The folks at Gizmodo apparently posted up a supposed spy shot of the upcoming iPod nano, but shortly after doing that they apparently received a dossier from the legal eagles at Apple, politely asking them to remove those spy shots due to the fact that they’re still "intellectual property". At least the spy shots confirm that the device in question definitely belongs to Apple, although it cannot be confirmed as at press time as to whether it is the final product or still a fledgling prototype.

Are you excited about the prospect of holding a brand new iPod nano in your hands sometime down the future? Will the user experienced be "gimped" as certain quarters speculate? I think the iPod nano will still generate a whole lot of buzz and even more sales, but as to whether it is a gadget worthy of long time love, that remains to be seen.

Source: Gizmodo

Popularity: 2% [?]

Speakers are all the same, or are they? Apparently not. Britz has come up with the Rosetta speakers that definitely jazz up the environment in your home or office, featuring some really unique design cues that cannot be found anywhere else. The entire Rosetta speaker set comes in a 2.1 configuration, bringing  a couple of satellite towers as well as a downward-firing amplified subwoofer that is touted to produce enhanced bass. What would strike most people first would be the external case design and a red LED that provides an all round illumination.

While there are only two satellites with each purchase, they do come with a virtual surround technology that definitely won’t be able to give you the real deal, but at the very least the sound you listen to would have been enhanced with a greater amount of depth. The twin speaker towers measure 3" x 11" x 5" each and offers up to 9 watts of power, while the subwoofer is nothing to write home about with 32 watts. If you’re interested in adding a touch of elegance to your desk, the Britz Rosetta speakers will retail for $90.

Source: Technabob

Popularity: 2% [?]

Viewsonic certainly isn’t playing games when it comes to their new line of monitors that already features Swarovski crystals liberally sprinkled all over. The VX2255WMB/H LCD monitor offers an unprecedented level of customization, virtually ensuring that no two people in the whole world will have the same monitor. All it takes is some artistic license - don’t worry if your friends decide that your ‘work’ isn’t pleasing to them, after all, you’re decorating your LCD monitor for your own pleasure, right?

Moving on to the specifications, this Viewsonic offering ain’t half bad either. It flaunts 22" of widescreen viewing area with a maximum resolution of 1,680 x 1,050 pixels and boasts a relatively speedy response time of 5ms. The brightness level could do with some work though, currently standing at 300 cd/m2. A contrast ratio of 1,000 to 1, a 160/160 viewing angle, integrated stereo speakers, a microphone, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam rounds off the list of features.

Source: Luxury Launches

Popularity: 2% [?]

When it comes to form and function in a computer, I would definitely pick out the latter. I don’t know about you, but performance matters more to me than mere aesthetics, but that stand does not make me go out and purchase any and every butt ugly device released. The folks at Samsung certainly identify with me, and they have just announced the Samsung R20 laptop that actually boasts some pretty decent specifications underneath the hood without looking like a total washout.

An Intel T2130 1.86GHz processor runs the proceedings from within, where the 14.1" widescreen display is more than adequate for your everyday work and entertainment purposes. The display itself comes with a reflective coating for added protection. Other specifications include 512MB of DDR2 RAM (which is a disappointment), an 80GB hard drive, and a keyboard that has been specially infused with powdery silver ion technology that has extremely potent sterilization effects. The piano black finish adds a touch of class, although you’ll probably spend a fair amount of time wiping fingerprints away. This Windows XP-powered laptop retails for approximately $790.

Source: Mobile Magazine

Popularity: 2% [?]

Cars are a very personal thing, and it is no wonder that there are plenty of people who love customizing their license plates. For those who want to stand out from the crowd, there is always the option of taking the bling route with this license plate frame that has been studded with half a thousand Swarovski crystals which has been specially cut in a manner that intends to dazzle with unprecedented brilliance.

