Ubergizmo

Google To Add Sidebar

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:34:46 -0800

While Google is doing quite well (to say the least) with its search business, it’s great to see that Google is still paying attention to details and willing to try out new stuff. Google’s vice president of search product and user experience has said that Google will soon begin testing a new permanent sidebar on its results page. It seems that users are happy with this direction that Google is taking, and it would certainly help us filter through the giant pile of data from Google.

Permalink: Google To Add Sidebar from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

USB Big Panda Speakers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:29:36 -0800

Upon hearing someone mention the USB Big Panda Speaker, you’re already fairly sure what the item does and roughly what it looks like, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Said speaker does look rather cute, and the fact that speakers are in the Panda’s huge eyes makes it seem even cuter. You’ll have to shell out $27 if you want this USB-powered speaker though.

Permalink: USB Big Panda Speakers from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Wiitality Armband To Help Your Enjoy Wiifit

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:24:48 -0800

Holding the Wiimote while fiddling with Wii Fit might not be the most convenient thing, and that’s why you might want to check out Talismoon’s Wiitality accessory, which is basically a neoprene band that can hold your Wiimote in place, securing the controller on your arm via sturdy Velcro straps. You can pick up the Wiitality at Amazon for $3, which is certainly cheaper than having the Wiimote slip from your hand and smash your television.

Permalink: Wiitality Armband To Help Your Enjoy Wiifit from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

iPod touch to get camera in spring?

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:19:25 -0800

Rumors of an iPod touch that has a camera have surfaced again, and this time it’s said that the device will be released in spring 2010, which is slightly unusual, considering that it’s outside of Apple’s typical upgrade cycle. Apparently the camera will be the same 2-megapixel camera that the iPod nano has, and unfortunately will also lack autofocus and low-light sensitivity. We’re fairly sure that nobody will be complaining if Apple decides to add a camera to its iPod touch, unless they decide to increase the price significantly.

Permalink: iPod touch to get camera in spring? from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Amazon Boasts That Kindle Is Thinner

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:14:32 -0800

Is Amazon feeling the heat from Barnes & Noble’s Nook eBook reader? Well, if you’re the type who likes to read between the lines, maybe the statement from an Amazon PR guy might give off that vibe. He reminds us that the Kindle is 40% thinner, 10% lighter and has double the battery life compared to the Nook, not to mention that the Kindle is currently available, while the Nook won’t be shipping to you just yet.

Permalink: Amazon Boasts That Kindle Is Thinner from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

KT iPhone Expected To Sell Well

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:59:14 -0800

Will Apple’s iPhone be able to work its magic over in Korea? Well, KT certainly thinks so, as it is expecting to sell around 100,000 to 500,000 units once the iPhone is released in Korea. The official pricing hasn’t been announced just yet, but analysts predict that it will be priced around $300 to $345 together with a contract. While the iPhone only sold about 200,000 units in Japan, that doesn’t seem to have deterred Apple from offering the iPhone in Korea. Now we’ll have to sit back and see if this works out for Apple and KT.

Permalink: KT iPhone Expected To Sell Well from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

The Real Apple Phone

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:54:29 -0800

When somebody says that they’ve bought an “Apple Phone”, you’d expect them to have bought an iPhone, right? Well, it seems that Apple Phone could also mean these cell phones that have taken on the shape on an apple. While this Apple Phone looks cute and unique, we’re fairly sure that Steve Jobs wouldn’t be too happy if and when he finds out about this. Is there a lawsuit in the air?

Permalink: The Real Apple Phone from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Smoking May Void Your Mac Warranty

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:50:23 -0800

We all know that smoking is bad for health, but it seems that it might also be bad for your Macbook or iMac. Reports are going around that 2 customers have been denied warranty repairs to their MacBook and iMac by Apple, despite both having extended AppleCare warranties. The reason behind it is that the machines were exposed to second-hand smoke, and Apple claims that the nicotine released from cigarettes is classified as a bio-hazard by the Operational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and thus, Apple employees are within their rights to refuse to work on a machine that has come into contact with the chemical. Have any of you encountered such an issue before? Drop us a comment and let us know your experience.

Permalink: Smoking May Void Your Mac Warranty from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Textminator Tests Your Phone Texting Speed

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:42:23 -0800

Considering that there are text messaging championships around the world, we should know that quite a few people take their text messaging speed seriously. So the next time you’re in the arcade looking for something to play, don’t be surprised if you see the Textminator, which is a coin-operated arcade that lets you put your texting skills to the test. Featuring “arcade” and “race the clock” game modes, as well as single player or 2 player modes, this arcade machine with its 26-inch monitor looks like unique. In place of your traditional joysticks is a toy cell phone, which is interesting. Now, we wonder whether the toy cell phone uses a numeric keypad or a QWERTY keyboard.

Permalink: Textminator Tests Your Phone Texting Speed from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Modified Vaio UX Is Awesome

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:35:37 -0800

Do you think that the VAIO UX series UMPC is old fashioned and boring? Well, check out what some folks over at MicroPCTalk did to the UX490 (the latest UX model from Sony, which was released back in November 2007). Modifications include:

The original 48GB SSD has been replaced with a 128GB SSD
Core 2 Solo U2200 1.2GHz processor replaced with a Core 2 Duo U7700 1.33Ghz processor, overlocked to 1.438GHz
Included E169 Huawei terminal for 3G
Quad-boots Mac OSX Leopard, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows Vista Business and Windows XP Pro

Permalink: Modified Vaio UX Is Awesome from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

BlackBerry Bold 9700 On AT&T

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:26:28 -0800

While the BlackBerry Bold 9700 has been available on AT&T a few days ago, that was previously only available to Premiere customers. The good news is that now the BlackBerry Bold 9700 is publicly on available to everybody on AT&T. Of course, if you’re on T-Mobile it’s quite possible that you already own this phone, but let’s not take anything away from the device’s release on AT&T.

Permalink: BlackBerry Bold 9700 On AT&T from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

iTablet Hoax Surfaces

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:22:05 -0800

A report from the Huffington Post has been making rounds on the Internet about an iTablet. The article was certainly written tongue in cheek, though many people did think that it was confirmation that the iTablet had become a reality. That being said, with the anticipation so high that Apple will be releasing an Apple Tablet sometime soon, it’ll be great to see Apple suddenly lift the lid on such a product, and we’re fairly sure that it would generate a lot of hype.

Permalink: iTablet Hoax Surfaces from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Limited Edition Deanne Cheuk Dell Netbook

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:10:50 -0800

With netbooks becoming more and more popular, you’ll probably be hard pressed to make yours stand out amongst what your friends have. That’s probably what Dell is aiming to solve when its limited edition netbook design by Deanne Cheuk. In case you’re wondering, Deanne Cheuk has previously commissioned work for companies like Nike, Swatch, Target, MTV, American Express and the Net York Times. There will be a total of 5250 units of this laptop available, and each of them will be individually numbered. It’s a Best Buy exclusive, so we certainly don’t have to tell you where you can pick up one of these for $379.

Permalink: Limited Edition Deanne Cheuk Dell Netbook from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Plymouth Road Runner Concept On Auction

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:04:07 -0800

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind concept car to drive around and wow your peers, you’ll want to check out this eBay auction for a modern interpretation of the legendary Plymouth Road Runner. This concept was created by designer Michael Leonhard and has gained the attention of several motorsport magazines. The winner of the auction will also get the chance to witness the birth of this exclusive car. Check out the eBay auction here.

Permalink: Plymouth Road Runner Concept On Auction from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Gmail Bandwidth Bug On Snow Leopard

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:53:23 -0800

For those of you who use Gmail on Snow Leopard, have you been experiencing any problems? It seems that quite a few folks have been encountering a bug where accounts are locked out for supposedly exceeding IMAP bandwidth limits when using Apple Mail under Snow Leopard. This is supposedly a known issue for users of Apple Mail on Snow Leopard, and Google and Apple are working to sort this out. Check out Google’s support page on this issue here.

Permalink: Gmail Bandwidth Bug On Snow Leopard from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Holiday shopping: our Uber10 suggestions

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:58:00 -0800

The holiday shopping season is here and we've compiled an Uber10 list. A vote is open on the uber10 page to select an 11th gadget so help us choose!

The Uber10 Awards were unveiled at a cool Ubergizmo event in San Francisco last week (sponsored by Dolby and Intel, check the party photos). We hope that these suggestions will give you save time. On the financial side, there are a few ways to save: you can find the best deal and order online, or wait for Black Friday and hope that your favorite gadget goes on sale, which is unlikely if it's really cool, but who knows?

