The S743 is a non-touch screen device that offers the benefit of both a more traditional user interface and a full QWERTY keyboard. It has the, now familiar, faceted design first implemented on the HTC Touch Diamond. While it is just 1.7 inches wide and weighs a mere 4.9 ounces, it still has a large 2.4 inch QVGA display and packs a whole lot of power. As a US-release, it supports high-speed HSDPA (850/1900 MHz) networks and runs Windows Mobile 6.1.

The S743 might look familiar from this shot of Judie’s CES: Getting Ready post. Yup, that’s Judie’s S740 (the European variant of the new S743) getting ready for the trip while some “other” phone gets left behind. I’m pretty darn happy with my current handset but the rave reviews from Judie… they sure have piqued my interest in this small, but powerful, handset.

The S743 will be available through select retail channels, including dell.com and cdw.com, during the first quarter of 2009.

Another high quality image after the break. … [visit site to read more]

Related posts:

1. Building On The Wind’s Popularity, MSI Unveils Their 2009 Lineup
2. Targus Keeps Your Notebook Cool
3. Targus Introduces New Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Cases and Launches Fashion-Forward Bags

]]> Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:57:18 +0000 s743 htc htc s743 handset htc touch diamond slide-out qwerty keyboard qwerty keyboard sleek candy-bar phone phone HTC Announces Upcoming S743 Handset http://www.gadgetratty.com/article/9637f26ceb71c659c9ee207d30f86ec7 http://www.gadgetratty.com/article/9637f26ceb71c659c9ee207d30f86ec7

By David Ponce

Something has got to be said about a useful product that’s able to convincingly double as a “fashion accessory” on the barely-there outfit of a booth babe. Questionable (but not entirely ineffective or unenjoyable) marketing tactics aside, FlatWire makes some amazing products that make me wish I’d have a few large to drop on a home entertainment system. Like the name sort of implies, these guys make flat wires. But I mean, really, really flat. They gave me a sample of 18 gauge electrical wire, and it’s paper thin.

So when you’re wiring pretty much anything in your home (audio equipment, home theater setup, etc.), instead of drilling holes in your walls, knocking down potentially load-bearing studs to get your cables out of view… use flat wires. Stick them on your wall, put a little plaster over them, and paint. No one will ever know they’re there.

You could argue that laying some plaster and painting is almost as labor intensive as drilling holes… but what happens when you’re faced with a brick wall? In any case, it’s nice to have options, and Flat Wire definitely impressed me with their product.

And no, not just because of the booth babe.

Prices vary depending of length and type of cable needed, but of course you’ll be paying a bit of a premium. Nothing outlandish though: 25ft of 18 gauge speaker wires will set you back $38 for instance. Not cheap, but this ain’t no Monster cables.

[ FlatWire ]

P.S. The booth babe didn’t hurt though.

]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:28:04 +0000 home flat home theater setup flat wire booth babe flat wires home entertainment system flatwire monster cables [CES 2009] Flatwire - The Sexy Solution To Home Wiring http://www.gadgetratty.com/article/1de96df4daa38f3c05ae1f5e0b31b174 http://www.gadgetratty.com/article/1de96df4daa38f3c05ae1f5e0b31b174

Green is the new black and Motorola is ready to ride that fashion trend. The company's new candy bar shaped W233 Renew handset is pretty basic but has solid green credentials.

The casing on the phone is made of plastic from recycled water bottles. The device's smaller form factor takes 20 percent less energy to create compared to many other phones, says the company and it even comes with an envelope to send in your old phone for recycling.

The W233 Renew has 2GB memory and offers a whopping nine hours of talk time. But if you are looking for features, you are in the wrong lawn. The phone has a music player but no camera or internet browsing capability.

While a good first step in the trend towards greener devices, this lightweight phone will make the grass seem greener on the other side for its buyers.

