Gadgets Future

If you were one of the 20,000 people let down by MobileMe during its e-mail outage, you’re not out of options: A potentially less expensive alternative has emerged for iphone users.

Sharpcast on Thursday announced SugarSync — a one-stop shop internet service for iPhone users. As you’ll see in the company’s video, the service backs up your media files online and syncs your data across your devices: From a Mac to a Windows PC, or a computer to your iPhone and so on.

Though the app is free through the App Store, you’ll have to pay a monthly or annual fee — with prices ranging from $25 to $250 yearly, depending on the amount of data (in gigabytes) you sync.

We haven’t had a chance to test SugarSync yet — since the company just unveiled it minutes ago — but you can give it a test run with a free trial.

Also see:

• Apple Spams iPhone Users With MobileMe Ad
• Apple Opens Up About MobileMe Mishap
• Has Apple Bitten Off More Than It Can Chew?
• Apple Apologizes for MobileMe — Again
• Apple Apologizes for MobileMe Debacle

by Thomas Ricker, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 8:20AM
The wraps are off and we’ve had a chance to get eyes on with Sony’s new Bravia Z4500 1080p LCD. While Japan unveiled the world’s first MotionFlow 240Hz set, this is similar, just 40 frames per second slower. That didn’t stop Sony from making the claim that the Z4500, “provides the smoothest and crispest motion reproduction to be achieved by an LCD TV.” Of course, both are multiples of the industry standard 50/60Hz. Sony’s being coy with the measurements and the price of this set, but with the show model listed as KDL-52Z4500, we’re guessing 52, kid-captivating inches of silky smooth video that looks so good, you may never have to parent again. “Look into the spiral Jimmy, good critter.”

We’ve got a comparison video after the break: 200Hz Motionflow on the left, your father’s 50Hz on the right. We could defintely see the difference in the uh, highly controlled demo. Question is: can you when this thing shows up at the local big box before Xmas.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

When I first saw the TXT8010, also known as the “Blitz”, I saw that it is billed as a smartphone for tweens. In all honesty, I thought that tweens were already into smartphones like BlackBerrys to do their Gossip Girl style conversations, but I must be thinking of teens.

No, this phone is marketed to tweens, that 8-14 age category that a lot of companies market to for quick sales. I suppose they need phones too, so it really is no surprise that that Verizon has teamed up with UTStarcom for this audience.

Features of this particular phone include the QWERTY keyboard, VCAST music, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and Bluetooth capability. I’m not certain how much internal memory this TXT8010, but it has a MicroSD slot for more.

I’ve heard a criticism on this phone saying that tweens are not ready for phones this advanced, but in all honesty, I believe we’re living in an era that makes it impossible for a tween to function in today’s society without the aforementioned features.

One thing I don’t have is the specs on the size of the phone. Perhaps it is a little smaller for tween hands. I do know that the “Blitz” is available for $70 with a two year contract.

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One of the coolest features of the current generation of consoles are their wireless remotes. Not being tethered to the system means users can finally sit back and enjoy their gaming experience from as far away as they would like. Of course the downside of this is that users have to rely on batteries to power their controllers. Batteries run out and have to be replaced, which ends up being inconvenient and expensive. Plus, they always seem to die at the worst possible time.

The ChargeBase 360 from popular accessory maker Nyko is designed to be a solution to the battery problem. As the name would imply the product is a base for your Xbox 360 controllers. When you are not using your controller you just need to drop it in the base and let the rechargeable NiMH batteries do their thing. The two included batteries replace the battery holster in your Xbox controller, which holds two AA batteries.

The ChargeBase is a dual controller dock which you can plug into any AC outlet. It charges the included batteries in two hours after which it will give you 25 hours of play time. For hardcore gamers this will not only mean you don’t have to worry about having AA batteries on hand, but you can also feel good about the environmental friendliness of rechargeables. There are two batteries included so you can power both your controllers or swap within on controller.

