Gadgets Base

Posted Jan 20th 2008 7:31PM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Cellphones
It looks like all that shouting AT&T has been doing lately about its “openness” is starting to manifest itself in the way the company does business. It’s come to our attention that the mobile telco has started offering a SIM-only plan, thus providing the ultimate in open options. The idea being, of course, that you can bring any random / crappy / salvaged GSM-compatible handset the provider’s way, and it’ll let you hook a towline onto its satellites. Of course, you could just get one of those cheapo giveaways and pop out the card, but this is so much more open and free, like San Francisco in ‘69, a car-less road, some land of your own, and a good old-fashioned whiskey on the rocks. Oh, you still have a sign a two-year agreement… enjoy your freedom!

[Via The Boy Genius Report]

Sharp unveiled a new smartphone at CES 2008 that largely went unreported. Looking at the new Sharp PV250, I can understand why. As well as a plethora of weak features (1.3 megapixel camera on a smartphone, for example), it comes with a bizarre swivelling LCD screen that lets you view the screen in horizontal or vertical format.

More pics after the jump.

Unfortunately, when you switch it to vertical, the screen obstructs the keyboard. So it’s only use is…um…nope, can’t think of a single use for it! I know mobile phone manufacturers like to push the boundaries of a mobile phone’s form factor, but I think this is taking things a bit too far. If you’re gong to make weird-looking phones, at least give them a purpose!

[Source: Aving.net]

With Apple’s new baby the MacAir not even launched yet - concerns have been raised over the battery situation already.

As with some other Apple products - the MacBook Air contains a non serviceable 37-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery which raises the question about what happens when it inevitably looses performance?

All laptops gradually kill the battery over time, but thankfully its just a case of snapping in a new battery yourself. Aple have also got a bit of a history with malfunctioning batteries, with a recall/replacement programme for the Macbook & Macbook Pro batteries sold in 2006.

Luckily the battery replacement process is trivial for somebody not scared to use a screw driver. The process requires a single size-0 type philips screwdriver and some patience.

Once flipped upside down, the Macbook Air’s bottom cover is easily unscrewed and removed, providing immediate access to the battery cavity. From there, the battery can be unscrewed from the chassis with the same screwdriver and unplugged from the circuit board with a simple tug — it’s not soldered to the board.

Apple has announced its intent to offer a MacBook Air Out-of-Warranty Battery Replacement Program, which promises authorized replacements for US $129. The return to base repair process normally takes 5 business days, the company says.

There is no word on whether the battery change could invalidate the Apple warranty. So if you’re thinking of doing it later this year, it might be worth checking with AppleCare to be sure.

Source AppleInsider.com

Posted Jan 20th 2008 11:48AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Digital Cameras
We know how difficult it will be not to get your shorts twisted over Panasonic’s latest digital camera offering, the Lumix LS80, but please try. When a product is marked by such breathtaking features as 8.1-megapixel resolution, 4 x zoom, “MEGA O.I.S.” image stabilization, ISO up to 1600, SDHC card support, and 16:9 recording modes, it’s easy to get carried away — though we suggest simple breathing exercises to keep your pulse in check. The new model is available in stylish black, pink, or silver, no word on price or release date, so just keep your heart medication nearby.

Click for a larger image.

In cased you missed it, or want to watch it again, here is the video spoof shown during the CES 2008 Bill Gates keynote about his last full day at Microsoft. The production team pulled out an all-star cast for Mr. G, including: Brian Williams, Steve Ballmer, Matthew McConaughey, Robbie Bach, Jay-Z, Bono, Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, Jon Stewart, Kevin Turner, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Al Gore, Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie.

It’s that time of year when we get to share with you those wonderful tokens of tech love, or rather love for the techie in your life. If you are the partner of a Wii addict, I recommend purchasing this year’s hottest confection–the chocolate Mii.

Chocolate Mii is crafted to look like a miniature Wii, bolding displaying the message “Wii belong together, you and Mii.” Your sweetie will open the Wii-shaped box to uncover two chocolate Miis with red-hot hearts on their shirts. There are boy-girl, girl-girl, and boy-boy combinations, so your love can be shared with your love - or even with your best friend.

Chocolate Miis are each made with 2.1 oz (think king-sized candy bar) of gourmet milk, dark, or while chocolate from Omaha Chocolate Company.

Watch the v-log about these treats here.

Price: $14.95, pick your combination and order at Paul Papa Designs here.

Posted Jan 20th 2008 1:46PM by Evan Blass
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops True to its word, the US Supreme Court has started to hear arguments in one of those LG vs Quanta patent suits we’ve been following, with its eventual decision expected to have major effects on the rights of patent holders. Specifically, LG is arguing that since chipsets sold by Intel to Quanta use licensed manufacturing techniques and employ non-Intel components, Quanta also owes LG compensation as per its original agreement with Intel. Pretty confusing, we agree, but the Court’s final decision — expected in June — promises to clear up once and for all what has admittedly become a legal gray area concerning so-called “exhausted” patents.

If you have a portable drive that you carry around, there’s a good chance you’ve worried about your data being stolen, especially if you have sensitive information stored on it. There are a few ways you can keep it secure. While there’s no foolproof way to make sure that a thief won’t be able to pick it up and run off, you can make sure that they won’t get to your precious files. There are many methods from simple passwords to biometric locks, however, this is the first RFID-protective drive I’ve seen thus far.

The STYSEN E08 RFID Security 2.5 Inch HDD Enclosure comes with two RFID keychains that will act as the keys to your data. Until you scan one of them over the enclosure, the data stored on the drive will be useless. The best part is that if someone tries to simply remove the drive, it will automatically be formatted. Personally I wouldn’t want to have to carry around another keychain, but if you don’t mind, it sounds like a good way to go. The enclosure will set you back $56 and will work with any 2.5-inch SATA drive.

Source: EverythingUSB

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With Apple’s new baby the MacAir not even launched yet - concerns have been raised over the battery situation already.

As with some other Apple products - the MacBook Air contains a non serviceable 37-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery which raises the question about what happens when it inevitably looses performance?

All laptops gradually kill the battery over time, but thankfully its just a case of snapping in a new battery yourself. Aple have also got a bit of a history with malfunctioning batteries, with a recall/replacement programme for the Macbook & Macbook Pro batteries sold in 2006.

Luckily the battery replacement process is trivial for somebody not scared to use a screw driver. The process requires a single size-0 type philips screwdriver and some patience.

Once flipped upside down, the Macbook Air’s bottom cover is easily unscrewed and removed, providing immediate access to the battery cavity. From there, the battery can be unscrewed from the chassis with the same screwdriver and unplugged from the circuit board with a simple tug — it’s not soldered to the board.

Apple has announced its intent to offer a MacBook Air Out-of-Warranty Battery Replacement Program, which promises authorized replacements for US $129. The return to base repair process normally takes 5 business days, the company says.

There is no word on whether the battery change could invalidate the Apple warranty. So if you’re thinking of doing it later this year, it might be worth checking with AppleCare to be sure.

Source AppleInsider.com

Posted Jan 20th 2008 10:21AM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Transportation
A fancy new miniaturized plasma propulsion system being developed at Oklahoma State University promises some exciting new Unmanned Ariel Vehicle spy plane designs for the folks at DARPA. The engine is about the size of a cigarette, contains no moving parts, and will be build into planes as small as 6-inches long, which soldiers can carry in packs of six or so and deploy as a swarm of inquisitive Daniel Craigs. The planes should be able to manage indoors and urban areas. No word on when these will be spying on a homeland security threat near you, but the project is still in the early stages.

[Via Crave]