Newsletter

MOTO finally announces R2-D2 Droid 2 edition for September

Just last month we heard that Verizon was planning on launching a very special Star Wars edition of the Motorola Droid 2 – the R2-D2 version. The good news is that they have. The R2-D2 special edition of the Droid 2 is expected to be out sometime in September via the provider’s online section only. It’s going to be loaded with all kinds of Star Wars goodies and also include external hardware designed to look like the Luke Skywalker’s diligent robot. The Droid 2 will of course feature the slide out QWERTY keypad with a new keypad though and will come with upgrades that will include Froyo and support for Adobe Flash 10.1 as well as a better processor. It’ll also come with a 3G sharing option via Wi-Fi and 8 Gigs of internal memory. There’s no word on the pricing of this special version.

Volkswagen’s Hybrid Beetle will boast 177 ponies

Well the good old bug had to sprout new wings, shed some skin and move on to the next level. Looking at the current trend, the next big this is going hybrid and that’s what the Beetle’s been subject to. Autocar reported that the company is planning a wholesome redesign that will include this Beetle that will come along with a drivetrain that resembles the New Compact Coupe. It will also include a li-ion battery pack, a 20 kilowatt electric motor, 177 hp, 110 pound feet of torque and a 45 average (per gallon). 2012 will also see the company release a hybrid Jetta and an electric Golf in 2013.

Samsung ‘Think Master 90 Series’ LED Monitor

Samsung Electronics revealed the amazing Think Master 90 Series of LED Monitors sometime back. Beyond most of their releases that we’ve seen till date, these monitors will add a little more behind the 61 inch brilliance that it shows off. The ‘magic angle’ feature is something that’s not worked on too much by competitors. It allows users to view images flawlessly, even from an angle. It will allow you to use the PIP (Picture in Picture) feature even during Internet usage and other operations.

Dell Streak / Mini 5 makes a cameo appearance at MTV

It's been a while since we've heard much about the Dell Streak / Mini 5, but it seems like the plus-size phone (or mini-size tablet, whichever you prefer) went on a bit of an undercover media promotion tour last week: Viacom MTV exec Greg Clayman tweeted that it's "amazing," while Rob Enderle brought one to the set of John C. Dvorak's Cranky Geeks and said it would launch for around $300 on contract. What does it all mean? We're assuming it's being shown off in an effort to drum up some content partnerships: we've already heard about tie-ins with Amazon's MP3, video, and Kindle stores, and we'd bet that Dell's also going after newspapers, magazines, and video sites hard in an effort to push back at the iPad -- especially since the company is planning to bring out an entire "family of tablets" in the future. Or... it's nothing at all, and AT&T is going to completely wreck this thing before it launches, like it did with theAero. Dreams or nightmares, the choice is yours.

Moonwatch for you favorite werewolf

Now instead of just glancing at your watch and looking for hands that point at numbers, you can stare at the moon cycle. This Monwatch is meant to be very deep and thought provoking. Although truthfully I think it’s probably just created by a Twilight obsessed fan. Just a theory. Apparently, it’s meant to establish some sort of a relationship between the moon cycle and a person’s emotional state. Yes, they really said that.

Sharp develops the worlds first Four-Primary-Color 3D LCD

Upping the ante of the heated 3D battle, Sharp has announced the four color 3D LCD TV which feature the industry's highest brightness. Sharp has been selling Quatron TVs in the USA which feature RGB colors, however these will include yellow as well. As of now Sharp is tight lipped on the technical details and no announcement has been made on future TV series featuring the panel.

Twitter offers Tweetie for the iPhone

Twitter has acquired Tweetie, a popular iPhone Twitter client. Currently available for $2.99 on the iTunes store, the application will be soon renamed to Twitter for iPhone and offered free of costs to millions of Twitter users. Loren Britcher the brains behind the application has joined Twitter's mobile team and are already working on a version for the iPad.

