smartech » WiFi

Digital Cube i-Station T9 Announced, Supports HD Files And WiFi Connection

Nir Ben Yona — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:50:30 +0000

Digital Cube is one of those companies that still believe in media players, that’s for sure. And despite the growing popularity of tablet/slate machines, we hear a lot about lately, it just rolled out yet another audio-video device, i-Station T9, and seems quiet ready to turn it live in the coming months. With no price or shipping dates available, the new bud sports a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 LCD screen, and actually handles any common codec files you can think of (like DivX, XviD, H.264, WMV, and MKV), including high-def formats. It boasts an HDMI output and packs both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, for third-party usage. Battery life is claimed to deliver up to 20 hours of music playback or half the time while watching videos, and that probably applies on all four colors offered.

[via iMP3]

iRiver’s 3.5-inch K1 PMP Introduced, WiFi and Web Browser Included

Nir Ben Yona — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:24:00 +0000

This isn’t the best year to find new media players at the CES show in Vegas. Still, if you look closer, you just might see a few, hidden, while walking down the halls. One of them, which looks quiet similar to the Cowon S9, is iRiver’s 3.5-inch K1, also known as “Smart HD”, which may give you a sense of what it can play, besides the usual batch of formats we all know. Screen resolution is at 480 x 320 and the PMP itself boasts a DMB TV tuner,along WiFi, web browser, a built-in mic and integrated FM tuner. Internet support is definitely the trigger that caught our attention here, but mind you, it can also be used as a mini e-book reader, out of the box, the moment it comes out in South Korea at the end of the month. No price or US release info at the moment.

Update: It looks like iRiver’s K1 PMP will go live initially in Korea only. It will be offer in variant flavors, including the basic 8GB version, priced at â‚©229,000 (about $205), while a DMB mobile TV tuner add-on will run for â‚©279,000 (about $250) and the 16GB model for â‚©299,000 (about $265). In case you’re into the full fledged pack with WiFi, DMB tuner and 16 gigs of storage, the K1 will cost you â‚©349,000, or $310 US dollars.

[Player Bites]

Sony’s PSP Go Surfaces Up Before Its Time (Update: Now Official – $249)

Nir Ben Yona — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:39:46 +0000

It’s not that we were totally surprised when Sony’s new gaming console abruptly showed up in a June 09 Qore edition – after all, rumors are floating around for quite some time – Yet, having a first look on a future portable gaming device can definitely rock our geeky heart, which barely stands the endless expectation for the official announcement to take place. And with so many neat features crammed inside, It shouldn’t take long until we snack ourselves a copy or two. But until we’ll manage to fulfill this dream, you all should probably like to know that Sony’s new PSP GO – as for on the go – seems to be offered with a 3.8-inch screen display, along with a built-in Bluetooth connectivity, rounded sleeky slider design and 16GB of internal Flash, expandable via Memory Stick Micro slot. Other essential traits to be noted include a smooth integration with PlayStation 3 gaming console (full network support), thin-and-light body design (43% lighter than PSP-3000), “10-year life-cycle products” guarantee (meaning long term viability) and various new action-game titles like Gran Turismo, Little Big Planet and Metal Gear Solid – in plan. With no pretensions to be crowned as a PSP-3000 successor and without determined price-tag given, all that’s left is a vague “This Fall” release announcement, which Sony executives were willing to share. And while waiting for this dates to arrive, hit the jump and watch the video itself.

Update1: Sony just announced the PSP Go at the E3 convention, to be available on October 1 in North America and Europe for $249, with a month later release in Japan. Turns out it’s 50% smaller and 40% lighter than Sony’s first PSP-1000 console, as most other specs remain the same, with few surprises at the corner – like a built-in WiFi connection, a new auto-playlist feature which randomly plays your favorite music and called Sense Me, a new video delivery service, and a lack of the UMD drive, implying you’ll be loading your games either through the Memory Stick Micro slot or over PlayStation’s network. Stay tuned for even more. Meanwhile, you can read the full PR announcement after the break.

Update2: In case you were all wondering what will happen to your old UMD games, once getting the PSP GO, maybe you should know that Sony will be offering for purchasing digital copies of those gamese, but maybe – just maybe – the company will be generous enough to make it even free of charge. Stay tuned.

