Top Five Gadgets of the Year

The year is winding down and reflections of 2009 have me thinking of the five gadgets introduced that I believe have made the most impact in the mobile tech world. These choices are my own, and as always with personal devices they reflect my own needs and opinions. I have restricted the choices to devices I have actually used for extended periods. The top five cover a range from smartphones to computing devices, and my choices are based on hands-on use of each one. I offer my reasoning behind each choice, and as always I am interested to hear your thoughts on my selections. If you have different choices please indicate them in the comments. Here are my top five gadgets in no particular order.

Verizon MiFi
Novatel MiFi. While I said the list is in no particular order, I must make it clear I believe the MiFi is the top gadget of the year by far. Novatel clearly understands the needs of the mobile professional, and the MiFi is a unique solution to providing mobile connectivity that far surpasses other solutions. The concept of putting a 3G modem into a mobile Wi-Fi router is pure genius, and anyone who uses one quickly understands the utility the MiFi brings to the table. There is simply no better way to have mobile broadband on the go, and the MiFi is a game-changing gadgets.

Motorola Droid
Motorola Droid. The impact that the Android smartphone operating system has made on the market is significant, and the Droid is the best of the phones that appeared this year. The Droid may not be the best smartphone, but it makes the list as the first major Android handset to generate big sales numbers. The phone is the best Android phone around, and Android is the hot ticket platform this year. Thus the Droid is a top gadget of the year.

Viliv S5 UMPC
Viliv S5 UMPC. The best handheld computer this year is the S5. Viliv put an entire netbook into a 5-inch slate form, and made few compromises to get it to work. The S5 is versatile whether used in landscape or portrait orientation, and this is the first handheld PC since the Sony U to make such an impact on the genre. The option of integrated 3G makes the S5 a truly connected UMPC, and Viliv kick-started the UMPC craze this year with the introduction of this new handheld.

HP Mini 5101 netbook
HP Mini 5101. The Mini 5101 is a netbook that has no compromises. The build quality is superb, and the keyboard is the best I have used on any netbook. The performance of the Mini is as good as that of any netbook I have used, and the portability couldn’t be better. It is rare that a gadget packs so much usefulness in such a small package, and the Mini 5101 delivers in this regard. It is one of the rare notebooks that I felt comfortable throwing in the bag, knowing it could handle whatever might be needed.

Lenovo ThinkPad x200 Tablet
ThinkPad x200 Tablet. The most versatile notebook of the year has been the Lenovo ThinkPad x200. It is the best implementation of multitouch on Windows 7, and is the best Tablet PC. The powerful performance is top-notch for a convertible notebook, yet the 12-inch size makes it very portable for daily use. The utility provided by multitouch on a slate Tablet cannot be overstated, and coupled with the ability to swivel the screen around into notebook configuration makes the x200 extremely versatile.

I did not consider price nor other factors in the makeup of this list; I simply based my choices on actual usage of the five gadgets. I understand that pricing plays a big role in purchase decisions, but I decided to reflect only the value each gadget provided through usage.

Vodafone Smart

Vodafone today announces the launch of the Vodafone Smart, the latest handset in its own-brand range and the first in its category: a fully-featured smartphone with popular appeal for the next wave of data users.

The Vodafone Smart delivers a compelling smartphone experience, empowering customers to enter the world of the mobile internet, bringing together apps, navigation, social-networking and multimedia, all at a great price, in a great package.

Patrick Chomet, Vodafone Group Terminals Director said, “More and more Vodafone customers are enjoying the benefits of smartphones which currently account for over 40% of the phones we sell in Europe. Continuing to push the boundaries through our own-brand range, the Vodafone Smart is a new smartphone concept. It takes the higher end mobile internet experience and packages it for the mass market, its range of covers and accessories making it a fun fashion statement. Available on pay as you go plans, and on the fast, reliable Vodafone networks, the Vodafone Smart is a great step-up into the world of mobile data.”

The Vodafone Smart will be rolled out in a range of colours – from cool monochromes, through bold brights, to bespoke graphic designs. What’s more, customers will be able to personalise their phone, creating their own one-off covers on the web. With spring/summer and autumn/winter cover ranges planned, customers can build up a cover collection to suit their style and spirit.

The Android 2.2 software will give customers access to the full Android experience, including the Android Market™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ and Google Talk™ instant messaging. In addition, the phone has a zoom camera and a capacitive touchscreen as well as 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Vodafone design team have created the user experience with first-time smartphone users in mind and, as such, the homescreen comes pre-loaded with direct links to key content and features including Facebook™, Twitter™, email, Vodafone’s ‘Prepay Manager’ for quick top-ups, Vodafone Music and finally the ‘Updates’ widget, which gives customers easy access to a shortlist of leading Android Market apps and other services selected by local Vodafone editors.

