Hi-tech Frontier

Flobi robot head realistic enough to convey emotions, not realistic enough to give children nightmares

2010-08-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

Flobi robot head realistic enough to convey emotions, not realistic enough to give children nightmares

We've seen our fair share of robots meant to convey emotions, and they somehow never fail to creep us out on some level. At least Flobi, the handiwork of engineers at Bielefeld University in Germany, eschews "realism" for cartoon cuteness. But don't let it fool you, this is a complicated device: about the size of a human head, it features a number of actuators, microscopes, gyroscopes, and cameras, and has the ability to exhibit a wide range of facial expressions by moving its eyes, eyebrows and mouth. The thing can even blush via its cheek-mounted LEDs, and it can either take on the appearance of a male or female with swappable hair and facial features. And the cartoonish quality of the visage is deliberate. According to a paper submitted by the group to the ICRA 2010 conference, the head is "far enough from realistic not to trigger unwanted reactions, but close enough that we can take advantage of familiarity with human faces."

Sony Ultimate Weapon Gaming headsets

2010-08-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

Sony Ultimate Weapon Gaming headsets

According to Sony, your Ultimate Weapon when it comes to schooling fools on the FPS battlefield is a 3D surround sound headset. Just like its newly minted DR-GA500 above, what a coincidence! Coming with a separate box to process your computer's audio into a 7.1-channel surround sound environment, this mic-equipped set of cans is targeted squarely at gamers looking to optimize every last inch of their fragging experience. There's also a GA-200 model that makes do without the extra audio processing. Both variants share the super special "triple enfolding" padding design, which is intended to make the headgear comfortable for prolonged use. Prices and retail dates aren't yet available, but just to underline that gaming connection one extra time, Sony will be bundling a free copy of the latest Medal of Honor with these 'phones starting in mid-October.

Genius MousePen M508 and M508W Multimedia Tablets

2010-08-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

Genius MousePen M508 and M508W Multimedia Tablets

Genius introduces two new multimedia tablets for designers, the MousePen M508 and the wireless MousePen M508W. These tablets feature a 5×8-inch switchable working area, 4000 LPI high accuracy and sensitivity for a highly reactive cursor, 1024-level pressure sensitivity and 13 Programmable keys.

The M508W uses 2.4GHz wireless technology and offers four express keys for Desktop, Flip 3D, Next Page, Previous Page, while the wired M508 gets a creative touchpad for scrolling, zooming in/out and brush control functions and four express keys for eraser, undo, layer and brush.
Coming in September, the MousePen M508 and M508W are priced at $149 and $199 respectively.

Axon Haptic 10-inch Tablet lets you choose between Windows, Linux and Darwin OS

2010-08-16T08:33:00.002-07:00

Axon Haptic 10-inch Tablet lets you choose between Windows, Linux and Darwin OS

A company called Axon Logic is going to release its Haptic, a 10-inch slate style tablet PC. One of the main features of the device is its support for multiple OS including Windows, Linux and Darwin OS. According to the company, the Darwin kernal and system specific kexts have been pre-loaded on a hidden EFI parition, meaning users can install their Darin OS effortlessly.
The Axon Haptic is boosted by an Atom N270 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 320GB hard drive. It comes with a 10.1-inch 1024×600 resistive touchscreen with LED-backlit and stylus. It supports WiFi 802.11b/g/n, optional CDMA EVDO 3G and optional Bluetooth. You can also find a 1.3 Megapixel webcam, card reader and a 3000mAh battery. The Haptic weighs just 0.9 kg.

iXP1-500 USB Adapter Lets Your iPad Charge Anywhere

2010-08-16T08:33:00.001-07:00

iXP1-500 USB Adapter Lets Your iPad Charge Anywhere

Tired of not being able to charge your iPad on non-Apple computers or even older Apple hardware? Well with this $4.95 iXP1-500 USB adapter from XP1-Power you’ll never see that annoying ‘Not Charging’ message ever again. It sits between the iPad’s sync cable and the USB port on any PC and does some kind of hokus-pokus allowing the iPad to charge no matter the hardware. The website is completely vague and useless when it comes to how it works, but for just $5 this could be a case of who cares, as long as it does.

Tocky Touch Rolling Alarm Clock

2010-08-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Tocky Touch Rolling Alarm Clock

Remember Clocky? It was the alarm clock with a set of rubber tires that allowed it to drive off when the alarm sounded, forcing you out of bed in order to hunt it down and silence it. Well Tocky here is billed as its “tech savvy” younger brother, and instead of driving away on a set of tires, Tocky is able to simply roll away on its own once again forcing you to find where its ended up before you can silence the alarm.

Annoying for sure, though it’s probably a very effective way to wake up in the morning. But Tocky isn’t just a one-trick pony. Besides its built-in escape mechanism it also has a touch sensitive interface which makes setting the clock and alarms as easy as spinning your ﬁnger around the dial. It’s also got a voice recorder if you prefer to wake up to the sound of your own voice and can be connected to a PC in order to upload MP3s if you prefer to wake up to music. Tocky is available in bright, playful colors like orange, white, aqua and kiwi and were it not for its $79 price tag I’d say it was a must-have for those of us who have to fight our way out of bed each morn.

Overheating iPod delays rush-hour train in Tokyo

2010-08-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

Overheating iPod delays rush-hour train in Tokyo

Poor Apple. The company just can't catch a break these days. On Wednesday, Apple Japan began offering customers iPod nano replacements, giving in to local government demands to better address an overheating battery issue affecting Apple's first generation iPod nano players. Then Friday morning (making the English-language press only now) a busy rush-hour commuter train was stopped in Tokyo to investigate a smell. According to a spokesman, "When a member of staff went to investigate inside the train, a passenger came over showing him that the iPod she was listening to had burst apart." No injuries were reported and the exact iPod model is still unknown. However, we can be certain that the eight minute delay on Japan's notoriously timely railway system caused many commuters to question their ability to go on.

Philips' Android-powered GoGear Connect PMP seemingly on sale overseas

2010-08-16T08:05:00.001-07:00

Philips' Android-powered GoGear Connect PMP seemingly on sale overseas

We suppose it could always be a glitch of some sort, but Argos isn't typically the kind of retailer to add products to its library with no intention of hawking them. First spotted back in February (with a pleasing dose of steroids, might we add), Philips' newest GoGear Connect is ditching the proprietary OS in favor of Google's alternative, following Samsung's Yepp-YP-MB2 into the mysterious world of Android-based PMPs. The product listing shows the 3.2-inch media player as boasting Android 2.1, 16GB of internal storage space, a battery good for 5 hours of video playback (and 25 hours of audio), FM radio tuner, a touchpanel and a microSD expansion slot. Curiously enough, GPS is also thrown in, as are a set of presumably lackluster headphones. It's listed for a scarily inflated €264.99 ($340), but mum's the word on an international release -- 'course, it's not like Philips hasn't ignored North America before, so we'd recommend not holding your breath.

LG's 3D office projectors are ready to entertain the staff

2010-08-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

LG's 3D office projectors are ready to entertain the staff

If we can distract your sympathies from that rather unfortunately bespectacled product waif for a second, we'd like to tell you about LG's latest 3D projectors for the office. The LG BX327 pumps 3,200 lumens for 1,300,000KRW (about $1,090) while the BX327 scales things back to 2,700 lumens for 1,000,000KRW (about $837). Otherwise, both feature a 2,300:1 contrast, stereo speakers, and a USB jack for sourcing documents, videos, and photos directly off of a USB stick. Unfortunately, LG's not offering much detail here. But you can still imagine the fun you'll have dressing up your luddite executive team in those massive 3D glasses. Oh yes sir, you look magnificent.

Sennheiser PC 163D and PC 333D PC Gaming Headsets

2010-08-15T08:09:00.002-07:00

Sennheiser PC 163D and PC 333D PC Gaming Headsets

Senneheiser introduces the PC 163D and PC333D PC gaming headsets featuring 7.1-channel surround sound with Dolby Headphone technology and Sennheiser quality speakers. Both of them have integrated microphone with noise canceling that ambient noise for crystal-clear conversations.The lightweight PC 163D has an open design that ensures a continuous airflow and lets you be in touch with the action around you. It’s volume control with microphone mute switch is integrated on the cord.

On the other hand, the PC 333D is good for LAN gaming thanks to the circumaural closed acoustic design of it’s XL ear cups blocks out noise around you for hyper-realistic gaming with total immersion. It includes quick team talk function the offers direct contact with teammates with just a swivel of the DJ Hinge on the right ear cup. Its volume control is integrated in the right ear cup.

Fable III's special edition Xbox 360 controller

2010-08-15T08:09:00.001-07:00

Fable III's special edition Xbox 360 controller

Because standard hues and anachronistic science fiction designs simply won't mesh, Microsoft will be releasing this kingly limited edition Fable III Xbox 360 controller designed after the in-game Crown of Albion. Street date is October 5th, three weeks before the game itself decides to rear its royal head, and comes with a token for downloading an exclusive in-game tattoo. Look for it priced at $59.99, or about 15 boxes of Lucky Charms depending on your grocery store preferences.

Lumigon T1 gets Froyo and a major facelift, makes glamorous appearance on Facebook

2010-08-15T08:03:00.000-07:00

Lumigon T1 gets Froyo and a major facelift, makes glamorous appearance on Facebook

Looks like there are at least two things that the Danes can get right: butter cookies, and hyping it up for a delayed Android handset. According to Lumigon's Facebook page, what we're looking at here is the first official rendering of the T1's redesign -- quite a radical change here, especially with the new navigation pad and the now externally-accessible microSD slot. Apart from an earlier statement confirming Froyo for said device, this picture alone is literally all we're being teased with right now, so feel free to "like" the Danish company's Facebook page for some more forthcoming gadget porn.

