Phone gets Transformer treatment

With the Transformers movie a hit on the big screen, inspiration is emerging from the woodwork, including this concept phone which "more than meets the eye".

Transformers, robots in disguise? How about mobile phone in disguise? Even Decepticon numero uno Megatron would be taken by surprise by what seems to be an innocuous-looking mobile phone. Until it transforms into a gun-smoking bot.

The brainchild of some Korean chappie (since no credit is given and everything's in Korean text), this amazingly cool mobile bot is, of course, hatched from within a video-editing lab. And despite our best efforts, it's impossible to make out what the brand and model is.

Still, be warned. This video is addictive. It shows a short 18-second clip of the clamshell camera-phone suddenly unfolding into something resembling an AT-ST combat walker and using its big cannons to tattoo the words "Parkoz" onto the desktop.

We'd love to have one of these little monsters in our Labs, though it's quite safe to assume that this thing won't hit the production lines anytime soon.

Via Engadget
Picture credit: Parkoz Hardware

Nokia fights touch screens with geometry

So here's the deal: If there's going to be any meaningful backlash against touch screens, it may require some innovative thinking on the part of button proponents.

But we hope that it won't depend on the likes of Vertu and their US$310,000 phones.

Nokia, at least, appears to be doing its part with a new design for the "7500 Prism" handset destined for the Chinese market for about US$290, according to Gizmodiva. Its contribution to the cause? Triangular buttons that form a diamond pattern on the keypad.

We were just relieved to find that its "diamond" description wasn't referring to something like this. Or this. Or this...

Via CNET Crave

Nokia N800 Internet Tablet befriends Skype

Okay, here's another one to add to the arsenal of the not-iPhone-friendly camp. The Finnish giant is making Skype available on the N800 Internet Tablet from today.

Editors' note: July 14, 2007--The N800 will be available in Singapore from today at a price of S$698 (US$513.24). A Nokia spokesperson told CNET Asia that "other countries in the region will be included in the distribution plan for the Nokia N800, and will be announced accordingly".

Expected to be available either in July or August in Singapore, the N800 features a large 800 x 480-pixel touchscreen LCD sans the bells and whistles of multitouch on the Apple iPhone. Nokia Singapore was unable to comment on the availability of the N800 in other parts of Asia.

Make no mistake, the N800 is not a cell phone but portable device for Web browsing. Still that doesn't stop Nokia from adding Skype on it, which is a brilliant move. When connected to a Wi-Fi network, users can make free voice and video calls to other Skype users via Internet.

The support for Skype on the N800 is currently available for download on Nokia's Web site with the software upgrade to the OS 2007 edition. The new software also brings with it an Adobe Flash 9 browser plug-in, support for SD memory cards up to 8GB, increase in battery life and sensitivity of the touchscreen LCD.

Click here for our full review of the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet.

Samsung's 18k Olympic phone

Samsung has been holding out on us. The company did say last month that it would be issuing limited-edition phones in honor of the Beijing Olympics, following the likes of Lenovo and its "Cloud of Promise" laptops. But they didn't tell us the handsets would be made of gold.

Crave has a special relationship with all things gold, as some readers may have gleaned, so this phone naturally caught our eye--and it's not so ugly that we had to poke it out. True, some might find the P318+ a bit garish in its 18-carat gold casing, but we must remember that it's being made to commemorate the Olympics.

There's no indication that they'll be handed out to every gold-medal winner, however, which we think would be an obvious marketing gimmick. On the other hand, the runners-up might not appreciate getting handsets plated in silver and bronze.

Via CNET Crave
Picture credit: Akihabara News

Gotwind Wind Charger for phones

If not solar, why not wind? Apparently communications giant Orange approached gotwind to create a portable mobile phone charger that pegs to the top of a tent and utilizes wind power to juice up. In view of the recent Live Earth publicity, this is certainly a timely project. Comprising a 150g turbine mounting system with four "legs", the Gotwind Wind Charger uses a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) with a blade propeller measuring 30cm in diameter. With steady gusts, this pumps up to about 0.5watts of power, reportedly good enough for charging a phone fully within 1-2 hours. From wind-up chargers to wind ones, this oughta blow the competition away.

See bigger image here

Via Gizmag

Price: N.A.
Availability: Concept, but plans are out there to mass produce these; more info here
Device: Phone charger
Specs: N.A.

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our new blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (779)

» Digital Cameras (431)

» Notebooks (506)

» PC & Peripherals (531)

» Handhelds (264)

» Printers (44)

» Home AV (523)

» Music & Play (439)

» Gadgets (1002)

» Future Tech (171)

Previously...

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Subscribe to
Crave

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads