smartech

Have we mentioned that tablet PCs  become extremely popular these days? So popular that some of them, like QOOQ’s 10.2-inch tablet machine, have been specifically designed to sit in your kitchen and offer preloaded recipes, apart from your very own professional cuisine. And besides those French meal preparation videos, already tossed into the pile together with different recipes, ingredient information, adjustable shopping lists, and a cool magazine bulletin – all which can be updated for a monthly fee of €12.95 ($20) and a one time payment of €349 (around $515) – you  get yourself a glass touchscreen device packing an SD slot, along with a WiFi connection, Ethernet, USB hubs and a built in stand. And while internet browser unwisely dismissed from the overall platform that hooked to be cooked, other cool features , like photo viewer, internet radio and integrated weather app can definitely compensate for all of those missing parts. Bon Appetit !

[via RedFerret]

We barely find these days portable media devices that get released with an artificial intelligence software, which can practically serve as your day by day personal assistant. However, we do see a lot of Internet and tablet machines, being launched on a daily bases, across the globe. One of those hybrid units that bravely combines all of the above, and stuffs them into a one tiny “piano-finish” frame, is eviGroup’s 10.2-inch Pad Tablet, that boasts (besides this 1024 x 600 display) a WiFi connectivity together with 3G WWAN, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, three USB ports, a 1.3MP webcam, a built-in microphone, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard-drive to keep your files inside. The system that operates this entire platform is Microsoft’s Windows 7, which comes preloaded with the optional Seline10 robotic creature that basically activates everything you do, either it’s text, handwriting, interface navigation and even voice controls. Seline seems to easily recognize your different moves, and technically transform them into actions. Regretfully, the company hasn’t yet unleashed any preview videos to demonstrate this ten years technology development working in practice. Nevertheless, collecting just under €500 ($745) out of your savings, will get you one, whenever it comes around.

[via slashgear]

Care for a less expensive media player, the kind that looks good and serves your high-def videos exactly the way you want? Checkout SmartQ’s latest V5 MID, with no price tag or availability dates attached, but a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen that pumps your HD files to 1080p, through an HDMI hub, built inside. Other than that, you get a strong 600MHz ARM11 processor along with 256MB of DDR2 RAM, 2GB of internal storage, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, SD expansion for bigger capacities use, and a nice slick rectangle design. Well, on second thought, it wouldn’t be that cheap if getting one involves acquiring a flight ticket to Asia – but that’s for you to decide.

Update: Looks like SmartQ’s V5 MID is finally up and available across the pond. For merely $180 you will get yourself that 4.3-inch display, hiding a 600MHz ARM11 processor underneath, paired with 256MB of RAM, HDMI output, Android, Ubuntu, and Windows CE 6.0 all preloaded inside – which makes it even more attractive.

[via imp3]

We knew it was just a matter of time until netbooks would eventually show up with Windows 7 bundled inside, and now that Microsoft’s superb operating system is officially up – looks like Redmond’s moment of truth has finally come. The new Seashell style models the Taiwanese actively plan for a mid-November launch are the 1005HR-WS and 1005HE-WS, which both include a 10.1-inch display, along with an Atom N280 processor, 1GB of RAM, 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth, a 0.3MP webcam and a 6-cell battery with up to 8.4 hours of working life. However, while the 1005HR-WS packs a WXGA platform (1366 x 768 resolution) and 250GB hard drive storage, its fellow, the 1005HE-WS, boasts a WSVGA flavor (whatever that means) and either 250GB HDD or 160GB HDD, to pick at your choice. Japan prices mention Â¥49,800 ($545) for the “HR” edition, as “HE” buns will run for Â¥46,800 ($510) or Â¥44,800 ($490), depends on size.

Update: We’ve added an unboxing video, courtesy of Netbooked. Check it out after the break.

[via liliputing]

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Tired of yet another Asian media player, splashed out to the pond? have no worries, we’ll make it short. Basically, we have one Chinese company, Newsmy, which used to be Newman, a new PMP device carrying the most bizarre name A11HD, a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 display, supporting 720p video files (via TV output), 16GB of internal flash storage, wide range of formats support and 64 games, coming bundled out of the box. Price stands exactly at $129.86, purchase is at your own discretion.

[Via PMP Today]

For many, the 1005HA is probably considered as one of the best netbooks available around, but that as a fact didn’t seem to stop Asus from launching another. The latest, recently emerged in Japan, was tagged as a “business edition” flavor, which frankly, has nothing exceptional inside. In any case, for $700(!) you get yourself an Atom N280 processor, tucked with a 10.1-inch display, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, Windows XP Professional edition (no Windows 7?) and a 10.5 hours battery, for every single charge. Well, not exactly the best deal out there, is it?

