Keychain gets USB treatment



Check out the USB Keyholder on the right. Overall a concept that is simple in nature, and yet elegant in design. These fobs come with a thin metal ring for you to hook up as many keys as possible, while the other end offers a USB connector. I suppose this is a play on the idea of standard USB flash drives that already double up as keychains, but the idea of having a key rack consisting of USB ports is just too delicious for any geek to pass up. Now, if only these fobs came in different colors so you can differentiate between your car keys, house keys, and others.

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Posted by Kawai, Friday, April 27, 2007 7:34 PM | 0 comments |

iZ3D monitor



Ah - 3D. The very word sends shivers down my spine, as the 3D realm was what brought gaming to life after Mode 7 scrolling on the Super NES did its utmost best to prolong the 2D era for games. With leaps and bounds made in the 3D arena, it would be natural for the computer and current home consoles take the same route to keep gamers throughout the world entertained with ever more realistic experiences. The iZ3D monitor aims to bring gaming to the next level, offering an illusion of depth never before seen on the desktop.

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Posted by Kawai, 7:24 PM | 0 comments |

Vibrating Massage Arms offers relief



At the end of a long day at work, there is nothing quite like having a pair of arms massage your back. In case you're single and can't afford to head to the nearest massage parlor, the Vibrating Massage Arms offer a pseudo-girlfriend massaging experience without any complain. All you need to do is wrap these arms around your neck and turn it on to get a thorough massage, smoothing out the day's rough edges as you escape into a world of relaxation. I don't know about you, but these arms looks pretty much as if they were ripped off from Mickey Mouse's body. The Vibrating Massage Arms retail for approximately $22.50.

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Posted by Kawai, Wednesday, April 25, 2007 6:17 PM | 0 comments |

Laughing Pen keeps your spirits up



The Laughing Pen is one writing instrument that is bound to carve a smile on anybody's face, featuring the ability to play back a 20 second laughter track at the press of a button on its side. Since laughter, like yawning, is contagious, there is no better time than now to have a time of guffaws while tackling the mountain of work you currently face. This refillable pen is powered by a trio of LR44 cell batteries and retail for $20. This makes a great gift your your sullen-faced boss or the ever-frantic accountant at the office.

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Posted by Kawai, 6:05 PM | 0 comments |

Philip's new X200 ultraportable laptop sticks its neck out

Perhaps its the extra lovin' Philips has given to stylings here, but somehow that extendable screen arm doesn't seem like as much of a gimmick this time around. The new X200 ultraportable sports a 1.73GHz Core Duo U2500 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 100GB HDD, DVD combo drive, 1.3 megapixel webcam and Windows Vista. The 12.1-inches of widescreen LCD probably aren't enough to get in the way of regular tray table use -- a favorite example of extenda-arm proponents -- but at least you won't have to do as much hunkering in front of this laptop when it's on your desk, thanks to the extra inches of vertical. The laptop looks to be shipping now in the UK for £850, about $1,700 US.

[Via PClaunches]

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Posted by Kawai, 5:59 PM | 0 comments |

Everex busts out budget-priced StepNote NC1501 laptop



Everex has trotted out a new laptop that's low-power in more ways than one, with its StepNote NC1501 promising to consume less energy at the expense of some more processor-demanding tasks. Like the company's previous NC1500 laptop, this one packs a 1,280 x 800 15.4-inch display, along with a 1.5GHz VIA C7-M processor, 512MB of RAM, a 60GB hard drive, a DVD burner, and built-in 802.11b/g WiFi. Also getting a much needed upgrade this time is the battery, which now comes in the 6-cell variety with a promised 4.25 hours of operating time (as opposed to 1.5 hours on the earlier model), although it looks like you can still get one with a lower-power 3-cell battery if you like. If that sounds like a trade-off you're willing to make, you can grab one of these now at Wal-Mart or Best Buy for $500.

