Entries from May 2005 ↓

Magellan has announced the rugged, water-resistant Magellan eXplorist 600 GPS receiver, with three-meter accuracy, built-in maps, a 3-axis electronic compass, a barometric pressure altimeter, barometer, and thermometer, plus add more maps via a high-speed USB data port and unlimited secure digital (SD) card memory storage.

Other useful features include the eXplorist 600’s unique ability to calculate both an area and a perimeter, and its ability to deliver vertical profiles to simplify route planning. The eXplorist 600 operates on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that last up to 17 hours, or with an optional AAA-battery-backup clip, which will be available this summer. The eXplorist 600 is available at US$449.99(USD).

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If you’ve been following news in the Windows Mobile world, details of the new Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system have been emerging. Now the taiwanese based HTC have announced the HTC Universal - the first device to take advantage the new OS. The Universal features a VGA screen, a built in keyboard and will enable customers to be more productive while having powerful multimedia and internet browsing capabilities.

Global distribution plans for the device are expected in the second half of 2005 with mobile operators in Europe, North America, and Asia.

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Some monitors are just sexier than others. LG Electronics announced its line-up of premium LCD monitors that swept world-class designs awards, namely, Reddot Design Awards 2005 and iF Material Design Awards 2005. CNN and CBS introduced LG’s premium LCD monitors and praised their design excellence.

The slimmest monitor ‘LX80 series’ grabbed the Reddot Design Award 2005 and also LX80 series also received great appraisals at the CES 2005 held in Las Vegas which led to appearances on CNN HEADLINE News and CBS News as an innovative product. At the same time, the beautifully crafted ‘LX40 series’ received the 51st ‘iF Material Design Award’ from the International Forum Design (iF).

Just make sure you spend more time viewing content of the monitor, not gawking at its sleek curves.

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I know I get sick of the droning engine sound when I’m listening to my iPod on the bus, so the new MDR-NC50 noise cancelling headphones from Sony are a welcome sight indeed. They claim to reduce “white noise” by an amazing 80 percent, using a built-in microphone that detects environmental noise from low-frequency sources (20-1500hz), and creating an equal an opposite sound wave.

Sounds a lot like the Final Fantasy movie, if you ask me. Sony tests indicate that the MDR-NC50 headphones offer a 14db reduction of sounds at the 300hz level.

The headphones feature 40 mm drivers, a reflective, midnight blue finish, padded earpieces, an easily adjustable headband, and an easy to pack-and-take carrying case - all for about $200(USD). They will be available in June from www.sonystyle.com.

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The iJet iPod Wireless Remote Controls have hit Australia’s fair shores. These iPod remote controls boast a whopping 150ft control range - will give you more freedom to do what you want without the messy wires! Other great features are the 5 button/ 9 function remote, water resistant remote, rechargeable battery and packaged belt clip.

Check out iPodlounge’s review of the iJet Wirless RF Remote

Here’s a rather cheap and cheerful alternative to GPS systems. The Road Gene Audio Navigation System, from Ultradata Systems, is a voice-activated device provides detailed customized directions between cities and locates services near the Interstate highways and toll roads. Just tell Road Genie where you are and what you need, then Road Genie tells you exactly where it is!

Services such as gas, food, motels, 24-hour food, 24-hour gas, hospitals, shopping malls, rest areas, and campgrounds can be selected and located along the route. They can also be selected and located by brand name, if desired. The time and distance to the service from the user’s location is given as well as the exit and directions from the exit. The information is presented verbally as well as by means of an electronic display. In addition, the unit can be commanded by voice for hands-free operation.

The mapping technology uses a proprietary database instead of GPS and is relatively affordable, at $39.90 (USD) from their website.

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Most of us digital photographers have unused memory cards lying around idle. Well you can now turn them into USB storage space using the keychain-sized XtraDrive from MediaGear.

XtraDrives have a colored, transparent cap that allows the user to see if a media card is installed. Also, to eliminate crowding of several drives together on a PC or notebook, the XtraDrive package also includes a USB adapter cable.

The drives can accommodate most card formats including Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard, Sony Memory Stick, Compact Flash Types I and II, MicroDrives, SmartMedia and xD, and is priced at $14.95 (USD) from the MediaGear website (www.mymediagear.com).

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This news post from I4U had me in fits of laughter reminiscing about the Mr. Sparkle Simpsons episode. But I digress. Koreans have all the luck - if not vacuuming robots, then it’s floor cleaning robots for smooth surfaces like this Mr. Cleaner model.

“The Mr. Cleaner robot can operate 2 hours on a single charge. It sells for a low 98,000 won (~100USD) in Korea. It does not seem to have very smart electronics as far as I could translate the article, the price is also supporting that assumption.”

Sweet - soon, with vacuuming robots, floor cleaning robots, lawn mowing robots and other similar gadgets, we will be able to get on with the more important things in life - playing with our remote-controlled Daleks! Just make sure you set your phone on auto-reply first!

As an IT consultant, I’m frequently caught in meetings with clients where taking a phone call is impractical. Letting calls divert to voicemail is one solution, but another more elegant solution exists. JGUI have released a nifty little app for PocketPC Phone Edition Users, which allows users to set an autoreply SMS message that will be sent to the callers of missed calls.

You can set your own autoreply text, and also configure rules specifying which numbers to send autoreplies to. It currently costs $14.95 (USD) with a trial version available.

Following the eagerly anticipated return of the Daleks to the BBC hit series Dr Who on Saturday 30 April 2005, online gadget retailer GadgetWizard.com experienced unprecedented customer demand for its genuine BBC licensed Remote Control Dalek over the bank holiday weekend.

The scale reproduction Remote Control Dalek, priced £59.99, is available in black or silver and has fully functioning radio control movement (left, right, forward and reverse), a powered rotating head with flashing lights, and authentic Dalek voice commands including the infamous ‘exterminate exterminate’. It is available from GadgetWizard at http://www.gadgetwizard.com.

Now, all they need is to release a model with a vacuum cleaner function, and they’ll have a winner on their hands!
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