Gadgets Base

Posted Feb 11th 2008 12:49PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Cellphones
Look out, world — ACCESS has just announced that it’s crawling even deeper in bed with MontaVista Software in order to “accelerate development of smart mobile devices.” More specifically, the two have released a “pre-integrated software stack combining the ACCESS Linux Platform with the MontaVista Mobilinux operating system,” which should purportedly hack down the engineering time required for DIY integration along with decreasing “associated costs and risks.” Reportedly, the ALP-Mobilinux software stack is up for grabs right now on the Texas Instruments OMAP2430 processor, and while specifics are unfortunately absent, we are told that additional hardware platforms will be added in the months ahead.

In a previous post, we mentioned that the potential to be able to order a Starbucks using your iPhone was huge. Well, it seems that the Seattle Coffee Giant is ready to make that move as all Starbucks are replacing T-Mobile with AT&T.

Going all out with AT&T make sense considering Starbucks’ existing relationship with Apple which allows users to order music via the iTunes Music Store and the fact that iPhone users are already carried by AT&T means that transition will be smooth and easy. In addition, pricewise, the move is a great one for Starbucks fans as the new AT&T plan will allow for up to 2 free hours of wiFi per day, with additional 2-hours available at four bucks. AT&T will also offer monthly subscriptions at $19.99 which will allow users to surf while they’re lunching at McDonalds or any of the over 7,000 AT&T hot spots in North America. That means the potential for acquiring new customers on both ends is alot better than T-Mobile, which was requiring a daily cost of $9.99 or monthly membership to surf - no iTunes ordering included.

Plans are for T-Mobile to be phased out starting this spring with all Starbucks becoming as AT&T hotspots by year’s end.

Hat Tip: Crave

Yes, Google’s Android phones are now attacking in Barcelona.  The first out of the chute is this one from Texas Instruments for an unnamed vendor.  Word is this thing is blazing fast to respond, has nice integration with Gmail, Google Maps, Google searches.  To be sure, this is an early build lacking the update to the SDK that Google is adding, but it holds much hope for the future.

These basic phones were not online and the programs were less than full featured, but that is what you expect in an early prototype.  Word is we’ll see the first results in the 2nd half of the year.  Given high speed processors and a dedicated design team, Google may really have something here.  Stay tuned.

Read [Engadget Mobile]

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I am sure that this voice changing telephone will not give you a hard assed gravely smokers voice like my childhood friend Jeff had.  That guy had a full beard by the time he was fifteen and he sounded mean as sin on the telephone.  He would have made a good repo man.  The voice changing telephone, which is either for making prank phone calls or for nefarious purposes, will raise or lower your voice through an inbuilt voice modulation  unit.  All you need is a vacant land line jack and a spare $10.

Available where else but from Chinavasion.

Source: Gadget Spy

While Yahoo! has rejected the offer from Microsoft, it seems they have followed through with another purchase. This time it is in the form of Danger, the wonderful creators for the software that powers the Sidekick. While it seems a little sad to see one of the “smaller” guys taken over by the “big-bad” Microsoft, it could mean that we will see an actual Sidekick smartphone with Windows Mobile in the future. Keep in mind the actual Sidekick has been made by Sharp and more recently Motorola so the WinMo Sidekick may never actually hit the market, however it should be interesting to see how Danger and Windows Mobile will mix together. Microsoft has plans roll Danger into their mobile division, the sale (as usual) was for an undisclosed amount.

[Update] Microsoft has since pulled the Press Release from their website, we are also still waiting to see a release come from Danger.

Read [Microsoft] Via [Hiptop 3]

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The Times of London are reporting that Yahoo! is seeking to resume merger talks with AOL as a way of defending itself from Microsoft’s takeover bid. Previous talks broke off after disagreements about price, but the unwelcome takeover bid by Microsoft has spurred hopes of renewed negotiations. Yahoo says they are rejected Microsoft’s offer because they feel it undervalues the company and won’t consider it unless they are offered at least $12 billion more. A source close to Yahoo!’s thinking told The Times:

“All they [Microsoft] are trying to do is pick off the company on the cheap. They’re trying to steal it. And the board is not going to let that happen. They have gone for a valuation that reflects the five-year low of the stock.”

The source added:

“It would have to be in the 40s to start talking, and we would have to get over regulatory issues. It would have to be an offer that would give Jerry Yang something to stand on a podium and smile about.”

Read [Times of London]

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This is a sneaky way to bug a room, a picture frame with a built in microphone that you can phone up and listen to what’s going on.

