Did anyone else notice it’s Monday? We sure did. It just has an air about it, doesn’t it? Well, we’re happy that you chose to start your week out with us, and welcome to this latest edition of the Daily Slash. Tonight, in the Best of R3, we’ve got a CDMA HTC Hero showing up somewhere it doesn’t belong, and Samsung wants to give you money for developing applications. And then in the Dredge ‘Net, Blue Ant’s got a new speakerphone for your Bluetooth pleasure, a new report shows cell phone shipments around the world are growing, and finally, a LEGO robot that can raise its own bridge.
The Best of R3 Media
An HTC Hero with Cox Branding: We love when things get sold on eBay, or especially Craig’s List. It’s just a sneaky way to show off something we never thought would happen, in some cases. Like this one. Someone managed to sell a Cox (as in the cable company) branded CDMA HTC Hero. It looks exactly like the Sprint version, but this one had no physical branding on it. There’s plenty of branding on the software side, though, which even includes a boot screen showing the Cox label. Definitely interesting stuff, especially considering Cox wants to launch their own wireless service. Testing in progress, perhaps? [via Android Community]
Samsung Wants You to Make Apps for Bada: Yes. If you’re a developer, and you want to get on yet another platform, then maybe you should start thinking about Samsung’s Bada mobile Operating System (OS). It’s the proprietary one that became famous when the company unveiled the Samsung Wave handset, and sure, it probably won’t make you rich, but perhaps winning this developer’s contest will. You see, if you get to the second round, not only will you get a new Samsung Wave of your own, but you’ll also have a shot at winning upwards of $300,000. A lot of money for you developers out there, so if you’ve got the chops, go for it. And let us know how it goes, yeah? [via SlashPhone]
The Dredge Net
BlueAntS4 Bluetooth Speakerphone Available (soon?): There’s plenty of options out there if you’re in the market for a Bluetooth speakerphone, but this one from BlueAnt is definitely one of the more attractive approaches. Sure, it’s still just a Bluetooth speakerphone, but it has a few features worth mentioning. Like, for example, voice activated features. You can turn it on by saying, “BlueAnt speak to me.” You can also turn on the Vlingo SafeReader application by saying, “Start SafeReader.” (Tricky, right?) That feature will read you your own text messages and emails. It will go for $99 at Best Buy locations, and AT&T stores across the nation. The Vlingo app is currently compatible with BlackBerry devices, and Android-based handsets running Android 2.0 or later. [via Ubergizmo]
iSuppli Says Worldwide Shipments of Cellphones is up 13.8 Percent: Good news all around for the cell phone industry, but perhaps not so much for a few companies out there. For example, Motorola has dropped from the sixth spot to the eight spot in worldwide cellphone sales. They sold 14.7 million handsets in the first quarter of 2009, but managed to only push out 8.5 million in the same period this year. Sony Ericsson was the only other company worth mentioning that didn’t sell as many handsets. Samsung, Nokia, and LG Electronics are all at the top of the list, still. Which, incidentally, isn’t surprising at all. [via Engadget]
This LEGO Contraption Can Lay Down its Own Bridge: You read that title correctly. This LEGO creation of awesomeness is created from LEGO Technic pieces, which means it has a bunch of motorized pieces in there. And, while we aren’t putting the video here, you definitely need to check it out. The vehicle can lay down its own bridge, which takes roughly about a minute, and then move aside to let other LEGO vehicles by. It can then traverse its own bridge, before it reverses, and picks the bridge back up, which folds nicely over its back. The process is slow, but it’s still one of the coolest things to watch, considering the LEGO prowess involved. [via TechnaBob]
Ouch. Just a few days ago, it seems like a certainty that Sprint would be pushing out Android 2.1 updates to the aging Samsung Moment and HTC Hero, but now a company admin has stepped in to assure us that things aren’t nearly that close to go. The full text is pasted in after the break, but the long and short of it is this: the long-awaited 2.1 update is now on track “to be available in Q2.” The carrier did confess to wanting this out sooner rather than later, but hey, at least your patience is really, really appreciated.
