Bluetooth
Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic Mobile Device
Image Gallery (5 images)
What looks like an iPhone, functions like an iPhone, but isn’t an iPhone? Nokia’s new 5800 XpressMusic, that’s what. Nokia would most likely balk at suggestions their new mobile offering is in response to Apple’s ubiquituos device, but comparisons are inevitable with the 5800 sporting similar looks courtesy of a large touch screen, similar looking interface and focus on music. The 5800 XpressMusic will be among the first devices to support "Comes With Music", a Nokia service which offers one year of unlimited access to the entire Nokia Music Store catalogue. Read More
Samsung announces Pixon 8MP touch-screen camera phone
Image Gallery (5 images)
Samsung is looking to satisfy consumers who want more than a second string performance from their mobile phone camera with the announcement of a new full-touch screen, 8-megapixel unit dubbed the Pixon. The slimline (13.8mm) design does look more like a camera than a phone and incorporates a number of features usually found only in the stand-alone camera realm such as face detection, shake-reduction and geo-tagging. The unit's 3.2 inch, 240x400 touch screen also enhances its photo browsing capability and with auto-focus, dual power LED Flash, a music player, FM Radio, Bluetooth connectivity and video recording at 30 fps (720 x 480) including slow motion playback, it looks to be another useful example of convergence in the mobile handset market. Read More
HTC S740 smartphone
Image Gallery (5 images)
HTC's latest edition to its "S" range of smartphones takes a conventional 12-key candybar phone design, slots in the company's speciality - a sliding QWERTY keyboard - and adds 3.8 inch wide-screen, 3.2 megapixel and mobile broadband download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps (if your carrier can handle it).
Cy-Fi Bluetooth wireless sports speaker
Image Gallery (4 images)
There's nothing like strapping on the earphones and cranking up your favorite tunes to help you through a serious bout of exercise, but in many outdoor scenarios, especially cycling, this can become a major safety risk by preventing you from hearing traffic noise and other potential hazards that might not be visible. This is the thinking that inspired Los Angeles entrepreneur Jeff Lotman to invent the Cy-Fi Bluetooth wireless sports speaker, a palm-sized unit that attaches to a bike or backpack and wirelessly transmits music and phone calls from Bluetooth enabled devices. Read More
Ego Cup FM in-car FM transmitter
Image Gallery (3 images)
Drivers just might have to find somewhere else to stow their tasty beverages with the Ego Cup FM from German wireless in-car communications company Funkwerk Dabendorf. The Ego Cup FM is a plug and play FM transmitter designed to slot into car cup holders that connects to a mobile phone via Bluetooth and, as well as transmitting MP3s stored on the phone to the radio, also allows calls to be taken over the integrated speaker or through the car speakers. Read More
IRiver's SPINN MP4 Player
Image Gallery (3 images)
Headlining iRiver’s 2008 lineup of personal electronics are the SPINN MP4 Player and the P20 portable multimedia player, stylish gadgets characterized by their high-quality Active-matrix OLED screens and analog toggle wheels. The SPINN MP4 Player can play and record digital music, images, video (in MPEG-4 and WMV9 format), and supports Flash Games 2.0, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.0 and Text Viewer. Read More
BlueAnt V1 voice controlled Bluetooth headset
Image Gallery (3 images)
BlueAnt Wireless has launched the V1 Headset, a totally hands-free unit billed as the "world’s first fully voice controlled Bluetooth 2.1 headset". The new headset allows users to dial and control other call functions on their phone without even looking at it. Read More
Robot controlled by biological brain
Image Gallery (3 images)
The University of Reading has designed a robot that is controlled by 300,000 cultured rat neurons. The team anticipates that the behavior of the rat neurons will provide insight into how brains store data, which could lead to a better understanding of disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and strokes. Read More
Robots reinvigorate computer science classrooms
Image Gallery (3 images)
Education has long been based around the three R's, but now for computer science students throughout the U.S., a fourth R is making ground - Robotics. A program that began in 2006 through the Institute for Personal Robots in Education (IPRE) using robots as the circuit breaker in introductory computer science courses is being expanded to 28 more high schools and universities. Gizmag spoke to Dr. Tucker Balch, director of IPRE, to learn more. Read More
