Although Computex has largely delivered a slew of netbooks to digest, a handful of new pico projectors have also managed to get a little face time. The latest is Foxconn’s PD-W1001, which features a 0.3-inch Texas Instruments DLP chip, WVGA (854 x 480) resolution and 25 Lm — all within a 55- x 46- x 26-millimeter package that weighs just 65-grams. In its current form, we can’t see this being much more than a novel concept, but when these critters start inching closer to 1080p, you can color us very much interested.
[Via AboutProjectors]
Oh sure, GalleryPlayer enables your HDTV to instantly turn into an art display, but it doesn’t even pretend to be anything classier than a multifaceted television. Samsung, however, is looking to change the game by partnering with Thomas Kinkade on a new 46-inch prototype Digital Masterworks Art-TV. The unit was recently showcased to news media, and it’s said to be “housed n a Thomas Kinkade frame designed to accentuate the fine art theme.” From what we can gather, it’s being aimed at folks who’d love a nice piece of art sitting above their mantel, but when the time comes, they can switch off the paintings and throw on a day’s worth of NFL in HD. The wild thing here is how important the actual art aspect is to the display, with hidden touch controls planned to enable viewers to flip through artworks and zoom in / out as they please. Heck, there’s even integrated WiFi, a 40GB hard drive, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 8ms response time and 500 nits of brightness. The set is due out exclusively through Thomas Kinkade’s Signature Gallery later this year, with iffy plans to release it to other retailers in 2H 2009.
[Via CNET]
For the folks that just can’t let go, JVC is introducing a new duo of recorders that handle VHS, DVD and HDD-based logging. Predictably, the DR-HX500 holds 500GB while the DR-HX250 gets a 250GB drive, and outside of that, both units are identical. You’ll find a built-in analog / digital TV tuner, an HDMI socket and all the dubbing features you (or your grandmother) can handle. It should be noted that digital TV recordings can only be stored on the HDD, but it is possible to capture a digital show there while copying an analog broadcast to VHS / DVD. The pair is all geared up to land in multi-generational homes this July, with prices being pegged at ¥95,000 ($906) and ¥75,000 ($715), respectively.
[Via Pocket-lint]
It’s pretty obvious given what’s going down in Taipei at the moment. Nevertheless, Microsoft just went official with it’s plans to extend “Windows” for the category they (and Intel) define as “nettop” devices. So in addition to “Netbooks,” “ultralow-cost PCs (ULCPCs),” and all those other mini-laptops originally intended for emerging markets, Microsoft has now officially extended the life of Windows XP for ultralow-cost desktops like ASUS’ Eee Box and MSI’s Wind PC. While Microsoft doesn’t explicitly say it’s XP in the carefully worded press release, we all know what they’re talking about. Microsoft claims to be working with more than 20 OEMs — including HP, Dell, ASUS, Acer, Lenovo, and more — to help deliver Windows-based nettop devices. And here you Linux dreamers thought this would be a cake-walk.
Here’s the moment many of you Eee-wannabees have been waiting for, the official announcement of the 10-inch, 1,204 x 600 LED-backlit MSI Wind. No surprises here on the leakiest of all netbooks. Still, when you consider that your $399 buys you a Linux-based system riding atop Intel’s 1.6GHz Atom processor, an 80GB 2.5-inch disk, 5.5-hour rated battery, 1.3-megapixel webcam, Bluetooth and 802.11b/g WiFi, it makes the $625 price of the Eee PC 1000(H) pretty tough to justify. Unless 802.11n and that beefier battery really do it for you. If the price doesn’t sway you then how about a review? Laptop magazine just published their thoughts on the $499 XP model and gave it their “editor’s choice” award calling the Wind “the best all-around mini-notebook to date.” Now the bad news: the XP Wind ships June 16th while the el-cheapo Linux version won’t ship until later this summer. Full press release and specs posted after the break.
Read — Benchmarks and pictures
Read — Review
The 2.6 lbs Wind features 5+ HR battery life, Windows XP, ergonomic keyboard, and 80G hard drive all for under $500
CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA – June 3rd, 2008 – MSI Computer, a leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, is excited to announce the official launch of the much anticipated Wind Notebook. The Wind, an acronym for “Wi-Fi Network Device,” is the first 10″ notebook to feature the speedy new Intel Atom™ 1.6GHz processor
“Intel is excited to collaborate with MSI to usher in the next generation of mobile computing devices,” said Steve Dallman, Intel VP Sales and marketing Group and GM, Worldwide Reseller Channel Organization. “The Wind’s user–friendly design, combined with the low power and 45nm High-K process of the Intel Atom processor, makes for an exceptional netbook.”
