The Secret of Technology

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic phone now shipping

2009-01-26T02:12:00.000-08:00

One gift at the top of many wish lists each holiday season is a new mobile phone. There are all sorts of interesting mobile phones this holiday season ranging from smartphones to music phones and all sorts of devices in between.

Nokia announced today that its 5800 XpressMusic phone is now shipping globally. We first talked about the 5800 XpressMusic in October. The handset has a touchscreen that is 3.2-inches wide. Other features include 8GB of storage, support for all main music formats and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

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A skinny phone concept for tight jeans

2008-12-06T03:14:00.000-08:00

Is that a cell phone in your pocket or are you just a mutant and very happy to see me? Your jeans can get pretty tight, which means that the bulge of your cellphone sticks out quite a bit. If you can even get your phone in your jeans. Designer David Turpin of France has come up with this Skinny Phone concept that should help.

It slides sideways to reveal a QWERTY keypad, but other then that we don’t have any detailed specs. It’s just a slim dream at the moment for all of you who have to grease yourselves up to get your pants on. Even if it existed, battery life would leave a lot to be desired.

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m888a iPhone Nano clone

2008-12-05T13:11:00.000-08:00

Here’s an interesting clone. The m888a will let you own a smaller sized iPhone, with dull specs. An iPhone mini-me. Just keep in mind that your fingers remain the same size. Specs include: a 2.4-inch touchscreen with stylus, dual-band GSM and a VGA camera, even comes in black and white in an Apple-like package. One thing that the original doesn’t have and the m888a does is dual-SIM support and freedom to be on any GSM network.

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Dell XPS Baton PC concept

2008-12-05T02:58:00.000-08:00

This is a concept we’d really like to see realized. It looks amazing. The basic idea is that a baton contains two roll out and flexible screens. The OLED screens roll up in the baton for easy transport. When they are pulled out an electrical charge is sent down the screen, making them rigid and usable as a laptop screen and keyboard that we all know so well.

Just want to use an eBook? Then just roll out one screen. If you want to work from a desk you can just leave the screens rolled up and dock the baton on a docking station which attaches to a regular screen and keyboard.

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CNBC says Zune phone is real, codenamed “Pink”

2008-12-04T22:55:00.000-08:00

It’s a rumor that refuses to die. The Zune phone. We last speculated about it back in July. Now the Zune Phone is looking very likely. A legitimate news organization, CNBC had something to say about it. Jim Goldman says that according a “good source,” Microsoft is “ready to give a major facelift to the company’s Zune music player that could mean its evolution into a new smart phone from the company.” It’s codenamed “Pink” and “will combine the company’s Zune and technology from Microsoft’s purchase of Danger Inc.”

Are you excited? Microsoft has dropped some hints that it wanted to combine Danger’s consumer-friendly OS expertise with the Zune. It makes sense. A ZunePhone made by Danger might be a Microsoft smartphone that is actually worth the wait.

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Alltel gives you a Hint

2008-12-04T02:48:00.000-08:00

I know many people who don’t care for smartphones, but send tons of text messages and email. For those people what they want is a phone that offers up a nice keyboard and is aimed at messaging. Alltel has introduced a new handset perfect for this crowd.

Alltel has announced that it is now offering the Motorola Hint. The Hint has features text fans will appreciate like a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a nicely sized 2.5-inch display. Dimensions of the phone are compact and it weighs only 4.23 ounces.

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AMD talks up DirectX 10.1

2008-12-03T22:32:00.000-08:00

There are still many gamers who have yet to upgrade to Windows Vista. Part of Windows Vista that was most appealing to gamers was DirectX 10 compatibility. DirectX 10 is something you can’t get on Windows XP.

According to AMD when Windows 7 hits market, widely believed to be mid-2009, DirectX 10.1 will be fully supported. According to AMD DirectX 10.1 will be used in the API for the Windows Desktop Manager in Windows 7.

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Moto Kraver Strikes the ‘Brick… And everywhere else

2008-12-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

Last night I noticed that Joel at BoingBoing Gadgets discovered an overly in love “fan” of the Motorola Krave who had been trolling their comments for the last few weeks. The dude’s comments seemed oddly familiar. So I checked our own comments here at the ‘Brick. Guess what? He struck here too. A few times.

This brazen bandit doesn’t even wear a mask, freely admitting that he works for Motorola while simultaneously and textually stroking the Krave. Sometimes he mixes it up, but mostly it’s the same old tune, which …

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Honda Speedometer changes color to change your driving

2008-12-03T02:27:00.000-08:00

The Honda Ecological Drive System (HDAS) will be included with the 2009 Honda Insight. It will alert drivers to their driving habits through a color coded speedometer. For instance if you’re going along at a grandmotherly yet fuel efficient speed, the speedometer goes green, indicating that you are a responsible and possibly elderly driver.

When you find yourself trying to outrun the fuzz at 90mph, the speedometer turns blue, indicating that you are most likely on COPS and should really slow down. Seems like red, yellow and green would have been better colors to use. It’s a great idea that should save many gallons of gas as well as keep you safe from yourself.

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LG planning a Formula One phone

2008-12-02T22:25:00.000-08:00

LG loves to collaborate with other brands. Looks like the newest brand will be that of Formula motorsports. They want some of that racing action so they can get back into that whole “Life Is Good” thing they killed. It’s as if the company is having a mid-life crisis and just wants to go really fast, like vroom.

It looks like they will be rolling out a Formula One handset sometime next year. The news comes on the heels of a new sponsorship deal with F1 earlier this morning, where LG’s Chief Marketing Officer, Dermot Boden, said that the Korean consumer electronics company is “looking to develop products in the future with Formula One.”

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Lego R2-D2 USB flash drive

2008-12-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

Our favorite droid gets a gadget makeover yet again. When is he ever going to get some respect? If he isn’t pulling aquarium duty, he’s keeping your stuff cold. And when he isn’t acting as your own personal fridge, he’s a drink server.

Well, now someone’s taken a Lego R2 and made him into a USB drive. Which is neat and all, but he still ain’t gettin no respect. Because when you plug the little guy into your usb port, he just looks like he got shot out of a cannon and got stuck in your laptop and should be flailing his legs. Such is the life of an overly merchandised droid.

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Retro Pin Art clock

2008-12-02T02:21:00.000-08:00

Check out this retro Pin Art Clock. 3000 pins will tell you the time. It’s like you have Pinhead from Hellraiser trapped in a box and he’s forced to rear his head to tell you what time it is.

“Inspired by the popular Pin Art toy that uses moving pins to form the impression of one’s hand, this creation makes watching the clock a mesmerizing experience. The minutes click ahead with a sound that evokes the classic flip of the numbers at airports or train stations, combining aural ambience with visual style.”

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China produces knock off flip iPhone

2008-12-01T22:17:00.000-08:00

We’ve seen our share of knock-offs coming out of China, but this one is downright funny. They’ve taken the iPhone and turned it into a clamshell style phone. Funny thing is, it resembles a MacBook more then an actual iPhone.

It is attractive with the brushed aluminum casing and the iPhone look inside, but I’m guessing that performance isn’t up to par. Surprisingly, the camera is 3-megapixels, more than on most mid to low-end phones. It also sports a 2.6-inch display with a resolution of 240 x 320. It’s pretty small at 105 x 53 x 17mm and about 110 grams. One giveaway that this is a crap-gadget are the LED lights under the apple. I guess that’s the best they could do.

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iQue Grill with stereo & on-board computer controls

2008-12-01T10:16:00.000-08:00

This may be the best grill ever. They say that dogs are man’s best friend, but that’s just not true. A grill is a man’s best friend. The way to our hearts is through our stomachs after all. This grill has such features as an optional built-in CD/stereo system to keep you entertained while flipping steaks and burgers.

The 875 square inches of grill island is all about convenience and letting you cook like a pro. Some other features include: 79,000 BTU’s, infrared rotisserie burner, side burner, digital temperature controls, dual zone cooking, smart touch screen, pre-programmed food setting icons and built-in meat probe, as well as a tank caddy pullout. The grill can even be upgraded to include a refrigerator and sink.