Cincinnati Bell Motorola XT720 Android Smartphone

2010-08-14T02:26:00.001-07:00

Cincinnati Bell Motorola XT720 Android Smartphone

Cincinnati Bell has brought Motorola’s Milestone XT720 Android smartphone to the America. The regional operator offers the phone at $199, after rabates and discount with a 2-year contract.
The Milestone XT720, as reported before, is one of the slimmest 8 Megapixel Android phone. It features a 3.7-inch 480×854 capacitive touchscreen, CrystalTalk for background noise cancellation and better voice quality, Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11b/g, HDMI output, DLNA support, built-in GPS, 3 axis Accelerometer, and proximity sensor. It’s camera sports auto focus, Xenon flash and 720p HD video recording.

The XT720 is powered by a TI OMAP3440 720Mhz with 256MB RAM and 512MB flash memory. It comes with a 8GB microSD card. The phone supports 1700/2100MHz 3G and quad-band GSM/EDGE networks.

Vexia 420 Truck GPS Device

2010-08-14T02:24:00.000-07:00

Vexia 420 Truck GPS Device

Spanish firm Vexia brings a new GPS navigation device, the 420 Truck. As its name tells, the device is designed for trucks. The 420 Truck utilizs a SIRF Atlas III GPS processor and comes with 2GB internal flash memory. It has a 4.3-inch LCD screen.

The navigation software of the 420 Truck is configurable for trucks, buses, caravans and cars and its will take into account characteristics such as weight, height, size and vehicle load when calculating routes for more than 40 countries in Europe. Features like lane assistant, tunnel mode, highway assistant are also available.

The Vexia 420 Truck is priced at Euro 270.

Splitfish announces power-saving FragFX Shark controller for PS3, PC and Mac

2010-08-14T02:22:00.000-07:00

Splitfish announces power-saving FragFX Shark controller for PS3, PC and Mac

SplitFish isn't providing a ton of details on this one just, but it has announced that its new FragFX Shark controller for the PS3, PC and Mac will be making its official debut at Gamescon later this month, and it's given us our first look at it. As you can see, it's not all that different from the company's standard FragFX PS3 controller, but the company promises that it will be more "ecology-friendly" thanks to some new power-saving measures that'll let you get 50 hours of gameplay from a single AA battery. Also set to debut at the show are the FragFX Piranha and FragFX Barracuda, although Splitfish isn't still saying anything about those apart from the fact they're also PS3 controllers. Head on past the break for the complete press release.

Gresso's Las Vegas Jackpot phone costs a million dollars, seriously

2010-08-14T02:21:00.000-07:00

Gresso's Las Vegas Jackpot phone costs a million dollars, seriously

When you make it your business to deliver outlandish new looks for mobile telephony, it can sometimes be a challenge to just outdo your last effort. So Gresso's decided the only way forward is to collect all the fine materials it had lying around -- black diamonds, pure gold, diamond-cut sapphire crystals, and 200-year old African blackwood -- sprinkle them atop an otherwise nondescript featurephone, and slap on the spectacular price tag of $1,000,000. Only three Jackpots are being made, while there'll be a Las Vegas handset without the black diamonds and sapphires for the more mundanely rich among us, priced at $20,000.

tPhone competes with Apple Peel 520, turns your iPod Touch into a chubby phone

2010-08-14T02:14:00.000-07:00

tPhone competes with Apple Peel 520, turns your iPod Touch into a chubby phone

Well, it didn't take long for the Apple Peel 520 to go from pioneering phone-maker to competition. Enter the tPhone, an also derivatively named and similarly positioned device that attaches to an iPod Touch and turns it into a phone. This one packs a 1,200mAh battery, 50 percent larger than the Apple Peel, but offsets that by existing as a "super-duper thick" hard case that clips on to the Touch. It naturally also offers a SIM slot and a dock port, augmented by a handy microUSB port on the side. It'll set you back ¥700, about $100, so you're paying a bit of a premium over the $75 Apple Peel. Worth it given the extra bulk and cost? That depends: just how big are your pockets?

Flexible Bluetooth Mini Keyboard

2010-08-13T04:09:00.000-07:00

Flexible Bluetooth Mini Keyboard

This Bluetooth mini keyboard is made of water resistant and dustproof high quality silicone, which makes it flexible and great for travel. It works with any Bluetooth compatible product, like a laptop, PC, iPad or an iPhone.

Features:

85 keys
Built-in 5 keys of Mobile Phone Function Combination
Mobile Phone Function Combination Keys: Switch, Menu, SMS, OK, Cancel
Sillcone surface, concave keycap, ergonomics and stylish design
Creative design, water-proof surface, can be rolled up, silent typing, voice communication and convenient ot carry
Power On/Off button
Built-in rechargeable battery
Wireless Bluetooth transfer
Works in iPad / iPad 3G / iPhone 4
Compatible with Symbian S60, Mac OS, Windows Mobile, Window 7 / Vista / XP / 2000
Dimension: 256 X 92 X 16mm (approx.)
Weight: 96g

The Flexible Bluetooth Mini Keyboard is available from the USB Brando website for $40.

Pentax K-x introduced in four new colors, double rainbow now fully complete

2010-08-13T04:07:00.001-07:00

Pentax K-x introduced in four new colors, double rainbow now fully complete

Well, well -- what have we here? Oh, four more K-x hues? Who would've guessed. Just months after Pentax introduced the latest round of colors to hit its long-standing entry-level DSLR, along comes a new foursome to consider: chocolate, beige, olive and pink. We actually witnessed the last one there back in mid-February (go on and guess, we'll wait), but now the whole group is up for sale on the company's webstore for $649.95 each. Too bad Pentax seems more interested in pumping out more exterior variations than a bona fide K-x successor, eh?

EFO rolls out credit card-sized iPazzPort mini Bluetooth keyboard

2010-08-13T04:01:00.000-07:00

EFO rolls out credit card-sized iPazzPort mini Bluetooth keyboard

EFO may not have quite reached Brando levels low-cost gadget fame, but it did manage to catch our attention recently with its HTPC-friendly iPazzPort keyboard, and it's now back with another interesting little device: the iPazzPort mini Bluetooth keyboard. As you can see, this one is simply a tiny Bluetooth keyboard, which EFO says is "tailor-made for handheld devices" and, of course, perfect for use with the iPhone or iPad. It's also reasonably cheap -- just $32 -- and it would seemingly be a good starting point for DIY-minded individuals looking to build, say, an iPhone case with a built-in keyboard. Head on past the break for a quick a video, and another shot of the keyboard sized up against an iPhone.

Samsung shows off portable, HTIB 3D Blu-ray player options and the biggest LED 3DTV yet

2010-08-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

Samsung shows off portable, HTIB 3D Blu-ray player options and the biggest LED 3DTV yet

We had no idea that the Blu-ray players Samsung showed off at CES would just be the first of a steady stream rolling out this year, and today in New York it's showing off the latest set of 3D capable hardware -- many of which have already shown up on retail shelves. The $499 BD-C8000 is the first portable Blu-ray player that can handle the new 3D discs; while the 10.3-inch screen is 2D only, it folds WiFi, 1GB of memory, HDMI 1.4, a 3 hour battery and all of Samsung's DLNA and widget technology into its very netbook-looking shell for you to take somewhere that has a 3D-ready display. Though that's already shipping on Amazon, we'll have to wait until October to see the $1,799 HT-C9950W 7.1 home theater in a box system, specifically designed (& priced) to match those ultra-thin 9000 series displays (and their sweet touchscree remotes). Speaking of LED edge lit 3DTVs, Sammy also mentioned it's ready to ship the biggest of the bunch with the 65-inch UN65C8000 (compare that to Panasonic's 65-inch VT25 plasma) which missed the original July launch projection but is already popping up at a few sites for pre-orders at a price as much as $1,500 below its $5,999 MSRP.

Doc Marten USB drive makes puppies look skinny, gristle throb

2010-08-13T03:54:00.000-07:00

Doc Marten USB drive makes puppies look skinny, gristle throb

We've been there: hands punched violently into pockets, conspicuously affected by the visceral industrial hum of big city decay. If only we had this $25 limited edition 50th anniversary 2GB "stomper" USB drive to complete our ensemble. Who knows, in the right hands it might have helped Jesus build a hotrod.

Samsung i400 Smartphones; Elegancy and Functions

2010-08-13T03:50:00.000-07:00

Samsung i400 Smartphones; Elegancy and Functions

As one of the leaders in the cell phone industries, Samsung would never be tired to release some awesome products. Speaking about the awesome products, the SGH i400 smartphone would be one of it. It has the extra ordinary elegant looks. Anyone who sees it would directly fall in love. As many types of Samsung phones, this type also used the slide style. It would be the excellent cell phones for some people who adore the beauty.

The Samsung i400 smartphone uses the Symbian OS. It has the excellent 2 mega pixel camera. It would give you some chances to have the excellent photo sessions with something more than fairly good picture results. We wouldn’t need the digital camera, wouldn’t we? The best part is the navigation system of the phone. It would give you some chances to take control the whole functions via the simple control.

You could have the MP3 players with the excellent sound for your entertainment. They even added the special MP3 button for some Samsung lovers who hated to search inside the menu to find the MP3 player. It has the Bluetooth connectivity. With the 2.3 inches display, it would be the excellent kind of cell phone for some smartphone lovers who also adore the stylish call phone.

SwiMP3; Awesome Underwater MP3 Player

2010-08-13T03:48:00.000-07:00

SwiMP3; Awesome Underwater MP3 Player

Swimming is fun. Moreover, for some people, it has the important functions to keep the body in the good shape. It is a real healthy activity. So, many of us really love to swim. For them, it’s a kind of refreshing and they would love to have some fun with swimming. What if they got some chances to make it even more fun than they have ever done before?

