Remember that Wahoo Fitness Bluetooth 4.0 heart rate monitor? Here she is again. The company’s proper unveiling of the device will come at CES 2012, linking up exclusively (at first, anyway) with the iPhone 4S and other Bluetooth Smart Ready devices. By tapping into the Blue HR and harnessing your fitness app of choice (a nice touch, we must say), you’ll have access to heart rate data, music playlists, phone, maps, etc., all in one place. It’ll start shipping in January for $79.99, and we’re told that the product will launch with “full support of several of Wahoo Fitness’ app partners, who have been working with Wahoo’s Open API to support the Blue HR.” A few compatible apps have already filtered into the App Store, including MapMyFitness, RunKeeper, 321Run, Runmeter, and MotionX, and the company’s expecting even more in 2012.

Merespon besarnya minat pasar atas ponsel pintar iPhone, PT XL Axiata Tbk (XL) kembali meluncurkan program bundling dengan produk Apple ini dengan harga lebih terjangkau. Per 8 Juli 2011, masyarakat dan pelanggan XL bisa mendapatkan produk bundling XL dengan iPhone 3Gs – 8GB seharga hanya Rp 4.299.000 (sudah termasuk PPn).

Direktur Marketing XL, Joy Wahyudi mengatakan, “Meskipun sudah lama muncul, namun paket bundling iPhone 3Gs yang dihadirkan XL harganya yang jauh lebih terjangkau dibandingkan dengan harga yang sebelumnya ada di pasar. Sebagai smartphone yang sudah dikenal luas, iPhone 3Gs layak dimiliki oleh pelanggan XL yang menginginkan sarana komunikasi sekaligus gadget yang canggih dan komplit dilengkapi dengan koneksi cepat internet unlimited dari XL.”

Masyarakat atau pelanggan yang membeli paket bundling XL iPhone 3Gs bisa langsung menikmati bonus yang diberikan setiap bulannya antara lain Gratis internet unlimited, 150 menit telpon, 150 SMS, dan 15 MMS selama 3 bulan.

Paket bundling istimewa ini bisa didapatkan di Apple Premium Reseller, 16 XL Center dan juga toko-toko erafone terdekat. Untuk info lebih lengkapnya bisa di cek melalui www.xl.co.id/iphone. Informasi mengenai iPhone 3Gs dan keunggulannya bisa diperoleh melalui www.apple.com/iphone. [press release]

It’s possible — likely, even — that you’re reading this while jumping out of a plane, wrestling a mountain lion, or having some equally hardcore adventure. If so, you’re just the type of active consumer Western Digital’s courting with its Nomad case. Designed for the My Passport external hard drive line, it combines a hard polycarbonate exterior with an elastomer interior that keeps the drive snug and secure, and provides another option if you’d rather upgrade your existing drive than spend the clams on a rugged one. It includes a USB port, making your data accessible even when the case is closed, and will set you back $30 according to WD. Lizard not included. [engadget]

Kebutuhan masyarakat Indonesia atas layanan telekomunikasi yang lengkap, berkualitas, serta mengikuti trend teknologi terkini terus meningkat. Seiring dengan dinamika tersebut, PT XL Axiata Tbk (XL) bekerja sama dengan Apple Inc. menawarkan program paket bundling iPhone 4 dengan layanan berkualitas dari XL.

Direktur Pemasaran XL, Nicanor Santiago, mengatakan, “iPhone telah merevolusi pasar smartphone dan kami sangat senang dapat membawa ikon perangkat telekomunikasi canggih ini ke Indonesia. XL akan menawarkan harga khusus untuk paket bundling iPhone 4 dan kami yakin para pelanggan dan masyarakat akan puas menggunakan perangkat ini pada jaringan kami.”

iPhone 4 adalah ponsel paling inovatif di dunia, termasuk Retina display yang mengagumkan dari Apple, sebuah layar dengan resolusi tertinggi yang pernah diterapkan pada ponsel, dan FaceTime yang membuat panggilan video menjadi nyata. iPhone 4 ini didukung oleh chip A4 Apple dan fitur kamera 5 mega piksel dengan LED flash, perekam video HD, dan desain kaca dan stainless steel yang indah, berbeda dengan ponsel lainnya. iPhone 4 hadir dengan IOS 4, sistem operasi mobile yang paling canggih di dunia. Selain itu, App Store yang revolusioner menyediakan akses ke lebih dari 350.000 aplikasi, termasuk aplikasi iMovie yang dibangun hanya untuk 4 iPhone.

