Sony HMP-A1 Media Player

In the Portable Media Player world, the HMP-A1 stands out by it's design and simple interface. The media files are stored on a 20GB hard disk drive and are displayed on a nice 3.5" screen. The device size is 129.6 x 75.6 x 22 mm (5.1 x 3 x .9 inches.), which is about the same than a NX80V PDA. It connects to your computer by USB 2.0 (and can also be charged by the Usb port). Audio and Video output connectections are available. Note that this gizmo does not run Mobile Windows Media Center (not a problem). The *very* annoying thing is that it uses a proprietary video format (with Sony, something had to be proprietary). You well need to convert your files before using them on the go.

[review on DesignTechnica]
Price: $700 (Import from Jpn)

Doom3 Keyboard Keyset for the Zboard

I've seen those keyboards and their keysets (I call those "skins") very often in electronics stores, they seem to be very popular. If you are an owner of the Zboard and an avid Doom3 player, you might want to check out the Doom3 Keyset. honestly, I doubt that it's useful, because if you have the time to look at this keyset in Doom3, it probably means that you died :) However, I have to say that it will look cool in a Lan Party.

[Doom3 Keyset for Zboard]
[Doom3]

(Thanks to Stephane Denis for the Tip)

the Gizmondo is unleashed on Oct 29

The all-in-one portable device is going to be released on Oct 29 in UK, followed by a worldwide launch. If you're not familiar with the device, it's supposed to do everything from 3D Gaming, Camera, Music Player (Mpeg3, midi, wav), Movie Player (MPeg4), Communication (MMS, SMS), GPS. Want to know more? check out their website.

[Gizmondo.com]
[more on PortaGame.com]

Gigapixel Digital Camera

The European Space Agency is building a 1 Gigapixel (1024 Megapixels) Digital Camera the the future "Gaia" space telescope. Rather than being one gigantic sensor, it is going to be composed of 170 units. Gaia will be positioned at 930000 miles from Earth and will photograph celestial objects, just like Hubble does, but better. Each of the 170 CCD sensors found in Gaia is ten times bigger than those found in consumer cameras, and that will likely create some manufacturing issues. The project is scheduled to be complete in 2010.

[read on UniverseToday]

USB Aquarium

I think that the USB toothbrush is still the most ridiculous USB (Universal Serial Bus) device, However, this Aquarium comes pretty close. Once connected the USB-powered aquarium will create a current that will in turn animate the (fake) fish in the tank. And LED light will allow to watch the spectacle in the dark.

Plantronics MX300 Retractable Mobile Headset

Don't you hate using that corded heaset that comes with your cellphone? The cable is too long, it gets in the way while you are driving, and when you are not using it, it's messy. Plantronics tries to fix those problems with their MX300 Retractable Mobile Headset. The cord retracts into a container to be orderly stored in the pocket. The earpiece is designed to be comfy, even during extended use. All that is nice, but isn't $35 a bit much for a corded headset ?

[Press Release]

T-Mobile has the Nokia N-Gage QD

I don't know why anyone would do that, but in case you want to get the Nokia N-Gage QD, T-Mobile has it for $99.99. For those not familiar with this product, the Nokia N-Gage is a portable game console with an integrated phone. So far, the console did not sell very well. However, Nokia will try again soon with the upcoming N-Gage 2. In the gaming space, it faces stiff competition from Nintendo, and in the future, it seems that the Sony PSP is a powerful contender for the #1 spot.

Size: 4.7 x 2.7 x 0.9 Inches
Weight: 5.0 ounces
Included battery: Li-Ion
Talk time: Up to 3 hours
Standby time: Up to 10 Days

[T-Mobile N-Gage]

Qualcomm Buys Display Technology Startup for $170M

Iridigm, a start-up based in San Francisco, CA, is the patent-holder of iMoD, a display technology that promises to be better and cheaper than today's LCD. The manufacturing process itself is a subset of the one used to manufacture LCD screens, except that less steps are needed. It's therefore less expensive.

