mini

Another year comes to a close and we consider all the amazing cars we've reviewed. For this year's Car Tech Awards, we've nominated 10 cars in the contest for the 2007 Tech Car of the Year. You can look at the nominees, find out why we selected each one, and cast your vote. We will take the result or our reader poll and the votes of our staff judges to decide the 2007 Tech Car of the Year, which we will announce on January 14, 2008. We also have a set of additional awards for such categories … Read more

Magna will be making a "Sport Activity Vehicle," or SAV, for BMW's Mini line of cars, both companies announced this week.

Magna , a company that designs, develops, and manufactures automotive systems, worked with BMW before on its BMW X3 (shown left).

"By outsourcing production of the Mini SAV, BMW Group is able to increase flexibility within its own production network," BMW said in a statement.

BMW's Mini lineup now includes the Mini, Mini Convertible, and Mini Clubman.

Verizon users with high-end phones may soon have another choice for surfing the Web--Opera Mini 4 (on CNET Download.com). Opera Software announced on Thursday compatibility with Qualcomm's BREW platform, on which Verizon and many other carriers worldwide run.

Although Opera Software has ported code for its mobile browser to the BREW platform, you won't be downloading the app tomorrow. It will remain unavailable until BREW carriers certify or license the browser, and decide if it will be made available through the Opera Mini Web site or through the carrier's interface. The only exception? Verizon BlackBerrys, … Read more

Why anyone would want to bring back the cell-phone brick look is beyond us. Yet that's what the "Mini Mob" would like to do by stuffing modern technologies into its chunky, Flock of Seagulls-era frame.

It's really not as unwieldy as the originals, however--it's more of a scale model that's a little more than 4 inches long, according to Gadget Lab. Inside it sports an MP3 player, camera, and GSM technology (it's offered by a U.K. distributor).

We're not really into the '80s look, having destroyed all our Members Only … Read more

Targets of the paparazzi need not worry just yet: This little camera ring is only a concept model for now. But the way things are going--with cameras built into pens and phones packing 5-megapixel sensors--this "Canon Snap" proposed by designer David M?nscher could probably become a reality in the not-too-distant future, with its single-button interface and other spycam-like features. And should that happen, stalkers everywhere will rejoice.

(Source: Crave Asia)

This should be interesting. Ever since some purported product photos began circulating nearly a year ago, the "M8 MiniOne" media player from China-based Meizu has gained notice--and a measure of notoriety--for a design that looks strikingly similar to the iPhone. And now it's reportedly headed for the U.S. market, making its first appearance at January's annual CES trade show in Las Vegas--which Engadget and others speculate will send Apple's copyright attorneys scurrying to file intellectual property claims as fast as you can say preliminary injunction. In fact, even the wallpaper depicted in the image … Read more

We love feedback, and this great tip describes the behavior of the new Opera Mini 4 mobile browser on one phone, in a way that challenges iPhone browsing.

This from Marion in Texas:

"Good review on Opera Mini 4, but you should try it on a Pocket PC, too! The interface (using Java midlet) has "the O" working like the iPhone! You tap on the screen and the Web page enlarges, and you can scroll with your finger left to right or top to bottom to view the larger page, as well...who needs iPhone?! Opera Mini … Read more

To show we're not snobs when it comes to libations, the martini aficionados at Crave wanted to give equal time to the beer drinkers among us.

So even though we've already highlighted such hops-friendly items as the HomePub, Gamerator, and MyFridge keg cooler recently, we'll also mention Avanti's "Mini Pub Mini Beer Keg Dispenser." It's an appliance that's suitable for the everyday consumer and connoisseur alike--not only does it accommodate a generous 5-liter mini-keg for entertaining (or just solo enjoyment), but Techie Diva says temperature can be regulated by its digital control.… Read more

Now here's a browser that puts more thought into mobile functionality than your everyday cell phone browser: Opera Mini 4. Rather than limply recreate a pared-down version of the desktop browser, Opera has explored eye-expanding ways to get at mobile content. Full or modified screen view? Landscape mode? Hot keys for scrolling? Yes, yes, and yes! See Opera Mini 4's features here in the First Look video below.

>>See all First Look videos