Aceeca's PDA32 keeps the PalmOS dream alive

We'd heard earlier this year that Aceeca would be sticking with PalmOS for at least a few more devices, and it looks like those hopes have now finally become a reality in the form of the company's PDA32 device. In addition to a leading-edge, one-inch-thick design, this one packs a 320 x 480 display, along with a 400MHz Samsung S3C2440 processor, 64MB of RAM, 128MB of flash storage, an SD card slot for expansion, and optional Bluetooth and WiFi (in case you don't need such things). Still no official word on a release date, but a preliminary spec sheet that's turned up lists April 10th, and a price of just $199 -- belt holster not included.

Samsung C20 Ultra Compact “Touch of Color” Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

Wouldn’t this look nice in Mom’s hand for Mother’s Day? The new SMX-C20 adds a level of style and beauty to shooting home videos. It offers offer Samsung’s signature ToC design, which features a hint of color that is naturally blended into the deep black body of the camcorders to create an attractive crystalline appearance. To make shooting home videos more comfortable, the new model boast Samsung’s Active Angle Lens design. Unlike traditional camcorders that force users to hold their arm up at a 90-degree angle while recording video, the Active Angle Lens design, exclusive to Samsung, allows users to hold the camcorder in a more relaxed and natural position due to the fact that the lens is angled downward by 25-degrees. This more natural recording position reduces the overall stress on the wrist and elbow and also removes the LCD screen from the user’s line of sight, enabling them to always keep an eye on their subject while recording.

Features

• records to SDHC memory cards (not included)
• one-touch sharing button for easily transferring video to your PC and the web
• 2-11/16″ LCD
• Record High-Quality Video & Digital Still Images

Recycled Keyboard Turned Into Clutch

All sorts of keyboards get tossed aside pretty regularly. Be it due to them no longer being functional or just someone finding something far better than their old keyboard. Then again it could just be because you don’t want to dig the endless supply of crumbs out from underneath the keys. Well thankfully someone has taken the time to turn those keyboards into an incredibly geeky little purse. Now you can remember your old worn out keyboard fondly. Just pick up one of these clutches for $37.95 and save one more keyboard from being sent to the dump.

Sanyo announce 14MO full HD Xacti camcorders the DMX-CG100 and the DMX-GH1, Hello good lookin’

Well we’re done with Sony, for now and Sanyo’s taken the stage with the addition of 2 new slick looking camcorders in their Xacti range – the DMX-CG100 and the DMX-GH1. Both devices are capable of full HD video recording (1920 x 1080) but come in two different forms. The DMX-CG100 that’s available in white lead-red (like that name) and blue are designed to look like the pocket camcorder, vertical type to be more ‘xact-i’ (sorry). The DMX-GH1 is of a more conventional form and will be available in silver, pink and blue. They’re equipped with 1,440 ten thousand pixels CMOS sensors and can accommodate multimedia cards up to 64GB of the SD variety including those with Eye-Fi functionality. Built in memory hardly amounts to a measly 50MB.

Review and Giveaway: The HP Touchsmart 600-1055, Part 1

The build is solid and appealing. In front you have two stainless steel legs and a rear stand with a rubber pivot that makes swiveling the entire device left and right easier. On the right you have the slot-loading BluRay drive as well as a volume rocker and a multimedia card reader. On the left, behind a plastic panel, you have connections. Relevant to the TV/PVR question, you have S-Video, Cable, HDMI and composite inputs… But no component! So as an owner of a non-Elite Xbox, I was unable to play it in high-definition, being left with no component inputs to connect it with. While there are plenty of consoles out there with HDMI, there’s a good chunk without and the omission of component inputs was a bit of a disappointment.

The front facing speakers sound great (more on that in the music review), the included low profile keyboard is adequate and looks appealing, while the mouse is a generic HP-branded optical mouse. Rounding out the important features, you have a center-mounted adjustable webcam on the top bezel, which swivels up or down through a back mounted switch.

Ferrari 599 GTO all set to sizzle at Beijing Motor Show

Putting all speculations to an end, Ferrari has finally officially taken the wraps of its much anticipated 599 GTO. The car that is all set to debut at the Beijing Motor Show later this month is touted to be faster than the Enzo! Output from the 6.0-liter V12 (derived from the Enzo's engine itself) is up from 612 horsepower to 661, with torque up a modest 9 lb-ft to 457. A lightweight beauty, weighing just 1495 kg (3295 lbs), it can reach speeds of 62mph in just 3.35 seconds, and achieve a top speed in excess of 208 mph, (while lapping the Fiorano test track in just 1 minute, 24 seconds)! The leaner and meaner 599 GTO features new front splitter, side sills, diffuser, rear spoiler, hood, and is fitted with new ten-spoke, 20-inch rims with F1-derived wheel donuts that aid aero efficiency.

