DBC Network

Wednesday 29 December 2010

New Sony Ericsson Xperia

New Sony Ericsson Xperia with Android


sony ericsson xperia hallon


Sony Ericsson is preparing to launch a new range of Xperia smartphones. The confirmation comes from a couple of pictures taken by Sony Xperia X12 to the Sony Ericsson Hallon aka Anzu. Two news items in one!

A few days ago, we reported the first information on the future of the PlayStation Phone, according to rumor, should belong to the Xperia family. Surprisingly, emerging on the Web today some pictures of an unreleased Sony Ericsson Xperia smartphone too, but it is not the popular PlayStation Phone. The images show that Sony is preparing another family of Android, code-named LT15i and MT15i, both appeared on the Net.

Picasa offers an account of the device because some photographs taken by a 8 megapixel camera of Xperia X12. One of the models shows the Xperia logo immortalized, but at present we have no other details. According BlogOfMobile, the two mobile phones are based on an Android 2.3 Gingerbread and have code-named Hallon.

Sony has not announced availability or launch dates of the two devices, but we can assume that will be launched at CES 2011 (January) or at the MWC 2011 (February).

VLC player for Android

VLC player for Android in early 2011


vlc


The development team ensures that the port of the VLC player on Android will be completed in early 2011. Tablet and Android smartphone will become even more versatile and multimedia.

VLC, one of the most popular player because the open-source, it is able to reproduce all or almost all formats without the need to install plugin, will be available soon for Android.

The developers confirm that the landing of the VLC player mobile OS sponsored by Google “is a matter of weeks.” That concludes the porting VLC to Android clamored for by the users and on which we are working on for sometime.

An essential step of the procedure was the release of Android NDK, containing many of the libraries of VLC. Only negative: the development team thought that the VLC media player does not work perfectly on any Android based devices.

Asus OiPlay Mini

Asus O!Play Mini Specifications and Price



Asus O!Play Mini


Asus launches mini version of the popular O!Play multimedia player. Despite its small size, many supported formats and has a HDMI video output. More Asus O!Play Mini Specifications.

Asus has recently extended its known range of media players by introducing Asus O!Play Mini , a compact version of the most generous O!Play HD2. Despite its small size and lack of USB 3.0 (this is a USB 2.0 classic), O!Play Mini still manages to provide a rich multimedia experience, with the ability transfer a video signal to FullHD output resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) to external high-definition televisions.

The new model created by the Asus also has a versatile card slot for SD/MMC/MS/XD which boosts the storage capacity and playback of audio video content. Among other connections, we find a RCA jack and the S/PDIF multi-channel audio.

As expected, there are many formats. These include MP4, MOV, XVID, AVI, ASF, WMV, MKV and FLAC just to name a few. As for image formats, citing the JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF and TIFF. Asus O! Play Mini stands out from the media for the wide range of subtitle formats including SRT, SUB, SMI, IDX + SUB, SSA and TXT.

The Asus O!Play Mini has a Dolby Digital AC3 in 7.1 channel integrated and is compatible with TrueHD technology, DTS-HD and DTS 2.0 +. From this point of view, the player allows playback of audio with a high quality that goes well with its qualities of digital entertainment.

Besides any consideration of technical, compact dimensions and light weight are the main advantage of the Asus box. , Measuring 152 mm in width, 107 mm in length and 29 mm in height to 175 grams in total.

Asus O!Play, designed in a simple and sober, somewhat particular but can be easily matched to any decor and ambience, is expected during the first months of next year at a guide price of 90 dollars, equivalent to about 70 € .

Advantages of an online gadget shop

Advantages of an online gadget shop


n innovative new gadget just because they satisfy their curiosity and interest. There are some gadgets that are not practical or useful in many daily life, but still justify a unique feature to make a purchase. think

Unlike what people, electronic gadgets not only interested geeks or children. There are online shops like gadget with such a variety of devices now that people of all ages at least one gadget they can find and buy. This is in addition to the obvious fact that the next generation is always on the lookout for cool new gadgets and accessories.

One of the main reasons that you should choose an online store gadgets is the “early adopter” factor. Buy a gadget online means you get the gadget before it has someone else seen or even heard of. If you try to find the newly imported gadgets in a conventional market, you need a lot of time looking around at different stores waste. No body has that much time anyway. Then there is the money you spend while traveling to the city markets in search of the product. Online store gadgets makes the process much easier and less stressful than you can shop right from your home or work computer to do. One more reason you should buy a gadget from an online gadget shop is that if you have some time to take to different online stores, compare you the opportunity, products and prices in different places at . get Rather than turn your time and energy and money on fuel by visiting several shops on the gadgets that you can do the job in minutes by going to get some well-known gadget shops. In addition to an online shop gadget allows you to easily check what other people have now and what’s popular and new very easily. All in all, the online gadget store is the best way to buy a gadget.

rechargeable batteries are a vintage gadget's Achilles' heel

One of my favorite activities around the holidays is visiting my ever-growing collection of discontinued (and often hilariously outdated) mobile hardware that I keep in storage. It's an annual tradition for me -- an opportunity to pull stuff out of the box, make sure all the devices, accessories, and documentation are insect- and vermin-free, clean the battery contacts, blow off a years' worth of dust, and generally check that everything's in good working order. Let me tell you, I feel like a kid in a candy store each and every time I pull out and open those bins. I'll know that when I stop feeling that way, it's time to sell off the collection -- but for now, it's still every bit as exciting as when I started buying random gadgets from my childhood a decade ago.

On the surface, you might assume that electronics are timeless. They're made of materials that are designed for daily use and abuse, after all, and it'd be easy to think that a gadget left in storage -- unused -- would remain in exactly the same condition as the day you left it. I've learned the hard way, though, that the reality is a little more unpleasant: plastics seem to dry out and become brittle as the years go by, and things start cracking and shattering. Boxes and packaging degrade, almost as if they're recycling themselves whether you like it or not. And batteries -- particularly alkalines -- will leak all over the place, eating through circuitry and oxidizing contacts beyond repair.

And actually, in many cases, it turns out that batteries are the single biggest threat to preserving the legacy of these little time capsules. From my experience, everything else can be pretty effectively managed -- you just keep devices stored in a cool, relatively dry place, and as long as you handle both boxes and the gadgets themselves with kid gloves, you probably won't break anything. Batteries are a different story.

They've stagnated a bit over the past several years, but looking at the broader picture over a couple decades, both battery technology and power management circuitry in mobile devices have taken a number of quantum leaps. We've gone from giant, heavy lead acid and gel cells -- effectively car batteries -- to nickel cadmium, to nickel-metal hydride, to several generations of lithium-ion. On the power management front, we've learned how to maximize battery lifespans by regulating the current delivered to them, power supplies have moved from heavy bricks inside the case to ridiculously tiny wall adapters, and usually, you no longer have to have a battery installed for a plugged-in device to be powered on. Seriously, the level of sophistication is mind boggling: a modern lithium-ion cell can pack nearly half the energy density of TNT and still deliver it in a perfectly controlled fashion (well, most of the time).

When a battery rolls off the factory line -- be it rechargeable or single-use, regardless of chemistry -- its death warrant is effectively signed.

