Cool Gadgets and Technology

MSI Wind U100 Laptop

2009-04-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

Ready to enjoy a mobile life that is as easy as a breeze? MSI Wind, best seller of the year 2008, now launches its new Wind U100 PLUS to extend the fever! Two brand new colors rose champagne and metallic blue together with three colors that never go out of style -Imperial Black, Angelic White and Regal Red- will definitely be your must-buy electronic gadgets of the year!

Retaining the handy and practical design concept of Wind U100, MSI U100 PLUS is powered by the latest Intel® Atom™ N280 processor, which not only enables better computing efficiency but also achieves lower power consumption. What’s more, the lightweight of Wind U100 PLUS (only 1kg), 10” LED backlight display, 802.11n WLAN and 1.3M built-in webcam make it the perfect companion of your work, travel and on the go. Why not get a U100 PLUS to capture every single moment of your life?

In addition to Imperial Black, Angelic White and Regal Red, two brand new colors, including Rose Champagne and Metallic Blue, are added to Wind U100 PLUS product line. More colors of the Wind bring more fun to your life!

Processor	Intel® Atom™ Processor N280 1.66Ghz, 667MHz
Operation System	Genuine Windows® XP Home
Chipset	Intel®945GMS + ICH7M
Graphic	GMA950
Memory	DDR2 533 support up to 2 GB
LCD	10” 1024x600 LCD Panel
HDD	160 GB (2.5” SATA)
Card reader	4 in 1 (support SD,MMC,MS, MS Pro)
I/O	D-sub1 , USB 2.03 , Mic-in Headphone, LAN
Battery	3 cells / 6 cells (optional)
Wireless	802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth V2.0EDR
Webcam	1.3 Webcam
Sound	HD Audio, Stereo speakers
Dimension	26018019-31.5mm
Weight	~1 Kg (including 3 cells battery)

Dell updated Studio 15 laptop

2009-04-21T19:24:00.001-07:00

Dell sort of spoiled the surprise by dishing out some of the details about its updated Studio 15 laptop on its support site a full two months ago (not to mention that little business in Singapore), but the company has now finally gotten fully official with the laptop, and made it available in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The big news with this update is a new and improved 15.6-inch LED-backlit display, which packs a native 1366 x 768 resolution, and gets paired with some upgraded ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 graphics (available with 256MB or 512MB of on-board memory). Otherwise, you can expect the usual range of Core 2 Duo processors, a built-in 2 megapixel webcam, HDMI out, an optional Blu-ray drive, an optional backlit keyboard, and your choice of six colors, including the snazzy Black Chainlink design pictured above. This being the Studio series, you can also expect prices to remain at a reasonable $649 for the base model, with things moving up considerably from there if you opt for some of those aforementioned options.

New T-Mobile Sidekick LX

2009-04-17T00:59:00.000-07:00

Design
Manufactured by Sharp, the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 is currently the thinnest Sidekick, measuring 5.1 inches wide by 2.3 inches high by 0.6 inch thick and weighing 6 ounces. Despite the slimmer design, according to T-Mobile, it has put the device through rigorous testing and found that it's four times more durable than previous versions. It definitely felt solid in hand; plus, the smartphone features a soft-touch finish to give it a nonslippery texture instead of slick, plasticky feel. There are also grooves on the back where you can rest your index fingers when holding the device. It doesn't seem like much, but it's a nice little touch that makes for a better ergonomic experience.

The smartphone will come in two colors: carbon or orchid. Also, if you're not a fan of the colors, you will be able to create custom shells for the Sidekick LX, much like the T-Mobile Sidekick 2008, and T-Mobile's even added the option of laser etching the case.

In addition to being the thinnest Sidekick, the Sidekick LX 2009 also boasts the largest and sharpest screen to date. Based on Sharp's Aquos technology, the WVGA display measures 3.2 inches with an 854x480-pixel resolution and swivels open to reveal the full QWERTY keyboard. The screen was indeed sharp and bright, and we've always been a fan of the Sidekick's keyboard. There's good spacing between the buttons and the quality feels better on the Sidekick LX. Other highlights include a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD expansion slot (phone ships with a 1GB microSD card), and mood/notification LEDs along the top edge of the screen.

Features
In the past, we've been a little critical of T-Mobile for not adding enough features or enhancements to new models, but this isn't so much the case with the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009. To start, you get 3G support for faster Web browsing. It also nicely complements the browser's added Flash video support, so you can view sites like YouTube. Not only that, but you'll also be able to upload and share videos, even to MySpace, with the built-in 3.2-megapixel camera.

As always, the Sidekick LX plays for a younger crowd, so there's plenty of support for social networking applications. In addition to MySpace Mobile, the Sidekick LX now ships with Facebook and Twitter integration. Like previous versions, you get a dedicated T-mail e-mail address and support for POP3/IMAP accounts, but T-Mobile has also added Exchange ActiveSync support. While we don't expect to see too many corporate types toting the Sidekick, we appreciate the added functionality.

The quad-band phone also has built-in GPS with Microsoft Live Search, Bluetooth 2.0 (A2DP supported), Quick Find universal search, and AIM, Windows Live, and Yahoo instant messaging clients. If anything, we would have liked to have seen some enhancements to the music player, which pretty much remains the same.

Outlook
Overall, we liked what we saw of the T-Mobile Sidekick LX. The 3G and Flash support are huge and so is the Facebook and Twitter integration--should be a hit with its target audience. The phone won't win any beauty contests (there's something a little odd about it that I can't quite pinpoint), but again, the thinner design, the soft-touch finish, and finger grooves add up to a nice user experience. We're expecting to get a review unit before the national launch on May 13, so of course, we'll have a full review, video, and hands-on photos then.

In the meantime, you can check out some beauty shots of the T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 below. Also, for all those wondering about the April 21 private launch event in New York, it will be dedicated to the Sidekick LX and only the Sidekick LX, nothing else (read: no T-Mobile G2 yet. Sorry.) CNET TV's Natali del Conte will be at the event so check back later for video of the party and a closer look at the new Sidekick.

Samsung's self-encrypting SSDs

2009-04-16T18:52:00.001-07:00

Samsung and Wave Offer Today's Mobile Professionals the Best Performance and Standards-Based Security in the Industry's First Self-Encrypting Solid State Drive (SSD)

Lee, MA and San Jose, CA-April 16, 2009-Wave Systems Corp. (NASDAQ: WAVX) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., have collaborated to give professionals on the go the ultimate in hard drive security. Along with blazing speed, ultra-fast boot-up and silent operation, Samsung's new self-encrypting SSDs automatically encrypt information as it's saved to the drive, an industry first for SSDs.

Full disk encryption (FDE) has already been adopted as a standard feature available in many commercial laptop and desktop systems with hard disk drives. Samsung self-encrypting drives – 256-, 128- and 64-gigabyte SSDs – provide FDE bundled with Wave's EMBASSY® management software and are now available through at least one major OEM.

"Samsung has combined the tremendous performance advantages of solid state technology with integrated hardware encryption for drives designed especially for today's 'road warrior' professionals," said Jim Elliott, memory vice president, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. "Business users now get the best of performance and security in a single drive. "

Solid state drives offer numerous advantages over traditional platter hard drives. SSD performance is not impacted by FDE, a drawback frequently seen with today's HDDs that use software FDE. Also, because they have no moving parts and are based around flash memory, the SSDs are far less prone to reliability issues caused by bumps and bounces from normal notebook PC use, and from excessive heat generation. They additionally boast two to five times faster overall performance, including boot-up time and application launching, as well as longer battery life in notebook PCs. Samsung self-encrypting SSDs will be available in both 1.8" and 2.5" form factors; the 1.8" being the world's first encrypted storage drive of this size. Flash memory also retains data even when the power is turned off, enabling "near-instant" turn on for the user's system, and they don't require "spin up" time that drains batteries.

Samsung's new 256GB, 128GB, and 64GB SSDs are the first solid state drives to incorporate hardware-based encryption, which has made headlines in recent weeks with publication of the industry's Opal storage specification published by the Trusted Computing Group (TCG). Benefits of hardware encryption over today's software-only encryption approaches include faster performance, better security and an "always on" feature. Because encryption keys and access credentials are generated and stored within the drive hardware, they never leave its confines and are never held in the operating system or by application software. This hardware FDE approach is considered more secure and less complex to manage.

