T-Mobile has just released the first cellphone to make use of Google’s Android operating system, the T-Mobile “G1” is manufactured by HTC and will be made available in the United States on October 22nd for $180 (plus an upgrade fee of $18) through T-Mobile. At a press event held in New York today, the wireless carrier unveiled the new smartphone which features a slide-out touchscreen display, a QWERTY keyboard, 3G wireless internet speeds, 3 Megapixel camera and the ability to download and install applications from an online store. Besides being available in the United States, the phone will also launch in the United Kingdom in November with multiple other countries following in 2009. There has yet to be an announcement of a possible Canadian launch, but it is a quadband GSM handset, meaning it would be compatible with Rogers and Fido’s networks.
T-Mobile’s “G1″ is expected to do well in part due to its operating system “Android” which makes touch-based controls possible. By involving finger flicks and long holds to easily navigate through software and gesture-based interactions using the phone’s built-in accelerometer, as well as the ability to use and install a wide range of applications and web tools including Flickr, YouTube, and Google Maps with StreetView. It can synchronize with Google desktop as well as use Yahoo and Microsoft’s instant messaging services. At this time, Android is an open source platform making it possible for other software developers to easily create applications and software for the G1. Sadly, one feature that will not be made available is the option for tethering the phone to a laptop.
The G1 will also be able to play video games and a version of Pac-Mac was shown at today’s event. According to Google there have already been an astonishing 17,00 applications created that will be made available for download to the G1.
Full List Of Features:
Touch screen
One Touch Access To Key Information
“Just tap the screen and go”
Real Web browsing capabilities using WebKit as mobile browser
One click access to internet
3MP camera with autofocus
Customizable home screen – Just drag and drop any of your favorite applications, photos, or folders onto your home screen for quick access to what you use all the time
One-click Google Search
Video playback
3G network and Wi-Fi access
Android Market
One-touch access to a variety of software applications like games, social networking, and on-the-go shopping
Download the applications wirelessly with just a couple short clicks
The Android Market was developed by Google themselves.
QWERTY keyboard
Familiar layout lets you type messages easily without scrolling for the letter you want
Hinged screen slides open to reveal keypad and closes to prevent accidental dialing
One-touch access to Google applications:
* Maps (including satellite, traffic, and street views)
* Gmail
* YouTube
* Calendar
* Google Talk
IM/text/e-mail
Support for Google Desktop, Gmail with contacts, Yahoo and Microsoft services.
Music player
Supports up to 1 GB memory cards for storage
The G1 will come with the following applications:
Google Search
Google Maps
Gmail
Google Calendar
Google Talk
YouTube
The T-Mobile G1 web site was available late last night, but it’s finally fully live after this morning’s big unveiling, and while it’s not exploding with detailed information, there’s many new pictures and details, including the much anticipated 3G coverage information. The first G1 ad has also has been released. If you whined over Apple’s grammatically questionable “funnest iPod ever” ad, wait until you watch the G1 ad including the words “smarterer,” “connecteder,” and even, “funnerer”.
fit-PC Slim is said to be the “smallest, most energy efficient PC available,” and at 13 ounces it arguably could be. The fit-PC slim is housed in a 330cc enclosure (4.3 x 3.9 x 1.2 inches), uses a measly 6 watts of power, and runs on a 500MHz AMD Geode. This machine is available in a 256MB configuration for $220; a 512MB WiFi version (with no hard drive) for $245; or a 512MB / WiFi / 60GB hard disk version pre-installed with either Ubuntu or Windows XP Home SP3, for $295 or $335.
It looks like the Toshiba is going to release the same low-margin UMPC’s that everyone else has already released. Toshiba’s newest ultra portable is, the NB105. Back in July, Toshiba was showing off a touchscreen UMPC and talking about how the “six or seven” netbook market segments it had identified meant that it wasn’t going to compete directly with the Eee PC. Unfortunately the NB105 has nothing special to show off it is expected to have a 8.9-inch screen, 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM and Windows XP. No final pricing details yet, but the NB105 is expected to be available in Mexico in November.
Alienware has already released a gaming rig with NVIDIA’s top-end GTX 280 graphics card, but if that’s not your fancy, we suggest that you look at ATI’s Radeon HD 4870 X2 as well. This card offers 2.4 teraflops of graphics power, is available in the company’s Area-51, Area-51 ALX, and Aurora desktops, each of which also available with dual HD 4870 X2 cards in a CrossFireX configuration. To be able to run a computer with that card, however, you will also have to change the power supply to 1200 watts.
Dell is releasing a bunch of new laptops today, and the first are new Latitudes. Just like we told you some time ago, the E series is replacing the D series, with seven new models in total. The E6500, E6400, E5500, and E5400 are usual laptop models with 15.4 and 14.1-inch displays, while the E4400 and E4200 are ultra portables and the E6400 ATG is a tough notebook. The 12-inch E4200 is the lightest business laptop Dell has ever made, weighing only 2.2 pounds, while the 13.3-inch E4200 weighs 3.4 pounds. Dell has told us that the batteries on the usual laptops can last for up to 19 hours, which sounds to good to be true. The new models also are available with a backlit keyboard, and can be used with dual pointing devices. Consumers can also add a fingerprint reader, and WWAN options including WiMAX.
Though it was released a couple of years ago, the Limited Edition Pokemon DS has finally made it’s way over to the US, and is available at GameStop. While it doesn’t appear to include a game with this particular bundle, it does come with a matching carrying case, a 22-minute Pokemon Mystery Dungeon DVD, a Grovyle poster, and a Pokemon t-shirt. All for the price of $129.99.
There may be cheaper computers available, but the ASUS Eee Box just feels special, with it’s simplicity, display of design sense, and a small price. There is a $350 version of the computer available, featuring Windows XP, a 1.6GHz Atom processor, WiFi, memory card reader, 1GB of RAM and an 80GB hard drive. One great addition is the quick-boot Express Gate Linux tomfoolery, with a seven second boot time that leave your friends jealous. Black and white versions are available now.
Kodak’s Zi6 HD pocket video camera is available for pre-order. This HD camera will cost a modest $179.95 and is available in either pink or black, but unfortunately there is no clue on how soon it will ship.
The Kodak Zi6 comes with AA rechargeable batteries and recharger, AV and HD video cables (component), a wrist strap, a pouch and Arcsoft Media Impression, for editing HD video.
Here are some of the specifications; the Zi6 can record in wide screen 720p HD at 60 frames per second, it has a 2.4″ LCD screen, an integrated pop-out USB jack, direct-to-Youtube uploads and it can be expanded using SD and SDHC memory cards up to 32GB. The Zi6 has a small 128MB of internal memory, so an SD card is required if you plan to record HD video.
REDFLY is now available for a sweet $499. The REDFLY features WinMo version 5 or 6 on a generous 8-inch screen. Unfortunately the REDFLY is not useable if you don’t have your phone. We recommend that you spend your money on a laptop that is more powerful as well as more useful. But we do have to credit to the REDFLY because it brings your phone and a little laptop together.
