Mr.tech

HOT GIFT ALERT: Laser Virtual Keyboard

2012-11-30T23:44:00.001-08:00

One of the really cool things about our Gift Picker is it shows us what gadgets and gizmos people are most interested in. Top of the list at the moment (not really surprising as it’s so cool) is the Cube Laser Virtual Keyboard. It wasn’t long ago that this would of been a conceptual gadget, now it’s a reality, so what more can we tell you about it…

The laser keyboard wirelessly connects to your tablet, phone, laptop (or any other compatible gadget that could benefit from a keyboard) via bluetooth. It then projects a full size 63 key QWERTY keyboard onto any flat service which you can then tap on like a regular keyboard. It has a detection rate of 400 characters per minute which will be more than adequate for the majority of us. It can also be used as a mouse replacement, in this mode you swipe your finger on the virtual mouse pad, kind of like touch screen. You charge the virtual keyboard via USB, a full charge will give you 150 minutes typing charge.

The laser virtualkeyboard is currently on sale at ThinkGeek for $149.99.

Second Sight Argus II Retinal Prosthesis

2012-11-26T22:48:00.002-08:00

Out of the five senses that you have, which is the one that you would deem to be most important? It would be an extremely difficult question for me to answer, as I treasure my sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing equally – and lacking in one is more than enough to make life difficult. Having said that, I salute the indomitable human spirit and those who have achieved so much more than normal able-bodied folks even when missing one (or more) of the five senses. Having said that, there is some hope for the blind thanks to the efforts of Second Sight who came up with the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis.

This rather unique piece of technology will basically allow a blind user to “see” objects, as well as colors and movement within their environment. Just how is this achieved? Normally, it is done thanks to the assistance of a video-camera-equipped pair of glasses that is worn by the user. However, a recent experiment saw researchers do away with the camera, and they instead transmitted visual Braille patterns straight to a blind test subject’s retina.

The Argus II works this way – the prosthesis will be implanted in a blind user’s eye, where it will be placed with an array of 60 electrodes against the surface of the retina. The accompanying video glasses will be able to take in the view in front of the user, where it will then convert the video signal into electrical pulses. These pulses are sent to the implanted electrodes wirelessly, which in turn respond by selectively stimulating retinal nerve cells.

You won’t end up with normal vision, but they are more than capable of letting some users make out individual printed letters, now how about that? Imagine letting a user see braille right there with their eyes – since they are already so used to braille characters, it makes perfect sense to continue reading in that language, even though they can make out regular letters and numbers.

Mouse and Presenter in Your Palm

2012-11-17T22:39:00.002-08:00

Have you used a presenter tool before? You know, you stand up in front of the group to pitch your proposal or give your explanation. PowerPoint is queued up and someone hands you that remote looking thing. Your finger grazes the top and BAM! You are suddenly at the last page of your presentation. Then you have to walk to the computer, exit out of presenter mode, start it again. Sort of gets you out of the mood to give your pitch.

Logitech has a perfect portable solution to combine the needs of mousing with presenting. The Logitech Cube, $69.99 at Amazon.com, combines style with functionality. Designed as a travel mouse, it is easy to throw in the computer bag. Built into the button free mouse are left and right clicks plus scroll capability. No more ‘click click click’ of the wheel. Scrolling becomes more like smartphone swiping. Flip the device over to advance slides in presenter mode. The Cube has a power switch built in and uses Logitech’s Unifying® receiver meaning it is small in the USB port and can be synced with other compatible devices. Heads up that there is no laser pointer on the unit though. So it may not be exactly what you need for presenting. But from a portability perspective and with Logitech’s reputation in accessories rest assured you will get a product that performs.

OLED glasses are controlled by your eyes

2012-11-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

Google’s Project Glass is certainly one consumer electronics idea that might just take off in a big way – assuming that the price is right, of course, and the use of it resonates among the masses. Well, here we are with a pair of futuristic looking glasses to boot – I’m referring to the OLED glasses that hail from the Fraunhofer Center for Organics, Materials and Electronic Devices Dresden (COMEDD). Scientists at COMEDD have managed to successfully develop glasses which enable the wearer to virtually flip pages on a digital document – without the need for the actual movement of one’s hands. Yes sir, non-physical manipulation of a digital book does sound like a decent idea, especially for mechanics referring to a highly technical manual while ensuring their greasy hands do not stain anything else, concentrating instead on loosening or tightening that one particular bolt.

This particular pair of glasses, however, is not intended just for mechanics alone, but also targets technicians, surgeons, and basically anyone else who require a hands-free document navigation experience. Within the lenses lie a combination of photodiodes and OLED pixels, where the former will function as a camera, helping register the direction of the wearer’s eye movements, while the OLED pixels will work together in order to form a display which is overlaid on the view via the glasses.