"Samsung is breaking new ground in performance and security with its solid state FDE drives," said Steven Sprague, Wave's president and CEO. "Whether it's with cars or computers, many people will always demand the very best in performance and Samsung is delivering on that promise. With self-encrypting drives, users have the peace of mind that whatever's on the drive-credit card numbers, medical records, sensitive personal data or intellectual property is always protected."

Each Samsung self-encrypting SSD, when ordered in a new computer, now comes bundled with Wave's EMBASSY® Trusted Drive Manager for complete life cycle management of the drive including pre-boot authentication to the drive and enrolling drive administrators and users. Trusted Drive Manager also enables the backup of drive credentials.

Available separately, Wave's EMBASSY® Remote Administration Server allows an IT administrator to remotely turn on each solid state drive in seconds and provides detailed event logs for compliance to prove that the security settings were in place when a loss or theft occurs. Plus, Wave's single management server solution can provide streamlined administration and policy management capable of supporting all commercially available TPMs and FDE drives (as well as Opal-compliant drives now in development), along with SafeNet's ProtectDriveTM software FDE. Because encryption is turned on "out of the box," there is generally no learning curve for the end user or IT support staff.

Dell Vostro A90 repriced

2009-04-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

Dell's 8.9-inch Vostro A90, the Mini 9 with an identity crisis, has now hit stateside with a starting price of $349, about one-third the price of its Japanese counterpart. As you can probably guess, it sports a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, up to 1GB RAM and 16GB SSD, Intel GMA950 graphics, 802.11g, 0.3 megapixel webcam, 4-cell battery, and Windows XP Home Edition -- sorry, no option for Linux here, but you can still order the Mini 9 if you want that option, a brighter color scheme, or a smaller bill.

Speedo Aquabet underwater MP3 player

2009-04-14T18:28:00.001-07:00

Another Spring, another opportunity for iriver Japan and Speedo to sell a few MP3 players designed for underwater use. Yes friends, the Aquabeat you've grown to know, love and disassociate with overly tight swim trunks has a successor, the Speedo LZR Racer. Design wise, you won't notice a lot of differentiation from the first, but this waterproof-to-three-meters device has twice the internal memory (2GB) and a built-in rechargeable battery good for around eight hours of continuous playback. It's said to be shipping now in Japan for ¥12,800 ($128), though we hear it won't be coming to America without first nailing down a Michael Phelps endorsement. Not that said task will be too tough or anything.

Nikon D5000

2009-04-14T03:06:00.000-07:00

Nikon Inc. today introduced the new D5000, a digital SLR camera with a host of features and capabilities that deliver superior performance and image quality along with amazing versatility for photo enthusiasts and those new to digital SLR photography. Leveraging Nikon's expertise and innovative technologies found in its pro-level D-SLRs, the 12.3-megapixel D5000 enables users to capture exceptionally stunning images and High Definition video with remarkable ease.

Whether consumers are progressing from a point-and-shoot digital camera or looking to upgrade their current digital SLR and elevate their photographic expression, the D5000 serves as an ideal solution. First time D-SLR photographers will appreciate logical and easy-to-use controls, while creative enthusiasts will appreciate the D5000's robust combination of features, technologies and performance. The D5000 boasts a versatile 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD monitor that encourages shooting with a fresh perspective, Nikon's revolutionary D-Movie Mode and expanded automatic Scene Modes, delivering superior Nikon innovation in a compact, user-friendly design.

"The Nikon D5000 represents a cornerstone in Nikon's D-SLR line, marrying simplicity and instructive features with superior technology and HD video, allowing the user's ability and creativity to grow-with the camera," said Edward Fasano, General Manager for marketing, SLR System Products at Nikon Inc. "While its easy-to-use design will attract first-time D-SLR photographers, the D5000's rich feature set and high performance will also appeal immediately to more experienced enthusiasts. The D5000 is sure to inspire creativity and originality."

Broadened Creativity and Adaptability

Photographers can easily compose stunning images on the Vari-angle LCD monitor that they can view in a normal position fitting securely within the camera back, or swung out to be rotated or tilted. The monitor can also be stowed with the LCD panel tucked against the camera back to protect the screen when not in use. This tremendous freedom of movement, along with four Live View autofocus shooting modes, affords users the opportunity to shoot from a multitude of imaginative angles. Easy one-button Live View activation now features Subject Tracking autofocus (AF), which automatically locks onto a moving subject. Even if the subject leaves the frame and returns, Subject Tracking AF maintains focus, making the D5000 ideal for capturing fast moving children and pets. In addition to Subject Tracking AF in Live View, the D5000 features Face Priority AF, which automatically detects up to five faces in a scene and focuses on the closest subject; Wide Area AF, which offers a large AF area for optimal hand-held shooting; and Normal Area AF, which provides pinpoint accuracy when shooting with a tripod.

The D5000's D-Movie Mode allows users the exciting ability to record HD movie clips (1280 x 720) at a cinematic 24 frames per second with sound. Photographers will appreciate the quality produced whether creating vacation clips or intertwining still photographs and movies in a post-production creative montage. Additionally, the D5000 is compatible with a comprehensive assortment of AF-S NIKKOR interchangeable lenses to provide users with the ability to capture perspectives not possible with typical consumer video recording devices. When using any NIKKOR VR lens, D-Movie clips benefit from Nikon VR image stabilization, which automatically activates during recording to deliver added sharpness and image stability. VR image stabilization also extends the D5000's performance in low-light situations. D-Movie clips are recorded onto an inserted SD or SDHC memory card and saved as Motion JPEG AVI files for easy editing with widely available video editing software.

Further bridging the gap between point-and-shoot cameras and more advanced D-SLRs are the D5000's 19 automatic Scene Modes, which free users to capture beautiful images without having to manually adjust camera settings. With the broad range of automatic Scene Modes, including Sports, Portrait, Candlelight, Silhouette, Autumn Colors and more, D5000 is the perfect camera for anyone looking to make inspiring images in challenging photographic conditions.

The D5000 also incorporates a comprehensive set of in-camera editing features to make the most of captured images without the need of a computer. The D5000 also introduces several new Retouch features, including a Soft Filter effect, which applies a smooth appearance to faces or the entire image; Perspective Control, which helps correct distortions in perspective often encountered in photographs of architecture; and Color Outline, which creates monochrome outlines of objects in images by eliminating color and tonal gradations. The D5000 saves each of these edited images as a separate JPEG file, ensuring the original image is left unmodified. With Nikon's exclusive Picture Control Settings, photographers can quickly select various image appearance profiles that include Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape settings. In addition, Picture Control provides the ability to create and store up to nine user-defined custom profiles to reflect each user's personal preferences for hue, color saturation and image sharpening.

Extensive playback options allow users to review their photos in groups of four, nine, or 72 thumbnail images. Alternatively, users can select the Calendar View to easily group and select images by date. These playback features can be viewed either on the Vari-angle LCD or an HDTV with HDMI connectivity available via a dedicated HDMI port on the camera.

Proven Image Excellence

Consumers will immediately appreciate the benefits of the D5000's 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor coupled with Nikon's exclusive EXPEED™ image processing system, which delivers highly detailed images with vibrant color reproduction and low noise across a broad ISO range. The D5000's normal ISO range extends from ISO 200 to 3200, allowing for superior shooting in low-light conditions. Additionally, the D5000's ISO range can be expanded to a Lo 1 setting of ISO 100 or a Hi 1 setting of ISO 6400, furthering the opportunities for previously impossible shots.

Nikon's exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II, in conjunction with the EXPEED image processing system, contributes to the D5000's ability to capture breathtaking images by instantly evaluating the exposure elements of each scene and comparing it to an onboard database of information from more than 30,000 images. These split-second calculations allow the D5000 to ensure the right exposure-even when conditions are extreme. To push creative boundaries even further, the D5000 allows picture-takers to also use Center-Weighted and Spot metering for added personal control.

Smooth, Swift and Quiet Operation

The D5000's 11-point auto focus system utilizes Nikon's exclusive Scene Recognition System with Face Detection to help create the best possible images in a variety of shooting environments. Nikon's 11-point AF offers best-in-class speed and accuracy, helping to ensure sharp focus, shot-after-shot. Single-point AF is suggested for static subjects, Dynamic-area AF for moving subjects, Auto-area AF for spontaneous shooting and 3D-tracking with 11 AF points for maintaining accurate focus on a subject moving throughout the frame.

