Best Gadgets World

Remember that GPS navigation application that Nokia was touting during the Mobile World Congress earlier this year? Well, Nokia has just released it officially. Nokia Maps 2.0 is a nifty application made specifically for Series 60 mobile handsets that include all N-series and E-series models as well as some high-end 6000 series models.

This useful application will give users access to free downloadable maps of around 200 countries. It’s got street by street and city to city routes, various perspectives of different maps and even gives out some multimedia city guides which is available as a premium upgrade.

In addition, Nokia Maps 2.0 also gives out foot-friendly navigation with its Walk mode feature and a visual “bread crumb” trail which will tell you where you just have been. Even more sweet are the turn-by-tun directions which happen to be voice-guided. And to help you find your way through busy streets, Nokia Maps offers up faster shortcuts in getting from one point of interest to another.

Finally, to make it easier for user to download map data on their mobile phone’s memory card, Nokia threw in a PC-based client aside from the facility to download these data while on-the-go using WiFi and other mobile data internet connection.

Ready to try out Nokia Maps 2.0? You can download the application at http://www.nokia.com/maps

Via [Mobile Burn] Product [Nokia]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

by Donald Melanson, posted May 23rd 2008 at 5:04PM
We’ve already had a few glimpses of the drum kit for the now-official Guitar Hero: World Tour, but if you want a better look at the device that’ll be cluttering up your apartment this fall, you may want to hit up the site linked below, which contains a promotional video showing the kit being played by some actual drummers. There’s not a lot of new information to be found otherwise, but as none other than Stuart Copeland helpfully reminds us, the kit is in fact wireless. No headband included though, it seems.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 19 Comments

Filed under: Gaming

by Darren Murph, posted May 23rd 2008 at 2:07AM
Guess what, loyal Windows Home Server users? A fix for that completely obnoxious data corruption bug is on the way. According to an email beamed out by the WHS team, the final release of Power Pack 1 is still aways out, but the public beta is all set to be loosed on those who willingly accept the associated risk(s). Said download is slated to launch in “early June,” but those who want to get in on the pre-release fun are being encouraged to sign up now. Needless to say, those who toss their name in the ring better be sure their data is backed way up — after all, the whole point of this test is to find any remaining holes that could render your files unusable. Keep an eye on that inbox for an invite, and if you’re content with just getting the end product, the wait is growing ever shorter.

[Thanks, Drew]

• Permalink
• Email this
• 27 Comments

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage, Networking

We are all slowly becoming aware that as of February 9, 2009 we are going to see a switch from analog broadcasting to digital only, which, as we here already know, that means some people are going to wake up very confused as to why they are not able to watch TV. I am sure lots of you out there are looking after and taking care of those who are less than familiar with this situation, however just in case you are speaking a little to geek for them to truly understand, here comes Florence Henderson, yup, Carol Brady to save the day. I am sure she can speak in a little more down to earth terms, so sit your parents in front of the computer and hit play. While the video itself is slightly entertaining, they could have made it really fun to watch by offering up Carol Brady in the old Brady kitchen. Keep reading to check out the video below.

Read [Digital Tips] Read [Business Wire]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

by Darren Murph, posted May 23rd 2008 at 9:30AM
Not like we haven’t seen Nintendo’s DS used as a music maker before, but this variant may be the most amazing to date. yarglaaaafr’s ProteinDS application is currently in demo mode, but judging by the demonstrative video waiting after the break, it’s remarkably solid as-is. C’mon, it’s a tool that enables users to scratch up tunes via the handheld’s built-in touchscreen — how could Mario not approve?

[Via BoingBoing]

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 22 Comments

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio

Pentax aims to woo the point-and-shoot digital camera crowd by releasing the waterproof Optio W60 compact digital camera that brings together a myriad of features which ought to be more than enough for most beginners as well as those contemplating to move up a notch into the DSLR world. Granted, the W60 still won’t be able to offer a performance that matches the DSLR range in any way, but at least the option of expanding one’s horizons to shoot in dry as well as wet places makes the transition period easier. The Pentax Optio W60 features 10 megapixels as well as a 5x zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle capability, and will function just fine up to 13 feet underwater for up to 120 minutes, and is hardy enough to withstand a wide variance in temperature, even well below freezing. The 5X optical zoom refraction lens never protrudes from the Pentax Optio W60, despite the fact that it can cover focal lengths from 5mm to 25mm.

