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HTC Tattoo – New Android Phone

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:55:21 +0000

It seems after launching a powerful marketing company Quietly Brilliant, HTC decided to become closer and more friendly to the end consumer. Less than a month ago started sales of the HTC Tattoo smartphone. The official price is nearly $400. Is it too much or is it a normal price? Everyone will judge for himself. But I must admit that this smartphone has a much more affordable price than the HTC Hero ( $600 in average).

What makes this device unique? HTC Tattoo has removable panels (probably many you remembered Nokia:)). HTC smartphone positioned as an accessory, which will emphasize your individuality. However Tattoo is not a phone for blondes. Even geeks will enjoy it, because HTC Tatoo can boast with special features Sense UI and platform Android 1.6 (hopefully will be upgraded to 2.0 version in the nearest future).

Simultaneously with the start of sales, HTC launched the site, where you can purchase interesting removable panels for your smartphone, as well as create a unique one with a help of flash-designer. The cost of one cover is 11.99 EUR.

HTC Tattoo Specification

Processor:

Qualcomm® MSM7225™, 528 MHz

Platform:

Android 1.6

Memory:

ROM 512 MB , RAM 256 MB

Weight:

113 grams ( 3.99 ounces) with battery

Display:

2.8-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with 240×320 QVGA resolution

Device Control:

4-Way navigation control with Enter button

GPS:

Internal GPS antenna

Connectivity:

Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless stereo headsets, Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB 2.0)

Camera:

3.2 megapixel color camera

Special Features:

G-sensor
Digital Compass
FM Radi

Los Angeles moving to Gmail

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:27:23 +0000

After two hour debate the City Council of Los Angeles voted unanimously to move the entire postal system of municipal service Gmail. The tender for the outsourcing of mail was launched a year ago, and Google managed to win it with several competitors, including Microsoft.

Thus, 30 000 municipal workers’ email addresses (police, city council, fire service, etc.) will now depart to Google. Migration procedure will last until June 2010, including the testing period. The contract amount is $ 7.25 million

Such a long two-hour debate was due to the fact that city officials wanted to make sure that the Google hosting service will save taxpayers money, but also will be able to provide maximum security for the police documents of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles – the second largest U.S. city, many smaller cities saw this tender as an example. Therefore, Microsoft has actively lobbied for their interests and even sent to Los Angeles several top managers and lawyers. However, they failed to derail the deal. According to experts, other cities across the country may wish to join Gmail too.

BlueRadios new Wireless PC – WiPC

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:43:06 +0000

The company BlueRadios has announced the arrival of a new unusual gadget WiPC (Wireless PC). Basically, the gear is a mix of phone, portable music player and computer in one package. What’s the most interesting is that WiPC is equipped with an unconventional micro display. Thus, instead to look at it, you’ll have to put it close to the eye to see what’s there.

The micro display Golden-I has been released by the Kopin company. It has a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. At the same time, as noted by the developers, the user has an impression as if he looks at a 15-inch monitor. Moreover, the viewing angle makes up 32 degrees. WiPC supports the whole range of software platforms, including Windows CE, Android, Linux and Windows Mobile 7.

Thanks to dual-core processor the unit can play quality D1video. Also, the gadget boasts with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, modem, 2G/3.5G, GPS, FM tuner and TV features. The user can also take advantage of a dial control and optical manipulator.

Without exaggeration, WiPC is very compact and light. Its weight with battery is only 85 grams. In addition, power consumption of this tiny computer is only 1 watt.

Personally, I want it already. How about you?

Magic Mouse – Apple’s new Multi-Touch mouse

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:37:23 +0000

October 20 saw another brainchild of Apple. It’s an ubercool and fully packed Magic Mouse. It’s an utterly new device. We admittedly bided our time for this incomer.

Official “Better-mouse-philosophy” lacks modesty, obviously. Undoubtedly, Apple knows how Multi-Touch works. Magic Mouse may be rated as first desktop multi-touch mouse. As Apple claims its surface recognizes 5 gestures or finger manipulations. New gestures may easily be added via soft, I suppose. Apple should have thought of that.