Today, they would have some chances to enjoy their session in the water with some personal music. Having some baths in the pool wouldn’t be so boring anymore if you could enjoy the music. So, here is the excellent device for you. Please clap your hands and welcome the awesome SwiMP3. What is it anyway? Well, it might seem as the regular MP3 player, but it is completely different.

It’s not the same because it transmitted the sound via the cheekbones, so the sounds wouldn’t be transmitted via the water. That is why; the users would listen to the clearer sounds of the songs of their SwiMP3. This device is compatible with the Mac products and the PCs. With the 256 Mega bytes memories inside, you could store some excellent songs for your swimming activities.

Keep Cool in Hot Weather by Using USB Necktie with Cooling Fan

2010-08-13T03:47:00.000-07:00

Keep Cool in Hot Weather by Using USB Necktie with Cooling Fan

Although we love summer but sometimes we can’t stand with the hot weather. I think we will choose to wear casual clothes than formal clothes. You know that the material for formal clothes is hot enough, you can imagine if you have to wear tuxedo.

A new revolutionary gadget is introduced. Wearing a tie becomes a common thing in a formal cloth and it makes us hot. But probably, this unique gadget can solve your problem. Thanko is shared to you their latest product known as Necktie with cooling fan. Just like the name of the product basically it is a combination between a necktie and cooling fan.

Even, the latest generation is combining it with USB device. I think it is a good stuff to buy because at least you can keep cool in a hot weather. Active and mobile people need to have this kind of device and based on the features it is a kind of perfect gadget. We can also choose it in several colors and patterns so it makes this gadget even more attractive to wear. Although it looks weird to use but it can be a good solution for you to keep active in hot weather. I think you can also use it as a unique gift for your best friends.

LG GD510 Pop's solar panel

2010-01-29T00:36:00.000-08:00

LG GD510 Pop's solar panel

Considering the LG Pop's milquetoast specs, the best thing going for it has to be its trick solar rear that's capable of injecting three minutes of talk time for every eleven minutes of sunshine you pour into it. Problem is, the panel was an accessory that didn't ship in the box -- you had to buy it separately, and back at the Pop's launch, it wasn't available. That's all been cleared up now with news out of LG's German press office that the panel's available for a stout €34.90 (about $49) on top of the phone's €169 ($236) sticker -- pricey, perhaps, but you figure you'll make it up in power savings over the course of a few years' use. Over the long term, all phones should have these suckers built in just for kicks, so let's hope LG's setting a precedent here.

MyRacer's Q10 is the PMP with a funky little dial

2009-10-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

MyRacer's Q10 is the PMP with a funky little dial

Functionally, MyRacer has yet to really knock our socks off. But, its lineup of PMPs has always featured some lovely design cues, and the Q10 is perhaps the nicest yet. It has some subtly '70s styling and that cheeky volume knob with an illuminated red surround that would probably result in you getting an earful whenever sliding it into a back pocket. As you'd expect it has all the major audio and video formats covered (including DivX, Xvid, MP3, AAC, and WMA) and also includes an FM tuner, transmitter, and a voice recorder. There's 8GB of storage behind the 3-inch, 400 x 240 touchscreen and a microSD slot for expansion. No word on price.

Logitec LIC-iREC03P Stereo Microphone for iPod/iPhone

2009-09-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Logitec LIC-iREC03P Stereo Microphone for iPod/iPhone

So it might not be from the Logitech we all know and love, but this “professional audio recording” accessory for your iPod or iPhone includes an X-Y style microphone that should improve the quality of your captures if it works as promised. Audio is recorded in the uncompressed WAV format, and the lovingly named LIC-iREC03P module includes switches for enabling automatic gain control and adjusting the attenuation. ~$117 from Geek Stuff 4 U.

Finally, A Cheap Universal Remote That Works With The PS3

2009-09-08T09:46:00.002-07:00

Finally, A Cheap Universal Remote That Works With The PS3

If you have a PS3, then you probably take advantage of of its Blu-ray player. You’d be crazy not to. Unfortunately one drawback to the PS3 is that you have to have a separate remote to operate it. Why? Because it’s one of the only home theater devices to use Bluetooth to communicate with its remote. Well luckily there now exists a remote that can control more than just your PS3.

The Blu-Link remote works off of both Bluetooth and infrared signals, thus catering to all of your devices. It supports up to six different devices, and can learn commands from other devices. You’ll also find dedicated PS3 and Blu-ray control buttons. $49 might seem steep for your average universal remote, but this one looks to be well worth the money.

Freestyle Navigator 2.0 Watch With Free Fit Technology

2009-09-08T09:46:00.001-07:00

Freestyle Navigator 2.0 Watch With Free Fit Technology

Most watches designed for outdoor activities are rather monstrous affairs with every bell and whistle you can think of, but will probably never use. The Freestyle Navigator 2.0 on the other hand is a bit more subtle, and is actually designed to be worn by anyone thanks to its ‘Free fit technology’ which “allows the buckle tongue to be inserted at any point along the permeable band for a perfect fit on any wrist.” The Navigator 2.0 also features a digital compass with declination adjustment, 3 alarms, a 30-lap memory chronograph and is water-resistant to 330ft. $125 from REI available in a black or silver finish.

APSI C100 GPS Nav System With Removable PMP

2009-09-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

APSI C100 GPS Nav System With Removable PMP

Those of you reading this from South Korea have a new GPS navigation device to drool over. The APSI C100 features a generously-sized touchscreen that can be removed from the windshield mount/dock and used as a portable media player. But when connected to the dock in your car the C100 can be used to control your sound/media system in addition to serving as a robust navigation device thanks to the Gini 3D software which features all of South Korea including accurate 3D renders of buildings and other structures.

Grant Fidelity Reference Tube CD-1000 Player AKA The Impression II

2009-09-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

Grant Fidelity Reference Tube CD-1000 Player AKA The Impression II

If you’re curious what $3,200 worth of CD player looks like, then feast your eyes upon the Impression II from Grant Fidelity. Designed for even the most picky of audiophiles, all of the electronics in the Impression II, including the power supply, the tube and solid state circuits, the tube analog output and the tube headphone amp are placed in the four corners of the player to prevent them from interfering with the CD player which sits in an isolated aluminum chassis in the middle.

The Impression II also features “defeatable up-sampling” with 3 optional frequencies including 44.1 kHz/16bit, 96 kHz/24bit and 192 kHz/24bit, though from what I can tell it doesn’t play SACDs which seems odd given the clientele they’re targeting. And since you’re already spending over 3 grand on this thing, you might as well go ahead and opt for the $380 polished stainless steel finish instead of the standard brushed aluminum one.

Moleculair 3D Food Printer to Provoke Innovative Ideas of Cooking

2009-09-08T09:41:00.001-07:00

Moleculair 3D Food Printer to Provoke Innovative Ideas of Cooking

The Moléculaire concept is actually a marriage of science and cooking, which is actually a 3D molecular food printer. This device is inspired by chefs who painstakingly and scientifically experiment with food to surprise the guests and provoke innovative ideas of cooking. The Moléculaire simplifies the existing hectic, tough and time consuming process of food experiment with this Computer Numerical Control (CNC) food printer for both domestic and professional kitchens. This gadget works with a layer by layer printing method using small elements from diverse ingredients, whilst providing accuracy, simplicity, repeatability and great tasting food.

Sony Ericsson Jalou Cell Phone

2009-09-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson Jalou Cell Phone

The Jalou phone is the outcome of the latest partnership between designers Dolce and Gabbana and Sony Ericsson which features latest technology along with fashion statement to make others green with desire as well. The unique design of this phone was inspired by the multiple surfaces of a cushion-cut gemstone. The features that must be talked about this phone are its efficient 3.2 megapixel camera that can tag photos with their geographic position, a 2-inch high resolution display, stereo Bluetooth and a built-in-mirror, all these are packed into its compact clamshell which is as small as a lipstick box. Normal versions of this phone are already available in deep amethyst, onyx black and aquamarine shades, and the special D&G edition will be available in Sparkling Rose with 24-karat gold plating along with a special wireless headset.

iriver Story e-book reader turns up in Berlin, deems itself too cool for IFA

2009-09-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

iriver Story e-book reader turns up in Berlin, deems itself too cool for IFA

Well, it may not have been officially on-hand at IFA, but it looks like at least one iriver Story e-book reader did make its way to Berlin, and Heise Online was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with it -- and take a few pics, of course. While it still bears an undeniable similarity to the Kindle 2, the differences become a bit more apparent up close, with the keyboard in particular sporting more traditional, squarer keys, and a complete lack of face buttons otherwise -- apart from what appears to be two built-in page turn buttons on each bottom corner. In addition to the previously revealed specs, Heise Online also confirmed the existence of a built-in Comic Viewer, an integrated microphone for dictation and, unfortunately, a lack of built-in WiFi (let alone 3G), meaning that the only way to get content on the device is via USB or SD cards.

SteelSeries Aion limited edition Zboard keeps MMO addicts stuck in the basement

2009-09-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

SteelSeries Aion limited edition Zboard keeps MMO addicts stuck in the basement

You've got to hand it to 'em, SteelSeries knows its market. Following up on its array of WoW-themed gear, the company has just issued a new limited edition Zboard aimed at to-be Aion gamers, which just might be "the most anticipated MMO of 2009." As with most of the outfit's MMORPG-centric keyboards, this one also packs a colorful motif, a swath of dedicated action keys, menus and chat commands, full customization of each key and quick-access "emote keys for greeting, intimidating, or taunting your opponent." In related news, the firm is also dishing out an Aion Asmodian mousepad, which may or may not be superior to the stained napkin you're currently using to raid on. Both units are available for pre-order right now at $19.99 and $14.99, respectively, and we hear that UPS totally delivers to dingy basements for a nominal fee.

