Logitech’s Standalone Google TV Box is powerful

Well that is according to Intel anyway. Engadget was at Google I/O and snuggled into the Logitech’s booth hand played with the Google TV box by Logitech.

The Logitech’s standalone box is powered by Intel’s CE4100 1.2GHz “Sodaville” Atom processor (*if not?), 4GB of RAM, 802.11n Wi-Fi, two USB ports (*should be USB2.0), a rear I/O panel with a wired Ethernet port (*unlikely to be Gigabit), two IR headers, and a pair of HDMI 1.3 ports.

Wondering if I missed the GPU part? Nope, I didn’t. The CE4100 is a SoC (system-on-chip) Atom processor, running on Powervr SGX535 on-die, and Intel calls it GMA500. Intel claims that the processor only uses seven to nine watts, able to decode two simultaneous 1080p video streams at up to 60 frames per second, contains 7.1 audio outputs, and will be able to run Adobe Flash-based content. Sounds wonderful? But no benchmark is out yet, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.

“To our surprise, the Logitech product manager pulled out a Nexus One and iPhone,” writes Sean Hollister. “He explained that the companion box has all the technology of Logitech’s $400 Harmony 900 remote and extends it to your handset over Wi-Fi.” – Engadget.

It seemed like you can control your Google TV with your smartphone via either an iPhone or Android application. So your smartphone is now your remote too.

[via Engadget]

read more...

Quirky Fit Holds Your iPhone and More at the Gym

There are a ton of accessories on the market for the iPhone and the iPod touch. A lot of them are cases of one sort or another and if you frequent the gym, you see a lot of the arm mounted cases. Quirky has debuted its latest product called the Fit Kit.

The Fit Kit works with the iPhone, iPod touch, and other smartphones and MP3 players. It wraps around the arm with a neoprene wrap that has a Velcro closure.

In addition to holding the iPhone, the Fit Kit also has all manner of pockets for holding other stuff like driver’s licenses, ID cards, money, and keys. The zippered pockets are waterproof in case you are caught running in the rain. Quirky will make 875 of these cases and they are available for $25 on pre-order.

via Quirky

read more...

LED-based Lighting + Data Networking at 2mbps

What was once thought to be a revolutionary energy-efficient Lighting solution, can become Data networking media in the future.A chinese scientist is trying to bring back line-of-sight networking (Bluetooth, Wifi are omni-directional), by streaming video to a laptop, Desktop, Smartphones/PDAs with nothing but ceiling-mounted blueLEDs.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences claims to have attained a 2Mbit per second internet connection that transmits data simply by modulating the flicker of the little diodes, and imperceptibly enough to have them serve as room lighting as well. Since LEDs consume only a partial amount of power that bulbs, it is the most energy efficient combo of Lighting+Networking we’ve see so far.

Looking closely, single mode Optical fibers work on the same basic concept: Quickly switch lasers (based on LEDs as well) at a high frequency to interpret ZEROs and ONEs as data stream and then encode, compress them using proper techniques. On the receiving end, same process is reversed to get data back. We’ve seen several LED based communications but most of them traditionally needed a media (like fiber) to travel. the ones that traveled through air were painfully slow and unusable.

The current 2mbps may not be ideal for Home networking, but technology has scope of further improvement, above all, its a Green Tech solution we aspire for.

read more...

HowTo Overclock iPhone 2G, 3G, 3GS CPU

iPhone 2G, 3G, iPod Touch 1g possess a decent ARM Cortex processor which has been underclocked to give you more battery life.

So the processors on the devices are not fully exploited, but with overclocking it is very much possible, but only on jailbroken iPhone/ iPod touch. The processor of the iPhone 2G, 3G is indeed 600MHz, but Apple has underclocked it to 412 MHz only, iPhone 3GS instead of 833 MHz it is operated at 600Mhz. But its easy to run them at their factory clocks.

How to Overclock CPU on iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch

Step 1. Make sure you have a Jailbroken iPhone/iPod Touch. (Jailbreaking guides)

Step 2. Using a SSH tool like Filezilla, Navigate to System/Library/System/System Configuration/PowerManagement.bundle/

Step 3.Rename file “com.apple.SystemPowerProfileDefault.plist” to “SystemPowerProfileDefaultbak.plist” or something that device doesn’t recognize.

Step 4. Reboot, and your iPhone/iPod Touch would Run on native Processor clocks.

Important: Increasing the clock speed would degrade the CPU’slifespan by several minutes. However, since the device is not designed to handle the heat generated at higher clocks, we recommend you to terminate apps if device appears to overheat. Also checkout tips to Prevent Overheating of iPhone

read more...

Next PSP is a mini PS3?

It appears that Sony would be showing off another new version of PSP (PlayStation Portable) at E3 this year.

