Mobile Technology
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Epson USB Plug in and Play projector
August 24, 2006 Epson has released an ultra portable wireless multimedia projector with the world’s first USB Plug in Play connection in a projector, making it the ideal portable partner for presentations. Weighing just 1.7 kg, the EMP-1715 is lighter than any other wireless projector in its class, and a mere 68mm high with a footprint of just 273 by 193 mm. With a superb 2700 ANSI lumen lamp brightness, the EMP-1715 is compatible with both PCs and Macs. With the EMP-1715 Epson has also introduced another world first with a multi screen display function allowing content from different applications to be displayed on up to four projectors from just one PC. (read more...)
Sony Ericsson's Z610 shimmering mirror clamshell
August 24, 2006 - Sony Ericsson has announced the Z610, a 3G phone with gorgeous looks and a sleek mirror finish on the front cover that gives it a jewel-like quality that is complemented by a hidden ‘magic mirror’ display which can only be seen when in use. This striking phone delivers an advanced feature set including a 2.0 Megapixel camera and broadband-speed 3G connectivity. With such a distinctive design and a choice of three eye-catching colours – Luster Black, Rose Pink & Airy Blue – the Z610 looks a winner to us. (read more...)
US$100 Acceleration Data Logger
August 23, 2006 As soon as we saw this we just knew there’d be a whole host of knowledge emanate from the application of this little baby. The new HOBO Pendant G Logger is an easy-to-use data logger for measuring and recording tilt, orientation, activity and motion forces in indoor and outdoor environments. Roughly half the size of an iPod Shuffle, the new HOBO Pendant G makes it easy and fun to record data in any environment - in the home, outside, and even underwater. Gadget lovers of all types, from electronics hobbyists to students to amateur scientists, will employ the Pendant G logger in a broad range of activities, from recording G forces on rollercoasters to measuring activity patterns of people and/or pets. Once data has been collected, users can display the data graphically on a PC or Mac. (read more...)
Next Generation Mobile Phone Concept
August 22, 2006 Answer your phone with the touch of a cheek! Synaptics and Pilotfish have utilised Synaptics' ClearPad touch screen to enable a new mobile user interface in its Onyx next-generation mobile phone concept. The new concept phone uses ClearPad, an optically clear, capacitive touch screen solution, to create a fully adaptive user interface (UI). The ClearPad input system eliminates the traditional mechanical keys found on phones today and dramatically adapts to present the information and controls a user needs at any given moment. Claimed to be more intelligent than conventional touch screens, the ClearPad accurately recognizes not only points and taps, but also shapes, complex gestures, and proximity to the user's finger or cheek. This creates new possibilities such as assigning functions to two-finger taps, closing tasks by swiping an "X" over them, sending messages by swiping them off the screen, or answering a phone by holding it up to your cheek. The prototype phone uses a dynamic UI, where applications are layered and opened simultaneously, allowing a seamless flow of information between applications. (read more...)
Pantech's 3x2x1 inch PN-218 for U.S.
August 18, 2006 If you fancy one of those incredibly small Pantech PN-218 CDMA handsets and live in the U.S., the news is that they’ll be available via Alltel in short order. The PN-218 is just 3.02 inches long, 2.15 inches wide and 0.96 inches thick with the flip closed, has a VGA camera with flash and digital zoom, a Ringtone shuffler, high-speed data transmission and picture/ringtone Caller ID. (read more...)
The Rotary Cellular Phone – the ultimate in retro low tech chic
August 14. 2006 We love this concept and we’re still trying to work out why. Maybe it’s because it will make people rubberneck at comedy sketch levels and maybe it’s because it sends up all those people who have their frightfully important cell phone conversations in public places. The Portable Rotary Cellular Phone is a fully functional, rotary dial, home telephone from the sixties except when you’ve put your sim card inside, it becomes a mobile phone. Each one begins life as one of those old sixties phones and replacing the internals is a time-consuming exercise, so as with any hand-built-to-order item, you’ll need to allow a few weeks of thinking music after you’ve sated the hand-built price tag – in this case US$399 for black or US$499 for red. The phone dials out like normal through the rotary interface and perhaps the best aspect of all is that incoming calls ring the original, loud, gong style metal bells (click here to listen to the ring), making it ideal to put on the bar next to you when you’re out on the town or wishing to make your presence felt in a public place. Of course it’s not all that portable, weighing in at around a kilogram and being roughly the size of a sixties home telephone, but that’s the point … it’ll work in any country with one of the 900MHz/1800MHz/1900MHz cellular bands (90% of the world) and we figure it’s worth its weight in started conversations. (read more...)
The rise of the MP3 player – BBC plans digital radio add-on
August 13, 2006 With MP3 player sales booming and threatening to become a disruptive media technology, the BBC is planning to develop a “plug-in gadget that turns MP3 players into digital radios.” Plans are in the early stages and no functionality spec or firm details have been released, nor has a cost or availability details, but a BBC spokesman was reported as saying, “it's important for to us to make sure that people can listen to digital radio on their own terms" according to the BBC web site. The BBC spokesman said the BBC was conducting feasibility studies for the design, manufacuring and marketing of the device. The plug-in gadget would not be limited to playing the BBC digital radio stations and versions might also be available for mobile phones and cars. The BBC initiative comes just after the release of a study by global market research firm Ipsos which indicates that as many as one in five Americans over the age of 12 now own portable MP3 Players and one in 20 own more than one. (read more...)
Koss Cobalt wireless headphones
August 11, 2006 High fidelity stereophone manufacturer Koss has announced a wireless Bluetooth stereophone it will call the Cobalt and we fancy these will be very worthwhile additions to the personal entertainment kit. Built to last, the US$180 Cobalt has a “No Questions Asked” Lifetime Warranty. The Cobalt uses advanced Bluetooth frequency-hopping technology to provide a 30-foot range, so you can move freely while taking a call, or listening to your favorite music or movies. If you’re working on your PC, the Cobalt is also sold with a USB dongle transmitter that plugs into your computer for streaming and VOIPing. (read more...)
Next Generation Walkman senses your rhythm and switches playlists to match
August 8, 2006 Sony’s next generation sports walkman was unveiled yesterday but with the fanfare surrounding the far more significant MYLO, it’s not surprising that the diminutive S2 Sports Walkman devices might not have seen as much of the spotlight as they deserve, either technologically, or historically. The original Walkman hit the market in Japan in 1979 and arguably began the personal music revolution, with the cassette Walkman selling close to 200 million units before the MP3 player was born. The new S2 Sports Walkman actually offers some unique compelling new functionality for people who are exercising, most significantly the Music Pacer feature gauges your speed, tempo and acceleration, automatically switching to the appropriate personalized walking or running playlist to match your rhythm. The S2 MP3 player is a water resistant aluminum cylinder about the size of a tube of lipstick, weighs about one ounce and comes with its own armband. The 2GB model will cost around US$150 and the 1GB model will cost around US$120 when they hit the shelves next month. (read more...)
A new product category begins with the Sony mylo Personal Communication Device
August 8, 2006 Sony is launching its first WiFi broadband communication and entertainment device to capitalize on the growth of wireless Internet access. The new US$350 mylo personal communicator will be available in September and is capable of operating in any open 802.11b wireless network, often found on college campuses, in public spaces and within private homes around the country. This product is designed for people who use instant messaging as a primary form of communication and networking for their social life. The name mylo stands for "my life online" and the communicator lets you use instant messaging, browse the Internet, listen to music, send emails and view photos concurrently. Detailed images here. (read more...)
