Gadgets and just Gadgets

100$ laptop for $400 Source

Well, it’s not as bad as it sounds. At the moment the “$100 laptop” from One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) costs $200. By paying $400 (available only from Nov 12 to Nov 26), North Americans will get one, but also subsidize one for a 3rd world country. Because it’s a form of donation, the $200 are tax-deductible, according to Walter Bender, OLPC president of software and content.

The goal is to make the OLPC computer cheaper ASAP. The thing is: it is quite possible to build a cheap PC, running off-the-shelves software like the Asus Eee PC (although it might be more expensive than initially thought). The OLPC is also painfully slow and lacks software. The user interface (called Sugar) is sparse but functional. Moreover the quality of the screen seems poor. Compared with modern notebook panels, this transmissive LCD delivers washed-out colors and isn’t very bright.

Despite it has plenty of shortcomings it has great potential, if we think about its mission as a children’s laptop for the developing world–and its ultra-low price.

Tags: OLPC, 0 laptop, notebook panels, laptop, developing worlds, ultra low price

Micro Dock with mega sound from Ministry of SoundSource
The Ministry of Sound doesn’t seem to have a knack for names, as the awkwardly titled MOSMC1319P proves, but apart from that it combines sleek styling with a lot of handy features.

The not-quite-so-catchily-named system Micro iPod Dock sports 2 x 10 Watt RMS speakers and is compatible with all CD types, as well as having a 30 track programmable function, with all the usual play and pause buttons. The built in CD player rounds off this simple and stylish system which is dominated by an elegant LCD display which scrolls station and track information. It includes a USB port so you can hook it up to all your devices and includes a FM/MW PLL digital tuner with 40 station presets.

You can have one for a price of $181.

Tags: micro dock, ministry of sound, iPod dock, watt RMS, CD player, USB port

iPod 2X wooden speakers Source

For all you with a refined taste, that are in search of a pure and classical look iPod has new speakers. Actually the manufacturing texture makes the difference here.

Here’s Vers 2X, an iPod speaker system for those fed up with all the glossy black and brushed aluminum iPod accessories available these days. Each cabinet sports hand-crafted cherry veneer, two 3″ custom-engineered 15 watt speakers, dual port design for deeper bass, remote control, 3.5mm audio in/out jacks and they ship with 8 iPod adapters and a general MP3 player dock to make sure it can make use of (and charge) your iPod Video/Nano/Mini/Classic/Touch or iPhone.

I can’t say that is one of the MVPs, but for all of you being eager to buy this iPod gadget, the Vers 2X will start shipping in mid-October to an estimated price of $179.00.

Tags: iPod speakers, 2x speakers, wood, cherry veneer, 15 watt speakers, deeper bass, in out kacks

Robot watches

I thought of staying a little more with this subject, of watches (my favorite accessories) and write about a funny looking one.

Now here’s what I found, some watches with a robot shape, made of aluminum. It has two purposes. It can be either a wrist watch or a desk clock.

This tiny (and seemingly happy-looking) retro robot can be attached to its wrist band when you commute to work, just to detach and stand on your desk while you work. You wouldn’t want to scratch your new aluminum Apple keyboard with a metal wrist band now, would you?

I’m sure that some of you are interested in buying this funny looking timepiece, but…there is a but of course. The site that sells these is in Japanese, but they’re available in silver and gun metal models and will set you back about 3,990 Yen (about $40).

Tags: robot watch, Japanese, wrist watch, desk clock, Apple keyboard, aluminum

FUSION DT1 led watches

Fusion presents DT1, one of most unique LED watches in the market. The Japanese have made another timepiece sporting an unorthodox way of telling time. How does it work?

As you can notice in the picture there are a bunch of green bullets. Well, the outer dots indicate hours, the inner circle minutes and the two rows in the middle indicate seconds. Each square in the middle represent 10 seconds. That should be a bit confusing at the beginning and I bet that it will become annoying in time. But what the heck, it looks like a pretty stylish accessory for both males and females with its combination of full stainless steel body and bright green LED lights.

Fusion DT1 also features alarm. Unfortunately it is Available only in Japan in 2 colors: black and silver. The price is acceptable: $150.

Tags: Fusion DT1, Led watch, green led, stainless steel, watch, time

Phone Manufacturers Settle on Micro-USB Charging Standards
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It seems that phone manufacturers have thought about our troublkes when we buy a new phone and thought of a solution. The Open Mobile Terminal Platform group has set a new standard for charging mobile phones and most of the big names are on board. Sony-Ericsson, Nokia, LG, Samsung and Motorola all be implementing Micro USB charging into future phones. BoingBoing has details on the standard:

“However, [telecom analyst Dean Bubley] also suggested that having a standard connector might be in manufacturers’ best interests due to environmental reasons. The EU’s WEEE directive makes manufacturers responsible for some of the costs associated with recycling their equipment, and a broadly applied standard could remove the need for a new charger to be distributed with every phone or accessory.

