Handset maker Nokia and music label EMI have started a project to let coffee shop customers listen to music sent to their phone via Bluetooth.

As well as music, customers will be able to get hold of ringtones, wallpaper, video clips and vouchers reports BBC.

The first free tests of the service will be in six coffee shops and music stores in Helsinki, Finland.

Read More

Garmin International Inc. today announced the StreetPilot 7200 and StreetPilot 7500, a new family of high-end automotive units that displays navigation, entertainment, traffic and weather information on a large, seven-inch, touchscreen.

The StreetPilot 7200 and 7500 offer optional traffic management systems that make driving with GPS essential, even if the driver is familiar with the route.

Drivers will also have several entertainment options to choose from as they drive – an internal MP3 player, XM radio, or audio books.

More

VoodooPC has announced a 24-karat gold-plated version of their Omen desktop. The new version is identical to the standard Omen desktop as far as specs go. According to CNET, the pricey, standard Voodoo Omen is chock-full of top-shelf components, including two SLI graphics cards, but it falls short due to a configuration mismatch.

Here at Ployer we love luxurious gadgets, anything double the standard price and our stockist gloves go on. With the gold-plated VoodooPC, I am running for the hills - OK , not the hills, but gold is so tacky, why not platinum or diamonds.

via Engadget

Sprint Nextel Corp. on Monday introduced a wireless music download service using phones from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.

Sprint Nextel said it would send full songs to consumers' handsets for $2.50 each under the new service. Consumers can also play the songs they buy through Sprint on their computer and also copy them onto a compact disc.

Reuters

BlackBerry fansite site PinStack has posted an image of a Cingular ad for the upcoming BlackBerrry 8700c.

Specs of the BlackBerry 8700c include:

* Quad-band GSM plus EDGE high-speed data
* Bluetooth
* 320 × 240 screen
* Thinner design than past models

According to the posted image, Cingular will charge $299 for the 8700c.

iTunes Music Store customers have purchased and downloaded more than one million videos since they debuted on October 12. Customers can choose from over 2,000 music videos, Pixar short films and hit TV shows for just $1.99. Top downloads include music videos from Michael Jackson, Fatboy Slim and Kanye West; Pixar's "For the Birds" and "Boundin'"; and episodes of ABC’s hit TV shows "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives."

Samsung, Korea has announced a deal with with BMW to integrate their SGH-i300 musicphone into the iDrive interface available in BMW's 5 Series vehicles.

BMW's iDrive allows access to various functions that are displayed on the in-dash monitor. The SGH-i300 connects to the system via A2DP Bluetooth - allowing for music playback, hands-free calling, and operation of the handset.

via

Samsung Electronics, Korea's biggest digital products maker has announced plans for a digital media player application like iTunes of Apple Computer.

Samsung president Choi Gee-sung made the remarks during a press conference late last week South Korean newspaper the Chosun Ilbo reports.

"We are now in talks with our partners to debut a service program like iTunes of Apple. Our No. 1 priority is to help customers use our products with ease," the 54-year-old said.

"Our items show healthy performances in China and Southeast Asian countries where iTunes services are not provided," he added.

Choi said the service will be launched domestically and overseas shortly.Choi gave no other details, but the service is likely to be founded on Windows Media technology, leaving Samsung competing against the likes of Napster, Virgin Digital, HMV and Yahoo! Music reports the Register

Samsung, a latecomer in the MP3 digital audio player business, has tried to catch up with Apple, which commands the portable audio player market.

The Seoul-based firm has vended flash memory-based items with a brand of Yepp and sold about 1.7 million MP3 players last year. Choi said the success of iPod has affected Samsung minimally and the company has enough energy to jump over bigger competitors.

Sony Style USA, is offering a HDR-HC1 HDV 1080i Handycam Camcorder starter kit for just $2,199.93. According to reports, the HDV format will help usher in high definition recording into the mainstream aka the average consumer, thanks to its affordable price . Even though the format still has some problems mainly time code issues, ( I heard this at HDV seminar) it is seen at the 'it' format of the future. Since the format is relatively new, video editing software companies are still fighting to wrap their lips around everything HDV. That's the upside, on the downside, High definition has no mercy on the skin, every hole, every scar will be visible.