While you are busy occupied with a particular task at hand, you will still be able to read up on the next step without any worries. Assuming you look up “as if at the horizon,” your eyes will be greeted by the document which is displayed as though it is being projected at a size of about one meter (3.3 feet) right in front of you. Just to turn pages, all you need to do is just glance at an arrow within the display itself. This is different compared to the Project Glass from Google that require you to tilt your head to control the display. Not only that, the chip inside the Fraunhofer glasses lets you send and receive information simultaneously, in a wireless manner to boot.

Dual-SIM iPhone Case

2012-11-05T08:38:00.001-08:00

If you want to jive with a dual SIM phone and yet do not want to take a pick from the ugly designs out there from Samsung in particular, perhaps it is time to use your iPhone. Wait a minute here, you say, the iPhone does not come with a dual SIM carriage, so what on earth are you rambling about? Ah, this is where the cue for the £29.99 Dual-SIM iPhone Case comes in, where this particular iPhone case is special enough that it allows you to switch between either one of two SIM cards at the touch of a button.

Even better news is this – you are not required to install additional software on your iPhone in order to wield dual SIM cards. All you need to do is insert your SIM cards into the case, followed by clipping the case onto the iPhone 4/4S. This is a particularly brilliant design that lets you alternate between them using a mere switch flick. At least you need not tote around a couple of handsets, and you can choose to keep one number for work while the other is meant for leisure, hence allowing you to enjoy a work-free evening once the clock hits 5pm with a change of SIM cards.

Livescribe Sky WiFi smartpen

2012-11-02T20:31:00.001-07:00

We have smart cars, smartphones, smart TVs, and even smart homes, but how about the humble pen? It seems as though someone has overlooked this humble writing instrument that has served mankind well throughout the ages, but this time around, we have something different for you. The Livescribe Sky WiFi smartpen is touted to be the first digital pen of its kind that will integrate WiFi technology as well as cloud services within a single device. The Livescribe Sky is capable of digitizing everything that one writes and hears, sending those automatically over to your personal Evernote accounts which is stored safely and can be readily accessed should the need arise. You will be able to search, play back, organize and share, making the Livescribe Sky WiFi smartpen ideal for today’s on-the-go world.

It does not matter if you are a busy executive or a student, you will be able to conveniently access your written notes as well as recorded audio straight from a piece of paper, in addition to those on all the tablets, smartphones and computers that one uses.

Gilles Bouchard, Livescribe chairman and CEO, saod, “Thanks to our unique partnership and joint development efforts with Evernote, we have created an amazingly simple and exciting new experience for our customers. With the Sky wifi smartpen, they can easily capture important ideas, presentations and conversations in the most natural way, on paper, and they automatically appear right where they want them – on their mobile devices and personal computers.”

You need no longer tarry between the painful choice of choosing between writing on paper and writing on a tablet, as the Livescribe Sky WiFi smartpen delivers the best of both worlds – making it the ideal companion to a tablet, delivering the ease, flexibility and precision of writing on paper.

Anyone willing to give the Livescribe Sky WiFi smartpen a go?

Loud Mouth Telephone

2012-10-28T23:04:00.002-07:00

Somehow, taking a look at the £24.95 Loud Mouth Telephone reminds me of the evergreen rockers, the Rolling Stones. How about you? You can say that retro designs tend to be in vogue from time to time, as though there was an unspoken rule that dictates it to be so. The Loud Mouth Telephone is pretty much self explanatory, and would make for a great living room ornament whenever you have guests over, especially when you do not have a fine bone china collection to show off unlike the Joneses. This will still be able to generate plenty of conversation around the room, I’m quite sure about that.

The Loud Mouth Telephone will feature a huge mouth that carries the key pad, while what looks like the tongue is actually the receiver itself. It does look rather strange at first glance, but use it for a week and you would be chatting away into this crazily designed, fully functioning telephone like before. If you want to gross things out this Halloween, just add some non-abrasive gooey liquid to it to fool folks into thinking that it is drool or saliva.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini announced

2012-10-15T02:32:00.002-07:00

It is a known fact that there is undeniable tension between the two corporate giants in the world of technology at the moment – Samsung and Apple, with the former managing to claim up to $1 billion in damages from the South Korean conglomerate in a court ruling earlier this year, where Samsung was deemed to have infringed upon Apple’s patents. Incidentally, Samsung is one of the main suppliers of parts to some of Apple’s best selling devices including the iPad, leading to that added touch of intrigue. Well, the game of one upmanship continues between the two of them, where we do hear whispers of Apple preparing to roll out a 7.85” version of the iPad, appropriately calling it the iPad mini. Perhaps out of this rivalry, Samsung wants to go one up on Apple with their Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini by announcing it in Germany yesterday.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, as its name suggests, is a compact version of the South Korean conglomerate’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S3. The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini will deliver a similar high performance, intuitive ease-of-use and nature-inspired design of its larger sized sibling, albeit with a slightly smaller display at 4”, making it the ideal choice for those who want to use their smartphones with a single hand.

