Hitachi W42H Designer Phone June 28, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones
Remember those Barbies you had as a kid—I know, I remember mine—and you could change her wardrobe easily, but no matter what you put on her she was still a little tramp? Well the Hitachi W42H cellphone is kind of like that. Still a tramp, but not as much.
This is a run-of-the-mill phone that has a camera, music player, etc, but it also includes snap-on parts that can change the look of the phone to match your favorite Sunday dress. Snap-on accessories for a phone? What is this world coming to? Make a call, hang it up, stick it in your pocket. No need to turn it into a toy.
Hitachi W42H phone changes with your day [MobileMag]
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Nokia Sues Chinese Companies For 7260 Knockoffs June 28, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones
This is interesting news—Nokia is suing two companies for producing copies of their Nokia 7260 phone, and suing them in Beijing no less. Nokia wants them to stop making and selling the phones and pay damages.
The two companies are Shenzhen Telsda Mobile Communication Industry Developing Co. Ltd. and Song Xun Da Zhong Ke Electronic (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., in case you've got some connection to either. We'll be interested in seeing how this one turns out. If Nokia wins, it may mean a lot less cheap knockoffs of non-Chinese products.
Nokia says Chinese copied stylish phone [Businessweek via Textually]
Image courtesy iproceed
Willcom nico, For the Kiddies June 28, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones
With kids getting their own cellphones at younger and younger ages, the responsible parents out there need to ensure that their kid has the dumbest looking phone possible, right? Isn't it an unwritten rule that parents are responsible for embarrassing their kids at any cost?
Enter the nico from Willcom. This phone includes a parent-friendly urgent button along with a tracking mechanism to make sure those kiddos aren't sneaking off to the arcade when they shouldn't be. This phone will be available July 13 in blue, green, yellow, pink or "chocolate."
Press Release (Japanese) [Via MobileMag]
Buffalo USB SD card June 28, 2006
READ MORE Storage
Like the USB SD cards of yore, the Buffalo card has an integrated USB connector that lets you eschew the standard 11-in-one card readers. One end of the card connects to your camera/phone via SD, the other end hooks up to your 'puter's USB port when you remove the protective cover.
256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB sizes will be available in July.
New USB SD card from Buffalo [Akihabara News]
Sony to Ship 8GB NW-A1200 Music Player June 28, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
We've seen these Sony A-series MP3 players before, but the NW-A1000 models were only capable of holding 6GB. Now Sony has decided to unleash an 8GB model on the US market, the NW-A1200, which will be available in either pink or purple.
It takes just a couple of hours to charge up its lithium-ion batteries, and Sony says you can get playback of up to 20 hours on a charge. The player's form factor is fairly compact as well, where it's just 3.5 inches tall and 19mm thin. But it's not exactly light for its size, weighing just shy of 4 ounces.
It can play back WMA and AAC files as well as MP3s, and if anyone's still using Sony's proprietary ATRAC format, it can handle that, too. By far its most distinctive feature is its electroluminescent display, a 1.5-inch screen that makes it look like the text is floating on its surface. Sony says the NW-A1200 will be shipping on July 20th for $200.
Product Page [Sony Style] Thanks, Chris!
Omniscient Military Blimp to Fly by 2011 June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Forget highflying spy planes, the US military plans to send an all-seeing blimp to a height of 65,000 feet to spot enemies, watch out for cruise missiles and relay communications using a huge phased-array radar antenna embedded in its belly. Lockheed Martin is figuring out how to make the thing light enough to fly and operate at such a height for over a year at a stretch, and is looking to make it all happen by 2011.
Not only does such an airship need to be unusually light, its battery power has to be more efficient than any in existence today, where it needs to use a quarter of the weight to store the same amount of energy currently possible.
From first-hand experience, we can vouch for how perfectly a blimp functions as a platform in the sky, just sitting up there with very little energy expended. It's the perfect antenna. Thank goodness this particular device will be unmanned, because think of it—oh, the humanity—sitting up there for a year with nothing to do but stare into space.
All-Seeing Blimp On The Rise [DefenseTech]
Dustpan and Broom: Made for Each Other June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
If you have a cool crib, everything in it has to be just right, no matter how prosaic—even your dustpan and broom. Here's a set from Denmark, where they know their chic-atude, a Normann Copenhagen swooping yet minimalist design to pick up detritus around the pad.
