Gadget Access

Posted Feb 11th 2008 11:51AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: cellphones
Maybe it’s just us, but the image pictured above sure looks a helluva lot sexier than the blurry depiction we saw of Samsung’s G810 just last week. Along with just about everyone else in the mobile world, Samsung is making its striking do-it-all slider official at Mobile World Congress, and it’s packin’ quite the specs list. We’re talking HSDPA, a 5-megapixel camera with face detection, Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) and image stabilization, a 2.6-inch QVGA display, built-in GPS / WiFi, a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and a 12.9-millimeter-thick frame. All that’s for sure is a March 2008 release for those in Europe, but word on the street pegs it right around €580 ($840).

Posted Feb 11th 2008 9:06AM by Sean Cooper
Filed under: cellphones
Seeing as Mobile World Congress is all about the cellular experience, we weren’t too surprised to bump into some Android goodness while here. Texas Instruments had the handset you see above — from an unknown vendor — to demo the OS running on an OMAP 3430 at 500 MHz. The interface is dead quick and rather glorious, and while we had no internet connectivity on it, we still were able to have a peek at various applications — check the gallery for more photos. NEC / Wind River were also showing off an Android prototype platform running on a Medity2 testbed — also at 500 MHz — though it’s a pretty early implementation and was pretty wonky. Interestingly, neither of them had functional input in the browser, so while the NEC version was online, we couldn’t point it anywhere useful. Radio types in the devices were GSM but we expect they’ll likely have HSDPA once they finally land in our hands. In a few words, we like what we see.

Update: There seems to be a minor issue with how the gallery is displaying — if you want to see all 46 gorgeous pics, just click on one of the photos.

Gallery: Google attacks: Android at Mobile World Congress

Posted Feb 11th 2008 12:56PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: cellphones Toshiba already got official with its G710 and G910 handsets last month, but it’s just now filled in that rather glaring numerical gap, with it taking the wraps off its new Portege G810 smartphone at MWC (not to be confused with Samsung’s also-just-announced G810). Like those other two, this one’s a Windows Mobile 6 device, and it boasts support for HSDPA and HSUPA, along with built-in GPS and A-GPS, and the always-welcome integrated WiFi and Bluetooth. Otherwise, you can expect a 2.8-inch QVGA touch screen, a 3 megapixel camera, a microSD card slot for expansion and even an FM radio in case all the usual PMP features aren’t enough for you. No word on a price, but you can look for this one to hit Europe sometime in the second quarter of this year.

About one year ago, HTC revealed the Advantage, a Windows Mobile-based device that was due to replace the Athena. The Advantage version had some interesting features including a 5-inch VGA display, Intel PXA720 624 MHz processor, 3 megapixel camera, 8GB hard drive, Bluetooth, WiFi, and GPS.

HTC has recently unveiled the newest version of the Advantage, the X7510. They have made some serious upgrades which includes doubling the internal memory (16GB in comparison to the former 8GB). They have also added on TouchFLO, Opera Mobile 9, as well as Google Maps. There is also a rumor that it will contain Windows Mobile 6.1.

It still has some of the basic features of the old Advantage, such as the 5 inch VGA display, tri-band HSDPA, as well as quad-band GSM/GPRS. Not to mention the GPS (a la TomTom Navigator 6, so I’m told), Bluetooth, WiFi, and that lovely magnetic keyboard. I am guessing that magnetic keyboard is its biggest selling point, or at least what gives the Advantage the advantage of uniqueness.

The HTC Advantage X7510 should be available in March of this year, but only in Europe. I’m not certain when it will come overseas, and there is no news of a price, either.

Source

Posted Feb 11th 2008 12:51PM by Sean Cooper
Filed under: cellphones
We battled through crazy crowds — seriously, it’s a complete madhouse down there — at Mobile World Congress to spend some time and grab some shots of Sony Ericssons’ newest smart phone, the XPERIA X1. This handset is undoubtedly the finest bit of Windows Mobile — 6? 6.1? — this side of anywhere and bound to be a really hot ticket item. Hit up the read link to Engadget Mobile for a gallery just bursting with XPERIA flavor.

Posted Feb 11th 2008 8:13AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs
Anthony Park just released his MyNetflix Media Center plugin. The application lets you add/remove movies from your Netflix queue, browse for movies, and view history and recommendations. The part that will tempt you into installing the beta software however is the ability to stream “Watch Now” movies from the warm comforts of your Media Center. You do have a Netflix account don’t you?

[Via Chris Lanier’s Blog, thanks Matt]

Valentine’s Day is this week. I know there are a lot of you out there with gadget-loving girlfriends, fiancées and wives that you still haven’t bought something for that lovey-dovey day yet.

Never fear. Incase has a slew of pink cases for a number of Apple’s products that will help protect your sweetheart’s gadgets and give you some bonus points for being a thoughtful romantic.

