Hand-Held Computers, UMPCs, MIDs

FLO TV Personal Television Ships For $250 + Monthly Fees: Any Takers?

News — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:10:56 GMT

Mobile TV has had a tough go at it in America. A few of the majorcarriers offer TV services on select smartphones, but the $10+ permonth charge usually turns people off. Amazingly, far smaller of afight has been put up for the insane rates carriers charge for texting,but we suppose that's the true measure of supply in this whole "supplyand demand" thing that our 5th grade teacher attempted to explain to us.

Today, the FLO TV Personal Television is hitting retail stores and websites, though only time will tell how the reaction is. This device is aniche device if there ever were one, as it not only does mobile TValone, but it's a completely separate device from your phone. In otherwords, users who want to watch TV on the go through this will have tolug it around in addition to their phone, laptop, etc.

The device itself--which we detailed here--will sell for $249.99, andat least through the holiday season, that price will include 6 monthsof free TV service. After that, you'll have to pay $8.99 per month ormore for continued service, and that low price requires a 3-yearcontract to the service. We suspect we already know the answer, butwould you be interested in buying into something such as this?

FLO TV Personal Television is the first portable digital television to offer all these features in one package:
Dedicated portable television. Measuring3 inches by 4.4 inches by 0.5 inches and weighing just over 5 ounces,FLO TV Personal Television is small enough to fit in your pocket whilesporting a screen large enough to enjoy a complete televisionexperience.
Live mobile TV from America's best content providers. FLOTV offers full-length simulcast and time-shifted programming from theworld's best entertainment brands, including Adult Swim Mobile, CBSMobile, CNBC, COMEDY CENTRAL, FOX News Channel, MSNBC, MTV, NBC 2Go andNickelodeon. FLO TV also offers limited-time bonus channels for specialevents, premium programs and original content.
A dedicated, nationally available mobile television network. The FLO TVservice is available through a dedicated multicast network so millionsof consumers can simultaneously get amazingly high-quality video andaudio in real time without streaming, buffering or downloads.
A capacitive touch-screen.Users control the device with intuitive swipe gestures. The oleophobicglass lens keeps the 3.5-inch QVGA display crisp and clear.
Long battery life.With more than five hours of viewing time and 300 hours on standby, theFLO TV Personal Television can be used for extended viewing or on longtrips.
An easy to share experience. With a large screen,built-in adjustable viewing stand and integrated stereo speakers, FLOTV Personal Television can entertain you whenever you want and whereveryou are. FLO TV Personal Television is a dedicated device so it's easyto share with family and friends.

In-Car Mobile DTV Tuner Shown At $499: Can Mobile DTV Take Off?

News — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:18:15 GMT

It was certified without making too much fuss (maybe because Americans don't really seem that fond of watching TV on the go?), but at any rate, the ATSC gave the green light to the Mobile DTV standard just a few months ago. The result? A new protocol for companies to jump on, and in the end, we should be looking at a range of channels that can be distributed over the air at high speeds for broadcasting content that's typically watched on full-size TVs to mobile devices.

Now, Concept Enterprises is showcasing what looks to be the first-ever Mobile DTV box made specifically for automotive installations, which would bring Mobile DTV signals to a car. It's designed to connected to any built-in or third-party monitor, and since it can handle signals even at high-speeds, you should be able to watch TV at highway speeds. Of course, Mobile DTV is only available in a few cities at the moment, but we're expecting the service to spread once it gains a little traction.

The Concept box is priced at $499, and we're assuming the signals would be free much like OTA signals are received by TV tuners today. Would you spring for that even if you could only watch when driving around the city? Seems like a pretty high asking price with portable video solutions running rampant.

Panasonic's MW-10 Digital Photo Frame Also Docks Your iPod, Plays Movies

News — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:15:47 GMT

For awhile, we figured that the digital photo frame had played its last card and it wouldn't be long before we saw the frames of yesteryear popping up in bargain bins everywhere as retailers made room for more enticing wares. Evidently that's not at all the plan, as it seems that digital frame makers are instead opting to spruce up their existing designs in order to milk all they can from the segment.

We've already seen a bundle of frames with integrated printing units, and now Panasonic is deviating even further with its MW-10. This photo frame is the company's first-ever audio system with iPod dock and photo frame, and unless we've missed something, it's the first of its kind from any outfit. The MW-10 combines several components into one sleek system, making it a capable all-in-one multimedia solution for den, office, bedroom, dorm room or living room.

There's also a CD player in here, an AM/FM radio tuner, a speaker constructed with rigid, low-density bamboo cones, and the iPod dock allows any iPod to play back audio and video on the frame. The unit touts a 9" WVGA dispay, 4GB of internal storage space, a calendar/clock function, an SD memory card slot and a USB port. The multifaceted MW-10 will be available just in time for Christmas for $299.95.

ViewSonic's MovieBook VPD400 Does Media Right For $130

News — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:46:18 GMT

When you think of ViewSonic, you probably think of LCD monitors. Believe it or not, this company is actually pretty diverse, and its easily-recognized monitor division is just one of the many aspects where it to the larger realm of consumer electronics. Take the VPD400 for example, which is a rather robest media player that actually looks a lot like something a top-label company like Apple would create.

The MovieBook VPD400 describes itself as the next generation of the ultimate, all-in-one portable entertainment experience, and while we kind of doubt it'll take the place of the iPod, the 4.3" display and high-res 800x480 display may get some attention from the anti-Apple crowd. It'll also play a wide range of multitmedia formats, hold 8GB of media on the internal storage space, and even provide extra space courtesy of a microSD slot.

