Courtesy of a Best Buy Reward Zone member advertisement, we now know that the Nokia Booklet 3G will be available as of November 15. Which is of course much nicer than the previous time frame of sometime during the holidays.

For those interested, the Booklet 3G will set you back $299.99, but that price does required a two year commitment. Otherwise, those looking to make the purchase contract free can expect to pay the full retail price of $599.99. And yes, for good or bad that contract is with AT&T.

Additionally, although we did know many of the details and features surrounding the Booklet 3G, except the actual release, I did at least get a nice little chuckle from the

“Windows 7 operating system is crazy fast”

comment in the ad. Crazy fast, really? That is the best they can do.

Anyway, for those waiting, well for those that are also a Reward Zone member, you can now head out to Best Buy and get your pre-order in.

Read [Nokia Mobile Blog]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Finding a new way to store power in our mobile devices has been a problem for quite some time.  We’ve been stuck with Lithium-Ion batteries for a while now, and unless a device is using ULV or is a netbook, chances are the battery life could be a lot better.  There’s been promises of several types of new battery tech recently, but none has really taken off.  Now yet another new possibility has come as the replacement for the Lithium-Ion.

The new technology is called Metal-Air Ionic Liquid.  It works by conducting electricity through an ionic liquid salt.  Without getting into too much detail, it means that batteries can be made with metals heavier than the zinc used in zinc-air batteries.  To put it into perspective to Lithium-Ion batteries, one kilogram or MAIL can hold about 11 times more watt-hours than the same weight of Lithium-Ions.  The main idea of MAIL batteries will be for cars, but they could easily benefit our laptops can netbooks.

The promise of being able to hold up to about 11 times the charge of a Lithium-Ion battery could easily mean that our laptops and netbooks can last for close to a day, or even multiple days.  It will probably be a while before we start seeing anything with MAIL batteries, but it might be worth the wait.  With Intel pushing it’s ULV chipsets, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see standard laptops running for days at a time when combined with MAIL.  We can only hope that this, like so many other battery improvements, doesn’t end up falling away into obscurity or becomes to unfeasible.

Read [jkOnTheRun] Read [Electronista]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Call it karma or something else, the interesting relationship between Microsoft and Gizmodo continues to yield exclusive looks at the leaked tablet.  Microsoft’s Courier was shown by the site in a video and now that video has been sliced to show how users interact with the Courier.

The user interface highlights different fingerswipes, tablet functionality such as geotagging and timestamping, camera focusing and cropping, handwriting recognition, ereader capabilities and more.  The main purpose of this device looks to be “life” as the product seems to touch on many aspects.  Clearly, this tablet is built for more than just surfing the web or playing some games.

Gizmodo shows off several images with user options and actions on each page.  It is interested, but if you saw the video then you might have expected much of this.  The pages look like little more than still images from the video, giving us no indication how far from reality this is.

Read: [Gizmodo]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

If there’s one thing we can all agree we hate about cell phone contracts, it would have the be the Early Termination Fee.  The ETF has long been the bane of anyone who cannot stick to a single phone or carrier for any extended period of time.  Up until now they’ve ranged anywhere from about $175 to $200, but for some Verizon Wireless customers that’s about to change.

Starting November 15th, Verizon Wireless will be raising the ETF for devices like smartphones and netbooks to $350.  That number will decrease by $10 for every month or service, so even if you want out of the contract at month 23 you’ll have to pay $120.  The reason for the change makes sense for Verizon, smartphones and netbooks cost much more than feature phones do.  Verizon subsidizes the phones, and makes it’s money back through the monthly payments.  A smartphone that costs the buyer $99, like the BlackBerry Bold or upcoming Droid Eris, is paying much less than what Verizon paid for the phone, so this is really just Verizon trying to make that money back.

No matter how much business sense it makes, the change won’t make consumers any happier.  The ETF is already frustrating enough, and there are those who don’t want to be stuck with the same smartphone on the same network for two years.  Especially not Verizon’s network which until the Droid has had fairly poor choices of smartphones.  Of course there are those who don’t mind having the same phone on the same carrier for two years who won’t be affected.  It’s likely this give customers even more reason to stick with their plans until they run out, or just not use Verizon.

Read [USA Today]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Redfly makes a small, instant on netbook-size device that brings your small phone screen to a bigger screen complete with larger keyboard.  Redfly has worked with Windows Mobile phones for some time and now the company announces BlackBerry support.  For users that needs more than the small keyboard and screen a phone offers, this could be a life-saver.

Available in both 7” and 8” models, the Redfly connects to your WinMo or BB smartphone allowing you to bang out emails even faster.  Browsing the web is also possible, though reviewers were not so happy with the results.  Redfly can be used with the BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Tour 9630.

We’d suggest this device for those who travel often and could use just a little more space.  We’d love the device to be a lot thinner (think Macbook Air thin) a bigger keyboard and a bit more upscale look.  If you are going after business class, you can’t look like economy.  That’s just my opinion though.

There is a contingent that believes this is the wave of the future.  Palm thought this but was ahead of the curve and pulled the program before launching.  As our phones become more powerful and capable, connecting to them seems logical.  To get on the wave, you’ll need $200 or $250 for the 7” and 8” respectively.  Or you can try to win one from Crackberry here.

Read: [Brighthand]

Image credit: Brighthand

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Sprint has announced it will begin offering a mobile broadband equipped Dell Inspiron Mini 10 in select markets across the country.  The netbook is similar to those already offered by Verizon and AT&T and comes with a built in EVDO Rev.A wireless service. It weighs just over 2.5lbs, offers a bright 10 inch screen, 160GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, and in addition to the built in broadband, includes Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11g connectivity.

“Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is a fun way to easily access the speeds of Sprint’s network to catch-up on email, surf the Web and more,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “We are excited to add this great Dell product to our industry-leading portfolio of devices available from Sprint that work on America’s most dependable 3G network. It offers an affordable way to stay in touch and stay connected.”

Sprint is offering the netbook for $199 after a $100 mail in rebate and requires you sign up for their $59.99 a month data plan as well, which comes with a 5GB cap.  Since Dell sells the Mini for $299 on their website it may not be the best deal for your buck.  A data card will give you the freedom to use it with any device you want rather than being locked into a single one, and Sprint’s Mi-Fi portable access point allows up to 5 devices to share the connection.

Still, if you’re in the market for a netbook and mobile broadband anyway and don’t mind being locked to once device, it’s worth checking out.  Sprint’s data service is among the best in the business.  For now, Sprint is only offering the Dell Mini in Baltimore, Phoenix, Indianapolis, the Twin Cities and the Bay Area, but it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see it become available nationwide as the holiday season unfolds.