It’s the middle of the week again, and here we are with another edition of the Daily Slash. Tonight’s is packed full with interesting pieces of information, that we’re sure will fill your heart with delight. First up, in the Best of R3, we’ve got some more tablet news that’s not related to Apple, an iPad case review, and some more rumors about the Hero’s update to Android 2.1. And then in the Dredge ‘Net, we’ve got Clearwire promising some very interesting things, space tourism for the (rich) every man, and AT&T thinks it doesn’t have dropped calls.
The Best of R3 Media
New Android Tablet Shows Off Flash and Adobe AIR: And, according to the report, it does it so well that some would consider it “flawless.” Yep, Flash running on a mobile device “flawlessly.” We’re pretty shocked too, but we’ll have to take it for what it’s worth, because we can hope beyond hope that this is true. After all, we want the best kind of video player on our handsets, mobile devices, and tablets, and if Adobe thinks they can accomplish that, then by all means. The article states that there isn’t much information to go on, other than this is a prototype, and so far, that’s about as far as it’s gone in development. There’s a video at AC, so you should check it out and see all that flawless goodness for yourself. [via Android Community]
Griffin Jumper iPad Sleeve Gets Reviewed: The market for iPad accessories is pretty huge, and of course we’re not surprised to see all sorts of variations out there. The Griffin Jumper iPad Sleeve is definitely a different take on something kind of old, and we’d be lying if we didn’t say that’s a bit refreshing. But, the case itself is a bit too tight for the iPad, which proves a bit annoying when you’re trying to put the tablet in, or remove it for usage. The sleeve itself looks great, though, and that has to count for something. [via Everything iPad]
Sprint HTC Hero Getting Android 2.1 on May 7th: Here’s another leaked image from a major reseller. This time around it’s Best Buy, and it’s talking about the major upgrade to the HTC Hero for the Sprint network. It’s a ROM upgrade, so that could only mean (if it’s “major” enough), that the device is finally getting Android 2.1. But, then again, this is just another leak in a laundry list of leaks, so try not to hold your breath for too long. [via SlashPhone]
The Drege Net
Clearwire Promises Clear-Branded Samsung and HTC Devices: Pretty interesting stuff here. Clear today, during one of their financial calls, outed the future existence of self-branded Samsung and HTC-manufactured devices, all sporting the 4G technology Clear is so known for. The devices are expected to be released by the end of 2010, so there’s definitely a few months in between now and then for the company to fine tune whatever it is they’re working on. It describes the Sammy as an Android-based 3G/4G/WiFi device, which is optimized for heavy video and video communications use. However, the HTC device doesn’t say whether or not it’s an Android-powered handset. So, maybe Windows Phone 7, then? That’s all the information that Clear provided, but we’ll definitely be keeping our eyes and ears open for more on this very tantalizing story. [via Clearwire]
A New Sub-Orbital Spaceship for the Rich: When you become rich, one of the first things you want to do is take a trip to space, right? Of course you do! After all, you’re rich and you have nothing better to do (like earn that money). So, thanks to Dassault Aviation, that dream is one more step to becoming a reality. They want to give civilians the opportunity to travel up to space, and feel what three minutes of weightlessness feels like at 62 miles above the surface of the planet. Yep, that’s right at the edge of space. Pretty fantastic, right? No word on pricing quite yet, but, hey, you should just start saving. [via DVICE]
AT&T Refutes Claims of Staggering Dropped Calls: Earlier this afternoon, a report from ChangeWave stated that AT&T was reaching a record high of 4.5 percent of dropped calls on its network. However, this little report only covered about a couple thousand people, over a short amount of time. According to AT&T, who is basing their refuted claims on another report filed by a third-party analyst group called GWS, they are in a dead-heat race with the leader of fewest dropped called (believed to be Verizon Wireless), and that this claim of 4.5 percent is hogwash. The GWS study is definitely more tangible and believable, if only for the reason that it covered “millions” of people, and not just thousands. So, what do you think? [via Electronista]
Welcome to the most recent hump day edition of the Daily Slash. It’s the middle of the week and we’re sure you’re pining to get your feet firmly planted to the end of the week, but until we get there, at least you’ve got us. Tonight’s edition is pretty lengthy, at least in one part, but we promise it’s worth it. First up, in the Best of R3, we’ve got a whole laundry list of new devices from Dell, then iPads being used in the medical field, and finally a huge piece of bad news for the HTC Hero. And then in the dredge ‘net, we’ve got Android running on the iPhone, a washing machine, and then Microsoft pitching some live TV ideas.