Amusing fact, Iridigm say that their technology is derived from studies on Butterflies wings. The company claims that the readability would equal the one of a printed glossy magazine (printed at 300dpi), even in direct sunlight, someting that plagues most consumer devices display today.

The Wireless industry has been looking for ways to keep their high margins because income derived from voice is falling like a rock. Data services (emails, web, commerce) and pay-per-download applications such as games or ringtones are the next big cash generators. Qualcomm knows it and they also know that all those services will need an advanced display technology.

[Iridigm website]
[Qualcomm Press Release]

With 2.6 million GPS system to be sold in 2004, the GPS market is doing well. Navman wants to capitalize on this boom with new models, aimed at all market segments. With screen sizes ranging from 3.5" to 3.8" and many storage solutions (flash cards, hard drives), Navman can solve the needs of travelers. Another solution is to get a smartphone or a PDA, add a GPS receiver/software bundle, and voila, now you get a GPS *plus* a cool gizmo. Franckly, I like the Navman GPS, but I think that they can't compete (price-wise) with a PGA/Phone+GPS solution.

[read on Tech Disgest]
Navman iCN510 £499 (3.5" 320x240 - flashcard)
Navman iCN635 £699 (3.8" - flashcard - remote control)
Navman iCN650 £799 (3.8" - hard drive - remote control)

Tactile GPS Belt

We are very used to tactile sense. So much that we hardly think about it. For exemple, if you legs sense a slope, your body will react quickly and to keep your balance. Here's the idea of having a GPS (Global Positioning System) guidance system that sends you directional information (as vibrations located at several places) to guide you. You don't need to look at a screen or hear voice directions. If you can get used to it, it would be a non-intrusive system. This is an interresting concept for people who get lost all the time, like me. It's far away from being a product, though :)

[Read]

Sellgino PMP 3.5 Potable Media Player

Sellgino, the South Korean company has this interresting player that as a square form factor. It has a built-in LCD of 3.5" and can play Mpeg1/4 videos, along with MP3 audio. It connects to your PC via USB 1.1 or 2.0 and can even be hooked up to a TV. Dimension: 86(L)X90(W)X20(H)mm, Weight: 430 grams, Battery life: 3hrs of video.

[Seen on DApreview]
[Sellgino website]
Price: ?

Sony SRX-R110: 4096x2160 pixels of resolution

You thought that Full HD resolution (1920x1080) was cool ? Think again. Full Cinema resolution (4096x2160) is the next cool thing. I won't be in your living room for quite some time, but this is on the horizon. HDTVs are becoming ever more popular, as light as 66lbs and as thick as 6.5". The rumor is that soon,we will be able to hang a DLP/Lcos Projection TV on a wall. A lot of the new TVs presented in Q3/Q4 2004 will have Full HD resolution (1920x1080). Full Cinema resolution is coming next.


[Read on Sony's HK website]

Sanyo LP-Z3, a 720p Projector (Japanese)

Sanyo is coming up with a cute Projector that has a resolution of 1280x720 (720p) That's good enough to watch HDTV shows. Now you *need* to get a HD cable subscription ;)


[Sanyo LP-Z3 Webpage (Japanese)]
Price: ?
Release: ?

Sanyo MM-7400

Sanyo MM-7400: 1900 MHz & 800 MHz PCS, 800 MHz Analog
16 MB RAM, 32 MB ROM
176x220 Pixel TFT Display, 1.29" x 1.61", 65,536 colors
Qualcomm MSM6100 Chipset
1000 mAh Battery
Full GPS Support
NetFront 3.1
MIDP 2.0
MIDI, QCELP, & AAC 72 Chord Polyphonic Ringtones
3.64" x 1.97" x 1.13"
4.06 Ounces

I can't wait to see what full GPS support mean, May be we will start to have some real location-based applications? Sprint should be the carrier for this gizmo.