Features of the HDR-HC1 HDV 1080i Handycam Camcorder

1/3" CMOS sensor with the Enhanced Imaging Processor
Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 10x optical and 120x digital zoom
2.7" wide (16:9) hybrid touch panel Swivelscreen LCD display1
Super Steadyshot Stabilization

I recently purchased the Sony HVR-A1U 1/3-Inch Professional HDV Camcorder. Features of that include 3-Million Pixel CMOS Imager, DVCAM and Mini DV Recording Options, Professional Audio Inputs and Time Code. It's really small, lightweight/capable entry level introduction to HDV. I think my next HDV camera, hopefully the Panasonic, I will be able to give an intelligent review.

The steamy Pink Razr V3 is apparently a must have cellphone for the ladies. The folks at i4u have been tracking the Pink Razr V3 & its availablity.

As I have said before " PINK IS THE NEW BLACK", and this is sure to get you in good with your lady friend, or your guy friend who appreciates PINK this holiday season.

Pink is so hot, even rappers are doing it up.

Pink Razr V3 Gallery via cetizen

Source 14u

Motorola, Korea has announced the MS550, a new 3.2MP digital camera mobile phone. Features include 2x optical zoom lens, a 2.2 inch screen, a music player supporting 64 MIDI, AAC, AAC+, MP3 files, MP4 video player and EvDO connectivity. The Motorola MS550 measures 112 x 51 x 25.7 mm and weighs 175g.

via Read More at Motorola

Mobile phone maker Nokia launched four new handsets last Wednesday, including two aimed specifically for Latin America etc - the Nokia 1255, 2355, 6165, 2855

The cheaper 1255 and 2355 phones have features not usually available on lower-cost phones, Nokia said in a statement released in Brazil.

The folks over at PCMAG played around with Voodoo's $5000 ARIA Luxury Media Center PC - The Verdict - With a built-in touch screen and high-powered (but quiet) components, the Voodoo ARIA will keep a select group of well-heeled (we take they mean Gucci Heels) users happy.

Th ARIA features a 7 inch built-in touch screen, AMD Athlon FX-57, 1GB of RAM, 400GB of storage, Dual-Layer DVD Burner and a nVidia GeForce 7800GTX video card.

Earlier this month, Vertu unveiled the sleek Vertu Ascent White Special Edition following from the success of the Ascent Pink ( yes pink is the new black), launched this spring.

The new aesthetically pleasing variant offers triband capability, Bluetooth, PC sync, modem support, email, MMS, Multilanguage predictive text input and storage for up to 1,000 contacts. Talktime 3 to 6 hours.

Sure for $8000 you could buy a razr and a few Dior homme outfits, but would you get the special exclusive feeling you would get with Vertu Ascent White Special Edition , no sir.

via CNET

Intel and Motorola joined forces to advance WiMax technology based on proposed uniform broadband access standards known as IEEE 802.16e.

WiMAX AKA Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections over long distances.

So very soon, you could totally enjoy a full length movie, better yet how does satellite TV on your RAZR V3 sound.

In addition to working jointly to advance WiMAX standards, the companies plan to work together on interoperability testing of Motorola mobile devices, network equipment, and customer premises equipment with Intel products.

The MOTOwi4 portfolio includes fixed and mobile broadband solutions designed to meet the different needs of wireless, wireline, and cable operators for lower cost delivery of data rich multimedia applications and services.

Fujitsu, Japan is showing off a steamy concept PC at WPC 2005 taking place in Japan as I type this entry. Details are hard to come by but based on the picture, I so want one.

Modeled after the tablet PC concept, the entire PC is a sleek touch panel LCD.

via akihabaranews.com

For a short period of time, Apple in some countries will replace any fifth-generation iPod (video) player that exhibit signs of hardware failure, with little-to-no questions asked reports AppleInsider

" Apple will be evaluating all forms of hardware failure on the recently announced fifth-generation iPod," the company said.

