by Techno Witch on August 19, 2008
Users of the Apple iPhone and Apple iPod Touch are to gain the popular PONS dictionaries via Paragon Software.
A series of PONS dictionaries including PONS Advanced French, PONS Advanced English, and PONS Advanced Italian are about to hit the Apple iTunes App Store.
If you grab this new application don?t worry about space being eated on your Apple iPhone of iPod Touch because Paragon?s SlovoEd engine runs the show in the backend and makes sure you receive fast look up speeds.
PONS dictionaries have been tailor made for the Apple iPhone and the dictionary database is powered by PONS and contains 117,171 entries thus easily making it the best dictionary engine on the market.
Audio modules contain virtually 40,000 live voice pronunciations prerecorded via native speakers which help master a new language. The PONS dictionaries include ?Cross-Lookup? which is an easy check of language comprehension, and the ?History? feature holds the last 15 translated words.
PONS dictionaries will be coming to the Apple App Store later this year at a price of $24.99 roughly EUR19.99.
by Techno Witch on August 19, 2008
The Apple iPhone 3G doesn?t exactly have the best mobile camera there is available, for instance it lacks a zoom facility, so those that like to take photos are somewhat hampered with the iPhone 3G.
But all is not lost however, because some techs over at Brando have come up with the Apple iPhone 3G Mobile Phone Telescope.
This, although rather cumbersome looking attachment brings the Apple iPhone 3G 6x zoom to enable the user to gain better clearer images, and can apparently avoid image contorsion.
The Brando web page says? The new design to run of rays can effectively avoid the contortion of image, and makes the super wide angle, the larger luminous flux, the higher visual acuteness, good for color reduction, which makes the high quality of photography.?
Which is fine if you want to go round with your Apple iPhone 3G looking like a mini-Dalek, if you want the Apple iPhone 3G Mobile Phone Telescope, it is available now for $19.00.
by Techno Witch on August 19, 2008
Today, Nokia introduce the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte, their new premium mobile handset which combines the design of the Nokia 8800 Arte range with materials engineered from carbon fibre, stainless steel, polished glass and titanium.
Carbon fibre is a strong but ultra light material that gives a high-tech woven pattern. The Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte features 3D patterns that express the lustre of the carbon fibre.
Each detail of the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte has been considered to enhance the premium value and quality of the mobile phone with minimalist seamless surfaces, impressive weight, and slide mechanism, and with exclusive Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte range wallpapers and soundtracks.
The new Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte offers ?the unique tap-for-time feature – consumers can tap the steel surface below the display twice and a clock appears on the screen.? The devices background images organically change during the day bring a unique appearance to its display.
With 3G capability, OLED display, 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus, all-in-one microUSB, 4GB built-in memory, high quality audio, and anti-fingerprint coating to reduce smudges on glass and metal.
The Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte becomes available in Q3 with an estimated price tag of roughly EUR1,100.
by Techno Witch on August 19, 2008
The other day Motorola and AT&T officially released the Windows Mobile 6.1 update for the Motorola Q9h, which hope to breathe a little extra life into a mobile phone. You get the update and hopefully it improves the devices performance.
Unfortunately updating means everything is wiped from your phone, so maybe some clever programmer will one day come up with a solution to update an OS without the need to wipe, and having to painstakingly reinstall every app.
So what are the changes found in the new Motorola Q9h update? Well the most noticeable is the home screen, which once you get used to it is more efficient and if the slider screens aren?t quite your thing thee older styles are still there and so is Façade.
There are hot keys for the start menu white another key is customizable with default heading to your contacts. On hitting the start menu you will see your most recently used apps and with a press of a key it expands to see all applications.
Other changes include stuff like phone book access via Bluetooth headset, auto pairing with Bluetooth devices, customizable Pocket IE, threaded text messages, cut/paste/copy functions, auto-complete text, auto-discovery for Exchange servers, custom domain email setup along with fetch mail for POP/IMAP accounts.
So in closing is the update trouble? Well yes as most are, but it is worth the trouble simple because of the mods to the Quick List and improved Task Manager, the added GPS activation, cut/paste/copy, these make the annoyance of having to reinstall all the apps seem worthwhile.
by Techno Witch on August 18, 2008
By Jonathan Kimak
I suppose if you use a webcam often enough then you might as well make it look better than the standard and plain looking ball shaped webcams. This webcam from Wesco Limited has the camera and mic hidden beneath the shell of a Imperial Tie Fighter Advanced X1. For those of you not in the know, that’s the Tie Fighter Darth Vader used in Episode IV.
In addition to looking snazy the webcam also has two laser canons that light up and emit authentic sounds taken from the Star Wars movies. I’m not quite sure how flashing lights and sound effects will help you during your online conversations. I guess they’re for those times when you don’t have anyone to talk to and you just want to pick up the Tie Fighter and play with it. Of course if I did that I would probably be making the laser noises myself.
The price is around $42.
[ Forbidden Planet(Store) ] VIA [ Likecool ]
by Techno Witch on August 18, 2008
I’m currently watching Dragons Den and have just seen this cool product/invention the Magic Whiteboard.