New ROKR range from Motorola
Image Gallery (3 images)
Motorola has expanded its ROKR range with the introduction of three new units in a range of styles. The lineup includes the candybar MOTOROKR EM30, clamshell ROKR EM28 and the slider ROKR EM25, plus there's two new portable speaker systems to complement the new phone’s music focus. Read More
Seiko Instruments DPU-S445 Mobile Printer
Image Gallery (3 images)
The new IrDA and Bluetooth equipped DPU-S445 Mobile Printer from Seiko Instruments is compact and lightweight with very few moving parts, runs on a long-life lithium-ion battery and produces 4” wide printed output at 90 mm/sec. Read More
Azentec SmartMirror with inbuilt GPS
Image Gallery (3 images)
Another clever product that caught our eye at the British Motor Show is the Azentec SmartMirror - a Bluetooth enabled GPS unit complete with touch screen functionality that's been rolled into a the rear-view mirror. Read More
The Neo FreeRunner open source mobile phone
Image Gallery (4 images)
While Android, the open mobile platform developed by an alliance of some of the mobile phone and computing world’s biggest names, has attracted a lot of interest and support since it was announced late last year, it wasn’t actually the first open mobile computing platform. That title goes to Openmoko – a project founded by Taiwanese computer and components manufacturer First International Computer, Inc. (FIC), with the combined aims of developing an open source Linux based operating system designed for mobile phones and hardware devices on which the operating system, called Openmoko Linux, runs. The first smartphone released that supported the Openmoko Linux platform was the Neo 1973, which was released in July, 2007 but suffered from supplier shortages. Now Openmoko has announced their follow up – the Openmoko Neo FreeRunner – a mobile device that the company says will help to enable ubiquitous computing in the 21st century. Read More
Toshiba launches world's lightest laptop with 128GB Solid State Drive
Image Gallery (3 images)
In the world of laptops slim is definitely in. Toshiba’s Digital Products Division has announced the addition of a 128GB Solid State Drive (SSD) to the latest incarnation of its Portégé laptop series. The 2.4 pound Portégé R500-S5007V with a 128GB SSD is billed as the world’s lightest laptop, beating the much hyped Macbook Air, which weighs in at 3 pounds and, unlike the Macbook Air, even manages to include a built-in optical drive into a unit that measures as thin as 0.77-inches. This does mean that the Macbook Air 0.76-inch high Macbook Air retains its world’s thinnest title and it does feature a slightly bigger display – 13.3-inches to the R500’s 12.1-inches. Read More
Parrot Party portable wireless audio system
Image Gallery (12 images)
Designed as a quality alternative to the often unsatisfying speaker systems in mobile phones, this compact and totally wireless sound audio system offers four hours of playback from Bluetooth devices to a range of 33 feet, as well as a plug-in solution for listening to personal media or CD players while you're out and about. Read More
CD player design straight out of Johnny Mnemonic
Image Gallery (3 images)
While the Compact Disc may be on its last legs, usurped by Flash based personal media players, DVDs and now Blu-Ray Discs, that hasn't stopped South Korean designer Kim Yong Seong turning out an interesting design for a portable music player that supports CDs and MP3 files. Kim has dubbed his proposed design the DMP, short for Dual Music Player, which plays MP3 files in the compact closed position and then flips open to form two arms that support a CD. MP3 files and charging would come courtesy of a USB connection and the device would also do away with messy headphone cables through Bluetooth support. Read More
BlueAnt releases portable Text-to-Speech speakerphone
Image Gallery (2 images)
Anticipating the changing of handsfree driving laws in the US, BlueAnt Wireless’ has released a new portable speakerphone device called the Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Handsfree, which incorporates advanced ‘Text-to-Speech’ technology with voice prompts providing guidance to help users pair the device and upload their mobile phone’s address book. The unit supports a selection of six different languages including American English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and British English, so that when a call is received, the Supertooth 3 announces the incoming caller’s name or Caller ID and the user can then verbally accept or reject the call. Read More
