Cricket to offer LG HELiX handset

 
When it comes to mobile carriers in the US, most people would probably think of the big three that comprise of Verizon Wireless, Sprint and AT&T. These giants operate on a totally different scale compared to the smaller mobile carriers, but that doesn’t mean that those outside of the equation won’t get cool handsets from time to time although it can be pretty rare for that to happen. Cricker Communications will be offering the LG HELiX from LG Electronics, marking LG’s reintroduction into the Cricket handset lineup after a time of absence. The LG HELiX will come in the form factor of a clamshell and not a candybar, so if you’re the type who loves flipping phones open and closing them with a satisfying smack, this is the one for you.

The LG HELiX will come with a large 176 x 220 2.0″ TFT 262K internal color display alongside a lesser 96 x 64 TFT 262K external color display. With its large keypad, users will be able to dial the desired number in a jiffy, while the increase in font size makes for a fast and easy read. This does lead us to wonder – was the LG HELiX designed to cater to those who are older among us and already have troubles trying to make out tiny print? Nice to know this entry-level phone does not come with a VGA camera but will instead contain a 1.3-megapixel camera for impromptu shots, while Voice Clarity brings speech intelligibility a notch higher, where it will automatically adjust hearing level when a user is receiving or sending calls in noisy environments. You can also opt to use a Bluetooth headset with this cellphone for your hands-free needs.
You can choose from silver or pink colors for the LG HELiX, where it will retail for $139.99 per handset. Guess this can start off as a first cellphone for college going kids (who will grumble because it is not an iPhone) and among the older population who want nothing more than a regular cellphone to keep in touch.

An Aquarium for fish who like to roam

 
I think that humans are probably the only animals who feel a need to have rooms in their domicile. A bear can sleep in a wide-open cave, a fox can sleep in a tiny hole, and a fish, when in captivity, sleep in a bowl.
If we lived like our pet fish, then we would all live in studio apartments that would, at best, have more useless space. Now this aquarium is something that would give any fish bragging rights. I mean, I can just see a celebrity fish boasting about this “bowl” on a fish version of Cribs.
I mean, look at the thing! It’s like hamster trails designed for fish! This is definitely one place a fish would not mind sharing with other fish. If Gil, the Willem Dafoe fish from Finding Nemo, was in this castle of a fish tank, he never would have tried to escape. This is what Oscar should be living in when he got rich in Shark Tale. Yeah, not many people make references to the latter movie.
Do you those rich people who spend a lot of money on their pets? Consider this $6500 investment a diamond-studded collar for your fish. Yes, that’s is how much this fish tank (if you can even call it that) actually costs. Why shouldn’t fish get some of the rich-doting action that is usually reserved for dogs and cats?

Sprint to offer Palm Pixi next month

 
Currently, there is only one WebOS-powered device in the market which is the Palm Pre, but that will change when November 15 rolls around as Sprint will be offering the second WebOS device known as Palm Pixi. While the handset has been previewed in the past, it is still rather exciting to know that the Pixi is finally ready to make the jump to the market, where it will cost you $99.99 with a two-year service agreement, where this happens right after a $50 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate. Looks like perfect timing to build upon for the upcoming holiday season, although we’re not too sure just how well the sales figures would be for Palm and Sprint during that quarter.

With the Palm webOS mobile platform being its main driving force, Palm Pixi users will be able to keep multiple activities open and move easily between them, similar to flipping through a deck of cards just like the Palm Pre. Gestures used will be natural, making it a snap to alternate between messaging, email and searching the Internet while listening to music simultaneously. All items can be rearranged simply by dragging them, and the much vaunted universal search makes it a snap to look for contacts and items straight from the Web or on the device itself.
The Palm Pixi will be released with its charger included in the box, although it can be used in tandem with the Touchstone charging dock as well if inductive charging is your cup of tea. Both the Touchstone and its compatible back cover are sold separately, allowing you to just place the Palm Pixi on top of the dock without having to worry about connection, orientation or fit. Will you be making the upgrade this holiday season then, or are you pretty much happy with the way things are at the moment?

