Filed under: Digital Cameras, Gaming

Not that the Big N hasn’t snubbed the vast majority of the world before with these channel releases, but folks holed up everywhere save for Japan have yet another one they can only look longingly at from afar. Thanks to a new partnership between Nintendo and Fujifilm, the Wii Digicam Print Channel is immediately available for Japanese Wii consoles to access, which essentially gives owners the ability to upload images from SD cards and receive customized prints, photo books, business cards, etc. in the mail. We’re not totally at all sure why someone would choose to handle this on a gaming console rather than, say, an actual computer, but hey — who are we to judge? Oh, and for you folks in North America, Europe and beyond, expect the service to roll your way sometime in the future.

[Via DigitalCameraInfo]

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Filed under: Laptops

MSI has been pretty successful with the Wind, wouldn’t you say? Yeah, so would LG. Reportedly, LG is hoping to solicit MSI’s services in order to craft its own X110 netbook. The mini laptop will purportedly boast an 8.9-inch panel, 120GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM and Windows XP runnin’ the show. Interestingly, the price is expected to hover between $625 and $790 as it focuses on “design and material quality” rather than low cost. Anxious to see how that move plays out, aren’t you?

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless

Be still, our hearts! After watching the wireless HD / HDMI sector fumble along for years on end, a team of mega-corps have finally agreed to push their self-interests aside and collaborate on a standard. WHDI creator AMIMON has joined forces with Motorola, Samsung, Sony and Sharp in order to form “a special interest group to develop a comprehensive new industry standard for multi-room audio, video and control connectivity” utilizing the aforementioned Wireless Home Digital Interface technology. Reportedly, the group will have a standard completed before 2009 dawns, but we all know how easily these things can get pushed under the rug. Nevertheless, the overriding goal here is to “enhance the current WHDI technology to enable wireless streaming of uncompressed HD video and audio between CE devices such as LCD and plasma HDTVs, multimedia projectors, AV receivers, DVD and BD players, set-top-boxes, game consoles and PCs.” A tall order, sure, but one we’re elated to see taken on. Full release after the break.

Continue reading AMIMON, Motorola, Sony, et al. join hands on wireless HD standard

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Filed under: Cellphones

Unless you’ve been camped out under a Rhode Island-sized boulder for the past few weeks, you know that Verizon has announced its intentions to acquire Alltel. During a recent interview with CEO Scott Ford, Talk Business host Roby Brock was able to get a few talking points out of the exec that didn’t involve the most recent transaction. More specifically, Mr. Ford noted that prior to Alltel becoming a private company, it had “tried to buy Sprint three times, tried to buy AT&T Wireless [and] tried to buy T-Mobile.” He continued by saying that “some of those times it went with partners, [while] some of those times it didn’t.” Essentially, Alltel was “doing everything it could to get to a national platform.” Believe it or not, those quotes really are just the tip of the iceberg, but the full spill is entirely too detailed for this space. If you’re curious to know what might have been, break out the reading glasses and hit the link below.

[Via mocoNews]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Oh sure, GalleryPlayer enables your HDTV to instantly turn into an art display, but it doesn’t even pretend to be anything classier than a multifaceted television. Samsung, however, is looking to change the game by partnering with Thomas Kinkade on a new 46-inch prototype Digital Masterworks Art-TV. The unit was recently showcased to news media, and it’s said to be “housed n a Thomas Kinkade frame designed to accentuate the fine art theme.” From what we can gather, it’s being aimed at folks who’d love a nice piece of art sitting above their mantel, but when the time comes, they can switch off the paintings and throw on a day’s worth of NFL in HD. The wild thing here is how important the actual art aspect is to the display, with hidden touch controls planned to enable viewers to flip through artworks and zoom in / out as they please. Heck, there’s even integrated WiFi, a 40GB hard drive, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 8ms response time and 500 nits of brightness. The set is due out exclusively through Thomas Kinkade’s Signature Gallery later this year, with iffy plans to release it to other retailers in 2H 2009.

[Via CNET]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

The ever-boastful MTI Micro is back again, just days after showing off a fuel cell-powered GPS prototype in Atlanta. This go ’round, the company is announcing a newfound partnership with an elusive Japanese developer of digicams in order to “evaluate the feasibility, development and production” of Mobion products. The love affair will enable the two to work together in evaluating and adapting the aforesaid technology for use in “various precision imaging applications, including digital cameras.” Best of all, work is apparently already ongoing, and MTI Micro is expected to deliver prototypes later this month. Going from prototype form to the store shelf, however, will be the hard part.

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Filed under: Gaming

Here’s your heartwarming story for the day. Microsoft has teamed up with Companions in Courage in order to bring “hundreds” of Xbox 360 kiosks to children’s hospitals across the nation, and the gaming stations have already been installed at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center of Seattle and the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, California. The customized units are “hospital-friendly” and come pre-loaded with a variety of E and E10+ rated games, Y-rated television programs, G-rated movies and the Xbox Live headset / Vision camera in order for gamers to play online. Speaking of, each kiosk is wired to a private Live network which “allows hospitalized children across the country to play games and chat” with each other. There’s no word on where the stations are slated to arrive outside of the three venues already mentioned, but those interested in broadening the reach of the endeavor can feel free to donate to the cause.

