Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Cellphones

When we hear “hands-on,” we generally expect a smattering of images detailing the highlights — you know, about as many as a fidgety PR person will allow, or about as many as one can take before they succumb to self-indulgence. In this “first look” of Motorola’s ridiculously luxurious $2,000 AURA, however, the author not only took the time to detail his first impressions, but to also upload dozens of snapshots to show you exactly what this here handset looks like in just about every possible light. And that’s a good thing too, because the chances of any of us simpletons actually seeing one in the flesh is slim to none.

[Thanks, Drei Drei]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

We can’t remember the last time we purchased a phone because it possessed 700+ individual components, a stainless steel housing or a front plate that takes a fortnight to create, but Motorola’s hoping you start to care about that kind of minutiae right about now. The admittedly gorgeous AURA (previously coined V70) is the world’s first handset with a 16-million color circular display, and aside from making / receiving calls with the utmost clarity, it also boasts a Swiss-made main bearing, 62-carat sapphire crystal lens, a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, microUSB port, quad-band GSM connectivity, a microSD card slot, multimedia player and up to 7.3-hours of talk time (400-hours in standby). The 4.97-ounce handset is available exclusively from the MOTO STORE for $1,999.99, with pre-orders shipping out beginning December 4th. Who’s in?

[Thanks, Paulo and Jake]

Read - Dedicated AURA website
Read - Motorola AURA press release

Permalink&nbsp|&nbspEmail this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

Don′t spaz out or anything, but that thing you’re peering at above actually isn′t a small flask of cologne. No, no — it’s an 8GB USB drive, and it’s one of the most expensive you can buy. Reportedly built with titanium, the drive is water-resistant, crush-proof and fancied up further with a single red ruby. Sure, it’s 21,750 rubles ($837), but dollars to donuts they’d trade you one for a sure-to-be-authentic iPhone.

[Via Gadgets-Weblog]

Read&nbsp|&nbspPermalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

Welcome to Incrudo country, gentlemen. Out here, we grow chest hair as bushy as the tumbleweed, and we like our phones built thick. We′re not talkin’ no ordinary thick, either, no sir — give us 2 to 3mm of solid titanium casing here. We like our phones heavy, too a half pound sounds about right. We didn’t get these burly muscles wrasslin’ cattle just to tote around a Samsung X820, if you know what we’re saying. Make it look like a brick, because it’s built like a brick. Just like us, because we’re men. Incrudo men.

[Via Unwired View]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Portable Audio

“Sonoro” and “absurdly expensive″ have always gone hand-in-hand, but even we’re a bit taken aback by the sticker on this one. The company’s latest example of extravagance is the elements stardust, an “exclusive” AM / FM / MP3 clock radio that’s smothered from one end to the other in Swarovski crystals. This thing’s not all looks, though — it’s got a LED-illuminated metal ring for quick-touch control of tuning and volume, a full-range speaker, and an integrated bass reflex tube. Too bad you’ll have to sashay down to Saks Fifth Avenue with $2,500 and an evil grin in order to take one home.

[Via Blast]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

Not even two full months after Sagem fell into the obviously capable hands of Sofinnova, out pops the company’s return to the red carpet. Picking right up (numerically speaking, at least) where the P’9521 left off is the well-endowed P’9522, which was reportedly built with a little help from Porsche Design. The candybar features an aluminum chassis, 2.8-inch display, 5-megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi, fingerprint reader and a microSD card slot. Unfortunately, the fun and games end there, as there’s no 3G radio anywhere to be found plus, you’ll be asked to lay down about €600 ($875) to acquire one when it ships next month. Loyalty has its price, we guess.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Ultra-chic would be an underestimation for the new digital picture frame that has just been announced by Kodak at the ongoing photographic and imaging trade fair, Photokina 2008.

The Kodak frame is the first digital picture frame of its kind to use the OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology to produce stunningly exceptional picture quality. This extremely slim frame has a 7.6-inch digital panel with a resolution of 800×400 and an extensive 180-degrees viewing angle. Yep, it is wireless too and can store up to 10,000 images on its 2GB internal memory. And make that images with extraordinary crispness, color and depth which you will be eager to show off on your centerpiece.

Expect to indulge yourself sometime during Christmas 2008 at a rather immoderate $999.

Via Pocket Lint.

Original post by Popgadget: Personal Tech for Women

Ultra-chic would be an underestimation for the new digital picture frame that has just been announced by Kodak at the ongoing photographic and imaging trade fair, Photokina 2008.

The Kodak frame is the first digital picture frame of its kind to use the OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology to produce stunningly exceptional picture quality. This extremely slim frame has a 7.6-inch digital panel with a resolution of 800×400 and an extensive 180-degrees viewing angle. Yep, it is wireless too and can store up to 10,000 images on its 2GB internal memory. And make that images with extraordinary crispness, color and depth which you will be eager to show off on your centerpiece.

Expect to indulge yourself sometime during Christmas 2008 at a rather immoderate $999.

Via Pocket Lint.

Original post by Popgadget: Personal Tech for Women

Filed under: Cellphones

Tycoons of the world, get out your pocketbooks. Actually, wait, scratch that — kick back, relax, and let your butler do it for you, because Vertu has a new multi-thousand dollar toy for your enjoyment. The FCC has revealed that Nokia’s ultra-luxe division has finally updated its flagship Signature model to include 3G, and they′ve taken the opportunity to completely redesign it to make it slimmer, hotter, and presumably, pricier than ever before. The all-new Signature features quadband EDGE, HSDPA on the 850 and 2100MHz bands, and WiFi — a Vertu first — which means we should probably expect a fabulous browser to go with that generously-proportioned OLED display. Well, we can’t, since we’ll never get closer than a thick sheet of security glass to this thing — but someone can.

Read | Permalink&nbsp|&nbspEmail this | Comments

Original post by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Cellphones

Tycoons of the world, get out your pocketbooks. Actually, wait, scratch that — kick back, relax, and let your butler do it for you, because Vertu has a new multi-thousand dollar toy for your enjoyment. The FCC has revealed that Nokia’s ultra-luxe division has finally updated its flagship Signature model to include 3G, and they’ve taken the opportunity to completely redesign it to make it slimmer, hotter, and presumably, pricier than ever before. The all-new Signature features quadband EDGE, HSDPA on the 850 and 2100MHz bands, and WiFi — a Vertu first — which means we should probably expect a fabulous browser to go with that generously-proportioned OLED display. Well, we can’t, since we’ll never get closer than a thick sheet of security glass to this thing — but someone can.

Update: The phone’s officially been unveiled on Vertu’s site as the Signature S Design, hitting a boutique you can′t get into unless you’re dressed to impress near you come next month.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Maria Sharapova has already had her greatness spread over a number of Motorola handsets, but now the tennis queen is partnering up with long-time associate Canon in order to make five lucky individuals extraordinarily happy. As part of an elaborate marketing scheme, Canon and Maria (but mostly Canon) are cranking up a contest in which five Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS’s are given away. But these aren’t just any SD1100 ISs — these are diamond-encrusted editions worth around $12,000 apiece. No word on whether Maria will actually touch the cameras before they’re shipped out, but a boy can dream.

[Via Luxist]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

You’ve doubtless seen solar powered chargers before (including a certain solar-powered bra charger) but as of last week, the mack daddy of solar chargers is available to buy: the Suntable is both a piece of furniture, and a one-stop gadget charging shop.

It’s made of teak and stainless steel and is a good-looking piece of furniture in its own right, subtle enough to sit in any garden… as long as the garden’s owners can afford the $2,200 asking price, that is.

Via Gizmodo.

Original post by Popgadget: Personal Tech for Women

No joke, you can vote for 2008’s best public restroom and help crown the King of all Thrones. The nominees are in, and the swank 21C Museum Hotel tops the list. Since it opened in Louisville, Kentucky, the hotel has grabbed the media’s attention with its innovative concept: a 91-room hotel dedicated to world-class luxury and contemporary art from living artists, exhibited throughout its galleries and public space.

Read full article by The Informed Traveler.

See Popgadget’s most popular toilet post.

Original post by Popgadget: Personal Tech for Women

Filed under: Cellphones

All but the most affluent among us have likely purged the pricey Meridiist from our memories, but if you’ve ever wondered what exactly a £2,650 ($5,162) cellphone looks like (and really, who hasn’t?), you’ll definitely want to check this out. The fine folks over at Stuff were able to point their camera at TAG Heuer’s exquisite handset ever-so-briefly, and while the images tell half the story, the folks handling it told the other. The chunky phone reportedly reeked of unnecessary luxury and was built solidly, but we didn’t get the impression that they were champing at the bit to call this a bargain. At any rate, there are a few more shots where this one came from (that would be the read link, for the uninitiated).

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

SĪ’s DOMINO line — okay, SIM2’s entire line — isn’t known for being the cheapest bunch. The new DOMINO D60, however, is actually affordable by said company’s standards, checking in at just 4,995 US dollars. This 1080p beamer is based on Texas Instruments’ DarkChip3 0.95-inch DMD chipset and includes a single-chip DLP projection system, BrilliantColor, three different preset modes (Cinema, Dynamic, and Standard) and three user-customizable memories. It’s shipping now for those with fat wallets.

Read | Permalink | Email this&nbsp|&nbspComments

Original post by Darren Murph