03.29.2010
IDAPT Universal Desktop Charger
So, it probably goes without saying that everyone here at Popgadget can safely be classified as a geek (though I think there may be a nerd or two among us, but a deliberation on the differences between the two is for another time). Anyway, as geeks go, there is a tendency to have significant charging needs to keep all of our gadgets up and running.
I've personally been a fan of the universal adapter for a long time. One in the house, one in the car, and only to buy a new tip on occasion to fit the latest mobile device. Only problem is the unsightliness of the cords. IDAPT provides an elegant, desktop solution to this dilemma. Easy-in device tips allow you to simultaneously charge up to three devices without all the clutter. Perfect for your nightstand, kitchen counter, desk, or wherever you charge.
The IDAPT comes with the six most common tips, including iPhone / iPod, Samsung, Nokia, and USB mini and micro. Additional tips can be purchased online. Available starting in May, the IDAPT has an MSRP of $59.99 and will come in black and white models.
Let it be your single cord solution.
Posted by Brian
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03.29.2010
Urbanears Plattan Headphones
Though I'm normally partial to in-ear headphones, I decided to give the Urbanears Plattan headphones a whirl and was very impressed.
I admit to being a sound snob. I usually go toting around in $600 professional headphone gear, so I was skeptical about anything with a $60 price tag. I'm pleased to report, however, that these stylish, full-sized headphones delivered great sound that was music [pun intended] to these audiophile ears. I plugged into my iPhone and cranked some thumping dance tunes. Clear, rich sound with no bass breakdown or muddiness. Their adjustability even made them start off comfortably on my fat head and their light weight made them stay comfortable.
The Plattans feature an in-line microphone and remote compatible with the iPhone and Nokia, HTC and Blackberry phones along with two extra cable extensions making the headphones compatible with a majority of all devices. Also featured is the “zound plug” which allows you to daisy-chain another set of headphones to let a friend listen in. This set also folds up to a neat, compact size for convenient transport. And, finally, the best part… 14 fashionable colors to choose from, with everything from basic black to ocean blue and salad green.
Great listening at a great price.
Posted by Brian
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03.24.2010
iSkin Solo FX iPhone Case
Oh the ubiquity of the black iPhone case! Leather, pleather, rubber, plastic... I want something more fantastic!
Leave it to the geniuses of iSkin to give me the exciting cover my 3GS deserves! The iSkin Solo FX builds on the original Solo case by adding a designer pattern and a mirrored screen protector to the glossy case that gives you the look of a hard shell while offering the protection and gripability of a rubber skin. There is also a special edition of the FX that adds even more excitement to the texture and pattern.
The glamorous FX is made with Microban antimicrobial protection that inhibits the growth of all the nasty bacteria that tends to collects on one's phone - another plus for me, the resident Popgadget germophobe. Color choices for the FX are Breeze (translucent blue), Lush (translucent green), Passion (translucent red), Sunset (translucent orange) and Vive (translucent purple). Like the perfect designer dress, the FX is low profile and cut out in all the right places (dock, camera, headphone jack, and ringer switch) while covering the essentials (volume and power controls). It's also compatible with the iSkin revoClip for those that want fashion and dare I say i... functionality... in one.
Show your iPhone style with the FX (and your fear of germ... oh, nevermind, that's my fear of germs).
Posted by Brian
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02.15.2010
Barbie Gets Geeked
A few weeks back, I reported that Mattel was holding open votes to decide Barbie's 126th career. Among the choices were News Anchor, Architect, and Computer Engineer. I'm happy to announce that the people have spoken and we now have Computer Engineer Barbie.
According to Mattel's site, the doll's designers worked side by side with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to design realistic clothing and accessories. Barbie will be decked out in a tee with a binary code pattern and some black knit skinny pants. She'll also be equipped with all the latest tech including a smartphone, Bluetooth headset, and even a travel bag for her laptop. Speaking of the laptop, Barbie's will of course, be a pink affair which will match her prerequisite glasses.
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Posted by sherri
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toys
Tags: Barbie Computer Engineer contest toys
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02.14.2010
Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition
This variation of the popular Nokia 5800 Xpress Music edition makes the most of Nokia's Ovi Maps that was recently re-vamped into a free 'forever' app.
The Ovi Maps app features coverage for over 70 countries and combines with the 5800 to maximize its abilities to give you turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation for both driving and walking. Ovi Maps also features free updates, more than 6,000 3D landmarks, free event guides, and free Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides.
As for the hardware, the bright 360x640TFT touchscreen displays the excellent features of the easy-to-read Ovi Maps and features tactile feedback. The 5800 Navi also features 3.5G (3.6 Mbs); Wi-Fi; 3.2 MP camera with video recording, autofocus, and LED flash; 81MB of internal memory; hot-swappable MicroSD slot that can accommodate cards up to 16GB; very respectable battery life of 8.8 hours talk time and 16 days of standby time; and all the music features of the original 5800 Xpress Music edition including dedicated menu button and even respectable built-in stereo speakers.
The 5800 Navi includes an auto power adapter and a windshield mount right in the box, so it's ready to jump in the car and hit the open road with you. The windshield mount was a little tricky to put together and seemed rather large upon assembly, but actually is quite usable once installed in the car. It's very adjustable and was long enough to put the phone right at my fingertips, even in my huge (read: non P.C.) SUV.
Currently on sale at the Nokia Online Store for $299.
