Hasta La Gadget!

All glory to the Hypnotoad!

(Credit: NEC)

You know, I’d almost forgotten they still make these. When i say “these,” I’m of course referring to standard aspect ratio monitors. With the advent of wide-screen 16:10 and now 16:9 monitors, the last three to four years has seen 4:3 and 5:4 monitors go the way of the Dodo.

NEC seems determined that we don’t forget standard aspect ratios and in September will be releasing the 19-inch MultiSync EA190M. According to NEC, the display is designed for “a variety of business environments, government applications, and education users.”

Just what government applications are we talking about here? In every episode of “24” I’ve ever seen, everyone uses wide-screen, 24-inch Dells. This monitor must be for less well-funded government divisions.

According to NEC, the EA190M consumes 50 percent less energy and contains 50 percent less mercury than traditional LCD monitors. It has a one-touch button to go into EcoMode. This most likely puts a cap on the brightness since a display’s brightness is the main determining factor for power consumption.

Here are a few other features of the EA190M:…

The plot is getting thicker regarding Motorola’s Sept. 10 launch of their first Android phone. Specifically: who’s the carrier?

I’m betting on T-Mobile. The two main keynote speakers at the Mobilize conference where the announcement is being held are Motorola’s Sanjay Jha and T-Mobile’s CTO Cole Brodman. Sounds cozy.

The process of elimination also leads us to T-Mobile. A Verizon rep told TheStreet.com they don’t plan to be at the San Francisco event, and I’ve spoken to industry sources that say Sprint won’t be hanging around, either. Both carriers intend to introduce Android phones this year, they just won’t be this one.

An AT&T rep played coy, saying he didn’t want to talk about future product releases. But analyst Tero Kuittinen, quoted in TheStreet.com, said they’re not in bed with Motorola on Android either. That fits with the cautious tone I heard from Motorola CEO Ralph de la Vega back in 2008, when he said that AT&T might only accept a highly customized version of Android.

That leaves T-Mobile, who currently monopolize Android in the US. Brodman said in July that “we’ll have more Android products out this year,” but specifically excluded HTC’s upcoming Hero phone. It’ll be interesting to see how T-Mobile spins this Motorola product, though, as when they announced the MyTouch 3G, Brodman said the MyTouch 3G, not an upcoming device, was “our real big bet for 2009.”

Considering Jha has basically staked his company on Android phones, let’s hope the upcoming Motorola release is a big deal for whoever will carry it.

The Roland BA-330 portable P.A. system gets real loud using eight AA batteries.

(Credit: Roland)

For those who like getting loud in places where power outlets are hard to come by, the Roland BA-330 delivers all the comforts of a full-fledged stereo P.A. system using just eight AA …

For the ever increasing amount of Americans who are self employed, a new website has just been launched which helps them market their services to their local area.

On Mycubi.com everyone creates a free mini website (called a Cubi) which lets everyone in their local area know what services they offer. Even those who have regular jobs can use the site to find odd jobs based on their skills. Visitors to the site are then able to look on their local area map to see what home based services are being offered in any particular area. For those who don’t necessarily want the whole world to know where they live, there is the option of showing “General Area”: of where you are based so people still know you aren’t too far away.

In these recessionary times, MyCubi.com also provides a platform for those who have been recently laid off try and set up shop from home.

Not blown away by the box Snow Leopard comes in? What a life you must lead to be bothered by such things! Allow me to soothe your soul with a veritable tsunami of redesigns, most of them much, much worse.

First Place

Second Place

Third Place