February 2007 Archives

DreamMaker will be releasing sunvisor monitors, one for both passenger and driver side viewing. Although the drivers side screen is supposed to be used for while the car is not being operated, this could quite possibly be a very dangerous design. Whether its even on the drivers side or passenger for viewing it can still pose dangerous as it can be very distracting and tempting to look over at the screens, especially with a large 9.2" 480x800 widescreen display. The screens will be available in March and will cost around $430.

Gigabyte will debut their new Gigabyte U60 UMPC during CeBit 2007 tradeshow in March. Powered by a Via C7-M mobile processor, it will feature a large 6.5" screen with a slide-out keyboard. Other features will include 1.8″ 20 or 30 GB hard drive, 802.11b/g, 2 USB ports and a SD/MMC memory card reader.

Electronic Arts announced that SimCity will now be returning with the release of the SimCity DS game. Users are able to create and control their very own city in a whole new interactive way. Gameplay is somewhat different than that of the traditional Sim games. There is interaction with the stylus to control your city. There are also user interaction commands such as putting out fires by blowing into the microphone and using the stylus to sign contracts, etc. Included in the mix is its wireless data exchange feature which allows other players to communicate with each other. The SimCity DS is a fun filled game with surprises that will appeal to new and existing fans. The game will debut sometime this summer.

Verizon Wireless and Fujifilm announced that Verizon Wireless has joined the Fuji Film Get the Picture Online Service Netowork.. Fujifilm’s picture service is one the largerst online retail print service network in the photofinishing industry. Now Verizon customers can print digital camera phone pictures directly Verizon’s Pix Place picture sharing site. After uploading pictures from your phone, just simply order prints from Pix Place(vzwpix.com) and pic them up. Simply, upload the camera photos and then order prints for pick-up in local areas or have them delivered to your house.

In Japan cell phone straps are a form of self-expression, and can tell some information about the person. Such as the Wii remote strap, you would assume that he or she is a gamer. Also a cellphone strap could prove to be life saving with something such as a pill container or plate with critical emergency medical information. Cell Phone Straps are extremely popular in Japan. They have a huge variety of cell phone straps you really cant find anywhere else.

Check out some more cool cell phone straps after the jump!

These days most people have Bluetooth connectivity and no longer is it restricted to just mobile phones. Just check out the Sony MEX-BT2500 Car Stereo which has Bluetooth connectivity to help "drivers keep their hands on the wheel" and not going off the road!

The deck plays Audio and MP3 CDs and also supports AM/FM and Bluetooth compatible digital music players. One also comes across an integrated microphone behind the faceplate which "eliminates the need for additional wiring."

The MEX-BT2500 also includes 52 watts x 4 output, a removable faceplate, and blue key illumination and would retail for $180 in March.

I have one of the first generation black iPod Nanos, and I've primarly used it for listening to music while on the go. However, there have been times when I've wanted to listen to the music stored on my iPod while I'm at home. I have a nice stereo system which is great for playing CDs, but I've been slow to adapt to an iPod speaker system. So, when Klipsch sent me the new iGroove HG iPod speakers I was pretty excited.

When I unpacked the box the iGroove was sent to me in, I was impressed when I pulled it out of the box. It was nice and sturdy, and I felt confident that if I set it on a stand, or a bookshelf, that it wouldn't easily fall off.

Design:

If you like simplicity and sleek designs, the Klipsch iGroove HG is the perfect iPod speaker system solution for you. To get it up and running takes only a matter of minutes. Just plug it in, pick the right iPod adapter, and pop in your iPod, and you're all set to go! There aren't all kinds of crazy cords and settings to deal with, which is a nice change of pace.

The Klipsch iGroove is by far one of the sexiest iPod speaker systems I've ever seen. It does not look cheap, like some other top selling products by other companies, but rather, exudes quality and class from its every inch. The speaker system is a high-gloss dark black, which reminds me of a luxury automobile finish you'd see in a dealership showroom. It's got curves in all the right places, and is one of the most uniquely designed systems available. When you see it in person, you'll be drawn to it like a magnet. And just like me, you'll want to touch it. Trust me on this.

