Author: Shinychris
Viewsonic unveils MovieBook media players
ViewSonic has introduced two brand new palm-sized media players, the MovieBook VPD500 and VPD400. Capable of supporting a variety of file formats, they boast 4.3 inch and 5 inch TFT screens for portable entertainment.
Features include 800 x 480 LCD panels, 720p video output, 8Gb of built in memory and a micro SD card slot for memory expansion, the players are compatible with several audio and video formats, including AVI, RMVB, FLV, MP3, WMA and WAV, APE and FLAC.
Weighing as little as 134g (VPD400), the portable players are designed to fit in the palm of the hand. Viewsonic claims that the devices can play up to four hours of video content or fifteen hours of music (display off) with one charge. The ViewSonic MovieBook VPD400 and VPD500 will be available in October with estimated street prices of £105 and £115 respectively.
LG's pocket sized LED projector, the HS200
Mostly it was new monitors like the W86 at LG’s press event yesterday, but one gadget that did distract me from all the flat screens was this cute looking pocket-sized LED projector. Dubbed the HS200, it’s an 800 x 600 pixel resolution DLP projector that can project an image up to 120inches across. It weighs just 800g and is expected to retail for £499 when it goes on sale later this month.
Sygic unveils Mobile Maps for Android OS
Sygic has launched Mobile Maps, a turn-by-turn voice guided navigation software for phones running Google's Android operating system.
Mobile Maps supports 44 countries across Europe including the United Kingdom and Ireland – the application can be purchased directly from the Sygic online store and is priced at €79.99 for all European customers. Further apps are available with maps of North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Philips uWand spells out future for remotes
Demonstrated at IBC recently was Philips’ wonderfully named uWand. Unfortunately nothing to do with Harry Potter, it apparently enables you to sit on a sofa and interact with screen menus and objects as if you are actually touching them.
The uWand 3D pointer features a small infrared camera embedded in the handheld device which gives uWand ‘remote touch’ capabilities so you can navigate on-screen applications by pointing, clicking and using fluid 3D gestures.
GEAR4 announces range of cases for new nano
Ipod accessories company GEAR4 certainly doesn’t mess around. Just hours after Steve Jobs’ announcement of a new iPod nano, it’s unveiled a new iPod nano case range
The new GEAR4 range for the updated iPod nano includes silicon skins, hard plastic shells, leather cases and a sports armband, all accommodating the new larger screen and including a hole for the all-important new video camera feature. One of the highlights of the 2009 range is the JumpSuit Pro, a tough, shock resistant rubber case.
New 8 and 16 Gig iPod nano complete with video camera
Steve Jobs – complete with new liver from 20-something car crash victim – announced several new iPod models at Apple launch in San Francisco this afternoon. Of most interest is the new iPod Nano which now comes with video camera, mic and speaker as well as several new colours (it is now available in pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, silver and black). It is available in two versions – 8 Gig for $159 and 16 Gig for $179.
Flickr available as iPhone app
Yahoo! has announced Flickr as a mobile application for the iPhone. Though you can already access it via the iPhone’s browser, the bespoke iPhone app offers much better functionality – plus it’s free. The Flickr iPhone app offers a slideshow of pics, an easy upload button on the home page and straightforward search.
The end result is that getting hold of others’ snaps and sharing your own is much easier than before. Shame though that the iPhone’s camera is still behind some of its competitors. Apple iPhone users can download the app through the iTunes App store. Flickr also has a mobile Web site at http://m.flickr.com. Further Information: http://mobile.yahoo.com/Flickr.
HP printer range with wireless and touchscreen features
From HP comes a new range of Photosmart printers complete with TouchSmart touch-sensitive technology which HP claims means that even the youngest family members can print photos without using a PC.
Using the built-in memory card slot and HP TouchSmart screen you can navigate and select photo collections. There are automatic adjustments for red-eye, lighting and colour.
Alternatively the HP Photo Print Gadget allows you to drag and drop photos to a desktop icon from virtually anywhere – folders, applications, e-mail and websites.
HP software will also intelligently edit and crop photos to suit the photo paper size.
Many of the printers in the new HP Photosmart series have built-in wireless features to provide flexible printing for all the family to use around the home, including the HP Photosmart with Wireless, HP Photosmart Plus and the HP Photosmart Premium.
Using the iPrint Photo application, iPhone and iPod touch users can also print wirelessly.
Leyio adds new £99 model and iPhone upgrade
Leyio has added new functionality to its Personal Sharing Device (PSD) including the ability to share data with mobiles, cameras and the iPhone.
Upon connecting the device to their PCs, all Leyio users will receive a prompt giving them the option to upgrade their Leyio firmware.
In addition, a new 8Gb model – which comes with micro SD functionality for extra storage – is set to retail for £99.
HTC announce Android-based Tattoo
Taiwan-based HTC has confirmed a mass-market mobile that uses the increasingly popular Google Android operating system.
Dubbed the Tattoo, it integrates all of Google's mobile services including Google Maps, search and Google mail as well as the Android market where you can download applications and games. It also comes complete with 3.2 megapixel camera, 3.5mm stereo headset jack and expandable microSD memory.
Available October, it is HTC's second phone incorporating HTC Sense, a new user interface designed to integrate voice calls, texts, photos and status updates.
