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Breitling Superocean Watch For 2010 Hands-On

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 05:06 AM PDT

I don't love all Breitling watches - far from it. Though I have always been a fan of the "new" Superocean watch collection, which for me ironically started with the Superocean Heritage watch collection. Be it the three-hand or the chronograph, those are awesome watches. Vintage watches tend to be smaller, but the vintage inspired Superocean Heritage was 46mm wide. Oddly enough, the futuristic looking new Superocean for 2010 watch is 42mm wide. Hmm.... At 42mm wide it is a very wearable watch. Doesn't have that wrist jarring visual "pop" that many larger Breitling watches have, but these aren't small timepieces. Oh, and some people call these new watches the "Superocean II," but it seems better to just say 2010 Superocean watches (as it is more common to do so).


CEATEC 2010: Hands-On With Fujitsu’s Dual Touchscreen Phone (Videos)

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 05:01 AM PDT

One of the hit products at Fujitsu's booth at this year's CEATEC exhibition (that's currently taking place near Tokyo) was the so-called "Dual-Touchscreen Mobile Phone". As the name suggests, it has no physical keyboard but boasts two screens instead, and it's designed like a typical Japanese clamshell cell phone. Read the rest on MobileCrunch.


The Inexpensive Huawei Ascend From Cricket Does The Pre-Paid Android Dance

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 05:01 AM PDT

The pre-paid wireless carrier, Cricket, is getting serious about smartphones. The Huawei Ascend joins the BlackBerry Curve 8530 and the Android-powered Kyocera Zio, but hits at only $149 rather than $229 like the two other smartphones. Don’t think it’s lack, either, because it’s rather loaded for a contract-free smatphone. A 3.5-inch HVGA screen is front and center, while a 3.2MP cam is around back. Android 2.1 powers the device and offers all the bells and whistle you’d expect including full access to the Android market. Simply put, this is a complete phone.

Of course it’s up to you whether you opt for this low-cost alturnative over a traditional Android device. But at only $149 up front and month-to-month plans costing $55, it’s a solid deal.

CEATEC 2010: “Augmented Reality Walker” From Olympus (Video)

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 02:26 AM PDT

One of the “sub trends” of this year’s CEATEC exhibition (that’s currently taking place near Tokyo) is augmented reality, especially among the telecommunications companies. Japan’s biggest mobile carrier NTT Docomo is experimenting with an AR technology (developed by Olympus in 2008) called AR Walker.

What’s special about the hardware is that it’s small and light, that Olympus is offering it in three different versions (all pictured in this post) and that it already works. What Docomo showed at their booth was an AR-powered mapping application (that helps you finding your way when you’re lost somewhere, for example), with digital annotations and icons popping up in front of your eyes.

But it’s also possible to use the AR Walker when doing sport. For example, when you run, it can show you how many calories you burnt, how fast you go or provide information about the route ahead.

This is the “standard” version:

This is the version attached to glasses:

And here’s the “stylish” version:

When asked if the technology is ever going to be commercialized, the friendly people at the Docomo booth told me they and Olympus are still discussing it.

It’s hard to give you an idea of how the AR Walker works through video, but the following (short) clip I shot the Docomo booth at least shows how the device looks on people using them:

Daily Crunch: TV Move Edition

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 12:00 AM PDT

Kinect Manual Scans Show A Few Tidbits

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 06:14 PM PDT


There’s a little bluster going on regarding this scanned manual for the Kinect, mainly over the fact that you need to be six feet from the sensor, or eight feet if there are two players. While that may indeed disqualify some setups from using it, it’s not like the Move and Wii don’t have their own idiosyncrasies.

Six feet was about as far as I have to stand from the Move to play Sports Champions, though admittedly EyePet has a much shorter range. The Wii, too, has an optimum distance around there.

Other tips include not putting the Kinect on your console, changing clothes if it can’t see you (why are you wearing the same color as your wallpaper?), and some other random technical stuff. It’s about what you expect. For a motion-based gaming system, you need space, people! I wish they had a wider angle and faster lens too, but hey, they’ve got to save something for the Kinect 2, right?

[via 1up]

Toshiba Planning Tablets For US Release In Early 2011

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 05:43 PM PDT

In case you were wondering just where Toshiba’s entry into the tablet wars was, here’s a non-answer for you: coming some time in early 2011. Toshiba engineer Hideo Kasuya has said in interview that the company is planning a worldwide tablet launch in early 2011, though the Wall Street Journal noted that the Tegra 2 and Android-based Folio 100 may not actually be one of them.

