Gadgets Base

Posted Apr 7th 2008 8:05PM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: Storage, Networking
Okay, the Time Machine / AirPort Extreme situation is now officially ridiculous. TidBITS’s Glenn Fleishmann says Apple’s confirmed to him that the Extreme is unsupported for use with Time Machine, even though the latest batch of updates enable AirPort Disks to show up in the Time Machine disk-selection box. Fleishmann thinks a it’s leftover developer testing glitch, but either way, Apple’s will-they-won’t-they routine means lots of people now have an unsupported backup solution that works “erratically.” Seriously, if you thought AirPort Extreme owners were pissed off about Time Capsule, just wait until backups start failing. Not a lot of options left, Apple — better get this feature up and running ASAP.

It looks like the modest pc mouse has finally decided to join the “rat” race. Well, what else could it be, especially when continued “innovation” in the pc peripheral market has produced a mouse with – hold your breath – 11 buttons!

With the 11-button optical mouse, most of your frequent operations can be accomplished with a single click. Volume up/down, page forward/backward, play/pause, 4-levels of speed adjustment, launching your browser, plus the normal right/left click functions have been integrated into this unique fella. The greatest achievement of the mouse is perhaps that it manages to retain a sleek look while sporting all this added fuctionality, with buttons placed quite cleverly. However, for simpleton users like me (who cannot use one extra button even on the keyboard), the buttons only make it bottom heavy. Taking the risk of sounding conservative, I must say that I can find better use for $15.

Via The Red Ferret Journal.

Overview

LG, world’s leading electronic and phone manufacturer, has come up with their new LG LSP-400 CDMA WLL Phone with all the advanced features. LG LSP-400 CDMA WLL Phone can store up to 50 numbers in its call history. Its advanced network development lets you avail Voice Mail Notification, Caller ID and 3 Way call conferencing facilities. This phone can be charged in just 4 hours and lets you avail 4 hours of talk time and 120 hours of standby time.

Features

• LCD and Keybutton Backlight.
• 3Line Character LCD Display.
• Speed Dialing up to 300 numbers.
• Large phone book with 300 entries.
• Hands free speakerphone.

If you have LG LSP-400 CDMA WLL Phone, you need not buy a cell phone for messaging, as you can send advanced SMS from this landline phone. LG LSP-400 CDMA WLL Phone comes with a unique receiver Off-Hook Tone and 12 Polyphonic sound and 15 new Melodies Ringtones. Its adjustable ring volume, key volume and earpiece volume lets you easily adjust the volume as per your desire.

Box content

The box comprises of LG LSP-400 CDMA WLL Phone, Dipole Antenna, Built-In Backup Battery and AC/DC Power Adaptor.

Source: LG

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If you live in a place like mine, you find that space is a necessity that you simply do not have. Therefore, it might be good to take what little space you have and make it multi-functional.

This is where the TurnOn Multi-Functional Spinning Wall comes in. Basically, it is a room that uses the one part you never use: the ceiling. All you need to do is get into this giant wheel and roll it into place.

As you can see, it can function well as a table for two. Spin it again, and it is a lounger. It looks like that is about all it can do unless you want a bigger wheel.

I’ve seen a lot of people who complain that this device is impractical, but I don’t think so. The problem is that we may need to become a society who needs to conserve space.

Anyone remember a movie called The Fifth Element? In that flick, Bruce Willis played a futuristic taxi driver in a cheap New York City apartment that was completely modular. The refrigerator became the shower, and the bed became the couch. All designed to conserve space in a greatly overpopulated society.

In other words, we might not like the Spinning Wall, but if space is limited, it might have to be used. Perhaps we should all get used to it. Let us see what the future will bring.

Source

Overview

If you want to experience the legendary sword used by Japan’s Samurai, then go for SANYO Katana Cell Phone that has been designed keeping in mind to evoke the same passion for craftsmanship. Sporting an ultra-sleek design, SANYO Katana Cell Phone comes with a 2.2-inch QVGA TFT LCD Main Display and 1.0-inch TFT LCD External Display. You can choose SANYO Katana cell phone from any of its four exciting colors, Blue Sapphire, Mystic Black, Cherry Blossom Pink and Polar White.

Features

• digital camera.
• Supports Bluetooth, HSP, HFP, DUN and OPP.
• Superior Battery Performance.
• Caller ID capability.
• External side Volume Controls.
• Sprint PCS Vision capable downloading games and browsing the web.

