Mobile Technology

21:30 November 10, 2009 PST

sparkz iPhone dock doubles as a pico-projector

We may have to wait some time before pico-projector technology finds its way into mobile phones as a standard feature, but until then products like the sparkz iPhone/iPod dock projector will help fill the gap. The handheld 4.5” x 3” x 2.5” unit uses a 3M LcoS projection engine to throw a 640 x 480 image at a brightness of 15 lumens - so you'll need to draw the curtains and dim the lights before the show starts. Read More

The Tag Heuer Lamborghini phone handset

By Paul Lester

18:27 November 5, 2009 PST

The Tag Heuer Lamborghini certainly looks the business

If you're looking for value for money, a sports car-inspired designer mobile phone probably isn't the best place to start. Based on its Meridiist handset, Tag Heuer's latest model is inspired by the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640. We’ve no problem with admitting that it looks the business, but as is strangely typical of these sorts of overpriced phones, it seems to be seriously lacking on the practicality front. Read More

TwitterPeek - Tweeting without the bells and whistles

23:21 November 4, 2009 PST

TwitterPeek is the company's third data-only product

In news for committed Tweeters (at least those without a smartphone), Peek has released what it says is the world’s first dedicated Twitter mobile device. TwitterPeek is the company's third data-only product (following on from the original and Peek Pronto) and like its predecessors, its key selling points are simplicity of function, low-cost and no contracts. Read More

Google announces free turn-by-turn maps app for Android - looks the goods

01:37 October 29, 2009 PDT

Street View, regular and satellite View - Google Maps Navigation does them all

Every platform needs a killer app and for the Android OS the early contender for that title has to be the just announced Google Maps Navigation for mobile. Only available for Android 2.0 phones, the new application takes the current Google Maps for mobile and gives it a hefty shot of steroids. Most of the new features that set the app apart from most in-car turn-by-turn navigation systems come courtesy of its Internet connectivity, which makes it possible to access a wealth of relevant information residing on Google’s servers while out and about. Read More

Pocket projector meets handheld computer - the Allcam CP1

17:24 October 28, 2009 PDT

The Allcam CP1 pocket projector and handheld computer

Allcam has crammed a lot of technology into a very small space to create the CP1 - a handheld computer/pico projector that runs Windows CE and is designed for the business professional who conducts presentations on-the-fly. It's got a built-in mouse-pad, but it also has mini-USB connector for keyboard and mouse (or any other USB device). There's also it a speaker, around four hours of battery life and it weighs just under 1kg (2.2lbs). Read More

Plastic Logic QUE proReader set for CES launch

04:21 October 27, 2009 PDT

The QUE proReader from Plastic Logic will be launched to busy executives at the Consumer E...

Plastic Logic has flagged the unveiling of its business user focused QUE proReader eReader at CES next January. The company says the eReader market to date has focused on leisure reading devices and casual users, so the QUE is designed for the busy executive who wants to access his or her business media in an electronic easy-to-read format. What this amounts too is an eReader roughly the same size as an 8.5 x 11-inch pad of paper, less than 1/3 inch thick, weighing less than many periodicals and boasting the largest touchscreen in the industry. Read More

Wildcharge review - is wireless power worth it?

By Paul Lester

20:29 October 25, 2009 PDT

Wildcharge Skins are available for Apple and BlackBerry devices

It seems strange to think that in today’s age of ever advancing technology, it’s been over 100 years since Nikola Tesla began developing theories for wireless power, and though researchers at MIT have picked up the baton in recent times, we’re still waiting for an efficient, mass-market way to abolish reams of unsightly cables from our homes. The Powermat, demonstrated at CES 2009, is one product that threatens to kick-start this revolution. Another early mover in the market is WildCharge and we've been testing one of these devices to find out first hand what all the fuss is about. Read More

