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Portable
Learn to play harmonica in a Flash
By Paul Ridden
15:00 November 6, 2009 PST
A music teacher from Riverside Illinois has come up with a Flash drive design that's more novel than novelty. Possibly one of the most portable instrument around - the harmonica - and the most portable digital storage solution have been merged into one to produce the FlashHarp. Read More
eviGroup enters touchscreen tablet market with 'the Pad'
By Paul Ridden
05:27 November 2, 2009 PST
It's only been a short while since eviGroup's Wallet MID was released and the French tech company has already unleashed its bigger sister - the Pad. With an Atom processor at its heart, a 160GB hard drive, WiFi, 3G and Windows 7 Home Premium, is this touchscreen tablet PC an Archos killer? Read More
I see what you're saying - NEC's ‘Tele Scouter’ retinal-display translation glasses
By Darren Quick
20:13 October 29, 2009 PDT
The days of a Universal Translator like the one that made chatting between alien species a non-issue in Star Trek might be some way off yet. But a new device from NEC is definitely a step in the right direction for those of us on planet Earth looking for a way to communicate with other language speakers that doesn’t involve a human translator or a well-thumbed phrase book. The prototype device called a “Tele Scouter” is a glasses type display that translates the foreign language being spoken by a partner and projects the translation onto a tiny retinal display. Read More
GE Vscan portable ultrasound scanner unveiled
By Paul Ridden
07:56 October 23, 2009 PDT
General Electric has unveiled a pocket-sized ultrasound scanner at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. Looking very like (and not much bigger than) a clam-shell mobile phone, the device allows physicians to scan any part of the body by placing the attached wand on it. The system will be able to see real-time black and white or color inner body images on the screen of the Vscan and data can be also be saved and reviewed at a later date. Read More
PSP Go review
By Tim Hanlon
23:44 October 19, 2009 PDT
The original PlayStation Portable (PSP) was released in December 2004 and has since seen two hardware refreshes (the PSP Slim & Lite and the PSP 3000) with combined sales of more than 55 million units. The PSP Go is the latest and most radical hardware update for the PSP, shedding the UMD drive of old in preference of 16GB of internal storage, with games and other content provided via download from the PlayStation Network. Read on for our full review. Read More
Green Power's sliding speaker solution for iPod
By Paul Lester
14:41 October 12, 2009 PDT
Though most multimedia phones tend to have external speakers for, albeit meagerly, pumping out tunes for other people’s benefit, they tend to be less common on MP3 players as companies prioritize slim and pocket-friendly designs. The most notable "hybrid" to take a chance in this market is Samsung’s K5, which offers a clever slide-out design to keep things relatively compact while allowing for the widest possible stereo image. This approach has now been aped by Korean company Green Power as a solution for the iPod. Read More
Get mobile power with or without an outlet from the iGo Charge Anywhere
By Jeff Salton
22:47 October 1, 2009 PDT
Everyone remembers that interstate or international trip when their cell phone or GPS ran out of power and they discovered they’d brought the wrong charger with them. Or found themselves 'powerless' with no outlet in sight. Frustration, fear, panic … you name it, there are a lot of emotions that run through your mind when you find yourself in that situation. It’s a scenario you never want to repeat. But unfortunately, many of us are slow learners. A new travel-friendly charger called the iGo Charge Anywhere should help you overcome the problem of flat batteries by allowing you to charge your mobile devices in any location, with or without an outlet. Read More
Non-Lethal Thermal Laser prototype only works on nudists
By Darren Quick
01:07 September 22, 2009 PDT
Non-lethal weapons are intended to have reversible effects on personnel and material. They provide soldiers with another option when lethal force isn’t considered to be the best first response to a situation. One non-lethal weapon prototype that is being evaluated by U.S. military is the Thermal Laser System, which attaches to a rifle and uses a laser to create a heating sensation to repel adversaries. Unfortunately, current trials indicate that clothing nullifies the weapon's effectiveness. Read More
Samsung releases P410M and A600 projectors
16:42 September 16, 2009 PDT
Samsung recently added two new projectors to its lineup, both featuring high image quality and a wide range of connectivity capabilities at a very interesting price. The very portable P410M is compact and lightweight, with direct USB connectivity for games and devices, while the high-end A600 offers full HD 1080p video suitable for home theater projection. Read More
The Olympus LS-11 portable audio recorder
By Darren Quick
01:13 September 9, 2009 PDT
IFA brought us the Olympus LS-10 last year, so it’s only fitting that IFA 2009 saw Olympus touting the imminent arrival of the LS-11, a feature-packed audio recorder that fits in the palm of a hand and boasts sampling rates of up to 24-bit/96kHz with PCM recording. It also gives users a choice of three file formats – WMA, MP3, and WAV – and even allows sound files to be edited in the device. Read More
Old meets new in the form of the YikeBike
By Paul Ridden
15:10 September 7, 2009 PDT
So what do you do when you challenge yourself to come up with a design to make traveling around busy, congested cities as easy and stress-free as possible? According to the folks behind the YikeBike - which was officially launched at Eurobike 2009 trade fair in Friedrichshafen Germany this month - you start with a blank sheet of paper, throw a good-sized front wheel in for stability, swap pedals for a brushless electric motor and abandon the familiar forward-leaning riding position of the bicycle altogether. Read More
Altec Lansing’s Orbit USB 360° sound portable speaker packs a punch
By Darren Quick
18:13 September 6, 2009 PDT
Laptop speakers generally aren’t the most impressive sound reproduction devices going around so travelers either have to put up with poor sound quality, rely on a set of headphones, or pack a set of (often not so) portable speakers. Altec Lansing appears to have overcome this annoyance by unveiling its Orbit USB ultra portable speaker at IFA 2009 this week. Read More
