If you cant wait for three months to get the iPhone, and do not want the Chinese mockup, there is a pretty neat option that has already hit the streets, and like the iPhone holds no keypad, it is all about touch screen.
Actually, the LG Prada (KE 850) is almost all about touch screen, there are 8 buttons around the screen. The black body works very well, making this one of the most beautiful cell phones in the market.
But, although it has a great look, there are some bad news. Ive found some reports that the touch screen is not so friendly; many times it wont recognize the touch. And you be able to see for yourself in the demo video (after the jump).
It has a 2MP, 8 Mb internal memoy, and a micro SD slot for your tunes. Also has Bluetooth, the battery holds 300 hours in standby, and 3 hours while talking.
Well, not really an iPhone replacer, but it definitively has the looks.
Every now and then you read about people who installed Linux in one or another gadget, less often, but in an increasing frequency, companies are starting to use the open source OS in their products.
Motorola, the first company to sell a Linux powered cell phone, the A760, is now launching a Linux powered smart phone, the Rokr E6.
Motorola best seller phone, the RAZR, finally has a successor, the RAZR2.
Below youll see pictures from both V8 and V9 models. There are two main differences between then: V9 has a 2.2†screen while the V8 has 2 and V9 has a microSD slot, while V8 does not, but there will be V8 models with 420Mb and 2Gb internal memory.
Network: HSDPA / GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Dimensions V9: 103 x 53 x 13.3 mm V8: 103 x 53 x 11.9 mm
Weight V9: 125g V8: 117g
Display Type TFT, 256K colors V9: 240 x 320 pixels, 2.2 inches V8: 240 x 320 pixels, 2.2 inches
- Second external 256K colors, 2 inches display (240 x 320 pixels) with contextual touch interaction - Screensavers and wallpapers - Downloadable logos
Internal memory V9: 45 MB internal memory V8: 420 MB or 2 GB internal user memory
GPRS: Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps HSCSD: No EDGE: Class 12 3G: no HSDPA: 3.6 Mbps WLAN: No Bluetooth: Yes, v2.0 with A2DP Infrared port: No USB: Yes, v2.0 microUSB
Features Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, Instant Messaging Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (Opera Games: Yes Camera: 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, video
- Video calling and download (V9 only) - Java MIDP 2.0 - MP3/AAC/AAC+ player - T9 - Organizer - Calculator - Built-in handsfree - Voice memo
Battery: Standard battery, Li-Ion 950 mAh Stand-by: Up to 260 h Talk time: Up to 3 h 30 min
I don’t know about anyone else but I am fed up with all the wires, adapters and plugs that come with all our beloved gadgets, there is nothing worse than trying to get a charger out of a ball of wires, especially when you know that you had put them into the draw all separately and neatly, but like some sort living organism when you need to charge up a certain device they have by some magic, twisted and rolled into one mass.
Now Callpod have developed a new charging system called Chargepod.
Chargepod is a six point charging device, it will allow the user to charge up to six devices all in one hit, no messy wires or extension leads, a none of the spaghetti to fight through just to get the right charger out.
What you get a central charging hub, the Chargepod, which comes with many versions of power adapters, these are controlled by a system called voltage regulator technology, which will make sure that each device that is connected to it will only get the right amount of power, this is essential for the long life of the device. Where the wire is connected to the Chargepod there is a cool blue indicator light, which shows what device is on charge.
As the picture shows it is possible to charge a variety of devices all at one time, whether this is a good idea or not, is yet to be proved, having all six devices connected to just one charger, must generate a lot of heat, but you do have the added bonus of only having one plug to put into the socket, so it looks good.
iSkin Revo Protege its iPhone of Scratches and Microbes
ISkin did not lose time and is launching a protective layer for iPhone called iSkin Revo.
It is made of silica and, according to company, protects its cellular of microbes and bacteria. She also marries it has the Viewfinder, a policarbonato layer that protects the screen of scratches and keeps the privacy of its iPhone, thus that is to its side does not go to know what you are attending. The Viewfinder does not confuse the use of the screen multi-touch.
ISkin goes to vender the Revo from July in five different colors for USS 39,99. It knows more in the site of iSkin.