Paired with Nikon's AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization lens and the ability to shoot at four frames per second, the D5000 easily captures moments other cameras miss. Nikon's VR image stabilization lenses reduce the blurring in images due to camera shake, allowing photographers to shoot hand-held at as many as three full stops slower than would otherwise be possible.*

The new D5000 also features the innovative Integrated Dust Reduction System, which offers both an electronic sensor cleaning when the camera is powered on and/or off and the Airflow Control System, which directs dust away from the sensor with every snap of the shutter. These functions work to clear image-degrading dust from the sensor's optical low-pass filter, helping to ensure spot-free images. In addition, the D5000 features a Quiet Release Mode that reduces the mirror cycling noise for discreet shooting in sensitive situations, such as weddings and other ceremonies.

System Expandability

Photographers and enthusiasts alike can also appreciate the D5000's system expandability, as the camera can work in conjunction with a variety of Nikon accessories including a broad assortment of NIKKOR AF-S interchangeable lenses. While the D5000 offers a versatile built-in flash, the camera is also compatible with Nikon's Creative Lighting System and capable of Advanced Wireless Lighting when using the SB-900 Speedlight or the SU-800 Wireless Commander. For those looking to document their photo excursions with geo-tagging, the D5000 is compatible with the optional GP-1 GPS Unit, which automatically records latitude, longitude, altitude and time information when a picture is taken.

The D5000 also works seamlessly with Nikon's powerful Capture NX 2 image editing software (available for purchase separately), for more advanced photographers seeking greater control over their post-capture images. Capture NX 2 simplifies the path to beautiful images with easy-to-learn editing tools and a highly versatile and elegantly simple interface, which streamline editing procedures.

Price and Availability

The D5000 outfit, which includes the AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens, will be available at Nikon Authorized dealers beginning in late April 2009 at an estimated selling price of $849.95**. For consumers who want to configure their D5000 system or for photographers who need an additional D-SLR body for an existing system, the D5000 will also be offered as a body only for an estimated selling price of $729.95. For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

Samsung new SyncMaster 70

2009-04-06T19:23:00.001-07:00

Taking global climate change as seriously as anyone is these days, Samsung has trotted out a pair of new SyncMaster 70 series monitors, on the green tip. Coming in at your choice of either 20- or 23-inches, the displays sport a 50000:1 contrast ration, 2ms response time, and consume thirty-three percent less energy than previous Sammy outings. No word yet on screen resolution, release date, or price. Don't tell us that you're not a little bit excited. Just a little?

Nokia E75

2009-04-06T19:22:00.001-07:00

It's out, Nokia's E75 S60 QWERTY is now shipping according to a feverish Nokia press release. For Espoo, that leading "E" stands for businEss so this slider is all about corporate eMail -- a first handset to ship with Nokia's new eMail user interface -- as well as getting you connected to your personal accounts from Yahoo, Gmail, and Hotmail. Unfortunately, the decent quad-band GSM / EDGE and dual-band HSPDA data, WiFi, microSD expansion, 3.2 megapixel camera, and a-GPS specs are offset by that puny 2.4-inch QVGA (320 x 240 pixel) display. For our money, we'll be holding out for the 3.5-inch, 640 x 360 pixel N97 QWERTY slider just peeped in the FCC

Intel's tablet Classmate PC design

2009-04-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

Intel has revealed the design for a tablet version of its Classmate PC, a low-powered Netbook designed for use in primary schools.

The tablet-format Classmate, which was unveiled Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will let manufacturers build Classmate PCs that can be used either as a standard clamshell laptop or--with a 180-degree swivel of the display--as a touch-screen tablet. As with most Netbooks, it will run on Intel's Atom processor.

"Education is one of the best ways to improve the future for individuals, villages or nations," Lila Ibrahim, the general manager of Intel's emerging-markets platform group, said in a statement Friday. "There are 1.3 billion school-age children around the world and of those only five percent have access to a PC or the internet. The IT industry has a huge opportunity to contribute to how technology can improve students' learning and students' lives."

Ibrahim's division developed the reference design for the convertible Classmate PC based on ethnographic research. Child-friendly features include a water-resistant keyboard and a sturdy frame. Another feature is dubbed "palm rejection"--in tablet mode, the user can rest their palm on the touchscreen while writing, without the screen registering the palm's pressure as input.

The original Classmate, which appeared in 2006, is widely seen as having kicked off the Netbook concept even before Asus released its popular Eee 701.

On Friday, Intel also announced its Learning Series, a project that will try to make sure there is proper co-ordination between educational hardware, software and services in various countries. The idea is for local manufacturers to use Intel's latest Classmate PC reference design to create customized versions of the Classmate PC according to local needs, and to preload those machines with locally relevant software.

"Our involvement with software and hardware developers ensures that the Intel Learning Series is culturally relevant, sustainable and supports local economies," Ibrahim said. "Through the Intel Learning Series, we are gathering the great minds and experiences of the IT industry to create a fun and rewarding environment for the students to learn and develop the skills they need in the 21st century."

According to Intel, tablet-format Classmate PCs will be made in the U.K. by the manufacturer CMS; in France, by NEC; in Chile, by Olidata; in Australia, by ASI; in China, by Hanvon; in Canada, by MDG; and in the U.S., by CTL, Equus and M&A. Pricing and availability dates have not yet been announced.

Samsung N120 notebook

2009-04-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

While most complain about slow CPU speeds on netbooks, the thing they universally lack is a decent sound system. If nothing else Samsung's N120 could be an improvement there, featuring enough bezel to house a pair of speakers, and there's room for what must be the world's smallest subwoofer in there somewhere. Of course, all that bezel was really to make room for a bigger keyboard, but we already knew that, and we now know the thing is showing up at retailers across the web for pre-order at prices falling in the $450 - $475 range and colors at either end of the light spectrum: black or white. With that keyboard, those speakers, and 10.5 hours of battery life, this sounds like a solid entrant to the netbook races, especially for anyone more interested in sound than color.

Dell launches Vostro 1320, 1520 and 1720 laptops

2009-04-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since this family saw any updates, but we must say, Dell did a pretty laudable job with the redesign here. Make no mistake -- these guys are still aimed squarely at the gamboling suits in attendance, but we could certainly see a consumer or two pulling the trigger. The freshened line includes the 13.3-inch Vostro 1320, the 15.4-inch Vostro 1520, and the 17-inch Vostro 1720, all of which come with pre-installed videoconferencing and webcam software (so long as you purchase the integrated webcam and microphone). Furthermore, users can now opt for an SSD in place of the traditional hard drive, a fingerprint reader for added security or an encrypted HDD with Wave Systems software. The whole trio is available today in North America and select South American countries starting at $569 (Vostro 1520), $629 (Vostro 1320), and $649 (Vostro 1720).

Dell Launches the Ultra-Mobile Wasabi Printer

2009-02-11T01:51:00.001-08:00

If you are old enough to remember Polaroid's instant cameras, then the concept behind Dell's new Wasabi PZ310 "ultra-mobile printer" will look very familiar to you. The Wasabi is a small printer that fits in the palm of your hand that can print color photos in less than a minute from digital cameras, mobile phones, and other mobile devices.

The Wasabi uses a printing technology called ZINK, which stands for "Zero Ink." As its name implies there is no ink involved in the printing process, and therefore no potentially messy and costly ink cartridges to replace:

"At the heart of the ZINK Technology is the patented ZINK Paper, an advanced composite material with cyan, yellow, and magenta dye crystals embedded inside, and a protective polymer overcoat layer outside. The crystals are colorless before printing, so ZINK Paper looks like regular white photo paper. Heat from a ZINK-enabled device activates the crystals, forming all the colors of the rainbow."

Wasabi measures 0.9x4.8x2.8-inches (HWD), weighs just 8-ounces with the 450mAh Li-ion battery (the battery is rated for 15 prints per charge), and comes in three different colors: black, pink, and blue. The Wasabi can hold up to 12 sheets of paper at a time and prints 2x3-inch, borderless prints in 55 seconds. The paper has a sticky backing so it can be attached to different surfaces.

Photos can be sent to the Wasabi one of two ways: Either using a standard PictBridge USB Type A connection or wirelessly via Bluetooth. This does not mean, however, than any Bluetooth device will be able to print to the Wasabi--especially mobile phones. A list of compatible mobile phones can be found here. Unfortunately, neither the iPhone nor iPhone 3G are compatible with the Wasabi; but the Blackberry Curve and Motorola RAZR V3 are.

