IBLOG SPACE

I have seen all sorts of weird mice over the years with different rodents aimed at gamers and those that have carpal tunnel. Those mice are usually traditional designs that you hold in your hand and move around on your desktop. I have seen some nice designed for use in the air from across the room aimed at people who give a lot of presentations or need to control a media center PC from across the room. A new mouse that has surfaced from a company called Ion Wireless may be the strangest I’ve ever seen. The mouse is called the Ion Air Mouse and it uses a glove style with little buttons worn on the finger for the right and left click. Apparently, the mouse does require little bit of set up on your computer by activating the clock in the control panel allowing you to using your wrist. It appears that the click buttons for left and right, which are worn on the index finger are pressed using the thumb. The mouse also has a pause button underneath the left and right click buttons so if you n

If you follow the ISS on you know that you all kinds of experiments aboard the space station. Most of those experiments are things that most of us consider boring. Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency flight engineer Satoshi Furukawa had a chance to do something really cool a lot Lego geeks will love onboard the ISS. He constructed a Lego replica of the ISS, on the ISS, in about two hours. As you can see from the photos, constructing a Lego replica of the space station in zero gravity offers a few challenges. One of the challenges is keeping all your pieces nearby rather than floating around the room you’re working in. The astronaut used a chamber that looks like something you would place a newborn baby in for the construction process. The Lego model is 2 feet long and was constructed as part of an educational collaboration between Lego and NASA. Once the Lego model was done, Furukawa used it as a demonstration tool for a series of videos recorded to help educate children about living

Here at Mobile World Congress the ASUS event was a big one. With tons of new announcements, exciting Tegra 3 tablets not to mention the Padfone and more. Two big changes came from the event. That being the new naming scheme as all tablets will be called “Transformer Pad” and that they’ll be releasing a variety of 3G/4G LTE equipped tablets coming as soon as late April. From here on out all the ASUS tablets will be called Transformer Pad instead. Today they’ve announced the Transformer Pad 300 series, the ASUS Padfone, and the 700 series will be called the Transformer Pad Infinity. No weird titles that will be confusing or numbers that will get everyone confused. Simply Transformer Pad. This same approach is slowly being taken by most of the different manufacturers around the Android ecosystem to try and streamline products into an easy and simple to remember line that consumers will want. We have plenty more hands-on pictures coming soon so stay tuned for full details and pictures.

In Barcelona this week Huawei have revealed their newest quad-core set of devices, the smartphone of this batch being the Huawei Ascend D Quad. We got a chance to get some hands-on time with the thinner of two units this week, the thicker being the extended-battery version called Ascend D Quad XL with a massive 2500 mAh battery inside. The smaller of the two feels fabulous to hold, both high quality in build and looking like Huawei put their best minds to work on the aesthetics of this beast of a device. The Ascend D has Huawei’s own quad-core processor inside and is clocked at 1.5GHz, this build called K3V2 and said to have a 49% performance boost over conventional smartphones. This device is called by Huawei the “world’s fastest smartphone” and though we’re not able to confirm such a claim at the moment, it certainly does seem, even at this early stage in the software’s build, that they’ve got a chance at putting some fire under the seats of their competition. You’ll find both Dolby

It appears that it’s time for Huawei to enter the quad-core game with a fury as not only have they released a smartphone and a 7-inch tablet, they’ve got a 10.1-inch tablet with quad-core by the name MediaPad 10FHD as well! This device runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, has a 10.1-inch IPS LCD display at 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, and is running on Huawei’s own brand new quad-core system on chip. While this device may bear a passing resemblance to its Huawei tablet predecessors as well as the Galaxy Tab 10.1, it truly is a unique vision in and of itself. The hardware here makes for both a light and accessible experience, rounded edges made to a degree which allows for a good grip while you’re tapping away on what appears at the moment to be a completely vanilla Android user interface. This device not only seems to be a good next step for the manufacturer, it seems like a downright high quality tablet that’ll compete well in the greater market as well. This device is able to work w

Playboy has unveiled a concept for an orbiting Playboy Club that looks cool, but is very unlikely to happen in this lifetime. I can only imagine how expensive it would be to build an orbiting dance club like this concept. Playboy dreamed up the concept with participation from Virgin Galactic, and the full details and photos of the space station concept will be in the March issue of Playboy magazine. The concept station features a dance club in zero gravity along with a casino. The station casino has a wild “human roulette” game that sounds very interesting. Other amenities of the concept include a fine dining restaurant, and the whole station is envisioned as a sort of orbiting cruise ship. With seats on Virgin Galactic flights going for $200,000 each, I can only imagine how expensive a room on this orbiting cruise ship would cost if it ever came to reality. The station would spin to provide artificial gravity in the outer wheel area, and the restaurant would be in that spinning sectio

