The software package, costing £19.95 for a download, features a total of 620 sites in France. Each location has been carefully researched and created, over 3 years, providing the listener with an engaging 2 minutes of commentary as they approach or drive by.
Through the launch of this innovative product, French partner ZeVisit, which works with many of the tourism agencies and offices in France, saw an opportunity to reach the Sat Nav generation. “At ZeVisit, we strongly believe that audio is the only media that can make you feel strong emotions. What better than making every journey an emotional journey full of stories and imagination as well?” said Yann Le Fichant, CEO of ZeVisit.
RoadTour’s inventor, Daniel Taylor found that driving the roads of Europe could be a highly frustrating experience; “Sat Navs are great in getting us from A to B but hopeless at connecting us with the rich heritage of Europe” said Daniel. “There are times driving France’s clear motorways, when you might as well be driving through England for all you’re finding out. Our goal with our French partner, Zevisit, is to bring France’s fascinating history, beautiful environment and rich culture to the millions of people who sometimes just drive straight to Provence, barely stopping for fuel on the way”.
RoadTour works with Garmin Sat Nav equipment to trigger audio commentary and pictures of key attractions, including towns, villages, castles and battlefields. The system does not require the driver or passengers to touch any buttons since the audio just pops up, in a similar way to the traffic warnings on the radio. And for those more interested in directions than history…RoadTour even pauses for traffic directions!
Examples of commentaries include Rouen and Alsace;
“We’re in the middle of the 14th Century and it is half past eight in the morning in La place de Vieux Marché in Rouen. Joan of Arc is being brought to the centre of Rouen in a cart, her head shaved and escorted by 120 British soldiers. The Bishop of Beauvais, who supports England, reads the sentence for herecy, “We declare that you, Joan, corrupt member, must be rejected from the unity of the Church so that you won’t contaminate the other members. For this we reject you, we remove you and abandon you”. An immense crowd came to see the execution. Afterwards, when the executioner put out the fire, he got a huge surprise; Joan or Arc’s heart had remained intact! Because the English feared it would become a relic, they decided to throw her remains into the Seine and since then it is said that the Seine from Rouen to the sea is holy. When nearly 20 years later, the King of France, Charles the 7th, took back Normandy from the English, he ordered a cross to be erected in her memory on La Place de Vieux Marché.”
“Alsace became part of Germany in 1871, when a far reaching city planning project was set in motion. The German empire decided to move its political and administrative headquarters to the old city centre of Strasbourg, close to La Place de la Republique…this is truly several cities in one. It is a city that is Catholic, Protestant and Jewish all at once and the three architectural styles co-exist marvellously. According to local, Roger Siffert, Strasbourg is like a very beautiful woman wearing a superb tuxedo but with tennis shoes or boots on her feet…in Alsace, they would say ‘pretty like a punch in the eye’!”
Designed to satisfy the needs of both consumers and business customers, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone combines the powerful communications features, global connectivity and personal productivity advantages of the BlackBerry® platform with a revolutionary touch-screen technology that dramatically enhances the touch interface and enables easy and precise typing. The world’s first “clickable” touch-screen responds much like a physical keyboard and also supports single-touch, multi-touch and gestures for intuitive and efficient application navigation.
In the U.S., Verizon Wireless customers will benefit from the nation’s most reliable wireless voice network and the pervasiveness of Verizon Wireless’ reliable high-speed 3G Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network for rich Internet browsing and multimedia applications. In Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand, Vodafone will support customers with its high-speed 3G mobile broadband networks and the power and reach of the world’s leading international mobile communications group.
“We are proud to introduce the first touch-screen based BlackBerry smartphone together with Verizon Wireless and Vodafone,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-chief executive officer at RIM. “The BlackBerry Storm is a revolutionary touch-screen smartphone that meets both the communications and multimedia needs of customers and solves the longstanding problem associated with typing on traditional touch-screens. Consumers and business customers alike will appreciate this unique combination of a large and vibrant screen with a truly tactile touch interface.”
“The BlackBerry Storm offers our customers more ways to stay connected to both their personal and professional lives – whether in their communities or around the globe,” said Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless. “The BlackBerry Storm combines the reliability of our 3G network with the dependability and network efficiency of the BlackBerry platform to deliver our customers the ultimate wireless experience – all in one of the coolest smartphones available on the market today.”
