Gadgets and Tech Reviews

LG GD900 Crystal

2009-11-27T19:55:00.001+08:00

A good measure of how beautiful a phone’s design and overall look truly sets it apart from the crowd is how random people around you react when you whip it out. Ot’s never a bad thing when someone strikes up a conversation with you to find out where you bought the thing, and during my time with the LG GD900 Crystal, that happened a lot.

The GD900 Crystal, at first glance, looks like any typical touch mobile phone. It has a spacious 3-inch capacitive touchscreen and is decked out in a tasteful silver finish. The real draw to thus particular beauty is when you slide out the keypad. The whole keypad is transparent, and the GD900 Crystal is the first mobile to have that particular feature. Tje keypad lights up in a faint blue light which is enough to see the printed numbers on the keypad and lends a kind of 3D effect to it. There are soft keys set right above the keypad set in a metallic gray finish. The volume rocker and camera shortcut key is set on the right side of the unit, as well as the microSD card slot that’s revealed when the keypad is slid down. The charger/data/headphone combination slot is on the right side of the unit, and the 8-megapixel camera delivers the goods with autofocus and a LED flash.

Anchoring the unique design of the GD900 is the Touch S-Class UI. The icons are large and are labeled clearly. so users won’t have problems getting in and out of submenus. The GD900 also features an accelerometer that automatically rotates the display according to the orientation of the phone from portrait to landscape. The home screen of the GD900 is broken down into four categories: shortcuts, widgets, contacts and multimedia. Each category can be customized to include user’s favorites, and switching from one screen to the other is achieved by simply swiping a finger across the screen.

The transparent keypad isn’t just there for looks and has limited multi-touch functionality. When browsing the web, you can use it ala trackpad, and combined with the handwriting recognition software in the GD900, it can be used as a handwriting platform for screens that require input. As mentioned previously, the GD900 is armed with an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus. Pictures shot with it are relatively clear and crisp, although the LED flash really doesn’t do well under low light situations. Going through pictures in your gallery is as easy as swiping your finger. Music lovers might balk at the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack, but the included hands-free kit has a 3.5mm jack that you can plug your headphones into if you wish.

Call quality is good, and I’ve yet to experience a single dropped call. Calls from, and to the GD900 are clear. I usually issues with phones that don’t have raised keys, but the haptic feature in the GD900 gave me enough feedback to know I’ve pressed a button. Battery life was around a day and a half with a few calls, constant texts and a music track or two.

The only issue I had with the GD900 was with the way it handled contacts, as going through the 300 plus or so contacts I had wasn’t the smoothest experience I’ve had so far. This also translates to the messaging screen when you choose a recipient for your SMS messages.

Revive and Recover your Files

2009-10-25T16:26:00.001+08:00

There’s no point crying over spilled milk but if that figurative milk turns out to be a file which took you hours or years to create, nobody can blame you for wailing.

Don’t fret yet, there are several ways to get reunited with the lost file, In fact, there are tons of Data Recovery Tools out there, such as DT utilities Digital Rescue and Data Recovery Wizard. The thing is, these products will cost you a few thousand bucks and they’re hard to find in the local market.

To help you cut on expenditures and to end your frustration from a file accidentally wiped out by human error or system glitch, I have listed (in no particular order) the Top Four Free Data Retrieval Applications according to various reviews online.

Read on and get yourself one today.

1. RECUVA

A date retrieval application with a lot of swag in its name, Recuva is a Windows-based tool with two modes of operation. If you can recall the last location of a missing file, Recuva’s manual mode will conduct a search in a location in your computer where ou thought your file should’ve been. But if you don’t know where to look, then you should try its file recovery wizard. With it, you can indicate the kind of file you’re looking fir and set a specific location.

Recuva assigns data recovery probability by means of light system (green-high; yellow-average; red-low). Recuva can also recover files from digital camera memory cards of MP3 players, and can restore files that have been corrupted by bugs, crashes and malwares.

http://www.piriform.com/recuva

2. RESTORATION

A simple name for something user-friendly, Restoration allows users to recover files, which were deleted from the Recycle Bin, On either a File Allocation Table (FAT) or New Technology File System (NTFS).

