Section: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation  With all the hype around Google’s big announcement yesterday that they would be providing Android devices with free turn-by-turn directions, you’d think stand alone GPS companies should call it a day and pack up the office. But we are missing something: nowhere does Google say anything about spoken turn-by-turn directions.
Turn left in 1.3 miles One of the best features in a GPS navigation system, in my book at least, is audible instructions so I don’t have to take my eyes off the road. TeleNav, which I use, even speaks the road names I should be turning on to. How can a GPS navigation system be viable without spoken instructions? Isn’t this traffic safety week or something? Rerouting? I’ve been thinking since the announcement that I must have overlooked it. I twittered my question to bloggers and got no responses. I combed Google’s Navigation site and watched videos. The closest I came to any kind of confirmation was a mute button. Not very convincing, right? There is nothing better than connected GPS (IMO) and Google brings this. I really dig the street view, another great thing Google brings. But without spoken navigation instructions, what’s the point? It will be just a step above the Google Maps route info on the iPhone. At best, we can hope to get pulled over by all these no texting laws for this, at worst we take our eyes off the road and miss who knows what. Surely Google isn’t trying to kill us, right? I’ll continue searching. If you find something on this, post it in the comments. We’ll get to the bottom of this, hopefully before the phone launches. Read: [Google Navigation] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Computers, Netbooks, Software / Applications  Only one week removed from the release of Windows 7 we have yet another new operating system. Canonical today released the newest version of its popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu 9.10 “Karmic Koala.” The new version doesn’t pack in as many changes as an X.04 update does, but it does have more stability and more refined features than the previous version, Jaunty Jackalope.
Perhaps the biggest improvement with Ubuntu 9.10 is the inclusion of Ubuntu One. Ubuntu One is essentially Ubuntu’s version of Dropbox with some MobileMe-esque syncing included for good measure. It allows for 2GB of online storage, public sharing of files, syncing of Tomboy Notes and contact syncing, all for free. The service can be upgraded to 50GB for $10 a month, just like Dropbox. Other features include faster, prettier boot-ups, improved sound control across applications, and improved battery usage for Ubuntu Netbook Remix. Karmic Koala, while not exactly featuring a lot of new things, promises to be a great upgrade or a good starting point for new users. Contrary to popular belief, Ubuntu Linux is actually quite simple to use, some might even say it’s easier to understand that Mac OS X for those who only ever used Windows. While Windows 7 is certainly a good OS, it might be worth the 25 minutes to install Ubuntu, or just use VirtualBox to try it out. If nothing else, the Ubuntu Netbook Remix is worth a shot for anyone tired of trying to run XP on a netbook and doesn’t want to try and instal 7 onto it. The interface is incredibly simple, and uses Firefox, so it shouldn’t be too foreign. If nothing else, its a decent way to change up your netbook experience while waiting for Chrome OS. Read [Ubuntu] Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Gadgets / Other, ebooks  At this point it seems to be getting harder and harder to keep track of all of the ebook readers that are coming available. Which ultimately is a good thing, after all more models should mean more competition and in the long run that should be better for the consumers.
Anyway, the latest reader to move from the announced category into the available category is the Sony Reader Pocket Edition, which is also known as the PRS-300. This model was originally announced back in early August and hits the market as the budget priced model at $199. Just to recap the features, the Pocket Edition will offer a 5-inch E Ink display and come with 512MB of internal storage and USB 2.0. As for colors, you can choose from either dark blue, pink or silver. Product [Sony Reader Pocket Editon (via Amazon)] Via [E-Reader-info.com] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Email / IM, Smartphones, Mobile  Word is that Verizon will launch not one Droid phone in early November, but two. You know one, the Motorola Droid, the other looks to be the HTC Eris and is quite unlike the Motorola’s version. The two will run Android but that is about all that keeps them similar.
OS The Motorola phone features the hot-off-the-presses Android 2.0 and offers unfettered access to the Android operating system. HTC, on the other hand, features Android 1.5 with the sense UI from HTC. The sense UI acts as a skin to provide users a different feel than just Android. The experience is intended to be simpler for common tasks; HTC is regarded as top dog in the skins world. It is unclear if HTC will upgrade its sense UI to 2.0 and if so, will the HTC Eris be supported for this upgrade. Form factor The Motorola Droid features a slide out QWERTY keypad that is getting mixed reviews. The trade off for being oh-so-slim is very short key action and the result seems to be a less than stellar typing experience. As with anything, the more you use it, but better it feels. The HTC Eris is a true touchscreen phone. The soft keyboard has more in common with the iPhone than Motorola’s version. This makes choosing a Droid phone very easy: how do you like your keyboards: hard or soft? Processors This is an oft debated aspect, but for what it worth the Motorola has a 585MHz processor while the Eris has a 528MHz Price Yesterday, Verizon and Motorola announced their phone would be $199 after appropriate contracts, rebates, spiffs, and insults were done. The HTC Eris in contrast is rumored to be the working-man’s phone at just $99. Marketing So far, Verizon’s only talked freely about the Motorola version. Pricing the HTC touchscreen version at the iPhone price seems to suggest the Motorola version is more of an upgrade in buyers’ eyes. Verizon knows phone folks are going to gravitate to the up-speced version, the Motorola Droid. Word is the $99 Eris will be just fine for most folks looking to get some of that soft keyboard touchscreen love. Read: [BoyGeniusReports] and [Phandroid] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile I spent some time this morning digging around for some Android information, and ended up with some interesting info on the BlackBerry Bold instead. According to a Phandroid tipster, it seems that Rogers has a few goodies in store for customers beginning on November 3. Of course, due to the website that provided this information, the highlight of their post was in regards to the Android based LG Eve that will be available for $49 on contract. Granted the Eve is no Verizon Droid, but that considered, it seems like a good deal. A few of the features of the LG Eve include a full 5-line slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 3-inch QVGA display. But moving on to the BlackBerry Bold, according to the image that was provided, Rogers will soon begin offering the BlackBerry Bold in white. That part we already new, but perhaps the better part of that news comes in regards to the pricing—$99 on contract. Sadly though, Rogers like all of the Canadian carriers requires a three-year agreement. This seems to be a big drop from the current $249.99 price tag. Unfortunately, this is just coming from a tipster and nothing has yet to be confirmed by Rogers. Luckily November 3 is not all that far away. Read [Phandroid] Read [Rogers] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Gadgets / Other  Sears has announced it will be kicking off the holiday shopping season this weekend by offering special Black Friday deals. It plans to offer those special "Black Friday Now" deals every Saturday from 7am until Christmas. The deals will cover everything Sears carries, from jewelry to electronics and more. On November 7th Sears will offer a Zenith 42' Plasma TV for $499 (regularly $699). Pre-orders will begin today. Other HDTV deals to look forward to include a 40” Samsung LED HDTV for $599, a 50 inch Samsung Plasma TV for $699 and a 46” Sony LCD HDTV for $854.
Want to get in on the deals but don't have the cash? Sears is ready with their layaway program, which is available in stores and on their website. They will also match competitors pricing. Most retailers are worried about what affect the economy will have on holiday shopping and that means lots and lots of deals. This is only the beginning so stay tuned! Read [PRNewsWire] Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Computers, Desktops, Software / Applications Microsoft's retail and online stores will be selling a line of signature PCs. When you usually buy a PC, you have to spend time removing all of the pre-installed applications on the computer. These can include 30 day music trials, limited anti-virus protection software and photo editing tools you probably will never use. On these signature PCs, no crapware or trials will be included. With the Microsoft Signature PCs, you will only receive Microsoft brand software. The PCs will include the Microsoft Live mail client, Zune, Silverlight, 3D maps and MS Security Essentials. Internet Explorer will be the default browser and Bing will be the default search engine. Adobe Flash and Acrobat Reader will be included in the Signature PC package as well. It goes without saying that the Windows 7 will be the operating system on these computers. Microsoft will also be allowing staff members at their retail locations assist users in installing the programs that they want on their computer. Store Site: [Microsoft Store]
