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Archos 5 gets the hands-on treatment

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 19th 2008 at 4:22PM


Archos has only just taken the wraps off its new Generation 6 "internet media tablets" but, right on cue, the folks at Generation MP3 have already turned out a pretty extensive hands-on with one of 'em, the Archos 5. One thing that was immediately apparent to them is that the device's shiny new black casing is a lot more prone to fingerprints than the metal casing of the Archos 605 that it replaces but, as they point out, the near lack of buttons (just three on top) at least means there's less of that casing to get smudged up. They also found that the screen is not as "soft" as the 605 but, unfortunately, it's not multi-touch, and there's no accelerometer to allow for quick changes of orientation. Of course, if it's pics your looking for, they've also got plenty of those, and you can find 'em at the link below.

Medis 24-7 Power Pack fuel cell available online now, at Best Buy soon

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 19th 2008 at 3:59PM


Medis has been making promises about its portable fuel cell for the masses since way back in 2005, but it looks like it's now finally actually available online, and will soon be available at a Best Buy possibly near you (if it isn't already). $30 will get you the basic starter kit, which includes the PowerPack itself, a power cable, a standard mini USB connector, and connectors for LG, Palm Treo, and "New Nokia" phones. According to Medis, a single PowerPack will provide enough juice for about 30 hours of talk time, or 60 to 80 hours of playback from your MP3 player, after which you'll have to ditch (and recycle) the pack and get a replacement for $20. If that sounds like the solution you've been waiting for, you can hit up the link below and get your order in.

OC Robotics debuts half-inch diameter snake-arm robot

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 19th 2008 at 3:16PM


As we've seen, snake-like robots have long since move beyond the realm of nightmares into a frightening reality, and they just seem to keep on getting more and more plentiful. This latest one comes to us from UK-based OC Robotics, and has the notable distinction of being just a half-inch in diameter and a full 24 inches long, which is apparently just the ticket the US Department of Defense was looking for (it's currently testing the bot). Like other similar bots, this one boasts a camera and tool on its tip, and it can be operated using a joystick, which actually controls each of the independant "vertebrae" that makes up the arm. As you might have guessed, the company is already hard at work on even longer versions of the bot, but if you're not willing to wait for that, you can apparently put in an order for one of its current models right now.

[Via Crave]

KDDI's au design project creates cellphones that double as instruments

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 19th 2008 at 1:41PM


KDDI's au design project has churned out plenty of interesting cellphone concepts over the years, and it looks like its latest batch is no exception, with it enlisting the help of Yamaha to develop some cellphones that double as musical instruments. That includes the self-explanatory "Strings for fingers" and "Sticks in the air" concepts pictured above, as well as the "Box to play" synth / scratch pad combo, the "Key to touch" foldable keyboard, the "Trio in your hand" scratch pad / sampler, and the "Band in my pocket" device, which accommodates a number of accessories to create instruments ranging from a harmonica to a trumpet. What's more, unlike some concept devices, KDDI actually had some working prototypes to show off, which you can check out in action in the video after the break (be sure to dig into the links below for some more pics and videos as well).

[Via textually.org, Trends in Japan]

Continue reading KDDI's au design project creates cellphones that double as instruments

ASUS kicks out four new XP-based Eee PCs for Taiwan

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 19th 2008 at 11:37AM


We know it's been a tough few days since the last Eee PC launch, but ASUS has now thankfully come through with four more ever so slightly different models to feed your questionable appetite, this time for Taiwan. Those include the 1000HD XP, 904HD XP, 901 XP and 900 XP (16G), each of which, obviously, run XP, and at least two of which (the 901 and 900) come in some of the same eye-catching colors that Korea got a taste of the other day. Somewhat curiously, only the 901 XP is listed as having an Atom processors, while the others are simply described as packing an "Intel Mobile" processor. Otherwise, you can expect the usual range of specs found on countless similar models, with prices coming in at the local equivalent of $444 to $539.

[Via Slash Gear]

HP EliteBook 2730p gets shown off on video

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 18th 2008 at 5:43PM


We didn't exactly get the best look at HP's new EliteBook 2730p tablet when it was announced earlier today, but Notebooks.com has now thankfully come through with a video of the device, in which HP's Kyle Thorton helpfully shows off every nook and cranny of sleek yet supposedly rugged convertible. That includes a peek at the tablet's jog dial, which makes a welcome reappearance after being ditched on the 2710p, and its "double clutch" stylus-holding system, which promises to keep you from losing your trusty input device (it's actually pretty slick). Head on past the break for the full show.

Continue reading HP EliteBook 2730p gets shown off on video

Researchers create solar tie that charges, carries cellphone

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 18th 2008 at 4:04PM


There's certainly no shortage of folks working to incorporate solar cells into clothing and accessories, but a team of researchers from Iowa State University now look to have devised a way to make the wearable technology slightly more discreet, with them using digital textile printing to print fabric that matches the pattern of the solar cells. The solar cells themselves are then attached using a "liquid stitch" method, although that apparently presented its own set of problems, as the application of the cells made it difficult to tie a knot. As the researchers helpfully point out in thier paper, however, a clip-on tie would solve that problem. Combine that with the special pouch for carrying your cellphone, and you've got a combo that can't be beat.

[Via textually.org]

Xplore debuts rugged iX104C4 tablet PC

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 18th 2008 at 3:03PM

Xplore Technologies isn't exactly the most prolific purveyor of rugged computers, but it looks like it's finally managed to churn out a follow-up to its circa-2006 iX104C3 tablet PC, with its new and slightly improved iX104C4 now making its official debut. This one retains the same 10.4-inch form factor of its predecessor, but gets a 50% brighter Dual Mode AllVue Xtreme display (still XGA), along with a 1.2GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, and all the usual wLAN, wWAN, Bluetooth and GPS options. As has been the case with Xplore in the past, there's no word on a price but, then again, most of the folks that wind up using these in the field won't exactly be paying for them out of their own pocket.