Jumping around the grayscale with impressive subtlety, the dustpan is available in charcoal, gray (pictured here), black, and light gray, and its companion broom, which looks like it's doing the bouncy bouncy in the dustpan's convenient finger hole, is made of beech wood with all-natural bristles. Don't know about you, but we like our bristles all-natural. It's $25.
Product Page [Relish, via productdose]
Firefox Ogio Messenger Bag June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
We didn't realize there were fanboys for Firefox, but don't get us wrong, we dig the Firefox open-source web browser. We use it literally all the time. It's just that, is there really a need for a bag that says Firefox all over it? Not that this isn't a great bag; it fits a 17-inch laptop inside along with a bunch of other stuff, and has a drop-in audio pocket with a little port for your headphone cable to go through.
So, if you want to spread the word about Firefox, this looks like just the $60 messenger bag to do so. Reminds us a little bit of the $250 Adobe Messenger Bag of which we are mildly fond. Hey, if Firefox has its own bag, perhaps we should develop a Gizmodo bag . . .? Who wants one?
Product Page [The Mozilla Store, via Uncrate]
First Look: Aigo MP-P335 June 28, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
GenerationMP3 got a first look at the latest portable media player from Aigo. The MP-P335 is a 30GB device that supports MP3, WMA, WAV, MPEG-1, 2, 4, AVI, DivX, XviD, JPEG and text files. It has a nice palm-sized form factor and the battery life is mediocre at best with five hours of video playback. It runs of a Linux platform and even has line-in and video recording. Price speculation is currently around 400 Euros, or approximately $500. Hit the GenerationMP3 link for more pics, a video sneak peak and a preview of Aigo's other miniature player, the E868.
Exclusive Preview of Aigo MP-P335 [Via dapreview]
PS3 Games to Cost A Lot? Or Not? June 28, 2006
READ MORE Home Entertainment
Our nerdy cousins at Kotaku, of whom we are not the least bit ashamed, point an article in PlayStation Magazine where Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) President and CEO Kaz Hirai reassures us that pricing for the upcoming Blu-ray-packing PlayStation 3 games will be, um, hopefully not too expensive. Here's his convoluted quote:
"Generally speaking, over the past twelve years or so, there has been a consumer expectation that disc-based games are maybe $59 on the high end to $39 on the low end. So, what I can say now is, I think it would be a bit of a stretch to think that we could suddenly turn around and say 'PS3 Games now $99.99.' I don't think consumers expect software pricing to suddenly double. So, the quick answer is that we want to make it as affordable as possible, knowing that there is a set consumer expectation for what software has cost for the past twelve years. That's kind of the best answer I can give you. So, if it becomes a bit higher than $59, don't ding me, but, again, I don't expect it to be $100."So, somewhere between $59 and $100, right? Or something. Why didn't he just say, "I don't know yet."?
PS3 Games Bling-Bling Expensive? [Kotaku]
Western Digital Settles Hard Drive Capacity Lawsuit June 28, 2006
READ MORE Storage
Take note, Apple. Western Digital is actually settling a class-action lawsuit that was filed against them. They are giving out free software to consumers who filed a lawsuit claiming the hard drives actually had less space that promised. This software is available for anyone who has purchased a Western Digital hard drive from March 22, 2001 to February 15, 2006. It isn't just some run-of-the-mill software either, the software retail value is roughly $30 per copy.
The lawsuit stemmed because Western Digital decided to interpret one gigabyte as 1 billion bytes, while actual operating systems like Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X interpret one gigabyte by the correct number of 1.07 billion bytes. This 7-percent shortfall would be like losing 5.6GB of storage space on an 80GB hard drive. If you too have been victimized by Western Digital, then you can claim your free correction software here.
Western Digital Settles Capacity Dispute [Sydney Morning Herald]
Car-Like Monitor Rear View Mirror June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Sure, we've seen a few rearview mirrors for your computer monitor before, but these add a new dimension of style and simulated automobile-ness that caught our attention. Now you can be forewarned when that dork you haven't seen in a couple of weeks sneaks up behind you to cover your eyes and say "guess who?"