The iHome iPod Docks get a Barbie theme

 
Instead of coming out with tons of fancy new models to add to their iHome collection, iHome is just adding a new finish for their old players.  This one to make their various iPod docks appeal to a much younger crowd.  Also a much younger very female bunch.  The ones that still love those tiny plastic Barbie shoes and find Ken’s bright white smile to be absolutely dreamy.  Thankfully they come in a range of sizes and prices to appeal to any parent’s budget.

Having more than one Barbie themed iHome iPod dock to choose from should make things a lot easier.  Although hopefully the girl you’re buying one for won’t grow out of her love of Barbie too fast.  The first choice is the small Barbie iHome Portable Stereo Speaker System that’ll only cost you $19.99.  Then is the Barbie Portable Water Resistant Stereo Sport Case that is priced at $39.99.  The middle sized dock is the Barbie iHome Dual Alarm Clock, set at $49.99.  That last of the bunch is the Barbie iHome Portable Stereo Speaker System for $79.99  all of which can be found through Toys R’ Us.  The nice thing with these is that you could easily read reviews on the original iHome versions of them to find out if these are going to be the right fit.

i.Tech Dynamic unveils SolarCharger 906

 
With more and more people taking up the green initiative, there is hope for the next generation just yet. After all, the idea of driving around in an electric car is appealing, with the engine being super quiet while knowing that you’ve done your bit not to enlarge the hole in the ozone layer by too much. Solar power is another aspect that more companies are looking into right now, but the conversion efficiency isn’t exactly up to snuff. i.Tech Dynamic aims to change things a little bit in the world of gadgets with its SolarCharger 906. Yes, you’ve guessed it – the SolarCharger 906 will rely on the sun’s rays to keep its internal batteries going and juiced up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plug it into a power outlet when you need some rapid charging instead of waiting for a favorable weather report.

The SolarCharger 906 is a highly portable unit which enables consumers who are always on-the-go the opportunity to charge a variety of their devices including cellphones, PDAs and other handheld mobile devices. Measuring roughly the size of a deck of cards, the SolarCharger 90 is tiny enough to fit into your purse, tote, briefcase or glove compartment, and has a variety of tips to work with just about any device imaginable in the market today. It will have a a highly efficient solar conversion thanks to the incorporation of a high-performance monocrystalline solar panel and special solar chipset. When fully charged, this device can juice up one or more USB devices, as long as the target device’s charge capacity and current charge level are not too much. Apart from that, its internal battery is able to hold its charge for up to a year. In addition, it only needs to be juiced up to 40% of its total capacity to provide a cellphone with enough juice to last for an emergency call.
Since this is a solar-powered charger, it can withstand temperatures of up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit just in case you decide to leave this baking in a car. You can pick up the SolarCharger 906 for $59.99 from Amazon.

Brinell External Hard Drive comes packed full of style

 
My external hard drive is much like others, it’s plastic and not very interesting.  However, I have had no problems with it, so I see no need to replace it.  Yet I’m still a little envious of those that have managed to get their hands on an external hard drive that actually looks good.  Well this Brinell is another one of those drives that’ll leave many green with envy.

The wood grain look isn’t anything over the top, after all, it’s not like it’s covered in bright shiny crystals.  Instead it goes for an understated sophisticated look, but it’s just enough to give itself an edge over the usual plain plastic models.  Not only will it be available in the exotic wood shown here, but stainless steel, nappa leather and carbon as well.  Having that many choices should keep just about anyone satisfied.  The capacities come in a range of sizes that top out at 500GB.  Depending on the size they’ll be sold for anywhere from $284 on up to $344.  It’ll also come with a 1 year warranty.

Hands on Review of the Powermat. Verdict: Hands off my Powermat!

 
We covered that Powermat at CES last January, and I finally got a chance to try it out. It is a neat product, but there is a few things you should know about it.
I’m sure this is obvious, but the user has to buy Powermat adapters for whatever device that you have. That’s for the true wireless charging for your iPhone or BlackBerry or whatnot.
The Powermat comes with Powermat Powercube that has seven adapters including 2 DS Lites, one micro USB, one Sony, one Samsung, one LG, and one Apple for iPods. It also has a place for tip storage, a box that is about the same size of the Powercube. In all honesty, I wish they would have included another Powercube, as there already is a holder for the tips that is made of stiff paper.
The neatest thing about the Powermat is when you put the Powermat adapter on the Powermat itself, you literally hear a mechanical whirring sound. The Powermat has three magnetic places for mobile devices, and a light that comes on when it is locked in place and charging.
The Powermat can be purchased for about $99.99. Adapters for mobile devices as well as other Powercubes can be purchased for about $29.99. The wireless Powermat Receiver Dock for the iPod and iPhone is about $39.99.

