News

Mobile technology news from the New York Times Gadgetwise Feed

See the Sound of Your Drawing - Singing Fingers, an app in the iPhone store, lets you simulate synesthesia, a condition in which different senses, like sound and sight, are combined.
BlackBerry Fans May Want to Carry a Torch - The Torch is the first BlackBerry with a true touch screen and it offers new features, screen controls and shortcuts that bring it much more in line with competing smartphones.
A 64-GB Hard Drive the Size of a Stamp - A new hard drive on a chip portends reduced weight and size in portable PCs.
Voice Commands This BlueAnt Headphone - Bluetooth accessories maker BlueAnt has released a new earpiece that can do some remarkable things if your phone is up to it. The problem is few phones can effectively support all of the features of the headset.
Netflix Now Playing on an iPhone Near You - Netflix has been allowing instant viewing of videos on the Web, the iPad or via a game machine. But now it is on the iPhone as well.

NY Times Frugal Traveler Feed

A Taste of History in the South, and a Hint of Home in New York - For the 13th and final week on the road, the agenda includes Birmingham, Ala., Savannah, Ga., and Washington, D.C.
A Sucker for Spanish Moss - You could take any destination - an anonymous subdivision, a dying factory town, a garbage dump - pop some Spanish moss on the trees, and the Frugal Traveler is happy.
The Worst Way to See San Antonio - I made the most ill-timed, bone-headed, rookie-error-filled, first-time visit to San Antonio in tourism history. And even then, I had a good time.
Into Cajun Country: From Po'boys to the Pink Panther - The Frugal Traveler leaves Mexico behind for swamp tours, jazz clubs and southern cooking in Louisiana and Mississippi.
A Message to America's Youth - My trip has been made immeasurably more enjoyable, and measurably cheaper, because I'm multilingual.

PopGadget Blog

IDAPT Universal Desktop Charger -

So, it probably goes without saying that everyone here at Popgadget can safely be classified as a geek (though I think there may be a nerd or two among us, but a deliberation on the differences between the two is for another time). Anyway, as geeks go, there is a tendency to have significant charging needs to keep all of our gadgets up and running.

I've personally been a fan of the universal adapter for a long time. One in the house, one in the car, and only to buy a new tip on occasion to fit the latest mobile device. Only problem is the unsightliness of the cords. IDAPT provides an elegant, desktop solution to this dilemma. Easy-in device tips allow you to simultaneously charge up to three devices without all the clutter. Perfect for your nightstand, kitchen counter, desk, or wherever you charge.

The IDAPT comes with the six most common tips, including iPhone / iPod, Samsung, Nokia, and USB mini and micro. Additional tips can be purchased online. Available starting in May, the IDAPT has an MSRP of $59.99 and will come in black and white models.

Let it be your single cord solution.
Urbanears Plattan Headphones -

Though I'm normally partial to in-ear headphones, I decided to give the Urbanears Plattan headphones a whirl and was very impressed.

I admit to being a sound snob. I usually go toting around in $600 professional headphone gear, so I was skeptical about anything with a $60 price tag. I'm pleased to report, however, that these stylish, full-sized headphones delivered great sound that was music [pun intended] to these audiophile ears. I plugged into my iPhone and cranked some thumping dance tunes. Clear, rich sound with no bass breakdown or muddiness. Their adjustability even made them start off comfortably on my fat head and their light weight made them stay comfortable.

The Plattans feature an in-line microphone and remote compatible with the iPhone and Nokia, HTC and Blackberry phones along with two extra cable extensions making the headphones compatible with a majority of all devices. Also featured is the “zound plug” which allows you to daisy-chain another set of headphones to let a friend listen in. This set also folds up to a neat, compact size for convenient transport. And, finally, the best part… 14 fashionable colors to choose from, with everything from basic black to ocean blue and salad green.

Great listening at a great price.
iSkin Solo FX iPhone Case -

Oh the ubiquity of the black iPhone case! Leather, pleather, rubber, plastic... I want something more fantastic!

Leave it to the geniuses of iSkin to give me the exciting cover my 3GS deserves! The iSkin Solo FX builds on the original Solo case by adding a designer pattern and a mirrored screen protector to the glossy case that gives you the look of a hard shell while offering the protection and gripability of a rubber skin. There is also a special edition of the FX that adds even more excitement to the texture and pattern.

The glamorous FX is made with Microban antimicrobial protection that inhibits the growth of all the nasty bacteria that tends to collects on one's phone - another plus for me, the resident Popgadget germophobe. Color choices for the FX are Breeze (translucent blue), Lush (translucent green), Passion (translucent red), Sunset (translucent orange) and Vive (translucent purple). Like the perfect designer dress, the FX is low profile and cut out in all the right places (dock, camera, headphone jack, and ringer switch) while covering the essentials (volume and power controls). It's also compatible with the iSkin revoClip for those that want fashion and dare I say i... functionality... in one.

Show your iPhone style with the FX (and your fear of germ... oh, nevermind, that's my fear of germs).
Barbie Gets Geeked -
A few weeks back, I reported that Mattel was holding open votes to decide Barbie's 126th career. Among the choices were News Anchor, Architect, and Computer Engineer. I'm happy to announce that the people have spoken and we now have Computer Engineer Barbie.

According to Mattel's site, the doll's designers worked side by side with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to design realistic clothing and accessories. Barbie will be decked out in a tee with a binary code pattern and some black knit skinny pants. She'll also be equipped with all the latest tech including a smartphone, Bluetooth headset, and even a travel bag for her laptop. Speaking of the laptop, Barbie's will of course, be a pink affair which will match her prerequisite glasses.
Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition -

This variation of the popular Nokia 5800 Xpress Music edition makes the most of Nokia's Ovi Maps that was recently re-vamped into a free 'forever' app.

The Ovi Maps app features coverage for over 70 countries and combines with the 5800 to maximize its abilities to give you turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation for both driving and walking. Ovi Maps also features free updates, more than 6,000 3D landmarks, free event guides, and free Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides.

As for the hardware, the bright 360x640TFT touchscreen displays the excellent features of the easy-to-read Ovi Maps and features tactile feedback. The 5800 Navi also features 3.5G (3.6 Mbs); Wi-Fi; 3.2 MP camera with video recording, autofocus, and LED flash; 81MB of internal memory; hot-swappable MicroSD slot that can accommodate cards up to 16GB; very respectable battery life of 8.8 hours talk time and 16 days of standby time; and all the music features of the original 5800 Xpress Music edition including dedicated menu button and even respectable built-in stereo speakers.

The 5800 Navi includes an auto power adapter and a windshield mount right in the box, so it's ready to jump in the car and hit the open road with you. The windshield mount was a little tricky to put together and seemed rather large upon assembly, but actually is quite usable once installed in the car. It's very adjustable and was long enough to put the phone right at my fingertips, even in my huge (read: non P.C.) SUV.

Currently on sale at the Nokia Online Store for $299.