Keepin' it real fake, part CXCV: NOKLA N97 drops two i's, fools no one

Make no mistake, the Chinese-bound NOKLA N97 has neither Finnish origins nor any connection to a certain KIRF-friendly mobile OS. Specs include a large screen, an OK button, absolutely no slide-out keyboard, the words 'N97' in the top left corner, and an utter sense of despondency for those who actually pay money for this.

[Via Daily Mobile]

Filed under: Cellphones

Keepin' it real fake, part CXCV: NOKLA N97 drops two i's, fools no one originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: iPhone watch

Mazda RX-8 controlled with iPod touch, Batman said to be jealous but coping

We've seen some interesting ways people have tried to meld iPhone with car, but this one might top them all. Meet Jon's Mazda RX-8, controllable from anywhere in the world using an iPod touch over WiFi. As demonstrated on video, his custom web app can be used to lock and unlock the doors, start and stop the engine, and open the truck. A telemetry window provides data such as fuel level, battery voltage, RPM, speed, and temperatures. It's even got a GPS so you can track the car's wherabouts with Google Maps. All of this is accomplished with computer hidden in the trunk, hooked up to the on-board diagnostics, and equipped with a 3G modem to stay constantly connected to the interwebs. There's no indication on whether he plans to take the mod further, but if so, we can only hope it involves some well-placed cameras and a tilt-controlled steering mechanism. We pity the foolish thief who tries to steal this "haunted" ride. Check out the video demonstration after the break.

[Via Hacked Gadgets]

Continue reading Mazda RX-8 controlled with iPod touch, Batman said to be jealous but coping

Filed under: Transportation

Mazda RX-8 controlled with iPod touch, Batman said to be jealous but coping originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: iPhone watch

China Unicom still not confirmed as Chinese iPhone provider

Remember how last week China Unicom brazenly threw up product images for the iPhone and a few other smartphones, implying that in the very near future it would be providing service to them? Well, funny story: turns out the company's chairman, Chang Xiaobing, is now saying negotiations are actually still ongoing with Apple and that the two have a good bit of wheeling and dealing left to do. What could they possibly still be discussing? According to Barron's, the debates focus on two primary issues: a Chinese law banning WiFi use in mobile phones; and Unicom's insistence on installing its own software on the iPhone, including some sort of *gasp* non-iTunes media player. How long now until these issues are resolved? Barron's is citing research firm Wedge Partners, who indicates it may not be until the end of the year. Better stick with those gray-market imports, folks.

Read -- Negotiations still under way
Read -- Barron's

Filed under: Cellphones

China Unicom still not confirmed as Chinese iPhone provider originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: iPhone watch

Skype for iPhone now live in US

It's finally here, and even a few minutes early. Skype for iPhone is now available in the US iTunes store, free of charge. We've heard great thing from the folks in Japan who've been fiddling with it for the last twelve hours, and so far it's sounding pretty good for us, too, with only minor hiccups. Not sure if it's a glitch, but despite what we heard earlier, we seem to be able to dial out while on 3G and not over WiFi (at least running OS 3.0 beta). Hit up the read link for quickest route to the app store page, and let us know what you think. Betcha wish you could ditch that AT&T voice plan now, huh?

Update: We're getting reports the app is crashing for jailbroken iPhones -- and possibly non-jailbroken ones as well. We just got our first denial when dialing out over 3G via a popup notification, but it only happened once and we were back to old habits one call later. We did experience a brief period where no sound was coming through, but that might have something to do with using OS 3.0 and was remedied by restarting the phone.

Update 2: So far, it looks like dialing over 3G's only working for those with OS 3.0 beta, but unfortunately all of us in that situation are now suffering from frequent crashes and loss of audio. Things seem to be going smoothly for those running the latest non-beta firmware, but the calls only work over WiFi. That said, when using the app as intended (non-beta firmware over WiFi), audio quality was surprisingly good, far better than any third party apps we've used.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Filed under: Cellphones

Skype for iPhone now live in US originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: iPhone watch

Skype for iPhone goes live in Japan

When they said "Tuesday," they meant it. Not long ago, the clock struck midnight in the Land of the Rising Sun, and sure enough, the bona fide Skype application (v1.0.0.63) for Apple's iPhone has gone live. It's absolutely free to download, but early reports from Japan haven't been totally awesome. We're told that a "No Microphone" error popped up when trying to use the iPhone 3G's built-in mic and speaker -- which may or may not be related to using iPhone OS 3.0 before it's good and ready -- but that sound quality was super when using an external headphone / mic setup. We're fully expecting it to roll out elsewhere as Tuesday (March 31st) arrives in various time zones, so make sure you (and at least one Skype buddy) stay up late to try 'er out.

Gallery: Skype for iPhone goes live in Japan

Filed under: Cellphones

Skype for iPhone goes live in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: iPhone watch

Skype App coming to iPhone on Tuesday, Blackberry in May

It's legit; Skype is coming to the iPhone on Tuesday, BlackBerry devices in May. While we've seen plenty of Skype-capable apps on the iPhone, the poor, often echo-infected calls should be easily bested by the official Skype App that doesn't need the extra audio transcoding workaround required by the existing crop of unofficial apps. The Skype app works over WiFi only (not over EDGE or 3G data) and supports calls to SkypeOut contacts in addition to many of the other features you've used from the desktop client. iPod touch owners will require earphones with an embedded mic to talk. CNET has a hands-on preview of the App just as long as you can muster the energy required to hit the read link below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones

Skype App coming to iPhone on Tuesday, Blackberry in May originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: iPhone watch

Piezoelectric nanowires could lead to blood-powered iPods, cellphones

You know what'll be awesome? Actual end products resulting from this presumably nonstop research on piezoelectric nanowires. Yet again we're hearing of a new group of researchers that have figured out a way to harness electricity from life's simplest things: walking, a heart beating or even the flowing of blood. Put simply, the gurus have discovered how to use zinc oxide nanowires in order to generate an electric current when "subjected to mechanical stress." The difference here, however, is that these critters could actually be implanted under the skin, though the scientists have made quite clear that there isn't a timetable for commercial production. In other words: yawn.

[Via textually, image courtesy of NSF]

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video, Science

Piezoelectric nanowires could lead to blood-powered iPods, cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: iPhone watch