Archives for February 2006
Motorola's RAZR V3x gets "Best 3GSM Handset" award
Reuben Lee | Feb 15, 2006
The ultra-slim 3G-enabled clamshell has been named the "Best 3GSM Handset" at this year's 3GSM World Congress event awards ceremony. An enhanced 3G version of the company's popular RAZR series, the V3x is the first handset from Motorola to win the award given by the GSM Association, according to Ron Garriques, President of Motorola Mobile Devices.
Also receiving honors at the ceremony is Nokia for its 8800 which took home the award for "Best GSM Handset" while the Nokia N70 was named "Highly Commended" in the 3GSM category. Nokia scored a hat trick when its CEO, Jorma Ollila, was given the GSM Association Chairman's award.
Mario and Goomba
Juniper Foo | Feb 15, 2006
Ever taken the Ink Blot Test? Then you'll either have plenty of fun with this one. Or not. To put you out of your misery, these are, believe it or not, PC mice. We've seen rodents in all shapes and sizes. But the Nintendo Mouse: Mario and Nintendo Mouse: Goomba get our vote for most ouch-worthy rodents to use. Certainly not recommended for long-term usage, though if you're a Mario Brothers collector, US$15 won't prove too painful, at least, for your wallet.
Via fosfor gadgets
See Goomba | Mario | packaging
Price: US$14.95
Availability: At liksang.com
Device: Mice
Basic specs: 9cm, two-button mouse
Intel and Skype play foul
Rich Brown | Feb 15, 2006
News.com tracked down the details behind the recent Intel/Skype announcement and we recommend you check out the story. In short, the two companies announced a partnership last week that involves Skype designating Intel dual-core chips as its preferred hardware for a limited time. If your PC has an Intel Pentium D in it, it will let you run up to a 10-person conference call compared to the 5-person limit it applies to single-core systems and, more ominously, dual-core AMD Athlon X2-based PCs as well.
The problem is that the Intel chips' added capabilities aren't the result of any special VoIP sauce that AMD's chips don't have. By all appearances, the benefit to Intel-based PCs exists only because Intel and Skype signed a partnership. If the software allows it, chances are that a dual-core AMD chip could handle Skype just as well as an Intel chip, if not better.
On one level, these tactics are nothing new. Graphics card vendors have been doing it for years by partnering with various game developers to "optimize" for a specific GPU. Still, we've never liked the idea of placing artificial limits on technology, especially with no warning to consumers. Not that VOIP is the most vital task out there, but if you recently purchased an AMD Athlon X2 PC, we can't imagine that it feels too good waking up to the news that Skype sold you out.
Zanier Heat-GX gloves
Juniper Foo | Feb 14, 2006
Ohmygawd. Where were these when your frozen fingertips were crying out for some warmth? The world's first ski gloves with adjustable, processor-controlled heating are not only self-heating, there are three delicious heat settings, at are 86º, 98.6º, and 131º, to keep those fingers very happy. Providing power is a rechargeable 4oz Lithium battery in each glove, good for up to 10 hours. Ahh, heated bliss.
See upclose
Via OhGizmo!
Price: US$250
Availability: At Zanier
Device: Heated gloves
Basic specs: Palm leather, back Super Microtex, black, 116g
Phobile
Juniper Foo | Feb 13, 2006
Mobile convergence takes a strange twist here, with the Phobile being an old-style rotary dial handset that plugs into a handphone. The point? None actually. The Phobile looks chunky enough to be deployed as a self-defence weapon, and will probably be more of a handful than a handsfree. Totally daft, but at least nobody can mistake when you're on the phone.
Price: 19.95 pounds (US$35.75)
Availability: From Firebox
Device: Handset peripheral
Basic specs: For phones that are compatible, click here, comes with five adapters
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