Sony Ericsson G705

2008-10-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson isn't at CTIA Fall 2008 but it launched a shiny new cell phone in London. The Sony Ericsson G705 offers a hefty crop of features in a slim slider design in both black and gold.

Inside you'll find a 3.2-megapixel camera that can capture YouTube-compatible video. The high-end shooter offers a load of goodies, including a digital zoom, a flash and video light, picture blogging, and PictBridge photo printing.

Other offerings include stereo Bluetooth, a music player, an FM radio, support for Java, a speakerphone, Wi-Fi, messaging and e-mail, USB mass storage, personal organizer features, 3G (UMTS and HSDPA), an accelerometer, a full HTML browser, a voice recorder, instant messaging, phone-as-modem capability, Assisted GPS, and PC syncing. And of course, it makes calls, too.

In all, that's an impressive assortment of features, and the 262,144-color display looks top-notch. In some ways the G705 has a lot in common with the Sony Ericsson G700 and G900, which the company launched earlier this year at the GSMA World Congress. But unlike its predecessors, the G705 does not appear to have a touch screen.

As a quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) handset, the G705 should arrive in worldwide markets, the Americas included, by the first quarter of next year. Orange will get its own variant called the G705u. That will be Sony Ericsson's first phone to support UMA technology.

Nokia N79

2008-08-26T02:28:00.000-07:00

Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N79, the latest addition to the Nokia Nseries range that combines intelligent and customizable design with a fully-loaded multimedia computer. Behind its sleek exterior, the Nokia N79 is a technology powerhouse. It offers a full range of multimedia experiences including integrated navigation, music with FM transmitter, high-speed connectivity, superior web browsing, at least 10 pre-loaded N-Gage games and an advanced 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. The Nokia N79 is expected to begin shipping in October 2008, with an estimated retail price of EUR 350, before taxes and subsidies.

"The Nokia N79 packs cutting-edge technology into a compact design - a characteristic of the iconic Nseries - that allows people to discover, create and share their passions with others," said Juha Kokkonen, Director, Nokia Nseries. "It has been designed for those who want a device that is as appealing as it is powerful and comes with interchangeable covers that have automatically matching screen themes. This balance of performance and style means that it is a powerful and defining step forward from the popular and very successful Nokia N72 and Nokia N73."

Perfect for the style conscious, the Nokia N79 comes with Xpress-on smart covers that are available in five cool colors: Light Sea Blue, Espresso Brown, Olive Green, White and Coral Red. A combination of three of these comes with each Nokia N79.

The convergence of photos, music and navigation in the Nokia N79 combines with high-speed 3.5G HSDPA and Wi-Fi to make it quick and easy to share experiences on websites, blogs or online communities.

Experience new discoveries

The innovative technology packed into this colorful offering means that accessing a rich pool of services to further enhance individual experiences is seamless. Log on to online communities like Friendster, Flickr or YouTube or click through to Nokia services such as the Nokia Music Store, N-Gage, Nokia Maps and Share on Ovi, an online service that enables consumers to share personal pictures and videos from their mobile devices.

The 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash and video light captures sharp, clear images and video that can be edited immediately, without the need for a PC. Images can also be geotagged to specific locations. What's more, the Nokia N79 comes packaged with a 4 GB microSD memory card that makes it possible to store around 3,000 songs, approximately 2,500 pictures and up to four hours of DVD-quality video clips that can be organized by albums or tags and uploaded directly to Share on Ovi or third party services. The addition of a sliding lens cover helps protect the top-quality lens when not in use.

Nokia Maps makes it easy to explore and navigate new surroundings by accessing more than 15 million points of interest (POI). In-built A-GPS providing turn-by-turn navigation - for walking or driving - comes with a three month integrated license on the Nokia N79.

A Friendster widget will also be made available for the Nokia N79 via the WidSets service. This will allow people to browse Friendster friends' profiles, view and post shoutouts, upload pictures taken with their handset, and browse their own and friends' photo albums. All this enables more effective communication with friends while away from a computer using the Nokia N79. New users can even register for Friendster directly on their device via a link to Friendster's mobile site (m.friendster.com), create an account, and instantly begin participating in the Friendster global community.

To ensure each device is as distinctive as its user, customizable features are available at the Nokia Download! store, a one stop personalization shop, already embedded in Nokia Nseries devices. It lets consumers create a unique experience for themselves by offering easy access to a multitude of popular ringtones, branded entertainment content, the latest in mobile gaming and dynamic applications for personalizing mobile devices to the user's own preferences.

Nokia N85 cellphone

2008-08-26T02:24:00.000-07:00

Nokia N85 - The definitive entertainment package

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N85, the latest Nokia Nseries multimedia computer made to set new standards for mobile entertainment, gaming and sharing. Along with an eye-catching 2.6" OLED screen and smooth, sleek finish, the Nokia N85 redefines the mobile experience. It boasts N-Gage gaming, music with in-built FM transmitter, 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and geotagging capabilities, three month integrated license for turn-by-turn voice navigation and high-speed connectivity, all in one device. The Nokia N85 is expected to begin shipping in October 2008 with an estimated retail price of EUR 450, before taxes and subsidies.

"The Nokia N85 was created to be more than the sum of its parts, offering a complete mobile entertainment package designed for connecting, sharing and discovering," said Juha-Pekka Sipponen, Director, Nokia Nseries. "The iconic Nokia Nseries dual slider design has evolved to become smaller and sleeker while integrating the newest features and services to deliver the best mobile experience to date."

With a strong lineup of multimedia features, the Nokia N85 is taking the world of mobile convergence to the next level. Gaming, photos, navigation and music blend together with the newest Ovi and third party services via 3.5G HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity to make discovering and sharing experiences quick and seamless.

Engage and interact

The Nokia N85 is pre-loaded with at least 10 made-for-mobile N-Gage gaming titles that jump off of the screen thanks to the dazzling OLED display and a voucher to activate one full game license. Dedicated gaming keys light up when the device is in landscape gaming mode to further enhance the action-packed experience.

A state-of-the-art 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and bright dual LED flash captures clear, sharp images as well as DVD-quality videos at 30 frames per second. Combined with A-GPS it is possible to geotag favorite pictures to see where each photo was taken using the Nokia Maps application or online sites such as Share on Ovi or Flickr.

Each Nokia N85 comes with an 8 GB microSD card, up to 30 hours of music playback time and its high-fidelity sound means favorite tracks can be enjoyed virtually anywhere. Build a personal music collection from the millions of tracks and playlists available from the Nokia Music Store or other online music vendors, or synchronize PC and mobile music libraries via USB cable. Alternatively, consumers can enjoy RDS radio or a wide selection of stations via the internet. The 3.5 mm audio jack makes connecting a top-quality headset simple and an in-built FM transmitter lets the Nokia N85 play wirelessly through a car or home stereo to really crank up the sound.

While it comes out of the box with a multitude of powerful functionality, the pre-loaded Nokia Download! application makes the Nokia N85 truly customizable by offering a wide range of bespoke content. This includes an outstanding selection of world-class branded entertainment content, the latest in mobile gaming and dynamic applications so users can really make their device their own.

HTC S740 Smartphone

2008-08-26T02:03:00.000-07:00

Here are all the specs:

• Size: 116.3 x 43.4 x 16.3 mm
• Weight: 140g with battery
• Networks: WCDMA/HSDPA: 900/2100 MHz for EU and Asia
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Maximum speed: UL = 384 kbps; DL = 3.6/7.2 Mbps**
• Operating system: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard
• Display: 2.4-inch QVGA screen
• Camera: 3.2 megapixel with fixed focus
• Internal memory: 256 MB flash; 256 MB RAM
• Memory card: microSD
• WLAN: 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth®: 2.0 with EDR
• GPS: GPS/AGPS
• Interface: HTC ExtUSB (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0 High-Speed)
• Battery: 1000 mAh
• Talk time: WCDMA: Up to 320 minutes*** / GSM: Up to 380 minutes***
• Standby time: WCDMA: Up to 400 hours*** / GSM: Up to 280 hours***
• Special features: Sliding QWERTY keyboard, FM radio, Google Maps, RSS Hub
• Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM7225, 528 MHz

Looking at that list, a few things stand out. First, it's an EU/Asia release first, so no North American 3G bands - meaning where I am, it's an EDGE-only phone. The good news though is that it's a GSM quad-band phone, so as far as voice coverage is concerned, it will be solid. The 2.4 inch QVGA screen is a bit of a disappointment - I was hoping for a VGA screen. This thing looks so much like the Diamond, why not give it the same screen? 256 MB RAM is plentiful on a Windows Mobile Standard device, and with the microSD card slot this thing can load up with a lot of storage. Built-in GPS is nice, but couldn't they do better than a 1000 mAh battery? Perhaps that will give stellar battery life since there's no VGA screen...

