Joby makes these really cool flexible tripods for a number of devices, including a smaller version that used to be called the GorillaPod Go-Go. (I gave it a review here almost a year ago.) But mobile is in and I guess the Go-Go moniker wasn’t sticking so it has been re-christened as the GorillaMobile. Still the same price of $29.95 and it still comes with multiple attachment heads so you can pretty much attach it to any device. I like this little accessory quite a bit.

Here’s the preamble to give you a taste:

Hello, my name is Christopher Hawker. I am a professional inventor, specializing in innovative consumer products. My company is called Trident Design, LLC. I have developed many products in numerous industries and have over 20 products on the market. My most famous invention is the PowerSquid, a cephalopod-inspired power strip with outlets situated at the end of short cords, thereby eliminating the problem of losing outlets to bulky transformer plugs. John Biggs, editor-in-chief of this blog, has asked me to write the story of the birth of the PowerSquid and its development and journey to market. This is the Song of the PowerSquid.

I’d love to see more long form writing like this in tech coverage, as it highlights and extends information that we don’t get from the fast and furious world of the immediate that is the current norm. Granted it is written by the inventor, but I think the insights more than make up for what might be perceived as a lack of objectivity or self-serving purpose. Here’s hoping we do see more of this.

Of course this just means that AT&T’s network will continue to crumble around its ears once they make these available.

Press Release after the jump.

July 28, 2009 07:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL), a provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today unveiled the MiFi 2372 HSPA, the newest version of its Intelligent Mobile Hotspot developed for use virtually anywhere in the world, with multi-mode operation, including HSPA, UMTS, EDGE and GPRS.

The MiFi line of Intelligent Mobile Hotspots drives a new vision for personal broadband connectivity. The MiFi 2372 HSPA advances this even further by enabling not only access to connected devices, but also mobile access to new services, applications management and personalization:

• Broadened Service Delivery. Like other models in the MiFi line of Intelligent Mobile Hotspots, the MiFi 2372 creates a personal cloud of high-speed Internet connectivity that can be easily shared between multiple users and Wi-Fi devices such as laptops, cameras, gaming devices, smartphones and portable multimedia players. With data speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps downlink and 5.76 Mbps uplink, the MiFi 2372 enables users to access high-speed Internet from anywhere there is a cellular connection, including moving vehicles where multiple passengers may need Internet access. The MiFi 2372 also comes with Novatel’s proprietary NovaSpeed technology, enhancing performance of video, online gaming, simultaneous uploads and downloads and large file transfers with minimal interruption or buffering.
• Mobile Software Platform. The MiFi 2372 has a powerful on-board applications processor capable of delivering rich software applications and media. The combination of internal (ROM) storage, up to 16GB of expandable microSD memory and on-board GPS capabilities make MiFi 2372 a flexible and robust platform capable of running a variety of location-based applications and enabling the storage of personal content such as music, video and pictures.
• Open Developer’s Community. Novatel has taken the first step in enabling developers to leverage the embedded processing capabilities of MiFi by opening the software interfaces to the developer community. Developers can download the MiFi applications programming interfaces and programmer guide from the Novatel Developer’s Lounge at www.novatelwireless.com/lounge.
• Flexibility for Enterprise and Consumer Uses. The MiFi 2372 provides a flexible platform to address the evolution of mobile broadband for both enterprise and consumers. The MiFi 2372 enables IT managers to extend and enhance mobile workforce solutions and better secure, control and manage broadband connections, together with the ability to host vertical applications. Consumers can enjoy a vastly improved user experience, turn a Wi-Fi device into a mobile Internet device, and personalize cloud computing applications to seamlessly engage with the content they desire.

Operators launching MiFi have already experienced incremental revenue streams for mobile data by extending mobile capability to traditionally fixed Wi-Fi enabled devices.

“We are very pleased to announce the continued evolution of the MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot product line,” said Peter Leparulo, chairman and CEO of Novatel Wireless. “The availability of the MiFi 2372 HSPA will significantly expand the addressable market for MiFi technology, as well as offering users unrivaled high speed access to multiple devices virtually anywhere they go around the globe.”

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leader in the design and development of innovative wireless broadband access solutions based on 3G and 4G WCDMA (HSPA & UMTS), CDMA and GSM technologies. Novatel Wireless’ USB modems, embedded modules, Intelligent Mobile Hotspot products and software enable high-speed wireless Internet access on leading wireless data networks. The Company delivers specialized wireless solutions to carriers, distributors, OEMs and vertical markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL. For more information please visit www.novatelwireless.com. (NVTLG)

This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein. These factors include risks relating to technological changes, new product introductions, continued acceptance of Novatel Wireless’ products and dependence on intellectual property rights. These factors, as well as other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in Novatel Wireless’ filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at www.sec.gov) and other regulatory agencies.

(C) 2009 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless name, logo and MiFi are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Maybe the bluDANGLE lanyard will solve that. I mean face it, if you have a BlueTooth earpiece you’ve long gotten past the derisive looks cast your way from the fashion police. So, why not clip this on to your collar and let it dangle and bobble away as you walk to and fro.

Via jkOnTheRun

Livescribe Inc. (www.livescribe.com) and Vision Objects announced today the availability of a handwriting-to-text transcription service for Mac users, bringing handwriting-recognition software to a larger community of Pulse smartpen users. Mac users can download a 30-day free trial or buy MyScript for Livescribe online from Vision Objects, an expert in ergonomic, easy-to-use alternatives for text input.

“Handwriting-to-text transcription has been one of the most frequently requested applications from our Mac user community, and we are very excited to finally be able to provide this capability through our partnership with Vision Objects” said Eric Petitt, senior director of marketing for Livescribe. “Vision Objects is known for providing the highest recognition accuracy in the market, with confidence second to none.”

Something tells me this would have been really big like 3 years ago.

You can check it out here.

Via RedFerret Journal

Xai

At the top end, the Xai has an ambidextrous ergonomic grip the company claims took years of research to develop and an especially precise laser sensor that registers up to 5,000 CPI (counts per inch). It also has a unique OS-independent programmable seven-button scheme with an LCD on the underside and its own permanent memory to save custom settings without needing drivers. The sensor offers huge improvement over current laser mice, processing 12,000 Frames per Second at movement speeds of 150 Inches per Second – as the company claims. It employs advanced macros through 8 programmable buttons, with the option of 10 total programmed macros. It will cost you about $80.

Kinzu

Kinzu is an optical, slightly smaller sibling to the Xai and tracks less quickly at 3,200 CPI, processing 9375 Frames per Second at movement speeds of 50 Inches per Second – as the company claims. It retains the same button count and LCD as the larger mouse. It can be yours for a decent $35.

9HD

The 9HD is SteelSeries' pad entry and uses a densely textured plastic surface to provide both a stable environment and ideal tracking for laser mice. It too comes for $35. This gaming surface was reportedly researched and developed in parallel with the SteelSeries Xai Laser Mouse to ensure that advanced high definition mice fully benefit from this surface.

All these accessories will be available from next month.

The minicard will be based on MaxLinear’s already existing MxL5007T, a third-generation multi-standard true digital CMOS silicon tuner. MxL5007T supports every major digital terrestrial TV standard, including ATSC, DVB-T, DVB-H and DTMB.

"Netbooks and UMPCs are emerging as a key mobile entertainment platform because they are both compact and have decent-sized screens, and we see them having a great impact on the PCTV business and on mobile TV as well," said Kishore Seendripu, MaxLinear CEO,"Hauppauge is one of MaxLinear's longest standing customers and we are excited to have this partnership opportunity to deliver such a unique solution."

The MxL5007T is designed to provide the lowest power, smallest size and best-in-class performance – as claimed by the company. It consumes only 350mW of power, which makes it one of lowest energy consumers, offering consumers to enjoy longer battery life without compromising performance.

"With UMPCs driving much of the growth in the PC industry, we are pleased to expand our cooperation with MaxLinear to our latest ATSC/QAM minicard solution," said Ken Plotkin, President and CEO of Hauppauge. "The ultra low power consumption of the MxL5007T, coupled with its high performance, provides a unique combination of benefits especially valuable for our target market."

About MaxLinear Inc.

MaxLinear, Inc. is a fabless IC company focusing on highly integrated analog and digital products that incorporate proprietary mixed-signal and radio frequency signal processing techniques in digital CMOS. MaxLinear is the first to deliver on the promise of an easy-to-use silicon solution to enable TV on any device. The company is located in Carlsbad, Calif., with sales offices worldwide. The official site is www.maxlinear.com.

About Hauppauge Digital

Hauppauge Digital, Inc. is a leading developer of analog and digital TV receiver products for the personal computer market. The Company is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, with administrative offices in Luxembourg, Ireland and Singapore and sales offices in Germany, London, Paris, The Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan and California. The Company's official site www.hauppauge.com.

This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle. Our “solution” to the problem was stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles. It is wholly self-inflicted, and we deserve the criticism we’ve received. We will use the scar tissue from this painful mistake to help make better decisions going forward, ones that match our mission.

With deep apology to our customers,

Jeff Bezos
Founder & CEO
Amazon.com

via Engadget

“By upgrading their system with a solid-state drive, mobile computer users will enjoy a faster, more rugged system with storage built for mobility. The fact that SSDs don’t have any moving parts makes Crucial solid-state drives quieter, cooler, and more durable than traditional hard drives,” said Robert Wheadon, Lexar Media’s senior worldwide product marketing manager.

LM made your choice of the SSD model simpler by providing the free online tool - the Crucial SSD Advisor tool, which allows customers to find a compatible SSD simply by choosing their system make and model from a drop-down menu. A flash-based guide is available as well.

These SSDs are available in options of 64GB ($169.99), 128GB ($329.99), and 256GB ($599.99) storage capacities. The kit comes with a five year limited warranty.