By: Nate Nelson (Contributing Editor)

Everybody is overwhelmed at CES. That is the only genuine emotion of the show.

It is true that the attendees of the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show would often display curiosity, happiness, irritation, frustration, flirtatiousness, thoughtfulness, disdain, or disgust, but those were affectations. They were simply overwhelmed, and how could they not have been? Either they were there to meet people — and there were too many to count, or they were there to see the tech products — and there were too many to count.

Me and the Amazing Brittney

CES is, in all ways, a sensory invasion. Visiting CES is a little like dropping by the Smithsonian Institution in that it is far too vast for a person to see all in a day. I spent most of my time in the Central Hall, which held most of the larger, more elaborate booths and bigger name exhibitors. Although I was a working stiff at the show, my responsibilities were such that I was able to look around and take in some of the other areas. Even so, CES is large enough that I still saw just a modest fraction of the show.

There is no dress code at CES, which is very fortunate for some people, and creates an unusual situation where businesspeople in expensive suits rub shoulders with television producers in wrinkled khaki, and shove past hipsters with ironic t-shirts and women in impossibly short skirts. My CES dress consisted of company golf shirts and slacks, which was not uncommon, although by far I saw more people in what could be termed “trade show business casual.” It was the same for men and women: slacks, loafers, a button up shirt, a sports coat, no tie for the men, no heeled shoes for the women, and both carrying a sensible bag. Black was the shade of choice. Women might substitute a t-shirt for the button up, and men might substitute expensive jeans for the slacks, but if there were 400,000 visitors to CES, at least 50,000 of them were dressed like they shopped out of the same catalog.

You stay classy, Circus Circus

It is appropriate to always hold CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is a city built around careful planning and middling execution — an apt description of every CES experience. It is not that the exhibitors at CES are looking to create a mediocre experience for their visitors (just as the city planners and casino builders are not looking to do the same), but any understanding of the nuances, any deeper look, any investigation at all reveals an unsteady organization with disinterested custodians. The gadgets are amazing, the lights are dazzling, but behind it all is a group of people just looking to get by.

There is a strange sociality that exists at CES (and likely at other trade shows, as well, although I do not know) where your status is determined by the color of your entry badge. This color determines your purpose for being there. For example, mine was gray, which meant I was an exhibitor, and the yellow badges were for buyers, and maroon for “industry affiliates,” which was a very broad category that I never quite figured out. The green badges were registered media members, which made them the titled dukes and earls of the show, of course. Purple were tech bloggers, which was a step below the media, but still exciting enough to have in your booth.

The lowest rung on the ladders were the exhibitors, which seemed unusual for a show dedicated to exhibiting technology, but we were the undesirables of CES. Nobody wanted to pitch products or give away their promotional material and corporate literature to another worker drone like themselves. I asked a particular exhibitor for one of her cloth bags, which she was handing out to literally everyone who walked past, and she took one look at my gray tag and tried to disintegrate me with her laser eyes. She didn’t say anything, and she did give me a bag, but slowly, like a gunfighter edging toward a Colt Peacemaker. It must have been the most reluctant bag she gave out all day, because otherwise, that particular person has a near-superhuman repertoire of glares and disdainful glances, and could teach classes on the subject.

Three major attractions at CES: Cameras, Reporters, and the Restrooms

Attending CES sounds like it will be entertaining; it is the largest consumer electronics show in the world, and many major tech companies reserve that time for their most dazzling developments. I heard it described as Disneyland for nerds and geeks, and that is apt. But it also suffers from a severe lack of fun, because the vast majority of the attendees are not there on an actual vacation. This is a reasonable misunderstanding. After all, you are in a popular vacation destination, there are a lot of amazing things to see, you can find bright lights, loud music, and shockingly overpriced food. There are whispers of celebrities walking around: 50 Cent and Britney Spears were rumored; Lady Gaga walked right past a friend; I personally saw Bill Walton, Crystal Bowersox, and Rick Fox.

But the big difference is that nearly all of the people there are working. It would be like Disneyland for nerds and geeks if, when you walked through the gates of Disneyland, they gave you a plunger and a wrench and sent you to fix the toilets. Everybody spends the entire show on their feet, talking to people, pumping out information, and with the low-level headache that comes from not eating or using the bathroom for unnaturally long stretches. By the end of the day everyone is glowering at each other like malcontents at an armistice, and the only people who are still happy at that point are paid to be so.

The booth babes all seemed so plastic...