The Designer Monitor Rear View Mirror attaches with double-sided tape or suction cups, and just like a car's rear view mirror, you can rotate and swivel it to frame up that perfect shot to the rear. We do, however, question the designation of "designer" on this product, since in all of its description materials, no designer's name is mentioned. Oscar de LowRenta, perhaps? We would prefer Ferrari. Available in blue, green, orange, or silver, it's $7.99.
Designer Monitor Rear View Mirror [perpetual kid, via the über review]
Microsoft 360-Degree Conferencing Cam Gets Prettier, Officialized June 28, 2006
READ MORE Peripherals
A couple months ago we saw the Microsoft Ringcam, which was essentially a prototype version of this model, the Microsoft RoundTable. Along with this fancy device, Microsoft also unveiled a new business plank that is focused on the development of communication software and VoIP services.
The Microsoft RoundTable will sit in the middle of a conference table and give a 360-degree panoramic view of everyone involved. It also includes features to have documents and even PowerPoint slides integrated into the streaming video on the other end. It uses VoIP technologies and has included microphones. This is still a prototype, but at least it looks a hell of a lot better than their previous RingCam model. Sure conference calls are fun and all, but how about some good old fashion porno? This camera would work great!
Microsoft Introduces 360-degree conferencing cameras as part of VoIP strategy [TG Daily]
Tropical Island Hammock June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
It's getting to be that lazy, hazy time of year, when hammocks are at a premium and trees between which to hang them might not be situated right where you want them. Here's the solution: the Tropical Island Hammock. Set it up anywhere and if you squint hard enough you just might think you're hanging from a couple of coconut palms on some uncharted desert isle, for a three-hour tour. A three-hour tour.
The two 6-foot fake palms and their plastic grass-like base hold that hammock in kitschy, tacky style. Although this is not nearly as exciting as the extreme hammock we showed you last week, it still has its own curious appeal. Not appealing, though, is its $8,280 price.
Product Page [Bim Bam Banana]
DIY: Build Your Own Pong Game June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
What is geekier than a soldering iron and a good game of Pong? Damn near nothing. That is why you can geek out to the max with the Classic Video Table Tennis kit. This is a PCB kit that lets you construct your own Pong game to relive those memories and put your soldering skills to the test. Given that your construction skills can accomplish it, this game can be played by one or two players, includes four difficulty levels and can connect to NTSC televisions with the standard RCA video cables. The kit—which is essentially a bag of resistors, capacitors and diodes—is available through ThinkGeek for $20.
Product Page [Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Frustrated Man: This Could Be You June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Don't you sometimes feel like this guy? Are you one of the huddled masses yearning to breathe free? This poor, tired, frustrated guy breaking his way out of the top of your computer monitor might be just what you need to the cheer you up on Hump Day.
The little $15 polyresin figure comes with a left leg that you stick to the front of your monitor. His only job is to get people talking, thinking and fantasizing about escaping the bondage of permanent, gainful employment. Beats working.
Frustrated Man Computer Topper [Klear Gear] Thanks, Mike!
Global Warming Mug: Do Nothing and the Problem’s Solved June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Do you still think there's no such thing as global warming? This $10.95 coffee mug will graphically demonstrate that abstract concept for you, because when you pour a hot liquid into it, Florida disappears, half the eastern seaboard is underwater and shorelines recede all over the world.
But never fear. Once you've finished drinking that coffee, or if you just leave it sitting there to cool off, all goes back to normal, and all is right with the world. So let's see, what do we learn from this? Do nothing, and global warming will magically go away? Or when the polar ice melts, if we all get together and drink enough seawater, New York will no longer be submerged?
Product Page [via treehugger]
Intel’s Next Trick: Quad Core Processors June 28, 2006
READ MORE PC
On the heels of Intel's release of its Core 2 Duo processors, more information has surfaced about Intel's next-generation quad core processors due in the first quarter of 2007. The four-way processors, called "Clovertown" for servers and "Kentsfield" for desktops, are said to be power-hungry, sucking up 110 watts of power compared to the 80 watts of those Core 2 Duo processors introduced earlier this week.
All the newer processors by Intel are based on what the company calls the "Core" architecture, as opposed to the Netburst architecture of chips that preceeded the Core Duo and Core Solo. While these upcoming four-way Core chips will still be delivering good efficiency compared to Netburst architecture when you compare performance-per-watt, speculation has it that low-power quad core chips won't be available until 2008.
