February 07, 2006, 5:27 PM PST
Mobile ESPN starts service
Posted by: Kent German

Just a day after the Super Bowl, new MVNO Mobile ESPN officially started service. The carrier's first handset is the Sanyo MVP, a made-over Sanyo MM-5600. The eye-catching red-and-black flip phone offers a generous selection of 3G-capable multimedia features, including access to ESPN sports programming and news. Other features include an MP3 and AAC player, a 1.3-megapixel camera with flash and video, support for direct photo printing, a Mini SD card slot, a speakerphone, messaging, gaming, and a wireless Web browser. The phone is $199, and service plans start at $34.99 per month.

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February 07, 2006, 4:22 PM PST
Dude, you're gettin' Google!
Posted by: Molly Wood

In its search incarnation, Google is reportedly working with Dell to start preinstalling its Toolbar and Desktop Search and a custom home page on every new Dell. Their proposed three-year partnership could cost Google about $1 billion, so you know it's about more than just convenience for you.

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February 07, 2006, 4:17 PM PST
Google: it's just like home
Posted by: Molly Wood

Want to find something online? Use Google. Find something on your desktop? Google. Get directions? Google it up. E-mail your pals? Google-doodle-do. Chat with said pals? Google-roonie. Chat with your pals even as you're e-mailing them?! That's Google's latest trick--and it's just so...tidy!

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February 07, 2006, 4:13 PM PST
Jens of Sweden MP-500
Posted by: Jasmine France

After Jens of Sweden filed for bankruptcy last year, we figured the company would be exiting the ultracompetitive MP3 player market for good. We were wrong. And frankly, I'm glad we were, because the company's latest flash offering is not only gorgeous but also seems perfectly poised to knock the iPod Nano off its high horse. The MP-500 is actually quite Nano-esque, though it packs in quite a few more features--and costs several dollars more. The black version is available in 1GB ($189.70) and 2GB ($242.54) capacities, while the Excentrique version can be had for $274.24 (2GB only). I couldn't find any info on whether this gold version had any carats--such as the 24-carat, $1,100 MP-400--but my guess is no, as it's not much pricier than the black version. Despite the MP-500's glistening, seemingly delicate exterior, Jens of Sweden asserts that the player is scratchproof. Also nothing to scoff at is the player's sleek and compact casing. At 3.2 by 1.6 by 0.5 inches and 1.8 ounces, the MP-500 is slightly shorter and thicker than the Nano, as well as a hair heavier. It's definitely pocket-friendly.

Beneath its rather eye-catching 1.6-inch screen, which is capable of displaying 260,000 colors, the MP-500 has what looks to be some intuitive, touch-sensitive controls. Play/pause, menu, and record keys sit above a five-way control pad, and there appears to be a hold switch and stereo speakers on the sides. The MP-500 isn't lacking in the features department either. It supports MP3, WMA, and OGG audio files, as well as MP4 video files. Jens even throws in a video transcoder for converting WMV, AVI, ASF, MPG, and MPEG files. The player also includes an FM tuner, an image and text viewer, and voice and line-in recording. Plus, it can act as a USB host so that you can save data directly from other USB devices, such as digital cameras. Finally--and this is really the icing for me--the MP-500 works with Windows, Linux, and Mac. Sweet.

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February 07, 2006, 10:04 AM PST
The new 1GB Apple iPod Nano
Posted by: James Kim

For $149, you get a 1GB version of the popular and scratch-prone iPod Nano (also available in 2GB and 4GB). Black or white, photo-friendly color screen, Audible support...everything else is the same. Apple had to and could easily fill that $149 void since many people consider $200 too much for an MP3 player, regardless of storage capacity. Prices on the screenless iPod Shuffle were pushed down from $129 to $99 for the 1GB version and from $99 to $69 for the 512MB version. There truly is a price point for everyone! (Not to mention Dell's $99 512MB DJ Ditty, which ain't looking too good right now, though it does have a screen.) I believe the Shuffle will stick around because of its built-in USB utility--maybe as a $50 1GB model someday. Most interesting is the fact that this 1GB iPod Nano came unannounced and way under the radar, though rumours have circulated about it.

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February 07, 2006, 9:55 AM PST
New iPod Nano even more nano
Posted by: Molly Wood

Surprise! Even without a rumored "special event," Apple's still churning out new iPods. Sort of. The long-rumored 1GB iPod Nano turned up at the Apple Store today, with a price of $149. The big surprise? Guess what you can still find at the Apple store today: the Shuffle--although it's cheaper. And by "cheaper," I mean "almost dead."

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February 07, 2006, 9:31 AM PST
MadCatz's motion games
Posted by: Will Greenwald

MadCatz stopped by our offices today to give us a preview of its new motion-based controller system. The GameTrak is a device that tracks movement with two retracting tethers mounted on analog sticks. These tethers clip to players' hands (using the included velcro gloves) and track hand movement in three dimensions. MadCatz claims that the GameTrak is sensitive to a millimeter, and even if we can't go quite that far, the control is surprisingly sensitive; the version we had a chance to play with was surprisingly fun, and the tethered design isn't nearly as cumbersome as it sounds. The first title for GameTrak will be Real World Golf, a golfing simulator that lets players swing clubs as if they were on the course themselves. GameTrak with Real World Golf will be released for the PS2, the Xbox, and the PC on April 11 and will cost about $70. MadCatz is planning to release several games for GameTrak in the next year, with possibilities for baseball, boxing, and even sword-fighting simulators.

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February 07, 2006, 9:23 AM PST
Toshiba refreshes its business laptop line
Posted by: Michelle Thatcher

This morning, Toshiba began selling four new iterations of its business laptop models.

The $1,149 Tecra A6 will replace the Tecra A5, upgrading the thin-and-light with a 1.6GHz Intel Core Solo processor; 512MB of 533MHz RAM; and a 60GB, 5,400rpm hard drive.

The Tecra A7 updates the A4 model with a choice of 1.6GHz Core Solo or 1.83GHz Core Duo processors; integrated Intel or discrete Nvidia graphics; up to 512MB of 533MHz RAM; and an 80GB, 5,400rpm hard drive. Pricing starts at $1,199.

The $1,699 Tecra M5, which will replace the M3, includes a 1.8GHz Intel Core Duo processor; an Nvidia Quadro NVS 110M graphics card with 128MB of VRAM; 512MB of superfast, 667MHz RAM; and a 100GB, 5,400rpm hard drive.

Finally, the Portege M400 tablet, which starts at $1,699, updates the M200 model with a 1.6GHz Intel Core Solo processor; 512MB of 667MHz RAM; and an 80GB, 5,400rpm hard drive.

In keeping with their business bent, all of the new laptops incorporate EasyGuard, Toshiba's suite of security, connectivity, and customization tools, which includes a Trusted Platform Module (link goes to PDF file), hard drive disk protection, and optional fingerprint reader protection.

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February 07, 2006, 7:44 AM PST
Liquid lenses
Posted by: Will Greenwald

According to Varoptic, liquid lenses are now ready to be used in camera phones. The company's Arctic 320 lens can both zoom and autofocus without any moving parts. Instead of being mechanically driven, the focal distance is changed by running a current through a suspended liquid between the lenses. These lenses will probably be first seen in camera phones, but point-and-shoot cameras won't be far behind. A zooming, autofocusing lens with no moving parts can add a great deal of resilience and take away a lot of weight from compact cameras.

[Source: PhoneScoop via Gizmodo]

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February 07, 2006, 7:16 AM PST
Better than a bouquet
Posted by: Will Greenwald

Pentax has just released limited red and blue versions of its waterproof Optio WPi digital camera, "just in time for Valentine's Day." These special editions of this 6-megapixel point-and-shoot camera are available only though H2O Camera, a site that conveniently sells only Pentax Optio WPi cameras and accessories, for $350. It's a nice alternative to flowers and chocolates, at least.

[Source: MobileMag via Gizmodo]

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