Read [Business Wire]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Only one week removed from the release of Windows 7 we have yet another new operating system.  Canonical today released the newest version of its popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu 9.10 “Karmic Koala.”  The new version doesn’t pack in as many changes as an X.04 update does, but it does have more stability and more refined features than the previous version, Jaunty Jackalope.

Perhaps the biggest improvement with Ubuntu 9.10 is the inclusion of Ubuntu One.  Ubuntu One is essentially Ubuntu’s version of Dropbox with some MobileMe-esque syncing included for good measure.  It allows for 2GB of online storage, public sharing of files, syncing of Tomboy Notes and contact syncing, all for free.  The service can be upgraded to 50GB for $10 a month, just like Dropbox.  Other features include faster, prettier boot-ups, improved sound control across applications, and improved battery usage for Ubuntu Netbook Remix.

Karmic Koala, while not exactly featuring a lot of new things, promises to be a great upgrade or a good starting point for new users.  Contrary to popular belief, Ubuntu Linux is actually quite simple to use, some might even say it’s easier to understand that Mac OS X for those who only ever used Windows.  While Windows 7 is certainly a good OS, it might be worth the 25 minutes to install Ubuntu, or just use VirtualBox to try it out.  If nothing else, the Ubuntu Netbook Remix is worth a shot for anyone tired of trying to run XP on a netbook and doesn’t want to try and instal 7 onto it.  The interface is incredibly simple, and uses Firefox, so it shouldn’t be too foreign.  If nothing else, its a decent way to change up your netbook experience while waiting for Chrome OS.

Read [Ubuntu]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

If you’ve been issued a laptop from your company, thoughts of how to turn this quasi-mobile device into a passable workstation immediately springs to mind.  Logitech answers the call with their MK605 Notebook Kit.  The kit includes some smart parts to make your in the office time a bit more bearable.

The Logitech kit includes a wireless keyboard, wireless mouse and notebook riser.  The wireless keyboard features a number pad for banging through spreadsheets, the mouse is classic M505 and the riser helps put the laptop or keyboard at angle more suitable.  The kit costs a manager-agreeable $99 and is available now.

Product page: [Logitech] via [Uncrate]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Today, as you probably already know, is the release of Windows 7.  The day comes not only with the new OS, but with a number of new computers to go along with the release.  One of the biggest features is that Windows 7, unlike Vista, works fairly well on netbooks, which means today there’s a few new netbooks being released.  It only makes sense then, that the cellular networks would take advantage of it.

Verizon Wireless has announced that it is now carrying two new HP netbooks that are released today.  The new netbooks are the HP Mini 311-1037NR and the HP Mini 110-1046NR.  The Mini 110 is a standard netbook running Windows XP, while the Mini 311 runs Windows 7.  The Mini 110 will sell for $199 and the Mini 311 will sell for $249, both after a $100 mail-in rebate.  The extra $50 will get you an extra GB of RAM (The 311 has 2GB, compared to 1GB) in addition to the upgraded OS.  The plans for both are the same as the current Verizon Wireless netbook plans, which is to say expensive.

It’s great to see that Verizon is supporting the new OS on day one so users don’t have to try to find a way to get 7 to work nicely with the network after upgrading.  What would be nice, would be if Verizon lowered the price of the data. $60 a month for 5 GB of data is not a good deal at all.  Plus, its locking users into the same netbook for two years.  It might just make more sense to get a new Windows 7 netbook with a Sprint MiFi.  There’s no usage caps, you can upgrade the netbook, and the data is usable by more than just the one device.

Read [PR Newswire]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The notebooks riding the Windows 7 train continues as we now have an announcement coming courtesy of Toshiba.  I should also point out that a few of these latest models from Toshiba will also have a touchscreen displays.

Touchscreen models

Lets begin with the new touchscreen display models, these are the Satellite M505 and the Satellite U505 notebooks, both of which feature widescreen TruBrite TFT touchscreen displays.  They M505 will have a 14-inch display and also be HD while the U505 is slightly smaller at 13.3-inches.  Other features of the new touchscreen Satellite notebooks include Windows 7 Home Premium, 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors, Intel 4500MHD Graphics Media Accelerators, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drives, slot-loading SuperMulti DVD optical drives, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Ethernet, HDMI-CEC, two USB 2.0 ports, a combo eSATA/USB port, 6-cell batteries and more.

As far as pricing and availability for these two models, the M505 will be available on October 22 with prices starting at $949.99, and the U505 will come a little later on November 1 and have a starting price of $1,049.99.

Updated models

Moving on, Toshiba has also updated their existing models including the NB200 series netbooks as well as the Satellite U500, M500, A500, P500, L500 and T100 series notebooks.  These models include notebooks ranging in size from 13.3 up to 18.4-inches and are priced (starting) from $449.99 and going up to $799.99.  Additionally, the NB200 netbook series is priced from $399.99 with a 10.1-inch display.

Toshiba has also updated the Qosmio X500 series which are priced at $1,1449.99 and $1,899.99 for the 18.4-inch X505-Q830 and the 18.4-inch X50-Q850 respectively.

Finally, these latest notebook and netbook updates will be available beginning October 22, which is the same as the earlier mentioned Satellite M505 notebook.

Keep on reading to check out the full press release…

Toshiba Satellite, Qosmio Laptops and Netbooks to Feature Windows 7
Laptops to Meet Every Need and Budget Feature New Stylish Color Options and Latest Processors from Intel and AMD

