Tactile Tech

Blog Suspended

2006-01-15T20:33:00.000Z

This blog is no longer maintained. This is due to work commitments.

A blog that is very much maintained is the GP2X blog at www.mygp2x.com and there will also be a blog for the Lego NXT system at some point.

Optimus Keyboard

2006-01-09T11:09:00.000Z

Every key of the Optimus keyboard is a stand-alone display showing exactly what it is controlling at this very moment.

Optimus is good for any layouts—Cyrillic, Ancient Greek, Georgian, Arabic—and so on to infinity: notes, numerals, special symbols, HTML codes, mathematical functions.

Up for sale on Feb. 1st. The price? No idea...

SanDisk Sansa

2006-01-09T11:01:00.000Z

"...the new e200 series is going to give Apple’s sexiest player cause for a few sleepless nights. For a start the flash memory based player is now the largest on the market, topping out at 6GB (it is also available in 2GB and 4GB capacities), it sports a larger screen (4.57cm verses 3.81cm) and – get this – plays video."

OQO 'Tablet' Model O1+

2006-01-09T10:58:00.000Z

The OQO Model 01+ has all the functionality of an ultraportable notebook computer, with a 1GHz processor, a 30GB hard drive, 512MB of RAM, color transflective display (for easy indoor and outdoor viewing), 802.11b wireless, a removable lithium-polymer battery, and FireWire™ and USB 2.0 ports. For input and navigation it includes thumb keyboard with TrackStik™ and mouse buttons as well as digital pen and thumbwheel.

The OQO Model 01+ computer is the most versatile computer to date. Standalone, it is as portable as a PDA. With the docking cable, it is no different than a laptop in its ability to connect to projectors and Ethernet networks. In the desktop stand with the docking cable, it is a desktop computer. As a Windows PC, the OQO computer moves seamlessly from one mode to the other with no synchronizing.

PSP As Remote Control for Honda Civic

2006-01-09T10:32:00.000Z

"Based on what was once a 94 Honda Civic, a pimped-up concept car has gone on show at CES in Las Vegas that allows you to control everything from opening the doors, turning on the lights and even driving it down the street all via the PSP and a Wi-Fi connection."

CCTV With Guns

2006-01-09T10:30:00.000Z

"Gun Control, by Scott Kildall, explores issues of both security and surveillance. Each of the four units incorporates a police-issue revolver and a video camera. As people move into the installation space, the cameras track the movement and the guns follow."

Sharp RD-CMP1000

2006-01-09T10:28:00.000Z

"Despite the fact that Sharp is a Japanese company, they have just unveiled a product for Korea: this is the RD-CMP1000. It's quite a special pocket dictionary (English, Japanese and Chinese) because it offers all the basic PDA functions (agenda, PIM manager) on top of e-book reading functions, MP3 player functions, an FM tuner, a voice recorder and a 1.3MP digital camera that shoots still pictures and video. Everything can be stored onto SD cards too."

Dell XPS 600 - World’s First Quad-SLI PC

2006-01-09T10:25:00.000Z

"The ability to run today’s hottest titles in extreme HD resolutions with all the eye candy turned on is absolutely amazing. Strap yourself in, because you are in for the ride of your life."

Fujifilm FinePix F470 First Impressions

2006-01-09T09:50:00.000Z

Digital Camera Info take a first look at the Fujifilm FinePix F470:

"The 6 megapixel Fujifilm FinePix F470 aims to hit the easy to use low end of the ultra-slim market. The F470’s 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.8-inch measurements are very compact and flat except for a slight curve for a right-hand grip. Besides its tiny frame, there isn’t much else distinctive about its looks. The F470 has a lightly brushed silver body constructed of plastic with a metal shell. The camera is pretty durable, but doesn’t wander much from tradition. The body has a 2.5-inch LCD screen but it only has 115,000 pixels. The movie mode has full resolution and a fast frame rate, but terrible audio and lacks zoom during recording.

The F470 has its pros and cons. The camera provides a 3x optical zoom lens with a wide f/2.8 aperture. The camera is mostly automatic with its 10 scene modes, an auto mode, and a manual mode that acts more like a Program mode. It has a decent burst mode and starts up in less than two seconds. It is extremely portable and includes 16 MB of internal memory. However, despite the presence of the auto mode, the auto focus system is difficult to maneuver and will potentially drive consumers crazy. Sometimes it focuses, sometimes it doesn’t – and because there’s no telling what it will do, this could be a deal breaker for many consumers. Well have a more in-depth analysis of the F470's capabilities when we publish our full review. The F470 is slated to ship in March for $279."