ISkin did not lose time and is launching a protective layer for iPhone called iSkin Revo.
It is made of silica and, according to company, protects its cellular of microbes and bacteria. She also marries it has the Viewfinder, a policarbonato layer that protects the screen of scratches and keeps the privacy of its iPhone, thus that is to its side does not go to know what you are attending. The Viewfinder does not confuse the use of the screen multi-touch.
ISkin goes to vender the Revo from July in five different colors for USS 39,99. It knows more in the site of iSkin.
iSkin Revo Protege its iPhone of Scratches and Microbes
ISkin did not lose time and is launching a protective layer for iPhone called iSkin Revo.
It is made of silica and, according to company, protects its cellular of microbes and bacteria. She also marries it has the Viewfinder, a policarbonato layer that protects the screen of scratches and keeps the privacy of its iPhone, thus that is to its side does not go to know what you are attending. The Viewfinder does not confuse the use of the screen multi-touch.
ISkin goes to vender the Revo from July in five different colors for USS 39,99. It knows more in the site of iSkin.
New cell phones to arrive: LG KU-990 with 5Mp camera and the thin Nokia 6555
Two cool phones, each one in its own way. One a bar shaped phone with a 5Mp camera, the other a very thin and cool designed flip phone. Meet the LG KU-990 and the Nokia 6555.
Through the usage of bluetooth headsets, wrist watch phones are finally shrinking to a reasonable size. Well, not quite yet, but soon I am sure. These are still pretty big, but when you see the model at the end of the post, you’ll get a better idea about how smaller they are getting.
The Cetc operate in GSM networks, has bluetooth support, built in FM radio, MP3 and MP4 players, headset jack, microphone and speaker. When, or if, they do remove the mic/speaker it must shrink to an even more suitable size.
Pretty cool phone, the Samsung F300, it is a cell phone in on side, and MP3 player in the other.
Specs: * Dual face construction * 9.4 mm thickness * 2 megapixel camera * Video in QVGA resolution * 100 MB internal memory, microSD memory card slot * FM radio * Bluetooth with A2DP * GPRS and EDGE both Class 10 * Practical case with integrated battery enclosed in the retail package
You can buy it at eBay for something around US$ 300,00
Beautiful, thats the best word to describe the black and white Acer Aspire Gemstone.
The new Aspire Gemstone notebook has a noticeably rounded and fuller shape; a bold diversion from the traditional ultra-slim portable design (Raymond Vardanega, Marketing Director Acer Computer Australia)
MobiBLU is one of the leading manufacturer of some amazing players in mp3 players world. Few months back they came up with worlds smallest mp3 player and here is yet another one smallest mp3 player called Cubisto.
Not just a size that is key feature of it but it is also packed with some cool features like OLED display, FM tuner, along with FM recorder and voice recorder, upto 2GB memory, and alarm clock.
Whoever buys an MP3 player, is not only buying a technological gizmo, is buying something that can cheer up, calm down, help to concentrate, and a lot more. So if you already made the investment on a MP3 player, most specifically an iPod, some accessories can be really useful. Check this list with 8 accessories chosen by the British site T3.
The Griffin iBeam is composed of a little flash light and a class III laser pointer that you just snap it in your iPod to power up. (Link - scroll down to the middle of the page)
Belkins Cassette Adapter does not really need an explanation, does it? (Link)
TunePower Rechargeable Battery Pack, thats the accessory for those situations where your iPods battery just isnt enough to keep it running, as in when you are hiking or on a really long plane flight, adding 8 to 10 hours of additional playing time. It comes with three sleeves that will fit all iPods and iPods Mini.(Link)
Matias Corporation iPod Armor - I hate scratches, actually, anyone does. But, if you are going to protect your iPod you can just go one step further, and get an armor. This way you ll be protected not only from scratches but will also avoid cracking your iPods screen. (Link)
TuneBase FM for iPod - thats a real two in one. It keeps your iPod charged while letting you hear your favorite tunes through your car stereo, as it has a built in FM transmitter. (Link)
Solio Solar Powered and Mains Charger - this one is especially useful for those who like camping, but cant stay long without a good music. Cant really tell how mush time would it take to recharge an iPod, but after 90 minutes charging a cell phone, you would able to talk for about 25 minutes using it. (Link)
TuneDok for iPod mini - Why not just use a car dock that fits you cars cup holder? (Link)
Digital Camera Link for iPod w/ Dock Connector - I cant really tell about you, but I am just crazy about pictures. If you are too, this accessory may save you the time of looking for someplace to download your pictures into CDs or DVDs. It does read most memory cards and let you easily transfer their content to your iPod. (Link)
Who would’ve thought the day would come where an electric commuter vehicle would feature Internet connectivity?