The potential down-side? As a slider, it's going to be thicker than a candy-bar style phone. The thickness of the S740 is 16.3 mm. The previous generation slider from HTC is the S710, and it's 18.6 mm - so they've managed to shave 2.3 mm off. My Blackjack II is 13 mm thick in comparison, and my all-time favourite Windows Mobile Standard phone, the HTC S620 (aka T-Mobile Dash), is 12.8 mm.

Sanyo Katana Eclipse and Motorola Razr VE20

2008-08-17T18:29:00.001-07:00

Sprint brought back two popular cell phones for another round on Sunday when it announced new versions of the Sanyo Katana and the Motorola Razr.

Sanyo Katana Eclipse

Sporting thin designs (of course) with GPS and multimedia-friendly feature sets, the Sanyo Katana Eclipse and Motorola Razr VE20 offer two takes on the thin-phone craze that just won't go away. And before you start grumbling about rehashed versions of ancient designs, we advise you to give these models a decent look.

The VE20 is more like the original Razr V3m than the Razr2 V9, but it shows some design tweaks that give it its own style. Performance is great, particularly the music and video quality, and call quality wasn't bad either.

The Sanyo Katana Eclipse also shows some design tweaks over the original Katana. The feature set is similar to the Razr VE20, though its 1.3-megapixel camera is a step down from the Razr VE20's 2-megapixel shooter. Performance was satisfying, thought not quite as sharp as on the Moto phone.

Motorola Razr VE20

Both phones are $99 with service. For the full story, check out our Motorola Razr VE20 review or our Sanyo Katana Eclipse review. Or for just the beauty shots, take a gander at the Razr VE20 slide show or the Katana Eclipse slide show.

Nokia N96

2008-08-17T18:22:00.000-07:00

It's no surprise that at GSMA we're seeing a lot of cool things. Since the show is geared toward the worldwide market (Europe in particular), the phones on display are a lot more exciting than the usual sort we see at home. But on the other hand, there's no guarantee that any of the devices will come to North America. Drool as we may, we're also green with envy.

Take, for example, the Nokia N96. As a slicker, stronger update to the already powerful Nokia N95, the N96 has just about every feature you could want in a cell phone. Besides making calls (hopefully it does that well), the N96 offers a 5-megapixel camera with a list of offerings that rival a standalone shooter. You'll find a Carl Zeiss lens, a flash, and a VGA camcorder that plays and records clips at 30 frames per second. On the whole it's more powerful than the 5-megapixel Nokia 6220, which the company also announced in Barcelona. The N96 has an impressive 16GB of internal storage. It also has a microSD slot that can accommodate cards up to 2GB. Nokia promises that you'll be able to watch 40 hours of video using the internal storage alone. Of course, you'll need to charge the battery during your video marathon; video playback is capped at 4 hours of viewing time because of battery life.

Other features include a digital music player, a 3.5mm headset jack, an FM radio, support for podcasts and Internet radio, e-mail, text and multimedia messaging, USB 2.0, stereo Bluetooth, and a GPS receiver with maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. The N96's design is similar to the N95, but also different. While it retains its predecessor's designated music controls and slider design, its black and silver scheme, and cleaner lines give it an overall sleeker look. That is an accomplishment considering that at 4.05 inches tall by 2.16 inches wide by 0.71 inches thick, and weighing 4.41 ounces, the N96 is actually a bit bigger than the N95. The N96 is quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900), and it supports both the 900 and 2100 3G bands. The N96 is set to be released in the third quarter of this year, and will require a serious amount of cash. Without carrier subsidies, buyers can expect to pay 550 euros (about $780).

Gadget and Accessories for iPhone 3G

2008-08-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Kensington Mini Battery Extender

The Kensington Mini Battery Extender is a handy add-on for an iPod or iPhone that's low on battery life.

If your iPod or iPhone (both first and second generation) is low on battery life, you can simply pop on this battery extender from Kensington to extend its battery life by about double. It attaches to the iPod and iPhone via the dock connector. It also comes with a retractable USB charging cable so you can charge both the extender and the iPod/iPhone at the same time. It is currently available for $40.

Mophie Juice Pack 3G

The Mophie Juice Pack 3G is a portable charging dock for the iPhone 3G that promises to extend its battery life without too much bulk.

The Mophie Juice Pack 3G from mStation is a unique battery extender for the iPhone 3G. It comes "precharged" right from the package, and it has an ergonomic, comfort-grip backing. Though it adds a little bit of bulk to the iPhone 3G, it doesn't seem too bad. The Mophie promises an additional 350 hours of standby time, 6 hours of talk time on 3G, 12 hours of talk time on regular 2G, 6 hours of Internet use on 3G, 8 hours of video playback, or 28 hours of audio playback. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on your daily usage, but that still sounds pretty good. The Mophie juice pack has a four-LED "charge status" indicator, and it even connects to your computer via a USB passthrough.

The Mophie Juice Pack 3G will be available in September for $99.95 retail.

Infinixx A2DP

The Infinixx A2DP is a tiny adapter that adds stereo Bluetooth capability to your iPhone.

Even though the iPhone is a music phone, it strangely does not come with stereo Bluetooth capabilities, which lets you stream music wirelessly. This adapter from Infinixx solves that problem. For about $60, this adapter adds stereo Bluetooth functionality to any iPhone so you can use any stereo Bluetooth headset with it.

Apple iPhone 3G dock

The Apple iPhone 3G dock is just like its name suggests; it is a docking station specifically made for the iPhone 3G.

As strange as it may seem, Apple has decided not to include a dock with its new iPhone 3G; you'll have to use a regular cable to sync it. The old iPhone dock isn't quite compatible with the 3G version, because of the iPhone 3G's new contoured shape. So if you want a dock for your iPhone 3G, you'll have to get this Apple iPhone 3G dock, with a special contoured back made to fit the iPhone 3G. You can use the dock to charge and sync your iPhone 3G as well as connect it to a stereo or speakers to play music.

Intel Nehalem Core i7

2008-08-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

Intel Corporation announced today that desktop processors based on the company's upcoming new microarchitecture (codenamed "Nehalem") will be formally branded "Intel® Core™ processor." The first products in this new family of processors, including an "Extreme Edition" version, will carry an "i7" identifier and will be formally branded as "Intel® Core™ i7 processor." This is the first of several new identifiers to come as different products launch over the next year.

Products based on the new microarchitecture will deliver high performance and energy efficiency. This "best of both worlds" approach is expected to extend Intel's processor leadership in future mobile, desktop and server market segments.

"The Core name is and will be our flagship PC processor brand going forward," said Sean Maloney, Intel Corporation executive vice president and general manager, Sales and Marketing Group. "Expect Intel to focus even more marketing resources around that name and the Core i7 products starting now."

The Intel Core processor brand name has gained broad awareness, preference, and market momentum over the past several years. The Intel Core name remains the logical choice for Intel's latest family of processors. The Intel Core i7 processor brand logo will be available for high-performance desktop PCs with a separate black logo for Intel's highest-end "Extreme Edition." Intel will include processor model numbers to differentiate each chip.

Initial products based on this microarchitecture are expected to be in production in the fourth quarter of this year. These processors will feature Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, also known as simultaneous multi-threading, and are capable of handling eight software "threads" on four processor cores.

Memorex Essential TravelDrives

2008-08-05T19:41:00.001-07:00

The Essential TravelDrives sport 2.5-inch hard drive mechanisms with capacities from 160 to 320 GB; the drives connect via USB 2.0 ports and, even better, are bus-powered so there's no need to lug around a separate AC adapter to access your data. (Although running a drive off bus power can quickly sap a notebook battery, so be careful!). The drives are available in a variety of consumer-friendly color (blossom, tropic green, Caribbean blue, and cool silver)

This new tech gadget will take in only 2.5" hard drives and can work with either Mac or Windows platforms. Each Memorex Essential TravelDrive comes with its own backup software, so make sure you perform backups religiously and regularly. You can choose from 160GB, 250GB and 320GB models, and prices start from an affordable $89.99, with higher prices corresponding with a larger capacity; they should be available now.