The Best of R3
Dell Introduces the Thunder, Flash, and Smoke: We’re going out on a limb here and saying that Dell obviously wants to make sure that they’re a presence in the smartphone market again. And, if they release even one of these Android-based devices, we’ll firmly admit that they’ve made it. The Dell Thunder is an Android 2.1-based handset, with a 4.1-inch WVGA OLED screen. It has an 8MP camera on the back, and it features Dell’s “Stage” User Interface, which looks eerily like HTC’s Sense UI. It’s going to be hitting AT&T later this year, and there’s even going to be an LTE model in the fourth quarter 2011. The Flash is a ridiculous piece of architecture, with Dell aiming to mold it out of a slice of curved glass. Yeah, sounds expensive, right? It will feature a 3.5-inch WVGA LCD screen, a 5MP camera, WiFi, TV-out, Bluetooth 3.0, and a Qualcomm MSM7230 processor running at 800MHz. And finally the Dell Smoke, which is like a Palm Pixi but that got beat with a sexy stick. Featuring a beautiful full QWERTY keyboard, with a 2.8-inch QVGA display. It’s also featuring Android’s Froyo version, which already makes it a highly anticipated device. The trouble is, the Smoke won’t launch until the second quarter of 2011. [Thunder via Android Community; Flash via Android Community; Smoke via Android Community]
100 iPads Ordered for California Hospital: The iPad is a perfect fit for the medical industry, and Nick Volosin thinks so, too. He’s the Director of Technical Services for the Kaweah Delta Health Care District, and after he managed to get there iPads over to his hospital to test out, they’ve now put in an order for an additional 100 tablets for their staff. Utilizing the Citrix Receiver, they can take full control of a virtual PC to watch over patient statistics, read X-rays, and look over EKG results while on the go. [via Everything iPad]
HTC Hero Won’t be Seeing 2.1 Until June: Bad day for the owners of the original HTC Hero. According to an email correspondence, it doesn’t look like the Hero is going to be seeing any kind of major update until June. They will be getting an update to prepare their handsets by some time in June, and then a short time later, the full Eclair update will be delivered to their devices. A long way from February or March, if you ask us, and considering the HTC Desire is already out and about, we can’t see why customers are still waiting. [via SlashPhone]
The Dredge Net
Android Lives on the iPhone: It’s about time, right? According to a recent posted video, the notorious iPhone hacker planetbeing has successfully booted the Google mobile Operating System, Android, onto a fully functional iPhone. And, everything works. You can watch in the video as he tries several different features, such as a Skype call. Planetbeing even says that Flash could be supported. As of right now he is able to actually dual-boot, and choose which mobile Operating System he wants to load. It’s good to have choices, right? [via Quick Pwn]
Even Washers of the Future Are Awesome: We’d have to say that perhaps “thinner isn’t better” when it comes to washing machines, as the idea is to get as much done in a single load as possible, but we can’t argue a sexy piece of technology when we see one. For example, this Electrolux washing machine is just about ridiculous, and we can’t stop staring at the beautiful illuminated ring of light. It changes color depending on what cycle your wash is in, so you’ll always know, just by a quick glance, what stage your clothes are currently being washed. A great idea, especially considering there’s a wall-mounted model, as well as one that fits into the cabinets. Great ideas that we hope to see come to fruition soon. [via DVICE]
Microsoft Planning a Live TV Channel for Xbox 360: As video game consoles go, there’s definitely several different features for each of them. And, while Sony has already tried their hand at original video content, it seems that Microsoft wants to test out the action, too. According to a recent report, it seems that Microsoft is in current talks with former President of News Corp., Peter Chernin, to create a dedicated TV Channel for the Xbox 360 LIVE network. The channel would be jointly owned, and would not only have new, original content, but also air reruns of old shows, so that there is always something playing. Customers would have to pay an additional one, or two dollars a month to access the channel, though. [via TG Daily]
Plenty of UK Hero owners were disappointed this morning upon hearing the news that free Google Maps Navigation had spread beyond the borders of the USA but required Android 1.6 as the minimum OS version. Stuck in their Android 1.5 world, they must have hoped that HTC would just hurry up and open the gates to Eclair heaven, but hurrying up is, regrettably, the opposite of what’s happening. Tech Radar heard from a Google rep that the Hero’s move to Android 2.1 won’t be happening until June, and followed it up with HTC directly. The official response was that a free update for European Hero variants will indeed be provided “starting in June.” At least this cloud of disappointment will only hang over Europe, as other territories — like Taiwan — might still get the update reasonably soon.