That’s a bit of a puzzling development, considering the Folio 100 has been the focus of their tablet PR so far. Do they have more up their sleeve? Are they simply re-engineering it for a US release? Kasuya was not obliging on these points.

The device will, however, be available in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa towards the end of the year. Can that be right?

[via i4u]

Verizon announces the Droid Pro — and it’s not what anyone expected

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 04:45 PM PDT

Score one for Verizon! In a world full of constant, spot-on leaks (not that we’re complaining), they’ve managed to not only launch a device without leaksters getting it first, but also make (intentionally or not) everyone think the model in question was something entirely different.

The SmartShopper: Because Writing Down Grocery Lists Is So 20th Century

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 04:00 PM PDT


If pen and paper are your mortal enemies, this glorious age of convenience has many solutions for you. In this case, instead of writing your grocery list on a piece of paper, you dictate it to this little Smartshopper gizmo and it spits out a receipt for you. I guess I can think of some practical uses, but it’s still a little bit Skymall.

Keep in mind that it prints on thermal paper, which is very rich in BPA, so wash your hands before touching the apples at the store or cooking for the kids, okay?

AudioScope Technology Can Zoom In On A Single Conversation At A Sports Event

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 03:30 PM PDT


Paranoid? Better skip to the next story. A technology being researched by a pair of University of Oslo Physicists pairs a video system to 300 microphones arranged in a circle, allowing the system to “zoom in” on individual noises or conversations. The video demonstrates how at one time it can listen to a player venting his frustration or someone popping bubble gum next to the coach.

It works by, well, having 300 microphones pointing in every direction to begin with — but there’s more to it than that. The video system has to figure out when the sound from a certain spot would have reached various microphones, and then use interference information from those microphones to find the “right” sound.

Pretty creepy, eh? They might install these all over the place if they were a little smaller.

A Phone Marketer’s Nightmare

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 02:39 PM PDT

Take a look at this wild exchange that appeared on Facebook (click to embiggen). The original poster asked what they should get – a “droid” or a Blackberry (not mentioning that they were on AT&T and couldn’t get a Droid in the first place.) The “advice” given by well-meaning participants ranges from “iPhone sucks” to “boss Tim” who had a blackberry. The best reply was “Y do you think they r the best?” in response to someone suggesting an “I-phone.”

The Nautiz X3 Rugged PDA Is Tougher Than You

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 02:30 PM PDT


There is still a market for dedicated PDAs and the Nautiz X3 is aimed at those that are a bit rough with their devices. The rugged Winmo 6.5 PDA carries an IP65 rating and passed full MIL-STD-810G testing. This means the tough PDA can withstand drops from 1.8 meters and operate in temperatures of -20°C to 60°C. Perfect for your average inventory control specialist working at an outdoor shipping facility in Antarctica.

Inside is a 806MHz X-Scale CPU along with 256 MB of RAM, 512 MB of flash storage, 3G modem, Bluetooth, GPS, altimeter, G-sensor, compass, and a 3300 mAh Li-Ion battery. A 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen is found on the front while the back a 3MP cam with autofocus and LED flash is on the backside. No word on pricing but chance are this thing isn’t available to the public sector.

Handheld Nautiz X3 Takes Rugged Handheld Computing to its Smallest, Lightest and Most Mobile Form

Nautiz X3 is a state-of-the-art PDA for field workers who need an ultra-lightweight but full-featured mobile work tool

Handheld Group, the global supplier of rugged computers, today introduced the Nautiz X3®, Handheld's smallest and lightest rugged handheld PDA yet. With an unparalleled combination of size, mobility and performance, the Nautiz X3 marks the latest step in making PDAs effective mobile work tools for any environment.

Designed to offer full rugged performance in the most mobile package possible, the Nautiz X3 measures only 150x67x25 mm and weighs less than 260 grams, but carries an IP65 rating and passes full MIL-STD-810G testing.

The Nautiz X3 is equipped with a powerful 806 MHz X-Scale processor, operates Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional and has a range of performance features including 3G cellular, a 3-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, WLAN, and Bluetooth. It also has a standard 1D laser scanner, with an optional 2D imager.

The Nautiz X3 is equipped with 256 MB of RAM for advanced applications, and 512 MB Flash memory for storage. It has a powerful 3300 mAh Li-Ion battery that will power the computer through a full work day. The 2.8 inch (320×240) QVGA touchscreen is optimized for outdoor applications.