Product Page [Motorola]

Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:03:18 +0000 phone motorola w233 renew handset w233 renew lightweight phone product page motorola greener greener devices trend Motorola Recycles Plastic Bottles For New Phone http://www.gadgetratty.com/article/97583da76bef4a871bf3957a2507e130 http://www.gadgetratty.com/article/97583da76bef4a871bf3957a2507e130 The first day of the Consumer Electronics Show has arrived and I am already exhausted. I’ve been here in Las Vegas since Tuesday afternoon, covering early show announcments and attending press-mainly events.

So far, it isn’t as crowded as past years. But it’s still early. What I have noticed is that CES isn’t plastered all over Las Vegas. Taxi cabs are mostly advertising Vegas shows, though a few sported ads for Toshiba’s Regza TVs. Over at the Fashion Show shopping mall on the strip? A loop of the same Apple iPod nano commercial playing over, and over, and over. 

Press day was pretty full, though.

Some 4,500 reporters and bloggers are expected, which sounds about the same number as prior years. But on press day, the day before the show opens, these folks had fewer press conferences to attend. The major Japanese electronics manufacturers (Sony, Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba) hosted events, as did Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. But absent were Pioneer Electronics and Philips.

With fewer scheduled press conferences, the media packed into as many as they could. Some companies, like Cisco, had to turn away hundreds of reporters.

Tech trends so far, at least according to the press conferences: Widgets for your TV, green/alternative energy to power consumer gadgets, corporate electronics recycling programs for consumers and faster TVs.

Last night’s keynote speech with Microsoft’s Steve Balmer was packed, but if you looked, you could still find a seat (more on the keynote later). Hotel rooms are still available, though prices have inched upward for tonight. Prices are still nothing compared to 2006 when Bally’s hotel hit $400-plus for the first night. Bally’s, for example, is now $199/night after offering $139 for Jan. 8 if you booked by Christmas. 

Today, attendees will learn whether CES will be smaller, cheaper and better. Check back for my reports from the show floor all day. If you need to reach me, try e-mailing at thegadgetress@ocregister.com. Here I go …

    

   

Earlier reports from CES 2009:

• Samsung slims down Blu-ray player
• Panasonic’s 0.3-inch skinny TV
• The best TV Toshiba has to offer
• Wireless TVs without the lag
• Powermat: Charging up without cables — or electricity!
• What we all need: A Minoru (3D webcam)
• How green can Fuji’s EnvironMax batteries be?
• Meade’s no muss, no fuss automated telescope
• CES gadgets: D-Link’s nifty photo router, USB monitor
• A smaller, cheaper CES: Will it be better?

Post from: Alt+Save with the Gadgetress

Tech toys, crowds and other early scenes from CES

Miss a day of Gadgetress? Miss out. Check daily for tech news you can use. Want this delivered to your inbox? Click HERE. Only care about one topic? FiOS, Time Warner Cable, more.

]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:23:27 +0000 ces cheaper cheaper ces day press day pioneer electronics electronics 3-inch skinny tv ces gadgets Tech toys, crowds and other early scenes from CES http://www.gadgetratty.com/article/35585d7df22ff3a55ede1fea2df83d1c http://www.gadgetratty.com/article/35585d7df22ff3a55ede1fea2df83d1c

Gallery: HP VIvienne Tam Edition

Filed under: Laptops

HP Vivienne Tam Edition Mini 1000 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Targus is announcing a series of new innovative accessories for keeping your laptop cool.

Targus is expanding its line of innovative cooling products. The new products include the Chill Mat, Chill Mat XC, Chill Hub XC, CoolWave™, and Stow-N-Go Chill Mat. All are compatible with PCs and Macs and are built to offer protection from heat damage by providing optimal air ventilation for enhanced performance. Many also offer protection to your lap as they can be used when the laptop is sitting on your lap.