Problem is, even the most thoroughly modern battery on the market today has an expiration date. When a battery rolls off the factory line -- be it rechargeable or single-use, regardless of chemistry -- its death warrant is effectively signed. Some will die sooner from use since lithium-ion cells are only good for a certain number of charge cycles, but even an unused battery will eventually become a paperweight with the crushing, unrelenting march of time. For your Nokia or your MacBook, that's not really a problem -- these devices have been manufactured in such ridiculous quantities that OEM batteries will be available for many, many years to come and third-party batteries for many more years beyond that. More importantly, you'll tire of these gadgets long before the supply of batteries will -- and they're too common to ever become collectible.

For vintage equipment, though, the story is a much bleaker one. Assuming their batteries have been properly removed and stored separately, the devices themselves should be physically unharmed, but getting them powered on is another matter altogether. No widely-accepted standards for the sizes, shapes, and power outputs of rechargeable batteries exist even today, much less in the late 80s and early 90s; tablets, PDAs, and early laptops often require their own proprietary NiCad packs that you'll never hope to find. If you're lucky, you might be able to salvage one off eBay or Craigslist, but it's an empty victory -- none of these batteries have been manufactured in the last decade, and they're all totally dead and useless. In the worst cases, these devices require a functional battery to be powered on, regardless of whether they're plugged into the wall. In a way, it feels like the saddest, most artificial and unnecessary form of "bricking" you can imagine.

If you're handy around a soldering iron and you've got a good electronics supply store nearby, you might be able to MacGyver something.

Sometimes, these batteries were little more than a handful of standard NiCad cells soldered together and heat-shrunk to form a single pack. If you're handy around a soldering iron and you've got a good electronics supply store nearby, you might be able to MacGyver something. But the fact remains that hundreds of models of devices that were absolutely critical in shaping the smartphones, tablets, netbooks, smartbooks, and notebooks we're all using today are at risk of being rendered dead simply because you can't find a battery for them.

Is there a solution? I'm not sure -- but I hope so. What I'd like to see is a company that specializes in the just-in-time manufacture of rare or discontinued battery types. Creating a company like that and making it profitable probably requires technology or techniques that haven't yet been invented -- and even so, you'd undoubtedly be paying a massive premium to commission such a battery pack -- but for vintage electronics enthusiasts like myself who want to preserve the legacy and impact that these devices have had, $100 (or more) might seem like a small price to pay to see that crappy monochrome LCD come to life one more time.

Logitech Z520 Speaker

gadget maniak | Logitech Z520 Speaker



Here’s LogicBUY’s latest gadget deal of the day, today’s deal offers Logitech Z520 speaker system for $54.95 after 45% coupon. The Logitech Z520 features natural acoustics, 360-degree sound that project evenly in all directions, upward-angled for desktop listening and aux input for your iPod or MP3 player.

  • 360-degree sound helps project audio evenly in all directions, so you get a great listening experience throughout the room
  • Amplified two-way design realistically reproduces sound for clear, natural acoustics
  • 26 watts (RMS) of power, means it’s loud enough for a party and detailed enough for subtle tones
  • Auxiliary input lets you quickly plug in your iPod without having to unplug the speakers from your computer
  • Easy to set up, especially with notebook computers

Sunday 26 December 2010

Pocket Pro II Camcorder, FREE 4GB Sandisk Memory Card with Adapter, 3.5 Hrs Battery Power, TIME and DATE (On or Off)


  • 3+ Hour Battery Power Guaranteed, 4GB Micro SDHC Memory Card w/ Adapter included
  • 640x480p for Computer & TV playback or 320x240p for Handheld Devices and Chats like Skype, MSN
  • Sensitive Mic for Distant Audio Recording, Great for Everyday Use, Business Meetings, Witness Statements
  • Plug & Play Windows 2000/ME/XP/Vista/Win7/Mac OS 10.4

Ultimate Gadgets offers only the Genuine Pocket Pro II Camcorder. We include a FREE 4GB SanDisk Memory Card w/ adapter. Time & Date Display (On or Off), Quality Color Video in 640*480 Resolution or 320*240 perfect resolutions for TV & PC and for hand-held devices, for uploading video to online services like Skype, Msn Messenger and Yahoo.

The Pocket Pro II will accept up to 16GB Memory Cards. (8GB with hold over 3 Hours of Video in High-Resolution 640×480).

Broadcast Quality Video and audio has never been easier. Time & Date display for Evidence Documentation.

Ultimate Gadgets is the OEM Developer and Importer for the Genuine Pocket Pro II. Other sellers may be offering knockoff products. Ultimate Gadgets includes the one-year free repl

Cool Gadget Gifts...



Cool Gadget Gifts

Cool gadgets are hard to find under $100. For those of us out there who love to play with cool gadgets but can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars on them. Here's some of the coolest gadgets you can find on the market for under $100 - and they won't ruin your reputation as a excellent gift-giver!

If you have piles of photo albums and boxes of loose pictures and negatives, maybe it's time to convert those old photos into new digital images! It will it save you from worry about losing or damaging them - they'll be protected and organized and ready to share with future generations!

From negative scanners to portable photo converters, you're sure to find some cool gadgets for under $100 from companies like Crosley, Hammacher Schlemmer, Improvements, and Brookstone!

Tired of in the way wires? Try a wireless printer! Wireless printers allow you to print from any room in the house and beyond! The HP e-All-in-One ePrint printer lets you e-mail photos and documents from your smartphone, laptop, or any other e-mailing device!

e-Readers are becoming popular fast, which makes it hard to get in on the hype because popularity has influenced the price. But fear not wanna-be e-readers! Buying used e-readers is a cheap and easy way to get your favorite cool gadget - and they best part is they still work like new! You can find the Sony E-Book Reader used for around $95 - what a deal!

How many times have you had to run out of the house with a dead cellphone battery because the charger was being used? Well stress no more, the myGrid and Powermat chargers let you drop-and-charge multiple devices at once! You can even go green and use Surge charging products that use solar energy to charge your iPhone or iPod Touch!

A photograph is worth a thousand words, but if you catch it on tape it could be worth more! Aside from catching your friends doing hilarious stunts, camcorders are also great for capturing evidence for covert missions or security purposes, and they work great as a nanny or spy cam!
They're cool gadgets you can gift during any time of the year!

For the creative shutterbug in your life, try a Polaroid 300 Instant Film Camera (about $80)! They're retro and cool but also updated for hipsters and kids who like documenting their adventures.

Whatever cool gadgets you fall in love with this holiday season, you're sure to be able to find them new or used for under $100 if you do a little digging. Happy hunting!

iSymphony LCD19iH56 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with Built-In DVD Player, Black


  • 18.5″ sceen with 16:9 aspect ratio
  • Built-In progressive scan DVD Player
  • 1366 x 768 native resolution for HD performance
  • Beautiful color depth with a dynamic contrast ratio of 10000:1
  • HDMI input for true digital connection

The iSymphony LCD19iH56 is a 19-Inch 720p HD LCD Television with a Built-In DVD Player. The TV has 1366 x 768 native resolution and wide-screen (16:9 aspect ratio) for a complete home theater experience. The super high picture quality has been realized by iSymphony engineering with high brightness for a vivid and brilliant picture and with high contrast for deeper blacks and brighter whites. The ATSC TV tuner is integrated for over-the-air HDTV broadcast reception. HDMI input is provided so that the digital signals for both video and audio will be transferred without any degradation from Blu-ray Disc Player, DVD Player, Game Player, or Cable/Satellite Box. A VGA port is also provided so that you can use the TV as a computer monitor.


