Gadgets Base

There are times that I would really love to have a solar bag, but they do lack a bit in versatility.  First of all if the bag is something that won’t blend easily into different environments you’re going to end up using it less.  Also, sometimes you aren’t going to be out and around much and might just want to pop it in the window, but the bag may be too large or awkward to stay in the window and charge up.  With the Solar Globetrotter Kit, the solar panel can just attach to any bag, making it useful in a variety of situations.

The solar panel is for those that enjoy traveling a bit and especially those that are the outdoorsy type, so therefore they have obviously made it completely water resistant to accommodate that.  The lightweight gadget comes with a Velcro strap and a couple of buckles to make sure you can easily attach it to different things.  The panel is being sold for £49.99  or $98.65 over at Lazybone.

Source: ubergizmo

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Rogers has announced that they are making their promotional $30 6GB data plan available for five additional smartphones. The new data plan which is still available for just a limited time, began from the backlash of the iPhone 3G data plan announcement.

Since that came about, Rogers has added a plan that offers 6GB of monthly data transfer for $30 a month. The plan will now, in addition to the iphone 3G also be available with the Nokia N95, Samsung Jack, Palm Treo, Motorola Q9h and the HTC TyTN.

While this is a nice offer, sadly this is still just a limited time offer,” we can only hope that Rogers will finally decide to be smart when it comes to mobile data and make this permanent offering.

Via [mobilesyrup]

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Clearly, streaming video is the wave of the future, and the days of video stores are nigh finished. I had a chance to try out the Roku with its limited selection, and I wanted to try out the Unbox service from Amazon.

It doesn’t look like I will get the chance, because Amazon is scrapping that Unbox program in favor of Amazon Video on Demand (VoD). This service is similar to the streaming video Apple offers with its iTunes.

Amazon’s Vice President of Digital Media is very pleased, saying the company’s goal is “to create an immersive experience where people can’t help but get caught up in how exciting it is to simply watch a movie right from Amazon.com with the click of a button”.

The user will have access to over 40,000 movies from various studios at varied prices. In fact, once a user visits the video’s product page, it will play the first two minutes of the content. It appears that Disney and any of its subsidiary companies will not have their video content available on the site for now.

Amazon wishes to bring the Video on Demand Service through a deal with Sony, that will even embed store access into Bravia TV models. Right now, the Video on Demand service is only accessible through the Bravia Internet Video Link device, which retails for about $300. You should be able to view the Beta version now.

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Samsung has launched for new digital camera models which are scheduled to arrive in the second half of 2008. They are the models TL34HD, TL9, SL310W and SL201. Here’s a quick rundown of what each of these cameras are offering us digital photography fanatics.

The TL34HD boasts of a 14.7-megapixel resolution and a 28mm wide-angle Schneider lens with 3.6x optical zoom. Succeeding the NV24HD, the TL34HD point-and-shoot can also capture high-definition video at 720p resolution and comes with dual image stabilization feature. Packed in a metal casing, this packet size camera comes in black or silver with a red accent designs. It also features a 3-inch touchscreen HVGA LCD with Smart Touch 2.0 user interface.

Next we have the Samsung TL9 with a 10-megapixel resolution, a 2.7-inch LCD, internal 5x optical zoom, dual image stabilization and also features MP3 and PMP capability. Encased in a silver, metal body, this ultra compact digital snapper measures in at 3.7 x 2.36 x 0.84-inches. Other features of this camera include a maximum ISO sensitivity of 1600, a comprehensive suite of automatic controls, face detection technology and cool blink detection feature which will not fire up when it detects when the subject’s eyes are closed.

We also have the Samsung SL310W which is on the higher end than the previous two models. Geared for the step-up users, this camera boasts of a 13.6-megapixel resolution, dual image stabilization, a 2.7-inch LCD and a 3.6x 28mm wide-angle optical zoom lens. In addition the SL310W also features 11 scene modes, auto red eye fix, MPEG-4 video recording, self-portrait mode, face detection, blink detection and smile shot technology for enhancing digital images.

Finally we have the ultra-slim and compact Samsung SL201 with a 10.2-megapixel resolution, a 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.7-inch intelligent LCD. In addition this point-and-shoot also features face detection, self-portrait, digital image stabilization, and some various scene modes including night, children, landscape, text, close up, sunset, dawn, backlight, fireworks and beach and snow.

The Samsung TL34HD, TL9, SL310W and SL201 will all be available sometime in September and retail for $329.95, $279.95, $229.95 and $169.95 respectively.

Read [Samsung]

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A semiconductor plant producing precious IBM chips is set for business expansion. This chip plant is located in East Fishkill in New York, USA. IBM or the International Business Machines Corporation has spoke of its plans of investing $1 billion over the next three years. This is for the expansion of the said chip plant. IBM aims to maintain its mission to live for the chip-making business. The billions-worth of investment will be divided among the three projects related to chip nanotechnologies.

IBM presented this announcement as it also discloses of about $500 million worth of money to go for research and development, plus capital equipment in the University of Alabany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

As a return for IBM’s business, the state of New York will grant about $140 million as development funds for the chip-making company. IBM is expected to generate 1,000 high-tech jobs in Upstate New York.

