bump

Bump, the iOS and Android application that allows people to quickly share contact information by bumping smartphones together, has been downloaded 50 million times, its developer said today.

But while the contact information sharing feature of Bump is the most well-known, its 10 million active users--who, its developer said, have made the app the seventh most popular free iOS app of all time--have access to a group of other features as well. And Bump Technologies today released a set of numbers about how the application has been used.

One thing that users can do with the app is share songs … Read more

In the future you could selectively transfer files from one iOS device to another as easily as pouring out a tall beverage on your phone, a vision that's been detailed in a new Apple patent application that was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today.

The application, dubbed "Intuitive, gesture-based communications with physics metaphors," was unearthed by blog Patently Apple, and outlines a system for transferring data between iOS devices with the use of a "physical gesture."

Sound familiar? Perhaps you've used or heard of Bump from Bump Technologies, a service … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Your vast collection of iTunes music is safely stored on your computer. But how can you listen to it when you're away from your PC? The folks at Aluratek have one solution.

Aluratek is demoing its new Bump portable speaker at the CES this week. This round, portable speaker wirelessly streams music from your PC so you can listen to it anywhere inside your house. Just plug the 2.4GHz USB transmitter into the speaker, power up your PC, and the music can reach you at full quality from as much as 60 feet away.

Though the Bump … Read more

You'd think that moms and dads would be the last people who needed reminders to drive with caution, but ironically, other children's parents are the biggest threat to kids in school zones, according to Preventable.ca.

After stopping in the midst of traffic to drop their own kids off, parents often speed away, make U-turns, back up without looking, or perform some other dangerous maneuver that poses a danger to other kids on the street, the Canadian traffic safety foundation reports.

To remind them to slow down and be aware of other children, at a West Vancouver intersection, … Read more

Google has acquired Bump Technologies, the maker of a 3D desktop called BumpTop, Bump announced Sunday.

"Today, we have a big announcement to make: we're excited to announce that we've been acquired by Google!," a note posted to the company's Web site said. "This means that BumpTop (for both Windows and Mac) will no longer be available for sale. Additionally, no updates to the products are planned."

Financial details were not disclosed, but the company said it would keep its software available for download for one week. A Google representative confirmed the acquisition … Read more

Just over a year ago, we took a close look at a Windows app that was supposed to turn the way some of us interact with our desktop on its head. And that was three years after the product's demo video debuted. Now it's back. BumpTop reimagines the desktop as a 3D surface where you can fling, fan, or even stack your desktop files. While we haven't heard much about the app's development since then, Google's sure been paying attention. The company gobbled up the conceptware over the weekend. There's no confirmation yet, but … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Android and BlackBerry users envious of the new "bump" feature in PayPal's iPhone app should sit tight. Versions for their platforms are coming soon.

PayPal's slick new feature lets virtual money change virtual hands when two iPhones are tapped together (gently, now). The integration of Bump, which has heretofore let users exchange social information on Android phones and the iPhone, now connects PayPal users in close proximity so they can resolve debts on the spot.

"Bumping" money transfers is a practical and convenient way to settle a bill, but right now the service … Read more

The creative and attractive desktop replacement app BumpTop is coming to the Mac. Launched last year on Windows, and a CNET Download Best of 2009 app, BumpTop makes desktop items act more like they're physical. You can fling folders, files, and notes around the desktop, smash them into each other, give them weight, and pin them on the 3D "walls" at the edges of your desktop.

The OS X version is an upgrade from the Windows app. The code's been re-written from the ground up, CEO Anand Agarawala says, and there are some UI tweaks that … Read more

This past year was not the best for new software developments. There were no surprising game-changers like Google Chrome in 2008, and no watershed moments. However, that doesn't mean there weren't some cool releases. I suspect that much of the best software of 2009 winds up becoming the foundation for innovations in 2010.

Obviously, the continuing development of Google Chrome was a major story, especially since it skyrocketed in market share based on its zippy engine and smooth JavaScript handling. If you're not using Chrome, you owe it to yourself to try it out. But it's … Read more