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Vizio Black Friday Deals

2008-12-01T06:14:00.000-08:00

Today is one of the busiest shopping days of the year with holiday shoppers flocking to stores and malls for good deals. Despite the poor economy, electronics are still expected to sell well this holiday season and Vizio has announced some of the deals on its HDTVs for today.

Vizio is one of the top shippers of TVs in America. Costco will be offering a 19-inch VA19 LCD HDTV for $199.99 with a coupon through 12-7. At Walmart the 32-inch VP322 plasma HDTV, (the set credited with bringing plasma bask by many research firms) will retail for $437.

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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1

2008-11-30T02:35:00.000-08:00

Dell offers Black Friday discounts in netbooks

2008-11-30T02:11:00.000-08:00

Even if you aren’t crazy enough to brave the stores on Black Friday, you can still save some money online with special deals for the biggest shopping day of the year. Many of the big computer makers and retailers are offering some of their deals online as well as in stores.

Dell is offering some nice savings on its Mini 9 netbook. The Inspiron Mini 9 running Ubuntu Linux is selling for $299 today. The price includes 512MB of RAM, 8.9-inch LED backlit LCD, 4GB SSD, and more. That price is a $50 discount from normal.

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Laptop Cooler with USB hub and HDD slot

2008-11-30T02:10:00.000-08:00

Brando has a new cool gadget available. This time, they’re offering up a unique laptop cooler with USB Hub and HDD Slot built in. It measures 300mm x 252mm x 32mm and weighs 504grams. The device is equipped with three USB hubs, a 2.5-inch SATA HDD slot, and two fans to keep your laptop nice and cool.

You can plug in any 2.5 inch SATA hard drive to extend your storage when needed and it supports up to 250GB SATA HDD. Brando’s latest USB Notebook Cooling Pad retails for $33 and is a convenient gift to put under the tree this year.

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Fujitsu-Siemens offers Lifebook4Life laptop replacement warranty

2008-11-30T02:06:00.000-08:00

Fujistu-Siemens in the UK recently announced their Lifebooks4Life program, which entitles you to a new laptop of the same value (after they adjust 10 percent for inflation) every three years for the rest of your life. Of course, you’ll have to purchase a three year warranty with each new machine. That machine has to remain in warranty. That means, no mods, no cheap other name parts etc.

Even so, a new notebook every three years for the price of the warranty? Kind of life joining the notebook of the month club, except in this case it’s every three years. There’s got to be catch. Anyway, life is no fun unless you are free to mod, use cheap substandard parts, rip that tag off the mattress that tells you not to rip it and switch computer brands now and then.

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The Morph Concept Phone from Nokia

2008-10-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Another innovative design concept from Nokia, the morph concept. Featured in The Museum of Modern Art ?Design and The Elastic Mind? exhibition, the Morph concept device is a bridge between highly advanced technologies and their potential benefits to end-users. Developed by NRC (Nokia Research Center) in collaboration with the Cambridge Nanoscience Centre (United Kingdom), Morph is a concept phone that using nanotechnology which enables materials and components that are flexible, stretchable, transparent and remarkably strong. Users should be able to transform their cell phone into different shapes.

From the website :

“Morph concept technologies might create fantastic opportunities for mobile devices: * Newly-enabled flexible and transparent materials blend more seamlessly with the way we live

* Devices become self-cleaning and self-preserving

* Transparent electronics offering an entirely new aesthetic dimension

* Built-in solar absorption might charge a device, whilst batteries become smaller, longer lasting and faster to charge

* Integrated sensors might allow us to learn more about the environment around us, empowering us to make better choices”

We probably see this technology another 5-7 years in the future, by using nanotechnology, hopefully can lead to low cost manufacturing solutions and the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price.

Source : Nokia

Provoke 2012 Phone Concept

2008-10-17T06:52:00.000-07:00

Provoke Design is Nokia’s main Design contractor and they have come up with future headset design of Nokia. They have created three concepts, Express, Share and Feel. The look of the Express design can be changes as per your preferences and tastes. The Feel handset is basically designed for couples as this pair helps in deep communication with touch replication. The share concept enables the cults to interact in a personalized code formed within their sub-groups. Like other products this one is also facing new challenges, but it will surely achieve its goal.

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Valtra RoboTrac Tractor for Future Farms

2008-10-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

Tractor is what you call it just by looking at the picture, it is not at all fair because it also serves as a robot. This fully automated and programmable robot is designed to supplement a farm team. It can smoothly carry out all necessary activities for your farmhouse including tilling, disking, plowing, planting, spraying, weeding and many other activities which a normal farm team cannot do. Do not go with its small size because it can work continuously without wrecking your field or farm. Now no need to waste money on expensive laborers or farmers as Valtra RoboTrac will soon revolutionize the farming world.

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Future Girls and Robotic Asistants

2008-10-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

Futuristic robotic assistants, designed by Franz Steiner really jaw-dropping at first sight. They predict what kind of media gadgets that would be available in the future, including self-renewing newspaper, virtual maps, and probably virtual goggles. How about robotic personal assistants ? They look pretty reliable to help you with your job or even when you need a friend to have fun with (hopefully they can clean house too). I definitely want one of those Robots !

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Rovio Telepresence WowWee Robotic

2008-10-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

WowWee Robotics once again create great innovation to its robot, it has unveiled its new WiFi-enabled, remotely-controlled robotic webcam platform. Rovia, 3 wheeled telepresence allows you to interact with its environment, give you information on how your home or office situation through streaming video and audio transmitted via internet to your cell phone, PC, or video game console.

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T-Rex 3 Wheeler Concept for 2008 by Johnathan Cote

2008-10-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

You might already familiar with this 3 wheeler concept, Johnathan Cote just tried to offer his re-design proposal for the legendary T-REX. With the the first prototype released in 1994, the T-REX is a pioneer in the rapidly expanding world of modern 3-wheeled transport that has now spawned such exotic gems as the Can-Am Spyder, Brudeli’s Three-Wheel Leanster, TriRod’s F3 Adrenaline and the upcoming ZAP Alias highway electric car. While respecting the T-Rex’s DNA, this remodeling offers refreshing new lines and added new assets. Overall, the beauty of this design imparts elegance and refinement worthy of the best sports cars.

Jonathan new design integrates several storage areas into the vehicle, blending cargo space into the vehicle’s outline and adding a small storage space and two smaller glove compartments in the front. Two windshield versions are also catered for: raised or F1 style.

4WD Quark Peugeot’s Futuristic Quad Prototype

2008-10-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

Let’s take a look at peugeot’s futuristic prototype two-seater. This 4WD Quark has removable interactive interface, innovative PDA concept, still serves the same purpose as ignition key which combine with instrument panel. 4WD Quark is also protected with small transparent and waterproof cover. Enough said, this 4WD Quark prototype has competed successfully at Michelin Bibendum challenge.The vehicle create its own class in four wheeler, which actually similar with 4WD machines that are selling so well in America at present, yet created low-emission inner-urban fuel-cell vehicle. To drive each of four 17″ diameter wheels, this 4WD Quark is using electric motor which connected to the chassis by means of triangular wishbones.

The fuel cell supplements electrical energy supplied by a Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery consisting of 40 individual cells, each with a voltage of 7.2 volts. The battery can therefore provide a nominal overall voltage of 288 Volts. In parallel, PSA Peugeot Citro’n have also developed new solutions to (more…)

Peugeot cars

Didiom placeshifting application for iTunes

2008-10-16T00:05:00.000-07:00

Apple’s iTunes store is hands down the most popular place to buy music around. Many people have tons of tracks in iTunes and teh ability to listen to those tracks on a wide variety of mobile phones while on the move would be a great thing for most music fans.

Didiom has announced that its placeshifting application for iTunes is in beta. The application allows iTunes users to stream music from iTunes on their PC to a mobile phone wirelessly. The software works with both BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices.

