SanDisk set a new speed record of 30 megabytes per second for SD flash memory cards with the introduction of the SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s Edition line of SDHC Cards. The new cards, expected to be available worldwide in September in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacities, are designed to deliver peak performance when used with the new digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, Nikon D90.

The Nikon D90 is the industry’s first DSLR camera to support SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s Edition SDHC cards at increased performance. Featuring a 50-percent speed boost from previous 20MB/s cards, the new SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s Edition SDHC card makes it possible to record 39 images in continuous shooting mode at 4.5 frames per second with a file size of 6.0 MB JPEG L Fine per image.3 The Nikon D90 camera captures high-resolution, 12.3 megapixel still images, and it is Nikon’s first DSLR to offer movie recording capability.

How many times have you been in a situation where we buy the latest handheld communication device, only to find it becoming obsolete in a few months? What seemed like a cool gadget at the time of buying now looks like a thick and heavy stone slab, which you’re carrying around. In this article, Harikrishna S. Aravapalli proposes a new kind of handheld device.

Read this Computing Unplugged article.

HTC, a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, announced the introduction of the HTC S740, a slim, compact, and stylish smartphone that provides the perfect combination of a traditional 12-key phone design with HTC’s signature sliding QWERTY keyboard for optimal messaging. The HTC S740 will be available across Europe from September 2008.

The S740 is designed to offer the most flexible and efficient messaging experience on the market. From the design of its 12-key keypad (ideal for super fast one hand messaging) and full QWERTY keyboard (perfect for those who prefer a two handed messaging experience) both input capabilities ensure efficient and accurate typing, as well as support for POP3, IMAP and Exchange push email. Instant messaging (IM) and SMS can also be accessed through the familiar 12-key interface on the front of the phone.

The HTC S740 features the fastest mobile broadband capabilities with a maximum download speed of 7.2 Mbps, up to 18 times faster than 3G. This true mobile broadband experience allows users to leverage the mobile Internet in a variety of ways including browsing to a favourite Web site, using Google Maps to find a restaurant for lunch and catching up to the minute news, blog posts and video podcasts with the integrated RSS reader.

The S740 follows the sleek design of HTC’s hit consumer handset, the HTC Touch Diamond. This slim smartphone features the same polished black facetted back, a 2.4-inch QVGA display and slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

HTC and AT&T are now offering a Windows Mobile 6.1 software ROM upgrade for the AT&T Tilt. The update is available for download on HTC’s Web site.

Designed exclusively for the Windows Mobile Smartphone devices, ExpenseIt has an easy to use interface to allow the traveler to record expenses as they are incurred. Information such as a description, category, amount, city, payment method, attendees, notes, etc. can be entered for each expense item. A trip summary screen will display all trips in the main database with a total balance and user-defined status.

We learned of some sad news today, our friends at publication Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine will be suspending publication. This notice from CEO Hal Goldstein provides complete details.

“I have sad news. After 11 years, we will be publishing a final 2008 issue of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine and then suspend publication! We are working hard to make it the best Windows Mobile issue ever, a keeper, a reference guide… It is with great regret I make this announcement. We are a very small, self-funded magazine publishing company. We did not make this decision lightly, especially after 11 years of issues. It has become harder and harder to grow our circulation over the past three years since Windows Mobile changed from being PDAs to being phones. Pocket PC manufacturers like HP used to work with us to offer their customers a free issue of our magazine in their packaging. The phone companies have not shown similar interest in working with us. The other business challenge has been the lack of advertising sponsorship from Microsoft, phone companies, and OEMs, despite our coverage of their products. In order for us to sell subscriptions at current low consumer magazine-type prices, we must have a stronger and growing circulation, and we much attract the large advertisers who benefit the most from our existence. Of course, the irony is that almost 20 million Windows Mobile units were sold this past Microsoft fiscal year. We think there is a great opportunity to continue the magazine in this high growth smartphone market for a more sophisticated publishing company or a funded entrepreneur.”

We wish you and your team the best Hal, we know only too well the squeeze the handheld market has put on the publishing industry.

With a flood of Bluetooth headsets available, BlueAnt Wireless is setting itself apart with the BlueAnt V1 headset. The BlueAnt V1 is a fully voice-controlled Bluetooth headset, embedding voice technology into the BlueAnt V1’s headset itself. The BlueAnt V1 has voice-dial capabilities as well as the ability to control all Bluetooth headset functions.

There won’t be any surprises on the golf course for iPhone owners now that GolfFlyOver puts aerial views of over 12,000 golf courses along with pinpoint yardage information in the palm of their hand. GolfFlyOver, published by PosiMotion, publisher of applications in Apple’s iTunes App Store, combines the iPhone’s built-in location-based services with satellite aerial imagery from Google Maps to locate nearby courses, provide yardages to the green and enable detailed course and hole layout information. GolfFlyOver will join PosiMotion’s library of popular games, utilities, and other applications available for download from the App Store later this week.

Conduits Technologies announced the release of Pocket Player 3.7 for Windows Mobile. Pocket Player aims to satisfy consumers who demand more from a dynamic media player on a mobile device. Pocket Player 3.7 includes new library features, improved Bluetooth compatibility and Universal Plug-and-Play support, as well as many other performance enhancements and bug fixes. Pocket Player 3.7 is fully compatible with all Windows Mobile 6.1, Windows Mobile 6, Windows Mobile 5.0, Pocket PC 2003, and Smartphone 2003 devices.

Kinomahas released a new “mobile media browser” for Windows Mobile devices. Kinoma Play aims to go beyond organizing and playing a user’s video, audio and picture files, by bringing in media from around the Internet through the built-in Kinoma Guide, a comprehensive catalog of “the freshest, most diverse” mobile media available.

The software offers built in access to the latest podcasts and streaming media as well as functioning as a comprehensive media player with audio and video support.