From a design standpoint the ChargeBase is relatively easy on the eyes. It matches the coloring of the Xbox 360, which could be a good or bad thing, depending on your living room, and it is small enough that you can tuck it away. An added benefit it that once you have it you will stop dropping your controllers all over your room when you are done with them–a little organization never hurt anyone. Wall mounting seemed like it would have been obvious given the ChargeBase’s design, but it is used lying down on its base.

The unit costs $40, so given than AA batteries cost under $2 a pair (even for fancier ones) it’s going to take you some time to earn back the cost of the device. This will help if you have two controllers that get used often and if you take some amount of pleasure from knowing that landfills are not being packed with your used batteries.

Overall, Nyko has put out another solid product. Consumers will get just what they are expecting–a place to charge and store their controllers along with two rechargeable batteries. On one hand you might not want to put any more money into your video game setup, but the ChargeBase 360 will be a useful addition for many people, especially dedicated gamers.

Comcast has been accused of capping their internet service for a while now. There are people that claim that they’ve even received letters from the company saying that they’re nearing their limit and they’d better stop downloading now. The truth in these matters is often hard to really gather, but it’s completely possible. The company does, in fact, have a shady history of throttling BitTorrent users; so there’s reason to believe that they also have an un-official cap on the amount that one user can download or upload per month.

Now, it seems like they might be making the cap official. According to sources at Broadband Reports, a 250GB limit will come on October 1st. Needless to say, 250GB a month is a huge amount, and therefore, the limit won’t affect too many people. Even those that are constantly using two computers downloading off of The Pirate Bay shouldn’t have a problem, but the decision is an indication of a larger trend of ISPs participating with media advocacy groups such as the MPAA and RIAA in shutting down file-sharing altogether.

“The intent appears to be to go after the people who consistently download far more than the typical user without hurting those who may have a really big month infrequently,” says an insider familiar with the project, who prefers to remain anonymous. “As far as I am aware, uploads are not affected, at least not initially.”

What will be interesting is what the next step is for Comcast–will they lower the cap over time?

Read more at Broadband Reports

It may be only a matter of time before CD players are mothballed now that network music players are hitting the market. The latest one comes from Logitech who today announced the launch of the Logitech Squeezebox Boom. One advantage of the Squeezebox Boom is that there are not a large number of wires you have to manage coming out of it to get the music you want. That’s because it supports 802.11g wireless technology and includes dual internal antennas.

The new unit will be able to access music on your home computer, through Internet radio stations or subscription services such as Rhapsody, Last.FM, Slacker, Pandora and SIRIUS. Online radio stations and other songs are available through Logitech’s free online service called SqueezeNetwork. To access SqueezeNetwork you simply need to register your Squeezebox Boom.

The music player is powered by a 30-watt amplifier and includes two 3/4-inch tweeters and two 3-inch long-throw woofers. If you want even more bass a subwoofer connection is available. If you are looking to enjoy music a little more privately then you can use the included 3.5mm jack.

The SqueezeBox Boom can be used as an alarm clock and even has six preset buttons which you can program to access your favorite song, Internet radio station or playlist. A remote control is included with the unit which has a small magnet allowing it to be attached to the unit itself or a refrigerator. The SqueezeBox Boom will be available next month and will retail for US$299.99.

Read more from the Logitech press release.

Brian’s Opinion
This is a nice portable music solution for the network connected home. Considering most people these days have a wireless network in the home there is no reason your music can’t be wireless too. Why keep music trapped on your home computer or on the Internet somewhere?

I really like the idea of putting a small magnet on the remote control that comes with this unit. Remote controls are just too easy to lose and naturally when you need it you can’t find it. Now you can make sure it gets reattached back to the unit or at the very least to your refrigerator.

The preset buttons are also another nice feature considering they are flexible enough to be programmed for your favorite radio station, playlist or song. Since the Squeezebox Boom will more then likely be one of those music devices you will want to take with you around the house it was smart of Logitech to include dual antennas to ensure good reception. Overall, this is a good solution for the network connected music lover.

You can check out our previous reviews of other network connected music systems including the Logitech Duet Wireless Music System and Slim Devices’ Squeezebox.