As for the people who are paid to be happy, the discussion is not limited to just the hired models – the so-called “booth babes,” who are, for the most part, professional spokesmodels and do their jobs well. But also to the smiling media talent, the PR people, and the enthusiastic sales managers, almost all of whom I had direct contact with during my CES experience. However, I did not speak to a single model, as far as I know, mostly because I found them strangely intimidating. A good spokesmodel can help promote products and speak with interested parties, but the plain truth is they exist at the show to draw attention to a product or space entirely because of a singular, primal male impulse (and, when applicable, a female impulse — hey, I don’t judge). It is an old, time-tested trick: savvy salespeople have been using sex appeal for millennia.

The company that I work for decided not to hire models, preferring to let our products (and strikingly handsome young salesmen) tell the story. However, the space next to us had a few booth babes in tight white shirts and tight short skirts positioned on the corners of their space trying to funnel people inside. I avoided them any time I walked past. I like to think it was because of my deep respect for women and their often confusing gender roles, but I suspect it was because I did not want to be the next idiot guy, slobbering over the pretty girls.

However, as is often the case in the complex tech universe, it is the inanimate objects that dazzle at the center. At CES, it seemed to be a toss-up between the actual booths and the technology they were showcasing.

The Central Hall of CES was the primary showcase for the most memorable booths. Every part of the room was tall with massive walls and built-out displays that featured choreographed dancing televisions, performance artists, Cirque du Soleil-esque shows, and interviews with sometimes confusing special guests (like the previously mentioned Rick Fox). Many booths could be measured in multiples of acres and had multiple levels, with meeting rooms or storage areas tucked away above the main floor. Although the booths in the Central Hall were spaced further apart than in the other halls, they were almost all so expansive that there was no visual break in the landscape.

Before CES, Rick Fox thought "tech" meant one free throw plus possession

The other halls had long rows of smaller displays from smaller companies. A few of these were well-designed and staffed with energetic sales people, and many of the others were grim and desolate. The products were often not interesting enough to generate foot traffic on their own, so the staff sat behind their displays, bored and scowling. I stopped to check out a company that was promoting a direct rip-off of our flagship brand; they even borrowed heavily from our descriptive copy, which I can claim with confidence because I wrote most of it. I asked a disinterested rep in a lawn chair — the only person in the small, dark space — if I could take one of their brochures. He did not even glance in my direction and his answer was an irritated grunt that I presumed meant “yes.” Clearly I was disturbing his silent glaring with my question. Why didn’t I just take the brochure and leave him to focus on the frazzled, overworked booth babe across the aisle?

By contrast the major booths operated like luxury car dealerships. Everything was presented in a tasteful and understated fashion. You were allowed to walk around and absorb their displays at your own initiative, with the personnel just checking in now and again to make sure you were doing okay. No prices were on display, as nothing was really for sale. The products did enough on their own that disinterest and pushiness were never problems. Even the models, for the occasional major booth that used them, were dressed in a difficult-to-describe combination of provocative and classy (provoca-lassy?). Everything was designed and presented with careful thought and consideration. To see that full spectrum of booths and personnel, separated sometimes by just feet, was the essence of the CES experience.

But the gadgets were the true story and the reason anyone spent time walking around such a large and unwieldy show. Brittney and Foster have already written several fantastic posts about the gadgets, and done a much better job than I could have, so I won’t even venture into those waters. I will just add that the number and variety of gadgets I saw in my short time at CES was overwhelming, as mentioned way back at the start of this.

With so much to see packed together so closely, I have to confess that not much stood out as I consider it. There were several engaging tablet computers, which seemed to be a major thrust for a few big-time companies (enough so that more than one talking head has called 2011: “The Year of the Tablet”).  The 3D televisions were an intriguing emerging technology, but I found it in at least five different booths, and I could not now determine which was executed the best.  Besides, am I to assume that five years from now everyone will be watching 3D television? I hope not: I had laser eye surgery barely a year ago, and I am not interested in going back to glasses for all of my future television viewing. Although in fairness, I may be missing the point with that argument.

One item did make a genuine impact for me, though, and aside from my home booth, is the clearest memory of CES I still have. It was a very small booth in the main hallway, bright orange under minimal overhead lights, facing away from the main promenade, and staffed by strapping young men in tight shirts. They were handing out free samples of “Reese’s Minis,” a bite-sized version of their peanut butter cups.

CES: the place to go for amazing candy

I am not sure whether the novelty appealed to me or if this is just a massive personal red flag, but I can remember nearly every detail of the Reese’s booth. I think it’s explainable: there was such a massive volume of technology to mentally sort through that a unique experience in the form of a delicious chocolate-and-peanut-butter nugget stands out.