Update3: If inner parts will make you excited, the folks at levelup.cn have managed to get their hands on one of the few available PSP Go devices out there and as expected, dissected it into pieces. Hit the jump to see the picture or click the link for even more.

Update4: Firmware update 6.10 is out, and those of you who’ve managed to get their hands on a PSP GO console (even though it’s not officially out yet) will now enjoy Bluetooth internet tethering for remote internet access. Additionally, you’ll find a new SensMe feature that literally creates audio playlists based on moods.

Update5: It’s here. Sony’s new PSP GO console finally goes live and can be found at your local retailers for $249.99. Gamind Party !

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces an Unparalleled Software Line Up, Launch of the PSP(R) Go System, and New Services for PSP(R) (PlayStation(R) Portable) and PlayStation(R)Network at E3 2009

SCEA Delivers Something for Everyone with ‘Only on PlayStation(R)’ Experiences and Unbeatable Entertainment Value

LOS ANGELES, June 2 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) held its annual press conference today at the E3 Media & Business Summit in Los Angeles, Calif., announcing several new products and services that reiterate PlayStation’s industry leadership position, by delivering consumers comprehensive entertainment options and fun experiences for all members of the family. Closing out a record year of sales for PlayStation in 2008, the company unveiled a new hardware offering the PSP(R) go system and laid out its most aggressive software line up to date with unprecedented support from its publishing partners, including Activision(R), Capcom(R), Electronic Arts (EA), and Ubisoft(R). The company also showcased an unparalleled exclusive line up of more than 25 first-party games that are both defying and defining gaming genres with titles ranging from Uncharted 2: Among Thieves(TM) and MAG, the industry’s first 256-player online gaming experience, to ModNation(TM) Racers, which reinforces PlayStation’s leadership and innovation towards user-generated gameplay. Proven franchises will also hit PlayStation platforms including Gran Turismo(R) 5, Ratchet & Clank(R) Future: A Crack in Time, and God of War(R) III. In addition, SCEA announced several exclusive titles for the PS3 including RockStar North’s Agent and Final Fantasy XIV, as well as exclusive titles for the PSP such as Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

“We’ll have another great year in 2009 because we have an amazing line-up of exclusive games on tap, including Gran Turismo 5, UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves, ModNation Racers, MAG, and God of War III, not to mention an onslaught of content hitting PSP with fan favorites such as LittleBigPlanet, RockBand, and Metal Gear Solid,” said Jack Tretton, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. “PlayStation has been redefining consumer entertainment since its inception and we have no plans to stop. We’re continuing to raise the ante when it comes to delivering compelling and fun entertainment experiences to consumers and will do so for many, many years.”

Also announced on stage, the PlayStation Portable family introduced its newest evolution, the PSP go system and a remarkable content line up including exclusives Gran Turismo, LittleBigPlanet(TM), and Resident Evil. Coming to North America in October 2009, the PSP go system is specifically designed for the digital lifestyle with an even more portable, pocket-sized and sleek design. Exclusively for downloading digital content, the PSP go system comes built in with 16GB of internal flash memory for games, videos, music, and photos, and will be priced at $249.99 (MSRP). SCEA also announced a suite of new digital content services that will be available for both PSP go and PSP-3000 systems, including a new music application called “SensMe(TM)channels,” a mood based music recommendation system and Media Go!, a free application that makes it easier for consumers to manage their PSP games, photos, videos and music on their PC.

Also, demoed on stage, SCEA previewed current developments for an engineering prototype of a new controller which can be combined with PlayStation(R)Eye to offer unmatched precision for added depth and enhanced gaming experiences for casual to the hard-core gamers. The controller detects the natural movements of the hands and uses the PlayStation(R)Eye to detect the position of the controller in 3D, allowing the camera to project users onto the TV screen to play and interact with onscreen objects. In addition, DUALSHOCK(R) 3, one of SCEA’s most popular peripherals, will be offered in three new colors this year. “Satin Silver” will be available exclusively at GameStop from July through September, while “Deep Red” and “Metallic Blue” will be available at all retail partners starting in October.

