Peek’s selling lifetime subscriptions again. $300 gets you the email-only handset and the WWAN hookup it needs, for ever. To demythologize that a little–let’s say lifetime is 5 years–that’s about $5 a month, or a third of the normal price. Great for people who hate bills, give gifts, or stay loyal to their gadgets. [Peek]

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Peek lifetime subscriptions return

Amazon has the baby blue Peek on special at $20, with free shipping . If you want unlimited mobile email without a contract (the plan is $20 a month, cancel/reup any time) this is a no-brainer–but remember than the latest version of the operating system, with more features, only comes on the full-price Pronto edition.

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Original Peek now $20

Filed under: Gadgets , Etc. , Tech , Volkswagen Vehicle infotainment systems, those all-inclusive interfaces controlling the myriad electronics on today’s modern cars and trucks, can make or break the driving experience. CNET is offering us a sneak-peek at Volkswagen’s latest iteration from the company’s Electronic Research Laboratory (ERL). Developed with Intel, the new system uses Global Open Research Infotainment Architecture, or GLORIA. Most systems today us a joystick-like device, touch screen, or hard buttons on the edge of the display (or a combination of the three) to control the inputs. Volkswagen’s new GLORIA system takes it one step further by making Apple iPhone-like “gesture control” possible. This means that users are able to navigate quickly by simply tracing single letters across the pressure-sensitive display. Another unique feature may allow users to import third-party widgets for the system, much like consumers currently load apps from iTunes onto their iPhones. As cool as it sounds, GLORIA is still under development and she isn’t expected to see showrooms for a few more years. [Source: CNET , Photo by CNET] REPORT: Volkswagen’s next-gen nav system to get Apple iPhone-like gestures originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments

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REPORT: Volkswagen’s next-gen nav system to get Apple iPhone-like gestures

GeekyPeek writes: For any of you in NYC, we are upgrading Peeks in Midtown at the Gallway Hooker. If you have an older version of the Peek software on your device, we are upgrading customers to the Pronto version. And if you don’t yet own a Peek, feel free to run to Target and buy one of the older Peeks and we will still upgrade you to Pronto. Peeks with the upgraded software normally retail $30 higher, so it’s a good deal even with a bit of travel. Peek Upgrade Party [GeekyPeek]

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Free Peek upgrades in NY

Improvements abound in Peek’s latest email-only handheld, the Pronto. It has push email, can check up to 5 accounts, and is now compatible with Microsoft Exchange. It can now view PDF files and Word documents, has an improved search function, and can send and receive unlimited text messages through Peek’s SMS gateway. Best of all, its cheaper: the no-contract handset is only $80, and the $20 monthly subscription falls to $16.67 if you buy four months of service. The original Peek is now an impulse-buy $50. Otherwise like the original — a slim machine that does not make or receive phone calls — it has a straightforward user interface, a superb QWERTY keyboard, and accessible controls. Given the basic hardware, only so much is possible performance-wise. Speed improvements are touted, but deleting emails is still frustratingly slow, and it only downloads then in small batches. It’s best not to leave it off for any length of time if you get lots of email. The monthly subscription is the cheapest way to get decent unlimited email in your pocket. Peek sold lifetime subscriptions with the original, at Costco, and savvy shoppers will be waiting for a similar deal. Though the focus on simple email is what makes it special, the client could do with more features. Without folders or IMAP, you can’t organize email well enough to use it for information management or planning. Though some might rankle at being stuck with just one application, it’s fun to discover what’s possible with email and text messages alone: Twitter and Wordpress both let you post with it, while Ent will serve maps, local searches and movie times on demand. Fans maintain a list of useful text-based services at the Peek forums. The Pronto refines what was already a good device and makes it cheaper, but still lacks the oomph and feature set that would make it a complete (rather than merely budget-friendly) alternative to a smartphone’s email services. For people who want on-the-go email but don’t want contracts with expensive data plans, though, it’s a complete no-brainer. Peek Pronto Mobile Messaging Device (Grey) [Amazon]

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Review: A day with Peek Pronto