[Via Laptoping]

Posted by Kawai, 5:19 AM | 0 comments |

Sony's CineAlta 4K digital cinema solution coming May 1st



May 1st is the date that Sony hopes will usher in the era of digital cinemas. That's the date their CineAlta 4K digital cinema solution goes on sale in Japan. With the SRX-R220 at its core, the 5-foot / 660-pound CineAlta 4K system projects a 4,096 x 2,160 pixel image off its 4.2kW bulb. The 300GB films are stored in an encrypted JPEG2000 format within Sony's 19-inch, LMT-100 "media block" RAID array. Sony is counting on about 1/3 of Japan's 3,000 cinemas taking on their ¥1.5 million ($12,651) per screen solution by 2010 with even higher hopes for the US market. They'll need lots of help since projection systems are just a tiny fraction of the total conversion costs required to move cinemas into the digital age.

[Via Impress]

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Posted by Kawai, 5:07 AM | 0 comments |

LG KB2700 goes widescreen



LG Electronics has recently unveiled its latest widescreen LCD cellphone known as the LG KB2700 at the recent Korea IT Show, enabling users to enjoy DMB on the go without going through the hassle (if you can even call it that) of turning the LCD display horizontally. Seriously, is this a really important 'feature' to begin with? Mankind has clearly sunk to new lows if they're too lazy to even turn something as simple as an LCD display on its swivel. What do you think - sheer laziness or pure genius? The handset comes with the brand name Cyon splashed on it because it is an offshoot for LG's mobile brand.
Posted by Kawai, Monday, April 23, 2007 4:49 PM | 0 comments |

LG SV260 loves fingerprints



The black and silver colored LG SV260 was recently paraded on the Korea IT Show, where the business-like clamshell design was complemented by a metallic material adorning its surface. Features include MP3 playback capability and a 1.3 megapixel camera, but other than that we don't really know anything more about the SV260 due to the lack of proficiency in the Korean language. What we do know is this - the SV260 is bound to pick up more fingerprints than your usual handset, so keep a tissue or lint-free cloth in your pocket handy always.

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Posted by Kawai, 4:47 PM | 0 comments |

LG KC1 mobile convergence device



The LG KC1 is currently on parade at the Korea IT Show, and this convergence device will be powered by the Marvell Monahans 806MHz processor, offering ample power to run Windows Mobile 5.0 for PPC with its 512MB of flash memory and 128MB of SDRAM. Features include a 2 megapixel CMOS camera, a VGA camera for video calls, and a 2.8" QVGA touchscreen display. The KC1 features T-DMB functionality, Bluetooth, EV-DO, and WiBro for a wide range of connectivity options. The KC1 will hit Korea before the first half of this year is over at a yet undisclosed price.

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Posted by Kawai, 4:45 PM | 0 comments |

Obscure PDA phone hits the streets



The 777 PDA phone is now available with very little known about it, let alone its brand. This is probably due to the lack of knowledge on the Chinese language on my part more than anything else, but from snippets across the Internet we do know the 777 comes with touchscreen capability, a 1.3 megapixel camera, audio and video playback capability, and a Windows XP theme thrown inside despite running on a Windows Mobile operating system. There is no word on pricing or availability, so it would be great if you could help us out with additional information by commenting below.

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Posted by Kawai, 4:42 PM | 0 comments |

LG Shine mirror image



The LG Shine is the latest cellphone to receive the cloning treatment from Chinese manufacturers, and the level of copying is extremely close to the original when you take the same silver finish to its size, scroll wheel, a 2.2" QVGA display, and 64 chords polyphonic ringtones as a comparison. There are some subtle differences though, mainly the 3g weight difference, a 1.3 megapixel fixed focused camera, and the inclusion of the microSD memory card slot which was not found in the original. The clone, dubbed the Diamond KG70 Shine, is currently available for less than $100 online so it remains to be seen whether LG will move to remove this handset from the market or not.

