GadgetDistrict

Palm Treo Pro Hands On: Definitely Not The Same Old Palm Phone

2008-09-20T10:09:00.002+08:00

Palm's Treo Pro was announced today, and we just got one for ourselves. The most noticeable thing about it is how small and light and shiny it is for a Palm phone. As a comparison, it sits between the BlackBerry Curve and the iPhone in terms of size. Could this be the king of the WinMo phones?

It has a Centro-style keyboard, except bigger, and it feels good, but not great. The flush touchscreen is about as responsive as previous offerings and the 320x320 resolution looks bright and crisp. The 3G internet operates at full speed and call quality is nice and clear. Other features like GPS seem on par with that on the 800w, though Palm's own chat-style SMS interface is missing this time around. Palm is selling the phone without a carrier, opting for the unlocked route (win!). And like the Palm 800w, the hardware seems more than adequate to run WIndows Mobile 6.1. Check out the pics, and check back soon for a full review.

[Via GIZMODO]

Line 6's BackTrack is here to record all your moments of brilliant greatness

2008-09-18T12:32:00.005+08:00

You play guitar, and we know you're very gifted. You haven't been to Juilliard, but it doesn't matter because you're inspired. What you need now is something to capture inspiration, so you can then drag it -- in the form of a WAV -- onto your desktop via USB 2.0. You need BackTrack by Line 6. Just plug your guitar into BackTrack, plug BackTrack into your amp, and start playing. The device begins recording when it detects a signal and it never stops as long as the battery has a charge (up to eight hours). When you let out a truly boss riff -- or a tasty lick -- you don't have to worry about losing that gem. The basic package retails for $139.99, can capture up to 12 hours of audio and comes equipped with 1GB flash memory. BackTrack + Mic comes equipped with 2GB flash memory and an internal microphone, records for up to 24 hours and retails for $209.99. Both models are rechargeable via USB and have the standard 1/4-inch in / out and headphone jacks.

[Via Engadget]

VMware Fusion 2.0 for Macs, Virtualization With 100 New Features

2008-09-17T10:14:00.002+08:00

To those who'd rather run two OSes at once than dual boot with Boot Camp, VMware has released the 2.0 version of Fusion. It includes over 100 new features, including the option to load Windows programs without a Windows desktop, a Time Machinesque backup utility, and completely mirrored file sharing independent of OS. There's also support for 32-bit and 64-bit OSes, 4-core systems, Bluetooth, DirectX 9.0c and up to 10 displays. Yeah, we pretty much just pasted specs there. But boy, were we excited doing it.

[Via GIZMODO]

New HP Notebooks Boast Hi-Def 16:9 Screens

2008-09-16T12:27:00.003+08:00

HP has dropped two notebooks catering to portable home theater addicts. Both computers run Windows Vista SP1 and come with Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processors, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M graphics chips, 4GB DDR2 RAM, Wifi, Bluetooth, and a DVD±R/RW drive. The HDX16 has a 16 inch 1366x768 pixel Brightview display and comes with a 320GB hard drive while the HDX18 boasts an 18.4 inch 1920x1080p LCD screen and gives you an extra 180GB storage.

Other features include one-touch access to entertainment, video-upscaling to view standard DVDs in hi-def, a 55% wider viewing angle, a built-in bass subwoofer, an integrated fingerprint reader and... “lustrous sophistication with HP Fluid Imprint finish in titanium,” though I'm not really sure I see what's so lustrously sophisticated from the press photos. The HDX16 will drop in late September for $1299, while the HDX18 will cost you $1349.

[Via GIZMODO]

Motorola Blaze Adds Another Touch Screen Handset to the Pile

2008-06-29T11:10:00.001+08:00

The Boy Genius Report has a first look at Motorola's answer to the "Touch Screen Wars," called the Blaze. From the looks of the branding, this touchy-feely handset is coming to Verizon, complete with a special Verizon-only operating system. BGR says the touch screen is decent, and the mobile browser is "OK," but nothing to write home about. Email and texting functionality are also lambasted by BGR, as is the crush-the-screen-to-make-it-work haptic touchscreen feedback. Specs include a 2 megapixel camera, EV-DO Rev. A support, GPS, and Bluetooth. They didn't sound too keen on the Blaze, but they didn't write it off completely.

