Ricavision and Microsoft have a tight relationship (the latter used the former's Media Center computers way back years ago to do one of the first demos), which explains why they're both sticking it out with the SideShow technology. The VAVE100 remote, however, is both cool and confused.

The remote's targeted toward power users with the Windows SideShow function. If you've got a Vista MCE machine, you can stream Windows Gadgets to any SideShow device that will essentially give you a little screen to read/interact with Windows functions wirelessly. This is cool, and works fairly well on the remote. Where it starts to get fuzzy is the universal remote side of the issue.

Instead of making it just a SideShow remote that controls a Windows MCE machine, they made it a universal remote that's to take on universals like the Logitech Harmony line. The problem is that the VAVE100 isn't programmable via the PC, which means you can only set up devices on the remote itself.

It's great in theory, but the fact that it's not that strong of a universal remote makes it a device that's only great if you really like Vista SideShow. Ricavision's getting FCC approval now and will ship it when ready. [Ricavision]

XPower PowerSource Mobile 100 [Xantrex]

The seven features he found great with the Alpha 100 were: anti-blurring, the 10.2 megapixel sensor, the LCD, its easy operation, good battery life, lens variety, and wireless flash. Pop Photo agreed with these assessments a month later in their in-depth review.

The A100 provides the highest image quality of any DSLR for under $1,000—thanks, no doubt, to its 10.2MP (effective) CCD and Sony's years of experience making APS-format sensors and advanced image processing systems for Nikon, Pentax, and Konica Minolta DSLRs.

Check out their full reviews if you're thinking of purchasing one, but in short, the Alpha is a quality DSLR that Konica Minolta fans should love as it allows them to use their old KM lenses. – Jason Chen

Sony Alpha Field Test [Popular Photography]

Camera Test: Sony Alpha 100 DSLR [Popular Photography]

Some of the highlights: 10.2 megapixels, 2.5" LCD screen, Sony Alpha-mount lens compatibility including Sony G lenses and Carl Zeiss optics, burst shooting (6 RAW frames, 3 RAW+JPEG frames), CF support and a 1600 mAh battery that lasts 750 shots.

This cam will be available in Europe around around July and cost around $1000. – Jason Chen

Sony Alpha 100 [Digital Photography Blog]

In a gesture of peace, happiness and love, the UN has decided to back the much-talked-about $100, hand-cranked laptop. And you won't believe where the the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is planning on signing the partnership agreement with MIT's Nicholas Negroponte. Yes, that's right, the luxury ski resort of Davos, where lots of fat cats with expense accounts go once a year to hold court at the World Economic Forum. So, while they down their Bordeaux and veal, they'll discuss how millions of poor children can use the little green crank (for free) to get Microsoft Windows and Internet access. Enjoy, folks, and say Hi to Putin for me.

100 laptop for world's kids [Reuters]

We reported last month that the $100 laptop was going to be a reality, but now Taiwanese company Quanta has made a deal to manufacture these One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) computers, designed by MIT Media Labs. Quanta, which also manufactures systems for companies such as HP, Apple, Dell, Gateway, Sony, IBM, Sharp and Fujitsu, has promised "to devote substantial engineering resources to the OLPC project during the first half of 2006 with the goal of bringing the OLPC system to market by the end of 2006." Based on Linux, these laptops feature a 500 MHz processor, a screen capable of displaying both full color and high-contrast black and white, 128MB of RAM and 512MB of flash memory, four USB ports, wireless broadband and will be able to operate on wind-up power.

Quanta to Make $100 OLPC Laptop [designtechnica]

Though they've been bouncing the idea of a $100 laptop around for a while ($100 Laptop - No Child Left Behind), it looks like it's finally becoming a reality. The lime green laptop is about the size of a text book and with a hand crank to allow it to operate without electricity. Designed at the MIT Media Lab, the project mainly aimed at developing countries where a calculator and Internet access can mean the difference between starvation and a good year. The goal is to allow these kids and even adults to actually own the laptops, though governments or charities will pay for them.

Looks like Brazil, Thailand, Egypt and Nigeria are the choices for the first wave of laptops early next year and each is slated to buy at least a million of them. Though not in production yet, one unnamed company has offered to build them fro $110 each and four others are considering joining the effort. They operate at about half the speed of store-bought laptops and will run on an open-source OS. The screen is actually from a portable DVD player and can be viewed in either color or black and white.

Researchers unveil $100 laptop for schoolkids [Reuters]