Now would be a good time to become a fan on Facebook. Happy shopping!

Permalink: Holiday shopping: our Uber10 suggestions from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

iPhone Sales Increasing In Europe

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:16:00 -0800

It seems that the increased number of iPhone carriers over in France has led to a boost in sales for the cell phone. This indicates that a similar situation might happen in the UK, which Apple will certainly be hoping for. A report shows that Apple’s value market share in France made a significant jump, thanks to the phone’s availability on Bouygues Telecom and SFR. With O2’s exclusivity deal expiring earlier this month, Orange has launched the device and managed a first day sales of 30,000 units, putting the iPhone well on course to dominate the world.

Permalink: iPhone Sales Increasing In Europe from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Rolls-Royce to offer HD radio as standard

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:10:01 -0800

Surprising as it may sound, Rolls-Royce has just joined Volvo as the only manufacturers to offer HD radio as a standard feature in every model, meaning that the Ghost and the Phantoms will be getting the feature. Aside from those 2 companies, Mercedes-Benz is starting to roll out the feature as standard in many of its premium feature packages, and Audi has also stated that by 2011 all its models will have it too.

Permalink: Rolls-Royce to offer HD radio as standard from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Microsoft Denies NSA Backdoor In Win7

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:45:41 -0800

Microsoft has rejected claims that it deliberately put a backdoor in Windows 7 at the request of NSA (National Security Agency) which would allegedly allow NSA to spy on users. Some parties are also concerned that Microsoft might be compelled to do so as the US government is one of its most important customers, though other experts note that the consequences of allowing such a thing to be included could be even more severe. Do you think Microsoft would put such a function into Windows 7? Drop us a comment and let us know what you think.

Permalink: Microsoft Denies NSA Backdoor In Win7 from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Parrot Digital Messaging Switch Plate

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:39:06 -0800

Want to play an annoying reminder to someone in your household every time they flip the switch? Check out the Parrot Digital Messaging Switch Plate which does just that. You’ll be able to record a message that’s 20 seconds long, which will playback every time the switch is flipped. It does require 4 AAA batteries to keep it powered, which makes us wonder if anybody is willing to unscrew the device off the wall every time the batteries need to be changed. You can pick one up for $9.99.

Permalink: Parrot Digital Messaging Switch Plate from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Awesome 64 picture-in-picture demo

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:34:09 -0800

We’re not sure how often you like to switch channels, but if you’re greedy and want to watch all the channels at once, check out the picture above, which shows 64 channels in each display. Unfortunately this isn’t so high-tech TV, it’s basically 64 instances of VLC media windows tiled to run at once, and it’s really a company’s attempt to show off the fact that it can optimize its servers to work with multiple streams. It still looks awesome though.

Permalink: Awesome 64 picture-in-picture demo from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

PS3 Units Can Support 3D Via Firmware Update

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:29:53 -0800

Could be all be gaming on the PS3 in the future with 3D stereoscopic technology? Well, according to Sony, it seems like that’s what the future will be like, and your current PS3 can support it with a firmware update (we've seen the PS3 demo at CEATEC in Tokyo). Sony is aiming to lead the 3D market (here's Sony's plan) and will be offering 3D-specific tools to developers making games on its platform. Now we’ll have to see what Nintendo and Microsoft plan to do about 3D technology. The Xbox 360 could easily support something similar. The Wii might lack the muscle to render everything twice per frame (left+right image)

Permalink: PS3 Units Can Support 3D Via Firmware Update from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Nespresso CitiZ For Your Coffee Needs

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:19:37 -0800

Are you sick and tired of having to walk down the street to your local Starbucks to get a cup of coffee? Well, if you’re willing to shell out $350 for the Nespresso CitiZ, you’ll be able to own this single serve, one-touch espresso machine. Features of the machine include a 19 bar pressure pump, automatic volume control and cappuccino preparation, integrated milk frothing device, folding cup support and some more.