The moment you delete a file, it doesn’t mean that it’s gone for good. It simply becomes invisible, hidden in the depths of you hard drive. The space that used to belong to a deleted file is made available for use, but until that space in overwritten, the deleted file is sil retrievable. Restoration only requires 406k of disk space, so it leaves plenty of disk space for other programs or files, In addition, Restoration is compatible with most versions of Windows. However, it lacks advance features other data recovery tools have.

http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/RESTORATION.html

3. PC Inspector File Recovery 4.x

As the name implies, this program is one mean examiner that can perform quite well as a data rescuer, even if the boot sector or FAT of the missing file is unavailable. The PC Inspector File Recovery 4.x works by scanning your drive for recoverable files, and making such files available in a “Deleted” folder in an Explorer Style navigation tree, It also works with most versions of Windows and supports FAT12, FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS. A reminder to interested parties, you should never install PC Inspector File Recover 4.x on the drive where you plan to conduct data recovery. The program must be installed on another independent drive (e.g. flash drive).

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/pcinspector.html

4. DiskDigger

If you aim for versatility, then DiskDigger can serve you well. This application recovers files from any type of media including USB flash drives, memory cards, and hard drives. Aside from its data recovery prowess, DiskDigger can scan reformatted or poorly formatted disks, and even disks with bad sectors, and can support FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS and exFAT file systems. DiskDigger works by going through the Windows file system drives, scanning disks directly for deleted files or for traces of lost files, Aside from rivaling Restoration in terms of portability, the program can be run from any storage device and doesn’t leave any traces of having been used in a system.

http://dmitrybrant.com/diskdigger

*Reminders

FAT, NTFS and exFAT are examples of file systems. Each file system corresponds to a certain storage device:

FAT12 – floppy disks
FAT16 – old memory cards
FAT32 – new memory cards
NTFS – new hard disks
exFAT – Microsoft’s upgrade from FAT32

Canon Camera Parade (with Price)

2009-10-13T23:49:00.001+08:00

Canon recently showcased its newest gadget offerings that incorporate the improved Smart AUTO Mode with Scene Detection Technology. This feature enables Canon cameras to analyze shooting situations and to automatically select the optimal settings to give users the best shots every time. The digicams also have the Servo AF/AE which enables the camera to continuously adjust focus and exposure even after the shutter button has been pressed halfway.

Digital IXUS 200IS
PowerShot G11
PowerShot SX20 IS
Digital IXUS 120 IS
PowerShot SX120 IS
PowerShot S90
EOS 7D

Here’s the latest Canon cameras w/ Philippine Price (SRP):

1. Digital IXUS 200IS

- 12.2 Megapixels
- 5x optical zoom with optical image stabilizer
- 24mm ultra wide-angle lens
- 3-inch high-resolution touchscreen LCD
- Active display

SRP: Php 27, 950

2. PowerShot G11

- 10 megapixel high-sensitivity CCD
- 5x optical zoom with optical image stabilizer
- 28.8mm wide-angle lends
- 2.8-inch PureColor II LCD screen
- RAW image recording
- HD movie recording (720p) with HDMI output

SRP: Php 33,950

3. PowerShot SX20 IS

- 12.2 megapixels
- 20x optical zoom with optical image stabilizer
- 2.5-inch vari-angle LCD screen
- 28mm wide-angles lends
- HD movie recording with HDMI output

SRP: Php 31,950

4. Digital IXUS 120 IS

- 12.1 megapixels
- 4x optical zoom with optical images stabilizer
- Ultra slim with 28mm wide-angle lends
- 2.7-inch PureColor II LCD
- Smart Auto with improved scene detection technology

SRP: Php 24, 950

5. PowerShot SX120 IS

- 10 megapixels
- 10x optical zoom with optical image stabilizer
- 3-inch LCD screen
- Smart Auto with improved scene detection technology
- Digic 4 image processor

