Gadget Geeks » Gadgets Reviews

Razer Switchblade for all Gaming addicts

M.D — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 12:46:25 +0000

The Razer Switchblade Concept is a breakthrough portable gaming device design that allows gamers to play on the go without giving up the precision and control ordinarily possible on a desktop gaming system. The Razer Switchblade was conceptualized and designed by the Razer design team and incorporates an ultra-sensitive multi-touch screen with a innovative tactile dynamic keyboard that adapts and changes on the fly with the games being played.

It also has an extremely unique feature with an chameleon-like keyboard. The keys of this specially designed gaming laptop are designed to change depending on what game is played. So if you are doing a Warcraft-type game, you’ll see the direction keys and action hotkeys. You will see a different formation for a flying type of game. It reminds me of the Optimus Maximus keyboard. Here comes the sad part. I don’t know when this Razer Switchblade is planning on being released, or if it is being released. In fact, I don’t even know if this is the item that Razer wanted me to see.

Apple Acknowledges Snow Leopard Guest Account Bug

M.D — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:31:53 +0000

The guest account bug on Apple’s latest OS X update, Snow Leopard, will wipe your user account data if you use the guest account.

Apple said, We are aware of the issue, which occurs only in extremely rare cases, and we are working on a fix.

To avoid this bug, disable your guest account before upgrading from Leopard to Snow Leopard.

Nokia tells all on Booklet 3G: $299 with a 2-year contract on AT&T

M.D — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:29:06 +0000

Nokia, AT&T, Best Buy and Microsoft are all holding hands and singing the same song about Nokia’s Booklet 3G today. The good news is that the device will be subsidized by AT&T, at $299 with a 2-year contract at a $60 a month data plan — with other rate plans and prices to be announced — and a $599 non-subsidized price.

It’ll be out with the launch of Windows 7 on October 22nd and available exclusively through Best Buy through the holidays. Nokia’s also pretty strong about stating that 12 hour battery life isn’t a “brochure number” but a real number — though we doubt that since Nokia is using Mobile Mark ’07 which doesn’t include wireless in its base tests.

Introducing Google Building Maker

M.D — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:18:34 +0000

Some of us here at Google spend almost all of our time thinking about one thing: How do we create a three-dimensional model of every built structure on Earth? How do we make sure it’s accurate, that it stays current and that it’s useful to everyone who might want to use it?

One of the best ways to get a big project done — and done well — is to open it up to the world. As such, today we’re announcing the launch of Google Building Maker, a fun and simple (and crazy addictive, it turns out) tool for creating buildings for Google Earth.

We like to think of Building Maker as a cross between Google Maps and a gigantic bin of building blocks. Basically, you pick a building and construct a model of it using aerial photos and simple 3D shapes – both of which we provide. When you’re done, we take a look at your model. If it looks right, and if a better model doesn’t already exist, we add it to the 3D Buildings layer in Google Earth. You can make a whole building in a few minutes.

Our early beta testers insist that Building Maker is more like a game than a tool. For now, you can choose to make buildings in any of about 50 cities. We’ll keep adding more cities, but don’t feel left out if we don’t have your hometown yet — modeling in a place you’ve never been is a fantastic way to discover more about it. Teachers might find that Building Maker is a great way to get students interested in geography. Armchair tourists can not only visit an unfamiliar city; they can engage with it. It’s amazing what you learn when you look at something really closely.

Nikon D3s live blogging at NikonRumors

M.D — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:10:06 +0000

“The D3s is expected to be supplied to UK stores in early December, priced around £4200 for the body only.

“Movies are captured in HD quality 1280×720 pixel resolution at 24fps that can be trim edited in-camera, but most significantly, most of the camera’s still shooting functions – including ultra-high ISO settings – are available in the video mode, and single frames can be saved on the fly as JPEGs. Although these frames are of low resolution, they are sufficient for multimedia presentations, says Nikon, and could be used for newspaper print.”

“…results shot at ISO12,800 were particularly impressive…”

Everything else is “as expected”. Confirmed vibrating image sensor cleaner, improvements on correcting lateral chromatic aberrations, 14-bit A/D conversion, 16-bit image-processing, improved viewfinder

HTC Tilt 2 and HTC Pure get AT&T officialized, Windows Mobile 6.5 style

M.D — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:31:26 +0000

Listen, it’s not like this official confirmation means too much as you could already buy an HTC Pure starting yesterday, but it’s always nice to have a shiny press release and embargo lift. The HTC Pure and Tilt 2 are AT&T’s very first Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets and feature HTC’s incredible TouchFLO3D UI layered beautifully on top of Windows Mobile.

We checked out the Pure in person a little while back and it’s a little different than the stock HTC unit — a tad on the thick side, but with a dark blue case and a pretty angular look, it’s definitely a great touch-based WinMo device. It will run you $149.99 with a two-year contract and the Tilt2 will be available in the “coming weeks” for $299.00 also with a two-year agreement.

