T-Mobile's new Sidekick II accessories catalog has a link directly to NYC Peach's website—they're the people who add all the Swarovski crystals to flash people's gadgets. So I had to click on the link and it looks like NYC Peach has a whole new website, so they must be selling quite a few $300 iPod conversions for people.

I understand quite a few of you think that the whole crystals thing is played out (although what American could really hate rhinestones? They should be our national faux-gem), but you've got to admit, they're pretty unique. It makes me wonder, is anyone else doing customizations like that? Not more people gluing crystals or making leather cases—I mean something really different, like carving out custom cases from wood or something.

Speaking of Hiptops, MobileWhack also mentions that AT&T has cut the price of their Sidekick clone, the 'ogo,' which can now be had for $50 after instant rebate.

T-Mobile Sidekick II accessories [T-Mobile via MobileWhack]
ogo page [ATTWireless]

3:38:59 PM    comment   

An upcoming Indian "campus caper" film called 'Rok Sako To Rok Lo' will be the first full-length feature film to premiere on a wireless cellular network. Subscribers to India's Airtel service will get to watch a streaming version on their Edge-capable phones on December 9th, in an attempt to generate buzz for the theater release which will land on the 10th. It's a gimmick, sure, but maybe the idea has legs? A lo-fi version to generate buzz for the hi-fi/high-resolution version that will have a commercial release? Smart bands have done it with their music—there is no reason movie studios couldn't do the same thing, unless they were worried that people would have ever more warning they were about to watch opening-weekend dreck.

RSTRL to premiere on cell phone [IndiaFM via Mobile-Weblog]

3:37:19 PM    comment   

The last thing "crafted on a CNC machine" I had next to my face was a pair of hand-made brass knuckles outside of my 10th grade "bowling education" class. The Mobiado Professional looks a lot less stitchy, although it still has plenty of hard edges in its aircraft aluminum body to be used as a weapon should duty call. These couture phones come unlocked and ready to work on almost any worldwide GSM network and run an OS based on Nokia's Series 40 platform, meaning all the requisite minimums, like VGA camera and Bluetooth and MP3 playback are all here.

Unfortunately the horse/griffin on the back appears to be standard-issue—you'd think for $1,200 you could go horseless. Mobiado, I hope you come to your senses.

Product Home Page [Mobiado via SlashPhone]

3:32:35 PM    comment   

The X500, Panasonic's newest fashion phone, is a diminutive little slider available in your choice of silver, red, or white. Nothing impressive feature-wise, (a little VGA camera with LED "photo light" pretty much sums it up), but we're talking about fashion here, so form over function (over a bed of midget-plucked truffles drizzled with a sherry and honey glaze). The camera is situated in a way that facilitates turning the phone sideways to take pics, much like a "real" camera—kind of neat if not a deal sealer. If what you can do is less important than how chic you look while you're doing it, the X500 is available for nights on the town. Retailing around $300 in the US.

Panasonic's latest fashion handset [ShinyShiny]

3:31:55 PM    comment   

This article in Forbes about the work between Apple and Motorola to produce what has (inevitably) become referred to as an 'iPhone' has re-ignited speculation about the degree to which the team-up will be just a simple outlet for iTunes music or a full-fledged move by Apple into the mobile phone market. Nothing in the article implies that Apple has had a hand in designing the user interface or the look of the phone itself, so it's really up in the air until more information is unveiled (possibly at the upcoming MacWorld in January). Some on Slashdot have wondered if the obviously flash memory-based phones are in fact the rumored iPod Flash itself. Unlikely, considering all the noise to the contrary coming out of Apple the last few months, but possible. Assuming the phone (or phones!) and the iPod Flash are two distinct products, Jobs might be reticent to unveil both at the same time, fearing that one might take the shine off the other.

Who knows? The one thing everyone should do, though, is not panic. This isn't new news, and until Apple and Moto decide to show us what they're cooking up (or gadget gods willing, someone leaks it), it's probably best to assume that this is Apple dipping their iTunes toes into the water and seeing how it works out.

Also, this picture is bogus and old, to boot. I post it only so I can disclaim it.

Get Ready To Call ITunes [Forbes]

Related
Motorola Webcast Highlights [Gizmodo]

3:31:01 PM    comment   

The issue of Mobile PC that's on the stand this month has the sort of feature that I still can't help but get off on—the future of gadgetry (or the present of product design, I guess). They just happened to put up my very favorite gadget from the feature online as a teaser—this "MicroMedia Paper," a damn near disposable portable video device that's just a few millimeters thick. Of course, even in gizmo fantasy land, they still aren't projecting something like this until 2015.

It's the box of them that really sells it for me, though. I can resist buying in bulk.

The Wonders That Will Be [MobilePCMag]

3:28:54 PM    comment