Pada program bundling iPhone 4 ini, XL menawarkannya dengan harga terjangkau mulai dari Rp 999.000. Untuk setiap pembelian paket bundling ini, selain iPhone yang sangat canggih, pelanggan yang membelinya akan langsung mendapatkan bonus internet unlimited, telepon, SMS dan MMS. Syarat dan ketentuan berlaku, detail terlampir.

XL bekerjasama dengan PT Sinar Eka Selaras (SES) dalam mendistribusikan program bundling iPhone 4 ini di Indonesia. Pelanggan dan masyarakat luas bisa mendapatkan paket bundling XL iPhone 4 ini di Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Medan, Bali, Semarang, Makassar, Palembang, Pekanbaru, dan Banjarmasin. Paket bundling XL iPhone 4 tersedia di XL Center, Apple Premium Reseller, Apple Authorize Reseller, dan juga outlet-outlet jaringan Erafone.

XL iPhone 4 tersedia mulai tanggal 22 April 2011 dengan beragam pilihan paket sesuai kebutuhan Anda.

Dapatkan potongan harga Rp 999.000 untuk 100 pembeli pertama pada Exhibition XL IPhone 4 di Main Atrium, East Mall Level 1 – Grand Indonesia Shopping Town Jakarta 26 April – 1 Mei 2011.

* Syarat dan ketentuan berlaku

** Gratis Data, Telepon, SMS dan MMS diberikan setiap bulan selama 12 bulan

Syarat dan ketentuan untuk semua paket:

1.    Paket Pasca Bayar hanya tersedia di XL Center berikut:

• Jakarta: Menara Rajawali, PIM 2, EX Plaza, Lippo Karawaci, Puri Indah Mall, dan Plaza Semanggi
• Bandung: Martadinata
• Yogya: Mangkubumi
• Surabaya: Pemuda
• Denpasar: Sunset road
• Medan: Diponogoro

2.         Paket Prabayar sudah termasuk pajak, paket Pasca Bayar belum termasuk pajak.

3.         Biaya bulanan Pasca Bayar akan didebet secara otomatis dari Kartu Kredit Anda.

4.         Gratis Data, Telepon, SMS, dan MMS hanya berlaku untuk penggunaan di wilayah Indonesia ke sesame XL.

5.         Kelebihan pemakaian Gratis Data, Telepon, SMS, dan MMS akan ditagih melalui tagihan Pasca Bayar, sedangkan pengguna Prabayar akan dipotong dari pulsa Anda.

6.         Gratis Data, Telepon, SMS, dan MMS yang tidak digunakan tidak akan diakumulasi untuk bulan berikutnya.

7.         Gratis telepon  berlaku ke sesama XL, dihitung perhari & tidak berlaku akumulasi

• Plan 1: 5 menit/hari
• Plan 2: 10 menit/hari
• Plan 3: 20 menit/hari

8.    Gratis SMS berlaku ke sesama XL, dihitung perhari & tidak berlaku akumulasi

• Plan 1: 5 SMS/hari
• Plan 2: 10 SMS/hari
• Plan 3: 20 SMS/hari

9.    Gratis MMS berlaku ke sesama XL, dihitung perbulan & tidak berlaku akumulasi

• Plan 1: 15 MMS/bulan
• Plan 2: 30 MMS/bulan
• Plan 3: 60 MMS/bulan

10.   Selama periode kontrak/bundling tidak dapat melakukan migrasi dari prabayar ke pasca bayar dan begitu juga sebaliknya

11.   Selama periode kontrak/bundling tidak dapat melakukan pindah layanan Internet lainnya.

12.   Jika pemakaian Gratis Data (Unlimited) melebihi dari FUP (Fair Usage Policy) maka kecepatan akan berkurang

13.  Setelah kontrak berakhir:

• Maka akan otomatis terdaftar ke layanan Internet Broadband Rp99rb/30 hari selama pulsa mencukupi.
• Jika pulsa tidak mencukupi untuk biaya perpanjangan , maka secara otomatis layanan Internet akan berhenti dan setiap pemakaian GPRS akan dikenakan tariff normal

Nokia launched new Symbian smartphones that appear to be the platform’s last gasp before shifting to Windows Phone 7, while also describing developer opportunities related to its mothballed platform in its Ovi Store.