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Samung lets Verizon Sway to new mobile

2008-10-15T23:55:00.000-07:00

Verizon Wireless today unveiled a new slim slider phone designed for them by Samsung. It is called the Samsung Sway and you’ll find it pricing around $70 after rebate and contract.

The Samsung Sway offers your typical array of media and lifestyle features to make it more than just a mobile. It includes being a MP3 player which can be loaded with music via a USB cable, a 2.0-megapixel digital camera with video recording and digital zoom and Bluetooth support.

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New Sony marine head units like iPods

2008-10-15T23:54:00.000-07:00

Sony’s got some new marine CD receivers (slow news day…) which it says are its first to connect directly to digital music players via a USB connection. The marine head units (models CDX-H910UI and CDX-M60UI) are priced at around $350 and $200 respectively.

These new marine receivers include include a 4.9-foot cable with a USB cable, which allows it to connect to iPod and other USB media players. Both sport sound enhancement technology and play MP3, non-DRM WMA and non-DRM AAC music files.

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Boost Mobile offering flip Motorola i776

2008-10-15T23:52:00.001-07:00

Boost Mobile unveiled today it latest mobile phone from Motorola. It is the old school looking i776, which you’ll find pricing around $100.

The Motorola i776 is Boost’s smallest flip phone with a digital camera (VGA). It comes compatible with Boost’s walkie-talkie service and is also GPS enabled.

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Boost Mobile offering flip Motorola i776

2008-10-15T23:52:00.000-07:00

Boost Mobile unveiled today it latest mobile phone from Motorola. It is the old school looking i776, which you’ll find pricing around $100.

The Motorola i776 is Boost’s smallest flip phone with a digital camera (VGA). It comes compatible with Boost’s walkie-talkie service and is also GPS enabled.

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Acer unveils four new Aspire Gemstone laptops

2008-10-15T00:07:00.000-07:00

I picked up an Acer Gemstone 6920 awhile back and it’s an awesome and powerful laptop. Those who are wanting to get in on the Gemstone action and haven’t yet now have four new models to look at. The high-end Aspire 8930 sports a 18.4-inch HD CineCrystal display, 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo T9400 CPU, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA’s GeForce 9700M GT, optional Blu-ray drive, WiFi, 320GB 7,200RPM SATA drive and starts at $1,699.99.

The 6930 features a 16-inch WXGA LCD and as you might expect, less few less options for $699.99. Then there’s the 5735 with a Pentium T3200, 15.6-inch WXGA display, and 2GB of RAM for $549.99. Last but not least is the 14.1-inch 4730, which also starts at $549.99. All are available now.

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Firefox Mobile coming in a few weeks?

2008-10-14T23:51:00.000-07:00

Mozilla CEO, John Lilly has hinted in an Interview that we may be seeing Firefox Mobile in a few weeks time. If the reports are true, we may see an alpha version of Firefox Mobile very soon. An excerpt from the interview:

“We want to make sure that the Web on mobile is more like the Web than what the mobile industry offers today, which is closed, separate networks and not a very good information-getting experience for the user. The first thing is to bring Firefox to mobile devices. We’re working on that, and we’ll see some alphas in a few weeks.”

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BenQ S6: First Atom-powered Mobile Internet Device

2008-10-14T22:47:00.000-07:00

Desktops are quickly becoming a thing of the past. When you have an Intel Atom powered UMPC with an 800MHz processor, you really don’t need much more. The BenQ S6 is compact, and powerful. It’s a Mobile Internet Device with 512MB memory and a 2GB SSD, featuring Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi and HSDPA. It also sports a stylus-enabled 4.8inch WVGA touchscreen, built-in G-sensor, mini USB and microSD slot. It even comes with cool “free-surf” user interface. Great for the traveler who needs a powerful device. The BenQ S6 retails for $629.

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Beware the pink tank: It shoots hot dogs

2008-10-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

30 year-old Philadelphia guy Vin Marshall and nine of his friends built this 2,000-pound replica tank from junkyard parts, complete with a functioning pneumatic cannon that fires hot dogs. Believe it or not it moves using pedal power. It has enough room to fit hardware for six peddlers and yield about 1.5 horsepower.

Problem is that’s not enough to move tank treads, so they decided to use wheels instead. Then they gave it bicycle-like gearing to get more power from less exertion. When parade day arrived it all worked out and they were able to move along at 15 mph with a full load. It cost about $3000 to build. Why pink? I have no idea. Maybe because it fits the whole hot dog theme. I didn’t see any specs on how many dogs per minute it fires, but just the fact that it does it is impressive. Check out a video below.

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Pantech C610 mobile phone for AT&T announced

2008-10-13T23:59:00.000-07:00

As the holidays grow nearer, we will see more and more handsets that are new announced in an attempt to grab the holiday dollars of shoppers. Most of the handsets will be exclusive to one provider or another. Pantech and AT&T announced their newest mobile phone today called the C610.

The handset is a flip-phone that offers a multiple multimedia features including GPS and 3G network access. Pantech says that the design of the handset emphasizes fashion and function. It looks rather plain to me, but is decent looking.

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Swatch 007 Villain collection watches

2008-10-13T23:45:00.001-07:00

There’s good news and there’s bad news. The bad news is that these watches haven’t been in Q’s workshop and outfitted with weapons. The good news is that these 007 Villain watches from Swatch look pretty damn cool. Perfect for any villain looking to cause mayhem on a global scale.

You can get 19 different watches from the collection, all based on classic Bond movies like Quantum Of Solace, The Spy Who Loved Me, Live And Let Die, A View To A Kill, Goldfinger and Casino Royale and others. They cost anywhere from $60 to $235. I guess you can always have weapons and gadgets put in after you purchase them. You might as well take over the world in style. Meanwhile the villains from Austin Powers get no respect. Where are their watches?

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Silverstone introduces the carbon fiber Raven gaming mouse

2008-10-13T23:41:00.000-07:00

I have covered a myriad of gaming mice here over the months and one thing most all gaming mice have in common is that they are all wired. Gamers don’t really want wireless products because of the lag they introduce. A new gaming mouse from a name that computer enthusiasts will probably recognize is now available.

The mouse is called the Silverstone Raven. Raven has adjustable sensitivity from 400 to 3200 DPI and connects to the PC via a USB cord. Adjustments to sensitivity are made with the rotating thumb button on the side. 3200 DPI isn’t as high a resolution you can find in gaming mice, the Razer Lachesis will do 4000 DPI, but 3200 is enough for most gamers.

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One in three iPhone 3G buyers came from providers other than AT&T

2008-10-12T23:40:00.000-07:00

The iPhone is certainly one of the most talked about mobile phones among gadget hounds. Many were not happy when the original iPhone launched as an AT&T exclusive. When the iPhone 3G launched and AT&T began subsidizing some of the cost of the iPhone, people began to take a bit more notice of the handset.

According to market research firm NPD Group one in three iPhone 3G buyers have come to AT&T from other service providers. I am sure this is exactly what AT&T was hoping for when it agreed to subsidize the cost of the iPhone.

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Nyko Media Hub+ for PS3

2008-10-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

So you were cheap and went with that PS3 with the 40 GB hard drive. Problem is now you’re wishing for more USB ports. Your salvation has arrived my thrifty friend. Nyko’s latest release, the Media Hub+, expands the console’s options and features three extra USB ports and a multiple memory card reader. This way you’ll be able to charge up an extra DualShock or SIXAXIS controller or two while fragging enemies. The price is a cheapskate friendly $19.99.

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Fred de GARILHE tried to create a 2 in1 phone

2008-10-12T05:23:00.000-07:00

Fred de GARILHE tried to create a 2 in1 phone: sms position when closed, easy to use as a pager, “pebble” form to imitate surf and beach spirit… special materials as neoprene texture to create a fusion with Quiksilver apparel collections. When the phone’s opened, the screen is double larger, that permit to navigate on a mobile web system, watch TV or movies.

