First watch crams in Windows Mobile 5

Despite the best efforts of many industrious Chinese startups, multifunctional wristwatches are still far from commonplace--whether they provide music, video, phone service, or all of the above. But no market (or device) is too small for the ubiquity of Windows operating systems.

Epoq, which has already had a video watch on the market for some time, has developed what is believed to be the first wristwatch running Windows Mobile 5. Its EGP-WP98B claims to have an OLED touchscreen, 1.28GB of memory, Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth, VoIP support, and--get this--handwriting recognition. And a faux alligator wristband, of course. But as Mobile Magazine says, it might be a tad difficult to get full use out of Windows on a 1.4-inch display.

Via Crave CNET | Picture credit: Mobile Magazine

Water-powered cell phones by 2010

Samsung has developed a new kind of cell phone battery which is powered by water. And it aims to bring that to the market by 2010.

How this works is when the handset is switched on, reaction between metal and water in the phone will produce hydrogen gas. This is then channeled to the fuel cell where it reacts with oxygen in the air to generate power.

According to Oh Yong-soo, vice president of Samsung Electronics Mechanics' research centre, the new battery could last for up to 10 hours, adding that based on four hours of use daily on average, the hydrogen cartridge will have to be replaced about every five days.

The next development would then be to eliminate the hydrogen cartridge altogether and to rely only on water. While all that sounds promising, we guess it'll be hard to convince people to adopt it en masse. After all, we've been trying to keep our phones away from water all this while.

Via Chosun Ilbo

Headset screens calls for you

Chinavasion regularly comes up with some dubious products--a tooth-mounted microphone, anyone?--so it's not surprising that it should come up with something like this item, which at first glance seems to be of devastatingly little use. Its "Caller ID Stereo Bluetooth Headset" is a wireless device that displays the incoming number before the call is answered--which, so far as we know, already appears on pretty much any phone the market today (other than blocked calls, of course). To be fair, however, Chip Chick points out that it might come in handy if you have an unwieldy handset, especially one that could easily slip off the StairMaster's control panel while you're sweatin' to the oldies.

Via CNET Crave | Credit: Chinavasion

A "Buddha phone" for serenity now

If there's one thing that's in dire need among mobile phone addicts, it's a calming influence. And though it may be too much to ask for them to part with their handsets, perhaps the answer is in the handset itself, honorable grasshopper.

Enter the "Buddha phone".

This "pear of the orient," as Newlaunches describes it, has even been blessed by a Buddhist monk. Lesser beings like us might be interested in knowing such superficial elements as its touch screen, microSD card slot, and 24k-gold plating. Those features are hardly unique these days, but how many phones can claim to have jade-like scroll buttons?

Unfortunately the only place to pick up one of these zen phones is on the streets of Shenzhen. Or, perhaps, the afterlife.

Via CNET Crave | Credit: Newlaunches

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

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