Ever since multi touch technology made its way into our lives through public displays and handheld devices, we have been in a state of infatuation with virtual controls. We pinch photos, flick menus, and spin maps around a virtual globe with ease. As seductive as these experiences are, there are still times when the tactile feedback and accuracy of physical objects are still preferable, and researchers at RWTH Aachen University in Germany in conjunction with UC San Diego have created the Silicone Illuminated Active Peripherals, or “SLAP Widgets” system to try to get a better handle on it.
SLAP Widgets are real live plastic and silicone objects that are used in conjunction with a multi-touch table to allow users to control interface values through physical push buttons, sliders, knobs, keypads and keyboards.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ Core77
Slap Widgets - Virtual Controls You Can Touch
OCZ Gladiator MAX Review
OCZ technology is establishing quite a name in several segments. One of them is weirdly enough CPU coolers. Their Vendetta series is short from amazing in both price and performance. Though that product is a little bit on the noisy side. There’s however yet another cooler series that OCZ introduced and recently some many moons ago it received an upgrade. It’s the Gladiator series CPU coolers, and the new model is called Gladiator MAX.
The Gladiator MAX is based off the same principle as the Vendetta series, the Gladiator Max uses the same method of having the copper heat pipes making contact with the CPU directly, that’s dubbed HDT (Heatpipe Direct Touch).
With this product, OCZ targets a slightly different segment of the market as it is equipped with a 1500 RPM, extraordinarily silent fan. So it’s the best of both worlds really .. an all new design, 4 heat pipe based cooler, completely silent, yet with enough punch to show off some decent cooling performance.
AMD Offers OpenGL 3.0 Support In ATI FirePro
AMD announced its renewed commitment to the OpenGL 3D graphics API by offering OpenGL 3.0 support in ATI FirePro drivers. OpenGL is a leading environment for developing interactive 3D graphics applications. AMD also announced the publication of high value OpenGL extensions backed by a promise of future support for the recently-announced OpenGL 3.1.
OpenGL helps foster innovation and speed application development by incorporating a broad set of rendering, texture mapping, special effects, and other powerful visualization functions. Developers can leverage the power of OpenGL across all popular desktop and workstation platforms, ensuring wide application deployment.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ HardwareZone
Leaked Pics Of The Crunchpad Make It Look Dangerously Close To Availability
Thanks to a slip of the fingers on Posterous (and Robert Scoble’s serious Twitter addiction), new images of Michael Arrington’s pet Internet-tablet project — the CrunchPad — have shown up looking very, very close to a finished product. As you can see in the gallery below, the (supposedly) $200, WiFi enabled pad has gotten dressed up in multiple colors and been shoved into some fairly handsome looking packaging. There’s no telling if this means the device is any closer to a buy-able reality, but one thing is for sure: a microblog is no place for secrets.
Source : Engadget
Sony Bravia KDL-40EX1 Television Review
The Sony KDL-40EX1 is a slim line, 40-inch HD LCD TV that would not look out of place on the wall of any home, because the whole design ethos with the EX1 is that it can double up as a kind of giant, 40-inch digital picture frame as well as the hub for your high-definition TV or movie viewing.
And that is exactly the point. In the EX1, Sony has built a flat panel TV that can be left on, playing your much-loved family snaps when not being used to watch your favourite TV show or movies.
One of the first things that strike you as you haul the 17kg TV out of the box is its slimness - at just 4.95cm thin - it is very svelte indeed. It’s near featureless back hints at the other key attribute of the EX1: it comes with Sony’s wireless BRAVIA Media Receiver that accepts all the connections such as your Blu-ray player, surround system or set-top boxes or any other AV kit you may have.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ PocketLint
Canon Korea To Present Its ‘Powershot D10′ Digital Camera
Canon Korea presented its ‘PowerShot D10′ digital camera at P&I 2009 in Seoul, Korea.
Consumers looking for an all-around waterproof, freeze proof and shockproof camera should look no further. The Canon PowerShot D10 digital camera, a first of its kind for Canon, comes equipped with a 12.1-Megapixel resolution and 3x optically stabilized zoom lens, making it an ideal companion for thrill-seekers of all types. This uniquely styled camera is amazing for capturing high-resolution images and off-camera editing.
