Hanvon aims to be first to sell e-Reader with color e-Ink

Other manufacturers may be holding back to see how the land lies but Hanvon has bitten the bullet and announced that it intends to be the first company to bring a color e-Ink reader to the consumer marketplace. The color e-Reader was shown off recently at a trade show in Japan and will be available in China from March next year. There's scant official information available but read on for what we do know for sure.

Although the question of color regularly comes up in the debate over which e-Reader format is best, a number of manufacturers have chosen to adopt a wait and see approach and state that customers want vibrant color. Currently, all color e-Readers are LCD but if one company's gamble pays off, all that may soon change. Hanvon has announced that it will be the first company to bring color e-Ink readers to consumers.

Each digital format has its advantages and disadvantages. E-Ink offers low power consumption and being readable in direct sunlight , with most users saying that they're also easier on the eyes than LCD. But LCD does have the multimedia trump card – in fact, Hanvon's new color e-Ink reader won't be able handle any fast moving video images and the colors won't be as sharp as on LCD. The display quality could be similar to the e-Magazine device shown at Computex in the summer.

Hanvon's color e-Ink reader will have a 9.68-inch touchscreen, giving it a page size about the equivalent of a sheet of A4 paper. It will use the latest Triton screen launched by E Ink Holdings where a colored filter array is added in front of the black and white e-Ink display to create a color effect. Triton technology offers 4096 colors, a viewing angle of almost 180 degrees and resolution capabilities in excess of 200 dpi.

The device will be both Wi-Fi and 3G capable but it's not been revealed exactly how much storage will be included – Hanvon saying only that there'll be room for thousands of e-books. Unofficial sources state 2GB of solid state memory with microSD expansion and also indicate that the device will run on a Freescale processor and Windows CE 6.0.

Hanvon unveiled the color e-Ink reader earlier this month at the FPD International Exhibition in Chiba, Japan and says that it will be available in China from March next year. The company has also hinted that U.S. availability is a possibility.

The company has vowed to keep at the front end of e-Reader development so who knows, perhaps the new electrowetting technique developed by the University of Cincinatti might influence a whole new color e-Ink direction back towards actual paper.

Midland SubZero Headphones

Some of you out there simply cannot live without your music, which is why having a pair of headphones is of the utmost importance. Well, since it is winter for those living in the northern hemisphere, it makes perfect sense to wear a pair of headphones if you’re going to go all out with portable music, and why not do it in style wit the Midland SubZero Headphones? Available in black, camouflage and white shades for £34.99 a pop, it not only doubles up as a pair of headphones, it also works as stylish earmuffs to keep your two hearing organs nice and warm (at least on the outside). The Midland SubZero Headphones even comes with a clever cable-mounted remote/mic which allows you to take calls wherever you are, keeping your hands free to do whatever else they were tasked to do at that point in time. Suitable for everyone except for folks living in the tropics, and for obvious reasons.

Pure Twilight combines wake up light with digital radio

There are numerous dawn simulation wake up solutions currently on the market, but Pure is claiming a first with its dawn simulator and digital radio combination. Twilight uses half a dozen bright LED lights to help combat the nasty effects of seasonal affective disorder by mimicking a gentle sunrise before an alarm kicks in to make sure you get out of bed. The device can also help create different soothing moods using sound and light and see youngsters off to sleep with a selection of lullabies.

What better way to wake from a sound sleep than with a gentle sunrise – even during the darkest of morning hours? The Pure Twilight bedside radio with mood light has four independent alarms to wake up to – digital or FM radio, an alarm tone or a selection of sounds like church bells or wind chimes. Whatever tones you choose to get you out of bed, Twilight can set off a dawn simulation – where light is gradually increased to mimic the rising of the sun, no matter how dark it is outside – ahead of the alarm tone to make the experience less of a shock to the system.

At the other end of the day, Twilight can act as a reading light before helping users to drift off to sleep in the company of natural sounds and mood lighting. The light dome is touch-sensitive for switching the lamp on/off or to dim the brightness. Children will no doubt find the selection of lullabies and an adjustable nightlight a useful snooze aid.

The use of LED lighting lends some eco-friendly energy efficiency too, it consumes less than 1 W in standby and just 5.4 W when the lamp is on.

The device features 30 station presets and 2.5-inch full range stereo speakers with output rated at 5 W rms. If you're not in the mood for radio, an auxiliary input features for feeding in tunes from a media player and there's a USB charging port to top up mobile devices while you sleep.

The Twilight Bedside Digital and FM Radio with Mood and Wake-up Light is available now for GBP129 (around US$200 at time of publication).

Olympus limited edition Ferrari Digital Camera

Olympus has announced the Ferrari Digital Model 2004, the second in the Ferrari Digital Model 2004 series of Olympus cameras to be officially sanctioned by Ferrari. Based on the all-new Olympus AZ-1 compact digital camera, the aluminium body is finished in Ferrari Red and is graced with the famous 'Prancing Horse' logo. Special features that are unique to the Ferrari Digital Model 2004 include the camera's start-up sound and startup screen display. The startup screen features a photo of a Ferrari F2004 Formula One racing machine, while the start-up sound is the sound of a Ferrari engine.

The Ferrari Digital Model 2004 comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and autographed photos of Ferrari F1 team drivers, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, a CD-ROM containing photos of the five-year period, 1999-2003 in which Ferrari won the Constructors World Championship Title and a special presentation box with the Ferrari logo embossed on the lid.

Only 10,000 units of the Ferrari Digital Model 2004 will be available worldwide. In Australia, the Ferrari Digital Model will have an RRP of AUD$1099 and will be available in late July 2004.

Ferrari logo adds US$10,000 to the price of Hasselblad H4D

Just how much value does Ferrari's logo add to a product? Hasselblad's latest announcement seems to answer that and we're not sure if it reflects well on either brand. The EUR13,995 (US$18,531) Hasselblad H4D is the flagship product of the best known medium format imaging marque and has been purchased by tens of thousands of the world's elite photographers because it delivers digital SLR functionality with extraordinary imaging quality. Now the company has announced two identical cameras that don't come in silvery grey. For an extra EUR1000 (US$1324), you can have one of a limited run of 100 stainless steel H4Ds. There's also a Ferrari Limited Edition camera which is identical except for a carbon fiber display case, its Ferrari "rosso fuoco" color, and the unmistakable Yellow Prancing Horse Racing Shield. Hasselblad will make 499 units of the limited edition camera, selling them for EUR21,499 (US$28,473.61). That's US$9,938 more than an identical product – a premium of more than 50% extra for the display case … and the logo.

Ferrari is one of the best recognized upmarket brands in the world thanks to its legendary F1 racing exploits and exquisite, bleeding edge road cars. Such is its reputation and the prohibitive (at least to the average person) cost of its cars, it has developed a large following of well-heeled fans who proudly wear the Prancing Horse insignia as their personal badge of success – and Ferrari has found that those same people with extraordinary levels of disposable income, are more than prepared to pay a premium to display their bourgeois tastes (its badge) on other items such as laptops, surfboards, stereo speakers, clothes ... and a growing range of upmarket merchandise under its Official Ferrari Licensed Product regime. Ferrari's latest partner in this endeavor is Hasselblad, though at least in my humble opinion, Hasselblad's quality is no less than that of Ferrari.

So I can't really come to grips with Ferrari and Hasselblad teaming up to create what the press missive claims to be a “brand new model” – we first spied the H4D Ferrari Limited Edition at Photokina in Koln in September, though at that stage the unannounced price was rumored to be in the vicinity of what we considered a price-gouging EUR19,000 and we elected not to cover the product because it was identical to the standard H4D. Finding that the Ferrari version of the camera now has a price tag of EUR21,500 left me speechless. Are Ferrari aficionados so passionate about the Ferrari name that they'll pay ten large for the privilege of displaying it on an entriely unrelated product? Or are they sad creatures with more money than sense who derive self-worth from the brands they wear?

Yes, the H4D Ferrari Limited Edition comes in a beautiful carbon fiber display case with a glass top adorned with the same Ferrari Racing Shield, but I cannot understand why anyone would pay an extra US$10,000 for a limited edition that only sports cosmetic changes.

Does Hasselblad feel it can't sell enough cameras with just its own name?

Electrolux Infinity I-Kitchen takes fridges open source

One of the biggest marketing miss-steps of the past decade surely has to be LG’s Internet Refrigerator that incorporated a Windows 98-based PC and 15.1-inch LCD touch display in the door, allowing users to surf the Internet for recipes, play music and videos or (theoretically) do some office work while standing at the fridge. Electrolux seems to think the world is now ready to embrace the idea and has developed an Internet fridge of its own in the form of the Linux-based Infinity I-Kitchen.

While LG thought its fridge would usher in the era of connected white goods, it turned out people weren’t overly keen to do computing tasks on what amounted to a low-spec PC the size of a 1970’s mainframe with cooling capabilities. Solutions such as the FridgePad or iPod Refrigerator that allow portable computing devices like the iPad or iPod to be easily attached and removed from the fridge are a more elegant solution, allowing users to access recipes and other kitchen-related content on the fridge, while still retaining the portability of the computing device.

The Infinity I-Fridge, however, takes the embedded computer model pioneered by LG’s offering. It includes a 480 x 800 pixel touchscreen and is powered by a Freescale i.MX25 ARM processor running at 400Mhz with 128MB of RAM. The Linux-based interface was developed by ProFUSION embedded systems, which developed the fridge in a joint effort with the Brazilian subsidiary of Electrolux.

The fridge’s memory comes packed with over 600 recipes, ranging from appetizers and main dishes to light snacks and cocktails. It also comes with applications such as Orkut, Calendar and contacts, while the display can also be used for digital slide shows. It also allows provides extensive control over the fridge’s functions, including setting different temperatures for the various compartments.

The Infinity I-Kitchen refrigerator has a capacity of 542 liters is available in Brazil for the suggested retail price of 5,999 Brazilian Real (approx. US$3,470).

Via Born Rich

180s Ear warmers with headphones – Why didn’t I think of that?

The weather is turning cold quickly, and in another 2 minutes I’m not going to relish putting little cold plastic earbuds in my frozen ears. But that’s not to say I won’t want to listen to my music. So now what?

Well sometimes, though I’ll admit it’s not very often, a product comes along that just makes perfect sense. Simple as they are, such is the case with 180s earmuffs, these soft shell, Thermolite® Active insulation muffs are warm and stylish and offer superb wind resistance. The best part is, some of these muffs actually have stereo headphones built right in.

These comfy earmuffs feature a patented behind the head design and are fully adjustable for all head types.Your 180’s are also collapsable and the cord is detachable so they will fit easily in your pocket when you are not listening, or warming you ears.

The 180s are compatible with all MP3 players and can easily be worn with helmets, hats or glasses. Very nice and they can be yours for around $35.00 from www.amazon.com

Source: www.180s.com

Headbanger Chat Headset for Call of Duty: Black Ops

You know that a video game is super popular when it has its own unique accessories. PDP has made several of them, like their Nunchuk for Epic Mickey plus all their Tron Legacy peripherals, put out even before the game or the movie has been released.

PDP has also made the Headbanger Chat Headset, which is specifically designed for Call of Duty: Black Ops. I had a chance to check out the game over the weekend, and the game certainly lives up to all the franchise hype.

This Headbanger is designed for the Wii version of the Call of Duty: Black Ops game and is also compatible with Conduit 2. It has a “Noise-canceling microphone provides crystal-clear sound and high-quality voice input”.

It is not wireless, but it does have a 10 foot long cord. So for those who want to do their Black Ops with a group of friends, you got a peripheral for it. Just pretend its a Bluetooth headset with a wire.

You should be able to get the Headbanger Chat Headset at the PDP site for about $24.99 in either black or white. Good luck fighting zombies in the Pentagon with John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Robert McNamara, and Fidel Castro. I actually believe that is one of the campaigns.

Lava's HD LED Android Scandinavia Internet TV sets a high standard for all that follow

Internet-connected television is not new, with LG’s Netcast, Panasonic’s Viera Cast, Samsung’s Internet@TV and Sony’s internet-integrated Bravia all presenting cut-down versions of the internet. The world’s first TV with an Android operating system though, is a breath of fresh air by comparison, using proprietary graphics processors inside the set to enable the 42 inch HD LED Lava Scandinavia to handle the full internet experience you’d get with a normal computer. Gizmag’s Mike Hanlon and Noel McKeegan spent some time with the Scandinavia recently and came away VERY impressed.

The secret appears to be in the graphics processors within the Scandinavia. The specifications show that the set runs an old version of the Android operating system (version 1.5), but don’t for a moment think that the end result is less than spectacular.

I came across the Lava stand at IFA in Berlin two months back, and had to fight to get the tiny Cideko into my hands, such was the interest from the milling throng. Within two minutes I’d seen enough to head off in search of Gizmag’s Editor-in-chief Noel McKeegan to drag him back to the stand to have a look at it. The interface and navigation experience was significantly better than anything we’d previously seen – pages loaded fast, you can zoom easily and with a feel lacking in the internet TVs we’d already seen (all of the above). The cursor moved where you wanted it, responding exactly as it should, and all the familiar internet services of a mobile Android device were there except for the telephone function. Pages refreshes were just as quick as on a computer, with Flash fully supported.

“The Youtube videos are the best bit,” I said handing him the Cideko controller as it loaded and began playing video in astoundingly good resolution.

Noel has a healthy skepticism of new technology claims. “Right then, let’s see something I know,” he said, flicking to Gizmag’s Youtube channel and loading a video I’d watched him cutting in a hotel room a few days prior.

The video began playing in high refresh rates with extraordinary clarity. Noel's reaction: “It’s almost hard to believe you can make Youtube look this good on such a big screen.”

The queues were forming and the general buzz around the People of Lava exhibit was very positive. Noel pushed ahead running various other apps, looking for a flaw but not finding one.

Flicking back to another Youtube video he’d produced he watched closely to see how it handled the flaws only a video producer sees and continued to be impressed. “We’re gonna need to get much better at producing video very quickly for when this hits the market,” he said, immediately beginning to think about the ramifications of a device which was delivering a promise which had long been hollow.

“The convergence of the three screens just accelerated,” was the verdict as he began scanning the show guides to see what was happening nearby in the giant German trade show, adding, “I’m not at all convinced about 3D TV but I am now convinced about the ability to watch Youtube content on a big screen television without needing your imagination”.

“Heaven help the television channels.”

Here’s hoping the tiny Swedish company which has only 20 employees, can raise the capital it needs to get the sets onto the market in quantity.