ASUKA's SK700 digiframe adds DVB-T in vain attempt to wow

2009-09-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

ASUKA's SK700 digiframe adds DVB-T in vain attempt to wow

Truth be told, ASUKA's first digital photo frame with integrated DVB-T wasn't all that invigorating, so it should come as no surprise that its second one has also failed to get our juices flowing. Of course, we may have felt entirely different if we called South Korea home, but until mobile TV takes off here in the States, we can rest soundly knowing that nothing of this sort will ever make its way into the mainstream. The SK700 that you see above quietly debuted this past week at IFA, bringing with it a 7-inch touchscreen, integrated DVB-T tuner, 800 x 480 resolution, FM reception, multimedia playback, real-time TV recording, 2GB or 4GB of built-in memory, a pair of stereo speakers and even an AV input. There's no word on a price or release date just yet, but you'll probably have to look real hard to spot this one in between the me-toos scattered about.

Guangzhou Darling DP2000 is a nutty pc-in-a-projector that we kinda love

2009-09-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

Guangzhou Darling DP2000 is a nutty pc-in-a-projector that we kinda love

What do you add to a pocket projector that already has a massive 640 x 480 resolution and the power of 9 suns lumens? Why, a WinCE-powered computer, of course. Now, when everyone else is fumbling around with their bulky laptops, you can bust out your Darling, use the top-mounted touchpad to navigate, and be the fastest projector gunslinger in the office. There's even a stand, a pair of mini-USB ports for hooking up a keyboard and mouse, and an SD expansion slot to augment the already super-generous 1GB of Flash storage. So how much does a PC with a huge display and SSD cost these days? $180.

Acer serves up HX2000 and FHX3200 LCD monitors for overseas lovers

2009-09-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

Acer serves up HX2000 and FHX3200 LCD monitors for overseas lovers

Got a thing for glossy black, narrow bezels and decent resolutions? If so, why not have a gander at Acer's latest duo? Announced this fine morning over in Japan, the HX2000 is a 20-inch panel with a 1,600 x 900 resolution, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 300 nits of brightness and a five millisecond response time. The big brother has admittedly garnered the majority of our love, as the 23-inch FHX2300 packs a 40,000:1 contrast ratio, 300 nits of brightness, a five millisecond response time, an HDMI socket and a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution. There's no word yet on pricing and availability for the little guy, but the large card should launch soon in the Land of the Rising Sun for around ¥20,000 ($214).

Netronix sneaking 9.7-inch display, hopes and dreams into forthcoming EB900 e-reader

2009-09-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

Netronix sneaking 9.7-inch display, hopes and dreams into forthcoming EB900 e-reader

You've just got to admire an outfit like Netronix. Hardly anyone this side of Asia has heard of 'em, and with outfits like Amazon, Sony, Hearst and ASUS doing their darnedest to corner to rapidly expanding e-reader market, you know it has an uphill climb just to get some respect. That said, we're somewhat intrigued by what's on deck for Q1 2010; just a few months after its EB-600 and EB-500 readers were spotted at Computex, the company itself has confessed to having an expansive EB900 in the works. As with the Kindle DX, this bugger is destined to boast a 9.7-inch e-ink display, and you'll also find a 600MHz processor, WinCE 6.0-based operating system, touch support, a handwriting mode, built-in WiFi / Bluetooth / 3G WWAN and a USB socket for connecting to one's PC. The minuscule snapshot you see there to the right is all we've got to go by as far as images are concerned, but you can rest assured we'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more.

ASUS Designo MS Series is 16.5mm thin, venerates form over function

2009-09-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

ASUS Designo MS Series is 16.5mm thin, venerates form over function

Imagine yourself a dozen years ago, inhabiting the age of the CRT monitor, where a depth of 16.5 centimeters was considered a space-saving solution. Now open your eyes, breathe in the fresh air of modernity, and gaze upon ASUS's new line of 16.5mm deep monitors with the admiration they deserve. Coming out with no less than five models ranging from 23.6 to 20 inches -- MS246, MS236, MS226, MS227 and MS202 -- ASUS has strapped touch-sensitive buttons to 2ms response panels with 250 nits of brightness, and a 50,000:1 dynamic (boo!) contrast ratio. The top three models feature Full HD resolution and HDMI, while the 22-inch MS227 makes do with 1680 x 1050 and the MS202 gets downgraded to a 5ms response time and 1600 x 900 resolution. Prices aren't yet available, but the read link contains all the painfully exhaustive details you might need.

Gresso Grand Monaco USB is the closest you'll get to a supercar 'drive'

2009-09-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

Gresso Grand Monaco USB is the closest you'll get to a supercar 'drive'

Le's face the cold hard facts: with only a single-digit percentage of the global population able to afford a Ferrari, most of us are just gonna have to make do with an Atom-based replica instead. Spending inadvisable amounts on USB drives, on the other hand, that's something we can all do. Say hello to the $200 Grand Monaco Classic, a 32GB memory stick that continues Gresso's tradition of wasting expensive materials -- titanium, ceramic and carbon, in this case -- on otherwise fungible goods. Not outlandish enough for ya? Click past the break for the 64GB Double Security version, which costs $500. Disregard for basic economics comes as standard on both models.

HTC Touch Pro2 at $349.99

2009-09-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

HTC Touch Pro2 at $349.99

So, any luck socking away $350 worth crisp, unmarked, non-sequential US currency over the past week since the Touch Pro2 was officially announced for Sprint? If so, we'd just like to offer a friendly reminder that you can now head over to Sprint's online store to place your order -- and yes, that $349.99 you'll be shelling out is after rebate and discount on a new two-year contract. Being second doesn't come cheap, it seems.

Samsung's gilded W910 'VVIP' has everything but the Armani logo

2009-09-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

Samsung's gilded W910 'VVIP' has everything but the Armani logo

Phones like the W910 serve as a stark reminder that design house Giorgio Armani really isn't doing much (if any) actual work in its ongoing partnership with Sammy; just compare it to the W820, for example. Both phones have golden shells, push the boundaries of understated tastefulness, and have little in the way of unique industrial design -- yet only the W820 bears the Armani name. The W910 instead goes by the "VVIP" moniker for release on Korean carrier SKT, featuring a 2.6-inch WQVGA AMOLED primary display, HSDPA, and an FM radio for something in the range of 500,000 won (about $406). Hey Armani, if you're listening: trust us, checker patterns are the next big thing, so you might want to get in on this.

Sony Ericsson Aino and Satio hitting the UK on October 7

2009-09-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson Aino and Satio hitting the UK on October 7

It's not like we didn't know this already, but Sony Ericsson has now officially confirmed an October UK release for its latest pair of handsets. The half-Swedish, half-Welsh mobile empire has set the seventh day of the tenth month of whatever year this is as the date for a nice little corporate get-together and unveiling of whatever little details haven't been seen or pored over by now. The Aino slider hopes to capture fans with its slender looks and PS3 Remote Play skills, while the Satio (formerly known as the Idou, pictured) works the multimedia phone crowd with a 12.1 megapixel cam and a 3.5-inch 16:9 display.

HTC Tattoo

2009-09-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

HTC Tattoo

We suppose it was inevitable. In the effort to take Android to the mainstream (i.e., cheap) with the HTC Tattoo, HTC had to commit that most controversial of technological sins: fronting a touchscreen-only device with a resistive sensor. Granted, Android is more prepared for pairing a resistive screen with your stubby fingers than something like the stylus-oriented Windows Mobile, but it's still not going to be a joy for implementing the OS's few gestures or the imperfect touchscreen keyboard. As we're sure you'll all agree.

Samsung Rogue now official

2009-09-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

Samsung Rogue now official

Time to finally give that Glyde a proper burial at sea (or recycling center, or baby cousin who needs a phone, or whatever). The oft-rumored Rogue is finally available, notably featuring a 3.1-inch AMOLED display (Verizon calls it "ultra brilliant"), a 3 megapixel cam with flash and on-board editing, microSD support up to 16GB, full HTML browsing, Microsoft Office document viewing, TouchWiz, and naturally, that full slide-out keyboard that makes it a Glyde killer. Grab it now for $99.99 on contract.

Paradigm SE 1 speaker

2009-09-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

Paradigm SE 1 speaker

Punching above your weight in the $1,000-per speaker realm is impressive, but it's largely irrelevant because it's just too expensive for most people, period. Don't feel bad, though, Paradigm's forthcoming SE series sits between the brand's Studio and Monitor lines, below the kilobuck mark, and promises to sound fabulous. The company will be showing of its forthcoming $300 (per speaker) SE 1 bookshelf model at CEDIA this week, which in its final testing has been racking up subjective listening wins over competition in the $1,000 range. In controlled tests against a much more expensive and a cheaper set of speakers, the SE 1 has posted an impressive record of 492 wins, with only six losses to the more expensive speaker. Critics may cry foul at the home-test results, and we wouldn't say that there's any one "best" speaker; but this is really about Paradigm testing its SE 1 against market competition and at the very least this performance warrants a place on your audition list. Hit the link for the full details; you've got time to make a decision -- the SE 1, SE 3 ($700, floorstanding), SE Center ($500) and SE Sub ($700) won't ship until sometime after CEDIA.

Medion Life S47000 HD Sports Camera

2009-09-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Medion Life S47000 HD Sports Camera

The Medion S47000 is not unlike the Flip UltraHD we reviewed a while ago, except that it seems designed for x-treme sports enthusiasts, complete klutzes, or anyone who’s just not so good at taking care of their toys.

On the tech side it captures 720P H.264 MOV files, features a 2-inch LCD display and includes an SD/SDHC card slot which you’ll want to take advantage of immediately since the camera only comes with 90MB of internal memory. It’s also got USB 2.0 for transferring videos to a PC and an HDMI output for connecting it to a hi-def display. And on the ‘rugged’ side the camera features a loop on top for connecting it to… um… something, and is splash resistant. So I guess as long as your choice of sports keeps you well away from water, the S47000 seems like a viable option.

