Archive for August, 2010

China is getting a Kinect clone

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on August 12th, 2010

Technically video game consoles are banned in China, but of course you can still get one on the gray market. That means that most people won’t be able to get an Xbox 360 or the upcoming Kinect system. So a company from China is rolling out the eBox gaming console which is controller-free.

It looks like its a clone of the Kinect since it also uses a webcam-style device. We don’t know much more about it, but we do know it will come bundled with 30 or so games.

Sony Ericsson to introduce Android 3.0 PSP Go inspired gaming phone

Posted in Android by Conner Flynn on August 12th, 2010

Sony Ericsson hasn’t really ventured into the Android market, but we may soon be seeing an Android 3.0 phone from Sony Ericsson that will be designed with the PSP Go layout in mind. Instead of a QWERTY keyboard there may be gaming controls sliding out of the phone. The display is on the large side and likely around the 4 inch mark.

An android gaming phone inspired by the PSP. Color us intrigued. Soon you will be playing games like God of War or LittleBigPlanet on your Android phone!

Android GPS Navigation X-wing Edition

Posted in Android by Conner Flynn on August 12th, 2010

Obsessed with Star Wars? So is Flash-developer Christopher Caleb, who has come up with an Adobe AIR-based app for Android that lets you use an authentic looking X-wing targeting system on your Android device to navigate to your destination.

Sure, you won’t get all the features of your typical GPS apps, like maps, points-of-interest etc, but you will see your destination ahead of you as if you were in the Death Star trench. It also features plenty of Star Wars sounds to complete the experience.

Dell Thunder Prototype pictures spotted

Posted in Dell by Conner Flynn on August 12th, 2010

Pictures and a video of the upcoming Android-powered Dell Thunder tablet have surfaced, giving us some hints of what is to come from the device. According to the leak, the device features an 8-megapixel camera with an LED flash, 720p video recording capabilities, and a removable 1,400mAh battery.

The device pictured is running the vanilla Android 2.1, but it will likely offer a custom skin from Dell when it’s released. The screen resolution of the 4.1-inch display is most likely 800 x 480 pixels and an OLED panel.

Logitech Wireless Combo MK520 with touch media controls

Posted in Keyboards by Conner Flynn on August 12th, 2010

The Logitech Wireless Combo MK520 peripheral bundle comes with a mouse and a keyboard. All wireless and with one-touch media controls. It features quiet, low-profile Logitech Incurve keys which are easy on your fingers. The company claims that it has a three-year battery life, but that depends on how often you use it.

The laser mouse sports an ambidextrous design with soft rubber side grips, a one-year battery life and a high-performance laser that allows smooth tracking on most surfaces. Both models use Logitech’s small Unifying receiver which can remain in your USB port on your notebook without getting in the way. The range is up to 10 meters, and comes with 128-bit AES keyboard encryption.

World’s largest hydrogen fuel cell heads to Ohio

Posted in fuel cell by Shane McGlaun on August 12th, 2010

We have talked about hydrogen fuel cells before around here. The ones we are familiar with are usually small and can barely produce enough power to charge a smartphone. The world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell is shipping to Ohio for its 5-year trial run.

The massive fuel cell is mounted inside a semi trailer and produces enough juice to run 500 homes. The actual amount of power the fuel cell produces is 1 megawatt, almost enough to send Doc Brown back to the future. The massive fuel cell produces only water as a byproduct.

Verizon to air first 3D NFL game to FiOS subscribers

Posted in Verizon by Shane McGlaun on August 12th, 2010

This summer we have seen some of the first 3D sporting events land on satellite and cable channels all around the country. The catch was that most of the events were things that are boring to a lot of us like golf. Verizon has announced a new 3D sporting event that will appeal to many viewers.

Verizon has landed the rights to air the first 3D NFL football game to its FiOS subscribers. The game will air on September 2 in some markets. The game will be a pre-season match between the Giants and Patriots.

Samsung Gusto lands at Verizon Wireless for the a phone is a phone crowd

Posted in Samsung,Verizon by Shane McGlaun on August 12th, 2010

There are plenty of people out there who have no desire to know how to use the advanced features on a smart phone. For this sort of user the most important thing is a phone that is easy to use and has good call quality. Verizon has a new device that fits the bill nicely for these users.

The handset is called the Samsung Gusto and uses a flip phone form factor. It has an external screen and a 2-inch internal screen. The phone supports email and web access and full messaging options. The device also has a VGA resolution camera with night shot mode.

