Gadgets 411

#SMWNYC Global HQ New York - February 21, 2013

2013-02-21T19:13:00.000-08:00

Sony Playstation Vita 3G / WiFi

2012-11-30T11:16:00.002-08:00

Being a longtime Playstation Portable fan, I recently joined the ranks of being a new owner of it's successor, the PS Vita. The PS Vita physically resembles the Playstation Portable from almost 8 years ago, but features dramatic technological improvements such as a 5 inch OLED touchscreen display, available 3G wireless capabilities (as in my version), front and rear cameras built right in, and the benefit of a quad core processor to rival its console stablemate, the PS3, in computing power. Sony recently made their premium online service Playstation Plus available for Vita owners, featuring a host of flagship downloadable game titles available for free for subscribers. This truly sweetens the deal of being a new PS Vita owner, and tipped the decision in favor of buying one for myself. :)

BMW i. Born Electric Tour : New York City - November 14, 2012

2012-11-17T07:31:00.002-08:00

The BMW i. Born Electric tour is here in New York City from November 14th through the 18th, and features the amazing "carbon fiber hybrid-electric BMW i8 Concept Spyder and the fully-electric next generation BMW i3 Concept" as highlighted by BMW press materials. Check out this gallery and take in the sights!

Samsung Chromebook Unboxing

2012-11-10T20:33:00.000-08:00

I ordered a Google Chromebook a couple days after it was introduced in late October, and fast forward to the second week of November, long story short, I finally have my hands on very own Samsung Google Chromebook. I was very intrigued by the first models introduced over a year ago but the retail price always seemed a bit high for me to dip my toes into the world of purely 'Cloud' computing, the paradigm championed by the Chromebook. When this sleek little number was introduced with the attractive price tag of only $249, I knew I had to nab one for myself. I'm quite impressed with the build quality of the system despite the all-plastic shell, and hope this little guy lasts as long as the 2 years of complimentary 100GB Google Drive storage provided free with device. All in all, a sleek and tidy computing package that almost looks like a head turning new model from another computer company who shall remain unnamed. :)

The Sound of Touch - HP Windows 8 Launch Party - October 24th, 2012

2012-10-25T19:20:00.001-07:00

Windows 8 has launched with a splash, and HP celebrated the much anticipated debut of the new operating system last night by throwing a private party at Terminal 5 in New York City, highlighted by the groundbreaking and critically acclaimed hip-hop electronic group from Los Angeles: Far East Movement. The excitement was palpable as soon as guests entered the venue, with HP themed blue lighting effects splayed across the walls as digital lightshows danced across the ceiling to the beat of the DJ spinning tunes throughout the acoustically excellent Terminal 5. The first part of the evening included an Artist Talk event hosted by none other than the official celebrity Grammy music blogger himself, Arjan Writes, who held an engaging and in-depth interview with the amazing members of Far East Movement right on the performance stage, alongside their musical equipment. Guests attending the Artist Talk session were treated to their very own copy of Far East Movement's latest creation, their new album titled Dirty Bass, which is sure to be another chart-topping disc from the same group that brought us the unforgettable beats from Like a G6 from a couple years prior. The party then swung into full gear throughout the hall, which was decked out with the very latest touch-enabled Microsoft Windows 8 offerings from HP, in staying with the theme for the night "The Sound of Touch". A life-size HP Envy Touch notebook was the centerpiece of the event and drew countless fascinated guests to its movie-screen sized display to play a music trivia game with a fun and novel twist: the answers were to be selected by stepping on Paul Bunyan-sized keys on the laptop's square-foot filling keyboard. A digital photobooth nearby allowed everyone to mug with a facsimile of Far East Movement and their favorite urban-gear props, such as a classic boombox or rad gold chains. As the refreshments flowed and everyone got into the groove of the evening, the lights slowly dimmed and spectators were treated to another surprise: a circus act by aerial gymnastic performers. They ascended up their white cloth ladders up to nearly the ceiling of the event space, twisting and turning and tumbling with the greatest of ease, and at one point even playfully balancing a bantam-weight HP tablet in their hands. The main event soon followed, with Far East Movement taking to the stage, and performing the latest tracks from their album Dirty Bass, and of course, their awesome hit, Like a G6. It was an exciting evening for all the attendees including myself, and I want to personally thank Cherrytree Records and HP for my invite to this amazing event. Enjoy the accompanying slideshow for snapshots to relive the experience!

Asus - "In Search of Incredible" Launch Event - October 23rd, 2012

2012-10-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

ASUS debuted a completely new range of all-in-one Desktops, Tablets, and hybrid tablet-laptops at their press event held in New York City today, all optimized for use with the forthcoming Microsoft Windows 8 operating system. One of the most innovative (and unique) offerings on display included the breathtaking Taichi convertible laptop. This new, groundbreaking product features a dual-display system, with a touch-screen display both on the front and the back of the laptop lid. It turns the argument of whether to take a laptop or a tablet with you on its head, affording you the ability to transform it from one to the other by simply closing a lid (no twisting or turning involved.) The Taichi machine was clearly the star of the show, and as you can see from the slideshow, it grabbed the lion's share of interest from all the event attendees. Taken together, the new products all featured Asus' signature attention to design details and demonstrated their usual strength in engineering prowess, and will surely appeal to consumers and business users alike shopping for new Windows 8-based systems.