Paid apps hitting the Pre tomorrow?

M.D — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:51:36 +0000

The release of webOS 1.2 got all of the stars aligned for a barrage (or, at the very least, a trickle) of paid applications to start hitting the Pre, and the word on the street is that the first of those will be dropping tomorrow, October 2 — for users in the US, anyhow (Canadians apparently need to wait a while longer, a problem that Android users up there are all too acquainted with).

The company will smartly be tying purchases to users’ Palm Profiles, meaning you’ll be able to redownload previously bought apps on any device you choose as long as your account is currently tied to it. Of course, the big question is what apps will be available to blow some cash on in the first round of Catalog approvals — what’s everyone hoping for?

Verizon announces Nokia 2705 Shade flip phone

M.D — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:50:13 +0000

Think what you will, but we’re big believers in “keeping it real” ’round these parts. While we swoon whenever a new smart phone hits the scene, the vast majority are still stuck in the flip phone zone – and you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that. Have no fear, flip fans, Verizon is here to fulfill all your flipping needs with the new Nokia 2705 Shade.

Being marketed as a “light-weight, compact and colorful” flip phone, the Nokia Shade will initially only be available online and will come in two tasty flavors: “normal” – one with a camera (more below)*, and “secret agent” – a model without a camera, for all of you who can’t carry camera-equipped devices into your info-sensitive work places (we presume).

In regards to the “colorful” aspect of the device (don’t mind the black press shot of the phone above), Nokia is keeping with the old-school theme (think early 2000s) and will be offering interchangeable “Xpress-on” covers in blue, red, and purple for $19.99. Considering the Nokia Shade with camera, itself, will cost just $29.99 (with a new two-year customer agreement), spending almost $20 a pop per color cover (66% of the total price of the handset, for crying out loud) is pretty comical. The new flipper will be available online beginning Oct. 6 at verizonwireless.com.

Here are the rest of the juicy details:

Key features:
• Large display on one of the smallest devices available at Verizon Wireless
• VZ NavigatorSM-capable to give customers access to more than 15 million points of interest
• Connect in color with Xpress-on changeable covers (sold separately)

Lifestyle features:
• Stylish and sleek with interchangeable covers for added personalization
• Stores up to 1,000 contacts
• Light-weight and easily fits into a pocket or purse
• Text, picture and voice messaging capabilities
• Up to 300 minutes of usage time or up to 360 hours of standby time
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• Bluetooth® compatible with support for the following Bluetooth profiles: headset, hands-free, phonebook access, basic printing, and object push (for vCard and vCalendar)
• Micro USB 2.0 compatible
• Access to Mobile Web

Domestic Violence Awareness Month*

Because purple is the awareness color for domestic violence, those who purchase the Nokia Shade with a camera online during Domestic Violence Awareness Month will receive a free picture frame phone lanyard and a purple Nokia Xpress-on Cover while supplies last. Additionally, the Nokia Shade features pre-loaded wallpapers that highlight HopeLine®, Verizon Wireless’ phone recycling and reuse program, and it is the first Verizon Wireless phone to have #HOPE pre-programmed into the contact list. When customers dial #HOPE, they are connected to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, where they can receive information or help with domestic violence situations or questions. To learn more about Verizon Wireless’ efforts around Domestic Violence Awareness Month, visit www.verizonwireless.com/HopeLineDVAM.

Dell introduces “future proof” Vostro 430 desktop

M.D — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:48:47 +0000

Ah, the future. Full of uncertainties and possibilities, yet one constant remains: the Vostro 430. Designed from the ground up to withstand global upheavals like Windows 7, this humble little box is fully configurable with your choice of Core i5 or Core i7 processors and ATI or NVIDIA discrete graphics, along with up to 16GB of RAM,

1TB of storage, an optional Blu-ray drive, a 19-in-1 memory card reader, a couple of PS/2 and serial ports to support your older devices and, of course, plenty of room for further expansion (including no less than 10 USB ports). Best of all, it boasts a starting price of just $699, with some fairly high-end options still well within reach under the $1,000 mark.

Live at the Barnes and Noble Irex DR 800SG launch

M.D — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:19:30 +0000

Nicholas is live at the Barnes & Noble Irex reader event and will report back what he’s seeing including, but not limited to, information on the e-reader. Watch this post for more details as they emerge.

11:42 – Ok folks, the Wi-Fi connection here at the New York Historical society is rubbish, so I’m literally “e-mailing” the guys my live reactions.
Better stuff a-comin’ later in the afternoon.

Today IREX, which is a Philips offshoot, is showing off its latest e-reader, the DR 800SG. It’s got an 8.1-inch screen (the Kindle 2’s is 6 inches), and is optimized to be used with a stylus. There’s a little bar on the left-hand side that you use to turn pages. Oh, and IREX partnered with Barnes and Noble, so all those e-books you buy from there work on the reader.