Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Nokia developed and licensed a technology called Wibree a few years ago, and intended it to be an alternative for the current generation of Bluetooth technology. Wibree requires only a tenth of the energy consumed by its counterparts, and was developed for short distance communication between two devices, like say a Bluetooth headset and a mobile phone. And recently, a company called CSR demoed a new device powered by Wibree at a medical conference in Luxembourg.

What exactly did CSR demonstrate? Well, for one, they demoed an “ultra-low-power” version of the Bluetooth system required in pairing a BT headset and a mobile phone, claiming that their device can run up to 10 years on one button cell battery. Now while this is certainly not the first time that we’ve heard of something that last for years without charging, it’s hard to say something developed by Nokia would be bogus or unreliable.

Still, it would be interesting to see this technology developed in its full potential, since the current generation of BT headset’s batteries could really use a boost. Maybe we may even see the day of disposable BT headsets. That’s worth a try.

Via [Crave]

An eBay auction for four limited edition HTC Touch handsets is currently in the works, with the lowest bid positioned at a measly 1.05 Singapore dollars ($0.78 US) and the highest bid at a still fairly cheap 151 Singapore dollars ($111.49 US). Proceeds from the sales of these four unique handsets will go straight to the bank of the Children’s Cancer Foundation, which is proof that HTC knows the right way to fairly share its blessings.

Other than being helpful to cancer patients and adding publicity to its HTC Touch handset line, I can’t find any other reason why HTC might want to do something like this? Looking to attract more fashionable users? That could be a good theory. But maybe they just want to show the world that they’re not really all business, all the time. The HTC also knows how to play, and has a bright side. Which is a good sign that the company is currently in good times.

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LG Korea has announced a shiny new Black mobile phone which is expected to be released under its Black Label Series of handsets. The new LG phone, which is still without a name, is a slim slider style phone and could probably be a follow up to the LG Chocolate or LG Shine, or perhaps even a new model of its own. There’s not too many details on the LG announcement about the new phone except the press image and a mention that it will have a 5-megapixel camera. In addition, the new LG phone would also sport a carbon fiber and tampered glass body finish.

The new LG phone is slated for worldwide release on April 24th. Until then, we could only guess as to how LG is going to name this new handset.

Via [I4U] Via [LG Korea]

Motorolais joining the Zoom club as the first mobile device manufacturer to offer its products to consumers via robotic retail stores vending machines.

These robotic stores will be branded “INSTANTMOTO”, and are expected to be deployed in approximately 20 locations nationwide from airports to malls by November 2006. The stores will house more than 25 Motorola products including carrier-ready MOTORAZR handsets, Bluetooth headsets, cordless phones, car chargers and more. Currently these vending systems are in the San Francisco International Airport and Macy’s on State Street, in addition to more locations across the country.

Motorola is testing this new automated vending format as a way to directly connect with consumers in places and at times where convenience is needed most. Now tell me, when do you all of a sudden just need a cellphone?

What The Future Holds, a column that introduces tomorrow technology and trends today, is written every Thursday. This week’s submission was written jointly by Adam Berger and Mickey Katz.

It happens every four years and it’s bigger then your anniversary, kids birthday, and even your worth missing the next month of work. Yeah so what you’ll get fired, lose your wife and your kids will disown you but at least you wont miss Ronaldo, Zidane, or Ronaldinho. Ladies and gentlemen the 2006 World Cup used to be an excuse to miss out on all of the real important things in life. Alas, call your kids take your wife out and show up to work on Monday in your finest suit, because thanks to Texas Instruments, your mobile phone and your cellphone provider you can watch every goal on your personal devices.

Prior to Pepcom’s Digital Experience we had the opportunity to sit down with Yoram Solomon, James Hymel, and Tracy Wright from Texas Instruments. They were showcasing DVB-H (digital video broadcast for handheld devices), the next wave of video content delivered directly to your cellphone, Smartphone, or other mobile device. The DVB-H chip is much smaller than a dime and (in my non-technical opinion) can easily fit onto the circuit board of most current handsets. The cost of the component is a mere $10 (or less in large quantities). The chip enables the delivery of video broadcasts, audio broadcasts (Sirius and XM), terrestrial radio, and data (i.e. a channel program guide, much like your home TV).

Read on to learn how this technology is different than current cellphone video offerings, what effect it will have on your battery life, and why you need it.

You may ask what makes this different than Verizon’s V-Cast or another cellphone video service? Broadcasting reduces the costs to the customer as well as to the provider and is available for all phones (mid to high level phones or 60% of available handsets).

I know, “This won’t work because my phone battery already dies on me, and now I’m adding video,” not true. The video or audio broadcast itself will not decrease your battery life, the LCD backlight is the real culprit. So whether you are watching streaming video or downloaded clips the battery faces the same issue. Though the Nokia N92 currently can deliver > 4 hour of battery while running constant video. And the audio? Well that does not change; if the speaker is on or if a Bluetooth headset is connected it uses the same power consumption.

The key is for the video broadcast to be on the same schedule as your home TV, so you can go from the couch, to the car, to the bleachers, and back to your home all on the same channel and program. Additionally, by around 2010 with the increase of memory on phones, you now have a mobile TiVo allowing you to view live content, record content, remotely set programs to record, and watch video recorded on your home DVR on your phone.

Don’t miss your American wannabe turn into the next American Idol because of Dinner plans, or don’t miss pinning the tail on the donkey at your kids’ party because you’re checking the stocks on CNN money. As the saying goes your free as the wind blows just as long as you’ve got one of tech’s next best gets later this year in select cities and nationwide in 2007.