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Archos Intros Latest Multimedia Player, Archos 704 WiFi

Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,

You’ve gotta love Archos. For years their innovative multimedia players have played second fiddle to anything Apple releases—yet they continue to push the envelope. Case in point: the Archos 704 WiFi, which seems to do it ALL. Watch (or stream) video. Play music. View photos. Record and watch TV shows or movies (we loved this feature in a previous Archos player we owned). Plus, you can surf the web, thanks to the device’s 802.11g WiFi connection. Oh, and did we mention the 7” touch screen? Battery life is impressive too, with 25 hours for music playback and 5.5 hours for video. iPod, the gauntlet has been thrown down! Currently available for $550 USD by preorder, with a ship date of March 22.

Nokia Begins Shipment of N95

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Smartphones, Corporate News, GPS, Internet, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,

Nokia has announced that it is now shipping its N95 to European, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets. The phone also has the ability to watch and record videos, play music from 2 GB of storage, take photos with its 5 megapixel camera, check e-mail, and browse the Net. With a 2-way slide design, it also has GPS capability, and WLAN, EDGE, and WCDMA network support. Available in black or silver, Nokia says that it will begin shipping in other markets in the next few weeks. Check with Nokia for price and availability to our side of the planet.

GPS Designed For the Blind

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, GPS, Misc. Tech, Science, Wireless / WiFi,

Italian company Il Village has come up with a concept that is designed to give more mobility to the blind. The Easy Walk is a combination of a mobile phone with 2 keys that runs on Symbian operating system, a small Bluetooth GPS receiver with text-to-speech talk, and 2 dedicated keys.

The first key tells the user his/her exact location and the other is sent to a 24/7 call center that gives navigational instructions. Currently under testing, Easy Walk’s launch is expected this fall. We’re thinking that the innovative gadget might have other applications, such as assisting lost children or climbers who venture up on Mt. Hood.

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Chat for Charity

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi,

You can help the less fortunate just by using your cell phone. Motorola already contributes $17.00 to the anti-AIDS effort for every RED RAZR cell phone sold. They also give 5% of their subscribers’ monthly bills to the effort. Buy a Bluetooth headset and they will donate an additional $5.00.

Amnesty International Wireless now allows their customers to chip in 10% of their monthly bill to that organization free of charge. They will even buy out your current contract (up to $175.00) and toss in a free phone to make it happen. AI’s plans start at $29.99. We’re hoping that other phone companies will take a hint and do the same.

Samsung Introduces BiPhone

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Misc. Tech, Wireless / WiFi,

Samsung is strutting its stuff this week at the CeBit 2007 with their innovative form factor messaging phone SGH-P110. At dimensions of 91 x 47 x 19.5 mm, it features a TFT 2.1-inch display that automatically switches, a QWERTY keyboard, and a 25 MB internal memory. It also supports IMS, e-mail, Bluetooth 2.0 and speakerphone. Available with a one year warranty, there is no news yet on the GSM 900, GSM 1800, and GSM 1900 price and availability. We are thinking that when swiveling phones become the norm, that they are going to need a name beyond “switching.” How does “biPhone” sound?

Sony’s First Wi-Fi Camera Born

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi,

Sony has just come out with their first WiFi camera, the Cybershot G1. Available next month, the point-and-shoot features a 3.5-inch LCD, 3x optical zoom, 2GB internal memory (expandable with Memory Stick Duo and PRO Duo cards,) slide show with music capabilities, and a slew of wireless sharing options with its 802.11b/g WiFi. It also has Sony’s usual SteadyShot and Anti-Blur features, and a price of around $600.00. Although it has taken Sony a while to catch up to Nikon and Canon, we understand they have been a bit busy lately in other areas of electronics and hope the G1 has been worth the wait.

The Bleeding Edge 161: Bluetooth SIG Demos Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Features

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Cameras, Smartphones, Corporate News, Features, PC / Laptop, Software, Videocasts, Videos, Wireless / WiFi,

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Get Sloppy with AMEX Digital Wireless Keyboard

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, PC / Laptop, Peripherals, Wireless / WiFi,

Touch Sense Keyboard Finally, a keyboard that you don’t have to worry about if you spill your Coke. Hong Kong’s AMEX Digital has designed the TSK-VX7 with Touch Sense keys, similar to the touchpad mouse in laptops. The peripheral is compatible with PC or Mac Windows XP or Vista and contains 2.4G RF wireless technology. It requires one 1.5V battery and 4 AAA NiMH batteries that should last up to 2 months. At a slim size of 11 mm x 280 mm x 110 mm, a weight of 300 gr, and a range of up to 30-ft., contact AMEX for price and availability. We’re wondering what will become of touch-typers who need to have the edges of regular keys to feel secure.

The Bleeding Edge 157: First Look at iriver W10 PMP

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2007, Features, Portable Audio / Video, Videocasts, Videos, Wireless / WiFi,

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MCAs Assist the Infirm

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Misc. Tech, Science, Wireless / WiFi,

Royal Philips Electronics, in cooperation with Intel, has formally announced plans to design and manufacture Mobile Clinical Assistants (MCAs,) which will allow physicians and nurses keep up to date with their charges. The wireless device will contain patient information which will be stored into electronic medical records. The MCA features a 10.4-inch XGA touch-screen, RFID and barcode scanning, a digital camera, and LAN connectivity.

The companies say that the MCA will fill out charts, capture vital signs, reduce medication errors, monitor wound healing, and write up reports. Production is expected to begin in Q4 of this year. If they can get it to clean bedpans, we would be incredibly impressed.

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