SRP: Php 22,950

6. PowerShot S90

- 10 megapixel high-sensitivity CCD
- 28mm wide-angle lends
- RAW image recording
- Bright F/2.0 aperture lends
- HD movie recording (720p) with HDMI output
- Full-fledge shooting modes

SRP: Php 31,950

7. EOS 7D

- 18 megapixels
- APS-C size CMOS sensor
- Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors
- Cross-type 19-point AF system with improved AI Servo AF subject tracking
- Intelligent Viewfinder
- iFCL Metering with 63-zone dual-layer metering system
- Full HD video recording capability at 30p (29.97 fps), 24p (23.976 fps)
- Magnesium alloy body

SRP:
Php 99,950 (Body Only)
Php 124,950 (with EF-S 18-135mm lens)
Php 133,950 (with 15-85mm lens)

Samsung Corby S3652 (Php 8,500)

2009-10-12T17:35:00.001+08:00

There is a new full-touch mobile phone out in the market specifically created for the young and the young-at-heart(lol).

The Samsung Corby S3653 stands out with its stylish and distinctive curved design and large 2.8-inch 262k QVGA TFT display screen, which contrasts with the typical rectangular form-factor of other touchscreen phones. This quadband phone alsa has GPRS and EDGE connectivity features as well as Bluetooth and USB 2.0. It sports 61MB of internal memory for all your info needs and can be expanded up to 8GB.

Corby supports popular social networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. It also contains entertainment access features and a special user interface. Camwhores will rejoice with the Corby’s 2.0-megapixel built-in camera with panorama and smile shot features.

Available in yellow, orange, white and pink

SRP = Php 8,500

Leaked Microsoft Courier Video Shows How We'll Actually Use It

2009-09-30T23:59:00.001+08:00

Microsoft's Courier booklet was surprising, mostly because it was so far outside of what everybody now expects from a tablet. This internal video shows how Microsoft thinks we'll use Courier.

Since publishing the first leak, several more people have come forward with details on the Courier project.

This video is produced by the same firm that collaborated with Microsoft's Pioneer Studios on the previous clip, and it walks through a slightly different (and more conservative/realistic) iteration of the Courier interface. While the first video showed a handful of use cases, this one actually provides an overview of the interface and Courier's features, and more of how you would actually use it if you are not a designer.

The heart of Courier appears to what's called the "infinite journal," which is what it sounds like: A journal/scrapbook that is endless, bound only by storage constraints (presumably). Hopefully they will call it something less awkward. The journal can actually be published online, and it's shown here as able to be downloaded in three formats: a Courier file, Powerpoint or PDF. There's also a library that looks a lot like Delicious Library, where things like subscriptions, notebooks and apps, are stored.

This interface does share a few things in common with the other one: In particular, the hinge between the screens is still used as a pocket to "tuck" items you want to move from one page to another. It also still revolves almost exclusively around using the pen for input: In 4 minutes of video, there's not a virtual keyboard in sight. Fingers are still used just to navigate, through flicks, swipes and pinches.

The interface has a few more traditional elements than the first video, with more of a Microsoft feel (fonts and titles bars) and less of the entirely handwritten journal aesthetic: a smart agenda, more defined folder system, universal search and multi-page web browsing. It feels more evolved and fined, and less convoluted, suggesting it's more recent.

It also begins to bring into focus Courier's priorities, and possible limitations: Other than the brief glimpse at the library and the web browser, there is basically nothing about viewing content, like watching movies, reading books, or listening to music. Courier, in this iteration, appears to be all about creating and writing with a pen, which is vastly different from what everybody expects out of the Apple tablet.

We expect to have more a in-depth breakdown of the Courier interface in the next few days, so stay tuned.

Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software is now live and free

2009-09-30T23:26:00.000+08:00

In a move that's sure to please a few million Windows users and break the hearts of a handful of anti-virus companies, Microsoft has now finally made the non-beta version of its Security Essentials software available to the general public, and it's not even asking that you throw a launch party to get it for free. For those not in on the beta or following Microsoft's exciting forays into freeware, the software promises to cover all the security basics and fend off viruses, spyware and other malicious software, and Microsoft even assures us that it'll "run quietly in the background" and only intrude on your life when an action is required. You'll also, of course, get free updates on a regular basis, and it'll work just fine whether you use Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 -- hit up the link below to grab a copy.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Microsoft’s Courier is a Foldable Tablet

2009-09-24T17:22:00.002+08:00

Looks like Microsoft is in its later stage of development of a foldable tablet PC called Courier. Gizmodo has the scoop on a set of photos and demo video.

It’s still hush-hush so there’s not a lot of details on this product. Some even hinted this could be vaporware. See demo video below.

In any case, this looks really cool.

ITG now accepting xpPhone preorders with choice of AT&T, Orange, or Vodafone

2009-09-17T19:50:00.001+08:00

In preparation for its global launch, China's In Technology Group (ITG) has just launched a redesigned English website and is now accepting unpriced preorders for the Computex-revealed xpPhone. Trumpeted by the company as the "world's first mobile phone that runs Windows XP," the AMD-powered slider hasn't undergone any notable changes—cosmetically or otherwise—since it was last seen, so all the specs you've previously committed to memory are still intact.

That means the xpPhone is still all about what you see below:

The SSD and HDD options you see listed are apparently not an either-or choice, with ITG asserting that the device supports both drives at the same time (the SSD to "help save power" and the HDD for the "full internet experience") and can even be used as a portable hard disk when the system shuts down.

More interesting than the specs, the seven major advantages, or even the nine major technologies involved with the xpPhone, however, is the fact that it "supports the global three major 3G standards."

To prove it, the preorder page requires you to choose your "3G module" from a drop-down menu that lists Vodafone, AT&T, and Orange. Why the same xpPhone isn't able to support all the necessary 3G frequency bands on its own is unclear, but the use of the carriers' names at least bodes well for those in the US and Europe who hoped the phone would be available outside of China.

I asked my contact at ITG for pricing info and a global release date and was told that I'd be notified immediately when such details were ready for public consumption. I was also told that the final product will be "more thin and sharp," so although we don't know when or for how much, at least we know to expect the xpPhone to be sporting a new look the next time it makes an appearance.

11.6″ HP Mini 311 netbook gets official

2009-09-16T01:53:00.001+08:00

HP has finally unveiled their very own version of the 11.6″ netbook. The HP Mini 311 will also feature a more powerful graphics chip, an NVidia Ion LE.

11.6″ display screen @ 1366 x 768 pixels
Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz
NVidia Ion LE with up to 3,19MB memory
1GB DDR3 (max 2GB)
160GB SATA HDD
WiFi 802.11 b/g
HDMI port
5-in-1 card reader
6 cell Li-Ion battery

Will come pre-installed with Windows XP Home Edition SP3 and a DDR3 RAM is a welcome upgrade (the first netbook to have DDR3). It’s a bit heavy though at 3.22 pounds. Price starts at $399 so this is gonna be the cheapest in the 12-inch category (price could go up for upgraded the RAM and HDD capacity).

What will Sony Ericsson bring next week? Sept. 21, 2009

2009-09-15T22:44:00.001+08:00

15-09-2009: Sony Ericsson has planned a new launch event upcoming Monday. Via a webcast, everyone will be able to experience the launch of a new product, which is focused on a good music experience.

Today, Sony Ericsson published a website at which a live webcast is announced for Monday next week. At September 21, 6:00-6:30 PM (Philippines Time), Sony Ericsson will announce a new product that has everything to do with music.

What exactly will be the product that Sony Ericsson will announce on the area of music is something we don't know yet, and when we check out the website at which the live webcast will be posted, we're not getting any clues either. When looking at the graphics, we believe that the product will be focused on the younger mobile caller and the device will change the world of music forever, reading the texts at the website. We're curious!

Keep track of our front page next week, Mobile Phone Helpdesk will attend the webcast and write a report on the announcement of Sony Ericsson.

