Upcoming Gadgets (Tech Friendly)
MP3s & Gizmos
Review: Logitech N700 Lapdesk Speaker
Sep 1st
Good
Very comfortable cushion, great ergonomics
Quiet cooling feature
The speakers are very good replacements for inbuilt laptop ones
Touchscreen Edge 800 from Garmin: A GPS for Cyclists
Sep 1st
Garmin International Inc.announced the touchscreen Edge 800 for cyclists who want accuracy and simplicity 
when tracking their statistics and location for racing and recreation. Edge 800 combines aspects of the industry-leading Edge 500 and Edge 705 while adding a touchscreen interface. It also features new mapping options such as Garmin’s BaseCamp route planning and BirdsEye Satellite Imagery. Edge 800 will debut at Interbike (Booth 2631) and Eurobike (Booth A5-201), where it won the Eurobike Award for electronic components.
Edge 800 is smaller and sleeker than the Edge 705, yet features a larger 2.6” display with a simple touchscreen interface. Cyclists can view Team Garmin’s featured rides – or download, analyze and share rides of their own – at Garmin Connect, the free-to-join online community of more than 30 million activities from around the world. Garmin Connect displays metrics such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate through charts and a variety of map representations, including street, satellite, topographic, and elevation maps. Garmin Connect users can search for activities in their area and try them by uploading the data to Edge 800, which will guide the way.
Using information directly from GPS satellites, Edge 800 tracks speed, distance, time, GPS position, elevation, calories burned, climb and descent. For even more real-time data on display, Edge 800 syncs wirelessly through ANT+ technology with compatible third-party power meters as well as Garmin heart rate monitors and speed/cadence sensors. For extra-precise climb and descent data, Edge 800 incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation.
On the trails, using a separate TOPO U.S. 24K DVD or microSD card brings you the highest level of topographic detail available, with maps comparable to 1:24,000 scale USGS maps, featuring terrain contours, topo elevations, summits, routable roads and trails, parks, coastlines, rivers, lakes and geographical points. In town, optional City Navigator mapping provides detailed street maps, millions of preloaded points of interest and onscreen turn-by-turn directions to your destination.
Displayed at IFA 2010: Philips GoGear Connect – First Android MP4 Player
Sep 1st
The new Philips GoGear Connect is the first to offer the full Android experience. It comes pre-installed with 
Google MobileT applications and more than 100,000 apps can be downloaded from the Android Market. The device will be shown at IFA 2010 in Berlin.
The player’s 3.2-inch has touchscreen and patented FullSound technology. Comes with sound isolation earphones that block out background noise. Philips Songbird is a program that allows syncing music from your PC. It has a built-in Camera to shoot videos and pictures, a MicroSD card slot offering expandable memory. It weighs 128 grams and the screen measures 113×12.6×59 mm.
Philips GoGear Connect will be available in Western Europe, USA & China from the end of October 2010. The recommended retail price is EUR249 for the 16GB version.
Skullcandy Introduces Two New Noise Isolating Earphones
Aug 20th
Skullcandy, developer of core audio products introduces two new collections of noise isolating earphones 
Skullcandy Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) and Skullcandy Titan. These earphones block out all unnecessary background sounds for a better listening experience.
Skullcandy Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) is specially designed for Blackberry and iPhones. It can also be used with IPod and other MP3 players as well. This device is available with Integrated Microphone and Noise Isolating features that sharpen the sound from your music player. The earphones are big, shiny and coated in metal. Skullcandy FMJ’s come in black, chrome, gold, pink and other colors. Price: Rs. 3,559.
Skullcandy Titan earphones come with precision-tuned drivers with laser-cut aluminum housing. The 1.3-meter cord gives you the freedom you need without becoming cumbersome, and the high quality 3.5mm plug is gold plated to resist corrosion. Skullcandy Titan Noise Isolation Earphones also include a nylon and mesh carrying case and foam ear tips for additional sound isolation. The Skullcandy Titan comes in chrome, black, copper and purple colors. Price: Rs. 2,099.
Sony Unveils Ultimate Weapon Gaming Headsets With Sony Surround Technology
Aug 18th
Sony is launching two headsets into the gaming sector. Each has been designed in response to extensive user 
research that shows what different gamers want from the ideal headset.
The DR-GA500 combines a Dolby Pro Logic IIx decoder with Sony Virtual Phones Technology (VPT) to create 7.1ch 3D surround effects. The signal processing hardware is contained in a compact external unit. This audio environment is recommended for first person shooter (FPS) games where what you can hear is often as important as what you can see.
Both the DR-GA500 and GA200 headsets feature 40mm drive units.
Phillips Launches Waterproof Sport Headphones
Aug 14th
The Philips SHQ3000 & SHQ4000 are part of Philips new line of ‘waterproof’ and sweat proof sports 
headphones in rubberized black and bright orange design; and comes with three sizes of extra soft anti-bacterial silicon ear caps. SHQ3000 are customizable ear hooks whereas SHQ4000 are extremely flexible neckband based earphones. Both the headphones are form-fitting and capable of staying put during physical activity, and may be washed under the tap for clean and safe keeping. Snug-fitting ear caps ensure minimal sound leaking with powerful bass response. Cable clip and protective sports pouch are included for storage and travel.
Razer Launches Orca Headphones
Aug 11th
Razer announced the release of the Razer Orca Gaming and Music Headphones. The headphones come 
equipped with a plug and switch cable.
Review: Philips GoGear Muse PMP
Jul 31st
Good
Long Battery life
Expandable memory option
Sound quality
Japan Ministry Orders Apple to Explain iPod Overheating
Jul 30th
Japan’s trade ministry said it has ordered Apple Inc’s Japanese unit to explain incidents of overheating in some models of its first generation iPod nano portable music players. The Japan arm of Apple, which recently overtook Microsoft as the world’s biggest tech company by market value, must provide by Aug. 4 details of the causes of overheating and show that it has taken steps to prevent future occurrences both in and outside Japan, the ministry said.
There have been 27 incidents of such overheating reported in Japan, including four cases where users suffered minor burns, said Seiji Shimagami, a spokesman for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The ministry has repeatedly called on Apple to provide information on the preventative measures it has taken to date, he said, adding that based on Apple’s response, the ministry may call for a recall of the affected models. “Basically, warnings about the problem have not been sufficient. I think it will depend on the response we receive, but they may need to offer to exchange units that aren’t faulty as well as those that are,” Shimagami said.
The company said in a statement on its website that the issue had been traced to a single battery supplier, and that safety was a high priority for Apple. “We are taking METI’s letter in regard to the first generation iPod nano very seriously and are working closely with them to answer their concerns,” Apple said.
