Dual-display e-reader opens new chapter
June 26, 2008
In what seems like an eternity ago, Crave posted an item about a dual-LCD concept that was designed as a digital newspaper of sorts, folding at the center like a broadsheet. Now, finally, some universities are reportedly working on a prototype based on similar principles for e-books.
Researchers from Berkeley and Maryland are developing a dual-screen reader with digital pages that can be turned by way of a built-in trackball, according to Engadget. And for flexibility the two displays can be separated and viewed horizontally if needed.
There have been other double-display portable computers on the market, though none made specifically made for book reading, and they have been prohibitively expensive. As prices for Amazon’s Kindle and other conventional e-book readers continue to drop, it may be cheaper to just get two of them instead.
Movies and TV shows coming to the PS3 this summer
June 26, 2008
Sony has just confirmed the rumor we all heard back in April: video downloads will be available on the PS3 this summer. Details right now are scarce, but we do know the service will first be rolled out in the United States, followed by Japan and Europe later in the year. As we mentioned before, we would like to see a service tied in with Netflix since everybody and their mother seems to use the service, or even a Hulu type service, which offers TV shows from Fox and NBC, broken up by short 15-second ads. Our best guess though: iTunes-esque pricing, the most expensive of all three choices. Rent a movie, pay a high premium, and lose it . We can’t see how this will be successful, considering Sony’s quirky history with digital media downloads (see: Sony Connect and ATRAC3).
Sony’s own Bravia line of televisions will be getting video as well via Bravia Internet Video Link (BIVL). The film, Hancock, as mentioned in Sony’s press release, will be available “exclusively to all Internet connected Bravia LCD TVs in the U.S. before it is available on DVD.” We’ll have a review of the BIVL system very soon.
Another interesting tidbit from the press release: Sony wants 90 percent of their electronics products network-enabled and wireless-capable by March 2011. The PSP, PS3, and a Bravia television–all connected together and sharing media? Yes, we’re just as thrilled as you are of the future possibilities. Let’s hope that Sony doesn’t limit their content and media-sharing capabilities to a Sony-centric universe, which the BIVL system seems to be all about. We’ll have more details as they roll in.
Motorola Rokr E8 to land at T-Mobile
June 26, 2008
Motorola’s Rokr E8 will go on sale July 7. The phone will be available with T-Mobile for $199 with a two-year service contract. As you might remember, the Rokr E8 debuted five months ago at CES where it won CNET’s Best of CES Award in the cell phone category and the People’s Voice Award. Its main attraction is a “ModeShift” keypad that morphs depending on how the handset is used. As you shift from phone to music to imaging modes, the backlight on the control changes to illuminate only the relevant buttons for your current function.
Other features on the sleek candy bar handset include a Linux/Java OS, support for Windows Media Player 11, a large (2-inch) 262,000-color display, 2GB internal memory, stereo Bluetooth, USB 2.0, Moto’s CrystalTalk technology, an external memory card slot, a 2-megapixel camera, a digital-music player, quad-band world phone support, and a 3.5mm headset jack.
We’ll have a full review of the Rokr E8 by tomorrow, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out our hands-on look from CES with video.
Mobile Mania
June 26, 2008
Can you believe the number of cellphones being launched these days? Guess it’s great for consumers, more choice and all that. The Intex guys are out with another model from the IN series-the Intex IN3333. And with this one, they are set to take on the slew of music phones available. This stylish bar phone provides you the best utility and entertainment features. It supports a 1.3 meg camera, which can also be used as an integrated webcam and a USB PC webcam. Also, the USB port functions as a pen drive. Pretty neat!
hot wheels…
June 25, 2008
Check out this old school scale replica remote control version of Knight Industries Car…I had this one back then but it was an old school video rewinder.
my down under
June 25, 2008
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and you thought it was a real keyboard, ayt?..sorry but it has no USB nor a PS/2 port.
try to find “Computer Geek” word so you could try them on.
pet gadget
June 25, 2008
if you wanted a chameleon for a pet but too scared of them, here’s a USB chameleon.
nice one eyyy??…
