
A heap of downloadable PDF manuals for gadgets, electronic products and assorted appliances. If you can’t find something, perhaps you can upload a manual yourself and help the database grow. Pretty cool stuff.
Glittery. Strange. Futuristic. No, we're not talking about some of the options you'll find at the iPhone's upcoming SDK App store. We're talking about some of the crazy items that were displayed at this year's Computex Trade show, in Taipei, Taiwan.
The Computex event is not only one of the world's largest technology conferences in the world (alongside CeBit and CES), but we think it's slightly ahead of the others in terms of randomness and scope. After all, where else can you find a dust-filled, fanless industrial computer box shaking maddeningly right next to a bunch of panda-shaped USB devices, all with a too-satisfied expression on their face? Nowhere else. Outside of the Wired offices, that is.
PC World has a gallery up of some of the craziest stuff at this year's event, including a notebook with a swivel neck that drops down into your lap, and a little USB-ported alien doll that hits itself on the head with a hammer whenever someone sends you an IM.
And you thought the big news coming out of this event this year was the new line of Asus Eee PCs. What were you thinking?
Source: blog.wired.comHere’s a cute suede laptop bag for you to admire!
I’m totally loving the very chic design! It’s made from top quality calfskin leather and suede.
Fits 15″ laptops and has detachable cellphone and PDA pockets.
Where to buy: Elifbag
Price: $499.00
1. A hat that shields you in style
Channel your inner fashionista with this Coolibar packable wide-brim hat. Unlike the average hat, which offers an SPF of 6 to 10, this version protects you with an SPF of 50 — and it springs back into shape after being stuffed in a suitcase or tote. ($30; coolibar.com)
2. A toothbrush that has it all
Forget grubby, hard-to-clean toothbrush cases. Just turn the dial on fresh&go's toothbrush to dispense the paste — the handle holds 2 weeks' worth — then snap the cap back on to keep contaminants at bay. ($10 for six; freshandgousa.com)
3. A pill case that reminds you
If someone in your family is packing meds, help her stay on schedule with E-pill 7-Day Organizer and Reminder, a case that sorts medicine by time and day. It includes an alarm that beeps when a dose is due or missed. Program up to 37 alerts; they'll reset automatically at midnight. ($70; epill.com)
4. Toiletries that lighten your load
Leave bulky bottles at home: Travelon toiletry sheets won't weigh down your bags. Simply add water to a paper-thin sheet, which dissolves into hand soap, shampoo--even laundry detergent! The cases are smaller than a deck of cards. ($5 each; travelonbags.com)
5. A necklace that stores emergency info
This password-protected "thumb drive" holds electronic versions of medical histories, prescriptions, emergency contact info, and more. Use the Portable Travel Profile to print out copies — or have a doctor plug it into any computer if you're hospitalized. ($30; portabletravelprofile.com)
6. Headwear that keeps you cool and burn free
The High UV Protection Buff headpiece is a seamless, moisture-wicking tube of fabric that can be worn at least 12 different ways and offers 95% UV protection. Dip it into cold water and loop it around your neck to keep from overheating on a hike, or fold it into a sweatband for yoga — the CoolMax fabric dries in less than an hour. ($22; buff.us)
7. Pills that banish bloat
Everything from harried airport eating to changes in altitude can make you bloated while flying. For insurance against painful gas, take two Charco-Caps before takeoff. Unlike other products that break down gas bubbles, studies show that the charcoal in these pills attracts and traps gas, which makes the remedy an even better way to head off an embarrassing problem. ($7; charcocaps.com)
8. Earplugs that ease pressure
Flying is painful if you're congested or have sensitive ears, so pop in a pair of EarPlanes before your plane leaves the runway. Filters inside the silicon plugs regulate air pressure to keep you comfy during ascent and descent. A pair of the disposable plugs is good for a round-trip flight. ($6; cirrushealthcare.com)
9. Socks that ward off blood clots
If your legs swell during long flights, these circulation-enhancing socks can help. They're tight in the right places to increase blood flow, reducing your risk of deep-vein thrombosis, a dangerous blood clot more likely to occur during periods of immobility. Your odds of DVT go up if you recently had surgery, have a family history of the condition or a genetic predisposition to clots — or, simply, if you've had your 60th birthday. ($30; travelsox.com)
