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Archive for the ‘Digital Home’ Category

Acer T230H multitouch LCD screen, ready for Windows 7

November 6th, 2009 admin No comments

Acer T230H LCD Multitouch screen

It’s quite obvious already that Windows 7 is opening new perspectives to hardware innovations. And Acer is, as usual, one of the most dynamic brands. As an example, this beautiful 23-inch multitouch  16:9 widescreen full of nice-to-have features: full-HD resolution, 80,000:1 contrast, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 2ms response time, 16,7 million colours, VGA, HDMI and DVI connectivity, 1,5W integrated speakers…

Acer T230H LCD Multitouch screen - side

And back again to its multitouch capacity: we can rotate pictures, flip pages, pinch and draw with just two fingers. We can even throw our mouse away and just scroll, zoom, rotate and search with a simple touch.

This new device is already available in the US ($ 373 in Amazon.com) and it’s expected to be launched in Europe at 349 €.

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Source: Acer

eBook + Tablet PC = Microsoft Courier

September 23rd, 2009 admin No comments

Microsoft courier booklet

When everybody was still buzzing around the new tablet PC from Apple (could be launched next February), the people from Microsoft have filtered a new concept that seems to be in the latest stage of development.

It’s not easy to describe this device (probably “booklet” is a good term)  known as Microsoft Courier, but it seems to have more similarities with a Zune HD player than with a classical Tablet PC: it combines two multitouch screens (7″) and it’s designed to be controlled  with our fingers or with a small stylus. There is a camera on the back, and batteries might be charged through an inductive pad.

Want more info about the interface? Just watch this video from Gizmodo.

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Source: Gizmodo

Pure Sensia, internet radio for the Facebook generation with high resolution touchscreen

September 22nd, 2009 admin No comments

Pure Sensia

Pure, the UK based company that started the DAB digital radio revolution, has launched an extremely beautiful and futuristic device for music lovers: Sensia.

Although we can find similar products already in the market (such as the Squeezebox range from Logitech), Pure Sensia is several steps ahead: an extremely clear 5,7″ colour touchscreen (640 x 480), twin 3-inch full-range drivers, RF remote, optional rechargeable battery,  a 3.5 millimeter socket,  alarm, countdown and sleep timers…

Sensia is a new way of enjoying internet radio content and podcasts, DAB and FM radio stations and your own music collection via Wi-Fi (802.11b and 802.11g Wi-Fi with WEP and WPA/WPA2 encryption).

It should be available by the end of October with a price tag of £249.99 (about $406). For more information, including a 3D demo, visit the microsite here.

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Source: Winarco, Slipperybrick

Video security system from Logitech… and don’t worry about grizzlies

September 13th, 2009 admin No comments

Logitech-DVS

It’s Friday, 8 pm, time to enjoy a romantic dinner in your favorite restaurant. Just 10 minutes away from home, so we just need to open the door and go for a pleasant walk under the stars, right?

WRONG!!!! Unless you don’t want to be the main course of a cute black bear, you should give a try to Logitech’s WiLife security system: an extremely user-friendly set of cameras and software that can be installed in your PC in just 15 minutes. Without cables, just plug and go.  Some advantages of this relatively economical solution:

  • You can record only motion at scheduled times, days and durations. Or you can record everything, all the time.
  • Easily view live or recorded video on your PC.
  • Get e-mail or cell phone alerts when your cameras detects motion.

And let’s not forget the black bear: just watch the video that was submitted to Logitech for their weekly “best videos” contest.

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Source: Logitech, Gizmodo

Spotify is mobile – another step towards music revolution

September 13th, 2009 admin No comments

Spotify logo

After getting the approval from Apple last August, Spotify is already available for Premium users under iPhone, iPod Touch and Android platforms. It has not been a massive launch though, as it only available in UK, Norway, France, Finland and Spain. Other countries could follow before the end of the year (including the US) but this point has not been confirmed yet.

Perhaps the term “revolution” is too optimistic, but since the company was developed in Sweden in 2006 and the online service launched for public access in October 2008, Spotify figures are growing day after day, with over 1 million users in March… and that was half a year ago.

The fact is that any user can access around 5 million tracks via searching for artists, albums, titles, labels and genres, set playlists, share them… and with the new iPhone app that was released 6 days ago, Premium subscribers will be able to listen to music without being connected to a network. How? Just take a look to this demo videos. I’m sure you will rush to your phones  immediately after.

Iphone platform:

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Android platform:

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Source: Slashgear, Spotify

Revolutionary Darkfield technology: Logitech launches first mouse that can be used on clear glass

August 19th, 2009 admin No comments

Logitech-Darkfield-mice

Logitech is taking the computer mouse to a new level. Beginning in August, Performance MX (99,99 €) and Anywhere MX (79,99 €) will be the first mice that can be used without any limitation on clear  glass and high glossy surfaces.

Logitech research showed that 40% of people has a glass surface in their home. If we couple this with a laptop computer, then we have a challenge: people are moving around and coming into contact with many different surfaces. So Logitech, a brand that has driven nearly every major innovation in mouse technology, decided to develop a device that could be used virtually anywhere you want. And Darkfield is the answer.

How does this new laser technology work? To track on glass, Logitech Darkfield uses dark field microscopy to detect microscopic particles and micro-scratches on these surfaces, rather than tracking the surface itself. This way, the sensor sees the clean areas of glass as a dark background with bright dots – the dust. Then, the sensor interprets the movement of these dots to track exactly where you’ve moved the mouse.

