Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
You don’t have to be a science buff to understand that atoms in gases move around a heck of a lot more than those in solids. For instance, text on a paper page isn’t apt to just reshuffle itself when no one is looking, but printing the latest Harry Potter novel on thin air could prove just a touch more difficult. Said challenge isn’t too much for physicists from varying institutions in Israel, as they have recently demonstrated how to ever-so-briefly store images in a warm atomic vapor. Reportedly, the gurus have figured out how to “store complex images for up to 30 microseconds in rubidium vapor,” and if mastered, the process could help unlock secrets of “quantum information processing and even quantum communication.” If your interest meter just shot through the roof (you geek, you), head on down to the read link to slurp up more on how it’s being done.
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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
You don’t have to be a science buff to understand that atoms in gases move around a heck of a lot more than those in solids. For instance, text on a paper page isn’t apt to just reshuffle itself when no one is looking, but printing the latest Harry Potter novel on thin air could prove just a touch more difficult. Said challenge isn’t too much for physicists from varying institutions in Israel, as they have recently demonstrated how to ever-so-briefly store images in a warm atomic vapor. Reportedly, the gurus have figured out how to “store complex images for up to 30 microseconds in rubidium vapor,” and if mastered, the process could help unlock secrets of “quantum information processing and even quantum communication.” If your interest meter just shot through the roof (you geek, you), head on down to the read link to slurp up more on how it’s being done.
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Filed under: Cellphones
Seriously, RIM, at this point you might as well just announce the Kickstart flip phone and let us officially request something more than EDGE data, because this thing isn’t exactly under wraps any more. The latest set of photos by our pal Mr. Blurrycam don’t really reveal anything we didn’t know apart from confirming that the Kickstart is still something of an ungainly beast — especially when set down next to the Bold. Oh, and there’s the first picture we’ve seen of the front 160 x 128 LCD display and 2 megapixel camera. Yeah, it looks like just every other flip phone with an external display and a camera — but if you’re a Berryman (or Berrylady), there’s a couple more shots at the read link to keep you warm until this thing finally hits.
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Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds
digg_url = ‘http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/24/nokia-buys-symbian/’;Nokia’s been in bed with Symbian for many, many years through the development of its S60 platform — the world’s most populous smartphone platform, dont’cha know — and they’re taking that relationship to its endgame today by announcing that they’ll be acquiring the remaining shares of Symbian that they don’t already own. Here’s where it gets interesting, though: rather than taking Symbian’s intellectual private for Nokia’s own benefit, the goods will be turned over to the Symbian Foundation, a nonprofit whose sole goal will be the advancement of the Symbian platform in its many flavors. Motorola and Sony Ericsson have signed up to contribute UIQ assets, while NTT DoCoMo (which uses Symbian-based wares in a number of its phones) will be donating code as well.
Other Symbian Foundation members include Texas Instruments, Vodafone, Samsung, LG, and AT&T (yep, the same AT&T that currently sells precisely one Symbian-based phone), so things could get interesting. The move clearly seems to be a preemptive strike against Google’s Open Handset Alliance, LiMo, and other collaborative efforts forming around the globe with the goal of standardizing smartphone operating systems; the writing was on the wall, and Symbian didn’t want to miss the train. Total cash outlay for the move will run Nokia roughly €264 million — about $410 million in yankee currency.
Read - Creation of Symbian Foundation
Read - Acquisition of Symbian by Nokia
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Filed under: GPS
You can’t purchase it for few more months, so we thought you’d like to see a brief preview of Mio’s $270
Knight Rider GPS unit. It boots into a KITT scanner effect and warm, “Michael, where do you want to go today” greeting. Fortunatley, you can then reprogram KITT to address you from a list of 200 or so other names (with more to come). Add
Flux Capacitor and your ride to nerdvana is complete. See the action after the break.
[Thanks, Joe P.]
Continue reading Video: Knight Rider GPS asks, “Michael, where do you want to go today”
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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
We first heard of Typhoon Touch Technologies back in December when the company sued Dell and Motion Computing for infringing two of its patents on touchscreen computers, and armed with favorable settlements from Motion Computing and Electrovaya, Typhoon’s gone ahead and joined a host of other companies to the Dell suit. Roll call: would Apple, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Lenovo, Panasonic, HTC, Palm, Samsung, Nokia, and LG all report to Eastern District of Texas, please? Lunch will not be provided.
[Via iTWire]
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Filed under: Laptops
The details keep coming in on those new ThinkPads we caught wind of earlier this month — this time it’s the SL series, which Lenovo has confirmed is on track for release in the next few weeks. Although the company didn’t nail down specs on the business-oriented laptops, it did say that pricing will run from $699 to $1,199, and the machines will be bundled with online backup services and Absolute Software’s LoJack theft-protection software. To hit that price point, Lenovo stripped some of the features found on higher-end ThinkPads, like the proprietary docking ports, but users will get a freshened case design that takes cues from the consumer-level IdeaPad line. That’s great, guys — now how about some specs and pictures?
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Filed under: Laptops
The details keep coming in on those new ThinkPads we caught wind of earlier this month — this time it’s the SL series, which Lenovo has confirmed is on track for release in the next few weeks. Although the company didn’t nail down specs on the business-oriented laptops, it did say that pricing will run from $699 to $1,199, and the machines will be bundled with online backup services and Absolute Software’s LoJack theft-protection software. To hit that price point, Lenovo stripped some of the features found on higher-end ThinkPads, like the proprietary docking ports, but users will get a freshened case design that takes cues from the consumer-level IdeaPad line. That’s great, guys — now how about some specs and pictures?
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Filed under: Portable Audio
What? Pigbuds a little too raunchy for you? If so, maybe the Aygo editions will suit your style. Quite honestly, we have absolutely no idea where these automotive-inspired speakers / earbuds can even be purchased, but those head over heels for their commuter car will surely do whatever it takes to find out.
[Thanks, Tom]
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Filed under: Displays, Household
While those of us here in America puff our chests out each time we waltz by that LCD-equipped centralpark Connection refrigerator, folks in the UK can get extra prideful courtesy of John Lewis. Although the integrated coffee machine, electric oven, steam oven and 19-inch HD-ready LCD TV can all be purchased separately, they’re being (smartly) marketed together to create the “ultimate kitchen combo.” The whole shebang will run you £2,246 ($4,363), and not surprisingly, it’s the £699 ($1,358) tele that’s likely to bring in the most profit. Meat-heads will agree to anything with pixels though, right?
[Via CNET]
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