Gadgets Blog

There will be two new offerings in the overflowing smartphone market this holiday season to confuse us further in arriving at a decision. While Motorola introduces its first touchscreen Cliq smartphone in Google’s mobile platform, Android; Palm will be launching its second phone in its own webOS mobile platform called the Pixi.

Cliq boasts of a social facilitator that Motorola calls “Motoblur” that lets your friends, pics, emails, messages and Facebook, MySpace and Twitter happenings, get all synchronized in one place with continuous updates and back-ups. Motorola promises that there will be no need for logins or apps to open even though complete data security is assured. More Motoblur capabilities include:

• The ability to see a caller’s name, number, status and profile picture Syncs personal and work contacts and connected social networks photo sharing with MySpace, Photobucket, Picasa, Facebook

• Customizable home screen (status, messaging, RSS widgets) Facebook, MySpace and Twitter direct messaging

The phone will offer 3G/HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity, a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus, a full HTML Web browser, 6 hours of active battery use, POP3/IMAP and Microsoft Exchange support.

Find more details on Cliq here.

 photo courtesy: engadget.com

Pixi on the other hand is a teeny tiny version of the original Palm phone the Pre, coming at just 0.43″ thin. It still manages to have a full keyboard, a capacitive touchscreen, GPS, a 2-megapixel camera and accelerometer, though it sheds a wifi and thankfully a whole lot of lot of weight. You will still be able to download applications & music and indulge in extensive messaging and social networking. This time around Palm has included LinkedIn and Yahoo to the synergy contacts, Yahoo to the messaging application, and an official Facebook application. For all those relentless fashionistas out there, Palm presents what it calls “Artist Series“, which consists of limited edition back covers in fashion colors and designs that you can find here. Read more about the Pixi here on Palm’s site.

Both phones will go on sale during the holiday season, Cliq on T-Mobile and Pixi from Sprint . While the exact price point is unknown for both at this point of time, there is wild speculation that Pixi would even go for as low as $99 as the Palm Pre itself has fallen to $149.99 in with contract.

You know how happy you are when you get a new mobile phone. No scratches or chips from bouncing off pavement or dropping on floors, the numbers aren’t worn yet and the battery seems to last forever, or at least longer than expected.

Fast forward about 12-18 months, after charging and recharging, sometimes admittedly at half-life because you can’t run the risk of it going dead while you’re running about. Eventually, that battery gets tired and your usage time doesn’t seem to last quite as long as it used to.

Do you need a whole new phone? Well, maybe, but not necessarily. If you’re on a budget, replacing your cell phone’s battery might be a better option than throwing down another $100-$300, depending. Check out the replacement batteries Smarter features.

For Nextel users, the Nextel I85 (1000 mAh) replacement battery for $26.99 could help you out. It’s quality tested, OEM compatible, and works with Nextel I60, I85, I90, I95 models. Get from Accessory Geeks and use code ORDER032008 to get 5% off plus free shipping on any order.

For Motorola 120c, 120e, 120t, 120x cellular phone users, the Motorola SNN5571 replacement battery (from $25.90) could be the one. Use code EB8 to save 10% off, plus score free shipping on your purchase when using coupon code EB8 during checkout at eBatts.com.

Got an LG, Samsung, Sanyo, Nokia, or Sony Ericsson?  We’ve got those, too.

Get these replacement cell phone batteries and more cell phone accessory deals at Smarter.com.

There’s something about a text message that seems, well, trustworthy.  It’s familiar, like the texter already knows me.   And let’s face it, if your bank calls to report suspicious activity on your account, you want to find out about it – never suspecting you might then be allowing said suspicious activity to occur!

In a not very new phishing type scam, criminal parties are sending text messages to bank customer cell phones pretending to be their banks.  When customers call in, they’re asked to enter account numbers and passwords, which are then recorded and accessed to withdraw funds.  Once funds are transferred overseas, the banks and credit unions are taking the hit for the loss.

I realize when I get an email from the prime minister of some country or other telling me I’ve won the national lottery, it’s “probably” a scam.

I’m also pretty good about checking the URL before entering my account name or password if I’ve been suddenly forwarded from a page I was loading.

As far as cell phones go, if I don’t recognize the number calling or it displays as “unavailable” or “restricted,” I will not be answering it.

But, the reason this scam is so easily convincing is because the scammers have thought enough ahead to target smaller, regional banks and use localized 800-numbers.  Reports say this has been going on for about a year with some success.

Police and security professionals are looking for solutions but the Cisco report says the problem has worsened recently, with the scam hitting Southern California just this month.

So, keep an eye on your texts, and call your bank’s main number if you think anything’s suspicious.

Sources: Cisco, CNET, Computerworld, 419legal.org

Yes, You have come to the right place!  This is the Smarter Gadgets Blog and not the Smarter Fashion Blog.  But don’t these sunglasses look really hot?  With the release of these fashion forward sunglasses, Trispecs has completely changed the way we think of our basic Blue tooth headsets.

