PMP Today

If you’re planning to get yourself an iPod, you might want to wait til you hear more news about how Apple intends to make a thief-deterrant for iPods. While the shmuck might still get away with your iPod no matter how much you try to defend it, he or she is going to get a small nasty surprise. Apple recently patented a new application of protective circuitry that will not allow iPods to be charged by a charger or a PC that isn’t an authorized type. And it’s not like iPod thieves can just go out and buy authorized-type chargers. If you plug your iPod into an unauthorized computer, it won’t charge unless the internal “guardian” circuit matches the code with the code embedded on the PC software. Apple is already making use of a similar technology that “pairs” iPods to an iTunes that runs on a specific Mac or PC. If the codes don’t match, the guardian circuit could be triggered to prevent any further charging. Stay tuned for further updates on this!

[via tech2]

Pasen’s new iTouch PMP a.k.a ONDA VX858, a.k.a iFighting’s FT4021 is to date the most popular iPhone clone that is available to the buying public. But how does it fare against the product it took it’s looks from. One thing iTouch has going on for it: you can put it in your jeans pocket.

More photos after the break

[via gmp3] Thanks Gregori! Read the rest »

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=NwpRY-ve7FY[/youtube]

We have two videos for you today showing the progress Archos has done in PMP technology. The first video, above is a side-by-side comparison of the Archos 704 and the Archos 605, the only fifth-generation Archos to have come out. Though little attempt has been taken to compare the user interfaces of the two devices, the video (taken with an N95) does a very good job showing the differences of a 4.3-inch 800 x 480-pixel screen and 7-inch 800 x 480-pixel one. Makes a lot of difference.

GenerationMP3 has a high-resolution video of the 704 and 605 playing side-by-side that seems to tell a different tale..

Oddly, in our second video (to follow), the 4.3-inch 480 x 272 screen of the 604 fared a little better on the same Nokia N95 camcorder lens against the 605. Maybe it’s the N95’s camera’s fault. Read on and decide for yourself. Read the rest »

The latest addition to LG’s portable range is the DP271 portable DVD player. This model has a swiveling 7-inch LCD with a resolution of 480×234, and supports WMA, MP3, JPEG, DivX and MPEG4 files, and DVD Video, DVD-R/+R, DVD-RW/+RW, DVD-R/+R DL, CD, CD-R, CD-RW and Video CD.

It is equipped with a USB port, stereo speakers and twin headphone sockets. It comes with a remote control and a car adapter, and even has a built-in TV tuner with a removable antenna. The model is now available in the UK for £130 (about $264).

[via tech.co.uk]

The unannounced second-generation Zunes condenamed Scorpio (80 GB) and Draco (flash memory) will be announced in September instead of August 31. While Draco began production on July 23, Scorpio had a wire coming loose, which necessitated a redesign of its flex cable. It will now have an “S” shape, the flex cable, which is fitting. End of production does not mean release date, of course, but it gives us an idea.

[via generationmp3]

Mobile TV is now available in the Philippines! Smart Communications and MediaQuest unit 360media Corp. recently launched their mobile TV service on July 24, making TV viewing more flexible and longer for Filipinos constantly on the go. MediaQuest will be investing at least $ 50 million (about P2.75 billion) for infrastructure, but this figure does not include Smart’s investment, who is in charge of building and marketing the brand called myTV.

Though Smart’s video streaming runs on their 3G network, mobile TV will be based on a seperate platform called DVB-H or Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld. This platform was chosen since devices that run on DVB-H, such as the Nokia N77, is now gaining popularity in Europe and Asia. As of now, only the Nokia N92 model is offered by Smart as part of their mobile TV package.

As of the formal launch, there are 10 channels available on myTV. While the service will be free until August 31, subscribers will be charged 488 Philippine pesos (US$10.78) per month on top of their regular post-paid plans. Smart hopes to amass 60,000 to 70,000 subscribers to the service during the next few months.