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Posted by Kawai, 4:38 PM | 0 comments |

Motorola RAZR goes Platinum



Motorola has unveiled yet another RAZR cellphone, albeit in a different color this time. The RAZR V3xx is now available in platinum for those who want a phone to match with their credit cards. Other than a change in the paint job, everything else remains the same such as HSDPA connectivity, Bluetooth, an MP3 player, and a 1.3 megapixel camera. Perhaps Motorola will be able learn that releasing handsets in a new hue won't push sales, as what users want are more than cosmetic changes

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Posted by Kawai, Sunday, April 22, 2007 9:38 PM | 0 comments |

Mickey Mouse speakers hit desktop




Brando has dropped the Mickey Mouse Speaker, offering "excellent audio quality speaker" to any desk to the tune of $26. Each pair is capable of pumping out 300W P.M.P.O power and features a frequency range between 20Hz to 18KHz. Being USB-powered, there is no need to worry about not running out of batteries while making that all important presentation, although the sight of Mickey Mouse-shaped speakers might be questionable when you're wearing a power suit talking to a board of directors. This is more of a fun purchase than anything else, as serious audiophiles will look elsewhere to get their sound fix.

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Posted by Kawai, 9:27 PM | 0 comments |

Sony Ericsson P700i - live photos



Mobilecowboys has posted a nice set of photos of the upcoming SE P700i.

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Posted by Kawai, 12:52 AM | 0 comments |

OCZ intros "world's fastest" 1200MHz PC2-9600 Flex XLC RAM



Champs don't stay that way long in the computer hardware biz, but one way to ensure that the crown stays in the same camp is to one-up yourself before another firm can beat you to the punch. OCZ seems to be feelin' said mantra, as the company's latest Flex XLC RAM overtakes the previous rendition to claim the "world's fastest" title at 1,200MHz. Of course, we've seen quicker memory stuffed onto graphics cards, but the new motherboard-ready PC2-9600 Flex XLC modules sport a svelte hybrid cooling system that melds passive air and liquid injection systems to give you all the bragging rights you'd ever need. The DDR2-1200 modules are currently available in 2GB (2 x 1,024MB) kits, come with a lifetime warranty, and will run you right around $250.

[Via Gearlog]

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Posted by Kawai, 12:44 AM | 0 comments |

Motorola announces L72 SLVR and Maxx V1110 clamshell



Motorola has plonked down two new cellphones in Taiwan today, although the usage of "new" is very much a stretch in this case. The L72 SLVR follows on from its L7 ancestor with the same 11.5mm "thinness," but brings HSDPA, a zoom and auto-focus free 2-megapixel camera, and some other standard features like an FM radio, a microSD card slot, and a silly buzzword technology called "CrystalTalk" which will apparently improve call quality. The Maxx V1110 (pictured) is an even more average update on the Vodafone exclusive V1110 minus 10 (aka, the V1100). As such, the lack of branding on the photos plus the identical specs -- HSDPA, 1.3-megapixel camera -- suggests that this is just a general release free of its operator exclusivity shackles. Not that anyone will be scrambling to pick up cellphone tech, vintage 2006.

[Via Justamp]

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Posted by Kawai, 12:39 AM | 0 comments |

The flipside: RDS-TMC hack helps you avoid traffic jams, accidents



There's nothing quite like taking a slightly frightening message and flipping into something positive, but for security mastermind Andrea Barisani, that's precisely what he's done. Just weeks after pointing out all the potential dangers surrounding RDS-TMC hacks on your GPS, the Inverse Path researcher set out to CanSecWest aiming to boast about its utility. By procuring a relatively inexpensive ($40) RDS encoder, an FM transmitter, and a handheld antenna, hackers can reportedly track down the codes used "to denote a particular event," and then pipe the information into the navigation system in order to create automatic re-routing for avoiding upcoming accidents and traffic jams. By injecting the "spoofed alerts," the driver's NAV will then be able to recalculate routes on the fly without badgering you, and all that saved time could certainly end up paying dividends. Sure, this same technology is available in much less vulnerable forms, but who's down with paying a monthly premium if you can (legally) snag it from thin air?

