Buy Palm Pixi as of November 15th, 2009
Palm Pixi Release Date Announced
The wait is almost over for gadget buffs eager to get their hands on the latest cell phone technology, as the Palm Pixi finally launches in the US.
Released on November 15th, the follow up to the popular Palm Pre will be available for $99.99 on a two-year subscription deal with 3G network provider Sprint.
The next-gen phone can be purchased from Sprint stores as well as selected retailers including Radio Shack, Best Buy and Wal-Mart.
A host of applications come with the Pixi, including Palm Services which allow users to delete data remotely should the handset be lost or stolen, ensuring confidential information is secure at all times.
The phone will also benefit from being compatible with real websites and will support a host of new applications through the webos platform.
Those in the UK wait with bated breath as Palm is yet to confirm a European release date for the highly sought after phones.
They may be waiting a while as the last model wasn't released in the UK until four months after the US launch date. Read More»
US Consumers Want One Mobile Device, Research Shows
Nearly half of US gadget lovers are looking for a single device which can cater for all their needs, a new study has shown.
A survey by Data Development Worldwide (DDW) showed that 40 per cent of American consumers would prefer to access all of their digital requirements via one product.
DDW's research, which questioned US consumers who were likely to purchase a mobile device during the next three months, showed that smartphones and ultra light laptops ranked highest in people's wish lists.
Full-sized laptops, GPS devices and netbook computers made up the rest of the top five.
Although respondents said they wanted versatility from their next buy, satisfactory performance and an affordable price were other important factors in influencing their choice.
Chip Lister, managing director of DDW, said that the product which will dominate the market will have "the right mix of capabilities delivered at the right price".
The study showed that Apple's iPhone 3GS was the best example of a product offering these services.
Features include GPS navigation, a personal music player, mobile email and a touchscreen.
A study by market research firm Gartner predicts that the number of consumers using phones for location-based services across the world is expected to double during 2009. Read More»
Palm Pre Proving Popular in US
Palm Pre, a new smartphone which was launched in the US a month ago, is proving popular with consumers.
Michael Walkley, analyst at Piper Jaffray's, said that wireless carriers are encouraging users to opt for the Palm Pre or iPhone over the BlackBerry.
He said that sales of the BlackBerry sales declined in June at the AT&T and Sprint outlets because of increasing competition in the smartphone sector with Research in Motion's devices losing out to the Palm Pre.
Mobile-phones.co.uk said that Palm Pre should appeal to business clients and personal digital assistant users who want 'a more robust typing solution for emails and messaging' than offered by the iPhone or BlackBerry devices.
The camera flash is a feature which the other gadgets do not have, the website added.
According to Palm Pre, the phone is expected to be released in the UK and the rest of the world before Christmas.
Features on the new device include the slide out QWERTY keyboard, integrated GPS, a 3.1 inch touchscreen with a vibrant 24-bit color 320x480 resolution HVGA display.
The device also has a three-megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth of field. Read More»
Man Wall launched in the US
A new home entertainment unit designed to fulfil the needs of American men has been launched.
The Man Wall has been created by Hybrid Space, a company from Florida specialising in futuristic furnishings.
Described by the firm as the "Taj Mahal of man room accessories", the unit includes a full-size built-in beer keg complete with fridge and tap, four television sets, a microwave, cigar humidors, a five speaker stereo system, iPod dock and wine rack.
The designers claim that the product, which retails for nearly $15,000 plus shipping, is aimed at the consumer who does not have time to build his own man room and instead wants "instant gratification".
Even though the unit crams in so many essentials, it is compact enough to fit in a room with limited space, the company explained.
For the man who wants that little bit more masculinity in his wall, a custom division is on hand to add any extras from a extra televisions and beer kegs to having a fireplace installed.
Other products from Hyprid Space include the Octodesk and Multimedia Fireplace. Read More»
Fathers Left Waiting by the Phone
Fathers are among the least likely people to receive a call from their offspring, according to research conducted by Saga.
The financial services provider to the over-50s notes that 97 per cent of people do not regularly speak to their father over the phone.
And nobody at all in Saga's survey said they regularly call their grandparents.
Instead, work colleagues were more likely to hear their telephone ring, with one per cent of respondents saying they regularly put in a call to their workmates.
Sons fare somewhat better in terms of keeping in touch, with 21 per cent of parents likely to call their offspring of either gender.
The same proportion of grown-up children said that they regularly give their mother a call, singling out fathers as the forgotten relatives.
Regardless of age - whether over or under 50 years - seven per cent of those surveyed said they prefer to call their best friend than one of their relatives.
Those making the calls do not need big news, as one in four pick up the phone simply to talk about what they have done that day.
Many older people could be happy to have a day without the phone ringing, as Saga previously revealed that three-quarters of pensioners choose where to live based on a desire for some peace and quiet. Read More»
Toys For the Boys – Robot Mowers
One company is looking to make gardening a little easier, without ruining the environment.
Southern RobotX has devised a range of remote-controlled robotic lawnmowers which operate on eco-friendly hybrid power.
The robotic grass-cutters use a gas-powered engine, with a battery which is charged up as the mower moves around the lawn.
By discharging this battery, the engine can be assisted using energy that might otherwise be lost - resulting in a 40 per cent saving compared with ride-on mowers.
A more modest saving is also made against push-along residential devices, but Southern RobotX claims its products still rank as the most eco-friendly overall.
The units are designed to cope with extreme mowing conditions, with rubber tracks allowing them to grip on surfaces at inclinations of up to 70 degrees.
With the commercial SRX22T model, the company claims this makes a one-man job out of a process that would previously have required "a bunch of men".
Enthusiastic homeowners - who may have physical disabilities which prevent them from caring for their lawn - are told that they too can benefit from the ease of use that the remote-controlled robotic mowers offer.
While the manufacturer notes that there is a risk of crossed signals due to interference from other nearby remote controls, it claims that the chances of that happening are some millions to one. Read More»