Tech & Gadget Stream

DataWind has unveiled its third-generation PocketSurfer - where it will come in PocketSurfer3 and PocketSurfer3 Lite versions. Each of them come with 30 hours of Internet access each month for those living in the UK, where it features a new touchpad to make navigation a snap alongside an improved LCD display. The PocketSurfer3 will rely on its embedded SIM card for mobile data access, relying on a GPRS connection. Too bad streaming video is not supported, leaving you with just static webpages on its 5" LCD display at 640 x 240 resolution.

Archos 9 will be one of the next device that will hit the US later this month, where this Windows 7-powered device will come with a 9" touchscreen alongside a virtual keyboard. Folks who are more used to navigation with a mouse, the right side of the device contains an optical trackball and buttons. The Archos 9 will resemble a Mobile Internet Device more than a netbook, where it will run on an Intel Z515 Atom processor, 1GB RAM, Wi-fi connectivity and a 120GB hard drive. There is no word on pricing, but it will arrive later this fall between the $500 to $700 price range.

If someone told you that the iPod touch could surf at amazing WiBRO speeds, chances are you'd laugh your head off at this cuckoo bird. Well, nobody's laughing now with Korean cellular provider KT having launched a new network gateway described as the Egg. The Egg hatches a new way of connecting to the Internet with your iPod touch by pulling a WiBRO (WiMAX variant) connection of its own while making it available to others via Wi-Fi to create an impromptu local hotspot that can hit download speeds of up to 37Mbps. KT hopes that this latent ability will see the Egg sell well at Apple resellers, with a handful of Nintendo DS gamers probably checking it out as well alongside others who spend plenty of time with their Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The Egg will retail for $164 in Korea, although those who sign up for a 50GB (!) monthly data plan can have it for free.

Sanyo was one of the first companies in the world that released a transistor radio, and nice to see them coming back to their roots with an update in the 21st century in the form of the Sanyo Internet Radio 227. This device comes with integrated Wi-Fi connectivity that makes it a snap for you to tune in to hundreds of online radio stations and podcasts from all over the world without having to fork out a single cent in terms of subscription fees. Don't worry about security as the Sanyo 227 uses an easy network key entry to work with secured wireless networks, searching via country or genre and can hold up to eight Internet station presets. Other features also include an FM stereo digital tuner with eight station presets just in case your area's Internet connection is hampered. The Sanyo R227 will be out in Canada before this month is over and will retail for $219.99.

A new feature in Google Maps, Mapplets, places data overlays onto your map - like movie times, crime rates and real estate prices. We've covered dozens of Google Maps mashups since Maps launched, and Mapplets just makes those mashups available on Google Maps proper, instead of having to go to another site to see them. Mapplets have graduated from the developer preview and are now live on Google Maps. To add multiple layers of data points to your maps - like information about real estate prices, weather, earthquakes and movie showtimes - from the "My Maps" tab hit "Add content," and watch all those third-party Google maps mashups get consolidated onto GMaps proper.