The World’s First PDA Ban
May 30, 2008
Perhaps for the first time ever in the world, PDA devices have been proscribed. The Alton Towers Resort theme park in UK has imposed a PDA ban, which took effect on 25th May, 2008 and will continue until 1st June, 2008. You might be befuddled by this unprecedented case of PDA policing. But that look of perplexity will be replaced by a more relaxed one, when you learn the reason behind the PDA ban.
Apparently the powers that be at the amusement park are not too pleased with the pivotal role technology is playing in parent-child communications; one-to-one talks are increasingly being replaced by texts, emails and phone calls.
So they decided to distance parents from their PDAs in order to bring them closer to their progeny. The ban has been imposed on a trial basis and might get a fresh lease of life if found successful. But a question still lingers? Is this ban really going to be helpful when children themselves might be more interesting in their gadgets than their parents?
Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader
June 26, 2006
I’m glad that this gadget is now available for purchase to the people who need it.
Dubbed the “Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader” this hardware allows blind individuals to be even more independent by reading themselves.
Unlike any other gadget which has been out, once you run this over words it immediately puts it into audio for those who can’t see, much more quickly than anything that came before it.
This is also the first text-to-speech apparatus that has been available and even though it is in the pricey range of $3,495 a small amount of these readers are available for $200. For more information please go to Kurzweil Educational Systems.
CrackBerry Addicts and Hotels Who Care
June 11, 2006
Millions of people are addicted to their Crackberries Blackberries and the Sheraton Chicago Hotel is showing that they care. When you check in they can help you break toward freedom from the demonic handhelds by keeping them locked up for you on your trip and you will get them back when you are ready to check out.
Sounds good, but if you are that addicted to that little gadget I think you need to seek just a little bit more help. Now.
Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard
April 14, 2006
Welcome to the future. ThinkGeek now has for sale a virtual keyboard. It uses bluetooth technology (but what doesn’t these days?) and just looks cool. Just put the device on a flat surface and get your blue tooth capable cell phone, etc and begin typing away, while you hear sounds of clicking keys.
I remember seeing this on an episode of CSI: Miami about two months ago maybe. I wasn’t aware of such a thing until then and was even wondering if it was just something they made. (You do know that not everything on that show is real, technology wise right?)
Remember when you were promised all those amazing future tech innovations? Just around the corner was supposed to be a shining technology utopia with flying cars, personal space travel to distant galaxies, and bio-implantable cell phones. It’s almost disappointing enough to make you sit at home and watch old episodes of “Space 1999″.
Parrot 3400 LS-GPS Color Hands-free Kit
January 7, 2006
The Parrot 3400LS-GPS kit will be useful to those who own a Smartphone or a PDA with navigation software. It can display photos of your correspondent when receiving incoming calls (if photos are available, that is), all of this with voice recognition. When it comes to GPS functions, it sends data to said Smartphone or PDA; itinerary proposals are then calculated by the PDA’s navigation software. Its recommended price is of $399.
This little device was launched at the CES, and offers a multitude of functions, among which are:
- Integrated GPS (twelve channels)
- 160 x 128 color screen in 262K colors, 160 x 128)
- Hands-free support
- Automatic synchronization with a Bluetooth phone
(Via Pocket PC thoughts.)
Garmin Announces iQue 3000 PDA
January 4, 2006
Garmin International Inc. has announced the iQue 3000, an entry-level PDA with fully integrated GPS technology. Supposedly, this new baby has been introduced at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, although I believe it hasn’t been opened to public yet.
Garmin’s Que technology offers complete integration between organization and GPS navigation functions. Expected to retail in February 2006 at $399, the iQue 3000 has the following specifications:
- Operating system: Palm OS 5
- Processor: Bravo 2.0 200 MHz with built-in GPS correlator
- Unit size (WxHxD)/Weight: 2.8” x 4.7” x 0.7” / 5.2 oz
- Display information: 320×320-pixel; 54×54 mm screen size; dedicated Graffiti writing area; and usable screen area of 3.0” (diagonal)
- Internal Memory: 32 MB RAM and 32 MB ROM
- Expandable Memory: microSD card included (128 MB microSD card for North America, or 256 MB preprogrammed microSD card for Europe and Australia)
- Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
The standard package will include a mini-USB synchronization cable, AC wall charger, suction cup mount auto cradle, microSD Card, 12-volt car charger, and a City Navigator North America NT CD.
Super Theme Pack For Pocket PC
January 3, 2006
I don’t have a Pocket PC… but these days, I fancy skins a lot. I skinned Trillian. I skinned deviantART. I skinned Windows XP, something I had never done before. If I had a Pocket PC, I’d likely be already diving into this Super Deluxe Theme Pack, just for the sake of using something else than a basic theme.
Alright, so it seems that the pack is focused on Portrait themes, and that Landscape is “simply” supported, which won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. On the other hand, given the cheap cost of this package (500 themes for a mere $4.95), it can sure be worth it nonetheless. They’re compatible with Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2003/SE, and Windows Mobile 5.0, and VGA screen is supported.
(Via Pocket PC Thoughts.)
