The Navigon 2100 Max features a 4.3-inch screen and free traffic updates for life.
(Credit: Navigon)
It’s no longer news to find a GPS navigation system selling for less than $100. But to find one with some killer bells and whistles? That’s my kind of news.
And …
Originally posted at The Cheapskate
So, there’s good news and bad news here, and we’re opting to go against tradition by dishing out the positive first. Nokia just pushed out its Q1 2009 results, and while many firms have been struggling to stay afloat, at least it managed to turn a profit of €122 million ($160 million). That said, it’s still looking at a staggering 90 percent drop in profits compared to its first quarter of 2008, where it raked in a mind-boggling €1.222 billion ($1.6 billion). Not surprisingly, sales were also down 27 percent to €9.28 billion ($12.2 billion) from €12.7 billion ($16.7 billion). Of course, Nokia’s far from being alone in having to showcase less-than-beautiful Q1 numbers, but in reality, the damage could’ve been much worse; in fact, shares of the company’s stock inched up by 8 percent following the reveal, as many had feared an even more significant decline. All in all, Nokia’s still holding strong to a 37 percent market share worldwide, and if CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo has anything to do with it (hint: he does), things should be on the up and up here soon.
[Via BBC]
Filed under: Cellphones
Nokia’s profits drop 90% in Q1 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Months later we’re still thrilled at the discovery that the original Dream G2 doesn’t run the free and open Android OS, but instead a carefully built, stylus-driven clone. Well, SciPhone’s Dream G2+ followup continues in that noble tradition, running with some tweaked looks and the addition of WiFi on top of what looks to be that same Android-cloning interface. It’s pretty thrilling stuff, and not at all bad for the $185 asking price.
[Via PMP Today]
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds
SciPhone Dream G2+ adds WiFi to the Android KIRF madness originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Just a month ago, Garmin came clean with the nüvi 1390T as part of its 1300 lineup, and today we’re being formally introduced to the numerical successor. The nüvi 1490T sports a chassis that’s some 25 percent slimmer than most nüvi models and an expansive 5-inch touchscreen. As with other new Garmins, this one also arrives with free lifetime traffic alerts and lane assist with junction view. Other expected amenities are also included, namely multiple-point routing, automatic time zone transition and a speed limit indicator that displays speed limits for most major roads. As insinuated, an integrated traffic receiver comes standard, and there’s even an ecoRoute feature that suggests the most fuel efficient path. Finally, prospective buyers can count on Bluetooth technology for making and receiving handsfree calls, and the support for optional CityXplorer maps makes this suitable for the pedestrian in you, too. Expect it on store shelves everywhere this July for $499.99.
[Via GPS Tracklog]
Filed under: GPS
Garmin intros super sleek 5-inch nüvi 1490T navigator originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Yesterday’s post poking fun at fixies got a lot of attention, and we were, of course, accused of hatin’ on the bikes and riders. But we don’t — a quick look inside the Wired.com office door will tell you everything you need to know— the bike rack there is full of fixed-gear bikes, and at least one has the dreaded Brookes saddle. But then, it is San Francisco.
But you guys convinced me to try one. Apparently they are “fun” and also good for you, so I have decided to build one. The catch (and there’s always a catch) is that I want to do it on the cheap. No Bianchi Pistas, or Shimano anything. I plan to trawl the dumpsters for basic parts like frame and (hopefully) wheels, and get the cheapest of anything else that I might need:
And that’s where you come in. I could trawl the net all day, but where’s the fun in that? Y’all seem to know what you’re talking about, so help a guy out here. This is what I need.
Frame
Any racing-bike frame will do, right? I’m planning on painting it, so it’s really just about finding the right size. Are there any traps I should look out for?
Crank
I expect I’ll use what ever comes with the frame — after all, the crank is such a pain to remove that they usually stay on even stripped and dumped bikes.
Pedals
Do I really need clips or straps, or can I get away with regular pedals on a fixie? I will probably be riding this with flip-flops throughout the summer, so no fancy shoe/clip combos, m’kay?
Wheels and Cog
Hopefully I’ll find these with the bike. The exception is the rear cog (or sprocket, depending on where you come from). I’ll be needing a fixed hub. Is there a cheap option, and should I consider a flip-flop hub so I can change to freewheel in the future? Also, ratios. I live in Barcelona so, while a lot of the hills are mild gradients, at times I need to hit the slopes. What ratio should I choose?
Handlebars
These will be dumpster-dived, too. I’d prefer to get some straight bars, or even something that lays back a little so I don’t have to lean forward too much. I probably don’t need much advice here, but hints are welcome.
