At 63.5x82.5x19mm, the router is, in its largest dimension, about the size of a mini-CD (WHAT'S A CD? A MINI-CD? STOP SPEAKING GIBBERISH! GET OFF MY GIZ, JOHN). It's smaller than your palm. It's smaller than a Moon Pie. For goodness sake, it's almost smaller than its own power adapter.

Obviously, size is the major draw here, as the rest of the features are somewhat barebones. But that's fine—if you want super-fast wireless networking on the fly for, say, a roadside motel LAN party, this'll do the trick. The TEW 654-TR will be available from early March, and for a reasonable $90ish. [Trendnet]

Designed as drop-in replacements for hard-disk drives (HDDs) in notebook PCs, the initial members in the SanDisk G3 family are SSD C25-G3 and SSD C18-G3 in the standard 2.5” and 1.8” form factors respectively,each available with a SATA-II interface. Available in capacities of 60, 120 and 240GB, the unit MSRPs are $149, $249 and $499, respectively.

So I had to use my wife’s XDAIIi to make a phone call the other day, and being the good husband that I am, I checked to see if the unit actually had enough battery power to do it. I was then reminded about one of the major flaws with that version of Windows Mobile : it didn’t show battery status by default on the front home screen. Pretty dumb for a device that has limited battery life.

Heck even the iPhone has a battery life indicator out of the box!

I thought back to the days I had a Windows Mobile device and the app I used to display battery power. Like a light bulb, the words “Battery Pack Pro” appeared to my mind’s eye. I did a search in our Mobile Software section of the website and found that, it is not only still available but it was still getting rave reviews too! Check out the details of Battery Pack Pro below:

Try it for FREE today : Battery Pack Pro

Battery Pack Pro Software Description
The only Pocket PC utility you will EVER need! Views & speaks battery, memory, network & storage card info, launch apps, delete unused data & close unused apps with a single tap!
Network Monitor - Displays download, upload rates right on the Battery Bar.
Power Graph - Chart your battery, memory & network usage 24 hours.
New UI - Great new design with all new graphics!
VGA support - Crystal clear new graphics on VGA Pocket PC devices.

Features of Battery Pack Pro:

• Battery Bar - Displays Battery, Memory, Storage Card, Network connection, Time, World Time & backlight data on the today screen. Tap on each section for detailed info. Speaks to you when your battery, memory or storage cards are low. Battery Bar shows battery remaining in hours & minutes, tailored to how you use your Pocket PC.
• Program Bar - Launch programs from your today screen. Tab view allows as many program links as you wish. Host other today plug-ins as a tab in Program Bar to save valuable screen real-estate.
• Search Bar - Search the web, open URLs, search for telephone numbers, addresses, business listings or get driving directions.
• Calendar Bar - View the next 50 appointments, or switch the view to display the calendar for this or other months.
• Power Start - Tap & hold the start button to show a list of icons you can customize yourself. The icons are big, so you can launch programs without having to reach for your stylus.
• Power Time - World time view. See where it’s daylight, or check when your friends / customers are awake or at work. Automatically grabs the latest exchange rates & current weather conditions for each city. With Journal Bar installed, displays the current 5 day forecast for each city. Get detailed information about each city.
• Power Task - Close button actually closes programs. Speed up your Pocket PC by closing slowly running programs taking up lots of memory. Keep your Pocket PC running as fast as the day you bought it!
• Power Bars - Displays the battery, memory, storage card life, time, date and time until next appointment on the title bar - see your Pocket PCs vital statistics all the time.
• Power Clean - Reclaim valuable space by removing unwanted files automatically.
• Power Alert - Adjust Calendar, Task & Alarm sounds to repeat, change volume & more. Keep reminders quiet during meetings; have unique sounds so you know what the alert is!
• Power Store - Provides even more detailed battery, memory and storage card information. Keep a track on your battery, memory & network usage with graphs which show your usage over the past 24 hour period.
• Power Clean - Reclaim valuable space by removing unwanted files automatically.
• Power Adjust - Customize your Pocket PC with lots of cool tricks, including different system fonts & animated windows.
• Power Light - Don’t fumble with the keys in the dark - turn your Pocket PC screen into a flashlight, or a warning light for emergencies!

