Mobile Technology

Sansa View video enabled MP3 player from SanDisk

By Emily Clark

22:35 September 10, 2007 PDT

September 11, 2007 It's been a week for small format, video enabled MP3 players with the release of the new iPod nano and now the announcement of a new device from SanDisk that offers a range of features including full-motion video support, long battery life and slim line design. Read More

The world's smallest 1.8 inch HDD - 160 GB

By Mike Hanlon

19:00 September 7, 2007 PDT

September 8, 2007 With hard disk capacity accelerating faster than Moore’s Law for computer chips, Toshiba nudged ahead of Hitachi today when it announced the commercialization of the world’s largest 1.8-inch hard disk drive. Dubbed the MK1626GCB, the device offers a storage capacity of 160GB, and Toshiba has started to shipping samples. The disk is clearly destined to end up inside the next generation of consumer electronics requiring high capacity storage in a small form-factor – notebooks, personal media players, and high def digital video cameras. Read More

Happy 20th birthday GSM – look how you’ve grown

By Mike Hanlon

11:27 September 6, 2007 PDT

September 6, 2007 Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the signing of the document which created the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network and the fastest technology adoption in history. GSM now serves more than 2.5 billion people, with another 1.2 million new connections every day and there will be 4 billion mobile connections in the world by early 2010 – with GSM accounting for 85% of the world’s mobile connections, mobile is heading for ubiquity in even less developed countries - 64% of mobile users are in emerging markets. The first text message was sent in 1992 and now 7 billion text messages are sent every day. Mobile operators have spent more than US$234 billion building GSM and 3GSM networks in the last five years and last year cellular services accounted for 1.6% of the global economy. So it’s a big happy birfy from us to a technology that, all PR prose aside, is changing the world. The pic is the Nokia 1100 which is the world's best selling phone with more than 200 million units sold. Read More

Magellan releases next-generation GPS navigation systems

By Loz Blain

00:51 September 6, 2007 PDT

September 6, 2007 In-car GPS navigation systems are marvellous pieces of technology, going far beyond the simple but fundamentally useful ability to give accurate directions to a destination. Magellan’s latest release units are designed to guide you safely around backed-up traffic and accident sites, tell you where the nearest coffee shop is, and even act as a Bluetooth hands-free kit for your mobile phone. Read More

More iPod news – 160GB Classic, new iTunes, custom ringtone maker and video nano

By Mike Hanlon

12:02 September 5, 2007 PDT

September 5, 2007 Apple’s major announcement of the iPod touch was accompanied by a raft of other significant announcements including the introduction the new iPod classic, featuring 80GB or 160GB of storage, an iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, a new version of iTunes (7.4) with a custom Ringtone Maker, an all new iPod nano, with video playback on a two-inch display with 204 dpi (effectively the same resolution as the video iPod) and the news it is lowering the price of the 8GB iPhone from US$599 to US$399. Read More

New Apple iPod Touch with multi-touch interface & Wi-Fi & widescreen & …

By Mike Hanlon

11:24 September 5, 2007 PDT

September 5, 2007 Yes folks, they’ve done it again. If the share price has been looking rosy, it’ll be better again tomorrow. Apple today introduced the new iPod touch featuring the same multi-touch interface used on the iPhone, a 3.5-inch widescreen display, Wi-Fi wireless networking, and a new version of the Safari web browser designed for mobile. It’s super slim at just 8mm and pricing starts at US$300 for the 8GB flash-based model and US$100 more gets you 16GB. It has a built-in accelerometer that automatically senses when you rotate it into its landscape position. When playing music, it automatically switches to Cover Flow so you can browse your music collection by album cover artwork. When in Photos, it automatically displays the photo in its landscape aspect ratio; and when in Safari it displays the web page horizontally. iPod touch also has a built-in ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the display's brightness. The new design puts Apple waaay ahead of the pack ans sales start this month. Read More

PocketSurfer 2 - lightning fast web surfing device that fits in a pocket

By Loz Blain

00:15 September 5, 2007 PDT

“If your PDA or Smartphone downloads web-pages faster than the PocketSurfer, you get a free PocketSurfer.” It's a brave challenge but one that the distributors of PocketSurfer 2 were happy to stand behind at the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show, Germany’s IFA 2007. We’re not aware of anyone who’s taken a prize home yet – please let us know if you saw any device beat this one for speed. The PocketSurfer 2 is tiny, fits in a shirt pocket and for the price (EUR 230 - US$310), you can overlook a few of the device's less than premium features such as the screen. Read More

InFocus Work Big IN10 portable projector

By Gizmag Team

00:13 September 5, 2007 PDT

September 5, 2007 Though not yet meeting the promise of palm-sized, ultra-portable nano-projectors the InFocus Work Big IN10 Ultra-Mobile Projector does offer a boost to portability weighing in at 2.4lbs (1.09kg) and measuring 2.5in (6.3 cm) x 6.1in (15.49cm) x 7.8in (19.81cm). Read More