Magic Mouse has one button similarly with its predecessor. For “left clicking” you just click any point on the surface. As the Mouse’s “back” is one big button. Whereas, the opening of the right-click menu requires another manipulation. You hold one finger and make a clicking move with another in the right corner.

However, scrolling is likely to become mostly appreciated feature. We all work with documents. Whether it’s web pages, mail, Word docs, whatever. I suppose that the scrolling will do best in browsing big pictures. We can move Magic Mouse in all directions. Not just up and down.

In addition, two-finger practical swiping pages the history. As for Zoom Screen… People, it’s just a far-fetched feature. Hold Control button and scroll to zoom is an old Mac OS function. It’s been a while. And it doesn’t require a mouse.

Regarding the design. As for me personally, it doesn’t work. Mighty Mouse had similar problems. And Magic Mouse seems to embrace them, as well. My hand gets tired. And rather quickly. Many people complain too. Both gadgets have excellent design. And Magic Mouse is something from future. But a mouse must be a gadget to work with not a toy to look at.

Whatever it is, Magic Mouse is another fine fruit from Apple “garden” stuffed with some supercool features.

Fancy USB flash drives

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:58:24 +0000

USB storage devices are not racing cars in the gigabyte race any more. They don’t appear a springboard for geek designers any longer. Freak and fancy USB toys reveal their owners’ personalities and speak of their lifestyle. Sometimes only God knows what designers had in their heads inventing this or that gadget. Especially it applies to flash drives.

For instance, a lighter flash drive is utterly popular. However, it rather points at some bad habits and flatness of their owner. More original appeal has 9 inches long USB-nail flash drive. It looks wild especially if you don’t know it’s sticking out of a USB port. The same true is for fancy USB flash drive nicknamed Hacked!. It strikes you. A ripped off multicolored wire freaks even the past masters out. Imagine, it threateningly protruding out of a USB port. Smashing thing!

Similarly, imagine a shuriken flash drive went deep into your CPU. Craze? It is. This is a bona fide instrument for any ninja geek!

However, what looks really freak is a fetish USB flash drive named Teeny Weeny that looks like a penis or erotic museum piece (from high technology section). The functionality of this confusing gadget is over any doubts however appropriateness of its use is under question. Spiritually close but bearing less provocative appeal is a spermatozoon-shaped flash stick. Sadly, it’s only being developed now.

Quite another story is transformers stuff. This subject has become so omnipresent that it couldn’t omit flash drives. A feline statuette simply looks delicate and serves as a flash memory, obviously. Alternatively, a shiny robot’s head is a cap consideredly fastened to the spiral hands.

People, do you still remember old school floppy disks? A new USB flash drive imitates exactly this adorable ancient item. Who knows and remembers when they weighed some ridiculous 1.44 megabytes…

These fancy USB drives suggest a deduction it’s megacool that once boring office attributes may embrace some whim features.

Cool USB office toys

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:58:54 +0000

What’s the point in moaning about gloomy routine working days, when it’s all up to us? Nowadays, it is easy as never to make your working place a true Mecca of unique enthusiasm backed by the whole army of cool USB office toys. USB powered gadgets has long changed our perception of a conventional work place. It’s not anymore only IT and programming offices embrace these new friends of office workers. Sometimes useful, sometimes not, sometimes hard to understand what the hell they were created for – all USB toys have their personal appeal. The more we look at their versatility, the more we realize that we need all them and cannot understand how we could do without them all this time.

It’s not much time left before Christmas, actually. We all know how quickly time passes. So I offer you to think of a USB Christmas tree that looks nice and even more – it plays traditional Christmas songs.

Another amazing office gadget that can safe your life is USB Panic Stress Button. Load the software you want and press the big red button in an emergency situation. Imagine the situation when you’re stuck in Facebook, and out of nowhere your boss emerges. As a rule, you get caught red-handed. But now you just press the magic button and the screen shows the screensaver you have loaded.

