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Wireless
Logitech rock Wii and Xbox 360 with Wireless Drum and Guitar Controllers
By Mick Webb
11:02 September 10, 2009 PDT
In exciting news for Guitar Hero fans, Logitech has made good on its promise to release premium Wireless Drum and Guitar Controllers for the Wii and Xbox360. Following on from the initial release for the PS3, Logitech’s new peripherals will have lounge room rock stars rejoicing – and all in time for Guitar Hero 5. Read More
i-Station T4 HD PMP offers 1080p playback
By Paul Lester
16:17 September 7, 2009 PDT
Despite some impressive entries from companies like Archos, Cowon and most recently Viewsonic we’re still looking for what is arguably the Portable Media Player to end all PMPs – an iPod for the widescreen video market, if you will. While waiting for Apple to get its act together with its own tablet-style device our heads were turned at this year’s IFA by i-Station’s latest effort in this market, the T4 HD. Read More
Toshiba unveils JournE touch home multimedia tablet
By Jeff Salton
00:25 September 7, 2009 PDT
Toshiba’s JournE touch is a portable, wireless home multimedia tablet with a 7-inch (17.8cm) color touch screen display, which serves as a communication and infotainment center for every member of the household. Users can browse the Internet and download digital content anywhere in the house in a flash, because the device boots instantaneously. However, with its small size (only 14mm/0.5in thick) and great user-interface, we say families better get ready for a fight over who gets to use it. Read More
Sonos Controller CR200 gets touchy-feely
By Paul Ridden
22:46 September 4, 2009 PDT
The Sonos Controller has just undergone a makeover. Like the CR100 before it, the new controller will allow you to effortlessly manage music throughout your home but instead of controlling the action using a scroll wheel and buttons, the new Sonos CR200 now has a 3.5in capacitive touchscreen, full-color VGA 640 x 480 LCD display with LED backlighting. Read More
Mind-reading brain probe could unlock motor control for quadriplegics
By Loz Blain
15:16 September 4, 2009 PDT
While Honda is taking a benign and non-invasive approach to the coveted brain-machine interface, British researchers are experimenting with a sensor array that is actually implanted in the brain. Dr. Jon Spratley's "multi-contact brain probe" is designed to be injected into the tissue of the brain with a fine needle, where it will sit, monitoring electrical impulses across the brain's motor cortex and relaying them wirelessly to an external device. Spratley believes the technology could unlock a range of bionic possibilities for quadriplegics, who could, for example, learn to control a wheelchair or computer mouse using the same brain commands that used to operate their arms and legs. Read More
Another global broadband offering from Verizon: the UMW190
By Paul Ridden
17:31 September 3, 2009 PDT
Not even a month has passed since Verizon announced that it had partnered with the USA arm of China's ZTE to release of the AD3700 USB modem which offered users worldwide coverage from a single device. And now the company is at it again, declaring the forthcoming availability of the UMW190 USB modem, which does essentially the same job in a slightly smaller and cheaper form. Read More
Video: Eric Giler demonstrates wireless electricity at TEDGlobal 2009
By Loz Blain
23:21 August 30, 2009 PDT
It's fascinating to think that while Edison and Tesla battled over the ascendancy of AC versus DC, most of the world didn't think this electricity thing was going to take off - I mean, who was going to spend trillions of dollars rolling out great coils of copper wire to bring this thing to the masses? Nikola Tesla was thinking along the same lines, and the Serbian genius's mysterious Wardenclyffe Tower was to be an experiment in beaming electricity wirelessly across the world, eliminating the need for a wired power grid altogether. But wireless electricity has been enjoying a cautious revival in the past decade - mainly at short distance and for reasonably trivial applications like charging cell phones and other battery-powered equipment. And as Eric Giler's great ten-minute demonstration at this year's TEDGlobal shows, wireless power seems very close to breaking through into the mainstream market. Read More
Robotic gaming gets on a roll
By Darren Quick
00:42 August 26, 2009 PDT