I am sure this move has everything to do with the iPod Nano lawsuit

Apparently Pink is the new it color, Segatoys has announced the idog iPod Speaker in Pink, if rumors about a pink iPod turn out to be true, this should match perfectly

A number of senior executives at Gizmondo Europe quit the company last week ahead of the US launch of the firm's handheld games console and amid allegations in the Swedish press that some had criminal pasts reports The Register

Meanwhile, reviewers of the featured pack game console are not impressed

The folks at Motorazr have scored a few images of a looming? candy bar Motorola handset styled after the steamy Razr (not sure If I mentioned this before - I left Sprint over the black Razr phone) ....

The folks over at Impress Watch (Japanese) are covering the WPC EXPO 2005.

Here are two highlights.

NEC portable HDD player. The sleek player would feature liquid crystal display. Size of liquid crystal display and the size of HDD undecided.

Nec PC "tvi" features a 17" liquid crystal display. The tvi can can be used as a normal laptop or as a DVD player (without keyboard. Once docked, it's a TV with DVD player writes akihabara

According to Japanese blog CoolGamer, the PlayStation 3 (PS3) will be priced under $400 in Japan. Game site 1up says CoolGamer has been a dependable source of early information regarding the Japanese game market. Not once has their news turned out to be a false lead.

The blogger writes, "In the latest Famitsu, a very important person mentioned that the PS3 price would not be over 40000yen". This price range was thrown around by a Sony rep a few months back.

via

In an interview with Japanese newspaper, Nikkei Business, Nintendo's President Satoru Iwata said the upcoming Nintendo Revolution console will be released around the world simultaneously, sometime after next April

Iwata is expecting better performance from Nintendo's next gen console than its current Gamecube. The cube has sold just short of 20 million units according to most recent estimates.

via

Portable Innovation Technology Limited (PiTech) has announced the PiTech I-10 , a new Palm OS smartphone that includes a three megapixel camera with auto focus and anti hand shake technology

The PiTech I-10 is based on the smartphone platform developed by this company and built on the Palm OS Garnet operating system.

This device will have a focus on multimedia. In addition to taking still images, its camera will be able to capture MEPG4 video which can be played back on its 2.2-inch color display.

It will also come with an MP3 player and support for WAV/MP3/MIDI ring tones.

Read More

Search Google Inc. unintentionally provided a sneak peek at a looming expansion into classified advertising reports E&P. The service, named Google Base, which was accessible at base.google.com, described itself as: "Google's database into which you can add all types of content. We'll host your content and make it searchable online for free."

The new service could automatically l list all kinds of subjects and display them as part of the company's sponsored ad links on the right hand side of pages displaying search results from Google queries reports New York Times

Google issued a statement suggesting that the purpose of the test site was to make it simpler for Google customers to post content on Google.

"We are testing new ways for content owners to easily send their content to Google," the company said. Like our Web crawl and the recently released Google Sitemaps program, we are working to provide content owners an easy way to give us access to their content. We're continually exploring new opportunities to expand our offerings, but we don't have anything to announce at this time."

"As soon as you start competing with some of the people that you are indexing, it creates a completely different dynamic," said Craig Donato, chief executive of Oodle.com, a search engine that pools listings from dozens of classified advertising sites reports AP.

"Google can get away with a lot of stuff, but [Google Base] would certainly give people pause," he said.

During a little chat with Digital World Tokyo, SCEI's Reiko Sakamoto admitted that the imminent PS3 will not necessarily be 100% backwards compatible.

"It's hard to say the PlayStation 3 will be 100 percent backwards compatible but as we said earlier this year we aim to make it so as much as possible," Sakamoto said.

"We believe multiple factors are responsible," said Reiko Sakamoto, a spokeswoman for SCEI in Tokyo. The latest console uses a new chipset - the chip that sits between the main processor and the rest of the device - and changes in that chip coupled with the way some software is programmed are believed to be causing the glitches, she said. The problems are largely screen hang-ups during certain parts of the game but also include glitches such as the slow saving of game data onto memory cards.

via

Canon has announced the SD430, a new compact PowerShot camera. The is the first Canon model to feature build-in WiFi (802.11b). Other features of the 5 mp SD430 include a 3x zoom and 'WA-1N Wireless Print Adapter' which provides WiFi printing to PictBridge compatible printers.

Dpreview

Chip giant, Intel, announced the delay in volume production of a new Itanium processor for network servers because of problems with the quality of the product.