Sanyo SCP-7050 mobile phone meets military standards for toughness

By Shaun McKeegan

17:36 September 3, 2007 PDT

September 4, 2007 Sanyo has added the rugged SCP-7050 to its range of mobile phones. Adhering to military standards for dust, shock and vibration, the clam-shell type phone features a durable rubber non slip exterior designed for use in physically demanding environments, full Bluetooth functionality, high quality display and built-in GPS capabilities. Read More

Quellan's QNx220 Noise Canceller boosts mobile signal strength

By Noel McKeegan

18:03 September 2, 2007 PDT

September 3, 2007 Quellan has announced a new RF Noise Canceller that extends the advantages of the technology beyond the realm of purely audio applications to enhance signal strength and clarity for video reception. In a weak signal area such as underground roadways or in high rise environments, a cell phone using the QNx220 can recover several bars of lost signal strength and a GPS receiver can obtain a location lock in just seconds rather than minutes. Read More

The credit card size Creative ZEN music, video and photo player

By Mike Hanlon

06:18 September 2, 2007 PDT

September 2, 2007 Creative’s new credit card-sized (well, try 55 x 83 x 12mm) Creative ZEN music, video and photo player was one of the stand-outs in the incredibly crowded personal media player space at IFA this week. The top-of-the-range Creative ZEN comes with a 16.7 million colour 2.5-inch screen and 16GB storage plus an SD memory slot and includes a built-in FM radio with 32 station presets, a voice recorder, and a personal organiser which

can synchronise contacts, ‘to do’ lists, and calendars with Microsoft Outlook. Read More

Panasonic 16GB SDHC card due in November

By Mike Hanlon

11:09 August 31, 2007 PDT

September 3, 2007 UPDATED - NEW IMAGES With memory’s inexorable bang-per-buck march outstripping even Moore’s Law of doubling every 18 months, it’s not surprising that we constantly announce new record capacities. It’s nonetheless exciting because the number of HD camcorders and high-resolution digital still cameras demanding card-based recording media with larger capacity and higher data transfer speeds is dependent on the development of more and faster memory cards. Panasonic today announced it will release a 16GB Pro High Speed SDHC Memory Card with a data transfer speed of up to 20MB/s. The new RP-SDV16GU1K card will be globally released in November with a retail price of US$320. Read More

Sony releases new open format digital media players and kills ATRAC format

By Mike Hanlon

10:29 August 30, 2007 PDT

August 30, 2007 Sony today announced two new series of digital media players that will use MP3, AAC and WMA formats, at the same time as announcing it will discontinue use of the ATRAC format and begin closing its Connect online Music store in March 2008. Sony’s role as a music distributor has long compromised its position as a manufacturer of digital media players and the long-time stand-off between the two arms of the Japanese giant that threatened to make its digital music players irrelevant is over as it seeks to make up lost ground in the booming market created by digital file sharing over the internet. Ironically, though it can now compete on an even playing field with the likes of Apple’s iPod, one wonders what the consequences of abandoning its loyalest customers will do to the market’s perceptions of the famous Walkman brand. Read More

Sleek new Nokia 6555 3G mobile phone

By Gizmag Team

07:38 August 28, 2007 PDT

August 28, 2007 Nokia’s 6555 3G mobile phone is just that, a new 3G mobile phone. But in the 21st century where phone equals fashion accessory, what sets it apart at first glance is its stunning looks - the sleek clamshell design features a recessed hinge that creates a seamless line when open, an external analog clock, and inside, a 16 million color display. Read More

Quadcharge universal charging station

By Shaun McKeegan

02:35 August 28, 2007 PDT

August 28, 2007 The Quadcharge is an inexpensive, all in one hub that allows you to charge four devices simultaneously whilst decreasing the number of AC adaptors that need to be connected to a power source, while at the same time cleaning up the tangled web of cords that otherwise pervade your kitchen bench-top or home office space. Read More

World Record 304km Wi-Fi connection

By Shaun McKeegan

23:43 August 26, 2007 PDT

August 27, 2007 A new world record distance for a 5 GHz Wi-Fi link has been achieved by the Italian Center for Radio Activities (C.I.S.A.R), and Ubiquiti Networks, a leading innovator in outdoor wireless broadband solutions. The distance of 304km (188.89 miles) was established from Sardinia Island to Central Italy achieving data-rates of about 5Mbps, using Ubiquiti’s XtremeRange5 (XR5) High-Power Carrier Class mini-PCI radio module and 35dBi 5 GHz parabolic dish antennas. Read More

Motorola Q music 9m smartphone

By Gizmag Team

18:09 August 23, 2007 PDT

August 24, 2007 Motorola has introduced a new smartphone that seeks to build on the ergonomic design and multimedia capabilities of its predecessor the Motorola Q. The sleek MOTO Q music 9m features a QWERTY keyboard, a side-scroll thumbwheel and dedicated keys for one-handed navigation and supports over-the-air music downloads using Verizon’s V CAST 3G EV-DO network. Read More