A special detail: this phone is integrated an ARVA, that is a system that localize lost snow surfers, or swimmers… a good crossover with the world of extreme sports. de Garilhe also integrated a real spirit of fashion collection, with different colors and textures for different moods: surf, snow, and street.

Well since this is just concept, we don’t know for sure if quicksilver interested in producing this, but we do hope so, we would love to have this phone for real in our hand.

Hands On: WowWee Alive Panda Cub

2008-10-11T23:56:00.000-07:00

We got a chance recently to check out a robot of the cute and cuddly variety, as opposed to the kind that will take your face off. The sickeningly cuddly and cute WowWee Alive Panda Cub. While it doesn’t go so far as to chew bamboo in your livingroom and call itself Ling-Ling, it’s an impressive huggable robot for the kid or the grown up in your life. The final verdict? Kids love it because of it’s interactivity and realism. Hit the link and head over to our robot site for the full review.

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Verizon offering new Motorola mobile products

2008-10-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

Verizon Wireless, besides announcing the Samsung Sway, also unveiled this week two new Motorola handsets and a Bluetooth headset. These new devices are the the Motorola Rapture VU30 and the MOTO VU204 as well as the MOTOPURE H15 Universal Bluetooth Headset. Pricing for these devices is around $130, $30 and $100, respectively.

The Rapture VU30 is the more advanced of the two new mobiles. It comes in a clamshell design Verizon says has a touch-sensitive external display. It does the usual Verizon music services and can also capture digital pictures, offering a dedicated shutter button for the 2.0 megapixel camera. Memory is expandable up to 8GB and you can get turn-by-turn audible driving directions.

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Microsoft pays RealNetworks $761m

2008-10-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has already had to change its software to settle claims

Microsoft is to pay $761m (£436m) to US software rival RealNetworks to end an anti-competition lawsuit over computer music players.

RealNetworks had alleged that Microsoft forced PC makers to fit its rival's Windows Media Player software at the expense of its own Real Player.

Microsoft and RealNetworks said the agreement paved the way for future collaboration between the two firms.

Washington-based Microsoft has been hit by a number of similar lawsuits.

Back in July, it paid IBM $775m to settle a case.

It had earlier reached anti-competition agreements with the US government, and fellow companies Time Warner and Sun Microsystems.

A dispute with the European Union (EU) remains.

Access deal

"Today we're closing one chapter and opening a new one in our relationship with Microsoft," said RealNetworks' founder and chief executive Rob Glaser.

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Hello Kitty USB webcam sees all

2008-10-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Kitty fans can now be spied on by the dreaded pink menace. This USB web camera is no doubt exactly what you’ve been looking for. It will silently watch and make sure that your room is full of other Hello Kitty merchandise, whether you are a 14 year old girl or a 40 something man with issues. It’s compatible with Windows Vista/XP/2000 and features a 640×480 resolution at 15 frames per second.

The price is $86 and this webcam won’t just steal your heart, but it will steal your pink cat-loving soul. Listen, I’ve tried to tell you before, this cat is taking over the world and making life look like a little girl’s room for everyone. And that ain’t right. We must rise up and fight. I have to go now. My cat is watching and I don’t want to be reported to Hello Kitty HQ.

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New Lexar DDR3 memory literally lights up computers

2008-10-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

Computer memory manufacturer Lexar Media is betting you might want to add a little extra something to those boring DDR3 memory modules – lights. The company announced today its Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333MHz) modules in 1GB and 2GB sizes.

The Ballistix Tracer modules come equipped with “activity-indicating Light-Emitting Diodes (LED).” They “are illuminated in a random pattern based on memory activity, highlighting the system memory and allowing users to visually see how intensely the memory is working.” Performance enthusiasts, case modders and do-it-yourself users are among those expected to take these up.

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AirG: A Wii guitar in the palm of your hand

2008-10-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

One thing that sucks about playing games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero is that the peripherals take up a lot of space in your home. The AirG for the upcoming Wii game PopStar Guitar fits in your hand. (And looks like some preschool toy) Just slip the Wiimote into the AirG case and begin rockng out wirelessly with four fret buttons.

The game will cost about $60 and include two AirGs. The PS2 version of the game uses existing toy guitars to play. It’s available this November and those that live with you will thank you for not bringing another plastic guitar in the house, so they don’t have to go all Pete Townsend and smash it.

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IntelliTunes is a jukebox for your wall

2008-10-09T23:48:00.001-07:00

For those of you who like to have a home that is more bar then dwelling, consider this device instead of a jukebox. It will go great with your round pool table. The IntelliTunes Digital Jukebox. It features two screens and mounts on your wall. It doesn’t just play CDs.

It will also network with your computer so that you can play all of the music you have stored on it by remote control. On top of that, it sports a visualization screen for animations to play along with the music. Consider it a Mega iPod. What we’re talking about here is a built-in UltraHiFi 360 watt 2 channel amplifier and full windows XP functionality, wireless internet, online radio streaming, DVD drive and iPod/MP3 support all in one unit on your wall. Sweet.

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IntelliTunes is a jukebox for your wall

2008-10-09T23:48:00.000-07:00

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Swatch 007 Villain collection watches

2008-10-09T23:45:00.000-07:00

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Sony Ericsson 8220 & Quantum of Solace 8221 special edition

2008-10-09T21:23:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson brings us some spy love with the special edition Sony Ericsson C902 Titanium Silver aka James Bond’s Quantum of Solace mobile phone. Just like the Sex In the City phone, it’s all about tying your phone in with the movie.

The handset will come in a special promo-box along with exclusive content on the phone including a Quantum of Solace trailer, behind the scenes videos, Special Quantum of Solace phone themes, five wallpapers, two animated wallpapers, Quantum of Solace java-game, plus music and voice ring tones. Great for James Bond fans who already have some villain watches.

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New Toshiba projector supports closed captions

2008-10-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

Toshiba is delivering a new mobile projector which offers closed caption capabilities for those in need of this type of function. It is called the TLP-X150U and you’ll find it available for around $960.

The TLP-X150U, with its closed caption feature, allows the audience to read text or dialogue from a DVD player or television signal. It also offers what is described as a “PC-free” presentation, hosting a USB port so one can show a presentation stored in JPG format on a USB flash drive.

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LED light bulbs as wireless access points

2008-10-09T03:27:00.000-07:00

p>Researchers at Boston University believe they can combine LED bulbs with wireless networking technology. The technology will be able to communicate data using light at speeds up to 10Mbps, and can even be adapted to existing power lines. Interestingly, the bulbs will use the same diode for lighting the room and providing the network connection, flickering “like tremendously fast signal lights.” They seem pretty lit up about it.

The researchers are working on the project in conjunction with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of New Mexico, thanks to a $18.5m grant from the US National Science Foundation. The researchers don’t have full working models yet, but they believe it’s totally workable. I have to wonder if this would have any adverse effects on humans, especially those who are light sensitive and prone to seizures.

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DVD copying software gets pulled

2008-10-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Illegal copying of DVDs is a huge headache for the movie industry

Software which claimed to be a legal way of copying DVDs has been withdrawn following legal action.

RealNetworks - the firm behind the software - has responded to restraining order issued by a US court stopped selling the RealDVD software.

Six major movie studios jointly sued the company on 30 September - the day the software was launched.

San Francisco District Court Judge Marilyn Hall Patel is due to review the case on 7 October.

Common ground

RealDVD is touted by RealNetworks as a legal way to turn a PC into a media server.

"It makes it easy to pause a programme and resume right where you left off, makes it easy to find the movie you want and no more lost or scratched discs," said Rob Glaser, chief executive of RealNetworks, on his firm's blog.

Mr Glaser claims that a second layer of encryption is built into the software but the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) said RealDVD circumvents its rules about copying.

The RealDVD site was taken down on 3 October but a defiant message posted to it read: "Rest assured, we will continue to work diligently to provide you with software that allows you to make a legal copy of your DVDs for your own use."