LAVA’s range of Scandinavia Android TVs – the 42-, 47- and 55-inch are now on the market and sadly, they’re only available in Europe in relatively modest quantities at unmodest prices.

Gustav Sandstrom’s article on the Wall Street Journal explains the latest business situation for the tiny Swedish company which has produced a product markedly better than the established giants.

Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot to ferry wounded to safety

The U.S. Army is currently testing a robot designed to locate, lift and carry wounded soldiers out of harm’s way without risking additional lives. With feedback from its onboard sensors and cameras, the Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot (BEAR) can be remotely controlled through the use of a special M-4 rifle grip controller or by hand gestures using an AnthroTronix iGlove motion glove. This equipment would allow a soldier to direct BEAR to a wounded soldier and transport them to safety where they can be assessed by a combat medic.

Built by Vecna Robotics, BEAR maneuvers via two independent sets of tracked “legs” and is able to stand up and dynamically balance on the balls of its ankles, knees or hips while carrying a load. At full height BEAR stands 1.8 m (6 ft) tall, allowing it to look over walls or to lift its cargo onto a raised surface. To ensure it can handle a fully equipped soldier, BEAR’s hydraulic arms are capable of carrying up to 500 pounds (227 kg), while its hands and fingers allow it to carry out fine motor tasks. It also has a “teddy bear” face that is designed to be reassuring.

BEAR has been undergoing tests over the past year in simulations and live exercises by soldiers at the U.S. Army Infantry Center Maneuver Battle Lab at Fort Benning, Georgia. These tests are designed to provide BEAR’s developers with feedback on the real-world operational capabilities and requirements for the robot.

Anthronix, the makers of the iGlove, which is available commercially as the AcceleGlove, plans to develop a new glove for controlling the robot that will include more accelerometers and a digital compass to allow for greater control using only hand gestures – to instruct the robot to disable an improvised explosive device or travel exactly 500 meters east for example.

The alternative method of remote control, a "Mounted Force Controller" which is mounted on the grip of an M-4 rifle, allows a user to control BEAR without having to put down their weapon.

Currently all BEAR’s actions are controlled by a human user but the developers are working to give BEAR more complicated semi-autonomous behaviors that will allow it to understand and carry out increasingly complicated commands.

Vecna Robotics says BEAR could also be used for search and rescue, handling hazardous materials, surveillance and reconnaissance, mine inspection, lifting hospital patients, or even warehouse automation. However, the battlefield is where we’re probably most likely to first see BEAR.

“If robots could be used in the face of threats such as urban combat, booby-trapped IEDs, and chemical and biological weapons, it could save medics' and fellow soldiers' lives," says Gary Gilbert of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), which helped fund BEAR’s development.

Eyes, ears and brains being developed for underwater robots

Engineers from Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics are working on an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that would be inexpensive enough to use for industrial applications such as hull and dam inspection, yet independent enough that it wouldn’t require any kind of human control. Typically, more cumbersome but less costly remote operated vehicles (ROVs) are used for grunt work – they are connected to a ship on the surface by a tether, where a human operator controls them. The more technologically-advanced AUVs tend to be used more for well-funded research, but according to the engineers, one of the keys to creating “blue collar” AUVs is to overhaul the ways that they see, hear and think.

The project is being led by Dr. Thomas Rauschenbach. His team wants to build autonomous robots that are not only less expensive, but that are also smaller and tougher than their predecessors, and that can be used in pretty much any underwater setting.

The AUVs will reportedly be able to see even in turbid water, thanks to a laser imaging system. An onboard camera will emit laser pulses, which will be reflected by underwater objects. As the camera receives and processes these waves of reflected light, it will build up a picture of its surroundings.

Hearing, so to speak, will be accomplished via high-frequency sound waves. As with the laser pulses, these ultrasound waves will bounce off of objects and be registered by a sensor, allowing the AUV to inspect those objects. Fraunhofer believes that it is a step up from the sonar technology that similar vehicles currently use.

A control program will keep the AUV on course and out of harm’s way, even allowing for underwater currents. Its pressure-tolerant electronics will be encapsulated in silicone, as will the vehicle’s lithium batteries. The program also features an energy management system, which will conserve power and save data in the event of an outage.

A prototype will be tested in a water tank this year, with sea trial dives of up to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) scheduled for Q3 of 2011.

The Kee4 one-handed, four-key mobile keyboard

If there’s one major weakness of devices like the iPad and touchscreen-only mobile phones, it’s their onscreen keyboards. This is evidenced by the selection of portable keyboards available, such as the Jorno Bluetooth and Thanko folding keyboards. Citta Consulting is taking a different approach to portability to with its Kee4 Keyboard – a device that has just four keys and can be operated with one hand using a "composite keystroke" system.

The Kee4 is Bluetooth keyboard worn on one hand with the thumb inserted into a pouch to hold it in place. This allows the four fingers to rest on each of the device’s four keys so the user doesn’t have to move their fingers from key to key. If you’ve got a light touch you might be able to get away with using it freehanded, but resting it on a solid surface, such as the side of your body or an armrest, is recommended to stop the keyboard moving when the keys are pressed.

With only four keys and slightly more than four letters in the alphabet – not to mention numbers, upper and lowercase characters, symbols, foreign language characters and function controls – the unit relies on patented technology that uses a combination of keys, called composite keystrokes, to generate a full range of characters.

The device uses two types of composite keystrokes. The first, called a rocking composite keystroke, involves a rocking motion where the key that is pressed second is the first to be released. A rolling composite keystroke, on the other hand, (well, actually the same hand), involves a rolling motion where the first key that is pressed is the first to be released – kind of like drumming your fingers. The only exceptions are A, E, space and CTRL, which are generated with a single keystroke.

Obviously, such a system will take a bit of getting used to, but the demo video below proves it’s far from impossible. Citta Consulting has patented the device and is currently seeking investors to bring the Kee4 Keyboard to market. So if you’re interested in one day getting your hands on – or rather, hand in – the device, drop by the Kee4 website where there’s also a downloadable Kee4 Keyboard simulator to let you get your head around the composite keystrokes.

BugE – the DIY three-wheel electric vehicle

Electric vehicles are beginning to spread onto the mass market, but one of the limiting factors in these early days is a high-cost compared to their gas-burning equivalents. Electric scooters and motorcycles are considerably cheaper, but not everyone is comfortable on two wheels, or likes being exposed to the elements. Here's an alternative type of EV that costs less than six thousand dollars, is stable on the road and will protect you from wind and rain. It’s called the BugE, and there’s just one catch to it – you have to put the thing together yourself.

The almost-fully-faired three-wheeler was invented by Mark Murphy, of Creswell, Oregon. In the past, he has worked as a designer on concept projects for companies such as GM, Chrysler and BMW. He has sold about 50 of his BugE kits to customers around the U.S. since 2007, and has now started exporting them to Japan and Europe. His design criteria was for “a simple, low cost personal mobility vehicle that could function in a four-season environment on city streets.” If that philosophy sounds at all familiar, it might be because Murphy thinks of his vehicle as “a Model T for the 21st century.”

