Archives for June 2007
A multi-purpose silicone band
Stephen Tong | Jun 21, 2007
While the Livestrong wristbands were all the rage a couple of years back, Crosswintech has reinvented it by adding loads of features onboard while keeping it equally fashionable.
What we have is an innovative device that allows users to do away with Metro cards and door keys, and actually keeps you healthy. Surprised? The silicon band is supposed to emit anions which apparently provide ache relief and increase the brain's alpha waves, hence allowing better concentration for sports people or examinees. The band also gives out far-infrared rays which generate invisible heat and promote blood circulation.
As you may have guessed, the X-passing band also integrates RFID technology to good effect. In Dae Jeon, South Korea, the device is already being used to store money value inside and is used in a similar way as a CashCard. Simply put, you just need to use the band to settle your payments on the bus/subway, at the convenience store and at vending machines. You can even use it to open doors that support the band.
X-passing is currently selling in Dae Jeon for 19,500 won and usage on trains has been ongoing since September 2006. New areas of application are being explored in different parts of Asia so you may just be seeing more of this sometime soon.
More CommunicAsia coverage here
Zen Stone Plus gets a face
Darius Chang | Jun 21, 2007
If the Zen Stone is an iPod shuffle equivalent, then the latest iteration with an OLED screen and larger capacity has just upped the ante in the budget micro-MP3 category.
Barely a month after the introduction of the tiny Zen Stone, a new generation of Creative's mini MP3 player has arrived today in the form of the Zen Stone Plus. Equipped with a circular OLED screen, the capacity has also doubled to 2GB, while radio reception and voice recording features are included. Otherwise, the design remains the same with a choice of six colors and a heft of 21g (lighter than the Zen Stone which weighs 25g).
The Zen Stone Plus can even be used as a watch with an optional S$29 (US$19.08) wristband accessory. The black, white and pink versions will be available in Singapore from June 22 at a price of S$99 (US$65.13), with the other colors coming in at a later date. Considering that the screenless Zen Stone with half the storage capacity retails for only S$30 (US$19.74) less, choosing the latest version is really a no-brainer.
Funky Bluetooth speakers
Stephen Tong | Jun 21, 2007
If you think speakers with the Sony Ericsson label are the only ones decent enough to own for your phone, think again. The Pivot Bluetooth Speaker SR 204BT is one speaker that looks as good as the A2DP phones and MP3 players that can sync with it.
The SR 204BT has a pleasant and simple design flanked with several buttons on the top such as volume controls and Bluetooth sync. It uses Bluetooth 2.0 Class 2 technology so it has a wireless range of up to 10m. Users can also activate bass enhancement and surround sound effects, but we were unable to test out its capability as Pivot could not seem to synchronize the Sony Ericsson K610i we had on hand.
The speakers are powered by four AA batteries, but strangely enough the power adapter will not included with the set.
The speakers are expected to launch within the next two months at US$230 (S$354) in selected locations around Asia.
More CommunicAsia 2007 coverage here.
MP3 through your car's FM tuner
Philip Wong | Jun 21, 2007
Launched in early 2007, the Sound-Fly differs from most FM-based music transmitters in two major areas. It's one of the few models which does not ship with a brand-specific dock and it doubles as a standalone MP3/WMA music player. The former is actually a better design taking into consideration the myriad proprietary jacks featured on different MP3 players.
Replacing those incompatible sockets is a universal USB port. This is of the regular size version, compatible with inexpensive thumbdrives and high-capacity harddisks, up to 32GB in storage size. It also features an integrated car cigarette adapter for hassle-free plug-and-play installation, less the usual cords when paired with a compact thumbdrive.
Playback feature-wise, there is really nothing to shut about other than file indexing and automatic load-and-play. But hey, what's there to complain about an affordable-yet-compact US$35 product. Talks are already underway for Asian distributorship, though you could always source for one in countries such as Korea, Germany and Russia.
More images of the Sound-Fly:
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More CommunicAsia 2007 coverage here.
LG confirms PDA-phone
John Chan | Jun 21, 2007
In a video interview with CNET Asia, LG revealed that it will be launching a PDA-phone. This will run Windows Mobile 6 Professional and be available by the end of the year in Asia.
The move does not come as a surprise as LG has a wide range of mobile phone devices, including those meant for more serious users. For example, one of its most recent handsets is the KS10, a slider which uses the Symbian OS.
The company would also have benefited from the experience of making the Prada phone, a touchscreen device that looks very much like a PDA, though it doesn't run a standard OS. See our interview with LG's Samuel Loi, senior manager of the Mobile Group here.
Additional reporting and video interview by Edvarcl Heng.
More CommunicAsia 2007 coverage here.
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