free calls to land lines and SIP based VoIP phones via Flash based browser

Free phone calls from any Flash based browser via GizmoCall. Call length limited to up to 10 minutes per day to most landlines & select, mobile phones around the world.

MDA Ameo

T-mobile introduced the MDA Ameo, a WM5 device with VGA screen, GPS, Quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Triband HSDPA (1.8Mbps), WLAN, Bluetooth, Intel Bulverde 624 MHz CPU, 8GB storage, USB host, TV/VGA-out and a detachable keyboard. Size 133.1x97x20mm, weight 350grams.

Jeff Han shows Multi-Touch in February 2006 at TED in Monterey

This video from TED 2006 in Monterey shows Jeff Han demonstrating his intuitive, interface-free, touch-driven computer screen, which can be manipulated intuitively with the fingertips, and responds to varying levels of pressure.

Apple discussion forum on Apple TV

Apple support now has a discussion forum on Apple TV.

Apple discussion forum on iPhone

Apple support now has a discussion forum on the iPhone.

first iPhone clone?

Just found this via Engadget: the first iPhone clone?

Joy of Tech™ on iPhone accessories

From Joy of Tech™:iPhone accessories.

Joy of Tech™ on social implications of the iPhone

From Joy of Tech™:the other iPhone lawsuit.

iPhone ringtone as MIDI file

Now the iPhone ringtone as MIDI file. What´s next? Maybe birds singing the iPhone ringtone?

OpenMoko and iPhone: twins separated at birth?

Gizmodo really has the best iPhone coverage. If you like the design of the Apple iPhone, but don´t enjoy its closed architecture, you should give the OpenMoko a look. The Linux-based OpenMoko FIC Neo1973 smartphone sports VGA resolution, GPS and a microSD slot. Gizmodo has some great coverage on it.
Update: no Bluetooth, no WiFi, no EDGE (only GPRS!), 2.5mm headphone/mic jack.

iPhone as cut out model

If you can´t wait for more than half a year for your iPhone. Here are two cut out models. One from Gizmodo and one from sneakmove.com.

41st Midem in Cannes, France

From 1/21 to 1/25 the 41st annual midem, the world´s music market, takes place at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. It is preceded by the music technology conference called MidemNet Forum from 1/20 to 1/21.

iPhone ringtone as sheetmusic

Gizmodo, with the help of NYC musician Andy Neesley has done it again. Now they have the iPhone ringtone as sheetmusic, too.

iPhone ringtone at Gizmodo

Get it while it lasts: Gizmodo has the iPhone ringtone for your downloading pleasure.

Happy birthday, Eartha Kitt

Incredible: today (1/17/07) Eartha Kitt turns 80. Congratulations!

Last day in SF

BTW: next years Macworld Expo takes place from 1/14/08 to 1/18/08.

Hannspree shop in San Francisco

On the way to the Apple store on Stockton I stumbled upon the new retail store from Hannspree in San Francisco. It is located on Stockton/Sutter.

Apple store employee caught using Windows laptop

Just saw this inside the Apple store.

iPhony, the iPhone launch screen for PalmOS

This didn't take long. iPhony is an iPhone lookalike launch screen for PalmOS.

Macworld Expo is over

Besides Apple's announcements there was not much exciting stuff to see. One of the best coverages of the show I found at Fazal Majid's low-intensity weblog, namely his MacWorld SF 2007 round-up. As always, great reading. Short and informative.

The ModBook from OWC is a great idea, especially if they will add some extra features to Apple's lineup like GPS receivers and possibly high res screens.

AppleTV

The Apple TV includes a 40GB hard drive and lets you play back your digital media on a connected TV or projection device. Includes the Apple Remote for 299$.

Apple Airport Extreme with IEEE 802.11n (and a!)

Apple introduced their new AirPort Extreme Base Station, which now supports IEEE 802.11n (and a!), has 3 Ethernet 10/100BaseT LAN ports and a USB connector for sharing printers and hard drives, all for 179$. Supposedly the USB port supports up to two devices via a USB hub.