List Price: $ 219.99

GADGET GIFTS UK STORE OFFER EVERYTHING YOU NEED



When it comes to buy gifts for your loved ones during the festive season or on some other occasion then loads of confusion surrounds people. They get confused and not able to decide which thing to buy for whom. If you are also surrounded by this kind of confusion and not able to stick to one particular thing then gadgets and gifts are what you need to consider. These days, gadgets have become the choice of almost everyone and in market; you can find gadgets for both men and women. Thus, you can buy them to gift to everyone you want. Now the question that must be popping up in most of the readers minds is from where to buy gadgets. It is true that when we buy electronic items and gadgets we want to buy them from reputed and trustworthy stores so that the gadgets are durable.

One way to get the best deals in gadgets is shopping through online stores. These online stores not just sell gadgets and gifts of good quality but at affordable prices as well. Gadget Gifts UK stores are the best stores in online market that people trust for buying gadgets. If you also want to get the best gadgets available in the market, then searching these stores will be the best thing to do. These stores offer good quality gadgets and latest too. These stores sell gadgets that one cannot find anywhere else and thus many people just want to buy gifts from these stores only.

However, gadgets can be gifted to men, women, and grownups. When you want to buy gifts for kids then look for toys for boys and girls. At these online stores, you can find toys as well. These stores offer a huge variety in the category of toys and you can easily find the toy of your choice for your kid. In all one can say that that these offer a complete range of gifts from kids to grownups.

How to Make that New Smartphone Actually Smart


Your X-Mas wish came true! Santa wisely consulted one of our best-of-the-best lists and left you a shiny new smartphone under the tree. So, uh, now what? Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting that bad boy up and running.

Getting Started
Out of the box, most smartphones aren’t all that smart. In fact, many can be downright idiotic. Prepping your new pocket ‘puter means some hand-holding, which also means slogging through a checklist of occasionally tedious (but necessary) steps. Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Remember, this device will be your constant companion for the next year or two. So you’ll want to start the relationship off right.

How to Make that New Smartphone Actually Smart

Pre-charging Tip

Regardless of the specific smartphone you received for the holidays, the weakest link is likely its battery. Treating your Li-ion with respect will not only extend the life and usefulness of your new phone, but also boost its resale value—just in case you decide to dump to back on the market prematurely. Lucky for you, almost all the major manufacturers offer guidance here, including Palm, Apple, and BlackBerry. What they won’t tell you, however, is that you must resist the urge to immediately charge your smartphone. Yup, let that 30-60 percent charge go down to zero before plugging in. Juicing up your smartphone in its half-charged state will make the battery components settle faster. That, in turn, will mean it won’t be able to re-charge as efficiently in the future. Ideally, you should always wait for the battery to drain before recharging to maintain good health, but the occasional slip won’t matter much. If you really want to understand these fickle little bricks, check out our Giz explains feature on why batteries die.

Moving Your Data

How to Make that New Smartphone Actually SmartContacts: Why no one has figured out how to make this process easier is beyond us. Anyhow, here are a few options for shuffling all your contacts to your new handset:

• The easiest way is to simply have your carrier to do it. This option is particularly useful if you’re upgrading on the same carrier. Stop by your local retail store and a service rep should be able to transfer them in a minute or two. Beware: If you’re switching carriers, there may be a small fee associated with the contacts relocation. Be sure to ask.
• If you have a GSM phone, you can also use its SIM card to make the transfer. These days almost every phone (smart or dumb) will have an option to ‘write all contacts’ to a SIM card. After you’ve done this, simply remove your old card and slide it into your new phone. Be sure to transfer all your contacts from the old SIM onto your new phone’s memory, as you’ll be taking the old SIM out again. This, of course, won’t work for CDMA (SIM-less) carriers. Sorry, Verizon and Sprint customers.

• You can also use Google Sync and a protocol called SyncML to make the transfer. Google Sync supports quite a few smartphones, including the iPhone, as well as ones from Nokia, Windows, and BlackBerry. Once it pulls all your old contacts into your Google account, you can go back to the cloud and make it rain contacts.

How to Make that New Smartphone Actually SmartEmail: Depending the phone, e-mail can either be a tremendous pain in the ass or a breeze. You’re first step is, again, consulting the manufacturers: Most, like Apple, Google, Palm and Microsoft, offer quick setup guides. Note that depending on the service provider and phone, Exchange and Gmail setups will be completely different. Here’s a good rule of thumb to keep in mind during the process: use IMAP (not POP). This will keep your messages and their read/unread statuses in sync with your desktop clients. Because most of your e-mail downloading will be still be happening over 3G for now, you’ll also want to set some limits. A 10 kb cap for individual message sizes is best. This can help boost the speed of your incoming messages.

Calendars: Google Calendar users have it the easiest—particularly if they’re using a new Android phone. By default, your calendars will automatically sync with your phone. The Pre 2 will do this too, while the iPhone needs to be configured with CalDav.

Media and Syncing:

A smartphone isn’t designed to be a solitary device. You’ll need to check in with home base (a desktop or laptop) now and again. That means you’ll be dealing with a cadre of desktop software to transfer personal info, music, videos and photos. If you’re a MobileMe customer, Apple takes care of syncing bookmarks, calendars, contacts for you over the air. Still, you’ll need to download iTunes to use and active your phone. For BlackBerry users, you can download the BlackBerry Desktop Manager. Windows phone 6.5 and 7 users are best served by Windows Device Center. And if you’re against using official software, Android and Palm phones (as well as Windows phones, iPhones and BlackBerrys) all play nice with doubleTwist, a cross-platform music player/media syncing app.

Converting Video: Your 32GBs are crying for content. But you can’t just copy all those torrented videos over to your smartphone. First you’ll need to encode them with something like Handbrake. You’re aiming for converting those files to 320×240 h.264 here. Most new smartphones will be able to play that back without a hitch.

How to Make that New Smartphone Actually Smart

Apps? Apps. Apps!

They can make or break a smartphone. So where do you go to find the essentials? There’s no better place than Giz. But before diving into the downloads, we recommend you familiarize yourself with the affiliated app stores. Here’s our comprehensive list and their respective advantages and disadvantages. Okay, now onto the apps!

iPhone: Your first stop should be Gizmodo’s Essential iPhone Apps Directory. It’s a compendium of the best of the best, and everything else you need to make your iPhone into a mobile powerhouse. If you’d rather not pay for apps, we got you covered too. Check out our Essential Free Apps. Just be careful. Those free versions seem to be stealing your personal info without asking. We also do regular posts and weekly roundups, so be sure to check them out too.

