Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Friday, June 13, 2008

Mobiado Professional 105 EM / GCB handsets: too luxurious for our fingers

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/310519157/

Filed under: Cellphones

Heads up, affluent sect. The immensely pricey Professional 105 line is expanding, as two new members slip in to tempt your stuffed wallet. Mobiado's Professional 105 EM is available in Cocobolo and Ebony, and the frame is even constructed from anodized aluminum; you'll also notice sapphire crystal buttons and a black finish. As for the Professional 105 GCB, it's layered with a 5-micron thick 24-karat gold plating and jazzed up with a fancy logo 'round back. Both candybars feature quad-band GSM support, a measly 1GB of internal storage space and a ho hum 2-megapixel camera, but fret not, as it'll (very likely) be the most expensive lackluster cellphone you'll ever pay for.

[Via UnwiredView]

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LG claims Flatron W2252TE is "world's most energy-efficient monitor"

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/310565727/

Filed under: Displays

LG has just announced what it claims to be the "world's most energy-efficient monitor," and it looks like it's been able to lay claim to that (potentially dubious) title without making too many compromises on specs. That includes a 22-inch screen size with a 1680 x 1050 resolution, a lofty 10,000:1 contrast ratio, a 2 ms response time, a 170 degree viewing angle, and a 250cd/m2 brightness rating, all while supposedly maintaining a 45% (or roughly 40W) reduction power consumption compared to other models. No word on a price, unfortunately, but the Flatron W2252TE will apparently be available in the UK this August.

[Via Smart Planet, thanks Adam]

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Glass keyboard concept opts for cameras instead of keys

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/310603667/

Filed under: Peripherals

While we can't say it's our notion of an ideal keyboard, we've still got to admire designer Kong Fanwen's ability to throw any sense of practicality to the wind and ditch the whole idea of keys with his new "No-key Keyboard" concept. In the place of that tried and true typing mechanism, this keyboard would instead make use of a camera and the "latest motion capture technology" to watch your fingers' movement and capture all the right keystrokes (ideally). On the upside, that'd apparently make the keyboard fully waterproof, and it'd apparently come with some snazzy lighting options to help you find those non-existent keys in the dark.

[Via Pocket-lint]

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Gigabyte M528 Atom-based MID gets $750 price and release timeframe

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/310630691/

Filed under: Handhelds

Gigabyte M528

Just when we though Tegatech's Gigabyte M528 MID would run a scary $1131, Gigabyte has come out and said that the unit will run a somewhat more palatable $750. That includes the hardware only, so the SIM and 3G data plans will be completely up to you. But, keep in mind this unit packs an 800Mhz Menlow processor, GPS, and 8GB SSD. As for when you can grab one, it's looking like late July in Taiwan. Hit the read link if you're still with us and want to pre-order this naughty little MID.

[Thanks, KC]

[Via The Gadgetsite]

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Panasonic debuts "hybrid lighting" Pa-Look compact fluorescent bulbs

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/310686560/

Filed under: Household

LEDs may be snagging the majority of light bulb headlines these days, but Panasonic's apparently found some room for improvement with compact fluorescents, with it now proclaiming that its new Pa-Look Ball Premium Q bulbs boast the world first "hybrid lighting method." That apparent innovation consists of a "Quick Lamp" at the center of the bulb, which helps the bulb reach 60% brightness in half the time a conventional compact fluorescent takes, and then shuts off automatically once the bulb has reached full brightness. You'll apparently have to make do with 54 watts of brightness to take advantage of all that, however, not to mention live in Japan.

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Researchers create music... with their minds!

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/310707321/

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

G-Tec's thought control hat has been out there making people look silly for some time now, but a group of researchers at Goldsmiths, University of London have now put it to a somewhat more unique (but equally silly-looking) use. As the BBC reports, they've effectively turned the device into a musical instrument, with the wearer only required to think about a note as they flash on a screen in order to play it. It's apparently not quite a foolproof solution just yet, with it currently only able to play the correct note about six out of eight times, but the researchers see plenty of potential applications for the system, including helping composers struck down with multiple sclerosis or other physical disabilities. Hit up the read link below to check out a video demonstration.

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Acer's P5260i WiFi projector beams imagery sans wires

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/310726525/

Filed under: Displays

Add one more to the WiFi projector heap, as Acer has just blasted out a new one. The P5260i features 802.11b/g WiFi and can theoretically support HD streaming of MPEG1/2/4, WMV, AVI, DivX, XviD, ASF and VOD files. Of course, the native 1,024 x 768 resolution puts a damper on all of that, but other specs you may be interested in includes the 2,700 ANSI lumens, 2,000:1 contrast ratio and VGA / DVI / HDMI inputs. We haven't seen a price / release date just yet, but don't count on it being exceptionally cheap.

