Now that the format war is over, we can expect the market to soon flood with Blu-ray enabled gadgets. Dell is coming out with their first offering: a Blu-ray laptop, the latest in their Inspiron line, and it's going for less than US$ 1000. Details in the full article. *editor p

 

AppleInsider reports that Apple's MacBook consumer notebooks have just been given an upgrade. According to Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, the new MacBook is faster and has more memory and storage than ever before thanks to faster Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 1GB of memory and larger hard drives in all the MacBook models.

If you're worried about size, don't be. The new MacBooks are still just an inch thick. They also feature built-in 802.11n wireless networking which allows for up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g. The new line also includes a built-in iSight camera, an Apple SafeMag Power Adapter and iLife '06. For more details on the new MacBooks' specs, click on the "via" link below.

If you're looking to get one for yourself, all three MacBook models are already available. At a suggested retail price (SRP) of US$ 1,099, the 2.0 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook is the cheapest of the bunch. The 2.16 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook has an SRP of US$1,299 while the 2.16 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook has a suggested price tag of US$ 1,499.

Click the Read link below to see the full specs of the new MacBook models.

Two juicy morsels of Apple tidbits comes our way today. According to an AppleInsider report, the next MacBook update won't deliver much in terms of new features. Apparently, Apple's 13-inch wonder won't be benefited with an LED-backlit display until a successive revision later this year. Also, it's unlikely that it would be enjoying the enhancements presented during Intel's Santa Rosa launch.

As for the MacBook Pro update, Apple is said to be focusing on boosting the grade of the MacBook Pro line. Enhanced set of features from Santa Rosa are also expected. If this happens, expect faster front-side bus speeds (800MHz) and second-generation mobile processors.

Now to the other juicy Apple bit - the ultra thin portable department to be exact. Apparently the company is hard at work to produce a sleek design for their MacBook ultra portable for it to cater to the Japanese market. AppleInsider adds that Apple is building the model around an ultra-thin, 13-inch LED backlit display. Here's what AppleInsider knows about the ultra-thin contraption so far:

• 13-inch ultra-thin, LED-back lit display
• No optical disc drive
• On-board NAND flash for faster application launching and boot times
• Built-in iSight webcam
• Thinner and lighter than existing MacBook offerings
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n enabled
• MagSafe power adapter
• Target launch late '07, early '08

The folks over at C3 News have a product review out for Joytech's Wii Power Station for the Nintendo Wii. Although more of a product advert than a review, they do have have their criticisms of this Wiimote charger.

So what's the worst they could think of about this product? They note that there are extendable prongs on either side of the charger base that could be used to hold Wii Nunchuck extensions, which, you will never be using, since a tangled mess of trailing wires is unfavorable.

Aside from that, they note that it's pretty decent and it matches the Wii's design and color-scheme nicely. They also say that this recharger allows two separate Wiimote units to have a charge-life of around 40 hours.

What got some commenters a bit worried, however, is that it gets its power from a cable that fits directly between the Wii's power adapter and the socket on the back of the system. Although this means that your Wiimotes are charging whenever they're on the base and whenever the console's plugged-in, this also means that folks might run into the same problems that others have experienced with the Nyko 360 Intercooler.

Decent product, worth it if you've got the money, but if you don't have the moolah (the whole point of the Wii as some fans of the console would say), rechargeable batteries and a charger might a better solution for you folks.

When the Nintendo DS Lite was released in the United States early this June, along with it came numerous  advertisements kits and other accessories to accompany your lovely new toy. However, here's something that we found which may be more of a good choice than the rest of them. We present the DS Lite Starter Kit which is manufactured by the Japanese company Hori, and which is also available in white, blue and pink.

As far as we can make out from the product picture, the bundle contains a pouch for your DS, a stylus for an old DS and a stylus for a DS Lite (for those days when you feel like bringing around your old unit), as well as three cartridge cases for your game cartridges. We're not really sure, but we think that screen protectors are also included in the package. Since this product was made available only today, some specs are still a bit unsure. This product can be ordered directly from the manufacturer's website for $19.90.

A new bundle has been put together to integrate the Treo smartphones, TomTom Navigator 6 software, and Palm's very own bluetooth GPS receiver.

The content of the bundle includes the TomTom Navigator 6 software, a 1GB Memory pre-installed map of the US and Canada, GPS receiver powered by SiRFStar III with Bluetooth Wireless technology for that faster and better location performance, a vehicle device cradle with mounting bracket and suction cap pad, as well as a vehicle power adapter.

Its new installations boast of better coverage with the latest Tele Atlas maps with coast-to-coast, cross boarder, door-to-door navigation between USA and Canada. It also has speed limit information, thus making you aware of the limits of the roads you're travelling on, even before you see the signs. Its point-of-interest searches is improved to help you find nearby necessary establishments, such as gas stations and restaurants along your route, and even attraction spots in the town you'd like to visit, with greater ease and speed!

Multifunctional. That is one characteristic that we are all looking for when considering buying any kind of device or gadget. And let's face it, it's a major selling point if a product can do a variety of things instead of just one. I think Apple has this in mind when they designed their power adapter (some refer to it as power adapter duck) for the iBook.

Rougemonk, in one of his "mental driftings", had made a realization on the potential of it being a sort of universal adapter for all your laptop needs. The design allows you to just replace the plug itself with any of their other travel adapters. This is also works vice versa. You can take the plug and insert it into your standard charger, eliminating the need for other cords. Now, you have more room for other important things. So you can say goodbye to all that bulk now. Buhbye.

Just take note that this is grounded on the the power supply's ability to convert power on its own. You can check by reading the underside of the unit. It should read, AC Input: 100-240V~50-60Hz.