The BugE is propelled by a 17 bhp DC series motor, which is powered by four M34 lead acid batteries that take around eight hours to recharge. It has a steel box chassis with a composite body, an acrylic Lucite canopy, and has an empty weight of about 350 lbs (159 kg). The vehicle’s top speed is 50 mph (80 kph), with an approximate range of 30 miles (48 km) at 30 mph (48 kph) – Murphy noted that this can be expanded considerably if users swap in lithium batteries.

“The BugE is an entry level street legal EV suitable for errands, school or work commutes within the community,” Murphy told Gizmag. “It needs no special infrastructure since it plugs into 110V outlets using the existing electrical grid... it offers basic stability, performance, wind and rain protection and capacity for local use at a price comparable to a Vespa motorcycle. Four BugE's can fit in one parking space.”

Buyers can choose between three kit options, depending on how much they would like to tweak their vehicle with custom parts. For US$3,850, they’ll get the parts necessary for a rolling chassis. An additional $325 will get them the lighting and controls, while the power train will cost an extra $1,412. It adds up to a total of US$5,587, plus shipping.

“By selling kits we can reduce the cost of the vehicle, allow for hobbyist experimentation and modification, and create a local build and sell opportunity without requiring a factory and the high start up costs,” said Murphy.

“The BugE has huge potential and we are only scratching the surface.”

Smartfish downsizes ergonomic mouse for travelers

SmartFish Technologies has announced the new Whirl Mini Notebook Laser Mouse, the latest version updated from the original ErgoMotion Mouse that was awarded the CES Innovations award for 2010. This new version is smaller and provides enhanced usability for laptop users and travelers constantly working on-the-go.

The Whirl Mini Notebook Mouse has been designed to work naturally with your hand and wrist to provide longer usability and extra comfort. It was developed with the assistance of New York’s Orthopedic Hospital, The Hospital for Special Surgery. It is the first time the hospital has collaborated with a consumer product and SmartFish will dedicate a percentage of all proceeds to the Hospital’s Education Fund to help further research of technologies.

Whirl Mini Notebook Laser Mouse Specifications:
• Plug and play capability
• Compatible with Mac and PC
• Designed for left or right hand users
• 1600-dpi hi-def laser sensitivity
• 2.4MHz wireless connectivity

The mouse comes in an array of colors including Carbon Fiber, Black, Blue, Silver, Red, and White and will be available from Getsmartfish from December for US$49.95.

Cabasse L'Ocean Speakers – 117dB with no distortion

Cabasse has launched a new addition to its high-end (and we're talking quite an altitude) Artis line of speakers with L’Océan. Based on the same distinctive War of the Worlds-style spherical enclosure and using the same 3-way coaxial drive unit as the flagship La Sphére, the L’Océan can reach sound pressure levels approaching that of a jet engine – 117dB with no distortion!

The L’Océan is a collaboration between Cabasse and its parent company Canon, which provided expertise in digital signal processing.

Weighing 176 lbs (80 kg) and standing just under 4 feet high, the units feature a new 38cm honeycomb dome diaphragm woofer and 2,250 watts of digital amplification per speaker – 250 watts for the tweeter to 1000 watts for the woofer.

Digital amplification runs through optical SPDIF to the pre-amplifier and CRCS (Cabasse Room Compensation System) controller, which automatically adapts the loudspeakers’ response to the acoustics of the room (using the included measurement microphone). There's also 96kHz digital and analogue inputs and a phase linear digital filter which optimizes the frequency response to create "a true point source system" ... oh, and there's a remote control.

So what will this slice of audio excellence set you back? How does €80,000 sound (around US$105K at the time of publication).

Cabasse L’Océan will be available in Q2 2011.

L’Océan Specifications:

• Type: 4-WAY ACTIVE CO-AXIAL SYSTEM
• 4-way SCS (Spatially Coherent System) speakers
• Drive units: 1 x TC23 triaxial unit: low-mid, hi-mid, treble, 1 x 38ND 38 cm honeycomb dome woofer
• Amplifiers: 1000 W for LF, 500 W for LM, 500 W for HM, 250 W for HF
• Cross-over frequencies: 120 Hz – 900 Hz – 3,500 Hz
• Frequency response: 35 – 35,000 Hz
• Sound Pressure Level: 117 dB
• Dimensions H x W x D: 120 x 51 x 61 cm
• Weight: 80 kg
• CRCS controller: 5 x digital inputs: 2 x optical SPDIF, 2 x coaxial, 1 x AES-EBU
• 4 x analog inputs: 2 x RCA – 2 x symmetrical XLR
• Automatic detection of connected sources
• Output: optical SPDIF to the speakers

The Loop Pointer – lets you lose your mouse

I love how technology lets you mess around with all your devices at the same time. I mean, I’m watching stuff from my computer on my TV. I am listening to my iPod and watching my family photos on the big screen. The technology is fun, entertaining and pretty easy, could anything make it better?

Yup, I have just been introduced to The Loop, the freehand mouse that moves your cursor with natural motions made in the air. Simply point and click on the TV that’s connected to your PC or Mac. The Loop pointer’s intuitive design has a scroll wheel and four buttons.

The Loop patented air-mouse has the ability to compensate for normal hand tremor and varying positioning while responding to the motion of the Loop pointer. Its a pretty simple, intuitive design that is really easy to use. The Loop could probably be a pretty valuable tool for presenters and educators who use PCs and Macs connected to projectors. You could control presentations, navigate web pages and more from almost anywhere in the room. The Loop pointer will work with computers running Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

I’m crusin’ the net from across the room, and I see the day coming when I never have to get off the couch. Only $49.00 from www.amazon.com

Source: www.hillcrestlabs.com

Sceptre GX-I LED Family Series gets new HDTV

If you’re in the market for a spanking new HDTV, then might we suggest the Sceptre GX-I LED Family Series? After all, Sceptre has just introduced a spanking new HDTV that does full 1080p resolution for all your High Definition needs, and this 23-inch widescreen LED HDTV will have the added advantage of an inconspicuous, embedded DVD player.

Touted to be highly affordable, this multi-functional unit will boast a speedy 5 ms response time, auto contrast enhancement which enables color to balance for a more vivid viewing experience and superior LED display for bolder/brighter colors and crisper images, doing all of this without sipping more energy than it should. Of course, if 23-inches isn’t your cupt of tea, there is always the 19-inch and 24-inch variants to choose from, depending on your budget.

Featuring a glossy black housing and curved front, the Sceptre GX-I HDTV is more than capable of keeping you entertained, it will also add another dimension of art to your living room’s décor. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t install one of these puppies in your bedroom either, and it will equally be at home in the play room or basement if you so desire. Since there is already an embedded DVD player, you can get entertained from the get go without the need for good reception considering the sizeable collection of DVDs that most people would have amassed by now.

This lightweight combo measures just 0.9-inches at its thinnest point and 2.15-inches at its thickest. Of course, if the need arises, this model can also double up as your computer monitor on the spot. Being Energy Star 3.0 compliant equals to even more energy savings in the long run, while dual HDMI ports makes it a snap to hook up additional peripherals, with a USB port being there for photo/audio enjoyment. Other specifications of the Sceptre GX-I LED Family Series HDTV include :-

• Active Screen Size: 23-inches
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Wide Screen
• Response Time: 5 ms
• Auto contrast enhancement
• Ultra-slim embedded DVD player
• Outer frame design only .9” to 2.15”
• Two HDMI ports, support up to 1080p
• TV weighs: 9.92 lbs
• LED screen resolution 1920 x 1080
• USB port supports JPEG/Audio
• Energy Star 3.0 complied
• Brightness 300 cd/m2
• Built-in speakers (3 watts x 2)
• RoHS complied
• ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM
• SPDIF digital sound out
• Headphone jack
• Model number: E230BD-FHD

Expect it to retail for $399 if you’re interested.

