Category: gadgets and technology

Just did this… If you are WAP-enabled… Only takes a few minutes to get set-up.

WAP is not just for the big sites. Movable Type‘s template system mean that creating a WAP version of your MT Blog takes around ten minutes to set up. Once done, your WAP site automatically updates along with your main site, as if by magic.

The method is similar to the RSS Feeds that Movable Type creates as a default for you. Here it is in practice on my site; first, the HTML version, now in WAP. I’ve writtne a complete tutorial, “Building a Better Wap Diary”, on just how to do this on your MT blog. [MobileWhack]

Sounds like Sony is going for it with the PSP – sounds like Nintendo has a solid competitor!

We’re not sure we can wait that long, but Sony says that PlayStation Portable will come out no later than March 31st of next year. They also released a few more details about the PSP, like that it will be more powerful than the PS2, and that it will have built-in 802.11b WiFi for connecting over a home network to both the PlayStation 3 and to PCs (for transferring audio and video files onto it). [Engadget]

What I like most about this box is that for just a bit more than you would pay for a next-gen game system (when they first come out anyway) you get a lot more. I wonder what kind of impact this box will have… It’s got a nice window of opportunity before the PS3 and XBox2 arrive. The real question is if the market is mass enough , or if this will just be a sweet new toy for the tech-set.

If you are Intel, then this is going to sting really bad. The DISC/Apex GameBox is going to powered by AMD’s Athlon XP2000 chip, making it the second game box to be powered by an AMD chip. Nvidia’s GeForce4 MX Graphics will be the graphics chip in the new device. The ApeXtreme (pronounced Apex Extreme) will support the most popular PC games. Additionally, Apex has added Personal Video Recording (PVR) functionality to the device since it was originally unveiled at CES.

The device combines all the most popular features of Apex Digital’s successful line of DVD players such as Component, Composite, S-Video and DVI output with everything a gamer could want in a game console including a 40GB hard drive and networking capabilities. Additionally, the ApeXtreme boasts 6.1 channel digital audio output, as well as the ability to playback a variety of CD and DVD formats. The ApeXtreme will be available to consumers in the third quarter of 2004 for $499. [Om Malik on Broadband: Apex GameBox powered by AMD]

Seems like Sandisk will lose the race to deliver a Palm driver if these guys are for real. While they are saying that OS 4 and 5 will be supported the tested devices are unfortunately only OS 4 for now…(correction – it does say all Tungsten models below) Guess we’ll have to wait and see. I wonder if there will be a combo Wi-Fi / Bluetooth OS 6 device from Palm before any drivers become available.

The C-Guys SD-Link11b is a compact SDIO WLAN card that can be plugged into a handhelds SD expansion slot. The card enables wireless Wi-Fi connections will support 11Mbps connections, WEP and is equipped with a power saving mechanism.

The company is currently testing drivers for Palm OS 4 and 5 devices and expects the product to be available in May/Q2. It is already confirmed to work with all palmOne Tungsten models, the Zire 71 and m500 series handhelds. There is no information on pricing or a distributor of yet. [PalmInfocenter.com]

If you use VOIP or are thinking about it, this might be the product for you…

By plugging the Call-in-One to your ethernet IP network as well as your phone line, then plugging any old phone into the Call-in-One, regular phone calls are routed as normal, while dialing a ‘#’ before your call will place your call via SIP. What this means to you is a seamless integration of SIP–a universal Voice-over-IP protocol–into your regular phone. [Gizmodo]

Looks like a very cool ebook reader. 500 Books!

Sony says that next month they’re going to come out with an e-book reader that uses Philips™ new electronic ink technology. The LIBRIe will have a resolution of 170 pixels per inch (more than twice that of most computer monitors), enough memory to hold up to 500 e-books, and its four AAA batteries provide enough juice to flip through more than 10,000 pages. [Engadget ]

Wish it had FireWire instead of USB… but still very cool.

This was one of discoveries at CeBIT: The Netgear Wireless Media Router. What’s media in a router? Simple: The router has a Samba server and a USB 2.0 port. So you can hook up an external disk drive via the USB port. Voila, instant file server. [vowe dot net]

More fun coming soon…

PalmSource has announced plans to build the OpenGL ES Application Program Interfaces (APIs) into a future version of Palm OS Cobalt. This will help developers create advanced 3D graphics and multimedia applications for Palm Powered handhelds and smart phones. [Brighthand]

It will be 500 bucks… hope the read write times are fast enough.

The electronics maker plans to launch a 1GB Secure Digital card first in Japan in April, then worldwide in May. [CNET News.com – Personal Technology]

Enjoy the first leaked pics of the new Hiptop 2! [Gizmodo]

Seems kinda obvious to me given unlimited fixed price wireless and wireline services. With VOIP rising strong, we’ll see even more “data” adoption as people really start dropping traditional POTS.

A new study shows that traditional landline long distance services are being supplanted by wireless services and other new technologies.

About 50 percent of the respondents in a survey released Tuesday by the Yankee Group said that some of their landline voice calls have been replaced by wireless. Overall, the respondents said that 43 percent of their long distance calls are now via wireless networks.

“As the lines between wireline and wireless product definitions blur, an undeniable connection can be traced between mobility’s expanding product scope and a decline in wireline usage,” Yankee Group senior analyst Katie Griffin said in a statement.

She also noted that wireline technology is under threat from other technologies as well. Combined, these factors will have a dramatic effect on the telecommunications sector.

“The expanding availability of cable telephony offerings is introducing alternatives to consumers,” she said. “By far, the most vulnerable area is the long-distance market. These trends have precipitated the death of distance and eventually will result in the death of the minute as the measure of the market.” [Mobile Pipeline]

“Moving pictures. Moving sound. Moving the industry. Please join Apple for a special presentation at NAB 2004 to see the latest Apple technology.” Probably just be something to do with Quicktime or the popularity of the Mac for video editing. But we like to think it has something to do with plans to introduce a video iPod. [engadget.com]

Don’t hold your breath for this… there have been drivers in development for a very long time…

Unfortunately, SanDisk doesn’t expect the necessary driver to allow Palm OS models to use this card to be available for many months.

SanDisk’s Wi-Fi SDIO card with 256 MB of memory will have a suggested retail price of about $150.Brighthand

The Motorola MPx is on display at CTIA Wireless 2004 and Brighthand’s Ed Hardy was able form some preliminary impressions of this cellular-wireless Pocket PC with an innovative shape. [Brighthand]

As part of our ongoing CeBIT ’04 coverage, we wanted to show you just what the new Sony Ericsson looks like. Unlike the mock-up we saw in New York, we had a good long play with a working prototype S700 at the CeBIT show, and we have plenty of photos for your enjoyment. [Mobile Burn]