Android: Snag the Nexus S? You’ll want to hit up our 10 Best Android Apps roundup. Keep yours eyes peeled for our monthly roundups too for the latest additions to the store.

BlackBerry: Here, we defer to the specialists: CrackBerry not only does regular reviews, they even have their own app store. In many ways, it’s even better than BlackBerry’s official shop, which isn’t really saying much.

Palm: Palm doesn’t exactly have a thriving app store. While it’s a little dated, you can go through our Essential PalmOS roundup. Beyond that, PreCentral’s official app reviews are fairly fantastic. Also worth checking out is their extensive homebrew app gallery, which has about as many decent apps in it as the official catalog.

Windows Phone 7: First, peep our roundup of Windows Phone 7 Apps. Next, check out our list of seven essential apps. Done.

OS Tricks and Tips

Whether you’re coming to your smartphone’s operating system fresh or are a seasoned veteran, here are a few tips for getting the most out of your new device.
iOS: Double-tap quick app switching, killing background apps, fiddling with the wallpaper—our pals at Lifehacker cover them all.
Android: Gingerbread is here, y’all. Check out Google’s Senior VP of Product Management, Jonathan Rosenberg’s list of tips. They’re good.
WebOS: PreCentral has a nice basic list of WebOS tricks. And if you just snagged the Pre 2, check out Palm’s own site.
Windows Phone 7: Head over to Microsoft’s site for the basics.
Blackberry: You can either head over the BlackBerry’s official tips and tricks site, or read through TechRadar’s comprehensive list.

How to Make that New Smartphone Actually Smart

The Accessories
No smartphone is perfect. And frankly, it’s easy to go overboard on accessories that make up for those inevitable faults. Resist that urge. Remember, you’ll only be dumping more money into a device that you’re ditching in two years (maybe less). That said, there are definitely some worthwhile investments you can make. Here’s our list:
A Case: Yes, they can ruin the cut of your smartphone’s jib. But even with Gorilla Glass, liquid metal and all those other fancy materials, your new smartphone is heartbreakingly fragile. Put simply: You’re going to want a case. You can go crazy if you want, but there’s no need to spend much. Here’s our list of sub-$5 cases that’ll get the job done. The main thing to make sure of is that your device’s corners are covered. It’s the edge impacts that typically shatter the glass. We’ll remind you here of the same thing we did last year: You’re now stuck in a multi-thousand dollar contract with this one device, which itself costs hundreds of dollars to replace. So yeah, be careful.
Headphones: If your phone wasn’t your primary music player before, it is now. Step one: Throw out the headphones or headset it came with. Seriously, none of them are good. We love Bowers & Wilkins P5s if you want to pamper your ears a bit. If you’d rather go with something more discrete (and cheap), you can’t beat a pair of Shures either. Just remember, a decent pair of earphones will cost you 100 bones or more—with the exception of maybe the MC5s. It’ll be worth it as long as your digital music collection is up to the task.
Storage: Most smartphones either come with internal or “expandable storage. If yours falls into the latter category, it likely means it’s got an empty microSD slot somewhere. Rule of thumb: If your phone comes with less than 2GB of space and has said slot, you need to fill it. Go ahead and grab at least an 8GB microSD card. They can be found online for well under $20.
Cables: Picking up a spare charging cable for your phone is never a bad idea. For most smartphones this is a simple mini/microUSB cable. For iPhones, it’s an iPod dock connector. Trust us, you will lose them, and having a backup can be a life saving on road trips and in the office.

Cool Gadget

Cool Gadget Gifts



CοοƖ gadgets аrе hard tο find under 0. Fοr those οf υѕ out thеrе whο Ɩονе tο play wіth сοοƖ gadgets bυt саn’t afford tο spend hundreds οf dollars οn thеm. Here’s ѕοmе οf thе сοοƖеѕt gadgets уου саn find οn thе market fοr under 0 – аnԁ thеу won’t rυіn уουr reputation аѕ a ехсеƖƖеnt gift-giver!

If уου hаνе piles οf photo albums аnԁ boxes οf loose pictures аnԁ negatives, maybe іt’s time tο convert those οƖԁ photos іntο nеw digital images! It wіƖƖ іt save уου frοm worry аbουt losing οr damaging thеm – thеу’ll bе protected аnԁ organized аnԁ ready tο share wіth future generations! Frοm negative scanners tο portable photo converters, уου’re sure tο find ѕοmе сοοƖ gadgets fοr under 0 frοm companies Ɩіkе Crosley, Hammacher Schlemmer, Improvements, аnԁ Brookstone!

Tired οf іn thе way wires? Try a wireless printer! Wireless printers allow уου tο print frοm аnу room іn thе house аnԁ beyond! Thе HP e-AƖƖ-іn-One ePrint printer lets уου e-mail photos аnԁ documents frοm уουr smartphone, laptop, οr аnу οthеr e-mailing device! e-Readers аrе аƖѕο becoming рοрυƖаr fаѕt, mаkіnɡ іt hard tο ɡеt іn οn thе hype bесаυѕе popularity hаѕ influenced thе price. Bυt fеаr nοt wanna-bе e-readers! Buying used e-readers іѕ a cheap аnԁ easy way tο ɡеt уουr favorite сοοƖ gadget – аnԁ thеу best раrt іѕ thеу still work Ɩіkе nеw! Yου саn find thе Sony E-Book Reader (used) fοr around – whаt a deal!

Hοw many times hаνе уου hаԁ tο rυn out οf thе house wіth a near-dead cellphone battery bесаυѕе thе charger wаѕ being used? Well stress nο more, thе myGrid аnԁ Powermat chargers Ɩеt уου drop-аnԁ-charge multiple devices аt once! Yου саn even ɡο green аnԁ υѕе Surge charging products thаt υѕе solar energy tο charge уουr iPhone οr iPod Touch!

A photograph іѕ worth a thousand words, bυt іf уου catch іt οn tape іt сουƖԁ bе worth more! Aside frοm catching уουr friends doing hilarious stunts, camcorders аrе аƖѕο ɡrеаt fοr capturing evidence fοr covert missions οr security purposes, аnԁ thеу work ɡrеаt аѕ a nanny οr spy cam! Thеу’re сοοƖ gadgets уου саn gift during аnу time οf thе year!

Fοr thе creative shutterbug іn уουr life, try a Polaroid 300 Instant Film Camera (аbουt )! Thеу’re retro аnԁ сοοƖ bυt аƖѕο updated fοr hipsters аnԁ kids whο Ɩіkе documenting thеіr adventures.

Whatever сοοƖ gadgets уου fall іn Ɩονе wіth thіѕ holiday season, уου’re sure tο bе аbƖе tο find thеm nеw οr used fοr under 0 іf уου ԁο a ƖіttƖе digging. Hарру hunting!

Visit http://shopping.aol.com/articles/2010/11/11/сοοƖеѕt-gadgets/ fοr more сοοƖ gadgets!

Best Gadget Of The Year

MacBook Air Is Best Gadget Of The Year


Kevin Tofel, who writes about consumer mobile technology for GigaOM, yesterday posted list of his top seven favorite gadgets of 2010. He didn’t pick any winners, but he did inspire me to write a post of my own. Unlike Kevin, I decided to pick a winner.