Permalink: Nespresso CitiZ For Your Coffee Needs from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Motorola To Fix Droid Camera Problem

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:13:39 -0800

Motorola has confirmed that it will be sorting out the Droid camera problems via an automatic over-the-air (OTA) update. As we had noticed in our complete Droid Review, the phone's current 5-megapixel camera often seems to have trouble focusing and it also seems to produce red corners in photos taken. The problem has been cited as a rather weird timing bug related to the time, which seems to be correct as users seem to have been able to avoid the problem by changing the date on the phone. Leaked documents indicate that the fix will be released on December 11th, but that hasn’t been officially confirmed just yet.

Permalink: Motorola To Fix Droid Camera Problem from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Microsoft Gives Away Acer Tablet PC

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:58:12 -0800

Folks who attended Microsoft’s PDC09 (Professional Developers Conference) should be rather happy, as Steven Sinofsky, Windows and Windows Live Division President, announced that all of the PDC09 attendees will be receiving a free Acer Aspire 1420P Convertible Tablet PC. The free tablet was supposedly to show Microsoft’s gratitude towards all of the PDC attendees and the support that the developers gave Microsoft during the Windows 7 release. In case you were wondering, the features of said laptop include:

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit edition
Intel Celeron 1.2GHz
2GB RAM
Intel graphics
3G mobile broadband
250GB hard disk
11.6-inch screen

Permalink: Microsoft Gives Away Acer Tablet PC from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

People-powered mobile network giffgaff

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:44:19 -0800

Now here’s a rather novel way to market a mobile network. giffgaff, the people-powered mobile network will be launching on the 25th of November, and users who go out of their way to promote the service will be rewarded with free calls, texts and mobile broadband. Users will be able to hire “tools” to take out and introduce the world to the giffgaff brand. Check out the official giffgaff website.

Permalink: People-powered mobile network giffgaff from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Qualcomm Demos FLO TV On iPhone

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:02:47 -0800

Qualcomm has demonstrated a sample receiver that would bestow the iPhone and iPod touch the ability to receive FLO TV reception. While the receiver itself is probably as large as the iPhone, there’s no mention as to whether the size is due to it being a test/demo unit, or if that’s really the size required to make it work. There isn’t any information as to whether such a device is planned for production, but it’s always good to see companies try and stay ahead in terms of tech.

Permalink: Qualcomm Demos FLO TV On iPhone from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Camangi WebStation Powered By Android

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:54:21 -0800

While everybody is waiting for baited breath of the unconfirmed Apple Tablet, a company called Camangi has already gone ahead and created the WebStation, which is a 7-inch touchscreen tablet computer powered by Android 1.5. Features of the device include Wi-Fi, GPS, microSD card reader, web browsing, Gmail, and other features. You’ll get about 4 to 5 hours in a single charge, based on the information shared by the company. If you’re thinking of picking one up, it’ll be available in early December for $399.

Permalink: Camangi WebStation Powered By Android from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Kenwood MG-F500 Announced

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:49:26 -0800

Kenwood has announced the MG-F500 MP3 player over in Japan. You won’t catch this media player playing anything else other than music, so that means no YouTube, no Video playback, and also no Internet browsing. Of course, the audio quality will probably be of the quality sought by audiophiles, so you can’t blame it for focusing solely on music only. Features of the Kenwood MG-F500 include:

Capacity: 4, 8, 16GB plus microSD expansion
Display: 2.0" LCD (320 x 240 resolution)
Audio: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV
Photo support
Battery Life: 50 hours for Audio
Dimensions: 46.5 x 98 x 13mm

Permalink: Kenwood MG-F500 Announced from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Vizio Net-connected HDTVs Delayed

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:43:21 -0800

Nobody likes product delays, and so it’s certainly bad news to see that the Vizio HDTVs that were supposed to bring us Twitter, Facebook, Netflix etc into the living room won’t be available this holiday season. While originally slated for July, it seems that the launch date has been pushed back to January 2010, which fortunately is just a few months away.

Permalink: Vizio Net-connected HDTVs Delayed from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom Coming?

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:39:27 -0800

Reports are going around that Rolls Royce could be showing off an electric version of its Phantom super-luxury car on the road before 2010 is over. Word is that the thought of the near-silence of electric propulsion, the fact that full torque is available from a standstill, would be perfectly aligned with Rolls-Royce’s core values. It’s good to see that Rolls-Royce is also working towards making cars more environmentally friendly with this move. Now we just have to wait for them to send us a unit to test drive.

