Gadgets Blog

The SCNY camera phone you see here is the latest in a long line of clones, playing on the word SONY instead. It features a similar dual-sided design just like Cybershot phones from the Sony Ericsson range, surprisingly carrying a 5.1 megapixel AF camera complete with xenon flash and optical zoom. You will also get face detection as well as dedicated hardware camera buttons, while its 6800 mAh ought to be able to last you for a fair number of shots before you go running looking for a power outlet. No idea on how much this costs, but I’d best place my money with the real deal since China-made phones are notorious for their poor user interface.

Who knew that the Asus Eee PC would get cloned so early into its lifetime, courtesy of the Yinlips YDP-G77 mini notebook. It will run on some sort of Linux, featuring WiFi connectivity as well that enables you to just about stay connected as long as you’re within the range of a wireless network. The processor falls short of the Eee PC’s performance though, maxing out at a mere 400Mhz. Still, at least that’s faster than a Pentium II *snigger* Other specifications include :-

• 7” TFT display
• WiFi connectivity
• Audio and video playback
• Pre-loaded open source application software
• 400MHz processor
• Full size keyboard
• 512MB/1GB flash memory

ProLink Solutions announced that its Brickyard Crossing Golf Course located at Indianapolis, Ind. will now feature the ProLink Solutions ProStar GPS system which has to date, seen action at many of the world’s most famous golf courses. This is one nifty way a GPS system will be able to help folks out in everyday life instead of just offering you the best route to and from work. After all, having a GPS system with you on the golf course will greatly aid your game and help save time in the long run, as you know exactly where to walk to - I’d just make sure my maps were updated before I head out to the greens though.

According to Jeff Schroeder, Brickyard Crossing head professional, “Players at Brickyard Crossing rely heavily on ProLink GPS to help them negotiate the hazards and place the ball in proper spots. We consider ProLink not only a great amenity, but a necessity when it comes to keeping up pace of play, managing our carts, and handling large tournaments. It also helps the course maximize revenue through food-and-beverage functions, pro shop promotions and the advertising program.”

Brickyard Crossing did feature ProLink’s GameStar GPS system previously, and is part of the nearly 90% of courses who renewed their lease with ProLink last year. After all, golfers in a sense do enjoy the finer things in life, and ProLink won’t let them down with a patented 10.4″ high resolution colors display which is incidentally one of the largest in the industry. Features include easy-to-read graphics comprising distances to the pin and hazards, pro tips, pace-of-play timer and radial arc for cart-path-only holes. Golfers at Brickyard Crossing can also use the ProLink device to order food and drinks at the touch of a button without having to trudge all the way back to the cafeteria. Do leave a comment at the bottom of this post if you, being a golfer, have seen how GPS technology change your golfing life.

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Mirror reviews the LG KF600 and writes, “Looks-wise, the handset is pretty sharp, featuring a smoked glass fascia with stylish chrome trim, while animated themes by legendary New York artist Keith Haring add to its cred. The KF600 packs in a reasonable three megapixel camera with flash and auto focus, but it loses marks for not having 3G connectivity. So, if you want to surf you’ll have to make do with the slower EDGE network…While the touchscreen is innovative and intuitive, it’s sometimes annoyingly unresponsive. The KF600 is also a bit of a slowcoach – starting up an application seems to take an age, and there’s a serious shutter-lag issue when taking pics with the camera.”

Read more about the LG KF600.

I recently spent 12 hours flying from England to Singapore, then another five flying to Australia. If I’d disembarked the plane to find out my luggage hadn’t completed the journey, I would have been a little unimpressed, to say the least. In fact, (knock on wood!) I’m been very lucky in my travels so far: the one time my luggage was misplaced, the airline found and delivered it to my door the very next day. But that experience was enough of a scare for me to relate to the 37 million (thirty.seven. MILLION!) people who lose their luggage every year, and never get it back.

Trace Me is a luggage tracking device that keeps your details on file, for life. All you pay for is a luggage tag with an exclusive bar code and your details are then registered on Immobilise - a database used by baggage handling organisations across the globe. As an added bonus, it’s reusable and environmentally-friendly: there will be no need to write your name on a flimsy old paper tag ever again.

Buy one tag for £12.50 ($25) or two for £19.95 ($40) from the Trace Me website.

Via Shiny Shiny.

In a continuing bid to branch out and maintain new business links, Microsoft has done a deal with car maker Hyundai-Kia to develop a new in-car entertainment system.

The deal seems to be a joint venture, with Microsoft investing US$113 million next to Hyundai-Kia’s larger US$166 million pot. The funding is to create a new auto IT innovation center that will form the hub of development for new technology specifically aimed at motor vehicles.

Martin Hall, general manager of Microsoft’s automotive business unit commented:

These new systems will redefine consumer experiences in the car … We’re now aligned to develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems

Although specific details of the new system have yet to be announced, the new entertainment system is meant to bring together all the gadgets you commonly bring into a car. This includes your mobile phone and digital music player and aims to bring them all under control of the driver’s voice.