IRVINE, Calif. – Oct. 14, 2009 – Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its line of Satellite and Qosmio consumer laptops will be available with Windows® 7 beginning October 22. The new line of versatile laptops, pre-installed with Windows 7, are designed to match every budget, with the latest processors and spacious storage, in a wide range of screen sizes and styled for every taste.
“From faster performance and extended battery life to simplified navigation and connectivity to new ways to share media, Windows 7 greatly enhances the PC experience,” said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “With Windows 7 and our new laptops, people can get exactly what they want, innovations they can see and touch, at prices they can afford.”
Toshiba’s range of consumer laptops with Windows 7 Home Premium includes the following:
Compact and Stylish: Satellite® U500 Series
The Satellite U500 Series are not just lightweight, highly mobile laptops, they are a fashion statement. With a vivid 13.3-inch high-def diagonal widescreen display, a unique textured finish on the outside and impressive multimedia performance on the inside with dual-core Intel® processors, these ultraportables fuse function with style and travel well with great battery life and a starting weight of just 5 pounds. The Satellite U500 Series will be available in four color finishes to match your personal style – Luxe Red, White, Pink and Brown. A touch-screen model is also available. Pricing starts at $698.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite U500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewU500.
Multimedia on the Go: Satellite M500 Series
The Satellite M500 Series are versatile, upscale multimedia performance laptops for work and play for home users, students and mobile enthusiasts. With Toshiba’s Fusion™ Finish with Sonic Pattern in new Red Onyx and White Onyx finishes as well as the original Black Onyx, this laptop packages performance-class technology with a 14-inch diagonal high-def LED backlit display perfect for enjoying digital media and entertainment. A touch-screen configuration is also available. Pricing starts at $699.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite M500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewM500.
High Definition Entertainment: Satellite A500 Series
Perfect for home users and tech enthusiasts, the Satellite A500 Series are entertainment-packed performance laptops that combine performance-class processing with Toshiba’s latest design elements. The sleek Satellite A500 Series features a 16-inch diagonal widescreen HD Edge-to-Edge display on select models, harman/kardon® speakers, optional Blu-ray® disc players and Fusion Finish and high capacity hard drives. Intel® Core™ 2 Duo or AMD Turion™ II Ultra processor configurations and choices of integrated or discrete graphics are also available. Pricing starts at $589.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite A500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewA500.
Desktop Replacement: Satellite P500 Series
Featuring a brilliant 18.4-diagonal widescreen HD TruBrite™ display, the Satellite P500 Series is designed with digital media enthusiasts and mainstream PC gamers in mind. The premium Satellite P500 Series offers more than an ordinary laptop. Featuring harman/kardon speakers, as well as sleek slot-loading DVD drives and Edge-to-Edge displays in select models, this high-performance desktop replacement also incorporates powerful processing muscle with either Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Turion II processors, and choices of integrated or discrete graphics. Select models also include a Blu-ray disc player and/or illuminating LED backlit keyboard. Pricing starts at $799.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite P500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewP500.
Everyday Value: Satellite L500 Series
The Satellite L500 Series laptops are ideal for students, home users and anyone looking to enjoy digital media, staying productive, connecting online or casual gaming. Satellite L500 Series laptops are available with either a 14-, 15.6-, 16- and 17.3-inch diagonal display sizes and come equipped with powerful processor options from Intel and AMD, including the new Turion II and Athlon™ II, hard drives ranging from 250GB to 500GB and Toshiba’s popular Fusion Finish. Starting prices range from $504.99 to $579.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the Satellite L500 Series can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewL500.
Also to include Windows 7 Home Premium are Toshiba’s recently announced ultra-thin Satellite T100 Series laptops (starting at $449.99 MSRP1), which offer the performance, flexibility and functionality of a standard-sized laptop, yet in a highly portable package, and the recently announced enthusiast-class Qosmio® X500 Series line of performance laptops geared for high definition multimedia and gaming that feature the new Intel Core i7 processor and Blu-ray disc players.
Toshiba will offer the Qosmio X500 laptop in two configurations. The Qosmio X505-Q830 laptop features a stunning 18.4-inch HD TruBrite diagonal widescreen display with 1680 x 945 native resolution, a high-speed 7200RPM 320GB hard drive, 4GB of memory and is priced at $1,449.99 MSRP1. The Qosmio X505-Q850 laptop features an 18.4-inch HD TruBrite diagonal widescreen display with 1920 x 1080 native resolution, a dual hard drive configuration with a 64GB solid state drive and a high-speed 7200RPM 320GB hard drive, 6GB of memory and is priced at $1,899.99 MSRP.
Toshiba will also feature Windows 7 Starter on its popular line of netbooks.
Small in Hand, Big on Innovation: Toshiba mini NB200 Series
The follow-up to Toshiba’s award-winning, super-compact netbook is now available with Windows 7 Starter. The Toshiba mini NB205 will continue to feature a 10.1-inch diagonal widescreen display, full-sized keyboard, laptop-sized touchpad and nine-hour battery life. Toshiba will offer the mini NB205 in multiple configurations with either 160GB or 250GB hard drive configurations and a choice of five color finishes: Sable Brown, Frost White, Indigo Blue, Posh Pink and Onyx Black. Prices start at $399.99 MSRP.
More information and detailed specifications about the mini NB205 can be found at laptops.toshiba.com/thenewNB205.
Availability
The new Toshiba consumer laptops will be available at major retailers and direct from Toshiba on toshibadirect.com on October 22, 2009.

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The details on the Nokia Booklet 3G have finally dropped and they are interesting to say the least.  The Intel Atom powered laptop will cost $299 if you get it with a two year contract from AT&T.  It will run Windows 7, has GPS, Nokia Ovi store access, Wi-Fi, and, as the name says, 3G.  Buying the computer outright will cost $599.  Even with its 16-cell battery (and 12 hour battery life), computers with better stats can be had. 

Randall Bennett, Clayton Morris, and I talked over the Nokia Booklet 3G.  Who exactly is this for and is this a good idea at all?

Read: [InformationWeek]
Watch More: [TechVi.com] http://techvi.com

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Wireless charging is finally a reality.  At CTIA, PureEnergy is showing off wireless charging of popular netbooks from HP, Lenovo, Acer, and Dell.  Their product is a charging mat, much like the Powermat Iyaz reviewed on Gadgetell.  The PureEnergy product will charge up to 2 netbooks and five mobile phone simultaneously.

Typically, wireless charging involves an adapter or jacket for your gadget so it can receive the wireless power and PureEnergy offers several of these to fit popular phones as well as jackets for phones to remove a step for users.  Adding netbooks to the list of gadgets that can be charged wirelessly is a handy move.

It looks like PureEnergy’s strategy is to hook up with a carrier and provide their goods rebranded with the carrier’s name.  That could be a tough sell as carriers are very leery to add significant cost and without products designed specifically for wireless charging, like the Palm Pre, the benefit of simple wireless charging starts to fade into the background.

From Iyaz’s review of a similar product, “If you a person who carries multiple electronics or live in a house with more than one cell phone, the Powermat is pretty much a no-brainer.”

Press release: [PureEnergy]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

If there’s one boring thing about netbooks, it has to be that they all have essentially the same specs.  That will be changing soon with the Pine Trail Atom processors that Intel will be shipping soon, but that’s not enough for Colombian manufacturer Haleron.  Haleron set out to make a netbook that’s more useful to students and professionals who do a lot of multitasking, while keeping it affordable to those in South America.  The result is the Swordfish Net 102 Dual.