Sony-Ericsson XPeria X2

2009-09-14T17:11:00.000+08:00

Sony-Ericsson is finally coming up with the next generation Xperia phone. The SE Xperia X2 has a design not far off from the first one, and hopefully, not priced as much.

3.2″ TFT resistive touchscreen @ 800×480 pixel resolution
Qualcomm MSM 7200 528 MHz processor
HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 2 Mbps
110MB storage, 256 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM
up to 16GB with microSD expansion slot
8MP camera with LED flash, AF and IS, WVGA @ 30fps video recording
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
GPS receiver with A-GPS
TV-out
1500mAh Li-Po battery

Sony Ericsson XPeria X1

Globe Tattoo Prepaid and SmartBro Prepaid Kit drops price below P999

2009-09-14T15:13:00.001+08:00

Globe is doing a promo on their Tattoo Prepaid Kit. Get a Php1,000 discount for every purchase of a kit — that’s just Php895 from the regular price of Php1,895.

The catch — well, promo period is only until October 31, 2009. The Globe Broadband Tattoo prepaid kit still comes with free 5 hours of mobile 3G worth Php100. Kits are available at Globe Stores and authorized dealers nationwide.

Note: SmartBro Prepaid kit also costs Php995 now.

Nokia N900 gets official

2009-09-14T14:18:00.003+08:00

The Nokia N97 gets a big brother. Nokia confirms the new N900, a large-sized smartphone (internet tablet) packed with features and looking even better than previous models in the same line (such as the Nokia N850).

3.5 inch display (800×480 pixels) with resistive touchscreen
up to 1GB of application memory (256 MB RAM, 768 MB virtual memory)
32 GB storage
up to 16GB via microSD
HSDPA, 10Mbps, HSUPA, 2Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g
DLNA
Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
5MP camera @ 2592×1944 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, AF,
Dual LED flash with video light
ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz with PowerVR SGX graphics
Stereo FM radio and FM transmitter
GPS with A-GPS support
Digital Compass
TV-out

The 1320mAh Li-Ion battery does seem a little low for a smartphone like this considering the earlier E71/E63/E72 already have 1500mAh. Would be pretty interesting how the Linux-based Maemo 5 OS will perform. Will be available later this year with a suggested retail price north of Php35,000.

New releases from Nokia X3 and X6

2009-09-14T14:18:00.001+08:00

At Nokia World 2009 were presented two new phone line with the index X (short XpressMusic) - touchscreen smartphone X6 and a slider with an index of X3. Both of them should appear on sale later this year. Nokia X3 main features of the slider - working with the radio without a wired headset, 2.2 inch display with 320x240 resolution, 3-megapixel camera, memory card support up to 16 gigabytes, the possibility of charging from USB (there is a standard 2-mm charger connector) and integration with web services OVI. Expected price is at level 540 (!) And 140 euros for, respectively, the model X6 and X3. Frankly, the price for the X6 looks quite pessimistic, despite its built 32 gigabytes of memory.

Cloned MacBook Air is more netbook-y but only costs $250

2009-09-14T14:15:00.001+08:00

Oh wow, take a look at that MacBook Ai—hey, that’s not a MacBook Air! It’s a $250 netbook from China! That’s actually not too bad of a deal, considering that the machine has a 12.1-inch 1366×768 display, weighs just under three pounds, and is less than an inch thick.

Underneath it all, though, is your basic netbook: Atom N270 CPU, Intel GMA950 graphics, 1GB of RAM, 120GB hard drive, Wi-Fi, and Windows. And let’s just assume that the materials used with this netbook might not be as well-crafted as Apple’s magic aluminum enclosure within which the MacBook Air’s delicate parts are ensconced.

Still, the $250 price tag is pretty nice. You’ll have to be in China to get one, though.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Pure

2009-09-04T18:10:00.002+08:00

Samsung Omnia I900 vs. I8910 HD

2009-04-08T05:52:00.001+08:00

This Samsung i8910 Omnia HD phone has features such as Voice memo, Samsung Navigator, 3G, Wi Fi, Bluetooth v2.0, DNSe 2.0 and 3.5 mm audio jack.

