by Chris Ziegler, posted Jun 4th 2008 at 8:23AM So, what is the HTC CONV100? Looks like we might finally have our answer after the freakin’ Bluetooth SIG left us all scratching our heads a few months back. The answer lies in this grainy picture that the FCC somehow passes as an official filing document, in this case used to identify the location of the Bluetooth antenna relative to the exterior of the device. Those with sharp memories will recall that this looks suspiciously like the spy picture we saw of the supposed Shadow II for T-Mobile, and the lack of WCDMA 850 / 1900 in the test documentation would certainly jibe with that theory. (Read the full post about ‘FCC suggests HTC CONV100 is T-Mobile’s Shadow II’…)
by Darren Murph, posted Jun 4th 2008 at 8:46AM Look out, Bluetooth — Ozmo Devices has its eyes set squarely on you. Okay, so maybe this whole thing isn’t as adversarial as advertised, but there’s no denying that the aforesaid company’s latest initiative will target the exact same devices that BT is embedded within now. Ozmo has announced a partnership with Intel at Computex that will extend the latter company’s Cliffside WiFi Personal Area Network (PAN) technology to “low-power devices.” Essentially, WiFi radios that suck less juice nowadays would take on dual roles — accessing WLAN networks and doing the duties typically reserved for Bluetooth — which would enable devices to have one less component stuffed within bulking things up. (Read the full post about ‘Ozmo / Intel trumpet WiFi PAN for low-power devices, Bluetooth says “what?”’…)
by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 4th 2008 at 12:40PMIt looks like AT&T is getting a bit more generous these days, with the company now following up its supposed plans to offer free WiFi to LaptopConnect and smartphone users with a promised 20% boost in 3G data speeds. That translates to “typical” downlink speeds of between 700 Kbps and 1.7 Mbps (up from 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps), and uplink speeds of between 500 Kbps and 1.2 Mbps (formerly 500 to 800 Kbps). To get those slightly improved speeds, however, you’ll have to use one of the company’s aforementioned LaptopConnect cards, and no doubt situate yourself in some prime signal real estate. (Read the full post about ‘AT&T touts 20% boost in 3G data speeds’…)
Tired of bringing two phones everywhere you go? Your prayers may have just been answered by E-TEN’s latest offering, the Glofiish DX900. Most people who carry two separate phones, one for work and one for personal, know how much of a hassle that can be, especially since they probably also carry other devices such as an mp3 player, a notebook, and quite possibly a gaming device. Eliminating even one of these requisite devices without losing anything would be a blessing from the heavens itself. The DX900 claims to be the first dual-SIM Windows mobile device that runs both HSDPA 3G data and EDGE. A cool feature is the DX900’s ability to “dual-standby,” meaning both SIM cards are simultaneously active, therefore dismissing the need to switch between active SIM’s. (Read the full post about ‘E-Ten offers up the dual-sim Glofiish DX900′…)
by Paul Miller, posted Jun 4th 2008 at 10:58AM We’ve been hearing about ATI’s external graphics schemes for years, but apparently XGP is finally ready to go. The platform houses an external graphics card — ATI-branded, of course — which connects to your laptop via a proprietary 4.0Gbps PCIe 2.0 connector. The new tech is being initially launched with AMD’s new ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3800, which can work in a multi-GPU CrossFireX configuration with your laptop’s internal graphics card. The first out of the gate with the tech is Fujitsu’s AMILO Sa 3650, which packages a Mobility Radeon HD 3870 cardbut there’s still no word pricing or exactly when or where this all is shipping. (Read the full post about ‘AMD’s ATI XGP external laptop graphics platform goes legit’…)
by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 4th 2008 at 7:11AM Although it physically hurts to suffer the synaptic explosions required to slap out yet another netbook post, this one might actually be worth it. Laptop had the chance to go hands-on with the ECS G10IL at Computex and came away impressed by the 10.2-inch “Wind-esque” Atom-based ultra-portable. No price or dates were provided, although with a promised HSDPA data capability we’re not expecting anything close to $300. (Read the full post about ‘ECS’ G10IL steps forward at Computex’…)
Starbucks is taking advantage of their relationship with AT&T to help bump up sales at U.S. Starbucks locations. The company has begun a program where it will be offering complimentary access to the AT&T WiFi in its stores. Previously, the wi-fi was only available for a charge or if you were already a AT&T WiFi or broadband subscriber.
Now you will be able to gain up to two hours free per day at Starbucks locations simply by doing something you may already be doing. You will need to have a Starbuck card that you have used in the last 30 days. You also must also agree to receive up to four emails per month from AT&T.
(Read the full post about ‘Starbucks to offer 2 hours of WiFi a day for free’…)
This concept design is the fruit of Cannondale and Barcelona based designer company D-Tank. Amongst its more bike-like functions, the MetroPolite would feature full iPod integration, hooking it up to a rear view video camera and also displaying “technical bike info” — that’s speedometer to you and me. Getting a video feed into an iPod might be a little tricky, but the rest of it should be simple enough; a kind of Nike+ for bikes. Add in a decent GPS unit, powered by pedalling and hooked up to the iPod and I’d buy it in an instant. One tip, though, Cannondale and team: Try using a flash-based ipod if you actually make this, or put it in a shock absorbing cradle. (Read the full post about ‘Cannondale Concept Weds IPod to Bike’…)
With Ninja Gaiden 2 just days away from launch the head of Team Ninja at Tecmo, Tomonobu Itagaki, has announced he has resigned his position at the team and is suing parent company Tecmo.
The translated letter Itagaki-san has released is re-printed here in full:
I, Tomonobu Itagaki, hereby announce that on the 14th of May 2008 I filed a complaint in the Tokyo District Court against Tecmo Co., Ltd. for unpaid completion bonuses, and against the President of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda, for such unlawful acts as unreasonable and disingenuous statements made towards me, claiming damages in total of 148 million yen (US$1.4 million).
(Read the full post about ‘Itagaki has left Tecmo pursuing $1.4 million in damages’…)
LG has recently introduced two new LCD display monitors in the UK market. While there may already be a slew of LCD monitors available for UK consumers to choose from, LG’s monitors offer something else which makes them stand out from the LCD lot. For these two new monitors, the 29-inch M2900S-BN and the 38-inch MS3800S-BN, LG has stretched (literally) their screen resolution to 1366 x 480 and 1366 x 398 respectively. Both LCD monitors boast of a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and a response time of 9ms aside from their digital and analogue video input. According to LG, these two LCD monitors are perfect for exhibiting information in large commercial areas, giving out high picture quality and are able to display horizontal or vertical data in large format and in their full color glory. (Read the full post about ‘LG intro’s two ‘stretched’ display monitors’…)