Intel quad-core processors may see spike in power - sources [TG Daily]
Nintendo Announces Pink DS Lite June 28, 2006
READ MORE Games
Nintendo fan boys and girls the world over will be delighted to know that the DS Lite will soon be available in that color of flamingos, a girly-looking powdery shade the company calls Noble Pink.
If you're getting all excited about something like this, well, you're easily excitable, but from what we can discern from Nintendo's Japanese language website, you'll have to wait until July 20th to pick one up for $144. With the addition of this color, soon the Nintendo DS Lite will be available in four colors: Crystal White, Ice Blue, Enamel Navy, and this pink one. We're not really seeing anything noble about it—they should have called it Girly Pink.
Product Page [Nintendo, via Akihabara News]
MP3 Pen/Radio/Dictaphone/ Storage Device June 28, 2006
READ MORE Digital Audio , Gadgets , Peripherals , Portable Media , Storage
They’ll stick an MP3 player in anything these days. Personally I’m awaiting the edible thong MP3 which will call ‘One Shot Only.’
Meet, not the first, MP3 pen for those people that still write stuff, and things. Available from Hong Kong gadget site, Brando, The Pen houses 512Mb of Flash memory for storing files, an MP3 player, FM radio and voice recorder. And it can still be used to doodle in those all-important boardroom meetings.
Weighing in at 50g and measuring 148 x 18mm, it’s not too big and it will set you back just £25, which is not all that shabby for a portable USB/MP3/FM radio thingie. It’s also moisture-proof (do not drop it in the sink) and shockproof (please don’t test this out). Via I4U
Portable Hammock For Those Lazy Days June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Anyone that has ever tried to mount a hammock for the first time knows that it’s a perilous affair. Apart from the embarrassment of flailing around like a prat, there’s the physical danger.
There’s always that friend that suggests hopping in, isn’t there? So you do, only to land and a nano-second later, realise that you have made a terrible mistake as the hammock takes your downward force + poor trajectory, multiplies it by 10 with a vicious spin and splats you on to the grass at 30mph. Thanks God then for the Kelsyus Portable Backpack Hammock.
UK’s fastest Internet Café lands in….Cornwall June 28, 2006
READ MORE Broadband , Press , Wireless
“Ooh Arr, all them big city folk might think they be getting the best of this here technolergy stuff but don’t we have er surprise for ‘em. How about a 100Megarbits internetty café, eh?” All true I’m afraid. It seems that there are some advantages to letting telecoms companies build big giant dishes in your scenic fields after all.
PSP 2.71 Firmware Hacked June 28, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Our parents' little-mistake-in-Barbados, Kotaku, has a video of the new PSP 2.71 hack. The angsty, I'm-not-doing-my-homework soundtrack aside, you'll see that you can now run ISOs and homebrew apps off the memory stick.
Is there a hack to turn the PSP into a Nintendo DS? No? Oh, well we'll be over here with our New Super Mario Bros. then.
PSP 2.71 Firmware Finally Hacked [Kotaku]
Walkie Talkie Watches June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Another Walkie Talkie Watch, but this time not quite so nerdy looking. These watches were worn by the Norwegian Olympic Team during the last Winter Olympics, which means they're decent enough for people who need things to work—whatever that means. There's eight channels with 38 sub-codes, which makes for 304 discrete discreet channels. The 3km (1.86 mile) range is better than that other set of walkie talkies, but these don't come cheap—£60 plus shipping for a pair.
Walkie Talkie Watches [I want one of these]
USB Clock Hub June 28, 2006
READ MORE Peripherals
It may be the heat getting to us, but this USB Clock Hub seems like a decent proposition. You've got a hub—useful—and a clock—don't want to be late—all in one.
The only problem is the spacing of the USB ports. You won't be able to fit 3 USB sticks in simultaneously. Three standard USB plugs should be fine.
3 Ports USB Hub with Clock [Water4fish]
Transformers Bumblebee Robot Leak! June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Jalopnik's got a sneak set-pic of a gigantic animatronic Bumblebee. He looks like he's in mid-transformation here—or just popping a squat, who knows what liberties Michael Bay took.
Does anyone else think the upcoming Transformers toys will be freakin' radical?
