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UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog
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This site is dedicated to gadgets, computers, consumer electronics and in a broader sense, to High-Tech.
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UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog
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Monster Beats by Dr. Dre, the definitive review
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:53:11 -0800
By guest editor Karsten Lemm
It's not hard to design headphones that win raves from bloggers and customers. Just give people a big, fat bassline and you can expect to be showered with praise for "phenomenal" beats, "exceptional sound quality", and "blissful, skull-vibrating pure bass". It's a much trickier proposition, though, to design headphones that give you all of the above, deservedly winning plaudits for the booming basement - while sounding just as good in every other department: Rocking the house and stomping the beats one moment, bringing out the best in fragile folk and spine-tingling sonatas the next, that's the real trick that few headphones manage to perform.
Producer Dr. Dre either felt the same way or was persuaded by a sufficiently sweet pay package to lend his name to a new contender in the high-end headphones category. "Beats by Dr. Dre" are made by premium audio brand Monster, which has so far specialized in offering oversized cables for hi-fi enthusiasts - making people believe, some critics say, that the sound must be better simply because the cables are bigger and every inch or centimeter of cord costs a relative fortune.
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Google Android to power more than phones
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:17:27 -0800
"We're starting to see Android get designed in on devices that extend way beyond the phone--things that might go in the automobile or things that might go in the home," (John Bruggeman, chief marketing officer at Wind River Systems). Although Google did not confirm or deny, it is quite logical to assume that Android will be used for other embedded applications such as automobile, internet mobile devices portable music players and even "instant-on" Nettops (although I'm pushing it here). However, Android has yet to prove that it could be as much of a "standard" for developers than Windows Mobile is today (Apple fans, fire at will). As for the iPhone, it's a stable platform but it runs effectively on only two devices (iPod touch + iPhone) so at the moment, it doesn't really compete outside of the phone arena. The strength of Android is that it's open: any manufacturer can change it to fit their needs. The downside is: in reality very few hardware vendors have the software resources to do it. Plus, there is a risk of fragmentation - Android being incompatible with a modified version of itself. Time will tell, but Google's best shot is to do the heavy-lifting for everyone else. (image from richd)
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Price reduction for the MWg Zinc II smartphone (now $499)
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:37:23 -0800
Yes, $499 is still quite expensive, but the MWg Zinc II could be found at $661 on Amazon and at $720 at welectronics.com. Expansys USA has the new $500 price. That obviously is the price for an unlocked (carrier-free), international GSM smartphone. Of course, the cheaper solution is to get a phone from AT&T or T-Mobile, let them subsidize it and ask nicely that they give you the unlock code, because you want to use an international SIM. I did three times - it usually takes one week.If you forgot what the MWg Zinc II is about, here are the specifications. We already featured the MWg Zinc II unboxing video in the past:
Windows Mobile Professional 6.1 operating system
500MHz Samsung processor
64MB RAM
2.8" 320 x 240 resolution touch screen display
GPS navigation
Slide-out keyboard
Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
Tri-band HSDPA 3G phone (850/1900/2100MHz)
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Sonance Bandpass BPS-1 in-wall or in-ceiling subwoofer
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:21:46 -0800
This subwoofer has been design to be powerful and yet invisible as it can be hidden in ceilings or walls, depending on your preferences. We have not tested it in the field, but if it works as advertised, it might be the ultimate subwoofer for those who want to benefit from a powerful sound system, without showing it off (think classic or minimalist environment). You can find more technical details at the Sonance BPS-1 homepage. When should we start the demolition party?
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9 Megapixel Camera Phones Coming
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:57:18 -0800
Forget about 8 megapixel camera phones - those will be outdated soon with the advent of 9 megapixel handsets thanks to Digital Imaging Systems and their DIS6931 9 megapixel camera module that was specially developed for mobile devices. Other features found on this module include extremely fast autofocus (less than 300 milliseconds), a fast click-to-capture time (less than 200 ms) and high-quality lenses. Will this be as good as a regular point-and-shoot? Only time will tell when it is released, but I wouldn't bet against it considering how technology has progressed by leaps and bounds to date. The first 9 megapixel camera phones are tipped to roll out sometime in Q1 2009, and I suspect LG or Samsung will be first off the blocks.
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Palm OS II Completed End Of 2008
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:53:51 -0800
Hmm, things really don't look too good for the people at Palm, with word that their next-generation operating system will only be finished by the end of the year. This Linux-based system software will be known as the Palm OS II, and while it has been promised a completion date of end 2008, it won't be available to the masses until the first half of next year. This is certainly a long time in coming as a next generation Palm OS has been in the pipeline for way too long. Will Palm still be around as a company by then, considering how its accounting books don't seem to be profitable?
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AT&T Home Manager Smart Touch Panel
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:50:14 -0800
AT&T Home Manager Smart Touch Panel Created to add value to the wired telephone line, the AT&T Home Manager is a 7" (800x480) touch-panel (seen here in its dock) that is designed to be the home "window" to a number of things like:
Address Book
Web Information Listings
Yellow Pages
Visual Voice Mail
Photos
It's not clear how it syncs the address book - if this is a familly device, it would be nice if everyone could merge their contact list. Overall, this is an interesting experiment, although we doubt that there is a strong demand for it. But if the pricing is right (very cheap or free), this might get some traction.
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Tokyo-jogging Takes Off
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:50:08 -0800
A Japanese modder managed to merge both Google Maps as well as the Wiimote to develop "Tokyo-jogging". From the sounds of it, you had best get those trainers ready for some serious pavement pounding! Just like how Jogging functions in Wii Sports, the Wiimote is placed in your pocket while you run in place through the streets of Tokyo. The interface is somewhat slow at this point in time, but I am pretty sure that improvements will be available in future iterations. Strangely enough, homebrew Wii titles seem to make the Wii more desirable compared to its actual gaming line up.
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Pentax K2000 Announced
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:46:57 -0800
Pentax has another entry in the world of entry-level DSLRs - the Pentax K2000. This model targets those who want to make the leap from point-and-shoot digital cameras, as it offers pretty basic DSLR features without confusing the layman with its simple control layout. Features of this $699 camera include :-
10.2 megapixels
2.7" LCD display
ISO up to 3200
Continuous shooting rate at 3.5fps
Dust removal and alert system
10 scene modes
SD/SDHC memory card slot
One main marketing point with the Pentax K2000 is its backwards compatibility with Pentax lenses that were released since 1975. The Pentax K2000 bundle will roll out this November.
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Tantrum Alarm Clock
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:43:10 -0800
Getting up in the mornings can be quite a challenge to many people, even more so when you have had a hard night's partying. The Tantrum Alarm Clock could aid you in your quest to arrive at work on time, as it will begin to glow while tapping its feet gently within five minutes of your wake-up time. When the alarm sounds, its hands will also join in the tapping sequence, and if you're the type who loves snoozing, the Tantrum Alarm Clock will kick into action by yelling, screeching and tapping itself crazy for an hour until you wake up to turn it off. $50 for some early morning stress? No thank you.
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