As for the operating system of choice, you will find Android 4.1 Jelly Bean installed right out of the box, while delivering what Samsung claims as “stunning graphical capabilities, fast screen transitions, and an upgraded Google Now service featuring contextual search.” Sporting an ultra-minimal curved frame, the Galaxy S3 Mini will deliver a rich natural feel, while its 4” Super AMOLED display lets you view images in a generous manner in brilliant color and clarity. It will also come with S Voice, Samsung’s choice of an advanced natural language recognition software.

No idea on pricing just yet, but one thing’s for sure – if you always wanted the Samsung Galaxy S3 but didn’t really like its size, then the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini might just be the smartphone for you.

Sony Vaio Tap 20 PC announced

2012-10-15T02:31:00.002-07:00

I clearly remember that back in the days when fat, chunky CRT TVs were the staple in any decent living room, the TV was divided into two categories – one that had a curved display, while the other was a pure flat display. Panasonic had the Tao, while Sony called theirs the Trinitron (where the name did date back further, of course). Well, one thing is for sure – Sony does come up with aesthetically pleasing devices from time to time, and they used to be well known for the build quality in their products. The thing is, no company remains at the top of their game without doing anything, and somewhere along the way, it did seem as though Sony must have gone off tangent, as their reliability ratings suffered, and more and more people moved on towards South Korean goods. Well, Sony’s foray into the computing world is a hit or miss affair with select models, but at least the Vaio name remained, and their latest PC expression comes in the form of the Sony Vaio Tap 20 PC.

The Sony Vaio Tap 20 PC is said to come with a bright, responsive 10-point multi-touch screen that boasts of engaging interactive applications, family computing options and being able to deliver new experiences in terms of mobile productivity. Steven Nickel , VP, Sony VAIO, said, “VAIO Tap 20 is creating a new category of PCs by combining desktop PC functionality, battery-powered mobility, and multi-angle viewing.This along with the innovative VAIO Duo 11 and the intuitive touch solutions incorporated across our existing PC portfolio, offers consumers flexibility to optimize their Windows 8 experience. Through the combination of compelling applications, Sony’s network services, and cross device connectivity, VAIO is leading the way in developing a new Touchworld experience. We expect when consumers think of touch PCs, they’ll think of VAIO.”

The VAIO Tap 20 might be classified as is a family tabletop PC, but it will be a whole lot easier to use than before, where it has been specially designed to take advantage of the intuitive ease of Windows 8. Boasting a 20” screen, you can lay this mobile desktop PC flat on a coffee table for the entire family to play games (make sure no one has greasy fingers!), while the presence of a removable battery ensures you are able to move the VAIO Tap 20 from room to room without worrying about plugging and unplugging the power cable.

Your ears will also be more than pleased, where the VAIO Tap 20 will incorporate stereo speakers that rely on Sony’s audio fidelity expertise, including Dolby Home Theatre v4 Audio Technology for one to experience full-impact surround sound.The VAIO Tap 20 is said to arrive at the end of this month in either black or white shades, where it will retail for $879.99 and above.

T3 Awards: Gadgets of the Year

2012-10-11T21:00:00.001-07:00

Revealed this week were the 2012 T3 Award winners. T3 – the UK’s leading consumer technology resource – once again pitted top manufacturers against each other in the biggest tech award show. Between the 7 judges and the 8th “reader vote” some surprises did arise.

ASUS came out on top as Tech Brand of the Year backed by awards for their Eee Pad Transformer Prime (Design Award) and Zenbook UX31 (Computer). ASUS also boosted their presence as the Google Nexus 7 they manufactured took home Gadget of the Year. Samsung and Apple – although heavily nominated – only saw success in Phone of the Year for the Galaxy S3 and Work Gadget of the Year for the iPhone 4S. The complete list of winners is below:

Innovation of the Year: Raspberry Pi
Gaming Gadget of the Year: Sony PS Vita
Gadget Accessory of the Year: Nike Fuelband
App of the Year: Zeebox
Retailer of the Year: Amazon
Tech Personality of the Year: Rory Cellan-Jones
Digital Media Service of the Year: Sky Go
T3 Design Award: ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime
Commuter Gadget of the Year: Amazon Kindle 4
TV of the Year: Sony Bravia KDL-55HX853
Digital Camera of the Year: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Work Gadget of the Year: Apple iPhone 4S
Home Gadget of the Year: Nest Smart thermostat
Computer of the Year: ASUS Zenbook UX31
Music Gadget of the Year: Bowers & Wilkins P3
Tablet of the Year: Google Nexus 7 By ASUS
Tech Brand of the Year: ASUS
Outstand Contribution to Tech: Lord Sugar
Phone of the Year: Samsung Galaxy S3
Gadget of the Year: Google Nexus 7 By ASUS

Find Heat and Charge

2012-10-06T07:28:00.003-07:00

Concept alert, concept alert. But oh boy, does this make sense. Stoves, radiators, portable heaters – the list of heat generating devices in our lives goes on and on. And our lives have gone portable with phones, tablets, laptops and the like. Devices have existed to charge electronics via heat sources, but never with the portability aspect.

YankoDesign features some of the latest industrial designs. Highlighted in their Technology section is the EcoCharge, a portable and green option for charging electronics. How so? EcoCharge draws heat from any heating device. Then thermoelectric generator modules convert heat to electricity. Power is delivered out of the unit via USB connection. Then just take your pick of what device to plug in. The concept had previously existed, but not in a portable unit – critical for our charging needs. Designer Ardavan Mirhosseini took it a step further by adding magnets to the side of the EcoCharge. Stick it to any metal surface while you draw out heat and charge. The unit also monitors and displays the conduction process so you could know how efficiently you charge. Imagine attaching EcoCharge to your hot pot of chili? Or how about affixing to the heating unit? It certainly makes sense and perhaps, someday, will become a reality.

Sony Unveils Thinner PlayStation 3

2012-09-19T03:39:00.000-07:00

Sony announced a slimmer version of its gaming console, the PlayStation 3, at the Tokyo Game Show Wednesday.

Due to be launched this fall, the new PlayStation will keep the same name as its two predecessors, but will be 20% smaller and 25% lighter than the second-generation model, Sony says. It will available in two versions: black and white, with either 250GB or 500GB of storage memory.

As far as physical differences from the previous model, the new PS3 will be thinner; it will also have a disc tray (instead of a slide-in disc mechanism) and a grooved design on top.

The “charcoal black” model should hit the market on Sept. 25, while the “classic white” should arrive Nov. 22 in Japan.

All the pricing details have not yet been announced, but a limited edition bundle, featuring the 250GB black PS3, UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception Game of the Year Edition and a voucher for more than $30 worth of bonus content for multiplayer shooter DUST 514, will be available Sept. 25 for $269.99.

For Kids, Android Is Safer Than iOS

2012-09-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

With the school year under way and the holiday season looming, a lot of kids are asking for (and getting) a new mobile device.

Whatever sort of device you choose, it’s important to turn on the appropriate parental controls. But before you decide on a gadget, you should be aware that some will be easier to control than others — and when it comes to parental controls, kids are much better off with an Android device rathern than an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

Android devices give you access to apps that permit deeper levels of control and monitoring without requiring technical know-how to set up.

Devices Designed for Kids (and Parents)

Family Guardian can be installed on existing Android devices, but starting this year, more and more Android tablets aimed at kids come with this level of parental control built in.

Earlier this summer, Techno Source released its Android tablet for children age 5 and up, the Kurio 7. This tablet has an Android skin similar to what you’ll find on Samsung or HTC devices, but it’s much more involved. The skin lets you set up several different profiles on the Kurio, including an administrative profile for you and a restricted profile for the kids.

Restrictions let you block app downloads, in-app purchases and specific apps (even when they’re already installed) and limit websites in the browser. Because you can have multiple profiles, you can personalize restrictions for each child (and grownups, too, should they want to use the device).

Amazon recently introduced Kindle FreeTime controls with its new line of Kindle Fire HD tablets. Set up multiple profiles, restrict access on a schedule, and choose the content kids are allowed to see and use.

When the holiday shopping season gets under way, we’re likely to see still more tablets suitable for kids and young teens. Thankfully, manufacturers are moving away from designing tablets that look like toys or something best suited for toddlers for kids older than 4.

Apple announces iPod nano

2012-09-13T09:16:00.002-07:00

So there is no new iPod shuffle at yesterday’s press event by Apple at the Yerba Buena center in San Francisco, California, but that does not mean that things have not gotten slimmer during the announcements. Not only were we treated to the thinnest iPhone to date as well as the slimmest iPod touch ever, we also have another superlative title introduced for the reinvented iPod nano, which is touted to be the “thinnest iPod ever”, measuring at a mere 5mm, now how about that? Despite its small size, do not think that this is an iPod nano to be trifled with, where it will now come with the largest display ever built into an iPod nano at 2.5” so that your eyes will be able to enjoy more of your music, photos and widescreen videos.