Logitech's downsized Lapdesk N550 for notebooks and netbooks

Logitech has followed up on its N700 Lapdesk with a unit designed for 14-inch or smaller notebooks and netbooks – the Lapdesk N550. The new addition features integrated stereo speakers, an ergonomic design and four layered heat-shielding.

Compared to the N700 which was designed for laptops up to 16-inches the N550 is designed for notebooks and netbooks 14.1 inches and smaller. Both units have identical 2 W, 2 inch, USB powered speakers, similar ergonomic features like a 10 degree inclined surface and padded base, and both are are Mac and PC ready.

The main points of difference are the four layered heat-shielding device seen in the N550 (replacing the cooling fan from the N700) and of course the size difference, with the N550 measuring 17 x 9.8 x 2 inches (430 x 250 x 50 mm) on the thicker side compared to the N700 which measures in at 20.5 x 11.2 x 3 inches (520 x 280 x 75mm).

Weighing only 1.1kg (390 ounces) Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N550 costs US$59 compared to US$79 for the N700 model.

Ultraportable 12.5-inch IdeaPad U260 laptop launched

Lenovo has unveiled an elegant, ultra-portable addition to its IdeaPad range. Along with the company's first 12.5-inch display, the 0.7-inch (18 mm) thin IdeaPad U260 features leather-like trim surrounding the keyboard and touchpad, a choice of ultra-low-voltage (ULV) processors to help extend unplugged usage and Dolby surround-sound to complement high definition movie capability.

Above the 1366 x 768 resolution, 16:9 widescreen display is an integrated webcam that works with Veriface face recognition software to keep out unauthorized users. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness depending on the surrounding light and the U260 will even advise users to back away if they're too close to the screen.

The "classic leather-bound journal" design features a U-shaped outline and magnesium-aluminum alloy shell with stainless steel interior construction. Helping to conserve Li-polymer battery power is a choice of ULV processor configurations running up to an Intel Core i7, which is said to run for 8 hours between charges.

Up to 320GB HDD or 128GB SSD storage is available, spinning hard drives coming with Lenovo's Active Protection System. This protects from accidental drop damage by stopping your hard drive if the built-in accelerometer detects abnormal movement.

Up to 4GB of DDR3 memory is also on offer as well as a OneKey Recovery System that detects viruses, repairs, and restores data.

Typing comfort comes courtesy of scalloped, chiclet-type keys on a breathable, water-resistant keyboard with taller keys that have more space in between for ease of use. Cursor control is via a multi-touch, shatter-resistant glass touchpad with matte etching and the input area is surrounded by a faux leather palm rest.

To help users get the best from high definition visual entertainment, the U260 has Dolby Advanced Audio high-end JBL surround-sound speakers and sports an HDMI-out port.

A 5-in-1 media card reader, USB, Ethernet and VGA ports and a headphone jack complete the wired connectivity options with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR ticking the wireless boxes.

Weighing less than 3 pounds (1.3 kg) and coming with Windows 7 pre-installed, the IdeaPad U260 starts at a price of US$999.

Dell puts a new spin on tablet computing with the Inspiron Duo

With the popularity of Apple’s iPad it’s easy to forget that most tablet computers used to be laptops with a hinge that allowed the touchscreen display to be swiveled around and folded down over the keyboard. Such designs are still available today but have had their thunder (and much of their market share) stolen by the touchscreen-only designs like the iPad. Recognizing that there’s still plenty of people who prefer the functionality of a full QWERTY keyboard, Dell has introduced the Inspiron Duo with its new flip-hinge design that allows users to switch from touch to type mode with a flip of the screen.

In type mode the Inspiron Duo looks just like a regular netbook computer with its chiclet keyboard and 10.1-inch display. Once you’re done composing emails or penning your latest novel you flip the screen, almost like flipping those stand-alone school blackboards, and fold it down to transform the unit into tablet mode. Using Dell’s duo Stage software, users are able to access music, video, games, the Internet and an e-Bookstore using a touch interface.

The Inspiron Duo comes preloaded with Windows 7 Home Premium and is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core Atom N550 processor and 2GB of RAM. Other specs include 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, two USB 2.0 ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, integrated 1.3 MP webcam and digital microphone. The 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen has a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and HDD options include 250 GB, 5400 RPM or 320 GB, 7200 RPM drives. The device measures 285 mm wide x 194.5 mm deep (11.22 x 7.66-in) and from 26.2 mm (front) to 28.7 mm (back) high (1.03 – 1.13-in).

Although Dell has given its new computer the Duo moniker, the company actually says it has tri-mode functionality through the optional Audio Station dock, which includes a built-in media card reader, JBL speakers, two additional USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet adapter and battery charger. In dock mode Dell says the Inspiron Duo can act as an alarm clock, digital photo frame or music player.

The Inspiron Duo can be ordered from Dell now with prices starting at US$549.99 and a preliminary shipping date of December 14, 2010.

We go hands on with the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750

We reported on the Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 before, and I got a chance to try it out for myself.

I’ve used wireless keyboards like those from Adesso before, and the chance to use one that does not require a battery is definitely worth it.

Yes, I would recommend it, but I had a hard time hooking it up, though. Normally, wireless keyboards work easily. The wireless dongle just plugs in and it works. This one didn’t work the first time, but it did work, so go figure.

I was surprised at how thin this keyboard really is. If there was an envelope that is long enough, then this keyboard would fit in it easily.

According to the product page, it “feels good…like typing on your laptop”. Since I am typing out this entire report on this particular laptop accessory, I can honestly say that Logitech’s claim is true. The keyboard also has some hotkeys that can bring up a calculator window, volume control, and others.

So far, I haven’t run out of battery life, and there is even an App for figuring out how much battery power the keyboard has or how much power you are getting to the keyboard itself.

The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard is available now at the Logitech website for the holidays for a price of $79.99.

Elecom's new headphones built to hold iPod Shuffle

Here's a clever set of headphones from Japanese manufacturer Elecom that are specifically built to hold the latest iPod Shuffle. The company has created a very simple neckstrap/headphone unit that slips over your ears, and then your iPod shuffle docks right into the ear-piece. The obvious benefit here being that there is no longer any long headphone cord to get in your way.

Personally I was ecstatic to see Apple revert back from the third generation "chewing gum" shuffle to the clip style found in the second-generation . My old shuffle has gone through washing cycles and it still performs like a trooper. Like many iPod users, however, I'm not such a fan of iPod headphones, and I've replaced more than a couple of sets over the past few years.

Sadly if I want to use these fancy new headphones, I'll need to upgrade to the latest shuffle. Elecom's website states that the headphones won't support any Shuffles made before 2009, which regrettably includes the second generation model.

Available in two colors, pink and grey, the headset is priced at 4200 yen (US$50). And while that's not exactly cheap, it might be worth the investment for someone who likes a little durability. The ear pads are interchangeable, so if a pair does take some abuse they can easily be replaced.

The headphones alone weigh 46 grams (or 1.6 oz) and are being marketed for sports use. Thus Elecom has given it the unusual moniker "Actrail" – a hybrid of the words "trail" and "access". The ear piece is shaped to wrap over your ear with the strap curving around the back of your neck, which is intended to keep it securely in place while running. In the interests of safety, the wearer's ears are not completely enclosed, so joggers will still be able to hear some environmental noises.

The only potential drawbacks that I can foresee here is that the shuffle's controls might not be so easy to press while they are attached to this headset. Also if you're more concerned about appearance than function, then this might not be for you as having a big square iPod attached to a nice rounded ear-piece might draw a stare or two.

The Actrail will be available in Japan in late November. No word just yet on whether or not we'll see this one make its way to the rest of the world.

Via Elecom

Apple releases iOS 4.2 with AirPlay and AirPrint

Apple has announced that iOS 4.2 is now available as a free download for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. While iPhone and iPod touch users have enjoyed many of the features found in the latest version in iOS 4.0 and 4.1, it brings multitasking, fast app switching, folders, Game Center and a unified mail inbox to the iPad for the first time. The update also adds AirPrint and AirPlay to all compatible devices.

AirPlay allows users to stream music, video and photos wirelessly from iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to Apple TV, or to any stereo or powered speakers using AirPort Express. AirPlay-enabled speakers that allow content to be streamed directly to them are also set to hit the market over the next few months.

AirPrint lets users print directly from iOS devices to a number of HP ePrint printers on a local wireless network. HP PhotoSmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet printers will be the first to support direct printing from an iOS device. Apple had previously said that users would be able to send print jobs to any printer as long as it is connected through a Mac or a PC, but that capability doesn’t look to have made it to the release version.

The update also makes the Find My iPhone feature, which was previously only available to MobileMe subscribers, free for all users. The Find My iPhone app, which is available as a free download from the App Store, lets users locate a missing device on a map and have it display a message and a sound. They can also remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device.

Aside from the iOS 4.0 and 4.1 features making their way to the iPad for the first time, the update also changes the functionality of the orientation-lock button. In a move that Apple says is to provide consistency with the iPhone and iPod touch, the button now acts as a mute switch.

The iOS 4.2 update is compatible with the iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4, the iPod touch 2G, 3G and 4G and the iPad. It is available now from Apple.

Apple releases iOS 4.2 with AirPlay and AirPrint

Apple has announced that iOS 4.2 is now available as a free download for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. While iPhone and iPod touch users have enjoyed many of the features found in the latest version in iOS 4.0 and 4.1, it brings multitasking, fast app switching, folders, Game Center and a unified mail inbox to the iPad for the first time. The update also adds AirPrint and AirPlay to all compatible devices.

AirPlay allows users to stream music, video and photos wirelessly from iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to Apple TV, or to any stereo or powered speakers using AirPort Express. AirPlay-enabled speakers that allow content to be streamed directly to them are also set to hit the market over the next few months.

AirPrint lets users print directly from iOS devices to a number of HP ePrint printers on a local wireless network. HP PhotoSmart, HP LaserJet Pro and HP Officejet printers will be the first to support direct printing from an iOS device. Apple had previously said that users would be able to send print jobs to any printer as long as it is connected through a Mac or a PC, but that capability doesn’t look to have made it to the release version.

The update also makes the Find My iPhone feature, which was previously only available to MobileMe subscribers, free for all users. The Find My iPhone app, which is available as a free download from the App Store, lets users locate a missing device on a map and have it display a message and a sound. They can also remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device.

Aside from the iOS 4.0 and 4.1 features making their way to the iPad for the first time, the update also changes the functionality of the orientation-lock button. In a move that Apple says is to provide consistency with the iPhone and iPod touch, the button now acts as a mute switch.

The iOS 4.2 update is compatible with the iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4, the iPod touch 2G, 3G and 4G and the iPad. It is available now from Apple.

MicroVision’s second-generation SHOWWX+ laser pico projector

MicroVision Inc. has just released the second generation of its SHOWWX laser pico projector that we caught at CES earlier this year. The new SHOWWX+ is powered by the same PicoP display engine and is the same pocket-friendly size as its predecessor, but packs a 50 percent brighter display to project images of up to 250cm (100 in) from mobile devices to provide a (relatively) big screen experience wherever you may be.

Like the SHOWWX, the SHOWWX+ projects 16:9 widescreen images at up to 848 x 480 pixel resolution (WVGA) with a contrast ratio of 5,000:1 and brightness of 15 lumens. With a throw ratio of 1:1 the unit can project images ranging from 15 to 250 cm (6 – 100 inches). MicroVision claims this is the shortest projection distance of any pico projector on the market and its projected images are twice as large as images from competing products from the same projection distance.

The PicoP display engine uses laser-scanning technology to produce images that are always in focus – even on curved surfaces – without the use of complex lenses, color wheels, lamps or LEDs. This technology means the projected images are uniform in brightness, intensity and color saturation from the center of the display to the outer edges and is also the secret to the compact size of the SHOWWX+, which measures 14mm high by 60mm wide by 118mm long (0.55 x 2.36 x 4.65 in) and weighs 122g (4.3 oz).

Being “Made for iPod, iPhone, and iPad,” the device connects to these devices through the use of a single cable. It is also compatible with other devices such as mobile phones, cameras and camcorders via a composite TV/Video-Out adapter, while an optional VGA dock allows it to connect to a laptop or netbook.

Its user replaceable rechargeable battery provides power for up to two hours and is topped up via a Micro-USB cable and will operate off mains power through the included wall charger.

The SHOWWX+ is available now for US$449 from MicroVision.

News Corp. reportedly teaming up with Apple for tablet-only newspaper

Over the past decade, the rise and rise of the Internet has seen traditional newspapers scrambling to go online lest they go the way of the dodo – or the Rocky Mountain News. Unfortunately for the publishers, the public became accustomed to getting this online content for free and publishers faced the difficult task of converting readers to a more sustainable subscription model. The increasing popularity of tablets such as the iPad is changing the newspaper landscape yet again and media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. is now reportedly teaming up with Apple to develop a tablet-only publication exclusively for the iPad and other tablet devices.

Possibly looking to avoid the difficulty of weaning readers off free content that he faced with publications such as the Wall Street Journal Online, News Corp’s new venture, called The Daily, will be available only via subscription right off the bat.

Murdoch told Fox Business The Daily will launch in beta mode around Christmas before being introduced to the public early next year. With no printing or distribution costs it is expected to cost US$0.99 a week, or about $4.25 a month and will come out seven days a week.

The Guardian says that Apple has been working with News Corp. on the project and that, even though iOS 4.2 went public just yesterday, it is already aiming at a mid-December release for iOS 4.3 that will enable the publication to be dispatched automatically to an iPad. There is also speculation the update would usher in recurring subscriptions for apps through iTunes and that Steve Jobs would join Murdoch on stage at a press event to launch the publication.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, Jesse Angelo, formerly the managing editor of The New York Post, is working full-time on the project, which is expected to eventually comprise a newsroom of around 100 staffers. As well as traditional print journalists, The Daily will also concentrate on producing video content, as evidenced by the choice of Steve Alperin, a producer at ABC News, as one of the three managing editors.

Angelo reportedly wants The Daily to have a tabloid sensibility with a broadsheet intelligence, while Murdoch told the Australian Financial Review (AFR) that the new publication would be a bit like The New York Post, with a similar attitude and element of humor, only national. There will also be no foreign bureaus, and there aren’t even plans for a D.C. bureau at the moment. Murdoch did say that the publication would campaign on many issues, nominating U.S. education as one of the first topics.

Murdoch also told the AFR that he initially wanted to call the publication The Daily Planet but that DC comics wasn’t amused.

ASUS reveals Eee Note EA800 details

In May, ASUS announced that it was going to release an amalgam of a notepad and e-Reader tentatively named the Eee Tablet. The details of just such a device have now emerged, although the company is now calling it the Eee Note EA800. The 8-inch glass touchscreen display is said to be ultra-sensitive to pressure from a stylus input, with the monochrome screen image remaining clear even in bright sunlight. It supports all of the main e-Book formats as well as Microsoft Office documents, benefits from wireless connectivity and has quite an impressive battery life.

ASUS has revealed that the 139 x 222.4 x 11mm (5.47 x 8.75 x 0.43-inch) Eee Note EA800 will have 4GB of onboard solid state storage with microSD card expansion, a built-in voice recorder, 2 megapixel camera and will run on the Linux operating system. As promised in May, the device's non-backlit, 8-inch glass display benefits from 64 shades of gray and a resolution of 768 x 1024 pixels. It will also features 256 levels of pressure sensitivity for capturing detailed sketches and handwritten notes with 2540dpi accuracy.

As you might expect, the notepad/e-Reader is able to get online wirelessly via 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and directly to other devices via USB. Audio is delivered by a 1W mono speaker or 3.5mm headphone jack. ASUS says that users can expect a 13.5 hour battery life with wireless connectivity turned off and 10 with it on, with 10 days on standby. All of the usual document format is present with txt, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt and pptx also putting in an appearance.

There's no word on price or availability just yet, but the Eee Note EA800 is unlikely to be as cheap as the Boogie Board LCD note pad, although it does offer a good deal more functionality. Those wanting GPS, 3G and a color display at the sacrifice of screen size might find the E-KING S700 more suitable.

TerreStar GENUS lets you stay connected from virtually anywhere

Don’t you just hate it when you happen to live in a place where there are just way too many blind spots around your home when it comes to cell phone signals? Well, with the TerreStar GENUS, you need not worry about dropped calls or mysteriously disappearing signals any more as this puppy is more than capable of making sure you have a steady, stable signal at all times.

The TerreStar GENUS is touted to be the world’s first integrated cellular-satellite smartphone, where it will be offered by mobile communications provider, TerreStar Networks. With the GENUS, you can be sure that whether you’re an extreme outdoor adventurer, action sport enthusiast or a recreational boater, you can remain connected to family and friends even in remote locations or when the cellular network is down.

The TerreStar GENUS will make sure that satellite devices are no longer the stuff of dreams and domain of the rich, as it is now available to the mainstream consumer. Remember previous satellite devices that proved to be rather hefty to tote around? All of that has changed with the GENUs, where said smartphone comes in a sleek design, boasting an internal antenna and satellite innovation which will merge cellular and satellite connectivity for voice, data and messaging. Anyone with a line of sight to the southern sky is able to gain access to expanded voice and data roaming coverage in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and in territorial waters.

Among the other features found on the TerreStar GENUS include :-

• Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system experience
• Innovative form factor: 4.7 inch x 2.5 inch x 0.8/0.6 inch
• Lightweight at just 4.6 oz.
• Integrated Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), USB and GPS connectivity
• Touch Screen, QWERTY Keyboard
• Memory: 100 MB
• Windows Mobile Media Player
• 2.0-megapixel camera
• Digital voice recording

It definitely won’t be as cheap as a regular plan on other networks though, since usage of the satellite network for voice, data and messaging is not included in the monthly feature charge and is billed as a per-minute, per-message or per-megabyte roaming charge.

VUDU is now live on 2010 VIERA CAST-enabled Blu-ray players

Panasonic has fully embraced the world of full HD 3D technology since the beginning of the year, and the Japanese consumer electronics giant will now enable VUDU support for its 2010 line of VIERA CAST-enabled Blu-ray Disc Players, which means the couch potato who owns one of these puppies will be able to receive instant streaming of VUDU’s huge high definition movie library, which comprises of over 4,000 Full HD (1080p) movies from November 24th onwards.

Just before you continue, you might want to ask yourself, just what is VUDU? Well, it is a video-on-demand service that delivers instant streaming (and that, our dear readers, translates to zero download time) of movies and TV programs courtesy of IPTV-enabled HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc Players without the need for a computer or cable/satellite TV service. Of course, this also means that there is no need for a subscription or monthly membership fees.

VUDU itself boasts the world’s most extensive library of HD movies from all Hollywood studios and leading independent distributors, not to mention an unmatched new release collection with titles that are available the same day as the DVD release. The VUDU service will also deliver a great value to movie renters, with an enormous collection of titles available for only $2 for a two-night rental.

Looks like the average idiot box in the living room is no longer confined to just channel flipping, as the manufacturers as well as service providers have certainly done their part to up the ante when it comes to keeping your attention in the living room. VUDU itself is the latest entertainment feature to be added to VIERA CAST, Panasonic’s IPTV functionality. Much earlier in the year, Panasonic has already added Netflix, Skype voice and video calling, Twitter and Pandora to an already robust list of popular entertainment and information options.

Among the Panasonic Blu-ray Disc Players that feature VIERA CAST include DMP-BDT350 (Full HD 3D), DMP-BDT300 (Full HD 3D), DMP-BDT100 (Full HD 3D), DMP-BD85, DMP-BD65 and the DMP-B500, a portable Blu-ray Disc Player.

Portable USB Power Supply

With modern gadgets, running out of juice if something that happens to some of us more often than not, simply because today’s devices seem to suck up a whole lot more juice than before. I mean, when was the last time your smartphone lasted you from the morning till at night when you retire in bed without requiring a quick charge? That’s where the Portable USB Power Supply comes in handy, being an optimal emergency charger for cell phones & other devices. Capable of holding a charge for up to three months when in standby, it will ship with adapter tips that cater for a variety of cell phone brands. At $19.99 a pop, the fact that it does USB charging more or less makes it the essential tool for today’s road warrior.

LED US map makes geography more fun

The LED US map that you see here is definitely something that might just stoke your little one’s interest in geography, as it relies on a bunch of colorful LEDs to highlight your travels throughout this great country. Being large, colorful and interactive will certainly make it stand up and out from the rest of the maps in your home, and its nature of being interactive lets you mark cities you’ve visited with brightly lit LED lights. It is also a great tool for you to have if you own businesses throughout the country and want to highlight all your numerous branches for visitors to know that you aren’t a fly by night operation. Two blinking LEDs are included as home-base markers to boot, where it is accompanied by a 9’ long power cord, all going for $149.99.

Autobot – Control your car with your Smartfone

The two things I could never live without, my car and my cellphone, and now the two can work together. This pleases me.

This nifty little gadget connects to your vehicle’s on board diagnostic computer port and relays specific diagnostic information to your cell phone. Autobot will let you know what your “check engine” light is trying to tell you, let you start and unlock your car remotely and report to you if your tire pressure is low, or you need an oil change. Autobot will even send GPS location and a 911 message to family members if your airbags deploy and give you walking directions to your car if you can’t find it. Cool.