I essentially focused on devices that are part of my daily life and were launched this year. My list had four devices: the iPad, the Sprint Overdrive Mobile Hotspot, the Sonos S5 and the MacBook Air. Having just acquired the Roku Box and the Microsoft Kinect, I didn’t quite have enough time with those two to make an informed decision, though at first blush, I absolutely love those two gizmos. Roku, incidentally is on NewTeeVee’s list of top five video gadgets of 2010.

My most important question when picking the device was actually pretty basic – can I live and work without the particular gadget? So from that perspective, here is my pick.

MacBook Air 2010 Edition:

The 2.13 GHz, 256 GB Storage, 4GB RAM, 13-inch screen version of the MacBook Air is my gadget of the year.

The Back Story


It is safe to assume that at some point or the other in my life, I have owned most if not all models of Apple’s PowerBook and MacBook line-up of portable computers since the introduction of OS X. Whether it is the aesthetics, or it is the ease of use of the software, I have always found working with Apple’s devices easier. However, there was one problem with them – they were almost always heavy, which was quite a pain considering that I travel a lot for work and often work from remote locations.

So three years ago when Apple announced the MacBook Air, I was quick to order it. It was underpowered – a slow processor, anemic memory capabilities, a tiny hard drive and a somewhat limited set of expansion options. The battery only compared to my stamina. Nevertheless, the weight of the device was right and it was worth the many compromises. It forced me to essentially respect the less is more philosophy in new ways. The Mac Book Air’s second version got a little better, especially as Apple offered SSD drive options. I upgraded and loved taking it along when I travelled. For other times, I used a 15-inch MacBook Pro.

A Machine For All Reasons

And then in October 2010, Steve Jobs introduced the new MacBook Air. The newly redesigned, unibody version of 2010 MacBook Air had some clever technology hacks, that improved the performance almost exponentially. Indeed, our own Apple channel here at GigaOM aptly dubbed this new MacBook Air “the future of notebooks.”

I had initially received the 13-inch 1.86 GHz version of the machine for review. I felt it was underpowered and wanted more storage and more memory. I ended up spending extra dollars and snapped up the top of the line unit and have not regretted it for a second. And within two hours of using this device, I knew it was time to make this my main machine.

A sturdy body and a great keyboard complemented a speedy SSD drive, faster processor and more memory. And the best part was – the battery lasted forever. Going to New York? No problems – this laptop cruised across the country without needing a charge. The dedicated graphics chip makes it easy to watch videos, which look so much better on the old fashioned screen. (I hate those glossy screens, for some odd reasons.)

More importantly, Apple made some tweaks that allowed the computer to turn on instantly and wake-up from sleep mode even faster when you flipped open the screen. Open the screen and start taking notes, writing a blog post, manipulate a photo or upload a video.

Getting on the web and replying to email is almost an instantaneous act. Furthermore, it doesn’t get hot like other Apple laptops – though Adobe’s Flash when used inside Safari or Mozilla Firefox does cause the computer temperature to go up – but since I use Google’s Chrome browser, it doesn’t matter that much to me.

Why is it my gadget of the year?


I use it almost 12-to-16 hours a day: in other words, it is almost always on. I often watch Netflix on it, I use it as my music console, I use it write, reply to emails and surf the web. It slides into my favorite bag (which unfortunately was too small for a regular laptop) where it snugly sits keeps company with my iPad, my Moleskin notebook, my Sprint 4G Overdrive Hot Spot and my beat-up Montblanc pen. It aesthetically pleasing, it is well constructed, it is well priced and it is not ostentatious. It is a classic, much like a well-made plain white shirt. I get more use from this device than anything else I own. It makes working fun.

And the One’s That Didn’t Make The Cut

My Runner-Up: Sonos S5, in tandem with the Sonos wireless dock is perhaps the second most used device in my apartment. It is a high-quality sound system, it is affordable and it has spectacular sound. If you live in a small apartment, this is a great option.

And in the third place: The iPad didn’t make the cut for the top spot, mostly because of my work rhythms and how I do it. And despite my own early excitement, I have not been able to make it an efficient part of my work flow.

That said, I read almost exclusively on the iPad, thanks to great apps like Evernote, Instapaper, Reeder and Flipboard. I often compose memos to myself using Writer and during baseball season, the At Bat app from MLB. In fact I wouldn’t know what to do during the baseball seasons without the iPad and MLB app.

And had the MacBook Air not shown up this fall, well, iPad would have been my runner-up for 2010.

Why Not a Single Phone?: You will notice that there isn’t a phone on the list – reason is simple: I have a love-hate relationship with by Blackberry Bold. I will not use the iPhone as long as it has network problems. Android doesn’t do it for me, but hopefully things will be different next year, especially from Samsung, which has started introducing great looking Galaxy Series of devices in the market.


I am currently enamored with the new Nokia X3-02 device – a feature phone that combines touch with traditional phone elements. It is inexpensive, it is super sleek and it has enough web services built into it to make it useful in the brave new world of connected phones. It is aesthetically appealing and is well-designed phone, though the build in camera is of poor quality.

Polaroid iPhone skin


Available for the iPod, iPad and also all versions of the iPhone, if you fancy giving your device an old polaroid instant camera look, you might want to check out the new Polaroid skin for iPhone – designed by Ryan Astle, a graphic designer
/ production artist living in New Brunswick, Canada.

Priced at $14.99, and available for purchase from Infectious, the Polaroid skin is easy to apply and would offer your iPhone style and protection front and back.





Jazz – a robot that acts as your personal avatar and home security


There’s no need to point out that robots are the future, and Gostai, a company specialising in artificial intelligence solutions is launching a new robot called Jazz. Fancy your very own personal avatar or home security guard? Then read on after the break…

Unlike other robots out there, Jazz doesn’t have arms and it doesn’t move heavy objects or something similar. Users can via web-based user interface remotely operate Jazz, so it can act as your personal avatar. It can record audio and video, and it can send alerts via SMS or email in case of suspicious activities. Jazz can be perfect for conferences, and the optional LCD screen can even show your face during the conference. Besides for conferences, this robot can be used for home security with is rotating head and video recorder. According to the manufacturer, Jazz will soon get a Laser Range Finder that will allow robot to build a map and navigate with the help of the map waypoints.

Overall, Jazz robot looks amazing, and we’re sure that many people will find it useful, if they can afford it.



Skype


Skype


Facetime will soon finally meet its match. Well, it looks like Skype may finally have caught up with everyone else. A recently published Skype info support page has started providing instructions on how to make video calls from your iOS device, even though regular Skype users amongst you will already know that that is not currently a supported feature on the Skype app.

Apparently, Skype video calling will be available on both WiFi and 3G connection, no doubt, the quality of your call will be dependent on how fast your connection is. More importantly, users would be able to video chat with other Skype users on Mac OS X, PC and of course other iOS devices – a potential which Skype has always had but not yet fully achieved.

To add to this, Skype will also be on a panel at this year’s CES called “Video Calling Gets Ready for Primetime” and will be making “series of video-related announcements.”