“Laptop cooling devices are essential to keeping your computer running at an optimal level,” said Carolyn Perrier, vice president of accessories at Targus. “Targus’ new cooling devices are compatible with just about any laptop and provide a combination of portability and protection to enhance laptop performance.” Some of the new products…

… [visit site to read more]

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2. Building On The Wind’s Popularity, MSI Unveils Their 2009 Lineup
3. Tricking Out The MSI WindOSX - Part 2: Noreve Leather Case

Targus is expanding their line of laptop carrying cases. The new cases include the Venture collection of checkpoint-friendly laptop bagss and launched a new series of “Fashion-Forward” Bags which includes the Intersection, Echoes, Rio and Madrid.

Checkpoint Friendly

Al Giazzon, vice president of marketing at Targus note- “Our new line of “Checkpoint Friendly” laptop cases, meet the functional needs of air travelers while satisfying their desire to communicate their own personal style.”

… [visit site to read more]

Related posts:

1. Targus Keeps Your Notebook Cool
2. Building On The Wind’s Popularity, MSI Unveils Their 2009 Lineup

[CES 2009] We all know that Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headsets are sleek looking and rely on bone conduction technology to get the message across in your conversations, but not everyone is comfortable with the over-the-ear clip. Hence, Aliph has delivered a solution in a new set of ear fit earbuds, allowing you to wear your Aliph Jawbone without its over-the-ear clip. In addition, I was given the assurance by the Aliph executive that this new ear fit earbuds will fit snugly within just about any ear size, even for those who lead an active lifestyle. What do you think? Is the over-the-ear clip actually a fashion faux pas?

Permalink: Aliph Gets New Ear Fit Earbuds from Ubergizmo (US, FR) | Good deals | Hot: CES 2009, Jan 6-11

On occasion as a parent you get stuck in situations where you’re more worried than usual about keeping track of your children.  Well Lok8u is releasing a gadget to help you out in such situations.  It’s a set of watches that incorporate GPS, so that you never lose track of your little ones.  Likely this won’t be ideal once your kids get a fashion sense of their own, but it will work for at least the younger kids.  That is unless you can pitch the watch to them in a way that they won’t mind that it’s a bit on the unfashionable side.

Hopefully you don’t always have to be wearing the watch either, because even the adult version is a bit unattractive.  I’m not sure specifically what situation would make you want your kids housed with a GPS unit.  However, the watch is an interesting concept.  It also has a handy function that lets you know when the watch has been removed, either by your child or someone else.  Besides being not so attractive, this is a bit expensive.  You can pick up the pair for £149.99 or about $228.

Source: SlipperyBrick

The LNXXB8000, LNXXB7000 and LNXXB6000 all feature super-slim ("around an inch" for all three) Touch of Color bezels (the 8000 being in a new chrome and clear "prism" finish), built-in ethernet for Netflix streaming, as well as integration of the Yahoo Widget Engine, an open platform for third-party widgets for weather, Flickr photos, etc, that just about everyone with networked TVs is throwing in. Also on board are built-in NTSC tuners—not always commonplace on ultra-slim models. The 6000 and 7000 series will come in 40, 46 and 55-inch sizes, with the 8000 series ditching the 40-incher.

Now, the differences: the LNXXB8000 is the only one to feature a 240Hz refresh rate. The LNXXB7000 looks to be the same deal in a different-colored chassis and down to 120Hz. And the whole line sucks down 40% less power, featuring an optimized "energy savings mode" and a "power indicator menu." Phew.

And, not to be forgotten, the traditional CCFL LCDs got a bump too, with 240Hz Motion Plus now standard on the new 7-series 750 LCD line. Series 6 LCDs and Series 8 Plasmas also were touched by the refresh wand—full details below.

Again, we're gonna see 'em all in the first half of 2009, and prices are yet to be announced.