Here’s the full list of features from the Incase website for each product:

Protective Cover for iPod touch - $29.95
* Excellent iPod touch protection
* Form-fitting, injection molded material provides added grip
* Custom topographic pattern exterior
* Direct access to widescreen with touch controls
* Easy access to headphone jack, hold switch, and dock connector
* Allows charging while in case

Protective Cover for iPhone - $29.95
* Excellent iphone protection
* Form-fitting, injection molded material provides added grip
* Custom topographic pattern exterior
* Direct access to widescreen with touch controls
* Easy access to headphone jack, hold switch, and dock connector
* Camera lens cutout and speaker and microphone openings
* Allows charging while in case

Protective Cover for ipod nano - $24.95
* Optimum iPod nano protection
* Clear scratch resistant face shield
* Form-fitting, injection molded material provides added grip
* Custom topographic pattern exterior
* Custom color ways to match iPod nano 3G
* Direct access to widescreen and click wheel
* Easy access to headphone jack, hold switch, and dock connector
* Allows charging while in case

13″ Neoprene Sleeve for Macbook - $34.95
With a durable neoprene exterior, cushioned interior, and perforated trim, the Neoprene Sleeve offers complete notebook protection. Whether utilized as a stand-alone case or placed inside a pack, the Neoprene Sleeve provides exceptional protection and simplicity.
* Complete notebook protection
* Form-fitting neoprene construction
* 3mm cushioned interior
* Perforated trim details
* Heavy-duty custom YKK zipper pulls with closed-seam construction

These protective products do come in a variety of other colors too, so if your Valentine loves green, get her that color instead!

[Incase via Geek Sugar]

Pet lovers naturally want to give their pets the best, and the B.pet bubble bed is definitely an over-the-top addition. Available in Bubble Silver and Bubble Gold, both pet beds are glazed from the outside and polished from the inside, studded with Swarovski crystals for further decoration. There will only be 99 Bubble Gold pet beds available in the world, and laced with 24 karat gold all over along with 100% silk fabric, you can be sure that this will cost a bomb. I’m not too sure whether your pet is going to appreciate the amount of dough you coughed out for this in the first place though.

Source: Born Rich

There isn’t a gadget or electronics fanatic out there that isn’t giddy the first time they watch their brand new hi-definition television watching hi-def content. Watching Planet Earth, nature shows on the Discovery Channel, and so on.

But there comes that second moment of hi-def ownership, the one that happens after you watch your local news in hi-def or when you see one of those reality TV shows in hi-def. The moment where you see someone’s face in hi-def that should have really stayed in standard def. You know that old adage “a face made for radio”? I think there’ll be a new one for this era of hi-def: a face made for standard def.”

From an unlikely source comes a possible solution for that.

Over at Sephora.com (yes, the girly makeup and beauty site), the cosmetic manufacturer Cargo is selling a new line of cosmetics: The blu_ray Collection. This line of cosmetics has been specially created for use with hi-def film. According to the website, these products have been “developed in response to the needs of makeup artists shooting in high definition, these specialized products work for high-def and are ideal for perfecting the skin while still giving a natural look.” The set they are selling includes a High Definition Mattifier, Pressed Powder, Blush/Highlighter, Mascara and Gloss. Here’s the list of active ingredients from Sephora.com:

blu_ray High Definition Mattifier:
-Vitamin E: A powerful free radical-fighting antioxidant that moisturizes and repairs minor damage on the surface of the skin.
-Vitamin A: An antioxidant that balances and conditions the skin.
blu_ray Pressed Powder:
-Photochromatic Pigments: Adjust with ambient lighting so that the complexion looks natural yet perfected.
-Optical Blurring Pigments: Create an optical blurring effect for a softer looking complexion.
blu_ray Blush/Highlighter:
-Photochromatic Pigments: Adjust with ambient lighting so that the complexion looks natural yet perfected.
-Optical Blurring Pigments: Create an optical blurring effect for a softer looking complexion.
blu_ray Mascara:
-Panthenol: Contains nourishing and strengthening properties.
-Keratin: Strengthens the natural structure of the lash by providing moisture and nourishment.
blu_ray Gloss:
-Hyaluronic Acid Spheres: Penetrate the skin and soak up water that your skin naturally looses, causing the spheres to swell and immediately plump your lips.
-Amino Acid Peptide Chain: Promote the production of both collagen and elastin while strengthening the essential structure of the skin tissue and regenerating the skin cells to produce a softer and younger looking skintone.
-Pearl Pigments: Creates the illusion of fuller, smoother lips.
-Vitamin E: An effective antioxidant that helps to fight the damaging effects of free-radicals while nourishing and healing the skin.

To get ready for your hi-def closeup, pick up the set (a $130 value) for $59. Otherwise, just stick to radio.

[Sephora.com via Boing Boing gadgets]

Creative was at the forefront of the mp3 player industry with its line of Zen players many years ago, and time has shown that it has the necessary elements to remain in the game. The company has just passed the 32GB threshold where flash-based MP3 players are concerned, featuring 32GB of internal memory as well as an SDHC memory card slot that could potentially bump up the total storage space to 64GB (assuming you throw in a 32GB SDHC card). In addition, this 32GB Zen also comes with a wallet-friendly price of $299.

Source: Crave