So, you are an internet addict and want to stay connected all the time but, you miss that connection badly when you are on your bike for a joy ride. The Bobby prototype from Yamaha Motor is an electric commuter vehicle that won’t let you loose even a single moment.
The Yamaha Bobby bike is equipped with a variety of Internet services that make sure you are always connected, even when riding the bike. You can turn it on or off simply by holding up your FeliCa-enabled cellphone to the switch. Other interesting features include a collapsible seat, a fold-in rear wheel, handlebars and footrests for easy and expedient storage. Parking won’t be an issue for Bobby bike. via : cmsnl
Very likeable and amused these sideboards and organizadores of CDs and books of the Wrapables. Besides helping to organize its house, them still they serve as decoration objects.
Each one cost USS 39,49 (it are there), knows more in the site of the Wrapables. It saw Gizmología.
Rather than have a cellphone strap that looks cute and does nothing, this Tiger Paw cellphone strap actually lets you clean your screen—albeit a small cellphone screen.
Just put the tiger (or sheep) paw on your finger and start wiping away. The strap clings conveniently to your phone, and also comes with a tail for some reason. This is the greatest cellphone strap ever. [Strapya via Plastic Bamboo via gizmodo]
It works on a simple principle : conected via bluetooth , the car moves as you want it to. Keys ? Joystick, keypad or volume keys. I’d play all day… come to think of it, i always have been a remote control car maniac now…how cool is that?
USB is intended to help retire all legacy serial and parallel ports. USB can connect computer peripherals such as mouse devices, keyboards, PDAs, gamepads and joysticks, scanners, digital cameras and printers. For many devices such as scanners and digital cameras, USB has become the standard connection method.
The Korean Digix company has released a series of ballpoint pens that comes with a built-in 1 GB USB memory drive. Simply remove the top cap to reveal the USB plug.
It uses a MLC (Multi Level Cell) flash memory technology that supports USB 2.0. The pen measures 15.5×1.4×1.3cm (6.1×0.5×0.5 inches) and is available following colors: black, blue, red, and silver.
Here’s a design concept by Daewoo Kim for a cellphone that might actually be practical in desperate situations, because when one phoneruns out of power, the other one can charge it up. And look at them, aren’t they cute, spooning on that charger together? Cellphone purveyors will probably like this design, because it may entice people to buy two products instead of one. There’s another unique idea built into this cellphone, too.
Check out the picture above, where the phones are seen combining their screen real estate into one bigger screen, maybe a good idea for a couple to watch a movie on an airplane. With the phones’ internal electronics combining themselves, both husband and wife could don Bluetooth headsets and enjoy the movie together while proving to their fellow passengers that they are indeed joined at the hip.
If you don’t mind all that togetherness implied by such a design, this might not be a bad idea, but that curved cellphone form factor may not be too comfortable in the pocket.
The Brammo Motorsports Enertia is a 100% electric bike. Charged by normal plug in a speedy three hours (faster than my Macbook Pro), six lithium phosphate batteries can store up to 45 miles worth of riding. But at a top speed of only 50mph, the chain-driven Enertia is more of a decorated moped than a motorcycle (though the Brembo brakes sound nice). Hitting stores next year, a limited edition carbon model will run $14,995 with the standard priced at $11,995. Because it takes green to go green.
Oryx is an innovative time trial bike with a one-sided fork and chain-stay. Due to its Y-frame shape, it’s comfortably shock-proof without loosing ground contact.
