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November 12, 2005

Neo iON for iPods in Cars

Neo iON.jpgWhat it is?
The Neo iON is a nano iPod and Apple iPod car adapter that provides a direct connect to most factory and aftermarket car stereos. When the adaptor is connected your car stereo buttons will control the iPod, the iPod battery will charge, and the sound will play from your car stereo speakers. This is the best iPod car adapter kit available on the market.

Features
Compatible with Apple iPod 3rd Generation, 4th Generation, iPod Photo, and nano iPod MP3 Player.
Works with most vehicles – plugs directly into the CD changer port.

The Video iPod car kit includes a 11.5' (3.5M) cable that plugs directly into your iPod or nano. The other side of this cable plugs into the CD changer port on the back of your car stereo – there is no FM modulation.

Once the cable is plugged in your car will charge and power your iPod, as well as control it (Next/Previous track, FF/RW) using your car stereos existing buttons (steering wheel controls if you have them).

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Posted by gizmoFan at 10:53 AM

November 10, 2005

iLoad for iPods?

iLoad.jpgThank heavens for other bloggers, because strictly based on the website we’d have no idea what the deal is with a bit of vaporware tech known as the iLoad. Luckily for us, the whizzes over at Tech Ticker were able to decipher the sole photo on the site and determine that the iLoad is used for ripping CDs (compact discs: the medium of choice after cassette tapes and before MP3s) and transferring the contents directly onto an iPod. We heard somewhere that a computer is also capable of this amazing feat, but who are we to knock a product that simplifies the process and makes it portable? Along with the lack of specs is, of course, a lack of price, but that info should be available in no time as the manufacturer promises that the iLoad will be “Loading Soon!”

Posted by gizmoFan at 10:33 PM

Funtwist D-Chord 800 Bluetooth Audio Player

Funtwist D-Chord 800 Bluetooth audio player.jpgThe Funtwist D-Chord 800 audio player isn’t going to win any awards for its attractive, but totally derivative design, which includes a white case, nav wheel and 128x64 two-color OLED display. Basic functionality adheres to the me-too school, as well, with MP3, WMA, FM and line-in, and capacities of up to 1GB. But what makes this player worth a second look is its use of SigmaTel’s STMP3510 System on a Chip, which, in addition to providing the basic audio functions, adds Bluetooth capabilities. Given the competitive nature of second-tier DAP-makers, chances are SigmaTel’s going to sell a lot of these chips, meaning we may well see Bluetooth becoming standard on small, cheap, flash players in the very near future.

Posted by gizmoFan at 9:39 PM

Gamepark´s GP2X Linux PMP

Gamepark´s GP2X Linux PMP.jpgYou remember the GP2X right? That Linux-powered, game centric PMP with a 3.5-inch 320 x 240 display, the usual smattering of audio and video format capabilities, and support already developed for Quake, Doom, SNES, and MAME? We knew you would. Well they started accepting pre-orders back in September, but they’ve finally started shipping the little guy for £124.99 in Europe and $189.99 everywhere else. They’re a little backlogged right now, but that just means more homebrew apps for you when it actually arrives.

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Posted by gizmoFan at 8:37 PM | Comments (1)

Interactive Bracelet

Interactive Bracelet.jpgThe Embrace interactive bracelet doesn’t exist yet, but it already has a fan base, thanks to the fact that the designer had the foresight to blog the entire creative process. The bracelet, a concept developed by student Lisa Thomas, “has an alternating rhythmic form that enables it to nest within its matching reversed form.” Too esoteric? Yeah, well, it’s basically a bracelet with a thin LCD display, tiny digital camera and embedded Bluetooth, that can be hooked to other bracelets, allowing wearers to “share experiences.” More interesting than the actual bracelet, however, is the whole creative process, which includes everything from focus groups to storyboarding to mockups. Will it ever be manufactured? Probably not in the near future, but we’d be happy to check it out once there’s a working prototype.