The server chip, which is being developed under the code name Montecito, was scheduled for release in early 2006, the company said, but will now be shipped in "mid-2006." Intel would not provide details reports New York Times

In other news AMD has a huge part last night.

Slim Devices today announced Squeezebox 3. The Squeezebox is an MP3 player for the home network.

It includes a free PC/Mac-side component that scans your music library and shares it out to LAN networked Squeexboxes. The PC/Mac (server-side, really) component is notable because it also provides browser-based control of your LAN's squeezeboxs. This feature allows for remote control-like functionality via a LAN connected PDA or laptop.

via

Tuesday, IBM announced plans for a new microprocessor for Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming console, due later this fall.

CNET reports the IBM and Microsoft custom-designed microprocessor features a customized version of IBM's 64-bit PowerPC core. The chip includes three of these cores, each with two simultaneous threads and clock speeds greater than 3GHz.

IBM is also working on a processor, called Cell, for the PlayStation3 game console, in conjunction with Sony and Toshiba.

A group called The Office Maven has created an application that will allow you to synchronize the music and videos you have stored in iTunes with your Sony Ericsson Walkman phone or virtually any other music player that can be accessed as a Mass Storage Device reports Pocket Link

Called iWalkman, the application is a Windows-based add-in utility for iTunes that allows you to even convert tracks into MPEG or AAC format before copying them to the phone.

The application is free and can be found at http://www.i-walkman.com/

Casio has today announced its latest slimline addition to the Exilm Card range in the form of the EX-S600. Features of the 6 Megapixel camera include Anti-shake DSP mode to reduce blurring in moving subjects, Revive Shot, which refreshes faded colors of old album photos and 15cm macro mode. The EX-S600 is currently only available in Japan and other Asian markets. In comes in four colors: 'sparkle' silver, 'fiesta' orange, 'mistral' blue and 'luminous' gold. More

Apple today launched the iTunes Music Store in Australia. The iTunes Music Store is now available in 21 countries and features the most music of any digital music store in Australia with over one million songs from major and independent record labels and over 1,000 music videos. Priced at just $1.69 per song, $3.39 per video and with most albums at $16.99 including GST, the iTunes Music Store in Australia is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music online. Read More

As expected, Motorola Inc.'s iTunes music phone is flopping.

As many as six times more customers are returning the Rokr phones than is normal for new handsets, according to American Technology Research analyst Albert Lin, who said he talked to distributors, retailers and call center workers at Cingular Wireless LLC, which sells the phone.

Motorola Chief Executive Officer Ed Zander said he is disappointed with the phone's marketing and plans to fix it.

Earth to Zander. Hang it up with the Rokr, implement the itunes software on the Razr and call it a day. via Bloomberg

Griffin Technology has announced a new iTrip FM transmitter for Apple's iPod nano. Griffin's SmartDisplay technology seamlessly integrates all functions and features with the iPod nano. iTrip information is displayed on the best screen in the industry: the gorgeous iPod nano screen.

One touch navigation puts all iTrip functions at your fingertip. This also makes iTrip for iPod nano the easiest-to-operate FM transmitter, ever

via iLounge

Gizmondo USA Inc. has started stateside promotion for the Gizmondo game player which goes on sale - Saturday 22nd October 2005. The Gizmondo will be available across all 50 States priced at $229.

As well as games and GPS, the pocket-sized also supports music and movies, text and picture messaging, and a digital camera. While the timing (just before holiday season) could be good for Gizmondo, the featured pack player has been plagued by a series of delays, add that to very little buzz and this player is headed down a lonely road.

Gizmondo is powered by Microsoft Windows CE advanced real-time operating system, boasting a 2.8-inch TFT colour screen with a Samsung ARM9 400Mhz processor and incorporates the GoForce 3D 4500 NVIDIA graphics accelerator. It provides cutting-edge gaming, multimedia messaging, an MP3 music player, Mpeg4 movie playing capability, a digital camera and a GPRS network link to allow wide-area network gaming. Additionally, it contains a GPS chip for location-based services, is equipped with Bluetooth for use in multi-player gaming and accepts SD and MMC card accessories.

via

Seen at Engadget.com

In preparation for the steamy Xbox 360 launch, Microsoft will close its online console gaming service Xbox Live and the associated Xbox.com website for one day.

