Archive for June 18th, 2008
In 2005, EarthLink began an ambitious project that would bring free Wi-Fi to the citizens of Philadelphia. EarthLink quit its effort in Might because of  complaints about signal service. In a city of over a million people, only 6,000 signed up for the EarthLink service. A new group of investors announced that they would finish the project.
Network Acquisition Company, a group made up of local investors, plans to finish the network, which is about 80% complete. Philadelphia is an American city that covers 135 square miles and has a citizenship of 1.4 million.
Mayor Michael Nutter, quick to point out no public money is being used for the Wi-Fi project, hopes the city will see economic opportunities flow from increased Internet access.
“We now have the potential to reach more people with this network than in any other city in America,” he stated.
Network Acquisition Company has no plans to optimize the network for indoor users nor to provide customer service assistance. A device called a repeater can be bought for $200. A repeater will bring the Wi-Fi signal inside building but the goal of the company is to provide service for outside use. EarthLink had trouble sending signals into homes, and was therefore unpopular.
Network Acquisition Company plans to pay for the free Wi-Fi by selling businesses technology that grants employees to access corporate networks from remote locations. It is also considering location-based advertising, sponsorships and revenue sharing with specialized consumer application providers. This revenue will pay to finish the network, notably in low-income areas where many people don’t have World wide web access.
Via Mobilecrunch
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 The Songbird Flexfit is an $80 disposable hearing aid, the first of its kind, and it was developed by the Sarnoff Corporation, the same company behind HDTV. It’s a one-size-fits-all behind-the-ear device for people with mild to moderate hearing loss who aren’t ready to plunk down thousands of dollars on a typical hearing aid. As you can tell from the picture, the Flexfit is also pretty discreet—I had to stare straight at this guy’s ear to see it. The batteries last 400 hours, which we’re told is about 3-6 months of use. Look for it in August, more pics down below. [Songbird]
 
 Via [Gizmodo]
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Not content to let Intel steal all the glory with its new low-power Atom chip, AMD appears to be developing a similar chip of its own. It’s currently only known as “BGA” but will hopefully get a much cooler-sounding name when it’s ready to go. AMD’s current low-power Geode processor has served as the company’s […]
Not content to let Intel steal all the glory with its new low-power Atom chip, AMD appears to be developing a similar chip of its own. It’s currently only known as “BGA” but will hopefully get a much cooler-sounding name when it’s ready to go.
AMD’s current low-power Geode processor has served as the company’s netbook CPU of choice, but it tops out at 500MHz and has been around for more than five years now. It’s been speculated that this new BGA chip could actually be AMD’s “Bobcat” chip that the company announced last year.
As you can see from the above slide, this new CPU will clock in at 1GHz and will use eight watts of power, making it best for netbooks but a little too greedy for smaller mobile devices, as CNET’s Tom Krazit points out.
No word on when we’ll begin to see devices using this new chipset, but it’d better be soon for AMD’s sake since Intel, NVIDIA, and VIA seem to have a good head begin.
via Electronista
Via [crunchgear]
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Carrier Sprint Nextel announced today that its smart phone, the Samsung Instinct, will sell for $129.99 when it goes on sale Friday. The cheapest iPhone model, which reaches the public on July 11, sells for $199. It looks as though Sprint is hoping to compete with AT&T in the smart phone market by being cheaper and quicker to market.
The Instinct is similar to the new iPhone. It includes access to a fast wireless data network and a GPS receiver. Sprint worked closely with Samsung to develop the Instinct, and the carrier plans to spend quite a bit of money to promote the handset in the United States.
Earlier this year, Sprint hinted that the Instinct would cost over $200. Once Apple announced the price of the new iPhone, Sprint said it would match pricing. Today’s announcement, undercutting the iPhone by nearly $70, indicates that Sprint is willing to intensify the smart-phone competition.
