In March at CEBIT, ViaMichelin which is a subsidiary of Michelin Group (EPA:ML), announced that it will produce model X-970, a portable GPS navigator. It’s been eight months since then, and we got official wording that ViaMichelin X-970 is available for sale right now.
We’re talking here about a portable 3.5-inch wide GPS navigator, with Bluetooth, text-to-speech and real time traffic information. This is supposed to be the first product “to integrate exclusive Michelin Green Guide content, describing thousands of attractions across the U.S. and Canada.” It’s smart enough that it can connect to ViaMichelin.com to find restaurants, hotels or shops in New York and San Francisco.

The price for the new ViaMicheling X-970 is $399 and you can buy one right now if you like it. Check the pictures below!

British designer Ross Lovegrove is in charge with creating the solar trees in Vienna in front of the MAK Museum, which will be inaugurated on October 8th at 20:30. The trees will be a color spot in a grey urban environment that will attract anyone passing by and will make us aware of the greener future we need.Ross Lovegrove worked with Artemide an Italian lightning company and Sharp Solar to develop his solar trees, in order to have them done before the Vienna Design Week event starts on October 8th. Though I enjoy the pictures very much I can’t help to ask what’s the time frame to produce a tree, what is the price and who will offer maintenance, because it could get damaged by cars for example. What do you think?

via Inhabitat

Today Motorola has unveiled its new handheld mobile computer called MC70. The device is more suitable for enterprise use rather than consumer use. Motorola MC70 features a GPS module, thus it can be used for shipping transports, tracking and guiding workers on the field and other navigation related activities.

Motorola MC70 uses the SiRFStar III GPS receiver. It features Bluetooth, barcode data and signature capture, and supports EDGE networks. ALK provides the software for the GPS module.

Its design was conceived to create a device resistant to water, dust, mechanic shocks or in hard work conditions like cold or hot weather. We didn’t find information about the pricing yet.

via Navigadget

Remember the Live Linux called Nimblex, that I wrote about sometimes ago? Puppy was designed to be a very small version of Live Linux. It has only 97.6MB in size almost half of Nimblex.

Puppy Linux can run from CDs, USB sticks or Zip disks. It includes applications such as SeaMonkey/Mozilla Application Suite, AbiWord, Sodipodi, Gnumeric, and Gxine/xine. Puppy Linux has reached version 3.0 which is compatible with Slackware 12 and allows user to install Slackware packages.

Here are the features of Puppy Linux version 3.0:

• Jwmconfig Joes Window Manager updated
• Network Wizard upgraded
• Network detection backgrounded at bootup (faster booting)
• JWM window manager 2.0.1
• Unleashed Puplets (Puppy derivatives) can be created without Xorg and SeaMonkey
• Xvesa improved and wide screen support added
• SeaMonkey upgraded to version 1.1.2 (comes with spell check)
• Xine-lib to 1.1.7
• Gxine to v0.5.11
• Compatibility with using Slackware software
• Correct handling of frugal install in a folder
• zdrv_xxx.sfs eliminated, now inside initrd.gz
• simple and fast boot scripts with optimized boot
• all modules now in the initial ramdisk, so all modules available
• pup_220.sfs and pup_save.2fs can be in a chosen location
• will boot on a PC with 48MB of ram
• easy to swap kernels

Download the operating system from this page.

RCA Jet Stream is a media player, if you would thought about anything else. Nothing spectacular, but let me explain you why this would be interesting. The RCA Jet Stream has a tiny OLED screen, offers 1GB of storage, an FM tuner, and battery life of 12 hours. We don’t want to neglect its in-fashion design.

Besides all this, the MP3 player comes along with two wireless ear buds. The wireless headphones don’t use the regular Bluetooth but the Kleer wireless technology. As Engadget sustains this technology takes on Bluetooth because of lower power consumption. It is said the battery lasts 10 times as long as Bluetooth headsets. However the range for this Kleer wireless technology is only 5-6 feet.

The device went to FCC for tests. It will probably hit the market somewhere at the beginning of 2008, although there are no official announcements. RCA Jet Stream and the wireless headsets will be retailed for $129, says Engadget.

via Engadget

Not really sure if you agree with me but MP3 watches I’ve seen so far, are pretty useless, because they require other physical attachments for me to listen to my favorite tracks while running, walking or going to work. nTren decided to design a MP3 watch that will change all these because it has Bluetooth.

nTren’s “Eclipse Bluetooth MP3 watch” can be easily connected to your own Bluetooth headphones or can use those provided free when you buy it. They come in 1GB and 2GB model, both have voice recorder, are 3-10ATM water resistant, has an USB connector and can play media for up to six hours. Though I was attracted by the looks and Bluetooth I should tell you the new Eclipse MP3 Watch will cost you, $279 or $299, so why not buy an iPod or a Zune?

via RedFerret

As the holidays are approaching, Verizon Wireless prepares a new launch - LG Voyager. Like the lovely iPhone, LG Voyager features a large touchscreen display, high multimedia capabilities and Internet services (web browsing and email). On the other hand, it reveals a full QWERTY keyboard and a secondary non-touch sensitive screen if it is unfolded. Unlike the future rival, LG Voyager features expandable memory slot up to 8GB.

Priced somewhere between $250-$300, LG Voyager could outclass the iPhone in Internet services as the Verizon Wireless’ latest data network provides speeds much higher than the AT&T network. LG Voyager gets the full V Cast services, including music, V Cast videos, VZ Navigator, and even V Cast Mobile TV. I must remember you the other features of LG Voyager: speakerphone, picture, text, video and instant messaging, Bluetooth stereo for headsets and speakers, built-in stereo speakers, 2.0 megapixel camera and microSDHC card slot. You should expect it in stores before Thanksgiving.

via Gizmodo

India is a big country, indeed, with poverty and malnutrition considered the biggest problems, where less than one percent of the Indians had the chance to step up in a plane. Bahadur Chand Gupta is an Indian entrepreneur that had a business idea of buying an old Airbus 300 and use it for a $4 flight tour. The idea materialized and though it sounds odd, I agree, the business will grow because people are curious and the price is not high.

Though the plane misses a wing and a small part of the tail, the experience as I read in TimesOnline that quoted a young teacher is “more beautiful than [she] ever imagined” because the six-people crew will give you a warm welcome. Bahadur Chand Gupta, is the captain - the name recommends him - and gives you landing and turbulence updates, and his wife is a stewardess. If you’re in or from Delhi don’t forget to take the “flight trip” to the airplane. I am sure those 4 bucks would be well invested.

via Gizmodo

Finally Microsoft has unveiled its new line of Zunes, which includes three new media players featuring touch-sensitive buttons for easy navigation, Wi-Fi to sync music, movies and photos wirelessly and flash memory for two of them.

Its seems the new line will gain success immediately. The top model features 80GB hard drive, a 3.2-inch screen and it is slimmer than the old 30GB model. The 80GB hard drive player is available in black and ships with a set of “premium” in-ear headphones for only $249.99. The deal is more than amazing as the old 30GB Zune retails for $200. Thus the customers will find it attractive - a new model with double memory storage for an extra $50. The other two Zunes use flash memory. The 4GB model, described as ultraportable, is priced at $149.99, while the 8GB version is $199.99.

Like the old models, Zune players feature incorporated FM radio and as I told you above, they support wireless sync to transfer files. Besides, the new generation sports a scratch-resistant glass screen and a new navigation button. The touch-sensitive control is a combination between a mouse-button and a touch pad, allowing the users to scroll down the tracks, to select songs or to change the volume. It looks much like the Click Wheel on Apple’s iPods. However, Microsoft can’t compete at this time Apple, as they have a little share of the market. For example, Microsoft has sold 1.2 million players in one year, while Apple has sold over 100 million players since 2001, when the iPod had been launched.

Microsoft has greatly expanded the social aspects of its new media players, by launching the Zune Social, a beta online music community. Zune Social aims to create a powerful online community, allowing its users to share music, to send and receive recommendations and of course to find some friends. The company also restocked and redesigned its Zune Marketplace online store. Now the catalog includes over 1 million MP3 files that are not protected by DRM (digital rights management). I think iTunes has a rival.

via Yahoo News

The official announcement saying that Sony PRS-505 eBook Reader will be available in stores and will ship this month for $300, we have updates on that one. Apparently, and it’s been just a few hours, on their store - SonyStyle - it’s for sale for the exact price of $299.99 in silver or dark blue.Sony PRS-505 is an upgrade for their older 500 model, that brings a better contrast in the new electronic paper display. There are a few things I would appreciate if I were to buy one, like USB sync with the PC, both SD cards and Memory Stick Duo, and those 100 Connect eBook Classic titles plus two lines of engraving which are free when you purchase. So yeah, that makes it a good choice if you have use for it.