Its Electronica

Posted Mar 6th 2008 2:50PM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: cellphones, Features, Handhelds

So with hardware accelerated 3D graphics, an integrated database API, tightly integrated performance monitoring tools, and a highly specialized version of the Cocoa framework tweaked just for the iPhone and rechristened as Cocoa Touch, the iPhone’s just-announced SDK sounds like a winner. But how does it compare to its well-entrenched competitors from Microsoft, Nokia, and the iPhone community itself? Let’s have a look.#comparechart { border: 2px solid #333; border- collapse: collapse; } #comparechart td { padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; } #comparechart th { font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #eee; } #comparechart th.mainth { border-bottom: 1px solid #333; font-size: 1.2em; } #comparechart td.red { background-color: #f08c85; } #comparechart td.green { background-color: #b3e2c4; }

Apple iphone SDKToolchainWindows MobileS60 Cost
Free Free Free; could be more depending on tools used Free; could be more depending on tools used Wide availability
June Now Now Now Native development
Yes
Yes Yes Yes Languages suppoted for native development
Objective-C Objective-C C++, any language with a .NET compiler C++ Digital certificates
Required for distribution No Available, required for some phones Available, required for some phones Retail support
Full; 30 percent Apple revenue share; free apps allowable No Limited Limited Platform maturity
Immature
Immature Mature Mature First-party support
Yes
No Yes Yes Community support
Just getting started!
Excellent Excellent Excellent App installation method
Direct (App Store), iTunes Installer.app, custom Direct, ActiveSync Direct, PC Suite Emulator available
Yes No Yes Yes Remote debugging
Yes No Yes Yes Target device variety
Poor
Poor Excellent Good Touchscreen support
Multi-touch
Multi-touch Single touch Umm… soon? App availability and variety
Poor (that will change, though)
Good Excellent Excellent Underlying architecture
Cocoa Touch / Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Windows Symbian Flash availability
No No Yes Yes Java availability
No In development Yes Yes

Kensington Pilotmouse Optical Mini Wireless Mouse

The PilotMouse? Bluetooth? Mini easily connects to your Bluetooth? enabled notebook without wires or an added receiver - from up to 20 metres away for the complete wireless freedom.      Features Hassle-free connection easily works with any Bluetooth? enabled notebook computer Eliminates wires and an added receiver for the ultimate in portable freedom Ergonomic shape, integrated grips for unrivalled ease of use On-off switch helps you conserve battery power for you when you really need it Superior range lets you control presentations from up to 20 metres DiamondEye? optical technology tracks smoothly and accurately on virtually any surface Compact size is easy to carry and comfortable to use

Technorati Tags: gadgets

Posted Mar 6th 2008 12:50PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: cellphones

We know, we’re flat on our backs from being blown away here, but Apple confirmed to us in a post-keynote Q&A session that SIM unlock software will not be allowed in the iphone App Store. You know what that means? The Jailbreak community lives to crack another day.

Posted Mar 6th 2008 12:41PM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Misc. gadgets

Apparently Meizu wasn’t the only manufacturer to get a friendly visit from German police at this week’s CeBIT tradeshow in Hanover. The word is that 51 different exhibitors got busted at the show for the patent infringement, with 180 law enforcement officers confiscating 68 moving boxes worth of gear. Primary offenses included Meizu-style MP3 / MP4 infringement, along with unregistered CD, DVD-R and DVD playback devices. All companies were informed of the rules before the tradeshow, and the warning we spotted at Meizu’s booth (pictured above) should’ve probably served as a pretty good hint to these companies as well. China boasted the most offenders at 24, then it was Taiwan with 12, Germany with 9, and Poland, Netherlands and Korea with one a piece. Everybody else just isn’t trying hard enough.

The Naja King flexible stand holds your shiny new iphone or ipod touch in either a vertical or horizontal position, allowing you to view movies without tiring your hands. Features include a head with anti-scratch grippers that are capable of rotating a full 360º, along with a three-foot-long cable that can be packed flat for travel purposes. The Naja King flexible stand retails for $40 and would be a great gift idea for movie buffs whose primary mode of watching movies is on the iPod touch/iPhone.

T-Qualizer 2 Light Up T-Shirt

Making a display of yourself has never been easier, and now it’s more fun than ever to stand out from the crowd.Following on from the outrageous success of our ‘Geek Chic’ T-Qualiser T-shirts, we have taken the next step and gone all techno-3D. The black t-shirts sport a slim, bright, electro-luminescent design in the shape of a 3D graphic equaliser display. Just like the T-Qualizer they have a built in controller box which incorporates a wide sensitivity sensor - so when the music plays, the lights start to dance - and so will you presumably. Whether you’re in a club, a bar, at a festival, or just leaping around the living room, the lights will flash up and down your shirt as the music pumps away. FeaturesBlack cotton t-shirt with a sound activated 3D illuminating panel. Lights flash in time to surrounding beats. An advanced controller box with a wide sound sensitivity sensor. The 3D illuminating panel is powered by a detachable battery pack. The battery pack has an on/off switch so you can choose when you do and don’t want to flash (as it were). The battery pack can be unplugged for washing the t-shirt. The t-shirt is hand wash only. The T-Qualizer is available in small, medium, largeand extra large. Requires 4 x AAA Batteries (not included). Size:-Small: 85cm (33.5 inches) Medium: 100cm (39.5 inches) Large: 120cm (47 inches) Extra-Large: 145cm (49 inches).

