Bluetooth 4.0 Uses Less Power While Extending Range [Bluetooth]

Bluetooth 4.0 just got finalized and will start rolling out to devices by the end of the year. Along with extending range from 30 feet to 200 feet, 4.0 introduces a new low power mode that will be seen in either single or dual-mode iterations.

The single-mode chips are strictly low power which means it can be tossed into watches, remote controls, and a variety of health, fitness, and in-home sensors. Dual-mode chips combine that same low energy mode with the ability to transfer data over 802.11 WiFi, much like what we've seen with Bluetooth 3.0. Think of it like 2 Bluetooths. Or Blueteeth.

[Gizmodo via Bluetooth]

WiLink Crams Wi-Fi, GPS, FM Transmission and Bluetooth Into a Single Chip [Wireless]

Texas Instruments says that their WiLink 7.0 is the first chip with four wireless radios in one: FM transmission and reception, GPS, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. What does this mean for you, gadget lovers? In theory, a wholalot goodness.

Texas Instruments claims that mobile gadgets using this chip would be able to do all those four functions for less money—30 percent less—in less space—50 percent—and consuming less energy than the current alternatives.
[Gizmodo via PR Newswire]

Fujitsu and Docomo debut Separate Keitai modular phone

NTT Docomo, in partnership with Fujitsu, updates its modular cell phone concept with the debut of the new Separate Keitai F-04B. The cell phone's main innovation is its ability to separate into two pieces, one acting as the keyboard/computer the other acting as the display, both communicating via Bluetooth.
The amazing thing about this device is that the separation doesn't cripple the functionality of the two pieces. The display can be used separately as a touchscreen interface and telephone, while the other part can be used as a keyboard, microphone and speaker. When joined the unit functions as a kind of slide-out keyboard phone. The set-up also has an optional projector attachment that allows you use the phone to view movies. Pricing has not been announced, but this is probably the closest we've come to a true mini-desktop dynamic in a mobile phone format, so the bar has been officially raised.
[DVICE via Nikkei]

Portable scanner looks like a pen, is way more expensive

I've never needed to scan a document or photo while sitting in a plane seat, but if you ever have, there's a gadget for that. The unfortunately named DocuPen is a portable scanner made by PlanOn, about the size of one of Harry Potter's magic wands. Just roll the scanner along the document or photo you want to scan, and it'll capture it in JPEG format. Pretty impressive for something that weighs only a couple of ounces.
The DocuPen X-Series, new today, has 64GB of internal memory, which you can add to with a MicroSD card. You can transmit your scans via Bluetooth to your phone or a portable printer and it can capture color scans up to 600 dpi (true). A power-saving OLED display helps you navigate through wireless and USB transfers. We checked out one of the new DocuPens yesterday, and a JPEG photo scan looked surprisingly good, with detail on par with some desktop scanners.
I can see this being useful for mobile-business warriors or anyone who wants a scanner but doesn't have the desk space for a flatbed. But the price — $369 — is pretty insane. I realize there's a whole load of processing and storage in this micro scanner that doesn't exist in desktop models (since they rely on the PC for all that), but that's a lot of coin to part with for something you could lose between the couch cushions.
[DVICE via PlanOn]

Apple Magic Mouse Hands On [Apple]