Posted by Brian
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02.10.2010
Cosmetic Mirror Lets You Try on Makeup Virtually
It's not a magic mirror, but it's still pretty cool. The Digital Cosmetic Mirror allows women to try on make up without having to go through the time consuming step of applying the makeup. Created by cosmetics company Shiseido, the interactive display allows users to check out new products using augmented reality.
Users simply stand in front of the computer's camera and let it scan your face. The image is then loaded into the computer and it gives you a number of colors to try out. Users then select a color via touchscreen and the computer applies the makeup to the virtual image. If you like what you see, you can print out the photo and pick up your new cosmetics.
The Digital Cosmetic Mirror can apply eyeshadow and lipstick as well as recommend different products and makeup techniques. So far this is a Japan-exclusive but I would love to see this in my favorite cosmetic store in the near future,
Via Japan Trends
Posted by sherri
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Tags: augmented reality digital cosmetic mirror makeup
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02. 9.2010
PSP Gets Fashion Forward
You seen fashion PCs, catwalk-worthy phones, and even haute couture-inspired cars. Now meet the fashion handheld console. A Japan-exclusive, Sony is releasing the “Jill Stuart Sweet Limited Package” a blossum pink PlayStation Portable. This special edition console was created in conjunction with designer Jill Stuart
The limited edition set includes the pastel-colored PSP a pouch with a beaded pearl strap along with a matching pink cleaning cloth. There is also a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo all packaged in a cute pink box.
The “Jill Stuart Sweet Limited Package" becomes available on March 4 for $230. Interested gamers should start looking for a good import site.
Via TechCrunch
Posted by sherri
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Tags: fashion gaming Jill Stuart PlayStation Portable video gaming
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02. 8.2010
iPhone App Makes Sure Your Date is Safe
Even though dating should be about having fun and meeting new people, it's also about finding out if this person is potential mate material. I mean you want to know if the person sitting across from you has had serious run-ins with the law or has picked their nose since age seven. Thanks to this new iPhone and Android app, you might not be able to check about the nose picking habit, but you can get the deets on just about everything else.
Created by information commerce company, Intelius, Date Check does what the company does best, dig up dirt.Date Check is an app that lets users pull up all those juicy secrets that you want to know, but might be too shy to ask on the first or second date. With a flick of the wrist you can find out if a person has a criminal history via the sleeze detector. You can also see if they own real estate, or if they're living with someone -- say a spouse they might have forgotten to mention.
The app is currently available for free on the Android Marketplace and the Apple App Store.
Via Gadgetwise
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Posted by sherri
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Tags: android apps applications dating iphone apps
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01.27.2010
Is the Apple iPad "magical"?
Today was 2010's first iDay- the announcement of a new or updated Apple product, predictably following months, or in this case years of feverish speculation. Steve Jobs gave the gathered press the first glimpse of the super-tablet himself, proudly declaring the new iPad not just revolutionary, but magical. It is undeniably sleek, beautiful, and impressive to look at but is it necessary, especially for people already toting around iPhones or iPod Touches, along with a MacBook or a MacBook Air?
Here are the specs:
-9.7" LED backlit, fully multi-touch display, with IPS technology (IPS provides wide viewing angles and good color reproduction, important for a tablet that you may use both laptop-style, and as a media player). There's also a special fingerprint-resistant coating, obviously good for a screen with a touch interface.
-Up to 10 hour battery life for video, music, and wifi surfing.
-Half an inch thick, weighs 1.5 lbs, 9.5" high, 7.5" wide.
-Wifi, Bluetooth, and optional 3G through AT&T (yay, not). Assisted GPS on 3G models only.
-On-screen keyboard only- but wide enough, apparently for something approaching touch-typing. Jobs typed with all his fingers, not just thumbs during the demo. There's also an optional hardware keyboard which also charges the iPad.
-The iPad will run all current iPhone/iPod Touch applications, plus have its own iPad-only apps.
-The iPad is an advanced e-book reader, using the iBooks app for reading and the iBookstore app for browsing and buying books. iBookstore has licensing deals with some of the biggest publishers so book selection should quickly get competitive with the Amazon Kindle's, plus iBook supports the EPUB standard, which offers thousands of free books. The best part? The Amazon Kindle and BN Nook use low-powered e-ink displays which are easy on the eyes and give great battery life, but they are not backlit or in color. The iPad is both, and while battery life is sure to be less than the Kindle's, 10 hours is still really, really good.
-iWork, Apple's answer to MS Office will be available for the iPad. Pages, Numbers, and Keynote (Apple's versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) will be $9.99 each, a great price for a full featured app.
What are the advantages of the iPad over the iPhone or iPod Touch? The screen, obviously is almost three times the size, a huge improvement for web surfing, watching videos and viewing photos, email, and working on documents. The on-screen keyboard, which will surely elicit much discussion, won't please everybody, but will surely be more comfortable for typing longer docs and emails, and there is the optional hardware keyboard.
Continue reading "Is the Apple iPad "magical"?"
Posted by Mia
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01.26.2010
LG's Lotus Gets Elite
LG and Sprint are continuing their partnership with the release of the successor to the stylish Lotus phone. The LG Lotus Elite has all the looks of the original Lotus, but has stepped it up a notch with a few exclusive features.
One of the new features on the Elite is the 2.4-inch external touchscreen that allows users to easily navigate all their pertinent information without having to open the phone. The screen has a 320x240 resolution which makes for a vibrant phone experience. Other features include the new three dedicated shortcut keys for social networking, email, and text. The social networking button, dubbed Social can be mapped to a person's favorite social network.
Continue reading "LG's Lotus Gets Elite"
Posted by sherri
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cell phones
Tags: cell phones LG Lotus Elite Sprint
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