Lenovo Ideapad S10

2008-08-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Lenovo on Monday announced the IdeaPad S10, the company's first Netbook. Specifications that make up the IdeaPad S10 include a 10.2-inch LED-backlit display, an Intel Atom processor, a keyboard that's 85 percent the size of a full-size laptop keyboard, and Windows XP.

Two configurations of the 9.8 x 7.2 x .8-1.08-inch and 2.4-pound S10 will be available in the U.S. Priced at $399, one will have 512MB of RAM and an 80GB hard drive. The other marked at $449.99 will have 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. The specs seem to indicate that the system will support 2GB of RAM, so we assume swapping out RAM will be easy. The netbook also includes Bluetooth connectivity, 802.11b/g , and an ExpressCard for popping in a mobile broadband card. It also sports a LAN connection and VGA-out. It has a 1.3-megapixel webcam, two USB ports, mic and headphone jacks, and a 4-in-1 card reader.

As for battery life, Lenovo is promising that the system will be available with a 3-cell battery, capable of 3 hours, and 6-cell, capable of lasting 6 hours.

The IdeaPad S10 will come in white, black, and a glossy ruby red. It will be on retail shelves in the U.S. on September 28 and perhaps on Lenovo.com a bit earlier. It will be available in China, however, on September 5 and in the far east on September 10.

A version of the S10 with a 9-inch screen will be available in select countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mexico, India, France, Turkey, Poland, and others.

Nailed USB Drive

2008-07-31T03:35:00.000-07:00

It’s just recent when I have posted a USB that looks like a ripped USB cable now comes another interesting memory stick, a product of plankton - a new design company based in the Netherlands. The USB stick is made of polyurethane and iron and has a 1 GB memory capacity.

Though I was not thrilled by the design of this product, I still admire the unique and authentic design of this gadget. But I think unlike the cool design of the Hacked! this memory stick is a little less impressive Nevertheless, this gadget is already available and you get one from plankton for around $46.

Philips Creepy Gadget – Wireless Internet Cam

2008-07-28T22:30:00.001-07:00

It’s a cool new design of wireless internet cam which is truly a concept out of the box. This wireless Philips cam, idea of Flynn Product Design, will really bring an extra ordinary gadget around your computer. The Flynn Product Design team has performed another design coup by unveiling this hi-resolution Bluetooth Web Camera. Designed with ABS and Polypropylene, this gadget borrows its looks from sci-fi movies that have three-legged freaks trying to destroy the world.

Wireless Keyboard Technology by Sandberg

2008-07-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

Sanberg’s latest technology integrates keyboard and mouse in the same package. This keyboard is also wireless and can operate within the distance of 10 meters from your computer.
The keyboard is also equipped with a row of shortcut keys for standard Windows applications as well as special keys that make navigating Windows Vista Media Center a breeze. The built-in touchpad lets you use your finger as a mouse, and there are LED indicators for Fn Lock, Num Lock, Caps Lock and Low Battery. This gadget is available for £49.99.

Future PSP?

2008-07-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

It’s been clear that the popularity of this technology, PlayStation Portable (PSP), is struggling. So what should be done in order keep this gadget up and trendy? Do some rumors about redesigning PSP could be true? See the picture below.

A built-in camera, keyboard and a sliding screen comes is coming out? It may look like a powerful gaming console, an mp3 player, a cellphone and camera packed into a single gadget. Though playing your mp3 and having an additional camera in PSP in no new for us. But this is not a small thing and adding more grams in your pocket just to have a watching lens is a big irritation in you pocket. So adding an additional cellphone feature and hooking inside this tech gadget a camera will make it more hip.

Cool isn’t it, but this is just speculations and still in just the middle of nowhere. But we’ll see if Sony will be reinventing PSP to keep it more alive. Wait and see.

Samsung i850 (INNOV8)

2008-07-25T05:01:00.000-07:00

Samsung i850 which has been renamed as INNOV8 will give SE’s 8 megapixel offering a run for its money. INNOV8 will run on Series 60 and is powerpacked with features. Starting with its mammoth 8 megapixel sensor, autofocus and other advanced features like face recognition, smile recognition and so on. The phone will come in storage options of 8GB or 16GB but if you would like some more space, it can be done via microSD cards. Other exciting things to be included are 2.8-inch screen supporting 16M colors, DivX support, A-GPS, 3D accelerator for gaming, DNSe 2.0 for enhanced music experience, Bluetooth, accelerometer, FM Radio and DLNA certification.

The Samsung i8510 is the first Samsung S60-powered smartphone to feature quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz), and dual-band UMTS/HSDPA (900/2100MHz) support is also built-in. WiFi provides yet another option for high-speed data. This gadget also features a built-in accelerometer and a whopping 1200mAh battery for extended use.

Basically, this new technology of Samsung is serious. Though it is not a touch screen and doesn’t have the elegant design that an iPhone delivers still this very much a phone – a technology with its own hip and kick

Specification Chart

Network	HSDPA 7.2 Mbps (900/2100), EDGE / GPRS (850/900/1800/1900)
OS	Symbian OS v9.3, S60 v3.2
Display	2.8” QVGA 16M TFT LCD
Camera	8 Megapixel CMOS with AF and Dual Power LED
	Smart Reader, Image Stabilizer, Auto-Panorama Shot, Smile Shot,
	Blink Shot, Wide Dynamic Range (WDR), Face Detection
Video	Video Player (DivX / H.263 / H.264 / WMV / MP4)
	QVGA 120 fps Video recording, VGA 30 fps recording
	Video Editing
Audio	FM Radio with RDS
	DNSe 2.0
	Music Player (MP3/ AAC / AAC+ / eAAC+ / WMA / AMR/ RealAudio)
	Bluetooth Stereo Headset (A2DP)
	3.5pi output
Other features	A-GPS
	Optical Mouse, Accelerometer
	Embedded 3D Games : FIFA 2008, Asphalt
	Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 2.0 / USB 2.0 / Wi-Fi
Memory	16GB Flash + External Memory slot : microSDHC™ (up to 16GB)
Size	106.5 x 53.9 x 17.2 mm
Battery	1200 mAh
	Talk time: up to 300/510 min (3G/2.5G)
	Stand-by time: up to 330 / 310 hrs (3G/2.5G)

iPhone 3G Technology going Red?

2008-07-25T04:53:00.000-07:00

It’s just been how many days since the successful launch of the latest technology of Apple, the iPhone 3G, now come rumors, through several Mac blogs, that they will be issuing new design for iPhone 3G – the red edition. This new look of iPhone 3G is said to be rolling out in the market on holiday season and will be sold as part of (PRODUCT) red campaign, a charitable organization that donates money to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. Apple has released several products for this campaign previously, including (PRODUCT) RED iTunes gift cards, a red 8GB iPod Nano, and a red 1GB iPod Shuffle.

So if this will be true, this is a new cool gadget for Apple fanatic to look forward and wait.

Samsung New Cool Design for BlackJack II

2008-07-22T03:41:00.001-07:00

The Samsung BlackJack II a Windows Mobile 6, GPS, HSDPA support, Bluetooth, AT&T Video Share support and a 2-megapixel camera is now available with its new cool design of pink and blue. Saying that Samsung's new BlackJack IIs are pink and blue is really only telling part of the story. Unlike the original, the stylish new models feature contrasting white fronts with color-coordinated keys and fancy designs on the back -- perfect for that fashion-conscious Windows Mobile nerd in your life (if that's not an oxymoron, we don't know what is). Collect the whole set now for $99.99 a pop on contract.

source - engadget

Microsoft Technology - SideWinder keyboard X6

2008-07-22T03:35:00.000-07:00

Guru 3D publishes detailed photos of the keyboard SideWinder, which the site calls FudZilla already Sidewinder X6. The machine is equipped with a detachable numberpad that can be fixed to the left or right of the keyboard.

The SideWinder X6 also offer a technology called “cruise control”, which would repeat the pressure of certain keys without even operate the finger. There are also several programmable buttons on the left side of the central part. Impossible to know to the moment what are the two big wheels on the right.

The keyboard plugs into USB interface, and will be sold 79.95 dollars or about 45 euros. Its launch is planned for September.

