[CES 2009] iLuv has lifted up the curtain on its iSP200 portable 2.1 channel speakers that target computer users, regardless of whether you're on the Mac or PC camp. This pair of speakers aren't groundbreaking in any way, but at least they ought to offer something better than those generic $10 models you see in the market without looking tacky on your desk. You will be able to find the following features on the iLuv iSP200 :-

• Integrated 2.1-channel audio amplifier
• Master/Bass/Treble volume controls
• Magnetically-shielded satellite loudspeakers
• Easy-to-install and easy-to-use with computers or any audio devices
• Built-in USB 2.0 hub (3 USB ports)
• Speaker through USB or 3.5mm audio
• 3.5mm Aux in jack

Permalink: iLuv iSP200 Portable 2.1 Channel Speakers from Ubergizmo (US, FR) | Good deals | Hot: CES 2009, Jan 6-11

The LG KS660 is a dual-SIM phone supporting tri-band GSM connectivity. It has a 3-inch TFT touchscreen display with WQVGA resolution (400x240), 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and video recording at 720x480@15fps. Additional specs include 50MB internal storage, microSD expansion slot (up to 4GB), Bluetooth and USB capabilities. Unfortunately the phone lacks in 3G and Wi-Fi which could prove to be an awful mistake from the LG camp.

LG KS660

The second mobile phone is LG GD910 and it comes in the unusual wristwatch form factor.

LG GD910

You may remember the wristwatch prototype by LG that was displayed at the MWC 2008. Well, they've made it real this time and it would be first showcased at the CES 2009 next month.

The LG GD910 is 13.9 mm thick and sports a 1.43-inch touch LCD screen. The main selling point of the device is 3G video calls thanks to the front-facing camera.

Behind the watch disguise you will also find HSDPA and Bluetooth connectivity, voice dialling and speech recognition, text-to-speech feature and a music player.

Currently, we don't have any information about pricing or availability of either device but we will do our upmost to bring you that information ASAP.

Posted by: John

I’ve played with some of the GPS sport recorders out there and for some of them you definitely need to read the manual to understand how to get into all the different modes. Not with the Holux GPSport 245 though. With the dimensions of 82 x 53 x 23 mm and weighing in at 72g, this little device weighs has a large and very well organized screen.

There are six buttons on the unit. One each on the Left and Right side (Back/Esc and Enter respectively) and then on the front of the unit below the LCD are 4 function keys.

More than just the advantage of having six buttons, on every screen the GPSport 245 displays what options you have for each button. You may not think this is a big deal but I’m sick of trying to remember what combination of holding down two buttons turns on the Bluetooth or switches the Units from Metric to Imperial. This unit is very easy to use and configure. It has a menu button that has a Quick Setup guide, where you can set your mode (Biking, Running, Walking, Vehicle), your weight and how often you want the screen to toggle between functions (Show Speed, Altitude, Distance, Calories Burned, etc). Unfortunately, since the buttons are rubberized and sealed for the Waterproof feature, they are hard to press and sometimes do not work the first time.

Let’s take a look at the Holux GPSport 245 specs and features:

Key Features

• GPS positioning & logger
• Auto Flip Page - Cycles through information (Speed, Altitude, Calories Burned, Distance) at tunable intervals (Manual, 5s, 10s, 30s, 60seconds)
• Set an Alert for (Time, Speed, Distance)
• Calorie Calculation with 3 modes (Biking, Running, Walking)
• Auto Log Function (starts log when satellite signal is fixed)
• Single touch POI (Point Of Interest) recording
• Metric and Imperial Unit support
• On screen clock with time zone setting support in both 12:00 and 24:00 time format

We’ve talked about the size of the unit and the buttons. The GPSport 245 has 4 modes it can work in: Biking, Running, Walking, and Vehicle. The first three modes are also used to calculate how many calories one burns during a trip. If the GPSport 245 could figure out how many calories you’re burning while driving then it’s a truly incredible device but most likely you’re like me and tend to be putting on the calories at this time (but good calories I’ll need for when I get to Everest base camp for my hike of course)

The Home/Up button brings you to a screen with a nice wooden sign picture that tells you what direction your ‘home’ is. In this menu you can show your current GPS coordinates and show/set the coordinates for your destination (Finder Point). One features I’d like to see added to the unit is the ability to save some of the Finder Points so you can have a ‘Home’ or starting location and also have set the destination of interest. The GPSport 245 indicates which direction you are traveling and automatically updates the distance to the Finder Point, which was great when I was trying to find my house because all houses look the same in the suburbs where I live. Likewise it was an easy way to tell how far I’ve traveled from my starting point.