Each bike is custom-made which guaranties the perfect fit for every rider and simplifies manufacturing; handle bars, stem and fork are made from one piece. The ergonomically shaped seat post and saddle are integrated into the frame with a hole to cool your bum even!
The frame and handle bars are connected via a frame-pivot, guiding cables through the frame as one turns. One of the innovations on the bike is the crank which is designed like a ring and mounted in the inside of the frame by two ball bearings. The whole bike itself is made of carbon composite, which is baked into the frame during the molding process.
In time trial races, like the Contre la Montre at the Tour de France, every second counts, that’s why Oryx possesses an identical pair of wheels which can be removed by the push of a button.
The schools in Mdantsane, South Africa are poorly equipped and lack basic facilities such as chairs and desks which are required to run the schools. With over 7000 students and only 3 schools, the volume of desks to the space available is another key factor to consider. For this reason the design is a combination of both a desk and chair. Each desk is formed from recycled rubber.
Rubber is very durable which will withstand the day to day usage of the desks in the classroom environment. This makes it an ideal material for the design. Due to the material durability it will help to withstand damage from potential thief’s and the weight of the material will also help to prevent thief’s from removing the desk. The rubber surface can be easily maintained, preserving the desks for future generations.
The desks are a combination of 3 separate rubber layers which are glued together. The base layer is a hard compound, which protects the underside of the desk/chair and also offers a durable surface for the user to work on. The core layer is again a hard rubber compound, which enhances the rigidity of the desk and supports the weight of the user. The final layer is a soft rubber compound, which acts as a cushion.
The designs each have individual color along the contour of the design. The idea is to brighten the currently dull classrooms and make the surrounding environment more appealing to the users creating a much more positive atmosphere within the classroom.
The Digital Video Eyewear is basically a combination of two 320 x 240 video screens and a comfortable goggles. You can plug it in to your DVD player or video iPod and indulge in your favourite movie all on your own without having to share the screen with anybody else!
PLUS you can view any field-sequential content in 3D! Talk about virtual reality eh? But of course you need the content first for you to view it. Just Google for movies that support this content and buy or download it. Get the Digital Video Eyewear and experience the difference!
This compact electric bike, the EC-02 from Yamaha, costs just under $2000. First introduced in Japan two years ago, the EC-02 is similar to the Enertia motorcycle. But this scooter has more modest specs: a top speed of 18 MPH and a range of 40 miles. So it’s more suitable for commuters and scooting around in your neighborhood. There’s also a special iPod edition of the EC-02, that has a built-in iPod dock.
Interestingly, this scooter also glows in the dark Why? Yamaha says: ‘The technology enables the exterior to give a more vividly stereoscopic impression of the three-dimensional shape of any surface treated with the film.’
Samsung may try to unofficially claim the throne as the king of slim, but their fellow Korean companies aren’t going to give up without a fight. One of their biggest competitors, in the cell phone market anyways, is LG Electronics, and it seems that LG wants a big piece of the ultra-thin pie for themselves. The Korean manufacturer has just unveiled a new TFT LCD display that is a mere 1.48mm thick, or about 0.058-inches for those of you who aren’t metrically inclined.
Showcased in both 2.0 and 2.2-inch sizes, this new display will handle QVGA resolutions without a hitch, and they’re proposing various applications. I’m sure you can guess a few of these, like portable gaming machines, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and multimedia players. If integrated into a new batch of mobile phones, along with some other slim stuff, Samsung may have quite a battle for themselves when it comes to maintaining that they also have the “world’s thinnest”.
No word on when the TFT LCD’s will be available, and whether they plan on selling the technology for other companies’ uses.
YouTube on Apple TV - It’s Official, It goes live in a few weeks.
YouTube Coming to Apple TV
CUPERTINO, California-May, 30, 2007-Apple® today announced that it’s bringing the Internet’s most popular originally-created content from YouTube to the living room with Apple TV™. Beginning in mid-June, Apple TV will wirelessly stream videos directly from YouTube and play them on a user’s widescreen TV. Using Apple TV’s elegant interface and simple Apple Remote, viewers can easily browse, find and watch free videos from YouTube in the comfort of their living room.
