Hasta La Gadget!

The Suzuki SX4 is a low-end economy crossover with some pretty advanced tech built-in, including a removable Garmin navigation system with the same robust feature set you’d expect from a regular standalone PND. However, that doesn’t mean the two manufacturers thought everything through. As Edmunds.com found during its long-term test, the unit lets you issue voice commands, and can also stream MP3s from an SD card through the stock car stereo.

So far, so good. But it’s not so simple; first, the unit can’t play anything imported in the default iTunes AAC format and only works with MP3s. Not only that, but you must navigate through many submenus to get to the MP3 player. That’s still not the end of the world–until you cue up a song.

Once you motor away from a stop, that’s it; the system locks the Garmin down into “Safe Mode,” which is intended to prevent you from controlling the GPS while driving. Except that it also takes away control of the MP3 player! Plus, if you choose a song and then set out, it will only play that one song–it doesn’t move to the next one automatically. And it won’t let you re-establish control of the MP3 player unless you stop the car, or pull the unit out of its housing and reseat it. Priceless. (Thanks to Warren W for sending this in)

Your iPhone is so pricey and so delicate, are you really going to slip it into your pocket without a case? This geek shudders at the thought. Consider the just-announced patterns in Griffin’s Elan Form Etch line (above) of leather-and-polycarbonate cases for the iPhone 3G and 3GS. I’m crazy about the ’80s punk look they’re rocking. I don’t think real punks would be caught dead with an iPhone, but if they did this is the case they’d use. They sell for $34.99.

Griffin has also released the Outfit ($24.99) and Outfit Shade ($29.99) lines, which are clever two-piece hard cases. When you need to dock your phone, simply slide off the bottom of the case for access. For a thinner case, check out the Reveal line ($24.99) of polycarbonate cases, which has been expanded with new colors.

Holding off on buying a Palm Pre until the smartphone hits Verizon? You may be waiting a long while. Word is that the wireless carrier has turned down the opportunity to support the first WebOS handset, a deal that was set to go into effect in January of next year.

This is all very backroom-type stuff. The Street is citing a number of anonymous sources who told the site that Verizon was less than enthusiastic about the Palm Pre’s performance thus far. The other deal killer was Palm’s unwillingness to stick VCast on the device, which, let’s face it, sounds like the Verizon we all know and sometimes tolerate.

The addition of Verizon’s propriety walled garden software wouldn’t really mesh with the app store than Palm has been pushing on the device in

Aching to get your hands on the Palm Pre after four months of patient waiting? If you live in the UK, Ireland, and Germany, your wait is almost over. Palm today announced release dates for the three markets.

The first WebOS handset will be out in the UK and Ireland on October 16. The handset is Free in the UK with a two-year data plan on O2–and with select 18 month plans, as well. The phone will be landing in Germany a couple of days earlier, on October 13, priced at a steep €481, without data plan.

While the Miccus ChargeBlock works with all iPods and iPhones (except the Shuffle), I think iPhone owners will be its biggest fans. The iPhone’s battery doesn’t last all that long, but when you start using power-hungry apps, like those for GPS navigation, you can practically see your battery gauge going down.

The ChargeBlock is an attractively compact iPod and iPhone charger. Charge it through a USB connection for four hours and it’s ready to go. Since it’s only 2.4-inches long and weighs 1.2 ounces, you can toss it in a bag or glove compartment so that you have it on hand when you need it. The internal battery is good for 500 charges and three LED lights on the front tell you how much power you have left.

You can pick up the ChargeBlock from Amazon or the Miccus site for $39.99.