[Via OhGizmo]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Displays

Immersion, the same folks responsible for adding haptic technology (force feedback from touch panels, pretty much) in a fleet of Nokia handsets, could be looking to do the same with Cupertino’s one and only. While VibeTonz isn’t specifically mentioned by name, a recent report (which should certainly be filed as a rumor for the time being) is suggesting that bigwigs from both outfits are in ongoing meetings “over licensing and implementation issues of iPhone haptics.” Interestingly enough, this news is flowing hot on the heels of Immersion appointing Clent Richardson as president and CEO; if that name rings a bell, he previously spent five years pretty high up the ladder at Apple. Of course, all the signs pointing to yes doesn’t mean anything in and of itself, so we’ll just twiddle our thumbs a bit longer and hope to have some feedback for ‘em soon enough.

[Thanks, Chris]

Read - Rumors of Immersion bringing haptics to iPhone
Read - Clent Richardson becomes president / CEO of Immersion

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Filed under: Wireless

Remember that WiFi pact brewed up between AT&T and Starbucks earlier this year? How could you forget, right? As if it wasn’t official enough already, the two have announced that the rollout has begun at company-operated Starbucks locations, and the nationwide effort will continue throughout 2008. Effective May 1st, qualifying AT&T high-speed internet / WiFi customers — that’s those who subscribe to one of the three higher-speed residential broadband packages, a small business broadband package or a U-verse offering with high-speed internet — will have free WiFi access at over 7,000 coffeehouses across the US. Unfortunately, we’re not given any real insight into what kinds of potential deals are in the works for AT&T wireless customers (if any at all), but here’s to hoping you all can get a little love, too.

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Filed under: Wireless

We knew it! There was just no way a single WiFi router was going to provide coverage from Mercury to Pluto. In order to ensure that all intergalactic beings are given fair and equal access to the intarwebz (and to build a “constellation” that’ll act as a space-based network for communication, data storage and Earth observations, too), NASA is syncing up with m2mi. Of course, these two entities have worked together on occasion before, but this go ’round, they’re looking to craft (relatively) minuscule nanosats that weigh between 11 and 110-pounds and could be placed in low Earth orbit in order to create a new telecommunications and networking system. As expected, nary a launch date is even hinted at, but while we lowly Earthlings worry over the eventual rollout of 4G services, these two hotshots will be focusing on 5G — which incorporates VoIP, video, data, wireless and an integrated machine-to-machine intelligence layer. Far out.

[Via CNET]

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Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Transportation

Nothing shows your complete and unwavering devotion to a handset maker like buying an ultra-rare vehicle with its logos on there, wouldn’t you agree? Those vigorously nodding up and down (well, those vigorously nodding up and down in Brazil) can get set to grab a limited edition Renault Sandero, which will come “fully equipped with Nokia’s navigation system and [undisclosed] car add-ons.” The super-special Sandero will come stocked with an N95 and cost around €17,650 ($27,693), but you’d better hurry, as only 1,000 of these niche motorcars are being built. It’s like Nokia heard your cries for letting the chance to nab one of those co-branded Twingos slip through your too-busy-texting thumbs or something.

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Filed under: GPS, Transportation, Wireless

If you’ve been warming to those OnStar assistants when dialing up to get directions, you’ve now got a couple more reasons to pretend that you’re lost. The first enhancement to its existing turn-by-turn service is Destination Download, which essentially enables subscribers with screen-based NAV systems to have routes beamed in without the driver having to pull over and manually enter them. Moving on, we see the official rollout of the long-awaited eNav service, which allows motorists in “turn-by-turn navigation-capable vehicles” to find and save destinations on MapQuest.com; afterwards, the directions can be sent to the car’s navigator. Lastly, XM NavTraffic is joining the fray in order to give OnStar users instant notification if there are any delays ahead in their planned route (and the ability to change course). Peep the read link for a video demonstration of the services, and click on through for the full release.

Continue reading OnStar adds new enhancements to turn-by-turn navigation service

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

While calling it the holy grail of 3D may be a stretch, there’s no denying that the technology has been largely held back and (rightfully) seen as a gimmick due to the whole “unsightly glasses” requirement. Granted, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of 3D being experienced sans goggles, but the newfangled agreement between Magnetic and NEC could deliver just that to a display near you very soon. Reportedly, the duo is off demonstrating a 57-inch Enabl3D display at the Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas, and while this iteration is admittedly aimed at commercial users, the promise of seeing imagery “pop more than a foot off the screen without the use of any special glasses” sure sounds intriguing. No word on when this stuff will be coming to everyday users, but don’t be shocked to see marketers coming up with new ways to grab your attention (and frighten the young) with this in the near future.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Wireless