Apple iPhone

Apple introduces iPhone:
OSX, 160dpi 3.5" display, 320*480 pixels, 115*61*11.6mm, 135 grams, ring/silent button, QuadBand GSM/EDGE, BT2.0, WiFi IEEE802.11b/g.
Update: availability US June 2007 exclusively through Cingular, EU Q4/07, Asia 2008
Maybe it is finally time to put that old Newton sweater to rest.

PagePacker creates PocketMod print outs on MacOSX

Just found this via The Unofficial Apple Weblog: PagePacker lets you quickly put together your own PocketMods from PDFs, images or pages from the DIYplanner.com template set.
Update: Tomorrow Macworld Expo San Francisco starts. As always: the most important infos you find on Ilene Hoffmann's party list!

Sony at the Metreon in San Francisco

Today I went to the Metreon near the Moscone center and visited the Sony store there. They have the Sony Reader (with SD slot!), the Sony UX280 and the Mylo on display. The Sony Reader is great for reading ebooks in text form, but due to only SVGA resolution (800*600) quite useless for reading PDFs. The Sony UX280 is just amazing, especially the 4,5 inch LCD with 1024*600 pixels is gorgeous and great to read. The Mylo is much smaller and lighter, than I thought, and with built in Skype and SIP clients, email and the included keyboard this could be a great communication device.

Nokia N800 available at CompUSA

The Nokia N800, the successor to the Nokia 770 is available right now at CompUSA for 399$, even though it won't be officially announced until next week. The San Francisco store didn't receive them, yet, even though more than 100 units have been ordered. The Emeryville store of CompUSA still has 11 on stock, ready for sale. Faster CPU, more memory, built in camera, Flash7 and finally: 2 SD card slots! Hopefully the LCD is visible in direct sun light, too. But given the fact, that it is from Finland and running Linux, my hopes are not high.
Update: a Skype client for the Nokia N800 should be available soon!

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC)

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to try out one of the first 600 prototypes of the OLPC, the infamous 100$ laptop for children in third world countries. 300 have been destroyed for stress testing them (no kidding!) and the other 300 have been given to some select people around the world. Includes built in mesh networking. The 200dpi LCD is switchable between black/white and color, readable even in direct sunlight, uses only 2 Watts of power, which gives 12 hours of battery life and includes a green 12V power adapter with 1.5A. A VGA camera, USB ports and a touchpad are included, too. The proposed waterproof version was scrapped for now, as it would have risen the price of the unit by 15$.

Nancy Pelosi is 60th US Speaker of the House of Representatives

Since today Nancy Pelosi is the 60th US Speaker of the House of Representatives, the first ever woman doing so. Instead of celebrating she used her first day to reduce the influence of lobbyists in Congress, even forcing the Republicans to join her in this effort.

using SMS as push email

Ever since Research In Motion (RIM) announced their Blackberry with Push mail support I wondered, if I should use push mail, too. Now I came to the conclusion, that SMS is even better than push email for me. The biggest point in using SMS as a push email medium is, that it has to be short, normally less than 160 characters. So if anybody wants to send me a message, that reaches me immediately, they have to keep the information short and concise.

back in San Francisco

For me this is one of the best places to stay in San Francisco: the Green Tortoise includes WLAN nearly everywhere in the building, Internet access stations running Linux, breakfast every day and dinner three times a week, all for 23$ a day. It is located in North Beach near Chinatown and Columbus. And last but not least: a stunning view to the former TransAmerica pyramide.

hipHolster by UrbanTool

Today I finished the packing for my trip to San Francisco. Thanks to the hipHolster by UrbanTool I manage to carry my Nokia 770, Treo650, passport, ticket, wallet, USB SD reader/writer, spoon, chop sticks, sound blocking ear phones and a combined pen/stamp with me all the time, without needing a fanny bag, that makes you look pregnant.