Tuxtops

The new Acer n300, which comes in two versions with different parameters, boasts of a wonderful display, incredibly compact form factor and low weight. Even though there are several devices with a VGA display on the market, Acer aims at a segment still vacant, i.e. VGA Pocket PC devices for ordinary users. Read on to find out what chances of success the new models from Acer have.

Perhaps the time is right for Symbian to start aggressively marketing its wares down a market segment, as it said it would when it announced a 3G reference design for the mid-tier market yesterday; because the tide is slowly turning against the platform developer, according to a new report by market research firm The Diffusion Group. It predicts the battle between mobile OS vendors will intensify with market-leader Symbian gradually losing share to both Microsoft's Windows Mobile and Linux.

Without a doubt, the Motorola RAZR V3 has to be one of the most well recognized mobile phones ever built. The original V3, with its metal body and thin profile, was such a large success that it induced Motorola to launch a line of super slim candybar form factor handsets that includes the recently mad available SLVR L7.

Symbian Limited has announced new alternative software license pricing models designed to enable handset manufacturers to target lower cost device market segments and drive higher volumes of Symbian OS phones.

Beneath the elegant exterior of Creative's Zen Vision portable video player lurks considerable audiovisual prowess; Jørgen Sundgot picks one up and is hard pressed to put it back down.

The ASUS A636 and A632 are the first Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PCs with integrated GPS to hit the US market. We'll take a look at the full-featured A636 which offers the SiRF Star III GPS chipset, WiFi, Bluetooth, an SD card slot, 256 meg SD card with Destinator navigation software, Destinator PN navigation and mapping software on two CDs (US, Canada, Route USA) and a brilliant QVGA display (the A632 is the same but lacks WiFi and adds a mini SD slot).

While a range of new technologies have appeared that offer better Web browsing capabilities on mobile devices, most experts agree that the software remains too limited and unpredictable for business use.

Geeks.com were very kind to send us four new items for review, a Wireless Keyboard for PDA and SmartPhones, a 23-in-1 USB 2.0 Card Reader and Writer, a Small Digital Video Camera Case and a Power Charging Cradle for the PSP.

Wireless Keyboard for PDA and SmartPhones

This portable keyboard is a great gadget for those who own many different gadgets. It works with PalmOS 3.5 up to 5.x, with Windows CE 2.0 up to Win2003SE and with Symbian versions 8 and 9. It is powered by a single AAA battery which is able to deliver many hours of keyboard operation (over 50 hours). The keyboard is not particularly small, but it is considerably smaller than normal keyboards too. You will definitely need a laptop or other bag to carry it around. The Infrared receptor is able to deliver the infromation to the keyboard from devices that have their IrDA located on the top or on their left. If your PDA's IrDA sensor is located at the bottom or right below, you will be out of luck. We found the keyboard to be very responsive and work reliably, however sometimes it would make our Pocket PC very slow.

Rating: 8/10

23-in-1 USB 2.0 Card Reader and Writer

This is a card reader for flash storage cards like many other out there, however it has a few unique features: First of all, it's extremely small and handy. It fits almost everywhere so it makes it a great product to take away on photography trips. It also has LEDs to indicate which kind of flash card is currently mounted. We tested the reader under multiple operating systems and it worked flawlessly with all. And being a USB 2.0 reader, it did so very fast.


Rating: 10/10

Power Charging Cradle for the PSP

This is a nothing but a charging cradle for the Sony PSP. However, it uses the same material as the PSP is made of and so when placing the PSP to it, they fit perfectly together. This version of the cradle only supports A/C charging and not USB. There is an LED on the front to show that the cradle is on power. However, I found the cradle very useful when watching a UMD movie on the PSP, with it, you don't have to keep the PSP on your hands all the time. The biggest problem of this cradle is the fact that it completely covers the 3.5mm line-out so you can't use your headphones with it.


Rating: 7/10

Fellowes Small Digital Video Camera Case (Light Blue)

This Fellowes Body Glove Small Digital Video Camera Case features a shock resistant padding for your camcorder. We used it with a Canon Z-series camcorder and it fit perfectly. There is also a compartment with space for your accessories and flash cards, while the actual shoulder strap proved to have the perfect length. Beautiful case!


Rating: 10/10

Teleca and Trolltech today announced a strategic partnership for accelerating Linux-based mobile phone growth. Teleca and Trolltech will work together to create a joint reference solution, based on Teleca's Obigo applications suite and Trolltech's Qtopia, and to deliver customization services related to the solution. The two companies will also engage in joint marketing activities.

MontaVista pioneered embedded Linux, but could watch the spoils fall to rival Wind River if it fails to consolidate its leadership, suggests a BusinessWeek special report. MontaVista must solidify its financial footing and grow faster if it hopes to keep ahold of markets it helped create, the article says.