The new iPod nano, as mentioned above, will come with a 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display that makes life a whole lot easier when navigating through your music. There is also a home button that helps you return to your home screen quicker than ever before, conveniently located buttons that makes it easy to control volume and quickly play, pause or change songs without having to take a second look.

Music lovers will also appreciate the fact that the new iPod nano comes with built-in Bluetooth for wireless listening with Bluetooth-enabled headphones, speakers and cars. Not only that, boasting a whopping 30 hours of battery life, the new iPod nano delivers the longest music playback of any iPod nano to date, so that you are able to enjoy your favorite music and FM radio longer than ever before. Other integrated fitness features include a pedometer and support for Nike+, meaning you should be able to see newer iPod nano models throughout gyms in the neighborhood.

The new iPod nano will arrive this October in pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, silver and slate for $149 a pop where it has 16GB of storage space to get you started.

Meet the New iPods

2012-09-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday’s Apple event included the announcement of new generation Touch and Nano products. Over 350 million iPod devices have been sold over the years. And the new generations should prove to continue the sales trend.
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After a 2 year hiatus from new models the 5th generation Touchprovides loads of enhancements. Following many of the leads of the iPhone 5, the Touch has a sleeker look. At just 6.1mm and 88g, it is the thinnest and lightest Touch ever. The 4” retina display means more space to view what you choose. For the first time the Touch comes in silver, black, blue, yellow and red. And as practical flair the “iPod Touch loop” pops up from the back of the Touch so you can attach a wrist strap. Units also come with Apple’s new EarPod earbuds.

Internally the A5 chip with dual core graphics will boost graphics up to 7 times. And iOS6 will give all the latest advantages that the iPhone 5 offers. Feature-wise a built in 5MP iSight camera means autofocus, LED flash, help with motion artifacts and panoramic capability. Battery time will give you 8 hours of video or 40 hours of music and it charges via the new, smaller Lightening connector. The iPod Touch will retail for $299 (32GB) and $399 (64GB) and ship in October.

The small but mighty iPod Nanounderwent a massive change too. The Gen 7 form factor – usually a Nano advantage – does not disappoint at just 5.4mm thin and 31g. Apple saw then need that many users did and added big, easy to use controls for common tasks like volume and play/pause/forward and backward. The advantage is that you no longer have to look at the screen to perform basic functions. For those that do want to look at the 2.5” screen, the Nano contains a multi-touch screen. Choose one of 8 colors (including a Product RED option). EarPod earbuds are also included.

Internally the Nano finally includes Bluetooth, perfect for streaming music to other receivers. The Nano can handle widescreen video too. A full charge via the Lightening connector will get a user 3.5 hours of video or 30 hours of music. The 16GB, $149 Nano will also ship in October.

These majorly revamped products sure do give existing owners reason to upgrade and perfect gift options for the holidays!

iPhone 5 is Born

2012-09-12T21:11:00.002-07:00

After much speculation, many rumors and even ‘leaked photos’ the next generation iPhone was revealed by Apple SVP of Global Marketing Phil Schiller today. Many anticipated features did make it into the unit and Apple – as usual – surprised the public with other perks. Widely anticipated to be the single largest product launch in history industry experts anticipate 5M to 5.5M units to be initially sold with 8M or more expected in Q4. Let’s look at why.

After two generations of no form factor change, Apple went big on change. The iPhone 5 is the Worlds thinnest smart phone and 20% lighter (than the 4S) at 112g. The 5 features a 4” screen, versus the 3.5” of previous generations. Screensize always presented a competitive challenge, but the increase should diminish that criticism. And they will be using Sharp’s IGZO display technology – thinner screens due to smaller transistors which means more light can pass through and fewer LEDs are required. Translation: takes up less space and uses less power.The screen itself uses in-cell display technology. Previous versions required 2 discreet layers for the touch sensor technology. In-cell enables the touch sensor to be included in the LCD display turning 2 layers into 1 and making the phone .5mm thinner.

The change in screensize and thickness means the unit has a sleeker look to it, differing significantly from its predecessors. And the increased screen size plus higher resolution (1136×640) LCD means enhanced detail for all.

The guts of the unit hold some changes as well. The A6 chip will speed up the unit with a 2X faster CPU and 2x faster graphics.Means Faster app launching, saving images, load music app, viewing attachments in keynotes, ~2x performance across board. Demonstration of Real Racing: to produce a feature of time-shifted multiplayer. Can challenge someone one day and race them the next day.

