Gizmodo: communicator

DIY Star Trek Bluetooth Communicator Almost Makes Regular Bluetooth Headsets Look Stylish

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:40:00 EST

This DIY Star Trek Bluetooth Communicator instantly reminded me of a comment a dear reader left when I shared a Star Trek fantasy. He was right: Bluetooth is the ruin of Star Trek. But this is a fun quick-n-dirty project.

Basically you're cramming a Bluetooth module and a microcontroller into a toy Communicator and then pairing everything with your phone. As long as you've got voice dialing, you can leave your phone out of sight and be the snazziest Trekkie on the streets. Just don't come crying to me if someone stuffs you into a locker, trashcan, or wormhole. [Make]

Star Radio Communicator iPhone App is NOT AT ALL Like Anything from Star Trek

Adrian Covert — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:30:00 EDT

Sure the Star Radio Communicator iPhone app looks kinda like that other communicator—you know, retro-futuristic design, flip door, 3 button layout—but last time I checked, Captain K's communicator absolutely did not make calls on Earth's phone system.

iPhoneSavior says the 99 cent app gives you a dialing interface to place calls from within the app, making you feel like you're about five seconds away from bitch-slapping a couple of Klingons. But I can't imagine Paramount is at all happy with this. [iTunes Store via iPhoneSavior]

Nokia's Four-Way Folding Communicator Patent is Hinge-Tastic

Dan Nosowitz — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST

Nokia applied for a patent on Christmas for an innovative communicator-type device that folds out into four attached pieces, presumably two for a keyboard and two for the screen.

It's not totally clear what this device would even do; Nokia included media, games, and communication in their application, but that's not a hint so much as the company merely covering their bases. Folding gadgets would be a great way to save pocket space without losing functionality, but the design could easily end up clunky if it's not done just right. [Core77]

Touch Screen RC Star Trek Enterprise Boldly Goes Where No RC Vehicle Has Gone Before

Jack Loftus — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Interstellar space flight may have been poo-poo'd on by astrophysicists this week, but that doesn't mean we can't have a little pseudo space-faring fun with this first-of-its-kind RC Star Trek Enterprise. Due to arrive in May 2009, the $80 foam flyer is controlled via a vintage Star Trek touchscreen communicator (Captain James T. Kirk womanizing is not necessary, but recommended).

You charge the RC Enterprise with a=the tricorder-shaped charger seen above (sorry, no space dock just yet). After a 15-minute charge, the Enterprise is ready to fly again. [Entertainment Earth via Geek Alerts]

Star Trek Communicator Replica Coming Soon, Sadly Doesn't Communicate

Kit Eaton — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:36:46 EST

This "life-size" Star Trek Communicator is a dream for every budding Kirk out there, sounding like the real thing when you flip it open, and with nine different voice phrases from the TV series built in. So okay, you can't actually contact anyone with it, but who needs that when you can pretend with "Spock here, Captain" or speak to the Enterprise with "Bridge, this is the captain?" Just don't be wearing a red suit. Available in March for $29.99 [Geek Alerts]

Dual-Screened Nokia E90 Communicator Sees the Light of Day

Charlie White — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 07:54:18 EST

The Nokia E90 Communicator has come out of the blurry shadows and into the sharp spotlight, showing off its 3.2 megapixel camera, Edge, WiFi and HDSPA goodness on two screens, one inside and the other out. That outside screen is a conventional 240x320 while inside it's packing an expansive 800x352 screen that can show you an entire width of a web page, no sweat.

If that's not enough, Nokia crammed even more stuff inside, including GPS with Nokia maps and an FM radio. For all that power and goodness, you're going to have to shell out some relatively big bucks—it'll set you back about $1000 without a contract, first available in Q2 of this year.

Press Release [Nokia]

Nokia N95 Cellphone has Wings, 5MP Cam, GPS, HSDPA

Brian Lam — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:56:16 EDT

Good thing DEMO is so F'n boring, I can still post.

Nokia dropped word of their N95 multimedia computer today. (We still call em cellphones, but don't tell Nokia that or they'll bop us on the head...again)

The smartphone has a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, which they say can take dvd-like video clips. Does that mean 848 by 480? I don't know. it also has a 2.6-inch QVGA screen, and runs on the well supported Symbian 60 OS. It also has HSDPA and EDGE cellular data. Oh, it has nice Flickr integration with the photos you take. (click and upload)

And it's got this "2-way slider" thingamabob that kicks out both a numeric keypad and media control keys. Sounds like...a butterfly...pretty, but sounds like a complicated setup from a company I used to call the Apple of cellphone-dom.

Out in 2007, somewhere in the world, for close to a grand, unsubsidized. Jump to see the pretty photos of the butterfly slider in action!

–Brian Lam

Nokia n95 Communicator [Nokia]

Polycom Communicator Via Skype

Charlie White — Tue, 02 May 2006 13:55:43 EDT

Polycom cut its teeth on conferencing hardware, and now it's teamed up with the oh-so-free Skype VoIP service for hands-free full duplex speakerphonage via a USB connection. There are two microphones strategically placed inside the unit, letting multiple people join in on the conversation.

Controls on the front let you launch Skype and initiate and hang up calls. There's also a headphone jack, and then there's the 22kHz sound quality which Polycom calls "CD-quality conferencing." No pricing was available yet; the company says it will be "shipping very soon."

Product page [Polycom, via productdose]