Philips Xenium X800 and X-Connect are one and the same

GSMArena recently reported two upcoming handsets from the Philips camp--the X800 and X-Connect. However, according to the PR agency for Philips, the X800 and the X-Connect are, in fact, one and the same, and that's the Xenium X800. Apparently, the X-Connect is an internal project name. As far as we know, the X800 features a touchscreen LCD, weighs 99g, will have a virtual keypad and QWERTY keyboard, multiple language handwriting recognition and a 2-megapixel camera. More details to come next week.

Picture credit: GSMArena

Charge your iPod with a solar-powered bra

Lingerie maker Triumph International has certainly taken the company's eco-friendly efforts to new heights with its latest product, the Solar Power Bra. Unveiled in Tokyo recently, this green-colored bra is made of high-quality organic cotton and features a detachable solar panel which is worn around the stomach. According to Triumph, the solar panel can generate enough electricity to power a mobile phone or iPod.

Unfortunately, even if you are daring enough to wear the solar bra out on the streets, it is still a concept product for now. A Triumph company spokesperson says there are still problems that need to be resolved such as the bra's lack of water resistance and the fact that "people usually cannot go outside without wearing clothes over it". The company, however, believes the Solar Power Bra does send out a positive message on how lingerie can play a part in saving the planet.

Triumph's earlier green efforts included a bra that can double as a reusable shopping bag and one that is designed to promote the use of reusable chopsticks.

Via Reuters
Picture Credit: Triumph

Sega Mobile offers a handful of games for free

Sonic the Hedgehog has seen a platform or four.

The spikey-furred rodent first brought to life by Sega in 1991 for proprietary consoles rolled with technology's punches onto TV, Xbox, PS3, and recently, onto mobile phones. April saw the spawning of Sega Mobile, when several flagship games, including Sonic the Hedgehog, were ported to mobile phone format and offered to cell phone gamers for subscription or sale through their carrier's Web portals. Now Sega Mobile is offering Sonic Jump, Afterburner II, and Golden Axe free of charge for US residents.

The catch, as you may have guessed, is that the games are ad-supported, offered through a partnership with content distributor Greystripe. Sega's games are available for select cell phone models via GameJump.com or from the mobile Web at http://gjmp.tw. In addition to showing advertisements, the GameJump policy warns that users may be charged between 5 US cents and 15 US cents for the data transfer of each freshly served ad; something to keep in mind if you're not on a data plan.

Via Crave CNET

A cigarette vending machine that recognizes faces

Now why would a cigarette vending machine need to recognize faces? Apparently, this "Child Check System" introduced by Japanese company Fujitaka uses facial recognition to determine if the person buying cigarettes is over the legal age limit, which is currently set at 20 in Japan. A camera embedded in the vending machine takes a picture, compares it with its database of 100,000 faces. It even checks for lines and skin tones to ascertain a person's age.

We have it that the Fujitaka Child Check System will be installed in about half a million vending machines in Japan from July this year.

Whether this system actually works in stopping underaged consumers from smoking is still too early to tell. After all, there are lots of people who look younger than their actual age, and some who appear more mature than they are. Besides, young people can still easily buy cigarettes from convenience stores. So what's next? A vending machine that determines if you are too fat to consume sugared drinks? Hey, you never know.

Via DigitalWorldTokyo
Picture credit: DigitalWorldTokyo

Rendered images of 3-inch touchscreen Xenium X-Connect surface

If Philips could make the above handset happen anytime soon, it would have a hit under its belt. It's the same as if I had won last weekend's lottery grand prize. I wouldn't be sitting before my computer writing about product renderings. Still, the 3-inch touchscreen Xenium X-Connect is something worth looking forward to with purported specs such as HSDPA connectivity, Bluetooth, onboard GPS receiver, AA/AAA backup battery, microSD expansion card slot and an Intel 624MHz processor powering the WM6 software. Don't get your hopes up too high on this one, though.

Via Engadget | Picture credit: telefonino.net

Crave is...

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

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (2238)

» Digital Cameras (988)

» Notebooks (1238)

» PC & Peripherals (1312)

» Handhelds (585)

» Printers (83)

» Home AV (1147)

» Music & Play (895)

» Gadgets (1488)

» Future Tech (396)

» Green Tech (172)

» Lifestyle (157)

» Luxury (22)

» Home Appliances (58)

» Cars (99)

» Games and Gear (248)

» Software (96)

» Web (118)

Previously...

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Hot Topics

Subscribe to
Crave

What's Hot

apple apple inc. apple iphone apple ipod asia battery camera game google inc. iphone microsoft corp. microsoft windows mobile phone photograph singapore smart phone software sony corp. video

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