Payment Card with Electronic Paper display
August 8, 2006 The potential for electronic paper applications seems to be boundless and the recent announcement that SiPix and SmartDisplayer have created the first flexible display panel to be embedded into an ISO-compliant payment card highlights the potential. The application subsequently landed the companies the Display Application of the Year Award from the Society for Information Display (SID). The revolutionary One Time Password (OTP) DisplayCard enables cardholders to generate and display a dynamic passcode for one-time use. During an online merchant checkout or home banking login, the cardholder obtains a new, unique number by pressing a button on the card. As prompted, the cardholder then enters the number, proving the presence of the card, and completes the transaction. With the DisplayCard, banks can strengthen online banking sign-on by enabling two-factor authentication. (read more...)
Equation Marchante M.Y.S. - the sun meets its match
August 7, 2006 For two centuries, perhaps the rarest of watchmaking complications has been the equation of time. Measuring the difference between the length of the solar day which constantly varies over the course of the year and the length of the standard 24 hour civil day, an equation of time display has graced only the most exclusive watches and clocks. Even more refined and exclusive has been an equation of time display which shows both solar time and civil time with two separate minute hands. In all of watchmaking history, only a handful of the most important clocks and pocket watches have featured this form of dual time, “equation marchante” display and they have been so exclusive that nearly every one has been an historically significant piece. Blancpain unveiled a limited series of 50 pieces of the first equation marchante wristwatch in 2004. Now to mark the seventh anniversary of Blancpain’s partnership with the Monaco Yacht Show, Blancpain has created a special limited edition Le Brassus series watch featuring an evolution of its equation marchante movement. (read more...)
SAMSUNG and Gianni Versace Versus partner to target upmarket youth
August 1, 2006 With the world mobile phone market continuing to gather momentum, it’s not surprising that we’re now seeing brand name designers being brought in to assist in meeting the needs of ever narrower niches. Samsung got together with Versus, the line that embodies Gianni Versace SpA at its most youthful, free spirited and daring, unveiled the new ‘Samsung Versus E500' mobile phone in Korea last week. The prime objective of this alliance is to create a product targeting younger generation of consumers who pursue originality in terms of style, innovation and practicality. Samsung is hoping that the ability of Versus to interpret the very latest trends in style and design and Samsung's excellence in the field of technological innovation will create truly enriching opportunity for both brands. (read more...)
First public UMA over WLAN trial underway in Finland
July 28,2006 Nokia started its very first public Unlicensed Mobile Access pilot over Wireless LAN in the Finnish city of Oulu last week. This trial will last at least two months and is being conducted under real life surroundings and conditions. Fifty families from the city of Oulu will be trying and testing the functionalities of this new technology with the help of Nokia’s 6136 mobile device. The 6136 integrates UMA technology to allow for seamless handover of voice and data connections between GSM cellular and WLAN networks. In other words, it combines the benefits of mobile and fixed landline through voice over WLAN. (read more...)
Rolling Stones European Tour uses new technology to enable fans to dial-in to concerts
July 28, 2006 The advent of satellite communications enabled live events to be telecast across the world and the logical time-critical, gotta-know events which were first offered were sporting contests – Grands Prix, football, cricket, tennis, golf, and so on. Now the mobile phone is inevitably taking over as the planet’s entertainment platform of choice, we’re about to see some seismic shifts in capability and a new one emerged this week. The Rolling Stones will offer audio access to their remaining European concerts by being the first act to utilize a new technology called Listen Live Now!. The band's 'A Bigger Bang' tour will become the first live concerts to be fee-cast beginning Friday, July 28 at the Rolling Stones' Paris show and continue through the band's Sept. 3 concert in Horsens, Denmark. Fans can tune in from any phone (mobile or land line) and listen live for a fee of US$1.99 per seven-minute feed direct from the soundboard. Under existing proprietary technology, up to one million fans will be able to listen in on selected concerts. (read more...)
