Computer Gadgets New

Posted Mar 29th 2008 4:52PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Chances are that if you do your duties on Vista and rely on one of Creative’s sound cards to get your dance on, you may have become frustrated by the firm’s inability to offer up a driver package that lived up to those loosed for Windows XP. ‘Course, if that rings a bell, you’re probably not too concerned — you know, thanks to those unofficial (but totally functional) drivers brought to you by Daniel_K. Unfortunately for users suddenly excited to gain some extra utility from their device, Creative has hopped on the offensive and is forbidding said compiler from distributing the firm’s technology / IP (not to mention collecting donations), and it’s also scouring the ‘net to remove other links to the software. Granted, we fully understand Creative’s desire to disallow the distribution of untested, potentially harmful third-party drivers, but until they release the drivers customers expect they should be a little more cautious about shutting down third party patches.

[Via Slashdot, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: It seems Creative has decided to allow Daniel_K to continue with one particular endeavor at least, noting that “as long as no intellectual property of Creative is distributed, [it] will have no problem with it.” Thanks, Aaron!

Creative Labs, makers of sound cards that still don’t work properly with Windows Vista, doesn’t want fixed versions of its broken drivers on the net.

In a message to "Daniel_K," who repaired their broken software, Creative Labs’ Phil O’Shaughnessy claims that by restoring functionality to Vista drivers that’s offered in Windows XP versions, he is a thief:

"By enabling our technology and IP to run on sound cards for which it was not originally offered or intended, you are in effect, stealing our goods," writes O’Shaughnessy at Creative’s forums.

Granted, Daniel_K is soliciting donations. Furthermore, the gear’s EULA specifies, as is usual, that you can’t tamper with its software. But why would a company set out to prevent people from helping one another fix problems in hardware it’s already sold them?

The answer is the sad one you’ve probably learned to expect: O’Shaughnessy admits that Creative Labs intentionally crippled its Vista drivers as a business strategy:

"If we choose to develop and provide host-based processing features with certain sound cards and not others, that is a business decision that only we have the right to make."

Baffling, yes, but also its prerogative. You can easily find the fixed drivers.

Thread [Creative Forums via BBG. Fixed drivers via Gizmodo]

Rumors are around that Microsoft will be releasing their latest update to Windows Mobile on April 1, 2008, which is also know as April Fools Day, so this may or may not be a lead-in to a huge disappointment. While the version 6.1 release is not a full new version, it is said to offer a lot of usability improvements over the current version 6.0.

Microsoft’s rumored Windows Mobile version 6.1 is expected to feature an improved web browser, copy and paste from IE, a Vista-like user interface, new fonts, a better task manager, Wi-Fi indicator and an some improvements to ActiveSync that will allow it to be auto-configured.

While this may be a big lead up for an April Fools joke, it does have good timing with CTIA, which will take place in Las Vegas beginning on none other than April 1. Luckily its only a short wait to see just how accurate this rumor is.

Via [Slash Gear]

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Canadians are getting antsy about not having an iPhone yet. It’s a question with some history, wrapped up in local trademark concerns and Apple’s easy-does-it approach to internationalizing its iPodification of phones. What can you do about it, Canadians?

"PhoneWorld.ca and our friends from iPhoneInCanada.ca, the two largest Canadian iPhone news and information portals … bring you The Great Canadian iphone Petition."

It’s a lovely thought, but the Fakesteve post kind of writes itself in your head the millisecond your "fan petition" neuron and your "Steve Jobs" neuron link up.

The Petition [Petitionsite]
The Great Canadian iPhone Petition [iPhone World]

Original Photo: AP/Paul Akuma

Levi’s has updated its line of mobile phones with the limited edition, “Red Tab”. As its name suggests, the new phone’s top section features Levi’s signature red tab to go along with its exclusive etched rear design. Spec-wise, the limited edition packs the same muscle power as “The Original” which is a 2-megapixel camera with flash, mp3 player, and Bluetooth with A2DP (which allows you to stream music to a Bluetooth equipped audio device). The phone still sports the same stylish, black-steel metal casing as its predecessor.

Only 100 Red Tabs will be made available, costing 549 Euros (around $870 US) at the very chic online French retailer Colette. The phone will come in a “premium” package which includes a metal chain to attach the phone to your pants, a hands-free headset, and phone case—you wouldn’t want to be scratching a near thousand dollar phone, would you? If you’d like, Levi’s can customize the phone with your name, up to 13 characters.

Via [Switched On Set]

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We first saw Verizon announce the rugged G’zOne Type-S Series back in June of last year, but at the time it was only available in black. The main feature of the phone was its ability to last in really bad conditions. While the features remain the same, the G’zOne now sports a shiny black and silver exterior. Along with the new color is a lower price, just $80 after an ‘online discount’ along with a two-year contract. If you are the type to go rough on your phones, this may be a good model to consider.

Product [Verizon] Via [EngadgetMobile]

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The Consumerist today wonders why AT&T refused to sell someone a pre-paid GoPhone for claimed "credit history" reasons. A little odd, given that the whole idea of these things is they require no contract and no bills, right? From the customer complaint:

"Ms. Johnson blatantly refused to answer either of these questions and simply read some pre-prepared rejection script that was obviously coming up on her computer screen as rudely as she could in an attempt to interrupt me in mid-speech. Once she finally ran out of things to parrot I asked why it was that a supervisor in the AT&T order processing department did not know how the AT&T order processing process worked well enough to explain to me why my orders were being cancelled, and she said that this was something the credit department handled."

Isn’t the answer obvious? GoPhones and other prepaid services are just a marketing plan to turn you into bona fide contract slaves somewhere down the line.

So, there will be credit checks.

Sakar has a couple of new MP3 players that seemingly target the pre-teen segment of the market. These won’t be able to save you from bankruptcy should you default on your loans for a few months in a row, and even pawn shops won’t want to take this in. Covered in fake jewels, you can choose from pink or purple colors. These Sakar MP3 players will carry just 512MB worth of songs inside, which is paltry considering today’s storage standards. Pricing details are conspicuously missing as well, but it shouldn’t hit your wallet for too much damage anyways.

Product Page via Chip Chick

Posted Mar 29th 2008 2:18AM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: cellphones

At this point the Treo 800w has been outed by Bill Gates himself, so while the suspense factor is pretty low, it’s nice to know that it’ll finally be getting here in June. That’s the word according to this purloined Sprint roadmap, which also indicates the newest Treo will have GPS and EV-DO rev. A — but still run WinMo 6.0, which is pretty sad, especially if that revised version of 6.1 launches at CTIA next week as expected. Oh well, at least it’s a new Treo — let’s just hope they can shake some more ugly off this thing before it hits the street.

[Via PhoneArena]

Microsoft will soon be releasing Service Pack 3 for Windows XP. How soon is soon? Reports have it coming as early as April and will be released in two groups. Service Pack 3 (SP3) will come first for those users with the Simplified English, Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish, and Korean versions with any remaining versions to follow about 3-weeks later.

Microsoft has also confirmed that SP3 for Windows XP Media Center and Windows XP Tablet Edition will not be available as an integrated version, meaning those users will only be available to update to SP3 using Windows Update. Its also safe to say that this will be that last major update Microsoft will push out before they stop selling XP this June. Which hopefully becomes a point where users will finally feel comfortable enough to make the move to Vista.

Via [Gizmodo]

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