Philips Android GoGear Avaliable Now

If you already have a phone you love, but are like me and want to play with Android, there aren’t too many options (especially if you want MarketPlace). Philips have now released what seems to be the first official Android 2.1 PMP which will support Android’s MarketPlace.
The handsome device features a 3.2-inch screen, 16GB of internal storage space (8GB available soon as well), a battery good for 5 hours of video playback (and 25 hours of audio), FM radio tuner, microSD expansion slot, camera of some sort and GPS. Unusually there is no word of WiFi or Bluetooth, which might make it awkward adding applications to the device.
While Android’s weakest point is the media playback software, it is nice to see Philip’s moving way from propriety crap and offer something a little different. I hope that for $340 there is a nice processor and a misprint on the lack of WiFi.

Via [Engadget]

Wildly Cheap Archos 32 Has Wildy Powerful Cortex A8

Anyone who knows the potential of the TI OMAP processors will know they are always to be taken seriously. The last gen OMAP’s found in devices such as the Nokia N900 have been wildly overclocked and have been shown to out perform even the current generation Snapdragon’s. It is good news that Archos have possibility decided to use them in their next move in the crowded Android market space.
The Archos 32, will be a 3.2-inch WiFi only iPod Touch (or Sony Walkman X series, or Microsoft Zune…) competitor except there is a good possibility the device will retail for under $150USD. The most important part of the device is the heart of it, featuring the brand spanking new OMAP3630 45nm ARM Cortex A8 processor. What it means is you can expect advanced OpenGL 3D acceleration, improved video decoding and encoding features which will make the alternatives look underwhelming.
There is no release date as yet, but the good news is that their may be an array of similar devices ranging from 2.8-inches all the way up to 10-inches. If the build quality is up to par and they keep keep the prices reasonable, Archos will have a winner on their hands for sure.

Via [Arm Devices]

Budget Portable Gaming Gets Update

I am a big fan of open source and of gaming. Imagine my delight to hear that my second favourite portable open source gaming device (Pandora is king) the GP2X has recieved a giant refresh. Titled the Caanoo, it shares a lot of (internal) similarities with its older sibling, the Wiz. What has changed is double the memory (128mb), added joystick, much larger 3.5-inch screen and an option for added Wi-Fi. All the addition’s while maintaining the low price of $150USD (or $120 without wireless). Devices like this make the PSPgo and DSi look even less appealing.

Via [MaxConsole]

Plug Computing Goes 3.0

Marvell have recently announced the follow up to the hugely hacker friendly Shivaplug. Titled Marvell Plug Computer 3.0, it now contains such goodies as WiFi, Bluetooth and a blisteringly fast 2 GHz Armada 300 processor.  All this crammed inside  something that resembles a mobile phone charger.

This little device can run as a NAS, web server, media streamer, print server, bittorrent downloader and anything else you can imagine, while using very little power and being dead quiet. If they can keep the price around the $US99 of the original, I will be plugging one in soon.

Via [SlashGear]

The Awesome But Unusual Samsung P2 Dock

Samsung have surprised me with the recently announced docking station for there infamous P2 PMP. The little station adds 4 new abilities to the player which include Wi-Fi, MicroSD, FM transmitter, and even a built in speaker. Not much else is known, but expect more when CES comes our way. If the WiFi and MicroSD are implemented properly, this could make the P2 a very kick arse product.

More info at AnythingButiPod.

Update: The Dock is so damn fake, and people keep reminding me. It would have been nice, but it seems a no go.

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Update: Nokia N810 Is Almost Sexual

I want one. It is a gadget to lust for, to dream of, to leave your whining wife for. The Nokia N810 was official non-rumor yesterday, but today we have all the dirty, dirty details of what it hides under its sleek plastic face.
To start, it does definitely have a GPS inbuilt. It also has the same 4.3-inch display as its predecessor (WVGA with 65,000 colours) , expect it is 20% brighter. Other features include a 2GB internal storage, WiFi (802.11b/g), Bluetooth (2.0+ EDR), 400MHz OMAP 2420 CPU, 128MB RAM, 256MB ROM, integrated frontal camera, ambient light sensor, mini USB 2.0, hardware lock switch and did I mention the complete QWERTY keyboard? It natively plays back video: 3GP, AVI, H.263, H.264, MP4, ASF, WMV, MPEG-1/4, Real video; audio: MP3, WMA, AAC, AMR, AWB, M4A, MP2, Real audio, WAV (it is a Symbian, so it can also install 3rd party apps to play other codec’s).
The battery life will hit around 4 hours for movies, internet access, etc; 10 hours music only, up to 2 weeks totally idle time and 5 days active standby (whatever that means). It will weigh 7.97 ounces and measure in at 5 x 2.83 x 0.55-inches. It is supposedly set for a November release and could hit around the $US479 mark. For a GPS, PMP, DAP, PDA and many possible other things, it is a really sweet deal.
On a side note, the guys over at Engadget got a hands on with the N810, and liked the device except for the keyboard. Maybe it is a good time to buy those now obsolete N800′s?

F0r more info, click over to the  Engadget Blog.

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Update: Sorry No Video Out For Baby Zune

Bad news people. The Zune 4 and Zune 8 flashed based PMP players will not feature video out capabilities as first expected. Apparently the only Zune 2.0 that will feature the ‘DVD quality output’ will be the Zune 80. I guess it may be another reason to buy the 3rd gen iPod instead.

For more info, click over to the Engadget Blog.

Microsoft Do The Zune 2.0 Thing

So the big news today is that Microsoft have refreshed there series of Zune players, and now bring the series up to 2.0 (or firmware 2.1). The Zune range has now grown huge with now a choice of 4 different players, and even more colours.
The original Zune will stay in the series, but for a first, will get the new firmware and new features and get a name change to Zune 30. The other 3 Zunes are all new and all feature a new way to navigate, called a Zune pad. The Zune pad is basically a four way touch-sensitive d-pad.
The first two of the remaining 3 are flash based players, with the only difference between them being is a 4GB (titled Zune 4 and will sell for $US150) or 8GB (titled Zune 8 and will sell for $US200) option. They both feature a 1.8-inch screen, WiFi and will measure 41.4 x 91.5 x 8.5mm. Both will be available in pink, green, black, and red.
The remaining Zune is titled the “Zune 80″, which as you could guess it is a 80GB HDD based player. It features a very nice big 3.2-inches QVGA screen, “premium” headphones, WiFi and will measure 61.1 x 108.2 x 12.9mm. It is only available in black (for now) and will retail for $US250.
Coming with the Zunes is also a rehash of the firmware, which changes the GUI and a few features to boot. New features include native video codecs for h.264 and MPEG-4, sync video from your Media Center PC, WiFi sync to host computer, Podcasts, 3 day play limit on shared music now removed (still 3 plays though) and the Zune Store is going DRM-free. Now time to list the things missing, which are no wireless music store,no 16GB flash model, no Bluetooth and no memory card slot. I will have to hold judgement until I see the battery lives of the players. Expect an update in November when they ship.

For more info, click over to the Engadget Website.

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