Motorola’s U9 clamshell handset was announced last autumn, but at long last, it is finally available in an unlocked format at Motorola’s online store. This GSM handset is compatible with either T-Mobile or AT&T, and will come in graphite and bright pink colors. The glossy finish is a surefire way to attract fingerprints, and you will get standard features (by today’s standards) such as stereo Bluetooth connectivity, a microSD memory card slot, Moto’s Crystal Talk technology, a 2-megapixel camera, an mp3 player, and quadband GSM world phone support. The Motorola U9 will retail for $275.99.

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Pentax is going to release its newest Optio M60 digital camera — starting from next month for €110. Regarding specs, the camera sports a 10 megapixel CCD sensor, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, a 5x optical zoom lens. 36.5MB of internal storage, SD / SDHC card slot, digital SR mode, and can achieve ISO 6400. The Optio M60 will be available in three different flavor — Silver, Pink, and Blue colors.
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It’s no secret that Apple has been having some problems with their iPhone 3G and MobileMe launch, so it’s not a huge surprise to see another issue come up. There are reports around the web of the plastic shells on the back of the new crop of iPhones beginning to crack. This may be happening on a small number of devices, but for a product as high profile as the iPhone this could be a serious problem. Additionally these phones are just a few weeks old so it could mean larger issues in the future.

At this stage its impossible to tell if this is happening to a few individuals or if it’s a wider spread problem, but the former is more likely given how much testing Apple must have done before choosing that plastic shell. Even so, we’ve seen issues before, like easy-to-scratch ipod displays, and no company is immune from problems like this one. USA Today has an piece on the new iPhone with some quotes from analyst Rob Enderle who compares the new iphone to Windows Vista and says, like Vista, it feels rushed to market.

More reading is available at MacRumors, Apple, and Engadget Mobile

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An eye for all seasons, that’s what I would term the Mobotix Q22 security camera. It touts to deliver a full 360-degrees of vision, thanks to a hemispheric lens that does away with the need for moving parts. It is powered by Power over Ethernet (PoE) and is accompanied by an integrated speaker and microphone combo, enabling users to carry out two-way communications when required. Other features include a resolution count of 3.1 megapixels, compatibility with a range of CCTV management platforms, and Mobotix’s very own MxControlCenter video management software. It will come in basic and premium models, retailing for €498 and €648, respectively.

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Alienware is first off the blocks to offer the recently released NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M graphics card in their current m15x notebook, bringing graphical performance on a 15.4″ notebook to an entirely different level. This is the first notebook of its kind in the market to boast such graphical firepower, and Alienware has plans to make the Quadro FX 3600M available on the Area-51 m17x sometime down the road, catering to folks who require processional-class solutions on-the-go. Don’t ask about price - it won’t come cheap.

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by Nilay Patel, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 1:17AM
DeviceVM’s SplashTop “instant-on” OS is based on Linux, even though it’s locked down to only run IM, Skype, media software, and Firefox, and you know what that means — it’s already been hacked wide open. Yep, the clever kids at the Phoronix forums have managed to open up the BIOS-based OS and make it do all kinds of tricks, including run other programs and boot other machines off a flash drive. The hacks are still a little complex, but with ASUS shipping tons of ExpressGate-enabled mobos and laptops and HP’s support in the Voodoo Envy 133, we’d there’s a one-click unlocker in the wild fairly soon. Anyone brave enough to install it on their machines?

[Thanks, george85]

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Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

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You might be puzzled over the question of the reason behind creating spectacles for the blind; the reason is that it is a special pair of spectacles, meant for the visually impaired. Just like the handheld wireless sensor design which can take the place of a cane or walking stick by identifying nearby objects and emitting an audio signal to notify its user about them. The spectacles patent filed would not only aim to detect objects, but to identify which ones are stationary and which are not. The spectacles will be fitted with a camera and accelerometer, connected to a computer that determines whether an object is moving or not, relaying that information to the wearer through audio signals. Sounds like a variant of echo-location.

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Targus has announced the first in their line of checkpoint-friendly laptop cases, the Zip-Tru that eliminates the need to remove your laptop from its case (and preventing your laptop from getting scratched) in order to speed your way through airport security. The Zip-Tru 15.4-inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case, weighing 3.74 pounds, measuring 16.9″ x 6.5″ x 13.9″ offers the SafePort Air Cushion System that protects the laptop inside in the event it is dropped or bumped. The Zip-Tru will be available in black made of durable ballistic 1680 denier nylon, priced at $99.99 and will be made available in October through resellers and Targus.com.

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There are speculations around that says Apple will be transforming their new nano into a mini iPod touch, with a smaller screen. Apparently, the whole nano upgrade for this year will be moving in a different direction. Several sources revealed that it will look like a Zune. Some changes to the new nano include a similar 1.5:1 widescreen aspect ratio as the iphone and ipod touch. The reason being was to have a bigger screen while preserving the prior model’s usability. Rumors also have it that the nano won’t come with a multi-colored body, retaining the usual single colored anodized aluminum frame. Obviously, we’ll have to wait for Apple to know the real story when they announce the revamped nano later this year. The image above is obviously meant for illustrative purposes only.

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An EA rep mentioned that the company plans to market pre-built PCs in conjunction with the release of Crytek’s Crysis Warhead. The idea here is to reassure gamers new to high-end PCs or those who have been out of the scene for some time that it is not going to cost them an arm and a leg to acquire a machine that can tame something like Crysis and its follow-up. Apparently, the rigs will come in different configurations meant to correspond with Crysis warhead’s graphic levels. The likely price range being $600-$800, the idea that EA has, naming their PCs according to games like Crysis Warhead, Battle Forge and Warhammer Online tells a gamer that the PCs are built to play those games, and if it plays Crysis, it’ll probably play anything else you can think of.

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