TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities » Personal Devices

Skinput: Is Your Skin The Touchscreen of the Future? [Microsoft Redmond Research & Carnegie Mellon University Develop Skinput System, A Touchscreen for your Skin]

Desi — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:39:18 +0000

It seems anything can be turned into a touchscreen, even your skin. Microsoft’s Redmond research lab and researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a system called Skinput that projects a working touchscreen on to your skin. The prototype uses a microchip sized pico projector to display the touchscreen image and an acoustic detector that analyzes ultralow-frequency to determine where your finger is tapping.

Both the microchip sized pico projector and acoustic detector are embedded in an armband (which looks somewhat adjustable) that projects an interactive image on to your forearm or hand. You can then access the menu and control icons by tapping on your skin. By combining a computer driven technology with a human surface, Skinput gives us a glimpse of the future of portable apps and on the go computing.

There are many interesting applications for this device and some challenges. I imagine that a touchscreen surface that is not completely flat, may produce some usage challenges. Trying to operate this device in less than quiet surroundings or in an environment where echo is a problem, may also be difficult. Since the acoustic detector is responsible for determining the direction of the sound (where your finger is tapping) by making frequency analysis, excess noise or echo may cause an inaccurate reading. Operating this device outdoors in a sunlit environment, may also not be as viable as indoor operation, since the image is light projected and increased light may make it harder for you to see the touchscreen. Besides these possible technical difficulties, Skinput also has some design issues. It is not exactly aesthetically pleasing to look at and you might not exactly make it through airport security wearing this.

Even with all these possible complications, if Microsoft Redmond Research and Carnegie Mellon University are willing to work any and all kinks, there is some definite potential. If Microsoft were to expand this technology into the home entertainment and gaming arena, I can see some real interesting possibilities for a touch screen surface on your skin.

Also with your skin being elastic, it may be a little more able to withstand the poking and prodding of your finger, then your average LCD touchscreen. If the electronics consumer version is developed correctly, your new touchscreen surface will last as long as you do.

Original Post Link: Skinput: Is Your Skin The Touchscreen of the Future? [Microsoft Redmond Research & Carnegie Mellon University Develop Skinput System, A Touchscreen for your Skin] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Tanita Scale is not Your Average Weighing Machine [Tanita Scale Sports SD Card Slot - Measures Weight, Body Fat Ratio & Internal Age, Comes with Data Management Software]

Desi — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:03:13 +0000

Will a machine that remembers your weight be popular? For some audiences, it already is. Tanita Corp has developed a body composition meter-integrated scale that remembers your weight. But that’s not all it does. It also helps users measure their internal body fat ratio and internal age using (an industry first) constitution meter.

Why? Well… although a scale as technologically advanced as this would make some women paranoid, it is mostly aimed at the health conscious, those interested in weight loss and serious athletes. So unless your a model, an Olympic skater or belong to some other group that needs to keep tabs on their weight constantly, this may be overkill for you.

The scale comes with a SD memory card, where measured data is automatically recorded, so it can be used with your computer. USB connectivity was considered, but Tanita Corp felt an SD memory card would be more durable, when compared to the frequent insertion and removal of a standard USB connector. It also comes with data management software that you can use to draw chronological graphs of your progress, or lack of.

Have a guest who doesn’t want to have their weight recorded? Don’t fret, there is a way around the feature. Guests who don’t want to have their weight remembered on your scale can use an internal system feature designed just for them. If they forget, if gives you an easy way to blame the extra 10 pounds you just gained on the last person (who wasn’t you) that used your scale.

Tanita Corp has announced that will be two weighing scale models available the BC-569 and it’s higher priced rival the BC-309. Both scale models are scheduled to hit the Japanese market April 2010 and will be available for 13,000- 18,000 Yen (which is about $145- $200 USD). These hi-tech weighing scales will be available in several colors for the design conscious. Although, this scale may not be for everyone, it definitely has a target consumer market audience that might appreciate all the tech extras.

Original Post Link: Tanita Scale is not Your Average Weighing Machine [Tanita Scale Sports SD Card Slot - Measures Weight, Body Fat Ratio & Internal Age, Comes with Data Management Software] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Moblic E7 MID Appears at MWC 2010; Surprises Many [Mobilc E7 to Feature WiMAX Connectivity, Mobile Gaming Support & Unknown OS]

Chris — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:31:43 +0000

MWC 2010 has come and gone leaving us wanting for more mobile gadgets to look at. And every once in a while some of these gadgets get overlooked or passed by in a hurry although they deserve a lot more attention. One of them is this Moblic E7 MID. We won’t call it a phone yet although it could sport at least VoIP capabilities. The E7 is a Mobile Internet Device which could come in handy particularly considering its gaming abilities.

The official specs of the E7 are pretty interesting:

4-inch TFT touchscreen LCD
8GB Flash memory
802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
WiMAX
MicroSD support
600MHz processor
256MB RAM
2,000mAh Lithium Polymer Battery
2D/3G and Flash gaming support
File download and web surfing support
Music, Movie, Image and Searching support
Internet Broadcasting support
Instant Messaging and SMS support
Slide-Out full QWERTY keyboard
Gaming dedicated controls

However, we don’t know what OS the device will use. That’s a really important detail considering that we already have plenty of smartphones out there that will act perfectly as MIDs and portable gaming devices.

In fact, the iPhone, although it lacks dedicated gaming controls, is definitely a hot gaming machine. Android handsets and upcoming Windows Phone 7 smartphones will also come with gaming support. And let’s not forget about the PSP and the PSP Go from Sony or the Nintendo DSi and DSi XL which are certainly going to meet some of our gaming needs too.

No matter how much we’d like the Moblic E7, without some unique features backed up by some clever marketing the device won’t make it out there. The competition will simply crush it and we’ll move on to the next thing.

The Moblic E7 has been spotted at MWC 2010 but we have no pricing details or arrival dates for you at this point. So what say you, Moblic officials, are you ready to unveil all the mysteries surrounding your E7 MID?

Original Post Link: Moblic E7 MID Appears at MWC 2010; Surprises Many [Mobilc E7 to Feature WiMAX Connectivity, Mobile Gaming Support & Unknown OS] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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ZAGGsparq Portable USB Charger [$100 Charger Offers Dual USB Ports, 6000 mAh Battery]

Kevin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:35:05 +0000

USB is pretty important to any tech or gadget user, not just for data but also for power. The folks at ZAGG have come out with a USB charger/backup battery supply that has got a good compact design and would be useful for any road warrior.

ZAGG’s primary business is their cell phone and MP3 cover and skin business, but we’ve also covered some of their other ventures, including their headphones and media aggregator box. This time, they’ve gone outside the box again with the ZAGGsparq. It isn’t just an AC/USB power adapter, they’ve also included a 6,000 mAh Lithium battery for a portable backup.

The ZAGGsparq has two USB ports, so it can charge both devices at the same time. It has some LED lights to display how much power is remaining on the battery (100%, 75%, 50%, 25% – pretty simple, but it should work). They’re reporting that the 6,000 mAh battery has enough juice to fully charge four iPhones from empty, which is a pretty impressive feat – if it’s true. Your mileage may vary.

It’s got a pretty compact size (3.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches) and weighs just 0.54 pounds (244 grams). With such a small size, it could end up being a pretty useful gadget for folks who travel a lot. The only problem I see with this device (haven’t tried it, admittedly) is it’s price. ZAGG is selling it for $100. ZAGG devices often carry a steep premium, but the ZAGGsparq does have a pretty hefty battery backup system inside.

The ZAGGsparq is now shipping from their website.

Original Post Link: ZAGGsparq Portable USB Charger [$100 Charger Offers Dual USB Ports, 6000 mAh Battery] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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South China Facing Labor Shortage [Help Wanted In Shenzhen's Tech Factories, Will Your Favorite Tech Gadget Be Delayed?]

Kevin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:09:12 +0000

It’s rare that during a worldwide economic recession that you’d actually find that there is a shortage of workers, but right now, Shenzhen, China’s district where you’ll find many tech factories, is facing a severe labor shortage following the Chinese New Year Holiday. Chinese workers get two weeks off of work for the holiday, along with a hefty bonus, and some haven’t returned to work.

The factories in China’s southern districts are often worked by transient workers from the poorer northern areas who move away from their families to earn a wage making iPods and PlayStations in the south. Chinese workers get a large bonus for the New Years two-week holiday (with one source reporting they get as much as the equivalent of $1,000).

Now, some Chinese newspapers are reporting that workers from the north have quit or failed to show up following their big paycheck and the two-week vacation. Overall, the Chinese-language Commercial Times newspaper is reporting that the recent increased demand of consumer electronics, and the recent decrease of workers from outside the Shenzhen district is causing a demand for labor.