PlayStation Network continues to evolve with new content and services being added from all major network studio partners, in addition to 16 new premiere partners from Hollywood, anime and sports. With the addition of the new content providers, PlayStation Network’s video delivery service offers nearly 1900 movies and 9400 TV episodes to consumers. The new Hollywood partners include Showtime Networks Inc., Starz Media, – for Film, TV and Manga Anime, G4 & E!, Summit Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, HDnet & Magnolia Pictures. Anime partners include, Anime Network, Media Blasters, Right Stuf’s Nozomi Entertainment, Starz Media’s Manga Entertainment, Toei Animation, Viz Media, WEP and FUNimation Entertainment. Sports partners include HDNet Fights, UFC, Wrestling from TNA and Video Action Sports. Additionally, the PSP system users now have increased freedom to directly access the PlayStation Network’s video delivery service, enabling them to download movies and TV shows without connecting to a PC or the PS3 system first.

PlayStation brand continues to redefine consumer entertainment with groundbreaking new products and services, and the broadest and deepest line up of non-gaming and gaming content which consumers have come to expect and count on from PlayStation. With three healthy platforms that offer something for everyone in the family, the company remains on track for continued success and in delivering fun entertainment experiences for many years to come.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(R) game consoles, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system and its digital services PlayStation(R)Network and PlayStation(R)Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

PlayStation, PLAYSTATION, and PSP are registered trademarks and PS3 is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. XMB is a trademark of Sony Corporation and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

iPhone Officially Gets Skype Application For Free VOIP Calls

Nir Ben Yona — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:23:36 +0000

At last, after tons of expectations and millions, who’ve been anxiously waiting for this one to come out, Skype officially releases an iPhone app, to enable worldwide VoIP calls over WiFi (not over EDGE or 3G ) without any extra charge. According to CrunchGear, the desirable application should be available for downloading from Apple’s App Store, somewhere in Tuesday – for free. You will also be able to collaborate with your contact lists, to make calls via Skype and chat with your friends and family, as long as you want. To make it even better, users with Skype accounts will have the ability to make SkypeOut calls, once they travel around hotspots. And last but not least, all your avatars will be automatically imported directly to your iPhone device, so no need to create new ones. Stay tuned !

Update1: In case you haven’t noticed, the iPhone 3G is now available – contract free – in AT&T and Apple stores, priced at $599 for the 8GB version or $699 for 16GB lovers.

Update 2: It is now available in iTunes store, free of charge. You can get it from here.

Update 3: Looks like you’ll be able to dial up via 3G data connection after all, so no need to stay around WiFi spots in order to use skype – COOL !!!

Update4: Apparently, dialing over 3G connection will only work if you have OS 3.0 beta. Having said that, doesn’t mean you won’t have any crashes or audio malfunctions at all. The only way to make it work properly is to have the skype run over WiFi with a non-beta firmware installed.

[via CrunchGear]

SlingPlayer Mobile For iPhone Announced

Nir Ben Yona — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:18:14 +0000

It was back in March, when we first reported that Sling wants to have an iphone application, and we’re glad to relize it’s actually happening, as the company announces that the long awaited app is ready to be released and will be demonstrated in San Francisco moments before the software will get to Apple app Store. Still no pricing info, but the full press release is after the break.

Update1: Regretfully, older SlingBox devices won’t be able to stream any TV content directly to iPhone machines (except Slingbox PRO). That means, if you happen to have one of those first editions, you’ll have to shell out extra money and upgrade to Slingbox SOLO or Slingbox PRO-HD in order to enjoy a complete mobility via handhelds, and not just because of technical issues, but more of a greediness from the company itself. We do hope this weird desicion will eventually end up somewhere in the history pages of “failed-to-be-executed”.

Update2: May 12th 2009 – Regretfully, AT&T has issued an official statement, claiming it’d pull the plug out of Sling’s 3G streaming capability, which was integrated into the iPhone with the SlingPlayer. According to the company, this application -

“which would use large amounts of wireless network capacity, could create congestion and potentially prevent other customers from using the network. The application does not run on our 3G wireless network. Applications like this, which redirect a TV signal to a personal computer, are specifically prohibited under our terms of service. We consider smartphones like the iPhone to be personal computers in that they have the same hardware and software attributes as PCs.”

That said, users will be able to use WiFi connectivity in order to log into any web site that lets them view videos. In simple words, 3G – Out, WiFi – In. Now, it’s up to you to search one of the 20,000 hotspots AT&T has deployed across the US, in places like Starbucks, McDonalds, airports, etc.