With SANYO Katana Cell Phone you get up to 3.6 hours of talk time. Its phone book can store up to 700 phone numbers and 1000 Email and 500 Web Addresses. Apart from the advanced features like Dual band/ Tri mode, T9 Text Input and Call Screening, SANYO Katana Cell Phone also supports functions like calculator, alarm clock, vibrating alert and stopwatch.

Box content

The box comprises of SANYO Katana Cell Phone, Headset Adapter, Travel Charger and Standard SANYO Battery.

Price

SANYO Katana Cell Phone is available at a price of $ 129.99.

Source: Sanyo

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Overview

Easing you off talking while driving, bluetooth headsets are pretty useful devices. BlueAnt Z9 is one such innovative bluetooth headset that has also won the International CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Award. BlueAnt Z9 comes packed with advanced features like near-field sensing with Automatic Gain Adjustment. This innovative bluetooth headset sports a tie clip that can be easily attached to shirt, cuff, collar etc when not in use.

Features

• On-the-fly switching between devices.
• World class Digital Signal Processor (DSP) software.
• Abnormal Disconnection Notification.
• Echo suppression and noise cancellation.
• Auto connection and reconnection.

With BlueAnt Z9, you get to enjoy up to 7 hrs of talk time. Its 2 microphones deliver pure speech with every use. You can even select a different ring tone for contacts and for unknown callers on your BlueAnt Z9. Its firmware is upgradeable by USB and it has an exceptional ability to be paired with multiple devices at a time.

Box content

The box comprises of BlueAnt Z9, AC Adapter, 3 Replacement Ear Hooks, and User’s Manual.

Price

BlueAnt Z9 is available at a price of $ 99.95.

Source: BlueAnt

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The success of the previous models of the LG Black Label Series–LG Shine and LG Chocolate–brought about the third installment of the model line.

As of current, not much info is known about the third Black Label model. It’s only spec known is that it’ll have a 5 megapixel camera. The phone will apparently be an embodiment of LG’s ‘Style that Lasts’ concept, with the handset made of tempered glass and carbon fiber. The fateful day of the Black Series 3 revelation is on April 24th–the date of its official launch.

via

Posted Apr 7th 2008 6:37AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Misc. gadgets
var As expected, Yahoo has responded to Microsoft’s 3 week ultimatum this morning. The bottom line is pretty clear in a letter signed by Jerry Yang (CEO) and Roy Bostock (chairman). In the “Dear Steve” response to Ballmer they state, “we will not allow you or anyone else to acquire the company for anything less than its full value.” They go on to state that, “We consider your threat to commence an unsolicited offer and proxy contest to displace our independent Board members to be counterproductive and inconsistent with your stated objective of a friendly transaction.” Make no mistake about it, this is corporate war and will likely end with Yahoo’s best engineers working for Google.

Posted Apr 7th 2008 5:57AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: cellphones

As the bar for really, truly ripping another product off gets ratcheted up, leave it to Awang to make sure it keeps pace. The A9000 handset makes no attempt to veil itself from being seen as the impostor that it truly is, featuring the same QWERTY keypad, general design and tilt-ability as the long-established AT&T Tilt. Judging by the looks of things, those not ashamed with carrying around a Class-A wannabe will find Windows Mobile (”or similar”) under the hood, a T-Flash expansion slot, built-in camera and a lovely stylus for good measure. We’ve seen creativity get slapped in the face before, but this is a bona fide low blow.

[Thanks, Steve]

Gallery: TV mobile AwangA9000

Posted Apr 7th 2008 6:10AM by Thomas Ricker
The morning has only begun and already the first oddity has been unleashed in Japan. You’re looking at NTT DoCoMo Communications “Mobile Fragrance Communications Kit” which is based on the same scent delivery technology NTT has already deployed into homes and movie theaters. Fragrance playlists are downloaded to your DoCoMo phone and then transmitted over Ir to the portable “aroma generator” pre-loaded with base fragrances. The scents are then unleashed into the room under the accompaniment of new-age MIDIs and animated GIFs we presume will include dancing pandas and Hello Kitty cats. Ugh. The pilot program runs from April 10th to the 20th and will undoubtably be a huge success in the land of the uprising robo-san.

[Via Impress]