The Swordfish Net 102 Dual has, for the most part, standard specs: 10” screen, 4-in-1 card reader, 2 GB RAM, 3G (WCDMA) module etc.  What Haleron did differently, however, is modify the Intel M945 chipset to accept two Atom processors.  The dual processors are meant to work much like dual-core CPUs do, split the workload between the two cores to increase the efficiency of both.  What they don’t offer, however, is the Atom’s superior battery life, with Haleron claiming a three-cell battery will last two and a half hours, and a six-cell battery will last four and a half hours, neither of which are all that great.

The idea of a dual-Atom netbook, while nice at first, seems to just defeat the entire purpose.  Yeah, netbooks aren’t great for multitasking, but that hardly seems to be what they were designed to do.  A netbook is meant for using the Internet, and maybe one or two applications on top of that, which shouldn’t put too much strain on the Atom processor.  It makes more sense to just buy a small laptop if you really need to do any sort of multitasking.  The Swordfish Net 102 Dual does only cost $449, so that is a plus, and great for those who can’t afford anything better, but there’s a reason why few students have netbooks: they have other laptops that they carry around with them instead.

Read [InfoWorld]
Read [Haleron]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

With the economy still on a downturn, tech retailers are preparing for the upcoming holiday season by offering a variety of cheap gadgets.  With no hot new must have gadget this year and consumers not as willing to snap up pricey gadgets, retailers are hoping that cheap gadgets will have enough appeal to keep their sales up.

Netbooks, digital cameras, digital picture frames and speakers are some of the items retailers are hoping will be big sellers for the frugal set.  Best Buy is also hoping to cash in on the growing popularity of e-books by setting up sections in stores dedicated to several varieties of e-readers all going for less than Amazon’s Kindle.  RadioShack is offering a 7 inch portable TV for $199, and Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have all slashed prices on their video game consoles. Walmart meanwhile has dropped the price of some Blu-ray players to $99.

Some retailers, such as Sears and Kmart, are hoping their layaway programs will help encourage consumers to make some big ticket purchases.  Electronics are already the most popular items placed on layaway.  Sears also plans to follow Best Buy’s lead and offer e-readers this holiday season.

While experts agree that most consumers will be budget conscious this holiday season, and predict sales will be the second worst in 42 years, manufacturers still plan to push some high ticket items such as the new LED ultra thin TVs that go for upwards of $2000.  Vizo is hopeful its latest model, which connects to the internet and comes with a roll out keyboard, will be a hot seller but the $1700 price tag may turn off many.  Most consumers will be looking for deals on small ticket items rather than splurging.  Retailers plan to appeal to this mindset by offering BOGO deals and promoting add-ons and accessories.

What are your plans for this holiday season? Do you plan cut back on gift buying? Let us know what your holiday shopping plans are!

Read [Wall Street Journal]

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New rumored details emerged today about tablets from two competitors: Apple and Microsoft.  iLounge says they have 10 new pieces of info on Apple’s tablet while Gizmodo seems to have received yet another exclusive video detailing what Microsoft is thinking.  The two are at opposite ends of the tablet spectrum but overall, I am sensing they both miss the mark.

Apple iPad (like they’ll actually pull one out)

iLounge says Apple has been playing around with three different tablets that run iPhone OS.  That makes good sense as Apple would be foolish not to leverage the 85,000 and growing far too fast, applications currently residing in the Apple App Store.  Word is the tablet isn’t meant to compete with netbooks, rather it is more a big iPod touch with and without a 3G radio; think “light communication device”.

Windows Courier (it doesn’t run Vista, yay!)

Meanwhile, over at Gizmodo, the new video shows off how much Microsoft loves Nike.  Or at least how much the Courier team wants to design shoes.  The Courier uses a combination of inputs to move data around: finger swiping and the infamous stylus for text entry.  The double screen is right at home as a journal-like companion.  The thing looks gorgeous.

And I’m done with tablets

Here’s the rub, neither machine solves a problem.  The Apple is an extension of the iPod, the MS is trying to create another device to lug around.  Neither says, “hey you, stop carrying that [insert favorite device name here], use this instead.”  Neither makes me smack my head and say, “Hot damn, I need that.”

Yes, all the sneaker designers want the Courier and the geek in me would love to play with these gadgets, but at the end of the day, if neither product solves a problem, they’ll spend their lives behind glass.  Neither makes a compelling argument to get me to buy them.

The bigger problem is between my smartphone and PC, I don’t need a third screen.  Or at least, these incarnations don’t make it clear why I need that third screen.  Yes, it is totally unfair to judge these before even their manufacturers will confirm them, but really: why?  For surfing I don’t feel like doing on my phone, the PC is usually there.  A mid-range screen seems a bit gluttonous now, doesn’t it?

Think tablets are the next pet rocks?  Let us know if you’ll be sleeping in the street to get a hold of these, if, you know, they actually make it to market.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

For the past year the Intel Atom processor has been the default netbook processor.  It’s small, efficient, and fast enough to run the small machines.  The next version of the Atom, code named “Pine Trail” is due out by early 2010 at the latest.  It will feature graphics on the CPU and as a result be more energy efficient.  Now it looks like Intel wants to make the Atom processors faster.

According to Intel Executive Vice President Sean Maloney, the next generation of the Atom will prove to be faster than the 1.6GHz versions we have right now.  This would put the Atom on a similar “tick-tock” routine that the other processors now follow.  The tick-tock refers to each year alternating between advancing the architecture and the manufacturing process technology.  For netbooks, however, it’s unlikely well see more than just speed increases.  As of now, dual-core Atoms use far too much power and are better suited for the nettops they call home now.

Faster Atom chips would certainly be a welcome addition to netbooks.  Sure, they’re only meant for light usage, but faster processors will make them that much better.  There are some users who treat netbooks as more than what they are and load them up with data and applications, which will cause them to run even slower than usual.  Faster Atom chips would certainly help in that regard.  Next all they need is 2 GB of RAM to be standard to go with those faster processors and perhaps netbooks could be more usable to more people.

Read [CNet News]

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The world of tech is filled of business decisions that could only be fueled by some kind of drug-induced lunacy.  This is the column that calls out the companies that might need to hit rehab.  Today, we’re looking at you, Palm, Microsoft, Verizon, and Intel.

Celebrities to move Pixis?

A lot of us in the tech community have a soft spot for Palm.  Their PDAs were an excellent execution of simplicity in technology.  Somewhere they got lost in the shuffle as smartphones came in to eat Palm’s lunch when Palm clearly had their lunch labeled with a black marker on a brown bag at the fridge of the company kitchen.  Then in a sink or swim situation back in January 2009, Palm introduced the Palm Pre with its webOS.  Many people were thrilled that Palm was on its way back.