Here at the ASUS conference at MWC 2012 ASUS has just unveiled the much rumored Transformer 300T we’ve seen leaked various times. Complete with the new Transformer naming scene that will be “Transformer Pad” for all tablets moving forward. The 300 series marks a first along with the Padfone for ASUS, and comes with 3G/4G LTE connectivity. We have all the details and hands-on below. Similar to almost every other tablet thus far we have a 10″ 1280 x 800 resolution display and dual cameras but that is where the similarities end. Just like the Transformer Prime the 300 series features the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16 or 32GB of internal storage and awesome cameras. The rear 8 megapixel camera has a lightning fast f/2.2 shutter for excellent pictures and a 1.3 front for video chat. Complete with three different color options as the image above shows we have red, blue, and silver versions available. With the Tegra 3 processor efficiency the tablet is slated for 10 hours

Nokia may have outed its latest Windows Phone variants and a fresh batch of entry-level Ashas at MWC this morning, but the real excitement is in the culmination of five years of camera development and the Nokia 808 PureView. The 41-megapixel toting smartphone certainly grabs headlines in the spec-chasing race, but in fact the real genius of PureView isn’t in counting pixels but what Nokia can do with them. The 808 PureView may not be for everyone – something Nokia readily concedes – but the PureView tech it uses is coming, at least in part, to future Nokia phones. That could truly be a game-changer. PureView isn’t just about Nokia’s 41-megapixel sensor: it’s a combination of three areas, the sensor, the Carl Zeiss optics and the company’s proprietary imaging algorithms. In the 808 PureView those algorithms get a processor of their own to use, Nokia’s Head of Imaging Damien Dinning tells us, which is what allows it to crunch a billion pixels a second. Carl Zeiss’ lenses have been used

Google has its Android booth set up at Mobile World Congress and has offered up a few new interesting details on Android to coincide with the show. Google says that last year during MWC the Android Market had 150,000 apps. As of today, approximately a year later, the Android Market has 450,000 apps with over 1 billion app downloads happening each month. Google also reports the year over year growth rate for Android has been 250% with 850,000 new devices activated each day. Google reports there are now more than 300 million Android devices around the world. Google is also talking about the “App Pods” that it has set up at its booth on the MWC show floor. These pods are allowing people to try out the new features and Android innovations such as Android Beam. That is an interesting feature that lets people share all kinds of content, including web pages, videos, directions, and apps by touching together two Android devices back-to-back. Google reports 800 devices have launched running And

This week ZTE has not been shy about its plans for 2012, namely an Era of rebirth and undeniable confidence with a set of 10 devices of all shapes, sizes, and operating systems. While most of these devices run some flavor of Android or another, ZTE brought two Windows Phone devices to the game, one of them the ZTE Orbit, the other being the ZTE Tania, both of them set for release in the second quarter of 2012. The ZTE Orbit is the more impressive of the two devices, complete with a 1GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera, and lovely 4-inch WVGA screen. You’ll be differentiating between devices here mostly based on the shaping of the cases, as both Windows Phone and the specifications for Windows Phone devices at the moment are readily strict. That said, ZTE is ready to bring the fire with what they’re presenting in these two smartphones as high quality a set of smartphones as can be brought to the market at this very moment. Perhaps the most important tip on either of these phones, one must

Panasonic unveiled its latest smartphone in Spain called the Eluga Power. The smartphone is a big five-inch HD resolution screen and packs in a dual core 1.5 GHz processor. The processor is a QUALCOMM Snapdragon and the official screen resolution is 1280 x 720. The smartphone can also record 1080p HD video and runs Android 4.0. Other features include NFC technology supporting mobile payments and more. The smartphone is very thin at 9.6 mm, which may be the most interesting feature of all for some users. The big-screen also has a very thin bezel so the front of the device is almost all screen. The phone weighs 133g. The dimensions of the Eluga are 136 x 70 x 9.6 mm and the device is water and dustproof to IP57 standard. The smartphone has 8 GB of internal memory and a microSD slot for expansion. The main camera is an eight megapixel unit and the device has a front facing camera as well. The phone can charge to 50% capacity in 30 minutes and 80% capacity needs 57 minutes assuming it has

The folks at ZTE are making it rain mobile this week at Mobile World Congress 2012, coming in strong with arms full of smart devices running Android and Windows Phone for the international market. In addition to the ZTE Era announced today and the ZTE Mimosa X which we’ve seen previously, both of them with NVIDIA Tegra 3, there’s seven Android devices and two Windows Phone devices, with most of them headed for the UK or greater Europe and a one smartphone and one tablet headed for the USA this year. First there’s the ZTE PF112 with its 4.5-inch HD 1080 x 720 display, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and a slightly customized user interface. Two LTE devices by the name of ZTE N91 and ZTE PF200 were spoken of in only basic detail, ZTE noting that they’ll have their own Mifavor user interface and will be working with Near Field Communication via an NFC app by the name of Touch and Share. These devices running Mifavor aim to “simplify” the Android user experience. Tablet announcements inclu

