Introducing, Samsung's Android "iPod Touch Killer"

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When it comes to digital audio players, Apple has pummeled every single one in the market with their iPod series. The iPod has gained its reputation and position as the most popular portable music device. Here in the Philippines, media players, in general, are often called "iPod" already. Many have attempted to dethrone the King, and yet all have failed. Although some of them have put on a good fight like Creative's Zen series and Microsoft's Zune series. 

In 2007, next generation audio players (now called portable media players) were introduced by Apple. Portable media players are not only used for music playback but for games and video playback. Apple's iPod Touch is a PMP (Portable Media Player) that is running on the famous iPhone OS. Its practically an iPhone without camera and phone services but sold in a much lower price than the iPhone. Because of this, the reign have extended until present time. Apple was able to give birth to a lot of generations for the iPod series and still entice a lot of consumers. Basically, because the iPhone OS is one of the best mobile operating system in the market, and it's packed in a PMP that is sold in a low price. 

Unfortunately for Apple, Google has started to make his move. Yes, I'm pertaining to the Android Mobile Operating System. As mentioned in my other post, Android-based devices is today's fastest growing mobile platform, and Samsung has extended its reach by developing a PMP using Android as its OS. Introducing,  the Samsung Galaxy player. 

 

The device is said to inherit the Samsung Galaxy series' design. Aside from the fact that it will run on Google's Android OS, it will be packed with a 4-in AMOLED screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 3 megapixel camera.

More pictures of the "iPod Touch Killer"

Will the Samsung Galaxy player be enough to overthrow the iPod Touch from its 3-year reign? Stay tune to find out!

Source: Tech Radar

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Sony Ericsson plans on developing PSP-Go Android Smartphone

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Google's Android mobile operating system has muscle its way into the mobile industry, waging a war with Apple's iPhone OS. And Google is doing great, in terms of sales (according to Google CEO Eric Schmidt, about 200,000 new Android devices are being sold each day), and addressing the problems that developers and consumers encounter on "close-sourced" mobile devices. Unlike any other commercial application/operating system, as soon as you buy an Android-based mobile device, you also get full control of its source code. Android is today's fastest growing mobile platform and in two or three years time, I think the market will be filled with Android-based phones and even netbooks. By this time, tons of Android applications will be available and its high time that Apple gets to dance with a formidable opponent. 

With Nokia's success story on Symbian-based mobile devices, they made a bold move on introducing a Symbian s60-based handheld gaming system, the N-Gage. Among their objectives, is to invade the Game Boy Advance market since Nokia N-Gage is a mobile device and a gaming console. Unfortunately, the design didn't entice gamers. The N-Gage 's design is not well-tailored for gaming and as a mobile device. 

And now it's time for manufacturers to play on the Android platform. Nokia has done its part on the Symbian-based N-Gage and it didn't go quite well. Now Sony wants to take a bite on developing a Mobile gaming device. Sony, the company who brought us countless innovations like the Walkman, Betamax, Compact discs, Discman, Memory Stick, Playstation, Playstation Portable (PSP), is now on the road to a new innovation with their partner Ericsson (now Sony Ericsson). Combining Ericsson's expertise on the mobile communications sector and Sony's technological prowess, we introduce to you the PSP-Go Android-based Smartphone by Sony Ericsson. 

Engadget's Mock-up of the PSP-Go Smartphone

Sony Ericsson will be building this baby on Android's 3.0 platform.  With the capabilities and freedom that Google's Android mobile operating system provide, the PSP-Go Smartphone will definitely be running 3D games, thus will create a space for game developers for the Android market. The PSP-Go Smartphone is envisioned to be a cross between the Samsung Captivate and the Playstation Portable Go version. 

The PSP Go's slider game controller will  most likely replace the typical slide out QWERTY keyboard on touch screen mobile devices. This way, the device will be able to handle large QVGA touch screen displays. Probably, the device will carry Sony's Cyber-shot brand in it's back. And since it's a PSP-Go-like Smartphone, we'll see classic PSP game titles like God of War and Call of Duty. Sweet! 

What more could you ask for? Large QVGA touch screen displays, slide out PSP game control pad, running on Google's Android mobile operating system, sharp Cyber-shot camera features and quality, and the best of all, 3D Gaming, all in one device. Engadget revealed that we'll possibly see the device and the whole Android gaming platform this October. 

Gamers, time to save those moolah for this baby.

Source: Tom's Guide

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Major cellphone makers signed agreement to "Universal" charger on mobile phones

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USB or Universal Serial Bus has paved the way to a standardized connector for computer peripherals (mouse, keyboard, printers, flash drives, media players, etc) to computers. Unlike those days where we have different connectors for each peripheral: mouse (mouse PS/2 connector,)  keyboard (keyboard PS/2 connector), modem/media players (RS-232 serial port), printers (LPT1 parallel port).

So why not apply this concept to mobile chargers? When your battery is dead and you forgot to bring your charger, it is kind of hard to look for a friend who owns a phone with the same manufacturer as yours. But nowadays, handset companies even create different connectors for different models of the same brand. So when your phone dies on you, same goes with your charger. Talk about marketing strategy. 

With the help of the European Commission, starting 2011, most mobile phones sold in Europe will have a one-size-fits-all charger. 4 major cellphone makers namely: Apple, Motorola, Samsung, RIM (Blackberry) have signed to this agreement that will save Europeans from their dead batteries.


Talks of having a universal microUSB connector for chargers started during 2009,which was initiated by the European Commission. And we are pleased that it is already taking effect.


Source: CNN


"Universal" chargers
It took years for a country as advanced as Europe to come with a solution for different connectors in mobile phone chargers. But believe it or not, here in the Philippines, years ago we already have "universal" chargers. CDR-King, a one-stop shop for gadget accessories and computer stuff, has a "10-in-1 multifunction usb/car/desk charger". It's basically a swiss knife for mobile chargers.

It supports 10 charger connectors for:
1. Old Nokia models (big round connector)
2. New Nokia models (small round connector)
3. Devices using miniUSB connectors (Blackberry, HTC, Palm, etc)
4. Selected Motorola models
5. Selected LG models
6. Selected Sony Ericsson models
7. Selected Samsung models
8. iPod/iPhone/iPod Touch (Any model)
9. Sony Playstation Portable or PSP
10. Nintendo DS Lite


These connectors can be plugged using:
1. Universal Serial Bus or USB
2. Car charger (Car cigarette lighter plug)
3. Desk Charger

10-in-1 Multifunction USB Charger Package by CD-R King

10 charger connectors for a variety of phone models that can be plugged to your PC through USB

Car charger that accepts the 10 connector-USB cable and other types of USB cables

Desk charger that accepts the 10 connector-USB cable and other types of USB cables
 

30 chargers in one! (10 usb chargers, 10 car chargers, 10 desk chargers) And guess how much this multifunction charger costs? CDR-King is selling it for Php250 or roughly $5.56! They have other interesting products like USB-powered vaccum cleaners, shaver, aquarium, sharpener, and more!

Techno Bacon <3 CD-R King!

For a variety of innovative accessories at low low prices, you can visit CDR-King, your one stop media provider.

Source: CDR-King 10-in-1 Charger

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