[SprintPCS]
Price: $200 - $350
Release: ?

GMail on your cell

There is now a PHP application, GMail Mobile, that will let you access your favorite email account with any wap-enabled phone. Download it on sourceforge.net.

Chicago plans a network of Surveillance Cameras

2000 cameras are going to be connected to a 911 center. When a 911 call is made, the system will automaticaly create a video link, using the nearest camera from the emergency scene. The emergency authorities can (hopefuly) do an accessement of the situation by themselves, in addition of the information provided by the caller. The network is also equipped with software that will alert the center if anyone is "seen" in a sensitive place, such as a Water Plant. Not surprisingly, there's a number of citizens very concerned about privacy issues. Of course, the more means there are, the more potential abuses there are...

[Read on ABC]

In-flight Wifi not anytime soon

Saying that the technology is not mature enough, British Airways (BA) is backing from plans to install the Wireless Internet protocal in its fleet. They say it's too expensive to upgrade an existing fleet because they have to ground a plane for 10 days to get Wifi installed. However, installation on new planes seems more likely. Right now, only Lufthansa has an internet connection on their flights. They charge $30 for unlimited access for the flight duration. Well, I think that those $30 are definitely worth it :) I can't believe that it takes BA 10 days to install a wireless router! I hope that the competition is going to be hot.

[read on Cnet.com]

Solar Powered Vest

SCOTTeVest has a line of vests that -they claim- can charge your gadgets using a solar captor located, for example, in the back of the vest. Depending on your device, it can take between 2 to 5 hours to get a full charge (I assume in direct sunlight). The solar panels are made of flexible photovoltaic material.

[Seen on SCOTTeVest]
[SCOTTeVest FAQ]
Price: $535 (Vest)
Price: $225 (Flexible solar panel only)

Nokia HS-13W Wireless Image Headset

Designed to be partnered with the Nokia 7280 (that I really dislike), this wireless headset looks pretty cool as a stand-alone device. It has a color display that has a 128x128 resolution that allows the user to see who's calling or read text messages. The Nokia HS-13W has it's own address book memory that can store up to 250 contacts (2 phones numbers per contact). It seems possible also to display a slide show of pre-loaded pictures. It's designed to be hung around the neck, in what might become a new fashion. it weighs 57g and has a stand-by time of 150h. It is compatible with many Nokia phones, but also with phones supporting Bluetooth 1.1 (BT 1.1) and Headset 1.0 Profile (HFP).

[More questions? Look at the FAQ]
[Nokia HS-13W]
[Nokia 7280]
Price: ?
Avail: Q4 2004 (worldwide).

Shopping: SANDISK 1GB Secure Digital Memory Card for $70 (AR)

It's temporarily out of stock, but you can still try to order it.

[Seen on JR.com]
[more prices]

Shopping: D-Link 802.11b Wireless Router and Wireless Notebook Card for $19.98 (AR)

It's cheap, but it's 802.11B, running at 11Mbps, rather than the 54Mpbs of the newer 802.11G. The speed is okay if you just want to connect to the internet, because you broadband connection is probably slower than that, but if you plan to copy files from PC to PC, it might be a bit slow. It's cheap though ;)

[Seen on Bestbuy.com]

T-Mobile SDA "probably launched in the USA as well"

This is great news, the cheapest Smartphone ever made might be released in the USA soon. As mobile operators are desperate for high-margins products (yeah, voice is getting pretty cheap - almost free), they are concentrating their efforts on "data services" and other "pay per download" features, such as ringtones download. For that, they need smarter devices, for larger, color screens and they need thoses devices to be cheap! T-Mobile understands it. In the meantime, the consumers are going to get a great phone.