Mr Glaser expressed disappointment at the turn of events.

"As a company with a nearly 15 year track record of innovation that's both great for consumers and fully respectful of intellectual property, we're disappointed that the movie studios thought they had to file lawsuits," he wrote in his blog.

"We began active discussions with the studios even before we announced RealDVD and up until last night were optimistic that we could find common ground with them without having to resort to the legal system," he added.

The studios suing the firm are Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, Disney and Warner Bros.

The MPAA is currently prohibited from commenting on the case.

RealNetworks is no stranger to controversy. In 2004 Apple accused it of "hacker tactics" when it claimed to have found a way for non-Apple endorsed music tracks to be played on an iPod.

DIY Eraser USB flash drive

2008-10-08T23:22:00.000-07:00

Joining such USB drives as the Aigo and the bottle opener USB drive, here’s another that’s actually useful for more then just holding data. The eraser flash drive. Because sometimes you gotta, you know, erase stuff.

Instructables will show you how to make one, if the one you have now is just too ugly or with a broken case. Then you’ll know the joy of being able to erase whenever your USB drive is near. Assuming you still use a pencil, that is.

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Mahjong USB flash drive

2008-10-08T21:57:00.000-07:00

Mahjong tiles can be considered an art form, just like the game and now you can get in on the action with a Mahjong USB flash drive. It’s called the MahjongDisk and it’s a handcrafted USB flash drive made to look like three Mahjong tiles stacked together.

Thing is at $400 you might as well just make your own. The $400 drive is constructed from wood and available in 8GB or 16GB capacities. The Lan-Xue model will retail for another $100 compare to the Li-Shui, and both use materials found in classic Chinese furniture. Read and write speeds have been rated at 18MB/s and 15MB/s. The price includes getting them engraved with whatever you like, with something like, “I paid $400 and all I got was this lousy USB flash drive”.

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AK-47 bullet ice cubes penetrate drinks

2008-10-08T21:25:00.000-07:00

Now, if you can create a gun that will shoot these AK-47 bullet ice cubes into drinks, you’ll be the talk of the town for your killer drinks. On the other hand, if you’re the violent sort, you may well create a gun that will shoot these into a person, since they will melt and leave no evidence. I guess that’s my dark side working overtime.

The AK Ice Tray resembles an AK-47 magazine. Just place the other half on top and it will create perfect ice bullets that look amazingly realistic. And if you’re a spy-type, why not impress an enemy agent with these. When they choke on the unusual shape, your job is done. Again, no evidence.

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Flashlight & lamp get together in one device

2008-10-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

“Two Lamps” is a simple and genius solution for joining a rechargeable flashlight with your lamp. At least it looks like it doesn’t completely suck. The flashlight is probably not that powerful, but just knowing where your flashlight is and having it at the ready is what’s awesome here. Plus, it saves space. Sadly, it’s just a concept right now, but it’s one that can easily find a place in the home. We’re thinking it will be available in a year.

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Sony Ericsson W350i: Sex and the City edition

2008-10-07T23:46:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the success of the movie, and solely to appeal to the ladies, Sony Ericsson has announced the W350i, Sex and the City edition. It’s a limited edition white W350i that comes with a memory stick preloaded with the movie’s soundtrack, three wallpapers, and the video song, “Labels or Love” by Fergie.

Other specs are the same like the 1.9 inch high-res screen, 1.3 Megapixel camera, GPRS and dedicated music controls on the flap. It won’t make you Sarah Jessica Parker, or any of the other women on the show, but maybe it will give you some fashion cred with your fellow ladies.

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Nikon multimedia Wi-Fi Headset with 8GB & a browser

2008-10-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

Here’s an odd one from Nikon, but it’s no camera. The Media Port UP300 and UP300x video headset aims to be a wearable computer. The device basically looks like a pair of headphones with a small display, but has some nice specs. It features up to 8GB of flash memory for videos, music and file storage, Wi-Fi, and even, get this, a full internet browser.

The 300x model, even sports motion control. Browsing may be a challenge, who knows. You can also use the Wi-Fi connection to download audio and video content directly. The 300x will cost you $587. Looks like we are now on our way to becoming the Borg. If the next one requires that you dock yourself in a borg ship, I’m heading for the hills.

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Ovetto Recycling Egg looks hungry

2008-10-07T23:26:00.000-07:00

The Ovetto Recycling Egg may not have landed with Mork From Ork, but it’s ready to help you recycle. It’s creator, Gianluca Soldi, has high hopes for the Ovetto as “an object that meets the needs of domestic waste separation in order to educate the population to correctly dispose of waste in order to be able to consequently recycle it.”

It not only fits easily in modern homes and offices, but it looks pretty damn awesome in a 2001: A Space Odyssey sort of way. It may be the neatest egg I’ve ever seen. And it’s good for the environment. The Ovetto is even made of recycled polypropylene. At £139.99 you really can’t go wrong with a futuristic egg. I’m just saying.

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Aptus unveils USB motion control games

2008-10-07T23:21:00.000-07:00

Last month we told you about Aptus’ new line of Mini-Motion controllers that will be available for different games. Here’s some more info on the games. The games planned are called Cars of Fury, Hoverboard, and Home Run King. Yeah, they don’t sound all that swell. The skateboarding game comes with a miniature skateboard controller; the car game has a USB car; Hoverboard has a hoverboard etc.

They connect to the PC via USB. In the Cars of Fury game, you race the RC cars around the track and try to blow up the other guys. As far as the Hoverboard game, you’ll be racing in power-tunnels at mach speeds and doing tricks. It all sounds very crappy and just as we thought, it would appear that these are just fancy joysticks with little or no motion control.

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Digital Cameras by Conner Flynn on September 28th, 2008

2008-09-29T01:22:00.000-07:00

You now have a new option when backing up your photos. Sanho’s HyperDrive COLORSPACE UDMA photo backup unit. It can go through 2GB of data per minute and is also “the only storage device in the market that can decode and display true RAW images from any camera on its 3.2-inch (QVGA) color LCD screen.”

It will also adjust images automatically if you change the way you are holding it. The included data synchronization lets the drive to sync information with another external HDD or your computer. If that isn’t enough for you, it’s compatible with 14 different types of memory cards. Sounds like it should meet all your photo editing needs. It should be available next month between $339 for 80GB and $599 for 500GB.

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Goldstriker's 24karat and 18karat iPods: For those with golden parachutes

2008-09-29T01:18:00.000-07:00

In this economy it takes a special kind of douche to buy all kinds of gold covered gadgets and then proclaim himself the new Goldfinger. That’s right, now that your golden parachute has landed you safely in your mansion where the villagers can’t burn you with their torches it’s time to lose yourself in some quiet music and dream up another scam.

Good thing the new iPod Touch and 4th gen Nano come in 24ct and 18ct white gold now. The Nano starts at £349 while the second generation Touch starts at £449. Now where did that diamond studded USB drive get to? Ah, of course. It’s on your Swarovski encrusted crapper next to your blinged out TP holder.

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Sony Ericsson’s eco-friendly mobile phone concept

2008-09-29T01:17:00.000-07:00

p>Here’s Sony Ericsson’s GreenHeart concept. The handset was made using bio-plastic casing and keypads that can be easily recycled. The GreenHeart even comes bundled with a new charger that is smart enough to turn itself off when the phone is fully recharged. Environmental concerns even extend to the user’s manual which is entirely HTML-based to save paper, thereby saving trees. Add in environmentally conscious packaging, and some hippies might let go of the tree they’re hugging in order to get one. The Sony Ericsson GreenHeart is only a concept, but it shows a new greener direction.

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Samsung Haptic 2 mobile phone

2008-09-29T00:20:00.000-07:00

The Samsung Haptic 2 mobile phone is currently available in 4GB and 16GB flavors. The mobile phone features a 3.2-Inch LCD touch screen, DMB, e-dictionary, Bluetooth, and 5MP camera. The handset also comes with a new User Interface that lets users create their own vibration mode to be used for either good or evil, and create various personal screen designs with 50 icons. The Samsung Haptic 2 is priced between €480 and €550.

