NES Emulator & PMP For Under $50

NES Emulator & PMP For Under $50

Author ColGlobe | 04.01.2009 | Category Consumer Electronics, Technology

The iPod has created an industry of PMP (Personal Music Player) makers, but most were just that- music players. Chinavasion has introduced a new PMP that plays audio and video files of many types, including MP3, WAV, WMA, 3GP, and AVI.

Not only are a wide range of file types supported, but you also get aviewing option. The built-in 2.4 inch (320×240) TFT LCD, or use the included AV cables and connect to an external monitor. And if this still isn’t enough, throw in the fact that this little gadget also doubles as an NES emulator, allowing you to play a large number of NES games.

Want more? How about if the company throws in a built-in 1.3 megapixel camera for still shots and 3GP videos, a miniSD card slot, and an FM radio tuner?

The only feature that has been mentioned yet is the outstanding pricetag of just under US$50, which makes this PMP perfect for any budget.

CES 2009

Author JoeDigital | 04.01.2009 | Category Computers, Consumer Electronics, Technology Viewpoint

One concern for the upcoming CES 2009 is the current worldwide financial shae-up. Many vendors are expected to cut back on their level of participatiion, while other are expected to ramp up and roll out the best they have available, hoping to draw in some consumer recognition and sales to follow up on 2008’s overall slump.

Mircosoft is expected to unveil Windows 7 at CES 2009, bringing the latest evolution of the software gient’s operating system into play at a critical time. Microsoft has been facing potential competition from many directions recently, including Google and various Open Source software offerings, and the company seems to pinning a lot of hope on cornering portions of the mobile computing market in 2009.

In addition to Microsoft, you can expect IBM, Intel, and Hewlitt Packard to put ina  good showing, and other companies ar certain make make at least honorable appearances. 

On the downside, this year’s attendance is expected to be quite a bit lower than in previous years, with pre-registration currently the lowest it has been since 2006. For those who attend CES for the party-like atmosphere, you may be a little this years, as tightening budgets are going to hamper the freebies and incentives that have been so common at conferences in the past.

iPhone: Softbank 1-Seg TV Tuner

Author JoeDigital | 03.01.2009 | Category Consumer Electronics, Mac/Apple, Telecommunications

Watch movies and television on your iPhone!

Now you can watch television on your iPhone. Softbank recently relased its 1-Seg TV tuner, which allows integrating video directly to your screen. At US$108, the price isn’t as outrageous as you may have expected, but there are a couple fo quirks that you should be aware of.

First, don’t even think about watching a full length movie unles you have a power supply nerby. With the tuner connected, your iPhone doesn’t have but about 30 minutes of battery life. The tuner is great for filling in brief periods of time away from a wall outlet, but it isn’t going to be sutable for sustained usage.

An odd item with the Softbank TV Tuner is that it connects to your iPhone via syncronized cable connection, but the video is still transmitted via wi-fi. Keep this in mind, as you’ll have to be in range of a wi-fi connection for the device to work at all.

All in all, this is considered one of the best external add-ons available for the iPhone, and it’s sleek design in intended to mimic the iphone’s casing, adding acomplementary accessory.

Two iphone Apps For the Apple 3G

Author JoeDigital | 02.01.2009 | Category Consumer Electronics, Mac/Apple, World Wide Web

Onew of the biggest draws for the Apple iPhone 3G is its ability to download apps, customizing every iPhone for the needs of its owner. But what kind of apps are avilable, and why would you be interested?

MINT

This is a personal finances app that is both intuitive and fast.  You can track budgets, follow investments, and a host of other financial tasks, all from this one easy app. The cost is also very agreeable, at completely free.

Shapewriter 2.0 Pro

Click and drag on the touch keypad to spell out the letters in a word, and shapewriter will handle the details of printing them in the correct order. This program can add a great deal to your productivity at typing tasks. If you want to get the most out of it, pay the $10 registration, and unlock new features while removing annoying advertisements.

