Portable Electronics Ltd // Technology you can carry.

Do you know who Marty Cooper is? You should because he was the division manager who led the Motorola team that developed the first handheld phone. Cooper was the first person to make a call on a handheld cell phone prototype in 1973 and he is named on the patent “radio telephone system” filed that same year.

Mr. Cooper was recently on C-SPAN and guess what he said when asked about his current phone (around the 30 minute mark).

“Depends when you ask me. I always have the latest cell phone, and I try every cell phone out, only because people like you keep asking me. Right now I’m using the Droid, because I want to get some experience with the Android operating system, and I, so far, have some favorable results.”Martin Cooper

So now that we have the inventor of the cell phone and the father of Linux using Android, I wonder who is next.

To keep up on Marty’s Android experience, be sure to follow him on Twitter.

Related Posts

• Motorola Droid Android 2.1 will have live wallpapers
• Android 2.1 also leaks for Motorola Droid
• Motorola to Milestone developers, “Buy HTC”
• Mozilla shows rapid progress on Firefox Mobile for Android
• Best Buy to offer Devour and Droid for $99 on Feb. 25

Those of you who are eagerly waiting on Opera Mobile 10 to come to Android should check out the new Opera Mini 5 beta. Both browsers are based on the same core technology but in Opera Mini, the Opera Presto browser engine is located on a server. In Opera Mobile, it is installed on your phone. Opera is looking to partner with OEMs to include Opera Mobile 10 with their phones, so the Mini 5 could be some users only experience with Opera.

I tested out the latest Opera Mini 5 and the UI looks really clean and the rendering was off on several sites I visited. There are some cool extra features like Opera Link (which syncs booksmarks, speed dial, and search engines), but it is missing pinch zoom which I have become fond of.

The beta should work on all Android phones, so give it a test run and let us know what you think.

The major differences in Opera Mobile and Mini include:

• Opera Mobile will render web pages just like a desktop browser. In Opera Mini, there may be slight differences, and very complex Web pages may not work optimally.
• Opera Mini will generally be faster. It downloads less content and requires less CPU to render pages.
• Opera Mini works on almost any phone. Opera Mobile is only available for Windows Mobile, upcoming Android devices, and Symbian/S60 phones.

Top new features of Opera Mini 5 include:

• Tabbed browsing – Browse several Web sites at the same time, while easily jumping from one to another.
• Speed Dial – Get to your favorite Web page with just one click, with a set of visual bookmarks when you open a new tab.
• Opera Link – Synchronize your bookmarks and Speed Dial between your mobile phone and desktop computer.
• Download manager – Manage downloads right from the browser. Pause and resume downloads to suit your needs.

Related Posts

• Opera Mobile 10 on Android: Here but not here
• Firefox Mobile a.k.a. Fennec schedules a date with Android
• Skyfire announces Android browser, acquires Kolbysoft
• Opera Mini 5 coming to Android before Opera Mobile 10
• Android app review: MLB.com at Bat 2010

So who’s Motorola partnering with to provide search and maps services on its Chinese Android-based smartphones?  Apparently Microsoft, with its Bing search tagging along.  You can call this a hardly anticipated move, although Motorola did look a bit desperate with Google on the verge to back out of China altogether, along with its search technology.

“We believe that consumer choice is one of the most critical components to ensuring a rich and seamless client experience,” said Christy Wyatt, corporate vice president of software and services, Motorola Mobile Devices. “Motorola and Microsoft have enjoyed a longstanding collaboration and the addition of Bing services to our Android-based smartphones in China is another important step in empowering our end-users.”  That’s what, an indirect, politely stated “in your face” to Google?

As if Microsoft’s leap onto the Android platform wasn’t enough, we now have this going on.  Well, boys and girls, here’s a lesson on keeping your friends close, and your enemies even closer.

Motorola Announces Alliance with Microsoft for Search and Maps Services;  Launching on New Smart Phones in China Services to provide additional choice to consumers on Motorola devices powered by Android

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced a global alliance with Microsoft Corp. (NYSE: MSFT) to deploy Bing services on Motorola devices powered by Android.  This new offering, launching in China on smartphones in Q1, will provide consumers a choice when using search and map functions on their Android-based devices.