GE’s handheld ultrasound scanner

 
I’m sure you have figured this out by now, but that device to the left is not a phone, but an ultrasound. Considering the last time I saw an ultrasound, it had a whole room devoted to it, but this one is the size of a Blackberry.
GE is the pioneer of this new mobile device called the Vscan. It is designed for doctors who are making house calls. Instead of bringing the patient to the hospital or doctor’s office, the device can come to the mother. I’ll bet that they have to use that really cold creamy stuff that is the bane of pregnant mothers everywhere.
GE has just unveiled this device at the Web 2.0 summit, and they estimate that its cost will be about $250,000. That is not enough for every expectant father to own one of these, but at least low enough so a hospital could have at least one handy.
Personally, I like the idea of every expectant father owning an ultrasound device. I heard Tom Cruise purchased a Sonogram machine when he was about to have baby Suri, and I think every new dad should watch with expectation the birth of their children. Perhaps the technology will improve and the ultrasound will be an iPhone app in a few years.

Leap Frog’s Didj

 
For those who have kids that have outgrown the Leapster and the Leapster2 might want to look into the Didj. This portable gaming system is designed for children ages 6 to 10, and has many cartridges (sold separately) that are both educational and entertaining, generally based on popular tween trends like High School Musical 3 and Hannah Montana.
Like the Leapster2, it is designed to be connected to the computer via USB for more interactivity. For example, kids can go online and trade the points they have earned for modifications in their game worlds. In fact, there was times that it demanded connectivity.
The Didj takes the connectivity further by allowing kids and parents to shape the learning online. So if a kid is having a hard time with certain times tables or certain spelling words, then he or she can have quizzes arranged for this. In short, it is customized learning coupled with entertainment where a child needs it the most.
Kids can also go online to create their own Didji characters in the online Didjerator. Think of it as a like the Mii channel on the Nintendo Wii. The Didj is available in many different colors, and requires 4 AA batteries. You should be able to pick it up at the Leap Frog website for about $69.99.

Hands on with the Leap Frog Leapster2

 
I had a chance to try out the Leap Frog Leapster a while ago, and I finally got a chance to try out the Leapster2.
Those who might not be familiar with the Leapster should know it is a handheld gaming system with an educational focus, designed for kids ages 4-8. It would appear that very little has changed as far as the layout of the Leapster2 in comparison to the original Leapster.
What makes the Leapster2 different from the original is the ability to plug it in to the computer via USB. From there, a kid can download games, preview titles, and access the online rewards and bonus games that they have earned playing the cartridge games.
Another feature that is different that its predecessor is that it has space for an SD card. You can save programs like drawings or pictures to the cards, and thus print them out or view later, but the slot is in a very awkward place. The SD card slot is actually behind the battery pack, and removing the card after you are done is somewhat difficult.
In short, the online and slot feature is the only difference between the Leapster2 and the original. Oddly enough, Leapster2 games can actually be played on the original Leapster, and vice versa. This is very odd, because most new versions of gaming systems might play old versions of the games, but very rarely does the newest version of games play on older systems. It would be like Playstation3 games playing on the PS2.
You should be able to purchase the Leapster2 from the Leap Frog site for a price of about $59.99.

Honda to sell Bicycle Simulator from next year onwards

 

Honda will be working on getting ready the Bicycle Simulator to hit the Japanese market from next year onwards, where it was specially built for traffic safety education. This simulator allows one to cycle through a variety of conditions (without having to go through the nasty experience of a fall and bruising your knees badly in the process), where one won’t have to worry about getting knocked down by a car racing up from behind. In addition, you will not have to go through the experience of having dirty water splashed all over you on a rainy day no thanks to inconsiderate motorists! This simulator will come with a range of courses including “going to school,” “going to the grocery store,” “going to cram school” and “going to a local shopping street” among others. It will target public offices, law-enforcement organizations, driving schools and educational institutions which conduct bicycle safety education programs as the market niche of their choice. Expect pre-sale orders to begin this November onwards.