Here we are at the end of the week, and don’t you feel better for it? Thanks for sticking it out with us. In tonight’s Daily Slash, we’ve got a nice mix of interesting stories, so we’ll have to jump right into it. First up, in the Best of R3, we’ve got something like an official statement about Android 2.1 for Sprint; Steve Jobs has his own style of PR; and finally a phone like the Samsung Galaxy S heading to T-Mobile. And then in the dredge ‘net, shrimp and glass may be the next best thing in medical; rollerblades are so yesterday; the XPERIA X10 can’t do multitouch, but it’s getting it anyway; and finally, Apple’s getting sued.
The Best of R3 Media
Leaked Internal Sprint Image Says Android 2.1 Coming in May: The wait for Android 2.1 has been long and arduous for pretty much anyone who doesn’t have it, and we can understand that. Especially when leaks and rumors are popping up everywhere. This time around, it seems that an internal screenshot from Sprint points to an early May release for the Sprint HTC Hero and Samsung Moment. Early may probably means some time in the first two weeks of May, so that’s not too far to wait. Besides, what’s another month, right? [via Android Community]
Steve Jobs Asks Potential Customer if They’re Nuts: You read that right. Just before the launch of the iPad, Steve Jobs started answering query emails about the tablet, along with a few other key pieces of intel. This time around, an international customer by the name of Paul Shadwell was upset that the iPad was delayed, and thought that he had been lied to by the Cupertino-based company. So, he emailed Jobs and told him off. Steve jobs replied, and asked the man if he was nuts, and then kindly added that his company was doing the best they could. We have to admit: we like Steve Jobs’ PR style. [via Everything iPad]
Samsung T959 Has Samsung Galaxy S Features: The Bluetooth SIG process is another way that we can find out which phones are coming out in the coming months. It isn’t an exact science, but it’s a good step in the right direction. With a recent document being unearthed in the digital databanks, the Samsung SGH-T959 showed up, and rose some eyebrows. Most importantly, it’s got features like Android 2.1, TouchWiz 3.0, and a 4-inch AMOLED display. Sound familiar? That’s the Samsung Galaxy’s S base features (except that the Galaxy S has a Super AMOLED, too). The general consensus is that the device is heading to T-Mobile USA, and that makes us think the Galaxy S could be seeing many more wireless carriers. [via SlashPhone]
The Dredge Net
Shrimp Could Repair Spinal Injuries; Glass Heals Bones: A brand new report from the Journal of Experimental Biology details how the chitosan found in shrimp shells can be utilized to repair nerve damage. This discover has worked so far in guinea pigs, with the chitosan compound actually healing the tissue instead of breaking it down, as previous tests with other compounds have done in the past, thanks to the toxins which are formed from it breaking down. And then, in a separate report, other scientists have found that a glass matrix can be used to help regenerate bone. The bone will heal itself over time, and then the glass will break down on its own. [via CrunchGear]
Chariot Skates Make Rollerblades Look Ridiculous: Mostly because these things are just about amazing, in how awesome they are. We want a pair right now, and we mean that in all honesty. And, according to the developer, Michael Jenkins, they are more comfortable, keep momentum longer, and can even be used in rough terrain better than traditional skates or rollerblades. But, it’s not all roses. Unfortunately, the Chariot Skates are too expensive: about $10,900 too expensive. They’re set to be released in August, though, so if you’re interested in being the only person in Venice Beach with a pair, start pinching your pennies. [via DVICE]
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Will Get Multitouch: If you’ll recall, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 wasn’t supposed to get multitouch functionality. In fact, an SE spokesperson actually confirmed that it wasn’t just a software thing, but that the hardware of the capacitive touchscreen didn’t support the option at all. Well, apparently you can forget all that, because a latest news bit says that not only is the X10 getting Android 2.1 in September, but it’s also getting multitouch. Consider us confused. The big question is: does anyone in the United States care? [via Cellphone-Reviews]
