Gadgets Base

This bizarre looking mobile phone isn’t, as you might expect, a concept phone, or a prototype, or even some Frankenstein-phone cobbled together from old bits of meccano by a devout Transformers fan. It is, in fact, the new SoftBank 815T PB mobile phone, made by Toshiba, and which is actually going on sale!

As you can see, it’s a genuine Transformer lookalike, but with the addition of full mobile phone functionality - including 3G, QVGA screen and a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera.

More pics and details of SoftBank’s new transformer-phone after the jump.

Now the Transformers movie came out last year, so you might have thought that SoftBank had missed the boat a bit. Not a bit of it, though. The company has released the 815T PB in time for the launch of a new Japanese TV drama (what, you couldn’t tell this was a Japanese phone?!) called Ketai Sousakan 7, which itself is based on the Transformers concept. And just to show off its Transformer-like credentials, you can even glue a complete Transformers kit onto the back of it, turning it into a phone that you can guarantee no-one else in the world (well, outside of Japan anyway!) will own.

Aimed at kids, the 815T PB will undoubtedly get a huge following amongst adults as well. Unfortunately, it’s destined for the Japanese market only, but I reckon this would sell by the bucket-load wherever you sold it!

[Source: Akihabara News]

Posted Mar 2nd 2008 9:15PM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops
Another brain-shattering announcement that you’ve all been waiting for is here. Intel has officially dubbed the Silverthorn and Diamondville chips “Atom,” and the Menlow platform has become the “Centrino Atom.” We know, it’s hard to believe the day has come, but it’s finally happened. Obviously, the 45nm Atom chips, and Centrino Atom technology will be targeted for MIDs, UMPCs, and all manner of small, internet-centric devices. Undoubtedly an unending vista of total awesomeness awaits us now that they’ve got some fancy new names.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Posted Mar 2nd 2008 5:38PM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video, Transportation
Apparently, Microsoft has plans for Sync that extend beyond the standard voice-activation scheme they’ve got going right now. The company wants to deliver a wider range of network connectivity for in-car use, and they’re debating the possibility of moving away from subscription-based services to an ad-funded scenario. What exactly does that mean? We’ll let Martin Thall, general manager of Microsoft’s Automotive Business Unit explain: “We know where you are and we know where you’re headed,” he says, seemingly unaware of the Orwellian implications. “We could target that advertising directly to your car.” You getting that? Targeted ads. In your car. While you’re driving. Apparently, execs don’t think you’ll mind being bombarded inside your vehicle because you’re, “used to advertising in the car. We hear ads on the radio and see billboards on the road.” Of course, this is speculation on future technologies, so nothing is set in stone — hopefully someone comes to their senses before our hovercar interiors glitter with holographic spam.