The unit displays several pages of information and you can set the device to automatically flip through them at 4 different intervals or you can manually do so with the Page/Down button. The different pages displayed are for:

• Compass & Current Speed
• Max & Average Speed
• Altitude & Altitude Variance
• Calories Burned & Total Calories Burned Today
• Distance Traveled & Time Elapsed

The current speed page is setup like an analog dashboard meter. This is more useful way to display the real-time speed when you’re using the GPS unit in the car or biking than when you’re hiking or walking. I had a little bit of difficulty with the Max & Average Speed page on one of my treks. Somewhere in during my run, the unit said I hit a max speed of 60mph. Now I did pick it up a notch when I was running across 6 lanes of traffic and I’ve been told I’m a pretty fast sprinter but 60mph…I don’t think so! I was a bit annoyed at this because it made the whole Max/Avg speed page useless for the rest of my trip unless I saved my info and started a fresh trip from where I was. The GPSport 245 also has a Menu page where you can see the History of your trips without having to connect it to the computer and upload your logs. You can also lock certain logs so they cannot be deleted from the unit itself.

The Enter Key on the right side of the unit also serves as a One-Touch mechanism for saving a POI (Point of Interest). If along your travels you see something of interest you can simply hit the button once and it will mark the spot so when you upload your data log to your PC you can use the Holux software which uses Google Maps to show your route and there will be a mark for all your POI’s. You can also save the data as *.kmz files so you can open up your locations in the Google Earth application.

This is particularly useful if you have taken pictures along the way because the Holux GPSport 245 also doubles as a GPS logger so the software matches the timestamp of your picture with the data logged and updates your photograph file with comments and GPS information or GeoTag (if you want to use the buzz word). If your camera and GPSport 245 have different time zone settings or off on their clock settings by just a little bit, the software has a feature to allow you to shift your photo time by any specified days, hours, minutes and/or seconds so you can sync up and add your GPS information. The software also allows you to upload your photos to Flickr, arguably the best known online photo management and sharing application.

The software also shows a Speed or Altitude graph, or both at the same time. The points with photos are marked with squares on the graph. On the graph you can pan left, pan right, zoom in, zoom out in the altitude graph.

The user manual goes into detail about all the features of the included software. However, note that the software user manual is in softcopy only and is installed on your system when the software is loaded. Here is what does actually come in the box:

• USB Cable
• Quick Start Guide
• AC Adapter
• Warranty Card
• Software Installation CD
• Bike Mount Kit (rubber pad, 2 plastic mounting pieces, 3 Black Cable Ties)

The Bike Mount Kit mounts stable enough and has a latch to keep the unit in place and eaily remove it from the mount. I would have liked to have arm band for the unit to use for running/hiking because I found myself holding the GPSport 245 in my hand when I was running instead of having it bounce around in my pocket and to avoid having buttons accidentally pressed, which in hindsight is unlikely because it takes some force to push these buttons in!

The unit is charged with an included USB cable. The mini-USB port on the unit has a rubber cover which actually pulls out almost ½” for when you need to plug I the cable.

It’s the little things that make me happy because I was thrilled when I saw this! I hate when the rubber cover on electronic units bends just slightly so you can plug in the cable but you know it’s a strain on the rubber and the cover will break after just 10 times. I didn’t drain the battery fully but after 18 hours the battery was only half drained according to the battery indicator.