It's available now for just $129.99, so yeah, the price is definitely right!

The choice is yours – watch HD movies, listen to music, view photo albums, read digital books or even record voice memos
Stylish and ultra thin, this pocket-sized device will keep you entertained, anywhere
4.3" super crisp, larger screen format with HD 720p, provides optimum viewing to share videos and movies with friends
Simply hook up the MovieBook VPD400 to any PC or TV for full sized entertainment at home
Wide range of video, photo and audio format compatibilities

Boxee Set-Top Box Is On The Way: Watch Out, Cable Companies

News — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:58:30 GMT

Boxee has been on a wild, wild ride since debuting to the world lastyear, and for those looking for new ways to catch more content online,it has become the go-too application. And while it has certainly takenoff, there's still lots of room to grow. One of the main reasons thatit has yet to become a household name outside of the tech community isthe need to have a full fledged PC to run it. And unless you're lookingto hook up a media PC/HTPC in your den, you're probably not going tosee Boxee in your living room.

At least, that was the case up until this week. Out of nowhere, Boxeeannounced that it has located its first-ever hardware partner, whichbasically means that some sort of Boxee set-top box is on the way.Boxee has informed us that more details will be provided on December7th when it reveals its first Beta software. Unfortunately, that meansthat little is known about the box right now. We're guessing that it'llbe something like the Roku box or the Apple TV, but only time will tellwhat the actual design is like. However, obviously there are any number of small form-factor platforms available on the market today to get this done for the folks at Boxee - perhaps an NVIDIA Ion-based system might do the trick? In fact, the mock below looks a lot like an Acer Aspire Revo or maybe it's based on something a bit more powerful?

What could be possibly more important for Boxee is another small (butbig) announcement. We're told that the Boxee software could eventuallybe embedded onto other devices. That means that your DVD player, DVR oreven Blu-ray player could one day have access to Boxee, similar to howsome devices already have access to Vudu and Netflix right now. Cablecompanies best watch out--things are about to get really, reallyinteresting.

Celio REDFLY Becomes A BlackBerry Companion

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:42:49 GMT

Remember Palm's Foleo? Unless you follow consumer electronics and gizmos mighty closely, you probably don't. But for those that do, this is a dead-ringer for. You see, the Foleo was axed by Palm before it even had a chance in the market place, and considering just how popular netbooks have become, there's some that thing Palm goofed up by pulling the plug instead of re-tooling it. That said, it's pretty clear now that the Foleo would indeed have failed in this market, as Celio's REDFLY has a pretty small following (and a very similar motto).

Still, for those stuck with a REDFLY--which is basically a large screen and fuller-sized keyboard for a mobile device--this new update could be great news. For the first time, the REDFLY Mobile Companion now plays nice with BlackBerry. To be precise, it supports the BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Tour 9630. The new update is available to download now free of charge for existing owners, and those looking to get one for the first time can purchase the C7 for $199 and the larger C8 for $249.

“BlackBerry is a leader in the smartphone market and has an overwhelming acceptance among business users,” said Kirt Bailey, president and CEO of Celio Corp. “We’re confident that BlackBerry smartphone customers will enjoy the convenience of using REDFLY’s larger screen and keyboard to type emails, browse the Internet, and edit documents.”
The REDFLY Mobile Companion comes in two models – the C8N and C7 – and has a large screen, full QWERTY keyboard, touchpad, up to an 8-hour battery, and USB, VGA and media ports. The REDFLY has no OS, storage or processor, but uses the BlackBerry smartphone’s computing power to give users the ability to interact with the smartphone’s familiar user interface on an 800x480 resolution display. The REDFLY is currently also compatible with more than 60 Windows Mobile devices.
At launch, the REDFLY is supporting the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000, BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 and BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smartphones. The driver for BlackBerry smartphones is offered free-of-charge for existing and new REDFLY Mobile Companion C8N and C7 owners and can be downloaded at http://m.celiocorp.com/install.

TwitterPeek: The Handheld That Does Twitter, And Only Twitter

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:10:55 GMT

Look, we love Twitter as much as the next guy. So much so, in fact, that we have our own dedicated Twitter feed! But shameless plugs aside, even we can't quite wrap our noodle around Peek's latest handheld.

Peek, a company known for producing e-mail only handhelds that allow non-tech savvy individuals to stay connected to email on the go, has just issued the TwitterPeek, which does exactly what you'd think it would. It's designed to give users a handy look at their Twitter list, anytime, anywhere. But honestly, do you even need that?

The TwitterPeek is made to only look at Twitter. You can only send tweets, look at tweets and send/receive direct messages. Email? Nope. Calling? Nope. IM? Nope. Just Twitter. As we said--do you really want a device that only does Twitter? What happens when Twitter goes the way of MySpace? The device is priced at $99 including unlimited nationwide service for 6 months, while $199 gets you unlimited service for life. Call us crazy, but we can't see this selling too well.

