Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Explay announces new oio companion LED nanoprojector

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/231058527/

Filed under: Displays

We've already seen plenty of oio iterations from Explay, but apparently this here "oio companion" is the real deal, and it'll be shown off at Mobile World Congress next week. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean we're getting any solid price or release details just yet, pretty much this new render is all. The mobile nanoprojector uses hybrid laser and LED light sources, and features an "always in focus" capability, low power consumption and an "affordable price." According to Explay, customers and carriers are currently being polled for input on the commercial rollout, so be sure to let Explay know in the comments how excellent of a pricepoint $5 would be. You can thank us later, Explay.

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Turn a Nokia into a 3G Wi-Fi Hotspot With JoikuSpot [3g Iphone]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/230489133/turn-a-nokia-into-a-3g-wi+fi-hotspot-with-joikuspot

Just like WMWifiRouter did for 3G Windows Mobile phones, JoikuSpot allows 3G S60 Nokia phones to act like a Wi-Fi hotspot for other devices. The principle is the same: a 3G connection comes in, goes through the phone, and out to your iPhone or laptop (through Wi-Fi) so you can access 3G on the go. However, JoikuSpot only supports HTTP and HTTPS, so Outlook, Skype and BitTorrent may not work (maybe not even some types of VPN). May want to poke around for more info before you rely on this for work on the go. [Joiku via IntoMobile]

I See London, I See France, I See Your Underpants from 32 Miles Away With Canon 5200mm Ultra Telephoto Lens [Big Ass Glass]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/230510886/i-see-london-i-see-france-i-see-your-underpants-from-32-miles-away-with-canon-5200mm-ultra-telephoto-lens

We have a winner. This Cloverfield-sized mirror lens by Canon doesn't do zooming action, it's a flat 5200mm, which can shoot stuff 18 to 32 miles away. That's like from one end of Rosie O' Donnell's ass to the other. To focus this baby, it has telescopes bolted to the side. And yeah, that little floating square is the camera. If you know of bigger and better—that isn't actually a telescope, please send 'em in. [CanonFD via kottke via BBG]

Massive Panavision Bazooka HD Lens Delivers 300X Zoom [Big Ass Glass]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/230491889/massive-panavision-bazooka-hd-lens-delivers-300x-zoom

Even Canon's BFG of telephoto lenses is but a wee fish in the vast ocean of big-ass glass. Today's whale shark specimen: The Panavision 300x HD lens. It's actually a broadcast HD lens, but that makes this sucker no less ridiculous. It's over three feet in length and weighs 85 lbs. (dwarfing the Canon by several inches and 50 lbs.) while delivering a gaping 7-2100mm continuous focal length range (F1.9-F/13) for 300X zoom. Which is a .3 degree field of vision. The cost? 300X what you're thinking. [Panavision]

LG Viewty Touchscreen Cellphone Can Now Record 640x480 DivX at 120FPS [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/230540576/lg-viewty-touchscreen-cellphone-can-now-record-640x480-divx-at-120fps

Recording VGA-quality movies is nothing new, but DivX and LG just announced that the LG Viewty smartphone can now record VGA-quality movies at 120 frames per second with what looks like a software update (new ones will ship with it pre-loaded). Best of all, it records in the DivX format, which means you can watch it back on all kinds of DivX devices (your computer, various PMPs, the Xbox 360 and the PS3 for example). Besides recording at such a high rate, the phone can also take 5-megapixel stills, for the times when one picture says more than 120 of them. The Viewty is already available in Europe, and we got a hands-on with it last year. [Mobile Burn]

Modu Cellphone Changes Function with Jackets [Modu]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/230892436/modu-cellphone-changes-function-with-jackets

Modu's tiny cellphone could be inserted into multiple "jackets" to change its function. Or better said, the Modu phone carries your data, giving your personality to whatever gadget you insert it into, GameBoy cartridge style. After seeing all the pictures of the different jackets and the announced prices, the video and the idea makes a lot more sense now.

As you can see, Modu can be operated on its own as a very simple cellphone or become a full-fledge multimedia phone, a portable media player, a car sound system, a full car GPS, a bike mini-GPS, a toaster or a fully armed, fully operational battle station. Maybe, not so sure about the later. The video shows the Modu being inserted into a MacBook Pro and I wonder if it uses a standard

The concept of carrying a small module with basic communications capabilities, holding your personal data so all these other devices can change personality is attractive. Specially since some devices could be shared with other members of your family. On the other side, it could be the dumbest, biggest flop in cellphone history.