[via engadget]

Sling Media to Demonstrate SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone and Slingbox HD Streaming on the Mac at Macworld

San Francisco – Macworld – January 6, 2009 – Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), is demonstrating a version of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone being developed for the iTunes store at this year’s Macworld. Sling Media will deliver a version of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone to Apple for certification in Q1.

Sling Media is also unveiling a prototype of a new SlingPlayer for Mac HD which allows Slingbox PRO-HD users to stream HD to their Mac desktop or laptop computer. The new SlingPlayer for Mac HD is a web-based version of the SlingPlayer software that will be accessible from Sling.com, Sling Media’s recently launched video entertainment web site.

“SlingPlayer Mobile is ideally suited for the iPhone’s large touch screen display and I know iPhone users are eagerly anticipating the application’s availability,” said Blake Krikorian, co-founder and CEO of Sling Media. “Add to that HD streaming support for Slingbox PRO-HD customers and live TV support on our video entertainment site, Sling.com, and you can see Sling Media is committed to delivering great solutions for Mac users.”

SlingPlayer Mobile gives consumers their entire home TV experience, including local channels, local sports teams, video on demand, pay per view, etc. Any program that you can watch on your sofa back home, you can now watch via your iPhone using a standard network connection (3G Cellular, WiFi). In addition, SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone users can also control their home digital video recorder (DVR) to watch recorded shows, pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV, or even queue new recordings while on the road.

Pricing and Availability
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone will be submitted to Apple for testing and approval in Q1. The price has not been determined at this time. SlingPlayer for Mac HD will be available for free via the web-based SlingPlayer within Sling.com later in Q1. Mac customers will be able to use either Safari or Firefox web browsers to get both HD streaming and Live TV within Sling.com.

About Sling Media
Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), is a leading digital lifestyle company offering consumer services and products that are a natural extension of today’s digital way of life. Sling Media’s product family includes the internationally acclaimed, Emmy award-winning Slingbox™ that allows consumers to watch and control their living room television shows at any time, from any location, using PCs, Macs, PDAs and smartphones and the revolutionary new SlingCatcher™, a universal media player that seamlessly delivers broadcast TV, Internet video and personal content to the TV. Sling Media is also the company behind the video entertainment web site, Sling.com, offering consumers a wide variety of popular TV shows, movies and other entertainment free for viewing online or on the TV using SlingCatcher. For more information on Sling Media, the Slingbox or the SlingCatcher, visit www.slingmedia.com. To watch your favorite TV shows and movies, check out www.sling.com.

WowWee Rovio Surveillance Robot Goes Live

Nir Ben Yona — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:09:08 +0000

This cute surveillance robot from WowWee was one of the biggest stars at the CES show in Vegas and today, after long anticipation, it’s up for pre-order, priced at $299. The new Rovio comes with a 640 x 480 multi-functional WiFi webcam, allowing users to remotely spy after their homes or offices from any web accessible device and stream the video signals (MPEG4 format) directly to the handheld unit with full audio recognition. In addition, it can take still pictures or coordinate its location accurately, thanks to the built-in NorthStar navigation system, that uses infra-red dots to identify the exact emplacement. Shipping is scheduled for next Friday and the entire gadgeteer world is under alert.

Update1: for more details, images a quick preview, click in here.

Update2: Shipping was delayed to December 17th 2008. Meanwhile, you can enjoy the in-action video after the break.

[via slashgear]

Click here to view the embedded video.

______________________________________

Nintendo DS Gets Into Twitterland

Nir Ben Yona — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:53:18 +0000

Twitter users, if you happen to own a Nintendo DS device, you might be interested knowing you can use them both as your microblogging tool, thanks to DSTwitter, a cool twitter application with multilanguage support, that lets you easily twit your friends after ending another Mario Kart game playing. Actually, you can use it whenever you like but before doing so, you will have to make an effort installing the application by setting up the WiFi connection on your DS, Register to Scene Beta website, download the DSTwitter 1.3 version file, extract the contents of the RAR in the root of the memory card and run the program. Complicated but definately worth a try!

[via techdigest]

iPhone 3G Officialy Goes Live Stateside And 21 Countries More

Nir Ben Yona — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:45:24 +0000

Today, After tons of rumors, speculations and some unsuccessful mockups, Apple is finally releasing the new iPhone second generation – known as the iPhone 3G, across 22 countries, on 8:00 AM local time. The new iPhone 2 will have a 3G HSDPA connection which will allow users to surf the web, download emails, get directions, and watch videos 2.4 x times faster than previous model and 36% faster than the Nokia N95 and Palm Treo 750 devices in pageloads (according to Apple).