Casio to release Exilim CA003 phone with 12MP camera

By Mick Webb

17:13 October 20, 2009 PDT

Those who like a camera phone to pack some serious specs will be very pleased to hear of Casio’s upcoming release of the Exilim CA003, featuring a 12.2MP camera with autofocus and a 28mm wide angle lens with 3X optical zoom. The phone will boast a 3.3” WVGA OLED screen as well as GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM radio. It supports microSDHC cards up to 16GB and will be available in four fashion colors including “champagne gold”. Read More

Spring Design’s Alex: the first Android-based, dual display e-book reader

23:46 October 19, 2009 PDT

Spring Design's Alex dual-screen Android-based e-book reader

Alex from Spring Design is the first Android-based e-book reader that comes with dual screens. The upper display is a 6-inch E-Ink monochrome electronic paper display (EPD) screen, while below it sits a 3.5-inch color LCD screen. The device features full Internet browsing capabilities that, through the use of the device’s Duet Navigator interface, allows hyperlinked text displayed on the main EPD to be clicked on to bring up supporting multimedia information such as video, images, and notes on the secondary color LCD screen. Read More

Doro PhoneEasy cell phones for seniors

23:11 October 19, 2009 PDT

Doro PhoneEasy 345 and 410, ideal for seniors, are now offered by Consumer Cellular (Photo...

Cell phone and services provider, Consumer Cellular, has released two senior-friendly cell phones with bigger, raised buttons and easy-to-read display text. The Doro PhoneEasy 345 and 410 cell phones are designed by Swedish company Doro – with more than 30 years of product design experience – and are being offered exclusively by Consumer Cellular after they surveyed customers and found that 62 percent would prefer cell phones with these features. Read More

Acer Liquid puts Android 1.6 on Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset

By Tim Hanlon

17:02 October 14, 2009 PDT

There's already one smartphone running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset, the Toshiba TG-01, but being Windows Mobile-based, it's a little harder to get excited about than the Acer Liquid - Acer's first Android-based phone running on Android 1.6 (aka Donut). Read More

WikiReader puts an offline version of Wikipedia in your pocket

01:42 October 13, 2009 PDT

The WikiReader - Wikipedia content in the palm of your hand

WikiReader is a handheld device for people who rely on the information contained at Wikipedia more often than they have access to the Internet. The offline, “always on” unit is designed to deliver information in an easy-to-read format and fit snugly into a pocket or handbag. The manufacturer, Openmoko, says it’s an uncomplicated, unconnected experience that can be used just about anywhere, like on a plane or at the beach. Hey, you could even use it in the library! Read More

Kempler & Strauss W Phonewatch

By Paul Ridden

14:35 October 12, 2009 PDT

Kempler & Strauss W Phonewatch includes its own Bluetooth headset

Being able to hold a conversation on a wrist-bound communicator has been a staple of popular fiction for many a year, but real world offerings have so far been a bit of a hit and miss affair. Things recently improved with devices from LG and Samsung but they're somewhat expensive solutions. Now Kempler & Strauss has launched the quad-band W Phonewatch which threatens to shake things up a bit. Offering similar functionality to its competitors at a fraction of the cost, the W also comes with its own Bluetooth headset that doubles as a stylus and MP3 control. Read More

Amazon Kindle e-book reader goes global

15:59 October 7, 2009 PDT

Amazon has announced an international version of its Kindle e-book reader. Priced at US$279, the global version of the Kindle will work in over 100 countries and shares the same specs as its U.S. only counterpart - a 6" diagonal E Ink anti-glare display, slimline 8" x 5.3" x 0.36" footprint, 2GB internal memory (1.4GB of which is available for user content - that's enough for 1,500 books) and a weight of just 10.2 ounces (0.29kg). Read More

Fujitsu announces winners of Mobile Phone design competition

By Paul Ridden

03:04 October 7, 2009 PDT

Grand Prize winner Gesture by Jin-gwon GO (Images: Fujitsu Limited)

In May of this year, Fujitsu called on the imagination of the public to help the company come up with some mobile designs for the future. Offering budding designers the choice of being realistically practical or wildly imaginative, the company received around 2000 entries over the Summer and has just announced the winners at the CEATEC technology trade show in Japan. Read More