With this collaboration, consumers will enjoy a pre-loaded Bing bookmark on their mobile browser and an enhanced search widget with Bing integration.  By enabling users to customize their devices and select their own Search provider, Motorola, with help from Microsoft, is expanding the capabilities and range of services currently offered in the marketplace and opening the doors for increased personalization.

“We believe that consumer choice is one of the most critical components to ensuring a rich and seamless client experience,” said Christy Wyatt, corporate vice president of software and services, Motorola Mobile Devices. “Motorola and Microsoft have enjoyed a longstanding collaboration and the addition of Bing services to our Android-based smartphones in China is another important step in empowering our end-users.”

“Mobile devices continue to be a critical place for customers to access location-based services such as local search and mapping,” said Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president of the Online Services Division at Microsoft. “We are pleased to expand our long-standing relationship with Motorola to bring powerful Bing location-based services to Motorola’s innovative new mobile devices, providing consumers with more choice and flexibility in mobile search.”

Search and Maps capabilities through Microsoft will initially be available in China, starting in Q1 2010, through either pre-load or over-the-air updates for devices already in market.

The guys over at Engadget has gotten some leaked information on the upcoming Motorola i1. The camera will not be the previously suspected 3MP but a 5MP and Opera Mini has been tapped as the i1’s default browser.

If this is true this will be the second Android device not to include one of Google’s core Android apps. Surprisingly enough, like the first, this is also a Motorola Blur device. Anyone getting suspicious yet? Maybe Motorola and Google are having a behind the scenes disagreement. But, once again MotoBlur is not a “Google Experience” phone so it can be modified to the carriers liking. I actually would like to see Opera Mini in action on an Android device, how bout you?

There are some people who won't want to hear this, and others who will argue the point vehemently, but there are several ways that the Android OS betters the iPhone.

Related Articles

• Google Nexus One
• Unboxing the Nexus One
• HTC Tattoo
• HTC Hero

It was almost like Christmas, and I was an 8 year old boy again. Only it wasn't Christmas and this wasn't a puppy I had found under the tree. It was just after Valentines Day and this was a brown cardboard box in my hands. This brown box was a gift from The Greatest Girlfriend In The World, and it was my drug of choice... a brand new gadget. But it wasn't just any new gadget; it was a Nexus One.

My HTC Dream had served me well for over the past 12 months, but like any gadget geek I was attracted to the latest and greatest new toy. Faster processors, better screens, more features... this is what keeps me up late at night reading blogs about the next big rumor just a split second before anyone else. For being over a year old, my Dream was in remarkably good shape. It still had the original screen protector on it and there wasn't a single scratch on it's surface. The cover for the mini-usb port was still dutifully attached, and there wasn't a spot of dirt anywhere to be found on it's pristine white surface. However none of this had mattered since I had heard the first whispers of the Nexus One... the rumored "Google Phone". The device that would pack the kind of hardware that could finally utilize Android to it's fullest extent.

And now it was mine.

My Nexus One has usurped my Dreams position in my pocket and become more useful than any other device I've ever owned. My constant companion, it has replaced my many other gadgets. No longer do I carry a PSP, an iPod, a phone, and a book in my backpack during my morning commute. I simply slip my Nexus One into my pocket and head out the door. If this device would dispense beer, I'd have no other needs. I originally purchased my Dream because of Android. I wanted something different and unique. I've owned smart phones for years (from my old Blackberry on through an MDA and a Wing) but Android offered something new to me: a truly multimedia experience that I could carry in my pocket and connect my social life while on the go. But even then, it was still lacking. The UI wasn't quite what I wanted, it was slow, and it didn't have enough internal memory to really be very useful. Don't get me wrong, I still dearly love my Dream. But it comes as no surprise to me that Android didn't hit mainstream attention with the kind of hardware that the Dream had when it launched. Sure, I rooted it and installed different ROMS trying to make it what I wanted it to be. But even then, the Dream still didn't have the "OMGWTFBBQ" that I wanted it to have. That's all changed due to my Nexus One. This machine is equivalent to a Cadillac XLR: pure beauty with a mean ass monster living under the hood.

I feel as though I have joined a club... When encountering another Nexus One owner, we both readily whip out our phones to share any tips or tricks (did you know that speech to text recognizes supercalifragilisticexpialodocious?). I don't see this camaraderie with any other type of device. Sure, while some would say that Apple/iPhone users share a bond, I'd go so far as to say that it's more like a cult with His Holiness Jobs looking down from on high instructing his minions on what to do. I have made friends with people in other cities, states, and even nations... simply because of our shared ownership of this handset.