[read on PC Advisor]
Price: $199 (without service subscription)

Panasonic DMR-E500H, a 400GB Personal Video Recorder, controlable by your mobile phone

With it's 400GB of hard drives, this gizmo can record almost a month worth of TV. Once on disk, the video files can also be recorded on DVD-R really fast. Panasonic claims that they can record to DVD-R one hour of video in less than 1 minute. The device can be networked with your computer via the integrated ethernet port. the DMR-E500H can also be connecte to the internet to be remote controlled... even from a cellphone. It's coming out in Japan first...as usual.


[Manufacturer's website]
(Thanks to Stephane Denis for the tip)
Released: Sept 2004
Price: ?

DivX 5.2.1 is out

This version has been tested with Win XP SP2 and has a number of enhancement and bug fixes..

[Download on www.divx.com]

Bluetooth Shipments Reach Three Million per Week

Only two months ago, the technology passed the two million shipped per week bar. Bluetooth (BT) is a short-range wireless technology that is now embedded in most cellphones, PDA and laptops. It allows those devices to communicate within a short distance of a few yards. I used to use bluetooth to browse the web from my PDA, using my cellphone as modem. It worked pretty well, but at the end of the day, I found it to be a hassle. One can do the same thing and connect from a BT laptop, using a BT cellphone as a modem. With the emergence of Wifi hotspots all over, I think that using a cellphone as a modem is going to be less relevant. Once Wifi becomes low-power enough, there will be even less reasons to use BT. In the meantime, it's shipping like crazy, given that it's embedded in the phone. Are you using BT everyday? ... May be not.

[read on BrightHand]
[High Speed BlueTooth]

Nokia 7280 cellphone

My only question/comment: what's wrong with Nokia?

[Look on Nokia's Website]

Sony DSC-M1

The DSC-M1 is a very cool looking camera that's also a camcorder. The 5 Megapixels still camera parts are mainly derived from the Sony DSC-T1, so I expect the still pictures quality to be the same. The body of this gizmo is made in metal, giving it a solid feel. The DSC-M1 comes with a docking station that has a USB port and a video-out connector. The Camcorder captures Mpeg4 files at a 640x480*30fps max. Sound is recorded in stereo. The movie files are recorded on a (regular) Memory Stick card. With the highest quality, I would expect one to be able to record 30mn on a 512MB memory stick. Lower resolution modes are also available (320x240), but quite franckly I always found those modes completely useless for video. If you're looking for a good camera and a Mpeg4 Camcorder, this is for you. Remember, the advantage of a Mpeg4 Camcorder is that you just have to copy the video files on your hard drive. It takes 2mn. Try that with a Mini-DV...


[Read on Digital Camera Resource Page (more photos)]
Price: $600
512MB Memory Stick price: $85 - $147

Wireless FireWire has been defined

The UltraWideBand (UWB) technology will serve as the basis for the upcoming wireless USB & Firewire Standards. Way on the horizon, it seems possible that the next Bluetooth could also be a standard that uses UWB. The technology would allow to communicate wirelessly at speed up to 480Mbps. Wired firewire has speeds of 400-800Mbps. It's still pretty far off, but hey, I know that this is going to fix some of my cabling issues at home :). How does security work on those devices, by the way ??

[Read on The Register]
[more on UWB: UltraWideBand Planet]

Shopping: Sandisk 512MB SD card for $39.94 (AR)

[Seen on Amazon.com]

Community Voice Mail

For people in crisis or transition, not having a stable phone number is an additional burden that might prevent them from getting a job, or other opportunities. Community Voice Mail (CVM) will give a voicemal (along with a stable phone number) to those people that are "phoneless". The phone number looks like a regular one and the other parties cannot know that it is provided by CVM. The user can call the number from any phone (friends, familly, public phone) to retrieve the messages. Once the user does not need this number anymore (found a job...) the number is recycled to the next person in need.

Who can use it? from the website: "People who need it. Community Voice Mail does not discriminate against any segment of the population. Demonstrated financial need and a goal for using the service are the only requirements."

The website also posts some numbers: "46% of CVM users looking for jobs found jobs; and 52% of CVM homeless users found housing. CVM served over 47,000 people nationwide last year."