Summary
I am a fan of the Holux GPSport 245 Outdoor GPS. The ease of configuration and navigation of the unit was my favorite part. I couldn’t find any information about the IPX-6 waterproof rating except that the unit is dust tight. I did take a walk which happened to turn into a shower as the rain came down on me and the unit was fine in my hands. The buttons are hard to press but that tends to be a given with sporty waterproofing. Other than that the unit worked very well for me except when it indicated my New Balance sneakers allowed me to go from 3.3mph to 60+mph in a few seconds. But that was a one time fluke that I could not reproduce. I’m guessing I might have dropped my bag quickly and that could have caused it to track itself as going a small distance extremely fast.

-by Gautam Khattak

Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget.

In a bid to distance themselves from the Stalin-themed Nokia handsets, Nokia has issued a statement that denies any involvement in the sale of these handsets. Nokia says that “even if Nokia was on the brink of ruin and release phones or panel with a portrait of Stalin was the only chance to save our business, Nokia [would not do] that.”

If Stalin-themed Nokia cellphones are your cup of tea, we hear shops in Moscow have stock. Otherwise, just know that Nokia isn’t down with Stalin either.

[Via: APA]

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Americans are un-green - less than 10% recycle old mobile phones
• Video: Guillaume du Gardier interviews Charlie Schick
• 3,000 Vodafone branded Nokia 6110 Navigators recalled in the UK
• Kodak inks patent cross-licensing deal with Nokia
• Cell phone market in Pakistan is booming!

An economic crisis changes the way you think about gadgets. Is a $400 game console bundle really what you want to be spending your hard-earned money on, considering that you could be out of a job in six months?

Maybe not — though we're sympathetic to the idea that the recently unemployed might need to blow off steam with a few rounds of Wii Boxing. If you're spending your gadget dollars cautiously, you'll pick gadgets that:

• don't cost a huge amount,
• have lasting utility,
• aren't likely to break or wear out quickly, and
• will continue to be useful even when the infrastructure around them is crumbling.

With that in mind, here's our list of gadgets that will be handy in case the economic recession becomes a full-blown depression and turns iPhone lines into bread lines.

The guidelines we used in assembling this list: These are tools that will be useful in the event of a major economic slump that puts a lot of people out of work and affects basic services — like road maintenance or the reliability of the electric power grid — without plunging the country into total civil chaos. If it's the latter you're planning for, check out our gallery of crazy survival gear for some inspiration, or read up on some more-practical survival skills and survival kits.

Also, we've limited ourselves to gadgets that have a substantially legal use (skipping, for instance, the Slim Jim for breaking into cars). We also haven't recommended guns, since frankly we don't know much about them, and there are plenty of other blogs where you can read about firearms.

Having never actually lived through a major economic depression, this list is our best guess at what will work. Got better ideas? Let us know in the comments.

Multi-Tool ($50)
If times get tough, you're going to have to get used to fixing things on your own. A full set of tools is your best bet if you've got to do heavy construction or car maintenance, but for basic fix-it tasks, an ordinary multi-tool is a seriously handy gadget. It also comes in handy for opening cans and bottles, cutting things, prying open packages and a variety of other tasks. While Leatherman pioneered this type of tool, Victorinox makes multi-tools that are sturdier and longer-lasting; the Victorinox SwissTool is available for about $55 on Amazon.

Self-Powered Radio ($35)
If something happens to the electrical grid, you might have to go without power for several days. If things really get bad, you might see power rationing, where electric power is only available for certain hours of the day. A solar- and crank-powered radio is the best way to stay informed about what's going on in that kind of situation. And if nothing's going on, you'll at least be able to tune in some radio shows to keep you entertained while you sit in the dark. Our pick: the $35 Freeplay Companion, which doubles as a flashlight and a cellphone charger and can be charged up by hand crank, solar power or standard USB cable.

OLPC XO ($400)
It's lightweight, durable, runs for nearly a full day on a single charge, and can be recharged with a solar panel — the XO is the perfect laptop for the developing world, and might be an excellent choice in a developed world that's fallen on hard times, too. Whether you're sending out resumes from the public library's free Wi-Fi network or setting up an ad hoc electronic bulletin board in a refugee camp, the XO has you covered. Currently the only way to get one is through One Laptop per Child's "Give One, Get One" program.