If you haven’t investigated the plethora of apps available for you iPhone yet, you’ve been leaving yourself in the dark. There are hundreds of apps out there, with functions that are entertaining and aesthetic, informational, and productive. What you do with your iPhone is emphasized by the types of apps you have available.

Iphones At Walmart

Author JoeDigital | 31.12.2008 | Category Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, Telecommunications

Wal-Mart will soon start selling the 8Gb iPhone for $197. The 16Gb version will be for $297. The phones will require a new two-year service agreement or a qualified upgrade.

The move is seen by many as a chance for Apple to reach millions of Wal-Mart shoppers who may not be as familiar with the Iphone.

 Wal-Mart typically appeals to shoppers who don’t generally buy Apple’s products like Macintosh computers, iPods and iPhones, which are more expensive that other music players and computers on the market. But in times of a recession everyone is seems to be looking for a good deal.

 Speculations that Apple would offer a 4-gigabyte model of the iPhone for $99 at Wal-Mart stores had been prevalent on numerous websites. But the phones being sold at Wal-Mart are $2 below the prices offered at other locations.

 AT&T, currently sells the Iphone for $199 for the 8 Gb version, and $299 for the 16Gb version.

the golden touch

Author JoeDigital | 29.12.2008 | Category Consumer Electronics

A surprise on nokia’s website brought the new bling into limelight. The nokia 8800 series have been known for their quality and luxury. The last in the series, the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte was an uber cool phone with a body made out of carbon fibre, which was a first for a mobile phone, the new Nokia 8800 Gold Arte follows in the same principles as its predecessor although the luxury component on this version is definitely a few notches higher. The functionality does not see any changes, though when it comes to the 8800 lineup, it’s never about the functionality to begin with anyway.

The Nokia 8800 Gold Arte’s main selling points are the use of high quality genuine leather along with the 18 carat gold plating. Rest all is familiar territory with a oled screen and accelerometer functions along with the fixed 4 gb memory.

No word on the price of this gem as of yet, but don’t expect it to be anything less than outrageously expensive.

Google Gmail Got PDF

Author JoeDigital | 21.12.2008 | Category Computers, Consumer Electronics, Telecommunications

As gmail continues to grow, its realized that it needs to be self sufficient at a base level. Google has periodically taken steps to strengthen its position in the email segment towards becoming a UCC (Unified Collaborations and Communications) Hub. From being the first to offer 1Gb of inbox space when other’s were offering a mere 10Mb, to the launch of its messenger and chatting program Gtalk. Google recently added a plethora of applications via Google labs including the ability to SMS anyone in the states using its messenger. The latest addition is the introduction of a PDF viewer.

All PDF files now have the option of being viewed by the user without using Adobe’s Acrobat and without leaving the web page. Google has recognized the need to embrace popular file types in the past with its “office” now with the viewer even if they are from rivals like Microsoft and adobe in order to satisfy the need of its users.

SeaDragon: Microsoft For Iphone

Author JoeDigital | 20.12.2008 | Category Consumer Electronics, Telecommunications, World Wide Web

Introducing Microsoft's Seadragon For iPhone

A move that doesn’t come as a total surprise to industry watchers, Microsoft has introduced a free photo viewing application for the Iphone. SeaDragon Mobile the application developed by Live Labs (the same guys behind Microsoft live) makes use of the Iphone’s powerful graphic processor and the multi touch screen to view giga pixel images at very high zoom providing an incredible level of detail to the user dubbed “deep zoom”

Seadragon comes preloaded with very large images that make good use of its capabilities, the program works in conjunction with photosynth another Microsoft program that stitches pictures to produce a faux 3d panorama. Panning and zooming are taken care of by the multi touch screen and provides additional content through RSS feeds like flickr.

It is however, uncertain when the application will be released for the windows mobile format, Microsoft’s own mobile platform. Another application by Microsoft for the Iphone is stated for release next year is a voice recognition/search program.