Archos 605 Wi-Fi versus Apple iPod touch: CNET Review

CNET pitted the Archos 605 Wi-Fi to the iPod touch in a head-to-head competition. Why those two devices? Well, according to CNET, both offer wide-screen video playback, a Wi-Fi Internet browser, the ability to play Internet video content from YouTube, wireless music purchases, a music player, photo viewer, video player, and more. The devices were compared in five categories: Navigation, Sexiness, Compatibility, Sound and Science, and Wallet Factor. See the details here.

And the winner is... the Archos 605 Wi-Fi!

Here’s a comparison chart of the features (click on the image to display it actual size):

Sexy Navigation: Navigon 7100 GPS

Housed in an ultra-thin, sleek piano-black housing that measures just 5.1 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches, the Navigon 7100 GPS includes a powerful Samsung 400 MHz processor, a fully integrated SiRF Star III GPS chip, 64 MB of both RAM and ROM built in, and a rechargeable battery that is rated for 4.5 hours of continuous use. Maps and menus appear on its extra-large and elegant, high-contrast 4.3-inch, full-color touch-screen display with an easy-to-read 16:9 aspect ratio for an exceptional view of the road. The Navigon 7100 comes pre-loaded with complete maps of the U.S. and Canada. The 7100 runs Microsoft Windows CE Net 5.0 operating system.

Navigon decided to forgo media support to focus on navigation-based features. The 7100 provides turn-by-turn directions, including actual road names via text-to-speech. It includes built-in Bluetooth technology that enables hands-free mobile phone integration, which not only increases driver safety, but is fast becoming a necessity as States pass laws against talking on a cell phone hand set while driving. It warns you when you are exceeding the speed limit. Its Navteq data contains millions Points of Interest (POIs) such as restaurants, hotels, golf courses, gas stations, banks, etc. And all of Navigon's GPS navigators offer Zagat ratings and reviews for their POIs.

In addition, the 7100 has two features that are a great help in negotiating unfamiliar or complicated road systems. Lane Assistant recommends the best lane for you to be in relative to the proposed route, so you won't find yourself trying to move over three lanes when the freeway splits.

Reality view guides you with photo-realistic 3D images of junctions, complete with actual sign text and exit ramp guidance. This makes translating what the navigator is telling you to what you see on the road instantaneous.

The Navigon 7100 is the first GPS device to offer subscription-free, real-time traffic information via the integrated traffic receiver with no additional fees or setup for the life of the product. Be advised on traffic flow and incidents, as well as the best alternate routes.

Watches for Lefties

What do these watches have in common besides that they look good? They are specifically made for left-handed people (the crown is placed on the left).



The Nautica Yacht Club watch features a natural dial, left-hand crown, and a green leather strap. It comes with two extra straps: one orange and one tan strap.




The Nautica Yacht Club watch features an orange leather strap, black dial, and left-hand crown. It has luminous hands and markers and is water resistant to 200 meters.

The Invicta Terra Military chronograph watch features a round, silver stainless steel watch case with thin bezel that frames a cream dial and a tachymeter inner dial. The three chronograph subdials can measure time within intervals of 1/60 of a second and up to 30 minutes of elapsed time. Other features include an oversized crown, luminous Tritnite hands (with red seconds hand), and water resistance to 100 meters.

Tritnite is a luminous material with an extended glow exclusively developed by Invicta in Switzerland and added to their timepiece hands and markers. When exposed to regular daylight, it will hold its glow for about 20 hours.


Invicta's Force Collection Lefty Chronograph watch is a classically styled timepiece that features a round, 23 karat gold-plated, stainless-steel case, a smooth brown leather band and a beige dial, a tachymeter function around the perimeter, three sub-dials for tracking hours, minutes and seconds, and a date function at the four o'clock. This casually elegant timepiece is water resistant to 100 meters.

Check out other left-handed watches in the webstore.

Amazon Kindle Easter Eggs

Amazon's new e-book reader, the Kindle, has a few really cool easter eggs as one really clever hacker discovered. Easter eggs are unadvertised hidden features. One of the hidden features is access to Google Maps coupled with CDMA-based location-finding, which allows you to quickly locate nearby gas stations and restaurants (as well as your own custom searches).

The Kindle also comes equipped with a hidden picture viewer and slideshow functionality, the ability to snap a screenshot, a clock quick-look, and Minesweeper. Now why wouldn't they advertise this?

[Source: Engadget]

More Batman Watches!

Here are more Batman watches from Armitron and Fossil. You still can’t go wrong with Batman!




This kids’ Armitron Batman watch features Batman flying on the dial. The band continues the Batman goodness with fun blue, gray, black, and yellow graphics depicting Batman and his Gotham City world.
This Armitron Batman watch features white spear-shaped and round indexes and analog-quartz-powered three-hand movement on a black face. The only decoration is a big white bat shape--just like what is projected in the sky of Gotham City every time an evil arch-villain attacks. The stationary black bezel encircling the dial is ringed with silver Arabic-numeral seconds markers from 05 to 55 in 10-second increments. The stainless steel band is long enough to fit around adult’s or child’s wrist. And it's under $20.00.


This heavy-duty Batman Dark Knight Watch from Fossil features a strong, stainless steel bracelet and casing. The dial showcases a black bat signal over a dark gray and silver background and operates with three-hand, automatic movement. It comes packaged in a collectible box with Batman artwork and is limited to 2,000 pieces (includes certificate of authenticity).

Comparison Chart: 80 GB PMPs

Here is a comparison of 80 GB portable media players. The chart compares the Zune (2nd Gen), the Apple iPod Classic, the Archos 605 Wi-Fi, and the Wolverine ESP. Click on the chart to display actual size.



Check out the following in the webstore:

--- Zune PMPs
--- Archos PMPs
--- Apple iPod Classic PMPs
--- Wolverine PMPs

For Monopoly Fans: Colibri Monopoly Pocket Watches

The Colibri Monopoly Pocket Watch features Mr. Monopoly character with signature logo on dial and cover, multi-color dial with markers and numbers, quartz movement with cane as second hand and pocket chain. The key ring comes with Mr. Monopoly and signature Monopoly logo.

The Colibri Monopoly "Boardwalk" pocket watch features an excited Mr. Monopoly character with dice. The cover has Mr. Monopoly, dog and baby in stroller "Take a Walk on the Boardwalk" "Chance". The pocket watch has a white, black with blue accent dial, markers and numbers, quartz movement with cane as second hand and pocket chain. The key chain comes with "Boardwalk" property Price $400 as charm.

The Monopoly "Chance Go To Jail" pocket watch features Mr. Monopoly character fleeing from jail. The cover has getting kick out of jail "Chance". The pocket watch features a white dial with markers, luminous hands and pocket chain. The money clip comes with Mr. Monopoly going to jail with policeman "Chance."

For the Geek in All of Us: Tokyoflash Watches 3

I have two other Tokyoflash posts. The watches are all so different, they're fun to decipher.

The Biohazard watch uses an advanced color LCD display to simulate the effect you might see in many Science Fiction films. The readout, in fact, tells the time by counting the colored segments.

A press of the button sends the watch into scan mode and the various panels & readouts animate as if scanning the area for life forms. After a few seconds the results display the time, but the animation sequence can be skipped if desired with a second press of the button.

At the top of the screen the red and white DNA helix is made of 12 bars and indicates the hour. At the bottom of the watch, the blue blocks indicate 5-minutes each, while each green block represents 1-minute. There are also indicators for AM/PM and seconds. The watch above reads 7:34 (I think).

The Futara Mugen’s mirrored blue LCD display tells the time via a series of spiraling blocks. Around the outer edges are 60 segments, indicating 1 minute each. They are grouped in 10's so it's easy to tell the time at a glance. The inner spiral of blocks represent 1 hour each.

At first it seems impossible to tell the time, but once you understand how it works it's fairly simple. Within a few days of using it you can tell the time just as fast as a traditional wrist watch. The time reads 12:37.

The LCD display is mirrored with blue tinted segments. Since the display is "always on" there is no need to push a button to see the time.

This watch also has an animation feature. Once a minute, the display spirals all the way off & all the way on, then settles back onto the current time. Since this is not a LED light effect, it does not drain battery power nor is it too distracting.

Combining science-fiction with counterculture, the Cyber Punk watch from Tokyoflash is futuristic and super stylish. The mirror face features various scrolling LED patterns with 90 LED lights. When the button is pressed the lights scroll across the display in various directions, then wipe off only leaving just enough lights to display the time and date.

This watch may be a bit simpler to read that other Tokyoflash designs, but it is no less neat.

Check out other Tokyoflash watches in the webstore.

Ecologically Friendly Timekeeping: Citizen Eco-Drive

Citizen has staked out a new position as the leader in Ecologically Friendly timekeeping. Eco-Drive watches absorb sunlight and any artificial light through the crystal and dial to recharge the watch continuously. With regular exposure to light, the Eco-Drive continuously recharges itself for a lifetime of use. These watches Eco-Drive provides a 180-day power reserve, and they can be recharged with just 1.5 hours of exposure to light.

Citizen celebrates the 20th anniversary of its professional-quality Aqualand diving watch with this special analog/digital Eco-Drive edition, which features a backlight and dive log memory. It's powered by Citizen's exclusive Eco-Drive technology and has a wealth of dive measurement functions, including:



• Depth display to 300 ft in digital format, with current and maximum displays
• Measurement of depth and time of dive
• Current and lowest water temperature display
• Surface interval measurement
• Dive log memory for up to 20 dives

Other timing functions include world time in 42 cities, 29 time zones, ability to track time in two different time zones, three alarms, 12/24-hour time display, and three alarms. It is water resistant to 200 meters, suitable for scuba diving.

The Eco-Drive Skyhawk A-T Watch features global atomic timekeeping (AT) with radio-controlled accuracy. This means that the watch has a built-in receiver that receives a signal from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) transmitter in Ft. Collins, Colorado once a day, usually at night. It then synchronizes the watch with that time, which is the official U.S. time. It does this every day at the same time, or it can be manually synchronized, the time can be set manually.

Other functions include world time in 43 cities, 2 alarms and 99-minute countdown timer. It features a perpetual calendar with GMT display. It is water resistant to 200 meters.

Check out other Citizen Eco-Drive watches in the webstore.

Fitness for iPod nano Fans: Nike+ iPod Sport Kit

The Nike+ iPod Sport Kit transforms your iPod nano into a personal workout coach - nano can provide real-time, spoken feedback that alerts you to workout milestones. It lets your iPod nano track your running time, distance, pace, and calories burned. Then sync your iPod nano to transfer your workout data to iTunes and nikeplus.com for your performance history and more. The kit includes wireless sensor for Nike+ shoes and wireless receiver for iPod nano. It’s compatible with iPod nano 1G, 2G, and 3G.

This little pouch allows you to attach the iPod sensor to any running shoe. The Sportsuit Sensor+ is easily attached and removed by slipping a small rubber strap underneath your shoelaces and fastening it with a strong Velcro closure. Once in place, your iPod wireless sensor is protected from all the elements that serious runners encounter.

Once Upon a Time: Hamilton Collectors' Watches

The Hamilton "Robert" circa 1953 is one of the most unique case designs offered in the Hamilton line-up. The yellow 14K SOLID GOLD case measures 22mm by 27mm, lug tips and crown excluded. From lug tip to lug tip, the case measure 41mm. The outside of the case back is signed Hamilton 14K Gold S&W. The inside of the case back is signed ROBERT Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster PA. 14K GOLD S-321555 S&W.

The case is in excellent condition. Yellow Applied Gold numerals and markers highlight the black dial. The dauphine hands are gold. The subsidiary chapter ring is gold. The crown appears to be original to the watch and the crystal is New Old Stock. The movement is signed Hamilton USA 754 19 Jewels 10165. The movement has been serviced and it is keeping accurate time.

The Hamilton "Spectra" was one of the original three case designs chosen to introduce the world’s first electric movement, circa 1957. The Spectra is a large watch compared against Hamilton standards. The case measures 36mm at its widest point. Overall the length of the bezel measures 40mm. The outside of the case back is signed Hamilton 14K GOLD Biggs. The inside of the case back is signed Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster, PA. 14K GOLD. The case is in remarkable condition.

This watch features its original satin silver dial highlighted by gold concentric circles. The dial is signed Hamilton and Electric (above the 12 o'clock marker). The numerals and markers are 18K applied gold. All three hands are also gold. The crown is signed. The crystal is New Old Stock. The movement is signed Hamilton 500. This classic Hamilton Spectra is correct in every respect.


The Hamilton "Spectre" is one of the three electrics first introduced in 1957.

The Spectre is a large watch compared against Hamilton standards. The case measures 36mm at its widest point. Overall the length of the bezel measures 40mm. The outside of the case back is signed Hamilton 14K GOLD Biggs. The inside of the case back is signed Hamilton Watch Co. Lancaster, PA. 14K GOLD. The case is in remarkable condition.

This watch features its original black dial highlighted by gold concentric circles. The dial is signed Hamilton and Electric (above the 12 o'clock marker). The numerals and markers are 18K applied gold. All three hands are also gold. The crown is signed. The crystal is perfect and original to the watch. The movement is a Hamilton 505 Electric. This classic Hamilton Spectre is correct in every respect.

The Hamilton "Ventura" watch features swiss quartz movement. It is a limited edition of commemorative 1957 electric watch - each watch individually numbered with a one-time-only production, Electrical battery powered, the watch style first appeared in Elvis Presley's 1961 movie 'Blue Hawaii'. It features silver-tone luminous hands, silver-tone indices, polished stainless steel bezel, crown, case and case back, sapphire crystal. It includes commemorative steel-tone collector's case, box and literature. It’s water resistant to 30 meters.

A complete history of Hamilton Electrics is presented in The Watch of the Future an excellent reference book for Hamilton collectors.

A Piece of the Past: Hamilton "Bomb Timer" circa 1942

The Bomb Timer was originally installed in World War II Bombers. In recent years collectors have taken to converting the Bomb Timer into a wrist watch by attaching a strap to the upper and lower lugs.

The Bomb Timer measures 28mm at the waist and 35mm from top to bottom. From lug tip to lug tip the case measures 48mm. The outside of the case back is not signed or engraved. The inside of the case back is signed Keystone Watch Case. The original dial is black with two white timing rings. The top ring displays the hour and minutes of the hour. The bottom ring displays the seconds of the hour. The push pin protruding out of the top of the case is used to stop the movement-a "hack" feature used by the crew to synchronize time. The pointex hands were painted white so they could be seen more clearly on night missions. The crown and crystal are original to the watch. The movement is signed Hamilton USA 17 Jewels 980 G-284405.

This is truly a historical piece of military equipment! It is easy to understand why collectors turn them into wrist watches! The Hamilton Bomb Timer is pictured above.

More Than a Frame: Coby mp3 Digital Frame

The Coby Digital Photo Frame has a 7-inch widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) LCD screen. It plays MP3 and WMA audio files, AVI, MPG, and XviD video files, and JPEG images. It has AV output for use with home theater systems. It features SD, MMC, MS, xD and CF card slots and an USB port. It has built-in stereo speakers.

The Coby Digital Photo Frame with mp3 has interchangeable faceplates, a detachable stand and includes a remote control.

A Watch You Wear to Bed: Sleeptracker

Do you find it hard to wake up to a normal alarm clock? Do you notice that on some mornings it's harder to rise than others? It's likely that this difficulty arises because a standard alarm clock isn't capable of detecting where you are in your sleep cycle, so it's not possible for it to wake you when you're most likely to be receptive to its tone. The Sleeptracker Pro monitors your body all night long, continuously keeping track of your optimal waking times. In this way, it wakes you up during a window of time that you set at the best possible moment, leaving you feeling awake and refreshed.

The Sleeptracker Pro keeps historical track of sleep data which is sync'ed to PC-based sleep history software (included).

Offers three alarm choices: Vibrating, ringing, or both.

The tough part, I think, is to get used to wearing a watch while sleeping.

Not Just a GPS: Garmin nüvi 660 Personal Travel Assistant

The Garmin nüvi 660 is not just a portable GPS navigator, it’s also a Personal Travel assistant. It features a SiRF Star III high-sensitivity GPS receiver, WAAS enabled. It has a 4.3-inch widescreen display, measures 4.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches, 2 GB of memory and a SD memory card slot.

The nüvi 660 is integrated with Bluetooth wireless technology with microphone and speaker which let you make hands-free mobile phone calls. Simply dial the phone number with the nüvi's touch screen keypad to make a call on a compatible phone. To answer an incoming call, just tap the screen and speak into the built-in microphone. In addition, Garmin makes it a breeze to look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or even tap into your cell phone's call history log.

It comes loaded with highly detailed NAVTEQ City Navigator NT road maps for the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions, and the data is provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping. The screen-width scale is selectable from 640 feet to 4,000 miles. It gives turn-by-turn directions, has automatic off-route recalculation, detour function, FM TMC traffic alert, and waypoints (500 with name and symbol). It features a trip computer with odometer, timers, average and maximum speeds.

It features a wireless FM transmitter. Tune your car's radio to the appropriate station and you'll hear all the nüvi's audio, including voice prompts, MP3s, audio books, and more, directly through your vehicle's stereo system. The nüvi 660 includes many "must-have" entertainment and travel tools, including digital music and audio book playback, JPEG picture viewer, currency converters, and more. All these great features make the nüvi 660 a complete Personal Travel Assistant. Wow.

Check out other Garmin products at the webstore.

Golf Watches by Calaway

Yesterday I featured watches for the golf enthusiast by Suunto. Ely Callaway began his small golf club-making company in 1982. The Callaway brand has since flourished into a widely-know golf brand. The product offering has grown extensively as well, with Callaway now offering golf clubs, golf balls, equipment, and accessories. These watches are made by Gallaway.



The Callaway Black Chronograph Golf Watch features a stainless steel case and PU rubber strap with black dial with black dial ring and chronograph movement. The watch is water resistant to 50 meters.


The Callaway Orange Multifunction Golf Watch features a stainless steel case and orange sunray dial, chronograph movement and brown PU rubber strap. The watch is water resistant to 50 meters.



Check out other Gallaway Golf Watches in the webstore.

Watches for the Golf Enthusiast: Suunto G6/G6 Pro

These watches are for the golf enthusiast. Reduce your handicap, monitor your shots as you play, and simplify the scorekeeping process all in one with the Suunto G6 or G6 Pro personal golf instrument.

The Suunto G6 Wrist-Top Personal Golf Computer Watch contains an internal sensor that measures various aspects of your swing in different situations. In practice mode, you can record information on the tempo, rhythm, backswing length, and speed of each swing, and then observe the average and deviation values of the different measurements. You can then progress to test mode, in which you play a series of shots with the same club and check your consistency index straight from the wrist-top computer. This gives you an idea of your golfing muscle memory, and how often your swing strays from its "ideal" mechanics. Use the feedback to consistently repeat your best shots while weeding out the weaker ones.

Once you return to the course with your improved skills, the G6/G6 Pro takes care of the details while you play by keeping score. Choose from among four different game types--scratch, Stableford, stroke play, or match--and let the G6 record both you and your opponents' scores. Not only does it let you focus exclusively on your game, but it also eliminates the need for messy paperwork. At the same time, the G6 monitors your shots as you play, and then analyzes your round afterward via the Suunto Golf Manager PC software (sold separately), which identifies the areas of your game that need improvement. The G6 registers such statistical data as fairways hit, GIRs, up and downs, sand saves, putts, and penalties, and then displays the results and history of played games.

Additional features include a traditional watch mode with an alarm, calendar, and stopwatch; a menu-based user interface similar to the ones used by many mobile phones; water-resistance to 100 feet.

Suunto G6 Pro Watch adds another dimension to the features of Suunto G6 by including Suunto Golf Manager PC-software and USB-cable in the package.

Flight Chronograph Watches: Seiko

Whether you’re a pilot or you simply want a high-performance, features-packed timepiece, these flight chronograph watches are sure to please.

The Seiko Flight Alarm Chronograph Watch features a date window at the three o’clock position and three sub-dials. Its stopwatch feature can measure up to sixty minutes in 1/5-second increments. The alarm, a two-hand sub-dial, can be set on a twelve-hour basis, and it doubles as an international travel clock since the alarm hands can be set to indicate the time in a different time zone.

This watch also has a bi-directional rotating slide rule bezel for performing navigational computations, fuel consumption calculations and flight climb calculations. The watch is water resistant to 200 meters.

The Seiko Analog Digital World Flight Chronograph Watch features Lumibrite hands and markers. It has a fully automatic calendar, a daylight savings time display, and time and date of 28 cities with scroll display of city names, time transfer function, and one channel world alarm. The chronograph measures up to 100 hours in 1/1000 second increments, a lap time measurement, and a battery life indicator. Additionally, the watch includes fuel consumption calculations, flight climb calculations. The watch is water resistant to 100 meters.

Check out other Seiko Flight Chronograph watches at the webstore.

An Original iPod: The Rain Pod

"The Rain Pod" is an umbrella with integrated iPod. It's created by Spokane artist Tom Dukich and is part of the Design Commission's "Chance of Showers" exhibition and silent auction to benefit 826 Seattle, a nonprofit writing center that helps students, ages six to 18, develop their creative and expository writing skills.

The umbrella is 50" in diameter with built-in music software and speakers and painted with permanent markers.

It's up for auction on eBay with a starting bid of $50.


[Source: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog]

Prototype: Kilfitt UKA 659 Camerawatch

Tiny gadgets were not prevalent back in the 1960s. The Kilfitt UKA 659 camerawatch is a tiny analog camera crammed into a stylish watch. It's a prototype that was created in the Munich laboratory of Heinz Kilfitt in the 60's. It has a 1.3mm-10.5mm lens, shutter speed from 1/15 sec to 1/1,000 sec, and it uses a custom film disc.

It's currently up for auction on eBay for GBP 29,119.00 ($59,388.20 US). For an abeit rich gadget collector this is a dream come true. Wow.


[Source: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog]

Archway to Multimedia: Archos 704 Wi-Fi

 

The Archos 704 Wi-Fi multimedia player has a 7” LCD touchscreen with 800 x 400 pixel resolution and measures 7 x 5 x 0.75 inches.

The 704 Wi-Fi features Wi-Fi for wireless download of movies from online stores, surfing the Web, sending and receiving e-mail from Web-based mail applications, and connecting the device to a home network to transfer files or play content directly from the network.

The Archos 704 Wi-Fi also offers many more functionalities such as slow motion, adjustable screen size, video editing and even a video bookmarking function.

Transform the Archos 704 Wi-Fi into a camcorder by connecting a digital camera (most models) , or by connecting the optional high resolution helmet camcorder. The Archos 704 Wi-Fi records video directly on its 80 GB hard drive in MPEG-4 format, up to VGA resolution (640 x 480).

Like the Archos 604 and 605, the device can be connected to a television via the optional DVR Station to watch movies and photo slideshows on a larger screen. The DVR station also allows the 704 Wi-Fi to be used as a digital video recorder (DVR). Set up the DVR station by connecting it to the external video source; simply slot in your ARCHOS and record instantaneously or make scheduled recordings with the included infrared receiver that controls the external video sources.

Transfer photos directly from a digital camera with the USB 2.0 host interface. Store and view up to 800,000 photos and display slideshows with music and transition effect. Manage files and folders directly on the device. Enjoy the large size of the screen and the cool sleek design of the Archos 704 Wi-Fi as digital photo frame.

