Tech Gadgets Reviews

For those of you who like to keep up with the latest in mobile electronic devices, you might want to look into Sky Link, as they have two new devices released simultaneously. 

The first is the Ubiquam U800 a mobile phone that has a blackberry look to it, and definitely targeted for the businessman.  The second is a handset known as the AnyDATA ASP-505 cell-phone, a PocketPC powered device. 

The Ubiquam U800 has EV-DO capability, as well as GPS navigation.  The display is 240 x 320 resolution display, and a full QWERTY keyboard.  It also has MP3 playback, Bluetooth connectivity, as well as a microSD memory card slot. 

As for the AnyDATA ASP-505, it supports CDMA and EV-DO.  It has a 2.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth 2.0 capability, Wi-Fi 802.11, and USB connectivity.  There is a built-in microphone and speaker, as well as a 2-megapixel camera.  It also has Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, and a microSD memory card slot. 

Unfortunately, there is no word when these two devices will be available, so we also don’t have a price. 

Via [ubergizmo] Via [ubergizmo]

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by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 10:56AM

Usually it’s “only a matter of time” before some new-fangled laptop destined for a Windows kind of life up and gets OSx86 installed on it, but for the Dell Studio, that matter of time was extremely short. Witness a Studio 17 running Leopard out of the box, save for a few minor problems like lack of full video support, sound, WiFi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet. Still, it’s pretty encouraging to see the system working at all with such little time and effort put into it. Kind of makes you wish we lived in a super-magical fantasy world where you could run whatever OS you wanted on your laptop, doesn’t it?

Update: We had to pull the read link here due to the “Engadget Effect” — sorry Ken!

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Filed under: Laptops

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 4:36PM

Two 4x Wiimote charging stations in a week? Um, okay. If, for whatever reason, the Nintendo-licensed charger we saw just days ago wasn’t right for you (read: too expensive to import), we’ve got yet another option for you to consider. Penguin United — which gets brownie points on name alone — has just unveiled the Quad Charge Station for Wii, which utilizes Li-ion batteries that promise 13 full hours of playtime from each Wiimote. Additionally, it can juice up your controllers in just 4 hours, and there’s even LEDs to inform you of how close to full each one is. The real kicker? The colored Wiimote straps that PU tosses in — huzzah! Include one in your next party for $44.99.

[Via IGN]

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Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

I like it when something as serious as technology is given a boost of pop art, as with the case of these hard drive cases from Meninos Design Studio from Brazil. All the external USB hard drive cases are hand-assembled, using a custom acrylic case accompanied by dual cooling fans. These are covered with a precisely applied vinyl wrapper boasting their design, although you can also opt for them to use custom designs that you’ve uploaded. These fashionable cases will not come cheap though, retailing for $250 without a drive.

Sanyo’s back with another High Definition camcorder - the DMX-HD800. This 720p camcorder is able to store video in AVC/H.264 formats, and will come in gold, pink or black colors. It looks small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, and with the ability to record video in 720p, this is a huge step forward compared to its predecessor. Could this new Xacti DMX-HD800 be a top seller in due time? Only time will tell, but by virtue of its specifications that allow it to seamlessly switch between camcorder and photo functions, Sanyo has a clear winner on its hands (to me, at least). Would you like a convergence device that snaps lovely casual photos in 8 megapixel glory while recording High Definition video with ease, or do you prefer two dedicated devices instead?

The Blinkx Remote is now available in beta version, and Joe Public have been invited to navigate and search through any show from Channel 4, Five or any of the BBC and ITV channels. Blinkx has so far indexed over 26 million hours of audio, video, viral and TV content, so it will be interesting to see just how fast the search function works. Performance in the beta version cannot be taken as what the final product has on offer of course, as the developers would have weeded out whatever bugs available and optimized the entire experience by then.

Word has it that the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore is currently working on a netbook that will retail for a stunning $100 - now is that cheap or what? Hopefully the final product won’t be as tacky looking as the OLPC XO laptop, but the price is certainly a tempting proposition. Other than the price tag as a target, very little else is known about the work-in-progress, leaving us to guess the size and specifications thrown in. What do you think $100 will be able to net you?

Talk about a multi-functional device - Brando has a new USB Spy Camera MP3 Sunglasses that comes complete with a wireless remote shutter for all you aspiring 007s. This unique pair of sunglasses comes with 2GB of internal memory, which is more than capable of storing up to 15,000 photos at 1.3 megapixel resolution. In addition, the integrated mp3 player allows you to enjoy your favorite tunes while you’re busy stalking your target. The wireless remote control enables you to snap photos discreetly without having to fondle the controls on the sunglasses itself. Of course, what’s a pair of sunglasses if it cannot keep harmful UV rays out of your eyes? This pair doesn’t skimp on such a feature, and you can pick it up for $165.

I rarely use earbuds with my ipod because, among other reasons, I’m afraid they’ll do damage to my hearing, which, I suspect, isn’t that great to begin with (I can never hear my cell phone ringing unless it’s set at the highest volume). I also don’t enjoy being totally cut off from my surroundings (it’s a dangerous world, even inside my own house), so when I do use them, I keep the sound at a very low volume, like an old lady.

Purebuds from Amazing Tech Products promises a different kind of listening experience. These earbuds use Reverse Sound Technology, which reduces discomfort and potential damage to eardrums by, among other design elements, placement of the speaker unit facing opposite the ear so that there is no direct impact to the eardrum.

The RIAA taking individuals to court on file sharing charges is becoming quite a common event. What’s less common is the defendant admitting to the charges, but then challenging the actual law those charges were brought under.

Denise Barker is doing just that at the moment in a New York federal court. She has been accused of sharing 8 songs via Kazaa in 2004 and could face a fine of up to US$150,000 per song or US$1.2 million. But rather than settling out of court for a few thousand dollars as many do, Denise has admitted to the file sharing and then challenged the size of the fines as being excessive.

Through her attorney Ray Beckerman they are arguing that the fines brought under the Copyright Act are in excess of what the U.S. Supreme Court rules as fair. The Supreme Court states that a fine exceeding a 9-to-1 ratio is unconstitutional and Beckerman is going to challenge the cost to the music industry of a pirate track being downloaded.

Beckerman believes the actual cost to the industry per track is around US$3.50, meaning under the Supreme Courts guidance the maximum fine per track can only be US$31.50 and therefore Denise only owes a total of US$252 in fines.

He is now using the case as an opportunity to litigate the damages amount and hopefully bring down the huge fines people are being awarded on recommendation by the RIAA.

Read more at the Wired Blog

Matthew’s Opinion
Can you imagine if Beckerman actually managed to prove that file sharing cost the music companies just US$3.50 a track? It would means the RIAA are pretty much dead in the water in terms of scaring people with huge fines that literally ruin lives.

I doubt it is as easy as that though, and even if he did prove the lost revenue other damages may come into affect for the actual crime being committed and the fees of the RIAA battling the case. Still, it will hopefully bring the fines down to a more sane level.

One thing it has to do is force the RIAA to prove exactly how much lost revenue piracy causes. I can’t see them giving evidence of how a single 99 cents track downloaded can end up costing them US$150,000 in lost revenue, can you? It’s not just a case of saying a track was downloaded X number of times on a file sharing network, it’s also proving those downloads replaced legitimate sales of the song.