Apple Being Sued for Triggered Moisture Sensors: If you’ve owned a cell phone, basically ever, then you probably know that there’s a small sensor underneath the battery area that will react if you get it wet. It turns pink, in fact. The trouble with these things, is that cold weather, along with moisture, can trigger this sensor if it’s in the atmosphere long enough. Nevertheless, phone manufacturers have turned down warranty exchanges all over the place due to those triggered moisture sensors, because water, obviously, isn’t good for your phone. Apple, now, is being sued because Charlene Gallion “and others similarly situated” believes that this is wrong, due to the language in Apple’s warranty policy. It’s definitely interesting, and we’ll have to wait and see who comes out on top. Place your bets now, folks. [via Apple Insider]
It’s Friday night, and you’re probably out doing something else right now. Then again, if you’re reading this, maybe not. Unless you’ve got one of those fancy things that gives you the Internet in the palm of your hand. Then hopefully you’ve been taking SlashGear all over the place with you. In any case, welcome to the Daily Slash, where we bring you the best of the ‘net. First up, in the Best of R3 section, we’ve got the HTC Hero getting a new leak; the iPad feels a sizeable Quake; and AT&T is trying to change a few things. And then in the net, we pull up a good old story that just won’t die about Halo; a Chinese chess set perfectly placed in the digital age; bad news for England; and finally, a litter box of the future.
The Best of R3 Media
HTC Hero Gets Android 2.1 Leaked: So, people aren’t patient. We get that. Then again, when companies like HTC are slow to push out updates, the patience is hard to come by. And, despite the fact the latest rumor of Android 2.1 going the official route is April 9th, why should you wait any longer? A brand new leak for the HTC Hero has hit the Interwebs, but this is isn’t like all the other ones. This is a test ROM, officially from Sprint, for their branded Hero. It’s already rooted, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Don’t even try this unless you know what you’re doing. It’s not worth bricking your phone. [via Android Community]
The iPad Runs Quake at 70fps. ‘Nough Said: Quake is one of those ports that seems to be making the rounds quite well. In fact, we might even consider it the right of passage for some of the best portable gaming devices on the market. So, seeing it on the iPad isn’t that alien to us. Sure enough, it took a strong-willed developer less than 24 hours with his very own iPad to compile the game onto the tablet, and run it at a beautiful 70fps thanks to that A4 processor and PowerVR SGX GPU. There’s no control scheme right now, and he hasn’t made it public yet. But hey, at least you know it exists. [via Everything iPad]
AT&T Wants You to “Rethink Possible”: AT&T doesn’t have the best reputation on the block. In fact, it might be one of the least liked carriers out there. Or, perhaps the dissenter’s voices are just the loudest. Whatever the case, AT&T is hearing it, because they’re changing their ways. Starting to change their ways, anyway. They’re moving away from a monster wireless carrier, and trying to make people see them as a progressive lifestyle change. Interesting, to say the least. The change will take several months, and we’re wondering how this is going to go over with the customers. [via SlashPhone]
The Dredge Net
The Halo Movie Still Exists: If you’re a gamer, and if you’ve played any games within the Halo franchise, then you’ve probably heard (at least once) that there was a movie being passed around the high executives in Hollywood for quite some time. In fact, a few high ranking names were even tagged to direct and produce the film (who subsequently went to produce and direct another alien-based flick, District 9), but it all went down the drain when no one could agree on money. In fact, Microsoft even said the project was dead entirely. But, Frank O’Connor of the Redmond-based company and of Bungie Studios fame says the project is, in fact, still alive. They’re just biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to launch it to the world. Consider our patience waning. [via Tom's Guide]