Mickey’s Mouse-ke-Tag let’s your child smash Disney characters

 
This next product is for those parents who are tired of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show on Playhouse Disney, and really want to smash those annoying Disney characters once and for all.
Just kidding. Actually, it is a game designed for children ages three and up, and that mouse-eared masher that you see in the photo is something to merely cover the Disney characters. Mouse-ke Tag is a lot like the Hyper Dash game. In this case, the talking contraption orders the player to cover a certain character instead of smashing a numbered disc.
The first level is as easy as just smashing (covering) the characters who are called by name, but later levels involve learning levels, character voices, and descriptions. So not only is it fun, but it is a little bit educational.
My kids found this game about as fun as Hyper Dash, but there is one element that should have been perfected before the game hit the market. See those green pads that stands the characters up? Well, they aren’t glued there. So if your child insufficiently covers one of these characters, it is possible for that grazed character to fall off of the stand. Then time is lost putting that knocked over character back on his or her stand. The worst culprit of this design defect was Goofy, whose outstretched legs made him a real pushover.
You’d have to try it to see what I am talking out. Mickey’s Mouse-ke Tag can be purchased on the Wild Planet Website for approximately a $34.95 sale price.

Wii Cyberbike: Stationary bike for the Wii

 
Those who want to see Wii accessories that are more exciting than the black Wiimote and Nunchuck might appreciate the Wii Cyberbike.
The Wii Cyberbike is what its box implies, a stationary bike designed for the Wii. It comes with a game that involves the player biking around the world picking up pollution, or something. Apparently, this world in the game is something not of this world, as the island on the side of the box implies. (Something about that island reminds me of Myst, for some odd reason.)
I’m told that the Wii Cyberbike is also going to work with Wii Mario Kart, but I’m guessing for only one player. Let’s hope this isn’t the player who travels the slowest because he or she has to pedal while his or her competitors have motorized autos.
So in other words, this is a stationary bike that will look like it is actually going somewhere when placed in front of your TV. Not bad. Of course, you could always use the many running games on WiiFit and achieve essentially the same thing, but without the pedals.
The Wii Cyberbike is set to launch in January of next year, but only in Europe. No price point has been set as yet, and there is no word of it coming to the United States.

DXG-125V sporty compact camcorder

 
The DXG-125V is designed for those who regularly hike through the woods, ski down high mountains, or sail through the ocean. Sadly, I am not part of this extreme crowd, but if I was, then I could use this camera to record my adventures. The DXG has a rubberized grip that can protect it against the rugged wear and tear. You may not be able to scuba dive with it, but this all-weather camcorder can resist moisture quite well.
Sadly, it only has a 1/4 CMOS 1.0 Megapixel Sensor, which is only good for still shots on an ordinary cameraphone. It also only has 128MB of Flash Memory, but this can be expanded with a SD card. The video can shoot in High Definition formats of H.264 and WVGA and 720p, both at 30 frames per second.
As you can see, it has a candybar form that allows the user to point, shoot, and film and view the results with the 2.0 TFT screen. The DXG-125V comes with a clip with a compass for a definite “outdoorsy” look, as well as HDMI cable, USB, software, and all the other usual digital camera accessories plus a nice-looking clamshell zipper-shut case. It also comes with a tiny pair of headphones, because this DXG camcorder is also MP3 compatible.
You should be able to pick up the DXG-125V at the DXG site for $139.99 in red, green, or camouflage colors.

CEIVA Pro 80 Digital Photo Frame

 

CEIVA is back in action with their latest offering, the Pro 80 Digital Photo Frame. Arriving on store shelves just in time for the mad holiday season rush, the CEIVA Pro 80 is able to offer PicturePlan customers the convenience of both telephone and Wi-Fi connectivity. Thanks to its built-in media server connection, users are able to stream photos instantly from their computer to their CEIVA Pro 80 directly over a home network. You will be able to pick up the CEIVA Pro 80 alongside a couple of interchangeable faceplates that come in rich wood and classic black finishes alongside an integrated memory card reader. Expect to fork out $179.99 for the CEIVA Pro 80 Digital Photo Frame.

