This is interesting - Buy.com is selling the Cybiko Xtreme Wireless Handheld for $48.95. Here's their description of it:

"Customize your own Cybiko XtremeTM to hold the PHAT apps and games you choose. Using the enclosed Installation CD, it's easy to personalize your Cybiko XtremeTM to match your mood. Cybiko technology allows you to chat wirelessly with your friends in your local virtual network. In FRIEND FINDER mode, you can search and find people you're looking for - or, with your PERSONAL PROFILE, meet new friends! Also, WAP enabled to welcome your Cybiko to the World Wide Web.

• Your Cybiko Xtreme package includes:
• The Cybiko XtremeTM Wireless Hand Held Computer
• 2 NiMH Rechargeable Batteries - Not Removable
• Power Adapter and USB Cable
• Installation CD with additional Games & Applications for Easy Access
• Now you will be able to access the wireless world of the Internet with our very own WAP browser! Welcome your Cybiko computer to the World Wide Web!
• Quick Start Guide"

So you can get a PDA, chat functionality, WAP browser, MP3 player, and gaming device for $50. It's only got 2MB of memory on board, but heck, that's what the old Palms came with! Plus, the reviews give it five stars, and one post notes that you can insert more memory or upgrade it online. Not a bad way to introduce your kids to PDAs or adults who don't need to synch with Outlook.

If you buy the two-pack of Cybikos, you pay only $96.95 and the three-pack is just $134.95, plus both offers qualify for free shipping. I'm tempted to try this for the kids and myself!

Sanyo Debuts Digital Camera with Wireless LAN Capability

"...The still photos and the moving images taken by this camera can be automatically sent to the server on the IP network via the base station for wireless LAN access service.

The demonstration camera uses a Compact Flash-type wireless LAN card, and has a hand-over function to go between base stations, and an authentication and encryption function to comply with 'Genuine,' a wireless LAN access service from Mobile Internet Services Inc. (MIS). Because of the processing capability of this camera, the wireless data transmission speed is limited to about 1Mbps at the moment.

Unlike the existing digital cameras, with which users need to transfer images to their PCs on their own, the camera with wireless LAN function enables users to send the photos directly to their personal Web site or to order photo development on the Internet directly from the camera, for example.... The company, however, has not decided when to commercialize this type of product, but plans to see the market trend and discuss the possibilities." [TwoMobile]

This is great for commercial environments, but it doesn't do the mainstream much good until WiFi is embedded in new PCs and broadband providers include router and wireless access point installations in a start-up package. It would be great for blogging at conferences, though, and eventually this technology will be part of a newspaper photographer's toolbox.

The First Truly One-size-fits-all Keyboard?

"RAST Associates recently announced a new keyboard for mobile devices. The Vario Keyboard has five rows of keys arranged in a standard layout. What makes this keyboard different is that it's made mostly of fabric and rubber, and it stretches to different sizes and configurations.

In it's most compact form, the Vario Keyboard is about the size of a postcard, small enough to slip unobtrusively into a pocket. The keyboard weights less than eight ounces, a bit lighter than the popular ThinkOutside Stowaway....

The keyboard is contained in an expandable, spring-loaded case. While RAST Associates plans to license it to device manufacturers, who can then fashion custom connectors or cables for it - again, like ThinkOutside's Stowaway - the keyboard will also communicate with other devices via existing wireless standards. Bluetooth and 802.11b are already supported.

RAST Accociates made no mention of pricing or availability, although they did say that the Vario Keyboard would be 'competitive with other mobile keyboard devices on the market.' " [infoSync]

Come to mama! Now imagine if it also worked with your smartphone, OQO, etc. While I like the idea of integrating the input method into the device itself, this would work with any of your devices which is more efficient in the long run (at least until we have real voice recognition).