Cool Armor X10gx rugged tablet PC is tough enough for soldiers

Posted in Tablet PC by Shane McGlaun on August 12th, 2010

I never really thought I would like a table computer until I used my iPad. I really like the tablet form factor, but that iPad is too fragile for working stiffs who are out in the field all day. A new tablet machine that meets military specs for ruggedness has been unveiled by Armor.

The machine is called the X10gx and it has a 10.4-inch transreflective LCD with a resolution of 1024 x 768 that can be read in direct sunlight. That screen accepts both pen based and touch input to boot. Storage is to a 64GB SSD with 80GB or 160GB options.

First pics of the R2-D2 Droid 2 phone

Posted in Star Wars by Conner Flynn on August 11th, 2010

There’s been a lot of talk about a special version of the Verizon Droid 2 that will look like R2-D2. The special-edition phone isn’t supposed to be shown until tomorrow’s Celebration V show, but the folks at Technabob stumbled upon this picture one day early.

Yep. The shell looks like R2 alright. Hardcore Star Wars fans will want to get on this one right away when it arrives this September. We think R2 makes for a damn fine looking phone if you ask us.

Samsung announces new accessories for the Galaxy S

Posted in Samsung by Conner Flynn on August 11th, 2010

Samsung has announced a lineup of accessories for its Android-powered Galaxy S smartphone. These accessories include a desktop docking station, vehicle dock, and a backup battery charging system. The desktop dock lets your movies, listen to music, and it doubles as a digital photo frame while also charging the device.

The vehicle dock allows you to mount your Galaxy S on the windshield or your dashboard to display traffic alerts or turn-by-turn instructions. Lastly, the backup charger is small enough to fit into a purse, letting you keep your device close at all times, even when it is charging.

Ordro HDV-D350S HD Camcorder with built-in Pico Projector

Posted in Camcorders by Conner Flynn on August 11th, 2010

We all love recording videos, but when it comes to sharing them with friends or family on that tiny display, it’s not so fun. That’s where the Ordro HDV-D350S HD camera comes to the rescue. It’s the first camcorder to feature a removable pico projector that can display images from the camcorder at 854 x 480 resolution and with 15 lumens of brightness.

The projector can display images up to 60-inches in size and it’s priced at $550 from Ordro. Some specs include a 10-megapixel sensor, 3-inch LCD display, 10x optical zoom, SD/SDHC memory card support and it can record video at 1440 x 1080 @ 60fps.

Samsung BD-C8000 Portable 3D Blu-ray Player

Posted in Blu-ray by Conner Flynn on August 11th, 2010

Samsung has just introduced a new line of Blu-ray players that include their first portable 3D model, the BD-C8000, which will do 3D movies when attached through an HDMI output. The 10.3-inch display is only good for movies in 2D, though. As for battery life, you’ll get up to three hours on a full charge. You also get 1GB of internal memory, and Wi-Fi for BD-Live. The BD-C8000 is shipping now for $500.

Some other new Blu-ray players include the BD-C7900, C6800, and the C5900. The C7900 is the most promising, with dual HDMI outputs and other Internet features like Blockbuster, Netflix and Pandora. The C6800 has just one HDMI output, while the C5900 is an entry-level player.

Clamshell phone that looks like an Adidas sneaker

Posted in Mobile Phones by Conner Flynn on August 11th, 2010

When knockoff makers get creative it’s always a surprise because they are so uncreative the rest of the time. Here we have an Adidas flip phone. The Adidas brand is even spelled correctly and it actually looks like a shoe. Adidas should be running with this idea and making an official phone themselves.

This “adidass808″ is not that great when it comes to specs though. It features a 2.4 inch screen (240 X 320), dual SIM card slots and camera (1.3 megapixel), FM radio, micro-SD card slot, mini-USB port, and a removable battery. It’s based on GSM, and runs “MTK platform”. There’s also up to 4 hours of standby time and 3 hours of talking time.

Sony announces the NWZ-E350 Walkman

Posted in Walkman by Conner Flynn on August 11th, 2010

Sony being Sony has just announced a new E-Series Walkman, the E350. This model is available in blue, red or black and come in 4GB and 8GB capacities. The battery life is great, touted at up to 50 hours of music playback, and up to ten hours of video.

As usual, they support a wide range of formats. There isn’t much more to these colorful guys, they are pretty basic. They are available next month, priced at $70 for the 4GB model and $80 for the 8GB model.