Skype has announced that the beta version of the Skype for Windows Phone app is now available for download. The app was officially announced today at Mobile World Congress, and Skype said the gold version will be available in April. The new app supports some of the most important features that users of Skype expect with a clean interface. The beta version of the app allows users to make free audio and video calls to Skype contacts using 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi access. Calls can be made to land lines and mobile phones, the app supports both person-to-person and group chats. You can also update profiles and account information using the app. The beta download is no cost, and devices need to be running Windows Phone 7.5. Skype promises this is just the beginning for Windows phone users and that the App will get better and better implying new features will be coming. Skype has tested the new beta app on several Windows Phone devices, including the Nokia Lumia 710, Nokia Lumia 800, HTC Titan, HT

There’s no doubt that the mobile smartphone market is alive and well this year at MWC 2012, and both ZTE and NVIDIA are prime examples of companies that are bringing the fury. Today at a press conference the ZTE group have announced eight new Android and Windows Phone devices, starting with the most impressive ZTE Era. This device is a 4.3-inch qHD display having Android device running an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor with 4-PLUS-1 technology and the whole unit is just 7.8 mm thick. This device will launch in the third quarter of 2012 to what we’re sure will be a welcoming international market. The folks at ZTE have made it clear that each of the devices they’ve revealed today with Android will be utilizing their Miflavor user interface on top. This interface is a skin quick essentially makes the whole Android experience what ZTE describes as user friendly (not necessarily more user friendly than Android Gingerbread or Ice Cream Sandwich is on its own, but user friendly none the l

Nokia’s Lumia 610 doesn’t have the slick unibody casing of the 800 or the huge screen of the 900, but it does have a bargain price tag. Pushing Windows Phone to a new price point – and into fresh markets – the fourth Lumia takes advantage of Microsoft’s new, pared-back minimum hardware specifications with just 256MB of RAM and an 800MHz processor. Style-wise, the Lumia 610 is more reminiscent of the Lumia 710 than its more expensive siblings, with a slick metallic band that runs around the bezel and up across the top edge of the phone – where the microUSB and headphone sockets are – and a selection of interchangeable back panels. Nokia plans to offer multiple color options, and is really pushing the concept that its recent phones offer more choice of hues than the average black smartphone lump. In the hand, it’s reasonably sturdy though obviously not as premium in its feel as other Lumias. The touchscreen – still running at WVGA resolution – is responsive and we didn’t notice any great

Mobile World Congress is underway in Barcelona with new phones, software, and more being unveiled left and right. Opera is on hand at the show is talking about the Opera Mini Series of browsers aimed at feature phones showing off features that launch this year on the Mini browsers. The goal of this browser is to give more advanced social media functions and web surfing to feature phones making them a bit more like smartphones. The preview version has some interesting features, including Smart Page that gives feature phones smarter and easier access to social networks, news, and other content. Facebook and twitter are integrated in the first screen of Mini Next for fast and easy access to the popular social networks. The Speed Dial screen is updated with an unlimited number of shortcuts. Opera has also announced at MWC that the final version of Opera Mobile 12 is launching today. The final version brings WebGL to support 3-D graphics and web content. It also brings HTML 5 parser support

Nokia’s 808 PureView may run Symbian – an updated Nokia Belle, in fact – rather than Windows Phone, but it could still be the most attention-grabbing smartphone of MWC with its 41-megapixel sensor. It certainly dominates the pocket: physically the 808 is a throwback of sorts to the first-generation of Nokia touchscreen devices, with a prominent camera bulge and that oversized sensor. More first-impressions after the cut. Still, that also accommodates a Xenon flash, which we’re always appreciative of, and the 808 PureView will also shoot Full HD video with Dolby Digital Plus audio. An HDMI port on the top edge – next to a 3.5mm headphone socket – handles video output to your big-screen or projector. The 808 PureView also debuts Rich Recording, audio recording at CD-like levels of quality. In the hand, it’s beefy but responsive, even running non-final software. The camera app is straightforward to use, but you also get crop and other editing tools in the gallery app. Otherwise it’s mostl

Nokia has updated Nokia Drive and launched a new Nokia Reading app for its Windows Phone handsets. The new Nokia Drive app supports full offline routing, as well as the ability to reactivate routes from saved destinations. Nokia Reading reformats webpages and news to suit the Windows Phone screen. Nokia Drive also gets live traffic integration, allowing you to see what delays may be ahead of you. A deal between Nokia and Groupon puts the daily deals service into Nokia Maps, across Windows Phone and Nokia Belle devices, meanwhile. As for Nokia Reading, that adds a new hub pulling in news and other information. There’s a pared down easy reading view, along with the ability to show breaking news on a homescreen Live Tile.

Nokia has announced the Nokia 808 PureView, the successor to the N8, and packing a ridiculous 41-megapixel sensor. Based on photography technology previously seen in satellite photos, the 808 Pure View runs Nokia Belle, and is one of the last gasps – but an impressive one – of Symbian. Nokia says there’s no shortage of pixel-crunching tech to make sure all those megapixel aren’t wasted, and based on some of the cropped shots we’ve just seen in the demo we can almost believe them. There’s also Dolby Digital Plus audio recording, with HDMI output. Nokia Belle has already quietly impressed us with its Android-style interface, and the 41-megapixels of the 808 Pure View certainly has us curious. The 808 Pure View will go on sale priced at around €450 pre-tax and subsidies in May.

Nokia has announced its cheapest Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 610, complete with the new Nokia Transport app. The smaller phone has public transport information for 500 cities in 46 countries, including step by step directions to the nearest station. Buses, trains, trams and more are covered by the new app. There’s also timetable information, and you can pin a specific route to a homescreen Live Tile and see the next upcoming train flagged up. Inside, there’s an 800MHz processor and 256MB of RAM, this being one of the first devices to see the fruits of Microsoft’s freshly reduced hardware specification demands for Windows Phone. On the back is a 5-megapixel camera. The Nokia Lumia 610 will come in white, cyan, magenta and black estimated retail price of €189 when it drops in Q2.

Nokia has expanded its entry-level Asha range, with three S40 new models at MWC 2012. The Nokia Asha 202, 203 and 302 are all targeted at developing markets or basic users, with the Asha 202 having dual-SIMs and the 203 a single SIM; both have a touchscreen. The Asha 302, meanwhile, has a full QWERTY keyboard. Nokia has also introduced Microsoft for Exchange email support for the Asha 302, as well as the ability to accept or decline meeting requests. The Asha 303 will also get the email app, as a free download from the Ovi store. Each device also has Nokia Life preloaded, and can access a number of free EA games titles. These include Tetris, Bejeweled, Need For Speed, SIMS Medieval, Monopoly and Sim City Deluxe. The Asha 202 and 203 are expected to be priced at around €60, and go on sale sometime in the next six weeks. The Asha 302 is priced at around €95 pre-subsidy, and is shipping now.

Nokia has announced a worldwide version of the Lumia 900, dropping the LTE of the original model but gaining DC-HSPA for twice the data speed of HSPA+. The phone still has a 4.3-inch ClearBlack display and runs Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, complete with Nokia’s custom Nokia Drive and Nokia Music apps. You still get the 8MP camera with 720p HD video capture, along with WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and a fixed 1800 mAh battery. You can check out more on the original Lumia 900 in our full hands-on with the LTE model. Meanwhile, the existing LTE version of the Lumia 900 will go on sale in April in Canada, on carrier Rogers. No word on pricing at this stage.

Nokia‘s CEO Stephen Elop has taken the stage at Mobile World Congress and he’s pretty proud of himself and what the Finnish company has evolved into in the space of twelve months. “It’s very clear that we have changed the clock speed of Nokia” Elop said, pointing out that at the show last week the company had no new devices but only its new strategy to discuss. Today, there are definitely new phones. “We will accelerate our mobile reach with new devices and services” Elop confirmed, before announcing the new Nokia Asha 202, 203 and 303. Meanwhile, for Lumia in the US, sales of the Nokia 710 on T-Mobile USA “have exceeded devices” Elop says. No specific figures, but according to the last we heard, Nokia was sitting comfortably at the top spot for Windows Phone OEMs. The market in comparison to Apple and Android is still compact, but it’s an impressive restart given Nokia’s ailing Symbian range of old.

If the Galaxy Note 10.1 is too large and stylus-obsessed for you, Samsung has another new tablet-phone that might tickle your fancy, the Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.2. As the name suggests, it’s a 4.2-inch Android device with a WVGA IPS LCD display, plus a 2-megapixel camera on the back and a front-facing VGA camera. Inside there’s a 1GHz processor, along with WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0. Either 8GB or 16GB of user storage is available, plus a microSD card slot, and there’s 512MB of RAM. The whole thing measures in at 124.1 x66.1 x 8.9 mm and tips the scales at 118g. It’s not going to blow anyone away – certainly not anyone who has used a Galaxy S II - but it fills another narrow slot in Samsung’s crowded range. No word on pricing or availability, but we’ll hunt down what we can at Mobile World Congress this week.