Archives for May 2006
Ozone-using washer/dryer
Juniper Foo | May 17, 2006
This one here's for our home appliance-challenged reviewer. Sanyo's ozone-thirsty washer/dryer joins the league of domestic gadgets that boldly go where none has gone before, from Mitsubishi's vitamin-boosting fridge to a singing microwave oven. The AQUA AWD-AQ1 lays claim as the world's first home drum-type washer/dryer to use ozone for disinfecting, deodorizing and reducing water consumption. From what we can understand, it jets ozoniferous air sans water to clothes in the drum, taking about 30 minutes to resolve the smell and germs and return these to the air. It will also recycle water it uses for rinsing by disinfecting this again with ozone. All part of the company's Think GAIA vision, which gets our vote since this planet's all we got.
Get a good look here
Via Japan Today
Price: 262,500 yen (US$2,200)
Availability: More information here
Device: Washer/dryer
Basic specs: 9kg for washing, 6kg for drying, choice of pearl white or metallic brown
Sony shaves off the pounds
Darius Chang | May 16, 2006
With dimensions only slightly larger than
the PlayStation Portable, the Sony VAIO UX180P is its new
addition to the UMPC party.
Looking like a Star
Trek prop, the Sony VAIO UX180P has a distinctly high-tech appearance
with its sliding keypad and antenna. Joining the new category
of ultramobile PCs (UMPC), the VAIO UX180P weighs a mere 0.54kg but has
the processing power to run Windows XP Professional.
With
its 4.5-inch widescreen display and Intel Core Solo U1400 processor,
you also get 512MB of RAM and a 30GB harddrive. Connectivity features
include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and WWAN. Following 3G phone trends, this UMPC
incorporates a 1.3MP camera at the back and a 0.3MP one facing the
user. Even more impressive for its size is the fact that it also has a
USB port, Memory Stick slot and biometric fingerprint scanner.
We
feel that Sony may have a winner. With an integrated sliding keypad,
touchscreen and pointing stick, data entry and manipulation are greatly
simplified compared with purely touchscreen models. Handwriting
recognition, though greatly improved, is still not as speedy as using a
keyboard. At a starting price of US$1,799 (S$2,845.48) and up to 4.5
hours of battery life, this notebook is worth saving for.
Photo
Gallery
Palm's Treo 700p makes a landing in US
Damian Koh | May 16, 2006
Well, it's not here, yet, and Asia-Pacific users may have to stretch their necks out a little bit longer for the GSM version of the Treo 700p to arrive. That is, if it ever does.
Palm has announced the Treo 700p as the second major update (the first was the Treo 700w running on Windows Mobile 5.0) to the Treo lineup for this year. However, Asia-Pacific users can only drool since the current version runs only on CDMA. Like the Treo Hollywood, which is another big question mark, Palm has not indicated whether either models will be making its way to the region.
The Treo 700p comes with several hits and misses. What has improved includes support for streaming media, increased user-accessible memory from 22MB to 60MB, compatibility with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and a 320 x 320-resolution display. There's no built-in Wi-Fi support, though, and according to sources on the Web, the SDIO slot on the Treo 700p won't support the wireless connection as well.
While we're at that, perhaps we can add the Treo 700l to Palm's arsenal for 2006--"l" for the Linux system it may run. But that's just pure speculation on our part.
Smart TV goes live
Philip Wong | May 16, 2006
Singapore telco StarHub wrapped up its months-long trial with the commercial launch of the Smart TV service, just in time for its June coverage of the FIFA World Cup to be broadcast on four dedicated channels.
CNET Asia has been following closely on the trial’s development and is pleased to report that most issues encountered have been rectified via over-the-network firmware upgrades delivered by the cable TV provider.
The Smart TV DVR will now be available to all CableTV subscribers at S$899 (US$591.45) (without contract). To commemorate the commercial launch, it is also offering special introductory (without contract) and 12-month contract prices of S$665 (US$437.50) and S$438 (US$288.16), respectively.
An addition S$5 (US$3.29) monthly Smart TV subscription fee plus charges for three minimum digital cable basic groups apply.
More images of the Smart TV:
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More info here
LapSchticks
Juniper Foo | May 16, 2006
Seattle-based Retrofitted Designs has taken schtick to a new level. Its laptop cover stickers, playfully punned as LapSchticks, will spruce up the most boring laptop case, with a choice that ranges from flowers to retro pop art. It's your call, though, if you want to cover up your Apple iBook or Mac Pro, or even ASUS' very funky cowhide-leather S6F and Lamborghini portables. The good news is the stickers are made of special high-quality vinyl with removable pressure-sensitive adhesive, which means you won't get annoying goo if you decide to terminate your current LapSchtick. For those who want to take customization a step further, there's an option to personalize your own design with, say, your doggie's fur face or your sweetheart's mug. All for an extra charge, of course.
Price: US$19.99 for standard, US$24.99 for customized
Availability: See Web site
Device: Laptop cover stickers
Basic specs: Reusable, 26 designs as at press time
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