Autobot probably isn’t going to charge any fees, instead it looks like it will be supported by advertising and coupons, based on what your car’s computer tells Autobot you need, you will most likely receive some special offers from nearby merchants. It is unclear at this time if a premium service sans the advertising will be made available.

The mapping feature available with Autobot lets you know where your husband, I mean, car is and will even alert you if your car passes a preset location. If your precious baby should be stolen, (your car, not husband) you can disable the car remotely. You will even be able to see where your friends are if they have the AutoBot device installed in their own cars.

The system is to begin testing early next year and the hopes are it would be available to the public by 2012 for around $300.00

Source: mavizontech

ANYBOTS – Finally, a robot that will go to work for you

I’m still laughing… since I was a child I had dreams about the future, and how one day, I would be able to sit in my pajamas all day with the TV on and still be able to make the big bucks. I’m not exactly sure how this next product fits into that dream, but I’m having a darn good time imagining it.

The Anybot is a robot that becomes your eyes and ears, anywhere that you are not. It allows you to be a part of whatever’s happening, from wherever you are. Connected via the internet with a Wi-Fi connection, the Anybot utilizes a speaker, camera, microphone and video screen in order to bring your presence to the masses. You can broadcast live video of yourself, or just throw up a still picture for the coveted pajama days I spoke of earlier.

Sit back and imagine if you will, your Wednesday afternoon mandatory sales meeting, attended by your Anybot, while you relax in your local pub with a cold one and your laptop. Your Anybot allows you to interact with the entire office, gliding around quietly, effortlessly, chatting up your fellow employees in real time. Try to imagine the fun at the water cooler. Your Anybot will make sure your presence is felt throughout the entire facility.

It weighs about 35 pounds, plugs into your USB to charge, works with your current operating system and just about any compatible headset… no sick days, no missed fishing trips… or conversely, if you really want to relax a little, keep going to work and leave this at home to keep an eye on your kids.

Available for pre-order for $15,000.

Tony Sale’s 60-year-old Robot, George

The guy on the left is Tony Sale, and he is the inventor of George, the guy on the right.

George is a robot that is made from the aluminum and other scraps of a crashed bomber sixty years ago. Apparently, he has spent a large percentage of that time in a storage shed.

However, he had his fifteen minutes of fame in and around 1950 as they showed him pushing a vacuum cleaner. In reality, he wasn’t able to push a vacuum cleaner, but he could pull it. I suppose that the photo was taken to show the world that the future was robots who do all of our housework. What wife in the fifties wouldn’t want one of those?

George is going to have a permanent home at the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, England. This is the same place where Tony Sale’s rebuilt Colossus computer is also on display. For those who don’t know about the Colossus, it is the “world’s first recognizably programmable computer” and it is most famous for breaking a complicated Nazi code known as the Lorenz Cipher.

I’m certain that we could build a more advanced version of George today, and it probably wouldn’t look like a cross between the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz and a human-sized version of The Iron Giant.

Panasonic announces Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic has announced the successor to one of the highly sought after Micro Four Thirds shooter to date known as the Lumix DMC-GF1, which is the logically named Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2. This compact mirrorless camera is also Panasonic’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens system camera, where it will feature a built-in flash to boot.

The Lumix GF2 will play nice with lenses from the Micro Four Thirds standard, which means the system is not only small but compact, and yet will not compromise ease of operation or image quality. Not only that, the Lumix GF2 will also be able to work with Panasonic’s new 3D interchangeable lens, which is the LUMIX G 12.5mm/F12, letting you snap 3D photos without missing a beat.

Just how much more compact do you think GF2 has become? Well, its size was reduced by approximately 19% in size and approximately 7% in weight, and managed to do so while retaining its signature built-in flash. Seems to be a future-proof camera of sorts to us, considering it is able to handle 3D lens. Thanks to a newly-designed user interface, the Lumix GF2 is a snap to use, and will make room for anyone and everyone to set the focus or shutter release with but a touch of the fairly generous 3-inch LCD display.

Whenever you lock on to a subject by touch, the Lumix GF2 will go on and track the subject with the AF tracking function, never mind if the subject starts to move around, making life a whole lot easier. Of course, this doesn’t work if you’re trying to shoot a Formula 1 car in full glory, but it works great with little children running around at a party. Not only that, you can choose from a wide range of AF (Auto Focus) modes such as multiple-area AF with up to 23 focus areas, 1-area AF with a selectable focus area, Face Detection, and AF Tracking.

All of Panasonic’s Lumix G-Series DSLM cameras will be equipped with the highly-efficient Dust Reduction System, and the GF2 is no exception either. Should dust get inside the camera when you change lenses, a supersonic wave filter is located in front of the Live MOS sensor to repel dust and other particles by vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second.

Boasting a quality and solid aluminum body, the Lumix GF2 will come in black, silver, white, and red shades alongside the following kit options: DMC-GF2C – 14mm F2.5 Lens Kit and DMC-GF2K – 14-42mm Zoom Lens Kit. No word on pricing just yet, but expect to see the LUMIX GF2 hit the market sometime next January.

Hands on with the DXG-A85V Pro Gear Camera

I had a chance to review the DXG-A80V a few months ago, and I was fortunate to review what looks to be the follow-up, the DXG-A85V.

The cameras certainly look alike, and they are both 1080p video-capable with a 3 inch Touchscreen display. One of the upgrades is that the DXG-A85V has a 12X Optical Zoom instead of the 5X that the A80V has. Both are capable of 1080p at 30fps (frames per second), but the A80V can do 1080i in 60fps, while the A85V can do 720p at that 60 frame rate.

The A85V has a very advanced Manual Focus System and allows focusing by tapping on the touchscreen. I had a hard time making this feature work, but I will say that the camera is very good at catching whatever I wanted to focus on.

The DXG-A85V also has Dual Capture Mode for “recording video and pictures simultaneously”. The camera itself includes an HDMI cable, and it can support SD cards up to 16GB. It is also compatible with a remote, but it doesn’t come with one.

All in all, it is a good camera. I’m not certain whether or not DXG is making a killing in the camcorder market, but with cameras like the DXG-A85V, it really ought to. You can purchase it for about $319.99 off the DXG site.

Pain Relieving Neuromuscular Stimulator System

While pain is something most of us would try to avoid, it is there in our body for one reason – to function as a warning system so that we won’t be so naive as to sit on a bed of nails, or to keep on holding to a boiling kettle. While that’s the body’s natural response against danger, there are times when experiencing pain is a byproduct of our sickness, and fighting that could get weary especially if it has been going on for years. For folks who do not want to go through the ritual of relying on drugs to numb the pain, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel with the Pain Relieving Neuromuscular Stimulator System. This cordless home electrotherapy system is touted to deliver hours of drug-free pain relief without requiring a visit to a doctor, although its effectiveness is up to debate – any of our readers have used this $129.95 device to great effect?

Using the Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy, it relies on self-adhesive electrode pads being placed on sore spots, where they will then send harmless low-frequency electrical pulses into the tissue that block pain signals passing through nerves to the brain. Not only that, the system will help increase blood flow to the area to promote healing, while generating a sense of relaxation which is somewhat akin to what a massage does to you. The American Physical Therapy Association claims that TENS therapy is an effective element of pain management for low-intensity discomfort, including back pain and muscle soreness in the extremities. Sounds like a good buy for the older generation this Christmas?