The deal has been announced and signed while Bill Gates is visiting Hyundai’s home country of South Korea. He is also there to attend the Seoul Digital Forum 2008 being held May 6-8.

Read more at the AFP article

Matthew’s Opinion

There are a growing number of gadgets I take into the car everyday and it can cause a few problems and dangerous distractions dealing with them. First of all I have my digital mp3 player, which also needs an FM transmitter to play through my car stereo. I also have a mobile phone, which has to sit in a hands free unit, but still requires you access the tiny buttons to do anything. A satellite navigation gadget is also required on occasion and finally I sometimes have my laptop, which while not on when I am driving, is still something I need access to in my car if working.

It would be nice to get in a car where my gadgets are just plugged in, or recognised wirelessly, and can be controlled via my voice. It looks like I may have to get a new car in order to do that however, and wait a while until models utilising such a system hit the market in any great numbers.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has done deals with car makers. Last year it was Ford they developed a similar system with, but now it looks like they are expanding and at the same time promoting innovation in car technology. The creation of an auto IT innovation center will mean Microsoft not only get new ideas, but access to staff in the region who show a flare for tech. They benefit in a number of ways for what is a relatively small investment for the company.

Microsoft Corp. has recently signed a worldwide deal with automakers Hyundai and Kia, with the aim to see its in-car software used in cars from both manufacturers where voice commands are used to control personal music players as well as telephones. Both Kia and Hyundai have been given the green light to sell cars equipped with Microsoft Auto on a global basis from November this year onwards. Features related to geography and needs will also be tailored, depending on which country the car will be sold. Somehow I’d rather let my vehicle be Windows-free as a Blue Screen of Death is definitely not welcome when I’m in the middle of nowhere.

Just as quickly as we learn that any new Radiohead tracks will soon require your wallet, Nine Inch Nails opens up with two free singles and then a complete album, all for free.

Following up on the success of Ghosts, Trent Reznor and his crew offered up both Discipline and Echoplex as singles, both of which are available as free downloads. While its nice to get the odd track for free we could not really expect to get a complete album, but that is exactly where they have gone.

The most recent release is the 10-track album called The Slip, and it is 100% free, both in terms of DRM and money. Its available for download in a variety of formats ranging from MP3 up to lossless and even if you wanted you cannot pay. Although Trent Reznor has been very public in the past about his dislike for the record industry, he has really been standing behind those words lately.

Read [NIN]

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The SteelSeries 7G Gaming Keyboard is another in a reasonably short line of gaming keyboards, and this one has its own fair share of bragging specifications just in case you decide to stick with it instead of regular offerings from Logitech and Razer. The SteelSeries 7G comes with a self-proclaimed “most powerful PS/2 buffer-system ever created for a gaming keyboard”, supporting as many simultaneous key presses as there are keys on the keyboard. Other features include :-

• Switches: Gold plated no-click
• Switch lifetime: 50,000,000 cycles
• Assembly: Face plate mounted keyset
• Dimensions: 18.9″ x 9.8″
• Cable length: 6.6 feet
• Connectivity: PS/2 + USB
• Quick access to volume, mute and other audio controls

The SteelSeries 7G Gaming keyboard will retail for approximately $150.

The T12 is the second model of the T series of tributaries power strips. This model is similar to the previously available T10 model. The T12 power strip was designed to give easy accessibility to any wall wart power supply. T12 models have twelve different outlets in which eight of the outlets rotate 90 degrees. This makes it easier when plugging in from different directions and angles. The remaining four outlets are equipped with safety shutters.

The T12 also features a built in resettable circuit breaker that is set with the power push button. The model has two led lights to show that the power strip is working properly. The red light shows that the power strip is working correctly, and the blue light shows that the outlets that are connected are grounded. The T12 also comes with a cord management design so that all the cords will stay organized.

T12 models are setup to protect all three legs of the AC line. The models are rated at 1875 watts and 125VAV/ 15A 60 Hz. The power strip is also made to with stand a voltage spike of 6KV and has a clamping voltage of 330V. Energy levels of 4320 joules can easily be dissipated by the T12 models. The power strip also has surge protection for the telephone/modem, and the f connectors. T12 is produced with a wide band line filter that will prevent EMI/RFI noise from interfering with connected equipment. It can reduce noise levels from around 150 KHz to somewhere around 100 KHz.

The T12 models have been rated with 8 separate listings from the Underwriters Laboratory ranging from the Standard Surge Protection Device (UL1449) to Standard Electromagnetic Interference Filters (UL1283). It also meets the requirements of California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003. This means that the T12 is RoHs (Restricted and Hazardous Substance) compliant.

Gimme!

More info from the manufacturer

Price: $120.00 (Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Posted in Audio/Video, Home Theater, Computers, Gizmo of the Day