New Home Gadgets

by Joshua Fruhlinger, posted Jun 25th 2008 at 10:42PM We don’t normally get very excited about things that involve scary things like nature, bugs, and sunlight. In this case, though, DeLorme’s Earthmate PN-40 GPS device sports some seriously interesting features that we couldn’t pass up. It uses a high-sensitivity 32-channel Cartesio chipset that speeds up signal acquisition, a dual-core processor for insane redraw speeds, 3-axis compass with accelerometer to allow use in any position, 500MB of internal Flash memory, and supports SDHC cards. Phew. So there you have it, one of the most intense GPS units of doom you can possibly get. Good luck out there, nature people!Read PermalinkEmail this3 CommentsFiled under: GPS (Read the full post about ‘DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 GPS unit for those of you who go outside’…)

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The HTC Mogul will be getting a Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM update from Sprint, and that information was leaked. This Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM has a build version 19208.1.0.2 of CE OS 5.2.19208, while the radio version is 3.42.02. Well, if you’ve been holding out for a HTC Mogul all this while, perhaps it is time to consider Sprint’s offer?

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Every once in a while, I discover a new mobile device charger that is really practical and energy-efficient, like the Solio Magnesium Solar Charger. Today I found two devices that charge using another renewable energy source: kinetic energy.

The first is the Orange Dance Charge. This is an armband that you can connect your mobile device to, and then shake it up (preferably while dancing) for a charge. It has the same kinetic energy charger that you see in those “never need winding” watches. So if your cellular phone needs a charge, just dance around like Martin Short back when he was playing Ed Grimley on Saturday Night Live.

(Read the full post about ‘Motion-Powered Chargers’…)

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This fake product page shows a real product: The Apple iPhone Stylus Pen from Orion gadgets. A single pen, with a squidgy tip that will “provide precise touch and control, while protecting your touch screen”. It costs $10, which makes even Apple’s accessory prices seem cheap.

When Apple does something new (in this case, a smartphone without a stylus) the junk-mongers rush in to fill a void which is best left empty. Are they meeting a genuine demand or is this just un-needed tat? The stylus, pitched to me in an email this morning, got me thinking, and I made a couple of mockup Apple products, reproduced below for your pleasure.

(Read the full post about ‘Fake IPhone Accessories Apple Would Never Make’…)

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Check out this wireless telephone that not only works with the GSM bands, it also doubles up as a media playback device, compatible with both MP3 and MPEG4 file formats. Among the other features include :-

• GSM phone/wireless phone/cellular phone
• Random PIN code protection
• Prefix IP number auto-dialing
• Call forwarding, call waiting, 3-party calling
• Compatible with MP3, MP4, Flash formats
• USB connectivity

No word on pricing, but if you want this, you’ve gotta place a bulk order.

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Samsung Korea has launched two new portable media players, the P2 video player and the S3 DAP. Both of these new devices belong to the Samsung Yepp PMP series.

The Yepp P2 boasts of the following features; a 3-inch touchscreen display (which in PMP standard is relatively large), Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity and a choice of 4GB, 8GB or 16GB’s of storage capacity. The Yepp P2 will retail for around $249, $297 and $374 respectively.

The Yepp S3 DAP is actually a follow to the current Samsung K3 media player and it features enhanced video capabilities, Samsung’s Digital Natural Sound Engine 2.0, 3D sound, a 12 band equalizer, LED light effects, an FM radio, photo viewer, screen saver, alarm clock and a choice between a 2GB or 4GB storage capacity.

(Read the full post about ‘Samsung intro’s the Yepp P2, S3 portable media players’…)

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There are a number of third party programs out there that let you enjoy AIM on your mobile, but nothing beats one directly from the source: AOL. AIM for Windows Mobile lets you IM or text, update your AIM status, manage your buddy list, and more, all from your Windows mobile device. This latest beta release of AIM for Windows Mobile supports the T-Mobile Wing, Sprint Mogul, HTC Touch, Blackjack II, Tilt, Samsung ACE, Motorola Q, Verizon Wireless 6800, and most Palm Treos. I already went to the site and downloaded it and plan to test it out on the HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Advantage, so we’ll see what other phones it’s “unofficially” supporting. (Read the full post about ‘AOL releases AIM for Windows Mobile’…)

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Recent and ongoing advancements in chip design have allowed for increased battery life in laptops and mobile devices generally, through lower power consumption. The new techniques being used focus on putting the processor in low power states quickly, as the machines tend to have short bursts of processing followed by long periods of idling.

Those techniques are now being integrated into server hardware by chipmakers in a bid to make similar savings, but Google is speaking out against this idea. Luiz Andre Barroso is a leading engineer at Google focusing on the datacenters the company uses.

(Read the full post about ‘Google: Mobile processor efficiencies don’t work in datacenters’…)

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Taking a bicycle can be the healthy and green thing to do, but it can get pretty dangerous for the cyclist especially in the dark. The DIY Turn Signal Biking Jacket works by blinking the arrow in which the direction you want to turn. Of course, it works best against a dark background which could potentially lower your overall visibility when not using the turn signals. Ah well, I’ve always wondered by bicycle manufacturers did not bother to come up with turn signals for their rides.

(Read the full post about ‘DIY Turn Signal Biking Jacket’…)

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Users of Google’s e-mail service in Germany will not be able to use gmail in their addresses after Google has lost a trademark fight with a company using the name G-mail.

G-mail is another e-mail service run by the businessman Daniel Giersch, but he charges people for the privilege of using his service. A ruling against Google in the court case that started back in 2005 was made last July and since then Google has made no effort to use the Gmail name.

(Read the full post about ‘No Gmail in Germany as Google loses 3-year fight’…)

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