Supported music formats: MP3, WAV, WMA and protected WMA

Supported video formats: MPEG-4, WMV and protected WMV and read MPEG-4 AAC/H.264 (.MP4 QuickTime files), MPEG-2, and VOB (with optional software plug-ins)

Supported image formats: JPEG, PNG and BMP

Check out other Archos products in the webstore.

Tiny View: SanDisk Sansa View

 

The SanDisk Sansa View 16 GB multimedia player is a mere 4.3 x 2 x 0.4 inches with a 2.4 inch full color screen and 320 x 240 pixel resolution.

The Sansa View features a built-in FM radio (with 20 programmable presets), a built-in microphone, and a MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot. The View supports more than 35,000 audiobook titles from audible.com.

Supported audio formats: MP3, secure and unsecured WMA, non-DRM ACC, and WAV

Supported video formats: MPEG4, WMV, and H.264

Supported image formats: JPEG

SanDisk makes the Sansa View 8 GB too.

Check out other SanDisk Sansa products at the webstore.

More than a PMP: Cowon Q5W

The Cowon Q5W 60 GB is more than a portable media device. It’s actually more of a UMPC than a PMP. The Cowon Q5W is just 3.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches sporting a 5 inch (diagonal) LCD with 800 x 480 resolution. As a portable media player, it plays movies, TV shows, music, and photos but it does a whole lot more.

The Cowon Q5W has built-in Wi-Fi, an Internet browser, e-mail, voice enabled MSN messenger, and Bluetooth. In addition, it features a touch sensitive interface, an FM tuner and recorder, a voice recorder, built-in stereo speakers, wireless remote control, and TV-out supporting component, S-video and composite connections. It runs Microsoft Windows CE 5.0.

The Cowon Q5W has an optional GPS navigation package using Cowon Navigator cradle equipped with GPS receiver antenna (SirF3 internal), FM transmitter switch for audio playback on vehicle radio.

The Cowon 40 GB Q5W comes with a 40 GB hard drive.

Supported audio formats: ASF, MP3, MPC, WAV, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, APE (Monkeyís Audio)

Supported video formats: ASF, AVI, WMV, DivX, XviD, MPEG-4, OGM (Ogg Media)

Supported image formats: BMP, PNG, JPEG; Audio features: VBR, 5 band EQ, ID3 tags support.

Check out other Cowon products in the webstore.

Fake iPod Touch: Optimus Touch

I came across this video of the Optimus Touch - an iPod clone. The Optimus Touch includes a 1.3 MP camera, FM tuner, and miniSD slot. The screen is only 2.8 inches and 320 x 240. Pretty impressive for the ~$100 price - I thought I'd share:



[Source: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog]

Comparison Chart: 30 GB PMPs 2

This comparison chart compares four more 30 GB portable media players: the ibiza Rhapsody H1A030BK Wi-Fi/MP3 Player by Haier, the Creative Zen Vision W 30 GB Widescreen Multimedia Player, the Cowon A2 30 GB Portable Multimedia Player, and the Coby Portable Media Player. Click on the chart to see it actual size.

You can find comparison chart comparing four other 30 GB PMPs here.



Check out the following in the webstore:

--- ibiza Rhapsody PMPs
--- Cowon PMPs
--- Creative Zen Vision PMPs
--- Coby PMPs

The Touch Screen Watch: Tissot T-Touch

Tissot is the official timekeeper of the International Ice Hockey Federation, MotoGT, Nascar, Cycling, and Fencing. This year, it’s also the official timekeeper of the Pan American Games. I find the touch sensitive screen an interesting feature of the T-Touch line.

The T-Touch Orange watch by Tissot is a sports/hiking watch that features luminous orange hands, orange indicator boxes and index markers surround the dial, and white lettering around the outer dial. But it’s more than just a watch – the T-Touch offers eight functions accessible via touching the crown and then touch sensitive screen. Functions include: date and time, an altimeter, a chronometer, compass, alarm, thermometer, and a barometer (meteo). The different functions are listed around the edge of the dial--just press that area of the dial to activate it. The watch is water resistant to 30 meters.