The Apple's Magic Mouse doesn't have anything on its surface. It's an aluminum base topped off with a smooth multitouch panel. It felt weird to use, but leagues ahead of the Mighty Mouse. I may go back to mice.
The strange thing about the Magic Mouse is not how it works. It is that you have different gestures than on a standard Macbook Pro trackpad.
One obvious example: Since you move the cursor by moving the whole mouse with your hand, there's no point in also using one finger to move the cursor, like on the trackpad. Moving your finger on the surface of the Magic Mouse allows you to scroll in all directions, 360 degrees around.
You can also scroll with two or three fingers, if you move them up and down. But if you swipe them from side to side while using a web browser, your browsing history moves forward or back.
Physically, the mouse is beautiful, and feels nice. The top is made of white polycarbonate that matches the keys on Apple's keyboards. It is one seamless touch surface, and, logically, there is no Mighty Mouse scroll nipple.
The surface can also simulate the left and right buttons. Unlike in previous Apple's mice, the two buttons work perfectly. This time they also added physical feedback, so when you click the buttons, you actually get the entire surface to click—like the original clear Apple mouse.
The mouse runs on AA batteries, and Apple claims 4 months of use per set. You can get it with the new iMac or pay $69 separately.
There was a small thing I noticed, though: the mouse would sometimes move when I tried to scroll — I can maybe get used to this, but it was a thing that happened to me and my presenter who definitely had more time with the mouse. The other reason why Apple went with fewer fingers for swipe and scroll gestures, besides the issue of pointing already being taken care of by the mouse's table action, was because you need your ring finger to hold the mouse properly or the thing slides on your desk.
Also, the mouse will be software configurable for lefties.

Apple Introduces Magic Mouse — The World's First Multi-Touch Mouse
CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today introduced the new wireless Magic Mouse, the first mouse to use Apple's revolutionary Multi-Touch™ technology. Pioneered on iPhone®, iPod touch® and Mac® notebook trackpads, Multi-Touch allows customers to navigate using intuitive finger gestures. Instead of mechanical buttons, scroll wheels or scroll balls, the entire top of the Magic Mouse is a seamless Multi-Touch surface. Magic Mouse comes standard with the new iMac® and will be available as a Mac accessory at just $69.
'Apple is the Multi-Touch leader, pioneering the use of this innovative technology in iPhone, iPod touch and Mac notebook trackpads,' said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. 'Apple's Multi-Touch technology allows us to offer an easy to use mouse in a simple and elegant design.'
Magic Mouse features a seamless touch-sensitive enclosure that allows it to be a single or multi-button mouse with advanced gesture support. Using intuitive gestures, users can easily scroll through long documents, pan across large images or swipe to move forward or backward through a collection of web pages or photos. Magic Mouse works for left or right handed users and multi-button or gesture commands can be easily configured from within System Preferences.
The Magic Mouse laser tracking engine provides a smooth, consistent experience across more surfaces than a traditional optical tracking system. Magic Mouse uses Bluetooth wireless capabilities to create a clean, cable-free desk top and its secure wireless connection works from up to 10 meters away. To extend battery performance, Magic Mouse includes an advanced power management system that works with Mac OS® X to automatically switch to low power modes during periods of inactivity. The wireless Magic Mouse is powered by two AA batteries which are included.
Pricing & Availability
Magic Mouse comes standard with the new iMac and is available at the end of October through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), at Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $69 (US). Magic Mouse requires Mac OS X Leopard® version 10.5.8 or later.

[Gizmodo]

New Bluetooth Runs for a Year Off a Watch Battery [Bluetooth]

There's little stopping Bluetooth from making its way into more devices, but its battery drain is many times that of, say, tried and true IR. But a new, lower power Bluetooth is coming next year.
By Texas Instruments, a new, 6mm-square Bluetooth system-on-a-chip can operate for 'more than a year' on a small button-cell battery (like you see in watches or very tiny remotes). Everything from cellphones to laptops could get a battery boost from the technology, but low power, low cost Bluetooth also opens to door to sticking the technology in more places, too (imagine an RF remote or console controller that you don't need to recharge).
It'll be interesting to see how many companies adopt the new tech when it's available next year, along with how many side with the latest developments in Wi-Fi instead.

[Gizmodo via Texas Instruments and Press Release]

PS3 May Get Cross-Game Chat With Next Firmware Update [Rumor]

Bedlam in the official Playstation forums: Someone slipped up and accidentally confirmed that cross-game chat may be coming in the next Playstation 3 firmware update. The post was quickly deleted, which forumgoers are taking as evidence of the slip's truth.
Cross-game text chat has been around since April, but voice chat has so far been a no-show. Kotaku writes that they tried to contact Sony for a truly official response, but only received a curt reply:

As you know, we haven't made any announcements on upcoming firmware and don't comment on rumor or speculation.

