Latest Gadgets, Tablets and Smartphones
Now this Mega USB Hub thing truly is Mega. I came across it on Techeblog. It’s no less then a USB Hub to connect 31 of your USB devices to your PC. No instructions or anything on this one. I guess there isnt much else to add to the story except what has already been said… connect 31 USB devices 🙂
Buffalo has created a wifi router which claims it can transmit at 300mbps on a single channel and 600mbps on a dual channel (tests revealed a lot less although not so shabby 46mbps and 75mbps). However, the device costs around $200 and is out as soon as the 802.11n standard is actually ratified by the IEEE.
ezGear have created a HMD (head mounted display) so you can watch full screen movies on your travels although it’s ideal to sit when wearing one of these 😉
The HMD has the ability to create a simulated 50 inch screen right in front of you (not sure how far away it looks) and comes with iPOD and RCA cables for $400.
I am still not convinced with one of these although it could be something I wear in bed while trying to fall asleep.
Sony have released information on their new ultra portable Vaio range of laptops know as the TX3 series.
They will be priced around the $2000 price range, sport many goodies packed in like BlueTooth, Wifi, TV Tuner and more and all that packs in to just a 1 inch think case. Not bad!! Sony have always impressed me with how small they can make things.
The Laptop comes with an 11.1″ wide screen display which I assume will be the nice x-black type.
One other great piece of news is that the battery now lasts around 7.5 hours which in the past has been a downfall of Sony. 10 hours is excellent though and will cover some serious travel between charges.
Epson have created a 7.1-inch, QXGA e-paper which is just 0.47mm thick and A6 size (7.1″).
The device can stay active once the power has been removed and uses just 6 Volts to keep it going. I see great advancements with flexible screens over the next few years. I am just curious how flexible this thing is. Can it roll up? Who knows?
The iTech Virtual Keyboard has been around quite a while now in the UK. This small BlueTooth enabled device can act as a keyboard on any flat surface. The iTech Virtual Keyboard projects an image of a keyboard on to the desk in front of you and uses a sensor located at the base to track where your key presses are and then sends them via BlueTooth over to the Pocket PC or Mobile phone etc… which puts it on the screen.
Available from Amazon.
Specifications:
Contents:
LED Tagz I guess are the “cool” way of passing on messages to other folks.
With a few keystrokes you can put a 256 character message on the screen which scrolls your name, phone number, chat up line or what ever you want. You then just throw it around your neck and hope that someone notices 🙂
Available from iwoot.com
Sported by the Norwegian Winter Olympics team are this pair of walkie talkie watches which have a nice range of 3km as well as having 300 channels to talk over meaning you shouldn’t get interference. The good thing about these watches is that no licence is required which means you can talk for free to the other watch owner.
Similar items available from Amazon.
Sony Ericsson are to soon release their next P series mobile phone the P990i. The new phone will be compatible with 3G networks which is a good move forwards for Sony Ericsson. 3G coverage in the UK is getting larger and with adding high speed to the already amazing P series phones was the right way to go.
Some of the excellent advances are that it now supports wireless 802.11b, has a built in FM radio, compatible with the following networks… UMTS (3G) + GSM 900/1800/1900 and has the usual BlueTooth, 2M camera. Also new additions are the options of editing Word Documents on the go as well as Excell spreadsheets. The P990i also supports the main email protocols. The P series Sony Ericsson is truly becoming a mobile device for business users and allows for work on the go.
Accessories available at Amazon.
The Asus WL-530g is the smallest wifi router at the moment that I know of. I came across it today although it has been out for over a year. I still think it’s worth a mention though.
The cost of the device is £44.95 inc VAT in the UK and available from Expansys.
A similar upgraded router is available here.
The router is great for those travellers who like to have wifi as an option such as in a hotel room where the wireless connection may be slower and less reliable then the Ethernet port in the wall. Just plug it in and go!
The technical specs…
* WAN Ethernet Port:
Support: Both Ethernet and 802.3 with Max. Bit Rate 10/100 Mbps with auto crossover function (MDIX)
Connector: RJ45 for 10/100 BaseT¼br
* LAN Ethernet Port:
Support: Both Ethernet and 802.3 with Max. Bit Rate 10/100Mbps with Auto crossover function (MDIX), 4 port switch
Connector: 4 x RJ45 for 10/100BaseT
* Protocol Support:
Network: TCP/IP, DHCP server and client, PPPoE, PPTP, NAT, ICMP, UDP Routing: Static Routes, NAT(onetomany)
* Management:
Remote management Save/Restore Configuration files and upgrades via web browser
Device discovery: Discover all Asus Routers in network and help users to enter webpages
Firmware Restoration: after firmware upgrade failure, this utility can help save your device
* Network Protocol:
DHCP Server, WAN DHCP Client
Enable/Disable WAN Ping
DNS Proxy, PPPoE login client support, Big Pond login client support
NTP support
* Reset Button: Press for 5 seconds to restore factory setting
* Applications: UPnP, Exposed Host (DMZ), Port Range Forwarding
* Firewall: NAT and SPI
* Operating Frequency: 2.42.5 GHz
* Data Rate:
802.11g: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54Mbps
802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11Mbps
* Range:
Indoor 30 ft (40 m), outdoor (LOS, LightOfSight) 300 ft (100 m) at 11Mbps
Indoor 80 ft (25 m), outdoor (LOS, LightOfSight) 200 ft (60 m) at 54Mbps
* Wireless Security:
64/128bit WEP, WPAPSK
* Size: 1.75″ L x 5.25″ W x 1.2″ H
Electronics company iFire based in Toronto have introduced a super thin (just 2cm) High Def LCD TV. (Image below). The TV is 37″ and weight a light 2.2 pounds which is very impressive!
iFire use a new technology called “thick-film dialectric electroluminescent” (TDEL) and uses fewer materials, thinner glass and fewer electronics then the Plasma screens. The screen uses energy from a Blue light source (a sheet of phosphor) which energise Red and Green pigments and the combination mixing with the Blue displays the picture.
The unit only costs $300 to make at the moment which gives competition to the other types of screens available. Mass production is planned for 2007.
Well… look at the size of this huge HDTV. This is the 100 inch display from LG.Philips and looks to be massive! I am sure it has a massive price tag stuck to it also. Currently this is the largest LCD screen at the moment.
Details can be fonud at The Korea Times