Try it for FREE today : Battery Pack Pro

We still have smiles on our faces after taking this $3199 Schwinn Tailwind electric bike for a spin inside the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. We started pedaling and the power kicked in, and we chose the fastest setting, reminding us that the name Tailwind is perfect. It's fast, fun and we all give it a big thumbs up.

Click Continue for the press release with full details, or just look at the gallery below for the full story in pictures.

We've seen the Grippity back-typing keyboard move from mere prototype to working, production model, so our interest was definitely piqued when we heard that the developer would be at CES with his one-of-a-kind QWERTY board. Well, he came by with the Grippity, and we got some finger-time with it. The keyboard's certainly not an immediately comfortable or intuitive typing experience by any means, but it's got a real charm to it. The designer also kindly did a demo for us, and even he -- the creator of the device -- wasn't exactly what we'd call lightning fast on it, but see for yourself in the video (and gallery!) after the break.

P.S.- Yes, that's the inside of the Engadget double-wide trailer in the video -- we promise we'll have some more pictures as soon as all the real CES news dies down!

Gallery: Grippity keyboard

Continue reading Grippity back-typing keyboard hands-on

Filed under: Peripherals

Grippity back-typing keyboard hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mio is re-doing the line of GPS navigators and it sounds like they have a pretty intriguing line-up, definitely upping the ante on the GPS game, as they are running a new interface too, dubbed the "Mio Spirit". The operating system and new interface has been in development for over 2 years, and includes a lot of shortcuts and capabilities to make navigating the device a lot easier. The new Mio units will be powered by TeleAtlas maps. Of note, the Moov S300 starts with 12 Million POI!; and the Moov S700 is a 7-inch display. The four new units are:

• Mio Moov S300 - features a 3.5 inch display, preloaded with maps of the U.S. and Canada. It has Text-to-Speech voice direction in English, Spanish and French and more than 12 million points of interest.

• Mio Moov S500 - a 4.7-inch model with all the functionality of the S300.

• Mio Moov S556 (shown above) - a premium model with a stylish, ultra-flat 4.7-inch display. It includes the aforementioned functionality with the addition of Bluetooth® for hands-free calling and "Junction View," a feature that aids motorists in complex traffic intersections.

• Mio Moov S700 - has a mammoth 7-inch display and is perfect for RV's and campers. It also includes MAD Maps content for travelers who are looking for preloaded scenic routes and a unique journey. The device includes features such as preloaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, Text-to-Speech in English, Spanish and French, and more than 12 million points of interest.
  

The line goes along with Mio's strategy of attacking the low and and the high end of the market with a more complete offering. Smart move if they can compete up there with their product line. It will be interesting to see how they handle the Magellan branding on items since their purchase of the company.

Press Releases below......

Mio Technology Gives Navigation a New "Spirit"

~ Cutting-edge software improves user experience with intuitive, fast interface ~

LAS VEGAS - Jan. 8, 2009 - Mio Technology announced that its "Mio Spirit" navigation software will be the new software platform for Mio's North American product line. Being shown at CES 2009, the software is fast and easy to use, and enables users to get the most out of their GPS devices. The interface features uncluttered map views, simple point of interest searches and fewer clicks to reach information vital to the navigation experience.

"Mio Spirit is a breakthrough in current navigation software design," said Samuel Wang, president, Mio Technology. "By simplifying the navigation device's interface, users can save time and effort during their travel."

