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What's new in wireless?

03:56 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 11, 2007

By WALT ZWIRKO / WFAA.com

Todd Hollis didn't like seeing his name on a computer screen—especially when it is featured on the DontDateHimGirl.com Web site.

DontDateHimGirl gives women a public forum to vent about romantic encounters that go sour. There are some 27,000 men in its database.

Hollis went to court, arguing that postings falsely characterized him as being unfaithful. Some accused him of having sexually-transmitted diseases.

He claimed the site fails to screen comments for truthfulness.

The creator of the Web site, Tasha Cunningham of Miami, said the content of DontDateHimGirl is protected under a 1996 federal law that shields Internet sites like hers.

A Pennsylvania judge, however, said he has no jurisdiction over DontDateHimGirl.com, which is based in Florida.

Hollis is considering whether to move his case to another venue.

The nation's wireless phone industry just had a big meeting in Orlando, Florida ( CTIA Wireless 2007), where all the latest products were on display.

Danny Carter of cell phone retailer Hawk Electronics visited our newsroom with a countertop full of hot technology—including a handset that's both functional and fashionable.

"Phones these days are more fashion statements anyway, so people are trying to accessorize their outfits with cellular technology," he said, speaking about Motorola's latest incarnation of the now-familiar RAZR phone.

Gary Ultee / WFAA-TV
Motorola's gold Razr V3XX will get you noticed.

Sure, the V3XX comes with high speed Internet access and multimedia capability.

But its most stunning characteristic is its color. Not bland black or gray. Not even pink.

It's gold.

"Very bling-y," Carter said. "When you pull it out and you're on it, people are definitely going to notice that you have a new phone."

If your new phone has a removable data storage card, you can use the the new SanDisk V-Mate Video Memory Recorder like a VCR for your mobile viewing pleasure.

"Let's say you're planning a trip and you're actually going to be on a flight, and you want to download a movie," Carter said. "You can actually take a Mini SD card ... download a full-length movie or your favorite TV shows to catch up on what's going on."

Carter conceded that it's not exactly high definition video you're seeing on that 1.5-inch screen. "It's what you expect to get from a cell phone."

It is remarkable, however, that the V-Mate will squeeze a full-length movie on a fingernail-sized one-gigabyte memory card that can be erased and used again and again. I've seen a Micro SD card, popular in many of today's cell phones, on sale for less than $20 in recent days.

Carter also demonstrated a small desktop pyramid. The Top Global 3G Phoebus Wi-Fi Router has a slot for a high-speed data card to give you Internet access on multiple PCs.

"What the Phoebus actually allows you to do is get one card; pay one subscription price; and it actually creates a Wi-Fi newtork," Carter explained."

You don't need a DSL line; you don't need a cable modem connection; you don't need a telephone line. It's all wireless.

"Cingular AT&T has a 3G network here in Dallas and Fort Worth, so you're going to be getting DSL-quality speeds," Carter added. "It's a good way to actually cut all the lines in the house."

You'll pay about $60 a month for unlimited broadband wireless access using a cellular data card. While that's more than most available fixed connections from your local landline telephone or cable provider, the Phoebus lets you work anywhere you can get a cellular connection.

Carter suggested it might find a place in college dorms or other places where roommates would otherwise have to have individual connections.

Watch Computer Corner every week on News 8 Midday at noon, or online any time.

E-mail askwalt@wfaa.com

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