Have I become what I loathe most? Am I the anti-thesis to the iPhone fanboys? The answer is a resounding "YES!" Thanks to the Nexus One, I will resoundingly defend Android on any blog, in any conversation, and during any circumstance. When I run into an iPhone fanboy it's light versus dark, good versus evil, Jedi versus Sith. My pupils dilate, I begin to sweat, and the arguments move to the tip of my tongue. The only way I could become any worse is if I turned green, grew seven feet tall, and my clothes started to rip (Android SMASH!!). Thanks to the Nexus One (my Precious!!) my transformation is complete. Sure, it has it's (few) flaws. But I will say, that no matter what I am doing (outside of a few activities *ahem* with The Greatest Girlfriend In The World) my Nexus One enhances it.  A bastion of entertainment and knowledge at my fingertips, this is my constant companion. Now to figure out how to affix a keg of my favorite brew to it... Might We Suggest...

• Did Google Shoot itself in the Foot with Nexus One?
  Microsoft sure thinks so.  In a quote from Microsoft's Robbie Bach taken from Bloomberg, it seems the software giant thinks that Google may have bitten off more than it can chew. The Bach Quote fr...

The latest comScore report is out today and is details various trends in the mobile industry here in the United States. Guess what? Android is doing well. In the time from October '09 to January '10, the platform picked up 4.3% market share from its rivals in Windows Mobile, Palm, RIM, and Apple. RIM added 1.7% to their total and now sit with 43% market share, well ahead of everyone else. Ironically (or not), Android picked up almost the same percentage that Microsoft lost (-4%) with Window Mobile.

In terms of hardware manufacturers, Motorola ended up on top with 22.9% of mobile subscribers with LG following at 21.7% and Samsung with 21.1% of the market.

Might We Suggest...

• WMC 2010 Round Up: Day Two
  For this second day at Mobile World Congress here is an overview of some of the Android devices presented on the show by manufacturers (not in any special order). Rather than giving again details of t...

LG’s first Android in South Korea will be called either Andro-1 or LG-KH5200. The company has yet to make it’s way stateside but they have several Android phones in different markets around the world. It has a 3-inch touchscreen, slide out QWERTY keyboard, GPS, HSDPA, EDGE, GRPS, Social Networking, 2MP Camera, Radio Tuner and MicroSD input and Android 1.5.

KT will offer this phone for $530 outright or free on a contract paying $40/month or more. There has been rumors that LG will have 20 Android Phones available by the end of the year. This phone has some tough competition with the iPhone and Motola’s MOTOROI already being offered in Korea.

[via akihabaranews]

That certainly was a timely review, wasn't it? Dutch site Tweakers.net is reporting through a number of its forum members that previously ordered HTC Legends are being scheduled for delivery as early as today, beating the phone's announced early second quarter availability by a solid three weeks. That's great news for anyone comfortable sticking with a lower-res display and a middle-of-the-road processor in exchange for one of the slickest, most metallic shells on the market today -- but for those hoping for something a little more... ahem, Desire-able, the wait continues. And yes, we'd like to apologize profusely for that pun.

HTC Legend already trickling into customers' waiting hands? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Tweakers.net  | Email this | CommentsChris Ziegler0692535118535090527113629003193439437716155944481420197536161705280074528591333900193430780404156390146178981064747591361729274089061499542206830739234671509985034475166573217891381615502934838020427103121586575698291892023594081505577586430313739400814888532506731084033828445391166156090104101856200997737463656903514010219456665617116596027434945492328286201210498193426486559316925812063411258492152891774419817456970254071919893784025017574314212918809006

After four three flavors of the HTC Hero, the Taiwanese mobile giant has finally brought back the chin with an additional lick of aluminum and a similarly quirky name -- the Legend. If this alone isn't of much interest to you yet, just bear in mind that this is HTC's first Android 2.1 device with Sense UI. It didn't take much for us to fall in love with this Android phone at MWC -- HTC convinced us of its unibody toughness by banging it against the wall, and needless to say, the vibrant AMOLED screen caught our eyes, too. However, there are still some questions to be answered before we can decide whether the Legend lives up to its name, especially on battery life, wireless reception, camera quality and software performance. Unless there have been major tweaks, we'll try not to bore you with features already seen on the Hero -- so please, won't you join us?