Recently, the second webOS phone was announced, the Palm Pixi.  To promote their product, they ran a series of teaser trailers and got the phone in the hands of reviewers and the public right away.  No, wait, that did not happen.  Palm did get a bunch of celebrities to hold the Pixi.  Then Palm took pictures of the event so people will know that Palm products are da bomb, dog.  Is this going to move products?  How about landing deals with as many carriers as you can instead of wasting time that you do not have on photo ops?

Microsoft Secrecy

Pictures of the Microsoft booklet computer, the Courier, and the rumored Pink phone were floating around the web this week.  Why?  Because Microsoft is apparently the anti-Apple when it comes to security this week.  Maybe their people in charge of secrecy were sniffing glue in the corner when someone came in to swipe a PowerPoint presentation. 

Also, the Pink and the Courier crushed the spirits of the Associate Editor of Gadgetell, JG Mason, to the point where he was unable to write this column.  He is sitting in the corner mumbling about styli on the Courier and the overall cheap look of the supposed Pink phones.  Why would you need a stylus to use a computer these days?  Aren’t we living in the future with flying cars, wireless power, and monkey butlers? 

Verizon: We hate you, Palm Pre.

Way back in July 2009, Verizon was touting that they would have the Pre.  Now, it looks like it just won’t happen.

Verizon, that company with an awesome network without a superphone, thinks the Pre is not good enough for them. Why would Vz say no to the Pre?  The Pre just doesn’t sell enough.  Crazy idea, Verizon.  Maybe people do not want to buy the Pre right now because they were waiting for it to come out on another carrier.  You see, perhaps a Verizon Palm Pre would be the answer to those sales woes. 

We know that the head of Verizon is reading this - maybe you want to rethink denying the Pre. 

Intel’s Moblin

You can tell netbooks are here to stay when operating systems are tailored to them.  Microsoft Windows 7 is built to work on these underpowered machines.  Then there is Intel’s Moblin.  The initial version of this mobile Linux operating system was the exact opposite of a smash hit.  Over at the Intel Developer Forum, Intel brought out its new version of Moblin - and get this - Dell will have a netbook running Moblin soon.  Why is Intel in the software biz?  Perhaps they are just trying to tick off Microsoft to the point where Microsoft builds its own hardware using Tegra processors and ditches Intel altogether.  Wait a second.  Didn’t that happen with the Zune HD?  Would Microsoft even contemplate building machines without packing an Intel processor?  Wait, they did that with the Xbox 360. 

For those of you who think Gadgetell is on crack for doing this column without JG, he’ll be back next week. 

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The Intel Developer Forum looks to be an excuse for Intel to show off all the cool stuff they’ve been cooking up and let PC makers show off some of their products.  Of course there’s a multitude of technical sessions each day, though those probably won’t interest many people outside developers and engineers.  Today we have two new announcements from Intel: a formal announcement of new processors and a new optical cable technology as well as an interesting syncing technology.

Why the Core i7 Mobile is a big deal

The first announcement comes in form of the official announcement of the Intel Core i7 Mobile Processor.  We’ve already seen laptops that use the Core i7 Mobile and now Intel is showing it off.  According to Intel, the Core i7 Mobile will bring the power of a desktop PC to a laptop, allowing for much more complex tasks like audio mixing, multiple camera video editing, and high-end gaming.  Having seen the difference a Core i7 in a desktop can make, Intel’s claims should be more or less true.  Now all we need is for more companies to put these into laptops, a MacBook Pro with a Core i7 Mobile would be fantastic.

Light Peak to replace wires

The second announcement is Intel’s new Light Peak, a new way of connecting devices.  Those devices can include anything from peripherals, computer, hard drives, displays, and docking stations among others.  It’s all done through optical wires about the width of a human hair, which can replace any sort of wire and can even connect through current connections like USB.  Light Peak can transfer data at 10Gb/s when it will be released in 2010 and will be scalable to 100Gb/s over the next decade, which should be able to handle just about any size file with amazing speeds.

Sync computers regardless of OS

In terms of non-Intel announcements, we have Syncables which is showing off its cross-platform syncing application.  Syncables Desktop is truly cross-platform, working on Linux as well as Windows and Mac, and allows you to fully sync multiple machines.  This includes media, bookmarks, email and any other documents you want to sync.  The application also has Facebook and YouTube integration for easy uploading of media.  The company is showcasing NetworkSync at IDF, which allows for easy collaboration and streaming through any network.

Read [Intel Core i7 Mobile Processor]
Read [Intel Light Peak]
Read [Syncables]

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Today, at the Intel Developer Forum, Dell announced the new Dell Mini 10v as the first netbook to use Intel’s Moblin operating system.  Moblin is Intel’s idea of what a netbook OS should be and with the coming version 2.1, Moblin is designed for smartphones and Mobile Internet Devices as well.  With the OS receiving so much attention, it might be worth knowing just what exactly it is.

What’s Moblin?

As mentioned above, Moblin is meant to run exclusively on devices with smaller screens and less processing power.  There isn’t much to find in the current build that isn’t somehow based on cloud computing.  It can pull in data from a variety of sources on the main screen, whether it be a Twitter feed, RSS feed, or web-based calendar.  It also has a strong media base, with the OS designed for easy navigation of all media on the device and other devices connected to your wireless network.

Moblin 2.0

While this is Moblin 2.0, which is still in beta, it’s only now that it reaches a state that anyone would want to use.  To say 1.0 was slow to start is an understatement.  Sure, the community behind the project supported it, but there was nobody else using it.  Even now it’s not the greatest choice for everyone. 

What will be the netbook OS of choice?

Having tried Moblin 2.0 several times, it just doesn’t seem as the best option.  The interface, to me, is quite clumsy, and it chokes when displaying any webpage with flash on my Eee PC 901.  With Intel behind it, there is a lot of promise, though it just doesn’t seem as desirable as Jolicloud (the battery hog that is is).  Perhaps it might work better on the next generation of Atom chips, but for now the flash issue kills it for me, and also the fact that with such little storage I have no media to really consume on my netbook.  If you’re still looking for the perfect Linux for your netbook, it’s worth a shot. Having major PC manufacturers shipping it on netbooks is certainly a good sign of the support to come.

