to discover music at the point of inspiration and benefit from MySpace’s’ unique and rich content.”

MySpace has a deep commitment to provide our mobile users with the social tools to discover, share, connect, and communicate on-the-go. MySpace’s mobile lineup includes the MySpace mobile website, http://m.myspace.com, and several integrated applications for specific devices. MySpace has developed applications for Android, Sidekick, iPhone, and is currently developing an application for Blackberry.

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