Mio Spirit is the latest evolution of Mio's software development capabilities. Devices using the Mio Spirit navigation software will have Text-to-Speech, a more intuitive POI menu - called "Explore Mode" - and optional real-time traffic capabilities. Customer feedback demanded more flexibility when searching for POIs near their current location, destination or along a planned route, and Mio Spirit software delivers all these capabilities. It also makes more information available with fewer clicks on the navigation menu - Mio has increased the navigation options and POI data that can be viewed without clicking through multiple layers of menus.

"Mobile phone and MP3 industry players have already launched products that maximize the latest in touch screen interfaces for an intuitive experience, and the Mio Spirit introduction moves the portable navigation device into the most progressive class of technology and usability," said Jerry Barbera, vice president of sales and marketing, Mio Technology USA. "Mio Spirit navigation software has been in development for more than two years, using insight from consumer electronics users of all ages. Many said that GPS devices focus only on going from place-to-place - this software incorporates more functions, more simply, and helps users capitalize on what's possible along the way."

Mio Spirit offers a user-friendly keyword search function that makes it easier to find a POI. Instead of having to spell out the exact name of a restaurant, a user can enter a portion of a name, such as "café," and access all nearby POIs with "café" in the name. Mio Spirit software also includes an easy-to-use "slide-screen" function - users can pull up a POI screen, for example, and simply slide it out of view while looking at additional POI screens or a map. A capture button lets users record favorite routes, locations and voice memos during a trip.

Mio Spirit has already been introduced on Mio/Navman devices in various locations in Asia and Europe, and now, all new Mio products launched in North America will ship with the software. Mio will continue to support the MioMap 2008 software that is on the Moov family of devices and provide map data updates for its Moov products.

Mio Technology has put itself in the GPS driver's seat at CES 2009, announcing new portable navigation devices (PNDs), an improved software platform for Mio's next North American product offerings and additions to its executive marketing team.

"2009 is going to be a watershed year for Mio," said Jerry Barbera, vice president of sales and marketing, Mio Technology USA. "We've put together an impressive combination of hardware and software - combined with new leadership and strategy that will make us stand out in the market."

Mio will bring four new PNDs to market in the first half of 2009. The stylish devices span the full range from entry-level to premium and are all packed with easy-to-use features.

New PNDS

The four new PNDs in the Mio Moov line are:

· Mio Moov S300 - features a 3.5 inch display, preloaded with maps of the U.S. and Canada. It has Text-to-Speech voice direction in English, Spanish and French and more than 12 million points of interest. The device has an MSRP of $199.99.

· Mio Moov S500 - a 4.7-inch model with all the functionality of the S300. It has an MSRP of $249.99.

· Mio Moov S556 - a premium model with a stylish, ultra-flat 4.7-inch display. It includes the aforementioned functionality with the addition of Bluetooth® for hands-free calling and "Junction View," a feature that aids motorists in complex traffic intersections. The device has an MSRP of $299.99.

· Mio Moov S700 - has a mammoth 7-inch display and is perfect for RV's and campers. It also includes MAD Maps content for travelers who are looking for preloaded scenic routes and a unique journey. The device includes features such as preloaded maps of the U.S. and Canada, Text-to-Speech in English, Spanish and French, and more than 12 million points of interest. The device has an MSRP of $299.99.

New Interface

All of the devices come preloaded with Mio "Spirit" navigation software, which offers fast, easy-to-use search and navigation that enables users to get the most out of their GPS devices. The interface features uncluttered map views, faster POI searches and fewer clicks to reach the information vital to the navigation experience.

Mio Spirit is the latest evolution of the company's navigation software development capabilities. Ongoing customer feedback demanded more flexibility and quicker access when searching for POI's near their current location, their destination, or along their planned route and Mio Spirit delivers all of these capabilities. Mio has increased the navigation options and POI data, including 12 million points of interest preloaded.

New Executive and Strategy

In addition to new software and hardware, Mio has a new executive to drive the company forward in 2009. Jerry Barbera serves as the new Sales and Marketing Vice President. He is executing Mio's new product strategy - to reposition the family of personal navigation devices to be more in-line with how consumer electronics products go to market, to address the needs of entry-level customers and also be attractive at the top end of the line to high-end customers.

