Tech Gadgets Reviews

Comcast is stepping up its Internet service. The service provider that many users love to hate is rolling out 50 Mbps connections in 10 major markets across the country and will double the speeds for many existing subscribers. 

With that speed users will be able to download a high-def movie (about 6 GB) in 16 minutes and a standard-definition movie (about 2 GB) in 5 minutes, says the company.

The wideband Extreme 50 service, as it is being called, will offer some of the fastest speeds available currently, claims Comcast.

The service will be introduced in the next few weeks to homes in parts of New England, including the Boston Metropolitan region and Southern New Hampshire, Philadelphia and New Jersey.  

Just get ready to shell out a lot more money for it. For residential users, 50 Mbps of downstream speed connection and up to 10 Mbps of upstream speed will cost $140 a month. Business users will have to pay $190 a month.

The Ultra service that offers half that speed will cost $63 a month.

"Wideband will provide the capability of delivering dramatically faster speeds in excess of 160 Mbps in the future,” said Mitch Bowling, senior vice president and general manager, Comcast Online Services in a statement.

Over the next few months, Comcast expects to reach nearly 10 million subscribers through its wideband service.

Photo: (alykat/Flickr)

For most of us water activities are one of those things that will soon or already have become far too cold to enjoy.  However, there are those lucky few that can enjoy them year round.  Well out of those, the ones that enjoy scuba, free diving or snorkeling, might want to check out these waterproof over ear speakers.  Not only is it a set of speakers, but it is also a case that will fit your ipod and keep it safe from the water.

The cases can fit several of the current and older iPods.  It will work underwater up to 300ft.  The speakers are designed to be tucked underneath a dive hood or to a mask strap.  The case also allows for you to see the screen if you’d like to watch movies while you’re underwater or preparing to be.  It will cost you quite a bit though.  The set is being sold for a whopping $349.99.  If you’re willing to spend the money for that, you might spend the extra cash to get this bag to protect the rest of your tech toys just in case you knock them into the water.

Source: Ubergizmo

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment

Sorry Plurk, but apparently Britney Spears is now on Twitter (http://twitter.com/therealbritney)! How can you totally beat that?!?! And she has her own website, too! (BritneySpears.com)

I wonder if she’s really the one updating her Twitter or she has an assistant to do that, haha.

Anyway I have to admit (grudgingly, I never really liked her before) that I’m totally impressed with how Britney Spears managed to get her career back up!

And I’m totally loving her new song, Womanizer, hahaha. Can I just say LSS (Last Song Syndrome)? Oh, and the “I’m-a-woman-hear-me-roar” theme just totally entices the feminist in me, haha.

Oh, and did you guys see the totally shameless ad placement by Nokia on the Womanizer video? Hahaha.

Anyway, click here for the Womanizer video!

Tags: Britney Spears, BritneySpears.com, Celebrity Geeks, Twitter, Womanizer <!– //OBSTART:do_NOT_remove_this_comment var OutbrainPermaLink=”http://www.gadgenista.com/2008/10/22/gadgenista-likes-britney-spears-because-she-twitters/”; if(typeof(OB_Script)!=’undefined’){ OutbrainStart(); } else { var OB_demoMode = false; var OBITm = “1219995841″; var OB_Script = true; var OB_langJS = “”; document.write (”"); } //OBEND:do_NOT_remove_this_comment //–>

I wish someone would give me this Crumpler Laptop Bag for Christmas! *hint hint* *whispers* I want the green one.

I reaaaaally need a new laptop bag. My current laptop bag is so ratty looking now. It’s pathetic. Mwahaha.

I’ve always had reservations about getting a Crumpler bag since most of their designs are messenger bag-ish. I just find it too casual for my taste. I lean more towards the briefcase style laptop bags.

And now since they have one, I want one!

FEATURES

• Water resistant 600D polyester shell, 150D Ripstop lining, Brushed polyester lined main compartment, Removable & Adjustable shoulder strap, Internal configurable sections allow for a 13″ to 15″ laptop, Available in 4 colours, Easy access stowable handles
• Holds 15″ laptop and accessories with room to spare
• A 13″ to 15″ laptop can hibernate comfortably in the fleecy lined interior complete with varying levels of hoarding capability

Where to buy: Crumpler Bags
Price: $160

[ Image courtesy of Crumpler Bags ]

Tags: Albert Stash, Crumpler, laptop bags <!– //OBSTART:do_NOT_remove_this_comment var OutbrainPermaLink=”http://www.gadgenista.com/2008/10/22/gadgenista-wants-albert-stash-crumpler-laptop-bag/”; if(typeof(OB_Script)!=’undefined’){ OutbrainStart(); } else { var OB_demoMode = false; var OBITm = “1219995841″; var OB_Script = true; var OB_langJS = “”; document.write (”"); } //OBEND:do_NOT_remove_this_comment //–>

Fujitsu notebooks are rarely cheap in most cases, and the same applies to the P8020. This model gets a multitouch trackpad which allows you to perform all your iphone-sque finger movements on a non-Apple product, including pinching in and out. Other features include the following :-

• Intel Core 2 Duo 1.4GHz processor
• 2GB RAM
• 120GB hard drive
• DVD burner
• Intel GMA 4500MHD video card

Are you willing to fork out $1,800 for the P8020 when it arrives this November?

Womenfolk often have their little stash hidden away just in case of emergencies, and this stash consists of jewelry and other family jewels. Necklaces and rings are nice to look at, but they ought to be cleaned from time to time to look at their pristine best. Hammacher has a device that not only does that, but helps keep your eyeglasses spic and span as well with the Ultrasonic Eyeglasses Cleaner.

This is the eyeglasses cleaner that uses 42,000 Hz of ultrasonic sound waves to remove dirt and dust particles without manual scrubbing or harsh chemicals. Its wide 25-oz. stainless-steel tank (for proper sound wave impedance) holds two pair of eyeglasses and completely detaches from the unit for easy filling under a sink using plain tap water. Three power cycles and five timed settings (from 90 seconds to six minutes) provide controlled cleaning for even the most delicate or soiled items. The cleaner’s whisper-quiet, solid-state circuitry prevents noise, and the unit is suitable for precious metals and gems, waterproof watches, CDs, dentures, rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Includes a basket, watch stand, and CD rack.

Fancy picking one up for $69.95?

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 21st 2008 at 8:09AM

As with Jeep’s lackluster RT-300, Panasonic’s portable Strada CN-GP50U GPS is probably better left on the shelf. We know, it’ll be awfully tough to resist that magnificent 5-inch panel and the sleek black frame, but according to PC Mag, this thing is just so-so on its best day. For starters, the price premium over rivaling 4.3-inch units was tough for critics to justify, and coupled with a small POI database, sluggish performance and awkward destination / POI input, hope for success was pretty much extinguished. As if that weren’t enough to frighten you off, reviewers also noted that data fields in the map view were “small and difficult to read,” which probably should not ever be the case on — you know — a navigation system. We appreciate the effort, Panny, but we’d suggest nailing the basics next time before turning to pizazz.

• Read
• Permalink
• Email this
• 2 Comments

Filed under: GPS

Google’s Android applications marketplace is ready for prime time again.

Two days before the retail launch of the first Android-powered handset, the HTC T-Mobile G1, some users found a stripped out Android store with just about 13 apps.

It came as a shock to users because earlier reports suggested a vibrant marketplace with nearly 50 applications.

Now Google says those 50-odd apps will be back in time for the nationwide launch of the G1 Wednesday.

A Google spokesperson explained that Android developers are making some last minute changes to ensure final versions of the applications are on the store before thousands of customers get their phone. But along the way, many apps temporarily disappeared from the store.

"We needed to be sure that a few of the third party apps are final for consumer use," said Google in an emailed statement. "We’re replacing the preview applications with the final versions today."

Starting Wednesday, once the phone is available nationwide, developers will be managing their own applications, said Google.

Since Apple launched the first App Store with the iPhone, the idea has become the rage among major handset makers. blackberry maker Research In Motion joined the fray Tuesday by announcing it will have a new application storefront.

With the Android marketplace, Google may have gotten ahead of itself in a bid to ensure the device was ready for reviewers ahead of the launch date.

But developers aren’t complaining. "Android is more open than iPhone in many ways," says Deepen Shah, chief technology officer for Buzzd, a location sensitive city guide. Buzzd is one of the 13 applications that stayed on the Android marketplace through yesterday and has a version also available on the iphone App store.

"Android allows developers to more easily interact with the native capabilities of the handset and every app does not have to be approved," says Shah. Buzzd created an Android version of its application in a month compared to the nearly five months it took to create one for the iPhone App store.

Photo: T-Mobile G1 (Jon Snyder/Wired.com)

Google’s Android applications marketplace is ready for prime time again.

Two days before the retail launch of the first Android-powered handset, the HTC T-Mobile G1, some users found a stripped out Android store with just about 13 apps.

It came as a shock to users because earlier reports suggested a vibrant marketplace with nearly 50 applications.

Now Google says those 50-odd apps will be back in time for the nationwide launch of the G1 Wednesday.

A Google spokesperson explained that Android developers are making some last minute changes to ensure final versions of the applications are on the store before thousands of customers get their phone. But along the way, many apps temporarily disappeared from the store.

"We needed to be sure that a few of the third party apps are final for consumer use," said Google in an emailed statement. "We’re replacing the preview applications with the final versions today."

Starting Wednesday, once the phone is available nationwide, developers will be managing their own applications, said Google.

Since Apple launched the first App Store with the iPhone, the idea has become the rage among major handset makers. blackberry maker Research In Motion joined the fray Tuesday by announcing it will have a new application storefront.

With the Android marketplace, Google may have gotten ahead of itself in a bid to ensure the device was ready for reviewers ahead of the launch date.

But developers aren’t complaining. "Android is more open than iphone in many ways," says Deepen Shah, chief technology officer for Buzzd, a location sensitive city guide. Buzzd is one of the 13 applications that stayed on the Android marketplace through yesterday and has a version also available on the iPhone App store.

"Android allows developers to more easily interact with the native capabilities of the handset and every app does not have to be approved," says Shah. Buzzd created an Android version of its application in a month compared to the nearly five months it took to create one for the iPhone App store.

Photo: T-Mobile G1 (Jon Snyder/Wired.com)

The Giz, citing MacRumors, is convinced that Apple is going to discontinue the Mac Mini and that it’s demise is imminent. The argument goes like this:

According to European retailers, Apple has stopped orders for the low end Mac and will not be making any more. This could signal an upgraded model which will replace it, or a complete discontinuation. But the rumors of the mac mini’s imminent demise are about as common as hearing clues that “Paul is Dead” when playing a host of Beatles’ songs.

And come on. In this charged and sketchy economy, the Mac Mini would make a very attractive option for those looking to make “The Switch” to Mac, but being unwilling to absorb the pricey sticker shock of the more advanced models. And considering Apple just doubled down by passing on offering a sub $1,000 notebook in favor of a pricier line, those hoping for a budget Mac would continue to look to the Mini.

Then again, sales figures for the diminutive cousin of the iMac have been up and down overall and it has rarely been updated. So in the end, it could be that the Mini’s time as come. But one thing is certain, Apple will probably have an heir apparent out by Christmas … or maybe during MacWorld in January.

Stay tuned.

• Email to a friend
• Leave a comment