The two-week New Years holiday is a fact of life for many Western (and Japanese) consumer electronic companies who must endure a two-week halt in their manufacturing plants in the far-east. Now, that delay is being compounded by a labor shortage in the region. Commercial Times is reporting that area factories need about a total of 820,000 workers to fulfill all their positions.

At this point, it’s too early to tell if this labor shortage will effect the supply of your favorite tech gadgets (god forbid, the iPod). The business of Chinese OEM manufacturing is very cut-throat, and I’m sure they’ll find some workers somewhere.

Original Post Link: South China Facing Labor Shortage [Help Wanted In Shenzhen's Tech Factories, Will Your Favorite Tech Gadget Be Delayed?] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Dell Precision M6500 Specs & Features Updated; Dell Mini 5 Approved [Dell Upgrades the Precision M6500 Laptops & Gets FCC Approval for Mini 5 MID]

Chris — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:21:25 +0000

We have some more news from Dell for you, folks! Just earlier this week we looked at the Dell Latitude 13 ultra-slim laptop and today we’re going to inspect two other Dell creations, the Dell Precision M6500 notebook and the Dell Mini 5 MID.

Dell’s Precision M6500 is getting ready to play in the pro league of laptops. The model has been upgraded to fit our most modern needs and we have all the specs and features for you. As you expect the notebook is getting Intel’s new dual-core Core i5 and i7 processors, just in case you don’t want the quad-core Core i7 version on board. Most importantly the M6500 is going to come equipped with the latest USB standard, USB 3.0. That means a whole lot of transfer speeds is coming your way as the M6500 is the first Dell laptop capable of offering USB 3.0 support.

Other features include a better 3.2-megapixel webcam and a 64GB SSD mini card option while everything else stays the same. You’ll still be able to enjoy that 17-inch RGB LED display and the Quadro FX graphics chipsets. 3G connectivity will be provided by the Qualcomm Gobi 2 3G modem. The new configurations should be available by the end of the month although we don’t have all the prices just yet.

In case you were looking for something different from Dell, maybe a more portable device, then you’ll be happy to know that the Mini 5 has been approved by the FCC. That’s right, folks, the device has been handled by the Commission and the okay has been given. The device will offer HSPA on WCDMA bands II and V which means carriers like AT&T, Rogers, Bell and Telus will be able to sell it. EDGE and Wi-Fi are on board too so this mobile internet device will connect to the Internet almost anywhere. Pricing and launch dates are unavailable at this time but we’ll be back once Dell decides to make an official announcement.

Original Post Link: Dell Precision M6500 Specs & Features Updated; Dell Mini 5 Approved [Dell Upgrades the Precision M6500 Laptops & Gets FCC Approval for Mini 5 MID] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Android-powered Dell Mini 5 Tablet Release Date Confirmed [Dell Mini 5 Tablet Availability "in a Couple of Months"]

Alex — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:29:39 +0000

Everywhere you look someone talks about a tablet PC! Along with Apple’s iPad or ASUS and their plans to build one, the folks from Dell are the latest to join the bandwagon? An Android-powered Snapdragon slate that saw daylight during CES 2009, the new Mini 5 tablet has been confirmed and showed off today by the company’s CEO, Michael Dell, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

For those who don’t know it, the Dell Mini 5 tablet is going to pack a 5-inch touchscreen dispaly, is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G connectivity. The slate boasts a 5 megapixel camera and runs Android 1.6 (although we’re hoping for Android 2.1 by the time it launches).

Speaking of launch, although last month we heard from the company’s employees that the Dell Mini 5 is just a concept, today Michael Dell slipped the fact that the tablet is going to be in stores “in a couple of months”.

As cool as that may sound, there Mini 5 has a big drawback — the $1.1k rumored price tag (before carrier subsidy).

Image courtesy of PC Online China!

Original Post Link: Android-powered Dell Mini 5 Tablet Release Date Confirmed [Dell Mini 5 Tablet Availability "in a Couple of Months"] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Apple Tablet Won’t Bring Flash Support or a Kickstand [iPad Runs Out of the Box Native iPhone Apps]

Alex — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:14:33 +0000

Although it sounds like Apple’s most amazing device ever released, the iPad has its drawbacks. First thing to complain about is the fact that the iPad won’t bring Adobe Flash support which means that you won’t get to enjoy rich media although they say, and I quote, it delivers “the best web experience you’ve ever had.” Quite a deal breaker, if you ask me!

Another thing that would make some grumpy, the slick Apple tablet won’t come with a built-in kickstand to hold it up — which for the average John and Mary, means that the iPad cares more about aesthetics than your wrists. Of course you don’t have to worry about it, as unlike Flash support, third-party peripherals makers will come up with something as soon as possible.

But enough talking about the bad aspects of the iPad, we certainly need to give Caesar what’s Caesar’s, so here’s a white ball from TFTS for running out of the box native iPhone apps — really cool news for developers, isn’t it?

Original Post Link: Apple Tablet Won’t Bring Flash Support or a Kickstand [iPad Runs Out of the Box Native iPhone Apps] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Cowon J3 PMP to Feature 3.3″ AMOLED [Wi-Fi Enabled Cowon J3 Portable Media Player Rumored]

Alex — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:42:54 +0000

The Koreans from Cowon are expected to release a new portable media player in the upcoming weeks, but have done a great job keeping tight-lipped and haven’t announced anything official, yet. The mysterious Cowon J3 PMP, as we don’t have anything other than this leaked rear-view diagram, is supposedly going to charm with a 3.3-inch WQVGA display, that does 480 x 272 resolutions features an AMOLED panel.

On top of that the J3 portable media player is expected to ship with up to 16GB of storage space (other choices are 4 and 8 GB), might come with a card slot for extra memory, a built-in DMB tuner and Wireles connectivity — although we’re not sure if that’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth A2DP.

Of course none of these have been confirmed by now, but we certainly can’t think of Cowon announcing a new product these days without packing the above as standard. Yet, we wouldn’t minda higher resolution display … right?

There’s no word on price or availability for the new Cowon J3 PMP, but we’re pretty sure it won’t take long till new images and specs leak online.

Original Post Link: Cowon J3 PMP to Feature 3.3″ AMOLED [Wi-Fi Enabled Cowon J3 Portable Media Player Rumored] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Samsung Unveils New 32GB microSD Card & 64GB moviNAND Flash Memory [Samsung Announces 30nm-class, New Memory Solutions for Mobile Devices]

Chris — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:33:53 +0000

Samsung announced new storage solutions for our mobile needs. As smartphone and personal devices become more and more popular we will require more and more storage space in order to be able to carry with us all the apps we want to download, all our favorite music and videos and all the work-related documents we have to go through each day.

Samsung’s latest products in this domain are the 64GB moviNAND memory flash and the 32GB microSD memory card and we expect to see them in stores soon.

Dong-Soo Jun, executive vice president, memory marketing, Samsung Electronics had this to say about the new storage solutions:

Samsung’s high-density memory solutions bring the storage capacity levels of computing systems to small, mobile devices. The 64GB embedded memory, moviNAND, and the 32GB microSD card each greatly expand the data storage density of mobile devices, meeting customers’ memory requirements and ushering in a new era of mobile and IT device capacity growth.

These two new products are based on Samsung’s 32 gigabit NAND flash. The 64GB moviNAND is made of 16 30nm-class 32 gigabit MLC NAND chips and a controller. Currently Samsung has various moviNAND storage solutions from 4GB all the way up to the new 64GB model.

The 32GB microSD card is developed by using the same technology. The new microSD card stacks 8 32gigabit NAND components. The card is 1mm thick and 0.7mm in height not that we expect it to be any bigger.

We will probably see both of these new flash memory solutions become available later this year. The 64GB moviNAND entered mass production last month while the new 32GB microSD card will be produced in February. Unfortunately no pricing details have been revealed yet but we’ll keep you in the loop on this one. After all, the new storage solutions from Samsung might equip some of the hottest smartphones that are about to walk Earth this year.

Original Post Link: Samsung Unveils New 32GB microSD Card & 64GB moviNAND Flash Memory [Samsung Announces 30nm-class, New Memory Solutions for Mobile Devices] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Jabra EXTREME Bluetooth Headset & Jabra CRUISER SpeakerPhone Unveiled [Jabra Intro Two New Bluetooth Accessories]

Andrew — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:51:28 +0000

Jabra have announced two new Bluetooth accessories in the form of the Jabra EXTREME Bluetooth Headset and the Jabra CRUISER Bluetooth SpeakerPhone – both of which are set to hit retail this month.

The Jabra EXTREME Bluetooth Headset is notable in utilising Jabra’s Noise Blackout Extreme technology which employs dual microphones and DSP (digital signal processing) technology along with auto volume control to cut down on background noise whilst making and receiving calls (apparently cutting out background noise to the tune of 24 decibels.