Does that mean I am not excited for the new tablets, cameras, televisions and games? Of course not. But I have been to five different stores in search of Reese’s Minis and not once have I looked into pre-ordering the Motorola Xoom or the BlackBerry PlayBook. Either I was overwhelmed by technology, like everyone else, or I am just a candy junkie. I should probably plead the fifth.

By: Tony Novoa (Contributing Editor)

Update: Nov 1, 2010. This contest is now officially closed. Congratulations to the winners (announced below) who nabbed their very own unlocked Sony Xperia X10. We would like to thank our friends at Sony and all the fans who participated in the contest. Remember, we have lots and lots of giveaways currently up so don’t forget to enter!

Winners:

Suresh G. of Los Angeles, CA

Jason H. of  Portland, OR

Christina N. of Newark, NJ (Twitter)

Larry M. of Toronto, Canada (Facebook)

Staff Note: Oct 1, 2010. We’ve been telling you on Twitter & Facebook for the last few days. Now it’s a reality! Yes, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is officially a giveaway! All you have to do is read the review and comment down below on why you want one. It’s that simple! Please make sure to read all the way down for the rules. On October 30, 2010 we will award 2 very lucky commenters with their very own UNLOCKED Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 phone! Also, 1 very lucky Facebook Fan & 1 Twitter follower will win their very own units as well!

First and foremost, it needs to be said that as a long-time BlackBerry user I bring a different perspective to my initial exposure with an Android phone. How lucky am I that it happens to be the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10! Note: For this particular review, I used the AT&T branded Xperia X10 and not the Unlocked Global Version. I must also disclose that as my first Android device, I have no basis for comparison to any other Android device. All I can say is that I now understand why Google’s OS has so quickly captured both market and mindshare and is becoming so ubiquitous in the growingly crowded smartphone world. I have become a fast fan.

The Basics

For starters, the X10 is powered by Android OS 1.6 and doesn’t have a hardware keyboard. You interact with it via a beautiful 4-inch capacitive touchscreen and three buttons beneath the display. Powering it is Qualcomm’s fast 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, making it Sony Ericsson’s most powerful smartphoneyet. I must say that the responsiveness of this phone is also quite impressive.

Even more impressive is that the X10 is the first Sony Ericsson phone to feature Google’s OS and I’m happy to report that everything seemed to work fairly well. let’s take a look at the design shall we?

Build & Design

From a packaging perspective, the X10 comes in a small box. But don’t let that mislead you. This is one of Sony Ericsson’s largest phones to date and also one of the larger cell phones on the market. What is surprising is that despite the the size of the display, which covers almost the entire front of the handset (119x63x13 mm), it is quite comfortable to hold in one hand. The well executed trick is in the width of the phone, which is identical to the BlackBerry Storm form factor. The height is where you find the extra real estate to provide a larger, more encompassing display.

What’s In The Box?

Packaged with the phone you’ll find the basic fare:

• Battery
• Modular charger with a generous micro USB cable (60″)
• 2 GB microSD Card
• 3.5mm headset
• Quickstart Guide

The X10 has a black, sleek design flanked by curved aluminum and a plastic back cover. The overall impression is a sharp, futuristic, sexy looking device. Frankly, this is not a big surprise coming from Sony. The right side of the handset features multimedia control buttons which control the camera and MP3 player.

The plastic battery cover encompasses the entire back of the X10 and is not easy to remove. You need to use your fingernail to remove it by prying a groove at the bottom of the handset. Right next to it are lanyard holes which I guess can come in handy if you want to attach a wrist strap or hang it somehow.

All The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Goodies

The display is impressive. Providing a sharp & crisp image is a 4-inch capacitive display with 480 x 854 resolution and 64K color support that delivers good image quality and features. Not quite like Samsung’s AMOLED or Apple’s Retina display but still very sharp and vivid. No complaints here. The Android OS in version 1.6 comes with a 64K color limit, but you will soon be able to upgrade to the latest 2.1 version of the operating system which supports 16M colors. I would expect that the difference isn’t that noticeable but the more colors the better, right?

The current display has excellent contrast and adjusts according to surrounding light. The result is that images remain clear even under direct sunlight. Images may sometimes seem too bright, but this can also be adjusted in the display settings.

In terms of interaction, the screen is very sensitive; the reaction to finger touches is fast. More importantly, the screen is very precise, which facilitates the use of virtual keyboard in both the horizontal and the vertical position (full QWERTY keyboard appears on the screen in both cases). As a BlackBerry Storm user who has long struggled with its virtual keyboard, I can attest to the better and effective execution here.