Product: Jabra SP700.
Price and Availability: $99 out now
Pros: Doesn’t make you look like a tool.  Easily answer calls in your car.  Makes not upgrading to the expensive new cars “tech package” a lot easier to live with.  Sound is great, surround sound through speakers is even better.
Cons: no air of superiority that comes with a headset (wait, maybe that should be in the Pros?)
Overall: I’ve already ordered two for my cars.  I give it 10/10

If you are like me, you’ll go to almost any length no to wear your bluetooth headset.  An incoming call when I am in the car sends me fumbling around my front seats for the tiny headset, the awkward install into my ear and then my eyes are back on the road.  Surely that is safer than just answer the phone?

This is my new solution: the Jabra SP 700.  I love this darn thing.  I had my doubts this would work for me, as despite my feelings on the look and overriding “tool-i-ness” of a bluetooth headset, there is something almost fun about being plugged in like that.  But this Jabra piece changed my mind.

Form
Almost hiding on my visor, the unit looks good as its buttons are hidden on the sides.  A sexy almost Scandinavian voice announces settings like “power on” or “connected” keeping my eyes on the road.  I’ve not tired of her yet, but I am sure that is coming.  Set up, as with most bluetooth devices, is super simple.

Better yet, the unit comes with a built in FM transmitter that pumps your callers voice through your cars sound system.  It creates a very warm environment that is more like talking in person than on a call.  I really dig it.  Jabra can also send music on your phone to the cars.  The SP700 will even search for the best frequency for you to transmit over, very cool.

Function
The sound quality is indistinguishable from just using the phone.  Callers sounded clear to me and me to them.  Road noise was swept away and people were amazed I was driving around, much less on a dirt road.  Jabra says the SP700 has echo cancellation and noise reduction all aimed at making your conversation as natural as possible.

I let my wife borrow it this morning.  She phoned more from the road after a couple of uses and wanted to let me know she was keeping it.  She was headed into the office to show it to her friends.

All calls are announced by that sexy Scandinavian voice, keeping me focused on the traffic, not searching around for my phone.  Taking the call is as easy as tapping the visor-mounted unit.

Jabra has put out an excellent option for hands free communications in the car.  I highly recommend.

Product page: [Jabra]

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Swiss manufacturer TAG Heuer’s Meridiist cell phone is now on sale at London store Selfridges. This medium-sized phone is meticulously built by hand, and will be made available in 15 other countries throughout the world before the year is over. The Meridiist will feature an external steel case complete with a leather trim back cover, a 1.9″ QVGA display, a 2 megapixel camera, a Media Interface and Bluetooth connectivity. You’ll need to have deep pockets with this though, as it retails for approximately 3,300 Euros.

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Aug 28th 2008 at 7:00AM
Remember those new Walkmans we saw recently? Well the folks at Sony have decided to get all fancy and official with them. The electronics-maker is introducing S-, E-, and B-Series PMPs, all featuring MP3 and WMA playback, drag-and-drop file management, and a variety of storage capacities. The 4GB NWZ-S736F and 8GB NWZ-S738F sport Sony’s “Open Platform” which allows AAC, Linear PCM, and other codec support, 40 hours of battery life, in-flight noise cancellation, and SensMe — which creates song shuffles based on user listening habits. The 4GB NWZ-E436F and 8GB NWZ-E438F come in a handful of colors and deliver up to 45 hours of playback, while the low-end 1GB NWZ-B133F and 2GB NWZ-B135F add an FM tuner and voice recording functionality. The players will be available come September, ranging in price from around $45 to $180.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

NEC has released a couple of new all-in-one touch panel computers in the form of the 12″ 12PNC-W2/B2 and the 15″ 15PNC-W2/B2. Both of these will be powered by Intel’s Atom Z530 1.6GHz processor, and comes with the following :-

• 512MB/1GB RAM
• 80GB hard drive
• Choice of Windows XP Embedded or Vista Business Embedded operating systems
• Touch screen display

Would be nice to see a memory card slot thrown in for good measure, as well as the option for solid state drives as well.