This Plantronics Calisto Pro set takes your standard Bluetooth headset and adds in landline and Skype dialing, which means you get the big three (Skype, home, cell) all in one dorky-looking device. The base station has a USB connector to hook into your PC for Skype and Yahoo calls, a DECT 6.0 handset to handle landline calls, and the headset to connect to both these plus a cellphone. The price for all this convenience while you work at home in your underpants? $279 starting September.
According to reports out of India, Google is currently in talks with country’s first and third largest telecos, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, concerning everyone’s favorite mobile rumor: the Google Phone. Based on information coming from Rediff’s India Abroad, an exclusive launch — happening in a highly questionable two weeks — is being discussed between the companies, and would tie into a simultaneous debut of the Gphone in both the US and Europe, coupled with announcements in India and other parts of the world. The only hurdle, they say, is approval from regulatory agencies (such as the FCC, we would assume). The report goes on to suggest that Google has plans to invest $7-8 billion in its telephony plot, though there has been practically zero confirmation from the company. When asked about the possibility of the Google mobile phone making an appearance soon, a spokesperson for the search-portal-giant said, “We don’t comment on market rumour or speculation. However, Google is committed to providing users with access to the world’s information, and mobile becomes more important to those efforts every day.” So, while you can never, truly rule out a sudden showing of the Gphone, definitely don’t go banking on it either.
Venzero was never one to shy away from diversity, and is about to add its 8th model to an ever-expanding lineup that we can never keep track of. Luckily, 8th time’s the charm for Venzero, ’cause the new LINQ player sports some welcome features that just might set it apart from the pack. The 4GB flash player includes a microSD slot and a 2.4-inch screen, but the real magic is in the WiFi, which not only manages internet radio, but can stream music straight from your PC, via Windows Media Player 11, as well. No word on track sharing from LINQ to LINQ, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed. The player supports MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG and WAV audio, AVI and MPEG-4 video, and even does up some FM tuning and voice recording for kicks. Venzero will be busting this guy out at IFA next week, and should be shipping it in September for a lovable $199.
You just can’t put this guy down. Just when you think he’s had his full share of soldering injuries and heatsink frustration, Benjamin Heckendorn goes and builds the NEStari, a flavorful combination of NES and Atari 2600 in a convenient, portable package. The story is half the fun, but short of it is Ben had a NES-on-a-chip lying around and a spare Atari Flashback 2 chip, but only a single 3.5-inch LCD, so he decided to make a nice, fat portable that can load both NES and Atari cartridges. Sure, the DS lite kids may laugh, but you can always bludgeon them with this monstrosity, while playing gaming classics that far surpass the Pokemons of today. Well, at least Ben can. He’s not going to be making any more of these, since the hack wasn’t exactly easy to pull off. Hit up the read link for the step-by-step and even some video of the NEStari in action — if you can get it to load.
Sure, we’ve seen a plethora of interactive billboards before, but Mark Ecko’s (credit to Benjamin Busse) latest eye-catcher could seriously make you miss your ride. This brilliantly designed ad sports an LCD that can be painted up by your Bluetooth cellphone, as it allows passers to use their mobile as a spray can to decorate the screen as they please. No word on whether this thing accepts multiple connections or not, but a tagging duel would be mighty fine entertainment whilst waiting on the next bus.
It’s getting increasingly hard for manufacturers to distinguish one GPS / PMP unit from the next these days (especially in Korea), but it looks like AnyDrive has made a decent attempt at it, with it now bundling a 40GB external hard drive with its new X1 device. Apart from that addition, however, the device looks to be pretty standard fare, including the de facto 7-inch display, along all the usual PMP features (including DivX, OGG, and WMA9 support) and integrated DMB TV capabilities. For some out-of-vehicle entertainment, the external hard drive can also be used as a standalone media player, with a remote control provided to control it when its hooked up to your TV. No word on a price or release date, but you know where you’ll have to go if you want to pick one up.
Game developer Atlus has decided to recall all of its 150 arm wrestling simulators from arcades across Japan. Despite only being out a month, Arm Spirit has broken three arms.
In the game, players lock hands with a fake arm and battle on screen characters such as a french maid, a drunken martial arts master, a chihuahua, and a professional wrestler. Atlus claims that “the machine isn’t that strong” and “even women should be able to beat it.” Hmmmm. Either this is one bad ass arcade machine or the Japanese need more calcium in their diet.
We’ve all dreamed of having a mini-greenhouse that we could plug into our computer, but until today it was just that — dreams. But dream no longer. Geeks.com is selling a USB-powered Mini Greenhouse that includes a computer interface which helps you monitor growth rate and that includes a calendar, wallpaper and bookmark settings to aid you in monitoring the growth of your greenhouse.
Who needs new and slick when you can have old and wooden? The Shadow hard drive from Suissa is a beautifully-made wooden 750GB external hard drive that faintly resembles something your grandmother would store jewelery in. Compatible with any computer, the inappropriately-named Shadow has four USB 2.0 ports that are prominently visible on the front of the drive and is made out of sustainable, harvested maple.
It’s been a wild and crazy summer here in SarahWorld, including quite a few nights when I’ve had unexpected dinner and party guests stay at my house overnight (cabs are just too expensive in LA). I’ve got a fairly large sofa in my living room, but if you’re confined to small spaces, or need room for more than just one for your slumber party, BonBon Trading’s Sofabed is essential. The sofa doesn’t just pull out into a bed — the thing completely transforms into a bunk bed. Of course, that killer orange color is pretty fabulous regardless of the sofa’s technology.