Microvision has announced that they have entered into a range of agreements with Asian concerns and Motorola to produce their new PicoP Display Engine for use in mobile applications. The laser-based technology allows very small devices such as mobile phones and PDAs project large, bright, color images through either an in-built projector or an external projector module. There are no details as of yet regarding product availability.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: CES, mobile, news, technology

Much in the same way the Palm Foleo would have offered extensive companion functionality to Palm and Windows Mobile Treos before it was axed, the recently announced Celio Redfly does it for just Windows Mobile. If this isn’t validation for the Foleo concept, I don’t know what (Its gonna take me a while before I get over this one, dear readers). The difference here is that the Redfly doesn’t come with an operating system. Nay. It, and I quote, “…changes the resolution of your smartphone display so that applications, web sites, email, and attachments all have more room to play!”

That cinches it, really. All this US$400 laptop-like gizmo does is act as a battery powered KVM for your mobile. Hmm. Sure, you have more screen real estate to do stuff, but you’re still stuck with the same, tired, unreliable Windows Mobile applications we’ve been saddled with since Windows CE 1.0. In summary, the Redfly will not replace your laptop. Instead, you’ll have to carry your smart phone, the Redfly, and a laptop (the Redfly weighs two pounds). Not so exciting any more, is it.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: CES, hardware, news, service

Palm and Verizon have announced that the carrier-specific version of the 755p is now available. This one features EVDO, a 1.3MP camera, and sports the internal antenna arrangement. Here’s the link for my ZIP. Price is US$349 after a US$100 online discount and with the obligatory 2 year contract extension.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: mobile, news, palm, treo, verizon

If you’ve been seeking real GPS on your iPhone (not the fakey mobile tower triangulation method), your wait is over. Okay, at least in February, and that’s if PartFoundry can actually get the unit actually shipping. If it does, the US$89 unit will snap into the iPhone port and imbue your little electronic friend with actual GPS capabilities. There appears, however, to be a catch of sorts. I don’t have any direct experience with the iPhone, much less with a JailBroken one, but apparently the dongle only works if your iPal is cracked. Hmm. Maybe someone can explain that to me?

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: gps, iphone, news

Beta testers and developers know that RTM means Release To Manufacturing. This means that Microsoft has released Office 2008 for the Mac to be localized, duplicated, packed and shipped to be available worldwide by January 15th, 2008. This version adds Universal Binary support, the new file formats from Office 2007 for Windows, and brings a new Entourage which is supposed to be function identical to Outlook 2007 and have full Exchange support. I’ll have a more complete rundown closer to the MacWorld Expo.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: 2008, business, mac, news, office

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. PodCastingNews has published its annual list of iCrap, a list of the worst in iPod accessories. Heed the list well when choosing gifts for the holidays. Also keep in mind that some of the items are not for younger audiences. For some more questionable product griping, also take a look at Popular Mechanics list of the 10 worst gadgets of 2007. They’re both a real hoot.

UPDATE: Engadget found an abusive little device you can use to torture your fish with an iPod. I can’t even begin to imagine.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: fun, ipod, news

There are some games which are just plain fun like Solitaire, Checkers, and Asteroids. There are others which are deeply disturbing or earnestly frightening like most of Rock Star’s games, most of IDs games, or the Half-Life series. There are few, however, which can bridge the gap, but tiny Mac games developer Freeverse, likely best known for Jared and Burning Monkey Solitaire, has done it.

Witness the advent of SimStapler Arena, the long awaited update to the original, non-networkable SimStapler. Marvel at its extraordinary depth and grace as you staple wantonly and without regard to human safety. SimStapler Arena brings more than personal satisfaction to the table, as it now incorporates an online component which allows you to bring the stapling beatdown to those of lesser quality and lacking in multi-page finishing capabilities. Continue reading »

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: games, news, social

Hey all. I just activated a new default theme. Its based on Mac OS X and looks quite nice, at least to me. The old theme is still available via the theme selector if you prefer that, or you can geek out with our Classic Mac theme. Anyway, enjoy the new collapsible, re-positionable sidebar widgets! Just click the button or drag them around. Pretty slick, eh!

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: news

I was scanning the headlines at MacWorld and I found this article. It references a report made by Arbor Networks ASERT team, who seem to have it bad for Apple for some reason, which states that the iPhone will be a major security target in ‘08. Its odd that I couldn’t find the report MacWorld was referring to, but hey. Those guys are on the ball. Right? I’m reading a short blog entry at ASERT’s own site and they reference a report from Symantec [!] which discusses security trends for 2008 (talk about the pot calling the kettle black, then slapping the stove). Here’s a snippet from the report where they discuss Google’s Android project:

“In contrast, Apple’s iPhone has currently taken a reverse model approach where third-party on-device applications are not allowed, preventing the vast majority of malicious code for the average user—those that haven’t unlocked their phone.”

Wow! That makes sense. Of course, I generally don’t go to the company whose entire business is invested in selling security products to get my security news. Apparently Arbor Networks does, though. I can’t help but think that someone, somewhere read something the wrong way. Personally, I tend to take things as they come and not freak out because someone told me to… or in this case, someone told someone else something, reversed it, mixed up the attribution, and then didn’t give proper attribution.

Hmmm…

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: iphone, mobile, news, security