NFC tags

2012-10-22T19:05:00.001-07:00

A collection of NFC tags (MIFARE Classic compatible) for use with the Galaxy SIII

M83 Concert in NYC at the Hammerstein Ballroom & Fan Party for the Samsung Galaxy S III - October 3, 2012

2012-10-06T07:49:00.004-07:00

My new favorite phone: the Samsung Galaxy S III ("the Next Big Thing") !!! And yes, it deserves all three exclamation marks for it's speed, roomy screen size, and rich roster of features. The Galaxy S III has garnered accolades from consumers and the press alike, and from my first-hand experience with this flagship model so far, they are all very well justified. The tight integration with Google's web offerings are a plus, such as Google+, Google Voice, Chrome, and the PIP capability for watching a video while performing a second task, such as composing an email, is quite remarkable. The camera module is a highly capable 8 Megapixel shooter, and much like older Samsung phones I've owned before, such as the Ultra series from years back, it does not disappoint in the image quality department, with well saturated but accurate color rendition, 1080P video recording, and a host of scene and picture modes for the photo enthusiast. A compelling mix of unique and useful features wrapped up in a paradoxically svelte design all add up to a winning combination in my book.

Motorola. On Display Press Event - Sept 5th, 2012

2012-09-06T18:03:00.001-07:00

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 USA Launch Party

2012-08-18T10:04:00.002-07:00

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 US Launch Party - August 15th, 2012- Photo Gallery

Acer Aspire 722 Unboxing

2011-07-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

I purchased this very nifty netbook/notebook hybrid last weekend - the Acer Aspire 722. The AMD C-50 dual core processor, 11.6" display, 320GB hard drive, HDMI output, 64-bit Windows 7 Premium and handy bantam-weight size, for under $250 plus taxes (not factoring in a promotional discount) makes it an incredible value. After cleaning out some of the preloaded software, this little guy really flies, and handles video playback onto an external TV with aplomb. A great buy, and loving it so far. :)

Nokia E7 Size Comparison

2011-03-30T17:01:00.001-07:00

Here is a photo lineup of the Nokia E7 as compared to the Nokia E71, X6, and 5230 Nuron. As you can see, the screen size is relatively quite large (4 inches) and noticeably more usable when browsing or texting from an arms-length away.

Nokia BH-905i Stereo Bluetooth Headset

2011-03-09T17:40:00.000-08:00

I just received this incredible pair of BH-905i Bluetooth headphones, courtesy of Nokia and WomWorld Nokia, as a winner of the party-tips portion of the Nokia C7 Social Challenge contest. Here are some photos of the headset, which is still charging at the moment. Aesthetics aside, this is one formidable headset, capable of handling just about any audio output you can throw at it, with built-in noise cancelling capabilities. More thoughts shortly - stay tuned!

Nokia Pocket Dance

2011-01-08T11:17:00.000-08:00

Ericsson Chatboard CHA-10

2010-12-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

I was cleaning out my drawer the other day and found this amazing blast from the past - my beloved Ericsson Chatboard. I bought it approximately 10 years ago, to complement my Sony Ericsson T300 phone, which incidentally was my first color-screen cell phone, which also featured a detachable VGA camera module! Combined with the Ericsson Chatboard, it was quite a formidable texting, browsing, camera-phone powerhouse, a forerunner to the featureset of today's typical smartphones. The Chatboard connects directly to the bottom of the T300 using the proprietary Ericsson connector, and the setup was actually sturdy enough to support the weight of the phone as you typed on the keyboard. The keyboard itself packs a full QWERTY layout, even a decently sized spacebar, and shortcut keys to commands such a Yes, No, Phonebook, WWW, SMS, etc. Quite a handy piece of kit, it even included a sturdy plastic carrying case to stow it away for on-the go convenience.

Sony VAIO TZ unboxing

2010-02-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

Here is the unboxing of my new Sony VAIO TZ ultraportable laptop! I recently purchased this machine on clearance, and am enjoying it immensely for it's sleek, stylish design and cool features, such as the built-in SSD drive and carbon fiber case. I've upgraded it to Vista Ultimate and removed multiple pre-installed trial-ware applications, which really bogged down the system out-of-the-box. I hope to get a lot of use out of this new gadget in the coming months. :)

The Philips BTM 630

2010-01-18T15:47:00.000-08:00

One of the most versatile clock radios in existence, with Bluetooth connectivity for music AND phone calls.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Ovi Mail: Available in 15 languages
http://mail.ovi.com

