Best Gadgets World

Posted Feb 11th 2008 2:51PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless
While we’re guessing most of you likely won’t be putting the military grade-ness of Plantronics’ new Explorer 370 Bluetooth headset to the test, you’ll likely still find it a little reassuring to know that it passes all the requisite specifications for water, dust and shock resistance, and boasts a new “windscreen technology” to ensure clear calls even in tough conditions. Apart from that, however, the headset appears to be a pretty standard deal, with it boasting seven hours of talk time and eight days standby on a charge, and the usual features like voice-activated dialing and last number redial. Look for this one to set you back $80 when it hits retailers in March, with the less rugged Explorer 360 also set to be available at the same time for $70.

The BlackBerry 8330 Curve will soon have a CDMA version on the market. The overall design is similar to the current GSM model with a keyboard a little closer to the current 8310 from AT&T. The new CDMA blackberry 8330 will feature GPS! No word on which carrier this will hit first, but it is not expected to be available this month, meaning we can relax till at least March. Sadly no mention was made of pricing.

Keep reading for more pictures (courtesy of BB Geeks)…

Via [BB Geeks]

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Yes, Google’s Android phones are now attacking in Barcelona.  The first out of the chute is this one from Texas Instruments for an unnamed vendor.  Word is this thing is blazing fast to respond, has nice integration with Gmail, Google Maps, Google searches.  To be sure, this is an early build lacking the update to the SDK that Google is adding, but it holds much hope for the future.

These basic phones were not online and the programs were less than full featured, but that is what you expect in an early prototype.  Word is we’ll see the first results in the 2nd half of the year.  Given high speed processors and a dedicated design team, Google may really have something here.  Stay tuned.

Read [Engadget Mobile]

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I am sure that this voice changing telephone will not give you a hard assed gravely smokers voice like my childhood friend Jeff had.  That guy had a full beard by the time he was fifteen and he sounded mean as sin on the telephone.  He would have made a good repo man.  The voice changing telephone, which is either for making prank phone calls or for nefarious purposes, will raise or lower your voice through an inbuilt voice modulation  unit.  All you need is a vacant land line jack and a spare $10.

Available where else but from Chinavasion.

Source: Gadget Spy

Posted Feb 11th 2008 9:06AM by Sean Cooper
Filed under: cellphones
Seeing as Mobile World Congress is all about the cellular experience, we weren’t too surprised to bump into some Android goodness while here. Texas Instruments had the handset you see above — from an unknown vendor — to demo the OS running on an OMAP 3430 at 500 MHz. The interface is dead quick and rather glorious, and while we had no internet connectivity on it, we still were able to have a peek at various applications — check the gallery for more photos. NEC / Wind River were also showing off an Android prototype platform running on a Medity2 testbed — also at 500 MHz — though it’s a pretty early implementation and was pretty wonky. Interestingly, neither of them had functional input in the browser, so while the NEC version was online, we couldn’t point it anywhere useful. Radio types in the devices were GSM but we expect they’ll likely have HSDPA once they finally land in our hands. In a few words, we like what we see.

Update: There seems to be a minor issue with how the gallery is displaying — if you want to see all 46 gorgeous pics, just click on one of the photos.

Gallery: Google attacks: Android at Mobile World Congress

DLO makes great products, their neoprene iPod cases are at the top of my favorites list (indestructible!). That aside, DLO’s newly released, compact and powerful, DLO Portable Speakers for iphone provide an awesome experience.

Music and videos can be enjoyed in stereo sound without worry of TDMA interface. The compact units feature an extra-wide sound stage and bass vents for delivering powerful sound.

When I was cell phone shopping last year, I really wanted a Sony Ericsson K800i. Badly. The only reason I did not get one is that I couldn’t buy one (aside from buying an unlocked one - which is quite expensive and wouldn’t have a guarantee that it would work with my provider) because they only sold it in the UK. I ended up with a Motorola RIZR Z3 instead.

I’m quite happy with my current phone, but Sony Ericsson has announced a metric ton of new phones and upgraded models this past week. I’m mainly going to review the one phone that is making me drool: The Sony Ericsson C902. From Gizmodo:

* Slim Cyber-shot phone with unique slide-out lens cover. Camera-ready in an instant
* Stand out design - instantly recognizable
* 5.0 megapixel camera with Face Detection and Auto Focus. Always capture the best shot possible
* Illuminated camera touch keys. Intuitive guidance around the camera settings

The slim line C902 Cyber-shot will have everyone wanting to have their picture taken. Ultra-compact, stylish and with a unique lens cover that slides open to reveal the 5.0 megapixel Auto Focus camera, the C902 Cyber-shot sports a camera performance beyond its sleek and slim looks. The phone’s lighting dramatically signals when you are in camera mode by switching from white to blue. The eight camera touch keys come to life and let you choose between camera modes, Photo Flash, Face Detection and Auto Focus, and more with just one touch without moving your finger from the shutter button.

Just shoot
With the C902 Cyber-shot you just need to slide open the active lens cover and shoot. The Face Detection and Auto Focus capability enables the camera to detect and focus on the face of your subject rather than the background, so that you can take sharp and high quality pictures of your friends.

Night shoot
With the C902 Cyber-shot you can be confident of getting the perfect shot. The phone incorporates the latest in lighting technology - Photo Flash - giving you better quality pictures even in low-light conditions. Also, a light solution has been added to the established BestPic feature - which lets you take nine photos in quick succession, choose the best and delete the rest. So now you can use BestPic wherever you are, perhaps even to capture the dance-floor action in a club!

Create your own multi-media slideshow
Use x-Pict story to add music and transitions to your gallery of photos and automatically create your own multi-media slideshow to share with your friends. Lights, music, action!

Store and share
The C902 Cyber-shot comes with a 160MB built-in memory - the equivalent of storage for up to 100 full resolution photos - plus the possibility to add even more memory with the Memory Stick Micro (M2) that can be bundled with the phone depending on the market.

Easy transfer wherever you are
You can transfer the images on your phone to your computer by using the CCR-70 M2 USB Adapter, also announced today. Save your photos to the phone’s memory card, remove it and pop it into the CCR-70. You then slot the card reader into your laptop and all your photos can be dragged across! Delete from your Memory Stick and you’re ready to go and fill it up again with more memories.

The C902 Cyber-shot is a UMTS/HSDPA 2100 and EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 phone that will be available in selected markets in Swift Black or Luscious Red from Q2 2008. The C902c Cyber-shot is an EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 phone that will be available in selected markets within the same timeframe.

From what I can tell, the C902 is the hotter, younger sister of the K800i boasting the Cyber-shot camera label but in a sleeker, thinner package. Hot.

But, like the K800i, I bet the US won’t see this beauty for a while. Damn.

[Sony via Gizmodo]

Valentine’s Day is this week. I know there are a lot of you out there with gadget-loving girlfriends, fiancées and wives that you still haven’t bought something for that lovey-dovey day yet.

Never fear. Incase has a slew of pink cases for a number of Apple’s products that will help protect your sweetheart’s gadgets and give you some bonus points for being a thoughtful romantic.

Here’s the full list of features from the Incase website for each product:

Protective Cover for iPod touch - $29.95
* Excellent iPod touch protection
* Form-fitting, injection molded material provides added grip
* Custom topographic pattern exterior
* Direct access to widescreen with touch controls
* Easy access to headphone jack, hold switch, and dock connector
* Allows charging while in case

Protective Cover for iPhone - $29.95
* Excellent iphone protection
* Form-fitting, injection molded material provides added grip
* Custom topographic pattern exterior
* Direct access to widescreen with touch controls
* Easy access to headphone jack, hold switch, and dock connector
* Camera lens cutout and speaker and microphone openings
* Allows charging while in case

Protective Cover for iPod nano - $24.95
* Optimum iPod nano protection
* Clear scratch resistant face shield
* Form-fitting, injection molded material provides added grip
* Custom topographic pattern exterior
* Custom color ways to match ipod nano 3G
* Direct access to widescreen and click wheel
* Easy access to headphone jack, hold switch, and dock connector
* Allows charging while in case

13″ Neoprene Sleeve for Macbook - $34.95
With a durable neoprene exterior, cushioned interior, and perforated trim, the Neoprene Sleeve offers complete notebook protection. Whether utilized as a stand-alone case or placed inside a pack, the Neoprene Sleeve provides exceptional protection and simplicity.
* Complete notebook protection
* Form-fitting neoprene construction
* 3mm cushioned interior
* Perforated trim details
* Heavy-duty custom YKK zipper pulls with closed-seam construction

These protective products do come in a variety of other colors too, so if your Valentine loves green, get her that color instead!

[Incase via Geek Sugar]

Posted Feb 11th 2008 10:43AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: cellphones
Sure, the folks in Redmond didn’t get their grubby mitts on Yahoo! (yet), but at least they picked up a little something for their mobile division, namely: Danger. According to news just crossing the wires, the monolithic company has picked up the Sidekick-creators for an undisclosed amount, and will subsequently fold the phone-maker into its mobile wing. Is there a Windows Mobile version of the Hiptop in our future? Survey says yes.

Posted Feb 11th 2008 5:56AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Laptops
We not sure when Dell’s XPS M1330 learned the new Wireless USB trick, nevertheless, it’s sporting that option as of this morning. The $150 add-on integrates a Wireless USB module into Dell’s slick 13.3-inch laptop while netting you a short-range Belkin 4-port USB hub for all your peripherals. See, it’s not just phone news today.

[Thanks, Srinivas N.]