The second biggest thing, other than moving to 3G network, is the built-in GPS navigation system that was added to the new iPhone 3G. GPS technology and iPhone software come together to bring users mobile phone mapping, enabling fast fix on your location, track your progress as you go, help you get from point A to point B, by using GPS-based iPhone maps and A-GPS technology, which assists getting the signals from GPS satellites, Wi-Fi hot spots, and cellular towers. Once you get the signal, a GPS blue indicator will turn on, so you will be able to start using the relevant applications. However, GPS on iPhone is active only when you need it. iPhone powers the GPS unit on and off quickly and automatically, so it won’t adversely affect the battery life. With the new technology, assimilated inside the handset, you will be able to get from the App store some cool applications that will let you take a photo with the camera, for example, and iPhone will geotag it with GPS location information. Another neat application is the Loopt, that will let you use location feeds to help you find friends on the go, within your range, wherever you are. Moreover, you will be able to receive live traffic information, indicating traffic speed along your route in easy-to-read green, red, and yellow highlights.

As for look and specifications, the new iPhone 3G has a nice rounded sleeky design with a curved glossy back, coming in black or white flavors. It has the same good old 3.5-inch multi-touchscreen, identical 2 megapixel camera at the back (no front camera for video chats) and a flush 3.5mm headphone jack. Battery life presents substantial improvement, with 300 hours of standby, 5 hours of 3G talk, 8-10 hours of 2G talk, 7 hours of video and 24 hours of audio. Dimensions pretty much stay the same, although the new iPhone 3G is a little bit thicker, with 12.3 mm or 0.48 inches. However, we hear that it is hard to feel this extra inch difference and the sleeky arched design makes it much more comfortable in your hands.

You can find the complete keynote video here.

To learn more about the 22 countries to launch the new iPhone 3G and to see full specs and tips, just hit the jump and move forward, after the break.

22 countries to launch the iPhone 3G Today

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US.

iPhone 3G officially goes live Today, July 11th

With fast 3G wireless technology, GPS, support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, and the new App Store, iPhone 3G puts even more amazing features in your hands. And just like the original iPhone, it combines three products in one —a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device. Here are the official specs:

Screen size: 3.5 inches (diagonal).
Screen resolution: 480 by 320 pixels (163 ppi).
Input method:Multi-Touch.
Storage: 8GB or 16GB.
Cellular:UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Wireless data; Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR.
GPS: Assisted-GPS.
Camera: 2.0 megapixels.
Battery^:Talk time: Up to 5 hours on 3G; up to 10 hours on 2G. Standby time: Up to 300 hours. Internet use: Up to 5 hours on 3G; up to 6 hours on Wi-Fi. Video playback: Up to 7 hours. Audio playback: Up to 24 hours.
Dimensions: 4.5 by 2.4 by 0.48 inches (115.5 by 62.1 by 12.3 mm).
Weight: 4.7 ounces (133 grams).

Optimize Your Settings

Depending on how they are configured, a few features may decrease your iPhone battery life. For example, the frequency with which you retrieve email and the number of email accounts you auto-check can both affect battery life. The tips below apply to an iPhone running iPhone 2.0 or later software and may help extend your battery life.