Posted by gizmoFan at 8:25 PM

Topfield TF5800 PVR

Topfield TF5800 PVR.jpgThe Topfield TF5800PVR is a twin-tuner Freeview PVR that has some unique capabilities that make it stand out from the competition. It has 2 Common Interfaces that allow you to plug in a cards for Top Up TV and other services that may become available. Whereas most PVRs are a closed piece of consumer electronics, the Topfield has been designed to allow the user to connect it up to a PC or Mac and copy the video files off, download MP3s onto it for playback and add software modules developed by Topfield and the user community to enhance it's functionality.

Posted by gizmoFan at 9:06 AM

Designer PVRs

sky_designer_boxes.jpgSky has unveiled a new range of Sky+ boxes that could become collectors' items in years to come.

The digital satellite broadcaster commissioned acclaimed designer and football fan Wayne Hemingway to produce a series of Sky+ boxes celebrating the top-scoring Premiership clubs of all time: Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Hemingway said: "The 2005 Sky+ Football Collection is sure to have football fans rushing from the match to the shops."

Meanwhile, four leading fashion and interior designers have come up with their Sky+ designs: accessories designer Lulu Guinness; luxury wallpaper designer Cole & Son; fabric and wallpaper specialists Osborne & Little; and wallpaper and paint experts Farrow & Ball.

The limited edition football and designer Sky+ boxes go on sale in John Lewis stores nationwide from early November 2005. No doubt some will make their way to eBay soon after that.


Posted by gizmoFan at 8:52 AM

November 9, 2005

DigiFusion FVRT100

fusionfvrt100.jpgFeatures: Personal Video Recorder (PVR)... Record programmes in digital quality without videotapes. Record up to 40 hours of TV onto hard-disk. Twin tuner, watch one digital channel while recording another, or record two channels simultaneously whilst watching a previous recording. Pause and rewind live TV. Has a unique 7 day electronic programme guide.

Outputs: 2 x SCART, RF loopthrough

More info at Tech Digest

Posted by gizmoFan at 5:59 PM

Archos Gmini 500 Pocket Multimedia Center

Archos Gmini500.jpgARCHOS presents its latest Pocket Multimedia Center allowing you to download all your movies, home video or recorded shows from your PC, store up to 160 hours of video or 400,000 photos and watch them on a 4" color screen on the go. The Gmini 500 offers all the digital entertainment you may expect form a Pocket Multimedia Center!


Play Video
Download videos from your PC using the high-speed USB 2.0 interface. Store up to 160 hours of video. Play MPEG-4 and WMV3, including protected WMV3 files. Play back on the 4" LCD or any external screen.

Photo wallet
Transfer photos directly from your digital camera3 or from another mass storage device using the built-in USB host connection, or from a computer using the high-speed USB 2.0 interface. Store up to up to 400,000 photos. Organize photos in easy thumbnail or slideshow views, and watch them on the Gmini 500 screen or any external display.

Connectivity
The Gmini 500 has a USB Host Port enabling you to copy, share, connect and transfer files directly from other powered mass storage devices such as digital cameras, card readers, USB keys, and powered portable hard drives. Play back directly any compatible contents on the external hard drive connected to your Gmini 500 (no data transfer needed). The Gmini 500 also features a high-speed USB 2.0 interface to connect your device to your PC or Mac and easily transfer contents. Additionnally, the TV output will allow you to enjoy photos and movies on any external screen.

Music Player
Easily transfer songs from your PC and organize them with the enhanced ARCLibrary. Store up to 20,000 songs in the most used format such as MP3, WMA, WAV and protected WMA (PlaysForSure™ files). Customize your view by artist, album, type of music, title, year, and create play lists without having to use a computer. The Gmini 500 also offers an audio recording application to record (encoding in real time) in WAV (PCM or ADPCM), from almost all analog stereo sources. You can also use the stereo microphone if you wish to record notes to yourself for easy access later.

PC autosync
Using the high-speed USB 2.0 interface, the Gmini 500 will easily auto-synchronize this content with Windows Media® Player 10 each time you connect it to your PC, or convert your Windows Media® Player 10 library content to one of the many compatible formats (MP3, WMA, WAV, protected WMA, MPEG-42, WMV3 and protected Windows Media® Video3).

Posted by gizmoFan at 12:32 PM