Seemingly another mini-laptop based on VIA’s NanoBook reference design – and in that way joining the Everex Cloudbook and Packard Bell EasyNote XS - Maxdata’s Belinea s.book 1 differs from its low-cost cousins by having an enhanced specification, together with the enlarged price – in Germany – to match.
Convergence can often be seen as a dirty word, but iRiver’s Unit 2 (which we first caught a glimpse of in January last year, then again in July) seems to have convinced everybody who tried it at CES 2008 that putting a WiFi radio, CD/DVD player, VoIP phone, GPS, streaming and download into a single machine is nothing but A Good Thing, and well worth waiting (and saving up the $700 they estimate it’ll cost) until 2009 to pick one up. A 30GB drive, SD slot, removable display-cum-independent-7-inch-PMP (800 x 480, 16:9 aspect) and a remote that folds out to give a full QWERTY for messaging round out what could be the gadget of next year.
IPEVO have announced an upgrade to their SOLO desktop phone for the Skype VoIP service that adds WiFi connectivity to the attractive device. Revealed as part of the company’s updated range at CES 2008 – which also included compact wired handsets, a desktop speakerphone and a webcam designed for VoIP use – the SOLO now can be used away from a wired network connection, in any location as long as it is near power and within range of your wireless network.
I’m sure many of you know at least one person who lives outside of the country. Maybe it’s a friend or maybe it’s a business connection. One way or another, if you’re making international calls you know they do not come cheap.
British mobile phone provider 3, recently introduced a prepaid cellular phone powered by the popular Skype VoIP service. For a small minimum monthly payment of around £10, you can make unlimited Skype calls. Much to their surprise the phone has been selling out, and nearly impossible to find in most markets.
The E51, which was announced last September, is now available for purchase in Germany. It’s a business phone, and it can perform business functions like Speedy Gonzales himself with its 3G HSDPA and WiFi connectivity.
You can even use VoIP on the phone when you have a WiFi connection in order to save money. There is also a 2MP camera that has a 4x digital zoom.
Here at SlashGear we’ve generally given pretty short shrift to VOIP handsets: all too often they miss the point of their very purpose, to take internet calling out of the realm of the geeky and into the hands of the general public. Common errors include requiring a USB connection to an attached PC rather than a standalone ethernet hookup, or using WiFi but only supporting unsecured networks which usually means hotspots such as found in Starbucks and elsewhere won’t let you log on. So when Philips asked us to try out their VOIP841, a combination DECT and Skype phone, it seemed only fair to not warn them of our harsh standards and instead see how well the sleek black handset lived up to some high expectations.
While some cellular carriers do everything they can to lock down what you’re able to use their bandwidth for – VoIP taking top-spot for App Least Wanted – network 3 Italy seems to be taking the opposite route. They’ve partnered with Skype to bring out a co-branded handset that gives easy access to the VoIP giant’s network, and they’re even encouraging customers use it with up to ten hours free Skype talktime until the end of January 2008.
It’s really quite fascinating what people like about different gadgets. Take, for example, this VoIP speakerphone. People aren’t marveling at its small size or cool technology, but rather its keen ability to transform.
Its small size is actually quite refreshing, as it weighs only 1.25 pounds, which is considerably less than some other units. One thing to note is that it does have a USB connector so it can suck juice from a PC, or you can just use the included AC adapter.
Have you ever seen those things on TV that look too good to be true? You know the kind, they promise to give you the magical ability to clean any surface just my wiping it with a sponge. Here’s one that’s looks to be just about too good to be true.
SlashGear Japan
