i-mate first showed off its Ultimate 8502 and 9502 models at 3GSM in Barcelona last month, but Telstra is claiming the first actual rollout of the device anywhere in the word. Both the candybar 8502 model ($999) and the slide-out keyboard 9502 (effectively the JASJAM’s successor at $1,099) will go on sale for use on the ludicrously speedy Next G network on March 25. A post-paid model will follow on April 8 ($100 a month over 24 months).
Three things I like very much are watches, Transformers, and 80s toy ads. This video embodies all three of those things at once, and it blows my mind. Not to mention that a pop up, Ultra Magnus action figure watch watch is the coolest thing since the pet rock. Seriously, where do I get one of these? [Gadget Lab]
Forgive the headline, but it’s true! The annoying background music is ripped from Noah Kalina’s ‘net famous “everyday” video, but it’s laid over a montage of the camera’s (re)construction, which re-routes the battery’s juice through the hand of the sucker holding the camera, giving them a nasty little shock. For your own safety, if you nail someone with this, make sure they’re either a) smaller than you or b) incapacitated by the jolt. [Pyro Electro, Thanks Chris]
The European Commission has just announced it’s backing the DVB-H (digital video broadcasting-handheld) standard for television on mobile phones and other portable devices.
DVB-H is the cousin of DVB-T, which is the digital television standard used by Australia, Europe and much of the rest of the world outside the US. DVB-H is a standard that will allow television providers to broadcast digital TV signals that meet the low power and mobility requirements of portable receivers. To translate: it will enable broadcast TV for mobile phones and other portables.
Now this news is more important than you’d think for Australia. Details on why after the jump.
My buddy Stephen T over at MTV’s Multiplayer blog scored the first video demo of the Wii Wheel in Mario Kart Wii game play. Melvin at Nintendo shows him how to insert a Wiimote into the Wheel, then head to the races. Watch T manage to execute a wheelie and a powerslide, then—in the second video in the link below—try the same manoeuvring sans Wheel, with far less enthusiasm. He doesn’t say whether or not it’s a true winner or a waste of plastic, but my guess is, he likes it better than this guy. His biggest gripe? No horn to honk, Maggie Simpson style. FYI: If you live in Canada, UK or Japan, MTV hates your guts. [MTV Multiplayer]
The Financial Times has a piece claiming that Apple has been in deep talks with music companies about an all you can eat music download service. The piece speaks with authority, citing that while Nokia pays the labels US$80 per handset for such a service, split according to marketshare, Apple has only offered US$20.
The problem with fanboys is that it’s never enough—no matter how breathlessly one lauds a gadget, pointing out the smallest of flaws inevitably triggers a tidal wave of email accusing you of sucking the competition’s teat (or worse). Mossberg calls it “The Doctrine of Insufficient Adulation.” Turns out, there’s a scientific explanation for fanboys’ maddeningly narrow worldview, Farhad Manjoo explains his new book about the death of objective reality, True Enough. Oh, and congrats, Apple fanboys you’re among the worst: But many fans of Apple often seem to want more. They care little for honest opinion. They want to pick up the paper and see in it a reflection of their own nearly religious zeal for the thing they love. They don’t want a review. They want a hagiography.
Not content with the success of the Nigerian prince, Nigerian scammers have found a new way to rip off the gullible: Google Calendar. BitDefender sent out a press release today revealing that Nigerian scammers are using Google Calendar event invitations to suck people in. Tell your grandparents: if they receive an invite to a meeting about a massive inheritance, ignore it.
You can find the full release after the jump.
PSP’s firmware update has hit, and now enables the use of over 20 internet radio stations ranging from 80s to J-Pop to Classical. The update also expands support for Playstation Network titles.
Sony held one of its typically OTT launches this week, rolling out five new Cybershot cameras in its T series and W series families. The launch event featured a bunch of apparent talent from the local version of So You Think You Can Dance, but that sort of thing shouldn’t be encouraged, we reckon. Sony also showed off some previously announced Handycam models and a bunch of new living room PCs. Camera release and specs after the jump.