[Via GIZMODO]

Roadscan Drive Recorder: Like a Black Box For Your Car

2008-06-28T11:37:00.003+08:00

There are few things in this world that are more infuriating than getting into a car accident—but one of those things would definitely be getting into an accident where the blame is being disputed. For the innocent party, a Roadscan Drive Recorder could be indispensable. The device mounts easily on your windshield or rearview mirror, and will continuously record graphical 3D-G accelerations data. If you happen to get into an accident, it will save the digital video starting 14 seconds before the incident and 6 seconds after—so you would be armed with all of the data you need to dispute a ticket. Or totally incriminate yourself.

On the other hand, owning a Roadscan could easily backfire if you are the one to blame—so if you are an accident prone driver it is probably best to steer clear of a device like this. Roadscan is currently available for $299, which is a reasonable price to pay for something that could potentially save you thousands in an accident.

[Via GIZMODO]

RIM Spending Hard to Develop Hot New BlackBerrys

2008-06-26T15:18:00.002+08:00

In the numbers soup of RIM's quarterly earnings today, there is a one bit that stood out to us: RIM is pushing hard on R&D and marketing next quarter, to the tune of an expected 26-28 percent increase in expenses. In other words, it's going to spend serious cash to promote the hell out of the BlackBerry Bold, Thunder and Kickstart, while furiously developing new wares behind the scenes to try to stay ahead (or keep up, depending on how you see BlackBerry). But it's a fight for survival either way.

[Via GIZMODO]

Portable Gaming Solutions Will Cram Your 360 Into a Suitcase for $550

2008-06-24T14:58:00.002+08:00

Sometimes it's nice to just sit and consider exactly why you don't do so many of the things that you don't do. (That's why I don't tie my nipples to doorknobs! Of course!) This is a useful exercise that the guy behind Portable Gaming Solutions has apparently never tried. As a result, he is offering to convert your perfectly functional Xbox 360 into a strange-looking laptop for more than the cost of the original console. Ben Heck's previous efforts reflect a great deal of ingenuity and were skillfully executed. The results were interesting, but mainly as a feat of engineering and design. PGS will do a similar mod for anyone who is willing to cough up the cash, but the end product is more functional than it is attractive. And by functional I mean, well, it functions. To give the company credit, though, you can still connect to external displays and the prospect of (giant, hulking, hot) in-car Xboxing, which PGS claims is possible, is somewhat exciting.

[Via GIZMODO]

The Ice Lounge: Custom Seating to Enhance Ice Cream Eating

2008-06-19T00:01:00.000+08:00

I like ice cream as much as the next guy, but all I need to enjoy it is a spoon or a cone and a nice hot day. However, Swiss ice cream manufacturer Mövenpick has taken things a step further by hiring Claudio Colucci to design a chair specifically customized to enhance the ice cream eating experience. The result is the "Ice Lounge"—a white cocoon that supposedly relaxes the mind and body while heightening the senses to the complex, sugary flavors. It also features a built-in music system, so hardcore ice cream connoisseurs are free to pair metal music with mint chocolate chip. Unfortunately, the Ice Lounge is for special events only.

[Via GIZMODO]

Halo Lamp is Heaven Sent For Artists

2008-06-18T00:01:00.003+08:00

The Halo Lamp by Sander Muller offers a seriously good looking solution to this problem with the Halo Lamp. Because there is a circular ring of light and no bulb, it minimizes any annoying shadows that might interfere with your work. The Halo Light is a custom job, so be prepared to shell out some serious cash for it—but if you have ever been into an art supply store you are already well acquainted with exorbitantly high prices.

[Via GIZMODO]

Kensington ShareCentral Spreads USB Love Between Two Computers

2008-06-17T10:19:00.002+08:00

The ShareCentral is a 5-port USB hub that allows two computers to share USB devices without a network. Just plug the devices in the $80 hub, plug the hub into both computers, and you can use your mouse, keyboard, hard drive or whatever on either computer with the flick of a switch. Best of all, it knows which computer is trying to print and automatically swtiches the printer to that machine, like a network device. It also comes in 1- and 2-port varieties, $40 and $60 respectively, full release after the jump.