Similarly, browsing through photos and contacts, web page scrolling and other actions that include moving the finger across the screen can be performed quickly and accurately. The 1 GHz Snapdragon processor definitely makes a difference. However, multi-touch is not supported (why not?????). My understanding is that it won’t be supported even if Android OS was upgraded to version 2.1 (or later) due to “hardware issues,” according to Sony Ericsson. Unlike other handsets with Google’s OS, web pages and photos can’t be zoomed in by pinching. Instead, zooming in can be performed by pressing the icons marked by the plus and minus signs that show up on the screen in certain situations. If you love the way Android works on other devices or are used to Apple’s iOS, this is clearly a disappointment and one of the biggest downsides of the phone.

Xperia X10 Main Menu

Xperia X10 In Locked Mode, Lit Buttons

Buttons

The three front buttons below the screen consistently have the same specific function. Pressing the left button activates the standard context menu, which as I understand, represents the same choices on every Android handset. Note that the list of available options changes according to the active application. Pressing the middle button always brings up the home screen, while the right one is a one-step-back button. This is not unlike the Blackberry interface – except that it typically offers a four button layout.

Something to note is that when the buttons are pressed, two small lights between them light up. Although this seems to be mostly for aesthetic reasons, it does come in handy when using the device in the dark. Despite the fact that all three buttons are clearly marked and protrude enough to be easily pressed without looking, the icons don’t light up.

The multimedia buttons located around the sides are significantly smaller, flatter and poorly marked. They have a response time delay of a few hundredths of a second, so it is helpful that photos can also be snapped by pressing the much more sensitive screen.
Finally, the top of the handset contains the power button, a micro-USB port covered with a flap and a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack. A comment about the flap… while I understand its aesthetic value, it is also woefully annoying to manipulate when it is time to charge the device. I struggled to keep the flap out of the way while connecting the charging cord.

Xperia X10 Front View, Turned Off

Xperia X10 Back View

Performance

Equipped with a smoking fast processor and big, high resolution screen, the X10 performs very nicely and responsively. The operating system and applications run quickly, zooming in and scrolling through multimedia and web pages is impressive and the overall experience is quite satisfying. Keep in mind that this smartphone currently comes with older version of Google’s operating system, Android OS 1.6. Word has it that Sony Ericsson has promised to release an OS upgrade very shortly.

As far as memory capacity goes, the handset comes with 1 GB of internal memory and an 2 GB microSD memory card, which seemed a bit light given the plethora of apps available for Android OS as well as the potential number of files that one typically wants to store these days. The good news… for those who need more memory, the device supports microSD cards of up to 16 GB.

Xperia X10 Fits Elegantly In Jenna's Delicate Hands

Call Quality/Wireless

The Xperia X10 supports all 2G and 3G bands and can therefore be easily used around the world without concern about the mobile network operator’s technology. Certainly, this is a convenience that frequent travelers will appreciate. It is important to note that the phone also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1.

As far as call quality, I can’t characterize it as as completely satisfactory. Keep in mind that performance can probably be attributed to the shortcomings of the AT&T network. That being said, people on the other end did not sound as clear as one would want or expect and many times their voice was followed by a faint echo. I must also admit that my opportunity to test call quality was hampered by having only $25 allocated to the SIM card that came with the phone. These were quickly consumed by data usage and some missed calls. While many other handsets have a significantly louder speaker, I found it to be more than adequate. Notably, the microphone quality is very good; the caller on the other end was always heard distinctly.

As far as the address book goes, I didn’t find it to be as intuitive as it could have been. After a desired contact has been found, it takes an additional three screen touches in order to actually make a call (first for the number and then on the call icon). Although I didn’t try, my understanding is that this issue can be sidestepped by installing a better dialer, many of which are available in the Android Market.

User Interface

If I have a negative comment about the user interface, it would have to be about Sony Ericsson’s Timescape/Mediascape interface. Here’s how it works… the UI focuses on Internet communication and multimedia content stored in the phone. The Timescape application manages many types of communication: calls, SMS text messages, emails and social media applications like Facebook and Twitter. It can also be set as the home screen.

When Timescape is activated, all the messages are lined up in reverse chronological order and show a photo of the person with whom you communicated. They can be filtered according to communication type and every one of them, along with the photo, has an icon with the infinity sign that shows a complete communication history with that person.

Mediascape functions similarly, but with photos, videos and MP3s organized in reverse chronological order. Most recently used or added files come up first on the list. While I can appreciate the intent of this interface, I find it highly inefficient when dealing with large amounts of communication. That is to say, to rely on this interface would lead to potentially missing important communication which would be buried with unimportant Facebook or Twitter status updates. In order to get good utility from the phone, I relied on native applications for email, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Win this global unlocked Xperia X10 in glossy black!