The T-Touch Titanium is a dress watch with black luminous hands and white indexes, Small white indexes surround the outer dial, and the titanium ratcheting bezel has directional N, S, E, W. The watch case and bracelet are made from solid titanium, which is nearly 50 percent lighter than steel, but 30 percent stronger. It's also particularly resistant to salt water corrosion, as well as hypo-allergenic--perfect for those with metal allergies. Functions include: an altimeter, a chronometer, a compass, an alarm, a thermometer, and a barometer (meteo) and are accessible via the touch sensitive screen. The watch is water resistant to 30 meters.

The T-Touch Nascar watch features luminous hands and indices, yellow/red arabic numbers, Small white tick-markers on outer dial, polished titanium bezel with black embossed directional lettering, numbers and indices, polished titanium case, and polished titanium selector buttons and case back. Functions include: an altimeter, a chronometer, a compass, an alarm, a thermometer, and a barometer (meteo) and are accessible via the touch sensitive screen. The watch is water resistant to 30 meters.

Check out the Tissot T-Touch watches in the webstore.

Comparison Chart: 30 GB PMPs

*** Updated Dec 31, 2007 ***

Here is a comparison chart of 30 GB portable media players. The chart compares the Toshiba MEV30K Gigabeat V, the Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player, the Archos 605 30GB Wi-Fi Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder, and the Apple 30 GB iPod Video AAC/MP3 Player. Click on the chart to display actual size.



Check out the following in the webstore:

--- Toshiba PMPs
--- Zune PMPs
--- Archos PMPs
--- Apple iPod Video PMPs

From James Bond to the Space Program: Omega Watches

Omega is famous for being the first watch on the moon and the preferred choice of secret agent James Bond. Omega was the first manufacturer to introduce a 1000 m diving watch, at the polar caps, and in space - Omega has long enjoyed an intimate involvement with the US Space Program.


The Omega Automatic Speedmaster Watch has a stainless-steel band and case that features a tachometer on the bezel. A handsome, black dial boasts three sub-dials and classic silver-tone hour markers as well as stick minute indicators. This reliable, heirloom-worthy watch offers luminescent, silver-tone hands to round out its cool, metallic design.



I’ll admit that the "James Bond" in the watch name caught my eye. It is, however, truly a gorgeous watch. The Omega Seamaster Men’s Blue Dial Blue Divers Bezel Stainless Steel Automatic James Bond Watch features stainless steel case and bracelet, blue dial with luminous hands and hour markers date at the 3 o'clock position. It has a chronometer and is water resistant to 300 meters.



The Omega Men's Seamaster Chronograph Chronometer Watch sports a stainless steel band and stainless steel case and features a black rotating bezel with a handsome mix of Arabic-numeral and geometric indicators. A black dial reveals four sub-dials, luminescent skeleton hands, dash hour indicators, and stick minute markers create a gorgeous timepiece that's rated water resistant to 300 meters.







The Omega Women's Constellation Two-Tone Watch features an 18kt gold and stainless-steel case, full bar bracelet, and a mother-of-pearl dial.









Check out the Omega watches in the webstore.

The Ultimate Luxury: Rolex Watches

Rolex watches are the ultimate in luxury.



The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona watch features an 18kt white gold case and clasp, brown crocodile strap, tachymeter engraving on bezel. What a beauty!









The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona watch features an 18kt yellow gold case and oysterlock bracelet, tachymeter engraving on 18kt yellow gold bezel. Ooh, la, la!








The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master watch features tainless steel case, 18kt yellow gold and steel oyster acelet, 18kt gold time-lapse bezel, champagne dial and self-winding movement. It is an officially certified chronometer. The date is displayed at the 3-o’clock position.





The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner watch features two-tone stainless steel case and oyster acelet, black dial and black special time-lapse bezel. It’s pressure proof to 1000 feet. The date is displayed at the 3-o’clock position.







The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust Pearlmaster Diamond watch features 18kt white gold case and pearlmaster acelet with 2 rows of 174 diamonds, 14 large diamonds along the center, and mother-of-pearl dial with diamond hour markers. The bezel set with 40 diamonds. *sigh*