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Evangelion Rei USB Memory, Expands Your Imagination

2008-09-21T01:06:00.001-07:00

Think of Neon Genesis Evangelion and you think of Rei Ayanami. I think she’s cool, profound and I want a piece of her. A piece of 4GB Evangelion Rei USB Memory which is produced by Buffalo Japan, that is. With 5000 pieces going around, this kawaii storage can be regarded as a collectible. And we appreciate she’ll stays plugging in rather than flying around in our room. $54.25 for a pop.

Where To Buy:

GeekStuff4U

Image: Buffalo

Fresh Finger From Crime Scene, 1GB USB Flash Drive That Is

2008-09-21T01:06:00.000-07:00

This 1GB USB Flash Drive Finger from jasonscreations may be a tad morbid but it is just way too cool, creepy and ~~flesh~~ fresh. Perfect gift for Halloween or scare your girlfriend to death, erm, it’s your choice. $20 for a cut.

Where To Buy:

Etsy

Image: jasonscreations | Via: SlipperyBrick

Sony Ericsson K660: Lime Green on White is my choice!

2008-09-21T01:05:00.002-07:00

The Sony Ericsson K660 is a mid range candybar phone that highlights ease of use with the comfortably round buttons and “neoclassic” design with its color scheme (Lime on white, Wine on black, Cyan on black, Silver on black). The K660 has a maximum of 1,000 phone book entries, USB connectivity and HSDPA. It comes with a 2MP camera, 256MB memory stick and 32MB of internal shared memory.

What’s most fascinating about the K6600 is how it looks. I’d compare it to a magazine stand with tons of publications on rack and only one sticks out because of a really attractive cover. Well, the K660 can be likened to that. If I were you, grab the lime green on white, as this looks the most attractive to the eye.

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Sony Ericsson F305

2008-09-21T01:05:00.001-07:00

Nothing remarkably fantastic about this phone. Sony Ericsson has been on the aesthetic binge lately, releasing a stable of great looking mid end phones. Here’s one of them. The F305 comes with Bluetooth, 10MB internal memory, M2 memory expansion, a 2MP camera, EDGE connectivity, and an accelerometer for games. The accelerometer function is perhaps the highlight of this mobile phone, which isn’t much. But for some reason, I can’t really go about hating this unit because it was built to do what it was supposed to do, and Sony Ericsson has been known to deliver well in its mid range market.

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Sony Ericsson C905 with Xenon Flash!

2008-09-21T01:05:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson is furthering their Cybershot line of camera phones with a bumped up megapixel count and Xenon flash. I swear by Xenon flash - it’s terrific for night shots and captures good quality images for a camera phone. The Sony Ericsson C905 comes with a 8.1MP camera, auto focus, Best Pic feature (takes many consecutive shots and you choose the best), 160MB of internal memory, memory card expansion, HSDPA, and yeah, Xenon flash!

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Nokia 5320 and 5220 XpressMusic

2008-09-21T01:03:00.001-07:00

Available in red and blue, the 5320 is Nokia’s mid-year showcase release for their XpressMusic line. The 5320 comes with a dedicated audio hardware chip and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This is characteristic of all phones that carry the XpressMusic label.

Other features include microSD expansion up to 8GB, a stylish front real estate akin to the XpressMusic cool factor, S60 user interface (which means it has built in N-Gage games and S60 compatible apps), HSDPA connectivity, 2MP camera with flash, a secondary camera, and Bluetooth.

There is also a lower end Nokia 5220 with a more conservative design, accented by the sharksfin tip on the left side of the phone. The primary difference in performance is that the Nokia 5220 XpressMusic phone runs on S40 which means it isn’t as powerful in terms of application deployment. It doesn’t have HSDPA, and uses EGPRS for data.

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Rock Band 2 Out On Microsoft Xbox 360, Feel The Rock & Punk

2008-09-21T01:03:00.000-07:00

Although we have to wait till 19th October for Rock Band 2 Special Edition to come out, we are just excited that the Rock Band 2 video game for rhe Microsoft Xbox 360 is already out!

* Take your band on an online-enabled World Tour mode, record albums, tackle the addictive Set Challenges, or even compete against other bands, either in your living room or halfway across the world, in the Battle of the Bands mode. plus all of the modes you know and love from the first Rock Band game

* Compatible with ALL past and future downloadable content - even tracks you downloaded for Rock Band back in 2007 - so you can play a never-ending, face-melting set

* Has a tool that actually teaches you how to play the drums in real life - or you can just have fun jamming and playing along to songs like an animal in the Freestyle Drum mode

* Songs from - Abnormality, AC/DC, AFI, Alanis Morissette, Alice in Chains, Allman Brothers, Anarchy Club, Avenged Sevenfold, Bad Company, Bang Camaro, Beastie Boys, Beck, Bikini Kill, Billy Idol, Blondie, Bob Dylan, Bon Jovi, Breaking Wheel, Cheap Trick, Devo, Dinosaur Jr., Disturbed, Dream Theater, Duran Duran, Elvis Costello, Fleetwood Mac, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, Interpol, Jane’s Addiction, Jethro Tull, Jimmy Eat World, Joan Jett, Journey, Judas Priest, Kansas, L7, Lacuna Coil, Libyans

The special edition of Rock Band 2 includes 1 lead base guitar, drum kit, a microphone and of course, the video game. $59.99 for the game, $189.99 for your special edition.

Where To Buy:

Rock Band 2 Video Game {Amazon}

Rock Band 2 Special Edition {Amazon}

Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte for the luxurious third quarter

2008-09-21T01:01:00.001-07:00

You might be familiar with the Nokia Arte and the Sapphire Arte, which were the two phones that defined Nokia’s fashion line in early 2008. For Q3, Nokia is expanding the Arte line to the brand new Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte.

The 8800 Carbon Arte is made of a carbon fiber body. It comes with 3G and a 3.2MP camera and its body is coated with Nokia’s anti-smudge technology for eliminating those ugly prints! The device is set to cost at around 1,100 Euros.

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Contest: Giving away TWO sets of TatSkinz for your iPhone or iPod

2008-09-21T01:01:00.000-07:00

It’s contest time once again! We’re giving away two sets of TatSkinz this time around. So these sets of Skinz are compatible with your iPod or iPhone. The creators of the BodyGuardz protective film took an artistic step forward and now have artistic expression tattooed onto the film.

TatSkinz are custom skins, featuring one-of-a-kind designs from original artists, are miraculously thin (devices still fit in docks) and yet semi-protective. They are reusable and easily adjustable, leaving no sticky residue.

TatSkinz are unique in that they are a thin, repositionable sticker featuring original artists’ designs. The skins will feature a tough, dependable protection also found in NLU Products’ flagship line of products, ScreenGuardz, but with a stylistic twist that lets users express themselves.

WE ARE GIVING AWAY TWO (2) SETS OF TATSKINZ worth USD $14.95 each

Compatible models:

iPhone, iPod Classic, iPod 5G (video), iPod nano 3G, iPod Touch, and of course the new iPhone 3G.

CONTEST RULES:

1. Leave a comment to enter the raffle. Your comment must answer the question “What is my artistic inspiration?”. We will be using Luck of the Draw to choose our winner. You can enter the raffle as many times as you want as long as you leave different answers to the question, “What is my artistic inspiration?”. Please leave a valid email address so we can contact you if you win!

2. The contest is valid from today, Monday September 1 2008 to 11:59 PM of Sunday September 7 2008.

3. We will be raffling off two TatSkinz. Winners will be able to choose between the following models: iPhone, iPod Classic, iPod 5G (video), iPod nano 3G, iPod Touch, and of course the new iPhone 3G.

4. This contest is open to everybody around the world!

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Which method of invite is better? SMS or Email?

