Gadgets Blog

T-Mobile has announced that they will be offering a new Android-powered handset in due time to oust the aged G1 smartphone, and this time round it would be the T-Mobile myTouch 3G that will be taking over the baton. Just in case you were wondering the myTouch 3G is also known as the HTC Magic in other parts of the world, and the smartphone will come packaged in a sleek body alongside a contoured feel, boasting a wide range of new features which will surely make it a success compared to its rather muted predecessor. Alongside a full touchscreen display, you also get a virtual keyboard that helps you whip out text messages as well as emails in double quick time without getting bogged down by typos.

The T-Mobile myTouch 3G will empower users to create a unique, individualized wireless phone and experience, since you will be able to harness the ability to richly customize menus, wallpapers, icons and more, with over thousands of Android Market applications to take advantage of as well. Basically, the myTouch 3G will evolve to become a virtual extension of oneself. Too bad the choice of colors that the handset comes in will be limited to just three at time of publishing - and we’re looking at black, white and a distinctive merlot.

HTC is the brains behind the myTouch 3G’s design, so you can expect quality parts to be thrown into the mix. First of all we have a 3.2″ HVGA touchscreen display and virtual keyboard that is able to automatically orient itself between portrait and landscape modes, depending on how you’re holding up the myTouch 3G. Not only that, it is equipped with a 3.2-megapixel camera, although one thing that has left us scratching our heads would be the lack of a flash in the camera - something that other manufacturers have managed to cram in despite releasing a slim handset. That aside, the myTouch 3G will also come with a music player, a microSD memory card slot, video playback, email, MMS, Wi-Fi connectivity and support for T-Mobile’s 3G network. You can place a pre-order for the myTouch 3G from July 8 onwards if you’re a current T-Mobile customer, where $199.99 will net you the handset with a two-year agreement. Shipping commences later this July. Do excuse the Vodafone image above…

Press Release

While we’re still with Gateway and their release, why not take a look at what else they offer this time around? The company doesn’t just deal with desktops and notebooks you know, as they have recently unveiled their LCD monitor range known as the Gateway FHD Series, bringing high-definition LCD monitors right in front of you by offering the best in performance and design. Gateway aims to break new ground by featuring an edge-to-edge display, an elegant black bezel, metallic-silver highlights and an L-shaped stand with a brushed-aluminum finish. Other features include discreet touch-sensitive controls that will further augment the clean streamlined design, boasting touch sensitive controls that are easily sensed with the lightest touch - hopefully it won’t be too sensitive.

The new line of FHD monitors will come with a maximum level of HD support alongside a 16:9 aspect ratio, allowing one to achieve an increase in multitasking possibilities in order to enhance productivity while delivering an exceptional multimedia experience. Also, if you prefer your desktop to be the main entertainment hub in your studio apartment, it would make perfect purchase sense since this range boasts 1,920 x 1,080 resolution that is ideal for 1080p full HD gaming, movies, multimedia content and productivity applications.

Other features of the monitors also include 170-degree horizontal and 160-degree vertical viewing angles for an improved viewing experience, VGA and HDMI support in addition to DVI (with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) for viewing digital movies, digital photos, PC files and copy protected content. Visual performance is further enhanced with high contrast ratios, superior response times alongside a brightness level of 300cd/m2. You can choose from two models - the Gateway FHD2102 and the Gateway FHD2402 which will come in 21.5″ and 24″ sizes, respectively. The former will retail for $199.99 while the latter is going for $269.99 a pop. Needless to say, the more expensive among the two has better specifications, although both models do share a maximum resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, a 60MHz refresh rage, 300cd/m2 brightness level, a couple of 2W speakers and being Energy Star compliant.

Press Release

We’ve taken a look at Gateway’s SX Series of desktops earlier, so let us check out what other machines does
Gateway has to offer the masses in their latest product push. Up next is the DX Series desktops which were carved out to be multimedia and entertainment powerhouses, and this time round users can choose between AMD or Intel Dual- or Quad-Core processors, depending on which side of the processor camp they’re on (we’re sure that budget also plays a role in this, although brand loyalty would be ranked higher in the scheme of things). Apart from that, users an also benefit from a highly customizable list of system specifications that will involve massive amounts of memory and gigantic hard drives, all crammed into a compact mini-tower that seems to cough up more power than one would actually expect.

You’ll find details of both DX4300-03 and DX4820-02 mini-tower systems below.

DX4300-03
• AMD Phenom X4 9750 (2.4GHz, 512KBx4 L2 cache, 2400MHz)
• ATI Radeon HD 4650 graphics card (1GB video memory)
• AMD RS780 chipset
• 8GB DDR2 SDRAM
• 1TB SATA hard drive
• 18x DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive featuring Labelflash Technology
• Multi-in-one digital media card reader
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
• 802.11 b/g wireless
• 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) LAN
• 8 USB 2.0 ports (4 front / 4 rear)
• 1 HDMI port (rear / mini)
• 1 DVI port
• High-definition audio with 8-channel (7.1) audio support
• USB powered stereo speakers
• TV Tuner

DX4820-02
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 (2.66GHz, 4MB L2 cache)
• NVIDIA GeForce G210 graphics card (512MB video memory)
• Intel G43 Express chipset
• 8GB DDR3 SDRAM
• 750GB SATA hard drive
• 18x DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive featuring Labelflash Technology
• Multi-in-one digital media card reader
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit
• 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) LAN
• 8 USB 2.0 ports (4 front / 4 rear)
• 1 1394 (rear / miniport)
• 1 HDMI port (rear)
• 1 VGA port (rear)
• High-definition audio with 8-channel (7.1) audio support

You will find the DX4820-02 and DX4300-03 mini tower systems to go for $899.99 and $749.99, respectively.

Press Release

Gateway, the company that features cow patches as part of their corporate design might have been reduced to much less of what the company originally was back in its heydays, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t able to deliver a rock solid computer or notebook in this day and age. After all, being in the game long enough would surely give you enough insight to avoid past pitfalls while steering the company through to a better future. This time round, Gateway has released much smaller back-to-school desktop PCs that won’t skimp when it comes to performing power. According to Glenn Jystad, senior manager, desktop products, Gateway, “Bigger isn’t necessarily better when it comes to desktop size, especially in a cramped dorm room. Our smaller models include more than enough capabilities and leading technologies for the vast majority of students and general consumers, and help save costs and space.”

First off Gateway’s manufacturing line would be the small form factor desktop range known as the SX Series. Don’t be fooled by its diminutive size, as the SX Series is able to deliver all the power and technology required for general productivity use and casual gaming. It is tiny enough to fit nicely in a cozy dorm room, and can even be placed inconspicuously in a kitchen or the family den, making it equally at home whether it is a primary or secondary computer in your house. The first model from the series resides comfortably at the $499.99 price point, where the Gateway SX2800-01 is powered not by an Atom processor, but Intel’s C2Q 8200 processor instead, accompanied by 4GB RAM for a speedy system response and enough muscle to handle productivity and multimedia applications without breaking a sweat. If you’re interested, you can pick up new Gateway SX2800-01 from this week onwards, where it will be augmented by additional models in due time.

Press Release