Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Nokia showed three new headsets over at their Nokia Connection 2007 party and we’ve got the goods on them.

The BH-803 is quite stylish and weighs in at just 11.3g and has super fast recharging capabilities.  It wins in the lipstick-lookalike category.  Its price is estimated at $189.

The BH-604 looks business-y to me.  Obviously designed for those with crooked ears vs. the smooth ear design of the 803, it features up to 11 hours of talk time, supports voice dial and has echo/noise canceling technology.  Also handy is the LED battery indicator.  Expect a $100 price tag on it.

The BH-602 gives you full ear coverage when you want to tune out the world and tune into your tunes.  It sports buttons to control your music and separate, dedicated ones to control phone functions.  About $160 is the retail.

Read [TheGadgetBlog]

This is Part II in a series of iPhone reviews, tidbits, and thoughts.

To be honest, I was very surprised how heavy the iPhone was for it’s weight. The handset it a nice size, almost exactly that same as the Blackberry 8800, but a bit heavier (by feel, not necessarily by specs).

Likewise the phone is very slippery. I have owned it for less than 13 hours and almost dropped it twice. Now I refuse to pick it up until I have a case for it.

Besides that it is extremely sleek and shiny. The black makes it look very professional and the steel back makes it feel sturdy.

For Appletell’s iPhone coverage, head over to their dedicated iPhone category, and to get a better look at the iPhone you could win, head over to our iPhone peep show!

Don’t’ you just love it when you’re working on your notebook, and suddenly need to pack up and move somewhere else quickly? USB cables, gadgets, mice, flash disks and more suddenly become squished together as you try and carry them or dump them into your carry case. Not to mention sometimes this ends up in precious gadgets getting dropped and broken in the process.

If that happens often to you, then Belkin’s MouseTrap might be a product suitable for you. Shaped like a mouse pad when opened, and can be zipped into a pouch like shape when closed, this will allow you to quickly put all your small items on it and zip the MouseTrap close to then allow easy transport someplace else, saving you the hassles mentioned above.

The Belkin MouseTrap comes in 4 different colours, is hand washable and sells at a retail price of $12.99, which is a nice investment for those used to running around all over the place and who want an easy hassle free way of moving their accessories around.

ProductPage [Belkin]

Helio is preparing to launch an upgrade to its Helio UP service on Monday. The UP service currently serves as an online storage space for pictures and videos that you take with your Helio device, but pretty soon it will also allow for direct upload of pictures to your Flickr account and videos to your YouTube account. The new additions are rumored to take effect as of midnight tonight but officially beginning Monday. Another great service addition from an already great set of rate plans from Helio.

Read [CrunchGear]

This is Part I in a series of iPhone reviews, tidbits, and thoughts.

So people keep asking me - how does it feel to own an iPhone? Is it cool?

To be honest, while I would love to say “yes, it’s great”, I can’t. Why you ask? Well simply because it is not yet activated. You see, I have a SIM card but the iPhone has it’s own - built right in. Huh? Yeah, a long with the non-removable battery there is a non-removable SIM card. Why should you care? How about if you want to use this handset when you travel, you can’t switch the SIM. What about when I get various AT&T phones for a Gadgetell review? Nope can’t put my SIM in then either.

So am I trying to tell you not to run out and buy a iPhone (or get one for free via Appletell’s giveaway)? No. You can still get one, just realize that you are completely locked in for two years.

For Appletell’s iPhone coverage, head over to their dedicated iPhone category, and to get a better look at the iPhone you could win, head over to our iPhone peep show!

I love the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  When they did a piece on a Obama creating ringtones for his followers, I was almost sure it was a gag.  Nope.

You can download Obama ringtones, each set to different style of music (though Country is obviosly missing, kiss the heartland’s vote good bye sir).  I think the hip hop version is my favorite, but not really ringtone-esq.  There is also an assortment of wallpaper themes for your phone, logos and images.

It seems a bit cheezy to me, but then I think the same about the Crazy Frogs that bowled over UK customers.

I would expect competing ringtones from the remander of serious contenders soon.  Could it be insane to expect a candidate might win or lose based on the quality of their ringtone?  This is America…

Too bad this craze didn’t start last election cycle.  I would have given anything for an Al Gore/Joe Lieberman rap duet, kind of an East Coast-West Coast battle.

Read [Obama]

The PlantronicsVoyager 520 Bluetooth headset, adds noise-canceling technology (to reduce background noice, music, winds, and more) to their mainstream headset line. The headset also includes Plantronics’ Multipoint technology that enables you to switch between two Bluetooth devices. There is a multifunction button for one-touch call answer/end and volume up/down and it pairs to your phone rather quickly. The Voyager 520 headset comes bundled with a desktop charging cradle providing up to eight hours of talk time and 180 hours of standby time.

The Plantronics Voyager 520 Bluetooth headset will sell for $99.99 and will be available in August.

Read [Plantronics]

I know this makes us much more excited than you (since we got to touch it), but check out our first of many Apple iPhone peep shows over at Appletell.

Ps. While you are there you might as well enter to win it.

Read [Appletell]

So the Apple iPhone has been out for about a half hour now, and we’re already giving one away… really because we love you so much. Yes you will get a genuine 4GB iPhone that I stood on line for 4 hours (I know, not bad) to get just for you. It really wasn’t too bad since he made a few friends along the way.

In order to win:

1. Subscribe to the Appletell Feed


2. Post a comment on Appletell (not this post) telling us why you deserve one

Go enter [Appletell.com]

The oddest thing you’ll find in this phones retail box:  a debug board and tools to open it up.  Seriously.

Openmoko will be bringing the first “free” phone - free as in open source.  Want to change something, have at it.  Like someone else’s mod, load it up!  Not only do they expect you to hack it, they give you tools to do it.

Last night, prices were mated to specs for this interesting phone:
Neo Advanced—everything the mobile device hacker wants to get down
and dirty with the first freed phone, the Neo 1973:

• Neo 1973 (GTA01B_v4)


• Battery (2x)


• Stylus


• Headset


• AC Charger


• Phone Pouch


• Lanyard


• SanDisk 512MB MicroSD Card (2x)


• Mini USB Connectivity Cable (2x)


• USB Host Mode Cable


• Debug Flex Cable


• Debug Board v2 (JTAG and serial console)


• Ruggedized Toolbox with shoulder strap


• Guitar Pick (for opening case)


• Torx T6 screwdriver

The Neo base includes the list down to the Mini USB cable and only has one MicroSD card.  The pricing was revealed as $450 and $300 for the Neo Advanced and Neo Base respectively.

July 9th, openmoko.com will start taking orders and shipping.  The company is said to have a 1000 ready in preparation for the launch.

The company plans to follow up with the mass market version in October that will feature:

• 802.11 b/g WiFi


• Samsung 2442 SoC


• SMedia 3362 Graphics Accelerator


• 2 3D Accelerometers


• 256MB Flash

The company says it has teamed up with FIC in Taiwan to help produce these phones.

“In 1973, Mary Cooper invented the mobile phone.  This gave birth to an industry.  We’re going to revolutionize it again. Only this time, you will write the rules.  Welcome to the new 1973. The future is open.”

How can you not love a company that wishes to allow us to create our own mobile experience?  This company truly has my admiration and best wishes. Maybe it is the name Neo, but I keep hearing, “free your mind” in my head.  Potential is an awesome thing.

Product [Openmoko]