[CVM Website]

shopping: Dell 624Mhx Axim PDA, 64MB for $297

Given the performance & the specs of this gizmo, I think that the price is pretty fair...
BlueTooth, Wifi (b), 240x320 3.5", 64MB, SD I/O, MMC... and so on.

[seen on Dell.com]

Shopping: Logitech Quickcam 4000 for $49.99

This is an excellent webcam that uses a CDD sensor, rather than a low quality CMOS. The only webcan that's superior is the iSight, from Apple. This gizmo usually retails for much more.

[Seen at Surplus Computers]

We did talk about it on Aug26 but here are new pictures of the beast, along with a bit more specs:

Network : Tri-band GSM
Data : GPRS / EDGE
Screen : 640x200 pixels, 65,000,colours
Camera : No
Size : Large wide clameshell, 132x51x21mm / 167 grams
Bluetooth : Yes
Infra-red : Yes
Polyphonic: Yes
Java : Yes
Battery life: 3.5-4 hours talk / 6-8 days standby



I still have the same reservations as before, but I have to say that EDGE and a 640x200 pixels are good features. I still think that the Treo 650 or the BenQ P50 will outsell the Nokia 9300.

[Read on Mobile Gazette]

Hovering Drone

Unlike other spy drones (like the Predator), this one can stay at a fixed position for days at a time. Current spy drones have a 24h flight time at best.

"What makes the Whirl radical is the guidance system," the paper says. "Slow-speed propellers keep the aircraft spinning, and rudder-like airfoils at the tip of each wing generate thrust. They do that by acting as sails, adjusting to the wind so the Whirl can either fly downwind or tack into it. The wingtip sails and the electronic brains that operate wing flaps to keep the Whirl stable in high winds are innovations included in a U.S. patent application Raytheon filed in July."

No doubt that this is going to enhance spying capabilities of the military, but because it does not move, I wonder if the drone would be easy to shoot down...

[Read on DefenseTech]

Pepper Pad 2 from Pepper Computer

This looks like an oversized PDA, but probably runs like a low-end computer. It should be used "on the go" in hum... you living room, that why it has a full QWERTY keypad. It's running on Linux and it has an "instant on" boot.

Specs:
CPU: intel Xscale 624Mhz (hi-end PDA CPU)
Screen: 8.4" 800x600
Graphics : 32MB intel 2700G 2D/3D/MPEG + TV out
RAM: 256MB SDRAM
HDD: 20 GB 1.8" drive
Wireless: Wifi (b+g)
USB 1.1 (doh)



The Pepper Pad 2 is supposed to have all the "essential" functionalities of the Digital Home, according to the manufacturer. While all the text-related functions (email, IM, browsing) should work without problems, I'd be curious to know how the Xscale CPU handles a 800x600 divX video stream. Also I don't think that there's a recording capability either. They also mention "gaming", but I'd like to see the list of games that will run on this device. The Pepper 2 is an interresting concept, but for now, I think I'll pass...

[Product Webpage]
[Read on GeekZone]

RIM Blackberry 7100t review

PC Magazine has a review of the new Blackberry 7100t. At 4.7 by 2.3 by 0.7 inches (HWD), it is smaller than previous Blackberry models, feels like a cellphone, but is still fairly big (hear Treo 600 size). The difference in size comes mainly from a shift to a new hybrid keyboard design that has 20 buttons. It's a pretty weird design where most keys have 2 letters and one number, but the letters are arranged in a familiar QWERTY order. The 7100t is using RIM's "SureType" preditive text. Although is it said that "SureType" is way better than anything out there (like T9), I would expect a common issue: when you're trying to type slang and contracted words, it's doesn't help... Other than that it seems to be a good phone, in my opinion the best device RIM has. If you can get used to the keyboard and if you are a serious email user you should consider this gizmo.