SAMSUNG USHERS IN NEW ERA FOR FLAT-PANEL TELEVISION
WITH NEW CATEGORY LINE-UP OF LED LCD HDTVS

LED Technology Brings Higher Contrast Ratios, Slimmer Designs and
Improved Energy Efficiency to the Living Room

LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and
award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, raises the bar for flat-panel TVs
everywhere with the launch of an entirely new line-up of advanced LED HDTVs.
Samsung’s latest HDTVs will be on display at Booth #11033 during the International
Consumer Electronics Show, which will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center,
January 8 -11, 2009.

The new 8000, 7000 and 6000 Series build upon the success of Samsung’s first and
second generation LED HDTV models. These cutting-edge TVs use LEDs as their
primary light source, rather than traditional Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL).
Benefits of using LEDs include ultra-high contrast ratios, slim depths that allow for more
artful designs, plus increased energy savings. In addition, a variety of state-of-the-art
networking features give the ability to adapt to how consumers view and experience
with shows, movies, games and other multimedia at home.

“Samsung has proven LED technology is a viable choice for consumers desiring the
best picture possible from an LCD television. Samsung’s latest LED televisions redefine
the standards for viewing quality, energy-efficiency and home entertainment décor,”
said Jonas Tanenbaum, Vice President of LCD HDTV Marketing at Samsung
Electronics America. “Samsung stays committed to developing technology and products
that go beyond current expectations of value, quality and innovation. And, we are
excited to be a part of this exciting point in TV evolution.”

Top-Notch Picture Quality
Each of the three Samsung LED HDTV Series for 2009 boast high dynamic contrast
ratios, complements of Samsung’s ground breaking LED light source. Compared to a
traditional CCFL, LEDs produce darker blacks that appear endlessly deep to the eye.
Whites also remain crisp and bright with vivid colors. The result is picture quality that
measures up to the natural beauty of life. For instance, Samsung’s Wide Color
Enhancer Pro feature lets consumers enjoy a broader color palette. The Ultra Clear
Panel further allows the preservation of every detail even in brightly-lit, imperfect
viewing conditions. This is done by effectively allowing more light to pass through the
screen and simultaneously reducing reflections from ambient light. And with an adaptive
“Natural” mode, Samsung’s LED HDTVs can combine the recognized brightness
advantage of LCD displays with the cinema-like viewing experience of plasma displays
by automatically optimizing picture settings.

Samsung’s entire LED HDTV line-up incorporates a number of innovative features to
reduce the motion blur and image judder, which traditionally plague LCD HDTVs when
displaying fast movement. All three series boast Samsung’s acclaimed Auto Motion
Plus™ frame interpolation technology. The 8000 Series uses a swift refresh rate of
240Hz – four times the rate of other TVs – that nearly eliminates the ill effects of
displaying quick, action-packed motion. The 7000 and 6000 Series, with an also-quick
120Hz refresh rate helps ensure crisp, easy viewing of sports, video games and movies.

Expansive Networking and Entertainment Possibilities
In 2009, Samsung plans to redefine what it means to watch television with
“Internet@TV - Content Service” Developed with Yahoo!, the Internet information
interface will be available on a number of 2009-model Samsung HDTVs. Using either a
wired or wireless Ethernet connection included in the 8000 and 7000 Series,
“Internet@TV - Content Service” lets consumers access content onscreen from Yahoo!,
Flickr, YouTube and more with the push of a button. The widgets-based interface and
scrollbar run along the bottom of the screen for easy browsing of the latest programs
and content. Even after purchase, consumers will be able to enjoy a growing library of
widgets, as the widget development kit will be open to content providers willing to create
new offerings. The 6000 Series includes access to Samsung’s InfoLink™ RSS service,
which can instantly display updated news, sports, weather and stocks information with a
touch of the remote.
Beyond online entertainment, Samsung’s LED HDTVs can also connect to a variety of
other devices and content with ease. Included USB ports make viewing videos and
photos from a camcorder, playing music from a media player or accessing multimedia
files from a portable drive simple.