10. A patch to prevent sunburn
Before you go hiking or lounge on the beach, apply a SunSignal sticker. The bandagelike patch turns from yellow to dark orange when you've hit your limit on UVB, so you won't get a dose that raises the risk of skin cancer. ($5; sunhealthsolutions.com)
11. A bracelet that repels bugs
The geraniol in BugBand bracelets, towelettes, and sprays is the strongest plant-based bug repellent out there. Independent studies show that the spray is as effective as DEET against mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and gnats. Use the bracelet when the bugs aren't as thick; it provides less coverage. ($1 and up; bugband.net)
12. A portable way to purify water
It's hard to enjoy the wonders of a new place if you're worried about drinking the water. The lightweight Steripen Traveler water purifier kills more than 99% of illness-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites with no chemical aftertaste: Just swish the ultraviolet wand in your glass. ($100; steripen.com)
13. A GPS that finds help faster
Save precious minutes in case of emergency: A few taps on the TomTom One 3rd Edition Global Positioning System is all it takes to get directions to the nearest hospital or police station. (With other GPS devices, you have to manually search for nearby hospitals and such.) Lost? Press "Where Am I?" and your coordinates appear. ($200; tomtom.com)
Source: msn.com
Qik (pronounced 'quick') lets you share moments of your life with your friends, family and the world - directly from your mobile phone! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3:
What are you waiting for? Sign Up here.
NextWave Wireless has joined forces with Taiwan manufacturer Dmedia to produce a mobile WiMAX device that will make its debut in the first half of 2009.
Dmedia is a GPS OEM/ODM firm that owns dmobile, a mobile phone manufacturer. NextWave says that the two firms will make a device that will use NextWave's WiMAX chipset to deliver robust features such as NextWave's MXtv mobile broadcast service, streaming video, video conferencing and VOIP.
This news follows NextWave's announcement at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last February that the company had collaborated with Finish firm Elektrobit on a reference design based upon NextWave's WiMAX chipset. Together, the two firms had hoped that the design would help bring WiMAX handset reference designs to market quicker.
Polaroid used to by synonymous with analog camera prints that developed in about a minute. Those prints cost about $1.20 each, but it was such fun that nobody cared about the cost. Then, digital cameras arrived on the scene with their ultra-convenient LCDs, and technology passed Polaroid by.
This July, Polaroid may be getting its mojo back with the PoGo, an inkless digital photo printer slightly bigger than a deck of cards that prints 2 x 3-inch snapshots. It uses Zink (no ink) technology, which uses heats dye crystals in paper to create prints. The prints don’t smudge, are water-resistant and are almost tearproof.
The PoGo prints pictures from cellphones via Bluetooth in about a minute, with the paper costing about 33 cents a sheet. For digital cameras, it connects easily through USB PictBridge. The colors and clarity of the prints looked surprising good to me (a sample after the Continue jump below). I used one as a Post-It by peeling off the back of the print (it’s sticky) and sticking it to my girlfriends' door.
With the small prints this is only a run-and-gun solution — great for school or at a party, or anyone who wants the old-skool instant gratification of a Polaroid. Priced at $150, the PoGo will be in stores July 6.
Source: dvice.com
Apple Store Is Down
Best not make any plans today.
The Apple store is down,
new shit is on its way.
A tablet Mac or new SDK.
Doesn't matter,'cause it's Apple, As long as Steve goes slow in the keynote:
"Had a great business year, our future success is clear.CHORUS
But I have just one more thing to show before I disappear.
And I think it's the most exciting thing that we are gonna launch this year.
Boom it's here."Listen, Steve, my friends and I
have decided that it's okay that you know (whoa)
that we don't want for you to die.
If it happened the stock would flatten.
So if you go, go slow!
I need a new boat.
"My hair is gone. I'm grizzled gray. Retire you ask? Not today.CHORUS
'cause I have just one more thing to show before I disappear.
It might be the most important product that we're gonna launch this year.
Boom it's here."BRIDGE: My head is swimming; my mouth is dry. I hardly can believe that I am worthy to be in this distortion field.