Turn off 3G: Using 3G cellular networks loads data faster, but may also decrease battery life, especially in areas with limited 3G coverage. To disable 3G, from the Home screen choose Settings > General > Network and set Enable 3G to Off. You will still be able to make and receive calls and access cellular data networks via EDGE or GPRS where available.
Minimize use of location services: Applications that actively use location services such as Maps may reduce battery life. To disable location services, go to Settings > General > Location Services or use location services only when needed.
Fetch new data less frequently: Applications such as Mail can be set to fetch data wirelessly at specific intervals. The more frequently email or other data is fetched, the quicker your battery may drain. To fetch new data manually, from the Home screen choose Settings > Fetch New Data and tap Manually. To increase the fetch interval, go to Settings > Fetch New Data and tap Hourly. Note that this is a global setting and applies to all applications that do not support push services.
Turn off push mail: If you have a push mail account such as Yahoo!, MobileMe or Microsoft Exchange, turn off push mail when you don’t need it. Go to Settings > Fetch New Data and set Push to Off. Messages sent to your push email accounts will now be received on your phone based on the global Fetch setting rather than as they arrive.
Auto-check fewer email accounts: You can save power by checking fewer email accounts. This can be accomplished by turning off an email account or by deleting it. To turn off an account, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, choose an email account, and set Account to Off. To remove an account, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, choose an email account, and tap Delete Account.
Minimize use of third-party applications: Excessive use of applications such as games that prevent the screen from dimming or shutting off or applications that use location services can reduce battery life.
Turn off Wi-Fi: If you rarely use Wi-Fi, you can turn it off to save power. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and set Wi-Fi to Off. Note that if you frequently use your iPhone to browse the web, battery life may be improved by using Wi-Fi instead of cellular data networks.
Turn off Bluetooth: If you rarely use a Bluetooth headset or car kit, you can turn off Bluetooth to save power. Go to Settings > General > Bluetooth and set Bluetooth to Off.
Use Airplane Mode in low- or no-coverage areas: Because your iPhone always tries to maintain a connection with the cellular network, it may use more power in low- or no-coverage areas. Turning on Airplane Mode can increase battery life in these situations; however, you will be unable to make or receive calls. To turn on Airplane Mode, go to Settings and set Airplane Mode to On.
Adjust brightness: Dimming the screen is another way to extend battery life. Go to Settings > Brightness and drag the slider to the left to lower the default screen brightness. In addition, turning on Auto-Brightness allows the screen to adjust its brightness based on current lighting conditions. Go to Settings > Brightness and set Auto-Brightness to On.
Turn off EQ: Applying an equalizer setting to song playback on your iPhone can decrease battery life. To turn EQ off, go to Settings > iPod > EQ and tap Off. Note that if you’ve added EQ to songs directly in iTunes, you’ll need to set EQ on iPhone to Flat in order to have the same effect as Off because iPhone keeps your iTunes settings intact. Go to Settings > iPod > EQ and tap Flat.

Creative Zen X-Fi Wifi Officially Introduced

Nir Ben Yona — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:38:42 +0000

reative has officially unveiled the new Zen X-Fi PMP, coming out in Singapore at first mid-July, offering 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions for $149.99, $199.99, $279.99 respectively. In addition, the new Zen X-Fi boasts 802.11 b/g wifi connectivity with Yahoo and MSN built-in messaging clients, a 2.5-inch LCD screen (320 × 240), an FM tuner, SD/SDHC slot expansion, 9 EQ, 9-pad keys and a speaker onboard. It will host some PDA features, including a calendar and an alarm clock and will support WMV9, MPEG4-SP, DivX 4 / 5, XviD, MP3, WMA, AAC (. M4a), WAV (ADPCM), Audible 4, JPEG file formats. Battery will be able to play 5 hours of video or 36 hours of audio, as dimensions are 83 x 55 x 12.8 mm to 68.75 g. The bundle includes a pair of EP-830 earbuds, for maximum music quality, as you listen to your favorite melodies. Moreover, Creative plans to release various accessories for the new player, like wireless TravelSound docking speaker, Silicone / Leather cases, Armbands, and more.

But wait, there’s more, Creative will offer limited edition 8GB/16GB Red Cliff versions (pictured after the break) which will include pictures of the film cast and the movie trailer preloaded – all for the same prices.

Checkout the videos and the other pictures after the break. You can read a full review in here.

[via slashgear]

Click here to view the embedded video.

________________________________________________________________

Click here to view the embedded video.

________________________________________________________________

Click here to view the embedded video.

_________________________________________________________________

Click here to view the embedded video.

iPhone Users Can Stream And Watch “30 Rock” and “The Office” Full Episodes For Free

Nir Ben Yona — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:36:07 +0000

NBC has decided to offer iphone and iPod Touch users free full streaming episodes to watch on their devices, without any disturbing ads, whenever they hit the hotspot. The content includes full episode of shows like “The Office”, “30 Rock” and “Battlestar Galactica”, all displayed in DRM-free Quicktime format. To do so, just load your Safari browser, goto NBC website and find the “Watch Video Online Now” link, to start streaming – 100% free. The only downside is once you exit the Safari, you’ll have to download the episode all over again from scratch, and these file are really big. My guess, it’s going to be very crowded, so be patient.