Like the iPhone, a two year contract is required to buy the Instinct in the United Says. The cheapest monthly plan has a cost close to $80 a month after taxes and fees. This makes the total contract price come in at about $1,900.
Samsung Instinct from Sprint
Via Mobilecrunch
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Posted by: admin in Video
I am an aspiring presenter and gadget freak, to the extent that I own a selection of wireless USB adaptors… and yes I realise how cool that is. Hope you like the clip. Thanks for watching. Ali
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 Twice we’ve brought you leaked info on Sony Ericsson’s upcoming C905 cellphone, and today at last Sony came good with official specs. The camera in its slider body is indeed an 8.1-megapixel one, with xenon flash, auto-focus, face detection and image stabilization. The phone’s also pretty full-featured, and is GPS-ready, with a 2.4-inch TFT screen and TV-out capability as we’d heard. So is it a camera with a bolt-on phone or the other way around? Read the specs in the press release to decide. Simultaneously, Sony came up with news of the S302 Snapshot, which sounds like a lower-spec sibling to the C905 with just 2-megapixels and a fixed-focus lens. Both should be available late this year.
Singapore, 17 June 2008 – The C905 is Sony Ericsson’s first Cyber-shot slider and its most advanced camera phone yet. With an 8.1 megapixel camera and real camera flash amongst its cutting-edge abilities, it offers easy photo-taking in a phone that derives its looks from a digital camera and offers the picture quality to match. In comparison the S302 Snapshot is for those who want it all at an inexpensive price – good looks, must-have features and a pocket-sized slim design.
“The C905 Cyber-shot™ and S302 Snapshot have been developed to make us all superior photographers! That means making it easier to take great shots and never missing that magic moment.” said Sven Totté, Head of Imaging Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “Although both have photography at their core, the phones are very distinct; the 8.1megapixel C905 is a viable alternative to a digital camera and the S302 is perfect for those who don’t want to miss a moment and like to send or Bluetooth™ their photos to their friends.”
The new C905 Cyber-shot™
Take your ideal shot
Complete digital camera experience on a phone – true digital camera styling and an 8.1 megapixel camera with Xenon flash
Outstanding picture quality – complete with face detection auto-focus, smart contrast and image stabilizer
From baby’s first steps to an astonishing sunset; store them all on the 2GB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2®) included
The USB adaptor (CCR-70) provided in-box grants for simple transfer of your pics to-and-from your Computer.
View high-quality pictures on the phones impressive 2.4” scratch-resistant mineral glass display
Share your memories – send your pics wirelessly from your phone to your TV via Wi-Fi™ (using DLNA), or connect with wires using the TV-Out Cable ITC-60, also announced today
Upload photos to your own on the web blogsite or print your photos with fantastic resolution up to A3 size
Much more than a camera phone - GPS-enabled for geo-tagging of photos and navigation support.
The new S302 Snapshot
Good for your image
Slick and slimline with a stylish design and a premium, high-gloss finish
2.0 megapixel camera with an easy-to-learn camera menu. Use the S302 just like you would a digital camera
Photo light and Pic fix – useful pic functions to help you get the shots you want
Capture the action - video recording and playback
Room for your entire pic album - up to 20 MB internal memory and Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) support
Transfer pics easily via USB, Bluetooth™ or Memory Stick Micro™
Building on Sony Ericsson’s camera phone heritage, the C905 Cyber-shot™ phone and S302 Snapshot are all-round performers that maximise their camera credentials. The S302 introduces a premium looking, yet inexpensive phone with a snapshot camera at-hand when needed. The C905 is a powerful 8.1 megapixel camera phone that looks, feels and acts like a real camera.
The C905 Cyber-shot™ will be available in three colours (Night Black, Ice Silver and Copper Gold) in selected markets from Q4 2008. It will support the following networks:
C905: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS/HSDPA 2100.
C905a: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900/2100
C905c: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900.
The S302 Snapshot will be available in Crystal Blue and Thunder Grey in selected markets from Q4 2008. The S302 (and S302c for China markets) will support GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900.
TV-Out Cable ITC-60 will be available Q4 2008
For the full, large specs list click onto the Sony link. [SonyEricsson.com]
 
 Via [Gizmodo]
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I’ve seen handmade versions of clocks similar to this, and I’ve liked them. Thus I like this one as well, though it’s a tiny cheap looking. Powered by USB, the clock is a replica of the famous vacuum tube clocks tinkerers have been making for a couple of years now. Of course it’s a modern […]
I’ve seen handmade versions of clocks similar to this, and I’ve liked them. Thus I like this one as well, though it’s a tiny cheap looking. Powered by USB, the clock is a replica of the famous vacuum tube clocks tinkerers have been making for a couple of years now. Of course it’s a modern fake, but it still looks cool on your desk.
And of course it’s Brando who brings us this fun toy, as they’re the undisputed master of all things whimsical via USB. This clock is yours for $70.
Via [crunchgear]
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They’re saying WiMAX is the future, and it may well be, and many are gambling thusly. Flyvo is doing just that with this WiMAX-enabled handheld gaming system, the G100. Featuring a 4-inch touchscreen and powered Windows CE (!?) Pro 5, the machine’s outfitted to play many games already available at sites like PocketGear. It has WiFi and […]
They’re saying WiMAX is the future, and it may well be, and many are gambling thusly. Flyvo is doing just that with this WiMAX-enabled handheld gaming system, the G100.
Featuring a 4-inch touchscreen and powered Windows CE (!?) Pro 5, the machine’s outfitted to play many games already available at sites like PocketGear.
It has WiFi and Bluetooth as well for multiplayer gaming and 4GB internal memory, not bad at all. It’s hitting SoKo first, but we should see it here by next spring. If it takes off, it could be the first mass market casual gaming device that could take on the coming iPhone wave.
Via [crunchgear]
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 The Ergonomic Workstation from Ergo Motions might look like a dentist’s chair, but I have to state that if my dentist had this thing in his office, I would be in there for a root canal right away. Ergo Motions mission is to help gamers and heavy workstation users avoid the repetitive stress injuries and posture issues that often result from sitting on your ass and typing away on a personal all day. The Ergonomic Workstation Phase I prototype appears to do that—and much more.
Features:
•Industrial rack mounted hardened Personal computer
•Two 19” Digital monitors
•7.1 surround sound system
•Wireless network ability
•Ergonomic keyboard and mouse
•Video conferencing ability with a built-in camera
•VOIP with full telephony features
•Articulating calf support (programmable to reduce DVT)
•Mechanically adjustable armrests
•Mechanically adjustable head rest and monitors
•Pneumatically inflatable lumbar and headrest bladders
•Mechanically reclining motion to 38 degrees
•Mechanically adjustable seat depth (knee to hip)
•Mechanically retractable monitors
•Swing away keyboard (manual)
•Form fitting seatback, armrests and seat cushion
•Memory chair presets via proprietary Motion Control Board/Software
•Compact design using twelve square feet of floor space
As I mentioned earlier, the Ergonomic Workstation is currently in a prototype phase so the when, where and how much information is not yet known. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it was far too high-priced for the average lazy geek to afford. [Ergo Motions via Born Rich]
 
 Via [Gizmodo]
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Joining the list of other products announced by Sony Ericsson at their press event in Singapore are three Bluetooth headsets: the HBH-PV715, 720, and 740. No pricing announced, hittin’ the shelves in Q4 08.
From left to right, below:
HBH-PV715:
- “No-Fuss” headset
- 10 hours of speak time, 700 hours of standby
- Available in black or white.
HBH-PV720:
- 3 “Style-up” faceplate options
- 11 hours of talk time, 800 hours of standby
HBH-PV740 (Mock-up pictured):
- Desk stand and USB charger
- Status display
- 11 hours of speak time, 800 hours of standby
Via Mobilecrunch
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