Trio of Toshiba tablets may turn up at CES 2011
CES 2011 is only a few weeks away now, and reports are already emerging that Toshiba is planning to debut three tablet computers with three different operating systems. According to DigiTimes (which is also reporting about a big potential iPad development), there will be one tablet for each Microsoft Windows 7, Google Chrome OS and Android. (No word if that will be Gingerbread or even Honeycomb just yet.)
Furthermore, two of the tablet display sizes will be 10.1-inches wide, and one will be framed at 11.6-inches. However, sizes haven't been assigned to the respective operating systems just yet. There are reportedly plans for new 7-inch slate PCs, but DigiTimes hasn't provided any further details on that front.
Read more of Toshiba possibly unveiling trio of tablets at CES 2011 from ZDNet.
Dell launches Vostro V130
For SMB and SOHO users, laptops are business tools as well as personal entertainment devices. As such, notebooks which target these segments have to provide a reliable platform along with consumer features at an affordable price point. The latest Vostro V130 from Dell is not only inexpensive, it comes with an attractive chassis for the fashion-conscious.
This ultrathin notebook sports an aluminum body with a choice of red or silver shades. Running on the ultra-low-voltage Core i3/i5 processor, this model comes with an anti-glare display and harddisk accelerometer to satisfy the business crowd. The machine also offers HDMI and an optional external optical drive for entertainment needs. A pity that Dell does not offer security features for this Vostro, so sensitive data is best stored elsewhere.
Dell Vostro V130
The Vostro V130 is available in Asia with a start price of S$1,019 (US$779.35).
The return of the Stowaway keyboard
Thanko's new product is an exact replica of the Stowaway keyboard. (Credit: Thanko)
The Think Outside Stowaway was a product from about 10 years back. This foldable keyboard was designed for PDAs, in the old days when Palm ruled the electronic organizer world. It was an amazing bit of equipment--a full-sized ThinkPad-esque keyboard which folded to a quarter of its footprint when not in use. I remember watching with envy whenever someone whipped it out in school to take notes.
Imagine my surprise when I saw an article on Gizmag about an identical product made by Japanese peripheral maker Thanko. There's no mention of the brand "Stowaway" in the article, but from the pictures, it's obvious this is the same product. Everything about it is the same, right down to the design of the release catch. Of course, in this day and age, it no longer works with proprietary PDA connectors, but has a USB cable instead for PCs and notebooks.
Here's what it looks like when folded. (Credit: Thanko)
On iGo's support page (that's what Think Outside is called now), it's clearly stated that the Stowaway keyboard's intellectual property (IP) was sold. So now we know where that IP ended up. Thanko has chosen a perfect time to reintroduce this product. With the popularity of the iPad and other upcoming slates, the company should introduce a Bluetooth version of this keyboard to capitalize on that.
Universal wireless charger ElectroHub to debut at CES 2011
The ElectroHub wireless charging station comes with compliant batteries to replace your electronics' originals. (Credit: ElectroHub)
Wireless charging stations for electronics have been a hot topic ever since the introduction of the Powermat and the universal wireless charger standard was established. These methods, however, require the battery-operated devices to be compliant with the wireless charging standard they use. This means other products, namely the majority of all electronics, won't be able to take advantage of them.
The ElectroHub, which will debut at CES 2011, is a new wireless charging station that's designed to work with virtually all electronic devices. Though the details are still a little sketchy, basically this new charging station works similarly to the way the Powermat does, but instead of requiring the electronic device to be complaint (i.e., by using a special case), it provides ElectroHub batteries, which come in standard sizes like AA and AAA.
By swapping the device's original battery for an ElectroHub battery, you'll turn it into one that's ElectroHub-compatible, and now you can charge it just by putting it on top of the ElectroHub. The hub--measuring 9.2 inches by 6.1 inches by 0.8 inch (233 x 155 x 20mm) and weighing only 11 ounces (312g)--is designed to charge up to six devices at a time.
Obviously, there are devices that have nonreplaceable batteries. In this case, the user can get a protective case that works as a converter to charge the device's internal battery with the hub, similar to how the Powermat works.
The ElectroHub is slated to be available during the first quarter of 2011 and will cost US$39, which includes one set of ElectroHub batteries. Other battery sets can be purchased separately and are estimated to cost another US$10, which is about the same price as a set of generic rechargeable batteries.
Study: Wi-Fi radiation is killing trees
Unlike trees in urban areas, trees in wooded areas remain happy and healthy, the study says. (Credit: Crave UK)
Enjoying reading the latest technology news and reviews here on Crave? Hope you're pleased with yourself, because you may be killing a tree. Researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands have discovered the sad news that Wi-Fi makes trees sick.
The tree-loving folks of Dutch city Alphen aan den Rijn commissioned the study, whose results have not yet been published, after finding abnormalities on trees that couldn't be explained by known viral or bacterial infections.
Over the last five years, the study found that all deciduous trees in the Western world are affected by radiation from mobile phone networks and wireless LANs
Xi3 Modular Computer wins CES 2011 Innovations Award
Xi3 has unveiled its simply-named Xi3 Modular Computer, a cube-like machine that measures less than 4 inches (101.6mm) per side.
Given the tininess of the Xi3 computer, the motherboard has been divided into three separate parts, each of which can be "quickly" removed: A board that houses the processors and RAM and two additional I/O boards for connectivity and input/output requirements.
As for what else is in that lightweight aluminum cube, the base model will include an AMD Athlon 64 dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 8GB flash storage drive. Linux is the preinstalled operating system, but there are plenty of Windows 7 OS choices (and many other customizable options) available. Mac users need not apply.
LG to slash greenhouse gas emissions with eco-magnesium
LG Electronics has committed to replacing conventional magnesium used in its mobile phones to a more environmentally friendly magnesium alloy dubbed eco-magnesium. To be rolled out by 2012, this would effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4kg for every handset manufactured.
"Eco-magnesium is one of LG's key strategies in our ongoing effort to transform LG into a leader in more environmentally responsible manufacturing," the president and chief technology officer of LG, Skott Ahn, said in a press release statement.
LG claims that almost no sulphur hexafluoride used in the casting of magnesium is produced during production, which the Korean company cites from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as one of the most potent greenhouse gases.
The world's third-largest phone-maker in terms of unit sales after Nokia and Samsung, according to IDC, has already removed lead, cadmium, nickel, halogen substances and other EU RoHS materials from its production of mobile phones. Standby power has also been reduced in portable chargers and a reminder feature lets users know when the handset is fully charged.
According to LG, the eco-magnesium alloy was developed by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology with funding from the Korean Government. Korean-based firms HK High-Tech, Keumgang Coen and Hallacast have signed a memorandum of understanding with LG to produce the eco-magnesium alloy. As part of the agreement, the chaebol will provide these companies with technological support and training in carbon credit trading.
LG shipped 27.5 million handsets globally and had a market share of 6.6 percent in Q3 2010, according to a recent report from information technology research and advisory company Gartner.
The Samsung Zeal's morphing e-Ink keyboard
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
It's hard not to look at the Samsung Zeal for Verizon without feeling some reaction to its unique e-Ink keyboard. Instead of characters printed on the topside, the gel-like buttons are lit from below, and morph from numbers to letters to symbols at the flick of a hinge or press of a button. However, we've seen this exact keyboard before in the Samsung Alias 2, along with the Zeal's dual-hinge, two-way flip phone.
Now, whether the phone's convertible design and interesting display grab you or feel gimmicky is the judgment at hand. I happen to be a fan myself, but it's true that the e-Ink display requires several concessions to the dialpad and navigation design that take some getting used to.
Even if the Zeal is exactly your cup of tea, there are some disappointments with the phone's design and some other considerations to take into account before you decide to snatch up the feature phone. While almost everything about the design is likable, Samsung and Verizon could have kept up a bit better with the times. Read the full review here.
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Dexim Super Juice Power Case drives iPhone for 40 hours
There are plenty of iPhone cases on the market, with a growing number doing more than just protecting the device from drops and scratches. Dexim has added to the pile of charging cases with the introduction of the Super Juice Power Case, a protective cover that charges youriPhone 4 in style.
Sporting a 2,000mAh lithium-polymer battery, the Super Juice Power Case extends an iPhone's life in the following ways:
- Talktime: Up to 6 extra hours
- Video/gaming: Up to 10 extra hours
- Audio playback: Up to 40 extra hours
Sony Showcases Flexible Electronic Paper
Sony has just unveiled its new flexible electronic paper creation, for the first time to the public at Eco-products 2010 in Tokyo. The 13.3 inch sheet of flexible E-paper is much larger than previous examples shown by Sony that measured just 4.8 inches.
However Sony has been very careful not to disclose to much information about the make-up and resolution of the E-paper at this time. Just stating that the sample is merely an example of proof of concept for E-paper.
We do know though that the prototype is equipped with E Ink Corps E-paper using microcapsules. But again Sony would not reveal if the new 13.3 inch paper used the same technology as their previous smaller creations, exhibited in the past.
Motorola, an America based Multinational Telecommunication company has introduced MC55A0 series mobile phones which comes in two different models i.e. Motorola MC55A0 and Motorola MC55A0-HC respectively. Both these models runs on Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system and powered by an 806MHz Marvell PXA320 chip.The Motorola MC55A0 mobile phone allows users to take photo, scan bar codes, access business applications, view a video etc. The Motorola MC55A0 series mobile phones support external memory through microSD card slot.
Motorola MC55A0 Series Mobile Phone Features
- 3.5-inch PenTile VGA display
- MicroSD card slot support
- Bluetooth 2.1encryption protocols
- Powered by an 806MHz Marvell PXA320 chip
- Runs Windows Mobile 6.5 OS
- 1GB Flash memory
- WiFi connectivity
- 256MB of RAM
- 2,400mAh battery
- Dimensions 5.8 x 3.0 x 1.06 inches and weight 11.1 oz
The Motorola MC55A0 Series Mobile Phones measure 5.8 x 3.0 x 1.06 inches and weight 11.1 oz. They have 2400 mAh battery and supports encryption protocols for Virtual Private Networks (VPN). There is no information about the Motorola MC55A0 Series mobile phones. Stay tuned for more update information.
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