This gorgeous sleek white Xperia X10 could be yours!

Web Browsing and Email

The smartphone features a fairly dated Android OS 1.6 browser, capable of rendering even complicated web pages. This is probably the one big flaw in this phone considering that it comes mightily equipped with a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor. The processor certainly allows very smooth scrolling and zooming, making web browsing a very pleasant experience. However, a phone this beautiful with Android 1.6 (while others are already up to 2.2) is simply unforgivable.

It should be noted that Flash is not supported (like Apple iPhones & iPads), but this downside is somewhat offset by a fast and simple YouTube browser. Although I did not test this, the handset includes an application suite for synchronizing various segments of MS Outlook with the handset (email, contacts, tasks, calendar). The most interesting among them is Moxier Mail, used for Exchange Server email access that doesn’t need server-side extensions since it uses the server’s Outlook Web Access interface. The standard email app can be used for POP3, IMAP and Gmail accounts.

Xperia X10 8.1MP Camera Lens

Camera

The X10 features an 8.1 megapixel camera with an LED flash. The camera software has a large feature set reminiscent of Sony Cyber-shot cameras. In addition to excellent face and smile detection, people in photos can be tagged (similar to Facebook), which can prove to be useful for subsequent sorting in Mediascape.

Daylight photo quality is above average for this class of handset, exceptionally sharp and with vivid colors. Photos taken in darker settings, however, have much duller colors and a large number of artifacts – probably due to the low light adjustment. My understanding is that some Sony Ericsson phones have much better image quality in this type of setting… and it’s a shame that the X10′s camera doesn’t do better here. Furthermore, the LED flash must be manually activated, which is another downside.

Here are some pictures taken with the phone’s camera…

Outdoors in cloudy conditions (no flash)

Indoors With Light & Flash

Battery Life

The Xperia X10 features a 1500 mAh Li-Poly battery, sufficient for about two days of normal usage. Heavy usage of Wi-Fi, multimedia and GPS functionalities reduces the autonomy drastically; the handset, under those conditions, will have to be recharged daily. This, it turns out, was my experience as I ended up extensively exercising the Wi-Fi radio due to the embarrasingly low SIM card account that came with this device (I don’t have an AT&T account so Sony sent what must have been a low capacity SIM card with the phone). Additionally, the reduced battery life can also be due to the large screen although I found the X10 to automatically lock very frequently as soon as it is not being used. Supposedly, just like other Sony Ericsson phones, ordinary calls have little impact on battery life.

Reality Grade

Building on Sony’s reputation for beautiful hardware, the Xperia X10 is an excellent Sony Ericsson mobile phone that is stylish and wonderful to look at. It could perhaps even be considered Sony’s best to date. It cannot, however, be considered the best Android-based phone on the market due to its fairly dated Android 1.6 OS (Sony says it should be upgradeable to 2.1 later this year). If Internet communication such as social networking and multimedia capabilities are features you primarily look for in a mobile phone, you will be more than satisfied. However, if you want other functions, such as multi-touch, you may want to look elsewhere. Overall, the Xperia X10′s speed and notable screen can satisfy many, but with other more inviting phones out there, even a $99 subsidized price with a 2 year AT&T Plan won’t make this one a standout. In fairness, it needs to be said that this phone has enjoyed excellent user feedback.

Pros:

• Highly responsive 4-inch touchscreen (480×854 pixels)
• Nice higher-end camera (8.1 MP with LED flash)
• Good overall performance
• Very attractive build
• Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G support

Cons:

• No multi-touch (not even with an OS upgrade!)
• No Flash support for web browsing (yet)
• Voice quality could be better (could be due to AT&T’s service though)
• Innovative Timescape and Mediascape user interface – not really practical for efficient communication

List Price: $99 with a 2 year contract from AT&T, 499.99 without a plan (unlocked price is also around $499.99)

Giveaway Rules:

Only our loyal subscribers are qualified to enter ALL our contests. Therefore, if you’re not a subscriber yet, you MUST be subscribed to our e-newsletter in order for your comments to qualify for entry into our contests. Simply use the email signup on the upper right-hand side of this page. Make sure to go back into your email and confirm. That’s it! We won’t sell you anything, offer you anything, or send you spam, EVER! You just get an email everytime we have an article or contest giveaway. That’s all. We have and continue to give away dozens of really awesome prizes like this every month. It pays to subscribe!