[Via GIZMODO]

RFID Robotic Chair Follows You Around For Constant Seating

2008-06-16T16:06:00.001+08:00

Dutch designer Jelte van Geest's RFID-enabled robotic chair is for Openbare Bibliotheek Endhoven, and it's fantastic. What you do is swipe your RFID-enabled library card in front of the chair's sensor, which then follows you (or your card) around the library so you always have somewhere to sit. Once you cross a line near the checkout counter, the chair returns back to its docking station to re-juice and get ready for the next guy's ass.

[Via GIZMODO]

Brando 3-in-1 Data Dock Saves Case Space With Multi-Use Trays

2008-06-14T00:01:00.000+08:00

For those of you with desktop PCs crammed to the gills with peripherals, this slot-loading data dock from Brando might be a neat space-saver solution. It takes up just one 3.5-inch drive bay, but has three interchangeable sleds: one for 2.5-inch SATA HDDs, one with a 4-way USB hub and one a multi-type card reader. You simply chose which you need at the time, and slide it into one of the two slots. Cleverly each aluminum-frame sled also functions as an independent USB peripheral, making them pretty useful portable accessories too. Available now for $69.

[Via GIZMODO]

Asus Working on Handwriting-Pad Add-on for Eee PC

2008-06-13T00:01:00.001+08:00

While modders are busily adapting the Eee PC for touchscreen capability, it seems that Asus has been working on an official handwriting recognition add-on. Demoed at last weeks Computex show, the Asus pad accepts English and Chinese (traditional and simplified) characters and simply plugs into the Eee's USB port. It measures 4.3 x 4.4 x 0.7 inches, with the touch pad being a little over 2-inches across. If you're an eager hand-writing fan, you'll have to wait though, as there's no launch date or price info.

[Via GIZMODO]

NZXT's Aluminum Khaos Case Is Curved Like Battlestar's Number Six

2008-06-12T00:01:00.002+08:00

NZXT's been making slightly expensive gaming cases for a while, but their latest full tower Khaos case looks very nice. It's got dual power supply support, 2-3mm aluminum build, a total of 7 fan slots and a price of $399. Did we mention that it looks nice? This case alone costs more than some fully-built computers, but if you're the type of gamer that likes to haul your rig to LAN parties in order to compare your aluminum wang to your buddies', you could do a lot worse.

[Via GIZMODO]

TomTom Has Navigation App Already Running On the iPhone; Telenav Likely

2008-06-10T00:01:00.002+08:00

If you were one of people who was all about GPS on the iPhone, you will be glad to hear that TomTom already has a version of their navigation software running on the device. Unfortunately, no other details regarding a release date, features or pricing have been released—but it stands a good chance of being the first, truly powerful GPS navigator for the iPhone. However, we have also heard that Telenav is hard at work on their own version—although nothing has been confirmed.

[Via GIZMODO]

Concept Phone Charges Self With The Rays Of The Sun

2008-06-09T03:18:00.003+08:00

Another day, another concept phone. This Eclipse Intuit, by Eddie Goh, features a touch keypad with tactile feedback, 5 megapixel camera with built-in photo editing software, a giant touchscreen and a chemical-based thin solar skin that will charge the battery when exposed to light. It sounds all well and good, except how often does anyone keep their phone out in the open gathering sunlight? Usually if I'm out and about, my cell stays firmly in the depths of my handbag or in my back pocket and, last time I checked, sunlight doesn't reach there. I guess this phone is going to stay a concept.

[Via GIZMODO]

Aiptek Pocket Projector Can Probably Shine Larger Than Your TV

2008-06-07T00:01:00.002+08:00

Continuing an increasingly apparent trend at Computex, Aiptek is planning to show their new PocketCinema V10 mini-projector which they say is rated to display images up to a diagonal 50 inches. Details are still a little slim at the moment, but Aiptek has released a basic spec set, claiming a support for MPEG-4 video, JPEG stills, a 3-in-1 input jack (that's as specific as they get), 1gb of onboard storage, and SD/MMC/MS Pro expansion capability.

What Aiptek means by "50 inches," though, isn't clear. A 50-inch image is theoretically possible with any small projector, but not without serious degradation and fade. Since Aiptek gadgets have developed a somewhat somewhat patchy reputation, and there are no details yet as to the brightness and resolution of the 3M-based unit, the claim should probably be taken with a grain of salt.