[via manila bulletin online]

The most interesting stories were 6G iPod and the Samsung Armani phone. AT&T and Apple made headlines by disappointing investors and then getting back their confidence, in that order. Virgin Mobile sadly says good-bye to DAB-IP TV and the Lobster. Nokia will launch an iTunes rival, and a Chinese iPhone clone with a metal exterior looks hot.

1. Nanosys - nanocrystals give flash storage a vertical leap in capacity

2. iPhone vulnerability - Safari allows Independent Security Evaluators wizards to do the Imperius curse on iPhone

3. iPhone activations - 146,000 new customers in 30 hours disappoints AT&T investors.

4. Apple rallies - Apple announces 270,000 iPhones sold before July 1.

5. iPhone Clone in Italy - Italians are first in iPhone clones in Europe

6. Virgin Cancels Mobile TV - say good-bye to the Lobster phone.

7. Motorola Projector Phone - point-and-watch video viewing coming soon

8. 6G iPod - transition iPod (?) in August

9. Nokia Music Store - Nokia hits back at Apple

10. iPhone Europe - Merry Christmas for Europeans

11. iZAP for iPhone - iPhone talk time now 24 hours

12. Shearer V2000 - iPhone clone that I’d love to have… in it’s uglier incarnation as Ainol V2000

He, it’s not like the Chinese don’t make good press photos of new products but the results on the new Gemei X-760 is just remarkable, and a sub-species apart from its predecessor. The screen is a 3-inch 4:3 LTPS TFT with 16 million colors. It’s compatible with RM, RMVB, DAT and AVI video files. The 500 MHZ CPU ADI BF533 makes sure the PMP can handle high-speed graphics including playing videos at 30 fps and game emulation for NEO, GEO, NES, SFC, MD, GBA. We’ve heard of this ADI BF533 processor before. It also plays MP3, WMA, APE and FLAC Lossless and benefits from BBE and SRS audio enhancers with additonal support for TXT, JPG, BMP, GIF and GIF animation. FM tuner, USB 2.0, SD card support of up to 4GB. The 1GB will set you back a whopping 799 yuan or around$106, and another hundred yuan for another gigabyte, like so: 2GB (899 yuan), 3GB (999 yuan), 4GB (1099 yuan).

Observation: All in all, the X-760 comes out pricier than the Shearer V2000, which we favor. The Chinese puts a lot of stock on game emulation, and the button configuration on the X-760, though a little off-putting to us, adds value to Chinese PMP consumers.

[via sxdn] Read the rest »

US-based fan of the X Games? Well, Verizon, in cooperation with ESPN and MediaFLO, is bringing the ESPN mobile TV channel right in time for the X Games 13. This channel brings the thrills and spills straight to your phone, including live competitions and behind-the-scenes coverage and commentary.

Programming will include practices, qualifying, daily “Best of X Games” snippets, and the debut of rally car races as seen from the driver’s perspective.

Live coverage starts on August 2 at 11:30 Pacific, and finishes August 5 at 3 PM. Re-runs are scheduled for August 6 and 7.

[via mobilewhack]

Samsung has announced its P520 wallet-sized touchscreen phone. This could be the Samsung Armani phone they’ve been talking about. The tie-up with the Italian fashion label is not official yet but the P520 looks like the more logical choice for Armani. It’s a slim phone at 88 x 54 x 8.9mm but weighs like a wallet full of krugerrand at 102g. The 2.6-inch touchscreen is 240 x 320 pixels (QVGA), and we’ll all be hoping it utilizes some sort of multi-touch, because this would look pretty cool being flipped open and finger-swiped. It plays MP3, AAC, AAC music files (video as well?) and has a 3 megapixel camera. Unfortunately, it’s not a 3G phone but will probably have WiFi and UMA (unlicensed mobile access) for seamless switching between cellular and VoIP. The P520 doesn’t originally come in wallet-shape, but the “wallet” does come upon purchase. MicroSD memory extension and 3 hours of talk time, is all the rest of our knowledge of this unpriced phone.

Here’s what the P520 looks like without the protector… after the break.

[via tech.co.uk) Read the rest »