Gadgets and New Technologies

Details are still sketchy concerning this agreement concerning projector maker InFocus’ interest in using USB display technology from DisplayLink to work on a whole new line of projectors from the second half of 2008 onwards. While the DisplayLink technology has worked well thus far, chances are it will be inadequate to cater for high-end games, no thanks to the USB cable’s relatively limited bandwith. Then again, if you’re a hardcore gamer who wants to see your games on a display much larger than what the monitor can offer, you will probably settle for a totally different, high-end projector instead. Other than that, standard PowerPoint presentations ought to fare just fine over USB display technology in the upcoming InFocus projectors. (Read the full post about ‘InFocus to use USB display technology’…)

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Is the PSP Phone a go or no go? Everyone has their own view on this, and the signs definitely point toward the former accoding to this new Sony Ericsson patent application known as “Orientation based multiple mode mechanically vibrated touchscreen display”. Could the possibility of a cell phone featuring a full touch screen display ala iphone hit the market soon? Inside, there will be an accelerometer and a haptics feedback set-up which could be rewired via the software, alternating between gaming and phone functionality. With haptics tactile feedback mechanism, you don’t need buttons any more, but you’ll definitely need a whole lot of fingerprint cleaning solution if a lot of gaming occurs here. (Read the full post about ‘Sony Ericsson Patent For PSP Phone’…)

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Posted Mar 7th 2008 9:57AM by Joshua TopolskyFiled under: cellphones, Gaming It’s nice to know that Sony Ericsson is plugging away on making our crazy, dare-to-dream fantasies a reality. The latest proof that someone up there (and by up there, we mean Japan) likes us comes in the form of a new patent for a touchscreen handheld that forgoes physical buttons for a haptic-feedback scheme. The design mandates that the phone / game device would be free of the pesky clutter of regular buttons, and would instead by configurable to any number of forms (PSP, phone, mp3 player, digital camera) by arrangement of on-screen controls. (Read the full post about ‘Sony Ericsson files patent on haptic gaming device, doesn’t call it PSPhone’…)

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Posted Mar 7th 2008 8:19AM by Thomas RickerFiled under: Robots Move over Rolly, there’s a cheaper, craplasticer bot ready to stomp out your game. Sega Toys just announced their ¥5,250 ($51) I-Spin dancing robot. Apparently it responds to ambient sounds by rolling around and flipping its ears in time with the beat. After that novelty wears thin, you can directly attach the creature to any audio source where it will live out its remaining years as an external speaker. (Read the full post about ‘Sega Toys’ dancing I-Spin: like an I-Dog with a woofer orifice’…)

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I love kinetic energy-powered watches, as there is no such thing as battery life to worry about. Enter the Kinetic Energy concept device that ensures the plethora of gadgets you carry around are always juiced up. Meant to be worn on your ankle, it generates electricity courtesy of all the movement you make, channeling those into a gadget of your choice at any given time. I guess this would work best with folk who love shaking their legs without realizing it, while having an ipod or cell phone hooked up to the Kinetic Energy device itself. Just make sure you detach whatever gadget is connected to it before getting up from your desk as you wouldn’t want that shiny new iPod touch to end up crashing on the floor. (Read the full post about ‘Kinetic Energy Concept’…)

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About 48 milliseconds after the format war was officially over, rumors started running rampant (again) about Blu-ray making its way over to Microsoft’s latest console. Now, however, those rumors actually have some legs — well, at least a leg. According to Stan Glasgow, Sony Electronics US president, “Sony is in talks with console rival Microsoft about offering a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360.” For whatever it’s worth, the exec also noted that it was having similar discussions with Apple, which has yet to even offer a Blu-ray option on any of its machines. Unfortunately, not a peep was uttered about potential launch dates and the like, but you can rest assured that we’ll be keeping an ear dangerously close to the ground. (Read the full post about ‘Sony “in talks” with Microsoft about a Xbox 360 Blu-ray drive’…)

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Posted Mar 6th 2008 10:19PM by Darren MurphFiled under: Laptops, Peripherals We’ve all ideas the designers at Cupertino had good intentions when designing the MagSafe adapter, but just in case you can’t seem to find the value in said feature, the $11.99 MagStay Pro is out to remedy your curious quandary. As with the JerkStopper, this concoction actually plugs into your MBP’s nearby USB port in order to get a better grip on the machine. Apparently, this thing is designed to help you avoid any “unintentional disconnections” in power, but aside from totally blocking your USB port (no passthrough?), you’re also begging for some extraneous repair bills. (Read the full post about ‘MagStay Pro overrides MagSafe’s releasing abilities’…)

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The Mooon+ concept cell phone is different from what we’ve seen this far due to the fact that the mouthpiece can be detached from the handset itself, turning into an automatic Bluetooth headset as and when you need it. Other features include a lovely touch screen display and a built-in digital camera, all crammed into a sexy body accentuated with metal at strategic places. I suppose you charge this by attaching it to the handset itself while the latter is being charged. (Read the full post about ‘Mooon+ Concept Cell Phone’…)

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In keeping with the actual name pattern, as opposed to those strange letter number combo’s, Verizon has taken the Samsung U740 and renamed it the Alias. The odd twist here is the U740 is not a new released and was originally added to their lineup back in February 2007, perhaps Verizon is hoping this new name will help with branding and attract more of a following. If nothing else the name change from Verizon just makes it seem like it belongs in the current lineup a little more as it keeps the same pattern of other handsets such as the Venus and Voyager. Via [Mobile Mag] Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed → (Read the full post about ‘Verizon renames the Samsung U740, now dubbed the Alias’…)

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Posted Mar 7th 2008 3:30AM by Thomas RickerFiled under: GPS Although we just saw the Nav N Go / Gomite prototype demonstrated yesterday, a company called PosiMotion claims that it has the “world’s first wireless GPS” accessory for the iPhone. To prove it, they’ve launched a two-page website. Fishing for some of that iFund dough are we boys? Anyway, according to the site the G-Fi WiFi GPS receiver will support the iphone and ipod touch and is expected to ship this summer. (Read the full post about ‘PosiMotion’s G-Fi: another WiFi GPS accessory for the iPhone’…)

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