LED Chinese Chess Board of the Future Makes You Want to Learn How to Play: Playing board games is probably on the way out, especially considering tablets seem to be making it a lot easier, and more convenient, to play all of them. But, that’s not stopping other people from creating new ways to play chess. Take this LED Chinese chess game, for example. Based on a silica gel chessboard, you can roll it up for easy access when you’re travelling. You can push LED lights down, and they will activate based on the side that you’re sitting. There’s even a computer on board, just in case you can’t get someone to play with you futuristic Chinese chess set. [via Yanko Design]
England Isn’t Participating in Any 3D World Cup Matches: So, 3D is a huge part of the technology industry lately. And it’s probably not going anywhere any time soon. The World Cup is one of, if not the biggest sports events on the entire planet, and so FIFA (and everyone else even remotely tied to the football experience) is trying to make 3D games a possibility. They’ve made it happen before, and they’ve even got a huge list of matches that will be played in 3D. England isn’t included in any of the matches, though. Which is a huge crying shame, to be honest. [via CNET UK]
Litter Box Isn’t Much of a Box: If you’re a fan of cats, then you know that you don’t just get a cute, fluffy animal. You also get a smelly, large box to hold all the stuff they don’t want in their bodies anymore. Hey, it’s a part owning a cat. But, scooping is a hassle, especially when you have to sit over the box and smell all those fumes while you scoop the clustered mess. So, get ready to smack down $97 for this fancy litter box, where an air purifier will help you get rid of those terrible scents. Well worth the money, right? [via DVICE]
Welcome to the Daily Slash. If this is your first time ’round these parts, doubly welcome! We’re happy to bring you the latest and greatest in the tech news every day, but some times we can’t fit it all in the normal flow of the work day. So, here’s our friendly wrap-up, where we even manage to wrap it up in a bow tie (if you wish hard enough). Tonight, we’ve got The Best of R3 Media to start off the night (a brand new feature that we’re adding to the Daily Slash from here on out). And then, as we jump into the meat and bones, we’ll take a look at a website that makes picking your seats for your next Major League Baseball game so much easier. Next, a jacket that’s made for your iPad, a car of the future, and we finally have some good news for the company that brought us webOS. So, let’s get crackin’.
The Best of R3 Media:
Has the LG Aloha (Finally) Been Photographed? The LG Aloha is supposedly LG’s first high-end Android-based device. It’s got a 1GHz Snapdragon processor under the hood, Android 2.1, and a 3.5-inch AMOLED display. LG’s also got a fancy for the slide-out physical QWERTY keyboards, and they’ve included that in the package as well. The only trouble is, the images captured of this device match a model number LU2300, and the Aloha’s is supposedly C710. There’s some confusion abound, but we’ll hopefully get some straight answers soon. Either way, LG definitely needs a high end device rocking Google’s little green ‘droid. [via Android Community]
HTC Hero (Finally) Getting Android 2.1: It seems that with some (maybe most?) of the best Android devices out there, waiting for the update is half the battle. In the case of the HTC Hero, and all of its variations around the globe, faithful owners of the flagship HTC Sense device have been patiently sitting on Android 1.5 since its debut last July. HTC has been pretty tight-lipped over the last few months, but since last December, there’s been plenty of rumors. Now though, it seems that a lucky HTC Club member received an email directly from HTC, saying that roll-outs of the upgraded mobile Operating System will begin April 19th, and then fan out across the world in a progressive way. Good news for Hero owners, that’s for sure. [via SlashPhone]