You can see more of the Samsung i8910 specs below.

The 3.7-inch OLED touchscreen features a 360×640 pixel resolution with 16M colors.
Measures 123×58x12.9mm and weighs 144g.
8 megapixel camera with face, smile and blink detection, Geo-tagging and LED flash.
Internal memory of 8GB and expandable up to 16GB via microSD card slot.
Battery life: Up to 13 hours talk time and 600 hours stand-by.
CPU: ARM Cortex-A8 600 MHz.
OS: Symbian S60 rel.5.
WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA.
Proximity sensor.
Accelerometer sensor.

Full Specification: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i8910_omnia_hd-2691.php

The World's most expensive Vacuum also claims title of The World's Gaudiest

2009-03-18T14:30:00.001+08:00

If you've got more than P950,000 to spend and the urge to look good when you do the house work then maybe you need one of these.

Created as a one-off by Lukaz Jemiol, the young Polish fashion designer has created a vacuum cleaner that is blinged to the hilt.

The vacuum cleaner sports 3730 Swarovski crystals that according to the Guinness Book Of Records make it the most valuable vacuum cleaner in the world.

Although Electrolux says that it's a one off, a spokeswomen for the company has told Pocket-lint that they "could arrange to have another one made to order if anyone desired".

The World's most Profane Video Game ever

2009-03-18T00:13:00.001+08:00

The video game called "House of the Dead: Overkill" has now become the world's most profane ever, according to a Guinness World Records spokesman. It drops the F-bomb an amazing 189 times, accounting for a 3% of the game's overall dialogue, at a rate of about one use per minute.

Published by Sega, and the game's author, Jonathan Burroughs, said, "It is a dubious honour to receive such an accolade working in an industry where so often the fruits of your labours are derided and dismissed for being puerile or irresponsible. But in the case of 'The House Of The Dead: Overkill', a little puerility was the order of business. Parodying the profane excess of grindhouse cinema was [our] objective and I am flattered that this record acknowledges that we not only rose to that challenge, but entirely exceeded it."

Apple sued over 'exploding' iPod Touch

2009-03-15T09:50:00.001+08:00

A mother from Ohio says her son's iPod Touch exploded in his pants, caught fire, and left him with serious burns. Now, she's suing Apple for $225,000 in damages.

Exploding iPod Touch Lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed in Cincinnati on Wednesday, claims the iPod Touch (16GB) exploded while inside the 15-year-old boy's pants pocket. The boy was sitting at his desk in school, the document says, when he "heard a loud pop and immediately felt a burning sensation on his leg." When he stood up, the suit says, he realized the device was on fire.

"[He] immediately ran to the bathroom and took off his burning pants with the assistance of a friend," the lawsuit states. "The Apple [iPod Touch] had burned through [his] pants pocket and melted through his Nylon/Spandex underwear, burning his leg."

"Physical and Mental" Harm

The boy is said to have suffered second-degree burns along with other "physical and mental conditions which will cause him to suffer pain, mental distress, emotional distress, and otherwise for the rest of his life."

The family is demanding $75,000 in "compensatory damages," another $75,000 in "punitive damages," and yet another $75,000 in legal fees and other "special damages."

Lawsuit Specifics

The suit names both Apple and the group of 10 employees who were at the Apple Store when the device was purchased as defendants. Apple has a policy against discussing legal issues while they are still pending.

You can read the lawsuit in its entirety here (PDF)

Nintendo Sells 100 Million DS vs. Sony PSP 50 Million

2009-03-13T08:38:00.002+08:00

Nintendo has sold 100 million DS handhelds worldwide since the gadget's release in November 2004, making the device the quickest video-game console to reach that milestone.

The 100 millionth device was shipped as of March 6, Nintendo said. The total shipments include sales of Nintendo DS, DS Lite, and DSi, which is the latest iteration. The DSi has been available in Japan and is scheduled to be on U.S. store shelves April 5 for $170.

In comparison, Sony (NYSE: SNE), Nintendo's major rival in the portable gaming market, has shipped 50 million units of the PlayStation Portable since releasing the device in 2004.