[via 9 to 5 Mac]

How do I make video calls with Skype for iPhone?
The following questions and answers will help you get started with using Skype video calls on your iPhone.


To make video calls with your contacts, you will need an iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, 3rd generation iPod touch, 4th generation iPod touch or an iPad. Your contacts will only be able to see you if your device has a camera. Make sure your device is running iOS 4.0 or above and that you are using Skype for iPhone 3.0 or above.

The contacts you are calling must be using one of the following Skype clients:

  • Skype for Windows version 4.2 and above
  • Skype for Mac OS X version 2.8 and above
  • Skype for iPhone 3.0 and above
You can make Skype video calls by using a WiFi or 3G connection*. The quality of the video will depend upon the available network conditions.
*Additional data charges may apply. Check with your operator for details.
If you have an iPhone or iPod touch with two cameras – front and rear – you will be able to switch between them during a Skype video call. If you have an iPhone 3GS it will always use the rear camera.
If you turn your device into landscape mode, the camera picture will automatically rotate.
In both portrait and landscape mode double tapping anywhere on your screen will zoom the picture to take up the full extent of the screen. Double tapping again will take the picture back to its normal size.
While on a Skype video call the sound will always be played through the loudspeaker, unless a headset is plugged into the device.
During a video call tap your screen to display the camera and microphone controls. Tap and hold down the microphone button to put the call on hold. To resume the call, simply tap thehold symbol on the screen.
Yes, at any time during a Skype video call you can choose to turn off the video. Tap theCamera button and select the No Cameraoption. To turn the video back on tap theCamera button again and then tap the camera you want to switch on.
When your iPhone is processing a lot of video its CPU (Central Processing Unit) has to work very hard and makes the iPhone become warm to the touch. You will experience the same thing if you stream videos through applications like Netflix or YouTube.
Yes, you will be able to receive screen shares from people using Skype for Windows or Mac OSX. You cannot share what is on the screen of your iPhone with other people and you cannot receive a screen share from another iPhone user.
No, you will be switched to audio only, as Skype for iPhone does not support group video calling.

The quality of the video you send and receive from your iPhone will depend upon the quality and bandwidth available on the WiFi or 3G network you are connected to. For best results, make sure you have nothing else running that might use up your bandwidth.



Skype video calling finally to arrive iPhones and latest iPod Touch



Facetime will soon finally meet its match. Well, it looks like Skype may finally have caught up with everyone else. A recently published Skype info support page has started providing instructions on how to make video calls from your iOS device, even though regular Skype users amongst you will already know that that is not currently a supported feature on the Skype app.

Apparently, Skype video calling will be available on both WiFi and 3G connection, no doubt, the quality of your call will be dependent on how fast your connection is. More importantly, users would be able to video chat with other Skype users on Mac OS X, PC and of course other iOS devices – a potential which Skype has always had but not yet fully achieved.

To add to this, Skype will also be on a panel at this year’s CES called “Video Calling Gets Ready for Primetime” and will be making “series of video-related announcements.”



Thursday 23 December 2010

Top Ten Gadget Gift Ideas


Feeling the holiday rush? Worry no more because Gadg brings you quick gift ideas ideal for your family, friends or special someone.

Though there are only a few days left before Christmas, it is never too late to shop for presents which you will give away to your family and friends. If you don’t have enough time to drive to the local mall, better sit back on your computer and start the so-called online shopping.

Many people depend on online shopping since it is convenient and hassle-free. You can shop ’til you drop without living the comforts of your home.

To make it more convenient for you, Gadg made a list of gadget gift ideas you can browse and order online.

Oakley Thump MP3 Sunglasses

Do you need a gift for dad? Then this pair of Oakley is the right one. The design of this sunglasses is elegant and classy. The MP3 player is integrated in a very fashionable manner which still makes it comfortable to wear.

Mug Boss

Does your good old mug look boring? Spice it up with the Mug Boss and turn it to a receptacle for your other office tools. It is designed with 12 durable pockets which can hold anything from pens to screwdrivers.

DoCoMo Eye Controlled Earphones

Japan invented another strange and wacky technology which maybe a nice gift idea. Docomo’s eye-controlled earphones is equipped with sensors which can track the eye movement of the wearer and change the music playlist with just a blink of the eye.

iProfile USB Turntable

Is your brother a frustrated DJ? Gift him this cool turntable which has a built-in dock for iPod. He can transfer music from and into the turntable without the use of a computer.

Tao Digital Photo Keychain

Show to your friends how your enjoyable your holiday vacation was without the need to bring bulky photo albums with Tao Digital Photo Keychain. It features 128 x 128 pixel detail, 8MB internal memory and four hours of battery life.

With just a single sweep of this device, you can capture a full-page of an important document in no time. It is powered with AA batteries and can scan colored pages as well.

Pogo Instant Photo Printer

Is your boyfriend a budding photographer? Grab this revolutionary photo printer for him to let him sharpen his creative skills in an instant.

Underwater Disco Light Show

Make your girlfriend happy by installing these amazing Underwater Disco Lightshow on her shower. It comes with control buttons wherein the user can set the mood and the movements of the light.

Let the people around you feel the warmth of the holidays with . These are great protective clothings to give away to your friends or workmates. This pair of gloves are rechargeable and good for outdoor activities during the winter season.

The Slanket


Why not give away gifts that are unique and useful at the same time? The Slanket is worth-giving. It is a wide fleece blanket with sleeves that keeps the body covered without restricting the movements of the hands.

New iPad 2 Rumors Point Towards Thinner Bezel and Larger Speaker


speaker grill ipad 2 render macotakara 300x210 New iPad 2 Rumors Point Towards Thinner Bezel and Larger SpeakerSome new iPad 2 rumors are floating around today. This time the rumors hint at a thinner bezel all around as well as a flat back and a larger speaker.

The thinner bezel has been described as being 3mm thinner with the device also said to still have a 9.7 inch display just like the current model. This makes the iPad a little smaller in dimensions and brings it to 239x186mm down from 242.8 x 189.7.

The larger speaker appears to cover the bottom edge of the device and also cuts slightly in the the back panel of the device. This would fall in line with the larger speaker cut out we saw on those "leaked" iPad 2 cases a month or so ago. One thing to note here is that the above picture is a render and not the real thing.

Finally, the iPad 2 is rumored to have a flat back, just like the iPhone 4 has. This would allow it to comfortably sit on a desk rather than wobbling around like the current model.

The source of the rumors is new in terms of leaking rumors, so for now, we need to take this with a pinch of salt.

Things that we expect to see in the iPad 2 is a higher resolution screen. We are not sure at this point if it will have the Retina display with that pixel density, but making pixels smaller is where Apple is currently heading at the moment. Cameras are also expected, especially to enable FaceTime integration as the iPad would make a fantastic device for making video calls to and from. Other than that we expect a small bump in available RAM, and possibly a faster CPU as well as Gyro etc...

Next year will certainly be interesting in terms of tablets. We expect Android tablets to be pushed out right at the beginning of the year to compete with Apple.