[via mobileandnotebook]

Chinese company Cube already tossed some HD-compatible media players into the pile. This time it’s no different from others, but design wise, a lot more attractive. Today’s new boy on stake is the H600HDMI, which practically boasts a 5-inch 800 x 480 display on top, with a batch of refreshing specs underneath. Sized only 6.99mm thick, this skinny PMP device can literally handle any viable format you’ve ever tackled with, including 720p/1080i video files via the HDMI hub, along with RMVB, RM, AVI, FLV, MKV, DAT, WMV, MPG, MP4, MOV, PMP, VOB, H.264 (HP) and H.26, while audio range supports MP3, WMA, WAV, APE, FLAC and OGG. Regretfully, there’s no WiFi inside to surf the web, but a USB host, an FM tuner, an eBook reader, and 8GB of storage are all bundled onboard, as price goes somewhere around $73, which are approximately 499 yuan in local currency.

[Via akihabaranews]

We’ve already seen some of Myracer’s stuff in the past, but hands down, their latest Lisse Q10 PMP is one of a kind. Basically, you get everything that any other media player will give these days, including a 3-inch 400 x 240 touchscreen, 8GB flash drive, an FM tuner, an e-book reader, a mic, one TV output and microSD slot expansion. Different from others, this one comes with a stunning stylish retro design, featuring a rounded dial nub on front and three colors to choose from (black, silver or gold). Codecs wise, it will support most common formats, such as MPEG4, H.264, DivX, XviD, RM/RMVB, MP4, 3GP, MPG, WMV video, MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, OGG, FLAC audio and JPEG, BMP, GIF image files – but alas! price and dates still remain a secret. Stay tuned, more to come.

[via itechnews]

It’s not official yet, but word on Chinese streets says that iRiver is launching the N20 mp3 player these days, coming with either 2GB or 4GB capacities at your choice, along with a four lines greyscale PMOLED display, a built-in FM tuner, 26 x 55.5 x 13mm size dimensions and wide range of formats support – MP3, WMA, APE, WAV, FLAC and OGG audio files included. As said, nothing official from iRiver at this point, but this way or another, we hear you’ll probably have to shell out 649 yuan ($95) or 749 ($110), respectively, to have one.

Update: Mariah Carey fans, this is your day. A special iRiver N20 edition, preloaded with  Carey’s new album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, is just around the South Korean corner. First 5000, you’re on, only $120 out of your pockets, and this LE  DAP is yours. Another image is just after the break. Hurry up!

[via imp3]

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Apple just issued iPhone OS 3.1.2, available on your iTunes app right now, offering some bug fixes to few of the problems you may have seen, including pesky sleep mode bugs that kept your iPhone device from waking up, network connection interruptions many has suffered from, or this video streaming crash, occasionally happened. Just click the update and make it work.

Update1: And just in case you were looking for a jailbreak app that will help you hack your iPhone 3GS 3.1.2 OS or iPod Touch 3G without activation, Geohot’s Blackra1n key just turned official, and will let you in right away, as long as you run a Windows platform. No unlock, only break. Proceed with caution.

Update2: But if you just want to stick with good old friends, Dev Team’s PwnageTool 3.1.4 is just around the corner. You can download it from here, in case you’re a Mac, and get your iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 2G devices hacked. iPod Touch 3G users, you’re out – this time – no support at the moment, but stick around for updates to come.

Update3: Looks like blackra1n RC3 just went live, offering full blacksn0w unlock for the latest 05.11.07 baseband. If you’re a Mac or a Window user – it really doesn’t matter – just grab your file and make it happen.

It’s not a secret that Intel’s latest 2GHz Atom Processor is looking for new lavish netbooks to sit in, while making its way out to the market in the coming weeks. Now we’ve been told that Intel’s speedy CPU has finally found a fancy ultra-portable device to be accommodated, as Sony officially announces the Vaio X, an 11.1-inch netbook/notebook series that weighs only 1.6 pounds and made out of carbon-fiber materials. True, it ain’t going to be cheap, in fact you’ll have to pay a whopping $1499 – yes you’ve heard that right – one thousand four hundred and ninety nine dollars, that’s what you’ll be asked to shell out in order to get a slim Vaio X machine, including an Atom Z550 processor, tucked with an SSD drive, Windows 7  Home Premium edition, an integrated Verizon 3G slot and a 3.5-hour battery that is claimed to deliver up to 14 hours of work, in case you’re using the “super-extended” battery. Oh, and those of you who are crazy enough to buy one, will also receive a multitouch trackpad to flick and tap around – Duh.

