Gadgets Device

Apple’s latest iPhone 3G will be more profitable than any other product in its line-up, which includes iPods, Macs, and iTunes. Despite a price tag that is half of the previous iPhone, the numbers of markets targeted around the world are a major contribution to the company’s success.

Reducing the component cost helps the new iPhone to exceed the 50 percent level achieved by Apple’s most popular media players, according to a preliminary study by research firm iSuppli Corp. “Apple’s ipod and iPhone products typically are priced about 50 percent more than their (materials and manufacturing) costs,” iSuppli said.

(Read the full post about ‘Apple’s profit soar high with new iPhone 3G at $199′…)

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by Darren Murph, posted Jun 27th 2008 at 1:12PM Now that you’ve already picked up one of those Metal Gear Solid 4 headsets, what on Earth are you to do with another? We’re hearing that the Blu-ray retail version of SOCOM Confrontation will indeed include a Bluetooth headset, and as you can clearly see above, it’s a playstation-branded one at that. You’ll also find a much needed mute button for keeping everyone else out of your whooping coughs, and a bundled USB cradle will keep it charged up when the battle subsides. As for pricing, that tidbit remains a mystery, but you can count on picking one up sans the game should you be so inclined. (Read the full post about ‘PlayStation-branded SOCOM Bluetooth headset revealed’…)

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Microsoft made a move to expand its intellectual assets when it comes to the mobile market. The company announced that it plans to acquire MobiComp, a Portugal-based software services company founded in 2000.

MobiComp is best known for its technologies which allow for the backup and restoration of mobile data in addition to the support of mobile posting to social websites like Facebook. Mobile services offered by the company include MobileKeeper Backup & Restore, MobileKeeper Sharing & Communities, and Active mTicker.

(Read the full post about ‘Microsoft buys Portugal-based mobile company’…)

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Talk about a radically different GPS navigation system with portable media player capabilities - the CDT GPS PMP (so many Three Letter Acronyms!) amazingly retails for just $102. It features a 3″ touch screen display and does the whole gamut of audio and video formats. Interesting to note the hand grips located at the side though, does this mean you’re getting this for a fast driver since you’ll be holding onto the CDT GPS PMP for dear life while giving directions to your destination? Tags: hdtv, speakers, tech, cool gear (Read the full post about ‘CDT GPS Looks Different’…)

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by Darren Murph, posted Jun 27th 2008 at 12:06PM Never mind those fancy BD-R critters, how’s about a 42GB DVD? Researchers with a good deal more intelligence than us over at Tohoku University have reportedly figured out a way to “multiply the amount of data that can be stored on a DVD or CD by 9.” Based on our best guess at translating a foreign language (we kid… sort of), the achievement was realized by shaping the pits on a DVD’s surface like Vs, essentially making the disc more capacious in the process. (Read the full post about ‘Japanese researchers devise method for cramming 42GB on a DVD’…)

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HP has recently rolled out a couple more color laser printers in the form of the Color LaserJet CP1215 and CP1518ni. Both of these models are now available in Taiwan, with the former retailing for $328 while the latter is going for $460. Both of these models boast HP’s in-line printing technology and third-generation ColorSphere toner, making it suitable for small business and SOHO users. The CP1518ni will support PictBridge photo print format, offering a much lower average printing cost compared to color inkjet printers. Has anyone tried it out to prove those claims? (Read the full post about ‘HP has new Color LaserJets’…)

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If cellphone carriers can afford to give away $600 handsets to snare subscribers, why not do the same with a $500 notebook? That’s exactly what France’s Phone House is up to. For as little as €100 ($156), plus both a data and a voice plan, Phone House (aka Carphone Warehouse) will give you the Eee PC-alike Airis Kira 740, a little seven inch wonder with a 1GHz processor, a 40GB hard drive and a claimed four and a half hour battery life. The Kira doesn’t have any 3G connectivity built in, though. For that you’ll need a USB dongle. We like this idea. A lot. If this becomes a commonplace practice, it could accelerate the growth of this already expanding sector of ultra-mobiles. (Read the full post about ‘Frech Telco Offers UMPC For Just $160′…)

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by Thomas Ricker, posted Jun 27th 2008 at 6:40AM Ah, so sorry fakers. Don’t you hate it when all your Photoshopping efforts come undone after the original D300 picture turns up? Oh well, D700 dreamers still have the alleged specs and hopes of a possible Monday announcement. [Via Nikond700, thanks John R.]Read PermalinkEmail this1 CommentsFiled under: Digital CamerasTags: pvp, mobiles, cool gear, dap (Read the full post about ‘Debunk: Nikon “D700″ spyshot’…)

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When we covered Japanese age-detecting cigarette vending machines back in may, one Gadget Lab reader, named Monjombo, left this comment: So if I hold up a picture of Sean Connery, I won’t be able to hack this? Well, Monjombo. It turns out that, yes, you could. A reporter for Sankei Sports tried fooling the machines with photographs. One was a 6″ wide “photo of a man who looked to be in his 50s” — probably not Sean Connery, but it worked. So did a 3″ picture of a woman in her 30s. Fujitaka, the company behind the detection software, admits that photos can sometimes fool its machines, and is working on a fix. According to Pink Tentacle, it will be “a more advanced system that will make sure each face belongs to a real human”. (Read the full post about ‘Age Detecting Vending Machines Hacked With Photos of Old People’…)

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If you are a frequent traveler who loves to grow plants at home, one main problem would be keeping them watered. Good neighbors aren’t easy to find these days, and the Aqua Globe is here to help. It is able to continuously water plants up to a fortnight without the need for a refill. Each Aqua Globe is unique since they are hand blown glass sculptures, and the unique system will capture oxygen released by dry soil while releasing an equal amount of water back so that the plants won’t end up drowned. The Aqua Globe retails for $9.98 and would make the perfect gift for plant lovers. (Read the full post about ‘Aqua Globe’…)

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