Samsung announces funky and colorful accessories for its N150 and X170 Notebooks

Samsung Korea has partnered with Belkin and they are set to release a series of accessories including colorful a pouch and mouse for its N150 and X170 laptops. I like the retro and vinyl look the pouches have. There's something really funky about them. The pink and yellow are very bright and cheery colors targeted at the youth. You will only find these in the Korean market and they can be purchased at the Samsung online store. Another stylish case if you don't live in Korea is the Coffee Bag Laptop Case. It's eco friendly too!

Pimp your ride with Motionlite’s remote controlled, retractable LED hubcap spotlight

There are many many vehicle owners that are just looking for bigger and better ways to ‘Pimp their rides’. Here’s a really cool addition if you’re looking as well. A company called Motionlite has developed a retractable LED light that can be mounted behind your wheels. Via remote control the six-inch arm can be extended and LED activated throwing light right onto your rims which make them look like they glow. You have a choice of seven different colors to go with your mood, jacket or date’s dress. The kit will set you back $499 but you’re car will look awesome and that’s all that matters isn’t it?

World’s Most Expensive Computer Mouse

It’s a trying task to find something for your lovable computer geek significant other. Especially when they say they want something shiny and outlandishly expensive. Luckily, there is the World’s Most Expensive Computer Mouse. Yes, that is the mouse’s literal product name. Having looked at the price, the product name is definitely right on the money.

Sensation Lounge chair

Designer Alexander Christoff is starting to develop a penchant for making these strange chairs. He once designed a chair that is an homage to Ferrari, and it was fire-engine red with an odd footrest.

This Sensation Lounge Chair, as it is called, is apparently the ultimate for relaxation. Not only can the user recline nicely, but there is a screen there for watching anything you want to watch. If you are going to relax, I would suggest watching something like Planet Earth.

Some of you might notice that the screen on this guy seems a little…small, and I would agree with them. It doesn’t look any more than 12 inches along its diagonal. Isn’t there any way to make it so a big-screen can be mounted there or something? Man, that would be the way to watch a movie.

Samsung Corby Spring Edition coming soon

Samsung Electronics will be unleashing the newly colored Corby Spring Edition line of phones, you know when. These will essentially target the youth market and will come in extremely vibrant colors like Lilac Blue, Violet Purple, Freesia Yellow, Peppermint Green and Rosemary Pink. Okay I admit that these aren’t all that ‘vibrant’ but you know what to expect when a company means ‘youth-driven’. They basically want to bring out a gay colored phone that will appeal only to metrosexuals, women and everything in between them.

Sweden’s oddly named People of Lava TV is first to be Android powered

Sweden is known for its mountains, cheese, bank accounts and of course Heidi. They’re now going to be noted for their Televisions. A company called People of Lava (I’d love to know the origin of this name) is gearing up to launch the first Android-based TV set that will have full internet connectivity. What good is the OS if it’s not hooked up to the net? The first that will hit the shelves will be a 42-inch LED model (Hi-Def of course). It’ll come with a price tag of about $2,700 and $3,400 (USD). This one will soon be followed by larger displays - 47 and 55-inch models. Users will have ready access to stream YouTube, Netflix and Hulu videos. It’ll also have a built in browser, social networking functionality and Google apps of course.

Skoda India launches New Superb 1.8 TSI petrol with Manual Transmission

ŠkodaAuto India, a fully owned subsidiary of SkodaAuto a.s (Czech Republic) and one of the most promising automobile companies in India announced the launch of the Skoda Superb 1.8 TSI (Petrol) with Manual Transmission (MT). The launch of the Manual Transmission in the Superb commemorates the one year success of the All New Superb which was introduced in India in March 2009.
A delight to the auto enthusiasts, the Skoda Superb Petrol 1.8 TSI MT is geared with a Manual 6-speed transmission, which is unique to its segment and offers enhanced drivability and complete control on the engine performance. The 1.8 litre engine equipped with the award winning TSI technology has an inbuilt turbocharger with a high pressure direct injection system. The success of this variant can be attributed to the fact that it posses a lethal combination of the powerful TSI engine and an efficient 6-Speed Manual Transmission which not only gives better fuel efficiency (ARAI: 13.14 km/lit) but also improves the driving experience. The new Superb 1.8 MT Elegance will have the same equipment level as its siblings.

Speaking at the occasion, Thomas Kuehl, Board Member, Sales & Marketing, ŠkodaAuto India said, “We are proud to add the 1.8 TSI with the 6-speed Manual Transmission to the existing Superb range. Once again, to reiterate our commitment to our customers we have introduced new technologies in this variant which are a benchmark in the segment. The best in class 6-speed manual gearbox with the ‘Intelligent Gear Change Indicator’ takes the driving conditions into consideration and recommends the most suitable gear level to the driver on the Multifunction Display. As a result, the customer gets better fuel economy, better engine performance and a longer engine life. The response from our customers as well as auto critics has bequeathed the all New Superb with segment leader position and has surpassed all expectations.”

Complementing this opportunity, Ashutosh Dixit, Sr. General Manager, Sales & Marketing, SkodaAuto India added, “Ever since the launch, the New Superb has won the hearts of over 3000 customers and acquired the No. 1 position in the D Segment, bagging 6 prestigious automotive awards in 2010. The addition of the 1.8 TSI Manual Transmission to the current range will offer a wider choice to our customers and also allow us to introduce our newest technologies into the Indian market. We are confident that our new addition will create more zeal and excitement for our customers.”

The Superb 1.8 TSI MT is available in an aesthetic array of colors – Black Magic, Rosso Brunello, Cappuccino Beige, Diamond Silver & Candy White at a price range of:

Skoda Superb 1.8TSI MT (Petrol)	Ex-showroom Delhi	Rs. 1,828,563
	Ex-showroom Maharashtra	Rs. 1,781,035

The All New Superb is also available in the following engines 1.8 TSI Automatic Transmission (Petrol), 2.0 TDI CR Automatic Transmission (Diesel) and the 3.6 V6 FSI 4x4 Automatic Transmission (Petrol).

UK: Samsung U250 and U200 All-In-One PCs

UK: Samsung U250 and U200 All-In-One PCs

Samsung will soon release two all in on desktop PC’s in the United Kingdom with model names U200 and U250. With decent hardware and touch screen display it will surely be highly popular in the UK when it’s released.

WATCHES

Happy Hour Watch for the budding alcoholics

Who doesn't like Happy Hours? Especially if you are Homer Simpson. Well for those whose life revolves around which bar to hit next, there is the e Happy Hour Watch. It has a Japanese quartz movement for the analog face that sports only one hour marker, a digital time and date ...readout, an alloy case, and a wide black band. The USP of this watch happens to be s the patented Happy Hour bottle-opening buckle, so where ever you go, you can start your own happy hour. That's not a big thing though, my friend has a belt with a bottle opener. So if you are headed towards being enrolled in Alcohol Anonymous, buy this watch for $50 here.

Casio Introduces G-Shock’s New DW6900CB Collection

Fusing cutting edge fashion with a classic aesthetic, Casio America, Inc. introduces a new model from its shock and water resistant G-Shock line, the DW6900CB. Modernist mirror faces backed by rousing electric color combinations and a glossy finish have transformed this... G-Shock into an attention-grabbing, collectible timepiece.Deeply rooted in G-Shock toughness and technology, the DW6900CB is available in four color combinations: stealth black with gold face and accents (DW6900CB-1), electric blue with subtle royal blue details (DW6900CB-2), fire engine red paired with black and orange contrasts (DW6900CB-4), and the sophisticated silver with unapologetic hot pink accoutrements (DW6900CB-8).

