Custom touch screen manufacturer Troll Touch has recently debuted a new slipcover for Apple’s 24-inch LED Cinema Display that will give it touch screen input functionality. The clear plastic fitting is unnoticeable and does not alter the devices form factor in any way.
The Cinema Display touch screen integration kit comes with a clear slipcover that connects to your system via USB. Touch screen kits are also provided for the iMac and MacBook. (more…)
Earlier this week, Apple made the surprising decision to allow third-party web browsers on the iPhone. Apple’s default browser lacked many of the customization features that are popular with standard web browsers such as Firefox, and it looks like Apple wants to achieve that same level of customization on the iPhone.
The only condition is that all browsers developed for the iPhone must be created with the WebKit engine, which is what was used for Safari. If Mozilla can adapt the engine then we may see Firefox on the iPhone, but that most likely won’t happen anytime soon. (more…)
HP, in association with the Flexible Display Center of Arizona State University, recently announced that they have a working model of their flexible computer display. This flexible screen technology has been in development for years, but no commercial models have yet to be released. HP’s announcement shows that their prototype could be hitting shelves in the near future.
The flexible displays use a technology called Self-Aligned Imprint Lithography (SAIL) which imprints an array of thin film transistors onto a sheet of plastic. (more…)
Some developers that were present at CES recently debuted new ways in which to use magnetic induction to recharge batteries without the use of a charger unit or power cable. The primary technology makes use of a special mat with sensory systems that detect the different voltages present within any device set upon it and reciprocates that voltage to ensure that the device gets only the charge that it needs. (more…)
Chemical engineers at the University of Illinois have developed the world’s smallest fuel cell. At just 3mm across, the cell could replace standard graphite and lithium ion batteries in our portable devices, allowing them to become even more compact and pocket-friendly. The small hydrogen fueled cell is capable of storing far more energy in the same space than a standard battery.
The major downside to current fuel cell technology is that the cost to produce them is much greater than the cost to manufacture regular batteries. The University of Illinois team, however, managed to solve that problem with their tiny hydrogen cell. (more…)
A new kind of memory card has been announced by the SD Association as a successor to the commonly used SD memory cards. The SDXC, or SD eXtended Capacity, will be able to support memory capacities up to 2TB and will read/write up to 104MB per second. (more…)
LG will probably be showing off dozens of their new LCD TVs at CES 2009 this week, but the most interesting one may possibly be the LH95. This new unit is currently the thinnest HDTV that exists to this date. The LH95 supports 240Hz and a 2 million to 1 contrast ratio, yet is only 24.8mm (0.97 inch) thick. That’s less than an inch.
I still remember the days when TVs were the size of a small car and were heavier than a pile of bricks. (more…)
In today’s eco-conscious generation, we are constantly looking for ways to save energy or power our stuff with less economic impact. Of all of the sources of energy in the world, the most natural and readily available is quite possibly water.
Water is used in hydroelectrical power plants to generate electricity by using water current to control a generator. Many new methods of deriving power from water have recently emerged, however, and some of those methods are seen put to use in the water powered gadgets and technologies listed below.
I have no idea how legitimate this is, but it’s cool to watch nonetheless. It is supposedly a water powered jet pack designed by a 16 year old, who is seen here demonstrating it before a crowd.
A group of firemen created a makeshift hovercraft by attaching several fire hoses to an apparatus welded to a compact car. The force of the water caused the vehicle to hover, as seen in the video. This method was also tested and deemed Plausible on an episode of Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel.
Water Powered Micro-fuel Cell
There has been talk over the past couple of years about a water powered micro fuel cell, and Samsung has announced that they have a working model capable of powering cell phones for 10 hours with nothing more than a shot of water. Water would react with a metal inside the cell, producing hydrogen, which would then produce 3 watts of electricity. Samsung is planning on having a commercial model available by 2010.
Anyone who has a lawn to mow knows just how tedious it can be. Now that chore can be delegated to man’s new best friend: robots.
Standard lawnmowers are generally very clumsy, heavy, and not to mention messy. The Husqvama Automower is a Roomba-esque type of robotic appliance that is solar powered and zero-emission. (more…)
The Nextar LCoS-based Z10 weights in at 2.5 pounds and boasts a 640×480 resolution. Paired along with the PS-001 20 inch screen, the duo makes for an extremely portable presentation experience.
The projector shines with a brightness level between 7 and 12 lumens and has a 360 degree lens shift capability. It can be adjusted manually and has a 4:3 aspect ratio. (more…)