DivX-compatible R1 portable multimedia player from Samsung
By Darren Quick
01:37 September 1, 2009 PDT
Samsung claims its R1 'beat' player is the slimmest and lightest DivX-compatible portable multimedia player yet, which means users can play DivX content without the time-wasting step of converting files. The R1 is also the first DivX-compatible player to boast a touchscreen, measuring 2.6-inches, that allows the device to incorporate the TouchWiz user interface (UI) also found in other Samsung devices like the Jet and Memoir mobile phones. Read More
Sony makes some noise - S Series Walkman with built-in speakers
By Mick Webb
22:14 August 27, 2009 PDT
Sony has announced the latest update of its enduring stalwart, the Walkman, with some additions to their range of portable music players. Rather than just providing music for one, the S-Series includes built-in speakers to share the sound, while the new E-Series offers a stylish entry-level option. Read More
Qualcomm working on handheld TV for FLO TV
By Darren Quick
22:47 August 26, 2009 PDT
Qualcomm is reportedly working on a new portable digital TV called the FLO TV Personal Television, or PTV. The iPhone-sized device will be used to tune into broadcasts on Qualcomm’s FLO TV terrestrial digital TV service and could mark a departure for a company that rarely introduces hardware itself. Read More
Nokia to join the netbook fray with the Booklet 3G
By Darren Quick
19:49 August 24, 2009 PDT
They’re known as netbooks, ultraportables, subnotebooks, mini-laptops or even kneetop computers in some circles. Now consumers have yet another moniker to contend with as Nokia announces its upcoming Nokia Booklet 3G. Featuring a glass 10.1-inch HD display and Intel Atom processor, the Booklet 3G is a Windows-based unit that promises the performance of a full-function PC alongside a rated 12-hour battery life. Read More
No surface too shiny for new Logitech mice
By Jeff Salton
23:48 August 20, 2009 PDT
Logitech has released a mouse that makes portable computing easier – one that operates on shiny surfaces. Utilising its Darkfield Laser Tracking, the company says its mouse can operate on virtually any surface – including clear glass (that’s at least 4mm thick) and other high-gloss surfaces found in today’s modern home and office. The technology is available in two models – the Logitech Performance Mouse MX (full-size) and the Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX (compact for notebooks). Read More
Aegis Padlock Secure Drive with integrated keypad for data security
By Darren Quick
20:32 August 20, 2009 PDT
External hard drives make data portable, but they also make it vulnerable if you manage to misplace the drive or it is nabbed by some light-fingered thief. Software encryption provides one level of protection for that all-important data, but for extra peace of mind there are also options for hardware-based security like the new Aegis Padlock Secure Drive. Read More
Verbatim launches InSight Portable USB Hard Drive
By Mick Webb
20:55 August 18, 2009 PDT
The world of portable USB hard drives is getting tougher and smaller, and by the looks of things, sleeker. Verbatim has launched its InSight portable hard drive, a sophisticated looking number boasting a built in display that calculates and shows the amount of available free space, even when not connected to a computer. Read More
AMREL announce the HC-2 military computer
By Mick Webb
18:03 August 17, 2009 PDT
Recent developments in battlefield technology have demonstrated the increasing need for soldiers on the ground to be able to relay large amounts of information, using highly portable and flexible equipment. To this effect American Reliance (AMREL) has announced their latest compact computer platform, the HC-2, featuring a Windows XP interface and 128GB solid state drive. Read More
Monster introduces 'Outlets To Go: USB Worldwide' adapter
By Mick Webb
07:13 August 13, 2009 PDT
Designed to ease the confusion and frustration encountered by travelers looking for a power source to charge multiple devices, the new “Outlets To Go: USB Worldwide” from Monster offers not only three universal power outlets but a handy USB port to boot. Read More
Viewsonic launches personal media players
By Paul Ridden
18:37 August 2, 2009 PDT
Viewsonic is about to break into the portable media player market with the release (in Taiwan initially) of two new players - the 8GB View Show VPD400 and the 16GB View Show VPD500. Sporting an impressive 800 by 480 screen resolution and supporting most media formats, the players will nudge their way in at the very top end of their class. Read More
Mobile Exchange on Wheels to bolster telecommunications in disaster areas
By Jeff Salton
19:42 July 27, 2009 PDT
Devastating wildfires are burning around the Mediterranean this summer and down south, Australia is still recovering from its worst wildfire season in history in which more than 150 lives and 1800 homes were lost on ‘Black Saturday’. Telecommunications are paramount to helping save lives and direct fire-fighting efforts in wildfires but unfortunately, infrastructure such as mobile and fixed line phones and Internet services are often early casualties in fire ravaged areas. The country’s major telco, Telstra, has launched a portable solution to this issue with the unveiling of a AUD$200,000 Mobile Exchange on Wheels (MEOW) which can be quickly deployed to provide temporary fixed-line communications including broadband. Read More
Portable stereo recorder meets handycam
By Jeff Salton
20:46 July 22, 2009 PDT
A portable camcorder that records MPEG-4 SP video format at 30 frames per second - in stereo - has been released by Zoom. The Q3 Handy Video Recorder combines 640 x 480 resolution video recording with studio quality audio through two built-in condenser microphones. Read More
Bose announces SoundLink wireless music system
By Darren Quick
18:21 July 20, 2009 PDT
The digitization of music has seen many people’s music collections move from the CD rack to the hard drive. Although the computer is a great place to store music, it can limit the listening experience thanks to the less than stellar speakers that are often tied to it. Bose has unveiled its new designed for people who want to listen to music stored on their computer, but don’t necessarily want to be at their computer to enjoy it - the SoundLink wireless music system. Read More
Terotech
- November 21, 2009 @ 19:38 UTC