The camera is now 8mp sensor, 3264×2448 backside illuminated, dynamic low light mode, sapphire lense cover – protection and clearer images. Now 40% faster on photo capture. Panorama: showed 28mp panorama taken on the camera (this can be done on the fly without using third party apps like Photosynth). Software compensates for moving artifacts if youre moving. Images can be shared directly onto Facebook or using iCloud where you can share with friends when added to stream you create (they receive a push notification when new photos are added).

Network speeds have also been increased. Technologies now include GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, and added HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, and LTE. Wi-Fi has also been improved to support 802.11 a/b/g/n, 802.11n is 2.4GHz and dual channel 5GHz, up to 150 Mbps.

Wideband audio. In typical cell phone call, the frequency of data in your voice is compressed around the midrange. But doesn’t sounded entirely natural. Wideband audio fills up more of the frequency spectrum to make your voice sound even more natural. Just starting this technology, 20 carriers at launch supporting this. (Deutsche Telekom and Orange mentioned.)

As expected there is a new connector, AKA Lightening. All digital 8-signal design, 8-0 % smaller. Apple are working with partners to help them integrate connector into existing accessories.

Announced in June, iOS6 running on the iPhone 5, contains both Passbook and Apple’s own map application. Passbook serves as Apple’s solution to a ‘wallet’. Select coupons and vendor payment processes will be available to users via their phone. So as you arrive to Target, for example, your phone uses location services to determine where you are and if you hold any gift cards or coupons. Then you receive an on screen notification. Airlines are currently using it for boarding passes too. And select retailers even provide the ability to pay through Passbook. As widely reported Apple opted to not continue with Google maps app. This new launch will give us a glimpse at the Apple Map functionality.

There’s much more: Facebook integration throughout the OS, great enhancements to Phone app like automated SMS or iMessage back when you can’t answer the phone, FaceTime works over cellular data network. Great enhancements for accessibility, including Single App Mode. Only 10 of the more than 200 new features in iOS 6.

Prices (on a 2 year contract ) will be the same as the 4Sm 16GB $199, 32GB $299 and $399 for the 64GB. You will be able to preorder on September 14th and it will be shipped on September 21st.

So, was it worth the wait and massive hype and would you be willing to switch?

LaunchPort – Charging your iPad in Grand Style

2012-09-08T23:40:00.000-07:00

I look around my house and see my devices charging at every conceivable electric outlet, I have all sorts of electronics plugged into ugly little power strips all over the place. I have tried hiding the cords or using more attractive charging stations, but in the end I have a tangled mess of cords and gadgets stuck in every corner. Maybe we should go the other way, and stop trying to hide our charging gadgetry and make the charger an objet d’art. What if our chargers were something beautiful to behold?

Check out Strut’s LaunchPort, sure, it’s an incredibly convenient and wireless way to charge your iPad, but thats not the best part. The LaunchPort is a jewelry grade, stainless steel hand polished sphere shaped pedestal, used in conjunction with a uniquely handcrafted Burl wood, carbon fiber or leopard print case, that charges your iPad and looks simply beautiful doing it.

Using powerful magnets that easily secure the gorgeous case to the magnificent pedestal, the unit can tilt, turn and pivot to almost any angle and the specialty case actually directs the sound from the rear of your iPad up to the front, allowing increased volume and clarity over your stand alone iPad. The case can be removed should you desire it, and a mini USB is also included in the event you require charging somewhere away from the base station.

The pedestal is available in chrome, matte black and gloss white with special order engraving and custom finishes available, same goes for the elaborate cases which have many special order options in addition to the 5 standard finishes currently available. Please visit Strutlaunchport.com to learn more and as you may have guessed, this much style doesn’t come cheap, the Launchport rings in at about 1200 bucks for the pedestal with the case. Is that too much money for aesthetic bliss?

Samsung Galaxy Camera launched

2012-08-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

Does the world really need yet another digital camera? The correct answer would be an unequivocal and resounding, “Yes!”. Well, you know that the camera industry is going to continue moving forward with ever higher resolution, not to mention advancements in video recording technology, but how about the operating system of the camera? That has more often than not been overlooked, so Samsung might be on to something here with their maiden attempt at an Android-powered camera, the Samsung Galaxy Camera. Yes sir, we are referring to the mobile operating system from Google that sees actions on smartphones and tablets, now making its way to a camera. How does it fare? Hit the extended post to know more

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The Samsung Galaxy Camera can be said to be a smartphone sans the “phone” bit. After all, it will come with the most recent Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, not to mention carry a slew of connectivity options that would even turn some smartphones green with envy – such as 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi support. I am not quite sure whether mobile carriers will soon put the Samsung Galaxy Camera up for sale on a 2-year contract with a data plan thrown in for good, but time will tell.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera can be said to be the best Android-powered dedicated camera at this point in time, as its only competitor would be the Nikon Coolpix S800c, but that certainly loses out to the Samsung Galaxy Camera in many aspects. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Camera has the latest Android operating system version as opposed to Android 2.3 Gingerbread on the S800c, while it has a 21x optical touch zoom lens (vs 10x optical zoom on the Nikon) and a 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor.