Permalink: Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom Coming? from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Motorola Crush offers affordable touchscreen

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:16:24 -0800

Motorola seems to be picking up the pace with their latest touchscreen device that won't hurt your pockets, known as the Motorola Crush. This EV-DO Rev.0 device will be equipped with a 2.8” touchscreen at 240 x 400 resolution, a 2-megapixel camera, a virtual on-screen QWERTY keypad, stereo Bluetooth connectivity and a 3.5mm audio port. Apart from that, you get an interesting Tap-to-silence feature that saves you the trouble of switching profiles in a meeting. All in all a pretty basic phone which ought to serve its days out well.

Permalink: Motorola Crush offers affordable touchscreen from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Verizon BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:15:33 -0800

Verizon is another carrier that has now made available the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone which won't make heads turn as it goes about its job quietly, helping you check your emails and messages while replying with aplomb. Just in case you're curious to know what the Curve 8530 holds, it comes with a 2.5? display, a 2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS navigation, 256MB of flash memory, a new optical trackpad, Bluetooth connectivity, a microSD memory card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. You can pick it up for $99.99 on contract where it will come in Black and Smoky Violet colors.

Permalink: Verizon BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Dell cuts Motorola Droid price

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:14:47 -0800

Dell has slashed the Motorola Droid (see our review) price to a mere $119 with a 2-year contract with Verizon Wireless. Good news for those who want a Droid and don't mind sticking to the same carrier as this deal also applies to contract extensions. At $119 a pop, it is clearly tempting, especially when Dell will Fedex it to your doorstep for free.

Permalink: Dell cuts Motorola Droid price from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Sony Xperia X1 misses out on Windows Mobile 6.5 update

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:13:52 -0800

Sony Ericsson has confirmed that their Sony Xperia X1 smartphone will not be getting any Windows Mobile 6.5 update, which is rather disappointing since it points toward cellphone manufacturers who don't seem to offer long enough support for their devices these days.

Permalink: Sony Xperia X1 misses out on Windows Mobile 6.5 update from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

TomTom car kit for iPod touch

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:13:00 -0800

We've seen the TomTom iPhone car kit, but here's the car kit for the iPod touch which is compatible with the first and second generation iPod touch, although you will need to have iPhone OS 3.0 or later up and running. The hardware will be "available shortly", retailing for $20 cheaper than the iPhone version at $99.95. Any takers who want to expand the functionality of their iPod touch?

Permalink: TomTom car kit for iPod touch from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Microsoft Windows 8 set for 2012 release

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:58:02 -0800

With Windows 7 having been released nearly a month since today to rave reviews worldwide, it does make us sit up and take notice that Microsoft has plans to roll out Windows 8 in 2012 - that's a mere 3 years since Windows 7 was launched, keep in sync with Microsoft's rhythm of releasing major and new software every four years apart. What do you think of this move? Will Windows 7 have the longevity that XP had to throw things off course?

Permalink: Microsoft Windows 8 set for 2012 release from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Electric shaver modded with new button

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:53:02 -0800

This electric shaver has been saved from the trash thanks to the ingenuity of its owner who decided to replace a faulty power switch with one of his own - it does make us wonder though, won't it get in the way of the shaving process being this long and all?

Permalink: Electric shaver modded with new button from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

SCAR assault rifle gets ammo counter

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:52:16 -0800

This SCAR assault rifle is very different from the rest since it comes with an ammo counter just like what you see in the movies and video games, where a "black box" located within the handgrip will network with the soldier alongside the home base. This sealed grip will log the number of bullets fired alongside the amount of ammo remaining. Apart from that, there is work being done to pair it to specific soldiers via biometrics, rendering the rifle useless in the hands of the enemy.

Permalink: SCAR assault rifle gets ammo counter from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

Samsung outs Diva cellphones

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:50:51 -0800

Samsung will target the fairer sex this time round with a couple of handsets that fall under the Diva brand, where they are the S5150 Olivia and S7070. The former is a clamshell handset with a small external display, a 2.2" QVGA internal display, Bluetooth connectivity, a microSD memory card slot and a 3-megapixel camera. As for the Samsung S7070, this does resemble the Star somewhat where you get a new diamond center button alongside a 5-megapixel camera, a 3" WQVGA resistive touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, a microSD memory card slot and an integrated FM radio. Expect both models to hit the market sometime in Q1 next year.

Permalink: Samsung outs Diva cellphones from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review