- Cheap Nokia Cell Phones on Sale!
Medis 24-7 Power Pack fuel cell available online now, at Best Buy soon
Medis has been making promises about its portable fuel cell for the masses since way back in 2005, but it looks like it’s now finally actually available online, and will soon be available at a Best Buy possibly near you (if it isn’t already). $30 will get you the basic starter kit, which includes the PowerPack itself, a power cable, a standard mini USB connector, and connectors for LG, Palm Treo, and “New Nokia” phones. According to Medis, a single PowerPack will provide enough juice for about 30 hours of talk time, or 60 to 80 hours of playback from your MP3 player, after which you’ll have to ditch (and recycle) the pack and get a replacement for $20. If that sounds like the solution you’ve been waiting for, you can hit up the link below and get your order in.
Bluetooth 2.1 on the way: near-field communications and 5x battery
Gear Live got the chance to check the new Bluetooth 2.1 EDR specification live with Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group). Most definitely, the coolest new feature is delivered via an optional part of the spec dubbed “near-field communications.” Using a prototype Nokia cellphone and Parrot picture frame, Foley was able to snap a photo on the handset and then pair and transfer it to the frame by simply holding the phone a few inches away from the display. Other notable enhancements are 5x reduction in battery drain (hoozah!) for Bluetooth mice and keyboards as well as enhanced security. The spec is “just being finalized now” with first product expected to hit around the 2007 holiday season. Fingers crossed eh, as these things tend to drag out a bit longer than expected. In the mean time, check the full video demonstration after the break.
Mobile Millennium project promises to track traffic with cellphones
UC Berkeley has been working on using cellphones to track traffic for some time now, first under the the decidedly less expansive Mobile Century project, and now under its new Mobile Millennium project, which has the backing of Nokia, NAVTEQ, and others. It actually first kicked off earlier this year, but it looks like it’s now about to take another big step forward, with the researchers set to open things up to the general public — or the general public in Northern California, at least. The idea here is to collect data from folks with GPS-equipped cellphones and combine it with existing traffic data, and then in turn make that information accessible via cellphone to let you plan out the speediest route. According to the researchers, the software will work on both Nokia and non-Nokia phones, but it seems that they’ve only tested it on the E71 and N95 so far (you can also view real-time traffic data on your computer). More details will apparently be announced when this new stage of the project officially gets underway on November 10th, but those interested in taking part can already register by hitting up the read link below.
Motorola and SE pinpointed, may face tough time “weathering the storm”
No, not that Storm silly — that storm. As cellphone users around the globe put off that once imminent upgrade purchase in order to make the mortgage and feed the family, (most) handset makers are obviously feeling the pinch. A fresh report from The Wall Street Journal pretty much reiterates much of what we’ve already heard, but still dives deeper into which companies are best positioned to escape the madness. As predicted, HTC, Apple and Nokia were all pinpointed as being able to make it through tough economic times without losing their proverbial hats, but both Motorola and Sony Ericsson could be facing insurmountable odds. Granted, it’s not like either firm has really been killing it of late, but it’s a pretty bad time to be struggling, regardless. The takeaway? Don’t be shocked to see some wild stuff go down in the mobile space — all bets are off at this point.
Tags: Nokia Cell Phones