Read [Engadget]
Read [Moblin Project]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The Intel Core i7 laptops keep coming.  Toshiba just announced its new Qosmio X500 series laptops with the Core i7 that will arrive on October 22, 2009 (a.k.a. Windows 7 launch day).  What’s the rundown on this new series?  Blu-ray drives, a monster 18.4-inch screen, harman/kardon speakers, HDMI out, DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA’s GeForce GTS 250M with 1GB of VRAM, also a configuration with 2 hard drives will be available if you want lots of space.  Plainly, Toshiba is going after gamers and folks who like movies on their laptops.  The multi-touch trackpad has gesture support and seeing as this is a giant of a machine, there is a number pad as well.  Pricing info will be available on October 13, 2009.  Hang tight.

*[Update] We just found out that he Qosmio will start under $1500.  How much under?  We don’t know yet.  Stay tuned. 

Product site: [Toshiba Qosmio Line]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Today began the Intel Developer Forum, a chance for Intel and a number of other companies to debut their newest computer technology.  It’s the perfect opportunity to see what’s coming up next in terms of computer hardware and will likely see a lot of new Windows 7 machines throughout the conference.  Today, as the opening day, saw a lot of announcements during the keynote presentation.

The biggest announcement for Intel looks to be the new Intel Xeon 5500 series of processors.  Intel is saying these new chips will power everything from the Internet to research oriented supercomputers.  They look to be quite fast and smart enough to clock the multiple cores to handle the task at hand through the new Intel Turbo Boost Technology.  Intel is saying the chip series is the most important processor innovation since the Intel Pentium Pro which was released nearly 15 years ago.

For processors, Intel also brought on stage a wafer of its 22nm chips that are due for release in 2011.  The technology is said to push Moore’s Law further than some have thought possible with the scaling wall nowhere in sight.  The new technology would allow for 2.9 billion transistors in the area of a fingernail and will make for even faster, more efficient computers.

In terms of more pressing consumer matters, Intel has announced the new Intel Atom Developer Program.  The program is meant to draw developers into making apps for netbooks and later MIDs and smartphones that use Intel Atom processors.  The idea is that the program will create more applications that are designed to fit on netbook-sized screens, and will be cross-platform using platforms like Silverlight and Flash.  Some companies like Acer are planning on putting app stores for such apps onto future netbooks.  It’s not clear why that is needed, however, as the idea of netbooks always seemed more like a portable web browser and maybe word processor, apps seem like they could be redundant or rarely used.

Read [Xeon 5500 series]
Read [Intel Atom Developer Program]
Read [22nm chips (PDF Link)]

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The MSI Wind, a favorite for Hackintosh enthusiasts, has a new model out called the Wind U110 ECO.  MSI touts the battery life at over 15 hours on a 9-cell battery.  The specs are pretty much what you expect out of a netbook these days: Intel Atom processor (1.60GHz), 10-inch display at 1024 x 600 resolution, webcam, and a 160GB hard drive.  This model has 802.11 b/g/n for Wi-Fi, so you can get some nice speeds on this machine if you have a N router.  At 3.2 pounds and 1.24-inches at its thickest point, this netbook stays on the thin and light side even with the 9-cell battery.  The Wind U110 ECO costs $429.99 and comes in any color you want as long as that color is silver. 

Company Site: [MSI US]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Welcome back to InterrupTech where we catch you up on the most important tech stories.  This week there’s plenty to cover:

• HP’s new Envy13 and Envy15 are here.
• HP’s not-a-tablet HP DreamScreen.
• All HP news at Gadgetell.com.
• Kindle book outsells hardcover.
• Facebook tops 300 million users and will be profitable soon.
• Microsoft drops the ball on the Zune again.
• Android gaining some steam in the tech world.

The best part about the show?  Topics move quickly, but if you don’t like a topic, just skip it.  Keep an eye on that timer to help you along.  Enjoy the show.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The New York Office of the Attorney General has announced Dell will pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit the AG filed against it back in 2007.  The suit accused Dell of misleading customers by making false promises of cheap financing and refusing to honor rebates and warranties.  In May of last year, the New York State Supreme Court found the company guilty of fraud, false advertising, abusive debt collection practices, and deceptive business practices.

Along with the settlement, Dell is required to disclose detailed information about the level of service their customers will receive and the percentage of customers that qualify for low cost financing.

“Today’s announcement is the final step in ensuring New Yorkers harmed by Dell’s deceptive and illegal business practices are fully compensated,” said Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement announcing the settlement.

If you are a New York resident you can go online to the AG’s website and file an application for restitution.

Read [PCWorld]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

HP is pushing the limits on what a “mini” is with an 11.6-inch HD screen on the Mini 311, but it’s a looker.  Additionally, HP has built a budget and style conscious laptop called the Pavilion DM3 that goes for under $600 and it’s under 1-inch thick and weighs only 4.2 pounds.  How do these new notebooks look in real life?  Take a look.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

HP introduced the HP Mini 110 designed by Studio Tord Boontje to go after the fashion conscious (and budget conscious) netbook user.  On the other side, HP also introduced the ProBook 5130m, a laptop designed for the very mobile business person.  Take a look at these laptops getting manhandled by Gadgetell.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Vivian Tam has company.  HP has just introduced a brand new fashion netbook, this time designed by Studio Tord Boontje.  The pattern is applied in multiple layers - the more you look, the more you see.  HP calls it “HP Imprint 3D” and the “industry’s first three-dimensional surface technology.”  It’s actually a pretty cool effect.  Think of the old Apple iBooks with the clear shell with a pattern on the case, a pattern on the inside of the plastic, and a pattern on the front of the plastic shell and you can sort of picture the HP Imprint 3D.  What’s the pattern?  A design of of plant life and endangered animals is on this white-on-white artwork.  There are also 15 wallpapers included designed by Tord Boontje.  The Vivian Tam HP was criticized for a high price tag.  That won’t happen here.  The HP Mini 110 by Studio Tord Boontje will start at $399.  There will also be a line of companion mice and bags to match the design. 

Company Site: [HP.com]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

How’s this for a set of specs?  An 11.6-inch display with 1366 x 768 resolution powered by NVIDIA ION, HDMI out, 3.22 pounds, 1.60 GHz Intel Atom, 1GB of DDR3 RAM, and 6 hours of battery life at $399.  Sounds pretty good to me.  The downsides: this netbook still can’t handle streaming HD video, there is no wireless n (only b/g), some crapware is preinstalled like AOL Portal and MSN Toolbar.  Then again, at that price, it’s hard to complain. 