Scheduled for October 24th, with full services to be resumed the following day, the company has confirmed that a number of enhancements and additional community and global ranking functionality will launch to coincide with the launch of its next generation console reports Games Industry

The latest issue of Nintendo Dream features commentary and impressions on the Nintendo Revolution Controller from developers at Nintendo, Sega, Namco, Konami and more. IGN has a round up of comments.

Ken Sugimori (Game Freak, art director of Pokemon): Sugimori was surprised when he first saw the controller. He feels that many people have been thrown off from gaming due to increased button counts of controllers, but states that it takes a good amount of courage to actually decide to reduce the number. "You'll be able to do things with the Revolution that you could never do with consoles before," he says, adding with a laugh, "Personally, it's the kind of hardware where, more than making games, I'd rather play them."

Hironobu Sakaguchi (Mistwalker -- father of Final Fantasy): "When I first saw it, I thought 'It's great!' and 'It's just like Nintendo!' It makes you feel like you're actually touching the screen. In that sense, you could say that it's an extension of the DS, but it's actually very different." Pointing out that the controller allows for a wide variety of actions, he adds, "When shown such a new concept, software makers are, even as just normal people, left excited."

Read More Comments IGN

Here are some new reviews on Apple's new iPod

Review: Video IPod (InformationWeek)
Apple iPod 30GB (ABC)
New iPod opens the floodgates of portable video potential. (IGN)
Apple Ipod Video VNUNET
Apple Does It Again (CBS)
Review: 30GB iPod with video (PlayList)

Warner Bros. Entertainment and its home entertainment division - Warner Home Video, have joined the board of directors of the Blu-ray Disc Association and will now release their films on Sony's Blu-ray format.

Warner Bros., a long-standing backer of Toshiba's HD-DVD, is the second major studio to split its loyalty writes Red Herring. Earlier this month, Paramount Studios, an initial supporter of HD-DVD, said it would release its movies in both Blu-ray and HD-DVD

The Blu-ray Disc is a Gen-Next optical disc format developed for high capacity software applications and high-definition video. While a single layer Blu-ray Disc can store up to 25 GB of data, a dual layer Blu-ray Disc can hold around 50 GB of data.

Sony Corp. plans to sell between 2.5 million and 3 million PlayStation Portable handheld video game devices in its first North American holiday season reports Yahoo News

"We're going to try to double the installed base between now and the end of the year," Kaz Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment America president and chief executive said.

Meanwhile, Sony so far has shipped 10 million PSPs worldwide , 4.47 million Sony PSPs in North America, 3 million in Japan and Korea and 2.53 million units in Europe i4u reports

Sony, Japan recently unveiled a Satin Silver Slimline version of their PlayStation2 Console for the Japanese market. . The Satin Silver PS2, model SCPH-75000 SSS, goes on sale 11/23, at an open price. Play Asia is offering the new model for $219.

SCE will also make available on 11/23 Satin Silver versions of the Dual Shock 2 controller and PlayStation 2 Memory Card. Both accessories will be sold for 2,940 yen

Earlier this year, when the Microsoft Xbox 360 was announced rumors of a silver PlayStation2 Console priced at $99 made the rounds. Analysts speculated Sony's move was an attempt dull the effect of the steamy Xbox 360 which goes on sale in November.

Designer Roman Kriheli, is showing off a nano-like concept phone . The entire face surface of this phone is a color sensor display 4.2 in. in diagonal (a TFT-matrix of 700 times; 266 pixels) protected with a 2-mm transparent plastic shield.

Buttons appearing on the display are 13 in diameter. They are convenient to press with a finger. Besides the virtual controls, the telephone is equipped with a joystick. The standard position of the phone is vertical, but it can be turned horizontally when watching video. The joystick and the on/off button are of metal. The loudspeaker is located immediately between the sensor surface and the display.

The telephone will support GSM networks (900, 1800, 1900) as well as the 3G networks (the third generation). A wireless data exchange feature (Bluetooth 2) is provided to enable synchronization with a computer. A fuel cell-based battery feeds the telephone with electricity. The battery is charged by a wireless means: the phone should just be laid on a special pad connected to the electricity supply network (the SplashPower technology).

