Fancy being apart of one of the leading global gadget news and reviews sites in the world? Thought you did.?Pocket-lint is looking for positions to fill in?New York and?San Francisco.

We are looking for roving reporters to join the team based in New York and San Francisco to replace Stuart who is heading back to the UK.

Ideally you will be well connected within the gadget scene and be available to chase down briefings, meetings and attend events when needed.

You will have to be able to get into either New York city or San Francisco for meetings, come with your own computer and digital camera and of course be able to access the internet without excuses.

Work amount and schedule is based on your ability to generate original stories and we are looking for you to take the lead rather than be spoonfed ideas.

Salary etc will depends on work and experience.?

The ability to file quickly at events is also a must.

To apply email us via the feedback form with links to two examples of your work and the answer to the following two questions:

1. Why should we hire you?

2. If you were a product on a supermarket shelf what would you be and why?

Tags: Audio Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness

Pocket-lint is hiring in US originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:04:10 +0000

First off congratulations to Paul Story who won last month's comments comp for his comment on the story "Amazon Kindle UK import orders begin". For those who didn't win, don't fret, because the kind folk at TomTom have sent a TomTom XL Live IQ Routes Europe unit for us to dish out for our November comments competition.

The rules of the competition are simple, you can enter as many times as you like by simply commenting on any story. It doesn't have to be in depth, detailed or technical, but it does have to be useful, helpful or funny.

You don't have to sign up to comment on the stories, we just ask for your name, location and email address - that does not show up online and is not passed on.

The TomTom device measures 123 x 80 x 18mm and features 4.3-inch touch display, the screen being bright and a convenient size enabling ease of use whilst driving.

Along with Live HD Traffic, now with added support for Europe, the TomTom XL Live has excellent route guidance and with the added MapShare feature, it allows for easy updating of maps within the TomTom community.

To be in with a chance of winning this top-notch effort just comment on any story during the month of November. At the end of November the Pocket-lint team will take a look and choose what we believe is the best one.

Make sure you take a look at Pocket-lint's full review where it received a 9/10 score.

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Tags: Audio accessories Biz Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness TomTom GPS Competitions

Win a TomTom XL Live IQ Routes Europe originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:42:25 +0000

You can't just grow hair on your top tip and think that's all there is to it, grooming your moustache, or mustache for our American readers, takes time and consideration.

We sat down with Dr. Aaron Perlut, the chairman of the American Mustache Institute to find out more.

"The best tip I can give is to grow a moustache that is appropriate for your face", says Perlut, stern and to the point. "A moustache can enhance the image you want to portray. A Fu Manchu or Horseshoe is good for looking tough. A Pencil or Handlebar is good for adding an appearance of being intelligent. Just don't forget the monocle".

Once you've started growing your mo - you've got to care for it, look after it. Here Perlut recommends a moustache wax over gel or hairspray.

"Moustache wax really can't be beaten, here at the AMI [American Mustache Institute] we recommend Oregon Wildhair Moustache Wax", says Perlut.

Oregon Wildhair Moustache Wax is an artisan wax made using beeswax, petroleum jelly, lanolin, and natural musk oil without perfume, so as not to destroy flavours like tea or coffee.

Mark Coyl, the creator of Wildhair, offers a rather elaborate set of tips for grooming his mo: "I usually?groom my moustache after my morning shower. First, I vigorously brush my moustache with a natural bristle brush to help shape it; then I apply my wax. Sometimes, when I find that my moustache doesn't want to cooperate, I use a hair dyer to warm the wax after it is on my moustache. I heat one?side of my moustache for 10 seconds or so and then I hold?the end?of my moustache to the shape I want until the wax cools, which takes another 10 seconds.?Then I do the same to the other side. I apply more wax if I feel more is needed".

Still on the subject of cleaning, Dr. Perlut believes that a moustache left to its own devices can get rough and uncomfortable. He recommends using a conditioner every other day to ensure its full bodied and fluffy.

So what about foods? Easy claims Perlut:

"Creamy substances like soups are outstanding as they can be caught in the moustache and savoured later, while drinking beer helps keep it moist".

If the girlfriend or wife complains? Perlut has an answer for that too:

"If a girlfriend ever requests you remove your moustache find yourself a new girlfriend".

Brave words, but perhaps Perlut's second piece of advice on the subject might help to sway them to reconsider:

"Every time a moustache is shaved an angel dies."

And finally one to leave you even more confused than you were before:

"Midgets with Moustaches are awesome".

You heard it here first.

Movember is about having fun, growing a moustache and raising much needed funds and awareness for men's health - specifically prostate cancer. What many people don't appreciate is that one man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK, more than 35,000 men will be diagnosed this year and that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. ?

The more that join us, the more we can 'change the face of men's health' through raising awareness and the money that will be raised.

Let's 'Change the Face of Mens Health'.

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Related links:

• Link - Movember
• Feature - Top grooming gadgets for Movember
• Feature - Moustache styles and what to grow

Tags: Gadgets Movember Interviews Features

Grooming tips for your moustache originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:07:34 +0000

We knew it was coming, and now it's here. The awesome Tauntaun sleeping bag, which began its life as an April Fools Joke, is available for pre-order on ThinkGeek's website.

The site says: "after exhaustive movie viewing research and analysis?ThinkGeek Labs?has isolated the exact synthetic compounds needed to re-create Tauntaun fur". "This high-quality sleeping bag looks just like a Tauntaun, complete with saddle,?printed internal intestines, and a plush lightsaber zipper pull".

If you want to get one for yourself, it'll cost you $100 (about ?60) plus postage. Be quick, though - there's very limited numbers available and customers are only able to buy a maximum of two each. ThinkGeek promises that if you order now, it'll ship before 25 November - whether that'll be in time for Christmas post to the UK is unclear.

Tags: Gadgets Tauntaun sleeping bag ThinkGeek Star Wars Video

VIDEO: Tauntaun sleeping bag up for pre-order originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:20:52 +0000

IWOOT has launched a new ebook reader into the UK market with the online introduction of the Foxit eSlick.

The 180 gram device is slim and lightweight and offers a 6-inch, E-Ink, 600 x 800 pixel resolution display.

The eSlick gets a 512MB internal memory but comes bundled with a 2GB card for expansion and there's support for MP3 files so you can listen while you read with headphones included.

File support comes in with just PDF and TXT. The bundled software can convert most ebook formats into a PDF for viewing on the device.

The Foxit eSlick is available now in black or white from IWOOT for ?189.

Related links:

• Shop - IWOOT

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers IWOOT Foxit

IWOOT launches Foxit eSlick ebook reader originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:43:24 +0000

By now, you should be seeing some growth to look after and it's probably about time you shaved away that scruffy unwanted stubbly beard. So, to help you in your grooming endeavour, find below five splendid moustache growing tools to take you from a 5 o'clock shadow to Ron Burgundy in no time. And, if you're not with us already then why not grow a mo yourself and help in the fight against prostate cancer? You can follow the Pocket-lint team's diary and even donate a little too.

GoateeSaver

The GoteeSaver will set you back $19.99, but promises to "revolutionize the way you shave and trim your goatee". According to the makers, the GoateeSaver can be customized to your face in seconds, with three easy adjustments. All you have to do is slide it over your mouth and shave to get the perfect look that "women will admire and men will respect". Now, of course, we're not growing goatees. It's a tache we're after but 90% of all moustaches grown will be left untouched and unprotected by what appears to be Darth Vadar's mouthpiece here. So, whether you're cultivating a Sanchez or a Dictator, save yourself a lot of time by starting your regime with the GoateeSaver and then spending a few minutes after just refining the job. The fact that you'll look like a gimp in the bathroom is probably just one of those things you'll have to live with.

USB Electric Razor

Nobody likes to be caught on the hop with an untidy mo. So, given you're bound to have a laptop with you on your travels, you may as well invest in a razor that charges by USB. For one it means fewer plugs to worry about and secondly it offers you the option of shaving while you type. That said, doing so will probably ruin your computer keyboard in one go. It's only $22 and might just come in handy as a part of your grooming arsenal one day.

Freedom Dynamo Electric Razor

A more sensible way to go might be with the eco-friendly wind up electric razor from Freedom. $49.99 may seem like quite a lot of money when you're having to put in all the work to get that dynamo charging, but it includes new blades, a mirror, travel case and even a 12V adaptor if you happen to be on the road with your car. Essentially you're looking at one of the best travel razors money can buy and a real winner if you happen to be camping. Perfect for making that mo stand out at 100 paces.

Moustache Comb Neckless

Yes, you too can own a fabulous piece of jewellery while keeping your tache in trim at the same time. You can also look like a total sleaze by casually teasing it through the hair on your upper lip as you chat to a lovely lady with one eyebrow raised while she takes note of your manly hair and takes deep, suffocating whiffs of your Sex Panther aftershave. 60% of the time it works every time. This kind of top end style doesn't come cheap though. Each one is hand crafted in solid silver. They measure 2 x 2 inches and hangs on a 35-inch chain, it can be yours for $168. That's mo kudos worth every penny.

Wilkinson Sword Quattro Titanium Precision

For some men, there's a oneness with nature about having a wet shave and if that's how you choose to carve out your mo, then the this razor from Wilkinson Sword seems to be the gadget of choice. It's won just about every men's grooming award in the last year and it also promises to be the first of its type to offer shaving, trimming and edging at the same time. If you want to know the difference - the shaving is about removing your hair at root with the four blades, the trimming is about settings you can click to life for a more stubbly look and the edging is about a fifth blade on the top, all on its own, to help sculpt your mo and sideburns. Best of all though, Wilkinson Sword is a staunch supporter of Movember and is offering anyone taking part a free shave over at Mo's Emporium in Kensington throughout the month.

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Related links:

• Link - Moustache Comb
• Link - Freedom Dynamo Electric Razor
• Features - Moustache styles and what to grow
• News - Gentlemen start your mos

Tags: Gadgets Movember Bathroom gadgets Shavers Features

Top grooming gadgets for Movember originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:53:34 +0000

3 days in and we are happy to report the "Mos" are going well (see pictures below).

You can follow our progress every day on this page with both Chris, Dan, Duncan, Ben and I posting daily pictures so you can see our "slugs" form.

We will also be regularly featuring the latest 'tache management gadgets, for those who want to keep their mo under control.

Why not grow a mo for Movember yourself and help raise money and awareness for The Prostate Cancer Charity here in the UK?

Currently around 30,000 men a year are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and around 10,000 men a year die from the disease. That's over 1 every hour.

Movember plans to stop all that by doing for men what the Breast Cancer causes have done for women and clearly save some lives in the process.

It's not too late to start your own, or if that sounds like too much effort (perhaps having a mo will interfere with your job) you can sponsor us and we will dedicate our mo to you.

Come on, help give us a reason for wearing a Tom Seleck 'tache for the month.

As an added bonus - those who sponsor the TechMo team will get a plug on this page telling our readers what lovely people you all are.?

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Related links:

• Link - Sponsor

Tags: Gadgets Movember Photos

The Movember diaries originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:26:58 +0000

Spring Design, the maker of the?Alex dual-screen ebook reader?is suing Barnes & Noble over claims that the bookseller copied ideas and features in releasing its own ebook, the?Nook.

"We showed the Alex e-book design to Barnes & Noble in good faith with the intention of working together to provide a superior dual screen e-book to the market", said Spring Design vice president of Sales and Marketing, Eric Kmiec in a statement.

According to the company who says they showed Barnes & Noble the Alex in spring 2009, "the lawsuit asserts Barnes & Noble misappropriated trade secrets and violated the parties' non-disclosure agreement when it copied Alex' features into its recently announced Nook e-book".

Both ebooks announced in the same week (20 October), use a colour touchscreen display powered by Android to navigate through menus, rather than the e-ink display, which is used solely for reading.?

The Barnes & Noble Nook is expected to hit the company's stores on 30 November with many stores already covered in merchandising materials and dedicated booths to lure customers to go "electronic".

Barnes & Noble was unavailable to comment at the time of writing. We will keep you posted.?

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Tags: Gadgets eBook readers ebooks Barnes and Noble Barnes and Noble Nook Spring Design Spring Design Alex Lawsuits Biz

Spring Design sues Barnes & Noble over Nook ebook originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:37:30 +0000

Movember is upon us once again. If you've signed up to grow a mo, bully for you, you're the? man's man, but what style should you grow your new friend in, and what is going to be the best one to suit your style?

Depending on where you look and who you talk to, there are a plethora of options available to you.

Movember lists 14 different styles, while the American Moustache Institute claims one less at 13. Tacheback, another "Tache" charity run in September claims just 7.

Here are our 10 you should consider:

The Chevron

Growing style: A thick and wide moustache, usually worn long to cover the top border of the upper lip

Who wears it?: Businessmen, army officers, your dad in the 70s

Ridicule factor: 4/10 Pretty low, this is the easiest one to grow and get away with

Face shape: Square face

Movember growing difficulty: 2/10

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The Fu Manchu

Growing style: A moustache that begins on the upper lip and whose whiskers are grown very long to extend down each side of the mouth down to the jaw. The areas beyond the corner of your mouth are shaven so the hair hangs down past your chin

Who wears it?: Ming the Merciless, Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, any Kung Fu master

Ridicule factor: 8/10 Pretty high, unless you can walk the walk and talk the talk

Face shape: Long face

Movember growing difficulty: 8/10

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The Handlebar

Growing style:?Horizontal in its nature it looks just like the handlebars of a bicycle. The ends must be worn long enough to curl them upwards

Who wears?it?: Old army majors, anyone from the 19th Century

Ridicule factor: 7/10 Unless you are wearing a smoking jacket and carrying a pipe in which case it drops to 1/10

Face shape: Square or round face

Movember growing difficulty: 6/10

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The Horseshoe

Growing style:?Looks like a goatee without the chin element and differs from the Fu Manchu as you don't let it hang. This is stuck to your face all the way

Who?wears it?: Dude from the Village People, John Travolta, Hulk Hogan, Ben Stiller in Dodgeball

Ridicule factor: 5/10 It's a fairly easy one to grow and if you're cheating you can hide it with a goatee until the last minute

Face shape: Square or long face

Movember growing difficulty: 6/10

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The Painter's Brush

Growing style:?As the name suggests a thick moustache covering the width of the mouth, usually worn short, with slightly rounded corners

Who wears?it?: Most moustache growing dudes growing for Movember

Ridicule factor: 4/10

Face shape: Square or round face

Movember growing difficulty: 1/10 Even easier than the Chevron, chances are this is what you are going to grow for most of the month

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The Toothbrush/Dictator

Growing style: Looks like a toothbrush under your nose

Who wears?it?: Robert Mugabe, Adolf Hilter, your average tyrant

Ridicule factor: 10/10 You'll look like a idiot and no one will want to be your friend, unless they happen to be a egotistical megalomaniac.

