Looking for some information? The best place to visit is, of course, the library! It is the books and magazines in the library that have the data. We all have borrowed books from the library at some point in time or the other. Over the years, life has changed and so has the way we store and carry data - in electronic files. However, it is unfortunate that most libraries have not kept pace with the changes. They still have a photocopier machine for general use instead of a scanner. Now, does a photocopier really provide the library goers any convenience or does it make things somewhat easier for the library? Perhaps, it’s neither.

Ok, so this bad boy pops out 3.2 pages a second and has a stand that elevates the scanner by 122mm with an 18.8 degree angle thereby generating the best scan result even when you are scanning a book with hard and bulky cover.

The 4600 comes with ImageFolio 4.5 supporting complete image-tuning functions, support for TIF, PCX, BMP, TGA, JPG, PCD, WMF, and PNG file format. Also PageManager 7.10 with instant PDF creation or conversion to Word (maintaining color and images.)

Product Page...

The ARCHOS 605 WiFi snaps easily into the GPS In-Car Holder, which is connected to the car windshield and stereo system (via the built-in line out), creating a full voice and video navigation system. Unlike many GPS-only devices, you can easily navigate your way the 605’s nice screen, and then watch favorite videos orrecorded TV shows, listen to music and view photo slideshows hopfully NOT while you drive.

Additionally, when in a wireless hot spot, the ARCHOS 605 GPS allows for surfing the Internet and streaming video, TV shows and music directly to the device in real-time. Hmmm, I don’t think my GPS does that.

So the ARCHOS GPS accessory provides complete navigation support with Tele Atlas maps, available for the European version covering 22 countries, the North America version covering the U.S. and Canada, and a Chinese version. All ARCHOS 605 WiFi models—4 GB, 30 GB, 80 GB and 160 GB work with the
GPS In-Car Holder.

The ARCHOS GPS In-Car Holder can be sold separately for $129.99 to work with any ARCHOS 605 WiFi model, or bundled together with the 30GB* player for $399.99. The bundle will include the traffic and speed control assistance features, as well as route planning. The GPS In-Car Holder and bundled ARCHOS 605 GPS will be available in May 2008 from http://www.archos.com and select retailers.

Press Release...

Nokia today introduced two new music-enabled devices as additions to its XpressMusic range. The new Nokia 5320 XpressMusic and Nokia 5220 XpressMusic offer a range of affordable music and entertainment experiences with the most fresh, stylish designs on the market. Both music devices are expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2008, with an expected retail price range of 160 to 220 EUR, before taxes and subsidies.

“Our XpressMusic range of devices continues to deliver the combination of superior music experiences and fresh, innovative designs,” said Jo Harlow, Vice President, LIVE category, Nokia.  “Today’s additions to the XpressMusic range up the ante with new ways for consumers to access their media as well as interact and share content with friends and communities anytime, anywhere.”

Read More...

Nokia Research Center together with the University of Cambridge (UK) have unveiled a new concept phone called Morph which works on the principle of nanotechnology. The phone was showcased at the “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibition which runs from February 24 through May 12, 2008 at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

Basically, Nokia’s Morph concept phone demonstrates how future devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their handsets into radically different shapes. According to Nokia, it showcases the ultimate in functionality that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering.

The concept uses a similar principle as spider silk, enabling elasticity in mobile devices so they could be transformed into different shapes to adjust to a specific task. It could involve a folded design to be used in a traditional mobile phone, or a larger unfolded design for displaying more information and involving keyboards and touch pads.

Morph could lead to mobile devices that use transparent materials, repel dirt and fingerprints, use solar energy to charge, and use integrated sensors to provide more information about the environment—an idea that Nokia introduced earlier with its Eco Sensor Concept that involves a wearable mobile phone and a sensing device that analyzes a person’s health and surrounding environment.

More: http://www.mobiletor.com/2008/02/26/nokias-morph-nanotechnology-concept-phone-unveiled-with-cambridge-researchers/

Brighthand gets to unwrap the much delayed HP iPAQ 210. They liked the large screen and ample memory, along with the units 24-pin connector and mini-USB. Also the 210 maintains a long battery life and Extensive expansion options. Onthe downside the unit is slow to start up when Wi-Fi is enabled, the digitizer is less sensitive and it has an anemic speaker.

Here is a blurb:

“A full five months after it was originally announced, HP has finally managed to ship production units of the iPAQ 210 Enterprise handheld, a very high-end device loaded with features, like a VGA screen and dual memory card slots.

Before I begin the review in earnest though, a few notes. The first is practically boilerplate by now: The device reviewed here is the iPAQ 210. The exact same device is sold through other retail channels as the iPAQ 211, and internationally as the iPAQ 212 in Asia/Pacific, and as the iPAQ 214 in Europe. All these models are physically the same, though international versions may vary in languages and other regional settings.

Second note: You’ll see a few comparisons in this review to the older Dell Axim X51v and Palm TX models. These have been the two reigning champions of the high-end handheld space, and many of the people contemplating the iPAQ 210 own one or another of them. Or in my case, both.”