Gallery: HTC Legend review

Continue reading HTC Legend review

HTC Legend review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | CommentsRichard Lai015934460999919152000834820375990833294415944988127335398900018417361216070653700914166384528934565016141708664418497712098428889904668650250616110047701624835604283528676236728829177375468457417185040692535118535090527114257025439192842348136290031934394377161559444814201975361613419532215533355490170528007452859133391447508563247372761201649972735008805796136421326414746399421044334553430105768303447516657321789138001146507300304350740825170001219076406910709518464442101768165235267989028318841615502934838020427112705099081015215221022395466852432496900723769699671074301405538995421070467991057037800346323960261437390954622135040118258071009055852624180099663336909374390235940815055775864309703243893747122645017104080117271849160313739400814888532507765013599817451884142589506634122545030249193687489384015906731084033828445391099260423596503222371463256950343541556508557326976559468036135564848986981601401661560901041018562006682196928262715167123345661923650023950923802563002446111109977374636569035140102194566656171165960266018612113504164710373040446783881858088870475082103599900504869784228897315414219907492392040299034463483986711884130969962615024261230205921653529454389165015133574468215776820908676174498948031502385632988327579126027637217973406473841611221222386605114211500945255786010796121478990426575882700828385493102362307416510992128168590337131643926942830867920672515018655416999418120468709065437730056504399714780308521540004707562176651617574314212918809006

Evernote, the popular, cross-platform app service that lets users create notes, snap photos, and record audio, will now be pre-installed on selected Android-based Samsung handsets. The first smartphone to see Evernote loaded is the T-mobile's Behold II, which recently saw a software update.

"We're incredibly excited to be working closely with Samsung on their line of Android phones. Android represents Evernote's fastest growing mobile platform. This partnership helps Evernote reach a huge new audience with our promise of perfect memory for everyone," said Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote.

With Evernote, individuals can create and find notes on their Android handset, PC, or web. Everything that is captured by the service is synchronized and instantly accessible so users can stay connected and organized in ways not possible just a few years ago.

Source: Press release

Might We Suggest...

• T-Mobile Begins Rolling Out Cliq and Behold II Updates [Updated]
  T-Mobile USA has started pushing out over-the-air (OTA) updates to both their Motorola Cliq and Samsung Behold II handsets.  While neither of them are updates to Android 2.1, they both are steps i...

DriveSafe.ly reads your text messages (SMS), emails and caller-id out loud. Eliminate the temptation to reach for your phone by letting DriveSafely read to you and automatically respond for you. Stay connected by listening to your messages without texting while driving in your car. TXT hands-free.

Price: Free

AndroidTapp.com Android App Review: Pros & Cons:

Pros

• Listen to text messages, emails and screen caller ID while the app reads them aloud to you
• Auto-respond to the person who text messaged or emailed you with a pre-generated response
• Audible feedback quality is clear and sounds conversational and not robotic
• Safer use of receiving text and email messages while driving
• Available for Android, iPhone, Blackberry and Windows Mobile

Cons

• The email integration has to be setup… not automatic
• In evaluating this app there were a few glitches when answering a call, it continued to speak the caller’s name after answering
• Would be cool if you could reply hands-free. I initially assumed it work similar to Voice Assist. Another cool feature would be to have it automatically activate when driving by tapping into GPS to determine that you’re driving.

Features:

DriveSafe.ly Android App is an innovative way to listen to your SMS text messages, emails and even screen your caller ID hands-free as the app reads then aloud to you. It automatically responds to the person who text messaged or emailed you with a message you generate prior. Similar to how PhonePlus Callback is to phone calls, which text messages or emails a caller if you’re busy on the other line. Provides a safer atmosphere while driving as you don’t have to mess with your phone and drive. Shake to the phone to stop the audio.

The audible voice-over quality is impeccable. The dialect truly sounds conversational with: expression pitches at exclamation or questions and recognizes acronyms like LOL and BRB. Does not sound robotic like Text-To-Speech Library or semi-robotic like Google Maps Navigation.

Video: DriveSafe.ly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWO7T0ap3mM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faQZjLQot4w

Usefulness:

Very useful while driving and helps keep eyes on the road.