Gadget Backup Battery with LED Flashlight


Backup Battery

This emergency device is charged via USB and can then serve as a backup battery for your favorite gadgets using any of all the included adapters. As a bonus, it also features a LED flashlight.

It supports charging iPhone too. And it is also a super bright torch for you to use it in the dark area. It is environmental-friendly that the battery can be rechargeable by USB.

Product Features

  • Battery Type: 18650Li
  • Capacity: 3.7V
  • Output Voltage: DC5.2V
  • Input: 5V-500mA
  • Charged Time: 5 hours(2200mAh)
  • 4 LEDs indicates different charging level
  • Press the button to check the capacity
  • Size: 200*110*35mm
  • Weight: 145g

Wednesday 22 December 2010

One Android Lawsuit Down; 18,000 To Go


For those of you keeping tabs on Android when the G1 was the only droid you were looking for, and by “looking for” I mean the only choice you had, there was a man named Eric Specht. Mr. Specht ran a company named ‘Android Data’ between 1998 and 2002. Six years later, when Android was ready at the launch pad standing by to really take off, Specht decided his feelings were hurt and his trademarks were infringed upon.

Shortly there after he filed a lawsuit against Google, Android Inc., and the OHA; his demands were $94 million.

Last week, Google came out on top with a Summary Judgment that not only cleared Google of any wrong doing but canceled Specht’s trademark on the word “Android”:

Moving to Google’s Counterclaim, pursuant to the analysis above, Google is entitled to a declaratory judgment that Plaintiffs abandoned ANDROID DATA and the other Asserted Marks. Plaintiffs do not possess valid or enforceable rights to the marks. The Court grants Google summary judgment on Count III of its Counterclaim. In regard to Count I of the Counterclaim, a party that believes it may suffer harm because of a trademark that has been abandoned by its owner may move to have the registration cancelled. See 15 U.S.C. § 1064(3). Google became the senior user of the ANDROID mark when it began using it in commerce on November 5, 2007. Plaintiffs, however, resumed use of ANDROID DATA as the junior user after Google acquired its rights to ANDROID. Plaintiffs’ use in commerce of ANDROID DATA creates a possible likelihood of confusion with Google’s ANDROID mark pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1)(a), as well as possible dilution by blurring of Google’s mark under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c)

TuneLink Auto shoots tunes from your Android device to your car with no wires


New Potato Technologies has announced a new product for Android users. The new product is called the TuneLink Auto for Android and it is a wireless Bluetooth to FM and direct connection in-car audio solution for Android devices. The FM transmitter and Bluetooth potion of the system is a DC adapter that plugs into your car power port.

The FM transmitter that you plug into the power port also has a USB port on it to allow you to directly connect to the adapter for charging your device on the go. The FM turner portion of the device is controlled by an app that you download free from the Android Market.

If you have multiple Android devices in the vehicle the FM adapter’s Bluetooth capability allows the connection of multiple devices to the transmitter at one time. It also has an aux output for directly conencting to your car stereo. The TuneLink Auto for Android will hit stores in mid-January for $99.99.

Onkyo HT-S9300THX 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver and Speaker Package


  • 130 Watts per Channel at 6 Ohms, 1 kHz, 1%, 1 Channel Driven
  • THX I/S Plus Certified, THX Loudness Plus, THX Surround EX, and THX Listening Modes (Movies, Music, Games)
  • HDMI (Version 1.4a to Support 3D and Audio Return Channel)
  • HDMI Video Upscaling to 1080p with Faroudja DCDi Cinema
  • Audio and 1080p Video Processing via HDMI (4 Inputs and 1 Output)

Cast your preconceptions aside. The HT-S9300THX is that rare receiver/speaker system that combines all-in-one convenience with the quality assurance of THX. With Onkyo, you can take it for granted that you’ll be getting a smart amalgam of the latest processing and connectivity features. But what really sets the HT-S9300THX apart from other package systems is the sheer quality of the speakers. All seven of the front, center, surround, and surround back speakers feature woofer diaphragms made with Onkyo’s advanced A-OMF material. Driving the system is an A/V receiver that brings together a hand-picked selection of today’s most vital home entertainment technologies. Burr-Brown audio DACs work alongside PLL jitter-cleaning circuitry to get the

Spy Gadget Usage For Idiots, How To Use Night Vision Googles/scopes

How would you like to have the ability to see in the dark? Do you see yourself as a dark and brooding superhero like batman or night owl? Then you may perhaps be interested in infra red gadgets.

Previously available only to military personnel, night vision devices can now be obtained by you and me for personal, commercial or industrial use. These devices can be classified as goggles, scopes and cameras and all are used to heighten vividness or spectral range in a dark environment.

* Night vision devices
These devices empower the users to see in darkness. A good night vision device will let you see a person standing 183 meters away from you. The device makes use of image enhancement technology which gathers low levels of light which magnifies the image for easy observation. Another night vision device technology is the thermal imaging which makes use of thermal radiation to create an image from the dark and can distinguish images in the course of rain, smoke or fog.

* Infrared night vision technology
Another innovation of these devices comes from the use of the infrared technology. What used to be a dark image to the general eye is transformed to monochrome images and is of high resolution making it more visible. This infrared tool is preferred by those who use security applications in their home or offices and these are not normally used in military use.

*Common types of night vision devices available in stores

*Goggles are handheld night vision devices which can be the two eye pieces or the binocular or the single lens type. It is ideal for continuous viewing and can be carried from one place to another when moving.

*Scopes are monocular and can also be handheld or mounted.
It the perfect device if you want to obtain an improved image of a individual object.
**Cameras with the night vision technology are ideal for security surveillance of your home or office

*Night vision binocular/monocle features
Many of these apparatus have switches to change between the infrared light and the inert enlargement of the existing luminosity of the area. Presume intense expenditure of battery if the night vision device is used with infrared tools, so it is advisable to have a charger and extra batteries with you.

These devices have come a long way since they were strictly military issue. We also benefit from its application; it helps common people like us during camping or hunting. It also assists professionals during a wildlife exploration as well as those in the law enforcement and security agencies to observe any transgression and concealed material.



Cutting-Edge Apps for Leading Gadget Manufacturers Prove a Roaring Success


LONDON, December 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — TMTI, a company based next to Lord Bath's Lions of Longleat, is a roaring
success despite the worst recession for years. TMTI is proud to announce that
profits will be up this year by 40% and the company is set to grow even more
rapidly in 2011. The company will post pre-tax profits of 1.25 million this
year, and has offices in the UK, Benelux, the US and Canada.

The TMTI group is owned by entrepreneur Crispin Thomas, who has spent his
career in the Mobile business rising to prominence alongside such names as
Charles Dunstan and Peter Jones. The company has invented a technology called
TMTX, which brings products alive on the web so that clients can try gadgets
before they buy and the technology also enables customer service personnel in
call centres to give a great experience, whilst talking people through
problems on the telephone. In the last week TMTI has brought TMTX onto
handsets via App2TMTX, bringing a rich visual solution onto the new smart
devices.

The company has already sold TMTX to Amazon.com, O2, Bell, AT&T, HTC,
Sony Ericsson and TomTom.

