The Eee-sparked trend towards smaller, cheaper laptops continues unabated -- which is good news if you like small, cheap things. The latest entry into the ultraportable market comes in the form of the Medion Akoya Mini, a handsome looking entry that clearly aims to compete with ASUS' wunderkind. The 10-inch laptop scores big points right out of the box due to its inclusion of Intel's infamous Atom CPU. The system will feature a traditional hard drive, with some form of Linux on-board, 1GB of RAM standard, two USB ports, a memory card slot, VGA out, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. No word on if we'll see this in the States, but it's hitting Europe soon with a starting price of €399 (or about $638).

[Via le Journal du Geek; Thanks, Anh]

Generally speaking, when your good toys go bad, sitting them down within a cramped up doll house is adequate punishment. Unfortunately, said tactic is no longer valid if your kiddo's doll house is equipped with a Dolls House TV. This handcrafted 12th scale television -- which is just barely taller than a AA battery -- is built to feel right at home in Barbie's domicile, and considering that it features composite inputs, you can even watch a DVD or play Guitar Hero while trying not to squint. Granted, we can't see paying £99 ($195) for this thing, but don't believe for a second that some rug rats aren't already screaming for one.

[Via NewsLite]

Who cares about CDMA, GSM and endless 4G bickering when you don't have any circuits to worry about? This here super-mini Nokia 5200 model might not turn into a proper sized phone when dunked in water, but with that kind of cute-itude, world peace is within its grasp.

Paul: "Sure it looks great now, but will it still be sexy when Nokia gets a 3G version to the States?"
Darren: "Stuart Little said he's keeping this till the 3G iPhone is announced"
Josh: "Barbie called... she's breaking up with you."
Dante: "Finally a real reason to get your fingers whittled."
Chris: "You dried my pants on high heat? My phone was in there!"
Ryan: *ring* Zoolander: "God? You're a kitten?"
Thomas: "Rat Man, your nemesis is calling."
Ross: "And the next version will have a full PURRTY keyboard."

[Via intomobile]

We like to give Venzero a hard time about appearing completely sketch and vaporware-ish in most of its product announcements and subsequent delayed releases, but it turns out the company very much exists and very much is building and releasing the DAPs of which we speak. So very many DAPs. In fact, Venzero just released that WiFi-capable LINQ player we were talking about a week or so back, which is the company's main offering that really has much to unique or ergonomic to offer -- the SLICKR and the mini are a bit of a pain to use in the button department. Unfortunately, the LINQ doesn't support player-to-player sharing just yet, but the internet radio features and home media streaming are pretty extensive, and further functionality is planned for down the road -- along with some other nifty releases we can't mention just yet. Oh, and before you jump into that gallery, Venzero would like us to remind you that the player interfaces are soon going to be getting a significant upgrade in the sub-menu department, so hopefully the players won't look like shady also-rans for too much longer.

It's been a hot minute since we've seen anything noteworthy from Route 66, but the firm is using IFA as a launchpad for four new Euro-only navigators. The MINI * EUROPE, MINI * REGIONAL, MAXI * EUROPE, and MAXI * REGIONAL devices touts ultrathin designs, traffic / safety camera alerts, free map updates until 2008, and a built-in media player. The MINI comes with a 3.5-inch screen, while the MAXI packs a 4.3-inch widescreen display, and both units include an integrated TMC traffic receiver and the ability to support handsfree calling when paired up with the Wireless Car Kit accessory. Currently, no pricing information has been loosed, but all of the aforementioned systems should be widely available in Europe this October.

[Thanks, Gene S.]

It was close to this time last year when Denon unveiled the DN-HD2500, and now it's time for DJs the world over to get a glimpse of the DN-HC4500 Media Player and Controller. The unit itself is the firm's "first USB / MIDI audio interface designed exclusively for computer performance club and mobile DJs," and it plays nice with both Macs and PCs. Additionally, you'll find internal 24-bit processing, BU4500 drive support, a touch-sensitive jog disc, integrated displays, and a trial version of Reflex LE software. Word on the street tags this sucka with a pricetag close to £399 ($795), and while you won't be able to get your hands around it 'til next month, click on through for a few more looks.

[Via TechDigest]

GenerationMP3 has a hands-on with Venzero's new DAPs, the mini and SLICKR. From the pics that the GMP3 guys took, you can see that the mini really is mini -- until you see its chunky side profile, that is. The SLICKR is a little more equally proportioned, being of similar dimensions to iRiver's clix 2. In fact, the two models are probably best described as being the slightly smaller and bigger brothers of the aforementioned iRiver DAP. In other news, GMP3 found that they're constructed out of good quality plastic, although they're a bit of a let down in the graphical user interface stakes. For now the Venzeros are Germany exclusive, although there are hints of an expansion into other areas of Europe.

Because no one except for the biggest spendthrift wants a 2GB flash video player with a sub-two-inch screen, Venzero has revealed a pocketable new PMP called the SLICKR that basically takes its recently-announced mini and tacks on a miniSD slot along with a full inch to the now-2.8-inch screen. Other than that, this clix-like device with the MOTO naming convention offers the usual menagerie of extras -- FM tuner, voice recorder, pre-installed games -- with one important exception being the included MusicMarker functionality, which lets you handily record audio snippets from the radio for identification upon the next sync. File compatibility is slim but acceptable -- like the mini, MP3, WMA, WAV, and AVI are the only supported codecs -- and also like the mini, we've got no inkling on a price or release date here, so you'll have to stay tuned for further details.

