Gadgets Base

I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t had a desktop computer in nearly 10 years (I can’t wean myself off of notebooks and UMPCs), but I have absolutely no use for a USB hub. My current notebook, a Sony Vaio TZ, is equipped with only two USB 2.0 ports and I’ve never had a need or even wished for another one.

That’s why I had no idea there was so much innovation going on in the world of USB hubs. This Rota-Star hub from Gadget4All.com, for example, features twistable ports that can be turned 180 degrees to form a handful of shapes and designs. Wow!

Available now for $12.

Posted Apr 1st 2008 12:30PM by Chris Ziegler
Filed under: cellphones, Handhelds
Though it’s been circulating through the user community (and a Sony Ericsson lab or two) for a little while now, Windows Mobile 6.1 had never gotten officially official in its own right — until now. Microsoft has taken the wraps off the latest rendition of its mobile platform at CTIA today, a small step on the path to Windows Mobile 7 that’ll provide Microsoft-based smartphones with a breath of fresh air starting later this year. The changes are expectedly minor as 0.1 releases tend to be, offering a new Getting Started Center to ease the process of setting up a new device, home screen tweaks, and — finally — true, native threaded SMS.

Additionally, Microsoft has announced that a phalanx of carriers and manufacturers have thrown their support behind upgrading devices that are already in the marketplace, which is exactly what we were hoping to hear. Everything from the Pantech Duo, to the AT&T Tilt, to the Sprint Mogul is getting 6.1 love beginning this quarter of the year — though exact dates haven’t been announced. Follow the break for the full list of devices on the upgrade list or have a peep at our 6.1 gallery over on Engadget Mobile!

Mobile operators:

• Alltel Wireless: HTC PPC6800, HTC Touch
• AT&T: Samsung BlackJack II, MOTO Q 9h global, Pantech duo, AT&T Tilt by HTC
• Sprint: A new Palm Treo and updates for the Mogul by HTC, Touch by HTC, MOTO Q 9c, Samsung ACE
• T-Mobile International: T-Mobile MDA Ameo 16 GB, T-Mobile MDA compact IV

Device-makers:

• ASUS: New phones including the P320, ZX1, P560, M536 and updates for the P527, P750, M930
• HTC: A new Touch Dual for the U.S. and updates for the AT&T Tilt, Touch by HTC, Mogul by HTC from Sprint, TyTN II
• i-mate: 8502, 9502, 8150, 6150
• Intermec: CN3
• Motorola: MOTO Q 9c, MOTO Q 9h global, MC70, MC9000
• Pantech: Pantech duo
• Samsung: BlackJack II
• Toshiba: Portégé G810,Portégé G910

Nokia has let the WiMAX Edition N810 out of the bag, of course this comes as not much of a surprise, the rumors have been on-going, not to mention the in-the-wild style photo earlier this morning. It is nice however to get all the official details.

Aside from the addition of WiMAX the overall specs remain the same as the standard N810 which features a 4.13-inch touchscreen display, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, built-in GPS, built-in webcam, 2 GB of internal memory, microSD card slot for additional storage and a web browser that is powered by Mozilla. The WiMAX Edition N810 will be available to US customers beginning this summer and retail for $449.

Keep reading for a few more pics of the WiMAX Edition N810…

Product [Nokia] Read [Nokia]

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For stylish runners who want to make sure they’re not slacking off on their daily routine, perhaps there’s nothing better than Nike running shoes paired with a Nike+ accessory. The Nike+ iPod was one formidable setup but Nike’s latest move shows just how fruitful the partnership turned out to be. Apparently, Nike has ditched the Nike+ iPod setup and instead will deliver its own brand of accessory to go with the Nike+ service. Nike’s new accessory will be called the Nike+ Sportband, and yes, this is what Nike minus iPod is going to be all about.

The Nike+ Sportband will deliver basically the same functionality as Nike+ ipod, minus the funky, upbeat music, of course. The Nike+ Sportsband will give users real time access to pace, distance, time and burned calories, and you can connect it to your PC or Mac via USB. It also serves as a USB key in which you can store a limited amount of data like photos and short digital documents. I know what exactly what the Nokia execs are thinking right now: “How come we didn’t come up with something like this until now?!”

