tech e blog

London student Kieron-Scott Woodhouse created a smartphone, called ADzero, that's made from specially treated bamboo that is "just as strong as any kind of plastic." Pricing and availability have not yet been announced. Click here to see more. Continue reading for a video.

Woodhouse, a design student in the U.K. at Middlesex University, came up with the idea for ADzero based on his interest in alternative construction methods for phones. In fact, one of his early concepts with which he was just "messing about with materials, trying to find quality materials," turned into a handset made out of steel and bronze.

Sleek and ultra stylish, Samsung's Bang and Olufsen smartphone is basically "a mix between the current Samsung Galaxy lineup with B&O's traditional slant on masculine industrial engineering." No word yet on if this concept will go into production. Click here for more pictures. Continue reading to see Samsung's transparent AMOLED display.

I think the final form works. It's thin and sleek, yet manages to slightly deviate from the "me too" crowd. LOVE the dock which transforms it into a banging B&O speaker. One can hope.

For a limited time, the Dell Venue Pro (unlocked) is priced at just $249.99 shipped (normally $399.99). Its "contoured back has a nice grippy feel, and the curved, WVGA AMOLED, Gorilla Glass screen is just stunning." Product page. Click here for more pictures. Continue reading for a video review.

The 4.1-inch capacitive, multitouch display is joined by additional back, home and search touch-sensitive buttons, all of which seemed responsive in our short time with the device. The back is also home to a 5 megapixel cam with flash while there's a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the device and a micro-USB port on the bottom edge.

The new speedy dual-core 1.5-GHz Snapdragon processor will be found in Samsung's Galaxy Note. Plus, it boasts a 5.3-inch Super AMOLED HD (1280 x 800) display and will be released on the AT&T network. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced. Continue reading for a video preview.

Anyway, the model number for the AT&T device will be SGH-I717, and it will come with support for 4G LTE connectivity. The final difference between this model and the international one consists in the four-button layout which is so loved in the US and is present on AT&T's Galaxy Note as you can see in the image above.

Researchers from Dartmouth College and the University of Bologna have developed WalkSafe, an innovative app that's designed to alert smartphone users when a car is near. In other words, "their Android app uses machine learning and image recognition that takes place right on your phone to alert you when you're chatting your way right into an oncoming smash-up." Video after the break.

The app uses the outward facing camera on a smartphone to help a pedestrian look both ways. Using vision algorithms built into the app, the system determines which way cars on the roadway are facing and whether or not they are moving, taking into account the tilt of the phone and varying light conditions to establish an accurate picture of the roadway. It then figures out if any approaching vehicle is a threat to the user.

Motorola's DROID 4 may not be as talked about as the iPhone 4S or Galaxy Nexus, but it's definitely no slouch. Featuring a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 4-inch display, 8.0MP camera, 4G LTE connectivity, and Google Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread OS. Expect this smartphone to hit stores on December 8th, with pricing to be announced at a later date. Continue reading for one more picture.

[via UberGizmo - DigitalTrends]

Let's face it, there isn't an official steering wheel out on the market for any mobile-based smartphone racing games...yet. So, a clever geek decided to build their own using some PVC piping. Want more funny fixes? Then Thereifixedit.com is your answer. Click here to see our favorites. Continue reading to see a video of a microwave that plays YouTube videos.

Amazon has the Motorola DROID RAZR 4G for just $199.99 shipped with new service contract (Verizon Wireless), originally priced at $799.99. Zoom "through multiple tasks simultaneously with a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor and 1 GB of LP DDR2 RAM, and enjoy brilliant optics with the 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced display." Product page. Continue reading for an incredible commercial and preview.

Reinforced with Corning Gorilla Glass and encased in laser-cut KEVLAR fiber--the strongest material in smartphones--the DROID RAZR is compressed into a deceptively thin profile to create the thinnest 4G LTE smartphone.

Microsoft unveiled the world's largest Windows Phone yesterday at NYC's Herald Square, and it stands a massive 55-feet tall. This behemoth is comprised of "enormous tiles [that] display video feeds transmitted from a control room, and move out of place to accommodate live stage performances." Click here for more pictures. Continue reading for two videos.

[via Engadget - TheVerge]

Amazon has the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S II for only $545 shipped, originally priced at $899.99. Its "considerably thinner than the original GALAXY S and rivals such as the iPhone 4 (8.49mm v 9.3mm) the GALAXY S II is stunningly light (only 117g) and packs the latest version of Android (Gingerbread)." Product page Continue reading for a video review.

The one feature most people will notice immediately is Samsung's best ever screen; the monster 4.27-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen runs at 480 x 800 resolution, has colours visibly brighter and more vivid than other phones, better contrast and lower power consumption, and performs superbly for gaming and watching video.