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Toffa unveils GooSync: Google Calendar on your mobile
Google has done quite a swell job tunneling its variety of niceties into mobile form, but syncing your online Google Calendar with that already-crowded version on your mobile / PDA isn't happening without some help from a generous third party. Toffa has unveiled GooSync beta, which "will seamlessly synchronize almost any mobile device with your Google Calendar" without charging you a dime. The seemingly impressive system starts by logging on and initiating a sync to GooSync's website from your handheld, which channels the info on your Google Calendar directly onto your cellphone, all without plugging a single cord into your device. While the list of supported phones is entirely too lengthy to list, be sure to hit the read link to find out if you can be a lucky guinea pig, and stop fiddling with two calendars at once, yeah?[Thanks, Travis]
Study: for most, all-in-one phones aren't
Hey, isn't the idea of a cameraphone to have the luxury of leaving your big, fat digicam at home? With a smartphone, isn't the PDA supposed to be history? And doesn't that iPod belong in the circular file now that you've picked up that fancy musicphone? According to a newly released study by In-Stat, phones with extra goodness packed in aren't prompting their owners to leave other devices behind. In fact, over half of multimedia phone owners are still toting a dedicated MP3 player, some 75% of smartphone users lug a PDA as well, and a staggering 80% of cameraphone owners "regularly" carry their digital camera. Will the latest generation of superphones like the Nokia N95 start to change attitudes, or is the concept of a true all-in-one device nothing more than a myth?[Via ZDNet]
Streamlined Opera Mini browser headed to BlackBerry and Treo
While Firefox is still basting in its 2.0 goodness, Opera is doing its own thang to amp up popularity. Besides being the browser-of-choice on Nintendo's forthcoming Wii, the tried and true Opera Mini browser is streamlining itself for use on BlackBerry and Treo handhelds. Unlike other browsers, this revamped version "downloads websites after they've been passed through Opera's servers, where they're compressed to download more quickly." Opera's technology -- while not substantially different in nature than renditions from Ascentive and Propel -- has been dubbed "Small Screen Rendering," and can even change the colors of backgrounds and text to improve visibility on mobile displays. The auto-compression features should trim download times and save on kilobyte usage (should you not already have an unlimited data plan), which can be particularly helpful for sites (unlike this one) that aren't tailored to fit your cellphone's display automatically. So, scurry on and hit the read link to give Opera's latest gig a try, cool?[Via Yahoo]
Bluebird busting out its BM300 T-DMB PDA in November
If you don't mind not having a phone mixed up in your PDA device, you couldn't do much better than Bluebird's upcoming BM300 for a Windows Mobile 5.0 unit. Not only does the handheld pack in a 2.8-inch QVGA display, T-DMB, a 520MHz Intel PXA270 CPU, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, an SD slot and 512MB of internal memory, but it does it all at a mere 0.5-inches thick. Bluebird even packed in stereo speakers, just because it could. Unfortunately, still no word on price for this thing, but if this isn't enough to inspire immigration to Korea, we don't know what is.
Palm announces Treo 680
Per protocol, Palm was scooped well ahead of today's announcement, but it's always good to see official details get laid out nonetheless. Following hot on the heels of its elder Windows Mobile sibling, the 750v, the Treo 680 comes into the light today for GSM networks -- a good sign for carriers worldwide after a year of CDMA equipment out of the company. Cast as an entry-level model (read: no WiFi support), the 680 brings it strong with a redesigned phone UI and software bundle, quad-band GSM (what, no quint-band HSDPA?), 64MB of RAM, and a VGA cam, all sitting atop Palm OS in the buyer's choice of Graphite, Copper, Arctic, or Crimson colors. No pricing or launch carriers were announced today, but given the branding we've seen on some of the shots thus far, we've got our guesses.