Robots have uses beyond packaging, production lines and the imminent overthrowing of humanity - or at least South African/U.S. start up Robonica thinks so. It’s aiming to ‘redefine the entertainment robotics market’ with a line of robotic gaming products that fuse elements of robotics, remote controlled vehicles and electronic gaming. The core of the Robonica’s introductory product, Roboni-i Action Games, is a fully programmable remote controlled robot with sensors that make it aware of its environment and that enable it to interact with other robots. Read More
Sony adds wireless Daily Edition eBook reader to family
By Jeff Salton
00:06 August 26, 2009 PDT
Sony has added a third child to its eBook reader family – the Reader Daily Edition – a sibling to the Pocket Edition and the Touch Edition products, which were released earlier this month. The Daily Edition eBook reader, however, is the ‘big brother’ to the other two, boasting a larger page view (seven inches wide) and 3G wireless connectivity. Read More
Nortek Duplus mini wireless mouse and presenter
By Jeff Salton
20:42 August 24, 2009 PDT
Business-people who never have enough hands when making electronic presentations will applaud the new Nortek Duplus Mini Wireless Presenter 2.4GHz Mouse. Co-designed by Samsung, it's a mouse and laser pointer all-in-one with an operating range of up to 10m, multi-functional click wheel, quick and continuous scrolling, and rechargeable battery. 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
Ford PHEVs to save by ‘talking’ to electric grid
By Jeff Salton
23:38 August 20, 2009 PDT
A new development by Ford allows owners of the company’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to further reduce their operating costs by programming when to recharge the vehicle, for how long and at what utility rate. Ford says it has developed a vehicle-to-grid communications and control system for its (PHEVs) which enables them to ‘talk’ directly with the nation’s electric grid. Read More
Wireless pacemaker talks to cardiac specialist via Internet
23:53 August 19, 2009 PDT
The world’s very first fully implanted pacemaker, in 1958, lasted three hours before the batteries failed. It was replaced by one that lasted two days. Ultimately, Arne Larsson – surgical guinea pig – went on to receive 26 different pacemakers over the next 43 years. Now, a New York woman has become the first person in the world to receive a pacemaker that allows completely wireless monitoring, transmitting clinical data to her doctor each day via the Internet. And, if anything ever goes wrong, the doctor is alerted instantly. Read More
Samsung DualView cameras put the photographer in the picture
By Darren Quick
03:43 August 14, 2009 PDT
Seems one LCD display per camera is not enough for Samsung, which has just unveiled two compact digital cameras that feature dual LCD screens – one on the back and one on the front. The extra displays found on the TL225 and TL220 are designed to make turning the camera on yourself a bit more reliable than the "hold at arm’s length and hope" method usually employed when taking self-portraits and profile picture shots. And for those after a digital camera that boasts unprecedented connectivity, Samsung has also unveiled the CL65 with geo-tagging, Bluetooth 2.0, DLNA, and Wi-Fi capabilities. Read More
WildCharge expand wireless charging options with PowerDisc
By Paul Ridden
23:04 August 13, 2009 PDT
WildCharge has introduced a new addition to its line-up of wireless charging accessories - the PowerDisc. Small enough to allow several devices to be used at the same time on one WildCharger pad, the contact module is embedded in the disc which comes supplied with seven adapters compatible with hundreds of portable gadgets from the likes of Nokia, Blackberry, HTC, LG and Samsung. Read More
Spooklight signals your cycling intentions with a wireless indicator and brake light
By Darren Quick
22:20 August 13, 2009 PDT
City cycling is an activity fraught with danger but cyclists’ safety can be enhanced by increasing their visibility and also by signaling their movements to fellow road-users. Options such as the Safe Turn Indicator help in that department but now there’s a new product called the Spooklight that could achieve the same feat without the need to strap LED lights to your wrists. Read More
The remote-controlled kitchen arrives
By Jeff Salton
17:27 August 6, 2009 PDT
Ever since home automation systems were invented, manufacturers have been looking at ways to integrate the technology into the busiest room of the house – the kitchen. But apart from the original Internet fridge (with its frightening price tag and lack of functionality) useful products have been few and far between. Not to be deterred, Anvil Motion has created a kitchen where, by choosing say, the ‘baking’ scene on a touch panel remote control, the cupboard doors slide vertically to reveal the oven, the utensils, the ingredients and the recipe books … all in unison. Read More
Logitech's tiny Unifying receiver connects multiple peripherals
By Paul Ridden
19:27 August 5, 2009 PDT
Shopping around for a wireless keyboard and mouse usually means choosing a package deal. But what if you like the keyboard from one package and the mouse from another? Each comes with its own receiver and may not be compatible with the other. Logitech is about to release a range keyboards and mice with a tiny USB receiver which aims to overcome this issue by allowing multiple peripheral devices to connect to just one receiver. Read More
Orb Bluetooth headset redefines the ear-ring
By Darren Quick
23:30 July 22, 2009 PDT
Although Bluetooth headsets have come a long way in the style stakes, you can still look and feel a bit like a dork getting about town with one permanently affixed to your ear. Also, since they are usually designed to mold to the shape of the ear, they can be a little awkward to stuff in a pocket when not in use. An innovative new Bluetooth headset called the Orb solves this problem by transforming from a wireless earpiece into a ring that can be worn on your finger. 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
Routers of the future... maybe
By Darren Quick
01:31 July 17, 2009 PDT
There are exceptions, but for the most part routers are decidedly unglamorous, which is why they are generally secreted away under a desk or otherwise hidden from view. With the Internet now so much a part of daily life they are almost invisible. So long as their lights keep flashing to provide us with our Internet fix we don’t even notice them. Now the UK’s largest broadband provider, TalkTalk, has asked Goldsmiths, University of London to give the humble router a face-lift with their vision of what the routers of the future might look like – and they’re probably not what you expected. Read More
Oregon Scientific’s +ECO Clima Control solar powered weather station
By Darren Quick
01:36 July 8, 2009 PDT
Oregon Scientific’s solar powered +ECO Clima Control weather station allows users to monitor the temperature and humidity in up to four locations within the home and outdoors and includes weather predictions on the best time for the unit to soak up the sun’s rays. Read More
Dell's Wasabi inkless portable printer
By Darren Quick
21:08 June 28, 2009 PDT
Dell has released a photo printer that uses the same Zero-ink technology found in the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Instant Mobile Photo Printer and PoGo Instant Digital Camera. Dell’s Wasabi PZ310 Ultramobile Photo Printer holds up to 12 sheets of adhesive-backed ZINK Paper, and can connect to a digital camera via PictBridge or wirelessly to a camera phone or computer via Bluetooth. Read More
Smart sprinkling with Cyber-rain
By Paul Ridden
04:29 June 26, 2009 PDT
With the return of Summer comes the now familiar imposition of water restrictions and the unwelcome return of headaches for gardeners and nursery managers alike. Fortunately, pain relief for lovers of all things horticultural is available in the form of clever green tech known as smart irrigation, which plugs in to online weather information to optimize garden watering and minimize waste. Timing being everything in business (as well as comedy), smart sprinkler manufacturer Cyber-Rain has recently upgraded its range to add more independent zone control, better wireless communication, a simple and clear interface and an enhanced software solution. Read More
Future festival goers in for solar tenting treat
By Paul Ridden
18:21 June 24, 2009 PDT
The future of music festival tenting has arrived. Well, not actually arrived as such. Let me start again. The concept of music festival tenting for the future has arrived. Following on from the foot pump powered mobile phone charger announced earlier this month, telecommunications giant Orange is using its regular slot at the UK's most talked about music festival to announce its vision of ultra-comfortable camping for lovers of all things live and musical... and solar power is just the beginning. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
