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...

I think most everyone has a love/hate relationship with business cards.  They represent a quick and easy way to trade contact information, to make a good impression and to show off your style and taste.  They also are small and easy to lose, a pain to organize and convert to electronic contacts, and take up a surprising amount of space. The obvious answer is a simple method of scanning and automatically recognizing the information in the cards, and a number of companies have made hardware/software solutions.  I recently had the opportunity to try out one solution, the CardScan 800c.

Inside of the deceptively large box you’ll find a folder with the software, packaged cards for cleaning and calibrating the device, some advertising materials, a generously long USB cable, and the scanner.  The scanner itself is small enough to pack anywhere a paperback would fit or to fit on even the most cluttered desk.  It’s styled to look good on your desk; the CardScan has no buttons or switches to ruin the smooth lines, just a triangle-shaped blue light to show it’s on and to indicate where to insert cards.

Read our full review of the Cardscan Executive 800c...

If you have an Apple iPod, and who doesn’t these days, you will eventually want to improve it’s functionality by adding an accessory.  As the leading portable digital audio player on the market, there are an incredible number of accessories available for the Apple iPod and JBL is one of the leading companies in the iPod speaker and general consumer audio market.  Let’s take a look at a few of the products available from JBL.

Read our complete review of all three JBL speakers

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. 

Motorola announced it is exploring the structural and strategic realignment of its businesses to better equip its Mobile Devices business to recapture global market leadership and to enhance shareholder value. The company’s alternatives may include the separation of Mobile Devices from its other businesses in order to permit each business to grow and better serve its customers.

“All of our businesses have exceptional people, products and intellectual property and the ability to achieve category leadership in their markets,” said Greg Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are exploring ways in which our Mobile Devices Business can accelerate its recovery and retain and attract talent while enabling our shareholders to realize the value of this great franchise.”

The company does not intend to discuss developments with respect to the exploration of strategic alternatives unless or until its Board of Directors has approved a definitive transaction or the process is otherwise complete. There can be no assurance that any transaction will occur or, if one is undertaken, its terms or timing.

http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail.jsp?globalObjectId=9233_9162_23&pageLocaleId=2026

Perfect for the fashionable world-traveling professional, the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition in red and Verizon Wireless’ Global BlackBerry service allow customers to access e-mail and place and receive domestic and international calls in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and parts of Africa. The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition in red features a large high-resolution color display and intuitive trackball navigation to help Verizon Wireless customers easily view e-mails, attachments, videos, and Web sites, and a back-lit QWERTY keyboard that makes it easy to send e-mail responses or instant messages with Mobile IM. The thin, stylish smartphone also offers the following capabilities and features:

* EV-DO/GPRS network connection for high-speed data transfer in more than 90 countries
* GSM/GPRS (900/1800 MHz) for continued voice and e-mail while traveling internationally
* Auto-selection of CDMA/GSM Mode
* Built-in navigation to support VZ NavigatorSM for audible turn-by-turn directions in the U.S.
* Bluetooth wireless technology support for certain profiles, including stereo (A2DP)
* Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD)
* Media player
* Speakerphone
* Expandable memory storage option with microSD/SDHC card slot (card sold separately)

http://news.vzw.com/news/2008/01/pr2008-01-31.html

Skyfire unveiled a new mobile browser that makes browsing on a smartphone just like browsing on a PC. For the first time ever, smartphone users can experience the “real Web” to access and interact with any Web site built with any Web technology, including dynamic Flash, advanced Ajax, Java and more - at the same speeds they are accustomed to on their PC. With this free downloadable browser, users can finally watch videos from the real YouTube, stay connected with their friends on the full-feature PC versions of Facebook and MySpace, and listen to any Web music service like Last.fm. Before Skyfire, users painfully waited for these Flash and Ajax-heavy sites to render - often resulting in error messages or crashes.

Skyfire includes numerous features aimed at simplifying the mobile browsing experience. For example, when a user conducts a Web search from the home page, Skyfire pulls results from multiple search engines and displays the results in multiple tabs that consumers can easily navigate. In addition, users can bookmark specific locations on a Web page to get to the content that matters most to them in one click - such as stock quotes, sports scores, blog messages, etc. Skyfire’s user interface features full screen navigation, thumbnail views and zooming to seamlessly resize the Web content to fit the
mobile screen.

http://www.skyfire.com/sign-up

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