Other features: good Speaker Phone, BlueTooth, Quad Band GSM (World Phone), 2.1" 240x260 Screen (65536 colors), Cross-Platform IM (AOL+ICQ+Yahoo), HTML Browser, 4MB SRAM, 4-hour estimated talk time.

[Read Review on PCMag]
[Pictures Gallery]
["BlackBerry phone rings all the right notes" - MSNBC]
Price: $199
Avail: TBD

Shopping: Magicstor 2.2GB CF+ Type II MicroDrive for $104.99

[Buy it at Computer Geeks]

Sony's HDR-FX1 is a HD camcorder for the masses

at 10% of the price of a professional HD camera, the new HDR-FX1 brings most of the image resolution. at 1440x1080 pixels, it's just shy of the highest video standard: 1980x1080 (1080p). The "Handycam" HDR-FX1 is actually pretty big and heavy, with a weight of 2 kilos. Consumer oriented, it uses the standard mini-DV tapes, rather than some other exotic (hence, expensive) format. Once you'll tape anything with it, you will have a good excuse to buy that HDTV that we mentionned earlier ;)

[read on Yahoo]
Price: $3600
Avail: Oct 15 (Japan)
(Thanks to Joe Demers for the tip)

Remo Smartphone rumors

There are rumors of an upcoming Smartphone. It looks like another keyboard sliding device. It is interresing how much hype the Smartphones are getting and how few of them we actually see on the streets. I wonder how well they will sell in the coming year. In the meantime, It's a cool rumor to look at. Personally, the antenna kills it for me. (well, yeah I have a Treo 600, but I really think that we need to get rid of those antennas)

260K TFT display 176 x 220, 2.2"
MS Smartphone 2003
32M bit flash & 32M SRAM
Intel CPU for MS2003
64 poly Stereo-Midi
MP3, MP4 player
Wap 2.0
EMS MMS IM
GPRS Class 10
IrDA, USD Client
PC Sync
iTab text input
J2ME
Dual Speaker & Headset Jack
Talk Time: 140mins
Standby: 100 hrs
Size: 87 x 47 x 23.5mm
Weight < 95g


[read the Forum on modaco.com ]
Price: TBD
Avail: Sept (Eur/Chi)

Olevia's 30" LCD HDTV won't break the bank... kind of

Yes, you've all seen those very nice TVs in the previous post, and now you want a flat TV really bad. The only issue: you don't want to shell tens of thousands of dollars in it. Yeah, I know, I have the same problem. If you can size down your LCD size ambitions, the Olevia 30" TV might be the right thing for you. Here are the basics specs:

Brightness: 700 cd/m2
Contrast ratio: 750:1
Pixel resolution: 1280 x 768 (15:9)
Response time: 15ms
Viewing angle (degrees): 170 (H) / 170 (V)
Individual brightness/contrast/color settings for each input: Yes
Optional audio system: Two-channel, 10 watts per channel
Dimensions: 21.8" (H) x 35" (W) x 8.8" (D) with Stand and Speakers
Weight: 50 lbs. with stand (geez, that's pretty heavy, I've seen DLP TV that weighs 66lbs for a much larger size)

ExtremeTech has done a very favorable review of this TV. Check it out.
[read on Extreme Tech]
Price: $1700
Avail: Now.

Flat screens everywhere...

...at CES.

There is an avalanche of new Flat TVs at CES 2004. With sizes up to 80" and resolution up to 1920x1080 (1080p) for a lot of models, it's a pixel feast. We've heard a lot about Samsung, LG and Panasonic, but Motorola is also back in the Flat TV Market. In all categories, it's a full-on armsrace in which everybody is trying to come up with the biggest screen. So far, I think that Samsung has a slight lead. There's a lot of LCD & PLasma screens, but DLP is still very much alove and is probably the least expensive solution. An interresting manufacturer is RCA which showed a DLP TV that is only 6.5" thick (for 50" of 61" sizes). There are many more things in the HDTV Expert article, more than I have room for here.