Ease of Use:

If used for the text message or caller ID setup the app is straight-forward. However becomes a bit more involved for email integration. The email integration has to be setup, it’s not an automatic setup like text message and  caller ID integration. For each email account you must setup POP3 or IMAP (check our quick guide how to do it).

Frequently Used:

Intended for use every time you drive.

AndroidTapp.com Rating

(4.1 out of 5)

Should you Download DriveSafe.ly? Yes! A Must Have App While Driving!

As more drivers equip their vehicles with GPS devices or use navigation enabled smartphones; data suggests most common searches are often used during shopping. TeleNav reveals some interesting data about GPS navigation usage from their users nationwide. According to that study, the top 10 U.S. businesses searched with GPS navigation are as follows:

1. Wal-Mart
2. Starbucks
3. Target
4. Best Buy
5. Bank of America
6. Walgreens
7. Pizza Hut
8. Home Depot
9. McDonald’s
10. Chase bank

I recently wrote a developer spotlight on TeleNav noting their GPS navigation product tends to be most accurate regarding routing among GPS navigation apps for Android. The chart below illustrates or concurs my user experience as my city (Chicago) is fourth on the list for cities most likely to use GPS to reroute around traffic.

Cities Most Likely to Use GPS to Reroute Around Traffic

While the verdict is still out with regard to consumer appetites for a 3rd portable computing device, PC makers are betting the farm on consumer interest in tablets that fill the gap between small-screened smartphones and bulky (by comparison) netbooks/laptops. We've already seen an uptick in tablet devices on display at the big CES and CeBIT trade shows, now tablet and MID device vendors look ready to blow out Computex when it kicks off on June 1st in Taipei. According to Roy Chen, ARM's ODM manager for worldwide mobile computing, more than 50 ARM-based tablet PCs will launch in 2010 starting in Q2 with "a lot more" landing in the third quarter -- a date that just happens to line up with the most optimistic Chrome OS launch schedule. ARM's seeing so much interest that it had to rent additional floor space to show off the devices. Chen said that many of the tablets are slated for China although all of the world's top 10 carriers have signed up as well. ARM was showing off two Android based tablets at the press event, including the 7-inch Compal device (pictured above) we gave a whirl at CES. Let's just hope that tablet makers have plans for some compelling content and service hook-ups with a focus on the user experience -- 50 near-identical slabs of touchscreen computing won't generate much enthusiasm around here.

Over 50 ARM-based tablets launching this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Computerworld  | Email this | CommentsThomas Ricker04603607502933300923083482037599083329440391472416970696434603113777931696113816053804498499809975911705280074528591333913801590886654333196104433455343010576830955609908442136496400114650730030435074085421817979722429601270509908101521522113322873927018182020079845379984695039071476355350794909000804769453328219106464171469008691124452881096233801391401498802359408150557758643166457254109124857070673108403382844539113556484898698160140054202868813058308110215433761272499435915761418005463542945102194566656171165960056333042099793934811604614930536075039182231300351009158041439825105523594782701932345111360109348121478990426575882700699688753108762801516668185580241895251

Dell’s Mini 5 tablet is without a doubt, real, but until now, there hasn’t been much in the way of full-blown advertisements or promotions from the company itself.  A leaked promotional flyer of the Dell Mini 5 , or what will evidently be called the “Streak”, has just surfaced, and the tablet’s certainly looking gorgeous as usual, with what seems to be an array of color options to choose from.

Once again, the tablet you’re looking at is the Dell Streak, with a 5-inch WVGA 800 x 480 touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, front-facing VGA camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G WWAN connectivity.  If this leaked flyer proves to be legitimate, we could eventually see the Mini 5/Streak available in a plethorea of premium finishes and colors.

As Engadget noted, “Better still, it looks as if it’ll launch with an Amazon content partnership, which will bring a Kindle e-book reader app, Amazon MP3, Amazon video streams and pretty much any other material that Amazon sells in digital form right to the slate.”  We’re just waiting for that shipping date announcement.

[via Engadget]

We know you've barely recovered from our Devour review, but Moto just threw another Blur-ified phone in our laps this afternoon - the CLIQ XT. We've been playing around with the Android 1.5-based, Flash Lite-supported, multitouch-capable handset for the last couple of hours -- but before we grace you with our first impressions, just a fair warning: we don't yet know the price of the new T-Mobile Android handset, though Motorola did promise us that it will hit shelves this month. With that said, hit the break for a quick rundown of our early thoughts.

