Gadgets and just Gadgets

HTC Origami Shift

The HTC Shift integrates Microsoft’s new Origami Experience 2.0, finger-friendly Web browsing, push email and wireless broadband to deliver the go anywhere mobile computer.

The HTC Shift is the first device to feature HTC’s innovative new SnapVUE™ technology. SnapVUE provides instant access to emails, calendar, SMS messages and contacts, without the need to fully boot up the device helping conserve power and extend battery life. Weighing just 800g and equipped with a 7″ touch sensitive ’slide-n-tilt’ screen, the HTC Shift is similar in size to a couple of DVD cases and comes with the Windows Vista Business edition and a 40-gigabyte hard drive. Packed with advanced connectivity, the HTC Shift features high-speed global connectivity through with Tri-Band UMTS/HSDPA and, Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE as well as Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi. Also a multimedia powerhouse, the HTC Shift utilizes Windows Media Player 11 to provide easy access to music, videos and photos.

The Full product spec is as follows:

Product name HTC Advantage™ (X7510)
Size 133.5 x 98 x 16 mm (additional 4.75mm for keyboard)
Weight 290g + 85g for keyboard
Networks WCDMA/HSDPA: 850/1900/2100 MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Operating system Future Version of Windows Mobile®
Display 5-inch VGA with touch screen
Camera 3.1 megapixel with auto focus
VGA for video calling
Internal memory 256 MB + 16 GB flash; 128 MB RAM
Memory card miniSD™
WLAN 802.11b/g
Bluetooth® 2.0
GPS GPS
Interface HTC ExtUSB™ (mini-USB and audio jack in one; USB 2.0
High-Speed); HTC 16 pin port (USB 1.1 host, TV/VGA out); 3.5mm audio jack with microphone
Battery 2100 mAh
Talk time WCDMA: up to 300 minutes*
GSM: up to 360 minutes*
Standby time WCDMA: up to 300 hours*
GSM: up to 300 hours*
Special feature Detachable QWERTY Keyboard with Haptic feedback; document printing; G sensor
Chipset Marvell PXA270 624 MHz; Qualcomm® MSM6275

Tags: HTC, computer, origami, mobile, mobile computer, microsoft, windows vista

Motus presents Darwin motion-based gaming controller

All you game-maniacs keep your eyes open and your playful little hands available.

Here is the Motus Darwin remote. It can be used with non-Wii consoles, including PCs, as a motion based controller.With motion-based technology, it gives those who can’t manage to track down a Wii the chance to control games by waving it in the air just like a Wii-mote.

Originally designed to compliment a Motus game, iClub, it can analyse the user’s form and stance, thus helping them onto the way to becoming The Next Tiger Woods. You can chose from various ,already existing or upcoming games that use the features and versatility of the magical controller.

So, unlike the Wii-mote, which connects to the console via an infrared sensor, the Motus Darwin actually employs the use of gyroscopes and accelerometers to determine the position of the controller to the actual earth. Have I lost you yet…?

It’s going to launch at $99, but isn’t available for a couple of months.

Tags: Motus, Darwin, controller, Wii, remote, Wii-mote, game, console

Teclast T50 multitouch PMP

Teclast has always came up with nice but not spectacular PMPs. The same thing is with the T50 which has the basic features and a multitouch dispaly in addition.

The Teclast T50 has an attractive design, WGVA widescreen display, similar to iPhone capacitive touch-screen, multi-point touch, RMVB / RM / FLV / AVI video support and  independent dual-core processors. Here are some definitions to see what the concepts mean:

Capacitive touch screen: capacitive touch screen is the main structure on the screen in the glass coating of a transparent thin film layer, then add a conductor layer of protection glass, double-glass design can completely protect the conductor layer and sensors

Multi-point touch: a traditional touch screen can only judge a touch, if at the same time with more than two points are touched,will not be able to make the right reaction, or reaction confusion. Touch the multiple tasks can be divided into two aspects of the work, first at the same time collecting more signal, the signal on every road the meaning of judgement, the so-called gesture recognition.

Tags: multitouch, pmp, t50, teclast

HYmini alternative power source

Here is one source of power that hasn’t really been tapped among thosesolar-powered devices: wind power. The HYmini has both a wind-powered fan turbine that can recharge the cell inside itself, and a connectable solar panel that can do the same. Once charged, it can power your 5v based gadgets for at least a few minutes longer, maybe more.

You can also just plug it in to recharge it so you can use it as a backup battery. The wind power has to be rolling through at a minimum of 9 miles per hour, that means a good breeze, or a bike ride, or if you can run really fast, and you can charge it.

If you desperately need a charge while out on a windless night, just blow on it like kids do with pinwheels or purchase one the attachments that enables bikes or your arm to efficiently generate wind.The company estimates that an hour long bike ride will net you 50 more digital photos or 15 minutes more on your cell phone.If the sun decides to show itself then break out your convenient little solar panel to soak up energy. If there is no sun or wind and you don’t feel like generating any yourself, plug it into the wall to charge up as a back up battery source.

The device is pocket size and comes with five different outputs to charge all necessary gadgets. If you want one, its $50, separately sold is the solar panel, handlebar mount, and shoulder mounts.

Tags: Hymini, solar power, wind power, recharger

Desktop holograms with Holocube

After years of promises, it seems that holograms are finally starting to gain a little attraction, although the applications for the technology so far have been fairly limited. At least one company thinks that’s about to change, however, with it now touting its retro-styled Holocube as an all-purpose solution for company’s to advertise their products “like never before.”

Measuring about 20-inches square, the Holocube packs a 40GB hard drive for storing up to 18 hours of compressed video, which can magically float at 1080i resolution within the cube at the flick of a switch. Of course, the fact the company is targeting the device solely as a means of advertising should tell you something about the price (which is on a need to know basis, it seems).

Still, it’s a start, and we’re guessing there are at least a few folks out there that’ll snag one of these to fully round out their Star Wars-inspired home theater no matter what the cost. Head on past the break for some video of it in action.

Tags: hologram, cube, holocube,

Alienware’s media server for intelligent homesSource

This piece of gadget is not for everyone. Alienware is expanding into your home even more with this media monster, sort of a cross between an irradiated TiVo and an Apple TV on crack. With wireless high definition media streaming, full digital home automation readiness, up to 4 terabytes of hot swappable hard disk drive content storage, and Blu-ray high definition movies, your house just got a whole lot smarter.

The High Definition Media Server becomes the central electronic focus point of your home; storing and wirelessly streaming all your digital content including music, pictures, and movies throughout your home. Access internet videos and download music, movies, and TV shows from services such as, Amazon Unbox, Netflixs, and iTunes instantly and without the need of a separate PC or Mac.

Exciting Key Features Include:

-4 Hot-swappable easy access front panel hard disk drive bays.
Rack mountable
-Home automation ready with Lifeware software.
-High-Definition Digital Video Recorder for recording and playing back your HD content (up to 1080p) via an HDMI output.
-Blu-ray Disc, experience the next generation in 1080p high definition movie visuals and digital audio with this read and write optical drive. Store up to 50GB of content on writeable Blu-ray media
-Up to 4 TV Tuners
-Internal Cable Card port (OCUR).
-7.1 Optical Audio output (Toslink).
-Up to 4 terrabytes of hard disk drive storage
-Dolby Digital 7.1 pre-amp output, with digital audio out (Coaxial and Optical)

Tags: alienware, high definition media server, home automation, media, motherboard, media server

Microsoft wants to bring Surface home sooner

When people get a chance to try out Microsoft’s Surface touch-screen tabletop computer, they often wish they could take one home.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Monday that the company is trying to speed up that process after getting a lot of demand for a consumer version.