It's quite possible that the next firmware update will in fact bring cross-game chat, but I think we're getting a bit too excited over a forum post.
[Gizmodo via Playstation Forums via Kotaku]

Samsung SCH-W880: The Digital Camera that Can Call [Digital Cameras]

You don't fool us, Samsung. With its camera mode dial and dedicated shutter button, your 12 megapixel Samsung SCH-W880 with HD video recording, and 3x optical zoom looks a lot more like a real compact camera than a phone.

Apart from its clearly camera design, the Samsung SCH-W880 comes loaded:
• 3.3-inch AMOLED WGA screen.
• UMTS/HSDPA connectivity.
• Wi-Fi
• GPS
• Bluetooth
• Slot for microSD cards.
• HD video at 30fps
• Macro mode.
• Xenon flash.
We haven't tried yet, but this looks like the first cameraphone that can actually satisfy the photographer/Peeping Tom in us. [Gizmodo via Samung Hub via HDblog via Engadget]

Bluetooth Headset Hides Super Ultra Secret microSD Reader [Headsets]

So you never grew up to hide lasers, explosives and gadgets in every known orifice like James Bond. But maybe you'd find a microSDHC reader in your Bluetooth headset to be handy. And that dream is only $40 away. [Gizmodo via Brando]

Solar Bluetooth Headset Can Standby Forever [Bluetooth]

The tiny solar panel on this Bluetooth headset won't recharge the device as quickly as USB power, but the sun's rays can keep the headset waiting for your next call indefinitely.
While solar can't tackle most realtime energy demands, it's plenty to handle a Bluetooth headset in standby—which we must say, seems like a decent use for the tech. You'll never have to worry "is this thing that makes me look like a douchebag even working???" again.
Additionally, should you choose to purchase two headsets and actually wear them at the same time, you'll be able to appreciate A2DP (stereo Bluetooth) through multiple pairing. You know our feelings on that maneuver, so to state them yet again would be unseemly.

This solar bluetooth headset can be yours for $67 from Brando. [Brando]

Android MID SmartQ5 Shipping End of September in Japan

Good news everyone, the Chinese based Android MID SmartQ 5, which features a 4.3” 800x480 touch screen with a Samsung CPU running at 667MHz, with 1GB of RAM and both Wifi and Bluetooth will be sold in Japan at the end of September as well as online via Geekstuff4U.com (Product to be added soon)…

The next toy on my wishlist...

GPS חדש מציג את הכיוונים על וידאו חי של הדרך

ה-Travel Pilot N700 החדש של Blaupunkt מציג את השכבה של תיאור הדרך על תמונת הדרך אותה הוא מקבל ממצלמה המחוברת לאחורי המראה. התוצאה היא שרואים את הדרך שנוסעים בה ועליה ה-GPS שם את חיצי ההכוונה.


בנוסף, המכשיר גם יודע לזהות שלטים ותמרורי דרך ולהציג אותם על הצג. המצלמה שמחוברת למראה אחורית מצידה האחורי משדרת את תמונת הוידאו אותה היא קולטת ישירות למסך ה-GPS אשר מלביש עליה את השילוט ואת שאר המידע אותו הוא מסוגל לספק. זהו חידוש מעניין לאחר כל השימושים והיישומים השונים שאנו רואים לאחרונה במכשירי GPS. המכשיר מצויד ביכולת לשליטה בקול, באפשרויות קישוריות WLAN ו-Bluetooth. על השלטים אותם הוא מזהה הוא יכול לתת התראות קוליות.

המחיר הצפוי הוא 740$ אך כרגע היכולות שלו מוגבלות לשוק האירופאי.



