Gadgets Blog News

by Thomas Ricker, posted Apr 11th 2008 at 2:15AM When you call your product a Mobile Multimedia Solution it had better offer up a pretty robust set of connectivity options; especially when it costs $1,100. In that manner, Alpine’s new WXGA touch-screen IVA-W505 doesn’t disappoint. The 7-inch DVD/CD/MP3/AAC/WMA/DivX AV head unit offers Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and touch control over all your in-car digital media sources. The list includes HD/Sat radio (with iTunes tagging) and MP3/WMA players like iPods and USB sticks. The double-DIN unit is IMPRINT, acoustic-correction ready and serves as a dock for Alpine’s PMD-B200 portable GPS unit. Sweet. Available now through authorized dealers in North America. (Read the full post about ‘Alpine’s head unit supports iPods, DivX playback and everything else’…)

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The Samsung SGH-F490 is the latest device to land on Vodafone UK’s handset lineup, and promises to add yet another great option for those looking for a multimedia-centric phone. It has a lot of similarities to the recently introduced Samsung Instinct, but know that the SGH-F490 has some interesting features of its own. The Samsung SGH-F490 is a touch-enabled device with a 3.2-inch display capable of showing up to 262k colors. It sports a very minimalist design with only a few hot keys on its front face and a lone speaker for voice calls. And unlike the iphone, the SGH-F490 is 3G enabled. Chew on it Apple. (Read the full post about ‘Vodafone UK adds Samsung SGH-F490 to its lineup’…)

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by Darren Murph, posted Apr 10th 2008 at 4:49PM Granted, it’s becoming increasingly simple to just Twitter your day away with the smorgasbord of connectivity options out there today, but if you’re just too productive to bother with that, the Tame concept is likely to become your next best friend. The cube shown above can be equipped with customized statuses that will inform anyone trying to contact you (via Facebook, text, cellphone, IM, fax, telegraph, can-and-string, etc.) exactly why you aren’t responding. For convenience, each panel is assigned a color depending on the severity of your away-ness (i.e. red for “I’m on a 14-hour flight to Fiji with no blackberry service.”), which can easily be glanced by the owner if dashing off in a hurry. (Read the full post about ‘Tame cube concept dishes out your availability status’…)

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A US Appeals Court denied EchoStar’s appeal to re-hear the case that EchoStar (Dish Network) violated a patent that TiVo holds. Get this - the patent that TiVo holds says that you can watch one channel and record another simultaneously.

Wow. Really? I for one say that this is absurd. Is our patent system so ridiculously broken? I think I’m going to build a website tonight and then patent how visitors can click on links and be taken to other parts of the site. Yeah, I stretched for that analogy, but come on. This reminds me of Amazon’s ‘1-click’ shopping patent.

(Read the full post about ‘TiVo wins again in court vs EchoStar (Dish)’…)

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by Donald Melanson, posted Apr 10th 2008 at 3:13PMAs expected, the FCC today approved plans to roll out a nationwide SMS-based alert system, which is now all but certain to be adopted by all four national carries, and no doubt most regional carriers as well. As CNN reports, under the new plan, the FCC will appoint a federal agency tasked with creating the messages, which will in turn be passed on to participating carriers (which will have ten months to comply with the system once the agency is named). Those messages will be limited to one of three categories of emergencies, including disasters like a terrorist attack, ongoing threats like hurricanes or earthquakes, or child abductions or amber alerts. (Read the full post about ‘FCC gives national SMS alert system stamp of approval’…)

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by Darren Murph, posted Apr 10th 2008 at 3:46PM
This one’s been available for a tick, but ivyskin’s brilliant new iPhone case is just too marvelous to ignore. The Xylo Touch-Thru (T2) claims to be the first case to put a hard shell atop the iphone’s touch panel which can remain in place as you check your email, respond to a SMS or dial up the local pizza joint. By utilizing Surface Xylo Wave technology, ultrasonic waves are able to permeate through to the display without interference, allowing users to simultaneously keep their precious panel protected ’round the clock while not inhibiting their ability to touch and feel. (Read the full post about ‘Ivyskin’s Xylo T2 case engulfs your iPhone, doesn’t inhibit touchscreen use’…)

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Remember how Dick Tracy used his watch as a communicator? Considering the last incarnation of Dick Tracy came out in 1990, I’m not surprised if you don’t. Let’s try this one: Remember when Michael Knight used his watch to talk to KITT? I’m sure anyone eighteen years of age or younger has no idea what I’m talking about. Well, here’s a wrist communicator that anyone from any generation can understand: the Van Der Led WM2 Watchphone. I have only three words to say about this: “Yeah, baby, yeah!” After all, science fiction writers have envisioned communication devices on our watches for years. Isn’t it about time that someone made it into reality by putting a cellular phone on a watch? (Read the full post about ‘Van Der Led WM2 Watchphone’…)

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Teac has just rolled out its 1:11 USB Flash Drive Duplicators and 1:11 SD Card Duplicators under the Teac Flash Duplication systems umbrella. These devices will be able to copy, compare and even erase up to 11 USB flash drives or SD memory cards simultaneously, which saves you a whole lot of trouble should you be in a hurry to make duplicates for everyone in the department. The functions themselves are selectable from the duplicator controller that is accompanied by an LCD display, making it a snap to control. According to Les Luzar, TEAC’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “More and more USB flash drives are used to distribute content or product infomation at presentations, to customers, internally within the organization or for photos, data, files and music. (Read the full post about ‘Teac introduces 1:11 card duplicators’…)

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Check out this USB cable that is extremely functional - more than what I’ve seen in the past anyways. It not only opens up in half to reveal itself as a microSD memory card reader, it also doubles up as a charging cable and functions as a data connection cable as well, as long as your device relies on a 5-pin mini USB connection. Available in gray, black, green, orange and blue colors, the ultra-smart USB cable retails for $14 a pop. Since it also works great as a cell phone charm, it makes perfect sense to tote this around with you wherever you go. (Read the full post about ‘Ultra-smart USB cable’…)

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by Darren Murph, posted Apr 10th 2008 at 1:13PMRemember the first time you completed a full race on Super Mario Kart (frustrating finish and all)? If you’ve somehow let less important things push those blissful memories aside, take a glance at ryo007’s beautifully assembled papercraft set and see if doesn’t start to come back. This palm-sized kit features a detailed SNES console, a couple of controllers and a hollow version of Super Mario All-Stars. Best of all, the creator has hosted a template in order for you, closet SNES lover, to create your own. (Read the full post about ‘Super Nintendo papercraft set brings memories rushing back’…)

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