The Nautiz X3 can withstand drops from 1.8 meters and it operates in extreme temperatures ranging from -20°C to 60°C. It has been tailor-made for usage in the field with built-in GPS, altimeter, G-sensor and compass.

"The Nautiz X3 is a true breakthrough – it's a unique product in today's market. We're offering a handheld PDA that's smaller and lighter than most similar computing tools – and yet it still meets IP65 and MIL-STD810G standards. It has fast voice and data performance – plus all the performance features you'd expect from a rugged PDA which makes it go beyond a smartphone. It has a combination of size, performance, ruggedness and value that the market hasn't seen before," said Jerker Hellström, CEO and Chairman of the Handheld Group.

The Nautiz X3 is the latest rugged PDA in the Nautiz product line, which consists of the Nautiz X5, Nautiz eTicket, Nautiz eTicket Pro and Nautiz X7. Nautiz X3 is available for order immediately and will begin shipping in December. It can be seen at worldwide trade shows starting this week. For more information, see www.handheldgroup.com

About Handheld:
The Handheld Group is a worldwide supplier of rugged mobile computers and PDAs. Handheld and its partners deliver complete mobility solutions to businesses in industries such as logistics, forestry, public transportation, construction, military, and security. The Handheld Group of Sweden has local offices in Finland, the Netherlands, Italy and the USA. For more information, please see www.handheldgroup.com

Just Kidding: No Prototype iMac Touch Parts Being Shipped After All

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT

Last week, we heard from Digitimes that Sintek Photronics was shipping some early samples of extra-large capacitive touchscreens to Apple for the rumored touchable iMac.

As it turns out… not so much. Ah well. Like the Shmoo, the life of the rumor is short and happy.

New Zwitterionic Material Could Improve Refresh Rates In LCDs

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 01:30 PM PDT


The “crystal” in “liquid crystal display” may get a revision if a new display technology makes it to market. Research done by Professor Piotr Kaszynski and grad student Bryan Ringstrand at Vanderbilt University has produced an improved crystal material that could improve one of the key attributes of LCDs.

The new crystals have a zwitterionic structure, meaning they are composed of charged groups of atoms but have no net charge. The researchers have taken advantage of this class of molecule to make crystals with a higher electric dipole, a property that allows them to be switched between a light and dark state more quickly than existing crystals.

This quick on-off means that the time it takes for the display to flip over the millions of dots it takes to make an image is reduced significantly. This translates to both a higher refresh rate (not really necessary) and a lower display latency (which is always nice, but is as low as 2ms these days already).

They still have to be tested for durability and other characteristics necessary to commercial deployment, so don’t expect to see these any time soon. And even when they do come out, you likely won’t hear about it. But when you’re thinking of buying that 1000Hz TV in a year or two, you might give Vanderbilt an inner high-five.

Combined with those new 10-micron nanogrills, these could make some insane screens. Wow, what a nerdy article I’ve just written.

TL;DR: new base LCD tech may make your displays better kinda soon.

[via Eurekalert]

Video: An Exclusive Look At The Sobi System in Action

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 01:09 PM PDT

SoBi Hardware – Software Integration from Ryan Rzepecki on Vimeo.

The next chapter of the Sobi saga is here. Ryan at Sobi shot some video of the Sobi lock working on a real bike. It’s a bit long, but what you’re watching is an example of the Sobi system in the wild. They are using a cellphone to unlock the bike and then they lock it back up again at a different place, allowing the next Sobi member to pick the bike up and ride around on it.

As you recall, the SoBi system allows for bike sharing without additional infrastructure. The system uses a lock fastened to the bike's wheel with a GPS system and transmitter built-in. When the bike is locked, it appears on the SoBi app and when you check it out you're responsible for it. You do not need special kiosks or other accoutrements to create a bike-sharing network anywhere in the world.

iSuppli Pegs The Apple TV’s Parts List At $64

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 12:48 PM PDT


The Apple TV isn’t much more than a Samsung-made A4 processor, 8GB of flash memory, and a connectivity chip. iSuppli says those components along with the casing and power supply only costs $63.95. Not too shabby considering the original $300 Apple TV contained $237 worth of parts and was sold at a 20% manufacturing margin. The new one retails for $100, which works out to 35% above the cost of the parts. Of course that’s not pure profit for Apple seeing how the price of the device also covers R&D along with marketing, but at least the parts are cheap and Apple’s margin improved over the previous generation.

