Sony Ericsson LiveView.... Android Bluetooth Remote Watch Thingy....

I have been wanting a device like this forever and it looks like Sony Ericsson finally will be bring it to market..... What is the it I am referring to?.... Sony Ericsson's 1.3 inch OLED screen remote control display! This (potentially) useful little device will allow users to access data and control some features on their Android 2.0 or higher based devices with out having to take their phones out of their pockets, purses, bookbags, etc...  Set for launch during the last quarter of the year and if its priced right this guy will have one.

Source: Engadget

Team BlackBerry Gets A Tablet

BlackBerry lovers and Tablet PC enthuiast rejoice a new RIM product enters BlackBerry into the brewing Tablet battle. Joining the iPad and Samsung's upcoming GalaxyTab RIM introduces the BlackBerry PlayBook.  I have to say I'm impressed with what I'm seeing so far!

The PlayBook has a blazing fast processor (RIM calls it the fastest tablet") with a 7" screen, a 3MP front facing camera and a 5MP camera on back.  It's sounding like they will come with 16GB and 32GB models.  The PlayBook will be capable of 1080p HD video and has an HDMI  port as well as a microUSB port and supports WiFi and Bluetooth.

The PlayBook is being called "the professional tablet" its OS is described as a blend of BlackBerry OS and Palm's webOS (think Palm Pre/Palm Pixi); utilizing a "card view"  functionality to handle multitasking.  A nice feature is that the tablet can be tethered to your BlackBerry, negating the need to purchase a separate data plan and providing an "amplified view of what's already on your BlackBerry".  RIM also states that data will not need to be duplicated on your PlayBook and BlackBerry and that the two "can be used interchangeably"-- whatever that means exactly... The PlayBook is slated for release in early 2011!




Source: Engadget

T-Mobile Steps its Android Game Up!

T-Mobile, home of the original Android device the G1 has been falling behind a bit lately in terms of competitive high end Android smart phones (barring the Nexus One, but we'll leave it out because of its unique distribution method). While other carriers have been releasing Super-smart phones such as the HTC Evo 4G, Motorola Droid 2, and Motorola Droid X T-Mobile customers have been stuck more-or-less with only mid-level options.

While the myTouch Slide, Moto Cliq and a few others are respectible Android devices the carrier lacked many true high end phones.  Well following the launch of the Smasung Vibrant, the carrier's first competitive super-phone in a while comes the highly anticipated T-Mobile G2!

T-Mobile is boasting that the new G2 will have "the fastest smart phone experience in America". The phone will utilize a next generation Qualcomm chipset at 800Mhz, which in theory should be very fast. It will be running a vanilla (standard Google issue) version of Android 2.2 Froyo, which is a really nice thing as it bypasses carrier and manufacturer bloatware.  HTC's Sense UI overlay in my opinion is one of the better manufacturer tweaks but getting the default Google experience is great because it allows you to customize your phone the way YOU want! Removing sense will give G2 users an experience like that one the Nexus One, and will likely have similarly quick updates to new versions of Android OS since there will be no need to make sure they are compatible with the manufactuers custom crap.  The G2 has a 3.7" screen with 4GB of internal memory plus a bundled 8GB microSD card, Swype keyboard, 3.5mm headphone jack, 5MP autofocus camera with LED flash and 720p HD video.  Additionally the G2 will be T-mobiles first HSPA+ enabled device allowing it to run at 4G speeds.  The phone is set to launch October 6th!  Best Buy has begun pre-orders with the standard price of $199.99 on a 2 year contract.  Radio Shack just topped there offering the G2 at $150.00 with a 2yr!

But T-Mobile isn't stopping there rumors of the  myTouch HD are heating up stating that it will be the 2nd HSPA+, 4G speed supporting device.   The myTouch HD is rumored to have a 3.8" display, Swype, 4GB of internal space plus 8GB microSD card, 5MP rear camera and a VGA front facing camera for video chat on Qik or Yahoo Messenger, some sort of video out feature (most likely HDMI like the Evo) and a 1Ghz processor most-likely the more advanced dual-core processor.

If nothing else this is a effort by T-Mobile to show its customers that it is in the Android game and still ready to go head to head with the competition.  T-mobile customers you have some good devices coming your way and this is a great sign for all of us as competition heats up the phones keep getting better and better!

Source: Engadget

New iPods

Apple has once again refreshed its iPod line with some significant new features (well except the shuffle).

The iTouch has got the cameras that have been rumored for sometime now; which now enables it to utilize FaceTime.  It is described as basically being a slim iPhone 4 with out the cellphone radio. Adding the two cameras really opens up what the iTouch can be used for and makes it one of the only (or at least best) video phone devices that do not require a contractual agreement with a cell carrier.  With new cases coming out that aim to convert the iTouch into a sim card supporting phone it will be interesting to see how the iTouch shapes up as an alternative phone option... I honestly could seee coupling it with my Evo and using my it's wifi hotspot functionality to FaceTime chat with all my Team Apple friends.

The new Nano has had the biggest changes; it now sports a tiny little touch screen and a miniaturized version of iOS.  At first I was skeptical but after watching the video below I could see this being a really nice little gadget.  I'd love to see Apple release a watch style case/band for it.  I would definitely rock this at the gym or honestly maybe even as a daily watch with the right apps loaded on it.

Finally we have the new iPod Shuffle; nothing ground breaking here it has just added the classic iPod scroll wheel and as usual is available in a multitude of fruity flavors.

All of these new iPods are looking really great and I'm sure will sell like hotcakes lol.  The bigger question is where do they fit in your gadget repertoire as our phones continue to have more and more features built right in and negate the need for stand alone media devices.  The new iTouch definitely continues to blur the line between phone and iPod.

Source: Engadget