Airis' GPS-enabled T610 and T620 PDAs won't break the bank
We're not sure who's still snatching up these old-fashioned "personal digital assistants" (or PDAs -- for you kids out there, they're like smartphones without the phone; weird, right?), but apparently some people are still interested in do-it-all devices that don't really do it all, so Spanish manufacturer Airis has broken off two new GPS-equipped models on the cheap. As far as cellular-free handhelds go, the Windows Mobile 5-powered T610 and T620 are pretty feature-packed, each sporting a 400MHz Samsung CPU, 3.5-inch QVGA display, 64MB RAM / 128MB ROM, Bluetooth 2.0, SiRFStar III satellite receiver, and a regular SD slot to hold your maps and various multimedia swag. On top of all that, the T620 also throws down an 802.11b/g radio, making it even more attractive than some of the pricier Garmin iQue models that we've seen. Best of all, either unit can be picked up for a song, with the T610 priced at €220 ($278) and its big brother going for a very reasonable €289 ($365). Still, without the ability to pull in live traffic updates like a PocketPC phone loaded up with TomTom, we'd probably take a pass here (man, are we spoiled).[Via Digital-Lifestyles]
Fujitsu's Turn Table PC and Ultra Mobile debut at CEATEC
Fujitsu was starting to feel a little left out of all the CEATEC fun, what with its rivals demoing products left and right at the major Japanese expo going on this week in Chiba, just outside Tokyo. We came across some snaps of what appears to be two concept devices, the "Turn Table PC," and the "Ultra Mobile," a slick-looking media player. The Turn Table PC looks like it has a strange-looking lid along with a touch-sensitive backlit keyboard, which could mean that those filthy keyboard days are over. (However, these types of keyboards seem unlikely to take off, given that there's hardly any tactile feedback.) In addition, the Ultra Mobile seems to have a twistable case, revealing a mic and webcam, and at least a few USB ports on the left side. Unfortunately details about these new products are on the sparse side, but we do hope that the Turn Table PC (peep it on the next page) has the option of being able to spin records so we can get our b-boy on.
Mobility Electronics' Stowaway Sierra Bluetooth keyboard
Mobility Electronics has launched the latest in its line of Stowaway portable keyboards under its Think Outside brand, the Bluetooth-based Stowaway Sierra. Ok, so it's not quite as catchily-named as the Stowaway Shasta, but it does look to be a fair bit more versatile, compatible with Windows Mobile 5, Pocket PC, Palm and Symbian-based devices (with Bluetooth, of course), as well as Windows XP and Mac OS X, for anyone that finds their full-size desktop keyboard a little too comfortable. Unlike some portable keyboards, the Stowaway Sierra packs decently-sized 19mm keys, including dedicated numeric keys and shortcut keys for your smartphone, PDA, or Windows XP -- yet it still manages to fold up into pocketable (depending on the pocket) 5.0 x 3.5 x 0.9-inch package. You can snag this one now for $129.99.
Meet BluScreen, another Bluetooth-based advertising system
While this isn't the first time that we've heard of Bluetooth-enabled advertising, we still think it's an intriguing idea. Researchers at the Department of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton in the UK have come up with their own way to connect this nearly-ubiquitous cellphone technology with dynamic advertising in the department hallway, calling it BluScreen. The 22-inch hall-mounted screen is a working prototype that detects Bluetooth devices nearby and displays advertising and announcements once detected -- making sure to use each unique Bluetooth identifier to log what advertisements are displayed so that none are repeated. We wonder though, how this announcement will play out in Paris once the French get wind of it. They hate it when the English start competing with them.[Via NewScientistTech]
De-badging your cellphone / PDA with sugar
If you're the type who already has, say, a de-badged PSP-controlled Honda Civic in your driveway, you probably dig that clean, smooth look on all your gadgetry. We can't say we blame you, and even Dell has admitted it doesn't like those goofy stickers defacing your electronic property. The brave souls over at Instructables have successfully devised a method to remove the glued-on logos that grace the faceplate of your cellphone and PDA, and the main ingredient is sugar. Apparently all you have to do is tape around those critical parts where you don't want sugar crystals meandering in (read: screens, keypads, etc.), and then get that wrist a moving. By using as many blocks of sugar cubes as necessary for removal, you simply scrub away the unwanted logos and replace any worn tape as needed -- the secret lies in sugar's ability to grind away the stick-ons, while lacking the abrasiveness required to scratch the casing of most mobile devices. If you can't wait to wipe your devices clean of branding and model numbers (while potentially voiding the warranties), be sure to hit the read link for a full step by step guide, or check out the sweet (ahem) video of the defacing in progress.
