It’s NTT DoCoMo and Japan-only, but we can only wish the LG Simpure L2 pushes the idea that simple phones have their place in a world of increasingly complicated and smartypantsy cells.
At least, that’s what NTT DoCoMo says. To me, with its dual camera and video-conferencing functions, this 17.6mm-thick 3G slider doesn’t look simpler than other phones. Why and full features after the jump. More »
I don’t know if this is the future of Zune or not, but the Toshiba Gigabeat V has been updated with a bigger screen and hard drives than the previous generation: 4-inch 480 x 272 pixel screen and 1.8-inch 40 and 80GB drives. It will be out in Japan on the first of June but you will probably see it around here soon, either with its original badge or perhaps in a Zunefied incarnation (Although unlikely, as Zune v2 is supposedly going to be an in-house design). Whatever form it takes, it comes loaded, and like the original Zune Toshiba Gigabeat, it’s the size of a brick.
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I didn’t even realise you could buy a self-installing speedometer HUD, but the crew at Digital Reviews have tested one out in a Ferrari (’80s old school) to see if its worth the trouble. I’d love a HUD – I like to watch my speedo. But installing my own?
Turns out it’s a pretty good GPS receiver too, and they’re thinking for the money that’s almost reason enough.
For mine, I see an unsightly cable running across the car. Which pretty much kills my interest. How about Bluetooth from a concealed unit up to the HUD? Have I just designed the next gen edition? -Seamus Byrne
GlobalTop Bluetooth HUD GPS HG-100 Speed Meter Reviewed [Digital Reviews Network]
Remember that cool ‘Made in China’ computer concept design? And the fact the guy who made it, John Leung, is an Aussie? (Hi John!) Well he’s had a chat with PC World about concept, the design, and the future of such a pretty ‘dumb terminal’ idea.
I took all the time I could to investigate and found that there were so many PCs in the market that were made in china but none of which are actually made for China, it really inspired me to design one – so that even my grandmother and a three-year-old toddler will be interested in using.
It’s a good read, with a pretty solid vision that could well be a more viable long-term concept than the current OLPC initiatives. Could high-speed wireless networks open the door to a new breed of dumb terminal? -Seamus Byrne
Next-Gen PC design made in Melbourne, for China [PC World Australia] More »
We’re into the home stretch on the XtremeMac Luna competition. So put on a thinking hat and deliver some smart commentary and you could be the winner. Too easy! -Seamus Byrne
A full English to start the week!
SED on hold again. Chin up, SED. You’re a step closer to becoming true vapourware!
The Star Wars Celebration Gallery. Like a million voices crying out in ecstasy. Some merch too.
A Forza 2 setup to die in a car crash for. This is amazing. Three 360s combine for an ultimate drive. UPDATE (2.30pm): Just got word we’ll be seeing one of these setups at the launch event for Forza 2 in Sydney. We’ll grab more pics and maybe some video!
Rumour: EMI DRM-free tracks to hit iTunes this week. No, not ours, but unquestionably significant news to all of us.
Mobileburn has been playing with a prototype the much ballyhooed RAZR 2 for the past couple of days, and there’s not much of a surprise here: they like it quite a bit.
The haptic-feedback external touchscreen steals the show button-wise, leaving no doubt that the phone has registered your commands. Generally speaking, the buttons all around have gotten a substantial usability upgrade thanks to the extra space afforded by the phone’s added length; the lone exception is the camera shutter button, which for some reason was fairly loose.
I realize I could go to hell for making a Virtual Boy reference, but the idea of strapping some flashing red LEDs to your eyes while sound pulses through your headphones calls up all kinds of red/green-tinged memories. Supposedly the Brain Machine makes your brain waves sync up so that you feel “totally wonderful,” but the flashbacks beg to differ. – Matt Buchanan
These Sensear headphones aim to be the quite the noise-cancelling, speech-enhancing wunderkinds. They’re specifically designed to protect against Noise Induced Hearing Loss in high-noise environments (above 85 dBA) while letting you communicate clearly with the people around you.
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The setup uses a combo of software and hardware, like a directional multi-microphone system “that is gain selective in the direction of the speaker” while it blocks out sound coming from every other direction. Topping off the package is integrated Bluetooth, letting you answer your cell phone clearly and hands-free. More »
If you want to be really, really sure no one’s going to jack your bike while you’re in the library, you could always take a cue from this sculpture of an ultra-mobile bicycle by a Vancouver artist. And by ultra-mobile, I mean not mobile in any way, shape, or form. – Matt Buchanan
Flickr [via Boing Boing]