Face shape: Square, round or long face

Movember growing difficulty: 1/10 You'll be able to get it up and running on the first day

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The Pencil

Growing style: Thin, pencil thin, mo that's been trimmed narrow

Who wears?it?: Errol Flynn, Brad Pitt, film director John Walters

Ridicule factor: 9/10 Unless you look like Brad Pitt in which case 8/10

Face shape: Round face

Movember growing difficulty: 3/10 Pretty easy although it takes a lot of upkeep

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The Walrus

Style: Big and bushy mo that you let grow out of control

Who wears?it?: Stalin, anyone trying to grow a mo for a moustache competition

Ridicule factor: 6/10 But only if you are over 40, else 8/10

Face shape: Square face

Movember growing difficulty: 6/10 easy, but only if you're one hairy dude

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The Sanchez

Style: Interestingly not an accepted moustache by the American Moustache Institute, it is worn across the top of your lip down to the creases in your smile, normally thin

Who wears?it?: Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite, Cool people

Ridicule factor: 6/10 But if you're cool 1/10

Face shape: Square or round face

Movember growing difficulty: 8/10

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The Lamo

Style: This is one for those who struggle to grow facial hair at all and is the result of growing anything you can under your nose

Who wears?it?: People who never have to shave, anyone doing Movember in the first week

Ridicule factor: 10/10 You'll have to wear a badge saying you are doing it for charity to save being the butt of every joke going

Face shape: Square, round or long face

Movember growing difficulty: 1/10 This is first day embrassment stuff

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Tags: Gadgets Movember Features

Moustache styles and what to grow originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Barclaycard has announced another high street retailer is to roll out a contactless payment system for its OnePulse cards.

Sandwich, soup and cofee shop EAT is to offer wave and pay transactions across its entire chain of 100 stores from mid-November.

The roll out follows an 18-month trial across 30 EAT shops in London, seeing the faster way to pay soon to be available in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge.

Barclaycard's contactless payment network now includes more than 9000 outlets in the UK inluding Pret a Manger, Coffee Republic, the National Trust, Books Etc and Yo Sushi.

Tags: Gadgets EAT Barclaycard Barclays RFID NFC

EAT to offer contactless payment nationwide originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:28:38 +0000

Creative has announced it is to enter the e-book reader market with the forthcoming launch of what's dubbed the "MediaBook" which will run on the company's Zii Plaszma platform.

It seems the tablet-esque device may fall more into the PMP category but boast ebook reading capabilities as it won't offer an easy-on-the-eyes E-Ink-type display - rather a touchscreen - and will offer a "media-rich experience".

The MediaBook, revealed at Creative's recent AGM, will boast text-to-speech functionality, an SD memory card slot, internet connectivity, and will offer "videos, pictures, text and [other] services".

Creative is said to be in talks with publishers to provide content for the device with "fiction, newspaper, magazines, education materials and textbooks" said to be in the mix.

There's no further details at this stage about the MediaBook, but we'll keep you posted.

Read

Tags: Gadgets Creative eBook readers Zii PMPs Audio

Creative unveils plans for Zii MediaBook originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:16:35 +0000

Movember is upon us once more and that means plenty of talk about moustaches, moustache gadgets and of course not forgetting the main reason for the facial hair growth - helping raise awareness for?prostate Cancer.

Over the next 30 days the Pocket-lint team and others will be growing a moustache for charity. It's a tough job that from experience means we will be ridiculed, stared at, and worse still not get many kisses.

But fear not my hairless friends (that's you), it is not too late to join our hairy(ish) team.

We will be keeping a mo diary on the site so you can see our progress and expect plenty of related features exploring everything "Mo".

Men of tech! (that's you) join our brethren.

Read

Tags: Gadgets Bathroom gadgets Movember Comment Audio Car And GPS Dad Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness

Gentlemen start your Mo originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:35:49 +0000

Charging must be this year's buzzword. We've seen increasing numbers of charging stations, docks and wireless solutions as the accessories manufacturers realise we are all walking around with a number of gadgets that need charging, and have a house full of chargers and cables.

The BlueLounge Refresh looks to keep things clean, by bringing all this charging under control. The premise is simple: combine all your device charging into one unit and power it from a single plug socket.

To achieve this, the Refresh has two major parts. The base is a hollow wedge-shaped box, with a DC input on the back and six cables on the inside. These internal cables give you 2x iPod/iPhone, Micro-USB, Mini-USB and two standard female USB connections.

The base itself is constructed from plastic, but feels solid enough. It has rubber feet to give you a reasonably secure setting once it is sited on a desk. Inside a single green LED will confirm that it is connected to the power supply.

The second component of the Refresh is a rubberised black plastic plate that sits in the top of the base. This provides the platform on which your charging devices will sit, with the tactile finish providing enough friction to stop them sliding around. A cut-out section at the bottom of this plate allows the relevant cables to come through from the base to charge your selected devices.

It really is as simple as that. You plug it all in, select the correct cables for your chosen devices, place the top plate back on and connect your gadgets. Voila! You are charging without the usual tangle of wires.

The two female USB connections give you scope for selecting any other bespoke connections you need, for example if you have a phone that needs something different, you can simply connect the cable you'd normally use with your PC, bearing in mind that unless you have spare cables, you'll have to disconnect it to sync with your PC. It is also worth checking that your device will charge from USB and not just exchange data.

We tried a number of different devices, with three being a comfortable number given the space to rest them on the top plate. All the devices we tried charged without any problems, although potentially there is the chance that if you draw too much (by connecting too many devices) then some might not charge.

Once setup and sitting securely on a desk or table, the BlueLounge Refresh looks tidy enough. Pick it up and the spare cables inside will rattle around a bit and the top plate isn't held in place by anything other than gravity.

Verdict:

There is little to dislike about the BlueLounge Refresh. It looks smart enough and does the job it sets out to do. Once you have a charger of this type, you'll probably wonder how you lived with the mess beforehand.

It is expensive though, coming in at ?70, which sounds like a lot for a plastic box with six wires inside.

Tags: Gadgets Bluelounge Refresh Bluelounge Chargers USB gadgets

BlueLounge Refresh charging station originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:12:03 +0000

Those with high self esteem might well like Firebox's latest offering - Minimee keychains.

Made to order, these individually crafted dolls are created to depict you exactly from a good quality image you supply as you order.

Minimee Keychains require 3 weeks lead time, measure approximately 5 x 3 x 3cm and cost ?19.99 each.

Related links:

• Shop - Firebox

Tags: Gadgets Keyrings Firebox Dad

Turn yourself into a Minimee keychain originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:33:36 +0000

The Wildcharge comes in the form of a slim black pad with silver conductive strips running along its surface and can either be picked up by itself or bundled with an optional adaptor depending on which device you’re primarily looking to use with it.

Skins are available for the Apple iPhone/touch and Blackberry Curve/Pearl and a range of additional adaptors are available for various other devices, along with a "PowerDisc" multi-adaptor solution that includes Mini- and Micro-USB along with attachments for most popular mobile phones.

You’ll need one of these skins/adaptors before you can use the Wildcharge, since there still needs to be a bridge between the power supplied by the pad and the power port on a handheld. In essence then, this is not so much a truly "wireless" charger as a way to bypass a simple cable.

With this in mind we can see the compartmentalised solutions on offer to Apple and BlackBerry owners as being far more appealing than connecting using a multi-adapter, and even though you can charge multiple devices at once using the pad we wonder how eager people will be to shell out for the necessary hardware in order to avoid plugging a phone in at the wall.

Setup and operation is very straightforward however, and a phone or other gadget is charged in the same way as it would be conventionally, and in about the same time. It really is as easy as placing a device down on the mat if you’re using a skin-solution, though the PowerDisc does involve fishing out the right adaptor and plugging this in manually.

The Wildcharge pad itself comes in at just under ?50, a multi-charger will set you back ?14.99 and dedicated "skins" start at ?22.99, though bundles are available for a significant saving. Still, it’ll be a simple assessment of cost versus benefit for most consumers and while gadget aficionados will no doubt laud the convenience of the WildCharge we’d question its appeal to the mass-market in its current guise.

Verdict:

The Wildcharge works well in an optimum environment and to an extent does what it says on the tin. There are conditions however, such as the fact that you have to employ a dedicated skin for Apple and BlackBerry devices or plugging a gadget in manually using a multi-charger, which kind of defeats the point. Those willing to shell out for what is ultimately a mild convenience should enjoy the benefits, but we can’t see it taking off quite yet.

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Tags: Gadgets Wildcharge Chargers Wireless Phones BlackBerry iPhone Phone chargers

Wildcharge wireless charger originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:34:40 +0000

You can now be a guitar hero away from the console with ThinkGeek's Electronic Guitar Shirt. $29.99 and four AAA batteries will see you rocking all over the world using just the shirt on your back.

Described as a "real instrument", the Electronic Guitar Shirt is said to be incredibly easy to play because each button on the neck is a major chord.

All major chords are recorded from a real electric guitar, and the included magnetic pick allows you to strum just like you would a real guitar.

The included mini amp clips to your belt and "gets plenty loud" while the tone knob on the amp lets you adjust the sound just like a real guitar.

If the ability to "play dozens of classic rock songs with very little skill" appeals, then hit play on the video above to see the shirt in action, while it's on sale over at the ThinkGeek site now.

Read

Related links:

• Shop - ThinkGeek

Tags: Gadgets Clothing T-shirts ThinkGeek Music games Audio Musical instruments GeekBooTeek Video

VIDEO: ThinkGeek's Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:52:12 +0000

Earlier in the week it was the?New York Times?supposedly spilling the beans, now it's the Sydney Morning Herald.

According to the paper in Australia, Apple is uncharacteristically talking to a number of media companies in preparation for the launch of an?Apple tablet?or Slate.

While rumours have been kicking around for some time with plenty of mock-ups created by devoted fans, the paper claims that:

"Apple has sent specifications of the device to Australian media companies in an effort to sound out whether they would be interested in delivering their content to the tablet. None would speak about the device on the record".

The news comes just a day after the executive editor of the New York Times has referred to the mythical Apple tablet in a speech as the "impending Apple slate", reigniting the smouldering rumours of the device.

Bill Keller's off-the-record speech, not supposed to be recorded and leaked to the Internet, is a business-based monologue about the future of the NYT, including a look at new digital delivery platforms.

"I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate...", Keller states, as reported by eager-eared Gawker.

The quote from Keller apparently follows reports from earlier this year that a "stealth team" from the paper met with Apple executives - as well as other content publishers - on a top-secret matter.

We will keep you posted.

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Read

Tags: Gadgets Internet tablets Apple Rumours Hardware Apple tablet

New Apple tablet rumours surface down under originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:21:53 +0000

Tags: Audio Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards

Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards date confirmed and tickets on sale originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:03:36 +0000

The makers of BigDog have unveiled PetMan, a biped robotic that could be used to test military suits that might one day protect soldiers in chemical warfare.

Boston Dynamics describes the machine as a "biped robot that balances dynamically using a human-like walking motion. It is a close relative to BigDog, sharing elements of the mechanical design and control".

Hit play on the video above to see PetMan in action at speeds over over 3 miles per hour - even a sharp shove does not put it off its stride.

Read

Tags: Gadgets Robots Boston Dynamics Video

VIDEO: BigDog makers reveal PetMan originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:07:28 +0000

Stuart Miles brings us his customary comment from NYC with a look at the talking points from this week in tech.

Under the spotlight in this instalment is Apple's Magic Mouse and whether this is the beginning of the end for the button and the launch of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system.

Miles also muses the rise of real-time search with the news that Google and Bing are due to integrate Twitter content into their search results as well as offering thoughts on Google's Social Search.

The fact that Nokia is suing Apple for patent infringement is the final topic under consideration - is the Finnish giant protecting its patents or looking for a quick cash injection? Hit play for more...

Tags: Audio Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness Comment Video

VIDEO: Tech Week in View: Magic Mouse, Social Search and Nokia sues Apple originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:05:00 +0000

The ebook reader marketplace is becoming rapidly populated as manufacturers rush to produce a gadget that not everyone's got yet.

Some potential purchasers are said to be put off from making the leap from hardback to ebook due to the electronic version not offering such a tactile experience.

This new concept design aims to address such issues with a "flipper" section on the right edge that can be pushed up, or down, to virtually turn a page.

Other innovations within the design include the flip gesture generating power for the device, a neat idea for a power-saving solution.

Read

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Concepts Bibliofile

Bibliofile ebook reader concept design revealed originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:19:57 +0000

A new camera rig for your DSLR camera or camcorder is hoping to take your photography airborne thanks to a little help from a remote controlled helicopter.

Called SkyShutter, the custom built remote controlled helicopter allows those looking to create aerial photography on the cheap by mounting any device up to about 6lbs (your average video camera or DSLR) and taking it into the air.

Created to order, the miniature helicopter costs around $9,000 and comes with two remote controls; one for the copter and one for the mount so you can control the direction of the camera.

The company behind the creation says the "Helicam can easily manoeuvre through a narrow street to chase a car from one foot off the ground to 400 ft up".

The best recommendation from the designer Jason Lam when we spoke to him? Get some one who knows how to fly remote controlled helicopters else it could prove a very expensive shot.

Come on, admit it, you want one.?

