Best Gadgets World

While we were all set and waiting for the final release of Firefox to drop at anytime now, CNET is reporting that some of us may indeed be given an RC 3 sometime today. The latest release, which will come officially as RC 3 will only be for Mac users as the Windows and Linux versions are already considered stable. The changes are also reported to be “internal” so assuming you are a Mac user and do choose to update, its more than likely you will not see any difference. Still no word of any delay with the final release, so as of now Firefox 3 is still on track for a “mid-June” release.

Read [CNET]

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Details are very limited, this is certainly not as nice as the C905 leak that we offered you this morning, however this clamshell Walkman phone is going by the codename Alicia and seems to have a stylish look.

Basically what we have here, is just what we can tell from those images. The front offers up a large external music control. Not too mention the brushed metal interior framing the keypad, which seems offer up yet more music controls. The handset is also expected to feature a display that will change themes depending on time of day, as well as showing the current weather.

We also know that Sony Ericsson has a big announcement in the works for June 17, this could possibly be included in the event.

Via [se-nse]

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You remember back in the nineties when everyone was tacking on “Extreme” as a descriptor for whatever it was they were doing? Whether it was something risky like mountain biking or something mundane like Mountain Dew, everything was “EXTREME!” I guess it was a response to the Extreme sports fad that is still going on, and will probably never die.

The 360 is another extreme offering from a designer Francesco Sommacal. Instead of standing on the board like skateboarding or snowboarding, the user actually sticks his or her feet in the wheels itself, giving a whole new level of control.

The wheels are thick and rugged, allowing the 360 to traverse areas that a skateboarder or inline skater can’t normally play in, like gravel and grass. This sets the user free from concrete, and their next extreme experience could be as close as the next hill rather than half-pipes at skate parks.

Not only is the 360 more versatile, but, as it’s name implies, it is capable of some very cool tricks like flipping end over end.

Unfortunately, the official site does not give a price or availability date. What I would really like to know is how long an average (or an expert) would take to master this new method of extreme fun.

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The lawsuit that has only recently come to light, has seemingly gone away just as quickly. I am of course referring to the recent announcement that T-Mobile was suing Starbucks claiming “breach of contract” and “unfair competition” in regards to how they let AT&T quickly move in and take over and begin promoting their services.

According to reports T-Mobile, along with Starbucks and AT&T have reached a “memorandum of understanding” in an attempt to resolve their issues. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, however Starbucks spokeswoman Stacey Krum stated that they are “committed to providing a high quality WiFi experience for customers, including Starbucks Rewards Customers, at Starbucks locations nationwide.”

Which makes it sound like nothing will be changing, at least on the customer side, after all some of the new programs including the 2-free hours per day from AT&T is part of the Starbucks Rewards program. I am glad to see an issue get resolved, especially quickly, lets just hope that does not mean my free Wi-Fi is going away.

Read [CNN Money] Via [Starbucks Gossip]

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In “No, that’s not creepy at all” news, this just in: a new teddy bear from - where else? - Japan will apparently act as both a GPS device and a very vocal breathalyser, shrieking. “You haven’t been drinking, have you?” whilst sniffing your breath to check. Really.

Pink Tentacle reports that the bear will also give useful information about local landmarks when you tap his head. As to what happens when you throw him out of the window and leave him to sniff the ground, the people of Japan will surely soon be finding out.

My recommendation? Turn to your healing partner doll if it all gets too much…

Turtle Wireless has a new watch phone for the masses - the TW801. This is a tri-bang GSM phone that is meant to be worn like a wristwatch, featuring many other capabilities of an ordinary handset such as :-

• Bluetooth connectivity
• Camera function
• Audio and video playback
• Touch screen display
• 512MB of internal memory
• microSD memory card slot
• 3 hours of talk time
• 160 hours of standby time

There is no word on how much it will cost, but Turtle Wireless has plans to roll it out in Q3 and Q4 later this year. It will be sold as an unlocked phone. I personally don’t like watch phones since they’re a pain to read and compose text messages with.

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Morodo’s low-cost calling service, MO-call has expanded its services to RIM’s blackberry phones including the Curve, Pearl and its other 8800 model series. Previously available only for the iphone the service is also working now with around 850 different mobile phones comprising 30 different mobile phone brands.

For those not in the loop, MO-Call works something like Jajah wherein it connects a phone call between two mobile phone numbers from the web browser to the mobile phone. And like we said, MO-Call is a low-cost calling service, and your charges varies from region to region. So to give you an idea how much you’re going to pay for using the service, better check out their schedule of international call rates. To use MO-Call, just visit http://www.mo-call.com/en/. Incidentally, they are giving a trial credit worth $5 with the app.

Via [IntoMobile]

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by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 11th 2008 at 5:58AM
Well, there you have it: the BSI gauntlet has been officially thrown. Sony just announced its own backside-illuminated CMOS sensor meant to rival OmniVision’s achievment. Sony’s sensor features 1.75 micron pixels totalling 5 effective megapixels capable of 60fps and offers low noise at twice the sensitivity of traditional sensors at the same pixel size. That’s a signal to noise ratio of +8dB (+6dB sensitivity, -2dB noise), nerds. Nice Sony, but OmniVision’s 8 megapixel sensor targeting cameraphones (Sony’s is apparently targeting digital cameras and camcorders) brings the pixels down to 1.4 microns (with 0.9 micron pixels on the roadmap) albeit with an undisclosed SNR. Regardless, we look forward to seeing our friends’ chemically-spiked club shots in excruciatingly slovenly detail later this year.

BSI, learn it — it’s shaping up to do for imaging what perpendicular did for magnetic storage.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 11th 2008 at 5:58AM
Well, there you have it: the BSI gauntlet has been officially thrown. Sony just announced its own backside-illuminated CMOS sensor meant to rival OmniVision’s achievment. Sony’s sensor features 1.75 micron pixels totalling 5 effective megapixels capable of 60fps and offers low noise at twice the sensitivity of traditional sensors at the same pixel size. That’s a signal to noise ratio of +8dB (+6dB sensitivity, -2dB noise), nerds. Nice Sony, but OmniVision’s 8 megapixel sensor targeting cameraphones (Sony’s is apparently targeting digital cameras and camcorders) brings the pixels down to 1.4 microns (with 0.9 micron pixels on the roadmap) albeit with an undisclosed SNR. Regardless, we look forward to seeing our friends’ chemically-spiked club shots in excruciatingly slovenly detail later this year.

BSI, learn it — it’s shaping up to do for imaging what perpendicular did for magnetic storage.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We realize this gorgeous Swiss Army knife, with a built-in USB flash drive, is probably causing you to become very excited and thus filling you with an almost uncontrollable urge to immediately add this item to your cart (and hey, we certainly won’t stop you). This is a geek’s dream gadget brought to life - and with very little standing between you and your acquisition of this bad boy, we can fully understand your elation.

The Swiss Memory USB is the perfect marriage of technology, practicality, materials, and quality design. It perfectly pulls together four important tools that no geek should ever be without (USB flash drive, LED light, Swiss Army knife, ballpoint pen). These functions have been skillfully integrated into this single super tool. Along with all these great features you also get the legendary construction quality and materials that Swiss Army knives have become famous for throughout the world. The USB flash drive portion of the knife can easily be removed, for safe airline travel (and successful passage thru security).

Gimmie!

Suggested Price: $59.99-$99.99

Posted in Gizmo of the Day, Miscellaneous