Key features of TwitterPeek are:
Unlimited tweets and direct messages
Always-on instant tweet delivery
Views links (as plain text) and Twitpic images
Nationwide coverage. No wi-fi signal necessary.
Full QWERTY keyboard, color screen, click scroll wheel
30-day money back guarantee
1-year manufacturers warranty
Availability:
TwitterPeek is available exclusively on Amazon.com and TwitterPeek.com from November 3, 2009.
The original Peek Classic and Peek Pronto email and texting mobile devices are available at Amazon.com, GetPeek.com, Costco.com, and select Blockbuster and RadioShack stores.
Cost: TwitterPeek
$99 includes device plus 6 months of unlimited Twitter service ($7.95 per month for service thereafter)
$199 includes unlimited Twitter service for lifetime of device
No contracts

Creative MediaBook To Add Multimedia Flair To E-Reader Market

News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:20:08 GMT

Creative used to be a huge, huge name in the audio world. If we're being generous, it still has a rather large presence in the audio landscape, but it's not nearly the beast it once was. By and large, integrated audio solutions have grown sophisticated enough to be satisfactory for most, and few are springing for dedicated sound boards the way they used to. With that, Creative has had to dip its toes into other markets in an effort to make up for lost ground, and while its efforts in the digital audio player market have largely failed (thanks to the iPod, of course), this effort may be one worth paying attention to.

According to reports, Creative could be readying a working model of its first-ever e-book reader. At least behind the scenes, the device is being called the MediaBook, and while there's no real showing of what it'll look like, we're told that it will feature a touch panel, SD memory card slot, text-to-speech and Internet capabilities. It'll run atop Creative's own Zii technology, though it's hard to tell exactly how important that'll be in the grand scheme of things.

Word has it that the company is speaking with ten publishers around the globe in hopes that they'll provide book support for the device--after all, something like this is fairly worthless without a lot of backing from those with rights to texts. The MediaBook will aim to be some sort of multimedia-tablet, something maybe like Apple's rumored device. The Kindle, as you know, is just a reader; this could possibly dabble in a few other areas in order to make it more flexible as an electronic handheld.

Details beyond this are light, and we're betting that we won't hear anything official from Creative until CES 2010 rolls around. Still, the company is already quite late to the game, and it's hard to tell if the market won't already be saturated by the time it gets around to shipping this. Who knew that the great battle of 2010 would be for e-reader market share? A wild world we live in, ain't it?

Library Membership Rising Due To Rental E-Books?

News — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:40:27 GMT

The e-reader revolution is in full swing--no doubt about that. Barnes & Noble, a bookstore, is turning on the pages that have kept its doors open for decades in order to sell its very own e-book reader, not to mention a Plastic Logic reader right beside it (QUE proReader). But are people really ready to start reading again? Seems that way.

According to a report originating in the UK, library membership may be back on the incline now that some are offering e-books. For years now, membership at libraries has been sinking. Think about it--when's the last time your sauntered down to the local library instead of just pulling up when you needed on Google? Or better yet, on your Kindle?

As of today, only a few libraries have started to offer e-books, but those that have are reportedly seeing an uptick in the traffic through the door. Some libraries are even reporting that consumers are emailing in and asking if they can join "virtually," in order to get e-books online. Basically, the scheme works like this: you login to a library's web site, enter your credentials and then download the book to your desktop. Once downloaded, you can then transfer the title to your e-reader to read on the go.

So, do you think you'd be more apt to take advantage of your local library if it offered electronic books?

QUE ProReader To Be Sold At Barnes & Noble, Will The Kindle Stand A Chance?

News — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:51:05 GMT

Can it be? Another e-reader? Yep, afraid so. But we have to say, we're loving the variety and the competition that's surfacing long after the Kindle wrapped the market around its finger, and the all-new QUE proReader is far from traditional. In fact, it's aimed at a different market entirely than the Nook or Kindle, which are both aimed at general consumers.

The proReader is aimed specifically at business users, with a size of 8.5" x 11", unlike most of the personal readers which are around 6" diagonally. The big news today, however, is that the Plastic Logic QUE proReader will be sold in Barnes & Noble stores. That's right, it'll be sold in the same place as the Nook. Now, we just stated that these are aimed at different markets, but still, it shows some courage on B&N's part to offer this for sale right beside its own device, which it will undoubtedly profit more from on an item-by-item basis.

More details are expected when CES 2010 starts next year, but we do know that the book store will be responsible for powering the proReader's e-book market. The big question here is how will Amazon react? With more and more e-readers landed in physical stores, where people can stroll by and actually test them out, will the Kindle begin to lose market share? It's practically impossible to hold and use a Kindle before you buy unless you know someone who owns one. Particularly with a new, cutting-edge technology like e-readers, we're guessing most consumers will appreciate the ability to touch and feel their device before committing to it. Who says the book store is dead?

Liquavista's Wicked E-Ink Technologies Could Revolutionize E-Readers

News — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:10:26 GMT

LCDs may be neat, plasmas may be entertaining and projectors may be awe-inspiring, but e-ink is the future. With the e-book reader revolution fully upon us, there's little doubt that e-ink manufacturers will be pumping out mind-blowing new modifications to improve upon the greyscale versions that we're used to.

Liquavista is aiming to be one of the first to break the mold, and if the video posted below is any indication, this company may have something special in store for future-generation readers from Sony, Plastic Logic and Amazon. The LiquavistaBright technology is faster, brighter and more responsive than existing e-ink technologies, enabling users to see their doodles quicker, turn pages faster and see web pages pop up more hastily. If you've ever used an e-reader, you know just how sluggish the screen refresh is. In fact, the monochrome reflective display even boasts video capability, which is a first for e-ink. Can you imagine watching an actual movie on your next Kindle or Nook? Pretty wild idea.

Like other e-ink displays, this one also boasts indoor/outdoor viewability, and while actual technical details about the three major platforms (LiquavistaBright, LiquavistaColor and LiquavistaVivid) are still under wraps, the video pretty much says it all. Also, take note that the camcorder refresh rate and the screen refresh rate were in sync all of the time, so any jaggies you see aren't actually there. Product implementation is planned for 2010/2011, so get ready!

Plastic Logic QUE: The Super-Sized e-Reader

News — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:25:45 GMT

If 2007 was the year of the notebook, and 2008 was the year of theHDTV, we think it's pretty safe to say 2009 is the year of thee-reader. Weird, right? Not in a million years would we have guessedthat Amazon's highly covered foray into the e-ink market cause such ahuge stir, but at this point, it's hard to think of all the e-readerson the market today. Without a doubt, there are far too many to counton two hands, but we suppose the competition is good for the consumer.Sadly, not a single reader on the market (or planned for the market)has a color display, but with competition as heated as ever, that couldbe arriving sooner rather than later.

The latest company to come clean with its e-book reader plans isPlastic Logic, a company we already knew was going to give Sony andAmazon a run for their dollars. A fresh release from the companyinforms the world that the QUE e-reader (it's first "proReader") willbe fully revealed at CES 2010. That's still a few months away, but it'san indication that it's quite serious about competing. Curiously, itseems this reader won't exactly be vying for the same consumer dollarsas the Kindle; instead, it'll be going for the student/enterprisemarket that is currently served by devices such as the Kindle DX. Don'tbelieve us? Have a look at the QUE's mantra right here:

Extra thin, lightweight and wireless-enabled, QUE is the size of an 8.5 x 11 inch pad of paper, less than a 1/3 inch thick, and weighs less than many periodicals. The innovative QUE proReader features the largest touchscreen in the industry, an intuitive touch screen user interface, and provides access to a file cabinet’s worth of documents, plus your favorite—and most necessary—publications.
QUE stands out in a crowd because it’s a business reader, but it’s also unique for its shatterproof plastic display. This exclusive technology from Plastic Logic, along with E Ink Vizplex® technology produces an outstanding reading experience. Its battery can last days, instead of hours.

The QUE is the size of a of an 8.5 x 11 inch pad of paper, less than a1/3 inch thick, and weighs less than many periodicals. That's farbigger than most e-readers, but should be perfect for reading magazinesand textbooks. The screen itself is a shatterproof plastic display, andthere's integrated Wi-Fi and AT&T 3G for connecting to Barnes &Noble's online eBookstore. Further details are to be revealed in Vegas,with the most important being pricing and availability.

LG Unveils Solar-Powered e-Book Reader

News — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:45:26 GMT

LG Display has unveiled a solar-powered e-book reader. Given the fact that the electronic paper these readers use already provide really long battery life as they draw power only when the page is being turned, this could mean no recharging necessary --- ever.

All right, all right, on sunny days, anyway.

That's because the solar cell in the new device will extend the running time of the e-book’s battery by a day for every four to five hours of exposure to the sun. However, according to LG's press release, they won't be ready to commercialize the reader, or the panel, until 2012.

Right now, the solar panel used in the prototype has an efficiency of 9.6 percent; LG is aiming to increase this to 12 percent next year and 14 percent by 2012. At that point LG feels the panel will be ready for commercialization.

NVIDIA Ion Ultra Small Form Factor Reference PC

News — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:24:53 GMT

In early January, back from our road trip to Vegas with CES show buzz and bewilderment still fresh in our minds, we brought you a video interview with Drew Henry, General Manager of NVIDIA's MCP products. Drew gave us a first-hand glimpse at a new small form factor PC platform that NVIDIA was developing based on their recently released GeForce 9400M chipset with integrated graphics. In this new era of HTPCs, netbooks, nettops and all things tiny, NVIDIA's Ion reference platform for the Intel Atom processor offers the promise of an ultra low-profile, low power device that quite literally fits in the palm of your hand, and thus could be easily tucked away in various small places in a number of different usage models.

We've only had it in our test labs for a few days, but we thought we'd share with you our first impressions and a deeper dive on the performance and features of Ion, which will give you a sense of what lies ahead for the platform, as retail products are introduced to market, hopefully in the not too distant future.

NVIDIA Ion Reference PC Platform Performance Deep Dive

Asus Eee Readers To Give Kindle A Real Challenge

News — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:47:39 GMT

If you were considering entering the e-reader market, it's pretty safe to say your window of opportunity has all but closed. Amazon already has a major chunk of the overall market share, but even overseas, companies like BeBook and Sony have perfectly acceptable options on store shelves. Now, one more player is entering the lion's den, and boy, they're sure packing quite the promise.

While most e-book reader companies have competed on features and ease of use as early adopters generally ignored price points, Asus is making a stand and looking out for the bargain hunter. You heard right--Asus, the same company responsible for the Eee PC and the netbook revolution, is getting into the arena. According to a Times Online report, the company could branch out from its PC/accessories core and introduce an e-book reader by the end of this year. The real kicker? It could be well under $200 at launch, which means that even the layperson could spring for one if they get the itch.

In fact, Asus is planning two new Eee Readers. One for the low-end crowd, and one for those thirsty for the luxuries of inbuilt 3G, etc. Did we mention that it'll look different than any other e-reader out there? Because it will. Unlike the single-screen options available now, Asus will be introducing dual screen models that more closely resemble the two-fold aspect of books, and it'll also enable users to read on one page and have a web page open on the other. Or they could read on one page and look up something related to the text by typing on the virtual keyboard on the other panel. No matter what, it's hard to say having two panels isn't better than having one, though we will confess that we're curious to see what kind of impact this will have on overall battery life.

The hinged spine will reportedly open and close just like an actual book, though no details are available on what kind of format support it will have nor what kind of innards will be present. But if Asus adds speakers, a webcam and support for Skype (all of which are possibilities based on the report), the Kindle could quickly find itself behind the curve. Of course, you'd have to be crazy to think that Amazon wasn't already working on a more advanced version of its own reader, but who knows if it can hit this kind of MSRP.

If you've been holding off on an e-book reader due to price, would you jump in if Asus could product a model between $100 and $200 with twin screens? We definitely would be tempted, particularly if it could surf HotHardware between chapters.

TabletKiosk Returns With Three Atom-Based Tablet PCs

News — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:24:16 GMT

Contrary to popular belief, Intel isn't the only company making waves at the Intel Developer Forum. In fact, the company has invited quite a few other outfits to make the journey to San Francisco to showcase their wares, and it looks as if TabletKiosk took 'em up on that very offer.

With MIDs and UMPCs making somewhat of a comeback (or at least they are in Intel's eyes), it's not shocking to see this company re-emerge on the scene with three new Tablet PCs. You may recall TabletKiosk making a splash back in 2006 with a VIA-based unit, and now the company has switched over to Intel along with quite a few of its rivals. The 7" eo a7330D Ultra-Mobile PC, 7" eo TufTab a7230XD Rugged Ultra-Mobile PC and the 12.1" Sahara NetSlate a230T touch screen Tablet PC are all making their debuts, and each of them are getting powered by Intel's Atom CPU.

Exact specifications for the devices are listed below, and wildly enough, each of them quality for a free upgrade to Windows 7 Professional if purchased with Vista on or before 01/31/2010. Win7 on a Tablet? We'll have to try that out!

eo(TM) a7330D Ultra-Mobile PC

This newest member of TabletKiosk's family of eo Ultra-Mobile PCs is the first 7-inch tablet to feature an auto-switching dual mode active digitizer / resistive touch screen panel developed by Wacom®, the pioneering leader in pen technology. Business professionals in hospitality, home automation and industrial control systems are also excited about other features of the eo a7330D including its dual, hot swappable battery packs; integrated wireless connectivity; a "fit-in-your-hand" design; and a revolutionary new modular expansion system. By attaching one of the interchangeable expansion modules, the functionality of the device can be customized for specific business applications including scanning bar codes, swiping credit cards and even connecting to enhanced 3G/3.5G wireless wide area networks. Based on high-speed USB Bus technology, the modules are hot swappable and can be removed or switched out without powering down the system.

"We designed the new eo a7330D in response to the industry-specific challenges which we felt were not being met by the current crop of 7-inch devices," said Martin Smekal, president of TabletKiosk. "Instead of pushing a 'one-size-fits-all' device that must be paired with external attachments, cords and dongles, the new eo a7330D with its modular expansion system can be easily and cleanly customized to perform specific business functions, thus providing seamless integration with industry standard applications."

eo a7330D is powered by the Intel® Atom(TM) Z530P processor and comes standard with 1.0 GB RAM, 1.8" 80 GB HDD (SSD drives optional), sunlight viewable screen, dual hot swappable batteries, built-in wireless capabilities including GPS, 802.11a/b/g/n Dual Channel WiFi and Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR, and the auto-switching dual mode digitizer/touch screen for highly accurate handwriting recognition and finger touch control.

eo TufTab® a7230XD Rugged Ultra-Mobile PC

The new eo TufTab a7230XD is a rugged Ultra-Mobile PC that surpasses MIL-SPEC-810F specifications and is rated IP54 to provide a lightweight and durable solution for on-the-go professionals working in harsher than normal environments. Featuring the same auto-switching active digitizer / passive touch screen as the eo a7330D, this revolutionary device is ably suited for outdoor fieldwork, data collection, warehousing, mobile point of sale and other work functions which endure extreme handling.

Also powered by the Intel® Atom(TM) Z530P processor, the eo TufTab a7230XD comes standard with 1.0GB RAM, 80GB HDD (SSD optional), 802.11a/b/g/n Dual Channel WiFi, 2.0 Mpixel Still/Video camera with auto focus, dual hot swappable batteries, integrated RFID reader, built-in 1D/2D barcode scanner, 1Gb Ethernet, RS-232 Serial port, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and TPM v1.2. Built-in 3G/3.5G WWAN module is optional.

Sahara NetSlate(TM) a230T

The latest addition to the Sahara Slate PC® line of 12.1-inch slate-style Tablet PCs is the Sahara NetSlate a230T. This new, entry-level touch screen tablet is more affordable option for on-the-go professionals and companies looking for a true slate-style tablet solution, but not necessarily with the enhanced feature-set or processing power of the existing Sahara Slate PC® i400 series of Tablet PCs.

The Sahara NetSlate a230T shares the same body design and form factor of its i400 series siblings, but is powered by the Intel® Atom(TM) N270 processor and comes standard with 1.0GB RAM (upgradeable to 2.0GB) a 120GB HDD (SSD optional), 802.11a/b/g/n Dual Channel WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and an optional built-in 3G/3.5G WWAN module.

