Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Maybe you are in a state that has banned the use of cell phones while driving unless you use a hands-free solution.  You can use a lot of devices for handsfree yapping, but there’s only one named the EGO CUP FM by Funkwerk Americas.

The EGO CUP FM is a Bluetooth speakerphone that fits into the cupholder of your car, costs $159, and is shipping now.  You can even pair it up to 8 Bluetooth devices.  Most importantly, this thing is called the EGO CUP by Funkwerk.  What’s in a name?  Just say it out loud.  Really, try it.

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The other day, I got a chance to talk to Slacker (makers of the portable radio player, Slacker G2).  I thought it was a pretty cool device and asked since it was wireless already, why not make the whole thing wireless by adding Bluetooth?  The Slacker spokesperson nodded and told me that he could not tell me about that, but to keep an eye out for new developments.  When I pressed him to see if they would do Bluetooth, he responded with a laugh and said he couldn’t say anything now.

He then explained how Bluetooth compresses audio and there may be quality issues for other music players when they try to use Bluetooth.  The Slacker spokesperson told me that since Slacker uses AAC V2 compression, Bluetooth may be able to handle Slacker’s music without any loss of quality.  This explanation on how the Slacker G2 could take advantage of Bluetooth coupled with the knowing laughs of the spokesperson convinced me that Bluetooth is coming.

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Recently, Motorola introduced two new universal Bluetooth headsets dubbed MOTOPURE H15 and H780. Motorola says that both headsets feature groundbreaking noise cancellation technology, stylistic and functional design as well as Motorola’s CrystalTalk technology which enables the headsets to produce clear sound.

If you have both a business and a personal phone, the headsets take advantage of its multipoint technology and pair one headset to both lines.  In addition, the MOTOPURE H15 features a flip design that comes with RapidConnect technology which Motorola claims makes the headset not only easy-to-use but saves battery life as well.

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I’m too sexy for my phone, too sexy for my phone… Well, that just may be what users of the new un-sexy Samsung Rugby may be singing. But, too sexy for their phone or not, their phone will probably have no problem being able to hold up their end of the relationship.

The recently released Rugby, with its clamshell handset, is the first military-spec phone from AT&T.  It complies with Military Standard MI-SID-810F (dust, shock vibration, rain, humidity and solar radiation proof, as well as the ability to hold its own at altitude and temperature extremes).  It comes equipped with Push-to-talk, an Integrated aGPS, Quad-band UMTS and HSDPA, Bluetooth connectivity, One-way Video Share calling, a 2” display, 1.3 megapixel camera, and 128MB internal memory.

Feedback I’ve found out there by actual users of the phone has been pretty positive so far. 

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Many GPSs can do things outside of displaying maps such as playing videos or music. However, many usually don’t come with the ability to play games, which is what makes this new GPS from Kinwei Technologies interesting and unique.

The new KW-GM4306TG comes with a common 4.3 inch TFT LCD touch screen, 480 x 272 resolution, Microsoft Windows CE NET 4.2 OS, and a controller for the gaming portion of the device. Unfortunately, Kinwei Technologies doesn’t shed a whole lot of light on its gaming component.  I imagine the games it can play/come with are probably good enough to keep a child occupied in the back seat.  After all, who wants a screaming child when you are driving and trying to use a GPS?

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Product: Jabra SP700.
Price and Availability: $99 out now
Pros: Doesn’t make you look like a tool.  Easily answer calls in your car.  Makes not upgrading to the expensive new cars “tech package” a lot easier to live with.  Sound is great, surround sound through speakers is even better.
Cons: no air of superiority that comes with a headset (wait, maybe that should be in the Pros?)
Overall: I’ve already ordered two for my cars.  I give it 10/10

If you are like me, you’ll go to almost any length no to wear your bluetooth headset.  An incoming call when I am in the car sends me fumbling around my front seats for the tiny headset, the awkward install into my ear and then my eyes are back on the road.  Surely that is safer than just answer the phone?

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Believe it or not, I know many die-hard fans of the old Polaroid camera that were sad to see it go. Well, it looks like there just may be some cause for rejoicing if the new survey put out by Polaroid is any indication. They were recently asking for feedback from readers of Amateur Photographer to help design their new digital camera with built in printer.

Not too much is known at this point about the new camera other than the fact that like the Pogo Instant Mobile Printer, it will implement Bluetooth technology and a USB connection to print photos. Polaroid was asking opinions on whether they should include options such as an external battery, a hotshoe for an external flash, and a higher pixel count than their previous version.  One of the other differences between the PoGo Printer and the Polaroid PoGo ProSeries camera (as it is slated to be called) is the fact that the camera’s photos will print out at 4x3 as opposed to 2x3.

It is scheduled to hit the market next year and be marketed mainly to “professional and business users”. There is also going to be a lower-end (ie less expensive as well) ZINK-enabled camera that prints 2x3 inch prints coming out around the same time as well.

Via [Yahoo! Tech]

As we mentioned last week, Palm was getting ready to send out the update that would enable Bluetooth voice dialing for the Treo 800w, and that update has since been released.

Current Treo 800w users can head on over to the Palm website and grab the needed update, and take your pick of installation method. The voice dialing update can be applied from a desktop download, an over-the-air download or even using a microSD card. In order to apply this update you need to be running software version TREO800w-1.03-SPNT, you can check your current version by going to Start -> Settings -> About -> Phone Tab.

Overall a small but still worthwhile update to grab, now you can scream into your Bluetooth headset to ‘dial’ your phone, which in turn will hopefully keep the phone out of your hand a little more, especially when driving.

Read [Palm]

Dell has introduced a new laptop in its Inspiron product line called the Inspiron 13. Surprisingly, Dell has shifted to a smaller LCD for its newest laptop, with the Inspiron 13 sporting a 13-inch display. Dell has been known for its laptops which have either a 14-inch or 15-inch display.

The Inspiron 13 boasts of touch-sensitive media buttons, an 8-in-1 media card reader, slot-loading DVD drive and some nifty optional features including a built-in broadband wireless networking, built-in webcam and Bluetooth 2.0. This laptop will be available in glossy Pacific blue design with black trimmings. Portability is not an issue as well, as the Inspiron 13 weighs less than 5 pounds.

Dell’s new Inspiron 13 will set you back $699, and will be on sale at Wal-Mart starting on August 3. However, if you can wait for a few more weeks Dell is also planning to make it available on their website with some options to configure based on your needs.

Via [Notebook Review]

There is a new portable Bluetooth speaker system that looks a little more like a torch. It’s a nameless device, so for purposes of this post, I will call it the “BlueTorch”.

The BlueTorch supports profiles including A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP which means it can pair with either cell phones or portable media players. I could see this being more useful for Bluetooth capable PMP’s than cell phones, but I guess it would be good either way. The nice thing about the BlueTorch is that it also can connect to other devices using old school wires.

Additionally, the device sports 2 channels which each offer an output of 2 watts and comes with a frequency zone of 20Hz - 20kHz. Lastly, you can keep it playing by plugging it into an AC adapter or with USB connectivity.

It is set to be available in Japan for 7980 Yen, or around $76 US.

Via [New Launches]