Selected Specs:
• Processor: Intel Atom Processor N720
• Memory: 1024MB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm), Max supported = 3072MB
• Graphics: NVIDIA ION LE for Windows XP with up to 319MB total graphics memory
• Networking: 802.11b/g, 10/100 NIC
• Card reader: 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
• Connectors: 3 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, 1 VGA (15-pin), RJ -45 (LAN)

Company Site: [HP.com]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Netbooks are so 2008.  Get ready for the new wave of must-have devices dubbed “smartbooks.”  These smartbooks are small netbook sized devices running on ARM microprocessors used in smartphones.  Why would you build such a beast?  They’re cheap.

According to PC World, Foxconn is developing less than five different models of these inexpensive devices that aim to be in the $100- $200 range.  Young Liu, special assistant to the CEO at Foxconn was quoted by the magazine as saying, “that’s a lot lower than a netbook,” he said. “There will be a lot of demand for a sub-$200 device.”

The assistant said demand was coming out of China and other places where these cost-sensitive devices might have the biggest impact.  Users can expect basic functionality, WiFi, and slower processing speeds.  The screen size would be in the 7-10 inch range.

Others have shown plans for similar smartbooks at last June’s Computex.  Largely, these are built for other manufacturers and will be rebranded.  Foxconn is the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer.

Read: [PC World]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

HP looks to be the first manufacturer to use the new Intel Mobile Core i7 CPU.  In a pair of leaks from the company, we now know that not only is HP looking at the core i7, but is also working on a Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV) laptop, a new Compaq netbook, and finally a new Voodoo laptop.

The biggest laptop of the leaks is the HP Pavilion dv8, which will come equipped with the mobile Core i7.  The 18.1-inch laptop will serve as a desktop replacement, and have the CPU clocked at 1.6 GHz when using all 4 cores, or 2.8 GHz when using only 2 cores.  It’s expected that the laptop will come with 4 GB of RAM, a Blu-ray drive, and 640 GB of storage.  It would make sense for the dv8 to have more available storage and RAM, but just having the mobile Core i7 makes it impressive.

For the CULV laptops, there appears to be the dm2 and dm3 (pictured), both of which will feature 11.6-inch screens and 1.2 GHz processors.  They’ll likely come with prices and specs that place them just above netbooks.  The new Compaq netbook looks to stand at 11.6 inches for the screen, with nearly standard netbook specs with the added bonus of NVIDIA’s Ion LE netbook graphics chip.  Not much is known about the new Voodoo laptop, the Envy 15, but it will most likely be similar to the Envy 133, have better specs, a 15-inch screen, and probably still drool-worthy.

Keep in mind that these leaks are always subject to change.  That doesn’t make them any less interesting, but it’s possible that these machines could change between now and the time they’re released.  Hopefully by then HP will make a mobile Core i7 laptop that isn’t ginormous.

Read [Electronista]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

According to an exclusive retrieved by Shanzai.com from a “reliable” unnamed source, Acer and Lenovo plan to release a new operating system installed on a new form factor while running on a new platform.  The rumor is that the manufacturers plan to release Nvidia’s Tegra based devices running Google’s Chrome operating system.  It is expected that the targeted date of release could be as soon as the next couple of months. 

Nvidia’s Tegra platform utilizes a low power ARM processor along with a high performance graphics chip.  Google’s Chrome operating system was just announced this summer and Google indicated that it would not be ready for install on devices until sometime next year, but may be pre-released as early as the fall. 

Although the story has yet to be officially confirmed by either Lenovo or Acer, it looks like the devices would likely get categorized as smartbooks.  Smartbooks are a fairly new category of devices that fall somewhere between a smartphone and netbook.   

Read: [Shanzai.com]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Welcome back to InterrupTech where we catch you up on the most important tech stories.  This week there’s plenty to cover:

• Mac OS X Snow Leopard released
• Motorola’s upcoming Android event
• Sony’s Daily Edition eReader
• Nokia’s Booklet 3G
• Apple says they don’t know anything about the Google Voice app

The best part about the show?  Topics move quickly, but if you don’t like a topic, just skip it.  Keep an eye on that timer to help you along.  Enjoy the show.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

For the past few months, I have been running the Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 on my netbook, an Asus Eee PC 1000HE.  While Windows 7 was great at first, as time progressed, it became sluggish.  So, thanks to our friends at Jolicloud, I got a chance to check out the alpha release of Jolicloud OS for netbooks.

Installation

Jolicloud OS is fairly easy to install.  You have to download the Jolicloud ISO directly or by bit torrent and then create a bootable USB key or burn the ISO to a blank CD.  Jolicloud offers its own bootable USB-key creator to make the process easier.  However, when I used Jolicloud’s bootable key creator for my USB-key, I could not get Jolicloud to boot and install.  I ended up burning a CD with an external CD burner, which I was then able to use successfully for booting and installing the OS.  Total install time was 30 to 40 minutes.

The look and feel

The look of Jolicloud is nothing like your typical OS.  There are three main panels, similar to a webpage layout.  There are tabs on the left in a narrow panel with categories of applications, which are displayed in the much larger middle panel.  In the right panel, there are basic file folders (Music, Pictures, Documents, etc.) and a desktop link.  Along the top is your taskbar – to the left, open applications are indicated by small icons and on the right are your icon indicators for Wi-Fi, battery, and so forth.  All in all, it is a very clean, simple, and intuitive user interface.

Getting apps

Adding applications and updating your system is actually fun.  By clicking on the cloud icon in the upper left corner, you are taken to the “My Jolicloud” dashboard.  Here you will find a history of your install/uninstall activity, a settings menu, system update announcements, and available applications.  The layout of the applications section feels very much like Apple’s App Store and install is just as easy – just click the Install button and you are good to go.  The selection of available applications is quite good considering Jolicloud is still in alpha.

Day to day usage

Jolicloud, which is based on Linux, runs very smoothly on my 1000HE.  Applications start up and close quickly and run without a glitch.  Power consumption with this OS is comparable to my Windows 7 experience.  Also, as with Windows 7, I have noticed my fan running more often than it did with Windows XP, but I’m not sure why. 

Initial start-ups and wake-ups from hibernate are quick – about 11 seconds from hibernate to login.  Of course, Jolicloud is still in alpha so there are frequent system updates and only select systems with which it is compatible (a complete listing is on Jolicloud’s website), though many netbooks are covered.

Definitely worth checking out

Overall, Jolicloud seems well suited for the netbook user who uses a lot of online applications, does basic computing tasks, and wants a streamlined, uncluttered user interface.  From the installation process, to the startup page, to the dashboard, Jolicloud is simple to use and user friendly.  Right now, I think I will stick with Jolicloud since it runs so smoothly and Windows 7 was misbehaving on my system.  If you have a netbook, I would highly recommend checking out Jolicloud OS.