[Read on HDTV Expert]

Price: TBD (but, ouch!)
Avail: TBD
(Thanks to Anders Beer for the tip)

BenQ P50 Pocket PC phone available in September 04 ?

MS Mobile says that the BenQ P50 might become available in Taiwan later this month. It's Quad-Band Pocket PC World Phone that features a keyboard with Wifi, Bluetooth. It would be the equivalent of the Palm Treo 600/650. With dimensions of 4.7 inches long, 2.4 inches wide, 0.8 inches thick and a weight of 5.3 ounces, it's smaller and lighter than the Treo 600.

OS: Pcoket PC 2003
Quad Band: 850/900/1800/1900
Screen: 240x320 pixels touch screen
Camera : 1.3MP
Misc: MMS / Java / WAP WLan / Bluetooth / IRDA / USB Video (?) / Audio recorder+player / SD/MMC

[read on MS Mobiles]
[BenQ P50 info on Brighthand]
[pre Order on Expansys]

Alienware's Aurora ALX flies at 4GHz

Alienware, the famous super-hi-end PC Maker is offering a Pentium 4 running at an incredible 4Ghz speed. There are no 4Ghz CPUs on intel's Catalog however. Alienware is "overclocking" the processor on their "Area 51 ALX" Series. Overclocking means that the processor is being run beyond the speed that it was originaly built for. This can lead to the overheating of the Processor. While this is a common practice for Hard Core enthusiasts, it's the first time (that I know of) that a manufacturer is doing it. Alienware is preventing overheating by using liquid cooling, a system found in hi-end PCs only. In addition of having a fast Central Processing Unit (CPU), the machine is equipped with 1GB to 4GB of RAM, up to several 10000rpm Hard drives a hi-end Graphics Card and can cost beyond $5500.

[read on Cnet]
[Alienware]
[Alienware Aurora ALX page]
Price: From $4964
Avail: Now.

(Thanks to Stephane Denis for the tip.)

Free ipod... if you go to Duke University

Duke University is going to give away iPods to their new freshmen. They say it's to encourage the use of innovative technologies on the campus. The ipods will come loaded with University content such as University information and academic calendar. There is also a special website modeled after the iTune one that allows the students to download course-content, language lessons recorded lectures or audio books. Students can also purchase music from that site.

Yeah, I'm sure that the students will keep all that academic information on their iPods... the program is going to cost half a million bucks. If I was getting a loan to pay for my tuition I know how I would react to that kind of spending. Doh.



[read on Duke News]
Price: Free
Avail : Now

LG shows a 55" LCD TV

The armsrace in the LCD TV world continues and LG has the latest, greatest and biggest (the ultimate benchmark for LCD TVs) LCD screen. This 55" marks (for me at least) the point where LCD becomes, at least in size, a real competitor for DLP / LCos TVs. Right now, prices are really the issue, but we all know how consumer electronics prices tends to fall, so all you need is patience.

This LG TV is equipped with Digital Signal processing (whatever that means). Basically LG Claims that their Image quality is better (how original, hu?). The best part, for me is the 1920x1080 (1080p) resolution of the screen.

[LG website (Korean) ]

Download your Netfix movies in your TIVO box

The reason why I do not subscribe to Netflix is because I don't like to have to know what movie I will want to watch in one or two days.

It might just get better. Netflix and Tivo are going to announce a deal in which users will be able to download Netflix movies (using a regular DSL/Cable internet connection) into their Tivo boxes. The specific economics are not known yet.

The prospect of being able to download Netflix movies is rather interresting because it removes my main problem. However, I have to wonder how long it's going to take to download the movie and how practical this is really going to be. It's a good step forward, especially as I think that the download speeds are going to increase. In the meantime, depending on your internet connection, the download might actually last one or several hours. It's still better than mail, though ;)

[read on PVRBlog]

T-mobile SDA will be the cheapest MS Smartphone ever

The T-mobile SDA is in fact the Qtek 8020 mentionned on this site on aug 30. SDA stands for "Smartphone Digital Assistant". MsMobile is saying that the device will be sold for 269.95 Euros *without* subcription. That means that it could be practically free *with* a subscription. The specs are VGA camera, Bluetooth, joystick. Hopefuly, T-Mobile USA will follow shortly.