What is more, now you can do table dance right on your working desk. USB Dancing Robot is a funny toy that dances and does robot stuff. So you can find a perfect partner to dance in sync to your favourite tracks.

A bit spooky but very original is USB Thumb Flash Drive that looks like real cut-off thumb jutting out of CPU.

Very useful, entertaining and relaxing is USB powered golf fidget. Thanks to this marvelous gadget you may burn calories and relax not leaving your cubicle! Amazing, huh?

Whether we like it or not, we keep on browsing Internet shops in search of some new cool USB office toys to make our working environment a little bit more welcoming place to operate in.

Top 30 Original and Cool USB Devices

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:04:24 +0000

Unfortunately, most of us spend all day working in gloomy little rooms using old-school gadgets plugged into USB slots. To make our environments more pleasurable places to work in, modern designers offer long lists of original and cool USB devices.
So get yourself into our top 30 of original and cool USB powered devices.

1. Air Conditioned Shirt

This shirt accommodates two fans circulating air and keeping you dry. There is a switch that allows adjusting the speed. In addition, this shirt can be powered by the ordinary AA batteries, if the USB cable you’re using appears not long enough.

2. USB Powered Dart Launcher

You can aim and launch this USB dart launcher with the software that is included to the set which goes with three darts.

3. The USB Doorbell

When someone touches your doorbell button accommodated with the USB Doorbell it plays MP3 and WMA tracks chosen by you.

4. USB Podcast Studio

This USB studio has a professional mic, audio workstation software as well as a foppish aluminum case.

5. USB Powered Aquarium

This aquarium contains animated fish that you can feed and even play with. Also it boasts with LED nightlight water current.

6. USB Drum Kit

All you have to do is to plug this drum kit into the USB port and start playing! The sound play through the computer speakers.

7. USB Rechargeable AA Batteries

Probably the coolest USB device ever! Now you can forget about paying for some extra batteries as you can buy these saucy USB rechargeable things.

8. USB Frag Pedals

Use these pedals to make your computer even more interactive. Just connect them to the computer and you’ll have extra inputs. Now you can mouse-click right and left using your feet! Alternatively, these two may serve as foot brakes in car racing games.

9. USB Digital Microscope

The microscope allows viewing things up to 200x. Using the included software for plug and play, you can record your “researches” in pictures or video mode.

10. Oldschool USB Record Player

This record player has a bunch of adjustable features including anti-skating and pitch control. Also it can record vinyl in MP3!

11. USB Golf Simulator

If you enjoy this game but don’t have time to go on a field, then the Golf Simulator is what you need. The launchpad connects to the USB port and syncs with EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour.

12. USB Humidifier

The humidifier generates moisturizing air that makes breathing more comfortable especially with aroma oils add-ons.

13. USB Mini Fridge

This cool mini fridge for one beverage is the must if you’re sitting all nights in front of a computer screen without pulling yourself away.

14. USB Vacuum Cleaner, Cup Warmer and Flexible Mini Lamp

This ultra generous set has in its disposal everything for computer geeks: a mini vacuum-cleaner to clean your desk, a cup warmer to keep your coffee hot and a mini lamp to… well… to make all this visible in the dark, apparently.

15. Wireless USB PC Remote

This useful gadget has been designed for those who occasionally give representations on a computer. It allows controlling it if you’re in a distance and your computer is out of reach. What is more, the laser pointer directs the viewer’s attention while the representations.

16. USB Pencil Sharpener

A must-have for any sketch artist or office worker. By the way, this sharpener has cool blue LED.

17. USB Powered Flexible Fan

This light mini-fan is just what the doctor ordered on hot summer days. By the way, it comes with flexible wire 30cm long.