2008-09-21T01:00:00.001-07:00

From direct mail to email to SMS and now through Facebook event invites, friends and colleagues use various means to invite us to socials. Although all of these methods have their more appropriate use, I feel that SMS invites are the ones that stick. Here’s why.

More often than not, SMS invites that I send out for events usually have a higher turnout for events, even if I indicated an RSVP - and they DON’T RSVP but still come. Hmm. Also, based on experience, I get replies that ar 24 hours late - but still replies nonetheless confirming attendance to events. Does it mean that in my circle, people have a higher chance of forgetting things in email than on their phone? Because when I do send something via email, I get a reply (via SMS!!) after a few days that says “did you send it? I never got anything!”

What are your personal experiences with sending invites? Weddings and formal functions aside, I think SMS is still the best way to go because it is more personal, and people will forget their wallet - but never their phone!

As a final note, there is that element of SPAM to be considered. When one medium is bombarded with spam (in this case, email), it becomes a less effective means of getting invitations.

[image courtesy of newscom]

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Sony Ericsson C902 comes with 5MP camera, touch screen controls

2008-09-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

It’s a Cybershot that just happens to have a phone bundled with it. With the way consumer cameras are taking touch screen adaptation rather seriously, so does Sony Ericsson. The new Sony Ericsson C902 brings touch screen controls for easy and quick navigation. Other specs include a 5MP camera, Bluetooth, HSDPA, 160MB of internal memory + memory expansion up to 8GB.

The C902 only comes in one color. More information can be found in the Sony Ericsson website.

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Obama’s new ad shows heavy brick mobile phone, among other things

2008-09-21T00:54:00.001-07:00

Remember the early days of the mobile phone, when a battery charger was almost as huge as a car battery? That’s what Obama is using to compare to McCain.

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Flip Design BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 Unveiled

2008-09-21T00:53:00.001-07:00

The new BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 was unveiled recently. Other than being the first BlackBerry to sport a clamshell design, the new 8220 Flip still pretty much has the same features of previous Pearl models including the SureType QWERTY hybrid. This move was, in my opinion, an aesthetic preserver as the new Flip phone would look fugly if it were wider (full QWERTY). The 8220 comes with a 2.0MP camera and connectivity options has included WiFi onto the roster, so it does make a better impression on the original BlackBerry Pearl.

Why a flip design? More importantly, why only now? Because they can.

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Sony Ericsson TM506:Not quite out yet, still cool

2008-09-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

More proof that Sony Ericsson is going the Nokia route. The new TM506 is by itself not a spectacular phone. It does deliver in terms of specs - 2MP camera, HSDPA, GPS, memory stick expansion with 35MB internal memory. These are the usual bells and whistles you’d find in a classic design. The phone isn’t out in the market yet, so what will make you fall in love with this candybar is its form factor. Sony Ericsson has been pushing their updated real estate for a while, going for a more suqare look than rounded “egg” shape for their phones (reminiscent of 2006-2007).

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Nokia N79: Xpress On Covers and Phone Maturity

2008-09-21T00:48:00.000-07:00

At some point in a phone’s life, engineers would decide that it no longer needs an overhaul. The upcoming N79 is a proof of this postulate I have when it comes to “matured phones.” A phone reaches its peak (fastest UI, best real estate design, OK features) when all that’s left to add are neat covers. The N79 is a downgrade of the N82 - no Xenon flash, but it has a 5MP Carl Zeiss lens and brings forth much of the bells and whistles of the N78 and N82. Call it a midpoint in terms of features (I don’t really care - it has WiFi and HSDPA, so those are great already). In terms of design, the main difference would be a better looking (and hopefully more comfortable) keypad.

Do the Xpress-on covers really matter? I remember when Nokia was still “young” it made a killing selling overpriced phone covers for customization purposes. Today, 3rd party phone accessories manufacturers can get away with casings for about $2.00. OR … since Nokia makes so many phones, 3rd party accessory guys don’t bother much with these in-between models?

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Ah, BlackBerry Bold 9000

2008-09-21T00:46:00.000-07:00

The BlackBerry Bold 9000 is perhaps on the most anticipated BlackBerry devices in the market. It will be available come Q4 of 2008 exclusively with AT&T.

OK let’s get these specs out of the way, mmkay:

GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA

Integrated Wi-Fi and GPS

Half-VGA (480×320 resolution) color LCD screen

Up to 5 hours GSM talk time, up to 13 days standby

Side-loading memory slot

1GB of on-board memory storage

624 MHz processor and 128 MB flash memory

Bluetooth® 2.0 capability with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits, and other Bluetooth peripherals

This is one of those proof of concepts from RIM. I can almost hear the engineers say “OK we’ve come up with several of these BlackBerries for 2008 and we need to leave the year with a bang — so here it is - more of the same with slight tweaks here and there - how BOLD, how BEAUTIFUL!.”

This is how you make phones! Let’s not stray away from over the top designs and weird features. Sticking to what works, with a touch of elegance is by itself, Bold.

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Lots of PDF Books Available for Free!

2008-09-21T00:44:00.000-07:00

Well, if you have no qualms about piracy that is. Hacknmod.com recently linked to a compilation of scanned coding books, and their post has already been picked up by the big blogs. Real appealing for those who live online, since:

These books have everything you’ll ever need to become a master hacker using PHP, Linux/Unix, Java, Perl, MySQL, and Python to name a few.

Which begs the question: how tempting is it download the books (found here)? And how soon will the copyright owners go after the website, now that the cat’s out of the bag?

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Old Gadgets May Have Turned Japan into Resource-Rich Nation

2008-09-21T00:37:00.000-07:00

Japan’s lack of natural resources was particularly amazing during the 90s, when the country was pegged as the newest economic superpower. Two decades later, Japan’s financial system isn’t what it used to be, but that hasn’t changed its population’s propensity to gadgets, throwing out the old to buy the new. Why is this important? Turns out all that technological garbage may have finally given the country a stockpile of precious metals. Read More

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Treo Pro Hits Vodafone Business Website

2008-09-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

Vodafone UK is now selling the Treo Pro, locking it into a variety of 18-month plans, some of which promise “unlimited mobile internet and email”. That may be good news for those really die-hard Palm fans, who’ve stuck with the brand even as it was left behind by more innovative competitors.

To recap, the Treo Pro continues Palm’s tradition of offering QWERTY keyboards, but with some 3G, WiFi, and even GPS added to the mix. That feature sets sounds a lot more contemporary, but you have to wonder, what took Palm so long to integrate these into their normally easy-to-use gadgets? Plan pricing available to those who Read More

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Nokia is Europe’s most valuable brand

2008-09-21T00:01:00.001-07:00

No surprises here. The recent eurobrand2008 awards concluded, and Nokia placed first with an estimated 38.2 billion Euros worth.

1. Nokia (EUR 38,283 bn),

2. LVMH (EUR 34,907 bn),

3. Vodafone (EUR 24,128 bn),

4. Telefonica (EUR 22,550 bn),

5. Unilever (EUR 21,638 bn),

6. Mercedes-Benz (EUR 21,359 bn),

7. BMW (EUR 20,061 bn),

8. RBS (EUR 19,135 bn),

9. France Telecom (EUR 19,123 bn),

10. Deutsche Bank (EUR 18,172 bn).

The number of iPhones Apple sells in a month is the number of mobile phones Nokia sells in a week, someone told me once. No surprise here. Nokia is a machine, man!

[PR Newswire]

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MSI Wind Hacked to Run OS X

2008-09-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Check out the video below:

Full details on this forum thread. For some reason, installing Linux on Windows machines is no longer in vogue; the new flavor of the month (year?) is Apple’s OS. Could we have another Apple myth in the making, that OS X is the best operating system out there?

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Oh god, Diner Dash for the iPhone. /quit life

2008-09-20T00:56:00.000-07:00

Diner Dash needs no introduction. But we’re going to introduce it anyway since that’s how the cliche works.