Because continuity is an important value when integrating a new client solution into an existing business installation, the Sahara NetSlate is fully compatible with all accessories created for the Sahara Slate PC® i400 series, including the docking cradle, VESA mounting plates, batteries and carrying cases.

"The Intel Atom processor is a great low power design perfectly suited for bringing the Internet to small devices, from MIDs and netbooks to Tablets and smartphones," said Pankaj Kedia, director of global ecosystem programs in Intel's Ultra Mobility group. "The Atom processor is helping to accelerate hundreds of innovative designs, like the new eo Ultra-Mobile PCs and Sahara NetSlate products that TabletKiosk is announcing today."

Because today's business applications vary greatly in their requirements, all three devices come preinstalled with a choice of Microsoft® Windows Vista® Business, Windows® XP Embedded or openSUSE(TM) Linux 11. All three systems qualify for a FREE downgrade to Windows XP Professional (or Tablet PC Edition for the two eo UMPCs). In addition, all three also qualify for a FREE upgrade to Windows 7 Professional if purchased with Windows Vista on or before January 31, 2010.

Pricing and Availability
eo(TM) a7330D can be pre-ordered now and will start shipping the beginning of October.
eo TufTab® a7230XD can be pre-ordered now and will begin shipping the third week of October.
Sahara NetSlate(TM) a230T is available now.
For pricing and additional details, please visit www.tabletkiosk.com or contact your Authorized TabletKiosk Dealer.

Magellan Throws 7" Display On RoadMate 1700 Navigation System

News — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:29:29 GMT

The dedicated GPS landscape continues to grow, despite the fact thatintegrated GPS applications on smartphones could be looking to stealaway some of that precious market share. Magellan, a smaller player inthe grand scheme of things, has just introduced the RoadMate 1700, andwithout a doubt the standout feature is its unusually large 7"widescreen panel.

If you're currently not satisfied with the size of your PND's display,you'll have a tough time saying no to the expansive WVGA touch screenon this one. Designed to provide enhanced resolution and readability,the RoadMate 1700 also includes the company's OneTouch user interfacewhich provides instant access to favorite addresses and searches. MikeWagner, senior director of product marketing for Magellan, had this tosay about the introduction:

"The Magellan RoadMate 1700 was created for consumers who could benefitfrom a larger device that provides a safe and straightforwardnavigation experience. With its large color touch screen, built-in AAA TourBook andRoadside Assistance, and the OneTouch access to your favorite searches,the Magellan RoadMate 1700 is the ideal travel companion for SUVs,family vacations in the RV, or even commercial truck drivers."

The Magellan RoadMate 1700 includes preloaded maps of the 50 UnitedStates, Canada and Puerto Rico; highway lane assistance; spoken streetname guidance, mini USB 2.0; a Micro SD; multi-destination routing withroute optimization; and integrated AAA TourBook guide travelinformation. There's also a video-in jack if you feel like watchingiPod videos on the screen when you're not navigating, and of course, itships with a car mount and car adapter. It's available for $299, whichcertainly isn't bad given the crazy large screen size.

Asus Intros Skype-Friendly Touch AiGuru SV1T Videophone

News — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:40:20 GMT

Ah, the videophone. Is it a dying breed, or simply a wonderful gadgetbeing introduced too far ahead of its time. After seeing Verizon's Hublaunch and then fall flat shortly thereafter, we're guessing it's theformer. Frankly, hardly anyone has time these days to sit down and takea call at home, so we definitely don't have time to sit down, getpretty, and take a videophone call at home.

For those lucky enough to know exactly what "free time" truly is,though, Asus is making sure there's an option. The AiGuru SV1T is saidto be the most intuitive way to make a VoIP call, boasting a 7" touchpanel, built-in webcam, speaker, microphone and Wi-Fi capabilities toletusers make unlimited video calls for free to other Skype users withoutthe need for a computer. The device is actually a second-generationproduct, with this version supporting Skype-to-Skype video and voicecalls, conference calls and even calls to fixed and mobile lines.

Honestly, the device seems like it would handle Skype video callseasily, but we're still not sure that anyone would take the time totruly take advantage. If you know you would, you'll have to wait a bitlonger before Asus dishes out pricing and availability details.

Free Calls Whenever, Wherever
With the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T, free unlimited video andvoice calls can be made to anyone on Skype. This lets users makeSkype-to-Skype calls whenever the need arises, without having to worryabout costs. ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T users can also receivecalls from Skype users who don't have a videophone.
ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T users looking to make calls tofixed and mobile lines can subscribe to one of Skype's popularunlimited calling* subscriptions or purchase Skype credits atwww.skype.com.
Great Video and Voice Communications Experience
The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T is designed specifically forvideo calls and is equipped with a large, high-resolution 7"touchscreen and an integrated webcam for greater video call quality.Its built-in microphone and speaker also ensure exceptional soundquality; users who wish to maintain their privacy during calls can optto use a standard mini-jack headset and microphone.
Easy to Set Up and Easy to Use
The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T offers the quickest, easiestand most fun way to make free video calls—at no point is a computer oradditional software required. Users can be up and running in threesimple steps:
1. Connect to a broadband connection, either wirelessly or via an Ethernet cable
2. Sign-in with an existing Skype name or create a new one
3. Start video calling
The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T is as easy to use as it is toset up. Its intuitive icon-driven touchscreen interface enables thespeedy keying-in of characters, allowing for fast contact searches andthe inputting of new contact information.
With its Wi-Fi capability, small footprint and rechargeable batterypower supply, the portable ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T does notneed to be tied to a wall socket nor a computer during use. It can bemoved from room to room without the hassle of interrupting or droppinga call.

