Winksite Allows Users To Create Mobile Sites, Network

If you’re a newbie at the mobile web, coding your own website, or just plain lazy (I’m pretty sure we fall into all three), fret not, there is a solution for you.  Meet Winksite.com, (PC Link here) the place where anyone with basic PC and internet skills can set up their very own mobile site.

Setting up the service is pretty straight forward (just for kicks, we went ahead and set one up.)  I have to say, it is actually a pretty robust service (considering it is free).  Customize your site with a chat room, forums, RSS feeds - you can even host Google AdSense ads if you have an account. 

We did notice that the site we made did not come up correctly when viewing with a Treo 755p.  We didn’t have any other smartphones to test it on, so if you’ve got one laying around, make sure to let us know how it worked for you.

The service is dubbed as a Social Networking site, though I’m not sure how much networking is actually going on.  In poking through some of the existing users’ sites, it seems that most have under 10 friends (of course, I really don’t have room to talk as ‘Tom’ is still my only friend on MySpace.)  However, it does appear that the service is picking up steam as many celebrities have their own “official” mobile site through WinkSite.

All in all, if you are looking to set up your own start page (or have ideas of grandeur on the third screen), this service is definitely worth looking into.  You would be hard-pressed to find another service that gives you this many features for your money.

Added to the Social Networking directory.

AOL Announces Updated Mobile Offerings

If you use AOL’s AIM email service, you may have gotten a welcome surprise in your inbox today.  With a dramatically improved look and feel, the AOL Mobile Portal offers a wide amount of information available through your mobile phone.  The new portal offers access to popular AOL services, allowing you to check your email (providing you have an AOL email of course), access to Pictures, Moviefone and more. 

We’ve updated the directory to include their new offerings. 

Color Us Rumored: Is This The New Palm 800w?

Since we are self-admitted gadget junkies, we spend way too much time trying to get the low down on all of the cool new toys that are coming out, and this time is no different.  If you are a Treo fan-boy (of either flavor) - than no matter which camp you sit in, Palm OS or WM, one of the more important releases in Palm’s future is it’s latest WM incarnation, the Treo 800w.  Say what you will about the past, Palm has carved out a large portion with the Windows Mobile persuasion. 

Though this decision has spurred quite the controversy, it’s almost inarguable that it may have saved Palm in a time when it seemed to have little or no direction.  In a similar move with the Treo 800w (though it is not officially announced but it’s existence is pretty much assumed), this Treo may carry Palm as they put the finishing touches on their new Linux-based OS.   

So, like many others, we have been following many discussions about this future Treo.  One of those discussions at Treocentral.com included a mockup of what may be this ever-important phone.  Again, file this one under rumor for now, but if what we see now holds true, Palm could have a winner on their hands. 

Thanks to jrinehart for the image.

What’s This? A Player Database?

There’s the age-old cliche “Hate the game, not the player.”  Heard it before?  Even if you haven’t, chances are we’re betting that at least once in your life you’ve experienced the joy of a date-gone-bad. 

Enter PlayerBlock.com (Warning - PC Link), a new service that’s betting they can help cut down the number of players you’ll encounter.  This is not good news for the players (or playas).  It seems the service is primarily targeted at females (yeah, we couldn’t figure that one out either) but $4.99 a month gets you 100 messages to prescreen your current suitor.  We’re not so sure we’re crazy about the idea (and it’s not just because we’re just a bunch of guys) but more because it appears to be a bit one-sided.  What’s to stop a scorned lover to smear your reputation good name?  Apparently there’s no way to plead your case.  So, yeah, the jury’s still out on this one.  Not so bueno…

“Unlimited? Sure, Just Don’t Use It All The Time” - Verizon Wireless

RCR Wireless News has reported that Verizon Wireless agreed to a $1M settlement over ‘Unlimited’ Ads.  Of course, according to RCR, the Verizon Spokesman emphasized that the “Agreement” was voluntary and does not represent an admission that it’s advertising was deceptive.  First OJ, now this - what’s next? Don’t tell us President Bush has ties to the oil industry and is using his presidency for ill-gotten gains…

Over the last couple of years that we have been following the mobile industry, there have been discussion upon discussion about the carriers’ Unlimited Data plans.  Of course, as many know, it should really be UnlimitedUn-til-We-Decide-You’ve-Used-Too-Much-Bandwidth-Limited.  But since carrier agreements are so easy to read, it should be to know surprise if Verizon decides to can you for using your Sling Box over their data network…Right.  Maybe if you’re the lawyer that wrote the contract, and it’s a slim chance at that.

Not that it’s only Verizon, as other carrier’s are just as notorious for this type of scheming and under-handed behavior (in the eyes of the consumer), but apparently Verizon got a bit of a slap on the wrist today.  Yeah, Consumers.  It’s now Consumers -1, Verizon -1,627,841.  Slow and steady, boys.  Slow and steady.

Oh, and for all of you Slingers out there, Verizon Wireless has supposedly stopped cutting off heavy data users since April of 2007.  Of course, just be sure and keep it under 5 GB, please.

Apple Estimates 250,000 iPhones Sold to Unlockers

Engadget is reporting that Apple has estimated that 250,000 of their best and brightest were bought solely with the intention of unlocking.  Apparently many of these came after the price drop (duh).  Subsidized or unsubsidized, the $200 nose dive the iPhone took certainly was more than enough to persuade many a purchase. 

And while Apple is surely upset about the loss of revenue from these unlocked iPhones, their pricing and contract structure with AT&T are borderline criminal (in this blogger’s opinion).  However, it seems that 1.4 million people are willing to disagree as Cupertino’s eye candy seems to show nice signs of slowing down. 

Google Docs Goes Mobile

Keeping with their current mantra of taking over the information world, Google has release the mobile version of their free Docs service.  This should prove to be helpful and convenient to mobile users, but we have yet to see if you can actually modify any of your currently uploaded files.  Our signs point to no, but the service is still in Beta.  Maybe in a future update you will be able to actually work with your documents on your mobile from their remote server.  In the meantime, you can view your documents in all of their mobile glory.

Google Docs Mobile Link

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