Additionally Jabra have also announced their new CRUISER Bluetooth SpeakerPhone which also employs Noise Blackout noise technology and which comes with dual grips to allow it to be securely fastened to your car’s sun visor. Naturally the Jabra CRUISER Bluetooth SpeakerPhone will also stream music to your cars audio system courtesy of an integrated FM transmitter.

Both the Jabra EXTREME Bluetooth Headset and the Jabra CRUISER Bluetooth SpeakerPhone are set to land, as mentioned above, this month and will set you back around $80 and $100 respectively.

Original Post Link: Jabra EXTREME Bluetooth Headset & Jabra CRUISER SpeakerPhone Unveiled [Jabra Intro Two New Bluetooth Accessories] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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ZOMM Wireless Leash Keeps Your Phone In Check [Bluetooth Enabled Device Helps You Hold On To Your Lost Phones]

Kevin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:52:50 +0000

Some people just have problems keeping track of their mobile phones. For those people, the ZOMM Wireless Leash is here to save you. The so called “Wireless Leash” tethers to your mobile phone via Bluetooth and then attaches to your keyring. If you get too far from your phone, it sounds an audible alarm to alert you that something is wrong.

The ZOMM will let you receive calls, in the event you’ve got an urgent call and can’t reach your phone, and will let you dial out to 911 via the ZOMM. It’s sort of similar to the iWallet, which we covered some time ago, a smart wallet that would be tethered to your phone via Bluetooth and would alert you if it got too far away.

The ZOMM will officially be revealed at this year’s impending CES, and will have a retail price of $79. Of course, if you buy it, just don’t lose your phone and the ZOMM.

Original Post Link: ZOMM Wireless Leash Keeps Your Phone In Check [Bluetooth Enabled Device Helps You Hold On To Your Lost Phones] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Silver PAC Evolution 5500 Remote Revealed [Universal Remote Features 4.3" LCD, 256MB of Ram, WiFi]

Kevin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:28:59 +0000

Some of us use the plain remote that came with our televisions. For those that don’t Silver PAC has unveiled pictures and informations on their new high-end universal remote. The Evolution 5500 will be the king of universal remotes, featuring WiFi, an accelerometer and a touchscreen.

The Evolution 5500 is packaged with features. This universal remote is on the verge of being a MID or UMPC. The Evolution 5500 has a ARM9 processor, 256GB of RAM, 1GB of flash storage and a 4.3″ touchscreen. It’s designed to be used with a MCPC running Windows Media Center, and can be tethered to up to 100 different devices.

The screenshots so various ‘gadgets’ running on the remote – and it’ll be running Windows Embedded CE software. This device even can stream your pictures off of photo.live.com in a slideshow-like display. No information on pricing or a release date were revealed about the high-tech remote (expect it to be very, very expensive), but they did promise us more information at CES.

Original Post Link: Silver PAC Evolution 5500 Remote Revealed [Universal Remote Features 4.3" LCD, 256MB of Ram, WiFi] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Vertu V Collection Luxury Mobile Phone Accessories [Vertu Adds Pen, Memory Card Reader and Bluetooth Headset to Luxury Phone Line]

Mike — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:10:02 +0000

To supplement their line of luxury mobile phones, the British manufacturer Vertu has released a line of luxury mobile phone accessories. The Vertu V Collection includes a ballpoint pen, a memory card reader and a Bluetooth headset, all of which bare the Vertu logo and the brand’s trademark black-and-silver styling.

The Vertu V Collection ballpoint pen features a “luxurious” ceramic tip that will write for a quoted 10 km before running dry. The Vertu memory card reader is an expandable unit that can swap out memory cards with images, music and other media for Vertu phones. Last, the Vertu V Bluetooth Headset is the pearl of the collection, a wildly-designed earpiece that incorporates a folding mechanism for ease of use.

While the design and functionality of these items might be a good compliment to a Vertu phone, the price is a bit out of range for our appetite. The Vertu V Ballpoint Pen is priced at $330, the memory card reader will run $490 and the Vertu V Bluetooth Headset will set you back a pricey $730. If you’re doing the math, that comes to $1,550 USD for the whole trio. Vertu phone not included…

Original Post Link: Vertu V Collection Luxury Mobile Phone Accessories [Vertu Adds Pen, Memory Card Reader and Bluetooth Headset to Luxury Phone Line] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Electric Skateboard Knows No Tricks but Does 19 MPH [600-watt Electric Motor Can Drive Skateboards for 10 Miles]

Chris — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:10:00 +0000

Back in the day I was one of those kids interested in getting all those tricks you see on TV out of my skateboard. While I didn’t become the next Tony Hawk, I certainly enjoyed riding it. I don’t know if I’d get on such a beast right now but if you offered me one of these electric skateboards that I’m about to show you, then I’m going to be back in the game.

I’d definitely want to be on top of one of those Hammacher Schlemmer’s electric-powered skateboards. The best thing about it is that you won’t have to move a muscle. Simply get your gear in order, mount the beast and go strolling on the streets. The winter is coming but for those of you that aren’t going to be harassed by snow and drizzle, you should really consider such a machine.

It’s fun, it’s fast, it’s electric and… it’s also dangerous. But we all have to “diem” that “carpe” once in a while, so get crazy! Get yourself a Hammacher Schlemmer electric skateboard. It can get you a top speed of 19 mph in around three seconds. The 36-volt battery powers a 600-watt engine which can be enough for driving a 240-pound person “over smooth terrain” and “even uphill.” The battery needs 4 hours to recharge and it will be good for 10 miles.

I covered the fun, I covered the fast and electric. Which brings me to the dangerous! Make no mistake, falling at 19 mph from a blazing fast skateboard is not an easy thing to do. Sure the skate comes with features like classic longboard with kick tail and 4-inch diameter solid urethane wheels, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fall off it. Make sure you have at least your helmet on when riding it.

The skateboard comes with a trigger remote that will let you accelerate and brake, and at this point I wouldn’t even be interested in anymore tricks. The skateboard costs $599.95 and it’s available for immediate shipping.

Original Post Link: Electric Skateboard Knows No Tricks but Does 19 MPH [600-watt Electric Motor Can Drive Skateboards for 10 Miles] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Magellan’s iPhone GPS Car Kit Coming in December [Magellan GPS Car Kit for iPhone Retails for $129.99; Ships on December 11]

Chris — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:07:21 +0000

Magellan has decided to make a GPS Car Kit of its own for the iPhone and iPod touch and now we have more details about it. In case you don’t want to get the GPS Car Kit offered by TomTom then you could consider Magellan’s offer.

Currently available for pre-order on Amazon, Magellan’s GPS Car Kit retails for $129.99 and it’s expected to ship to your door on December 11. That’s less than two weeks away so if that’s the gadget you were looking for then you should absolutely go for it.

Magellan’s Car Kit is compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GS and with the iPod touch 2G and 3G. The device also acts as a charger which means your iPhone or iPod won’t use up all the battery juice even when you’re going on longer trips. The built-in GPS receiver should enhance GPS performance and the Car Kit works with any navigation or location-based application. That means you don’t have to necessarily go for Magellan’s RoadMate app if you prefer some other navigation solution instead especially since the app is sold separately for $79.99.

Naturally the Car Kit comes with features like noise-cancelling, hands-free speakerphone with amplified speakers so you’ll be still be able to communicate freely while driving.

Since I did mention Magellan’s RoadMate app for the iPhone, I might as well tell you more about it. Chances are that you might want to go for it once you have acquired the Car Kit. So here are some of the features that the RoadMate app will offer you:

OneTouch favorites menu
Spoken street name guidance
Highway lane assist
Quickspell
3D Landmarks
Address book integration
In-app music control
Find your car
Pedestrian mode
NAVTEQ Maps

iPod touch support

So what do you say folks? Are you ready to give Magellan’s GPS Car Kit for the iPhone and iPod touch a try? What about Magellan’s RoadMate app?

Original Post Link: Magellan’s iPhone GPS Car Kit Coming in December [Magellan GPS Car Kit for iPhone Retails for $129.99; Ships on December 11] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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ViewSonic N01 3G MID Announced [ViewSonic N01 with 3G Wireless Connectivity, Atom Z510 & Win XP]

Alex — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:10:08 +0000

ViewSonic have just added to their ultra mobile PC collection with the new ViewSonic N01 3G MID that should be selling, just in time for the holidays. Although not a high-end device, the N01 3G is pretty powerful and gets the eye with its specs that include a 1.1 GHz Intel Atom Z510 processor and 1GB of RAM.

On top of that the N01 brags with a built-in 10GB storage space, front and back cameras (for calls and picture taking) and an interesting optical mouse on the right hand bezel, along with a scroll-wheel positioned on the top right-hand corner. Also, as the name implies, ViewSonic’s UMPC has integrated 3G Wireless connectivity (for browsing on the go), runs on Windows XP and boasts a rather large display — that we’re assuming it’s either 6 or 7-inch wide, that renders high def photos.

