Mobile Technology

October 29, 2004 Flash Disc pioneer M-Systems has unveiled plans for the MegaSIM Card Module in the second half of 2005. For the first time in the mobile phone market, the MegaSIM card will combine high capacity flash-based storage with densities reaching 256 MB and advanced security features to enable a variety of compelling mobile applications. As mobile handsets increase their multimedia capabilities and service providers begin implementing broadband mobile service, the need for secured, scalable and configurable high capacity storage becomes acute. The MegaSIM card module will enable SIM card vendors to provide their mobile operator customers with a (U)SIM (universal subscriber identity module) card enabling a variety of advanced mobile services such as MMS, MP3 and video clips downloading, full PIM functionality, and high resolution picture storage.  Read More

October 29, 2004 The age of ubiquitous media got a little closer this week when Texas Instruments (TI) announced it is developing a chip that will offer live, broadcast quality digital TV on a mobile phone. Code-named "Hollywood," the chip will receive live digital TV broadcasts using new television infrastructure that is being developed for mobile phones, doing for mobile phones what HDTV did for home TVs. It will capture broadcast signals and allow subscribers to access different types of content including live television, pay-per view, interactive TV, packaged services for sporting events, music videos, menu/guide systems and more whilst on the go.  Read More

October 16, 2004 Here's an interesting little multimedia editing suite that fits in the palm of your hand. Create your own video clips with the M-Robe all-in-one portable multimedia centre from Olympus. Take digital pictures, add music and remix with the new M:robe MR-500i motion music player.  Read More

October 10, 2004 First shown in June 2002 as a concept device born of collaboration between Toyota, DDI Pocket and Kyocera, the latest model PiPit mobile phone went on sale in Japan this month. The phone is essentially a personal safety device, and with just three destination keys is designed to immediately contact authorities or family at the touch of a button when needed. For these reasons it is likely to gain a substantial market as a device for women, children and the elderly for its simple operation. It also has the added benefit for parents of maintaining easy contact with their children without having to worry about the bill they're running up.  Read More

Designer phones for the rich and famous seem to be becoming more plentiful. Motorola, Baby Phat and Bloomingdale's today announced the Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons i833 phone by Motorola, a limited edition mobile phone accented with real diamonds. The sleek, pink phone features the Baby Phat logo, a designer-inspired quilted texture and 0.4 carats of genuine diamonds encrusting the external display.  Read More

Music has been land-locked too long so we can all be thankful of today's announcement in the US by iRiver that it will launch, in conjunction with H2O Audio, the H2O Audio SV i700, a fully waterproof MP3 player accessory. The H2O Audio SV i700 is designed specifically for iRiver iFP-700 series flash-memory music players.  Read More

Combining the sound quality of a micro hi-fi shelf stereo system and the portability of a personal CD player, Philips has released the eXp3373. The MP3-CD player is accompanied by the Sound Station, a docking station that functions as an amplifier with two external speakers, transforming the portable audio player into a stereo system equivalent in sound to a mini hi-fi in one easy click.  Read More

June 3, 2004 This two-piece MP3 player is small enough to fit on a key ring and can store one hour of music as well as doubling as a storage device...  Read More

A new ground-breaking holographic 2D projection technology could result in a new generation of pocket-sized digital video projectors and miniature projection displays incorporated into other handheld devices. Digital video projectors produce large, high quality images are becoming increasingly popular as they grow cheaper with mass production, but the technology is limited in its miniaturisation, preventing projectors from being incorporated mobile device markets. Holographic projection of 2D (rather than 3D) images represents a compelling alternative to conventional image projection. Video projectors based on this holographic technology can be made very small so a projector could be integrated into a laptop, a PDA, or even a mobile phone.  Read More