Peru Welcomes OLPC

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi,

It appears that the OLPC has already become a hit in Peru. At the Santiago Apostol School, it seems that the children in the small town of 800 can’t get enough of the computer. In fact, the school population rose by 10 when families heard the it was coming. Many of the children there leave after finishing schools because they don’t want to farm like their parents.

Maria Antonieta Mendoza, an Education Ministry psychologist who is helping to prepare for the rollout in March, claims that they love the built-in camera best, since many of them had only seen them previously belonging to tourists. In all, more than 272,000 units will be distributed in the county.

Read More | Psyorg

Zoombak Tracks Cars, Pets

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: GPS, Internet, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi,

Zoombak understands that two of your best friends are likely to get lost, your pet and your vehicle. Their assisted GPS locator can help you find both. When installed in your car, boat, or bike, should it come up missing or is out of its “safety zone” that you set up, you can track it via their site or 24/7 toll-free number, and eventually through your mobile phone. The cost of the device is $249.95 with a service charge of $10.00 per month. The same service applies if you want to invest in the 2.5 oz. water-resistant pet version for $199.99. We wonder what happens if you forget your pet inside your car and it is stolen.

Read More | Zoombak

Wi-Fire Goes The Distance

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi,

The Wi-Fire is a USB device that hField Technology claims keeps your wireless connection from up to 1,000 feet away either when it is mounted on your computer or when it is freestanding. Compatible with Windows XP/Vista and Mac OS X 10.3 and up, including Leopard, we certainly hope that its substance is better than its form. The company recommends its Wi-Fire for business, traveling, home, office and what it refers to as “Enterprise.” We doubt that its range extends that far. Its MSRP is $79.99.

Read More | hField Technology

Sanyo Creates Ear and Mouth Combo

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,

Sanyo and NS-Elex have combined forces to create a really ugly-looking earphone/microphone designed for those in loud environments. It cancels out especially loud sounds and amplifies your voice at the same time. The device can be used on cell phones, radios, or any other device with the proper plug in. Set to come out by April 2008, it will carry a price of ~$355.00. A Bluetooth version will also be available for ~$530.00. Can you say feedback?

Read More | Mobile Whack

Go is Top of the Line GPS

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: GPS, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi,

TomTom has released its new GPS Go 920T with a 4.3-inch touchscreen, hands-free operation with text-to-speech ability, a built-in FM transmitter and enhanced positioning technology. With integrated Bluetooth remote and a storage capacity of 4GB, the device comes with maps of both Europe and North America. It has a RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver with a free year’s subscription to its traffic warning service. If you want more mapping capacity, there is an SD slot for additional input. Available with a mounting arm, the Go 920T carries a top of the line price of $599.95 after holiday rebate.

Read More | TomTom

OMG! - MBF Z2

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Misc. Tech, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,

Constant texting need no longer be a pain with tiny cell phone keyboards or as expensive. Zipit2 sends text messages, music and video, and works on all IMs, including Yahoo, AOL, and MSN. It can handle multiple recipients at a time with a singular buddy list MyFriendz. The Zipit2 costs $149.00 and you will get 3,000 messages (1,5000 in and out) per month for a subscription fee of $4.99 when it launches in February with 10 free each month. Beginning December 20, the company is offering free messages until the end of January. Current users will receive an offer to upgrade. We suspect it will now be even more hazardous to text message while driving.

Read More | Zipit Wireless

Vibracelet Alerts You to Phone Calls

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Smartphones, Wireless / WiFi,

We all have a tendency to leave our cell phones in the wrong room or lose them for a time in the car seat or couch, so we think this simple idea may help. LM Technologies’ Vibracelet receives a V 1.1, 1.2, or 2.0. Bluetooth signal from your phone to let you know you have a call. With a user friendly interface, it can be set up in only a few minutes. Recharging takes about 3 hours and it features about 100 hours of standby time. Although they do not expect availability until early next year, it will carry a MSRP of £29.99 (~$61.00.) We only wish it included GPS to help us find the phone.

Read More | Net PC

JetBlue testing In-flight email and IM

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Corporate News, Internet, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi,

It’s no secret that the airline industry has spared no expense in terms of inflight entertainment, from iPod connectivity to DirecTV channels to interactive gaming and more. But secretly, we bet many of you just want to catch up emails and chat via Instant Message…right? Well JetBlue is on the case: starting today, one of its A320 planes will be equipped with Wi-Fi.  Yahoo! and Wi-Fi-enabled Blackberry users will be able to read email and IM their buddies during flights. And you know this is only the beginning: for better or worse, we’re sure in a few short years we’ll be able to surf the ‘net from our laptops while flying the friendly skies. Cool….

Read More | Consumerist

Lightglove Uses Sense Motion

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet, Misc. Tech, Video Games, Videos, Wireless / WiFi,

If you like your Wii, you will love the LtWv Wrist Vmote Lightglove. Worn on the underside of your wrist, visual or infrared light scans your palm and senses motion from your hand, finger, or wrist. It then becomes a cursor on screen and an on/off switch.You can control your computer, PDA, phone, game system, appliances, even ATMs. In its “hunt and peck” mode, you can utilize it as a typing tool, although we are really not aware of anyone who can do that admirably one-handed. Still awaiting ETA approval and backing, here’s hoping that some company will find it a good investment. You will be able to catch it in action at the CES 2008, where it has already won a Best of Innovations Award.

Read More | Lightglove Product Page

Nokia 6263 Can Talk to Your Computer

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Smartphones, Internet, Music, Wireless / WiFi,

Nokia has announced its new 6263 available through T-Mobile. The clamshell has a 2.2-inch, 16 million color QVGA display, an XHTML brower that can handle your e-mail, support for Java, Flash Lite and Bluetooth, and can be synced to your computer with its PC Suite software. It also features a 1.3 megapixel cam with video recorder, an FM tuner, and can hold up to 350 music tracks with its 512MB memory. The 6263 has a battery that can handle up to 3 1/3 hours of talk time or over 11 days of standby.

At a price of $79.99 with subscription after $70.00 instant discount and $50.00 mail-in rebate, visit T-Mobile’s site for more info. They are also throwing in a free Bluetooth headset with purchase. Such a deal.

Read More | Nokia