It’s available from Medionshop.co.uk for about $164.

Renault Picnic Zero-Emissions Concept Car Provides Room for Social Gathering

2009-09-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Renault Picnic Zero-Emissions Concept Car Provides Room for Social Gathering

When people goes for a picnic, a car that can provide room for social gathering parked in an urban landscape is always desirable, which was the main inspiration of designing the Renault Picnic concept car. This car can become an urban furniture, where people can re-acquaint themselves with the surrounding natural environment with its various functionalities. It features LED-impregnated DOL that allows adjustable and customizable tinting patterns that will make the car’s surface a public art. The easy access sliding doors allow convenient entrance. You can attach a bicycle with the rear bumper and can arrange some extra sittings with tailgate rumble seats that slides-out from the front trunk. The Renault Picnic features low-cost and minimalist dashboard with i-pod compatibility which is ideal for new drivers. The modular seating arrangement of this car ensures equal comfort to be enjoyed for all passengers either inside, on atop the rear bumpers or on the front tailgate.

Scratch-n-Scroll noteable mousepad puts the "do" back in "To Do" list

2009-09-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

Scratch-n-Scroll noteable mousepad puts the "do" back in "To Do" list

Can't seem to keep an unused stack of sticky notes near your dear mouse? Fret not, as the geniuses over at Quirky have popped out yet another 'well duh / must-have' product in the Scratch-n-Scroll. Rather than promising that its newest surface can help you frag more intently, smell better or just appear more heroic, this 'noteable mousepad' is apt to be one of the poorer mousing mats on the market. But frankly, that's not the point. The point is that you can jot down vital notes with just a fingertip right on the pad, and once you've transferred 'em over to something a touch more permanent, you simply lift up the semi-transparent top sheet, let it fall flat and marvel at the vanishing act. It's all yours for just $9.49, so really, why aren't you giving that read link some love?

Epson Endeavor Na02mini-V netbook

2009-09-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

Epson Endeavor Na02mini-V netbook

Epson's Endeavor Na01 shipped with an astoundingly predictable set of specifications last November, and lo and behold, the unit's successor has a BOM that's equally guessable. If you're not in the mood for playing games (and be honest, you aren't), we'll inform that this bugger touts a 10.1-inch display, 1,024 x 600 resolution, 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor, 1GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive, WiFi, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets and a multi-card reader. It's also sporting one of the classier cases out there, and the built-in VGA / Ethernet ports are also handy. The included Li-ion isn't anything special, but we're told an extended cell that offers up ten hours of life should be coming soon; for those who can hardly wait, it should be ready to purchase this November for ¥39,800, or just north of $427 at current exchange rates.

Buffalo 500GB ultraslim HD-PVU2 portable hard drive

2009-09-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

Buffalo 500GB ultraslim HD-PVU2 portable hard drive

With a few external hard drive outfits pushing out 640GB models this past week, a simple half-terabyte edition now seems mildly inadequate. That said, Buffalo's latest gets brownie points for being almost impossibly thin. The HD-PVU2 lineup is barely thicker than the 2.5-inch HDD within, with 320GB and 500GB versions available. Both black and white flavors will be shipped out to stores, and as expected, they'll get all the juice they need through USB 2.0. Check 'em out soon (assuming you can locate one) in Japan for ¥10,500 ($112) and ¥15,330 ($164), respectively.

Aiptek's tiny PenCam HD Trio camcorder looks more like a highlighter

2009-09-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Aiptek's tiny PenCam HD Trio camcorder looks more like a highlighter

Peoples' pants must be getting smaller, because so too are pocket camcorders shrinking down. Despite not making any dubious "world's smallest" claims, Aiptek's latest is one of the most slender we've seen that's able to shoot high-def video, and quite possibly the first with a 1.1-inch OLED screen on the back for previewing what your footage might look like on a First Class Forever stamp. It'll shoot video at 720p30, capture 5 megapixel stills, and record them both to 4GB of internal memory -- good for about two hours' worth of footage. You can upload to YouTube straight from the camera's (Windows-only) software, or spin it to your TV through the integrated HDMI port. It sounds like quite a nice little package, and while we wouldn't expect the video quality to knock anyone's proverbial socks off, given the brand we wouldn't expect a shockingly high price, either. But, that we can't say for sure, nor when these will be available.

HP dm1 and dm3 ultraportables leaked, Pavilion dv8 to pack Core i7?

2009-09-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

HP dm1 and dm3 ultraportables leaked, Pavilion dv8 to pack Core i7?

Eager HP fans have been doing some digging around and have uncovered details on the company's Fall updates. Heading the pack will be the 18.4-inch dv8, set to feature a quad-core Core i7 720QM CPU, 640GB of storage and 4GB of memory. The processor formerly known as Clarksfield has 6MB of onboard cache and can be Turbo Boosted to 2.8GHz, which should do justice to the gargantuan screen size and included Blu-ray drive. If, on the other hand, you want to be able to move your laptop, there's the CULV-powered 11.6-inch dm1 or 13.3-inch dm3 (pictured). Both will come with 1366 x 768 glossy displays, while the dm3 will also offer a cheaper AMD Neo flavor. Another three models, a TM2 tablet and Mini 210 and 311 netbooks, are also known by name if not spec. While the usual pinch of salt is advisable, a Dutch website already has the new laptops listed in its price comparison engine, corroborating the specs and the expected arrival alongisde Windows 7's October 22 release.

Samsung's Armani alliance soldiers on with W820 / W8200 slider

2009-09-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

Samsung's Armani alliance soldiers on with W820 / W8200 slider

So far, "understated" isn't a word we've been comfortable associating with Giorgio Armani's telephonic ventures with Samsung -- particularly the flashy Night Effect, featuring a glowing Armani logo on the side. We'll go out on a limb and say the latest effort out of South Korea isn't quite as insane as the Night Effect, but a gold finish is always a step in the right direction if attracting as much attention as humanly possible with a piece of electronic equipment stuck to your face is your goal. It looks like the slider will find a home on domestic carriers KTF and SKT, and as far as we can tell, it's not the rumored WinMo-based Armani 2 -- but it does have a 5 megapixel cam, WVGA AMOLED touchscreen, T-DMB tuner, and the adoration of... well, someone, we're sure. Let us know when you find 'em. No word on pricing or a release date, but take this as a sign that the Armani lovers out there have nothing to fear if they're looking to replace that tweaked F480.

Epson EH-TW5500 and EH-TW4400 flagship projectors

2009-09-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Epson EH-TW5500 and EH-TW4400 flagship projectors

It's that time again: the end-of-year rush to launch the best and brightest home theater projectors for the holiday cocooning season. Epson's casting its 2009 lot with the EH-TW5500 and EH-TW4400 3LCD projectors featuring Full HD (1920x1080) resolutions, a 1600 ANSI lumen brightness, and quiet 22dB operation. The TW4400 (aka, Home Cinema 8500UB as it will be known Stateside) touts a 130000:1 contrast while the TW5500 (aka, Pro Cinema 9500UB) ratchets the hyperbole up to 200000:1 -- that's about double the claim of Epson's previous high-enders that already featured excellent black performance. To be fair, Epson makes some of, if not the best, home theater projectors for the money thanks to its D7 C2Fine LCD panels manufactured in-house. Other specs include 12bit video processing, improved frame interpolation and 4-4 pull-down, x.v. color mode, 2.1x optical zoom with horizontal/vertical lens shift, and a range of inputs including 2x HDMI, YUV, and RGB.

Cute Owl USB Toy

2009-09-06T08:06:00.000-07:00

Cute Owl USB Toy

Looking for a cute USB toy? USB is an important gadget that we need today. Many people have their own favorite animal. For me, I love dogs very much, but there are people who like owl and wants to buy everything that has owl character. I don’t know why, but mostly people who likes owl will say owl has wise character and always stay calm (just like in the children’s stories).
If you like owl and looking for USB cute toy, you can choose to purchase USB Robot Owl. This USB Pet Owl have 4 colors; grey, pink, white, and brown. You can have it for $19.99 only. This Cute USB Toy only able to blink. It can not fly, can not walk, can not dance; only blink! It has three moods: active, mellow and sleeping. If you want to change the owlish mood, you just need to push the button on the back.

If the Owl USB Pet stands on his stump, it has 3’ high. It also comes with clop for monitor or laptop and small stump. Information for you, because this USB Pet is from Japanese, so, don’t wish it will have English education factor on the package. But, if you really like owl, I believe you will click the link to get this cute USB toy now.

Samsung i7500 available – $700

2009-09-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Samsung i7500 available – $700

The relatively new Samsung i7500 can be all yours via Amazon reseller MobileCityOnline for $700. This unlocked Android based phone, nicknamed Galaxy, is unique for the 3.2″ AMOLED screen which promises a brilliant touchscreen experience. There’s also GPS, 5 MP camera, 8 GB memory, Wi-Fi and 7.2 Mbps HSDPA (900 / 2100 / 1700) as well as quad band GSM (850/ 900/1800/1900). The site indicates the phone is shipping now.

HTC Touch Pro 2 – $149

2009-09-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

HTC Touch Pro 2 – $149

You can spend $349 at T-Mobile for an HTC Touch Pro 2 – or visit Amazon.com and purchase one for $149 with free two day shipping and yes both deals require a new 2 year activation on a compatible T-Mobile plan. The Amazon deal does not require any rebates. PS – Shopping in a carrier’s store is a guaranteed way to pay the absolute highest price for a phone – but only after you’ve waited 45 minutes behind 7 people trying to pay off their delinquent bills or asking insane amounts of questions about every freebie phone in the store.