“We are delighted to bring the power of the purpose built BlackBerry Storm, directly into the hands of consumer and business customers,” said Frank H. Rovekamp, global chief marketing officer, Vodafone Group. “With its unique clickable touch-screen, giving access to all the desirable multimedia features and services such as browsing, music and video, turn-by-turn satellite navigation, messaging and social networking, and BlackBerry’s mobile heritage and strong business reputation, the BlackBerry Storm is being brought by Vodafone into the consumer world. With Vodafone’s ultra high-speed, reliable mobile network and this exclusive and exciting new smartphone, there has never been a better time to be with Vodafone.”
Touch and Feel
The BlackBerry Storm smartphone comes with an innovative touch-screen that actually depresses ever so slightly when the screen is pressed. The user distinctly feels the screen being pressed and released with a gentle “click,” similar to the feeling of a key on a physical keyboard or a button on a mouse. The “clickable” touch-screen gives the user positive confirmation that they have made a selection and the result is a dramatically enhanced touch interface and a highly-intuitive typing experience.
In addition to the familiar navigation keys (“phone,” “menu” and “escape”) that are common to other BlackBerry smartphones, the new BlackBerry Storm adds support for multi-touches, taps, slides and other touch-screen gestures, so customers can easily highlight, scroll, pan and zoom for smooth navigation.
The BlackBerry Storm smartphone also features a built-in accelerometer, allowing its touch-screen to automatically switch between landscape mode and portrait mode as the user rotates the handset – RIM’s SureType® keyboard layout is available in portrait mode and a full QWERTY* keyboard layout is available in landscape mode. Other relevant features, such as cut and paste, are only a touch away for the ultimate smartphone experience.
Looking for that perfect laptop stand? Need something light and small for your computer bag? Want something that looks cool, too? Versatile? Innovative? Mmm, I think we gotcha covered, mate.
SvenOnTech just reviewed the new Innovative Cricket and this thing easily hopped in and out of our travel bag. We easily set it up to hold our first-generation MacBook Pro and they feel in love with each other. Oops, are we giving away the review? Sorry.
Read the review, kick the tires, and see what you think. You might find yourself adding one of these to your laptop bag real soon.
Awarded Consumers Digest’s “Best Buys in Digital Photo Frames” in the “Premium Selection” category, Image Moments 6 is one of the most upscale and feature-rich digital photo frames available, built for those that demand only the highest quality. Perfect for corporate executives, Image Moments 6 features a stunning two-tone chrome finish; beautiful screen; compact footprint; and advanced operating system features for the highest quality digital frame on the market.
Image Moments 6 (model IMT-063), along with its larger sibling, Image Moments 8 (model IMT-083) with its larger 8-inch 800×600 resolution screen, are based on a unique operating system with advanced functions not found on other digital photo frames.
Highlighted Features of Image Moments 6 include:
Audiophile quality sound with in-wall invisibility. What once seemed like a contradiction is a reality with the introduction of the high-performance Jamo IW 827 LCR custom speaker, thanks to the use of award-winning Concert Series C 800 components.
Utilizing the key engineering principles that have made the Concert Series speakers a popular choice for movie and music enthusiasts, the IW 827 LCR is a versatile design that can be used as left, right and center channel speakers in an advanced home theater/audio system.
Core Concert Series technologies, such as Decoupled Tweeter Technology (DTT), WaveGuide, Hard Conical Cones (HCC), Active Impedance Correction (AIC) and solid aluminum center plugs are all found in these high-performance models. Created for audio purists, their quality and attention to detail reflects Jamo’s highly focused approach to custom products.
The IW 827 LCR is a 2.5-way design with a 1-inch DTT silk dome tweeter located between the 7-inch woofer and a 7-inch midrange/woofer—both featuring high-end fiberglass/honeycomb composite drivers. This design, coupled with a unique crossover, achieves excellent vertical sound dispersion without the midrange cancellation that can happen in a traditional two-way speaker’s woofer/tweeter/woofer layout.
The driver configuration gives it a slightly downward optimal listening angle; in other words, it can be installed next to a flat panel TV or alone, relatively high on a wall, and still deliver optimal audio to those seated in the room.
According to director of product planning Rune Karsbaek, the IW 827 LCR is consistent with Jamo’s overall philosophy, despite being an in-wall product. “While we’re widely known for the beautiful Danish design of our cabinets, our unique, open Danish sound is just as important. These speakers reproduce music and soundtracks with all the vibrancy of our Concert Series, but also provide a discreet, built-in solution for any living space.”
For installations that require a sealed back box, the speaker has an available two-part enclosure. The halves are identical and are lined with damping material. By using separate boxes for the upper woofer and lower woofer/midrange, the possibility of mid- and low-frequency interference is greatly reduced.