There’s no word when the company is actually taking the N01 MID outside the Chinese borders, how much it will cost or when it will be offered in the US or Europe, but given the company’s success, it shouldn’t be too long until we know more.

Original Post Link: ViewSonic N01 3G MID Announced [ViewSonic N01 with 3G Wireless Connectivity, Atom Z510 & Win XP] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Live Checking Card Concept [Credit Card Saves the Environment and Your Budget]

Chris — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:39:21 +0000

I am actually surprised we don’t have smarter credit cards and debit cards already. After all, we can check our bank accounts from our computers or our smartphones but a credit card that could actually tell you more details about your current balance would be more than welcomed.

The credit card in the picture here is called the Live Checking Card and it’s a concept card designed by Jin-young Yoon, Wook-sun Oh, Young-ho Lee & Jun-kyo Lee. We might not see this smart credit card in action very soon but hopefully banking institutions around the world will get inspired by such concepts and start working on similar products.

As you can easily see, the credit card in the picture is not just another dumb piece of plastic. It’s more than that. The device has an E-ink display which will let you check your payment history and bank account transactions through RFID. Every time you make a purchase, the display will show the remaining balance so you’ll always know how much money you have left in your account. And that’s definitely something I’d want to know whenever I find myself ready to go into an unstoppable shopping spree.

Furthermore the edge of the card turns blue when you’re within your spending limit and it goes red whenever you pass that limit.

With such features in place not only are you in better control of your budget but you’ll also save the environment. Having access to instant detailed bank accounts means that you won’t have to print out bank statements to monitor your recent shopping sprees. The device uses solar power which means you don’t have to deal with batteries. And since we’re talking about a digital device here, you won’t have to replace it as often as you replace your plastic cards.

Will banks launch such a product soon? Well that remains to be seen. We haven’t talked about the safety measures employed by such a Live Checking Card. Losing or having one stolen sounds a lot more dangerous than having your regular plastic card stolen. We will certainly get back to you once such a concept credit card gets made. In the mean time you can consider getting a smartphone to help you manage your budget while on the go.

Original Post Link: Live Checking Card Concept [Credit Card Saves the Environment and Your Budget] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Grandstream GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone Coming at “Dancing with the Stars” [GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone to be Showcased Today]

Chris — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:53:46 +0000

Today, November 24, fans of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” will be able to witness the season 9 finale of the show. During the show they will notice Grandstream Networks’ GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone, a communication device that’s going to be showcased tomorrow.

Now I don’t have any problems with gadgets being advertised in popular TV shows. We see that every day and it’s something we have gotten used to over the years. What I have a problem is the gadget itself. So bear with me for a couple of minutes and I will be more than happy to explain.

The GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone is not a mobile phone but a phone made for your home. Furthermore the phone is not just a simple phone but a smartphone for home. That’s right, in a world where landlines are losing more and more marketshare a home smartphone wouldn’t exactly be something I’d want to buy.

In all fairness to the device and its maker, I will say that the GXV3140 comes with some interesting features which you could very well take advantage of once you chose to get it. It has a 4.3-inch LCD screen, an integrated web browser, one-touch access to RSS feeds, Internet radio support, social networking support for Facebook and Twitter, and support for Internet streaming from various sites.

Although remarkable for such a phone, the features offered aren’t special in any way. I’d definitely use a laptop or desktop instead of the GXV3140 in order to browse the Internet, stream video and audio files or check Facebook and Twitter updates. And I’d definitely use my cell phone whenever I need to make calls and send messages to friends and family.

Let’s face it folks, home phones and landlines are slowly dying and we’re going to use smarter phones instead. Sure a phone like this could be used by various companies which still rely on regular phones to communicate. But a phone filled with such features will affect overall production as employees will use it extensively to check out Facebook and Twitter instead of doing what their supposed to.

What about you? Do you still use regular phones?

Original Post Link: Grandstream GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone Coming at “Dancing with the Stars” [GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone to be Showcased Today] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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iPhone-enabled Wheelchairs Coming Soon [Wheelchair Company to Release iPhone App]

Kevin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:39:20 +0000

iPhone apps are getting more and more niche all the time. Dynamic Controls, a company that specializes in wheelchair control units, unveiled an iPhone app that lets wheelchair users control their electronic wheelchairs via an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Dynamic Controls unveiled the new iPhone app at the RECHARGE conference in Germany, which is a trade show for the special needs community. As you can see by the pictures above, the app displays various information like speed and heading, and allows the wheelchair user to adjust various settings on the chair, like the seating angle.

The iPhone will connect to the wheelchair via Bluetooth, IR or WiFi, or through computer mouse control. A ‘chair doctor’ feature will diagnose any problems with the wheelchair and report it to the user, as well. The app also features web access to Dynamic Controls’ website, which will feature news that appeals to wheelchair users. Remember, with the full power of an iPhone, a wheelchair user would also be free to surf other websites if they didn’t want to read about advancements in pro-grip wheelchair wheels.

Dynamic is selling an optional attachment that will secure the iPhone to the wheelchair. Dynamic’s control units will also allow for iPhones to charge off of the wheelchair’s battery. The application can be used with any existing Dynamic Controls wheelchair unit and any 3G iPhone. The iPhone app is set to be released in April of 2010.

Original Post Link: iPhone-enabled Wheelchairs Coming Soon [Wheelchair Company to Release iPhone App] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Samsung 3G UbiCell Personal CDMA Base Station Gets Official [Samsung’s Femtocell Solution to be Available in 2010]

Chris — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:20:35 +0000

I really hate femtocell solutions but at the same time they are a necessary evil. And femtocells are growing more and more popular as we need more coverage and data speed from our wireless services providers. But should we really seek femtocells? Wouldn’t it be easier for carriers to properly upgrade their networks in order for us not to have to do it ourselves?

Because that’s what femtocells do. They bring the extra speed and coverage we want and we get to pay for those features. I thought we were paying our carriers for those particular features in the first place! Well guess what? With femtocells we’ll have two plans to cover each month.

We can’t blame Samsung for coming up with a new femtocell toy. After all they’re only doing their job which is to provide gadgets capable of handling our needs. The 3G UbiCell Personal CDMA Base Solution is one such gadget. The femtocell has been properly announced today although it will only hit the market at some point in 2010.

So what will the 3G UbiCell have to offer for us? Here’s a quick list of features and specs:

Easy installation
Seamless handoff to Macro networks
Built-in GPS
Reduced Churn
Increased Capacity
RF environment adaptability
Built-in security
1xEV-DO Rev. A support
Up to 8 simultaneous users support

Nivi Thadasina, Samsung Mobile’s Director of Product Development had this to say about the device:

The 3G UbiCell enables our customers to quickly provide the complete home experience with guaranteed full wireless services plus the integrated home services to give a rich offering of converged services.

Sure the device will definitely do its job but I’m still convinced that we wouldn’t need as many femtocell solutions as we see today if only the carriers had upgraded thoroughly their networks by now.

But that’s enough about my obvious stance against femtocell solutions. What about you? Are you using femtocells already? Would you be interested in the 3G UbiCell from Samsung?

Original Post Link: Samsung 3G UbiCell Personal CDMA Base Station Gets Official [Samsung’s Femtocell Solution to be Available in 2010] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Nintendo DSi to Get Tegra 2 NVIDIA Processors [Nintendo DSi With Faster Internet & Better Graphics That Match the iPod & the iPhone]

Katie Gatto — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:31:24 +0000

When it comes to getting the web on your DSi, any early adopter can tell you that it is sluggish at best. Sure, the photo integration with Facebook is a lot of fun, but basic tasks like checking your Gmail account can often fail because the processor is just too slow to handle anything serious. Don’t even try to watch a You Tube video, like you can on your iPod. Well, at least don’t try until the new Nintendo DSi is being upgraded with NVIDIA’s new Tegra 2 processors.

While this is still mostly a rumor, it has been hinted at by several sources inside Nintendo that the DSi’s processing speeds and graphics handling capabilities are going to match the iPod Touch and the iPhone.

The rumored processor would be based on the newer ARM11 architecture, instead of the currently used ARM7 standard. As for the graphics, word is that it will run on the GeForce 5000 series chipset but with a manufacturing process similar to the GeForce 300 series, which leads to a much lower power consumption — a blessing to anyone who has spent a great deal of time with a mobile device.

Sure, it won’t be on store shelves for a while, and Japan will get it first, but once it does hit our side of the Pacific, it could significantly decrease the sales of the iPod Touch. Now, it just needs some cell phone service.

Original Post Link: Nintendo DSi to Get Tegra 2 NVIDIA Processors [Nintendo DSi With Faster Internet & Better Graphics That Match the iPod & the iPhone] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Gauntlet Watchphone Unlocked [Touchscreen Quad Band Watch Phone: Can be Used with Network of Choice with Your Sim Card]

Katie Gatto — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:33:36 +0000

The Gauntlet touch screen watch phone has been unlocked. Up until now having a watch that is also your phone has been largely confined to the genre of spy fiction. Now, you can get your hands on one, and with the help of your existing carriers SIM card, make your bond esque dreams a reality.

