Flexible OLED displays
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Only a matter of time before the morning paper includes popups.
[Via Gizmodo]
Update: The video has been removed, but it used to show a very thin screen being bent as it played a movie. Here is a still from the video:
Tags: Gadgets
Plastic Batteries 100 Times More Powerful than Alkaline
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Paper-thing computers are even more closer with plastic batteries being developed which are very powerful for their size.
Via Plastic Batteries 100 Times More Powerful than Alkaline | Science
Apple Launches New iPods, iTunes
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If you’ve been living under a rock, Apple has sparked a media frenzy today with its launch of the next generations of 3 iPods as well as the next version of iTunes.
The force behind the iPod w/video and iTunes updates was Movies. Yes, you can now purchase and download movies through iTunes, then download it to an iPod and watch anywhere. It’s not the iPod Video I was hoping for, as there have been images floating around of an iPod where the screen covers the whole front of the screen, but it does have downloadable games now.
The iPod Nano has been updated and merged with the iPod Mini. It’s the same size Nano, but with the tacky Mini look. So glad I have my v1 Nano in black.
The shuffle has also been updated and is trying to capture the amazingly tiny market.
Contribute to the flood of visitors to http://www.apple.com/itunes/ for more information.
Tags: Gadgets
MyNote Digital Notepad
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Here’s another device for the wishlist: a digital notepad. It’s hard to tell from the picture, but it looks much more usable than my pocket pc, or a tablet pc. The 1000 lpi display would be fantastic resolution and probably feel the most like real paper. Its not clear whether it uses e-ink or another technology for the display.
I also like how its not trying to fit windows or another os not designed for this purpose. There wouldn’t be much boot time and it would be very stable.
Here’s the description from the manufacturer’s website:
The digital notepad for portable use without any PC. Uses standard Q4 notepads and the supplied standard stylus. In addition, all written information is also stored as digital pages. Post-editing can be done by direct page selection (LCD display) at any time. Easy post-editing via supplied Windows® software. Memory upgradeable via SD cards. Battery status display on stylus and tablet. Max. notepad thickness 13.5 mm (135 sheet). Works up to 20h with one battery set. Ideal for portable use for capturing data. Writing with stylus onto paper notepad plus digital storage. Post-datum changes are possible. 32MB of memory (upgradeable via SD cards)
Corsair USB w/Memory Guage Display
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I can’t wait for this to become the standard of usb drives. A drive that can always tell you how full it is. The display is a “Bi-stable Cholesteric” Display, which is similar to the epaper that’s coming out which also only requires power to update the screen. With 1 or 2gb capacities, you can tell this is only the beginning.
[Animation] [Specs] [Thx Gizmodo]
Tags: Gadgets
iPod Nano Car Stereo Adapter
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One of my biggest uses of mp3 players is in the car. That being said, when I got my nano I experiemented with the best option.
I started with the plain old tape adapter I had been using. Sound quality was fine, but at the time our other car liked to eat tape adapters.
So I moved on to the iTrip Nano. It was designed specifically for the Nano, it should be perfect, right? Wrong. While the device was shaped to fit perfectly on the Nano, the suction part on the back would never stick for me – probably because of the StuffBak label on the back of the iPod. Also, the battery life suffered because it was powering 2 devices, and you couldn’t use any type of case when you had the iPod plugged into the iTrip because the device hugs the Nano’s body.
So that one went back and I upgraded to the iTrip Auto – the perfect fit for me. It charges the iPod whenever it’s plugged in, meaning I will never be without music in my car and I can go weeks without having to dock. The reception I’d rate about a 9/10 once you find a clear frequency, and the display is very easy to read to do that. It even connects through a dock connector, so the case can stay on. It costs a bit more, but it’s worth it just for the commute to/from work.
Now the battery became an issue and even though
Tags: Gadgets
TuneJuice
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iPods don’t have the best battery life out there, but they do ok. But what about when you’re camping and trying to avoid your fellow campers? No more plugging you iPod in at the washroom and babysitting it like I saw someone doing last weekend. TuneJuice is one of the cheapest iPod accessories, and with one 9V battery you can prolong the music for up to 8 hours. I got one for my journey to the US last month and didn’t have to be tuneless. It does plugin to the dock, so if you’re using any accessories that need the dock connector you’re out of luck. Also, it doesn’t charge the iPod, it just prolongs the battery life.
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/tunejuice/
Tags: Gadgets
Windows XP Bluetooth Warning & Fix
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I discovered yet another flaw with Windows XP today. I have a Bluetooth wireless desktop (keyboard & mouse) from Logitech and I wanted to connect to my Razr, but the My Bluetooth Places took forever to come up and when it did it was blank. I would close that window and see a message saying “Unable to start Bluetooth stack service.”
After an hour of reinstalling and some digging around, I find out that Service Pack 2 for XP’s bluetooth support likes to override any custom software you install to manage Bluetooth. In this case, Logitech had bundled the best BT stack from WIDCOMM, which acted fine until you wanted to manage devices. I found this page (http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=840635) on Microsoft that tells you how to disable the native support for Bluetooth. After another remove, restart, reinstall, restart, it’s working fine at last and I’ve downloaded all the pictures from my phone.
JumpDrive FireFly
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I’ve already mentioned the Pass2Go software I keep all my passwords in, but what good is it unless the device will securely stay on my keychain? My Sony drive just doesn’t have anything to lock it in place physically and I’ve had it returned to me once so far. Well today I picked up a tiny 256mb Lexar JumpDrive FireFly just for passwords and a few crucial apps. This drive locks much more securely onto the keychain and is pretty tiny.
Most internet-dependant software can be downloaded anyways, so I’ve inluded mainly offline applications or tiny ones:
- APO Autorun
- BitComet
- CuteFTP
- DVD Shrink
- Eclipse Palette
- Folder Sizer
- Foxit Reader
- Google Deskbar
- Hamachi
- K-Lite Codec Pack Full
- Motorola Razr Driver (Need a driver to even charge the phone via usb)
- Neowin’s UXTheme Multi-Patcher
- Partition Magic 8
- PrimoPDF Maker
- Portable FileZilla
- Real Alternative (Plays realmedia with the included Media Player Classic)
- Restoration
- StickyPad
- TopStyle
- VPN Client software from work
- Windows 98 Drivers for the JumpDrive
- WinRar
If you’re looking for more portable applications, try www.portableapps.com.
Dell Axim’s Crippled Bluetooth
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For anyone considering a Dell Axim with Windows Mobile 5, don’t count on your Bluetooth devices being supported. Dell has disabled many Bluetooth profiles on the device. While it’s true there is a new stack (program for managing Bluetooth connections) in WM5, it works fine on devices from other manufacturers. The only profiles left working are Activesync, Dial-up networking, and Dell’s bluetooth keyboard. I assume Dell has done this to sell more wired heasets or something. Before finding this out, I had hoped to be able to use my bluetooth headset with Skype and the Axim, or to get photos from my cameraphone onto the Axim, but alas Dell denied me.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel. My Dell Axim X51V is currently downloading pictures from my cameraphone, and has just played audio through my BT headset. By replacing the stack with Broadcomm’s stack used in Windows Mobile 2003, some awesome people have solved my Bluetooth woes. It’s now as easy as installing a cab file like any other program, and they claim that you can uninstall it from Remove Programs. It even includes a new dialog when you press the wireless button which allows you to toggle the wifi and bt independantly. There are of course warnings such as back up the device first and that using the software may void warrenties or deny you support, but for me its worth it.