The IW 827 LCR is scheduled for release next month. It is priced at $799 (U.S. MSRP) each; the optional two-part back box is $199 (U.S. MSRP).
About exclusive Jamo technologies:
# Decoupled Tweeter Technology (DTT): A mounting system that prevents unwanted cabinet and wall vibrations that can cloud or color sound.
# Hard Conical Cones (HCC): This technology allows for extremely low distortion throughout the range, as well as creates a very open and detailed mid-range for optimum voice reproduction.
# WaveGuide: This technology, which involves the shape of the tweeter’s faceplate, helps control the sound pattern for a more open and dynamic experience, as well as makes it easier to position the speakers in a room.
# Active Impedance Correction: AIC results in reduced distortion in electrodynamic speakers, reducing roughness for clearer midrange, particularly in vocals.
You rely on it everyday to stay connected and on schedule, but one unfortunate drop can spell disaster. Safeguard your BlackBerry® Bold™ smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM) with the new semi-rugged, drop and scratch-proof OtterBox 1937 Defender™ Series case.
“The Defender™ Series line protects devices from everyday bumps and drops while still allowing complete user interaction,” said Curt Richardson, CEO of Otter Products, LLC. “BlackBerry Bold users are frequently on-the-go and the OtterBox provides technology protection for a variety of lifestyles.”
The OtterBox 1937 Defender™ Series case for the BlackBerry Bold smartphone provides several layers of protection:
* Layer one: safeguards from dust, dirt and scratches
o Keypad and screen: optional thermal formed protective clear membrane
o Camera: scratch-resistant lens protects camera, allowing optimal picture clarity
* Layer two: a hi-impact polycarbonate shell snaps together over the device
* Layer three: a silicone skin that wraps over device to absorb bump and shock*
The case features acoustical vents on speakerphone, headset speaker and microphone allowing clear sound transmission. Sync/charge jack is accessible through a silicone plug. Trackball, camera and flash remain functional. For convenient carrying, a holster style swivel belt clip is included.
“When comparing other wireless enclosures, nothing I have found in the market compares to OtterBox,” said Hector Serna, Communications Administrator, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Ltd. “With the OtterBox cases deployed to our sales force, the largest wireless users in our company, we estimate saving 18 percent annually on replacement units.”
For those looking for less extreme protection, OtterBox will soon be offering a new line called the Impact™ Series. This interactive case will incorporate a silicone, skin-like design with impact absorbing features. Check www.otterbox.com in the coming weeks for details and availability.
OtterBox 1937 Defender™ Series:
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Proporta is made up of a friendly bunch who enjoy making new friends. As well as having their very own lovely website, Proporta also host a page with the popular networking site Facebook.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past few years you’ll know that Facebook is a great way of interacting with people. It’s also a fantastic tool for Proporta to inform their ‘fans’ of promotions, latest products and industry news, and for their customers to write on the Proporta wall with any comments they fancy sharing with Proporta and their fellow Facebookers.
Because Proporta value a good friendship, they’re offering a 12% discount on all of their very new (very nice) cases for the latest members of the iPod family (2G iPod touch, 2G iPod classic and 4G iPod nano). However, this offer is exclusive to friends of the Proporta Facebook page and only available until the 31st October 2008. To find out how to receive your discount, become a friend and all will be revealed.
You get what you pay for. An old but still very true saying. While Twitterrifc is a beautiful client, it’s lacking features just make it a pretty looking client. The Premium edition costs $10 and still doesn’t bring up the feature list to par for the asking price. TwitterFon is nice and free, but with little more offering than Twitter’s own mobile web page, it’s not too worthy of icon space on your iPhones home screen. Twinkle is nice, but since it is tied into its own network, your replies sometimes do not appear on Twitter and there are other issues, such as the near impossibility of activating the application. Not much left in the App Store for you to find, but thankfully Stone Design has upped the ante from Twittelator (its free offering) with Twittelator Pro (App Store link.)
With slew of features and an interface that rivals Twitterrific’s awarding winning look, you’d have to be silly not to consider Twittelator Pro’s $4.99 price. Any Twitter user that finds themselves tweeting at least a few times a day, or needing to read others tweets, will need to have this on their first page of their iPhones home screen. Some of the offerings of Twittelator Pro includes the ability to tweet from any screen, paste links, text and images, full reply ability, tweet from within Safari (!), various themes, copy tweets, easy to read tweets, post photos, TwitPic photos show as thumbnails in tweets, delete your own tweets, read up to 200 tweets, advance filtering, in-depth user details, en or disable following, drill down into friends, super advance search, bookmarks, recent, and emergency tweeting. This is just SOME of the offerings of Twittelator Pro!