The relationship with Mobiles (as far as it pertains to the Baby) hasn’t been great so far – the tech just hasn’t been up to the job. But what if the baby is using the tech?

Don’t worry – my Baby isn’t making calls, or doing long WiFi browsing sessions – but she is a VERY quick learner about what does what on the device. This actually started with the TV remote, which apparently is a source of wonderment (!), and has since progressed on to a Toy phone – which was soon rejected in favour of the real thing!

Again – we don’t let her play with a real Mobile device, but my wife and I make a fair few calls, and so our baby has picked up on this and will now hold anything phone-sized up to her ear and say “hello” or “hiya” down it! Extremely comical when you see it happening

I heard the other day also now that 3 and 4 year olds are taught on video whiteboards at school, and those just a few years older use a popular Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) product to do their class presentations – wow, how tech-savvy are our kids becoming?

If you combine the natural inquisitiveness and fast-learning of a child, with the plethora of tech given to them at an early age, we are going to find a generation of uber-tech-capable teenagers that will be many times more capable than us “old” folk!!!

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Everyone and their sister wants an iPhone!
• Apple iPhone UI is so easy and intuitive even a baby can use it - seriously, a 1-year old baby
• Babies and Mobiles - part 3: various
• iGR: Pre-teen segment shows increasing mobile phone penetration
• UK: users are doing more than making calls with their mobiles!

Yep, I reckon quite possibly, if this current trends are anything to go by…….

So we are now at the stage where we have:

•    8-10MP still image camera modules and devices coming on to the market
•    Camcording functions that will do VGA resolution, and/or up to 120fps

The move to 1280×720 (which would give 720p HD theoretically) therefore cannot be that far away, and it’s not beyond the bound of reality to think we could even get up in to 1080 line territory (the so-called Full HD).

Of course, to enable this, you have to have some fairly potent graphics chips on-board the device – to the point where they are even dedicated chips for processing the “massive” HD frames (HD resolution is 4-5x larger than an SD frame).

But I think that the likes of Samsung and LG, and perhaps Nokia (NYSE: NOK) too, who are racing to deliver the “mostest” and “bestest” device for imaging & video, may well have hardware up their sleeves this year that could mean the first HD recording mobile device.

Now, HD by specification does NOT mean HD by quality. As the Still imaging arena has shown, most still cameras still produce a substantially better image than a mobile device, and those devices claiming high MP counts definitely cannot say their picture will be best because of it – I still the k800i 3.2MP images were leagues above the 5MP camera contenders that followed it, in terms of quality.

But what’s the betting that before the end of the year we’ll see something claiming to be HD-capable for video recording? HTC has already named one of their devices the “HD”, but that was referring more to the screen resolution – what we all want to see now is something that records good enough video that we can plug it directly in to an HD TV and watch it at a decent level of quality…

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Samsung E950 - the first Samsung phone to use Scalado’s imaging software; More to follow
• New software to bring super-fast image processing to mobile phones
• Broadcom announces VideoCore III - HD Video Recording, 3D Graphics, 12 Megapixel Camera
• Mobile camera quality isn’t great - discuss…
• Ericsson announces new multi-processor mobile platform powerhouse

However, to take you back a bit, I’ll need to digress…

I originally had a similar issue (can’t send email) when I signed up for O2 Broadband. On calling tech support, I was told O2 have their own SMTP server for subscribers, and this is the one you have to use. Apparently the reasoning was this would help cut down Spam (quite how, is beyond me).

Anyway, fast forward 10 months or so, and I was facing the same problem with the iPhone – I can’t send any mail! I had two POP3 accounts setup, which I fully expected to be able to receive from, and send to. Receiving mail has never been an issue, but sending mail regularly (though not consistently) was failing.