Lights
I know, not cool looking, but essential. I’ll end up buying these I expect, so please advise on the smallest, least obvious but still bright lights that I can buy.
Brake
I’m putting a brake on the front, at least until I get used to stopping without one. Is there a preferred kind? I usually see side-pull calipers, which I assume are there because they are so small.
Anything Else
This is a fixie, so I guess the point is to keep it as accessory-free as possible. That’s good, as it keeps the budget low. If I missed anything, let me know in the comments. I’ll be keeping you up-to-date with progress and photos right here on Gadget Lab.
Photo: BruceTurner/Flickr
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If there’s one two things we love, it’s hearing RIM’s own Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis open their gaping traps. While the former was sufficiently panned back in January for exclaiming that buggy smartphone software was simply the “new reality,” his partner in crime may have just done him one better. In a recent sit-down with Laptop Mag, Mike was specifically asked to address that aforementioned quote. His response? “That’s our first touch product, and you know nobody gets it perfect out the door. You know other companies were having problems with their first releases.” If you’re struggling to translate that into layman speak, allow us: “Tough luck, early adopters!”
As the interview progressed, the co-CEO took the opportunity to snub Apple on its inability to get Push Email out early on, noting that BlackBerry OS has “constantly been underestimated” and was “designed to multitask from day one.” He also stumbled all over himself when it came to speaking about the BlackBerry’s web browser, stating that “by writing our browser in Java, that provides our CIOs and wireless managers the assurances they need, to allow the browser to access internal information at the same time it accesses external information.” We’ve literally meditated on that for a solid half-hour, and we still have absolutely zero idea what it means in English. Nevertheless, the whole thing is a pretty great — if not comical — read, so give it a look and share your colorful opinions in comments below.
Filed under: Cellphones
RIM CEO on BlackBerry Storm: “nobody gets it perfect out the door” originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wouldn’t it be great if you and your mop top-clad friends could all sing together in the upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band? According to a rumor found in the latest issue of Game Informer, Harmonix is doing just that: including multiple-microphone support for players to harmonize on the tracks. Not much else is given, but a NeoGAF forum poster who last week claimed to have played an early version adds that three mics were being used — one for each instrument — and there was also a new harmony trainer mode to ensure your vocal talents were up to snuff. We’d advise a good bit of skepticism, no matter how much sense it seems to make or how many of you dreams would come true if this turned out legit. In the meantime, you can go back to deciding which of the Fab Four you’re gonna pretend to be first when the game launches on September 9.
[Via Joystiq]
Read – Multi-mic support
Read – Harmony trainer
Filed under: Gaming
Beatles Rock Band features multi-mic support, harmonious performances? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
There are plenty of gadgets designed for “the elderly”. Often they are patronising, but most address a few real problems — some oldsters don’t care to learn about all this new-fangled technology, and as bodies age, they get worse at doing things.
Hence the proliferation of simple designs with chunky controls. Jeremy Chen’s concept Elder People Snapper follows both these cues, and ends up looking rather useful. At the very least, he might have finally come up with a use for the ubiquitous printer button found on many point-and-shoots.
Or not. The camera is chunky enough, but it doesn’t actually look any easier to hold in arthritic hands that a regular big camera. And the print button, while possibly useful for granny, is obviated by the big print button on the companion print base-station.
While the idea of an oldster-friendly cam is a worthy one (and we’re sensitive here to our older readers — we know there are plenty of tech-savvy people over sixty, but there are also people like my mother, who is smart but just not into gadgets), we think that the post-process part can be taken care of by a computer. And sorry, PC people, this time it needs to be a Mac. You plug in any digicam and iPhoto is right there for you, no fussing.
And forget the printer. It’s too frustrating, even for me. Go online and let the experts take care of it.
Project page [Coroflot via Core77]
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Investing in a sturdy support device can help prevent camera shake.
(Credit: Gitzo)
We’ve always known that when taking long-exposure pictures, we’re supposed to use a tripod that will keep the camera steady and prevent blurry shots. But now, Japanese scientists at the Nishi Lab of the University …
Behold! The battery-powered battery charger, which belongs to the family containing the solar-powered flashlight and, of course, dehydrated water (handy for those long desert trips)
This fake packaging is dead on. We think it has been ‘shopped together by Flickr member Alex Dumitru, an “Internet Marketer” in Romania, who posted the image. What we know for sure is that this was an entry on the rather odd Kuvaton gallery, a mixture of weird photos and Photoshoppery. And like the best fakes, there is a hint of reality in there — who wouldn’t like to quickly juice a few AAs from a nine-volt cell in an emergency?
batterypoweredbattery_charger [Sandossu/Flickr via Oh Gizmo!]
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