Gizmodo
Laptops / PCs
In Brief
Really Flat Speakers
Scientists at NXT have created the first completely flat speakers. While speakers like those Monsoon sets have been bringing tinny, poor excuses for sound to your ears for ages, the new generation of flat speakers are as flexible as a piece of fabric. As a matter of fact, they can be hung on walls and consist of thin, transparent sheets that can be cut out and wired to an amp for easy, custom speakers anywhere. We have absolutely no idea what sort of sound quality you might expect from these, but I'm thinking more "Museum Narration" and less "THX Ultimate Bass Test." (Actually, it's apparently quite capable of reproducing sound accurately across its surface, and you naturally use an external sub for bass response.) Very neat, the idea of having a room where the entire walled surface is a single speaker. More »
In Brief
DIY Teleprompter
Max Rottersman has a neat little guide on creating your own simple teleprompter. Basically consisting of a laptop screen facing up and an angled CD case, it's a quick fix if you find you've become Anderson Cooper overnight and need to do the news from home. (Although, if this has happened, where to find a prompter may well be the least of your concerns.) He also uses a quick bit of CSS and generates his output in HTML so that he can scroll at will. More »
In Brief
Another Librie Hands-on
Here s some great commentary on the Japanese Giant's tendency to keep things nice and closed. The Librie, which we love, is a beautiful tablet/e-reader/etc. However, it only supports MemoryStick, has an unsupported DRM system, and isn't sold outside of Edo. So, what you have is another great Sony idea that will soon be copied by every OEM from here to Taiwan and after a few geeks get together and create an open, monetized Ebook format. But then again, that requires organization on the part of everyone else. More »
In Brief
HSDPA Embedded Wireless Modems
Very interesting development in the growth of GPRS and other cellular data transfer systems. Novatel is now selling Mini PCI Express wireless cards that support HSDPA, UMTS, and a few other protocols and won't take up your PCMCIA slot. Does this mean that carriers will start subsidizing networked laptops? Will Centrino turn into Celltrino? More »
In Brief
Pyramat Sound Lounger PM550 Reviewed (Verdict: Good for the Lazy)
Those nuts at I4U know what makes a good review—smiling women sitting on the product in question. I think Consumer Reports could learn a thing or two from them... imagine Bob Dole in drag flashing that million-dollar grin next to a box of Cialis in their pharma reviews. Pure media gold. More »
In Brief
Rolling Tactical Eyeballs
Are we not living in the ultimate Mega Man future? These rolling cameras by Remington Technologies, a subsidiary of Remington Arms, can be thrown into a room ahead of an invading force in order to scope things out. Each ball can take video as it rolls or stay stationary. A wireless connection controls the rotation and camera angle and the balls transmit audio and video. More »
In Brief
iRiver H10 20GB Leak
It looks like the iRiver H10 20GB is finally for sale. We talked about this colorful little HD audio player a while back but now its finally available on eCost for $289.99, which is $9 less than the 20GB iPod. More »
In Brief
iPod Tax Proposed By Dutch Group
A Dutch foundation named "Stichting Thuiskopie" has suggested a new way of squeezing money out of the online music industry: imposing a "surcharge" based on the amount of storage in portable audio players. I can't imagine anything like this ever leaving Europe. Even if it does, I'm sure the innovative public will find a way to somehow sidestep it, just like every other restriction ever placed on downloading music online. More »
In Brief
Videophone TV
Why is it that Italy gets all the cool stuff? Think about it: good cheese, Popes, Vespas, and Videophone TV channels. The Digital Magics Group is creating a videophone call-in program for Rai Uno to allow viewers to show up on TV. The service uses Mycast, a video hosting service that is already popular overseas and features 24-hour video chat rooms and even has a few "programs" created by popular videophone operators. More »
In Brief
VeinViewer - Well, It Views Veins
Here's a nice video of the VeinViewer in action. Designed to allow doctors to see under the skin for injections et al, it's quite a trip to see the sweet blood of the innocents pulsing only microns below the surface of their supple skin. If you're so vein—hah! Willie!—that you need to see what's going on under your forearm, this is the gear for you. More »
In Brief
Hybrid Light Projection Concerts
By merging a plain overhead projector with a more modern digital video projector and a computer vision system, Golan Levin and Zachary Lieberman have developed (well, in 2004) what they call Manual Input Sessions. Essentially interactive and dynamic shadow puppets, the vision system analyzes the shadows you cast over the analog project with your hands and augments the output via the digital projector, adding sounds and graphics based on the movements and forms of your hands. Even though this is the sort of thing that's more proof-of-concept than on its way to the market (for now), if Fisher Price could produce a budget version all-in-one unit, this would make a phenomenal children's toy—one I would quite possibly have to steal from neighborhood children in exchange for candy. Check out the video and watch through to act 2 (at least) to understand how awesome this stuff is. More »
In Brief
Garmin StreetPilot c320 Reviewed (Verdict: Strangely Familiar)
The Garmin StreetPilot is one of the first really self-contained GPS units to come out of Garmin. Designed to get you from Point A to Point B without all the fuss and muss. TrustedReviews feels this thing looks a lot like the TomTom Go, but I think any GPS unit with a color touchscreen will now look like the TomTom Go, seeing as how everyone else is now playing catch-up. More »
In Brief
iPod Bag, Shoulder Bag with Integrated Speakers
It was quite some time ago that we first reported on the iPod handbag with integrated speakers, and now it's back (but still not black). BrightonNet Corporation will be releasing the "iPod shoulder Bag" and "iPod Bag" in Japan on May 9th. Both cost 12,800 yen, and use four AAA batteries. Though I couldn't find out how long these batteries would last, it seems you can use the iPod's wheel through the vinyl. I can see these replacing boomboxes, especially since one of them has a shoulder strap. More »
In Brief
iWoodKiosk
The iWoodKiosk by Tactus Multimedia is, well, just that—an indoor, interactive terminal that's made out of wood. (And if the literature's to be trusted, most decidedly not a witch.) With a website and catalog that prominently features close up, lacquer-coated shots of what can only be described as wood porn, the finished piece looks great and would be a sight for sore eyes at any convention or trade show. It features an in-built G5 but can be purchased separately, if the muse moves you. Weighing in at 155 pounds and just about 5 feet tall, it's a perfectly elegant solution for hotels, museums, banks and the like. No word on pricing or availability, but I'm sure they'll be available soon if they're not already. More »
In Brief
California Curbs State RFID Usage
In wacky California, a bill to limit the usage of RFID in state and other government documents is making its way through the state legislature. This follows after a decision made by the Federal government to include RFID in US Passports; it seems the public isn't so hot about wireless access to personal information. C'mon, live a little! It's only your Social Security number, credit card number, or mother's maiden name. More »
In Brief
Griffin TuneJuice Recharger
So you need that extra five minutes with Eye of the Tiger to get you through this long commute. But your iPod is dead. What to do? Whip out the TuneJuice, man, it's the only way to charge. More »
Laptops / PCs
