Archive for October, 2008
Posted on Oct 30, 2008 by Sam Costello at 2:20 am
Sony and the Max Planck Institute in Germany have developed a flexible, transparent OLED display that could lead to screens being integrated into clothing and other applications that need to bend, such as curved surfaces or rollable digital newspapers.
OLEDs, or Organic Light-Emitting Diodes, are used to create displays that are more flexible than traditional LCDs, need less battery power, and, in this instance, are see-through, allowing their images to be seen from all kinds of angles.
Though we’re probably a little far off from it – batteries need to improve and the other hardware would need to be lighter and more flexible – the idea of clothes that are connected to the Internet and display frequently updated content on a flexible OLED display is kind of neat. Or, for those interested in fashion, perhaps kind of horrifying. Still, it could be where we’re heading.
Posted on Oct 27, 2008 by Sam Costello at 2:20 am
Almost 1 billion consumer devices could have WiFi in them by the end of 2012, according to a new report from In-Stat.
This widespread adoption is expected to be driven by dropping WiFi hardware costs and improved battery life. One of the key markets in which this growth is expected is digital TV, where WiFi could be used to connect TVs and peripherals.
We’re seeing this growth curve beginning already, with WiFi embedded in all kinds of connected devices like wireless digital picture frames and new products such as the Chumby and similar information appliances.
If this projected growth does come to pass, we’ll have a world of high-speed connectivity almost anywhere we’d like it. I can’t wait.
Posted on Oct 23, 2008 by Sam Costello at 2:20 am
GPS devices all seems essentially the same: they’re boxes that are mounted on the dash or windshield, but the Azentek SmartMirror puts a new twist on the GPS by integrating it into a rearview mirror.
The US$799 SmartMirror, which sports Navigon Mobile Navigator 6.6 GPs software, splits space between a standard rearview mirror and a GPS device that offers 64MG of internal memory, a slot for a 2GB SD card, Windows CE .Net 4.2, a 4-inch touchscreen, and support for Bluetooth handsfree calling.
While I might be a little concerned about putting a screen in a car mirror – it seems like it could run the risk of driver confusion – this shows another innovative method of putting a GPS into the car. And since GPS device may eventually become in car computing platforms, not just navigation tools, it’s interesting to see how this platform may enter the car.
Posted on Oct 21, 2008 by Sam Costello at 2:20 am
IntelliTunes has released a digital jukebox for your home that uses a PC to deliver all the music on your hard drive to any room in your house with panache.
This jukebox features two LCD screens, one of which is touch-sensitive, integrated speakers, Windows XP, WiFi connectivity, and online radio streaming. It’s not for everyone, though – it’ll set you back nearly $4,000.
The thing that grabs my attention about it, though, is its PC support and WiFi connection. Since it’s designed for entertainment and game rooms, and because it has two screen, IntelliTunes could easily add support for other programs besides music playback.
Since its got XP built in, why not expand the jukebox to support applications that deliver web-updated content to screens such as FrameChannel. One of the screens could show music-related content while the other shows photos, sports scores, or news headlines.
Thanks for the link to Slippery Brick.
Posted on Oct 16, 2008 by Sam Costello at 2:20 am
Eye-Fi, the company whose removable storage cards are equipped with WiFi so that photos can be directly added to the web without using a computer, has added support for Twitter, RSS, and Apple’s MobileMe to its products.
The features are part of a new release of the company’s Eye-Fi Manager software and are free updates.
The updates include automatic Twitter notification when new photos are posted, publication of photos to RSS feeds, and upload of photos to MobileMe galleries.
These features make the Eye-Fi cards even more useful. I’d love to see them add a direct connection to services like FrameChannel, too – it seems a natural fit.
Posted on Oct 13, 2008 by Sam Costello at 2:27 am
Well, maybe not NES (it’s hard to say for sure), but at least classic 8-bit video games. Kinwei Technologies, a Chinese company, has trotted out its KW-GM4306TG GPS device which not only takes you door to door, but also lets you play video games while you drive.
The system features a 4.3-inch LCD, Windows CE.Net, 64MB SDRAM and 256MB Flash memory, and support for hands-free communication. No word yet on price or availability.
Like the Google Maps/BMW Assist integration I noted earlier, this is another example of viewing the GPS is a platform, rather than a single-purpose information appliance. When the GPS is a platform for all kinds of computing in your car, the applications it can be put to expand greatly.