The number one contender for the iPod crown - the iriver clix
July 20, 2006 When it all boils down, as much as we love the iPod, it doesn’t seem fair that Apple should do as well as it has on the strength of what’s basically a good MP3 player because there are plenty of other good MP3 players out there without the charisma of a Steve Jobs and the cleverness of Apple’s marketing team at their disposal – like the US$200 iriver clix f’rinstance. The clix has a very intuitive interface, 2GB memory capacity, a large colour display, digital FM tuner, enhanced photo viewing, video playback, and FlashLite game support. Seen as the most likely to successfully tackle the iPod, iriver has cosied up to Microsoft and offers immediate Windows Media Player 11 compatibility with the clix, has already spawned a bunch of accessories from the leading accessory manufacturers and has developed a close relationship with MTV Networks' new URGE digital music service in the hope of matching the iPod/iTunes team. There’s a really good interview with iriver America President Jonathan Sasse discussing all this ... (read more...)
GoldVish Luxury Cell Phone launch at Millionaire Fair Cannes
July 18, 2006 GoldVish is a new name in mobile communications but one we suspect most people will rarely see on an actual product. Aiming at the very top of the market for personal communication devices, the Geneva based luxury communication goods company is about to launch a collection of the most exclusive and up-market cell phone collection ever created! At the stratospheric end of the range is the amazing limited production ‘Piece Unique’ which features more than 100 carats of D/E-color and VVS-1 clarity grade diamonds and will sell for EUR1,000,000 (US$1,254,100). Prices for the regular GoldVish phones start at EU18,950 (US$23,761) and go up to EUR120,000 (US$150,468) for a full pave diamond version. There will also be 100 Limited Edition pieces specially made for collectors for EUR145,000 (US$181,808), but these are expected to all be snapped up when the collection is previewed to the public for the first time at the elite Millionaire Fair in Cannes in September. (read more...)
Touch Messenger sends and receives text messages in Braille
July 17, 2006 Samsung’s “Touch Messenger” mobile phone for the visually impaired has landed a Gold Award at the Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). The innovative Touch Messenger enables the visually impaired users to send and receive Braille text messages. The 3-4 button on the cell phone is used as two Braille keypads and text messages can be checked through the Braille display screen in the lower part. Once this product is commercialized, it is expected to dramatically boost the quality of life for visually impaired people, numbering as many as 180 million worldwide. (read more...)
Water Resistant Aquadock MP3 Dock AM/FM Radio
July 16, 2006 This is one of the most cost effective iPod accessorioes we’ve ever seen, and it’ll look after your iPod at the beach or the pool or anywhere outdoors where your pride and joy might get wet, sandy, dirty, dusty or damaged. It’ll service any MP3 player and comes with an AM/FM radio built-in as well as the stereo speakers - the Aquadock MP3 docking station is water resistant and costs just US$29.95. (read more...)
The CarGoDesk turns your car into an office
July 16, 2006 Genuine productivity boosts are hard to find, so an item that improves productivity by 5 percent while you’re on the road and costs just US$300, seems like a bargain to us. The CarGoDesk is a portable organizer that turns the front passenger seat of any vehicle (right or left hand drive) into a workdesk – if you’re a road warrior or spend any time working from your car, the clever and lockable CarGoDesk could prove to be a significant boost to your effectiveness. The workstation is secured into your vehicle's passenger seat via the safety belt, providing a stable work surface and space for storage thus providing a convenient area for doing paperwork and computing. It is covered with a non-skid rubber material to keep your gear from sliding off when you go around corners, and two hinged, lockable storage compartments for all your papers and files. Best of all, the CarGoDesk has a retractable handle and trolley wheels like a travelers wheelie bin and so can move from office to car and back as one, continually organized unit which can also be locked to the seat. And if you want to get the hamburger-with-the-lot, there are optional Cell phone, GPS, PDA, printer and fax machine mounts and even a 400 watt continuous power, (800 watt peak power) inverter. (read more...)
