Gadgets Device

Posted Feb 23rd 2008 4:44PM by Darren MurphFiled under: cellphones, Displays, Handhelds If you’re frustrated with how difficult it is to control your touchscreen-based mobile with just one hand, Mitsumi clearly feels your pain. At a recent presentation, the outfit highlighted a new haptic input device that would ideally be situated on the rear of a handset / PMP and enable users to activate applications without having to use another hand to do so. The device consists of “a sheet with small protrusions, a resistance sensitive touch pad and switches,” and while the prototype was a tad unsightly, the firm is hoping to reduce the thickness before taking it commercial. (Read the full post about ‘Mitsumi haptic input device could enable one-handed mobile operation’…)

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I’m glad the format war has ended. It means a slight return to sanity for consumers wondering how to spend their dollars at the check out counter. It certainly goes a long way toward the everyday consumer adopting an HD disc-based format. According to an analyst at ABI research the end of the format war was not the true measure of consumer demand when it came to the choice of HD format. The true decision was made by Warner brothers decision to jump ship to Blu-ray. The decision to switch may have been principally decided not by which format the consumers of Warner’s preferred, but by a nearly $120 million payoff from Sony. That payoff created a signal that retailers like Wal-Mart and rental companies like Netflix followed. (Read the full post about ‘Consumers didn’t choose the winner in HD format war’…)

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Posted Feb 23rd 2008 3:20PM by Darren MurphFiled under: Digital CamerasWithout any definitive rhyme nor reason, it appears that Leica’s CEO, Steven K. Lee, has been “removed from power by the company’s supervisory board.” Reportedly, Mr. Lee has been replaced by the firm’s owner and board chairman Andreas Kaufman, who will run the company jointly with board financial controller and treasurer, Andreas Lobejäger, until later this month. (Read the full post about ‘Leica’s CEO removed from power’…)

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Rubik's Revo You can have this for ?14.95 Tags: CD, cool gear, players, amps (Read the full post about ‘Rubik’s Revo’…)

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Posted Feb 23rd 2008 1:07PM by Ben DrawbaughFiled under: HDTV, Home Entertainment Some rumors never die, and this one we heard even before the official Warner press release was issued. Now that the format war is officially over, newspapers and magazines everywhere are looking back on the events preceding Toshiba’s announcement. While no one really knows why each studio made its decision, The Globe and Mail cites “analysts” who think the payoff was a factor. Well, we asked Warner point blank about the payoff rumor and Kevin Tsujihara, president, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group said that it “was not a bidding war” and that it really came down to Q4 sales. (Read the full post about ‘Warner’s $400 mil payoff rumor rides again’…)

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If you’re a fan of Super Mario Bros then this is the keychain for you. This nifty little handheld gizmo is preloaded with six classic sounds from the greatest side-scroller in history. Simply press a button and you’ll be transported back to the Mushroom Kingdom faster than you can say ‘Mamma mia, dezza King Koopa widda da Princess Toadstool.’ There are six incredibly evocative sounds, including, Big, Coin, 1Up, Jump, Start and Ouch. Available from Firebox for £7.95 (~$15). (Read the full post about ‘Super Mario Bros Sound FX Keyring’…)

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Pyramat already had a popular gaming chair for gaming consoles, but this one is made for the PC. It provides cool features, a nice design, and a new sensation while playing games. Thanks to the wireless digital transmitter, you can connect the PC Gaming Chair to your computer, and start listening to all the audio content on the built-in 2 speakers and 4-inch subwoofer. To make the chair more stylish, the speakers come with blue LED lights. And for a better usability, the mouse-wheel controls are located on the right armrest. The Pyramat Wireless PC Gaming Chair 2.1 is priced at $290, and its built-in battery provides up to 5 hours of fun. (Read the full post about ‘Gaming Chair from Pyramat’…)

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Posted Feb 23rd 2008 2:28PM by Darren MurphFiled under: Networking Granted, most of us here in America would turn our noses up at receiving in-home broadband via satellite — after all, cable and DSL seem to be treating most of us quite alright — but Japan is hoping to provide access to more regions in Asia-Pacific with its recently launched Kizuna. The experimental satellite is not yet intended for commercial use, but if all goes well, it will enable data transmissions “of up to 1.2 gigabytes per second” at a low cost across Japan and 19 other locales in Southeast Asia. (Read the full post about ‘Japan launches Kizuna satellite, hopes it will deliver high-speed internet’…)

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Posted Feb 23rd 2008 6:04AM by Darren MurphFiled under: Misc. gadgetsWhen talking menus just aren’t futuristic enough, we reckon Teraoka’s Deli Touch pen — which strongly reeks of LeapFrog’s Tag — is the next best thing. The system works with barcode-laden menus and enables customers to simply swipe their choices and have them beamed directly to the kitchen. Besides hastening the order process and keeping the interaction between customer and waiter / waitress at a minimum, the device may also give you a solid reason to skimp on the tip — not that we’d recommend such a thing, of course. (Read the full post about ‘Teraoka’s Deli Touch pen delays human interaction in restaurants’…)

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To ensure the efficient functioning of your cutting-edge cell phone you need a lot of different devices (such as: charger, Bluetooth headphones, speakers and so on). Of course it’s not a trouble to get them, more by token, that the majority of these devices are generally available with the cell phone. Yet the problem is about the possibility to lose some of them. Moreover some people do not like “boring” devices that perform just a single function. That’s why a group of Korean designers invented a new all-in-one gadget. This concept made in the form of a small cube is named MCube. It performs a lot of functions and can be used as a wireless charger, Bluetooth speaker, and information display. (Read the full post about ‘Cell phones’ best friend’…)

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