Xbox 360 leaps past PS3 in weekly Japanese console sales

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 18th 2008 at 1:13PM

It looks like the week ending August 10th brought a bit of a surprise to the sometimes predictable Japanese hardware sales charts, as the just released numbers have now revealed that the Xbox 360 has shot past the PlayStation 3, and by a wide margin no less. All told, Microsoft moved some 24,962 units during the week, compared to just 9,673 PS3s sold -- a number that, by all accounts, is largely due to the release of the 360-exclusive Tales of Vesperia game, which itself sold over 100,000 copies. That still leaves the Xbox 360 well behind the Wii, however, with it moving an impressive 38,506 units during the same time period, although that was a dip of more than 6% from the previous week. In related news, the DS Lite regained its slight lead over the PSP, with it moving 60,434 units compared to the PSP's 58,501, and Joystiq took a not-to-be-missed dip into the Bizarro world for it's always insightful account of the week's events -- you can check it out at the link below.

[Via Joystiq]

Analyst says first Android phone will ship in November, possibly without Exchange

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 18th 2008 at 11:17AM


The HTC Dream may have already cleared the FCC, but at least one analyst that has actually seen the very first Android-based device, Moe Tanabian of IBB Consulting, says that it will only be hitting stores around Thanksgiving in November, and not September or October as many were expecting. He also says that its "unclear" whether the phone will support Microsoft Exchange or not (at least right out of the gate), and that users may have to rely on Gmail if they want to receive push email. Among other tidbits, he also confirms that the device will have access to T-Mobile's own App Store-like service, and that it'll come with Google's advertising software pre-installed, which he says could not only lower the cost of the phone, but allow for lower monthly service fees as well. Of course, you'll have to take that with all the usual analyst caveats for the time being, but we're sure we'll be hearing plenty more to back it up or shoot it down before the September / October / November launch.

[Via Electronista]

Pentax Optio W60 waterproof camera gets reviewed

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 15th 2008 at 4:57PM


When it comes to choosing a waterproof digital camera, there's obviously one feature that matters above all others and, according to Trusted Reviews, Pentax's Optio W60 passes that test without any difficulty. What's more, it's also apparently reasonably rugged, and it takes some decent pictures for good measure. While you can expect the usual noise problems at the highest ISO settings (including a nearly useless ISO 6400), the W60 looks to actually perform decent enough up to ISO 800, which is more than you can say for some cameras. On the downside, the site found that the camera suffered from some "particularly bad barrel distortion" at wide angle settings, and it proved to be a bit more sluggish than the norm, which appears to be at least partly due to the camera's autofocus system. Still, if resistance to the elements is your top priority, it looks like this one will get the job done.

MSI Winds said to be shipping without Synaptic touchpads

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 15th 2008 at 3:51PM


If the increasing number of posts on the MSIWind.net forums are any indication, it looks like at least some MSI Winds are now shipping out with Sentilic touchpads in place of the more-functional Synaptic ones that have been standard issue until now. Among other things, the Sentilic touchpads don't allow for horizontal and vertical side scrolling (instead offering just corner clicking), and they apparently don't let you turn off the tap-to-click feature, which seems to have caused plenty of frustration among those that have received a Wind from this latest batch. For its part, MSI only seems to be offering an updated driver to anyone that contacts them complaining of problems which, not surprisingly, apparently doesn't do much to improve things.

[Thanks, Stephen P]

D-Link intros GVC-3000 video phone for India

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 15th 2008 at 3:18PM


Standalone videophones may not be quite as plentiful as you may have expected them to be at this point in the 21st century, but D-Link looks to at least be doing its part to keep our 1980s / early 90s selves happy. It's new GVC-3000 model also takes things a bit further than most, with it able to be connected to a TV or projector for some big screen videoconferencing, and it apparently able to function a with minimum bandwidth of just 128 kbps as well. That, the company says, makes it ideal for its target market of India, where the phone will set you back between Rs 23,000 and Rs 25,000 (or $540 to $580) when it lands in September.

[Via About Projectors]

Orange dishes out Eee PC on £25 monthly plan

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 15th 2008 at 2:49PM

It's not exactly the first company to try to entice customers with the promise of a free or cheap Eee PC (or other netbook), but Orange apparently isn't about to let a bandwagon pass it by, with it now offering an Eee PC 900 16G as part of its "Internet Everywhere" bundle. That includes the Eee PC, a mobile broadband dongle and, of course, mobile broadband service, which apparently tops out at just 3GB of data per month. At £25 (or $46) a month on a two-year contract, it's also far from a free ride. If it sounds alright to you though, you can sign up in the UK starting tomorrow.

AVMap intros breathalyzer-equipped Geosat 6 Drive Safe navigator

by Donald Melanson, posted Aug 15th 2008 at 1:19PM


Built-in breathalyzers haven't become quite the mainstay that many other features have in GPS units, but it looks like they're starting to become a bit more common, with AVMap only the latest to debut a navigator that promises to tell you if you're fit to drive or not. Apparently, its new Geosat 6 Drive Safe navigator is a standalone version of the built-in option that was available on Peugot's 107 "Sweet Years" edition car, with it boasting the same 4.8-inch touchscreen, built-in Bluetooth, and text-to-speech features as before. No word on a price just yet, unfortunately, and it seems safe to assume that this one will only be available in Europe.

[Via Coolest Gadgets]
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