Avaya Dual Mode lets mobile users switch between wifi and cellular networks mid-sentence

By Kyle Sherer

21:28 August 16, 2007 PDT

August 17, 2007 The Avaya One-X Mobile Dual Mode, developed for the Nokia Eseries range of phones allows workers to shift from network to network using one phone, with one number, and “hand off” calls to cellular networks with just one button. Read More

New Gresso high-end luxury mobile phones

By Noel McKeegan

17:31 August 7, 2007 PDT

August 8, 2007 Luxury mobile phone specialist Gresso has released its new “Avantgarde” collection. These unique, ultra-slim phones are manually constructed using gold and 200 year old African Blackwood – the use of which ensures that two identical phones do not exist. Employing the usual attention to detail, Gresso use Sapphire crystal glass of 42 K to frame the screen and hand polished stainless steel for the back, along with another first in the form of a keyboard featuring laser cut Roman numerals. Read More

Panasonic's new In-Dash LCD Monitor/DVD Receivers and CD Player

By Gizmag Team

18:39 July 31, 2007 PDT

August 1, 2007 Panasonic has introduced its next generation of mobile video entertainment systems for the vehicle including two new in-dash DVD monitor receivers compatible with Panasonic's optional expansion module for multiple digital devices. This enables connection of up to four devices at once such as iPods, camcorders or video game consoles, a DVD/CD changer, TV tuner or Bluetooth wireless phone kit. Read More

The AHKY wrist worn translation device

By Mike Hanlon

July 16, 2007 Speaking via an interpreter is difficult enough at the best of times, so you can imagine the difficulties soldiers in foreign lands have communicating with the population when there is a significant language barrier, no interpreter and lots of big guns in the near vicinity. The AHKY (Arabic for ‘speak’ ) is a new wrist worn translation device developed by Iraqi-born University of Derby student, Amin Ismail, will soon tackle the problem when it is deployed by British troops serving in Iraq. The AHKY currently has ten phrases which have been programmed in English, Arabic and Kurdish. Phrases such as ‘nothing will happen to you’; ‘turn around slowly’; and ‘come here’. Other languages and phrases specific for a user’s specific mission are uploaded prior to each use. Read More

AMD’s TV Wonder turns your laptop or PC into a feature-rich HDTV DVR home theater

By Mike Hanlon

July 10, 2007 AMD today introduced two new TV Wonder products that could really accelerate the blurring of the digital and analogue worlds – both are thumb-sized devices that plug into your desktop or notebook and offer high-definition television (HDTV) viewing and digital video recording (DVR) capabilities. The rangetopping ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo PCIe is a combo-tuner DVR with ClearQAM tuning, allowing PC users to receive unencrypted digital content available from their local cable television provider, and switch between analog and digital TV to watch and record a digital TV program while simultaneously watching/recording an analog TV channel. Read More

New Speakerphone a first for Nokia

By Noel McKeegan

July 5, 2007 Nokia, the world’s the largest phone manufacturer, have announced the release of their first dedicated speakerphone. Designed for ultimate hands-free functionality, the detachable Bluetooth Speakerphone includes a powerful speaker and microphone with enhanced audio quality via Digital Signal Processing (DSP) that cancels out excess noises and echoes, plus the ability to automatically switch off once you’ve finished talking. The Speakerphone HF-300 is operated with battery power (so you're not confined to using it with a power outlet) and comes with a sun visor clip for convenient attachment inside the car. Illuminated keys are featured for easy use and with up to 20 hours of talk time, the 80g unit is also suitable for extended hands-free conversations anywhere outside the car through the inclusion of rubber feet that allow it to be mounted on a variety of surfaces. Read More

Wind-powered mobile phone charger

By Noel McKeegan

July 5, 2007 The problem of keeping your mobile phone fully charged when miles away from a conventional electricity source is being tackled by UK wind turbine specialists, Gotwind. The Orange wind charger prototype is a small, portable tent mounting mobile phone charger that uses stored kinetic energy to fully charge a mobile phone in up to two hours. Weighing only 150 grams, the wind generator may be a convenient answer for your next camping trip and adds another option to the growing number of ecologically friendly phone accessories such as solar powered phone chargers (which have limited functionality at night and in colder climates) and wind-up units. Read More

World’s Smallest Flash Cards for Mobile Phones - SanDisk 8Gb microSDHC Cards

By Mike Hanlon

June 28, 2007 SanDisk Corporation has begun sampling 6- and 8-gigabyte (GB) microSD High Capacity (microSDHC) flash memory cards to major phone manufacturers and mobile network operators (MNOs) for testing and evaluation. The new cards are ideal for the growing number of feature-rich multimedia handsets that bring together phones, music players, hand-held computers, digital cameras and more. Pricing has not yet been determined but we can expect to see them at retail well before the end of the year. Read More