I suppose these license plates are legal, but I have no idea whether the glare emitted from all that bling will cause the driver behind you to rain down curses that are unmentionable in a family friendly site such as this. Interested folks will be able to choose from Ice Clear, Sapphire Blue, Flamingo Pink, or Gold Yellow, retailing for $199 a pop. One thing’s for sure – your car will never be the same again once it adorns this, and you’ll probably drive around town with a little extra swagger.

Source: Born Rich

Popularity: 2% [?]

The Nokia 6555 is a 3G clamshell handset that not only oozes with style no matter which angle you are looking at it, it also comes with some pretty useful features. The implementation of an external analog clock on the outer display gives the 6555 a dignity that often accompanies high end luxury devices, and holds the distinction of being the first WCDMA cellphone that come with a smooth back fold design and a recessed hinge.

Features-wise, the 6555 does not come up short as it boasts a 16 million color QVGA internal display - that number is double the number of colors the human eye can see. Which begs the question, why include it anyway? You also get a camera with 6x zoom, 30MB of internal memory, a self-portrait function for those who are in love with themselves, video capture capability, Bluetooth connectivity, and a microSD memory card slot for expansion options. For those who are hankering after a new handset, the Nokia 6555 certainly can be considered when it is released next month for approximately €200 before subsidies and taxes.

Source: Mobile Whack

Popularity: 2% [?]

Designer Pinju Chen must have certainly enjoyed lounging about on his own lazy chair back home with an audio system nearby playing back some soul soothing tunes after a hard day at work. This could be one of the explanations as to how he conjured up the idea of the Speaker Chair that is capable of generating some strong bass tones right from the bottom. Other than acting as a speaker, the Speaker Chair also boasts an integrated CD player, which means you now only need to run one instead of two cables (which is the power) from a nearby power outlet.

It would be great to see this concept hit the market, as it makes a great candidate for any bachelor pad. I believe gamers will definitely fall in love with the softness of the chair that is married to some tubthumpin’ bass right from the bottom. Audio input jacks on the left side lets you enjoy tunes from your iPod directly for maximum listening pleasure.

Source: Ubergizmo

Popularity: 2% [?]

How many ways are there to wear an iPod Shuffle, especially when the darn thing is so small? While most people don’t mind hooking it up to the nearest belt loop, the folks at iXoundWear decided that it would be better to simply create a range of headgear that comes with just the right holders to keep your iPod Shuffle or nano in place. Each iXoundWear is compatible with both generations of either player, so you don’t have to cower in shame knowing that you’re still stuck with a white 512GB chewing gum stick of yore.

Other than a tennis visor, there are other styles to choose from such as a baseball cap and even a knit beanie for those with a penchant for hip hop and urban grooves. It will require a fair amount of guts to wear this in the public though, but if you want to announce to the world that you’re a proud owner of a Shuffle or nano, then you can’t really go wrong with the iXoundWear.

Source: Gearlog

Popularity: 3% [?]

Switched always has some interesting stories, but this one caught my eye, raised a few red flags, and reminded how lucky I am to have a hubby who’s not into Second Life (although his gaming habits drive me up the wall). Joshua raises a good question: Is having an online wife adultery? The WSJ profiled a couple that seems to be on the rocks because Mr. Hoogestraat has a virtual wife on Second Life. Although the virtual couple has never met outside the game (so they say), they spend entirely way too much time playing house inside their virtual paradise. Obviously, this has the real Mrs. Hoogestraat on edge, and for good reason. The man would rather spend his weekends teleporting between his strip club, the beach, and his online mansion, which he shares with his two dogs and virtual wife. The whole things is sad, and if he doesn’t get help, he will eventually lose his real wife. You have to read the whole story to believe it.

Popularity: 2% [?]

It’s back-to-school shopping season, and the ladies over at Yahoo! Tech (that’s me) and Family Circle got together to select a handful of electronics your kids will want/need this season. If you’re at the supermarket or bookstore, pick up an issue for shopping ideas. You can also check out the list over at Parents.com. I’d love to get some feedback from you guys on what techie toys your kids are actually adding to the school supply list, that’s always interesting.

Popularity: 6% [?]