Powermat wireless charging system hits shelves

04:33 October 6, 2009 PDT

Powermat wireless charging mat in now available

The Powermat range of wireless charging products we first spied at CES 2009 are now available for purchase. The system consists of a plug in charging mat and a receiver embedded in a cover for your portable device that allows you to "drop and charge" without having to to fiddle with cords as well as simultaneously charge multiple devices. Read More

Flash 10.1 coming to Windows Mobile, Palm Pre, BlackBerry, Android and Symbian

21:36 October 5, 2009 PDT

The Palm Pre is just one of the many smartphones that Adobe's Flash Player 10.1 will run o...

Adobe claims that Flash content is present on more than 85 percent of the top 100 websites, and that approximately 75 percent of all web-based videos use Flash. In good news for the growing numbers of people accessing the Internet on their mobile phones, Adobe has unveiled its Flash Player 10.1: Full Flash software to bring an integrated Flash experience to browsers on Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, WebOS and Windows Mobile smartphones – but not iPhone. Read More

TXTBlocker lets parents and employers disable texting while driving

By Paul Lester

01:58 October 3, 2009 PDT

TXTBlocker helps to prevent dangerous distractions while driving

It should come as no surprise to hear that texting while driving is a particularly dangerous thing to do. Recent studies have shown that drivers are 23 times more likely to get into an accident if they are texting and an astonishing 46% of teens have admitted occurrences of driving while distracted as a result of fiddling with phones.

A new product called TXTBlocker addresses these issues directly by disabling a number of phone functions, with the specific impact decided by a choice of settings available from an account page online once you subscribe. Read More

Get mobile power with or without an outlet from the iGo Charge Anywhere

22:47 October 1, 2009 PDT

The iGo Charge Anywhere is a versatile wall charging unit with integrated battery

Everyone remembers that interstate or international trip when their cell phone or GPS ran out of power and they discovered they’d brought the wrong charger with them. Or found themselves 'powerless' with no outlet in sight. Frustration, fear, panic … you name it, there are a lot of emotions that run through your mind when you find yourself in that situation. It’s a scenario you never want to repeat. But unfortunately, many of us are slow learners. A new travel-friendly charger called the iGo Charge Anywhere should help you overcome the problem of flat batteries by allowing you to charge your mobile devices in any location, with or without an outlet. Read More

Go live! Livestream Livepack puts a satellite truck in your backpack

22:50 September 30, 2009 PDT

Competing with the big boys ... the Livestream Livepack lets you record and broadcast live...

A new backpack from Livestream called the Livepack puts a broadcast TV truck on your shoulders without the weight or cumbersome dimensions – but with the same broadcast capabilities. If you get A-list invitations that put you up close and personal with celebrities, or just fancy yourself as part of the paparazzi, this is a must-have device. The Livestream Livepack crams into a backpack the hardware unit to encode and transmit HD video, a Firewire cable, and six load-balanced built-in 3G modems in order to get the highest possible available bitrate. The system even comes with a dedicated IP address to stream to your Livestream channel - you’ll be a professional roving reporter before you know it (as long as you can provide your own Firewire DV camera). Read More

SurroundSense uses your phone's sensors to figure out where you are

By Dario Borghino

17:02 September 30, 2009 PDT

SurroundSense uses your mobile phone's sensors to figure out where you are and is particul...

Smartphones use GPS locating for a variety of functions but mainly they're used on the road where their accuracy - only within 10m - is basically a case of 'near enough is good enough'. But try using one indoors. They don't work! Nor can they distinguish between two adjacent environments, however different. And 10m can make a big difference inside a shopping complex or multi-roomed office block. In a research jointly sponsored by Microsoft, Nokia, Verizon and the National Science Foundation, a group of computer engineers from Duke University is working on achieving better indoor localization using a combination of sounds, lighting and accelerometer data picked up by a mobile phone. They hope it will supplement the use of GPS systems, which most users know, have their limitations. Read More

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