You are currently browsing the archives for the day Wednesday, April 25th, 2007.

New Japanese Mobile Phones Detect Motion

TOKYO (AP) — Some of the latest mobile phones in Japan come with motion sensors that let users detect motion or play action games like those on the Nintendo Wii console.

The D904i from NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s top mobile carrier, contains a tiny motion sensor that detects shaking and tilting, company spokesman Nobuyuki Hatanaka said.

Instead of punching a keypad, users can move the handset like a tennis racket or fishing pole in easy-to-play games, similar to those on Nintendo Co.’s popular Wii.

In the “Tokyo Highway Battle” racing game, users twist the handset like a steering wheel to control driving. In “Skateboard Dash,” the phone can be tilted to control the board’s speed and direction.

Meanwhile, two new phones from Sharp Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial use their built-in cameras to detect motion. Users can control a hip-hop dancer by wagging a finger in front of the camera, for example, or throw punches in the air for a boxing match.

DoCoMo warns users not to go overboard with the handsets, however.

“If you swing or swerve too hard, it’ll be hard to keep your eyes on the screen, and you might bother those around you,” Hatanaka said. “We’re talking about somewhat subtler motions.”

Downloading games to play on the go is popular in Japan, where most mobile phone users are signed up for third-generation networks that offer fast data communication. Users download games onto their handsets to play for a set monthly fee.

The new phones are expected to hit Japanese stores in May. There are no current plans for overseas sales.

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April 25th, 2007 @ 11:07 AM &bull by Ka Wang • Filed under News

The George Foreman iGrill

There are so many reasons to love George Foreman. The monumental title fight against Joe Frazier in 1973, the insane comeback that lasted into his ’40s, and the fact that he’s named all five of his sons George. But the thing we appreciate most? He loves to eat. And he’s made beaucoup bucks doing it.

It’s been reported that more George Foreman Grills have been sold than any other household appliance ever–more than 55 million, to be inexact. Never content to rest on his considerable laurels, however, Foreman is updating the “Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine” (trademarked) for the digital age with–get this–the “George Foreman iGrill.

In addition to its 200-square-inch nonstick cooking surface, Uncrate says, the $150 electric grill hooks up to your iPod and has a built-in 10-watt speaker system. Who knew that MP3 grills would be the hottest summer trend?

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April 25th, 2007 @ 11:05 AM &bull by Ka Wang • Filed under News

Verizon Wireless Announces BlackBerry 8830 “World Edition” Smartphone

Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) today introduced the first Global CDMA/GSM BlackBerry(R): the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone. The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition will be available May 14 through Verizon Wireless’ business sales channels and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores on May 28.

In addition, Verizon Wireless announced the May 14 availability of its new Global BlackBerry service, an “always-on, always connected” wireless e-mail solution that allows customers to place and receive voice calls from more than 150 countries and send and receive e-mails in the United States, Canada and more than 60 countries worldwide.

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April 25th, 2007 @ 11:03 AM &bull by Ka Wang • Filed under News