Read the full review: http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=13810

Giving photo enthusiasts the freedom to take more pictures and shoot more video, SanDisk Corporation had increased both capacities and speeds in its SanDisk Ultra II line with the introduction of 32- and 16-gigabyte (GB)1 SDHC cards and an 8GB SDHC Plus card.

Ideal for today’s camcorders and point-and-shoot digital cameras that can record both video and still images, the cards offer faster read and write speeds of 15 megabytes per second2 (15MB/sec), up from previous speeds of 10MB/sec read and 9MB/sec write in the SanDisk Ultra II line.

The 32GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC card with MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $349.99. The 16GB card with reader has a suggested price of $179.99, and the 8GB SanDisk Ultra II SDHC Plus card has an MSRP of $99.99. The 16GB and 8GB cards are expected to be available worldwide in March, with the 32GB slated for shipping in April. 

I will be updating the website with news and more reviews soon.

Thanks!

Bill

Amazon.com today introduced Amazon Kindle, a revolutionary portable reader that wirelessly downloads books, blogs, magazines and newspapers to a crisp, high-resolution electronic paper display that looks and reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight. More than 90,000 books are now available in the Kindle Store, including 101 of 112 current New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases, which are $9.99, unless marked otherwise. Kindle is available starting today for $399 at http://amazon.com/kindle

The Kindle wireless delivery system, Amazon Whispernet, uses the same nationwide high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones. Kindle customers can wirelessly shop the Kindle Store, download or receive new content—all without a PC, Wi-Fi hot spot, or syncing. Amazon pays for the wireless connectivity for Kindle so there are no monthly wireless bills, data plans, or service commitments for customers.

Technical Details

Display: 6” diagonal E-Ink electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 4-level gray scale
Size (in inches): 7.5” x 5.3” x 0.7”
Weight: 10.3 ounces
System requirements:  None, because it doesn’t require a computer
Storage: 256MB internal (approximately 185MB available for user content); available SD memory card slot supports up to 4GB SD memory cards (SD memory card not included)
Battery Life: Leave wireless on and recharge every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly. 
Charge Time: Approximately 2 hours
Connectivity: EVDO modem with fallback to 1xRTT; utilizes Amazon Whispernet to provide U.S wireless coverage via Sprint’s high-speed data network (Check Wireless Coverage)
USB Port:  USB 2.0 (mini-B connector) to optionally connect to a PC or Macintosh computer
Audio: 3.5mm stereo audio jack, rear-mounted mono speaker
Content Formats Supported:  Kindle (AZW), TXT, Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4), MP3, natively; HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, MOBI, PRC through conversion
Included Accessories: Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable, book cover, rechargeable battery
Documentation: About Your Kindle Manual; Kindle User’s Guide pre-installed on device
Warranty and Service: 1 year limited warranty and service

http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA/ref=kd_ln?ie=UTF8

Nokia announced today that the new Nokia N810 Internet Tablet has begun shipping nationwide in the United States. With a new slide-out keyboard, built-in GPS, digital audio/video playback and Wi-Fi capability for VoIP calling, the Nokia N810 provides the functionality of a traditional computer but all in one sleek, stylish and portable device.

The Nokia N810 provides a premier, portable internet experience with its large color display, touchpad screen, slide-out keyboard, 400 MHz processor, Mozilla-based browser and up to 10GB of memory (an optional 8GB memory card combined with 2GB internal memory). To access the Internet, users simply connect via the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot or over Bluetooth on a mobile phone. Connecting to the Internet allows the user to stay connected with friends and family through VoIP calling, instant messaging and e-mail. Users can also access their online communities by checking Facebook or Flickr accounts and see what’s new in the lives of those they care about.

With up to 45 hours of music playback, storage for up to 7,500 songs and built-in GPS, the Nokia N810 is perfect for the person on the go. The Nokia N810 comes with free maps preloaded for users to browse detailed locations, search for street addresses, find various points of interest (POI) as well as nearby Wi-Fi hotspots. Wayfinder will offer subscription based service for navigation over the Maps application; a 3-year license for $129.99 available in December.

http://www.nokia.com/A4136001?newsid=1169511

From MSMobiles:

While ETEN Glofiish X800 is still not on sale (it was presented at various trade shows already), a successor to this phone - with slide-out QWERTY keyboard - is being released! Interestingly it has almost all the features that HTC Kaiser (aka HTC TyTN II) has: built-in GPS, HSDPA, WiF, Bluetooth, 3G video calling, ... but it also has something that neither HTC Kaiser nor any other HTC phone can offer: VGA (640x480) display in a pocket-size device:

Some specifications:
500 MHz Samsung processor
256 MB ROM
2 cameras
VGA display
Windows Mobile 6 Professional (i.e. Windows Mobile 6 for touch-screens)
HSDPA / UMTS
SiRFstar III GPS chip
1530 mAh battery
available since November 2007
expected price: 599 to 629 Euro
standard 2.5 mm stereo headset connector (instead of prioprietary one used in HTC phones)

Source: http://msmobiles.com/news.php/6768.html
More: PocketInfo.NL

An enhanced version of the successful HTC S710 handset that launched earlier this year, the HTC S730 adds 3G/HSDPA and a 400MHz processor.