Kodak EasyShare Z650 First Impressions

2006-01-09T09:48:00.000Z

Digital Camera Info tale a first look at the Kodak EasyShare Z650:

"Kodak apparently strained to hit its price point with the EasyShare Z650, leaving out image stabilization and skimping on the LCD in favor of the lavish electronic viewfinder. We think that the real problem with the camera is its lack of custom white balance – the only piece missing from a very good manual control implementation and a Kodak Color Science Chip.

Still, the fundamental impression we take away from the Kodak EasyShare Z650 is one of sharp, low noise images, good color, and a very straightforward user interface. So far it looks promising; check back to see if further testing results seal the deal."

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT

2006-01-06T09:30:00.000Z

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT is a robotics toolset that provides endless opportunities for armchair inventors, robotics fanatics and LEGO builders ages 10 and older to build and program robots that do what they want. Building upon the success of the globally-renowned Robotics Invention System, the next generation of LEGO robotics is smarter, stronger and more intuitive than ever, leveraging new technologies and expanded sensor capabilities to add a level of sophistication to excite and challenge more experienced robot creators.

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT includes 519 LEGO TECHNIC pieces, the NXT intelligent brick, touch, light, ultrasonic and sound sensors, 3 servo motors, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 cable and PC/MAC compatible programming software powered by LabVIEW from National Instruments.

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT will be available at most toy and discount merchandise retailers, select consumer electronics retailers or online at www.LEGOshop.com in August 2006 and will have a suggested retail price of $249.99 (USD) and $ 379.99 (CAD). A special version for school and institutional use is also releasing later this year.

Baseball Cap LED Light

2006-01-06T09:28:00.000Z

Turn your baseball cap into a searchlight with 5 bright and light-weight LEDs. The LEDs clip to a cap tightly and use 2 CR2032 cell batteries.

Zicplay Slideplay

2006-01-05T10:02:00.000Z

Revolution is on the way! Zicplay presents SlideKey, the brand new opus of the range. OLED Screen, integrated coder, refillable battery... To discover urgently!

Main features

- Digital Audio Player (MP3 & WMA)
- Digital voice recorder
- USB storage device
- Memory : 256 MB, 512 MB, 1GB Optional built-in FM radio on 512MB and 1GB models

SunFlower Solar Power Station

2006-01-05T09:59:00.000Z

"Sunflower is a new home&office solution, that uses solar energy to generate electric power thru three built in standard sockets. That combined with a solar powered music system interacts and transforms common living spaces into enjoyable and sustainable living environments. The top solar panel receive energy thru the day and the rechargeable solar batteries keep your appliances working thru the night."

World's Most Complicated Watch

2006-01-05T09:41:00.000Z

The world's most complicated double-face watch, produced in a limited edition of 7.

Tour de l'Ile is the most complicated watch ever made, with a totally original combination of horological complications and astronomical indications composing a list of sixteen different points including a minute repeater, sunset time, perpetual calendar, second time zone, a tourbillon device, the equation of time and the representation of the night sky.

This exceptional calibre composed of 834 parts called for over 10,000 hours of research and development lavished on it by the designers, engineers and watchmakers of Vacheron Constantin.

Samsung Digimax L55W Review

2006-01-05T09:38:00.000Z

Trusted Reviews takes a look at the Samsung Digimax L55W:

"The Digimax L55W is a solidly made and well designed camera from a much-improved brand, offering a good specification and excellent performance at a bargain-basement price. The movie mode is good, the bizarre frames are just silly, however it is the wide-angle widescreen capability that really sets the L55W apart. There’s nothing else on the market that can do what this camera does. It’s just a shame that the image quality doesn’t live up to it."

Sony Cyber-shot M2

2006-01-05T09:36:00.000Z

The new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M2 digital camera combines great quality digital still photography and impressive movie-shooting capabilities.

Featuring 5.1-megapixel resolution, a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens and Sony's Real Imaging Processor circuitry, the camera offers outstanding image capture in either mode.

"We recognize that some people don't want to have separate imaging devices for their photos and video," said James Neal, director of digital imaging products at Sony Electronics. "Our new Cyber-shot has been specifically engineered for these people."

