Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips

Wireless News: Maps on Your Phone

MapQuest's new "Send to Phone" feature puts color maps, with directions, on your cell phone. To use the $4-a-month service, go to the MapQuest site, request a map and directions, and enter your wireless phone number. The map and directions are then sent to your phone. U.S. wireless operators offering the service include Alltel, Cingular Wireless/AT&T Wireless, Sprint, and Verizon.

Gadget News: Go Wireless With an MP3 Player

Downloading ringer tones onto a wireless phone is cool. But downloading songs onto a wireless MP3 player could be even cooler. Giant International's Tao WiFiMP3 player is a new 20GB hard-drive-based music player with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. The player, which also has an integrated FM transmitter, sells for $350. At press time, information on when and where to buy it weren't available. But you can see a picture of the Tao (about halfway down the page) at "CES 2005: Photos From Day Four."

Gadget News: Sing While You Swim

Continuing with the MP3 player innovation trend is Oregon Scientific. The company claims its MP120 is the "world's first stand-alone waterproof MP3 player." The device lets you listen to your tunes in up to 3.2 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. The device, which also has an FM transmitter, is now available in 256MB ($170) and 512MB ($220) capacities, with a battery that lasts up to 8 hours, according to the company.

Gadget Review: Truly Portable Satellite Radio

The Delphi MyFi--one of this past holiday season's hottest sellers--is the first pocket-sized satellite radio receiver, says PC World reviewer Helmut Kobler. The $350 Walkman-like receiver's battery is good for 5 hours, includes a built-in antenna, and has an FM transmitter that sends the music to your car or home radio. When you can't get a signal, you can still listen to up to 5 hours of audio you've recorded previously. Read Helmut's review of this and other satellite radio services and devices in "Radio, Reinvented."

Wireless News: Catch TV on Your Cell Phone

Verizon Wireless is expected to begin offering streaming video and games to its 3G network customers this month via its VCast service, which adds $15 to the cost of a calling plan. VCast customers can access some 300 daily updated videos, most 2 to 5 minutes long, plus premium content that includes 3D games and music videos for an additional cost. The LG Electronics VX8000 wireless phone supports the VCast service, as do phones from Samsung Telecommunications America and UTStarcom.

Gadget News: Altec Lansing's Latest InMotion Speakers

Altec Lansing Technologies recently previewed its newest InMotion portable audio speaker system for MP3 players. The InMotion IM4 Portable Speaker System ($130) works with a variety of audio players, including the Apple IPod, and is available in different colors to match various players, the company says.

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