The metal grill on the front of the system looks and feels solid, and will not be easily dented or dinged. I'm betting that even a fall wouldn't dent it; it's that kind of quality. The iGroove features a substantial weight and three wide rubber feet, which help to keep the unit very stable. In other words, like I said previously, you won't easily bump off a shelf.

On the back of the unit you won't find a whole lot of unneccessary fluff. Like the rest of the system, it is quite clean and simple. You'll find a nice built-in handle near the top of the back, and a connection for DC-in cord, and a small port. The rear of the unit is also very clean. There is a small handle built into the rear of the unit, and a connection for the DC-in cord.

Imagine being able to control all your Bluetooth enabled devices with just one device. Everything from your Nintendo Wii to your iPod to your DVD player could be controlled from this one device. With a new glove designed by the researchers at Engineered Fibre Structures, it may soon be a reality.

The glove is made of a soft-fabric, so wearing it wouldn't mean you'd look like some freaky robot. It looks and feels like a regular glove. It is produced from standard arcrylic and stretch-nylon based yarn, and can be easily made on a conventional industrial knitting machine. The fingers of the glove are tipped with contactors, and when you put to fingers together you can create an electric current. With the electric current, you can thus activate anything that is designed to receive those signals.

The glove was recently patented by Engineered Fibre Structures, which is affiliated with the University of Manchester. EFS researchers currently believe that the best use of the glove would be in gaming applications, and think that it would be a huge success.

Wouldn't it be awesome to play a video game with the Control Glove instead of a conventional controller? Imagine the possibilities with the Nintendo Wii! Perhaps there will soon be a Wii Glove for us toy around with...

Instead of looking to the future for inspiration, it appears Motorola is taking a slightly less conventional path with the introduction of the new Startac III MS900, which is curiously reminiscent of mobile phones circa 2001. You know which ones I am talking about. The cool flip phones with the big, clunky antennas and no external display or any of the fun features we've all now been spoiled with. Fortunately though, the Startac only looks retro (minus the lack of a big antenna), and is fully featured with all of today's modern perks.

The phone was announced today in Korea by Motorola and features an awesome 260K TFT QVGA screen (2-inches, 240x320 pixels), an MP3 player, 128MB built-in memory, and GPS. From there, the features of the phone get even more interesting, with the inclusion of mobile banking, an e-book reader, biorhythm function, and a Korean-English dictionary.

Sadly, the phone does not have an external display. I for one would never buy another phone again without an external display. I want to know who's calling me before I pick it up. The other thing this phone is missing is a camera. Perhaps Motorola is trying to target older adults and those who don't want all kinds of frills?

The Motorola StarTac III MS900 weights 92g, and has dimensions of 89x48.5x19.6mm. It features 160 minutes of talk time, and 300 hours of stand-by time. It is available only in Korea at this time. No word on pricing.

Me-Mo's new cellular phone concept design is unlike any other. It combines a mobile phone, digital camera, and MP3 player into just one stylish, small portable device. It features GPS capabilities and a camera. It also combines the two provide a pin-pointed geographical location where the photo was captured. The device compose of several modular parts including a screen, camera, keyboard, MP3 player, and GPS navigator. When you need of any component you can connect (snap in) using the "jacket buttons" and the handset will be able to detect which components are connected.

Via Yanko Design

Check out Siren’s new DP100 portable music player. It’s compact, lightweight measures 70mm x 27mm x 17mm and only weighs 28 grams. There is an OLED display screen to show track information. Storage capacity is a max of 2GB and it supports playback of MP3 and WMA medial files. Pricing and availability is unknown.