[Via DAPreview]

It's nice to see Sony finally stop trying to play catch-up with Apple, and instead begin a mutually-beneficial partnership that leverages the design prowess of both companies. Keep reading for another shot of the all-new Sony nano...

Well, we're getting closer to another Stevenote and the Apple rumor mill is at full tilt, so take this one with a huge grain of salt, but the team over at AppleInsider says they "sincerely believe" that the Mac Mini is about to be discontinued. Citing sources for whom they have the "utmost respect," AI says that Apple management was only bending to shareholder demands for a sub-$800 Mac when it developed the Mini, and that the recent release of the Apple TV all but spells the end of significant updates to the lil' bugger. We can see what they're getting at, we suppose: the Mini has never gotten a lot of attention, but the similarly-discontinued products AI compares it to -- the Cube, the PowerBook 2400, and the 12-inch PowerBook G4 -- were all higher-end machines, while the Mini sits at the very bottom of Apple's product line. On top of that, the description of the Apple TV as the "next-generation Mac Mini" strikes us as a little odd, since the Mini was never sold as a media extender (even though you can use it that way) and the Apple TV was never sold as a general-purpose computer (even though you can use it that way). AI does seem pretty confident in the case it's laid out -- but as with all things Apple, only time will tell.

Joining Epson and a growing host of others in the miniscule PC arena, enano is throwing its own offerings in the hat while boasting about greenness all the while. The generation e2 lineup sports "book sized" enclosures, a sleek black paint job, and four different models to suit your fancy (and budget). All four units rely on one of Intel's Core 2 Duo processors, but apparently, none are sporting the Santa Rosa love just yet. The machines can be configured with up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 160GB of SATA hard drive space, an integrated TV tuner, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g, 7.1 surround sound audio, and feature Intel's GMA950 integrated graphics set, an SD / MS / MMC card reader, a total of four USB 2.0 ports, one 4-pin FireWire connector, DVI or VGA out via adapter, S-Video out, and audio in / out ports to finish things off. The box itself weighs in at just three pounds and measures 8.8- x 6.8- x 1.65-inches around, and while the company claims that you'll save a bundle on energy costs with this power sipper, the up front charges ranging from around $1,200 to near $2,000 probably makes up for it.

[Via CNET]

Those crafty kids at Hybrid Technologies aren't just busy stuffing ridiculous amounts of power into teeny-tiny Mullen GT bodies, they've also set their sights on a more consumer friendly car: the Mini Cooper. Unfortunately, while electric Mini doesn't reach the six figures range like its L1X-75 counterpart, it'll still cost you $59,000 -- a full $40k more than a base Mini costs in its native gas version. The car is rated at about 120-160 miles in range from its lithium polymer batteries, and takes five hours to charge. The desire to build electric cars "that don't look like electric cars" is quite commendable, we just look forward to the day when it doesn't cost so dang much.

[Via Autoblog]

It looks like iPod minis aren't obsolete just yet thanks to Mark Hoekstra's flash card mod, which entails switching out the original Microdrive with a 4GB flash card. iPod minis served a short term in Appledom, but come to think of it, they're a manageable size, have one of the more durable iPod casings, and they don't look half-bad either. After the modding is complete, a quick restore in iTunes reloads the card with Apple's firmware (you can also upload other software like Podzilla), then you're all set to jam out. So if you own a member of this dying breed (and have a steady hand), use this little proof-of-concept to extend your mini's lifespan while one-upping Apple at the same time.

[Via digg]

If there was ever a slick way to get folks to willingly carry around an RFID tag, MINI USA has it all wrapped up. Catering to every person's egotistical side, MINI has begun a pilot advertising campaign in Chicago, New York, Miami, and San Francisco, which gives select Cooper owners the chance to get an RFID keyfob in the mail, and moreover, a reason to consistently drive under MINI billboards. Users can select a custom message to be encoded on their RFID chip, and when they cruise near an overhanging MINI billboard, their particular message lights up for the world (or at least nearby motorists) to see. Of course, we're sure messages will be edited before delivery, and you still need to be down with toting a homing signal around with you each time you cruise, but let's face it, the mastermind behind this ad campaign probably got the raise we all wanted, but didn't come close to. So if you're a MINI owner in one of the four lucky cities, keep a keen eye on that inbox, and word on the street is that MINI USA is planning on hitting up more cities if (read: when) this proves to be a smash hit.

[Via Slashdot]

Although vanilla desktop PCs have (generally) been the same size and shape for years, the small form factor world has never really settled down, and while various other protocols have been thrown out there, no one has actually stepped up the task of standardized an SFF chassis until now. AMD has just announced the DTX "open standard," which the firm hopes will "enable broad adoption" of the SFF PC in order to deliver "innovative solutions to market that are smaller, quieter, desktop-friendly," and less taxing on the ecosystem. Reportedly, the DTX standard "will be designed to embrace energy-efficient processors and allow an optimally designed small form factor system to consume less power and generate less noise." Additionally, an open standard that's widely embraced will make the lives of OEMs much easier, and will hopefully give us folks looking for those wee PCs a bit more choice when it comes to picking one up. Notably, it seems that Asus has latched on already, boasting that it will start busting out DTX-compliant motherboards here shortly, likely to be bundled in some fashion with an AMD chip. If all goes as planned, this open standard should actually decrease manufacturing costs across the board over time, and AMD stated that a "review copy of the DTX specifications" should be made available sometime this quarter.

[Via Inquirer]