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Posted by Kawai, 12:35 AM | 0 comments |

The pinball table is not enough



What happens when you're a debonair spy with suave looks and the ability to pull in the ladies like how bees are attracted to honey, and want to take a break from all the death defying missions? Why, the answer is simple. All you need is a martini to accompany you while you blast away the day's stress with the 007 Pinball Table. This pinball game has been lovingly hand-restored and framed in maple along with a clear tempered glass on top. There are only two of these available in the whole wide world, so ponying up $2,८०० for each sounds like a bargain.
Posted by Kawai, Saturday, April 21, 2007 2:41 AM | 0 comments |

TomTom ONE XL screen goes wide



TomTom has equipped the ONE XL GPS navigation system with a 4.3" widescreen touchscreen display in order to challenge other offerings from its market rivals. Features of the ONE XL includes having access to real-time traffic information via RDS-TMC and safety camera alerts. For those of you who have not experienced the wonders of a widescreen display, its like the difference between black & white TV and color TV. Once you've tasted the goodness of color TV, you never want to go back to monochrome - same goes for a widescreen GPS navigation system. The TomTom ONE XL will retail for £249 and £299 in the U.K. and Western Europe respectively.

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Posted by Kawai, 2:36 AM | 0 comments |

The Minox DC 1022 Digital Camera



Minox Germany has recently introduced its new DC 1022 digital camera, which is equipped with a 10.1MP CCD image sensor, a MINOCTAR 6x optical zoom lens, and a 2.8 inch TFT LCD. Measuring 93mm x 57mm x 25.5mm and weighing at only 150 grams, the digicam is housed in a sleek brushed metal casing. The DC 1022 is one of the smallest and lightest cameras in the 10Megapixel market today. Other specs include SD card slot for cards of up to 2 GB, internal memory of 32 MB, microphone and built-in speaker, portrait, sports, fireworks, animal photography or night-time modes and aperture and shutter-priority modes. In addition, this camera also comes bundled with a case, wrist strap, USB and video cable, and a CD-ROM with software and a user manual. Sadly, there is no info on pricing or availability.

Minox via Digital Cameras

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Posted by Kawai, 2:33 AM | 0 comments |

Seagate FreeAgent Go Small 12GB Mini Hard Drive



The Seagate FreeAgent Go Small is a tiny little USB hard drive that offers 12GB of storage capacity. It is similar with the Mini Cube that we reported several days ago. The hard drive also provides a swivel-out USB connector. The FreeAgent Go Small retails for $143.99 with 5 year warranty.

Via ChipChick

Posted by Kawai, Thursday, April 12, 2007 3:28 AM | 0 comments |

Nikon’s Coolpix S50 Ultracompact Digicam



Priced at $299, Nikon Coolpix S50 weighs just 4.4 oz and features 7.2MP sensor, 3X optical zoom, image stabilization, the ability to record movies at 30fps at 640×480, and a bright 3.0 inch LCD display.
ChipChick via Digital Cameras

Posted by Kawai, 3:23 AM | 0 comments |

The LG FM37 Portable Media Player



LG has collaborated with Volkswagen to release the special edition of FM37 Portable Media Player that is specially made for the New Beetle. The gadget sports a bright metallic body. Available in yellow and red, the player is preloaded with Beetle exclusive graphics and sound. Other specs include 2.4 inch touchscreen display, 4GB of internal memory and supports playback of majority of audio and video formats. The LG FM37 is now available in UK and Asian markets for around $200. In addition, the shiny Salsa Red and Yellow color version are available only in Korea.

Via Newlaunches

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Posted by Kawai, Tuesday, April 10, 2007 8:30 PM | 0 comments |

Nokia N95 up for sale



The Nokia N95 is finally available for sale in the U.S. across various Nokia Flagship stores, online, and selected wireless retailers. This multimedia intensive handset comes with a 2-way slide design that activates different modes. Its set of features are more than impressive - for $749, you get a 5 megapixel camera featuring Carl Zeiss optics, integrated GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, video recording capability, a TV-out port, a microSD memory card slot, integrated stereo speakers, and a 3.5mm stereo headset port among others. Hopefully the battery can last the distance with all those energy-sapping

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Posted by Kawai, Monday, April 9, 2007 11:26 PM | 0 comments |

Kyocera E1000 targets new users



The Kyocera E1000 is the epitome of an entry level handset for today's standards, featuring a 1.3 megapixel camera and Bluetooth connectivity. The display isn't exactly the best though, but it is large enough not to make you squint when you try to read text on it. This voice-centric handset uses CDMA2000 1xRTT technology for crystal clear conversations. The dual-band CDMA Kyocera E1000 will see a worldwide launch with global CDMA carriers when summer rolls around.
Posted by Kawai, 11:24 PM | 0 comments |

i-Mate 2007 line-up leaked



i-Mate's official pre-release document has found its way onto the Internet, featuring a whole host of smartphones that pretty much offer the same thing in different designs. The i-Mate P30 is a dual-band Pocket PC handset running on Windows Mobile 5, featuring a QVGA display, a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 300MHz Samsung processor running at the heart of things. The i-Mate Odyssey also runs on Windows Media 5 Pocket PC, but this tri-band GSM with dual-band UMTS handset has a faster Intel Bulverde 416MHz processor backed by 192MB of flash memory, 74MB of SDRAM and WiFi connectivity. More details on other future releases are available after the jump.

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Posted by Kawai, 11:14 PM | 0 comments |

Robot goes snow surfing



Researchers at the Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College stumbled upon the idea of using their own solar-powered robots to go snow sufing, although the speeds aren't exactly at the exhilirating level. All they did was hook up a sled to the robot and went for a ride not at breakneck speeds, but at a slow walking pace. I suppose this is a much better option that running out of breath while traversing snowy slopes that have a steep gradient. At least this mode of transport is environmentally friendly.
Posted by Kawai, 11:12 PM | 0 comments |

Apple iPod breaks 100 million mark



Apple has just broke the magical 100 million mark in sales, making it the fastest selling music player in history. Since the first 5GB iPod was sold back in November 2001, there has been more than 10 iterations that make up 5 generations of iPod, 2 generations of iPod mini, iPod nano, and iPod Shuffle. This colorful digital audio player has truly transformed the portable music landscape and has its competitors gasping for breath as they try to catch up with one of Cupertino's most famous products. Congratulations on this achievement, Apple. Here's to another 100 million. Care to share on how you fell in love with the iPod in the comments?
Posted by Kawai, 11:10 PM | 0 comments |

Nokia N95 on sale in US



Those hankering after the Nokia N95 will be pleased to know that this "portable computer" is now up for sale in the U.S. across various Nokia Flagship stores, online, and selected wireless retailers. To give you an idea of what $749 can give you, the N95 boasts a 2-way slide design for different modes, WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth connectivity, a 5 megapixel camera featuring Carl Zeiss optics, video recording, a TV-out port, a microSD memory card slot, integrated stereo speakers, and a 3.5mm stereo headset port among others. With all those features thrown in, battery life will always be an issue to consider.
Posted by Kawai, 10:27 PM | 0 comments |

Microsoft Live Messenger on Xbox 360



Microsoft aims to bring together both PC and Xbox 360 gamers by announcing compatibility of its Windows Live Messenger program for Xbox Live users. This means gamers will be able to chat with their PC counterparts via the console, and this is made more convenient with a QWERTY text-input device that connects directly to the Xbox 360 controller. This new accessory will be made available to the masses in the U.S. this summer and a yet undisclosed price. Image courtesy of Gizmodo. Hopefully the buttons on this keyboard are as easy to press and use like those found on the Treo line of smartphones.
Posted by Kawai, 7:51 AM | 0 comments |

Ezex Navzen N700 GPS system



Ezex has recently launched its Navzen N700 GPS navigation device at CeBIT 2007, and this machine pretty much packs everything inside. Let's begin with the lovely 7" touchscreen TFT LCD display that can display a maximum resolution of 800 x 600 pixels, an SD memory card slot, NAND Flash memory, an integrated FM transmitter, a sensitive GPS engine, USB 2.0 On-The-Go and Bluetooth connectivity, and multimedia playback functions. All these are powered by a 500MHz processor running on Windows CE.Net (version unknown). I don't know about you, but the Navzen N700 definitely looks very sweet. Pricing and availability details are unknown.

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Posted by Kawai, Sunday, April 8, 2007 1:34 AM | 0 comments |

This Elmo does not tickle



Looks like Elmo isn't just some toy to be tickled with, but a company that has recently lifted the veil on its micro video camera system, the Suv-Cam. This miniscule camera measures approximately 3.3" long and can be mounted near the chest. A 2.2" color TFT LCD monitor is attached to the camera, making it perfect as a handheld or body-worn surveillance device. Video is recorded in MPEG format, although there are no further details available concerning the storage capacity of the Suv-Cam. There is no word on price and availability as at press time.
Posted by Kawai, 1:28 AM | 0 comments |

VW to release LG VX8700



Word has it that Verizon Wireless will be releasing the LG VX8700 later today. This clamshell handset comes in a lovely brushed metal exterior design, measuring a mere 3.82" x 1.95" x 0.54" and weighing 3.77oz. It looks more suitable for a business and professional crowd, featuring a 2 megapixel camera, a QVGA display, Bluetooth connectivity with stereo A2DP support, a microSD memory card slot, speakerphone functionality, MP3 and WMA file format support, and an address book that can hold up to a thousand entries

Posted by Kawai, 1:27 AM | 0 comments |

Kyocera E2000 rolling out this fall



The Kyocera E2000 clamshell handset comes with 1x EV-DO connectivity, enabling users to enjoy speedy connections for over-the-air downloads of music and video-on-demand. Touted to be a multimedia machine, the E2000 features stereo Bluetooth connectivity, external music controls, a 1.3 megapixel camera with external controls, and a microSD memory card slot to carry even more media files with you. This dual screen handset features a 2" QCIF and TFT internal display that really brings out the color in pictures and video. Word has it the E2000 will be released by the time fall rolls around.
Posted by Kawai, 1:25 AM | 0 comments |

Sony Ericsson Announced Two New Cyber-shot Phones [4]



Sony Ericsson today announced two new Cyber-shot phones, the K810 and the K550. The K810 basically share the same features as the K800, it comes with a 3.2-megapixel camera with auto focus, Cyber-shot Xenon flash with red eye reduction, 17mm thin
2.0” QVGA 262k TFT display, M2 slot with 128MB M2 in-box, 64MB user free memory, and other similar functions.

Posted by Kawai, 1:23 AM | 0 comments |

Jabra BT8010 Stereo Bluetooth Headset [5]



Jabra recently introduced a new Bluetooth 2.0 headset, the Jabra BT8010, which comes with pretty much everything you would want for a Bluetooth headset. The BT8010 features supports for A2DP and AVRCP, the new Jog Wheel rotating control, and a supplementary earphone which allows you to enjoy dual channel stereo sound while listening to music on your mobile device.
Posted by Kawai, 1:17 AM | 0 comments |

O2 Xda Atom Life, A HSDPA Pocket PC [3]



O2 released its first 3.5G Pocket PC in HK on the last day of February. The new Xda Atom Life basically looks pretty much the same as its predecessor, the Xda Atom: a black body with simple and clean outline, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, a media player navigation panel along with the basic Pocket PC buttons, and a pair of shortcut bottons on the lower right side of the phone’s body. In addition, it has a 0.3-megapixel supplementary camera for video conferencing purpose. The Xda Atom Life weighs 145 g, which is only 5 g heavier than the Xda Atom.
Posted by Kawai, 1:16 AM | 0 comments |

Cheap wireless media hack with Netgear access point and Dvico DivX box



Using nothing but a Dvico M3100 DivX media player, a Netgear WGT634U wireless access point running some open firmware in the form of OpenWRT, and a bit of coding ingenuity, jkx has managed to create a wireless player that streams movies from his Media Center PC via WiFi. You'll need to have a way of swapping out the €50 WGT634U's firmware, and you'll definitely need these two specific models in order for this specific setup to work. Jkx owns the non-networked version of the Dvico, and that's the reason why the WGT634U with its USB port was needed. So really, this is bit too specific of a solution for streaming your content: in other words, it's one hacker's way of making half of his gear act the way he wanted it to by spending as little money as possible. Even if you can't emulate this specific example, maybe you should take jkx's idea as an inspiration and upgrade existing kit rather than taking the easy way out.
Posted by Kawai, Saturday, April 7, 2007 9:47 PM | 0 comments |