GSM-Based Cellphone (prices vary)
Cellphones are not built for the ages. My first iPhone went on the fritz after just one year, and I've had just one phone that remained continuously operational for more than two years (a Nokia 3595). When your phone dies, the easiest and cheapest way to replace it -- without signing up for another 2-year contract -- is to buy a second-hand phone, then pop in the SIM card from your busted handset. That kind of identity transplant is only possible with GSM phones; phones for use on Verizon or Sprint/Nextel's CDMA networks require a trip to the store before you can start using them. Oh, and that Nokia 3595? You can get one for less than $10 on eBay.

HDTV Antenna ($20-$50)
Cut the cable service: plenty of high-definition TV is available for free, over the air. Any TV antenna will do, but one optimized for pulling in HDTV signals should help you get the appropriate frequencies better. Don't have an HDTV? Buy a digital TV converter box before February 2009, when TV signals go all-digital, and don't forget to take advantage of the U.S. government's DTV coupon subsidy, which will cover up to $40 of the cost for you for up to two converter boxes. Thanks, Uncle Sam!

Voltaic Backpack ($250)
If you're on the road, off the grid or just trying to power up your PSP when the power's off, the Voltaic Backpack's embedded solar panels are your friend. They'll generate up to 4 watts of power in direct sunlight, and the pack includes almost a dozen adapters to accommodate a variety of electronic devices.

USB Thumb Drive ($10 and up)
A tiny USB thumb drive is probably the most practical infotech gadget you can own. It can help you download your contacts on the afternoon you get laid off, store your resume in between internet cafes, or even hold an entire mini-operating system so you can have your own desktop and applications on any borrowed computer you can lay your hands on. A larger external hard drive will store more data, but spinning-disk media is more vulnerable to damage from shock and vibration than flash memory is, so it's not the best choice if your future includes traveling with a bindlestiff on your shoulder and a boxcar for your bed.

Pocket Camcorder ($180)
A video camera might not be any longer-lasting than the typical cellphone, but at least you'll have something left when the camera goes kaput: Namely, all the videos you shot with it. And once the hard times are past, you'll be looking with ever-rosier glasses back on these times, so it'll be good to have some videos to remind you of how things really looked. Our pick: The Kodak Zi6, which is a bit clunkier and bigger than the more popular Flip Mino, but takes better video and costs less.

Multi-Fuel Camp Stove ($150)
If the gas and electricity get shut off, you'll still need some way to cook the rice and beans you've hoarded, right? The best bet is a camp stove that accepts a variety of fuels, from kerosene to white gas. That way you'll be cooking no matter what kind of flammable liquid you can lay your hands on. A good pick is the MSR XGK EX ($150), which can even burn unleaded gasoline.

Water Filter Bottle ($12-$35)
Finding clean water to drink can become a major problem in the event of a natural disaster — or a breakdown of the public water-processing system. A simple water filter can get rid of most of the nasty microbes — but not toxic chemicals that may be dissolved in the water. Bottles with built-in filters, like the Katadyn Micro Bottle, are the most convenient option.

Bicycle (prices vary)
There's no better way than a bicycle for getting around without much money. Add a trailer or an Xtracycle conversion, and your bike can even transport furniture. Get a bike that's sturdy, with fat tires (better for pothole-strewn roadways) and learn how to do basic maintenance on it. Although fancy bikes can cost $3,000 or more, you'll do just fine with a $400 model from your local bike shop — or a used, $25 bike from your local thrift store.

Portable Musical Instrument (prices vary)
After your entertainment budget dries up and blows away, you're going to be spending a lot more time at home. Don't blow your savings by downloading tunes for $1 apiece on iTunes: Learn to make your own music. It's cheap entertainment, and it'll work even if the lights go off and stay off. 

Thanks to Priya and Mat for helping compile this list.