Technorati Tags: Tech Toys

Few people working in the games industry would disagree that having Capcom as your employer would make them very happy. You only have to look at its recent back catalog of games to see why.

Now, the chance of working for the Japanese developer has increased significantly, as it goes on a large recruitment drive in the U.S. Positions are available across a wide range of disciplines, including standard development disciplines (art, QA, and production), mobile and interactive arts, marketing and P.R., sales, and administration. There are even positions available on the Internship program the company runs.

There is also good news for people who play the games, but don’t work in the industry; and that’s because of the reason behind the recruitment drive. The company needs so many new people, because–as the U.S. Capcom blog states–”We’ve got 15 different projects cooking right now (and more to come).”

Capcom performed really well the last couple of years with hit titles on all platforms. It certainly is a place you would love to work at, as much out of curiosity as a need to work with the IP you love.

Good luck to anyone who applies.

Read more at MCVUK.

The Vintage Flash Camera Clock should be a great present for dad, assuming he has advanced well in age and paid great attention to the paparazzi back in the 1950s. With retro products doing pretty well lately, it makes perfect sense for this vintage flash camera to be turned into a clock, but I’m not too sure if the $165 price tag is justified. I suppose you can’t really place too much of a price when it comes to the nostalgic factor, but still, if you can find one of these in your attic and cellophane tape a typical alarm clock to it, that’d save you a fair bit of dough in the process.

Overview

How about a 2-in-1 kind of combination product? NordicTrack Elite 7500 treadmill comes with a 7 inch Flat Screen TV. It is the company’s brand new product for 2008. A very gifted product for all of you who have a hard time keeping yourself provoked sufficient to finish the lap time on the runner. With a powerful 3.5 CHP Commercial Pro Motor and 2.5 precision machined rollers you get the best treadmill experience that is both soft and muted.

Features

NordicTrack Elite 7500 treadmill’s exciting feature is its 7 inch multi colored flat Screen ready for TV. It is attuned with most Satellite or Cable TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players and other accessories. It is integrated with a DurX commercial motor that features a self-cooling process extending the life of the motor. It also reduces the vibration yielding in smooth operation.

This treadmill allows you to instantly adjust your speed up or down at the touch of a single button. The speed can be adjusted from 0-12 MPH. Lose weight, feel great and improve performance in just 8-weeks with i-fit interactive workout card equipment!Each card is planned by a Certified Personal Trainer automatically adjusting your speed and incline, while the voice of a personal trainer takes you through each workout. I-fit workout cards come in Wellness, Weight Loss, Body Sculpting, Performance and My Progress categories, giving you the most advanced interactive, result-specific fitness programs. It is incorporated with as many as 35 Workout Programs.

The iPod compatible music port makes it easy to plug in your ipod and listen to your music through two premium speakers. Integrated into the treadmill’s console is the Intermix Acoustics the premium sound system combining high-end speaker and subwoofer components to give you the best in crystal-clear sound quality.

The Elite 7500 treadmill is embedded with Polar wireless telemetry, providing accurate heart rate readings via contact sensors. Moreover, it also comprises of two hand-grip sensors that are suitably built into the treadmill’s handlebars. Last but not the least is the Space Saver treadmill featuring an Air Light shock and a self-locking latch, making folding and unfolding your treadmill easier than ever before.

NordicTrack Warranty

Nordic Track Elite 7500 treadmill gives you a lifetime warranty on the motor, 5 years on parts and 1 year on in-home labor.

Price

Nordic Track Elite 7500 treadmill is available at a price of $2999.00.

Source: Norditrack

<!– ch_client = “mmliewcf”; ch_type = “mpu”; ch_width = 468; ch_height = 180; ch_color_title = “0065CE”; ch_non_contextual = 1; ch_default_category = “200001″; var ch_queries = new Array(”NordicTrack Elite 7500 Treadmill”); var ch_selected=Math.floor((Math.random()*ch_queries.length)); if ( ch_selected

The MindwireV5 gaming system ups the ante when it comes to gaming excitement, as it sends small jolts of electricity via the five self-adhesive pads which are hooked up to your arms, legs and stomach, allowing you to experience the sensory feedback that mirrors the game action. It currently works with majority of current PS3, Xbox and GameCube games, including PC titles that feature force feedback support. As for next generation consoles, only selected configurations will work with the Mindwire V5. I certainly would not want to be on the receiving end of Force Lightning in a Star Wars game while wearing thsi though. The MindwireV5 gaming system will retail for $200.