Mobile Devices

A not so popular company from India called HCL, has released two new laptop models with basic specs, for a basic price. One of them is the MiLeap Y series, and as can be proven by the image, it is a stylish device.

Due to the screen size (7-inches), I think we can call it an UMPC - UltraMobile PC. Anyway, the LCD display uses touchscreen technology, and can provide a 1024×600 resolution. It could be a lot better, performance-wise, if the processor (Intel A110 running at 800MHz) and chipset (Intel 675GU Express) were better, but since that can’t happen, the 1GB of RAM memory is here to help out.

On the connectivity features, there is a 3-in-1 card reader, Wi-Fi, and 2 USB ports.

Other important features:

• 80GB hard-drive
• 1.3 megapixel webcamera
• Windows Vista Home Premium

The MiLeap Y Series costs close to 750.

Via Gizmotika

Waiting around for a rebate offer so you can score a sweet new handset? Why not go retro instead with Kraco’s KCP-205 Trans-mobile cellular phone, listed on eBay at an opening bid of $15. That’s approximately $1,500 less than it originally cost back in the day, when all you needed was a shoulder, an oil field and a dream. The phone was only used for one month, and the leather carrying case and manual are still in great shape. Just remember, even if you do convince some carrier to give you service for this old clunker, it would only last a few weeks, as the cellphone analog switch-off is still scheduled for Feb. 19. Good hunting! [eBay]

The Game Card remote concept works in a rather fun manner - at least in theory. You control volume as well as change channels using card playing-like gestures. For example, sliding your thumb up and down in the center will raise and lower the volume accordingly. If you want to change channels, just slide the top card over as many times as you like. This brainchild from Sungwoo Park will definitely see many people clamor for the Game Card in the living room not entirely because they want to watch their favorite TV show, but because they want to play with it. That is, if it ever makes it into production.

Posted Jan 22nd 2008 2:05PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets While it may not give you quite the graphic glimpse as some of the recent CT scanners we’ve seen, a group of researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark think their new and improved x-ray system still won’t have any trouble catching on, and the results are certainly hard to argue with. The key to those sharper pics, it seems, is so-called “dark field microscopy,” a technique that, as NewScientist points out, is normally used by biologists. As you might expect, however, there’s some upsides and downsides to this particular technique. On the plus side, all that’s needed is a simple set of four silicon filters in addition to some standard x-ray equipment. Unfortunately, those four filters mean you also have to take four separate images to get one clear image, giving the patient quite the extra dose of radiation. Even so, the researchers say there are some circumstances where that would be justified, including using the technology to give airport screeners a better peek at potential explosives.

Philips’ spin off Polymer Vision has been showing off its READIUS screen for over two years now, but nothing has emerged beyond prototype form. For those unaware of the READIUS, it’s an innovative new display technology that enables the development of a completely foldable screen.

Now, though, they’ve just issued a press release stating that a new mobile phone made by Philips (who own 25% of Polymer Vision) will soon be released that will be the first phone in the world to feature one of Polymer Vision’s amazing five inch foldable screens.

“Hang on,” I hear you cry, as the penny slowly starts its descent. “Five inch screen…foldable? You mean a huge mobile phone screen that folds up into a super-slim form factor when not in use? Just like paper?”

Yes - and it’ll finally be released mid-2008!

More pics of the Philips READIUS mobile phone after the jump.

The READIUS was originally intended to be an e-reader for reading e-books. Fortunately, though, Philips have seen the light (and, presumably, the ugliness that is the Amazon Kindle!), and decided to repackage it as a mobile phone instead.

And what a mobile phone it’ll be! Although the full specs haven’t been released yet, the new screen technology is unlike anything we’ve seen before.

“You get the large display of e-reading, the super battery life of e-reading, and the high-end connectivity … and the form factor and weight of a mobile phone,” said Karl McGoldrick, chief executive of the Polymer Vision.

Better yet are his plans for the next generation of phones based on this new technology, which will apparently feature an 8-inch foldable colour display that could show video, and which, apparently, should be with us in as little as five years’ time.

Naturally, the first generation will be a bit pants - these things always are. But the technology is finally out of the lab, and once one mobile phone manufacturer has one, they’ll all be bringing them out! Just look at what Apple did for touch screen phones with the iPhone.

[Source: Reuters]

Posted Jan 21st 2008 4:04PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
After witnessing iriver’s gorgeous lineup in person at CES, we can’t help but shed a tear each time one of these Siren DAPs taints the image a touch more. Nevertheless, the totally bland DP150 (the DP100’s successor, by the way) weighs in at 24-grams, is available in pink, blue and gold motifs and will arrive in 1GB and 2GB forms. Users will also find a built-in equalizer, MP3 / WMA support and a 128 x 32 OLED display to boot. Sure, this critter will last for around 17 hours sans a recharge, and it is priced at just ¥6,980 ($65) / ¥8,980 ($84), but we still think know iriver could’ve done better than this. Yeah, so we’ve got high expectations — like that’s a bad thing?

[Via Tech Digest]

A study performed by Compete, Inc., a Web analytics company, shows that many wireless customers have some interesting needs when it comes to finding what they need from carriers. In an environment where each wireless carrier is attempting to outdo the the other ones with the latest handsets, services, or applications, it turns out that 59% of customers already feel they have a sufficient selection. The study also found that wireless carriers may want to shift from marketing new applications, devices, and services to marketing what they already have.

Some shoppers didn’t know that GPS and Internet connectivity were already available. They were also unaware about open access options. That being said, it’s probably not surprising that 32% of survey respondents said they have increasing difficulty finding the right phone over the last couple of years.

I don’t expect the wireless carriers to do a complete reversal and stop offering new phones, services, and applications overnight. It’s very apparent that wireless executives believe they need to continue to introduce “new things” to keep and attract subscribers. Still, wireless carriers can easily do a better job about getting the word out about the stuff they already have. They can also make an effort to guide subscribers through finding the right phone a lot easier. Sometimes all it would take is a friendlier website with some easy to use tutorials.

Read more from the Compete press release.

Real Swing Golf
All the fun of golf but with none of the traipsing around with an oversized and overweight golfing partner, no sorry, we mean golf bag.

You can have this for £39.95

Who can argue that the Nintendo DS is not a versatile machine? Disney even thinks so, as the House of Mouse is currently testing their very own Disney Magic Connection application that comes with maps of the Magic Kingdom in addition to wait times at various attractions, essential information like directions to the nearest restrooms, ATMs and games. Too bad you can’t use this application with your own DS as you will need to utilize one of Disney’s pre-set up DSs. There is no word on an official release, but surely Disneyland in Japan will find the DS to be a hit since nearly everyone and their dog there has had some experience with the little handheld that could.

I’ve been keeping my eye on this Portal-inspired casemod project for a while now, watching and waiting for the builder to eventually finish his creation. And just like the cake, I guess that case was a lie. Then, out of the blue, I was checking out Gizmodo this morning when I came across this Weighted Companion Cube PC casemod that’s just so much better.

Amazingly, builder Magnus Persson created this compact cube PC in just a week. The whole thing measures in at under 8×8×8 inches, fabricated from painted acrylic. Of course it has everything needed to play a round of Portal on board. It runs on a compact Via Epia EX1500G motherboard, and stays cool thanks to a CoolerMaster fan hidden on the bottom of the case.

Kudos to Magnus for an excellent casemod!

[via Bit-Tech]

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