Apple Refreshes iPod Lineup

News — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:36:43 GMT

Apple changed up its iPod lineup today by introducing new models and refreshing existing ones. The latest iPod nano now has a video camera, mic, and speaker, letting you shoot video wherever you are.For viewing the video, the 5G nano now has a larger 2.2-inch color display(increased from the former 2.0-inch screen). Unfortunately, you’ll have to sync the iPod nano with your computer before you will be able to upload clips to YouTube.Other specs include a built-in FM tuner with Live Pause and iTunes Tagging, apedometer, and support for voice memos. The new iPod nano is currently available in an 8GB model for $149 and a 16GB model for $179. Nine color options are available.

The new iPod touch didn’t get a major overhaul, but prices have come down and since the new models can run OpenGL 2.0, there’s a good chance the player uses the same CPU as the iPhone 3GS. Contrary to all of the rumors,there is no camera on the new iPod touch. Current models include the 8GB model for $199, 32GB for $299, and 64GB for $399.

Last, but not least, Apple’s iPod classic got bumped up to a160GB version for $249 and Apple’s iPod shuffle is now available for as little as $59 in five colors. A new, all stainless steel 4GB Special Edition will also be available exclusively from the Apple Store for a premium price of $99. Apple has also promised that more iPod shuffle-friendly headphones will be available soon.

What Needs To Hit eReaders? Web Browsers, E-mail And Big Batteries

News — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:49:38 GMT

It's sort of funny. It's as if Asus read In-Stat's latest report before it even hit the presses. Who knows--maybe they did, or maybe they've just got a great pulse on the industry after sitting back and watching the likes of Amazon, Sony and numerous other Asian firms attempt to nail the whole e-book reader thing.

The research firm's latest report explains that the e-book market is still growing in the US and around the globe, with the main areas for improvement being longer battery life, Internet connectivity and e-mail. Sounds pretty elementary, but by and large, today's batch of readers only feature a few (or one) of those, and not all three. Take the market-leading Kindle for example. It has integrated WWAN through Sprint, but that only enables users to download new books on the go. Users can't check their e-mail or surf the Web, which is evidently a real bummer to most. Stephanie Ethier, In-Stat analyst, had this to say about the findings:

"According to In-Stat’s most recent consumer survey, current e-book owners desire email capability in the next e-book they purchase. Longer battery life and Internet connectivity are the top two desired features among respondents who don’t currently own an e-book but plan to buy one in the next year."

The survey also found that Amazon is the leading brand of e-book owned, with the largest percentage of e-book owners (45.5%) spending between $9 and $20 a month on e-book content. As with Asus' forthcoming dual-panel reader, you can see that Web browsing would be entirely more feasible with two panes. We know battery life may take a hit, but we get the feeling that users would only tap into their reader's Internet browser occasionally, and most wouldn't use that browser more than a laptop or smartphone browser.

So, what about you? Would you be more apt to purchase an eReader if Web browsing was loaded on and you could check up on your e-mail between chapters?

TomTom Unleashes iPhone App

News — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:12:17 GMT

In June, we told you about TomTom’s plan to bring turn-by-turn navigation to the iPhone 3GS.Now that TomTom has officially launched its iPhone app, this plan has becomereality. The application works with many of the iPhone’s controls, includingits multi-touch display and accelerometer for portrait / landscape viewing. Theapp can also interact with your address book to provide easy directions to anentry in your contact list.

Like other TomTom navigational offerings, the iPhone app offersnumerous points of interest and uses IQ Routes technology to help determine thebest possible route, taking into account data that has been collected frommillions of drivers. TomTom claims thatIQ Routes enables drivers to reach their destination in less time up to 35% ofthe time.

Additional TomTom iPhone app features include:

Fast route planning and clear voice instructions
Automatic re-routing if a turn is missed
Route demo or map of route when trip planning
User interface fully optimized with iPhone
Night and day color mode
User interface available in 18 languages
2D or 3D map display views
Points-of-interest search and call capabilities from iPhone

“With TomTom for iPhone, millions of iPhone users can nowbenefit from the same easy-to-use and intuitive interface, turn-by-turn spokennavigation and unique routing technology that our 30 million portablenavigation device users rely on every day,” said Corinne Vigreux, ManagingDirector of TomTom. “As the world’s leading provider of navigation solutionsand digital maps, TomTom is the most natural fit for an advanced navigationapplication on the iPhone.”

The TomTom app for iPhone 3G and 3GS users comes with aregional map from Tele Atlas and is available through http://www.tomtom.com/tomtom-app.Currently, there are map versions available for Australia, Western Europe, NewZealand, and the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. and Canadian version costs $99.99. Theapp requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later. TomTom also offers a car kit for theiPhone and plans to offer a version of the application that is compatible withthe iPod Touch and other iPhone models soon.

Sony's Walkman Line Outsells iPod In Japan -- Say It Ain't So!

News — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:04:03 GMT

SanDisk themselves have publicly stated that no one can "out iPod theiPod," but evidently Sony did just that. According to a recent survey,Sony's own Walkman brand of digital media players outsold Apple'siconic iPod in Japan last week-- a feat that hasn't been accomplishedin four years. Calling the victory "rare" would be understating thingsdramatically, but the numbers don't lie.

