Gadgets Blog

T-Mobile USA has a new smartphone in the offing for fans who think that the iPhone 3G is cool but not able to fulfil the role of an enterprise device, and we have the T-Mobile Sidekick LX that boasts 3G connectivity for superior data speeds as well as enhanced mobile access to popular social media sites to keep your mind off the recently concluded boardroom meeting that had less than optimistic figures for the coming year which could affect your bonus. The Sidekick LX is already available for pre-order through a Web-only pre-sale for existing T-Mobile customers, and it will come in its now iconic swivel design with two colors (orchid and carbon), boasting the sharpest display as well as thinnest profile ever found on any Sidekick to date.

According to Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA, Inc., “Our Sidekick customers are going to be blown away by the new features this device is offering, which is why it’s so exciting to give them the exclusive opportunity to get it before anyone else. Today’s Sidekick customers are avid communicators, with three out of four accessing social networking sites on their device at least once per week. The real-time notifications, tied with 3G speeds and GPS, will provide customers with the best experience of any Sidekick before, and we expect it will exceed their expectations.”

Will all of that marketing babble live up to its hype? Why not you take a look at the specifications below and make your own conclusion :-

• Integrated social networking application bundle (Facebook, MySpace and Twitter)
• 3G connectivity
• Built-in GPS support with Live Search
• 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash
• Ability to record, play and share videos
• MP3 playback with streaming audio and streaming RTSP video
• 3.2” F-WVGA screen at 854 x 480 resolution
• Support for personal e-mail, SMS, MMS, instant messaging (IM)
• Clients include AOL Instant Messenger, Windows Live and Yahoo! Messenger
• Swivel design and full QWERTY keyboard
• Intuitive user interface with Quick Find
• Network Address Book
• Included 1GB microSD memory card
• Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP connectivity

Press Release

Over here at Coolest Gadgets, we’re extremely interested to see how technology is able to aid our everyday lives in various ways, where such aid could also become a point of contention when it comes to us humans getting lazier and lazier. After all, who could deny that the introduction of escalators, elevators and travellators at shopping malls and airports have greatly reduced our need to walk? What about Segways and the remote control which further reduce our need for physical activity? Well, one thing’s for sure, not all new technology turns us humans into fat, degenerate slobs who will eventually need a robot to take care of our personal needs. Bridgestone Corp. has come up with a color electronic paper (e-paper) device that also boasts pen input support. This device will bring together the “QR-LPD,” the company’s e-paper device using its proprietary electronic powder and granular material, with Wacom Co Ltd’s electromagnetic induction type pen input tablet and a color filter.

What’s so special about this, you ask? Well, for starters, Bridgestone has accelerated the screen refresh speed of the e-paper device to enable pen input,taking all of 0.8 seconds to refresh the display where its previous efforts of A4-sized e-paper device required around 10 to 15 seconds. That’s a whole world of improvement no matter how you look at it, and it will definitely bode well for new devices that require a fast refresh rate - something digital artists would love to enjoy.

Bridgestone has so far kept mum on further details of this technology, but it has quickened the refresh speed primarily by improving drive technologies. This will greatly enhance the device’s ability to follow the pen input and enabled it to display input texts and graphics smoothly, making it easy on your eyes in the process. The e-paper device will be powered by a passive matrix panel. No idea on when it will enter full commercial production though.

Source: Tech On

There are certain situations that it’s difficult to mess with your iPod Touch or iPhone.  For one, I’ve noticed the car being a little obnoxious.  As of now I haven’t installed the radio in my car that incorporates my iPod Touch.  So instead as a temporary fix I have a device that creates a radio station for my iPod and I listen that way.  The serious downside is that I can’t just skip on the radio or stop it.  I have to unlock my iPod and then try to drive and play with my iPod.  With this inline remote from Griffin you can feel exactly where you’re at and never have to take your eyes off the road.

It also makes it so that you can safely tuck your iPod out of sight in your pocket and still keep control of it.  That’s always nice when you’d prefer not to advertise it for fear that it might get stolen.  To make this gadget all the more useful, when you’re bored of the music on your iPod you can switch the Griffin remote over to radio.  Sometimes it is nice to shut off the iPod and just listen to the classic FM radio.  The device works with absolutely any iPod with a dock connector.  It’ll cost you $60.

Source: GadgetLab

The winner of last week’s coolest gadget competition is the Thumb Saver.

This gadget is so simple but makes so much sense and it seems to solve an age old problem that everyone has just become accustomed to. The Thumb Saver is a great invention which through a magnet holds any type of nail in place so you can hammer it in without any bruised, bloodied or broken fingers.

Congrats again to Tech Styling.

In second place we have the DIY: Lego Movie Theater Features Working Projector.

In what is without a doubt the coolest Lego project I have seen in a long while, builder Ricardo Oliveira has built a Lego movie theater, complete with a tiny 24 fps projector. The biggest surprise was that the thing actually worked, had I not seen the video I might have dismissed it as April Fool’s day foolishness; it is real. The level of detail in the theater is incredible, right down to row designations on the seats and cups for the patrons.

Finally in third place comes the Instant phone backup.

How annoying is changing phones and having to get all your contacts onto your new handset? Moving all your contacts onto your phone memory or SIM, taking phones apart, swapping SIMS (if your new handset’s not locked), yadda yadda. It’s got a lot quicker with the use of software and a computer but don’t you just wish it could be instant? Well now, thanks to this little gadget, it is.

Thank you to everybody who voted, submitted, commented or told a friend. The randomly drawn winner of the $50 Amazon vouchers is:

Tim (zxions@…), congratulations.

Thanks again everybody and good luck with the next CGOTW contest on Friday.

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If you write for a gadget themed blog and wish to be included in next week’s contest check out the CGOTW instructions page.