[Via SlashGear]

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Dell E and E Slim revealed, taking on Eee and Air in one fell swoop

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/310822152/

Filed under: Laptops

We got a nice helping of slides dropped on our virtual doorstep this evening, fleshing out Dell's upcoming netbook -- which they seem to be calling the "Dell E." Um, Eeenteresting name choice, but that doesn't seem set in stone, and there's plenty else going on here to ponder over. Dell's breaking the Dell E into two device types, a 8.9-inch model clearly meant to take on the Eee 900, and the 12.1-inch "E Slim" which actually looks positioned to take on the MacBook Air and X300, at a mere 0.8-inches thick, though perhaps in a lower-end capacity. Even the 8.9-inch model will have some distinctions, with E Classic model for super low-end use, and E Video and E Video+ for more RAM, larger flash storage, webcams and Bluetooth in the + model. Rollout looks to be slated for August for the E, August / September-ish for the E Slim, and a followup for both of those in October of WWAN, with WiMAX after that. Dell even has a second version of both devices slated for Q2 2009, but that's all we know about those so far. Perhaps most interesting is that all of these run Linux and Windows XP, and while it's not clear if there's a full-featured Linux OS onboard, there does seem to be an instant-on, Foleo-esque Linux included on all of them called BlackTop. We're not sure if there's any relation to Splashtop, but the janky-ass interface and email / calendar / contacts apps seem to be telling us no. BlackTop will support WWAN and WiFi, and Dell plans to move the 2.0 version to the Latitude and Vostro lines in a year or two. Peep the slides below for all the gory details. Oh, and the price? Dell E starts at $299.

Gallery: Dell E and E Slim revealed, taking on Eee and Air in one fell! swoop

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found it!

http://uservoice.com/

it is being used by

http://www.retailmenot.com

http://retailmenot.uservoice.com/

this is an off the shelf service to create something like Starbuck’s MyStarbucksIdea.com

my new favorite coupon site

http://www.retailmenot.com

Their key innovation is real-time feedback on whether a coupon worked or not -- leveraging the collective actions of the community to make it better and more useful for everyone else.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Sony announces own backside illuminated CMOS -- take that OmniVision

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/309522345/

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Well, there you have it: the BSI gauntlet has been officially thrown. Sony just announced its own backside-illuminated CMOS sensor meant to rival OmniVision's achievement. Sony's sensor features 1.75 micron pixels totalling 5 effective megapixels capable of 60fps and offers low noise at twice the sensitivity of traditional sensors at the same pixel size. That's a signal to noise ratio of +8dB (+6dB sensitivity, -2dB noise), nerds. Nice Sony, but OmniVision's 8 megapixel sensor targeting cameraphones (Sony's is apparently targeting digital cameras and camcorders) brings the pixels down to 1.4 microns (with 0.9 micron pixels on the roadmap) albeit with an undisclosed SNR. Regardless, we look forward to seeing our friends' chemically-spiked club shots in excruciatingly slovenly detail later this year.

BSI, learn it -- it's shaping up to do for imaging what perpendicular did for magnetic storage.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

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Toshiba's 1.8-inch 160GB disk hits 5400RPM for netbooks

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/309390245/

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

Who makes a 160GB, 1.8-inch SATA disk spinning at 5400RPM? Nobody, until today. Toshiba just announced the industry's largest-capacity / fastest 160GB MK1617GSG disk for ultra-portables and netbook-class machines. While others have hit the magical 160GB mark in an 8-mm thick form factor, this is the first 1.8-inch SATA to reach 5400RPM. Oh, and because you're about to ask: no, it's too chubby for an iPod classic (where that speed wouldn't likely be noticed) or ultra-thin laptop like the MacBook Air or Envy 133. Thanks for asking though.

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Honlai's QingBar MP101 iPhone projector makes us want more

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/309546910/

Filed under: Displays

Looks like Honlai had more than one mini-projector on display at Computex. The MP101 is capable of throwing a 15- to 27-inch display form your iPhone or iPod touch in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Unfortunately, we're talking just 10-15 lumens and a 200:1 contrast. Still, it'll do for a quick and dirty LCoS jones. See a working prototype after the break.

[Via AVING and DisplayBlog]

Continue reading Honlai's QingBar MP101 iPhone projector makes us want more

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Video: NeoVisus Gaze prototype enables handsfree computer control

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/309608357/

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

If you're tired of worrying about carpal tunnel syndrome setting in and ruining your ability to surf the intarwebz, Martin Tall is cooking up an alternative to the tried-and-true mouse / keyboard control combo. The NeoVisus Gaze prototype, quite simply, enables computer users to control the action on screen with just their eyes. Granted, this setup works entirely better when viewing photos than, say, typing up a thesis -- but there's always voice recognition software for that, right? Check out the demonstration video below.

Continue reading Video: NeoVisus Gaze prototype enables handsfree computer control

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Verizon snags LG Dare, Decoy and Chocolate 3

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/309685902/

Filed under: Cellphones

So, what do you do after announcing your intentions to spend nearly $30 billion on America's fifth largest carrier? Why, you announce a trio of new phones for the summertime, that's what. Verizon Wireless is trumpeting the launch of the Dare (pictured), Decoy and Chocolate 3, all of which are being provided by LG. As for the Dare, you'll find 3G, V CAST, VZ Navigator and a 3.2-megapixel camera, while the Decoy becomes the world's first handset with a Bluetooth headset integrated into its body. Finally, the Chocolate 3 goes all flip-phone on us and includes an FM transmitter, twin speakers, 1GB of internal storage, 2-megapixel camera and V CAST support. Unfortunately, VZW hasn't dished out official details on pricing just yet, but you can find out for sure when they go on sale later this month, June 16th and sometime in July (in order of mention).

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