Dean Kosage's News Blog

While Nokia teased us this week with a slightly flexible prototype device, Samsung steps up with an even more flexible screen the company says will grace the front of a smartphone or tablet by 2012. We saw one of these flexible AMOLED screens from Samsung at CES 2011, but the big news is this has gone beyond the prototype stage, where we’ll allegedly be bending screens every which way by next year. We’ll believe it when we see it.

While I’m not a fan of the design of those hump-backed smartphones by HTC, this Motorola Atrix 2 is the most impressive Android phone I’ve seen yet. Its super-sharp 4.3-inch screen is noticeably bigger than its predecessor, and I especially like its pebble-grained back, giving extra confidence against droppage. Now if I could just get used to its Android 2.3 operating system — which is an acquired taste. But it’s so customizable I’m bound to find a commodious configuration. I’m using it all the time (and liking it a lot) until they make me send it back in a week or two.

Mint, Intuit’s online financial software that I think is second to none, has finally released a Mint iPad app, and it turns out it was worth the wait. It’s one of the best iPad apps ever created, better than all of  Mint’s software for iPhone, Android and web put together. Gorgeous graphs, drill-down capabilities through many levels, and a remarkably intuitive interface make this free app the smooth operator of the year.

Halloween creativity reaches new heights this year with this working DSLR costume by Michigan photographer Tyler Card. It doesn’t just look like a DSLR, it is one, with a built-in LCD display, built-in “flash” and a working shutter release button. If there’s a more clever Halloween costume this season, I haven’t seen it yet.

Who says the BlackBerry is dead? If you can afford to shell out $2,000, you can get one that’s designed by Porsche, complete with typefaces and icons that make the phone look like it could accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds. If you have the bucks, this stainless steel and leather masterpiece will be available before the end of this year.

We hear a lot of guff about wireless speakers, but this iHome iW1 doesn’t even need a power cable to rock your Casbah. A stellar example of clean and simple design, this $299.99 beauty connects to iOS devices via Wi-Fi using AirPlay, or you can plug in your device via USB. And when you want to take it from room to room, there’s a handle on the back that makes it easy to carry.

At first I thought this was some sort of futuristic aircraft, but this speedy Air Propulsion Yacht flies on the water in grand style. This luxury watercraft is a concept created by Aquila Design, and it’s built for both comfort and speed with a multi-level interior that transforms into various configurations depending on what you have planned for the day.

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? If it’s anything like these Westone 4R Quad Driver Earphones, the answer is four, because that’s how many speakers are shoehorned into these tiny cans. As with most high-end headphones costing around $450, every detail has been attended to, including what the company calls a “tight tolerance of ± 2 decibels between earpieces.” Audiophiles are going to love this.

Google says it has learned from its mistakes with the first outing of Google TV, and now it’s replacing that confusing interface with Android 3.1 (Honeycomb). Will it be any better? I’m thinking that depends on the relationships Google forges with content creators such as TV networks and film studios. It’s all working toward an admirable goal: to be able to find and display what’s worth watching on TV (and the web) using Google’s search prowess. Can Android accomplish this feat on the Google TV-packing Logitech Revue, Sony TVs and other forthcoming set tops and devices? We’ll get our hands on the upgrade soon after it’s released early next week and let you know.

If you travel a lot, you’ve undoubtedly run into the dreaded outlet shortage problem. That issue is solved nicely by the Energizer iSurge, giving you a trio of surge-protected outlets, a USB port on the side (with enough power to charge an iPad) and a dock for your iOS device. I tested this unit, and I like those features and another nice touch, a little night light bar across the bottom that you can turn off if you want to sleep in total darkness. If it were a slightly more compact, it would be the perfect charging station for those who live on the road.