John Kelley, IBM’s senior vide president and director of research stated that, “These new investments will spur continuing advancements in nanotechnology and semiconductor research and development– including new efforts in semiconductor packaging.”

Read [WallStreetJournal]

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iriver has announced that they would be rolling out their latest portable media player, the Lplayer, in the US market. Basically, this PMP is one of the smallest and most compact that iriver has to offer.

It sports a 2-inch LCD screen and comes with a familiar “D-click control system” like various other iriver players, such as the Clix. iriver has added more media support to the player such as FLAC, OGG, XviD, MP3, WAV, WMA, MPG, and WMV. In addition, it comes with an integrated FM radio, and it can also record radio, however there was no mention on how long it can record for. The battery life is pretty good, as it can pump out tunes for 12 hours straight, and 4 hours when playing videos.

In case you like the rock band Muse, then you will be happy to know that the first 100,000 players come with a 14 minute Muse video preloaded. The Lplayer is available in a few different colors including black, pink, and white. It will come in two different models, including a 4GB model that will sell for $110, and the 8GB model will sell for $160.

Product [Amazon] Via [electronista]

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Aliph, the makers of the Jawbone Bluetooth headset have just begun offering a $20 discount for anyone who receives a ticket for breaking a hands free law. Simply put they are offering the discount “because having a conversation shouldn’t be a crime.”

So for those who have run into trouble with not being able to put the phone down, simply visit the Jawbone website and choose the headset color you want, enter the state where you received your ticket and the ticket number. Once that is entered, you will be able to get that $20 discount which will bring the overall price down to $109.99.

While its hard to think they are rewarding those who have broken the law, at least maybe this will help to keep at least a few people from holding a cell phone while driving.

Product [Jawbone]

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Almost all I’ve heard and read about since the launch of a certain new, improved iphone last week is applications - the popularity of the new apps store, the best free apps… it’s been, quite frankly, apps up to my ass. But I’m not easily impressed. There’s only so long I can be enthralled by Tetris or Scrabble on my phone (and that’s quite a long time, but we all get bored eventually).

What I’m really interested in knowing about are honest-to-goodness useful applications that could actually make my life easier (my imaginary life, where I own an iPhone 3G, that is).

And Jott is one of the few apps to actually get me interested.

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jul 17th 2008 at 6:28AM
We’ve been waiting for this day ever since Opera first announced its Opera Mobile 9.5 web browser back in February. Today, it’s out for a beta 1 launch. In other words, it’ll be buggy but likely far more useful than the browser already installed on your touchscreen-based (PocketPC) WinMo professional phone. The initial release includes support for double-tap zoom, landscape flip, off-line page save, tab-like browsing, auto-URL complete, and a Google-search bar to name just a few of the 9.5 features. More functionaliry will be added later including Google Gears and support for Flash video on WinMo and Symbian devices. CNET already has the hands-on review with video up for your pickings. Better yet, download and install for yourself and tell us what you think in the comments below.

Read — Opera Mobile 9.5 beta 1
Read — CNET first look

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Filed under: cellphones

Samsung has launched for new digital camera models which are scheduled to arrive in the second half of 2008. They are the models TL34HD, TL9, SL310W and SL201. Here’s a quick rundown of what each of these cameras are offering us digital photography fanatics.

The TL34HD boasts of a 14.7-megapixel resolution and a 28mm wide-angle Schneider lens with 3.6x optical zoom. Succeeding the NV24HD, the TL34HD point-and-shoot can also capture high-definition video at 720p resolution and comes with dual image stabilization feature. Packed in a metal casing, this packet size camera comes in black or silver with a red accent designs. It also features a 3-inch touchscreen HVGA LCD with Smart Touch 2.0 user interface.

Next we have the Samsung TL9 with a 10-megapixel resolution, a 2.7-inch LCD, internal 5x optical zoom, dual image stabilization and also features MP3 and PMP capability. Encased in a silver, metal body, this ultra compact digital snapper measures in at 3.7 x 2.36 x 0.84-inches. Other features of this camera include a maximum ISO sensitivity of 1600, a comprehensive suite of automatic controls, face detection technology and cool blink detection feature which will not fire up when it detects when the subject’s eyes are closed.

We also have the Samsung SL310W which is on the higher end than the previous two models. Geared for the step-up users, this camera boasts of a 13.6-megapixel resolution, dual image stabilization, a 2.7-inch LCD and a 3.6x 28mm wide-angle optical zoom lens. In addition the SL310W also features 11 scene modes, auto red eye fix, MPEG-4 video recording, self-portrait mode, face detection, blink detection and smile shot technology for enhancing digital images.

Finally we have the ultra-slim and compact Samsung SL201 with a 10.2-megapixel resolution, a 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.7-inch intelligent LCD. In addition this point-and-shoot also features face detection, self-portrait, digital image stabilization, and some various scene modes including night, children, landscape, text, close up, sunset, dawn, backlight, fireworks and beach and snow.

The Samsung TL34HD, TL9, SL310W and SL201 will all be available sometime in September and retail for $329.95, $279.95, $229.95 and $169.95 respectively.

Read [Samsung]

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