The world's most expensive mobile phone
July 16, 2006 Russian company JSC Ancort has teamed with celebrity jeweller Peter Aloisson to create a very upmarket version of Swiss Crypto Telecommunication Security’s Crypto Smart telephone which will sell for US$1.3 million and in so doing, become the world’s most expensive mobile telephone. Designed to attract attention to the issues of mobile phone privacy, the solid platinum Brilliant Crypto Smartphone uses a symmetric 256 bit cryptographic algorithm and Windows CE operating system. In addition to the platinum body, the Ancort logo and the navigation key are made of 18 carat rose gold, as is the navigation key which also carries 28 round cut diamonds. Aloissen is well known for his personalisation and bejewelling of popular mobile phones such as the Nokia 8210 and Sony Ericsson T68, increasing their sale price to more than EU32,000. The phone can also be ordered with the platinum treated with a black rhodium process to give it a black, shiny look. (read more...)
Digital dual-tuner improves radio reception in critical signal conditions
July 11, 2006 STMicroelectronics and Blaupunkt have come up with an interesting new solution for good old AM/FM car radio that makes a lot of sense. A newly developed dual-tuner receiver chipset uses sophisticated digital signal processing techniques to enable excellent reception quality while reducing interference even in presence of challenging signal conditions such as weak field and strong multipath (reflection from mountains and buildings). The advanced digital receiver integrates audio signal processing and Radio Data System (RDS) decoding, and hence delivers quality and system cost optimization suitable for high-end car radios. The solution tunes to all current analog radio services worldwide (AM, FM and US Weather band) as well as to the recently introduced digital broadcasts (Digital Audio Broadcasting, Digital Radio Mondiale, HD radio), providing suitable interfaces to external decoders. Samples of the chipset are available now and volume production is scheduled for the second quarter of 2007. (read more...)
Verizon and Samsung launch first 3.2 MPX camera phone in U.S.
July 10, 2006 It’s taking some time in comparison to genuinely advanced countries such as Korea, but the level of picture quality of camera phones is finally approaching an acceptable level thanks to the Samsung SCH-a990 via Verizon Wireless. In addition to a 3.2 megapixel camera phone, the SCH-a990 boasts video recording capabilities, V CAST to view video and V CAST Music to download music directly to the phone and Bluetooth to allow a customer to print pictures wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled printer basic print profile. The SCH-a990 has a unique design that looks first like a phone and then, when the screen is rotated 180 degrees, like a camera. This design, along with the high resolution and features such as a flash and in-camera photo editing software, make the SCH-a990 the first mobile device that is as much a camera as it is a multimedia phone. (read more...)
The LG Breathalyzer Phone
July 8, 2006 There’s been a lot of talk on the tech blogs about LG’s Korean-only LP-4100 Sobriety phone and the possibility it will roll out in the United States. The phone has a built-in breathalyzer and is selling very well in Korea. Indeed, given that between 15 and 30% of all road deaths (depending on your country) involve drivers over the legal blood alcohol limits, and there’s been so much kerfuffle since it was shown at CES in January, you’d think it’d be a certainty to debut shortly. But apparently not. LG emphasised when we asked that “this phone will not be launching in the US this year, and at this time there are no plans to bring it over to the US at all. The original article announcing this phone was incorrect.” We have previously tested a personal breathalyser and thoroughly recommend them as essential kit for anyone who consumes alcohol and then drives/rides, so obviously we’re very keen on this idea, particularly for young people who are, according to the statistics, particularly at risk. (read more...)
New ruggedized walkie-talkie phone
July 8, 2006 Mobile phones have always been more resistant to abuse than they look, but a phone can never be too rugged for our liking and if you work in construction or a host of other industries where phone abuse is inevitable, then the ruggedized and fully equipped Motorola i580 handset is worth a look. It’s the only iDEN rugged phone in the industry to feature an embedded camera and the first with a clam form factor to include Bluetooth wireless technology. The i580 is also the first rugged iDEN clam phone designed to meet military specification 810 F for rain resistance, as well as for dust, shock and vibration. (read more...)
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