Lighting the Way for Functional Design
Samsung’s new LED HDTVs offer not only a lifelike viewing experience and a portal to
the latest entertainment, but break free from the conventional limits of integrating a
television into a room’s décor. By using LEDs, Samsung has been able to shave all
three series down to ultra-thin depths. At just over an inch thick, the sets remain trim
without cutting back on connectivity options, nor foregoing an ATSC tuner.
To further complement the svelte design of the new LED HDTVs, Samsung created an
ultra-slim wall-mount solution – reducing the gap between the TV and the wall to around
0.6 inches, down from the two inches of bulkier solutions. The ultra-thin LED HDTV
depth coupled with the new wall-mount solution allows for a simple installation akin to
hanging a picture frame.
In 2008, Samsung created its unique Touch of Color™ (ToC™) design, which uses
dual-injection molding to coat a translucent, colored surface to achieve an attractive
crystalline appearance. The latest evolution of Samsung’s ToC™ design begins with a
deep piano black bezel that fades into distinct chrome that finishes as a clear prism
along the outer edges (8000 Series) or light ruby (7000 and 6000 Series) highlights. The
intensity of the color subtly changes depending upon the viewing angle, and further
accentuates these TV’s slim bezels.

Going Greener
Lit by LEDs the Samsung 8000, 7000 and 6000 Series all meet the more stringent
Energy Star® v3.0 guidelines by cutting power consumption to significantly new lows.
LEDs are also mercury-free, which adds another degree of environmental friendliness
and safety compared with other currently available backlight technologies. Energy
consumption is reduced by 40%+ versus traditional LCD HDTVs of similar size. The
LED HDTVs also include an optimized energy savings mode that adjusts the backlight
and picture quality while continuing to produce smoother, more natural images.

