NOVEMBER 27, 2000 VOL. 156 NO. 21

How Fast is 3G? Click to find out! Can't see Flash? Click here to download the Plug-In

Cool Stuff
Ready for the wireless revolution? Meet the next generation of slim, durable, do-everything devices
By BRIAN BENNETT

It's easy to get gadget fatigue, as one new device after another promises to revolutionize the way we live. But it's worth taking note of 3G, a technology that could reorient our concept of what everyday gizmos can do and even how they look. Soon your cell phone, digital camera, MP3 player, pda and video-game console could all converge into one connected, pocketable companion. The wireless supertoys will have to be small: manufacturers assume consumers won't shell out for clunky handhelds, which means stuffing a menagerie of hardware chips and added power into a sleek package. The only thing biggish about the new terminals are the lcd touch screens that could replace mechanical keys. Here are a few of the concepts that development teams have dreamed up. Even if they don't make your life better, they should be fun to fiddle with.

Write to TIME at mail@web.timeasia.com