Waterproof Technology: Gadgets that like to swim

2008-07-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

Having some fear that your favorite gadget might get wet and just simply get destroyed? Why not get something ‘protected’? Along are some cool waterproof cell phone, camera and MP3 player.

EGO Case for iPod

EGO Waterproof Sound Case for iPod protects the player when dipped under water. It’s also compact and durable, features a handy kickstand and the clear casing gives it a cool, retro look. This case let’s you enjoy your iPod outdoors while protecting the player from the harsh effects of the elements, and it does an excellent job of it.

Unfortunately, this gadget doesn’t include a remote and the integrated speakers are lacking in bass. But if you are still up for the care, this is a pretty nice protection for your iPod.

H20 Audio for Nano

H20 Audio keeps the player completely dry, and the control set works admirably. Not nearly as pricey as previous H2O Audio cases. The housing itself is a pain--quite literally but for Nano owners who want to take their trusted player for a splash in the surf or a dip in the pool will be well served by this product.

One thing, this required headphones are sold separately, and as is typical for underwater units, they're not terribly comfortable and don't offer superior sound quality. But still it's probably the best for keeping the gadget secure while you're active in the water.

UTStarcom G'zOne Type-S

UTStarcom G'zOne Type-S is a military-tested phone meant to withstand everything from water immersion to drops on the floor. It has Bluetooth support, a speakerphone and flashlight function. Though it is has rather basic offerings, the Verizon Wireless G'zOne Type-S is a rugged and sturdy phone perfect for extreme sports enthusiasts, industrial workers and those who just want a reliable and durable phone. It doesn't have EV-DO or a megapixel camera like its predecessor.

Pentax Optio W60

It includes a 10-megapixel sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens that covers an equivalent of 28-140mm. The wide 28mm end of that lens will come in handy when shooting underwater. The camera's waterproof seals also make it dust- and sand-proof, so it's a great beach camera. This rough-and-tumble snapper also can function in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, so it's a good choice for skiing. The W60 can also shoot video at up to 1,280-by-720 resolution, includes face detection and smile capture, sensitivity of up to ISO 6,400, a 2 1/2-inch LCD and a super macro mode.

Hacked! - a camouflage computer gadget

2008-07-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

What do this cut off USB cable doing on that computer? Stop before thinking about anything; because this cool new gadget is a camouflage of itself. It may look like a non-sense and ready to put into trash gadget or a cable that has been cut so you can get away quickly with that Laptop you just stole but this is just a clever design of technology and it’s actually Hacked!, a 2GB flash thumb drive.

Now if you worrying about storing your sensitive data into your USB drive because this storage lacks in protection like password or encryption, you might consider getting Hacked!. Who do you think will steal this gadget with looks nothing more like a piece of junk.

reference - MAKE

Latest Technology of Intel finally released - Centrino 2

2008-07-14T22:51:00.000-07:00

Intel finally announced the release of its new technology 802.11 Wi-Fi, integrated graphics-packing mobile platform after delays related to the wireless tech. Centrino 2 will come in two varieties: one for consumers and the vPro platform for the briefcase crew.

The first batch of releases would be 2.53Ghz and 2.8Ghz model accompanied by low power model running at 2.26Ghz, 2.4Ghz, and 2.54Ghz.

The chipset can be configured for gamers, using a discrete graphics chip rather than the integrated set, if that's your thing. Of most import (or amusement) is Intel's HUGI technology (Hurry Up and Get Idle), which it says is the tech behind the Centrino 2's uber-efficiency -- faster speeds mean less time spent doing stuff, of course. It notes that the tech allows for an entire Blu-Ray disc to be played back for two hours on one battery charge. Finally, Intel promises a WiMax version this fall, so if you have the patience, you may want to wait for that barring further delays.

While these chips will be available earlier than planned, parts of Centrino 2 platform will not be launching at the same time. Intel’s 802.11n and WiMax chipset will still be launching in August - Ultra-low voltage CPU will be available in September.

8 megapixel camera cell phone by Samsung

2008-07-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

It's only just rumors, but Samsung's latest technology mobile phone would be a new slider running the S60 OS (like the Nokia N-Series).Here’s the specs:

2.8-inch, 240x320 pixels, 16M colors
8 Megapixel camera with auto-focus, xenon flash, and 120 fps video recording
3G+ support, WiFi,
GPS,
TV Out, DivX, DLNA
3D hardware acceleration
8GB or 16GB

Gadget and Fashion – Microsoft’s Arc Mouse

2008-07-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

Microsoft’s showcases another fresh and cool gadget of its own, with its uniquely designed Arc mouse. This wireless and collapsible mouse, that promises a combination of style and portability, will be selling at the price of $59.95 and available in both red and black. This will be available this holiday season. With its own “fashion edge”, this will be a great holiday gift for your tech people relatives and friends.

App Store for iPhone already a hit with developers

2008-07-10T01:49:00.000-07:00

Apple CEO Steve Jobs expected to launch his App Store — the online venue for third-party iPhone and iPod Touch applications — with 200 software offerings; he ended up with more than 500.

"The reaction has been so strong," he says. "So many developers responded."

With 500 programs launching internationally Thursday night, "This is the biggest launch of my career," says Jobs.

The App Store is a way for owners of the iPhone and Touch (like the iPhone without the phone) to add games and other software and Web shortcuts to the devices. Heavyweight participants include Facebook, MySpace, AOL, eBay, Major League Baseball, Sega and Bank of America.

The App Store (AAPL) is timed to spur sales of the new iPhone, which goes on sale at 8 a.m. Friday with a lower price ($199 from $399) and faster network. The App Store is available as a free download for owners of the old iPhone and $9.99 for Touch owners.

Consumers initially will buy the new iPhone for its price and speed, but later on applications will make the sale, says Tim Bajarin, an independent analyst at Creative Strategies.

"When IBM introduced the PC, it was good, but it didn't take off until people started discovering the software," he says. The breadth of the applications "dramatically differentiates the iPhone" from competing smartphones such as the Treo and BlackBerry, he adds.

"The games are what you'd find on a computer, not on a phone," he says. "You'll end up with PC-class applications that fit in your pocket."

Having an application on the device — instead of going to a website to use it — makes it a quicker, more robust experience, says Chris DeWolfe, CEO of social network MySpace. His app instantly updates you on friends' activities. You can post directly to MySpace photos taken with the iPhone's camera.

"You do more of the work on the device than over the Net, so the load time should be quicker," he says.

Another new application is from Pandora, which lets you create customized Internet radio stations. Pandora is already available on other phones from AT&T (T) and Sprint, (S) for a monthly fee. On the iPhone, it is free. That makes it "a credible alternative to broadcast (radio)," in part because iPhones can be plugged into car stereos, founder Tim Westergren says.

The new offerings aren't only from the big guys. Xavier Carrillo Costa, CEO of Digital Legends, a Barcelona game company, had never worked with Macs before but wanted to develop games for the phone. "You forget that it's a phone," says Costa, whose action game Kroll will launch in September for $9.99. "It has all the power of a computer."

Jobs says 25% of the apps will be free, and 90% of the ones for sale will be $9.99 or less. Apple gets 30% of the revenue.

- source: www.usatoday.com

iPhone 3G is on its way

2008-07-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

And the much awaited day for the iPhone 3G is coming near and obviously all the fans of the Apple technology are eager to have this gadget on their hands. This July 11, the cheaper, faster and lot friendlier iPhone 3G will be officially out in the market.

It’s been almost a year when Apple launched the most influential smart phone - iPhone. People are awed and astonished by the magnificence of this gadget yet some people had been put to a halt because this Apple’s release if quite pricy and lacking the ability to access the high-speed 3G network. But now after redefining its ability, iPhone 3G is on its way.

The base version of the new iPhone, which is the 8GB version, costs $199, sliced to half comparing it to the older iPhone. And the higher-capacity, the 16 GB version, is now $299 down from $499. The price may have gone down but the capability of the iPhone 3G is no place submerging also because has now the capability to access the speedy cellular technology 3G.

Packed also in iPhone 3G is the GPS chip for better location sensing. You can also try the App store where you can buy and get program from outside developers ranging from the social-networking to games. And on its physical features, nothing much changed, still carrying 3.5 inch multi touch display but is curve a bit better and weighs a little less compare to the old one.

