Gigabyte H55 Mini-ITX motherboard and Silverstone SG07 perfect gaming toaster

We know you've seen Mini-ITX motherboards before, but how many have managed to fit in a PCI Express x16 lane, two full-sized DIMM slots, and Intel's LGA1156 socket? Gigabyte has done just that with its H55 circuit slab, squeezing the basic requirements for a gaming rig into a 6.7- x 6.7-inch footprint, and the lads over at Tech Report have taken notice.

Pairing that tiny rig with a Silverstone SG07 small form factor case, they set out to discover if the PC craze of the Naughties -- SFF computing, mostly sparked off by Shuttle's efforts -- can be resurrected with more modern gear.

What they found was that the SG07's 600W PSU stood up to the power demands of a GeForce GTX 470, all parts were somehow maintained in an acceptably cool state without making the enclosure sound like a wind tunnel, and gaming performance was highly satisfactory.

Of course, there were some compromises and flaws to both the motherboard and case, but overall it turned out to be "one heck of a midget gaming system." Hit the source link for all the build details.

Via : engadget, Tech Report

NewsFlash: Sanofi-Aventis Launches “iBGStar” Plug-In Glucose Meter for the iPhone!

The iPhone integration dreams of many a diabetic are coming true at last!!

Sanofi-Aventis made history today at the annual EASD (European Association for the Study of Diabetes) conference, if you ask me. They have introduced the first-ever medical device that actually physically plugs into the iPhone and iPod Touch! It’s a tiny new USB-sized glucose meter they’re calling iBGStar. It’s coupled with the new iBGStar Diabetes Manager program, a free logging app that users will be able to download from the iTunes store when the new product hits the market around January or February of 2011.

According to the press release, “The ultra-compact iBGStarTM can be plugged into an iPhone® or iPod touch® and displays results on a full-color, touch screen. It can also be used separately for on-the-go testing.”

iBGStar was developed for Sanofi by my friends at AgaMatrix, who introduced the first BG meter with a cable plug-in to Apple products not long ago.

Note that the iBGStar still requires FDA 510(k) clearance in the US, and has not yet been submitted. The Powers That Be tell me they’ve worked to pave the way to quick FDA clearance by designing iBGStar “to make it a completely stand-alone meter that works even better when plugged into an iPhone or iPod Touch.”

As a stand-alone, the little meter has its own color display screen, its own battery, a 300-test memory, “and is perfectly usable on its own as a very small and discreet meter.” In other words, it works very similarly to current glucose meters, except that the iPhone/iTouch “download cable” technology is built into the meter. The magic for users is in the ability to couple your BG meter with your phone, of course. There will even be new iPhone cases designed to encompass the phone + meter duo!

Via : diabetesmine.com

Jorno folding Bluetooth keyboard available for pre-order

Of all the Bluetooth keyboards that have been released for portable devices lately, this is certainly one of them. Cervantes Mobile's Jorno doesn't look particularly comfortable, but it does fold up into a tiny square, it's got a cradle that will fit most handsets, and it's compatible your favorite Bluetooth HID profile-enabled devices.

It will be out early next year for $99, although if you pre-order it now you can get it for a smooth $79 -- which is probably the upper limits of what we'd pay for it. That is, if we were going on a modern day On The Road-type odyssey with nothing but a backpack and our dreams, and an iPad to keep a journal of our thoughts. Which we aren't. PR after the break.

Order @ Jorno

Sony reveals 'color variation concept' models of NEX-5 and NEX-3

In typical Sony Style, the outfit's booth was comically large at this year's Photokina. Not that we're complaining or anything, particularly when it's using the show to demonstrate an eight-pack of colorful new mirrorless concepts.

Tucked away in the NEX corner were four NEX-3 and four NEX-5 cameras, all doused in colors that aren't available anywhere at the moment. We're guessing that Sony's doing its best to beat Colorware to the punch here, and a kind booth representative noted that these were simply "ideas" and that the company wasn't yet committed to making any of them.

If you're accepting opinions, Sony, the whole red-black-silver thing is getting a bit tired, so why not throw out a few more options for the style-conscious among us? We'll take two -- an orange and a white.

Via : engadget.com

Teac Retorodezain Radio CD Recorder

Although this Japanese retro radio will probably never make it into the US or the UK, there’s no harm in taking a moment to appreciate a good gadget. Especially a retro radio that offers so many modern goodies to help sweeten the deal. It has all sorts of things that’ll easily keep you content for your basic and even some of your more complex audio needs.

The Retorodezain Radio/CD recorder with USB memory and MP3 playback comes from Teac. It has a 2.1 speaker system with a 65mm pair of speakers and a 80mm subwoofer. To finish off the deal you’ll get a 10W subwoofer. As far as the little details go it has a mini-jack headphone output and a handy little remote control. This comes in red, white and black. It’ll be up for purchase for 20,000 Yen or about $234.

Via : coolest-gadgets.com

Samsung Cetus caught in Microsoft video

We've still yet to hear anything official from Samsung or Microsoft about the Samsung Cetus and it's Windows Phone 7 credentials, however that hasn't stopped the phone popping up over and over again for us to get a good glimpse of.

The latest unofficial outing for the Samsung Windows Phone 7 smartphone is a Channel 9 behind the scenes video telling you what some of the key players do on the new OS from Microsoft.

15 minutes in to the 17 minute video and Charlie Kindel, program manager for Windows Phone 7 whips out his phone to show a home automation application he has created for himself to help test some of the operating systems features.

Trouble is, as WMpoweruser.com spotted, the phone looks rather like the Samsung Cetus i917 handset rather than just the developers unit that we've already seen - Opps.

Sources have previous confirmed to Pocket-lint that Microsoft is expected to announce the launch of Windows Phone 7 to the world on 11 October with handsets from companies like Samsung launching their handset shortly after towards the end of October.

Via : pocket-lint.com

BlackBerry Storm 3 Confusion, HTC Mozart Specs Revealed

There has been much speculation about RIM's forthcoming, but not yet officially announced, BlackBerry Storm 3. According to the latest from Boy Genius Report, there is even the possibility that the Storm 3 will simply be a "silent" refresh of the Storm 2. However, the device that BGR has seen and known until now as the Storm 3 had the following to offer:

* Nearly identical to the Storm 2 in form factor.
* A tad slimmer than the Storm 2.
* Most likely a 5-megapixel camera.
* 512 MB RAM
* BlackBerry OS 6

Considering its recent struggles in the U.S. market, it's a bit surprising that RIM isn't really stepping up its game with new offerings. As BGR asked, "is there anyone interested in a BlackBerry Storm 3 on Verizon that’s basically more or less the same phone you bought last year?"

In Windows Phone 7 news, the specs get a little bit more exciting. The full specs of the HTC Mozart have leaked, along with a video of the Nexus One-looking device (sans trackball). The Mozart boasts a 1GHz Qualcomm QSD 8250 processor, 512 MB ROM, 8GB storage, 576 MB RAM, a 3.7-inch WVGA Super LCD display, 8MP CMOS camera with Xenon flash, and LI-PO 1300 mAh battery. These specs are different from what TmoNews claimed to be the Mozart, a.k.a "Schubert."

The Mozart will support dual mode UMTS/HSPA (2100/900 MHz) and quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). It's safe to say that the device will land in Europe, at least, some have said by as early as October.

It will be interesting to see whether or not Microsoft's new mobile OS will justify the funeral it held for BlackBerry and the iPhone earlier this month. Even if the Mozart doesn't launch just yet, there will be a Windows Phone 7 device on the market October 11.

Via : dailytech.com

Intermec CS40 walks the work

Even phone holster users (don't be shy, we love you) have every reason to shy away from using most of today's ultra-rugged business handsets from manufacturers like Symbol once they clock out for the day -- they're just too beastly, and typically, they trade every last ounce of ergonomic credibility in an effort to be as bulletproof as possible.

That's a problem that Intermec is looking to tackle head-on with the new CS40, a phone that makes few reliability concessions while stepping down to a true smartphone form factor (and if you look closely, you can even see some hints of style in there). Just how rugged are we talking? Intermec says it'll survive multiple drops onto concrete from four feet onto all four corners, will stand up to dust and splashed liquids, and still manages to include a 2D barcode scanner so that you can perform your weekly inventory with flair.

It'll be available in QWERTY and numeric keypad variants in the fourth quarter, but never mind the styling: can you carry Windows Mobile Handheld knowing full well all the cool kids will have Windows Phone 7 by then? Follow the break for Intermec's full press release.

Via : engadget