VG247 quoted a source on saying that there’s a small chance that we will see a new PSP being displayed at E3 this year. Rumors has it that the new PSP2 NDAs have been in possession of a few UK publishers for months now, but though their initial plans were for a 2010 release, it seemed more likely to be released in 2011. Therefore people are expecting the announcement on either a Gamescom or Tokyo Game Show.

Rumored features are like multitouch touchscreen OLED yet retaining the good ol` PlayStation buttons at the sides. VG247 was told the device is “uber powerful,” and is based on a four-core Cell CPU, similar to those used in a PS3. Another said he/she would be “amazed” if there was any physical media involved and VG247 reports hearing sketchy rumors that this device could be 3G and WiFi enabled as opposed to the WiFi-only PSPGo.

“There have been “finished units” in the UK, but we haven’t spoken to anyone that’s seen a final case. – VG247”

read more...

Anson M500 MID

Shenzhen based Anson is ready to release its Android-based MID for the Chinese market. The MID is known as the M500. It comes with 5-inch 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen display, a 624MHz Marvell PXA303 processor, a 128MB RAM, a 256MB ROM, an SD card slot, a front camera, 720p HD video playback support, 3G, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, an HDMI output, a 2500mAh battery and runs on Android OS. The Anson M500 measures 152mm x 83mm x 16.5mm and priced at 1,899 Yuan (about $278).

read more...

iPhones and Android, meet your challenger!

Well it’s the 30th Anniversary this year, so it’s expected that many new products centralizing on Gundam will emerge. Like cafes, and figures. And now comes the new challenger, mobile phone Company Softbank and Sharp announce 12.1-megapixel camera phone named the “Gunpla”.

Yep, it’s named the Gunpla alright. As you can see in the screen, it’s a flip phone, with the gigantic camera at the back. It even comes with EFSF (*Earth Federation Space Force in the U.C.). But the most important thing to all gunplas is that it comes with a 1:100 RX-78-2 Gundam!

read more...

With this watch you won’t lost your car key anymore – it starts your Aston Martin DBS!

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s AMVOX2 DBS Transponder watch has been market as “With this watch you won’t lost your car key anymore – it starts your Aston Martin DBS!”. Wonder what that means?

Well I’m not sure if all Aston Martin DBS owners are Bond series fans. But this watch can only fit them. This is because besides telling the time of their meeting, this special “ultimate watch” can start their DBS. But don’t you worry on others wearing this watch to unlock your car, as this watch is only sold in Aston Martin dealerships, and only they have the authority to “tell” that specific watch to “interact” with the supercar.

Of course, since this watch is for those with a supercar, the quality ought to be ‘supercar’ class too. The case and dial of the AMVOX2 (what an annoying name) are highly detailed, featuring a suspended metallic grey DBS symbol, a discrete Aston Martin emblem on the movement operating indicator and ruthenium grey bridges, satin finish and a black dial that are all similar to the DBS’s instrument panel. The outer dial ring also has an opening that reveals the internal mechanisms of the chronograph and transponder functions, an allusion to the exposed brake calipers visible behind the huge rims of the supercar.

Well unsurprisingly this thing cost $40,750. But I’ve never seen James Bond pester about his gadgets’ cost anyway.

read more...

iPad style magazine reading for PC with 7000+ free emagz

Martview is a new app that allows us to read magazines and books, even comics through one simple software. Users can just browse through a good amount of categories, and download those magazines that they like. Once downloaded, those books will be stored in your computer, and you can view them at any time at any place. Simple as that. They even support touchscreen.

I was linked by a friend on Facebook, and their Fan Page, or “Like” page as Facebook calls it, is over here. A fancy way to read books, using tablets or laptops I might say. So far I got no problem running it on my HP Mini, so I think it works well on Atom system. The animation when switching pages were also quite swift.

Well, it’s free, so why not? I just wish there’s more content, but I believe it will have, once the community grows, since everyone can upload. But sad news for Apple fan boys, it’s not ready yet for your iPad. But we will keep you updated if it does.

read more...

Fancy an oversized touchscreen PSP on droid?

8.9” and comes with somewhat multitouch, this is Nvidia’s answer to iPad. Round edge, white plastic-like back plate, and supposedly powered by Android. Though according to Gizmodo, the looks does not justify its capability.

Obviously it is powered by Nvidia’s upcoming Tegra 2, which is actually a dual-core ARM Cortex A9, somewhat more powerful than iPad’s A4 processor. Now, why is it gonna win Apple’s iPad? Because on the paper it has better muscle, and a gig of RAM, while cheapskate Apple’s iPad only got a puny 256MB RAM. What’s more, it has USB ports, and a good damn integrated front cam!

According to Gizmodo, “Given that both of the units we handled were running just one app each—pretty snazzy looking games—it’s hard to tell what it’ll be like to use generally, like with the front-facing camera and how the widescreen aspect ratio feels outside of a game, but the games did feel and look great, as you’d expect from the kind of horsepower inside. I wish the screen, which is capacitive for multitouchness, wasn’t quite as glossy as the iPad though. Oh well.”

read more...