Best Gadgets World

Pocket-lint does a first look review of the Nokia N96 and writes, “Just like its predecessor the N96 sports HSDPA connectivity, a 5-megapixel camera, GPS, the Symbian S60 operating system and that dual slider screen that hides the keypad and dedicated music controls…Around the back you’ll find the 5 megapxiel camera that now features a “kickstand” around the lens that allows you to perch it on a desk for hands-free viewing.”

Read more about the Nokia N96.

This is a bit of a twist (well spin) on a traditional bathroom, a bath one minute but a with a 180 degree turn it transforms into a shower.

Designed by Ron Arad, the “Rotator” is made out of duralight® and is more of a work of art than just a simple bath. However looking at it does not fill me confidence about the comfort of bathing in it. To empty the bath simply rotate it until the water overflows, just make sure you have a drainage in your bathroom floor.

More info over on De Zeen found via ID Asia.

Pocket-lint does a first look review of the Sony Ericsson W980 and writes, “The W980 is one of the best Walkman phones yet with some really good features that will make it stand out from the crowd when it comes to offering music on the go…this still looks like an impressive handset and certainly one for music fans to watch.”

Read more about the Sony Ericsson W980.

Pocket-lint reviews the Motorola U9 and writes, “The phone also comes with a now almost defacto for the industry 2 megapixel camera with video mode but with virtually zero memory on-board as mentioned above you’ll have to invest in a memory card from day one.”

Read more about the Motorola U9.

The BlackBerry 8110 offers a 2 megapixel camera with built-in zoom and flash as well as the following features:

* Wireless email
* Speakerphone and Voice Activated Dialing
* Media Player: Listen to your favorite songs and watch video clips
* Video recording
* Browser: Navigate and browse websites with a roll and click of the trackball
* Organizer: Synch and store your calendar data, address book and more
* blackberry Maps: Get directions and view maps while on the road
* GPS capable
* 64 MB built-in memory
* expandable memory via microSD card
* Bluetooth capability
* SureType keyboard in QWERTY-style layout

In the ‘really?’ department, the University of Chicago’s Law School has decided to block Internet access in classrooms, in what appears to be the first such school-mandated restriction.

While I understand restricting high-school students and to a much smaller degree college students, but law school students? Really? Aren’t they adults who should decide for themselves whether or not they pay attention in class? How about if they decided to just miss class altogether? Wouldn’t that amount to the same thing?

As long as they’re not making a lot of noise, I don’t see the problem, apart from annoying some uptight profs. I wish I had an Internet-connected laptop when I went to classes. I can see it being a valuable tool to help with learning the subject matter at hand. The fact of the matter is that you can only lead a horse to water; the rest is up to them. Just my $0.02.

via Slashdot

Posted in Networking & Internet

The Samsung SGH-J700 offers a 1.3 megapixel as well as the following features:

* Tri-band (900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
* GSM Phase 2+
* GPRS / EDGE Class 10
* Li-ion, 800 mAh battery
* 10 MB memory
* MicroSD
* Direct photo saving to microSD card
* Bluetooth v2.0
* USB v2.0
* 2.0″ 65K TFT, 128 x 160 pixels display
* Video Playback (H.263, MPEG4) and Recording
* MP3, AAC, AAC+, MIDI
* OMA DRM
* FM Radio
* Mobile Printing

WAP 2.0 / Openwave 6.2.3
Java MIDP 2.0
SMS/EMS/MMS/Video Messaging
Mobile Tracker, SOS
Java Games

The MSI Wind, which was originally unveiled during CeBIT just left us wanting more in the line of details. While we already had some information, some of it has just been confirmed by MSI.

The Wind will offer either an 8.9-inch or 10-inch display with both sizes having a 1024 x 600 resolution, an 80GB hard drive and weigh in at just 2.2-pounds. The notebook will be available this June in the European market and retail somewhere between 299 - 699 Euros (around $471-$1100 US). The Wind will also be running Windows XP, which may explain the higher price range.

While MSI has confirmed that pricing, lets hope they can narrow it down a little more as to just what we can expect at the low and/or high end.

Via [Small-Laptops.com]

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The ink had barely dried on the agreement to buy Skype before analysts were criticizing eBay’s $3.1 billion decision. Yes, that’s ‘billion’ with a ‘B’. Now, it looks like eBay is pondering selling it off.

Their reasoning is that if they can’t find a way to integrate it into their core business which is online marketplaces, then it’s of no use to them. I don’t completely agree, but I applaud eBay for having the fortitude to face up to and act on their bad decision quickly. AOL Time Warner comes to mind as an example of the opposite.

Posted in Networking & Internet

The Government Accountability Office recently sent out a report that there are stolen US military items currently being sold on Craigslist and eBay. However, there is no clue as to where these items came from or who is selling them. This comes after government investigators posed as buyers who successfully purchased prohibited items such as night vision goggles, army combat uniforms, special enhanced body armor vests and two F-14 fighter jet components. Investigators fear that these items, if sold to non-military personnel or civilians, could be used directly against the US troops and their allies.

Important discussions have arisen since such items were posted for sale. At present, eBay and Craigslist do not follow any official state rules as to selling prohibited items but are still trying to keep such off the site. Jim Buckmaster, CEO of Craiglist even told the House National Security and Foreign Affairs subcommittee that the rules on what cannot and can be sold on the website are somewhat confusing.

Since there is no current law written to ban the sale of prohibited items such as these stolen military items, Massachusetts Representative John Tierney suggested that a law be passed to ban the sale of military items, especially those that are less than five decades old. Rep. Chris Shays of R-Connecticut, on the other hand, asked a Defense Department about how and why prohibited items have found their way into the websites. Shays further implied that maybe, there is a serious theft problem in the US, which needs to be solved right away.

Thinking about it, maybe there really is a serious theft problem in the country that needs to be given attention. Sales of stolen goods and prohibited items must be stopped, by hook or by crook.

Read [CNN]

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