After 2 hours of phonecalls to O2, I got some sort of answer – they “recommend” you use their SMTP server to send mail with. I pointed out that not only was the SMTP server slow (certainly from my experience anyway), why should I have to use it – the iPhone is setup for a real variety of mail accounts, with full manual tweaking if you want it – so why should you be hobbled as to which SMTP server you can use?

A contact of mine also called up about this problem, and was told he HAD TO use their SMTP server. Yet this isn’t entirely true. Of the two POP accounts I have, one of them I can send to the corresponding SMTP server with no issue, the other one virtually always fails – so there isn’t anything consistent in terms of port-blocking occurring – it’s very hit and miss. Moreover, if I did a “reset network settings” from the settings menu, both email account would work fine for a while, then revert to their old behaviour!

The summary of this story anyway, is that if you have a 3rd party email account, and you are on O2 in the UK with your iPhone, you might want to use O2’s SMTP server. The username and password you’ll need will be your “O2 online” email address and password:

SMTP server: smtp.o2.co.uk
Username: <O2 online username>@o2.co.uk
Password: <O2 online password>

I’m sure we might get some comments saying that people can access and send their email fine, and yes, this appears to the case with some accounts, but not others – so if you can’t send, try the settings above, but do bear in mind you need to be an O2 subscriber else you won’t have a valid username & password.

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Microsoft releases Windows Mobile 6.1 send mail patch
• Rocketship Apple: email
• Update: Rocketship Apple: email…
• Gmail Causing iPhone Mail to Crash
• Brief: iPhone v1.1.3 brings native support for Gmail IMAP - new Gmail accounts automatically set to IMAP

Palm has launched the Palm Pre, powered by the company’s new Web OS platform!

Keep reading for more pictures (a truly massive gallery, if you’re in to that sort of thing) and a live-transcript of the Palm press event!

11am -
Rubenstein is on stage

11.04 -
we live complex lives with data spread throughout the cloud, mobile phones, and computers

To integrate all those different sources of info, you need the right phone and right platform

11.05 -
CEO Ed Colligan takes the stage

11.06 -
people look more at ease of use over processor speed and button

“How can we make the technology invisible?”

11.07 -
“Mobile is our DNA”

11.08 -
Colligan talking about how people have been organizing information over the years

The Palm Pilot was created to help organize information from paper mediums to the digital space.

11.10 -
smartphones work like filing cabinets … you open your information space, search, view, and close

11.11 -
People want to simplify their lives - they want compartmentalized information

11.13 -
Palm wants their new platform to integrate and deliver all information sources in an intuitive way

11.14 -
Palm Web OS was created to help manage all information sources

Developed with developers in mind

Web OS is new platform!

Can develop applications for the Web OS using web-development tools and languages!

11.15 -
John back on stage to show off the new device and platform!

11.16 -
Palm Pre is the new hardware!

3 megapixel camera with LED flash
EVDO Rev. A
WiFi
GPS
8GB Storage
Fast processor
HVGA resolution touchscreen with multitouch - 320×480
Gesture area below display extends touch sensitive areas

11.18 -
“Great to use touchscreen devices” but sometimes you need a keyboard

So there’s a vertical sliding QWERTY keyboard!
Curved slider is more ergonomic

11.19 -
compares Palm Pre to “other popular smartphones”

11.20 -
Mattias Duarte takes stage to demonstrate device

“Let’s talk UI”

Web OS is “so simple and so direct that it almost becomes invisible”

11.35 -
Web OS applications work as workspaces that Palm calls “cards”

Every new information source (web, contact, photos, etc.) is presented in its own “card” window

Contacts, photos, email, chat, etc. all appear as different workspace cards

You can seamlessly switch between workspaces (applications), with all applications persisting in the background (when you switch back to an application, it picks up right where you left off)

Seamlessly move between communication mediums - continue your AIM chat via SMS or email

“Synergy” is a new service that pulls contact information from social networks

11.38 -
Global search functionality searches contacts, phone features (bluetooth), and web.