HP HDX16t – 16 inch laptop w/1080p display – $799

2009-09-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

HP HDX16t – 16 inch laptop w/1080p display – $799

In celebration of the long weekend our GearSponsor Logicbuy has uncovered this high-def screened HP laptop for half off the normal list price. Includes Core 2 Duo T6600 2.2 GHZ processor, 4GB RAM upgrade, 1080p high-def monitor, blu-ray drive, 320 gb 7200 rpm HDD, free HP Deskjet D2680 printer, Vista Home Premium operating system, fingerprint reader. Expires 9/5/09.

New ThinkPad keyboard features crowdsourced design, lower price

2009-09-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

New ThinkPad keyboard features crowdsourced design, lower price

Hey, remember last year when Lenovo's UltraNav keyboard made a (re)appearance on Flickr because the company was soliciting feedback on how to make it better? Well check it -- there's a new version in town, and it incorporates all those user suggestions. Lenovo says people mostly wanted the exact same feel as their ThinkPad laptop keyboards in the desktop unit (no surprise there), but almost no one wanted wireless, a number pad or a trackpad -- so the new model pictured above is more or less a faithful wired replica of the T400s board, right down to those liquid drainage holes. What's more, cutting the numeric keypad and trackpad allowed the company to reduce the price by $40, so this little slice of hotness is not just $60. Not bad, but we'll be honest -- we'd still throw down for a wireless version of the old UltraNav in a heartbeart.

BlueDot BTV-1000 10-inch 1Seg TV

2009-09-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

BlueDot BTV-1000 10-inch 1Seg TV

Japanese firm BlueDot introduces the new BTV-1000 10-inch 1Seg digital TV. The BTV-1000 features a 10-inch 1024×600 LCD display and supports Composite video input so you can connect your DVD player or other devices for video playback.

To be released on 25 September, the Bluedot BTV-1000 is priced at 25,000 Yen in Black(BTV-1000K) and White(BTV-1000W).

Verizon UMW190 3G USB Modem

2009-09-05T07:41:00.001-07:00

Verizon UMW190 3G USB Modem

Verizon Wireless nnounced the new UMW190 USB 3G modem that is designed for business travelers and others who need to access the internet on the go. The device has a stylish and compact black design with sliding cover. It supports dual-band CDMA EVDO Rev.A, Tri-Band (850/1900/2100 MHz ) UMTS/HSPA and as well as Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1800, 850/1900) 3G/2G networks.

The UMW190 has pre-installed SIM card. It comes with the easy-to-use VZAccess Manager software. It is available for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year contract.

Sennheiser MM 100 Bluetooth stereo headset

2009-09-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

Sennheiser MM 100 Bluetooth stereo headset

Sennheiser announced at the IFA 2009 the MM 100 Bluetooth stereo headset for portable devices, along with the iPhone-compatible MM 80. The lightweight headset supports Stereo Bluetooth connectivity with A2DP and hands-free, headset profiles. It can be used with mobile devices such as netbook, mobile phone and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.

The MM 100 combines Sennheiser’s class-leading hi-fi headphone technology with and an invisible microphone for outstanding stereo music and clear phone conversations. It will be released in September 2009.

CyberPower LAN Mini H2o Liquid-Cooling SFF Gaming PC

2009-09-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

CyberPower LAN Mini H2o Liquid-Cooling SFF Gaming PC

CyberPower introduces the new LAN Mini H2o that is one of the smallest water cooled desktop gaming rigs. The small form factor (SFF)/Mini PC is built-in with LAN gaming in mind and packs Asetek’s LCLC liquid cooling solution into the compact Silverstone SST-SG05 chassis.

The base setup of the LAN Mini H2o includes an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 processor and NVIDIA’s GeForece GTS250 graphics card. The rig can also be equipped with Core 2 Duo and ATI video card. It comes with WiFi, HDMI port and optional Blu-ray drive.

The CyberPower LAN Mini H2o gaming PC starts at $965.

Samsung 640GB S2 portable, 2TB S3 Station HDDs

2009-09-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

Samsung 640GB S2 portable, 2TB S3 Station HDDs

Whatever Toshiba can do, Samsung can do... um, equally well? Evidently that's the game being played over at IFA, as the latter company has issued a 640GB portable hard drive of its own nary 24 hours after Tosh did likewise. The unspeakably cute S2 portable is getting a much-needed capacity bump, making the largest drive in the line 640GB. In related news, the company's 3.5-inch S3 Station external HDD has seen its maximum storage level creep north to 2TB, though storage freaks will have to wait patiently until "early next year" in order to take one home. Prices for both remain a mystery, but if we had to guess, we'd put the MSRPs about a penny under whatever Toshiba settles on. Call it a hunch.

BenQ LED-backlit G920WL and G922HDL displays

2009-09-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

BenQ LED-backlit G920WL and G922HDL displays

If the model names seem uninformative, here's what you need to know -- the G920WL is a 19-inch 1,440 x 900 display, and the G922HDL is the same, only shrunken down to 18.5-inches and 1,366 x 768. Both claim class-leading power efficiency, with their Eco mode using only 10 and 11 watts, respectively. They come with the company's newish SensEye 3 auto-calibration utility, 250 nits of brightness, 5 millisecond response time, and a real, non-dynamic 1,000:1 contrast ratio. Should you need more pixels and inches, BenQ will be all too happy to serve your appetite with its similarly "green" V series, which goes up to 24 inches. The new G models are set for immediate release in Europe and Asia at "compelling price points," though BenQ remains mum on the possibility of North American availability.

Linutop 3

2009-09-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

Linutop 3

We know we expend a lot of digital ink talking about oomph and va va voom, but sometimes you just need a computer you can give to your old grandpappy and let him go wild with the Reader's Digest online edition. The Linutop 3, sporting a custom Linux OS atop a blistering 1GHz VIA C7 CPU, 1GB of RAM and a tremendously capacious 2GB SSD, is just that sort of machine. It asks for a mere €340 ($485) and 20 watts of power, and lets you expand storage by adding an internal hard drive or plugging a memory stick into one of six available USB ports. Sure, you're unlikely to use it for more than the bundled Open Office and Firefox applications, but have you considered this thing's potential after bumping that clock multiplier and dipping the whole thing in liquid nitrogen? Have you?

Otamatone Sound Toy / Musical Instrument

2009-09-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

Otamatone Sound Toy / Musical Instrument

I’m not entirely sure how to classify the Otamatone, it’s kind of a cross between a musical toy, an actual instrument and a theremin. “Waaaah”-like sounds are produced by squeezing the ‘face’ at the bottom while sliding one’s fingers up and down the ‘neck’.

The Otamatone was created by Maywa Denki, whose website is even more confusing than this device, but since it was shown at the 2009 Tokyo Toy Show I have to assume it will actually be available for sale in Japan at some point.

Switchital Clock Design with Unique Time Changing Manner

2009-09-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Switchital Clock Design with Unique Time Changing Manner

The Switchital Clock features a digital screen where letters for showing timing are formed with small metal bars attached to the surface with small magnets underneath. The clock shows only hour and minute, it doesn’t show seconds because of its unique time changing manner. When a minute is over, the individual pats start to move, some gets disappeared and then integrates in a specific place that is required to show the next minute. This movement is done by the magnets that starts pulling the bars to the next position where the need to be placed to show the next minute.

Samsung ST45 digital camera, ultraslim

2009-09-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

Samsung ST45 digital camera, ultraslim

We'll be honest -- we were hoping that from now on Samsung would be including creepy clown displays on the front of all their 12.2 megapixel shooters. If for some strange reason you're not into that idea, however, the ST45 should be right up your alley. A pretty noteworthy 16mm thin, this guy features an ISO sensitivity up to 3200, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, and all the goodies you expect from Samsung: Smart Scene Recognition with 11 (count 'em!) picture settings (Portrait, Night portrait, Macro, etc.), Digital Image Stabilization, Self Portrait & Frame Guide (for all those double-chin masking MySpace one-handed self-pics), and the obligatory Face Detection. This bad boy will be available in the UK in red, black, blue, or grey, sometime late this month.

Toshiba 13.3-inch Satellite U500 Ducati

2009-09-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

Toshiba 13.3-inch Satellite U500 Ducati

Ducati may have its roots firmly planted on the highway, but the high-end label certainly isn't scared of stepping out from time to time. After gifting firms like SanDisk and Sony Ericsson with the right to use its name on various gizmos, the motorcycle maker is now linking up with Toshiba on a special edition laptop. The Satellite U500 Ducati is a 13.3-inch ultraportable equipped with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 (512MB), an Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 and 4GB of RAM. Naturally, the primarily white device will boast its fair share of Ducati badging, but seemingly lacks the company's trademark desmodromic valve actuation. Precise pricing information wasn't made public, but you can bet only those with more money than sense will take interest when it ships later this month in Italy.

LG GM750

2009-09-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

LG GM750

The GM730's barely had time to breathe since its intro earlier this year, but Windows Mobile 6.5 awaits -- and with it, the world's expecting a slew of new models to kick things off right. Following the GW550 announcement straight from LG proper earlier today, Vodafone has stepped in to announce that it's secured European exclusivity on the GM750, which largely carries over the GM730's visual cues but swaps out 6.1 for 6.5. The 5 megapixel cam and S-Class support are carryovers from its predecessor, but considering that neither is a slouch, we can't say we're complaining. Look for the GM750 to launch in Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK to celebrate 6.5's initial release on October 6, with other countries following on later.