The Vodafone Smart will be available across the Vodafone footprint by early summer. Germany, Italy and the UK will be among the first to sell the phone which will retail for around €90.

Notes to Editors

Android, Android Market, Gmail, Google Talk and Google Maps are all trademarks of Google, Inc; Facebook is a trademark of Facebook, Inc, and Twitter is a trademark of Twitter, Inc.
For more information on the Vodafone Smart visit http://www.vodafone.com/smart For videos, visit http://youtu.be/il9OztJi6xs?hd=1 and http://youtu.be/5KzNiwxRALY

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Better Design

The new GALAXY Tab 10.1 offers a superlative experience with the thinnest and lightest large screen tablet available! Enjoy unmatched mobility thanks to the amazingly thin and light body. At just 565 grams and 8.6mm slim, this tablet is a breeze to handle.


Better Screen

High definition 10.1" display delivers excellent screen sharpness. With 1,280 x 800 WXGA display boasting a pixel density of 149ppi (pixel per inch), you can enjoy better details. Movies, photos and programs with rich graphics will pop to life on the tablet’s screen.

MEEP

7” device features e-Books, WiFi, Music, Parental Controls, Movies

by R. D’Reyarts for Best Android Gadgets

February 13, 2012 - Just when you got tired of shooing your adorable youngster away from your beloved (and pricey) Android tablet, here comes MEEP! to the rescue. I know, MEEP! sounds like the word the roadrunner uses, but hey, what could be better for appealing to kids? The Android-based tablet, made by Oregon Scientific, features a 7” touchscreen and is geared towards kids 6 and older and features WiFi, e-Books, parental controls, music, movies, learning apps and likely a lot more.

HTC One X

HTC's new flagship phone is an absolute monster. Quad-core 1.5GHz Tegra 3 processor, 4.7" 720p Super LCD2, 8MP f2.0 camera with its own image processor. I got to spend a little time with this thing, and it's the most excited I've been about a phone in a long time.

Sony PlayStation Vita (3G Version)

Design
Click to EnlargeSony has taken a bigger-is-better approach with the PlayStation Vita in order to accommodate a larger screen. Instead of the 6.7 ounce, 6.7 x 2.7 x 0.7-inch frame of the PlayStation Portable, the Vita has a 9.9-ounce, 7.2 x 3.3 x 0.7-inch chassis. The Vita features a large 5-inch glossy display that sits prominently in the center of the device. By comparison, the PlayStation Portable's display measures 4.3 inches.

Sony CyberShot TX55 – thinnest camera ever

Sony launches thinnest camera ever – Sony CyberShot TX55

Digital Cameras, Miniature, Sony | No comments

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Sony CyberShot TX55 – thinnest camera ever

Everybody is counting down the days until September, when the thinnest camera , CyberShot TX55 , we have ever seen will be launched!
Sony CyberShot TX55 is smashing the market having only 12.2mm (this is a bit thicker than a pencil!). But when it comes to resolution, zoom quality and keeping performance – the size is not an issue. Sony is using brand new technologies to fulfill our expectations:

- By Pixel Super Resolution: the 5X optical zoom range is doubled with this innovating technology, so it can reach 10X optical zoom without any quality or sharp loose .
- Picture Effect: it eliminates the use of other photo-editing programs on taken pictures, as it allows everybody to express his / hers artistic ideas using the built in camera’s effects.

Features:

- Image stabilizer for shooting even while walking (so it corrects possible vertical or horizontal handshakes)
- 3D pictures
- Detailed 42.9 MP 3D panorama shooting ability
- Large touchscreen display of 3.3”
- High Resolution images of 16.2 MP
- 1080i AVCHD video, 60 fps, full HD function
- Flash memory and card slot compatible with M2 and micro SD / SDHC (up to 16 GB for ideal media) – the cards offered by Sony have free downloadable PC software
- You can take a 12 MP picture while recording, without interrupting your full HD video
- Styled new look, four colors available: black, silver, red and purple.
The rumored price is 350$, but it’s worth every penny if the camera performs as it is told.

GoPano iphone lens

So, I admit it, after I succumbed to peer pressure, got rid of my flip phone and marched out and purchased an iPhone (even after everyone suggested I wait for the new one) I have been enjoying it immensely. I have renewed interest in looking for stuff to do with it, and I came across this rather nifty little gadget.

Take a look at the EyeSee 360 GoPano for the iphone (4 and 4S). The GoPano is a micro lens that simply snaps on your iPhone and enables you to take 360 degree panoramic videos! You can pan during live recording, or even in the already recorded video. This is because the GoPano is recording all 360 degrees around you simultaneaously. (sort of like a high tech karate movie visual effect.) This lets you go back to your movie and choose to see any angle at any point and time. Pretty awesome.

