VIC Ltd rolls out NaviSurfer II in-car PC

It’s not quite as sleek as some in-car PCs, but VIC Ltd’s new NaviSurfer II looks like it’ll at least get the job done with minimal hassle, and at a relatively reasonable price to boot. Despite appearances above, however, this one is a bring-your-own-OS deal (supporting Windows or Linux), and you’ll need provide own USB or Bluetooth add-ons if you want to make good on the company’s claims that it’ll double as GPS unit. But still, for between $578 and $656, you’ll get a flip-out 7-inch touchscreen, along with a 1.0GHz or 1.3GHz processor of an unspecified sort, 256MB or 512MB of RAM, and a 40GB, 80GB, or 120GB hard drive. Not exactly enough for some Crysis tailgate parties to be sure, but likely more than enough to handle your basic computing and media playback needs.

[Via Technabob]
by Donald Melanson – Engadget

navisurfer II: a complete pc in your car’s dashboard

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a computer designed to fit inside your car, but it’s definitely the first one I’ve seen which can fit entirely in the space of your old car stereo.

The Navisurfer II occupies a single DIN slot in your car’s dashboard, and manages to cram in an entire PC with a flip-out touchscreen 7-inch color display. The LCD monitor has a nice 800 x 480 resolution, and can be adjusted on both horizontal and vertical axes. Since it fits neatly into a standard radio slot, all you need to do is connect the computer just like you would with a car stereo, and you’re all set.

The system can run Windows XP or Linux (no OS is pre-installed, though) and can serve as a media player, GPS navigator, rear view camera, gaming console, or used to display vehicle diagnostic information, among other things. To enable these features, you’ll need to purchase additional USB or Bluetooth devices such as a GPS receiver or a video camera (only supported on the 120GB model).

It’s all packaged in a shock-resistant enclosure, and is designed to hold up to the voltage irregularities of cranking your car’s battery. The Navisurfer II is available in configurations ranging from 40GB to 120GB of hard-disk based storage, and from 256MB to 512MB RAM. Prices range from $578 to $656 USD.

from Technabob.com

Solio Magnesium Edition converts solar power to gadget juice

Like the broad, sun-catching leaves of a plant – nature’s original sun catcher – the Solio nabs that sun but, instead of creating carbs via photosynthesis, it powers your equally life-sustaining portable gadgets. While the Solio’s been around the block before, the new Solio Magnesium Edition is a little more rugged which, ideally, means it oughta stay away from the landfill a little longer than its predecessor. The unit comes with adapters and a wall charger (for those of you who live underground) and is available for £99.95. If you could care less about the fancy new shell, the original Solio has been redubbed the Solio Classic and is now available for under £50.

by Christopher Grant – Engadget

Philips launches SHB9000 Bluetooth headset

Philips’s claim that its new SHB9000 headset offers the best-ever music and conversation quality from a Bluetooth headset might be a bit optimistic, but it’s their PR, so we’ll let ‘em say what they want. The over-the-ear headphones offer native MP3 decoding for loss-less streaming, 40mm neodymium speakers and can automatically switch between calls and music. There’s a digital signal processor to filter out background noise and echo when on the phone, and you can connect to your phone wirelessly or via a provided cord. We’re not quite sure what the difference in SKUs is, but Philips is offering this one in the Spring for $99 and $129 “respectively.”

by Paul Miller – Engadget