Microsoft "Pink" is the Zune Phone for Real

Rumors about a potential Zune Phone from Microsoft have been swirling around for what seems like an eternity, but these rumors have now returned to the forefront thanks to some substantiation from CNBC. According to Jim Goldman of CNBC, Microsoft is indeed working on its own branded mobile phone and will indeed be what we would consider a Zune Phone.

It's not like Microsoft is a stranger to the cell phone market, seeing how it is already heavily ensconced in the realm of smartphones with Windows Mobile, but this would be the first mobile phone that actually carried explicit Microsoft branding. Further still, this first ZunePhone takes advantage of Microsoft's recent acquisition of Danger.

Remember Danger? Those were the guys that brought us the hugely popular SideKick line of messaging phones, so you already know that Microsoft has a pretty hefty head start on their development. Going back to Jim Goldman, he says that a "good source" says Microsoft is "ready to give a major facelift to the company's Zune music player that could mean its evolution into a new smart phone from the company."

It sounds like Microsoft is taking a similar approach as what Apple did when it transitioned from the iPod to the iPhone, I guess. The new handset would be some amalgamation of the Zune paradigm with Danger's Sidekick-inspired design. Microsoft should make a ZunePhone. The market is ready and it'll be a great way to expand the Zune branding.

On a related sidenote, the codename being bandied around in Redmond for the ZunePhone is actually the Microsoft "Pink" with no relation to the singer of the same name. Presumably.

Via gizmodo.com

Tech News Roundup: White G1, Nokia 6260, No More iPhone...

Even though the economy is taking a bit of a downturn and everyone is starting to wind things down for the holidays, the tech industry is keeping busier than ever with all sorts of interesting doo-dash to dive into your wallet. Let's see what's going on.

For the more fashion-conscious among us, there is the new white version of the T-Mobile G1, which will launch this Monday. This is in addition to the existing black and bronze models and the white G1 will retail for the same $180 asking price. Google Android just got hit with a splash of snow.

Set to wow the multimedia-inclined is the Nokia 6260 Slide. It may not be quite as sexy as a N-Series smartphone, but the 6260 Slide gets loaded with an impressive HVGA display and a 5 megapixel camera. Look for it in Q1 2009 for 299 Euro.

If you've been looking to stay connected everywhere you go, you'll be glad to hear that the Dell Mini 9 is now available with 3G. No longer do you need to feel bound to Wi-Fi hotspots. The HSDPA upgrade costs $125, but you can recover $120 of that with a w-year AT&T data contract.

Turning our attention to security, Lenovo is instituting a feature that allows users to lock ThinkPad laptops with SMS. Dubbed Lenovo Constant Secure Remote Disable, this feature allows a user to send an SMS message from a designated phone using a designated key code and it will remotely lock down the laptop.

The unlocked and unbranded GSM verson of the HTC Touch Pro is still too rich for my blood, but you can go to Verizon to find its version on sale now as the Verizon XV6850. This HTC Touch Pro Windows Mobile smartphone appears to be the same as the one being sold through Telus and Bell. Look for it on Monday for $350 with a two-year agreement.

With the new Fido branding as a budget cellular provider, there's word going around that the dog will lose the iPhone next year. In this way, the only legitimate way for Canadians to get the iPhone will be through big brother Rogers Wireless. A sad day for Fido and Apple fanboys alike.

Turning to the automotive world, we are offered a good glimpse at the 2010 Mazda3 Hatchback. This redesign appears more streamlined that the current model and it'll be powered by the same 2.5L engine as the Mazda6i, giving you access to 167hp and 168 lbs-ft of torque.

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First Look: Nokia E75 QWERTY Slider Smartphone

Nokia is still sitting on top of the mobile phone game, despite being a little late to the party when it comes to certain innovations. For example, the Nokia "Tube" 5800 XpressMusic was only released recently, finally joining the big touchscreen game populated by devices like the iPhone, HTC Diamond, and Samsung Instinct.

Nokia is no stranger to QWERTY smartphones, but I believe the upcoming Nokia E75 is the first from the company to feature a sliding QWERTY keyboard. Much like the HTC S730, the Nokia E75 appears to make use of the most versatile mobile phone form factor.

While in its closed position, it looks like any other candybar with a color display and a standard numeric keypad. Slide the sucker open and turn it on its side, however, and you'll discover a landscape-oriented display and a full QWERTY keyboard. This really is the best of both worlds, wouldn't you say?

Well, the numeric keypad is a bit on the cramped side, but that's a small price to pay for the relatively large 2.4-inch display. Not surprisingly, this reasonably slender smartphone comes powered by Symbian S60, just like most of the Nokia E-series smartphones. If you're not digging the E71, you may prefer the styling of the E75.

The rest of the features are a little murky at this point, but we can quite plainly see a camera with flash on the back. The megapixel count and video capabilities remain to be seen.

Via BGR

Get Ready for a 10-Inch Acer Aspire One Netbook

As netbooks continue to gain popularity, as does the demand for netbooks that are a little bigger than the wee 7-inch Eee PC that started this whole trend. The existing Acer Aspire One features an 8.9-inch widescreen display, but some people want something a little bigger. And Acer plans to deliver. That's the good news. The bad news is that Acer won't have its new Aspire One ready in time for this holiday shopping season. Instead, the first 10-inch entry into the Aspire One netbook line won't be hitting retailers until some time next year. An exact date has not been specified yet nor has a formal announcement been made by the people at Acer, but the rumblings on the web are pointing toward "early next year" with a likely launch somewhere in the February to March window. The current Aspire One is one of the more affordable netbooks, so I'd imagine that its 10-inch variant will be more of the same. Personally, I've found that the build quality on the Aspire One just isn't up to snuff when you compare it to other netbooks like the Eee PC and the MSI Wind. I guess that would explain, in part, why Acer's offering is a little less expensive than its Taiwanese brethren. On a related note, Acer is continuing to expand its presence in the netbook and notebook market beyond just the Aspire One. It has been noted that Acer will start manufacturing some 13.3-inch notebooks under the Gateway brand next year. As you know, Gateway is a budget-minded brand as well. Via crunchgear.com

Special Mario Edition Nintendo DS Lite

While this wouldn't be quite as nice as getting a brand new Nintendo DSi this holiday season, it could be the next best thing for the Nintendo fanboy in your life. There is no shortage of special edition Nintendo DS Lites on the market, but very few have the same kind of retro appeal as this New Super Mario Bros. Limited Edition model. This special Nintendo DS Lite is fully dressed up in Mario Red throughout, so whoever is playing games on this thing will certainly stand out from the crowd. You'll also notice Mario's "M" insignia on the cover, though it will appear as a W (where's the Wario edition?) when the DS Lite is opened. In addition to the special edition Mario Red DS Lite, this bundle also comes with a copy of New Super Mario Bros. The game isn't exactly new anymore, but anyone buying a new DS Lite will want to have this game. It's got great 2.5D graphics and retro-inspired gameplay that will satisfy both hardcore and casual players. The special New Super Mario Bros. Limited Edition Nintendo DS Lite (what a mouthful!) goes on sale this Friday (yes, Black Friday) for $150. If Nintendo's famous plumber isn't your kind of thing, Nintendo is also offering another bundle for the same price. The alternative bundle includes an ice blue DS Lite and a copy of Brain Age. I don't know about you, but I'd rather get Mario than Dr. Kawashima. Via gizmodo.com

REVIEW - Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale

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You may be getting ready to visit your relatives this holiday season and this could involve all the fun associated with flying through the airport. As you know, airlines have all kinds of restrictions as to what you can and cannot bring with you onto the plane, so it's good to be aware of these restrictions before you hop in that cab to the airport.

Arriving at the check-in counter, you don't want to be told by the airline representative that your luggage is overweight and you have to pay some rather nasty fees for that extra bulk. Cash is tight enough already. Forking out an extra hundred bucks because your luggage is too heavy just exacerbates the situation.

That's why it's a worthy investment to consider something like the New Balanzza Ergo. This is a digital luggage scale that will easily fit in any bag, giving you a a near-instant reading of just how heavy your bag happens to be.

First Impressions

The New Balanzza Ergo comes from the same people that brought you the first Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale, except this one has been redesigned to be more ergonomic (hence its name). The grooves in the handle make it a lot easier for you to pick up heavier weights.

The bold green paintjob is a little off-putting and I would have preferred some different color options, but you are buying something like the Balanzza Ergo for its functionality and not its aesthetics. The included strap is a little shorter than I expected, but you should have no trouble wrapping it around the handle on your luggage or day bag.

Unfortunately, the strap (at least I think it's the strap) comes with a weird new product smell. It's that weird blend of new plastic and new rubber, but I imagine that this odor will dissipate over time.

How to Use the Balanzza

After installing the included pair of AAA batteries, using the Balanzza Ergo is a remarkably straightforward process. You have a simple monochromatic display and a trio of buttons that'll do everything you need it to do.

First, you'll want to turn the thing on by hitting the power button on the far left. The middle button lets you swap between pounds and kilograms, and the right button resets the scale back to zero in case you happened to be pulling on the strap when you turned it on.

Next, you'll want to unbuckle the strap and wrap it around whatever it is you want weighed. While the Balanzza Ergo is designed as a digital luggage scale, there is no reason why you can't also use it for other purposes, like shipping boxes across the country. You'll need to come up with some clever way to use the strap to pick up a large box, but the possibility is there.

After securing the strap, you simply lift the luggage (or whatever) using only the Balanzza and your luggage will tug on the strap accordingly. After determining an accurate weight reading, the Balanzza will beep and you can set your item down. Read the display and you know how much it weighs. Simple.

Pros, Cons, and Final Thoughts

There's not much that I can find at fault with the Balanzza Ergo. I like how the battery is replaceable and not a built-in thing, because it makes this a lot easier to swap when you run out of juice. The display is simple, but effective, as are the three buttons used as the interface.

It would have been nice to see this in a color other than bright green, especially if you're a corporate type that needs a more conservative appearance for everything that you carry while traveling. The relatively short strap could be a pro or a con, depending on your perspective. The shorter strap makes this product more portable and less dangly, but it also means that it won't wrap around larger items.

The Balanzza Ergo Digital Luggage Scale is not the sexiest product on the market, but it is a very useful gadget for travelers who tend to pack on a few more pounds (I'm talking luggage, not your waistline) during the holidays. It's priced at an affordable $24.99 and is available now.

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