Western Digital has released three new versions of their My Books external 1TB hard drives: the Essential 2.0, Office and Home Editions. The Essential 2.0 is the most basic, with just USB 2.0 and no extra features, but with a shiny sexy look for $350. The Office and Home Editions both come at $380 and add a frontal capacity gauge and automatic backups. The USB 2.0-only Office model comes with built-in remote access while the Home unit has FireWire 400 and eSATA ports. [WD]
Nokia recently unveiled the MD-6, the latest in a line of designy low-volume speaker systems, which will cost $80 when it soon hits US soil. It’s a fun design, based on the need to conceal 4 AAA batteries plus the two tiny drivers. I liked the look, but even more, I liked the addictive flip-open case action. Symbian-Guru.com did a video review. Verdict? Tracks at low volume sound okay, but if you like Chemical Bros., stay the hell away. [Symbian-Guru.com]
newVideoPlayer("touchscratch_gawker.flv", 475, 376); Look out, iPod touch! There comes a scratch test with a safety pin, a car key and then even a razor blade. But this tester doesn’t seem too hell-bent on damaging his precious touch. Would a jackhammer scratch it? How about a blowtorch? We could run over it for you, guy—that might help. But still, this touch is a lot tougher than that first iPod nano we got, looking like a skating rink after about six hours. [YouTube] More »
Ras al-Khaimah &mdash one of the United Arab Emirates, not a relative of Batman’s nemesis &mdash is going to install this floating solar island, which will be 0.62 miles in diameter when completed. Due to the lack of space in land, the micro-state contracted the Neuchâtel’s Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology to design it, paying $5 million toward the construction of the project. The island will produce electricity by heating up water to produce vapor and will be able to propel itself in case bad weather strikes. [GoodCleanTech] More »
I unbox the iPod classic, power it up, and voila, I get the strange diagnostic startup screens you see before you. It wasn’t nearly as cool looking as the touch’s factory test mode, and it’s probably out of order in the gallery, but I thought maybe sharing it would fuel some conspiracies, or lay others to rest. To quote Jesus, “What’s with Apple products and test screens lately?” [Apple] More »
Nokia’s latest cell phone, the 6301, has Unlimited Mobile Access (UMA) technology, which means you can make calls over the Internet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and revert to GSM when out of range. It’s slim, lightweight, has a two-megapixel camera, MP3 player, FM radio, two-inch screen and a desk stand that makes you look important charges your phone while you’re connected via WLAN. Stats, price and press release are all below.
I am not sure how you use this broom joystick or what arcade “from Taiwan game manufacturer MEGA NET&TECH” our japanese Giz colleagues are talking about, but I’m sure of one thing: the audience will be very limited. To play with this thing, either you have to be a hot witch or you will look like a potterrific doofus. [Gizmodo Japan and Kotaku] More »
Apple could almost double its iPhone production for the fourth quarter, taking it from 1.54 million to 2.7 million. At least according to TheStreet.com, who claims that this year’s production target will be 4.8 million. With one million already sold, this may be related to the recent price drop and the new European launches. It’s either that or the JesusPhone’s abilities to multiply fish, bread and assorted electronic components. [Thestreet.com] More »
You whippersnappers won’t have to wait for the Sidekick 4 to get a Hiptop upgrade: Sidekicks are all getting a MySpace app. The app lets you edit your profile, upload photos to their galleries and receive messages and friend requests by push. Why’d they do this? Apparently, 80% of all Sidekick browser clicks belong to MySpace. Just shows you a) what demographics use Sidekicks (Kids who don’t pay attention in class) and b) that TMO spies on your browsing habits. Tsk, Tsk. TMO is rolling the update starting this week and by the end of October, all Sidekick 3 and Sidekick iD users will have the program loaded on their handsets. More »