So, are you ready for another giveaway? Ready or not, we are! So, share your comments with us and tell why this cool device would make a good home with you. Also, don’t forget to follow @MyRealityTech on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook for additional chances to win our super cool giveaways. 99% of the time, we choose individual winners exclusively through Facebook & Twitter!

By: Edward Jackson (Senior Editor)

Consumer installable in-vehicle Device Holder / Device Mount makes the [BlackBerry 9800 Torch]  and the [BlackBerry 9650 Bold]  smartphones easier to view and access while in the car. 

[ProClip USA, Inc.] today announced a variety of new Device Holders / Device Mounts designed to securely mount the AT&T BlackBerry Torch, and the Verizon and Sprint Bold smartphones to car, truck and SUV dashboards and consoles. [ProClip Device Holders / Device Mounts], designed and manufactured by Brodit AB, in Sweden, are custom made and attach to a vehicle specific [ProClip Car Mounts]. Once this two part solution (Device Holder / Device Mount plus Car Mount) are attached, to the dashboard, the solution provides better viewing and easier access. ProClip Device Holders / Device Mounts may also be attached to other manufacturers’ car mounts or any flat surface.

“Securely and conveniently mounting handheld devices like the BlackBerry, without damaging a vehicle’s interior, is what we do best,” says Bjorn Spilling, president of ProClip USA. “We offer mounting solutions that are custom designed for virtually every car in the world, and all popular handheld devices.”

ProClip USA has just released new Device Holders / Device Mounts for other new smartphones such as:

• Samsung Captivate, Samsung Galaxy S phone (AT&T)
• Samsung Vibrant, Samsung Galaxy S phone (T-Mobile)
• HTC EVO 4G (Sprint)

Also, coming soon are Device Holders / Device Mounts for:

• Samsung Epic 4G, Samsung Galaxy S phone (Sprint)
• Samsung Fascinate, Samsung Galaxy S Phone (Verizon)
• Motorola Droid X (Verizon)
• Motorola Droid 2 (Verizon)

Device Holders / Device Mounts are available for other BlackBerry, Samsung, HTC and Motorola devices. All products available at [www.proclipusa.com].

ProClip Car Mounts provide the mounting platform to attach any ProClip Device Holder / Device Mount or adapter. The ProClip Car Mount is the only vehicle specific, consumer installable mounting bracket in today’s global market. The mount clips into the dashboard seams, providing a very sturdy and tight fit. Average installation time is 2 minutes. No dismantling of the dashboard is required and there is no damage to the vehicle’s interior!

By: Edward Jackson (Senior Editor)

Leads the Way with One of the First Universal Qi Technology Products to Market!

As consumers rely more heavily than ever on devices such as smartphones and cell phones for everything from texting and talking, to working and shopping, their demand for more power and more convenient charging options has skyrocketed. Energizer, a leader in innovative power solutions that make consumers’ lives easier, recognized this growing need and responded with the introduction of their first inductive charger built with Qi technology, the new universal charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC).

Widely anticipated and considered to be one of the most compelling new developments in charging technology, Qi (pronounced chee) will bring consumers the freedom to charge their smartphones, MP3 players, cameras – any device 5 Watts or less – on a single charging station, regardless of manufacturer.

“We believe that a universal standard is the future of charging, and by leading the way with one of the first Qi products – the Energizer Inductive Charger – we are meeting a clear need for a product that makes charging devices easier by eliminating cords and clutter,” said Jim Olsen, Vice President of Marketing for Energizer North America. “This next generation charger is a natural extension of an innovative product portfolio that brings more freedom for people to live and to work using power that’s reliable and convenient.”

According to market research firm iSuppli, Corp., shipments of electronic products with wireless charging capability are anticipated to increase from 3.6 million units in 2010, to 234.9 million units in 2014. An open, standardized system will create a healthier competitive environment and prompt manufacturers to join forces.* The WPC had this very goal of global compatibility in mind when they formed an international group of more than 55 companies to develop this universal standard.

“The WPC and dedicated members like Energizer have been hard at work developing and testing this universal standard, and we are honored to have a brand with the global reach of Energizer as one of the first to market with a Qi inductive charger,” said Menno Treffers, Chairman of the Wireless Power Consortium. “They are helping to establish and educate about Qi and drive adoption, benefiting consumers and the industry as a whole.”

Designed in cooperation with WPC co-founder ConvenientPower, the first generation of the Energizer Inductive Charger is designed to conveniently charge up to three devices at one time. It features two large inductive charging zones that don’t require locking the device into a precise position, so consumers can simply set down their phone and be sure that it will be charged and ready to go. It also has a USB port so it’s easy to charge an additional device such as a phone, headset, mp3 player, camera or GPS. Two LED charge lights indicate that the device is charging.

