Gadgets Base

Posted Mar 14th 2008 3:16PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Desktops This shiny little box seems to have slipped under just about everyone’s radar during the CeBIT whirlwind earlier this month, but the folks at matbe.com thankfully scored some pictures and details on their trip past Asus’ booth, and they’re suggesting that it could, in fact, be the desktop Eee PC that the company’s been talking about. That claim is backed up by the fact that it comes with the Eee PC’s Linux-based OS installed, although there’s apparently no other firm details on the desktop (dubbed the EP20) just yet, only that it has “good enough performance” and boasts “docking for living & studying room.” There also doesn’t seem to be any official word on a price (matbe speculates €200, or just over $300), but it will supposedly be released sometime this summer.

[Via Eee Site]

Posted Mar 14th 2008 5:45PM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Displays
Not feeling enough LCD love from Dell lately? How about this new UltraSharp 2009W? The new 20-inch 16:10 widescreen monitor does up a 1680 x 1050 resolution, with 36% more pixel content than Dell’s 19-incher. The display also outperforms its budget friendly E207WFP predecessor with a 102% color gamut, 2000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 5ms response time, and four USB 2.0 ports. Only inputs available are DVI with HDCP and VGA, but perhaps all can be forgiven with that $289 pricetag. It’s available now.

[Thanks, Bart]

Gallery: Dell 2009W LCD

Facebook continues to attract third party developers to create their own Facebook applications. What used to be the arena of budding third party developers is also now a place for big web entities. The latest to join the Facebook craze is Amazon with its Amazon Giver and the Amazon Grapevine apps.

From the day it was announced, you could easily predict that the two Amazon applications are heading for big time. Amazon made sure that it has built hype for the release of the two applications, which incidentally are just pretty simple apps. The only difference that the Amazon apps have over other third party Facebook apps is of course the brand name.

If you are both an Amazon and Facebook member, you can opt to install the Amazon Giver application. The application will let you see your friend’s wish list in Amazon, share your own wish lists to your Facebook friends, receive gift recommendations from Amazon and inform your friends when you have bought a gift in Amazon. That’s it, pretty simple applications and yet highly publicized and possibly over rated.

Next, the Amazon Grapevine application will let you share your Amazon activities that includes, writing reviews, adding items to your wish list and tagging items. Ironically, it doesn’t share your purchases in Amazon. Of all activities it would seem that purchases should have been the first action that you could share with your friends.

Currently on an unstable state, these two applications may not yet be full proof. But knowing Amazon, it will definitely introduce some more Facebook applications soon, if not enhanced the Giver and Grapevine applications.

Read [AllFacebook]

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With little details emerging we have learned that Microsoft is expecting to have the next generation Zune, (one can only assume it will be called the Zune 3) to be hitting the stores sometime during 2009. According to reports from Les Echos, which is a French newspaper we will be seeing that new Zune along with a mobile Zune portal “sometime in 2009.”

The mobile store portal would allow for users to purchase music and games from computers, Windows Mobile devices and even the Zune. The access for Windows Mobile devices is rumored to be with the next, next version, Windows Mobile 7, which considering we are all still waiting for Windows Mobile 6.1 may be a while.

Little details are know about the Zune 3, but some speculation is that it may include a web-browser. Its almost sounding a little more like the ipod Touch. The Zune, while we may poke fun from time to time seems to be shaping up to a very decent player in the PMP market.

Via [ipodnn]

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We love new gadgets and we always keep an eye on every new releases that come out of the market. We adore its shiny new look and get awed by its features. But have you ever stopped and thought about the possibility that the software that comes preinstalled in our new gadgets might be infected by viruses?

The Associated Press warns that some of today’s gadgets are coming into the market with extras - viruses. Recent cases examined by the AP pointed out that Apple iPods, digital picture frames sold by big-box retailers Target and Best Buy and the TomTom Navigation all contained viruses even before consumers ever had them in their hands.

And guess where those gadgets came from? Chinese factories. But there’s no reason to be alarmed though. The viruses came from lax quality control and not from organized sabotage by Chinese hackers. The three companies mentioned are already investigating the problem. Apple said that the virus that infected a small number of video iPods in 2006 came from a PC used to test compatibility with the gadget’s software. Best Buy was quick to respond to the findings of the study and immediately pulled out infected Chinese made digital photo frames from their inventory. Sam’s Club and Target are still investigating the matter and have not yet verified if their digital photo frames are infected with digital viruses.

Although none of the viruses found in the mentioned gadgets have caused major damages to consumers who bought them, it is still advised that consumers exercise caution when using their newly purchased gadgets. Or if you are like us and simply cannot resist a gadget purchase, the best way to prevent a virus attack is to run update anti-virus program when possible and keep an eye out for news reports.

Read [Yahoo! News]

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Siafu is a new kind of personal computer intended to provide computer access to those who have a vision impairment or similar handicap. Using a touch-sensitive surface filled with a magnetized liquid, which is called Magneclay, Siafu provides reading materials in the form of braille, and it even has the ability to render images in 3D relief.

The key to making this device work will be Magneclay, the morphing magnetized liquid that is supposed to be able to take the shape of anything, from braille text to the 3D rendering of web pages being accessed by the user. It comes with a 9-button braille keyboard that users can use to input text, and they can easily review what they’ve written just by sliding their hands over to the tablet’s transforming surface. It also has a built-in microphone that works with Siafu’s voice recognition software, intended as a great alternative to the already seemingly amazing touch interface.

You shouldn’t get too excited though, because the Siafu PC is just a beautiful concept for now. But that shouldn’t stop you from crossing your fingers and wishing it gets developed now, does it?

Keep reading for a few more pics of the Siafu PC…

Via [Yanko Design] Via [Gadget Venue]

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IOGEAR who has recently claimed that their products, especially the Wireless Laser Mouse, are germ-free, is being fined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The $208,000 fine is for the computer peripheral company’s unverified claims that pathogens and bacteria are eliminated by their products.

Associate Director of EPA’s Communities and Economics Division Katherine Taylor said:

“Whether the claim involves use of an existing material such as silver, or new nano technology, the EPA takes these unverified public health claims very seriously. Consumers should always follow common-sense hygiene practices, like washing hands frequently and thoroughly.”

Indeed, simple common sense is enough not to believe the claims. Even if nano coating technology is just around the corner, only hygiene practices can make any computer accessories and even a person germ-free. The EPA explains that products that repel bacteria are considered pesticides, therefore, should be registered, but IOGEAR failed to do so. IOGEAR, however, has stopped their claims after being reprimanded by EPA.

Via [Crave] Read [EPA.gov]

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