You can choose from three options – a 3G and Wi-Fi version, a 4G LTE and Wi-Fi version or a Wi-Fi-only model. What is your flavor of the day? I suppose that budget also has plenty of say in the final purchase decision.

Mini Microscope For iPhone

2012-08-30T02:00:00.002-07:00

Most people would swear that the iPhone 4S has one of the best cameras around on a smartphone, and I am referring to the days before the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S3 were released. Well, do you agree with that particular statement, or do you think that it is a biased perception? Regardless, if you happen to own an iPhone in your pocket and want to do far more than just snap photos of your food with it, then you might want to get up close and personal with other items around you thanks to the$29.99 Mini Microscope For iPhone.

Touted to deliver up to 60x magnification right on your iPhone itself, it will come with a trio of built-in white LEDs that function as a light source, allowing you to check out very small things, verify watermarks on important documents and others. All you need to do is attach the Mini Microscope to the camera lens of your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S and you are good to go.

This Android Robot Is Controlled by Your Phone [VIDEO]

2012-08-29T01:24:00.000-07:00

Love robots? Have an Android phone? Have we got the thing for you. Meet BERO, and Google Android-inspired robot that is controlled by an app on your Android phone or tablet.

Originally inspired by the Google Bug Droid at Maker Faire, the open-source robot can be programmed to do virtually anything you want, with a fully programmable and customizable interface. Robots can be voice activated, and can be programmed to react to smartphone notifications.

Out of the box BERO comes with software so it can play your favorite tunes, and dance to the music with “realistic” dance moves such as head turns, arm waves, and side-to-side poses. Headphones on the top of the robot will also light up to match the beatof whatever tunes you’re playing.

Touchscreen iMac?

2012-08-24T02:10:00.002-07:00

Apple revolutionized the world of touch screens. Between the Touch, Phone and Pad – and many other brands of devices that followed – we have become a swiping, pinching, tapping sort of society. Yet the foundational product in Apple’s collection is still “touch free.” Think about it – the iMac lacks this functionality that we associate with their product brethren. Zorro Macsk, by TMDTouch, proves to change that simple fact and give you a touchscreen iMac.

Zorro Macsk, available at Amazon for just $199, is a frame-like surface you attach to your iMac and in less than 10 seconds you have a touchscreen. Once applied, connect the frame’s USB cable to a port on the computer. Since it supports PNP in Mac OS no driver is required to run the Zorro Macsk. Using infrared technology the users input/touches are then detected. And voila! You are pinching, swiping and tapping just as you do on your other Apple products. The height of the frame is just 4mm, and the unit is specifically tailored to match the contours of the iMac. Currently the Zorro Macsk is available for the 21.5” screen, with 27” in development. It is available in pink, silver and black and also provides a nice option to protect the monitor bezel from dust and scratches. Take the convenience of touchscreen to your iMac and enjoy a whole new experience.

LG introduces 84-inch UD 3D TV

2012-08-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

LG Electronics has been a busy bee when it comes to churning out new and wondrous pieces of consumer electronics for the masses, and today is no different either. Just what kind of wondrous goodies does LG has in store for us? We are talking about the self proclaimed “world’s first 84-inch Ultra Definition (UD) 3D TV” which was just introduced in the Korean market (southern part, obviously), and I would presume across the world as well. LG’s UD 3D TV is the company’s effort to respond to ever increasing consumer demand for larger and more immersive home TVs that sport a greater degree of functionality.

As for the LG UD 3D TV, it will come with its fair share of new smart features that we will look in closer detail after the jump, and these have been put in place in order to deliver a greater level of convenience and simpler interaction for the user.

Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company, said, “The 4K display market is still in its infancy but it was important for LG to claim a stake in this space. LG’s UD 3D TV represents a whole new level of home viewing experience because it offers every advanced technology we currently have to offer.”

Havis should not worry about LG staking a claim as mentioned, especially when the LG UD 3D TV comes with an astonishing picture quality of 8 million pixels per frame, and when you contextualize that into today’s specifications, it would be four times the resolution (3840 x 2160) of existing Full HD TV panels, made possible courtesy of LG’s advanced Triple XD Engine. Not only that, there is also the Resolution Upscaler Plus that enables images from external sources like a portable hard drive or websites to be rendered in higher detail, somewhat akin to upscaling on your DVD player.