Via

Sony's DPP-FP90 and DPP-FP70 PictureStation Photo Printer Both ultra-compact and portable printers can quickly create lab-quality 4x6 inch prints in just 45 seconds. The FP90 features a large 3.6-inch free-angle LCD, while the FP70 has a 2.5" LCD display screen. It also offers auto touch-up features that correct exposure, focus and red eye reduction with the touch of a button. Sony includes a ‘superimpose mode” in the printers, which allows the users to personalize photos by superimposing a special message. The printers are provide optimized performance with Cyber-Shot and Alpha D- SLR cameras and are compatible with most Pict-Bridge cameras. All PictureStation photo printers use dye-sublimation technology and are sealed with a SuperCoat 2 laminate to protects photos from fading and more resistant to water, heat and fingerprints. The printers will be available in March for about $200(FP90) and $150(FP70).

Sony announces the Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and DSC-H7 digital cameras. Both cameras are powered by the Bionz(TM) processing engine. They are equipped with a Carl Zeiss 15x optical zoom lens to get close to the action. With its many features is the perfect device to capture fast action images, such as that could be found at sporting events. The cameras can shoot up to a speed of 1/4000 of a second, to freeze the action and capture fast-moving subjects. The H9 has a 3” flip-up LCD display screen to capture photos comfortably in nearly any position but for the H7, it only has a large 2.5” LCD. The cameras make use of Sony’s face detection and Super Steady Shot image stabilization. The H9 model will include NightShot technology to allow capture with practically no light. Viewing in high-definition is possible in the best clarity and color with the HD outputs and a separately sold vmc-mhc1 high-definition component cable. In camera editing functions are possible, so there is no need for a PC. The DSC-H9 and DSC-H7 cameras will be available in April for about $480(H9) and $400(H7).

Coming soon in April is the Sony DSC-T20 camera. It will be available in pink, white, black and silver. Sony's new T-series cameras are powered by the Bionz(TM) processing engine to deliver the fast image processing speeds provide clear, detailed pictures. The T20 features a Carl Zeiss 3x optical zoom lens and 8MP picture resolution. The camera is less than a half inch this and has a 3in large display screen to make in-camera editing easy and fast.

There are a few highlighted functions of the camera such as Sony’s Face Detection and Super Steady Shot image stabilization technologies which provide clear, detailed pictures. The camera also features a high-definition output to provide the best clarity for viewing and taking advantage of the slideshow function. To complete the high-definition viewing experience, you can pick up the Sony DPP-FPHD1 package with comes with a Cyber shot cradle, remote, and a high definition printer with all the necessary cables you need. Pricing will be around $330.

Coming soon in sometime in March is the Sony DSC-T100 camera. It will be available in red, black, and silver. Sony's new T-series cameras are powered by the Bionz(TM) processing engine to deliver the fast image processing speeds needed to produce color-rich, detailed pictures. The T100 features a Carl Zeiss 5x optical zoom lens and 8MP picture resolution. The camera is less than a half inch this and has a 3in large display screen to make in-camera editing easy and fast. There are a few highlighted functions of the camera such as Sony’s Face Detection and Super Steady Shot image stabilization technologies which provide noticeably truer, clearer colors to achieve clear, detailed pictures. The camera also features a high-definition output to provide the best clarity for viewing and taking advantage of the slideshow function. To complete the high-definition viewing experience, you can pick up the Sony DPP-FPHD1 package with comes with a Cyber shot cradle, remote, and a high definition printer with all the necessary cables you need. Pricing will be around $400.

Although the orange and black color scheme is a wee bit passé, we do have to give props to Grundig Mobile for their new Linux-based phone, the U900. It features a single-chip architecture, which has long been considered to be the "holy grail" of modern mobile phone technology.

The phone was first showed off at the 3GSM show earlier this month, and was only one of two Linux phones in attendance. The U900 runs off Linux and a RTOS (real-time operating system) with the VirtualLogix platform virtualization technology. The chip featured in this phone is the NXP ARM9-based SoC (system-on-chip).