Read

Tags: Cameras Gadgets Helicopters

RC helicopter rig flies your camera sky high originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:26:26 +0100

So, you read about Powermat back in January, you've pored over the specs and pricing details, and you've pinned up a few of our photos of the device on your wall. The only thing left for you to do is buy the damn thing. And shortly you can, should you so desire.

Powermat has announced that its charging device will be available in the UK from 30 October, both in "Home & Office" and "Portable" editions. For those of you who haven't clicked on any of our previous coverage of the technology, the device uses magnetic induction to generate power wirelessly, but only over very short ranges.

Powermat receivers are currently available for the iPhone, iPods, BlackBerry and Nintendo DS Lite and DSi devices. There's also a "Powercube" that comes with additional tips for Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and LG handsets, as well as the Sony PSP and a microUSB socket.

You'll need to buy a mat and then a charging unit - the mat costs ?70 for the Home & Office version, and ?80 for a portable variant that folds up. The Powercube with eight tips costs an additional ?30, as does a backplate for the BlackBerry Bold, Curve and Pearl handsets, and the Nintendo DS and DSi. Apple variants cost ?35 thanks to the additional cost of licensing from Apple.

Is this an awesome bit of tech, or a waste of ?105 when you could just plug a cable in instead? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Tags: Gadgets Chargers Wireless Powermat

Powermat products due 30 October originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:30:11 +0100

Amazon.com has announced "Kindle for PC", describing the release as "a free application that lets readers around the world enjoy Kindle books on their personal computers".

The US Kindle Store currently offers over 360,000 books, including new releases and most of the New York Times Bestsellers, which the company says are typically $9.99 or less and is apparently the only place to find some books in the digital format, Amazon is opening the store up to those who haven't bought into the Kindle system.

This move means Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle and the larger Kindle DX, on the iPhone and iPod touch thanks to the Kindle iPhone app, and now on PCs and laptops.

For those that want to read ebooks on both mobile devices and their PC, the Kindle for PC features Amazon’s Whispersync technology that automatically saves and synchronises bookmarks and last page read across devices.

"Kindle for PC is the perfect companion application for folks who own a Kindle or Kindle DX", said Ian Freed, vice president, Amazon Kindle.

"Kindle for PC is also a great way for people around the world to read the most popular books of today even if they don't yet have a Kindle".

Amazon says Kindle for PC will be available to customers around the world as a free download next month.

Tags: Software Amazon Amazon Kindle Kindle ebooks eBook readers Gadgets

Amazon announces Kindle for PC originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:19:12 +0100

Men of this world, this is your calling, your calling to sign up to become a real man, the kind of man that can present the news (Ron Burgundy), the kind of man that can be a private dick (Magnum PI) and not laugh about it, the kind of man....

Okay you get the gist. Movember is now almost upon us, and that means you need to sign up and get your moustache thoughts in gear.

Once again Pocket-lint will be going Movember for November in aid of charity and we are asking for your help.

We aren't asking for money (although you can pledge if you want), we aren't asking you to run hundreds of miles, all we want from you is to join our TechMo team, grow a moustache in November and help rid the world of the disease that kills thousands of men each year.

What many people don't appreciate is that one man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK, more than 35,000 men will be diagnosed this year and that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK.

The more that join us, the more we can "change the face of men's health" through raising awareness and the money that will be raised.

Let's do this - register and grow a moustache as a Mo Bro, or sign on as a Mo Sista.

To join this Movember team go to http://uk.movember.com/register/7181 and follow the steps.

Once registered you'll be sent all the information you need to get growing.

Let's "Change the Face of Men's Health".

Stuart Miles and the Pocket-lint team.

P.S PR's of this world. Pledge money and we will give you a big shout out on the site for helping us in a good cause.

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Related links:

• Link - Movember TechMo team page

Tags: Audio Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness Movember

Movember 2009: Join our TechMo team originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:45:19 +0100

Amazon has quietly dropped the price of the Kindle international edition by $20 to bring it in line with the original Kindle price in the US.

UK customers wanting to sign up for the ebook reader that was announced just weeks ago, and only?just available this week, will now only have to pay $259 instead of the launch price of $279.

Amazon hasn't stated a reason for the drop in price, however the price drop could be down to the ebook market heating up in the run up to Christmas.

On Tuesday Barnes & Noble, Amazon's biggest competitor in the book selling market, launched the Nook, an ebook reader with a colour android-powered touch screen for navigation.

Amazon has confirmed that users who paid $279 will get a $20 refund.

"Due to strong customer demand for the new Kindle with U.S. &?International Wireless, we are consolidating our family of 6-inch?Kindles. As part of this consolidation, we are lowering the price of?our Kindle with US & International wireless down to $259. The new?Kindle with 3G wireless that works in the U.S. and globally in over?100 countries is in-stock and available for immediate shipment.?Customers who purchased the device at $279 will be automatically?refunded the $20 difference in price. They don't need to do anything?to receive this refund, it's automatic and they will receive an email?from us confirming the refund". Amazon told Pocket-lint when asked.

The news comes as Amazon launches a free application that lets readers around the world enjoy Kindle books on their personal computers called Kindle for PC.

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Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle International edition gets price cut originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:17:11 +0100

O2 has announced the launch of O2 Recycle, an online service that claims to make it easy for people to recycle old handsets in return for cash.

Run by Redeem, the service can be used by anyone in the UK, regardless of network, and as well as phones will accept MP3 players, digital cameras, GPS devices and other consumer electronics.

People can visit www.o2recycle.co.uk, enter details of their device, get an estimated value, print off a receipt while a pre-paid postage bag is sent to them to put the phone and receipt in and send back.

Once the device has been received and is confirmed to be in good working order, the customer receives a text to say that the money will be transferred to their account.

For every device O2 will donate ?1 to the "It's Your Community" charity while the products are sold on to global markets by Redeem.

Tags: Eco Phones Mobile phones O2 Redeem Gadgets Online

O2 offers online mobile phone recycling originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:02:55 +0100

The Star Trek Tricorder, a device that allows medics to check their patients in the field in the sci-fi TV show, took a step closer to becoming reality today thanks to a new device being shown off by General Electric in the US.

The device, which is a cross between a mobile phone and an iPod was shown at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco on Tuesday.

Called Vscan, the clamshell designed gadget is aimed at doctors, and possibly would-be parents who could use it in their office or in the field to check the progress of unborn babies or other medical instances, rather than sending their patients to a specialist department for a scan.

Jeff Immelt, GE's CEO, said that the device, which will be available sometime next year, will be "very digitally capable", coming with a small screen and the ability to save the images. It won't, however, feature Wi-Fi connectivity which would give it the ability to send images to others.

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Tags: Dad Gadgets General Electric Medical

Star Trek's Tricorder on route to becoming reality originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:46:33 +0100

Barnes and Noble today confirmed rumours of its ebook, and with it took the fledgling device market into overdrive, Pocket-lint was on hand to grab a play and some pictures.

Up until now ebooks have featured just the one screen, this Nook takes this to the next level by adding a second 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display the size of the iPhone for navigating, making the Amazon Kindle and the Sony readers look decidedly dated.?

Specs include Wi-Fi, 3G connectivity via AT&T and a micro SD card slot so you can expand the storage capabilities over the 2GB of on-board memory. The screen will be Android powered.

Priced at $259 and available in the next couple of weeks (end of November), the nook should shake the market up considerably.?

We will add more photos when we get them.

Related links:

• Link - official nook website

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Barnes and Noble Barnes and Noble Nook Photos

PHOTOS: Barnes and Noble Nook originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:43:35 +0100

Barnes and Noble has let slip details of its much rumoured ebook launch on its own website hours before an official announcement.

In what seems like a slip up, the book seller has detailed the features of the new product including images, and price ($259).

Called the Nook, the ebook will sport two screens, one full-colour 3.5-inch touchscreen for navigating and one E Ink display for reading.

"Just use your finger to swipe through titles and tap open your next read", says the blurb on the site.

It will also come with a Wi-Fi and 3G connection via AT&T's wireless network (the same as the Amazon Kindle) and sport 2GB of memory as well as a micro SD card slot for expanding it further.

Tech specs include dimensions of 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.5-inches with a weight of 317 grams. It will feature a rechargeable replaceable battery and come with a micro USB socket. The screen will be Android powered.

In an attempt to appeal to sharers, you'll also be able to share books for 14 days with other devices like ebook readers, the iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry and Mac and PC users via the eReader software. When books are lent out, users won't be able to access the books.

Users will also be able to "sideload" PDF documents unlike the Kindle and offer support for ePUB documents.

Barnes & Noble has said that it is looking at an international roll out, however failed to mention a time frame when Pocket-lint asked.

The company has also confirmed that it is working on a Windows Mobile app as well as hinting at an Android app in the future.

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Related links:

• UPDATE - Photo gallery live from the launch event
• Link - Official nook side

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Barnes and Noble Barnes and Noble Nook

Barnes & Noble Nook released originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:26:39 +0100

After a brief summer break, Megawhat is back on Pocket-lint with a brand new Tech Week in View episode for your viewing pleasure.

Pocket-lint's Stuart Miles talks tourists on Segways and tells us why he thinks the new Sonos S5 is a tidy bit of kit.

Miles also considers the Amazon Kindle's UK launch (was it a bit of a rush job?) and looks at what the? T-Mobile Sidekick data loss might mean for the cloud computing industry.

Watch the video above now to see it all play out, and stay tuned for more comment from Pocket-lint soon.

Tags: Audio Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness events Comment Video

Tech week in view: Tourists on Segways, the Kindle in the UK and trouble in the cloud originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:42:19 +0100

In the States a college inventor has created an RFID-enabled coffee cup, allowing for wave-and-pay transactions in coffee houses without getting your wallet out.

While here in the UK NFC phones and RFID card systems have and are being trialled by both the London Underground and coffee shop type establishments, Chris Hallberg has taken a link out of the chain by adding the RFID chip directly to the cup.

The Smug Mug system will be in use sometime next year at a local Milwaukee coffee chain, Stone Creek Coffee, but Hallberg is hoping the concept might get picked up by larger companies looking to boost customer loyalty from time-pressed commuters.

The suggested price for the re-usable Smug Mug is $15, a price tag that include $5 credit for the relevant store.

Read

Related links:

• Link - Smug Mug

Tags: Gadgets RFID Biz Smug Mug Eco

Smug Mug adds RFID chip to coffee cup originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:16:12 +0100

Barnes & Noble is expected to launch a new ebook, called the Nook, today in New York according to sources who've seen a yet unannounced advert.

According to both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, the device will feature a colour touchscreen display and a separate e-ink powered screen for reading.

"It will cost $259, matching Amazon.com’s most recent price cut for its latest edition of the Kindle," cites the NYT article.

The NYT is claiming the information has been garnered from an advert Barnes & Noble have placed in the Oct. 25 issue of The New York Times Book Review and comes after pictures of the device supposedly appeared last week.

It's been a busy week for ebook launches with Monday seeing an announcement from Plastic Logic?for a new ebook that will be shown off at CES 2010,?and a from fairly unkown company Spring Design who's Alex concept, which will supposedly be coming to market later this year, also features two screens.?

Rumours first surfaces earlier last week, while other sources are suggesting a 22 October, the same day as Windows 7, launch date, making it perfect Christmas stocking fodder in time for the holidays.

Earlier in the year, Barnes & Noble announced the launch of an ebook store that offers over 500,000 ebooks as well as free Wi-Fi in its stores, presumably to encourage the use of the new devices.

Pocket-lint will be at the Barnes & Noble?event?on Tuesday 20 October bringing you all the news as it happens.

Tags: Gadgets ebooks Barnes and Noble Amazon Amazon Kindle Spring Design Plastic Logic eBook readers Barnes and Noble Nook

Barnes & Noble Nook leaked originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:05:32 +0100

The ebook reader product releases continue apace, but this time round there's something a little different on offer with an Android phone incorpoated into an ebook reader.

Spring Design has announced "Alex", the first e-book reader running Android with full browser capabilities and two screens - one a 6-inch E-Ink display and a 3.5-inch colour display underneath.

The unusual device can "liven up text" with multimedia links, the target of which can be displayed on the secondary colour LCD screen, actually an integrated Android mobile device, which can also show photos and videos.

"Duet Navigator" tech means content can be shown on either screen while "Link Notes", a multimedia authoring tool means users will be able to "dynamically grab relevant content".

With Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, Alex offers expandable storage via SD card, headphones and speakers, as well as "smartphone capabilities".

Spring Design says it is "currently in discussion with, and enlisting major content partners and plans to release the Alex device for selected strategic partners by the end of this year".

Read

Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Spring Design Spring Design Alex Android Phones ebooks

Spring Design Alex dual-screen ebook reader announced originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:02:18 +0100

Plastic Logic has announced a new ebook reader, the "Que", that's due to be launched at the CES show in January 2010.

Describing the device as the first "proReader" designed for business professionals, the Que wants to "connect its users with their business and professional newspapers, books and periodicals... and supports the document formats business users need (including PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents)".

Plastic Logic says the Que store will be powered by Barnes & Noble, the Amazon rival that's making a big play for the ebook and ebook reader market with both Plastic Logic and iRex team-ups revealed recently.

Boasting what's said to be the largest touchscreen in the industry and with the hint of "powerful tools for interacting with and managing the content", the Que is seriously skinny at less than a third of an inch thick, lightweight, Wi-Fi and AT&T (in the US) 3G-enabled, and measures around 8.5 by 11-inches.

Finally, the Que's display is made of shatterproof plastic and its battery "can last days, instead of hours", apparently. For all other spec, pricing and availability info we've got to hang on until 7 January when all will be revealed at the CES show - we will keep you posted.

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Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Plastic Logic Barnes and Noble ebooks Biz CES2010

Plastic Logic announces "Que" ebook reader for January launch originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:35:59 +0100

Firebox has put together an interesting little product for wannabe DJs. The Urban DJ Mixer is a gold-painted cassette-shaped gadget that will let you crossfade between a pair of audio inputs.

And that's all. It won't let you change the pitch of those inputs - which could be a mobile phone, laptop, CD player, stereo, or iPod - or trigger them - you'll have to do that on the device itself. It does have a headphone monitor socket, though, to let you cue tracks up without hearing them in the master-out.

