Nokia Booklet 3G Video

Are you impressed with the Nokia Booklet 3G? I’m not.

Source – Nokia Conversations, Mobile Gazette

First Look – Lenovo IdeaPad S10

Lenovo announced yesterday that it is entering the “netbook” PC market with the new IdeaPad S10 netbook PC.

The 10.2-inch screen IdeaPad S10 netbook comes in flavors of classic white and bold black as well as a glossy ruby red. For a comfortable, more natural computing experience, Lenovo designed the keyboard to be 85 percent of the size of a full-function notebook PC’s keyboard, and an energy-efficient LED backlit display helps provide longer battery life than traditional displays.

For easy connection to the Internet, the IdeaPad S10 netbook includes WiFi and also has an Express Card slot so users can enable the IdeaPad S10 for optional high speed mobile broadband connectivity. To optimize the social networking experience, the IdeaPad S10 comes with tools such as a built-in web camera for video messaging, and its two USB ports and a 4-in-1 multicard reader make connecting other devices and transferring photos, music and videos simple. The IdeaPad S10 netbook comes equipped with Microsoft Windows XP.

Using the Intel® Atom™ processor, the IdeaPad S10 netbook provides basic notebook functionality as a user’s secondary PC. Lenovo offers the IdeaPad S10 in two configurations, with one having 512 MB of memory and an 80 GB hard drive and the second configuration having 1 GB of memory and a 160 GB hard drive. The processing performance and storage make the IdeaPad S10 ideal for accommodating a variety of data, from a user’s digital music inventory to a student’s homework assignments and more. Lenovo engineered the IdeaPad S10 netbook to reduce the heat emitted on key contact areas such as the bottom of the PC, the palm rest and the keyboard. Additionally, Lenovo’s OneKey™ Rescue System helps users recover data at the touch of a button should a system error or virus occur.

Pricing and Availability

The IdeaPad S10 netbook PC will be available beginning in early October, and prices start at US$399. The IdeaPad S10 netbook will be available through leading retailers, Lenovo business partners and www.lenovo.com.

Source – Press Release from Lenovo via Business Wire

Infinxx icombi AP23 is Out in Hong Kong

Somehow just forgot to do an update on the Infinxx icombi AP23 when I saw it at Tomato Mobile a week or so ago.  Remember that I always mention the icombi AP21 which I used with my iPhone, iPod Touch & iPhone 3G as a Bluetooth dongle for A2DP (see old post, Finally Got My iPhone setup with Bluetooth Stereo Headphones (for both music and call)), well, the updated AP23 is now available in Hong Kong for HK$380 (US$49).  The new version, according to other users pairs up with Bluetooth headsets more swiftly and less dropping in connections were noticed.  Check it out, should be in most of the stores around town if you want the perfect Bluetooth dongle for your iPhone or iPod.

Jabra BT4010 Launched

Jabra BT4010 (pic from phonearena.com)

GN yesterday announced the launch of the Jabra BT4010 which features a ‘smart display’. The Jabra BT4010 is the only headset that empowers you to check battery level , connection status and call status with just one glance.  It’s ideal for people on the go, who don’t want towaste time scrolling through endless menus, but who want a cost effective headset that allows them to enjoy uncomplicated, handsfree communication.

The Jabra BT4010 ‘smart display’, which is a highly visible LCD screen, is modeled on that of a mobile phone and ushers in a new level of usability for Bluetooth headsets. You no longer have to guess or interpret flashing lights to understand your battery level, connection and call status. All this information is available by simply checking out the display.  This intuitive approach to Bluetooth, makes life less complicated and ensures that you will never lose another call again.

The Jabra BT4010 is small in size but big on design and user friendliness. It boasts up to six hours of talk time and weighs less than 10g.  With auto-pairing and crystal clear sound thanks to e-SCO technology, the BT4010 can be up and running within a matter of seconds, enabling you to chat to friends and colleagues and stay in contact all day, every day.

The Jabra BT4010 can be worn with or without an earhook and comes with a selection of two hooks for added comfort.  The BT4010 is now available and priced at HK$338.

