Latest Gadgets, Tablets and Smartphones
Shenzhen Truth Digital Technology, or TRUS has created a USB flash drive with LCD display. The display appears to be used for showing storage space available, although having a file browser could happen too. We doubt the latter part though. The device also sports a solar panel which we guess is to keep the screen powered.
The device doesnt look too exciting to be honest although showing used space could be ok if you have a number of flash drives to choose from.
Via: OhGizmo
The TwoView LCD screens are for mounting in server racks. They fit in a 2U form factor and have an interesting sliding mechanism which slides each monitor to the side allowing you to work on a server with the benefit of dual screens. Many of you will be aware of the benefits of working with 2 or more screens as opposed just the 1. The unit is constructed of metal and includes the 2 screens which are 15 to 19 inch (optional), a keyboard and track ball. Resolutions supported go up to 1280 x 1024 which I assume is per screen with them being LCD screens.
As well as working well in a rack mount situation, the TwoView is also built to military standards which are listed at the link below. These include standards such as covering for shock, vibrations and sealings to allow for water.
Via: GeneralDigital
Many flash drives are coming out with fancy new features such as LCD displays showing memory usage, titanium ones which are super strong. However, I have not seen or even thought of modding a Pez dispenser to make in to a flash drive. This is exactly what Metku did. In the picture above we see a familiar character from the Incredibles converted over in to being a flash drive.
Check out all the pictures and instructions at the link below so you can make your own flash drive Pez dispenser.
Via: Metku
The WUSBF54G is a USB network adapter and also includes a built in wi-fi finder. It is capable of finding Wireless G and Wireless B signals and allows full connectivity and 128 bit WEP or WPA encryption. The USB network adapter has a built in LCD screen which shows network name, channel, signal strength and the security of the network. What sets this device out from the crowd is that it works while not connected to your laptop. You switch it on and it immediately shows networks in the area and if they are able to be connected to. If you find one then you can switch on your laptop, plug it in and then surf away. If multiple networks are found then a list is displayed ordered by signal strength. As free public hotspots are becoming more freely available, this device can help find those hotspots far quicker and get you working quicker.
The device costs $79 and could be well worth the investment for the frequent traveler.
Via: Coolest-Gadgets
The LCD TV market is getting huge now due to prices always dropping. This has allowed various technologies to be worked with such as virtual mirrors. These tend to be mirrors that hang on your wall, and also have a screen built in. When the screen it switched on the surface is no longer reflecting an image of you, but is showing a video.
Using this idea, a store in New York decided that clothes can be tried on by facing a mirror and displaying the clothes on screen. Where the clothes are not, you can see your reflection as though you are wearing the clothes. To add to this, a picture is then taken, emailed to friends and family and an opinion can be gained as to weather you buy the item of clothing or not.
Seems like an interesting idea and might help speed up things for those who get bored waiting for their wives to try on everything in a store.
Via: NewLaunches
The Philips DCD778 is a kitchen entertainment system with a built in flip down LCD display. As well as being an entertainment system, it is also a docking station for your iPod. Basically hook up your iPod to the DCD778 and choose what you want to watch. Not only does is it compatible with an iPod, it also works with DVD, VCD, MP3 and CDs. With it being built for the kitchen it also has functions that are useful in a kitchen such as timers and a clock so you can make sure you never burn those Yorkshire Puddings.
It costs $400, has a remote control and will be available next week.
Via: UberGizmo
The Samsung Syncmaster 940UX is an LCD panel which connects to your PC and gets it’s signal via USB. The monitor does not have any VGA or DVI connectors on it. The 940UX can be used as any regular screen but it does have a catch. It seems like the processing is done by the CPU of the PC and not any dedicated hardware. According to Engadget up to 6 screens can be daisy chained to each other and make use of just 1 USB port on the computer. Unfortunatly doing this does not allow for much video to be processed and a beefy PC is needed.
This is a good step forwards in technology though as many devices these days connect via USB and it makes sense that a screen should also connect via USB. We will need to watch how this all pans out over the next few months and see if performance is reported as an issue, or if additional hardware is best being used to get the quality you really need on the screen.
The video below shows a couple of laptops at CeBIT which caught my attention today. The Flybook VM is a laptop with an interesting screen attached. Instead of having just the regular hinge that allows you to flip it open, it has a second hinge which allows the screen to be taken away from the main hinge bringing it more to eye level and still allowing access to the keyboard below it This brings it more in to line with a regular flat panel in the office. The VM has built in Bluetooth 2.0, Wifi 802.11 a / b / g, an Intel Core Duo low voltage 1.66Ghz processor, 1Gb of DDR2 memory (upgradable to 2Gb), a 12.1 inch wideview LTPS TFT LCD which runs at 1280 x 768 and a 1.8 inch 30Gb drive which is upgradable to 60Gb and 80Gb. These are the basic features of the VM. It also supports fingerprint scanning, higher resolution output on an external monitor, DVD-CD-R, PCI Express and more. Full specs can be found at FlyBook.