Weighing in at just 2.6 lbs, MSI designed the Wind to be lightweight and ultra mobile, without sacrificing convenience or performance. The Wind features an ergonomically designed keyboard that is only 20% smaller than of a full sized keyboard, with keys spaced a comfortable 0.68 inches apart. Business travelers will welcome the extended battery life available with the Windows based version, which provides up to 5.5 hours of untethered work time.
The Windows version of the Wind features an 80G / 2.5″ SATA hard drive, which further sets it apart from other ultra portable notebooks, whose manufacturers have compromised memory capacity to save space. The Wind’s display features embedded LED power-saving backlight technology, which provides superior color quality and brightness. This innovative notebook also comes standard with a 1.3M webcam, Bluetooth capabilities, 3 USB ports and a 4-in-1 card reader.
The Windows version of the Wind is priced at $499 MSRP, and will be available for purchase starting June 16th, 2008 at www.msimobile.com. The Linux based models of the Wind will be available at the same site later this summer for $399 MSRP.
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment
What do you get when you cross a portable navigation device and a cellphone? Dash Navigation’s answer is the $399 Dash Express, the most credible attempt yet to crack the ancient driver conundrum of figuring out what’s nearby and the best way to get to it. In doing so, it stands to elevate the portable navigation device from a glove compartment shut-in to a mobile mentor — one that Dash hopes that customers will find valuable enough to justify $10 (or more) per month on a service fees.
Dash’s cellular connectivity enables it to take a hybrid approach to traffic information. Routes for which Dash has available information are marked with either green, yellow or red lines depending on the heaviness of the traffic. Solid lines indicate that the data has been supplemented by the Dash driver network – cars that have Dash units sending information upstream in real time. Dashed lines convey information that Dash picks up via its historical traffic pattern information provider Inrix. Dash claims that it needs about 1,000 units in most cities to cover major routes, double or triple that for the largest US cities such as New York or Los Angeles.
Even with its emerging network, the Dash Express is surprisingly effective at routing around known trouble spots on the fly. And while it occasionally failed to pick up on congested stretches, on several occasions it was so accurate as to the emergence of traffic that the route turned red just as conditions forced the car to slow to a crawl. Even at its early stage, Dash certainly proves the concept of the traffic-routing prowess of a “live” GPS device.
Where the immaturity of the network may be hurting the product, though, is in the creativity of its alternate routes. The device starts a navigation request by providing up to three different ways to get there. However, the routes often have superficial differences, and Dash’s slow cellular connection can require more time before starting the route than competitive devices. In contrast to the speedy (and free to use) EV-DO connection found on the Amazon Kindle, the Dash Express uses the glacial GPRS data standard. While Dash has done a good job of keeping the overall system responsive, it can’t completely hide the effective difference between broadband and early dial-up modems. The Dash Express also supports WiFi to handle more bandwidth-intensive but less-frequent tasks such as downloading map or system updates.
Not all of Dash’s connectivity occurs behind the scenes. By partnering with Yahoo! Local search, the device enables owners to tap into an always up-to-date database of local information, rendering obsolete the war over which device has the most millions of points-of-interest. Being able to find a business by name rather than having to look up its address is the physical-world equivalent of typing in a domain name versus having to remember an IP address.
Other slick features include the ability to send an address to the device from a home PC using the “Send2Dash” feature and, of interest to a more technically adept crowd, the ability to subscribe to RSS feeds of locations. Were Dash’s cellular network support faster, one opportunity would be leveraging its WiFi and wide-area connectivity to create an in-vehicle hotspot. Such bridges are already being considered for WiMAX.
Much of the product’s extended gestation focused on user testing, the refinement payoff of which is evident. While some portable navigation devices’ screens have enough visual clutter to rival tactical war game displays, the Dash maps – which are more effective in 2D than the more common “birds-eye” view used on other devices – are legible and clean.
The best example of its claimed “55 mile-per-hour user interface” (unusable by Sammy Hagar) is a large traffic alert that warns you as you’re approaching a trouble spot and presents the option to select a new route. That said, there are times that directions could be more precise; the product would benefit from techniques such as the “Reality View” screen that Navigon uses to communicate lane positioning. A Snooze button-sized Menu button on the device’s oversized flat-top provides finger-friendly access to Dash’s controls, and is placed just to the right of the volume button. Dash’s guts make for a large and heavy device that is a marked contrast to the popular Garmin nuvi series. However, the windshield mount that Dash provides holds the device firm.
The next Switched On will take a closer look at Dash’s prospects as it navigates the space between cheap, unconnected PNDs and GPS-enabled cell phones.
In what is becoming a fascinating space-poop drama, the International Space Station had a fresh toilet pump delivered today by space shuttle Discovery. For the past couple weeks, astronauts were forced to perform manual flushes, but this pump promises to make things go down a bit easier. We’re still under the impression that the toilet will be replaced in the Fall, so more relief is sure to come.