Logitech Performance MX Mouse

The full-size Performance MX has a sculpted, right-handed shape and a flexible micro-USB charging system that lets you recharge the mouse through the PC or a wall outlet, even when you are using it. other features are four customizable thumb buttons and force-sensitive side-to-side scrolling, a first in any Logitech mouse.

The compact size Anywhere MX works wherever you go, and it’s protected with a travel pouch.

Both of them feature the recently announced Logitech Unifying receiver, which stays in the notebook and lets you add up to five other compatible compatible Logitech keyboards and mice to this single receiver.

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Source: Logitech

Zune HD: a GREAT gadget from Microsoft. Finally!

August 12th, 2009 admin No comments

New Zune HD

Zune HD is a really spectacular device, miles ahead from previous versions. Design (both internal and external) is really amazing, and the new NVidia Tegra platform seems to be one of the secrets, perfectly integrated with a revolutionary software interface.  If we add a crystal clear OLED screen and 720p output resolution, the new Zune HD will surely please almost everybody.

CrunchGear has already tested a unit (although still a Beta) and the following video makes it clear that Apple will have to move fast if they still want to remain as the #1 player in terms of sales and innovation. Ipod Touch’s interface has not changed much since the first generation, so apple-addicts are eager to see (and buy) an improved version of the existing one.

But regardless the technical specs of the new Zune, the real question is: will it be able to compete against iPod without an iTunes and App store? Why should I buy one if I can use my own Samsung Omnia HD for watching videos and listen to music on the go? What are the real plans for the Zune HD platform in the future? Still a lot of questions to be answered, but at least Microsoft seems to be on the right track.

[Not yet confirmed: September 8th seems to be the launch date, and prices wil run from $220 (16 GB) to $290 (32 GB)]

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Source: Crunch Gear

Creative Zii Egg, an unexpected surprise

July 29th, 2009 admin No comments

Creative Zii Egg

Amazing. This is the best word to define the new device from Creative, at least on paper. Despite we all thought this company was not going to survive this crisis period, suddenly we receive the official news of an incredible device (should we say platform?) that might become a small revolution in the world of portable devices. Some specs just to make you dream:

• Capacitive 10-point multi-gesture touch display
• 3.5” 320×480 true-color display
• Up to 32GB internal plus SDHC slot (supports up to 32GB of external SDHC Card)
• Supports: MP3, WMA, AAC, WMV, H.264, MPEG-4, AVI, and MOV (These are unconfirmed codecs for now)
• X-Fi audio processing
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• 3-axis Accelerometer
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• Hardware GPS receiver
• 32MB NOR (Linux Kernel Boot ROM)
• 256MB Mobile DDR RAM
• Supports 720p and 1080p HDTVs via HD cable
•Headphone socket, built-in speaker and microphone
• Dual cameras
- Forward facing HD camera
- Rear facing VGA camera
• 1200mAH rechargeable lithium-ion
• 115 x 62 x 12 mm (108grams)

And let’s not forget Creative’s new software development kit for the device,called “Plaszma”. The kit (designed for OEM manufacturers; the Zii consumer version has not yet been announced) comprises of an open-source OS with C++ support (compared to Android’s Java) combined with the Zii chip (ZMS-05). The platform also includes a version of Android optimized for the Zii chip. Both the Zii Egg and Plaszma OS are targeted at manufactures who want a market ready device and OS platform.

Creative Zii Egg 2

And now it’s time for a demo video, enjoy!

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Source: epiZENter, ZiiLabs

New Apple tablet for XMas, according to Financial Times

July 27th, 2009 admin No comments

New Apple Tablet Cocktail

It has been over two years of rumours about a tablet-type device from Apple, and it never came true. But according to Financial Times, Steve Jobs will have a tablet ready for an early launch in September.

This will be a 10-inch touch sensitive screen device (perfect for watching movies) and fully media focused: Apple might be working with EMI, SonyMusic, Warner Music and Universal Music on a project called “Cocktail”. The objective? stimulate sales of full-length albums bundled with interactive contents, and change the actual trend on its iTunes store based on cherry-picking songs.

So let’s wait just a few weeks and just hope this time is not a rumour…

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Source: Financial Times, 9to5 Mac

Image: Gizmodo

Categories: Digital Home, Iphone, Laptops, WOW! gadgets Tags:

Four new multimedia speakers from Logitech with 360º technology

July 14th, 2009 admin No comments

Logitech-Z523

We all know Logitech, and some of us even love the brand. Fully featured mice and desktops, user friendly Harmony remote controls, terrific webcams with Carl Zeiss optics… but now it’s time to talk about music for PC & laptops: a full new range of four multimedia speaker systems has been announced… and we can’t wait listening to them!

Unlike standard PC speakers with forward-firing drivers, these new multimedia speakers feature omnidirectional accoustics with drivers firing forward and backward in each satellite, generating a wider sweet spot so you can enjoy music no matter where you are in the room. This is what the new technology from Logitech Audio Labs, 360-degree sound, is all about: these little babies radiate sound more uniformly over a wider range of frequencies and angles.

Two of the systems are 2.1, which means 2 satellites and one subwoofer. Z523 (with 40 W power) and Z323 (30 W) speakers include an integrated dual RCA jack and a 3.5 mm jack.

In case you don’t have enough space for a subwoofer system, then Z320 (10 W) and Z520 (26 W) might be perfect for you as 2.0 stereo systems.

The range is expected to be launched in Europe in September with prices running from 49 to 99 €.
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Source: www.logitech.com

Categories: Digital Home, Sound Tags: