You wouldn’t actually buy any of the “conceptual art” USB devices on show at “Universal Connections” – because none of them actually would work. For example, you can’t debug your network with a stethoscope.
But data is one of the “essentials” of life, and that little three-pronged logo has become the single most recognisable indicator of access to data.
Actually, one of those devices does work, at least: the one entitled “French Connection” is a USB bra, which was captioned “unplug and play” by one frivolous commentator. That is, it really works in the sense that it’s a real bra, not a real USB device.
And unlike the “iPod Bra” these bits of USB sculpture aren’t just April Fool jokes. Although, the travel iRon looked like it had some chance of commercial success. Once they get the wrinkles out of it, of course…
Search giant Google has announced a free, Web-based ‘shareable’ calendar service called, appropriately enough, Google Calendar, which allows users to post up events and share them with others. 
Gmail Integration
Based on open calendar standards, events can be imported from popular programs like Microsoft Outlook and Apple iCal, while schedules can be viewed by any external application or device that accepts iCal or XML files. 
After putting the book on subtle design through the shredder, Pure’s designers have come up with the dazzling new Pure One, a DAB digital radio for under £50 – in bright pink. 
The scrolling text monochrome display shows station name, status icons, time and signal strength, with one touch tuning giving quick access to 20 DAB and FM (with RDS) stations. 
Supported by a full 2-year warranty, the Pure One will be available from May 2006. 
A clever new scheme from WifiTastic makes it pie-easy for home broadband users to turn their connections into revenue-generating wireless hotspots. 
Although free shared connections tend to appeal to our right on ideals more, there’s no denying that this smart, simple system looks to benefit both owners and those who need Wi-Fi access and are prepared to pay for it. Other companies like the 
Telecom giants Orange have launched a new photography service that lets snapping mobile users back up and store their digital photos on the move. 
Alternatively, users can select the ‘upload photos’ option and browse pics from the phone’s gallery for sending to their online album. 
There’s also a £3 a month Photography 15 bundle available for Pay Monthly customers – this includes 15 photo messages but does not contain any inclusive data (for uploading photos and viewing album). 
According to a new study by comScore Networks, 82 million people – that’s nearly half of the European online population – used IM applications to chat online during February. 
In Latin America and Europe, Messenger ruled supreme, registering usage rates of 90 percent and 70 percent (respectively) of IM users. 
The VoIP/IM client application is proving to be a real hit in the Asia Pacific, where it has already garnered 26 percent of IM users, although it’s a different story in North America, where Skype can only claim 3 percent of the online population. 
We have to say that if we strutted down the local boozer with an MP3 player strapped on around our neck, we’d most likely be called a lot of things – some of which might just rhyme with ‘Anchor’ – but, hey! – what do we know about yoof product design?! 
Dominating the iRiver is a large, 4 Line, 16 tone greyscale OLED screen, which displays EQ settings, track listings and folder views, and also doubles up as a clock/alarm clock. 
There’s also an FM radio onboard – pretty crucial, that – with iRiver quoting a MP3 playback battery life of around 13 hours per charge (128kbps, MP3, volume level 20, EQ Normal, LCD Off). 
Although a well equipped smartphone or PDA can let you leave the laptop at home, bashing away at those itty-bitty keypads or attempting to write lengthy emails with a fiddly stylus can soon become a chore. 
Before use, a small driver has to be installed on your handheld device – as well as getting the two devices chatting to each other, it also lets you set up user programmable shortcut and command keys for fast access to applications. 
Although we had no problem maintaining the IR link, one of our test units (a Treo 650) felt a little wobbly on the cradle – using an imate JAM Pocket PC in landscape mode felt a lot more secure, as did our Sony TH55 PDA (one of the best PDAs even invented, but that’s a different story). 
Specifications
Spurred on by the huge rise of original content being created for computers and mobile devices, The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has decided to officially recognise the growing medium. 
Donning our best party frock, we’re delighted to stand up to the podium and announce the nominees: 
Live 8 on AOL – live feeds and on-demand footage of last year’s enormo charity gig. 
Pioneer have announced their new AVIC-S1 pocket GPS system for the European market. 
Built in microphone
AVIC-S1 specs