SAMSUNG’S 1080P LCD HDTVs COUPLE ENERGY-EFFICIENCY
WITH ADVANCED PICTURE QUALITY

Compliance With New Energy Star® v3.0 Guidelines Help Consumers Save and Go Green;
Auto Motion Plus™ Technology Delivers Stellar Picture Quality
LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and
award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today unveiled its next-generation
LCD HDTV lineup with CCFL backlighting. The LCD HDTV line-up is led by the Series
7, which is the company’s first CCFL-backlit LCD TV with a 240Hz refresh rate.
Samsung’s line of LCD HDTVs will be on display at Booth #11033 during the
International Consumer Electronics Show, which will be held at the Las Vegas
Convention Center, January 8 -11, 2009.
“We are proud and excited to deliver consumers Samsung’s first CCFL-backlit 240Hz
LCD HDTV to consumers,” said Jonas Tanenbaum, Vice President of LCD HDTV
Marketing at Samsung Electronics America Inc. “Samsung continues to push the
envelope in terms of technology and design innovation, and consumers will experience
even better clarity, more vibrant colors and unprecedented networking capabilities
available on Samsung’s newest line-up of LCDs.”
The Series 7 features a fast 240Hz refresh rate, a speed twice that of current 120Hz
sets, and quadruple that of standard HDTVs. The refresh rate and a faster panel work
together with Samsung’s proprietary Auto Motion Plus™ 240Hz frame interpolation
technology, to eliminate motion blur and judder with fast-action material, for stunning
motion detail.
Both the Series 7 and Series 6 650 (32-inch and larger) LCD HDTVs impress with
Samsung’s improved Ultra Clear panel, a polarizer that reflects room light to produce
deeper, darker black tones and bolder colors. By enhancing the performance of the new
polarizer, the reflection rate is decreased significantly from previous versions, making
blacks even darker, regardless of the ambient lighting conditions in the room. Both
Series also feature Samsung’s adaptive contrast picture setting, called “Natural” mode,
which combines the brightness advantage of LCD displays and the cinema-like viewing
experience of plasma displays. The result is a new level of video richness perfect for
viewing films.
Additionally, both the Series 7 and 6 feature low power consumption, thus saving
energy and money for the consumer. They meet the more stringent Energy Star® v3.0
efficiency guidelines.
Recognizing the need for HDTVs to not only be technologically advanced, but also
aesthetically pleasing, the HDTVs all feature Samsung’s new Touch of Color™ (ToC™)
design. The unique ToC™ frame is produced by using dual-injection molding
technology to luxuriously coat a translucent surface over the chassis.
Series 7
Superior Picture Quality
The 240Hz Series 7 LCD HDTV offers an excellent option for home theater enthusiasts
who are focused on high-performance LCD picture quality and innovative product
design. The HDTV’s swift 240Hz refresh rate and Auto Motion Plus™ technology,
Samsung’s proprietary frame-interpolation technology, work in tandem to produce
viewing quality comparable to that of the best CRT displays.
Samsung’s exclusive Wide Color Enhancer 3 technology maps source colors to the
panel’s color space. This results in exceptionally vibrant, yet natural-looking images
faithful to the director’s original intent.
Advanced Design
In addition to the new ToC™ design, the Series 7 also sports a transparent bar that runs
across its bottom bezel. The bar clearly divides the TV from the speaker compartment
which houses a pair of down-firing speakers. It further serves to highlight the glass-like
quality of the set’s frame while giving the illusion that the display floats in mid-air. With a
stand constructed using transparent reinforced glass, this stunning look is heightened
even more.
Connectivity Features
Equipped with impressive networking skills, Series 7 LCDs feature Samsung’s new
Internet@TV – Content Service. Powered by the revolutionary Yahoo! Widget Engine,
users will be able to access widget-based content from a wide array of Yahoo! Internet
sources including Flickr, News, Weather and Finance along with future 3rd party
providers as they become available. For added flexibility, the Series 7 goes beyond its
built-in wired Ethernet connection, and supports 802.11a/b/g/n wireless networking
capabilities via a wireless USB dongle. What’s more, the Series 7 is DLNA certified and
supports wireless connections allowing viewers to easily enjoy their PC-based music,
video, and pictures from any room in their home. .
Series 6
Auto Motion Plus™ 120Hz
Available on all Series 6 models 32-inches or larger, Samsung’s proprietary Auto Motion
Plus™ 120Hz frame-interpolation technology virtually eliminates motion blur and judder.
Furthermore, the advanced panel has a fast pixel response time to produce razor sharp
images even with fast-paced motion in action scenes.
Touch of Color™
Further reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to innovative design and high performance,
the Series 6 distinguishes itself with a ToC™ design reminiscent of a beautifully blown
wine glass. Taking a cue from the popular Bordeaux series, Samsung carries this
fashion-forward look further by applying transparent color to the TV’s four edges. A two-
tone gradation of transparent ruby color yields a much softer, glassier look for the
deeper and wider curve at the bottom of the bezel. The color does not appear from the
front but at the sides, resulting in a lighter and unobtrusive design compared to previous
ToC™ models.
A Multimedia Hub
Just like Series 7 sets, the 2009 Series 6 650 (40-inch and larger) HDTVs also feature
the Yahoo!-driven Internet@TV – Content Service. Made possible with a collaboration
with Yahoo!, Internet@TV – Content Service is widget-based and delivers a whole new
level of connectivity by providing access to Internet-based multimedia content from
Flickr and other Yahoo! services. With a click of the remote control, these widgets are
easily accessed via a bar-style graphic user interface which sits on the bottom of the
screen. Using an optional wireless dongle, the Series 6 is also wireless DLNA compliant
allowing for simpler access to multimedia stored on household computers.

The Series 7 ranges in panel sizes of 40, 46, and 52 inches. Series 6 sizes, on the other
hand, extend much more broadly.19, 22, 32, 37, 40, 46, and 55. Both the series 7 and 6
will be available by the 1st half of 2009.