Head over to Jalop for some more set pics and a teaser look the upcoming trailer.
Transformers Movie Leaks [Jalopnik]
D-Link 3G Wireless Video Camera June 28, 2006
READ MORE Wireless
When WiFi security cameras just won't cut it, there's the D-Link DCS-2120 Securicam with 3G functionality. Viewers can get a live feed straight from the camera on their 3G cellphone, smartphone, PDA or laptop as long as both the device and the security camera has a 3G signal.
The DCS-2120 has a CPU and a webserver, which means you can view the thing on a standard web browser. There's 4x digital zoom and low light capabilities for when you're monitoring your ex-wife office in the dark.
If you're not using the camera in a remote location, there's 802.11g and 10/100 Ethernet for LAN surveillance. It supports up to 640x480 at 30FPS.
D-Link Launches 3G Wireless Video Camera [Bios Magazine]
Nakamichi Lumos Portable DVD Player June 28, 2006
READ MORE Portable Media
Nakamichi is an Asian brand that's known in some circles for their audio/video design style. Their Lumos player has a 7-inch screen in a form factor of 7.9" x 6.1" x 1". It supports quite a bit of disc formats: "DVD, VCD, SVCD, CD, MP3, DVD-R/RW, CDR/RW, JPEG, picture CD, CD+G".
The good news is the Lumos outputs at both PAL and NTSC, the former being Asian/European standard and NTSC being the US TV standard. Not only that, the 5.1 digital-audio output sets this on the same level as regular home DVD players.
The Lumos is kind of pricey at £280, but if you try to justify it to your wife that you're getting a home player and a portable player all in one, she may let you get away with this one. You'll still have to find a dealer to import this to you though.
Nakamichi Lumos 7" DVD player [Popgadget]
Solar-Powered Flickering Candle Lanterns June 28, 2006
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Smarthome's Old-Fashioned Candle Lanterns harken back to the day when people had to watch television by candlelight. They're solar powered and do their simulated flickering thing all night long, looking just like old-timey wax candles are nestled inside.
They're made of glass and metal, and can be mounted using a ground stake and hanging ring, where you can either stand them up on a table or stake them in the ground, hanging them up to a height of 33 inches. Smarthome says these flickering lights will last up to 10 hours on a solar charge, and the LED lights inside are good for 30,000 hours.
Product page [Smarthome]
Solar Powered Heated Garden Shower June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
Wash off all that pool chlorine and your kids' pee pee with this solar powered golden garden shower. On a sunny enough day, connect the shower up to a garden hose, wait 30 minutes, and the shower will heat up the water up to 50 degrees Celsius. There's enough hot water for 5 showers—more if you like your showers just luke-warm.
Solar Powered Garden Shower [Coolest Gadgets]
Office 2007 Online Preview June 28, 2006
READ MORE Software
Microsoft has put up an online "Beta 2 Test Drive" for people who are on the fence about upgrading. In case you don't want to install the actual Beta for fears that it'll interfere with your older version of office, this preview lets you check out what's new—and what's not. All you need is IE 5.5 or later and the Citrix Browser Plugin.
Try it out then come back and tell us whether there's enough new stuff there for you to pony up your hard cash to upgrade from Office 2003.
Test Drive [Microsoft]
Talking Tombstone, You Know, For Dead Jokesters June 28, 2006
READ MORE Gadgets
You may be dead, but that doesn't mean the hijinks need to stop. The Talking Tombstone is quite possibly the most distasteful and tacky addition to any dead person's repertoire, but, oh man, it could be funny.
Cheer up, you silly mourners, and listen to my deceased voice insult your mother from beyond the grave. This tombstone will set you—or your life insurance company—back £2750. But that isn't too bad considering you are getting the last word, for all eternity. Oh ho!
Product Page [Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Defense Minister Resigns Via Text Message June 28, 2006
READ MORE Mobile phones
We've heard of Dear John text messages—hell, I've done a couple myself—but this is a new low. The Defense Minister of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramon-Horta, has resigned from his position via a simple text message.
"I do not wish to be associated with the present government or with any government involving Mr. Alkatiri."
Easy enough, I guess.
Minister Resigns by SMS, Receives Acceptance from PM Via SMS [Gizmo Watch]
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