The compact phone features an auto-sliding QWERTY keyboard making it an ideal choice for the mobile professional who needs easy access to email, messaging and the internet while out of the office. The HTC S730 comes equipped with Windows Mobile 6 and 256MB Flash memory wrapped in a sleek gun-metal grey casing.

Designed for the enterprise market, the HTC P6500 Incorporates a 3.5” screen, 3 mega pixel camera with auto focus and barcode and fingerprint scanning capabilities. The HTC P6500 is equipped with 256MB internal memory with the
option to add up to 1GB in addition to two external SD card slots and GPS make it “future-proofed”...their words not ours.

In addition to its new devices, HTC has developed a range of accessories that are compatible across all HTC devices. These include the BHM200 (Bluetooth headset), HS U110 (3.5 mm audio adapter and headset), and the HS S200 (HTC standard stereo wired headset).

Florian Seiche, Vice President of HTC Europe, commented: “We are extremely proud of HTC’s reputation as a leading innovator in the mobility space, providing high-quality products to exceed the needs of our diverse end-users.”

http://www.europe.htc.com

HTC the ubiquitous provider of Windows Mobile-based smart devices, today announced the European launch of the HTC Touch Dual, a new and more powerful member of the Touch family that integrates 3.5G wireless connectivity.

The HTC Touch Dual is the second device to feature HTC’s TouchFLO, the same gesture-recognition technology as that in the HTC Touch, but now with new functionality including the ability to view photo slideshows using on-screen controls and to zoom and rotate images with only one hand. TouchFLO also allows enhanced finger touch scrolling and browsing of web pages, documents, messages and contact lists.

The HTC Touch Dual will be available to customers across Europe later this month. The HTC Touch Dual will launch with either a 16 or 20-key keypad across Europe, depending on country and operator choice.

Key Features...

The HTC Shift ushers in a new era in mobile computing as one of the first mobile computers globally to offer Microsoft Windows Vista and push email. Combining Windows Vista with always-connected 3G/HSDPA connectivity. The HTC Shift is the first device to feature HTC’s innovative new SnapVUE technology. SnapVUE provides instant access to emails, calendar, SMS messages and contacts, without the need to fully boot up the device which helps conserve power and extend battery life up to two days.

Weighing just 800g and equipped with a 7” touch sensitive ‘slide-n-tilt’ screen, the HTC Shift is the new way to work effectively on the move.Extensive range of connectivity options - 3G/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS/ EDGE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0.

In addition to its new devices, HTC has developed a range of accessories that are compatible across all HTC devices for consumer’s ease of use. These include the BHM200 (Bluetooth headset), HS U110 (3.5 mm audio adapter and headset), and the HS S200 (HTC standard stereo wired headset) to enable effective communications on the move.

The HTC Shift will be available across Europe from November.

http://www.europe.htc.com/

The folks at Laptop Mag has pulled the wraps off of thier review of the Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Tablet PC. They liked the units good screen quality and long battery life. However an awkward keyboard, low performance scores and lack of mobile broadband help to pull its rating down to a 3.5 out of 5.

“As far as UMPCs go, the U810 is a pretty strong contender, and you can’t beat the price for a unit with a usable built-in keyboard and Tablet functionality. It’s sleeker than the FlipStart, which is the only other clamshell unit on the market and costs $1,000 more but offers EV-DO. The OQO model 02 is even sleeker but costs about $300 more with integrated EV-DO. If you’ve been thinking about dipping your toe into the UMPC waters, the Fujitsu LifeBook U810 is an affordable way to do so, but some may want to wait for the mobile broadband version.”

Fujitsu says it will offer an HSDPA version in February of 2008.

http://laptopmag.com/Review/Fujitsu-LifeBook-U810-Tablet-PC.htm

Engadget has word on some new military tech that looks promising.

InHand Electronics Announces e-ink military Soldier Flex PDA (SFPDA). The Soldier Flex PDA (SFPDA) has been successfully demonstrated at the Future Force Warrior’s On-The-Move (OTM) exercises in Fort Dix, NJ.

Whereas the electronics for most PDAs are challenged to run under 1W, the entire SFPDA has typical power consumption well under 1W, including the display and InHand’s PXA270-based Fingertip4 CPU board, along with Ethernet, USB, Bluetooth, and keypad interfaces. This reduced-power consumption is due to the unique low-power characteristics of electronic paper displays and InHand’s patented BatterySmart system software. The result: a ruggedized handheld with over 6 hours of run-time weighing in at less than one pound.

More information on Fingertip4, BatterySmart, and InHand’s extensive portfolio of power-reducing hardware and software technologies can be found at http://www.inhand.com