The PowerShot D10 digital camera can withstand depths up-to-33-feet deep, is freeze proof from 14 degrees Fahrenheit and shockproof up-to-four feet. To add a little fun and funky style to this great camera, an optional accessory kit is available containing distinctive accessories, such as a customized strap, cool face plates and a carabineer hook(attached to a strap).
Source : Aving
Apple Places 100 Million Unit Flash Order?
According to hit-and-miss site DigiTimes Apple has sent flash manufacturers into something of a tizzy after placing an order for an monstrous 100 million 8Gb NAND chips. NAND flash is the building block for all flash memory based products (think of it like stem cells).
Naturally all talk therefore is of Apple putting together its next generation iPhone and iPod touch and that seems likely if it is going to stockpile any kind of inventory ahead of a potential WWDC announcement.
That said, 8Gbit NAND (Samsung module pictured above) isn’t particularly capacious, equalling just 1GB and 16Gbit NAND has been doing the rounds since late 2007. Could Apple really be looking to cram 32 of these modules into an iPhone and 64 into an iPod touch when it would require half the number using 16Gbit? Heck, 32Gbit NAND is out there and 64Gbit is even on the cards.
DigiTimes reports the Apple order will also drain global supply and push prices up with other manufacturers likely to be hit by shortages. Whether this will be reflected in end user pricing or limited product stock is unknown at this stage.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ Trusted Reviews
NZXT Khaos Welded Aluminum Full Tower PC Case Review
The NZXT Khaos Full-Tower ATX Case (KHO-001BK) was developed to satisfy the needs of the most power hungry PC enthusiasts and gamers by offering features that go above and beyond what one would expect in a case. Following the success of the Lexa Chassis, NZXT took on the major feat of designing an ultra-premium chassis achieving “perfect symmetry” with matching curves and mirrored design. To top off the slick design, the Khaos has been built with quality craftsmanship in mind, as the chassis features 2mm and 3mm thick aluminum that has been welded for extra strength.
Just taking a quick look at the Khaos you can see the two 120mm blue LED fans for fresh air intake on the front of the case and just the overall size of this full tower compared to these fans. The Khaos can hold over 8 hard drives along with eleven 5.25″ bays for drives such as CD-ROMS, Temperature Displays, and multi-format readers. To top it off, the Khaos has rubber wheels attached on the bottom to make moving the chassis around the home or LAN party quick and easy.
Apple Taking Steps To Address White Macbook Cracks
Apple is acknowledging problems with the casing on 13-inch white MacBooks, reports of a memo indicate. Owners have for some time been describing cracks appearing on MacBooks, in spite of ordinary usage. At least as recently as November however, Apple is said to have been refusing to cover repairs for bottom casings, at the same time as cracks on top were being addressed.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ Macnn
Cooler Master Storm Sniper
Obviously Cooler Master decided to have product for every user category that exists, when it comes to computer chassis. If you take a look at last few reviews of Cooler Master chassis, you will see that each chassis is suited for different user group. This time we got a chassis that is attended for gamers and all of you out there that feel like one.
Cooler Master Storm Sniper is representative of new CM brand: Storm. This series is intended for gamers. This user group has very specific demands when it comes to their choice of hardware. After opening of big box that Sniper came in, we definitely concluded that Cooler Master fulfilled most of the average gamers’ demands when it comes to chassis. Most gamers like robust peripherals and chassis and Sniper is definitely one of those. It has similar dimensions as HAF932 model (255×567x551mm) but because of its chubbier design it looks smaller.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ InsideHW
Nokia Mid And Nautilus. New Linux Based Mobile Computers From Nokia
Yesterday we told you about 3 thin touchscreen devices that Nokia is planning to introduce later this year.
Well, today we have info about a couple of more high end touch devices coming up from Finnish vendor in late 2009-2010. And, most likely, they are not based on Symbian S60.
According to the Street.com one of them is what Nokia used to call Internet Tablet, will have a 4.2” touchscreen and “hidden slide-out keyboard. This Nokia MID is expected to ship in Q4, before Christmas.
Another device, codenamed Nautilus, has a very slim touchscreen design, but still sports slide-out QWERTY keyboard. A sensor is used to extend and withdraw keyboard, the keypad itself is ultrathin and features keys that rise up for easier typing. Nokia Nautilus is expected sometime in 2010.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ Unwiredview