See: [Jolicloud]

Full Story » | Written by Merlyn Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Keeping your gadgets charged up while you are on the go always seems to be a constant struggle, but thanks to a little gadget from LaptopBatteryExpress your notebook or netbook (or just about any other gadget) will be able to keep a charge a little longer.

The gadget is simply called the “Universal External Laptop Battery” and is noted as being able to offer you up to an additional four hours of battery life.  The external battery ships with a variety of seven adapter tips that should work for most notebooks (except Apple).  In terms of specs, the battery is 6600mAh, measures in at 9 x 4.9 x 0.59-inches and weighs 1.7-pounds.  Also in addition to the seven included adapter tips the battery also has a USB port that will let you plug in (and charge) smaller gadgets such as a Zune, iPod, or iPhone.

All things considered this could be a nice item for any road warrior to keep in their gear bag.  Of course, this power does come with a price tag and it is not cheap—$179.99.  But on the flip side, I suppose paying $179.99 for this battery would be cheaper than buying multiple external batteries for multiple devices.

Product [Laptop Battery Express]  Via [SlashGear]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

As many airlines are looking to find ways to make more money and keep customers happy, Wi-Fi is steadily being added to many different airlines.  It was announced by Southwest Airlines that the beta testing of Wi-Fi has done well and they are looking to integrate it within all their planes. 

Basically, Southwest Airlines had Wi-Fi rolled out to about four planes and the customers were pleased with it, which is good news for Southwest Airlines.  When flying, many users were testing out Wi-Fi on their netbooks, laptops, and smartphones.  While email, streaming video, and surfing the web are all allowed, Southwest Airlines is strict about not allowing VoIP and video chats because they want to be considerate to all users, which is probably a good policy.  In terms of a data supplier, Southwest Airlines is going with Row 44, however, a pricing plan has not been set in place yet. 

Of course, the popularity of in-flight Wi-Fi depends on the pricing packages available.  The airline with the most to offer in terms of normal accommodations as well as the best Wi-Fi deal will probably attract the most customers.  Expect all Southwest Airlines airplanes to have full Wi-Fi services starting next year. 

Read [Electronista]

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Set to be on sale on August 14, Verizon recently introduced a new global modem manufactured by ZTE and dubbed the AD3700.  Designed for those who travel often and far, the AD3700 boasts the ability to provide broadband connections in over 175 countries. 

Verizon predominantly uses the EVDO Rev. A network in the United States, but the AD3700 can support GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and UMTS/HSPA networks in other countries.  In addition, it features VZAccess Manager software in order to help users connect faster and easily to a network.  It also facilitates installation.  Portability is key for this device, as the USB tip easily swivels away so it will not be loose during travel.  Any laptop/netbook running Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows Vista will be able to support the AD3700. 

In terms of pricing and availability, the device will be available in all Verizon stores on August 14 and will sell for $79.99 after a $50 MIR, assuming you inked a two year contract. 

Read [Verizon]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Everyone loves to get something with a nice discount, and one of the latest offers from Dell will allow you to get a Dell Mini 10v netbook for $99.  Just as an FYI, the Mini 10v normally retails for $299, which means you are going to save $200.  Of course, as you would expect there is a catch.

In order to get that price you need to purchase either an XPS notebook or XPS desktop.  The systems you can choose from include the Studio XPS 13 and XPS 16 notebooks as well as the Studio XPS desktop and are priced from $1,037, $1,094 and $854 respectively.

All things considered, this would not convince me to run out and purchase a computer that I was not shopping for.  However if I was in the market already, this would certainly be enough to convince me to purchase (or at least consider) a Dell.  This offer is available for a limited time and will expire on August 13, 2009.

Read [Dell]  Via [Twitter @DellHomeOffers]

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A new Sony Vaio P has recently made its way through the FCC.  Of course, as with FCC reveals, we were not given any information as to when we can expect to see this new model become available, however it does confirm some earlier rumors surrounding a new Vaio P.

What we can tell you about the new Vaio P is that it is carrying a model number of PCG-1RSL and is going to be the same size as the current Vaio P.  In other words, this will be another small notebook that is not a netbook.

Other features that can be confirmed by way of the FCC listing include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n support.  Otherwise, it looks like the confidentiality agreement for this listing expires in October, which means at the latest, that is when more details will be available, that is, if the Vaio is not released before then.

Additionally and although this is just rumor and speculation, some are calling for the new Vaio P to include a speed bump and use a 2GHz processor, which would be up from the current 1.86GHz model.

Read [Sony Insider]  Via [Engadget]

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An Acer representative wanted to ensure Android enthusiasts that a netbook running Android will be launched sometime this year.  After several delays and false reporting, Acer felt it was best to reassure the public that the 10 inch Aspire One will still be running Android.

Now, Acer already markets an Aspire One netbook running on Windows XP; in addition, the one they showed off at an electronics show in Taipei featured a dual-boot of Android and XP.  It should be known that the Android running Aspire One will not feature a Windows XP and Google Android dual-boot. 

Android is, perhaps, best known as an OS for smartphones.  However, after much success and improvements, many manufacturers feel it is ready to perform in netbooks, another source of computer mobility whose popularity has risen in recent months.  The Acer Aspire One Android netbook is the first of its kind to feature both Android and an Intel Atom microprocessor. 

Acer became interested in Android due to its growing popularity and the strong development movement behind the software.  The PC vendor announced the Aspire One with Android a day after saying its first Android-based smartphones would launch in the fourth quarter of this year.  No word on exact pricing or availability as of yet.

Read [PC World]

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Sure, Dell has already officially killed off the Mini 9, but that does not seem to be stopping them from bringing it back for a short encore.  Basically, the Mini 9 will be available for just four days, which means if you have been wishing you hit the buy button before it went away last time you need to react quickly.

Anyway, the Mini 9 is back and priced from $199.  Of course, that is the lower end model and will be available in either Alpine White or Obsidian Black.  Other features included in the $199 price tag includes an 8.9-inch (1024 x 600) display, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB SSD, a built-in 0.3-megapixel webcam, a 4-cell battery and Ubuntu 8.04.1 as the operating system.  Additionally, the hard drive can be upgraded to either an 8GB SSD (for $35) or a 16GB SSD (for $75).

If Ubuntu is not your thing, Dell is also offering the Mini 9 with Windows XP, however that model is starting at $269.

Product [Dell] Read [Direct2Dell]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »