retromodo
Vaporware
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retromodo
concept vaporware
Optimus Tactus Touch Keyboard Should Be Called Optimus Retardus
While we love touch surfaces, as people who type hundreds of thousands a word each week we know that there is a limit to them: keyboards. Like this Optimus Tactus, an extruded shape/touch surface/keyboard concept by Art.Lebedev. We really like the soon-to-be-released Optimus keyboard Art but, seriously, how often do you type on your computer? More »Wow, There's Actually a Working Optimus Keyboard in Moscow
Hey, remember the Optimus Keyboard? Yeah, it's still not out, and it's still kind of a joke, but look! They have a real one in Moscow! No other details, and this is probably some sort of $15,000 one-time mockup and they're probably no closer to releasing it, but it still looks pretty neat. [Optimus Project]
Nokia's Future iPhone Killing Concept Like a Fake, Vaporous Picasso
Nokia presented some cool cells today and also slipped this concept video of a future iPhone-clone. Nokia has confirmed that this demo is strictly for the UI, not the device: the hardware is not real and the LCD's images are overlaid. Yes, it's not even a working prototype, as you will see after the jump. [Video removed at the request of owner.]
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vaporware
Zenum Smartphone Slated to Debut This Month
The sexy Zenum Opus smartphone has been making its way around the Interwebs for quite some time, and today it's finally getting a release date. According to the gang at Unwired (who checked in with Zenum), the smartphone will be out later this month. It'll come with a 2-megapixel camera, Windows Mobile 6, a 2.5-inch display and both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (sorry, no 3G). Sounds really enticing, but considering their last project never came to be, I have a sinking feeling this phone will forever be a concept too. More »
peripherals
Optimus Update: The Screens Won't Move
Quick update on the Optimus Keyboard project: the OLED keys won't actually move. Instead, a transparent cover over the little screens will press down, keeping the screens fixed in place underneath. More »Optimus Project Hits Yet Another Snag; We Feign Surprise
For those of you still interested in the fate of the oft-delayed, might-never-actually-exist Optimus Keyboard, I have some bad news. They've lost their OLED manufacturer, leaving them without anybody to make the little screens that make the expensive keyboard so interesting.
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peripherals
Microsoft Developing Audio Trickery, Sound to Follow You Around Like Virtual Headphones
Microsoft is working on software that will enable an array of speakers to project sound with such pinpoint accuracy that audio can be directed precisely at one listener, while others nearby will hear virtually nothing. More »
peripherals
Art.Lebedev Releases Pics of Newly-Named Optimus Maximus Vaporware Keyboard
It turns out that picture we showed you last week of the Optimus keyboard from Art.Lebedev Studio was not a fake, but was a picture of an actual model of a keyboard that may someday actually ship. The company rolled out its official portraits of the OLED-lit keyboard just before CeBIT opened in Germany, and the gallery includes pictures of the company's trade show booth which is proudly emblazoned with the new name, Optimus Keyboards. More »
digital cameras
Olympus Hints at Successor to E-1 DSLR, Coming 'This Year'
When Olympus gave us a sneak preview of its latest DSLRs in its E series, the E-410 and E-510, we wondered what happened to the flagship of the line, the E-1. Olympus isn't giving any specifics, but today revealed a few teasing tidbits of information, saying the successor to the E-1 "will make its debut this year." More »
ces2007
Hillcrest Loop Remote: Vaporware?
I stumbled upon the Hillcrest Loop remote control deep in the bowels of South Hall, sitting encased in glass in a sparse booth. I asked for a hands-on and was shut down, and they had no info on when this thing will see the light of day. Pretty fishy. What gives, Hillcrest? More »
gadgets
Wired News Vaporware 2006 Awards
It's that time of the year again—time for Wired News to highlight the top 10 pieces of vaporware for this year. Some of the winners include, of course, the Optimus keyboard, also the SED TV, Skype for Symbian and TiVoToGo for Mac. More »
peripherals
Optimus mini three Keyboard Delayed Again
The saga of Art.Lebedev Studio's Optimus mini three keyboard goes on. The three-button device with OLED screens underneath each button, which the company says might someday be expanded out to a full keyboard, has been delayed again, now pushed back from June 1 to August 15, 2006, because of, according to its developer, "additions and improvements we thought need to be made." Tipster Jeff was one who was seduced by the mini three OLED keyboard:"I actually paid for the $100 prepay before April 1st when it became $120. Now the ship date has gone from June 1st, to August 15th and it looks like the price went up from $120 to now $160. However, those of us "smart" enough to get in on the ground floor won't have to pay a dime more (of course not, they can't refund the money; they've spent it). Here's to being optimistic, but I'm pulling out. It's vaporware in my book. Oh yeah, 5% extra off of any additional purchases. Wow."The changes cited by Lebedev were the addition of an OLED brightness control for the screens, and extension of the lifetime of the screens to 8000 hours and 100,000 button pushes. The company also announced that development and production of the device were relocated from continental China to Taiwan. More »
top
CTIA: Disney Announces Disney Mobile Phone Service
We almost can't believe the news that after two long years of saying "we'll launch it later this summer" and our favorite, "we'll launch it next year", it looks like Disney will actually be launching their Disney Mobile phone service this summer. Only Pumbaa truly understands how we feel. More »
portable media
iBoxers for Women
December 2005 saw the launch of the iBoxer, men's boxers with a special pocket on the side to carry your iPod. Play Underwear's site has a page up for the Womens iBoxer now and it's surprisingly attractive, as you can see to the left. Price is still TBA though, so who knows if it'll actually make it to market? More »
gadgets