Toshiba shows off "DS" e-book concept
So, Toshiba is taking a page from the Nintendo playbook, and have built themselves an e-book concept with a bit of dual-screen action. The similarities don't stop there, since the "Dual Display PDA" e-book accepts pen-based input, and, well, then the similarities do stop. This monster of a PDA runs some full-blown Windows CE, takes SD cards, and even looks to have a PCMCIA slot. We can't say with all honesty we see ourselves being any more productive with that much screen action if Toshiba's concept ever came to fruition, and that glossiness seems like it'd be dang annoying -- but boy, wouldn't we look cool. Peep the read link for more sexy pics.
Recent Apple patents for phone, PDA, new cube?
Here we go with the Apple patent game again, and this time around it looks like we have blasts from the past and the future. Engadget first tracked down a patent filed by Apple yesterday (pictured right) for "A cubical computer housing assembly comprises first and second ends and four sides, which define an interior compartment for housing the various computer component." Could this be the comeback of the cube? Apple obviously hasn't let the concept go gently into that good night with their cubed New York store, but since this patent is so fresh, don't expected anything to come of it anytime soon - if ever.The next patent is a bit more interesting in part because AppleInsider has quite a few juicy details, but also because it was filed over a year ago and references a phone-like Apple device which has received almost constant speculation during that time.
iRiver rumor roundup
Straight from the rumor mill to your brain: Korean forums are buzzing about a pair of upcoming devices from iRiver, one of which is being touted as the world's smallest DAP with a screen, while the other sounds like a W10-esque palmtop that will supposedly be running some flavor of Windows. Obviously deets are very thin at this point -- and the pictured mock-ups that look like cocktail napkin sketches don't help much -- but apparently the MP3 player will be a followup to the pendant-style N10 and N11 / N12 models that are already available, and is said to "focus on size, not features," meaning that MobiBlu and Klegg need not fear an equally-diminutive competitor with video playback (or even a color screen, for that matter). Even more interesting than the so-called N20 is a product being referred to as the J10, which could be anything from a Windows Mobile-powered PDA to a UMPC running the full version of XP Tablet Edition, and which is rumored to sport both a DMB tuner and of course the WiBro functionality that iRiver has so much love for. We wish that we had some more info for you -- and, like, some real pics -- but we're committed to bringing you only the freshest of gossip, even if there's very little evidence to support it. Keep reading to check out seven of the supposed sixteen designs that are being considered for the "J10," and stay tuned for more details as they become available...Read- N20 [Via DAPreview]Read- J10 [Via DAPreview]
Mobile Compia PDA designed with day trading in mind
Think your PDA is all that and then some? Korean-based Mobile Compia has unveiled their MC-7000, designed to not only handle the basic tasks any PDA should tackle, but also give stock traders the scoop without needing a PC or laptop, of all things, essentially bringing the chaos of Wall Street into the confines of your back pocket. Internally, it's underpowered by a 312MHz XScale PXA270 and comes with Windows CE 5.0; a 3.5-inch LCD, CDMA connectivity, 64MB SDRAM, 128MB ROM, and a miniSD slot for expansion purposes. We do know that these will be provided (read: given) to WOORI Investment and Securities account holders, but beyond that, availability and pricing is not yet known. For you green investors who want to see this on US shelves, the outlook is woefully bearish. [Via MobileMag]
Recon-X military-grade PDA is "everything-proof"
Intended primarily for captains of heavy industry, Tripod Data Systems' Recon X-Series pocket PCs are the toughest we've ever come across. Both new models, the 200MHz 200x and the 400MHz 400x, are tested to stand up to even the toughest conditions, including drops, heavy vibration, extreme temperatures, dust and water that would turn many slicker devices into a shiny pile of junk. Other features include an integrated microphone, WiFi, Bluetooth, 256MB of flash memory and two compact flash slots for worksite necessities like barcode scanners and GPS. Most units run the Windows Mobile OS, but a Linux version is available through SDG Systems. You'll have to contact your local reseller for actual pricing, but we think it's a fair assumption that this little brother to your Toughbook doesn't come cheap.[Via LinuxDevices]
BlueBird's BM-300 Pocket PC does DMB too