Programmable Tea Thermometer and Timer

For some it takes years of toying to discover exactly how long to let their tea brew. It’s made especially complicated by the fact that there are white, green and black teas. Then to top it off there are loose and bagged teas. All of that information changes how you handle things. You also have to consider how strong you prefer your tea. Instead of trying to remember how long for each type, you can have an electronic device to work it out for you.

This Tea Thermometer & Timer is pre-programmed for 18 types of tea. That includes chai, black herbal, green and various other types. You can then choose 1 to 8 different tea strengths, so the tea is still made to your preference. The thermometer will take the temperature of the tea to make the steeping process a bit more precise. Once you’ve punched in all of your preferences, it will start a timer. When the time is up the alarm will go off. It runs on 2 LR44 batteries and the stem is stainless steel and 4” tall.

WikiReader keeps Wikipedia handy without internet connection

It’s astounding how many arguments get solved by hopping on the internet and going straight to Wikipedia. It informs you on all the random bits of knowledge you never knew you needed. Of course you can’t always just hop on the website to check on that information. Especially if you don’t have a smart phone of any kind. Well for those that want to have access to that knowledge without being connected to the internet, now you can have Wikipedia with you at all times.

Just carry around the WikiReader and it’ll let you learn all the useless knowledge you’ll never need. You don’t have to ever be connected to the internet to look up the information either. Which means you can even learn when you’re far away from the rest of civilization. To keep it updated you’ll have to pay a $29 subscription fee to Wikipedia. Then to purchase the little handheld device itself it’ll cost you $99. It only has three actual buttons and then a touchscreen to handle the rest of the typing. It requires two AAA batteries to keep up and running. The device has become officially available as of today.

FLO TV turns TV into handheld wonder

Guess the TV is going to hang around for a little while longer, albeit this time it will take a much more personal route, coming in the form of the FLO TV Personal TV which will allow TV fans to view their favorite news, live telecasts of sports, children’s programming as well as wholesome entertainment on a singular, dedicated device meant specifically for mobile TV viewing. No idea on whether such a device will beat out the iPod touch and other portable media players, since you can watch what you want to on those devices as long as you have the right file loaded on them, while subjecting yourself to the rigorous setups of TV channel programming leaves your daily schedule at the mercy of the programmers. No idea on pricing, but it ought to be out later in time for the mad holiday season rush.

Elecom TK-TCT005BK is numeric keyboard and touchpad combo

For those of you who want a numeric keypad for your laptop, you have several options. You could buy the Adesso 19-key USB numeric keypad and mouse combination with a plastic cover.

Another option is this TK-TCT005BK from Elecom, which has a touchscreen with numeric keyboard. Just push the “Num” button on the top corner to get this function going on.

The TK-TCT005BK can also recognize certain gestures, like an iPhone. For example, if you want to zoom in and out, you just place your two fingers together and spread them out or in.

Not bad features for something that attaches onto a laptop. I am assuming it attaches via USB, like the Intuos4. I bring up this particular device from Wacom because I reviewed it the other day, and it has a nice zooming feature like this product from Elecom.

All in all, this TK-TCT005BK doesn’t sound so bad. It could use a shorter name, though, like the Num-Touch pad, or something. Okay, that is bad name, isn’t it? However, I couldn’t think of anything better. Let me know with a comment if you can think of something better.

Revo Domino D3 Radio with iPod and iPhone dock

More and more it seems that you can find audio devices that have a subtle retro spin. You could of course also find something that’s blatantly retro, but not everyone wants something like that. Instead you can get a mixture of the new and sleek while still getting a little bit of a vintage feel. Thankfully unlike the retro radios, this does more than pick up the local FM radio stations.

The radio comes in both satin black and pearl white. This radio comes with all of your favorite bells and whistles. It will charge and play both iPod and iPhones, as well as having multi-standard digital and internet radio. It also has an OLED display and a joystick-controlled user interface. As well as having all of that, it also of course has your standard FM radio capabilities. Right now this isn’t out just yet, you can expect to see these shipping out as of November 4th though. At that point you can pick up the Domino D3 for £169.95 or about $270.

Digital Peephole Viewer

I’m sure that most of you have received a knock at the door from an uninvited guest, and you looked through the peephole to see who it is. What you usually see is some person with an overly-sized head. Now are you going to let that person in?

At least with the Digital Peephole Viewer, you actually get to see what the person looks like. This device is designed to fit in an ordinary peephole without any external camera or fancy wiring. Chances are, it will only take about five minutes for installation. Of course, this is one of those “five minute” projects that take an hour after set up and take down.

However, it might be worth it just to get a clearer view of who’s at the door. Just between you and me, I probably wouldn’t let the guy in the photo in. He looks like some salesman or a purveyor of a religion that I don’t want.

As for operation, it is as simple as pushing a button and pushing it again for a zoom-in shot. It requires AA batteries for operation, which will be good for about 1,700 views. You can get the Digital Peephole Viewer for about $138, but it is only available in Australia, for now. At least it’s cheaper than the Digital Door Viewer.

Nokia introduces 6350 cellphone

Are you in the market for a new cellphone with a slew of basic features? Well, you won’t go too wrong with Nokia’s offerings over the years as they tend to play their cards right with the entry-level segment, and their latest addition would be the Nokia 6350 from AT&T. This handset will come in a couple of colors to get you all excited, and will be available in a clamshell form factor that was specially designed to offer optimum comfort in your hand. You can choose from two seasonal shades – red and graphite, where you will find the Nokia 6350 to be no slouch in terms of performance, capable of keeping you connected to your favorite social networking sites and basically keeping tabs of your online life thanks to 3G and HSDPA connectivity over AT&T’s wide ranging 3G network.

The Nokia 6350 will feature a smooth back design that offers a soft feel throughout for a touch of simple sophistication. You will find dedicated music playback keys on the outside, making it a snap to activate whenever you want to jive to your favorite tunes. In addition, other customary features available on handsets these days include a 2-megapixel camera, a brwoser, email support and up to 4 hours of talktime on a full battery charge.

If you have been stoked, the Nokia 6350 is available at AT&T retail stores as well as online at www.wireless.att.com from today onwards. It will particularly target those who want a decent phone and yet are living on a tight budget, since AT&T has slapped a highly affordable $29.99 price tag on the Nokia 6350, although you will need to do your part and send in a mail-in rebate as well as agree to a 2-year AT&T contract. Guess those in college who need just a phone to communicate with their family and friends without looking like a tool might just find the Nokia 6350 to be a suitable addition.

Dell Latitude Z unveiled

Dell has just announced the Latitude Z notebook, touting it to be the thinnest and lightest 16″ notebook in the market which will target those who want to make a fashion statement regardless of which station in the corporate ladder they are at at the moment. The Latitude Z is a purpose-engineered product, where it will measure less than 1″ thin while tipping the scales at 4.5 pounds, accompanied by a standard 4-cell battery. You will find the following features in the Dell Latitude Z :-

• Lean tapered design and soft-touch Black Cherry finish
• Wireless docking and inductive charging
• Dell EdgeTouch
• Spacious multi-touch touchpad and silky-touch backlit keyboard
• High-definition (1600×900) WLED display
• Two megapixel camera featuring Dell Capture technology
• Dell FaceAware Lock-Out
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity

You do have the option of throwing in a 3G mobile broadband component if your wallet permits. Expect the Dell Latitude Z to be readily available worldwide, with prices starting from $1,999 upwards. Between this and the Adamo, which model would you choose?

Solar Blinds store sunlight to use as power

One of the problems with solar power is the sun. Yeah, it’s got this thing, where it just isn’t out all day, you know?

Okay, that was a bad intro, but you know what I’m talking about. I’m sure that you have seen all those solar-powered chargers before, but they are a lot like those electric screwdrivers that take an hour to charger for only five minutes worth of use. Not only that, you have to put the charger in some place out in the sun.

It makes sense to put a solar charger on a window blind, doesn’t it? After all, it is a blind’s job to keep out the sun, and it faces the sun every day, right? This is the initial concept behind the Some Shine Solar Energy Storage System.

All you need to do is put up the blind and pull it down to plug it in to the battery pack base. As the sun beats down on the blinds during the day, all that formerly wasted energy will be stored for later use.

Then, right before the night falls, you pull up the blind and plug in your mobile devices into the battery pack base. They will be all charged by the morning, and you can pull down the blind and the process begins anew.

Sadly, this Some Shine Solar Energy Storage System is merely concept for now, but it really should be out now. Then again, what do you do if it is cloudy?