[דרך Gizmodo]

הדגם החדש של הטלפון Viewty של LG

ה-KC910 החדש של LG, בא עם מצלמת 8 מגה-פיקסל. זה רק קצה הקרחון של מה שהטלפון הזה יודע לעשות.

LG שחררו את הנתונים הטכניים והתמונה של המכשיר שיצא בקרוב (צפוי באוקטובר). זהו היורש של ה-Viewty הקודם (דה...) המכיל מצלמת 8 מ"פ עם מבזק (פלאש) קסנון, עדשה של Schneider-Kreuznach ומצלם עד ל-ISO 1600. המכשיר גם מצלם וידאו באיכות VGA עד 30 תמונות בשניה ויכול להגיע ל-120 תמונות בשניה ברזולוצית QVGA . את התמונות ניתן לתייג גיאוגרפית למיקום התמונה על פני כל נקודה בעולם בעזרת ה-GPS המובנה במכשיר. איכות קול בדולבי סטריאו ויכולת לנגן Xvid וכן DivX לסרטים מכווצים.

המכשיר כולל גם כמה מאפיינים שבדרך כלל אנו מוצאים אותם רק במצלמות דיגיטליות משוכללות כגון זיהוי פנים, זיהוי מצמוץ (כדי להמנע מצילום כאשר העיניים של האובייקט עצומות), זיהוי חיוכים ומצב עם ייצוב תמונה. מה שיותר מדהים הוא שיש למצלמה גם פוקוס ידני לחובבי הצילום.

הטלפון של החפיץ הזה גם הוא די משוכלל ומתקדם עם GSM ארבע-ערוצי (quad-band), עם HSDPA עד למהירות גלישה של 7.2 מגה-ביט לשניה, שן כחולה 2.0 (bluetooth). כמובן שהוא מצויד ביכולת קישוריות אלחוטית (WiFi) בעל חריץ זכרון מיקרו-SD עד ל-8 גיגה-בייט וכן, חשוב ביותר, מצויד במסך מגע 3 אינץ' בהפרדה של 240x400.

בכלל לא רע.

[דרך PhoneArena]

מערכת קולנוע ביתי מובנית

סוני מצליחה שוב גם בעיצוב וגם בביצוע. מערכת ה-Sony Bravia Theater integrated TV stand יכולה לפתור לי כמה בעיות מיידית. הבן הקטן שלי בן חצי שנה מתחיל עכשיו להתנייד יותר ויותר בקלות ובמהירות. אני בדיוק מחפש פתרון למעמד הטלויזיה וכל המכשירים שמתחתיה ועננת החוטים שמאחוריה חצי באויר וחצי על הרצפה.

המערכת מכילה מקלט איכותי ועוצמתי של סוני, וכמובן את כל הרמקולים שמאל ימין קדמי וסאב-וופר. התקשורת היא חוטית או אלחוטית בשן כחולה או WiFi.

נראה מעולה ואני סומך על סוני לגבי האיכות. עדיין אין מחיר.

[דרך DVice]

מדפסת זעירה לדרך

חברת Planon, שהוציאה בעבר את עט-סורק (DocuPen) שסורק דף A4 ב-4 שניות, מציעה לנו עכשיו מוצר חדש. מדפסת בגודל של, בערך, סרגל. ה-PrintStick, לא צריך מחשב כדי להדפיס. הוא מתחבר ב-Blutooth ו-USB ומדפיס מכל מכשיר בעל אחד מהחיבורים הללו.

משקלו כ-460 גרם כולל מחסנית עם 20 דפים בגודל A4. המדפסת היא טרמית כמו הפקסים מהדור הישן. המדפסת לא ממש נכנסת לכיס אך בהחלט, בקוטנה, מתאימה לכל תיק מנהלים - מידותיה 2.5X27.3X3.8 ס"מ.

בהחלט שווה למי שצריך הדפסות של הרגע האחרון ונמצא בנסיעות עסקים רבות ב-299$.