It's powered by two AAA batteries, and doesn't appear to come with 3.5mm jack cables, so you'll probably have to buy some of them too - at least three. Once you're there, though, this could be useful for houseparties where no-one brought any decks and a mix CD or collaborative Spotify playlist just won't cut it.

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Tags: Audio Gadgets Firebox Urban DJ Mixer iPod

Firebox offers Urban DJ Mixer originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:04:03 +0100

Almost falling into the NSFW category, Firebox is offering the USB "Snakescope" camera, a still slash video borescope for under ?30.

With a "robust", semi-flexible insertion tube, the camera head and cable are waterproof, so ideal for checking out your, er, plumbing. There's also a clip-on magnet that will help to retrive metal objects.

Complete with software that allows you to view, edit and save down recordings, the snakescope records in VGA quality and works with Windows-based PCs.

Related links:

• Shop - Firebox

Tags: Cameras Firebox Digital cameras USB gadgets Gadgets Camcorders

Firebox offers USB Snakescope camera originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:44:37 +0100

HANNspree is tacking the Christmas shopping market from a new angle - an all–in-one Photo Alarm Clock.

Described as "the perfect bedside gadget", as you'd expect it features alarm clock functionality with three alarms and snooze and sleep options, a photo viewer as well as an FM radio and digital music player.

The 4.3-inch colour LCD screen can be set to display seven different clock face styles, a calendar or photos with a slideshow option while USB connectivity means file transfer for photos, as well as MP3 or WAV music files is said to be easy.

The HANNspree Photo Alarm Clock is available now from www.misco.co.uk for ?44.99.

Tags: Gadgets HANNspree Alarm clocks Cameras Digital photo frames Misco Radios

HANNspree Photo Alarm Clock launches originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:16:21 +0100

The Amazon Kindle ebook reader is now available to be ordered by those residing in the UK.

Previously only available to consumers in the States, Amazon recently announced it would offer an "International Edition" of its popular eReader.

However, those in the UK, and the 200 other countries the device is now available to, will have to order the device through Amazon.com in US dollars, and stump up for the relevant import fees.

In addition to this, Amazon will be charging UK customers more for content for the Kindle, around $13.99 (?8.75) per book instead of the American price of $9.99 (?6.25).

And finally, UK consumers should note that the Kindle will ship with a US power charger, which, although the device can also charge up via USB, means if they want to wall charge their device, they'll need to buy an adaptor.

So, has this put off UK gadget-lovers from wanting a Kindle? In our most recent Pocket-lint reader poll, we asked "Do you plan to buy an International Edition Kindle?"

The results were fairly even with Pocket-lint readers' love of gadgetry coming in with 48% saying "yes" and 52% with a "no".

Were you a yes or are you sticking with a no? Have your say on Amazon's International Edition Kindle option in the comments box below...

Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Kindle Amazon Kindle Survey Statistics

Amazon Kindle UK import orders begin originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:37:14 +0100

Audio Cubes is offering a flash drive that will appeal to Spock fans as it's shaped after the famous "live long and prosper" Vulcan salute.

Perfect for storing your episodes of Star Trek on - although not that many as it's only a 2GB capacity - the drive is up for grabs now for $35.99.

Audio Cubes says: "Imagine the Vulcan Salute USB key as an unspoken greeting between file sharers wishing peaceful exchange of information".

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Related links:

• News - Firebox offers Star Trek cologne

Tags: Gadgets USB gadgets Flash drives Star Trek Audiocubes

Vulcan salute flash drive available originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:21:24 +0100

A Taiwanese company called Netronix has a few new ebook reader models coming that might just appeal to those that want more than the ablility to read books on their ebook reader.

The EB600 Cookie (we have no idea why it's called that) has a 6-inch touch screen e-ink display which can display eight grey levels and boasts no less than 16,000 turns of ebook pages on a single charge.

For those interested in more technical details, it has a 400MHz processor, microSD card slot, runs Linux and incorporates 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

It also has a built in rotation sensor that will automatically switch the screen between landscape and portrait mode.

The next model up, the EB600 Grace adds support for hand written notes and annotations, but this seems to be the only major difference between it and the Cookie.

These two models are set to be superseded by the EB600 Swiftie which offers an improved e-ink display that manages to produce 16 grey levels. It also gets a faster 600MHz processor.

Early next year we should see a 9.7-inch model that may or may not get a colour e-ink display, something Plastic Logic has also been linked with recently.

Hopefully someone will pick up the Netronix devices, add their own branding to them and sell them for cheap, as the features are definitely there as far as mass-market ebook readers go.

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Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Netronix

Netronix preps Cookie, Grace and Swiftie ebook readers originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:48:35 +0100

A 6-year-old boy,?Falcon Heene, was trapped in a helium balloon on Thursday in a 2-and-a-half-hour long unexpected flight.?

Rescue services in Colorado, near Fort Collins in the?US, tracked the home-made UFO in an attempt to save a 6-year-old who was trapped inside.?The "home built UFO", made a by father and son team took off unexpected on Thursday afternoon with the boy supposedly inside.

The balloon has now come down in a field, however on closer inspection, the boy wasn't onboard.?

Authorities are now baffled as to where the boy could be.

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The landing

Eyewitnesses reports are now reporting that people saw something drop from the air prompting authorities to perform a ground search for the boy.

Richard Heene, the father of the missing boy is a Colorado weather-chaser.

Further digging by the US media has revealed that the boy and his family — mother, Mayumi and brothers, Ryo and Bradford appeared on the ABC series "Wife Swap" on Oct. 3, 2008 and were voted back for the 100th episode of the show, which aired on March 13, 2009.

UPDATE: The boy has now be found. He was hiding in a box in the attic of his family's home.

Tags: Gadgets Dad Video

Balloon boy: 6 year old trapped in helium balloon originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:35:36 +0100

Gizmodo is claiming to have exclusive pictures of the Barnes and Noble ebook expected to be announced on 20 October in New York.

Although details are sketchy and the images themselves are artist renders probably more at home on Yanko design, nonetheless what ebook fans will find most interesting is the inclusion of two screens.

According to the mock-up, one screen will offer an e-ink display for reading, while the other will sport a colour touchscreen panel for control.

The rumour certainly ties in with previous comments that a colour screen model was due in 2010. Although the bookseller has since confirmed that the comments by said individual weren't true, the inclusion of a colour screen for control not reading could still happen.

Pocket-lint will be at the NYC event on the 20 October.

We will keep you posted.

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Tags: Gadgets ebooks Barnes and Noble eBook readers Rumours Barnes and Noble Nook

Barnes & Noble ebook pictures supposedly appear originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:41:47 +0100

The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards are back letting you know what the best products of 2009 really are.

Now in its 6th year, the Pocket-lint Awards, thought to be the longest running in the UK, pick the best gadgets and gizmos from the last year from around the world.

Pocket-lint's vigorous vetting process means that all the gadgets up for nomination have to have been seen by a member of the Pocket-lint team (so far over 600) and have to have been available somewhere in the world between December 2008 and December 2009.

The awards, voted by a panel of leading gadget journalists from around the world, including the staff from the Pocket-lint team, will decide the real must-have gadgets of the year, rather than those simply deemed cool or anticipated, being the definitive guide for consumers looking to buy gadgets.

Better still, because we don't have a print publication to worry about, we haven't had to call the decision early meaning the best gadgets of 2009 get a chance to win rather than those just announced in the first half of the year.

This year's categories are:?

• Best music gadget
• Best car gadget
• Best digital camera
• Best laptop
• Best software/service/app
• Best game
• Best gaming hardware
• Best home cinema device
• Best mobile phone
• Best gadget
• Product of the Year 2009

Nominations for the award categories are being taken now and the final list of nominations (five per category)?will be announced on Monday 16 November with the winners being announced at an awards party at the beginning of December.?

What do you think are the best gadgets of 2009? What should be included for nomination? Let us know in the comments below:

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Tags: Audio Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards

Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 announced originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:42:59 +0100

Gadgets are great aren't they? The problem is, is that the current batch of latest and greatest last about 12 hours before you need to find a power socket. If that sounds familiar then you need to look at alternative power solutions. In steps the Energizer range of power of the go options and in this case the Xpal XP2000.

The new range, called Energizer Energi To Go, range in size and capability with the smallest offering starting at 600mAh for phones to an 18,000mAh charger that can power up to three devices at once, including a notebook.

Each battery will come with a series of power "tips" in the box that lets you connect and charge most devices, with the company going as far as to say that they've got virtually every device built in the last 10 years covered. If you do manage to outsmart them, Energizer says that it will build you one at no extra cost.

So keen is the company to appeal to gadget fans, they are even promising two free tips a year for the life of the Energi To Go product to ensure that as consumers purchase new devices they will have the right tips to charge them.

Back to the XP2000 and you get the main charging unit and six tips including iPod/iPhone 30-pin dock connector, Mini-USB, Micro-USB, as well as tips for Samsung, Nokia and LG phones. The unit itself is also capable of taking a USB as well as a Mini-USB cable directly, so you can get around the lack of a cable/tip for your device.

In use and the battery gadget gets to work charging your gadgets for you. All you have to do it plug them into the main element and away you go. To give you an idea of charge there is a basic blue LED bar system that lights up accordingly. It doesn't tell you how much charge you've got or how much longer it will take to charge your device, just that the unit has charge.

The unit isn't without catches however. Without a power socket in the box you will have to charge the battery via USB and charging on the go is rather cumbersome, as you've got a battery dangling from your phone.

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Verdict:

It's basic in its offering, but then it is just a battery. Where the Energizer Energi To Go range succeeds is that it's not just restricted to one gadget.?However where it all falls down is that you can't really use or travel with your charging gadget effectively. While you can theoretically do it, it's a pain to use your phone and this battery at the same time.

What about at your desk? Well chances are you've got power at your desk so a backup battery isn't really a requirement.?This really is for those who know they are going to be without power access at some point of the day (like the train) or heading out into the wilderness.

Tags: Gadgets Batteries Energizer Energizer Xpal XP2000

Energizer Energi to Go Xpal XP2000 originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0100

If you've always dreamt about controlling your computer with your feet, then Brando has the perfect product for you with its new USB "foot switch".

The black plastic device sits under your desk, and with the tap of toe, can launch, or do, whatever the heck you've programmed it to.

Compatible for use with Windows PCs, your toe-tapping, hands-free, computing days are now upon you for a mere $18. Toe-rrific!

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Related links:

• Shop - Brando

Tags: Gadgets USB gadgets Brando

Brando offers USB foot pedal originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:54:44 +0100

GEAR4 has announced it is to launch what it says is the world's first dedicated wireless iPhone charger – the PowerPad.

Rather than conductive charging, the PowerPad uses inductive charging, where power is transmitted through the case to the iPhone battery. This means the iPhone can be placed anywhere on the charge pad to be juiced up.

The charging pad plugs into the mains, while the rubber receiver case - that can also act as a protective cover when out and about - powers the device up wirelessly. GEAR4 claims the same charge time as standard wired chargers.

The PowerPad will be available across Europe from November, the charge pad and case kit will cost ?79.99 or 99.99 euros.

Tags: Phones iPhone accessories GEAR4 Wireless Chargers Gear4 PowerPad Gadgets iPhone

GEAR4 PowerPad wireless iPhone charger announced originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:07:33 +0100

A new gadget that is hoping to let people access the 3 million odd articles on Wikipedia away from the computer has been launched in the US.?

If you find yourself always reading Wikipedia this might just be the gadget for you. Called the WikiReader the handheld gadget sports a monochrome touchscreen, is powered by two AAA batteries giving it enough juice for a year of use.?

With an onscreen keyboard and three quick buttons, you'll be able to access articles stored on the device at the "stroke of a finger" says the maker.

Updates?for the WikiReader are delivered on a quarterly basis and are available to download for free via a website, although the company also offers a microSD card option for $29 a year.

Designed by a former Apple employee, the new device is available from Amazon straight away and costs $99.

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Tags: Gadgets Wikipedia WikiReader

WikiReader gadget puts Wikipedia in your hand for $99 originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:00:21 +0100

Barnes & Noble will announced details of its own e-Reader next week, the company has confirmed.

Invites are slowly making their way to journalists asking them to join them to a "major event in the company's history".

The Wall Street Journal has already reported that the company is working on its own e-Reader to rival products from Amazon and Sony.

Barnes & Noble has already struck deals to serve as the bookstore for e-Readers made by others, including Plastic Logic.

The news comes following an announcement with iRex in September and the launch of its own online book store in July.

The online book store will bring some 700,000 titles to customers keen to read, will cost $9.99 per book and in the process leapfrog Amazon's ebook offerings, making it the world's biggest ebook retailer, said the company.

Looking to appeal to a wider audience, the company will offer software for the iPhone, BlackBerry handsets, PC and Mac as well as signing an exclusive deal with e-reader maker Plastic Logic.

At the time, the company said that it was working with Plastic Logic to create a new e-Reader device that would measure 8.5 x 11 inches and offer wireless connectivity when it becomes available in early 2010.

We will keep you posted.

UPDATE: Plastic Logic has announced the Que ebook reader to launch in partnership with Barnes & Noble.

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Related links:

• News - Plastic Logic announces "Que" ebook reader for January launch

Tags: Gadgets ebooks Barnes and Noble eBook readers iRex Plastic Logic Barnes and Noble Nook

Barnes and Noble to announce new e-Reader originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:29:44 +0100

Just over two thirds of the UK enjoy being connected at all times and in fact, feel more relaxed when hooked-up than not, a new Virgin Media report suggests.

Over a third of those surveyed said they experienced anxiety when not able to use technology to stay in touch with their family, 31% got the wobbles about not being able to work online and 27% were concerned when they could not connect with friends.

"To disconnect from technology may mean missing something we cannot afford to. Always being connected actually becomes increasingly essential for peace of mind", says psychologist Nik Simpson who has coined the? term "SOSOs", those who switch on to switch off.

74% of British households always have laptops on, that stat hits 76% as far as mobile phones go, while the the television is always on in 74% of UK homes.

