CrunchPad Could be here this Month!

The CrunchPad was mentioned on GadgetVenue a few months back where at that point, it was still in prototype form. Today we hear that the CrunchPad is almost ready and will probably be launched in either late July or early August.

The New York Times have reported that it will be priced at less than $300 which is quite amazing!

The CrunchPad will be a low cost internet browsing device where you simply sit back and read your favourite blogs. No keyboard is included although a large touchscreen QWERTY keyboard is built in to the software. The device boots directly in to a web browser and has limited controls although there is a USB for attaching a keyboard if needed.

When we get an official release date we’ll let you know.

iPod Video Around the Corner?

A rumour is out and about today indicating that iPod’s might be getting embedded video cameras built in. TechCrunch report that a huge order of cheap $10 cameras have been ordered by Apple. Apple are expected to sell 20 million iPhones this year and about 3+ Million iPods/month. If Apple were to include cameras on their range of iPod’s then that 3+ Million per month would give the low end video market a run for it’s money.

The cameras ordered match those found in the iPhone and because of the sheer volume of the order it would appear that Apple are thinking beyond the iPhone.

Putting a camera in the iPod touch, which uses the same operating system as the iPhone, is a logical next step for Apple. But the order size is supposedly so large that some people in Taiwan are speculating that Apple may be planning to put cameras in the lower end of the iPod line, too. “Everything but the Shuffle may have a camera in it soon,” says our source.

We don’t have even close to enough information to speculate that the Nano and Classic iPods could be video-ready anytime soon. But I could easily see these lower end iPods include the camera just for taking pictures. Apple never turned video on in the iPhone 3G, but lots of people were using it via unlaunched apps from Qik, Ustream and others anyway. They could be planning the same thing for the Nano.

I have always liked seeing devices converge in to 1 and Apple bringing video to iPods (if that’s what they are intending to do) would really shake things up.

When we hear more on this we will let you know.

Leyio 16GB File Sharer

Leyio is a secure portable hard drive which has a 16GB capacity and allows you to wirelessly share files without Leyio users in a secure way.

The 16GB of on-board flash can be used to store photos, videos, documents and other formats which can be quickly transferred to other users at speeds up to 10Mbps.

The wireless connectivity comes from ultra-wideband radio technology and when 2 devices are near each other the users can select which files and media to transfer. If your friends do not have their own Leyio then a USB port on the side accepts USB flash drives which can be inserted and files copied to them. If you for some reason do not have a memory stick and need one then a 2GB USB shuttle is built in to the casing which can be removed when needed.

The Leyio also includes a small 1.5″ OLED screen that allows you to quickly browse through the contents of the drive and tell it what you want to transfer. It also has a usage indicator letting you know exactly how much storage space you have left.

Leyio Details and Contents

* 1x Leyio
* 1x USB cable
* 1x Instruction leaflet
* Storage memory: Flash memory (MLC NAND) 16GB
* Freescale arm ejs 320MHz processor
* Interfaces – An external port for mass storage USB key
- An internal USB port (occupied by the satellite)- A mini USB port for connecting to computer and/or charging battery
* SDRAM 8MB
* 3-axis accelerometer
* UWB radio module allowing 10MB/s Leyio/Leyio transfers at 3-5m
* 1.5-inch OLED screen – 65k colors – RGB565 – 128×128
* Digital fingerprint sensor for identification and interface browsing
* Vibrate function
* Satellite that acts as a 2GB USB key
* Lithium Polymer Li-Po-3.7V Battery, 900mAh, 30-day autonomy (1)
* Rechargeable using external mini USB port.

Available from Firebox costing £129.95 in the UK.

Archos 9PCTablet Runs Windows 7 and Possibly Android

The Archos 9PCTablet is an Internet Media Tablet. It is already known that the 9 will run Windows 7, but TG Daily mentioned today that it could possibly come with Android OS installed.

Archos call it a “fully-tactile netbook” although netbook might be a little far fetched considering it doesn’t even have a keyboard. Instead, it has a resistive touchscreen for input which according to some reviews seems to impress.

Archos 9PCTablet Specs

The Archos 9 will run the new Intel ATOM Z515 processor. It will have an 80GB HFF, Bluetooth for tethering (internet access) and it will have 2 antennas that will receive DVBT TV allowing it to function as a portable digital TV.

I’m not sure where TG Daily got the information from, and it could be pure speculation. But, there probably aren’t too many reasons why it couldn’t run Android as an operating system.

