Have you got some days off during the X-Mas period and no plans? Are you lucky enough to own a digital reflex camera… and a few hours to spend taking one (yes, 1) photograph? Then you can be the next record holder of the highest resolution image.

But today, this is the greatest (at least in terms of pixels) picture ever taken: a combination of 1.665 full frame pictures taken with a Canon EOS 5 D at 21,4 megapixels each (that means… 26 gigapixels!) recorded with a photo-robot during 172 minutes. Processing took 96 hours from the 104 gigabyte original frame down to the impressive 26 gb result that you can check right here.

The shooting took place in Dresden, on the roof of the building Haus der Presse.

If you want to play with the image, just use the zoom and other control buttons you will find on the lower left corner of the image. Or just click on any of the 9 preselected details right below. It’s really impressive!

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Source: gigapixel-dresden.de

Yes, this is a blog devoted to gadgets. And yes, these are real gloves. So why are we writing about a pair of 90% cotton, 10%polyamide gloves today? Well, it’s quite simple: they are the best option for using any touchscreen device (iPhones, iPod Touch, Blackberries, eBooks, laptops) when the weather is not rather pleasant.

Let’s say you are waiting for a taxi in Helsinki, temperature is below zero and you want to play “Surfin’ USA”  in your phone, but do not want to take your gloves off. This is not a problem anymore with the new Touchees, developed by a team of spanish engineers working for high-tech company AISoy Robotics.

The good news is that these gloves are quite cheap (less than 19 €); the bad is that there is only one size available for the moment and colours are… well,  somewhat boring. But they do perform as expected.

In fact I have already purchased a few of them, and I’m sure they will be a very  original and well  appreciated gift this X-mas. Unless you are lucky enough to live in the Caribbean.

Want to see a real demo? Watch the video.

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Source: www.touchees.com

If you were expecting a typical Nokia N Series device, then the N900 is not what you are looking for. In fact, the company has tried to find the perfect tool for those who want a high power multimedia device where navigation, speed and connectivity are key.

If we take it as a mobile phone, it is quite similar to the highly successful N97: 3,5″ touchscreen with 800 x 480 pixels resolution, fully integrated QWERTY sliding keyboard, 5 megapixels camera with double LED flash and Carl Zeiss lens, 32 GB internal memory (can be expanded through micro-SD cards), A-GPS navigation and Ovi Maps installed, 3G and WiFi connectivity and a powerful ARMCortex-A8 processor running at 600 MHz. Full tech specs can be found here.

But the real difference is in the core: the N900 runs the new Linux-based Maemo 5, an open source platform that will surely bring added value to all users on a permanent basis. As an example:

• Powerful browser with Mozilla engine that gives full access to any kind of rich interactive contents
• personalise your desktop: calendar, widgets, shortcuts… anything you want, you just have it there
• Multitasking finally made easy
• Access rich Adobe Flash content

If you want to see an in-depth review of this new device, GSM Arena.com is the best we have seen so far and you can find it right here.

But if you just have 2 minutes, then this video is for you.

The new N900 is already available in case you are ready to pay 599 €.

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Source: Nokia, GSM Arena

Ok, so you are not that proud of your latest Blackberry device. Yes, it works fine, mails come and go at lightspeed. But the iPhone of your colleague is so cool…

But wait! Something is going to change very soon: the new inPulse watch is the perfect accessory for your Blackberry. As you can read in their official website, “ it’s a watch which connects wirelessly to your phone by BlueTooth®, alerting you instantly to incoming emails, SMS and calls”.

It does not replace your smartphone, but it can make your life easier. No need to turn crazy trying to find your phone inside your bag; just take a look at the sharp 1.3-in OLED screen and check your emails and SMS, with details such as caller ID,  calendar alerts, e-mail titles and others. Plus, don’t miss a call thanks to its built-in vibrating motor.

And it’s also fully customizable: custom alarms and timers as well as sleep times and message filters, can be easily modified using the large screen and keyboard on your phone.

You can already preorder the new inPulse, launch price is $149.

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Source: Get inPulse

Now that standard DSLR cameras are becoming quite popular (prices below $700, lens included, are helping to democratize the segment) top brands are now moving to a rather new direction based on a smaller “packaging”: Sigma DP1 was a real surprise in 2008 and a highly improved version was launched some months ago (the new DP2), both with an APS-C size sensor. Olympus went a step further with a highly successful alternative featuring the new Micro Four Thirds technology: PEN EP-1 was the name of a beautiful and excellent retrostyle camera. The new EP-2 is already waiting to be launched in a few weeks (things are moving fast), and a few days ago I was lucky enough to purchase the new Panasonic GF1 (almost identical to Olympus’ EP-1, similar sensor, but with built-in flash and a few other interesting functions, plus an excellent 20mm F1.7 pancake lens).

But Leica will always be playing in a different league, and X1  should be a great success for the german brand if we simply listen to the tests based on pre-production units.

Although it is expected to be launched next January, we have most of the details you need to know:  12.2 megapixels APS-C sensor, fixed 24mm Leica Elmarit  F2.8 lens, ISO 100-3200, 2,7 in LCD screen, retro style pop-up flash, optional viewfinder, and an impressive styling, similar to the mythical M series. Full specs can be found here.

If you want to see some beautiful photographs, www.dpreview.com has given us the chance to say “yes! we want one!”. In my case, “why did I buy the GF1?!?!?”. Check them right here, and enjoy.

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Source: Digital Photography review.com

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, 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

It’s monday, 7 am, hooray hooray, time to go to the office… but first, let’s suffer the daily 60 minutes traffic jam that is already part of our lives. Fortunately we still have a slight hope that things will not always be the same, at least for our kids when they grow up in a world that’s changing much faster than our own capacity to assume it.

According to japanese conceptual artist and illustrator Norio Fujikawa, this spectacular scooter with small wings will be ready for production by 2025, and should be part of a solution to chaotic traffic and pollution. 

And the good thing is that this jet-powered vehicle is just one of a full set of concepts developed by this visionary engineer, that you will find right here.

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Source: DTLux

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

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.

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