Sony's piece of the Japanese market for portable media players was at43% during the last week in August, while Apple's market share stood at42.1%. The figures were collected by BCN, a marketing research firmbased in Tokyo, Japan. Needless to say the victory was ever so slight,though BCN noted that the Walkman lineup was benefitting from arecently expanded product line and lower overall prices.

Before you throw all praise in Sony's direction, you should probablyknow that it wasn't Sony's own doings that really put it ahead. Thesurvey doesn't include Apple's iPhone as a member of the iPod line, andjust so you know, the iPhone is selling extremely well in Japan. Applethemselves admitted that the traditional iPod was losing its lusterthese days, with the company's iPhone acting as the iPod of manyconsumers. So in the end, the report is actually a bit less stunningthat it sounds, but still, we're going to give credit where it's due.Kudos Sony, now--will you claim the same award two weeks in a row?

Sharp Goes Smartbook With 5" Ubuntu-Based NetWalker Handheld

News — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:20:58 GMT

If you haven't generated a UMPC/MID/Tablet PC of your own by now,you've probably missed the boat. In an effort to catch the last vesselout, Sharp has this week introduced a new portable PC that isn't likelyto sell well based on figures from prior attempts, but it's certainly acompelling device. The so-called mini mobile PC is designed to boot upquickly, support touch inputs and recognize key presses via a QWERTYkeyboard. One could say that this unit slides into the confusing new"smartbook" category, which is designed to please those who feel that asmartphone is too small and a netbook too large.

This "NetWalker" device ships with a 5" high-resolution touch panel(1024x600), 800MHz Freescale i.MX515 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB ofFlash storage, a microSDHC expansion slot, Wi-Fi, a pair of USB socketsand a keyboard that's just 68% full-size. There's also a non-removablebattery that can survive for ten solid hours before needing a recharge.Also known as the PC-Z1, Sharp describes its flip-open PC as a "MobileInternet Tool," one that will "sell well as a product of anunprecedented genre." In fact, Masafumi Matsumoto, executive vicepresident of Sharp noted that the Ubuntu-based device will "be thefirst blockbuster product in a while," but again, we have our doubtsabout just how many people will select this over an iPhone and/or $299netbook.

The unit will initially ship in Japan next month for around $480,though Sharp has yet to nail down a specific launch date forinternational markets.

TomTom Not Worried Over Smartphone Navigation Apps

News — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:07:59 GMT

One of the first things we thought when TomTom announced that it would finally be making an honest-to-goodness iPhone app was this: "what will this do to standalone GPS sales?" It's a reasonable question--TomTom has long since made its profits by selling hardware with routing software built in. The app within was just a portion of the equation, while the actual device was where the money was.

With smartphones becoming ever more pervasive, one has to wonder if profits will sink as individuals purchase cheaper navigation apps over a new, dedicated personal navigation device. According to TomTom's own VP of marketing, there's no heavy sweating going on at the TomTom labs. In fact, he's excited about the notion to push TomTom's routing platform to those who may have been avoiding a standalone PND thus far.

And given the wildly high prices of all dedicated nav programs in Apple's App Store, we guess we can see why. The US and Canadian version of the iPhone program from TomTom rings up at $99.99. That's just a few dollars less than a bottom-end TomTom GPS device, and may be even more than used devices on the secondhand market. And with the iPhone app, you've got to worry about your phone battery dying and you've got to exit the app should a call come in while you're driving. Fairly annoying to say the least thanks to the iPhone's inability to truly multitask.

When asked if he thought the emergence of phone-based nav programs were a threat to standalone devices, Mr. Murray replied with the following:

"We’re trying to make TomTom navigational systems available to people across all platforms that are important to consumers. We continue to see a robust demand for [portable navigation devices] going forward. This is an opportunity to grow, not a threat to us, especially in the short term."

From experience, we'd say the usability of a dedicated NAV system is far better than iPhone applications. You can multitask, the UI reacts more quickly and the screen is generally larger. We definitely see the smartphone stealing away a sliver of market share eventually, but we think we agree with Tom here in that it won't be significantly negative. Do you care to agree or disagree?

CrunchPad Tablet PC To Surf In The Clouds

News — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:05:29 GMT

Is the Tablet PC really ready to make a comeback? With Apple's rumored tablet inching closer to reality each and every day, we've got yet another entrant vying for attention. According to a new article in the Straits Times, a Singapore start-up company by the name of Fusion Garage has teamed up with TechCrunch's own Michael Arrington in order to produce the world's next tablet--or, at least the next one that anyone will bother to care about.

The device will purportedly be called the CrunchPad, and according to the report, it boasts a 12" display and weighs 1.2kg. Full dimensions are 12.77" by 7.83" by 0.74", and the homegrown operating system promises to give users easy access to YouTube clips and their own media, as well as Office documents and the like. Unlike most tablet PCs (and portable computers in general), the CrunchPad isn't slated to have any onboard storage space. Instead, it'll rely on wireless connectivity in order to sync with the "cloud," essentially running applications off a central server that it can connect to over the Internet. Take away the wireless connection, and poof, there goes your application.

As expected, the device will sport a full touch screen, which should be loads of fun to tinker with. We're still not given a price, but with competition from Apple seemingly around the bend, we'd say the company better think twice before charging a bundle and calling it special.