(Credit: Magellan)
(Credit: Nobil)
Portable battery banks may be common these days, but the Juice charger deserves mention for being really pretty. Made by a Japanese company called Nobil, this product's internal battery can be recharged through the wall socket prongs cleverly hidden in its body. It can then be used to charge any device that draws power from a USB port--just think of it as recharging using your home PC, less the PC. Furthermore, two AAA- or AA-sized batteries fit on its sides so those can be recharged on-the-go, too.
The company describes it as an "ingenious portable charger", which is a bit of a boast. We think it should play on the aesthetics instead as most similar products are really bulky and ugly compared to the Juice. Nobil's Web site says it will go on sale in March 2010, though we're not too sure if those plans include our region. Contact the company directly for more information on availability.
Via Buzz Beast
(Credit: MWg)
Remember MWg? That's the company that spun off from O2 Asia after the European operator decided to exit the handset business. Its last mobile phone was the Atom V back in early 2008 and all has been quiet--till now.
We recently visited the Web site and noticed a new smartphone, the Atom VI. According to MWg's homepage, this Windows Mobile (WM) device was announced on Dec 1 along with a teaser page for an upcoming product called the Electron.
The Atom VI has a 2.6-inch touchscreen as well as a numeric keypad. Here are some of its other specifications:
A quick Google search revealed that it's available for preorder from Expansys, which is unsurprising because the online retailer has a stake in MWg. It goes for US$425 unlocked and without subsidies--a price that seems rather high considering comparable devices from established players such as HTC and Samsung go for just a little bit more.
Those who have tried or used O2/MWg smartphones, would you consider buying the Atom VI? Let us know in Talkback below.
O2, the mobile arm of Telefonica Europe, appears to be the winner of a bidding war for voice over IP start-up Jajah, according to a report on TheMarker that Reuters is citing.
(Credit: Cory O'Brien via Twitter)
This week, the world found out about Google's Android device, the Nexus One, after it distributed them internally to members of staff. The company has previously sold unlocked smartphones for developers to work on and it seems logical to view this as the third iteration after the Dev Phone 1 (HTC Dream) and Dev Phone 2 (HTC Magic).
But speculation suggesting that Google will be selling this as a consumer product is hitting hard and heavy. Some commentators are saying this would be a bad move as it may make manufacturers in the Open Handset Alliance consider Google a competitor rather than a partner.
Though the spotlight is currently on the search giant, let's take a moment to see HTC's point of view.
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