The phone features a touch screen that allows you to toggle between it’s many modes. If you want to make a call, go ahead. Listening to MP3’s more your idea of fun? Just click on the music icon. Getting your email is possible too, just don’t expect to open and attachments.

While the watch has no official carrier in most nations, the phone has recently been unlocked. As long as you can locate the SIM card on your phone, you can plug it into the watch. It works with the following SIM card types: 2G and 2.5G.

The phone is Bluetooth headset compatible, which means you won’t have to talk into your watch, unless you want to, of course. It also has a built in digital camera and calendar program.

Original Post Link: Gauntlet Watchphone Unlocked [Touchscreen Quad Band Watch Phone: Can be Used with Network of Choice with Your Sim Card] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Panasonic Multimedia Digital Photo Frame Gets Official [MW-10 Digiframe Doubles as iPod Dock with Audio System Capabilities]

Chris — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:49:47 +0000

Panasonic announced a new digital photo frame that also doubles as an iPod dock and audio system. It could also be an audio system that doubles as a photo frame and has iPod docking capabilities. Or is it an iPod dock that can offer you audio system features and conveniently display your favorite pictures?

The official press release says that the MW-10 is Panasonic’s “first audio system with iPod dock and photo frame.” But then again you can call it whatever you want. As you can see, the MW-10 is a versatile device that comes with a lot of features. Whether you want it to simply display pictures or handle your multimedia needs, the MW-10 will comply. On top of that it can connect to your iPods at any time acting as the designated dock when no other dock is available.

The MW-10 takes multimedia seriously. It offers a built-in CD player, FM/AM radio tuner with 45-station preset memory while the low-density bamboo speaker will deliver “pure sound and crisp dialogue.” Music and videos can also be played straight from the iPod and the remote control will come in handy.

The MW-10 comes with a 9-inch WVGA LCD which can be used to either display pictures or watch some quick homemade videos. The MW-10 can deal with pictures from CD, SD memory card or from its 4GB internal memory. The photo frame can display either a full-screen photo slideshow or a combination of: clock and iPod track menu, calendar and photos, clock and photos, and audio and calendar.

As I said before, the MW-10 is a gadget that can deal with a lot of our needs and it can definitely stand out among digital photo frames with extra features. Panasonic will make the MW-10 available only next month, but just in time for Christmas. The device will retail for $299.95 which is a little too expensive but then again this isn’t an ordinary frame.

Original Post Link: Panasonic Multimedia Digital Photo Frame Gets Official [MW-10 Digiframe Doubles as iPod Dock with Audio System Capabilities] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Nokia N900 Starts Shipping [Nokia N900 to be Available in the USA, Europe and the Middle East]

Chris — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:38:54 +0000

We have been talking about Nokia’s latest smartphone / Internet tablet for a long time now but the device hasn’t been made available to customers yet. In fact Nokia did delay the N900 last month as it apparently needed a few fixes before being shipped to customers all over the world.

Today we have good news for you, folks! The Maemo-running Nokia N900 is ready to ship in various regions of the world. Nokia fans from Europe, USA and the Middle East will get the device starting today. Olli-Pekka Kalasvuo, Nokia’s CEO said in a speech today that the company has started the deliveries of the phone so you should be able to purchase one in the following days.

The phone is definitely something else when looking at Nokia’s current smartphone business. The time of the N96 is long gone and the 5800 XpressMusic, although a touchscreen device, is not a smartphone. The N97, although very impressive in specs, hasn’t been able to conquer the world so Nokia is still looking for a phone that’s capable of fighting against the competition.

And the competition has some really hot phone available, especially at this time of year. Apple’s iPhone, Palm’s Pre, RIM’s BlackBerry Storm2 and Bold2, HTC’s Hero and HD2, Motorola’s Droid, Samsung’s Omnia II or Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X10 are some of the best smartphones out there. Some of them are already on sale, making a lot of cash for their manufacturers and various carriers while Nokia can’t truly say it has a phone ready to stand a chance in front of those. The N900 might just be a phone capable of bringing Nokia closer to the top of the mobile business.

Don’t get me wrong, Nokia is still the master of the known universe when it comes to worldwide mobile market share. But that doesn’t mean that it also rules the smartphone business. Apple and RIM are the companies to beat when it comes to smartphones and Google’s Android OS is also growing very fast.

So what do you say? Are you willing to give the N900 a try and disregard the Droid or the iPhone for a change?

Original Post Link: Nokia N900 Starts Shipping [Nokia N900 to be Available in the USA, Europe and the Middle East] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Toyota Prius Becomes the First LTE Connected Car in the World [Toyota and ng Connect to Deliver 4G LTE Connected Car in 2010?]

Chris — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:12:01 +0000

Not only is 2010 going to introduce the first commercially available wireless LTE networks but it looks like various cars of the future will be able to offer the same high-speed 4G connectivity.

The first LTE Connected Car in the world is going to be the Toyota Prius. As announced by ng Connect, the popular hybrid car will offer on board 4G LTE connectivity at some point in the future.

Toyota, as a member of the ng Connect Program, has worked with various companies in order to transform the 2010 Toyota Prius into the first connected LTE hybrid car in the world. With technological support from companies like Alcatel-Lucent, Atlantic Records, QNX Software Systems, chumby and Kabillion, the future Prius will be able to deliver that fast 4G connectivity that we were waiting for. Such a feature is definitely most welcomed while being on the road. It’s the driver’s job to focus on the road but everyone else can enjoy various services made possible by an LTE network.

The LTE Connected Car will offer you “entertainment, infotainment and security services” like vide on-demand, gaming, GPS navigation, vehicle monitoring, home control and a more. Wi-Fi support will definitely be included which means that connected devices will be able to browse the web freely while inside the 2010 Toyota Prius.

We have no idea when your Prius could be transformed in order to accommodate LTE services. Various cell phone makers and wireless subscribers are getting ready to roll out new products that will offer you LTE connectivity and LTE-based services. Most carriers will probably have LTE available next year which might mean that an LTE Connected Toyota Prius could arrive at some point later next year. And let’s not forget about the recent announcement made by a lot of important names in the mobile business earlier this week. An LTE standard solution for voice and SMS services has been already agreed upon which means we’re almost good to go.

Original Post Link: Toyota Prius Becomes the First LTE Connected Car in the World [Toyota and ng Connect to Deliver 4G LTE Connected Car in 2010?] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Verizon iPhone Coming in Q3 2010? [Report Suggests that Hybrid UMTS/CDMA iPhone Is in the Making]

Chris — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:15:08 +0000

As you are already aware today, is a Droid day and the subject can’t be avoided. Even when talking about the competition’s intentions and actions these days everything seems to be related to the Droid, at least in the USA.

AT&T is rumored to launch an 8GB iPhone 3GS, T-Mobile is announcing Samsung Behold II announcements, Sprint promises Android 2.0 for the Hero, but what is Apple doing? Does Cupertino really care that much about the Droid or is the company going about its business undisturbed by all the Droid-related buzz in the air?

It would definitely be a mistake for Apple to ignore the Droid. If Motorola’s second Android handset is now the Android flagship phone for now, better Android smartphones will follow soon. That means the iPhone will have better and better adversaries. What would be Apple’s next move in this giant back-and-forth chess game that the mobile business can be? Apple has to continue upgrading its iPhone and launch a more and more competitive version every year. There’s no other alternative as Apple doesn’t have any other phones to sell.

And it looks like the next logical step is launching a hybrid UMTS/CDMA iPhone which could be sold by both AT&T and Verizon in the USA. Reports are coming in saying that Apple is definitely going to launch the Verizon iPhone in the third quarter of 2010. That’s consistent with what we heard before about the rumored iPhone LTE tested under Verizon colors.

The hybrid chip will come from Qualcomm and the iPhone will be compatible with both CDMA networks and with current UMTS 3G networks. The new builder of the Verizon iPhone seems to be Pegatron, an Asustek subsidiary.

The Verizon iPhone is reported to be a smaller version of the current iPhone 3GS which is pretty disturbing. The 2.8-inch iPhone will remind us about all the iPhone Mini talk we’ve seen earlier this year but one thing is certain. We definitely don’t want smaller iPhones, do we? Everyone else out there is making bigger and bigger touchscreen phones which would let us better enjoy surfing the web, using various apps and games, not to mention watching movies while on the go. Other features haven’t been leaked at this point so we’re looking forward to see what lies ahead.

These rumors have neither bee confirmed nor denied by Cupertino and we don’t expect Apple to reveal anything. But everything seems to be consistent with what’s happening around the world. iPhone exclusivities are being terminated and Apple is looking to other carriers to sell the iPhone for them. It’s the only possible approach if Apple wants to keep staying atop the smartphone business. Otherwise newcomers like the Droid could simply sweep us of our feet and make us choose the Android side.