Features of the W60 include a high quality movie recording mode, and Auto Picture mode, fast Face Recognition, Smile Capture, Blink Detection, an Underwater Movie mode, In the High Sensitivity Digital SR mode, the sensitivity will be adjusted automatically up to ISO 6400, while its lcd monitor comes with a 170 degree wide-angle view and Anti-Reflection coating to reduce glare.

Thanks to an improved design and construction of the shutter button and controls, coupled with reinforced, airtight joints, the Optio W60 makes underwater photography a snap and will be able to dive up to 30% deeper than other Pentax waterproof models. It complies with the JIS Class 8 waterproofing standard, while the camera itself is JIS Class 5 dustproof against dirt, sand and dust and will be able to function from 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius) upwards. For those who are interested, you will be able to pick up the Pentax Optio W60 this July onwards for $329.95, and you can choose from either Ocean Blue or Silver colors.

Source: Let’s Go Digital

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment

A truly one of a kind XO Laptop is currently up for auction with all the proceeds going back to OLPC. The XO Laptop was signed by a collection of geeks and internet celebrities as they wandered around the recent ROFLCon event. The XO has been dubbed the “One ROFLaptop Per Child.” Some of the highlights include Kyle the One Red Paperclip guy, the Tron Guy, Firefox, the JibJab guys, iJustine, the Average Homeboy, Scott Beale from Laughing Squid and many, many more. As of this writing the XO currently has just about 2 days left and is sitting at just over $500. Keep reading to check out another image along with a video showing off some of the signatures.

breadpig project: One ROFLaptop Per Child from breadpig on Vimeo.

Auction [eBay] Read [the breadpig blog] Via [Laughing Squid]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

Dolls tend to freak me out, but if you’re into such toys, then the Takaratomy Yumel Partner Doll could prove to be a worthy addition to your collection.

Takaratomy presents “Healing Partner”, a lifelike robotic doll. The title name has a purpose, Yumel has 6 different sensors that will track his owners sleeping pattern. In the morning, he will greet his owner. He will also talk and sing to his owner when he is being taken care of. Yumel is designed for everyone. He will fall asleep when his owner goes to sleep. He will wake up when his owner wakes up as well. Available only in Japan.

This Japan-only product will retail for $179.99, and make a doll-collecting kid (or adult) very happy when he/she unwraps the birthday present.

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment

Hulu.com has seen growing trends in its viewership, so much so that News Corp and NBC Universal have decided to distribute its service to seven new sites. Hulu users watched a total of 63.2 million videos on its website last April and the average Hulu user spends around 129.3 minutes per month. Because of the enormous usage of the site, Hulu is set to distribute its videos on TV.com, TVGuide.com, Break.com and Zap2it.com.

Hulu had been reported to exceed the level of usage of all US television network websites in its first month after the official site launching – as stated in the VideoCensus data by ACNielsen.

Although Google’s YouTube remain to be the unbeatable site for online videos, Hulu has made remarkable milestones as a competitor. Major advertisers like McDonalds and Bank of America have already been attracted by the video website. Now that Hulu is beginning to further distribute its service, it should definitely see continued increase in its viewership.

Read [Reuters]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

Most companies have, at some point, released some sort of themed device, with the theme of the last two years being this summer’s Beijing Olympics. Lenovo, put out their so-styled laptop, a very long time ago. Now Kodak is keeping true to customs with their Olympic-themed M2008 digital camera.

The device features the Olympics logo, along with text that reads “Beijing 2008.” From a more technological standpoint, the M2008 offers a 10-megapixel camera and 3x optical zoom. The standard Kodak menu system can be viewed via the 3-inch LCD on the device.  You can even record events, sporting or otherwise, in 720p with the video functionality, a nice touch.

Those of you living in China can pick one up for around $270, but no word about a Stateside release. Keep reading for a few more pictures.

Via [Engadget]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →