MiFi 2200 owners in the US have a treat in store, with a new firmware update available seemingly for both the Verizon and Sprint versions of the intelligent mobile hotspot. The new firmware addresses WiFi compatibility issues with the Nintendo DS and BlackBerry Curve, as well as – for the Sprint MiFi 2200 at least – enabling “international roaming”. However don’t get too excited; that doesn’t mean Novatel have suddenly unlocked GSM support in the hitherto CDMA-only hotspot.
Barnes and Noble’s nook may not be the first wireless ebook reader we’ve seen, but with its dual displays, color touchscreen, compact form-factor and Android OS it’s perhaps the most distinctive. The nook isn’t expected to launch until the end of November, but SlashGear were at the B&N launch event in NYC today. Check out our coverage – and some first impressions – after the cut.
Updated with video after the cut
Barnes and Noble have officially announced their ebook reader, the Barnes and Noble nook, complete with dual displays and free 3G and WiFi b/g wireless. The nook has a 6-inch E Ink Vizplex E Ink display up top and a 3.5-inch color touchscreen underneath, with the whole thing based on Android and measuring 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.5-inches while tipping the scales at 11.2oz. B&N have partnered with AT&T for the nook’s 3G access, and owners will be able to use the retailer’s in-store WiFi connections for free as well.
Canon’s latest DSLR, the EOS-1D Mark IV, has emerged, and it’s got the Nikon D3S firmly in its sights. The EOS-1D Mark IV packs a 16-megapixel sensor, 45-point autofocus system, 10fps continuous shooting and 1080p Full HD video recording, together with not one but two of the company’s DIGIC 4 imaging processors. Like Nikon, too, Canon are waxing about their ISO range: the Mark IV boasts up to 102,400 ISO, though it’s more usually found playing in the 100 to 12,800 bracket.
Gateway have announced a bevy of new thin-and-light notebooks, the EC14, EC54 and EC58, each packing Intel CULV processors, WiFi b/g/n and up to 8hrs battery life. The Gateway EC14 is the baby of the bunch, with an 11.6-inch display, up to 500GB storage and up to 8GB of RAM. Meanwhile the EC54 and EC58 both have a 15.6-inch display, are an inch thick and have an aluminum chassis.
Remember the Barnes and Noble dual-display ebook reader spotted in concept form last week? There’s obviously something in the water, as Spring Design have just announced an ebook reader, the Alex, with both a 6-inch E Ink panel and a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, based on Google’s Android platform and with integrated 3G and WiFi.
The touchscreen can be used to browse the web and grab clippings, which can then be viewed on the e-ink panel. Spring Design have also developed what they call Link Notes, a hybrid of traditional ebooks, clippings, multimedia and user notes. As for production possibilities, the company claim to be in discussion with “selected strategic partners” and “major content” providers, with a release expected by the end of 2009.
Storage is via SD card, and there’s a headphones socket and full smartphone functionality. Spring Design call the dual-display system Duet Navigator, and as well as being used to pull up related photos, news articles, media content and more, it will also aid in annotation and searches by offering an on-screen keyboard.
Mobile internet sharing looks to be one of the key sales messages for smartphones over the next few months; we’ve already heard HTC talking up their connection sharing app on the HD2, and now Verizon are tipped to be promoting MiFi action on the upcoming BlackBerry Storm2. According to a leaked marketing page from the CDMA carrier, the “Totally New Storm2″ would launch on October 21st with “MiFi capability”; however that date was later retracted.
The market for wireless-connected ebook readers is hotting up, and so we’re happy to welcome the latest entrant, txtr. Set to hit European and US markets from December 15th, the €319 ($477) device has a 6-inch 600 x 800 E Ink display, capacitive slider, accelerometer, USB 2.0, WiFi and “txtr Net”; like Amazon’s WhisperNet service, txtr Net is an onboard 3G connection which keeps ebooks synchronized between the txtr reader itself and a user’s online account.
Video demo after the cut
It’s beginning to get a little ridiculous now: after Walt Mossberg reviews the BlackBerry Storm 2 ahead of any official confirmation by RIM themselves that the device actually exists, now Vodafone UK have announced that they’ll be the first network to offer the second-generation touchscreen smartphone. Available to preorder from today, and with deliveries set to begin on October 26th, the Vodafone Blackberry Storm 2 9520 is priced from free with a new plan costing £35/mo ($56) upwards.
Samsung have announced their first US Android smartphone, the Samsung Moment, and it’s headed exclusively to Sprint. The Moment has a 3.2-inch 320 x 480 AMOLED touchscreen together with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, optical joystick, EVDO Rev.A and WiFi b/g; as a “with Google” device, it has the usual Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube and other software.
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