Sony has introduced PRS-700, the third generation of eBook reader featuring a six inch touch screen display, expanded memory, and built-in LED reading light.

The newest Reader sports the dimensions of a slimmed down paperback book. The textured black casing and soft black cover contribute to its envy-inspiring design.

The interactive six-inch touch screen display allows booklovers to flip pages with the slide of a finger. Readers can also search terms within a document or book, create notes using the virtual keyboard and highlight text with the included stylus pen.

The high-resolution, high contrast electronic paper display technology provides a crisp text and graphics that are highly readable, even in bright sunlight. For times when ambient light is not available, Sony is the first to offer a built-in LED reading light.

It can hold 350 books in its internal memory, and more in a memory card. The new Reader will be available next month for about $400.

Link: Sony

While driving its better to give your full concentration on road, speed and other fellow vehicles and there are times when you can’t avoid answering the phone. So, Sony Ericsson HCB-108 Bluetooth speakerphone with the longest talk and standby time will help you to carry on chatting with family and friend while driving. The device offers a month of standby and 25 hours non-stop talk time. It is connected to your car’s visor with no wires, or can be used on your desk as a speakerphone. The company also claims that the gadget has ‘superior audio quality’ with less echo and noise cancellation. No idea on pricing, but the HCB-108 will be available in selected countries sometime this Q4 in black and silver colors. 

Source : Engadget-Mobile

Software giant Microsoft has now made available the Zune 3.0 software update for the owners of their Zune digital media players. This latest software update brings a lot of new functionalities on the Zune.

Users equipped with the Zune 3.0 software update can download music directly to their players, either over a home wireless network or through Wi-Fi hotspots at more than 9,800 McDonald's restaurants in the U.S., courtesy of Internet access provider Wayport.

“Wayport is pleased to be working with Microsoft to make it easier for Zune users to access music on the go,” said Dan Lowden, vice president of business development and marketing for Wayport.

Zune users would also be able tag and purchase songs directly from the built-in FM radio and tap into new, personalized music recommendations and programming.

Zune customers have a choice in how they acquire music - they can pay per track or choose a Zune Pass subscription. Zune Pass subscribers can download or stream music from their Zune or computer interchangeably, all for a flat rate of $14.99 (U.S.) per month.

Microsoft also released pricing for new Zune players. Pricing starts at $130 for the 4-GB model, $150 for 8 GB, $199 for 16 GB, $230 for 80 GB, and $250 for 120 GB.

Link: Zune

Apple's iPhone 3G has won a public vote to find the year's best gadget, beating strong competition from three games consoles, a budget laptop and a balloon-shaped iPod speaker system.

The latest version of the mobile that combines a phone with a music and video player was chosen by readers of Stuff magazine in its annual Gadget of the Year awards.

The magazine described the iPhone 3G as "a faster, cleverer version of an already remarkable phone". The phone's first incarnation, launched in Britain last year, won the coolest gadget prize at last year's ceremony.

Other nominees included Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii Fit and the B&W Zeppelin iPod speakers.

Stuff's Editor Fraser Macdonald said the nominated products were judged on their performance, design and value, as well as "that elusive cool factor".

"Having our readers vote for a number of the awards has been fascinating," he said. "They are the ones out there on the street buying gadgets and so they are a great barometer."

Link: Reuters

ASUS has unveiled the AiGuru SV1, the world's first Skype Certified videophone dedicated to unlimited video calling over the Internet. Boasting a large 7" display and a built-in webcam, speaker and microphone, the WiFi-capable videophone lets users make unlimited video calls for free to other Skype users without the need for a computer.

"The AiGuru SV1 is Skype's first foray with a partner into the videophone category," said Jonathan Cristensen, Skype's general manager, mobile and hardware devices. "The videophone offers the benefits of video calling to a much wider audience, allowing friends and families to share their worlds face-to-face without being tied to a computer."

The ASUS AiGuru SV1 features a large, high-resolution 7" TFT LCD and an integrated webcam, for the best video calling quality. The ASUS AiGuru SV1 also features a built-in microphone and speaker supporting exceptional sound quality. Users who wish to have privacy during their calls can use a standard mini-jack headset and microphone.

With its WiFi capability, small footprint and rechargeable battery power system, the ASUS AiGuru SV1 also offers convenience in its portability.

The ASUS AiGuru SV1 will initially be available for pre-order on September 18, 2008 in Europe and North America. It will be on sale at the beginning of October 2008 priced $299.95. The videophone will be available in retail outlets in the Asia Pacific region later this year.

Link: ASUS

The new Canon Powershot SD790 IS is great according to a review by PC Magazine. The high end pocket shooter took top honours with an editor's choice award. Not suprising given the 10 mega pixel output, slick control interface, amazing image quality and stylish good lucks. At around $350 it's a tad pricey but considering the images you'll get, we're sure it'll tempt plenty of gadgeteers who want a no fuss point and shooter.

Check out the short but sweet review over at PC Mag. 

Sporting stylish looks (the reds a little girlie in our opinion but it's also available in silver and black) and a huge 10.2 mega pixel sensor, the new Samsung L210 digital camera is sure to win some hearts for budget users looking for high resolutions. Priced at around $200, the Samsung features 3x optical zoom, iso up to 1600, auto macro and a 2.5inch LCD monitor. Other consumer features include red eye reduction (for those late nights out on the town), digital image stabilization, face detection, SVGA movie mode and 10mb of internal storage space as standard. It's also compatible with SD / SDHC / MMC cards so you can really take advantage of all those lovely pixels. 

What kind of print size can you expect from the pictures from this camera? Nice big A2 ready shots if you want. Winner.

 SanDisk Corporation today announced the company will promote DRM-free music from more than 50 new and emerging artists on a microSD card. This U.S.-based program is the first of its kind to use microSD cards, and helps launch the new 8GB (gigabyte) Sansa Fuze MP3 player. The “Sansa Sessions” microSD card is comprised of a collection of rock, pop, and hip hop songs, music videos, and photos from more than 30 labels. Featured artists include All Time Low, Ladytron, Magnet, Nada Surf, Of Montreal and The Coup.

“The Sansa Sessions microSD card is an innovative medium for music distribution, and great exposure for our artists,” said Matt Lunsford, co-president, Polyvinyl Record Co., which represents Of Montreal and other artists featured on the card. “This promotion benefits all involved, aligning the interests of the musician, label and consumer. We look forward to doing more together.”

NonStop Riot, a LA-based entertainment and music marketing agency, selected and licensed the 50+ tracks for the Sansa Sessions program. SanDisk is currently working with NonStop Riot to create its content strategy and develop relationships with innovative labels and artists to distribute music on devices and flash memory cards.

Added Schreiber: “Artists want to give their fans an easy and legal way to experience and share their music, while labels are looking for a form of physical distribution with more usability than the CD. The Sansa Sessions promotion is a great opportunity to explore this new format and gives both artists and labels a glimpse of the potential for music distribution in this medium.”

Roughly the size of a fingernail, a microSD card is reminiscent of the CD but much smaller. Using this card, music lovers can carry thousands of songs, videos and photos in their pocket – and easily transport content from a Sansa music player to a PC, PDA, mobile phone and even an automobile.

For a limited time, U.S.-based music lovers who purchase the 8GB Sansa Fuze player will have the opportunity to redeem a promotional offer inside their box to receive the exclusive Sansa Sessions music sampler on a pre-loaded microSD card.

Con la posibilidad que la mayoría de reproductores MP3 presentan al usuario de poder realizar grabaciones, quizás la existencia de una grabadora MP3 pueda parecer redundante. Con un precio de 200$ para la versión de 512 MB, alguno la encontrará innecesaria y cara. Ahora bien, no hablamos de un reproductor MP3 que puede grabar, sino de una grabadora que puede reproducir MP3. Diferente producto, diferente audiencia, diferente precio.

Con cuatro micrófonos incorporados que permiten grabar sonido con calidad de 96 kHz/24-bit, creo que esta grabadora encontrará su hueco.

Una duda, no exenta de malicia, que se me plantea al ver este producto es: ¿se le aplica el canon digital?

Enlace: SlashGear.

UK roads drive motorists to despair

THE thrill of the open road is a distant memory across the nation, according to a study released today - almost half of all Brits can’t name a great place to drive.

New research by YouGov for Sat Nav experts Garmin found that endless traffic jams (84 per cent), accidents (35 per cent), boring scenery (26 per cent) and confusing road signs (20 per cent) are to blame.

Garmin’s Claire Carter said: “Driving in America conjures images of Route 66 and Route 1 and in Australia it’s the Great Ocean Road. In Britain, we’re more likely to think of the M25 and the M6.  It’s hardly surprising that driving in Britain is regarded as more pain than pleasure.”

Endless traffic jams saw the M25 crowned the worst road in Britain to drive by almost one in three people (31 per cent).  

London was voted the worst city for driving with confusing road signs, one way systems and constant road works making the experience particularly unpleasant.

More after the click