“This is cheaper to the manufacturer, and also results in a smaller, less heavy box, which reduces on shipping costs, storage costs, warehouse costs and so on,” Bubley said. “It has got to have beneficial effects for everyone.”

This is sure good news to everyone knowing that you can travel and will most likely have access to a phone charger no matter the location. Moreover, if you’re on a plane or somewhere without access to power, you can charge via the USB ports on your laptop.

However it’s pretty frustrating that it took several years for this to finally happen.

Tags: micro USB charger, Nokia, Motorola, Sony-Ericsson, LG, Samsung, settle on, standards, Open Mobile Terminal, connection

AT&T-branded 8925 / Tilt, 9/30 first pic?

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For Windows Mobile users, the HTC Kaiser / TyTN II / MDA Vario III / AT&T 8925 (“Tilt”) US release is maybe equivalent in excitement to the launch of maybe the iPhone but we don’t know yet the release date for the former.

There are some rumours about the launch date and availability but they might be as false as the previous one. So I can say that you can be skeptical about these also: e-tailer Negri Electronics has started taking pre-orders on both the 8925 (pictured above) and camera-less 8900, and claims that units are expected to be in stock on Sunday, September 30th.

If the photo they’re running is indeed the AT&T production version, future buyers can be somewhat relieved that the color scheme has not changed from the unlocked model and as we expected, the front cam and all possibility of hacked video calling have been eliminated.

Tags: HTC Kaiser, TyTN II , MDA Vario III , AT&T 8925, release date, unlocked model,

bicycle, bike, cy-fi, ipod accessory, ipod speaker, IpodAccessory, IpodSpeaker

The Cy-Fi is a new wireless bicycle speaker for the iPod. It’s being introduced at this week’s Interbike 2007 Expo in Las Vegas and is expected to go on sale early in 2008 for $149.95.

Even though it could be debatable whether the cy·fi truly is the “world’s first wireless bicycle speaker and ultimate iPod accessory,” it does look fairly well thought out. The Cy-fi includes a wireless speaker that connects to the bicycle’s frame. It’s slightly larger than a deck of cards, according to the manufacturer, and weighs less than three ounces.A transmitter connects to the 30-pin dock connector on the bottom of the iPod. Aside from boasting an admittedly stylish design, it mounts on nearly any frame, plays nice with your iPod / iPod nano and offers up six-hours of battery life. Additionally, it supports “multipoint broadcasting to up to four cy·fi speakers”.

The device also features remote control abilities: you are able to change track, volume and playlists from your speaker.

Tags: bicycle, bike, cy-fi, ipod accessory, ipod speaker, IpodAccessory, IpodSpeaker

T-Mobille announces Sidekick Slide
T-Mobille announces Sidekick Slide

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With a delay due to an embargo in previewing some upcoming gadgets such as Sidekick Slide and Sidekick LX, T-Mobile has finnaly announced these devices on the market.

The much-brighter LCD of the Slider is similar to that of the Sidekick LX’s, except smaller. The back has a very polished feel to it and the 1.3-megapixel camera is a tiny bit better than the Sidekick 3’s, but not by much. The new Sidekick interface is loaded, but it’s just the standard fare you’d normally find. IM, Web browsing, messaging, etc. T-Mobile also got the Sidekick Slide to send picture messages, as opposed to sending e-mail with an attachment.

Though the LX has a Sharp Aquos screen, media playback and a longer battery, the Slide is more compact and thiner. It looks professional and the keypad is decent, but not fantastic

The Sidekick Slide will be available October 24 with a price tag of $199 with a two-year contract.

Being the first time Motorola has tried such a slider, they made a good job.

Tags: cellphones, hot, im, release, sidekick, slide, t-mobile, texting, Sidekick Slide, motorola, Sidekick LX, T-Mobile, 1.3

Retro Radio by Cath Kidston Roberts
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Following on from last year’s Star radio, Cath Kidston has once more teamed up with retro DAB specialists Roberts to create the Washed Rose DAB radio. So you already know what Cath Kidston can do, and it seems the designer is striking back once more by flowering up a Roberts.

The design is pure Roberts – a throwback to the post-war look of the portable radio. But the look is very much Cath Kidston, unashamedly aimed at the female market.This time the theme is Washed Rose. The retro-inspired device sports a cutesy floral pattern, built-in display, automatic tuning, a carry handle, PausePlus to pause / rewind live programming, and the usual complement of knobs and buttons. It also features a DAB and a little LCD screen on the top for your station information and all your usual presets.

Moreover the PausePlusallows you to put the radio on hold for up to 40 minutes if the phone rings or you just fancy a break from your listening. You can also rewind to the news or to find track details too.

Not cheap at £200($402), but this is how much style is supposed to cost.

[tags]Retro radio, DAB radio,Cath Kidston, Roberts,style, live programming, washed rose