Credit Card, Meet Smartphone

It may be a while yet before you can use your cell phone as a credit card all the time, but Visa's working towards it. Those of you who own Nokia and Android-based phone will soon be able to install a trio of applications that will bring your credit card to your phone just a little bit more.

First up, there's Alerts, which will let you track your card's activity as soon as it happens, so should you find yourself the unfortunate victim of a stolen credit card, you'll be able to block the transaction immediately. Then there's Locator--which is probably the best of the three--that will use Google Maps to tell you where the nearest ATMs are. Finally, Offers will let you receive, well, great offers and other targeted advertising. Right now, these applications will be available to Chase Manhattan card holders in the US.

Google's Android, however, won't need Offers, thanks to ShopSavvy, which uses your Android phone's camera to scan barcodes and search for bargains on the product online and in regular retail stores. It even gives you locations of the stores using Google Maps.

Eventually, Visa hopes to stick near-field communications (NFC) chips into your phone, so you can just wave it like a wand and pay for your purchases, though this will take time.

Pre-beta Windows 7 To Come Next Month

Apparently, attendees of the keynote speech at this year's Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC) will get more than just the potential of a dancing Steve Ballmer--they'll be the members of the general public to have their very own copies of Windows 7's first pre-beta release. We have, of course, seen screenshots do the rounds, but the days following October 28 will hopefully hold something more. There will also be over 21 sessions that will look into the innards of the operating system and what went into developing it--not just the interface lifts. The new Windows will show off improvements in the kernel, networking and hardware support as well. Windows 7 is also apparently set to drop applications like Windows Mail and Movie Maker (we aren't complaining), making them available as separate Windows Live downloads.


Now, we know you likely won't make it to the keynote, but how much do you want to bet you'll find it on the torrent networks the next day?

Next Nintendo DS to Compete with Cell Phones

This rumour just won't die. This time, a Japanese website is reporting, and confidently too, we might add -- that the Nintendo DS will see a hardware refresh by the end of this year. To us mortals this might seem like an illogical move -- the DS is doing great everywhere (the console has sold some 77+ million units worldwide so far and going strong), where's the logic behind another version? To that, we reply: (1) this is Nintendo we are talking about, logic does not apply, and (2) the Nintendo DS has been slowing down in sales -- relative to its own performance -- in its homeland.

As per the website, the new DS will feature a camera, better wireless, will play music, will come with a better version of Opera browser (built-in this time), will be able to exchange data with the Wii through an SD card (VC games on the move? YES PLEASE!), and will "compete with the cell phone". The last bit makes sense -- if there is a threat immediate to the portable market Nintendo enjoys dominating, it is from the cell phone. The new DS will also connect to information kiosks and will help users find nearby restaurants and train stations.

The price of the new model, will be under 20,000 yen ($200 / Rs. 9,600). It will first be released in Japan; overseas releases are under consideration.