Bread line photo, circa 1930-1934: Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division,       FSA-OWI Collection, reproduction #LC-USZ62-91536 DLC. Ukulele photo: midnightcomm/Flickr.

Eten Glofiish DX300

Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 the Glofiish DX900 is "probably" the first Windows based device with a brand name to be released.

Eten Glofiish DX900 Specifications:

• 2 SIM card slots - both working at the same time
• VGA display (640x480 pixels)
• GPS
• Samsung S3C 6400 processor running at 533 MHz
• 3G
• microSDHC slot
• G-sensor (tilt sensor aka accelerometer)
• 3 megapixel camera with autofocus
• HSDPA

Price wise you can expect to pay around £500 for this phone ($760 or 531 euro).

I'm not overly sure if Eten will send this one to use but if they do I for one would like to review it as I have to use 2 phone's daily and getting rid of one would be a godsend.

Posted by: John

It's unlikely, but a few websites are drumming up rumors about the fabled gadget. An image purporting to be a leaked photo of the iPhone Nano suggests the device is just like the original iPhone, except shorter and less wide.

Boring. Apple designers are a lot more imaginative than that, aren't they? But while we're in the spirit of wishing, here's a list of features Wired.com would like to see in an iPhone Nano, if one ever sees the light of day. 

Dual-Screen Clamshell Design
In order to deserve the name "Nano," this iPhone needs to be considerably smaller than its bigger brother. It should easily slip into a pocket, to the point where one could barely even notice it. If all Apple did was scale down the original iPhone, as "leaked" photos suggest, it would be difficult to control the touchscreen without a stylus. Imagine typing on one of those things or playing with an app!

Instead, Apple should embrace a clamshell form factor similar to a patent the company published in 2006 (left). We're taking this a step further: Folded up, the phone resembles the iPod Shuffle (same buttons), with a very small, always-on screen to display status icons (e.g., missed or incoming calls).

Unfolded, the iPhone Nano would look somewhat like the fourth-generation iPod Nano -- except a second, low-powered touchscreen would replace the scroll wheel. The low-powered touchscreen would display a dialer once the phone is opened. The screen above would be the primary, fully powered one, and this would display the apps. The bottom screen would change depending on which app is open on the above screen (e.g., if the SMS app is open, the bottom screen would turn into a virtual keyboard.) You'd also be able to unfold the phone both length-wise and width-wise. (The photo at the top of the story, illustrated by reader James Camp, is similar to our idea.)

A Separate App Store
So here's what would make the diminutive size of our iPhone Nano work logistically in terms of software: It would have its own App Store. The current App Store is cluttered enough; imagine how messy everything would get if developers had to code software for two different types of iPhones. With a Nano App Store, developers could code mini, simple apps meant to be played around with on a two small screens. Heck, this would even create a new market for iPhone developers looking to strike it rich.

Universal Landscape Mode
In order for a mini iPhone to not be a pain in the butt to use, landscape mode should work for everything. Not just Safari or the video player, which is how the original iPhone works. We're talking text messaging, e-mail, third-party apps. Make this happen, Apple -- and while you're at it, think about doing the same thing for the current iPhone.

Built-in, Beefed Up Voice Recognition
The current iPhone doesn't have voice recognition, and a Nano version would need it even more. Apple could even step it up a notch and make voice-enabled text messaging, e-mailing and web search to work.

Those are just some ideas that sprung off the top of our heads. What would you want in an iPhone Nano? Submit your suggestions and vote on your favorites in the Reddit widget below.

What do you want in an iPhone Nano? Submit your suggestions -- and drawings, if you want -- in the Reddit widget below. Then vote on your favorites!

Show suggestions that are: hot | new | top-rated or submit your own prediction

Submit a Suggestion

While you can submit as many suggestions as you want, you can only submit one every 30 minutes. No HTML allowed.

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See Also:

• iPhone Nano Rumors Continue, Look More Legit
• Possible iPhone Nano Photos 'Leaked'
• Rumor: Apple Definitely, Probably Not Working on iPhone Shuffle ...
• iPhone Nano To Be Announced Within Next Decade

Photos: James Camp, Apple