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Tags: Gadgets Phones Virgin Media Hardware Survey Statistics

35% Brits are less stressed when "connected" originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:51:33 +0100

It seems that James Dyson has got something up his sleeve, and with a global launch planned for tomorrow, a teaser has hit the Internet.

Hitting play on the clip above is your best way to get an idea of the mysterious video that shows a range of seemingly ordinary consumer types react in an astounded fashion to something they are shown.

There are "wows", "whoas", "what is that?" and "oh my goshes" galore as the device makes a slight humming noise in the background. One good guess would be the blade-less fan design the company recently patented.

A bleeped out question sounds very much like "where are the buttons?" but if you spot anything else that could be a clue, or have a guess as to what it could be, let us know in comments and when we bring you the official news tomorrow we'll see just who was closest.

Tags: Gadgets Dyson Home And Kitchen Video Rumours Dyson Air Multiplier

VIDEO: Dyson's mysterious teaser originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:33:35 +0100

Fans of retro style will be pleased to see the Mathmos Fireflow, an authentic-looking lava lamp that works on candle power.

In chrome-finished cast zinc alloy it's powered by a single tea light that will get the lava moving after about a 20 minutes for up to 3 hours of mesmerising glow.

At 24cm tall, the Fireflow is available now with either pink or blue goo for ?29.95.

Related links:

• Shop - Firebox

Tags: Home And Kitchen Gadgets Firebox Lighting Mathmos Retro

Firebox offers Mathmos Fireflow originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:27:28 +0100

It started off as an April Fools' joke, but rather like Pocket-lint's very own April fool the Tauntaun sleeping bag is to become a reality.

Thinkgeek, purveyor of all things geeky that you can buy on the Internet in the US, has announced ity will be selling the kid's sleeping bag for $99 from November for Star Wars fans keen to relive the scene on planet Hoth, involving Luke Skywalker and a Tauntaun in Empire Strikes Back.

"This high-quality sleeping bag looks just like a Tauntaun, complete with saddle, internal intestines and plush lightsaber zipper pull", reads the blurb on the product page.

Bag dimensions - 33 x 67 inches (not including head pillow or legs) unfortunately suggesting it's not for anyone over 5ft.

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Tags: Gadgets Tauntaun sleeping bag ThinkGeek Star Wars

Tauntaun sleeping bag lets you relive Empire Strikes Back sleepovers originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 06:26:01 +0100

Amazon has u-turned on its launch promise not to charge international Kindle users more than it does US consumers, in a rip-off Britain move familiar to UK-based gadget fans who often suffer from inflated pricing.

Despite Amazon stating that "there are no additional fees for international customers" when the Kindle was announced for the UK market, the Guardian has discovered that UK users will in fact be charged 40% more than those in the States.

From the paper: "An Amazon.co.uk spokesman revealed that foreign customers would be paying $13.99 (?8.75) per book instead of the American price of $9.99 (?6.25). That amounts to a 40% premium for the same title".

Although UK users won't be charged the $1.99 roaming fee that Americans will have to pay for using the device abroad, it seems this is how the etailer will recuperate the costs of data charges from AT&T's global partners for the OTA downloads.

Whether UK consumers will be happy to stump up almost half as much again as Americans pay for a digital product is yet to be seen - it certainly never hurt iTunes. Have your say on the matter in the comments box below.

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Related links:

• News - Amazon Kindle DX UK bound too
• Feature - Five good reasons to buy an Amazon Kindle

Tags: Gadgets Amazon Kindle ebooks eBook readers Biz Books

UK Kindle owners to be charged 40% more for content originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:04:18 +0100

Following Gadget4All's launch of lights resembling a keyboard's shift and control keys, more options have been added.

Sadly not the tab key we predicted, now also available are escape and delete. At this rate of release, you'll be able to construct a giant light-up keyboard in no time at all.

As before, the lights are available in yellow and white, turn on with a press and are on sale now for $19.90 each.

Tags: Gadgets Lighting Gadget4All

Escape and delete lights launched originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:05:56 +0100

American bookseller Barnes & Noble has revealed it is to offer an ebook reader with a colour screen as early as spring next year.

The revelation was made on video to JBruinSan and concerns an unnamed Plastic Logic device.

In the video, Barnes & Noble bod Daniel Joresson announces a dedicated ebook reader device with a colour screen the size of a paperback that will offer the? Barnes & Noble ebook store software.

In addition, similar to the Kindle app, Barnes & Noble will also extend its ebook platforms to "cellphones" like the iPhone and BlackBerrys.

No spec is revealed about the device, other than that colour screen but "new cool features" are promised.

Barnes & Noble has also teamed up with iRex to offer an ebook reader with an 8.1-inch touchscreen with stylus navigation and 3G wireless connectivity due before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal has run a recent report suggesting a Plastic Logic ereader is due from Barnes & Noble as early as next month, but this is not expected to be the colour model, although might run Android.

UPDATE: Plastic Logic has since stated this is not true. It's "inaccurate and the individual was misinformed". Although "color is on Plastic Logic's roadmap, it is not on the map for the spring of 2010".

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Tags: Gadgets Barnes and Noble eBook readers ebooks Plastic Logic Video Barnes and Noble Nook

VIDEO: Barnes and Noble to offer colour ebook reader originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:18:18 +0100

Gocycle has shown off a 12.9kg version of its electric bike at the London Cycle Show.

Dubbed the BlackR, it shares most of its construction with the regular Gocycle launched earlier in the year, but with a careful selection of components, Karbon Kinetics have got the weight down from 16.2 to 12.9kg.

The BlackR features the same Cleandrive three-speed drive system, and the same injection-moulded magnesium frameset with the funky Pitstop Wheels (which detach simply by flicking open the levers) as the regular Gocycle.

The changes have been made by adding a lighter saddle, pedal crank assembly, handlebar stem and lithium battery.

It folds away into the same soft or hard packing case to make it easily portable, but isn't designed to complete with the likes of Brompton's folding bikes.

A spokesperson told us that it was still a concept model and as such doesn't have a street price, but it was highly likely that it would be coming to market. With the regular version costing ?1198, it won't be cheap.

The London Cycle Show is running at the Earls Court, London from 9-11 October.

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Related links:

• Link - London Cycle Show
• Link - Gocycle

Tags: Sports Fitness Gadgets Eco Gocycle Gocycle BlackR

Gocycle BlackR electric bike demoed originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:06 +0100

Amazon in the US and UK has confirmed that it plans to take its other Kindle, the Kindle DX, international next year as well.

In the US the comments come from Amazon.com spokesman Drew Herdener who when asked simply said: "sometime next year".

Meanwhile in the UK Amazon.co.uk PR man Ben Howes has also confirmed the move to gadget site Electricpig. Rather than the standard "no comment" the site was expecting, Howes said: "we expect to add a Kindle DX family member with international roaming sometime next year".

The Kindle DX, comes with a 9.7-inch electronic paper display, a new built-in PDF reader, auto-rotate capability, and 3.3GB storage for up to 3500 books, Amazon has upped the price tag for the new model by $100 to $379.?

Amazon has announced that it is launching the Amazon Kindle in the UK and around the world as we reported it would last week.

"We have millions of customers in countries all over the world who read English-language books", said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "Kindle enables these customers to think of a book and download it wirelessly in less than 60 seconds".

Announced earlier in the week, the new 3G enabled Kindle International edition will sport a 6-inch screen, come in at just over a third of an inch thin (0.36 inches) and weigh just over 10 ounces according to Amazon. It will come with 2GB of memory allowing up to 1500 books to be stored on the internal drive.

Users will be able to access over 250,000 books to download over the air via the Kindle Store, including UK newspapers such as The Times and The Telegraph.

Kindle with U.S. & International Wireless edition will cost $279 and will be available for shipment to customers in over 100 countries around the world on 19 October, although currently users will have to purchase the Kindle from the US store and?import the Kindle into the UK.?

"In the future, we plan to introduce a UK-centric Kindle experience, enabling you to purchase Kindle and Kindle books in sterling from our Amazon.co.uk site", said Bezos in a letter to Amazon.co.uk customers published on the UK site.

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle DX UK bound too originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:57 +0100

Olympus has introduced the WS-560M digital voice recorder and mass storage device with the bold claims that it's "the sleekest and most eye-catching product on the market".
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With six recording modes including Windows Media Audio and three stereo options, the WS-560M also gets playback of MP3 and WAV and advanced noise cancellation technologies.

Offering 4GB of memory, the WS-560M boasts 1000 hours of recording in long-play mode. There's USB connectivity to hook it up to your PC, and the device also charges via USB boasting "long" battery life.
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Measuring 94.8 x 38 x 11mm, the WS-560M gets an LCD display and integrated speaker, comes in brown and is available from ?129.99.

Tags: Gadgets Olympus Olympus WS-560M Digital voice recorders USB gadgets Audio MP3 players Flash drives

Olympus WS-560M digital voice recorder launches originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:58:29 +0100

Amazon has confirmed to Pocket-lint that International customers won't have to pay for roaming charges on the new Kindle International edition.

"No they won’t", a spokesman for the company from the UK office told Pocket-lint after we asked if the company could confirm whether or not UK customers will have to pay the $1.99 download charge, before adding "Wireless delivery is included in the price of the book for international customers so there are no additional charges".

The confusion has arisen over how UK customers and those in other countries will be able to access books over the 3G connection Amazon is promising, as Amazon has confirmed that the Kindle will be roaming on the AT&T Global network.

However, UK users will still only be able to order the new Kindle via the US Amazon site and pay customs tax on the purchase.

At the moment the Kindle will be sold on an import basis to customers in the UK from Amazon.com. The price for the device is $279, and when import fees and shipping is added the total comes to $344.98, which works out at ?216.85 at today's rates.

Tags: Gadgets Kindle Amazon ebooks eBook readers

Amazon: International Kindle owners won't have to pay roaming charges originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:59:37 +0100

Let's face it, there's not a lot that's funnier in this life than a well-timed fart. If you can't always perform on cue then Firebox has your back(side) covered with its new Sound Machine.

In fact, as well as parps, the hilarious handheld gadget offers a variety of pithy phrases and comedic audio snippets, including the similarly gas-based burp as well as applause, perhaps to celebrate a well-delivered emission.

The full roll-call of sound effects is as follows: clap, audience laughter, unlucky, loser, bomb (nb. not funny in some parts of the world), gun shot (see previous nb), smashed glass, cash register, drum roll, punchline theme, spring, bright idea, wolf whistle, scream, fart and burp.

Infantile it maybe, but if you're not below using a little orange box to get laughs, then you should know it's on sale now from Firebox for ?9.99.

Related links:

• Shop - Firebox

Tags: Gadgets Dad Firebox

Firebox offers comedy "Sound Machine" originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:47:35 +0100

Panasonic Avionics has come up with a new concept for in-seat entertainment on aeroplanes. Dubbed the Fusion, it's for cattle-class seats, rather than for those that turn left. It gets an advanced touchscreen a USB port and iPod integration. When fitted into planes of the future it will offer video, games and internet access in a rather tidy design.

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Tags: Gadgets Home Cinema Panasonic Aeroplanes Video Concepts

VIDEO: Panasonic's Fusion entertainment concept for aeroplanes originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:39:50 +0100

Huzzah! It's finally arrived. It's never fun to sit and drool while other cats in other countries get to play with all the best tech and, at last, we in the UK can get our clutches on the Amazon Kindle 2. So, it's here but so are one hell of a lot of eBook readers. The question is, do we still want it? See if this helps to make up your mind one way or the other.

Get it now

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1. It's Cheap
As premium eBook readers go, the Kindle 2 is a bit of a bargain. There's a slew of budget models out there at the same ?200 mark but none of those have the connectivity and over the air book store access. You can argue that the hardware on the Sony readers and the recently released iRex is better, but the tops of their lines are only available in the US at the moment and they're $100 dearer anyway.

2. Epic Kindle Store
Probably the biggest advantage in opting for the Kindle is access to the epically large Amazon Kindle book store which currently houses 350,000 plus titles. Google is looking to redress the balance somewhat by scanning a million books for free into the public domain, but it still doesn't change the fact that currently it's only Amazon in the UK that allows users to access and download from a store over 3G direct to their reader. Very useful.

3. Good Storage
It may seem strange to big up the internal storage on the Kindle 2 when there's the elephant in the room, namely the fact that it doesn't have an SD card slot or any other kind of removable media unlike most other readers. But, what Amazon does do is offer 2GB of internal space which is double what most manufacturers have come up with. That gives you room for around 1500 books which should be enough to get from London Paddington to Calcutta several times over and without both the added expense and faff of SD cards.

4. Text to Speech
The use of the text to speech function for most people is debatable, but there's a huge population of partially sited users in the world who'll be able to plug their headphones into the Kindle and have the device read their books to them. Whether you use it or not, it's good to know that the company you've signed up for is trying to cater for as many people as it can.

5. The Apple Effect
Arguably one of Apple's greatest factors for success is that they make the devices and they make the software that goes with them. Amazon has a similar thing going on in with eBook readers in that they make the device and the sell the books too. Many readers rely on sideloading through online stores like Waterstones and, as good as they are, these stores simply can't be tailor made to fit one device and its software. Of course, the other side of it is that you're not tied into any one ecosystem but then there's no need for financial negotiations or deals of any sort in the background with the Amazon solution which tends to make for a smoother and often slightly cheaper end service.

Give it a miss

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1. Screen Issues
Firstly, none of the Kindles has a touchscreen which is beginning to make gadgets look like they were built in the last century. One of its main rivals over here, the Sony Reader Touch edition, as its name suggests, does. The Kindle 2 does have a QWERTY if you don't mind getting old school - and indeed, some people prefer it - but there have also been some complaints with the quality of the contrast, and the 16 shade grey-scale has made some people feel so ill that they've switched back to the original Kindle.

2. Size Issues
Manufacturers like Sony and iRex are starting to offer readers in different sizes. Of course, Amazon offers the 10-inch DX but that has a fairly specific market and isn't the size that most people are after. A six-inch eBook reader may be the standard at the moment but it rules a section of the public out who'd rather choose from something more pocket size to the new wave of 8.1-inchers.