Other features of the phone are a 2-megapixel CMOS camera (which also supports video telephony, video recording and playback, and video streaming), a built-in MP3 player, microSD card slot, and FM radio. It has a dual-mode cellular radio which supports both UMTS+EDGE and quad-band GSM/GPRS frequences. It can also be used as a modem through USB and Bluetooth.

Sony doesn't believe in moderation and today the good folks there announced not one or two but twelve notebooks. All the new Sony VAIOS will be sold exclusively at Korea and there is something for everyone.

Those who have a affinity to metal would like the FE48L/H 15.4-inch widescreen multimedia laptop. Those in the market for something more compact should check out the 13.3-inch widescreen SZ/C series which uses "Sony's exclusive hybrid graphic system to adjust battery life to user's environment."

Other newbies include; Black TX55L/B, Vaio UX27LN which has a a U1500 Intel Core Solo processor and Windows Vista Business. No word on pricing or availability.

For those professionals that deal with computing and memory intensive applications that require speed and performance in their computers, check out the Appro XtremeWorkstation. The workstation can handle two to four AMD Opteron 8000 series processors, and offers a 128GB DDR2 memory, providing four times the graphic, processor and memory bandwidth. If high performance computing is what you are looking for, then this is just what you need. Appro offers an affordable, quiet, energy efficient computing experience with Appro XtremeWorkstation series.

Via

Samsung SDI has taken a step forward in the making slimmer, brighter, clearer mobile phone display with their announcement of the slimmest LCD display which is only a 0.74mm thick prototype module. Currently they are expected to mass produce their 1.9mm thick LCD module the second quarter of this year that will be the slimmest commercially available module.

Via Korea Times

There are number of Japanese using their mobile phones that are equipped with an electronic chip that lets them swipe their handset over special readers to pay for various things such as train tickets to snacks at retailers. Japan's top mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo Inc plans to offer electronic payment services at McDonald's Holdings Co. with special promotions for some users. Both companies are set for a 2.48 million dollar joint venture sometime in July of this year. McDonald’s Japan will invest 70% while DoCoMo owns the rest.

Check out this winning concept of the Peugeot Design Contest 2007 by design student Mihai Panaitescu. The concept car has unique styling and will have a built-in Xbox 360. This winning design is to be built and will debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Newly released is the Trust Sound & Radio Station SP-2991Wi for your iPod. This quality stereo speaker system has a powerful 20 Watt RMS output. The speaker system also features Digital AM/FM radio playback and also include a wireless remote to control radio and iPod. Plug in your iPod for full functional docking station capabilites such as recharging, music playback, video display on TV via video out connection, and easily transfer files from a Notebook or PC computer. The Trust Sound & Radio Station is yet another great addition to your collection of iPod accessories.

Palm and Tolven Inc. announces availability to provide open source electronic Personal Health Record (ePHR) solutions on Palm® Treo™ smartphones. The web-based application, Tolven ePHR, allows users create, view, store and share healthcare information such as medical history, medication lists, doctor’s orders, laboratory results and immunization records, etc. With the Treo Smartphones and the Tolven ePHR software application it is easy to securely connect to health records via the Internet practically anywhere. The software is currently available for download.at www.tolven.org.

Rumor is going around that Verizon has an interest in buying out Alltel. If all goes through and the merger is approved, Verizon’s customer base would tower over Cingular by about 10 million, making Verizon the largest national cellular phone carrier. It's not the first time we've heard of such a rumor, but it looks like it might actually happen this time.

Via

BenQ reveals the new MP611c DLP projector. The projector emits a brightness of 2,100 ANSI Lumen. It features a 2000:1 contrast ratio and a ‘black-mode’ which offers clear text and moving images. It implements an efficient ventilation design to improve air circulation to help keep the projector cool, even if the cooling fan is running slow to minimize noise. It also has an auto-off power saving features to turn off the projector and possibly protect it from overheating. The MP611c will be available in the Korean market.