CHORUS
'cause I want just one more thing to own before I disappear.
And my life needs one more thing to glow to add a little cheer.
Oh thank god it's here.
Source: gizmodo.com
EYE-FI WIRELESS CAMERA CARD ($80 TO $130)
One hassle of using technology while away is transferring photos from your camera to your computer or favorite Web site. The Eye-Fi wireless camera card is an SD memory card for your camera, but it connects to a wireless network to upload your photos from your camera to your computer or favorite photo-sharing Web sites. So there's no need for a cable or card reader.
The company now offers three versions of the card. All three have 2GB of storage space and are compatible with PCs and Macs.
The entry-level model lets you wirelessly transfer your photos to your computer. The mid-priced version allows you to transfer photos to your computer and to a photo-sharing Web site. The high-end model does all of that and gives you a year of free access to more than 10,000 hot spots to wirelessly upload your photos while you are on the road. It also adds location tags to your photos to help you organize them.
SANDISK ULTRA II SD PLUS CAMERA CARD ($35 TO $100)
Another option for making photo transferring easier is the SanDisk Ultra II SD Plus, which morphs like a Transformer from one device to another. After taking your photos, pull the card out of your camera, flip it open to reveal a USB adapter and connect to a USB port in your computer to view and transfer your images.
QUIK POD ($25 TO $70)
Traveling with your significant other is great, except for the photos. Since one of you has to take the picture, you end up with the same photos of each of you standing in front of the beach or a monument. You could ask a stranger to take your picture, but who wants to bother somebody every time you see a photo-op?
The Quik Pod is an expandable little rod that attaches to your digital camera. You can adjust the distance and angle of your camera and when you are ready to take a picture, set your camera's timer, hold it out and smile. There's even a tiny mirror on it so you can make sure your hair looks good before you snap the photo.
I used the Quik Pod when I was in Las Vegas this year, and it produced nice photos of me and my fiance. It did take some trial and error to get the positioning of the camera right. And if you use it, count on drawing attention to yourself. While we were using the Quik Pod, several people came up and asked us what it was and where we got it.
The Quik Pod fits all cameras and camcorders that have a standard tripod fitting.
BELKIN MINI SURGE PROTECTOR WITH USB CHARGER ($25)
Ever unplug the lamp in a hotel room to charge your cell phone or plug in your computer? I know I have. Traveling with lots of electronics means having to find outlets to plug them in and charge them up when it's time to retire for the night. And because most hotel rooms don't come with power strips, you often have to spread your chargers throughout the room (including the bathroom) or unplug something.
The Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger plugs into a single plug on an outlet and lets you charge up to five devices at once. There are three outlets and two USB slots, which are great because many devices, including iPods, can be charged via USB.
It also comes with a mini USB-to-USB cable, which is compatible with many cell phones and BlackBerrys.
Source: ohio.com
Besides, the phone is compatible with multi-media file formats such as MP3/M4A/AAC/eAAC+/WMA. The GPS system of the phone is pre-loaded with Nokia maps of eight cities. And users can search for points of interest across 52 categories such as bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels. Some of the other features of the Nokia N78 phone are:
“We are moving towards ‘context aware Internet’, where people need to know what is available in a place they visit,” he said. For example, if a person with N78 is visiting the Spencer’s Plaza, information on various stalls should automatically be fed into the device. This makes it easy for the user to go to the right shop, Nokia will use the Internet as a key medium to market the N78 devices among the youth. This will be in addition to the retail network,” said Vineet Taneja, Head of Go to Market, Nokia India Pvt Ltd.
The Nokia N78 phone will be available in India for the price of Rs, 19,990.
Source: techshout
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, unveiled a less expensive, faster and more powerful iPhone, almost a year after the original device helped spark a surge of interest in smart phones and positioned Apple as a leading player in the field.
The new model fixes some of the most glaring shortcomings of the iPhone, which brought Apple's renowned simplicity and functionality to mobile phones. Analysts said the announcements signalled Apple's intention to challenge Nokia for supremacy in the mobile phone market.