SvenOnTech has used all the Twitter clients available on the iPhone and without a doubt, we like Twittelator Pro the best. We’ve given the clients a few months to mature and the only one that really has done that is Stone Design’s client. Author, Andrew Stone, has taken the time to listen to our and other users requests and implemented them into Twittelator Pro quickly to allow it to pull well ahead of any other Twitter client for the iPhone. As of this writing, an entire chunk of new features and fixes are on their way and are only waiting for Steve Jobs (our assumption, not Stones) to okay it. Any day now you should see the following in the update:
NEW FEATURES:
- New Twitter Keys panel to insty insert cool graphics into your tweets - tap Guy Smiling
- New Advanced Setting to thread your replies and direct messages right in with your friends
- You can edit existing accounts to fix typos or change password
- Groups show where Nearby is
FIXED:
- Better memory management when memory runs low (less exits!)
- Handles bad TwitPic image in tweet (doesn’t exit!)
- Better error message if you direct message someone who isn’t following you
- Search results with unicode characters appear correctly now
- & appears correctly in tweets now
- & and quotes don’t take as many characters to encode
- No error message if TwitPic times out
- Upside down landscape photos fixed
- Failed image/tweet combo uploads let you retweet them
- increased timeout for TwitPics to deal with their success
- Fancy curly quotes are displayed correctly
Look, we’re like the next guy looking for a free hand-out at the App Store but for a mere $5, you’re getting a quality and slick looking Twitter client that you’re just not going to get anywhere else. Twittelator Pro is just plain and simple, slammin’! And yes, I’ll tweet that! 
I abandoned Microsoft Entourage nearly a year ago after becoming frustrated with the crashes, long open times, high memory use, cluttered look, and non-integration to OS X. That left me with iCal for my calendaring needs and since it had already all my events playing middle-man for synchronizing my iPhone, it seemed natural to stick with it. In the course of the year, I have come to love iCal…and dislike it in other ways. One of my dislikes is the requirement for me to leave my current application and go to it to add an event or a to do item. After using QuickSilver and LaunchBar before it for so many years, I’ve become quite use to not leaving my current session. And while you can add events and to do items using QS, it’s too difficult and clumsy. I want easy. I use a Mac for a reason.
Enter FlexCal. FlexGames has created a powerful and easy to use tool that works with iCal for all of us productivity conscious Mac users. I immediately downloaded this and when I found some lacking features, the author was quick to implement my suggestions. Now at 1.06, I couldn’t be any happier with it! With the ability to add an event or a to do item with a simple key combination, you’ll never be forced to leave what you were doing again. Supporting nearly every attribute for the event and to do, you just don’t have to open iCal anymore, folks! Key combo, type, select, return. That’s it, you’re done!
If you’re looking to drive iCal to heights you once thought you never could, then you need to download FlexCal. It’s well worth any donation you can give FlexGames!
Following a release for Palm OS(R) and Windows Mobile(R) devices earlier this year, Astraware(R) and Idigicon are excited to announce the release of Platypus for 3 more smartphone platforms. The squishiest shoot-em-up ever is now available for S60(R), UIQ(R) and BlackBerry(R) smartphones worldwide, including the new BlackBerry Bold!
Based on the cult classic for PC and Mac, Platypus is a fast, frantic and fun side-scrolling arcade shooter with a difference - the entire game is made from clay!
The vast continent-spanning city of Collosatropolis has finally reached the limits of its expansion, and tall buildings cover every available space. The Collosotropolan leaders decide to invade the neighbouring country of Mungola. They don’t anticipate much of a struggle as Mungola’s entire defence force consists of a single squadron of fighter planes - the venerable F-27 ‘Platypus’.
Your mission is to pilot your trusty Platypus and save peaceful Mungola! Fly across the squashy fields and trees, avoid the snowy mountains and protect your planet. Shoot down the enemy ships and marvel as they disappear in a splat! Collect fruit bonuses and a range of power-ups to aid you in your quest!
Platypus is a fantastic, fun arcade game featuring 4 massive worlds each with several challenging levels. It’s the perfect casual game for arcade gamers and the perfect arcade game for casual gamers!
Platypus is optimised to use d-pad controls on S60 phones, d-pad or touchscreen on UIQ phones, and the trackball on BlackBerry smartphones. For more information, visit http://www.astraware.com/platypus. Club Astraware members can get a substantial discount off all versions of Platypus for a limited time. Simply login here: http://www.astraware.com/club to check out the special price!