Talking on your PSP a reality soon
Damian Koh | Jul 31, 2006
That is if you have a PlayStation Portable and you're staying in the UK. T3 UK has gotten wind that Vonage--a broadband telephone services provider--is in the process of creating an interface that will allow users to VoIP on the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS.
While Vonage has declined to comment on the matter and everything is still in the rumor stage, it's not impossible to imagine that you can soon look forward to VoIP-ing on these handheld gaming devices since both come with microphones (for you to talk into) and Wi-Fi (to connect to the Internet) connectivity options.
Users in our region may not have such luck yet and we haven't heard of any mobile operators providing such a service. If we do hear of any, you'll be the first to know.
Big Brother's watching
Damian Koh | Jul 31, 2006
There're many things you can't do in Singapore. For instance, you cannot prance around naked at home lest your neighbors catch you in your full glory. You also cannot leave bright yellow packages lying around in MRT train stations. Why?
Simply because by doing so, you can be considered a national security threat. Recently, surveillance cameras have a new home on selected trains and buses on our island-state. That's in addition to a whole list of similar cameras found in shopping malls, elevators and on the roads.
We'd like to think that it's all for the sake of enhancing public transport security. To prove that the remote-controlled cameras enclosed in a white box mounted on train ceilings do work, we did a little test. We whipped out our shooter to take some pictures (the one you see on the left) of this camera while pretending we're in some make-believe espionage mission to catch the attention of whoever's watching behind the unit.
Lo and behold, when we moved, the camera shifted and had its glasses trained on us. According to a Land Transport Authority (LTA) press release, these cameras have been in placed since June on selected public buses and MRT trains as a trial and are still at an early stage of development.
We understand that these measures are for security purposes to make Singapore a safer place to live in. We're just afraid that in the future, we'll have a camera peering above us in the toilet. Privacy? You might have to pay for it.
LG's dynamic duo with USB DivX playback
Philip Wong | Jul 31, 2006
LG expands its lineup of compact 5.1 surround sound systems with two new entries targeted at budget-conscious consumers. Tagged at S$299 (US$219.85), its LH-T3602SE is light in pricing yet a powerhouse in surround sound and multimedia compatibility with out-of-the-box Dolby Digital, DTS and USB DivX playback.
For S$300 (US$220.59) more, its LH-T763MB packs twice the power of its counterpart with a combined audio output of 700W. The beefy amplifier is used to drive a set of tower speakers enhanced with dedicated tweeter and woofers designed for silky-smooth treble and solid bass notes.
The higher-end system also offers DVD-Audio support for quality multichannel music playback delivering a highly sought-after in concert experience. The LH-T3602SE and LH-T763MB are now available at S$299 (US$219.85) and S$599 (US$440.44), respectively.
More info here
Dual-HDMI Sharp Aquos
Philip Wong | Jul 31, 2006
Sharp recently debuted the new BX series, adding four midsized entries to its extensive lineup of Aquos LCD TVs. Available in side and bottom speaker configurations, the BX is a fusion of acclaimed Toshiyuki Kita's design and the latest technological advancements. The company's black advanced super-view LCD panel enables the 32- and 37-inchers to put out an enhanced contrast factor of 1,200:1 and a wide viewing angle of 176 degrees.
Visual performance aside, the beautifully crafted Aquos also receives a timely boost in video connectivity with up to four high definition-ready inputs for the users' disposal. This is thanks to a pair of HDMI terminals, perfect for a variety of next-gen HD boxes ranging from settop boxes to Blu-ray and HD-DVD players.
The BX series will launch in August at a recommended retail price of S$2,599 (US$1,911.03) and S$3,799 (US$2,793.38) for the 32-inch and 37-inch models, respectively.
More info here
Skype Phone Converter
Juniper Foo | Jul 31, 2006
We almost thought about getting the slickly chic Ipevo Skype phone. But this convenient little gizmo does even better. It will take the signal from your home phone, be it analog, DECT or even cordless, and convert this into that of a VoIP phone's. How smart is that for double-duty convenience? Who says talk is cheap? Haven't you heard--it's free!See close-up of adapter and how to install
Via Coolest-Gadgets.com
Price: £29.95 (US$54.70)
Availability: At Firebox.com , but only to UK addresses unfortunately
Device: Skype converter
Basic specs: N.A.
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