[Via GIZMODO]

Newman's Cool Man MP3 Player: Pin it to Your Uniform For Extra Flair

2008-06-06T00:01:00.000+08:00

If you haven't quite reached your flair quota, or you are hopelessly stuck in the 1980's fashion-wise, you will probably love the Cool Man MP3 from Newman. The device features and OLED display, support for MP3 and WMA, a built-in microphone and most importantly, a high-tech safety pin that puts high-tech holes in your shirts and jackets. No word on pricing, but it had better be super cheap.

[Via GIZMODO]

The Flaik Armband Tracks Your Airtime on the Ski Slopes

2008-06-05T00:01:00.000+08:00

The Flaik armband promises to maximize your bragging rights on the ski slopes by recording jump airtime using a GPS system embedded in an armband. It can also keep tabs on measuring speed, distance, and altitude—data that is automatically uploaded to Flaik servers and can be accessed anytime via a web-enabled device. There is even a social and safety component included in the system that will allow you to track friends and their stats and receive SMS messages when you wander beyond the resorts boundaries. The Flaik armband managed to nab this year's Australian International Design Award, but there is no word yet on when we might see it in production.

[Via GIZMODO]

Laptop Bed Desk Comes With Built-in Fans, Speakers

2008-06-04T00:01:00.001+08:00

Those of us that have worked from home when sick in bed know that balancing a laptop on our knees while trying to watch TV and eat cereal at the same time is quite difficult. If we only had this notebook desk, we could easily store our stuff there while at the same time enjoying its built-in 2.1 speaker system and cooling fans. That photo above is pretty much exactly what we look like in bed—handling our laptop with one hand with a magazine spread out beside us, face alight with joy.

[Via GIZMODO]

Submersible Speaker Looks Like Sci-Fi Prop, is Wireless, Illuminating

2008-06-03T00:01:00.000+08:00

Looking like something Kubrick would've had lying around on the deck of his movie spacecraft, this speaker is designed to add some tunes to your poolside frolicking. Submersible down to 9 feet for up to 30 minutes, it's also weatherproof so can tolerate exposure to the elements. It connects wirelessly to a powered transmitter-dock with an audio-in for an MP3 player, has a range of 150 feet and around a six hour battery life. One transmitter can even support up to 10 speakers. Each speaker also has four ultra-bright LED lights: adding a little moody illumination to your nighttime skinny-dip, perhaps? Available now for $149.99 for base and a speaker, extra speakers are $99.99.

[Via GIZMODO]

Windows Live for Mobile Hits Nokia S60 Phones

2008-06-02T00:01:00.000+08:00

If you play in the Windows Live sandbox (Hotmail, Messenger, Live Contacts and Spaces) and use a Nokia S60 phone, your life just got easier. Available today in a whole buncha places it wasn't before, the Windows Live app for S60 syncs your Live contacts and Hotmail account with the phone's address book and mail client (not push though), and lets you do pretty much all the regular Messenger stuff from your phone, like send pictures or files. And it's all intemagrated. If you wind up installing, let us know how it goes.

[Via GIZMODO]

Cassette Watch: Best Invention Since the Mix Tape

2008-06-01T00:01:00.000+08:00

WARNING: by reading about the Cassette-Face Watch, you too could lose $70 (£35) into the void of online shopping. Constructed of stainless steel and featuring dual dials (one for hours, one for minutes), its faux hand-sketched labels make this accessory transcend normal watch for a moniker more like "really great watch that looks like a cassette tape so I think it's kinda neat."

[Via GIZMODO ]

Air Conditioned Seat Cushion Features The Latest In Eco-Friendly Ass-Cooling Technology

2008-05-30T00:01:00.000+08:00

Kuchofuku, the same company that brought us air conditioned shirts groundbreaking technology in an effort to deliver us from one of the biggest problems facing mankind today. Of course, I am speaking, has re-applied their about ass sweat. In fact, their air conditioned seat cushion line can pump up to 170 liters of air per minute through the seat using an extraordinarily low amount of electricity in the process. Apparently, the energy consumption of the device is so low that you could run it every day for eight hours and only pay the equivalent of around five cents extra on your electricity bill for the month. However, this isn't the first time we have come across an air conditioner of this type—Thanko came out with a version last year that is powered via USB. It also appears to be a little cheaper than the Kuchofuku model, but we are not sure how well it stacks up in terms of butt cooling performance and power consumption.

[Via GIZMODO]