The most stunning feature is the dual 7-inch screens, making this more a Booklet than a Tablet. They are multi-touch, designed for writing, drawing, and flicking with a finger or a stylus. They are connected with a single home button. The Courier also features a camera on the back and may be charged with an inductive pad, like the Pre with its Touchstone.

Microsoft has always done well dreaming up prototypes and producing beautiful renders, but when they are finally released they seem to be mediocre realizations. The Courier is described as being in a “late prototype stage,” so there is reason to be hopeful.

What do you think of the Courier? Will it ever come to fruition or will Apple release something that will stun and amazing everyone?

[Gizmodo]

So what makes this new device so special? Several reasons, but the first standout is Android. With the many pre-installed application (ranging from documents to twitter,) there is also the AppsLib. The AppsLib is a library of free and paid downloadable apps—and Archos is promising 300–450 apps that are in the pipe-line ready to go. Another amazing feature is an HDMI port. With this addition, you could be watching a movie as you commuting home and once you get there, simply plug the device into your TV and finish watching it. But, paired with the next features makes that port even more amazing. The Archos 5 supports an external keyboard connected either by Bluetooth 2.0 or the USB 2.0 host port. So now, why even take a laptop when you travel? Plug this into your TV and type away on an external keyboard to keep in touch. While it can come with either a 160 or 500 GB HDD, you can also take advantage of that port by plugging in an external hard drive and pretty much have infinite storage. Lastly, one of the best features of all, it features a kickstand on the back, making it so easy to watch movies or type using an external keyboard.

This is just the tip of what the Archos 5 Internet Tablet can accomplish. It has all these great features—Hi-Def video, TV output, Music, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and USB connectivity—all in a tiny device, barely bigger than a 3 x 5 notecard. In a couple months time, once more and more apps are released, I expect some amazing things. It is available in four models, a flash-based 16 or 32 GB version for $299.99 or $379.99, respectively, or the aforementioned HDD-based 160 and 500 GB versions priced at $329.99 and $429.99, respectively.

So, what do you think of the new Archos 5 Internet Tablet?

We may have seen a little too many new bicycle concepts and designs for urban mobility. Not many of them come enter the production lines. But here comes Grant Ryan, from New Zealand, with his foldable electric two-wheeler for urban travel. It is known as the YikeBike. It is marketed as “the world’s first super light electric folding bike” and CNET has called it “the alternative to the Segway.”

The YikeBike will be available in 2010 at the price tag of US$4,860 (Country laws concerning wheeled vehicles apply).

Specifications:

The phone itself may be not as good looking as the iPhone, in this reviewer’s opinion, it is better than what HTC has been producing. It is being called the “first phone with social skills,” it features Motorola’s new, innovative, Android skin called MOTOBLUR. This provides widgets that integrate with Twitter, Facebook, Gmail, MySpace, Yahoo, Last.fm and more. It also features over-the-air syncing and backups, and aggregates all your contacts into a single address book.The phone will be available in two colors, Winter White and Titanium. It will have a 3.1″ 320 x 480 screen, WiFi, and a 5 MP camera that also shoots video at 24 fps. The CLIQ will be exclusive to T-Mobile and be released later this fall. Internationally, the CLIQ will be knows an the DEXT and be available on Orange, Telefonica, and America Movil.

What do you think of Motorola’s first try? Let us know in the comments.

[Press Release]

Now that the school year has started, here’s a gadget for your dorm’s kitchen: the Fagor Portable Induction Cooktop. Compared to traditional cooktops, induction cookers are more energy-efficient and they heat at a faster rate. If you have ever used an electric stovetop, I am sure you know how hot it gets. It can even easily burn your skin upon contact. The genius of induction cookers is that it does not warm the air around it resulting in less possibility of injuries and energy efficiency. It uses magnetic induction to only heat up your pots or pans, yet it won’t burn anything else such as clothing or drapes that get too close.

Now you can enjoy your frisbee night with friends on the campus lawn while your pasta is cooking, without the worries of burning down the dorm and risking your degree.

[ Source ]

A few weeks ago, we told you about the Backpack shelf for you iMac. Now we bring you the BookArc, a sleek and aesthetically pleasing product acts as a desktop stand for your Macbook.

Apart from freeing up valuable desk space, the BoookArc turns your Macbook into a mini-desktop tower. This is capable of holding any Macbook design - from the Macbook Air to the 17-inch Macbook Pro - thanks to its three different sized, scratch-free, silicone cushions. It has silicone footpads for extra grip and to protect your desk surface. Twelve South, the designers of this product, also claim that this can speed up the performance of your Macbook. Free Shipping for a limited time at the price of $ 49.99. If you’re with a team or company buying with a group of 6, get a discount at $ 249.99 for a 6-pack.

[ Source ]

Although they want you to think the new LP features are amazing, for young folks, most probably won’t care. For them, the big news is improved syncing and social media integration. With the new syncing you can now drag, organize, and delete apps from inside iTunes. The new social media integration allows you to send albums to Facebook or Twitter.

The iPod Classic recieved the standard upgrade we predicted, remaining $249, while gaining a boost to 160GB. The new control-free iPod Shuffle remains, now in several colors (and a special edition stainless steel) and starting at $59 for 2 GB and $79 for 4 GB.

