Blackberry 10 - UI demo

The new Blackberry 10 looks strikingly familiar to some other phones we have seen... *Cough* iPhone 4 anybody? On a different not though, the new UI for the latest Blackberry device does have some admirable features. The most standout would be the universal mailbox which combines all of a user's emails into one account from which he or she can view individual accounts or sort as one.

The new drag-n-drop typing system is a novel idea... but will it last? Time and again convenience keyboard typing systems fail because people text in shorthand or are just used to a QWERTY keyboard. Also, since Blackberry is known for their more traditional physical QWERTY keyboard, it is fairly arguable to say they are going to loose a portion of their remaining customer base who have held out against all touchscreen phones. A notably bold move for a company with a traditionally conservative customer base that has shied from radical phone feature overhauls before (remember the Blackberry Pearl?). Make of it what you will, Blackberry may not be around much longer...

Source: CNETTV

Microsoft Surface - Windows RT & Pro

Two models are being put into the works one with  a NVIDIA mobile processor (potentially the Tegra 3 quad-core) and the other with an Intel Core I-5 processor. Boasting a 10.6 inch display that will come in the HD and 1080p varieties. An attachable keyboard is exceedingly thin, also with a convenient kickstand offering an ergonomic tactile input for those who demand the most out of their tablets.  The tablet is set to have a USB 2.0 port, HDMI output, and 32-64GB of internal storage.

The two models, the Windows RT and Windows Pro are the first two to be announced in Microsoft's new line of Surface tablets. The RT is a custom UI specific to the Surface tablets line, and the Windows Pro tablet will daunt a Windows Pro 8 operating system. Check out the Engadget video below!

Haptic UI from Tactus Technology: Touch screen with buttons?

Tactus Technology Introduction from Tactus Technology Inc. on Vimeo

Tactus Technology recently revealed their new touch screen haptic user interface for smartphones.  When prompted by the launching of an application, or the opening of a new message, the screen morphs to raise temporary physical button which gives users a tactile experience when typing. The buttons recede into the screen almost magically when the application or process is ended, leaving the flat phone screen that feels ever so natural against our palms. Check it out in the video!

Source: Android Geeks

TI-Nspire CX Graphing Calculator; Everything your math teacher never wanted you to have

This modern marvel of calculator engineering by Texas Instruments is more than any student taking standardized tests could have hoped for before 2010. This calculator has a 3.2 LCD colored screen, 3D graphing, storage of up to 100MB, rechargeable battery, USB port, and is approved for major standardized testing! This calculator can store .jpg, .png and .bmp files making it the ultimate integrity test for any student looking for an edge. The calculator is currently selling for around $150 from Walmart, but with its "Solve" function that solves any equation put into it, it may be worth the price to someone looking for an easy A!

Source: Texas Instruments

TOOB Immersive Dome Display on Kickstarter

                        
The TOOB immersive dome display is what its creator Alexander McDonnell calls a revolution in the way we use displays. The concept is a semi-dome screen that uses a projector to create a 180 degree inclusive IMAX-like experience. The main product being fundraised for is TOOB Earth. Its dimensions are: " L - 4.26 ft  (1300mm) x W - 2.78 ft (850mm) x H - 2.46 ft (750mm) - Weight 20Ibs (9KG) ". Pledging $800 US will get you one of the first TOOB dome displays off the production line. What can this new display be used for? Gaming is a genre I see this company excelling in for the future if they can generate enough demand for this item to keep the business afloat. Does anyone see this potentially becoming a display like the one from Gamer that Simon (played by Logan Lerman) used? Either way, this guy Alexander McDonnell is scoring major brownie points with the opening Star Wars reference.


Source: Kickstarter

Kisai Seven Tron inspired watch back in stock! from TokyoFlash

It's back! After being sold out last year TokyoFlash has returned this design from its museum and put it back into the online product list! This Tron inspired watch was built by Tokyo Flash based off a graphic concept design generated from a Tron fan. The watch is USB rechargeable and lasts for up to one month on a single charge. TokyoFlash lists the watch as good for up to 300 charges or a theoretical 25 years of watch time. You can tell the time on this watch based on the gaps in light on the inner, and outer circles. There are The watch comes in white and blue light displays and will run you about $139.99 new from Tokyo Flash. Get yours at the source link below!


Source: TokyoFlash

LED Side Glow Hats by Carlos Acevedo

This piece of a rising technofashion genre incorporates LED's into the brim of baseball caps to create a super cool lighting effect that is truly unique. The hats run on two standard size CR2025 Lithium cell batteries and can last up to 24 hours of continuous glow time! The batteries will run you about $2.25 for two making this an affordable piece of party gear. The LED's in the brim are transparent when not being used so the hat can be worn just like any other boring non-LED hat. The switch on the hat is apparently not noticeable to the wearer making stomaching $22 for one of these slightly more comfortable. Carlos Acevedo turned to Kickstarter.com to raise the $2k he needs to start mass production of these hats and he's already successful! I highly recommend you check his work out. I might be seen wearing one of these soon!