Via [Gizmodo]

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Posted Apr 1st 2008 11:20AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Displays, HDTV
Rest assured, we’ve witnessed quite a few astounding scientific displays set deep within university research labs, but it’d be mighty hard to cover up the $350,000 monolith residing at the Tufts University School of Engineering. The VisWall, unsurprisingly a product of Visbox, combines twin backscreen projectors and sophisticated software in order to display 3D imagery for DNA junkies and budding surgeons to swoon over. Aside from giving researchers and students alike the ability to investigate chemical structures and cellular makeups more closely, the 8- x 14-foot screen also dabbles in haptics, giving remote holders the ability to “guide the manipulation of virtual scalpels or surgical tweezers onscreen.” Sheesh, it’s like giving kids a reason to attend class — imagine that.

[Via CNET]

Posted Apr 1st 2008 9:11AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Gaming
It’s no big secret that Sony is gearing up to redesign the playstation Store for users in Europe and the US, but with just days to go until the hard hats are donned, we figured it prudent to pass along the latest tidbits surrounding the change. Apparently the refacing will start on April 3rd and finish up in around a fortnight, but until the job is finished, “no additional downloadable content will be posted.” Of course, existing content will remain available, and chances are you’ll appreciate the updates when all is said and done, but we know how tough it’ll be to not log on weekly and eagerly sniff for all new material. Hit up the via for lots of pictures — we’re told it’ll help the sting.

[Via PS3Fanboy, thanks Kiwi616]

Posted Apr 1st 2008 7:51AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Displays, HDTV
Check it: Sony’s unloaded a nice foursome today with its all new (but eerily familiar) W4000-Series lineup. Available in 32-, 40-, 46- and 52-inch sizes, the newest members of the BRAVIA family all feature a 1080p resolution, Picture Frame Mode, BRAVIA Engine 2, BRAVIA Sync, XMB, 24p True Cinema, USB Photo Viewer, 178-degree viewing angles, a built-in DVB-T tuner, VGA port and a trio of HDMI connectors for good measure. The 32-incher gets stripped down a bit with the omission of Live Color Creation, a 10-bit panel, PhotoTV HD, and x.v.Color — all of which are included on the larger models. Unfortunately, Sony’s keeping quiet with regard to pricing / availability, but we’d certainly keep an eye out for any strange new shelf inhabitants over in Europe.

[Via Pocket-lint]

While there is not much surprise here, as all the details have been previously leaked. One bit off good news is the retail price has come out a little lower than expected as the Z9 is $149.99, that is after an online discount along with a two-year agreement.

Aside from the lower price, the Z9 is currently available and marks the first AT&T handset to offer support for AT&T Navigator. The slider-styled Z9 also has 3G/HSDPA support and quad-band GSM coverage along with a 1.3-megapixel camera with video recording capability, stereo Bluetooth, built-in mp3 player and a microSD card slot for additional storage.

Product [AT&T]

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Posted Apr 1st 2008 5:07AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Gaming, HDTVOk, here we go again. Despite Microsoft’s attempt to quash Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumors, they’re back… with a vengeance. According to “industry sources” speaking to DigiTimes, Lite-On is developing built-in Blu-ray Disc drives for the “next generation” Xbox 360 game console. Lite-On is expected to begin shipping the new BD players for assembly in the second half of 2008. DigiTimes also claims that the new, presumably smaller Xbox 360 will reduce the power supply from 210-watts to 170-watts. So… care to comment, Microsoft?

Update: As noted by our readers, Falcon-based 360s are already running at 175-watts.

Posted Apr 1st 2008 1:50AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: cellphones April 14th — just like we expected, that’s the date T-Mobile subscribers will gain access to the WiFi totin’ blackberry Pearl 8120. Unlike AT&T’s offering, that’s WiFi for voice and data thanks to T-Mobile’s HotSpot @Home service. EDGE data, 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5-mm headphone jack, SureType keyboard, and microSD / SDHC expansion for your multimedia round out the specs quite nicely. Now all we need is the price, right T-Mob?