New Jawbone Bluetooth headset
Image Gallery (3 images)
Aliph has introduced a new version of its Jawbone Bluetooth Headset, which won an International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award last year. The new model is 50% smaller than its predecessor and up to ten times more effective than competing headsets at eliminating background noise according to the manufacturers. Read More
Canon SELPHY CP770 portable printer
Image Gallery (2 images)
June 4, 2008 For happy snappers who want those photos printed NOW, Canon's compact SELPHY CP770 features a bucket-like carrier basket to store the paper and ink, along with a power cord, while the optional battery makes the printer completely portable so that photos can be printed anywhere. Read More
Portable Printstik printer
Image Gallery (2 images)
Planon, maker of the DocuPen ultra-portable color scanner, has released a highly portable 1" x 10.75" x 1.9"printer designed for use with smart phones and other Bluetooth enabled devices. The “Printstik” holds a cartridge roll of 20 pages of paper and can print up to three pages per minute. Read More
HTC Shift: ultra-compact, dual-interface mobile computing
Image Gallery (7 images)
April 23, 2008 With a form factor that sits somewhere between a fully-fledged laptop and a pocket-size PDA, the light weight HTC Shift mobile PC offers a full QWERTY keyboard and a 7-inch "slide-‘n-tilt" touch-screen interface backed by Wi-Fi and HSDPA/3G connectivity, a 40-gigabyte hard drive, two days standby battery life and a handy "always-on mode" that allows access to emails and other features without the need to fully boot up the device. Read More
CSR demonstrates ultra low power Bluetooth
Image Gallery (7 images)
April 15, 2008 CSR has given the first public demonstration of its Ultra Low Power (ULP) Bluetooth silicon at the Continua Health Alliance medical conference in Luxembourg. The demonstrations showed that CSR’s ULP Bluetooth silicon consumes 10 times less power than standard Bluetooth when connectable. Read More
Samsung’s MyShot and Spex phones - the first MetroPCS AWS handsets to hit the market
Image Gallery (5 images)
April 1, 2008 Samsung has announced the availability of the Samsung MyShot (SCH-r430) and Samsung Spex (SCH-r210) through MetroPCS - a wireless broadband personal communication service provider of no long-term contract, flat rate, unlimited usage basis phone plans in selected major metropolitan areas in the US. The MyShot and Spex are MetroPCS’s first phones to operate on the 1.7/2.1GHz CDMA Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum, which promises current and future service providers the opportunity to provide wireless broadband services to millions of Americans, resulting in increased productivity, efficiency, mobility and security through larger bandwidth allocation. Read More
CSR's MusiCore1 combines audio processor and Bluetooth on a single chip
Image Gallery (5 images)
CSR has announced MusiCore1, the first fully featured single-chip for mobile phones that includes both a stereo audio processor and Bluetooth capabilities – saving 75% of the cost of an audio processor, and 36mm squared of space. MusiCore1 allows 100 hours of music playback, and can decode MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA and SBC files.
Merging home and mobile phone: XLink Bluetooth Gateway
Image Gallery (2 images)
March 12, 2008 Nowadays many people use their mobile phone number as their primary contact number, which makes sense with most people carrying their mobile phones with them wherever they go. Once back at the home though, a lot of people prefer to use a regular telephone. The Xlink Bluetooth Gateway from Intellitouch is a phone convergence solution that by lets users combine their landline service and SOHO telephone system with up to three Bluetooth mobile phones and receive or make calls to and from their mobile phone using a standard home/office telephone. Read More
Onyx launches Liscio mobile phone
Image Gallery (3 images)
February 26, 2008 These days the mobile phone is as much a fashion accessory as it is a communications device and UK-based manufacturer Onyx is focusing on the former with its first plunge into the mobile phone space - the Liscio. Weighing in at 60 grams, the highly-contoured and compact ( 90 x 35 x 17.8mm) bundle features built-in MP3 and FM radio functionality, Bluetooth v1.2, a 1.10 inch, 96 x 96 pixel LED color screen and 128MB on-board memory backed by a Micro SD card up to 1GB. Read More
Duo-Touch II rugged PC
Image Gallery (3 images)