.

The Energizer Inductive Charger will be introduced with a Qi Sleeve for the iPhone 3GS/3G and a one-time replacement Qi Door for the BlackBerry Curve 8900, so consumers can enjoy the convenience of Qi right away. Soon, consumers can expect to have Qi built right into many of their devices.

“As one of the first to market with a Qi device, we want to make it easy for consumers to experience how easy and convenient it is to charge their devices using this new universal standard,” added Olsen. “We focused on accessories for popular smartphones, but anticipate that it will not be long before manufacturers roll-out devices with Qi built right in.”

The Energizer Inductive Charger will be available at retail this October. Suggested retail price is $89. The removable Qi sleeve for the iPhone 3GS/3G and the Qi door for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 will be sold separately for $34.99 each.

For more information, visit www.energizer.com/inductive, www.energizer.com, http://www.facebook.com/EnergizerBunny, http://www.facebook.com/Energizer.

By: William Armstrong (Contributing Editor)

Everyone understands the importance of keeping your information safe, especially with the risk of identity theft at every turn. That is why it is good to have tools to help keep information safe. iPhone users have had the advantage of mobileMe software for quite some time now, but now Blackberry users have their own option with the arrival of Blackberry Protect.

Blackberry Protect offers a suite of tools to protect Blackberry users on multiple fronts, and is easily managed right from your PC. You are able to back up your contacts, documents and settings on a regular basis to help protect you from data loss due to software or hardware failure, theft or loss. An extra loud ring feature is included, for those times you misplace your Curve around the house. Other awesome features include a lost and found screen, allowing honest citizens the opportunity to return your phone to you. Remote data wipe and a device lock can prevent the less honest among us from gaining access to your sensitive information. And a built in GPS locator lets you keep tabs of where your lost device has been hanging out without you. Of course, this feature only works if your Blackberry is turned on. Once your device is recovered or replaced, you can easily restore all of your backed up information with a push of a button.

The standout feature of Blackberry Protect compared to other similar software is the price. Blackberry Protect is free to Blackberry users, and is being released first as a beta in the next few days.

via Blackberry

GPS Locator will help determine if your phone was stolen or left behind.

By Michael Hunter (Contributing Writer)

Its obviously hotter than T-Mobile thought it would be. While some retail locations sold out in only minutes, T-Mobile as a company sold out in just under 4 hours. This powerful device was removed from T-Mo’s website before nights end on March 24th only to show back up a few days later. Then what?

Yup, it was taken right back down. People are dying to get their hands on this device, and I don’t blame them. I even ordered two of them myself, no clue when I’m going to receive them, but I’m waiting as patiently as I possibly can. I’m not going to lie, I check my email at least 10 times a day looking for shipping confirmation only to be disappointed.

Anyway, my point here comes in the form of a question or questions rather:

Is T-Mobile having issues deciding on exactly what the “HOT” devices are going to be?

Let’s not use the HD2 drought as an example, instead let’s use the BlackBerry Curve 8900. In March of 2009 the 83xx Curve series received a much needed upgrade on T-Mobile’s network. Although it wasn’t a 3G device like AT&T’s BlackBerry Bold 9000, it was still a highly coveted next generation BlackBerry. So highly coveted that T-Mobile released it almost a month early for their business customers, and what happened? Yup! They sold through inventory and barely had any for the customers that make up for a majority of their customer base. Thus making the hunt for the 8900 just like the hunt for the HD2.. an Easter Egg Hunt.

T-Mobile knew this would be a “HOT” device despite Windows Mobile’s reputation. Snapdragon Processor, TV application, rent movies on demand, Barnes and Noble eBook Reader, 6 months of free in-flight WIFI, 4.3 inch capacitive HD screen, whats not to want about this device? So why not have enough inventory to supply the demand? I don’t recall T-Mobile running out of their flagship MyTouch 3G.

So I’m going to check my email now to see if mine shipped, hopefully you all can get your hands on one too.

By Michael Hunter (Contributing Writer)

Fresh out of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Verizon Wireless and Skype have announced a new partnership between the two huge companies. Verizon Wireless 3G Smartphone users with data plans will soon be able to make and receive unlimited Skype to Skype voice calls to ANY Skype user ANYWHERE! The new partnership also offers competitive Skype Out calling rates to international phone numbers as well as the ability to see your contacts online status’ and send and receive instant messages. In March this Skype service will be available for all of the Verizon Android and BlackBerry users.

