September 2008

There are a few new phones which may be worth a second look. More details about Nokia’s N96 have been released – it has a slightly bigger screen than its predecessor and is slimmer.

Communication abilities are similar, except for the addition of DVB-H (a method for handheld devices to provide digital TV once services become available) and more storage – now up to 16 GB internally plus a microSD card slot.

The second incarnation of Apple’s iPhone is now available, with the addition of faster 3G networking and GPS. But for many people, the fact that the iPhone 3G has halved in price will be the key statistic. Another useful tool is the introduction of the App Store, which make it easier to install new applications on their phone. This has typically been something which only the tech-savvy would attempt – now most people should feel confident to be able to attempt this.

For the fashion-conscious, LG has launched the world’s slimmest phone – the ‘Secret’ from its Black Label series. Just 11.8mm thick, and made from carbon fibre and tempered glass, it does look very smart.

Sports fans may be interested in the next item to catch my eye - the Pocket Caddy, a dedicated GPS touch-screen device for golfing enthusiasts. It provides a bird’s-eye view of your course, helps with club selection and keeps a record of every shot you play – which can then be uploaded to your PC for analysis. You can also replay your round in 3D using Google Earth. For around £200, it compares well with the cost of golf club membership.

Next up is the Sony PlayTV, another version of the set-top box. It is designed to work with Sony console products, and allows a PS3 to become a FreeView recorder, and a PSP (PlayStation Portable) to become a handheld TV. The price - around £80.

Now something a bit different – two top cosmetic companies are launching vibrating mascara, designed to give better coverage than manual application. Estee (memo to sub: Can’t work out how to put an acute accent over the second “e” in Estee) Lauder calls its product the Turbolash Motion and Lancome has announced the Oscillation Mascara. Both need batteries though, and a price of $30 has been mentioned for the Turbolash.

Finally, since gadgets are often referred to as toys, here is a genuine toy - the I-Sobot from Tomy. It’s apparently the world’s smallest bi-pedal humanoid robot and can do gymnastics, martial arts displays and speak phrases to you. It is remote controlled but also recognises a small number of voice commands. However, being the smallest of its type, £200 will only get you 16cm of plastic person. More gadgets next time,

Note: While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, BT accepts no responsibility for any information contained in Jonathan’s article, nor does the company endorse any product or service mentioned.