The 20-inch “Holocube” is basically a stylish desk accessory that “packs a 40GB hard drive for storing up to 18 hours of compressed video, which can magically float at 1080i resolution within the cube at the flick of a switch.” Video after the break.

After years of promises, it seems that holograms are finally starting to gain a little traction, although the applications for the technology so far have been fairly limited. At least one company thinks that’s about to change, however, with it now touting its retro-styled Holocube as an all-purpose solution for company’s to advertise their products “like never before.”

[via Engadget]

Share This

Yes, the HTC Magnum you see above is actually a working Windows Mobile-powered Smartphone. No word yet on pricing and availability. Click here for first picture in gallery.

This thing, whatever it is, looks real in the sense that it doesn’t seem to be photoshopped, plus the images in the screens actually look pretty high resolution. That’s is why we’re so puzzled by it

[via Gizmodo]

Share This

Filed under: Cellphones

We’re not really sure what to make of this supposed HTC “Magnum” that’s been doing the rounds today. Sure, it looks like a gigantic, touchscreen HTC phone — but we’d be hard-pressed to say this has any use outside of demo purposes and party time hijinks. Our guess is that this is a hilarious prank meant to thrill the interblogs, but it is possible that HTC has decided to move away from the tried-and-true handheld market to a more robust, manly line of products. Like a participant in a cat-fight, we won’t “go there” on the specs, suffice to say, they make it sound really, really real. Check the video after the break to see the “phone” doing its thing, Ten Commandments-style.

Update: Yep, not real.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading The gigantic “HTC Magnum” is convenient, inconspicuous

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Cellphones

If you’re like us, you’ve probably brainstormed the “perfect” mobile phone in your head a couple hundred times, wishing you could just convince someone to make it for you. Well, now you’ve got your chance thanks to the unfortunately-named zzzPhone, which inspires fantasies of long naps rather than high-tech gadgetry. According to the company’s website, you can build your own device made to order, using “the same high quality components as major brands Motorola, Nokia, Palm, and Samsung.” Of course, the major brands don’t offer you actual MP3 and video files pre-installed on your device — which really makes our copyright sensors hit the red. Sure, the phone appears to emanate from a dubious Shenzhen-based manufacturer, but once you see all the succulent options available to you, your ethical concerns will melt away like ice cream on hot apple pie.

[Via Textually]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Cellphones

While those in London can use SMS to actually find a lavatory, folks passing through Western Finland will be required to bust out their handset in order to relieve themselves in select public restrooms. In an attempt to curb vandalism, the Finnish Road Administration has implemented a system along Highway 1 which requires restroom visitors to text “Open” (in Finnish, of course) in order to let themselves in. The idea is that folks will be less likely to lose their mind and graffiti up the place knowing that their mobile number is (at least temporarily) on file, but it remains to be seen if uprooters will simply take their defacing ways elsewhere or actually excrete in peace.

[Via Switched]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Out of the rumor mill comes the 16GB iPhone, now official. Ever since the 16GB iPod touch was announced in September, we all knew it was just a matter of time until Apple could bung the same NAND capacity into their chubbier iPhone. The surprise is a new 32GB iPod touch for the same $499. No other changes and certainly not 3G. Both are available immediately.

Update: We just spoke with Apple, who told us that by available immediately, that means both US and international customers. They should start making their way to stores over the next couple of days, too, so call ahead to check stock if you’re buying offline. Also, Cupertino had no comment on whether there were any other under-the-hood hardware changes in these new models.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Cellphones

Bring it, we say. Opera Mobile 9.5 is prepped and (almost) ready for beta release. Version 9.5 is noticeably faster thanks to a re-enginered Presto rendering engine and features a new browser interface and downloadable Opera Widgets. A World Factbook widget pulls data from Flickr, Google Maps, and CIA World Factbook simultaneously. Opera was more than happy to compare their new browser with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Mobile to demonstrate the obvious — IE mobile is cruel. Opera mobile 9.5 will see its first public unveiling starting February 11th at GSMA with a public Symbian, WinMo, and Linux beta expected soon. Click on through for the video.

Continue reading Video: Opera Mobile 9.5 redesign is lickity quick, slick

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Share This

Filed under: Cellphones, Storage

There’s been plenty of conjecture (pictured) about a 16GB iPhone — and its mysterious absence from the initial lineup — ever since the 16GB iPod touch graced us all with its minuscule presence, but things are starting to look up. We just got a pair of tips purporting inside AT&T info that both point to the 16GB iPhone showing up shortly. One person spotted the phone in AT&T Wireless inventory, listed as not in stock, while the other tipster was fairly certain about a release this Tuesday or the next one. Obviously this is all hearsay at the moment, so don’t go hawking that 8 gigger just yet, but we’ll see if Apple’s going to serve us up a Papa Bear-sized portion of gigabytes soon enough.

Update: We just received word from multiple sources that the O2 staff has been notified of the 16GB iPhone launch at 1:30pm UK time. Price: £329. That will likely translate to $599 in the US like the original 8GB iPhone, $499 if we’re lucky.

Update 2: Pocket-Lint trucked on down to the O2 emporium on Oxford Street in London and have confirmed the 16GB iPhone with shop staff.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Share This

If pajamas get itchy when you wear them to bed, I have a great solution: sleep naked. If that’s not an option for a self-hating person like yourself, some fancy new PJs have been developed that are totally “itch-free” and will even regulate your temperature. They’re made from a fabric called Dermasilk, which is apparently really comfortable, and judging by the picture will make you look pretty ridiculous. They were developed for Travelodge, so next time you’re staying at a really cheap hotel maybe you’ll get a complimentary set of these things. [Telegraph via Spulch]

Share This

The RIAA always claims that its looking out for the livelihood of artists when it sues the hell out of alleged pirates, but in reality it’s really fighting to keep record industry executives rich by defending an outdated and unsustainable business model. While before the PR team at least made an attempt to make it seem like artists were priority #1, they seem to have given up: the RIAA is now trying to cut down artist’s royalties on digital downloads.

Yes, the RIAA doesn’t think the record companies are making enough and that musicians are clearly making too much. I mean, they get 13% now. Like they deserve 13% for writing and creating the music that people are paying for. Hogwash! Someone had to, you know, encode it. That’s worth at least 40%. And hey, these shoes don’t shine themselves! So they’re pushing to get that rate cut down to a shameful 9%, giving artists even less of a slice of the pie than before.

Of course, Apple, Napster and other large online retailers make the RIAA look like a charity in comparison, with Apple pushing to cut the royalty rate down to an insulting 4%. Yes, Apple wants artists to get a 4% of wholesale royalty rate. Really looking out for those artists, aren’t you Steve?

If there was ever a time for a band to try going completely independent, this is it. Why give over 90% of your income away to greedy sleazebags when you can sell your music online without the middleman? This industry needs to be burned to the ground and built back up again; it’s broken and it seems less and less likely that it’ll be able to be fixed. [Hollywood Reporter via Slashdot]

Share This