Handy USB to SATA Adapter

If the USB to SATA Drive Dock was a bit too big for your liking then another option is the USB to SATA adapter which is far smaller and does pretty much the same job.

It has it’s own inbuilt power supply which provides power to the SATA drive and all you need to do is connect up the USB port to your computer and copy all the files off your drive.

The adapter is ideal for those times when you don’t want to open up your computer to grab a few files from an old drive and the adapter is small enough to carry around when needed.

Available from USBNow for £17.99 in the UK.

History of Space Exploration

We don’t mention too much of space here on our gadget blog, but this was quite cool and is well worth a mention.

This year is the 40th anniversary of man landing on the moon. On July 16th Bonhams New York will be celebrating this with a sale of some historical space goods. Nearly 400 lots will be up for grabs including bits of spacecraft that have been taken in to space and on to the moon’s surface.

Items included are check list pages that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin used when in Apollo 11 such as the landing procedures etc… 3 check lists will be auctioned off with them expecting to fetch up near $175000.

Another highlight is an official Apollo 11 crew insignia originally from astronaut Michael Collins’ collection, which might go for between $25,000 and $35,000. A sheet from the flown flight plan that shows the exact time of Armstrong and Aldrin’s historic steps will be also offered and is expected to sell for between $40,000 and $50,000. These artifacts from the historic mission are sure to interest collectors from all around the globe. Other artifacts of interest for collectors are from the Apollo missions 14, 15 and 16.

Check out more details over at BornRich.

Wireless 700 Card brings GPS to Dell Mini 10 Netbook

The Dell Mini 10 Netbook will soon become available with the Wireless 700 card (costs $69) and provides the netbook a dual function card that will have wireless and GPS giving the netbook navigation and geo-tagging capabilities.

Most smartphones already come supplied with a GPS unit and now it’s time for netbooks to get in on this. Due to the Dell Mini 10 being quite small it could make a very nice navigation device that will be capable of both 2D and 3D turn-by-turn navigation.

As well as providing detailed navigation the Dell Netbook will become location aware so that when you check weather reports or search for something in Google, you will get results relating to your location.

Although netbooks probably wont be seen sat on the dashboard of most cars, they still could get good use as navigation devices on foreign lands as roaming costs for phones are quite high which could let smartphone users leave their phones switched off on their journeys.

The card will be available on the 7th July as an optional extra costing $69 which I think will be taken up by a lot of customers. Maps will be available for customers of the GPS card, but the downside is that there potentially could be a yearly subscription for them. No doubt another 3rd party product could be used if needed.

Via: GizmoWatch

Sync Blocker Lets you Choose Between Sync and Charge

The Sync Blocker is a device which allows you to choose the option of either synching and charging your iPhone, or just charging your iPhone.

A small switch can be found on the Sync Blocker docking connector which allows you to easily switch between sync/charge and just charge allowing you to simply just charge your iPhone if needed when you do not have the need to sync.

Sync Blocker Compatibility

- iPhone 3GS
- iPhone 3G (or iPhone 2.0)
- iPhone 2G (or iPhone 1.0)
- iPod Touch 1st & 2nd
- iPod Classic
- iPod Video
- iPod Nano 4th
- iPod Nano 3rd

Available at USB Fever for $12.99.

Kerchoonz K-Box turns any Surface in to a Speaker

The K-Box is a device that turns any solid surface in to a speaker. A 3.5mm audio jack is available on the device which allows you to hook up your device, sit it on a table or wherever and the sound is then played through the surface.

The K-Box uses a technology called Gel Audio Technology. A standard speaker is found inside which provides the mid to high range frequencies while the Gel Audio Technology that sits on the table is responsible for delivering the bass.

The device is about the size of a mobile phone and has around 20 hours of playtime on a single USB charge. The K-Box costs $74.50.

To get an appreciation of how good this device actually is you need to check out the video below which demonstrates an iPhone playing music and then being connected to the K-Box.

Finger Dance Alarm Clock

If you have ever seen those dancing games in the arcades where you tap your feet in time to the music in a specific routine then this is exactly what this alarm clock is… well, a tiny bit smaller.

The Finger Dance Alarm Clock requires that you tap the floor of it by following a correct sequence of lights. Only when you have completed the sequence correctly will the alarm switch off.

The idea is fantastic although I am sure if you really don’t want to wake up then you could just chuck it out of the window. The Dance Alarm Clock will set you back £9.99 in the UK.