Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Sony is trying to make the PS3 a little lighter on folks by announcing the release of a new, limited edition silver Playstation 2. The console will sell for $130 and include a silver PS2 controller, yes the rumble controller which will soon extinct. To date Sony has sold more than 111 million of the consoles and 1.12 billion games for it.

“Six years after its initial launch, the PlayStation 2 continues to enjoy nonstop success, outselling all other consoles,” said Jack Tretton, executive vice president, co-COO, Sony Computer Entertainment America. “The introduction of this limited edition model is sure to be a hit this holiday season with die-hard PlayStation fans and new gamers alike.”

Read [Kotaku]

You ask what the difference between the Ojo video phone of now and the AT&T VideoPhone 2500 from 1992 is? Well where can I start… Should we discuss the price difference of the $1,000+ AT&T retro model and the entry level Ojo PVP 900 for $299? What about the jagged 10 frames per second verses video quality 30 fps? How about we just rundown the features…

The Ojo Global Video Service (the only one of it’s kind in the world)is delivered through cable, DSL, VoIP and satellite service providers as well as through retail stores. The Ojo video phone uses the industry standard video protocols for voice and video compression (H.264) to achieve quality at data rates of 100 Kbps. Ojo customers connect their Ojo personal video-phone to their broadband networks to experience true-to-life video communications.

The Ojo video phones come in two product lines.  The Ojo (PVP 1000), which has a bit more bells and whistles, for $399, and the Ojo “Shadow” (PVP 900), for $299. The price point for the video service is very low, $14.95 per month- unlimited calls throughout the world.

Will video phones take off? All I cna say is, we will see (no pun intended).

Read [Ojo]

After weeks upon weeks of mouth watering rumors, you can finally satisfy your craving and sink your teeth into the official White Chocolate phone by LG (aka the Verizon LG VX8500) this Halloween.

If you were internet/TV-less for the past 3 months, the Chocolate offers V CAST Music, touch-sensitive navigation keys, a music/video player, 1.3 megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth, and a microSD memory port.

Trick or treat!

Product Page [Verizon] Via [SlashPhones]

Designed specifically for PMPs (portable media players like the Zune, Sony PSP, and iPod) MediaCatcher allows users to select and capture unlimited video from cable TV for viewing whenever and wherever. 

While iTunes sells downloadable TV shows for $2 each, MediaCatcher allows you to select the shows you want prior to airing, and the shows are automatically captured, reformatted, tagged, and loaded into your media player, ready to go. Unlike TiVo, BroadClip does not charge a monthly fee, and its web-based architecture means users benefit from state-of-the-art social interaction features.

MediaCatcher is available on Amazon.com and on BroadClip’s web site for a one-time price of $79.99. Users lacking the required video tuner can purchase hardware “bundled” with the product for $139.99 (PCI) and $199.99 (USB) respectively. The system requires a Windows PC, a cable TV subscription, and and iPod. Macintosh and Linux support will be provided by Q1 2007.

Read [MediaCatcher]

With the same form factor as the original MOTOSLVR L7, Motorola has upgraded the look of the phone from black to blue. MOTOSLVR L7e also houses a new software interface, similar to the MOTOKRZR, boasting more user-friendly functionality and less crashing.  That handset has Push-To-Talk, Push-To-View, a 1.3 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom, full screen video capture with 4x digital zoom and video playback, A2DP Stereo Bluetooth2 connectivity, progressive downloading and video Streaming, GPRS and EDGE Class 10 technology, GSM quad-band technology, MMS, IM and email. The handset provides up to 20 MB of Internal User Memory and supports up to 2 GB of expandable MicroSD External Memory Card. Finally there is an integrated audio player, supporting audio formats in MP3, AAC, AAC+, and ACC+ Enhanced music files.

Read [PhoneScoop]

Since the company moved to Intel chips, Apple has been dropping new computers and models like hot-cakes.  Their newest (rumor) computer expected to hit the market is the new 15.4 inch MacBook, which will be produced by Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and ship in May 2007, sources say.  This is the first time Foxconn has produced any computers under the Apple brand-name, so with that comes the possibility for bugs and glitches.  Previously, Asustek was the sole supplier for Apple’s MacBook.

According to Vincent Chen, an analyst at Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia (CLSA) that was quoted in the Chinese paper Commercial Times last week, Foxconn will start producing one new MacBook to Apple by year-end, while orders with Asustek will decrease by 1/3 in 2007.

Foxconn and Asustek aren’t just competing for MacBook production, but Foxconn will also start delivering PlayStation 3 units to Sony in February 2007.

Read [DigiTimes]

The Treo 680, if you don’t remember, is a low end, antenna-less version of the popular smartphone. The strategy is to get consumers into the smartphone market as early as possible via the 680 (and Motorola Q) and then eventually get them to trade up to a Blackberry or another fully featured handset (Treo 700). We can expect the handset to be released on November 5th, but we know from past experiences - expect that to change. The pricing for the upcoming 680 is as follows:

• $424.99 with no contract


• $349.99 with a one year contract


• $249.99 with a one year contract with unlimited data (and $100 rebate)


• $274.99 with a two year contract


• $199.99 with a two year contract with unlimited data (and $100 rebate)

Read [Engadget Mobile]

Someone over at Verizon/LG must already be feeling the holiday spirit, because the companies are slated to release white, red, and green versions of the immensely popular LG Chocolate phone. You can expect the White Chocolate this coming Halloween with the following pricing: Full Retail $360, one year contract $230, and two year contract $180.

We had previously heard about the white chocolate version, but this is the first time real beauty shots of the handset have emerged. Engadget Mobile has also received images of the red and green versions.

Read [Engadget Mobile]

We’re given you enough time to upgrade from previous versions of Firefox as well as ditching your sub par browsers for Firefox 2.0.

Now, like you, we are always looking for ways to personalize or alter programs, software, and life to fit our needs. You say you don’t like the new way to close tabs? Change them. You want Firefox to stop hogging your RAM? Reduce it. You want to save sessions when Firefox crashes? Save them. You get the point...you have the ability to hack Firefox to suite your needs. Check it out over at Lifehacker.

Read [Lifehacker] Via [CrunchGear]

Axis Communications has released its new PTZ (Pan/ Tilt/ Zoom) network camera, the Axis 212 PTZ. The main distinguishing feature of the Axis 212 PTZ is its high quality 3-megapixel CMOS censor. It also features wide-angle lens, allowing for a 140 degrees field of vision of a designated area.

Users will be able to zoom in on objects within a 150 sq m radius, up to three times using the camera’s instant one-click optical zoom functionality.  The camera simultaneously captures images in Motion JPEG and MPEG4 formats, which optimizes image quality and bandwidth utilization.

There is also a built-in two-way audio support, which enables remote users to listen on an area and communicate with visitors. Other features of the Axis 212 PTZ include pre- and post- image alarm buffering, video motion detection and scheduled event functionality with alarm notification.

Read [Axis]