Pyle Snorkeling Master Watch

Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona is happening next week, and you can expect LG to make quite a splash there – considering how MWC is the platform where the South Korean company is going to unveil their latest glasses-free 3D device known as the LG Optimus 3D Max. Boasting powerful 3D technology as well as a design that is fashion forward, the Optimus 3D Max intends to deliver a complete 3D entertainment platform as well as further cement LG’s 3D ecosystem with yet another high-end device.

It has been touted that the LG Optimus 3D Max is a powerful smartphone regardless of whether you use it in 2D and 3D mode – and with LG’s exclusive brightened display, your eyes will not suffer even after prolonged periods of viewing. Apart from that, LG has bumped up the Optimus 3D Max’s 3G’s network speed to HSPA+ 21Mbps, and with the inclusion of LG Tag+, you are on the receiving end of advanced NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities which was specially designed to promote greater user convenience. Let us read more about what the LG Optimus 3D Max is capable of right after the jump.

LG Optimus 3D Max

Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona is happening next week, and you can expect LG to make quite a splash there – considering how MWC is the platform where the South Korean company is going to unveil their latest glasses-free 3D device known as the LG Optimus 3D Max. Boasting powerful 3D technology as well as a design that is fashion forward, the Optimus 3D Max intends to deliver a complete 3D entertainment platform as well as further cement LG’s 3D ecosystem with yet another high-end device.

It has been touted that the LG Optimus 3D Max is a powerful smartphone regardless of whether you use it in 2D and 3D mode – and with LG’s exclusive brightened display, your eyes will not suffer even after prolonged periods of viewing. Apart from that, LG has bumped up the Optimus 3D Max’s 3G’s network speed to HSPA+ 21Mbps, and with the inclusion of LG Tag+, you are on the receiving end of advanced NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities which was specially designed to promote greater user convenience. Let us read more about what the LG Optimus 3D Max is capable of right after the jump.

Zumreed X2 Hybrid Headphones

Hybrid headphones, now this is definitely a novel idea! After all, who would have thought that a device like a pair of headphones that was meant to ensure whatever you listen to remains private, could actually be transformed into a communal audio device, blasting away your favorite tunes so that the rest of the people around you are able to listen to it? This is what the £99.99 Zumreed X2 Hybrid Headphones does, coming in black and red shades. Good thing that this pair of reversible headgear is very different from those multi-colored earmuffs that you wear during winter to keep the bitter chill away, but instead, helps lighten up the mood around you with your choice of music.

You can choose to use the Zumreed X2 Hybrid Headphones as either noise cancelling headphones or an impressive pair of desktop speakers, where its function is determined with a flick of a switch. Within each ear cup lies an individual speaker. The moment you decide to turn the switch from headphone to speaker mode, the rest of the folks around you would know your devotion to Justin Bieber, landing you dirty looks in the process from most. You can further torture them by rotating the ear cups around to stand upright on any flat surface for a more focused audio output. The internal Lithium-Ion battery lasts for around four hours of continual playback, and it can be juiced up via USB.

iPhone5

iPhone 5 Gets Faster Macroscalar A6 Processor?
FEBRUARY 8, 2012




Just as the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S were given faster processors, it appears that the iPhone 5 will also get a faster processor. According to PatentlyApple.com, the iPhone 5, as well as the upcoming iPad 3, will be getting Apple’s brand new A6 processor. The A6 processor is said to be considerably faster than the A5 processor found in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.

AT&T delivers Samsung Rugby Smart next month

Is it just me, or do you feel that consumer electronic devices these days do not really live up to their predecessors’ durability? I mean, back in the days of our grandparents and parents, the fridge lasted for umpteenth years, and will probably still continue to work. Fast forward to today, and you have a fridge that seemingly dies out a couple of days after the warranty on it expires. Having said that, smartphones are not exactly the most durable handset in the world, either – so it is a good thing to be careful with them wherever you are, lest you suffer from a butterfingers moment.

This has led to an explosive growth of third party accessories for the smartphone and tablet markets, but how about incorporating a little bit of ruggedness into a handset? This is exactly what Samsung has done with their latest creation which they call the Samsung Rugby Smart. I guess this is a sequel to the Samsung Rugby which was released in 2010.

You see it everyday, a police officer involved in some sort of a scuffle that’s been recorded on someone’s Smartphone. It almost always makes the officer look bad. I watch these events unfold on my TV almost every night, and I wonder to myself, what happened BEFORE someone started recording? I mean, surely the “bad guy” wasn’t just walking down the street minding his own business…

Well, in towns all over the country, we wont be left to wonder anymore, cops in many places nationwide have been outfitted with tiny wearable cameras. Unlike the often observed dashboard cameras, these little guys can be worn on a collar, head mount or with the Taser unit shown above, even mounted on Oakley sunglasses. These devices will capture everything from the police officers point of view, not just at the point that some spectator decided to start recording. Police simply activate the device and begin recording evidence that will negate any disputes as to what actually happened. Continue reading.