[via iphonealley]

Onda Unveils The New VX777 PMP, Coming With a Touchscreen And WiFi Capabilities

Nir Ben Yona — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:19:09 +0000

Onda wants to advance to a higher league, as the company has announced the release of the new VX777 PMP, equipped with a wide 4.3-inch touchscreen (480 x 272) and WiFi capabilities, to play web-radio stations whenever you hit the hotspot (it’s not clear if there’s a built-in browser) . The player features a microphone, a speaker, an FM tuner, 7 EQ, an E-book reader, a microSD slot, a TV output and storage capacity, ranged from 2GB up to 16GB. It supports wide variety of codecs, including MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, RM / RMVB, AVI, FLV, ASF, MP4, MPG, MOV, WMA, WMV, 3GP, SWF, JPEG, BMP, GIF or PNG, and plays 30 hours of audio against 10 hours of video. No word on price, but the V777 is set to be released in China around August.

[via mp4nation]

Simplify Media Will Stream Your iTunes Music Straight To Your iPhone Wirelessly

Nir Ben Yona — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:56:07 +0000

is a cool application that can stream all your music and media, directly to your jailbroken iphone or your iPod Touch player, via the local WiFi network. With this cool software you can listen to your home audio library over the internet wherever you are, browse and play your friends’ songs while they are online, and even invite them to join your private network, right from your very personal device. Simplify allows you to enjoy songs and playlists from remote computers, by installing itself on your Apple device from the multimedia section in the AppTap Installer. You can also download and install Simplify Media for your PC or Mac, and create one from your desktop. When you first log in, Simplify Media builds a list of remote music availabe to you. This takes several minutes, and performance may be sluggist until the full list of songs has been cached. Once it’s over, you are ready to set your own groups and share your media with the invited members. For more, checkout the video after the break.

[simplifymedia via gmp3]

Click here to view the embedded video.

Griffin ClearBoost Case Boosts Your iPhone Antenna – Kind Of

Nir Ben Yona — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:49:15 +0000

This new ClearBoost case from Griffin, has a built-in booster antenna that enhance the wireless signal and sends it to the iPhone internal antenna, so you can get a better wifi connection to enlarge service areas, surf the net and get emails via your handset. In addition, it provides hard-shell protection for the iPhone, keeping it unscratched from top to bottom. Mind you, recent reviews state that the “signal boost works only under certain conditions” and “does not appear to improve iPhone performance under weakest signal conditions“. However, in some cases, the ClearBoost “deliver—improved cellular antenna performance…” and “can help stabilize shaky data and cell phone audio conditions when iPhone is in 2-3 bar range“. In any case, the Griffin ClearBoost is a worth trying accessory, priced at merely $35.

[via iLounge]

Sling Media Wants To Have an iPhone Application

Nir Ben Yona — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:14:08 +0000

Sling Media, the company that turns any Internet-connected PC, Mac, or smartphone into a home television, wants a foothold in the iPhone application festival. The company has downloaded the SDK package (along with other 100,000 people) and started developing a designated Sling app. (hypothetically) which means, by the time Apple officially releases the new firmware version 2.0, around June, and launches the App store, you could watch TV virtually anywhere in the world through the iPhone, and although EDGE streaming is pretty lousy, it can really work great via WiFi connection. Stay tuned !

[via slashgear]

CeBIT 2008: Maxian Introduces The New E900W PMP With a WiFi connection And a Touchscreen

Nir Ben Yona — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:34:20 +0000

Maxian unveils the E900W PMP at the CeBIT show in Hannover. This new advanced device sports a wide 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen (800 x 480), 30GB storage size, SD/MMC card slot, 9 EQ and a USB 2.0 connection with ActiveSync support. It is compatible with video codecs as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, Divx3 11/4x/5x/6x, Xvid, MPEG-4, ASP, WMV 7/8/9 H.264, audio formats like MP3, WMA, OGG, PCM AAC, Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 surround and even DTS, thanks to the SPDIF output. Image formats include JPEG BMP, GIF, TIF PNG, TXT, PDF and PPT. In addition, it runs windows CE 5.0 and houses a WiFi connection to surf the net. Mind you, the E900W is equipped with a Texas Instrument Davinci chip which supports HD format and can be found in Cowon A3 and Archos 605 PMPs. Although there is no word on price or availability I’m very impressed with the E900W and hope it will hit western shores.

[via aving]