Image Source: Complex Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Video, DVD/DVR/Blu-ray I am still happily sporting a regular old DVD player, not to mention I am not sure I even want to go the Blu-ray route at all, personally I think the future is heading towards devices like the Roku set-top box. Granted we still have a ways before we get there and maybe before that happens we will see some bigger adoption of Blu-ray. With that, lower prices will certainly help, and JVC has recently entered that lower price market. Of course lower price comes with a catch. To begin with, the player is the XV-BP11 and it is currently available and selling for $199.95. In terms of that catch, this model is running the (now older) Profile 1.1, which by itself is not all that bad, however this model also does not have any Ethernet port which means it will not be upgradeable. That said, it still is a nice sub-$200 player that should be nice for most users. In other words, it should be nice for the non-geeky who would never even think to upgrade their Blu-ray player anyway. Additionally, other features of the XV-BP11 includes a wide range of support in terms of playable discs and formats (see the complete list below). The JVC player also has HDMI v1.3 and composite in terms of video connections and analog L/R, coaxial and HDMI v1.3 for audio connections. One little perk with the XV-BP11 comes in the form of the front USB port which will allow users to directly hook up other electronics such as a camcorder for video playback. Keep reading to check out the press release: JVC Announces Popularly-Priced Blu-ray Player New XV-BP11 player offers AVCHD file playback. WAYNE, NJ, October 28, 2009 – JVC today announced the availability of a new entry-level Blu-ray player. The new JVC XV-BP11 is a truly versatile high definition player, offering playback of high definition Blu-ray discs, plus playback of the AVCHD format, the high definition format widely used for HD camcorders, including the JVC HD Everio line. JVC XV-BP11 Features - Playable Discs: BD-Rom, BD-R/RE, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, Audio CD, CD-R/RW
- Playable Formats: AVCHD, WMV, JPEG, MP3, WMA, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital plus, Dolby True HD, DTS, DTS HD Master Audio/Essential
Connections: - Video: HDMI V1.3, composite
- Audio: Analog L/R, coaxial, HDMI V1.3
- USB Host (front panel)
Convenience Features: Quick loading, cinema zoom (x16), parental lock, slim design The new JVC XV-BP11 Blu-ray player is available immediately for $199.95.
Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Audio, Accessories, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Video, Accessories, Content, Portable Video, Communications, Accessories, Web, Online Music/Video  ZAGG is perhaps best known for their gadget skin protection that used to be on edges of helicopter blades. Today, the company through us a bit of curve ball: they started talking about a product the company will unveil at CES in January, the ZAGG box. As catchy as that name is, we still ask, “what’s a ZAGG box?”
Described by the company as “major technology”, the ZAGG box is the culmination of 6 years and $35 million. At this point, it seems tough to classify exactly what this thing does: it is a media aggregator, will record, store and stream your media in multiple formats so you can watch on TV or on your iPhone (or other mobile device), and don’t forget home automation: it can hook into your HVAC, lighting or even door locks and control them. Good luck figuring out what aisle to put this thing in at Best Buy. “We are introducing a game-changing technology with the ZAGGbox which will appeal to everyone from geeks to grandmas,” said Brian Packer, VP of Marketing of ZAGG. “It is a very powerful system, and very simple to use.”
The ZAGG dream machine is said to cost “under $999” and should be formally launched in January 2010 shipping late Q1. The unit was announced a finalist in the I-Stage event put on by the CEA, (Producers of Consumer Electronics Show -CES). Press release [ZAGG] Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Computers, Gadgets / Other  Those using a Sony Vaio product may want to stop and listen up for just a moment. Sony has just announced that they are recalling about 69,000 power adapters that are being used on select Vaio all-in-one desktop computers and Sony Vaio docking stations.
More specifically, the affected products include the following product models; - VGC-LT series (Vaio all-in-one desktop)
- VGC-JS2 series (Vaio all-in-one desktop)
- VGP-PRBX1 (Vaio docking station)
- VGP-PRFE1 (Vaio docking station)
Furthermore these affected units were sold between September 2005 and October 2009. As to what could go wrong, according to the report, the insulation that was used in the adapters could fail over time which may cause one to get a not so nice shock. At this time, it seems there have only been four reports of a short circuit, and thankfully no one has reported any injuries. That said, it could not hurt to follow up and get a new power adapter courtesy of Sony. Read [CPSC] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
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