The Engadget Show live taping - January 16th, 2010

2010-01-17T14:37:00.000-08:00

Hello, and welcome back to Gadgets 411! I wish you all a (belated) happy New Year 2010. It was a busy 2009 for me, and I unfortunately let this blog remain a bit dormant throughout the second half of 2009. I went through quite a few gadgets during the year that were not posted here on the site, including the Archos 5 Internet Tablet, the Sony Walkman A728, the Zune HD, the Sony Reader 300, and my current netbook, the Fujitsu Lifebook M2010 (eponymously and appropriately named for this year!) Yesterday, I attended the live taping of the Engadget Show in midtown Manhattan, and unfortunately did not come away with winning one of the two Google Nexus One phones during the giveaway at the end of the show. Congrats to the two lucky winners though - I find myself intrigued by the Android platform (vs. Nokia's S60, Palm OS, etc from my personal experience) and will likely take the Android plunge sometime in the year..or maybe even Maemo with the still relatively new Nokia N900. The guest speaker at the show, Erick Tseng of Google, was witty and enthusiastic about the Android platform (appropriately so) and my takeaway was that the Nexus One is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of new branded handset hardware and software in the coming months from Google. And again, as always, I welcome your comments and suggestions, and thank you for reading!

T-Mobile Cameo

2009-05-02T14:30:00.000-07:00

From T-Mobile Cameo

I picked up the T-Mobile Cameo 'connected picture frame' yesterday afternoon after reading a very favorable review of it from Matthew Miller. To his credit, it's everything he described it to be, and I'm really enjoying this nifty addition to my desktop. It's basically a digital photo frame with a twist - it has a GSM 850Mhz cellular connection that allows it receive photos sent from cellphones or via email attachments to it's dedicated SMS/MMS and email gateway address. It's limited to 4MB max for image files sent to via wireless, and it also features a SDHC slot and a USB connection for times when you simply want to side-load some photos to the device directly from your digital camera or computer, or when you finally decide to cut the cord and cancel your T-Mobile Cameo monthly subscription (which runs only $1.99 a month with no contract.) Given the low price point for the monthly sub, I figure I'll enjoy it's connected-ness for a good while! If you want to send me some photos from your cellphone to the frame, the phone number is +13475535336. Thanks!

Cadillac Converj Concept

2009-04-21T10:21:00.001-07:00

Here's another video clip, for the Cadillac Converj concept vehicle. OLED displays abound (and allow for no more of those big, bad, bulky mirrors!)

2010 Toyota Prius

2009-04-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

I visited the 2009 New York International Auto Show this past weekend (toting my new camera, of course) and took a few video clips while wandering through the crowded displays. Here's the 2010 Toyota Prius, which exudes "aero-dynamicism" and "sporty feelings"..take a look!

My New Sony Cybershot T500!

2009-04-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

I just received my new Sony Cybershot T500 today, and here are some unboxing and product shots for my newest gadget..er..toy. :) I know, Cybershots are not known for stellar picture quality when stacked up against consumer and pro-sumer heavyweights like Canon, Fuji, Nikon, but you can't deny the sexy and eye-catching design of the Cybershot T Series lineup. I previously owned the first Sony touch-screen model ever introduced, the DSC-N1, and was very pleased with its overall durability and ease of use (and of course, general picture quality), and hope the T500 does not disappoint. However, I was intrigued by the 720p HD video possible (with Stereo audio no less) on the T500, so I decided to take the plunge. Hopefully, you'll see a lot of sample photos soon debuting here on Gadgets 411 and it's sister site, Fotoblog: NYC very soon as seen from the lens of the T500.

Nokia, Connecting People in Iceland

2009-02-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

From Nokia Iceland

This is a (secret shopper?) snapshot from a friend adventuring in Iceland last week. I have to say, the E71 White depicted on the wall ad looks very cool. ;) Thanks for the awesome contribution, Mr.'A'!

Nokia N810 Unboxing

2009-02-04T17:26:00.001-08:00

Here it is, my Nokia N810 unboxing photos! This little guy is still currently charging for the very first time, and being the gadgethound that I am, I always try to fully charge the battery before using a device for the first time, ostensibly to 'cure' the battery and ensure a longer overall battery lifetime (not sure if this is even needed anymore, but I can kill some time and wait just a few nanoseconds longer.) The first thing that I noticed after unboxing the N810 was the noticeable heft and solidity compared to my N800. The all-metal body and tight construction seem to convey a sense of durability exceeding that of my otherwise solid unibody N800. The included carry case is a thoughtful touch, considering how difficult it usually is to track down genuine Nokia accessories Stateside (and not having to resort to the underworld that is eBay chock full of questionably "authentic" goods!) The next generation tablet, RX-51, is likely lurking just around the corner ready to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in a week or two, but this N810 fits the bill for me with it's handy QWERTY keyboard for the time being. I will be installing the Vagalume last.fm client as the first app, as well as my other favorites, Mauku, gPodder, and the Palm OS Garnet emulator. Now...where did I put my micro to miniSD adapter..

2009-02-04T10:05:00.001-08:00

From Nokia N810 Tablet

It's here - my new Nokia N810 Tablet! I've owned my Nokia N800 tablet for almost 2 years, and with the recent price drop for the N810, I couldn't resist. I'll have a proper unboxing to follow. ;)