August 21, 2008

mobile web server (and so much more)...

needless to say, it's been quite some time since i posted on a mobile gimmick, gadget or what-have-you. but this is really kinda cool.

been playing around with the nokia mobile web server (MWS) application for the last couple of months. while this is by no means a ready-for-mainstream-consumer-primetime solution, the promise is really quite amazing - a real world demonstration of what blending context, mobility and the web is all about.

first things first... pay a visit to http://mymobilesite.net/. the instructions couldn't be simpler - register your nokia s60 device, download the mobile web server app, quick and easy install, a little customization/personalization of your site (easiest from fixed-pc), and, presto, you're hosting a website from your device.

ok, so what's that mean? in short, from any other device with a browser - pc or mobile - you or those you've granted access can remotely tap your contacts, calendar, gallery, etc. (including, should you be so possessed, your text messages, files, etc.)

but it's yet cooler. those you grant access can also check your presence, e.g. your location, whether you're on a call, what profile your phone's in, what sort of data connection you have, your battery life, etc. - see screenshot below.



really amazing...and yeah, maybe just a little bit spooky. yet further, should you choose to so allow, remote users can actually request an image from your phone's camera which is subsequently snapped without you necessarily ever knowing - and the image doesn't even show up in the phone's gallery after the fact.

the utility of this last feature may not be readily obvious (unless you're thinking espionage or law enforcement), but is easily demonstrated by the facebook plug-in so quickly and cleverly crafted for the MWS. as per the screenshot below, the plug-in captures select data from the phone - date, time, status, calendar, battery life - and then offers a quick and easy window for your facebook friends to shoot off a text message, or, way cool, to request a "what am i seeing now" picture. the latter, in this case, notifies your phone that a request has come from whichever facebook friend and gives you the option to a) capture an image and then b) send it. works quite elegantly (but some brief latency depending on your phone's data connection).



again, while this may well still be an app for the geek elite, it's quite an impressive demonstration of certain elements of what's to come in terms of mobile context and (re)introducing your physical presence to your virtual world. 'talk about connecting people...

later.

beach week 2008...


...amazing. once again. now counting the days 'til winter break...