LG BL40 Chocolate Touch coming soon

2009-09-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

LG BL40 Chocolate Touch coming soon

As much as we'd love to believe otherwise, our gut and Verizon's track record are both telling us that the BL40 probably bears no resemblance to the Chocolate Touch that Big Red's about to get. That doesn't mean LG's gorgeous mile-long slab isn't coming to North America, though -- we'd heard a long while back that it might be coming to Telus, whose new HSPA network is currently slated for an October launch. Coincidentally, fresh PR out of corporate reveals that the phone will be hitting "the rest of the world" in October following European kickoffs in the middle of this month, and if this isn't the perfect launch device for a brand new Canadian network, we really can't think what is. One way or another, LG says the phone will ultimately end up launching in 50 countries around the world -- so no matter where you are, you've got about a 1 in 4 chance you'll get a shot at this in the coming months without calling up your importer and taking out a second mortgage.

LG 23-inch W63 gaming monitor

2009-09-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

LG 23-inch W63 gaming monitor

You can't exactly accuse LG of lacking audacity -- the company that today unveiled the eccentric Color Pop displays has also updated its consumer monitor line with a gamer-centric Full HD entry that has everything but humility. The 23-inch W63 touts a new Thru Mode, which removes image processing to deliver "zero-delay" visuals, a 1,000:1 (real) contrast ratio, 2ms response time, 300 nits of brightness, two HDMI inputs and picture-in-picture functionality. There's even a Tru Light equalizer-like thingy at the bottom of the screen that pulsates in time with the sound of your glorious battle triumphs and Skype message pings. Only question left is, can anyone actually tell the difference between two milliseconds of delay and none at all?

Philips BDP9500 and BDP7500 Blu-ray players

2009-09-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Philips BDP9500 and BDP7500 Blu-ray players

Philips has definitely shifted most of its consumer electronics efforts into continents not named North America, but given that IFA's taking place in Berlin, it makes sense to see so much new kit flowing from the company. The latest wares to make their debut on the show floor is the BDP9500 and BDP7500 Blu-ray players, both of which handle 7.1 audio with poise and offer up 1080p video playback for those with BD libraries. The flagship 9500 also includes a Qdeo video processor and a sleek aluminum shell, not to mention Burr-Brown analog-to-digital converters and DVD upscaling for those other movies. There's no mention of pricing and availability just yet, but with the holiday shopping season just around the bend, we'd guess the folks at Philips are working hard to get these out on the double .

Hubless Clock

2009-09-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hubless Clock

Ooh! Another minimalist clock design. This time it’s by Petter Knudsen who has a design studio in Bergen, Norway. While it doesn’t appear to be available for sale, his Hubless Clock features a set of inner and outer tabs that rotate around the circumference of the clock’s ‘face’ instead of hands. Unfortunately his website’s a bit vague when it comes to the mechanics of how the clock actually works, or if it even does work, but it’s still a nice piece of eye candy nevertheless.

Audio-Technica ONTO Headphone

2009-09-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

Audio-Technica ONTO Headphone

Thanks to an ultra thin headband (or ’seamless headband’ as the company has dubbed it) Audio-Technica’s new line of ONTO ear goggles won’t mess up your hair and can even be worn over a hat if so desired. The ATH-ON300 line pictured above feature 30mm drivers, a gold-plated 3.5mm stereo mini-plug and come in 6 different colors including red, blue, pink green and of course black and white. $49.99 from AudioCubes.com.

Nintendo rolls out Black Wiimote Bundle

2009-09-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Nintendo rolls out Black Wiimote Bundle

Throughout their lifespans the Nintendo 64 and the Gamecube came in a variety of different colors, and if I remember correctly, the Cube was even available in black or purple right at launch. But the Wii has been a different story. Since it launched everyone has had to settle for a white console, though that limitation clearly hasn’t had much impact on its sales. But there is hope that the Wii might eventually get a splash of color.

Today Nintendo announced a black Wiimote bundle that will be available this holiday season. The bundle includes a black Wiimote, black Wii Jacket and a black version of the Wii MotionPlus dongle, but if you want a matching black Nunchuck, you’ll have to buy that separately. There’s still no black version of the Wii coming to North America mind you, but this is a step in the right direction

iHat Features Built-In Speakers

2009-09-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

iHat Features Built-In Speakers

As far as I’m concerned Summer is all but over, particularly since recent temperatures have had me reaching for a light jacket when I head in to work in the morning. So there’s no time like the present to start looking into clothing for the Fall & Winter. Like the iHat, which is a brimless cap (or ‘toque’ as I’d call it) featuring a speaker over each ear and an audio cable allowing it to be plugged into any audio device featuring a standard headphone jack. I’m sure the sound isn’t amazing, but if you’re hitting the slopes why risk your expensive earbuds or headphones when the iHat is just $25 from BB Shopping, available December 14.

Really Snowing Photo Frame Makes Every Picture Look Like It Was Really Snowing… Not Really

2009-09-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

Really Snowing Photo Frame Makes Every Picture Look Like It Was Really Snowing… Not Really

Yep, it’s a 4×6 standard photo frame (ie non-digital) that features an extra layer over the picture filled with fake snow flakes. But instead of having to shake the frame like a snow globe, there’s a proximity sensor that will automatically cause the flakes to swirl when somebody comes near the frame. So even if your ski trip was ruined by a lack of snow, the photos you took will at least look like a winter wonderland. $24.99 from ShopGadgetsAndGizmos.com.

ShakEnergy : Shake to Recharge This Battery

2009-09-03T09:58:00.001-07:00

ShakEnergy : Shake to Recharge This Battery

ShakEnergy battery is a different type of concept battery that can be recharged by a manual operation without the need of using any kind of components. This AA sized nickel metal hydrate battery is charged through shaking it. It also can be charged through an electrical battery charger. The ShakEnergy concept battery has five components inside, rechargeable Ni-mH battery, shaft, coiled bobbin, permanent magnet and rubber shock-absorber. The capacity of the battery is about half of the usual AA size battery and the main electricity is produced by the bobbin. When the battery is shaken, the permanent magnet moves up and down through the shaft and center of the bobbin, thus produces the electricity. The rubber base absorbs the shock, as well as helps the magnet to bounce back.

BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics with Sleek and Smooth Design

2009-09-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics with Sleek and Smooth Design

The Vision EfficientDynamics is a concept vehicle for future by BMW which is a low carbon hybrid supercar aiming to achieve the premium end of the auto market with its fuel-efficient design. A three-cylinder turbodiesel engine is empowering this vehicle supported by a couple of electric motors. This car can go 0-100 kilometers per hour in just 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 250 kmph and consumes 3.76 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. It features an electric mode for day to day use that can be charged through plug-in module. The vehicle stores the power it lithium polymer cells, allowing it to drive for roughly 50km on a single charge, which can be extended through its regenerative breaking system.

Samsung NC 10-11 GP, pink version

2009-09-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

Samsung NC 10-11 GP, pink version

Computers have always been developed more significant from generation to generation. Today we can find that computers have been shrunk in smaller size to support people in their mobile computing works. Today netbook is the common computing device that has been widely used for many people from many professions that ranges from the business professionals to high school students.

There are many specifications and types of netbook we can easily find in the market. It�s necessary to find a netbook that fits our interests and favors since it may represent our personality as well. The Pink Netbook of Samsung NC 10-11 GP is perhaps the recommended type of netbook for high school girls. This product is small measuring only 10 inches and comes in pink color this is the Best netbook for girls who have mobile activity. This product is only weighing 4,6 pounds which isn�t very heavy at all for girls.

The great benefit of this product is that it comes with 6 cell-Lithium Ion battery that allows the users to use the computer for 8 hours of run time. The consequence of having this small netbook is that you�re dealing with tiny size issues. Tinny screen, touch pads, tinny keyboards to work with.

Barack Obama USB Flash Drive

2009-09-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama USB Flash Drive

Did you vote for Obama at the last election? Well if you did and you are a big fan of him, you better have this cool gadget as your collection. It is a unique Barack obama USB flash drive. There is an Obama hologram on the surface of the pivot style steel frame. You can get 80MB content of Obama’s speech for free preloaded onto the drive. You can listen to the speech for rest of your life to keep this historical moment remind. There are also small rubber Obama charm and keychain included.

This is not only selling the Obama for commercial. The gadget is worth to collect with all its quality. The pivot style is great; you will never lose the cap. The great thing is this cool Obama USB flash drive is waterproof. There are two capacities you can choose, the 8GB with 200x speed transfer rate and 2GB with 150x transfer rate. Data retention is for 10 years. This huge capacity and quality is packed in a very small dimension. It is only sized 40×14x5 mm.
You can also choose the material for your free content. There are ten high resolution photos of President Obama and First Lady, over two hours of audio of landmark speeches, and also all speeches that Obama ever said.

Leica M9 and X1 cameras

2009-09-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

Leica M9 and X1 cameras

Wondering what Leica has up its sleeve for that destined-to-be-overshadowed event on the 9th? Well, wonder no more: these pics of the long-rumored M9 and something called the X1 just leaked out, along with some specs. We're told the M9 will sport a full-frame 18.2 megapixel sensor and improved low-light performance, but the real surprise is the X1, pictured above, which'll supposedly have a 12 megapixel APS-C sensor, a fixed 24mm lens and that funky grip handle, by which we're oddly fascinated. Maybe Leica's got some surprises left for the 9th after all.

Creative Zen X-Fi2 touchscreen PMP

2009-09-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Creative Zen X-Fi2 touchscreen PMP

Creative's Zii EGG may be snagging the majority of headlines for the company these days, but it looks like it's not about to let its regular PMPs fall by the wayside, and it's now announced its new Zen X-Fi2 player that ditches the few buttons found on the original Zen X-Fi in favor of full touchscreen controls. That, of course, also comes with an increase in screen size (to 3-inches), and a new interface that seems to include a few elements from that patent filing we saw a while back. Otherwise, the specs aren't too far off its predecessor, including the same 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB options, a microSD card slot for further expansion, a built-in microphone and FM radio, an RSS reader (which must be synced up with your PC). Still no firm word on a release date, unfortunately, but you can now pre-order it from a number of retailers for $129.99, $179.99, or $229.99, depending on the capacity.

