HP just announced their latest iPAQ series for the Asian market, the HP rw6800 Multimedia Messenger, running Windows Mobile 5.0.

The rw6800 series iPAQs are all tri-band GSM, will do GPRS/EDGE, have Bluetooth 1.2 and infrared, a MiniSD slot and dual stereo speakers, as well a built-in FM radio tuner; the rw6828 model will also have WiFi. Prices for the series are still TBA, probably closer to the release date in Q2 2006.

Will European and North American announcements be next? We haven’t heard anything yet, but they seem likely—but HP has said that the pen-based PDA market is basically over (“[It’s] shrinking at a rate of 30 percent year-on-year.”) and so they probably will be focusing on smartphones like the rw800 series from now.

HP iPAQ rw6800 Announced in Asia [MobileWhack.com]
HP debuts iPAQ rw6800 Multimedia Messenger Series [AVING]
HP: Pen-based PDA market on death bed [CNET.com.au]

From Gizmodo

The petgadgets Glo Leash has what the company calls a “dual-beam, super-bright LED” on its handle that runs on two AA batteries, lighting your way as well as your dog’s, and at the same time making you more visible to those reckless drivers careening down your block.

Adding to the safety factor is a glow-in-the-dark leash that’s 4 feet long. It’s $29.99 from petgadgets.

Product page [petgadgets via popgadget]

From Gizmodo

If for some reason you find yourself toting around one cellphone and two sim cards at the same time, you might want to look into purchasing a dual sim adapter like the one on the right. The Powerful Dual Card offered by Hong Kong’s mobile.brando for $27 lets you switch from one sim to the other without powering your phone off; there’s a menu so you can either switch manually or set a timer to do it.

Dual Sim card adapter makes it easy [MobileMag]
Powerful Dual Card [mobile.brando.com.hk]
Cheaper roaming: One phone but two numbers [International Herald Tribune]

From Gizmodo

Forget those fossilized SPOT watches. If you want to go all Dick Tracy, check out Seiko’s CPC TR-006, a Bluetooth watch that communicates with your cellphone. Currently just a prototype, the watch can receive text messages from your phone, capture Caller ID data so you know who’s calling, and adjust ringtones. Pair it with a Bluetooth headset, stick your phone in your bag, and you’ve got a complete hands-free interface that still gives you access to your phone’s main functions.

More info

From Engadget

We’re used to seeing a bit of plug-and-play hardware firewall protection, but spam and virus protection usually takes some fiddling around with software and a bit of our precious computerly resources. Well, Spam Cube hopes bring the hurt on spam, viruses (email ones at least), and phishing with a new box that stands between you and your broadband modem, flagging or deleting email messages before they get to your Mac or PC’s mail program. Spam protection is free, but for the “Security OnDemand” services you’ll have to fork over $52 a year. The Spam Cube goes for $150, comes in many colors (hows about a blue/yellow and pink edition?), and should be available in a month or so.

[Via TG Daily]

product page

From Engadget