Pocketables

Willcom D4 gets MapFan Navii GPS navigation kit

A GPS receiver accessory has always been available for the Willcom D4, but the slide-and-tilt UMPC has never had any special navigation software to go with it. That changed a few months ago when Willcom announced that it had chosen Increment P's MapFan Navii to transform the Atom-based computer into a full-fledged portable navigation device and capable GPS unit.

MapFan Navii has an array of features and can be purchased separately (13,800 yen) or bundled on a 4GB microSD card with a starter kit that includes a flexible USB adapter (the D4, you may recall, is equipped with only a miniUSB port) and GPS receiver with miniUSB host attachment. This kit sells for 24,800 yen (~$254). A separate car mount is available separately for 1980 yen (~$20).

Review: iPhone 3G mobile power station

Battery life may not be one of the top complaints about the iPhone 3G, but that doesn't mean it couldn't stand to be better. Considering its multimedia, gaming, and internet features, most people are obviously using it as much more than just a phone. And that, of course, eats up battery life more quickly. For example, my iPhone 3G isn't even a phone anymore (thanks, Xperia X1) and yet I still charge it daily because of how often I use it for other things.

That's why I couldn't refuse WirelessGround's offer to send me their 800mAh mobile power station for review. They even sent me an extra one to give away to one of you! Read my full review below and find out how you can be the one to get it.

Quick look: AT&T USBConnect Quicksilver 3G modem

The USBConnect Quicksilver was introduced by AT&T and Option in October 2008 not only as one of the world's smallest HSPA USB devices but also as an intelligently designed accessory that "projects a confident and refined image" (via press release). Having just reached the end of my 30-day trial period with the Quicksilver, generously provided to me by Option, I can say that while I agree with the first half of that statement (the modem is small), I do have some issues with the second.

Quick look: Sony Vaio P extended battery (VGP-BPL15)

The easiest (and least affordable) way to dramatically increase the runtime on any mobile device is to buy a higher capacity battery. The Sony Vaio P isn't setting any records with its standard 2-cell battery, so the extended 4-cell battery (VGP-BPL15) is most likely a must-have accessory for mobile users. It adds just 4 ounces to the total weight of the unit, isn't too much of an eyesore, raises the device at a slight angle for more comfortable typing, and of course increases battery life.

I'll put together a runtime comparison of the two batteries after some testing [Update: Battery test results now available], but here are some photos of the large capacity battery ($129.99) in the meantime.

Review: Sony Vaio P leather case (VGP-CKP1)

When Sony unveiled the Vaio P at CES 2009, the company also showcased several different cases to go along with it. My favorite among the four choices was the leather protective case (VGP-CKP1) because of its simplicity, craftsmanship, open top for quick insertion/removal, and compatibility with the extended battery. I also love accessories, especially official ones, and wanted a stylish way to protect my new P when not in use.

Read my full review of the $90 leather case below to find out if I made the right choice.

UMID M1 gets unnecessarily large VGA adapter accessory

Being able to connect a small-screened device to a larger display is always a nice feature for UMPCs and MIDs to have. But a VGA adapter encased in a glossy white shell that's almost half the size of the device itself?

Review: Noreve Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 leather case

One of the things you may have noticed when I unboxed the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 last month was that it didn't come with a case. Never mind that most people would expect to find at least some kind of protection after spending ~$800 on a mobile device designed to be taken everywhere; the company throws in an extra stylus and (in some regions) a 4GB SanDisk microSD card―both niceties and not necessities―but apparently doesn't see the need for something as simple/cheap as a drawstring pouch.

Thank goodness for Noreve, one of my favorite luxury accessory makers, who already had exactly what I was looking for with its tradition leather pouch ($39.99).

Quick look: Ultimate Ears triple.fi 10 Pro

What better way to wake up on a Saturday morning than to a phone call from the mail carrier asking you to get out of bed, put on your contacts, and try your best to look like you've been awake for hours so that you can go downstairs and sign for a package? Fortunately for my mood, inside the box were the Ultimate Ears triple.fi 10 Pro earphones I ordered last week.

They've been available for about two years now, but you'd never know it from the price: they still carry an MSRP of $400. I guess canalphones aren't really subject to the same kind of time-driven price cuts as DAPs, computers, and other gadgets. I don't keep a finger on the pulse of the headphone world, so I wouldn't know.

I'm not an audiophile either, so what follows isn't a review of the triple.fi 10s. It's just a quick look put together out of excitement more than anything else. I've been using the UE super.fi 5 Pro for just under a year and have been contemplating an upgrade for nearly as long, so it's been a long-time coming for me.

Review: Noreve Archos 5 vintage leather case

Once I determined that the Archos 5 official protective case was a waste of money, I followed the well-worn path to Noreve, one of my favorite gadget accessory manufacturers, and took a look at their tradition leather case. Though I've been thoroughly impressed with Noreve's leather quality in the past (and there are 12 colors to choose from), I decided to take the road less traveled and wait several weeks for a custom-made dark vintage case from the company's Exceptional Selection.

Was the wait worth the $60 price tag? Read my full review below to find out.

Save 25% on ZAGG (invisibleSHIELD) gift cards

If your holiday shopping list includes gift cards this year, then you may be interested in knowing that ZAGG (makers of the very fine invisibleSHIELD) is currently accepting a discount code good for 25% off the purchase of their gift cards. The cards are sold in $25 and $50 denominations, but you can get them for $18.75 and $37.50 simply by entering the code GIFTCARD25 at checkout. Not bad, I say.

There are invisibleSHIELDs for more than 2,500 different gadgets, so your friends and family should be able find something to spend their gift cards on with ease.

The discount code is only good for a limited time, so don't wait too long to cross those names off your list.

[invisibleSHIELD]