GPS

New Mio Moov V780

GPS technology has surely qualified the way we travel. It not only lets you reach your destination without any difficulty, it saves a great share of your precious time. Mio Technology is very popular for its GPD devices and they are all set to introduce their brand new GPD navigator labeled as Mio Moov... V780. And this latest GPS device by Mio Technology features some of the most advanced multimedia capabilities.

NETBOOK

viliv S10 Blade: Swivel multi-touch tablet netbook

S10 Blade is the newest launch by viliv which is actually an incredibly gorgeous convertible netbook. This swivel, multi-touch screen netbook runs on Windows 7 and lives up to its name as it possesses blade like sharp looks. viliv S10 Blade runs on 1.6 GHz Intel Atom pr...ocessor. But S10 is mainly expected to rule the markets because of its eye catchy looks and sleek design.

Microsoft unveils new LG Windows Phone 7 prototype

The Smartphone with an LG label is a pre-production model (which might be released this September). In the words of Aaron Woodman, Director at Microsoft, no specs have been finalized for the smartphone but I wouldn’t expect it to change much before its release.The smar...tphone will have to fulfill minimal specs requirements as per Microsoft. There must be enough room for a large 3.5 inch multi-touch screen and unlimited connectivity options like 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth. The phone does feature a full QWERTY keyboard with dedicated buttons for special functions Bing, power, home, back, volume and the camera. The Engadget team stated that the smartphone integrates a 5 Mega-pixel camera.The Windows Phone 7 is a completely different project from what Microsoft have been currently offering in its mobiles. Smarter features, stylish looks and better software environment as offered in the new Windows Phone 7 Series make the foundation for a big success. Microsoft has been far behind Apple, Google, Nokia and other giants in the Smartphone industry. The Widows Phone 7 Series can change the odds in Microsoft’s favor.The Smartphone industry is currently going through its initial stages. A company as huge as Microsoft has loads of opportunities and resources to establish in this sector

Lego Digital Camera

Whether you’re looking for a camera for your kids or just a quirky camera for yourself, this would do the trick. It’ll take all of the same shots a normal camera would, it just does it with more class. It takes work to be as cool as someone carrying around a Lego digital camera. Sure, it is a bit... of a small screen, but it would still get the job done just fine.It has Lego bricks on the top and bottom that could allow for the camera to be attached to other Lego structures. Beyond that it has a whole lot of the typical features. Things like a built-in flash, fixed focus and a lithium-ion battery. It also comes with 4x digital zoom, 128MB that makes it possible to hang onto 80 photos and an 1.5” LCD screen. You can purchase it for £49.99 or about $76 through I Want One Of Those.

Gallery: Mercedes F800 Style concept car

Check out this latest concept car by Mercedes. Is it going to be Mercedes-Benz’s next CLS Class? Codenamed, the F800 Style, this concept sports the stigmata of a SLS AMG nose, and boasts plenty of tech goodies.It runs on a 2.0-liter turbocharged four with direct injection, mated ...to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and plug-in hybrid system capable of delivering as much as 300 bhp, on board the dash is traffic jam assist and MB’s 360 degree Pre-Safe system.

Stoplight Sleep Enhancing Clock

Alarm clocks are dime a dozen, and this time we have the Stoplight Sleep Enhancing Clock to keep us entertained. What’s so great or funny about this? Well, you get a lovingly sculpted bear figure located right next to the stoplight that boasts red and green lights which can be set by pare...nts. It includes a digital clock for easy reading of time by the little ones, alongside an optional beeping function. Whenever the red light is turned on, the kids are supposed to stop whatever monkey business they’re involved in at the moment and head to bed. Yeah, right – as though they’ll let a $34.99 device dictate what they can or cannot do. No idea on why it is called a Sleep Enhancing Clock though, making it deserve a place on our pages

THIS ONES A FOOLISH GADGETKeyboard Rubik’s CubeFancy a Rubik’s Cube that is totally different, not relying on colors? Well, that is the case with the Keyboard Rubik’s Cube where it sees the recycling of old keyboard keys to form all six sides of the Rubik’s cube. The fact that different colors are not used makes it har...der, and collecting nine of the same keys could prove to be quite the treasure hunt before this project can even get started. You will need to sacrifice a regular Rubik’s Cube before pasting on these unloved keyboard keys…