Key Specifications of the Jabra BT4010 -

• Innovative, iconic Smart Display;
• e-SCO improves voice transfer from headset to phone;
• Auto-pairing;
• Up to 6 hours talk time;
• 150 hours standby time;
• 2 earhook sizes provided for added comfort;
• Size: L 49 mm x W 17 mm x D 28 mm;
• 10 grams;
• Qualified for Bluetooth Specification version 2.0 + EDR (enhanced data rate); and
• Micro USB Charger Connection

Lifestyle HK – Great Bluetooth Bracelet Buzz

My new entry over at Lifestyle Hong Kong is up. This week’s entry, “Great Bluetooth Bracelet Buzz”. Click here for the read.

Lifestyle HK – The Road Warrior – Celio Redfly

My new entry over at Lifestyle Hong Kong is up. This week’s entry, “The Road Warrior – Celio Redfly”. Click here for the read.

Lifestyle HK – The New Definition to Bluetooth Headset – Jawbone2

My new entry over at Lifestyle Hong Kong is up. This week’s entry, “The New Definition to Bluetooth Headset – Jawbone2″. Click here for the read.

New iPhone Cradle for Mercedes-Benz

With the release of the new iPhone 3G around the corner, what’s better than having your dream phone fully integrated with your dream car.  Last Thursday, Mercedes-Benz (MB) announced the new generation of their integrated iPhone cradle.

“Whether it be a quick call to a business colleague for an important discussion, listening to favourite music tracks or checking home and office e-mails whilst on the move – the Apple iPhone® is a leading-edge business tool with multimedia capability, available in Germany and other markets. Now Mercedes-Benz allows the iPhone® connection to be fully integrated into the vehicle architecture for the first time – once again pointing the way ahead for the automotive industry. The new Apple iPhone® cradle allows simple switching between the telephone and audio functions. What’s more, thanks to the location of the cradle in the centre console, the iPhone® is within easy reach of both the driver and the front passenger. For ease of use, the iPhone® is controlled via the multifunction steering wheel, while the vehicle display is used to indicate the phone status or music functions and information such as the track title and artist.” ~ extracted from MB’s press release on 19 June 2008.

According to MB, the fully integrated iPhone® is available now for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E‑Class, CLK-Class, CLS-Class, S-Class, CL-Class, SL-Class, M-Class and R-Class. The product will also be offered for the new GLK-Class when this model is launched in October. In Germany, the Apple iPhone® cradle retails at € 249 (including VAT) and is obtainable from all Mercedes-Benz dealers.

Source – Mercedes-Benz

Microsoft Origami Experience 2.0 Ready for Download

Pic from Gizmodo

[15 June] The Microsoft Origami Experience 2.0 for UMPC is finally here for you to download.

Microsoft Origami Experience 2.0 contains these four programs for an ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) running Windows Vista:

• Origami Central
  Central gives you instant access to all your media, programs, and the Internet, with the touch of a finger.
• Origami Now
  Now gives you one-touch access to the most important information at any given time and place.
• Origami Picture Password
  With a Picture Password, you can log on to Windows and unlock your computer by tapping a sequence of targets on a picture, instead of typing a password.
• Touch Settings
  Touch Settings combines several settings in Windows Vista into one place to make it easier to customize a touch screen.

Requirements -

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista Business; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Home Premium; Windows Vista Ultimate
• Minimum 100 MB of available hard disk space
• Minimum 1 GB of system memory
• Touch panel display (required for Origami Picture Password)

The UMPC must have the following software installed: -

• Windows Internet Explorer 7. Origami Experience 2.0 requires Internet Explorer 7 for its RSS platform.
• Windows Media Player 11. Origami Central requires Windows Media Player 11 in order to manage and play media.
• Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. The calendar tile in Origami Now works only with Office Outlook 2007 Calendar. The mail tile in Origami Now works with Office Outlook 2007 Mail and Windows Mail.
• The Windows update available here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932406 . This update is highly recommended if you use the mail tile in Origami Now with Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.

Microsoft Origami Experience 2.0 is distributed in nine languages. Each language version can be installed only on the corresponding language version of Windows Vista. For example, the French language version of Origami Experience 2.0 must be installed on the French language version of Windows Vista. However, any language version of Origami Experience 2.0 can be installed on the English language version of Windows Vista.

For detail download instruction, head over to Microsoft download page here.