iPhone the Choice of Owners On the Move: It looks like Apple knew what they were doing when they sent out the iPad on a Saturday. From a recent report, which was taken over the launch weekend and extended into Monday, it seems that people loved to browse the web on their new Apple tablets, but as soon as the work week started up, they left them at home, and took to their fall-back: the iPhone. The door swings both ways on this one: for most, it makes perfect sense to leave the iPad at home, and bring the iPhone with you to work, or whatever it is you’re doing during the day. After all, it’s thin and light, but not able to fit in your pocket. On the other side of the door, you have Steve Jobs who wants you to take it everywhere. Maybe that will all change when the 3G model hits customer’s hands, eh? [via Everything iPad]
The Dredge Net:
Seats 3D Wants You to Look at Your Seats Before You Get There: If you’re a major fan of the MLB, then this service probably won’t do much for you. After all, you’ve probably been to your local stadium a few times, and even have your favorite section. But, for the rest of the people out there, or if you’re visiting a new venue, then this might be just what you’ve always wanted. Even if you didn’t know it. A new site, Seats 3D, wants to make it possible for you to find your seat’s position in a 3D, rotating image. That way, you can see the field from your seat, well before you get into that seat. The only trouble is that only 9 stadiums are compatible with the service right now, but it sounds like they’re planning to add more soon. [via DVICE]
Jacket Made With a Pocket That Carries Your iPad: Sure, there’s plenty of accessories out there that can carry your iPad. Most of them are made specifically for that job. But, what if you’re not a fan of an extra thing to carry, or hang on your shoulder? Then this travel vest, made by Scottevest, which has an in-line pocket perfectly sized for your shiny, new Apple tablet is perfect for you. It will be available July 1st, and will only cost your $100. That’s a steal, right? [via Engadget]
The Land Glider From Nissan Looks Ridiculously Awesome: We’re not going to say that we’d want one of these things (…), but we have to admit, it does look like someone stepped into the future and brought it back with them. The vehicle is pictured above, and as you can see, it’s leaning, and we think that’s just about fantastic. Nissan is designing the electric motor-powered vehicle for people who just want to get across town, and, well, don’t want to walk. It’s got a top speed of 62 miles per hour, but we can guarantee you’re not going to go that fast. Nissan is also touting that the car (or whatever you want to call it) also has zero emissions, too. [via CrunchGear]
Palm Drops Modernista From Developing New Ads: There’s no denying that the early advertisements for the Palm Pre were completely out of this world. Watching as several hundred orange-robed individuals did some strange movements, and some even creepier lady talking about what your phone could do just wasn’t good product placement. Truth be told, it was down-right frightening. Sure, the Palm Pixi commercial was better, and the very latest Palm Pre Plus (for Verizon Wireless) commercial wasn’t that bad at all. But, those early promos were just too much to handle. And, while the advertisement agency said early on that people knew the Palm existed because of the strange commercials, it didn’t do much for the whole buying of the devices. [via Everything Pre]
We’re past mid-March and rapidly approaching the early Q2 launch estimates for the Android 2.1 update for HTC’s Hero. Now Engadget Chinese has tipped us to an official HTC release date issued on Plurk (a very popular, local Twitter-like social service) in HTC’s home country of Taiwan: April 26th. So we should see the update go hot globally, with the latest version of the Sense UI in tow, at about the same time. You know, if you haven’t grown tired of waiting and already hacked it in.
If you recall, about a month ago Sprint tweeted that it was working on delivering Android 2.1 upgrade for its HTC Hero and Samsung Moment in early Q2 this year. An optimistic guess would be April, right? Funnily enough, Techie Buzz has heard that two eager customers managed to squeeze a more precise date out of Sprint over a phone call — end of March or even March 26th. Don’t go reaching for that champagne just yet, though — a self-proclaimed Sprint employee shared a recent internal memo on XDA-Developers forum, revealing that it’s “actively working on having the Android 2.1 platform available to our Hero and Moment customers over the coming weeks,” and that “more information coming in April.” Oh Sprint, you do love playing with our little minds, don’t you?