Designed for optimal photo taking and video making, the camera's vertical one-handed grip sits comfortably in the palm of your hand. With just a gentle push to the side of the LCD panel, the camera powers up, the 2.5-inch LCD screen flips out, and it is ready to shoot. Every moment becomes a full story with the camera's hybrid record mode. When you press the shutter release, you get more than a snapshot. The camera automatically records five seconds of video before snapping the picture and three seconds after. There is no longer a need to choose between stills and video - you can get both.

Sony Cyber-shot S-600

2006-01-05T09:34:00.000Z

There is more to consider when purchasing a digital still camera than pixels and price. Sony's new Cyber-shot DSC-S600 model offers that and more.
The new camera features six-megapixel resolution and a precision Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with a 3x optical wide-angle (31 “ 93 mm) zoom, which is much wider than other cameras in its class, so everyone is sure to be in the shot. It has an advanced feature set engineered to deliver focused, properly exposed pictures in a snap.

"In addition to its impressive six megapixels, it's a camera with intelligence, helping you to capture every special moment without concern about complex camera settings," said James Neal, director of digital imaging products at Sony Electronics.

The RFID Zapper

2006-01-05T09:29:00.000Z

The German branch (privacy activists) of the global guerrilla innovation network has developed a simple solution that converts a standard film camera into a short range RFID zapper. This system:

"...copies the microwave-oven-method, but in a much smaller scale. It generates a strong electromagnetic field with a coil, which should be placed as near to the target-RFID-Tag as possible. The RFID-Tag then will recive a strong shock of energy comparable with an EMP and some part of it will blow, most likely the capacitator, thus deactivating the chip forever."

NeXfit BK-A6 Gaming Exercise Bike

2006-01-05T09:21:00.000Z

Super-light aluminum frame with pneumatic resistance control system, which uses air pressure to adjust exercise levels, together with a force feed back system, which delivers 16 different shock levels according to collisions and explosions in any PC game

Online Health Manager, which accumulates user's exercise records and its levels after each game for accurate health management.

cableyoyo

2006-01-04T18:43:00.000Z

The essence of cableyoyo is its true, clean coiling capacity. Neatly spiraling cord on a single plane, it evenly stores up to 6 feet of cord within the smallest amount of space possible. The flat spiral also protects the condition of the wire, so that it is straight and manageable when needed for use. Cableyoyo's streamlined case makes it convenient for transporting, or for tucking out of sight, between your digital products. Cableyoyo is a multipurpose device designed for both stationary and mobile use.

Dell 3007WFP Flat Panel Monitor

2006-01-03T17:21:00.000Z

30" of LCD heaven, available from 5th January in the US. 'nuff said.

Free-1 (Alpine White) Skype Phone

2006-01-03T17:03:00.000Z

Free-1 is an advanced USB phone specially made for active Skype users.

With lightweight and stylish design, it is a lot more fun using Skype!

Programmablebuttons provides users with higher level of convenience. It allows users to have better control of Skype and make SkypeOut calls via the keypad. Ten different ring tones alert users of incoming calls. Other functions include volume control, mic mute, speed dial, and LED light indication. Free-1 allows you to contact people around theworld for free.

Samsung S800, S600, S500 Digital Cameras

2006-01-03T16:58:00.000Z

Introducing the "S" Series of Point & Shoot cameras.

The 'S' series comes with an Effect Key allowing the user to adjust the colour of the photos being taken and also add various creative effects. The range also has an easy mode dial that allows the user to move between portrait, night pictures, and movies, swiftly, depending on the situation.

The 'S' series has a larger LCD screen for clearer picture quality. Printing out pictures is easy via PictBridge which enables an image to be printed directly to a connected compatible printer - without a PC.

Features:

- 5, 6, and 8 megapixels, all with 3x optical zoom - Easy and quick operation - Ergonomic design with camera grip - Large and Vivid TFT LCD (2.4 inch)

Canon IXUS 750 Review

2006-01-03T16:56:00.000Z

Digital Camera Buyer Magazine review the Canon IXUS 750 awarding 4/5:

"With good looks and a solid features base, this is a reliable camera both for beginners and for slightly more advanced users."

Pros:

- Stylish compact design
- Excellent image quality
- One-touch direct printing

Cons:

- No manual exposure adjustment
- No true wide-angle setting

Read more in the winter #39 issue of Digital Camera Buyer Magazine.