The original DS launched with dual screens, a touch panel, and voice-recognition capabilities. The portable system's successor, DS Lite, was a slimmer model.

The DSi advances the franchise with two 0.3-megapixel cameras, one on the external body and the other pointing at the user when the device is flipped open. The outside camera is for taking and sharing pictures over the Web. Developers are expected to make use of the inside device to make games more interactive.

Other features include a voice recorder and music player and software filters and controls for altering voices or changing the tempo of songs. The system plays downloadable games from Nintendo's online store, as well as store-bought games. The DSi also can play the more than 850 titles made for the DS.

Once available in the United States, Nintendo's latest gadget could evolve into a competitor of the iPod Touch, which is also a gaming platform and music and video player. The iPod is more expensive with a starting price of $229, but games are cheaper on the Apple product.

As of Dec. 31, global shipments of 83 DS games have topped 1 million copies, according to Nintendo. Seven of those titles topped 10 million.

Apple unveils new iPod shuffle (4th Generation)

2009-03-12T05:30:00.000+08:00

Apple on Wednesday introduced the next generation iPod shuffle. The shuffle has always been Apple’s smallest iPod, but now it is nearly half the size of the previous model at 1.8 inches tall by 0.3 inches thin.

The new iPod shuffle bumps storage up to 4GB and features VoiceOver, which enables the iPod to speak your song titles, artists, and playlist names. The shuffle can speak 14 languages: including English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod an

d iPhone Product Marketing, told Macworld that the iPod shuffle will automatically recognize what language it should speak. If you have a preference of which language you would like, it can be changed in iTunes.

All of the controls for the Shuffle are located o

n the earphone cord, allow you to play, pause, adjust volume, switch playlists and hear the name of the song and artist. The iPod can also give you information like battery life. Apple confirmed that third-party adapters will be available so you can use headphones other than the ones that come with the iPod.

The new shuffle also lets you sync multiple playlists from iTunes for the first time.

According to Apple, the third-generation iPod shuffle holds up to 1,000 songs encoded at 128 Kbps.

Apple’s new iPod shuffle

“The concept for doing this came from the iPhone, specifically the iPhone headset,” said Joswiak. “After we expanded on it in the fall by adding volume control, we looked at it and realized that would work for the shuffle too.”

Joswiak explained that by removing the buttons Apple was able to make the shuffle smaller, without compromising on other features.

“It’s now the smallest music player in the world,” said Joswiak. “Despite being smaller, it actually holds more songs.”

The new iPod shuffle comes in silver or black and features a sleek and design with a built-in stainless steel clip. It requires iTunes 8.1, which hadn’t been released at the time this story was publishing (although Apple’s iTunes download page says the update is coming soon). The shuffle is available immediately and costs $79 (Apple is still selling the 1GB second-generation iPod shuffle for $49).

Microsoft Enters Notebook Cooler Market

2009-03-12T02:20:00.002+08:00

Notebook Cooling Base, available in July, will cost $30.

(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft is introducing a new technology to help keep laptops cooler. Unfortunately, it's not software.

The company on Tuesday introduced its first Notebook Cooling Base, an inch-thick stand with built-in fan. Available in white and black, the laptop-chiller is powered over a USB connection.

The product will sell for $30 when it hits the market in July and represents a new direction for Microsoft's hardware unit, which is best known for its mice and keyboards.

At one point, the company sold wireless networking gear, though it got out of that business in 2004.

Microsoft on Tuesday also announced new colors for its trendy-looking Arc Mouse. Later this month, the $50 mouse will be available in the decidedly non-beige shades of frost white, eggplant purple, deep olive green, and marine blue. It's already on the market in red and black.

The $50 Arc Mouse will be available in frost white, eggplant purple, deep olive green, and marine blue.

(Credit: Microsoft )

Japanese gadget controls iPod in blink of an eye

2009-03-10T00:19:00.001+08:00

TOKYO (AFP) — A wink, a smile or a raised eyebrow could soon change the music on your iPod or start up the washing machine, thanks to a new Japanese gadget.

The device looks like a normal set of headphones but is fitted with a set of infrared sensors that measure tiny movements inside the ear that result from different facial expressions.

The gizmo -- called the "Mimi Switch" or "Ear Switch" -- is connected to a micro-computer that can control electronic devices, essentially making it a hands-free remote control for anything.

"You will be able to turn on room lights or swing your washing machine into action with a quick twitch of your mouth," said its inventor, Kazuhiro Taniguchi of Osaka University.

"An iPod can start or stop music when the wearer sticks his tongue out, like in the famous Einstein picture. If he opens his eyes wide, the machine skips to the next tune. A wink with the right eye makes it go back.

"The machine can be programmed to run with various other facial expressions, such as a wriggle of the nose or a smile."

The Mimi Switch could also store and interpret data and get to know its user, said Taniguchi, chief researcher at Osaka University's Graduate School of Engineering Science in western Japan.

"It monitors natural movements of the face in everyday life and accumulates data," Taniguchi told AFP in an interview. "If it judges that you aren't smiling enough, it may play a cheerful song."

Some may use the device for relaxation -- perhaps by changing music hands-free while reading a book -- but Taniguchi said it could also have more serious applications to make people's lives safer and easier.

"If the system is mounted on a hearing aid for elderly people, it could tell how often they sneeze or whether they are eating regularly," he said.

"If it believes they are not well, it could send a warning message to relatives."

The device could also serve as a remote control for appliances for physically disabled people, from cameras and computers to air conditioners, or alert medical services if a person has a fit, he said.

The Ear Switch follows on from an earlier device called the Temple Switch that was small enough to fit inside a pair of eyeglasses and also read the flick of an eyelid.

"As the ear switch is put in the ears, its optical sensors are unaffected by sunlight," Taniguchi said.

He said he was planning to patent his new device in Japan and abroad, work on a wireless version, and seek corporate funding to market it for practical uses -- something he expected might take two or three years.

Nokia N86 8MP Slider Phone

2009-02-18T13:36:00.002+08:00

The new Nokia N86 8MP has just been officially unveiled. This landmark Nseries is the first Nokia phone to break the 8 megapixel camera mark. But the N86 8MP is by no means playing simple megapixel war games - this serious point ‘n’ shoot camera phone launches laden with top performance photography credentials such as a Carl Zeiss Tessar optics and a host of smart photo sharing talents.

Read on for full details of the new Nokia N86 8MP, and get clicking through our close-up photo gallery of Nokia’s first 8 megapixel camera.

Alongside its talent for capturing ultra high-resolution shots at up to 8 megapixels, the Nokia N86 8MP comes loaded with 8GB of internal flash memory, enabling it to stomach around 4,000 snaps. Built with Carl Zeiss Tessar optics at its core, the N86 8MP features a lens that’s in the same league as the sort of wide angle 35mm lens you’d find on an SLR camera. Likewise, the lens has been engineered to offer sharper image contrast and better colour representation.

The Nokia N86 8MP features a super vibrant OLED QVGA screen that measures in at 2.6-inches, making it an ideal window for showcasing your shots. However, this 8 megapixel S60-powered Nseries is more keenly focussed on enabling you to share you photos further afield via services such as Share on Ovi and Flickr. Plus, it comes with onboard Assisted GPS, geared towards letting you geo-tag your photographs with location info before you share them. Its GPS talents are also exploited for satnav action and location-based services such as Nokia Maps 3.0 which comes pre-installed on the device.

N-Gage ready, the N86 8MP doubles as a full-blown entertainment handset. As well as being a premium pocket games machine, it’s a music player with a standard 3.5mm headphone socket and FM transmitter for sending songs wirelessly to your in-car stereo. It’s OLED screen is also perfectly suited for video playback (up to 7 hours), and like the N96 has a handy kickstand.

Click through our gallery of photos of the Nokia N86 8MP, to get a close-up look at Nokia’s first 8 megapixel handset. And let us know what you think about it in the comments section further down.

sources: nokiaconversation