All 4 Toys

Given that the memories of that classified DAP fiasco are still fresh on our brains, this one’s a bit less shocking than it might otherwise be. Sure, we’ve heard of scatterbrained MI6 agents selling confidential digital cameras on eBay, but it’s another thing entirely to see multiple US Army laptops making their way out to unsanctioned trading posts in Pakistan. A new report over at Military and GlobalPost explains that some high-tech gadgets are being confiscated on supply routes and from within vehicles, and from there, the wares are making their way to black market shops for anyone to buy. Anything from ruggedized computers to stabilized binoculars to night vision mounts have been spotted, and there’s plenty of pictures to prove it. We must say, we’re a bit worried about detailed war schematics slipping so easily into the hands of the enemy, but who knows, maybe they’re just looking for a little Minesweeper action to take their minds away from it all.

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Aw, snap! Just months after Funai took the reins from Philips in North America, along comes a lawsuit for its lawyers to deal with. VIZIO, still feeling proud after its all-business Super Bowl ad, has thrown a potent antitrust and unfair competition lawsuit in Funai’s direction. The outfit alleges that Funai, “acting alone and in concert with others, unlawfully restrained trade and monopolized the market for the licensing of technology used to interpret and retrieve information from a digital television broadcast signal, as well as the market for digital television sets and receivers.” Specifically, VIZIO seems perturbed that Funai inappropriately acquired the rights to one single US patent, and ever since it has “unfairly discriminated against VIZIO in the licensing and enforcement” of said patent to the “detriment of trade and commerce.” There’s no mention of how many bills VIZIO thinks will fix the problem, but Funai better not try filling stacks of hundies with Washingtons in between.

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After learning that TeleNav would be releasing dedicated turn-by-turn GPS navigation for one of our favorite devices — the G1 — we got more than a little excited. Thankfully, we’ve had a chance to take the software for a spin before its February 24th release date, and these are our findings.

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mophie’s iPhone 3G Juice Pack received universal praise, and while the additional baggage bothered some, most users just appreciated being able to utilize 3G for more than 47 seconds without needing an AC outlet. Not one to rest on its laurels, the company has today introduced the new and improved version: Juice Pack Air. Contrary to popular belief, this actually isn’t intended for Apple’s MacBook Air (now there’s an idea to capitalize on, mophie), but instead, it’s the planet’s thinnest external iPhone 3G battery / case. The device houses a rechargeable 1,200mAh battery that “virtually doubles the amount of time you have to rock, talk, surf, and send messages.” Eager consumers can pre-order theirs now in black, purple or white, while patient souls can mellow out until they hit mophie’s website and Apple stores everywhere this Spring. Full release is after the jump. Read more »

While Verizon gets its Hub, lucky KT Telecom subscribers in Korea now have access to iriver’s Wave-Home. The kits sells for 297,000 Korean Won or about $210 and features a WiFi VoIP handset in addition to that larger 7-inch display with 1.3 megapixel camera for video conferencing, surfing the web, checking your calendar and so on. You’ve gotta hand it to iriver, they reveal the initial UNIT2-S concept at a European trade show in August, refine it in Las Vegas for CES in January, and then launch it back home a month later. Now that’s style.

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It seems Canadian megacarrier Rogers Wireless is sponsoring Ottawa’s Winterlude Festival right now, effectively incorporating the two things that come to mind when we think of Canada — ice and BlackBerrys — into a single exhibit. So much for that warranty, eh?

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