When the company first launched the concept, they warned that it could be five years before a version of the products would be on shelves.But the company got a lot of pushback on that timing, Ballmer said. “We’re going to follow our nose,” Ballmer said, indicating that Microsoft hopes to shorten the gap before a consumer version is available.

That said, at the moment, Microsoft still has its hands full trying to ship the first machines to its handful of early customers: folks in the hotel, casino and retail businesses. The tech giant had hoped to start having models up and running for those customers by the end of last year, but now is aiming to do so by spring.

I bet Microsoft really, really wants to make their clients’ dream a reality; they could charge like $15,000 for the privelege.

Tags: microsoft, CEO, Steve Ballmer, tabletop computer, microsoft surface

The Col-Pop = Food and Soda Cup
Proving yet again that South Korea is light years ahead of everyone else in fast-food technology is The Col-Pop. This is, hands down, the hottest convergence device in the last months. You love your nuggets and you soda, yeah? But you only have two hands and you’re multi-tasking so what are you supposed to do? Enter the Col-Pop from BBQ Chicken. The South Korean chain is thinking ahead knowing the American public will want these immediately

The Col-Pop is the brainchild of a South Korea–based fried chicken chain that has recently set its sights on worldwide chicken domination.

From the looks of this container, on-the-go America will certainly eat it up. It’s perfect for handy snacking while walking, driving, talking on the phone, or—as we discovered the other day—blogging.

And the genius doesn’t stop at popcorn chicken. In South Korea, sister company BHC Chicken also offers spaghetti, french fries, and fried mozzarella balls in Col-Pop containers. The Col-Pops we inspected come in two sizes: small (20 ounce cup) and large (32 ounce).

Tags: colpop, south korea, BBQ Chicken, col-pop

BTA-01, the Bluetooth speaker dockSource

This is a great gadget for all of you who “actually” use your musicphone for music . There are not so many docks for musicphones  and this little Bluetooth adapter from Intempo turns any iPod speaker dock with a dock connector into speakers for musicphones that have stereo Bluetooth.The BTA-01 is simple to use, apparently taking less than 10 seconds to connect to your Bluetooth music player.

Measuring 600 x 500 x 10mm and weighing in at 80 grams, the BTA is compatible with any Bluetooth v1.2 device and covers a range of up to 10 metres.

“Mobile phone technology is advancing rapidly and many models now have Bluetooth and impressive MP3 functionality”, says Katie Richards, marketing manager at Intempo.

“We wanted to let customers exploit this capability of using their mobile as a wireless music player.”

The BTA-01 is available now in high gloss black with silver casing and costs £39.99.

Tags: Intempo, bluetooth, bluetooth adapter, adapter, BTA-01, BTA, musicphone, music player

Lenovo’s slim combo adapterSource

Lenovo today announced its new ThinkPad and IdeaPad 90W slim AC/DC combo adapter, the company’s first all-in-one adapter designed to charge other electronic devices such as most cell phones and PDAs; and many mobile music devices (using optional connector tips.) At about a half-inch thick and 33 percent smaller than Lenovo’s previous combo adapter, it’s roughly the size of a deck of playing cards – small enough to easily fit into a shirt pocket. This will come to be really useful, as it will spare a lot of your space.

Traditionally, the power adapter for a notebook PC has been referred to as a “brick;” a weighty, bulky necessity that is inconvenient to travel with. A further inconvenience for business travelers, particularly those who fly a lot and spend time in airport security lines, is the need for multiple adapters for multiple devices. Lenovo’s new ThinkPad and IdeaPad 90W slim AC/DC combo adapter helps business travelers cut down on the number of devices they must carry.

The ThinkPad and IdeaPad 90W slim AC/DC power adapter is priced at $119. It is available at Lenovo.com and through Lenovo business partners.Enjoy.

Tags: adapter, Lenovo, power adapter, Think Pad, Ideapad, combo adapter