The V33i is a table PC with the regular rotating type screen. It has impressive features and is small measuring at 235 x 155 x 31 (mm). Connectivity on this tablet is provided by EDGE / GPRS and GSM as well as Bluetooth 1.2 and Wifi. The processor is a 1.1Ghz Intel Pentium M. Memory is 512Mb DDR1 standard and can be upgraded up to 2Gb. This is DDR1 memory and not DDR2 like the flybook above. The screen is an 8.9 inch wide view LTPS TFT LCD which runs at a resolution of 1024 x 600 and it powered by an ATI Radeon Xpress 200M card with 64Mb memory.
Looking at the specs above and video below it appears that both devices show potential due to a very small form factor VS power.
Via: TechEBlog
ViewSonic are known for creating some excellent displays in the computer market. The quality and design is top notch. ViewSonic have now launched an iPod dock which when I first heard about I was suprised. However, this is no ordinary iPod dock as it is actually an LCD projector. The ViewSonic PJ258D costs $999 and is a powerfull device rated at 2000 ANSI lumens. This portable projector is not aimed at the business user, but more at those who want to watch movies on the go or at home.
The iPod dock allows you to connect your iPod directly to the projector and play movies from your iPod allowing for an ultimate portable system. The screen size limit is only restricted to the size of the wall in your home and Laptopmag tested the projector fully finding that at 10 feet away you could get an 88 inch display on your wall. If you have a 20ft living room then the screen is more then 8ft high. Of course if you want to start going for that larger size of display on the wall then lighting does become an issue, so this is best when it’s night, or with the curtains shut.
Via: Laptopmag
Wireless digital cameras are not too common yet with models only existing from Nikon, Kodak and Canon. Sony has decided it is time to get in on the scene with the new Sony Cybershot G1 wifi digital camera. 2007 will see a great line up of digital cameras. Looks wise the camera is great. Technical side it also has quality with a 6 mega pixel CCD, 3.5 inch LCD and 2Gb of internal memory. As well as the internal memory, external memory can be added which currently can boost the capacity up to 10Gb (The latest Memory Stick is 8Gb).
Another feature of the Cybershot G1 is DNLA (Digital Living Network Alliance) which allows you to share pictures with any other camera which has the DNLA logo on it. The pricing for this camera is $600 when it hits the shelves soon.
US Product Page
UK Product Page
Via: Gizmodo
Yesterday I had to have a quick medical check for insurance purposes. I noticed the nurse was writing as normal but kept tapping on a piece of plastic from time to time on her clipboard. When I asked what this was for she said that the pen was recording all writing, transmitting it to a device in her bag which automatically sent it to the company she represented so that they could immediately process my insurance application. A few seconds later a message was delivered to her blackberry saying that all was good. Of course I had to look in to this as I thought it was amazing that all her text and my signature was now somewhere else in the country (or world even) and yet she was still sitting in the same room as me and I had barely given her the pen back just 30 seconds before.
Having a quick search around I noticed a few different pens one of which is from a site called PegaTech. The Mobile NoteTaker is one example of a digital pen which can capture what you write on an actual sheet of paper. We all have to admit that writing is often easier then trying to get your pocket PC’s transcriber understand your text. The NoteTaker is a portable device which captures your handwriting. The process is very simple and does not require special paper. Just get the pen and write on to what ever and have it recorded on to a device that is small enough to easily fit in a bag or pocket. Once back in the office you can transfer the text to your PC to organise and share with others. The device has the ability to store 50 pages of text and confirmation of what you have is displayed on an LCD screen on the device.
This is an excellent device for someone who wants a digital copy of what they write, but still wants to write on regular paper. Of course the business user can also benefit from this device as I mentioned above.
The pen is available from PegaTech and costs $189 for the mobile version of this device.
Widgetstation is a stand alone device which it more advanced then other desk clocks and calendars you have seen before. It connects to your PC via wifi, ethernet or USB. Once connected to your PC the device can receive information and display it on one of it’s two screens. On the left is a mono LCD screen and on the right a colour LCD screen. Standard widgets included are able to display clocks, calendars, weather reports and anything you really want. What makes this possible is the ability to make custom widgets to use on the device, and it is also possible to display these widgets with other users. To download a new widget you need to use the widget engine which is provided as part of the service.
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