Tuxtops

Linux/Java has topped CEO Ed Zander's list things to look for from Motorola as it attempts a financial turnaround. At a New York press conference this morning, Zander introduced Linux-based "Rokr" and "Razr2" models, along with new top-level executives. Pictures here, video here.

Nokia has released the first software update for its N800 Internet tablets. Officially dubbed Internet Tablet OS 2007 Edition version 3.2007.10-7, it corresponds to the maemo 3.1 platform. The update fixes several performance and stability problems in the 3.0 release that shipped with the tablet at launch, and offers a few improved features.

"I still think that both cameras are the best choices today. If you can live without an orientation sensor, and aren't as picky as me on picture quality in all cases (I've had canons for many years, and they were slow to take pictures, they got me used to good pictures, even from a small camera), the Ricoh Caplio R6 is a nice camera with a very good zoom for its size." Read the whole review at Merlins.org.

Playing a portable console on a static PC may seem little backward, but the PSP homebrew community seems to have no qualms about creating two separate ways of getting their PSP games to play on their 'puter. The first is a little more conventional in that it's apparently the first working PSP emulator for the PC.

Geeks.com sent us in the JustCom BTH-6335A Bluetooth headset for a spin. Read on for more.

The JustCom BTH-6335A is manufactured by Cellink, also known for their Bluetooth stereo headphones. This mono model works with the HFP and HSP Bluetooth profiles, also found on most modern cellphones. It is a Class-2 device, meaning that it can operate up to 10 meters in theory -- the unit managed to go up to 8 meters between walls. Overall, reception was good.

For the price, at just $19, this is a model that comes with lots of accessories. In the box we found a nice protective case for it, a power adapter and another adapter that can connect the power to the headset, a neck strap, an ear clip, two soft speaker covers and a manual. We can argue that the only thing that's missing is a USB charging cable.

Cell Phones & Accessories

You can wear the ear clip on any ear through its modifiable clip. The clip has a spring that allows you to adjust how it clips around your ear -- this way the headset can be worn by anyone with any kind of ear shape. You can not however use both the ear clip and the neck strap at the same time because they use the same hook. So you can either wear the headset on your ear at all times, or have it in a neck-strap and when on a call you push it inside your ear during the time of a call so it doesn't fall off.

The JustCom headset has a very simple operation, which I am personally in favor off: It has only two multi functional buttons. The first button does Power on/off (long press), Answer calls, Volume up, Pairing (even longer-press) while the second button end calls and does Volume down. This is not a fancy headset that can confuse users with automatic dial, reject, voice dialing etc etc. It is a straight forward model with a basic usage, and that's a good thing. It worked perfectly with our Nokia N95 and our other Symbian S60 3.x phones -- these are smartphones that are known to be picky about Bluetooth headsets!

The manual was a bit of a disaster as it is all in Chinese. You will have to read through... the lines to figure out that the pairing code is not 0000, but 1234. Thankfully, the device is simple enough that all other operations don't require much of an explanation.

Battery life is excellent. In our time we have reviewed headsets that cost 5 times as much and came with a worse battery life. But the JustCom delivers in that department: it managed over 7 hours of talk time in our tests, and about 180 hours of standby time. More over, audio quality was pretty good, both ways.

Overall, for the price, this is a must-have gadget. Only frequent travelers might not like the fact that it comes with no USB cable or at least a standard mini-USB port, but other than that, this is an excellent product at a very low price!

Rating: 9/10

You are not a true geek if you don't won a PC service tool-kit. And that's the bottomline. Thankfully, Geeks.com now sell a full, branded by Belkin, kit for less than 30 bucks. Read on for more!

This kit has everything you will ever need:
# Surface cleaner wipes
# Soldering iron
# Cleaning brush
# 9 Pc. Allen wrench set
# 10 Pc. Cotton Swabs
# 2-Way Mini Screwdriver
# 3 Anti-Static Cleaning Wipes
# 4.5 Side Cutter
# 5 Long Nose Pliers
# 5 Wire Stripper
# 6 Pc. Precision Screwdriver Set
# 6 No1 Phillips Screwdriver (150 mm long)
# Screwdriver-to-Socket Adapter
# Anti-Static Wrist Band
# Flashlight
# Flat Head
# IC Extractor
# Tweezers
# Mini Vacuum Cleaner with attachments
# Assortment of screws and accessories

Computer Gadgets

We used the kit to upgrade an old AthlonXP machine we have laying around. We changed its CD-RW drive to a DVD/CDRW one and used 2 different screwdrivers from the kit. While we were at it, we also used the mini-vacuum cleaner to clean up the dust that had been accumulating inside the PC for all these years!

We found it very easy to find what we needed each time as everything was in the right logical place that you would expect it. More over, the case has two extra empty slots, so you can strap in your own, older tools! The case itself it is made out of a very scratch-resistance cloth and it looks very fashionable.

We don't consider a geek a true geek without a full service toolkit hacking away their PC all day long! So if you are one of these geeks, this toolkit is for you!

Rating: 10/10

"Ubuntu Feisty Fawn and Windows Vista are two state-of-the-art desktop operating systems. I got this Bi-OS laptop (with Feisty and Vista Business) recently as my desktop replacement. I compare some features of Vista vs. Feisty. Both operating systems have made great progress. Laptop is well built and great for a consultant like me (albeit tad heavy)." More here.

Forum Nokia, the developer support group for Nokia platforms, announced Series 40 5th Edition from the JavaOne conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco yesterday. Series 40 is the platform that powers Nokia's non-smartphones, which make up the vast majority of devices shipped by the company in the US.

Linux developers plan to extend its open-source software development to handheld Internet-enabled devices. Developers meeting at the Ubuntu Developer Summit, which runs through the end of this week in Seville, Spain, will discuss details of the new Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded project, announced on Saturday.

It appears that Sony Ericsson today might have effectively retired the P9xx series of handsets with the release of the new P1. Sony Ericsson's new flagship business handset, looking much like an updated M600 with wider keys and a pair of cameras, gets support for both UMTS and WiFi 802.11b high speed connectivity in addition to a host of other improvements. SE also announced the S500, T650 and T250.