Gadgets Mobile

The Internet access while tightly controlled does not seem to be stopping Cuban bloggers from telling their story. Computers have just recently became legal for Cuban citizens to own and even with the hard to come by Internet access many are turning towards the web to share their story.

Some of the blogs, have been going on for longer than the two-months that computers have been legal to access. A site we have mentioned before, “Generacion Y” which is written by Yoani Sanchez receives more than one-million hits a month. But for Sanchez and other Cuban bloggers, most of whom choose to do so anonymously getting their stories posted is not as simple as sitting in front of a computer and typing away.

For example Sanchez has to pretend to be a tourist in order to obtain her web access, which costs about $6 an hour from local Havana hotels. Others are willing to pay upwards of $40 a month to get black-market dial-up access. Regular or authorized service includes access to an island-wide network that allows for sending or receiving emails, this is available at youth clubs, post offices and a handful of cafes however the rest of the web is blocked.

While its still illegal and potentially dangerous for bloggers such as Sanchez to write as she does, especially under her real name, she is quick to note that “with each step we take in that direction, it’s harder for the government to push us back.” Hopefully, as we have seen the recent relaxing of what Cuban citizens can legally purchase electronics wise, we will soon see the same to happen with other services such as unfiltered or unblocked Internet access.

Read [USA Today]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

The RC-12 Wireless Mini Cam from RF System Lab is not only tiny and has a maximum working range of up to 30 meters, it can even shoot images underwater with the help of a waterproof case, although I wouldn’t think that there would be anyone performing underwater trysts anytime which makes for newsworthy material. After all, if you’re going to explore underwater photography, why not settle for a standard point-and-shoot with a waterproof case? This will be much better suited for on-land use, using a 0.25″ CMOS chip to snap full color images in VGA quality. The RC-12 Wireless Mini Cam retails for $269 each.

The Razer Death Adder is one gaming mouse that is good to look at, and functions pretty well, too. Mac owners have long been left out of the gaming hardware scene, since hardly any good hardcore games appear on that platform, but Razer has been kind enough to release a Mac version of the Razer Death Adder that brings 1800dpi and 1ms response time to the table. No matter how it is named, the Mighty Mouse will whimper in a fragfest, which is why this timely introduction is extremely welcome. The Mac version of the Razer Death Adder will hit retail stores this May 20th for $60.

Samsung Korea is proud to lay claim to a couple of the smallest color laser printers built to date, comprising of the CLP-315K and the CLX-3175FNK. The former features a rather quiet 45dB noise level, 2,400 x 600 dpi resolution, 32MB of internal memory, 16 pages per minutes (Black) and 4 pages per minutes (Color). As for the CLX-3175FNK, this all-in-one laser color printer boasts an integrated color scanner and a much smaller body (up to 40% the size of its predecessor, the CLX-3160). You can scan documents directly onto a plugged-in USB flash drive without the need for a PC with this model. Pretty neat, huh?

It’s already been confirmed that HTC is holding a press event on May 6 where they’re poised to announce some new handsets. Early speculation had HTC showing off Android-based devices (Dream) but according to EngadgetMobile, the new HTC Diamond will make its official debut. The latest rumors are that the Diamond will offer a large VGA touch screen, Windows Mobile 6.1, WiFi and a 3 megapixel camera. It’s also believed that HTC has made some significant improvements to the touch screen software that it introduced in the HTC Touch.

With all the third-party software out there for improving the iphone-like touch experience on your Windows Mobile, I’m sure HTC has something amazing under development.

Read more at EngadgetMobile.

Gizmodo reader Patrick sent in a video and photo gallery of the new Psystar Open Computer, pre-loaded with OS X Leopard. The video shows a feature that the original Apple hardware lacks: Hit the “on” button and the thing goes off like a leaf-blower. Nice touch. Also, check the guts of the machine (the Psystar box is on the left, in case you weren’t sure). Sure is pretty, huh?

Exclusive Video: Psystar in the Wild [Gizmodo]

Exclusive Photos: Psystar’s Case, Shipping Contents [Gizmodo]

Unlocking phones can be a pretty tricky affair, but with SIMable, the entire complicated business is simplified. This extremely thin chip, when attached to any SIM card, will fool the majority of cell phones into thinking that they have been unlocked within a matter of seconds. No idea how it works though, but you must take note that in most cases it will invalidate the handset’s warranty so if you’re the rough and tumble type, chances are you’re better off not using the SIMable just in case your spanking new 3G handset gives up the ghost due to one too many abuse by you. SIMable is available for £16.99 a pop and each purchase will be accompanied by a customized cutting press that does away with the need for messy SIM cutting with scissors.

WiebeTech’s new UltraDock might not have the simple elegance of the Stage Rack, but it more than makes up for that in features. The concept is the same: you hook the UltraDock up to a raw hard drive and then connect it to a computer. But where the Stage Rack offers only SATA to USB 2.0, WiebeTech’s box will output to Firewire 400 (1 port) and 800 (2 ports), USB 2.0 and eSATA and take inputs from both SATA and ATA (for your old IDE drives).

Pretty? Nope. Useful? Hell yes. Just make sure you don’t mix it up with WiebeTech’s other product, the remarkably similar looking Drive eRazer. $200.

Product page [WeibeTech]

Let’s face it, watches are kind of useless. When it comes to fulfilling our basic time-telling and alarm needs, cellphones do the job and more. Today, most people either wear watches out of habit or, in some cases, because they’ve been convinced that pimping their wrists with an array LEDs is fashionable. The point here is that it’s refreshing when someone actually releases a watch with a useful feature. True to its name, the WiFi watch will detect all networks within a 300-foot range, giving you relative strength of those local connections so you can select the best spot to borrow your WiFi. Oh, and it also has an alarm and a countdown timer.

[Thumbs Up via TechDigest]

If you’re a tea snob, I mean ,connoisseur, as I am, you know it’s all about the process - steep it too long and it’s bitter; too short and it’s colored water.

TeaCubes takes the guessing out of the equation by placing the tea bag on a timed retractable spool so it pulls the teabag out of your mug in exactly three minutes.

Designed by Jieun Yang & Hanah Suh, it’s only in the concept stage at this point, but you can admire it at Yanko Design.

More on tea and tea gadgets:
Kenwood Response Kettle
Blends for friends
Full Bloom Tea - a visual experience
WIsdom Wands: Coffee and tea brewing wands
The Teastick