[Updated - 17 June 2008] jkkmobile have the video review out on the Microsoft Origami Experience 2.0, enjoy.

Source – jkkmobile

ASUS Eee PC 1000 Announced

Pic from UMPC Fever

[28 May 2008]This according to UMPC Fever, that ASUS is launching the new 10″ screen Eee PC 1000 at the upcoming Computex 2008 in Taipei, Taiwan. For more info, check out UMPC Fever’s post here.

Source – UMPC Fever

[Updated: 5 June 2008] This is the latest on the ASUS Eee PC 1000 from Daily Tech. “Eee PC 1000 and Eee PC 1000H. The Eee PC 1000 will be available with up to a 40GB SSD while the Eee PC 1000H will be available with up to an 80GB 2.5″ 5400RPM HDD.

The Eee PC 1000/1000H and Eee PC 901 are all equipped with an Atom processor and include ASUS’s Super Hybrid engine which allows for easy manipulation of CPU speed, CPU voltage, and screen brightness to extend the life of the battery. When running in its most extreme mode, the Super Hybrid Engine can extract 7.8 hours of battery life from the new Eee PCs.

In addition, ASUS is also providing its new Eee PC family with 20GB of dedicated online storage (per machine) to perform backups or store personal data.”

Source – Daily Tech

Review – WILLCOM D4 (Sharp WS016SH)

Pic from Akihabaranews

The guys over at Akihabaranews got the chance to review the alpha version of the Willcom D4 (Sharp WSO16SH) last week in Tokyo, Japan and it’s looking sweet. Running on Vista, the D4 doesn’t seem as sluggish as most of the other UMPCs in the video.

The D4 features a 1.33GHz Centrino Atom Z520 CPU and according to Akihabara, the D4 is one of the first UMPCs on the market using the new CPU; a 40GB HDD, 1GB RAM, a 5″ 1024×600 TFT touchscreen. The D4 measures 84×188x25.9mm and weigh 470g.

Click here for the full review. For now, enjoy the video from Akihabaranews below.

from www.akihabaranews.co posted with vodpod

ASUS Eee PC 900 Battery – 4,400mAh or 5,200mAh or 5,800mAh?

In my previous post, ASUS Eee PC 900 Launch Imminent, I linked up some pics from an unboxed article (dated 12 April) from XEPC.org where they showed that the battery capacity of the ASUS Eee PC 900 was at 5,200mAh.

In an even earlier article from one of the top local computer magazine (dated 15 April), PCMarket, it showed a higher capacity battery at 5,800mAh (PCMarket clarified on the 19 April that ASUS will be shipping the 4,400mAh battery instead, strange it showed a 7.2V output, seems like it’s from the Eee PC 701 instead)).

But in fact, this is what you’ll be getting out of the first batch of the ASUS Eee PC 900 launched in Hong Kong on the 19 April, a 4,400mAh battery.

Photo Review on My ASUS Eee PC 900

The ASUS Eee PC 900 features a 8.9″ active matrix TDT LCD screen with 1024×600 resolution; 1GB DD2 Ram; 20GB SSD and 1.3 mega-pixel camera. My Eee PC 900 runs on Linux and Firefox browser.  The whole thing do look small and feels incredibly light at 990g.  The wireless connection is slow at disconnecting and connecting but nonetheless still pretty smooth.

Retail price at HK$3,998 (US$513), but because of limited stock available at present, prices are up to HK$4,488 in Mongkok Computer Centre and HK$4,688 in Wanchai 168 Computer Centre.

As the Windows XP version are not available yet, expect another HK$680 if you want the retailers to install a copy of Windows XP licence for you, that is, if you can’t wait till they formally release it.  As for the screen protector, you can get it for around HK$150 (tight fit).

ASUS Eee PC 900 is in DA House

Wow, what a trip to Singapore, will do a wrap up on that later tonight. While I was gone, ASUS Hong Kong launched the ASUS Eee PC 900 (Linus version) and the first batch was on sale yesterday. As I got back late last night (around 3:00am), I got a message that mine was ready for pick up today.

Okay, some pics for now and I’ll follow up with a more detail review in a few hours. If you have any questions, just post it up here and I’ll include them in the review.