Who does not want to protect their eyes with a pair of cool designer glasses in summer?  But how do you pair it up with your head set for cell phones and MP3 players?  Thanks to Trispecs we don’t need to discard one for the other.  We can have all the three actions happening at the same time!  How?  It has STEP labs patented noise elimination technology akin to that used for US Defense projects built right into the sunglasses along with stereo and call controls.  The STEP software uses advanced algorithms to separate the voice on the phone from unwanted background noises like the wind, traffic etc and eliminates them to provide unprecedented voice clarity and also stereo sound from your portable music player.  All this without any cumbersome and ugly looking wires!  The buttons for controlling the volume, voice dial and music controls including Play/Pause, Fwd and Back are hidden strategically behind the glass frame.  The device is switched on and off by retractable ear buds that can be hidden behind the ear when not in use.  The lenses are made of spherical polycarbonate with high-impact resistance and UV protection to 400 nm and are RX compatible.  It comes in cool shades of black, white, silver, blue, red and gold and can be purchased from TriSpecs Store for $199.99 to $224.99.

Some people have strange ways of coping with death.

Some people may bury flowers with the deceased, maybe even some clothing or a photo. But for Marian Seltzer, she took that extra step. She decided to buried a cell phone, fully charged, with her late husband. Three years later, she’s still paying for his cell phone bill and even has his number etched on his gravestone so that those passing bye can give him a jingle.

There are a few things I want to know: 1) How that battery hasn’t made a grave of it’s own by now 2) Who picks up when you call? 3) Bet the deceased didn’t think he’d still get nagging calls from his wife after he died.

Source.

Yesterday marked the first day California will start enforcing its new cell phone law, stating that you must be talking on a headset device if you’re going to be talking on your cell phone in your car.

And if you’re still yappin’ on the phone and not doing so via handset, then you better stop before you get pulled over and given some ridiculous ticket. I mean, if you have to spend money, don’t waste it on a ticket. Rather, spend it on a new Bluetooth headset and save yourself all the hassle in the future.

Here, let me help you.

Mwave.com is having a sale on their Plantronics Voyager 520 bluetooth headset. Going for only $42.93, this sleek little hands-free set is wireless so you don’t have to get all tangled up in a mess or chords. Not only that, but it’s not too bad looking and it’s small enough to go unnoticed. And if you’re not really feeling this particular model, there are others they are having sales on.

To check out the Voyager 520 at Mwave.com, click here.

For more deals from Mwave.com, click here.

A quick recap of gadget blogs and news around the Net:

• Massive Steampunk-y Telectroscope allows you to see from NYC to London - Gizmodo
• Cell phone service warns you about speed traps - MSN
• Realistic racing wheel released for Wii, maks Mario Kart more…realistic - Wii News
• RIM’s Blackberry Bold gets previewed - Engadget
• iPhone users won’t need Wi-Fi much longer to download music - Machines that Go Bing!
• Impress the ladies. Control your TV with your watch - Technabob
• Turn your exhause into a FLAME THROWER! - OhGizmo!
• Weird Object of the Moment: Soldiers Protecting an Egg - Ubergizmo

And this week in the Smarter Gadgets Blog we talked about:

• HP Savings: Save 20% off Any Refurbished LaserJet Printer
• iPhone News: 3G iPhone Launch Date, June 9th
• Buy MP3: Save $40 off a Sony 8 GB MP3 Player at Sony Style
• Buy Wii Fit: Nintendo Wii Fit to be Released Monday, May 26

A quick recap of gadget blogs and news around the Net:

• Lightsabers coming to a bus stop near you. Use in case of Sith sighting - Gearfuse
• Cuba can now receive overpriced cell phone service - Reuters
• High Tech US Army Suit is coming back to life. Universal Soldier up next - Wired
• Hovering Drone might hover over to Miami Dade police station - Engadget
• Xcor hopes to launch space tourism in 2010 - New Scientist
• Spreading ashes out to sea is so yesterday. Be different. Spread them on the moon - New Launches
• Sleep tight in an anti-terrorist bed. Toilet included. - BoingBoing
• Limited edition, Full Moon Sideboard makes furniture glow in the dark. Ooooo.. - Gizmodo
  

And this week in the Smarter Gadgets Blog we talked about:

• Fujitsu Deal: Save $50 off $250 Purchase or More
• ABC3D Pop-Up Book Makes the Alphabet Fun
• HP Deal: Save $500 off an HP Pavilion Notebook
• Netflix to Credit 5% to Customers’ Account for Outage

A quick recap of gadget news and blogs around the Net:

• Original Knight Rider car up for sale on eBay - MSN News
• Air France testing in-flight cell phones - Ubergizmo
• Ram Wing 100 Yacht by Levi Designs will have a submarine - Gizmodo via Born Rich
  
• Keep your mattress hot or cold - Gearlog
• Check out the Carina implantable hearing aid - Engadget
• Want to see what’s behind you? Cerevellum bike rearview monitor - Be Sportier
• Win cash by entering in Kotaku’s Kommenting King Kontest - Kotaku

And in Smarter Gadgets we talked about:

• Save 15% off all orders at SIRIUS Satellite Radio
• Pay GameStop on the 21st, get a Nintendo Wii in January
• Save $200 on a Dell XPS M1330 Laptop
• I am Batman! The Dark Knight movie trailer
• Disposable shoes stick to feet, keep them clean