18. USB Powered Foot Warming Slippers

If your feet get cold rather quickly and if your normal slippers are just not enough, then don’t go further. These USB powered warming sleepers will keep your warm as long as you’re by the computer.

19. USB Powered Toothbrush

Normal electric toothbrushes come with sizeable recharging sections. Now everything has become much easier with these USB powered toothbrushes plugging directly into your computer USB port.

20. USB Cooler Cushion

If you’re using a leather chair at your work, then you well know how sweaty and hot it gets especially on summer days. With this new flashy (in figurative and literal senses) thing monotonous working days become now much brighter and cooler (in both senses again).

21. Fly Fusion Pentop Computer

Basically, thing small pen-like thing is a smart computer capable of so many tricks that you’ll be carried away! It can react to various writings and recognize gestures; it even can digitize and scan!!!

22. George Foreman USB iGrill

If you’re a weird mixture of a computer geek and chef then this even weirder gadget is designed for you. Anyway, now you can use the grill standing right next to the computer.

23. USB Air darts

This is an another aiming darts station, with a neat mouse aiming and firing, seems to be more powerful than previous one. (my son loves it)

24. The USB ghost radar

Well, as for this item we’re not quite sure what to say. The USB gadget that traces ghosts? Maybe, this one wouldn’t work…

25. USB massage ball

This vibrating mouse-like massage thing is perfect when your eyes get sore after long hours in front of a computer screen.

26. USB self destruction button

Another USB weirdo. It is impossible to apprehend what the possible use of this gadget can be. Long and short of it, it blocks access to applications you choose. Anyway, you can try it.

27. USB Flower pot speaker

Think of this lovely flower plugged into your computer. Actually, this is a speaker from the same designers that manufactured heated slippers.

28. USB heating gloves

Have you ever felt a need to warm your hands up while working on a computer? If yes, then opt for this pair of heating gloves. And don’t forget to match them with heated slippers.

29. The eye massager

Ok, we’ve written about this one somewhere above. But this is another item. We’d say a lot more impressive. Imagine your eye massaged with this red hand… Impressive, like we said.

30. The USB vibrator

This one isn’t just a vibrator. It includes 5 latex probes, 10 pulse rhythms and an adjustable vibrating bullet. Craze!!!

iPod Nano 5th generation review

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:45:46 +0000

It’s been a while since we’ve seen any addition from Apple. As it was rumored and well-predicted 5G iPod nano turns out a hot new thing with lots of little wonders to amaze. So what’s so amazing about this new shiny babe? Let’s take for a starter a larger screen (which boasts now of additional 0.2″), a FM radio (what a surprise!), a pedometer, a speaker and, naturally, the main delight must be a video camera. The camera films live video skipping picture stills, however. It makes footage in VGA quality 640 x 480) H.264. As some reviewers claim, the quality surpasses iPhone 3GS. If you feel a rush for creativeness there is a number of special effects including B&W, Sepia, Film Grain, X-Ray, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Motion Blur, Bulge and so on and so forth. Thanks to the camcorder it became effortless now to switch between landscape and portrait modes. However the placing of lens makes it too accessible, so you’ll have to take some time for practicing to get used to it. Still, it remains quite weird that the 5G iPod nano is now the mid-range (and only) iPod with a camera meanwhile top-notch smartphone hasn’t got this feature.

The dimensions are twin to the 4G nano with 3.6- x 1.5- x 0.24-inches; however it somehow manages to lose its weight from 1.3 to 1.28 ounces. The battery is claimed to last up to 24 hours with playing audio.

The FM radio function Live Pause allows to tag the track you heard on the radio so that the next time you sync, iTunes finds it for you for making a purchase. Other flashy novelty is a pedometer that counts how many steps you’ve taken and how many calories you have burnt while walking.

Finally, the VoiceOver sounds the artist and the track name. Firstly this function appeared in iPod shuffle 3G and has migrated into iPhone and 5G iPod nano now.

With all these novelties introduced, there is much space left for further improvements, of course. But what we have now is something at least.