Source: Kickstarter

SpareOne Cellphone lasts 15 years on 1 AA Battery

This survivalist's phone can last 15 years of use on a single AA battery making it the phone with the largest potential shelf life. What scenarios would this little battery saver be good for? Maybe a natural disaster, broken smartphone, or when your primary phone goes dead but you need to call your family back home to let them know you aren't dead after they tried calling you six times... Either way this phone was designed for a simple purpose, no frills but all the energy you could need!


Source: Desingbuzz

Samsung Smart Window, make your home a computer

This transparent LCD display is one of the newest creations out of the Samsung laboratories. Although transparent displays are not a new concept for the decade, this one seems to have raised the bid as it it larger, less opaque and has more features (touchscreen anyone?) than displays previously seen at CES. No word on a release date into consumer electronics, but I wouldn't be too baffled to see it make its way into the fold within the year.


Source: CNet

Samsung Surface 2.0: 40" Tablet for $8,400

This giant table tablet spans an impressive 40" running a Windows 7 operating system. Packed with an AMD processor, this Sur40 as Microsoft likes to call it, is responsive and big! It went up for pre-order in November 2011, but there's no word on when the big tablet will ship. The screen uses an LCD display generating images in a full 1080p HD view. What else does this behemoth offer? Bluetooth connectivity, WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI in/out, 3.5 mm audio jack, AMD Athlon X2 245e 2.9GHz Dual Core processor, AMD Radeon HD 6750 1GB GDDRS, HDD 320GB. 4 GB DDR3 RAM, and weighs in at 81.1 lbs. without the stand.


Source: Engadget

MOD Android Ski Goggles by Recon: $299 - $399

These goggles are the futuristic eye apparel that people everywhere have been waiting for. Built into the lower right hand corner of the goggles is a micro LCD display using an ARM Coretex-A8 600 MHz processor, Android 2.3 (a.k.a. Gingerbread), with 512Mbs for storage and 256MB RAM. The representative demonstrating the goggles says that the screen appears to be about 11" diagonal from a distance of 5' to the viewer. It has a 

battery life of up to 6 hours and can charge up to 80% in an hour. The two versions being sold differ only in bluetooth accesibilty. The non-bluetooth version is called the MOD selling at $299. The MOD plus has bluetooth connectivity for your mobile handset but will run you about $399. Recently, Recon has partnered with goggle makers Smith and Scott to bring these eye displays to the market. Happy hunting for a pair of these ocular wonders!

Source: Engadget

Asus Transformer Prime TF700T

This new tablet comes into the fold with a 10.1 inch body, 1,920x1,200 resolution, a Tegra 3 processor at 1.3 Ghz (quadcore of course), an 8 MP rear camera and 2 MP front facing camera, 32 & 64 GB option, ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich a.k.a. Android 4.0), and a compatible keyboard dock. This slate is set to release at $599 sometime in early 2012. Asus has claimed that this tablet is not meant to replace the TF201, but with these features the tablet sure has much to offer.


Source: Engadget

Project Fiona Tablet by Razer: Plays Skyrim, runs Windows

This tablet brought to CES 2012 purveyors by Razer is a a beast of a tablet more suitable to the title of the gaming tablet of the year. Running an i7 Ivy Bridge processor, this thing powers through Skyrim on the ultra high definition setting with minor lag.The tablet will run Windows 8, and features two handles on the side with programmable buttons and joysticks. Battery life is expected to suffer with a 2-3 hour play time limiting the potential portability of the mobile gaming platform, but nonetheless this is an innovation in the gaming tablet platform arena.


Source: Geek.com

Asus Memo 370T: Quadcore for $250

This new tablet is set for release in 2nd quarter 2012 by Asus. It packs the new Tegra 3 quadcore processor with no definitive answer on the speed from Asus or Nvidia although Nvidia list the chip as capable of speeds up to 1.3 Ghz. For the cheap and surprisingly low price of $250 you'll get 1 GB of ram, at least 16 GB of storage, 1280x800 resolution screen, Micro USB port, Micro SD card reader, Micro HDMI port, 8 megapixel rear facing camera, and a typical 7" dimension slate. That's a bargain. The tablet will run Android Ice Cream Sandwich* (4.0 for you Android devotees) putting it in line for the most OS Google has to offer.


Source: CNet
Correction courtesy of fooball

Samsung Flexible Phones

"The flexible display, we are looking to introduce sometime in 2012, hopefully the earlier part," said Samsung's Robert Yi during the company's earnings report.  It is reported that the displays will most likely be seen in the mobile device category, but to what extent is unknown. Could they just be using OLED screens in devices? Or could they be allowing its full form factor with no back cover leaving the flexible goodness for all to enjoy? Keep your eyes peeled for more news.


Source: PCMag