“This is the first time users can easily browse, find and watch YouTube videos right from their living room couch, and it’s really, really fun,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “YouTube is a worldwide sensation, and Apple TV is bringing it directly from the Internet onto the widescreen TV in your living room.”
Thousands of the most current and popular YouTube videos will be available on Apple TV at launch in mid-June, with YouTube adding thousands more each week until the full YouTube catalog is available this fall. With Apple TV’s stunning interface and simple Apple Remote, users can easily navigate through YouTube’s familiar video browsing categories or search for specific videos. YouTube members can also log-in to their YouTube accounts on Apple TV to view and save their favorite videos.
Apple TV seamlessly integrates with iTunes® to wirelessly play a user’s favorite content from a PC or Mac® on their widescreen TV, including movies, TV shows, music, photos and podcasts. Apple TV users can choose from over 500 movies and 350 TV shows in near DVD quality; over five million songs; 5,000 music videos; 100,000 podcasts; and 20,000 audiobooks from the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com). Users can enjoy their favorite music on a home entertainment system and view slideshows of their photo albums on a widescreen TV.
Apple today also announced that it is offering a new Apple TV build-to-order option with a 160GB hard drive. The new larger hard drive offers four times the storage for up to 200 hours of video, 36,000 songs, 25,000 photos or a combination of each.* Apple TV is easy to connect to a broad range of widescreen TVs and home theater systems and comes standard with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports. Using high-speed AirPort® 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking, Apple TV can auto-sync content from one computer or stream content from up to five additional computers right to a TV without any wires.**
Pricing & Availability
Apple TV, which includes the Apple Remote, is available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $299 (US). Apple TV with a 160GB hard drive will be available tomorrow for a suggested retail price of $399 (US). The YouTube feature for Apple TV will be available as a free software update in mid-June.
Apple TV requires iTunes 7.1 or later running on a Mac with Mac OS® X version 10.3.9 or later, or a Windows PC with Windows XP Home/Professional (SP2).
An 802.11b/g/n wireless network using AirPort, AirPort Extreme® or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking is required. Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended, fees may apply. Apple TV requires an enhanced definition or high-definition widescreen TV. iPod® games will not play on Apple TV. The iTunes store is available in the US and select countries.
*Video playback based on 640×480 iTunes video content. Music capacity based on four minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding. Photo capacity based on Apple TV viewable photos transferred from iTunes. Actual capacity varies by content.
**Based on an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. Compatible with 802.11b/g/n, wireless video streaming requires an 802.11g/n network.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and will enter the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone.
Mitsubishi Electric has completed construction of the world’s largest high-definition video screen at a horse track in Tokyo. The screen employs Mitsubishi’s Aurora Vision LED technology and measures 11.2 meters (37 feet) x 66.4 meters (218 feet), giving it a surface area of 744 square meters (8,000+ square feet), or the equivalent of 3 tennis courts. Mitsubishi manufactured the screen for the Japan Racing Association (JRA) at its Nagasaki factory in the town of Togitsu, Nagasaki prefecture. The screen was divided into 35 pieces for delivery to the Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo.
The bright, high-definition display is 3 times larger than what was previously installed at the horse track, and the screen’s three sections allow the audience to take in the action at other tracks. Total cost is reported to be 3.2 billion yen (US$28 million).
Solar Building Automatically Shades Itself From The Sun
The Devonshire Building is a very green building, that automatically opens and closes banks of shades on it’s south facing façade. The “intelligent” system tracks the amount of sunlight entering the windows, and takes into account the time of day and season. The key architectural aim was to design a building that would incorporate as much natural daylight as physically possible. The blinds help manage overheating, and they are backed up by a geothermal cooling system. To top it all off, the building has solar modules on it’s roof that generate 25 kW of power.
The building’s large roof area also allowed the construction of a rainwater harvest system. The rain is collected via a symphonic rainwater system and then fed into a 20,000 liter underground tank. If the rainwater tank overfills, it overflows to a 40,000 liter geothermal tank to replenish the water for a heat sink that acts as a cooling source for the building and services’ systems.
The Devonshire Building was designed by the Dewjoc architecture firm. It is home to the Institute for Research and Sustainability at the University of Newcastle.
