Gadgets

iPod FM Transmitter

March 24, 2005

I was just telling my coworker this morning how my iPod FM transmitter apparently stopped working. I can barely hear the music while dialed to 87.7FM. There was a strong station on 87.9FM, but I tried getting it to work over a 32 mile trip and it was 99% static with barely audible music in the background. I actually only used this iPod FM transmitter once, and was going to write a review on it, but I must have forgotten, so it sat in my winter hibernating Viper for the past 8 months.

While cleaning the car I realized I had forgotten about this little gadget, so I took it to work with me in my 3000GT.

Posted in Gadgets, Reviews

Personal Air Bag

March 23, 2005

I'm really not sure what to make of this... iVoice has filed for a patent for a personal air bag! (you wear it) Apparently, it detects a sudden change in elevation and angle and then deploys the airbag. Just what 90 year old women weighing 98lbs need - an air bag that saves them the embarassment of saying "I've fallen and I can't get up!" - assuming of course the fast-deploying airbag doesn't propel them into low orbit!

Wish I had a picture or video of this air bag device to share.

Posted in Gadgets

Mio136 GPS Navigation

March 22, 2005

As a huge GPS fan, I just had to share this bit of news... I have a portable GPS system already - Destinator1 running on a very old PocketPC whose irreplaceable internal battery is on its last legs (holds about a 2 minute charge). Really annoying when the battery dies and I have to restore from CF backup to get the GPS software re-installed. Usually happens when I don't start my car for a couple of days to charge the iPaq via the cigarette lighter.

There are hacks to take apart the older iPaqs to replace the battery, but I can't be bothered.

Posted in GPS, Gadgets

smart2go Mobile Navigator

March 14, 2005

I love my PocketPC GPS and GPS technology in general, so this news was especially interesting to me. Basically, using smart2go's MMC card and a smartphone or PDA, along with a BlueTooth GPS, you can instantly turn them into a GPS navigation system!

Socket Communications today announced in partnership with gate5 and Tele Atlas, the launch of smart2go Mobile Navigator, an affordable, high performance GPS-driven navigation system for smartphones and PDAs that separates itself from the competition by providing functionality inside and outside of the car.

gate5, Socket and Tele Atlas Announce Partnership to Provide the Most Advanced Mobile Navigation Solution in the U.S.

gate5, Socket Communications (Nasdaq: SCKT) and Tele Atlas today announce a partnership to provide a complete mobile navigation solution to US consumers. The partnership is key to gate5's launch of smart2go Mobile Navigator, an affordable, high performance GPS-driven navigation system for smartphones and PDAs that separates itself from the competition by providing functionality inside and outside of the car. The partnership will also bring useful city content to help consumers choose where they want to go.

"With Socket, gate5 is able to bring to market a GPS-driven navigation system that rivals in-car systems costing thousands more.And, since it's not tied to the vehicle it can be used anywhere, anytime - inside or outside the car," said David Rolf, Managing Director for gate5."We chose Tele Atlas for its outstanding map quality in both the United States and Europe."

smart2go Mobile Navigator is powered by the Socket GPS Receiver with Bluetooth Wireless Technology.

Posted in GPS, Gadgets

Orb Networks for Windows XP

March 14, 2005

This morning, Orb Networks announced that all Windows XP users can stream any of the digital media held on their home PC - music, videos, photos, (even live TV with a tuner card) to any device with an Internet connection and a media player.

Orb Networks launched the initial version of its streaming media service for Windows Media Center PCs at CES, already allowed thousands of subscribers to extend their "digital living room" outside the home. I personally use Orb Networks to access my Windows Media Center 2005 PC content and it works great. I used it to stream SmallVille from my home PC to my hotel room when I didn't have time to watch it live.

Posted in Gadgets

Microsoft and Action Engine Corporation

March 14, 2005

Microsoft certainly is strongly pushing their mobile/wireless phone technology. Once they get Microsoft Live Communications Server's (LCS) feature-set to the point where people actually use it, and then they offer the client on mobile phones, things could get interesting. LCS leverages presence, VoIP, and the ability to communicate with PBXs (using Genesys's technology). This news below furthers Microsoft's goal of having a strong presence in the mobile phone arena.

Action Engine and Microsoft Bring Breakthrough Mobile Software to the Enterprise Market

Posted in Gadgets

Blackberry 7290

March 11, 2005

Breaking news from Blackberry & T-Mobile.

T-MOBILE USA WELCOMES A NEW MEMBER TO THE BLACKBERRY FAMILY

The BlackBerry 7290 Includes Bluetooth, Brighter Screen and Improved International Capabilities

The days are getting longer, temperatures are getting warmer and thoughts of getting out of the office are getting stronger. Today, with the introduction of the BlackBerry 7290 Wireless Handheld, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) are making it easier than ever for mobile consumers to get out of the office, balancing work and life, while staying connected.

Posted in Gadgets

ZigBee SDIO Card

March 11, 2005

C-guys announced today the industry's first ZigBee SDIO card. The card is designed to deliver wireless device-to-device communications for PDAs and Smart Phones. The company will demo its new card at CeBit to show how a ZigBee device can remotely control systems such as home lighting or security systems.

Here's the news release:

___________________________________________________

C-GUYS INTRODUCES INDUSTRYS FIRST ZigBee SDIO CARD

The ZigBee SDIO Card Promises to Deliver Wireless Device-to-Device Communications for PDAs and Smart Phones

Hanover, Germany March 10, 2005 - CeBit C-guys, Inc., a global leader in the design and development of SD and SDIO solutions for home, SOHO and SMB applications, today announced the world's first ZigBee SDIO card.

ZigBee is a set of networking, security and application software protocols based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard - a low-power and low-bandwidth mesh-networking scheme that allows devices to wirelessly communicate with each other without the need of human intervention.

Posted in Gadgets

Motorola E399 iTunes phone

March 11, 2005

Both ZDNet and Engadget are reporting that the first iTunes cellphone is going to be announced, possibly tonight at CeBIT. I assume you'll be able to access the iTunes music library and download songs to your cell phone for $0.99. But the real question is will you also be able to copy the song to your iPod or if Apple will restrict the copying of downloaded iTunes music to just the phone device.

Motorola E399 to be the first iTunes phone - Engadget - www.engadget.com
Motorola E399 to be the first iTunes phone

UPDATE! Engadget is now reporting that the Motorola E399 iTuned phone launch has been postponed, supposedly in response to a "last-minute message from a wireless carrier or carriers."

Posted in Gadgets

Wireless Power

March 3, 2005

Wow, this is really cool! Take your PDA, cellphone, laptop, or any other device with rechargeable batteries and place it on a mousepad shaped device and it will "wirelessly" charge your devices using an inductive field. No more tripping over your laptop cord or dealing with so many chargers no doubt one will be misplaced.

Splashpower is a wireless power solution that includes the following features/specs:

It enables you to power up your mobile phone and other portable devices,
simply by dropping them on a mouse-mat-sized pad, called a SplashPad
No physical connection is required between the SplashPad and the device –
power is transferred wirelessly
Different devices can be charged on a single SplashPad at the same time
Splashpower spells an end to hunting for the right charger, finding free
socket spaces or fiddling with connectors and offers a solution to the charging
problem of current and next generation portable products

The Splashpower solution comprises two parts: the SplashPad charging base and the SplashModule power receiver.

SplashPad Charging Base

This is a universal wireless charging platform which delivers
power to mobile devices. The SplashPad is a portable flat surface powered from
any electric outlet.

Posted in Gadgets

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