3. Limited File Support
Amazon has chosen a closed DRM file system for the Kindle, meaning that it only supports a very small number of strange sounding file types - .AZW, .MOBI, .AAX and .TXT plus MP3s as well. If the Google scan project does go ahead, which looks likely, the files offered by the internet giant will be PDFs and EPUBs, neither of which currently work on the Kindle 2. Amazon is looking to introduce PDFs and they do provide a file conversion service, but it can cost money and adds a certain pain-in-the-arse factor.

4. Too Specific
As Steve Jobs pointed out, in this age of convergence, something as specific as an eBook reader might not be worth your money even in the relatively short term. According to the Apple supremo, it's usually more general devices that are successful, with a possible hint towards the much rumoured and probably similar sized iTablet. One obvious reaction to his words are that it's the e-paper that makes readers what they are, but then perhaps that's a clue to just one of the features in the forthcoming Apple gadgets? Nobody's perfect but Jobs has made an immense career out of some well-judged calls. He may have a point.

5. Who needs a reader?
eBooks aren't just the preserve of readers. You can download them onto your phone or your handheld games console. They may not be so easy on the eye to read but it's an option. Another choice, of course, is to buy a paperback. There's still plenty to be said for hard copy books. They're cheaper than a reader, not such a problem if you loose them, harder to damage and they look pretty good on a shelf once you're done with them.

Related links:

• News - Amazon Kindle comes to UK
• Feature - The complete guide to eBook readers

Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Amazon Amazon Kindle 2 Features Kindle

Five good reasons to buy an Amazon Kindle... originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:35:00 +0100

Following the news from Amazon that it is to offer an "International Edition" of the Amazon Kindle in 200 countries, Amazon's UK homepage is promoting the pre-order of the device, due to launch 19 October, with a "letter" from the founder of the etail site, Jeff Bezos.

At the moment the Kindle will be sold on an import basis to customers in the UK from Amazon.com. The price for the device is $279, and when import fees and shipping is added the total comes to $344.98, which works out at ?216.85 at today's rates.

This compares favourably with Sony's rival Reader offerings purely on a price basis. The latest Readers to hit the UK are priced at around ?250 for the comparable 6-inch version and ?190 for the budget 5-incher.

It seems at present content will also have to be bought in dollars. In Bezos' homepage letter, he reveals a "UK-centric Kindle experience" is planned for the future, "enabling you to purchase Kindle and Kindle books in sterling from our Amazon.co.uk site", but for now purchases will be in US currency.

Related links:

• News - Amazon Kindle comes to UK

Tags: Gadgets Kindle Amazon ebooks eBook readers

International Kindle will cost £217 to import originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:29:17 +0100

Amazon has announced that it is launching the Amazon Kindle in the UK and around the world as we reported it would last week.

"We have millions of customers in countries all over the world who read English-language books", said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. "Kindle enables these customers to think of a book and download it wirelessly in less than 60 seconds".

The new 3G enabled Kindle International edition will sport a 6-inch screen and come in at just over a third of an inch thin (0.36 inches) and weigh just over 10 ounces according to Amazon. It will come with 2GB of memory allowing up to 1500 books to be stored on the internal drive

Users will be able to access over 250,000 books to download over the air via the Kindle Store?including UK newspapers such as The Times and The Telegraph.

Kindle with U.S. & International Wireless edition will cost $279 and will be available for shipment to customers in over 100 countries around the world on 19 October, although currently users will have to purchase the Kindle from the US store and import it into the UK.?

"In the future, we plan to introduce a UK-centric Kindle experience, enabling you to purchase Kindle and Kindle books in sterling from our Amazon.co.uk site", said Bezos in a letter to Amazon.co.uk customers published on the UK site.

The decision to do so means that legally, UK customers will have to pay import tax on the Kindle as it is over the ?145 price threshold bringing the price after current exchange rates to around ?200.?

Additionally, it is not yet sure whether UK customers will have to pay a wireless roaming fee of $1.99 per book as stated in the small print on the product page on Amazon.com. It says:

"When travelling abroad, you can download books wirelessly from the Kindle Store or your Archived Items for a fee of $1.99".

Amazon has also announced that it will be dropping the price of its US only Kindle model to $259.

The news adds to the growing ebook market, that has seen plenty of activity in the last couple of weeks from company's such as iRex, Sony with it's Sony Reader and Cool-er.

We will keep you posted.

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Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Amazon Kindle ebooks

Amazon Kindle comes to UK originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:33:14 +0100

O2 has admitted that its Natwest-run O2 Money pre-paid Visa cards are suffering some problems with loading cash. Customers attempting to fill up their cards are finding their payment details rejected, even if perfectly valid.

A customer support representative that Pocket-lint contacted confirmed the issue, but offered a workaround for those who are unable to get cash onto their card. Instead of signing in and attempting to load cash, you can pick the "Give Money" option when not signed in.

This can be found under the "Adding Money" on the O2 Money website, and is under the "A friend or relative loading your card" heading. We tested the solution and found it to work perfectly, though it's restricted to ?100 for the first load.

If you're able to load cash onto your card, but can't spend it, then you might be running into the fact that the card can't be used for open-ended transactions. O2's FAQ section says:

"There are some restrictions on your O2 Money card. You won't be able to use it in situations when the amount to pay is left open-ended - like in hotels, for car rental or pay-at-pump petrol stations. It also won't work for wire-transfer money orders".

"Other restrictions also apply for all Load & Go and non verified Cash Manager cards (the ones with an ?1,800 load limit) to help prevent under 18's from buying over 18 related products and services such as gambling".

If you're having any other issues with your O2 Money card, then let us know in the comments.

UPDATE: O2 has got in touch with us, and is saying that while there might be a few incidents of people having difficulty loading money, there isn't a system-wide problem that they're aware of. They recommend that if you're having issues, you phone the support line - 10202 from an O2 mobile phone.

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Related links:

• News - O2 launches pre-paid O2 Money cards

Tags: Phones Mobile phones O2 shopping Gadgets Natwest

O2 acknowledges O2 Money cash-loading issues originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:20:13 +0100

Keeping your gadgets safe can be a real worry. TenBu Technologies' nio is a Bluetooth security system for your gadgets with the aim of providing you with a Bluetooth "security zone".

Essentially the system works though a Bluetooth tag, which is about 2 and a half inches long and a connection with your mobile phone. The idea is that once the tag moves to a particular distance from the phone an alarm is triggered on both devices to let you know that something is on the move.

We tested the nio with the BlackBerry Curve 8900. A quick install of the software and we were up and running in minutes. The nio tag needs charging up before you start which we found took about 3 hours. The tag has a Mini-USB socket in the bottom and comes supplied with a wall charger and USB cable. The software is easy to use with reasonably clear titles guiding you around the menus. Making a connection to the nio tag took almost no time, a handy Quick Guide in the box detailing the essentials.

The software itself lets you add tags and control your connection to them, so if you have more than one, you'll be able to manage them through your phone. You can rename them and change the icons so you can tell at a glance which one you are dealing with. The Control Panel also lets you set the security zone, which is the mainstay of the nio's operation.

There are three different levels of security (low, medium, high) which basically changes the tolerated range. If you are on a train, you'd want it on high, if you were in your office or at home, you'd probably want it on low. We set the security zone to High which basically limited us to a few metres radius. On Low we made it about 25 metres before the alarm triggered.

Returning to the nio cancels the alarm, or it can be manually silenced through the phone application. Of course, you'll need to leave the application running in the background. When triggered the alarm sounds on both the nio tag and your mobile phone, regardless of which one is moving away from the other. There is a choice of alarms and volumes that can be accessed through the advanced settings, with a vibrate option for your handset as well. There is also a motion sensor in the nio tag, so if you want to ensure that it stays still, then you can activate this option.

The alarm volume will vary depending on the output of the device you are using, but we found that with the BlackBerry it was very loud (embarrassingly loud for public tests). In our tests it was loud enough for a noisy pub, but you'd perhaps not hear it in a pocket in a loud club. The nio tag is not quite loud enough and doesn't match the din coming from the phone. We found that the sound could be easily smothered, something that a thief might easily do, but it wouldn't stop your phone alarm ringing.

There is a "locate" option too, so if you lose your keys (or whatever is attached to your tag) you can trigger the alarm and find them around the house. For those with predictable lives there is a Schedule option which will let you change the security zones on your tags based on the time of day. This will mean you can have it on high for your journey to work, medium in the office and low in the house, for example.?

You can use multiple devices so you could have one in your laptop bag and one on your keys or even one attached to your desk to stop pesky workmates walking off with your stuff. The nio is an interesting idea and in practise it worked well with our BlackBerry. If you are prone to losing things, then this will warn you that something has been left behind before you get too far away from it. As a deterrent to theft, whether a thief would abandon the item emitting the alarm is a different point. It would be easy for a thief to silence the phone alarm or discard the tag, but in terms of an unexpected shock, it certainly delivers that. But more importantly, on the High settings, it would give you just about enough time to react and that might be the deciding factor.

Verdict:

The TenBu Technologies nio is so simple to use it is really convenient. Attach the tag to your bag, keep your phone in your pocket and it should have you covered. Set the motion detector and you'll be able to stroll up to the counter of your favourite coffee shop without dragging your bag with you. It might not be the physical deterrent that a cable lock would be, but its wire-free approach means you're much more likely to use it. Just remember to keep the tag charged.

Tags: Gadgets Security gadgets TenBu Technologies Bluetooth nio TenBu Technologies nio

TenBu Technologies nio Bluetooth security system originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

The Conservative party in the UK has appointed Sir James Dyson to become the party's technology tsar as Cameron and his party fight back in the media stakes against Labour's Alan Sugar.

According to the Tories, the taskforce will set out a clear vision for boosting high tech in Britain.

"That the development of new technologies had been neglected and that a change of policy and of attitude was needed." Dyson told the party conference.

Fearing that the UK has become a society where making money is the main goal, he was keen to point out that Britain produces twice as many business graduates as engineering graduates.

"It will look at how we can harness the fantastic resources of our world-class university science and engineering departments, and at how we can generate a major expansion of high tech product development", the Tories have outlined in a paper called "Get Britain Working."

Questions already on the top of the agenda are things like how to "ensure that Britain’s high quality research is turned into high- tech products and jobs in the UK" and "How can a Conservative government encourage more students to study science at A-level, and science and engineering subjects at university?"

The news comes as Dyson plans to unveil a new yet unannounced product next week.

Tags: Gadgets Dyson Vacuum cleaners Politics

James Dyson becomes Conservative's technology tsar originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:05:54 +0100

A company called Secu4 has launched an alarm system that aims to prevent loss or theft of your property. It's about the size of a credit card and maintains a connection with your phone at all times.

You can set a range of 1 to 30 metres, if the distance between your phone and your bag, or whatever, is crossed, then the user gets an alert on their phone and a 100dB alarm is triggered on the device.

You can recharge the batteries by USB cable, or with a USB travel charger. There's a video of the device in action above, complete with charmingly halting English from the company's CEO Ralph Rimet.

The device is available now from MindYourIT, and it costs ?50. It won't work with every single phone, but you can check if yours will work by having a look at the list on secu4.com.

Related links:

• News - Nokia N97 gets anti-theft device
• Link - Secu4.com Phone Support List
• Buy - MindYourIT

Tags: Gadgets Bluetooth BlueWatchDog Security Secu4 Video

VIDEO: BlueWatchDog gadget alarm launched originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:32:35 +0100

First off, as far as the winner for last month goes, we'd like to offer our congratulations to Tony Hedges for his comment on the HTC Hero review and all his input during its release. We'll be sending him a TomTom XL Live IQ Routes Europe.

For the month of October Pocket-lint has teamed up with Omio to bring you the chance of winning a Nokia 5530 XpressMusic.

The phone features a 2.9-inch touch interface and a homescreen that offers one touch shortcuts to the likes of Facebook and MySpace, and as with similar Nokia phones, the 5530 gets the scrolling "Contacts Bar" for direct access to 20 people and their latest conversations and updates.

Being an XpressMusic model playback is all important and it doesn't disappoint with up to 27 hours of playback time, as well as a 3.2-megapixel camera along with Wi-Fi rounding off the package.

If you're weren't sure of what Omio is all about, here's a quick run down in their own words:

?Omio.com is a mobile phone comparison site that uses an innovative interface to help users navigate the vast array of mobile phone deals and phones from all the major mobile manufacturers".

"Users can filter over half a million deals by anything from price to colours, ensuring they get the right deal at the right price. Whether you're looking for a new phone or simply want to research what's available, Omio.com offers the most up-to-date information".

The rules of the competition are simple, you can enter as many times as you like by simply commenting on any story. It doesn't have to be in depth, detailed or technical, but it does have to be useful, helpful or funny.

You don't have to sign up to comment on the stories, we just ask for your name, location and email address - that does not show up online and is not passed on.

So get commenting and the winner will be chosen at the end of October.

Related links:

• Video - Nokia 5530 XpressMusic

Tags: Audio Biz Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness TomTom GPS Competitions Nokia 5530 XpressMusic

Win a Nokia 5530 XpressMusic originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:30:10 +0100

More lighting options for geeks has arrived with Gadget4All's launch of its new shift and control lights.

The light-up, giant keys are turned on and off with a push and measure 155 x 130 x 77mm.

Available in white or yellow, the lights are on sale now for $19.90 and angled as a great night light.

Related links:

• Shop - Gadget4All - CTRL key light
• Shop - Gadget4All - SHIFT key light

Tags: Gadgets Lighting USB gadgets Gadget4All

Gadget4All launches shift and control lights originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:13:48 +0100

Amazon's decision to remotely delete digital copies of George Orwell's 1984 from customer's Kindles has cost it $150,000.

The figure - a settlement amount reached between Amazon and a high school student - is in addition to the $30 compensation it offered each affected customer.

The lawsuit was filed by a 17-year-old high school student in the States in July. As well as losing the digital copy of the book, the student lost electronic notes he had made for an assignment.

Amazon had deleted 1984, and Animal Farm, as it found out the correct rights had not been obtained. In an apology Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos called the move "stupid".

The $150,000 is to be donated to "a charitable organization that promotes literacy, children's issues, secondary or post- secondary education, health or job placement".

Read

Related links:

• News - Amazon pulls 1984 from Kindle
• News - Student sues Amazon over Kindle deletion

Tags: Gadgets Amazon Kindle Lawsuits Biz

Amazon settles for $150,000 over Kindle deletion originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:19:30 +0100

There is a war going on in our kitchens. While the likes of the kettle, the toaster and, latterly, the microwave dominate our work surfaces, more specialised gadgets fight for space on our shelves else suffer the ignominy of the cupboard until they're finally tossed away as a regretted novelty purchase.

In these times, it's the turn of the coffee machine and bread maker, but what about the gadgets of days gone by? What about those long forgotten items just ripe for a little retro return? Here's our top five we'd love to see back in action again, if only for a giggle.

5) The Toasted Sandwich Maker

Birthday

1920

Heyday

late 70s to early 80s

Popularised by

Breville

Today's availability

Alive, kicking, & around ?20

4) The Teasmade

Birthday

1891

Heyday

1960s & 70s

Popularised by

Goblin

Today's availability

Swann STM100 - ?59.95

3) Mister Frosty

Birthday

the 80s

Heyday

as above

Popularised by

Hasbro

Today's availability

In e-stores but out of stock

2) The Electric Meat Carver

Birthday

Early 70s

Heyday

Early 70s

Popularised by

Kenwood

Today's availability

A few models for around ?15

1) The Soda Stream

Birthday

1979

Heyday

80s

Popularised by

SodaStream

Today's availability

Reinvented plastic bottle version

Related links:

• News - John Lewis launches new Swan STM100 Teasmade

Tags: Home And Kitchen Gadgets Swan Teasmades John Lewis Alarm clocks SodaStream Mister Frosty Toasters Breville

The top five deliciously retro kitchen gadgets originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:06:48 +0100

When we first spotted these available as a Far Eastern import way back in 2007 they were being sold for near on $90, which makes Firebox's from ?14.99 pricing seem positively reasonable.

The cutesy, penguin-shaped drives are available complete with scarf, in different shades, or with a Santa hat, for those feeling the festive spirit already.

On sale now, the drives play nice with Macs as well as PCs, come in 2GB or 4GB capacities and offer some water resistance, as indeed do their real-life counterparts.

Related links:

• Shop - Firebox

Tags: Hardware Storage Firebox Flash drives Gadgets USB gadgets

Firebox offers penguin flash drives originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:08:42 +0100

Brando is offering a new multi-format memory card reader that comes complete with storage for a variety of cards, presumably for the true gadget fanatic.

The new USB gadget can read all the cards you'd expect with the upper case section designed with slots to store six different cards.

Measuring 55 x 85 x 14mm, and angled as a great solution for those on the go, it works with Windows PCs and Macs and is on sale now for $19.

Related links:

• Shop - Brando

Tags: Gadgets Card readers Brando USB gadgets

Multi-format card reader comes complete with storage slots originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:49:49 +0100

John Lewis has introduced the new Swan STM100 Teasmade, offering a modern twist on what it says is a "much-loved British classic".

"The nation's love affair with the electric automatic Teasmade can be traced back all the way to 1891 when its inventor, Samuel Rowbottom, developed the first 'teawaker', which was then known as the Teasmade from 1932", says John Lewis.

The Swan Teasmade features a new sleeker and more contemporary design, a 600ml water capacity, rapid boil function, an integral reading light and an illuminated LCD alarm clock.

It goes on sale now in John Lewis stores across the country for ?59.95.

Tags: Home And Kitchen Gadgets Swan Teasmades John Lewis Alarm clocks

John Lewis launches new Swan STM100 Teasmade originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:07:48 +0100

Today is the 10th annual "World Smile Day" founded by the inventor of the "smiley", artist Harvey Ball in 1999.

To celebrate, UK gift and gadget site Prezzybox.com is offering a special discount, no doubt with the hope of causing some extra smiles.

For 2 hours only, from 12pm to 2pm today, Friday 2 October, Prezzybox is offering 20% off everything on the site.

To get the discount, shop as usual and then use the code SMILE at checkout.

Related links:

• Shop - PrezzyBox.com

Tags: Gadgets shopping Daily Tech Deal PrezzyBox

Daily Tech Deal: 20% off everything at PrezzyBox.com originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0100

The Suunto t3c Black Arrow edition is a special edition release of its t3c model or heart rate monitor, partnered with the International Triathlon Union. Featuring a standard heart rate monitor when used with the provided chest strap, it takes the fight to Polar, the market leaders for this type of device.

The watch itself is relatively compact, freed from the bloat of devices that also contain a GPS unit. The Black Arrow edition is so named because of the livery it adopts: black bodywork and face is partnered with red numbers around the bezel, giving it an edgy masculine look. The watch itself feels pretty well-built, with a nice solid metal back, but the strap does feel a little soft and flimsy.

The display itself chooses to put white information over a blacked out background, rather than the more common black on white. It's a design decision that makes the Black Arrow look good, but it means that overall it is more difficult to read than a conventional approach.

Given the circular space available for the display, it isn't very well used overall, with plenty of empty corners. Curving the text slightly might have allowed a larger digit display to make it more legible on the run.

The bezel ring that features the red numbers perhaps looks a little cheap and they are rather small to glance at on the move. The bezel is divided into heart rate running clockwise and training zones (which Suunto is calling training effect, more on which later) running anti-clockwise.

The chest strap is comfortable, with a large central transmitter. It perhaps isn't as impressive as Polar's WearLink straps, but is better than some of the plastic and rubber straps out there. The connection, however, was solid and we never found a problem detecting the signal or holding on to it for the duration of the exercise.

The watch features five buttons which are large knurled ends so have plenty of grip for pressing with sweaty fingers.

Essentially there are two modes - clock or training. The clock mode gives you access to your training log, which will present you with a graphical representation of your exercise based on Suunto's Training Effect (TE) scale, and cycling through to give you a breakdown of your stats: average and max heart rates, exercise duration, calories burned and finally the TE level.

Training Effect is the value-added feature here and moves the Black Arrow from a basic heart rate monitor to one that gives you a little pointer as to the results your training will achieve. The 1-5 scale runs from "Minor" to "Over-reaching" (fitting loosely with the science behind 5-point zone training outlined in Joe Friel's The Triathlete's Training Bible).

The idea here is that you can either set yourself a zone yourself (based on what you want to achieve), or just head out and see what you get to. As you set off the zone is low and slowly builds as the overall effect of your training becomes apparent. It gives you good definition over training intensity, although for those training by heart rate may choose to ignore it completely and just watch their average HR.

You also get a more conventional heart rate zone training option. This gives you three zones, with alarms, so you can opt for train in any of the zones depending on whether you want a threshold session, or are on a recovery session.

You can also schedule intervals, with two available where you can define the duration of each interval. There is also a warm-up option, so you can force yourself to do a 5- or 10-minute warm-up on each session, with a neat countdown timer for these options.

This effectively rounds out the features that are available on the core watch, although you can expand the system further by opting for the accessory PODs. This will let you add GPS, cadence for your bike or a foot POD, as well as the PC POD so you can download your training data. Without these, however, extracting your data isn't possible.

Despite the partnership with the ITU, as it is the Suunto t3c Black Arrow doesn't have any special triathlon features, like a multisport mode for example. However triathletes might like the options presented to expand the system to cover their bike training too.

Verdict:
In practice the Suunto 3tc Black Arrow works well, but we'd question the colour scheme here - the screen isn't the clearest, so one of the more conventional displays might be better.

We have no qualms with the range of features available either. If you have an established training programme then there is just about the right amount of flexibility here to help you target the right training intensity. You can also scroll through your display options in training, so you can display exercise duration and the real time, which provides plenty of flexibility to see the information you want.

But at ?120 it comes in above some of the entry-level devices out there, so if you have no plans to take advantage of the POD expansion in the future, you might be able to save some cash by opting for one of the rivals.

Tags: Sports Fitness Heart rate monitors Suunto Suunto t3c Black Arrow Watches Gadgets Suunto t3c Black Arrow

Suunto t3c Black Arrow heart rate monitor originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:00 +0100

If you're the type of competitive parent whose kid's next party has to be bigger and better than the last kid's, you might want to note this new product.

The illoom balloons, sold in packs of five, are essentially light-up balloons that come complete with a matching LED inside.

They can be inflated by normal puff, or for more impressive results, helium, and will provide up to 15 hours of illumination.

The illoom balloons are available now from CuteBitz for ?3.95 for a pack of five.

Related links:

• Shop - CuteBitz

Tags: Dad Gadgets Lighting Balloons CuteBitz

CuteBitz launches illoom balloons originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:45:44 +0100

Addressing the age-old problem of how to get a torch to shine in exactly the right spot when you're using both your hands, Firebox is offering the Striker Mine torch.

Smaller than a golf ball, the torch's tough ABS body is dotted with 12 magnets, allowing users to stick it on metal surfaces and aim its LED beam at almost any angle.

Plumbers, mechanics and nocturnal DIYers should note the keyring-friendly gizmo is powered by three button cell batteries and is on sale now for ?7.95.

Related links:

• Shop - Firebox

Tags: Gadgets Lighting Torches Home And Kitchen Firebox

Firebox offers Striker Mine torch originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:21:14 +0100

French company Withings has announced the launch of its Wi-Fi enabled body scale, which it claims is a world first. It can automatically record your weight, lean and fat mass, and your Body Mass Index, and it'll upload it to a secure website or an iPhone application.

It's less than an inch thick and made of glass and steel. It uses bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) to calculate your body fat composition, which the company says allows for more accurate tracking than other options.

The system can cope with up to 8 different users, and will recognise them when they step on the scale. It can cope with a max weight of 396lbs and is powered by four AAA batteries. The iPhone app allows you to track and browse your stats at any time.

The Wi-Fi Body Scale is currently only available in the States and costs $160. We'll let you know when it makes its way over to the UK.

Read

Related links:

• News - Salter Mirror Scale announced
• Buy - Amazon

Tags: Gadgets Home And Kitchen Bathroom gadgets Scales Withings Mobile phone apps iPhone apps Video

VIDEO: Wi-Fi Body Scale & iPhone app announced originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:32:43 +0100

The Kindle's UK launch has been a much talked-up affair, but "authoritative sources" are now backing up previous whispers that the device will debut in October.

Those sources, speaking to The Bookseller, suggest the Kindle's arrival to the UK market will be announced next week, ahead of the Frankfurt book fair, with consumer availability during October.

The Bookseller reports a source stating: "The key things they needed to tie up have been tied up", suggesting a wireless operator deal has been done in the UK after Qualcomm has developed a wireless solution that would work over here.

Whether Amazon will launch both the Kindle 2 and the larger and more expensive Kindle DX is yet to be seen. In the States the 6-inch Kindle 2 is priced at $299 which works out as around ?187, which could mean a ?199 price tag is likely here.

Amazon has not revealed sales figures for the Kindle, but it appears to be a popular product and partly responsible for the surge of the new ebook readers hitting the market.

Although the Kindle was far from the first - and some would argue far from the best - such device around, it's thought Amazon's Apple-like bundled offering of hardware and content has seen greater consumer interest in ebook readers in the US.

Read

Related links:

• News - Amazon Kindle 2 launches

Tags: Gadgets Kindle eBook readers Amazon Rumours

Amazon to make UK Kindle announcement next week originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:20:45 +0100

Possibly one of the most un-ergonomic phone designs we've ever clapped eyes on, Gadget4All is offering the new fire extinguisher phone.

For all you wannabe firemen out there, the novelty landline blower measures in at 187x85x67mm.

With a push button dial on the button, and complete with phone cable, it's on sale now for $22.

Related links:

• Shop - Gadget4All

Tags: Phones Landline Phones Gadget4All Gadgets

Fire extinguisher phone launches originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:18:49 +0100

Be.ez has announced two new additions to the LE vertigo notebook bag collection in "lime art" and "black/pumpkin".

Available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, the LE vertigo bags position laptops in a vertical orientation, instead of the horizontal of most other bags.

Be.ez says the lime art and black/pumpkin bags are the first in the LE vertigo collection to be PVC-free, made from re-engineered materials and packaged in recycled paper packaging.

The 13-incher goes on sale for an RRP of ?49.90 while the 15-inch version is ?60.38, both available from www.eoutlet.co.uk.

Tags: Gadgets Cases Bags beez Eco

Be.ez LE vertigo bags available in new colours originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:42:08 +0100

Vuzix has announced the European release of its "Wrap" sunglasses-style video eyewear. As previously reported on Pocket-lint, the US is getting the Wrap 310, but over here we're getting the Wrap 230, Wrap 280 Widescreen and Wrap 920.

Vuzix claims that they're the " most advanced wearable display technology available today". The have virtual screen sizes of 46-inches to 67-inch and also come 3d-capable as standard. They connect to camcorders, portable DVD players, mobile phones, PCs, game consoles and iPods.

All three products will be available from October on Vuzix's website, and they'll cost from ?130 to ?250. We're trying to get a little more specific information about the specs of the individual products and individual pricing, and we'll update this post when that arrives.

UPDATE: The new range is now available as of 04/11/09. The Wrap 230 is ?129.99, the Wrap 280 Widescreen is ?179.99 and the Wrap 920 is ?249.99.

Related links:

• News - Vuzix Wrap 310 video eyewear announced
• Link - Vuzix

Tags: Gadgets Video eyewear Vuzix 3D iPhone accessories Home Cinema Audio Sunglasses Vuzix Wrap 230 Vuzix Wrap 280 Widescreen Vuzix Wrap 920

Vuzix launches Wrap 230, 280 Widescreen and 920 originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:59:39 +0100

Air2Air today launched the DraganFlyer X6 helicopter in the UK. This awesome little radio controlled helicopter has three pairs of rotors and is heaped with sensors to assist stable flight.

Constructed from luscious amounts of carbonfibre, it has three quiet motors driving those paired rotors and the on-board sensors include a barometer, which will let you hover the helicopter based on barometric pressure.