Just start typing for whatever you want - “Blue man group,” “Sarah Smith,” or even “Las Vegas” and the Palm Pre will automatically bring up information sources that match your search criteria

11.40 -
“More to browsing the web than rendering pages correctly”

Web OS and the Palm Pre allow you to open as many web-workspaces (again, called “cards”) as you wish - no limits to browsing multiple browser windows

11.42 -
Gesture controls allow you to manipulate web pages without touching the reading area (touchscreen)

Web browser “cards” have equal weight among other information “cards” and can be organized individually

11.43 -
Mattias plays with the Pre’s accelerometer

11.44 -
Web OS finally lets you work the way you want to work

Unfortunately, the more connected you are, the more available you make yourself to your network of friends and famliy

So, Web OS keeps email, SMS text messages, and other incoming messages partitioned on along the bottom of the display - allows you to keep working on the task at hand without being interrupted by messages.

Ignored messages are stored. Store messages are indicated as “message icons” in the bottom right corner of the device.

11.45 -
Even the most urgent messages are displayed along the bottom of the display, allowing you to view, reply, snooze, or dismiss the message at your convenience.

11.46 -
The Web OS is completely open to developers, so the future of the Palm Pre and Web OS should be exciting!

11.47 -
Web OS gives you so much control” that it makes managing your information seamless and almost invisible

11.48 -
John back on stage to introduce new “eco” accessories

Palm Pre available with inductive charging accessory!

Touchstone wirelessly charges Palm Pre via inductive charging.

Wireless device charging is now a reality!

11.51 -
Ed Colligan back on stage

“Palm Pre is the one phone you can enjoy your entire life”

“Pre is first device that helps you automatically navigate around the web”

Palm Pre is exclusively launching on Sprint (NYSE: S)

11.52 -
Dan Hesse, CEO Sprint, takes the stage

“Palm Pre is set apart from the competition”

As the first Palm Pre carrier in the US, Sprint will allow people to keep your information organized

Palm Pre allows you to move between multiple applications with a flick gesture - makes it easy to multi-task

Hesse “loves that slight curve” on the Pre, apparently

11.54 -
Hesse plugs Sprint’s network

Sprint is apparently No. 1 in download speeds (citing Gizmodo’s survey)

11.55 -
Sprint is the “most dependable 3G network in the US”

CDMA and iDEN networks are performing at their best levels ever

11.56 -
Sprint talking about opening all their devices to full-HTML devices - no mention of a real “open network”

11.57 -
Smartphones and PDAs are most returned consumer electronics

Customer service and helping customer learn to use their device is very important to Sprint

11.59 -
“With integration [of information], we believe the Palm Pre will be an iconic and innovative device”

Sprint now taking pre-registration for the Palm Pre

12 -
Ed Colligan back on stage

Palm Pre will be available as soon as possible - 1H 2009 (first half of 2009)!

12.01 -
Palm partnered up with many services to bring integrated and third-party services

12.02 -
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg now on stage to talk about partnership with Palm

12.03 -
Talking about Facebook’s history

Facebook Connect for Mobile coming in 2009

12.05 -
Colligan is back

“Great to work with all these partners”

re-cap - Palm Web OS keeps you connected intuitively with multi-tasking, Palm Pre will help you navigate your life seamlessly, and Palm’s partners will be making the Web OS a serious market player (took Pandora only three days to get their app up and running on Web OS)

All applications for Web OS was developed using CSS, Javascript, and HTML.

12.08 -
John back on stage to thank the Palm team!

12.09 -
That’s it! Palm Pre and Palm Web OS is the new hotness!

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Palm CEO Confirms Next-Generation Palm OS “Nova” Already in the Wild
• Palm CEO Ed Colligan talks up Linux-based Palm OS 2.0 - Nova
• Palm’s Ed Colligan talks new OS to investors; We’ve heard it all before
• Python for S60 Source Code Released
• T-Mobile USA preparing multi-platform AppStore?