Dell to offer 8.9-inch mini-notebook?

Rumor has it that Dell is entering the UMPC race with its own 8.9-inch offering, hot on the heels of the HP Compaq 2133 and, hopefully, before the ASUS Eee PC 900 hits the streets.

Taiwan maker Compal, which manufactures laptops for big-name brands like Toshiba and HP, claims that Dell will start its first range of mini-notebooks with a US$499 price tag. The expected launch date is in June, by which time Intel Atom machines would have started shipping. Not many details at this time, but we'll keep you informed.

Via Engadget

Get all Dick Tracy with this watch phone

We've come across several watch phones in the market so far, but this is probably the first we've seen with a flip cover. The latest of the Cool phone series for the Chinese market, the G108 incorporates a unique clamshell design that looks very much like an accessory from Dick Tracy's spy gear.

What's truly impressive about the G108 is its onboard feature set. Housed on one side of the clamshell is a 1.5-inch (160 x 128-pixel) 256K-color display, while on the other side is a circular keypad that shares an uncanny resemblance to the rotary dial on the B&O Serene handset. An additional LED display can also be found on the exterior of the flip lid.

The G108 supports quadband GSM and GPRS, on top of Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It comes with a pathetic 0.5MB of onboard memory which will definitely be insufficient for those planning to make use of the built-in 1.3-megapixel camera and multimedia player. Fortunately, users have the option to increase the memory via a memory card expansion slot. This timepiece also comes with a speakerphone function.

Don't expect this to be slim, though. With a 51 x 51 x 20mm footprint, the 65g Cool watch phone is bulky and will probably look weird on a tiny wrist. Having said that, it is undeniably a cool toy which will appeal to gadget lovers out there, though there's no word on when and where else you can find this watch phone.

Click for larger images:



Via Slashphone
Picture credit: Slashphone

Buy a Touch, help a kid with cancer

In an effort to raise money for the Singapore Children's Cancer Foundation (CCF), HTC has teamed up with Singapore fashion designer Nic Wong to create four limited-edition HTC Touch handhelds. Titled Season of Hope, these devices are no different functionally from a regular Touch, but have unique designs on their surfaces in four different colors.

To be auctioned off on eBay starting tomorrow, all proceeds of the sale will go to the foundation, which provides services like financial assistance, counseling and organization of support groups, among others, to children who suffer from cancer.

If any of the designs tickle your fancy (we think the back looks better than the front) and you're in the market for an HTC Touch, this isn't a bad way to give to the charitable organization. You don't even have to be in Singapore to bid for it, though shipping will have to be factored in if you win and need it to be shipped overseas. For more information, check out HTC's special eBay page.

UMPC slowly morphing into UCPC?

If you cannot Google a definition for UCPC... don't worry. It means Ultra-Cheap PC, a term we coined ourselves when the ASUS Eee PC was first launched at an incredible price of S$598 (US$439.71).

When Intel first envisioned the Origami project, they believed that Ultra-Mobile PCs would become laptop companions with mobility being the key factor. Yet now we are seeing a range of UMPCs, from the HP Compaq 2133 to the ASUS Eee PC 900, which seem to ignore mobility and, instead, attempt to enter a price war. Granted, HP calls its latest laptop a mini-notebook, but it is still fighting in the same space as other UMPCs. As a matter of fact, rumors of Acer's Intel Atom chipset entrant into this market may be coming in 8.9- and 12.1-inch flavors.

Yes, 8.9-inch is definitely more usable than a 5-inch or even 7-inch display. We also agree that having a keyboard which doesn't cause finger cramps is very useful, indeed. However, I believe we are not the only ones who think it's more logical to spring for a larger 12.1-inch with an even better keyboard and larger display. After all, the weight difference is less than a burger, while the additional footprint is hardly something to write home about.

So is the UMPC concept slowly morphing into UCPC? Would you rather pay more for a 12.1-inch notebook with a dual-core processor and more features, or compromise with a single-core mini-notebook? Decisions, decisions.

DTS-HD could blow your speakers!

Yes, literally, according to AVS forum members playing selected DTS-HD Master Audio (DTS-HD MA) Blu-rays. There have been user reports and even a video of the "nasty" bang. One case was encountered on a Panasonic DMP-BD30 and Onkyo TX-SR705 combination, while the titles involved ranged from Fantastic Four and Chronos to Golden Compass and 1408.

Personally, I have tried Fantastic Four numerous times, DTS-HD MA decoded on my home Onkyo TX-SR875, but have yet to see my Mission speakers up in smoke. Perhaps the infamous but harmless pops common among the Onkyos have made me prudent but it's nevertheless a good idea to be cautious, too.

So the next time you test drive a new DTS-HD MA disc, just remember to take it easy on the volume dial. This is especially for those reference-level mavericks who like their movies "loud and explosive". And yes, I'm one of them!

Via AVS forum | Photo credit: DTS

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