If you just can't get enough news about Sony Ericsson's forthcoming Symbian UIQ touchscreen phone -- currently known as Paris -- perhaps this promo video of the thing in action can help. Sure, these appears to be pre-renders, but it does whet the appetite for things to come with the device, and who can complain about that pop-up weather app and confirmation that this will have a flash for its camera? Also, the dude in the clip sports a totally stylish cardigan. Watch the whole thing after the break and see for yourself.

[Via PHONE Magazine]

Enough of these overly pixelated, totally fuzzed-out captures of something supposed to Sony Ericsson's Paris -- we're looking at the real deal now. This definitely sexy slider has somehow fell in front of someone without hands a-shakin', and a smattering of distinct images are waiting just below in the read link. If you just like to be teased, the snapshots show a 5.0-megapixel camera and confirm that the keypad touts a two-character-per-button layout similar to the P1 -- but really, there's nothing like seeing it for yourself.

[Thanks, Kevin]

As the barrage of new Toshiba gear continues to flow from Paris, along comes a device that we aren't used to seeing from the laptop and monitor-tilted company. The seven-inch Tekbright 7 digital photo frame sports a stylish silver bezel, a clear beveled surround, rear-mounted kickstand, 800 x 400 resolution, and a 400:1 contrast ratio. Additionally, you can load up your images via CF, SD, MMC, MS, MSPro, xD, and USB, and there's even a paltry 16MB built-in for storing the crème de la crème. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to sport any WiFi abilities or even a wireless remote, but the reasonable €139 ($186) pricetag seems to justify the omissions somewhat. More snaps after the break.

Toshiba sure is stealing the rays in the City of Light, as the outfit is showcasing yet another up and coming laptop in the Tecra X9. Not quite as flashy as the X200 nor R500 situated nearby, this 14-incher is destined for the hands of workaholics who aren't looking for high-end graphics performance and ultra-mobility. The black / silver color scheme seems attractive enough, and the built-in fingerprint reader ought to keep your manager's nerves at ease. Judging by the looks of it, you'll also get a number of USB 2.0 ports, 4-pin FireWire, a flash card reader, VGA output, and a DVD burner to boot, but the internals remain a mystery for now. You know the drill, more pictorial delight awaits you after the jump.

While we've seen mention (and patent applications) of origami-based gadgetry before, the latest gizmo to incorporate crafty folding also melds it with a water reactive plastic in order to create diminutive shapes that "could be used to make certain microscopic 3D structures in large quantities." Gurus from ESPCI and the Paris Institute of Technology have teamed up to concoct specialized plastic sheets which react in curious ways to wee water droplets, and while the process itself seems more interesting than useful, the bigger picture could enable this technology to become a staple of microelectromechanical systems used in printing heads and video displays. Interestingly enough, the scientists were even kind enough to create a time lapse video of the morphing process in action, so be sure to tag the links below if you're even remotely interested in seeing a two-dimensional triangle mystically convert into a pyramid.

[Via NewScientistTech]

Sheesh, where were these guys when we were in school, huh? A number of (admittedly admirable) French authorities have okayed a plan to dish out 175,000 USB drives to Parisian high-school students at the beginning of the next term, and each stick will pack a bevy of open source software aimed at "further reducing the digital divide." The USB drives will likely contain Mozilla's own Firefox and Thunderbird applications, OpenOffice, an instant messaging client, and of course, an unnamed media player to play back tunes and videos. The exact mix of software will be determined by whichever firm ends up winning the bid to provide said thumb drives, but the council plans to spend a whopping €2.6 million ($3.4 million) on the devices alone, leaving us to wonder if these won't be crafted out of precious metals or something. Nevertheless, it looks like just the 15 and 16-year olds will be getting the gifts this time around, but if the implementation "proves successful," it could very well be renewed (and expanded) the following year.

[Via SmartMobs]

We'll go ahead and spare you the blatantly obvious "apples to oranges" remark, as the two fruitful companies actually do seem to have something in common based on a recent report from French newspaper Le Figaro. While we've seen a plethora of wireless broadband providers hook up with laptop manufacturers, Orange is apparently getting set to offer 1Mbps DSL service for (an apparently attractive) €60 ($79) per month, or "around €2 ($2.65) per day," and you even get a shiny new Apple MacBook to use with it starting in January. Additionally, those looking to make the most of their high-speed missions can upgrade to an 8Mbps connection for an additional €5 ($6.62) per day. While contractual terms aren't crystal clear just yet, it looks like some sort of "three-year agreement" would be in order, and Orange hopes the deal will lure enough folks in to move "1,000 units per month" for the first six months, which would certainly help its consumer base grow right alongside the competitive pressures it's feeling from the Iliad Group. Plus, if you're one of the first 200 to sign up, Orange will throw in a new iPod shuffle for an additional single euro. Purportedly, the whole deal will only be available to Frenchmen (and women) at first, but could spread to other parts of Europe if it catches on.

[Via MuniWireless]

Yeah, we love GPS around here as much as the next guy, but it really doesn't impress our lady friends too much when our mellifluous prose gets interrupted by Cro Magnon-like gestures while we have to ask for directions on our nav units. We'd much prefer to use a phrase like "Find me a hotel in Paris in the seizième arrondissement, play Serge Gainsbourg's 'Je t'aime' and adjust for mood lighting -- s'il te plaît" and have our ride respond instantly. Well, save for that last request, apparently plain English queries (or 13 other languges) to a GPS stystem are now possible thanks to software by IBM built onto Pioneer's new AVIC-HD1BT nav unit. It's loaded up with a 30GB hard drive (20GB for maps and the rest for music), a DVD player and an iPod connection of some sort. Although Pioneer claims that the AVIC-HD1BT is for the European-only non-"luxury car market" driver (sorry, us Lexus-driving Yankees will have to suffer), it still doesn't come cheap: €2,500 ($3,145).

[Via IDG News Service]