Filed under: Culture, Handsets, Software, Nokia

Taking into account that some countries are mulling the idea of making texting a recognized subject and allowing students to use text-speak on exams, we suppose it’s not too outrageous to hear of handsets being used as educational tools and not seen as a hindrance. Nokia has teamed up with Mindset Network in order to spearhead the M4Girls pilot project, which utilizes Nokia 6300 handsets loaded with educational material to “help improve the mathematics performance of Grade 10 girl learners.” Reportedly, the initiative will be piloted in two South African schools, and students lucky enough to take advantage will have access to educational games and other material created to meet the needs of the national curriculum. No word on whether the program will filter out to other locations if it proves successful, but here’s to hoping that eventually gets answered with a resounding “yes.”

[Via textually]

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Filed under: Handsets, ATT, Apple

According to Fortune, AT&T will subsidize the cost of the new, 3G iPhone by as much as $200, bringing the price within the $199 range. Apparently, a “person familiar with the strategy” claims that the provider will create this bargain bonanza for customers signing new, two-year contracts. Of course, the author of the story also says that the new phones will be available in “8-gigabit-memory and… 16-gigabit-memory” versions (for $399 and $499, respectively), so take that as you like. In addition to these discounts, the source says the new iPhone will be 2.5mm thinner than the previous iteration, although we understand that right after telling Fortune this information, the “person” burst into a cloud of rainbow-colored sparkles and went flying off into the night sky.

[Thanks, Penny]

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Filed under: Handsets, LG, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

Get those textin’ thumbs ready, peeps, because your latest weapon of choice is just about ready for you. LG’s enV(2)– a phone that we’d argue takes attractive design far more seriously than its predecessor — will be available in exchange for a reasonable sum of cash (or cash equivalent) tomorrow, April 30, in Verizon stores across the land. Far more than a mere text machine, the enV(2) features a 2 megapixel camera, microSD slot, GPS, and a large ol’ 2.4-inch display when the clam is opened. The only question left, really, is black or maroon?

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Anybody feeling pinched by high gas prices? You should. Costly gas not only hits us squarely in the pocketbook when we fill our gas tanks, but it makes everything else more expensive as well; air travel, shipping packages, groceries, you name it. Aside from being pricey, gasoline is hard on the environment too. Here […]

Anybody feeling pinched by high gas prices? You should. Costly gas not only hits us squarely in the pocketbook when we fill our gas tanks, but it makes everything else more pricey as well; air travel, shipping packages, groceries, you name it.

Aside from being high-priced, gasoline is hard on the environment too. Here are a few viable alternatives (that are available now) if you decide that you’ve had enough with high gas prices and/or you’d like to go easier on the environment.

Public Transportation, Walking, Carpooling, Bicycling, Hourly Rentals

Yes, yes, these are all nice options. Look into them in your hometown. None of them are very geeky or gadgety and/or they all vary from place to place. I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least bring them up, though. I got rid of my car in October and now I walk, take the subway (Boston), or use Zipcar.com to get where I need to go. It’s simple!

Segway i2 Commuter

If you’d like to ditch your automobile altogether and you live in a relatively temperate climate, not too far from work, why not just bite the nerdly bullet and pick up a Segway? The i2 Commuter model starts at $5,460 and is good for almost 25 miles before it needs to be recharged.

Your friends will think you’re cool and environmentally conscious ladies will be all over you like patchouli on a Phish fan. Yum.

Segway i2 Commuter [Segway.com]

Zapino Electric Scooter

Hey there, Businesslady, I like your sassy summer ‘do and your fun Zapino electric scooter from ZAP Electric Vehicles.

This is one of your more high-priced scooters at just under $4,000, but it’s all electric so you’ll save an ass-load on gas. Top speed is about 30MPH and the range is 30 miles so, again, make sure you live close to work.

Zapino Electric Scooter [ZapWorld.com]

Tesla Roadster

Far and away the most impressive car to date (in my opinion), the Tesla Roadster is all electric, yet sacrifices very tiny in the name of the environment. Well, except maybe that it costs over $100,000 and there’s a 15-month wait and $60,000 is due just to get on the list. However, if I had that kind of money, I’d definitely get one of these.

The Roadster is 100% electric, goes 0 to 60 in under four seconds, has a 13,000 rpm redline, gets the equivalent of 135 miles to the gallon, goes 220 miles on a single charge, and costs less than two cents per mile’s worth of energy.

Tesla Motors [TeslaMotors.com]

Electric Cars versus Regular Vehicles

I’d jump at the opportunity to get any all-electric automobile, actually, since the cost of “filling” them up is so much less than conventional automobiles.

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