Gadgetsteria » micro

Swap Your Dell Venue SD Card, Void Your Warranty. #wp7

Mike Norris — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:40:12 +0000

In a move that sounds like it’s straight from an Apple ToS policy, it’s come to light that the Dell Venue Pro’s SD card slot isn’t user accessible. Well, accessible in the sense that you can freely swap out microSD cards as you please. The consumer unfriendly microSD placement isn’t a Venue Pro issue alone, however. Several new Windows Phone 7 handsets from HTC also bury the microSD card deep within the phone’s case, making it extremely difficult to get to. But what’s even worse in this particular instance is that Dell slapped a big ‘ol warranty sticker across the microSD card, requiring you to remove it, and subsequently, void your warranty to replace it…

SD card support in general has been a rather hot topic for Windows Phone 7 from the start. On one hand, you have Microsoft seemingly praising the platform and hardware device’s ability to take said cards. But at the same time, they use “special SD cards” ~~made from the dust of Angel’s wings~~ that are faster than your average card, hence the semi-permanent status given to them. Granted, in the weeks since the Windows Phone 7 unveiling, we’ve come to learn that swapping out a microSD card in your Windows Phone 7 device requires a hard reset, turning your phone back into its stock state as it left the factory.

So I guess the bigger question is why Microsoft even bothered with SD cards? Why not just build in memory if you intend the SD cards to be permanent memory? It’s rather ridiculous if you ask me.

I get the whole charge more for a higher amount of included memory as well as the ability for Microsoft to ream us on overpriced microSD cards down the line. But such a pricing and business scheme only makes sense when it is hardwired, none user-replaceable memory as there is a real incentive (and limitation) forcing the upgrade. Taking some “special” microSD cards and then giving them holy status isn’t going to cut it.

But we’ll see how it actually affects sales as the days trudge on. Any new Windows Phone 7 users care to chime in?

Via: Engadget, WM Power User

The desktop toy every geek needs: The

Mike Norris — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:03:51 +0000

Nerds such as myself take pride in showing off our geeky sides wherever it may be. My desk at work is but another canvas to paint the nerdy image of my life day in and day out. We’ve all seen various USB gadgets, nerdy clocks, and shape shifting gizmos, but what we haven’t seen is a desktop canon.

This tiny canon isn’t your standard geek toy, firing nerf darts or anything “harmless”. Instead, light up the fuse and prepare yourselves for quite a punch — an actual metal canon ball shrunken down to size though still plenty powerful to do some damage.

In the video (inside), you can see that again, while small, the canon balls launched by this miniature Goliath are strong and fast moving enough to puncture a pop can!

Cubicle security just got a massive kick in the pants…

Video

Geeky-Gadgets > GizmoWatch

International Telecommunication Union agrees on universal cellphone charger.

Mike Norris — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:25:47 +0000

Stroll into any electronics store looking for a cellphone charger and you’ll walk into a pit of never ending cases full of chargers for countless phones. Which one fits your phone? Well, if you we were smart (or lucky) enough to get a phone that makes use of mini or micro USB, pat yourself on the back. You’re already there. But if you’re stuck with a phone that uses one of countless proprietary chargers, you no doubt know the hassles that manifest when trying to buy a simple charger. A revelation is coming however thanks in part to the International Telecommunication Union (part of the United Nations) who this week finally came together in the name of sanity to propose one style of charger that will make consumers’ lives exceptionally easier. Thankfully the new standard is a spec that already enjoys mass popularit — micro-USB.

While we are making small steps in a forward direction, this new decree by the International Telecommunication Union isn’t fool proof since manufacturers aren’t being required to adopt the micro-USB spec as it’s more a “suggestion”. Slightly disappointing. Still, even a small step toward banishing the world of goofy, one-off proprietary chargers is more than welcome. Sony has already committed to micro-USB with many more to follow I hope. Finally, sanity and one cord to rule them all.

Cnet

Image Source

No room for a normal set of speakers? Super Mini Cube is here to save the day.

Mike Norris — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:45:33 +0000

While you look over you shoulder to the Escalade in traffic next to you, vibrating with every beat that the barn on wheels is pumping out as there are enough magnets in the back of it to stop pacemakers with a 2-block radius, you dream of your own ride having such sonic power. But, then reality punches you in the face as your turn around and realize you own a 2-door pickup with absolutely no room for any extra audio equipement as you yourself can barely squeeze inside. If you find yourself in the predicament, you can now feel slightly better about yourselves and take comfort in knowing there is a speaker just for you: The Super Mini Cube.

This tiny speaker measures less than 1″ in any direction and features a 0.75″ driver. Power comes by way of an embedded lithium ion battery which can be charged by way of the USB port on the back. Obviously, something so tiny has tiny parts. Also, with a tiny $10 price (usually the smaller technology gets the more expensive it gets because of more expensive manufacturing expenses among other things), the sound quality is guaranteed to suck. If you’re an audiophile looking for something small and portable, this is not it. If you want a novelty gift, or, are in the same predicament as the 2-door truck driver above, the $10 per speaker may be for you. Of course, thinking about it, $10 for less than 1″ cubed of space is rather expensive, isn’t it?

Source:http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/meet-the-world-s-smallest-speaker-the-super-mini-cube/
Source2:http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-10253434-47.html

**Source: Gizmo Watch, Cnet