It takes a pretty special phone-less PDA to pique our interest these days, and even though Korean manufacturer BlueBird's new Pidion BM-300 doesn't really push the envelope in areas like processor speed or screen resolution, the fact that they threw a DMB tuner into the mix puts this model in some pretty distinguished company. Besides the PM80 from LG, in fact, we're hard-pressed to think of another palmtop that sports a built-in digital TV receiver -- which is probably because there's little demand for this feature anywhere outside of Korea for now. Specs-wise, the WiFi- and Bluetooth-equipped BM-300 definitely comes out on top, as its 512MHz Bulverde CPU, 64MB/128MB RAM/ROM configuration and Windows Mobile 5.0 OS are all superior to what the LG model offers, though the two do share the same unfortunate 320 x 240 resolution. South Korean TV fanatics can expect these to hit stores sometime in October -- from the look of things, they need some time to polish up that design a little -- for a price that's yet to be announced.[Via Digital-Lifestyles]
Palm and Xerox finally settle Graffiti dispute
So we weren't even aware that this was an issue anymore, but apparently Xerox and Palm have still been battling over that "Unistrokes" handwriting recognition patent which caused us to waste several minutes of our lives learning a handful of new Graffiti 2 characters oh so long ago. Battling up until today, that is, because after nine years the two companies have finally come to a mutually-acceptable agreement, wherein Palm caves and pays Xerox $22.5 million. The deal does net Palm paid-up licenses on a total of three Xerox patents -- licenses that also apply to Access PalmSource and 3Com -- as well as a so-called seven-year "patent peace," in which the two sides agree to stop fussing and fighting about infringements pertaining to certain technologies. Does this agreement mean that we can expect to see the triumphant return of Graffiti 1 on future Palm PDAs? We're not sure, but frankly, now that we've moved on to packing QWERTY-equipped Treos, we don't really care.
Kurzweil set to unveil portable reader for the blind
Even though we've seen a ton of products designed to aid the visually-impaired in their daily lives, technology still has a long way to go before disabled folks are able to enjoy a completely unrestricted lifestyle, which is why inventor/visionary Ray Kurzweil has spent the last quarter-century building devices that make reading easier for the blind. His latest invention, called the K-NFB, is basically a five megapixel digital camera attached to the back of a Windows Mobile 5.0-powered PDA, which is loaded with software that uses optical character recognition and text-to-speech technology to read aloud the words contained in user-captured photos. Once it's called into action, the $4,860 device supplies the operator with an initial "situation report" that attempts to describe whatever's in the camera's field of vision; if the report indicates that the desired text is within range, owners can then choose to snap a photo and listen to the resulting translation. Although the K-NFB is scheduled to be released soon by the UK's Sight & Sound, several technical issues -- most importantly, the software's difficulty in understanding inverted (white-on-black) text -- still have to be ironed out before it's available to the public.[Thanks, Megan]
InFlight USB Power Unit uses audio jack to give you juice
Unless you're one of the few, the proud who not only can manage to find a seat on an airplane with a power outlet, but can remember your adapter as well, you're probably like us and SOL when it comes to battery powered devices on long flights. That's why we're pretty stoked to see this InFlight USB Power Unit. The concept is pretty simple, but fairly ingenious. You just stick the mini jack of the Power Unit into your seat's headphone port and crank the volume. The device trickle charges for 3-5 minutes, and then can power a connected USB device for a minute, after which the cycle starts all over again. The $35 charger will work with small devices like an iPod, PDA or cellphone, and you can get the Power Gomadic TipExchange Bundle for $50, plus $5 for extra tips, to work with 700 different devices. We'd love to see if this thing can keep up with an iPod's rapid battery depletion, but you know the real reason we want this thing is to power our deco lights for a bit of home-away-from-home on those long flights.[Via DailyTech]
Pod2Go becomes Life2Go, adds WeatherBug, other improvements
Pod2Go, the versatile information manager for your iPod, has updated to v1.6.4 with various improvements and a name change to Life2Go (Did Kevin get a call from Apple about his choice in application names?). A v1.0 is also available for Windows (traitor!), though I don't know if that is a recent development with this name change.Updates to the application itself including switching to WeatherBug for all weather information, significant changes to the Notes output and Mail storage, more specific syncing progress and more.A demo of Life2Go is available, while a full license runs for $12.99.