The Magic Whiteboard, is a roll of 25 whiteboards that can be carried around and whipped out as necessary.
It’s perfect for breakout sessions and group work. It encourages delegates to interact with each other and contribute more. You can quickly and easily capture learning. It?s great for presentations, team meetings and ideas generation.
- 1. Magic – Sticks to any hard flat surface (using static), plain paper also sticks to it without the need for tape, Bluetac or glue. Teams can quickly and easily fold it up and take the sheets away with them.
- 2. No marks – are left on walls. It’s simple, cheap, clean and leaves no mess.
- 3.Erasable/Reusable – write on it using dry white markers, wipe clean, and use it again. It provides a cheaper alternative to flipcharts and is reusable. It is also recyclable and environmentally friendly.
- 4. Multipurpose – use at conferences, training events, for presentations and for team meetings. Any team will find this indispensable.
- 5. Portable and lightweight – perfect for training and conference events. Everyone will be impressed. You don’t need to use a flipchart stand to show your work.
You can buy the magic whiteboard for 25 UKP.
by Techno Witch on August 18, 2008
In the past, I have covered scented alarm clocks that require no sound to wake people up, and I was very enamored by this sleek looking concept design that has a similar wake-up method.
As you can see, this Silence alarm clock comes with matching bracelets. Each one has a vibration maker, so that when it goes off, you don?t hear it, but you feel it. Apparently, this is enough to jar you awake.
The bracelets also have motion sensors. What you do is shake the bracelet to stop the buzz, and that acts like a snooze bar. If you want to keep ?hitting? the snooze bar, then you really have to shake harder.
In short, if you want to stay asleep, you are going to have to fight for it. Not only that, but all of this is done without any blaring alarm. That is just one thing I like about it.
Another thing I like about this alarm is the design. You got to appreciate the simplicity of the clock, as well as the big numbers.
Of course, there is one flaw in this. Have you ever been late to work because you forgot to set your alarm? Your boss might believe that, but try saying ?Sorry I?m late, I forgot to put on my Silence Bracelet?.
by Techno Witch on August 18, 2008
If you’ve ever felt envious of those women with huge purses that are quite obviously weighed down by numerous items, you might like this jacket. It actually has 39 hidden pockets, which could store just about anything your heart desired, including your numerous gadgets. I’m sure this jacket would also be every shoplifter and pickpocket’s dream. All of those hidden pockets are perfect for stashing stolen items. Hopefully you would just like it for the extra pockets to store your own things though.
These Rodeo Jackets from the outside don’t really appear to be filled with pockets. It actually just looks like your average jacket. It suggests the pockets could be used for your iPod, cellphone, bottle of water, camera, sunglasses as well as anything else you can think of. If you don’t like this particular jacket they do have other styles that feature hidden pockets, but some have less than others. The Rodeo Jacket also features a way to run your earbuds through the inside of the jacket. To pick one up it will cost you $100 from SeV.
by Techno Witch on August 18, 2008
Digital cameras may be a very inexpensive accessory now, and there is very little that separates one from the other. I?ve been trying out several models, and I had a chance to try out the Olympus FE-340.
How does this Olympus model rate compared to other digital cameras I have tried? Pretty well, actually. It is 8.0 Megapixels with a 5x Optical Zoom. And the pictures on the screen are very clear, measuring at 2.7 inches.
Other features include face detection technology that allows a user to modify a person?s image, even turning a frown into a smile. The camera also has ISO sensitivity, which allows you to capture blurry images, and fix them on the camera.
Some other touch-up buttons include removing shadows and eliminating red-eye. There is also a Backlight Boost Button that can increase the brightness of the LCD for better visibility in bright light.
I found that the video feature worked pretty well. It recorded in AVI format and was pretty easy to use. Speaking of ease, the camera came with a guide to help the user. All you have to do is access your subject in question on the Guide menu, and the camera will even put you in the proper mode that you need at the touch of a button.
All in all, the Olympus FE-340 is a terrific camera to own. You should be able to get the FE-340 for a price of $179.99.
by Techno Witch on August 18, 2008
There’s no doubt about it. Carpooling with co-workers and friends is an efficient way of saving on fuel prices, while at the same time reducing the emissions level of an additional car on the road. But how about carpooling without the use of a car at all?
The Dogsled is a four-seater pedal vehicle which allows for you and three of your friends to travel together without the need for gas, electricity, or any other power source other than your own two legs (or eight legs in this case). This human-powered quadcycle is totally reliant on pedal power, so you probably won’t be travelling cross-country on this vehicle unless you’re looking for a hardy workout.
Carpooling is good for both the environment and your wallet. Carpooling without a car is even better for both. Using the Dogsled adds an element of exercise which you could only usually accomplish while riding a bike or in a gym.
So let’s put the pedal to the metal and make this planet a greener place to live, not to mention toning our flabby calf muscles in the process. This is truly a great contraption for traveling short distances with your buddies.