"People don't really want to talk to 'press this press that' call
centres," says Crispin Thomas. "They want fast answers and we have search
engine friendly technologies which enable consumers to teach themselves how
to use gadgets quickly and easily on the web and through the App stores. We
have clients worldwide and the reception to the TMTX software has been
fantastic. Our clients want a world class online Customer Service solution
and we provide that at low cost."

TomTom is one of the latest brands to embrace Thomas' self- learning
philosophy. They have adopted the programme for their new TomTom Go Live
1000, offering the software on their website and a free customer Service app
on the Apple Store and Android markets.

"We want our customers to access information about our products 24/7 in
an easy and clear way," says TomTom UK & Ireland Marketing Manager Lyndal
Newman
. "Bringing our devices alive on the web and on the new breed of smart
devices via free apps is exactly where we need to be. TMTX provides this for
us."

Solar Powered Multifunction Emergency Gadget


Etón Raptor

The Etón company will present their Raptor at CES 2011. This new self-powered emergency gadget features tools like altimeter, barometer and compass, and it uses solar energy to charge a cell phone via USB.

The Raptor also features an AM/FM/WB digital radio tuner with presets and NOAA weather alerts, as well as a digital clock with an alarm function. The unit can be charged via a solar panel or DC power, and the stored solar energy can be transferred to charge a cell phone via USB.

Raptor weighs just over 11 ounces and packs the additional features of an LED flashlight, audio line and DC input, battery charge indicator and even a bottle opener.

Etón Raptor

The device is housed in rugged, rubberized and splashproof (IPX-4) casing, providing a layer of protection against water and dust. Sold separately, a holster is available to hold the unit and a mobile device, providing hands free flexibility and added protection.

Tuesday 21 December 2010

LinkedIn App for Android Now Available for Download


Good news for Android users. The LinkedIn team has announced the release of a public beta version of LinkedIn app for Android. This app will bring the basic of your professional networking on your Android device. If you are using Android OS 2.1 or later then you will be able to download this app for your device. Simply you have to join the LinkedIn for Android group. When you install this beta version of LinkedIn app on your Android device you will be able to view updates from your professional network.

linkedin Android

LinkedIn App for Android Features

  • Allows you to keep in touch with your own connections on LinkedIn
  • You can view updates from your professional network
  • Respond to invitations those are sent from people in your professional life
  • Search for people to discover things you have in common and establish new connections

This app allows you to keep in touch with your own connections on LinkedIn. You will be able to respond to the invitations those are sent from people in your professional life. Also this app allows you to search people to discover things you have in common and establish new connections. As LinkedIn app for Android is in beta version so we should expect more features in the full version.

LinkedIn app is not available in Android Market. So you have to visit http://m.linkedin.com/android from your Android phone for installation instructions and from there you will be able to get a link to the application. Click here to get more information about LinkedIn App for Android. Don’t forget to share your views in the comment section below and stay tuned with us for more updates.

Next Round of GTV Devices Pushed Back



googtvlogo

The bumps in the road just keep on coming for GTV. You would think it would catch a break at some point in its early life, it hasn’t.

The New York Times is reporting that consumers can expect the list of hardware developers at CES with GTV devices to be much shorter than originally expected. The reason? Google wants time to work on software updates. As a result of this plea LG, Sharp and Toshiba will not be showing off any GTV devices; patrons can still expect to see what Samsung and VIZIO have to offer, for now.

Google TV can’t take many more hits before its doomed to a life of “remember me?”.

New Android Market Makes Its Way To The UK


Looks like our friends overseas, the Great Brits, will be seeing some new Android Market love before December’s end as well. We’ve been seeing the new Market roll out here in the US on several devices already, such as the Nexus One and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Google seems to be wasting no time at all pushing the update out to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, UK residents will also have to endure the brutal decrease in the amount of time one can refund an application. Like us, they too will have 15 min to return an application instead of the previous 24 hrs.

From the Android Developers Website:

With a focus on improving discoverability and merchandising, we’ve introduced a new carousel on the home and category screens. Users can quickly flip through the carousel to view promoted applications and immediately go to the download page for the application they want. Developers have been very active in creating great Widgets and Live Wallpapers. To make it easier for users to find their favorites, we’re introducing two new categories for Widgets and Live Wallpapers. Applications that include Widgets and Wallpapers will be automatically added to those new categories. We’ll also be adding more categories for popular applications and games in the weeks ahead. In addition, the app details page now includes Related content, which makes it easier for users to quickly find apps of similar interest.

Have you received the update yet? Don’t forget to let us know what device you’re using in the comments!

Android Apps are sharing personal data without your consent says WSJ

he Wall Street Journal has conducted an investigation into the sort of data apps on your Android phone and on the iPhone collect and share about you. The WSJ looked at 101 popular smartphone apps on both the iPhone and Android devices and found that 56 of the apps transmitted unique device IDs to third party companies without the user’s permission.

The investigation also found that 47 of the apps sent the phones location in one form or another. Five of the apps sent the users gender, age, and other personal details. One app that is popular among both Android and iPhone users that was included is Pandora. The WSJ reports that the app sent age, gender, location, and phone identifiers to various ad networks.

The Android version of Paper Toss also set the phone ID number to at least five ad companies. Both Google and Apple say that they require apps to ask permission to send information to third parties. However, the WSJ reports that these rules can be skirted by app firms. Many of the app developers defend their sharing of info by saying that the data can’t be tied to a person’s name. The WSJ also found that most of the apps have no written privacy policy.

Android's gift to Apple


Google may, paradoxically, be making the world a better place to sell iPhones

Source: Asymco

You might think that the almost viral spread of Google's (GOOG) free and open-source Android operating system would eventually drive down smartphone prices and put pressure on Apple's (AAPL) proprietary iOS -- and on Steve Jobs' enviable profit margins.

But an analysis of the eight largest mobile vendors' average selling prices posted overnight Monday by Asymco's Horace Dediu suggests that something quite different is happening.

Apple's average iPhone prices have actually gone up since Android was introduced, and although there has been some price erosion among the other top vendors (orange line in the chart above), it is surprisingly small.

What's going on?

According the Dediu, the smartphone market is growing so rapidly (90% per year), that there is limited direct competition between smartphones and a lot of competition between smartphones and so-called feature phones. It's the feature phone makers who are having to slash their prices to compete.

"The only correlation with pricing power is whether you build smartphones or dumb phones," he writes. "The more smartphones you build, the more price you can charge. This is regardless of platform."

Dediu has long argued that the phone market should be studied as a whole because the competition is not between platforms but between smart and non-smart. "Android," according to Dediu, "is expanding the market without crushing pricing."

"In a way, this is all good news -- even for Apple," he concludes. "A world full of smartphone users is a better addressable market for iPhones than one filled with voice products. iPhone's traction was always in markets which had been seeded by some smartphones: the U.S. with [Research in Motion (RIMM)] and Europe with [Nokia's (NOK)] Symbian. Such a smartphone-soaked world will have better mobile broadband infrastructure, users with more demanding tastes and awareness of the value that a smart device can bring."

Maybe letting Google CEO Eric Schmidt sit on Apple's board of directors wasn't such a bad idea after all.