[read on MsMobiles.com]
[original info source]
Avail : mid Sept 2004 (Germany).

Samsung SPH-V5400 Cellphone with a 1.5GB hard drive

The first pictures of the SPH-V5400 are popping up on the web. This is the first cellphone that features a hard drive. The storage capacity is 1.5GB, which is quite amazing. The significance of this phone is that we have reached a point where those hard drives are small enough and low-power enough to be practically used in a cellphone. Other than that, the SPH-V5400 also has a cool Organic LED (OLED) screen, with a 128x128 resolution (I believe that's for the external screen).

[gallery]
Price: About $800
Release: In South Korea only, at this point. (yeah, yeah, I know.)

M-Cody MX100 Mp3 Player with IR Remote

The M-Code MX-100 is a small Music Player. it measures 82.7x32.6x21mm and weighs only 42g. It has a cool 16 bits (65536 colors) screen and can play MP3, WMA, ASF and WAV formats. The MX-100 also features a FM Tuner. It also acts as a voice recorder, which is a convenient thing, if you want to... deduct it in your tax declaration for professional use :). It connects to your PC by USB 2.0. The battery life is 35h, which, for me, is enough.

The M-cody MX-100 also has an Infra Red (IR) Remote Control capabiliy. The idea is not new. Many PDAs or cellphones can be used as IR Remotes, I just don't believe that this feature is going to be useful. It's too much of a hassle to program those things to mimic another Remote.

[read on I4U]
[product page (Japanese)]

Creative Muvo2 FM 5GB Hack

The Muvo2 4GB does not contain a removable Compact Flash anymore? No problem, the Muvo2 FM 5GB does have a hackable 5GB Compact Flash card. Better, there is a very well documented article on how to remove the card and use it in your favorite device. It's a delicate operation, but if you know what you are doing, you might end up with a 5GB Compact Flash for a fraction of the price. Good luck.

[read on Virtual Zone]
[Muvo2 FM 5GB homepage]
Price: $200-$230

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Misc:
A saw that will not cut your finger
Peugeot's Quark fuel-cell four-wheeler for the road
Hands On Review : Robosapien
Build your Kondo KHR-1 Combat Robot
Army Tactical Laser "Mobile Edition"
Apple's new iMac shown in Paris
Sony's QRIO Robot endorsed by UNESCO
Robocop conducts security patrol in Fukuoka

Phones / Wireless:
NEC's 3D display for cell phones
Orange is launching Push-to-Talk for the Treo 600 in Europe
Bone Conduction cellphone headset (Japanese)
Pictures of the Samsung SGH-i530 smartphone
Sony Ericsson GC83 EDGE/GPRS PC Card
Samsung is adopting NFC technology from Philips
Motorola A630 launch imminent?
Another MS-"Smartphone" coming: the Qtek8020

PDAs:
Review of the HP ipaq hx4700
Dell's answer to the Toshiba e800

Audio/Video:
Panasonic CN-HS400D GPS/Entertainment system
Panasonic TH-AE700 uses the "Dynamic Iris" technology
Dell's News: new 26-inch LCD TV
Zen Portable Media Center from Creative
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V3
Hush ATX Media Center 2005

Review of the HP ipaq hx4700

With specs like 640x480 VGA screen, 624Mhz Xscale CPU, Wifi and BlueTooth, the hx4700 is at the edge of PocketPC technology. Toshiba started it all with it's e800 PDA. The ipaq runs on Windows Mobile 2003 Edition which allows the switching between portrait & landscape modes. Now, web browsing starts to be really cool on a PDA...

[read on CNet]
[read on ZDnet]
Price: $650