Livescribe Launches Pulse Smartpen App Store

Topic: Portable Devices

It hasn't been very long and now a gadget without an App store is inconceivable. Livescribe just announced the beta launch of its online Application Store, providing consumers with the ability to download more than 30 paid and free applications, which extend the functionality of the Pulse smartpen beyond its core feature of recording and linking audio to handwriting.

What would a Smartpen App do? Can it fart in 100 variations or blow out candles like iPhone apps can do?
There are actually already quite useful Pulse apps. For example, consumers can now read and hear a translated phrase in Spanish, French, German, Japanese or even Korean, access fun facts on a variety of topics from past World Series winners to U.S. Presidents; get help studying geometry, organic chemistry, or Hebrew chanting; play more than a dozen games like Blackjack, Video Poker or Hangman; listen to classical music pieces or even play a guitar – right from the 'pentip' of their Pulse smartpen.
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Posted on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:33:46 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Nook eReader To Debut in B&N Stores November 30th

Topic: Portable Devices

If you haven't already pre-ordered the new Barnes & Noble eBook reader you'll have to wait until December 18th for shipment.
If you pre-order the nook on the B&N site now, you get a message saying that your nook will ship December 18th and it can get to you by December 25th.
If you want a nook earlier you could get lucky to get your hands on one in the B&N stores. According to Computer World B&N has put up signs announcing the nook's arrival in their stores on November 30th.
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Posted on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Wistron Brings Flexible ePaper Handheld In 2010, The Readius Will Live

Topic: Portable Devices

Wistron has purchased Polymer Vision, which made waves back in 2007 with a phone that features a roll-up ePaper display dubbed Readius. The product never made it to the market.

According to Digitimes Wistron plans to release a handheld device similar to the Readius in 2010.
I will believe it when I see it in stores. Read more

Posted on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

GPS Navigation Comes to iPod touch

Topic: Portable Devices

The iPhone 3G and 3GS both offer GPS navigation capability thanks to built-in GPS receivers. The iPod touch on the other hand lacks a GPS receiver, which meant that it could not be used for navigation. GeoLife and PosiMotion have announced a new hardware and software solution for the iPod touch that brings GPS navigation to the device for the first time.

The system, called G-Fi, provides a mobile network/GPS router, and provides turn-by-turn navigation for the iPod touch line. The G-Fi is a onetime cost item with no additional monthly costs and it supports the entire iPod touch and iPhone range. Read more

Posted on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Casio EX-FS10S Camera Aimed At Improving Your Golf Swing

Topic: Portable Devices

Casio unveiled a point and shoot camera designed for golfers. The new Casio Exilim Hi-Speed EX-FS10 features special features to analyze your golf swing on the camera.
Special lines displayed on top of the footage of your swing are aimed at helping your improve your movement.
Casio bundles a book with the camera, guiding you on how to improve your golf swing with the Casio EX-FS10.
To capture your swing the Casio EX-FS10 has up to 1,000 frames per second video capture.
The resolutions for the different video modes are 224x64px at 1000fps, 224x168px at 420fps, 480x360px at 210fps-30fps.
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Posted on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:47:13 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Best Buy Launches Club Beats With Monster and Beats By Dr. Dre

Topic: Portable Devices

Best Buy today announced the introduction of Club Beats, a new in-store destination created in partnership with Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre.

Launching in Best Buy stores nationwide, Club Beats provides customers with a backstage pass to the latest and greatest in entertainment technology, exclusive events, and access to today’s hottest music artists.

"Entertainment has long been the heart and soul of Best Buy. Our customers have always looked to us as a resource for music in a variety of formats," said Brian Dunn, Best Buy’s CEO. "With Club Beats, the latest in sound quality and music technology will be available to all of our customers who want to bring music to life in a fresh way and unleash their inner DJ."
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Posted on Mon, 9 Nov 2009 08:20:40 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

ZiiLABS ZMS-08 CPU Brings Blu-ray Quality H.264 Decode To Low-power Device

Topic: Portable Devices

Creative's ZiiLABS today announced the ZMS-08, its 3rd generation media-rich applications processor that brings 1080p Blu-ray quality H.264 decode to low-power devices.

Delivering more than 4x the performance of previous generation devices, the ZMS-08 combines the flexible multi-format media processing capabilities of ZiiLABS' StemCell Computing array with a 1GHz ARM Cortex processor to deliver the low-power, high performance media-rich processing required of next-generation connected devices such as web tablets, netbooks, connected TVs, video conferencing systems and home media hubs.
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Posted on Mon, 9 Nov 2009 06:52:21 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Android 1.6 for Zii Plaszma And Zii Egg Is Available

Topic: Portable Devices

Creative's ZiiLabs released an optimized version of Android 1.6 for their Zii Plaszma devices.
Based on the Donut branch of Android Open Source Project, Android 1.6 takes full advantage of the flexible media processing capabilities of the ZMS-05 media processing array. Developers and OEMs can now leverage on the advanced graphics and media acceleration to deliver media-rich mobile and embedded platforms. Read more

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 07:14:19 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

TwitterPeek Twitter Only Gadget On Sale Now

Topic: Portable Devices

Peek, maker of the Email only device Peek Pronto is now offering a Twitter only device called TwitterPeek. Engadget's Josh Topolsky unveiled TwitterPeek on the Jimmy Fallon late night show last night. You can see the segment in the video below.
The TwitterPeek sells for $199.95 with lifetime service or for $99.95 with 6 month of service ($7.95/month thereafter) on Amazon.com.
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Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 01:55:27 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Cirrus 7-Day Weather Forecaster And Centerfield Baseball ScoreCaster Unveiled

Topic: Portable Devices

Altitude, Inc. has joined with Ambient Devices on a new design platform for its family of information display products, which includes the announced sports and weather trackers: Centerfield Baseball ScoreCaster and the Cirrus 7-Day Weather Forecaster (photo).

The two new products are dedicated, wireless displays that provide instant access to data without a PC or Internet connection.
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Posted on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:05:09 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

MSI eBook Reader Based On Nvidia Tegra Coming 2010

Topic: Portable Devices

eBook readers are soon going to be a standard offering by computer makers. According to Digitimes, MSI chairman Joseph Hsu said that MSI is currently in development of a Nvidia Tegra powered eReader.
Further details about the MSI eBook reader are supposed to be revealed in the first half of 2010. I assume we will see at least a glimpse of the MSI eBook reader at the CES 2010.
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Posted on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr