Samsung Unveils Standard PMP

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Movies, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,

Today, Samsung Korea introduced its latest digital multimedia player, the YP-T10. It will play MP3s, WMAs, OGGs, and WMVs, and features an FM tuner, Bluetooth capability, voice recorder, and Character GUI. The DMP is available in four colors and can play up to 30 hours of audio time and 4 hours of video. The MSRP for the YP is 159000 Won (~$175.00) for the 2GB version and 189000 Won (~$208.00) for 4GB. While we don’t see anything particularly outstanding about the player, we might consider purchase if they throw in the YEPP pup.

Read More | Akihabara News

Vero Allows Solar Recharging

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

The Vero ENB-100 allows for hands-free, Bluetooth communication within 30 feet of your cell phone. The solar powered car kit has voice recognition and will call by one word, even if your phone has dropped under the passenger seat. Three LEDs let you know the status of a call, and battery and solar recharging. It also features noise reduction, echo cancellation, an omni-directional mic, simplistic buttons, and promises up to 15 hours of talk time or 600 hours of standby, depending on the weather that day. At a size of 91.3 × 50.5 × 13.3 mm and a weight of 60 g, it comes with with a car charger, cradle, and mounting accessories. We think this would be a great addition to any dashboard, unless you happen to be in one of those dark-glassed, paparazzi-proof limos. It comes with a price tag of £51.06 (~$105.00.)

Read More | In Car Gear

Audi’s A1 Part of Concept Car

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Smartphones, Corporate News, GPS, Handhelds, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi,

Audi has decided to include a mobile phone as part of its A1 Metroproject Quattro concept hybrid. The handheld acts as a phone, video and audio player, and supports both 3G UMTS and WiFi technology. Before sliding it into it’s slot on the dashboard, it will also start your car, unlock it by remote, and heat it up before you are forced out in the cold.

There’s more. The A1 will alert you by snapping an image on digicam in the car if someone likes your new purchase as much as you do and decides to borrow it. If that occurs, it will track the thief’s wild ride by GPS. We would just be happy to use that feature to let us know where we parked before the lot got overcrowded with hordes of Holiday shoppers.

Read More | Motor Authority

Chumby Loves Hackers

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet, Misc. Tech, Movies, Music, Wireless / WiFi,

Chumby is a new open source device that will display useful as well as entertaining information. It can create flash animation, report news, weather, sports, and celeb gossip, and is completely hackable since it was created by hackers themselves. Chumby’s owners will receive free personalized widgets and information on their Network. Since it is always on, it keeps up to date on all things relevant to your Internet life by WiFi. At a size of 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 3 1/4-inches, and in your choice of black, latte, and pearl, it can also handle pictures, music, video, and blogs. It’s creators say it will cost less than $200.00 and are looking for those who want to adopt the little computerized gadget in the near future.

Read More | Chumby Product Page

Bookstone’s 5-Day Wireless Weather Forecaster

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Misc. Tech, Wireless / WiFi,

We recently told you about Brookstone’s Sportscast Wireless Football Scoreboard, a small device that connects via satellite and provides up-to-the-minute football stats and scores. Well now there’s a weather forecast version using similar technology, which means no wiring, computers, or subscriptions required. It receives real-time temperatures (high and low) and conditions for up to five cities in your area via radio signals from AccuWeather.com. Also features a self-setting clock. Cool. Available for $85 USD, and there’s an alarm clock version for $15 more.

Read More | Brookstone

Real-time Football Stats with the Sportscast Wireless Scoreboard

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Wireless / WiFi,

We recently told you about Vroop’s Liveboard, a device that hooks up to your computer, and lets you keep up with baseball scores in real-time. Now comes a similar device for the football fanatic. The Sportscast Wireless Football Scoreboard keeps you up-to-date (stats and all) on every football game, and updates every 15 minutes. All without a computer, TV, radio, or subscription: it receives wireless information via satellite. Stats are maintained from pre-season to playoffs, while schedules, scores, and standings can be obtained for any team. It features a 5 ¼”  screen, and requires 4 AA batteries (not included). Available for $99 USD. Go Cowboys!

Read More | Brookstone via Coolest Gadgets

McDonald’s to Offer Free Wifi

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

McDonald’s continues to try to improve its image by competing with higher end coffee bars like Starbucks. First they put out their Premium Coffee and redesigned some of their restaurants with a quieter green and yellow motif. Now they are offering free WiFi service in the U.K. in 1,200 outlets. The service is already available across the pond and in parts of the U.S., but this is the first time it will be a massive freebie. Chief Information Officer Ivan Brooks believes that regular users will save as much as $530.00 per year. That buys a lot of supersized meals, and we’re lovin’ it.

Read More | c|net News

Pterosaur Takes Flight

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Toys, Wireless / WiFi,

Take this, mini-helicopters. If you want to impress other RC toy operators, this Pterosaur could be just the way to do it. The 440 x 340 x 80 mm lizard has flapping wings, glowing LED eyes, and is made of EPP foam so that it is lightweight and almost crashproof. The dinosaur’s remote is also it’s charger and it will fly in all directions up to 100 feet. With a charge of 30 minutes, you can get about 10 minutes of flight time. The Pterosaur runs on 6 AA batteries (not included) and is available for £39.95 (~$81.00.)

Read More | Crazy About Gadgets

Sharing a 3G internet connection with the iPhone

Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Broadband, Smartphones, Handhelds, Internet, Mods / Hacks, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,

Pyrofers has posted a how-to on turning a Windows Mobile 5 or Windows Mobile 6 phone with 3G access into a high-speed modem for the iPhone. The whole process seems a little extreme given that you would have to pay for, carry, and keep active a 2nd device at all times, but might be useful if you have a spare Windows Mobile device hanging around and if you can convince your work to pay for an unlimited data account for it. Fair warning - the hack involves registry editing on your Windows Mobile device so proceed at your own risk. As for us, we will likely just wait it out for the iPhone 2.0 (iPhone Extreme?) to come out with 3G internet access built in.

Read More | Pyrofers Projects

Find WiFi Signal With T-Shirt

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Wearables, Misc. Tech, Wireless / WiFi,

If you have WiFi, it can often be difficult to find the right spot. But some mighty clever folks have designed a glowing, animated shirt that changes bar strength for the wireless signals. The clothing works for both 802.11b and 802.11g connections and runs on a battery pack concealed in an inside pocket. The decal is attached by hook and loop fasteners so that you can remove it to wash the shirt. It will work for several hours on three AAA batteries (not included.) The black t-shirt is available at ThinkGeek for $29.99.

Read More | ThinkGeek