Archive2008

What is your background as an inventor/designer?

Since I was a kid, I always enjoyed making stuff with my hands. After my A level, I did an art foundation in Paris (Atelier de Sèvres) and then went to London to start a BA in product design at Central Saint Martins. I’m in my final year now. The foundation really gave me the taste for making things, and studying product design was, I think, the right choice.

Tell us about the “Watts Maker” cell phone charger

The Watts Maker allows you to charge your cell phone while you’re cycling. You don’t spend a penny on it, only sweat. The Watts Maker is not a final product, there is no real design on it. I would call it more a DIY piece. An idea that has to be turned into a real product. It is something I did in my spare time without sketching or anything. I just used what I had at home.

How does it work?

I opened a bicycle dynamo and plugged my phone charger on it. The result is quite simple, as you cycle, instead of lighting the bike torch, it charges your phone. Luckily, the dynamo produces enough power for the phone to charge.

What inspired you to create the “Watts Maker” cell phone charger?

I think it happened one morning when I arrived at uni and realized I forgot to charge my phone, I couldn’t use it for the whole day. And the same day, when cycling home, I had to turn my dynamo on because it was dark. I just realized that if my legs could produce enough power to light a torch, could there be enough power to charge my phone?

What will the future hold for this idea?

Well, what I like about it and the reason it is on my website is that it shows that some eco problems can be solved quite easily. It would be fantastic to find a producer interested in it, and work along together to make it “real”.

For more information about Oscar Lhermitte or the “Watts Maker” bicycle cell phone charger – read this.

The G1 for T-mobile will be available just in time for the holidays at Wirefly! Without a doubt, the T-Mobile G1 is in popular demand, and we’ve confirmed that we’ll be carrying the black, bronze, and white versions.

With the shocking demand for the Android platform, the following manufacturers have recently joined The Open Handset Alliance (the developers of Android) with hopes of supporting the next Android powered device:

1. AKM Semiconductor
2. ARM
3. ASUSTek
4. Atheros Communications
5. Borqs
6. Ericsson
7. Garmin
8. Huawei Technologies
9. Omron Software
10. Softbank Mobile Corporation
11. Sony Ericsson
12. Teleca AB
13. Toshiba
14. Vodafone

The Open Handset Alliance totals in with 47 technology and mobile companies aboard as of 12/17/08. With that kind of buzz we can only expect a slew of new Android supported devices in 2009! Get in on the action today with the T-Mobile G1 and start learning about the first complete, open, and free mobile platform ever created.

Buy the T-Mobile G1 at Wirefly!

Read more…

The hugely anticipated BlackBerry Storm touchscreen smartphone for Verizon Wireless has arrived, and is set to dominate the holiday season at Wirefly. The Storm – the first touchscreen BlackBerry – has an absolutely brilliant 3.2″ display that supports multi-touch technology, and provides “click” feedback with each touch. This exciting new phone also operates on Verizon’s 3G data network, and comes with a GB of onboard memory and a 3.2-Megapixel camera, among many other high-end features. Check out Wirefly’s limited time offer on the BlackBerry Storm, and get it while it’s hot!

Highlights
• First Touchscreen BlackBerry Device
• 3.2″ Display Provides Tactile Feedback and Multi-Touch
• Full Virtual QWERTY Keyboard Ideal For Messaging and Emails
• 3.2 Megapixel Camera/Camcorder With Facial Recognition
• Compatible With GSM and CDMA Networks For Global Use
• Built-In GPS Supports Verizon’s Navigator Service
• Fast Web Surfing Experience With Full HTML Browser
• Voice-Dialing Allows For Easy Hands-Free Operation

Take advantage of this outrageous deal at Wirefly.

Holiday 2008 is gearing up to be the season of the Smartphone, touch screeen phone, music phone and other feature driven devices with converged technology, proving that being stylish is simply no longer enough. This holiday season’s real contenders fluidly merge form and function.

Boasting everything from 3G to MobileTV, streaming video, MP3 players, GPS, high-res cameras and beyond, get to know the 10 powerhouse cell phones that have already claimed their spots on Wirefly’s “Top 10 Hottest Selling Phones of the Holiday Season”… Read more…

It wasn’t too long ago that the wireless world stumbled through product names like the C168i, and tried to explain what set a T61z apart from a T637. These days, while naming conventions make a bit more sense (like differentiating between a BlackBerry Bold and a Samsung Instinct), the cell phone world hasn’t fully escaped the alpha-numerical soup. The one element that confuses industry folks and consumers alike? The omnipresent ‘G’.

So, what does the ‘G’mean, exactly?

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For the better part of a year-and-a-half, the BlackBerry Curve has ruled RIM’s roost. The incredibly popular device swept across all carriers, and, even now, is still ranked among the “best” cell phones by wireless aficionados across the Internet. It also happens to be one of Wirefly’s best-selling cell phones.

But, this fall, BlackBerry is poised to unleash two new devices – the BlackBerry Bold, and the BlackBerry Storm. While the Storm is still a week or two away from hitting shelves, the Bold is currently available at Wirefly, and we’ve had some time to play with this particular phone.

Our analysis?

It’s a beautiful, eye-catching device that takes a significant step into the high-speed data world, and will certainly please any Curve enthusiast looking to upgrade.

Display/Design

If you’re curious about the name BlackBerry decided to bestow upon its new model, one look at the Bold’s display will answer any question. This is an aptly named cell phone; the Bold boasts twice the resolution of any other BlackBerry, displaying 480 x 320 pixels and over 65,000 colors. The result is an astonishingly crisp, clear, and bright display with “bold” colors.

Read more…

The Sony Ericsson TM506 builds on the popular Z780 flip phone for T-Mobile, but adds support for T-Mobile’s 3G network. This latest multimedia device from Sony Ericsson delivers HSDPA data speeds for fast downloads, and boasts a 2-megapixel camera and built-in music player – with a memory card slot for added storage. The QVGA hi-res display makes the TM506 an attractive option; GPS services and a full web browser make this cell phone even more useful on the go.

Highlights
• Sony Ericsson Phone With HSDPA 3G Broadband Data Speed Capability
• Streaming Stereo Bluetooth Wireless Technology
• Experience Entertainment On-the-Go With Streaming Video From T-Mobile
• 2.0 Megapixel Camera/Camcorder
• FM Stereo Radio With RDS Gives Your More Mobile Entertainment Options
• Hi-Resolution QVGA Display Is Ideal For Viewing Pictures And Videos
• Fast Web Surfing Experience With Full HTML Browser That Supports RSS Data Feeds
• Voice-Dialing Allows For Easy Hands-Free Operation

Take advantage of this outrageous deal at Wirefly.