Gadget Access

CNET Australia reviews the HTC Touch Dual and writes, “On the back of the handset you’ll find the lens of the onboard 2-megapixel CMOS camera that features auto-focus but no flash. The photos we took looked pretty good, bright and colourful, but predictably soft-focused. However, if you reading this review we’re guessing an amazing camera is probably not as high on your list of priorities as the Dual’s business sensibilities.”

Read more about the HTC Touch Dual.

Posted Apr 4th 2008 4:03AM by Thomas Ricker
We know what you’re thinking: Jeebus, not another Bluetooth adapter Engadget, slow news day? But if you check that snark for a moment, you’ll notice that this ¥2,280 (about $22) Logitec adapter is a Bluetooth 2.1+EDR + Class 1 device. That means an operating range up to 300 feet and all the goodies that come from 2.1. In other words, easier pairing and up to 5x longer battery life for like-speced Bluetooth keyboards and mice. It also supports 15 different Bluetooth profiles (9 on Macs) including your favorites for stereo audio and handsfree devices. Now that Bluetooth 2.1 is beginning to trickle out into retail, you won’t be buying 2.0 gear anymore will you?

[Via Impress]

Posted Apr 4th 2008 11:04AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Misc. gadgets
Yeah, this one’s been slithering around the alleyways of the web for a tick, but it’s just too hard to ignore a vicious looking viper created entirely from unwanted keyboards (okay, so glue and a faux tongue were involved, too). Still, the best part isn’t the unquestionably amazing use of the dreaded Caps Lock key, it’s the crowd of mice this thing is getting ready to feast on. Better check yo’self before you wreck yo’self, kids.

[Via MAKE]

Now you can get your hands on a Palm Centro, aka the Treo 800p, the smallest Treo that Palm has put out yet in sexy black from at least AT&T and Sprint. It is approx 10-15% narrower, with a smaller screen, so this may appeal to you folks who don’t like the current Treos’ bulk. At US$100 (with rebates and a plan), now you can have your very own smartphone. Of course, with the ‘p’ at the end of the model #, this Treo will run PalmOS (Garnet for those of you keeping track).

So like other Treos, the Centro offers features like a built-in 1.3 Megapixel camera/camcorder, full qwerty keyboard, speakerphone, e-mail app, Bluetooth, memory card slot, EVDO broadband on Sprint, mp3 player, productivity apps like Documents to Go, and the PalmOS so you can run thousands of existing apps.

Gimme!

More info from the manufacturer

Price: $99.99 with plan
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Posted in Gizmo of the Day, Phones

The USB Duplicator by Nexcopy is an interesting product to say the least. Granted it wouldn’t apply to the average consumer, but it does have it’s place. In addition, I would say USB flash drives are the #1 most under-rated promotional item business’ have missed out on, so I can see why this product is coming to marketing. Get your company logo branded on there, load her up with data, sales material, promotional videos, tutorials…I could go on and on…

Even if a customer deletes the data off the flash drive, the company logo is still branded on the device. Always in the customers face, always reminded them where they got the drive.

Maybe it’s the process of data loading the information onto the drive on why flash drives haven’t become more popular with companies for handing out information. It’s a very viral gadget. The USB duplicator is an obvious choice for making such a life, much easier. The Nexcopy USB duplicator is a 20 target system and the company says a 5 minute mpeg video (about 30MBs) can be copied in about 40 seconds. This means the USB duplicator can churn out [estimated] 1,200 drives in about 1 hour. I’ll have to back that number down considering swapping the drives, the OS identifying the drive etc. But even so, the USB duplicator turns a miserable task into an easy process.

USB music albums are becoming a much bigger hit these days as well, and having a USB duplicator to make your album definitely speeds up the process from a hub and copy-n-paste. I know you can put the following information onto a CD or DVD, but for the groupies, something unique like a flash drive is just ideal. Putting your band video, back story interviews, lyrics etc. onto USB is a new way to give a bands fans something unique. The other advantage with making a USB album is increasing a bands margin on selling promotional items. Your 20% margin is a lot more in dollars with a $25 USB drive than a $10 T-shirt or $7 CD.

So again, the USB duplicator concept isn’t for the masses, but is a great idea for the select few. Speaking of which - are you [or someone you know] part of the select few? If so check out the USB duplicator from Nexcopy.

Source: GetUSB.info

methodshop

Posted in Computers

If you’ve got a Windows Mobile-based device with a touch screen, and you’re terrible at texting/writing quickly, then take a look at these products from Israeli company, Dasur. First up is SlideIT which is an app that combines a keyboard, graffiti as well as predictive text. It’s best explained by taking a look at their video demo. After the jump, we’ll also look at their ThumbKey product.

While SlideIT uses a screen pen to input the text a la Palms, ThumbKey helps you to use your thumbs a la Blackberrys. Again, take a look at the video demo, but its essential advantage is in intelligently figuring out which key you meant to press by ignoring the ones that weren’t hit as much.

SlideIT goes for $40 and ThumbKey is $25. You can download trials as well.

via Mobile Gadget News.

Posted in Phones

Kudos to Dell for converting their huge 2.1 million square-foot headquarters campus to run on wind-power and converted gas energy. They’ve reduced their CO2 emissions by 8200 tons by replacing lights and updating AC units. In switching their campus’ source of power, they will also save $2million annually. Not a bad deal for going ‘green’ eh?

via Gadgetell.

Posted in Computers, Miscellaneous