Nokia launches more Symbian models

Meanwhile, Nokia has unveiled two new Symbian models, after announcing earlier this year that Symbian had no future, given the company’s new plans to partner with Microsoft to develop Windows Phone 7 smartphones. The business-oriented E6 and consumer X7 are scheduled to launch in the second quarter.

Despite previously outlining a future built around Microsoft’s WP7, Jo Harlow, the head of Nokia’s Smart Devices business, said “With these new products and more Symbian devices and user enhancements coming in the near future, we are confident we can keep existing Nokia smartphone customers engaged, as well as attract new first-time and competitor smartphone users.”

The new phones incorporate the Symbian Anna update, which Nokia plans to also roll out for its existing Nokia N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 models over “the coming months.”

The company said “this update offers a host of usability enhancements, including fresh, new icons, improved text input, a faster internet browsing experience and a refreshed Ovi Maps application with improved search and new public transport routes,” and added that “Symbian Anna greatly enhances the user experience on Nokia smartphones and makes the Qt business opportunity with Nokia even greater [for developers].”

Mobile market leader takes on iTunes

The company also touted in a separate press release new growth in its Ovi Store, describing an “approximate 200-million-strong Symbian consumer base has seen the Ovi Store catalogue grow to more than 40,000 apps, with about 1,000 added per week.”

Given the size of the Symbian installed base and Nokia’s still very large market share of all mobile phones, it’s surprising that the platform hasn’t even caught up to the 65,000 titles available for the iPad, let alone the 350,000 apps for iPhone.

And now, a warning

Nokia ended its press release with an unusually long notice that points out its “intention to form a strategic partnership with Microsoft to combine complementary assets and expertise to form a global mobile ecosystem and to adopt Windows Phone as our primary smartphone platform,” and notes a string of 37 “risks and uncertainties.”

These include “our ability to succeed in creating a competitive smartphone platform for high-quality differentiated winning smartphones or in creating new sources of revenue through the proposed partnership with Microsoft,” “our ability to maintain the viability of our current Symbian smartphone platform during the transition to Windows Phone as our primary smartphone platform,” “our ability to build a competitive and profitable global ecosystem of sufficient scale, attractiveness and value to all participants and to bring winning smartphones to the market in a timely manner, “our ability to implement our strategies, particularly our new mobile product strategy,” “unfavorable outcome of litigations,” and two dozen other issues.

[AppleInsider]

Kalimat “akhirnya muncul juga” pantas diberikan kepada Huawei Ideos S7. Sebab, setelah mengalami penundaan dan fase ketidakpastian, peranti tablet android tersebut kini beredar resmi di tanah air.

Penulis kali pertama berjumpa dengannya pada acara CommunicAsia di Singapura, Juni tahun lalu. Saat itu ia masih bernama Huawei SmaKit S7. Dari sumber-sumber tepercaya, penulis memperoleh bocoran kabar bahwa S7 akan dijual di Indonesia paling lambat September 2010. Harga jualnya lebih dari Rp 3 juta, tetapi kurang dari Rp 4 juta.

Karena beberapa faktor, rencana itu batal. Fase ketidakpastian dimulai. Awal Desember 2010, ada informasi baru. Yakni, sebelum pergantian tahun, S7 bakal beredar di kisaran harga Rp 3,5 juta. Satu unit S7 malahan sempat dipajang pada stan pameran Huawei di WTC Surabaya. Rencana tersebut lagi-lagi tak terwujud.

Sekarang Huawei, XL, dan Teletama Artha Mandiri (TAM), salah satu pemain besar dalam distribusi peranti seluler tanah air, akhirnya berhasil mewujudkan impian yang tertunda. S7 resmi dipasarkan di Indonesia. Hal yang menarik, harga jualnya dikoreksi. Bukan naik, melainkan turun menjadi Rp 2,999 juta. Itu harga resminya. Harga pasar lebih rendah sekitar Rp 50 ribu.

S7 dibekali layar sentuh resistif tujuh inci dengan resolusi 800 x 480 piksel. Berbeda dengan, contohnya, CSL Handroid MI700 dan Axioo PicoPad yang sama-sama berlayar tujuh inci, layar S7 memanjang. Perbandingan ukuran layarnya 16:9.