Here’s the part that puzzles me, the official press release has this joint venture listed as “exclusive”, but I’m pretty sure I have Skype installed on my iPhone. Not only that, AT&T lowered the flood gates and now allow for Voice Over IP applications to be downloaded from the App Store. As popular as Skype is on the iPhone, it still hasn’t seen an update since the great news came out by way of AT&T and Apple. Well, I happened to bump into a video and written post on Skype’s very own blog site stating exactly why we have yet to see an update:

“You may have seen other apps offering calls over 3G, but we’re holding ours back for a little bit longer. Why? So that we can give you the very best audio quality we can. When our 3G-capable Skype for iPhone app is released, it’ll let you make calls in wideband audio, giving you greater clarity and fidelity – because that’s what you expect from Skype.”

So just how “exclusive” is this Verizon and Skype VOIP 3G deal? It’s looking like for now (and just for now!) we must continue to use Wi-Fi to make our Skype calls on an iPhone. At any rate,this is very cool offering from Verizon and AT&T the same.

(via: Skype, Skype Blog)

By Michael Hunter (Contributing Writer)

Today a company called Veracode released spyware specific to the BlackBerry Operating System. Spyware is usually not an issue for BlackBerry since they do have some of the best data security around, for this is the exact reason they are used as corporate phones for so many big companies. Veracode’s reasoning for releasing this spyware code is to show that the BlackBerry in fact, is vulnerable to spyware.

Tyler Shields, the author of the BlackBerry spyware, says that though “BlackBerry is one of the better operating systems in regards to security, when in the sandbox you can steal data.” What’s a sandbox? A sandbox is a security mechanism that separates running programs. Often times it is used to run programs from unverified third party developers, suppliers and untrusted users. In other words it is a heavily secured area on your BlackBerry’s memory that allows use of untrusted software.

This spyware code that Tyler calls TXSBBspy, is what he calls a blueprint for malware on BlackBerry devices. It shows that once the sandbox is accessed, it is possible to remotely dump contents (data, contacts, emails, personal info etc.) and send it via email. The code also allows for real-time monitoring of your personal messages. Scary right?

(via: www.networkworld.com)

By: Nate Nelson (Contributing Writer)

Eastman Kodak Company, the world’s largest supplier of photographic films and holder of a broad spectrum of industry patents, took a few legal swings against Apple Inc. and Research in Motion Ltd.  Two lawsuits and a formal complaint with the International Trade Commission allege that Apple and RIM have stepped on Kodak’s toes with aspects of the digital image technology in both the iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones.

Perhaps feeling heady with victory thanks to recent (and similar) legal settlements with Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, Kodak alleges infringement through camera-enabled iPhones and Blackberry devices.  Kodak’s patent covers the “image preview” technology, where the view from the lens is shown through the screen on the camera (or phone, in this case).  Kodak already licenses this technology to about 30 companies, including other mobile device makers.

Kodak also indicated they did not want to interrupt the availability of iPhones or BlackBerry devices with this lawsuit, but were looking to be fairly compensated for their patented technologies.  Both Apple and RIM are grizzled veterans of the legal process and frequent targets for similar lawsuits.  Some of the most recent legal action has seen Apple is in the middle of a major patent dispute with Nokia Corp, and RIM settling a dispute with Saxon Innovations LLC in September.

Like most companies in most industries, Kodak is battling financial problems, and their revenues have been down across the board.  Financial analysts estimate that 10% to 15% of Kodak’s gross profit in 2009 will come from patent licensing, which is predicted to be $175 million to $200 million.  This next level of action against Apple and RIM would help Kodak strengthen their legal position, as well as help them realize their goal of $250 million to $350 million in annual intellectual-property licensing revenue. So what do you think folks? I smell a little desperation here.

(via WSJ.com)

The Globe and mail wrote up an interesting article the other day surrounding Prince Charles, wife Camilla and their recent trip to Canada. According to the article and the source being that of Clarence House (the Prince’s home estate) and the Daily Mail both, Charles and Camilla received BlackBerry Storm 9500 smartphones from Ontario Premier, Dalton McGuinty.

When contacted for the reasoning as to why BlackBerry smartphones were given to the couple, McGuinty’s spokeswomen stated "the BlackBerrys were “entirely” the Premier’s idea and he routinely gives BlackBerrys while hosting foreign dignitaries and when traveling abroad." And Karman Wong stated  "I recall on a 2005 trade mission to China where he pulled out a BlackBerry to show a Chinese minister the device – which at the time wasn’t really permitted in the country.‪”

Now, I can respect that reasoning but I surely would have gone with some Bolds rather then Storm 9500s. Wonder what OS Prince Charles is running?

Read The Full Article Via The Globe And Mail Website >>