We knew Hitachi’s Ultra Thin HDTV family would boast ultra-wideband technology, and while little was said about this aspect during CES, we’ve now learned that Tzero will be responsible for handling the aforementioned UWB duties. As expected, the UT HDTVs will “be able to receive high-definition video wirelessly from any HDMI equipped audio / video component,” as Tzero promises that users will see transmission speeds of up to 480Mbps. Interestingly, we’re told that the UWB-equipped sets are available in Japan right now, but only time will tell if those luscious wireless abilities will make the trip stateside in Q2.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

It seems that Sprint and Clearwire have been hooking up and breaking it off for nearly as long as Qualcomm and Nokia have been brawling, but just weeks after hearing that the two were on speaking terms once again, we’re now learning that a deal may be closer than ever. Reportedly, both firms are “close to announcing the formation of a WiMAX joint venture funded in part by a $2 billion injection from Intel,” and if the agreement is indeed landed within the next few days, it would “create a new company that combines Sprint’s licenses in the 2.5GHz wireless spectrum and Clearwire’s spectrum in the same and adjoining air waves.” On paper, the deal seems to make sense for all parties involved, but at this point, we aren’t about to assume that’s enough to actually see this thing through.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

We figured it was coming, we knew it was coming, and sure enough, it has arrived. All build-up aside, the LCD deal — not to be confused with the already implemented plasma arrangement — between Matsushita (Panasonic) and Hitachi has finally been finalized, and under the terms of the agreement, Matsushita will acquire a 24.9-percent stake in Hitachi Displays, Ltd. by March 31st, pending regulatory approval. It should be noted, however, that Hitachi and Canon (who is technically still a part of this wheelin’ and dealin’ triangle) are still working to hammer out a formal contract, but you can get all up in the fine print by tapping the read link below.

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Filed under: Laptops

Right on cue, it’s being reported that Apple and Fox have indeed agreed on an iTunes movie deal, and while details are admittedly scant at the moment, chances are Stevie J. will get to the nitty gritty come Macworld. What we do know, however, is that the alleged partnership will enable iTunes users to rent new Fox DVD releases and keep them around “for a limited time,” though pricing figures weren’t speculated upon. Additionally, it sounds like Fox will be spreading its digital file inclusion from select titles to all flicks, giving DVD purchasers a FairPlay protected file that can easily be transferred (read: without third-party transcoding software) to a computer and / or iPod for later viewing. As expected, both firms declined to comment on the reports, but all the minutiae you can stand will likely start flowing in just a few weeks.

[Via paidContent]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

Don’t look now, but it seems that three rivals in the UK have found enough love in their hearts (or promise for profitability) to team up for the good of the consumer. Reportedly, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 will be joining hands in order to deliver an on-demand service that hopes to “bring together hundreds of hours of television programs in one place” — a collaborative effort once known as Project Kangaroo. Of course, the grand idea still has to be approved by the BBC Trust and other broadcasters’ boards, and an official name for the service still has to be thought up, but at least the wheels are apparently turning, right? We’re hearing that content from the trio will be available for “free download, streaming, rental and purchase via the internet, with expansion onto other platforms planned,” and just in case you were curious, the iPlayer, ITV’s catch-up service and Channel 4oD will indeed coexist with the new aggregator. Hang tight UK, the to-be-named service is set to go live sometime next year should things pan out nicely.

[Via Yahoo / Reuters]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Chances are, you had forgotten all about Sony and NXP’s little initiative to cooperate on a NFC (near-field communications) standard, but the two seem to have finally worked out all the kinks and are ready to move forward. The joint venture, dubbed Moversa, will seek to “drive global adoption of contactless smart card applications in mobile phones,” and it’s already planning to develop, produce and market a Universal Secure Access Module (U-SAM) that “incorporates both MIFARE and FeliCa operating systems and applications.” Essentially, the duo is hoping to accelerate the adoption of integrated contactless support, which would enable users to make payments (among other things) easily via their handset. If you’re curious about availability, we’re hearing that samples should be shipped out in mid-2008, but commercial deployments aren’t scheduled to happen until the end of next year.

[Via Yahoo / Reuters]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

After buddying up with IBM earlier this year on a 32-nanometer semiconductor, Infineon is now teaming with none other than Intel to produce high-density (HD) SIM cards. Announced today at the Cartes Trade Show in Paris, the agreement will spark a “strategic technology collaboration” which will see Infineon producing modular chip solutions while Intel offers up memory capacities from 4MB to 64MB. More specifically, a 32-bit security microcontroller will be provided by Infineon, while the partnership’s other half throws in its “leading-edge flash memory technologies, capabilities and manufacturing.” Apparently, the HD SIM will play nice with “data-intensive mobile applications, services and over-the-air downloads” which are likely to become more pervasive in the coming years, and current market research shows that these very devices will account for “six- to eight-percent of the total SIM card market in 2010.” As for availability, look for samples to land in Q2 of next year, but don’t expect ‘em to be manufactured en masse until the first half of 2009.

[Via EETimes]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!