Most importantly the iPhone2.0 as Jobs called it, runs on 3G mobile networks rather than the slower Edge networks, and will sell for $199 for an 8GB device and $299 for a 16GB model. The original 8GB device sold for $599 when it went on sale last year. The new model will go on sale on July 11.
In addition to 3G capabilities, the new model also offers GPS location tracking, and is slightly thinner, has a full plastic back, solid metal buttons, 3.5-inch (9-centimetre) display, improved battery life, camera, a flush headphone jack and improved audio.
Speaking at Apple's World Wide Developer Conference, Jobs announced a slew of new applications for the iPhone, including a wireless system that automatically forwards e-mail to other devices, a friend-finding service called Loopt and mobile blogging software from TypePad. Another application called Cow Terry allows users to easily create songs on the phone.
Apple has sold more than 6 million units since the phone's debut and has the stated aim of selling 10 million units by the end of the year. Hoping to achieve and even surpass that goal, Jobs also announced a major push into the enterprise market where it hopes to take on the market leader, RIM's Blackberry with support for enterprise email and virtual private networks.
Jobs also said the new iPhone will be made available in more than 70 countries in the coming months, including virtually all of Latin American, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Britain, Ireland and many African countries, but not China or Russia.
Analysts said that the price cut and increased functionality reflected Apple's strategy to broaden the iPhone's market.
"With these announcements today, (Apple is) making a statement they want to overtake Nokia," said analyst Ken Dulaney of Gartner.
Crafted by Newman, it’s called the, ahem, “COOL MAN” MP3 player. And yes, those are their capital letters, not ours.
Inside there’s 1GB of flash memory, and it’ll churn out WMA and MP3 files without fuss.
Source: electricpig
It seems that Samsung R&D department is all about touchscreens recently. Yet another touch-based Samsung mobile phone picture leaked.
The Samsung i900 will feature Windows Mobile 6.1 OS. It will sport a spanking 3.5-inch touchscreen display with a 240 x 400 pixels resolution.
Other features of the quad-band handset are also quite impressive. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth v2.0 are on board, as well as GPS and FM radio. The camera is said to be a 5 megapixel one, and 7.2 Mbps HSDPA is also included for the fastest data transfers around.
The internal memory is expandable through the microSD card slot that will also support microSDHC cards. This amazing feature pack comes in the surprisingly compact dimensions of 112 x 56 x 12.5mm.
Our experience has shown that when something seems too good to be true it usually is, but let's wait and see if Samsung i900 will actually see day light at the Mobile World Congress in the beginning of February 2008.
For its Hands On Experience click hereYouMail, a free visual voice mail solution to organize cell phone messages like e-mail for online playback and response, announced on Thursday that customers can start viewing those same voice mail messages from their mobile phones.
By pointing the mobile browser to YouMail's home page, fans of the service can access their account with the usual login and pin to view contact's images, play back messages in any order, and forward or reply to voice messages in a form factor tailored from YouMail's servers to many high-end smartphones.
YouMail certainly isn't the first visual voice mail service to succeed in delivering transcribed messages to smartphones, which it does through a separate e-mail or SMS feature. Unlike some competitors for mobile voice message management, however, like PhoneTag (previously SimulScribe) and CallWave, YouMail's new service will retain the audio and organizational features of its rich online product.
The service will be ready for a wide variety of smartphones, YouMail said in a statement, including models from Research In Motion, Nokia, HTC, Morotola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and Palm. YouMail claims that YouMail's smartphone formula "even" works on iPhones, which already run on the full mobile Web with manufacturer Apple's Safari browser.
It’s interesting to see Google shifting more and more into the open source space and despite already having open projects, this is maybe Google’s “most open” so far. Jim Zhuang phrased it fittingly on the Google Open Source Blog:
For Gadgets for Linux, we don’t just want to simply release the final offering, but we also want to give everyone a chance to tinker with the code powering the gadgets. For this project, fostering a transparent and lively developer community is just as important as serving our users.
You can run the gadgets using either GTK or QT, but you still have to compile the project from scratch. As Jim said it hasn’t reached 1.0 yet and there are a few things to be polished, but it’s already stable and can run a lot of gadgets with full features. However, the stage of the project won’t be a problem for the Linux users out there, since they are used to compile themselves and dive into a project which is still in development.