But if this new iPhone is highlighting its 3G capability, I can also sense that this can be it’s own draw back. Since iPhone 3G still sticks to its original design of having a build-in battery, it will become a problem for the user because 3G signal eats up your battery power. There have been some testers of iPhone 3G noticed that the life of the battery is just good for one day (not unless you turn off the 3G).

But still this phone is still a mile stone for Apple Inc. And I will not be surprise that on July 11 it will become a big hit for all the crazy fanatic of this device.

DDR3 Laptop Memory for High-End Mobile Systems introduced by OCZ

2008-07-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

OCZ Technology has announced the all-new DDR3 SODIMM modules as its next generation notebook memory to support the Intel Centrino 2 mobile platform.

These latest memory offerings for notebooks help reduce power consumption and increase speed and bandwidth. As next-generation laptops are introduced in the upcoming weeks, OCZ is prepared to deliver high-performance DDR3 for these gaming and professional systems.

The benefits of DDR3 memory now extends beyond desktop systems to laptops, offering increased frequencies at lower voltage requirements.

"The Centrino 2 platform is a logical extension of Intel?s efforts spearheading DDR3 acceptance in the enthusiast segment in the desktop sector," commented Dr. Michael Schuette, VP of Technology Development at OCZ Technology. "From a technical standpoint, DDR3 memory technology is far superior to DDR2, from the higher frequency range resulting in better overall system performance to the energy savings at idle stemming from loss-less termination to the supply-voltage level and resulting in paramount energy savings in the typical notebook usage pattern."

OCZ PC3-8500 SODIMM modules feature latencies of 8-8-8-27, and PC3-10666 SODIMM modules will feature 9-9-9-24 timings at a low 1.5 volts to keep power consumption at minimum levels. Both speed series will be available in 2GB modules and 4GB (2x2048MB) dual channel kits.

Motorola MING A1600, A1800 and A810

2008-07-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

Motorala Inc. just recently launched its latest PDA “MING” series – A1600, A1800 and A810. Derived from Motorola’s original MING, A1200, and these PDAs with its unique design and filled by innovative technology is now ready to serve its target market.

Still carrying out its original characteristic of transparent plastic flip cover, the A1600 and A1800 PDA, which is powered by Linux OS, feature a built-in GPS receiver. A1600 is equipped by a 3.2 megapixel camera, supports GSM/GPRS phone service (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and EDGE rubbing its speed. On the other hand, A1800 carries out almost the same as A1600, supports CDMA/GSM dual-mode dual standby, integrated incoming call/SMS firewall and a 3.0 megapixel auto-focus camera. Dual-SIM support is its noticeable edge.

A1600 and A1800 weigh a little over 128 grams and measures 3.8 x 2.0 x 0.7 inches. The 2.4-inch display offers 240 x 320 resolution, with 262K colors. Though pre-loaded with its nice feature and design, these cool gadgets are still missing 3G and Wifi.

Meanwhile, Motorala’s candy bar designed A810, running also in Linux OS, highlights its 2.4 inch TFT touchscreen display with 240 x 320 pixels and handwriting recognition, tri-band GSM connectivity (900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) with GPRS and EDGE. Integrated also in this gadget is the MP3 and video player and FM radio. Camera doesn’t carry out standing characteristic with 2.0 megapixel camera. A810 handset measures 105 x 51 x 14 millimeters and weighs exactly 100 grams.

Motorola A1600

2.4″ 262K color TFT display
touchscreen and stylus
Linux OS
quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
3MP camera with continuous autofocus
microSD card slot (up to 4GB)
Bluetooth (A2DP)
microUSB port
FM radio
built-in GPS receiver

Motorola A1800

CDMA/GSM dual-mode dual standby
Stand-alone, touch-screen GPS
2.4" touch screen
Integrated firewall for screening incoming calls and junk SMS
3.0 mega-pixel auto focus camera and 150MB on-board memory, expandable to 4GB with MicroSD card
Dual-SIM

Motorola A810

The chic and stylish A810 is an entry-level PDA with some new features added, and comes in two classic color schemes -- white and black
Features Motorola's industry-leading smart handwriting technology, providing an unparalleled handwriting experience
Integrated MP3 and video player, FM radio and standard 3.5mm jack help balance work with fun
Built-in 2.0 megapixel camera, USB 2.0 data transmission and up to 2GB memory with a MicroSD card
Pre-loaded stock trading and dictionary applications, and classic games put your life and work in your hands.

Hitachi will be launching 5TB hard drive in 2010

2008-07-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

Hitachi is really pushing the power of hard drive to its maximum capability and storage limit. This Japan-based company is aiming forward to market a 3.5-inch hard drive that can contain up to 5TB by 2010.

Hitachi has really improved the space using the 'current perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magnetoresistance' technology (CPP-GMR). Using this tool, data density has been contained up to 1TB per square inch.

Now imagine the feeling of having this whooping storage... If you are having some problem with your disk space and wanting to have more, wait untill this hard drive is out.

Acer G24 – The extreme PC gamers LCD monitor

2008-07-03T19:43:00.001-07:00

It’s time for an extra hip experience for your gaming using the latest LCD monitor released by Acer. Introducing the Acer G24, the world’s first LCD monitor that supports an overwhelming 50,000:1 contrast ratio, this monitor presents brighter images through the reduction of backlight diffusion, a superior contrast with minimal ambient light scattering, clearer images and sharper edges without ambient light reflection

Acer G24 adjusts the contrast ratio of the input image to achieve ultra-sharp images and let this device consume less power and save energy using its Adaptive Contrast Management.

This LCD will be another catch for all ages.

Its features are:
• 1920 x 1200 Resolution
• Full HD gaming and multimedia applications
• 16:10 Aspect Ratio
• Advanced digital HDMI port with HDCP support
• 50000:1 contrast ratio
• 176 degrees viewing angle
• 94.1 pixels per inch (PPI)
• 400cd/m2 brightness
• Adaptive contrast management (ACM)

Samsung’s Digital Camera Trio – i100, i80, S1060

2008-07-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

Three new cameras launched by Samsung – the two i Series multimedia digital camera, the i100 and i80, and the new entry level digital camera S1060.

Samsung i80

Samsung i80 provides an 8.1 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom inner lens plus a 7.62cm(3 inch) wide LCD. Other features of this camera are facial recognition, PMP (Personal Media Player), high sensitivity ISO 3200 and MPEG-4 movie recording.

Samsung i100

Having almost the same feature of i80, this Samsung camera captures its image in a 10.2 megapixel and 3x optical zoom inner lens. Packed in a two-color stainless body of black and silver keeping it’s high quality and new look. Its softly sliding cover gives you the benefit of being able to take pictures quickly while keeping the lens safely protected.

Samsung S1060

Another great release for the S range of Samsung, this digital camera highlights its 10.2 megapixels capturing ability. Samsung S1060 also includes 5x optical zoom lens, face detection, digital image stabilization and 14 scene modes. Another cool feature of Samsung S1060 is its low battery consumption making users enjoy taking more pictures.

For comparison, here’s the list of features packed in i80, i100 and S1060.

i80

• 8.1 Megapixels
• 3 x Optical Zoom
• 3.0” Intelligent LCD Screen
• Face Detection
• 14 Scene Modes
• Function Description
• Photo Help Guide
• Self Portrait
• Digital Image Stabilisation (DIS)
• Personal Multimedia Player with MP3
• High Sensitivity ISO 3200 (up to 3M)
• Red Eye Fix
• Photo Style Selector
• MPEG-4 Movie Recording
• Movie Editing/ Zoom during movie
• Multi Slide Show

i100

• 10.2 Megapixels
• 3x Optical Zoom
• 3.0” ScreenIntelligent LCD
• Face Detection
• Function Description
• Photo Help Guide
• Digital (DIS) Image Stabilisation
• Auto Red Eye Fix
• Personal MP3 Multimedia Player with MPEG4 Movie / Zoom during movie recording Mode: Movie Editing
• World Tour Guide
• Easy to use Flash Interface
• High Sensitivity ISO 3200
• Multi Slide Show

S1060
• 10.2 Megapixels
• 5x Optical Zoom
• 2.7” LCD Screen
• Face Detection
• 14 scene modes
• Red Eye Fix
• Function Description
• Photo Help Guide
• Self portrait
• Movie Recording
• Digital Image Stabilisation (DIS)
• High Sensitivity ISO 1600
• Low Battery Consumption