Update: We’ve added an unboxing video of the Vaio X, made by the NewGadgets people, who were kind enough to share their first preview shots among the interweb geeks. In this video, you can see how thin the X series is and why Sony keeps hitting us with top notch machines. Truth to be told, price tag isn’t so friendly in this case, but that’d probably apply to many other products with such a lucrative design. Hard to tell if a Windows 7 was already included, but 3G modem and Intel’s new Atom Z540, are definitely inside. Hit the jump to see the demo.  

[via boygeniusreport]

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Well, we didn’t expect this one, but it seems you can find whatever you want at the CEATEC show, that takes place in Japan these days. The object you’re looking at was recently spotted at the Kohjinsha tech booth by Akihabaranews team and seems to boast the “prototype” status at the moment. Besides that, Kohjinsha’s futuristic model packs two 10.1-inch TFT LCD screens at either 1024 x 600 or 1366 x 768 resolution, and can be used jointly and severally. Other than that, you get inside a cool swiveling base, along with some strong specs that include an AMD Athlon MV-40 processor, paired with a 160GB hard drive, up to 4GB of RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium onboard. Regretfully, at this point, we have no price or release dates to share, but be sure we’ll be there to bring them on whenever they get shown.

Update1: It seems to happen faster than expected – as we now hear that Kohjinsha’s 10-inch dual-screen netbook goes on sale these days with a 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo processor and RS780MN chipset onboard, both sitting next to an ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics, a 3-in-1 card reader, 1.3MP webcam, 3 X USB hubs, WiFi, 1GB of RAM and same capacity drive, standing at 160GB of storage. Battery suppose to deliver up to 4.5 hours of work, while weight is surprisingly light for the overall package, 4.09 pounds (1.84 kg) only. Shipping is set to start 3 weeks from now, worldwide, as prices start with a Â¥95,800 ($1,110) package that includes a Linux version, and climb up to Â¥100,800 for the Windows 7 Home Premium flavor. Get it now if you need a portable multiple action in your hands.

Update2: As you already know, first comes the release, then the unboxing, and the guys at Wow Pow were one of the firsts to take Kohjinsha’s dual-screen netbook for a roundup, in which they share their preliminary thoughts. Hit the break to see their video.

[Akihabara News]

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Hope you’re not confusing with Cowon’s S9, which is more of a PMP rather than an mp3 player. Anyway, we’re glad to see the Koreans keeping up with the good media-players launching pace, while this time it’s the iAudio 9, which apparently packs a 2-inch LCD screen, along with a built-in microphone, an FM tuner, TV output, an integrated speaker and lots of media codecs to play, including AVI, WMV, XViD, ASF and many more. Regretfully, we’re still missing storage capacities and pricing details, but as you know we’re all over it to bring’em on.

Update1: While Western debut may  look vague at the moment, Asian release is much clearer, as Cowon’s iAudio 9 is expected to see light, in Japan, on mid-November, priced at 14,800 yen (around $160) for the 8GB model, and 17,800 yen (around $195) for the 16GB model.Stay tuned.

Update2: The guys at Le Journal Du Geek were lucky enough to put their hands on a Cowon 9 mp3 player, few weeks before its European start, which suppose to give you, for merely €180 ($265), a 16GB of internal storage, a 2-inch screen display, integrated mic, built-in FM radio, wide range of codecs support and a pocketable sized black/silver body design. Hit the break for one more footage, or click this spot for the entire collection.

Update3: Looks like Cowon’s iAudio 9 is finally up on sale in the US, with prices starting at $129 for the 8GB version and climbing up to $169 for the 16GB one.

[gmp3]

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Dev Team has done it again. iPhone 3.1 OS has been jailbroken for iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 2 machines, in case you’re Mac users. Mind you, this new Pwnage 3.13 tool, the team has released, will not work with Phone/iPod Touch devices that came out-of-the-box with OS 3.1 or were upgraded via iTunes. In other words, you have to Pwnd them at 3.0 or 3.0.1 versions, before jumping to the latest one.

[DevTeam]

We’re not sure what it means in terms of performance, but Swordfish Net 102 Dual netbook device is claimed to have dual 1.6GHz Atom N270 processors inside (instead of a single one), seating under a 10.2-inch 1,024 x 600 display and hanging around a 160GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, a 1.3MP camera, optional WWAN and a weak, generic 3-cell battery which operates under a Windows XP OS. The entire system is now being offered either in black, yellow, red or silver flavors, while price tag stands at $449. This one doesn’t require a fish tank  so hit the jump for a full specs checklist.

[via haleron]

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