There is also a GPS onboard that will feed-back a trace of the location to the base station and let you always know where the Draganflyer is and where it has been.

But this isn't just a funky helicopter, it is really designed to be mounted with a payload, and you can choose from an HD video camera, 10-megapixel stills camera, low light camera or a thermal imager.

Control is via a hardcore radio controller and you can have a master and slave unit, letting you control flight with one and the camera with another, although you could do it all from one.

We especially like the base station and the fact that you can have a wireless transmitter accessory to hook-up for a live video feed. It's the stuff that geek dreams are made of.

The basic kit, comprising of the X6 airframe, the camera (Panasonic Lumix LX3), handheld controller, wireless base station and software will cost you ?21,585. Gulp.

Ok, so it isn't designed to be a toy, with useful commercial applications like inspecting difficult to reach locations, birds-eye view shots or traffic monitoring, it even has some Police service time under its belt.

The battery gives you around 20 minutes of flight time (without a payload), it will max out at 30mph and climb to a maximum altitude of 8,000ft.

Now 007, you will be careful, won't you?

Related links:

• Link - Air2Air

Tags: Gadgets Helicopters Dad Cameras Panasonic Panasonic Lumix LX3 Air2Air DraganFlyer X6 Photos

DraganFlyer X6 helicopter lands in the UK originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:18:40 +0100

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor is the first web-based gardening tool that recommends the best plants for any location and provides plant care advice.

Although already launched in the States, we've only just heard of the USB gadget and thought we'd bring news of it to all you non-green-fingered readers.

Users plant the EasyBloom Sensor in the soil they want to grow stuff in for 24 hours and it records detailed readings of sunlight, temperature, humidity and soil drainage.

After the 24 hours is up, users then need to plug the EasyBloom into the USB port of a Mac or PC and the data is quickly analysed and matched to a library of more than 5,000 plants on the EasyBloom.com website to let users know what's best to plant in their patch.

If you already have things planted, then EasyBloom.com will give you a thumbs up or thumbs down on whether your plant is getting the right amount of water and sunlight, and the right temperature.

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor is currently available for $59.95 in the US, with US-only data on the site.

Tags: Gadgets Garden gadgets EasyBloom Home And Kitchen NASA

EasyBloom Plant Sensor brings USB gadgetry to gardening originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:38:14 +0100

The growing ebook reader market is due to get decidedly crowded if launches continue apace.

This latest launch from French company Bookeen brings the Cybook Opus, the company's fourth-gen ebook reader.

Weighing a "featherweight" 150 grams (roughly half that of the Kindle), Bookeen claims the Cybook Opus is slimmer, lighter and faster than competitors.

With the "latest" 800 x 600 pixel, black and white, E-Ink display, the device boasts an accelerometer for landscape/portrait sensing, 1GB memory with up to 4G microSD card, charges via USB and claims 8000 pages turns per charge.

Mac and PC compatible, text formats supported are Adobe's ePub and PDF, TXT and HTML files and JPEG, GIF and PNG for pics.

The Cybook Opus is due to be available from Pixmania, Waterstone's, WHSmith and Dixons in the UK, priced at ?199 complete with 75 pre-loaded titles.

Read

Tags: Gadgets eBook readers ebooks Bookeen Cybook Opus

Bookeen Cybook Opus ebook reader announced originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:02:58 +0100

Sony's new Reader Touch Edition is due to the UK later this month in black and silver, but anyone fancying a more rouge version can head to John Lewis.

From November, the retailer will offer the Reader Touch Edition in red as an exclusive. Pricing is still the ?249 the more sombre-toned versions boast.

The Reader Touch Edition gets a 6-inch touchscreen display that works with both finger touch and a stylus pen for notes.

It also boasts an on-board Oxford English Dictionary and expansion slots for both Memory Stick PRO Duo and SD card.

Tags: Gadgets Sony Sony Reader Touch Edition John Lewis

Sony Reader Touch Edition to launch in red originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:37:45 +0100

Qualcomm's rumoured FLO TV Personal Television, or PTV, hardware to support its existing FLO TV services, has been snapped in a real life pic sent in to The Boy Genius Report.

Whereas previously we only had fan-made sketches to go on, this shows the as-yet unofficial device as a small touchscreen PMP-like gadget.

Specs are thought to be 4GB of memory, built-in stereo speakers and enough battery life for 300 hours of standby, 5 hours of TV, and 15 hours of music. We will keep you posted.

Read

Related links:

• News - Tablet television? That would be the Qualcomm FLO TV Personal TV

Tags: Gadgets Qualcomm FLO TV Tablets Rumours PMPs

Rumoured Qualcomm FLO TV personal TV unit snapped originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:03:04 +0100

Rumours that Microsoft is about to enter the tablet market took a step backwards on Wednesday when it turned out that the new concept being touted on the internet by gadget site Gizmodo could be just a rehash of a concept from Microsoft that was first detailed in 2008.

The original concept, called Codex, saw two touchscreen displays that could be used and accessed like a book allowing the user to work on multiple projects at the same time.

Although the new concept images and videos feature a more slimline "2010" design, they mirror the concept first touted in October last year by Microsoft's internal research department.

The original article cites the creation for the device because:

"Dual-screen devices have become the subject of increasingly elaborate internet fantasies. Now, rumors about an Apple "Brick" device have stirred up dreams of future tablets, such as the alluring One Laptop Per Child v2.0 concept photos, which now orbit the internet once again."

As for why you can buy one? The Microsoft post answers that too:

"The Codex is a prototype-- and a rather flaky, cobbled-together one at that. But it uses off-the-shelf devices, and there's nothing magical about the software. So the crass answer is that you can have one now if you are willing to spend some dollars, build yourself a custom binder, and write a little bit of code, write Ken Hinckley, the author of the article before saying that "In my office, at least, that future is already here. It's just not evenly distributed."

Read

Related links:

• Via - beingmanan.com
• News - Microsoft Courier dual screen next-gen tablet revealed

Tags: Hardware Microsoft Tablet PCs Courier Rumours Gadgets

Microsoft Courier debunked, probably just Codex concept from 2008 originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:34:04 +0100

iRex has entered the consumer ebook reader space with the launch of the DR800SG and Pocket-lint was hands on at the New York launch to give it a quick glance over to grab some photos.

The device sports an 8-inch screen, 3G connectivity for downloading books when you are on the beach and a stylus based touchscreen that has to work with the pen provided rather than your fingernails.

Navigating the menu system is via a thin metal strip down the side of the display or by using the pen.

Taking an "open" approach, users will be able to sideload content via a PC and Mac as well as download from the Barnes & Noble book store.

iRex, clearly taking on Sony's Reader Daily Edition will also offer newspaper subscription options with the bigger wider screen's dimension, presumably a better fit for tabloid or compact newspaper editions like The Times or New York Post.

The ebook reader will be available at the end of October in the US priced at $399. It is expected to hit Europe early 2010.

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers iRex Technologies Verizon Barnes and Noble Qualcomm 3G iRex DR800SG Best Buy

PHOTOS: iRex DR800SG ebook reader originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:42:27 +0100

iRex is the latest player to enter the ebook market with the launch of the iRex DR800SG, but how does it compare to the other main competitors on the market?

In an attempt to boast an open approach and show you how it fairs against the other digital readers, iRex has put together a comparison chart showing how the new ereader compares to the other efforts from Amazon and Sony on the market.

With 2GB of storage and side loading capabilities the company says it's all about the reading experience.

Will this be enough to propel it to the top of the pile? We will find out when it hits Best Buy in October.

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers iRex Technologies Verizon Barnes and Noble Qualcomm 3G iRex DR800SG Amazon Kindle Sony Sony Reader Daily Edition Amazon Kindle DX Amazon Kindle 2

iRex DR800SG, how does it compare to the other ebook readers? originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:32:31 +0100

A new ebook reader has hit the American market as iRex Technologies has officially announced the launch of its 8.1-inch DR800SG - a direct rival to Amazon's Kindles and Sony's Readers.

With a pen-based touchscreen and 3G wireless capabilities for OTA downloads, provided by Verizon, the new device gets 2GB memory, content from Barnes & Noble eBookstore as well as offering support for multiple formats, including the ePub format as well as other DRM-ed solutions.

The DR800SG gets a Qualcomm Gobi "multi-mode" 3G embedded module for connectivity to 3G networks around the world. This contrasts with the Kindle's "WhisperNet" tech that only works in the US.

Users will not have to pay for data charges iRex confirmed, with the costs of downloads included in the cost of the book.

Despite this though, the UK will have to wait a little while before the iRex DR800SG is officially available over here. It's been revealed it will launch in Europe the first half of 2010.

Best Buy will offer the DR800SG at "select stores" in October. The new ebook reader will go on sale for $399.99 (?244 at today's rates) and come complete with a leather cover. Wireless access to download content is included in the cost of the DR800SG and no contract is required.

iRex has also said that they hope to launch a full finger touchscreen device in Q2 2010 as well as hinting they are working on a full colour offering.

Stay tuned for images.

Additional reporting by Stuart Miles.

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• News - iRex DR800SG, how does it compare to the other ebooks?
• News - PHOTOS: iRex DR800SG hands on

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers iRex Technologies Verizon Barnes and Noble Qualcomm 3G iRex DR800SG Best Buy

8.1-inch iRex DR800SG ebook reader officially announced originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:32:10 +0100

American consumers are about to get a new ebook reader thrown into the mix, with the news that iRex Technologies is to launch a new model into the US market.

Competing with the Amazon Kindle, as well as Sony's Reader range, the iRex DR800SG offers 3G connectivity, an 8.1-inch touchscreen display and ePub file format support with content from Barnes & Noble.

The $399 device's wireless connectivity will be provided by Verizon, while sales will be through Best Buy, a chain that's previously only sold ebook readers online, or in limited test stores.

"The e-reader has high awareness, but most people have still not seen or touched or played with them", Chris Homeister, senior vice president for entertainment at Best Buy told the New York Times. "We feel that this is a technology that is beginning to emerge and that we can bring a unique experience to the marketplace".

Meanwhile, iRex says it is "on track" to offer a model with a colour screen by 2011.

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Related links:

• Feature - The complete guide to eBook readers
• UPDATE: - 8.1-inch iRex DR800SG ebook reader officially announced

Tags: Gadgets ebooks eBook readers Best Buy Verizon Barnes and Noble iRex Technologies iRex DR800SG

iRex DR800SG ebook reader launching in the US originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:05:51 +0100

Bluelounge has launched the Refresh charging dock, describing it as "a stylish and practical charging station for everyday life".

The Refresh provides power and central storage for a range of mobile devices and hides the usual tangled web of wires.

It is compatible with over 1000 products and can charge up to four devices at one time.

The Refresh charging station offers two iPod or iPhone connectors, a mini USB connector, a micro USB connector and two more USB sockets.

The Refresh is available now from www.myetoyz.com for ?79.99.

Tags: Gadgets Chargers Bluelounge Bluelounge Refresh

BlueLounge Refresh charging station launches originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:41:04 +0100

Described as the world's first button-less, gesture-based remote control, Firebox is soon to offer "The Wand" infrared remote control.

The antithesis of suped-up universal remotes, as you will see from the image, The Wand looks just it sounds.

Controls are limited, The Wand can learn 13 commands, such as change channel or volume control, which can be carried out with a swish, whirl or flick.

Users can assign various functions to various moves - flicks to turn on and off, spins to control volume, big swishes to mute and so on.

Compatible with TVs and other home cinema equipment, as well as some iPod docks, stereos and the like, The Wand can control multiple devices at one time - it's a kind of magic.

The Wand goes on sale from Firebox from 15 October for ?49.99.

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• Shop - Firebox

Tags: Home Cinema Remote controls Firebox The Wand Gadgets Harry Potter

Firebox to offer The Wand remote control originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:49:13 +0100

Oregon Scientific has announced the launch of a new "+ ECO" range that includes a device to help monitor the temperature inside your home, with the aim of getting a better grip on your central heating, potentially saving money - and you know it's coming - the planet.

All the models in the range are solar-powered, with 4 hours of sunlight said to be enough to give the + ECO ClimaControl power for 2 months.

The + ECO ClimaControl can monitor the temperature and humidity in up to four rooms of your home, with an internal and an external sensor included with the device.

It also offers a 12- or 24-hour weather forecast, humidity alert, a radio-controlled clock, and calendar with backlight. It's on sale for an RRP of ?89.99.

The + ECO Solar Charging Radio Controlled Clock includes a calendar and single alarm, as well as indoor and outdoor temperatures. It's offered for ?49.99.

The + ECO Solar Weather Station provides a weather forecast for the local area 12 to 24 hours in advance. With a detachable solar charger, the clock is radio controlled and there's also an alarm and calendar. It costs ?69.99.

All models are available now from www.oregonscientific.co.uk.

Tags: Eco Gadgets Clocks Oregon Scientific Weather stations Solar power

Oregon Scientific launches solar-powered ECO range originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:17:12 +0100

Cablox is a new kind of cable management system that's said to be easy to install and use.

Designed to tidy up the wire spaghetti you get behind your desk, the Cablox units can be stuck to any clean surface.

When in place, cables and wires are gripped in the nodule-y bits to keep 'em tidy, yet easy to move.

A pack of two Cablox thingies, measuring 10.2 x 10.2 x 2cm, are available now via Amazon for around ?10.99.

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• Shop - Amazon

Tags: Gadgets Cables Cablox Office gadgets

Cablox cable management system launches originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:03:23 +0100

An American cyclist has created a cycling robot that gives him extra pedal power. "Joules", a human-proportioned robot, helps power the cycle along with an electric motor.

More whimsical than just going down the electric bike route, Joules, complete with cycle helmet (safety first, kids) was built from "an array of nuts, bolts, shafts and chains" over a 4-month period.

Apart from exercising rusty "shop" skills, the engineer behind the design says he made the creation because:

"Very few kids get excited by actually building something. I wanted to show local kids that having ideas and building them is fun! We need lots of kids to believe that, I think".

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Tags: Gadgets Robots Bicycles Video

VIDEO: Robot rides a tandem bike originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:15:53 +0100