Original Post Link: Verizon iPhone Coming in Q3 2010? [Report Suggests that Hybrid UMTS/CDMA iPhone Is in the Making] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Verizon Wireless Announced Prepaid Mobile Data Plans [Verizon Wireless USB760 Modem to be Available from November 16]

Chris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:16:11 +0000

Don’t blame us for all the Verizon-related news today. It’s not our fault that Verizon decided to officially launch the HTC Droid Eris, the LG Chocolate Touch or the BlackBerry Curve 8530 on the same day. Furthermore the carrier decided to also announce prepaid mobile data plans for its customers.

The new prepaid data plans have been conceived for those customers that aren’t really excited about signing a new contract for mobile wireless data. The new plans are designed for the occasional users that will rarely require the presence of a broadband USB modem in their lives.

As you can expect, Verizon also has a new USB dongle ready to handle that mobile broadband connectivity for you. Starting with November 16 you will be able to pick up the USB760 modem in Verizon Wireless and Best Buy stores, a device that you’ll definitely need for browsing the Internets on a prepaid basis. The modem is equipped with a high-performance internal antenna, removable memory of up to 8GB and support for most Windows versions, Mac and Linux OS.

There are three versions of prepaid data plans available and depending on your actual needs you can access Verizon’s 3G network using a daily, weekly or monthly prepaid plan. In case you want mobile Internet for a day, you’ll get the dongle for $15 which includes a 75MB allowance. If a day is not enough then you can ask for the weekly prepaid plan which costs $30 and limits your traffic at 250MB per week. The monthly plan is of course more expensive. For $50 you’ll be served with a 500MB monthly allowance which frankly is not good enough, is it? But then again you’re looking for prepaid choices so that’s about as good as it gets at this point, at least from Verizon Wireless.

How do these new prepaid data plans sound to you? Will you get one or would you rather hunt for free Wi-Fi hotspots instead?

Original Post Link: Verizon Wireless Announced Prepaid Mobile Data Plans [Verizon Wireless USB760 Modem to be Available from November 16] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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HTC Droid Eris Becomes an Official Verizon Wireless Smartphone [What You Didn’t Know About the Droid Eris]

Chris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:11:21 +0000

With one day to go until Verizon Wireless stores will be filled with impatient customers looking for the Droid and the Droid Eris, Big Red has decided to make the HTC smartphone official too. At this point we know pretty much everything there is to know about the HTC Droid Eris, but an official press release filled with specs and features will never hurt. Not to mention the official press photos of this brand new Android device.

So why not get the HTC Droid Eris instead of the Motorola Droid? I’d be lying to you if I said I’d definitely go for the Droid Eris instead of the Droid. But if we’re comparing it to the Hero, I’d definitely choose the Droid and save myself $100. What would you choose between Verizon Wireless’ Droid Eris and the Sprint’s Hero?

While you’re thinking of a good answer for my question I’ll go ahead and spill the beans on the Droid Eris. Below you’ll find the official spec list although we did cover the phone extensively in the last couple of weeks and you’re already familiar with them:

3.2 inch capacitive touch screen and trackball interface
5.0 megapixel auto focus camera
Expandable memory with pre-installed 8 GB microSD™ card (up to 16 GB supported)
Supports USB mass storage
Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi and 3.5 mm headset connectivity
Integrated GPS and a digital compass with a sensor that enables the phone to know what direction it is facing
Smart dialer for simplified dialing by name, number or initials
Full HTML browser with Flash Lite capabilities
Seamless compatibility with Google services like Google Maps, Gmail, Google Search and more

So have you come up with an answer? Is the Droid Eris just as good as the Hero or do you prefer Sprint over Verizon Wireless?

The phone is going to be available starting early tomorrow morning and it will cost you $99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and with a 2-year contract. And if you do purchase the HTC Droid Eris, don’t hesitate to tell us all about it in our comments section!

Original Post Link: HTC Droid Eris Becomes an Official Verizon Wireless Smartphone [What You Didn’t Know About the Droid Eris] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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LG Chocolate Touch Gets Official [LG Chocolate Touch Available from Verizon Wireless for $79.99 with a 2-YR Contract]

Chris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:32:38 +0000

Verizon Wireless is getting ready to sell the Droid and the Droid Eris but in the mean time the carrier has decided to quietly make available the LG Chocolate Touch too. The phone is now available from Big Red so if you’re looking for a cheap phone filled with media features then check the Touch immediately.

The phone comes with more than decent specs and it would definitely be a fun handset to carry around. The Chocolate Touch will offer you a 3-inch touchscreen display, a 3.2-megapixel camera with video recording support, 1GB of internal memory upgradeable up to 16GB via microSD cards, Bluetooth connectivity, built-in FM Radio, HTML web browser, a 3.5mm headset jack and 1x/EV-DO Rev. O connectivity. Verizon Wireless features like the VZ Navigator, V Cast Music/Video and Visual Voicemail are also included.

The phone can be easily used to access various social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and anything else you want to add to the list. The Chocolate Touch has support for HTML web browsing and it will offer you support for mobile email, web email, corporate email, instant messenger, chat and My Verizon. SMS and MMS support is also included so no matter how you decide to communicate with your friends and family the handset will definitely adjust to your needs.

The LG Chocolate Touch also acts as a pretty dependable music player. Besides the FM Tuner with RBDS support it also lets you play all your personal music files. Simply sync the PC with the phone and get all the music you want. The Music Player will recognize MP3, WMA, AAC and AAC+ files.

The 3.2-megapixel camera comes with various useful features which are supposed to improve the general quality of your pictures. Shot types like Normal, Panorama, Intelligent and Facial Makeover are available. Color effects and white balance can be also be used for taking special pictures. The camera will record videos on the go which could be very useful at some point in the future.

The phone will be available for just $79.99 after a $50 online discount and with a 2-year contract. I will remind you that for an extra $20 you’ll be able to get the HTC Droid Eris instead, a phone that we have covered extensively already and which is supposed to go on sale tomorrow.

Original Post Link: LG Chocolate Touch Gets Official [LG Chocolate Touch Available from Verizon Wireless for $79.99 with a 2-YR Contract] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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DocuPen X-Series Scanner Specs & Features Revealed [OLED Display, 64MB of Storage, USB Connectivity & Bluetooth; Pricing Starts at $369.99]

Chris — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:41:06 +0000

I often find myself in need of a scanner and most of the time I don’t have one around as I am on the move. That’s why the DocuPen X-series portable scanners from PlanOn sound very interesting, particularly if you deal with a lot of paperwork every day.

So what’s a DocuPen you ask? It’s obviously a portable scanner that can be very useful while you’re on the go. The device comes with proper software which will let you organize your scans and send them to where they need to be. The DocuPen X Series will let you choose from three different versions, the X05, the X10 and the X50.

The main features of any DocuPen scanner are a 200MHz processor, and OLED screen, 64MB of SD RAM upgradeable via microSD card up to 2GB, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. You’ll be able to choose from three scan modes: 24bit color, grayscale and mono and the scanners offer a maximum scan resolution of 600dpi thanks to Planon’t Cyrstal Line Contact technology.

The DocuPen will let you scan in an instant contracts, receipts, invoices, pictures, and basically anything else you need to have scanned around you. The device weighs only 60 grams and it’s as big as a regular sheet of paper. When scanning is complete you’ll be able to send the files to your smartphone or computer via Bluetooth and you’ll be able to e-mail and print them right away.

So what’s the difference between the three different versions? The X50 is the most expensive of the three as it comes with extra accessories like the ABBYY Professional level OCR Software, an executive hard case and a retractable USB cable. The X10 is the only one to offer a 12v automobile adaptor, while the X05 is the default scanner that comes with a leather case, an USB cable, the PaperPort SE software, the CD-ROM install disc and the quickstart guide.

The X05, X10 and X50 are already available for $369.99, $389.99 and $439.99, respectively. Are you ready for a portable, high-performance scanner? Would you buy a DocuPen X-Series model anytime soon?

Original Post Link: DocuPen X-Series Scanner Specs & Features Revealed [OLED Display, 64MB of Storage, USB Connectivity & Bluetooth; Pricing Starts at $369.99] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Microsoft Courier User Interface Out in the Open? [Microsoft Courier Tablet UI Gets Explained]

Chris — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:04:13 +0000

Microsoft has not announced its Courier tablet yet but it looks like the user interface has been leaked to the public. Is Microsoft trying to build up momentum for the Courier? Apple on the other hand is not willing to show us anything and we have to keep digging for one shady rumor after the other.

This time it looks like Gizmodo got a hold of the whole user interface so let’s take a look at it. The tablet comes with multitouch support which will include various gestures: tap once, touch and hold, 1 finger flick and 2 finger flicks. So what do all those gesture do? Here’s a quick list that should help you better understand how the Courier will work:

One finger tap and hold: clips content
1 finger flick: scroll vertically and turn pages
2 finger flick up or down: opens an app
2 finger flick left/right: closes the app or moves the app to the other screen

Now that you know what basic hand gestures will do you need to know that the content of the Courier is referred to as the Infinite Journal. The Smart Agenda is what you will be dealing with daily. It will show you appointments, emails, to-do lists, messages from friends and weather details. Think of the Smart Agenda like the home screen of your smartphone for example.

The Journal overview will show you the contents of the Courier. An interesting feature of the search engine is handwriting recognition which is must-have for a tablet. The Journal will also offer you cloud support. Shared portions of the Journal can be used by friends and colleagues to leave notes which will appear instantly in the Smart Agenda. The web browser looks like an index-card. Flip through your recently browsed pages just like you would in Safari. It’s basically a vertical version of Cover Flow if you will. With the touch of one finger you’ll be able to grab the content you want and paste it in your journal.

Copy and Paste is called “Clip, Tuck, Paste” in the Courier. You can copy any content which will be tucked into the spine of the tablet. Then you can move it into any page of the Journal. The Infinite Journal will show you all that content stored in the Courier. Everything is tagged with a timestamp and geotag so you’ll know exactly when and where you took a certain picture or made a certain note.

Besides multitouch support, the Courier will let you use a smart stylus. The pen has an undo button, an eraser and a twist mechanism which switches drawing modes.

Other features include the Library which acts as the main file browser and the camera which can be used to take lots of interesting photos.

That’s how the Courier is supposed to work, at least in theory. What do you say? Does any of that sound like something you want in a tablet?

Original Post Link: Microsoft Courier User Interface Out in the Open? [Microsoft Courier Tablet UI Gets Explained] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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HTC HD2 Confirmed for the US In Early 2010 [HTC HD2 Ready to Ship in Europe and Asia]

Chris — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:18:02 +0000

The HTC HD2 is undoubtedly the best Windows Phone announced so far. It’s not enough to make Windows Mobile 6.5 popular but the handset is definitely worth buying. And HTC decided to officially confirm today that the phone is on its way to U.S. customers. But the HD2 is taking the longer route as it will hit American consumers only in early 2010 as previously speculated.

In the mean time the phone is ready to ship in various European and Asian markets but you already knew that didn’t you? What’s a little more exciting is that HTC and Microsoft have announced together that the HD2 will be available in the United States with a “major U.S. carrier in early 2010.” Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s CEO, had this to say about the phone:

Working with HTC, we’ve delivered great phones that help customers connect to the people and information they care about, wherever they are. The HTC HD2 shows what’s possible through our close partnership with HTC and it breaks new ground for Windows phones by delivering a beautiful multi-touch screen that people will love.

The phone is truly remarkable and it could be an even more reliable phone once Windows Mobile 7 becomes official. HTC’s official press releases focuses on a few key factors of the phone like the impressive 4.3-inch capacitive touchscrcreen, the 1GHz Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, the multitouch support, the 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, the 5-megapixel camera and the HTC Sense user interface ported to this Windows Mobile phone. But we have already covered those in detail, didn’t we?

The handset comes with a bunch of neat features that are supposed to help you stay connected with your friends and family easier and a lot faster. The HD2 keeps tabs of all your conversations with every single person in your contacts list. Calls, SMS messages, Facebook updates and emails are available in a single snapshot for every different person, which takes communication to the next level. HTC has also introduced a new Twitter client, HTC Peep, which you’ll be able to test extensively as soon as you buy the phone.

The Windows Marketplace for Mobile is also mentioned. Microsoft’s App Store is still young, but you should find plenty of useful apps inside already if you’re not completely happy with all the apps and features of the HD2.

So what do you say folks, HTC HD2 or Motorola Droid?

Original Post Link: HTC HD2 Confirmed for the US In Early 2010 [HTC HD2 Ready to Ship in Europe and Asia] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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enTourage eDGe Hybrid eBook Reader / Netbook Gets Official [Marvell and E Ink Announce New Ultra Thin Dual eReader]

Chris — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:08:31 +0000

What do you say, do we really need a new eBook reader? What happened with everyone out there? So many new devices have been unveiled so far and it looks like manufacturers will not stop yet. Marvell has decided to team up with E Ink and launch a totally new eBook reader concept, a dualbook that works as an eBook reader but also as a netbook.

The enTourage eDGe is the product in question and it combines an “E Ink reader with a netbook, notepad and audio/video player and recorder into one central device.” Details about the product are scarce to say the least at this point but we should have more information about the enTourage eDGe in the near future.

What we do know is that the device will use Marvell’s ARMADA 166E application processor which is a System-on-Chip. The SoC will be able to offer “ultra fast renderings of high resolution PDF documents” and it will be able to deal with all sorts of other activities performed by the netbook. On top of that the ARMADA processor will be very energy efficient as it will bring you a zero power hibernation mode. This whole new technology will be packed into a smaller, slimmer “form factor” that will be cheaper than what the competition already has in store for you. The device is expected to come with WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth connectivity and it will offer support for a bunch of operating systems out there: Google Android, Microsoft Windows Embedded, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Ubuntu and Maemo.

The main idea from the official press release is that the enTourage eDGe will be a very capable and very affordable eBook reader solution in the near future. And by near future we mean of course 2010 when the product should be available to the masses.

So what’s that popular about eBook readers I ask again? If we are to believe a recent iSuppli Research report, eReaders will become quite popular in the following years. It’s being projected that 18 million units or more will be shipped in 2010 compared to 1.1 million units last year. Are you ready to buy your eBook reader?

Original Post Link: enTourage eDGe Hybrid eBook Reader / Netbook Gets Official [Marvell and E Ink Announce New Ultra Thin Dual eReader] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Motorola Droid to be Sold Early on November 6 [Verizon Stores to Open Doors Early for the Droid]

Chris — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:02:40 +0000

Verizon is definitely decided to make the most of the Motorola Droid launch day. The hot phone will be available in Big Red stores starting with November 6, but I’m sure you already know that. What you don’t know is that Verizon is going to make the day as special as possible in order for its customers to enjoy as much as possible the Droid launch day.

Verizon has officially announced that many of its more than 2,000 Communication Stores will be opening their doors early this Friday. Stores will open from 7-8 AM in the morning and if you haven’t pre-ordered the Droid from Best Buy yet, it might be a good idea for you to go to a Verizon store as early as possible.

Besides the extended hours, Verizon will also offer you in-store demos of the Droid. If you have any questions regarding your newly purchased device you should definitely ask for help. Demonstrations will only be available in select location though so don’t be mad if your local store can’t put on a big show for you.

One of the most interesting events taking place next Friday is the rumored “Droid Does Times Square” event which we’ve told you about in an earlier post. If you happen to be in New York this Friday, you will be able to control the NASDAQ and Reuters signs by voice commands only. You’ll have to call a toll-free number and then you’ll be able to search for stuff around the Times Square area. The results will be displayed on the boards through Google Maps. The whole experience will be available for you to watch in real-time online in case you’re not in New York. This special feature will be offered only to Droid users from November 6 through November 20, daily from 12:30 PM to 2:10 PM and from 6:30 PM to 8:10 PM. The billboards will also be controllable from 6:00 AM on November 27 through 2:00 AM on November 28.

So what do you say? Are you excited about the Droid?

Original Post Link: Motorola Droid to be Sold Early on November 6 [Verizon Stores to Open Doors Early for the Droid] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Rachael Gets Official [Sony Ericsson’s First Android Phone Available in Q1 2010]

Chris — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:16:57 +0000

That’s right folks, Sony Ericsson’s first Android phone, the Rachael has been officially unveiled exactly as expected. The Xperia X10, and not the X3, is now official. It’s also official the fact that the Rachael will be a flagship phone “in a family of phones” which will be available in the first half of next year. The Xperia X10 should find its way to you in Q1 2010 which means you’re in for a long wait. That’s good news for Motorola as the cell phone maker will undoubtedly sell lots of Android phones by then.

The Xperia X10 comes with a custom UX platform build on top of the Open OS which means we should definitely have some fun using it. The UX is Sony Ericsson’s version of Sense UI or MOTOBLUR and it combines “entertainment features with signature applications, unrivalled integration of social media services and a rich graphical user interface.” How can you say no to all of that?