February 25, 2008 General Dynamics Itronix has announced the availability of the Duo-Touch II, the second generation of the company’s lightweight rugged tablet PCs. Combining processing power with an ergonomic tablet design for one-handed operation, the Duo-Touch II enables rugged, high-performance computing for mobile professionals in industries such as public safety, telecommunications, utilities, government, and insurance. The unit also features Dynavue display technology that meets military standard for cockpit displays for direct sunlight viewability. Read More
BT-Q1000 Platinum GPS Travel Recorder
Image Gallery (3 images)
Febraury 22, 2008 QSTARZ, the company behind the solar-powered BT-Q1200 GPS Travel Recorder, has released the BT-Q1000 Platinum - a Bluetooth GPS Travel Recorder that pairs with your PDA or Smartphone to provide satellite navigation and allows users to record up to 200,000 waypoints. Read More
Sony Ericsson announces XPERIA X1 Slider-phone
Image Gallery (4 images)
February 11, 2008 Headlining an array of new releases from Sony Ericsson, the XPERIA™ X1 marks the launch of a new brand for the company, one which it hopes will gain traction in the brave new world of mobile convergence where the term "phone" just doesn't cut it anymore. Featuring a 3-inch clear wide VGA display, media player and 3.2 mega-pixel camera housed in a metal-finish, slider-design body, the XPERIA X1 offers multiple navigation options from touch screen interaction to a 4-way key, full wide-pitch QWERTY keyboard or optical joystick with seamless switching promised between input modes. Read More
Callpod Dragon Bluetooth 2.0 Headset offers 100+ meter range
Image Gallery (3 images)
February 4, 2008 Callpod Inc’s Dragon Bluetooth headset for mobile phones, PDAs, VOIP products and computers boasts a range of 100 meters or 328 feet – a big step up over the standard 10 meter or 30 feet range common for Bluetooth headsets. The Dragon also silences ambient noise and annoying pops and clicks with its proprietary Dual-Mic Noise Suppression technology, which isolates the user’s voice while removing background noise. In addition, the Dragon can connect with the PC for Skype calls while on a mobile call, allowing users to switch between the PC and mobile phone with a press of a button. Read More
GETAC expands rugged range with new ultra-lightweight tablet PC
Image Gallery (2 images)
January 25, 2008 Rugged computer manufacturer GETAC Inc. has added the ultra-lightweight GETAC E100 slate-style tablet PC and the “bright-as-you-need-it” GETAC B300 notebook PC to its growing roster of versatile mobile computing solutions. Read More
Logitech announces MX 5500 Revolution Bluetooth keyboard and mouse combo
Image Gallery (4 images)
January 16, 2008 Logitech's latest wireless input package - the Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution - bundles the company's MX Revolution cordless laser mouse with an ergonomic Bluetooth keyboard that boasts a range of 30 feet and integrates a 2.95-by-.79 inch (7.5-by-2 cm) LCD display showing key information such as time and date, calculator, temperature, favorites, e-mail updates and song titles. Read More
Arriva's iPod Shuffle headphones
Image Gallery (4 images)
January 2, 2008 While Bluetooth headphones are the hot item for those seeking the convenience of a wireless solution for personal audio players, Arriva have developed a cost-effective, low-tech system for iPod Shuffle users that effectively produce the same result. Using a soft spring design, the Arriva's "wireless" iPod Shuffle stereo headphones support the Shuffle and hold it in place at the back of the head forming a self contained unit and eliminating the need to run wires into a backpack or elsewhere on the body. Read More
Nokia to add Creebi virtual pets to n-gauge
Image Gallery (2 images)
December 17, 2007 It seems that virtual pets such as Tamagotchi and their electronic brethren are a fad that just won’t go away. Now Nokia has announced that the Creebies virtual pet-care game will be available through the N-Gage mobile games service, giving each player their own 3D Creebi to care for, entertain, feed and even breed. Read More
IDAPT provides a one-stop charging stop for mobile devices
Image Gallery (4 images)
December 10, 2007 As portable devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players, digital cameras and handheld gaming devices proliferate in the home, so too do the number re-chargers and cables adding clutter to our benchtops. The latest solution to cross the Gizmag desk is the IDAPT "innovative adapter", a convenient multi-purpose charger with interchangeable connections that enables simultaneous charging of a wide range of mobile devices. Read More