Gallery: Motorola CLIQ XT with MotoBlur hands-on

Continue reading Motorola CLIQ XT hands-on

Motorola CLIQ XT hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Motorola CLIQ XT  | Email this | CommentsJoanna Stern08428985427961894362098428889904668650251148718709191238738417052800745285913339153179734620730679510017176217549963742611905794413143356034161550293483802042710235940815055775864306835873929107073212135564848986981601401804503881474783308709977374636569035140102194566656171165960504869784228897315411859354042736942790

One phone we've been hearing about for what seems like an eternity is the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.  After getting announced back in 2009, we've been patiently awaiting its arrival here in the US.  The biggest problem we've seen facing the X10 is that it's slated to arrive with Android 1.6 under the hood.  According to CNET Asia, the Xperia line of handsets could get an update  to Android 2.2/Froyo  later this year. We'd previously heard that the phones will ultimately get an update to a newer version of Android, but which exact iteration wasn't clear.

We assumed this would be version 2.1 but were informed today that it "will be an Eclair variant, so it could be 2.1 or even 2.2", according to the spokesperson.

To dampen your enthusiasm just bit, we should point out that "later this year" has a 9-month window. This could be pushed out near the end of the year and possibly later than other handset makers. For all we know, Android could be at 2.5 or 3.0 by then.

Might We Suggest...

• Rumor: Xperia X10 to AT&T for $199
  Remember the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10?  You know, the handset we've been waiting for what seems like forever on?  After months of sitting around wondering if and when it will come to the United States...

For now this is just a rumor, I don’t think that this will replace the Eris. No other Android has been replaced this soon after it’s release. But, according to a reliable source at Berryscoop, the HTC Incredible will be replacing the HTC Droid Eris at Verizon Wireless.

April 1st is the rumored launch date of the Incredible and the Eris’s product life is expected to end on the same day. Berryscoop also said that Verizon is viewing the Incredible as their version of the Nexus
One (that’s funny to me because the Nexus One is a far better looking device and more powerful). This information has not been confirmed by Verizon or HTC so as it stands now it’s just a rumor and we will be following this story to see what happens.
.

I wish this beautiful device was in my hands but it isn’t. This unboxing is done by a few guys from the Sony Ericsson team that run the company’s product launch blog.

There isn’t much to see in this video since the device is not running, but you do get to see all the goods that comes with this phone. This will be one of the hottest Android devices to release and should propel Sony towards the top of the Android heap. There is also two mini devices releasing shortly after this monster hits. A few specs of this device, in case you haven’t heard, 4.0? screen, 1GHZ CPU and Sony’s own custom UI, Rachael.

Click here to view the embedded video.

[via Sony]

The Jetsons kitchen of the future is upon us with SnS Design's Ikan kitchen appliance. Either that, or we're looking at quite possibly the most expensive and glorified grocery app yet. With its 7-inch touch screen, WiFi integration, and voice input capability, the device builds a shopping list from items you scan or input before disposing of them. Oh, and it runs Android.  Simply place this on the counter or mount it near the trash can and add +50 productivity point to your life!

Once recorded, the items are sent to your mobile phone or directly to an online grocery retailer's shopping cart, providing they support Ikan. Schedule your list to be sent to you on preset days so you can be ready to knock out your shopping on the way home from work! With the kitchen appliance, users can include their own branded retailer apps and view specials, recipes, promotions, and more from etc. right from their kitchen or Android phone.

The biggest obstacle I see with a device like this is price. At $400 a pop, I can imagine a bunch of people turned away simply because of the sticker. Even at half that cost, I have a hard time imagining myself "getting my money's worth" out of it. However, if SnS Design were to send me one to change my mind, I'd love the opportunity.

So what's your take on the Ikan?  Glorified shopping app?  Does it scratch a real itch for you?  Leave a comment below.

We have a few pictures of the Android version below, thanks to Bill over at Ikan!

Might We Suggest...

• Have Keyboard, Will Travel: Android Phones Capable of Using USB Keyboard.
  [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="Image Credit: Andrew de Quincey"][/caption] In an article over at jkontherun.com, it seems that some enterprising Android enthusiasts have foun...