Diner Dash has been a No. 1 hit across major online game portals, mobile and retail, as well as a popular handheld title, since its debut in late 2004. The original game, developed by the award-winning independent studio Gamelab, is now a multi-million dollar brand, spanning multiple sequels and brand extension spin-offs based on the DinerTown(TM) story world. The iPhone version, finalized with the assistance of development partner Other Ocean Interactive, utilizes PlayFirst’s Playground SDK, which allows PlayFirst to easily port their catalog to multiple platforms. [PR]

It’s here! Diner Dash, and now for the iPhone. What does this mean? Well, the thesis of the iPhone as a gaming platform has so far been proven right. This version of Diner Dash was developed by Play First. The game, like all applications is available through the iTunes Store for $9.99.

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Dell Inspiron Mini 9 for $99

2008-09-13T22:33:00.001-07:00

Dell really wants the Inspiron Mini 9 to do well from the very start, so consider the following phrases below:

“If you can wait until 6 a.m. Central tomorrow, Sept. 5, you’ll be able to get a Mini for only $99 with the purchase of a Studio 15, XPS M1530 or XPS M1330 laptop through 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9 (U.S. only).” -direct2dell.com

“That’s not bad considering the Dell’s Studio 15 laptop starts at $649 and features an Intel’s Pentium Dual Core, Windows Vista, 160GB hard drive, 1GB memory, and comes in a variety of colors. Sounds like a great back to school computer, especially if you’re getting a netbook for $99.” -Yahoo! Tech

Continue to watch a video of one of the people who put the netbook together. Read More

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How to Get a Laptop With 4GB RAM and 1GB Video Memory for Less Than $1,250

2008-09-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

Click on the link below:

More Savings on Some of the Hottest Laptops at Newegg.com

Look for the “ASUS M50Vm-X1″. Click on it.

To verify, click on “Specifications” and see if the “Memory Size” is “4GB DDR2″ and that “Video Memory” is “Dedicated 1024MB”

Click Add to Cart

$1199.99 + $16 3-day Shipping = $1,215.99

That’s all you have to do! Though take note, as a 15.4″ laptop, the Asus M50Vm-X1 isn’t as portable as say, the Dell Inspiron Mini 9.

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Sony to Recall Over Half-a-Million VAIOs

2008-09-13T22:31:00.000-07:00

Looks like Sony’s got a big problem on their hands, but at least their doing something about it. Some VAIO laptops in the VGN-TZ may be suffering from wiring problems that lead to overheating. This has led to at least 15 reported complaints, and at least one case of a user getting burnt. On top of that, it’s probable that Sony isn’t pleased how Apple once again steals the limelight, with Yahoo Tech explaining that “The TZ is the super-miniature laptop to which Steve Jobs famously compared the MacBook Air”. Way to be sensitive Yahoo!

The recall announcement is pretty straightforward, requesting that VGN-TZ owners have their units inspected (and repaired if needed) as soon as possible. They promise to pay for everything of course, and even to go wherever you are when practical. For more details visit Sony’s eSupport page. (tech.yahoo.com)

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Mitsubishi Sets LaserVue TV Prices

2008-09-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

At CEDIA 2008, Mitsubishi finally revealed the prices of its drool-worthy LaserVue TVs. The problem now is where to come up with all that cash, since the “lower-end” 65-incher will set you back by $7,000. Read More

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Wii Fit for Couch Potatoes

2008-09-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

For some savvy gamers, old habits are hard to break. Wii Baseball or Wii Tennis? A simple flick of the wrist will do, instead of the injury-prone wild swing.

The same never-say-die attitude can apply to the Wii Fit. The Wired Wiki instructs on how to cheat at Wii Fit:

Run: Jogging in place with a Wiimote in your back pocket isn’t really going to buff you up anyway, so why not lie on the couch while you “work out”? When prompted to run, bounce the pointer end of the Wiimote against your leg at a steady clip.

More anti-physical goodness here.

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What LG Needs to Do With its Phones

2008-09-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

For better or worse, Nokia is still the king of cell phones. The Finns’ stranglehold on the perfect balance of reponsiveness, portability and functionality continues, despite the assault of hype-driven competitors like (sigh) the iPhone 3G. Hard to believe? Just look at the sales figures for Q2 2008.

Anyways, one company that should take a cue from the dominator is LG. Lately, they’ve made some inroads into Europe and Asia with their style-driven offerings. But this kind of focus limits the potential for success. Read More

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A Small MacBook Under $600

2008-09-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

A pretty simple—if somewhat overused—premise. Why not hack an Asus Eee PC 1000H so that it can run on supposedly the best OS around, Mac OS X?

Easier done than said. The staff of The Cult of Mac is probably going apeshit over their newest toy, an Asus Eee PC 1000H that runs on Mac OS X. Interesting how those dock icons practically fill-up the entire low-resolution screen. And what about performance?

“Performance is on par with my MacBook,” says Gilbertson. “Benchmark-wise, I think it comes in around the equivalent of a G5.”

Ha Apple! Expect mass defections as people decide to go for the cheap Asus alternative. Oh wait, maybe that’s why you prohibit people from installing your dear OS on non Apple machinery, right?

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Mitsubishi Sets LaserVue TV Prices

2008-09-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

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USB EyeCandy Is for Sticking into Your Mouth

2008-09-13T21:19:00.000-07:00

Now here’s something that’s hard to understand. Basically, you stick the USB EyeCandy into your mouth, on top of your tongue, and you’re supposed to “see” images in your mind, based on the info the gadget somehow transmits to your taste buds.

Some weird relaxation technique? A new experience that’s worth paying an undetermined sum for? Also, what’s the proper of cleaning this baby up, if it’s to be shared among multiple tongues? (likecool.com)

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Junkers 88, smashed in 1942 year was found in Vologda forests

2008-08-03T23:14:00.000-07:00

Vologda exploring group found smashed aircraft Junkers 88 of times of Second world war in a forest at a distance of 70 km from Vologda.

By testimonies of inhabitants this air-plane was smashed during air fight by Soviet fighter in May of 1942 year and burning fell to the forest.
Remains of two pilots of the aircraft were found at the place of fall. Explorers intend to clear up information about missing pilots and find out what was the mission of Junkers in Soviet rear.

“Two pilots, or one by the other material, could bale out and their further story is unknown“, - said Alexandr Metelkin, second in command of Vologda exploring group.
Explorers say that some parts of fallen aircraft remained as good as they just made in a factory. “If we find a nameplate with a number of Junkers, it would be very easy to know names of pilots. We found name cigar-case with the letters LZ - it is the key to solution.” - said Metelkin.

The aircraft had very strange load on board: there were made excavations and inhabitants found printed icons, Christian crosses, and many women?s kerchiefs. Moreover there were found sleeping-bags, air beds, rubber dinghies and food containers with tinned stew and chocolate.
There is a version that this plane should drop some assistance to saboteurs. There were more than 100 castings of saboteurs in Vologda region. Nevertheless windfall of aircraft in this region is a great rarity because there were no fights during the war.

(Photos: Armchair Aviator)

iCall for iPhone

2008-08-03T23:04:00.000-07:00

Here’s something for your iPhone - the iCall (soon). This is a VoIP over WiFi solution that allows you to receive and make calls for free. You can also access same address book in your iPhone, allows you to customize voicemails, and transfer regular inbound calls to WiFi instantly.

Here’s a video overview about iCall for the iPhone:

iCall VoIP on the Apple iPhone from Arlo & Andy on Vimeo.

Tags: iCall for iPhone

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The Cisco 7960

2008-08-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

Here’s another VoIP Phone that you might want to try, it’s the Cisco 7960. According to Fonality.com, Cisco 7960 has been featured in many movies and television shows (I do not know which specific shows). It supports 6 lines, with large LCD graphical display, 2 programmable keys, 4 dynamic soft keys, and 24 polyphonic ringers.

The price is quite expensive, around $375 but the brand itself tells you that it is of good quality. Well, share your comments if you tried this phone already.

Tags: Cisco 7960

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