And here’s what we can expect from the phone in terms of features:

GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
UMTS HSPA 900/1700/2100
UMTS HSPA 800/850/1900/2100
4.0-inch scratch-resistant WVGA touchscreen with 480 x 854 resolution
Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor
8.1-megapixel camera with 16x digital zoom, auto focus, geotagging and video recording
Bluetooth Stereo
Media player
Sony Ericsson Timescape and Mediascape features that handle communication and media, respectively
Microsoft Exchange support
Gesture control
A-GPS with Google Maps and Wisepilot
3.5mm headphone jack
microUSB connectivity
Wi-Fi support
Phone memory: up to 1 GB
8GB microSD card
Android Donut 1.6
Size: 119 x 63 x 13mm
Weight: 135g
1500mAh battery

Sony Ericsson Timescape is a solution that will help you manage all your communication with a single person in one place. That includes support for Facebook, Twitter, photos, emails, SMS messages and calls. Mediascape will take care of all your media content from your friends and it can connect to YouTube and PlayNow when needed. The apps will be able to discover connections between contacts content and media and I’m really curious to see these brand new features at work.

Now folks, you will be definitely impressed by the large touchscreen display, the fast processor and the new features. You won’t like the fact that it’s coming with only Android Donut 1.6 on board despite it’s going to be here next year. There are no pricing details available at this point but then again, there’s also no carrier anxious to launch it yet.

Original Post Link: Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Rachael Gets Official [Sony Ericsson’s First Android Phone Available in Q1 2010] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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TAG Heuer Announces MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini Phone [1.9-In Sapphire Crystal Display, 2-MP Camera, Lamborghini Logo; 1963 Units Available in November]

Chris — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:59:21 +0000

Let’s forget for a second about Android OS, BlackBerry handsets and Apple’s iPhone! Other cell phone makers out there are making fabulous devices which deserve our attention. Sure they’re not fancy smartphones most of the time, but rather limited edition collector’s items.

Such could be the case of TAG Heuer’s latest luxury phone, the MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini. The phone has been launched officially today by TAG Heuer and as you can easily imagine, the Lamborghini Murcielago has inspired it.

Automobili Lamborghini has been founded in 1963, and that’s exactly how many MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini units will be available this November. The phone will therefore honor the Murcielago in every way possible. The new MERIDIIST is made of black titanium carbide coated 316L stainless steel and it wears the same signature on the battery cover that the Murcielago LP 640 has on its V12 engine block. The back of the phone has engraved the limited edition number while the keyboard has the Taurus bull, Lamborghini’s trademark, right on the steel central button.

One other impressive feature of the MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini is the 1.9-inch display made from 60.5 carats of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Everything else is pretty common: a 2-megapixel camera and the Bluetooth connectivity will definitely be useful although not absolutely necessary.

The battery is worth mentioning too. It offers 7 hours of continuous talk time and about 28 days of standby which means you’ll forget where you put the charger quite frequently. Unfortunately the phone is not for all pockets as it will cost more than most people can afford. Nevertheless the MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini is a remarkable piece of work made possible by the creativity and dedication of TAG Heuer. Here’s what Jean-Christophe Babin, President and CEO of TAG Heuer had to say about the phone:

The MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini phone epitomizes TAG Heuer consistency in inspiring and framing its diversification, combining technology and design, and partnering with the best sports car brands. We are very proud of this new partnership with such a great brand as Lamborghini.

I’ll totally understand if you’re not planning to get one of the 1963 units available. I myself have chosen a similar approach and I will admire the MERIDIIST from the distance.

Original Post Link: TAG Heuer Announces MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini Phone [1.9-In Sapphire Crystal Display, 2-MP Camera, Lamborghini Logo; 1963 Units Available in November] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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iPhone 3G & 3GS Get Official From Orange UK [iPhone 3GS Available on November 10 for Free with a New 24-month £45 Plan]

Chris — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:04:48 +0000

It’s no secret anymore that Orange UK will sell the iPhone 3GS. The carrier has been waiting for a long time for O2 to lose iPhone exclusivity and it’s ready to enter the game with some competitive prices. Vodafone UK will also sell the iPhone 3GS soon but let’s focus on Orange for the time being.

Orange UK has officially announced the iPhone 3GS and today we have pricing details for you. Did it pay off to wait for Orange to launch Apple’s iPhone? Well, you should be the judge of that! Orange UK will sell both the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G and the carrier is ready to offer both of them free of charge when bundled with certain plans.

A free 8GB iPhone 3G is available for free if you’re willing to commit to a 24-month contract of at least £30 per month while the iPhone 3GS is available for free when you select a 24-month contract of at least £45 per month. Unlimited data has been mentioned but that means 750MB of traffic per month for Orange UK which is far from unlimited let alone reasonable.

Would you rather get the iPhone on a pre-pay plan? In that case the iPhone 3G is available for £333 as long as you’re getting a £50 credit too. Worried about data caps? The PAYG plan offers you 250MB of data each month and unlimited BT-Openzone Wi-Fi use for 12 months.

Interested in tethering costs? That’s available too with prices starting at £5 per month, but you should get more details from an Orange representative.

The iPhones will be available starting next week and November 10 is the day to line up in front of an Orange UK store for the iPhone. The handset should be available in all 402 UK Orange stores with some stores opening as early as 7AM and closing late. The iPhone will also be available from Orange HMV, Apple Retail Stores, Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U and other selected partners. Will you get it the iPhone from Orange?

Original Post Link: iPhone 3G & 3GS Get Official From Orange UK [iPhone 3GS Available on November 10 for Free with a New 24-month £45 Plan] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Motorola Droid Announced in Germany as the Milestone [Buy the Droid from O2 Germany on November 9; Italy to Follow]

Chris — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:34:44 +0000

It’s a brand new week and the buzz around Motorola’s second Android phone, the Droid, is still going strong. The phone is going to be available in Verizon Wireless stores starting with November 6, but you might have pre-ordered already it from Best Buy. But what about the rest of the world?

We asked that question a while ago and we had a partial answer. A GSM version of the Droid has been spotted in Vietnam last week and we imagined that other markets will get the smartphone soon. Well the phone is ready to be sold in some European countries even sooner than expected.

O2 is the official carrier that will bring the carrier to Germany. The phone has appeared on O2’s website and on Motorola Germany’s website. The Droid has been confirmed and it will be available starting with November 9. The full price for the phone is €€481 but you can get it for just €1 provided that you select a new 2-year contract of at least €20 per month.

The Droid shall be known as the Motorola Milestone, but who cares about the name of the device? Well, maybe we should care! Not because we like the Droid better than the Milestone but because Apple’s iPhone doesn’t change names when going to a different market. The point is that maybe a hit phone like the Droid should have the same name no matter what continent you’ll find it on. But then again the Droid is the name chosen by Verizon. If it were up to Motorola we would have been talking about the Sholes right about now.

As you can see in the pictures here, Vodafone is also presented as a potential carrier. We have no precise details but we’ll probably see the Milestone available in various European markets and top carriers like Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile or O2 will definitely want to sell it. Italy is also rumored to get the Milestone, or whatever they will call it over there, but we don’t know the specifics yet.

Original Post Link: Motorola Droid Announced in Germany as the Milestone [Buy the Droid from O2 Germany on November 9; Italy to Follow] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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HTC “Virtual Book” Touchscreen User Interface in the Works? [HTC Patent Application Describes New Touch UI]

Chris — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:20:01 +0000

HTC is already an experienced cell phone maker. Whether we’re talking about Windows Mobile or Android one thing is certain, HTC’s handsets offer a unique user interface which can’t be ignored when comparing HTC to other manufacturers. The company has been busy working on their TouchFlo and TouchFlo 3D UI for Windows Mobile phones and, most importantly, it has developed the HTC Sense UI for Android phones. Now HTC came up with something totally new, the “virtual book” user interface for touchscreen devices.

There’s no official name for it and here’s how the abstract of HTC’s new patent describes it:

An electronic device and a user interface display method thereof are provided. The electronic device organizes a plurality of computer programs executable on the electronic device into a virtual book. Each page of the virtual book includes a user interface of one of the computer programs. The electronic device displays one of the pages as a current page so that the user interface of the current page is accessible to a user of the electronic device. The electronic device senses movement and/or pressure caused by the user and interprets the movement and/or the pressure as operating actions of the user on the virtual book. The electronic device downloads new computer programs from a download server and adds corresponding new pages into the virtual book. At lease one of the computer programs provides a service of a corporate operator of a wireless service network

HTC might just be working on something really huge here. The Virtual Book UI could be used on a variety of mobile devices and HTC should consider bringing it to both Android and Windows Mobile smartphones. And just in case the company decides to make tablets and other kinds of handheld touch-friendly devices, then they’d better include a user interface of this kind.

The patent goes on to describe the full features of such a touch UI and I’m counting on HTC to make it available as soon as possible. A particular phrase in the abstract above reminds me that Apple is also working on a new touch UI for its tablet. You know, the kind of interface that can sense movement, pressure or touch and then rapidly translate it into actions. Who will launch a new touch UI first? HTC or Apple?

Original Post Link: HTC “Virtual Book” Touchscreen User Interface in the Works? [HTC Patent Application Describes New Touch UI] | Published by TFTS - Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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