A sneak peek at Tag Heuer's new phone

It's been a busy day for Paris-based ModeLabs. Only a few hours ago we posted an item on a slider phone it made for MTV, and now there's an update about its project with Tag Heuer. The buzz around the co-branded phone was renewed last week when rumored photos were posted on various blogs, though Tag Heuer certainly has been in no great rush to bring the handset to market.

Now the first official press photos of the "Meridiist" have been released, according to Engadget. The specs are the same as previously mentioned and, unfortunately, so is the price range. In fact it's a little higher, though that doesn't matter much at these levels: This fashion magnet will run between US$5,420 and US$6,216, to be exact. And here we thought the Prada and Armani phones were expensive.

Via CNET Crave | Credit: Le Journal Du Geek

MTV trots out mobile phone in France

MTV is continuing to push its brand onto gadgets, though it seems to be more interested in Europe than anywhere else. A couple of weeks ago its logo showed up in an X-ray on a "multi-room box" distributed by UK-based Sky TV, and now it's coming out with a branded mobile phone in France.

The red 3G slider, from handset designer ModeLabs, has a 2.2-inch display, a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and, of course, an MP3 player, according to Pocket-lint. Aside from the obvious logo, it offers exclusive access to MTV content, as well as such extras as games, wallpaper, and ring tones.

We have to say that we're more than a bit disappointed, however. ModeLabs has some amazing designs for phones in concept form for some time, yet we keep seeing products like this latest yawner and the Hummer handset. On the other hand, we're relieved that it doesn't bear any resemblance to the HP laptop that won a design contest MTV sponsored.

Via CNET Crave | Credit: Pocket-lint

A stylus to treat your touch screen right

Whether they have an aversion to fingerprint smudges or touch screens in general, apparently some people want a stylus for their iPhone. But heaven forbid it should be one of those crude pointy plastic things, poking the royal handset in undignified ways.

That's why the "Soft-Touch Stylus" was created, to be practical but also properly respectful. It's made of an aluminum body with a rubber tip and promises not to scratch or otherwise damage the iPhone, iPod touch, or presumably any other screen as long as it's not abused, according to Pocket-lint. And it comes with a built-in shirt clip, so you can maintain that all-important uber-geek image.

Via CNET Crave | Credit: DayDeal

HP Compaq 2133 gets Windows XP option

If, for some unfathomable reason, you have serious issues with Vista and hate to have to learn Linux, then you'll be glad to hear that Windows XP versions of the HP Compaq 2133 Mini-Note may be coming in mid-May.

This is very welcome news. Not everyone is willing or able to use the open-source Linux environment, while others do not like the resource-intensive Vista hogging the HP 2133's already limited resources. No news on whether the Windows XP version will be cheaper than its Vista equivalent, but we'll keep you posted once we get confirmation from HP.

Via Laptopmag

It's a 3D world after all

If you fancy 3D movies (who doesn't?), you'll probably like Loreo's 3D Lens in a Cap that takes stereoscopic pictures.

When you snap a picture, you get two images on a single frame, each slightly skewed from the other. The print can then be viewed on the Deluxe 3D Viewer, which combines two frames into one and presents an eye-boggling 3D image with incredible depth. Alternatively, you can use the Loreo Lite 3D Viewer for viewing on a computer screen.

It's really simple to use. Just mount the attachment to your dSLR or SLR as you would with lenses. Then set the focusing distance (no autofocus, sadly) as well as aperture (a choice of F11 or F22) on the fixed 38mm lens, and you're all set.

While this may sound gimmicky, I have to say it's quite entertaining. I have tried it at a store and the pictures look as real as those of 3D movies, which applies the same theory.

The Loreo 3D Lens in a Cap fits all SLRs and certain models of dSLRs. It is available from US$48 at Loreo's online store. The Deluxe 3D Viewer and Loreo 3D Viewer Lite cost US$24 and US$9.50 (for a pack of 10), respectively.

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