Di bagian belakang S7 tersedia penyangga lipat. Jadi, kalau pengguna peranti itu ingin menonton video, mereka bisa melakukannya dengan lebih nyaman. Untuk bertelepon, pengguna memiliki tiga pilihan. Yaitu, bercakap via speaker phone, handsfree berkabel, atau handsfree bluetooth. Dua aksesori terakhir harus dibeli terpisah.

Sepasang kamera dibenamkan di peranti berdimensi fisik 20,9 x 10,8 x 1,55 cm dan berat 0,5 kilogram tersebut. Satu di sisi muka, satu lainnya di bagian belakang. Keduanya beresolusi dua megapiksel.

Untuk membaca file dokumen telah disertakan aplikasi Documents To Go. Spesifikasi lain S7, di antaranya, prosesor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8250 1GHz, RAM 256 MB, memori penyimpanan masal 8 GB, slot microSD, bluetooth, dan Wi-Fi.

Peranti bersistem operasi android 2.1 alias Eclair itu kompatibel dengan layanan HSPA berkecepatan unduh sampai 7,2 Mbps. Kendati dibundel oleh XL, S7 yang menggunakan baterai lithium 2.200 mAh bersifat unlocked. Ia bebas dipadukan dengan kartu SIM keluaran operator GSM mana pun.

Mengacu pada uji pakai yang dilakukan penulis, S7 pantas dipertimbangkan oleh pemburu tablet android atau android pad dengan anggaran pas-pasan. Daripada membeli replika iPad yang layanan purna jualnya tak jelas, lebih baik melirik merek Tiongkok yang telah mengglobal, bukan?

Beberapa hal yang mengurangi daya tariknya, selain berlayar resistif dan belum mengadopsi minimal android 2.2 alias Froyo, layar S7 tidak mendukung fitur multitouch. Dengan demikian, pengguna takkan bisa “mencubit” maupun membentangkan dua jari untuk memperkecil/memperbesar tampilan layar.

Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse is a unique mouse in that it does not require full hand movement when using it. It has a big trackball on the top which is moved by the fingers, and left-clink and right-click buttons on each side which can be programmed easily for different commands.

This is not a new mouse by Logitech, but it’s popularity has been on an increase. New variations of it have been introduced in the past, but most people enjoy the old look and feel to the new ones, with some exceptions of course.

Comfort

The Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse feels quite comfortable compared to other mice. Since you are using only your fingers and not your wrist, hand or arm, no tense feeling or pain that eventually develops from long-term use of a standard mouse is noticed. It has an extended area for your palm to rest on so that it is supported throughout the day.

The Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse also features a versatile ambidextrous design allowing left-handed users to enjoy without any difficulty.

Construction quality

The Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse is very durable and reliable. After extensive use it shows little to no signs of wear.

If you are looking for a wireless option then the original version of the mouse is corded, though Logitech currently offers two other wireless models, but with differences in design – the Cordless Trackman Wheel and the Cordless Optical Trackman. This could be a concern if you have gotten used to the old style.

Ease of use

The learning curve for this mouse may be steep for some, depending on the user. For some it may take a few days and others a few weeks to get adjusted to it, but once adjusted you won’t look back.

A good point to note here about the ease of use is that screen resolutions have increased drastically in recent years, and this requires a mouse working with a larger screen more necessary. While a standard mouse requires you to move your hand across the desk more than it did in the past so that you can reach the other side of the screen, with the Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse you can reach any point on the screen with a flick of your finger over the trackball.

Another advantage is that it requires little desk space as you won’t need to scroll it around like other mice making it perfect for anyone with a small desk or one that is always cluttered with files, papers, or other material. It can also operate on nearly any surface, but it does not work on clear glass or mirrors. You will not need to use any mouse pad and one size fits all!

Cleaning ease

Since the mouse remains stationary on the desk it does not collect dust and dirt as much as other mice do.

Precision

Logitech Trackman Marble Mouse has a very easy to use, programmable trackball. In addition it has an excellent response and control, making it fast and accurate. You might also notice it’s smooth-tracking, a key factor in mouse quality.

The only feature you may find missing in this mouse is a scroll wheel. However, the four programmable buttons on the mouse are designed to fulfill this function. These buttons also allow browsing the Web and using other applications easier.

The Trackman Marble is a USB mouse, but comes with a USB-to-PS/2 adapter if you need to use it with a PS/2 port. It is compatible with Windows (XP, Vista, and Windows 7) and Mac OS X.