Someday, WiMAX routers will be the size of amoeba, requiring a cadre of subservient nanobots to activate and maintain. Until that day, I’ll have to settle for NEC’s miniscule new Aterm WM3300R.

Measuring 94mm x 67mm x 22mm, it’s the world’s smallest WiMAX router with wireless LAN support, weighing in at a paltry 145 grams. It’s also got everything you’d expect from a more full-figured model, with multi SSID functions and basic wireless LAN security protocols. And it’s still big enough to plug into your USB port.

It’ll be available in Japan in November of this year, where they’ll be paying 25,000 Yen (about $272), which kind of makes you wish they priced these things by the pound.

[via SlipperyBrick]

Oh, Peek. You’ve always made the little gadgets that couldn’t. Can’t call, can’t browse. And now that you’ve gone and taken away your email and SMS features, you’re reduced to pushing a $200 over-share machine. Has it really come to this?

Apparently, yes. Amazon is listing both black and aqua versions of the aggressively useless device. It’ll set you back $99.95 for six months of service included and $199.99 for a lifetime of Peek-enabled tweeting. Or $0 for a lifetime of not wasting your money on this.

Anyways, here’s a picture of the box, from Twitter, which couldn’t have been uploaded from a TwitterPeek, because TwitterPeek doesn’t support attachments.

Weak, Peek.

[via Engadget]

If had you told me yesterday someone had created “SuperFoam,” and asked me what it was, my first guess would have been a Tuesday night party at Senor Frog’s, followed by a hair restoration formula, followed by some sort of sentient lather. “Cool chair” would have been low on the list. Shows what I know.

Follow the link for a video of designer and art student Rich Gilbert making the funky furniture, which comes out looking like lime jello crossed with salmon roe. The secret ingredient? Balloons!

Making of SuperFoam Chair from Rich Gilbert on Vimeo.

[Rich Gilbert via Dezeen]

The report, from this week’s Forbes, mostly cites Google’s potential wireless navigation competitors, who are rightly fearful that the Mountain View monolith is going to shoulder into their space. But it also points out that such a move would have sound logic behind it.

Google’s been investing heavily in its Maps product lately, ending its US contract with Tele Atlas earlier this month in favor of going it alone. And while there are only so many advertising dollars to go around, an ad-supported navigation system makes perfect sense because of the highly localized targeting it provides.

There’s no confirmation from Google yet, and any fully functional navigation app would still likely be months away, but it’s worth filing this under “likely.”

[Forbes via Engadget]

[T-Mobile via Consumerist]

Coming in March of 2010, the N470 is a 1.83Ghz pioneer that will double the 1GB RAM restriction that netbook owners are currently stuck with, allowing up to 2GB of DDR2 memory. With the jump in storage from 160GB to 250GB that came with the advent of Windows 7, it looks like we’re incrementally moving towards a netbook that can keep up, at a suggested retail price of up to $349.

Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

[Fudzilla via Netbook Choice]

Well, it’s about time. And worth the wait! Google’s unveiled all the goodies that come with Android 2.0, just in time for Verizon’s unveiling of the Motorola Droid tomorrow.

There’s a ton of new features here, from email and contact synchronization across multiple accounts (including Exchange) to Quick Contact, which can be built into any app and lets you get in touch with someone by calling, SMS, email, you name it. And a lot of enhancements to existing features, as well: added camera tools, a better keyboard layout, and a revamped browser all promise improvement in a UI that was already rock solid.

On the platform technology side, Android 2.0 features full Bluetooth 2.1 and an improved graphics architecture.

Swoon. Can’t wait to actually see it in action.

[Android 2.0 Highlights via MobileTechWorld]

The report goes on to say that while smartphones are going to represent over a third of worldwide handset sales by 2012, no one PC maker (except Apple, who’s already got a strong foothold) is expected to grab more than 2% of smartphone market share by then. Grim stuff. But why?

For starters, because handsets are an entirely different business, says Gartner analyst Roberta Cozza. Which, well, no kidding. Different distribution channels, different consumer drivers. To say nothing of the ring tones!

But it would still be crazy for an OEM NOT to be bringing a smartphone to market right now, regardless of how crowded the field. Smartphone revenue growth is outpacing that of mobile PCs, and 2% of a nearly $200 million market is still a decent payday. Not to mention the ancillary branding benefits of having your name plastered all over carrier storefronts.

The two biggest winners in this scenario, though, are Google and, well, you. Android is clearly already the platform of choice for the discerning young PC monolith breaking into the smartphone industry, because it’s clean and modern and offers great touch and browsing experiences. And more manufacturers means more competition, which means more hardware innovation and better pricing, which means more, better, cheaper choices for Joe Smartphoneuser.

[Gartner via Electronista]