This larger sized picture frame (which you can add your own picture to) may be hung on a wall in a room of your choice. You can then dial the number of the GSM bug built into the rear of the frame - the call will connect silently after two rings and you will be able to hear whats going on in the room…from anywhere in the world!

The picture frame costs $129.99 (~$250) and comes with a SIM card but it doesn’t say if there are any ongoing subscription costs.

DLO makes great products, their neoprene iPod cases are at the top of my favorites list (indestructible!). That aside, DLO’s newly released, compact and powerful, DLO Portable Speakers for iPhone provide an awesome experience.

Music and videos can be enjoyed in stereo sound without worry of TDMA interface. The compact units feature an extra-wide sound stage and bass vents for delivering powerful sound.

Posted Feb 11th 2008 5:01AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio
If mobile-review is right, then Samsung is about to unleash more than a dozen new phones at Mobile World Congress. Rather than overwhelm you with the lot, we’ve whittled down the selection to a few of our faves. First up, the F480 (pictured left) which casts aside its Armani rags for full-on Samsung branding. The 11.5-mm slim handset with 2.8-inch, 240 x 320 touchscreen features Samsung’s latest Croix OS with tactile feedback. It’s now sporting 3G connectivity, FM-radio, and the ever so popular 5 megapixel camera (with LED flash). Release is expected in April or May for between €350 and €400. Next up is Sammy’s “Dual Touch Chic” G400 flip. Both the internal (2.2-inches, QVGA) and external displays are touch-sensitive surrounded by an all-metal shell. Expect a 5 megapixel camera, FM-radio, and 100MB with microSD expansion when it launches in by May for about €300. Last up is the latest B&O hookup, albeit in a more consumer acceptable slider format. Like the i450 before it, the F400 is a dual-slider: slide the front face up to reveal a keypad, down to slip the phone into music mode with exposed B&O speakers. Otherwise, it’s a 3G phone with 2.2-inch QVGA display, RDS-enabled FM radio, and microSD card when it pops in late March with a €370-€390 price tag.

Sony Ericsson has launched the XPERIA brand with the XPERIA X1 handset. The X1 has an impressive set of features. Just to start it’s running Windows Mobile 6 with a full slide-out arc-sliding QWERTY keyboard with 4-way key and optical joystick. The X1 along with the XPERIA lineup will be focusing on the growing need for mobile web communication and multimedia entertainment. The X1 features has a metal-finish body with a 3-inch wide VGA 800 x 480 touchscreen display, GPS, Wi-Fi, A2DP Bluetooth, a 3.2-megapixel camera with a microSD card slot for additional storage. The XPERIA X1 is set to ship in select markets during the second half of 2008, pricing information has not yet been announced.

Keep reading for a few more pictures and complete specs of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1…

Read [Sony Ericsson]

Camera

• Auto focus
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Photo light
• Video recording

Music

• Bluetooth stereo (A2DP)
• Media player
• Music tones
• PlayNow
• Windows Media Player Mobile
• 3D games
• FM radio
• Java
• Video streaming
• Video viewing

Internet

• Internet Explorer Mobile
• RSS feeds

Communication and Messaging

• Polyphonic ringtones
• Speakerphone
• Vibrating alert
• Video calling
• Email
• Picture messaging (MMS)
• Predictive text input
• Text messaging (SMS)

Design

• XPERIA panels
• Optical joystick navigation
• Navigation key
• Picture wallpaper
• Touch navigation

Organizer

• Alarm clock
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Document editors
• Document readers
• Flight mode
• Handwriting recognition
• Notes
• Phone book
• Tasks
• Touchscreen

Connectivity

• aGPS
• Bluetooth technology
• Modem
• Synchronization
• USB support
• WLAN

Windows Mobile Operating System

• Microsoft Outlook Mobile: email, contacts, calendar, tasks
• Microsoft Office Mobile: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Internet Explorer Mobile
• Windows Media Player Mobile
• Windows Live
• Exchange ActiveSync
• Voice control
• Utility Applications: file explorer, calculator, pictures & video, notes

Facts and Figures

• Size: 110 x 53 x 16.7 mm
• Weight: 145 grams

Available colours

• Black
• Silver
• Main screen: 65,536 color TFT
• Resolution: 800 X 480 pixels
• Size: 3 inches

Memory

• Phone memory: up to 400 MB
• microSD™ memory card support
• Availability and versions

Networks

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
• UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
• UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850/1700/1900/2100 MHz

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