Via Yanko

At the Tokyo Motor Show 2005 , Honda showed off the Honda FCX prototype, a next-generation sedan powered by hydrogen and features a low floor, low center of gravity and full-sized cabin.

Read More at Forbes

Consumers upset about their iPod nano screen becoming easily scratched have filed a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California in San Jose against Apple Computer, demanding their money back plus a share of the company's profits. Shortly after the iPod Nano was released, Apple boards were filled with compliants.

The lawsuit alleges nano owner Jason Tomczak rubbed a paper towel on the face of his nano and "that alone left significant scratches." I am sure it was probably really dry, hard paper

Via Apple Insider

In 30GB and 60GB models that hold up to 15,000 songs, full-color album art and up to 25,000 photos, the new iPod makes the most of your music and more. With support for up to 150 hours of video and a 2.5-inch color display, the new iPod lets you take music videos and TV shows on the road.

Apple video- capable iPod Review NYT
Apple video- capable iPod Review WSJ
Apple video- capable iPod Review DesignTechnica
Apple video- capable iPod Review LAtimes
Apple video- capable iPod Review ARS

Vertu, a subsidiary of Nokia, is producing 200 mobile phones decorated with diamonds. The most expensive of the range are believed to be the first mobile handsets to cost in the region of $88,300.

Vertu plans to ship the first of the diamond handsets next week, just in time for the holiday season.

Read More via Luxist.com

Fujitsu PC today launched the new LifeBook P7120 notebook computer – the successor to the LifeBook P7010.

The LifeBook P7120 weighs 1.38kg with built-in modular bay drive and 6-cell battery. It features a 10.6-inch SuperFine Wide SXGA LCD display, a lightweight titanium and aluminum case, optical drive, and an optional extra battery pack.

LifeBook P7120 notebook computer

JVC has announced the XA-HD500, a new six gigabyte (GB) hard drive player that features exclusive JVC audio enhancement technology, 30 hours of continuous playback and includes a dedicated docking station and a remote control.

The JVC Alneo XA-HD500 plays MP3 and WMA files, supports Windows Media Player 10 and features a USB 2.0 connection for fast file transfers. Other features include a backlit LCD, the option of recharging through the supplied docking station/AC adapter or the USB port when connected to a computer, four digital surround listening modes and Active Hyper Bass for enhanced bass performance.

The XA-HD500, which is finished in black, weighs 3.2 ounces and measures 2 x 3.6 x 0.7 inches (W x H x D). It is available this month and will sell for $249

According to Technology group Forrester Research, Blu-Ray, the DVD format backed by electronics makers led by Sony Corp is superior to the HD-DVD format Led by Toshiba.

"Two groups are competing for control of high-definition DVD formats to be launched in the spring of 2006. After a long and tedious run up to launch, it is now clear to Forrester that the Sony-led Blu-Ray format will win," said Forrester Research analyst Ted Schadler in a report.

Read Why at Yahoo News

Hewlett-Packard AKA HP, yesterday urged the Blu-ray Disc Association to adopt software that allows consumers to legally copy DVD's onto their PC's, transfer movies to other devices and watch video in a greater variety of ways reports Reuters.

In a pointed ultimatum, Hewlett said that if the additional technology was not added to the Blu-ray format, it would consider switching allegiances and backing the rival standard, Toshiba's HD-DVD. (HD-DVD supports software)

Microsoft's new Vista operating system is expected to work easily with this software. As a result, Hewlett and other computer makers could install Vista in their PC's and avoid having to spend the time and money to install and test the alternative software called BD Java.

"At the end of the day, HP will support the optical formats that support this technology, so we would have to look at alternatives" if the Blu-ray group rejects its request, said Maureen Weber, the general manager of personal storage at Hewlett and the chair of the promotions committee for the Blu-ray Disc Association.

On one end you have the movie studios who love Blu-ray for the restrictions on content, on the other end you have companies like Microsoft who are hawking systems with tons of media functions. Giving users more control over content works in their favor.

Hewlett hopes that the Blu-ray group votes on its request in the month or two.

"We need to start to making our high-definition plans," Ms. Weber said.