Not only that, LG has also outfitted their UD 3D TV with CINEMA 3D technology so that you and your impressed guests will be able to enjoy the most immersive viewing experience possible. The introduction of 3D Depth Control allows one to fine-tune the “distance” between near and far objects on the screen, something like the Nintendo 3DS albeit on a far more refined level.

No idea on how much the LG UD 3D TV will cost, but chepa is definitely not the word that I am looking for. Perhaps in a decade’s time, no?

Award Winning Teeth Whitener

2012-08-22T09:59:00.002-07:00

Some things in life are permanent, and certain opportunities do pass you by but once. Take your teeth for instance, once you lose the set of adult teeth through poor oral hygiene or in an accident, it is gone forever – you might be able to get expensive dental implants or dentures, but it will still not be the original set which you were born with, fashioned through the DNA in your body. Hence, it makes perfect sense to take extra good care of your pearly whites, and the $274.95 Award Winning Teeth Whitener would certainly come in handy, where it is touted to deliver longer lasting results compared to other kinds of at-home treatment in addition to whitening your teeth faster without having to rely on those teeth whitening chemicals found in your toothpaste.

A dentists, naturally, is the one behind the Award Winning Teeth Whitener, where you will wear the mouthpiece which emits LED light and heat directly to teeth coated with the included hydrogen peroxide gel, helping whiten your teeth by five shades in just five days, talk about quick results, huh? This enclosed treatment system will prevent whitening oxygen from escaping the teeth, so that maximum exposure is achieved for your teeth to remain white for up to 30 days. Of course, it does help if you avoid coffee and tobacco while making other adjustments to your lifestyle to maintain a set of white teeth.

Ego WiFi HD Action Camera

2012-08-20T07:50:00.002-07:00

Your friends might laugh at you wholeheartedly when they see you sporting something that looks like a walnut on your head – the £159.99 Ego WiFi HD Action Camera which will come in black, blue, red, white or yellow colors, but they certainly will not laugh any more when they check out the kind of daredevil stunts that you perform, recording all of it from a vantage point of view to show them just how much cojones you have over the rest of your clique.

The Ego WiFi HD Action Camera will basically capture all of your action and adventure in 1080p high definition, and if you happen to own a smartphone or compatible tablet, live video footage can also be streamed onto your screen thanks to the integrated Wi-Fi chip on the Ego WiFi HD Action Camera.

There is a built-in microphone that will perform all the recording of the slew of high pitch squeals and applause amidst the audience who are watching your every daredevil move that drips with adrenaline and courage. Not only that, the Ego WiFi HD Action Camera is also capable of shooting still images thanks to its 12-megapixel camera. A USB connection will allow you to transfer the slew of recorded images and video to a computer at the end of the day.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Back to School with Student Edition Bundle

2012-08-18T20:32:00.002-07:00

So you are out looking for a new tablet device, but cannot really quite make up your mind? Well, you have basically two choices – one that hails from the fruity company known as Apple and runs on the iOS platform, making it the best selling tablet to date, while the other would be one that runs off the Android operating system from Google, and it comes in a myriad of form factors as well as manufacturers. Well, Samsung is back with yet another Android powered tablet, where it is known as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 that targets students, logically calling it the Student Edition Bundle.

This special bundle would include a Keyboard Dock and an USB Adapter, without costing you any more money since it retails for $249.99 instead of the actual retail value of $349.99. This offer is good from tomorrow onwards, and will last for just a couple of weeks. The Special Edition that comes with a Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 in a unique white color should be able to rack up those fingerprints quick and fast.

Students will definitely find their fair share of benefits from the bundle, where it will include a physical keyboard that can be hooked up to the tablet itself, while the USB adapter is able to support plugging in USB thumb drives in addition to peripherals such USB mice. On the software front, you get Polaris Office pre-loaded, making the Galaxy Tab 2 the perfect device for typing research reports – or perhaps, even creating presentations, right there and then on the spot. I do wonder whether this will affect Microsoft’s plan for their Surface tablets that run on Windows 8 as well as Windows RT, depending on the type of processor for that particular Surface tablet.

Travis Merrill, Director of Marketing, Galaxy Tab, Samsung Electronics America, said, “The education market is a significant priority for Samsung, and we are very pleased to deliver a bundle that is sure to be appealing to just about any student at a very competitive price point. A busy student can achieve a PC-like setup in the dorm room, yet still pop the Galaxy Tab 2 out of the dock and slip it into a pocket for usage while on the go. It truly is the smarter way to learn.”