ABC12.com: Zipit Wireless Messenger
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` Monday, August 15, 2005
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`last updated: 8/14/2005
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`Zipit Wireless Messenger
`By Kirk Yuhnke
`(08/14/05)-- The Zipit wireless messenger
`promises to free your computer from that
`chatty teenager.
`
` Zipit Wireless On The Web
`
`Are your teens tying up the home P-C...
`Chatting on AOL... MSN or YAHOO! It's
`(ABC12 Image)
`time to get them off your computer without
`having to drop 500 bucks for a separate computer. Today's gadget of the
`week is called the ZIP-IT wireless messenger. It's like a mini laptop, just
`open it up and it is an instant messaging computer to go! The Zipit has a
`full qwerty keyboard and a 320 x 240 greyscale screen. It will log-in to
`AOL, MSN messenger and Yahoo! messenger using any available WIFI
`network. You must be using either an open WIFI network or you must have
`a security key.
`
`
`
`Setup was simple and took just a minute or two. Getting your buddy list into
`the device was as simple as plugging in your username and password for
`each service. Once my buddy list was loaded up, was chatting away. The
`interface is self explanatory for the most part. It will take some time to get
`use to the differant keys you have to use to access features of the device.
`The "alt" key is used for a variety of fuctions, I had to get use to that.
`
`
`
`There is a speaker built into the Zipit, which helps you know when you
`have a new message. This is also a sign of what's to come, the Zipit
`people tell us in a few months you'll be able to stream internet radio on the
`device. There is also a headphone port on the side as well.
`
`The rechargable battery lets you chat away for 8 hours - it'll last for 24
`hours when closed in standby mode. The Zipit comes in 5 different colors;
`red, pink, white, blue and silver. The Zipit wireless messenger sells for
`about 100 bucks. Not a bad price, especially for parents looking for a way
`to pull that teenager away from the computer for more than 5 minutes.
`
`Two things I noticed that could be improved. First of all the screen does not
`have a light, which makes it impossible to use unless you are in a lit room. I
`think teens would love to chat away in the dark if the screen had a light or
`indiglo technology. Also the keyboard was a bit "squishy." It would be nice
`if there was more of a "click" to the keys when you pressed them. A few
`times I found myself pressing the keys more than once because I wasn't
`sure if I got it or not.
`
`Despite those minor things - I really like the Zipit messenger. It's a great
`idea at the right price. I love the fact that it works using a normal WIFI
`802.11b or g network. Students at colleges with wireless internet could
`chat all over campus! If marketed right the Zipit wireless messenger could
`become a huge hit - I hope it does.
`
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`
`ABC12's Kirk Yuhnke
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`
`ABC12.com: Zipit Wireless Messenger
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`Page 2 of 3
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`of this issue and is working with the video player vendor to correct it
`as soon as possible.
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`Copyright 2005 ABC Inc., WJRT-TV Inc.
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`http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/news/081405_NW_.html
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`8/15/2005
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`ZIPIT EX. 2026, pg.2