The iPod Touch, like the Classic, only got the standard upgrade. The price of the 8 GB was dropped to an amazing $199, $299 buys you 32 GB, and they introduced at 64 GB for $399. After a long talk about how great the Touch is, surprisingly, it did not receive a camera. There rumors that there were hardware issues, but it could also be a differentiation problem between it and the iPhone. When you keep adding all these features, what reason would you have to buy the iPhone over the iPod Touch?

But, the big news is the iPod Nano, which added several features, most shockingly a video camera. It shoots 640 x 480 video at 30 fps and has 15 real-time special effects (a la Photo Booth with effects like Sepia, Black and White, Film Grain, Thermal, Dent, Stretch.) With the camera, it also received a microphone, which allows a new voice recorder, a speaker, and surprisingly an FM Radio. The 8GB model is $149, but for a cheap $30 more you can double your storage to 16 GB.

So, what do you think the big news of the day was, if anything was even note-worthy?

SpeedingComputer.com, the social network for computer enthusiasts, is giving away some cool prizes including a free 1 Terabyte hard drive.  At Speeding Computer, “people come together to share, discuss and even show off the latest hardware, software and technology.” It is the hot new destination for all things computer related, and they have been creating quite a bit of buzz online.

Check out the social network for computers yourself, or click here to enter to win a free 1TB Hard Drive.

The new 7D boasts many features that appear to check off many’s dream list. Some of the new features include: full HD video with manual exposure at 24, 25, or 30 fps; a new viewfinder with 1.0x magnification and 100% coverage, something previously only in the the top-of-the-line 1D line; also borrowing from the 1Ds is dual DIGIC 4 processors, which powers 8 fps continuous shooting; a rugged, waterproof body; and new and customizable buttons, including a Quick Control button and RAW+JPG button. Two features that are a very welcomed addition, Nikon having them for several bodies, are an electronic level and wireless flash control using the pop-up flash. One potential drawback could be that it is not full-frame, Canon instead choosing to cram 18 MP onto an APS-C sensor, so image quality will have to be reviewed once it’s released at the end of September. It will be available as a body only for $1699 or as a kit with a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS for $1899. The Nikon D300s, being more expensive and with less features (two-year-old guts with video added,) just got a whole lot less appealing.

Canon also announced the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, the EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, and the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. The 100mm f/2.8L is the first lens with Canon’s new Hybrid Image Stabilization, which promises up to 4 stops of correction. The 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lenses will be available at the end of September at estimated retail prices of $1,049.00 and $499.99, respectively. The EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM is should be available in late October at an estimated retail price of $799.99.

What do you think of this new body? Is it a stunning addition to Canon’s line or yawn-inducing? Let us know in the comments.

[7D Press Release, Lens Press Release]

Apple’s annual event was recently confirmed, and with the 9th less than a week away, I thought it would be wise to give a run-down of rumors and predictions to what will be released. A flurry of information will surely be leaked as the days continue, but here’s what’s going on right now.

• iPod
  Seeing as this has historically been when the iPods are updated, and the invite gives no indication to being any different, there are loads of rumors involving the iPods. Some believe that the iPod Classic will be discontinued. I think it will receive the standard upgrade of a hard drive boost (to 160 GB), while remaining the same price.
  
  As for the iPod Touch, the rumors abound that it will receive a camera. I’m hesitant to agree because it is one of the few features that separates it from the iPhone, but I believe we will see it added. I also think it will receive a storage boost to 64 GB.
  
  From leaked images of new iPod Nano cases, many also believe they will receive cameras. I don’t particularly understand the reasoning of the addition, but I could definitely see it happening. They should also see a storage bump to 32 GB, though the 8 GB model may remain at a lower price point, say just under that psychological barrier of $100.
  
  With the iPod Shuffle having been updated just last March, it is doubtful that we will see any changes to it. If there are, it would probably be only a price decrease.
• Apple TV
  
  The Apple TV is long overdue for an update and the current rumors are that the 40 GB version will be phased out and the 160 GB version will receive a lower price. I could see that happening. But, I can also see them not even mentioning it at the event and just making the change when the Apple Store is back up.
• iTunes
  
  It is very likely that we will see iTunes updated to version 9. What features it heralds are still debated though. The most likely are Blu-ray media support and visual organization of iPhone and iPod Touch apps. There is also speculation of some form of social integration, and while I would not put it past them I am hesitant to believe it.
• iPad (Aka Apple Tablet)
  
  The big kahuna is the Apple Tablet, or iPad or Macbook Touch, whatever you want to call it. In my mind, I believe that we will one day see this device, but not on the 9th. This seems more like a MacWorld announcement. Yes, yes, I know they are no longer attending MacWorld, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have their own event around that time. I say we won’t see this until January at the earliest.
• Mac
  
  Because it is an iPod event, I doubt we will see any changes to any Macs. However, there are rumors that the MacBook line, which currently only contains one model, will be fleshed out and receive some new models, perhaps under the $999 entry-level price, to compete with budget PC notebooks.
• Beatles
  
  Every year people ask and with all the press around The Beatles Rock Band being released the same day, now is as good as time as ever. So, will we finally see the Beatles added to the iTunes Store? Probably not. Does anyone really care anymore? After all these years of waiting, is there anyone who doesn’t already have some digital copy of their library?
• Steve Jobs
  
  With him having been back since June, I think it is very likely that he will if not lead the event, at least make an appearance. Don’t expect him to say anything about his absence, except perhaps a one or two-line joke.

What do you want to see updated at the event? Let us know in the comments.