In any case, we will be all over them like shareware. If only for the NES clickity-clack sound of getting Modu inside whatever jackets. The price is great too: $200 for the basic module plus two jackets. The company says it plans to introduce other jackets for $20 to $60, which is quite an agressive strategy. If they work well, collecting them may get more popular than picking Pokémons. [Modu via Business Week]

JPEG XR Means Faster Burst Shooting for Less-Than-Pro DSLRs [Digital Cameras]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/230688692/jpeg-xr-means-faster-burst-shooting-for-less+than+pro-dslrs

One obvious way to speed up continuous shooting bursts on DSLRs is to drop the image format down to JPEG, which takes less processing power to deal with than RAW. But, since JPEGs are compressed, you lose a lot of info, which doesn't cut it for a lot of photo folk. Canon and Casio think Microsoft's JPEG XR (formerly HD Photo) might be the middle-ground solution, especially for cheaper DSLRs.

It has a wider color palette and can show finer gradations than regular JPEG, but it's also got a better compression algorithm, so even with the extra info, it doesn't drag as hard on the camera. It's not going to be a solution for pros, obviously, who demand RAW, but for the regular people to accomplished amateur range, it'll probably be fine. Exactly how often do you shoot in RAW, anyway? [Crave]

Coco Chanel Fashion Phone is Powered by Dreams, Wishes [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/231018344/coco-chanel-fashion-phone-is-powered-by-dreams-wishes

This Coco Chanel phone has a leg up on other fashion phones by being an actually unique and new design, but takes a blow by being a mere concept based around technology that may or may not have been made up for the purpose of justifying a neat-looking Photoshop. Let's see if any of you can tell me how much sense the explanation of the technology is:

Works by integrating an optical fiber system that display image between two glass parts. There are 12 micro lighter fibers, that throw image components to the glass, that offer a quite good luminosity, and keep the mobile phone concept as light as possible. All lights only appear when you open the phone, by pushing removable part on the side of it.

Maybe I've missed all the other phones that are powered by micro lighter fibers, but this seems a bit too made up for my liking. But hey, shiny things! Isn't that what fashion is all about? I'll take three! [Tuvie via New Launches]

The gigantic "HTC Magnum" is convenient, inconspicuous

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/229885459/

Filed under: Cellphones

We're not really sure what to make of this supposed HTC "Magnum" that's been doing the rounds today. Sure, it looks like a gigantic, touchscreen HTC phone -- but we'd be hard-pressed to say this has any use outside of demo purposes and party time hijinks. Our guess is that this is a hilarious prank meant to thrill the interblogs, but it is possible that HTC has decided to move away from the tried-and-true handheld market to a more robust, manly line of products. Like a participant in a cat-fight, we won't "go there" on the specs, suffice to say, they make it sound really, really real. Check the video after the break to see the "phone" doing its thing, Ten Commandments-style.

Update: Yep, not real.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading The gigantic "HTC Magnum" is convenient, inconspicuous

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3G + N95 + JoikuSpot + WiFi + iPhone = 3G iPhone (the hard way)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230260585/

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

In the unlikeliest of unions since Julia and Lyle, we bring you some hot iPhone on N95 symbiotic action. Using the free JoikuSpot application released this morning, you can now turn any S60 smartphone into a WiFi hotspot. Yes, just like WMWifiRouter does for WinMo devices. Sure, the solution doesn't make much sense from locations with tethered Internet and you can't encrypt the http and https (only) traffic. But if you've ever been in a WiFi dead spot and needed to share access (think PSP gaming), this type of solution is pretty unbeatable. Assuming you have an unlimited data plan that is. Click the read link for the video.

[Via IntoMobile]

Read -- Video
Read -- JoikuSpot

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N-Gage First Access hacked for N95 8GB, others

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230304147/

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming

That didn't take long. A mere day after the release of Nokia's N-Gage First Access gaming preview exclusively to N81 users, the app has been cracked open to work with any N-series device with enough horsepower. The hack was performed by Nokia regular P@sco, and comes in a convenient downloadable form, or an only slightly involved guide to hacking the app yourself. No rocket science here, and while we're sure Nokia could easily fight back, what we've really got to ask ourselves is why didn't Nokia just open it to everyone in the first place?

[Thanks, Michael J.]

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Cut four undersea cables, shame on you, cut a fifth, also shame on you

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230444664/

Filed under: Networking

If you're reading Engadget today because your favorite Iranian gadget blog is offline, here's why: a fifth undersea cable has now been reported as cut (or at least damaged), responsible for ~~knocking Iran~~ and a few other million people mostly off the interwebs. Things were already looking awfully suspicious when a fourth undersea cable in the Mediterranean was cut yesterday, and while nothing about a fifth cable being cut necessarily means some sort of sabotage is to blame, it's not exactly reassuring. Emergency measures are already underway to repair the cables, but we're not sure our inter-continental Quake III Arena deathmatch can handle any more snips.

[Via Slashdot; image courtesy of I Love Bonnie]

Update: Just to be clear, early reports of the entirety of Iran being offline turned out to be exaggerated or perhaps entirely false.

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