Lenovo May Move Into Enterprise Tablet Business (If There Is Such A Thing)

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 12:40 PM PDT


Lenovo has voiced guarded enthusiasm for getting into the enterprise tablet market — you know, that’s the one with almost no players at the moment. The Nav9 I recently reviewed is aimed in that direction, and of course HP’s Slate is intended for enterprise as well, but tablets have historically been far less convincing to businesses than, say, Blackberries, so it’s still a market in discovery.

Lenovo’s Peter Hortensius said: “As it makes sense we’ll absolutely enter that market. I think we have a great foundation from which to build for that.” In other words, they’ll definitely enter the market… if they feel like it.

The Thinkpad series includes the X series of convertible laptops and the Lepad, so Lenovo is no stranger to the touchable Windows world, but designing a “serious” tablet is a different task than designing a convertible, and involves considerable outlay. My guess is they’ll do some basic investigation, pencil in some deals, and then see how the upcoming enterprise tablets do in the market.

[via ComputerWorld]

Western Digital Catches Up To Seagate With 3TB External HDD

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 12:20 PM PDT

Seagate has been pushing its 3TB-per-drive advantage ever since it put out the 3TB GoFlex back in late June. They used ‘em to put 12TB into a 4-drive NAS, and I think some of that love must have trickled down to make this little 1.5TB baby possible. But their nemesis, Western Digital, may catch up in the coming months, having just announced a 3TB drive of their own.

The MyBook Essential 3TBis… exactly what you expect. It’s a MyBook drive with USB 3.0 and… yeah, that’s all. But what more do you need?

We’ll probably be seeing the new 3TB drives spread out to other Western Digital products soon, so if you’re a die-hard WD guy, just hang on for a little longer. The Register reports that the 3TB bug should spread to their desktop drives soon as well, which should be just in time for my new system to be built.

Infiniti Release First Sketch Of Its 2013 EV Sedan

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 11:41 AM PDT


Well, there it is. The 2013 Infiniti EV. Looks great, eh? The press release says it will “be a stylish, high performance five-seat luxury vehicle with zero emissions technology.” So in other words, it will be a Nissan Leaf done-up in stylish sheet metal, which will no doubt carry quite a premium. [Infiniti via cnet]

Is WWE NXT’s Move From SyFy To The Internet A Sign Of TV’s Future?

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 10:30 AM PDT


An NXT success: Wade Barrett

It's been quite a few years since WWE has been on the forefront of pop culture, but now, possibly because of a forced hand, it once again finds itself blazing trails. Its newest TV show, NXT, a reality-type show (with minimal wrestling, of course) that debuted last winter, will be leaving TV altogether and heading to the Internet. (Tuesdays at 10pm, for the record.) WWE says it's the first TV show to leave TV for the Internet, something that I wouldn't even be able to verify, but it does speak to a broader move in the world of entertainment.

For one, Google TV may be about to take over our lives. Matt had been man-on-the-scene for all things Google TV, and he says that it's a "big step in the right direction" vis-à-vis the future of television consumption. It won't necessarily be an overnight sensation, but it could be a glimpse of things to come.

So, here comes WWE. The company, which still makes an obscene amount of money every year (even if it's lost a bit of heat to things like UFC), had started the NXT show to showcase some of its upcoming talent—even if some of this talent had already been around the block, so to speak. The show's ratings were OK, nothing special, but then something happened to jeopardize its presence on the SyFy network: the arrival of SmackDown.

SmackDown, for years the company's B show (the A show being Monday Night Raw, on USA), had left MyNetwork television in a deal announced a few months ago; SmackDown would move to SyFy, annoying a number of people in the process.

With SmackDown on SyFy, NXT was bumped off the network. Word on the street is that the company had tried shopping the show around various networks, but nobody was interested.

Hence, the move to the Internet.

This would sorta be like NBC moving Chuck from its cushy time slot (Mondays at 8pm) to nbc.com/chuck—exclusively.

That is, you wouldn't go to the Chuck Web site to see highlights or bloopers or anything like that. No, you'd go there to watch the show in its entirety.

Will people make the move? It's hard to say. Wrestling fans aren't historically known to be the most tech-savvy, or the most accepting of pattern-change. How many times do we see one of those three-hour Monday Night Raws tank during the 8pm hour because people are so used to tuning in at 9pm? (Plenty of times, actually.)

Moving NXT to the Internet is an experiment. Perhaps it's one borne out of necessity, but I'd be shocked if TV executives around Hollywood aren't checking in to see how it does.

I guess we're still trying to figure out this Internet thing, right?

Also: Alberto del Rio is great. But I’m sure you already knew that.
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