Apple granted patent for a 'reduced size multi-pin connector,' namedrops USB 3.0 and DisplayPort

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/apple-granted-patent-for-a-reduced-size-multi-pin-connector-n/

Apple has just collected the US Patent Office's approval to add another to its vast hoard of patents. This one, numero 7,918,689 in the USPTO annals, describes a multi-pin male plug connector and a corresponding female receptacle, with the innovation being a reduction in size thanks to a single row of contacts. You can think of it as Apple's next generation of 30-pin connectors, or rather the next generation as the company envisioned it back in late 2008, the date of filing for this document. Back then, while the age of the click wheel was still upon us, Apple wanted to transfer USB 3.0 and DisplayPort signals over its newfangled plug, aspirations that were codified in claim 11 of its patent. We may now be a solid 30 or so months removed from that doc hitting the Patent Office's inbox, but the desire to have advanced data transfer tech integrated straight into the company's proprietary connectors is unlikely to have withered. Would it be a stretch to expect Apple's now working on a similar solution for the Thunderbolt interconnect -- whose plug looks identical to the one used for DisplayPort -- that is presently gracing its MacBook Pro line?

Gallery: Apple patent: Reduced Size Multi-pin Male Plug Connector

Apple granted patent for a 'reduced size multi-pin connector,' namedrops USB 3.0 and DisplayPort originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Isis NFC payment system gets its first market in Salt Lake City, Utah, launches in 2012

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/isis-nfc-payment-system-gets-its-first-market-in-salt-lake-city/

Like 3D on high-end HDTVs, NFC-based payment systems seem set to invade our mobile lives whether we like them or not. Isis, a collaborative venture between AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and a bunch of banking big timers, has today announced the first market for its rollout of a contactless payment scheme, and it's none other than Salt Lake City, Utah. That'll surely raise eyebrows in locales that may consider themselves more tech-savvy, but we reckon starting off with a city of a smaller scale might be good for getting this "mobile wallet" system off the ground. And then there's the added benefit of Isis snagging a deal to enable compatibility with the entire Utah Transit Authority footprint. If all plans are executed properly, that should mean that by summer 2012 the good people of SLC will be able to NFC their way around town with just their smartphone in hand, while also swiping it through checkouts like some form of highly advanced techno-humans.

Continue reading Isis NFC payment system gets its first market in Salt Lake City, Utah, launches in 2012

Isis NFC payment system gets its first market in Salt Lake City, Utah, launches in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco Linksys E4200 is the "Only 3x3 Router Available in the Market Today" [Routers]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5788992/cisco-linksys-e4200-is-the-only-3x3-router-available-in-the-market-today

Four new Linksys wireless-N routers have come out of Cisco's flaps today, with the E4200 being the star player in the E-series range. It's not just a router, though—this one also works as a media server with a dedicated channel for streaming videos and other media on the same network.

It has simultaneous dual-band technology, with speeds up to 300Mbps, and four ethernet ports and a USB port as well. On sale today, it's $180. [Cisco via ZDNet]

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This USB Cartridge Could Turn Your Analog Camera Digital [Desired]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5788882/this-usb-cartridge-could-turn-your-analog-camera-digital

Photographers who want to go digital but can't bring themselves to get rid of their analog cameras have something to lust for. RE35 understands your plight and has come up with a digital cartridge than fits into any 35mm camera.

The RE-35 cartridge has a pull-out sensor, instead of film, that records your images in the cartridge's built-in memory. The cartridge connects to your PC or Mac via USB so you can transfer images and charge the cartridge.

It's supposed to ship in the fall in 4, 8 and 12-megapixel sizes. Let's just hope this isn't some elaborate leftover April Fool's joke. [RE35 via PopSci]

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Toshiba's P770 and P775 3D Satellite laptops do 120Hz on the go

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/toshibas-p770-and-p775-3d-satellite-laptops-do-120hz-on-the-go/

Toshiba's 3D monocle may have been a joke, but what you're looking at above is not. It's one of the latest additions to its 3D Satellite lineup, now growing to include the P770 and P775 3D. Both include massive 18.4-inch displays that clock in at 120Hz, enabling use of NVIDIA active-shutter glasses -- which you'll have to find a spot for in your laptop bag. Dual webcams in the bezel let you add a little depth to your video calls, while the HDMI output can manage depth-enabled content too. There's a re-writeable Blu-ray drive and what's sure to be a massive price tag to match, though that part has yet to be confirmed by Toshiba. We don't have a release date just yet either.

Toshiba's P770 and P775 3D Satellite laptops do 120Hz on the go originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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