Sony SRS-GD50iP = iPod dock + USB speakers?

2009-09-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

Sony SRS-GD50iP = iPod dock + USB speakers?

Aside from the flamboyantly oversized subwoofer, do you know what we really love about this new iPod / iPhone dock from Sony? The big logos sprawled across the middle of each speaker, that's what. After all, nothing yells audiophile quite like a chunky slab of plastic in the middle of your sound output, right? Marketing department 1, engineering team 0. To be fair, Sony is offering a nice bit of convergence here, as the speakers can also serve as a 2.1 PC set via USB, and they'll even use the same connection to sync up and charge your Apple device of choice. With 60 watts of power and that delightfully diminutive remote control, the whole setup will cost you $199 (or less, if you look real hard) and is available now.

Buffalo 4TB TeraStation NAS

2009-09-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

Buffalo 4TB TeraStation NAS

It's been a while since we've seen a TeraStation from Buffalo, and in the meantime the company has been really going wild with the lilliputian memory devices, so it's nice to see something substantial in this space for a change. The latest TeraStation NAS integrates with Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 for up to 4TB storage. Of course, this particular Windows release has been available since late 2006, so we're not too terribly impressed -- but the company seems to think that it's important for you to know all about it. In addition, this bad boy has support for Raid 5/0/1 and VSS, and rocks four hot-swappable drive bays. The WS-Q2.0TL/R5 (2TB) is available for ¥158,000 ($1,658), while the WS-Q4.0TL/R5 (4TB) will set you back ¥198,000 ($2,077).

Adesso AKB-440 keyboard

2009-09-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Adesso AKB-440 keyboard

Look, we're not going to say that the famed keyboard-mouse tandem is going anywhere soon, but we will say that there are certainly occasions where having to use a separate critter is a real pain. For those times when having mousing abilities right on the keyboard just seem more "right," there's the Adesso AKB-440. Aimed directly at HTPC users and the like, this rather vanilla looking keyboard spruces things up with a GlidePoint-enabled pad that puts your standalone mouse out of work. If your imagination is running wild with how this thing could revolutionize your life (or at least improve the feasibility of a living room PC), feel free to snag one now for $59.99.

Samsung N130 and N140 netbooks

2009-09-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

Samsung N130 and N140 netbooks

It's been a good year since Samsung unveiled its universally praised NC10, yet here we are -- one successor and countless competing models later -- looking at the exact same specs being offered up in the Korean company's latest pair of netbooks. Why exactly a successful laptop of any kind would need three identikit successors isn't something we can readily account for, but let's look at what (little) is actually new, shall we? A lightweight version of MS Office is bundled (try and stifle your excitement, please), alongside a suite of new Samsung apps and automated backup to Microsoft's free 25GB SkyDrive online vaults. The N140 gets a pair of skull-rattling 3W stereo speakers and a larger battery (up to 5,900 mAh) to differentiate it from the N130, and ergonomics are said to be improved, but we're still left with the bitter taste of stagnating hardware in our mouth. Windows 7.

Toshiba JournE touch multimedia tablet

2009-09-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

Toshiba JournE touch multimedia tablet

Hey Apple, check this thing out! Toshiba just blazed into IFA on a 7-inch multimedia tablet, the JournE touch. It's dominated by the touchscreen display, but underneath there's support for a wide range of codecs (H.264, DivX, WMV), 802.11b/g WiFi, some online multimedia services like YouTube and Flickr, and some light internet duties thanks to Internet Explorer running on Windows CE 6.0 Pro. Despite the size and multimedia prowess (it can output sub-1080p video over an HDMI plug in the dock), the device measures a mere 14mm thick and weighs just under a pound. There's only 1GB of built-in storage, but that can be expanded via the SD slot, and the device can access external storage over USB. Word is it'll retail for 250 Euro in Q4 this year.

The device feels pretty nice in hand, but there's still a bit of a prototype vibe about it -- maybe because it's still a prototype. It's clearly a resistive screen, and the device will include a stylus for non touch-optimized apps. Toshiba seemed to be having fun with the multitude of Apple comparisons, namely since there isn't an Apple device to compare it to yet. They also call the video output the tablet's killer app, and promise to show more once they can track down a WiFi signal. Sure, it's just a MID at the end of the day, but we'll be happy to humor them -- it's a pretty hot MID.

HTC Snap -- $79.99

2009-09-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

HTC Snap -- $79.99

Alltel customers -- totally legit ones who've been left out of the Verizon integration -- have a few things going for them, not the least of which is a one-year contract policy that applies across the lineup. That means you can get a Tour for the same two bills you'd pay on Sprint or Verizon but with only half the time commitment, but now, it also means you can get an HTC Snap (generic version pictured above) for just $80. Considering it's the same form factor with international roaming capability that the Tour offers, that might be $120 worth saving if you're not married to BlackBerry OS and you're willing to give WinMo a fair shake. That's not so crazy of an idea, is it?

Nokia 2705 Shade

2009-09-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Nokia 2705 Shade

It's no Twist, but the latest Verizon-branded Nokia leak suggests that the newfound love between the two companies is showing no signs of slowing down -- good news for a carrier shunned by some manufacturers for its CDMA ways. The alleged 2705 "Shade" would replace the 2605 Mirage as its name suggests, which means that we're expecting strictly low-end specs here; that means EV-DO might not even be in the cards, so if you need anything other than a basic voice tool, you probably shouldn't bother getting all excited and marking down the days on the calendar until this thing is released. Oh, that, and also the fact that there's no guidance on when this might be released -- the Mirage arguably still has a little life left in it, so it's plausible that we might not see the Shade drop until the holidays or beyond.

Nokia X6 mobile phone

2009-09-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

Nokia X6 mobile phone

Ladies and gentlemen, our long, global nightmare is over. Alright, that's a significant overstatement -- but Nokia's lack of capacitive adoption has unquestionably hurt opinion of its 5800 and N97 models, the first to use its touch-ready S60 5th Edition platform. Happily, afterdawn.com is reporting -- and we've been able to independently confirm -- that the X6 will indeed be using a capacitive display, something that we suspect will significantly improve usability if you're not interested in using a stylus (or plectrum, as the case may be) to navigate your way through the interface. For the record, Samsung's already proven that S60 5th is totally doable with capacitive tech on its i8910 HD, so we're sure Nokia's going to be able to pull this off with aplomb -- the real question might be whether this signals a wholesale abandonment of resistive across the range. Since resistive's cheaper, we wouldn't be surprised to see it continue to hang around on the low end for some time to come, but at least we've now got the choice. Sadly, it's too late to save the N900's screen -- but now that Maemo's made the bold leap into GSM telephony, maybe we'll see some worthy capacitive action the next time around.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2

2009-09-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2

Here it is, folks. Sony Ericsson's newly official XPERIA X2 in the flesh. It's got a flashy (gimmicky?) home screen, along with a view for "snacking" on bubbled-up information. Lots of buzzwords, but we'll need more time hands-on to know how we feel. The hardware? It's still a heavy beast, but perhaps just a bit more loving in this incarnation. We don't love the resistive touchscreen one bit. After a strong caveat that what we're looking at is preproduction software, a Sony Ericsson rep admitted that Windows Mobile 6.5 isn't all it could be -- though we're unsure why Sony Ericsson didn't throw a bit more hardware at the problem, Toshiba style. Still, the interface breaks down to stylus-friendly Windows Mobile-isms with just a few taps, and none of the "wow" of the floating Sony Ericsson home screen seemed to excuse any of the UI lag it introduces. Again, early software, but the X1 didn't exactly rise above its preproduction jankiness.

Nokia Mural phone coming soon

2009-09-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Nokia Mural phone coming soon

It's really not going to move the S60 crowd much, but the Series 40-based Mural has finally been announced for AT&T following an FCC unveiling back in May. The clamshell puts an emphasis on style thanks to user-customizable multicolor cover lighting and a mirrored finish, but you've still got a reasonable dose of technology (sorta, anyway) thanks to a QVGA display, HSDPA, a 2 megapixel cam and microSD expansion up to 16GB. Look for it on the 6th for $49.99 on contract.

Sony Ericsson W595, Ed Hardied version

2009-09-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson W595, Ed Hardied version

Hate or love their software, their usability, or their distribution model, it's hard to argue that Sony Ericsson (and Ericsson before it) hasn't usually had a keen eye for design. Ed Hardy, on the other hand... well, that's open to debate -- but like it or not, the two world are colliding thanks to Carphone Warehouse division mobiles.co.uk over in the UK. It seems the retailer has an exclusive on an Ed Hardied version of the W595 slider that's currently on pre-order, offering the same specs as its more buttoned-up sister -- QVGA display, 3.2 megapixel cam, HSDPA -- but the shell's been traded out for a truly unforgettable mishmash of artistry that's sure to leave an impression on anyone who sees the phone glued to your face. It's no more wild than the Bob Sinclar W508, really, so pick your poison.

Runco VX-33i, VX-33d projectors

2009-09-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

Runco VX-33i, VX-33d projectors

Runco has taken a somewhat winding road to attending next week's CEDIA Expo, but the company is coming out guns blazing. Unfortunately for us, though, those are some pricey guns, indeed. Making a debut at the show will be the VX-33i (pictured) and VX-33d projectors -- 3-chip DLP designs that combine 1080p resolution and Runco's own video processing to deliver the goods at really indulgent (larger than 120-inch) screens. The VX-33i has Vivix processing onboard and the VX-33d offloads these duties to the external DHD video processor. Sounds great, right? Well, sorry to say, these beamers aren't going to buck the pricing trend in 3-chip DLP setups -- $50,000 for the VX-33i, $60,000 for the VX-33d put these beyond even our "a guy's gotta dream" category.